A sheet transporting apparatus comprising an outlet for sheets, a first path through which sheets ejected from a copying machine are transported in a first direction, to the outlet and in a second direction to be reversed from the outlet, a diverter for diverting the travel of sheets, which is disposed in the vicinity of the outlet and movable between a first position where sheets traveling in the first direction are guided to a handling apparatus attached at the outlet and a second position where sheets are guided to a space between respective outside frames of the transporting apparatus and the handling apparatus, a second path for receiving sheets traveling in the second direction along the first path and transporting the sheets, a storing unit wherein sheets transported through the second path are stored and a refeeding section for feeding sheets stored in the storing unit to the copying machine. In a first mode, the diverter is set to the first position so that sheets ejected from the copying machine are transported to the handling apparatus through the first path. In a second mode, the diverter is set to the second position so that sheets ejected from the copying machine are transported in the first direction, then reversed in the second direction, and finally transported to the sheet storing unit through the second path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet transporting apparatus, and more specifically, a sheet transporting apparatus which has a function of transporting sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser printer, etc. to a sheet storing unit and feeding back the sheets to the image forming apparatus, and a function of transporting sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus to a sheet handling apparatus attached downstream thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, many kinds of apparatuses wherein sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus with an image on one side are stored and then fed back to the image forming apparatus, have been proposed and developed to make a duplex/composite copying operation available. Further, in many cases, a sheet handling apparatus such as a sorter, a finisher with a stapling function, etc. is attached downstream of the storing/refeeding apparatus. However, a large space is necessary to place these apparatuses connecting each other, and accordingly each of the apparatuses is desired to be made into a compact type. Especially, in an apparatus wherein both a duplex and a composite copying operations are available, a mechanism for turning over sheets is necessary, so that the apparatus becomes larger because of the mechanism.
Conventionally, there have been used a type of apparatus comprising two paths for leading sheets to respective entrances, which are facing each other, of a sheet storing unit, which are used in a duplex copying mode and in a composite copying mode respectively. However, the arrangement makes the apparatus larger because of the elongated paths and a mechanism for treating a sheet jam complicated. Also, a switchback method that sheets are transported selectively forward and backward by a pair of rollers which can be driven normally and reversely has been adopted. The switchback method helps in making the apparatus compact because a path is used in both a duplex and a composite mode, and the treatment of a sheet ]am becomes simple. However, as diverting means and the rollers which can be driven normally and reversely are installed in a sorter conventionally, the advantage of the compact apparatus has not been made good use of, and the apparatus does not apparatuses is desired to be made into a compact type. function as a sheet transporting apparatus for a duplex/composite copying operation without the sorter.

Sheet transporting apparatus provided for a copying machine


A method for monitoring and diagnosing anomalies in auxiliary systems of a gas turbine implemented using a computer device coupled to a user interface and a memory device, the method including storing a plurality rule sets in the memory device, the rule sets relative to the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine, the rule sets including at least one rule expressed as a relational expression of a real-time data output relative to a real-time data input, the relational expression being specific to parameters associated with the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine, receiving real-time and historical data inputs from a condition monitoring system associated with the gas turbine, the data inputs relating to process parameters associated with the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine, and estimating values for at least some of the parameters associated with the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine using the received inputs.

Monitoring machinery health and alerting operators to anomalous machinery conditions is an important part of operating one or a fleet of machines. Specifically, monitoring selected auxiliary system process parameters is important to health monitoring of gas turbine auxiliary systems. There is currently no known monitoring system for online estimation of most auxiliary system process parameters, and only the measured parameter is monitored. By not comparing the measured value to an expected value, the dynamic baseline and physical insight to define alarm thresholds are unknown. Without this calculation, only static thresholds based on constant deviation from preset values is available. Further, troubleshooting is hindered without an estimation of the auxiliary system process parameters. For example, a determination can be made as to the source of a deviation between the expected value and the measured value. Moreover, rapidly changing operational conditions or very slowly changing operational conditions may make it difficult for an operator to recognize anomalous conditions or what operational changes can be made to mitigate the anomalous conditions.
At least some known auxiliary system monitoring systems monitor the measured values only and using historical data for the same type of machine static thresholds are predefined, so that if the measured value exceeds the predefined threshold, an alarm is raised. Many attempts are needed to define and refine these thresholds, which do not take into account the machine running or load conditions. Such systems are prone to too many false alarms, and actual faults are generally detected too late. Moreover, only limited or no troubleshooting information is provided in such systems.

Method and system for diagnostic rules for heavy duty gas turbines


The present disclosure provides a method for configuring and receiving a common control channel, and a device for configuring and receiving a common control channel. The method for configuring a common control channel includes: configuring a common control channel and a primary synchronization signal and/or a secondary synchronization signal in a subband where a user equipment resides in a frequency division multiplexing manner; and transmitting the common control channel by using configured resources. Embodiments of the present disclosure may improve resource utilization by configuring the common control channel.

In a 5th generation mobile network system (5th-Generation, 5G), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) are included in a synchronization signal and PBCH block (SS/PBCH block). Each SS/PBCH block may be seen as resources of a beam in a beam sweeping process. A plurality of SS/PBCH blocks constitute a synchronization signal burst (SS-burst). The synchronization signal burst may be seen as a block of relatively concentrated resources. A plurality of synchronization signal bursts constitute a synchronization signal burst set (SS-burst-set). The beam sweeping process is repeatedly transmitting the SS/PBCH block on different beams. Based on the training of the beam sweeping, a user equipment may perceive in which beam the strongest signal is received. In addition to the PSS/SSS/PBCH being sent to the user equipment in the form of broadcast, there are other information being sent to the user equipment in the form of broadcast, such as remaining minimum system information (RMSI), paging and time slot structure, which are common control messages.
In a 5G system, in order to solve the coverage problem at a high frequency band, a broadcast type of transmission generally adopts a way of beam sweeping. If different signals and channels adopt different beam sweeping timings, beam sweeping timings will be much more, causing that the system needs to design a larger number of downlink symbols, which increases a latency of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback, and increases complexity of system design. Accordingly, one way is a common control message transmission multiplexing the beam sweeping timing for the SS/PBCH block. Specially, the RMSI and the paging conduct frequency division multiplexing with the SS/PBCH block, and when the SS/PBCH block completes one round of beam sweeping, the RMSI and the paging also complete one round of beam sweeping. In general, through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a network schedules the user equipment to receive the RMSI and the paging messages on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Scheduling information in the PDCCH is also referred to as RMSI downlink control information (DCI) and paging DCI.
Accordingly, there is a need for a design of the common control channel, to achieve relatively high resource utilization.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and device for configuring and receiving common control channel

SPREADTRUM COMMUNICATIONS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.


A multifunctional lamp for a vehicle interior includes a housing having a light source installed therein. An indirect illumination diffusing lens is disposed in front of the housing to diffuse and emit light of the light source. A concentrated illumination light emitting unit moves back and forth while passing through the light diffusing lens. The concentrated illumination light emitting unit emits the light of the light source toward a front side of the housing through an internal passage of the light emitting unit in the form of concentrated illumination and shields the light diffusing lens from the light when concentrated illumination light emitting unit moves to surround a periphery of the light source.

A vehicle has a lamp installed in a roof thereof to provide light at night inside the vehicle. Such a lamp includes, in general, an interior lamp for illuminating a vehicle interior and a reading lamp for illuminating a front side of a passenger and the like.
The interior lamp (room lamp) is installed at the center of a roof for a passenger car such as a sedan, and is installed along a central roof above a passageway for a bus. Such an interior lamp diffuses light to uniformly illuminate the vehicle interior.
However, the vehicle reading lamp intensively irradiates light emitted from a light source at a specific location with a narrow angle, by directly applying the illumination.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a reading lamp installed in a vehicle interior.
A reading lamp 1 is usually installed on a roof or upper sides of a vehicle. In a bus, the reading lamp is installed to an upper side of side windows next to passenger seats. The reading lamp 1 for a bus is installed on vehicle shelves or air conditioning ducts, together with air vents for discharging wind, speakers, or the like. Thus, each passenger manually operates a switch to turn on/off the reading lamp.
The conventional reading lamp provides concentrated light to a specific location by simply operating the switch.
However, the conventional reading lamp is not suitable for other applications as the concentrated illumination is applied, and thus, an additional ramp is required when using an indirect illumination reading lamp, such as a mood light for softly illuminating a vehicle interior in addition to the above described reading lamp.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Multifunctional lamp for vehicle interior


Disclosed are flat panel field emitter displays whose unit cell structure adopt a planar cathode structure in stead of a conventional microtip structure, so as to increase the degree of integration and can be operated at low operation voltages at high speeds. In the structure, a channel insulator is formed below the cathode and underlaid by a gate. By means of the gate voltage, the electron emission from the cathode can be controlled. The electrodes in the structure are arranged in the order of anode, cathode and gate, allowing the simplification of processes. With the ease of controlling the distance between electrodes, the displays can be applied for almost all video systems from small sizes to large screen area displays, in place of conventional displays. The displays allows conventional semiconductor processes and facilities to be utilized as they are.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flat panel displays which can be operated at a low voltage on the basis of vacuum tunneling, thereby realizing a long life and uniformity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The most widely popularized display in the world is the cathode ray tube (CRT). Recently, however, the increasing desire to represent images more largely and sharply has led attention to be paid to flat panel displays. Examples of conventional flat panel displays include liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), electroluminescent displays (ELDs), field-emission displays (FEDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), flat panel CRTs and light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Of these flat panel displays, LCDs are the most prevailing, and FEDs are a strong competitor in the flat panel display market currently dominated by LCD manufacturers. Typically, an LCD consists of cell structures, in each of which a phosphor-coated front member is combined with a cathode emitter-equipped backing member with a predetermined vacuum spacing therebetween. If a potential ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of volts is applied across the front member and the backing member, electrons are emitted from the electron emitter and collide against the phosphor coating to make luminescence.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is a cell structure for a pixel of a conventional FED employing a microtip type vacuum transistor. As shown in this figure, this conventional FED cell structure is composed of a front panel structure 1 and a backing panel structure 2, the front panel structure 1 comprising a front panel 3 underlaid with a transparent anode 4 whose bottom is coated with a phosphor 5, the backing panel structure 2 comprising a backing panel 6 on which a cathode 9 with a tip t, an insulating layer 8 and a gate electrode 7 are sequentially formed.
When a strong electric field is applied between the cathode 9 and the gate 7, electrons are quantum-mechanically emitted from the metal surface of the cathode tip t, then accelerated by the high voltage applied to the transparent anode 4, and finally collide against the phosphor coating 5 on the anode 4 to emit light.
To accomplish proper emission of free electrons from a metal surface in a vacuum, an electric field of 0.5 V/or higher is required. For this, the diameter of the gate which surrounds the electron emission spot centering around the metal cathode tip must be much smaller than 1 xcexcm. The production of such a microtip as in the FED must be based on a photolithography process with which a resolution of 1 xcexcm or less can be attained and maintained. Where the semiconductor production techniques in current use, which have been significantly advanced, and the production techniques for other displays are combined, the microtip can be manufactured, but in a small scale. Much time is still needed for establishing a complete process by which the microtip can be mass produced.
Apart from the spacing between the electrodes and the formation of the sharp-pointed electron emitter, a material which is stable and has a low work function is required for a successful FED. Such a stable and low work function material allows a low operation voltage for the display. Many research reports on microtips using such metals as molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) have been published. Molybdenum are tungsten show an advantage of being mechanically stable, but are disadvantageous in that they have a large work function and show a limitation in reducing the curvature radius at the end of the tip. Thus, the FEDs employing the metals are still high in operation voltage.
Recently, microtips have been developed in various aspects, including surface treatment of microtips to reduce the work function and employment of low work function materials such as diamond like materials.
However, the FEDs using the microtips under current research in current suffer from disadvantages in that:
First, the tips are damaged by ion sputtering during operation.
Second, the microtips are difficult to produce. The electron emission efficiency in an FED has a direct influence on its luminance and resolution. So, the structure and construction process of the micro tip, the structural optimization associated with the shapes and spacings of electrodes, and the selection of electron emitting materials, which all play critical roles in determining the electron emission efficiency, are very important. However, technical difficulties still remain on the current construction processes of the microtip. The spacing between electrodes and production methods thereof also provide another technical difficulty.
Third, it is difficult to accomplish spacial uniformity. The microtips do not easily attain uniformity even by the same process procedure. Since each pixel consists of a plurality of unit cells, the presence of a few bad cells does not critically affect the function of the cell. However, if the microtips are nonuniform among the pixels, the image realized on the display is not stable.
Fourth, flickering takes place.
Fifth, arc discharge occurs owing to the high electric field between the gate and the cathode tip, breaking the gate and/or the cathode tip. In practice, during processing or operating, the vacuum degree may be decreased. In addition, because the spacing between the electrodes is very narrow, if impurities such as heterogeneous metal atoms are deposited between the electrodes, arc discharge easily arises.
Finally, arc discharge may also occur between the gate and the anode even though they are apart from each other at a relatively long distance. Despite this condition, the high voltage which is applied to the anode to accelerate the electrons emitted from the microtips, may cause arc discharge.
Much advance has been made on the above mentioned technical subjects. However, the problems are attributed fundamentally to the presence of the microtips.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above problems encountered in prior arts and to provide a novel flat panel field emitter display, which has a planar unit cell structure and thus, allows a high degree of integration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide novel flat panel field emitter display, which is able to realize images of high definition and fast response, and represent all natural colors with a high resolution.
As a result of the intensive and thorough research repeated by the present inventors, a novel flat panel field emitter display which meets the above conditions, was developed and named xe2x80x9cKAIST Field Emitter Displayxe2x80x9d (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cKFEDxe2x80x9d).
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a double panel type flat field emitter display, consisting of a plurality of unit cells, each cell comprising: a front panel structure in which an anode is formed on a transparent front panel and coated with a phosphor; and a backing panel structure in which a cathode and a gate are formed on and beneath a channel insulator underlaid by a backing panel, the front panel structure being joined to the backing panel structure in a vacuum condition in such a way that the phosphor faces toward the cathode, wherein a low voltage is applied between the gate and the cathode to emit electrons from a spot at which the fringe of the cathode is in contact with the channel insulator, to the vacuum channel, and a high voltage is applied to the anode to accelerate the emitted electrons and finally to collide them against the phosphor to luminesce, said emitted electrons being controlled in number by the voltage between the gate and cathode, said cells being arranged in a pattern to form a pixel which represents information.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A clock signal supplying method for shift registers includes following steps: receiving a clock signal; and transmitting the clock signal to two first stage signal transmission paths simultaneously, the first stage signal transmission paths determined by a first control signal whether to be conducted, and further conducted at different time.

Currently, a shift register circuit of a flat-panel liquid-crystal display is formed on a glass substrate by one of a-Si and p-Si manufacture procedures. The two manufacture procedures get low cost for gates driving circuit, simplify process of producing modules, increase utilization of the glass substrate, etc. Take the most common shift register circuit for an example, it usually includes cascading shift registers. The shift registers receive high-frequency clock signals, and orderly activate corresponding gates and pixels, which couple with the shift registers, to display information.
However, when the shift register of the flat-panel liquid-crystal display is formed on the glass substrate and high-frequency clock signals are applied therein, great parasitic capacitance may be affected the operation speed and dynamic power dissipation is increased.

Clock signal supplying method and circuit for shift registers


A DNA construct encoding an enzyme(s) exhibiting xylanase activity, which enzyme is immunologically reactive with antibody raised against a purified xylanase derived from Aspergillus aculealus, CBS 101.43, recombinant vectors and cells comprising said construct and a method for producing said enzyme using said cell comprising said construct.

Xylan, a major component of plant hemicellulose, is a polymer of D-xylose linked by beta-1,4-xylosidic bonds. Xylan can be degraded to xylose and xylo-oligomers by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan produces free sugars without the by-products formed with acid (e.g. furans).
Enzymes which are capable of degrading xylan and other plant cell wall polysaccharides are important for the food industry, primarily for baking and in fruit and vegetable processing such as fruit juice production or wine making, where their ability to catalyse the degradation of the backbone or side chains of the plant cell wall polysaccharide is utilised (Visser et al., Xylans and Xylanases, 1991).
Other applications for xylanases are enzymatic breakdown of agricultural wastes for production of alcohol fuels, enzymatic treatment of animal feeds for hydrolysis of pentosans, manufacturing of dissolving pulps yielding cellulose, and bio-bleaching of wood pulp [Detroym R. W. In: Organic Chemicals from Biomass, (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla, 1981) 19-41.; Paice, M. G., and L. Jurasek., J. Wood Chem. Technol. 4: 187-198.; Pommier, J. C., J. L. Fuentes, G. Goma., Tappi Journal (1989): 187-191.; Senior, D. J., et al., Biotechnol. Letters 10 (1988):907-912]. WO 92/17573 discloses a substantially pure xylanase derived from the fungal species H. insolens and recombinant DNA encoding said xylanase. The xylanase is stated to be useful as a baking agent, a feed additive, and in the preparation of paper and pulp.
WO 92/01793 discloses a xylanase derived from the fungal species Aspergillus tubigensis. It is mentioned, but not shown that related xylanases may be derived from other filamentous fungi, examples of which are Aspergillus, Disporotrichum, Penicillium, Neurospora, Fusarium and Trichoderma. The xylanases are stated to be useful in the preparation of bread or animal feed, in breewing and in reducing viscosity or improving filterability of cereal starch.
Shei et al., 1985, and Fournier et al., 1985 describe purification and characterization of endoxylanases isolated from A. niger.
WO 91/19782 and EP 463 706 discloses xylanase derived from Aspergillus niger origin and the recombinant production thereof. The xylanase is stated to be useful for baking, brewing, in the paper making industry, and in the treatment of agricultural waste, etc.

Enzymes with xylanase activity from Aspergillus aculeatus


Detection of a cellular factor from pea and tobacco which binds to a repeated pentameric motif of TGACG present in the -90 to -60 region of the CaMV 35S promoter is disclosed. Also disclosed is a 21 bp promoter element which is capable of imparting root expression capability to a rbcS-3A promoter, normally a green tissue specific promoter.

Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) is a double-stranded DNA plant virus. It contains two promoters responsible for the production of transcripts of 35S and 19S in size in infected plants (1). The 35S promoter has been studied in considerable detail (2, 3). This promoter is not only active in isolated protoplasts of monocots and dicots (4) but is also expressed in all organs of transgenic petunia and tobacco in the absence of any viral protein (2, 5). The high activity of the 35S promoter and its apparent constitutive expression have made it an attractive model system to investigate cis regulatory elements for plant gene transcription.
Several 5' deletion mutants of the 35S promoter have been analyzed in transformed tobacco calli as well as in transgenic tobacco plants (2, 6). Whereas a promoter containing only 46 bp of 5' sequence was sufficient for accurate transcription initiation, sequences between -46 and -105 can significantly increase the expression level. In a recent detailed analysis of the 35S promoter (-343 to +9) in vivo, it was reported that an internal deletion of the -107 to -46 region leads to a 60% decrease in transcription activity (6). More dramatically, the activity of an upstream element (-343 to -208) is only detectable when fused to the 35S promoter deleted to -90 but not to the -46. Since the -90 promoter element has little activity in vivo except in root (7), these data suggest the existence of an element in the -90 to -46 region of the 35S promoter, that modulates the activity of elements upstream. Results from transient assays of deletion derivatives of the 35S promoter have also indicated the presence of an element 3' of -90 that is required for expression of upstream elements (3). Because of the proximity of this region to the TATA box, it has been suggested that the relevant sequences are among the three CAAT box-like motifs located between -90 and -46 (2, 3).

Promoter enhancer element for gene expression in plant roots


A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a positive electrode including an active material of complex oxides capable of storing and emitting lithium ions, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolytic solution made of a nonaqueous solvent. A discharge curve of this battery when being discharged with a constant power has two or more points of step-like flections near the end of electrical discharge in a range of 5% to 20% of a discharge capacity thereof as determined from an initial discharge voltage in a state of full charge to a discharge-end voltage.

In recent years, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries are often used as main power sources of mobile apparatuses such as mobile telecommunications devices and portable electronic devices since they can provide high energy density at high voltage. There are also demands recently for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries of light-weight and small size, yet capable of delivering large discharge currents because of the needs for installing them in automobiles, and for use with direct current-driven heavy tools.
Despite of these demands, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries usually result in temperature rises due to increase in heat generated by the Joule effect when large currents are discharged since the batteries have internal direct current resistances. Generally, nonaqueous solvent in an electrolytic solution used for the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contains a component that boils or resolves when the temperature exceeds about 90° C. For this reason, charge and discharge capacity decreases drastically when repeating such a cycle that causes the battery temperature to exceed 90° C. during charging and discharging. Numerous studies are being made in efforts to solve such a problem.
An internal resistance of any battery is divided into a reactive resistance related to reaction of the battery, a resistance attributable to the electrolytic solution and separator, and a resistance of current collectors. In order to lower the resistance of current collectors among these resistances, there is a work disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication, No. H11-233148, for example, which decreases the direct current resistance of battery by improving a structure of connections of a positive electrode and a negative electrode to exterior parts. This work is aimed at reducing the Joule heat generated inside the battery. An electric power (i.e., output power) is the product of a current and a voltage. Therefore, in the case of an apparatus requiring a high power by way of constant power discharge, such as a power tool, there occurs a rise in the discharge rate (i.e., discharge current) when the voltage decreases quickly near the end of electric discharge. Since the decrease in voltage is attributed to a material of the positive electrode, the above technique of decreasing the direct current resistance does not provide a direct effect in this case.
There is also an idea of installing a temperature sensor on a surface of the battery, and using a control to stop operation of an apparatus when a surface temperature of the battery reaches a predetermined value or higher, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication, No. 2004-179085, for example. Besides the electrolytic solution, however, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contain other materials that generate heat under high temperatures, such as an active material for positive electrode in the end of electric discharge. In other words, the active material for the positive electrode generates a large amount of heat by reaction if it is discharged to a low voltage potential. There is thus a possibility that the battery becomes overheated if the predetermined control temperature is set too high in the above control. On the other hand, the discharge capacity decreases drastically if the predetermined control temperature is set too low.
In addition, there is another idea of deterring the drastic decrease in voltage near the end of electrical discharge by using two kinds of active materials having different ranges of average discharge voltage for the positive electrode as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication, No. H09-180718. In an example that uses such active materials for the positive electrode, there gives rise to a problem described hereafter when a large current is discharged as in the case of power tools. That is, the battery comes to a discharge-end voltage due to a rise in electrical potential of the negative electrode in reality at the end of electrical discharge, even though it is intended to bring the battery voltage to the discharge-end voltage by decreasing an electrical potential of the positive electrode. This impedes the effect of voltage control by means of the discharge voltage in the positive electrode, and thereby it makes the battery in the state of overheating near the end of electric discharge. As a result, it makes a reduction of designed capacity since it becomes necessary to increase an irreversible capacity of the positive electrode larger than that of the negative electrode in order to avoid this problem.

Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery


An inventive check is disclosed including a barcode, which includes at least one of the following pieces of information: the date the check was paid, the amount of the check, the payee, the drawers account number, the banks routing number, and the identifier number of the check. A method for preventing check fraud is also provided, including the steps of attaching a machine readable code on a negotiable instrument, creating a negotiable instrument, the drawee receiving the negotiable instrument, and the drawee scanning the machine readable code. A method is also included for integrating the entire checking process.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to the art of devices and methods for preventing check fraud, and more particularly to an integrated fraud-preventing process between the customer and the bank.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that check fraud is one of the largest challenges facing financial institutions today. Technology has made it increasingly simple for criminals, either independently or in organized gangs, to create increasingly realistic counterfeit checks and false identification that can be used to defraud banks. A 1994 survey by the American Bankers Association found that 54% of community banks, 94% of mid-sized banks, and 88% of large banks sustained losses from check fraud in 1993. Between 1991 and 1993, the number of fraudulent checks submitted increased 136%, from 537,000 to 1,267,000. Over the same period, annual losses from those frauds increased to reach $815,000,000.
Thrifts, savings banks, and other financial institutions, retail merchants, government agencies, and large corporations, are also victims of check fraud. A recent survey of more than 2,000 large US corporations concluded that on average, they lost approximately $360,000 a year to check fraud. The FBI estimates that if commercial banks and other institutions combined their check fraud losses, the total would be $12 billion to $15 billion annually.
Several methods have been tried in order to curtail the problem of check fraud in the banking industry. One of the ways that has been used is called positive pay. Positive pay allows a company and its bank to work together to detect check fraud by identifying items presented for payment that the company did not issue. In the usual case, the company electronically transmits to the bank a list of all checks that issued on a particular day. The bank verifies checks received for payment against that list and pays only those on the list. The bank rejects checks not on the company's list, checks that exceed a specific dollar amount, or checks that carry dates long past. The bank investigates rejected checks to find out if the items are fraudulent or in error. The bank only pays exception items approved by the company.
Another related method of curtailing check fraud is reverse positive pay. Reverse positive pay is similar to positive pay, but the process is reversed, with the company, not the bank, maintaining a list of checks issued. When checks are presented for payment and clear through the Federal Reserve system, the Federal Reserve prepares a file of the check's account numbers, serial numbers, and dollar amounts, and sends the file to the bank. In reverse positive pay, the bank sends that file to the company, where the company compares the information to its internal records. The company lets the bank know which checks match its internal information, and the bank pays those items. The bank then researches the checks that do not match, corrects any misreads or encoding errors, and determines if any items are fraudulent. The bank pays only "true exceptions", that is, those that can be reconciled with the company's files.
Another security measure that some banks have used, and seen a reduction in check fraud as result of, is fingerprinting non-customers that seek to cash checks. Generally, the programs require all persons presenting checks for payment who do not have an account with the bank to provide a thumbprint. A person who does not object to providing a fingerprint is asked to ink his or her thumb on a small pad and place the imprint in the space between the memo line and the signature line of the check being presented. If the bank later finds out that the check was fraudulent or was altered it can provide the check, with the fingerprint, to law enforcement officials.
A final known security measure is adding security features to the checks themselves. Some of the useful security measures include the following: watermarks, copy void pantograph, chemical voids, high resolution microprinting, 3 dimensional reflective holo-stripe and security inks. Each of these measures will be briefly summarized. 1.) Watermarks are made by applying different degrees of pressure during the paper manufacturing process. Most watermarks make subtle designs on the front and back of the checks. These marks are not easily visible and can only be seen when they are held up to light at a 45° angle. 2.) Copy void pantographs are patented designs in the background pattern of checks. When photocopied, the pattern changes and the word "VOID" appears, making the copy non-negotiable. 3.) Chemical voids involve treating check paper in a manner that is not detectable until eradicator chemicals contact the paper. When chemicals are applied, the treatment causes the word "VOID" to appear, making the item non-negotiable. Checks treated with chemical voids cannot be altered without detection. 4.) High resolution microprinting is very small printing typically used for the signature line of a check or around the border in what appears to be a line or pattern to the naked the eye. When magnified the line or pattern contains a series of words that run together or become totally illegible if the check has been photocopied or scanned with a desktop scanner. 5.) A 3-dimensional reflective holo-stripe is a metallic stripe that contains one or more holograms, similar to those in credit cards. These items are difficult to forge, scan, or reproduce because they are produced by a sophisticated, laser based etching process. 6.) Security inks react with common eradication chemicals. These inks reduce a forger's ability to modify the printed dollar amount or alter the designated payee because when solvents are applied, a chemical reaction with the security ink distorts the appearance of the check. This makes such items very difficult to alter without detection.
Although these security measures have been somewhat effective in deterring check fraud, the problem still persists. The currently known security measures are generally fairly expensive, and usually only available to medium to large size businesses. The present invention allows for an easy and efficient method for verifying the validity of a check, and can be used by even the individual customer. The present invention provides further security measures for verifying the validity of a check received by the banking system.
Another problem in the banking industry is the delay that occurs from the time a check is written until the time the check finally clears the bank and is paid to the payee. Currently, if the payee bank and the drawee bank are separate entities, the process could take several days. The current invention presents a method for integrating the entire process and making it instantaneous.
One known method for verifying and tracking checks is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,226 to Steger. Steger provides an apparatus for automatically accessing and verifying checking account status based on information containing a barcode printed on a check, travelers check, or money order. This method deals with a point-of-sale check verification system, and not a method for clearing checks at a bank. The Steger patent is mainly a method for determining that a checking account has enough money to cover the check that is being presented. The present invention allows a check to be created with a barcode containing the payee, the amount of the check, and the date of the check, so that when the bank receives the check for presentment, it can verify the authenticity of the check.
Another known method for verifying checks is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,881 to Schrader et al. Schrader provides a software product, computer implemented, method and system to integrate a user interface having three simultaneously displaced items of information. The interface displays the account balance, and both cleared and uncleared transactions. However, this invention does not have any way of preventing a fraudulent check from being cleared by the bank. The present invention allows the bank to check the authenticity of a check before it is cleared by the bank.
Difficulties inherent in the related art are therefore overcome in a way that is simple and efficient while providing better and more advantageous results.

Method and device for preventing check fraud


A zoom lens for a variable power copying apparatus comprises six lenses disposed in order from an object surface to an image surface. A first lens is composed of a negative lens having an object side oriented concave surface. A second lens is composed of a positive lens. A third lens is composed of a negative lens having an object side oriented concave surface. An aperture stop is disposed between the third lens and a fourth lens. The fourth lens is composed of the same lens as the third lens and having an image side oriented concave surface. A fifth lens is composed of the same lens as the second lens. And a sixth lens is composed of the same lens as the first lens and having an image side oriented concave surface. For a natural size image of an object, the first to sixth lenses are arranged symmetrically with respect to the aperture stop. For a reduced or magnified size image of an object, the lens groups and the aperture stop are arranged in such a way that the first and sixth lenses are fixed, that the second and fifth lenses are moved nonsymmetrically and that the whole lens system is moved along the optical axis so that the image size is continuously varied keeping the conjugate length between the object and the image constant regardless of the scale.

The present invention relates to a zoom lens for variable power copying apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a zoom lens which is especially suitable for varying power of the copying system without changing the conjugate length between an object surface and an image surface thereof.
Copying apparatuses, especially electrophotographic copying apparatuses are widely and effectively used in various fields. Conventionally, the copying apparatus was mostly used to obtain a hard copy which is of the same size as the original. However, these days, it has been required that the copying apparatus equip a variable power system to obtain reduced hard copies or magnified hard copies in addition to exact size copies.
The variable power function can be achieved by various ways. For example, a lens system for natural size copies can be rearranged to change the scale of the copy. More precisely, the variable power function using the naturl size lens system can be achieved in such a way that the conjugate length between the object and a fixed focal length lens of the lens system and the conjugate length between the lens and the image are changed so as to change the length between the object and the image thereof, or that a converter lens is disposed on an optical path of the fixed focal length lens at the time of reducing or magnifying the copy.
With regard to the way to change the scale of the copy by changing the conjugate length mentioned above, a movable reflection mirror is required to change the conjugate length in such a way that the conjugate length becomes minimum for the natural size copy and elongates according as the scale of the copy differs from the exact size. Therefore, if the scale range of the copy is wide, for example from 0.5 to 2.0, the mirror has to move a long distance, which causes a large structure of the apparatus in addition to increase of parts that require accuracy.
Also, with regard to the other way to change the scale of the copy by disposing the converter lens as mentioned above, a plurality of converter lenses have to be provided to cope with a requirement of obtaining copies in various scales, since one converter lens corresponds only to one scale specific to the lens. Also, the converter lens comprises at least two lens elements, which makes the structure complicated and expensive. Besides, a converter lens changing mechanism has to be provided, which makes the structure further complicated and expensive.
In order to cope with the problems mentioned above, a variable power zoom lens has been developed which lens varies the scale ratio without changing the conjugate length from the object to the image. An example of such a variable power zoom lens is described in Japanese patent application Layin-Open No. 61-151604.
The optical system of the variable power zoom lens of the publication comprises lens groups of one kind consisting of a concave lens, a convex lens and a concave lens and another kind of lens groups consisting of a plurality of same lenses, the lens groups being disposed symmetrically with respect to an aperture stop wherein from a first to sixth lens groups are disposed in order from an object in such a way that the lens system comprises two fixed lens groups consisting of the first and sixth lenses, a first movable lens group consisting of the second and third lenses, and a second movable lens group consisting of the fourth and fifth lenses.
The variable power zoom lens having the structure mentioned above functions as follows. For natural scale use, the first to sixth lenses are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement with respect to the aperture stop. On the other hand, for reduced or magnified scale use, the first and second lens groups are moved by a same distance from the aperture stop.
However, the variable power optical system described in the publication mentioned above has disadvantages that F-number is small (about 11) so that the lens system is dark and that the variable range is narrow (about 0.647 to 1.414) since the scale ratio is changed by moving the lens groups symmetrically with respect to the aperture stop.
Besides, the movement length of the lens groups is elongated according as the scale ratio differs from the natural scale toward the reducing side or the magnifying side and abruptly increases from the magnifying ratio of about 1.414 or the reducing ratio of about 0.707. Therefore, in order to obtain the scale range of about 0.5 to 2.0 by moving the lens groups, a large space is required to move the lenses which makes the entire length of the lens system very long and causes degradation of the image of a magnified or reduced scale size.

Zoom lens for variable power copying apparatus


A cow and calf catcher and hauler assembly includes an outer catcher pen, an inner platform and a cow chute and a calf pen. The outer catcher pen has a pair of opposite side walls and an end wall extending between and connected at opposite ends to the side walls for defining an openable and closable enclosed area. One of the side walls of the outer catcher pen is pivotally connected to one end of the end wall so as to function as an outside swingable gate adapted to undergo swinging movement between opened and closed positions relative to the other of the opposite side walls thereof. The inner platform is encompassed by the outer catcher pen and defines a confined area smaller in area than the enclosed area of the outer catcher pen. The cow chute and calf pen are disposed side-by-side one another and overlie the inner platform for respectively receiving a cow and calf in the chute and pen and on the platform. Also, the assembly includes an inside swingable gate disposed within the enclosed area of the outer catcher pen and pivotally attached to one of the chute and outer catcher pen and movable relative thereto for assisting in herding a cow from the enclosed area of the outer catcher pen into the chute and onto the platform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to livestock catch-carriers and, more particularly, concerned with a cow and calf catcher and hauler assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In ranching and farming, it is often necessary to handle large animals such as horses or cattle for transport or medical treatment and the like. To meet such needs, a plurality of catch-carriers exhibiting a variety of features have been developed.
Representative examples of such types of catch-carriers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. to Bauer (3,095,858), Hoffman (3,931,796), Lambert (4,20l,157) and Bixler et al (4,924,813). The Bauer and Hoffman catch-carriers provide vehicle-propelled front loading structures which are mounted ahead of the vehicle. The catch-carriers are used for enclosing cattle, horses, sheep and the like therein for transporting such animals from one location to another and to administer medical treatment or the like. The Lambert and Bixler et catch-carriers each provide loading chutes positioned rearwardly of the vehicle pulling them.
None of the above-described catch-carriers has features for enclosing both a cow and a calf for facilitating and initiating nursing of the cow by the calf soon after the birth of the calf. Initiation of such early nursing is crucial to the cow's claiming the calf as its own for the continual feeding thereof during the calf's formative months.
Consequently, a need exists for a catch-carrier which provides features for enclosing both a cow and a calf such that early nursing of the cow by the calf can be initiated. Such catch-carrier should be of simple design and construction for inexpensive manufacture and ease in use by the farmer or rancher.

Cow and calf catcher and hauler assembly


A method and system, which relates one or more geometric features to one or more functional requirements (FRs) in a design by using the V-model is described. The method and system include functional geometric features (FGFs), which relate the FRs to mechanical shapes (or geometric entities), which can be integrated to provide a final part or assembly that satisfies the functional requirements of the design.

As is known in the art, the design of a mechanical product or device is generally an iterative, multi-level decision-making engineering process, where the highest level functional requirements (FRs) are decomposed in a systematic manner. The design process typically begins with an identification of customer needs and proceeds through a sequence of activities to seek a solution to the defined task through specification, synthesis, analysis, and evaluation. The process ends with the detailed description and/or geometric models of the product.
The design process can be divided into three stages. A first stage corresponds to a mapping from customer needs to FRs, where information about a product is collected and transformed into engineering specifications and goals. A second stage corresponds to a conceptual design phase, in which the primary concern is the generation of geometric designs to meet the FRs through the creation of design alternatives and selection of a best design from the set. Designers at this stage must create rough sketches or solid models and pass them along to other designers with descriptions of the concepts in order to detail the concepts. A third stage corresponds to a detailed design phase. During this final phase, final decisions about dimensions are made. Also, more detailed geometric shapes of individual components are generated. Furthermore, material selections are made. Among the three stages described above, the conceptual design phase plays an important role in the overall success of design. Good design decisions made during the conceptual design phase can reduce iterations between design stages and processes, and eventually lead to a satisfactory final product.
Current computer aided design (CAD) technology successfully supports generation of geometric shapes and assemblies of physical objects in the detailed design stage using solid modeling techniques and specific data structures. However, current CAD programs are understood as drawing packages, which cannot be used to support the conceptual design stage described above. Solid modeling techniques are useful only after detailed shapes of the physical objects have been determined.
There exist many CAD approaches to using a database in the design process. Many of these approaches classify CAD models by similarity of shapes. Thus, the design process involves receiving an input geometric model, and searching the database for a shape similar to the geometric model. In these approaches, it is relatively easy to collect and classify CAD models and to find similar shapes from a CAD database, but still the CAD database cannot help designers generate design solutions. The conventional CAD database is usually used merely to find similar parts for manufacturing purpose and to classify shapes.
The organization of design information is an important factor in determining performance and functionality of a CAD system. Existing CAD systems are primarily concerned with data structure and information flow for representing and constructing 3D shapes. The existing CAD systems enable generation of complex shapes. They also utilize the geometric information in designing and manufacturing products. Feature-based representation or design is a result of such an effort. One of the key benefits of using features is that the designer can put their design intent into the geometric model. Also, many techniques using features have been developed to automate machining, to diagnose the defect of geometric models, to generate finite element models, and so on.

Method and system for computer aided design


A smart pill container and system integrating the same, combined with a method for digitally translating natural language prescription medication into a programmatically operable structure and form for use by the smart pill container system, where the digital translation includes the abstraction of a prescription frequency characteristic into a number of “slots” and the abstraction of a prescription temporary characteristic by creating an array of “as of” date and value pairs, allowing for the building of a patient's prescription schedule, where the smart pill container has a number of pill wells for storing different doses of medication, and where based on the prescription schedule, an opening in the pill container provides at least one user with access to the medication stored in a particular one of the pill wells at a given dosing time, and where a platform associated with the pill container provides instructions for dosing such medication and monitors use of the pill container for compliance with the prescribed medical regimen.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of people in the United States used at least one prescription medication in the past 30 days, 24% used three or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days, and 12.6% used five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days. In some cases, staying compliant with a daily regimen of prescribed medications can be the difference between having an otherwise uneventful day and taking a trip to the ER to begin a week-long hospital stay. In some cases, compliance with a stringent medication regimen falls solely on the patient. In other cases, however, the patient may not have full dependence or may not fully understand the importance of strict compliance with the daily regimen. In these cases, ensuring compliance may be the responsibility of a parent, spouse, friend, or other loved one, or in some cases may even be the responsibility of a professional nurse or caretaker. Wherever the responsibility may fall, strict compliance with the daily regimen is a necessary, and often difficult, task.
For example, for one patient, who suffered a traumatic head injury as a child resulting in sever seizures and some cognitive impairment, a daily regimen of six medications totaling over twenty pills per day (which must be taken at multiple times throughout the day) is required to control seizures and prevent unwanted trips to an emergency department or hospital. With this strict regimen there is little margin for error. Caretakers, who often are juggling multiple responsibilities, do their best to make sure that the right medication is taken at the right time. But even despite the best efforts of caretakers, sometimes there is a failure in compliance with the regimen. Common failures may arise where a patient (or their caregiver) gets confused on which day of the week it is, which may end up causing the patient to mistakenly take a medication twice in the same day. Other times, a patient or caregiver may not administer the medication at all—whether because the patient is not feeling up to taking medication, or simply forgets, or whether there has been some other mistake.
These issues aren't new issues and many products have been developed to assist patients and their caregivers in administering medications in compliance with a strict daily regimen. The most commonly used product for maintaining compliance with a medicine regimen is a simple pill container with individual compartments for each day of the week, typically with the day of the week for each compartment labeled accordingly so that the patient knows which medicine to take on a particular day. These simple products, however, are only as reliable as the person or persons who are responsible for the continued refilling of these products and are not helpful in the situation where the patient may not recall which day of the week it is. These simple products also do not provide alerts or notifications if a day is missed (or if multiple days' medication is taken on a single day) and do not help patients or their caregivers keep track of refill deadlines or other similar information. Plus, without certain smart controls, these existing containers do not help in preventing the patient from taking too many doses or the wrong dose.
In order to overcome these problems and to save the lives of many, the inventors hereof have recognized a need for a system and device with smart capabilities that not only allows for the organization of multiple medications into time-dedicated groupings (such as, for example, daily grouping of medications for an entire week) but also includes safeguards that prevent the administration of medicine on a day where medicine has already been taken, that alert the patient or caregiver that a dose has been missed, and that assists the patient and caregiver in the loading of medication into appropriate groupings and in the calculation and reminder of when it is time to request refills. It is an aim of the inventors hereof to drastically improve the independence of patients so that compliance with a prescribed regimen can be achieved without dependence on caregivers or loved ones.
In order to facilitate this independence, the inventors hereof have recognized the inherent limitations of digitally capturing prescription medication information for use in such a smart pill container. Pill bottle labeling includes natural language information for characteristics associated with the prescription, including information like the medication name, the dosing frequency in lay terms (e.g. one tab, twice daily), the strength of the medication (e.g. 100 mg), the quantity of medication in the prescription when full (e.g. 60 tablets), how many refills are remaining, and the refill expiration date. The inventors hereof have recognized that, while this prescription medication information can be captured for use in such a smart pill container using traditional data storing means (namely, by storing each piece of natural language data into a column or field corresponding to the fields on the prescription label), such data storing means introduces an undo complexity into the smart pill container system, particularly when the user is asked to specify the times of day to satisfy the dosing frequency prescribed. Thus, the inventors hereof have recognized that with a novel system and method for digitally translating the natural language information from the prescription label into a structure and form that can be operated on programmatically, the technological efficiency of the smart pill container, and others like it, can be maximized. Furthermore, to maximize efficiency of the technology and increase user experience even more, it is recognized that centralized control of the logic associated with the integrated pill container system is desirable.

System and method for digitally translating natural language prescription medication label to programmatically operable structure for use with smart pill containers


A routing scheme using intention packets is contemplated. At times, one or more switching devices within a network may become overloaded with traffic or may encounter other adverse transmission conditions. When this occurs, a switching device may drop one or more packets to alleviate some of the congestion or other adverse condition. The switching devices may support a particular amount of resources (e.g. bandwidth, buffers, etc.) in and out of each of their ports. When a packet or a header portion of a packet arrives at a switching device, the switching device may determine what port the packet will need and the amount resources required by the packet on that port. If the required resources available for the packet on the port, then the switching device may route the packet to a next device. If the required resources are not available for the packet on the port, then the switching device may drop at least a portion of the packet. As opposed to or in addition to congestion (e.g. insufficient resources), other adverse conditions may be detected. When a packet is dropped, the switching device that dropped it may create an intention packet that corresponds to the dropped packet and route the intention packet to the destination device specified by the dropped packet. The destination device may send a packet to the sending device to resend the request and may perform an operation corresponding to the intention packet in anticipation of receiving a resent request.

1. Cross-Reference to Related Application
This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/624,850, filed on the same day as the present application and entitled xe2x80x9cSystem and Method for Implementing a Routing Scheme in a Computer Network Using Intention Packets When Fault Conditions Are Detectedxe2x80x9d by Whay S. Lee, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and to co-pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/625,381, filed on the same day as the present application and entitled xe2x80x9cSystem and Method for Implementing a Routing Scheme Using Intention Packets in a Computer Networkxe2x80x9d by Whay S. Lee, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
2. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of computer systems and, more particularly to communications protocols within computer systems and/or networks, and communication routing or switching within computer systems and/or networks.
3. Description of the Related Art
Devices in a communications network may communicate with one another by sending packets to each other. These packets may correspond to an operation that one device seeks to perform with the assistance of another device. Packets may be transferred between devices using a network which may include a fabric. A network generally may comprise a number of devices that are configured to convey packets between any number of devices.
At times, however, adverse transmission conditions may occur in the network when one device is sending a packet to another device on the network. For example, the network may become overly congested with packets traveling between devices. Another adverse condition that may occur in networks is corruption of a packet (e.g. an ECC error, parity error, checksum error, etc.). A fault condition (e.g. failure in the fabric) that prevents a packet from proceeding along its proposed route is another adverse condition. One adverse condition resolution scheme in packet routing protocols involves dropping packets in response to an adverse transmission condition within one or more devices (e.g. a switch, router, endpoint, node, etc.) in the network. In the case of congestion, a device within the network may drop one or more packets randomly or selectively to instantaneously reduce the packet load. By dropping one or more packets, the device can free up sufficient resources to service the remaining packets. Corrupted packets may also be dropped. For a fault condition, all packets reaching a fault point may have to be dropped and resent using a different route.
When a packet is dropped, the device that originated the packet needs to detect that it has been dropped so that it can be resent. Detection of dropped packets may be accomplished by a time-out mechanism at a receiving device when it fails to receive an expected packet, by a time-out mechanism at a sending device where the sending device is waiting for a signal from a receiving device that a packet has been received, or by sending a negative acknowledgement (NACK) from the device that dropped the packet to the sending device.
Each of these detection methods has its problems, however. Where a time-out mechanism is used, a device needs to ensure that it does not resend a packet until it is certain that the original packet has been dropped. The device must generally wait a period of time to ensure that the packet has been dropped and this waiting period results in a performance penalty. Where a NACK to the sending device is used to signal a dropped packet, a dropped packet is unknown to the receiving device, no matter how far through the network the dropped packet traveled before being dropped. The NACK propagates back only to the sender and the network resources consumed by the dropped packet are wasted. An apparatus and method of handling adverse transmission conditions that minimizes the drawbacks of the above methods is needed.
The problems outlined above may be solved by the use of the apparatus and method described herein. Generally speaking, an apparatus and method for implementing a routing scheme using intention packets is contemplated for a hierarchy of network topologies. At times, a switching device within a network level of a network hierarchy may detect an adverse transmission condition such as a fault, corruption, or congestion. When a switching device detects an adverse transmission condition, it may drop one or more packets to alleviate the adverse condition.
For example, in the case of congestion, the switching devices may support a particular amount of routing resource (e.g. bandwidth) in and out of each of their ports. When a packet or a header portion of a packet arrives at a switching device, the switching device may determine what port the packet will need and the amount of resources required by the packet on that port. If the required resources are available for the packet ion the port, then the switching device may route the packet to a next device. If the required resources are not available for the packet on the port, then the switching device may drop at least a portion of the packet. A switching device may be configured to remember the amount of resources that it has committed to other traffic and may drop a subsequent packet when it is unable to guarantee the resources requested by the subsequent packet.
When a packet is dropped due to an adverse transmission condition, the switching device that dropped it may create a second packet to be forward to the destination device. The second packet may be an intention packet that corresponds to the dropped packet. The switching device may then route or forward the intention packet to the destination device specified by the dropped packet. The intention packet may be much smaller than the dropped packet and may include a header portion or part of a header portion of the dropped packet, as discussed below. Accordingly, it may require substantially less bandwidth than the dropped packet so that a switching device may be able to guarantee its delivery to the next device if congestion was encounter. For fault conditions, the device may send the intention packet to the destination using a different route in order to avoid the fault condition.
A device may react to receiving an intention packet based on the information in the intention packet as well as its own characteristics. The information in the intention packet may indicate whether the dropped packet was a request or a response to a request. If the dropped packet was a request, then the device that receives the intention packet, i.e. the receiving device, may send a signal to the requesting device that its request has been dropped. The receiving device may also perform an operation that corresponds to the request in anticipation of receiving the resent packet. If the dropped packet was a response to a request, then the requesting device will receive the intention packet. The requesting device may reschedule the request in response to receiving the intention packet and may convey a subsequent packet that includes the request to the receiving device. The requesting device may be configured optimize the resending of the request by rescheduling the request for a more appropriate time or by merging the request with a subsequent request.
In a hierarchical network system, the routing mechanism employing intention packets may be applied to one or more network levels of the hierarchy. A common device may be coupled to two or more levels of the hierarchy. A switching device in a first level of the network hierarchy may receive a first packet from a first device in the first level. The switching device may determine if an adverse transmission condition is present. If an adverse transmission condition is present in the first network level, the switching device may drop at least part of the first packet and generate, a second packet including information about the first packet. The second packet may be conveyed to a second device. If an adverse transmission condition is not present in the first network level, the first packet is conveyed to the second device. The second device may convey a third packet onto a second network level. If an adverse transmission condition is present in the second network, at least part of said third packet may be dropped, and a fourth packet including information about the third packet may be conveyed to a third device on the second network level. The third packet may have been conveyed on the second network level in response to the second device receiving the first or second packet. The second and fourth packets may be intention packets.

Routing mechanism using intention packets in a hierarchy or networks


A wire of ceramic superconductive material is produced by filling a metal tube with a powder of superconductive material, sealing the tube ends and drawing the filled, sealed tube through dies of progressively smaller size until a predetermined wire size is achieved and then heat treating the drawn wire to assure necessary crystallinity in the superconductor material.

Wires and cables used for conducting electricity are made of conducting metal with a wide variety of diameters and cross-sectional profiles. The wire may be surrounded by one or more layers of nonconducting material as insulation, and the insulation may again be surrounded by a shield of woven or solid metal. This again may be surrounded by a protective coating of rubber or polymers. Such an assembly of layers around multiple strands of wire is usually called a cable.
A specialized kind of wire conductor is used as the heating element in kitchen ranges and ovens. A metal conductor, usually made of a higher-resistivity alloy with a high melting point, is enclosed in a hollow tube of a high-temperature and corrosion-resistant alloy. The space between wire and tube is filled with a powdered fire-resistant material such as magnesium oxide which at all temperatures of use is a non-conductor of electricity. Such assembly is sealed at the ends and then drawn through a die of a desired size and configuration, causing the tube and its contents to become thinner and longer. The drawing action is repeated until the tube has been reduced to the desired diameter and cross-sectional profile. The result is a stiff "shielded" wire where the central conducting wire is embedded in a highly compacted insulator and the whole assembly is protected by an external metal shell. Pieces of this wire can be cut and bent into a desired shape. At the ends the conducting core can be connected to current-carrying contacts in order to complete an electric circuit.
It has long been known that at sufficiently low temperatures certain materials become superconductors of electric currents by virtue of extremely low (or absence of) electrical resistance. Much research work is being directed to finding materials which will be superconducting at temperatures above the atmospheric boiling point of liquid nitrogen. So far, these materials have been found to be ceramic type materials. A ceramic is a composition of metallic elements and oxygen which is hard and brittle. Such materials are more fully described in the following publications:
(1) Maeda et al., Jap. J. Appl. Phys. 27, L209-L210 (1988), describing the Bi.sub.2 -Sr-Ca-Cu system; PA0 (2) Subramanian et al., Science, 239,1015-1017 (1988), describing the crystal structure of the above system; PA0 (3) Subramanian et al., Nature, 332, 420-422 (1988) describing the structure of a T1-system.
In transmitting electrical energy, a superconductor would be most useful in the form of a wire or cable. However, due to the hard and brittle nature of ceramic materials, the ceramic superconductors do not naturally lend themselves easily to such applications. This is confirmed by a new note entitled "Researchers Produce Large-Current Superconductor Wire" in the July, 1988 issue of Research & Development wherein superconducting fibers are reported to have been pulled from a melt. Such fibers are said to require a temperature of 4.degree. K. and are quite small as indicated by the current capacity of 30,000 A/cm.sup.2.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means whereby superconductor materials can be formed into a wire or cable. It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for protecting the superconducting wire from damage when the superconducting property is interrupted or lost.


The present invention provides a method for preparing an asphalt and thermoplastic elastomer composition. The process comprises heating an asphalt cut in a stirred tank to a temperature sufficient to allow the stirring of the asphalt in the tank. A thermoplastic elastomer or rubber is added to the asphalt while continuing to stir the asphalt. The mixture is stirred at a speed and for a period of time sufficient to increase the distribution of the elastomer into the asphalt. The stirring speed is reduced and the temperature is increased to add crosslinking agents to the tank. Stirring is continued for a period of time sufficient to improve the distribution of the crosslinking agent dispersion in the asphalt. Crosslinking agents include compositions of mercaptobenzothiazole, zinc oxide and elemental sulfur; compositions of mercaptobenzothiazole, zinc oxide, and mixed polythiomorpholine; and compositions of zinc 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and dithiodimorpholine.

This invention is directed to bitumen compositions, which are prepared from bitumen, polymers such as copolymers of styrene and a conjugated-diene, and defined amounts of crosslinking agents such as sulfur. The bitumen compositions described herein are useful in industrial applications; such as in hot mix asphalts useful in preparing aggregates for road paving.
The use of bitumen (asphalt) compositions in preparing aggregate compositions (bitumen+rock) useful as road paving material is complicated by at least three factors, each of which imposes a serious impediment to providing an acceptable product. First, the bitumen compositions must meet certain performance criteria or specifications in order to be considered useful for road paving. For example, to ensure acceptable performance, state and federal agencies issue specifications for various bitumen applications including specifications for use as road pavement. Current Federal Highway Administration specifications designate a bitumen (asphalt) product, for example, AC-20R as meeting defined parameters relating to properties such as viscosity, toughness, tenacity and ductility (see Table 1). Each of these parameters define a critical feature of the bitumen composition, and compositions failing to meet one or more of these parameters will render that composition unacceptable for use as road pavement material.
Conventional bitumen compositions frequently cannot meet all of the requirements of a particular specification simultaneously and, if these specifications are not met, damage to the resulting road can occur, including permanent deformation, thermally induced cracking and flexural fatigue. This damage greatly reduces the effective life of paved roads.
In this regard, it has long been recognized that the properties of conventional bitumen compositions can be modified by the addition of other substances, such as polymers. A wide variety of polymers have been used as additives in bitumen compositions. For example, copolymers derived from styrene and conjugated dienes, such as butadiene or isoprene, are particularly useful, since these copolymers have good solubility in bitumen compositions and the resulting modified-bitumen compositions have good rheological properties.
It is also known that the stability of polymer-bitumen compositions can be increased by the addition of crosslinking agents such as sulfur, frequently in the form of elemental sulfur. It is believed that the sulfur chemically couples the polymer and the bitumen through sulfide and/or polysulfide bonds. The addition of extraneous sulfur is required to produce the improved stability, even though bitumens naturally contain varying amounts of native sulfur.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,322, issued Mar. 20, 1979 to Maldonado et al., discloses a process for preparing a bitumen-polymer composition consisting of mixing a bitumen, at 266xc2x0-446xc2x0 F. (130xc2x0-230xc2x0 C.), with 2 to 20% by weight of a block copolymer, having an average molecular weight between 30,000 and 300,000, with the theoretical formula Sxxe2x88x92By, in which S corresponds to styrene structure groups and B corresponds to conjugated diene structure groups, and x and y are integers. The resulting mixture is stirred for at least two hours, and then 0.1 to 3% by weight of sulfur relative to the bitumen is added and the mixture agitated for at least 20 minutes. The preferred quantity of added sulfur cited in this patent is 0.1 to 1.5% by weight with respect to the bitumen. The resulting bitumen-polymer composition is used for road coating, industrial coating, or other industrial applications.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,516, issued Dec. 19, 1978 to Gagle et al., discloses an asphalt (bitumen) polymer composition obtained by hot-blending asphalt with 3 to 7% by weight of elemental sulfur and 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic rubber, preferably a linear, random butadiene/styrene copolymer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,066, issued Apr. 9, 1974 to Petrossi, also discloses a process for preparing a rubber-modified bitumen by blending rubber, either natural or synthetic, such as styrene/butadiene rubber, with bitumen at 293xc2x0-365xc2x0 F. (145xc2x0-185xc2x0 C.), in an amount up to 10% by weight based on the bitumen, then adjusting the temperature to 257xc2x0-320xc2x0 F. (125xc2x0-160xc2x0 C.), and intimately blending into the mix an amount of sulfur such that the weight ratio of sulfur to rubber is between 0.3 and 0.9. A catalytic quantity of a free-radical vulcanization-accelerator is then added to effect vulcanization. This patent recites the critical nature of the sulfur to rubber ratio, and teaches that weight ratios of sulfur to rubber of less than 0.3 gives modified bitumen of inferior quality.
Although polymer-modified bitumen compositions are known, these previously described compositions are not necessarily useful for road paving applications. For example, mixing NorthWest paving asphalt having an initial viscosity of 682 poise at 140xc2x0 F. (60xc2x0 C.) with 3.6 weight percent Kraton(copyright)-4141, a commercially available styrene-butadiene tri-block copolymer which contains 29 weight percent plasticizer oil, and 0.25% sulfur gives a modified-asphalt composition with a viscosity of 15,000 poise at 140xc2x0 F. (60xc2x0 C.). This viscosity, however, greatly exceeds the acceptable viscosity range set by the widely used AC-20R specification for paving asphalt. This specification, issued by the Federal Highway Administration, requires bitumen compositions to have a viscosity in the range of 1600-2400 poise at 140xc2x0 F. (60xc2x0 C.). Thus, the modified bitumen compositions produced by the procedures of U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,322 using Kraton(copyright)-4141 would be unacceptable for use in road paving under the AC-20R specification.
The second factor complicating the use of bitumen compositions concerns the viscosity stability of such compositions under storage conditions. In this regard, bitumen compositions are frequently stored for up to 7 days or more before being used and, in some cases, the viscosity of the composition can increase so much that the bitumen composition is unusable for its intended purpose. On the other hand, a storage stable bitumen composition would provide for only minimal viscosity increases and, accordingly, after storage it can still be employed for its intended purpose.
The third factor complicating the use of bitumen compositions concerns the use of volatile solvents in such compositions. Specifically, while such solvents have been heretofore proposed as a means to fluidize bitumen-polymer compositions containing relatively small amounts of sulfur which compositions are designed as coatings (Maldonado et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,246), environmental concerns restrict the use of volatile solvents in such compositions. Moreover, the use of large amounts of volatile solvents in bitumen compositions may lower the viscosity of the resulting composition so that it no longer meets viscosity specifications designated for road paving applications. In addition to the volatile components, reduction of other emissions during asphalt applications becomes a target. For example, it is desirable to reduce the amount of sulfur compounds that are emitted during asphalt applications.
Asphaltic concrete, typically including asphalt and aggregate, asphalt compositions for resurfacing asphaltic concrete, and similar asphalt compositions must exhibit a certain number of specific mechanical properties to enable their use in various fields of application, especially when the asphalts are used as binders for superficial coats (road surfacing), as asphalt emulsions, or in industrial applications. (The term xe2x80x9casphaltxe2x80x9d is used herein interchangeably with xe2x80x9cbitumen.xe2x80x9d Asphaltic concrete is asphalt used as a binder with appropriate aggregate added, typically for use in roadways.) The use of asphalt or asphalt emulsion binders either in maintenance facings as a surface coat or as a very thin bituminous mix, or as a thicker structural layer of bituminous mix in asphaltic concrete, is enhanced if these binders possess the requisite properties such as desirable levels of elasticity and plasticity.
Previously, various polymers have been added to asphalts to improve physical and mechanical performance properties. Polymer-modified asphalts are routinely used in the road construction/maintenance and roofing industries. Conventional asphalts often do not retain sufficient elasticity in use and, also, exhibit a plasticity range that is too narrow for use in many modern applications such as road construction. It is known that the characteristics of road asphalts and the like can be greatly improved by incorporating into them an elastomeric-type polymer which may be one such as butyl, polybutadiene, polyisoprene or polyisobutene rubber, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polychloroprene, polynorbornene, ethylene/propylene/diene (EPDM) terpolymer and advantageously a random or block copolymer of styrene and a conjugated diene. The modified asphalts thus obtained commonly are referred to variously as bitumen/polymer binders or asphalt/polymer mixes. Modified asphalts and asphalt emulsions typically are produced utilizing styrene/butadiene based polymers, and typically have raised softening point, increased viscoelasticity, enhanced force under strain, enhanced strain recovery, and improved low temperature strain characteristics.
The bituminous binders, even of the bitumen/polymer type, which are employed at the present time in road applications often do not have the optimum characteristics at low enough polymer concentrations to consistently meet the increasing structural and workability requirements imposed on roadway structures and their construction. In order to achieve a given level of modified asphalt performance, various polymers are added at some prescribed concentration.
Current practice is to add the desired level of a single polymer, sometimes along with a reactant that promotes cross-linking of the polymer molecules until the desired asphalt properties are met. This reactant typically is sulfur in a form suitable for reacting. Such current processes are discussed in various patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,145,322 (Maldonado); 5,371,121 (Bellamy); and 5,382,612 (Chauerat), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Other reactants and combinations of reactants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,104,916 to Trinh et al., 3,992,340 to Bonitz and 4,129,542 to Matheson et. al. Common to these patents is the use of tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTDS) and/or stearic acid in significant concentration. Both of these compounds add raw material costs and handling difficulties the present invention avoids. For example, stearic acid, when airborne is a combustible dust. TMTDS is moderately toxic by ingestion but is highly toxic if inhaled. Further, TMTDS has been shown to break down into n-nitroso-dimethylamine in the human stomach, a compound that has been shown to be carcinogenic in test animals. Surprisingly, the present invention achieves the required asphalt properties without the use of TMTDS or stearic acid.
The cost of the polymer also adds significantly to the overall cost of the resulting asphalt/polymer mix. Thus, cost factors weigh in the ability to meet the above criteria for various asphalt mixes. In addition, at increasing levels of polymer concentration, the working viscosity of the asphalt mix becomes excessively great and separation of the asphalt and polymer may occur.
One result of the high viscosities experienced at increased polymer concentrations is that it makes emulsification of the asphalt difficult. As is known in the art and used herein, emulsification of asphalt refers to forming an emulsion of asphalt and water. Asphalt emulsions are desirable in many applications because the emulsion may be applied at lower temperatures than hot-mix asphalts because the water acts as a carrier for the asphalt particles.
For example, hot-mix asphalts, mixes of asphalt, aggregate, and a single polymer, commonly are applied at a temperature of 350xc2x0 Fahrenheit (F.) to 450xc2x0 F. (1770xc2x0 Centigrade (C.) to 232xc2x0 C.) to achieve the requisite plasticity for application. In comparison, an asphalt emulsion typically may be applied at 130xc2x0 F. to 170xc2x0 F. (54xc2x0 C. to 77xc2x0 C.) to achieve the same working characteristics. Emulsified asphalt products are generally used to reduce the release of environmentally-harmful volatile organic compounds normally associated with asphalts diluted with light carrier solvents such as diesel fuel, naphtha, and the like. Emulsification basically requires that the asphalt and any desired performance-enhancing additives be combined with an emulsifying agent in an emulsification mill along with about 20 to 40 percent by weight of water. However, high polymer loading in asphalt produces high viscosities and melting points, making emulsification of the polymer-asphalt composition difficult.
The bitumen/polymer compositions are prepared in practice at polymer contents range from about 3% to 6% by weight of bitumen depending on the nature and the molecular weight of the polymer and the quality of the bitumen. Gelling of the bitumen/polymer composition, which is observed fairly frequently during the preparation of the said composition or while it is stored, occurs as soon as the polymer content of this composition exceeds the above-mentioned threshold. It is thus difficult, in practice, to produce non-gellable bitumen/polymer compositions with a high polymer content, which are more economical to prepare and to transport than bitumen/polymer compositions with a lower polymer content.
In view of the above, bitumen compositions, which simultaneously meet the performance criteria required for road paving, and which are substantially free of volatile solvent would be advantageous. Additionally, viscosity stable bitumen compositions would be particularly advantageous. Further, a method for efficiently introducing the polymer into the bitumen composition would be desirable. In preparing the composition, significant mixing is needed to insure the uniform addition of both the polymer and any crosslinking agents. The crosslinking agents are usually added as a dry powder and mixed with the asphalt compositions.
As can be seen from the above, the art is replete with methods to improve the mixing of asphalt and polymer compositions. The needed elements for the commercial success of any such process include keeping the process as simple as possible, reducing the cost of the ingredients, and utilizing available asphalt cuts from a refinery without having to blend in more valuable fractions. In addition, the resulting asphalt composition must meet the above-mentioned governmental physical properties and environmental concerns. Thus, it is a target of the industry to reduce the cost of the polymers and crosslinking agents added to the asphalt without sacrificing any of the other elements.
Methods of preparing stable bitumen polymer compositions addressing these considerations have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,697, the contents of which are incorporated herein as if set forth in full. The method steps therein disclose addition of the crosslinking agents containing elemental sulfur, zinc mercaptobenzothiazole, zinc oxide and dithiodimorpholine (as a replacement for sulfur). It is desirable to extend the teachings of U.S. Pat. 6,180,697 to include crosslinking agents having enhanced properties or to crosslinking agents that reduce or eliminate hydrogen sulfide emissions from the resultant composition.
The present invention provides a method for preparing a bitumen and elastomeric polymer composition that is advantageous for concentrations of polymer greater than 4 percent by weight of asphalt concrete. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the bitumen is heated up to the desired temperature in a stirred tank. The temperature in the tank is sufficient to allow the stirring of the asphalt and is usually 320xc2x0 F. or more. A suitable elastomeric polymer is then added and mixing is continued for a period of time. Preferred elastomeric polymers are styrene butadiene copolymers having a styrene content of fifty percent (50%) or less. A composition of crosslinking agents is introduced to the mixture in the tank. Three different crosslinking compositions are utilized comprised of variations of mercaptobenzothiazole, zinc oxide, sulfur, mixed polythiomorpholine, zinc-mercaptobenzothiazole and dithiodimorpholine, all with little or no tetramethylthiuram disulfide or stearic acid. In one embodiment the concentration of the crosslinking agents in the overall composition in the tank should be at least 0.08 percent by weight of mercaptobenzothiazole, at least 0.04 percent by weight of zinc oxide, 0.05 to 0.3 percent by weight of sulfur, less than 0.01 percent by weight of tetramethylthiuram disulfide, and less than 0.02 percent by weight of stearic acid. In another preferred embodiment sulfur as a crosslinking agent is replaced with mixed polythiomorpholine, in which the concentration of the crosslinking agents in the overall composition in the tank should be at least 0.02 percent by weight of mercaptobenzothiazole, at least 0.1 percent by weight of mixed polythiomorpholine, at least 0.03 percent by weight of zinc oxide, less than 0.01 percent by weight of tetramethylthiuram disulfide, and less than 0.02 percent by weight of stearic acid. Another embodiment utilizes zinc-mercaptobenzothiazole and dithiodimorpholine as the crosslinking agents in which the concentration of the crosslinking agents in the overall composition in the tank should be at least 0.05 percent by weight of zinc-mercaptobenzothiazole, at least 0.2 percent by weight of dithiodimorpholine, less than 0.01 percent by weight of tetramethylthiuram disulfide, and less than 0.02 percent by weight of stearic acid. Utilizing these methods bitumen/elastomer compositions are possible that are useful in preparing road-paving compositions.

Method for preparation of stable bitumen polymer compositions


A hydraulic differential with a variable displacement hydraulic unit of the axial piston type, a fixed displacement hydraulic unit of the axial piston type, a stationary housing for mounting the hydraulic units, an input shaft for coupling to a variable speed power source and an output shaft for coupling to a constant speed load, comprises: a wobbler and a port plate for the variable displacement hydraulic unit coupled to the stationary housing; an axial block and piston set for the variable displacement hydraulic unit, a port plate for the fixed displacement hydraulic unit and a wobbler for the fixed displacement hydraulic unit coupled to the input shaft; and an axial block and piston set for the fixed displacement hydraulic unit coupled to the output shaft; wherein the variable displacement hydraulic unit port plate and the fixed displacement hydraulic unit port plate couple together through a circumferential interface to minimise hydraulic thrust forces developed by the hydraulic unit.

A common type of hydraulic differential comprises a first axial piston hydraulic machine of variable displacement coupled to a second axial piston hydraulic machine of fixed displacement in such a fashion that driving one of the hydraulic machines at a certain rotational speed with a source of mechanical power whilst changing the phase and amplitude of displacement of the variable displacement machine relative to its porting causes a change in rotational speed of the undriven hydraulic machine. This operation is particularly useful for converting a source of mechanical power that has a variable rotational speed to a constant rotational speed. By changing the displacement of the variable hydraulic machine in proportion to the mechanical source speed changes, the output of the undriven hydraulic machine may remain constant.
It is common to configure the mechanical and hydraulic coupling of the hydraulic machines or units in such a hydraulic differential so that the variable and fixed displacement units have common rotational axes. Such an end-to-end arrangement is very compact and permits direct hydraulic coupling between the blocks of the hydraulic units with suitable port and valve plates. However, such an end-to-end arrangement also tends to generate high hydraulic thrust forces between the interfaces of the hydraulic units since they generate significant working pressure in operation. Consequently, the hydraulic differential requires large bearings to withstand these hydraulic thrust forces, adding to cost, weight and size of the hydraulic differential.
One design of hydraulic differential has a configuration that contains these hydraulic thrust forces in such a way that the differential does not require large bearings is described in Iseman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,756. This differential has a structure that clamps the wobbler for the fixed displacement hydraulic unit to the block and piston set for the variable displacement hydraulic unit, thereby containing all the hydraulic thrust forces so that it does not require large bearings. One disadvantage is that the variable and fixed port plates needs to be shimmed close together to minimize leakage between the variable and fixed blocks port plates or the piece parts that clamp around the port plate need to be machined to impractical tolerances.

Hydraulic differential for integrated drive generator