A method and system for performing error diffusion are disclosed. An ordered set of pixels, including a pixel intensity value for each pixel, is received. Each pixel intensity value includes a value within a range from a low value to a high value, inclusive. An initial error value is also received. Based on the pixel intensity values and the initial error value, a pixel value for each pixel and an updated error value are computed substantially simultaneously with each other.

Error diffusion methods, such as the method described in R. W. Floyd & L. Steinberg, "An Adaptive Algorithm for Spatial Grayscale," in Proceedings of the Society for Information Display, vol. 17, pp 75-77 (1976) (the "Floyd-Steinberg method"), are often used to convert grayscale images to binary images. Such error diffusion methods typically examine a pixel in an input image, determine whether the intensity for the pixel in the input image exceeds a threshold, and assign either a light or dark binary value to the pixel in an output image based on whether it exceeds the threshold. The difference between the input image pixel intensity and the corresponding pixel intensity in the output image is the error for the pixel. Error diffusion methods assign at least a portion of the error to each of one or more neighboring pixels that have not been previously assigned a pixel intensity for the output image. In this manner, the total pixel intensity is substantially maintained throughout the output image without a substantial loss of resolution. However, individual pixels might be lighter or darker in the resulting image than in the input image.
For example, FIG. 1A depicts grayscale values for neighboring pixels in an input image. Each pixel has a grayscale value within a range. In an computer embodiment having 8-bit color, a low value for the range is "0" and a high value for the range is "255."
FIG. 1B depicts the resulting light/dark values for the four pixels based on a traditional error diffusion method. In FIG. 1B, the threshold for the light/dark determination is the midpoint of the range (i.e., a grayscale value of 127.5). Since the first pixel has a grayscale value greater than the threshold, the pixel is assigned a value of "1" (e.g., "light" or "white"). The difference between the original grayscale value for the first pixel and the resulting high value is defined to be the error value, E1. In other words, the error is equal to the amount of compensation added to a pixel in order to force it to a "0" or "1" value.
For the second pixel, the error value E1 is subtracted from the original value for the pixel. Since the resulting value is less than the threshold, the second pixel is assigned a value of "0" (e.g., "dark"). The error value, E2, is computed for the second pixel. The process iterates over each subsequent pixel until all pixels are computed. Alternate error diffusion methods might diffuse the calculated error among a plurality of unconverted pixels. For example, a first portion of the error value E1 for the first pixel could be subtracted from the second pixel and a second portion could be subtracted from the third pixel.
Exemplary methods of using error diffusion to generate an output image include the methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,226,094 and 5,374,997 to Eschbach.
One problem inherent in the Floyd-Steinberg method, its progeny and other current error diffusion methods is that error determinations for pixels are performed serially. For image processing hardware in which intensity information for multiple pixels is received in a single time period, the processing of such pixel intensity information must occur at an increased rate to keep pace with the incoming information. For example, if the initial pixel intensity information is received at a rate of 25 MHz and four pixels are received in a clock cycle, a serial error diffusion method must be performed at a rate of 100 MHz in order to retain all data and to keep up with the information stream. As input clock rates and/or the number of pixels for which information is received in a clock cycle increase, the required error diffusion rates can become excessive or impossible to achieve with current serial methods. This is particularly so when information is transferred in an environment in which trace lengths affect the maximum clock rate. Alternatively, processors that perform the computations at the increased rates might not be cost effective for particular applications.
What is needed is a multi-pixel error diffusion method that enables high-speed error diffusion for parallel intensity information.
A need exists for reducing the cost of performing error diffusion for an image.
A need exists for an error diffusion method that operates at the clock rate at which parallel intensity information is received.
The present disclosure is directed to solving one or more of the above-listed problems.

Method and system for performing multi-pixel parallel error diffusion enabling high-speed diffusion processing without increasing the system clock rate


A device for processing an echographic signal S.sub.o (t), includes:. a sampling device which supplies N discrete values C.sub.ok of S.sub.o (t) where k is 1, 2, . . . , N, PA0 p decomposition units (200j, j=1, 2, . . . , p), each comprising: PA0 p cascade connected reconstruction units (400j), each comprising:. a low frequency transmission channel including a low pass filter (201j) for correlation of the input signal S.sub.j-1 (t) with a sealing filter h(t), and a decimator (202j) which retain selective values with respect to k of the correlation, the N/2.sup.j values C.sub.jk, for k=1, 1+2.sup.j, 1+2.times.2.sup.j, . . . , representing s.sub.j (t), the low-frequency component of S.sub.o (t) of the order j, PA1 a high-frequency reducing channel which successively comprises a high-frequency filter (203j) for correlation of the input signal S.sub.j-1 (t) with a wavelet filter g(t), and a decimator (204j) which retains selective values with respect to k of the correlation, the N/2.sup.j values W.sub.jk for k=1, 1+2.sup.j, 1+2.times.2.sup.j, 1+3.times.2.sup.j, . . . , stored in a memory and representing D.sub.j (t) the high-frequency component of S.sub.o (t) of the order j, PA1 a high-frequency enhancement channel which comprises a cirucit (401j) for comparing C'.sub.jk /W.sub.jk with a predetermined threshold, A.sub.j, C'.sub.jk representing the values of S'.sub.j (t), which outputs the N/2.sup.j values of W.sub.jk if C'.sub.jk /W.sub.jk <A.sub.j for all k, or N/2.sup.j zeros in the opposite case, a circuit (402j) for doubling the sampling, and a high-frequency convolution circuit (403j) for convolution of the signal supplied by the circuit (402j) for doubling sampling with the wavelet filter g(t), PA1 an actual reconstruction channel comprising a sample doubling cirucit, a low-frequency convolution circuit (405j), an adder (406j) which supplies the reconstructed signal S'.sub.j-1 (t) of the order j-1 by forming the sum of the output signals of high-frequency and low-frequency convolution circuits (403j, 405j).

The invention relates to a device for processing an echographic signal S.sub.o (t).
The invention can be used particularly advantageously in the field of medical echography, notably for the formation of images of organs of interest is commonly owned copending application Ser.No. 496,478 entitled "Ultrasonic Echographic Imaging Devices Utilizing an Improved Adaptive Filter" filed Mar. 20, 1990 in the name of Antoine Collet-Billon.
The general technical problem to be solved by any echographic signal processing device usually consists in that an exact as possible image of the medium subjected to the examination is to be obtained, i.e. exact both as regards contours and the specular walls it contains.
Various solutions to this general technical problem have already been proposed. Reference is made notably to the article by M. Fink "Imagerie ultrasonore", published in Journal de Physique Appliquee 18 (1983) pp. 527-556, which exhaustively analyses the various aspects of the formation of echographic images. Even though they often lead to satisfactory results, all known solutions have given limitations. Actually, the determination of contours of organs and the detection of low-contrast objects are disturbed by constructive and destructive interference of echos produced by the multi-scatter points contained in the medium studied, that is to say in relation to the coherent nature of the ultrasonic wave emitted by the piezoelectric transducer. This parasitic phenomenon is similar to that which is known as "speckle" in the optical field and which gives rise to "light grains" which are often encountered in laser emission. The main drawbacks of this interference noise in the ultrasonic field on the one hand consist of a deterioration of the quality of the echographic images, notably a loss of visibility in low-contrast areas, and on the other hand consist of a wide frequency band and a strong variance which make the customary contour detection processes ineffective.
Therefore, it will be apparent that the reduction of "speckle" is a decisive factor in improving the quality of echographic images. To this end, various methods have been proposed:
on the one hand, methods which involve signal processing before acquisition in order to realise "speckle" decorrelation. This is, for example, the spatial composition (see the article by C. B. Burkhardt in IEEE Trans. Sonics Ultrasonics, SU25 1-6 (1978)). This method generally results in echographic images of good quality. It has the drawback however, that it necessitates the use of a complex and intricate electronic processing device. Moreover, the aquisition time is comparatively long and precludes the real-time formation of images.
on the other hand, smoothing methods which are applied after the formation of the image, for example using a lowpass filter which effectively reduces the fluctuations which are due to speckle but which introduces a blurr in the images by widening the contours.
Thus, the technical problem to be solved in accordance with the invention consists in the construction of a processing device for an echographic signal S.sub.o (t) which would be of the "a posteriori processing of the signal" type but which would reduce the "speckle" effect to a substantial degree while maintaining distinct image contours.

Device for processing an echographic signal


The embodiments of the present invention provide a charging method, device and system in the field of communications technologies. The charging method includes: learning that a user equipment accesses a network beyond an applicable condition; and charging the user equipment. The embodiments of the present invention enable the network operator to charge the user equipment for the access to the network beyond the applicable condition, thereby making it convenient for a user to access the network beyond the applicable condition and providing proper technical support for the charging management of the network operator.

The Long Term Evolution (LTE, Long Term Evolution) program developed by the 3GPP defines an architecture of a new mobile communication network, which is known as an evolved packet system (EPS, evolved packet system). Evolved packet systems have two application modes: human to human (H2H, Human to Human) communication application, and machine to machine (M2M, Machine to Machine) communication application (also known as MTC (Machine Type Communication)). The M2M here refers to network communication between one or more network elements without human participation. For example, M2M is applied to traffic control and management, factory monitoring, and remote meter reading.
In M2M applications, multiple M2M terminals that have the same M2M application make up an entirety, which is called a group. A network operator may manage or control a group as an entirety. For example, in the application of remote meter reading, all power meters in a region may make up a group, and the network operator may perform mobility management optimization or access management for the group as an entirety.
In an M2M application, according to the type of the M2M application, different M2M application features (MTC Feature) are defined. For example, a remote meter reading service is characterized by periodic triggering, that is, an M2M user equipment (M2M UE, also known as an MTC device, MTC Device) initiates a service within specific time. The application feature of such M2M applications or M2M terminals may be defined as time controlled (Time Controlled). Some types of M2M terminal devices such as vending machines at fixed locations are characterized by low mobility, that is, the M2M terminals initiate services in a specific location area. The application feature of such M2M applications or M2M terminals may be defined as low mobility (Low Mobility).
In the process of implementing the present invention, the inventor finds that the mobile communication network defined by the 3GPP in the prior art has at least the following problems:
For M2M applications characterized by controlled time or fixed location areas among the M2M applications, the network operator allows the M2M terminals to access the network beyond a time range or location area subscribed (predefined) by the M2M terminals. However, when the M2M terminals access the network beyond a subscribed (predefined) time range or location area and access the network within the subscribed (predefined) time range or location area, the network operator is unable to charge the M2M terminals discriminatively.


An amplifier arrangement and a method for compensating for an offset in an amplifier is provided. A respective switch for connecting together the inputs in a compensation operating mode and for interrupting the feedback path in this operating mode is provided in an amplifier. A control device detects an output signal and drives a controllable current source, which can be coupled to one of the two inputs of the amplifier, in such a manner that a compensation current which minimizes the offset is provided. The arrangement and method can be used, for example, in transmission arrangements.

Offsets may have different causes in a signal processing chain of an integrated circuit. Fluctuations in the supply voltage, temperature drift effects, fluctuations in process parameters during fabrication and matching problems between electronic components in the case of differential signal routing thus contribute, for example, to the occurrence of offsets.
Such direct current (DC) offsets may have undesirable effects in transmission arrangements, for example. DC offsets which occur in the baseband signal processing system of a transmitter thus result in a sinusoidal signal at the respective transmission frequency at the output of the modulator. This significantly increases error vectors in digital modulation methods. It is therefore desirable to be able to compensate for such DC offsets.
It is possible to reduce the DC offsets by introducing a compensation signal, which compensates for the offset, at the input of the baseband signal processing system of a transmission arrangement. This may be carried out, for example, when fabricating mobile radios. In this case, the compensation voltage (which is respectively needed for the purpose of compensation) for each individual device may be stored in a nonvolatile memory of the baseband chip. In the reception path of a mobile radio, a DC offset may even result in system failure since the extremely high gain in the analog baseband may result in transient spikes which may drive individual stages of the signal processing chain into saturation and may result in analog/digital converters being overdriven.
It goes without saying that DC offsets may be avoided using AC coupling, that is to say a high-pass filter having a low cut-off frequency. However, such AC coupling requires a relatively large chip area on account of the series capacitances which are normally provided for implementation. In addition, information components of useful information may be removed or filtered out in an undesirable manner.
Code division multiple access (CDMA) methods which operate in a continuous-time mode are used in modern mobile radio methods, for example the so-called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Accordingly, it is not possible, in contrast to earlier mobile radio methods, for example GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), which operate using time division multiple access, to periodically interrupt the signal chain in order to be able to carry out calibrations during transmission operation.
DC feedback affords another possible way of compensating for DC offsets. However, this principle has the disadvantage that a relatively low cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is required in order to avoid the useful signal being excessively distorted. However, this means that the transient response time becomes relatively long, which, in turn, has adverse effects on the received signal. Another disadvantage results from transients which may occur when there is a sudden change in the gain, even in the case of high-pass filters which settle more rapidly, and may exceed the useful signal many times over. The analog/digital converter thus cannot be controlled in an ideal manner. In particular, the switching transients which have been mentioned and occur when the gain value is changed in the reception path of a transmission/reception unit result in considerably impaired electrical properties of the receiver.

Amplifier arrangement, and method for compensating for an offset


Each cooling roll has parallel grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof so as to extend in a direction which crosses the direction of the roll axis. The grooves on one of the cooling rolls are at a phase difference from the grooves on the other cooling roll. The grooves are arranged at a pitch of 0.05 to 3.0 mm and each of the grooves has a width of 0.01 to 1.0 mm and a depth of 0.03 to 0.5 mm.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pair of cooling rolls for a twin-roll type cooling apparatus which is suitable for use in a process for forming a thin strip directly from a molten metal through rapid solidification.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Known in the art is a pair of cooling rolls for the process for forming a metal strip directly from a molten metal, wherein the molten metal is poured from a nozzle onto the peripheral surface of a cooling roll rotating at a high speed, so as to rapidly cool and solidify the metal on the roll surface. This process is broadly sorted into two types: namely, the single-roll process which employs a single roll; and the twin-roll process which employs a pair of rolls. In general, the twin-roll process is considered to be more suitable for production of strips of a high-silicon steel, stainless steel or Inconel, from the viewpoint of quality and shape of the surface of the product strip. Studies therefore have been conducted to carry out the twin-roll process on an industrial scale to enable continuous mass-production of such strips.
One of the problems which hamper the industrial use of the single- and twin-roll processes is that various casting defects (referred to as "surface defects" hereinafter) tend to appear in the surface of the products rapidly solidified by such processes.
For instance, in the known processes mentioned above, regions of thermally inferior contact exist between the molten metal and the cooling roll so that solidification is retarded in these regions as compared with other regions, with the result that linear or island-like surface defects are caused in the portions of the product solidified at such regions. In the worst case, an irregular mosaic-like pattern of dents, i.e., so-called dimples, is formed on the product.
In order to eliminate occurrence of surface defects, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63-501062 and 63-215340 propose a process of producing by the single roll process a crystalline metal billet having a thickness of 10 mm or less, with the roll having grooves formed in the peripheral surface of the roll so as to extend in parallel with the direction of the circumference of the roll.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-254953 discloses a process for producing a metal strip of 1 to 20 mm thickness by using a cooling roll having convexities and concavities from 10 to 200 .mu.m deep formed in the surface thereof by shot-blasting or introduction of a lattice groove.
These proposed processes ar effective in diminishing the formation of surface defects provided that factors such as the pitch and depth of the grooves formed in the roll peripheral surface ar suitably selected in accordance with the type of metal and casting conditions However, production of a thin strip of 1 mm or less thickness by a twin-roll method still suffers from a problem: namely, generation of various internal defects, as explained below.
(1) So-called shrinkage cavities or porous regions tend to be formed in the thicknesswise mid-portion of a thin strip produced by grooved rolls. The formation of such porous regions are noticeable particularly in the strip portions opposing the roll grooves. PA1 (2) Cracks tend to be developed in the regions of the strip which have contacted the groove edges, due to solidification shrinkage of the metal in the roll grooves.

Twin cooling roll apparatus for producing rapidly solidified metal strip


An electromagnetic radiation transmitter/reflector device (1), an apparatus and a process implementing such as device. The device comprises a straight transparent quartz tube (2) with an end-to-end bore (3) for retaining a pressurised ionising gas extending therethrough around an axis (4) and defining the cross section of the radiation transmitter beam, and a surface (7) for reflecting the transmitted radiation, comprising two longitudinal side wings (14) symmetrical in relation to an axial plane (10) of the bore, said reflecting portion being at least partially secured to the tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation transmitter/ reflector device comprising a straight glass tube with an end-to-end bore for retaining a pressurised ionising gas, extending therethrough around an axis and defining a radiation transmitter beam.
2. Description of Related Art
It also relates to apparatuses and a process implementing such a device. The invention finds a particularly important, although non-exclusive, application in the field of photochemical treatment of materials by ultraviolet radiation with transmitter tubes containing an ionising gas at high or medium pressure, for example used in the paper industry, textiles, plastics industry, food industry, automobile industry and in the printing field, in particular for polymerization of inks or varnishes on films, for example formed by rolls of paper or cardboard
By high or medium pressure we mean absolute gas pressures greater than or equal to 2 kg/cm.sup.2,for example 3 kg/cm.sup.2 for a medium pressure and greater than 5 kg/cm.sup.2 for a high pressure, being able for example to go up to 100 kg/cm.sup.2.
The invention is not limited to the types of products to be treated. It can for example be used for drying of plated products, for drying of certain varnishes and adhesives, for drying of wire products extending around an axis, or for sterilization of liquid products.
Devices for production and reflection of ultraviolet radiations are already known comprising a straight transmitter tube and a straight concave reflector having a parabolic cross section or an elliptic cross section.
These devices present drawbacks. They are in fact cumbersome and require a transmitter tube completely separated from the reflector by a distance of several millimetres to enable efficient cooling by air flow between the transmitter tube and reflector.
High temperatures from 600 to 900.degree. are in fact observed on the ultraviolet transmitter, whereas the temperature of the reflector is much lower, for example about 50.degree. C.
The materials used are moreover different, the transmitters being made of glass and the reflectors of reflecting metal, of the aluminium type, i.e. presenting a very different thermal expansion coefficient from that of glass.
The tubes of great length of the devices of the prior art moreover present buckling with time.
In the case more particularly concerned by the invention, i.e. ultraviolet radiation transmission, known transmitters also cause formation of ozone in non-negligible quantity.

Electromagnetic radiation transmitter/reflector device, apparatus and process implementing such a device


A method and test chamber for leak testing a container with a substantially flexible wall portion wherein the container is introduced into a test cavity so that the wall portion of the container is spaced from an inner adjacent wall portion of the test cavity with a gap being defined between the wall portion of the cavity and the flexible wall portion of the container. A pressure difference is installed as an initial value between the interior of the container and at least the gap by applying a pressure at least to the gap which is smaller than a pressure inside the container. The flexible wall portion is supported form its exterior side within the test cavity so as to prevent the flexible wall portion from bending outwardly into contact with the wall portion of the test cavity as a result of the pressure difference. The time course of a pressure prevailing within the gap is measured as a leak indicative signal.

The present invention relates in general to a method for leak testing of a container, to a test chamber therefor and to a test machine for in-line testing of such containers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method for reducing test cycle time and for improving the measuring accuracy at a leak testing process as well as to a test chamber and to a test machine with reduced test cycle time and improved measuring accuracy.
Methods for leak testing of containers are known at which a pressure difference is applied between the interior and the exterior of a container to be tested as an initial value for latter measuring. Afterwards, the time course of a pressure value, which is dependent from the pressure difference installed as the initial value and from leakage conditions of the container to be tested, is measured, significant for leak conditions of the container under test.
Such a leak testing method is e.g. known from the German laid open print no. 24 47 578. This reference provides for a testing method to test the welding seam of such container with respect to leakage. Therefore such containers are pressure loaded inside and also outside, through an opening of the container to be tested. There is provided separately a test channel around the welding seam of the container and leakage is monitored by measuring the time course or timely development of pressure within said test channel. This measuring is indicative for the leakage of the welding seam of the open container.
From the German laid open print no. 21 15 563 it is further known to test the seam of containers which are closed by a foil lid. Thereby, the bottom of the container is perforated by means of a needle-like end part of a pressure line, by which the inside of the container is pressurized. By monitoring the time course of the inside pressure of the container, an indication is provided indicative of tightness of the container.
From the article "Lecksuche mittels Differenzdruck-messungen" from J.T. Furness, VFI 4/78, it is generally known to test a container on leakage by monitoring its internal or its external pressure. Thereby it is described that the smaller that a volume is selected wherein the time course of pressure is monitored, the more accurate such a measuring will become.
There exists a clear need for shortening the time span necessitated for a test cycle of a container on one hand and of improving the accuracy of such tests to be able to detect smallest leakages of such containers.

Method for reducing test cycle time and for improving measuring accuracy at a leak testing process


Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, systems, devices and computer-readable media. In embodiments of the invention, a user is authenticated using an authentication process that is capable of authenticating a user using an inline authentication form that can authenticate a consumer without transferring a session maintained by a merchant. The inline authentication form is used if the components of the authentication system are capable of supporting an inline authentication form. If the components of the system cannot support an inline authentication form, a different authentication process is used. In one embodiment, an inline authentication form is presented to the user asynchronously. This inline authentication form may be presented within an iFrame embedded in a merchant's checkout page after verifying that the components to be used during the authentication can support the inline authentication form.

Electronic commerce cards are frequently used by consumers to make purchases from merchants over the Internet. Electronic commerce cards include credit cards, debit cards, prepaid purchase cards, travel cards, or any other system that can be used instead of cash to purchase goods or services. Electronic commerce cards do not necessarily have to be in the form of a physical card in order for an account associated with an electronic commerce card to be used to conduct transactions. To prevent fraud, electronic commerce card associations and/or issuers have instituted authentication systems to ensure that electronic commerce cards are only used by authorized consumers. One example of an authentication system enables a consumer to associate a password or other identifying information with an electronic commerce card. To make a purchase online, the consumer must provide the password associated or other identifying information with the electronic commerce card. This ensures that the person possessing the electronic commerce card is actually authorized to use the electronic commerce card.
Typical authentication systems use a decentralized, distributed computing model in which information is exchanged between merchants, electronic commerce card issuers and the card association to authenticate consumers. With thousands of card issuers and millions of merchants using a typical card processing system, deploying an authentication system among so many different entities is a difficult task. Additionally, merchants are reluctant to include authentication functions if the authentication system is only supported by a small number of card issuers.
One common problem faced by many authentication systems is how to authenticate a user using a form served from an authentication site managed by an issuer of the payment account while maintaining an online session between the user and a merchant's site.
Original authentication system designs typically used a pop-up window to authenticate the user. These windows were often driven by Javascript with static URLs as a backup. The pop-up window had separate Issuer SSL credentials, and they frequently had no address bar. The merchant would open a pop-up window and direct the pop-up window to open a page served from a server separate from a merchant's server. The pop-up window would contain a form that would be filled out by the user. After the form was completed, a returning POST command instructed the merchant's page to close the pop-up window. The original payment page could then be processed by the merchant to charge the payment account to complete the transaction.
As internet technology developed, pop-up killers began to be used in web browsers, and consequently pop-up methods become difficult to reliably execute. As a result, the design of authentication systems was changed to use a different process. In the new process, the screens that were previously shown using a pop-up window were now presented to the user in place of the merchant's checkout page in the main browser window. As a result, the merchant page's disappeared from the user's view while the online authentication form was being completed. The underlying infrastructure of the authentication system did not have to be significantly changed to accommodate this new process, because the only items in the system that had to be change were the templates used by merchants and issuers to present the authentication pages.
Both of these prior methods presented some problems for merchants and for consumers. In some instances, consumers would feel less secure about the authentication process because they had to navigate away from the merchant's website. As a result, the consumer could no longer see their order and sometimes the consumers would be confused as to why their browser navigated away from the merchant's site. In some instances, if a consumer decided that he or she was uncomfortable with the redirection, the consumer might abandon the order and the merchant might lose a sale. Another problem is that authentication processes that navigate away from the merchant's checkout page can sometimes lose track of the online session tracking the user's transaction. As a result, the user's shopping cart of items could be lost. Consequently, the consumer would have to recreate his or her shopping cart in a new session. A consumer might not want to go through this hassle. The consumer might also lose confidence in the online system. In either case, a sale by the merchant could be lost.
Authentication systems such as the ones just described also frequently involve many different parties managing different pieces of hardware and software that all need to work together to successfully authenticate users. For example, a merchant, a credit card issuer, and a payment processing entity may all operate servers running software that needs to communicate with each other in order to successfully authenticate a user conducting an online transaction. Upgrading a distributed system such as this can sometimes be difficult since no single party controls all of the components that need to be upgraded in order to implement new functionality. Consequently, as components of authentication systems have been modified over time, many of the components of the system are running different versions of the authentication system. Some of these versions may not be fully compatible with each other. It may not be practical to upgrade all components in the authentication system to an appropriate version at the same time, because many of the components of the system are managed by separate entities. One potential problem with the varying versions of components in a deployed authentication system is that if an unsupported authentication protocol is used, then the authentication request may fail somewhere during the authentication process and the user may potentially lose the online session of the user at the merchant's site.
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward solving these and other problems.

User enhanced authentication system for online purchases


Provided is a Zn—Al—Mg-based alloy-plated steel material that can be used in automobiles and home appliances and the like and, more particularly, to a Zn—Al—Mg-based alloy-plated steel material that can suppress the generation of cracks in a plating layer that are generated during processing.

As a zinc plating method which may prevent corrosion of iron through a cathodic protection method has excellent method performance and is highly economical, the method has been widely used for manufacturing a steel material having high corrosion resistance properties. Particularly, in the case of a hot-dip galvanized steel material in which a plating layer is formed by submerging a steel material in melted zinc, a manufacturing method may be simplified as compared to an electrical zinc plated steel material, and a price of a hot-dip galvanized steel material may be low, such that the consumption of a hot-dip galvanized steel material has increased in overall industrial fields of vehicles, electronic appliances, construction materials, and the like.
A hot-dip galvanized steel material, plated with zinc, may have sacrificial corrosion protection properties such that, when a hot-dip galvanized steel material is exposed to a corrosion environment, zinc having redox dislocation lower than redox dislocation of iron may be corroded first, and corrosion of a steel material may be prevented. Also, a hot-dip galvanized steel material may form a dense corrosion product on a surface of a hot-dip galvanized steel material as zinc of a plating layer is oxidized, and the steel material may be protected from an oxidization atmosphere such that corrosion resistance of the steel material may improve.
However, air pollution has increased and a corrosion environment has been increasingly deteriorated, due to high industrialization, and the demand for developing a steel material having more improved corrosion resistance than that of a conventional hot-dip galvanized steel material has increased due to strict regulations on conserving resources and energy.
Accordingly, various studies into a technique of manufacturing a zinc alloy plated steel material which may improve corrosion resistance of a steel material by adding elements such as aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), and the like, to a zinc plating bath, have been conducted. As an example, reference 1 discloses a technique of manufacturing a Zn—Al—Mg-based alloy-plated steel material in which Mg is additionally added to a Zn—Al plating composition system.
A general zinc plating is solidified to a Zn single phase, whereas in a zinc alloy plated steel material including Al and Mg, a Zn phase, an Mg—Zn alloy phase, an Al phase, and the like may coexist, and a difference in hardness between the phases may be great, and ionization tendencies of the phases in a corrosion environment are different from each other. Accordingly, a ratio and a combination among the phases may greatly affect mechanical and chemical properties of a plating layer.
In the case of a Zn phase, a micro-hardness may be Hv80 to 130, whereas MgZn2, Mg2Zn11, and the like, an Mg—Zn phase, may have hardness of Hv250 to 300. Thus, when stress occurs in a plating layer, breakage may occur on a phase boundary between a Zn phase and an Mg—Zn phase. Particularly, the more coarse the Zn phase and the Mg—Zn phase, such breakage may more easily occur, and broken cracks may also become coarse.
(Reference 1) Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0051669

Alloy-plated steel material having excellent crack resistance, and method for manufacturing same


Provided is a modular reactor head area assembly. The modular reactor head area assembly is installed on a reactor head, and includes: a seismic support structure that performs functions of lifting, moving and reinstallation of the reactor head and control rod driving apparatuses, cooling of the control rod driving apparatuses, shielding of missile parts, and supporting with respect to a seismic load, and disperses a load applied to the control rod driving apparatuses; an upper module that is an assembly of components located at an upper portion of the seismic support structure for the control rod driving apparatuses; and a lower module that is an assembly of components located at a lower portion of the seismic support structure for the control rod driving apparatuses. The upper module and the lower module are 252 detachably coupled to each other so that maintenance of the control rod driving apparatus can be performed easily.

A reactor head area assembly is a structure installed on a pressurized water reactor (PWR) head. When a reactor operates normally, the reactor head area assembly performs functions such as cooling of control rod driving apparatuses, forming of a cooling air path, shielding of missile parts, and supporting of the structure with respect to seismic loads. In addition, when refueling is performed, the reactor head area assembly lifts the control rod driving apparatuses and the reactor head at the same time.
As described above, since the reactor head area assembly lifts the control rod driving apparatus and the reactor head when the refueling is performed, research into integrating the reactor head area assembly has been performed in order to reduce the number of structures that should be removed or assembled when a refueling process is performed. Korean Laid-open Patent No. 2000-74957 discloses an integrated head area design of a nuclear reactor.
Referring to FIG. 1, a control rod driving apparatus 6 in a reactor head area assembly is a structure installed on a reactor head 0 in order to insert and withdraw control rods that controls a nuclear reaction speed in a core of the reactor. The control rod driving apparatus 6 is formed in a general tube shape having gaps therein. The control rod moves in an up-and-down direction by the driving shaft in the control rod driving apparatus 6 to control the nuclear reaction speed of the reactor core. A control rod position indicator is a sensor installed on the control rod driving apparatus 6 to sense a position of the control rod. A motor assembly 6a is a structure for driving the control rod.
Operations relating to the control rod driving apparatus 6 are, for example, maintenance of the motor assembly 6a, maintenance of the position director, and a calibration in initial installation of the position director or in re-installation of the position indicator.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a reactor head area assembly according to the conventional art.
The conventional reactor head area assembly includes an upper plenum including cooling fans 1, a shackle 2, and a tripod 3, and a ring type structure that is referred to as a shroud under the upper plenum. In addition, a cable support assembly, a control rod driving apparatus, and a baffle that will be described later are disposed in the shroud.
The cooling fan 1 is installed to cool the control rod driving apparatus, and the shackle 2 and the tripod 3 are used to lift the reactor head area assembly. The shackle 2 is connected to a crane (not shown), and the shackle is also connected to the tripod 3, and thus, the entire reactor head area assembly is lifted when a lifting force is applied upward by the crane.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the arrangement of the shroud 4, the baffle 5, and the control rod driving apparatus 6. The portion shown in FIG. 3 is the lowest portion of the reactor head area assembly of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a structure, that is, the baffle 5, surrounds the control rod driving apparatus 6, and the shroud 4 surrounds the baffle 5. In FIG. 3, one control rod driving apparatus 6 is disposed in order to clarify the baffle 5 and the shroud 4, however, in actuality a plurality of control rod driving apparatuses 6 are disposed as shown in FIG. 1.
The shroud 4 performs as a cover of the structures therein, and the baffle 5 forms a flow path of air between the shroud 4 and the baffle 5 so that the air drawn by the cooling fan 1 can sufficiently flow therethrough. Therefore, the control rod driving apparatus 6 and the reactor head nozzles can be cooled down easily.
Meanwhile, the shroud 4 is supported by support columns 7 disposed on upper and lower portions of the shroud 4.
The support column 7 is not formed of an H beam that is disposed in a vertical direction, but formed of a plurality of H beams on upper and lower portions of the shroud 4, which are connected to each other. In addition, the shroud 4 is not a shell, but is formed of a plurality of plates. One reactor head area assembly includes three through five layers of shrouds 4, and the number of shroud layers is equal to the number of H beams forming one support column 7. In the reactor head area assembly of FIG. 2, four shroud layers are formed.
The cable support assembly supports cables 10 (shown on FIG. 4) that are connected to the control rod driving apparatus 6 to supply electricity to the control rod driving apparatus 6, or connects signals generated from the position director (not shown) located in the control rod driving apparatus 6 to be output. The cable support assembly is disposed on an upper portion of the control rod driving apparatus 6, and is located on a part denoted as C in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates a state where the cables 10 are supported by the cable support assembly.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cable support assembly includes a cable support ring beam 8 and a plurality of cable support wires 9. The cable support wires 9 include multiple layers that form grids, and thus, the cable support wires 9 can support the cables 10 with predetermined distances between the cables 10. Meanwhile, both end portions of the cable support wire 9 are fixed on the cable support ring beam 8, and the cable support wires 9 support the cables 10 by penetrating the baffle 5.


A solar battery module can be constituted without connecting a plurality of bypass diodes, increasing the volume of potting, or reducing the area of a solar battery cell, so that the problems such as an increase in size of a terminal box, an increase in fabrication cost or a drop in mass productivity are overcome. A terminal box constituting an output section of a solar battery module, includes: a box body housing a circuit constituting section constituted by terminal boards, a bypass diode, and the like; and a box cover having a double structure of an inner cover made of a metal material and an outer cover made of a weather-resistant resin. The box body has an open side opposite to its attachment face, and includes a portion housing a charging section of the circuit constituting section apart from an outer wall structure of the box body. The box body is formed to have a box structure made of a weather-resistant resin. The open side of the box structure is covered with the box cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal box constituting an output section of a solar battery module constituting a solar power generation system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a terminal box constituting an output section of a solar battery module, a circuit constituting section constituted by a terminal board, a bypass diode, an output cable, and the like is housed within a box body having one open side. The circuit constituting section is buried by filling a potting material, and the opening side of the box body is closed with a cover (for example, see the Publication No. 2001-168368 of unexamined application, illustrated in FIG. 1).
In the above-described conventional terminal box for solar battery module, the circuit constituting section is potted with a silicon resin excellent in thermal conductivity. Thus, the heat generated from the bypass diode and the like is dissipated through the potting material. The potting material fills the terminal box, covering the surface of a charging section and the inner walls of the box body of the terminal box so as not to leave any gap. Although the potting material serves to prevent the breaking or breakage of the bypass diode owing to its heat dissipation effects, the penetration of water or moisture to the charging section, and the adhesion of any dust, the potting material is sometimes thermally deformed due to heat generated from the circuit constituting section. The thermal deformation of the potting material leads to deformation of the box body or the cover, whereby the capability of the potting material of preventing water or moisture from entering the charging section may sometimes be impaired. In order to prevent such a problem, the following means have been conventionally employed. A plurality of bypass diodes are connected in series and in parallel so as to reduce the amount of heat generation by each bypass diode. Alternatively, the surface area or the volume of the potting material or the terminal board is increased so as to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency. Further alternatively, the area of a solar battery cell is reduced to decrease the amount of heat generated by the bypass diode. However, the use of these means disadvantageously induces an increase in size of the terminal box, an increase in fabrication cost, or a drop in mass productivity.


In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, monitoring a failure prediction parameter of at least one of the plurality of protected system elements is performed. correlating a present state of the failure prediction parameter to a failure prediction criterion is performed, thus identifying a failure predicted one of a plurality of protected system elements when a failure prediction condition is met. In response to determining protection switching priority as applying to the failure predicted one or the failure predicted one being the only failure predicted system element, downloading service information of the failure predicted one to the protection system element is performed. Failure of the failure predicted one is confirmed. Switching communication service supported by the failure predicted one of the protected system elements for being supported by to the protection system element is performed.

In Automated Protection Switching (APS) schemes, a protection system including a single protection card provides protection for a plurality (i.e., N) of protected cards. In the case of a failed protected card, a protection switch requires that the protection card be downloaded with service data (e.g., call data) of the failed protected card before the protection card is fully brought into service. Downloading such service data can take up to as much as a few minutes or more depending on the amount of service data.
In the case of a fault, it is not usually known which one of the plurality of protected cards will require replacement. Therefore, it is not possible to download the service data to the protection card before a protection switch occurs. Consequently, services supported by the failed protected card will be adversely affected while the service data is being downloaded to the protection card.
During upgrade and maintenance of one of a plurality of the protected cards, the protection card may be used to back up the protected card being serviced. During such upgrade or service, a subscriber (i.e., a customer) will typically be adversely affected (e.g., by a disruption in service) for as much as several minutes as the protection card is downloaded with service data from the protected card being upgraded or maintained. Furthermore, during upgrade and maintenance, it is generally known which one of the protected cards will be replaced temporarily by the protection card. However, in conventional APS implementations, such knowledge of which one of the protected cards will be replaced temporarily by the protection card is not used to minimize the adverse effects associated with a service-affecting period resulting from the upgrade or maintenance. For voice calls, the service-affecting period during which the service data is being downloaded is often unacceptably long.
Conventional solutions for providing card protection exhibit one or more limitations. A first conventional solution for providing card protection is to overload one or more protection cards with connections for a plurality of protected cards. However, such an approach requires greatly increased memory capability to be provided on the protection cards. Limitations associated with the first conventional solution include the increased cost to implement it and the significant board space that it requires within a particular network apparatus. A second conventional solution is to use a 1:1 protection scheme such that a protection card is required for every protected card. Excessive cost is a key limitation of a 1:1 protection scheme.
Therefore, facilitating protection switching in a manner that overcomes limitations associated with conventional protection switching functionality is useful.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Providing protection switching via failure prediction


A pressing device having an endless conveyor which includes conveying elements connected to each other to form and endlessly revolving track. Adjacent conveying elements are pivotally connected together via pins forming pivot axes. A press roller is provided in a pressing zone to apply pressure to the material to be pressed, which is conveyed on the endless conveyor. Adjacent conveying elements of the endless conveyor have intermeshing fingers, and the pin connecting the conveying elements penetrates these fingers, such that in the pressing zone the conveying elements assume a pivot position with respect to each other in which the outer side of the endless conveyor forms a closed, plate-like surface without protrusions of recesses. The pressing zone follows a break open zone in the circumferential direction of the endless conveyor, and in the break open zone the endless conveyor is deflected such that the outer side thereof is concavely bent.

The invention relates to a pressing device with an endless conveyor which has a multiplicity of conveying links which are connected to one another to form an endlessly revolving track and of which adjacent conveying links are pivotally connected to one another in each case via a pin forming a pivot axes, and with at least one pressing roll which is provided in a pressing zone in order to pressurize the pressing material, which is conveyed on the endless conveyor between the pressing roll and the endless conveyor, wherein adjacent conveying links of the endless conveyor have intermeshing fingers, through which fingers the pin connecting said conveying links passes, and wherein the conveying links take up such a pivoted position with respect to one another in the pressing zone that the outside of the endless conveyor form a protrusion and recess less surface, which is closed in a plate shaped manner, in this region.
A pressing device of the type mentioned at the beginning, which is provided as a wine press, is already known from FR 538 228 A. The previously known pressing device has an endless conveyor which has a multiplicity of conveying links which are connected to one another to form an endlessly revolving track. Adjacent conveying links which are connected pivotally to one another in each case via a pin forming a pivot axes have intermeshing fingers, through which the pin connecting said conveying links passes. The previously known pressing device has two pressing rolls which follow each other in the conveying direction and are each provided for pressurizing the pressing material, which is conveyed on the endless conveyor, between the pressing roll and the endless conveyor. While the larger pressing roll, which is the front pressing roll in the conveying direction and which acts upon the upper strand of the endless conveyor approximately centrally, defines a first pressing zone, the smaller pressing roll, which is the rear pressing roll in the conveying direction and forms a second pressing zone, presses against the endless conveyor in the region of one of the deflection rollers. The smaller pressing roll, which is provided in the second pressing zone, revolves here at a higher revolving speed than the pressing roll arranged in the first pressing zone (page 2, lines 27 to 30 of FR 538 228 A). So that only the white grape juice and not also the red dye in the skins is squeezed out of red grapes (page 1, lines 29 to 33 of FR 538 228 A), the two press rolls act upon the endless conveyor with a comparatively low pressure, wherein the pressing roll arranged in the second pressing zone also has an elastic surface made from rubber or the like (page 1, line 62 to page 2, line 4 of FR 538 228 A). Since the pressing rolls act upon the endless conveyor and upon the pressing material located thereon with a comparatively low pressing pressure, there is also not a risk in the previously known pressing device that the pressing material is pressed into the conveying links of the endless conveyor; on the contrary, said pressing material drops in the deflection region between upper and lower strand of the endless conveyor.
The earlier document FR 26 637 E belonging to the same applicant relates merely to the configuration of the conveying links of the endless conveyor used in the previously known pressing device.
JP 1102 138093 U already discloses a pressing device which has an endless conveyor guided around two deflection rollers. This endless conveyor, the upper strand of which is acted upon approximately centrally between the deflection rollers by a pressing roll, is formed in the manner of a chain from conveying links which have an approximately concave external contour in side view. JP 1102 138093 U is not concerned with the problem of by which means the disturbance-free operation of the endless conveyor could be ensured even over a relatively long period of operation.
German utility model document DE 20 2011 102 965 U1 has already previously disclosed a pressing device which has an endless conveyor with which the pressing material is movable toward a pressing zone. The endless conveyor of the previously known pressing device is designed as a plate chain, the plates of which serving as conveying links are connected to one another to form an endlessly revolving track. Adjacent plates are connected pivotally to one another in each case via a pin forming a pivot axes. A pressing roll is arranged in the pressing zone of the previously known pressing device, said pressing roll being provided in a pressing zone for pressurizing the pressing material, which is conveyed on the endless conveyor, between the pressing roll and the endless conveyor.
The device previously known from DE 20 2011 102 965 U1 is intended for the mechanical drying of wood chips in order to reduce the wood moisture contained in the wood chips before the latter are burned. However, such pressing devices of the type mentioned at the beginning are usable for very varied applications in order to dehumidify or to compress a pressing material, which is intended for further use, and/or in order to obtain the fluid contained in a pressing material, for the purpose of further use.
DE 20 2011 102 965 U1 does not describe further how the plate chain serving there as an endless conveyor has to be configured, the plate chain being capable of withstanding high pressure loadings such that as high a performance of the pressing device as possible is ensured.


A tool 10 which is made by a method which efficiently allows internal passageways, such as passageway 50, which are at least partially circumscribed by thermally conductive material 103, to be formed in the tool 10, thereby allowing for enhanced cooling characteristics and allowing decreased cycle time and a reduced likelihood of damage to the formed object.

A tool is used to selectively produce an item or object and, as used throughout this description, the term "tool" should be interpreted in the broadest manner possible and should not be limited to an exact configuration or type of configuration or to a certain tool assembly which is adapted to produce only a certain item/object or a certain class of items or objects.
Traditionally, a tool has been produced from a substantially solid block of material (i.e., by burning, cutting, or otherwise "working" the material in a certain manner). While the foregoing approach does allow a tool to be selectively produced, this traditional strategy or technique is highly inefficient and costly.
To overcome these drawbacks, a lamination technique/strategy has been developed and is set forth, for example and without limitation, within U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,742 ("The ′742 Patent"), which is assigned to Applicant's assignee, which issued on Jul. 1, 2003, and which is fully and completely incorporated herein by reference, word for word and paragraph for paragraph.
Particularly, the foregoing lamination strategy involves the creation of a "soft tool design" (i.e., the tool is initially designed within a software environment) The soft design is then used to create physical tangible sectional members which are coupled and thereafter cooperatively form the tool. Such an approach is highly efficient and dramatically reduces the cost associated with prior tool production strategies and techniques.
Regardless of the technique or method for producing a tool, oftentimes the produced item is damaged by stress caused by the tool production operation (i.e., often referred to as "molded stress"). To alleviate this stress, oftentimes the "cycle time" or part/object production time is undesirably increased, thereby causing the object/item production or tooling operation to be relatively inefficient.
There is therefore a need for a new and improved tool and a method for producing a tool having enhanced cooling characteristics in order to overcome the foregoing drawbacks associated with prior tools and methods and Applicant has discovered that the lamination tool production strategy lends itself very well to the production of such a tool and to a tool producing method.


Uninspected bundles of paper sheets are supplied to each of a plurality of pre-processors in units of bundles. Each pre-processor removes a band from the uninspected bundle, prints a serial number in association with the received paper sheets on the band, and holds the band. A number of reusable paper sheets from which the band is removed are counted by and stored in a corresponding inspection device. Each inspection device stores the serial number printed on the band by the preprocessor. In each inspection device, the paper sheets to be re-inspected are sorted by a separator card in units of bundles and stored as rejectable notes in a rejectable note cassette. A center console receives data such as a count result, band number, cassette number, card number, and the like, from each inspection device, and sequentially stores these data in units of inspection devices. When rejectable notes in units of bundles taken out from the cassette are inserted, a rejectable note processor fetches data such as the count result, band number, cassette number, card number, and the like from the center console, and performs discrimination of authenticity, detection of denominations, and counting and collation processing of the received rejectable notes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing apparatus for unbinding a bundle consisting of paper sheets such as securities, and automatically performing predetermined processing such as inspection of the paper sheets one by one.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional paper sheet processing apparatus of this type, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,232 to Ohumura et al. granted on May 6, 1986, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,443 to Maruyama et al. granted on Feb. 2, 1988 are known. In such apparatuses, articles to be examined, e.g., bank notes are sequentially taken out one by one, and their authenticity and fit/unfit states are examined. This apparatus normally receives not separate bank notes but a bundle of a predetermined number of bank notes bundled by a band. For example, a sheaf of 100 bank notes is bound by a strap, and a bundle is obtained by bundling 10 sheaves of bank notes by a band. The bundle is unbound, and 10 sheaves each bonded by a strap are manually inserted in the apparatus.
In the apparatus, the straps are cut to sequentially take out bank notes. Thereafter, the bank notes are sorted, based on an inspection result from an inspection device, into fit notes, unfit notes, and rejectable notes, which cannot be identified. The rejectable notes are stocked together with the cut straps.
The conventional apparatus requires several manual operations in a series of processing steps starting from bundles to rejectable note processing for bank notes requiring re-inspection through inspection processing. For this reason, a large number of bank notes cannot be quickly processed.
More specifically, in the conventional apparatus, the band of the bundle must be removed, and 10 sheaves must be inserted first. Upon completion of insertion, data on the strap of rejectable notes which cannot be inspected must be input, and the number of rejectable notes must be manually counted and input. Therefore, an operator is required to perform cumbersome manual operations. In addition, he cannot operate the inspection device body while a rejectable note processor processes rejectable notes. Therefore, the work efficiency of the apparatus may be decreased. When the rejectable note processor malfunctions, the inspection device body must be stopped. As a result, the work efficiency and processing power of the apparatus are considerably decreased. In this apparatus, since the inspection device and the rejectable note processing apparatus are arranged to have one-to-one correspondence, if the number of notes to be rejected is small, a working efficiency of the rejectable note processor is decreased, and the total function of the entire apparatus cannot be fully exhibited.


This invention uses surface tension to align a z-axis MEMS sensing device that is mounted onto a substrate or lead frame oriented in an xy-plane. According to the teachings of the present invention, the height of the z-axis sensing device is less than or substantially equal to its width (y-dimension) while the length of the device in the longitudinal direction (x-dimension) is greater than either of the y- or z-dimensions. As a result, instead of being thin and tall like a wall, which configuration is extremely difficult to align vertically, the elongate z-axis sensing device is mounted on a short z-axis, making it easier to align vertically.

The current trend of incorporating navigation technology into compact devices requires two- and three-axis micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors that are compact in the xy-plane and that have a minimum height in the z-axis. However, mounting z-axis (MEMS) sensing devices remains a challenge to be cost effective for applications of limited space and high volume in the packaging industry.

Method for mounting a three-axis MEMS device with precise orientation


A method and apparatus for the production of reinforced plastic objects uses a body form around which a casing having a cover is placed. The cover includes two cover units which between them defines an opening having an adjustable size and position. The opening provides access into the body form so that reinforced plastic material may be applied therein. The size of the opening is minimized to reduce the amount of environmentally harmful substances escaping therefrom, such as styrene. The position and size of the opening relative to the body form is adjustable to provide a convenient access into the body form.

The industry producing products in reinforced plastic today have great demands of improving both the internal and external environment, and for this to be possible the emissions of styrene have to be reduced.
One way to achieve this is to improve previously used production methods or offer new such methods. The application of plastic material traditionally is carried out by spraying and rolling or by manual application, and by filling and inlay of reinforcement fabric or mats and distance material.
Production by spraying and laying up is carried out preferably in conventional spray boxes, which demand large air flows. This in turn results in a large heating demand, which leads to high heating costs and problems finding sufficiently low cost gas purifier plants.
One object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing large plastic objects in a simple and reliable way.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing plastic components which is substantially harmless to the environment.
Yet another object is to provide a method for producing plastic components that is energy efficient.
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for producing plastic components with minimal escape of harmful substances into the environment. The apparatus includes a casing placed over a hollow body form. The casing includes a cover which defines an opening having an adjustable size and position. The opening provides access into the body form so that reinforced plastics may be applied therein. The size of the opening may be minimized to reduce the amount of harmful substances, such as styrene, escaping from the body form. The position of the opening relative to the body form is adjustable to provide a convenient access into the body form when reinforced plastics are applied therein.

Method and apparatus for the production of reinforced plastic objects

Institutet For Verkstadsteknisk Forskning


Systems, methods, and apparatuses of created a repair token for a distributed ledger are provided. A method includes identifying an error in the distributed ledger, the error associated with a first block on the distributed ledger, creating a repair token including content of the first block and a correction to the error, digitally signing and timestamping the repair token, and publishing the repair token to a repair token ledger.

A distributed ledger, such as a blockchain, is a series of signed, hash-linked, append-only, timestamped blocks, each block containing arbitrary data. When viewed as a linked-list data structure, a blockchain is a limited data "stack" whose operations only allow users to "push" blocks onto the top. Users are not allowed to modify blocks or to "pull" blocks from the blockchain. Each new block that is added is appended to the topmost block in the stack. A new block links back to the former top-of-stack block by including a hash (e.g., a smaller mathematical representation) of the preceding block in the new block and binding this hash to the new block.

Systems and methods for blockchain repair assurance tokens


An embodiment of the present invention is described that includes an incentive application for providing incentives to a visitor of a site. The incentive application is both portable onto other sites and is customizable on each site to the information provided on the site.

E-commerce over the Internet still relies heavily on attracting visitors to a website. Revenue from websites is primarily driven from the number of visitors who visit a website that either (i) purchase a product or service offered on the website or (ii) generate advertising dollars from advertisers on the website that pay per visitor to a website. In the past, websites have attracted visitors to their sites by offering incentives for visiting websites such as airline miles offered by airline companies or sweepstakes entries to visitors of sites, to name a few.
The problems with the incentives being currently offered by websites are two-fold. First, each website must independently develop the incentive software program either internally or have a third-party vendor write the software code to offer the incentive on their particular website. There is no universally portable incentive application available today that can be used on any website. Second, current incentives offered on websites are written specifically for a particular websites and are not easily customizable once written. Further customization requires additional expense and time for the website owner.
A need therefore exists for an incentive application that is both portable and customizable.

Method and system for embedding a portable and customizable incentive application on a website


The present invention involves an improvement in a conventional drum brake assembly which utilizes a pair of brake shoes separated by an adjustable strut. A parking brake lever is pivotally attached to one of the brake shoes and when it is rotated in a braking direction, causes both brake shoes to expand by interacting with the adjustable strut. A plate spring attached to a backing plate allows the parking brake lever to pass in the braking direction after assembly of the drum brake, thereby removing slack and properly adjusting the drum brake. The plate spring can be displaced from outside the drum brake to allow the parking brake lever to pass in the opposite direction for disassembly of the drum brake.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drum brake used for braking cars and specifically, to the assembling operation of such a drum brake.
2. Description of the Related Art
A drum brake such as shown in FIG. 5 (Prior Art) has been known for use in braking cars.
Such a drum brake comprises: a brake drum (not shown) that rotates along with the wheel; a backing plate 1 fixed on a suspension system; a pair of brake shoes 3a and 3b that are displaceably supported by the backing plate 1 and pressed onto the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum by being expanded by a wheel cylinder 2 fixed on the backing plate 1; a parking lever 4, one end of which (upper end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) is pivotally supported by one brake shoe 3b (right as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) and through a pivot pin 8 and the other end of which (lower end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) is connected to a cable (not shown) for operating the parking brake mechanism; and a strut 6, one end of which (right end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) is abutted against the middle of the parking lever 4 and the other end of which (left end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) is abutted against the other brake shoe 3a (left as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)). The strut 6 has a built-in automatic gap adjusting device for adjusting the gap between the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective brake shoes 3a and 3b and the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum as the linings 5 of the brake shoes 3a and 3b wear.
To effect braking by the drum brake thus constructed, the distance between the single ends (upper end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) of the pair of brake shoes 3a and 3b are expanded by the wheel cylinder 2 arranged on the backing plate 1. Both brake shoes 3a and 3b are displaced toward the outside of the backing plate 1, pivoting around an anchor 7 fixed on the backing plate 1. The outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 of the brake shoes 3a and 3b are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum, thereby causing a braking force to be produced by the friction between these surfaces. To release the braking force, the supply of hydraulic oil to the wheel cylinder 2 is interrupted and the brake shoes 3a and 3b are returned to their original position by a return spring 9, thereby disengaging the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 from the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum.
To operate the parking brake, the other end (lower end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) of the parking lever 4 is pulled toward the left by the cable, thereby causing the parking lever 4 to pivot clockwise around the pivot pin 8 as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art). As a result, the strut 6, one end of which abuts against the middle of the parking lever 4, is pushed toward the left as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art), thereby pushing the brake shoe 3a against which the other end of the strut 6 abuts, toward the outside, thus pushing the outer peripheral surface of the lining 5 of brake shoe 3a against the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum.
At the same time, as a reaction, the pivot pin 8 supporting one end of the parking lever 4 is displaced toward the outside causing the brake shoe 3b on which the pivot pin 8 is arranged to be pushed outward, thus pushing the outer peripheral surface of the lining 5 of brake shoe 3b against the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum. As a result, the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 of both brake shoes 3a and 3b are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum, thereby producing a braking force by the friction between the surfaces.
In a case where the linings 5 are worn as a result of repeated braking operations and the gap between the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum is increased, the automatic gap adjusting device built into strut 6 causes strut 6 to expand, thereby maintaining the gap within a prescribed range.
In a drum brake thus constructed and operated, both the linings 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum (in a far smaller degree than the linings) wear as a result of the repeated braking operations. The wear is located only where the linings 5 contact the drum and takes the form of a so-called "stepped wear," in which a stepped groove is observed with respect to the other portions of the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum. In a case where such stepped wear is present and becomes larger than a proper gap between the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum, the engagement of the side end of each of the linings 5 with the step prevents the removal of the brake drum, thereby preventing the brake shoes 3a and 3b from being replaced.
For this reason, the conventional brake drum is so constructed that it can be removed even when the stepped wear is present by turning the parking lever 4 in a direction opposite to that in the braking operation (counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) through an operation performed outside the backing plate 1. As shown in FIG. 6 (Prior Art), a stopper strip 10 is fixed at a location which is part of the backing plate 1 and through which the other end (lower end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) of the parking lever 4 passes. Normally, the amount of rotation of the parking lever 4 in the direction of releasing the braking force is restricted by this stopper strip 10. When removing the brake drum, this stopper strip 10 is removed, thereby increasing the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum and the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5.
To remove the brake drum so as to replace the brake shoes 3a and 3b, a pin 11 supporting the stopper strip 10 is removed from outside the backing plate 1. Then the stopper strip 10 is removed from the backing plate 1. As a result, the parking lever 4 is turned around the pivot pin 8 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art). The force expanding the pair of brake shoes 3a and 3b is released through the strut 6. The gap between the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum increases in excess of the proper range so that the brake drum can be removed even if stepped wear is present on the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum.
However, the conventional drum brake thus constructed and operated presents several shortcomings. Since the stopper strip 10 and the backing plate 1 are formed in separate pieces, there is a risk of forgetting to mount the stopper strip 10. Once the strut 6 has been expanded without the stopper strip 10 (i.e., if the gap between the linings 5 and the brake drum has been adjusted), the brake drum can no longer be removed.
To assemble the drum brake, on the other hand, the other end (lower end as viewed in FIG. 5 (Prior Art)) of the parking lever 4 is located further left than the stopper strip 10 as viewed in FIG. 6 (Prior Art), and it is necessary to pull the other end of the parking lever 4 with a cable. Once the drum brake has been assembled with the other end being mistakenly located on the side opposite the stopper strip 10 (right as viewed in FIG. 6 (Prior Art)), the parking lever 4 can no longer be turned by the cable, thereby making the parking brake inoperative.
Further, to install the brake drum, the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum and the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 is increased and the strut 6 is contracted so that the brake drum can readily be installed. However, the automatic gap adjusting device that is built into the strut 6 makes only a few such gap adjustment at one braking operation (the amount of expansion of the strut 6 made every braking operation is very small). Thus, after the installation of the brake drum with the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum and the outer peripheral surfaces of the linings 5 being sufficiently large, the braking operation (the operation of pulling the cable and turning the parking lever 4) must be repeated many times to have the gap between the linings 5 and the brake drum properly adjusted, thereby entailing cumbersome work.
Although Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI) No. 96825/1982 (the term OPI as used herein means "Unexamined Published Application") discloses a device that properly adjusts the gap with only one braking operation after the installation of the brake drum, its structure is relatively complicated, making it not readily practical.
The drum brake according to the present invention overcomes the above-described shortcomings.


A method and system for enhancing a workflow system by providing supportive information for a project is disclosed. A purchase order relating to at least one request for at least one good, at least one service, and combinations thereof relating to the project is received from a first user. An actual data to complete a portion of the project is received from a second user in response to the purchase order. An invoice is received from the second user upon completion of the portion of the project. The purchase order, actual data, and the invoice are compared to determine a discrepancy between the purchase order, actual data, and the invoice. A proposed reconciliation from the first user or the second user is received in response to an electronic notification of the discrepancy. An approval or disapproval of the proposed reconciliation is received from the first user or the second user.

In today's fast paced economy, many projects exist that require various goods or services, or goods and services to be provided by numerous organizations (hereafter, "sellers") while also requiring relationships for providing and monitoring of either goods or services, or goods and services to be quickly and efficiently established. Examples of such projects include drilling for oil, commercial and/or residential construction, manufacturing complex objects (for example, aircraft and special use objects), and providing specialized services (for example, brokering excess power and bandwidth, and developing unique software products). When planning such projects, the person(s) responsible for the project (hereinafter, the "buyer") is often faced with the daunting tasks of: (1) determining which goods or services, or goods and services are needed; (2) determining who provides such goods or services, or goods and services (i.e., who are the "sellers"); (3) establishing a dialogue with such sellers; (4) selecting at least one seller; (5) undertaking, starting and monitoring the project until completion or termination; (5) facilitating post-completion tasks (for example, paying sellers and other back-end processing); and (6) attempting to identify areas of improvement for future projects.
Commonly, when faced with such a challenge, many buyers rely upon antiquated systems and processes for accomplishing those tasks necessary to see a project through from start to post-completion. Such antiquated systems include utilizing business listings and other directories to identify sellers, negotiating agreements with the sellers via fax, telephone, and other non-real-time responsive systems, and making best guess judgments as to areas in which future improvements may be realized. As a result, many buyers relying upon such antiquated processes are often left behind in today's fast paced, Internet driven information economy. As such, a system is needed that allows buyers to be efficiently matched with sellers, and projects monitored and coordinated through all phases of the project.
For example, when constructing a building, a general contractor must decide which seller will provide excavation services, what type of materials to use, when the materials will be used, who will supply the materials, who will use the materials (i.e., who will actually construct the building) and other various factors. Currently, when constructing a building, the builder will often use a Rolodex® to determine which preferred sellers provide the desired goods or services, or goods and services. Upon identifying the sellers, the buyer may then engage in some dialogue with the seller about the project parameters, and may solicit proposals. Since each seller may identify a unique manner for accomplishing the specified task, the buyer is often left with trying to determine which seller is providing the best value, the best approach, the best timeliness, etc. Since such determinations can be quite time consuming, buyers generally do not have time to shop for other than a limited number of sellers for any given project. As such, new sellers on the market, and/or new techniques may often be overlooked.
Further compounding the problems faced by buyers in identifying and coordinating either goods or services, or goods and services from sellers is the fact that sellers often dictate which of the numerous currently available processes for processing either goods or services, or goods and services to use (e.g., auction, fixed price and quantity systems, and other systems well known in the art). For some of these processes, most of the essential terms of the agreement are dictated or controlled by the seller, with the buyer having little input over price, delivery terms, location, quantity, etc. (examples of such seller driven processes include retail, mail order, telephone, and some on-line sales systems). For example, a builder desiring to procure nails might be required by a retail sales process or an on-line sales process to purchase nails only in bundles of 200, for a set price. Since the buyer cannot modify the goods or services, or goods and services, or terms or conditions of the procurement process, the buyer's needs are often inadequately, untimely, and inefficiently fulfilled.
Additionally, recent automation of the aforementioned seller driven processes (for example, via the Internet) has not adequately addressed this problem. While the new automated processes generally enable a buyer to shop for either goods or services, or goods and services without having to travel to the seller's location or obtain a catalog, such processes are commonly characterized by sellers offering items of commerce under seller specified terms and conditions. Such processes do not allow a buyer to identify a project in terms of its specifications, and have the specifications translated into requests for goods or services, or goods and services that are then fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner by a seller providing the requested goods or services, or goods and services or suitable alternatives. Additionally, such processes often do not identify sellers of specialty of either goods or services, or goods and services and, therefore, are often inadequate for the provisioning of either goods or services, or goods and services that are not commonly mass marketed. In short, a more efficient process of matching buyers and sellers is needed.
Similarly, currently available buyer driven processes also do not facilitate the efficient matching of buyers and sellers. Examples of commonly available buyer driven processes include bidding processes and auctions. Regardless of the process (whether bid based or auction based), a buyer is generally first required to identify specific goods or services, or goods and services that are needed to complete a project. None of the processes allow a buyer to specify a project in terms of project details that are then automatically converted into requests for proposals, requests for specific goods, or other such proposals. Neither do any of the processes provide ready access to information to help a buyer, or seller, determine the appropriate details necessary to adequately specify a project or respond to such a request. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, converting specifications for complex projects into specific requests for either goods or services, or goods and services is extremely time consuming, is often incomplete, and is extremely inefficient because the buyers often can not precisely identify and/or specify those goods or services, or goods and services and needed to fulfill a project. As such, today's buyer driven processes do not provide the degree of flexibility, specificity, and efficiency necessary for many buyers of either goods or services, or goods and services. Therefore, a process is needed that enables a buyer to procure those goods or services, or goods and services necessary to undertake and complete a project by providing a project's specifications to an automated process that facilitates the conversion of such specifications into requests for either goods or services, or goods and services and matches the buyer with sellers of such goods or services, or goods and services.
Additionally, once an agreement has been entered into to provide either goods or services, or goods and services needed to fulfill a project, systems are not available that enable both buyers and sellers to monitor the progress of the project, efficiently implement design changes, provide billing and other back-office functions, and determine areas for improvement by utilizing knowledge based systems. Thus, a process is needed that enables buyers/sellers to enter into agreements for projects and monitor such projects from initialization through post-completion/termination.
Similarly, once a job, or service has been performed, processes are not available that enable both buyers and sellers to efficiently compare and reconcile actual costs and technical specifications of the service with original proposals, purchase orders and invoices. Thus a process is needed to enable such reconciliation of proposal prices with actual costs before invoicing.
Further, with the advent of the Internet as another medium for the marketing of either goods or services, or goods and services, sellers have sought efficient and useful mechanisms for marketing their goods or services, or goods and services to buyers via web pages. In order to encourage buyers to visit the seller's web pages, at which their goods or services, or goods and services are often offered for sale or identified, sellers utilize various marketing mechanisms including: static marketing (where an advertisement is displayed as a static graphic or textual description on a portion of a buyer's computer screen); flash marketing (when an advertisement is flashed on the buyer's screen for a brief time period); banner marketing (wherein a "billboard" providing a hyper-link to the seller's web page is provided on a portion of a web page the buyer is currently viewing); and various other marketing mechanisms. In spite of these various and numerous methods of marketing via the Internet and other networks, such methods have been shown to be very inefficient in promoting either goods or services, or goods and services because such methods do not generally provide targeted marketing to buyers when they are most likely to consider acquiring a seller's goods or services, or goods and services, for example when they are undertaking a project in which the seller's goods or services, or goods and services may be utilized.
Therefore, a new method for providing marketing to buyers is needed. More specifically, a system and process is needed that combines the efficiencies and unique capabilities of the present invention, as explained further herein, to match buyers with sellers of either goods or services, or goods and services.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for comparing a purchase order, actual data, and an invoice to determine a discrepancy between the purchase order, actual data, and the invoice


An electroconductive fiber, a method of manufacturing an electroconductive fiber, and a fiber complex including an electroconductive fiber are provided, the electroconductive fiber includes an electroconductive polymer, an elastic polymer that forms a structure with the electroconductive polymer, and a carboneous material on at least one of the electroconductive polymer and the elastic polymer.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to an electroconductive fiber having increased internal stress resistance, a method of manufacturing the same, and a fiber complex including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-molecular polymers are generally used as electrical insulators due to their low electroconductivity. However, the demand has increased for electroconductive high-molecular polymers produced by adding an electroconductive filling material (e.g., a conductive polymer) to high-molecular polymers or textures.
For example, electroconductive high-molecular polymers may be used as electrodes of bio-information capturing sensors in order to obtain bio-information.
However, it has been found that an electroconductive texture has very low flexibility despite having excellent conductivity, and it is hard to immobilize a conductive thread and a conductive wire due to their low internal stress resistance.

Electroconductive fiber, a fiber complex including an electroconductive fiber and methods of manufacturing the same


A marine propulsion system of the type having a sacrificial anode for corrosion protection of the casing includes structure whereby the propeller is electrically insulated from the casing and the sacrificial anode. The structure includes spacers made of insulating materials, spacers having insulating coatings, or insulating coatings on the surfaces of the propeller or the propeller shaft. Electrical insulation of the propeller prevents unsightly and efficiency-reducing depositions on the propeller surfaces and reduces the required size of the anode.

The tendency of a metallic structure to corrode in a marine environment is known. This corrosion is caused primarily by an electrochemical or chemical reaction between the metal and the water. The corrosion is particularly acute when the system is operated in salt water.
A known system for prevention of corrosion of a marine system includes a sacrificial anode which is electrically connected to the propulsion system and is in contact with the water. This anode is typically made of zinc, and occupies a position in the Galvanic series with respect to the material of the propulsion system to be protected (e.g., an aluminum alloy) such that the parts of the propulsion system to be protected become cathodes. The material of the sacrificial anode dissolves into the water and is then deposited on the material of the propulsion system.
An example of such a system utilizing such a sacrificial anode is disclosed in unexamined Japanese application 63-100187.
A significant problem with systems using a sacrificial anode is that the material of the anode is deposited on the surface of the protected system. In the case of a marine propulsion system with a propeller having a shiny surface, for example one made of stainless steel, these deposits are unsightly and detract from its efficiency.
In addition, when the propulsion system to be protected is large, the amount of material to be protected becomes large, and the sacrificial anode must be accordingly large. Moreover, the protection of the material of the system becomes more difficult as the distance from the sacrificial anode increases.

Corrosion prevention for a marine propulsion system