To provide a solvent composition in which various organic substances are soluble, and which has no adverse effect on global environment. A solvent composition comprising 1-chloro-2,3,3,4,4,5,5-heptafluoro-1-pentene, a cleaning method using the solvent composition, a method for producing a substrate with a coating film, and a heat transfer fluid.

In manufacture of IC, an electronic component, a precision machinery component, an optical component, etc., in a manufacturing process, an assembly process, a final finishing process, etc., components are cleaned by a cleaning agent, thereby removing flux, a processing oil, wax, a release agent, dust, etc. adhering to the components. Further, as a method for producing a substrate with a coating film, having a coating film containing various organic chemical substances such as a lubricant, for example, there is known a method in which a solution having the organic chemical substances dissolved in a coating solvent is prepared, the solution is applied on a substrate, and thereafter the coating solvent is evaporated to form a coating film. The coating solvent is required to allow the organic chemical substances to be dissolved sufficiently and to have a sufficient drying property as well.
As a solvent to be used in such uses, there has been used a fluorinated solvent or the like containing a chlorofluorocarbon (hereinafter referred to as "CFC") such as 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (hereinafter referred to as "HCFC") such as 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane or 1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane, or the like, in that it has incombustibility and low toxicity, is excellent in stability, does not erode a substrate of metal, resin, elastomer, or the like, and is excellent in chemical and thermal stability.
However, because the CFCs are chemically very stable, they have a long lifetime in the troposphere after vaporization, and diffuse and reach the stratosphere. Therefore, there is a problem that the CFCs which have reached the stratosphere are decomposed by ultraviolet rays and generate chlorine radicals to deplete the ozone layer. Accordingly, production of the CFCs is regulated globally, and their production in advanced countries has been totally abolished.
Further, HCFCs also have chlorine atoms and have an adverse effect slightly on the ozone layer, and thus their production in advanced countries is to be totally abolished in 2020.
On the other hand, as a solvent having no chlorine atom and thereby having no adverse effect on the ozone layer, a perfluorocarbon (hereinafter referred to as "PFC") is known. In addition, as an alternative solvent to the CFCs and the HCFCs, a hydrofluorocarbon (hereinafter referred to as "HFC"), a hydrofluoroether (hereinafter referred to as "HFE"), and the like are also under development.
However, because the HFCs and the PFCs are substances subject to regulation by the Kyoto Protocol, to prevent global warming.
As a new solvent which replaces the solvents such as the HFCs, the HFEs and the PFCs, a chlorofluoroolefin (CFO) and a hydrochlorofluoroolefin (HCFO) having a double bond between carbon atoms are proposed. Because such CFOs and HCFOs are easily decomposed and thereby have a short lifetime in the atmosphere and its ozone depletion potential and global warming potential are low, they have an excellent property such as little effect on global environment.
As such CFOs, 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,33-tetrafluoro-1-propene (CFO-1214ya) is used as a solvent composition for cleaning or a coating solvent of a lubricant (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
As the HCFOs, 1,1-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene (HCFO-1223za) is used as a coating solvent of a lubricant or a degreasing cleaning agent (for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4). Further, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene (HCFO-1233zd) is used as a cleaning agent (for example, Patent Document 5).
With respect to the boiling point of the above-described compounds, CFO-1214ya has a boiling point of about 46° C., HCFO-1223za about 54° C., HCFO-1233zd(E) about 19° C., and HCFO-1233zd(Z) about 40° C., and all these compounds have a low boiling point of at most 60° C.
Components of a cleaning agent, a coating solvent and a heat transfer fluid, are selected considering solubility with other components used in combination, the boiling point of the compound, etc. depending upon use conditions. Accordingly, in order for application in a wider range, a solvent in which various organic substances are soluble and which has no adverse effect on global environment, and has a boiling point higher than those of the above-described CFO-1214ya, HCFO-1223za, HCFO-1233zd, etc. has been desired.

Solvent composition, cleaning method, method for producing substrate with coating film, and heat transfer fluid


An item storage facility that includes a resident programmable subcontroller, at least one stand, a one circuit board having a plurality of elongated openings therein supported on the stand, and a plurality of connectors resident on the circuit board and in communication with the subcontroller.

The present invention relates to a system for the tracking, the securing, and the identification of objects such as keys.
The tracking of keys that open doors of apartments or cars, remains a challenge.
In one known solution, a large number of keys are secured in a locked cabinet, and a computer system interfaces with the cabinet to keep records as to what is kept in the cabinet, who accesses the cabinet, which keys have been withdrawn, and which keys have been returned.
In another known system, a "presence function," as referred to herein, enables a user to determine whether a key is present or absent, and a related database function can then determine removal and insertion activity by changes in the "presence" data. In addition, a "location" function may be provided, wherein a user can determine where a particular key is located within a cabinet, for example, to facilitate the identification of the location of a specific key.
Common users of these known key management systems include automotive dealerships, which hold keys to many cars on their lots, or multi-dwelling residential buildings, in which the front desk staff have emergency keys for accessing each of the apartments. These systems typically involve (1) an outer cabinet that is locked and unlocked based on a user authentication code or process, (2) multiple preconfigured wired slots, clips or recessed wells, either in the base of a pull-out drawer or on a wall-mounted panel, (3) an assembly whereby each key to be tracked is attached to a special tag containing an "iButton" (as known in the art) or other computer-readable device that has a unique serial number, and/or (4) a mechanism whereby insertion or removal of an iButton/Keytag assembly from/to any of the wired slots is noted by the computer. In this system, upon insertion of iButton/Keytag assembly related information is provided to the computer through the connection provided in the slot. That is, the computer is operatively connected to I/O terminals in each slot which connect to corresponding I/O terminals on a tag in order to send and receive information from the tag.
In addition, some systems provide the wired slots arranged in a grid and the insertion surface is marked with letter and number coordinates (e.g. rows a-z, columns 1-15) and a computer keeps track of the row/column coordinates of the slot in which the key is found. In this way, a computer can direct the user to pick a certain key for a certain apartment by going to location "B7" for example.
In other known systems, the slots are not located in a row/column labeled grid, and the user is instead notified of the location of the key by an LED light that is illuminated at a location of a slot containing the key. In one known system, both methods are used, and the location of a key is identified by a computer providing a row/column coordinate as well as a lighted LED. Providing a way to identify an otherwise unmarked key's location is desirable because the key-tag assembly does not have to be marked with identifying information. Marking keys with identifying information reduces security, such as when keys are removed from a cabinet and circulating. Further, providing a row/column coordinate and/or illuminating a key precludes a need to mark slots in a cabinet with specific information, such as apartment numbers. This prevents a need for staff to return keys to correct slots, thereby removing an extra burden on staff and avoiding confusion when tags are returned to the wrong slot. Furthermore, in the event of a malfunction (e.g. a short) the whole panel must be replaced, which is expensive, and, with a single panel it is difficult to vary the spacing to accommodate objects of different size.
The drawback to using a grid-type arrangement is that the number of slots for receiving tags is fixed. For example, a system can be devised to have 200 slots to accept 200 tags. However, the number of slots cannot be expanded without devising a new panel. Thus, should there be a need to have 230 slots, a new panel having 230 slots must be provided with a new grid numbering. Alternatively, two 200 slot panels must be used to accommodate the extra 30 slots. In short, the use of a single panel containing a plurality of slots with column and row numbering is inflexible.
In another known system, a wireless design is provided, in which a key-tag assembly does not require physical contact with and insertion into a clip within a slot that reads the tag. This design typically utilizes radio frequency identification ("RFID") tags and antennas instead of iButtons and clips in slots. Each slot for a key may contain a separate antenna (attached to a common RFID reader) and each keytag assembly that is inserted into the "slot" contains a passive RFID tag. Further in this known system, the connection between the keytag assembly RFID tag and the tag "reader" is wireless. The RFID reader activates the different antennas sequentially and reads the RFID tag in each chamber. Similar to the iButton System, the currently known RFID system also requires the specific wiring of each slot.
Yet another known system separates the "presence" and "location" functions, but also uses RFID tags. In this design, the "presence" of a tag in the drawer is detected by a single RFID reader that reads tags throughout a drawer when the drawer is closed. The drawer also has a slot into which each keytag assembly (containing an RFID tag) is inserted and the slot provides simply an on/off indication of a key present or absent (there is "no reader" in the slot that can identify which key is in that slot). In this system, "presence" of all keys is determined when the drawer is closed and when it is re-closed after it had been opened.
It is, however, problematic to get accurate RFID readings of keys present/keys removed in an open field with a drawer open without getting false positives or false negatives of keys removed but nearby. Determining whether a key has been removed or has been added, or determining the location of each specific key is accomplished via a series of logical algorithms. The logical algorithms require the database to keep a running inventory of which keys are in which slots, and which keys have been removed, added or moved to which location by combining data as to which keys have changed in their presence status, and which slots have changed in their occupied/unoccupied status, with provisions being made for keys and locations that are "ambiguous". Thus, for example, when a few keys are removed and a few keys are returned at the same time the algorithm will have a difficult time to determine which key was returned and which key was taken. The use of this complicated algorithm is necessary because the individual slots are not wired to read the unique IDs of the inserted assemblies, and thus can not determine and report on the location of a specific key assembly directly.
In addition, none of the known systems that utilize multiple RFID tags can be read both when a cabinet is open and when closed, and none enable RFID tags to be read using only a single reader and antenna without having to prewire each slot with its own antenna. The reason for this lies in the limitations of precision for RFID tags and readers. It is problematic to have a precise reading field whereby none of the tags that are in the box are "missed", and whereby none of the tags that may be located immediately outside of the box or within a few inches are picked up by the readers and marked present. Since known systems provide for a very short-range antenna in each slot, wiring up each slot in a box becomes necessary.
Further, passive tags, typically, require a better "coupling" with the field generated by the reader, and are more prone to false negatives (undetected tags which are present). Active tags, which are self-powered, produce stronger signals independent of the reader's generated field, and are more prone to false positives (reading a tag that has been removed) since their signals can typically travel as far as five feet. Regardless, a known problem with any RFID reader/tag system for tracking purposes is that it requires careful placement and alignment of readers, tags and antennas in order to end up as close to the middle of the false positive-false negative continuum, and even then one is not immune to a certain amount of both error types when working within small distances and around metallic objects.


Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for providing an RFID device for integration into a tire. A printed circuit board (PCB) is provided with notches in opposed ends of the PCB that are provided with guide portions as a part of the notches that function as threads to guide an end portion of a matching single pitch helical antenna into appropriately placed vias on the PCB. Threading of the helical antenna is assisted by use of an assembly jig having antenna guiding channels and PCB retaining positioning elements.

Electrical circuits are used in a variety of environments that can present particular physical, chemical, and electrical factors for which the circuit must either be protected or be designed to endure. The present invention primarily concerns physical factors such as mechanical stress leading to fatigue, which in turn can cause a circuit malfunction by physically breaking or weakening a specific part of the circuit. A typical location for such malfunction is at or near the point of connection of a wire, lead, or other conductor to an electrical circuit. In circumstances where the wire and the connected-to circuit may move or rotate relative to one another, the wire may incur a concentration of mechanical stress and/or fatigue at or near the point of connection to the circuit. Mechanical stresses such as repeated bending or twisting, for example, can lead to a weakening of the wire until a break occurs.
Electronics integrated within a tire or other product offer potential advantages such as asset tracking and measurement of physical parameters as, for example, temperature and pressure. For purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase 'integrated within a tire' denotes any association of an electronics device with a tire including, but not limited to, encased or adhered entirely or partially within or to any portion of the tire, or attached to an inner or outer surface of the tire.
Often many of these systems rely on a wireless data link to communicate with an information system outside of the vehicle. Such information systems may include, as non-limiting examples, on-board computer systems, drive-by interrogators, or hand-held interrogators. In addition, the types of data communicated over such wireless data links are wide and varied and include such as not only the previously mentioned temperature and pressure but also other physical parameters such as tire rotation speed as well as data corresponding to manufacturing data and a host of other information. What ever the type of data transmitted, the wireless data link requires an antenna to be attached to the electronics in the tire. If the electronics and/or antenna are adhered to the tire rubber, flexing of the tire, either due to the tire building process or normal use can cause the antenna to separate from the electronics due to cracking, breaking, or fatigue.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,196,616 (Sinnett et al.) discloses apparatus and methodology for providing a graduated stiffness, strain-resistant electrical connection. A material is configured around the lead and near the point of connection to the circuit so as to create a region of decreasing flexibility or graduated stiffness near the point of connection. Another example of a tire electronics system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,102,499 (Myatt), which concerns an electronic communications device for a tire that includes a radio device and an antenna to be attached to or embedded in a tire.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0274030 A1 (Robert) also relates to tire electronics, and more particularly discloses an electronic module designed to be incorporated in a tire comprising a functional device, a support and at least one device for electrically connecting a wire and a device for mechanically fixing the wire, separate from the electrical connection device, for mechanically fixing the wire to the support.
The PCT Application published as International Publication Number WO 2006/098710 A1 (Sinnett et al.) is directed to a strain-resistant electrical connection for coupling an antenna or other conductive lead to a circuit. This published application describes a technique similar to that described with reference to the known devices illustrated herein in FIGS. 2A and 2B and described later in comparison to the present subject matter.
Other similar subject matter is described in JP2007049351A entitled "Electronic Tag For Tire And Pneumatic Tire" as an electronic tag with a coil-shaped antenna connected to an integrated circuit chip. The coil-shaped antenna includes dual pitch wound portions with the higher pitch winding coupled to the integrated circuit chip. U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,253 B2 (Strache et al.) describes a transmitter or receiver unit for building into elastic structures including tires. The unit may include an antenna taking several forms including a coiled-wire configuration.
While various implementations of tire electronics devices such as RFID devices in tire electronic systems have been developed, and while various methodologies have been developed to relieve stress at electrical coupling points, no design has emerged that generally encompasses all of the desired characteristics as hereafter presented in accordance with the present technology.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin


A brightness enhancement film includes a light-refracting microstructure layer, a substrate and a reinforcing layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto. The light-refracting microstructure layer is arranged on the first surface of the substrate and is so configured to vary in curvatures for refracting light. The reinforcing layer is arranged on the second surface of the substrate and is so configured to form a relatively high degree of hardness. Accordingly, the reinforcing layer can prevent warpage and abrasion of the brightness enhancement film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brightness enhancement film having a reinforcing structure for use in a liquid crystal display. Particularly, the present invention relates to the brightness enhancement film including a light-refracting microstructure layer and a reinforcing layer at either side thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to the brightness enhancement film having the reinforcing structure which has a degree of hardness greater than that of a substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring initially to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,800, entitled "Prevention of Groove Tip Deformation in Brightness Enhancement Film," discloses a brightness enhancement film 1 including a substrate (i.e. base) 11 and a plurality of prism units 12 provided thereon. The prism units 12 are arranged and juxtaposed on a top surface of the substrate 11 in order. Each of the prism units 12 consists of a first inclined surface 12a and a second inclined surface 12b connected thereto, and serves to refract light penetrated through the substrate 11 in use for enhancing brightness of light.
In manufacture, the substrate 11 of the brightness enhancement film 1 has a bottom surface which is an ordinary flat surface and opposite to the top surface. However, the top surface and the bottom surface disposed on the substrate 11 of the brightness enhancement film 1 are unmatched in structure which may cause a specific degree of warpage of the brightness enhancement film 1 in nature. Furthermore, the brightness enhancement films 1 are piled upon each other on a conveyer (not shown in FIG. 1) if the products are finally made. This practice unavoidably causes warpage and abrasion of the surfaces of the brightness enhancement films 1, and disadvantageously affects quality and quantity of output of the brightness enhancement films 1.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,063, entitled "Brightness Enhancement Article," also discloses another brightness enhancement film including a substrate, a prism unit layer and a light-diffusing surface. The prism unit layer and the light-diffusing surface serve as a top surface and a bottom surface of the substrate. This permits light to penetrate from the light-diffusing surface to the prism unit layer where light is emitted. The light-diffusing surface contains several light-diffusing particles which naturally diffuse light. Correspondingly, the prism unit layer is used to refract light penetrating the brightness enhancement film. Even though the brightness enhancement film has the light-diffusing surface at its bottom side, the light-diffusing surface cannot prevent warpage of the brightness enhancement film in nature. Furthermore, the light-diffusing particles of the brightness enhancement film protrude like raised particles on the light-diffusing surface and, thus, scrape the surface of another brightness enhancement film while piling upon each other. Also, this practice unavoidably causes warpage and abrasion of the surfaces of the brightness enhancement films, and disadvantageously affects quality and quantity of output of the brightness enhancement films.
The present invention intends to provide a brightness enhancement film having a reinforcing structure including a light-refracting microstructure layer and a reinforcing layer at either side thereof. The light-refracting microstructure layer is used to vary curvatures of a top surface, and the reinforcing layer is used to provide a specific degree of hardness in such a way to mitigate and overcome the above problem. Accordingly, the reinforcing layer can prevent warpage and abrasion of the brightness enhancement film.

Brightness enhancement film having a reinforcing structure


A vehicle door structure provided with a first door panel, a second door panel, a slide mechanism, and a hinge mechanism. The slide mechanism is provided with a first slide rail, a second slide rail, a first guide body, and a second guide body. The first slide rail is provided to the vehicle body to extend along the upper part or the lower part of the first door panel that is in a fully closed position. The first guide body is provided to the first door panel and is guided by the first slide rail. The second slide rail is provided to the second door panel. The second guide body is provided to the first door panel and is guided by the second slide rail. When the first door panel is in a fully open position, the first guide body has been or can be separated from the first slide rail.

A vehicle door system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-240611 is known, for example. The vehicle door system in this publication has a first door panel and a second door panel, and the first door panel and the second door panel collaborate with each other and close a door opening in a vehicle body. The first door panel is relatively moved with respect to the second door panel and opens/closes a part of the door opening. Also, in this vehicle door system, the first door panel and the second door panel are relatively moved with respect to the vehicle body to open and close the whole of the door opening.
The first door panel slides in the horizontal direction along a pair of slide tracks provided on an upper part and a lower part of the second door panel. The second door panel is connected to the vehicle body through a hinge assembly, and the second door panel is rotatable around a vertical axis with respect to the vehicle body by using the hinge assembly as a fulcrum.

Vehicle door structure having a slide mechanism


It is provided a method, including decomposing a channel matrix obtained from a reception channel from a sender to a reception antenna array into its singular vectors, wherein the singular vectors include left-singular vectors and right-singular vectors; allocating powers to the right-singular vectors to obtain power-allocated right-singular vectors; identifying maximum antenna gain directions based on a response function of the reception antenna array and all or a subset of the power-allocated right-singular vectors; calculating, for each of the maximum antenna gain directions or a subset thereof, a respective transmission beamforming vector based on a response function of a transmission antenna array; applying the transmission beamforming vectors or a subset thereof to a transmission via the transmission antenna array to the sender.

The term radio propagation channel is commonly used in literature to characterize the complete radio transmission system from the transmitter to the receiver. Some relevant factors influencing the radio channel are the effects of (multipath) propagation, the antenna arrays and the rest of the radio equipment.
A MIMO radio channel can be compactly expressed using the notion of channel matrix:y=Hx+n   (1)where y is the received signal, x is the transmitted signal, H is the channel matrix and n is Gaussian noise. The interference caused by other users in the same frequency band is often included in the noise. The channel matrix describes the amplitude and phase change over the whole propagation channel between a pair of transmitter and receiver antennas (antenna arrays made of antenna elements). Each element of the matrix comprises the superposition of individual propagation paths, and the effects of corresponding antenna elements and other radio equipment.
In real-world situations, the channel matrix also includes, for example, the coupling between antenna elements. However, without further a priori information it does not allow separation of different aspects of the propagation.
In modern digital radio communications, the protocols often require knowledge about the channel matrix, or some parameters of it, and therefore it is usually measured. The measurement of the channel matrix is called channel estimation. Typically, and especially in mobile networks, channel estimation is based on reference symbols. Reference symbols are data symbols whose values, transmit times and frequencies are known in advance by the receiver. The simplest method for channel estimation is then to construct a least squares problem out of these symbols. The channel estimate is usually called Channel State Information (CSI).


The instant invention is an improvement in the method of producing optically pure sterioisomers from a racemic mixture. The method is based on the well-known fact that a supersaturated solution or melt of the racemic mixture can be seeded with just the crystals of the desired stereoisomer, which will then crystallize out selectively, leaving the undesired stereoisomer behind in the liquid mother liquor. The desired isomer, in crystaline form, can then be separated by simple liquid/solid separation from the undesired isomer remaining behind in the mother liquor. In the conventional method, supersaturation is achieved by careful cooling of a saturated solution or melt. In the present invention, supersaturation is achieved by increasing the ambient pressure over the saturated solution or melt of the racemic mixture, and relying on the fact that the melting temperature of a substance increases with increasing pressure, provided there is an increase in molar volume when the substance melts.

Many optically active compounds are made from common, commercially available raw materials via organic syntheses which produce the racemic mixture of two optically active enantiomorphs, which then has to be separated by difficult procedures to recover the desired enantiomorph in pure form. This separation method is frequently one of the most complex parts of the synthesis operation, since the optical isomers have identical physical and chemical properties, except vis-a-vis other optical isomers.
A well-known technique for achieving this separation is to use supersaturation of the racemic mixture, either in the form of a melt, or of a solution in a solvent, and then crystallizing out only the desired enantiomorph by seeding the supersaturated system with crystals of the desired isomer. Supersaturation is achieved by preparing a saturated solution or melt of the racemic mixture, and then carefully subcooling this system to avoid spontaneous crystallization of both enantiomorphs. The degree of subcooling which can be achieved is obviously a function of the stability of the supersaturated system against spontaneous crystallization, of the presence of nucleating particles which could bring about spontaneous crystallization, and of the method of cooling the saturated solution. Wall or coil cooling introduces regions of low temperature where spontaneous crystallization can occur, and vigorous agitation can have the same undesirable effect. The degree of subcooling which can be reached is important in determining the yield of desirable isomer which can be achieved when the supersaturated system is seeded with crystals of that material. Obviously, a high degree of supercooling will result in a higher yield of desirable optical isomer per pass than only a small degree of subcooling.
Rather than lowering the temperature by withdrawing heat from a saturated system to enter the supersaturated domain, it is possible to bring this about by an adiabatic increase in the pressure on the system. This is due to the fact that the melting point of a substance increases with pressure, provided there is an increase in molar volume when the substance melts. Therefore, as the pressure of a saturated mixture, either a melt or a solution, is increased, the melting point of the constituents increases, and crystallization will occur. However, in many cases, this crystallization will be delayed, as the pressure is increased, resulting in a supersaturated system. Since the pressure on a system can be applied uniformly and gradually, without gradients and agitation, supersaturation is more likely and more extensive than in a thermal cycle. It will also permit using the selective seeding technique to systems which do not exhibit any or sufficient supercooling when the temperature is lowered.

Separation of pure optical stereoisomers by pressure crystallization


A computer-implemented method for determining whether an application impacts the health of a system may comprise detecting an application, performing a first system-health evaluation, allowing the application to install on the system, performing a second system-health evaluation after the application is installed on the system, and comparing the second system-health evaluation with the first system-health evaluation to determine whether the application impacted the health of the system. Exemplary methods for determining the potential impact of an application on the health of a system and for calculating a system-health-impact score for an application based on information gathered from a plurality of systems are also disclosed. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Literally thousands of computer programs and applications are available for installation on modern-day computing devices, such as the personal computer. Unfortunately, a user of a computing device is typically unable to determine whether an application will impact the health (e.g., the performance or stability) of the computing device before installing the application on the computing device. Because vendor-supplied information detailing the potential impact of an application on the health of a computing device may not be reliable, users may turn to elaborate reviews of applications published on the web by professional reviewers or other users of the application. Such reviews, however, suffer from a number of deficiencies.
For example, a review of an application may not detail the impact the application had on the health of the reviewer's computing device. In addition, even if a reviewer wishes to highlight the perceived impact of an application on the health of the reviewer's computing device, the reviewer may have difficulty determining the precise impact the application had on the computing device's health due to the high number of applications typically installed on computing devices. Moreover, reviewers of an application may not be motivated to post a review of an application unless the reviewer experiences (or at least perceives) problems with the application. As such, reviews of an application may wrongly focus on perceived problems or weaknesses of an application.
In the absence of reliable information, users may not become aware of the negative impact of an application until after the application has been installed. Unfortunately, in some instances the negative effects of an application on a computing device may not be reversed simply by uninstalling the application.

Systems and methods for determining and quantifying the impact of an application on the health of a system


A transparent display device is provided. The transparent display device includes a transparent display panel and a layer being disposed on any display surface of the transparent display panel and having both of the transmission function and the reflection function. The layer covers the display surface of the entire transparent display panel.

The thin-film transistor (TFT) technology begins to grow rapidly in the nineties of the 20th century. In less than 10 years, thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) has grown rapidly to be a mainstream of display device. Semiconductor fully integrated circuit manufacturing technology in large scale, which adopts new materials and new processes, is the basis of liquid crystal (LC), inorganic and organic thin film electroluminescent (EL and OEL) flat-panel display devices. In recent years, the transparent display technology has become one hot research direction and can be widely applied in various fields due to the diversified characteristics thereof. In the past few years, Batch production is possible for transparent display devices. But those transparent display devices can only be taken as glass or display devices both sides of which can be viewed normally, so the function is single.

Hefei BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is a method for transmitting a packet through a plurality of physical links in a mobile communication system in which a base station controller (BSC) is connected to a base transceiver system (BTS) through the plurality of physical links. The method includes the steps of determining whether a specific service uses at least two links, when there is transmission data for the service; setting up a sequence number in the transmission packet, when the service uses at least two links; and transmitting the packet through a link selected from the two links. The determining step is performed when there is transmission data for the service, and the setting step is performed when the service uses at least two links.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for multiplexing multiple end-to-end transmission links in a communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for multiplexing multiple transmission links between a base station controller and a base transceiver system in a mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a mobile communication system includes a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver system (BTS) and a mobile terminal. For communication, the base station controller is connected by wire to a mobile switching center (MSC) and the base transceiver system is wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal. Such a mobile communication system has typically provided a mobile subscriber with a voice service only. Recently, however, the mobile communication system tends to support not only the voice servile but also a high-speed data service.
Conventionally, a connection between the base station controller and the base transceiver system is uniquely independently made for each user. Further, a single link is set up between the base station controller and the base transceiver system, and the link is shared by a plurality of users. Meanwhile, the base station controller exchanges RLP (Radio Link Protocol) frames with the base transceiver system through a proprietary flow-control process, which is not a standard scheme and is unique for each manufacturer. In addition, the base station controller and the base transceiver system include a plurality of buffers in order to control priorities of packets exchanged between them during the flow-control process. An actual data exchange is made by a transport layer of a lower layer.
For the packet exchange, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) scheme and an IP (Internet Protocol) can be used. The current mobile communication system typically uses the ATM scheme, a kind of an end-to-end connection scheme in which a physical link is associated with a virtual circuit (VC) on a one-to-one basis.
Describing a transmission procedure by a transmitter in the case where the physical link is associated with the virtual circuit on a one-to-one basis, in a transmission mode, a packet is transmitted through a transmission link established for its service. A receiver then receives the packet through the transmission link established for the service and provides the received packet to an upper layer.
Of the conventional mobile communication standards, the cdmaOne standard supports a service of 9.6/1.4 Kbps or 64 Kbps while the CDMA2000 1X standard supports a service of 153.6 Kbps, in a radio environment. In general, the base station controller communicates with the base transceiver system through an E1/T1 link. In this case, there is no difficulty in supporting the above low (9.6 kbps/14.4 kbps) and medium (153.6 kbps) data rate services because the E1/T1 link supports a rate of 2 Mbps and 1.5 Mbps. However, a mobile communication system proposed for high-speed data transmission (e.g., CDMA2000 1xEV-DO) provides a service of a maximum of 2.4 Mbps in the radio environment. That is, the future mobile communication system shall provide a rate higher than that of the E1 or T1 link in the radio environment. However, the conventional mobile communication system cannot support the high-speed data service, since the base station controller and the base transceiver system support a single connection link for each service, as stated above.

Apparatus and method for multiplexing multiple end-to-end transmission links in a communication system


There is disclosed a process for producing an iminothiazoline derivative of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is halogen, halo(lower)alkyl, halo(lower)alkoxy or halo(lower)alkylthio; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or halogen; and R.sup.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl. This compound (I) can be obtained by cyclization of a thiourea derivative of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are each the same as defined above, and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or (lower)alkylcarbonyl optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl and lower alkoxy.

It is well known that an iminothiazoline derivative of the general formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is halogen or halo(lower)alkyl, halo(lower)alkoxy or halo(lower)alkylthio; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or halogen; and R.sup.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, is useful as an intermediate for production of herbicidal compounds (see, e.g., European Patent Publication No. 446802).

Process of producing iminothiazoline derivatives


A partition member partitions off a cooling stage of a refrigerator from a refrigerant container, containing a refrigerant gas condensed by the cooling stage, of a cooling system, and a low melting point metal held in the partition member brings the cooling stage into thermally contact with the refrigerant container. This makes it possible to exchange only the broken refrigerator without stopping the operation of the cooling system.

Power equipment using high-temperature superconductors such as a generator, a motor, a potential transformer, and the like operates under a temperature of approximately 30K. Since high refrigeration capacity is necessary to cool the power equipment, a cooling system having a plurality of (approximately five) Gifford-McMahon (GM) refrigerators or pulse tube refrigerators (hereinafter simply called "refrigerators," except in necessary) is used.
To stably operate the power equipment for a long term, the cooling system for cooling the equipment also has to stably operate for a long term. Accordingly, when the refrigeration capacity decreases due to the deterioration or breakdown of the refrigerator installed in the cooling system, it is preferable that the refrigerator can be exchanged.
FIG. 1 shows an overview of an ordinary cooling system. The cooling system adopts an indirect cooling method, in which when an object 10 to be cooled (for example, power equipment using high-temperature superconductors, for example, a rotor of a generator) is cooled to approximately 30K in the vicinity of which neon liquefies, a neon gas used as a refrigerant gas is once liquefied and retained in a liquefied neon container 12 to cool a helium gas circulating through the object 10 to be cooled in pipes 20. The helium gas circulating through the pipes 20 is sent out by a helium gas circulating pump 22 at ambient temperature, and is cooled by heat exchange with the helium gas returning through a first heat exchanger 24. Then, in a second heat exchanger 26, the helium gas is further cooled to approximately 30K by the liquefied neon retained in the liquefied neon container 12. After passing through a third heat exchanger 28 to cool the object 10 to be cooled, the helium gas gets into the first heat exchanger 24 in which the temperature increases to ambient temperature, and then returns to the circulating pump 22.
A cryostat 30 of the cooling system as a vacuum insulation container is provided with refrigerator attachment sleeves 32 into which a cylinder 44 of a plurality (two in the drawing) of refrigerators 40 and 42, provided to obtain high refrigeration capacity, is just fitted. Though the two refrigerators are provided in the drawing, the number of the refrigerators is changeable to one or more than three.
A refrigerator attachment flange 46, for attaching the refrigerators 40 and 42 to the cryostat 30, is provided with a seal O-ring 48 for the purpose of preventing the neon gas from leaking outside, and preventing air from getting inside. The O-ring is provided in the flange 46 of the refrigerator in the drawing, but may be provided in the cryostat 30. A member for sealing is not limited to the O-ring, as long as the member can seal the gas.
A plurality of (two in the drawing) pipes 14 provided in the liquefied neon container 12 are connected to the refrigerator attachment sleeves 32 disposed above them. The internal diameter of the pipe 14 does not interfere with the circulation of the neon gas.
Since the neon gas is sealed in the liquefied neon container 12, the temperature of a low-temperature cooling stage 50 of the refrigerator (a second cooling stage, hereinafter simply called "cooling stage") decreases to a condensing temperature (a liquefaction temperature) of neon when the refrigerator operates, so that the neon gas condensing and dropping is retained in the container 12 disposed beneath. A low-temperature portion of 30K which has to be securely insulated from heat is generally disposed inside the vacuum insulation container (the cryostat 30 in the drawing). Incidentally, a vacuum exhaust system is omitted in the drawing.
In the drawing, reference numeral 52 is a compressor of the refrigerator.
Taking a case where one of the refrigerators deteriorates or breaks down due to some reason. In this case, in an ordinary cooling system, the refrigerator deteriorated or broken down in performance cannot be exchanged without stopping the operation of the cooling system to increase the temperature of the whole cooling system. This is because when the refrigerator is detached for exchange under operating condition of the cooling system (the other normal refrigerators keep operating without recovering the neon gas), the neon gas is lost (leaks) from the open container 12 for sealing the neon gas, and air and moisture getting into the container 12 increases temperature, so that it becomes impossible to keep cooling. Accordingly, before the refrigerator is detached, the cooling system is stopped to recover the neon gas (a neon gas recovery system is omitted in FIG. 1) and the temperature of the system increases to ambient temperature.
Although, in Japanese Patent No. 3265139 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 9-113048, a heat switch for quick pre-cooling is disposed between a high-temperature cooling stage and a low-temperature cooling stage of a refrigerator cylinder, between an object to be cooled and a heat shield for covering a low-temperature portion, or between the object to be cooled and the refrigerator, the cooling system has only one refrigerator, so that it is never considered that one or some of the plurality of refrigerators is detached.

Method and device for installing refrigerator


A method and apparatus for establishing and maintaining consistent spacing between parallel forms for concrete structures. The elongated spacer includes notches at either end for flush engagement with the upper corners of the parallel forms. An angled notch may be provided for engagement with angled toeboards used in curb construction, and a level may be included for use in setting the parallel forms at a consistent level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to forming concrete, and more particularly to a unique form spreader for use in setting forms for concrete curbs, mow strips and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Concrete curbs are formed using a pair of elongated panels or boards that must be set in position in parallel before the concrete slurry is poured between them. The parallel positioning requires that the panels or boards be separated by a consistent spacing, and that the tops of both panels or boards be at the same level. It is often difficult to maintain such consistency in the forms, especially over long distances. It is even more difficult with wider curbs such as mow strips.
The most common method for setting forms for concrete curbs is to excavate the area where the curb is to be installed, and then install two sets of linear boards in the area. The boards are placed end-to-end and turned on their sides to form a pair of parallel lines. The boards are held in place using a plurality of stakes that are driven into the ground using a hammer or other suitable means. A space is defined between the boards into which concrete will be poured to form the curb. The support stakes are installed on the outsides of the boards so as not to interfere with the formation of the concrete on the inside.
For most curbs, the parallel forms include a vertical backboard and an angled toeboard. The angled toeboard imparts an angle to the face of the final curb so that it is tapered, having a base that is wider than the top, facilitating better drainage. For curbs, the distance between the tops of the boards is typically six inches. For other installations such as mow strips, both boards are vertical, and the distance between them may vary from several inches to several feet. Whether the installation is a curb, mow strip or otherwise, it is important that the two lines formed by the boards be in parallel, that is, having a consistent space or distance between them. This assures that the curb or mow strip that is to be created will have a uniform thickness. Similarly, it is important that the tops of the boards of the forms be on the same level, assuring that the curb or mow strip that is formed will have a uniform height. These characteristics insure that the final concrete structure will have a neat and uniform appearance, as well as proper functionality.
Present methods for establishing a uniform distance between the parallel boards of a concrete curb form involve finding or cutting a scrap board, pipe or other object to the desired length, and using it as a spacer between the form boards as they are installed. In some cases a small level is taped or otherwise temporarily attached to the make-shift spacer for use in determining whether the tops of the form boards are level. The positions of the boards and the stakes holding them in place are adjusted using the make-shift spacer so that the boards are the same distance apart along the length of the form. Adjustments are accomplished by raising or lowering the form boards and stakes using a hammer or other suitable tool. Unfortunately, as the installation progresses, such make-shift spacers tend to drop, fall or otherwise become dislodged making it a cumbersome process to maintain uniform spacing between forms, particularly with the angled toeboards used for curbs. Often one worker must hold the such a spacer in place while another makes adjustments to the forms, or a single worker must devote one hand to holding such a spacer while trying to make adjustments with the other hand. As the spacing and height of the form board pairs are established along the route, it is typical to nail short planks across the tops of the pair of form boards at regular intervals to hold them together thereby maintaining these established distances. This is a labor intensive and inefficient process.
It is therefore desirable to provide a simple, reliable and efficient method and apparatus for use in establishing consistent spacing and leveling of forms for concrete curbs, mow strips and the like.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for use in maintaining consistent spacing between linear parallel forms for concrete structures, and for use in keeping such forms at a consistent level. The apparatus of the invention is in the form of a spacer unit that extends from the top of the first form to the top of an adjacent parallel form. Orthogonal notches are cut out of the bottom corners of both ends of the spacer for engagement with the tops of both of the parallel forms. Consistent spacing is achieved by maintaining the forms at the distance between the notches on the spacer, in many cases by sliding the spacer along and between the forms. Because the notches of the spacer overlap onto the tops of the forms, it is unlikely that the spacer will become dislodged as the positions of the forms are adjusted.
The preferred embodiment of the spacer is designed for use during the installation of forms for concrete curbs. The 90-degree notch at one end of this spacer is orthogonal to the bottom of the spacer such that the upper surface of the notch is parallel to the bottom of the spacer, and the side surface of the notch is perpendicular to the bottom of the spacer. This first notch is designed to fit flush against the top and side surfaces (top corner) of the vertical backboard for the curb. However, the 90-degree notch at the other end of the spacer is established at an angle with respect to the bottom of the spacer such that the upper surface of this second notch is angled upward more than 90 degrees from the bottom of the spacer, and the side surface of this second notch is not perpendicular to the bottom of the spacer. This second notch is designed to fit flush against the top and side surfaces (top corner) of the angled toeboard for the curb. For convenience, the upper corner of the spacer above the second notch may be marked or beveled to indicate that the notch below it is the angled one.
In a simpler embodiment for use in forming mow strips and other similar structures having vertical forms, the 90-degree notches at both ends of the spacer are orthogonal to the bottom of the spacer such that the upper surfaces of both notches are parallel to the bottom of the spacer, and the side surfaces of both notches are perpendicular to the bottom of the spacer.
The spacer of each of the above embodiments may also be provided with at least one built-in level such as a bubble-level for use in determining whether the tops of the parallel forms are level with each other.
The spacing and leveling of linear forms is accomplished by using the spacer/leveler apparatus of the present invention as the forms are installed, and/or by adjusting the positions of the forms using the spacer/leveler apparatus following installation but prior to pouring concrete. A single spacer/leveler unit may be used to set or adjust a given set of parallel forms by traveling from one end of the linear forms to the other, making adjustments along the way. The notches at either end of the spacer fit flush against the top inside corners of the linear forms helping to establish uniform positioning and preventing the spacer from falling or becoming dislodged during adjustments to the forms. Alternatively, additional spacers, or spacer/levelers may be employed along sections of the parallel linear forms, particularly with forms covering long distances.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an efficient and reliable method and apparatus for use in establishing a consistent distance between linear forms for concrete structures.
It is also a primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for use in setting linear forms for concrete structures at a consistent level.
It is also an important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in setting level linear forms for concrete structures with consistent spacing that is not easily dislodged during installation or adjustments of the forms.
It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in establishing and maintaining a given distance between linear forms for concrete curbs, mow strips and the like.
It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in maintaining a consistent level between linear forms for concrete curbs, mow strips and the like.
It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the dual purpose of establishing and maintaining a given distance and level between linear forms for concrete curbs, mow strips and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for establishing and maintaining distances and levels between linear forms for concrete structures.
It is another object of the invention to reduce the time and labor used to properly set parallel forms for concrete structures.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descriptions and the claims herein.


The invention relates to a synchronous coupling with a straight-toothed coupling hub, a coupling star which is axially displaceable in relation thereto and is in engagement therewith. A synchronizing sleeve is held axially in the coupling star and is in engagement with it through ratchet teeth. The sleeve is in engagement with an output shaft for axial displacement thereon through a course thread wherein locking teeth on a locking sleeve can be brought into engagement with corresponding locking teeth on the coupling star. Screw-in teeth are provided at the driving shaft side and at the coupling star side. For the transmission of torque without problems in both directions of rotation, the locking sleeve is provided in engagement with the output shaft for axial adjustment thereon via adjusting teeth through a predetermined axial stroke relative to the driving shaft for interlocking the locking teeth together.

The present invention relates to a synchronous coupling and, more particularly, a synchronous coupling having locking means.
With mechanically synchronized jaw couplings known in the prior art, for example from CH-PS 499735, driving engines or motors can be automatically coupled or uncoupled without the speed or the torque having to be monitored. In these cases, during synchronous operation, a synchronizing sleeve is displaced axially by ratchet teeth and during the engagement a screwing-in movement is transmitted via a pawl to a coupling star. As a result of this, helical screw-in teeth come into engagement and, after reaching an axial stop, transmit the torque.
The disengagement process for the coupling is initiated on a change in direction of rotation or acceleration of the output. This can be prevented, however, if the coupling star and the output shaft are positively connected to one another through adjusting teeth and locking teeth each constructed in the form of straight teeth.
A disadvantage in these cases, however, is that the locking teeth form a joint in the mechanical sense. As a result of the foregoing, during reverse operation, the torque is transmitted via the mechanically indeterminate double joint which is formed from the locking teeth and coupling teeth. This mode of operation is therefore only reliable for a short time. Alternating operating torques cannot be permitted to occur frequently because of the risk of wear of the teeth and of the synchronizing sleeve mounting.
A further coupling device is known from DE-OS 2430615 wherein an axial coupling consisting of two parts which are movable axially in relation to one another and an intermediate member transmitting torque wherein provided between the intermediate member and each of the two coupling parts are helical teeth which have a different pitch and are so directed that on the transmission of torque, a force develops which pulls the parts of the coupling together. In this case, the centering is effected via corresponding tapered surfaces on the coupling parts. In this case, the transmission of torque is only possible in one direction.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a synchronous coupling which is of simple construction and which permits operation with alternating torques without suffering from the disadvantages noted above.

Maag Gear-Wheel & Machine Company Limited


Instrument cluster and pointing device for a car or other vehicle, the pointing device being mounted rotatable about a rotation axis and having a shaft element in the vicinity of the rotation axis, the pointing device further comprising at least one of a light guide element or a mirror element in the region of the shaft element and comprising one of an image forming element or an aperture, wherein the one of the image forming element or the aperture and the one of the light guide element or the mirror element are able to be rotated about the rotational axis with the shaft element, and wherein light incident to the shaft element is directed from the one of the light guide element or the mirror element to the image forming element or aperture and projecting to a visible surface.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of display apparatus, and particularly to instrument clusters for cars and other vehicles. More specifically, this disclosure relates to the lighting of pointers inside of an instrument cluster of a vehicle.
Instrument clusters for vehicles often include an instrument panel that includes a pointer. The pointer is typically configured to point to some value of a vehicle parameter or other parameter such as fuel level, vehicle speed, preferred or preset vehicle speed, engine speed, engine temperature, time, etc. In many cases, the pointer can be rotated about a rotational axis and is in many cases connected to a stepper motor by means of a rotating shaft. The pointer generally comprises an axial portion extending substantially parallel to the rotational axis about which the pointer can be rotated. The pointer generally further comprises a radial portion extending substantially in a direction perpendicular to the axial portion and perpendicular to the rotational axis.
It has become popular to light the pointer using light sources such as LEDs (light emitting diodes). In general, LEDs might be arranged around the outside of the shaft. As the pointer moves around the rotational axis, the pointer would be lit by subsequent LEDs around the shaft. Light from the LEDs would enter the pointer and make the pointer appear as if it were glowing. According to other solutions, one or a plurality of LEDs are located behind the center of the shaft such as to directly inject light into the shaft.
With these current instrument cluster configurations, the pointer usually comprises a light guide element such that the light emitted by the LED or plurality of LEDs is guided by the light guide and directly emitted towards a user such that there is only one appearance of the pointer.
There remains a continuing need to provide a more cost effective manufacture and assembly process of instrument cluster elements and to provide for an enhanced visibility of the pointer and the position of the pointer such that an enhanced clarity of the displayed information can be achieved.

Pointer structure of an instrument cluster


A food-grade encapsulate which comprises gelled proteins associated with a micronutrient, preferably a dietary mineral, as well as a process for producing the encapsulates are disclosed, with low micronutrient leakage during storage.

Fortification of food with micronutrients such as iron is not a straightforward procedure. For instance iron induces very often unacceptable product alterations related to its discoloring and pro-oxidative properties. To avoid these alterations it is common to use insoluble iron sources, which are less chemically reactive than water soluble iron salts. However, these compounds generally have a reduced bioavailability, and hence lower nutritional value. It is clear though that bioavailability depends on many factors, such as food matrix and population age.
Another solution is encapsulation of iron, in order to physically prevent iron from interacting with other food ingredients. The iron compound is coated with a protective layer or embedded in a matrix, which constitutes a physical barrier to its diffusion or dissolution in the food matrix, reducing its reactivity. The release of iron is then triggered by pH, enzymatic cleavage or temperature changes.
Fat based encapsulates are not heat stable and they undergo phase separation in aqueous compositions. However, an advantage of such systems is the possibility to encapsulate iron sulphate, which is considered as the most bioavailable iron compound, and thus used as a reference for bioavailability comparisons. Other types of encapsulates are based on phospholipids and most of them deliver iron pyrophosphate, which is less bioavailable than iron sulphate.
Proteins like lactoferrins can chelate iron. However, such proteins impart an undesirable pink colour to the product. The high affinity for iron is also a characteristic of other proteins such as caseins or globular proteins. Remondetto et al. (2004) (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52, 8137-8143) has studied the iron release mechanism of globular proteins macrogels containing iron gelled by means of heat and ionic induction.
Surh et al. (2007) (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55, 175-184) describes water-in-oil emulsification processes. However, the drawback of applying water-in-oil emulsification process is the additional step needed to separate the microparticles and wash-out the oil.
It is also desirable to offer an iron encapsulate which does not imply the declaration of multiple ingredients. No such encapsulates exist today that can offer satisfactory performance in high moisture applications. From the numerous iron encapsulation systems from suppliers that were evaluated so far, Ferrazone (iron-EDTA) appears to be the best solution. However EDTA is not allowed in all countries.
Similar difficulties are encountered when other micronutrients are considered.
Therefore, it is desirable to offer a versatile fortification solution, which is adapted to several micronutrients.

Food-grade encapsulate and process for the production thereof


Planar optical waveguide apparatus and methods for fabricating planar optical waveguide apparatus. The apparatus has a core layer and a cladding layer, the core layer having at least one optical waveguide, and an alignment structure spaced from and positioned with respect to the at least one optical waveguide to facilitate measuring a position of the at least one optical waveguide. The alignment structure has a first alignment structure, such as a reflecting member, to facilitate measuring a height of the at least one optical waveguide; and a second alignment structure, such as alignment marks, to facilitate measuring positions of the at least one optical waveguide in a plane of the at least one optical waveguide. The method includes forming both the optical waveguide and at least a portion of the alignment structure simultaneously in a single processing step to ensure that the optical waveguide and the alignment structure are in perfect registration.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of planar optical waveguides. More particularly, the invention relates to planar optical waveguide apparatus that include an alignment structure to facilitate measuring the position of an optical waveguide of the apparatus; and to methods for fabricating planar optical waveguide apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Planar optical waveguides include a core, comprising one or more channels of transparent material, typically glass, embedded in a cladding of another optical material, typically also glass, that has a refractive index lower than that of the core material. The difference in refractive index between the core and the cladding allows light to be guided in the core.
In many applications that utilize a planar optical waveguide apparatus, it is necessary to connect an external component, such as a laser, a detector, optical fibers, or the like, to the apparatus in such a manner that the component is correctly aligned with the input or output edge of an optical waveguide in the apparatus so as to properly couple light into or out of the waveguide.
A variety of techniques have been developed and are utilized in the prior art to achieve this alignment. For example, one frequently used procedure is an active alignment procedure wherein the component being aligned is moved relative to the planar optical waveguide apparatus while the coupled power between the component and an optical waveguide in the apparatus is monitored. Alignment is optimized when the coupled power is at a maximum value; and, at that time, the component and the planar optical waveguide apparatus are connected together.
While an active alignment procedure can be effective in many applications, it is not always practical, or even possible, to connect the component to the planar optical waveguide apparatus while light is going through the system. For example, if the component being aligned is a laser, and if the planar optical waveguide apparatus will be subjected to a high temperature during soldering of the component to the apparatus; the laser cannot be turned on during the soldering process.
Another common alignment procedure involves measuring the position of the input or output edge of the optical waveguide relative to the position of the component that is to be aligned with the optical waveguide, and then setting and fixing the position of the planar optical waveguide apparatus to the desired values. This procedure, however, requires that the position of the input or output edge of the optical waveguide be precisely measured in x, y and z directions; and these measurements are normally rather difficult to achieve.
In particular, FIG. 1 is a top plan view and FIG. 2 is an end plan view schematically illustrating a planar optical waveguide apparatus that is known in the prior art. The apparatus is generally designated by reference number 10 and comprises a substrate 11, a lower cladding layer 12, a core layer 13 and an upper cladding layer 14. The core layer is formed from a suitable transparent optical material, usually glass; and the cladding layers are formed of another optical material, also usually glass, having a lower refractive index than that of the core layer material. The substrate often comprises silicon.
The difference in refractive index between the material of the core layer and the cladding layers permits light to be transmitted through the core layer; and by forming the core layer 13 into a waveguide, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is possible to guide light through the apparatus.
With reference to FIG. 1, optical waveguide 13 extends through apparatus 10 from input end 15 thereof to output end 16 such that light entering the waveguide 13 at input end 15 is guided through the apparatus and exits the waveguide at output end 16. The light may be input into the waveguide 13 from a first external component, generally designated by reference number 17; and may be output from the waveguide 13 to a second external component, generally designated by reference number 18. The external components 17 and 18 may be connected to the apparatus 10 as schematically illustrated at 19 in FIG. 1.
In order for the planar optical waveguide apparatus 10 to properly transmit light from component 17 to component 18, input and output edges 15a and 16a of the optical waveguide 13 must be precisely aligned relative to the components 17 and 18, respectively; and to achieve proper alignment, it is necessary that the positions of the edges 15a and 16a of the waveguide 13 be accurately known in x, y and z directions.
The x-position of the optical waveguide is the position of the optical waveguide in the x-direction illustrated by arrow x in FIGS. 1 and 2; i.e., the lateral position of the optical waveguide. The y-position of the optical waveguide is the position of the waveguide in the y-direction illustrated by the arrow y in FIG. 1; i.e., the direction perpendicular to the input or output edge of the optical waveguide and that defines the spacing between the input or output edge of the optical waveguide and the component being aligned therewith. The z-position of the optical waveguide is the position of the waveguide in the z-direction illustrated by the arrow z in FIG. 2; i.e, the height of the optical waveguide.
By knowing the position of the external component 17 or 18, and by knowing the x, y and z positions of the optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide apparatus and the component can be properly positioned relative to one another.
The position of the external component 17 or 18 is determined utilizing suitable indicia provided on the component. The x and y and z positions of the edges of the optical waveguide are determined by detecting and measuring the positions of features of the optical waveguide itself. Specifically, to measure the x and y positions of the edges of the optical waveguide, an image of the optical waveguide is made in a plane of the waveguide apparatus. Inasmuch, however, as the difference between the refractive index of the core material forming the waveguide and the refractive index of the cladding material is normally quite small; attempts to image the waveguide result in a low contrast image, making precise measurements difficult. The z position of the edges of the optical waveguide are usually measured using light reflected from either the upper or lower surface of the waveguide. Again, since the index difference between the core and cladding materials is quite small; very little light will be reflected from the surface, making it difficult to accurately measure the z position of the edges of the waveguide.
What is needed is a method and apparatus that facilitates accurate measurement of the x, y and z positions of the input or output edge of the optical waveguide in a planar optical waveguide apparatus.
The present invention provides a planar optical waveguide apparatus that includes alignment structure to facilitate measuring the position of an optical waveguide of the apparatus.
A planar optical waveguide apparatus of the present invention comprises a core layer and a cladding layer, the core layer including at least one optical waveguide. In addition, the apparatus includes an alignment structure that is spaced from and positioned with respect to the at least one optical waveguide to facilitate measuring a position of the at least one optical waveguide.
A planar optical waveguide apparatus according to the present invention addresses the difficulty in the prior art of accurately measuring the position of an optical waveguide in the apparatus. According to an embodiment of the invention, the position of an optical waveguide in a planar optical waveguide apparatus can be accurately measured by providing alignment structure in the apparatus that is spaced from and precisely positioned with respect to the waveguide The present invention permits the position of an optical waveguide to be measured more easily and with greater accuracy to, in turn, permit an input edge and/or an output edge of the optical waveguide to be more accurately aligned relative to an external component.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the alignment structure includes a first alignment structure to facilitate measuring a z position of an optical waveguide of the apparatus; and a second alignment structure to facilitate measuring x and y positions of the optical waveguide in a plane of the apparatus. The first alignment structure preferably comprises a reflecting member positioned with respect to the upper or lower surface of the optical waveguide, and capable of reflecting sufficient light to permit the z position of the waveguide to be accurately measured. The second alignment structure preferably comprises alignment marks in registration with the optical waveguide and capable of providing a high contrast image to permit the x and y positions of the waveguide to be accurately measured. Because the alignment structure is spaced from the at least one optical waveguide, the structure will not, in any way, interfere with the light transmission characteristics of the waveguide.
The reflecting member may comprise a thin layer of a reflective material, such as a layer of metallic material. Alternatively, the reflecting member may comprise a thin layer of a material, such as silicon, having a high index of refraction relative to the indices of refraction of the core layer material and the cladding layer material so as to define a surface from which sufficient light will be reflected. The alignment marks may include patterns formed in the reflecting layer so as to be easily visible in an image of the optical waveguide.
According to further embodiments of the invention, methods are provided for fabricating a planar optical waveguide apparatus having an alignment structure therein. In general, the methods may include simultaneously forming an optical waveguide of the apparatus and at least a portion of the alignment structure during a single processing step to ensure accurate registration therebetween. Preferably, the single processing step comprises simultaneously forming the optical waveguide and at least a portion of the alignment structure in a single etch process step.
Furthermore, the invention provides embodiments with other features and advantages in addition to or in lieu of those discussed above. Many of these features and advantages are apparent from the description below with reference to the following drawings.

Planar optical waveguide with alignment structure


The present invention is a gas sampling device. A gas sampling tube and pump withdraw gas which evolves into the atmosphere as the drilling fluid in the annular space exits the wall bore. Drilling fluid and debris which may be entrained in the gas sample are separated by gravity settling in a separation device. A purge line may be used to agitate drilling mud and force gas toward the gas sampling tube.

The rotary drilling process creates a borehole in the earth by use of a drill bit which is attached to a drill stem, The drill bit and drill stem are lowered and rotated into the earth creating a bore hole by breaking, abrading and fracturing the earth beneath the drill bit. During this process drilling fluid is circulated by means of a pump down the inside of the drill stem and up the annular space between the outside of the drill stem and the wall of the bore hole, the drilling mud is typically a mixture of water and clay, but other drilling muds such as diesel oil, foam, and air have been used. Materials which are products of the drilling process such as rock chips (cuttings and cavings), pieces of casing, cement, the drill stem, hydrocarbon gases such as, but not limited to methane, ethane, propane, other gases associated with hydrocarbon gases such as, but not limited to carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and oil are entrained in the drilling fluid as it circulates from the drill bit up the annular space between the outside of the drill stem and the borehole wall.
Other functions of the drilling fluid include cooling and lubricating the bit and maintaining a hydrostatic pressure on the bore hole which is greater than the pressure in the earth. This hydrostatic pressure prevents uncontrolled flows of oil, gas and water from the earth into the borehole.
Gas mudlogging is a technique for determining the amount and constituent components of the gas which entrained in the drilling fluid. Heretofore, gas was sampled by a mechanically agitated device called a gas trap, which was placed in the shale shaker box. The gas extracted from the gas trap was mixed with air and drawn though tubing to a gas analyzer. The typical gas analyzers used in mudlogging are flame ionization detectors (FID), catalytic combustion detectors (hot wires) and thermal conductivity detectors (TDC). Constituent components of the entrained gas are typically analyzed by chromatography.
Difficulties in assuring good gas sample quality and consistency have been known and studied for many years. The major difficulty of gas sampling has involved the placement and efficiency of the gas trap. Placement within the shaker box and depth of placement of the gas trap in the drilling mud caused major variations in sampling efficiency.
During drilling the shale shaker is often bypassed and the mud level in the shaker box drops to a level which causes the gas trap to be out of the drilling mud. Common reasons for bypassing the shale are to build viscosity by allowing drilled native clay to be recirculated, allowing lost circulation material which is larger than the shale shaker screen to remain in the drilling mud and the failure of gates in the mud tanks to close properly.
Conversely, slugs of drilling mud caused by raising and lowering the drill stem, air trapped in the drill stem and gas, water or oil entering the well bore can cause the level in the shaker box to rise rapidly causing a blockage of the gas trap exhaust port, covering the motor which drives the mechanical agitator, and the drawing of drilling mud into the sample tubing. Drilling mud in the sample tubing causes blockage, damage to the gas analyzers which are designed for a gas environment, and variation in the gas sample rate which adversely affects the accurate measurement of the gas.
Gas traps are typically designed with a mechanical agitator which is rotated by an electric or air driven motor. The environment above the shale shaker box is rated as Class 1, Division 1, Group D by the American Pertroleum Institute. In these environments ignitible concentrations of flammable gases or vapors can exist under normal operating conditions. This requires special procedures and equipment. The agitator with electrical motors must be rated as explosion proof. Many gas traps use air motors to rotate the agitators. This practice reduces the potential danger of electrical sparking. However bearing failure is common in both electrical and air motors and this can cause sparking.
Electrical gas trap motors are turned off when the electrical generator is turned off for repair and maintenance. Smaller drilling rigs typically turn off the electricity during day light hours to save on expenses.
Air motor gas traps are turned off when the rig compressor is turned off for repair and maintenance. Air motors which are driven by rig compressors do not rotate at a constant speed due to fluctuations in air use on the rig. During cold weather water in the air supply often freezes causing the air motor and agitator to stop rotating.
During cold weather drilling mud and condensed water in the gas sample tubing freeze and stop or constrict the gas sample flow. The shale shaker box and the gas trap are usually not enclosed, insulated or heated in cold weather.
The placement of the gas trap in the shale shaker box and the ancillary tubing lines and hoses are often moved by drilling rig personnel during normal maintenance of the shale shaker, desilters, desander, degasser and other drilling mud conditioning equipment. Often the drilling rig personnel disconnect or alter the gas trap configuration to accomplish normal rig maintenance. This adversely affects the quality of the gas sample.


A lipolysis stimulator and a slimming agent which stimulate or facilitate lipolysis of accumulated adipose tissue, to thereby exert the body slimming effect. The lipolysis stimulator or the slimming agent of the present invention contains as an active ingredient any form of a plant or an extract thereof, the plant being selected from among common juniper, togenashi, rosehip, areca, polygala root, plantago herb, calumba, zuikorodoku, garden nasturtium, kidachiumanosuzukusa, bayberry, cogon grass, kohon, shoyokanzo, Japanese white birch, tanjin, kikubafuro, white mustard, common sunflower, ground ivy, Chinese wolfberry, Japanese pagota tree, sennenken, common fig, kankatto, Chinese hibiscus, usubaakaza, fenugreek, English walnut, sozuku, koniwa-zakura, gardenia, shima-kan-giku, akamino-akane, futaba-mugura, karoou, schizonepeta spike, purslane, karabyakushi, and prostrate knotweed.

Obesity arises as a result of accumulation of neutral fat in white adipocytes, due to excessive energy intake over energy expenditure. As has been pointed out, a type of obesity accompanying significant accumulation of visceral fat has some relation with certain pathological conditions such as insulin resistance and arteriosclerosis, and another type of obesity accompanying significant accumulation of subcutaneous fat has become a concern to both men and women from the aesthetic point of view.
Hitherto, it has been widely accepted that obesity can be well suppressed, prevented, or reversed by habitual drinking of oolong tea or eucommia leaf tea. Moreover, for suppressing calorie intake, a variety of means have been implemented; e.g., limiting meals, consuming low-energy foods, and taking appetite suppressors or digestion/absorption suppressors. However, habitual drinking of oolong tea or eucommia leaf tea, or suppression of calorie intake, is not necessarily sufficient for preventing or reversing obesity. In addition, such means is difficult for people to accept as a habit. Furthermore, these means are not a radical solution, as they do not stimulate lipolysis of accumulated fat.
Incidentally, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and similar hormones in the body have conventionally been known as stimulating lipolysis. For example, compounds such as caffeine and theophylline have been reported to stimulate the lipolysis activity of the hormone (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 53-59038). However, long-term administration of such hormones for slimming purposes should be avoided, from the viewpoint of safety.


An apparatus and process for supplying ozonated rinse water in a closed loop recirculating system to a rinsing apparatus for articles is described. The apparatus provides a pressure differential bypass line for providing a constant recirculating flow of ozonated water from a venturi directly to a water storage tank, bypassing the rinsing apparatus. Also included are a supply line to the rinsing apparatus and a diverted supply line for diverting flow back to the storage tank and bypassing the rinsing apparatus. The supply line and the diverted supply line have a normally closed solenoid valve and a normally open solenoid valve, respectively, for controlling the flow of ozonated water between them and maintaining and regulating pressure and volume of water for optimizing injection of ozone into the water and for maintaining ozone in the water.

Manufacturers of food products and beverages for human consumption typically package the beverage or food product. A variety of substances may be used to provide packaging for the products, including, but not limited to, plastics and glass. As a specific example, soft drinks typically are packaged in bottles formed from polyethylene terephthalate, otherwise known as "PET bottles." However, other plastics are also well known to the beverage and food packaging industries for use as containers for food and beverage products.
Current practice in the industry, and in particular for the packaging of soft drinks, is to rinse PET bottles with municipal water prior to filling the bottle with a soft drink. The use of hot water or chemical disinfectants typically has not been considered suitable for rinsing PET bottles prior to filling because hot water or disinfectants could chemically or physically alter the characteristics of a PET bottle. Such alterations could render the bottles unsuitable for containing beverages, or adversely affect the quality or taste of the beverage, or render the beverage unsuitable for human consumption.
Various devices and processes have been proposed for sanitizing containers such as bottles by contact with an ozonated rinse water. Ozone is highly reactive and is an effective oxidizing agent for sanitizing containers. Ozonated rinse water has the advantage over untreated rinse water of effectively removing microbes and other contaminants without changing the chemical or physical nature of the container. For example, Silberzahn U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,188 proposes a device for sterilizing containers that comprises a rotatable immersion wheel for immersing the containers in a bath of ozone and water. Numerous other devices using ozone as a sanitizing agent have also been proposed.
Hughes U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,495 proposes a portable water purification device that uses ozone as a treatment agent. Water in a tank is circulated by a pump through a venturi where ozone is injected into the water, which is then returned to the tank.
Burris U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,558 proposes a contact lens purification system in which sensors detect the concentration of ozone in the treatment liquid, and a controller acts responsibly to the sensor to control the residence time of the lenses in the system in response to the concentration of ozone.
McConnell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,497 proposes a method and a system for the fluid treatment of semiconductor wafers in a sequence of fluids and uses a closed fluid recirculation loop and a means for holding the wafers in the fluid flow path. In one embodiment, ozone is bubbled through the treatment fluid to enhance cleaning.
In spite of these previous devices and methods for using ozone as a sterilizing or cleaning agent, the food and beverage industry, and in particular the soft drink industry, still relies on municipal water supplies for rinsing PET containers prior to filling with soft drink. The rinse water typically is not recirculated, resulting in the run off of thousands of gallons of waste water and the high costs of operation associated with such a great use of municipal water supplies.
It would be desirable to develop an apparatus and process for sanitizing articles for food grade products, and in particular for plastic containers such as PET bottles for soft drinks, that could provide an automated recirculating operation of a captive and ozonated water supply. Such an apparatus and method could be effective to remove microbiological contaminants from food grade containers prior to filling with beverages or other food products without adversely affecting either the physical or chemical nature of the container. Additionally, by using a captive water supply, such an apparatus and process could save thousands of gallons of water, resulting in a substantial savings of money.

Process and apparatus for sanitizing articles


A heated roller shade system is provided. The heated roller shade system includes a roller located in a cavity defined between an inner wall of a vehicle and an outer wall of the vehicle. The roller shade system also includes a shade coupled to the roller. The roller is configured to selectively move the shade between a deployed position and an open position. The roller shade system also includes a heating mechanism coupled to at least one of the roller and the shade. The heating mechanism facilitates increasing a temperature of at least one of the roller and the shade.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to systems and methods to improve the safety and durability of an aircraft, and more particularly to heated roller shade systems that facilitate reducing the likelihood of failure and/or durability damage of a roller shade in an over-wing exit of an aircraft.
In at least some known aircrafts, a roller shade is included in an emergency exit over the wing rather than a conventional shade system due to space restrictions. Known roller shade systems generally include a roller coupled to an extendable shade that selectively extends and retracts in order to selectively control light and/or heat entering a cabin of the aircraft as needed by the passengers. In particular, when in the open position, the roller shade system provides visibility of the environment external to the aircraft, and when in the deployed position, the roller shade system facilitates reducing visibility outside of the aircraft.
Currently, during operation, the temperature outside the aircraft may vary dramatically in a range of about −70°-140° Fahrenheit. Specifically, the temperature outside the aircraft when on the ground may be upwards of 140° Fahrenheit, while the temperature outside the aircraft during flight may be below −70° Fahrenheit. The freezing temperatures outside of the aircraft during flight may pass through the outer hull towards the cabin of the aircraft cooling the area between the hull and the cabin through conduction. As such, in known aircrafts, the cabin is heated to maintain passenger comfort and a heating strip is used around the exit doors to prevent cool drafts into the cabin. However, the area defined between the cabin and the hull is typically not heated. Therefore, the temperature inside the defined area may drop below freezing as the external temperature drops.
Known roller shade systems are typically located in this defined area, and freezing temperatures inside the defined area may lead to a buildup of ice as moisture in and around the roller shade system freezes. Ice buildup in and around the roller shade system may cause known roller shade systems to be damaged and/or fail to operate properly. Specifically, known shade components may be susceptible to crumpling, edge tearing, cracking, wrinkling or any combination thereof as moisture from humidity freezes inside the shade. Depending on the damage, the shade may not extend into the deployed position. Additionally, the shade may not retract completely when moving to the open position. The roller component is also susceptible to sticking, cracking, and/or other damage due to ice buildup.

Retractable shade and method for assembling the same


Provided is a method and an apparatus for real-time monitoring interaction between surrounding rocks and the TBM in a TBM tunneling process. Interaction between target objects is monitored by one or more sensors to obtain test data. A first electronic device connects a collecting module with the one or more sensors through a communication serial interface of the one or more sensors. A connection state between the one or more sensors and the collecting module is judged. The connection abnormality information is recorded or the collection parameters according to the connection state are set. The first electronic device judges the collection state by monitoring the collection, and records collection abnormality information or performs one-time collection of data according to the collection state. The first electronic device stores the data in a first storage folder. A second electronic device analyzes the data, and transmits the data to a monitoring device.

When advancing through soft and weak surrounding rocks with large burial depth, during the tunneling or maintenance processes of a shield TBM, the convergence of the surrounding rocks in the shield region may exceed the excavation over-gap between the surrounding rocks and the shield, and then contact and squeeze the shield. If the resulted interaction force (a frictional resistance) is greater than the thrusting force provided by oil cylinders of the TBM, the machine will be jammed. The longer the downtime is, the greater the deformation of the surrounding rocks is, and the greater squeezing forces on the shield are, thus causing more serious jamming.
Besides, when a cutter-head bores into complex grounds or advances through an interface on which the lithology changes, if the TBM tunneling parameters are not adjusted timely, it easily causes considerable cutter-head vibration, thus aggravating the cutters wear, increasing the cutter changing frequency, and even causing rupture of the main bearing.
Currently, measures are usually adopted passively after occurrences of TBM entrapment, and there is no really efficient treatment measure yet, thus it is likely to result in long-term shutdown and damages to the TBM device. From the mechanical essence, a TBM tunneling process is just a "rock-machine interaction process", and it is hard to achieve, with the prior art, real-time monitoring of the rock-machine interaction in the TBMs tunneling process.

Method and apparatus for monitoring the interaction between surrounding rocks and TBM in TBM tunneling process


Techniques for generating one or more artifacts for service delivery are provided. The techniques include receiving one or more service design inputs, using the one or more service design inputs to generate an internal representation of the service design, using the internal representation of the service to generate one or more artifacts of the service, and incorporating the one or more artifacts into the service design and outputting the service.

Service industry has achieved formal recognition only during the last few decades. A stark difference between service creation and goods creation is that services are produced at the time of delivery and they are co-produced with the customer being a contributor to the production, while goods are produced first and delivered later. This nature of service production necessitates the enablement mechanism for all parties involved: the customer, customer facing users, support users and systems, management functions, quality tracking mechanism, etc. A comprehensive set of service artifacts can be the enabler for a service delivery organization.
Services are also perishable and intangible. One cannot create a sample service and keep it for a future reference. Service once created, gets consumed and one can only learn from the reflection of that best practice incident.
Creation of service artifacts in isolation of one another may result in accidental quality achievement but not quality by design. Existing approaches of artifact generation, however, are not related to formal specification of service design or related artifacts.

Automatically generating artifacts for service delivery

International Business Machines Corporation