The broadcast hour and the title of a program is displayed in an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). If the charge of the program is lower than the other corresponding programs, a symbol xe2x80x9cDiscountxe2x80x9d is also displayed. If the program is the last one of NVOD (Near Video On Demand) programs, a symbol xe2x80x9cLastxe2x80x9d is also displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) transmitting apparatus and method, an EPG receiving apparatus and method, an EPG transmitting/receiving system and method, and a provider. In particular, the invention relates to an EPG transmitting apparatus and method, an EPG receiving apparatus and method, an EPG transmitting/receiving system and method, and a provider which allow viewers to recognize the feature of a NVOD (Near Video On Demand) program easily and reliably and hence can have that program viewed by more viewers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, also in Japan, digital satellite broadcasting has started and it has become possible to provide programs on as many as 100 channels or more. By virtue of the increase in the number of channels, what is called NVOD (near video on demand) has also been realized in which, for example, the same program is broadcast six times with 10 minutes"" delays in broadcast hours. This enables viewers to watch a desired program from its start in which they can select a watching start time in a one-hour period.
As the number of channels increases as mentioned above, it becomes more inconvenient for a viewer to select a desired program properly from a number of programs. In view of this, EPG (electronic program guide) data is transmitted separately from information of primary programs so that viewers can select a desired program based on the EPG.
To enable selection of a desired program from many programs, it has been proposed to use EPG data so as to display, for example, a mark that indicates the category of each program. Looking at a category mark, viewers can recognize relatively easily what category (e.g., movies, sports, or news) the program belongs to.
However, the conventional digital satellite broadcast has a problem that it is impossible to provide viewers quickly and reliably with information that characterizes each program, though as described above information allowing discrimination between programs on a group-by-group basis is now transmitted.
For example, the NVOD has a problem that even if the same program is broadcast six times, viewers cannot judge quickly and reliably which is the last version, in other words, the start time of a version of the program that viewers are required to watch at the latest if they wish to see the program.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances in the art, and an object of the invention is therefore to enable viewers to intuitively recognize information that characterizes each program in a quick and reliable manner and to provide viewers with the feature of each program, to thereby promote viewing of programs.
An EPG transmitting apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention comprises generating means for generating an EPG that represents a transmission schedule of programs to be transmitted; adding means for generating additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of the programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs, and for adding the feature recognition information to the EPG; and transmitting means for transmitting the EPG to which the additional information has been added.
An EPG transmitting method according to the first aspect of the invention comprises a generating step of generating an EPG that represents a transmission schedule of programs to be transmitted; an adding step of generating additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of the programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs, and for adding the feature recognition information to the EPG; and a transmitting step of transmitting the EPG to which the additional information has been added.
A provider according to the first aspect of the invention provides a computer program comprising a generating step of generating an EPG that represents a transmission schedule of programs to be transmitted; an adding step of generating additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of the programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs, and for adding the feature recognition information to the EPG; and a transmitting step of transmitting the EPG to which the additional information has been added.
An EPG receiving apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention comprises receiving means for receiving an EPG to which additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs is added; extracting means for extracting the additional information from the EPG that has been received by the receiving means; storing means for storing information to be used for displaying the feature recognition information; and display control means for reading out the information stored in the storing means and corresponding to the additional information that has been extracted by the extracting means, and displaying the feature recognition information.
An EPG receiving method according to the second aspect of the invention comprises a receiving step of receiving an EPG to which additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs is added; an extracting step of extracting the additional information from the EPG that has been received by the receiving step; a storing step of storing information to be used for displaying the feature recognition information; and a display control step of reading out the information stored by the storing step and corresponding to the additional information that has been extracted by the extracting step, and displaying the feature recognition information.
A provider according to the second aspect of the invention provides a computer program comprising a receiving step of receiving an EPG to which additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs is added; an extracting step of extracting the additional information from the EPG that has been received by the receiving step; a storing step of storing information to be used for displaying the feature recognition information; and a display control step of reading out the information stored by the storing step and corresponding to the additional information that has been extracted by the extracting step, and displaying the feature recognition information.
An EPG transmitting and receiving system according to a third aspect of the invention comprises an EPG transmitting apparatus for transmitting information, comprising generating means for generating an EPG that represents a transmission schedule of programs to be transmitted; adding means for generating additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of the programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs, and for adding the feature recognition information to the EPG; and transmitting means for transmitting the EPG to which the additional information has been added; and an EPG receiving apparatus for receiving the information transmitted from the EPG transmitting apparatus, comprising receiving means for receiving the EPG transmitted from the transmitting apparatus; extracting means for extracting the additional information from the EPG received by the receiving means; storing means for storing information to be used for displaying the feature recognition information; and display control means for reading out the information stored in the storing means and corresponding to the additional information that has been extracted by the extracting means, and displaying the feature recognition information.
An EPG transmitting and receiving method according to the third aspect of the invention in an EPG transmitting and receiving apparatus including an EPG transmitting apparatus for transmitting information and an EPG receiving apparatus for receiving the information transmitted from the EPG transmitting apparatus, comprises, in the EPG transmitting apparatus, a generating step of generating an EPG that represents a transmission schedule of programs to be transmitted; an adding step of generating additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of the programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs, and for adding the feature recognition information to the EPG; and a transmitting step of transmitting the EPG to which the additional information has been added, and the method further comprises, in the EPG receiving apparatus, a receiving step of receiving the EPG transmitted by the transmitting step; an extracting step of extracting the additional information from the EPG received by the receiving step; a storing step of storing information to be used for displaying the feature recognition information; and a display control step of reading out the information stored by the storing step and corresponding to the additional information that has been extracted by the extracting step, and displaying the feature recognition information.
A provider according to the third aspect of the invention provides a computer program to be used in an EPG transmitting and receiving apparatus including an EPG transmitting apparatus for transmitting information and an EPG receiving apparatus for receiving the information transmitted from the EPG transmitting apparatus, a part of the computer program for the EPG transmitting apparatus comprising a generating step of generating an EPG that represents a transmission schedule of programs to be transmitted; an adding step of generating additional information to be used to display, so that the additional information is superimposed on the EPG, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize a feature of a particular one of the programs that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs, and for adding the feature recognition information to the EPG; and a transmitting step of transmitting the EPG to which the additional information has been added, a part of the computer program for the EPG receiving apparatus comprising a receiving step of receiving the EPG transmitted by the transmitting step; an extracting step of extracting the additional information from the EPG received by the receiving step; a storing step of storing information to be used for displaying the feature recognition information; and a display control step of reading out the information stored by the storing step and corresponding to the additional information that has been extracted by the extracting step, and displaying the feature recognition information.
An EPG receiving apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention comprises receiving means for receiving an EPG that represents a schedule of programs to be transmitted; detecting means for detecting whether a particular one of the programs has a feature that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs; and display control means for displaying, in accordance with a recognition result of the detecting means, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize that the particular program has the feature that differentiates the particular program from the other ones of the programs so that the feature recognition information is superimposed on the EPG.
An EPG receiving method according to the fourth aspect of the invention comprises a receiving step of receiving an EPG that represents a schedule of programs to be transmitted; a detecting step of detecting whether a particular one of the programs has a feature that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs; and a display control step of displaying, in accordance with a recognition result of the detecting step, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize that the particular program has the feature that differentiates the particular program from the other ones of the programs so that the feature recognition information is superimposed on the EPG.
A provider according to the fourth aspect of the invention provides a computer program comprising a receiving step of receiving an EPG that represents a schedule of programs to be transmitted; a detecting step of detecting whether a particular one of the programs has a feature that differentiates the particular program from other ones of the programs; and a display control step of displaying, in accordance with a recognition result of the detecting step, feature recognition information for allowing a viewer to intuitively recognize that the particular program has the feature that differentiates the particular program from the other ones of the programs so that the feature recognition information is superimposed on the EPG.
In the EPG transmitting apparatus, the EPG transmitting method, and the provider according to the first aspect of the invention, additional information to be used for displaying feature recognition information so that it is superimposed on an EPG is transmitted.
In the EPG receiving apparatus, the EPG receiving method, and the provider according to the second aspect of the invention, feature recognition information corresponding to received additional information is displayed.
In the EPG transmitting and receiving system, the EPG transmitting and receiving method, and the provider according to the third aspect of the invention, additional information is transmitted from an EPG transmitting apparatus and feature recognition information corresponding to the received additional information is displayed in the EPG receiving apparatus.
In the EPG receiving apparatus, the EPG receiving method, and the provider according to the fourth aspect of the invention, whether a particular program has a feature that differentiates it from other programs is detected and feature recognition information is displayed so as to be superimposed on an EPG in accordance with a detection result.

EPG transmitting apparatus and method, EPG receiving apparatus and method, EPG transmitting/receiving system and method, and provider


A vehicle exhaust assembly for improved evacuation of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The system comprises a modular replacement exhaust system having a novel header pipe and muffler. The present invention readily adapts to a range of vehicle applications including automobiles, motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles.

This invention relates to providing a system for improved exhaust evacuation from an internal combustion engine.
Internal combustion engines serve to power a majority of the powered vehicles worldwide. Typically, internal-combustion-driven vehicles comprise at least one system for transporting the exhaust gases from the combustion cylinder to at least one remote discharge point adjacent the vehicle. Commonly, the exhaust system will comprise a length of metallic pipe or similar fluid-transporting conduit. In most vehicles, the exhaust system will further include at least one sound-modifying device such as a muffler or silencer.
Typical "performance" mufflers, such as found on an off-road or road-going motorcycle, are mounted high and rearward on the vehicle. Preferably, a muffler should be located as close as possible to the center of vehicle mass (forward and downward). This preferred position improves vehicle handling by lessening the dynamic loads imposed on suspension systems by reducing the outer rotating mass of the vehicle.
In general, clearance for a muffler changes from front to rear based on a vehicle's amalgamation of fixed structures. On a motorcycle, the available room at the front of the muffler is dictated by the clearance between the rear tire, rear shock, sub-frame, brake components, and inside clearance beneath the side panels or number plate. Tire contact with a muffler will cause the muffler to move, thus weakening and eventually breaking the muffler mounts. Any contact with the vehicle frame, sub-frame, or shock will eventually cause a hole to develop at the point of wear. The side panels of most motorcycles are generally made from plastic; any contact with the muffler results in heat damage. Preferably, a muffler needs to have enough sound-absorbing media to attenuate combustion noise but not so little that the sound-absorbing media would need to be serviced too frequently. On a street or road bike, the clearance needs to be such as to allow for maximum lean angle while not making contact with the road surface causing damage to the muffler and loss of stability. A need exists for an improved muffler design that both increases the clearances between the vehicle, the muffler and the driving surface, and lessens dynamic loads imposed on suspension systems by reducing the outer rotating mass of the vehicle.
It is generally known that the performance of an internal combustion engine is affected by the fluid flow characteristics of the exhaust system. Generally, the less restrictive the system is to the passage of the exhaust gasses, the greater the performance of the engine.
Internal combustion engines operate by drawing power from a controlled explosion within a combustion cylinder. In a typical four-stroke combustion cycle, an intake mixture of air and fuel is drawn into the combustion cylinder, compressed, ignited to produce power, and finally discharged from the engine to the exhaust system. Generally, the amount of performance derived from the engine is directly related to the volume of air/fuel mixture that can be introduced into the combustion cylinder during each cycle. Restrictions in the exhaust system can prevent full evacuation of the combustion gases from the cylinder, resulting in an inability of the engine to fully recharge the cylinder with a subsequent volume of fuel/air mixture. Therefore, deriving maximum power from any engine requires an exhaust system designed with the free-flow of exhaust gases as a primary objective. Unfortunately, exhaust systems often sacrifice flow in favor of other factors, for example, the reduction of sound emissions during operation.
Those who operate high performance vehicles are especially concerned with exhaust performance. Traditional methods of increasing performance of engines include increasing cylinder compression, valve modifications, and aggressive cam profiles. Each method has distinct disadvantages from the standpoint of heat generation, reliability, and engine longevity. Alternately, increasing the performance of the exhaust system may increase engine power output with relatively minor reductions in reliability.
A common practice used to meet closed course sound regulations in competitive motorcycle racing, is to use a very small diameter muffler core and an even smaller diameter outlet. The negative consequences of this arrangements is that low and mid RPM torque diminishes when compared to the performance characteristics of a large core, large outlet system.
A need exists for an exhaust system to overcome this problem while fully complying with the requirements of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM) closed course sound regulations.
Furthermore, due to increasing pressure from controlling bodies to set decibel sound limits for motorized vehicles operating within public lands, a need exists for a high-performance exhaust system that provides necessary reductions in sound emissions, while maintaining a high degree of performance.


A spraying device for melt granulation in a fluidized bed including a nozzle (2) with a feed channel for a liquid to be atomized, where the liquid is led through an emulsifying device and into an internal mixing chamber for gas and liquid, before it is fed to the fluidized bed. The nozzle has a separate channel for the atomizing gas fitted concentrically around the central liquid supply channel for the liquid to be atomized or nebulized. The mixing chamber surrounds the outlet zone of the liquid spray from the emulsifying device and the gas, allowing efficient mixing of high speed atomization gas and liquid, and having an external gas cap (1) where fluidization gas is channelled into a spout above the spraying device.

1. Technical Field
The invention concerns a spraying device for use in high capacity fluid bed granulation and a method for preparation of solid granules from a liquid material in a fluid bed.
More specifically, this invention relates to spray nozzles usable for supplying granule-growth liquid, by atomizing the liquid in a fluidized bed of solid particles where upon the microscopic liquid drops are sprayed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The fluidized bed granulation process originally designed by Nederlandse Stikstof Maatschappiji, later known as the NSM and now the HFT (Hydro Fertilizer Technology) granulator, has proved to have great advantages over other processes for granulating fertilizer substances like urea and ammonium nitrate, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,781. The HFT granulation process combines very high capacity with excellent product properties and low energy consumption. In achieving this, the way of spraying the liquid to be granulated into the fluidized bed is of the highest importance. The design of the nozzles where the liquid is atomized influence the liquid flow capacity—and thus the capacity of the granulator—as well as the pressure and volume flow of atomization gas required to maintain spouts with continuous and uniform sprays without agglomeration and unwanted disturbance of the fluidized bed. Finally the nozzle design also influences the energy consumption of the granulator through its flow and pressure characteristics.
State-of-the-art spraying devices (nozzles) are generally of the binary type atomizing nozzles, where a gas, e.g. air, is used to atomize the liquid to be granulated. In principle the gas and liquid may be introduced through the nozzle in the same single tube, or gas and liquid may be introduced separately through for example concentric tubes so that the mixing takes place only in and after the nozzle aperture. The principle aims are effective gas-liquid mixing; uniform and small size of liquid particles and a suitable geometry of the resulting spray or spout, so that the atomized liquid (microscopic droplets) is continuously and homogenously accreted on the granules formed in the fluidized bed.
Most nozzle designs available are not designed for use in high capacity granulation. Nozzles for granulation must be able to handle concentrated solutions (up to 99%) or melts without clogging or other problems ruining the production process. At the same time, there are notable differences between different designs with regard to energy consumption of the process, capacity (product throughput) and quality of the formed granules. Existing and previous nozzle types need relatively high levels of atomization gas, at elevated pressures, which again means high energy consumption.
Nozzles for use in a granulation process are for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,353. These have a central channel through which the liquid material is supplied, and a channel concentric therewith carrying a powerful gas stream. The liquid is passed through a rotation chamber before it is mixed with the gas stream. The nozzle may also have a concentric outer channel for providing a less energy-rich gas stream. However, this nozzle design has limitations in liquid flow capacity and in the energy required for both nebulizing or atomizing the liquid into suitable droplets and at the same time fluidizing the droplets into a properly shaped spout where the particle growth will occur. The rotation chamber described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,353 will only serve to give the liquid a helical movement, while the mixing chamber of the novel device described below will allow a thorough mixing of the atomizing gas and liquid before the spray leaves the exit aperture of the nozzle. Thereby the kinetic energy from the gas and liquid is utilized optimally. The novel device and method described herein demonstrate high granulation capacity and low energy consumption; several times better than the values quoted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,353. In cases where a second concentric gas tube is fitted on the nozzle, like described in claim 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,353, such design complicates the device unnecessarily compared to the device described below, since the novel device and method makes use of a portion of the fluidization gas supply for the extra spout gas channelled up around the nozzle.
International patent application WO 02083320 also describes a nozzle for use in fluid bed granulators. It has a central supply for liquid where the liquid thereafter is led through a swirling device and into an internal mixing chamber. Gas is supplied to the mixing chamber through a plurality of openings in the wall in the lower part of the mixing chamber. However, the description reveals no examples and no figures relating to the practical applicability of the described design, whereas the novel device and method described below has proved itself through high production capacity, good product quality properties and low energy consumption, in comparison with any other previously described designs.
The object of the invention is to obtain a granulation process with reduced energy consumption and enhanced granulation capacity; both factors reducing the variable costs of the granulation step. Another object is to obtain granules of better quality. These objects of the invention are obtained with the device and method as described below, and the invention is further defined and characterized by the accompanying patent claims.

Spraying device and method for fluidised bed granulation


An apparatus for positioning further or auxiliary processing devices, such as folders, cross cutting devices, sheet stackers or roll winding-up systems, on printing presses, includes a first positioning device which interacts with a further positioning device fixed to the floor in such a manner that the further or auxiliary processing device can be positioned in relation to the printing press in a reproducible manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for positioning further or auxiliary processing devices on printing presses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In printing presses, it is generally known to provide devices with which the printed products can be processed further. Devices of this type are arranged after the printing line and can, for example, fold a printed web longitudinally and/or transversely, cut it and/or stack the products. Likewise, devices are also known which wind the printed web up again into a roll. Usually, however, printing presses are equipped only with one device of this type and it is only possible to exchange one for another after the printing press has been installed by rebuilding it, which is associated with great installation complexity. As lengthy rebuilding work of this type is not possible between two print jobs, the further processing of the printed products is restricted to the possibilities of the installed devices.

Device for positioning further processing devices on printing machines


The present invention encompasses compounds of general Formula (1) wherein R1 to R4 are defined as in claim 1, which are suitable for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation, and the use thereof for preparing a medicament having the above-mentioned properties.

A number of protein kinases have already proved to be suitable target molecules for therapeutic intervention in a variety of indications, e.g. cancer and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Since a high percentage of the genes involved in the development of cancer which have been identified thus far encode kinases, these enzymes are attractive target molecules for the therapy of cancer in particular.
Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3-kinases) are a subfamily of the lipid kinases which catalyse the transfer of a phosphate group to the 3′-position of the inositol ring of phosphoinositides.
They play an important role in numerous cell processes such as e.g. cell growth and differentiation processes, the control of cytoskeletal changes and the regulation of intracellular transport processes. On the basis of their in vitro specificity for certain phosphoinositide substrates the PI3-kinases can be divided into different categories.
5-Alkynyl-pyrimidines are described for example as protein kinases inhibiting compounds in WO2006044823.


A method is disclosed. The method includes estimating a quantity of toner to be used to print a job at a printer by calculating a buildup of toner at edges of data on each page of the print job.

Electrophotographic printers produce images that are written by a beam of light onto a photoconductive drum (or band) that has a uniform electric charge over its surface. The action of the light beam produces a charge pattern on the photoconductor, which is then developed by applying particles of toner that are attracted to the image but are repelled by the background. The image is then transferred to a medium (e.g., paper) by pressing the medium against the drum and applying an electric field on the opposite side of the medium as the toner layer. Toner is typically fixed to the medium by heat and/or pressure.
In high speed production printer applications it is often desirable to estimate an amount of toner used to print a digital job using a specific electrophotographic printer. However, current toner estimation methods are inaccurate. Specifically, an accounting for the buildup of toner near edges within an image is the component missing in current methods that is required for an accurate estimate. The toner deposited at the edges is created by "fringe field development". Further, the amount of toner at an edge cannot be described by a simple model since toner build-up varies widely depending on data in the vicinity.
Accordingly, an accurate toner estimation mechanism for an electrophotographic printer is desired.


The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting fibrosis in a patient. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a somatostatin, a somatostatin agonist or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to said patent.

Tissue comprises organized cellular groups that are attached to an extracellular matrix and are surrounded by a network of blood vessels. Fibrosis is an abnormal accumulation of a collagen matrix following injury or inflammation which alters the structure and function of various tissues. Irrespective of location, the major pathology of fibrosis involves an excessive deposition of a collagen matrix which replaces the normal tissue at that site. Progressive fibrosis in the kidney, liver, lung, heart, bone or bone marrow, and skin is a major cause of death and suffering. See, e.g., Border, et al., New Engl. J. Med. 331:1286 (1994).
Development of fibrosis has been linked to the overexpression and over-production of TGF-β in numerous tissues and fibrotic disease states (see Border et al., N Engl J Med 1994, pp. 1286-92).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of inhibiting fibrosis with a somatostatin agonist

Societe de Conseils de Recherches et d'Applications Scientifiques, S.A.S


An apparatus and method for maintaining cache/main memory consistency in a data processing system including a write-through cache (14). For write operations of less than a word in length, the write data stored within a FIFO memory device 18 associated with a first bus agent reflects the result of a read/modify/write type of access wherein a byte or half word has been merged by a local processor 12 with a cache word. Memory control lines driven to a system bus 20 indicate to a memory controller 22 that a write operation is to be accomplished as a word write, thereby eliminating the additional time required to achieve a read/modify/write memory controller cycle. To prevent the occurrence of a problem wherein another bus agent, such as another CPU or an I/O device, writes to a system memory 24 during an interval of time that the word of data is temporarily buffered within the FIFO there is provided circuitry for detecting an external write made to the system memory. Circuitry is provided for changing the memory command lines to indicate, instead of a word write, a byte write or a half-word write operation. This causes the memory controller to operate only upon the portion of data word that was modified by the local processor and to perform a conventional read/modify/write type of cycle to merge the byte or half word with a word from main memory.

The invention described herein is particularly useful in a data processing system of the type wherein a memory controller controls a plurality of memory devices organized for storing multi-byte memory words. In such a memory error detection and correction syndrome bits are generated typically over a number of bytes of the memory word such as, for example, four bytes of a 32-bit memory word.
When a central processor unit (CPU) writes a word of data to such a memory the error syndrome bits are generated for the entire word and stored within associated memory devices. However, when the CPU writes less than a full word of data, such as a byte (eight bits) or a half word (16 bits) of data, the memory controller operates to first read the full word of data, merge the byte or bytes, generate the error syndrome bits over the full merged word and write the merged word with the associated syndrome bits back to memory. As can be appreciated, this read/modify/write type of access may be a time consuming process.
In some systems a plurality of CPUs are coupled to a common system bus and, through the system bus, to one or more memory units. Each CPU may have a local cache memory wherein a copy of a portion of a main system memory is maintained. In such a system it is a desirable goal that the main memory be updated to accurately reflect changes made to data within the cache memories. For example, such a system may employ a write-through type of cache memory wherein data written to the cache is also written "through" the cache to the main memory. For this purpose a first-in/first-out (FIFO) memory can be employed in parallel with the cache, the FIFO accepting write data from the CPU and temporarily buffering the data before providing the data over a system bus to the main memory. The FIFO is normally a word width or greater.
For those write operations of less than a word in width the data stored within the FIFO reflects the result of a read/modify/write type of access wherein a byte or half word is already merged by the CPU with a cache word. Thus, instead of writing a byte or half word to the memory and incurring the read/modify/write cycle time delay in generating the error syndrome bits, a more efficient cache memory write-through technique writes a full, already merged word from the FIFO to the memory.
However, a problem is created when another system bus agent, such as another CPU in a multi-processor system, writes to the main memory during the interval of time that the word of data is temporarily buffered within the FIFO. In this case the word in main memory that is the target of the FIFO may have just been updated by the other bus agent. Permitting the full word to be written from the FIFO would result in the newer data being over-written by the older data contained within the FIFO and the destruction in the main memory of the newer data.
It is thus one object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for updating data within a main memory as a result of a write operation to a local cache memory.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for use with a write-through cache that updates data within a main memory by providing a dual port memory, such as a FIFO buffer, in parallel with the cache memory and to further provide circuitry for detecting when a write occurs to the main memory to invalidate a full word write of data from the FIFO buffer to the main memory.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for use with a write-through cache that updates data within a main memory by providing a FIFO buffer in parallel with the cache memory and to further provide circuitry for detecting when a write occurs to the main memory and circuitry to modify an associated memory command from a word write access to less than a word type of write access to prevent data in the main memory from being overwritten with possibly non-current data.

Apparatus and method for maintaining cache/main memory consistency utilizing a dual port FIFO buffer


A corner rail extrusion (124) is disclosed for facilitating the sealing of joints at the corners of structures such as recreational vehicles. The corner rail extrusion (124) includes a pair of outwardly and generally perpendicularly extending legs comprising a first leg (126) and a second leg (128). The rail extrusion (124) also includes a central bulbous interior (130). The central bulbous interior (130) is positioned so as to span a corner formed by a side wall (104) and rear wall (106), with the bulbous interior (130) essentially “fitting into” a gap (122).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to devices for facilitating the sealing of joints at the corners of structures such as recreational vehicles, towable trailers, buildings and similar structures, and, more particularly to corner rail extrusions.
2. Background Art
The general concept of employing means for facilitating sealing of joints in the construction of structures such as towable trailers, motorized recreational vehicles, buildings (particularly metal buildings) and similar structures is known in the prior art. For many of these types of structures, a substantially rigid frame is provided, which consists of structural support members, such as studs. The structural support members of the frame support and mount walls on the exterior of the frame. The walls are formed as prefabricated panels placed on the exterior of the frame formed by the structural support members. Corners are formed at the junctures of adjacent panels lying in different, but typically perpendicular planes. Also typically, one of the adjacent panels is intended to overlap the adjacent support member by the thickness of the adjacent panel. In this manner, the adjacent panels lie in perpendicular planes which meet at a butt joint.
In the practice of prior art methods of construction, the tolerances in the dimensions of prefabricated panels are typically not sufficiently small so as to permit the assembly of adjacent walls and proper butt joints. Accordingly, the adjacent panels lying in perpendicular planes typically meet to form an internal (or reverse) 90° opening (or gap), rather than a true butt joint. For purposes of sealing, and as known in the prior art methods of construction, a layer of butyl tape may be sandwiched between the panels and an extruded metal corner rail. By nature, the butyl tape is somewhat tacky, and can be temporarily secured by its inherent tackiness to the inner surface of the extruded corner rail during assembly. With the corner rail, butyl tape and the underlying panel are secured to adjacent and underlying support members by means of mechanical fasteners, such as screws (or, in the case of truck applications, pop rivets). The butyl tape is thereafter trimmed to size.
One disadvantage of the use of butyl tape is the density of the tape. Butyl tape is typically of such a density that it does not conforms to corrugations, variations or other irregularities in the exterior surface of the panels. Accordingly, gaps are left which can then lead to water or other types of leakage or damage. Correspondingly, the butyl tape does not conform to the gap (or internal (reverse) 90° angle) formed at the juncture of adjacent panels meeting in perpendicular planes. Instead, the butyl plate simply spans the gap without conforming to the edges of the panels. Accordingly, the butyl tape does not perform a proper sealing function at the aforementioned gap and, further, creates a channel through which water can run, thereby infiltrating the joint. The use of butyl tape is further disadvantageous in that butyl tape typically dries out and chemically breaks down after a period of use. The butyl tape can then fall out, resulting in further gaps into which water can infiltrate. Still further, the use of butyl material has another disadvantage, in that it tends to expand when subjected to heat and, further, is subject to migration away from pressure, such that the butyl tape tends (when exposed to hot weather) to creep away from the fasteners and corner rail. This creeping movement creates gaps which can permit further water infiltration, as well as create cosmetic problems.
Other devices are known for purposes of facilitating the sealing of corner joints, with respect to other types of corners and panel elements. For example, Larson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,836 issued Apr. 10, 2001 describes a self-aligning drywall corner bead. The corner bead includes an arcuately profiled elongated central portion. The central portion includes two lateral edges for defining a concave and a convex surface. Flanges extend from each of the lateral edges and are unilaterally formed therewith. The concave surface includes a pair of longitudinal rails extending at about 90° one from the other, at the geometrical center line of a concave surface. The rails serve to align the corner bead with the underlying drywall, when applied over a drywall corner in a conventional manner.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of constructing corners of motorized recreational vehicles, towable trailers, buildings (particularly metal buildings) and similar structures. The corners so constructed facilitate leak resistance by means of the minimization or substantial elimination of gaps through which water or other materials may infiltrate.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a durable, long lasting seal between a corner rail and the underlying adjacent panels at a corner of a motorized recreational vehicle, towable trailer, building (particularly metal building) or similar structure.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of constructing a corner of a motorized recreational vehicle, towable trailer, building (particular metal building) or similar structure whereby the corner can be assembled by one person. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a corner construction for motorized recreational vehicles, towable trailers, buildings (particularly metal buildings) and similar structures whereby a positive seal is formed against the juncture between adjacent panels.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of constructing corners of motorized recreational vehicles, towable trailers, buildings (particularly metal buildings) and similar structures so as to compensate for fabrication tolerances.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a corner assembly for motorized recreational vehicles, towable trailers, buildings (particularly metal buildings) and similar structures which accommodates and compensates for variations in panel surface smoothness.


The illustrative embodiment of the invention is a munitions canister having a cover that is impervious to a variety of environmental stresses. In the illustrative embodiment, the cover includes a layer of rubber, which overlies a layer of sectioned, impact-resistant foam, which overlies a dome-shaped, structural member, which overlies a layer of acoustical dampening foam.

Munitions, such as missiles and rockets, are often launched from canisters. The canisters are typically round or square tubes that contain a munition, munition-launch hardware such as rails and/or sabots, and electronics for initiating launch. In addition to functioning as a launch system, the canisters provide environmental protection for the munition, simplify munition-handling issues, and provide an efficient and long-term munition-storage solution.
In order to provide full environmental protection for the munition and other components within the canister, the canister must be sealed. This is typically done using a cap or cover. The cover is ideally able to protect or isolate the munition from a variety of environmental factors, such as variations in humidity, temperature extremes, debris impact from transportation or from the launch of adjacent munitions, exposure to water, icing, electromagnetic interference, etc. Furthermore, the cover is preferably resistant to degradation from the nuclear, biological and chemical decontaminants, corrosion, flame, and pressure. Also, it is desirable for the cover to provide some degree of acoustical dampening. And, importantly, the canister cover must provide unimpeded passage of the munition upon launch.
Several types of canister covers are known. One type comprises a flexible membrane that is stretched over a frame that is permanently attached to the canister. Upon launch, the munition tears through the membrane. Disadvantages of this type of cover are that it has relatively limited durability, offers minimal environmental protection, and is an inefficient storage solution due to the space required for the frame that attaches the membrane to the canister.
A second type of canister cover is a hard cover, typically made of plastic or metal, which is bonded to the canister. Upon launch, the cover is blown off the canister due to launch pressure or the forward motion of the munition. In some versions of this cover, the cover is scored to enable it to break into a predetermined number of pieces having a desired size. Drawbacks of this cover include a requirement that the launch pressure be relatively high to break the cover or the bond between the cover and the canister, inconsistent breaking of the bond between the cover and the canister, damage to the munition caused by impact with the cover, and damage to launch equipment due to cover fragments.
A third type of canister cover is a foamed plastic cover, which incorporates a solid layer of plastic foam. Upon launch, the canistered munition strikes the cover, which then breaks into pieces. These covers disadvantageously provide a poor environmental seal because the foam is a porous material that has limited resistance to air or moisture. Furthermore, because foamed plastic is hard and brittle, it is difficult to attach it to a canister without breaking or cracking the foam.
A fourth type of canister cover is a glass cover. The glass is heat treated so that it becomes frangible (i.e., a small point load will completely shatter it). The size of the shattered pieces can be predetermined and controlled by varying the heat treatment. But a cover formed of tempered glass has low overall durability due to the ease with which the glass can shatter. For example, such a cover will typically fail when exposed to hail. Furthermore, the glass fragments can interfere with launch of the munition by becoming wedged between the munition and the inner surface of the canister. Additionally, glass fragments can also scratch the surface of the munition, which might affect its aerodynamics.
Although known canister covers provide a varying measure of protection against at least some of environmental conditions, none of them are able to satisfy all of the internal and external environmental requirements pertaining to:                extremes of temperature;        nuclear, biological, and chemical ("NBC") decontaminants;        hail impact;        electromagnetic interference ("EMI");        low vapor permeability;        corrosion resistance and flammability;        acoustical dampening;        internal and external pressure containment; and        limitations on the outgassing of internal materials (e.g., TML<1.0%, CVCM<0.10%) IAW ASTM E595.


Systems and methods for determining the location of a microphone by using sounds played from loudspeakers at known locations. Systems and methods may thereby require a minimal level of infrastructure, using sounds that would naturally be played in the environment. Systems and methods may thereby allow devices such as smart-phones, tablets, laptops or portable microphones to determine their location in indoor settings, where Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems may not work reliably.

Applications from the field of indoor localization include indoor navigation, location tagging and tracking. Related art in this area has focused on passive localization, in which the localized entity does not make an active effort to get localized. For example, a camera-based person localization may not have been initiated by the person in question. Certain related art systems may not preserve user privacy, while other related art systems may preserve privacy (e.g. wireless based systems) but may not provide sufficient precision for indoor localization.
Related art systems attempt to address the problem of indoor localization by using different technologies. Related art wireless-based systems report a median localization error of more than a meter, and may involve extensive setup and tuning. The localization error for related art systems based on Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) also fall within a range of more than a meter. To attain sub-meter accuracy, related art optical and acoustic based systems have been developed.
Related art localization systems can conceptually be classified into source localization systems and receiver localization systems. Related art source localization systems employ multiple receivers with known positions to sense signals from a source. By analyzing these signals, the system can localize the source. Related art camera-based (optical) systems and most acoustic systems using microphones in the related art fall in this category. However, since such related art systems deploy multiple receivers, the related art systems can potentially record the user's actions or voice without an explicit approval from the user, thus raising privacy concerns.
Related art receiver localization systems can be further sub-categorized as those using unmodulated signals and those that use modulated signals. The receiver records the sensed signal and either analyzes it in-situ or sends the recorded signal to a server to process it and determine user location. Systems using unmodulated signals either use multiple receivers or use collaborative sensing while simultaneously trying to localize multiple receivers. The unmodulated systems are similar to source localization systems in that regard. Source localization systems compare signals received at receivers whose locations are known, with the signal received at the receiver whose position needs to be determined. Related art systems that use collaborative sensing of unmodulated signals require a number of receivers that are simultaneously trying to localize themselves. Other collaborative related art systems take a hybrid approach by using both a source and receiver in the device trying to localize itself. However, such collaborative systems cannot be used to localize a single receiver unless recorded signals from other receivers are available.
Related art systems using modulated signals utilize ultrasonic waves due to their better ranging accuracy as compared to those that use an audible sound. However, these systems have several limitations as they often require heavy and often expensive infrastructure by utilizing ultrasound transducers that only exist in the environment for that purpose. Further, ultrasound has a limited range as it suffers from greater attenuation while propagating through air, in comparison to an audible sound.
Additionally, ultrasonic receptors are not commonly found in mobile devices. Hence, a mobile device cannot be used for localization without requiring additional ultrasonic hardware.

Localization using modulated ambient sounds


Systems for controlling the amplitude of the output signal of a controllable oscillator in a frequency synthesizer are provided. One such system provides a circuit having a controllable oscillator and an amplitude control circuit. The controllable oscillator is configured to generate an output signal having a predefined frequency and a predefined amplitude. The controllable oscillator is also configured with a plurality of operational states that are controlled by the amplitude control circuit. Each operational state of the controllable oscillator defines a particular current bias associated with a distinct amplitude of the output signal of the controllable oscillator. The amplitude control circuit receives the output signal of the controllable oscillator and determines the amplitude. When the amplitude of the output signal of the controllable oscillator is less than the predefined amplitude, the amplitude control circuit provides a control signal to the controllable oscillator. The control signal is configured to change the controllable oscillator to the operational state corresponding to the distinct amplitude that best approximates the predefined amplitude.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally related to frequency synthesizers, and more particularly, is related to systems and methods for controlling the amplitude of an oscillator.
2. Related Art
Frequency synthesizers are regularly employed in communication transceivers used in numerous types of communication systems and communication technologies, such as, radio frequency communication systems. Typically, such frequency synthesizers use a phase-locked loop to precisely control the frequency of the output signal of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The frequency synthesizer typically consists of a VCO, a low pass filter, and a phase-locked loop. The VCO generates an output signal having a particular frequency. A phase detector in the phase-locked loop receives the output signal and compares the output signal to a reference frequency. Based on the comparison of the output signal to the reference frequency, the phase-locked loop generates a control signal that is provided to the low pass filter and then to the VCO. The control signal is typically received by a variable capacitor, referred to as varactor, in the VCO. The control signal tunes the variable capacitor, thereby changing the frequency of the output signal of the VCO.
Generally, such frequency synthesizers are effective where the range of the frequency of the output signal is limited. However, in situations where the frequency of the output signal of the VCO needs to be varied over a broad frequency range, such frequency synthesizers are very problematic. For example, where frequency synthesizers are used in wireless broadband and wire-line broadband communication systems, or in multi-band devices and multi-mode devices, the limited tuning range of the varactors prevents effective tuning of the VCO and, therefore, effective channel selection. The limited tuning range of the varactors may also be problematic in situations where large fabrication process variations, temperature variations, or other variations require the output of the controllable oscillator to be varied over a broad frequency range. Additionally, varactors with a wide-tuning range are also problematic due to the fact that they are extremely sensitive to noise and interference on the control lines from the phase-locked loop. Furthermore, the non-linear characteristics of wide-tuning varactors are also problematic in the design of the loop filter in the frequency synthesizer.
Prior art frequency synthesizers are also limited in their ability to effectively control the amplitude of the output signal of the VCO as the frequency is changed. As known in the art, due to interactions between amplitude and frequency, it is desirable to maintain a constant amplitude over the entire frequency range of the VCO. Prior art frequency synthesizers include a peak detector, a low pass filter, an amplifier, and a noise filter. The peak detector is used to determine the amplitude of the output signal of the VCO and generate a control signal. The control signal is filtered by the low pass filter and amplified by the amplifier. The filtered and amplified signal is received by the noise filter. The noise filter is needed to reject bias noise before providing the resulting signal to the VCO. The VCO uses the resulting signal to change the bias current, and thereby control the amplitude of the output signal. However, such amplitude control methods are extremely slow and unstable. The noise filter is essentially an RC circuit. Because the control signal for changing the amplitude passes through the capacitor, there is significant delay in controlling the amplitude. Thus, there is a need in the industry to address these deficiencies and inadequacies.
The invention provides a system for controlling the amplitude of the output signal of a controllable oscillator in a frequency synthesizer. The invention provides a circuit having a controllable oscillator and an amplitude control circuit. The controllable oscillator is configured to generate an output signal having a predefined frequency and a predefined amplitude. The controllable oscillator is also configured with a plurality of operational states that are controlled by the amplitude control circuit. Each operational state of the controllable oscillator defines a particular current bias associated with a distinct amplitude of the output signal of the controllable oscillator. The amplitude control circuit receives the output signal of the controllable oscillator and determines the amplitude. When the amplitude of the output signal of the controllable oscillator is less than the predefined amplitude, the amplitude control circuit provides a control signal to the controllable oscillator. The control signal is configured to change the controllable oscillator to the operational state corresponding to the distinct amplitude that best approximates the predefined amplitude.
The invention also provides related methods of operation and computer readable media. Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

System for controlling the amplitude of an oscillator


A finger-fitting pointing device is disclosed. There is at least one housing. Each housing can be fabricated from a flexible, glove-like material, and fits a finger of a user. A click sensor is disposed in the underside of each housing, and is actuated by the user pressing the underside of the housing with the inserted finger against an external surface. An optical sensor is also disposed within the surface of a housing, and detects relative movement of this surface against an external surface, as caused by relative movement of the user's finger.

This invention relates generally to pointing devices, such as those used in conjunction with computing devices like computers, and more particularly to pointing devices that are finger fitting in shape.
With the advent of graphical user interfaces (GUI's) on computer systems, the pointing device has become a nearly ubiquitous device connected to computers. Pointing devices are so named because they enable the user to move a pointer on a screen, and select items pointed to, or perform other functionality, by actuating one or more different buttons. Common pointing devices include mouses, touch pads, trackballs, point sticks, joysticks, and other types of pointing devices.
An ongoing disadvantage of using pointing devices is that many of them require space beyond that taken up by the computer itself. In locations such as desks in offices, this may not be an issue, because there is likely to be sufficient desk space for both a keyboard and a pointing device like a mouse. However, in other locations, such as airplane fold-down tray tables in coach class, space for a keyboard and an external pointing device is limited, or even non-existent.
Most computer users therefore use the integrated pointing devices available on laptop and notebook computers when space is at a premium. Integrated pointing devices include the touch pad and the nub. Many users, however, do not prefer the integrated pointing devices, and would rather use an external pointing device, such as a mouse or a trackball. Miniature trackballs that clip onto the side of the computer, as well as miniature mouses that require less surface space, are available. However, these existing external devices meant for tight spaces are usually ill adapted for ease of use.
This may be because their regular counterparts anticipate a type of usage that is compromised when they are modified to use less space. For instance, most mouses are designed to fit in the palm of the hand, with each of two buttons naturally lying beneath a finger. Miniaturizing the mouse, however, compromises this design, making it more difficult to use. Similarly, most trackballs are designed for rolling by two or more fingers. Miniaturizing the trackball so that it can clipped onto the side of the laptop means that the user can only use one finger, or one thumb, for rolling, making it less natural to use.
Therefore, there is a need for a pointing device of a computer that has a design naturally suited for space-restrictive use. Such a pointing device should desirably not be a miniaturization of an existing pointing device, so that natural usage thereof is not compromised. For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.


Monocyclic and polycyclic azoles having the following formula modify the tone of a silver image formed from a fine grain radiation sensitive silver bromide or silver bromoiodide emulsion layer in which the silver bromide or silver bromoiodide grains have a mean equivalent circular diameter of less than 0.3 .mu.m. The azoles have the formula: ##STR1## wherein Z is --N.dbd. or --C(R.sup.5).dbd. where R.sup.5 is hydrogen, --NH.sub.2, aliphatic of 1 to 8 carbon atoms or aromatic of 1 to 8 carbon atoms;. R.sup.4 is hydrogen, aliphatic of 1 to 8 carbon atoms or aromatic of 1 to 8 carbon atoms; PA0 R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 together complete a 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic nucleus containing 1 to 3 ring nitrogen atoms; PA0 L is a divalent aliphatic linking group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms; PA0 T is an aliphatic terminal group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; PA0 m is 0 or 1; PA0 n is an integer of 1 to 4; and PA0 p is an integer of 2 to 4.

To attain an accurate patient diagnosis, a medical radiologist typically relies upon a visual study of silver images in photographic elements. Image study usually occurs with the element mounted on a light box, a white translucent illumination source. Silver halide photographic elements can be exposed to X-radiation alone to produce viewable silver images. A more efficient approach, which greatly reduces X-radiation exposures, is to employ an intensifying screen in combination with the radiographic element. The intensifying screen absorbs X-radiation and emits longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation which silver halide emulsions more readily absorb. Another technique for reducing patient exposure is to coat two silver halide emulsion layers on opposite sides of the film support to form a "double coated" radiographic element. Diagnostic needs can be satisfied at the lowest patient X-radiation exposure levels by employing a double coated radiographic element in combination with a pair of intensifying screens. However, alternatives are now available to the radiologist for capturing the X-radiation image. For example, the X-radiation image can be captured in a storage phosphor screen. By subsequently scanning the exposed storage phosphor screen with stimulating radiation, an emission profile can be read out and sent to a computer where it is stored. Such an imaging approach is described in Luckey U.S. Pat. No. Re. 31,847 and DeBoer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,090.
To provide the radiologist with a viewable image that can be studied, the stored image information can be used as recorded or with computer enhancement, to expose a diagnostic photographic film, often using a modulated light emitting diode or He-Ne laser source emitting in the red or near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum as the exposure source. After exposure, the diagnostic photographic film is photographically developed to provide a silver image for examination. In a typical procedure, such a diagnostic photographic film is run through a processing cycle, usually a so-called rapid-access process in which processing is completed in 90 seconds or less, which is the same as the processing cycle used for processing diagnostic photographic film that is directly exposed to X-radiation. The same rapid-access process is used by the radiologist for efficiency of effort. Also, such rapid-access processing is capable of providing comparable viewable silver images in diagnostic photographic films when such images are provided by direct exposure to X-radiation or by alternative exposure techniques such as where the image is provided by scanning a storage phosphor screen. Furthermore, since a patient being examined cannot be released until successful recording of the silver images needed for diagnosis has been confirmed, the diagnostic photographic films are normally constructed to provide rapid-access processing.
A photographic element that can be used as a diagnostic film without direct exposure to X-radiation in the manner described hereinbefore, frequently comprises at least one emulsion layer containing radiation sensitive silver bromide or silver bromoiodide fine grains. Such elements have good speed and provide silver images exhibiting excellent definition of the type required for examination by a radiologist. Unfortunately, such silver images can exhibit a warm tone, for example, a yellowish, greenish or brown hue when the elements are viewed by transmitted light. For a skilled diagnostician, such warm tone images are an obstacle to accurate diagnosis. A neutrally black or colder tone image is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,601 describes the use of certain 2-alkylthio-4-hydroxy-1,3,3a,7-tetraazaindenes to modify silver image tone in a photographic element and impart a neutral tone to a developed silver image formed upon exposure and processing of the element. Such image toning materials comprise a single sulfur atom in an alkylthio substituent and have the following formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl containing 6 to 11 carbon atoms or is a ring system and the groups R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each individually hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
The above azole compounds are shown to be useful in an element comprising a gelatin fine grain silver chlorobromide emulsion containing 55 mole percent silver chloride and 45 mole percent silver bromide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,601 also alleges that such compounds are useful toning materials in photographic silver halide emulsions of any halide composition, but no data is presented in support of this allegation. Furthermore, it has been our experience, as demonstrated by Examples that follow, that monothiaalkyl substituted compounds of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,601 are not effective for modifying the tone of a silver image formed from fine grain radiation sensitive silver bromide or silver bromoiodide emulsions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,720,447 and 4,859,565 may, upon superficial examination, appear to be of some interest with respect to the present invention since these patents describe the use of heterocyclic azole compounds as density- and/or tone controlling compounds. However, these patents simply describe the use of such compounds in a photographic silver complex diffusion transfer reversal process (often simply referred to as a DTR process) wherein a silver image is formed in a non-radiation sensitive layer from a soluble silver salt. There is no suggestion that such compounds would have any effect in modifying the tone of a silver image formed from a fine grain radiation sensitive silver bromide or silver bromoiodide emulsion of the type used in the present invention. Furthermore, as demonstrated in the following Examples, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,720,447 and 4,859,565 describe the use of a broad class of heterocyclic azole compounds that include many compounds that are taught to be effective for patentees' purposes, but would not be useful in the practice of this invention. For example, a large number of the heterocyclic azole compounds described in the aforementioned patents do not contain multiple sulfur atoms in an aliphatic substituent on an azole ring which is an essential feature of this invention. It is significant to note that for patentees' purposes, no distinction is made between heterocyclic azoles which contain no thiaalkyl substituents, those that contain only a single sulfur atom in a thiaalkyl substituent and those that contain multiple sulfur atoms in a thiaalkyl substituent. Accordingly, it is evident that U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,720,447 and 4,859,565 are not pertinent to the present invention which pertains to the use of a specific class of heterocyclic azoles to modify the tone of a silver image formed from a photographic element comprising an emulsion layer containing fine grains of radiation sensitive silver bromide or silver bromoiodide.
In the previous description, emphasis has been placed on the advantages of modifying the tone of a silver image formed from a diagnostic photographic film. However, it is well known in the art that photographic elements used for other purposes, e.g. in the field of graphic arts, can also benefit from such tone modification. Accordingly, this invention is specifically contemplated for use with such elements, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
In light of the previous discussion, it is obvious that it would be very desirable to have a photographic element, particularly one useful as a diagnostic photographic film, which would provide high definition silver images having a satisfactory tone. Likewise, it would be desirable to have such a photographic element with the capability of being processed using black and white processing procedures, especially conventional rapid-access X-ray processing techniques. This invention provides such a photographic element and a means for obtaining a neutral tone high definition silver image.


A fluid flow regulating valve using a thermal expansion material. The valve includes a body provided with inlet and outlet ports; a displacement control part in the body, the displacement control part containing the thermal expansion material and displaced toward the outlet port when the thermal expansion material expands, thereby regulating a degree of opening of the outlet port; and a heater for heating the thermal expansion material within the displacement control part. The displacement control part includes a container containing the thermal expansion material, the container being coupled to the body and an expansion plate for regulating the degree of opening of the outlet port by being expanded in accordance with an expansion of the thermal expansion material, the expansion plate being hermetically coupled to the container.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid flow regulating valve, and more particularly, to a fluid flow regulating valve using thermal expansion material which can precisely regulate the flow of large and small amounts of fluid.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A conventional flow regulating valve using thermal material is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,032. Reference to FIG. 10 will be made to describe this patent.
The flow regulating valve comprises a first silicon wafer 12, a Pyrex wafer 22 attached on an upper side of the first silicon wafer 12, and a second silicon wafer 30 attached on a lower side of the first silicon wafer 12. A chamber 10 for receiving thermal expansion material is etched in the first silicon wafer 12 and a cavity 21 for receiving a heater 21 is etched in an area between the chamber 10 and the Pyrex wafer 22. A thickness (h) of an area 12a between the first silicon wafer 12 and the chamber 10 etched therein is extremely thin to where it is only a few .mu.m. Also, a slot 44 for allowing flow of fluid is formed in an area where the first silicon wafer 12 and the second silicon wafer 30 are attached, and a nozzle 32 is etched in the second silicon wafer 30 at a location next to the area 12a under the chamber 10.
With regard to the operation of the above fluid regulator, when light is supplied to the Pyrex wafer 22 through a light pipe 19 or when the heater 21 is operated, the material contained in the chamber 10 expands. This acts to expand the area 12a of the first silicon wafer 12, as it is the thinnest part thereof, in a direction toward the nozzle 32. As a result, fluid entering through an inlet port 46 then sent to the nozzle 32 through the slot 44 is regulated according to the degree of expansion of the area 12a under the chamber 10.
In the above prior art valve, the heater 21, the chamber 10, and the slot 44 are either etched or go through a microscopic silicon process such as a photographic process. However, these processes require the use of very expensive equipment.
Also, the microscopic silicon process is a technique used for valves that regulate only a small flow of fluid. Valves manufactured by this process are used in medical instruments, environmental analysis instruments and the like. As a result, the application of valves made using this process is limited.
In addition, to regulate a large flow of fluid, the capacity of both the silicon wafer and the Pyrex wafer for each valve should be enlarged. However, this greatly increases manufacturing costs.
Furthermore, since diameters of inlet and outlet ports and a slot are processed having minute dimensions, foreign substances contained in fluid can easily block passages, deteriorating the reliability of the products.

Fluid flow regulating valve using thermal expansion material


A wheel alignment system measures true camber and true pitch. Camber and pitch angles are measured using a head unit coupled to the wheel of the automotive vehicle. True camber and true pitch are calculated based upon measured camber and measured pitch, a camber crosstalk value, and a pitch crosstalk value.

The present invention relates to a wheel alignment technique. In particular, the present invention relates to measurement of camber and pitch in a wheel alignment system.
Proper alignment of the wheels of an automotive vehicle is important for proper handling of the vehicle and proper tire wear. In addition, proper alignment of the wheels will decrease fuel consumption as well as increase vehicle safety. The wheel alignment parameters which are measured and adjusted in order to achieve proper wheel alignment are camber, caster, steering axis inclination (SAI) and toe.
Camber angle is the inclination of the wheel plane with respect to vertical. It is considered positive when the wheel leans outward at the top, and is considered negative when it leans inward. Any wheel of an automobile can have camber.
Caster angle is the angle in side elevation between the steering axis of a steerable wheel (typically one of the front wheels) with respect to vertical. It is considered positive when the steering axis is inclined rearward (in the upward direction) and negative when the steering axis is inclined forward.
Steering axis inclination (SAI) or king pin inclination is the angle in the front elevation between the steering axis and vertical.
The static toe angle of a wheel, at a specified wheel load or relative position of the wheel center with respect to the sprung mass, is the angle between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the line of intersection of the wheel plane and the road surface. The wheel is "toed-in" if the forward portion of the wheel is turned toward a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and "toed-out" if turned away.
Camber, caster and SAI are typically measured using inclinometers attached to the wheel. With camber, the inclinometer measures the angle that the plane of the wheel makes with the vertical. To measure caster, the wheel is turned through an arc, and the difference in the camber readings is used to derive the caster value. SAI is measured in a manner similar to caster, except that the inclinometer used for the SAI reading measures the change in pitch angle of a line in the plane of the wheel as the wheel is turned through an arc. The SAI measuring inclinometer is aligned at 90.degree. to the inclinometer used for reading camber and caster.
Alignment systems can also use the pitch angle (inclination angle) of head units in calculation of alignment angles. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,227 entitled CASTER AND STEERING AXIS INCLINATION MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In prior art alignment systems, camber and pitch sensors must be individually aligned for each head unit. Improper sensor alignment is an additional error source. Errors in measured caster and measured pitch can prevent proper wheel alignment. A wheel alignment system which improves accuracy in wheel alignment measurements would be an important contribution to the art.

Crosstalk compensation in wheel alignment system


Lubricant formulations comprising a phospholipids such as lecithins and a low hydrophobic lipophilic balance (HLB) surfactant provide improved rheological properties for coating a rapidly moving web, such as a paper web. The low hydrophobic lipophilic balance (HLB) surfactant is preferably an alcohol ethoxylate having an HLB value of between 7 and 10 or more preferably between 7.5 and 9.5. The lubricant formulations of the invention are preferably applied to the paper web as part of a coating mixture. The lubricant is well-suited for short-dwell coating methods.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lubricant additives for coating moving paper and paper board webs. More particularly, the invention provides lecithin based lubricant additive formulations having an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant component having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) parameter of less than 10.
2. Background of the Invention
Paper and paper board web material is frequently coated to improve properties such as appearance and printability. The coating process involves applying a coating mixture to the paper as it moves at high speed through a coating apparatus. These coatings are typically composed of: (1) pigments, such as Kaolin clay, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate or silicates; (2) adhesive binders, such as starches, proteins, styrene butadiene latex, or polyvinyl acetates; and (3) additives, which improve or modify specific properties and characteristics of the coating mixture.
A number of chemical phenomena and physical forces (particularly shear forces) can have a detrimental effect, e.g., destroying the integrity and uniformity of both the coating mixture and the coating as it is applied to the paper sheet. When this occurs, costly problems develop both in the application of the coating and in the finish and quality of the coated paper. These problems are widely known to manufacturers of coated papers.
These problems are greatly magnified as the speed of the web moving through the coating apparatus is increased, causing increased shear forces on the coating mixture being applied. Increased speed causes problems in viscosity control, calcification, streaking, whiskering, and generally poor "runnability" (performance) of the coating. These problems ultimately result in a poor quality coated sheet. Uniformity of the coating mix at these high shear levels is critical.
Typically, lubricant additives, such as calcium stearate dispersions or polyethylene dispersions, have been used as an additive to the coating mixture to improve the performance and uniformity of the coating and the overall integrity of the coating mixture. The main function of a lubricant additive in a coating mixture is to increase the lubricity of the coating. However, many other effects of lubricants are known to the art of coating paper. For example, such characteristics as rheological properties, plasticity, smoothness, coating gloss, anti-dusting and improved printing qualities, can be affected by the use of coating lubricants.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,015 recites lubricant formulations having a mixture of lecithin, a fatty acid, an emulsifier and a surfactant. The '015 patent recites formulations in which the surfactant was selected from water soluble nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) having an HLB of greater than 13 or water soluble alcohol ethoxylates having an HLB value of between 11 and 13.
International patent publication WO 01/51706 recite various lubricant formulations based on lecithin in combination with at least one fatty acid and a surfactant selected from anionic or high HLB nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,933 recites lubricant formulations having a chemically modified lecithin as a lubricant. Although '933 patent asserts that the chemically modified lecithin, e.g., hydroxylated lecithin, eliminates the need for a fatty acid additive, the increased cost associated with chemical modification results in an economically unfeasible lubricant for paper manufacture.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide new less expensive lecithin based lubricant formulations which provide improved processing during the paper making process and improved finished paper properties.

Phospholipid lubricant for coating moving webs


This invention relates to a catalytic composite for treating an exhaust gas comprising a first support which is a refractory inorganic oxide having dispersed thereon at least one noble metal component and having dispersed immediately thereon an overlayer comprising at least one oxygen storage component and optionally a second support which is a refractory inorganic oxide. The first support may be selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, zirconia and aluminosilicates with alumina being preferred. Additionally, the noble metal component may be selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthernium and iridium. The oxygen storage component is an oxide of a metal which includes cerium, iron, nickel, cobalt lanthanum, neodymium, praesodymium, etc. and mixtures thereof. Cerium oxide is a preferred oxygen storage component. Finally, the second support may be selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, zirconia and aluminosilicates, with alumina preferred. This invention also relates to a process for minimizing the content of hydrogen sulfide in an automotive exhaust gas which comprises contacting said exhaust gas with a catalytic composite comprising a first support which is a refractory inorganic oxide having dispersed thereon at least one noble metal component and having dispersed immediately thereon an overlayer comprising at least one oxygen storage component and optionally a second support which is a refractory inorganic oxide.

Gaseous waste products resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuels, such as gasoline and fuel oils, comprise carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides as products of combustion or incomplete combustion, and pose a serious health problem with respect to pollution of the atmosphere. It is well known to use catalytic composites to simultaneously convert carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide pollutants to innocuous gases. In order to achieve the simultaneous conversion of said pollutants, a catalytic composite (commonly called a three component control catalyst) is ordinarily used in conjunction with an air/fuel ratio control means which functions in response to a feedback signal from an oxygen sensor in the engine exhaust systems. The air-to-fuel ratio control means is typically programmed to provide fuel and air to the engine at a ratio at or near the stoichiometric balance of oxidants and reductants in the hot exhaust gases at engine cruising conditions, and to a stoichiometric excess of reductants during engine startup and at engine acceleration conditions. The result is that the composition of the exhaust gases with which the catalyst is contacted fluctuates almost constantly, such that conditions to which the catalyst is exposed are alternatively net-reducing (fuel rich) and net-oxidizing (fuel lean). A catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and the reduction of nitric oxide must be capable of operating in such a dynamic environment.
The exhaust gas also contains other components such as sulfur oxides, phosphorus and zinc compounds which are known catalyst poisons. The sulfur oxides present in the exhaust stream can react with the catalyst to form other products. For example under fuel lean (net-oxidizing) conditions, sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) reacts with oxygen (O.sub.2) over the catalyst to form sulfur brioxide (SO.sub.3) which is then converted to sulfates (SO.sub.4.sup.=) by reaction with water. Under fuel rich (net-reducing) conditions the SO.sub.2 reacts with hydrogen (H.sub.2) to form hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S). The formation of H.sub.2 S is particularly objectionable because of its strong odor.
In addition to the formation of H.sub.2 S over a noble metal catalyst, a storage phenomenon has also been observed. This storage phenomenon has been documented in the literature, G. J. Barnes and J. C. Summers, "Hydrogen Sulfide Formation Over Automotive Oxidation Catalysts," Society of Automotive Engineers, Paper No. 750093. The experimenters showed that sulfur accumulated on noble metal catalysts under both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. For example, under oxidizing conditions the sulfur is typically stored as sulfates (SO.sub.4.sup.=) which is converted to H.sub.2 S under reducing conditions.
Although this phenomenon has been recognized for many years, the problem which it generates, i.e. unpleasant odor, was relatively minor and was not of much concern until recently. In the past few years automotive catalyst technology has improved so that the catalysts are much more active than previous catalysts. Part of this improvement has been achieved by increasing the content of the oxygen storage component present in the catalytic composite. The most commonly used oxygen storage components are the rare earths. Unfortunately, the rare earths appear to increase the storage of sulfur during fuel lean operation, and when release occurs the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is much larger than would have been anticipated, based on the sulfur content of the fuel. Consequently, the resultant odor is quite noticeable and many more drivers are offended by the increased hydrogen sulfide odor.
Since the odor has become more noticeable and objectionable, a need exists to minimize the hydrogen sulfide emissions from catalyst equipped automobiles. The instant invention cures this problem by providing a catalytic composite in which the oxygen storage component is separated from the noble metal component. This is accomplished by depositing the noble metal component on a first support which is a refractory inorganic oxide and then depositing a layer consisting of an oxygen storage component and optionally a second support which is a refractory inorganic oxide immediately thereover.
The prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,469, does disclose a layered catalytic composite. Additionally, Japanese Public Disclosures 71537/87 and 71538/87 disclose a catalytic composite consisting of a ceramic carrier having dispersed thereon a catalytic layer containing one or more of Pd, Pt and Rh and an alumina layer containing one or more oxides of Ce, Ni, Mo and Fe. However, the stated advantage of the 71537 invention is that the oxides, which are oxygen storage components, renew the catalytic surface. This is accomplished by having the oxygen storage component in contact with the catalytic surface.
In contrast to this prior art, the present invention separates the catalytic layer from the oxygen storage component. This separation is in contravention to the prior art which states that intimate contact of the oxygen storage component with the catalytic metal is required in order for the oxygen storage component to be effective. Therefore, the instant invention differs from the prior art in that the oxygen storage component is separated from the catalytic or noble metal component. Additionally, the result of this difference is to minimize the formation of H.sub.2 S over a catalytic composite, even though said catalytic composite contains the same or greater amount of an oxygen storage component as a conventional catalyst, a result quite distinct from that which could reasonably be expected from the teachings of the prior art.


A method is disclosed for electronically assisting a customer through a buying cycle at a product retail location having a product oriented display. The method includes sensing an amount of time the customer is interested in the display. Another operation is determining the customer's stage in a product buying cycle based on the amount of time the customer is interested in the display and displaying product detail based on the customer's stage in the buying cycle. The display can be changed to a subsequent stage in the buying cycle having more time and interaction between the customer and the display.

Up to 70% of a customer's purchase decision is made in the sales aisles at retail locations. With the increased complexity of product technology and the greater variety of product choices that are available, the ability to capture a customer's attention at a retail location is becoming more important.
Prior solutions for helping customers decide which products to buy include human assisted sales, static signage at the shelf, and dynamic signage at an aisle's end. Human assisted sales are impractical and expensive on a per product level. Many sales associates are too busy to help customers in a timely manner, unable to answer key questions or are too pushy. However, relevant product information tailored to a customer's needs is essential to closing a sale with a customer.
Printed signage is static and forces a choice between attracting a customer's attention and informing the customer on a product. Printed billboards, light box posters and signs, electronic signs and monitors, and retail store window displays, are rapidly growing areas of marketing investment. On the other hand, dynamic signage has a much greater ability to attract consumers than static signage. It is well known that motion and a change of colors and shapes has a much greater ability to attract consumers than static content. In order to increase sales of products, retailers and brands desire to provide advertising at the product shelf level quickly followed by more in depth product information.

System and method for electronically assisting a customer at a product retail location

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.