Disclosed is a method for transforming Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into a useful compost material. The method involves both a pre-treatment and a treatment phase. In the pre-treatment phase, a waste stream is processed to remove valuable waste after which the waste is ground to a suitable size. In the treatment phase, heat and pressure are applied to the waste and activators are added to sterilize the waste and transform it into a useful end product.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of transforming various waste streams—municipal, industrial, sewage, animal, chemical, medical, contaminated and toxic waste—into enriched soil, fertilizers, mulch, animal/fish feeds and other products (i.e. municipal solid waste into useful compost materials). More particularly, the present invention relates to transforming municipal solid waste into an organic product by way of thermo and bio-chemical activators, within a period of 3-24 hours, depending on the waste stream being processes. These waste streams can be processed all together or separately or in combinations to affect the desired outcome and end product.
2. Description of the Background Art
Presently, the aerobic degradation of waste materials is known in the art. This degradation is employed in converting waste materials into useful products such as fertilizer. However, all the following processes while having some similarities in their methods and process, have one very significant drawback: none of the methods claim to process all waste, all together. Rather, all the prior art requires some sorting or specialized waste streams. Sorting in the method of the present invention is optional. Also, all these methods take no less than 10 days, and some up to 4+ weeks to produce their end product.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,638 to Carlsson relates to a process for the aerobic degradation of waste materials, such as water sludge from municipal waste water treatment plants. The method of Carlsson first grinds degradable substances to a particle size of at most 50 mm and preferably less than 10 mm and then mixes the finely ground material with water to produce a slurry. Enzymes are then added to promote degradation and the slurry is preheated to 40° to 80° C. The final compost product can be dewatered and palletized for use as a fertilizer. The degradation process requires a 10 day period of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,477 to Fugua et al. discloses the addition of various enzymes to solid waste to breakdown different waste components. The process is employed upon solid wastes such as absorption pads (e.g. diapers).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,120 to Tempe describes a waste treatment process in which solid refuse material is first sorted to remove non-degradable materials. The organic portion of the waste is mixed with sewage, sludge and ground. After grinding, enzymes are added. The material is subjected to aerobic fermentation with agitation and addition of different types of bacteria.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,999 to Meier describes a home composting process in which organic waste materials are placed in a perforated plastic bag. A composting tablet is added to the bag. The tablet contains enzymes that accelerate the activity of the microorganisms. The process requires a 4 to 6 week time period.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,318 to Lovness discloses a composting mixture to promote decomposition of organic materials. The mixture includes enzymes to breakdown the cell structure of the organic material and promote the activity of the microorganisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,049 to Erikson et al. describes a process for treating raw municipal waste waters and includes the steps of initially adding hydrolytic enzymes. Heavy metals may be removed with a chelating step. The final material may be used as a fertilizer.
Finally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,847,803 and 4,053,394 to Fisk describe a process for treating raw sewage and solid waste in which the material is first ground and anaerobically fermented. The resultant material is sterilized. Bacteria and enzymes are then added and the material is aerobically fermented.
Although each of the above referenced inventions achieves its individual objective, they all suffer from common drawbacks. Namely, none of the prior methods discloses a system for effectively treating combinations of all waste, or selective waste streams of both organic and non organic waste, or an entire municipal waste stream.
Moreover, none of the prior methods disclose using a pressurized high temperature sealed environment for the purposes of sterilization. All of the methods use enzymes, but what is different is the order in which the enzymes are introduced and the manner in which these enzymes are used in combinations with other organic digesting accelerants, bio-activators, chelators and thermoactivators (and the combinations of enzyme chelators thermoactivators to promote decomposition of a waste mixture). Finally, all the prior art methods involve extended processing periods, typically 10 days (48 hours) or more.

Method of converting waste to soil/feed modifiers


Methods and systems are disclosed which allow shifting inventory to fulfill guaranteed delivery advertisement contracts. Inventory may be allocated from a supply of unallocated inventory to one or more advertisers in accordance with guaranteed delivery agreements. Inventory may be reserved for the one or more advertisers from the remaining supply of unallocated inventory. Inventory may then be allocated to an additional advertiser by using unallocated inventory or shifted inventory, or a combination of unallocated inventory and shifted inventory. The shifted inventory is shifted out of the allocation for the first advertiser and the shifted inventory is replaced by the reserve inventory for the respective advertiser.

Online advertising marketplaces and exchanges may involve, for example, entities or parties including advertisers, publishers and data providers, as well as a marketplace or online advertising operations facilitator, or market-maker. Data providers may supply information, such as information regarding users, user behavior or user interests, which may enhance value to advertisers in connection with purchasing of advertising inventory. However, in marketplaces and exchanges, significant difficulty and transactional friction may exist in selectivity, arrangements and cooperation between parties. This can lead to suboptimal interactions, reducing efficiency and disincentivizing maximum engagement and spending. Furthermore, friction as well as inequities or unfairness may exist in connection with pricing arrangement, actual pricing, and allocation of spend between parties including advertisers and data providers, and such as in connection with sold advertising inventory.
There is a need for improved techniques in online advertising, including in online advertising marketplaces and exchanges, to increase transactional efficiency.

Methods and systems for ad placement planning


For weaving pattern formation of a woven fabric with weft threads (3), warp threads (1) and effect threads (2), data sets (20) are produced according to a method in which data values are derived from weft sequence numbers (30) and from positions of interlacing points (P) of an effect thread (2) with the weft threads (3) in the pattern repeat (29). These data sets (20) are supplemented by further data values (31, 32, 33, 34) derived from the weaving pattern, in such a manner so that they form a pattern draft (28) for a weaving pattern with additional weft effects. In a weaving machine with devices for slidingly displacing effect threads (2) in the weft direction (12), the weaving pattern formation is derived from the data sets (20) of this pattern draft (28).

In weaving machines it is known in the prior art to involve additional threads, which essentially extend in the warp direction, in the woven fabric weave or interlacing in such a manner, so that certain additional weft effects are achieved. For this purpose, these effect threads are brought into a different position in the weft direction before the insertion of a weft thread for each motion cycle of the weaving machine.
A method and a weaving machine for the production of woven fabrics with such additional weft effects are shown, for example, in the previously unpublished patent application DE 10 2010 007 048.3-26. The method according to DE 10 2010 007 048.3-26 is characterized in that an effect thread is positioned above the weft thread that is to be inserted, and thereby emerges in the vertical direction out of a reed gap that is formed by weaving reed blades or dents and that is upwardly open on one side. After a sliding displacement of the effect thread in the weft direction, it is positioned below a next weft thread that is to be inserted and thereby submerges into a different similarly-formed reed gap.
In order to produce the motion sequence according to the described method, a guide means of the effect thread is moved in a plane in the vertical direction and in the weft direction, wherein this plane lies between the shed forming means and a weaving reed device. Due to the emerging or submerging of the effect threads, it is possible to slidingly displace the effect thread in the position above the weft thread to be inserted, even over several reed gaps, and therewith passing over one or more warp threads, in the weft direction.
The weaving machine according to DE 10 2010 007 048.3-26 includes a sliding displacement drive, which drives a sliding displacement device in the weft direction, on which sliding displacement device at least one guide means is provided, with which an effect thread can be slidingly displaced in the weft direction and vertically positioned. In that regard, various different sliding displacements of the effect thread in the weft direction can be prescribed via the sliding displacement drive for various different motion cycles of the weaving machine. Typically, the motion sequence that is carried out from one beat-up of a weaving reed device against a woven fabric edge up to the next such beat-up is designated as one motion cycle of a weaving machine.
A further aspect disclosed in the DE 10 2010 007 048.3-26 consists in that, for each motion cycle of the weaving machine, it can be prescribed by means of a mechanical or an electronic interlacing pattern draft, whether, during the weft insertion, the guide means with the effect thread is located above (in the upper shed) or below (in the lower shed) from the weft thread to be inserted. In that regard, the vertical positioning of the guide means with the effect thread is derived from a shedding means that is connected via shedding drives with a shedding machine.
It is known to a person skilled in the art, how to draft or design an interlacing pattern draft for weave patterns in the typical base or ground weaves. In that regard, in the simplest case, a pattern repeat of a woven fabric area is defined as a weave raster area and depicted graphically, if applicable. The pattern repeat is determined by a partial area of the weaving pattern, which occurs repetitively within the entire woven fabric. In order to depict the weaving pattern within the weave raster area, as a vicarious representation or substitution for each crossing point between warp and weft threads, weave raster fields are filled or not filled depending on whether the respective applicable warp thread at the crossing point lies above or below the weft thread in the woven fabric. It is also known to produce a punched card for the control of mechanical shedding machines, based on an interlacing pattern draft defined in such a manner. Predominantly electronic shedding machines operate in modern weaving machines, for the control of which it is typical to produce the interlacing pattern draft graphically on a computer display screen with the aid of a computer program, to convert it into a collection of electronically processible data sets, and to store it either in a memory means of the control device on a weaving machine or on an external memory or storage medium. In the control device of the weaving machine, by means of a further computer program, these data sets of an interlacing pattern draft are converted into control commands to the devices of the weaving machine for weave pattern formation. It is also typical to supplement such electronic interlacing pattern drafts in the form of data sets with further electronically processible instructions or informations for the control of the weaving machine. In that manner there arises a pattern draft with data sets for the control of the weaving machine for the production of a certain woven fabric.
The technical reference book "Die Weberei" (The Weaving) by E. Gräbner, 13th Edition, Leipzig 1953 discloses the representation of the weaving pattern formation on a weaving machine with additional weft effects. The production of brocade-like additional weft effects with the aid of needle bars or fallers is described on the pages 232 to 233. In this regard, however, the guide means (needles) for effect threads are located between the two end positions of a beat-up motion of the reed dents, and the reed dents also do not form reed gaps that are upwardly open, into which the effect thread submerges or emerges. On such a weaving machine, the sliding displacement of the needles in the weft direction is derived from mechanical pin cards, which comprise pins with differing length. The cited text citation discloses an operating auxiliary assistant or device that is supposed to be suitable for the determination of the pin lengths and pin sequences in a pattern repeat.
In the prior art it is not disclosed how a pattern draft for woven fabrics with additional weft effects is to be produced, which, besides the interlacing data, still additionally includes data sets for the control of guide means for the effect threads in the weft direction and vertically.

Method and apparatus for weaving pattern formation in woven fabrics with additional weft effects


The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for reclosable fasteners with increased stability against horizontal movement and increased stability against horizontal movement of an embedded article within the reclosable fasteners. The reclosable fastener may include, for example, a hook and loop fastener or interlocking mushroom fastener. More specifically, the present disclosure presents reclosable fastener systems that may securely contain and embed an article within the reclosable fastener system.

Velcro is said to be the result of George de Mestral inventing a two-sided fastener; de Mestral's fastener included one side with stiff hooks like the burrs which had stuck to his pants while hiking and the other side with soft loops similar to fabric that made up his pants. Since the inception of Velcro, reclosable fasteners have been used to attach two objects, one object attached to the "burr" side of the reclosable fastener and the other object attached to the "fabric" side. The convenience of reclosable fasteners is based on how easily each half may be attached to an object and how generally easy it is to separate the two.
Traditional reclosable fasteners are designed to provide attachment strength, and in some instances slippage strength, between two sides of the reclosable fastener. However, these fasteners are not designed to provide lateral stability for an article embedded within the reclosable fastener. What is needed is therefore is a reclosable fastener and article system that provides lateral stability in a useful and practical way.

Apparatus and method of embedding articles within reclosable fastener systems


There is provided a capping device having a bottomed box-shaped cap having an opening at one of ends of short side walls and long side walls formed in a ring shape and a bottom portion on the other side, the bottom portion is formed with a waste liquid disposal port configured to discharge liquid flowed therein from the opening and a rib extended so as to connect two opposing wall surfaces of the long side walls at a position overlapping at least partly with the waste liquid disposal port two-dimensionally when viewed from the side of the opening, and the rib including a communication hole configured to penetrate in the width direction intersecting the direction of extension of the rib and communicate with the waste liquid disposal port.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a capping device and a liquid ejecting apparatus having the capping device.
2. Related Art
In the related art, an ink jet printer which performs printing by ejecting ink from nozzles opening on a nozzle-formed surface of a liquid ejecting head onto a medium such as a paper is widely known as a type of liquid ejecting apparatus.
In such an ink jet printer, nozzle clogging may occur by an increase in viscosity of ink due to evaporation of water content or volatile components of ink accumulated in the nozzles or foreign substances such as air bubbles or metal particles may enter into the nozzles. Then, when clogging of the nozzles or entry of foreign substances into the nozzles occurs, printing failure such that the direction of ejection of ink may be deviated, or a proper amount of ink cannot be ejected from the nozzles may result.
Therefore, in the ink jet printer, a cleaning process for cleaning the nozzles is performed. For example, an opening of a cap is brought into abutment with a nozzle-formed surface, a closed space between the interior of the cap and the nozzle-formed surface formed thereby is vacuumed by driving a suction pump to suck ink in the nozzles, which causes clogging, into the cap. Then, the sucked ink is discharged to the outside from a waste liquid disposal port provided on the cap through the suction pump. Alternatively, the ink in the nozzles, which causes clogging, is discharged into the cap by forcedly ejecting ink from the nozzles. Then, the discharged ink is discharged to the outside from the waste liquid disposal port provided on the cap through the suction pump.
There is a case where an ink absorber is provided in the cap so that the ink is stable received into the cap without flying apart at this time. In such a case, the ink may remain in the ink absorber after the cleaning process of the nozzles has performed. Then, if the remaining ink is in a state of being increased in viscosity when a closed space is formed in the cleaning process, the ink increased in viscosity absorbs water content from the ink in the nozzle, and may cause the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles to increase. Therefore, a technology of reducing the amount of ink remaining in the cap by the ink absorber having a non-dense portion on the side of the waste liquid disposal port is proposed in JP-A-10-175306.
The technology proposed in JP-A-10-175306 has a risk of a reduction of the ink absorbing amount which can be received in the ink absorber having the non-dense portion. Therefore, it is effective to increase the ink absorbing amount of the ink absorber, that is, to increase the ink receiving amount in the cap without using the ink absorber having the non-dense portion. As a method, it is effective to design the cap to have a deeper bottom so as to have a longer distance from the opening thereof. The reason is that an opening area of the opening of the cap is limited according to the nozzle-formed surface which comes into abutment thereto.
When the cap is designed to have the deeper bottom portion, the height of an annular side wall formed between the opening portion and the bottom portion, that is, the dimension between a proximal end portion on the bottom portion side and a distal end portion which is also the opening is increased. Therefore, when the cap is manufactured by a molding process, there may arise an inwardly inclining phenomenon that the distal end portion (opening portion) of the side wall is inclined toward each other due to manufacturing reasons. Therefore, unfavorable deformation such as distortion of the shape of the opening or reduction of surface area of the opening may arise. In order to avoid this phenomenon, there is a method of forming a rib extending upright to have a predetermined height on the bottom portion so as to connect the side walls which are subject to the inclination of the distal end portion. In this configuration, since the rib is formed on the side of the bottom portion, the inward inclination of the distal end portion can be inhibited without reducing the surface area of the opening.
However, when the rib which connects the side walls is formed on the bottom portion of the cap, the cap is divided into two areas on the side of the bottom portion thereof. Therefore, formation of the waste liquid disposal port in each of these two areas is needed, so that there arises a problem in that the structure of the cap becomes complicated.

Capping device and liquid ejecting apparatus


A microprocessor (12) comprising a cache circuit (20) and circuitry (46, 48, 41, 56) for issuing a prefetch request. The prefetch request (82) comprises an address (82a) and requests information of a first size (82b) from the cache circuit. The microprocessor also includes prefetch control circuitry (22), which comprises circuitry for receiving the prefetch request and evaluation circuitry for evaluating system parameters corresponding to the prefetch request. Additionally, the prefetch control circuitry comprises circuitry, responsive to the evaluation circuitry, for determining a size of information for a prefetch operation starting at the address from the cache circuit, where the prefetch operation corresponds to the prefetch request.

Microprocessor technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, with consideration given to all aspects of design. Designers constantly strive to increase performance, while maximizing efficiency. With respect to performance, greater overall microprocessor speed is achieved by improving the speed of various related and unrelated microprocessor circuits and operations. For example, one area in which operational efficiency is improved is by providing parallel and out-of-order instruction execution. As another example, operational efficiency also is improved by providing faster and greater access to information, with such information including instructions and/or data. The present embodiments are primarily directed at this access capability.
One very common approach in modern computer systems directed at improving access time to information is to include one or more levels of cache memory within the system. For example, a cache memory may be formed directly on a microprocessor, and/or a microprocessor may have access to an external cache memory. Typically, the lowest level cache (i.e., the first to be accessed) is smaller and faster than the cache or caches above it in the hierarchy, and the number of caches in a given memory hierarchy may vary. In any event, when utilizing the cache hierarchy, when an information address is issued, the address is typically directed to the lowest level cache to see if that cache stores information corresponding to that address, that is, whether there is a "hit" in that cache. If a hit occurs, then the addressed information is retrieved from the cache without having to access a memory higher in the memory hierarchy, where that higher ordered memory is likely slower to access than the hit cache memory. On the other hand, if a cache hit does not occur, then it is said that a cache miss occurs. In response, the next higher ordered memory structure is then presented with the address at issue. If this next higher ordered memory structure is another cache, then once again a hit or miss may occur. If misses occur at each cache, then eventually the process reaches the highest ordered memory structure in the system, at which point the addressed information may be retrieved from that memory.
Given the existence of cache systems, another prior art technique for increasing speed involves the prefetching of information in combination with cache systems. Prefetching involves a speculative retrieval, or preparation to retrieve, information, where the information is retrieved from a higher level memory system, such as an external memory, into a cache under the expectation that the retrieved information may be needed by the microprocessor for an anticipated event at some point after the next successive clock cycle. In this regard, the instance of a load is perhaps more often thought of in connection with retrieval, but note that prefetching may also concern a data store as well. More specifically, a load occurs where a specific data is retrieved so that the retrieved data may be used by the microprocessor. However, a store operation often first retrieves a group of data, where a part of that group will be overwritten. Still further, some store operations, such as a store interrogate, do not actually retrieve data, but prepare some resource external from the microprocessor for an upcoming event which will store information to that resource. Each of these cases, for purposes of this Background and the present embodiments to follow, should be considered a type of prefetch. In any event, in the case of prefetching where data is speculatively retrieved into an on-chip cache, if the anticipated event giving rise to the prefetch actually occurs, the prefetched information is already available in the cache and, therefore, may be fetched from the cache without having to seek it from a higher ordered memory system. In other words, prefetching lowers the risk of a cache miss once an actual fetch is necessary.
Given the above techniques, the present inventors have further recognized additional complexities relating to cache and prefetching techniques, particularly as the frequency of prefetching activities advance. Thus, below are presented various embodiments which address these as well as other considerations ascertainable by a person skilled in the art.

Prefetch circuity for prefetching variable size data


The invention relates to an optical pin-and-socket connector for the detachable connection of a plurality of optical cores (115) having an insert (112, 112′), in which the cores (115) are inserted on a first side, the cores (115) ending in said connector with the optical fibers (119, 120) thereof, and said connector having an expansion device (117, 118) on a second side, on which the beams exit the fibers (119, 120) in an expanded manner. A simplification of the assembly and installation is achieved in that the insert (112, 112′) comprises two separate partial elements (113, 117, 118) that can be assembled, one of which is configured as an expansion device (117, 118) and the other is configured as a retaining block (113) for receiving the ends of the optical cores (115).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of optical telecommunications. It relates in particular to an optical plug connector as claimed in the precharacterizing clause of claim 1.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Because of their wide bandwidth and insensitivity to electromagnetic interference fields, optical fiber networks are being used increasingly in all fields for data transmission. In this case, plug connectors are used for detachable connection between different cables and their cores, which plug connectors are arranged at the cable ends or core ends and, in the mated state, reliably input the light signals which emerge from the fiber ends on one side of the connector into the fiber ends on the other side of the connector.
As the complexity of transmission networks increases and the appliances that are used are increasingly miniaturized, the packing density of the plug connections is becoming ever more important. With standardized individual plugs of the LC, SC, ST type or the like, the achievable densities are essentially governed and limited by the comparatively large plug housings. A certain amount of compression can be achieved by the combination of individual plugs in pairs to form duplex plugs (see for example EP-A1-1 341 015). Other plug connector systems of the MT type admittedly achieve higher densities by using a common ferrule for a plurality of fibers, but they are restricted to optical cables in the form of ribbons, and are not suitable for the common plug connection between individual cores (see for example EP-A2-0 997 757 or WO-A1-2006098734).
In particular, plug connector systems such as these require direct contact between the end surfaces of the individual fibers which are fixed in the ferrules, and this necessitates accurate processing of the fiber ends which are flush with the ferrules, by various types of grinding processes, and precise orientation of the fiber ends during installation into the plug connectors and during mutual alignment in the inserted state.
On the other hand, it is known for optical means such as lenses to be used at the fiber ends in plug connector systems, in order to widen the beam emerging from the fiber ends and to make it parallel, thus making the requirements for mutual alignment of the fibers to be connected less stringent. Plug connector systems such as these are known for individual fibers, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,458 A1 or for a plurality of fibers from JP-A-2007041222. It is also possible to use specially shaped mirror elements (DE-A1-100 43 985) instead of lenses.
However, with plug connector systems such as these, the fabrication of the fiber ends, as well as their alignment and fixing with respect to the beam-widening optical means or elements, are complex and problematic.

Fiber-optic pin-and-socket connector having a beam expansion device


An adjustment jig for performing position alignment of nozzle holders, including: multiple positioning pins including a primary insertion section configured such that multiple nozzle holders of a primary side device are insertable into the primary insertion section and a secondary insertion section configured such that multiple nozzle holders of a secondary side device are insertable into the secondary insertion section; and a board member configured such that the multiple positioning pins protruding to an opposite side to the primary insertion section and the secondary insertion section can be attached at a specified fixing position via a fixing section, a position of which is adjustable.

A component mounter for mounting a component on a circuit board is adapted to be fitted with a die supply device for supplying, for example, dies, as disclosed in patent literature 1. The die supply device is provided with a wafer pallet on which is loaded a dicing sheet to which multiple diced dies are adhered, and a supply head for picking up and holding a die using a suction nozzle in order to remove dies from the dicing sheet. A die picked up and held by the supply head of the die supply device is transferred to a mounting head provided on a component mounter. That is, the mounting head of the component mounter is provided with a suction nozzle in a similar manner and is configured to pick up and hold a die and mount the die on a circuit board.

Component mounter with an adjustment jig


There are provided a vibration film (21) having a piezoelectric element, a magnetic circuit (20) which generates magnetic force on the basis of a first electric signal and vibrates the vibration film (21) by the magnetic force; and an adjustment unit (31) which generates a second electric signal on the basis of the first electric signal and applies a voltage based on the second electric signal between both surfaces of the piezoelectric element. The amplitude of the entire vibration film (21) is expanded by making the vibration by the magnetic force, which is generated from the magnetic circuit (20), and the vibration, which is generated by application of a voltage to the piezoelectric element, synchronize with each other.

Electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducers are used as acoustic components of electronic apparatuses, such as mobile phones. The electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer is configured to include a permanent magnet, a voice coil, and a vibration film. The electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer generates sound waves by vibrating the vibration film, such as an organic film, fixed to the voice coil, by operation of a magnetic circuit of a stator using a magnet.
In addition to the electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer, an electro-acoustic transducer which uses piezoelectric ceramics for the vibration film is also known. In the electro-acoustic transducer, the piezoelectric ceramics with piezoelectric properties vibrate when an electric signal is applied to thereby generate sound waves.
A high-frequency-range limiting frequency in the electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer is low, while the use of the electro-acoustic transducer using piezoelectric ceramics is limited to reproduction of high-pitched sound. Therefore, examples of an electro-acoustic transducer formed by combining both the electro-acoustic transducers are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.
The electro-acoustic transducer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure where a piezoelectric element is bonded in the middle of a diaphragm. Since the piezoelectric element has a mass, inertial force acts to reduce a fundamental-mode frequency of the diaphragm. In addition, since the middle portion of the diaphragm, in which a piezoelectric element is bonded, and its periphery have different rigidities, a frequency of a secondary vibration mode becomes high due to piston movement by the piezoelectric element. For this reason, the electro-acoustic transducer disclosed in Patent Document 1 realizes an increase in the bandwidth of output sound waves.
The electro-acoustic transducer disclosed in Patent Document 2 also has a structure where a piezoelectric element is bonded in the middle of a diaphragm. By using the piezoelectric element for the treble region and the electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer for the bass region, the electro-acoustic transducer disclosed in Patent Document 2 realizes an increase in the bandwidth of output sound waves.
The electro-acoustic transducer disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a structure where the piezoelectric body is provided in a duct cap of the electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer. The electro-acoustic transducer disclosed in Patent Document 3 also realizes an increase in the bandwidth of output sound waves by using the piezoelectric body for the treble region and the electrodynamic electro-acoustic transducer for the bass region.
In addition, an example of a composite piezoelectric speaker is disclosed in Patent Document 4. The composite piezoelectric speaker disclosed in Patent Document 4 is a composite piezoelectric speaker with a diaphragm obtained by forming electrodes on upper and lower surfaces of the sheet-like composite piezoelectric body formed of flexible resin and a piezoelectric element, and the electrodes are formed of resin mixed with conductive powder. The characteristics in a high frequency band are improved by forming the electrodes themselves of the same material as for the composite piezoelectric body.

Electro-acoustic transducer, electronic apparatus, electro-acoustic conversion method, and sound wave output method of electronic apparatus


A cathode is made from a mixture of tungsten and iridium powders using a ction product formed from reacting a Group III A metal powder with barium peroxide powder as an impregnant.

Ba.sub.3 Al.sub.2 O.sub.6 has long been known to be valuable as an impregnant for porous billets in the manufacture of high current density cathodes. Ba.sub.3 Al.sub.2 O.sub.6 has heretofore been prepared according to the reaction: EQU 3BaCO.sub.3 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .fwdarw.Ba.sub.3 Al.sub.2 O.sub.6 +3CO.sub.2
or to the reaction: EQU 6BaO.sub.2 +2Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .fwdarw.2Ba.sub.3 Al.sub.2 O.sub.6 +3O.sub.2
The difficulty with the aforesaid reactions is that they involve high temperatures that cause too much impregnant to be used up prior to placing the impregnant in the cathode environment. This cuts down on the life of the cathode. Moreover, the gaseous by-products in the foregoing reactions create vacant holes in the pores of the billet after the impregnant solidifies causing the impregnant to pop out of the cathode environment.

Method of making a cathode from tungsten and iridium powders using a reaction product from reacting a group III A metal with barium peroxide as an impregnant

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Resource-based adaptive server loading is described. In embodiments, a current load level can be determined for a resource that is utilized by an adaptive server system to process computer-executable instructions that are a dynamic computational demand on the adaptive server system. The current load level is compared with a target load level for the resource to establish a resource load level comparison. The adaptive server system can then be reconfigured, based on the resource load level comparison, to change the current load level on the resource for resource overload protection.

Resource utilization by server systems is dynamic, as computational demand on the server systems varies. Spikes in computational demand on a server system can lead to resource overloading, resulting in system shutdown, failure, and/or data loss. For example, an uninterruptable power supply may shutdown responsive to overloading causing thousands of servers to lose power. In order to prevent resource overloading, server systems are often run significantly under-capacity in anticipation of worst case computational demand. As a result, server systems are inefficient because the capacity that is reserved to compensate for computational demand spikes is unavailable for normal server activity.


A control panel for controlling the operation of hotplates situated on a cooking appliance. The control panel has a translucent plate that permits the location of operating elements to be visually displayed on a top surface thereof only when lighting elements associated with the operating elements are energized. The lighting elements are selectively energized and/or de-energized so that only the operating elements of a particular hotplate are visible on the top surface of the translucent plate while a user is in the process of selecting or otherwise altering an operating parameter of the particular hot plate.

There are known cooking tops comprising lighting elements that are located beneath a plate.
European Patent Application No. EP1569057A2 discloses a control panel for domestic appliances having buttons that are highlighted by lights to assist the user. The buttons are visible at all times although they are not always illuminated.
European Patent No. EP1050194B1 discloses a cooking plate with lighting elements located beneath the plate. Indicator symbols are created by the use of lighting elements and masks and are not printed on the cooking plate. The operating elements, on the other hand, are permanently visible either because they are printed on the surface of the plate, or because they are built into the frame of the plate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In some embodiments, a deposit-forming reference fuel composition comprises a high sulfur base fuel composition in an amount greater than 50 weight % based on total weight % of the deposit-forming reference fuel composition, wherein the high sulfur base fuel composition comprises greater than or equal to 200 ppm sulfur based on total sulfur content of the base fuel composition. The deposit-forming reference fuel composition also comprises a reactive diolefin dopant; and a reaction initiating peroxide. The reaction initiating peroxide has an active oxygen content greater than or equal to 2 weight % based on total oxygen content of the reaction initiating peroxide and a half-life temperature of 80° C. to 200° C. The deposit-forming reference fuel composition is free from a detergent additive and has a concentration ratio of greater than 1:1 for the reactive diolefin dopant to the reaction initiating peroxide.

During operation of internal combustion engines, the hot surfaces of the components can be exposed to many gases and liquids including the fuel composition, lubricating fluids, combustion byproducts, and so forth. If undesirable deposits or sludge forms on such components as a result of this operation, the engine performance can be negatively affected. For example, deposits on fuel injectors can undesirably obstruct or plug metering holes of the injector tip. Likewise, deposits on intake valves can reduce optimal engine performance.
Accordingly, as the fuel composition can affect the level of such deposit formation or fouling, much effort continues to be put forth in the industry in an attempt to develop fuel composition detergent additives capable of controlling, reducing, or eliminating such fouling formation.
However, in order to test the effectiveness of such detergent additives for fuel compositions, repeatable deposit build-up reference fuel compositions are needed. A reference fuel composition is a fuel composition that repeatedly and consistently can create deposits in an engine during testing. This is sometimes referred to as "dirty-up" fuel in the industry. The effectiveness of various detergent additives added to the reference fuel composition to reduce deposits can then be evaluated, compared, and optimized. Moreover, having a consistent carbon deposit producing "dirty-up" reference fuel composition also can advantageously enable the evaluation of new engine hardware components and calibration systems. Also, in recent years, several automobile manufacturers jointly created a voluntary deposit control standard for gasoline with a goal to define a new class of commercial gasoline with enhanced detergency termed TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Thus, the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline program also would benefit from the development of such consistent reference fuel compositions.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reference fuel composition useful for, for example, evaluating gasoline detergent additives and/or engine hardware.


A fabric used with an inflatable penile prosthesis and having a high fabric weave density is disclosed. The fabric is comprised of substantially non-distensible warp yarns and expandable/contractible fill yarns. The warp yarns are made of a 40 denier polyester fiber and the fill yarns are made of a 70 denier spandex fiber wrapped with a 40 denier polyester fiber. The fill yarns and warp yarns have sufficient fabric weave density so as to resist fabric distortion, such as fill separation. The fabric is assembled on the penile prosthesis so that the fill yarns circumscribe the girth of the prosthesis and the warp yarns extend along the length of the prosthesis.

The present invention relates generally to fabrics used with prosthetics and particularly relates to fabrics used with penile prostheses.
Various types of penile prosthesis are currently available to cure or compensate for impotence, two of which include a non-inflatable, semi-rigid implantable prosthesis and an inflatable, implantable prosthesis. The non-inflatable, semi-rigid prosthesis is implanted within the corpora cavernosa of the penis and provides a generally constant erection. The inflatable prosthesis is also implanted in the corpora cavernosa but is connected to a hydraulic pumping device. The hydraulic pumping device is located within the patient""s body and is used to inflate the prosthesis for erection and deflate the prosthesis for flaccidity.
Inflatable, implantable prostheses commonly include a cylindrically shaped pressure chamber made of silicone and a pump that is used to inflate or deflate the chamber. The chamber is encapsulated in a sleeve or sheath of biocompatible material (e.g fabric) that constrains the expansion of the silicone pressure chamber.
One of the drawbacks occasionally observed with this type of inflatable prosthesis is the presence of weak spots in the sheath or fabric that surrounds the pressure chamber. Such weak spots are typically caused by separation in the texture of the fabric that can occur upon inflation of the chamber. Such separation can be particularly acute in the xe2x80x9chinge areaxe2x80x9d of the chamber. As a result, an aneurysm or bulge can develop in the pressure chamber extending into the separation in the fabric and the region where the pressure chamber folds on itself in the deflated condition, sometimes referred to as the xe2x80x9chinge region,xe2x80x9d thereby compromising the integrity and/or physical appearance of the prosthesis.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a fabric for an implantable prosthetic and particularly an inflatable, implantable penile prosthesis that reduces the occurrence of or eliminates pressure chamber aneurysms without compromising the other advantageous attributes of the fabric, including tensile strength, fabric thickness or fabric width.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of existing fabrics used with inflatable, implantable prostheses.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a penile prosthesis fabric that minimizes the occurrence of chamber aneurysms without compromising tensile strength, fabric thickness or fabric width.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a penile prosthesis fabric with increased fabric weave density.
The present invention attempts to address these objects and other objects not specifically enumerated herein through the use of a fabric used with an implantable prosthesis comprising first denier one-ply warp yarns and second denier two-ply fill yarns having the ability to expand and contract, wherein the second denier is higher than the first denier. In addition, the number of warp yarns and fill yarns provide a high fabric weave density.

Method of controlling penile prosthetic expansion


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element having a front electrode, an electrode plate having an area larger than the front electrode of the semiconductor element in a two-dimensional view and made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a metal member having a joint surface joined to the front electrode of the semiconductor element with solder, having an area smaller than the front electrode of the semiconductor element in a two-dimensional view, made of a metal different from the electrode plate, and fastened to the electrode plate to electrically connect the front electrode of the semiconductor element to the electrode plate.

In a semiconductor device, a power semiconductor element suitable for high voltage and large current applications is provided in a case, and a main terminal electrically connected to an electrode of the semiconductor element through a circuit pattern formed on a substrate and a wiring member such as a lead frame is provided on the outside of the case to make a package. The main terminal of the semiconductor device is connected to an external electric circuit. The semiconductor device mounted on equipment controls the operation of the equipment by controlling current flowing through the external electric circuit. Semiconductor devices are readily mounted on equipment and thus used in a wide variety of fields ranging from industrial equipment to home appliances.
A semiconductor element in a semiconductor device has a vertical structure having a front electrode and a back electrode, in which high voltage is applied between the front electrode and the back electrode and large current flows. In a semiconductor device, the back electrode of the semiconductor element is joined to an insulating substrate of a ceramic material with high thermal conductivity so that heat generated by the semiconductor element is efficiently dissipated. The electrical resistance of wiring connected to the front electrode of the semiconductor element is reduced by joining an electrode plate such as lead frame directly to the front electrode of semiconductor element with solder. The electrode plate has an area larger than the front electrode of the semiconductor element and is joined to the front electrode(s) of one or more semiconductor elements in the semiconductor device. The electrode plate is formed of a metal with high electrical conductivity, such as copper and aluminum. When the electrode plate is formed of aluminum, the surface of the electrode plate is metallized, for example, plated with copper to allow solder to wet.
In a conventional semiconductor device, the electrode plate has a half cut portion protruding from the surface of the electrode plate and an embossed portion further protruding from the half cut portion. The half cut portion on the protruding side is joined to the front electrode of the semiconductor element with solder. The embossed portion is brought into abutment and joined to the front electrode of the semiconductor element with solder, so that the amount of solder with the same thickness as the height of the embossed portion is kept between the front electrode of semiconductor element and the half cut portion of the electrode plate (for example, see PTL 1).


A method for training a homography attention module (HAM) to perform multi-view object detection includes steps of: generating, from an i-th feature map corresponding to each of multiple training images representing multi-views of a target space, a 1-st to a d-th channel attention map for determining channel attention scores each channel included in the i-th feature map has for each of a 1-st to a d-th height plane of the target space, generating a 1-st to a d-th channel refined feature map by referring to channels with top k channel attention scores for each height, element-wisely multiplying them with corresponding spatial attention map generated therefrom to produce a 1-st to a d-th spatial refined feature map, and then homographically transforming them onto corresponding height plane and aggregating them to generate a BEV occupancy heatmap, which is used with its GT for training.

Multi-view detection leverages multiple camera views for object detection by using synchronized input images captured from varying view angles. Compared to carrying out object detection using a single-view camera setup, a multi-view camera setup alleviates the occlusion issue that often rises as one of the fundamental problems in computer vision applications. While it is difficult to detect objects like pedestrians from images obtained from the single-view camera setup alone due to problems such as crowded scenes and occlusions, images obtained from capturing a scene from multiple view angles are able to include richer information on the surroundings.
As a means to perform the multi-view detection, multi-view aggregation that produces a bird's eye view representation of a target space with detected objects by using images obtained from a plurality of cameras capturing the target space at various view angles is often implemented. Recently, various attempts have been made to improve the accuracy of the multi-view detection by performing the multi-view aggregation through deep learning.
As one example of conventional technologies, MVDet (Hou, Y., Zheng, L., & Gould, S. (2020, August). Multiview detection with feature perspective transformation. In European Conference on Computer Vision (pp. 1-18). Springer, Cham.) proposes a fully convolutional end-to-end trainable solution for performing the multi-view detection. MVDet aggregates different views by projecting convolution feature maps onto a ground plane, i.e., a single plane, via homography transformation and then by concatenating multiple projected feature maps produced therefrom. Upon this aggregation, MVDet applies convolutional layers to detect pedestrians on the scene.
Further, another conventional technology named MVDeTr (Hou, Y., Zheng, L.: Multiview detection with shadow transformer (and view-coherent data augmentation). In: ACM International Conference on Multimedia (2021)) enhances MVDet by introducing a shadow transformer to tackle distortions that occurred during the multi-view aggregation. Herein, the shadow transformer attends differently at different positions on multiple camera views, i.e., multi-views, to deal with various shadow-like distortions caused as a result of projecting each of multi-view images onto a ground plane. Additionally, MVDeTr performs random data augmentation while maintaining view-consistency requirements, i.e., maintaining locations of original objects in the multi-view images and preserving coherencies of feature distributions around the original objects, to generate augmented images and perform the multi-view aggregation on the augmented images to thereby use the outputs therefrom for further training.
Meanwhile, as yet another technology, SHOT (Song, L., Wu, J., Yang, M., Zhang, Q., Li, Y., & Yuan, J. (2021). Stacked Homography Transformations for Multi-View Pedestrian Detection. In Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF International Conference on Computer Vision (pp. 6049-6057).) has discovered that projecting the multi-view images onto a single ground plane experiences drop in its accuracy due to misalignments. Accordingly, SHOT is driven from its motivation that each pixel from the multi-view images should be projected onto a plane at a proper height and thus performs homography transformations onto various heights other than the ground plane alone. Thereafter, SHOT assign likelihood scores for transformation to each height on each pixel and then performs aggregation to better approximate locations of each object. In particular, SHOT uses a neural-network based soft-selection module to predict a likelihood map that assigns each pixel on features extracted from the multi-view images to one of the homography transformations.
However, in order to accurately match the features extracted from different view angles through the means of multi-view aggregation, it is necessary to take into account changes in viewpoints or the problem of occlusions resulting from various view angles. Also, while performing an accurate multi-view aggregation requires a considerable amount of computational load and training, one should take into consideration that not all features extracted from every single view angle are equally useful for performing the accurate multi-view aggregation.
Therefore, an enhanced method for solving the aforementioned problems is required.

Methods for performing multi-view object detection by using homography attention module and devices using the same


An apparatus for convening a liquid crystal display panel for moving various size unit liquid crystal display panels. The present invention includes a horizontal driving unit controlling a revolution of a motor, a plurality of screw shafts protruding out of the horizontal driving unit. A pair of robot arms having first and second ends, the first ends are supported by corresponding screw shafts and extend from the screw shafts, and a plurality of clamping units connected to the second ends of the robot arms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying a liquid crystal display panel. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying various sizes of unit liquid crystal display panels.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device supplies liquid crystal cells with data signals according to image information, respectively, in order to display the desired image. The liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix like configuration and the image is displayed by controlling a light-transmittance of each liquid crystal cells.
A cutting process is performed on the liquid crystal displays, cutting the displays into a unit liquid crystal display panels. Generally, the process includes a scribing process by forming a scribing line on a substrate of a mother substrate with a pen having hardness greater than that of glass. Additionally, the process includes propagating a crack along the scribing line. Such a cutting process of the unit panels is explained in detail by referring to the attached drawings as follows.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first mother substrate having thin film transistor array substrates and a second mother substrate having color filter substrates. The first and second mother substrates are bonded to each other, thereby forming a plurality of liquid crystal display panels.
Referring to FIG. 1, the unit LCD display of the mother substrate 20 has a unit thin film transistor array substrate 1. One side of the thin film transistor array substrate 1 protrudes longer than the corresponding side of the color filter substrate 2. The gate and data pad parts (not shown in the drawing) are formed at the corresponding edges of the thin film transistor array of substrates 1 and do not overlap with the color filter substrates 2.
The color filter substrates 2 on the second mother substrate 30, are spaced apart from each other with a dummy area 31. The dummy area 31 corresponds to the protruding area of each of the thin film transistor array on the first mother substrate 20.
Moreover, the unit liquid crystal display panels are arranged to make best use of the first and second mother substrates 20 and 30. The unit liquid crystal display panels differ from each other according to the various models. The unit liquid crystal display panels are generally formed to separate from each other at the dummy area 32.
After the first and second mother substrates have been bonded together the liquid crystal display panels are individually cut. Simultaneously, the dummy area 31 of each of the color filter substrates 2 and the other dummy area 32 separating the unit liquid crystal display panels from each other are removed.
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic layout of an individually cut unit liquid crystal display panel according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2, an individual unit liquid crystal display panel 10 includes an image display part 13 having liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix form. A gate pad part 14 connects gate lines GL1–GLm of the image display part 13 to a gate driver integrated circuit (not shown in the drawing) for supplying gate signals. The data pad part 15 connects data lines DL1–DLn of the image display part 13 to a data driver integrated circuit (not shown in the drawing) for supplying image information. The gate pad parts 14 and data pad parts 15 are arranged on the edge of the thin film transistor array of substrate 1.
Thin film transistors are formed at areas where the data lines and gate lines cross each other on substrate 1. The thin film transistors switch the liquid crystal cells and pixel electrodes are connected to the thin film transistors for supplying electric fields to the corresponding liquid crystal cells. A passivation layer is formed on an entire surface to protect the data lines DL1–DLn, gate lines GL1–GLm, thin film transistors, and electrodes.
Color filters are formed on substrate 2. The color filters are separated from an adjacent cell area through a black matrix and a common electrode. The common electrode is a counter electrode of the pixel electrodes on the thin film transistor array substrate 1.
A cell gap is provided for leaving a predetermined interval between the substrates 1 and 2. Substrates 1 and 2 are bonded to each other by a sealing part (not shown in the drawing) that is formed on a periphery of the image display part 13. A liquid crystal layer (not shown in the drawing) is formed in a separating space between substrates 1 and 2.
Additionally, a short circuit line (not shown in the drawing) is formed on an edge of the thin film transistor array of substrate 1. The short circuit line prevents static electricity generated during the patterning of conductive layers from damaging the thin film transistor array of substrate 1. The short circuit line is typically removed after the liquid crystal display panels are cut into individual unit liquid crystal display panels.
For example, after the liquid crystal display panels have been cut into individual unit liquid crystal display panels the edges of the individual unit liquid crystal display panels are grinded to remove the short circuit line. Additionally, the edges are grinded in order to prevent damage from external impact and prevent injury from any sharp edges of the unit liquid crystal display panels that may be present.
Finally, a final testing analysis is performed to determine normal operation of the individual unit liquid crystal display panels. The panels are judged with varying criteria, for example, a 'good product.'
As mentioned in the foregoing explanation, the grinding and checking processes are carried out after the process of cutting the liquid crystal display panels into the individual unit liquid crystal display panels. A conveying apparatus precisely controls this process by transporting the corresponding unit liquid crystal display panel to the desired location. Additionally, the movement via the apparatus is utilized to minimize impact on the panel. An apparatus for conveying the liquid crystal display panel is explained in detail by referring to the attached drawings as follows.
FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of an apparatus for conveying an individual liquid crystal display panel according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 3, the apparatus includes a cylinder 53 for driving a pair of pistons 51 and 52 with an air in a back and forth direction. A vertical driving unit 55 for driving the cylinder 53 capable of moving along a conveying shaft 54. A pair of support shafts 56 and 57 connected to pistons 51 and 52. The support shafts protrude on lateral sides of the cylinder 53. A pair of robot arms 58 and 59, each of the arms has on of their ends connected to the support shafts 56 and 57. The robot arms extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support shafts 56 and 57. A pair of clamping units 60 and 61 connected to lower portions the ends of the robot arms 58 and 59. The robot arms are separated at a predetermined distance, thereby forming a separating area.
FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate close up views of an apparatus for conveying an individual unit of a liquid crystal display panel according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 4A, the cylinder 53 is driven via air injection and discharge, thereby the pistons 51 and 52 move back and forth. Accordingly, the pair of the robot arms 58 and 59 are moved back and forth as the pistons move back and forth. The robot arms can be moved at predetermined intervals from both sides for loading an individual unit liquid crystal display panel 10 on a first table 62. In this case, both of the sides of the loaded unit liquid crystal display panel 10 protrude out of the first table 62.
Referring to FIG. 4B, the vertical driving unit 55 lowers the cylinder 53. The pair of robot arms 58 and 59 are lowered to a level smaller than or at least equal to the level of the individual unit of liquid crystal display panel 10.
Referring to FIG. 4C, the cylinder 53 is driven in a direction of the arrows making the pair of the pistons 51 and 52 get closer to each other through the injection and discharge of air. Accordingly, the pair of the robot arms 58 and 59 are driven in the direction making the robot arms 58 and 59 get closer to each other and are arranged closely to both of the sides of the unit of liquid crystal display panel 10 on the first table 62.
Referring to FIG. 4D, the vertical driving unit 55 elevates the cylinder 53 in the direction of the arrow. Accordingly, the pair of the robot arms 58 and 59 are lifted, thereby elevating the liquid crystal display panel 10 supported by the clamping units 60 and 61.
As mentioned in the above explanation, once the liquid crystal display panel 10 is lifted together with the robot arms 58 and 59 the vertical driving unit 55 is driven to move along the conveying shaft 54. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display panel 10 is transported to the desired location.
Once the liquid crystal display panel 10 has been conveyed to the desired location, it is put down on another table in a reverse manner as explained in FIGS. 4A to 4D, above.
However, the above-explained apparatus according to the related art requires that the robot arms correspond to the size of the liquid crystal display panel that is to be moved. Accordingly, if the size of the liquid crystal display panel to be conveyed is changed the robots arm must be changed. Therefore, the related art apparatus reduces the efficiency of the operation by delaying the process time and thereby reduces the overall productivity.
Additionally, a plurality of robot arms should be prepared to cope with the sizes of the different liquid crystal display panels, thereby the investment cost is increased and additional space for keeping a plurality of the robot arms is required.

Apparatus for conveying liquid crystal display panel


A robot system includes a robot controller and an object robot including a first storage part storing a hardware identifier, individual discrimination data, and device specific data including an individual difference parameter. The same hardware identifier is assigned to the object robot having the same mechanism. The robot controller includes a second storage part storing common configuration information corresponding to the hardware identifier and the individual discrimination data and the individual difference parameter of the object robot, and a control part configured, in a case that the hardware identifier corresponding to the common configuration information stored in the second storage part and the hardware identifier assigned to the object robot are collated and matched with each other, to create hardware definition information of the object robot based on the common configuration information stored in the second storage part and the individual difference parameter read from the first storage part.

A robot system is commonly structured of a manipulator including arms which are connected with each other and a motor which drives their connected parts, a hand or a tool which is attached to the manipulator, and a robot controller configured to control the manipulator and the hand. The manipulator and the hand structure a robot main body. In a robot in which a hand is unable to be detached from a manipulator, it may be considered that the hand is included in the manipulator and, in this case, a robot main body may be structured of only a manipulator. In order to control rotation of each of motors arranged in an inside of a robot main body by a robot controller, a motor is attached with an encoder for detecting its rotation position, and information of the rotation position acquired by the encoder is transmitted to the robot controller as needed. In some cases, a robot system may include an attachment which is independent of the robot main body. An aligner for changing a posture of a work which is an object to be processed of a robot main body or the like is also an attachment. An attachment is also an object to be controlled by a robot controller.
In a manipulator and a hand which are a robot main body, the number and dimensions of arms and hands, their connected relationships, specifications of a motor to be mounted are different for each model of a robot. Structural information of each of these robots is commonly stored in a robot controller in advance and thus, the robot controller is prepared for each model of the robot. The robot controller is unable to control a robot of another model which is different from its objected model as it is. In order to control a robot of another model by using a robot controller for a certain model, it is required that an operator inspects a model of the robot and performs an operation of replacing information of the robot controller with robot structural information adapted to the confirmed model. Therefore, a robot controller is prepared for each model of a robot. In addition, even in robots of the same model, an individual difference is existed for each robot main body and thus, when a robot is to be controlled by a robot controller, control corresponding to the individual difference is required to be performed. An individual difference is, for example, an offset value with respect to a home position. A manipulator and a hand are determined with a home position which indicates a reference posture for the operation. Rotation position data indicated by an encoder of a motor when located at the home position indicate a different value for each individual of a manipulator and a hand due to variation of attachment of the motor and the encoder. This is similar in a case of an attachment having a motor. Therefore, an individual difference is measured when assembling of a robot has been completed or the like, and after that, data of the individual difference are stored in a storage part of a robot controller. As a result, even in a robot controller for a robot main body of the same model, when another robot main body of the same model is replaced and connected, control is unable to be performed with a high degree of accuracy and readjustment of the robot controller is required. Therefore, it is not easy that a robot main body of the same model is replaced and connected.
However, in a case that a robot is to be used, in order to enhance efficiency in an operation in which a robot is used and, in order to flexibly cope with a change of a process and occurrence of trouble, there is a demand that a robot controller for the same model is replaced and connected to a robot main body of the same model. In addition, there is a case that, although the model is different, they may be regarded as the same model from a viewpoint of a structure and control of a robot main body. For example, there may be regarded as a different model based on whether an aligner which is an attachment is added to the robot main body or not. In a case that an operation without using an aligner is executed by a robot main body, the operation may be executed by using the same robot controller even if the model is different. In addition, there may be a case that, although the mechanism is completely the same, a robot main body in which epoxy paint is used as paint on an exterior of a manipulator on the premise of use in a clean room is determined to be a different model from a robot main body in which general paint is used without considering use in a clean room. In this case, although robot main bodies are referred to be different models, it is desirable that the same robot controller can be replaced and connected.
As an attempt capable of replacing a robot main body which is to be connected with a robot controller, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-242922 (Patent Literature 1) discloses a robot system which is capable of being controlled by a robot controller even when a built-in board within a robot main body is replaced. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-148433 (Patent Literature 2) discloses that, in order to automatically perform modifying operation of various data after a mechanism part or a mechanism unit of a robot has been replaced, when the replacement is detected, data within a robot controller are rewritten with data read from the mechanism part or the mechanism unit of the robot. The data read from the mechanism part or the mechanism unit of the robot also include data relating to an axis configuration of the robot such as arm lengths. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-137526 (Patent Literature 3) discloses that information relating to sensors provided in a robot is read into a robot controller from a robot main body after the robot main body has been replaced. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-56378 (Patent Literature 4) discloses that a replacing memory is used for adequately and easily transferring robot operation data from a robot controller having been used to a new robot controller.
Replacement of a robot controller connected with a robot main body of a certain model with another robot controller of the same model, or replacement of a robot main body connected with a robot controller with another robot main body of the same model is the same as changing of a combination of a robot main body with a robot controller in the same model. The techniques disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 through 4 which are capable of changing a robot main body connected with a robot controller are insufficient from a viewpoint of changing a combination of a robot main body with a robot controller in the same model. In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 4, a parameter relating to an individual difference is required to be backed up when a robot controller is replaced and thus, its procedure is complicated. In addition, Patent Literatures 1 through 4 do not disclose a technique of changing a combination of robot main bodies of different models but whose mechanisms are the same with a robot controller.


A sensor-data processing device, including at least one interface to communicate with at least one sensor element for detecting sensor events; at least one interface to communicate with at least one external computer device for processing sensor data representing the sensor events; devices for generating at least one time base specific to the sensor-data processing device; a device for assigning time stamps to the sensor events, the time stamps being based on the time base of the sensor-data processing device and being specific to the sensor-data processing device; a device for receiving a request signal from the computer device; with the aid of the computer device, the request signal being able to be assigned a time stamp based on a time base specific to the computer device; and a device for assigning a time stamp specific to the sensor-data processing device, to the request signal.

Sensor components, which include at least one MEMS sensor element and a so-called sensor hub, are conventional. With the aid of the MEMS sensor element, one or more measurable physical quantities (e.g., acceleration, yaw rate, etc.) are measured and converted to corresponding electrical sensor signals. The sensor hub is a microcontroller, which processes further the sensor signals for selected applications and, in this manner, generates digitized sensor data. The design of the sensor hub provides for the sensor-signal processing of the sensor hub to take place continuously, even if a connected host processor is deactivated.
Thus, the sensor hub generates continuously digitized sensor data, which are stored in a FIFO (first-in first-out register). In addition, the sensor hub detects sensor events, which are defined by the applications, and in the case of a sensor event, it generates at least one interrupt signal, which wakes up the connected host processor; the host processor being able to retrieve the sensor data as required, via an interface, e.g., an I2C interface.
The sensor hub has its own clock generator (clock) and assigns each sample of the sensor data a so-called "time stamp," so that the host processor may put the sensor data in a temporal context. A separate clock signal is available to the host processor, which also generates it, generally. This clock signal runs asynchronously and independently of the clock generator of the sensor hub. Due to this, it is necessary that time stamps, which the sensor hub assigns to the sensor events, be converted to the time base of the host processor prior to use in the host processor. The conversion requires the multiplication by a factor and the addition of an offset. The exact determination of this factor and this offset is critical for the quality of the converted time stamp.
According to a conventional method for determining the clock factor and the offset, the sensor hub transmits a time stamp, together with the interrupt signal, to the host processor. On the host processor, the interrupt is assigned, in turn, a time stamp regarding the host clock generator signal, which means that the host processor may determine the factor and offset after the occurrence of a plurality of interrupts. In this case, the measurement of the interrupt time stamp with regard to the host clock generator signal is made, using software.
Therefore, it also does not always take place immediately after reception of the interrupt signal, but possibly with an undefined temporal offset, as well, caused by the interrupt reaction delay (interrupt response latency), which is, for example, a function of the capacity utilization of the host processor and the priority of other operations and interrupts. The inaccuracy of measurement with the time stamps results in an inaccurate calculation of the factor and offset. Therefore, a complex filtering algorithm is used, which, in turn, compensates for this inaccuracy within certain limits.
A further disadvantage of this limitation is that a comparison of the sensor-hub time stamp and host-processor time stamp is only possible if an interrupt occurs. Thus, there is exactly one measurement per occurring interrupt. Since, during normal operation, very long times may elapse without interrupts, then, disadvantageously, the accuracy of the factor and offset may be degraded significantly.


In association with an overhead camshaft type internal combustion engine, apparatus to simultaneously pressurize all the combustion chambers and to maintain the valves in their closed positions while removing or installing valve springs. The apparatus has an elongated tubular inlet bar closed at one end and attached at the other end to a source of pressurized air. A flat base member is attached to the cylinder head so that openings therein are aligned over spark plug openings in the cylinder head. Short tubes extend from the base member to the tubular inlet bar to pass pressurized air to the combustion. The tubular inlet bar is also useful as a fulcrum for a lever used to compress the valve springs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for pressurizing engine combustion chambers or cylinders during service work on valve springs and the like. Specifically, for increased efficiency the apparatus pressurizes an entire bank of cylinders at one time.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to pressurize individual combustion chambers to hold the associated intake and exhaust valves closed during service. This necessitates working on each cylinder individually which is inefficient. The subject apparatus increases efficiency by simultaneously pressurizing all the cylinders or combustion chambers. In addition, the apparatus provides a fulcrum for a lever-like device used to compress a valve spring.
In the Castoe U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,435, a device to compress an engine valve spring is disclosed. Also, see the similar device disclosed in Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,608. The Johnson patent also discloses the previous practice of pressurizing individual cylinders by introducing air through a spark plug opening (see Column 2, lines 46-50).


The printer reads a capacity number of printed sheets and a accumulated number of printed sheets of a toner cartridge stored in a cartridge memory of toner cartridge and compares them to determine whether toner cartridge's service life has expired. Similarly, it reads toner cartridge's product information stored in the cartridge memory, and compares it with an authorized product's product information to determine whether the toner cartridge is an authorized product. If it is determined that toner cartridge's life has expired or the toner cartridge is not an authorized product, the printer executes printing process in the safety mode with an increased frequency compared to that of the standard mode. Thus, the printer allows continuation of printing without deteriorating printing quality and without halting instantly even when a toner cartridge, whose service life has expired, or an unauthorized product is used.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention related to a printing device. More specifically, it relates to a printing device that allows the printing process to be continued without deteriorating printing quality or without halting the printing operation instantly even when a developing agent cartridge, whose service life has expired or which is not an authorized product, is used.
2. Description of Related Art
The toner cartridge of a printing device such as a printer is a consumable item and it is necessary to replace it with a new cartridge when the toner material stored inside the cartridge is used up. If the used up cartridge is replaced with a cartridge authorized by the manufacturer of said printer ("authorized product"), the printing quality and reliability are guaranteed. However, refilled cartridges that are manufactured by using used-up cartridge bodies of authorized products and refilling them with unauthorized toners or toners of other manufacturers ("refilled product") or cartridges made by other manufacturers in imitation of authorized products ("unauthorized product") are available on the market, and they sometimes caused deterioration of printing quality or reliability or even printer problems. Also, each component of the cartridge has a specific service life, so that even an authorized product is used, it may cause similar troubles when a service life of a part of its components has expired even if its toner has still remained.
In the meanwhile, there are printing device inventions that are capable of judging whether a cartridge is an authorized one depending on the data stored in the cartridge memory (e.g., JP-10-69139A), judging whether a cartridge is a refilled product by detecting increase of the toner quantity recorded on the cartridge memory (e.g., JP-2001-100530A), judging whether a cartridge is a refilled product by detecting damages on the cartridge body making the body impossible to open it without damaging a certain part of it (e.g., Patent Application 2001-125462), and others.
However, in any of these prior arts, it is designed to stop or prohibit printing if the loaded cartridge is found to be a refilled product and the like, so that it has a problem that a user can use a product by mistake without noticing that it is a refilled product, or an authorized product but its service life has expired, or an unauthorized product, in which case the user has no choice to stop printing if a replacement authorized product is not available on the spot.

Printing device, printing method, printing program and computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


The invention relates to a process for isolating pure diketene with recovery of materials of value by continuous, two-stage distillation of crude diketene at reduced pressure and with continuous reaction of the resulting distillation residue with acetic acid, pure diketene and acetic anhydride being separated off by means of the two-stage distillation. In the stabilization of the distillation residue with acetic acid, reutilizable acetic acid, which contains acetone with or without acetic anhydride, is recovered.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for isolating pure diketene with recovery of materials of value by continuous, two-stage distillation of crude diketene at reduced pressure and with continuous reaction of the resulting distillation residue with acetic acid.
2. Background Art
In the industrial dimerization of technical-grade ketene, for example as described in DE-A-2301655 (US-A-4001332), an 82 to 87% pure crude diketene is obtained, which, besides small amounts of dissolved ketene, acetone and acetic acid, is contaminated by a further 5 to 7% of acetic anhydride and 8 to 10% of oligomeric or polymeric ketenes, which can be described by the general formula (CH.sub.2 .dbd.C.dbd.O).sub.n+1, where n>1. This crude diketene is unsuitable for use as starting material for numerous syntheses. Before further use, it must be purified, which can conveniently be achieved by distillation. If known methods are used for this, then account must be taken of product decomposition and polymerization, caused by the high reactivity of the diketene, which detract from the economics and the effectiveness of the purification process, impairing the quality of the pure diketene obtained. In addition, the distillation of the crude diketene is associated with a high safety risk, in particular because of the 4 to 5% of ketene trimer, which is very unstable, always present.
A particular processing and safety problem of the industrial distillation of crude diketene is the separation and further handling of the polymeric ketenes left over, which are obtained as a residue which, under standard conditions, is viscous to solid--depending on the residual content of diketene and acetic anhydride unstable and tends to decompose spontaneously. In practice, therefore, pure diketene is not distilled from the crude diketene quantitatively, but only in part, in general up to about 50%, based on the initial content, and the remaining crude diketene, now containing even more by-products, is passed on for further utilization with all the associated disadvantages. Furthermore, this unstable residue cannot be passed on to a reutilization procedure, but must be immediately and continually disposed of, for example by incineration, which gives a discernible loss of materials of value, based on ketene, and an undesirable dependence on a dedicated residue disposal system.
Attempts have already been made, in the dimerization of ketene, to reduce the proportion of polymeric ketenes by addition of the inhibitors, for example sulfur dioxide (EP-A 0377438=US-A 4999438). This does reduce the problem, but does not solve it. A residual content of higher polymeric ketenes amounting to from 8 to 10% always remains. In addition, such additives tend to reduce the stability of the crude diketene during the distillative purification, which is shown by lower distillation yields or increased formation of reactive residue.
The alternative solution, to isolate only some of the diketene in pure form from the crude diketene by distillation and to feed the remainder to suitable secondary reactions, for example the preparation of various acetoacetic esters, only solves the safety aspect of the problem. Apart from the disadvantages of coproduction, account must in this case be taken of other serious disadvantages in the secondary syntheses which lead to high consumption of materials, high manufacturing costs and product quality problems, because of the formation of numerous by-products which must be removed again from the desired product.
As disclosed in EP-A-0287894 (US-A-4808735), attempts have therefore been made to reduce the safety risk during the preparation and distillation of crude diketene by addition of compounds having functional hydroxyl groups, for , example water, alcohols or carboxylic acids, which react with the trimeric ketene to form thermally stable butanecarboxylic acid derivatives. Since, however, the diketene too undergoes analogous reactions with these additives, the desired degradation of triketene is only incomplete or a high excess of these additives must be used, which makes this measure impractical because of the side reactions with diketenes.
The same disadvantages are shown by the processes disclosed in CA-A-846162 and CA-A-850145, in which the crude diketene is reacted with water to remove acetic anhydride by-product and subsequently worked up by means of extraction and/or distillation.

Process for isolating pure diketene with recovery of materials of value


A skew estimator for estimating a skew between a first signal of a first data path and a second signal of a second data path in a coherent receiver is provided. The skew estimator comprises a phase detector and an integrator. The phase detector is configured to detect a phase of the first signal or the second signal to obtain a phase signal. Further, the integrator is configured to integrate the obtained phase signal to provide an estimated skew.

The present invention relates to a skew estimator for estimating a skew between a first signal of a first data path and a second signal of a second data path in a coherent receiver. Further, the present invention relates to a skew compensator for compensating the estimated skew and to a coherent receiver, in particular a coherent optical receiver, including a skew estimator and a skew compensator.
An important goal of long-haul optical fiber systems is to transmit the highest data throughput over the longest distance without signal regeneration in optical domain. Because of given constraints on the bandwidth imposed by optical amplifiers and ultimately by the fiber itself, it may be important to maximize spectral efficiency. Most systems use binary modulation formats, such as on-off keying encoding one bit per symbol.
According to references [1]-[6], advanced modulation formats in combination with coherent receivers enable high capacity and spectral efficiency. Polarization multiplexing, quadrature amplitude modulation and coherent detection may provide a winning combination for high-capacity optical transmission systems since they allow information encoding in all available degrees of freedom.
Further, commercial devices using QAM constellation are available in 40 and 100 Gb/s optical systems.
In this regard, FIG. 15 shows a schematic block diagram of a coherent optical receiver 1500. The coherent optical receiver 1500 has a receive (Rx) analog part 1501 and a receive (Rx) digital part 1503.
The Rx analog part 1501 has a local oscillator (LO) 1505 and a 90° hybrid 1507 having two poles. The hybrid 1507 receives the optical signal. Four optical front ends (OFE) 1509, 1511, 1513, and 1515 are coupled to the hybrid 1507. Each OFE block 1509-1515 is coupled to one automatic gain control (AGC) block 1517, 1519, 1521, and 1523. Further, each AGC block 1517-1523 is coupled towards an analog-digital converter (ADC) 1525, 1527, 1529, and 1531. In detail:
Since the digital signal is mapped into both polarizations, the 90° hybrid 1507 is used to mix the input optical signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal of the LO 1505 that results in four output signals, namely two signals per polarization. The optical OFEs 1509-1515 are configured to convert the respective electrical signal into an optical signal. The respective OFE 1509-1515 may comprise a photo diode and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA). Because the signal power may vary over time, the AGC blocks 1517-1525 may compensate for signal power variations (see reference [7]). The four AGC blocks 1517-1525 may also be an internal part of the OFE blocks 1509-1515.
Due to realization complexity, a pair of AGC blocks may be controlled by one control signal. For example, the pair of AGC blocks 1517, 1519 may be controlled by the control signal VXAGC for X polarization. Further, the pair of AGC blocks 1521, 1523 may be controlled by the control signal VYAGC for Y polarization. Further, the four AGC blocks 1517-1523 may be controlled by four independent control voltages or control signals.
The signals output by the AGC blocks 1517-1523 may be quantised by the ADCs 1525-1531. The four ADCs 1525-1531 may output an X-polarized in-phase signal (XI), an X-polarized quadrature-phase signal (XQ), a Y-polarized in-phase signal (YI) and a Y-polarized quadrature-phase signal (YQ).
Further, the four quantised digital data streams XI, XQ, YI and YQ are further processed in a digital signalling processing (DSP) block 1533 of the Rx digital part 1503. The DSP 1533 may comprise a software part 1535 and a hardware part 1537. The hardware part 1537 may be fast compared to the slow software part 1535. The DSP block 1533 may be configured to compensate for chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), polarization rotation, non-linear effects, LO noise, LO frequency offsets and the like. Moreover, an estimation of slow processes, like LO frequency offsets or CD, may be done in the software part 1535 of the DSP block 1533.
Further, FIG. 16 shows a schematic block diagram of basic DSP blocks 1600. The DSP 1600 has a software part 1601 and a hardware part 1603. The hardware part 1603 has an offset and gain adjustment (AGC) block 1605.
Coupled to the AGC block 1605, there are two compensation blocks 1607 and 1609, namely a chromatic dispersion (CD) block for X polarization 1607 and a CD compensation block 1609 for Y compensation.
Further, the hardware block 1603 comprises a frequency recovery block 1611 and a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation and depolarization block 1613 coupled to the recovery block 1611. The PMD/CD compensation and depolarization block 1613 may comprise a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.
Moreover, a timing estimation block 1615 receives the outputs of the CD compensation block 1609 and the PMD/CD compensation and depolarization block 1613 for providing a timing information towards a VCC 1617.
After the block 1613, a carrier recovery block 1619 is coupled to a decoding detection block 1621.
Further, between the data paths providing the input signals X, XQ, Y and YQ, there are four ADCs 1623, 1625, 1627 and 1629 coupled. In detail:
After offset and gain correction by block 1605, the four signals are equalized for chromatic dispersion in frequency domain using the two fast Fourier transformation (FFT) blocks 1607 and 1609. The frequency offset may be removed in the frequency recovery block 1611. Polarization tracking, PMD compensation and residual CD compensation may be done in time domain using FIR filters 1613, exemplarily arranged in a butterfly structure.
The carrier recovery block 1619 is configured to provide residual frequency offset and carrier phase recovery. When differential decoding is applied at the transmitter side (not shown), a differential decoder may be used in the decoding and frame detection block 1621.
Further, CD may efficiently be compensated in the FFT blocks 1607 and 1609. The compensation CD function may be
                                          CD                          -              1                                                      (            DL            )                          =                  exp          (                                    -                                                j                                                        (                                                                  2                                                π                                                                                nf                          s                                                                    N                                        )                                                  2                                                                                λ                  0                  2                                                DL                                            4                                π                                                                                c                                              )                                    (        1        )            where λ0 is the signal wavelength, fs is the sampling frequency, N is the FFT size, c is the speed of light, n is the tap number, L is fiber length, and D is the dispersion coefficient.
Due to complexity reasons, only one FFT block 1701 using complex input may be applied to each polarization, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 17. The inverse FFT (IFFT) 1703 may be identical to the FFT 1701 although real and imaginary parts are swapped at input and output.
Between the FFT block 1701 and the IFFT block 1703, an inverse chromatic dispersion (CD−1) block 1705 is coupled.
The four data paths, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 16, may have different length or delay. As a consequence, different arriving instances cause penalties, in particular significant penalties depending on the actual conditions of the channel and the amount of data delays. For example, in 112 G QPSK transmission systems with a symbol length of about 36 ps, the penalties due to I/Q skew are shown in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, the x-axis shows the I/Q skew and the y-axis shows the required OSNR at BER of 0.001. It may be noted that a skew of 5 ps may result in 1 dB OSNR penalty. This skew value may be expected in 112 G coherent receivers. The skew may come from different transfer functions of the 90° hybrid, the OFE, the AGC, the ADC and connections between them. Furthermore, the skew between two polarizations may not be so difficult because it may be manifest as an additional differential group delay (DGD). This skew may be compensated by the use of the FIR filter. However, in this case, the DGD operating range may be decreased by the skew value. As a result, it may be desired to compensate also for the X/Y skew.
On the other hand, skew effects clock recovery performance when all four data paths are used for timing extraction.
It may be more difficult when residual dispersion should be compensated after the FFT block in the FIR block. Results for 112 G QAM with RD of −340 ps/nm are presented in FIG. 19. In particular, FIG. 19a shows the signal constellation with CD without skew and FIG. 19b shows the same for a skew of 8 ps. Further, it may be noted that a Y polarization may have more problems than an X polarization even after 50 FIR filter updates.
Regarding skew compensation, the path delay offsets between XI, XQ, YI and YQ data may be measured by applying an identical optical signal, in particular a single polarization, to all photo detectors during factory calibration. This may be done by turning off the LO and increasing the power of the signal. A common, directly detected signal may be incident on all photo detectors. Then, data blocks may be transferred to a personal computer (PC), either from before a variable FIFO buffer or after fixed filters, with all filters providing a single impulse response.
Then, the data may be interpolated and then cross-correlated between the four data paths. The relative peaks may be used to determine the relative time offsets. In particular, FIFO may be compensated for the minimum skew of the sampling period.

Skew estimator, skew compensator and coherent receiver