A method of processing mailpieces for sorting mailpieces into sequence in a sorting machine depending on delivery points of delivery rounds, in which method the mailpieces are grouped together into batches associated with delivery rounds and are sorted as a function of various sorting plans each associated with a respective batch of mailpieces and defining a list of delivery points of delivery rounds, which method includes the following steps, assessing the batches of mailpieces before the machine sorting to detect those that will under-use the sorting capacities; aggregating the batches of mailpieces detected as under-using the capacity so as to constitute aggregated batches of mailpieces; computing an associated sorting plan resulting from the aggregating; feeding each aggregated batch of mailpieces into the postal sorting machine and controlling the sorting of the mailpieces as a function of the sorting plan computed for said aggregated batch of mailpieces.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is the field of automatically processing mailpieces, it being possible for said mailpieces to be letters, "flats" (i.e. large-format flat articles, e.g. magazines or newspapers wrapped in plastic or in paper), or indeed parcels.
More particularly, the invention relates to a method of processing mailpieces for sorting mailpieces into sequence in a postal sorting machine depending on delivery points of delivery rounds, in which method the mailpieces are grouped together into various batches associated with one or more delivery rounds and are sorted in the postal sorting machine by batch as a function of various sorting plans associated respectively with the various batches of mailpieces, each sorting plan associated with a batch of mailpieces defining an ordered list of delivery points of one or more delivery rounds, with delivery points being put into correspondence with sorting outlets of the postal sorting machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Patent Document EP 2 091 012 discloses a method of processing mailpieces for sorting mailpieces into sequence in a postal sorting machine depending on delivery points of delivery rounds, in which method the mailpieces are grouped together into various batches associated with one or more delivery rounds and are sorted in the machine by batch as a function of various sorting plans associated respectively with the various batches of mailpieces, each sorting plan associated with a batch of mailpieces defining an ordered list of delivery points of one or more delivery rounds. Once the quantity of mailpieces in each group is known, articles that have similar identifiers are allocated the same sorting outlet.
Patent Document EP 1 872 869 discloses a method that consists in obtaining information about the volume of the postal articles to be sorted into a plurality of groups of mail. Each group of mail comprises a plurality of postal articles, each of which has a delivery identifier. A sorting bin is allocated for each group of mail. The identifier on each postal article is detected and the postal article is then conveyed in response to said detection to an allocated mail sorting bin corresponding to the delivery identifier.
Patent Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,574 discloses a method of sorting mailpieces into sequence depending on delivery points of delivery rounds. In that method, simulations are performed before machine-sorting the mailpieces so as to assess the occupancy of the sorting outlets of the machine and so as to reorganize the corresponding sorting plan in order to prevent the sorting outlets from overflowing.
Currently, sorting machines are controlled using pre-established sorting plans that are configured by taking into account the number of sorting outlets of the machine, the number of delivery points for each delivery round to be sequenced, the number of sorting passes to be performed for sequencing the mailpieces for delivery by a person, and where applicable the storage capacity of the sorting outlets of the machine. For example, some sorting machines in inward sorting centers have twenty sorting outlets (one of which is reserved for rejects), and so they have a sorting capacity of about six thousand eight hundred delivery points, which is equivalent to five delivery rounds each including, on average, one thousand three hundred delivery points.
Sorting plans that are static do not take into account the dynamic characteristics of the flows of mail to be sorted. Such sorting plans are configured to be balanced, i.e. to use all of the sorting resources of the machine if it is considered that the flows of mail to be sorted are always distributed uniformly over the delivery points of the delivery rounds.
However, on arriving at an inward sorting center (arrival sorting center) where the mailpieces are sorted for delivery by the delivery person, the flow of mail is never of constant volume and is never distributed uniformly over the delivery points, which can, as indicated above, give rise to sorting outlets overflowing, and also to non-optimum use of the sorting machine. Thus, for some batches of mailpieces to be sorted on any one day, certain sorting outlets of the machine can remain empty due to absence of mail for certain series of delivery points. That situation ultimately leads to lowering of the throughput rate of the machine due to a low volume of mail to be sorted, thereby increasing the mail processing costs accordingly.

Method of processing mailpieces, the method including combining the batches of mailpieces


A surface property-improving agent for molded bodies made of polyolefin resins contains 50.0 parts to 90.0 parts by mass of a non-polar wax with a melting point of 50° C. to 100° C. and 10.0 parts to 50.0 parts by mass of a vinyl copolymer obtained by copolymerizing two types of monomers (b1) and (b2). The sum of the non-polar wax and the vinyl copolymer is 100.0 parts by mass. The monomer (b1) is styrene and/or acrylonitrile. The vinyl copolymer contains 0.1 parts to 49.9 parts by mass of the monomer (b1) and 0.1 parts to 9.9 parts by mass of the monomer (b2) wherein the sum of the monomer (b1) and the monomer (b2) is 10.0 parts to 50.0 parts by mass. To 100.0 parts by mass of a polyolefin resin, 0.5 parts to 10.0 parts by mass of the agent is added. The monomer (b2) is a methacryloxypropyl polyorganosiloxane.

The present invention relates to a surface property-improving agent which can enhance the appearance and abrasion resistance of a molded body made of a polyolefin resin, which can suppress the bleeding of the molded body, and which can maintain the performance thereof even though being exposed to severe environments; a resin composition containing the same; and a resin-molded body made thereof.
Soft vinyl chloride resins, which have hitherto occupied the mainstream of materials for automotive interior parts such as automotive instrument panels and door trims, have recently been being replaced with polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers because of advantages such as light weight, easiness in recycling, high cost performance, and no gas emission during combustion. However, there is a disadvantage in that automotive interior parts made of the polyolefin resins are inferior in abrasion resistance, wear resistance, and emboss retention to conventional automotive interior parts made of vinyl chloride resins.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-167352, which has been filed by the applicant, discloses a surface property-improving agent for compensating for this disadvantage. The surface property-improving agent disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-167352 contains a non-polar wax with a melting point of 50° C. to 100° C. and a polymer produced by subjecting a mixed solution containing a vinyl monomer and a radical polymerization initiator to emulsion polymerization or suspension polymerization. The addition of the surface property-improving agent to a polyolefin resin suppresses the bleeding of a resin-molded body made of the polyolefin resin, odor, and fogging and enhances the appearance and abrasion resistance of the resin-molded body. Examples of the vinyl monomer include alkyl(meth)acrylates having an alkyl chain with one to 20 carbon atoms, vinyl monomers with an acid group, vinyl monomers with a hydroxyl group, vinyl monomers with an epoxy group, vinyl monomers with a cyano group, and the like.
The surface property-improving agent described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-167352 can maintain good surface properties in ordinary environments. However, it has become clear that there is a problem in that in the case of using the surface property-improving agent described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-167352, the abrasion resistance of a resin-molded body is significantly reduced by exposing the resin-molded body to a high-temperature environment for a long time.
Accordingly, there has been a need for an improved surface property-improving agent.

Surface property improving agent for molded bodies made of polyolefin resins, resin composition containing the same, and resin molded body made thereof


A pneumatic tire having a reduced weight and improved durability is provided.

In general, a pneumatic tire has a structure constituted of a frame, namely, a toroidal carcass layer extending from one of a pair of bead portions to the other, and surrounding belt layers or belt-reinforcement layers that reinforce the ground contact area and are obtained by rubberizing several kinds of reinforcements.
In particular, conventional carcass ply cords are mainly composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a polyester fiber or rayon as a cellulose fiber. Known means for decreasing the number of plies while maintaining the strength of the case include the use of para-aromatic polyamide (aramid) fiber to form the ply cords.
Usually, each of the belt layers has a laminated structure constituted of treated material (belt ply) layers each composed of a rubber coated fabric obtained by arranging reinforcing cords in parallel, and the reinforcing cords are made of aramid fiber so that the resulting belts have a reduced weight. However, belt layers reinforced by aramid cords have low rigidity. It is thus customary that at least one of the belt layers, the number of which is usually two or more, is constituted of a belt ply formed using aramid cords and that at least one of the remaining belt layers is constituted of a treated material formed using steel cords.
The belt layers of radial tires for passenger cars are mainly constituted of at least two angled steel belts and sometimes contain a cap layer or layering layers that are rubber coated fabrics formed using reinforcing cords such as nylon cords and arranged substantially in parallel with the circumference of the tire. These layers are intended to ensure driving stability, in particular, to improve durability through prevention of detachment of the belt layers (serious detachment seen especially near the edges of the belt layers) that occurs during high-speed driving. Known means for preventing deformation of the ground contact area during high-speed driving include the use of fiber that has high rigidity and maintains the elasticity thereof even when heated, such as aramid fiber, as a material of the cap layer or layering layers.
Examples of a technique for improving a tire belt include one disclosed in Patent Document 1: a pneumatic tire is realized that has a reduced weight, improved durability, and improved wear resistance, in which at least one of treated materials constituting a tire belt is a rubber coated fabric obtained by arranging aramid cords in parallel so that they are at an oblique angle with respect to the equator of the tire; at least one of the remaining treated materials is a rubber coated fabric obtained by arranging steel monofilaments in parallel so that they are at an oblique angle with respect to the equator of the tire and that they cross the aramid cords; and the interval of the steel monofilaments used in parallel in the treated materials is in the range of 0.10 to 0.50 mm.
Examples of a technique for improving a cap layer or layering layers include one disclosed in Patent Document 2: a pneumatic tire is realized that is well-balanced in terms of road noise, rolling resistance, and flat spot performance, in which the cap layer is divided along the width direction into a middle part and two end parts; the middle part is reinforced by stranded nylon cords having a predetermined twist and a predetermined fineness and settled with a lower embedding number so that the tensile modulus in the direction of the tire circumference per unit width is equal to or lower than 17 GPa/cm; and each of the end parts has an elongation modulus in the direction of the tire circumference of 35 GPa/cm or higher and a width in the range of 8 to 24 mm.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-166812 (Claims and other sections)    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-224074 (Claims and other sections)

Abstract: In this pneumatic tire, at least one of the carcass ply and belt plies or the belt-reinforcement layer is constituted of reinforcing cords being para-aramid cords, and the para-aramid cords satisfy the relationship represented by the following formulae (I) to (III):E≦32.14×T−236  (I)E≧150  (II)T≦19  (III)(where E represents a modulus of elasticity (cN/dtex) at 25° C. under a load of 49 N, and T represents a tensile strength (cN/dtex)).


A suspension system for a vehicle includes a steering knuckle for supporting a wheel which is used for steering, an upper arm for connecting an upper portion of the steering knuckle to a frame of the vehicle, and a lower arm for connecting a lower portion of the steering knuckle to a frame of the vehicle. At least one of the arms has two link members, each of which is pivotally connected to the frame of the vehicle at one end thereof and to the steering knuckle at an opposite end thereof. The link members are disposed so as to set a kingpin offset at a positive value when a cross point between the kingpin axis and the ground is located inside of a center of a contact surface between the wheel and the ground in relation to a transverse direction of the vehicle, and to increase the kingpin offset as the wheel is turned toward an outward direction so that the wheel is located radially outwardly in relation to a turning circle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a suspension system for anchoring wheels used for steering to a frame of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hereinafter, a fore to aft direction of the vehicle is called a longitudinal direction, and a side to side direction of the vehicle is called a transverse direction. Also, a location near to a centerline of the vehicle is called an inside location and a location distant from a centerline of the vehicle is called an outside location.
There has been known a double pivot type suspension system for a vehicle. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 64-26507 shows such a type of suspension system. This type suspension system comprises a steering knuckle for supporting a wheel, and an upper arm and a lower arm respectively connecting an upper portion and a lower portion of the steering knuckle to a frame of a vehicle. At least one of the arms comprises two link members, each of which is pivotally connected to the frame at a respective one end thereof, and to the steering knuckle at a respective opposite end thereof.
In this type of suspension system, a kingpin axis, which is an axis around which a wheel used for steering is turned, extends through a cross point between the axis of the two link members. The kingpin axis moves in response to the movement of the cross point in a horizontal plane during steering of the vehicle. As a result, a kingpin offset, which is a transverse distance between the kingpin axis and a center of a contact surface between the wheel and the ground, varies as the kingpin axis moves.


The present invention is concerned with a flexing arrangement with a wide range of applications. The arrangement has at least one leaf spring structure having a plurality of reusable leaf springs connected together. At least one of the leaf springs is made of essentially of an alloy of nickel and titanium, and the alloy has a nickel content of substantially 50.1-55 at % and a titanium content of substantially 45-49.9 at %.

The use of knee support brace or sleeve in patients with patellofemoral pain has increased tremendously in recent years. Statistics have shown that taping the patella into a certain position to reduce friction may be helpful. However, the patellofemoral mechanism is complicated, for the patella moves in several planes. Accordingly, seeking to adjust the position of the patella is not always reliable or predictable. Further, the design or materials used in conventional knee supports, and the mechanism by which these knee supports behave or interact with the knees, are not well understood.
There are a variety of conventional knee supports. One characteristic shared by many of such supports are that they are made of steel- or stainless steel-type material. The advantage of using such supports with steel-typed material is that they can provide strength or good support. However, such supports often suffer from various drawbacks including poor flexibility, etc.
The present invention seeks to provide a flexing arrangement or the like which can be used in a wide range of applications including but not limited medical or rehabilitation support structures, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.


A method of performing a cleanup service on an internal combustion engine. The method involves draining used fleet oil from the engine, filling the engine with cleanup oil, draining the cleanup oil after an operation interval, and filling the engine with fresh fleet oil. The method can be performed as a remedial measure for an engine already exhibiting high oil consumption, or as a preventative measure on a healthy engine.

Internal combustion engines operate via a controlled ignition of air and fuel within a combustion chamber, relying on several moving parts. These moving parts can be configured to perform alternating or continuing movements at high speeds, for example up to several thousand cycles per minute. As such, internal combustion engines continuously distribute lubricating oils throughout the engine to reduce friction from the moving parts.
In addition, oils serve to facilitate sealing associated with the combustion chamber, particularly with respect to seals related to moving parts that interface with and move relative to the combustion chamber. In the event that such seals fail, an excess amount of oil can seep into the combustion chamber and ignite along with the air and fuel, resulting in a higher than normal consumption of oil.
One of the causes of failing seals is an accumulation of particulate matter, varnish, hard carbon and/or oil sludge at and around the combustion chamber. Over the course of service, environmental and operational particulate matter can accumulate within an engine, forming a sludge. As the sludge circulates along with the oil within the engine, the particulate matter can accumulate at the sealing points associated with a combustion chamber, thereby causing the seals to fail. Cleaning up the sludge and particulate matter can involve opening up the engine and manually cleaning each affected component part, which means removing the engine from service and costing several hours of labor.


A thin film transistor (10) may include a substrate (100); a buffer layer (300) on a surface of the substrate (100); an active layer (400) on a surface of the buffer layer (300) opposite from the substrate (100); a gate insulating layer (500) on a surface of the active layer (400) opposite from the substrate (100), and a gate (600) on a surface of the gate insulating layer (500) opposite from the substrate (100). A width of the active layer (400) may be smaller than a width of the gate (600), and an orthographic projection of the gate (600) on the substrate (100) may cover an orthographic projection of the active layer (400) on the substrate (100).

The present display panels include liquid crystal display (LCD) panels and organic light-emitting diode display (OLED) panels. Thin film transistors (TFTs) are core components in a display panel and are arranged in an array in the display panel as switch devices of pixel units of the display panel. In a conventional thin film transistor, the width of the active layer is equal to the width of the gate. Because the width of the active layer is relatively long, the thin film transistor has a small on-state current. To reduce the width of the gate directly, however, is more likely to lead to disconnections.

Thin film transistor, fabricating method thereof, display substrate and display apparatus

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


A method transmits audio signals to exercise machines of a training class including providing a control unit accessible to a trainer user managing a training class. Exercise machines operatively connect to the control unit by a data communication network. The exercise machines include a first group of exercise machines used in the training class. The control unit and each exercise machine of the first group establish a data communication channel for transmitting audio signals between the control unit and the first group of exercise machines. The control unit receives a first audio signal representative of a voice control by the trainer user and a second audio signal representative of a piece of music selected by the trainer user. The control unit sends the encoded first and second audio signals to all exercise machines of the first group of exercise machines by the communication channel.

Nowadays, the concept of training class, i.e. training of multiple users each on an exercise machine of a plurality of exercise machines of the same type (e.g. treadmills or bikes) arranged inside the same location (gym or club) is very widespread.
The training class is managed and coordinated by a coach or personal trainer who, by voice, in addition to motivating and encouraging users during the training, indicates when imparting commands to the respective exercise machine (e.g. a change of gradient/speed in a treadmill or a change of resistance on a bike) so that a specific training program previously chosen by the personal trainer for that training class on that specific plurality of exercise machines can be followed and respected.
This training method is not free from faults.
Indeed, it appears difficult for a user to be able to clearly recognize and properly understand the voice commands provided by the personal trainer.
This is firstly due to the excessive noise which may be present in the location intended for training class (e.g. music or background noise).
Furthermore, it is worth noting that there are gyms or clubs in which no closed spaces can be univocally intended for a training class but simply open spaces distributed inside the gym or club.
In this configuration, the noise which could disturb the individual user is not just that of the single training class but may be the noise present in the entire gym and that of all training classes present.
Such drawback is even more apparent considering the possible distraction of the user due to the physical effort of the training program.
Therefore, the users of the same training class risk not being mutually coordinated or being able to respect the training program previously prepared by the personal trainer for that class as best as possible.
Furthermore, some users of the training class could impart incorrect commands to their respective exercise machine also if they are breathless due to the excessive effort with the risk of physical problems, falling from the exercise machine and so on.

Method and system for transmitting audio signals to exercise machines of a training class


A power distribution system may incorporate a network communication capability. The network communication capability may be configured or may be configurable as a multi-tiered, mesh network. The network may have two tiers of fixed node meshes (tier 2 and tier 3) and one tier of mobile nodes mesh (tier 1). Each tier and each node of each tier has distinct characteristics relative to application, type of routing, transmit power control, physical configuration and message priorities. The configuration and the characteristics of the network change based upon varying application and communication needs of the network.

Power distribution systems include technology to couple sources of power to loads while protecting the distribution infrastructure and maintaining service via circuit protection, fault isolation, circuit reconfiguration (typically for restoration of service to stranded, load-side customers) and system return-to-normal functions. For example, the power distribution system may include circuit switching and fault protection devices including: source protection devices, such as circuit breakers, load protection devices, such as fuses, and fault protection devices, such as fault interrupters, sectionalizers, reclosers and the like, that segment a distribution line and permit fault isolation. While various strategies may be employed to manage the power distribution system to maintain service and to protect the power distribution system, typically the fault protection devices should operate in a coordinated manner to optimize performance of the power distribution system and to minimize the scope and duration of service interruptions. That is, to isolate a fault at the fault protection device nearest the fault to protect the source and to preserve service to loads between the source and the fault protection device.
At the same time, the power distribution system should be manageable, recoverable and operable at a high level of performance with reduced burden. These goals become difficult to obtain as the distribution system becomes heavily populated with distributed, intelligent devices that allow an operator to manage and control the distribution of power and protect the distribution infrastructure.
Wide area communication systems have been employed for several decades as a means to enhance the automation of electric power distribution systems to provide management, improved operation and system recovery. These systems are responsible for controlling the distribution of power from sources/substations out over medium voltage feeders/distribution lines to consumers and are typically radio based due to the high cost of providing fiber or other fixed communication media over a wide geographic area. An example of commercial communication products include the Utilinet radio, sold by Schlumberger, Inc. Most of these products are used in conjunction with SCADA systems, or other low to medium-speed communication applications such as the IntelliTEAM® circuit reconfiguration system, available from S&C Electric Company, Chicago, Ill.
Many aspects of the management and control and particularly the fault protection of the power distribution system, on the other hand, require high speed (low latency) and high reliability communications. Such systems are again preferably radio-based to take advantage of the ease and low cost of installation. An example of such a system includes the HRDS system available from S&C Electric Company. These systems utilize dedicated point-to-point links and dedicated communication channels for each pair of communicating devices. A company called Freewave Communications offers a radio-based off-the-shelf product for use in conjunction with the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) mirrored-bits communication protocol. With these two technologies, digital status points can be conveyed between two interconnected distribution automation control devices over radio-based communication infrastructure.
There remain various drawbacks to radio-based, dedicated point-to-point systems:
1) Each point-to-point link requires dedicated infrastructure including dedicated channels and often dedicated radio pairs and repeaters. This makes the cost prohibitive and the installation and maintenance process cumbersome.
2) In grid-style power distribution topologies, it may take many of these point-to-point links to provide comprehensive coordination of protective devices.
3) If the communication link fails, no other communication path can be created "on-the-fly" to restore the communication link.
4) The links cannot be used to exchange other communication traffic because this could compromise the low-latency message delivery requirements of protection applications.
Mesh-topology communication systems or communication systems based upon the Internet's Ad-Hoc Routing methodology and spread-spectrum radios address several of the foregoing concerns, but not all. Bandwidth and/or latency-related issues remain, particularly when the systems are allowed to carry other competing communication traffic. For example, mesh network architecture requires that most nodes in the network have at a minimum communication links to two different nodes to provide alternate routing. Wired networks, e.g., copper or fiber optic, contain communication energy within the communication links between the node and its neighbor nodes. Wireless networks, one the other hand, have traditionally employed broadcast capability, i.e., omni antenna, and the energy utilized to affect a communication is not contained. Nodes not intended to be part of the communication path receive this energy and are thus forced to delay their own transmissions until the spectrum is clear leading to inefficient bandwidth usage and potential latency issues.
What is needed is a communication system that can efficiently manage routine radio communication traffic and that responds quickly, effectively and reliably to prioritized or emergency communication traffic. Such a system may respond to more than one priority of message traffic, and may do so without losing or seriously disrupting lower priority traffic. The communication system may also recognize the presence of prioritized or emergency traffic and respond to that traffic in an effective manner. The communication system may also support complex interconnectivity and alternate communication paths to provide consistent, reliable high speed radio-based communication. The system should do so without requiring complex, time-consuming configuration.

Power distribution system communication system and method


A method wherein a first unit (10) is provided having a field of grip elements (12), and a second unit (20) provided with retention elements (22) suitable for co-operating with the grip elements (12) of the first unit (10) in order to provide a self-gripping fastening. The first and second units are put into contact in such a manner that the grip elements (12) of the first unit and the retention elements (22) of the second unit provide a self-gripping fastening (F). A treatment zone of the self-gripping fastening is treated in order to deform the grip elements (12) of the first unit (10) and/or the retention elements (22) of the second unit (20), whereby the first and second units (10, 20) are permanently secured to each other, thereby forming an assembled structure.

Numerous products are obtained by assembling a plurality of units, in particular a plurality of layers or sheets. This applies in particular to belts, which are generally formed by using heat to assemble together two solid and continuous bands that are separated by a layer of reinforcing cords.
Whatever the application, the various units are positioned relative to one another prior to being secured together. Several problems can then arise. The prepositioned units may be shifted unintentionally, either before or during assembly, thereby slowing down the fabrication process or fabricating a product that is defective and will need to be rejected. Worse, such an unintended shift of one or more of the units can be difficult to detect during fabrication, and might lead to danger for the user of the final product.
In order to mitigate those problems and make the positioning of the various units before and during assembly reliable, proposals have been made to use pre-assembly means such as clamps or staples. Nevertheless, such means can be difficult to remove, thereby making repositioning very difficult in the event of an error. They can also lead to localized stress zones in the product. They can also be impossible to extract, thereby leaving foreign bodies in the final product.
In certain applications, attempts have been made to use adhesive means for pre-assembly since they are less intrusive. For example, in the field of belts, it is known to apply an adhesive composition to the reinforcing cords in order to hold the two bands placed on either side of them in position.
With such means, it still remains difficult after the event to correct poor positioning of the units. Such adhesive means can be difficult to fabricate given the environmental standards and regulations that need to be complied with. They also present the drawback of easily losing their adhesive properties over time or as a consequence of poor storage conditions.

Method of assembling at least two units, and a corresponding assembled structure


The present invention is used to adapt acoustic models, quantized in subspaces, using adaptation training data (such as speaker-dependent training data). The acoustic model is compressed into multi-dimensional subspaces. A codebook is generated for each subspace. An adaptation transform is estimated, and it is applied to codewords in the codebooks, rather than to the means themselves.

The present invention relates to acoustic models in a speech recognition system. More specifically, the present invention relates to adaptation of compressed gaussian models used in computer implemented speech recognition.
A speech recognition system receives a speech signal and attempts to decode the speech signal to identify a string of words represented by the speech signal. Conventional speech recognizers include, among other things, an acoustic model and a language model formed usually from training data. The acoustic model models the acoustic features of speech units (such as phonemes) based on the training data. The language model models word order as found in the training data.
When the speech signal is received for speech recognition, acoustic features are extracted from the speech signal and compared against the models in the acoustic model to identify speech units contained in the speech signal. Potential words are compared against the language model to determine the probability that a word was spoken, given its history (or context).
It is often desirable to design speech recognizers so that they may be used with computer systems with less processing power and/or less memory capabilities without losing speech recognition accuracy. One significant memory intensive portion of a speech recognition system is the storing of the acoustic model. In a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based speech recognition system, the acoustic model commonly consists of tens of thousands of multi-dimensional gaussian probability distributions with diagonal covariance matrices. For example, the gaussian distributions can each be 39 dimensions. Each dimension requires a mean and a variance. Therefore, if a model has 40,000 gaussians of 39 dimensions, each having a mean and a variance, which is typically stored as a four byte floating point value, the model would take over ten megabytes to store.
Storing each mean with a byte and each variance with a byte can be done with scalar quantization and often results in no degradation in error rate and a factor of 4 compression (the model in the example above would be 2.5 MB). One such type of scalar quantization is linear scalar quantization, which can be done by finding the maximum and minimum value of each parameter and linearly quantizing the points in between.
Known clustering techniques can be used to compress the acoustic model so that it takes less memory to store. Generally, this technique is referred to as subspace coding and involves grouping different dimensions together. Typically, the representative gaussian distributions are stored in a codebook for each group of dimensions. The codebooks are stored to form the acoustic model and accessed through an index during speech recognition to process an input signal.
Also, conventionally, acoustic models are trained using many different speakers. Those speakers can be, for example, male and female with different accents and having different voice pitches. The speakers may speak quickly or slowly. The acoustic models are trained using all of these types of speakers to obtain a speaker-independent acoustic model which works well across a broad range of users.
However, it is widely recognized that speaker-dependent acoustic models are more accurate for a given speaker than are speaker-independent acoustic models. In order to adapt acoustic models, in the past, training data was collected from the speaker for which the model was to be adapted. Model transformations were then estimated and applied against the acoustic model. There are a variety of known ways for adapting acoustic models. One conventional technique for adapting conventional acoustic models is set out in Leggetter and Woodland, SPEAKER ADAPTATION OF CONTINUOUS DENSITY HMM USING MULTIVARIATE REGRESSION, Computer Speech and Language, volume 9, pages 171-185 (1994).
However, when models are compressed into subspaces, as discussed above, Gaussians in the acoustic models are quantized in subspaces. The conventional speaker adaptation procedures (such as MLLR) cannot be applied to such models, because the adapted means will no longer be compressed, and would therefore require more memory.

Adaptation of compressed acoustic models


A process for preparing an electroluminescent film which comprises causing a substrate held at a high temperature to simultaneous contact two kinds of vapors of (a) Group II element and a Group VI element or a compound thereof, capable of forming a Group II-VI compound semiconductor, and (b) a halide of an element capable of acting as luminescent centers in the Group II-VI compound semiconductor, in the presence of flowing hydrogen or an inert gas, whereby a thin electroluminescent film comprising the Group II-VI compound semiconductor and containing the element forming the luminescent centers is formed on the surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for preparing an electroluminescent (EL) film. More particularly, it relates to a process for preparing a thin EL film by employing a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique which enables the growth of a thin film of high quality on a mass-production basis. The thin film EL device which is produced by using the process of this invention allows multicolored luminescence with high brightness and is, therefore, applicable to a planar display of high quality for an electronic apparatus, a measuring instrument or the terminal component of a computer, and a planar television as well.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known a thin film EL device which comprises an electroluminescent film made of a semiconductor compound of Group II-VI elements, such as ZnS, ZnSe, CaS, SrS or SrSe, and doped with a rare earth element, such as Tb, Sm, Eu or Ce, for forming luminescent centers.
A typical thin film EL device which is practically employed comprises an electroluminescent film made of ZnS and doped with Mn forming luminescent centers, two insulating layers of high resistivity between which the electroluminescent film is sandwiched, a transparent electrode on the outside of one of the insulating layers and a back electrode on the outside of the other insulating layer.
In order to achieve a high degree of luminance and reliability, the electroluminescent film is required to contain a relatively high concentration of Mn in the range of 0.1 to 1 at.% and have a high degree of crystallinity. Two processes are practically used for preparing such an electroluminescent film. One of them is the electron-beam evaporation technique which employs sintered pellets of a mixture of ZnS and Mn. The other process is the atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) in which Zn, Mn and S are transported in vapor form to a substrate alternately to form mono layers of atoms one upon another (Japanese Patent Publication No. 35158/1982).
Attempts have been made to form EL devices by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) (Tomoyoshi, et al.: "Molecular beam epitaxial ZnSe:Mn dc electroluminescent cell with very low threshold voltage", J. Appl. Phys., 52, September 1981, pp. 5797-5799), and by organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD) (Alan F. Cattell, et al.: "Electroluminescence Fro Films of ZnS: Mn Prepared by Organometallic Chemical Vapor Deposition", IEE TRANSACTION ON ELECTRON DEVICES, vol. ED-30, No. 5, May 1983). Both of these processes are, however, still in the stage of basic research prior to practical use.
Attempts have also been made to employ hydrogen or halogen transport chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for preparing a thin film of a single-crystal compound semiconductor of Group II-VI elements, such as ZnS, for the purpose of making a light-emitting diode or laser. There is, however, not known any case where this CVD technique has been employed to form an electroluminescent film for a thin film EL device by simultaneously doping an element forming luminescent centers which is a kind of impurity.
The EL device is essentially required to have a thin and highly crystalline electroluminescent film in order to realize a high degree of luminance and a reduction in driving voltage. Moreover, it is desirable to employ a film-forming process which makes it possible to dope the film with a high concentration of Mn in a stable and accurately controllable way.
While the electron beam evaporation technique is a process which allows for high film-forming speed and is suitable for use on a mass-production basis, it can form only a film of low crystallinity, since the three-dimensional growth of the nucleus occurs during the initial stage of film formation. The film is, therefore, required to have a large thickness in order to achieve a high degree of luminance, which necessarily brings about an increase in driving voltage. The low crystallinity is also the cause of a reduction in reliability of the film property.
As the film which has been formed by ALE is a product of the two-dimensional growth, it is of high crystallinity and can, therefore, realize a high degree of luminance and a reduction in driving voltage. This process, however, allows a film to grow only very slowly and is, therefore, not suitable for use on a mass-production basis.
While MBE can also form a film of high crystallinity, it has the drawbacks of being unable to form a film having a large area and lacks applicability on a mass-production basis. The OMCVD process is disadvantageous due to the fact that few kinds of organic materials are available for use as a dopant forming luminescent centers.

Process for preparing an electroluminescent film


A thermoformed thermoplastic blister has a forwardly extending bubble which defines a container cavity. A flange extends sidewardly from the bubble and a skirt extends rearwardly from the flange. The skirt is thermoformed with a number of undercut detents which extend inwardly and are spaced approximately the thickness of a paperboard card from the flange. A card is positioned adjacent the blister flange beneath the bubble and within the skirt. The lower portion of the card is affixed such as by heat sealing to the blister flange. The card is formed with a laterally extending fold line or weakened area which divides the card and permits the upper portion of the card to be pivoted rearwardly to alternatively cover and expose the container cavity of the blister. The detents retain the pivoted portion of the card within the skirt. The plastic blister is deformable to allow portions of the card to be pivoted rearwardly past the detents and enable recloseable uncovering of the container cavity.

Display packages are commonly used in retail sales environments where it is desired to present merchandise for visual inspection by the customer. Blister packages feature a transparent bubble, typically produced through a thermoforming process, which is sealed to a backing card. One conventional method of attachment is to place a heat-activated adhesive on the card and apply heat to the card to adhere the flanges of the thermoformed bubble to the card. Display packages with blisters adhered to paperboard backing cards are effective in showcasing the merchandise. However, certain products, such as fasteners and other small items of hardware, are intended to be used only over a period of time. For such products, it is desirable to provide a package which serves as a storage container after purchase as well as a retail package. Thermoformed plastic packages having integralhinged covers with positive snap locking are known. These packages provide an attractive and functional container, but can require high initial tooling costs and material costs not always justified by the product to be carried in the package. Furthermore, blister card packages are known which utilize cut-outs or tabs on the backing card to engage with elements of the plastic blister in a recloseable manner. These packages are deficient in that they provide an opportunity for articles to protrude, or possibly to escape from the package between the card and the blister.
What is needed is an economical display package which may be displayed for retail sale, and after sale may be repeatedly and effectively closed and opened to serve as a storage container, which utilizes minimal materials.


An infrared electric liquid heater includes an elongated emitter unit contained within an outer containment tube to define an annular volume through which the to-be-heated water flows. The emitter unit includes a tubular silica-composition envelope that comes into direct contact with the water to be heated. A tungsten filament is contained within the envelope and is supported along the longitudinal axis by spaced-apart filament supports. The envelope is fabricated from a silica composition discovered to provide unique structural properties; the envelope drawn from a melt (by volume) of 99.88% to 99.94% pure silica (SiO.sub.2), 0.04% to 0.08% crystalline sodium borax (Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10H.sub.2), and 0.2% to 0.04% hydroxide of potassium (KOH). This composition has demonstrated a structural strength that allows for a high efficiency in-line, instant-on heater using only a single silica wall separating the electrically energized filament from the liquid being heated. The interior of the envelope is filled with an argon/krypton/hydrogen bromide gas mixture that re-deposits any metallic vapor arising from the filament back onto the surface of the filament to avoid undesired deposition of the material of the filament onto the inner surface of the envelope. The tungsten filament emits strongly between 1.mu. and 1.2.mu. in the near-infrared band. The containment tube is provided with a gold-deposited reflective surface to enhance the overall efficiency of the heater.

The present invention relates to infrared electric liquid heaters, and, more particularly, to infrared electric water heaters of the type in which an electrically heated filament irradiates a stream of water to increase the water temperature.
Water is typically heated electrically by using immersion-type heaters that are mounted within a water-filled vessel. The generic immersion-type heater includes a resistance wire that is contained within a ceramic matrix which, in turn, is sealed within a metal containment sheath. Electric current is passed through the resistance wire with the heat generated by the wire conducted through the ceramic matrix and the metal sheath into the surrounding water. The heat is transferred primarily by conduction to the water immediately adjacent the containment sheath with the heated water forming convection circuits. These types of heaters are generally well-suited for their intended purpose. Since the immersion heaters rely on conduction as their principal heat transfer mode, they cannot be characterized as fast-acting devices and are not suited for in-line, instant-on water heaters where the water temperature is raised as the water flows from an inlet to and towards an outlet.
Various types of in-line, instant-on water heaters have been proposed. In their simplest form, an elongated immersion-type heater can be introduced into a water-carrying conduit to heat the water as it flows in the conduit. Since the heat transfer mode is primarily by conduction, only that water closest to the hot surface of the heater will undergo a temperature rise. In general, traditional immersion-type heater elements are not optimal in this type of application.
Efforts have been directed toward infrared in-line heaters. In the most straightforward organization, an elongated tubular infrared lamp is mounted along a central axis in a water-carrying conduit. The infrared lamp typically includes a tungsten filament supported within a quartz or silica envelope with the exterior surface of the envelope in direct contact with the water in the conduit. The filament, when energized, emits strongly in the mid-infrared range that is believed to be optimal for heating water by radiant energy. The infrared energy irradiates the water flowing in the confined annular space between the outer surface of the quartz or silica envelope that defines the lamp and the interior surface of the conduit. The interior surface of the conduit is desirably reflective to minimize heat transfer through the conduit and maximize radiant energy flux in the annular volume through which the to-be-heated water flows. In this structural organization, the infrared filament functions to heat the water-contacting surface of its quartz or silica envelope so that water contacting that surface is immediately heated by conduction. Also, the infrared filament also functions to irradiate the flowing water and heat the water as the radiation is absorbed by the flowing water.
While the above-described organization appears to represent sound engineering practice, my past experience has shown that the material of the quartz or silica envelope typically used in the infrared lamp cannot structurally withstand the temperature differentials and thermal stresses involved. For example, it is well known that small amounts of water inadvertently splashed onto the surface of a hot halogen lamp will induce transient stress-gradients that can cause immediate and catastrophic fracture of envelope. As can be appreciated, any breaching of the lamp envelope in an in-line water heater context will allow the water to come into contact with the electrical circuit components. My past attempts to develop an instant-on, in-line heater have been thwarted by problems associated with the inability of the envelope surrounding the filament to withstand the stress associated with the introduction of the to-be-heated water onto the surface of the infrared lamp when the lamp is at temperature.
In an effort to compensate for the afore-described drawback, in-line heaters have interposed another quartz or silica tube around the surface of the infrared lamp. An example of this intermediate-tube construction is shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,282 issued to Marinoza on Aug. 13, 1985. While this intermediate tube separates the to-be-heated water from the envelope of the infrared-emitting lamp, the intermediate tube also diminishes the thermal efficiency of the device. My experiments using an intermediate tube surrounding the lamp have demonstrated that the intermediate tube structural organization was not efficient enough for use as an in-line, instant-on water heater. Accordingly, the nature of the quartz or silica material that has historically defined the envelope that surrounds the infrared-emitting filament has prevented the fabrication of a practical, high-efficiency, instant-on in-line heater in which the water to-be-heated is in direct contact with the surface of the envelope that surrounds the filament.

High-efficiency infrared electric liquid-heater


A nonvolatile memory device includes first and second conductive layers, a resistance change layer, and a rectifying element. The first conductive layer has first and second major surfaces. The second conductive layer has third and fourth major surfaces, a side face, and a corner part. The third major surface faces the first major surface and includes a plane parallel to the first major surface and is provided between the fourth and first major surfaces. The corner part is provided between the third major surface and the side face and has a curvature higher than that of the third major surface. The resistance change layer is provided between the first and second conductive layers. The rectifying element faces the second major surface of the first conductive layer. An area of the third major surface is smaller than that of the second major surface.

In a resistance change type memory, the characteristic is not deteriorated easily even when downscaled, and it is easy to increase the storage capacity. Therefore, the resistance change type memory attracts attention as a next generation nonvolatile memory. In the resistance change type memory, characteristics in which the resistance of a resistance change film is changed by applying a voltage to the resistance change film and passing a current to the resistance change film are used.
In Japanese Patent No. 416682, a configuration is proposed in which the thickness of an upper electrode on a resistance change layer is increased continuously from the periphery part to the central part and the contact surface between the upper electrode and the resistance change layer is formed in convex like toward a substrate side to make a bowl-like shape, in order to recover a failure of the operation.
However, there is room for improvement in stabilization of operation.

Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing same


An exhaust system for a small boat is constructed in such a manner that an exhaust pipe extends rearwardly from an engine provided in a hull of the boat. A water muffler is provided in the exhaust pipe, and exhaust gas is discharged through a water lock pipe extending upward from a water muffler. A water lock pipe has an inverted U-shape. A resonator chamber for attenuating resonance of the water lock pipe is provided in the water muffler. The resulting configuration provides an effective system for reducing exhaust noise emanating from the small boat.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-269463 filed on Sep. 5, 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an engine mounted on a small boat, for example, a boat propelled by jet water from a jet pump.
2. Description of Background Art
A jet propulsion boat is a vessel provided with a jet pump mounted at the rear portion of the hull. An engine drives the jet pump to propel the boat by drawing in water from the vessel bottom, and then splashing the water in a rearward direction.
The jet propulsion boat disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 212936/1998, entitled xe2x80x9cEXHAUST SYSTEM FOR A SMALL PLANING BOATxe2x80x9d, is known. This jet propulsion boat comprises a water muffler disposed midway in the exhaust pipe. FIG. 3 of this patent has been reproduced herein as FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing the water muffler of the above described related art.
Cooling water used for cooling exhaust gas flows from the insert port 101 of the water muffler 100 into the second chamber 103, as shown by the arrow (a). Then, the cooling water flows from the second chamber 103 flows via the first chamber 102 into the third chamber 104.
On the other hand, exhaust gas discharged from the engine flows from the internal tube 105 of the water muffler 100 into the first chamber 102, as shown by the arrow (b). Exhaust gas from the first chamber 102 flows through a communication cylinder 106 to the second chamber 103, and thereafter, flows through the communication cylinder 107 and into the third chamber 104.
Lastly, the exhaust gas in the third chamber 104, as well as the cooling water which has been trapped in the third chamber 104, flow together out through the exhaust pipe 108.
With this water muffler 100, it is possible to lower exhaust noise to a certain level by flowing exhaust gas into the expansion chambers of the first to third chambers and expanding exhaust gas therein. However, it is difficult to sufficiently eliminate the noise merely by the expansion of gas. Thus, an exhaust system having a sound-deadening resonator disposed in the exhaust pipe has been proposed in order to further lower the noise. Exhaust noise can be lowered by resonating with the resonator.
However, in order to provide a resonator in the exhaust pipe, it is necessary to secure a storing space for storing the resonator in the hull. The interior of the hull of most small boats is limited in size. Thus, in addition to planning for the space required for storing the resonator, consideration must be given to laying out the variety of accessories that also must be mounted in the hull of the vessel. Finding storage space in the hull for all of the required components, in addition to a resonator, has proved to be difficult.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust system for a small boat that can be stored in a practical manner, which at the same time can achieve the desired reduction in noise.
In order to solve this problem, a first aspect of the present invention provides a small boat in which an exhaust pipe extends rearwardly from the engine provided in the hull. A water muffler is disposed in the exhaust pipe, and exhaust gas is discharged through the water lock pipe in the inverted U-shape extending upward from the water muffler. Further, a resonator chamber for attenuating the resonance of a water lock pipe is provided in the water muffler.
The resonator chamber here refers to a sound box for attenuating resonance of the water lock pipe by utilizing the principle of resonance.
Since the resonator chamber for attenuating resonance of the water lock pipe is provided in the water muffler, it is not necessary to secure a separate storage space for a resonator in the limited space in the hull.
Therefore, the layout of the various accessories required for a vessel can be determined relatively easily.
In addition, by forming the resonator chamber by using a water muffler, the number of the members for constituting the resonator can be reduced. Thus, the resonator can easily be provided, and its cost can be reduced.
In a second aspect of the present invention, an expansion chamber is provided in the water muffler. Further, the extension chamber and the resonator chamber are able to communicate with each other by a communication pipe, the communication pipe being disposed above the level of the cooling water in the water muffler.
The communication pipe which enables the expansion chamber and the resonator chamber to communicate is disposed above the water level in the water muffler. Therefore, since the communication pipe is not closed by cooling water, the expansion chamber and the resonator chamber can freely communicate with each other at all times. Since characteristics of the resonator chamber are maintained, the resonance of the water lock pipe can be attenuated.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Exhaust structure of exhaust system for a boat


An air vent with a damper for redirecting air flow within the air vent is provided. The air vent can include a housing that has an air inlet end and an air outlet end. In addition, the air vent has the damper within the housing, the damper having a generally flat surface and being movable between a closed position and an open position. At least one fin can be rigidly attached to and extend from the damper, for the purpose of redirecting air flow through the housing when the damper is in the open position. In some instances, a plurality of fins can extend from the damper, with at least one fin extending from an air inlet side of the damper and at least one fin extending from an air outlet side of the damper. The fins can extend from the generally flat surface of the damper at an angle between 15 and 165 degrees and in some instances extend in a generally normal direction from the damper flat surface. The orientation of the at least one fin relative to the housing affords for redirection of air flow coming through the air inlet end such that it is in alignment with the air outlet end.

Air vents are typically provided in the dashboards and/or other areas within the interior of motor vehicles in order to control the supply of air from the vehicle air ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning system into the passenger compartment. Looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, a typical air vent can include a housing 10 with an air inlet 12 and an air outlet 14. The air inlet 12 can be attached to an air duct coming from the air ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning system of the motor vehicle. The air outlet 14 provides for air to enter into the passenger compartment. In some instances, the air vent will include a damper 20 which can be moved between an open position and a closed position such that air coming from the air ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning system of the motor vehicle can be prevented or allowed to exit housing 10 via the air outlet 14. It is not uncommon for the air vent to include at least one set of exit vanes, and in some instances include both horizontal exit direction vanes 30 and vertical exit direction vanes 40. The exit vanes 30 and 40 afford for an individual to direct air exiting the air outlet 14 to a number of different positions within the passenger compartment.
Looking specifically at FIG. 2, the housing 10 has a jog 50 such that the air inlet 12 is not collinear with the air outlet 14. In such cases, the flow of air as shown by the arrows can arrive at the air outlet 14 in an offset or biased manner, not be aligned with the exit vanes and result in an inefficient and/or undesirable delivery of air into the passenger compartment. Therefore, an improved air vent that would redirect air flow within such an air vent would be desirable.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing Norht America, Inc.


An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a search unit which broadcasts a search message for searching for a connectable host device, a communication interface unit which receives a response message for notifying that a print job is executable from host devices in response to the search message, a user interface unit which displays host devices corresponding to the received response message and receives a selection from a user regarding a host device to be connected from among the displayed host devices, and a controller which controls the communication interface unit to transmit a connection message for requesting connection with the image forming apparatus to the selected host device.

1. Field
Aspects of the exemplary embodiments relate to an image forming apparatus, a host device and a print controlling method, and, more particularly, to an image forming apparatus which is capable of searching a host device and connecting to the searched host device, and a host device and a print controlling method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an image forming apparatus refers to an apparatus which prints print data generated by a print controlling terminal, such as a computer, on a recording paper, and examples of such an image forming apparatus include a copier, a printer, a fax machine, and a multi-function peripheral (MFP) which combines the functions of the aforementioned apparatuses into one apparatus.
Before a print controlling terminal performs a print job using an image forming apparatus, the print controlling terminal should be connected to the image forming apparatus.
Conventionally, the print controlling terminal searches for a connectable image forming apparatus, selects one of the searched or found image forming apparatuses, and connects to the selected image forming apparatus.
Recently, with the development of a mobile print environment, a print job is often performed in a new environment, and usually there are a plurality of connectable image forming apparatuses in an office or a campus environment. In order to select an image forming apparatus to connect, a user should have information on a model name or an IP address of the image forming apparatus to connect.
If the user does not know the model name or an IP address of the image forming apparatus to which to connect, the user should access the image forming apparatus to identify its model name and IP address, and this causes inconvenience to the user.

Image forming apparatus, host device and print controlling method


A method of online control of a slag-forming process of gasification of a carbonaceous solid fuel, especially coal, in a gasification reactor with supply of a gasifying agent and a moderator is provided. Certain embodiments relate to a gasification process for producing a product gas including carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a solid fuel, to a computer program for online control of the slag-forming gasification process, and to a plant for conducting a gasification process for producing a product gas including carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a solid fuel. Certain aspects of the invention combine an online solid fuel analysis with a process model in order to operate a gasification process for solid fuels by the feed-forward principle at the thermodynamically optimal operating point. The invention permits the establishment of the operating point in real time in order to react to rapid variations in the composition of the solid fuel. Certain embodiments also permit the complete automation of the gasification process.

Slag-forming gasification processes for production of product gases containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) are known from the prior art. For example, carbon from coal is converted to synthesis gas, a mixture of CO and H2, in coal gasification under elevated pressure and at high temperatures. In general, in the gasification of coal, a distinction is made between fixed-bed, fluidized-bed and entrained-flow gasification. According to the deposit, coal has a greater or lesser proportion of inorganic minerals. The minerals obtained as ash residue in the gasification are discharged from the gasification reactor as liquid slag in slag-forming gasification methods.
Online solid fuel analyses for determination of the composition of solid fuels, for example coal, have to date been employed in the field of coal burning for power generation. The advantage of an online solid fuel analysis lies in the short delay between sampling of the solid fuel and delivery of the desired analysis result. By comparison with conventional laboratory methods that typically take several hours of analysis time, online solid fuel analyses enable incorporation in real-time into the process control system of the plant in question, for example a coal power plant.
Gasification processes, for example the gasification of coal, are typically conducted at elevated pressure (up to 68 bar) and high temperatures (900 to 1800° C.). Owing to these extreme conditions, and as a result of the presence of corrosive slag melts, direct measurements of important process parameters are not directly possible. Examples of such process parameters are the slag flow (mass flow rate) and the temperature in the gasification reactor. As a result, it is necessary to utilize indirect measurement parameters for the control of gasification processes. For example, the process temperature can be estimated via the input of heat into the reactor cooling system, the temperature measurement in the reactor wall, or the content of methane (CH4) or carbon dioxide (CO2) in the product gas (see, for example, Gräbner, M.: "Industrial Coal Gasification Technologies Covering Baseline and High-Ash Coal", Wiley-VCH, ISBN 978-3-527-33690-6, 2014). One disadvantage of such measurement and control methods is that the measurement is indirect. Another is that the methods mentioned are feedback methods. These work on the basis of measurements that are only made after the actual gasification reaction in the reactor, without taking account of the composition of the solid fuel prior to entry into the reactor in any way. Owing to the indirect measurement, the control system can thus intervene in the process only when the crucial step in the process, the gasification of the solid fuel, has already occurred.
Rapid variations in the solid fuel quality, especially in the ash content and the ash composition, cannot be detected in a laboratory owing to the long intervals between the individual solid fuel analyses. Moreover, on account of indirect measurements of process parameters, it is frequently not possible to draw any clear conclusions for the plant operation. Since these indirect measurements also frequently work by the feedback principle, these react to changes in the gasification process only with large time delays. As a result, on the basis of the results thus achieved, it is frequently impossible to draw any clear conclusions for the plant operation.
Thus, most solid fuel gasifiers are not operated optimally. A solid fuel analysis frequently conducted just once daily is usually available only after the solid fuel in question has already been gasified. Belated manual interventions into the gasification process on the basis of contradictory trends of indirect measurement parameters and those ascertained by the feedback principle thus cannot establish the ideal operating point of the gasifier. Furthermore, automation of the gasification process on the basis of indirect measurement parameters is barely possible.
A particularly serious problem in gasification methods is that of rapid variations in the solid fuel quality. These are encountered not just in the case of coal but also in the case of other biogenic solid fuels (biomass, sewage sludge) and wastes. Since solid fuels are transported with the aid of conveyor belts into silos or reservoir vessels, segregation by grain size, density, moisture or type (for example in the case of coal mixtures) is unavoidable at all transfer points. As a result, it is possible for significant variations in solid fuel quality to arise within short periods of time, such as a few hours, for the operation of the gasifier. For instance, the inventors, in the operation of plants for slag-forming fly ash gasification of coal, found that the real ash content can vary by several percent by weight (% by weight) from the reference ash content. For example, it was ascertained that, given a measured reference ash content of 13% by weight, the real ash content at the gasification reactor inlet could vary between 11% by weight and 18% by weight. If the reference operating point of the gasification reactor is nevertheless retained because the variation is undetectable, either product gas (for example synthesis gas) is burnt or a poor carbon conversion is achieved, according to whether the real ash content is higher or lower than the reference ash content.
In the case of a higher real ash content compared to the reference ash content, the result is that the temperature in the gasification reactor is too high owing to the exothermic combustion of the product gas. As a result of this, the lifetime of the burner is reduced, the consumption of gasifying agent (for example oxygen) is higher than required in principle (oversupply of oxygen in relation to carbon), product gas production is reduced, and elevated CO2 emissions occur, both from the gasification process itself and as a result of the elevated electrical energy demand in the oxygen production.
In the case of a lower real ash content compared to the reference ash content, the result is that insufficient gasifying agent (for example oxygen) is provided in relation to the higher carbon content of the solid fuel. As a result of this, the temperature in the gasification reactor falls significantly as a result of the carbon excess, which can lead to solidification of the slag and hence to an emergency shutdown of the plant. A further result of this is that some of the carbon is not converted to product gas, which leads to undesirably high amounts of carbon in the ash/slag and in the quench water, which has to be removed therefrom and disposed of in a costly and inconvenient manner. A further result of this is a distinct drop in the amount of product gas per unit carbon supplied, which correspondingly leads to productivity losses.
The instantaneous variations in the solid fuel quality additionally have the result that the significant operational fluctuations that result therefrom also affect the abovementioned indirect measurement parameters. For instance, the indirect measurement parameters are affected by varying removal of heat to the reactor cooling system and steam production therein owing to temperature variations and an altered slag outflow, by variations in the amount and composition of the product gas, and by variations in the composition of the slag. Owing to these problems, it is regularly necessary to intervene manually into the operation of the gasification plant.
Economic boundary conditions frequently also entail frequent changing of the solid fuel in gasification plants, use of inferior fuels with high ash content and hence also slag content, and the need to add fluxes to improve the rheological properties of the slag and to use fuel mixtures (for example coal blends). As a result, the variations in fuel quality that exist in any case are aggravated by further inhomogeneities in the solid fuel.
In summary, it can be stated that it is not directly possible to establish the optimal operating point of a gasification reactor on the basis of available technology owing to variations in the quality of the solid fuel, especially owing to variations in the ash content and the ash composition. Deviations from the optimal operating point of the gasification reactor will lead to elevated energy consumption of the plant, reduced product gas yield, elevated wear and elevated CO2 emissions, to name just a few disadvantages.

Method of online control of a slag forming gasification process and plant for a gasification process

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude


A frequency stabilizing apparatus includes a power detecting method control amount calculator, a frequency detecting method control amount calculator, and a command value calculator. The power detecting method control amount calculator generates a first command value based on demand and supply imbalance of power in an isolated island system. The frequency detecting method control amount calculator generates a second command value based on a change in a frequency of the power in the isolated island system. The command value calculator generates a command value to be given to a first storage battery based on the first command value and the second command value.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frequency stabilizing apparatus for an isolated system, which gives a control command to a storage battery capable of adjusting power on an isolated system for power supply.
Description of the Background Art
In a power plant, supply of power from a power generator is adjusted to meet a power demand changed moment by moment. A fluctuation in the power demand described herein includes a fluctuation in power consumed by a customer, and furthermore, a fluctuation in regenerable energy power generation such as wind power generation or solar power generation installed by the customer or a power generation operator, and a fluctuation caused by parallel off due to an accident.
A frequency of a power system has such a feature that the frequency is reduced if consumption is larger than supply and is increased if the consumption is smaller than the supply. In some cases in which a frequency of power is changed greatly from a specified value, however, an apparatus of the customer is affected. It is anticipated that power generating equipment is also influenced if a deviation is further increased, and service interruption occurs in the worst case. In the power plant, therefore, by performing a demand and supply operation, demand and supply balance of the power is taken in such a manner that a frequency of power is maintained to be a specified value. In the case in which a power generator or a power generator controller detects a deviation of a frequency from a reference frequency to be a reference of the frequency, usually, power supplied from the power generator is adjusted depending on the deviation, thereby controlling to return the frequency into the specified value (reference frequency).
In general, the control is delay control. In the case in which a speed of the fluctuation in the demand exceeds an adjusted speed through the power generator, moreover, the control is delayed so that the frequency deviates from the reference frequency for a while. The adjusted speed differs depending on an operating state of the power generator (a total of rated outputs of the power generator which is being operated). For example, if a total value of rated output values of the power generator which is being operated is increased, the adjusted speed is increased and can follow a high change speed.
The power supplied from the power generator has the feature described above. In recent years, introduction of a power generator for converting regenerable energy into electric energy has progressed. The regenerable energy has such a feature that a fluctuation in an output is great and the fluctuation in demand tends to exceed the adjusted speed. In the future from now, therefore, it is supposed that there is a high possibility of the occurrence of an unstable phenomenon in a frequency described above. For this reason, as in the technique disclosed in International Publication No. WO2013/140916 and Japanese Patent No. 4672525, it is variously investigated to add storage battery equipment (hereinafter referred to as a "storage battery") including a capacitor and an inverter and to stabilize a frequency by causing an output of the storage battery to follow the fluctuation in the demand which cannot be followed properly by the power generator. Such a system stabilizing method is also investigated in a large-scale power system in addition to an isolated island.
Referring to a small-scale isolated system such as an isolated island, influence of demand and supply imbalance (a shift of demand and supply balance) on a frequency is particularly large. As described above, moreover, a shift amount of the demand and supply balance and a frequency deviation (a change in a frequency from the reference frequency) are varied depending on an operating state of the power generator at that time.
On the other hand, in the technique described in the International Publication No. WO2013/140916, a command value to be given to the storage battery is generated based on an interconnection point tidal current value and a power generator change rate limit value. Consequently, a change in the output of the power generator is limited to reduce the frequency deviation, in order not to influence the frequency.
Referring to the technique disclosed in the International Publication No. WO2013/140916, however, also in the case in which the frequency deviation is not perfectly cancelled, the storage battery does not execute control for positively cancelling the frequency deviation after the interconnection point tidal current value is stabilized into a certain value. For this reason, control for stabilizing the frequency is executed by only the control of the frequency through the power generator. As a result, there is a problem in that a slight frequency deviation is present for a comparatively long period of time.

Frequency stabilizing apparatus for isolated system


A method for monitoring the pH of a patient includes the step of providing a magnetic resonance system having a magnet with a bore configured to receive a portion of a finger of a patient without receiving a substantially larger portion of the body of the patient. The method proceeds by inserting the finger of the patient into the bore of the magnet and monitoring the pH level of capillary bed tissue in the finger with the magnetic resonance system. Preferably, the system is configured to monitor the spectrum of phosphorus-31 metabolites in the finger and produce information in the form of a normalized phosphorous integral ratio indicative of the spectral area in order to alert an operator of the occurrence of a condition in which the normalized phosphorous integral ratio is greater than one in the setting of decreasing pH, as indicative of capillary bed tissue shock--lactic acidosis. In line with the above, a digital magnetic resonance system includes a superconducting magnet for producing a magnetic field for magnetic resonance monitoring purposes, and a control system operatively coupled to the magnet for cooperating with the magnet in order to produce and display magnetic resonance information related to the portion of the body of a patient. The magnetic has a bore for receiving a portion of the body of a patient, and the bore has a size sufficient to receive a portion of a linger of a patient without receiving a substantially larger portion of the body of the patient. Preferably, the magnet is sufficiently small to enable use in a conventional hospital operating room.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to diagnostic medicine, and more particularly to a digital magnetic resonance (MR) method and system for patient monitoring and diagnosis.
2. Background Information
Recall that some magnetic resonance procedures (MRPs) place the patient directly into the bore of a very large superconducting magnet for diagnosis. The magnetic field within the bore produces an equilibrium condition amongst nuclei in the patient's body that brief pulses of radio frequency (RF) energy upset. The nuclei respond to the pulses by changing spin energy states and thereby producing weak RF signals at distinct resonant frequencies that computerized equipment detects and processes for the information conveyed.
Such MRPs proceed noninvasively and without harmful radiation effects, and patients appreciate the absence of needles, contrast agents, and radioisotopes. For many such reasons, MRPs, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), continue to grow as valuable clinical and research tools. Details of existing technology appear abundantly in the literature. For further background material and examples, see the articles and references in the publication by Michael Brant-Zawadzki and David Norman entitled Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Central Nervous System (published in 1987 by Raven Press Books, Library of Congress No. RC361.5.M34).
Of the various nuclei useful for MRPs, that of phosphorus-31 (P.sub.31) attracts particular attention. Metabolites are present in vivo in the millimolar concentration range needed for convenient observation and they offer a wealth of information. Observed in a P.sub.31 spectrum, various metabolites present an almost ideal picture of real-time processes or energy metabolism taking place in vivo. Further, the relative ratios of various metabolites serve as fingerprints in identifying various organs, tissues, disease states, and even aging. In addition, various ones help determine pH and others help measure the rates of bioenergetic reactions in vivo.
Thus, MRPs promise significant advantages over existing procedures in noninvasively and continuously measuring pH and detecting tissue normoxia and hypoxia. Existing procedures may involve arterial puncture and blood gas analysis, pulmonary artery catheterization and mixed venous O.sub.2 saturation monitoring, and analysis of blood electrolytes and lactic acid level. Beyond the invasive nature of such procedures, pH is subject to change suddenly based on respiratory status, O.sub.2 carrying capacity of blood, and tissue demand and perfusion. In addition, arterial sampling is expensive, potentially dangerous, and time consuming, making results irrelevant to the needs of a patient whose status is changing.
But various problems in existing MRPs need to be overcome to effectively use P.sub.31 for noninvasive and continuous pit and bioenergetics monitoring. For example, the procedure of placing the patient in the bore of a large magnet can be a somewhat unusual and potentially claustrophobic experience. Many seriously ill patients are too unstable to be placed in a large magnet where they are inaccessible to immediate resuscitation. In addition, it may interfere with other procedures the clinician desires to undertake. Furthermore, the cost and complexity of the magnet may be prohibitive, and suitably large facilities to house the magnet and associated equipment may be unavailable. Thus, health care professionals need a better procedure and associated equipment to effectively use P.sub.31 MRS for pH and bioenergetics monitoring.

Digital magnetic resonance shock-monitoring method


A system including: at least one processor; and at least one memory having stored thereon computer program code that, when executed by the at least one processor, controls the system to: receive a data model identification and a dataset; in response to determining that the data model does not contain a hierarchical structure, perform expectation propagation on the dataset to approximate the data model with a hierarchical structure; divide the dataset into a plurality of channels; for each of the plurality of channels: divide the data into a plurality of microbatches; process each microbatch of the plurality of microbatches through parallel iterators; and process the output of the parallel iterators through single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) layers; and asynchronously merge results of the SIMD layers.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence are increasingly important tools for automating and improving processes. For example, such tools may be used for fraud detection, operations monitoring, natural language processing and interactions, and environmental analysis. Many of these cases requires fitting (e.g., training) increasingly sophisticated models to large datasets containing millions of data units, each with hundreds of features (e.g., "big data"). However, by relying on large datasets, model modification and data updates require time and processor intensive re-training.
In the related art, certain libraries (e.g., MLib for Apache Spark or H2O ML platform) effectively implement a limited number of models on large datasets. However, such libraries only support a limited range of model types, which are not calibrated to all problems. Therefore, if such libraries are used outside of this limited range, they may provide false results, which can cause compound errors. For many problems, richer model structures are required to properly fit particular datasets and provide valuable analysis. Currently, custom models may be developed for particular use cases, but such customization requires extensive fitting to the dataset, which is a very expensive process (in terms of time and processor power) and not easily parallelizable within distributed computing.
Accordingly, certain there is a need for improved systems and methods to process a wide range of customized models at scale. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a distributed computing framework for executing arbitrary models at "big data" scale. Moreover, some aspects of the present disclosure provide tools for building generative models (e.g., Bayesian generative models) flexibly.

Systems and methods of parallel and distributed processing of datasets for model approximation


A method and system for privately retrieving selected information from a database. The method includes determining, at a server, a first commodity and a second commodity, communicating the first commodity to an inquiring processor and the second commodity to the database, and retrieving the selected information from the database based on the first commodity and the second commodity such that the selected information is not revealed to the database. The first and second commodities may, for example, include a random address in the database and a private information retrieval query for encoding the random address, respectively. The inquiring processor determines an address offset based on the random address and the address of selected information in the database, and sends the address offset to the database. The database cyclically shift its contents according the address offset, and executes the query on the cyclically shifted contents. The database then sends the result of the query to the inquiring processor, which extracts from the result the selected information in the database.

The present invention relates generally to information retrieval from electronic storage devices, and more particularly, to a method and system for private information retrieval from an electronic storage device using one or more servers.
With the advancement of Internet communications, the need for private information retrieval is increasing. For example, if a company maintains an Internet website with a complete listing of patents, competitors may be interested in searching those patents when introducing competitive products or services. Without privacy from the inquirer, the company can monitor database inquiries into its patent portfolio and gain knowledge as to the identity of the patents in which the competitors are interested. Thus, there is a need for privately retrieving selected information from an electronic storage device such that the information is not revealed to the storage device.
Private information retrieval ("PIR") schemes allow a user to retrieve information from an electronic storage device while maintaining the privacy of the queries from the electronic storage device. As used herein, "electronic storage device" refers to any processing system that stores information that a user at an inquiring processor may wish to retrieve. Moreover, the terms "electronic storage device" and "database" will be used interchangeably and should be understood in their broadest sense.
The least sophisticated method for performing a private information retrieval is to request a copy of the entire database. This, of course, hides the particular information sought by the inquiring processor, but requires an impractical exchange of information between the database and the inquiring processor. Moreover, when a database is large and its contents frequently change, the inquiring processor must receive frequent and possibly costly updates whenever the database changes.
Another PIR method requires replication of the database at alterative sites that do not communicate with one another. This replication technique is disclosed in B. Chor and O. Goldreich et al., "Private Information Retrieval," 36th Annual IEEE Symposium On Foundations Of Computer Science (1995), A. Ambainis, "Upper Bound On The Communication Complexity Of Private Information Retrieval," in the proceedings of 24th International Colloquium on Automata Languages and Programming, Volume 1256 (1997), B. Chor and N. Gilboa, "Computationally Private Information Retrieval," 29th Symposium On The Theory Of Computing, and R. Ostrovsky and V. Shoup, "Private Information Storage," 29th Symposium On The Theory Of Computing. To assure privacy of the requested information, this method requires replication of the database at alternative sites that do not communicate with one another.
An improved PIR method that does not require replication of a database at alternative sites is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/087,893, entitled "Method And Apparatus For Private Information Retrieval From A Single Electronic Storage Device," and E. Kushilevitz and R. Ostrovsky, "Replication Is Not Needed: Single Database, Computationally Private Information Retrieval," in the proceedings of 38.sup.th Annual IEEE Symposium on the Foundations of Computer Science (1997). This improved PIR method privately retrieves selected information from a portion of or an entire database without revealing to the database the address of the selected information. The method conceals the address of selected information in an encoding function that hides or conceals the address from the database. The database applies the encoding function to the relevant portion of database, and returns the result back to an inquiring processor. A disadvantage of the method is the attendant complexities associated with determining, at the inquiring processor, an encoding function that can conceal the address of the selected information from the database.
Another method, which uses a plurality of servers, is disclosed in D. Beaver, "Commodity-Based Cryptography," in the proceedings of 29th Symposium Of Theory Of Computing (1997), pages 446-455. The Beaver method describes an oblivious transfer protocol for private information exchange between an inquiring processor and a database. The inquiring processor and the database receive from a plurality of servers commodities, which the inquiring processor and the database use to privately exchange information with each other. The Beaver method, however, has two disadvantages: First, it does not reduce the attendant complexities associated with privately retrieving selected information from a database. Second, to assure private information retrieval, the Beaver method requires that at least half of the servers do not communicate with one another, a requirement which may not be practically enforced against servers.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a method and system for private information retrieval which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

System and method for private information retrieval from a single electronic storage device using commodities


A tooth-pick dispenser includes a housing having a top formed with a first opening for filling tooth-picks into a tooth-pick chamber and an elongated delivery opening, a floor-like member serving as a bottom of the tooth-pick chamber and supported in the housing to inclined substantially towards the delivery opening of the top of the housing and terminated with an groove locating an elongated opening vertically in alignment with the delivery opening and an oscillation member pivotally mounted in the housing in a rotatable state, whereby the oscillation member can be swung to a feeding position allowing tooth-picks loaded in the tooth-pick chamber to movve along the inclined bottom so as to feed tooth-pick, one tooth-pick at a time, into the groove of the floor-like member and the oscillation member will be automatically retracted by a spring for discharging a tooth-pick through the delivery opening and serving it to a user in a convenient position.

This invention relates to a tooth-pick dispensing device.
A known tooth-pick dispenser, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a cylindrical receptacle 10 for accommodating a plurality of tooth-picks, a sleeve member 11 is circumferentially mounted on an upper portion of the receptacle, a plate or film having a first opening 110 is provided for sealing top opening (not shown) of the receptacle 10. A cap 12 having a second opening 120 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve member 11 over the plate or film. In operation, the cap 12 should be turned to its take-out position where the first and second openings 110, 120 are in vertically aligned relation, tooth-picks can thus be taken out through the openings 110, 120 by pouring the receptacle 10.
The dispensation of tooth-picks from this known dispenser is unsatisfactory as tooth-picks may be stuck in the small opening 110 or accidentally drop to floor in taking-out operation.

Room 2, 11th Fl., No. 85, Shoei-Yuan Road


Facilitating the distribution of content is disclosed. A request for content is received from a requesting peer. A peer type compatibility criteria is applied to an allocation process that allocates at least one sending peer to deliver the content to the requesting peer. The peer type compatibility criteria ensures that a lightweight peer is paired with a regular peer.

In various computing environments, such as enterprise environments or small and medium business environments, users of client computers are restricted in some of the actions that they can take with respect to the client computers. As one example, users may be prohibited from installing software applications for security or other policy reasons. Individuals may similarly be prevented from installing software applications on their personal computers by antivirus software, or parental restrictions, or other rules. Unfortunately, such restrictions on the installation of software can significantly hamper the ability of third parties to provide services to users.