The projection lights including the red and infrared lights are projected from a light projecting device (3) onto a reflex reflector (7) arranged at a position which is away from the light projecting device by a predetermined distance. The reflex reflector reflects the red light and absorbs the infrared light. The reflected lights from the reflex reflector or an object to be detected are detected by a photo sensitive device (4). The photo sensitive device individually detects the red light and infrared light and outputs two light detection signals. The sum of the light detection signals is compared with the first threshold value. The difference between the light detection signals is compared with the second threshold value. An object detection signal is formed on the basis of the logical arithmetic operation of the results of the comparison.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflection type photoelectric switching apparatus comprising a photoelectric switching unit having a light projecting portion and a photo sensitive portion and a reflex reflector arranged at a position which is away from the photoelectric switching unit by a predetermined distance, wherein the photoelectric switching unit and reflex reflector are arranged in a manner such that a projection light from the light projecting portion is projected onto the reflex reflector and the reflected light from the reflex reflector is detected by the photo sensitive portion.
2. Prior Art Statement
In the above photoelectric switching apparatus of the reflex reflecting type, since an amount of reflected light which is detected by the photo sensitive portion changes when an object passes through the region between the photoelectric switching unit and the reflex reflector, the object is detected on the basis of such a change. However, when the object has the mirror surface (metal glossy surface or the like), almost all of the projection light is reflected by the object and its reflection is the mirror surface reflection in which an incident angle and a reflection angle are equal. Therefore, almost all of the reflected light is detected or is not detected by the photo sensitive portion in dependence on the position of the object (distance from the object to the photoelectric switching unit), so that the reliability is low.
To solve such a drawback, as shown in JP-A-59-119628, there has been proposed a reflex reflection type photoelectric switching apparatus in which the lights of two different wavelength bands, for instance, the red light and infrared light are irradiated onto a reflex reflector by using two light projecting devices, the reflex reflector is constructed so as to reflect only the infrared light and to absorb the lights of wavelength bands other than the infrared light, and by mutually comparing the levels of light detection signals of the two kinds of lights, the reflex reflector and object are distinguished.
However, such a reflex reflection type photoelectric switching apparatus has a drawback such that an object having the print color such as blue, purple, or the like cannot be distinguished from the reflex reflector. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, an object having the color of blue, purple, or the like absorbs the red light and reflects the infrared light having a long wavelength and has the same spectrum characteristic as that of the reflex reflector. Therefore, there is a drawback such that the reflex reflector locating at a remote distance and the blue object existing at a near distance cannot be distinguished and the object cannot be detected.
On the other hand, the foregoing reflection type photoelectric switch has a drawback such that two light projecting portions are necessary and the number of parts of the optical system increases. Further, since the optical axes of the two light projecting portions are slightly deviated, there is a problem such that if the object to be detected shuts out only the light beam of either one of the optical axes, there is a fear such that a detection signal is erroneously output.

Photoelectric switching apparatus of reflection type projecting red and infrared light


A billing system for use in a telephone signaling network. The network comprising offices through which telephone calls can be routed, each office being owned by a telephone company that participates in the network. Each office includes a signaling point (SP) that includes means for formulating message signaling units (MSUs). An MSU may comprise a query requesting a call data pertinent to a particular call, for example, for verifying the validity of a credit card number. The network also includes signal transfer points (STPs) for receiving and routing the MSUs, and plurality of service control points (SCPs), each SCP being linked to one of the STPs. Each SCP comprises a database that includes call data provided by one or more of the participating telephone companies. The billing system of the invention includes means for capturing at least a portion of the MSUs received by one or more STPs. The billing system processes the MSUs to produce usage data that indicates service recipients and service providers. The service recipient is the telephone company that owns the SP that formulated the MSU, and the service provider is the telephone company that provided the call data for the MSU, or that transported the MSU. The usage data may then be used to produce invoice data for accurately assigning costs among the telephone companies.

Modern telephone systems provide a number of mechanisms for the indirect or alternate billing of a given telephone call. For example, a calling party may request that a call be charged to a particular telephone credit card number, to a third party, or to the called party (i.e., a collect call). To avoid fraud, such alternate billing services are preferably subjected to a validation procedure before the call is allowed to proceed.
The first large scale system adopted for validating credit card calls utilizes a nationwide collection of databases containing the required validation information. To participate, a given telephone company places its validation data in one of such databases, so that it will be available to all telephone companies through which a call may be initiated. Unfortunately, as further described below, this system does not permit the telephone company that provided the validation data to bill the companies that use or transport the data.
The U.S. telephone systems are constantly undergoing modernization, and are presently being upgraded by the addition of digital common channel signaling networks to the existing voice network. In the resulting composite network, validation data will be stored in a plurality of distributed databases, each distributed database being maintained by a particular telephone company or, more commonly, by a group of telephone companies such as in a Regional Bell Operating Company. In the new system, each distributed database can determine the number of validation requests received, broken down by the initiators of the requests. Further, this system will also be used to transport call setup information between the switching nodes of the existing telephone network. However the system being deployed is not presently equipped with the capability of billing based upon the actual use of validation data accessed in any of the distributed databases, or for the transport of call setup information. There therefore exists an unmet need for an improved tracking system for information transfers which will provide for an accurate assignment of costs based on such services.

Billing system for telephone signaling network


A construction layout and angle measurement tool includes opposite working sides having unique indicia for establishing angles from side edges or corners of building materials. When used with a reference line, and when attached to the workpiece, the tool allows site layout and evaluation by only one person. The tool may be mounted on vertical, horizontal, and inclined workpieces. Angles are determined and evaluated directly with the tool while avoiding mathematical computation.

This invention relates generally to tools, and more specifically to layout and evaluation tools used for construction projects.
A variety of tools exist which are used to layout construction sites and evaluate existing structures or construction projects in progress. Carpenters, for example, are often charged with layouts and construction of various projects. For example, wall framing and finishing, roofline construction and finishing, banister and railing construction, patio and deck construction, and framing for sidewalks, pathways, and the like often require great attention to design details which carpenters, among others, must incorporate into the final construction. One problem which carpenters must face is accurate and efficient location of angles and distances in laying out construction sites, and in cutting construction materials to complete projects.
A variety of tools exist which carpenters presently use to measure angles for layout of construction sites and fabrication of structures. For example, roofing or framing squares and various protractor tools are available which allow carpenters and construction tools to measure angles for site layout and to mark construction pieces for cutting during fabrication of a structure. Such known angle measuring tools are, however, disadvantaged in several aspects.
For example, except for very small layouts and small construction components, it typically takes two workers to layout sites, measure larger pieces for fabrication, and evaluate existing constructions or constructions in progress. One worker is typically needed to hold the measuring tool at a predetermined location, while another worker is needed to extend a string line to a location some distance away from the tool. In a cooperative manner, the worker with the measuring tool directs the worker with the string line to adjust the position of the string until the desired angle is obtained, and then to set a marker on the site (e.g., a stake or a flag) or to mark a construction workpiece for cutting. For various reasons, however, it is not always easy to dedicate two workers to such tasks, and it would be desirable if such tasks could be efficiently performed by only one person, potentially saving time and expense for construction projects.
Additionally, existing tools are generally designed for use in one particular orientation by the user (e.g., measurement from a horizontal edge). If a user attempts to use the tool in another orientation (e.g., measurement from a vertical position), the user must adapt and use the tool differently, sometimes requiring mathematical computation or adjustment to the reading of the tool to measure or mark certain angles. It would be desirable to provide a tool which may be more or less universally used in the same manner in a variety of positions and orientations by the user, thereby simplifying use of the tools and prevent mistakes due to mathematical errors.
Still further, when evaluating existing structures for improvement, repair, or finishing work, known layout and measuring tools are not that helpful in determining angles. For example, on-site determination of the pitch of a roof, an unknown angle between two elements, or the centerline of a circle or arc is generally determined by measurement of distances and mathematical formulas, and not by direct measurement with tools. It would be desirable to provide a tool that is more capable of directly evaluating existing structures without mathematical computation.

Construction layout and angle measurement tool


A method and system for analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer system determines a first flow velocity at a first location and a second flow velocity at a second location. Using a processor, the travel time between the two locations is determined using only the flow velocities and a constant. The travel time may then be used to provide a substantially accurate determination of net flow between the two locations.

The present invention relates generally to flow monitoring systems in a sewer network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for determining the time corresponding to the flow of a fluid from one point in a network to another without requiring detailed information about the system, such as the distance between the two points or the number or character of sources between the points.
Tools for the accurate measurement of flow in a sewer network are an important resource for managers, mechanics, engineers, and regulators of municipal and industrial sewer networks. Accurate measurements of flow between points, and an understanding of what flow is expected to occur at a downstream point based on upstream conditions, can help determinexe2x80x94and to predictxe2x80x94when network problems such as leaks, breaks, clogs and other blockages and overflows may occur. They can also help system engineers and designers understand when additional capacity must be built into the system, as well as to help them better manage a network with its existing capacity.
One key parameter that is measured in a sewer network is the net flow between two or more points. At a basic level, the volume of flow at a downstream location minus the volume of flow at an upstream location is considered to be the net flow between the two locations. The downstream location volume is typically higher than that of the upstream location under normal conditions, as discharge sources, rainwater inflow and infiltration, and/or other sources may introduce wastewater into the network between the upstream and downstream locations. If the net flow between the two locations decreases below what is expected, or if net flow becomes negative, the network manager should investigate to determine whether a leak, break, clog, or overflow is occurring.
However, the above-described general calculation of net flow does not consider that it takes time for a particular flow element to travel from the upstream location to the downstream location, nor does it consider that such time may vary. Thus, because of the xe2x80x9ctravel time,xe2x80x9d by the time that a flow reaches a downstream location from an upstream location, the conditions at the upstream location may have become significantly different due to changes in input volumes, changes in weather conditions, or any number of conditions. Thus, the traditional way of calculating net flow is not desirable because it does not account for travel time or variations in travel time.
Sewer network managers have tried to compensate for the above-described problem in two ways. The first way is to use a larger number of monitoring points in the network, so that conditions are not likely to significantly change during the time that it takes wastewater to flow from one monitor to the next. However, flow monitors can be very expensive to purchase and costly to maintain. Thus, this solution is not desirable because it is not cost-effective, and it is often cost-prohibitive. In addition, the solution still does not account for the travel time between the monitors that are installed.
The second way is to perform detailed modeling of travel time, based on volumes of network design specifications and flow data. Such modeling exercises are time-consuming, costly, and only provide a snapshot of an anticipated travel time that matches the conditions under which the modeling occurred.
Thus, if a method and system for determining travel time in a sewer network were available that could determine the travel time in real time, using a small number of monitors and relatively little input data, significant cost savings would result, and sewer network managers would be better able to manage, predict conditions, anticipate design requirements, and respond to problems in their networks.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved method and system for analyzing flow in a sewer network that includes the real-time derivation of the time that it takes for a flow to travel between points in the network.
It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for analyzing flow in a sewer network that includes the real-time derivation of the time that it takes for a flow to travel between points in the network.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer network includes the steps of collecting first data representative of a first flow velocity of a substance at a first location, as well as collecting second data representative a second flow velocity of the substance at a second location. In a preferred embodiment, the method also includes transmitting, via at least one communications link, the first data and second data to a processor. The processor determines a travel time corresponding to travel of the substance between the first location and the second location using only the first data, the second data, and a constant. Preferably the processor does not require additional data relating to the sewer network or the substance.
Optionally, the method also includes the steps of detecting a first flow volume at the first location at a first time and detecting a second flow volume at the second location at a second time. The second time is a function of the first time and the travel time. The option also includes transmitting the first flow volume and the second flow volume to a processor. The processor determines a net flow corresponding to a difference between the second flow volume and the first flow volume.
Optionally, the determining step comprises divides the constant by either a sum or an average of the first data and the second data.
Optionally, the constant corresponds to or is determined by historic flow volume data for the first location and historic flow volume data for the second location over multiple time increments. As used herein, the word xe2x80x9chistoricxe2x80x9d does not imply any particular age, and can include the immediate past, even as close as a previous hour, minute, or second, as well as longer periods. To derive the constant, the method includes developing a distribution of first flow volume data from the first flow monitor over a period of time and a distribution of second flow volume data from the second flow monitor over a period of time. The constant corresponds to a goodness of fit test performed on the distributions.
As an additional option, the processor is integral with a flow meter that is located at either the first location or the second location.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a system for analyzing flow of a substance between a first location and a second location, includes a first meter capable of detecting a first flow velocity at a first location and a second meter capable of detecting a second flow velocity at a second location. The first meter and the second meter are in communication with a processor, and the processor is programmed to derive a travel time of a flow from the first location to the second location using the first flow velocity, the second flow velocity, and a constant. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, no additional data relating to the flow or the locations are required.
Optionally, the first meter is also capable of detecting a first flow volume at the first location at a first time, the second meter is also capable of detecting a second flow volume at the second location at a second time. The second time corresponds to a sum of the first time and the travel time, and the processor is further programmed to determine a net flow based on the difference between the second flow volume and the first flow volume.
Optionally, the first location and the second location are locations within a sewer network. As a further option, the processor may be integral with the first or second meter.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer network includes the steps of using multiple upstream flow meters to collect upstream flow volume data points corresponding to each upstream flow meter over a period of time, using a downstream flow meter to collect a downstream flow volume data point, and determining a travel time corresponding to travel of a substance between an upstream location corresponding to one of the upstream flow meters and a downstream location, the downstream location corresponding to the downstream flow meter, using the plurality of upstream flow volume data points, the downstream flow volume data point, and a constant, without requiring additional data relating to the sewer network or the substance. Optionally, the method also includes the steps of detecting a first flow volume at the upstream location at a first time, detecting a second flow volume at the downstream location at a second time that is a function of the first time and the travel time, and determining a net flow corresponding to a difference between the downstream flow volume and the upstream flow volume. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of analyzing flow of a substance includes the steps of collecting a first set of flow volume data at a first location over a plurality of time increments, collecting a second set of flow volume data at a second location over a corresponding number of time increments, identifying a first distribution of the first set of flow volume data over time, identifying a second distribution of the second set of flow volume data over time, identifying a constant corresponding to a relation of the first distribution and the second distribution, detecting a first flow velocity at the first location, detecting a second flow velocity at the second location, and determining a transport time corresponding to a transport of a substance from the first location using the first flow velocity, the second flow velocity, and the constant, without requiring additional data. Optionally, the method also includes using the first flow meter at a first time, to detect an upstream flow volume, using the second flow meter at a second time being the sum of the first time and the transport time to detect a downstream flow volume, and calculating a net flow corresponding to a difference between the downstream flow volume and the upstream flow volume. Optionally, the relation in the identifying step comprises a goodness of fit test.
In accordance with an additional embodiment of the present invention, a method of analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer network includes the steps of using a plurality of upstream flow meters to collect a plurality of sets of upstream flow volume data corresponding to each upstream flow meter over a period of time, using a downstream flow meter to collect a set of downstream flow volume data over the period of time, identifying a plurality of upstream distributions corresponding to a set of upstream flow volume data over time, identifying a downstream distribution corresponding to the set of downstream flow volume data over time, identifying a constant corresponding to a relation of the upstream distributions and the downstream distribution, detecting a first flow velocity at an upstream location corresponding to one of the upstream flow meters, detecting a second flow velocity at a downstream location corresponding to the downstream flow meter, and determining a transport time corresponding to transport of a substance from the upstream location to the downstream location using the first flow velocity, the second flow velocity, and the constant, wherein the determining step does not require additional data. Optionally, the method also includes using a first flow meter at the first upstream location at a first time to detect an upstream flow volume, using the downstream flow meter at a time corresponding to a sum of the first time and the travel time to detect a downstream flow volume, and calculating a net flow corresponding to a difference between the downstream flow volume and the upstream flow volume. Optionally, the relation in the identifying step comprises a goodness of fit test.
There have thus been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form at least part of the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract included below, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any way.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept and objectives, upon which this disclosure is based, may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.

Flow transport analysis method and system


An annular optical spacer includes a first side portion, a second side portion, an outer annular portion, an inner annular portion and an anti-reflective layer. The second side portion is opposite to the first side portion. The outer annular portion connects the first side portion with the second side portion. The inner annular portion connects the first side portion with the second side portion. A vertical distance between the inner annular portion and a central axis of the annular optical spacer is shorter than a vertical distance between the outer annular portion and the central axis of the annular optical spacer. The inner annular portion includes at least one rugged surface. The rugged surface includes a plurality of annular protruding structures, and the annular protruding structures are coaxially arranged around the central axis. The anti-reflective layer is on top of the rugged surface.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an optical spacer. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an annular optical spacer with annular protruding structures.
Description of Related Art
Due to the popularity of personal electronic products and mobile communication products having camera functionalities, such as smart phones and tablet personal computers, the demand for compact lens assemblies has been increasing, and the requirements for high resolution and image quality of present compact lens assemblies increase significantly.
An optical spacer is generally used to provide an optical space between any two lenses in a lens assembly. A surface property of the optical spacer relates to an effect of suppressing unexpected lights. Accordingly, an image quality of the lens assembly is influenced by the surface property of the optical spacer.
A conventional optical spacer is typically manufactured by an injection molding method. The optical spacer has a smooth and bright surface, which is featured with high reflectivity. As a result, the conventional optical spacer cannot suppress the unexpected lights.
Another conventional optical spacer is provided for suppressing the unexpected lights. The conventional optical spacer is atomized with a surface treatment, so that a reflectivity thereof is reduced. However, the effect of suppressing unexpected lights is still limited. Therefore, the conventional optical spacer cannot satisfy the requirements of high-end optical systems with camera functionalities.
Given the above, how to improve the surface property of the optical spacer for improving the image quality of compact lens assemblies has become one of the important subjects.

Annual optical spacer, image lens system, and mobile terminal


Memory access in data processing is provided using a time-based technique in which memory locations are mapped to respectively corresponding periods of time during which they are made available for access.

The performance of a data processing system depends in large measure on its memory design. Due to the typically large operating speed differential between the data processor and the memory, the data processor in many conventional data processing systems may spend 80% of its operating time waiting for memory accesses. Many conventional systems attempt to close the speed gap by using large multi-level cache arrangements. However, frequent cache misses increase the processor demand for accessing the slow memory, and the use of cache can increase the data transfer time involved in memory accesses. Also, the number of cache misses increases with the length of the data processing application, thus causing a proportional increase in the time that is spent accessing memory.
Some conventional data processing systems use multiple processors (sometimes contained within a single chip) in combination with shared memory, to improve performance in parallel applications. However, the shared memory requires synchronization overhead. This synchronization overhead, together with the relatively slow memory operation mentioned above, can limit performance gains and scalability in multiprocessor arrangements. The limitations of synchronization overhead and slow memory operation also hamper performance and scalability in conventional multi-threading systems (which use a single processor capable of executing parallel threads).
It is desirable in view of the foregoing to provide solutions that can alleviate the aforementioned problems associated with conventional data processing systems.

Data processing with time-based memory access

Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.


A reception unit receives, in a case where an error has occurred in an image forming apparatus during execution of a designated job, error information indicating that the error has occurred. An acquisition unit acquires information indicating that it is designated to skip the error and to execute the job in the image forming apparatus. A determination unit determines, in a case where the acquisition unit acquires the information, whether or not to continue to display the error information depending on a type of the error. A control unit continues, in a case where the determination unit determines that the error information is continued to be displayed, to display the error information, and ceases, in a case where the determination unit determines that the error information is not continued to be displayed, to display the error information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method of the information processing apparatus, and an information processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in order to promote work efficiency, printers and multi-function peripherals (MFPs) are introduced into an office, and are used via a network. In this situation, inexpensive printers and MFPs, each of which are assumed to be originally placed on the desk side and to be connected to a PC via a USB interface, are introduced into an office, and the opportunity of using them via a network in place of the USB interface is increasing. Note that "USB" is an abbreviation for "Universal Serial Bus", and "PC" is an abbreviation for "Personal Computer".
In this environment, when the user carries out a print operation via the network, and goes to a remote printer for printed materials, that print operation is often not completed due to an error. At this time, if the printer has a liquid crystal screen, it can display the contents of the error that has occurred on the liquid crystal screen. In case of a skippable error, the printer can further display that fact. Then, by checking this error display, the user judges whether or not the error can be skipped. If the user determines that the error can be skipped, he or she presses an error skip button equipped on the printer to continue the print operation while ignoring the occurred error. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-047701 discloses a technique that allows the same user not to confirm an error which has been skipped, so as to reduce the load on the user upon checking whether or not to skip an error.
However, for example, some low-cost printers are not equipped with any liquid crystal screen so as to reduce cost. For such low-cost printer having no liquid crystal screen, an application that allows the user to confirm details of an error status of the printer on the PC side is normally prepared. However, with this application, if the user finds occurrence of an error only when he or she inputs a print designation to the printer via the network and goes from the PC to the distant printer for printed materials, the user has to go back to the PC from which the print designation was input, so as to grasp a cause of the error. This imposes a heavy load on the user.
At this time, some printers are designed to allow a forced print operation if the error does not cause any print trouble, and the user presses an error skip button at his or her judgment. In this case, the load on the user can be reduced. However, when the forced print operation is performed by pressing the error skip button, the application on the PC also cancels the error display. Hence, the user cannot recognize why the error has occurred.

Information processing apparatus, system and method for determining whether to display error information


A dress wheel simulator for a truck or recreational vehicle wheel includes a stainless steel shell adapted to cover the outer face of the wheel from the wheel rim to a central wheel hub area. The simulator shell includes an enlarged opening in its wheel hub area with the opening being sufficiently large so as to permit the shell to pass axially over a majority of the wheel lugs with the lug nuts attached. A simulator hub cover having a radial flange with a plurality of lug nut openings and a pair of diametrically opposed lug openings is also provided. To mount the simulator, a pair of opposed lug nuts are removed, the shell is positioned against the wheel, the lug nut openings of the hub cover are registered with the lugs having their nuts removed and the lug nut openings are registered with the remaining lugs and the hub cover is passed axially over the lugs and lug nuts and against the shell. Thereafter, the lug nuts are reapplied and tightened to secure the simulator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to wheel covers for vehicle wheels and more particularly to a simulator which presents the appearance of a chromed dress wheel on a truck, utility or recreational vehicle.
2. History
Various problems have been encountered with respect to providing wheel covers for truck, utility and recreational vehicle wheels. It has been recognized, for example, that the use of conventional automobile wheel cover rim engaging fastening systems for truck or utility vehicle wheels was not practical. Mounting systems were devised which utilized existing wheel lugs and lug nuts to fasten wheel covers or wheel cover components for such applications.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,582, a utility vehicle wheel cover which included a separate hub cover was disclosed. Both the wheel cover and the hub cover were provided with apertures which were registered with the vehicle's wheel lugs. To mount the wheel cover, the vehicle wheel was lifted from the ground, all wheel lug nuts and a factory equipped annular compression plate were removed, the wheel cover was slipped over the lugs, the compression plate reapplied and then the hub cover was slipped over the lugs and placed against the compression plate. All lug nuts were then secured to the lugs and tightened down against the hub cover.
Installation of such wheel covers was relatively difficult, time consuming and, since it required lifting the vehicle, also presented safety risks. In addition, the compression plate, which was designed to be utilized to apply an axial compressive force against the wheel itself, was now positioned between at least one wheel cover layer and the wheel. Further, the lug nuts, which were designed to be applied directly against the compression plate, were separated from the compression plate by the hub cover. Depending upon the hardness, thickness and other characteristics of the wheel cover material positioned between the wheel and the compression plate, as well as the compression plate and the lug nuts, interference with the wheel retention system including the intended application of wheel mounting compression forces resulted. In addition, the possibility of lug nuts backing off and working loose was presented since the lug nuts were not tightened against the compression plate.


A transdermal permeant delivery of at least one permeant composition into a tissue membrane of a subject including a disposable substrate having at least a portion of a bottom surface of a first release liner connected to an upper surface of the substrate and a patch having a backing layer and a reservoir that is selectively removable from the top surface of the first release liner. In a connected position, a first portion of the backing layer of the patch is releaseably mounted to a top surface of the first release liner in spaced registration with a poration area of the substrate.

The stratum corneum is chiefly responsible for the barrier properties of skin. Thus, it is this layer that presents the greatest barrier to transdermal flux of drugs or other molecules into the body and of analytes out of the body. The stratum corneum, the outer horny layer of the skin, is a complex structure of compact keratinized cell remnants separated by lipid domains. Compared to the oral or gastric mucosa, the stratum corneum is much less permeable to molecules either external or internal to the body. The stratum corneum is formed from keratinocytes, which comprise the majority of epidermal cells that lose their nuclei and become corneocytes. These dead cells comprise the stratum corneum, which has a thickness of only about 10-30 microns and protects the body from invasion by exogenous substances and the outward migration of endogenous fluids and dissolved molecules. The stratum corneum is continuously renewed by shedding of corneum cells during desquamination and the formation of new corneum cells by the keratinization process. Historically, the majority of drugs have been delivered orally or by injection. However, neither the oral or injection route is well-suited for continual delivery of drugs over an extended period of time. Further, the injection method of administration is inconvenient and
uncomfortable; additionally, needles continue to pose a hazard after their use. Therefore, transdermal drug delivery to the body has been a popular and efficacious method for delivering a limited number of permeants into an organism.
To enhance transdermal drug delivery, there are known methods for increasing the permeability of the skin to drugs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,211 is directed to thermal microporation techniques and devices to form one or more micropores in a biological membrane and methods for selectively enhancing outward flux of analytes from the body or the delivery of drugs into the body. PCT WO 00/03758, published Jan. 27, 2000, is directed to methods and apparatus for forming artificial openings in a selected area of a biological membrane using a pyrotechnic element that, when triggered, explodes in a controlled fashion so that the micro-explosion produces the artificial opening in the biological membrane to a desired depth and diameter. PCT WO98/29134, published Jul. 9, 1998 discloses a method of enhancing the permeability of a biological membrane, such as the skin of an animal, using microporation and an enhancer such as a sonic, electromagnetic, mechanical, thermal energy or chemical enhancer. Methods and apparatus for delivery or monitoring using microporation also are described in PCT WO 99/44637, published Sep. 10, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,316; PCT WO 99/44508, published Sep. 10, 1999; PCT WO 99/44507, published Sep. 10, 1999; PCT WO 99/44638, published Sep. 10, 1999; PCT WO 00/04832, published Feb. 3, 2000; PCT WO 00/04821, published Feb. 3, 2000; and PCT WO 00/15102, published Mar. 23, 2000. Applicants would note that all publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein, such as those above, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
There remains a need for improved methods and devices for transdermal delivery of permeants such as, for example, drugs, bio-active compositions, and the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transdermal porator and patch system and method for using same


To provide a novel compound that has S1P lyase inhibitory ability and induces a reduction in the number of lymphocytes, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. A compound represented by the general formula (I):

As immunosuppressive agents, for example, cyclosporin, tacrolimus and the like that suppress the production of cytokines such as IL-2 are currently utilized. Furthermore, in recent years, compounds that suppress the activity of the immune system by inducing a decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood have been studied. For example, fingolimod does not show an action to suppress the production of cytokines in vitro, but is phosphorylated in the biological body and then acts as an S1P receptor agonist to thereby induce a decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. By this way, the activity of the immune system is suppressed (for example, see Non-Patent Literature 1).
As a compound that induces a reduction in the number of lymphocytes in the blood by a mechanism other than that of S1P receptor agonists, 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI) is known (for example, see Patent Literature 1). THI induces a reduction in the number of lymphocytes in the blood by inhibiting S1P lyase (for example, see Non-Patent Literature 2, Non-Patent Literature 3 and the like).
As such S1P lyase inhibitors, besides THI, imidazole derivatives having a polyol as a substituent (for example, see Patent Literature 2, Patent Literature 3, Non-Patent Literature 4, Non-Patent Literature 5 and the like), imidazole derivatives to which a hetero ring is directly bound (for example, see Patent Literature 4, Patent Literature 5, Non-Patent Literature 4, Non-Patent Literature 5 and the like), and the like are known. Furthermore, as compounds that induce a reduction in the number of lymphocytes, thiazole derivatives having a polyol as a substituent (for example, see Patent Literature 6) and the like are known.

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.


According to one aspect of the invention, an ice separating apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a can having a first end and a tangential inlet proximate the first end of the can to receive a fluid flow within the can, wherein the fluid flow includes fuel and ice. The apparatus also includes a first conduit within the can to receive a separated fuel flow proximate a second end of the can, wherein the fluid flow separates ice from fuel to form the separated fuel flow.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for separating ice and water from fuel in gas turbine engines.
In a gas turbine engine, chemical energy of a fuel is converted into thermal energy. The fuel may be directed from a suitable receptacle, such as a fuel tank, to the engine. In cases where the gas turbine engine is located in an aircraft, a fuel tank can be located in the wings of the plane. To account for changes in temperature and/or pressure, the tank has a breather line or vent. In some situations, moisture can accumulate in the tank through the vent and the moisture can freeze into ice when the tank is exposed to cold conditions, such as when flying at altitude. Ice particles may accumulate in the tank and then break away and may be drawn into the fuel circuit during operation. In some cases, large amounts of ice flow with the fuel from the tank into the gas turbine engine and may interrupt or adversely affect performance of the gas turbine engine.

Apparatus and method for separating ice from fuel in a gas turbine engine


A method for producing compounds of general formula (I):

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of acetoacetylated aromatic amines, in particular of acetoacetylated N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamines, and novel acetoacetylated N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamines.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,115,413 describes the reaction of ethyl acetoacetate with N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine for the preparation of 3-oxo-N-[4-(phenylamino)phenyl]-butyramide.
C. E. Kaslow et al. describes the reaction of primary aromatic amines with diketene for the preparation of acetoacetanilides in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1946, 68, 644-647.
C. E. Kaslow et al. describes the reaction of secondary aromatic amines with diketene for the preparation of N-alkylacetoacetanilides in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1945, 67, 1969-1970. The reaction is also described by N. Etkin et al. in J. Org. Chem. 1990, 55, 1093-1096. The secondary aromatic amines employed here are alkyl- or alkoxy-substituted anilines. The reaction of Nxe2x80x94C1-6-alkyl-3-oxo-N-[4-(phenylamino)phenyl]butyramides is not described.
The object of the present invention was to make available a process for the preparation of acetoacetylated N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamines. The object is achieved by the process of the invention.
The process relates to the preparation of compounds of the general formula
in which
R1 and R2 are at each occurrence independently hydroxyl, C1-6-alkyl, C1-6-alkoxy, halogen, phenyl or phenoxy;
R3 is hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl.
m is an integer from 0 to 4; and
n is an integer from 0 to 5.
These compounds can exist in at least two tautomeric forms (keto-enol tautomerism), whereas for simplification only the keto form, respectively, is mapped here. However, the invention comprises all tautomers and their mixtures.
The process is characterized in that diketene is reacted with an N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine of the general formula
in which R1, R2, R3, m and n have the meaning indicated above, in the presence of 3-40% strength acetic acid at temperatures of 20 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably at 60 to 70xc2x0 C.
C1-6-Alkyl is understood here and below as meaning all linear or branched alkyl groups having 1-6 carbon atoms such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, tert-pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl or isohexyl.
C1-6-Alkoxy is understood as meaning groups which are composed of C1-6-alkyl and oxygen, such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, sec-butoxy or tert-butoxy.
The variables m and n have preferably the value 0 (zero). The radical R3 is preferably C1-6-alkyl, particularly preferably isopropyl.
The addition of the diketene surprisingly only takes place at the nitrogen atom which carries the radical R3.
The compound of the formula II in which m=n=0 and R3 is hydrogen are commercially obtainable, e.g. from Fluka, the remaining compounds can be prepared according to known methods, e.g. by reaction of aniline or substituted aniline with nitrobenzene or azobenzene and subsequent hydrogenation. The compounds of the formula II in which R3 is C1-6-alkyl can be prepared according to known methods, e.g. by reductive alkylation of N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamines of the formula II (R3xe2x95x90H) with an aliphatic ketone or aldehyde.
The compounds of the formula I in which R3 is C1-6-alkyl are novel and likewise a subject of the invention. These compounds can be employed, for example as additives for fuels of internal combustion engines. A further possibility of use is afforded as drying accelerators for polymers.
The compounds of the formula I can be converted by reaction with ammonia into the corresponding enamines of the general formula
in which R1, R2, R3, m and n have the meaning indicated above. These enamines can exist as two geometric isomers (E and Z-configuration at the enamine double bond), whereas here the two isomers as well as their mixtures are comprehended. Preferably, the Z-configuration is formed.
The reaction with ammonia is expediently carried out at temperatures from 10 to 150xc2x0 C., preferably at approximately 70xc2x0 C., and pressures from 1 to 100 bar, preferably at 10 to 30 bar. The reaction is expediently carried out in a suitable solvent in the presence of catalytic amounts of conc. or aqueous acetic acid. Suitable solvents are, for example, esters, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, ethers and polyethers, alcohols and also water. Preferably, ethyl acetate is employed as a solvent. Expediently, 0.02-2.0 mol of conc. acetic acid are employed based on 1 mol of the compound of the formula I.
The compounds of the formula III in which R3 is C1-6-alkyl are novel and likewise a subject of the invention.
By means of catalytic hydrogenation of the compounds of the formula III, compounds of the general formula
in which R1, R2, R3, m and n have the meaning indicated above, are formed.
The catalytic hydrogenation is carried out at temperatures from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., preferably at approximately 110xc2x0 C., and pressures of 20 to 150 bar, preferably of approximately 100 bar. A suitable hydrogenation catalyst is Raney nickel. The hydrogenation is expediently carried out in a suitable solvent in the presence of a base, preferably in the presence of ammonia. Suitable solvents are for example aliphatic alcohols or mixtures of water and aliphatic alcohols, methanol being preferably employed.
The compounds of the formula IV in which R3 is C1-6-alkyl are novel and likewise a subject of the invention.
The following examples illustrate the implementation of the process according to the invention and the preparation of the compounds according to the invention, without being regarded as restricting them.

Method for producing acetoacetylated aromatic amines

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2, each time they occur and independently of each other, mean hydroxyl, C1-6-alkyl, C1-6-alkoxy, halogen, phenyl or phenoxy; R3 means hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl; m is a whole number from 0 to 4; and n is a whole number from 0 to 5. According to the method, diketene is reacted with an N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine of general formula (II):

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, m and n have the meanings given above, in the presence of 3 to 40 percent acetic acid and at temperatures of 20 to 100xc2x0 C. The compounds (I) with R3 is C1-6-alkyl and the enamines can be obtained from these by reaction with ammonia, and their hydration products.


The in-line type electron gun of this invention is formed so that a depression, which is formed at the lower voltage electrode face opposing to the higher electrode of the two electrodes for forming a common main focusing lens in the opposing gap thereof and has three lens holes for individual electron beams arrayed in-line at the bottom thereof, is formed so that the width in the direction perpendicular to the lens hole array direction is smaller at the central part in the lens hole array direction as compared with the other parts. Also the center lens hole of the three lens holes at the bottom of the depression is smaller in diameter than the other two. Accordingly, the focus voltages of the three beams passing through the three lens holes and the shapes of beam spots are made more uniform as compared with the prior art.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an in-line type electron gun used in a high resolution color cathode ray tube, and more particularly to an in-line type electron gun enhanced in performance by unifying the focus voltage and beam spot shape of three electron beams.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a conventional in-line type electron gun, in its side section (a) and front section (b) by line A-B.
In the figure, numeral 1 is a cathode, 2 is a number 1 grid (G1 grid) disposd before the cathode 1, 3 is a number 2 grid (G2 grid) disposed before the G1 grid 2, 4 is a number 3 grid (G3 grid) disposed before the G2 grid 3, and 5 is a number 4 grid (G4 grid) disposed before the G3 grid 4.
A triode is composed of G1 grid 2 and G2 grid 3. A main focusing lens is formed by G3 grid 4 and G4 grid 5 between them (the position of line A-B in the drawing), in which the G3 grid 4 is the lower voltage side grid. Numeral 6 is a beed glass for fixing the grids 2, 3, 4, 5. Numeral 7 is a depression provided in the front face of the G3 grid 4, more specifically, in the face facing the opposing gap to the G4 grid 5. As a voltage is applied between G3 grid 4 and G4 grid 5, a magnetic field is generated, and the main focusing lens common to three electron beams is formed in the depression 7. At the bottom of the depression 7, there are three lens holes 71, 72, 73 of identical diameter provided in-line so as to form small lenses for individual electron beams corresponding to the red, green and blue colors.
By disposing the depression 7 in front of confronting side of the G3 grid 4 and G4 grid 5, the structure to form a common main focusing lens in the position of the depression 7 aside from the small lenses for individual electron beams formed in the lens holes 71 to 73 is disclosed by A. M. Morrel as "An Overview of the COTY-29 Tube System: An Improved Generation of Color Tubes" in IEEE Transaction on Consumer, Vol. CE-28, No. 3, August 1982.
In this in-line type electron gun, the electron beam gaps may be narrowed with almost no influence to the focus characteristics.
In this disclosure, meanwhile, the depression 7 is oval, more specifically, formed in a form of a race track oblong in the direction of lens hole array, and the diameters of three lens holes 71 to 73 are all identical.
In such conventional in-line type electron gun, the thermion generated by the cathode 1 is pulled out and accelerated by voltage applied to the G1 grid 2 and G2 grid 3 which make up a triode. And the electron field caused by the difference in voltage applied to the G3 grid 4 and G4 grid 5 (as mentioned above, the voltage is lower at the G3 grid 4 side) will form a main focusing lens in the depression 7, which causes to warp the orbit of the electron, so that the three electron beams are converged to be concentrated on one point at the position before the G4 grid 5.
In this in-line type electron gun, the three lens holes (beam passing holes) 71 to 73 provided at the bottom of the depression 7 in front of the G3 grid 4 in which the main focusing lens is formed are made in identical diameter. Therefore, by the three-dimensional effect of the electric field, the focus voltage differs between the two outer lens holes 71, 73 and the center hole 72. As a result, the shapes of spots of the beam from the center lens hole 72, and of the beams from the two outer lens holes 71, 73 (that is, the shadow projected on the intersecting plane of the beam running directions) are different, and sharpness of the picture is lowered.


A stiff card game playing panel is provided and a plurality of stiff members are wrapped with adhesive coated decorative sheets having free end portions adhesively secured to the panel in positions relative to each other and in conjunction with spacing strips in order to form a plurality of card receiving pockets on the card playing panel. Thus formed, each packet is completely seamless. This is important because even a butted joint interferes with the insertion of a playing card.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a panel for supporting a plurality of cards in a predetermined, orderly manner and with the supported cards being anchored relative to the panel against shifting relative thereto due to wind, vibration or upset of the panel. The panel may be constructed to support only the cards being played by a single player or all of the played cards during a game by a plurality of game players.
2. Description of Related Art
Various different forms of card holding game panels, card game boards, game packages and card game playing aids heretofore have been provided including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention. Examples of these different devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,880,175, 2,115,276, 2,150,850, 2,450,325, 3,667,757, 4,317,515 and 4,436,324. However, these previously known devices do not include the overall combination of structural and operational features of the instant invention which coact to provide a simple, readily constructed, durable and easy to use playing card holder.

Card pocket equipped card game playing panel


A method of inhibiting microvascular bleeding is provided. Antibody to protein C administered to a patient in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier prevents anticoagulation by greater than 90% of activated protein C in human plasma.

Microvascular (capillary) bleeding is a significant source of blood loss in many conditions including bleeding liver surfaces, skin graft donor sites, inflamed visceral surfaces, and burns. Because of the diffuse nature of this type of bleeding, vessel ligation or electrocautery is not a feasible method of hemostasis. Currently, the dominant method of treatment of this type of bleeding is topical thrombin and direct pressure applied to the bleeding surface.
However, during traumatic cerebral, retroperitoneal, and pelvic hemorrhage, surgical exposure of microvascular bleeding sites can actually worsen the hemorrhage, making topical agents undesirable. Additionally, bovine antithrombin antibodies have been reported in many postoperative patients receiving topical thrombin intraoperatively causing prolongation of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time up to 12-fold, as reported by Flaherty, M. J. and Wener, M. H. Antibodies to thrombin in postsurgical patients. Blood 73(5): 1386 (1989); Stricker, R. B., et al., Development of antithrombin antibodies following surgery in patients with prosthetic cardiac valves. Blood 72(4): 1375 (1988); Flaherty, M. J., et al. Iatrogenic immunization with bovine thrombin: A mechanism for prolonged thrombin times after surgery. Ann. Int. Med. 111: 631 (1989).
It is not possible to administer thrombin systemically since this could clearly result in massive systemic clotting.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative therapy for microvascular bleeding.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a therapy which can be administered systemically or topically.

Blockade of protein C activation reduces microvascular surgical blood loss


A method of providing a document sharing service based on a messaging service includes: receiving, by a server, a document transmission signal for transmitting a document which is displayed in a chat window of a first chat group from a first terminal application corresponding to a member of the first chat group, to second terminal applications respectively corresponding to members of a second chat group different from the first chat group; obtaining, by the server, a document identifier from the document transmission signal, searching, by the server, a database for a document corresponding to the document identifier, and transmitting, by the server, the document to the second terminal applications; and updating, by the server, shared status information of the document in the database based on a shared status of the document in the second chat group.

1. Field
One or more example embodiments relate to an apparatus for providing a document sharing service based on a messaging service, and a method using the apparatus, and for example, to an apparatus for providing a document sharing service based on a messaging service, wherein a user receives a selected document or recognizes a shared status of a document, and a method of using the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, together with the rapid development of communication networks, such as the Internet, messaging services using communication networks are widely provided. For example, Internet users are able to easily transmit and receive messages to and from other users at anytime and anywhere using the Internet, and such messaging services are bringing about various changes throughout people's lives in general. With the development of mobile communication, messaging services are used as popular methods for communicating across national borders. With messaging services such as mobile messenger applications, the number of users of the messaging services is increasing, and accordingly, the number of messenger-based services is increasing.
Such messenger-based services are services that enable users to deliver information in the form of a conversation.
Social network services (SNS), which have recently appeared as an online platform generating/reinforcing social relationships between users by sharing information, additionally provide messaging services between users.
Information disclosed in this Background section was already known to the inventors before achieving the inventive concepts or is technical information acquired in the process of achieving the inventive concepts. Therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to the public in this country.

Apparatus for providing document sharing service based on messaging service, and method using apparatus


A bending tool system is provided for forming a three-dimensional structure from a two-dimensional sheet material which includes a predetermined fold line. The system includes a tool base for receiving and supporting the sheet material in a work plane, a clamp for engaging against the sheet material to secure a portion of the sheet material relative to the tool base, a locator for positioning the sheet material relative to the tool base such that the clamp extends through the clamping aperture, and a bending arm located adjacent the clamp, the bending arm movable from an initial position located below the work plane to an upper position in order to apply an upward force against an unsecured portion of the sheet metal to effect bending of the sheet material about the fold line. A method of using the tool system for bending sheet materials is also described.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to tool systems for bending sheet materials and methods for their use.
2. Description of Related Art
Bending two-dimensional (2D) sheet materials to form three-dimensional (3D) structures is known. Machinery and tooling for effecting bends in 2D sheet materials is also known. Generally, such machinery and tooling receives the sheet material in a horizontal orientation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,198 to Huda et al. discloses an apparatus for bending large area construction units. U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,058 to Iwaki et al. shows an apparatus that is configured to manufacture box-shaped structures from metal sheet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,640 to Moore discloses an apparatus for forming box-shaped sheet metal ducts from sheet material.
Disadvantageously, such known apparatuses generally have presses and/or clamping members disposed above the horizontally-oriented sheet material which serve to clamp or shape the sheet material. While such componentry may be effective in their intended purposes, such presses and/or clamping members may present severe physical harm to an operator whom inadvertently catches a finger or limb within such componentry or between such componentry and the sheet material during the clamping or bending process.
Furthermore, such known apparatuses generally clamp the sheet materials such that a significant portion of the sheet materials overhang the apparatus, allowing the overhanging portion to swing unobstructed during the bending process. Again, severe physical harm may come to an inattentive operator in that the swinging portion of the sheet material may strike and injure the operator during the bending process.
Another disadvantage of such known apparatuses is that they are generally configured for forming a particular 3D structure and may require significant time and expense in retooling in order to be used with another 3D structure.
What is needed is a tool system for bending sheet materials which overcomes the above and other disadvantages of known bending machinery and tooling.

Tool system for bending sheet materials and method of using same


A method and apparatus to align data blocks in a data signal and a reference signal to increase cross-correlation between the data signal and the reference signal as compared to the unaligned data and reference signals and cancel interference in the data signal in the frequency-domain under changing conditions and in the presence of the data signal.

A multi-carrier communication system, such as a Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) system in the various types of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), for example, asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) and very high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) systems, carries an information bit stream from a transmitter to a receiver. The information bit stream is typically converted into a sequence of data symbols having a number of tones. Each tone may be a group of one or more frequencies defined by a center frequency and a set bandwidth. The tones are also commonly referred to as sub-carriers or sub-channels. Each tone acts as a separate communication channel to carry information between a local transmitter-receiver (transceiver) device and a remote transceiver device.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional DMT receiver. A channel equalizer is used to control the spread of the data symbols after going through the channel. A cyclic prefix (CP) may be employed in such systems to simplify channel equalization to minimize a source of cross channel interference. Generally, if the length of the channel impulse response is equal to or less than the cyclic prefix length plus one sample, then channel equalization is trivial and perfect equalization can be achieved. The channel can be inverted in the frequency domain after a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) by a single complex multiply for each sub-channel. This is usually referred to as frequency-domain equalization (FEQ).
On transmission lines in DMT communication systems, such as ADSL or VDSL, the data signal is generally transmitted differentially. Interference such as radio-frequency interference (RFI), crosstalk and impulse noise electromagnetically couples into both the common mode and the differential mode of such transmission lines. In the case of a binder containing multiple transmission lines, such interference may couple into some or all of the transmission line in the binder and such noise may be correlated between lines.
Conventional techniques for reducing differential noise, thereby improving data rates over the DSL, include use of common-mode information. In a traditional DSL system, the common-mode voltage is measured, an estimate of the differential-mode interference is constructed and the interference estimate is subtracted from the desired signal.
Traditional cancellation may occur in the time-domain or the frequency domain. For example, frequency bands containing RFI are band-pass filtered and then subtracted from the differential-mode signal in the time domain. In the frequency domain, a small set of frequency bins are used to compute and remove an estimate of RFI on a larger number of data carrying frequency bins. Other conventional systems cancel crosstalk in both the time domain and the frequency domain by solving a specific set of equations.
However, there are significant drawbacks associated with filtering and subtracting an interference estimate in the time-domain. For example, training and updating the noise estimation unit is difficult, especially in the presence of a data signal. Furthermore, time-domain subtraction tends to result in noise enhancement. A reduction in the power spectral density (PSD) of the interference may be achieved over parts of the frequency band where the interference is strongest, but interference PSD enhancement may occur in other frequency regions, resulting in sub-optimal system performance.
Known frequency-domain techniques also have significant limitations. Common-mode interference may not be limited to crosstalk or RFI alone, but may be a combination of the two. There may also be wideband noise from sources other than radio transmitters (RFI) or other communications systems (crosstalk) that is correlated between the common and differential modes. Conventional solutions are suited to target only crosstalk or RFI; not both. Also, the interference sources and their associated coupling transfer functions will, in general, change over time. Known cancellers do not have the ability to adapt to these changing conditions in the presence of the data signal. Furthermore, in a practical implementation, there are complications and difficulties associated with the dynamic range of both the differential-mode and common-mode signals. In implementations in which the multi-carrier communications system is an ADSL or VDSL system, there may be further complications involving interaction of the canceller with On-Line Reconfiguration (OLR), Seamless Rate Adaptation (SRA), and bitswap as defined in the various ADSL and VDSL standards. During such events the transmitted power and/or the constellation size changes for one or more sub-carriers.

Adaptive frequency-domain reference noise canceller for multicarrier communications systems


A circuit transformation that doubles the effective sampling rate of any switched capacitor oversampled, interpolative modulator, regardless of its order, employs, in each integrator of the modulator, a second input capacitor and switches that operate on alternate clock phases. In addition, two quantizers, instead of one, are employed in the network and are operated on opposite clock phases. Alternatively, the quantizers can be operated at twice the normal rate if feasible for the particular circuit. The effective operating rate is thereby doubled without any increase in clock rate or circuit speed requirements, resulting in improved analog-to-digital resolution or conversion rate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to oversampled analog-to-digital converters and, more particularly, to a technique for doubling the effective operating rate of an oversampled modulator to realize an increase in performance either in the form of an increase in resolution or an increase in conversion rate, without any reduction in resolution of oversampled analog-to-digital converters. The principles of the invention are generally applicable to any oversampled network, including second- and third-order oversampled modulators.
2. General Description of the Prior Art
High resolution analog-to-digital signal conversion can be achieved with lower resolution components through the use of an oversampled interpolative (or sigma delta) modulator followed by a digital low pass decimation filter. Oversampling constitutes operation of the modulator at a rate many times above the signal Nyquist rate, whereas decimation constitutes reduction of the clock rate down to the Nyquist rate.
Sigma delta modulators (sometimes referred to as delta sigma modulators) have been used in analog-to-digital (A/D) converters for some time. Detailed general information can be obtained from the following technical articles which are hereby incorporated by reference.
(1) "A Use of Limit Cycle Oscillators to Obtain Robust Analog to Digital Converters", J. C. Candy, IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. COM-22, No. 3, pp. 298-305, March 1974 PA0 (2) "Using Triangularly Weighted Interpolation to Get 13-Bit PCM from a Sigma-Delta Modulator", J. C. Candy et al., IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. COM-24, No. 11, pp. 1268-1275, November 1976 PA0 (3) "A Use of Double Integration in Sigma Delta Modulator", J. C. Candy, IEEE Transactions on Communication, Vol. COM-33, No. 3, pp. 249-258, March 1985
Oversampled analog-to-digital converters perform a coarse quantization of their input signal at a sampling rate that is much higher than the Nyquist rate. Using a combination of feedback and integration, the resulting quantization noise is forced to high frequency so that its removal can be effected by low pass filtering and decimation. Enhanced resolution is obtained after these operations, but only at the expense of a reduction in throughput from the initial conversion rate. This type of converter offers the flexibility of allowing a tradeoff between resolution in time and resolution in amplitude. As an example, it is possible to achieve 16-bit conversions starting with only a 1-bit quantizer.
The ratio of the initial to final conversion rates, referred to as the oversampling ratio, governs the increase in resolution that is obtained for a given design of oversampled analog-to-digital converter (ADC). For a second-order modulator design, for instance, resolution improves by 2.5 bits for each doubling of the oversampling ratio, and increases to 3.5 bits for a third-order modulator. It would be desirable to operate with as high an oversampling ratio as possible; however, for a specified final conversion rate, circuit speed will impose a limitation on any given technology. A method that doubles the sampling ratio without increasing the circuit speed requirements would be useful in offering either improved resolution, e.g., 3.5 bits for a third-order modulator, or a doubling of the conversion rate without any reduction in resolution for higher frequency applications.

Double rate oversampled interpolative modulators for analog-to-digital conversion


A holding arm apparatus 1 is configured to connect upper and lower timing pulleys 5A and 6A of a vertical arm unit 4 to each other with a timing belt 15, to widen the range of rotation angle of a horizontal arm unit 5 and allow the position and angle of an endoscope 20 held at a front end of the horizontal arm unit 5 to be widely changed. The horizontal arm unit 5 and a counterweight 6 turn by the same angle, to maintain a weight balance by the counterweight 6. Using the timing belt 15 reduces the total weight and operation noise of the holding arm apparatus 1. Accordingly, the apparatus is appropriate for a medical front.

In a medical field, various tools are used in recent years. For example, endoscopes, ultrasonic echo probes, brain retractors, aspiration tubes, and other kinds of tools are used. Such a medical tool must be held for a patient at a proper position. For this, a holding arm apparatus using a parallel linkage is employed.
The holding arm apparatus of this type holds a medical tool at an end of an arm of the parallel linkage (including a belt driving mechanism) and has a counterweight at the other end of the arm. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2002-165804 and No. 2005-211667 disclose apparatuses capable of maintaining a weight balance with respect to a medical tool, setting the medical tool at a required position and angle, and fixing the state with clutches.


The present invention is directed to composite films containing nanostructures within a polymer or monomeric matrix which composite may be formed on a metallic substrate and subsequently removed to provide bulk material. The nanostructures and polymer or monomer matrix may be assembled electrophoretically by initially providing a mixture of the nanostructures and polymer or monomer matrix material within generally anhydrous environments such as polar aprotic solvents followed by deposition of the composite film material.

Various problems remain with respect to the preparation of a resin-based nanocomposite material. For example, problems may include relatively high polymerization shrinkage, relatively low filler loadings, relatively low wear resistance, relatively low fracture toughness, and relatively poor tensile properties. For inorganic, equiaxed, silica-based fillers, a very high loading (>60% v/v) may be used in order to achieve improve compressive strength. However, such loading will typically compromise tensile loads.
High-aspect-ratio fillers, such as microscopic whiskers or plate-like clay nanoparticles, may increase the composite elastic modulus and support relatively higher tensile loads. Unfortunately, these fillers have poor packing efficiencies under conventional mixing and casting procedures. Therefore, a method is needed for depositing nanostructures comprising, e.g., inorganic fillers within an organic matrix in a relatively organized manner. Furthermore, it would be desirable to co-deposit such nanostructures within an organic matrix material such that a secondary infiltration processes for filling the remaining interstitial spaces is reduced or avoided.

Electrophoretic formation of nanostructured composites


Synchronizing video content projected onto a transparent display with switching of pixels in the display. The transparent display has pixels capable of switching between a clear state to make portions of the display transparent and a hazy state to display the projected video. A decoder receives and decodes audio content associated with the video content in order to control the switching of the pixels in the display such that the video content is projected onto pixels in the hazy state.

A switchable transparent display screen is useful for attracting consumer attention and providing information to customers. While in its transparent state, it allows customers to see through the screen and view products behind it. One such type of screen uses Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC), which is a mixture of liquid crystal in a cured polymer network and is switchable between light transmitting and light scattering states. PDLC displays can be divided into pixels, drawing more attention by displaying projected video content on light scattering pixels while allowing customers to view the product through light transmitting pixels. For a multi-pixel PDLC display to be functional, the pixels must be synchronized with video content such that the video content is projected onto light scattering pixels for display while the other pixels can be set to a clear state. As the video content changes, the pixels need to be reset so that the video content continues to be projected onto the light scattering pixels for display.

Audio encoding of control signals for displays


It was found that a salt formed of an acid and a base having characteristics set forth below can inactivate a deprotecting agent, thereby suppressing redundant peptide elongation:                (i) the base is different in type from a base used as a deprotecting agent, and        (ii) a conjugate acid of the base has a pKa smaller than that of a conjugate acid of a base used as a deprotecting agent.

Methods such as solid-phase synthesis and liquid-phase synthesis have been reported as methods of chemically synthesizing peptides. Typically, in any of these methods, a peptide chain is elongated by coupling the carboxy group of a newly added amino acid to the amino group of the growing peptide chain to form an amide bond. In this case, it is known that the peptide chain can be elongated while suppressing side reactions by protecting, with protecting groups, reactive functional groups other than the functional group to be used for the amide bond. More specifically, the amino group of a newly added amino acid is protected with a protecting group, and after the amino acid is coupled to the peptide chain, the protecting group is removed (deprotection). The amino group thus exposed is coupled to the carboxy group of a new amino acid subsequently added. Methods that repeat this procedure to elongate a peptide chain is being utilized.
Specific examples of typical peptide synthesis methods include a known method that elongates a peptide chain by repeating the steps of: coupling the carboxy group of an amino acid protected with an Fmoc group (an Fmoc amino acid) at the N terminus to the amino group of the growing peptide chain via an amide bond; and then removing the Fmoc group using a basic deprotecting agent such as piperidine or DBU.
However, it has been reported that in this method, when piperidine, a deprotecting agent, remains in the peptide chain elongation step, such piperidine may cause removal of the Fmoc group of the Fmoc amino acid used for the subsequent elongation, resulting in redundant peptide elongation due to double coupling of the same amino acid and such (Non-Patent Literature 1). As a method for suppressing such redundant elongation, a method of repeating washing until the remaining piperidine cannot be detected has been reported (Non-Patent Literature 1).

Method for producing peptide, and method for processing bases


An SP's default user authentication is automatically augmented. An access request from a user is redirected from the SP to an authentication augmentation system. The SP also sends an augmentation request. The augmentation system redirects the access request to an IdP, and receives back an authenticated user identity. The default authentication is automatically augmented with additional techniques such as identity proofing and/or multifactor authentication, without the SP or the IdP modifying their code to implement or integrate the augmented authentication. Responsive to successfully authenticating the user according to the additional techniques, an augmented authenticated user identity is redirected to the SP. The augmentation system can use an identity management protocol such as SAML to communicate with the SP and IdP. Authentication performed by a third party and extended to the SP can be augmented, in which case a session id can be used to access third party services.

Authenticating users before allowing access to websites is crucial. Online services such as banking, bill payment, social networking and e-commerce utilize ever increasing amounts of personal and financial user data online. Identity thieves and other malicious parties use a wide variety of techniques to attempt to gain unauthorized access to the accounts of innocent parties to commit financial fraud, obtain personal information and otherwise harm the interests of legitimate account owners and service providers. Properly authenticating users attempting to access online services (e.g., websites) protects against such fraud, whereas insufficient authentication creates vulnerabilities.
Password authentication, in which the only authentication factor a user needs to provide is a password, is relatively weak. The types of passwords commonly utilized are fairly easy to crack, whereas strong passwords are difficult for users to remember and hence are rarely used at all, or else are written down in accessible locations. These problems are compounded by the number of separate password authenticated accounts most users need to maintain. Despite this, because password authentication is easy for service providers to implement, it is the current de facto authentication standard on the web. Some service providers attempt to strengthen their user authentication by supplementing the password requirement with challenge questions (e.g., mother's maiden name, zip code, city of birth, etc.), but this adds limited protection, as the answers to such questions can be guessed or learned by fraudulent parties relatively easily.
Multifactor authentication is more secure than password based authentication. In multifactor authentication, the user must present multiple authentication factors of different types to access a service. For example, in two-factor authentication (TFA), a user must provide two or more of three factors: something the user knows (e.g., a password or PIN), something the user has (e.g., a hardware token generated random number, a onetime pad, a magnetic stripe card) and something the user is (e.g., a fingerprint or retina scan). Multifactor authentication is much harder to crack than password only authentication, and is thus critical in providing secure access to websites. Identity proofing, in which users are required to prove that they are who they claim to be before being granted initial access to a service (e.g., given an account or issued authentication credentials in the first place), is also important in this regard. However, these are difficult technologies to build and maintain, and many online service providers do not have the expertise to either build or integrate them into their websites.
It would be desirable to address these issues.

Augmenting service provider and third party authentication


An ion implanter for sequentially processing single semiconductor wafers includes a scanning arm extending along a first axis. A wafer holder is mounted on a free end of the arm so as to be rotatable about a second axis centered on and perpendicular to the plane of the wafer. The wafer can be scanned through an ion beam by reciprocating the arm transversely of the first axis. A rotary motor is mounted in the scanning arm near the free end with its axis of rotation parallel to the first axis and perpendicular to the second axis. A right angle rotary drive connects the motor to the wafer holder. A hard stop is provided on the motor to prevent the wafer from being rotated by more than 360.degree.. Connections to the wafer on the holder are provided by a flexible circuit coiled about the second axis. The scanning mechanism can itself be rotated about an axis parallel to the arm so as to tilt the scanning direction, the wafer holder is itself further rotatable about the arm axis relative to the scanning mechanism. This enables the wafer to be rotated to the horizontal when the mechanical scanning mechanism holds the arm with the wafer above the beam.

Ion implanters are commonly used in the manufacture of semiconductor and metallic products for implanting ions into semiconductor or metallic substrates to change the conductivity of the material in such substrates or in predefined regions thereof. Ion implanters generally comprise an ion beam generator for generating a beam of ions, and means for selecting a particular species of ions in the ion beam and for directing the ion beam through a vacuum chamber onto a target substrate supported on a substrate holder.
In typical prior art implanters, for sequentially processing single wafers, such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,929,840, 4,975,586 and 5,003,183, the substrate holder is mounted for rotation so as to rotate the holder in front of the ion beam, with the substrate holder being rotatable about a first axis extending substantially along a wafer diameter in the plane defined by the wafer surface, and about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and extending through the centre of the wafer. The drive systems providing for rotation of the wafer support are described as being operable independently of one another and include stepper motors mounted outside the vacuum chamber.
The motor for rotating the wafer holder about the wafer axis is coupled to the wafer holder via two relatively lengthy drive shafts coupled by a belt transmission, the final of the two drive shafts being coupled to the wafer holder by a bevel gear arrangement.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,615, there is disclosed a single wafer ion implanter in which a substrate holder, or platen assembly, is mounted for rotation about the wafer axis on an arm and is coupled to a motor by a chain drive system. The arm has a housing containing the motor and is arranged also to enclose the chain drive system. The resulting arm is bulky in cross-section and relatively heavy.


To obtain a structure wherein water having entered the gap between the bottom surface of an annular groove in a rotation-side flange and the inside surface in the axial direction of the brake rotor can be easily drained to the outer space. The outer diameter DO of the annular groove 15 is larger than the diameter DDI of the inscribed circle of the opening portion outside in the axial direction of the water drain holes 17a and is smaller than the diameter DDO of the circumscribed circle of the opening portion outside in the axial direction of the water drain holes 17a.

The wheels and the brake rotor of an automobile are supported by a hub unit bearing so as to rotate freely with respect to the suspension. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an example of a conventional hub unit bearing described in JP2016-002916.
In the example illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the hub unit bearing 1 is for driven wheel and it comprises an outer ring 2 which is an outer member, a hub 3 which is an inner member as well as a rotating member, and a plurality of rolling elements 4. The outer ring 2 has double row outer-ring raceways 8 on the inner circumferential surface and is supported and secured to a suspension (not shown) via knuckle 20. The hub 3 is located coaxially with the outer ring 2 on the inner diameter side of the outer ring 2, and it has double row inner-ring raceways 9 that face the double row outer-ring raceways 8 and a rotating-side flange 11 for supporting the wheels and the brake rotor. Further, the hub 3 has an engaging hole 33 that engages with a constant velocity joint. The rolling elements 4 are located between each of the double row outer-ring raceways 8 and the double row inner-ring raceways 9 so as to be able to roll freely. The hub 3 is freely rotatably supported with respect to the outer ring 2 via the rolling elements 4 due to such a construction. Both ends in the axial direction of a cylindrical space between the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the hub 3 are sealed by seal members 7a and 7b.
In the examples illustrated in the figures, the hub 3 comprises a hub body 5 and an inner ring 6 which is fitted with an interference fit onto the inside end section in the axial direction of the hub body 5. Here, "inside" in the axial direction is defined as the center side in the width direction of the vehicle body in a state where the hub unit bearing 1 is installed in the suspension, and the right side in FIG. 9 corresponds to this. On the contrary, the left side in FIG. 9, that is outside in the width direction of the vehicle body in a state where the hub unit bearing 1 is installed in the suspension, is defined as "outside" in the axial direction. Further, "radial direction" and "circumferential direction" are defined as its respective directions in relation to the hub 3 unless otherwise specified.
The inner-ring raceway 9 on the outside in the axial direction among the double row inner-ring raceways is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the middle section in the axial direction of the hub body 5. Further, the rotating-side flange 11 is provided at the outside end portion in the axial direction of the hub body 5 so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. The wheel 21 and the brake rotor 22 are connected and secured to the rotating-side flange 11 by hub bolts 13 and hub nuts 23. So the rotating-side flange 11 has mounting holes 12 at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction that pass through the rotating-side flange 11 in the axial direction. A base end section of the shaft section of each of the hub bolts 13 is press-fitted to the corresponding mounting hole 12. The middle section of the shaft section of the hub bolt 13 is inserted through the through hole 35 of the wheel 21 and the through hole 36 of the brake rotor 22. Further, the hub nuts 23 are respectively screwed onto the screw section of the hub bolts 13. The rotating-side flange 11, the wheel 21, and the brake rotor 22 are jointly fastened due to this construction.
On the flange surface 14 which is an outside surface in the axial direction of the rotating-side flange 11, an annular groove 15, which has an annular shape that is centered about the center axis of the hub 3, and is recessed inward in the axial direction, is provided all the way around in the middle section in the radial direction of the flange surface 14. The opening portions on the outside in the axial direction of all the mounting holes 12 are provided on the bottom surface 16 of the annular groove 15. In other words, the mounting holes 12 are open only to the bottom surface 16 of the annular groove 15. With this kind of construction, the hub bolts 13 are press-fitted to the mounting holes 12 so that even if the portions around the opening portions on the outside in the axial direction of the mounting holes 12 plastically deform and swell, it is possible to retain these plastically deformed bumps inside the annular groove 15. As a result, the effect to the runout accuracy of the flange surface that is caused by press-fitting the hub bolts to the mounting holes 12 is removed.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the rotating-side flange 11 has a water drain hole 17 and a setscrew hole 18 that respectively pass through the rotating-side flange 11 in the axial direction and open only to the bottom surface 16 of the annular groove 15. The water drain hole 17 functions as a drainage canal to drain water that entered the gap between the inside surface in the axial direction of the brake rotor 22 and the bottom surface of the annular groove 15 to the outer space. That is, water such as rain water and muddy water enters the gap 32 through the setscrew hole 18, the water drain hole 17, an abutment part of the inside surface in the axial direction of the brake rotor 22 and the flange surface 14 where is a contact section of metal, and the fitting portion between the hub bolts 13 and mounting holes 12. The water having entered the gap 32 is drained to the outer space from the water drain hole 17.
The setscrew hole 18 is used to provisionally tack the brake rotor 22 with respect to the rotating-side flange 11, and to screw the bolts for separating the brake rotor 22 that has been fixed to the flange surface 14 by rust and the like from the flange surface 14 when performing maintenance.


A multi-directional input key is capable of plural inputs through multi-directional operation, wherein the plural inputs are realized by a novel multi-directional operation, instead of the conventional operation in which force is applied to the operation surface so as to push it in deeply. There is provided a central key top equipped with an upper key top protruding from an insertion hole of an outer-ring key top and a lower key top having a pushing member protruding downwardly therefrom. This central key top is supported on a key sheet so as to be slidable in the direction of the hole inner surface of the insertion hole. And, when the central key top is caused to slide, an upper contact and a lower contact of a membrane switch are brought into contact with each other to effect input under the pressure from the pushing member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input key to be provided in the input operation device of an electric apparatus, such as a portable information terminal apparatus like a mobile telephone and PDA etc, car audio equipment, and a remote control unit for performing remote control operation. In particular, the invention relates to a multi-directional input key capable of plural inputs through multi-directional operation with a single input key.
2. Description of the Related Art
To meet a recent demand for an increase in the number of functions with which an electric apparatus is endowed, the input operation device of an electric apparatus as mentioned above is often equipped with a multi-directional input key capable of plural inputs through multi-directional operation with a single input key. As in the case of a mobile telephone, in a known multi-directional input key, an annular operation surface of an annular input key is depressed at one of four positions: top, bottom, right-hand, and left-hand positions, to thereby perform plural input operations. Then, in accordance with the respective inputs, scrolling of a display screen, selection of various items, movement of a cursor, etc is executed. In particular, in the mobile telephone, an incorporation of game applications is in vogue. To play with such game applications, plural inputs are usually effected by using an input key having the annular operation surface.
However, such a multi-directional input key as mentioned above involves a depressing operation in which force is applied from above so as to deeply push down the annular operation surface at one of the four positions: the top, bottom, right-hand, and left-hand positions. This operation often makes the operator feel fatigued at a relatively early stage. Thus, in addition to its rather small size, the input key has a problem in that its operability is not as satisfactory as it ought to be, which means the multi-directional input key leaves much to be desired before it can be used as the input operation device of an electric apparatus in which frequent use of the multi-directional input key is to be expected, e.g., a portable information terminal apparatus which allows utilization of electronic mail, game application or the like, as in the case of a mobile telephone or PDA.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problem in the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-directional input key for use as an input operation device for an electric apparatus in which it is possible to effect plural inputs through a novel multi-directional operation method instead of the conventional input operation method in which force is applied so as to deeply push the key.