The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a VOQ authorization management method and device and a computer storage medium. The method includes that: an index of a scheduling unit at next scheduling level is determined according to a scheduling algorithm of a scheduler of a scheduling unit directly connected with a physical port and a weight and priority of the scheduling unit at the next scheduling level of the scheduling unit, scheduling linked list information of each scheduler of the scheduling unit at the next scheduling level is acquired, and an index of a scheduler to be authorized corresponding to the same service grade with a current authorization in the scheduling unit at the next scheduling level is determined according to the scheduling linked list information until an index of a VOQ to be authorized corresponding to the same service grade with the current authorization is determined.

Along with rapid increase of users and user service types, traffic of a packet data transmission network continuously increases, and a requirement on a full-service operating capability constantly increases. In case of network congestion, it is necessary to differentially process different data streams according to own Quality of Service (QoS) to meet a network management requirement. A basic thought of such a differentiated services (Diffserv) policy is to implement grade division of data streams of users according to requirements on QoS: when a network is idle, a data stream of any user may freely access the network; and when the network is busy, data streams in higher grades have higher priorities than those of data streams in lower grades during queuing and resource occupation, that is, preferred scheduling is implemented, thereby ensuring higher QoS.
A pull-based hierarchical scheduling technology has been gradually configured for a high-speed packet data transmission network due to its advantages of flexible scheduling manner, high bandwidth extensibility and the like. An operating company may allocate a scheduling level, a scheduling algorithm, a priority, a weight and the like to better ensure QoS according to different service requirements, such as voice, video and data services.
In a pull-based hierarchical scheduling structure, received messages are allocated to a corresponding VOQ according to service grades, then authorizations are transmitted to the VOQ level by level from a physical port according to a preset scheduling level relationship which is set according to QoS, and the messages in the VOQ are polled and scheduled out of the VOQ according to the number of the authorizations obtained by the queue. Therefore, a multi-level authorization distribution algorithm and solution are keys for achieving QoS, and determine important parameters such as delay, jitter, throughput and validity of each service. From the point of achievement of QoS, a Strict Priority (SP) scheduler is mainly adopted to implement distinction of service priorities of each service, and Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ), Weighted Round Robin (WRR) and Fair Queuing (FQ) schedulers are adopted to allocate bandwidths according to certain weights.
However, schedulers of each level in a pull-based hierarchical scheduling-based authorization distribution technology in a related technology relatively independently operate according to own algorithms, and service grade transmission among the scheduling levels usually may not be implemented. FIG. 1 is a diagram of pull-based hierarchical scheduling in the related technology, and as shown in FIG. 1, an (In+1)th-level scheduler is mounted on an Inth-level scheduler. In an authorization distribution process, the Inth-level scheduler transmits an authorization to the (In+1)th-level scheduler according to its scheduling algorithm after obtaining the authorization from its upper-level scheduler. If the (In+1)th-level scheduler is an SP scheduler, service grade division of the SP scheduler may not be reflected on the Inth-level scheduler.
From the above, the related technology mainly has the following problems:
1) the authorization distribution technology with schedulers of each level independently scheduled is easy to implement, and since service streams with different priorities and the upper-level schedulers form "many-to-one" mapping, and service priority transmission is not supported, the upper-level schedulers may forcibly determine the same priority for the service streams of the lower-level schedulers with different priorities only; and
2) each scheduler is independent and user-service-based traffic aggregation shaping may not be implemented, so that only restricted QoS Diffsery may be implemented when user-based multi-service fine management is implemented.

Virtual output queue authorization management method and device, and computer storage medium


Product data for a product is received by an attribute selection module. The product data includes product image data and product text data. This product data is used to generate a plurality of probability distributions for a category. The category includes a plurality of attributes, and the probability distribution includes a plurality of probabilities indicating the likelihoods that attributes of the category are applicable to the product. The plurality of probability distributions for the category are weighted and summed to generate a combined probability distribution for the category. An attribute label is determined by selecting an attribute from the category that is indicated to be most likely applicable to the product based on the combined probability distribution for the category. The attribute label is associated with the product. The attribute label enables other services to search for and retrieve the product based on the attribute.

1. Field of Disclosure
This disclosure generally relates to the field of automated text and image classification, and specifically relates to automatic attribute labeling of products.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet is now widely used by consumers for browsing and purchasing products of various types. Consumers often wish to browse products that have a particular attribute (e.g. shoes with high-heels), and service providers—such as product retailers and search engines—have an incentive to provide users with links to products that possess the attributes that they desire. When a consumer requests products with a particular attribute from a service provider, the service provider often retrieves links to these products based on matching the consumer's text query to product data (such as image labels and product descriptions) associated with the product. Unfortunately, for many products this data is missing, inaccurate, uninformative, or incomplete. As a result, when a consumer makes a request for products having a particular attribute, many products that do have the attribute in reality, but do not have a text label for that attribute, may be missed by the service provider, and may not be provided to the requesting consumer.


A lever switch for safe breaking of a circuit of an exercise apparatus includes two conductive copper pieces spaced apart and stably received within a housing by means of elastic pieces. A rotatable cylinder with two journals is positioned in the area of the contact portions of the conductive copper pieces within the housing. Moreover, a rectangular piece is provided at one side of the rotatable cylinder such that the contact portions of the conductive copper pieces are just clampable to the top and bottom ends of the rectangular piece. In addition, the middle portion of the conductive copper pieces is inwardly bent to form corresponding conductive contact surfaces. As a result, an insertion lever may fit into the body of the rotatable cylinder for in-place-moving the rotatable cylinder such that the rectangular piece is turned to bring the conductive contact surfaces of the conductive copper pieces in an electric disconnection or connection state for safe breaking and making of a circuit.

1. Fields of the Invention
The invention relates to a lever switch for safe breaking of a circuit of an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to lever switch that permits a safe breaking and making of a circuit by turning an insertion lever.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, most of the conventional power-driven exercise apparatuses are provided with an emergency cutout switch for an easy and rapid interruption of electric current in case of emergency such that the safety of the operator and people around the apparatus may be ensured.
The most common safety switch is constructed in the shape of a safety pin. The operation principle lies in that an electric connection and disconnection is established by inserting and removing the pin, respectively. In this way, an expected safety effect is achieved.
In view of the conventional design, the pin made of plastic material acts as an insulator. In brief, the power contacts are interconnected when the insulator is inserted, and they are disconnected from each other when it is removed. According to this structure, all of the power contacts are received within the housing. If the insulating pin is partially broken, the broken part will stay within the housing forever. As a result, the disconnection effect is not achieved even when the insulating pin is removed. Thus, the operation safety is no more ensured.
It is often heard that the operator is injured due to the failure of the normal disconnecting function with the conventional safety pin. In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, the manufacturer has developed an improved structure in which an intermediate conductive body and a pin are combined in one piece. The intermediate conductive body will be simultaneously pulled out when the pin is removed. In this way, both of the power contacts within the housing won't be contacted with each other forever. As a result, the safety is further ensured.
In view of the long-term use, however, the intermediate conductive body is easily worn and deformed due to an improper storage when it is removed from the housing with the pin. Thus, the electric connection effect and the power supply stability can be seriously affected. In other words, another problem is created. Consequently, a further improvement is required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Lever switch for safe breaking of a circuit of an exercise apparatus


A tow bar assembly for mounting to a vehicle, the tow bar assembly including a main beam configured to support a hitch receiver, the main beam comprising a bracket engaging portion at or near each end, a pair of brackets configured to securely mount to the vehicle, each bracket including a beam engaging portion, and a pair of fastening means for securing respective brackets at or near respective ends of the main beam, wherein each bracket and its respective beam bar engaging portion is configured to cooperatively interengage with a respective bracket engaging portion so as to locate and orient the bracket with respect to the main beam.

Many vehicles are equipped with tow bars for the purpose of towing trailers or caravans via a towing hitch. The tow bar may also be used as an attachment point for other cargo accessories such as bike racks or cargo boxes.
Tow bars typically comprise a fully welded assembly include a hitch receiver or hitch tube with an opening configured to receive a towing hitch or other cargo accessory. The hitch receiver is mounted on or in connection with a main bar featuring connection means in the form of connection brackets which are specifically configured to mount the main bar to structural members provided on the vehicle, such that a load path is provided between the hitch receiver and the vehicle structural members through the main bar and connections means.
Manufacture of a typical welded tow bar assembly requires substantial jigging to ensure that the various components making up the assembly are correctly positioned prior to welding.
Many tow bars are provided as vehicle specific after-market kits, which are installed on a vehicle after manufacture. These kits comprise the fully welded tow bar assembly and fasteners necessary to mount the tow bar to the vehicle. The fully welded assembly is bulky, which impacts on logistics, warehousing and delivery to market costs.
Tow bar assemblies that mount onto structural members of vehicles in some cases produce load paths that rely totally, or to a large extent, on bolts. In such cases, higher towing loads require a larger number of bolts, or stronger bolts.
A further issue that arises with after-market kits is the need to design a kit that makes assembly robust to inadvertent errors and the need to design a kit that is easy to assemble correctly.
It is against this background, and the problems and difficulties presented therein, that the present invention has been developed.


Embodiments of the invention provide a drainage system for draining surface liquids from a first surface adjacent to one side of a drainage channel and for providing a transition from the first surface on one side of the drainage channel to a synthetic turf surface or other thick surface material on the other side of the drainage channel.

Drainage and other trenches of various sizes and shapes are desirable for a number of applications. For example, manufacturing facilities typically require drainage systems that include trenches formed in the building floors to collect, remove, and/or recycle excess water or other liquids. In addition, numerous outdoor industrial and commercial sites, such as parking lots, require drainage systems, including trenches, to collect and direct rainwater and other liquids to underground storm sewers to prevent flooding and to decrease run-off. Similarly, roadways and the like may also require drainage systems, including trenches.
Drainage systems are also desirable around athletic facilities such as running tracks, tennis courts, pool decks, and the like. Drainage is also often desirable around natural and synthetic turf surfaces. Furthermore, such natural and synthetic turf surfaces may be adjacent to other surfaces that also require drainage and, therefore, the turf may end at the drains that surround these other surfaces.
For example, many athletic facilities feature a track surrounding a football and/or soccer field where the field is made up of synthetic turf. The track surface may require a drainage system adjacent to the inside edge of the track, between the track and the football/soccer field. Since the top of the drainage channel is usually flush with or slightly lower than the track surface that it is designed to drain, it is generally desirable for aesthetic purposes and to prevent a trip hazard, to sink the bottom of the turf surface relative to the top of the drainage channel so that the surfaces on either side of the drainage channel are generally flush with each other. It is also often necessary to anchor the edge of the synthetic turf. Currently, a piece of wood is positioned in the ground next to the drainage channel and, in some cases, attached to the exterior surface of the concrete that is surrounding the drainage channel at some location lower than the upper edge of the concrete. The wood board extends away from the concrete under the synthetic turf and provides a surface to which the synthetic turf can be nailed. Alternatively, a concrete ledge is sometimes formed below the top edge of the drainage channel leaving the top of the drainage channel exposed and without supporting concrete. These procedures, however, add extra time and expense to the installation process and may weaken the drainage channel structure and limit the design of the drainage channel. Also, over time the wood surface may warp and decompose thereby providing a poor anchor for the synthetic turf surface.
Therefore, the inventors of the present application have identified a need to provide an improved system for integrating a drainage system between two different surfaces, particularly where one of the surfaces is a synthetic turf surface or some other surface that is thicker than the surface on the opposite side of the drainage channel. The inventors have also identified a need to provide improved systems for anchoring the edges of a synthetic turf surface and for integrating a drainage system with a synthetic turf anchor location and turf edge.


The invention relates to a modified zeolite catalyst, useful for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock such as FCC gasoline that contain high content of olefin, aromatic and n-paraffin into isoparaffins. The invention further relates to the use of such a catalyst, for example but not limited to, in a process for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock into the product having high amount of branched paraffins with decreased aromatics and olefins, a useful gasoline blend, with negligible production of lighter gases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modified zeolite catalyst useful for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock into isoparaffins. More particularly, the present invention relates to a porosity and acidity modified zeolite comprising one or two noble metals. The present invention also relates to a process for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock into isoparaffins. The utility of the process is for upgrading the octane number of a industrial feedstock such as desulfurized FCC gasoline through conversion of most of the olefins and aromatics present in it into environment friendly branched paraffins, using porosity improved, noble metal containing zeolite based catalyst, so as to meet the quality requirement of fuel to use as gasoline blending stock.
2. Description of Related Art
Environmental concern and restriction on fuel quality especially on the restriction on the amount of sulfur, aromatic and olefins in FCC gasoline demands novel catalyst and process for hydrocarbon conversion. The octane loss occurred during traditional sulfur removal process also demands hydrocarbon conversion process for octane boosting in an eco-friendly way. The present invention relates to a process for hydroconversion of feedstocks, especially FCC gasoline, to a catalyst for use in hydro conversion process with a feedstock having high amount of paraffins, olefins and aromatics to produce branched paraffin and to a process provides such catalyst.
Reference may be made to the U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,539 to Lawlor et al, wherein a process for the isomerization of paraffins is disclosed. The drawback of the process is that the catalyst has one dimensional pore system that leads to rapid deactivation by coke as well.
References may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,269 to La pierre et al, wherein a process for isomerization of paraffins using zeolite catalyst was described. The drawback of the process is the formation of considerable amount of aromatics that are undesirable for the production of green gasoline. On the other hand, the present invention deals with the conversion of aromatics into iso-paraffins.
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,047 to Salazal et al, wherein a process for removal of sulfur and nitrogen from the heavy naphtha was described. The process also describes a GaCr/ZSM-5 catalyst for the isomerization of paraffin. The drawback of the process is the formation of considerable amount of undesirable gases (C1-C4 up to 25%).
Reference may be made to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,472, wherein a process for dealumination of zeolites, especially by adding ammonium nitrate and nitric acid for obtaining effective isomerization catalyst that can isomerizes n-paraffins to isoparaffins. However, the process does not cover the procedure for obtaining the zeolite with improved surface area, porosity or acidity and improved Pt dispersion that are essential for conversion aromatics, olefins and naphthenes into isoparaffins. The patent also does not mention its effectiveness for conversion of aromatics viz. especially for the conversion of benzene so as to meet the requirement of gasoline specifications.
Reference may be made to the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,238,677 and 4,485,005, wherein processes for dealumination of mordenite using an acid such as dicarboxylic acid and steaming have been described. The catalysts are tested for their alpha activity related to its cracking ability and for the cracking of long chain vacuum gas oil. However, the processes do not discuss the improvement in catalytic properties such as porosity and acidity, and its catalytic activity towards the conversion of olefins, naphthenes and aromatics.
Reference may be made to the U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,935, wherein the patent describes a process for alkylation of benzene with long chain olefins to produce alkyl aromatics. The process does not cover the conversion of short chain paraffins, olefins, naphthenes and aromatics into gasoline range isoparaffins. Nitric acid was used for peptization of extrudates but not for dealumination purpose.
Reference may be made to the U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,931 (MORRIS), U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,711 (BERTOLACINI), U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,576 (SHELL), U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,539 (ESSO), wherein a process for the isomerization of paraffins was described using a zeolite treated with steam and acids at severe conditions prior to the contact with feed. But, the processes limits to the conversion of paraffins into isoparaffins. Whereas, the present invention deals with the conversion of aromatics, olefins and naphthenes present in the feed into iso-paraffins. Based on the prior art details and drawbacks thereof, the present work is intend to provide a process for the reformulation of the FCC gasoline, where, most of the olefins and aromatics present in the feed have been converted into branched paraffins using a porosity modified, acidity modified zeolite supported noble metal based catalyst.

Modified zeolite catalyst useful for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock into isoparaffins and a process thereof

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


The present invention is directed to an embossing tool having a microstructure on its surface wherein the surface of the embossing tool has a thin layer of gold or an alloy thereof. Such an embossing tool not only can reduce adhesion between the surface of the embossing tool and a cured material, but also does not cause any significant change to the profile of the microstructure.

Embossing tools usually are made of nickel, copper, an alloy or other types of composite materials. Nickel is the most widely used material for embosser fabrication.
There are a few problems associated with the currently available embossing tools, in particular, incomplete release of the cured material or hot embossed material from the embossing tool, after embossing.
There are ways to modify the surface of an embossing tool to reduce the adhesion between the surface of the embossing tool and the cured or hot embossed material. Such methods may include silane-coating, silicone resin coating, teflon-coating, or nickel-teflon composite plating. Unfortunately, all of them failed to produce satisfactory results.
Silicone resin and teflon can be applied to the surface of the embossing tool via wet-coating. However, after drying and curing, the thickness uniformity of the coating on the surface of microstructure is poor which may change the shape of the resulting microstructures on the embossing tool.
The teflon-coating via physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has shown poor throwing-power and also non-uniform coverage when the microstructure on the surface of the embossing tool has a high aspect ratio. In addition, poor durability and mechanical strength of the teflon-coating is another concern, especially if an embossing tool needs to be extensively used for mass production.
Nickel-teflon composite coating can be applied to the surface of the embossing tool via electroplating or an electro-less plating process. However, the minimum coating thickness normally is several microns. Therefore, if an embossing tool has a microstructure with small dimensions, especially narrow trenches, on its surface, such coating may drastically change the profile and aspect ratio of the microstructure, rendering the embossing task much more difficult.

Embossing tool and methods of preparation


Described herein are methods for purifying hematopoietic stem cells. Also described herein are methods for purifying EPCR+ cells. The invention also provides substantially pure isolated hematopoietic stems cells, including EPCR+ hematopoietic stem cells.

Mammalian blood cells provide for an extraordinarily diverse range of activities. The blood cells are divided into several lineages, including lymphoid, myeloid and erythroid. The lymphoid lineage, comprising B-cells and T-cells, provides for the production of antibodies, regulation of the cellular immune system, detection of foreign agents in the blood, detection of cells foreign to the host, and the like. The myeloid lineage, which includes monocytes, granulocytes, megakaryocytes as well as other cells, monitors for the presence of foreign bodies in the blood stream, provides protection against neoplastic cells, scavenges foreign materials in the blood stream, produces platelets, and the like. The erythroid lineage provides the red blood cells, which act as oxygen carriers.
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) represent a rare population of bone marrow cells with the capacity to reconstitute the entire hematopoietic system. See Jordan and Lemischka, 1990; Osawa et al., 1996. Present studies aimed at understanding the basic biology of these cells are undermined by an inability to obtain purified hematopoietic stem cells. Current purification of hematopoietic stem cells utilizes multicolor fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate sub-populations of bone marrow cells expressing a specific pattern of cell surface markers. In addition, hematopoietic stem cells possess unique dye efflux properties which create a distinct staining profile when stained with the vital dye Hoechst 33342. These weakly Hoechst stained cells, termed side-population (SP) cells, have been found to be greatly enriched for hematopoietic activity.
There is a strong interest to obtain purified hematopoietic stem cells. Having possession of such purified stem cell will allow for identification of growth factors associated with its self regeneration. The availability of purified hematopoietic stem cells would be extremely useful in bone marrow transplantation, as well as transplantation of other organs in association with the transplantation of bone marrow. Bone marrow transplantation alone has broad clinical implications for treatment for hematological malignancies, nonmalignant blood cell disorders, autoimmune diseases, and bone marrow failures associated with cancer treatment. In addition, HSC are important targets for gene therapy, where the inserted genes promote the health of the individual into whom the purified hematopoietic stem cells are transplanted.


A substrate treatment system for treating substrates in a continuous process includes a system chamber delimited by chamber walls, having an entry lock and an exit lock, and also at least one substrate treatment device and a transportation device inside the system chamber. The transportation device has an arrangement of transportation rollers arranged one behind the other in the transportation direction, for vertical or horizontal transportation of substrates. The rotor of the drive device is arranged under the pressure conditions prevailing in the system chamber and the stator of the drive device is arranged outside the pressure conditions prevailing in the system chamber.

The invention relates to a substrate treatment system having a transportation device for transporting substrates.
Typical substrate treatment systems for carrying out substrate treatment operations in a continuous process comprise an elongate system chamber having an entry lock at one end and an exit lock at the other end and also functional regions which are arranged between the said locks, for example one or more treatment regions with in each case at least one substrate treatment device, for example a coating device, an etching device, a heating device or the like, one or more pump regions with in each case at least one pump for evacuation or/and for atmospheric separation between functional regions situated upstream and downstream of the said pump, transfer regions for transferring the substrates from one functional region to the next functional region etc.
In this case, the functional regions which are defined by their function can form physically independent containers, which are connected to one another to form a system chamber, or can be arranged inside a common container which forms the system chamber. In the latter case, the functional regions can be physically bounded from one another by separating walls which typically have a substrate passage which can be designed as a flow resistor, that is to say as an opening of a size which still just permits the passage of the substrates, or as a valve, for example a check valve, roll valve or slider valve.
In substrate treatment systems of this kind, for example systems for coating or/and for dry-etching plate-like substrates, transportation devices are known, these transportation devices having an arrangement of transportation wheels or transportation rolls on which the substrates are transported in the transportation direction, in a vertical or horizontal position, from the entry lock to the exit lock through the substrate treatment system and, in the process, through the functional regions arranged between the said locks. In this case, the substrates can be supported by a substrate holder which is moved by the transportation device or can be moved through the substrate treatment system without a substrate holder, that is to say directly on the transportation device in a horizontal or vertical position.
In this case, a transportation roll is to be understood to mean an elongate, substantially cylindrical body which is rotatably mounted, for example in a typical transportation device for the horizontal (recumbent) transportation of plate-like substrates, at each of the two ends of the said transportation device, it being possible for a plurality of transportation rolls to be mounted, for example by way of each end, in a respective bearing support, the bearing supports in each case having the bearings for a plurality of transportation rolls which are arranged one behind the other in the transportation direction of the substrates. A transportation device of this kind is described, for example, in DE 10 2005 016 406 A1.
In contrast, for the purposes of this description, a transportation wheel is intended to be understood to mean a relatively short, substantially cylindrical body (with or without circumferential guide channels) which is rotatably mounted, for example in a typical transportation device for the vertical (upright or slightly inclined from the vertical) transportation of plate-like substrates, at only one of the two ends of the said transportation device. A plurality of transportation wheels can also be mounted, for example by way of one end, in a bearing support, the bearing supports in each case having the bearings for a plurality of transportation wheels which are arranged one behind the other in the transportation direction of the substrates. As an alternative, the bearings can also be arranged in a chamber wall of the substrate treatment system. A transportation device of this kind is described, for example, in DE 10 2007 052 524 A1.
For reasons of linguistic simplicity, transportation rolls and transportation wheels of the above-described type will both be referred to as transportation rollers in the text which follows.
In known transportation devices, the transportation rollers are actively driven, that is to say a drive device, for example an electric motor, is provided, this drive device driving a plurality of transportation rollers which are coupled by mechanical transmission means, for example chains, toothed belts, vertical shafts or the like. The transportation rollers can be coupled to one another inside or outside the system chamber.
If the transmission means is located, and therefore the transportation rollers are coupled, outside the system chamber, the drive device can be arranged outside the system chamber, this being advantageous for substrate treatment operations under vacuum or at high temperatures. However, the drive torque for generating rotation of the transportation rollers has to be transmitted by rotary leadthroughs from outside to inside the system chamber in this case. Coupling of the transportation rollers outside the system chamber requires a respective rotary leadthrough for each individual transportation roller, this being reflected in the price of the substrate treatment system. At the same time, a large number of potential leakage points are produced, these having to be carefully sealed off.
If the transmission means is located, and therefore the transportation rollers are coupled, inside the system chamber, problems arise in respect of component and material selection and the installation site, especially in the case of hot processes or critical necessary gas separation. The known transmission means are subject to mechanical wear. Furthermore, the length of the transmission means changes as temperatures change and there is a risk of the process atmosphere being contaminated by the transmission means.
Proceeding from this prior art, an aspect of the present invention is to improve known continuous substrate treatment systems.
This aspect is achieved by a substrate treatment system having the features of the present invention. Refinements and developments are disclosed in the following description.


Corrosion Resistant Ozone Generators, including ozone generating chips, for various purposes including spas, pools and jetted tubs as well as methods for making and using such Corrosion Resistant Ozone Generators.

Systems, apparatus and methods of treating and disinfecting water are of obvious and often critical importance. Access to safe water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing is obviously a basic human need. To ensure such safe water, drinking water and water used for industrial, agricultural, household or recreational use is often and advantageously purified. Thus, for example, spas, jetted (hot) tubs, whirlpools, wave pools baths, ponds, water tanks, swimming pools and the like are often treated with active compounds to maintain the water therein in a purified or sanitized condition. These active compounds, such as chlorine and ozone, have been used to sanitize the relatively large volumes, for example, hundreds or thousands of gallons, of water in such spas, tubs, etc. As used herein, the terms "spa" and "jetted tub" refer to systems which hold or contain a body of liquid aqueous medium, hereinafter referred to as water, which is often heated, in a reservoir which is smaller than a swimming pool, but is sufficiently large so that an adult human being can be completely submerged or immersed in the water contained in the reservoir. As used herein, Jacuzzis, baths, ponds, whirlpools, wave pools and swimming pools can be small or large, such that an adult human being, or several adult human beings can be completely submerged or immersed in the water contained in the reservoir.
Spas, jetted tubs and pools are often used by submerging all or a major portion of one's body in the water in the reservoir for recreation and/or relaxation. Additional, separate purifying or sanitizing components are also included in these waters to control bacteria, viruses, algae, etc., which are known to contaminate such waters. Very low concentrations of these active materials are used in order to avoid harming sensitive parts of the body—since such spas, tubs, pools etc. are sized so that the entire body can be immersed in the water and to minimize costs, because of the relatively large volume of water to be treated. For example, the normal (that is the typical, non-acute contamination) concentration of ozone used to purify or sanitize the water in a spa, tub or pool is often in the range of about 0.005 to about 0.05 parts per million (ppm) based on weight of ozone per volume of water (w/v).
Similarly, laundered fabrics are, by definition, soiled or dirty, and may also contain bacteria, virus particles, algae and fungi. Water used to launder clothing and other such fabrics is generally and advantageously treated before and/or after use, for example, to avoid recontamination of the fabrics or to lower the possibility of raising the infective load of such organisms in the environment.
Also, agricultural products, such as (without limitation) leafy produce (including lettuce, cabbage, parsley and the like), legumes (such as beans and peas), tomatoes, tubers (such as potatoes, beets, radishes and the like) all receive agricultural water, and various fertilizers. As a result of the use of certain sources of water or fertilizers there have been reports of bacterial and viral contamination of such foodstuffs. Disinfection of water for watering through the use of disinfecting agents (e.g., ozone and/or chlorine) can help lower the likelihood of food contamination. Ozone is an ideal agent for such disinfection, since it decomposes quickly into molecular diatomic oxygen, and leaves no aftertaste or residue on the food.
For similar reasons, treatment of, for example, drinking water with ozone provides water disinfection and purification without significantly affecting the taste of the water prior, for example to bottling.
Ozone (O3) has conventionally been used in industrial as well as household applications for purifying and deodorizing air, other gasses and the like. Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen, and is a relatively high-energy molecule (and quite unstable) when compared to molecular diatomic oxygen O2, and decomposes to molecular oxygen according to the equation 2O3→3O2 in about 0.5 hours under normal conditions at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent and this ability contributes to its utility as a disinfectant.
Under natural conditions ozone is most plentiful in the atmosphere, in a region of the stratosphere called the ozone layer, located between about 6 and about 31 miles above the surface. Stratospheric ozone is produced from the interaction of ultraviolet rays with diatomic oxygen in the following reactions:O2+photon→2O  (1)O+O2→O3  (2)
For most personal and industrial uses, ozone is generated using an ozone generator. The easiest and most cost effective manner of generating ozone is using the "coronal discharge method", in which high voltage is generated across a dielectric component located between two electrodes. A gap through which air or oxygen may be passed is also located between at least two electrodes. The spark generated across the dielectric component causes the formation of free radicals of oxygen, and subsequently the formation of ozone in a two-step reaction similar and corresponding to the formation of ozone from diatomic Oxygen shown above.
Ozone generators are therefore generally known in the art. However, the generation of ozone creates certain problems particular to the process. Therefore, for example, high concentrations of ozone can be chronically corrosive to materials, such as (without exception) metals, alloys, and rubber. Further corrosion may be caused when air rather than pure oxygen is used as the source of diatomic molecular oxygen and nitrogen containing salts and acids can be formed. All of this material can thereby shorten the useful life of an ozone generator and other related equipment, conduits, hoses, housings, contacts, fittings, pipes, wires and the like located in close proximity to the ozone generator.
In response to this problem, Harter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,707 constructed an ozone generator comprising a first electrode, a composite dielectric structure containing at least one layer of a first dielectric material including overlapping, flat, plate like particles of an inert dielectric material located directly against a second electrode. The first electrode and composite dielectrics structure are separated so as to define the gap. The gap comprises a chamber in which air or oxygen may be permitted to flow, and in which ozone may be generated from the air or oxygen. Additionally, the surfaces of the first electrode and of the dielectric structure exposed to the gap are coated with a material that protects the interior surfaces of the gap. Harter discusses an ozone generation having at least two different dielectrics, one comprised of plate-like particles and in which the ozonation chamber is coated with titanium dioxide.
As indicated above, in addition to the corrosive effect of ozone itself, when ozone is generated using air, which contains about 70% nitrogen, nitric acid is formed particularly when the air is moist or humid. This nitric acid also shortens the life of the entire ozone generator system. Similarly, under certain conditions ammonium nitrate may form on the dielectric, electrode(s) or other parts of the ozone generator.
In Lee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,277, an ozone generator is disclosed which is reported to be capable of producing ozone with much less consumption of electric power than previous models. The ozone generator features a pulse generator for generating high voltage pulses and a discharge chamber for inducing electrical discharge in response to the high voltage pulses. Electrical discharge takes place between electrode plate and a grounded chamber wall; a sheet of oxide dielectric covers the chamber wall to prevent corrosion of the chamber wall.
In Borgstrom et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,885, an apparatus and method for generating ozone is disclosed in which a generally symmetrical device comprises a first electrode arranged along a longitudinal axis. The electrode is proximal to a first dielectric component on a top side, and a second dielectric component on a bottom side. A top coronal discharge chamber and a bottom coronal discharge chamber are arranged between the first dielectric and a top second electrode and the second dielectric and a bottom second electrode.
Sali et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,541, discloses an ozone generator comprising a helical spring anode within a sealed glass dielectric tube. And a metal tube cathode spaced across an annular gap from the glass tube.
Mechtersheimer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,570, discloses an ozone generator in the form of a pair of outer electrodes and a tube or layer of tubes having a diameter corresponding to the space between outer electrodes, and having in each case an inner electrode. This configuration is stated to have the advantage of dispersing heat rather quickly.
Arlemark, WO97/01507, is said to have the advantage of being produced in a high frequency alternating current with high voltage over a dielectric. Oxygen is introduced between two plates of aluminum oxide and a current is applied to an electrode net in the device.
Yomomi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,978, is directed to a plate like ozone generator comprising a plurality of discharging cells stacked one over the other under pressure in a pressure vessel.
Morita et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,816, discloses a compact ozone generator comprising three layers of a dielectric, in which the first layer has a filamentous electrode attached to the top surface, the middle layer has an induction electrode on the surface thereof and the third layer has a heating coil located on the top surface thereof. The heating coil is for evaporating ammonium nitrate that may adhere to the discharge unit when humid air is used as the oxygen supply. The three layers are sandwiched together.
Ozone mixed with oxygen or air can be produced by passing oxygen gas (O2), for example, from a gas cylinder or an oxygen-containing gas, such as atmospheric air or air from an air blower, by the high voltage "coronal" discharge method. Large-sized ozone generators for industrial use generally employ pure oxygen or dry air as a starting material, whereas small-sized ozone generators for household or personal use employ untreated air as a starting material. Such air-using ozone generators have the disadvantage, as discussed above, that when the ozone generator is discharged continuously, corrosive or contaminating nitrogenous compounds such as ammonium nitrate or nitric acid may form or be deposited on the electrodes or other portions of the ozone generator as a result of their reaction with nitrogen in air, resulting in corrosion or otherwise interfering with the function of the device. More particularly, because untreated air often has a humidity percentage higher than that of artificially-produced dry air, large amounts of nitrogen oxides can be produced when ozone is generated by discharge.
Accordingly, when so corroded or contaminated, the density of the electric field generated by the ozone generator can be reduced. Also, salts such as ammonium nitrate covering the filamentary discharge electrode may tend to absorb water present in the air and become electrically conductive, thus increasing the apparent area of one or more electrode.
That is, in a conventional ozone generator, because salts and corrosive materials such as nitric acid may corrode or cover the electrode(s) of the ozone generator, the density of the electric field generated by the filamentary discharge electrode is reduced. The capacitance of the dielectric increases, resulting in reduced ozone generation.
Conventionally, therefore, the conventional ozone generator is periodically disassembled, and adhering ammonium nitrate is wiped off from the filamentary discharge electrode using water or a solvent. That is, a conventional ozone generator must be maintained through manual labor. After cleaning, the ozone generator resumes discharging to thereby generate ozone.
Typically, also, ozone is generated on site for use in, for example, applications including the purifying spa/tub/pool waters. Although ozone generators used for such service can, in addition to those employing coronal discharge, include apparatus containing a sealed ultraviolet (UV) light lamp. Such conventional ozone generators are generally effective, in that they will produce ozone for oxygen-containing gasses. However, these generators do have certain drawbacks that other ozone generators disclosed elsewhere herein do not have. For example, the UV light lamp is relatively bulky, can burn out (often requiring system disassembly and lamp replacement) and systems containing such lamps are relatively inefficient in producing the desired amounts of ozone.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide new ozone generators that address these problems, and systems for purifying waters used for example (and without limitation), in agriculture, food and drinking water applications, for household applications such as laundry (e.g., washing machine) and dishwashing applications, spas, jetted tubs and pools comprising such ozone generators.
Each and every patent, patent publication and other publication cited in this patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein individually and in its entirety.

Ozone generator systems, methods and apparatus


Water from a low pressure irrigation system is conveyed through a tube and sprayed upward from an orifice. A collection of splash plate water deflectors rotates above the orifice on supports extending up from the tube. Different surface shapes on the splash plates create different spray patterns when they are rotated into the path of the water stream from the orifice. A flow rate valve is incorporated into the tube to regulate water flow.

The prior art recognizes the advantages of spray type low volume sprinklers, sometimes called microsprayers or microsprinklers, compared to larger rotary, impact, or conventional pop-up sprinklers and small drip emitters. Low pressure systems that operate in the 20 to 30 psi range are more energy efficient since they deliver smaller amounts of water to just the locations where it is needed. This is better than pumping high pressure large volumes of water wastefully over large areas. The low application rates of low pressure systems provide better soil penetration and less runoff. The controlled water placement allows water to be delivered directly to just the plant that needs it, not broadcast over wide areas. Hence, trunks, foliage, and traffic areas remain dry. This saves on water as well. The lower operating pressures and flow rates saves money on pumping energy. Erosion is reduced with microsprinklers. They spread water evenly over the root zone of a plant, simulating natural rainfall. By contrast, a drip emitter soaks one spot for a longer time which tends to leach the soil and decrease soil aeration.
Prior art spray type microsprinklers generally produce one spray pattern each and thus must be available in a variety of different spray pattern types so as to optimally spray water exactly where desired. Typically, a low volume irrigation system is custom planned in advance to serve a particular collection of plants, with the correct spray head chosen for each location in the garden. One suffers the inconvenience, therefore, of having to select new spray heads if the garden is changed or if a mistake is made. The user inevitably ends up paying for extra unused sprinklers and parts. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a novel multipurpose spray head that allows a plurality of desired spray patterns to be generated by a single microsprayer.

Selectable spray pattern low volume sprinkler


A method of determining a number of a solution constituent includes introducing a first number of solution constituents to a first test location, establishing a first binding environment for the introduced first number of solution constituents, creating a first residual number of solution constituents by binding a first plurality of solution constituents, establishing a second binding environment for the first residual number of solution constituents, creating a second residual number of solution constituents by binding a second plurality of solution constituents from the first residual number of solution constituents, obtaining a first signal associated with the bound first plurality of solution constituents, obtaining a second signal associated with the bound second plurality of solution constituents, and determining a second number of a constituent of interest based upon the obtained first signal and the obtained second signal.

Extensive scientific research in the fields of biochemistry and medicine, particularly in recent decades, have revealed the fact that a wide range of diseases and physical conditions are expressed by molecular changes in the human body. In many cases, early detection of the molecular changes can enable earlier diagnosis of the condition which significantly increases the potential for effectively treating the condition.
Many molecular changes are identified using assays for detecting and quantifying analyte molecules such as DNA, RNA or proteins. These assays are based on specific binding of the analyte molecules to capture molecules with the amount of bound analyte molecules typically being proportional to the total number of analyte molecules in the test solution. This type of detection method is described as "affinity assay" and usually begins with bringing a test solution containing the analyte to be detected or quantified into contact with a set of capture molecules (also referred to as probe spot). When the test solution is in contact with the capture molecules, a certain percentage of the analyte will bind to the capture molecules. After a sufficient amount of time, the test solution is removed and the presence (or quantity) of analyte molecules bound to the capture molecules is detected.
Typically, affinity assays are limited by the fact that each set of capture molecules usually yields only a single data point. A single data point is generally insufficient for computing an accurate result, especially when there are unknowns in the system. Such unknowns can be the presence of cross reactive molecules, molecules different from the analyte of interest which nonetheless bind to the capture molecules, thus rendering quantitative results useless and causing false positives.
Another unknown might be the ambient temperature or the density of capture molecules. By way of example, molecules are usually immobilized on a surface by capture molecules. One method of preparing a test site with capture molecules is contact printing. With contact printing, the density of the capture molecules deposited on the surface frequently varies from one batch to the next by a factor of 2. As reported by Peterson et al., "The effect of surface probe density on DNA hybridization", Nucleic Acids Research, Vol 29, No 24, pp. 5163-5168, Oxford University Press, capture molecule density strongly influences the amount of analyte binding. Accordingly, assays using capture molecules which have been contact printed rely upon cumbersome external calibration methods (such as a standard curve) to provide valid and meaningful results.
A need exists for a device and method of performing an affinity assay. A further need exists for low cost assays including multiplexed assays, protein arrays, lateral flow devices, sandwich assays, competitive assays, or bead based arrays, which provide accurate results and a method of using such arrays. A method and system for performing an affinity assay which allows the number of analytes within a test solution to be determined would be beneficial.

Successive sampling device and associated method


A method performed at a computer system includes: receiving air pressure data from one or more air pressure sensors in a dwelling of a user; determining, based at least in part on the received air pressure data, a state of operation of a door or window in the dwelling; in accordance with a determination that the door or window is open, setting or sending instructions to set a configuration of a controller for the dwelling to a first configuration, the first configuration taking into account the open door or window; and,

A home or other dwelling may be equipped with a system of sensors, a controller, and related components. The controller is often set manually to one of a number of predefined configurations, in order to perform various functions, such as providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and securing the structure against intruders. The data gathered by the system in a given configuration may be used, for example, to shut off unneeded energy use, and/or to warn of potentially dangerous conditions and intruders. However, the configuration being used may need to change as circumstances in the dwelling change. For example, a configuration that has certain sensors always on can lead to false alarms, as well as inconvenience for the occupants of the dwelling. Reducing false alarms and increasing convenience is important for the effectiveness and user satisfaction with such systems. Yet current manual methods for setting the configuration of the controller are inefficient and inconvenient for users.

Devices and methods for setting the configuration of a smart home controller based on air pressure data

Abstract: in accordance with a determination that the door or window is closed, setting or sending instructions to set the configuration of the controller for the dwelling to a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration, the second configuration taking into account the closed door or window.


A magnetoresistance sensor structure is formed of a magnetoresistance sensor having a transverse biasing stack including a transverse pinning layer made of a transverse-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material, and a transverse pinned layer structure overlying the transverse pinning layer, a spacer layer overlying the transverse pinned layer structure, a sensing stack overlying the spacer layer, and a decoupling layer overlying the sensing stack. A longitudinal biasing stack overlies the magnetoresistance sensor and includes a longitudinal pinned layer, and a longitudinal pinning layer overlying the longitudinal pinned layer and made of a longitudinal-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material. The transverse-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material and the longitudinal-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material are preferably Ptxe2x80x94Mn or Nixe2x80x94Mn.

This invention relates to a structure of a magnetoresistance (MR) sensor overlaid with a longitudinal biasing (LB) stack in a read region and the fabrication method of this structure and, more particularly, to the transverse and longitudinal pinning layers used in the MR sensor and the LB stack, respectively.
A magnetoresistance (MR) sensor is used in a read/write head to read magnetic fields on a recording medium of a magnetic storage device. An example is the read/write head of a computer hard disk or a magnetic recording tape. The read/write head is positioned closely adjacent to the recording medium, separated from the recording medium by an air bearing surface (ABS) that does not allow them to touch. A data bit is written onto an area of the recording medium using the writing portion of the read/write head by locally changing its magnetic state. That magnetic state is later sensed by the MR sensor to read the data bit.
Two known types of MR sensors are a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor and a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor. The general technical basis, construction, and operation of the GMR sensor are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,778. The general technical basis, construction, and operation of the TMR sensor are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,410. The disclosures of both patents are incorporated by reference in their entireties. These patents also describe the read/write heads and the magnetic storage systems.
The structure of the MR sensors, such as the GMR sensor or TMR sensor, includes two thin-film stacks separated by an intermediate nonmagnetic film used as a spacer layer. FIG. 1 illustrates one form of a conventional MR sensor, with a Cuxe2x80x94O spacer layer separating the two thin-film stacks. The first thin-film stack, referred to as the transverse biasing (TB) stack, includes layers above the seed layers and below the Cuxe2x80x94O spacer layer (FIG. 1). In this TB stack, two magnetizations (M2 and M3) are separated by a ruthenium (Ru) spacer layer, and are rigidly pinned by a transverse pinning layer in two directions lying the plane of the MR sensor and perpendicular to the ABS. The second thin-film stack, referred to as the sensing stack, includes layers above the Cuxe2x80x94O layer and below a cap layer (FIG. 1). In this sensing stack, the magnetization is biased in a longitudinal direction lying in the plane of the MR sensor and parallel to the ABS.
A transverse pinning layer and a longitudinal biasing structure are provided to maintain the mutually perpendicular orientations of these magnetizations. The transverse pinning layer, the Ptxe2x80x94Mn film in FIG. 1, is positioned adjacent to the lower ferromagnetic film in the transverse biasing stack. (The lower ferromagnetic film is referred to as a keeper layer, whose magnetization M3 partially cancels the magnetization M2 of the upper ferromagnetic film, which is referred to as the reference layer.) The longitudinal biasing structure may be positioned either at two edges of the MR sensor as in FIG. 2, or adjacent to the sensing stack only in two side regions as in FIG. 3, thereby longitudinally biasing the sensing stack in the read region for sensor stability. The transverse pinning layer is typically made of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) film, while the longitudinal biasing structure is typically made of either a hard magnetic (HM) film with a suitable seed layer for the MR sensor structure as shown in FIG. 2, or another antiferromagnetic film for the MR sensor structure as shown in FIG. 3.
The use of the hard magnetic film as the longitudinal biasing structure causes a reduction in the available sensing area due to magnetic stiffness at the two edges of the MR sensor, thereby decreasing the read efficiency. These edge effects are a major problem as the MR sensor is made smaller. In addition, the required magnetic moment of the hard magnetic film is typically more than six times that of the sensing stack, resulting in low signal sensitivity of the MR sensor. On the other hand, the use of another antiferromagnetic film as the longitudinal biasing structure leads to concerns regarding the feasibility of maintaining the mutually perpendicular magnetization orientations and regarding corrosion resistance.
As magnetic storage devices are developed with increasing densities of stored data and relative speeds of movement of the recording media, their operating temperatures are increased as well. The required operating temperatures of the MR sensors are now in excess of about 180xc2x0 C., and may be expected to rise even further. There is a need for a pinning approach that rigidly pins the magnetizations at these elevated temperatures as well as at lower temperatures, and also exhibits acceptable corrosion resistance. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.
The present invention provides a magnetoresistance (MR) sensor structure useful to read magnetic fields, and a fabrication method for this MR sensor structure. In the MR sensor, transverse and longitudinal pinning layers are made of an antiferromagnetic material, preferably Ptxe2x80x94Mn. The MR sensor structure is stable at high operating temperatures and has good corrosion resistance. Good flux closure is formed between the sensing stack and the longitudinal biasing stack. The required magnetic moment of the longitudinal biasing stack generally matches that of the sensing stack, resulting in high signal sensitivity of the sensor. The present approach may be used for different types of MR sensor structures, such as a giant magnetoresistance sensor and a tunnel magnetoresistance sensor.
In accordance with the invention, a magnetoresistance sensor structure comprises a magnetoresistance sensor having a sensor surface plane, a transverse direction lying in the sensor surface plane, and a longitudinal direction lying perpendicular to the transverse direction and in the sensor surface plane. The magnetoresistance sensor comprises a transverse biasing stack comprising a transverse pinning layer made of a transverse-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material, and a transverse pinned layer structure overlying the transverse pinning layer. The magnetoresistance sensor further comprises a spacer layer overlying the transverse pinned layer structure, a sensing stack overlying the spacer layer, and a decoupling layer overlying the sensing stack. A longitudinal biasing stack overlies the magnetoresistance sensor. The longitudinal biasing stack comprises a longitudinal pinned layer and a longitudinal pinning layer overlying the longitudinal pinned layer and made of a longitudinal-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material. Preferably, there is also a seed layer upon which the transverse biasing stack is deposited, and a cap layer overlying the longitudinal biasing stack.
The transverse pinned layer structure is rigidly pinned magnetically in the transverse direction by the transverse pinning layer at temperatures of from room temperature to at least 180xc2x0 C., and the longitudinal pinned layer is rigidly pinned magnetically in the longitudinal direction by the longitudinal pinning layer at temperatures of from room temperature to at least 180xc2x0 C. The magnetoresistance sensor may be of any operable type, such as a giant magnetoresistance sensor or a tunnel magnetoresistance sensor.
The transverse-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material is preferably selected from the group consisting of Ptxe2x80x94Mn and Nixe2x80x94Mn, and the longitudinal-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material is selected from the group consisting of Ptxe2x80x94Mn and Nixe2x80x94Mn. The transverse-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material and the longitudinal-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material may be the same material, and are most preferably both Ptxe2x80x94Mn.
A method for fabricating a magnetoresistance sensor structure comprises the step of forming a magnetoresistance sensor having a sensor surface plane, a transverse direction lying in the sensor surface plane, and a longitudinal direction lying perpendicular to the transverse direction and in the sensor surface plane. The step of forming the magnetoresistance sensor comprises the steps of depositing a transverse biasing stack comprising a transverse pinning layer made of a transverse-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material, and a transverse pinned layer structure overlying the transverse pinning layer, depositing a spacer layer overlying the transverse pinned layer structure, depositing a sensing stack overlying the spacer layer, and depositing a decoupling layer overlying the sensing stack. Thereafter the magnetoresistance sensor is first annealed at a first annealing temperature and in a transverse first applied magnetic field to develop antiferromagnetism in the transverse pinning layer and to rigidly pin a magnetization of the transverse pinned layer in the transverse direction. A longitudinal biasing stack is thereafter formed overlying the magnetoresistance sensor. The step of forming the longitudinal biasing stack comprises the steps of depositing a longitudinal pinned layer, and depositing a longitudinal pinning layer overlying the longitudinal pinned layer and made of a longitudinal-pinning-layer antiferromagnetic material. Thereafter, the magnetoresistance sensor and the longitudinal biasing stack are second annealed at a second annealing temperature and in a longitudinal second applied magnetic field, to develop antiferromagnetism in the longitudinal pinning layer and to pin a magnetization of the longitudinal pinned layer in the longitudinal direction. The step of second annealing does not disrupt the magnetization of the transverse pinned layer structure.
In this method, the first annealing temperature is preferably from about 240xc2x0 C. to about 280xc2x0 C. and the transverse first applied magnetic field is from about 7.5 kOe to about 15 kOe. The second annealing temperature is preferably from about 220xc2x0 C. to about 260xc2x0 C. and the longitudinal second applied magnetic field is from about 10 Oe to about 1000 Oe.

Magnetoresistance sensors with Pt-Mn transverse and longitudinal pinning layers and a decoupling insulation layer

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a hybrid antenna array (100) comprising a plurality of digital branches (145), each digital branch including an analogue beamforming sub-array (e.g. 110-1), each sub-array having a plurality of antenna elements (120), a phase shifter (130) adapted to apply a phase shift to the signal from each antenna element, and a combiner (e.g. 135-1) adapted to combine the phase-shifted signals. Each digital branch also includes a signal chain (e.g. 140-1) adapted to convert the output of the sub-array to baseband. The hybrid antenna array also comprises a digital processing module (150), including: an angle of arrival estimation sub-module (155) adapted to estimate an angle of arrival of a signal at the antenna elements; a phase control sub-module (170) adapted to control the phase shift applied by each phase shifter depending on the estimated angle of arrival; and a digital beamformer (165) adapted to combine the baseband signals from the digital branches using a weight vector to form an output signal (180).

Adaptive antennas are important subsystems for long range, mobile and ad hoc wireless communications and sensing networks. The most powerful adaptive antenna architecture is the digital beamforming array, where each antenna element has an associated signal chain to convert the received signal from RF (radio frequency) to baseband, and the baseband signals are processed by a digital beamformer using adaptive filtering techniques. Digital beamforming antenna arrays have the capability of generating many antenna patterns simultaneously, performing high precision beamforming such as nulling, and producing output signals with the maximum signal to noise and interference ratio (SNIR). A further advantage of the digital beamforming array architecture is that on-line calibration of different branches can be handled automatically by the digital beamformer. However, purely digital beamforming antenna arrays do have a major disadvantage. Since the cost of processing digital data is proportional to the bandwidth and the computational power required for digital signal processing increases at least linearly with the number of elements, a large digitally beamformed antenna array for wideband operation is simply too costly and impractical for most applications. Another problem with digital beamforming arrays is that, due to the limitation of physical space defined by the array element spacing, a pure digital beamformer is impractical at millimeter-wave frequencies beyond approximately 55 GHz. The element spacing required for suppression of grating lobes at scan angles within 60 degrees is limited to 2.9 and 1.7 mm at operating frequencies of 55 and 95 GHz respectively, thus making it extremely difficult to physically place the signal chains behind the antenna elements.
The other principal adaptive array architecture is the analogue beamformer, in which "smart beams" are formed using RF or IF phase shifters on each antenna element in the array. In purely analogue systems, cost is a very weak function of bandwidth. Thus, for wideband adaptive antenna systems with a large number of elements, an analogue adaptive antenna array is much more economical than a purely digital adaptive array. However, an analogue beamformer has certain disadvantages. First, the calibration of a large analogue array is labour-intensive and on-line recalibration is extremely difficult. Second, special means must be employed for beam tracking, thus increasing the complexity and the cost. Third, there is no access to the baseband signals of individual analogue branches because the phase-shifted IF or RF signals are combined before conversion to baseband, so the capacity to form selective beam patterns is limited. These problems are particularly severe for large analogue arrays where the imperfection and ageing of components can cause serious degradation in antenna performance.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


A piezoelectric resonator plate includes at least a pair of excitation electrodes and at least a pair of extraction electrodes. The pair of extraction electrodes are respectively extracted from the pair of excitation electrodes to electrically and mechanically bond the pair of excitation electrodes to an external electrode. The pair of extraction electrodes each include a distal end portion. The distal end portion includes a connecting electrode extracted to a vicinity of one end portion on one principal surface of the piezoelectric resonator plate. The connecting electrodes each include a top surface where a first metal film to be bonded to the external electrode is formed. The first metal film includes a top surface with two or more protruding portions. The first metal film has a larger surface roughness and a smaller area compared with the respective connecting electrodes. The protruding portions are formed with cross-sections in curvature shapes.

A piezoelectric resonator device typified by a piezoelectric resonator is widely used in a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone. One of piezoelectric resonator plates used for the piezoelectric resonator is a crystal resonator plate. The crystal resonator plate includes excitation electrodes on front and back principal surfaces, extraction electrodes for extracting these excitation electrodes to end portions of the crystal resonator plate, and similar member. In this crystal resonator plate, a terminal electrode is formed inside of a box-shaped package with an open top, and a bonding portion (a connecting electrode) is formed in an end portion of the extraction electrode of the crystal resonator plate. The terminal electrode and the bonding portion are bonded together via a conductive bonding material. The opening portion is hermetically enclosed by a lid so as to constitute a surface-mount crystal resonator.
For example, in the crystal resonator disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a crystal resonator plate and the package are electrically and mechanically bonded together via the conductive bonding material such as a metal bump. To improve mutual bonding strength, the excitation electrode and the connecting electrode that are formed in the crystal resonator plate are different in material of a base electrode and a method for forming electrodes.

Piezoelectric resonator plate, piezoelectric resonator, method for manufacturing piezoelectric resonator plate, and method for manufacturing piezoelectric resonator


A bar-end type bicycle hydraulic operating device is basically provided with a base member and a hydraulic unit. The base member is configured to be mounted on a handlebar. The base member has an abutment that is configured to contact an end of the handlebar. The hydraulic unit is provided on the base member. The hydraulic unit includes a hydraulic cylinder that has a cylinder bore, a piston movably disposed in the cylinder bore, and a reservoir fluidly communicating with the cylinder bore.

Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bar-end type bicycle hydraulic operating device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bar-end type bicycle hydraulic operating device having a hydraulic unit with a hydraulic cylinder and a reservoir fluidly communicating with a cylinder bore of the hydraulic cylinder.
Background Information
Typically, most bicycles are provided with handlebar mounted operating devices for operating various bicycle components of a bicycle. A bull horn handlebar curves forward away from the rider and allows the rider to ride in a tuck position. Typically, each end of the bull horn handlebar is provided with a "bar-end operating device" that has an attachment portion disposed inside the end of the bull horn handlebar. In some instances, these bar-end operating devices can include both a shift operating device and a brake operating device. One example of a bar-end operating device having an attachment portion that is disposed inside the end of the bull horn handlebar is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0011197.
More recently, bicycles have been provided with hydraulic systems for operating various bicycle components. The bicycle hydraulic system typically has a hydraulic operating device that is connected to one or more bicycle hydraulically actuated components via one or more hydraulic hoses. In the case of a bicycle hydraulic brake system, typically a brake lever is provided as a hydraulic operating device that is fluidly connected to a brake caliper (e.g., a hydraulic operated device) by a hydraulic hose.

Bar-end type bicycle hydraulic operating device


An auto focusing apparatus comprises a contrast AF (auto focusing) means (10), an outside light AF means (20), a release button (30), a focusing accurate priority button (40) and control means (50). The control means controls the contrast AF (10) and outside light AF (20) to select a contrast AF operation when the focusing accurate priority button (40) is pressed before the release button (40) is pressed and to select an outside light AF operation when focusing accurate priority button (40) is not pressed before the release button (40) is pressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auto focusing (AF) apparatus and an image inputting apparatus having the auto focusing apparatus, more specifically, to an improvement in an auto focusing apparatus provided with two auto focus means for carrying out auto focus operations of mutually different kinds.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an image inputting apparatus such as a still camera or video camera is provided with an AF apparatus for adjusting automatically and optimally a focusing state of an image of a subject. An AF apparatus in a typical image inputting apparatus for recording the image of subject on a recording medium such as film, video tape and so on as a photographic image or video picture includes a ranging means and an AF which is referred to as an outside light AF relative to a contrast AF as described hereinafter and which is adopted to control a focus driving means in such a manner that a lens is moved to a focus position corresponding to a distance obtained by the ranging means.
Here, the outside light AF is classified broadly into a passive AF and an active AF in accordance with a difference in a method ranged by the ranging means. The passive AF carries out the ranging based on phase contrast in a plurality of images of subject projected by the ranging means passing through an optical path different from an optical path passing through a photographic optical system and the active AF radiates, for example, near-infrared ray, ultrasound wave or the like to the subject to accomplish the ranging based on time or angle at which a reflected wave on the subject is returned to the ranging means.
On the other hand, in a new image inputting apparatus such as a electronic camera (digital camera) in which the image of subject is projected on an imaging means such as a CCD or CMOS through the photographic optical system and the projected image is taken out as an electric signal, the AF operation can be carried out by use of an image signal since the image is taken out as the image signal simultaneously with the projection of the image of subject.
In other words, in the AF operation, the contrast (sharpness and so on of image) of image projected in the imaging means is evaluated in real time based on the image signal for every movement of a focus lens in the photographic optical system while moving the focus lens, and the movement of the photographic optical system is stopped at the position that the evaluated value is maximum.
This is referred to as a contrast AF or a climbing contrast AF. This is also referred to as CCDAF in case of using a CCD as the imaging means.
The contrast AF has an advantageous effect that focusing accuracy is very high for carrying out AF operation evaluating an image which is actually projected on an imaging means is evaluated without obtaining a distance to the subject.
The more a repeated frequency in a series of operations, which are an accumulation of image, transfer, computation of evaluated value, and comparison, is increased, the more a focusing accuracy can be enhanced, because the contrast AF is carried out while comparing the evaluated value every each moved position of the focus lens.
On the other hand, there is a problem that when the repeated frequency is increased, it takes a long time until a focusing position is determined (completion of AF operation).
If a time (time lag) requiring from initiation of the AF operation to completion thereof is long, there is a case that photograph cannot be carried out at a predetermined timing because the AF operation is completed in a case of exerting important influential circumstance on focusing for the image of subject, for example, photographing a subject which moves at a high speed.
There is a case that in the contrast AF, it is not possible to carry out appropriate focusing operation because clear difference on the evaluated value is not appear in dark circumstance where the entire contrast is low.
On the contrary, the outside light AF is inferior to the contrast AF with respect to the focusing accuracy, but it is possible to follow relatively effectively to a dynamic subject and to prevent photograph timing from losing because the time lag requiring the operation of AF is small.
The outside light AF also has an advantageous effect that it is difficult to affect influence of the contrast of subject, usually.
Therefore, a hybrid AF (HBAF) is proposed, in which two AF means including an AF means carrying out the operation of the outside light AF and an AF means carrying out the operation of the contrast AF are provided to be changeable selectively these AF means in accordance with photograph or subject condition (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-255456).
However, when a user selects one of the AF operations in this technique, a selecting operation must be carried out always before either of the AF operations is selected.
In other words, for example, when a dynamic subject is photographed, a switching means such as a photographing-mode switching dial, switching button or the like is first operated to set the photographing mode into focusing speed priority mode corresponding to the outside light AF and then photographing is carried out.
On the other hand, it is required that when photographing is carried out to obtain accurate focusing, the switching means is first operated to set the photographing mode into focusing accurate priority mode corresponding to the contrast AF and then photographing is carried out.
It is noted that the aforementioned switching method for the AF operation has a good convenience because it is not necessary to carry out operation of switching the photographing mode point by point when multiple times of photographing are carried out continuously while maintaining the same photographing mode.
By the way, for example, during photographing in the focusing accurate priority mode in the AF apparatus, the dynamic subject comes suddenly within the user's range of vision. If the photographing is continued following to the dynamic subject, it is necessary that the user, first, operates the switching means so as to switch the AF operation to the focusing speed priority mode.
However, since the switching operation must be carried out even a case wishing to carry out the photographing by switching suddenly the AF operation, there is the possibility that it is not possible to obtain a desired image due to lose of photographing timing by taking time in the switching operation, lose sight of the subject by averting the user's eyes from the subject because of the switching operation.

Auto focusing apparatus and image inputting apparatus


A system and method are disclosed for identifying a user based on the classification of user movement data. An identity verification system receives a sequence of motion data from a mobile device operated by a target user. From the sequences of motion data, the identity verification system identifies a plurality of identity blocks representing different movements performed by the target user and encodes a set of signature sequences from each identity block into a feature vector. Each feature vector is input to a confidence model to output an identity confidence value for an identity block. An identity confidence value describes a confidence that the movement in the identity block was performed by the target user. The identity confidence value is compared to an operational security threshold and if identity confidence value is above the threshold, the target user is granted access to an operational context.

Physical and digital security systems rely on technologies and techniques that are antiquated in today's world. In the digital world, passwords only prove that an individual knows a password. In the physical world, access cards only prove that an individual has an access card or was able to make a copy of the access card. Despite their widespread implementation, such techniques represent a security hole in the modern world. Whether physical or digital, these constructs have been put in place to make access control decisions by confirming a person's identity at a given time. However, these systems create several security problems. First, while a password or a security card function as a proxy for a user's identity, neither validates that the person using the password (and/or card) is in fact the user to whom the identity belongs. Second, passwords or security cards can be easily compromised. For example, a user may guess another user's password or duplicate or steal another user's security card. Additionally, once access has been granted based on receipt of a password or security card, access is often granted for a longer period of time than is appropriate for an average user.
Although security techniques have been developed to address these problems, existing techniques are still unable to address the problems described above. Multi-Factor Authentication techniques may increase the difficulty required to impersonate another user, but they are still unable to validate a user's identity. Smart Cards may replace a username or password with a physical card and a PIN, but a user impersonating another user need only have their card and know their PIN to be granted access. Moreover, these techniques add additional implementation challenges, for example requiring users to carry additional security cards that are not practical for mobile users and requiring that physical access points be outfitted with compatible card reading technologies. Conventional biometric systems are very expensive and difficult to implement and are not designed to improve the convenience with which a user may be granted access. Moreover, these systems still often rely on a back-up password which can be stolen or guessed by another user.

Machine learning-based platform for user identification


An anti-bacterial polymer of the present invention consists of a vapor deposition-polymerization reaction product of a diaminobenzoic acid monomer or halogen atom-containing diamine monomer and a monomer reactive with these monomers. The anti-bacterial polymer can be prepared by a method, which comprises the step of subjecting a gas obtained by evaporating a diaminobenzoic acid monomer or halogen atom-containing diamine monomer and a gas obtained by evaporating a monomer reactive with these monomers to vapor deposition-polymerization, in a vacuum, to thus form an anti-bacterial polymer. The method permits the formation of a film having a desired thickness even on the surface having a complicated shape such as the surface of, for instance, a heat exchanger.

The present invention relates to an anti-bacterial polymer and a method for the preparation of the same, an anti-bacterial polymer film and a method for the preparation thereof, and an article having, on the surface, such an anti-bacterial polymer film. Thus, the present invention permits the application of an anti-bacterial polymer film on the surface of an article such as members and products used in, for instance, housing or building materials and heat exchangers of air-conditioning systems.
As a method for the preparation of an anti-bacterial plastic, there has in general been known a technique in which an anti-bacterial agent is incorporated into a plastic material through melting with heating. This incorporation process requires the use of an anti-bacterial agent having such heat resistance that it can in general withstand the temperature ranging from 250 to 300° C. or higher, although the heat resistance required for the anti-bacterial agent may vary depending on the kinds of plastics used and the processing techniques selected. More specifically, such an anti-bacterial agent is used for preventing any weight change and discoloration of the anti-bacterial agent and any reduction of the anti-bacterial effect of the resulting plastic material because of the volatilization, decomposition of the anti-bacterial agent and the release of moisture contained therein. Examples of plastics used include polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride) and polypropylene. The foregoing anti-bacterial plastic (product) is, for instance, prepared by the addition of a master batch or plastic pellets containing an anti-bacterial agent in a high concentration on the order of about 5 to 30% to a desired plastic material, mixing them and then molding the resulting mixture. The concentration of the anti-bacterial agent in the final product is mainly set at the range of from about 0.3 to 2%. As an example of the conventional technique for the foregoing incorporation, there has been known an anti-bacterial resin product obtained by adding an anti-bacterial agent consisting of soluble glass to a polycarbonate resin and then incorporating the former into the latter (see, for instance, Japanese Patent No. 3,271,888 (claim 1)).
In addition, there has also been known a method for preparing a polyurea resin for a resist or an electrical insulation material by evaporating, in a vacuum, (a) a specific diamine component such as 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane and (b) a diisocyanate component from separate evaporation sources, forming a polyurea film on a substrate through vapor deposition-polymerization and then irradiating the polyurea film with ultraviolet rays and/or an electron beam (see, for instance, Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (hereunder referred to as "J.P. KOKAI") Hei 7-258370 (claim 1, pages 1-2)).
Moreover, there has also been known a polyimide resin, as a component for a polyimide resin composition, prepared through solution polymerization of a diamino-benzoic acid and pyromellitic acid anhydride (see, for instance, J.P. KOKAI 2001-106911 (claim 5, pages 10-11).
Furthermore, there has also been known a vapor deposition-polymerized film of polyimide prepared by the vapor deposition-polymerization of a specific acid anhydride such as 3,3′,4,4′-bisphenyltetracarboxylic acid anhydride with a specific diamine such as 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane (see, for instance, J.P. KOKAI Hei 11-236447 (claims 1 and 2)).
In all of the foregoing patent articles, it is not disclosed and/or suggested that an anti-bacterial polymer can be formed by the vapor deposition-polymerization of a diamino-benzoic acid and a monomer reactive with the benzoic acid.
In addition, in most cases, the anti-bacterial properties are imparted to an article such as a member or a product of a metal or a ceramic material by applying an anti-bacterial plastic film onto the surface of such an article using, for instance, an adhesive. For this reason, a problem arises such that it is quite difficult to apply an anti-bacterial agent to the entire surface of an article such as a member or a product having a complicated shape. Accordingly, there has been desired for the development of an anti-bacterial polymer capable of being applied onto the surface of an article having a complicated surface shape.

Anti-bacterial polymer and method for the preparation thereof, anti-bacterial polymer film and method for the preparation thereof, and article having such a film on the surface thereof


The disclosure describes a magnetic circuit assembly that includes a magnet assembly and an excitation ring. The magnet assembly defines an input axis and includes a pole piece and a magnet underlying the pole piece. The excitation ring includes a base and an outer ring positioned around the magnet assembly. The base includes a platform layer underlying the magnet and a base layer underlying the platform layer. The outer ring overlies the base layer. An inner portion of the outer ring faces the magnet assembly and an outer portion of the outer ring is configured to couple to an outer radial portion of a proof mass assembly. The pole piece and the platform layer include a high magnetic permeability material.

A transducer may detect a directional stimulus along an input axis and translate that stimulus into a measurement signal. The transducer may detect the directional stimulus by detecting displacement of a proof mass assembly along the input axis. The proof mass assembly may be positioned between two magnetic circuit assemblies that each produce a magnetic field, and coils on the proof mass assembly may interact with the magnetic field. During operation, the proof mass assembly may be subject to various dynamic conditions that reduce an accuracy of the transducer. These dynamic conditions may cause deviations in displacement of the proof mass assembly and, as a result, deviations in the output of the transducer.