Coated tablets of (6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyloxy]-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine) are provided. The tablets minimize the perceived bitterness of the medicament. A method for analyzing instantaneous dissolution of sub-microgram quantities of core material is also disclosed.

Eszopiclone, also known as (S)-zopiclone or (S)-(6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyloxy]-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine), is formulated as the free base and is sold as LUNESTA®. It is used to treat different types of sleep problems, such as difficulty in falling asleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep during the night, and waking up too early in the morning. Most people with insomnia have more than one of these problems. See, e.g., WO 93/10787; Brun, J. P., Pharm. Biochem. Behav. 29: 831 832 (1988). The compound eszopiclone and various methods of treatment are disclosed at least in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,125,874; 6,864,257; 6,444,673; 6,319,926; and 5,786,357.
Racemic zopiclone, rac-(6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyloxy]-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine), also formulated as the free base, has been sold in Europe for many years to treat different types of sleep problems.
The active ingredient eszopiclone in its free base form has a very strong bitter taste. Human taste studies indicated that even a solution with very low concentration, e.g., 0.01 mg/mL, the bitter taste can be detected by the human tongue. Therefore, trace amounts of the active ingredient on the surface of the tablets, or any film coating defects leading to the direct exposure of the active ingredient on the surface of the tablets, or instantaneous dissolving tablets in human mouths would be detected owing to the extremely bitter taste when the patients swallow LUNESTA® tablets with water.
Many forms of analytical methods and apparatus have been proposed to measure or identify the active ingredient on the surface of the tablets. For instance, Raman mapping spectra were used to detect the active ingredient of alprazolam from the flattened surfaces of six alprazolam tablets (Sasic, Slobodan. Analytical R&D, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Sandwich, UK). Pharmaceutical Research (2007), 24(1), 58-65). Additionally, many analytical methods have been proposed to evaluate the film coating property of tablets. For example, the novel X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) technique combined with principal component analysis of spectra-to-image datasets was employed to study the effects of atomization air pressure used during the coating process on film-tablet interfacial thickness (Barbash, Dmytro; Fulghum, Julia E.; Yang, Jing; Felton, Linda. Physical Electronics USA, Inc., Chanhassen, Minn., USA, Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy (2009), 35(4), 480-486.) But none of these techniques are able to accurately determine very small amounts of material at very short time frames.
Human taste panel studies, such as the "Lick and Roll" testing method (a method involving direct collection of human saliva from the patients who take LUNESTA® tablets) is not only time-consuming, but also requires large and expensive clinical studies. Further, the conventional dissolution method is not capable of capturing the dissolution profiles of the tablets in the incipient stages of dissolution because sampling requires time intervals of five minutes or longer. On the other hand, methods such as conventional UV fiber optics and/or LC-UV methods, while rapid, are not sensitive enough to accurately quantify the trace amount of the active pharmaceutical ingredient at the ng/mL level. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop a new method which can overcome the drawbacks of the known methods or techniques in the art.


Precise control of the shrinkage upon sintering of bodies made from mixtures of particulate materials and organic binders is achieved through precision pycnometry of the particulate materials and of the resulting sintered bodies, thus allowing a single molding tool to be used to produce parts in different sizes and from different materials and to tight manufacturing tolerances.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the control of the dimensions of bodies made from sinterable particulate materials. More specifically, this invention relates to the fabrication of commercial parts from sinterable materials in different sizes and from different materials with a minimal investment in tooling.
2. Description of Prior Art
With the exponential growth of technology and the globalization of markets, manufacturers of mass-produced products such as computers, cars, watches, and the vast array of today""s electronic consumer items, are challenged by an increasingly educated and discriminating consumer population expecting innovative, technically advanced and esthetically pleasing products incorporating the latest technological developments.
In order to remain competitive, manufacturers of such mass-produced items must be in a position to rapidly change the design of their products. This is not just to keep abreast of the fast changes in technology, but also to maintain a steady stream of new products with greater functionality and appealing esthetic appearance, e.g. different shapes, sizes, materials, external surface finish, colors, properties, etc., as demanded by the market.
Another market driven fad consists of fabricating a wide array of consumer items such as watch cases and bracelets, belt buckles, spectacle frames, and the like, from the exotic alloys used in the aerospace industry, e.g. titanium, superalloys, cobalt, rhodium, zirconia, tungsten carbide, etc., such materials carrying with them an image of high technology.
As a result, the economic life of many mass-produced consumer products is often very short, sometimesxe2x80x94as in the case of watches, computers or cellular phonesxe2x80x94only a mere six months. The new products, which must be produced in replacement of the obsolete ones, naturally imply substantial investments in new tooling. Also the raw materials may be costly or difficult to source. Machining may be laborious and difficult, particularly for extremely small or high precision parts, and generate excessive amounts of scrap which may be costly to recycle.
Understandably then, the prior art has attempted to make new products without incurring the huge costs of new tooling and without generating the scrap associated with conventional machining. One such net-shape manufacturing technique is the well-known powder metallurgy (P/M) process which forms parts by pressing metallic powders into simple shapes such as gears and pinions and then sinters these to a useful density. However P/M parts are generally pressed in a uniaxial direction, which limits the freedom of shape and may introduce density gradients in the pressed part, resulting in shape distortion upon sintering. The second drawback of the P/M process is the substantial amount of residual porosity after sintering, a condition that weakens the material properties of the parts and limits their use in commercial applications. For demanding applications P/M parts often require further densification, e.g. by isostatic pressing.
Another prior art method used to reduce machining costs is the powder injection molding process in which metal or ceramic powders are mixed with an organic binder and molded into green parts using the machinery and tooling of the plastics industry. Following extraction of the organic binder, the green parts are sintered as in the P/M process. This is usually accompanied by a substantial shrinkage, of the order of 20% linear, resulting in diminutives or miniatures of the corresponding green parts. However the shrinkage is not always isotropic resulting in poor dimensional control over the end products and the need for iterative empirical tooling adjustments.
When the new commercial products are not too different in size and configuration from the obsolete onesxe2x80x94like a new model of watch case or watch bracelet linkxe2x80x94the prior art at times attempts to reduce the cost of new tooling by modifying the existing tooling so that it can still be used for the new products. For instance, in the injection molding of plastic parts it is common to provide a mold with interchangeable cavity inserts, each insert being for a different product. However, the savings achieved by using new inserts in an existing mold base are often marginal, as it is precisely the fabrication of the molding inserts which constitutes the most laborious, time consuming and expensive part of building a molding tool.
The prior art has attempted to reduce the costs of mold inserts by making them via the powder injection molding route as disclosed, for example, in Amaya et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,457. However, like any other powder injection molded parts, the green cavity inserts undergo shrinkage during sintering and, therefore, are likely to suffer from the same process weaknesses, namely part distortion and anisotropic shrinkage.
Yet another way the prior art has tried to reduce the cost of tooling is by making mold inserts from ceramic materials. One example is disclosed in Pluim, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,079 who teaches a process whereby the mold inserts are formed by freeze casting particulate silicon metal and then reaction bonding the green inserts in nitrogen gas to generate silicon nitride. However, the dimensional accuracy of these inserts is generally poor so that extensive secondary machining is required in the green state first, using bonded carbide tools, and after sintering, using diamond tooling.
Still another way the prior art has attempted to reduce the cost of tooling is by extending the functionality of existing tooling into new products which are miniatures of those the existing tooling was originally designed for. This is of great interest when said miniatures are of such small dimensions that their fabrication by conventional means is extremely difficult, costly or even impossible. An example of such efforts at miniaturization is disclosed in Wiech, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,655 where, through a series of iterative cycles, miniature parts are achieved. Each cycle consists of making a first green part in a first mold cavity. After sintering, during which the green part shrinks about 20% linearly, the product is used as a mold core in a second mold cavity and a second green part is produced which is a miniaturized mirror shape of the first green part. The second green part is then sintered in turn upon which, it too, shrinks about 20% linearly. The second sintered part is then used as a mold core in the cavity of a third mold to yield a third green part which is a miniature mirror shape of the second green part. Upon sintering of this third green part, a further 20% linear shrinkage takes place and a product, which constitutes a miniature of the first sintered product, is obtained. Wiech suggests that this cycle be repeated as many times as may be necessary to end up with a product that has the desired dimensions. The limitations of this procedure are obvious.
In conclusion, the prior art has not satisfactorily solved the problem of reducing the cost of new tooling or extending the functionality of existing tooling into new products.
Conceivably, this objective could be realized if products in a range of precisely predetermined sizes could be made using a single molding tool. Even more profit could be generated from existing tooling if one tool could also be used to make products of identical dimensions but from different materials. For example, a mold designed to produce plastic watch cases could be used to make stainless steel watch cases of different sizes, e.g. for gents, ladies and children. The same molding tool could also be used to make watch cases of identical dimensions but from different materials, e.g. stainless steel, tungsten carbide, zirconia, etc. This ideal situation would obviously only be possible if the different materials molded could be formulated with a precisely engineered and controlled shrinkage.
In accordance with the present invention the problems of the prior art are substantially overcome by providing a method to formulate an engineered thermoplastic mixture of sinterable particulate material and organic binder from which parts can be formed by prior art techniques such as molding, casting, machining and the like, the thus formed parts, upon extraction of the organic binder from them and sintering, displaying a uniform, isotropic, constant, and accurately predetermined shrinkage.
It is the primary object of this invention to provide a method to formulate a thermoplastic compound composed of at least one sinterable particulate material and at least one degradable thermoplastic ingredient, and displaying a predetermined, constant and isotropic shrinkage upon extraction of the thermoplastic constituent or constituents from said thermoplastic compound and sintering of the remaining particulate material or materials.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a method to control and optimize the shrinkage upon sintering of both moldable and non-moldable bodies produced from thermoplastic mixtures of sinterable particulates and organic binders.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for reducing the investment in new tooling by making articles of identical or variable sizes and from different materials using existing tooling.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an economical method for increasing the finctionality of existing tooling by extending its capabilities into products of different sizes and from different materials.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method to produce miniatures of existing products without the need for additional or special tooling
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a method that can be used to mass-produce small parts that cannot be produced easily, economically or at all, by conventional manufacturing techniques.

Method for controlling the dimensions of bodies made from sinterable materials


A method for writing to electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory and a corresponding integrated circuit are disclosed. In an embodiment a method includes operatively connecting a filter circuit belonging to a communication interface to an oscillator circuit, wherein the communication interface is physically connected to a bus, generating, by the oscillator circuit, an oscillation signal and regulating the oscillation signal by the filter circuit so as to generate a clock signal for timing a write cycle.

Integrated circuits of EEPROM memories typically comprise a memory plane for storing the stored data, decoders for accessing the data in the memory plane, and a peripheral portion.
The peripheral portion typically comprises a logic portion dimensioned for a power supply of, e.g., 5 V, conventionally comprising control means and a communication interface such as an I2C ("Inter-Integrated Circuits," a standard well-known to the person skilled in the art) bus interface. The peripheral portion also comprises an analogue portion comprising high voltage or voltage ramp generators, amplifiers, and reference current generators.

Method for writing an electrically erasable and programmable non volatile memory and corresponding integrated circuit


A modular radiation integrator assembly including a radiation source that emits radiation, a first integrator module including a first input port and a first output port, an adjust tube configured to partially receive the first integrator module and engage the radiation source in a manner such that the radiation emitted by the radiation source travels to and enters the first input port, and a second integrator module including a second input port and second output port, the second integrator module couplable to the first integrator module outside the adjust tube in a manner such that the radiation exits the first output port and enters the second input port.

Due to advances in light emitting diode (LED) technology, LED's are becoming progressively more widely used in many fields. For example, there are image projection systems in which multi-color light from one or more LEDs is integrated, directed onto a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), and then routed to and displayed on a screen. Although existing LED integrators have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects. For example, existing LED integrators tend to be bulky rather than compact, difficult and expensive to manufacture, do not permit easy and rapid interchange of integrator light pipes, do not permit easy and rapid alignment of multiple integrator light pipes, do not permit easy and rapid replacement of a failed LED, and often require realignment after LED replacement.


A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting display includes preparing a substrate including a cathode line and forming an anode electrode on the substrate, the anode electrode being insulated from the cathode line. The method also includes forming an insulating layer having a first opening exposing a portion of the cathode line and a second opening exposing a portion of the anode electrode on the substrate, forming an organic layer on the insulating layer, and forming an electrical connection portion electrically connected to the cathode line. The electrical connection portion is formed in this method by supplying a conductive solution that dissolves the organic layer in an area of the organic layer corresponding to the first opening, and the manufacturing method also includes forming a cathode electrode overlapping with the electrical connection portion.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display which is capable of preventing a voltage applied to a cathode electrode from dropping down.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting display includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an organic material disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode to display an image. Among display devices, the organic light emitting display has been spotlighted as a next generation display device because it has properties, e.g., fast response speed, wide viewing angle, etc.
The organic light emitting display is classified into a front surface light emitting type and a rear surface light emitting type. The front surface light emitting type organic light emitting display has an aperture ratio higher than that of the rear surface light emitting type organic light emitting display.
In general, because a light travels through the cathode electrode in the front surface light emitting type organic light emitting display, the cathode electrode is formed of a conductive material that is conductive and has transmissivity (e.g., is transparent). However, there are a limited number of materials that can be used as a low resistance cathode electrode using the conductive material that is also transparent.
Accordingly, a voltage drop, i.e., an "IR" drop, occurs in the cathode electrode and the voltage drop is intensified by the increase in size of the organic light emitting display.
In addition, a rear surface resonance structure is suggested to prevent or reduce deterioration of brightness due to the voltage drop of the cathode electrode, but such a structure imposes limits on the methods of manufacturing the organic light emitting display.

Method of manufacturing a conductive via in an organic light emitting display


A shuttlecock for hitting or kicking by a hand, foot or racket comprising a hollow elastic body, a head connected with the body and a tail connected with the head. The body can shrink to press the air in its hollow interior through a curved through hole in the head to give out a whistling sound when this shuttlecock is hit or kicked.

Nowadays, industry and commerce have extremely developed so that cities have grown more and more crowded with people, who are forced to have less and less space for living owing to fast rising cost of land and houses. Besides, except weekends they cannot get rather long hours for enjoying leizure, exercise or sports. Therefore, this invention has been devided to furnish an easy means for a kind of exercise which does not need a large space but can be played at any time or place.


A separator for separating a multiphase mixture comprising a pressure vessel supported for rotation within a casing containing a gas which may be held at an elevated temperature or pressure. A plurality of vanes is disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an inlet, a first phase outlet and a plurality of second phase outlets disposed radially outwardly of the first phase outlet with respect to a separator axis. A regulator is provided in the form of pressure-activated nozzles to regulate flow through the second phase outlets. In use, a mixture of solids and liquid is fed into the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is spun within the gas causing solids to accumulate in the vicinity of the second phase outlets. The pressure-activated nozzles are repeatedly opened and closed to expel the accumulated solids.

Centrifugal separators for separating multiphase mixtures into their component phases are well known.
Existing centrifugal separators often rely on a batch separation process. This involves separating phases of a mixture into different regions of the separator. Once separation is complete, the separator is stopped and each phase can be removed from the separator. A batch process is often undesirable since it involves periodic interruption of the separation process.
Alternatively, each phase may be removed continuously via separate outlets from a separator. With such methods, removal rates of each phase need to be constantly monitored to ensure that the separation process remains effective. Furthermore, solids and emulsion can build up during the separation process and fill the separator and swamp the rotor.
The term "phase" may refer, in the context of this specification, to the particular state of a substance, for example, whether a substance is a solid, liquid or gas. The term "phase" may also be used to distinguish different substances, for example, immiscible liquids or solids from liquids.

Separator for separating a multiphase mixture


A folding device for folding a copy along a line parallel to a direction of forward travel of the copy, the copy being delivered to a folding table having a longitudinal central slit, is disclosed. The folding device includes a crankshaft, disposed below the folding table in line with the central slit, which is rotatably driven about a central axis of rotation parallel to the direction of forward travel of the copy. The folding device also includes a folding cylinder having a radius R and an external surface S, which is rotatably mounted about a central geometric axis on the crankshaft. The central geometric axis is parallel to the central axis of rotation of the crankshaft and offset with respect to the central axis of rotation by a distance equal to the radius R. Each time a copy is folded, the crankshaft makes a complete revolution about the central axis of rotation simultaneously driving the folding cylinder through its own rotational movement about the central geometric axis, so that any point on the external surface S of the folding cylinder moves along a straight line of length equal to four times the radius R.

Devices are known for printing webs of paper in which the machines for printing webs of paper are generally fed by a spool of paper mounted on an unwinder and from which the web of paper is drawn with the aid of a dispenser. The printing of such a web of paper is carried out by passing this web through one or more printing units then through a hot air drier and through a set of cooling rollers in order to fix the film of ink on the web of paper. Subsequently, the printed web of paper is folded at its middle along a longitudinal direction by a folding device commonly known to a person of ordinary skill in the art as a kite. The longitudinally folded web of paper is cut up into copies between two cylinders, a transfer cylinder and a cutting cylinder.
A first transverse folding of the copies is carried out between the transfer cylinder equipped with engaging blades and a folding cylinder equipped with jaws. The copies coming from the folding cylinder folded perpendicularly to their direction of forward travel, are held and transported by two sets of belts situated respectively above and below the copies.
In order to fold a folded copy for a second time, along a fold perpendicular to the first fold produced, a longitudinal folding device called a quarter fold is used which forms a fold parallel to the direction of forward travel of the copy. In this case, the copies are transported by the belts as far as the quarter fold on a longitudinal folding table comprising a longitudinal slit.
The quarter fold device includes an engagement blade of known type placed above the longitudinal slit and moving alternately upwards and downwards in order to introduce the paper copy into the slit. It also includes, below the longitudinal slit, two folding rollers whose geometric axes of rotation are parallel to the slit. These two rollers rotate in opposite directions so as to create a drawing-in space between them. A copy engaged in the slit is drawn into the space and folded between the two rollers, then leaving the rollers at a speed equal to the superficial rotational speed of the rollers.
A device known as a fan, well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, receives the folded copies leaving the rollers. The fan slows down the copies and places them one after the other on a receiving belt moving slowly so that the copies partially overlap one another forming a sheet.
These conventional quarter folding devices, however, exhibit certain drawbacks. For one, when a copy is engaged in the slit by the engagement blade, it is drawn in abruptly at the speed of the folding rollers. In the case of a thin paper copy, the contact between the rollers and the paper is insufficient, and for this reason the copy slides on the surface of the rollers.
Another drawback with the prior art devices is that upon leaving the folding rollers, a copy retains the speed of the rollers and must be slowed down in the fan or like device. During the transfer of the copy from the quarter fold to the fan, the copy may tear and/or become wedged.


In a soldering device comprising at least one stirrup electrode that is secured to a soldering stirrup holder and is heatable with electrical resistance heating and has two soldering webs lying opposite one another or four soldering webs lying opposite one another in pairs, the working surfaces at the underside of the soldering webs should be capable of being placed exactly parallel onto the soldering location that lies, for example, on a printed circuitboard. This is enabled by a flexible suspension of the soldering stirrup holder which provides a pivot compensation center lying centrally in the plane of the working surfaces. As a result thereof, a reliable contact of the parts to be soldered to one another and to the soldering stirrups is guaranteed.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention is directed to a soldering apparatus having at least one stirrup electrode secured to a solder stirrup holder and heatable :;ith electrical resistance heat and having two solder webs lying opposite one another or four solder webs lying opposite one another in pairs whose work surfaces lie in one plane.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As an example, German application No. 31 49 236 generally discloses such a soldering device. The electrode holder of this known soldering device comprises small columns of conductive material electrically insulated from one another and between whose ends at least two stirrup electrodes are secured in interchangeable fashion. The U-shaped stirrup electrodes that can be heated by electrical resistance heating are manufactured of a planar plate composed of a resistor material such as tantalum or molybdenum and are attached in such a fashion that their work surfaces, lying on the urderside of the solder webs, come into contact with the elements to be soldered. Given a plurality of two or four stirrup electrodes, a total of four small columns are required for the electrode holders, these columns being arranged at a respective diagonal of the cross section of the soldering device and being mechanically connected to one another by a plurality of crcss-shaped bracings. For the power supply of four stirrup electrcdes, two small columns lying on a diagonal are connected to the cne pole of a power source, whereby the two other small columns are connected to the other pole of the power source.
German application No. 28 18 958 discloses another soldering device wherein the electrcde holder comprises two small columns of conductive material electrically insulated from one another and between whose ends a sirgle stirrup electrode is secured in an interchangeable manner. This stirrup electrode likewise has four soldering webs lying opposite one another in pairs whose working surfaces have the shape of a one-piece rectangular frame, whereby two soldering webs lying opposite one another are interchangeably secured to the allocated, small columns via upwardly-projecting continuations.
European application No. 011 046 discloses a further soldering device wherein a single stirrup electrode secured at an electrode holder has a total of four soldering webs lying opposite one another in pairs, whose working surfaces have the shape of a one-piece, rectangular frame. Here, however, each of the soldering webs has an upwardly projecting continuation allocated thereto which holds the scldering webs and serves as a power lead. Continuations that lie opposite one another thereby lie electrically parallel with one another.
The known soldering apparatus set forth above are particularly utilized for soldering electronic components having a large number of poles such as micropacs, flatpacks and the like to printed circuitboards, whereby the resistance heating of the stirrup electrodes is undertaken by current pulses. A reliable contact between the working surfaces of the stirrup electrodes, the terminal legs of the components and the interconnects or, respectively, terminal pads of the printed circuitboards must thereby be guaranteed both before the soldering process as well as over the entire duration of the soldering process. This requirement, however, cannot always be met in view of potentially-occurring arcings of the printed circuitboards, of tolerances of the printed circuitboards in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the printed circuitboards, of tolerances in layer thickness and of a possible skewed position of the printed circuitboards during the soldering process.

Soldering means having at least one stirrup electrode and two soldering webs lying opposite one another or four soldering webs lying opposite one another in pairs


A key mechanism is disclosed. A base plate includes a first pivoting portion and a second pivoting portion opposing the first pivoting portion. A keycap is disposed on the base plate and includes at least one engaging portion. A linking bar is connected between the base plate and the keycap and includes a first body portion, two second body portions, and two curved portions. The first body portion is rotatably engaged in the engaging portion of the keycap. The second body portions are connected to the first body portion and oppose each other. The curved portions are connected to the second body portions and pivot to the first and second pivoting portions of the base plate, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a key mechanism, and more particularly to a key mechanism preventing a linking bar from separating from a base plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in a key mechanism, a linking bar is disposed between a base plate and a keycap to enable uniform function of the keycap.
Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a conventional key mechanism 1 comprises a base plate 11, a keycap 12, and a linking bar 13. In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, depiction of a scissors linking device, an elastic dome, and a membrane circuit assembly is omitted to simplify the diagrams. A plurality of pivoting portions 11a is disposed on base plate 11. A plurality of engaging portions 12a is disposed on keycap 12. The linking bar 13 comprises a main body 13a and two free ends 13b. The main body 13a is rotatably engaged in the engaging portions 12a of the keycap 12 while the free ends 13b respectively pivot to the pivoting portions 11a of the base plate 11. When the keycap 12 is pressed, the main body 13a of the linking bar 13 moves with the keycap 12 and the free ends 13b thereof rotate in the pivoting portions 11a.
When the keycap 12 is removed or separated from the base plate 11 due to collision, the linking bar 13 is also often separated from base plate 11 (or separated from the pivoting portions 11a) following the keycap 12. Accordingly, as the linking bar 13 must be assembled on the keycap 12 and base plate 11 using a specific means, re-assembly of the linking bar 13, keycap 12, and base plate 11 is inconvenient.


An image forming apparatus is for forming an image with the use of image data items having different resolutions that are input to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a controller unit configured to store the image data items having different resolutions, and report image format information of the image data items; resolution conversion units configured to convert the image data items having different resolutions acquired from the controller unit to have the same resolution, based on the image format information reported from the controller unit; and an image forming unit configured to form the image with the use of the image data items that have been converted by the resolution conversion units to have the same resolution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus for forming color images includes toner used for forming images of regular colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), as well as transparent toner that is applied to an output image for providing glossiness, and background image toner that is exclusively provided for background images such as background patterns.
When transparent toner and background image toner are used for forming color images, video data of transparent images and background pattern images usually does not need to be as high resolution as video data of regular color images. That is to say, at a controller unit for transferring video data to a plotter image processing unit, the video data of transparent images and background pattern images may be prepared with a lower resolution than that of video data of regular color images, for the purpose of saving memory space and improving transfer performance.
For example, at the controller unit, regular color images are prepared with image data of 600 dpi, while background pattern images are prepared with image data of 300 dpi and transparent images are prepared with image data of 200 dpi. In order to implement such a configuration, there is known an image forming apparatus including plural optical scanning devices, in which some of the optical scanning devices are operated at a different resolution from that of other optical scanning devices (see, for example, patent document 1).
Incidentally, when the optical scanning devices provided in a conventional image forming apparatus have a configuration in which light beams of all image creating plates (e.g., CMYK image creating plates and transparent image creating plate created by the respective toner types) are applied to one polygon mirror acting as a beam reflecting unit so that the light beams are deflected, all of the images will have the same scanning period and the same line period. Thus, images of all image creating plates will be formed by the same (common) resolution. Furthermore, the plotter engine that drives the optical scanning devices operates all image creating plates by the same resolution.
For example, when image data of 300 dpi for a background pattern image and image data of 200 dpi for a transparent image are prepared in a memory of the control unit, the following process is performed. The image data items are read from the memory, the controller unit performs a process of magnifying the image data items by two times or three times, and then the magnified image data items are returned to the memory. According to this process, the respective image data items are converted to 600 dpi, so that all image creating plates are operated by the same resolution.
However, when performing the above process, the processing data amount in the controller unit increases, and therefore the memory capacity needs to be increased. Furthermore, when transferring the video data that has undergone the above process from the controller unit to the plotter image processing unit, the processing performance may decline due to an insufficient data transfer bandwidth.
Furthermore, when combining a regular color image and a background pattern image at a plotter image processing unit, if the respective image data items in the memory of the above-described controller unit have different resolutions, the resolutions need to be matched before combining the images. When matching the resolutions at the controller unit, the processing data amount increases in the controller unit, and therefore the memory capacity needs to be increased. Accordingly, the processing performance may decline due to an insufficient data transfer bandwidth.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-030456

Image forming apparatus configured to generates composite image having same resolution, from images having different resolutions, image forming method, and integrated circuit


A packing unit to seal a wellbore, the packing unit including at least one rotatable cam having a cam axis disposed about an axis of the wellbore, wherein the at least one rotatable cam is rotatable about the cam axis, the at least one rotatable cam comprising a seal recess formed in an outer periphery of the at least one rotatable cam, wherein the packing unit sealingly engages a tool in the wellbore by rotation of the at least one rotatable cam, bringing the seal recess into sealing contact with the tool.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to well control devices used in oil and gas exploration. In particular, embodiments disclosed herein relate to packing units capable of sealing varying tubular diameters in a wellbore.
2. Background Art
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a prior art annular blowout preventer 101 is shown. Annular blowout preventer 101 includes a housing 102 having a central bore 120 extending therethrough along a borehole axis 103. A packing unit 105 is disposed within annular blowout preventer 101 about central bore 120, such that a bore 111 of the packing unit 105 is substantially concentric with bore 120 of blowout preventer 101.
As depicted in FIG. 1, packing unit 105 includes an elastomeric annular body 107 and a plurality of metal inserts 109. Metal inserts 109 are shown disposed within elastomeric annular body 107 of packing unit 105 in radial planes in a generally circular fashion about borehole axis 103. In use, hydraulic fluid may enter a cylinder 112 through an activation port 113, thereby thrusting an actuation piston 117 in an upward direction. As piston 117 is thrust upward, an inclined surface 118 of actuation piston 117 compresses packing unit 105 so that bore 111 is reduced as metal inserts 109 are displaced toward borehole axis 103. To open bore 111, hydraulic fluid is diverted to a retraction port 115 and piston 117 is urged in a downward direction.
Thus, conventional packing units (e.g., 105) generally include large toroid-shaped elastomeric (or rubber) seal devices that may not be able to withstand the elevated temperatures and pressures encountered in various drilling situations. As wells are drilled deeper into the earth and in deeper waters offshore, the temperatures and pressures of returning drilling fluids are increasing to levels exceeding those previously experienced. As a result, elastomers that were flexible enough to be used in former packing units may soften too severely under the higher temperatures and therefore may lose their ability resist failure by extrusion through the large "gap" in the annular space between inclined surface 118 and bore 120.
Additionally, metal inserts 109, historically disposed within the elastomeric body 107 to strengthen the packing unit 105, may not be able to provide sufficient structural support to prevent the elastomeric body 107 from failing at the elevated temperatures and pressures experienced in such deep well drilling environments. While elastomers capable of exhibiting suitable high-temperature resistance may be available, such elastomers are too stiff at lower temperatures to be usable in packing units. When used at lower temperatures, the stiffer, high-temperature, elastomers may not be able to sufficiently deform to seal about a tubular or other object contained within bore 120.
Therefore, for annular packing units to function properly (i.e., form stable seals between the bore 120 and an object contained within the bore 120) in wells having high temperature and pressure, packing units must maintain an appropriate amount of flexibility yet retain sufficient strength across the entire anticipated operating range of temperatures and pressures. In certain high-temperature applications, absent the development of new elastomer compounds, interchangeable (or multiple) packer elements, each having a elastomer combination tailored for a particular sub-set of the overall temperature and pressure range, would be necessary. However, as many high-temperature and high-pressure drilling applications occur at deep sea depths, the ability to deploy a system using interchangeable packer elements is limited.
Therefore, an improved mechanism for a packing unit of an annular and/or a ram-type blowout preventer would be highly desirable. For example, if an annular blowout preventer were constructed with a packing element capable of accommodating a range of sizes without experiencing significant strains, the pressure and temperature ratings of the annular blowout preventer may be increased and one or more ram-type blowout preventers removed from the BOP stack.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a robust packing element capable of withstanding elevated temperatures and pressures, while simultaneously providing adequate sealing capabilities about a variety of objects of varying size.

Variable radius annular and ram packing unit and method


The present invention provides a cosmetic composition containing one or more selected from a group consisting of green tea saponin and green tea polyphenol as active ingredients. The cosmetic composition of the invention is very safe to the skin and can greatly enhance biological mechanisms in the skin, and thus can serve as an anti-aging cosmetic composition.

Recently, as plant cell culturing techniques using the totipotency of plants are developed, interests in functional secondary metabolites derived from plants are increasing greatly. Since the secondary metabolites are known to have various physiological activities, substances extracted from plant stem cells are drawing attentions as new raw materials of high functional cosmetics. Because this technique allows production of highly functional active substances which occur naturally but are difficult to obtain through chemical synthesis economically, it is expected that new components that could not be used thus far can be developed and utilized. In addition, development of materials using bioprocesses such as the active transformation technology utilizing enzyme treatment is actively carried out. Although needs on functional cosmetics are increasing recently, the development of new functional materials or related technologies is insufficient to satisfy the needs. In this context, cosmetics prepared using the plant stem cell technology, which allows preparation of numerous new functional components, or bioprocesses such as enzyme treatment will draw a lot of attentions with regard to various skin effects, especially anti-aging effect.

Cosmetic composition containing green tea component


A fuel mixture includes a fuel and an octane overboosting additive. Methods of preparing and using such mixtures are disclosed. In particular, the mixture includes an additive that provides octane boosting that produces peak octane at or before a 40% blend and produces at least a 1 octane boost at 10% volume of additive to fuel mixture.

The ability to accurately predict engine performance based on an understanding of basic fuel chemistry has been a major goal of combustion science and engineering since the advent of the internal combustion engine. As mid-to-low boiling range petroleum distillates became the standard raw material to power spark ignition (SI) combustion engines, a significant quantity of SI combustion research has focused on identifying fuel additives that could increase a fuel's ability to resist autoignition, and thereby prevent a phenomenon known as engine knock (see, e.g., Mittal V et al., "The shift in relevance of fuel RON and MON to knock onset in modern SI engines over the last 70 years," SAE Int'l J. Engines 2010; 2(2):1-10; and Wang Z et al., "Knocking combustion in spark-ignition engines," Prog. Energy Combustion Sci. 2017; 61:78-112).
Historically, additives such as tetra-ethyl lead (TEL) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were used to minimize engine knock (e.g., Nriagu J O, "The rise and fall of leaded gasoline," Sci. Total Environ. 1990; 92:13-28). However, health and environmental risks associated with these additives resulted in each being phased out of the U.S. market, with ethanol becoming the dominant oxygenate and octane enhancer for gasoline blending by the mid-2000s (see, e.g., Solomon B D et al., "Grain and cellulosic ethanol: history, economics, and energy policy," Biomass Bioenerg. 2007; 31:416-25; and Squillace P J et al., "Preliminary assessment of the occurrence and possible sources of MTBE in groundwater in the United States, 1993-1994," Environ. Sci. Technol. 1996; 30:1721-30).
Engine knock is associated with a host of other issues negatively impacting spark ignition engine longevity, including piston melt, gasket leakage, cylinder bore scuffing, and cylinder head erosion (see, e.g., Heywood J B, "Internal combustion engine fundamentals," McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, 930 pp.). The impact of higher octane fuels can be significant, with Heywood et al. reporting that if the RON of gasoline was globally raised to 98, overall greenhouse gas emissions would be 4.5-6% lower than the baseline case of lower octane gasoline (see, e.g., Chow E W et al., "Benefits of a higher octane standard gasoline for the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet," SAE Technical Paper No. 2014-01-1961, 2014, 18 pp.). Other studies have demonstrated similar benefits of higher octane fuels (see, e.g., Stradling R et al., "Effect of octane on performance, energy consumption and emissions of two Euro 4 passenger cars," Transport. Res. Procedia 2016; 14:3159-68; and Pan J. et al., "Research on in-cylinder pressure oscillation characteristic during knocking combustion in spark-ignition engine," Fuel 2014; 120:150-7).
If the RON enhancement is due to a renewable bioderived fuel, these benefits are further increased due to displacement of fossil fuels. Improving the behavior of bioderived fuels in blends is of additional importance because, as with ethanol, it is anticipated that new biofuels will be added to a base fuel rather than used neat.
Numerous studies have been conducted to understand the RON and MON performance of both neat compounds and blended fuels (see, e.g., American Society for Testing Materials, "Knocking characteristics of pure hydrocarbons," ASTM Special Technical Pub. No. 225, Philadelphia, Pa., 1958; Ghosh P et al., "Development of a detailed gasoline composition-based octane model," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2006; 45:337-45; Lovell W G, "Knocking characteristics of hydrocarbons," Ind. Eng. Chem. 1948; 40:2388-438; and Morganti K J et al., "The Research and Motor Octane Numbers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)," Fuel 2013; 108:797-811). More recently efforts have focused on using first principles approaches, such as chemical kinetics to predict antiknock properties, however, these have been limited to low complexity fuel surrogates and computational modeling approaches (see, e.g., Boot M D et al., "Impact of fuel molecular structure on auto-ignition behavior-design rules for future high performance gasolines," Prog. Energ. Combust. Sci. 2017; 60:1-25; Bu L et al., "Understanding trends in autoignition of biofuels: homologous series of oxygenated C5 molecules," J. Phys. Chem. A 2017; 121:5475-86; Westbrook C K et al., "Chemical kinetics of octane sensitivity in a spark-ignition engine," Combust. Flame 2017; 175:2-15; Szybist J P et al., "Understanding chemistry-specific fuel differences at a constant RON in a boosted SI engine," Fuel 2018; 217:370-81; Maylin M V et al., "Calculation of gasoline octane numbers taking into account the reaction interaction of blend components," Procedia Chem. 2014; 10:477-84; and Giglio V et al., "Experimental evaluation of reduced kinetic models for the simulation of knock in SI engines," SAE Intl Technical Paper No. 2011-24-0033, 2011, 11 pp.). Despite these efforts, a detailed understanding of why certain fuel additives blend synergistically (i.e. generate higher octane number than that which would be predicted based on the relative mole fraction of the additive and a linear blending rule), while others blend antagonistically is still not well understood. See FIG. 1. This is because these phenomena intrinsically depend on chemical interactions among the numerous components of the fuel blend in the combustion cycle (see, e.g., Boot M D et al., Prog. Energ. Combust. Sci. 2017; 60:1-25; American Petroleum Institute, "Determination of the potential property ranges of mid-level ethanol blends," Washington, D C, 2010, 107 pp.; Park S et al., "Combustion characteristics of C5 alcohols and a skeletal mechanism for homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion simulation," Energy Fuels 2015; 29:7584-94; Wallner T et al., "Analytical assessment of C2-C8 alcohols as spark-ignition engine fuels," Proceedings of the FISITA 2012 World Automotive Congress (Society of Automotive Engineers of China (SAE-China) and International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA), eds.), Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany, 2013, pp. 15-26; Anderson J E et al., "Octane numbers of ethanol-gasoline blends: measurements and novel estimation method from molar composition," SAE Technical Paper No. 2012-01-1274, 2012, 17 pp.; and Stein R A et al., "Effect of heat of vaporization, chemical octane, and sensitivity on knock limit for ethanol—gasoline blends," SAE Intl J. Fuels Lubr. 2012; 5:823-43).
In previous efforts to identify new fuel additives for increasing engine efficiency, hundreds of biofuel molecules have been evaluated for neat RON and MON to establish suitability as an octane boosting or antiknock agent (see, e.g., Morganti K J et al., Fuel 2013; 108:797-811; Mack J H et al., "Investigation of biofuels from microorganism metabolism for use as anti-knock additives," Fuel 2014; 117:939-43; Christensen E et al., "Renewable oxygenate blending effects on gasoline properties," Energy Fuels 2011; 25:4723-33; and McCormick R L et al., "Selection criteria and screening of potential biomass-derived streams as fuel blendstocks for advanced spark-ignition engines," SAE Int'l J. Fuels Lubr. 2017; 10:442-60). The RON of the neat compound is commonly used to interpolate the maximum RON of the resulting fuel blend since it widely assumed that the RON of a mixture will never exceed the bounds of the RON values for its constituents (the compound and the blendstock).
Fuel chemistry can be designed to enhance engine performance, fuel stability, and octane content. Additives can be included to provide such beneficial properties, but the identification of such additives and their properties still remains a challenge. Why some compounds improve octane of a fuel when blended therein and others blend antagonistically (decreasing octane) is still not well understood. It is common for octane boosting compounds to boost octane to a level between the octane of the neat fuel and the octane of the neat additive. While this effect can be valuable, improving the octane boosting effect of such compounds is desirable, so that less additive is needed to attain a desired octane improvement. In addition, some applications may benefit from boosting the fuel octane higher than has been conventionally achieved. In addition, octane boosters that can be sourced from renewable biological sources are desirable. Accordingly, there is a need for new fuel additives and fuel mixtures that display improved properties.

Compounds that induce octane overboosting

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC


A system for processing financial transactions based on consumer preferences is disclosed. The system allows a user to specify on a payment device a consumer preference which is communicable to a payment terminal and is determinative in pricing goods and services.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to financial transaction systems, and more particularly to financial transaction systems that utilize personal profiles.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Transaction payment systems are prevalent throughout society. Instead of using cash, consumers are now using many different types of payment devices to buy a wide range of items. These payment devices can include credit, debit, prepaid and smart cards, as well as cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other types of devices.
For example, in some implementations, consumers use smart cards to make payments without having to manually swipe a card through a conventional point-of-sale device (i.e., a magnetic strip card reader). An exemplary smart card is the MasterCard PayPass® card. This card is an enhanced payment card that includes an embedded microprocessor chip and antennae (i.e., a miniature Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver chip and an antenna, or an active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag).
Many consumers receive rewards for using payment devices, such as frequent flier points and gift certificates, as an incentive to use the devices. Typically, the rewards are earned subsequent to purchasing the item or service, which may or may not include balance transfers, cash advances, or other special uses. The rewards are typically not earned based on product or service preferences. Accordingly, an improved implementation that provides rewards based on consumer preferences is desired.

System and method for processing financial transactions


A mounting system for locating a combustor and a fuel manifold of a gas turbine engine within a gas generator casing thereof is described. The mounting system comprises at least three support pin assemblies which extend radially inwardly from the gas generator casing. The support pin assemblies support both the fuel manifold and at least an upstream end of the combustor and maintaining engagement between the fuel manifold and the combustor during operation of the gas turbine engine.

Gas turbine engine internal fuel manifolds are typically located inside the engine case adjacent the engine combustor, and thus reside in an extremely hot environment. As is typical with other hardware mounted inside a gas turbine engine, complex connections are required to allow for thermal expansion and accommodate mismatches in thermal expansion which may exist between components made of different materials and/or which are exposed to different environmental temperatures. Complex systems are more difficult to make and assemble, and tend to add weight and cost. Additionally, when internal fuel manifolds are used, both combustors and their associated fuel systems which include such fuel manifolds are typically mounted within a surrounding casing by separate and independent sets of mounting hardware, each of which has to be accurately aligned and located, both relative to each other and relative to the casing and other engine components. Therefore, there is a continuing need to provide improvements to gas turbine combustor and fuel manifolds, particularly with respect to their mounting systems.

Gas turbine combustor and fuel manifold mounting arrangement


A detector digitally monitors and detects when an oscillating signal output by a phase-locked-loop (PLL) is locked to a reference signal input to the PLL. The PLL includes a phase frequency detector that outputs an up signal and a down signal that each has a pulse width. When the oscillating signal is locked to the reference signal, the pulse widths of the up and down signals are equal. The detector detects when the pulse widths are unequal, and outputs a lock status signal that indicates this condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase-locked-loop (PLL) and, more particularly, to a detector for detecting when an oscillating signal output by the PLL is locked to a reference signal input to the PLL.
2. Description of the Related Art
A phase-locked-loop (PLL) is a circuit that generates a periodic signal that is equivalent to a reference signal (the signals have the same frequency (equal pulse widths) and are in phase). The periodic signal can be directly output from an oscillator, or can alternately be formed by frequency-dividing the signal output from the oscillator.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram that illustrates a conventional PLL 100 that utilizes a frequency-divided output signal. As shown in FIG. 1, PLL 100 includes a phase frequency detector (PFD) 110 that detects the difference in phase and frequency between a periodic feedback signal FBK and a reference signal REF. In addition, PFD 110 outputs an up signal UP and a down signal DN that are responsive to the difference in phase and frequency.
As further shown in FIG. 1, PLL 100 also includes a first current source 112 that sources a charging current IC, and a first switch 114 that is connected between first current source 112 and an input node IN. First switch 114, which is controlled by the up signal UP, defines the amount of the charging current that is allowed to flow into the input node IN. First switch 114 is commonly implemented with a MOS transistor.
In addition, PLL 100 also includes a second current source 116 that sinks a discharging current ID that is equal to the charging current IC, and a second switch 118 connected between the input node IN and second current source 116. Second switch 118, which is controlled by the down signal DN, defines the amount of the charging current that is allowed to flow out of the input node IN. Second switch 118 is also commonly implemented with a MOS transistor.
PLL 100 further includes a low pass filter 120 that smoothes the voltage on the input node IN, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 122 that outputs an oscillating signal OSC with a frequency and phase that are defined by the voltage on the input node IN. In addition, a frequency divider 124 divides down the oscillating signal OSC to output the feedback signal FBK with a frequency that is a fractional multiple of the frequency of the oscillating signal OSC. For example, if the oscillating signal OSC has a frequency of 200 MHz and frequency divider 124 divides the signal by two, the feedback signal FBK has a frequency of 100 MHz.
In operation, the phase of the feedback signal FBK, which represents the phase of the oscillating signal OSC, is compared to the phase of the reference signal REF by PFD 110. If the signals are in phase, the up and down signals UP and DN are defined to leave the voltage on the input node IN unchanged.
For example, when the feedback and reference signals FBK and REF are in phase, the up and down signals UP and DN can be equivalent. In this case, switches 114 and 118 are both closed at the same time for the same period of time. Since the charging and discharging currents IC and ID are equivalent, current source 116 sinks all of the current output by current source 112, thereby leaving the voltage on the input node IN unchanged.
If the feedback and reference signals FBK and REF are out of phase, the up and down signals UP and DN are defined to change the voltage on the input node IN to reduce the phase difference between the signals. For example, the up and down signals UP and DN can be output with unequal pulse widths when the feedback and reference signals FBK and REF are out of phase.
Assume that the phase of the oscillating signal OCS output by VCO 122, and thereby the phase of the feedback signal FBK, can be advanced by increasing the voltage on the input node IN. In this case, when the reference clock signal REF leads the feedback signal FBK, the up signal UP can be output with a pulse width that is larger than the pulse width of the down signal DN.
This, in turn, causes switch 114 to be closed for a greater period of time than switch 118. As a result, current source 112 sources more current into the input node IN via charging current IC than is removed by current source 114 via discharging current ID, thereby increasing the voltage on the input node IN.
Similarly, assume that the phase of the oscillating signal OCS output by VCO 122, and thereby the phase of the feedback signal FBK, can be retarded by reducing the voltage on the input node IN. In this case, when the reference clock signal REF lags the feedback signal FBK, the down signal DN can be output with a pulse width that is larger than the pulse width of the up signal UP.
This, in turn, causes switch 118 to be closed for a greater period of time than switch 114. As a result, current source 116 sinks more current from the input node IN via discharging current ID than is added by current source 112 via charging current IC, thereby decreasing the voltage on the input node IN.
It is often advantageous to know the state of the PLL, i.e., whether the oscillating signal output by the PLL is locked onto the reference signal. One prior art technique relies on analog processing of the up and down signals to determine the state of the PLL. Although this technique provides the necessary information, there is a need for other techniques for determining the state of a PLL.
The present invention provides a lock detector that digitally monitors and indicates the state of a phase-locked-loop (PLL), i.e., when an oscillating signal output by the PLL is locked to a reference signal input to the PLL. The PLL has a phase frequency detector (PFD) that outputs an up signal and a down signal that have pulse widths. The pulse widths of the up and down signals are equal when the oscillating signal is locked to the reference signal.
A lock detector in accordance with the present invention includes a dropped lock detection circuit that indicates when the up and down signals output by the PFD are not equivalent. In addition, the lock detector includes a first pulse latch that latches indications that the up and down signals are not equivalent during a first portion of each of a number of time periods.
Further, the lock detector includes a second pulse latch that latches indications that the up and down signals are not equivalent during a second portion of each of the number of time periods. The lock detector also includes an output stage that outputs a lock status signal that indicates whether indications that the up and down signals are not equivalent have been captured by the first pulse latch or the second pulse latch.
The present invention also includes a method for operating a lock detector that digitally monitors and indicates when an oscillating signal output by a PLL is locked to a reference signal input to the PLL. The method includes the step of indicating with a dropped lock detection circuit when the up and down signals output by the PFD are not equivalent.
The method also includes the step of latching with a first pulse latch indications that the up and down signals are not equivalent during a first portion of each of a number of time periods. The method further includes the step of latching with a second pulse latch indications that the up and down signals are not equivalent during a second portion of each of the number of time periods. The method additionally includes the step of outputting with an output stage a lock status signal that indicates whether indications that the up and down signals are not equivalent have been captured by the first pulse latch or the second pulse latch.
A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings that set forth an illustrative embodiment in which the principles of the invention are utilized.


The present invention provides a method of detecting a void-related fault in a metal or metal alloy component. The method comprising filling the fault with a fluid, preferably liquid; treating the component and fluid so as to produce thermal-excitation in the component and fluid; and thereby cause a detectable acoustic signal. The detection of the signal detects the presence of a void-related fault. The invention also provides a method of locating and characterizing a void-related fault which comprises detection of the fault as described, measuring the parameters of the acoustic signal and the conditions for producing the signal, and correlating the parameters and conditions with the location and characteristics of the fault. The invention is particularly useful for the detection of microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC). The invention also concerns a method of evaluating a component for the severity of a void-related damage. The method comprises filling the void-related damage with a fluid (or maintaining the component in conditions so that the void-related damage is filled with the fluid); thermally treating the component and fluid so as to produce a detectable acoustic signal; evaluating parameters and conditions of the signal; and correlating the parameters and conditions with the severity of the damage.

Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC) [also referred to as Microbially Influenced Corrosion] is corrosion involving bacteria interacting with metal surfaces. Several bacterial species exist and cause corrosion with different combinations of materials and chemical constituents. By example, MIC is recognized in water filled and crude oil systems, attacking carbon steel and stainless steel. Generally described as pitting of the metal, MIC also produces cavern-like voids and tunnel-like voids within the metal which results in the overall reduction of metal thickness.
Chemical, electrochemical, and biological analysis of the fluid medium have been used to detect the presence of MIC in a system. Radiography has been used to detect MIC at its location in the metal. These techniques are time consuming and costly to implement or provide such limited information about the location and severity of MIC to make them ineffective for repairing the damage in metal systems caused by MIC. Faced with bacterially induced corrosion, system operators typically change the material of construction or implement elaborate programs to control the bacteria as a preventive technique.
The methodology of this invention is to thermally stimulate the fluid within the MIC produced cavity or pit, causing that fluid to flow and/or to boil. Both flowing fluid and boiling produce acoustic energy, detectable with the nondestructive test method known as acoustic emission. The acoustic energy detected during thermal stimulation leads to the detection, location, and severity of the MIC damage. This method is more cost effective than present detection techniques and permits corrective action in the form of immediate repair or planned future maintenance based on the severity of damage present.
Acoustic emission has been used to monitor piping systems and vessels (tanks) in a variety of industries. Pressurization is the dominant form of stress (stimulus) application. Heaters have also been used to test flywheels for cracks; the heating of spokes producing sufficient stress in critical regions to yield acoustic emissions if a crack had been present. Mechanical loading of components, as in a three point bending application or dead weight on a steel rod, is also a common stress technique.
Commercial equipment is available which uses a thermal (hot-tip) probe to measure conductivity and/or wall thickness and/or surface cracks, but it is based on thermal conductance away from the probe or from a heater probe to a receiver probe. The application of this method to the detection of corrosion such as MIC is not known to exist.
The present invention provides an efficient, accurate, and nondestructive method to detect the presence of MIC damage or other corrosion damage in components and systems. The invention also provides a technique to locate the position of MIC-damage in a component or system and to establish the severity of the MIC-damage, wherein severity is related to the volume of metal corroded and/or the depth to which the MIC has progressed towards the outer surface of the component.
The present invention also provides a technique to detect, locate and assess MIC severity when the system or component has been drained of its contents; but not dried to the extend of removing fluid from MIC damage sites. It may also be use on a variety of metallic materials with various geometries and various fluid contents. In addition, during use of the invention, the invention may be employed to detect damage mechanisms through acoustic sources such as cracking, boiling, fluid flow or material deformation as a result of heating or thermally straining the region in which damage exists.

Method for the detection of voids and corrosion damage by thermal treatment


An optical transmission apparatus includes an interleaver configured to filter an optical carrier, a multiplexer configured to combine lights output from the interleaver to generate a composite light, a monitor configured to monitor a light intensity of the composite light, and a control circuit configured to change a grid spacing in a filter characteristic of the interleaver in a direction in which an amount of change in a light intensity of the composite light increases, on the basis of a monitoring result measured while changing a center frequency in the filter characteristic of the interleaver and to change the center frequency in the filter characteristic in a direction in which a maximum value of the light intensity increases, on the basis of the monitoring result.

Transmission capacity of an optical transmission system that uses the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology has increased in recent years. For example, standardization, including optical channel transport unit 4 (OTU4), which transfers a client signal in Ethernet (registered mark) of a transmission speed per channel of the 100 Gbit/s class, is proceeding.
An example of a developed optical modulation scheme for transmitting a 100 Gbit/s signal over a long distance is a dual polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) modulation and demodulation technique, which performs four-level phase modulation on orthogonal polarized waves propagating through an optical fiber.
To address a further increase in transmission capacity, application of a multilevel modulation scheme of four or more levels, such as 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM) is being pursued.
Also, an example of the related technique is adjustment of the degree of optical modulation on the basis of a transmission error rate as explained in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3940083.
An example of the apparatus used in generating optical signals with a predetermined frequency spacing is an interleaver. An interleaver has the function of changing a frequency spacing (grid spacing) of optical signals and separating the wavelengths of (interleaving) the signals for individual optical modulators. Unfortunately, the interleaver can interleave signals only in a fixed band range.
As in an example case in which optical signals with 50 GHz (corresponding to the wavelength 0.4 nm) spacing are interleaved with optical signals with 200 GHz (corresponding to the wavelength 1.6 nm), interleaving is allowed only in a fixed band range, and control for interleaving in a bandwidth variable manner has not been established.
Thus, optical transmission in a plurality of optical modulation schemes with different frequency spacings has to prepare a plurality of interleavers that can deal with the optical modulation schemes and carrier frequency spacings, and this raises a problem of increasing the system scale, power consumption, cost, and other factors.

Optical transmission apparatus and optical interleaving control method


Several embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use with node-based compositing to assist in the generation of a second eye or camera of a stereoscopic image. In one implementation, a method for use in 3D movie production comprises the steps: displaying composite nodes to a user, the composite nodes indicating how to composite a first plurality of rendered 2D elements into an output image, the rendered 2D elements and the plurality of composite nodes corresponding to a first eye of a 3D image; and receiving user input to add one or more transition nodes to the composite nodes, each transition node following a respective composite node and to be used for regeneration of one or more elements corresponding to the respective composite node, wherein the composite nodes and the one or more transition nodes are to be used to direct generation of a second eye of the 3D image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to 3D image production for stereoscopic motion pictures, and more specifically to the rendering and compositing stages in computer generated 3D image production.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Computer generated imagery (CGI) is becoming more common for use in the production of stereoscopic motion pictures. Typically, large quantities of 3D computer models are rendered by render farms to produce two sets of 2D images, each set representing one of the stereo cameras required for stereoscopic viewing. These 2D images are then composited, for example, using a node based compositing tool to provide two final composited 2D images for each frame of the stereoscopic motion picture. The composited 2D images are then color corrected, further processed and edited for final production. Various techniques exist to project the final two cameras to the user such that the user visually interprets the illusion of depth.

Composite transition nodes for use in 3D data generation


Recording a user's preference for content is disclosed. A first indication that a user has a first preference for the content is received. In response to receiving the first indication, the content is associated with the first preference. A second indication that the user has a second preference for the content is received. In response to receiving the second indication, the content is additionally associated with the second preference.

Individuals sometimes rate items and services (collectively "content") as a way of bookmarking or flagging that content, rather than to indicate a positive (or negative) preference (or "vote") for the item. Unfortunately, such behavior can result in fewer numbers of votes (e.g., when individuals refrain from voting except to bookmark), and also can result in less meaningful vote totals, when individuals vote haphazardly (e.g., always voting 5/5 points for items, irrespective of what merit the individual may ultimately conclude the content has).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Apparatus and systems may operate to enable positron emission imaging with a unitary chamber body having an open end that defines a hollow interior portion shaped to completely contain a flexible sleeve that is used to cover a core sample when the sleeve is seated within the hollow interior portion. An end cap may be formed to engage the open end of the chamber body, which is configured to attenuate gamma rays approximately eight times less than stainless steel, while supporting a pressure differential of at least 3 MPa between the chamber inlet and the outlet when fluid carrying a radioactive tag to generate the gamma rays flows through the hollow interior portion and the core sample via the inlet and the outlet. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) can be used to create images of fluid movement through geological formation core samples by tracking the location of a radioactive tag that moves through the sample with the fluid. To track and image dynamic fluid front movement, it has been experimentally determined that using a radioactive tag and an exposure of about 50 microCi is sufficient to provide a useful signal-to-noise ratio when a positron emission tomography (PET) camera is used.
This amount of exposure, which might be considered to be the lower limit of detection, corresponds to approximately 2×106 detected events per second, and assumes there is no attenuation of the radiation provided by the tag.
In a practical imaging system, the attenuation of gamma-rays between source and detector is of course not zero. Indeed, system attenuation can amount to several orders of magnitude, as gamma-rays interact with the inspected core sample, surrounding instrumentation, and the detector itself. In practical terms, this indicates a useful level of activity for the radioactive tracer tag in the core sample to be on the order of mCi.
Unfortunately, when stainless steel containers that are typically used to transport core samples are also used in imaging analysis, the number of events is attenuated even further, reducing the number of detected tag generation events to less than 2×105 per second. This amount of attenuation, which is about ten times what occurs in a non-attenuating environment, prevents useful imaging or tracking of the tagged fluid.

Sample containment apparatus, systems, and methods


The present invention provides a process for the preparation of hydrocarbon fuels, which comprises contacting fatty acid glycerides with alcohols in the presence of a solid, double metal cyanide catalyst at a temperature in the range of 150° to 200° C. for a period of 2-6 hrs and separating the catalyst from the above said reaction mixture to obtain the desired hydrocarbon fuel.

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in alternatives to petroleum-based fuels. The alternative fuels must be technically acceptable, economically competitive, environmentally acceptable and easily available. The need for these fuels arises mainly from the standpoint of preserving global environment and concern about long-term supplies of conventional hydrocarbon based fuels. Among the different possible sources, diesel fuels derived from trigycerides (vegetable oil/animal fat) present a promising alternative. Although triglycerides can fuel diesel engines their viscosities and poor cold flow properties have led to investigation of various derivatives. Fatty acid methyl esters derived from trigycerides and methanol known as bio-diesel, have received the most attention. Vegetable oils are widely available from a variety of sources. Unlike hydrocarbon-based fuels, the sulfur content of vegetable oils is close to zero and hence the environmental damage caused by sulphuric acid is reduced.
The main advantages of using bio-diesel are its renewability, better quality exhaust gas emission, its biodegradability and given that all the organic carbon present is photosynthetic in origin, it does not contribute to a rise in the level of CO2 in the atmosphere and consequently to the greenhouse effect. Several processes for transesterification of triglycerides have been developed: (1) Base-catalyzed transesterification of glycerides with alcohol (catalysts—alkaline metal alkoxides and hydroxides as well as sodium and potassium carbonates), (2) Direct acid-catalyzed esterification with alcohol (catalysts—Brönsted acids, preferably sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid), and (3) Conversion of oil to fatty acids and then to alkyl esters with acid catalysis. However, the former route (i.e., base catalyzed reaction) is the most economical and in fact, is in practice in several countries for bio-diesel production (J. Braz. Chem. Soc. Vol. 9, No. 1, Year 1998, pages 199-210; J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. Vol. 77, No. 12, Year 2000, pages 1263-1266; Fuel Vol. 77, No. 12, year 1998, pages 1389-1391; Bioresource Tech. Vol. 92, Year 2004, pages 55-64; Bioresource Tech. Vol. 92, Year 2004, pages 297-305; Renewable Sustainable Engery Rev. Vol. 9, Year 2005, pages 363-378). Alkaline metal alkoxides (as CH3ONa for the methanolysis) are the most active catalysts, since they give very high yields (>98%) of fatty acid alkly esters in short reaction times (30 min) even if they are applied at low molar concentrations (0.5 mol %) (J. Food Composition and Analysis Year 2000, Vol. 13, pages 337-343). However, they require high quality oil and the absence of water, which makes them inappropriate for typical industrial processes (J. Braz. Chem. Soc. Vol. 9, No. 1, Year 1998, pages 199-210). Alkaline metal hydroxides (NaOH and KOH) are cheaper than metal alkoxides but require increasing catalyst concentration (1-2 mol %). NaOH is more superior to KOH as the latter and other alkali hydroxides yield more soponified products than the bio-fuel.
Recently, enzymatic transesterification using lipase has become more attractive for bio-fuel production, since the glycerol produced as a by-product can easily be recovered and the purification of fatty acid esters is relatively simple to accomplish. However, the main hurdle to commercialize this system is the cost of lipase production (J. Mol. Catal. B: Enzymatic Vol. 17, Year 2002, pages 133-142).
Use of immobilized lipases in the synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters from sunflower and soybean oils were reported by Soumanou and Bornscheuer and Watanabe et al (Enzy. Microbiol. Tech. Vol. 33, Year 2003, page 97; J. Mol. Catal. B: Enzymatic Vol. 17, Year 202, pages 151-155). They found that the immobilized enzyme is active at least for 120 h during five batch runs without significant loss of activity. Among the various lipases investigated the enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescens (Amano AK) exhibited the highest conversion of oil. Khare and Nakajima (Food Chem. Vol. 68, Year 2000, pages 153-157) also reported the use of immobilized lipase enzyme.
Cost is the major factor slowing the commercialization of biofuels. Replacement of homogeneous catalyst by a solid catalyst eliminates the processing costs associated with the homogeneous catalysts. Leclercq et al. (J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. Vol 78, Year 2001, page 1161) studied the transesterification of rapeseed oil in the presence of Cs-exchanged NaX and commercial hydrotalcite (KW2200) catalysts. At a high methanol to oil ratio of 275 and 22 h reaction time at methanol reflux, the Cs-exchanged NaX gave a conversion of 70% whereas 34% conversion was obtained over hydrotalcite. ETS-4 and ETS-10 catalysts gave conversions of 85.7% and 52.7%, respectively at 220° C. and 1.5 h reaction time (U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,457). Suppes et al (J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. Vol. 78, Year 2001, page 139) achieved a conversion of 78% at 240° C. and >95% at 160° C. using calcium carbonate rock as catalyst. Of late, Suppes et al reported the use of Na, K and Cs exchanged zeolite X, ETS-10, NaX occluded with NaOx and sodium azide in the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol (Appl. Catal. A: Gen. Vol. 257, Year 2004, page 213). Furuta et al (Catal. Commun. Vol. 5, Year 2004, pages 721-723) describe biodiesel production from soybean oil and methanol at 200-300° C. using solid superacid catalysts of sulfated tin and zirconium oxides with oil conversions over 90%. Use of tin complexes immobilized in ionic liquids for vegetable oil alcoholysis was reported by Abreu et al (J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. Vol. 227, Year 2005, pages 263-267; J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. Vol. 209, Year 2004, pages 29-33). Kim et al reported the use of heterogeneous base catalysts (Na/NaOH/Al2O3) for the methanolysis of vegetable oils
U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,965 describes the production of biodiesel, lubricants and fuel and lubricant additives by traneseterification of triglycerides with short chain alcohols in the presence of an organic solvent such as an alkane, arene, chlorinated solvent, or petroleum ether using Mucor miehei or Candida Antarctica-derived lipase catalyst. Patents Nos. WO 00/05327 A1, WO 02/28811 A1, WO 2004/048311 A1, WO 2005/021697 A1 and WO 2005/016560 A1 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,578,090; 6,855,838; 6,822,105; 6,768,015; 6,712,867; 6,642,399; 6,399,800; 6,398,707; 6,015,440, also teach us the production fatty acid alkyl esters using either lipase catalysts or metal ion catalysts. Patent No. WO 2004/085583 A1 describes transesterification of fats with methanol and ethanol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst having ultrastrong-acid properties in a short time at around ordinary pressure.
Production of diesel from pure soybean oil or coconut oil is not economical, so it is desirable to use cheaper alternative feedstocks such as animal fat or used cooked oil or oil from seeds of wild plants like jojoba and jatropha. Animal fat and used oil contain high amounts of free fatty acids (FFA) content. The FFA saponifies with the alkali-based transesterification catalyst leading to low yield, difficulties in separation of the products, and increase in production cost. In those cases a two step process wherein in the first step an acid catalyst esterifies the free fatty acids to methyl esters and in the second step a base catalyst transesterifies the triglycerides is generally employed in diesel preparation. An efficient solid catalyst, which can do this in a single-step is highly desirable.
The present invention deals with a process, which eliminates most of the above said drawbacks. It deals with production of hydrocarbon fuels (diesel oil) which comprises reaction of vegetable oils or fats with C1-C5 alcohols at moderate conditions using a novel, solid, reusable double metal cyanide catalyst. The feedstock oil is a triglyceride or a mixture of fatty acids and glycerides. One of the metals of the double metal cyanide catalyst is Zn2+ while the other is a transition metal ion preferably Fe. Co-existence of Zn and Fe in the active site linking through cyano bridges makes it efficient to transform feedstocks containing fatty acids in a single step to fatty acid alkyl esters. The catalyst could be separated easily by centrifugation or by simple filtration and reused. Most importantly, the catalyst is highly efficient and only a small amount (˜1 wt % of oil) is needed to carryout the reaction. The process is atom-efficient and the reaction conditions like temperature and pressure are only moderate. Unlike the conventional base catalysts the catalyst of the present invention is more efficient even in the presence of water impurity in oil. Hence, there are no limitations on the quality of oil that should be used with the catalysts of the present invention.

Process for the preparation of hydrocarbon fuel

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


An image forming apparatus includes a main body having an original table surface on which an original is to be placed, and an automatic original feeder. The feeder has an original cover located to oppose the original table surface and vertically movable between a lower position where the original cover contacts with the original table surface and an upper portiion where the original cover is separated from the original table surface. When an original is to be fed between the table surface and the original cover or discharged from between the table surface and the original cover by a feeding mechanism, the original cover is moved to its upper position. When the original on the table surface is to be scanned by an exposing device in the main body, the original cover is moved to its lower position so as to press the original against the table surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine and, more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having an automatic original feed/discharge unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a conventional plain paper copier copying machine includes an original table surface (normally a glass platen) and an exposing means for scanning an original on the original table surface. A main body of the PPC copying machine incorporates image forming process means for charging, exposure, development, cleaning, fixing, and the like. Various types of conventional copying machines each having automatic original feed/discharge unit (i.e., an automatic document feeder) are commercially available. This original feed/discharge unit normally comprises a feed table for supporting originals prior to scanning, a discharge table for supporting the originals after scanning, and an original feeding means for feeding the originals one by one onto the original table surface and discharging the originals one by one onto the discharge table after scanning. An endless conveyor belt traveling while contacting with the original table surface is frequently used as the original feeding means. This endless conveyor belt also serves as a platen sheet for holding the original onto the original table surface. A new conveyor belt is white as a whole.
The conveyor belt must be arranged in a long conveying path from the feed table to the delivery table and must have a width large enough to cover the entire original table surface. For these reasons, in a conventional automatic feed/discharge unit, a considerably large endless belt and a large belt drive mechanism are required. The belt, the drive mechanism, and the like are housed in a unit cover which is pivotally mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the cover is large in size and heavy, and cannot be easily opened/closed. In addition, an implementation for stabilizing the travel state of the belt is required, resulting in high cost.
The belt is driven endlessly while slidably contacting with the original table surface and the adjacent members. For this reason, the belt drive mechanism must have a larger drive force. Even if the belt is white when it is new, the belt is easily contaminated in an initial period of use. When the belt is greatly contaminated, sharpness of the resultant image tends to be degraded.

Image forming apparatus having vertically movable original cover


A semiconductor package includes a leadframe which is cup-shaped and holds a semiconductor die. The leadframe is in electrical contact with a terminal on one side of the die, and the leads of the leadframe are bent in such a way that portions of the leads are coplanar with the other side of the die, which also contains one or more terminals. A plastic capsule is formed around the leadframe and die.

This invention relates to packages for semiconductor dies and in particular a package for a semiconductor die that has terminals on both sides of the die.
There is a continuing need for packages for semiconductor dies that are compact, easy to manufacture and economical. There is a particular need for packages that can be used to make connections to terminals on both sides of the die. For example, vertical power MOSFETs, whether of the planar or trench-gated variety, typically have source and gate terminals on the frontside of the die and a drain terminal on the backside of the die. The package must therefore provide connectibility to both sides of the die. Similarly, integrated circuits may need a ground contact to the frontside to minimize transient effects.
In addition, the package should maximize the electrical and thermal conductivity from the die to the printed circuit board on which the die is mounted.
These objectives are achieved in a semiconductor package in accordance with this invention. The package comprises a semiconductor die having first and second sides. A first electrical terminal of the die is located on the first side, and at least a second electrical terminal of the die is located on the second side. The package also includes a leadframe in electrical contact with the first terminal, the leadframe being formed in the shape of a cup. The die is located in the cup, and at least one lead of the leadframe contains a portion that is coplanar with the second side of the die. A protective plastic capsule can be formed on both sides of the cup.
When the package is mounted on, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB), the first electrical terminal is electrically connected to the PCB via the leadframe. The second electrical terminal is connected to the PCB directly using solder or another conductive material.
The package is particularly suitable for use with power MOSFETs which require a contact to the backside (drain) terminal, but it can also be used with any integrated circuit die where contact must be made to both sides of the die.
The package of this invention is easy to manufacture and can be made very thin (i.e., less than 1 mm thick).

Semiconductor die package including cup-shaped leadframe


A toy vehicle and launcher combination apparatus. The illustrated toy vehicle has a rubber bladder or chamber member that is expanded by water or other liquid under pressing while the vehicle is held on the launcher. The launcher may include a reservoir and pump to provide the water under pressure. When the chamber member is sufficiently expanded, the vehicle is released. A spring gives the vehicle an initial forward thrust; the expanded chamber member contracts to expel the water through a rear outlet nozzle to propel the vehicle forward at a rapid rate.

There have been toy vehicles in the past which utilized water to aid in propelling the vehicle forwardly. Typically such devices introduce water under pressure into a chamber to thereby compress the water and air trapped in the chamber. Then the device was allowed to expel the water from the chamber by virtue of the expansion of the compressed water and air. The toy vehicle was thereby propelled fowardly. The performance of the prior art devices was good. They depended for their operation on the compressibility of the water and the air in the chamber and the subsequent expansion of the compressed water and air. While such devices did work, well their performance did leave room for improvement. This was because the amount of energy provided by the compression and release of the air and water did not propel the air and water from the chamber at a very fast rate relative to the size and weight of the vehicle to be propelled. In other words, for a give size vehicle and a give quantity of water and air in a compartment in relative scale to that toy vehicle, the amount of thrust or forward power developed for the vehicle was relatively small.

Toy vehicle and launcher using contractive power of liquid expanded chamber to propel vehicle


Door alarm systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed. A door alarm system may monitor a door of a refrigeration device and detect a failed attempt at closing the door. In response to detecting the failed attempt, the door alarm system may generate a notification of the detected, failed attempt so that remedial action may be taken.

Refrigerators typically sound an audible alarm when a door to either the freezer compartment or fresh food compartment remains open for a predetermined period of time. By sounding an alarm, a person may be prompted to close the door. In this manner, the refrigerator may avoid spoilage resulting from increased internal temperature of the freezer and fresh food compartments.
Door alarms may be helpful when a door to either compartment is inadvertently left open since sounding an alarm may bring attention to the undesirable and unintended condition of the refrigerator. However, as noted above, refrigerators sound an alarm after a predetermined period of time has past. By the time the refrigerator sounds the alarm, the person who opened the door may no longer be in the immediate vicinity. As such, the alarm may go unheard, and appropriate remedial action may not occur. Situations in which the alarm goes unanswered are more likely when the door fails to close due to an obstruction. In such situations, the person who opened the door is more likely to walk away from the refrigerator unaware that the door did not close properly.

Door alarm system and refrigeration device