A heat insulating cooking vessel includes a heat insulating outer container, an inner container which is releasably housed in the outer container, and a heat insulating lid member for closing the opening portion of the outer container when the inner container is housed in the outer container. The inner container is formed shallower than the outer container so that the inner container is positioned below the opening portion of the outer container when housed in the outer container. The side wall of the inner container has at least one handle, each handle being composed of a tang portion extending upward and a grip portion arranged on the tip of the tang portion. The heat insulating lid member of the outer container has at least one cutout into by which the handle of the inner container can be inserted. The heat insulating lid member is releasably disposed to the opening portion of the outer container so that a lower face of the heat insulating lid member is positioned adjacent to the opening portion of the inner container and below the opening portion of the outer container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a heat insulating cooking vessel utilized for a cooking process by which food semi-cooked by heating or cooling is kept warm or cool and brought to a completely cooked state.
2. Prior Art
In general, the process of heating and cooking food involves electrical heat or a direct flame. However, such a cooking process makes food susceptible to break-down or scorching due to heating, and consumes a large amount of energy.
A cooking process which can solve the above-mentioned problem is desirable, for example one in which vegetables or grains are immersed in a proper quantity of boiling water or boiling seasoned soup, or semi-cooked food is kept warm or cool for an extended period of time to bring it to a completely cooked state.
As a cooking vessel suitable for such a cooking process, the heat insulating cooking vessel shown in FIG. 11 has been conventionally proposed.
The heat insulating cooking vessel is composed of a heat insulating container 1, a container portion 3, an inner pot 2 releasably housed in the container portion 3, and a lid portion 4 disposed on the container portion 3, which can be sealed up.
The container portion 3 consists of an inner bottle 5 which is cylindrical and has an approximately hollow curve shaped bottom and an outer bottle 6 which has a larger diameter than that of the inner bottle 5 and has approximately the same shape as the inner bottle 5, both bottles being jointed airtight at their respective upper edges to form a dual wall structure. The space between the inner bottle 5 and outer bottle 6 is either a vacuum space or is filled with heat insulating material to form a heat insulating portion 7. A bottom element 8 is disposed on the bottom of the container portion 3, and handles 9, 9 are disposed on both sides of the container portion 3. The lid portion 4 is formed with an upper lid element 11 of an approximately disc shape and having a lid grip 10 at its center, and with a lower lid element 12 also of an approximately disc shape, the space between the upper lid element 11 and the lower lid element 12 being filled with heat insulating material.
An explanation is given of the inner pot 2 housed in the heat insulating container 1 referring to FIG. 12. The inner pot 2 is equipped with an inner pot container portion 13, an inner pot lid portion 14 and a hanger portion 15. On the upper edge of the inner pot container portion 13 is placed a disc-shaped inner pot container lid portion 14 with the same diameter as that of the container portion 13. Stopper portions 16, 16 are located on the outer peripheral wall of the inner pot container portion 13 so as to engage with the both ends of the hanger portion 15. The hanger portion 15, which is semi-circular shaped and has approximately the same diameter as that of the inner pot container portion 13, are rotatable with respect to the inner pot container portion 13.
FIG. 13 shows the structure of a rice cooker pot as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Second Publication No. 62-44482. This rice cooker pot consists of a heat insulating pot 17 and a cooking pot 18 with a lid, which are housed releasably in the jar. The lid 19 is placed on the opening of the cooking pot 18 positioned flush or above the upper edge of the heat insulating pot 17. The lid element 20 filled with heat insulating material is positioned above the lid 19 of the cooking pot.
However, these conventional heat insulating cooking vessels have the following problems.
Referring to the heat insulating cooking vessel shown in FIG. 11, the hanger portion 15 of the inner pot 2 is disposed near the opening on the outer surface of the inner pot container portion 13, rotatable with respect to the container portion 13, and is circular with approximately the same curvature as that of the inner pot container portion 13. Therefore, when food is semi-cooked in the inner pot 2 prior to keeping the semi-cooked food warm or cool in the heat insulating container 1, the hanger portion 15 shifts its position relative to the inner pot container 13, thus making it difficult to stir the food in the pot 2. Furthermore, when the inner pot 2 is heated by a heating device such as a gas stove and the like, its heat is convected to the hanger portion 15, resulting in danger to a person who touches the hanger portion 15.
In addition, when the inner pot 2 is housed in the heat insulating container 1, the hanger portion 15, which is rotatable with respect to the container portion 13, may have the bottom portion of the inner pot container portion 13 touch the opening of the heat insulating container 1, so that the inner pot container portion 13 is tilted to cause food in the container to spill out.
Furthermore, when the inner pot 2 is housed in the heat insulating container 1 and cooking is performed by keeping the food either warm or cold, the hanger portion 15 is also housed in the heat insulating container 1. Therefore, the hanger portion 15 is heated, so that it is too hot for a person to touch, thus making it difficult to take the inner pot 2 out of the heat insulating container 1.
In addition, as the hanger portion 15 protrudes from the outer surface of the inner pot container portion 13, the dimensions of the heat insulating container 1 should be large to incorporate the protrusion, causing a higher production cost and preventing the cooking vessel from being lightweight and compact.
In the rice cooker pot shown in FIG. 13, as the lower surface of the lid element 20 is positioned above the upper edge of the heat insulating pot 17, or in other words, the insulating material 20a in the lid element 20 is positioned above the upper edge of the heat insulating pot 17, the insulating performance is reduced.
Furthermore, a structure in which no hanger is provided in the cooking pot (inner container) will reduce the ability to put in or take out the inner pot and to cook using the inner pot, unless the vessel is limited only to cooking rice, which is usually served directly from the inner pot.


Described is an improved emulsifier system suitable for use in making dehydrated starch ingredients. Also disclosed are a process for making the dehydrated ingredients using the improved emulsifier systems, doughs made using the dehydrated ingredients and the process for making those doughs, and food products containing the dehydrated ingredients.

Many processes and compositions are known in the art for making food products derived from dehydrated starch ingredients. Although processing of these products has been carried out for years, problems are still encountered in reproducing, within a narrow (and predictable) range, product textures, flavors and expansion ratios that ensure the manufacture of products having consistent quality. Many farinaceous snack products are made from "half-products." Problems associated with the expansion properties of half-products—e.g., the amount of oil absorbed during expansion when frying the half-products and the texture and flavor of the finished snacks—have placed added importance on developing dough formulas that can be used to produce expanded snacks which are lower in oil and have improved textures and flavors relative to conventional expanded snacks.
Farinaceous products comprising dehydrated fruits, grains and vegetables, and in particular potatoes, have become extremely popular. Among the most popular products are fabricated potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels and extruded or puffed products. Farinaceous products are generally made by combining water, flavorings, emulsifiers and other materials with dehydrated starch ingredients. The mixture is then typically extruded and/or sheeted and cooked (e.g., via baking or frying) to form the final product. Control over the taste and other organoleptic properties of the finished product is largely dependent on the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of the starting dehydrated ingredient(s).
By utilizing the improved emulsifier system of the present invention, manufacturers and producers of raw material ingredients for starch-based farinaceous snacks can increase production rate, decrease production costs, or both. When raw material suppliers can offer better raw materials to formulators and manufacturers of various farinaceous food products, the formulators and manufacturers may be in substantially better control of the microstructure, resulting in improvements in flavor display, appearance, texture, and/or eating quality of the resulting formulated food.
Additionally, utilization of the improved emulsifier system of the present invention can minimize changes in product aging (i.e., staling). Further, the emulsifier system may reduce the oil content of the fried or baked fabricated farinaceous snack.
The improved emulsifying system of the present invention further provides increased flexibility in the process of formulating snacks using rice, wheat, corn and potato (e.g., granules, flakes or other dehydrated potato forms) ingredients. This leads to potential cost reduction, flavor improvement or both. Further, with the improved emulsifier system of the present invention it is possible to formulate various products (baked as well as fried) that exhibit a range of microstructures and textures.
Also important in the fabricated farinaceous foods industry is the cost and speed of the manufacturing process. The improved emulsifier system of the present invention provides process control optimization that allows the maximization of line speed control to be formulated and manufactured (e.g. tailored microstructure).
The emulsifier system also provides farinaceous food products which exhibit improved dough antisticking properties; these anti-stick properties are important to aid in formulation, processing and manufacturing flexibility, and are particularly important in the manufacture of embossed snacks such as, for example, Pringles Ridges®. Additionally, these anti-stick properties are important in relatively "weak" doughs (e.g., reduced sheet strength) such as doughs used for crackers and tortillas.
The improved emulsifier system of the present invention can be used to reduce the level of emulsifier needed in the dehydration process. In particular, it reduces the level of the emulsifier(s) needed as a processing aid in the drum drying operation. This reduces the cost of raw materials, as well as the potential for formation of off-flavors due to oxidation. In addition, the improved emulsifier system of the present invention may reduce potato cell breakage in the drum drying operation, which results in higher levels of flavor precursors. This results in farinaceous food products of improved flavor.
For a fat-free snack such those fried in olestra, the level of emulsifiers in the dehydrated starch ingredients may be decreased. This allows the formulator to increase the level of other sources of triglycerides and still provide the reduced level of fat in the finished product necessary in most territories to make the fat-free claim.
Further, the improved emulsifier system of the present invention may reduce the agglomeration issues of potato cells during fluidization and spray drying in the manufacturing of granules.

Processes for making dehydrated starch ingredients


A method of monitoring network traffic of a connected vehicle. The method includes receiving network traffic information from a vehicle gateway, the network traffic information including malicious and/or benign information. The method also includes storing the network traffic information on a data server and periodically updating the network traffic information stored on the data server. The method further includes: pre-processing the network traffic information, the pre-processing the network traffic information including filtering and normalizing the network traffic information; generating a learning model based on the pre-processed network traffic information, the learning model being generated by an artificial intelligence learning; updating the learning model based on additional network traffic information, the additional network traffic information including real-time network data; in accordance with the updated learning model, detecting an anomaly event in the incoming network data; and generating a notification and/or blocking one or more packets associated with the incoming network data.

With increasing cybersecurity disasters, concerns regarding infrastructure security have risen significantly among various organizations and businesses. Many organizations and businesses interested in strengthening their security infrastructure often seek third-party cyber-threat intelligence solutions. However, in general, third-party cyber-threat intelligence solutions do not operate in real-time and usually require significant human involvements, as well as being cost prohibitive. Further, in order for organizations and businesses to fully understand impending threats, Security Operation Center (SOC) and Incident Response (IR) teams are often implemented to measure the severity of threats, which requires time, resources and money. As such, there is an ongoing need in the cybersecurity industry to respond to cyberattacks in real-time with minimal human interaction, and a need for autonomous solutions is on the rise.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of these above-referenced challenges. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art, or suggestions of the prior art, by inclusion in this section.

Systems and methods for cyber monitoring and alerting for connected aircraft


The present invention provides a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent dimensional stability and mechanical strength, and having high durability at the time of a power generation. Each of polymer electrolyte membranes (111, 211, 311) have a region 1 having proton conductivity over the entirety in the thickness direction of the membrane and a region 2 located at the outer peripheral portion of the region 1 and having a non-porous sheet disposed so that the region 2 has no proton conductivity over the entirety in the thickness direction of the membrane, and outer edges of the catalyst layers (127, 128) are disposed so as to be located in the area 2.

Fuel cells are expected to be widely used in the future since their power generation efficiency is high, and their load to the environment is light. Particularly polymer electrolyte fuel cells are expected to be widely used for movable bodies such as automobiles, or as distributed power generation system, or cogeneration systems for home use, since their power density is high and their operating temperature is low, whereby downsizing can be carried out.
A cross-sectional view of a single cell for conventional fuel cells is shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 17, a single cell 1 for fuel cells has a polymer electrolyte membrane 11. This polymer electrolyte membrane 11 usually has a thickness of from about 20 to 120 μm, and a cation exchange membrane made of a perfluorocarbon polymer having chemically stable sulfonic groups is used for it.
Further, two catalyst layers 27 and 28 each containing a metal catalyst are bonded to both outer surfaces 11a of the polymer electrolyte membrane 11. These catalyst layers 27 and 28 are formed on the center portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane 11, and a portion not bonded to the catalyst layers 27 and 28 is left along its periphery.
Further, a membrane-catalyst layer assembly 31 is constituted by such a polymer electrolyte membrane 11 and catalyst layers 27 and 28, and gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 are respectively disposed on both outer surfaces 31a of the membrane-catalyst layer assembly 31 on the side of the catalyst layers 27 and 28. In order to conduct electrons entering into or leaving from the catalyst layers 27 and 28, these gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 have sizes which are the same as or larger than the sizes of the catalyst layers 27 and 28, and they are formed from e.g. carbon paper or carbon cloth.
However, as shown in FIG. 18, the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 may be disposed to cover not only the surfaces of such catalyst layers 27 and 28 but also their sides. In such a case, the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 may also be contacted with the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 at contact surfaces 33a.
Further, a membrane-electrode assembly 37 is constituted by the membrane-catalyst layer assembly 31 and the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34, and, on both outer surfaces 37a of the membrane-electrode assembly 37, on the side of the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34, gas channels 47 and 48 are formed between them and separators 41 and 42.
Here, the separators 41 and 42 have such sizes as to cover the entire surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane 11, and concave grooves 45 and 46 are engraved at the respective portions facing the catalyst layers 27 and 28, so that when the separators 41 and 42 and the membrane-electrode assembly 37 are fastened, such grooves 45 and 46 will form the gas channels 47 and 48.
Furthermore, at the portions of the separators 41 and 42 facing the portions of the membrane-electrode assembly 37 where the catalyst layers 27 and 28 are not bonded, gaskets 53 and 54 are located for sealing so that a fuel gas and an oxidant gas will not leak to outside, and when the separators 41 and 42 and the membrane-electrode assembly 37 are assembled, such gaskets are interposed between the separators 41 and 42 and the polymer electrolyte membrane 11, so that the gas channels 47 and 48 are sealed against outside.
As described above, a single cell 1 is constructed as a minimum unit for power generation by a fuel cell, and in a case of using such single cells 1 for fuel cells, a plurality of single cells 1 may be used as laminated or stacked so as to generate a practical voltage.
In such a construction, hydrogen is supplied to the anode (catalyst layer 28) side of the single cell 1. On the other hand, oxygen or air is supplied to the cathode (catalyst layer 27) side. At that time, hydrogen, oxygen and air are supplied through the gas channels 47 and 48. As a result, a reaction of H2→2H++2e− takes place on the anode side. H+ (proton) produced on the anode side transfers to the cathode side through the polymer electrolyte membrane 11, and e− (electron) transfers to the cathode side via an external circuit. On the other hand, on the cathode side, the proton transferred from the anode side through the membrane, the electron transferred via the external circuit and oxygen supplied are reacted, whereby a reaction represented by ½O2+2H++2e−→H2O takes place.
Thus, in a fuel cell having the single cell 1, chemical energy can be converted to electric energy. In order for the proton to pass through the polymer electrolyte membrane 11, the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 is required to be in such a state that it holds water. Therefore, in order to carry out such a reaction efficiently, gases to be supplied to the anode and the cathode are humidified and then supplied thereto.
However, in a fuel cell constructed as described above, at end portions 31b of electrode-catalyst layers shown by a dotted line circle in FIG. 17, at contact surfaces 33a from end portions of catalyst layers 27 and 28 to end portions of the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 in FIG. 18, or at end portions 30 (portions in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane 11) of the gaskets 53 and 54 at the side of the catalyst layers 27 and 28, there has been a problem such that the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 tends to have holes, or short circuiting of electrodes is likely to occur though the reason is not clearly understood.
As causes of troubles at the end portions 31b of the electrode catalyst layer in FIG. 17, it is presumed that the pressure at the time of bonding electrodes is exerted on the end portions so strongly that the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 is likely to be damaged, or a creep phenomenon occurs at the end portions 31b of the electrode catalyst layer, since the pushing pressure is exerted from both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly 37 also during the operation, whereby gas leakage increases and a local burning reaction takes place, to cause membrane decomposition or short circuiting. Accordingly, it is considered advisable that the portions where the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 and the catalyst layers 27 and 28 are bonded at the end portions 31b of the electrode catalyst layer, have a reinforced structure.
As a means for solving the above problems, a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed which has a structure such that reinforcing frames made of polymer sheets are interposed between the end portions of electrode catalyst layers and the polymer electrolyte membrane (Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, in the case of this membrane-electrode assembly, there is a problem that membrane damage occurs in the vicinity of end portions inside of the reinforcing frames, though membrane damage at the end portions of the electrode catalyst layers can be suppressed.
Accordingly, a membrane not substantially containing a reinforcing material in the vicinity of the center of the conductive portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane and containing a reinforcing material such as fiber, fabric, fibril or porous membrane in the vicinity of the boundary between the conductive portion and the non-conductive portion around it, has been proposed (see Patent Documents 3 and 4). However, in the case of this membrane, in the vicinity of the center, its strength is insufficient though resistance is low, and the gas permeability of the reinforced portions is suppressed but the suppression is still insufficient, and during a long-term operation, a defect of the membrane or short circuiting was likely to occur in the vicinity of the end portions of the electrode catalyst layers.
Further, a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed, which is prepared in such a manner that holes of 3 mmΦ are formed in 7 rows×7 columns on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film so that the distance between the centers of adjacent holes is 6 mm, a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer is impregnated in the holes and dried to prepare a membrane having a conductive portion with an area of 39 mm×39 mm, and then electrodes of 50 mm×50 mm are bonded on both sides of the membrane (see Patent Document 5). However, in such a case, there was such a problem that the proton conductivity in the vicinity of its center is insufficient though proton conductivity at the peripheral portions is low, whereby the power generation property is low.
On the other hand, as causes of troubles on the contact surfaces 33a from the end portions of the catalyst layers 27 and 28 to the end portions of the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 in FIG. 18, it is presumed that the pressure at the time of bonding the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 is exerted on their end portions so strongly that the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 is likely to be damaged, the pushing pressure is exerted on the membrane-electrode assembly 37 also during the operation, whereby the gas diffusion layers 33 and 34 having relatively large irregularities on their surfaces are pushed at portions in direct contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 to decrease the membrane thickness, and outside of the outer edges of the catalyst layers 27 and 28, supplied gas is not consumed and is likely to remain, whereby the gas concentration becomes high and the gas permeability becomes high.
As a result, it is considered that a burning reaction locally takes place, and membrane decomposition or short circuiting occurs. Therefore, a polymer electrolyte membrane having such a structure that portions of the contact surfaces 33a are reinforced, is considered to be preferred.
As a means for solving the above problems, a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed, which is prepared in such a manner that a sealing material of tetrafluoroethylene/propylene copolymer is applied on peripheral portions of the gas diffusion layers and dried to prepare assistant gaskets having a width of from 2 to 10 mm and a thickness of 60 μm, and catalyst layers are formed inside of such gaskets and then bonded with an ion exchange membrane (see Patent Document 6).
However, in the case of this membrane-electrode assembly, it is difficult to prepare the assistant gaskets and to form catalyst layers precisely in it. Therefore, there is such a problem that the catalyst layers are likely to overlap on the assistant gaskets to form defects.
Further, a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed, which is prepared in such a manner that on center portions of gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers with a smaller area are respectively applied and dried, followed by bonding with an ion exchange membrane having fluororesin sheets with an opening of the same size as the catalyst layers bonded thereto (see Patent Document 7).
However, misalignment may occur at the time of bonding the above gas diffusion layers with the ion exchange membrane, and the catalyst layers and the fluororesin sheets may overlap to form defects.
Further, a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed, which is prepared in such a manner that a fluororesin sheet having an opening with a certain size is bonded on each side of an ion exchange membrane, a catalyst layer with the same size as the opening is applied to the opening and dried, and then a gas diffusion layer larger than the opening is bonded to the catalyst layer (see Patent Document 8).
However, it is difficult to apply the catalyst layer with the same size as the opening, and the catalyst layer and the fluororesin sheet are likely to overlap to form defects.
Further, as a cause of the trouble of the gaskets 53 and 54 at the end portions 30 on the side of catalyst layers 27 and 28, it is presumed that the pressure at the time of bonding of the gaskets 53 and 54 is exerted on the end portions so strongly that the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 is likely to be damaged, the pushing pressure is exerted on the gaskets 53 and 54 also during the operation, whereby the gaskets 53 and 54 having relatively large irregularities on their surface are pushed at portions in direct contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane 11 to decrease the membrane thickness, and outside of the outer edges of the catalyst layers 27 and 28, supplied gas is not consumed, and is likely to remain, whereby the gas concentration becomes high, and the gas permeability becomes high.
As a result, it is considered that a burning reaction locally take place, and a membrane decomposition or short circuiting occurs. Therefore, a polymer electrolyte membrane is considered to be preferred, which has such a structure that the vicinity of the inner portions 30 of the gaskets 53 and 54 is reinforced.
As a means for solving the above problems, a membrane-electrode assembly has been proposed, which has such a structure that reinforcing frames of a polymer sheet are interposed between gaskets and a polymer electrolyte membrane (see Patent Document 2).
However, in the case of such a membrane-electrode assembly, there is a problem that the membrane is damaged in the vicinity of the end portions inside of the reinforcing frames, though the membrane damage at the end portions of gaskets can be suppressed.
Also with respect to such problems, it is conceivable to solve them by membranes as described in the Patent Documents 3 to 5. However, also in such cases, there will be the same problems as the problems caused by the membranes as described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 3 to 5.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication 3245161 (claim 1)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication 3368907 (claim 1)
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2000-260443 (claims 1 and 3)
Patent Document 4: JP-A-8-259710 (Example 3)
Patent Document 5: JP-A-2000-215903 (Example 3)
Patent Document 6: JP-A-7-220742 (Example 1)
Patent Document 7: JP-A-10-154521 (Example 1)
Patent Document 8: JP-A-10-308228 (Example 3)

Membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell


Disclosed in an embodiment of the disclosure is an interference rejection combining (IRC) method supporting transmit diversity, in which an N*N interference and noise covariance matrix corresponding to one subcarrier is generated from signals, in a transmit diversity mode, received at cell reference signal (CRS) resource positions via N receiving antennas, where N is greater than or equal to 3; Cholescy decomposition and upper triangular matrix inversion is performed on the N*N interference and noise covariance matrix to obtain an N*N block matrix; the N*N block matrix is expanded to a 2N*2N noise whitening matrix; and the received signals and channel estimation values are whitened according to the noise whitening matrix, and the whitened received signals and channel estimation values used to obtain a minimum mean square error-IRC (MMSE-IRC) processing result. Also disclosed are an IRC device supporting the transmit diversity, and a computer storage medium.

In downlink transmission of a 3GPP LTE-advanced (LTE-A) system, both a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) are configured a transmission mode of transmit diversity. With such wireless transmission channels, the system may obtain a diversity gain to improve the receiving performance.
For the LTE-A system, a main processing flowchart of the transmit diversity in a physical layer is shown in FIG. 1. Information bits are encoded by an encoder to form codewords, then the codewords are sequentially subjected to scrambling and modulation mappers to form transmitting symbols, and then the transmitting symbols are sequentially subjected to a layer mapper and precoding, a transmission mode may be configured via the precoding into a transmit diversity mode; and at last, after resource mapping and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), modulated signals are sent out from a plurality of transmitting antenna ports.
Accordingly, a processing flowchart at a receiving end is shown in FIG. 2. Received signals are sequentially subjected to OFDM demodulation, resource demapping, channel estimation, processing of a transmit diversity processing unit, layer demapping, demodulation and decoding; and at last, the information bits are output.
In the LTE-A, particularly for the sake of supporting a complex interference environment in a heterogeneous network in a version Release 11, an IRC technology is generally adopted by a receiver so as to cope with strong interference of neighboring cells. A conventional method is the minimum mean square error-IRC (MMSE-IRC) stated in a technical report of the 3GPP. However, to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission on more than two layers in the LTE-A, up to 4 receiving antennas may be provided. In this case, according to the conventional MMSE-IRC processing, the IRC needs to perform inversion of an 8-8 matrix, and thus the processing of the receiver is very complicated.

Interference rejection combining method, device and storage medium


A pizoelectric actuator assembly for actuating industrial control valves or clamps provides a compact actuator including a single piece main structure with integrated hinge, mechanical lever, and spring in a shape such that in response to electrical activation, the piezoelectric device transfers mechanical energy from a predetermined axis into the force transfer member operably positioned for driving at least one pivotable arm portion in rotational movement with a loss of motion of less than 40%.

The present invention relates generally to an actuator assembly, and more specifically relates to moving folded-back arms having a pair of opposing surfaces in response to electrical activation.
Actuators are required in a wide variety of modern applications. For example, valves and relays are used throughout industry, transportation, architecture, etc. Presently, electromagnetic solenoids are used in a wide variety of clamping and valving applications. However, electro-magnetic solenoids have many shortcomings. In general, solenoids are relatively large and heavy. Solenoids consume relatively high amounts of power to remain energized. When supplied with only a reduced amount of power, solenoids operate unpredictably. It is difficult to maintain a solenoid in a partially open or partially closed position. Solenoids have relatively slow cycle times, provide weak opening and closing forces, and generate EMF (electromotive force). Differential pressure is required to operate most solenoids. When designed as a valve, most solenoids are gravity sensitive and include a fixed inlet valve port and a fixed outlet valve port requiring a predetermined installation orientation. Recently, piezoelectric bimorphs have also been used in some valve applications. Piezoelectric bimorph valves have several advantages including low power consumption, small size, light weight, and fast cycle times. Piezoelectric bimorph valves can be operated in a partially open or partially closed valve position. However, such valves produce relatively weak valve sealing forces resulting in substantial potential for fluid leakage.
Various types of piezoelectric devices are known to those skilled in the art. Many of these devices include complex configurations and are very expensive to manufacture. Other devices include simpler configurations, but are extremely limited in the corresponding maximum range of movement or the corresponding maximum application of force.
In such known devices, when the piezoelectric actuator is electrically activated, the rectangular prism geometry of the device expands predominantly along a predetermined axis. When the piezoelectric device is deactivated, the geometry of the device contracts predominantly along the predetermined axis. This expansion open and close a clamp or valve. An apparatus for clamping or valving typically includes a support having two members spaced with respect to each other. The piezoelectric device is transversely disposed between the two spaced members. As the piezoelectric device expands in a linear direction, the members are driven or pivoted along a curvilinear path, The pivoting of the members along a curvilinear path results in an inefficient transfer of force from the piezoelectric device to the support. The piezoelectric actuator in most known configurations is positioned parallel to the desired motion providing little opportunity to select different hinge axis locations and/or structural configurations to optimize performance.
The present invention improves the prior art by providing additional options to structural configurations, and performance optimizations never possible before. The present invention provides an apparatus for moving at least one folded-back arm having a surface in response to an electrical activation. Preferably, a pair of folded-back arms having a pair of opposing surfaces are moved relative to one another in response to an electrical activation. The apparatus includes a support having a rigid non-flexing portion, first and second arm portions extending rearward from the rigid portion, a pair of opposing surfaces with one opposing surface on each pivotable arm portion for movement relative to one another, and a force transfer member operably positioned between the first and second pivotable arm portions. An actuator is operably engaged between the rigid non-flexing portion and the force transfer member to drive the force transfer member in movement along a fixed path causing at least one of the first and second pivotable arm portions to pivot in response to an electrical activation of the actuator. The support, pivotable arms, and force transfer of the structure are designed to be rigid, non-flexing portions of a monolithic structure interconnected by flexible hinge portions allowing the rigid portions to move relative to one another. Any unplanned flexing can reduce the effective life of the mechanism, and reduces the amount of force transferred through the hinge axis to the pivot arms. The reduction in force limits the displacement and force of the pivoting arms. The selection of the hinge axis location and corresponding structural configuration allows substantial capability to optimize the performance and size of the apparatus for the particular application.
The piezoelectric actuator can be preloaded with force when installed in the support element. For example, the piezoelectric actuator can be clamped within the support structure with an adjustable screw supporting one end allowing the optimal force preloading. An adjustable screw configuration is easy to use and allows a large degree of adjustability. Preloading the piezoelectric actuator in any suitable fashion contributes to the maximum efficiency of the force transfer during actuation, and allows fine-tuning of the initial position of the apparatus prior to actuation of the piezoelectric element. Preloading can also ensure that the piezoelectric actuator maintains contact with the apparatus at opposite ends throughout the range of expansion and contraction. The use of a threaded adjustment screw for preloading enables assembly without requiring adhesives or other means of securely connecting the piezoelectric actuator at opposite ends to the apparatus, and avoids the possibility of damaging tension or torsional moments on the piezoelectric actuator. The threaded adjustment screw allows simple compensation for dimensional variations in the piezoelectric actuator during assembly to the support.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus for moving folded-back arms having a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation


An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.

Protease has been widely used in a variety of detergents, such as laundry detergents; cosmetic compositions; bath additives; food-modifying agents; and pharmaceuticals such as digestive aids and antiphlogistics.
Of these, proteases used in detergents are produced in largest amounts on an industrial scale and thus account for a significant part of commercial supply. Examples of such proteases include Alcalase, Savinase (product of Novo Nordisk), Maxacal (product of Genencor), Blap (Product of Henkel), and Protease K (KAP, product of Kao Corporation).
Meanwhile, attempts have been made to improve the performance of enzymes used in detergents. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 6-70765 discloses an enzyme having high stability to heat and a surfactant. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 9-121855 discloses an enzyme which acts on insoluble proteins such as keratin and has a high specific activity. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 5-211868 and 9-121856 disclose an enzyme having excellent activity in a low temperature range. European Patent No. 0130756 discloses a method for enhancing stability of an enzyme to an oxidizing agent.
In many cases, soils on laundry comprise a plurality of components such as lipids and solid particles other than protein. Therefore, there is demand for a detergent having excellent detergency to such complex soils. In order to meet the demand, generally a plurality of enzymes and surfactants have been incorporated into a detergent.
However, even though a plurality of enzymes are incorporated, their effects cannot be fully exerted if, in the presence of complex soils, the enzymes are unstable and do not exhibit constant and sufficient activity. Conventional enzymes are unsatisfactory in this point.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A patch lock assembly releasably secures a glass door to an adjacent glass panel in a locked orientation. The patch lock assembly comprises a latch adapter housing, a strike adapter housing, and first and second power supply adapter housings. The latch adapter housing may interchangeably receive one of any number of various latch mechanisms without requiring further modification of the door. The strike adapter housing may interchangeably receive one of any number of various strikes, including electric strikes, without requiring further modification of the door. Respective power supply adapter housings may be coupled to each latch adapter housing and strike adapter housing. The power supply adapters include a power source and control unit to provide the necessary power to operate the latch and strike. Various interlocking features may be incorporated in the design to resist unwanted movement of the patch lock assembly relative to the glass panel.

Mounting door lock components, such as latches and strikes, upon glass panel doors presents a number of challenges. Typically, when mounting a latch or a strike plate to a glass door, the approach is to cut a patch or recess within the glass panel whereby a two-piece latch or strike unit having a matching profile is inserted within the patch. Unit flanges sandwich a portion of the glass panel such that the unit may be secured to the panel through a clamping force exerted on the glass panel. However, heretofore, each door latch or strike would require a unique patch to be formed within the glass panel and, since exerted clamping force provided the primary means of securing the latch or strike unit to the glass panel, a secure retention of the latch/strike to the glass panel was compromised.
Thus, what is needed in the art is a patch lock assembly for use with glass panel doors whereby one or more interlocking retention features may be utilized to resist unwanted loosening of the patch assembly from the glass panel.
What is further needed in the art is a patch lock assembly for use with glass panel doors whereby a standardized patch may be formed within the glass panel such that a patch lock assembly may be secured to the door and operably receive one of numerous different latches or strikes.
What is further needed in the art is a combined patch strike assembly and patch latch assembly for use with a double glass door installation, or a glass door to glass panel installation, whereby one or more interlocking retention features may be utilized to resist unwanted loosening of the patch assemblies from the respective glass panels.
What is still further needed in the art is a patch lock assembly for use with glass panel doors that include an adjacent patch assembly configured as either a power supply module or a control module.
It is a principal object of the present invention to address these, as well as other, needs.


An installation system includes a structure for an aircraft, at least one carrier for an arrangement of at least one device of the aircraft, at least two attachment elements configured to attach the at least one carrier to the structure, and at least one mounting having an adjustable reception element receiving one of the at least two attachment elements.

In aircraft construction, systems such as lines are conventionally connected to sections of a primary structure of the aircraft by means of a large number of mounts. The mounts are attached to the sections by means of rivets inserted into holes in the primary structure, and have a receiver for the lines. The large number of holes implies, however, a weakening of the primary structure. Furthermore the connection procedure is time-intensive and arduous for the installation personnel, in particular in the case of overhead tasks.
The trend is therefore in the direction of attaching the system mounts to carrier rails that are connected to the primary structure. A concept of this kind is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,565 B2. The carrier rail, or carrier, runs in the direction transverse to the lines and at each end is arranged on two adjacent frames or stringers by means of a plug that snaps into a corresponding hole in the primary structure. For the reception of the mounts the carrier rail has a pattern of holes. The German patent application DE 10 2007 032 233 A1 of the applicant moreover recommends arranging a plurality of carrier rails in the form of a lattice and connecting mutually crossing carrier rails with one another. By means of these solutions, the weakening of the primary structure material is certainly reduced as a result of the still-small number of holes, and also the attachment of the mounts is simplified by virtue of the pattern of holes in the carrier rails, but the carrier rails, or the lattice of carrier rails, have a tendency towards geometrical deviations as a result of their relatively large extension, which makes the introduction, or snapping, of their attachment plugs into the holes in the structure difficult.

Installation system for the connection of systems to a structure of an aircraft, a measurement system and a method


A method of and a system for clustering search queries. The method comprising accessing a list of search queries, each search query of the list of search queries comprising one or more keywords and, for each search query of the list of search queries, submitting the search query to a search engine; receiving a search engine result page (SERP) from the search engine; extracting a plurality of information elements from the SERP and populating a content matrix with the information elements extracted from the SERP. The method may further comprises computing, based on the content matrix, a distance matrix comprising similarity scores measuring similarities between each search query of the list of search queries and clustering, based on the distance matrix, the search queries of the list of search queries.

Search engines such as Google™, Bing™, Yahoo!™ and the like assign ranks to search request results and the owner of a web site will normally desire his/her web site to have the highest possible ranking. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a technique used to augment the visibility of a web site to users of search engines. SEO allows a web site to obtain high ranks in search results, in turn increasing the traffic generated on the web site with the ultimate goal of increasing revenues for the web site owner.
Proper optimization using SEO requires a lot of attention to the content of a web site. Preparing a sound content strategy for a web site is a time-consuming task, usually requiring several days of work for a single site.
A first problem with manual preparation of a content strategy lies in the high rate of change of information in Internet web sites and of their referencing in search engines. For example, Google™ has recently stated that 15% of searches done on a daily basis have never been seen before. Information stored on web sites worldwide changes everyday. Search engines routinely scan through web sites all over the world on a continuous basis, using a process called web crawling. New web sites and new web pages are repetitively visited by web crawlers on a daily basis and new or modified keywords are constantly added in the databases of search engines. Web site owners using a manual approach to define their content strategy based on a collection of keywords are constantly running late and cannot possibly keep up with new keywords added everyday.
A second problem with manual preparation of a content strategy lies in the preparation of lists of keywords used by Internet users of search engines when specifying their search queries. A size of such lists of keywords may reach hundreds or even thousands of keywords which need to be filtered and clustered into a plurality of thematic. Each thematic may then be considered as to be integrated into a website as part of a content strategy, for example as a dedicated webpage.
Up until recently, search queries could be processed differently by search engines even though such search queries were relating to a same intent. As an example, a search query "vps" could have returned totally different results than a search query "virtual private server" as their syntax was different. Recent developments in search engine technologies have addressed this issue and search engines such as Google™ now return similar search result pages for the search query "vps" and the search query "virtual private server" based on a determination that both search queries define a common intent. SEO strategies would benefit from understanding the intents of Internet users hidden behind search queries and identification of relevant thematic.
Even though the recent developments identified above may provide benefits, improvements are still desirable.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches.

Method of and system for clustering search queries


A display device in which a driver circuit supplies a sustain discharge pulse between a pair of row electrodes by performing a process having, under a state fixed one row electrode for each pair of row electrodes at a first potential in a light emission sustain period of a display panel, a first step of gradually changing the potential of the other row electrode for each pair of row electrodes from the first potential toward a second potential by means of resonance between a capacitive load and a first inductor; a second step of fixing the other row electrode in the pair of row electrodes at the second potential; and a third step of gradually changing the potential of the other row electrode of the pair of row electrodes from the second potential toward the first potential by means of resonance between the capacitive load and a second inductor; performs the second step before the potential of the other row electrode of the pair of row electrodes reaches the second potential at the first step when power consumption is not limited; and reduces the length of the period of the second step and performs the third step after completion of the reduced second step when power consumption is limited.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device including a display panel such as a matrix-type plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as a PDP).
2. Description of the Related Background Art
In recent years, the size of display devices is becoming increasingly great, and the increase in the display device size has created a need for a reduction in the display device thickness. To meet such a requirement, various thin types of display devices have been developed and are practically used. A display device using an AC (Alternate Current) PDP is one of promising thin types of display devices.
A PDP includes a plurality of column electrodes (address electrodes) and a plurality of pairs of row electrodes extending in such a manner as to cross the column electrodes. The row and column electrodes are covered with a dielectric layer such that the surfaces thereof are not directly exposed in a discharge space. A discharge cell serving as one pixel is formed at each intersection between the row electrode pairs and the column electrodes. In the PDP, light is emitted by using a discharge, and each discharge cell can be only in either a state in which light is emitted or a state in which no light is emitted. In the PDP, multiple luminance levels are achieved by means of a subfield method, to represent halftone in accordance with an input video signal. In the subfield method, each field display period is divided into N subfields, and a number of times light is emitted for each subfield is determined depending on a weighting factor for performing light emission.
However, in the display device using the subfield method, the number of times light is emitted is determined in a fixed manner depending only on the weighting factor for each subfield, and the manner of determining the number of times light is emitted is not changed in any situation. This can cause a displayed image to become very dazzling when the luminance of light emission becomes high on a screen all over.
One known technique of avoiding the above problem is to use an automatic brightness limiter (ABL controller) for limiting the screen luminance in the display device based on the subfield method as in other types of display devices such as a CRT display. As a result of the luminance limitation, power consumption of the display device is limited.
The automatic brightness limiter limits the number of sustain pulses (the number of times light is emitted) in each subfield, based on luminance information (for example, an average luminance level) of an input image signal, thereby limiting the luminance level of the image signal.
However, in the display device in which power consumption is limited on the basis of the conventional technique, it is difficult to obtain not only optimal luminance but also good light emission efficiency.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device and a display panel driving method which each have a capability of limiting the power consumption of a driver circuit of a display panel and are each capable of displaying an image with improved luminance and increased light emission efficiency.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device comprising a display panel including a plurality of pairs of row electrodes between which a capacitive load is formed, and a plurality of column electrodes arrayed in the direction intersecting with the row electrodes so as to form discharge cells at respective intersections of the row electrode pairs and the column electrodes; a driver circuit for supplying a sustain discharge pulse between a pair of row electrodes by performing a process having: under a state fixed one row electrode for each of the pairs of row electrodes at a first potential in a light emission sustain period of the display panel, a first step of gradually changing the potential of the other row electrode for each of the pairs of row electrodes from the first potential toward a second potential by means of resonance between the capacitive load and a first inductor; a second step of fixing the other row electrode in the pair of row electrodes at the second potential; and a third step of gradually changing the potential of the other row electrode of the pair of row electrodes from the second potential toward the first potential by means of resonance between the capacitive load and a second inductor; and a power limiting circuit for limiting power consumption of the driver circuit, in accordance with luminance information of an input image signal; wherein when the power consumption of the driver circuit is not limited by the power limiting circuit, the driver circuit performs the second step before the potential of the other row electrode of the pair of row electrodes reaches the second potential at the first step, while when, the power consumption of the driver circuit is limited by the power limiting circuit, the driver circuit reduces the length of the period of the second step and performs the third step after completion of the reduced second step.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a display panel having a plurality of pairs of row electrodes between which a capacitive load is formed, and a plurality of column electrodes arrayed in the direction intersecting with the row electrodes so as to form discharge cells at respective intersections of the row electrode pairs and the column electrodes, the method comprising: supplying a sustain discharge pulse between a pair of row electrodes by performing a process having, under a state fixed one row electrode for each of the pairs of row electrodes at a first potential in a light emission sustain period of the display panel, a first step of gradually changing the potential of the other row electrode for each of the pairs of row electrodes from the first potential toward a second potential by means of resonance between the capacitive load and a first inductor; a second step of fixing the other row electrode in the pair of row electrodes at the second potential; and a third step of gradually changing the potential of the other row electrode of the pair of row electrodes from the second potential toward the first potential by means of resonance between the capacitive load and a second inductor; performing the second step before the potential of the other row electrode of the pair of row electrodes reaches the second potential at the first step when power consumption is not limited; and reducing the length of the period of the second step and performing the third step after completion of the reduced second step when power consumption is limited.

Display device and method of driving a display panel


A control unit 203 controls a position of a pointer to be displayed on a display 208A in response to an operation of a pointing device (PD) 11 by the user. In this case, the control unit 203 detects actual operation directions 50 and 50′ of the PD 11 by means of a sensing module 13. Next, the control unit 203 determines whether or not the actual operation directions 50 and 50′ are included in an adjustment region 70, which is preset with a movable range of the PD 11 as an object to be adjusted. Then, when it is determined that the actual operation directions are included in the adjustment region 70, the control unit 203 adjusts information indicating the actual operation directions to information indicating a direction 60 so predetermined as to correspond to the adjustment region in such a way that a moving direction of the pointer displayed on the display 208A in response to the actual operation directions is changed to the predetermined direction.

Heretofore, what is called a pointing device has been used for a cellular phone, a PDA (personal digital assistance), a notebook personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a notebook PC), a game machine or the like. As one of input devices, the pointing device has a function to move a display position of an object to be controlled (a pointer, a cursor or the like) on a display screen in response to operating force to an arbitrary direction by a user (hereinafter, also referred to as "an operator" in some cases). As a generally-used pointing device, an analog pointing device such as a mouse, a track ball and a joystick has been widely used.
In control of such a conventional pointing device, it is common to calculate a relative operating position with respect to a certain reference point by use of a two-dimensional coordinate system or polar coordinate system of an operating direction α and an amount of operation β.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a relationship between the operating direction and the amount of operation in a conventional pointing device.
More specifically, this drawing shows a relationship between an operating direction and an amount of operation in a joystick type pointing device as an object, which designates a reference point O as a center and performs the control based on an operating direction and an amount of operation from the reference point O. In this drawing, in which the reference point in the system of coordinates is defined as (0, 0) and the operating position in the system of coordinates as A(x, y). In this case, each of x and y takes on any value of a positive value, a negative value and zero. Then, the operating direction α is determined by a ratio of the x and the y and by a combination of the x and they, each of which takes on any value of a positive value, a negative value and zero. Note that the case where both of the x and the y are zero is excluded.
Here, when the operating direction is defined as an angle of measure α in radians (−π≦α≦π), the operating direction α in the pointing device of the above-described conventional system can be uniquely determined as shown below. Specifically, equations can be represented as:(when x=0, y>0): α=π/2;(when x=0, y<0): α=−π/2;(when x>0, y=0): α=0;(other than when x>0, y=0): α=tan−1(y/x);(when x<0, y=0): α=π;(when x<0, y>0): α=π+tan−1(y/x); and(when x<0, y<0): α=−π+tan−1(y/x).Moreover, the amount of operation β in this case can be represented as:β=(x2+y2)0.5 Furthermore, arithmetic operations of trigonometric functions are included in this calculation, and therefore, a translation table is used in order to increase processing speed in some cases.
In the control of the conventional pointing device, as described above, it is common to use the relative operating position (x, y) with respect to the reference point O or parameters such as the operating direction α and the amount of operation β. Furthermore, the moving speed of the object to be operated (the pointer, the cursor or the like), which is displayed on a display 208A, is changed in response to a magnitude of the amount of operation β obtained in the procedure as described above. Here, examples of relationships between the amounts of operation β and the moving speeds V are shown in FIGS. 8A to 8G.
FIGS. 8A to 8G are explanatory views showing the relationships between the amounts of operation and operating speeds in the conventional pointing devices.
As shown in these drawings, in the conventional pointing device, there are examples such as:                Example of linearly increasing the speed V in response to the amount of operation β (FIG. 8A);        Examples in each of which a plurality of increasing gradients of the speed V are present (FIGS. 8B to 8D);        Examples of non-linear relationship between the amount of operation β and the speed V (FIGS. 8E and 8F); and        Example of the speed V constant with respect to the amount of operation β (FIG. 8G).
With regard to these analog pointing devices, it is common to choose an object to be operated (the pointer, the cursor or the like), which is small on the display screen, as a utilization mode thereof. Specifically, in the utilization mode of the conventional pointing device, a delicate operation such as drawing a picture or a character is required for the pointing device in many cases, and accordingly, resolution thereof in the moving direction is relatively high in many cases. However, that the high resolution causes a slight directional shift to appear in the moving direction as it is. For this reason, in the case of moving the object to be controlled, such as the pointer, to an expected position on the display, the user of such a pointing device tends to slightly shift or stagger the object to be controlled (or the operating position). Hence, it is very frequent that the operator cannot be satisfied with an operation feeling of the conventional pointing device.
Moreover, the tendency of the operating position towards being shifted due to the above-described resolution is particularly evident in a portable electronic instrument such as the cellular phone and the compact PDA, for which the pointing device itself is required to be miniaturized.
Specifically, in the portable electronic instrument (a portable communications terminal device such as the cellular phone, and an information processing apparatus such as the PDA), in general, a casing thereof is compact. Accordingly, on such a portable electronic instrument, a device made in consideration of a size and motion of a hand of the user, that is what-is-called a full-scaled keyboard is difficult to mount. Therefore, in the portable electronic instrument, the pointing device plays an important role as a man-machine interface between the user and the electronic instrument. However, under such circumstances, in the actual portable electronic instrument, it is difficult to ensure a sufficient area for mounting the pointing device due to limitations of a size of the casing.
Hence, the portable electronic instrument under such circumstances has a problem that the portable electronic-instrument cannot give a sufficiently comfortable operation feeling to the user.
In this connection, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H5 (1993)-265649 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1), a pointing device which adjusts such a shift is disclosed.
In this Patent Document 1, first, an ARCTAN value of the pointing device is calculated by means of outputs of two sensors. Then, in Patent Document 1, actual outputs of the sensors are adjusted to approximate values thereto so that the ARCTAN value can be 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225 and 270. In such a way, in Patent Document 1, a configuration is formed in which data can be obtained as a displacement in a specific direction even if the pointing device is roughly operated.
According to such an adjustment method, it is possible to realize the adjustment by a relatively simple control system. However, the operator who operates the pointing device has a habit inherent in him/herself. For this reason, only in accordance with such an adjustment method, there is no other way but the operator conforms his/her operation with this adjustment method, causing a problem of low adaptability in some cases.
Accordingly, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10 (1998)-154038 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 2), disclosed is a pointing input device which stores a shift from a reference direction as personal data and adjusts a shift caused the habit inherent in the operator.
However, in the case of such adjustment control which stores the personal data and performs the adjustment as in Patent Document 2, the control system sometimes becomes complicated.

Pointing device control apparatus and method, electronic instrument, and computer program for the pointing device control apparatus


The present invention belongs to the technical field of inorganic luminescent materials, particularly relates to a nitride fluorescent material, and further discloses a light-emitting device containing such a fluorescent material. The nitride fluorescent material contains a compound with a structure like MmAlxSiyN3: aR, bEu, cCe. The fluorescent material has very high physical stability and chemical stability, and the fluorescent material is better in crystallization, and thus has relatively high external quantum efficiency. When being applied to a light-emitting device, the fluorescent material can fully exert the advantages of good stability and high external quantum efficiency, and the light-emitting efficiency and stability of the light-emitting device can be further improved.

Near-infrared light refers to the light with a wavelength in the range of 700-1500 nm. The waveband spectrum has great application prospects in the fields such as optical fiber communication, biological imaging and signal conversion and amplification, and has become a hot research topic at home and abroad.
The existing near-infrared fluorescent material substrate mainly adopts a rare earth metal oxide having a garnet structure like those disclosed in patents CN101063228A and CN105733580A, or the electroluminescent organic complex (Chem.-Eur. J., 2012, 18, 1961-1968; Adv. Mater., 2009, 21, 111-116; Chem. Commun., 2011, 14, 1833-1837; Adv. Funct. Mater., 2009, 19, 2639-2647). However, these known fluorescent materials have the defects such as poor stability and low light-emitting efficiency, which limits the application of such devices in the above application fields. In addition, since the common near-infrared light-emitting devices in the prior art basically adopt infrared chips, the problems that the excitation efficiency is low and the cost is relatively high also exist.
Therefore, it is necessary to research and develop a new fluorescent material to overcome the above defects.

Nitride fluorescent material and light-emitting device containing same


The invention relates to a biaxially oriented polyester film which, after metallization, has low oxygen permeation and good adhesion to the metallization, and is composed of at least one base layer B and, applied to this base layer, at least one layer A, where this layer A. i) has, per mm.sup.2 of film surface, a number N of elevations whose respective heights h and diameters d are correlated by the following equations: EQU log N/mm.sup.2 <A.sub.h -B.sub.h *log h/.mu.m, 0.05 .mu.m<h<1.0 .mu.m (1) PA1 ii) has a copolyester coating derived from isophthalic acid and a sulfomonomer.. wherein A.sub.h =1.4; B.sub.h =2.5 EQU log N/mm.sup.2 <A.sub.d -Bd*log d/.mu.m, 0.2 .mu.m<d<10.0 .mu.m (2). wherein A.sub.d =3.4; B.sub.d =2.4 and

Food and drink packaging frequently requires a high level of barrier action with respect to gases, water vapor and flavors (meaning low permeability or low permeation). A process frequently used to produce packaging of this type involves treating the plastic films used by metalization or high-vacuum deposition with aluminum.
Metalized films have good barrier properties. Therefore, these films are used in particular to pack foods and other consumable items for which long storage or transport times pose a risk that, if the barrier is inadequate, the packaged foods may spoil, become rancid or lose flavor. This applies, for example, to coffee, snacks containing fats (nuts, chips, etc.), and to drinks containing carbon dioxide (in pouches).
Where polyester films with a metalized aluminum layer are to be used as a packaging material, they are generally a constituent of a composite film with two or more layers (laminate). The inner side (i.e., the side facing the contents) of the bags is sealed, and the sealable layer is generally composed of polyethylene or polypropylene. A typical structure here for the film composite is as follows: polyester layer/aluminum layer/adhesive layer/sealable layer.
For a laminate thickness of from about 50 to 150 .mu.m, the thickness of the metal layer is only from 10 to 80 nm. Although this functional layer is very thin, it is sufficient to give adequate protection from light and to achieve very good barrier properties.
Detailed results of studies ofthe effect of substrate surface on barrier properties in polyester films can be found in the dissertation by H. Utz (Munich Technical University 1995: "Barriereeigenschaften aluminiumbedampfter Kunststoffolien" (Barrier properties of aluminum-metalized plastic films).
EP 0 144 878 describes a polyester film which, in order to improve adhesion to the metalized layer, has a polyester coating which is applied to the film during the production process in the form of an aqueous dispersion. A disadvantage here is that polyester coating leads to a marked deterioration in the barrier effectiveness of the metalized film.
However, for many applications it is desirable to provide a film which has both good barrier properties and also good adhesion capability with respect to the metalization.

Coextruded, biaxially oriented polyester film for metallizing, its use and process for its production


A system for lubricating a plug flow of high viscosity material in a pipeline is disclosed. The system includes first and second pipes through which the plug flow of high viscosity material is pumped. The first pipe has a flange which is positioned adjacent a flange of the second pipe. A plurality of bolts, attached to the flange of the first pipe and to the flange of the second pipe, connect the first pipe to the second pipe. A lubrication spool is positionable in a first location between the flange of the first pipe and the flange of the second pipe for lubricating the plug flow of high viscosity material. The lubrication spool is removable from the first position without completely disconnecting the first and second pipes. The lubrication spool includes a first spool section which is located immediately adjacent the flange of the first pipe while in the first position and a second spool section immediately adjacent the first spool section. The second spool section is also located immediately adjacent the flange of the second pipe while in the first position. An aperture in the first and second spool sections provides a passage for the plug flow of high viscosity material being pumped between the first and second pipes. An annular reservoir, formed between the first and second spool sections, distributes lubricant. An inlet supplies lubricant to the reservoir. A circumferential lubrication passage, formed between the first and second spool sections, applies a uniform ring of the lubricant to the plug flow of high viscosity material being pumped through the lubrication spool aperture. The circumferential lubrication passage provides a fluid path between the annular reservoir and the aperture.

The present invention relates to systems for lubricating high viscosity material in a pipeline. In particular the present invention relates to a pipeline lubrication system with a lubrication spool which can be positioned between flanged ends of first and second pipes to lubricate a plug flow of high viscosity material and which can be removed from the position between the first and second pipes without disturbing the integrity of the pipeline system.
Pump and pipeline systems are frequently used to convey high viscosity materials such as sludge and concrete over long distances. In these applications, sludge is generally defined as a high viscosity material which typically has no free flow characteristics. High viscosity materials are typically pumped through a pipeline in a plug flow. Pumping a plug flow of high viscosity material over a long distance through a pipeline requires a pump capable of producing high pumping pressures to overcome friction between the high viscosity material and the pipeline. The further the material has to be pumped through the pipeline, the greater the pressure that is required, and therefore the greater the horsepower requirements of the pump.
When pumped through a pipeline under pressure, a plug flow of material such as sludge releases liquids which form a film of lubricant around the flow. The lower the liquid content of the material being pumped, the less liquid available for lubrication. For this reason, dryer materials will experience more friction and will therefore require higher pumping pressures than are necessary to pump materials with higher liquid contents.
Typically, lubrication of a plug flow is necessary only when the material being pumped doesn't contain enough liquid to form a film of lubricant around the inner wall of the pipeline. Adding a layer of lubricant around a plug flow of these materials results in lower pumping pressures and increased capability of pumping the material greater distances at a given pressure.
With materials such as sludge, liquids may well have been intentionally removed prior to pumping. In these instances, it is not desirable to substantially increase the liquid content of the material being pumped in order to increase the material's pumpability. A number of pipeline lubrication systems have been developed to lubricate a flow of high viscosity material in a pipeline without substantially increasing the liquid content of the material. An example of such a pipeline lubrication system is disclosed in Coursen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,958. Coursen discloses an apparatus and method for injecting a lubricating liquid into a conduit around a flow of high viscosity material. The lubricant is injected through a slanted circumferential slot in the direction of the flow of the high viscosity material. Injecting the lubricant through the slanted circumferential slot in the direction of the material flow reduces resistance against the flow and also helps to prevent the high viscosity material from clogging the circumferential slot.
Although pipeline lubrication systems like the one disclosed in Coursen help increase the pumpability of high viscosity materials, they have significant disadvantages. One very, important disadvantage of prior art lubrication systems is that, in order to remove the lubrication mechanism from the pipeline, the pipeline must be disassembled. Once disassembled, it is very difficult to reconnect adjacent pipe sections. Pipe sections are under extreme stress, and when disconnected, they frequently contract or otherwise shift to such an extent that they cannot be easily reconnected.


Cordierite honeycomb bodies having low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) and correspondingly high resistance to thermal shock, and a method for making them, wherein an alumina-yielding raw material having high specific surface area and which disperses into very fine particles in the batch, preferably together with fine talc as the sole batch source of magnesium, are disclosed; the use of fine talc enables the production of thin-walled extruded honeycomb structures exhibiting both low average CTE and high porosity, a combination particularly desirable for applications such as catalytic substrates for the control of combustion engine exhaust emissions.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a ceramic honeycomb body with low CTE (<7.times.10.sup.-7.degree. C..sup.-1 from 25.degree.-800.degree. C.) which imparts high thermal shock resistance to the body. The method centers on the use of a finely dispersible, high surface area alumina-yielding source as a raw material in the batch mixture. The invention is especially useful for thin walled honeycomb substrates since it allows for the use of a fine talc source while maintaining a high degree of thermal shock resistance in the fired body.
Many different approaches to the use of alumina and talc in cordierite ceramic product formulations are known. British Patent Specification Number 1,518,475 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,845, for example, demonstrated that a cordierite ceramic having a satisfactory thermal expansion coefficient is obtained when the average particle size of the magnesium-containing raw material (specifically talc) is within the range of 5-150 micrometers, preferably 21-100 micrometers, and more preferably, 26-80 micrometers. It is shown that when the average particle size of the magnesium-containing raw material is outside this range, the thermal expansion coefficient over the range of 25-1000.degree. C. is greater than 16.times.10.sup.-7.degree. C..sup.-1, resulting in poor thermal shock resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,117 describes a method of producing a cordierite honeycomb body with a low coefficient of thermal expansion where the average talc particle size is as low as 2.8 micrometers. However, this method requires the "pre-firing" or calcination of the talc particles. Without this pre-firing step, it was found that the thermal expansion coefficient was unacceptably high when the average talc particle size was less than about 20 micrometers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,580 and European Patent Number 0,232,621 both describe a method to obtain a low expansion cordierite honeycomb body using very fine talc particles (<7 micrometers). The method relies on the use of very fine clay in conjunction with the fine talc. It is specified that the average particle size of the clay particles can be no more than 2 micrometers, and the ratio of clay particle size to talc particle size can be no more than 1/3. The resulting ceramic product has a low level of porosity (<30%). Although low levels of porosity result in higher strength, it is known that high levels of porosity are most desirable for excellent coatability with a high surface area washcoat and catalyst.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,772,580, 4,869,944, 5,030,398, 5,409,870 and European Patent Number 0,232,621, at least one material selected from the group consisting of alumina particles and aluminum hydroxide particles having an average particle size not greater than 2 micrometers is added to the batch for the low coefficient of thermal expansion. The aluminum hydroxide referred to in these patents is aluminum tri-hydrate, showing a 34% ignition weight loss on firing. Aluminum tri-hydrate typically has a relatively low surface area (<10 m.sup.2 /g), compared to boehmite (alpha aluminum monohydrate) which typically has a very high surface area (>50 m.sup.2 /g).
In Japanese published patent publication No. 256965/86, a cordierite honeycomb with a high thermal shock resistance is reportedly obtained by using .alpha.-alumina as a batch constituent, where the particle size distribution of the .alpha.-alumina is adjusted so that the particles with diameter less than 3 micrometers are not more than 17% of the distribution by weight, and the median diameter is between 4 and 17 micrometers. Fine .alpha.-alumina and intermediate phases such as .chi.-, .kappa.-, .gamma.- , .delta.- , .theta.-alumina etc. are considered highly reactive with respect to magnesium-containing raw material at a relatively low temperature (<1300.degree. C.), being thought to hinder the main reaction with the talc and kaolin for producing the low thermal expansion cordierite.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,592, a process for the manufacture of high density cordierite by the sol-gel process is described. In this patent, an alumina sol is used, along with magnesium and silicon oxide sols, to form a gel which is then dried and fired to form a cordierite body. Boehmite is used as one alumina source, although effects of its substitution for other aluminas in sol-based systems was not noted.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,150, the use of boehmite is included under the category of aluminum oxide-yielding components (aluminum oxy-hydrate) in a method for the fabrication of a low thermal expansion, high porosity body. However, no recognition of the beneficial effects of aluminum mono-hydrate or other finely dispersible aluminum-yielding source with very high surface area is expressed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,703, a method for producing a low porosity, high strength cordierite body with low thermal expansion coefficient is described. In this patent, a composition consisting of a mineral component (talc, clay, alumina), is mixed with a chemical component (powdered oxides, hydroxides, and hydrous oxides of magnesium, silicon, and aluminum). However, no trends linking increases in the chemical component with decreases in thermal expansion were observed.

Low-expansion cordierite honeycomb bodies and method


A stabilizer pad apparatus that includes a pair of plate members; and a pad assembly that is adapted for mounting from the pair of plate members. The pad assembly includes a resilient pad having at least one ground engageable work surface and a holder for the resilient pad. A first pivot is provided for supporting the pair of plate members from a stabilizer base; and a second pivot is provided that is substantially transverse to the first pivot for supporting the pad assembly from the plate members.

Most of the major backhoes in production today utilize a stabilizer leg design where the leg (arm) attaches to the frame utilizing a pivot or hinge pin that is basically parallel to the ground, with it's axis extending in the machine front to rear orientation, when the machine is on its wheels, that is, unsupported by either the stabilizer leg or the front bucket. The stabilizer pad mounting pin to the arm connection, which is parallel to the arm pin, allows the stabilizer pad to pivot so that it is parallel to the ground when supporting or raising the machine.
In some machines there may be an unusual stabilizer leg or arm geometry due to the fact that the stabilizer pad is oriented so as to not make contact with the cab structures when the stabilizer leg is in the up position. In these machines the stabilizer arm mounting pin, on the other hand, may be approximately 5 degrees from being parallel in relationship to the ground and this geometry creates an undesirable situation for the stabilizer pad which is mounted on the opposite end of the arm by a pivot pin that is parallel to the arm pivot pin. As a result the pad is very seldom in even parallel contact with the ground when the arm is lowered to support and raise the machine. This, in turn, creates very uneven loading on the resilient surface of the stabilizer pad which results in an uneven wear pattern and premature failure of the resilient pad surface.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved stabilizer pad construction that allows the pad to remain parallel to the ground supporting surface when the arm is used to support and raise the machine. The improved pad construction enables this ground parallel support, within certain rotational limits, regardless of the arm pivoting structure and arm orientation.


A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a multi-component filter comprising a bed of adsorbent and a flavor-releasing filter segment located downstream of the bed of adsorbent. In the preferred embodiment, the adsorbent is also flavor-bearing and comprises high surface area, activated carbon. As mainstream smoke is drawn through the upstream portion of the filter, gas phase smoke constituents are removed and flavor is released from the adsorbent bed. Thereafter additional flavor is released into the mainstream smoke as it passes through the flavor-releasing filter segment. Ventilation is provided to limit the amount of tobacco being combusted during each puff and is arranged at a location spaced downstream from the adsorbent bed to lower mainstream smoke velocity through the adsorbent bed. Preferably, the carbon bed comprises at least 90 to 120 mg or greater of carbon in a fully filled condition or 160 to 180 mg or greater of carbon in a 85 filled condition or better, which in combination with other features provides a flavorful cigarette that achieves significant reductions in gas phase constituents of the mainstream smoke, including 90% reductions or greater in 1,3 butadiene, acrolein, isoprene, propionaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzene, toluene, styrene, and 80% reductions or greater in acetaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.

Smoking articles, particularly cigarettes, generally comprise a tobacco rod of shredded tobacco (usually, in cut filler form) surrounded by a paper wrapper, and a cylindrical filter aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, the filter includes a plug of cellulose acetate tow attached to the tobacco rod by tipping paper. Ventilation of mainstream smoke is achieved with a row or rows of perforations about a location along the filter. Such ventilation provides dilution of drawn mainstream smoke with ambient air to reduce the delivery of tar.
Particulate efficiency of a filter is typically resolved as the level of tar into a filter minus tar level out of the filter divided by the tar level into the filter. Ventilation tends to lower particulate efficiency of a filter.
Upon lighting a cigarette, a smoker draws mainstream smoke from the coal at the lit end of the cigarette. The drawn cigarette smoke first enters the upstream end portion of the filter and then passes through the downstream portion adjacent the buccal (mouth) end of the cigarette.
Certain cigarettes have filter segments which incorporate adsorbent materials such as activated carbon, and examples of such are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,881,770 to Tovey; U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,543 to Sproull et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,723 to Seligman et al.; and U.S. Pat No. 4,481,958 to Ranier et al. Certain commercially available filters have particles or granules of carbon (e.g., an activated carbon material) alone or dispersed within a cellulose acetate tow; other commercially available filters have carbon threads dispersed therein; while still other commercially available filters have so-called "plug-space-plug", "cavity filter" or "triple filter" designs. Examples of commercially available filters are SCS IV Dual Solid Charcoal Filter and Triple Solid Charcoal Filter from Filtrona International, Ltd.; Triple Cavity Filter from Baumgartner; and ACT from Filtrona International, Ltd. See also, Clarke et al., World Tobacco, p.55 (November 1992). Detailed discussion of the properties and composition of cigarettes and filters is found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,404,890 and 5,568,819 to Gentry et al, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Typical of prior practices with "plug-space-plug" styled cigarettes has been heretofore to locate ventilation at a location along the bed of adsorbent contained in the space, so as to achieve sufficient spacing of the ventilation holes from the buccal end of the filter. In so doing, the lips of the smoker would not occlude the ventilation holes. Such placement, however, tended to lower the filtration effectiveness of the adsorbent, because it tended to increase the velocity of the mainstream smoke in at least a portion of the absorbent bed.
Various annular configurations of filters having carbon-bearing annular filter regions are disclosed in the prior art. For example, European Patent Application No. 579,410 shows a number of cigarette embodiments having an annular carbon-bearing region surrounding either porous filtration material or an empty tubular cavity formed by a vapor phase porous membrane. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,545 to Crellin et al. shows various configurations of annular carbon-bearing regions surrounding a vapor phase porous membrane or a rod of carbon-bearing material surrounded by a vapor phase porous membrane.
Cigarette filter elements which incorporate carbon have the ability to remove constituents of mainstream smoke which passes therethrough. In particular, activated carbon has the propensity to reduce the levels of certain gas phase components present in the mainstream smoke, resulting in a change in the organoleptic properties of that smoke.
Despite these advantages of carbon bearing filters, they are not so widely employed. It has been found that mainstream smoke from carbon filters tend to have a flavor note that is contrary to consumer preferences, and that therefore their employment in commercially offered cigarettes has not been heretofore widespread.
It would be desirable to provide a cigarette having a cigarette filter incorporating carbon and/or other materials capable of absorbing and/or adsorbing gas phase components present in mainstream cigarette smoke, while providing favorable absorption/adsorption, dilution and drawing characteristics, and adding flavor to the filtered smoke so as to enhance consumer acceptability.
Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide such a filter with desirable residence time in the adsorbent/absorbent-containing region while simultaneously achieving a pressure drop downstream of the dilution region and the adsorbent/absorbent so as to provide acceptable drawing characteristics of puffs of smoke having reduced gas phase components but with acceptable taste and resistance-to-draw.

Cigarette and filter with downstream flavor addition


An equalizer adjusting device includes a comparator, an inequality counter, an adjuster, and the like. The comparator performs magnitude comparison between a voltage value Vout of each bit output from an equalizer and a threshold value MonLVL and outputs a logical value MonSMP according to a result of the comparison. The inequality counter inputs a logical value DatSMP output from a sampler in accordance with the result of magnitude comparison between the voltage value Vout of each bit and a reference value, and the logical value MonSMP output from the comparator and counts events in which the logical value DatSMP and the logical value MonSMP differ from each other, every period. The adjuster adjusts a gain of the equalizer and the threshold value MonLVL of the comparator based on a counted value of the inequality counter.

In a signal transmitting and receiving system configured to have a transmitter and a receiver connected to each other via a transmission path, a data array sent from the transmitter arrives at the receiver via the transmission path and is received by the receiver. In many signal transmitting and receiving systems, the transmitter converts parallel data into serial data and sends the serial data to the transmission path, and the receiver receives serial data and converts the serial data into parallel data.
The signal waveform of a data array when it arrives at the receiver is deteriorated compared to the signal waveform of the data array when it is sent from the transmitter. This deterioration in signal waveform is caused due to the frequency characteristics of the transmission path attenuating a high-frequency component more than a low-frequency component. When the degree of deterioration in signal waveform is significant, the frequency of erroneous receiving (bit error rate) of the receiver increases. Therefore, in many cases, receivers include an equalizer in the preceding stage of a sampler.
Since an equalizer has frequency characteristics capable of improving the frequency characteristics of a data array which has arrived from the transmitter, a deteriorated signal waveform can be restored, or the degree of deterioration can be reduced. Generally, since transmission paths attenuate a high-frequency component, the equalizer increases a high-frequency component of a data array or decreases a low-frequency component of the data array to improve the frequency characteristics of the data array. The sampler inputs the data array adjusted by the equalizer and outputs a logical value according to the result of magnitude comparison between a voltage value of a bit and a reference value for each bit of the data array. Equalizers of various types have become known. Examples of representative equalizers include continuous time linear equalizers (CTLEs) and decision feedback equalizers (DFEs).
The frequency characteristics of an equalizer ought to be set to compensate for the frequency characteristics of a transmission path between a transmitter and a receiver. In addition, since transmission paths vary in material and shape and vary in transmission characteristics, it is important to appropriately set an equalizer in an actual signal transmitting and receiving system configured to have a transmitter and a receiver connected to each other via a transmission path. Various algorithms for adjusting the frequency characteristics of an equalizer have become known, and examples of representative algorithms include sign-sign least mean square (SSLMS) (refer to Non-Patent Literature 1).
[Non-Patent Literature 1] V. Stojanovic, et al., "Autonomous Dual-mode (PAM 2/4) Serial Link Transceiver with Adaptive Equalization and Data Recovery", IEEE JSSC, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 1012-1026, Apr. 2005

Equalizer adjusting device, equalizer adjusting method, receiver, and signal transmitting and receiving system