A roofing plate for securing a roofing membrane to a roof includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a generally oblong peripheral edge having two major sides and two minor sides. An opening is located generally centrally on the plate in a central portion for receiving a fastener for securing the plate to the roof, and a plurality of gripping formations are formed on the peripheral edge for preventing slippage of the roofing membrane relative to the plate. Also included are a pair of first rib portions which project from the top surface respectively along at least each of the two major sides between the peripheral edge and the central opening, and a pair of transverse ribs which project from the top surface for enhancing torsional stability and reinforcing the central portion of the plate.

The present invention relates generally to roofing plates for securing a water resistant roofing membrane to a roof deck, and specifically to a roofing plate configured and adapted to prevent such a roofing membrane from slipping out from underneath the roofing plate.
In certain modern roofing installations of commercial and factory buildings having a flat roof design, a layer of insulation is placed on a generally corrugated steel roof deck, and is then covered with a single ply thermoplastic roofing membrane to protect against the elements. A common method of securing the roofing membrane to the roof is to attach the edges of a long sheet of the membrane to the deck using fasteners passing through the insulation. The most common fastener is an elongated screw passing through a plate or washer. These fastener assemblies (screw plus plate) are placed at regular intervals along the membrane edge. Once a sheet of roofing membrane is thus secured, another sheet is laid parallel to, and with its edge overlapping, the edge of the already secured sheet. In this manner, the fastened plates are covered by the edge of the second membrane sheet in the overlapped region. Next, a heat gun is used to heat the top and bottom of the overlapping sheets to the melting point, and they are pressed together. As the membrane sheets cool, they become bonded together. This process is continued until the entire roof is covered with the roofing membrane.
It has been found that, because the membrane is exposed to the elements, it may at times be subject to high velocity winds blowing across the roof which cause uplift forces. These forces cause the membrane to billow upwardly. As this occurs, the membrane tends to pull up and exerts an upward force on one edge of the plate, which causes the plate to shift or rock backwards in the direction away from the force. Rocking prevents the fastener from being pulled out of the roof by alleviating this edge-directed force, but it also allows the membrane to slip from underneath the plate, and at a certain point, causes the membrane to tear around the fastener.
In commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,232 to Larson, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, a roofing plate is disclosed which, in conjunction with a fastener such as a screw, is adapted to "rock" onto its longitudinal sides, which are parallel to the edge of the roofing membrane, as the membrane billows upwardly, thereby alleviating stress on the head of the fastener. The Larson plate also has a generally oblong configuration which is adapted to distribute the load to a broader area to prevent the membrane from tearing, as one of the sides of the plate is pressed into the membrane as it rocks. Moreover, the broader two sides of the plate are provided with gripping formations, such as a series of notches, to grip the membrane as it rocks to prevent the membrane from slipping relative to the plate and tearing around the fastener.
While the oblong configuration of the Larson plate distributes stress along its longer sides and prevents the sides of the plate from cutting into and tearing the membrane, the corners of the plate concentrate a significant amount of stress on a small portion of the membrane as the membrane is uplifted, and consequently, weaken and tear the roofing membrane. Moreover, the longer sides of the Larson plate are adapted to be aligned parallel to the edge of the roofing membrane to distribute the load to a broader area, and to enable the gripping formations to grab the membrane when the membrane is uplifted. However, the plates often spin away from the required parallel alignment with the edge of the roofing membrane when the plate is being installed or when the plate is inadvertently kicked by an installer. Additionally, the Larson roofing plate is relatively expensive to manufacture due to its size, and thus disadvantageous from a commercial perspective.
Thus, it is a first object of the present invention to provide an improved roofing plate for attaching a roofing membrane to a roof that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and yet sufficiently strong to resist permanent bending and deformation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved roofing plate having elongated sides, but yet have corners that do not tear the roofing membrane.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved roofing plate which is configured keep the plate in desired alignment with the edge of the roofing membrane.

Roofing plate for securing roofing membrane


A multiple crystal head has aluminum rotary carousel within an aluminum body, and number of crystals disposed about the axis of the carousel. A water line coil is clamped to the aluminum body by a stainless steel clamp plate, and a beryllium copper finger spring provides thermal contact between the carousel and the body so that any heat from the deposition process is quickly removed by the water coil. A space is maintained between the front of the carousel and the proximal side of the body front face so that there is no scraping when the carousel rotates. A removable stainless steel heat shield over the body provides good thermal isolation and prevents deposits from reaching the aluminum body or other parts behind the shield. A pneumatic bellows and a pawl and ratchet assembly rotate the carousel to bring the various crystals into the active, monitoring position.

This invention is directed to apparatus for monitoring and controlling the deposit of materials on substrates by vapor deposition. The invention is more particularly concerned with quartz crystal deposition monitors, in which the resonance frequency of a piezoelectric crystal is monitored, with changes in the resonance frequency corresponding to changes in thickness of the deposited material. More specifically, the invention relates to a multiple-crystal detector, in which a number of crystals can be moved in turn into a monitoring station, so that the monitoring and control function can continue after one of the crystals loses its ability to detect further thickness changes.
Quartz crystal monitors have been widely used to monitor vacuum deposition processes and to control accurately the amount of material deposited and the rate of deposit onto a surface. In these monitors, one or more piezoelectric crystals which can be quartz, barium titanate, or another suitable material, are connected into a resonance circuit so that the natural resonant frequency of one crystal can be monitored. The natural resonance is primarily dependent upon total mass and geometry of the crystal, and the resonance frequency drops in relation to the amount of material coated onto it during a vacuum deposition process. However, as the deposited material builds up, the sharpness of resonance diminishes, and eventually a point is reached in which the crystal can no longer monitor the process accurately or effectively. Then, the quartz crystal must be replaced.
A number of multi-crystal quartz oscillator deposition monitors have been proposed in which there are a number of crystals that can be rotated in turn into a monitoring position to facilitate changing of crystals with a minimum of down time and without introducing mechanical stresses from insertion of the crystals. Such multi-crystal monitors are described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,125 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,238.
Mechanical and thermal stresses can also affect the resonance frequencies of the crystals in the monitor. However, prior multi-crystal monitors have not incorporated heat shields or heat sinks, and are subject to temperature stresses from the heat produced in a vacuum deposition process.

Multiple crystal head for deposition thickness monitor


A method includes receiving search queries. Images are generated that represent the volume of each search query relative to all search queries over a period of time. The images are processed to generate wavelets for each image. Related queries having similar increases or decreases in volume are identified by comparing at least some of the wavelets corresponding to a first query to wavelets corresponding to other queries.

Locating a desired portion of information on the World Wide Web ("web") can be challenging because the amount of information available. Query processing systems permit a user to search information on the web, and attempt to return search results that are relevant to a search query provided by the user. The goal of a query processing system is to provide links to high quality, relevant search results (e.g., links to web pages) to the user based on the search query.


An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a hard mask layer formed on the semiconductor substrate. The integrated circuit structure further includes at least a conductive layer formed in the hard mask layer and a via extending from the hard mask layer to at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the via has a round corner and a tapered sidewall.

Generally, the speed at which an integrated circuit operates is influenced by the distance between the farthest separated components that communicate with each other on the chip. Laying out circuits as three-dimensional structures has been shown to significantly reduce the communication path length between on-chip components, provided the vertical distances between the layers are much smaller than the chip width of the individual layers. Thus, by stacking circuit layers vertically, the overall chip speed is typically increased. One method that has been used to implement such stacking is through wafer bonding. Wafer bonding is the joining together of two or more semiconductor wafers on which integrated circuitry has been formed. Wafers are typically joined by direct bonding of external oxide layers or by adding adhesives to inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers. The bonded result produces a three-dimensional wafer stack that is subsequently diced into separate "stacked die," with each individual stacked die having multiple layers of integrated circuitry. In addition to the increased speed that the three-dimensional circuitry typically experiences, wafer stacking offers other potential benefits, including improved form factors, lower costs, and greater integration through system on chip solutions. In order to enable the various components integrated within each stacked die, electrical connections are provided that provide conductors between vertical layers.
Vias have been routinely used in semiconductor fabrication to provide electrical coupling between one or more layers of conductive material within a semiconductor device. More recently, through-silicon vias (TSVs) have arisen as a method of overcoming limitations of conventional wire bonding for example, as increases in performance and density requirements no longer allow traditional wire bonding to be adequate. TSVs allow for shorter interconnects by forming an interconnect in the z-axis. The interconnect is created through a substrate (e.g. wafer), by forming a via extending from a front surface to a back surface of the substrate. TSVs are also useful in forming interconnects for stacked wafers, stacked die, and/or combinations thereof.
The use of TSVs technology however creates challenges. The aspect ratio of the via may be quite high (e.g. the thickness of the substrate or the depth of the via is large as compared to the diameter of the via). Conventional methods of forming a via may lead to an undesirable undercut in layers (e.g. undercuts between dielectric hard mask and silicon) of the substrate. In one approach for eliminating the silicon undercut profile, a sacrificial polymer is formed on the vertical surfaces of the hard mask opening to protect a dielectric hard mask from lateral etching in subsequent via etching process. Such a pre-treatment leads to a new set of problems and issues associated with via filling process. For example, issues include a silicon birds beak profile existed at the silicon edge and a roughness sidewall (e.g., a scalloping pattern on the top of the via sidewall), which cause poor sidewall coverage, improper formation in depositing a seed layer, a barrier layer and/or a passivation layer processes, and become an obstacle to accelerating the via filling process. The sidewall scalloping roughness also has an impact on TSV electrical performance.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved via and a method of fabricating such to avoid the shortcomings of the conventional process.

Via structure and via etching process of forming the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An electronic component mounting machine is provided with a film thickness gage. The film thickness gage is provided with measurement sections. The mounting head moves to a position above the storage section and lowers the film thickness gage to cause the film thickness gage to come into contact with the flux film. In the film thickness gage, the measurement sections form measurement marks corresponding to the film thickness in the flux film. The electronic component mounting machine images the measurement marks using a mark camera, and determines the film thickness of the flux film which is actually formed based on imaging data.

In the related art, there is an electronic component mounting machine which is provided with a transfer device which transfers a flux onto electrodes (bumps) of an electronic component to be mounted, for example, a ball grid array (BGA) electronic component (for example, PTL 1 or the like). In the electronic component mounting machine, before soldering the electronic component which is held by a suction nozzle of a mounting head to a circuit board, the electronic component is dipped in a flux film which is formed in advance by the transfer device to transfer the flux onto the electrodes, and the soldering is subsequently performed.
The amount of the flux which is transferred onto the electrodes of the electronic component affects the wettability of the solder, and influences the performance of the circuit board after the electronic component is mounted. Meanwhile, the flux generally contains a volatile solvent, and when a state in which the flux is formed as a flux film on a storage section of the transfer device continues, the solvent evaporates into the air, the viscosity changes, and the mechanically set film thickness changes with time. In the transfer device which is used in the mounting of this type of electronic component, the viscous fluid is not limited to the flux, and other viscous fluids (for example, solder) are also used; however, it is necessary to adjust the film thickness of the fluid film which is formed using the viscous fluid according to the pitch of the electrodes, the height dimension of the electrodes, and the like of the electronic component to be mounted. Therefore, for example, every time the type of electronic component being supplied is replaced, it is necessary for the electronic component mounting machine to adjust the film thickness of the fluid film of the transfer device according to the type of the electronic component. Therefore, it is necessary for the film thickness of the fluid film to be appropriately managed.
In the electronic component mounting machine which is disclosed in PTL 1 described above, the film thickness of the flux film which is formed changes according to the size of the gap between a top face of a transport belt on which the flux is placed and which conveys the flux, and a tip of a blade which is positioned on top of the transport belt and is pressed into the flux to be conveyed. Therefore, in the electronic component mounting machine, the size of the gap is changed and the film thickness of the flux film is adjusted by changing the position of the blade. The electronic component mounting machine is provided with a film thickness detection sensor for measuring the film thickness of the flux film, and the measurement result of the film thickness detection sensor is input to a control section. The control section compares the measurement result with a target value which is set in advance, and determines whether or not the film thickness is appropriate. The control section repeatedly executes feedback control in which the blade is moved according to the measurement result, and adjusts the position of the blade until the film thickness is a suitable value.

Electronic component mounting machine including a film thickness gauge


An X-ray examination apparatus includes an X-ray source with a brightness control signal input, an X-ray image device for providing an X-ray image of an object to be imaged, X-ray absorption means between the X-ray source and the X-ray image device, a brightness control system coupled to the X-ray image device and the brightness control signal input in order to derive a brightness control signal from the X-ray image, and a detection means which is coupled between the X-ray image device and the brightness control signal input in order to exclude a degree of detected absorption from said brightness control signal caused by the absorption means present in the X-ray image. Direct radiation and absorption means (such as filters) in the detected absorption range in a histogram of pixels of the X-ray image are automatically excluded from the brightness control which is thus improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus in which the influence of the X-ray filter on the adjustment of the X-ray examination apparatus is substantially mitigated.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such an X-ray examination apparatus is known from European patent application EP 0 629 105.
The known X-ray examination apparatus comprises an X-ray image intensifier and an image pick-up device. The X-ray image intensifier converts the X-ray image into an optical image. The image pick-up device derives the image signal from the optical image. The brightness control system of the known X-ray examination apparatus comprises an auxiliary photodetector which measures brightness values of a portion of the optical image. This portion is called the measuring field. The brightness control system is arranged to adjust the X-ray examination apparatus on the basis of the measured brightness values of the measuring field. In particular, the energy of the X-rays from the X-ray source is adjusted by the brightness control system. Although the measuring field of the known X-ray examination apparatus is adjustable, it has been found that it is difficult to avoid that a part of the X-ray filter is imaged in the measuring field. Brightness values in the measuring field which correspond to the X-ray filter lead to a sub-optimum adjustment of the X-ray examination apparatus.
The X-ray filter is, for example, adjusted so as to attenuate X-rays which are hardly attenuated by the object to be examined. Notably when a radiological examination of the patient's spinal column is performed, a part of the X-rays which pass through lung tissue are hardly attenuated by the lung tissue which contains a comparatively large amount of air. In such a radiological examination, the X-ray filter is positioned such that the X-rays that are directed towards the portion of the lungs of the patient are attenuated comparatively strongly by the X-ray filter and X-rays that are directed to the patient's spinal column are hardly or not at all attenuated by the X-ray filter. Accurate positioning of the X-ray filter is disclosed in European patent application EP 0 496 438. It has been found, however, that detrimental effects of the adjustment of the X-ray examination apparatus can occur despite of accurate positioning of the X-ray filter.
Citation of a reference herein, or throughout this specification, is not to construed as an admission that such reference is prior art to the Applicant's invention of the invention subsequently claimed.

X-ray examination apparatus with a brightness control system


The invention relates to, inter alia, an unit arrangement containing a network personal computer and a portable unit which are both used to provide the same data transfer service. By dividing the functional units between two units, a constantly high speech quality is guaranteed during the transfer of speech data.

The functions of said useful-data processing unit can also be provided by the service usage computer. In this case the processor of the service usage computer program processes instructions during whose execution the functions of the useful-data processing unit are provided.
The data transfer service relates, for example, to:                the transmission of voice data within the scope of a telephone connection, or        the transmission of video data within the scope of a videoconference.
Typical functions of the signaling unit relate to providing additional features, in particular for users whose terminals are operated on a private branch exchange.
Typical functions of the useful-data processing unit are:                analog-to-digital conversion or, as the case may be, a digital-to-analog conversion, and        voice data compressing.
While at upper protocol levels there are connections for transmitting the useful data, when data packets are transmitted in a data packet transmission network, transmission of the data packets at lower protocol levels is connectionless. Signaling for transmission of the useful data has, for example, been established:                for internet protocol telephone services in the protocols of the H.323 protocol family of the ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector), in particular in the H.225 and H.245 protocols,        for internet protocol telephone services in the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) signaling protocol of the IETF (International Engineering Task Force).

Subscriber-side unit arrangement for data transfer services and associated components


In a variable inertial mass flywheel having a main flywheel member coupled to an engine crankshaft and a subflywheel member rotatably arranged relative to the main flywheel member, an electrorheological fluid whose viscosity changes according to intensity of electric field at high response speed is enclosed between electrodes formed on the main flywheel member and the subflywheel member. At engine idling, a higher voltage is applied to the electrodes to increase the viscosity of the fluid, that is, to increase inertial mass of the flywheel so that engine torque ripple can effectively be absorbed. At engine acceleration, a lower (or zero) voltages is applied to the electrodes to decrease the viscosity of the fluid, that is to decrease inertial mass of the flywheel so that high engine torque response characteristics can stably be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable inertial mass flywheel whose inertial mass can be varied according to fluctuations of engine speed, and more specifically to a variable inertial mass flywheel whose response characteristics to engine speed fluctuations can be improved markedly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, when the inertial mass of a flywheel is determined large, the flywheel can effectively absorb fluctuations of engine torque (referred to as torque ripple, hereinafter). On the other hand, however, the engine torque response characteristics of the flywheel is degraded in particular when an engine is accelerated. To overcome the above-mentioned problems, variable inertial mass flywheels have been proposed such that the inertial mass is large when torque ripple is large (as when the engine is being idled at low speed) but small when higher engine torque response characteristics are required (as when the engine is being accelerated to high speed).
An example of the prior-art variable inertial mass flywheel is disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined (Kokai) Utility Model Application No. 58-30053, for instance. FIG. 1 shows this prior-art variable inertial mass flywheel 1, in which a main flywheel member 2 connected to an engine crankshaft (not shown) is rotated by an engine (not shown).
A subflywheel member 4 is rotatably attached to the main flywheel member 2 via a bearing 3. When the engine is rotating at low speed (e.g. being idled), the subflywheel member 4 is coupled to the main flywheel member 2 to increase the inertial mass, that is, to effectively absorb engine torque ripple. On the other hand, when the engine is rotating at high speed (e.g. being accelerated), the subflywheel member 4 is decoupled from the main flywheel member 2 to decrease the inertial mass, that is, to improve the engine torque response characteristics. In this case, the subflywheel member 4 is coupled to or decoupled from the main flywheel member 2 by magnetizing or demagnetizing electromagnetic powder 8 with an electromagnetic coil 9 in order to change frictional force in the electromagnetic powder 8. The electromagnetic powder 8 and the coil 9 are enclosed within an elctromagnetic chamber 7 formed by the inner circumferential surface of the main flywheel member 2, the outer circumferential surface of the subflywheel member 4, the inner surface of a cover member 5, and a seal member 6. The electromagnetic coil 9 is energized by a voltage supplied from a power supply (not shown). In more detail, when engine torque ripple exceeds a reference level, the electromagnetic coil 9 is energized to increase the inertial mass of the flywheel 1.
In the above-mentioned prior-art variable inertial mass flywheel, however, since the inertial mass is varied by magnetizing or demagnetizing electromagnetic powder 8 enclosed between the main flywheel member 2 and the subflywheel member 4, there exists a problem in that charge in frictional force of the electromagnetic powder 8 caused by electromagnetic magnetization and demagnetization is not large and not stable, and therefore the response characteristics of inertial mass to engine speed fluctuations is low, so that it is impossible to stably obtain sufficient change in inertial mass of the flywheel.
In more detail, even if the electromagnetic powder 8 is magnetized, the density of the electromagnetic powder 8 only near the electromagnetic coil 9 is increased and therefore it is difficult to sufficiently increase the frictional force uniformly in the powder 8. In addition, since the two opposing areas of the inner circumferential surface of the main flywheel member 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the subflywheel member 4 are not broad, the frictional force is not sufficiently large and therefore the two flywheel members 2 and 4 are not coupled tightly, so that it is difficult to sufficiently change the inertial mass.


A gate driving circuit and a display device using the same are discussed. The gate driving circuit according to an embodiment includes a first shift register configured to sequentially shift a gate start pulse in response to a gate shift clock and output a gate pulse shifted on a per block basis, each block including a plurality of gate lines, a second shift register configured to sequentially shift the gate start pulse in response to the gate shift clock and output a gate pulse shifted on a per gate line basis, and a controller configured to supply the gate shift clock to one of the first and second shift registers.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to a gate driving circuit and a display device using the same.
Discussion of the Related Art
Various flat panel displays, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and an electrophoresis display (EPD), have been developed. The liquid crystal display displays an image by controlling an electric field applied to liquid crystal molecules based on a data voltage. An active matrix liquid crystal display includes a thin film transistor (TFT) in each pixel.
The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit irradiating light onto the liquid crystal display panel, source driver integrated circuits (ICs) for supplying a data voltage to data lines of the liquid crystal display panel, gate driver ICs for supplying gate pulses (or scan pulses) to gate lines (or scan lines) of the liquid crystal display panel, a control circuit for controlling the source driver ICs and the gate driver ICs, a light source driving circuit for driving light sources of the backlight unit, and the like.
The gate driver IC sequentially supplies the gate pulses to the first to last gate lines during one frame period, so as to sequentially select lines of a pixel array. It is difficult to change a driving method of the display device because of the gate driver IC. For example, pixels disposed on a plurality of lines may be simultaneously discharged or initialized, but this method requires the development of a new gate driver IC.

Gate driving circuit and display device using the same


A process for improving situational awareness at an incident scene includes first receiving audio or video of a user and detecting, in one or both of the audio and video, an instruction directed to another user. A compliance metric associated with the instruction is then accessed and one or more available second cameras having a field of view that incorporates a current location of the another user are identified. One or more video streams from the second cameras are received that include the another user. An action of the another user is identified from the video streams and is correlated with the compliance metric to determine a level of compliance of the another user with the instruction. In response to determining, as a function of the correlating, that the level of compliance falls below a threshold level of compliance, a computing device taking a responsive noncompliance action.

Tablets, laptops, phones, mobile or portable radios, and other mobile computing devices are now in common use by users, such as first responders, and provide such users with instant access to increasingly valuable additional information such as vehicle histories, arrest records, outstanding warrants, health information, and other information that may aid the user in making a more informed determination of an action to take or how to resolve a situation, among other possibilities. In addition, video coverage of many major metropolitan areas is reaching a point of saturation such that nearly every square foot of some cities is under surveillance by at least one static or moving camera. Currently, some governmental agencies are deploying government-owned cameras or are obtaining legal access to privately owned cameras, or some combination thereof, and are deploying command centers to monitor these cameras. As the number of video feeds increases, however, it becomes difficult to review all of the video feeds being provided in real-time, such that the increased value of such video monitoring and the ability to identify situations of concern decrease substantially. Furthermore, algorithms to electronically review video streams and generally categorize and identify scenes having potential dangerous situations are too compute-power intensive and slow to provide any sort of real-time notification of potential dangerous situations.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved method, device, and system for improving situational awareness for a user by intelligently sub-selecting those video streams associated with a user that has given a command or instruction to another user, and then applying more intensive object and action recognition processing to only those sub-selected video streams following the detected command or instruction for identifying situations in which the another user is non-compliant with the command or instruction given by the user.
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 present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Guardian system in a network to improve situational awareness at an incident


A method and apparatus for removing ionic and suspended particulate impurities from a liquid by directing the liquid through a bed including a mixture of ion exchange fibers and inert fibers. The bed also may include a mixture of finely ion exchange particles. The bed may be a precoat layer that is applied on a filter support.

In certain water treatment applications, there is a requirement for the production of extremely pure water, including the removal of both dissolved and suspended or colloidal materials. One area where such a requirement is particularly important is in the steam generation of electrical power, in both fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. In both types of installations, it is common practice to include a filter bed in the recycle stream for the steam turbines.
A significant breakthrough in the purification of such liquid streams is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,250,702 and 3,250,703, both of which are assigned to the assignee of this application. The invention described in these patents is based on the discovery that when finely divided anion and cation exchange resin particles are mixed in aqueous suspension, a volume increase is noted. This volume increase is the result of an agglomeration or "clumping" between the anion and cation exchange resin particles. Such resin particles, when used to form a filter bed, produce significantly reduced pressure drops across the bed, together with longer run lengths and improved efficiency of dissolved and undissolved solids removal.
As used herein, the term "bed" refers to a layer, such as a precoat layer, which has been deposited on a filter screen, an annular filter cartridge, a film, a deep or shallow bed, or the like. Such a bed may advantageously be deposited on a tubular filter cartridge.
A method for removing impurities from a liquid by passing the liquid through a filter bed which comprises a mixture of oppositely charged particles of filter aid material is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,142, which patent is assigned to the assignee of this application. The filter aid materials are disclosed as including diatomaceous earth, cellulose fibers, charcoal, expanded pearlite, asbestos fibers, ion exchange resins, and inorganic ion exchangers. The filter bed comprises a mixture of oppositely charged particles of filter aid material. The filter aid particles normally have a surface charge in aqueous suspension. A portion of the particles is treated with a chemical compound to produce a surface charge which is opposite to the normal surface charge. A mixture of oppositely charged particles (normal and reversed) is therefore produced, and the "clumping" phenomenon is achieved.
A method for removing impurities from a liquid by passing the liquid through a filter bed which comprises treated filter aid material is mixed with finely divided ion exchange resin particles in the size range of sixty to four hundred mesh is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,532. The patent is assigned to the assignee of this application. The mixture of treated filter aid material and ion exchange resin particles produces a clumping phenomenon. The filter aid materials include cellulose fibers, diatomaceous earth, charcoal, expanded pearlite, asbestos fibers and polyacrylonitrile fibers. The ion exchange resin particles include cation exchange resins, anion exchange resins or a mixture of both. The filter aid materials are treated with a chemical compound to produce the required surface charge.
A method for removing impurities from a liquid by passing the liquid through a filter bed which comprises a mixture of a treated fibrous filter aid material and an active particulate material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,334, which patent is assigned to the assignee of this application. The "fibrous filter aid materials" include cellulose fibers, polyacrylonitrile fibers, Teflon fibers, nylon fibers, rayon fibers, polypropylene fibers, and polyvinyl chloride fibers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,955 there is described a method for removing impurities wherein polyester fibers are used as a filter aid material in precoat filter formulations. The polyester fibers are treated with a hot caustic solution to convert the normally hydrophobic surface of the fibers to a hydrophilic surface.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,832 there is described a method for purifying aqueous solutions by the use of ion exchange fibers. The ion exchange fibers have a thickness in the range of from about 2 to about 200.mu.m and a length of more than twice the thickness, to intertwine the fibers into a compact mass. The compact mass of fibers is applied as a slurry to a filter support to form a precoat layer thereon. The ion exchange fibers may be cation exchange fibers, anion exchange fibers or a mixture thereof. An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the intertwined ion exchange fibers have finely divided ion exchange resin particles of a diameter from about 2 to about 250.mu.m entrained between the ion exchange fibers.
It has been known to provide an overlay layer of ion exchange fibers onto a precoat layer of a mixture of ion exchange resins and cellulose fibers.
It has been found that precoat layers consisting of mixtures of ion exchange resin and inert fibers require a compromise between run length to a pressure drop end point and an iron oxide (crud) removal end point. It has also been found that precoat layers consisting of mixtures of ion exchange fibers and ion exchange resins have unsatisfactory crud removal.

Method and apparatus for treatment of aqueous solutions


A processing method for treating organics-containing fluids including a ultraviolet (UV) disinfection step and a biological processing step. The UV light source employed in the UV disinfection step is positioned outside the fluid to be disinfected and the fluid is disinfected via exposure to at least one UV dose zone outside the fluid being treated wherein UV light is projected into the at least one dose zone. The UV light source may be presented in a vertical riser configuration, wherein the UV light source is positioned above the fluid to be treated and projecting a UV dose zone downward toward and into the fluid to be treated, with the fluid moving upward toward the UV light source. At least one interface plate is used to provide a surface zone for UV disinfection above the fluid and to provide additional treatment means for balancing pH, affecting effluent chemistry, reducing organic chemicals, and the like. Alternatively, the UV light source may be presented in a planar or horizontal design, wherein the UV light source is positioned above the fluid to be treated and projecting a UV dose zone downward toward and into the fluid to be treated, with the fluid moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the UV dose zone. After neutralization, the fluid is directed to the biological processing step, wherein microbes or enzymes are contacted with the fluid to effect metabolism of the organics in the fluid. The process may be used to reduce the organic load of animal and non-animal wastes, as well as produce a desired product from microbial foodstocks or enzyme substrates.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of fluids and fluid-based mixtures and, more particularly, to a microorganism neutralization UV device and method.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Wastewater Discharge Problems and Regulatory Standards
The rapid expansion of intensive-confinement animal rearing facilities has created the secondary problem of excessive organic waste being discharged into the environment. Excessive organic waste, if not properly treated and disposed, can cause several problems, including the changing of aerobic environments to anaerobic ones with resulting suffocation and demise of aerobic species, the proliferation and spreading of human and animal pathogens, and the fouling of air with noxious microbial anaerobic metabolic byproducts. In recognition of this problem of excessive organic waste discharge, US governmental agencies have imposed restrictions on the quality and quantity of waste discharged by a point source.
Bacterial Fermentative Processes
Waste solutions containing high organic material can be treated to reduce the quantity of organic material by allowing the waste to undergo bacterial fermentation for a period of time. The fermentation can be performed under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Generally, aerobic fermentation is the most prevalent method, as it does not require the specialized equipment and containers necessary to maintain the anaerobic state required by anaerobic fermentation. Aerobic fermentation is accomplished by simply pumping atmospheric air through the waste solution in the presence of aerobic fermentative bacteria. By contrast, anaerobic fermentation requires specialized containment vessels to prevent contact of the solution with air, and additionally requires a more elevated temperature than aerobic fermentation in order to maintain the metabolism of the anaerobic bacteria at a sufficient level to make the process efficient. However, anaerobic fermentation has recently found more application, due to the fact that this process generates methane gas, which is an energy source, as a by-product.
Fermentative processes of complex organic solutions generally rely on several species of bacteria working in synergy to effectively consume the available organic molecules for their growth. Because several species of bacteria are required to effect the degradation of the myriad of organic products found in biological waste solutions, and especially animal waste solutions, the lack of one or more of these species in the solution can severely delay or prevent the complete degradation of the organic products. Therefore, to prevent such delays, these microbes are often added to the waste solutions at or near the start of fermentation in order to act as an aid to fermnentation. These bacterial cultures were designed to ensure that no essential component of the fermentative microbial flora was deficient, and therefore that adequate fermentation would be accomplished within a normal time period. Unfortunately, several problems existed with such a treatment method and bacterial fermentation in general. First, such systems do not always give consistent performance despite the addition of microbial fermentative culture because the indigenous microbial flora may effectively out-compete the desirable fermentative bacteria, resulting in a slow and/or incomplete degradation of the waste solution and overgrowth of potential pathogens. Second, a breakdown in the supply of air or oxygen would slow the metabolism of the aerobic fermentative bacteria, with the resulting problem of slow and/or incomplete degradation of the organic waste. Finally, uncontrolled fermentation may allow the indiscriminate overgrowth of human, animal, and plant pathogens, creating an animal and/or human health hazard if discharged into the environment. In the latter case, antimicrobial feed additives retained in the waste could inhibit growth of beneficial fermentative bacteria, with the resultant overgrowth of any antibiotic-resistant endogenous flora. This situation could be potentially dangerous, should these endogenous flora be human or animal pathogens.
Thus, there remains a need for a method that is more reliable and effective in reducing the organic matter of waste solutions. Another pressing need is to reduce the number of potentially pathogenic microbes discharged in bacterially-treated waste.
Biofilter
Another method to effect the fermentative degradation of organic waste is through the use of a biofilter. A biofilter is essentially a fixed support that provides surface area for the fermentative bacteria to adhere to. The waste fluid is then directed over the support containing the microbes, at which time the microbes uptake nutrients from the passing fluid. By retaining the bacteria on a fixed surface, they are exposed to a sufficient amount of organic waste to support their metabolism. This system is generally used with dilute waste streams that would be too difficult to treat with a standard aerobic or anaerobic digester system, since nutrient availability to the bacteria in these systems is limited by the diffusion rate of the nutrients through the water. While this system can reduce the organic content of dilute waste, it cannot reduce the levels of pathogenic bacteria already contained in the waste.
Thus, there remains a need for a method that is more reliable and effective in reducing the number of potentially pathogenic microbes discharged into wetland-based treatment systems.
Modified Constructed Wetland
A more recently developed organic waste-handling method is one in which the waste stream is allowed to run into an appropriately constructed wetland. In the wetland, microscopic organisms, including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, degrade the organic waste. In addition, protozoa, plants, and large animals, including birds, are allowed to thrive in the wetland as a means of absorbing the nitrogen and other inorganic nutrient inputs to the wetland. Unfortunately, because such a treatment system allows the contact of raw animal waste with vectors such as migratory birds, the potential exists for the spread of human and animal pathogens well beyond the immediate vicinity of the waste treatment facility.
Thus, there remains a need for a method that is more reliable and effective in reducing the number of potentially pathogenic microbes discharged into wetland-based treatment systems.
In summary, there remains a need for a wastewater treatment method that is more reliable and effective in reducing the organic matter of waste solutions and can also reduce the number of potentially pathogenic microbes discharged in bacterially-treated waste.
The present invention is directed to an organic fluid treatment method, whereby an organic fluid is pretreated by UV disinfection and then additionally treated with reactive components to effect a change in the constitution of the fluid. In the preferred embodiment, the organic fluid is directed through a UV disinfection device, then treated with microorganisms to effect the degradation of the organics in the fluid. Preferably, the UV disinfection device is a vertical riser configuration.
The present invention is further directed to a method for treating animal waste, whereby the animal waste is directed through a UV disinfection device, then treated with microorganisms to effect the degradation of the animal waste. Preferably, the UV disinfection device is a vertical riser configuration.
The present invention is further directed to a method for treating non-animal waste, whereby the non-animal waste is directed through a UV disinfection device, then treated with reactive components to effect the degradation of the non-animal waste.
The present invention is further directed to a method for manufacturing a product from a microorganism-containing fluid, whereby the microorganism-containing fluid is directed through a UV disinfection device, then treated with reactive components to produce the desired product.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet disinfection (UV) system for treating organic waste-containing fluid, the system comprising at least one light source positioned within a housing and connected to a power source for producing a UV light output from the housing, the system including at least one optical component positioned between the at least one light source and the UV light output from the housing, thereby producing a focused, controllable UV light output that has at least one UV dose zone for providing effective sterilization of microorganisms within the water.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for purifying organic waste-containing fluid comprising the steps of providing the fluid to be treated in a reservoir; diluting the fluid; exposing the reservoir and fluid to a UV system including at least one light source positioned within a housing and connected to a power source for producing a UV light output from the housing, the system including at least one optical component positioned between the at least one light source and the UV light output from the housing; producing a focused, controllable UV light output that has at least one UV dose zone for providing effective neutralizing of microorganisms within the fluid; and adding reacting components, including microorganisms for breakdown of organic waste within the fluid.

Microorganism neutralization device and method


A cookware rack includes a base formed with a first beam separated from a second beam. The first and second beams include a plurality of slots arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows. A wire divider is shaped to be removably received within any one of the plurality of rows, positioned within the slots forming the desired plurality of rows.

Certain cookware items such as skillets, lids for pots, and cutting boards, can be challenging to store in a cabinet. Cutting boards can be stacked one atop the other, but removal of a board placed on the bottom can be tricky and may require removal of all of those on top. Similarly, skillets or frying pans can be stacked, but removing a lower pan from the stack can be an awkward exercise. Lids may not be stackable at all, or at least not feasibly when trying to stack more than two. Ideally such items could be stored in a horizontal position, held in place against falling over, thereby allowing for both efficient storage and easy removal. Existing devices provide insufficient structural support for heavy objects, or provide a complicated structure for reconfiguring and repositioning supporting dividers.
One example of a wire shelf having an adjustable divider is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,710. This patent illustrates a moveable vertical divider which slides along horizontal wires. A center portion is included in the bent-wire divider, but the center portion stops short of the wire shelf, and provides little support as a result. Another example is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,471. In this case, the wire support structure includes a foot which must be inserted into a central channel, resulting in a structure which is difficult to remove and reposition. The outer edges of the wire divider are also merely resting in an open-top channel, providing less support than would be desired. A cookware rack in accordance with the present invention provides improvements over the prior art designs.


An optical system for providing all-optical up-conversion of a baseband signal including an all-optical up-converter responsive to baseband signals to provide corresponding dual sideband signals about a suppressed optical carrier, said dual sideband signals each having the same polarization direction, being phase locked, having the same optical power and having a fixed frequency spacing; and an optical filter for filtering the carrier signals and providing wavelength division multiplexed signals without optical carriers. In a preferred embodiment, the all-optical up-converter includes an intensity modulator for generating two pump lightwaves that are carrier suppressed in response to the intensity modulator receiving a laser light source and being driven by an RF signal, wherein the intensity modulator is DC biased at a null point, an optical combiner for combining the baseband signal and the two pump lightwaves, a nonlinear medium for four wave mixing the baseband signal and two pump lightwaves to generate the baseband signal and corresponding dual sideband signals, and an optical interleaver for removing the baseband signal and two pump lightwaves to provide said sideband signals about the suppressed optical carrier.

The present invention relates generally to optical systems, and more particularly, to an all-optical up-conversion system.
The application of radio-over-fiber (ROF) systems for broadband wireless access networks has attracted much attention because it provides the high-bandwidth access services for mobile communications, wireless large-area networks, and fixed wireless access services such as local multipoint distribution systems. Fiber-optics technologies in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless communication systems offer several advantages such as low-loss transmission of high-frequency signals and low electromagnetic interference. Since wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology is widely used in optical transport networks from core to metro, WDM in access networks are the next logic step. In such networks, it is desirable to seamlessly integrate the WDM or WDM passive optical network (PON) transport systems with the ROF access system. An all-optical up-conversion of WDM signals for ROF provides an effective way to realize the hybrid networks.
Previous techniques to realize an all-optical up-conversion are polarization sensitive. These all-optical up-conversion methods are based on an external intensity or phase modulator and a cross-absorption modulation (XAM) in an electro-absorption modulator (EAM). These up-conversion techniques have some drawbacks like conversion loss and sensitivity to polarization of optical signals. Another all-optical up-conversion scheme is based on four-wave mixing (FWM) in the nonlinear optical fiber. With the advance of high-nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber (HNL-DSF), highly efficient broadband FWM effect can be achieved. Because of the ultrafast nonlinear response of the fiber, it is possible to realize terahertz waveform all-optical mixing or up-conversion. Since FWM is independent of the signal bit rate and coding format, it can be used to realize up-conversion of multi-channel signals. However, the regular up-conversion scheme is polarization sensitive because only one single pump has been used.
Accordingly, there is a need for an all-optical up-conversion that is polarization insensitive and stable.


An application load unit of a host unit loads an application main body of an engine application which has been acquired to an engine unit. Subsequently, when an execution command for the application main body is issued by the user, an execution decision means within an application execution control unit of the host unit refers to application management information, and decides whether or not it is possible to execute the application main body. If the result of this decision is affirmative, an execution command transmission means within the application execution control unit sends an execution command for the application main body to the engine unit. As a result, processing related to the engine application is apportioned between the host unit and the engine unit in an appropriate manner.

The present invention relates to a coordinated operation method and to a communication terminal device; and, in more detail, relates to a coordinated operation method by which a host unit which performs processing associated with communication with the exterior, and an engine unit which executes predetermined functions under the management of this host unit, operate in a communication terminal device in a coordinated manner, and to a communication terminal device which utilizes this coordinated operation method.

Coordinated operation method, and communication terminal device


The present invention provides a system of baiting and growing microorganisms on a gelatinous matrix. A bioreactor is provided wherein the bioreactor provides an environment conducive to the breakdown of organic aqueous material and the production of hydrogen from microorganisms and restrictive to the production of methane from methanogens. The bioreactor includes substrates coated with a gelatinous matrix, wherein the gelatinous matrix coating is replenished by additional coating material pumped into interior channels of the substrates wherein the substrates are permeable by the coating.

The production of hydrogen is an increasingly common and important procedure in the world today. Production of hydrogen in the U.S. alone currently amounts to about 3 billion cubic feet per year, with output likely to increase. Uses for the produced hydrogen are varied, ranging from uses in welding, in production of hydrochloric acid, and for reduction of metallic ores. An increasingly important use of hydrogen, however, is the use of hydrogen in fuel cells or for combustion. This is directly related to the production of alternative fuels for machinery, such as motor vehicles. Successful use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel can provide substantial benefits to the world at large. This is possible not only because hydrogen is produced without dependence on the location of specific oils or other ground resources, but because burning hydrogen is atmospherically clean. Essentially, no carbon dioxide or greenhouse gasses are produced when burning hydrogen. Thus, production of hydrogen as a fuel source can have great impact on the world at large.
For instance, electrolysis, which generally involves the use of electricity to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen, is a commonly used process. Significant energy, however, is required to produce the needed electricity to perform the process. Similarly, steam reforming is another expensive method requiring fossil fuels as an energy source. As could be readily understood, the environmental benefits of producing hydrogen are at least partially offset when using a process that uses pollution-causing fuels as an energy source for the production of hydrogen.
There is further need in environmental interests for new developments of biodegredation. Biodegredation refers to the degredation of sewages, effluents, toxic substances or other material organic material by microorganisms. The breakdown of toxic substances is also known as bioremeduiation. Biodegredation typically occurs in anarobic environments, and is generallys the process of converting organic materials back into CO2 and/or H2O through microbial action. Biodegredation is useful in that it breaks down unwanted or uneeded organic substances into natureal substances. However, a typical biodegradation product results in the formation of methane. Methane has a hgreenhouse gas having a high level of global warming potential. Excessive release of methane into the atmosphere is highly undesireable.
Thus, producing hydrogen from biological systems, through biodegradation or bioremediation, wherein the energy for the process is substantially provided by naturally occurring bacteria, is an optimal solution. Fermentation of organic matter by hydrogen producing microorganisms, such as Bacillus or Clostridium, is one such method. Nonetheless, hydrogen production relating to the above methods has remained problematic, and the need remains for the ability to optimize yields of hydrogen while minimizing expenditures.
New methods of hydrogen generation are needed. One possible method is to convert waste organic matter into hydrogen gas. Microbiologists have for many years known of organisms which generate hydrogen as a metabolic by-product. Two reviews of this body of knowledge are Kosaric and Lyng (1988) and Nandi and Sengupta (1998). Among the various organisms mentioned, the heterotrophic facultative anaerobes are of interest in this study, particularly those in the group known as the enteric bacteria. Within this group are the mixed-acid fermenters, whose most well known member is Escherichia coli. While fermenting glucose, these bacteria split the glucose molecule forming two moles of pyruvate (Equation 1); an acetyl group is stripped from each pyruvate fragment leaving formic acid (Equation 2), which is then cleaved into equal amounts of carbon dioxide and hydrogen as shown in simplified form below (Equation 3).Glucose→2Pyruvate  (1)2Pyruvate+2Coenzyme A→2Acetyl-CoA+2HCOOH  (2)2HCOOH→2H2+2CO2  (3)
Thus, during this process, one mole of glucose produces two moles of hydrogen gas. Also produced during the process are acetic and lactic acids, and minor amounts of succinic acid and ethanol. Other enteric bacteria (the 2, 3 butanediol fermenters) use a different enzyme pathway which causes additional CO2 generation resulting in a 6:1 ratio of carbon dioxide to hydrogen production (Madigan et al., 1997).
There are many sources of waste organic matter which could serve as a substrate for this microbial process, namely as a provider of pyruvate. One such attractive material would be organic-rich industrial wastewaters, particularly sugar-rich waters, such as fruit and vegetable processing wastes. In additional embodiments, wastewaters rich not only in sugars but also in protein and fats could be used, such as milk product wastes. The most complex potential source of energy for this process would be sewage-related wastes, such as municipal sewage sludge and animal manures.
The creation of a gas product that includes hydrogen can be achieved in a bioreactor, wherein hydrogen producing microorganisms and a food source are held in a reactor environment favorable to hydrogen production. Substantial, systematic and useful creation of hydrogen gas from microorganisms, however, is problematic. The primary obstacle to sustained production of useful quantities of hydrogen by microorganisms has been the eventual stoppage of hydrogen production, generally coinciding with the appearance of methane. This occurs when methanogenic bacteria invade the reactor environment converting hydrogen to methane, typically under the reaction CO2+4H2→CH4+2H2O. This process occurs naturally in anaerobic environments such as marshes, swamps, pond sediments, and human intestines.
It is of further importance to increase the number of hydrogen producing microorganisms in a system to the point that fixed colonies of biofilm are existent in the bioreactor. Increasing the number of hydrogen producing microorganisms and biofilm and thereby increasing the overall percentage of hydrogen producing microorganisms is beneficial, particularly in large scale reactors. Therefore, it is important to create a bioreactor environment that is conducive to hydrogen producing microorganism growth and maintenance in addition to hydrogen production.
Thus, there continually remains a need to produce substantial and useful levels of hydrogen in an a system that provides an environment conducive to metabolism of organic feed material by hydrogen producing microorganisms.

Production of hydrogen gas and isolation of hydrogen producing microorganisms using replenishing coated substrates


The invention relates to the field of food compositions and their use. In particular compositions comprising at least 15 En % protein and pantothenic acid, or equivalents thereof, are provided, which are suitable for stimulating appetite.

Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as vitamin B5, which is a component of coenzyme A (CoA). Pantothenic acid is found in a large range of foods, such as fish, meat, eggs, milk products and vegetables, as a result of which natural deficiency is very rarely observed in humans. In the past studies have been carried out in which pantothenic acid deficiency has been induced experimentally in humans by administration of a pantothenic acid deficient diet (e.g. Fry et al. 1976, J. Nutr. Sci. Vitamology 22, 339-346) and/or a compound like omega-methyl pantothenic acid which is known to exhibit an anti-pantothenic acid-like effect (see e.g. Hodges et al. 1959, J. Clin. Invest. 38, 1421-1425). Symptoms exhibited by the participants of such trials were gastrointestinal complaints (nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps), irritability, restlessness, fatigue, apathy, malaise, headache, insomnia, numbness or tingling of feet and hands, parasthesia, muscle cramps, staggering gait, hypoglycaemia and increased sensitivity to insulin (see e.g. Hodges et al. 1958, J. Clin. Invest. 37, 1642-1657; Report "Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals 2003" published by the Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, UK). In other studies, where humans were on a pantothenic acid free diet, no clinical signs of deficiency developed (Fry et al. 1976, J. Nutr. Sci. Vitminol. 22(4), 339-346. It is concluded that none of the above studies reveal that pantothenic acid deficiency is related to the loss of appetite or that pantothenic acid can be used to restore appetite loss. These studies neither reveal that pantothenic acid can be used to restore bodyweight. It is particularly noted that increased demands for pantothenic acid have never been associated with severe illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, catabolism as a result of respiratory diseases such as lung emphysema, severe traumata such as surgery and severe diarrhea such as for instance occurring with inflammatory bowel disease. In other words it is generally not believed that bad appetite and weight loss associated with any severe illness is caused by a pantothenic acid deficiency.
Vaughan and Vaughan (J. Nutrition, (1960) 70: 77-80) described the effect of cold on weight, food intake and acetylating acitivity of pantothenic acid deficient rats. They present some data from which it may derived that healthy rats, that are brought in a pantothenic acid-deficient state by feeding for 33 days an artificial diet that uses casein as protein source and vegetable oil as lipid source but which is devoid of pantothenic acid, benefit from the administration of pantothenic acid in terms of increase in weight and of food intake. The authors concluded however that there was no relation between level of pantothenic acid and food intake and that pantothenic acid does not have an influence on growth which is related to appetite. Moreover, no relation is made to a potential beneficial effect in human patients that have a completely different taste perception and especially no relation is made to human beings that suffer from terminal cancer, AIDS, COPD or other severe disorders.
EP 0914111 relates to methods and nutritional compositions for the prevention and treatment of cachexia and anorexia. In this document there is no suggestion of a beneficial effect of pantothenic acid to appetite, nor was indicated that the amount of saturated fatty acids, in particular myristic acid is of any relevance.
DE 4304394 concerns preparations for enteral feeding of oncologic patients to overcome problems related to weight loss. The preparations are characterised by a balanced composition of specific types of fats. Also preparations are disclosed that include calcium pantothenate and pantothenic acid but no relation between the level of pantothenic acid and stimulating appetite was mentioned or suggested.
Several documents such as DE 29916231, JP 5294833 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,821 describe multivitamin compositions including calcium pantothenate that are useful to treat amongst others loss of appetite in humans and cows. Neither of these documents however disclose a critical role for the level of pantothenic acid in the compositions.
No recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for pantothenic acid intake has been set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine (Eissenstat et al. 1986, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 44(6), 931-937). Instead, only approximate adequate daily dietary intake values (AI) have been described for different age or target groups, ranging from 1.7 mg/day in infants to 4-5 mg/day in adults and 6-7 mg/day in pregnant or breastfeeding women (Department of Health, 1991, In: Dietary reference values for food, energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom. HMSO, London, p113-115). Also, no tolerable upper level for pantothenic acid has been set, as there seems to be no adverse effect of consumption of large amounts. The only reported adverse effect described is the occurrence of diarrhea, associated with intake of 10-20 mg calcium D-pantothenate per day (Flodin 1988, Pharmacology of micronutrients; New York, Alan R. Liss, Inc.). The UK Council for Responsible Nutrition has recommended an Upper Safe Level of pantothenic acid of 1000 mg/day for long and short term supplementation (leaflet CRN 1999, The safe use of supplements benefit good health).
Apart from dietary pantothenic acid uptake, bacteria colonising the colon are also able to produce pantothenic acid, and it is therefore feasible that the pantothenic acid produced in the subject's intestine is adsorbed and provides a further source of this vitamin (Said et al. 1998, Am. J. Physiol. 275:C1365-1371). However, it is not known whether internally produced pantothenate contributes in significant amounts to the body's overall pantothenate levels. In experimental set-ups, the internal bacterial production of pantothenic acid often necessitates treatment with antibiotics in order to elicit pantothenic acid deficiency in test animals (Stein and Diamond 1989, J. Nutr. 119(12), 1973-1983).
Commercially available vitamin supplements mostly also contain pantothenic acid, or derivatives thereof, such as calcium pantothenate, sodium pantothenate or panthenol, which are more stable than pantothenic acid. Mostly the D-isomer is used, although DL-raceniic mixtures may also be used. Pantothenate, which is taken up with the diet, is adsorbed in the intestine and transported via the blood (primarily as bound forms within erythrocytes) to various body tissues. The majority of tissues import pantothenic acid from the blood via an active sodium-dependent co-transport mechanism. Blood plasma levels of pantothenic acid have not been found to correlate well with dietary intake levels, while a good correlation between urinary excretion of pantothenate and dietary intake has been found (Eissenstat et al. 1986, American J. of Clinical Nutrition 44, 931-937).
Dietary pantothenic acid supplements have been proposed to have a beneficial effect in the treatment of obesity. Leung 1995, Medical Hypotheses 44, 403-405) describes that, when the intake of a low calorie containing diet (about 1000 calories/day) is supplemented by co-administration of large daily amounts of pantothenic acid (about 10 g/day), a gradual weight loss of about 1 kg per week is achieved while dieters do not feel hunger or weakness and ketone body formation is significantly reduced (only detectable in trace amounts in the urine). In particular, it is suggested that pantothenic acid may be called a 'hunger suppressant' when taken at a large dose during periods of low calorie intake.
This disclosure does, however, not suggest any other uses for pantothenic acid than the supplementation of low calorie diets in order to solve the problem of hunger, weakness and ketone body formation associated with dieting. Further, it clearly teaches the use of pantothenic acid as a hunger suppressant. In contrast hereto, the present inventors found that the administration of compositions comprising pantothenic acid, or equivalents thereof, to subjects suffering from lost appetite, especially lack of appetite resulting from diseases or disease therapies, stimulates appetite or hunger and increases body weight and muscle mass in (specific groups of) humans.
Myristic acid is a saturated fatty acid, like for example lauric acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid which occurs in a few vegetable oils like coconut oil. In small quantities it therefore may be present in artificial clinical nutrition. Saturated fatty acids are considered as an undesirable lipid component which may cause cardiovascular problems. Saturated fatty acids and coconut oil are difficult to use in the manufacture of liquid formulas because they can cause excessive creaming and therefore inclusion thereof is avoided in the state of the art. Instead corn oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower or soybean oil are included which form homogeneous emulsions in complete formulae and comprise <0.5% myristic acid. These also comprise high amounts of linoleic acid which is considered highly desirable.

Compositions comprising pantothenic acid and their use for stimulating appetite


The present invention provides a method for mapping the wireless network environment as observed from a computing device having at least one network interface for accessing said environment. The mapping method requires limited storage space and processing power, so that it may be executed on said computing devices without requiring further network services. Structured mapped data generated from gathered network discovery traces enables a plurality of location-based, mobility or network routing services.

In order to leverage the possibilities brought about by the pervasive use of mobile computing devices having access to wireless networks, it is interesting to have the ability to attribute a mobile computing device, possibly associated with a user, to a specific location and/or a specific time. This allows for example for the provision of location-based services or mobility related applications, such as location recognition or personal tracking.
Nowadays, device tracking using the Global Positioning System, GPS, or similar satellite based systems are the gold standard for known shared mobility solutions, and for device, i.e. GPS receiver, positioning in general. Although the GPS system offers accurate positioning data, it also requires considerable storage space and has a high energy consumption profile. Energy consumption is a limiting factor in today's mobile computing devices such as tablet computers, smartphones, but even more so in devices attributed to the Internet of Things, IoT. Furthermore, the high level of accuracy provided by the GPS system may give rise to privacy issues regarding the movement and activity of users, while such a privacy intrusion may not be necessary for the provision of location based services, for example. As the GPS system operates only with the line of sight of several satellites among the GPS satellite constellation, it inherently cannot cover all places. In particular, indoor positioning is precluded. Further, known methods for localizing a device generally imply that the device is connected to a public network, such as the Internet, from which map data is available as a service. By using such a service, the location of the device is often tracked by the service provider.

Method for estimating the availability and relative proximity of wireless network nodes

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)


This invention relates to a network interface device. A first capture device interfaces with a first external information source to capture first external information. A processor processes the captured first external information and stores it in a first media. The processor initiates the storage of the first captured information at an initial time and completes storage of the first captured information at a completion time, thus providing a stored defined set of first captured information. A transmitter transmits the defined set of stored captured information to a remote location on a network. A remote processing system is disposed at the remote node on the network and includes a database and a receiver for receiving the transmitted defined set of first captured information. A data converter is operable to convert the received defined set of first captured information to a second format. The database stores the set of converted captured information.

The popularity of digital media devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, mobile phones with audio and video recording capability and portable music devices that have recording capability has exploded in recent years. Instead of recording pictures, video and sound on physical media, modern devices record to rewritable memory devices. This means that the cost to create a new image, movie or audio recording has fallen to near zero, making the number of these recordings available in any given individual's library skyrocket.
But this new ability to store virtually unlimited numbers of media files introduces new problems. First, the sheer number makes it nearly impossible to manually describe and index every media file in one's possession. This means that, for many, photographs, movies and audio recordings are kept in poorly organized computer files and finding any particular picture, movie or recording is a difficult and time-consuming process.
The second problem is the fact that people typically trade up to a new computer every three years or so. This means that hours of video, thousands of pictures or hundreds of audio files must be transferred from the old system to the new—a sometimes daunting task.
A third problem is one can typically access locally stored media files only on the computer on which they reside. If one wishes to share the file with another one must typically employ some file-transfer method ahead of time (email, FTP, public server, etc.)
A fourth problem relates to e-mailing or sending your media files to another party, whereas the receiving party is not able to search the media files for the specific key indexes that the original owner had intended. While there are programs to allow the originator to type in key index words (tags) for searching and retrieving these media files from their personal computer, when these media files are e-mailed or sent to another party, these tags are removed from the media file, therefore the receiving party does not have an ability to search, sort, display, play or print these media files based on the original owners key indexes.
Finally, those who make a living providing content need some method for proving that a given work belongs to them, and that they are the original creator of the work.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for voice assistant, location tagging, multi-media capture, transmission, speech to text conversion, photo/video image/object recognition, creation of searchable metatags/contextual tags, storage and search retrieval


A safety mirror assembly for automobile sun visors which comprises a conventional glass mirror with an adhesive layer or tape on its reflective surface side, and an integral transparent cover having an essentially rectangular shape and made as one piece from a plastic material for housing the glass mirror. The integral transparent cover has a continuous frame that meets the current safety standards, and is provided with lateral guides having support flanges and positioning stops to allow insertion and securing of the glass mirror inside the integral transparent cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject of this invention is a safety mirror assembly for automobile sun visors and in particular one that is attachable to the sun visor on the passenger side.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The constant advancement of safety conditions inside automobiles is one of the priorities of car makers and of present legislation. As an example, it is recommended to use non-splinter window glass and to eliminate all sharp edges. The minimum curve radii need be not less than 3.2 mm. This is because in the event of a crash or accident, the glass and other objects, can cause the occupants of the vehicle serious injuries. These safety requirements apply to all objects, finishes, and equipment located inside the vehicle, including the so-called "courtesy mirror" which is normally incorporated in the sun visor on the passenger side.
Up to now, the safety measures adopted for preventing any damage that might be caused by the courtesy mirror, traditionally made of glass, in the event of a crash, have consisted essentially of coating the reflective surface side of the mirror with an adhesive layer or tape for retaining, in case of mirror break, large and medium-sized fragments of glass. However, in practice, the tape is not able to retain all small-sized fragments, and in cases of accident, a number of small-sized glass splinters fall out, with a corresponding risk of serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle, especially if the fragments come into contact with particularly delicate areas, such as the eyes of a vehicle occupant.
Patent No. EP 0088846 describes a courtesy mirror which consists of a shaped sheet of plastic material with a metallized coating on one side used as the reflecting element. French patent No. 8813077 describes a courtesy mirror made from a shaped sheet of aluminum, one of the sides of which has basically been polished and anodized for use as the reflecting element.
Both of the above-mentioned patents, Nos. EP 0088846 and FR 8813077, refer, respectively, to new plastic or aluminum mirrors that replace the traditional glass type mirrors. These new mirrors, nonetheless, have a serious drawback which is their inferior quality of image compared to that obtained with traditional glass mirrors.

Safety mirror assembly for automobile sun visors


An access network connection controller is disclosed for ordering a mobile terminal to switch from a connection to a first access network to a connection to a second access network in order to ensure that a good connection to the mobile terminal is maintained when the mobile terminal enters an area in which connection to the first access network may be restricted and the second access network may be beneficial. The access network connection controller is operable to receive movement information representative of the movement of the mobile terminal connected to a first access network; to determine from the movement information whether the mobile terminal is approaching a restricted area wherein connection to a second access network may be beneficial and to generate a command ordering the switching of the connection mobile terminal from the first access network to the second access network before the mobile terminal enters the restricted area. By ordering a mobile terminal to switch its connection to another access network in advance of the mobile terminal entering an area in which connection to the mobile terminal from its current access network may be restricted, good connection to the mobile terminal is ensured at all times and the user of the mobile terminal does not experience any degradation in performance.

Throughout the present document the term User Equipment (UE) is used. The term UE refers to any type of mobile terminal, such as a mobile telephone, personal digital assistance (PDA), etc, and the terms UE and mobile terminal are interchangeable.
Known wireless networks can comprise an "Access Network Discovery and Selection Function" (ANDSF), which is described for example in chapter 4.8 of 3GPP specification 3GPP TS 23.402 V9.4.0 (March 2010), "Architecture enhancements for non-3GPP accesses".
The packet core network and system referred to therein ("Evolved Packet Core Network" EPC, "Evolved 3GPP PS Domain", EPS) allows a UE to be provided, via the ANDSF, with policies for selecting access networks through which to connect to the packet core network (EPC).
The information provided by the ANDSF allows the UE to scan for access networks and to decide which access network to select among a plurality of access networks, based on data and policies.
Detailed background information of the current state of the art with respect to the ANDSF, and its interaction with UE(s), is provided below.
The ANDSF is a network element that contains data management and control functionality necessary to provide network discovery and selection assistance data in accordance with the operator(s) policy.
The introduction of ANDSF does not impact on the attach procedures for any of the accesses. In particular, it does not interfere with the existing 3GPP PLMN selection mechanisms used for the 3GPP Access Technologies.
ANDSF defines a simple client-server architecture with single Access Network Info Request and Response messages. UEs may contact the ANDSF server by sending an Access Network Info Request message to it. The ANDSF server responds to the UE by sending an Access Network Info Response message. The ANDSF is specified in 3GPP TS 23.402, "Architecture enhancements for non-3GPP accesses", and 3GPP TS 24.302, "Access to the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC) via non-3GPP access networks".
In Access Network Info Response messages, the ANDSF provides two types of information: an inter-system mobility policy and access network discovery information.
With an inter-system mobility policy, an operator, or any other organization maintaining an ANDSF server, can affect which networks UEs are using.
For example, an inter-system mobility policy may contain a prioritized network list that advises the UE about a priority order an which it can consider access networks during the access network selection process. The inter-system mobility policies received from the ANDSF take precedence over those statically provisioned in the UE.
The UE can be configured in automatic or manual mode. In automatic mode, the UE may, at its discretion, accept policies and execute changes of access networks according to the received policies. In manual mode, the consent of the user is required prior to accepting a policy and executing it.
In the above known system, policies sent by the ANDSF are merely advice for selecting by the UE an access network, for example in case of roaming or handover.
Access network discovery information is intended to help the UE to discover networks in its neighbourhood. For example, the access network discovery information may contain information on the network type, network ID, used radio frequency and channel. With this information, the UE may perform a network scan (i.e. discovery) more efficiently, since it does not need to go through all the possible access network technologies and frequency bands. By nature, the access network discovery information may be tied to a specific location and is also more short-lived than network selection information.
The ANDSF implements the S14 interface towards the User Equipment (UE). The interface is used to provide information on access networks available in the vicinity of the UE and information on operator's preference on these access networks. The S14 interface is implemented with OMA Device Management V1.2, OMA-ERELD-DM-V1—2—1, WAP Push OMA Push Architecture V2.3, OMA-AD-Push-V2—3-20091013-C, and a security mechanism that includes OMA DM bootstrap, secure HTTPS, IETF RFC 2616: Hypertext Transfer Protocol-HTTP/1.1, or GAA bootstrap, 3GPP TS 33.919: Generic Authentication Architecture (GAA); System description.
The information provided by the ANDSF is structured in a so-called OMA DM Managed Object, MO, according to what is specified in 3GPP TS 24.312, "Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) Management Object (MO).
The UE and ANDSF 814 interface supports both a pull and a push mode. In pull mode the UE initiates the communication to retrieve the data. In push mode the ANDSF initiates the communication to send data to the UE.
In order for the UE to receive information from the ANDSF, the UE has to have IP connectivity and to have discovered the ANDSF. If the ANDSF needs to push data and the UE does not have IP connectivity, or has not discovered the ANDSF, the ANDSF can use WAP push to force the UE to trigger the process.
The ANDSF can be located in the home network (H-ANDSF 1002) or in a visited network (V-ANDSF 1003), as shown in FIG. 1. For a UE 1001 that is roaming, it is possible that the UE 1001 acquires data from both the H-ANDSF 1002 and V-ANDSF 1003. In any case, the H-ANDSF 1002 and V-ANDSF 1003 do not have an interface between them. The interface specified between the UE 1001 and any of the H-ANDSF 1002 or V-ANDSF 1001 is the S14 interface.
The UE 1001 can also be statically provisioned with intersystem mobility policy and access network discovery information. In case the UE 1001 also acquires the same type of information from the network, the information acquired from the ANDSF has precedence over statically provisioned information in the UE 1001.
FIG. 2 shows a general information flow demonstrating signalling for both push and pull operation modes. The ANDSF 2002, at any time, can decide to push policy rules and discovery information to the UE 1001, using, for instance, WAP Push, as in step 901. The next steps are common for both push and pull modes. In step 902, the UE 1001 attaches its location information and requests the ANDSF 2002 to send the policy rules and discovery information. In step 903, the ANDSF 2002 filters the policy rules and discovery information according to the current location of the UE 1001 and then sends this filtered policy rules and discovery information to the UE 1001. Then the UE 1001 may need to switch new interfaces on or off, to try to attach to a new network (step 904), according to the information received from the ANDSF 2002. Eventually, the UE 1001 will attach to the new access network (step 905).
ANDSF 2002 is the node that manages two types of information: intersystem mobility policy and access network discovery information. Additionally, the UE 1001 is able to send to the ANDSF 2002 its UE current location.
An intersystem mobility policy is a set of operator-defined rules and preferences that affect the intersystem mobility decisions taken by the UE 1001. Therefore, intersystem mobility policies provide the UE 1001 with the means to prioritize the access network used by the UE 1001.
The access network discovery information merely provides the UE 1001 with additional information that helps the UE 1001 to gain access to the access network defined in the policy.
The ANDSF 2002 merely provisions the UE 1001 over the S14 interface with information policies for selecting access networks, wherein the final decision relies on information configured in the UE, and/or in decisions made by the UE's user.
The ANDSF MO contains three big chunks of data:                Inter-system Mobility Policy Rules: Composed of several conditions, including access network types (e.g. 3GPP, 3GPP2, WLAN, WiMAX), access network identifiers (e.g. PLMN, TAC. RAC, BSSID, etc), validity areas and time frames, among others, and a priority. The highest priority matched rule determines the access to be selected by the UE 1001.        Discovery Information: The discovery information data provides the UE 1001 with suitable data for helping in the discovery of access networks. This data contains the type of access network for which discovery information is provided (e.g., 3GPP, 3GPP2, WLAN, WiMAX); the access network area (e.g. PLMN, TAC, NAP-ID, BSSID, etc); and additional information on the specific access network.        UE location: The UE current location provides a placeholder for the UE 1001 to provide its current location to the ANDSF 2002, in terms of access network parameters or geographical location. This is used to filter the irrelevant data for the current location of the UE 1001.
Consider a scenario where a core network 3005 is connected to two or more access networks, as depicted in FIG. 3. Access networks are available to the UE 1001, although it is not necessary that each access network provides access to the UE 1001 simultaneously at a given instance of time.
Assume that a UE 1001 is moving along a path, where a path is a successive series of positions relative to the location of a mobile user equipment.
For example, the UE 1001 may be located in a car that is moving at a certain speed in a highway or the UE 1001 may be located in a train that is moving over railway tracks, as shown in FIG. 4.
A problem addressed by embodiments of the present invention is now described with the help of FIG. 5.
A user and his UE 1001 are located in a moving car. The UE 1001 is able to connect to a number of access networks of the same or different types (e.g. 3GPP, WiMAX, WLAN, etc) installed along the path in a tunnel that the car can traverse (a similar example could be access networks available in a train where a user and his UE travel, which can be alternative to the current access network to which the UE currently attaches). In the example, the UE 1001 is assumed to be attached to the operator's core network 3005 via Access Network 1, which is one of the many possible access networks that the user can use to connect to the operator's core network. Some of these access networks can be preferred, under the UE's Home operator point of view, over others due to, for example, cost effectiveness, special agreements with the corresponding Visited operator, etc. In this context, the ANDS' 2002 can provide the UE 1001 with policies for selecting among these access networks.
In the considered scenario, the car is travelling along a highway. The highway comprises a trajectory that traverses a tunnel, for which the current access network that the UE 1001 is connected to, Access Network 1, does not offer coverage.
Now assume that a second access network, Access Network 2, offers coverage in the tunnel in which Access Network 1 does not provide coverage.
When known systems encounter the above-described scenario, the UE 1001 enters the tunnel, detects the lack of Access Network 1, switches on at least one additional interface corresponding to Access Network 2, samples that interface until a beacon is received, and tries to connect or attach to the home network via Access Network 2.
These processes of take time, typically ranging from a few seconds to several minutes. During the period of time from the loss of connectivity to Access Network 1 to the moment connectivity is established with Access Network 2, the UE 1001 is not able to get communication services and to be engaged in communications of any kind. Furthermore, the time before communication to the UE 1001 is re-established will increase if, for example, Access Network 2 denies access to the user of the UE 1001, and the UE 1001 has to repeat the operation with any of the remaining access networks.
Moreover, with regard to already established communications, if the UE 1001 moves at high speeds, for example if the user is travelling in a high-speed train or on a fast road, handover mechanisms can fail because the UE 1001 moves away from the cell to which the handover is being attempted before the handover process itself is completed.
The problem has been described by way of examples. However, it will be appreciated that the same problem occurs with many different types of area where the access network the UE 1001 is currently attached to cannot, or should preferably not, keep on providing services (for example, roaming services allowing said UE to register and initiate/receive incoming communications, or handover services allowing said UE 1001 to maintain ongoing communications).
For example, reasons for an access network not being able to keep on providing a service in a geographical area include:    1. The access network does not have coverage in that area.    2. The access network is congested, or suffering a malfunction, in that area.    3. The access network in the area is preferably reserved for a certain time for the usage of certain users. For example, it might be desirable to exclusively reserve access to a certain access network to UEs related to emergency or security services in an area where a disaster has occurred, in an area where an special event takes place, etc.    4. The UE 1001 is moving so fast that handover procedures with respect to the concerned access networks are likely not to be completed successfully.
In all of these examples known systems experience the problem of a UE 1001 not being connected to an Access Network for a period of time whilst a new Access Network is found and connected to.
The failure to provide a seamless network connection is a serious problem for the user of the UE 1001 since it results in an unacceptable degradation in performance.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above described problem of a moving UE 1001 losing the service(s) it has when connected to a given access network.