Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to meta-data management for an activity thread in an activity-centric collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for private metadata integration. In one embodiment of the invention, a private meta-data integration method can be provided for an activity-centric collaborative environment. The method can include selecting an activity thread for display to a collaborator in an activity map of the activity-centric collaborative environment, and identifying the collaborator. For meta-data instances associated with corresponding activity objects in the activity thread, the meta-data instances can be excluded that have been marked private by a creator other than the identified collaborator.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of collaborative computing and more particularly to private meta-data management in a collaborative computing environment.
Description of the Related Art
Collaborative computing refers to the use by two or more end users of a computing application in order to achieve a common goal. Initially envisioned as a document sharing technology among members of a small workgroup in the corporate environment, collaborative computing has grown today to include a wide variety of technologies arranged strategically to facilitate collaboration among groups as small as two people, or as large as a world-wide community. Thus, different collaborative applications may focus at groups of different sizes. No longer merely restricted to document sharing, the modern collaborative environment can include document libraries, chat rooms, video conferencing, application sharing, and discussion forums to name only a few.
A collaborative computing application enjoys substantial advantages over a more conventional, individualized computing application. Specifically, at present it is rare that a goal of any importance is entrusted and reliant upon a single person. In fact, many goals and objectives can be achieved only through the participation of a multiplicity of individuals, each serving a specified role or roles in the process. Consequently, to provide computing tools designed for use only by one of the individuals in the process can be short sighted and can ignore important potential contributions lying among the other individuals involved in the process.
Modern collaboration tools combine e-mail with other functions to integrate e-mail seamlessly into end user daily activities in an activity-centric collaboration tool. Activity-centric collaboration tools recognize that it is not enough to help people manage their e-mail, but to help people manage their work by associating communications and information feeds around a topic or activity. In an activity-centric collaboration tool, e-mail messages, synchronous communication such as instant messages, screen images, files, folders and to-do lists can be combined into an activity thread by a team allowing the team to switch easily between asynchronous and real-time collaboration.
In this regard, an activity thread might include the messages, chats and files exchanged among members of a team participating in a group project, collectively referred to as "activity objects". More specifically, an activity object such as a task description can be associated with meta-data, which can include for example one or more persons related to that activity, their respective roles such as "assigner" and "assignee," and various dates such as the date-of-assignment, the date-due, the date-actually-completed, comments to the activity, and so on. Notably, the meta-data can be shared meta-data in sense that all members associated with an activity object can access and utilize the meta-data.
On occasion, collaborators prefer to maintain activity object meta-data private from the view of other collaborators belonging to the activity object. Notwithstanding, conventional activity-centric collaborative tools do not distinguish between the private and shared nature of meta-data for an activity object. As such, it is not possible to restrict access to meta-data for an activity object. Consequently, collaborators are forced to maintain private-meta data for an activity separately from and externally to the activity-centric collaborative tool thereby defeating the unified interface of the activity-centric collaborative tool.

Integrating private metadata into a collaborative environment

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a method for wireless communication in a network comprising a resource-restricted end device (ZBLD), and at least one router device (R5), wherein the method comprises the following steps: the end device (ZBLD) transmitting a data frame to be forwarded to a destination device in the network,—the router device (R5) receiving the data frame, the router device associating a delay to the data frame and scheduling transmission of the frame after this delay, in case the router device listening that the data frame has been forwarded by another router device, cancelling the scheduled transmission of the data frame. The invention also relates to a router device and a network therefor.

Wireless control networks have recently become a ubiquitous trend in the field of communication, especially for building management systems. Wireless technologies present major advantages in terms of freedom of device placement, device portability, and installation cost reduction, since there is no need for drawing cables and drilling. Thus, such technologies are particularly attractive for interconnecting, detecting, automation, control or monitoring systems using sensor devices such as light switches, light dimmers, wireless remote controllers, movement or light detectors, that have to be set up in distant places one from the other and from the devices they control, e.g. lights.
One of the drawbacks appearing in networks of the like relates to device powering. Indeed, since the devices are not wired, they can not anymore receive power necessary for performing all the operations required in the network from the mains or via the connection with the controller. Thus, it has been envisaged to equip such devices with built-in batteries. However, since the devices are quite size-constrained, batteries may not be of a large size, which results either in a reduced device lifetime, or in labour intensive battery replacement.
It has been suggested to remedy this issue by equipping sensor devices with self-sustained energy sources that harvest energy from its environment. Still, the amount of energy achievable by off-the-shelf energy harvesters is very limited, which means that the features and functions of the batteryless devices are heavily restricted.
Among the functions that are mandatory to be maintained for good operation in a wireless network is the link connection, which makes it possible to ensure at any time that a resource restricted device is linked to a router which forwards messages on its behalf. In existing implementations therefore, a parent-child relationship is established between an end device, generally resource-restricted, and its parent router. The child end device addresses all its communication to the parent for being forwarded to their final destination. However, in case of energy-harvesting device, this relationship creates a single point of failure in the network, because if the parent link is broken, communication from the end device can not be successfully performed anymore. Moreover, in most cases, such a parent link failure may not even be detected by the end device, due to non-existent or not used receiving circuit on the resource-restricted device, or insufficient energy to wait for and receive the feedback. Indeed, since the end device has very limited resources, it can not perform a complete search in order to find a new parent router when the communication is lost, thus operation in the network is compromised, as well as the operation of the end device from the user's perspective.
So as to remedy the issue of single point of failure created by the parent link of resource-restricted devices, solutions have been proposed using MAC-level broadcast communication. In such methods, a source device only transmits data, without tracking whether it gets forwarded by its neighbours, and without expecting any acknowledgment. On the higher layers, forwarding is taken care of, while also the potential duplicates may be filtered out or prevented by additional mechanisms. The reliability is thus achieved by allowing several nodes, with different propagation conditions, to receive and, if required, forward the frame. One of such higher layer mechanisms is 802.15.4/ZigBee network-level multicast communication: each node within a given range receives the message, and each group member forwards it, once or several times. Another such higher layer mechanism is 802.15.4/ZigBee network-layer broadcast. However, its reliability is based on passive acknowledgement mechanism which requires the originator, as well as any other forwarding node, to track whether its neighbours forward the message and re-try it, if some didn't.
Both mechanisms imply high energy consumption, e.g resulting from response tracking and/or the possible retries that can not be supported by end devices. Furthermore, the usage of broadcast/multicast results in high bandwidth consumption, due to multiple devices in a given neighbourhood re-transmitting several times, which may again lead to network overload and as a consequence, in reduced reliability or temporary failure from a user point of view.

Method for communicating in a network comprising a batteryless zigbee device, network and device therefor


A load securing system for securing loads in a trailer or van, whether the load is centered in the nose of the trailer or held in the rear of the trailer. The load securing system includes a longitudinal member, a friction jack adjustably secured at one end, and H-bars on a plate pivotally mounted on the other end. An extension member can engage with the longitudinal member for securing a load in a center position. In an alternative embodiment, at least one friction jack can be utilized and more than one pivotally mounted H-bar plate can be utilized along the length of the longitudinal member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a load securing system, and more importantly, pertains to a load securing system for securing cargo, such as cargo on a pallet, in a trailer such as a semi or a van.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art devices have not provided for adjustability, and have not distributed the focal point of the load securing device across the goods to be secured, such as boxes or pallets.
The prior art load securing devices, or better known as cargo securing devices, have utilized a strap or a single small-sized foot, such as a molded rubber foot or a bar. These have not distributed the forces of the cargo securing devices across the box or boxes.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an H-bar plate or plates configuration for distributing the load securing system over a wide surface area of cargo in a trailer or in a van.


The invention relates to a trim arrangement (10) for a pivot arm (12) of a motor vehicle door (14), in particular of a pivot and slide door (14), which can be moved out between a closed position covering a door opening and an open position releasing the door opening by means of the pivot arm (12) supported at the motor vehicle body (16), on the one hand, and at the motor vehicle door (14), on the other hand, wherein at least one trim element (18) is provided by means of which the pivot arm (12) can be covered at least partly on a side (20) facing the door opening, and wherein the trim element (18) can be moved relative to the pivot arm (12) between the closed position and the open position on the movement of the motor vehicle door (14).

The invention relates to a trim arrangement for a pivot arm of a motor vehicle door, in particular of a pivot and slide door.
Pivot and slide doors for omnibuses are generally known which can be moved out of a position covering the door opening into an open position releasing the door opening by means of a pivot arm. With this pivot and slide door, a displacement of the door moreover takes place along a side wall of the omnibus for the complete release of the door opening. Recently, such pivot and slide doors are also frequently being used in passenger cars since large door openings can hereby be created without an excessive space being necessary on the opening—in contrast to usual pivot doors—for moving the door.
Said pivot arm is in this respect visually perceivable by the passengers both in the closed and in the open position as well as also on the moving of the pivot and slide door. Since, in addition to the pivot arm, corresponding support points as well as additional kinematic components can also be provided, this results in an impairment of the visual impression of the inner space for the passengers, which is in particular extremely negative in a use in passenger cars or in omnibuses with a very high comfort level.

Trim arrangement for a pivot arm of a motor vehicle door

DURA Automotive Body & Glass System GmbH


Some aspects of this disclosure include systems, methods, and/or computer programs that may be used to notify a user about a cause of emotional imbalance. Some embodiments described herein involve determining when a user is in a state of emotional imbalance based on a measurement of affective response of the user, which is taken with a sensor. Factors characterizing an event to which the measurement corresponds are examined in order to select a certain factor that, based on a model of the user, has an effect on the user that is congruous with the measurement of affective response. The user is notified about the certain factor in order to make the user more aware of the certain factor and its effect on the user.

In order to help people manage their day-to-day lives and improve their emotional health, coaches and phycologists often analyze events people have in order to help determine causes that may lead to emotional imbalance and/or causes that may contribute to emotional balance. Being aware of these causes can help the people cope with challenging events in their lives and help them make better choices to benefit their emotional wellbeing.
However, analysis by coaches and psychologists is typically done after the fact, possibly after much time has elapsed since the relevant events. This analysis also relies on the recollection of the relevant events by the people, which may be incomplete and/or inaccurate.
Thus, there is a need for a way to provide people with analysis of events in order to increase their awareness of causes contributing to emotional balance or imbalance in their day-to-day lives, which may be provided in a timely and accurate fashion.

Notifying a user about a cause of emotional imbalance


A memory architecture for an array of memory cells having a plurality of sections of memory and a plurality of regions disposed between the plurality of sections of memory. Each section of memory having a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns of memory and a plurality of sense amplifiers located in each of the plurality of regions. The sense amplifiers coupled to a respective column of memory. A plurality of column select lines are located in each of the plurality of regions with each column select line coupled to a group of column select switches associated with a section of memory to activate the respective column select switches.

Memory systems in electronic systems are typically used to store data for retrieval at a later time. Memory systems come in different types of memory. For example, one type of memory is a "volatile" memory, which can store data only when supplied with power. Volatile memory systems are typically designed as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static random access memory (SRAM) systems, each having different memory cell configurations. These types of memory systems are often used in computer systems and other processor-based systems for storing data used during processing. Another type of memory system is a "non-volatile" memory system, which can store data even when power is not supplied. There are different designs for non-volatile memory, including NAND-type flash memory and NOR-type flash memory, each having a different memory cell arrangement and manner of accessing data stored by the memory cells. Non-volatile memory systems are used in applications where data should be continuously stored, even when the electronic system including the non-volatile memory is switched off. Cellular phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, digital music players, are some examples of where non-volatile memory systems are used.
Memory systems can also be implemented in different forms. For example, a memory system can be implemented as an individual memory device. Individual memory devices can be electrically coupled and mounted together on a common substrate to form a memory module, which is then coupled to an electronic system, such as a computer system. Individual memory devices can also be electrically coupled and mounted to a substrate on which other components of an electronic system are also mounted. Memory systems can also be "embedded" in an electronic system. That is, the memory system is formed on a common semiconductor with other electrical circuitry of an electrical system. As illustrated by the previous discussion, memory systems come in different types and arrangements, and are used in a wide range of electronic systems.
It is generally desirable for a memory system to have fast access times. That is, the less time required to retrieve data from the memory system, the more desirable the memory system. One approach taken to reduce access times of a memory system is to more precisely control internal operation and timing of memory circuitry, such as controlling when signals are driven onto signal lines and when circuitry is activated and deactivated. By precisely controlling the timing and operation, the memory system can provide data from requested memory locations in the least amount of time while still including sufficient timing margin to allow for variations in manufacture and operating conditions that may affect performance of the memory system. However, as with many electrical systems, physical limitations limit the degree of precision for controlling operation of the memory system. One example is electrical loading of a signal line. As known, electrical loading is generally greater for longer signal lines. Electrical loading is also affected by the number of circuit elements coupled to the signal line. Where a signal is propagated over a relatively long signal line, or a signal line that is coupled to many circuit elements, the deterioration of signal response and resulting delay in a signal driven onto the signal line must be taken into account. Typically, the "worst case" timing is used as the basis for determining operation and internal timing of the memory system. Using the worst case timing results in an access time that is typically greater than what could be achieved with more precise control over internal operation and timing. It is also generally desirable for a memory system to have low power consumption and small form factor. These factors often compete with one another, and the resulting design of a memory system is a compromise of the various considerations.
Therefore, there is a need for alternative approaches in memory array architecture that provide more precise control over internal operation and timing, while also reducing power consumption and layout size of memory systems without compromising memory system performance.

Memory architecture having local column select lines


The invention provides a superabrasive containing composite product, comprising and/or prepared on the intense heating of an SHS process, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. An effective method of such product is also provided. Said composite comprises a substrate of shaped metallic block and a functional layer of ceramic materials containing superabrasive particles, which is joined on a surface of the former, by means of and intermediated by molten metal which occurred during the SHS process.

As wear-resistant materials comprising superabrasive particles, diamond or cubic boron nitride compacts are commercially produced mainly in ultrahigh pressure processes, and in which the superabrasive particles are joined immediately with each other or distributed in a ceramic matrix. While the compacts may be employed as a block of totally uniform structure, they are more commonly used as a composite with a carbide backing to which the superabrasive particles are joined during the sintering of the particles themselves. The latter composition is taken mainly as demanded in the subsequent steps of machining into the final shape or brazing to the support, where a less superabrasive thickness is favored for a higher efficiency, or a such backing facilitates the work.
However carbide alloy, being a hard and brittle material, cannot fully comply with the residual stresses which occur at the carbide and superabrasive interface after cooled down due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient. They may eventually cause to disjoint the layers at a slightest external load.
Further, the use of carbide alloy is not advantageous for the rather high material cost and high specific gravity.
It is known to use a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) for the preparation of some types of functional materials. The technique is based on the process which occurs with appropriate material systems: a combustion, once initiated by igniting at a spot, sustains itself and propagates throughout the rest of the material, due to an intense production of heat which spreads and causes a sufficient temperature rise. It is useful for the production of such compounds as, for example, carbide, nitride, boride, silicide or oxide of the fourth or fifth group metals of the periodic table, including Ti, Zr, Ta, Si, as well as intermetallic compounds. This technique is fully described in "The chemistry of SHS", published by T.I.C. (1992).
An SHS process, which can produce high temperatures over a short period of time almost adiabatically, is employed for the formation and sintering, simultaneous or subsequent, of high melting materials and, if tentatively, for the preparation of compact of various materials. For the materials, these techniques are available: static compression with a mechanical press, instantaneous compression by explosive detonation, isostatic compression with a HIP system, quasi HIP process whereby the formed compact is squeezed from around with a mechanical press in a die by means of molding sand.
One of the principal objects of the present invention is to eliminate the above described problems which are associated with conventional processes and products involving an ultrahigh pressure technique, and thereby to provide a heat-resistant product, and also a method for effectively producing the same, which comprises a metallic layer improved both in mechanical material strength and thermal stability of the joint strength to the ceramic substrate. This has been achieved effectively on the basis of an SHS technique.
This is an advanced variation of our previous applied invention which is based on a combined process of SHS with compression and in which metallic ingredients are molten with the intense heat of an SHS reaction and allowed to penetrate the skeletal structure of in situ formed ceramic material, so that the gaps within and among it are filled in. The product of compact structure exhibits a high resistance to both heat and abrasion that conventional techniques could not achieve.

Super-abrasive grain-containing composite material and method of making

Moscow Steel and Alloys Institute, SHS-Center


A soft magnetic member is formed such that, when a differential relative permeability in an applied magnetic field of 100 A/m is represented by a first differential relative permeability μ′L, and when a differential relative permeability in an applied magnetic field of 40 kA/m is represented by a second differential relative permeability μ′H, a ratio of the first differential relative permeability μ′L to the second differential relative permeability μ′H satisfies a relationship of μ′L/μ′H≤10, and a magnetic flux density in an applied magnetic field of 60 kA/m is 1.15 T or higher.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a soft magnetic member having superior magnetic characteristics, a reactor using the soft magnetic member, a powder for a dust core, and a method of producing a dust core.
2. Description of Related Art
In a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a solar power generation device, or the like, a reactor is used, and this reactor adopts a structure in which a coil is wound around a ring-shaped core which is a soft magnetic member. During use of the reactor, a wide range of currents flow through the coil. Therefore, at least 40 kA/m of magnetic field is applied to the core. In such an environment, it is necessary to stably secure the inductance of the reactor.
In consideration of the above-described points, for example, a reactor 9 is disclosed in which, as shown in FIG. 9A, a ring-shaped core 91 is divided into core portions 92A, 92B, a gap 93 is provided between the divided core portions 92A, 92B, and coils 95A, 95B are wound around the core 91 including this gap 93 (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-296015 (JP 2009-296015 A)).
According to the reactor 9, the gap 93 is provided between the divided core portions 92A, 92B; as a result, even when a wide range of currents flow through the coil 95 of the reactor 9, the inductance can be stably secured in this wide range of currents.
However, a soft magnetic member is used in a choke coil, an inductor, or the like. As such a soft magnetic member, a dust core is disclosed in which, when an initial magnetic permeability is represented by μ0 and a magnetic permeability in an applied magnetic field of 24 kA/m is represented by a relationship of μ/μ0≥0.5 is satisfied between μ0 and μ (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-141213 (JP 2002-141213 A)). According to this dust core, even if a high magnetic field is applied to the dust core, a decrease in the magnetic permeability of the dust core can be suppressed.
However, for example, in the technique disclosed in JP 2009-296015 A, the gap is formed between the divided core portions. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, a magnetic flux T is leaked in the gap 93 formed between the divided core portions 92A, 92B. In particular, in a reactor of a hybrid vehicle or the like through which a high current flows, a high magnetic field of about 40 kA/m is applied to a core. Therefore, in order to maintain the inductance of the reactor (that is, the core) at the applied magnetic field, it is necessary to further increase the above-described gap. As a result, the leakage of the magnetic flux T from the gap is increased, and this leaked magnetic flux intersects with the coil, which causes eddy-current loss in the core.
The problem which is described above using the reactor is an example. In equipment or an apparatus in which a magnetic field in a range from a low magnetic field to a high magnetic field (40 kA/m) is applied to a soft magnetic member, it is difficult to maintain the inductance, and typically a structural measure is taken.
Even if a soft magnetic member having the characteristics disclosed in JP 2002-141213 A is used, as clearly seen from an experiment of the present inventors described below, the application of a high magnetic field of about 40 kA/m is not considered. Therefore, even if such a material is used, a significant decrease in inductance is assumed in a high magnetic field (about 40 kA/m).

Soft magnetic member, reactor, powder for dust core, and method of producing dust core


A clamp circuit includes a coupling capacitor connected between signal input and signal output terminals. A constant current sink and a controlled current source are connected to the output terminal. A comparator, coupled to the output terminal via a lowpass filter, generates signals for conditioning the controlled current source to source current whenever the output terminal exhibits a potential which differs from a predetermined reference in a predetermined polarity sense.

Many time varying signals are generated with amplitude swings referenced to a D.C. value, with both the D.C. value and signal amplitude excursions conveying information. For example, conventional video signals include a time varying component which conveys image structure information referenced to a D.C. value which establishes the relative brightness of the scene.
In transmitting such signals the D.C. reference value may be lost, thus it becomes necessary at the receiver to reestablish such reference. Typically, in television receivers D.C. restoration is performed by clamping the tips of the horizontal synchronizing pulses to a predetermined D.C. value. This is accomplished by (a) detecting the video signal to generate a pulsed signal coincident with the horizontal synchronizing pulses; (b) applying the received video signal to the input terminal of a coupling capacitor; (c) using the pulsed signal to condition a switch to apply a constant reference value to the output terminal of the capacitor during the horizontal synchronizing intervals; and (d) accessing D.C. restored video signal from the output terminal of the coupling capacitor.
There is a disadvantage to this type of clamping system in that the pulsed signal may introduce switching transients into the video signal. This is particularly true when the clamping circuitry is resident on an integrated circuit including additional analog signal processing circuitry. The potential for introducing such transients is enhanced if the integrated circuitry is realized with high impedance field effect devices.


A method of cutting a continuous hollow tubular member having a fully expanded configuration with an outer diameter D, includes the steps of feeding the continuous hollow tubular member in the fully expanded configuration to a cutting station, cutting the continuous hollow tubular member into a plurality of hollow tubular members, each of which has a first flattened end and expanding the first flattened end of the plurality of hollow tubular members to the fully expanded configuration such that the first end of the plurality of hollow tubular members has an outer diameter D.

Various machines and apparatus for cutting tubular members are known. Examples of these include U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,409 entitled Drinking Straw Prepared From Flattened Polymeric Tubular Conduit, Method of Making Same and Dispenser Therefor; U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,854 entitled Striped Drinking Straw and Method of Making Same, U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,215 entitled Apparatus For Cutting a Tube of Semi-Rigid Material and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0086228 entitled Tube Cutting Process and Device. Devices for packaging or handling cut tubular members are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0026930 entitled Dual Head Straw Wrapper and U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,553 entitled Device for Transporting Elongated Work Pieces.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for cutting tubular members includes a support structure, a control system, a cutting station, a guide and an extracting assembly. The cutting station includes a first wheel having at least one cutting member located on the circumference of the first wheel and a second wheel having at least one projection located on the circumference of the second wheel. The extracting assembly has a cylindrical member with a first end and a second end. The cylindrical member also includes a first interior section tapering from the first end toward the second end, a second interior section tapering from the end of the first interior section toward the second end of the cylindrical member, a third interior section extending from the end of the first interior section toward the second end of the tubular member and a pair of grooves extending from the first interior section to the third interior section. The grooves decrease in height and depth from the first interior section to the third interior section.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for cutting tubular members includes a cutting station and an extracting assembly for ejecting the cut segments of the tubular member from the apparatus. The extracting assembly includes at least one groove for expanding a portion of the cut segments.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for cutting tubular members includes a cutting station and an extracting assembly. The cutting station has a first wheel and a second wheel. The first wheel has at least one cutting member located on its circumference. The cutting member has a portion for cutting the tubular member. The second wheel has at least one projection located on its circumference. The first and second wheels are positioned such that the portion for cutting the tubular member and the projection are aligned on opposite sides of the tubular member when it is cut without the portion for cutting the tubular member contacting the projection.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of cutting a tubular member, includes the step of introducing a tubular member into an apparatus having a cutting station, the cutting station having a first wheel having at least one cutting member located on the circumference of the first wheel, the cutting member having a cutting portion and a second wheel having at least one projection located on the circumference of the second wheel. The method further includes the steps of guiding the tubular member between the first and second wheels and rotating the first and second wheels such that the cutting portion is positioned opposite the projection and has a tangential speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the tubular member while cutting the member.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of cutting a continuous hollow tubular member having a fully expanded configuration with an outer diameter D, including the steps of feeding the continuous hollow tubular member in the fully expanded configuration to a cutting station, cutting the continuous hollow tubular member into a plurality of hollow tubular members, each of which has a first flattened end and expanding the first flattened end of the plurality of hollow tubular members to the fully expanded configuration such that the first end of the plurality of hollow tubular members has an outer diameter D.
In other embodiments, the method further includes cutting the continuous hollow tubular member into a plurality of hollow tubular members having a second flattened end and a section located between the first flattened end and the second flattened end. The section located between the first flattened end and the second flattened end has an outer diameter D.
In other embodiments, the method includes expanding the second flattened end of the plurality of hollow tubular members to the fully expanded configuration such that the second end of the plurality of hollow tubular members has an outer diameter D.
In one embodiment, the second flattened end is formed prior to expanding the first flattened end.
In another embodiment, the step of expanding the first flattened end includes engaging the first flattened end with a groove.

Apparatus and method for cutting tubular members


In an input apparatus, a display portion displays a plurality of function items on a screen to form a plurality of rows that are parallel in a predetermined row direction. The function items are provided with selection regions, respectively. One of the selection regions is selected, using a pointer according to a predetermined selection manipulation, and is determined according to a predetermined determination manipulation. When a first function item in a first row of the plurality of rows is selected, a selection region of the first row is enlarged in a direction directing at a row next to the first row.

[Patent document 1] JP 2010-282244 A
A conventional input apparatus is indicated in Patent document 1, for instance. The input apparatus in Patent document 1 includes the following: a display portion which displays function items as objects and a cursor on the screen; an input portion which selects a function item using the cursor; and a control portion which controls a movement of the cursor based on an input value from the input portion.
The cursor may be moved from the position of a function item to a position outside of the function item. In this case, the control portion stops the cursor once on a boundary of the function item, and then moves the cursor towards the position outside of the function item when a magnitude of an input value for the movement of the cursor is greater than a threshold value.
Such a configuration enables ignorance of an unintended slight misalignment arising in the case of manipulating the input portion when shifting the cursor to a position outside of the function item. Thus, the selection of an intended function item is facilitated; the higher-precision manipulation is enabled.
The display portion may contain several function items that are arrayed as several rows. Such a configuration may cause an erroneous selection of a function item. The manipulation by the input portion is a manual manipulation of a person. When moving a cursor in a row direction in which the row of function items is extended, the input portion may not easily move the cursor to perfectly follow the straight line along the row direction. The cursor may be sometimes moved to a row next to the row to which an intended function item belongs; thereby, an unintended function item in the next row may be selected unfortunately.
Further, even if an intended function item is correctly selected, the selected coordinate position may be close to the boundary of the intended function item; further, a slight misalignment may occur in an input manipulation for determining the selection such as a manipulation of pressing with a finger. This may cause an erroneous input to unintentionally determine the selection of an unintended function item belonging to the next row.

Input apparatus and display control apparatus


A door latch actuator includes a housing, a latch bolt pin actuator, and a spring latch bolt actuator. The housing includes a strike plate defining a latch opening. The latch bolt pin actuator is mounted for movement in the housing between a first extended position and a second retracted position. The spring latch bolt actuator is mounted for movement in the housing between an extended position and a retracted position.

A door latch actuator can be used to open a door's typical deadlatch lock assembly that includes a spring latch bolt and a latch bolt pin. To "lock" the deadlatch lock assembly, the spring latch bolt is extended and the latch bolt pin is retracted. To "unlock" the deadlatch lock assembly, both the spring latch bolt and the latch bolt pin are retracted. To move from "lock" to "unlock" the latch bolt pin must extend while the spring latch bolt is extended, the "intermediate" position. Next, both the spring latch bolt and the latch bolt pin must retract together.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by a spider type flower form having pink/purple ray florets. The new variety is a garden type chrysanthemum, and naturally blooms about the first week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.
Variety denomination: xe2x80x98Gedi Two Amaxe2x80x99.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of garden-type Chrysanthemum plant, herein after referred to by the cultivar name xe2x80x98Gedi Two Amaxe2x80x99. The new cultivar is a product of induced mutation and selection of an unpatented cultivar called xe2x80x98Amandola.xe2x80x99 Mutation of xe2x80x98Amandolaxe2x80x99 was induced by irradiation of unrooted cuttings. The selection from the irradiated cuttings was made by Dirk Pieters in September 2001.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture was performed in Staden, Belgium and in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.
The cultivar xe2x80x98Gedi Two Amaxe2x80x99 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of xe2x80x98Ged Two Ama.xe2x80x99 These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Gedi Two Amaxe2x80x99 as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:
1. Garden type Chrysanthemum.
2. Pink/purple ray florets.
3. Spider type flower form.
Plants of the new variety are similar to plants of the source cultivar from which the new variety was derived, xe2x80x98Amandola,xe2x80x99 in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar are taller and have a larger diameter inflorescense than plants of the xe2x80x98Amandolaxe2x80x99 cultivar. Additionally, the new variety produces more lateral branches, and also produces more flowers per lateral branch than the xe2x80x98Amandolaxe2x80x99 cultivar. xe2x80x98Amandolaxe2x80x99 was made by hybridization of a female parent Chrysanthemum plant variety xe2x80x98Gedi Two Tarxe2x80x99 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,689) and a male parent Chrysanthemum plant variety xe2x80x98Gedi One Jamxe2x80x99 (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/863,748), which was performed in September, 1997 by Dirk Pieters. Multiple generations of the resulting xe2x80x98Amandolaxe2x80x99 cultivar were reproduced and flowered. In January 1999 unrooted cuttings of the cultivar xe2x80x98Amandolaxe2x80x99 were irradiated, selected, and propagated, producing the final cultivar described in this application.
Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the female grandparent variety, xe2x80x98Gedi Two Tarxe2x80x99 in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar have pink/purple ray florets, in contrast to the yellow ray florets of the female parent variety xe2x80x98Gedi Two Tarxe2x80x99. Additionally, plants of the new cultivar are taller and have a larger diameter inflorescence than plants of the female parent variety, xe2x80x98Gedi Two Tarxe2x80x99. Further, the new variety blooms approximately two weeks earlier than xe2x80x98Gedi Two Tar.xe2x80x99
Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the male grandparent variety, xe2x80x98Gedi One Jamxe2x80x99 in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar have a spider-type bloom while the male parent variety, xe2x80x98Gedi One Jamxe2x80x99 has a decorative-type bloom. The new variety has a smaller diameter inflorescence than does xe2x80x98Gedi One Jamxe2x80x99. Additionally, the new variety is taller and naturally blooms two weeks earlier than the male parent variety, xe2x80x98Gedi One Jam.xe2x80x99
In comparison to the commercially available variety xe2x80x98Yomaggiexe2x80x99 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,855), xe2x80x98Gedi Two Amaxe2x80x99 has more ray florets which have a lighter purple color than the ray florets of xe2x80x98Yomaggie.xe2x80x99 Additionally, the inflorescence of the new variety is a spider-type compared to a quilled-daisy type of xe2x80x98Yomaggie.xe2x80x99 Further, the new variety has a more rounded plant form and blooms approximately two to three weeks earlier than plants of the commercially available variety xe2x80x98Yomaggie.xe2x80x99

Chrysanthemum plant named xe2x80x98Gedi Two Amaxe2x80x99


Multi-step statistical modeling in one embodiment of the present disclosure enables anomaly detection, forecasting and/or root cause analysis of the energy consumption for a portfolio of buildings using multi-step statistical modeling. In one aspect, energy consumption data associated with a building, building characteristic data associated with the building, building operation and activities data associated with the building, and weather data are used to generate a variable based degree model. A base load factor, a heating coefficient and a cooling coefficient associated with the building and an error term are determined from the variable based degree model and used to generate a plurality of multivariate regression models. A time series model is generated for the error term to model seasonal factors which reflect monthly dependence on energy use and an auto-regressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) which reflects temporal dependent patterns of the energy use.

Saving energy, improving energy efficiency of energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are key initiatives in many cities and municipalities and for building owners and operators. Inventors in this disclosure have recognized that in order to reduce energy consumption in buildings, one should understand patterns of energy usage, characteristics of building structures, operations and occupant behaviors that influence energy consumption. However, building structures often have different characteristics, for instance, each being built with unique or different characteristics and designs from one another. Due to such heterogeneity in buildings, analyzing energy consumption in buildings is not an easy or simple task.

Anomaly detection, forecasting and root cause analysis of energy consumption for a portfolio of buildings using multi-step statistical modeling


A removable control unit of a motor control center has an auxiliary operator handle linked to a molded case circuit breaker handle for control of the circuit breaker externally of the motor control center cabinet. An interlock slide bar is driven by the auxiliary handle to an extended position to block removal of the unit with the circuit breaker in the ON condition, and follows the handle by gravitational force to a withdrawn position upon movement of the handle to an OFF condition of the circuit breaker, the slide bar abutting a fixed stop prior to the handle reaching the OFF condition to separate the handle from the slide bar in the OFF condition. A spring carried on the interlock slide bar is engaged by the handle to effect driving engagement, compression of the spring occurring only as the handle is nearly in the ON condition.

This invention relates to auxiliary operator mechanisms utilized on removable control units of a motor control center of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,220 issued July 26, 1988 to Ronald J. Fritsch and Francis A. Lubinski, and assigned to the assignee of this application, which patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved drive connection between a handle assembly and a unit interlock slide bar of the auxiliary operator mechanism.
Motor control centers comprise a cabinet having a plurality of vertically arranged compartments which open to a front face of the cabinet. Removable control units are individually contained within respective compartments to be slidably withdrawn through the front opening. Each removable control unit comprises a frame to which motor control apparatus such as contactors, overload relays, fuse blocks, disconnect switches, molded case circuit breakers or motor circuit protectors or combinations of the foregoing are mounted. An operator mechanism is also mounted to the removable control unit for operating the circuit interrupting apparatus of the control unit such as the disconnect switch, molded case circuit breaker or the motor circuit protector. The molded case circuit breaker and the motor circuit protector each have self contained handles and operator mechanisms. Therefore, the operator mechanism of the motor control unit functions as an auxiliary operator for these devices.
The auxiliary operator also functions to operate a unit interlock member which extends to a position of interference with stationary framework of the cabinet in an ON condition of the circuit interrupting apparatus to prevent withdrawal of the removable control unit while the apparatus is electrically live. In an OFF position of the circuit interrupting apparatus and of the auxiliary operator, the unit interlock member assumes a withdrawn position out of interference with the cabinet framework.
The self contained operator handle of molded case circuit breakers or motor circuit protectors assumes one of four positions, i.e. ON, OFF, TRIP and RESET. Through linkage that interconnects the auxiliary operator handle with the circuit interrupting apparatus operator handle, the handle of the auxiliary operator also assumes one of four positions corresponding to the aforementioned ON, OFF, TRIP and RESET positions of the circuit interrupting apparatus handle. In prior art auxiliary operator assemblies, e.g. that of the above referenced patent, the interlock member is a slide bar which is spring biased to an extended position and is driven to a withdrawn position by the auxiliary operator handle when moving to the OFF position, compressing the spring that provides the aforementioned bias to the slide bar. While it is desirable to have the interlock slide bar biased to its extended position unless specifically withdrawn by operating the apparatus to an OFF condition, it has been found that the spring can introduce certain problems with regard to position of either handle. For example, when the auxiliary operator handle is moved to the OFF position and therefore moves the circuit interrupting apparatus handle to the OFF position, the auxiliary operator handle drives the interlock slide bar to a withdrawn position which compresses the interlock slide bar bias spring. Due to tolerances in the auxiliary operator, circuit interrupting apparatus handle/operator and in the interconnecting linkage, the bias provided by the spring of the interlock slide bar may move the auxiliary operator handle upward from a true OFF position sufficiently to permit the interlock slide to bar extend to an interference position, blocking withdrawal of the removable control unit from the motor control center cabinet, necessitating the workman to hold the handle down while attempting to withdraw the control unit. Moreover, when resetting the circuit interrupting apparatus, the handle is moved beyond the OFF position to a RESET position. In so doing, the auxiliary operator handle compresses the interlock slide bar spring further, potentially to a solid condition under adverse tolerance conditions. If compressed solid, the interlock slide bar spring can prevent the auxiliary operator handle from moving fully to the RESET position and therefore prevent resetting of the circuit interrupting apparatus. Although prior art operator mechanisms have adjustment features built in, the effective adjustment range is often quite small and adjustment becomes difficult.

Auxiliary operator for circuit interrupting apparatus with interlock between switch and housing


The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same.

Electro-optic rearview mirror elements are becoming more common in vehicular applications with regard to both inside and outside, both driver's and passenger's side, rearview mirrors. Typical electro-optic elements, when incorporated in vehicular rearview mirror assemblies, will have an effective field of view (as defined by relevant laws, codes and specifications) that is less than the area defined by the perimeter of the element itself. Primarily, the effective field of view is limited, at least in part, by the construction of the element itself and, or, an associated bezel.
Various attempts have been made to provide an electro-optic element having an effective field of view substantially equal to the area defined by its perimeter. Assemblies incorporating these elements have also been proposed.
What is needed is an improved electro-optic mirror element. Improvements in assemblies incorporating these improved electro-optic mirror elements are also needed.

Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements


A method and system for identifying a defocus wafer by mapping a topography of each wafer in a first wafer batch using a level sensor apparatus (100); calculating a focus spot deviation (402) from the data, the focus spot deviation (402) corresponding to a height by which a focus spot of a photo exposure module would be defocused by the topography; converting the focus spot deviation (402) to a corresponding wafer stage set point to which the photo exposure module is set, to focus the focus spot on each wafer in the wafer batch; and identifying a defocus wafer in the wafer batch, as a wafer having a topography that would defocus the focus spot, even when the photo exposure module is set to the wafer stage set point.

In a semiconductor fab, during a photo exposure process step, a photo exposure module in a scanner focuses electromagnetic energy on a focus spot that focuses on a semiconductor wafer surface. The scanned wafer surface is made to be smooth and planar for precise positioning at the focal plane, or focus, of the scanner. The wafer surface is polished by CMP, chemical mechanical planarization, to make a smooth, planar polished surface on the wafer.
Following CMP, on the planarized wafer surface, the surface topography includes a range of taller topography features and a range of shorter topography features, of micrometer step height changes. When the taller topography features (or shorter topography features) are present in sufficient numbers to dominate the surface topography, they defocus the focus spot. The height amount that defocuses the focus spot is referred to as, a deviation amount, also referred to as a focus deviation, and also referred to as, a focus spot deviation (FSD). The photo exposure module has a wafer stage set point that will need adjustment according to the FSD to adjust the focus spot into focus on the wafer surface.
A process for determining the focus spot deviation will now be described. The wafer topography of a batch of wafers is mapped, and the mapped information is analyzed to calculate the FSD. The FSD is a relative height measure by which the focus spot would be defocused due to the height variations of the wafer topography. Then, the FSD sets a wafer stage set point for the photo exposure module. The photo exposure module is set to the wafer stage set point, which adjusts the height of the focus spot to correctly focus on successive wafers of the wafer batch. Thus, a new wafer stage set point is determined by the measure of the FSD. The batch of wafers are processed by the photo exposure module that has been adjusted to the new set point. However, the batch of wafers may have a wafer with an actual topography that would cause defocus of the focus spot, even after the photo exposure module has been adjusted to a new wafer stage set point by the amount of the FSD. Such a wafer in the batch is referred to as a defocus wafer. Thus, a defocus wafer in the batch has a topography that would need to be processed according to a wafer stage set point that is different from the permissible value of the calculated FSD that determines the wafer stage set point. Processing a defocus wafer similarly as the other wafers in the same wafer batch, would reduce the yield of the wafer batch. Thus, a need exists for an invention to identify a defocus wafer and prevent it from being processed with a defocused focus spot. Further a need exists for an invention to dynamically readjust the wafer stage set point with a corrected focus of the focus spot for processing a defocus wafer.
Prior to the invention, the wafer topography was measured by a highly accurate measuring apparatus called a level sensor apparatus, LS. The LS measured topography peak height variations per unit of surface area. According to an algorithm, an FSD was calculated using the LS measurements. The calculated results were recorded in a real time monitor (RTM) process control chart for the FSD. Prior to the invention, multiple process control charts were required. Since wafer fabrication involves a stack of successive planarized layers, the thicker the layer stacks, the bigger the value of FSD becomes. Thus, each of the successive planarized layers needed a separate RTM process control chart for focus spot deviation. Further, no RTM process chart could set a sole criteria to predict or to catch a defocus wafer.
In a photo exposure module, its wafer stage set point is determined according to the following procedure. First, level sensor apparatus measurements are taken of the topography of the wafers in a first wafer batch. Then, by applying statistics, a statistical measurement of the topography is obtained. That statistical measurement is analyzed to calculate a focus spot deviation. The process control chart is updated with the focus spot deviation. Then, the photo exposure module is adjusted to a wafer stage set point, as determined by the focus spot deviation. Then the batch of wafers are processed by the photo exposure module that has been adjusted to the new wafer stage set point.
Before the next succeeding batch of wafers are processed by the photo exposure module, new level sensor apparatus measurements are taken of their topography, to obtain a new focus spot deviation for updating the process control chart. In this manner, as the wafer topography changes from batch to batch due to process variations from batch to batch, the photo exposure module is adjusted to a new wafer stage set point. Thus, the photo exposure module adjusts to the changes in wafer topography from batch to batch. One drawback of the existing system, is that one or more wafers in a processing batch are defocus wafers, which are wafers that have greater focus spot deviations than can be compensated by the new wafer stage set point. It would be advantageous to identify the defocus wafers before they become processed by the photo exposure module. Then the photo exposure module can be readjusted with a corrected wafer stage set point that focuses the focus spot on the defocus wafer. By readjusting the wafer stage set point to process a defocus wafer, the production yield of the processed batch is desirably increased.

Method to predict and identify defocus wafers

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A method for detecting the presence of an acid gas in a formation fluid from a subterranean formation comprises (a) lowering a coring assembly into a wellbore. The coring assembly including an outer core barrel and an inner core barrel disposed within the outer core barrel. The inner core barrel has an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a core sample chamber extending axially from the lower end. In addition, the method comprises (b) capturing a core sample from the subterranean formation within the sample chamber. Further, the method comprises (c) raising the coring assembly to the surface after (b). Still further the method comprises (d) contacting a formation fluid in the sample chamber with at least one detector during (c). Moreover, the method comprises (e) detecting the presence of a formation acid gas in the formation fluid with the at least one detector during (c).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for identifying gases within formation fluids obtained from a subterranean formation. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for identifying and quantifying the amount of acid gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in such formation fluids.
2. Background of the Technology
Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation, i.e., a reservoir, by drilling a wellbore that penetrates the reservoir. Once a wellbore has been drilled, the well must be completed before hydrocarbons can be produced from the well. A well completion involves the design, selection, and installation of equipment and materials in or around the wellbore for conveying, pumping, and/or controlling the production or injection of fluids. After the well has been completed, production of oil and gas can begin.
In the construction of hydrocarbon production, processing and transportation facilities, it is often desirable to know the type and concentration of gases contained within the formation fluids in order to select the appropriate materials for the design of wellbore facilities. For example, it is advantageous to know whether corrosive materials, such as acid gases like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2), are contained within the formation fluids since an underestimate of such gases can impact well economics and lead to premature equipment and piping failures. This is particularly true with H2S gas since it is highly corrosive and toxic. Further, more recently it has been observed that the proportion of H2S within formation fluids is increasing, as a result of accessing deeper and more technically challenging formations and where the hydrocarbon deposits tend to be of lesser quality.
Conventionally, downhole formation fluid samples are taken for chemical and physical analysis. Such samples of formation fluid, also known as reservoir fluid, are typically collected as early as possible in the life of a reservoir for analysis at the surface and, more particularly, in specialized laboratories. The information that such analysis provides is vital in the planning and development of hydrocarbon reservoirs, as well as in the assessment of a reservoir's capacity and performance. However, when analyzing such samples later on the surface, those in the art recognize that the measured values may not be representative of the actual values in that some of the formation fluids (e.g., H2S gas) may react with metals used in downhole tools to obtain such samples. In addition, residual amounts of drilling fluids left in the wellbore or near wellbore area of the formation often contain chemical agents that comingle with the sampled formation fluids acquired with conventional tools. This may be particularly problematic with H2S gas because drilling fluids typically contain chemicals that scavenge and neutralize such acid gases. Moreover, in some wells it may not be possible to use some conventional fluid sampling tools due to very high pressures and temperatures, especially in those wells currently being drilled to extreme depths in the Gulf of Mexico.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for apparatus and methods for identifying the presence and concentration of certain gases in hydrocarbon formation fluids. Such apparatus and methods would be particularly well-received if they offered the potential to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aspects associated with the aforementioned disadvantages.

Apparatus and methods for detecting gases during coring operations


A cooking appliance including: a cavity having a cooking space; a separating plate which forms a plurality of compartments from the cooking space of the cavity, and is provided so as to move inside the cavity in such a way as to be able to vary the sizes of the compartmentalized cooking spaces; a first heating source positioned so as to cook an item to be cooked provided in one of the cooking spaces; a second heating source positioned so as to cook an item to be cooked provided in another of the cooking spaces; and a separating-plate moving mechanism for moving the separating plate vertically.

In general, a cooking appliance is a device for cooking or heating food using a heating source. The heating source includes an electric heater for generating heat upon application of electricity, a burner which generates heat using fossil fuel, and an induction heater which induces electricity to flow through a cooking container made of metal using an electromagnetic force.
An example of such cooking appliances includes a cooking appliance having a plurality of cooking spaces, each of the cooking spaces being heated by a heating source. For example, the cooking appliance has an upper cooking space and a lower cooking space: food such as fish is cooked in the upper cooking space; and food, for example, chicken, having a different cooking temperature to that of the food to be cooked in the upper cooking space is input and cooked in a lower cooking space.
However, the cooking appliance having a plurality of cooking spaces has the problem that fixed sizes of the cooking spaces make efficient cooking difficult depending on the size of food.

Cooking appliance and an operating method for the same


In a glass front-panel for a cathode ray tube, whose surface layer contains more potassium ions than those in the interior thereof, and whose flange is stuck to a rear panel to form a vacuum vessel, only the surface layer of the flange portion is substantially removed, or in a glass front-panel for a cathode ray tube, comprising an image displaying portion, a side wall portion and a flange portion, a belt-like electrode for making a gradient of electric potential easier is disposed on a surface of the side wall portion, so that the cathode ray tube is prevented from being damaged due to dielectric breakdown.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a cathode ray tube for an electronic display, on which a pictorial image is produced, and more particularly is directed to a glass front-panel for a cathode ray tube, which is available for a thin-image display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a thin image-display apparatus, an apparatus displaying an image by means of a matrix drive system is known, for example, as disclosed in Journal of the Society of Television Engineers, Vol. 40, No. 10.1024 (1986). A glass front-panel for a cathode ray tube available for an image display apparatus comprises an image displaying portion with a flat surface, a side wall portion contiguous to the image displaying portion, and a flange portion crookedly contiguous to the side wall portion, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 62-153148. The glass front-panel is stuck, with glass frit or the like, to a rear panel made of, for example, a metal plate to form a vacuum vessel.
In such image display apparatus, an electron beam is emitted by an electron gun unit comprising a group of electron-beam-controlling electrodes with a matrix array, and irradiates a phosphor provided on the inner surface of the image displaying portion of the glass front-panel to display an image. To impress the voltage of an electric source to the electron gun unit, a line connecting the electron gun unit to an external terminal is provided. The line passes, for example, through a joint portion, that is, the glass frit lying between the glass front-panel and the rear panel.
However, during the image displaying, a high voltage of several kV or more is generated between the image displaying portion of the glass front-panel and the external terminal having connected to the line passing through the glass frit, which lies between the front panel and the rear panel, so that an electric charge accumulated on the surface of the front glass panel is abruptly released through the bonding layer (portion) and this phenomenon gives rise to the crack on the surface of the bonding layer or the front glass panel.


A method for treating raw milk to produce treated milk having a lower bacterial content than the raw milk. The milk is homogenized and, within about 5 minutes from the homogenization, subjected to dynamic microfiltration, to yield a filtrate which has a lower bacterial content than the initial raw milk. When the flow rate of milk through the microfilter drops below a predetermined level, the dynamic microfilter is removed from milk filtration service, flushed with water, and returned to milk filtration service, the steps being repeated as necessary until the membrane cannot be rejuvenated to a minimum filtration capacity, at which time the membrane is subjected to chemical cleaning to essentially restore the original filtration capacity of the membrane.

The well known pasteurization process to kill bacteria in milk has been used for many decades. Unfortunately, the higher temperatures needed in the pasteurization process adversely affect the flavor of the milk. Further, even with the use of such high temperatures, the pasteurization process does not eliminate all undesirable bacteria, leading to the short storage stability of most milk products.
Bacillus cereus are often the predominant bacteria in conventionally processed milk of relatively advanced age, because they can survive the pasteurization process and they thrive at cold temperatures, promoting the spoilage of the milk. A general need exists for a method for reducing the content of bacteria in milk, both whole and skim milk, to enhance the storage stability of the product and to improve its flavor by elimination of the pasteurization process.
Various methods for producing milk with a lowered bacterial count through the use of filtration have been known in the art, but none have found wide acceptance. The prior art methods generally provide either poor flow rates, rendering the method uneconomical on a large scale, or adversely affect the quality of the milk, making the product unacceptable to consumers.
It is clear, then, that the pores of bacteria filters used in the art, which filters are effective to sterilize milk, also will remove not only the bacteria, but also the fat globules, and at least some of the proteins. Such a filter quickly becomes blocked by trapped material; hence, the flow rate through the filter rapidly declines and the filter must be frequently cleaned or replaced. The high cost of such an inefficient process is generally prohibitive. Further, because the filter holds fat globules and proteins, the quality of the milk is also adversely affected.
From the foregoing discussion, it is apparent that there is a continuing need for an improved milk filtration processing method that can provide a sterile, or more nearly sterile product, that has an improved storage life, that and does not adversely affect milk quality.
Some attempts have heretofore been made to use cross-flow, or tangential flow, filtration devices to treat milk, such devices being known in the art.
Cross-flow filtration is substantially different from through-flow filtration, in that the liquid feed is introduced parallel to the filter surface, and filtration occurs in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the feed flow. In cross-flow filtration systems, generally, because the direction of the feed flow is tangential to the membrane surface, accumulation of the filtered solids on the filtering medium is reduced by the shearing action of the flow. Cross-flow filtration thus affords the possibility of a quasi-steady state operation with a nearly constant flux when the driving pressure differential is held constant. Those particles initially entering into the wall matrix ultimately become entrapped within it, because of the irregular and tortuous nature of the pore structure. As microfiltration proceeds, penetration of additional small particles into the wall matrix is inhibited by the presence of the dynamic membrane. The formation of the dynamic membrane, together with the possible clogging of the pore structure of the tube by entrapped particles, results in a decline in the filtration flux. In conventional systems, this decline is approximately exponentially related to filtration time.
Crossflow filtration of milk has been attempted, but has not been generally accepted because of the problems discussed above.
Clearly, the use of crossflow filtration, to date, has not provided an acceptable method for reducing bacterial contamination in milk.
One means to overcome some of the problems associated with classical crossflow filtration technology, known as dynamic microfiltration, has emerged. The dynamic filtration process overcomes the disadvantage in the classical crossflow technology because the liquid to be filtered is not simply guided tangentially over the membrane surface. The membrane surface or a solid body near the membrane surface is moved such that the fluid at the interface between the rotor and the stator is subjected to shearing action. The shearing action tends to "scrub" the membrane surface, keeping it relatively clear of particulate material, and preventing a filter cake from forming on the membrane surface. The particulate material that would otherwise collect on the membrane surface remains suspended, and is ultimately removed in the secondary stream, generally referred to as a concentrate stream.
It was previously discovered, as set forth fully in copending application Ser. No. 07/901,238, filed Jun. 19, 1992, that dynamic microfiltration of milk can be successfully accomplished, without the prior art problems of degradation of milk quality, premature filter plugging, and inadequate bacterial removal, through the use of dynamic microfiltration.
In accordance with the aforementioned application Ser. No. 07/901,238, milk, either whole or skim milk, is first homogenized and then subjected to filtration. By performing the homogenization step first, the particle size of the fat globules and other large, suspended components of the milk is significantly reduced, allowing for microfiltration of the milk without significant removal and entrainment of the fat and other components.
Milk is an emulsion of fat and protein particles in water. Homogenization provides for a method of reducing the emulsion particle size to allow passage through an appropriately sized microporous membrane, to retain bacteria contained therein without unwanted removal of the fat and protein content of the milk.
The milk, after homogenization, is filtered through the use of dynamic microfiltration. The invention described in application Ser. No. 07/901,238, thus provides an improved method for producing milk with a lowered bacterial content, without the need for pasteurization. That portion of the milk fraction that is retained by the microfilter (the concentrate fraction), may be recirculated as part of the feed, or may be discarded or used in other processes.
In particular, the method of said application Ser. No. 07/901,238, comprises homogenizing the milk and within about 5 minutes from the homogenization, subjecting the milk to dynamic microfiltration by passing the milk through a microfilter having an average pore size sufficient to reduce the bacterial content of the milk flowing therethrough, to yield a filtrate which has a lower bacterial content than the initial raw milk and a concentrate having a higher bacterial content than the initial raw milk. The resulting milk has a very low bacterial content, such as about 10.sup.3 bacteria per milliliter, or less, and retains more organoleptic components than that found in pasteurized milk with the same bacterial content.
Although the method of said application Ser. No. 07/901,238 provides a useful means of accomplishing the goal of milk filtration, all as discussed above and in said application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to the full extent as if it were set forth herein, one area of possible improvement related to said method concerns the drop in filtration flow rate with time. Although the method of said application accomplishes a result not previously achievable, the filtration of milk to provide a substantially sterile product with better storage, taste, and other properties than pasteurized milk, the method does present the problem that as filtration time becomes extended, the flow rate of the milk through the membrane diminishes, resulting in decreased efficiencies in the method, with time. If the process is continued, ultimately flow through the membrane will essentially cease. Of course, at some time significantly before ultimate cessation of flow, the method becomes uneconomical to operate commercially. It may not be possible to simply replace the membranes used in the dynamic filtration, due to the cost of the membranes, as well as to the cost associated with frequent changing of such membranes.
The flow of milk through, for example, a microfilter employing a 0.45 .mu.m membrane, diminishes, as a general matter, at a rate such that after about 9 hours of milk filtration, the flow rate of milk through the membrane has decreased to about one-half of the initial milk flow rate, at a constant pressure.
A need therefore exists for a means to modify the method of the 07/901,238 application to overcome the problem of reduced flow rates with the passage of time, to thus render the method more economically acceptable.

Manufacturing method for producing sterile milk using dynamic microfiltration


Among other things, there are two or more data sets. Each of the data sets contains data that can be interpreted as records each having data values for data fields. Each of the data sets contains at least some data that is related to data in at least one of the other data sets. The data in different data sets is organized or expressed possibly differently. Each of the data sets is susceptible to a definition of a key for the records of the data set. The data sets are characterized by repetitions of at least one of (a) records, (b) portions of keys, or (c) instances of values for data fields. Information about at least one of the repetitions is provided to a user.

This description relates to data sets.
A table of a typical relational database, for example, represents a dataset of records. Each record has data values in fields that have been defined for the table. Each field can have at most one value for the attribute represented by the field. The table has a unique key that distinguishes the records from one another unambiguously. The relationships of the tables of the database are normally defined in advance and all of the data and the tables are represented in a commonly shared native format. In addition to performing transactions in the database, a user typically can view the records of each table, and combinations of data contained in related tables through an interface provided by a database application.
Sometimes, related data of an enterprise are not held in a predefined well-disciplined database but are generated as separate files, data sets, or data streams that may have different unrelated formats. Although the data in each of these sources may be construed as records, the delimitation of the records into fields, for example, may not be defined within the sources. Sometimes the data in different sources, though related, may be inconsistent or repetitive.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,512,610, issued Mar. 31, 2009, owned by the same company as this patent application, and incorporated here by reference in its entirety, described a way to process a source file, data stream, or data set, to make its data easily accessible and viewable as records that can be manipulated and analyzed by a user.


An integrated circuit can include a processor configured to execute program code and a plurality of peripheral circuit blocks coupled to the processor. The plurality of peripheral circuit blocks are controlled by the processor as a master. The integrated circuit also can include a governor circuit coupled to the plurality of peripheral circuit blocks. The governor circuit is configured to monitor operation of the plurality of peripheral circuit blocks for known error states and, in response to detecting an occurrence of a selected known error state of the known error states in a selected peripheral circuit block of the plurality of peripheral circuit blocks, perform a predetermined action on the selected peripheral circuit block.

A "System-on-Chip" or "SoC" is a type of integrated circuit (IC). An SoC may be provided as a single package whether formed of a single, monolithic die or a plurality of interconnected dies. A typical SoC includes one or more processors capable of executing program code and one or more other circuits. The other circuits are coupled to, and operate cooperatively with, the processor(s). Examples of the other circuits include, but are not limited to, peripheral devices such as interfaces and memory controllers. In some cases, the SoC may include programmable logic that is coupled to the processor and/or the other circuits.


An apparatus for manufacturing a transformer core includes a drawing which draws magnetic sheet materials in parallel from winding bodies. A cutter cuts the sheet materials at predetermined positions substantially simultaneously to form sheets each with a different length. An overlapping unit forms a block-shaped laminate by laminating the cut magnetic sheet materials in length and forms a resultant laminate by laminating the formed block-shaped laminates. An annulation unit forms an annular structure of the resultant laminate so that the longer block-shaped laminate forms the outer annular portion and the shorter block-shaped laminate forms the inner annular portion. Both ends of the magnetic sheet materials are abutted or overlapped to locate the abutted or overlapped portions at annularly different positions between adjoining layers of the magnetic sheet materials. A control unit controls the drawing unit, cutter and overlapping unit.

Patent Documents, for example, JP-A Nos. H8-162350 (Patent Document 1) and 4-302114 (Patent Document 2) disclose the related art of the present invention. JP-A No. H8-162350 discloses the technology for manufacturing a transformer amorphous metal, which is capable of improving the product property by drawing plural sheet materials in laminated state from rolled amorphous metals from plural uncoiler devices, cutting the plural sheets simultaneously while changing the cutting lengths for each block of the laminated sheet materials by an amount set to 2πt or the amount approximate to 2πt, and making the gap between joint portions substantially constant when forming the material into the rectangular shape. JP-A No. H4-302114 discloses the technology for manufacturing the amorphous core which exhibits excellent magnetic property, and is suitable for simplifying manufacturing steps and reducing the facility cost by continuously feeding the sheet block obtained by laminating the sheet material as tight laminated amorphous metals through aligning the rolled plural reels in series, and the sheet material as tight laminated amorphous metals derived from aligning the other plural reels in series, cutting the block into the predetermined length, positioning the cut sheet block, winding the sheet block around the winding core sequentially to form the rectangular core while forming the block into the rectangular shape, and annealing the core in the magnetic field.
The apparatus and method for manufacturing the transformer core will be described referring to an apparatus and a method for cutting the magnetic material.
JP-A No. H10-241980 (Patent Document 3) which discloses related art of the present invention is structured to suppress variation in the material by feeding laminated plural sheets to the cutting device influenced, thus cutting the material with unnecessarily long length. As a result, the abutting portion of the winding core has deteriorated shape, deteriorated characteristics, and the material is fed to the joint portion which does not require such material. Reduction in the cross-section area of the core may also cause deteriorated property in the end.

Apparatus for manufacturing a transformer core

Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.


A keyboard support adjusting device includes a rotary frame, two frame plates, a connecting seat, and two brackets. A shaft connects the frame plates to the rotary frame. The connecting seat is pivotally connected at one end to the rotary frame. The other end of the connecting seat has a projecting extension seat with a through seat hole in a transverse direction and a curved groove. A tightening device passes through the frame plates, the brackets and the curved groove. The brackets are disposed on both sides of the extension seat, each of which includes a vertical portion provided with a through hole and a curved opening, and a horizontal portion defining a bracket face that may be connected to a keyboard support.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjusting device for keyboard supports, more particularly to an adjusting device that, when the height of a keyboard support is being adjusted, allows keyboard support brackets to be displaced parallel therewith to thereby eliminate the need to adjust the elevation of the keyboard support.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
With the popularization of personal computers, tables and racks adapted for placement of computers and their peripheral equipment are also very popular. The so-called "computer table" generally includes a table surface for placement of a monitor and an adjustable platen for placement of a keyboard. The adjustable platen operates like a drawer. It can be pulled out to allow access to the keyboard or pushed in to conceal the keyboard below the table surface.
Conventional adjustable platens can only displace forwardly and rearwardly like a drawer and do not allow adjustment of height, angle of rotation, and elevation. Hence, they cannot match an individual user's sitting posture, the elevation and height of their hands when keying in, or physique to allow sidewise deviation corresponding to a sitting posture.
Many solutions have been offered to try to solve the above-mentioned problems with conventional keyboard supports and to provide an ergonomic keyboard support to prevent possible damage to the user due to improper posture, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,616,798, 5,257,676, and U.S. Des. 306,239. In addition, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,373 and allowed U.S. Ser. No. 08/879,769 owned by the inventor of the present invention, use of the conventional adjustable platen is eliminated and an all-dimensional adjusting device allowing adjustment of forward and rearward displacement, height, and elevation of a keyboard support.


Computing equipment may display tables of data that contain rows and columns. Touch gestures such as hold and flick gestures may be detected using a touch screen or other touch sensor. In response to a detected hold portion of a hold and flick gesture, a row or column in a table may be selected. In response to detection of a simultaneous flick portion, columns or rows may be inserted or deleted. A column may be inserted after a selected column using a hold and right downflick gesture. A hold and left downflick gesture may be used to insert a column before a selected column. Rows may be inserted before and after selected rows using hold and upper rightflick and hold and lower rightflick gestures. One or more columns or rows may be deleted using upflick or leftflick gestures.

This relates generally to systems for manipulating data, and, more particularly, to systems in which gestures may be used to manipulate rows and columns of data items in an array.
Electronic devices such as computers and handheld devices are often used to manipulate data. For example, electronic devices may be used to run spreadsheet applications that allow users to manipulate rows and columns of data. Electronic devices may also be used to implement operating systems and other software in which rows and columns are manipulated.
In some electronic devices, touch sensors are used to gather user input. For example, pen-based computers may gather input from a stylus. Tablet computers and other devices with touch screens may receive user input in the form of gestures made with a user's fingertips on a touch screen. Some devices may gather user touch input using a touch pad.
Conventional electronic devices in which data is presented to a user may sometimes allow the data to be manipulated using touch gestures. Such touch gestures may not, however, be practical in many circumstances. For example, conventional devices may not support gestures for inserting and deleting rows and columns in a table or may only support complex and cumbersome gestures.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a way in which to address the shortcomings of conventional schemes for inserting and deleting rows and columns.

Table editing systems with gesture-based insertion and deletion of columns and rows


A system for authenticating an object includes a label (12) with invisible indicia (14) on the object which rotates a polarization of incident light; a digital camera (18) having a light source (20), an image sensor (22), a first polarizing filter (24) having a first orientation, and a second polarizing filter (26) having a second orientation orthogonal to the first orientation; illuminating the label with light from the light source through the first linear polarizer; forming an image with the image sensor using reflected light from the label wherein the reflected light passes through the second polarizer prior to reaching the sensor; wherein the second linear polarizer makes the invisible indicia visible; and authenticating the object.

Invisible indicia printed with an optically active material on a reflective substrate can be used as a covert security feature on products and product packaging. The product is authenticated by revealing the invisible indicia with the use of a circular polarizing filter. The circular polarizing filter is held in close proximity to the printing. The person holding the filter can then authenticate the item by visually verifying the image or human-readable text or code that is revealed as expected. While this can be an effective security feature, the authentication process has limitations.
When authenticating product out in the field, it is often the case that many items need to be authenticated sequentially, and the results of the authentication audit need to be transmitted to another location. It is therefore useful to be able to automate the method for recording and storing the results and to have a convenient means of transmitting the results once collected.
It is sometimes desirable to have an immediate response to a positive or negative authentication audit. It is therefore useful to have a system that can not only transmit the results of an authentication audit, but also then receive a response back.
It is also often desirable to encode a large amount of data in invisible indicia, for example an item-level serialized number. To reduce the amount of space required to print the data or to speed up reading the printed information, it can be printed in the form of a machine readable code rather than a human-readable code, for example a linear or 2-dimensional bar code. It is therefore useful to be able to quickly and conveniently decode a revealed machine-readable code to be able to quickly authenticate the item.
Finally, at times, it is very desirable for investigators to perform their audits in a covert manner, often without handling the item to be authenticated. It is therefore useful to be able to authenticate an item from some distance away and not to require the revealing device be in close proximity.