Uniform polymer particles in a spherical form, having a three dimensional network structure, wherein not less than 80% by volume of the whole particles have a particle size within the range of .+-.20% of the volume average particle size of said uniform polymer particles, and said uniform polymer particles do not include particles having a particle size of not more than 5% of the volume average particle size, a process for preparing the uniform polymer particles, an apparatus suitable for use in the process, and a method of direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment using the uniform polymer particles. The uniform polymer particles of the present invention can be also used in various uses such as a parent material for an ion exchange resin, an adsorbent, and a packing material for a chromatography.

The present invention relates to uniform polymer particles, a process for preparing the uniform polymer particles, an apparatus suitable for use in the process and a method of direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment using the uniform polymer particles. More particularly, the present invention relates to uniform polymer particles which can be widely used, for instance, as a parent material for an ion exchange resin, as a packing for a chromatograph, as a support onto which an enzyme is immobilized, as a support for an affinity chromatograph, as a material for a foamed article, and the like; to a process for preparing the uniform polymer particles; to an apparatus for forming uniform liquid droplets by jetting a liquid with a high viscosity, containing a natural high molecular substance or a synthetic high molecular substance, from an orifice at a constant flow rate while applying cyclic turbulences having a constant frequency thereto; and to a method of direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment using the uniform polymer particles.
As methods for preparing polymer particles in a spherical form, there have been hitherto known dispersion methods and spray methods.
According to a dispersion method, polymer particles are obtained by coagulating a dilute polymer solution containing a pore-forming agent being dispersed in the form of droplets in a dispersion medium containing a surface active agent, through volatilizing the solvent thereof [cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) No. 24430/1981], or through gradually adding a coagulating agent for the droplets [cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) No. 159801/1982]. However, in the dispersion method, no polymer particles other than polymer particles with a broad particle size distribution can be obtained. Also, in the dispersion method, in order to remove the solvent, the dispersion medium and the surface active agent from the coagulated particles, it is necessary to wash the coagulated particles not only with water but also with an organic solvent.
There is known another dispersion method in which polymer particles are obtained by polymerizing polymerizable monomers after dispersing the monomers in a dispersion medium, the polymer particles thereby obtained also have a broad particle size distribution. In observing the particles by an electron microscope, there can be found that minute spherical particles aggregate to form a particle. When a suspension of the above-obtained particles is stirred by a magnetic stirrer, minute polymer chips occur in a large amount, which is presumed to be due to the above-described structure of the particles. Further, the particles obtained by the above method have pores with a broad pore size distribution. Especially, on the particle surface, the particles have various size of openings.
According to a spray method, polymer particles is obtained by spraying a polymer solution into a coagulating liquid. Thus obtained polymer particles also have a broad particle size distribution and the particles have relatively large particle size [cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) No. 129788/1977].
Polymer particles with a broad particle size distribution require a further process of classification. As generally known, by a classifying process, for instance, a sieving process, it is possible to make not less than 80% by volume of the whole particles have a particle size within the range of .+-.20% of the volume average particle size. In the sieving process, it is also possible to remove particles with a particle size of not less than the size of sieve opening by the sieve. However, in order to pass all of the particles with a particle size of less than the size of sieve opening, a long time sieving is necessary. Further, using the sieving process results in a very low yield. Therefore, it is not industrially practical to use such a process. Particularly, it is practically very difficult or virtually impossible to remove all of particles having a particle size of not more than 5% of the volume average particle size.
When very small particles or very large particles are included in the polymer particles, various problems arise in uses of the particles. For instance, when the particles are used as a packing for chromatography or an adsorbent, the very small particles are mixed in the liquid to be treated, or cause a large pressure drop, and the very large particles cause a lowering of the separation efficiency or the adsorption rate.
When particles having pores with a broad pore size distribution, particularly openings on the particle surface with a broad opening size distribution, are used as an adsorbent, such particles cause an inferior physical selectivity.
Recently, there has been found a technique for forming uniform liquid droplets, in which cyclic turbulences are applied to a liquid jetted at a constant flow rate (hereinafter such technique referred to as "vibration method").
There has been already reported that uniform particles are obtained by applying the above technique to the dispersion method using polymerizable monomers [cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) 102905/1982]. However, the particles thus obtained have the above-stated structure, i.e. minute particles coagulate to form a particle, and therefore the particles have defects in that polymer chips easily occur and that the particles have pores with a broad pore size distribution.
There are reported some examples of polymer particles or capsules that are prepared by applying the vibration method [cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) No. 129686/1977 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) No. 112833/1984]. However, in an example disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 129686/1977, a very dilute polymer solution, i.e. a solution with a very low viscosity is employed and micro-capsules are prepared in another example disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 112833/1984, and particles with a large particle size are prepared since nozzles themselves are directly vibrated and therefore the vibration frequency is restricted to a low frequency. In both examples, it is necessary that a multiple tubular nozzle is employed and more than one kinds of solutions are simultaneously jetted with keeping a delicate balance.
Also, in Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokoku) No. 33134/1981, there is disclosed that the vibration method is applied to a process for preparing uniform particles of an inorganic compound. In this or other publications, cyclic turbulences of flow rate of the liquid jetted from an orifice of a nozzle are applied by applying vibrational energy to the whole nozzle part.
Generally, the force F (dyn) required to vibrate an object with a mass M (g) at a frequency f (Hz) with an amplitude 2D (cm) is calculated by the following equation: EQU F=M.multidot.(2.pi.f).sup.2 .multidot.D
For instance, when the total vibrating mass of nozzle and vibration transmission part is 1,000 g, the frequency is 10,000 Hz and the amplitude is 10 .mu.m, F is about 2.times.10.sup.9 dyn. In order to stably generate the above vibration by an electromagnetic coil vibrator, there is required an electric power as enormous as several tens of KVA. Therefore, it is not economical to directly vibrate the nozzles, particularly when a high frequency of vibration is required.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Tokkyo Kokai) No. 83202/1986, it is disclosed that the vibration method is applied to form uniform liquid droplets of polymerizable monomers. In this case, such enormous energy as in the previous case is not required since the vibration is directly transmitted to the polymerizable monomers by a piezoelectric vibrator which itself constitutes a part of the vessel containing the monomers which are jetted through the orifices. However, when employing a high viscosity liquid such as a polymer solution, not a low viscosity liquid such as a polymerizable monomer, it is supposed that a high pressure is imposed on the piezoelectric vibrator and therefore the vibrator is destroyed or the vibrator does not generated a stable vibration. Also, there is the possibility that the vibrator does not vibrate a stable vibration when the liquid is heated in order to reduce the viscosity.
W. E. Yates and his co-worker developed an apparatus for preparing uniform liquid droplets using a magnetostrictive vibrator as a vibration generator. [cf. W. E. Yates and N. B. Akesson, Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Liquid Atomization and Spary Systems (Proc. ICLASS), 181-185 and 459 to 460 (1978)]. In the above apparatus, the vibration transmission part is embedded in a fixing cylinder with a potting agent, and at the end thereof is fixed to a vibrating rod. As well known by a person skilled in the art, the vibration transmission part is precisely designed so as to resonate with the vibration generated by the magnetostrictive vibrator and so as to have a function of amplifying its small amplitude of vibration. The vibrating rod is also precisely designed so that the amplitude reaches its maximum at the end of the rod by resonating with the vibration generated by the magnetostrictive vibrator. Therefore, when the vibration-transmission part is heated or subjected to an external force, a constant vibration can not be obtained, since the vibration transmission part or the vibrating rod does not resonate with the magnetostrictive vibrator. In the apparatus of W. E. Yates et al., it is not possible to keep the temperature of the vibration transmission part constant and to restrict external force being applied only to the end of vibrating rod. Therefore, it is presumed that it is not possible to form uniform liquid droplets from a high temperature liquid or a high pressure liquid by the apparatus of W. E. Yates et al.
Various conditions for preparing uniform liquid droplets by the vibration method have been studied in detail as disclosed by T. Sakai [cf. T. Sakai, Proc. ICLASS-'82, 37 to 45 (1982)]. It has been found that when uniform liquid droplets are stably formed, parameters including a viscosity and a surface tension of the liquid, a flow rate of liquid jetted from the orifice, a size of the orifice, and a frequency and a displacement of cyclic turbulences are within a specific range is (hereinafter, such specific range is referred to as "synchronized condition"). As a general tendency, the higher the liquid viscosity becomes and the smaller the size of the orifice becomes, the higher flow rate and frequency of jetted liquid are required to be synchronized. That is, in order to form liquid droplets with a small diameter from a liquid containing high molecular substances, the aperture diameter of the orifice must be small, and the flow rate and frequency of jetted liquid must be high. In addition, in many cases, such liquid has a high temperature and a high pressure. Consequently, it is difficult to form uniform liquid droplets with a small particle size from such liquid by applying the conventional methods.
In recent years, there has been tried an extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment using an adsorbent, for various obstinate diseases and its effect has been confirmed. As generally known, blood cells are physiologically quite unstable outside of the body, and therefore easily injured. For instance, there occurs a decrease in their number because of their adhesion to the matters with which blood cells contact, e.g. by hemolysis or coagulation. Therefore, in an extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment, blood is separated into unstable blood cells and relatively stable blood plasma by a centrifugal separator or by a membrane for the separation of blood plasma, and then the blood plasma containing pathogenic substances is treated by an adsorbent. However, it is known as a matter of course that if blood can be treated directly by an adsorbent, not only the extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment system can be remarkably simplified but also physiological burden to the patient can be alleviated.
As for the relationship between blood compatibility and adsorbent characteristics, in other words, whether an adsorbent injures blood or not, though there are many points not explicated chemically, there has been physically explicated a point that in order not to injure blood, an adsorbent should be smooth on its surface and the pressure drop occured in using it should be small.
A granular activated charcoal adsorbent has been employed in a direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion system since decades ago [cf. T. M. S. Chang et al, Trans Amer. Soc. Artif. Int. Organs 17, 246 (1971)]. At the beginning, an adsorbent covered with a hydrophilic polymer was employed for the purpose of avoiding the effluence of activated charcoal and improving the chemical blood compatibility. Recently, uncovered activated charcoal with smooth surface has been employed [cf. V. Bonomini and T. M. S. Chang, "Hemoperfusion" (1981), ISBN 3-8055-3421-3]. This fact shows that the relationship between blood compatibility and chemical characteristics of adsorbent is hard to estimate since the chemical properties of the surface of the above two adsorbents are quite different. The granular activated charcoal has a relatively large average particle size of 0.5 to 3 mm. The granular activated charcoal adsorbent is employed with the object of adsorbing blood plasma components having a relatively low molecular weight. Such components can be rapidly adsorbed even if the granular activated charcoal has a large particle size. However, pathogenic substances causing obstinate diseases are, in many cases, substances having a high molecular weight of several hundreds of thousand to several millions daltons. Since such substances having a high molecular weight diffuse at a low rate, it is required that particles for an adsorbent for such substances have a particle size of not more than about 400 .mu.m, preferably not more than 300 .mu.m so as to attain a practical adsorption rate. However, there has not been hitherto well known an example of carring out a direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment using granular activated charcoal adsorbent having such a small particle size. Though there is a report in which a direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment is carried out using a modified polyvinyl alcohol gel having particle sizes of 74 to 210 .mu.m [cf. Ichikawa et al, Jinkozoki 12 (1), 116 (1983)], there are not reported data showing whether a hemolysis occurs or not and data of pressure drop, these data being basic data relating to blood compatibility.
As described above, in prior arts, there are defects that the polymer particles have a broad particle size distribution or that minute polymer chips occur due to the particle structure, and further that in preparing such polymer particles, such a complicated apparatus as a multiple tubular nozzle is necessary and a delicate operation is required.
In a conventional apparatus for forming liquid droplets, it is difficult to form uniform liquid droplets having a small particle size from a high viscosity liquid. Further, when the liquid has a high temperature and a high pressure, it is still more difficult to form uniform liquid droplets with a conventional apparatus.
An object of the present invention is to provide uniform particles having a structure which does not cause an occurence of minute polymer chips and a process for preparing such particles.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus suitable for use in the above process, which can form uniform liquid droplets from a liquid even if the liquid has not only a high viscosity but also a high temperature and a high pressure.
As described above, through there has not been explicated what chemical properties an adsorbent should have so that a direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment can be carried out employing the adsorbent, at least, the pressure drop occured in using it should be small, and the surface of the adsorbent should be smooth. Further, it has not been clear what properties of the adsorbent are suitable for evaluating blood compatibility therewith since conventional adsorbents have a broad particle size distribution. As described above, there are many points not explicated chemically as to the relationship between blood compatibility and the properties of the adsorbent.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of direct extracorporeal hemo-perfusion treatment using uniform polymer particles with a practical flow rate of blood to be treated without causing problems such as hemolysis and increase in pressure drop.

Method of making uniform polymer particles

Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


An apparatus is described for attaching a motion search hardware assist unit to a processing element and its local memory. A current macro block storage unit is attached to a local memory interface unit for storage of a copy of a current macro block from the local memory. A search window reference storage unit having N rows is attached to a local memory interface unit for storage of a copy of N rows of pixels from a search window from the local memory. N independent arithmetic pipelines are attached to the current macro block storage unit and the search window reference storage. Each pipeline operates on one of the N rows of the search window reference storage unit and a corresponding row of the current macro block of the current macro block storage unit. An accumulator is attached to the N independent pipelines to accumulate results from the N arithmetic pipelines, to produce independent results for different organizations of macro blocks.

Increasing demand for high definition TV products, including interactive TV in a HD format and HD video compression encoding and decoding, requires increasing sophistication, flexibility, and performance in the supporting electronics. The sophistication, flexibility, and performance requirements for HD TV exceeds the capabilities of current generations of processor architectures by, in many cases, orders of magnitude.
The demands of video encoding for HD formats are both memory and data processing intensive, requiring efficient and high bandwidth memory organizations coupled with compute intensive capabilities. In addition, a video encoding product must be capable of supporting multiple standards each of which includes multiple optional features which can be supported to improve image quality and further reductions in compression bandwidth. Due to these multiple demands, a flexible parallel processing approach must be found to meet the demands in a cost effective manner.
A number of algorithmic capabilities are generally common between multiple video encoding standards, such as MPEG-2, H.264, and SMPTE-VC-I. Motion estimation/compensation and deblocking filtering are two examples of general algorithms that are required for video encoding.
Motion estimation is computationally the most expensive part of a video encoding process. On average it takes about 60-80% of the total available computational time, thus having the highest impact on the speed of the overall encoding process. It also has a major impact on the visual quality of encoded video sequences.
A digital video sequence consists of a series of pictures (combined luminance and chrominance samples) arranged in a temporal succession. It may contain either progressive or interlaced frames (frame and field pictures), which may be mixed together within the same video stream.
Motion estimation/compensation methods used by video coding algorithms exploit this temporal picture structure by reducing the redundancy inherent in video sequences. They represent a central part of the video encoding process of MPEG-4 AVC H.264 and SMPTE-VC-1 video encoding standards.
The most common motion estimation algorithms are block matching algorithms operating in the time domain. Here motion vectors are used to describe the best temporal prediction for a current block of pixels to be encoded. A time domain prediction error between the current block of pixels and the reference block of pixels is formed, and a search is performed to minimize this value. The best motion vector minimizes a cost function based on the prediction block distance and the block pixel difference.
Multiple different criteria have been proposed for evaluation of the best match between the current and the reference blocks of pixels. They are of different complexity and efficiency in terms of finding the global optimum over a given search area. The sum of absolute differences (SAD) and the mean absolute difference (MAD) have been commonly used in the past.
To efficiently support motion estimation algorithms and other complex programmable functions, which may vary in requirements across the multiple standards, a processor by itself would require significant parallelism and very high clock rates to meet the requirements. A processor of this capability would be difficult to develop in a cost effective manner for commercial products.

Methods and apparatus for providing a scalable motion estimation/compensation assist function within an array processor


To ensure the same high quality of acoustic radiation from audio systems on each seat of current vehicles, an acoustic device is provided for generating audio signals, which allows sound sources to be integrated into the area located near the headrest of a vehicle seat such that the volume can be regulated in an individual manner without unduly disturbing the other passengers in a vehicle. The headrest does not comprise any loudspeakers, thus is safe regarding accident protection. The acoustic near field at the headrest is generated by means of a sound channel. The loudspeaker is disposed inside the backrest or under the seat, for example, while the sound channel terminates in the headrest. Tuned pipes, the end of which is adjusted to the acoustic impedance of the clearance zone, are used as a sound channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an acoustic apparatus for producing audio signals.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Audio diffusion in vehicles today is intended to ensure the same level of quality in every seat. The aim is for all occupants to hear virtually the same audio signal at the same quality and at the same volume; in complex systems, this includes with a stereo or surround effect. Normally, however, commercial appliances today allow only coarse balancing of the volume between "right" and "left" and between "front" and "back". Finer volume adjustment for each seat is not possible. Techniques are known which are aimed at separating the audio output so that people who are physically next to one another can be provided with quite different audio programs. Thus, by way of example, WO 01/08449 A1 describes a method for reproducing audio sound using ultrasound loudspeakers, where the audio signal to be reproduced is linked by amplitude modulation to a carrier signal in the ultrasound frequency range. Such techniques are used to focus the sound using a modulated ultrasound signal. In this context, the audible audio sound is produced along the ultrasound beam radiated at a very high level on account of the nonlinearity of the air and is added up in sharply focused form.
An option for producing audio directly in the headrest of a vehicle seat is demonstrated in patent application EP 1 077 156 A1, for example. In this case, the loudspeaker is integrated in the headrest. The sound emerges through an integrated resonator in the form of a horn, which adjoins the loudspeaker. Another option for producing audio in the headrest with directivity is described in the specification EP 1 077 583 A2. In this case, the directivity is produced by also making use of the sound transmitted toward the back of the headrest from the loudspeaker integrated in the headrest. The general benefit of audio diffusion as a near field in the head region is that the person in direct proximity is provided with good diffusion of sound and people a little further away are provided with a significantly reduced volume of diffused sound. In addition, the diffusion of sound at the headrest provides a good way of achieving spatial audio effects such as stereo. A drawback of these arrangements in which the acoustic system's loudspeaker is directly in the headrest is the reduced accident safety, in particular, since relatively large hard objects are integrated in the otherwise soft headrest and could result in head injuries. In addition, integrating relatively large-volume loudspeakers greatly restricts the visual design options for the headrest.
The specification JP 04 172 795 A describes an acoustic apparatus in which the sound transducer and the sound emergence location are physically separate from one another. In this context, the sound is routed between the sound transducer and the sound emergence location by a tubular sound line. For acoustic impedance matching of the air within the sound line to the environment, a horn-like line termination is proposed. In this case, the line termination is preferably created by means of suitable shaping of sound-absorbing material in order to damp reflections. The patent DE 689 19 495 T2 describes a similar system with sound transmission between the sound transducer and the sound emergence location, the acoustic impedance matching in this case being effected by placing ring elements at the sound emergence opening. In this case, the material from which these ring elements are made has a permeability which corresponds to that of air. In this context, the additional application of the ring elements increases the dimensions of the emergence openings of the sound line, however.


An excercise apparatus comprises a flexible, axially-resilient member having two first longitudinal sections each having a first resistance to stretching and two second longitudinal sections each having a second resistance to stretching. The first and second longitudinal sections are arranged in series with one of the first longitudinal sections at one axial end of the apparatus and the other one of the first longitudinal sections at the other axial end of the apparatus. The first and second longitudinal sections are constructed of either natural rubber or neoprene, and are in the shape of a continuous tube having a uniform outer diameter and a uniform wall thickness. Each of the first longitudinal sections is formed having at least one first longitudinal opening in the wall of the tube whereby the cross sectional area of the tube in the region of such opening is equal to a first cross sectional area; each of the second longitudinal sections is formed having at least one second longitudinal opening in the wall of the tube whereby the cross sectional area of the tube in the region of such opening is equal to a second cross sectional area which is substantially greater than the first cross sectional area, the second longitudinal sections thereby having a resistance to stretching which is substantially greater than that of the first longitudinal sections. The apparatus further comprises gripping members installed on each end of the apparatus and between each adjacent pair of the longitudinal sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of apparatus and, more particularly, to hand-held, stretchable exercise apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A great many types of exercise and body-building apparatus are available for use by individuals seeking to improve or maintain their muscular development, their cardiac function and/or overall body condition. Many of such apparatus are expensive and/or require more floor space than may conveniently be available in homes and apartments. Examples of such apparatus are rowing machines, some types of large stationary bicycles, and various types of NAUTILUS brand body-building machines.
While much of such exercise and body building apparatus is practical for use in health clubs, most is not practical for home, apartment, or office use. The use of health club facilities is not, however, practical for many individuals who simply cannot afford the often expensive charges made by most health clubs for the use of their facilities. Moreover, even for those who can afford health club charges, the use of health club facilities is frequently inconvenient for working or otherwise busy people. The facilities are not always conveniently located for frequent use, the equipment provided by the health clubs may be in use by others, and the visiting of such clubs may take at least one or two hours, by the time driving and parking time and the time required for changing from street clothes into appropriate exercise clothing is considered.
In any event, many individuals want the convenience of exercising at home, in their apartments or workplaces or when they are away from home on trips or vacations. As a result, a number of small, portable exercising apparatus have been made available to the public. Several of these types comprise two handles with springs of some sort connected therebetween. An individual exercises his or her arm and shoulder muscles by holding one handle in each hand and pulling the hands apart against the resisting tensional force of the springs.
A disadvantage of such known and heretofore available exercising apparatus is that the apparatus requires uniform pulling force which may be too high for some individuals and too low for others. Moreover, the same individual may not want the same pulling force all the time. For purposes of physical therapy, or for beginners, for instance, it may be desired to start at a low pulling force and later increase the force as the individual's muscles build up. Still further, an individual may not always want to exercise to the maximum, but may want somewhat lesser exercise to relax or ease tensions.
It is, therefore, a principal objective of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive and readily portable exercise device of the tension type which enables the pulling force to be selected between two or more pulling forces.


There is provided an active layer containing a dopant material and a host material, wherein the host material has an HPLC purity of at least 99.9% and an impurity absorbance no greater than 0.01. There is also provided an electronic device containing the active layer.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates in general to photoactive layers for use in organic electronic devices. In particular, it relates to photoactive layers which are formed by solution processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In organic electronic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes ("OLED"), that make up OLED displays, an organic active layer is sandwiched between two electrical contact layers in an OLED display. In an OLED the organic active layer is a photoactive layer which emits light through the light-transmitting electrical contact layer upon application of a voltage across the electrical contact layers.
It is well known to use organic electroluminescent compounds as the photoactive component in light-emitting diodes. Simple organic molecules, conjugated polymers, and organometallic complexes have been used. Devices that use photoactive materials frequently include one or more charge transport layers, which are positioned between a photoactive (e.g., light-emitting) layer and a contact layer (hole-injecting contact layer). A device can contain two or more contact layers. A hole transport layer can be positioned between the photoactive layer and the hole-injecting contact layer. The hole-injecting contact layer may also be called the anode. An electron transport layer can be positioned between the photoactive layer and the electron-injecting contact layer. The electron-injecting contact layer may also be called the cathode.
There is a continuing need for electronic devices having improved performance, and in particular, improved lifetime.


A method for controlling application enabling includes receiving from a user an indication of data for sharing and an indication of one or more recipients with which to share the data. A multidimensional zone is determined based on the indication of the data and the indication of the one or more recipients. A request from the user to enable an application via a computing device is detected. Data permission requirements of the application are accessed, and a multidimensional coordinate is determined based on the data permission requirements of the application. The multidimensional zone is compared to the multidimensional coordinate, and the user is notified via the computing device of the comparing of the multidimensional zone to the multidimensional coordinate. An affirmation of the request is received from the user via the computing device, and the application is enabled responsive to the affirmation of the request.

Privacy settings of different popular computer applications are complex and ever changing. Users often have a difficult time understanding what the privacy settings mean. There is often no common language in use to describe the privacy settings offered by various applications. Users may not know what type of privacy they desire for a particular application or what actions a particular application will take with the users' personal data.

Privacy preference based device controls


An apparatus for positioning a fastener in a driving system. A positioning assembly is positioned at the first end of a guide tube to engage a fastener driven by a driver shaft out of the guide tube. The positioning assembly includes a first jaw having an interior cavity and a mounting portion allowing the jaw to be mounted to the guide tube. The positioning assembly includes a second jaw having an interior cavity and a mounting tab allowing the jaw to be mounted to the guide tube. The first and second jaw are rotatably coupled to the guide tube in a retractable manner such that a fastener exiting the guide tube separates the jaws and is centered about the axis passing longitudinally through the guide tube.

Power screwdrivers for driving collated screw strips have a number of uses in the construction industry. Examples of such power driven screwdrivers are shown in include U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,753 to Habermehl, issued Oct. 29, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,933 to Habermehl, issued Feb. 16, 1999 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,618 to Habermehl et al., issued Nov. 5, 1996. Additional examples of such systems are commercially available under the name QuikDrive® from Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., Pleasanton, Calif.
Certain types of powered screwdrivers utilize an automatic feed screwdriver in which a housing is secured to a power driver. The housing includes a screw feed channel to receive the screw strips holding a plurality of screws. The screws held in the screw strips are advanced sequentially to a point where each successive screw to be driven is coaxially arranged within a bore of a guide tube in line with a driver shaft. Pressure applied by the user in conjunction with the application of power to the driver allows the screw to be driven into the workpiece.
Normally, the fasteners are held by the screwstrips until driven into the workpiece.
These prior art auto feed screwdrivers provide for various linkages between the driver body and the housing such that on reciprocal telescopic sliding of the slide body into and out of the housing between extended and retracted positions, the linkages cause automatic advance of the screwstrip in the feed guide channel.
Known power driven systems generally have an open end though which the fasteners advance into the work piece. In certain applications, greater accuracy than available using current power driven screwdrivers is required. Installers may need to find a particular pre-drilled hole. Currently, users place a screw gun over the hole and "hope for the best."

Fastener driving system with precision fastener guide


An insert, a pipe assembly, and a method for forming a pipe assembly are disclosed. The pipe assembly includes a hollow body and an insert bonded to the hollow body. The insert spans a knit line defined in the hollow body. The insert is formed from a fiber reinforced polymer material. The fibers are generally anisotropic, and preferably unidirectional, and the insert is oriented such that the fibers extend at an angle to the knit line and thus span the knit line. Preferably, the fibers extend perpendicularly to the knit line. The use of an insert having such an orientation reinforces the hollow body, particularly at the knit line. Thus, the use of such an insert bonded to a hollow body according to the present disclosure produces a pipe assembly having increased pressure ratings.

Thermoplastic extruded reinforced piping to replace aluminum or other metals is becoming increasingly utilized in a wide variety of applications, generally to transport various fluids, such as liquids and/or gases, under pressure through the piping from a source to a destination. In many cases, the piping must span relatively long distances, and must contain pressurized fluids therein over these distances. Depending on the application, for example, the piping may extend over distances of many meters or kilometers. Thus, multiple sections of pipe are coupled with, for example, injection molded joints and assembled to provide a continuous pipe system for a fluid over such long distances. Pipe joints may be utilized to couple pipe sections together to facilitate the combination of the pipe sections to create continuous pipe systems.
In many cases, a pipe system may be required to change directions as it extends over a certain distance. For example, rather than extend longitudinally over an entire distance, a pipe system may be required to turn at, for example, a 30 degree, 45 degree, 60 degree, or 90 degree angle, or at any other suitable angle. In other cases, the size of the piping system may be required to increase or decrease. The pipe joints utilized to couple pipe sections together may facilitate these directional or size changes. For example, an elbow joint or T-joint may provide a directional change, and a reducer joint may decrease (or increase) the size of the piping system.
In the case of, for example, high pressure or high stress or strain applications, the strength and burst pressure ratings of piping, including pipe sections and pipe joints must be taken into account. In the case of, for example, injection molded fiber reinforced thermoplastic piping, particular attention must be paid to the burst strength. The weakest point in such a molding is at the knit line, where the flow fronts meet during the injection molding process. It would be industrially significant to provide improved pressure ratings for fiber reinforced polymer piping systems. Accordingly, improved piping, such as improved pipe joints and pipe sections, is desired in the art. In particular, apparatus and methods for producing piping having increase strengths and burst pressures would be advantageous. Further, apparatus and methods for producing reinforced piping that takes into account knit line concerns would be advantageous.

Insert for pipe assembly and method for forming pipe assembly


Embodiments are generally directed to register bank conflict reduction for multi-threaded processor execution units. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a processor including one or more execution units (EUs), at least a first execution unit (EU) to process a plurality of threads, the first EU including a register file including multiple register banks with each register bank including multiple registers, and one or more read multiplexers to read registers from the register file, wherein attempting to read more than one register from a single register bank of the register file in a same clock cycle generates a register bank conflict. Registers for each thread for the first EU are distributed across the registers banks within the register file such that a first register for a first thread of the plurality of threads and a following second register for the first thread are located in different register banks within the register file.

In computing operations, multi-bank register files are common structures for computation data storage, such as in execution units (EUs) for graphical processing units (GPUs). The multi-bank structures generally include a number of banks of registers that are clubbed together, with the ports shared for reduced area requirements.
The register banks of a multi-bank structure are commonly each coupled with an element to select a register bank for reading, such as a register file read multiplexer. In this manner, it is possible to read multiple registers, one register per port, in the same clock cycle as long as registers all belong to different banks.
However, reading two or more registers that belong to the same bank in a same clock cycle results in a register bank conflict that thus serializes the read requests and potentially causes delays in the pipeline. In GPUs, the majority of register bank conflicts result from thread internal conflicts, thus resulting in decreased efficiency in the processing of the multiple threads for the GPU execution units.

Register bank conflict reduction for multi-threaded processor


In a cap mode where a cap member covers a nozzle surface, a controller controls a second movement mechanism so that the cap member is disposed opposite to the nozzle surface. In an ejection recovery mode where ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles and the ink adhered to the nozzle surface is wiped off by a wiping member, the controller controls a first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism so that the nozzle surface, a wiping tray and the cap member are arranged downward in this order.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional inkjet recording apparatus, there is known a line printer that has an inkjet head with a nozzle surface provided linearly with a plurality of nozzles. On the nozzle surface of the inkjet head, the plurality of nozzles are arrayed linearly in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction (sheet width direction).
In such an inkjet recording apparatus, the nozzle surface is sealed with a cap in order to prevent the ink from becoming increasingly viscous when unused. However, when the inkjet recording apparatus is not used for a long time, the ink becomes increasingly viscous and the viscous ink might clog the flow passages of the inkjet recording apparatus, as well as the nozzles. Thus, when the inkjet recording apparatus is used, an ejection recovery processing is executed to forcibly discharge the viscous ink. After the ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles by this ejection recovery processing, the ink adhered to the nozzle surface is removed by a wiper blade.
As a conventional inkjet recording apparatus, there is known an apparatus that is provided with a maintenance unit having such a cap and wiper blade as described above. In this apparatus, ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles by the ejection recovery processing, and thereafter, the edge of the wiper blade is brought into contact with a nozzle surface. A waste tray is then moved in a direction substantially parallel to the nozzle surface, whereby the ink adhered to the nozzle surface is wiped off by the wiper blade. The wiped ink moves downward along the wiper blade and is then stored in the waste tray.
However, the ink adhered to the nozzle surface in this ejection recovery processing is not only the ink that is wiped off by the wiper blade as described above and is then stored in the waste tray along the wiper blade, but also ink droplets that fall from the nozzle surface. In some cases, the wiper blade might not be able to wipe off the ink appropriately, and the ink droplets might fall from the nozzle surface after the wiper blade passes therethrough. The ink droplets falling downward from the nozzle surface can contaminate the inside of the apparatus.


Systems, methods, and apparatus for self-optimizing Mobile Satellite System (MSS) resources are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves determining, with at least one processor, a communication demand for at least one cell in a MSS network. The method further involves determining, with at least one processor, whether the communication demand for at least one cell exceeds the capacity threshold for at least one cell. Further, the method involves reallocating, with at least one processor, when the communication demand for at least one cell exceeds the capacity threshold for at least one cell, at least a portion of the MSS resources such that at least one cell is able to meet the communication demand.

Currently, when cells in a MSS experience traffic congestion, an open loop approach to allocation of Radio Access Network (RAN) resources is used to respond. This open loop approach implies that manual intervention by a system operator is required in order to respond to the transient periods of congestion in the network. Manual intervention by system operators is labor intensive and time consuming and, as such, the system operators are unable to quickly respond to these transient periods of traffic congestion in the network.
As such, there is a need for an improved method for self-optimizing MSS resources.

Self-optimizing mobile satellite systems


A wing, buoyant in water has an upper wing surface comprising a deck upon which a rider stands, and, the wing is in water. A foot constraint proximate the wing leading edge and fixedly attaching the wing projects outwardly from the deck to release-ably receive the rider's forward foot. With the rider standing with both feet upon the deck, and the rider's forward foot ensconced within the foot constraint, and with the rider's aft foot proximate a trailing edge of the wing, the rider bodily heaves and pitches the wing to obtain a chordwise forward velocity thru the water. The forward foot constraint enables the rider to upheave the wing. A second foot constraint may attach the deck proximate the wing trailing edge. Another foot constraining system is comprised as a frictional device broadly applying the deck, and, may be used in addition to or in lieu of other constraints.

Surfboards, skim boards, body-boards, swim-boards, and stand-up paddle-boards are great fun in ocean swells and waves, not so upon flat seas. Watercraft such as Trampofoil, by Sahlin of Sweden, and derivative hydrofoil watercraft by Puzey, and by Chen are operable in flat seas and marginally in small wave conditions, but, these hydrofoil vessels by Sahlin, Puzey, and Chen are expensive, complex, and ungainly in self-rescue mode, having little or no floatation and these same watercraft are unable to water start when they are in deep-water and are stopped. Though they (Sahlin, Puzey, and Chen) can fly, their lack of floatation, and the inability to lay upon the hydrofoils to prone-paddle for self-rescue to return to land extremely limits their seaworthiness.
Although conventional surfboards, skim-boards, body boards, swim boards, and stand-up paddle-boards can plane across wave faces and, in the case of skim boards, skim atop thin films of water, they cannot fly whilst submerged in the water by human power.
In the last several years, conventional surfboards, bodyboards, swim boards, and stand-up paddle-boards, though not skim boards, have undergone some innovation in the form of added hydrofoils of smallish size connected to the boards by stanchions, these combination boards tend to yield performance which is marginal when in flight mode and sub-marginal in planing mode, and, they are cumbersome and clumsy during portage in addition to being expensive for the consumer to purchase. Lastly, hydrofoil type surfboards and kiteboards, and tricycle type hydrofoils pose very great danger of impalement causing frequent injury to users and by-standers.
Therefore, that which conventional surfboards and the like lack, and that which Sahlin-type hydrofoils in their own fashion lack, and also, the unique lacking of hydrofoil type surfboards, that is to say, the overlapping failings of all three of these afore-mentioned watercraft, be it inability to fly of some, be it lack of seaworthiness, be it un-gainliness, be it cumbersomeness in self-fescue, be it difficulty in portaging, be it lack of floatation, be it cost, be it fragility, be it the dangers of impalement to users and standers-by, all deficiencies need to be solved simply, conveniently, and economically for the benefit of all watermen and women.


Solid storage stable photopolymerizable compositions are provided that are useful in preparing optical elements, and especially holograms. The composition contains a polymeric binder, N-vinyl carbazole and a photoinitiator system that has a hydrogen donor component.

The term "image recording" is conventionally taken to mean a process which produces a spatial pattern of optical absorption in the recording medium. Photographic processes are well known examples of this type of process.
In a broader sense, however, the word "image" means a spatial variation of the optical properties of a sample in such a way as to cause a desired modification of a beam of light passing through the sample. Refractive index images in general, and holograms in particular, which modulate the phase, rather than the amplitude, of the beam passing through them, are usually referred to as phase holograms. Phase holographic image recording systems produce a spatial pattern of varying refractive index rather than optical absorption in the recording medium and, thus, can modulate a beam of light without absorbing it.
This type of refractive index image also includes a number of optical elements or devices which superficially bear little resemblance to absorption images. Examples are holographic lenses, gratings, mirrors, and optical waveguides.
Holography is a form of optical information storage. The general principles are described in a number of references, e.g., "Photography by Laser" by E. N. Leith and J. Upatnieks in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, 212, No. 6,24-35 (June, 1965). A useful discussion of holography is presented in "Holography", by C. C. Guest, in Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Vol. 6, pp. 507-519, R. A. Meyers, Ed., Academic Press, Orlando, Fla., 1987. In brief, the object to be photographed or imaged is illuminated with coherent light, e.g., from a laser, and a light sensitive recording medium, such as a photographic plate, is positioned so as to receive light reflected from the object. Each point on the object reflects light to the entire recording medium, and each point on the recording medium receives light from the entire object. This beam of reflected light is known as the object beam. At the same time, a portion of the coherent light is beamed by a mirror directly to the recording medium, bypassing the object. This beam is known as the reference beam. What is recorded on the recording medium is the interference pattern that results from the interaction of the reference beam and the object beam impinging on the medium. When the processed recording medium is subsequently illuminated and observed appropriately, the light from the illuminating source is diffracted by the hologram to reproduce the wave-front that originally reached the recording medium from the object, so that the hologram resembles a window through which the virtual image of the object is observed in full three-dimensional form, complete with parallax.
Holograms that are formed by allowing the reference and object beams to enter the recording medium from the same side are known as transmission holograms. Interaction of the object and reference beams in the recording medium forms fringes of material with varying refractive indices which are normal or near normal to the plane of the recording medium. When the hologram is played back by viewing with transmitted light, these fringes refract the light to produce the viewed virtual image. Such transmission holograms may be produced by methods which are well known in the art such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,327; U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,903 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,787.
Holograms formed by allowing the reference and object beams to enter the recording medium from opposite sides, so that they are traveling in approximately opposite directions are known as reflection holograms. Interaction of the object and reference beams in the recording medium forms fringes of material with varying refractive indices which are, approximately, planes parallel to the plane of the recording medium. When the hologram is played back, these fringes act as mirrors reflecting incident light back to the viewer. Hence, the hologram is viewed in reflection rather than in transmission. Since the wavelength sensitivity of this type of hologram is very high, white light may be used for reconstruction. Reflection holograms may be produced by an on-axis method wherein the beam of coherent radiation is projected through the recording medium onto an object therebehind. In this instance, the reflected object beam returns and intersects with the projected beam in the plane of the recording medium to form fringes substantially parallel to the plane of the medium.
A diffraction grating is the simplest possible transmission hologram. It is the hologram of two coherent plane waves. It can be created by splitting a single laser beam and recombining the beams at the recording medium.
The interference pattern produced by two plane waves which are coherent and are not polarized perpendicular to each other is a set of uniformly spaced fringes with a sinusoidal intensity distribution. When incident on a recording medium they produce a set of uniformly spaced fringes which have a sinusoidal variation in refractive index, generally referred to as a grating, oriented parallel to the bisector of the angle between the two beams. If the two waves are incident at equal angles with respect to the surface of the recording medium and are both incident on the same side of the recording medium, the fringes are perpendicular to the surface of the medium and the grating is said to be unslanted. The hologram grating produced is said to be a transmission grating since light passing through it is diffracted. The grating is said to be thick if it is much thicker than the distance between the fringes, generally referred to as the grating spacing.
A diffraction grating can be characterized by its diffraction efficiency, that is the percent of incident radiation which is diffracted, and by its thickness. A simple but useful theory for thick hologram gratings, generally known as the "coupled wave theory", has been developed by Kogelnik (H. Kogelnik, Coupled wave theory for thick hologram gratings, Bell Syt. Tech. J., 48, 2909-2947, 1969). This theory treats the relationship between diffraction efficiency, grating thickness, wavelength of incident radiation, and the angle of incident radiation. A useful discussion of this theory in regard to refractive index recording systems has been presented in Section II of an article by Tomlinson and Chandross (W. J. Tomlinson and E. A. Chandross, Organic photochemical refractive-index image recording systems, Adv. in Photochem., Vol. 12, J. N. Pitts, Jr., G. S. Hammond, and K. Gollinick, eds., Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1980, pp 201-281).
Refractive index modulation is a quantitative measure of the change in refractive index between image and non-image portions of a hologram or other recording medium containing a refractive index image. For the diffraction grating, refractive index modulation is the measure of the amplitude of the sinusoidal modulation of the refractive index within the recording medium produced when the holographic image is recorded. The refractive index modulation, or index modulation, for a recording medium is best determined by holographically forming a grating in the medium and calculating the index modulation using Kogelnik's coupled wave theory and the measured parameters of the grating formed, i.e., the diffraction efficiently, medium thickness, etc.
A holographic mirror is the simplest possible reflection hologram. It can be created by splitting a single laser beam and recombining the beams at the recording medium, or the unsplit laser beam can be projected through the medium onto a plane mirror therebehind. A set of uniformly spaced fringes with a sinusoidal-like intensity distribution is formed which are oriented parallel to the bisector of the obtuse angle between the two beams propagating in the recording medium. If the obtuse angle is 180.degree. and the beams are normal to the plane of the medium, the fringes will be parallel to the plane of the medium. If the two beams do not make equal angles with the normal to the plane of the medium, then the fringes which are formed will be slanted at an acute angle relative to the plane of the medium. The holographic mirror can be characterized by its wavelength of maximum reflection and by its reflection efficiency, that is the percent of incident radiation which is reflected at its wavelength of maximum reflection.
A variety of materials have been used to record volume holograms. Among the more important are: silver halide emulsions, hardened dichromated gelatin, ferroelectric crystals, photopolymers, photochromics and photodichroics. Characteristics of these materials are given in Volume Holography and Volume Gratings, Academic Press, New York, 1981 Chapter 10, pp. 254-304 by L. Solymar and D. J. Cook.
Dichromated gelatin is the material most widely used for recording volume holograms. This material has become the popular choice because of its high diffraction efficiency and low noise characteristics. However, the material has poor shelf life and requires wet processing. Plates must be freshly prepared, or prehardened gelatin must be used. Wet processing means that an additional step is required in hologram preparation and may also cause the hologram to change due to swelling and then shrinkage of the gelatin during processing. The requirement that plates by freshly prepared each time a hologram is made, plus the problems associated with wet processing, make reproducibility extremely difficult to achieve with dichromated gelatin.
While early holograms where prepared from silver halide, liquid photopolymers, or dichromated colloids which required several processing steps, solid photopolymerizable elements were proposed which require only a single process step. U.S. Pat. 3,658,526, to Haugh discloses preparation of stable high-resolution holograms from solid photopolymerizable layers by a single step-process wherein a permanent refractive index image is obtained by a single imagewise exposure of the photopolymerizable layer to actinic radiation bearing holographic information. The holographic image formed is not destroyed by subsequent uniform actinic exposure, but rather is fixed or enhanced.
Although the solid photopolymerizable layers proposed by Haugh offer many advantages over the prior art, their efficiency is low. These layers typically have a refractive index of modulation in the range of 0.001 to 0.003. As a result, reconstructed holographic images formed in thin layers of the photopolymer only have limited brightness. While brightness can be increased by employing thicker layers of the photopolymer, this solution results in a substantial reduction to the viewing angle and causes the manufacturer to use much more of the expensive photopolymer. It also should be noted that the coated layers proposed by Haugh generally cannot be stored at room temperature for extended times without loss of speed and diffraction efficiency. Thus, there continues to be a need for improved photopolymer compositions and elements for refractive index imaging applications, including holography.

Storage stable photopolymerizable composition and element for refractive index imaging


A computer-implemented method for restoring distributed applications within virtual data centers may include (1) receiving a request to restore a distributed application that includes at least one virtual machine to a virtual data center, (2) identifying a backup of the virtual machine stored within backup storage, (3) exposing the backup of the virtual machine stored within the backup storage to a hypervisor, (4) regenerating the virtual machine by accessing the backup of the virtual machine at the backup storage, (5) adding the virtual machine to the distributed application, and (6) restoring, before completely recovering the virtual machine from the backup storage to the datastore of the virtual data center, the distributed application by starting the virtual machine as part of the distributed application. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Today, individuals and organizations increasingly rely on virtualization technologies to simplify management of their IT infrastructures. Typical virtualization technologies may enable multiple virtual servers to concurrently run on the same physical host, which may reduce the number of physical computing devices that must be managed and maintained. Some virtualization technologies may also enable virtual resources from one or more physical devices to be partitioned into one or more virtual data centers and/or may enable one or more virtual machines to be configured and/or managed within a virtual data center as part of a single distributed application, which may reduce the complexity of managing certain applications (e.g., multi-tiered applications).
Unfortunately, conventional techniques for backing up and restoring distributed applications within virtual data centers may present unwanted limitations. For example in the event that a distributed application fails while running within a virtual data center, a typical method for restoring the distributed application to the virtual data center may include transferring a backup of each virtual machine that is part of the distributed application from a backup storage system to a production datastore accessible to the virtual data center before the distributed application can be brought online, which may take a considerable amount of time and as a result may negatively impact recovery time objectives. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies a need for additional and improved systems and methods for restoring distributed applications within virtual data centers.

Systems and methods for restoring distributed applications within virtual data centers


The trunking accessory makes up trunking including two or more juxtaposed lengths with different heights each including a base section with two parallel lateral flanges. The accessory includes two or more cheeks adapted to be attached to the lateral flanges, and each cheek includes members for mounting a length of cover section that extend along a line with two or more opposite curves to establish continuity between members for mounting a length of cover section situated at two different heights.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trunking accessory for making up trunking comprising two or more juxtaposed lengths with different heights, each length of trunking including a base section provided with two lateral flanges with rims directed toward each other and including members for mounting a length of cover section.
In the present context, the height of a length of trunking refers to its thickness or its depth, corresponding to the height of its lateral walls.
In the present context, the expression xe2x80x9cjuxtaposed lengthsxe2x80x9d refers to lengths that follow on from each other without necessarily being in contact, so that they can be separated by a plate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It can be beneficial to modify the height of trunking along its path, in particular to reduce the cost of an electrical installation, since it may prove necessary to use deep trunking at the head end of an electrical installation, to accommodate all of the electrical power supply conductors and/or cables of the installation, whereas, toward the outlying ends of the installation, the trunking used can be shallower and, more generally, smaller.
It can also be beneficial to change the height of trunking to accommodate locally therein an electrical device on top of the volume provided inside the trunking for running electrical power supply conductors and/or cables, without encroaching this volume.
A jointing accessory for establishing continuity between lengths of trunking of different heights is already known to the person skilled in the art. It comprises a molding or casting having the general appearance of a cover with a portion for closing off each length of trunking bordered by lateral skirts, each of its ends having the same dimensions as one of the two lengths of trunking, in order to be connected thereto.
The present invention proposes a new accessory that is inexpensive to produce, compared to the above prior art, which can be fitted to trunking with one-piece or composite base sections, which can serve as a jointing member for joining two base sections with different heights or as a height extender member for increasing the height of a single base section, and which is simple and quick to use, whilst producing an attractive installation and providing limited access to the various compartments of the trunking if the trunking is compartmentalized.
To be more precise, the invention proposes a trunking accessory for making up trunking comprising two or more juxtaposed lengths with different heights and including a base section provided with two lateral flanges with rims directed toward each other and including members for mounting a length of cover section, wherein the accessory includes two or more cheeks adapted to be attached to the parallel lateral flanges, and each cheek includes members for mounting a length of cover section that extend along a line having at least two opposite curves to establish continuity between members for mounting a length of cover section situated at two different heights so that the accessory allows mounting on the cheeks of a length of cover section adapted to close the base section of the trunking so that the step formed between the juxtaposed lengths with different heights and a portion thereof can be closed by a single length of cover section with no interruption or visible edge or crease at the location of the step.
In a first embodiment of the accessory according to the invention the opposite curves are adjacent.
In a second embodiment of the accessory according to the invention the opposite curves are separated from each other by a rectilinear portion.
In another embodiment of the accessory according to the invention, for establishing continuity between two lengths of trunking having different heights and each including a base section with two lateral flanges, each cheek includes mounting members for attaching it to the base sections at the junction of two juxtaposed lateral flanges of different heights to ensure a continuous wall between the lateral flanges and to establish continuity between the members for mounting a length of cover section on the rims of the lateral flanges situated at different heights.
Another embodiment of the accessory according to the invention includes at least two height extenders each including a rim including members for mounting a length of cover section and members for mounting it on a lateral flange of the base section of the trunking to increase the height of the lateral flange and locally form a length of trunking of greater height than the base section, the cheeks including members for mounting them on the lateral flanges and on the height extenders so that each cheek establishes a continuous wall between a lateral flange of the base section of the trunking and a height extender and continuity between the members for mounting a length of cover section on a rim on a height extender and the members for mounting a length of cover section on a rim on a lateral flange situated at different heights.
This embodiment of the accessory can advantageously comprise a plurality of height extenders with different lengths adapted to be stacked to form a height extender wall of globally pyramidal shape with a step formed at each junction between a first height extender and a second height extender of shorter length, the height extender wall comprising members for mounting a length of cover section and members for mounting it on a lateral flange of the base section of the trunking to increase the height of the lateral flange and a plurality of cheeks each adapted to establish continuity between two successive height extenders with different lengths.
In another embodiment of the accessory according to the invention each cheek comprises members for mounting a length of cover section that extend along a line having two opposite curves at its ends and a rectilinear path between its two ends and members for mounting it on a lateral flange of the base section of the trunking to increase the height of the lateral flange and locally form a length of trunking of greater height than the base section of the trunking, ensuring a continuity of members for mounting a length of cover section between the two heights of the lengths of trunking.
Another embodiment of the accessory according to the invention includes another cheek adapted to establish a continuous wall between two dividing partitions with different heights attached to the back of each base section of the trunking, wherein the other cheek includes a strip ensuring a continuous wall between rims of the dividing partitions in which are mounted the length of cover section for closing the compartment of each base section, and the strip includes members for mounting the length of cover section extending along a line having at least two opposite curves to establish continuity between members for mounting a length of cover section situated at two different heights and to close the step formed between the lengths of trunking of different heights and a portion of each pair of butt-jointed compartments of the lengths of trunking using a single length of cover section with no interruption or visible edge or crease at the location of the step.
Other nonlimiting and advantageous features of the accessory according to the invention are as follows:
the members for mounting a length of cover section provided on each cheek are substantially identical to the members for mounting a length of cover section provided on the rims of the lateral flanges or the dividing partitions of each base section of the trunking;
the members for mounting a length of cover section provided on each height extender are substantially identical to the members for mounting a length of cover section provided on the ribs of the lateral flanges of the base section of the trunking;
the members for mounting a length of cover section provided on the cheeks include members for engaging the lengths of cover section;
the engagement members on each cheek include a groove which ensures continuity of grooves provided on rims situated at different heights;
the members provided on each cheek for mounting a length of cover section include clipping members for clipping the length of cover section;
the clipping members include, for each cheek, a clipping bead which ensures a continuity of clipping beads between clipping beads provided on rims at different heights;
the members for mounting cheeks on the lateral flanges of the base section of the trunking are identical to the members for mounting a length of cover section on the rims of the lateral flanges of the base section of the trunking;
the members for mounting a height extender on a lateral flange of the base section of the trunking are substantially identical to the members for mounting a length of cover section on the rims of a lateral flange of the base section of the trunking; and
each cheek has a height that can be modified by cutting off a portion thereof along a particular cutting line to adapt the height of each cheek to those of the lateral flanges of lengths of trunking with different heights.
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of nonlimiting example, explains in what the invention consists and how it can be put into practice.

Accessory for trunking comprising lengths of trunking with different heights


A liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection elements with liquid ejecting nozzles arranged in a matrix along a row direction and in a column direction which is substantially parallel to a sub-scanning direction along which either the head or a liquid ejection receiving medium is moved. Each group of ejection elements forming each column of the matrix having a heating element that is as long as the length of that column and that can heat the liquid prior to ejection. A prediction device predicts a number of the ejection elements to be driven in each of the column groups according to ejection data and a heating control device independently controls the heating elements of each column group according to the number of the ejection elements to be driven in that column group as predicted by the prediction device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus, and more particularly, to a liquid ejection apparatus and control technology for a liquid ejection head suitable for same, which ejects liquid onto an ejection receiving medium by using a liquid ejection head having pressure generating elements corresponding to a plurality of nozzles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in an inkjet recording apparatus, ink droplets are ejected at prescribed timings, respectively, from a plurality of nozzles of a head, on the basis of the dot pattern data (also called "dot data" or "print data") developed from image data for printing which has been input from a host computer, and printing is carried out by means of these ink droplets landing on and adhering to a medium, such as recording paper.
In particular, in single-pass recording in which an image is recorded by means of a single relative scanning action on a medium by a line head having a nozzle row of a length corresponding to the breadthways direction of the medium, there are nozzles that frequently perform ink ejection, and nozzles that hardly perform ink ejection, at respective locations within the head. In the nozzles that hardly perform ink ejection, a viscosity change (viscosity increase) occurs in the ink inside these nozzles, and it becomes difficult to eject ink from the nozzles. In order to avoid problems of this kind, methods have been proposed whereby ejection is controlled in such a manner that the drive signals for the piezoelectric elements are varied in accordance with external conditions (environmental conditions) and ejection conditions (ejection state), and the ink temperature is measured and the ink temperature inside the head is controlled by a heater on the basis of the measured temperature, so that it remains uniform.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-193597 discloses an inkjet recording head having a plurality of channels which are mutually parallel and separated by partitions of piezoelectric ceramic, in which the partitions are caused to deform by means of a drive voltage, thereby causing the ink filled in the channels to be ejected selectively from the nozzles. Electrical heating bodies are provided in recess sections formed extending in a substantially perpendicular direction to the channels, on the reverse side of the piezoelectric ceramic partitions from the side adjacent to the channels. The ink filled in the channels is kept to a prescribed temperature by means of the electrical heating bodies.
However, in cases where various functions are imparted to the ink, or where it is sought to achieve high performance in the ink, the viscosity of the ink often increases. When ejecting high-viscosity ink of this kind, a drive signal having a waveform with a high drive voltage, sharp rise and sharp fall is required, compared to a case where an ink of general viscosity (lower viscosity than high-function, high-performance ink) is ejected. Consequently, the drive circuit for the ejection elements must be compatible with high-voltage and high-current operation, while at the same time, it must also be compatible with a short ejection cycle (high ejection frequency), which has an inverse relationship with high voltage and current.
In a head having a very large number of nozzles, such as a line head, even if the drive signals to be supplied to the piezoelectric elements are adjusted in accordance with the external environment, there is a possibility that locally situated nozzles having low ejection frequencies are not suitably cared. This situation is particularly notable in the case of high-viscosity ink which has a higher viscosity than generally used ink. Moreover, when the drive signals are adjusted in accordance with the ejection conditions, then not only does the ejection control procedure become complicated, but also, the scale of the wiring which transmits the drive signals and the scale of the drive circuit for generating the drive signals increases. Furthermore, if a heater and a temperature measurement sensor are provided for each nozzle, then there is a problem in that the head, the heater drive circuit and the sensor circuits all increase in size. When seeking to achieve high-speed through-put, as in a line head, then if the response of the temperature sensors is poor, it takes time to measure the temperature and satisfactory temperature control may not be possible.
In the inkjet recording head described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-193597, it is difficult to arrange the nozzles two-dimensionally, and there are limitations on increasing the nozzle density.

Liquid ejection apparatus with plural heating elements


A first clad layer is formed on a first substrate, and further first cores extending in parallel to each other in one direction are formed on the first clad layer. Separately from this, a second clad layer is formed on a second substrate, and further second cores extending in parallel to each other in a direction parallel to the first cores are formed on the second clad layer. Next, the first substrate and the second substrate are integrated with a third clad layer interposed therebetween in such a manner that a surface of the first substrate having the first cores formed thereon faces a surface of the second substrate having the second cores formed thereon, to thereby form an optical waveguide.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide including multiple cores in a clad layer, a method of manufacturing the same, and an optical waveguide mounted board.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, optical waveguides capable of high speed data transfer have been used even in short-distance communications, such as ones within a wiring board and between wiring boards.
As a prior art optical waveguide, there is known an optical waveguide having a multi-layered arrangement in which multiple cores are stacked together (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-293244, hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). This optical waveguide having a multi-layered arrangement is manufactured as follows. First, a first clad layer and then a first core layer are formed on a substrate. Then, the first core layer is exposed to a pattern of light and developed to form multiple first layer cores. Next, a second clad layer is formed which covers the first layer cores and the first clad layer. After that, a second core layer is formed on the second clad layer. The second core layer is then exposed to a pattern of light and developed to form second layer cores. Further, a third clad layer is formed on the second layer cores and the second clad layer. Thereafter, the same steps are repeated to form an optical waveguide having a multi-layer structure.
However, in the prior art optical waveguides, it is always necessary to form a clad layer between different core layers in the process of stacking cores together. This is because cores protrude from a clad layer when the cores are formed on the clad layer, and therefore the cores and the clad layer need to be covered with a clad layer and planarized before the next core is formed. For this reason, the size of the optical waveguide in the thickness direction increases, resulting in a decrease in the wiring density of optical wiring.
On the other hand, there are needs for the following optical waveguides: an optical waveguide which includes optical wiring having cores with different core diameters, and providing different transfer speeds depending on the core diameters; and an optical waveguide in which mirrors are formed at different positions and angles on different cores to allow light receiving/emitting elements to be mounted on both sides of the optical waveguide. However, in the aforementioned prior art method of manufacturing an optical waveguide, it is impossible to form cores having different thicknesses in a single layer, or to form cores having mirrors formed at different positions and angles in a single layer. For this reason, in the prior art optical waveguides, in order to form cores having different core diameters or form cores each having mirrors formed at different positions and angles, multiple cores having different core diameters or different mirror positions need to be stacked in the thickness direction of the optical waveguides. This increases the sizes of the optical waveguides in the thickness direction.

Optical waveguide and method of manufacturing the same, and optical waveguide mounted board


Distributed storage reservation for distributed data recovery is described. A system identifies a total number of connected computers, a storage capacity of each connected computer, and a maximum storage capacity of the identified storage capacities of the connected computers. The system determines a reserved storage capacity based on the maximum storage capacity and a reduced total number of the connected computers. The system provisions the reserved storage capacity in each connected computer. The system stores replicas of a database on the connected computers and on multiple computers, the multiple computers being the same as or different than the connected computers. The system identifies that a connected computer storing a replica of the database is unavailable. The system restores a replica of the database from at least one computer storing one replica to the reserved storage capacity in each of multiple available connected computers.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed inventions.
Cloud computing is an information technology paradigm, and a model for enabling ubiquitous access to shared pools of configurable resources (such as computer networks, servers, data storage, applications and services), which may be rapidly provisioned with minimal management effort, often over the Internet. Cloud computing allows users and enterprises with various computing capabilities to store and process data either in a privately-owned cloud, or on third-party servers located in data centers, thus making data-accessing mechanisms more efficient and reliable.
A distributed database can be an organized collection of information that is dispersed over a network of interconnected computers, which may be referred to as a cluster of nodes, such as a cloud computing network. A high availability distributed database system provides continued access to data in a database even after a failure of a node that stores a copy of the database results in the node becoming unavailable for access by an end user. For example, if each of three nodes store a copy (or replica) of a database, after the failure of one node, the end users can still access the data in the database through one of the other available nodes that stores a replica of the database. Further to this example, the three nodes that store the three replicas of the database may be distributed across three fault domains of nodes, such as three racks of nodes that each shares a single point of failure. Consequently, if a rack of nodes, which includes a node that stores a replica of a database, is affected by a single point of failure, such as a power outage or a loss of network access that results in a failure for all nodes in the rack, the end users can still access the data in the database through one of the other racks that includes one of the other available nodes that stores a replica of the database. A replication process ensures that a distributed database remains up-to-date and current by identifying changes in one replica of the database and propagating the changes to the other replicas of the database.
As a distributed database system grows in scale, the probability of a single node failure becomes increasingly likely. While a single node failure may not lead to immediate data loss or data unavailability, such a failure affects the probability of data loss, as presented in "Probability of Data Loss in Large Clusters," by Martin Kleppmann (http://martin.kleppmann.com/2017/01/26/data-loss-in-large-clusters.html). The probability of data loss depends upon the number of nodes in a cluster of nodes, and the probability of a node failure. The final formula presented is:Probability of Data Loss=kp{circumflex over ( )}r
where k˜number of partitions in a cluster of nodes, p is the probability of a node failure, which is based on a time window equal to the recovery time of a node, and r is the replication factor of the data, or how many copies are replicated for each data element. Kleppmann's article assumes a constant probability p of a node failure. Distributed database systems attempt to minimize the probability of simultaneous node failure by reducing the recovery time window, such that for a given cluster size (the number of partitions) and replication factor, the probability of data loss decreases with the decrease in recovery time from a node failure.

Distributed storage reservation for recovering distributed data


Disclosed is a flexible ultracapacitor having a flexible cloth including an autotransformer-type connected switch made with nanoporous carbon electrodes impregnated by an electrolyte. Each of the nanoporous carbon electrodes may be configured to have a circuit. The circuit may include a first inductor and a second inductor. Each of the first inductor and the second inductor may have a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal of the first inductor may be coupled to the first terminal of the second inductor. A switch may be coupled between the first terminal of the first inductor and the second terminal of the second inductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ultracapacitors and more specifically to flexible ultracapacitors.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Typically, ultracapacitors are capable of accumulating of a high electric energy density. The ultracapacitors releases the accumulated electric energy density in a short span of time. Few existing types of ultracapacitors may be activated carbon ultracapacitors, nanotube ultracapacitors, polymeric supercapacitors, carbon foam and carbon fiber. The existing types of ultracapacitors may possess a low energy and a low power density which may lead to wide spread of a pore size in an electrode. The existing ultracapacitors also results in a low discharge rate and high charge storage capacity due to faradaic processes and electrochemical reactions.

Flexible ultracapacitor cloth for feeding portable electronic device

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


Disclosed is a method and device for automatic dynamic balancing operations on machine lines so as to compensate unbalance in a rotor. Vibration signals of the rotor obtained by a transducer and revolution signals generated by a revolution detector in reaction to the rotor during rotation are fed into a band pass filter and amplifier. The processed signals are then converted into digital signals by means of a digital dynamic balancing close-loop controller. The value and location of unbalance present in the rotor are calculated by a calculating unit. Based on the unbalance value and the speed of revolution of the rotor, whether a suitable amount of fluid is needed to be injected into compensation chambers in the rotor, which is coaxial with the rotor, to eliminate the unbalance of the rotor can be determined. This balancing operation is repeated automatically until the unbalance value is less than a predetermined tolerance value.

The present invention relates generally to a method and device for an on-line automatic balancing system and more particularly to a method and device for automatically and precisely balancing machine rotors during rotation.
The prior art teaches compensation of an unbalance in a rotor, but the rotor must be stopped before the balancing operation can proceed. Therefore, balancing operations have to be repeated at intervals, which is very time-consuming, and the results may not be very accurate.
Take a grinding machine for an example. When its grinding wheel is applied on a workpiece, even though the machine has previously been stopped and balanced, continuous wear on the surface of the wheel during the grinding process will cause a new unbalance and generate greater vibrations of the machine, affecting the precision of surface finish. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the machine at intervals to replace or balance the grinding wheel. This is often time-consuming and the machining process must be temporarily stopped. However, if the unbalance signal of the grinding machine is monitored at fixed intervals or at random for just a few minutes (1-3 minutes) during the grinding process so that the balancing operation is initiated when the unbalance value is measured to be greater than a predetermined tolerance value, then it is not necessary to stop the machine. Once the balancing operation is over, the grinding process can then continue. Thus, a high and stable quality of surface finish can be achieved and efficiency can also be increased. In view of this, it is indeed necessary to develop a precise automatic dynamic balancing device.
According to the inventors' research, there is only one pertinent patent in this field, that is, U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,355 issued Aug. 25, 1987, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Continuous Compensation of Grinding Wheel Unbalance." This patent teaches a device which adopts an analog signal processing method. It uses a broadband filter, a phase control rectifier to control the water output of the valve device and to measure the amount and location of unbalance. But this device has the following setbacks:
1. The transmitted signals are not clear: The vibration signals are usually caused by several vibration sources, such as unbalance, misalignment, motor, etc. By using a broadband filter for signal processing, the time domain signals are not pure enough to enable the system to judge the input unbalance signals.
2. Measurement of unbalance in grinding wheels is not precise: Because the measured analog signals contain several other vibration signals mentioned above, and the true unbalance signal cannot be separated by a broadband filter, the magnitude and location of unbalance of a rotor cannot be precisely determined by this system.

Device for on-line automatic fluid injection balancing system

Industrial Technology Research Institute