A multimedia playing apparatus plays hypermedia titles each consisting of a plurality of monomedia objects including at least one finite time monomedia object such as a video object, which is formatted as a sequence of fixed-length playing sections such as video frames and functions as a base-axis object for providing a timing reference. The apparatus executes playing of a hypermedia title in accordance with processing time points specified as respective numbers of the playing sections, and stores and utilizes a plurality of sets of synchronization trigger data each of which designates that playing of a specific monomedia object other than the base-axis object is to be started, or is to be ended, at a specific processing time point, with the synchronization trigger data sets being successively accessed and used as the corresponding processing time points are respectively reached during playing of the hypermedia title.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multimedia playing apparatus for playing multimedia information items (referred to in the following as multimedia titles), each consisting of a combination of multimedia data objects such as video clips, audio clips, still pictures, text items, etc., with playing conditions (e.g., playing intervals, window size and window position on a display screen, etc) for the various multimedia data objects being specified in a scenario.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When playing a multimedia title, it is necessary that the start and end of playing the various monomedia objects, during the playing progression, be linked to some reference timing axis, in a manner that is specified in the scenario data. With a prior art type of multimedia playing apparatus, a real-time axis is generally used for that purpose. For example, the scenario of a multimedia title might specify that a certain still-picture monomedia object is to start to be displayed at a point which occurs 3 minutes after playing of that multimedia title has started, and is to cease to be displayed at a point which occurs 6 minutes after playing of the multimedia title has started. That is to say, playing times for the various monomedia objects of a multimedia title, specified in the scenario, are linked to points along a real-time axis whose origin is the time point at which playing of the multimedia title begins.
However in practice, such a method presents various basic problems. For example, the multimedia title might include a video object, i.e., a video clip, which is played for a relatively long duration during the playing progression of the multimedia title, and it might be required for a certain still picture to start to be displayed at a certain point (such a point being referred to in the following as a processing time point), within that progression, which is accurately determined in relation to playing the video object. In a practical type of multimedia playing apparatus, in which the data of the video object might be transferred from a data storage device via a network data communication path before being displayed, it cannot be guaranteed that the progression of playing that video object will be accurately in accordance with a predetermined absolute real-time axis. There will be minor variations in timing, which will not affect the playing of the video object as seen by a user, but whereby it cannot be ensured that a certain frame of the video will occur at an accurately predetermined point on the real-time axis, after the start of playing the multimedia title. Moreover, the data of a finite-time object such as a video object are generally stored and transferred encoded in a compressed format such as the MPEG1 format. When playing of such a video object is started the data are successively decompressed (decoded) by a decoder apparatus, in a manner which is not linked to the progression of the scenario. Thus, only the starting point of playing such a finite-time object is directly linked to the playing progression of the multimedia title as set out in the scenario.
The longer the duration for which such a finite-time object is played, the greater will be the amount of deviation between the actual time of occurrence of a certain part of the object (e.g., playing of a specific frame of a video object) and the processing time point which has been specified for that occurrence in the scenario. As a result, there may be significant errors between the scenario and the multimedia title xe2x80x9cstoryxe2x80x9d which is actually presented, e.g., still-picture objects may not presented at the correct times during playing of a video object. Thus the problem arises that the xe2x80x9cstoryxe2x80x9d which is actually presented by a multimedia title may vary in accordance with the operating environment, i.e., in accordance with the characteristics of data storage devices, a network through which data are transferred, etc.
It can thus be understood that the above problem results from the fact that management of playing of the multimedia title is based upon use of a real-time axis as a reference axis for the playing progression.
A second problem is as follows. It can be assumed in general that some finite-time object, and in particular a video object, will be being played at any particular point during the progression of a multimedia title. When a monomedia object such as a still picture is to be presented, the data representing that monomedia object are read out from data storage (in general, as a data file), are converted to suitable form for being played, i.e., are formed in accordance with the scenario contents, such that the monomedia object will appear at the specified position, with the specified window size, on the display screen. However in a practical apparatus, such processing, and also the processing whereby the video object data are processed must be performed by the same computer, i.e., the same CPU. Hence, the acquisition of the still-picture object data and the conversion of these data to suitable form for presentation will impose a substantial load on that CPU, i.e., will require a significant amount of processing time. This may obstruct the processing which must be performed, at regular intervals, to acquire and process video data to play successive frames of the video data, and so may result in momentary interruptions of playing a finite-time object such as a video object.
A third problem is as follows. With a prior art type of multimedia playing apparatus, playing of a multimedia title is performed as an automatic sequence, i.e., the multimedia title must be played continuously in accordance with the scenario, from the beginning. It has not been possible to provide a function whereby a user can execute manual control of the playing progression, e.g., whereby the user can move the playing position to an arbitrary point within the playing progression. The reason for this is as follows. With the prior art type of multimedia playing apparatus, processing points (i.e., points at which playing of a monomedia object is to be started or terminated) are defined within the scenario at positions along the playing progression axis of the multimedia title, as respective time points. In order to be able to move the playing position to an arbitrary point along the playing progression, it is necessary first to determine the status of playing at that arbitrary point, and to obtain that information it would be necessary to again begin to read through the scenario, from the start of the scenario, until the specified time point is reached, and then obtain information specifying the monomedia object or monomedia objects to be presented at that time point. However if such processing were to be executed during actual playing of a multimedia title, it would be difficult to achieve a sufficiently rapid and smoooth transition to the new playing position.
A fourth problem is as follows. With a prior art type of multimedia playing apparatus, it has not been possible for a user to execute an operation to alter any of the display attributes of a monomedia object such as displayed (window) position, displayed (window) size, etc., i.e., to execute any operation (referred to in the following as a user-mediated operation) which results in a change in the progression of the multimedia title which is not in accordance with the scenario.
A fifth problem is as follows. With a prior art type of multimedia playing apparatus, it is not possible to execute any processing other than playing of multimedia titles. If it is necessary to execute other types of processing, then it becomes necessary to provide a dedicated apparatus for that purpose. If it were possible for the multimedia playing apparatus to execute external applications (for example, starting at any arbitrary point during playing of a multimedia title, as specified by an input command generated by a user while viewing the multimedia title), then various additional functions could easily be provided by such a multimedia playing apparatus, and the range of use would be greatly expanded.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a multimedia playing apparatus for playing a hypermedia title, whereby the problems of the prior art set out hereinabove can be overcome. The term xe2x80x9chypermedia titlexe2x80x9d as used herein signifies a multimedia title which includes a finite-time monomedia object such as a video object which is played continuously from start to end of the playing progression of the multimedia title, with that finite-time monomedia object being formatted as a successive of playing sections which are of identical length. Such a video object will be referred to in the following as the base-axis object of the hypermedia title. For example, if the base-axis object is a video object (i.e., a video clip which is played continuously from start to end of playing the multimedia title), then that is inherently divided into a succession of playing sections, i.e., the video frames. Alternatively, an audio base-axis object could be used, for example by embedding periodic timing markers in an audio sound track of a multimedia title, to thereby define successive playing sections. With the present invention, the aforementioned processing time points are defined as respective numbers of these playing sections, so that respective attainments of the processing time points during the playing progression of the hypermedia title can be detected by maintaining a count of the number of playing sections which have been played, by a counter which will be referred to as the playing progression counter.
It should be noted that the term xe2x80x9cplayedxe2x80x9d as used in the following description and in the claims is to be understood in a very broad sense, i.e., to apply to playing of a finite-time monomedia object such as a video or audio object to display a moving picture or generate audible sound, and to apply also to static displaying of monomedia objects such as still pictures or text items.
As a result of defining the processing time points as described above, it becomes possible to accurately synchronize the various processing operations applied to the other monomedia objects of the hypermedia title (these being referred to in the following as the non base-axis objects) with the playing progression of the base-axis object, since these time points are linked to that playing progression, rather than to points along the real-time axis.
Thus,the present invention provides a multimedia playing apparatus which utilizes a specific finite-time object of a multimedia title to define a reference timing axis, which will be referred to as the base axis, and which is utilized (rather than using a real-time axis for timing reference purposes) during playing of a multimedia title to define the timings of respective processing points, i.e., the points at which playing of other monomedia objects is started or terminated, as defined in the scenario.
Hence, an apparatus according to the present invention inherently overcomes the first of the problems set out hereinabove.
To overcome the second problem set out above, the invention provides a multimedia playing apparatus whereby, prior to the time at which playing of a hypermedia title is to be enabled (i.e., prior to the time at which the apparatus is set in a condition in which it is possible for a user to input a command to specify that the hypermedia title is to be played), the data for all of the monomedia objects other than the base-axis object are acquired (e.g., read out as respective data files from a data storage device) and formed into corresponding data which are ready to be supplied to a playing device (e.g., video display section) for immediate presentation, with these data then being stored locally in memory until required during playing of the hypermedia title. As a result, during playing of the hypermedia title, each base-axis object can immediately start to be presented at the point which is specified in the scenario, without danger of obstructing the playing of the base-axis object.
To overcome the third problem set out above, the invention provides a multimedia playing apparatus whereby a hypermedia title is treated as a succession of segments, and whereby specific data (object presentation status management data) are prepared prior to the time at which playing of the hypermedia title is to be enabled, with the data specifying the processing which is to be executed within each of the segments. That is to say, for each segment, the corresponding part of the object presentation status management data specifies the monomedia objects (other than the base-axis object) which are to start to be played at the beginning of that segment, or for which playing is to be terminated at the beginning of that segment, or which are to continue (i.e., from the preceding segment) to be played during that segment. The object presentation status management data are stored in memory. Subsequently, during playing of the hypermedia title, if it is required to move the playing position to a different position within the playing progression, the necessary information concerning the playing status at that different position is immediately available, by reading out from memory the part of the object presentation status management data which corresponds to that new position. In that way, it becomes possible to provide a manual control feature, whereby a user can arbitrarily shift the playing position to a different position within the playing progression of a hypermedia title.
To overcome the fourth problem set out above, the invention provides a multimedia playing apparatus whereby, for one or more monomedia objects of a hypermedia title, data are prepared which specify at least one different playing attribute which is different from the attributes which are specified for that monomedia object in the scenario. For example in the case of a still-picture object, data may be prepared which specify a larger display size, and/or a different display position, from the size and/or position specified in the scenario. Such data are stored in memory prior to the time at which playing of a hypermedia title is to be enabled, and can subsequently be used to enable interactive control of that playing attribute (or attributes) by the user. Such a method of interactive control requires only a very small amount of processing, and so can be easily implemented during playing of a hypermedia title without the danger of obstructing the progression of playing the hypermedia title.
To overcome the fifth problem set out above, the invention provides a multimedia playing apparatus whereby information required for activating specific external applications, which are unrelated to playing of a hypermedia title, is contained in the scenario, and whereby a user can input an external application activation command, during playing of the hypermedia title, to selectively specify execution of one of the external applications.
More specifically, according to a first aspect the invention provides a multimedia playing apparatus for playing a hypermedia title formed of a base-axis object and at least one non base-axis object, the base-axis object being a finite-time monomedia object having a playing duration which extends from start to end of a playing progression of the hypermedia title, the base-axis object being configured as a plurality of sequential fixed-length playing sections, the multimedia playing apparatus comprising:
scenario data storage means for storing data of a scenario of the hypermedia title, the scenario including a plurality of sets of synchronization trigger data, each of the sets identifying a corresponding one of the non base-axis objects and specifying, for the corresponding non base-axis object, a processing time point during the playing progression at which a processing operation for starting playing of the non base-axis object or a processing operation for ending playing of the non base-axis object is to be executed, each of the processing time points being expressed as an integral number of the playing sections,
subject matter data storage means for storing respective subject matter data of the base-axis object and each of the non base-axis objects;
timer event generating means for periodically generating timer events;
base-axis object display means controllable for acquiring subject matter data of the base-axis object from the subject matter data storage means and utilizing the subject matter data to play the base-axis object, and for counting successively played ones of the playing sections;
non base-axis object display means for playing each of the non base-axis objects;
internal data memory means;
processing event counter means;
playing progression counter means for counting successive ones of the playing sections during playing of the hypermedia title;
playing command input means, operable by a user for generating at least a xe2x80x9cplayxe2x80x9d input command to designate that playing of the hypermedia title is to be started; and
overall control and synchronization processing means for
executing initial processing to set the apparatus in a condition of readiness for playing the hypermedia title, the initial processing comprising at least operations for acquiring the scenario data from the scenario data storage means, obtaining the sets of synchronization trigger data from the scenario data and storing the sets in sequentially numbered locations in the internal memory means,
for setting the processing event counter means and playing progression counter means to a common initial value, and
on completion of the initial processing, when input of the xe2x80x9cplayxe2x80x9d input command occurs, executing operations for
controlling the base-axis object display means to begin to acquire the base-axis object subject matter data,
in response to occurrence of each of the timer events, obtaining respective current values of the playing sections count and processing event count, obtaining from the internal memory means a set of the synchronization trigger data having a storage location which corresponds to the processing event count value, judging whether the playing sections count value is greater than or equal to a processing time point value which is specified in the obtained set of synchronization trigger data, and, when the playing sections count value is judged to be greater than or equal to the specified processing time point value,
executing a processing operation which is specified in the synchronization trigger data set, for a non base-axis object which is identified in the synchronization trigger data set, and
incrementing the processing event counter means.
According to a second aspect, with such a multimedia playing apparatus a plurality of the sets of synchronization trigger data may be assigned to a specific one of the processing time points, and each of the synchronization trigger data sets includes storage location pointer information for defining a sequence in which the plurality of sets are to be successively read out from memory and processed when the specific processing time point is reached.
According to a third aspect, the overall control and synchronization processing means of such a multimedia playing apparatus comprises means functioning, when the obtained set of synchronization trigger data specifies for the corresponding non base-axis object that playing of the non base-axis object is to be started, to acquire a subject matter data set of the non base-axis object from the subject matter data storage means, to process the subject matter data set into a corresponding formed data set which is in accordance with the playing conditions specified in the scenario, and to supply the formed data set to the second display means.
According to a fourth aspect, such a multimedia playing apparatus further comprises non base-axis object data memory means, and the overall control and synchronization processing means further comprises:
means functioning, during execution of the initial processing operations, to acquire respective sets of subject matter data of each of the non base-axis objects from the subject matter data storage means, to convert each of the sets into respective corresponding sets of formed data which are in accordance with the playing conditions specified in the scenario, and to store the sets of formed data in the non base-axis object data memory means, and
means functioning during the playing progression, when the obtained set of synchronization trigger data specifies for the corresponding non base-axis object that playing of the non base-axis object is to be started, to acquire a formed data set corresponding to the non base-axis object from the non base-axis object data memory means and to supply the formed data set to the second display means.
According to a fifth aspect, such a multimedia playing apparatus further comprises title control command input means, operable by a user for generating a title control input command to specify that a current playing position of the hypermedia title is to be shifted to a new playing position in the playing progression, object presentation status management data memory means, and playing status restoration processing means, and wherein the overall control and synchronization processing means further comprises means functioning during execution of the initial processing operations to obtain the information specifying respective processing time points for starting and ending display of each of the non base-axis objects, to generate corresponding object presentation status management data specifying, for each of respective sequentially numbered segments of the playing progression which are defined between successive pairs of the processing time points, each of the non base-axis objects which is to be played during the segment, and to store the object presentation status management data in the object presentation status management data memory means, wherein the playing status restoration processing means comprises means functioning, in response to designation of a shift to a new playing position by a title control input command, to control the second display means to delete all non base-axis objects which are currently being displayed by the second display means, to obtain the number of a segment which contains the new playing position, to obtain from the object presentation status management data memory means the object presentation status management data corresponding to the segment, to read out from the non base-axis object data memory means respective sets of the formed data of non base-axis objects which are specified for the segment in the object presentation status management data and to supply the non base-axis object formed data to the non base-axis object display means.
According to a sixth aspect, such a multimedia playing apparatus further comprises object control means, and object control command input means operable by a user for generating an object control command to designate for at least one of the non base-axis objects that the non base-axis object is to be displayed in accordance with a user-mediated display condition which is different from a display condition specified for the non base-axis object in the scenario, the overall control and synchronization processing means further comprising means, functioning during execution of the initial processing operations, to modify the formed data set of the non base-axis object to obtain a modified formed data set which is in accordance with the user-mediated display condition, and to store the modified formed data set in the internal data memory means, and
the object control means functioning during playing of the hypermedia title, in response to input of the object control command, to control the second display means to terminate playing of the non base-axis object and to acquire the modified formed data set from the internal data memory means and supply the modified formed data set to the second display means, for thereby playing the non base-axis object in accordance with the user-mediated display condition.
According to a seventh aspect, with such a multimedia playing apparatus the scenario includes information relating to at least one external application program having functions which are not related to the playing of a hypermedia title, the apparatus further comprising external application program activation command input means operable by a user for generating an external application program activation input command, external application program activation means controllable for activating the execution of the external application program, and external application program data memory means, the overall control and synchronization processing means further comprising means functioning during execution of the initial processing operations to generate external application program control data which are necessary for activating the external application program and to store the external application program control data in the external application program data memory means,
the external application program activation means being responsive to generation of the external application program activation input command, during playing of the hypermedia title, for acquiring the external application program control data from the external application program data memory means and supplying the external application program control data to the external application program activation means, and the external application program activation means utilizing the external application program control data to activate the external application program.
According to an eighth aspect, with such a multimedia playing apparatus, the base-axis object subject matter data are cyclically acquired by the base-axis object display means from the subject matter data storage means as successive fixed-size data blocks having a first value of data block size, with a fixed cycle time, and the overall control and synchronization processing means acquires and supplies the non base-axis object subject matter data as successive fixed-size data blocks, with the cycle time, the blocks having a second value of size which is predetermined based on the cycle time and the first value of size, the apparatus further comprising
data block acquisition information memory means having stored therein the cycle time and the second data block size value,
object data acquisition time calculation means functioning during the initial processing to calculate, for each of the non base-axis objects, a duration of acqusition time required to acquire the subject matter data of the each non base-axis object from the subject matter data storage means, and
sequential data acquisition schedule management means for determining, based on the acquisition time durations, respective data acquisition starting time points for sequential acquisition of subject matter data of respective ones of the non base-axis objects to begin, with at least one of the data acquisition starting time points being determined such that at least a part of the subject matter data of a corresponding non base-axis object is specified to be acquired during the playing progression of the hypermedia title,
the overall control and synchronization processing means comprising means functioning during the initial processing to create, in correspondence with each of the data acquisition starting time points which is a positive value, an additional synchronization trigger data set which specifies as processing contents thereof that data acquisition for the corresponding non base-axis object is to commence at the data acquisition starting time point, and to store the additional synchronization trigger data sets in the internal memory means, to acquire from the subject matter data storage means respective subject matter data sets for each of the non base-axis objects corresponding to a data acquisition starting time point which is a negative value, and convert each of the subject matter data sets into a corresponding set of formed data which are in accordance with the playing conditions specified in the scenario, and to store the sets of formed data in the non base-axis object data memory means.
The acquisition of respective subject matter data sets for each of the non base-axis objects corresponding to a data acquisition starting time point which is a negative value may be executed by continuous data acquisition from the subject matter data storage means, or by cyclic acquisition of the subject matter data set from the subject matter data storage means, as sequential data blocks having the second fixed size, with the cycle time.
In addition, the sequential data acquisition schedule management means may comprise means functioning, for each of the non base-axis objects corresponding to a data acquisition starting time point which is a negative number, to divide the subject matter data set of the non base-axis object into an initial processing data acquisition portion and a playing progression data acquisition portion each comprising an integral number of the data blocks of the second size value, and, when the playing progression data acquisition portion has other than zero magnitude, to acquire from the subject matter data storage means the initial processing data acquisition portion and store the portion in the non base-axis object data memory means, and wherein the overall control and synchronization processing means comprises means for creating an additional synchronization trigger data set which specifies that acquisition of the playing progression data acquisition portion from the subject matter data storage means is to be commenced at the starting point of the playing progression, and for storing the additional synchronization trigger data set in the internal memory means.
Moreover it is possible to store in the data block acquisition information memory means a plurality of pairs of values, each pair being a combination of a cycle time value and second data block size value which have been predetermined in accordance with a specific value of bandwidth of a data communication path between the subject matter data storage means and the base-axis object display means. In that way, it becomes possible to permit selection of a cycle time/data block size combination which is appropriate for a particular data communication path.
It can be understood from the above that it is a basic feature of the present invention that, since the starting and termination time points of playing respective monomedia objects (other than the base-axis object) are defined in the scenario in terms of frame numbers of the base-axis object, the synchronization relationships between playing of these monomedia objects and the playing of the base-axis object (and between playing of respective monomedia objects) can be made independent of such factors as variations in playing speed of the base-axis object.
Although the present invention will be described in the following with respect to embodiments in which the non base-axis objects are assumed to be respective still pictures, it should be noted that it would be equally possible for some or all of these to be finite-time monomedia objects, i.e., video clips or audio clips. Whichever is the case, the specific processing time point at which playing of a particular object is to be started, and the time point at which that playing is to be terminated, are designated in respective sets of synchronization trigger data.

Multimedia playing apparatus utilizing synchronization of scenario-defined processing time points with playing of finite-time monomedia item

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention pertains to a method for controlling the foaming of a waterborne composition or an industrial process by the incorporation of a foam controlling agent. The method comprises utilizing as the foam controlling agent a compound of the formula:

The invention relates to the use of the alkane diols as foam controlling agents.
Foam control or elimination in many waterborne applications and industrial processes is critical for obtaining optimal performance in application and high process efficiency. The importance of foam control and elimination in applications such as waterborne coatings, inks, adhesives, and agricultural formulations and in industrial processes such as oil well pumping, petroleum gas scrubbing, cleansing and disinfecting, food processing, pulp and paper processing, fermentation, metal treatment, polymer and chemical synthesis, waste-water treatment and textile dying and finishing is well-appreciated in the art.
Foam controlling agents are widely used in polymer production and processing, as foam can lead to reduced production capacity, efficiency and equipment problems. In particular, severe foaming problems commonly result upon stripping unreacted monomers from the polymer product.
Undesirable foam can lead to inefficient mixing, poor productivity, reduced vessel capacity and equipment failure in many common industrial processes. For instance, foaming in refinery processes such as drilling, production, stimulation, distillation, extraction, gas and liquid scrubbing and other operations leads to a number of operating difficulties and significant economic consequences. In acid gas sweetening, gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are removed via scrubbing with an aqueous amine solution. Problematic foam can occur during both the scrubbing or regeneration steps in this process.
For applications such as coatings, the dynamic nature of spraying, rolling, or brushing the coating onto a substrate will introduce air into the system which can manifest itself as foam. This foam can cause coating failure due to factors such as low gloss or poor surface coverage. In cleaning applications, a small amount of controlled foam may be needed during cleaning, but too much foam can affect the perceived time to clean and rinse the soiled article. Defoamers and antifoams are additives that are used to reduce or eliminate problematic foam. The term xe2x80x9cantifoamxe2x80x9d refers to a long-acting additive that prevents foam formation. The term xe2x80x9cdefoamerxe2x80x9d refers to an additive that eliminates, or at least reduces, existing foam. The term xe2x80x9cfoam controlling agentxe2x80x9d, as used herein, refers to an additive that prevents and/or eliminates/reduces foam since many applications and processes require both foam prevention and foam elimination.
In many applications, it is desirable for foam controlling agents should impart positive ancillary surface properties, such as wetting, dispersion, emulsification, solubilization, flow and leveling, adhesion, and gloss. For example, defoamers and antifoams that act as wetting agents will greatly reduce surface defects in coatings, inks, adhesives and agricultural formulations. In addition, such multi-functional materials will allow for the reduction or elimination of wetting agents in a waterborne composition, thereby reducing the total amount of additives. The ability of a material to act as a wetting agent in waterborne formulations is determined by its ability to reduce the surface tension of water. Equilibrium surface tension performance is important when a system is at rest. However, the ability to reduce surface tension under dynamic conditions is of great importance in applications where high surface creation rates are utilized. Such applications include the spraying, rolling and brushing of coatings, adhesives or agricultural formulations, or high-speed gravure or ink-jet printing. Dynamic surface tension is a fundamental quantity which provides a measure of the ability of a substance to reduce surface tension and provide wetting under high-speed application conditions. Also, it is under such high speed application conditions where the entrainment of air and the creation of foam is a problem.
In order to achieve wetting, additives such as dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) are often employed. An adverse effect that often accompanies its use is a large amount of foam, which may cause a need for the use of a second additive as a defoamer to control that foam. Thus, the ability of a single agent to impart superior foam control and to strongly influence other performance attributes such as wetting, flow and leveling, corrosion inhibition, emulsification, adhesion, gloss, and/or dispersion is highly valued in application areas such as coatings, inks, adhesives, cleaning, semiconductor, dye, or pigment manufacture, metalworking and finishing, agricultural formulations, pulp and paper, oil and gas applications, chemical, emulsion, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage processing, wastewater treatment, and textile manufacturing and processing.
Alkane diols such as ethylene or propylene glycol are most commonly known as solvents in areas such as coatings, inks, and adhesives formulations. Although their addition to formulations is sometimes for the purpose of reducing solid levels, providing freeze-thaw benefits, or (at higher use levels) to enhance wetting, they have not been reported as multi-functional foam controlling agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,278 describes a process for the production of 1,4-saturated diols. J. Org. Chem., 1962, 27, 2398 further elaborates on the hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of symmetrically substituted 1,4-acetylenic glycols. Neither discusses the performance of these products.
2,4,7,9-tetramethyldecane-4,7-diol (HTMDD) has been reported in IandEC Product Research and Development, 1965, 4, 236 as a wetting agent, albeit one with inferior wetting properties relative to its acetylenic analogue, 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldecyne-4,7-diol (TMDD). Although foam control data is reported for various ethoxylated derivatives of HTMDD, no foam control information is reported for HTMDD itself.
GB 843,379 describes acetylenic diols and alkane diols as compatible solubilizers, which when used in conjunction with sulfonate surfactants, impart foam stability to a shampoo composition. Specifically disclosed are shampoo compositions containing 3,6-dimethyl-4-octyne-3,6-diol (DMOD or Surfynol(copyright) 82), 2,5-dimethyl-3-hexyne-2,5-diol (DMHD or DH), or 3,6-dimethyloctane-3,6-diol (HDMOD) in amounts from 6-50% by weight, with 8-20% by weight of a surfactant, and from 6-50% by weight of an alkylolamide of a fatty acid. These formulations are said to impart a large volume of foam of good stability. Since this combination of products is said to be effective in these performance attributes because of the combination of components contained within the formulation, the alkane diol, HDMOD, is actually adding to the foam, not controlling or reducing it.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,080 describes improved detergent compositions. An integral part of these compositions is a component which, in its broadest description, is 0.5-50% of a tertiary alcohol having at least 5 carbon atoms and less than 100 carbon atoms per molecule. Numerous tertiary alcohols are described with no mention of any performance differences among such examples as 1-methylcyclohexanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol (HDMHD).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,277 discloses C8-C12 diols that are included as components in a hard surface liquid cleaner with no mention of their foaming performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,110, U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,871, and WO Pat. 93/18431 discuss the use of alkane diols as safety solvents or as additives for liquid crystals. None of these disclosures mention their use as foam controlling agents or as wetting or flow and leveling agents for coating, ink, and adhesive applications.
The present invention pertains to a method for controlling the foaming of a waterborne composition or an industrial process by the incorporation of a foam controlling agent. The method comprises utilizing as the foam controlling agent a compound of the formula:
HOR1R3Cxe2x80x94[CH2]nxe2x80x94CR2R4OH
R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group of alkyl radicals having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. R3 and R4 are independently alkyl radicals having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms. n is an integer from 1 to 6. The compound generates an initial (t=0 min.) or a final (t=10 min.) foamed density at least 30% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution.
The present invention also pertains to an aqueous composition comprising a foam controlling agent, which composition manifests greater foaming in the absence of the foam controlling agent. The foam controlling agent is an alkane diol present in a foam controlling amount and having the formula:
HOR1R3Cxe2x80x94[CH2]nxe2x80x94CR2R4OH
R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group of alkyl radicals having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. R3 and R4 are independently alkyl radicals having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms. n is an integer from 1 to 6. The compound generates an initial (t=0 min.) or a final (t=10 min.) foamed density at least 30% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution.
This invention relates to the use of alkane diols as foam controlling agents. In many cases, these alkane diols provide other performance benefits such as enhanced wetting, gloss, adhesion, and/or leveling. The excellent defoaming and antifoaming properties of these foam controlling agents suggest that these materials are likely to find applicability in applications and processes in which the reduction, prevention or knock-down of foam are important. Such applications include protective and decorative coatings, inks, adhesives, agricultural formulations, oil well pumping, petroleum gas scrubbing, cleansing and disinfecting, food processing, pulp and paper processing, fermentation, metal treatment, polymer and chemical synthesis, waste-water treatment, and textile dyeing and finishing. In addition, these materials have the ability to also reduce the dynamic surface tension of waterborne compositions. Such a combination of performance attributes allow these materials to be used to control and eliminate foam with significantly less deleterious effects in application, making them extremely useful in coatings, inks and adhesives. Moreover, the wetting ability of these foam controlling agents will allow these materials to be utilized in polymer production and processing without the appearance of negative defects in downstream applications.
The ability of an additive to reduce foam is of great importance to the performance of water-based coatings, inks, fountain solutions, adhesives, metalworking fluids, agricultural formulations, and electronic chemicals. Lower foam in a system means that higher throughputs are possible in manufacturing and better performance of the formulation or product as it is used. Foam control agents that offer more than just one performance benefit are highly regarded and often considered of great economic benefit. Additionally, having such a product as a liquid which does not contribute a significant amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the total formulation is of benefit. The alkane diols described herein fulfill these performance benefits.
The alkane diols of this invention expand the range of multifunctional foam control agents to those which not only have defoaming and antifoaming performance, but which impart a unique combination of enhanced wetting, leveling, and gloss, low defects and other positive aesthetic properties. Additionally, the use of these surfactants is possible in a multitude of waterborne compositions including coatings, inks, adhesives, fountain solutions, agricultural formulations, metalworking fluids, and electronic chemicals.
The term xe2x80x9cwater-basedxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cwaterbornexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9caqueousxe2x80x9d, or xe2x80x9caqueous mediumxe2x80x9d, as used herein, means a solvent or liquid dispersing medium which comprises water, preferably at least 90 wt %, and most preferably at least 95 wt %, water. Obviously, an all water medium is also included.
In another embodiment of the invention, the foam controlling agents may be used as wetting agents to improve upon, among other attributes, the minimization of defects, leveling performance, gloss, and stain resistance.
There are significant advantages associated with the use of these alkane diols as multifunctional foam controlling agents in waterborne compositions such as coatings, inks, adhesives, fountain solutions, agricultural formulations, electronic chemicals formulations, and cleaning formulations, as well as processing aids for areas such as metalworking and finishing, oil and gas processing, pulp and paper processing, wastewater treatment, and dye, pigment, textile, emulsion, chemical, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. These benefits include, but are not limited to: foam controlling agents which have low odor and color; foam controlling agents which comprise 100% active ingredients, thus not requiring carrier solvents, fluids or other additives; foam controlling agents capable of reducing the dynamic surface tension of waterborne coatings, inks, adhesives, agricultural, and cleaning formulations such that even contaminated surfaces are highly wetted; the reduction of coating or printing defects which are normally associated with conventional foam controlling agents; an improvement in the wetting performance of a waterborne system or process operated at high speeds; waterborne coatings, inks, and adhesives which have low volatile organic content, rendering the formulation environmentally favorable.
As set out above, the present invention provides a method for controlling the foaming of a waterborne composition or an industrial process by the incorporation of a foam controlling agent. The method comprises utilizing as the foam controlling agent a compound of the formula:
HOR1R3Cxe2x80x94[CH2]nxe2x80x94CR2R4OH
R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group of alkyl radicals having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 4 to 5 carbon atoms.
R3 and R4 are independently alkyl radicals having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, preferably R3 and R4 are methyl radicals.
n is an integer ranging from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, more preferably from 1 to 3, and most preferably 2.
In a preferred embodiment, R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group of alkyl radicals having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 are methyl, and n is 2. In another preferred embodiment, the compound is 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldecane-4,7-diol. In yet another preferred embodiment, the compound is 2,5,8,11-tetramethyldodecane-5,8-diol.
The foam controlling agent generates an initial (t=0 min.) or a final (t=10 min.) foamed density at least 30% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution. Preferably, the compound generates an initial or a final foamed density at least 40% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution, and most preferably at least 50% greater. Preferably, the foam controlling agent generates an initial (t=0 min.) and a final (t=10 min.) foamed density at least 30% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution. Preferably, the compound generates an initial and a final foamed density at least 40% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution, and most preferably at least 50% greater. The primary alcohol ethoxylate (PAE) test employed here, also known as the Blender Foam Test, is described in Am. Soc. For Testing Materials, Method D3519-88, Philadelphia, Pa., 1953, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. The primary alcohol ethoxylate employed in this test is Neodol(trademark) 25-12, a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12).
The alkane diols are suitable for use in an aqueous composition comprising in water an inorganic compound which is a mineral ore or a pigment or an organic compound which is a pigment, a polymerizable monomer, an emulsion which is an aqueous suspension of the addition or condensation polymers of a vinyl monomer, an oligomeric resin, a polymeric resin, a detergent, a caustic cleaning agent, an herbicide, a fungicide, an insecticide, or a plant growth modifying agent.
Foam control may be measured through various test methods, all of which involve agitation or movement of a liquid so as to entrain air into the system, with the subsequent breaking of that entrained air which usually manifests itself on the surface or in the liquid as foam. A measure of the antifoaming ability of an agent is recorded as the initial foamed height, volume, or density of the system. The defoaming ability of an agent is shown by the time required to break the foam either partially or completely. Although a standard test for measuring the foam performance of a defoamer by itself (Example 6) is the Ross-Miles foam test (Am. Soc. For Testing Materials, Method D1173-53, Philadelphia, Pa., 1953), variations of the Blender Foam Test described in Am. Soc. For Testing Materials, Method D3519-88, Philadelphia, Pa., 1953, are more commonly used in systems with more than one component, as described in Examples 1-5 and 7, and is incorporated herein for reference. Since the application areas referred to in examples 1-5 and 7 have different foam control needs, the method of agitation in our studies are varied (Red Devil Shaker for example 2, Dispermat for examples 3 and 4, and Waring Blender for examples 1-5 and 7), but the comparisons for examples 1-5 and 7 are all made in terms of the weight of the sample divided by the volume of the foam and liquid, hereafter referred to as the xe2x80x9cfoamed densityxe2x80x9d. Although the Blender Foam Test method calls for a final measurement at 5 minutes, we have measured the foamed density at time intervals which are significant for each application area. The significance of foam control may vary from one application area to another, but an important component of this invention is that regardless of the type of agitation, the alkane diol agents of interest are effective foam controlling agents in multicomponent systems.
Another benefit that a multifunctional foam controlling agent may have begins with, but is not limited to, wetting. The Maximum Bubble Pressure method of measuring dynamic surface tension is described in Langmuir, 1986, 2, 428-432 and is incorporated herein for reference. The surface tension reduction necessary for a given system is highly dependent upon the surfaces which need to be covered or wetted in that application.
The amount of alkane diol that is effective to reduce or eliminate the foam of a water-based, organic compound containing composition may range from 0.001 to 20 wt %, preferably from 0.001 to 10 wt %, and most preferably from 0.001 to 5 wt %, based on total weight of the formulation. The most favorable amount will vary from one application to another, depending upon the foam contributing species in that system.
A typical water-based decorative or protective coating formulation to which foam controlling agents of the invention may be added would comprise the following components in an aqueous medium at 30-80% solids:
A typical water-based ink composition to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components in an aqueous medium at 20 to 60% solids:
A typical water-based agricultural composition to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components in an aqueous medium at 0.2 to 80% solids:
A typical fountain solution composition for planographic printing to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components:
A typical metalworking fluid to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components:
A typical hard surface cleaner to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components:
A typical water-based photoresist developer or electronic cleaning composition to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components:
A typical pressure overprint varnish to which the foam controlling agent of the invention may be added would comprise the following components:

Abstract: R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group of alkyl radicals having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. R3 and R4 are independently alkyl radicals having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms. n is an integer from 1 to 6. The compound generates an initial (t=0 min.) or a final (t=10 min.) foamed density at least 30% greater than that of a 0.5 wt % aqueous solution of a 12 mole ethoxylate of a C12-C15 primary alcohol (C12-C15E12) when added at 0.2 wt % to the C12-C15E12 solution. The present invention also pertains to an aqueous composition comprising the foam controlling agent.


A microbolometer film material VOx having a value such that the thermal coefficient of resistance is between 0.005 and 0.05. The film material may be formed on a wafer. The VOx material properties can be changed or modified by controlling certain parameters in the ion beat sputter deposition environment. There is sufficient control of the oxidation process to permit non-stoichometric formation of VOx films. The process is a low temperature process (less than 100 degrees C.). Argon is used for sputtering a target of vanadium in an environment wherein the oxygen level is controlled to determine the x of VOx. The thickness of the film is controlled by the time of the deposition. Other layers may be deposited as needed to form pixels for a bolometer array.

The present invention pertains to microbolometer sensors and particularly to detector material for microbolometers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a particular detector material which is fabrication from a special ion beam sputter deposition process. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the present invention.
A major factor in the sensitivity of a bolometer is the TCR (thermal coefficient of resistance) of the detector material. The overall NETD sensitivity of the bolometer also depends on the noise level. Previous bolometer materials are typically high TCR metals with a TCR in the range from 0.003 to 0.004. These materials have low noise but also have low TCR. Since the metals are reflectors, they also degrade the absorbance properties of the detector. Materials which undergo a phase transitions (i.e., Mott transition) can have a very high TCR""s in the transition region but can suffer from a number of problems. First, the latent heat accompanying the phase change for these materials may significantly decrease the sensitivity of the detector. Second, most switching material can be produced in only one form without additional doping, which defines the material resistance and TCR. Further, the temperature range over which the transition occurs is typically very small requiring tight temperature control of the operation. Finally, the films must be produced in crystalline form which requires high temperature depositions.
The present invention is peculiar vanadium oxide (VOx/ABx) (i.e., VOx/ABx) detector material and process that is used to make that material. The x of VOx is a value fitting for the pixel being sputter deposited by the present process and is not necessarily a specific digit such as xe2x80x9c2xe2x80x9d, but may be between 1 and 2.5. That material is deposited as part of a pixel for a high performance microbolometer. The material is deposited by an ion beam sputtering with control of the deposition process leading to a flexible detector process for microbolometer detectors. These detector materials have optical, electrical, and thermal properties compatible with high performance detectors but which can be readily modified to suit individual requirements of an array design.

Flexible high performance microbolometer detector material fabricated via controlled ion beam sputter deposition process


The present invention relates to a dermatological and/or cosmetic composition comprising a furfuryl derivative of formula (I), and its use in the treatment of dermatological disorders especially when caused by free radicals.

Specialists currently consider that a common cause of skin impairments, accelerated cellular aging and several dermatosis is the reduced defense and/or the overesponse to free radicals and subsequent oxidation phenomena.
Unfortunately the prevalence of dermatological disorders is increasing due to several environmental factors, possibly related to the oxidative stress, as described by Hallywell B in "Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pathology with special reference to the skin" (Oxidative Stress in Dermatology—eds. Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, 3-11, 1993). Oxidative stress on skin may be prevented in different ways, as pointed out by Sies H in "Strategies of antioxidant defense" (Eur J. Biochem. 215: 213-219, 1993).
Exemplary, the atopic dermatitis (AT) is often the result of inherited sensitivities to an unknown allergen, most likely ROS, thereby manifested as redness, itching and oozing lesions that eventually scab over. This common inflammatory condition is spread out in young children and infants, more rarely appearing into adolescence and adulthood whilst, in some cases, the first symptoms show up later in life.
Singlet Oxygen (1O2) is an uncharged, low reactive ROS, whose characteristics allows its penetration and diffusion in the deep dermal layer and into cytoplasmatic fluids, where it may produce allergy and inflammation.
Beside accelerating skin-ageing, 1O2 may produce dermatological disorders such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic and inflammatory dermatitis, acne, rosacea and porphyria, erythemas, and so on.
The formation of 1O2 is prompted by UV radiation and further promoted by p-amino benzoic acid (PABA) and others common UV-absorbers.
An efficient 1O2 trap is furfuryl alcohol, a natural by-product quickly reacting with 1O2 at room temperature by Diels-Alder cycloaddition, for example in tests carried out in an irradiated aqueous solutions PABA or photosensitizers and saturated with 02 (Allen J et al., in Chem. Res. Toxicol., 9, 3:605-609, 1996 and J Photochem Photobiol B, 32:1-2:33-7, 1996; Kimel S et al., J Photochem Photobiol, 50. 2:175-83, 1989).
While furfuryl alcohol is an unstable chemical used in polymer manufacturing and in organic synthesis, some stable furfuryl alcohol derivatives occur as vegetal metabolites.
Simple furfuryl esters, such as furfuryl acetate, amylate and caprylate occur in trace amount in essential oil, being applied by the aroma industry for the manufacturing of flavor and fragrance compositions.
A furfuryl glicoside, namely furfuryl-I-beta-glucose, is the activator of (1-3)-beta-glucan synthase in higher plants, as found out by Callaghan, T. in Plant Physiol. 86, 1099-1103 (1988) and Ohana P. in J. Biol. Chem., 266(21):13742-5 (1991).
A furfuryl nucleotide, namely kinetine (alias N6-furfuryladenine, furfuryladenine, or 6-furfuryl aminopurine), is a vegetal citokine with growth regulation role in plant cells, which has been applied as anti-iperproliferative and skin anti-ageing, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,394 (Senetek, USA).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,13,594 discloses the topical use of 2,4-monofurfurylidene-sorbitol (furalglycitol), a synthetic furfural dichetal applied in cosmetic composition (Liktena™, UCB Corp.) with some results in the treatment of skin irritations.
However, furaglycitol tends to hydrolyze into sorbitol and furfural (furfurylaldehyde), which is at least twice as toxic as the furfuryl alcohol (Nomeir A A, Silveira D M, McComish M F, Chadwick M., Drug Metab Dispos 20(2):198-204, 1992). Hence, furalgycitol may not be recommended for chronic, repeated topical treatments.
Therefore, topical compositions comprising furfuryl derivatives capable of ameliorate the pro-inflammatory skin conditions on subjects over-responding to neutral ROS, which are furthermore easily applicable onto skin and displaying good tolerability and low toxicity, are still desired.

Dermatological and cosmetic compositions


The present invention provides compositions or vaccines that contain a recombinant EHV-1 that elicit an immune response in animals against equine herpesvirus, including compositions comprising the recombinant EHV-1, methods of vaccination against equine herpesvirus, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.

Equine Herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is one of the most important and prevalent pathogens of equine populations worldwide (Ma et al., J. of General Virology 91, 1817-1822, 2010). Together with its close relatives varicella-zoster virus, bovine Herpesvirus type 1, pseudorabies virus and EHV-4, EHV-1 forms the genus Varicellovirus in the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae of the family Herpesviridae of the order Herpesvirales (Davison et al., The order Herpesvirales. Arch Virol 154, 171-177, 2009). Diseases caused by EHV-1 range from mild rhinopneumonitis and abortion in pregnant mares to neurological disease that is frequently lethal in affected horses (Allen et al., Prog Vet Microbiol Immunol 2, 78-144, 1986; Carroll et al., Aust Vet J 62, 345-346, 1985; Crabb et al., Adv Virus Res 45, 153-190, 1995). The pathogenesis of EHV infection is very complex. Natural infection occurs through inhalation or ingestion of the infectious virus. Within a few days of the virus can be found in leucocytes, where it is protected from recognition and attacks by the immune system. The virus disseminates via cell-associated viremia to secondary sites of replication (Allen et al., Proceedings 8th Equine Infectious Disease Conference, Dubai 23-26, pp 129-146, 1998).
EHV-1 harbors a 150 kb double-stranded DNA genome that is highly conserved among strains. A neuropathogenic strain Ab4 (GenBank accession No. AY665713) and a nonneuropathogenic strain V592 (GenBank accession No. AY464052) were extensively characterized and showed a nucleotide variation rate of approximately 0.1% (Nugent et al., J. Virol 80, 4047-4060, 2006). It was found that only a minority of EHV-1 strains are capable of inducing neurological disorders, although all strains can cause respiratory disease and abortion (Mumford et al., J. Reprod Fertil Suppl 35, 509-518, 1987; Ostlund, Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 9, 283-294, 1993; Wilson, Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 13, 53-72, 1997). Recently, epidemiological as well as reverse-genetic studies have shown that a single-nucleotide polymorphism at position 2254 (G/A2254) of open reading frame 30 (ORF30), encoding viral DNA polymerase (Pol), will lead to a variation at the amino acid position 752 (D/N752), which is associated with the virus's neuropathogenic potential (Goodman et al., J Biol Chem 281, 18193-18200, 2007; Van de Walle et al., J. Infect Dis 200, 20-25, 2009; Smith et al., Vet. Microbiol., 141, 5-11, 2010). It has been shown that residue 752 in the essential Pol of EHV-1 is not required for virus growth and that the N752 mutation confers a drug-sensitive phenotype to the virus (Ma et al., 2010).
Glycoprotein C (gC) of EHV-1 was shown to play important role in the early steps of infection and in release of virions (Osterrieder, Virus Research 2, 165, 1999). Glycoprotein C of EHV-1 is non-essential for virus growth. It mediates primary attachment, and is required for efficient virus replication in primary equine cells (Osterrieder, 1999).
Conventional killed vaccines provide only partial clinical and virological protection against respiratory infections, but do not prevent cell-associated viremia. Considering the susceptibility of animals, including humans, to herpesvirus, a means of preventing herpesvirus infection and protecting animals is essential. Accordingly, there is a need for an effective vaccine against herpesvirus.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Recombinant equine herpesvirus-1 vaccine containing mutated glycoprotein C and uses thereof


The exsanguination tourniquet includes a constricting member and at least one sleeve removably coupled to the constricting member. The system includes the exsanguination tourniquet and an applicator device. The method of assembling includes obtaining a constricting member, obtaining at least one sleeve, and wrapping the at least one sleeve around the constricting member.

Creation of a blood free surgical field during orthopedic, vascular and plastic surgery has been the standard of care for over 100 years. The initial device was described by Friederich August von Esmarch in 1873 and is still being used today as the Esmarch bandage. In 1908, Dr. Harvey Cushing first described the use of a pneumatic tourniquet to occlude the blood flow into the scalp during brain surgery. Combination of an Esmarch bandage for squeezing the blood away from a limb (exsanguination) and a pneumatic tourniquet to occlude arterial blood flow is currently used in over 90% of limb operations. The use of a pneumatic tourniquet to occlude the arterial blood flow into a limb is associated with a number of side effects and adverse reactions. The side effects and adverse reactions may include tourniquet paralysis, which is transient or permanent nerve damage caused by the mechanical affect of the wide tourniquet cuff on the nerve. (Ochoa at el. Anatomical changes in peripheral nerves compressed by a pneumatic tourniquet. J Anat. 1972; 113(Pt 3):433-55.) In addition, side effects and adverse reactions may include skin lesions, which are skin abrasions or liquid blisters at the site of tourniquet placements (tourniquet burn) and tourniquet pain, which is tenderness at the site where the tourniquet was placed, that may last for days or even weeks.
More recently devices combining the exsanguination effect of the Esmarch and the blood flow blocking of a tourniquet are being used. This new class of devices is called exsanguination tourniquets. This new technology not only acts as a tourniquet, but is also capable of shifting blood from one part of the limb to another or to the central circulation. Exsanguination tourniquets are described in details in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,848,324 and 7,854,748 which are included herewith as reference. An important aspect of an exsanguination tourniquet is the need to maintain the pressure applied to the limb in a safe range to avoid crush injuries to the tissues beneath it at any point along the limb. At the same time, it is also critical that the pressure applied by the exsanguination tourniquet is sufficient in order to block the arterial blood flow into the limb.

Method and system for optimization of an exsanguination tourniquet


In a feeding course, a first design side end position Xsn of a paper is calculated. A first side end position of the paper is detected by a paper width detector, and the detected position is set to a first side end position Xd1. When the paper is fed from an additional cassette and a paper end detection flag F1=1, an ejection starting position adjustment amount ΔX=Xd1−Xsn is set. However, when the deviation amount is not |Xd1−Xsn|≦L, the ejection starting position adjustment amount ΔX is limited to a limit value L.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus on which a feeding device is detachably mounted for feeding a recording medium on a recording apparatus main body, particularly, a recording apparatus that includes a function of adjusting a limit position of a recording range of a recording unit in a width direction intersecting with a transport direction of a recording medium, and a recording method in the recording apparatus.
2. Related Art
For example, in an ink jet type serial printer, a carriage capable of being moved in a main scanning direction is included, and a paper is printed by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles of a recording head provided below the carriage while causing the carriage to reciprocate in the main scanning direction.
In the related art, an image forming device is known which includes a plurality of paper feeding portions such as a paper feeding tray accommodating a plurality of sheets of paper, or an input tray for feeding a paper other than one having the size to be accommodated in the paper feeding tray or a special paper.
For example, in JP-A-2006-36429, the size of the paper transported from a plurality of paper feeding portions such as the paper feeding tray or the input tray is detected by a size detection unit (for example, an ultraviolet sensor) provided in the carriage. The size detection unit detects the size of the recording paper on a transport path through which the recording papers transported from the respective paper feeding portions commonly pass. Furthermore, the detection result of the paper size is memorized in a memory portion in association with each paper feeding portion. For this reason, since there is no need to detect the paper size whenever the papers are transported even if the size detection units are not provided by a number of the paper feeding portion, the image forming speed does not drop. Furthermore, there is also a configuration in which, in at least one of the plurality of paper feeding portions, in order to add a paper feeding cassette to a printer, the paper feeding device is mounted on the printer main body in a detachable manner.
In this kind of serial printer, as a standard position that is based in determining a recording starting position (an ejection starting position) in the main scanning direction of the carriage upon performing the printing, a design (theoretical) side end position of the paper or a position of a predetermined distance of the design side end position is the standard position. Moreover, a position separated from the standard position by a predetermined amount, which is defined from a print setting condition concerning a layout or the like such as a margin amount of a width direction (the main scanning direction) of the paper or the presence or absence of borderless printing, is obtained as the recording starting position. In addition, the recording starting position refers to the outermost position of the main scanning direction in which the starting of the ejection of the ink droplet from the recording head is permitted, but not necessarily refers to an actual ink ejection starting position. This is because the actual ink ejection starting position depends on the print data, in the case of the pixel other than a white pixel, ink is ejected, but, ink is not ejected in the white pixel. For example, when the print data is a solid printing, the recording starting position coincides with the actual recording starting position.
However, when the additional paper feeding device is mounted, an actual side end position of the paper deviates by the irregularity of the mounting positions. When the actual side end position of the paper deviates from the design (theoretical) side end position of the paper, even if the recording starting position is calculated based on the standard position such as the design side end position, a mounting deviation amount is not considered in the calculation value. For this reason, a printing target such as a document or an image is printed in a recording range that deviates in the width direction of the paper against the print setting such as the margin amount. For this reason, in the case of printing the paper that is fed from the additional paper feeding device, there was a problem in that the margin amount of the print setting is not ensured, or a minute margin is generated at an edge during borderless printing.

Recording apparatus and recording method in recording apparatus


Controlling the provision of a warning to a user in a virtual environment of a virtual reality (VR) system are presented as embodiments of a method, system, and computer program product. One example comprises identifying one or more elements within a user's virtual environment. Each element is associated with a descriptor that describes an expected user behavior associated with the element. Based on the descriptor of each of the one or more identified elements, the method then comprises controlling the provision of a warning to the user.

The present invention relates generally to the provision of a virtual environment, and more particularly to controlling the provision of a warning to a user in a virtual environment of a virtual reality (VR) system.
The present invention also relates to a computer program product comprising computer-readable program code that enables a processor of a system, or a number of processors of a network, to implement such a method.
The present invention further relates to a computer system comprising at least one processor and such a computer program product, wherein the at least one processor is adapted to execute the computer-readable program code of said computer program product.
The present invention also relates to a system for controlling the provision of a warning to a user in a virtual environment of a VR system.
A VR system provides the means to immerse a user in artificial (i.e. virtual) environments. Traditional VR systems typically use virtual reality headsets to generate realistic images, sounds and other sensations that simulate a user's physical presence in a virtual environment. A person using VR equipment is typically able to look around the artificial world, move around in it, and interact with virtual features or objects provided in the. Virtual reality typically incorporates auditory and video feedback, but may also allow other types of sensory and force feedback through haptic technology.
The effect is commonly created by VR headsets consisting of a head-mounted display with a small screen in front of the eyes. As a result, when using the VR headset, the user is visually shut-off from their physical surroundings. Further, an audio headset (external/internal to the VR headset) may also be used by the user to incorporate auditory feedback in the VR experience. The user may consequently also be aurally shut-off from their physical surroundings. The lack of awareness of the physical surroundings of the user when using the VR system therefore introduces a risk of the user experiencing potential collisions in the user's physical environment (i.e. with objects, walls, and people). This further introduces a risk of injury to the user and/or damage to the VR system and physical surroundings. Some traditional VR systems enable the user to define a safe boundary within the user's physical surroundings, i.e. an area in the user's physical space where they can interact without the risk of physical collision. The safe boundary is typically hidden from the user when experiencing the VR environment in a VR application, until the user approaches the edge of the defined bounds, and a virtual barrier fades into view. In this way, the user is alerted to the close proximity of the physical objects. The decision of when to display the bounds is based on the position of the tracked apparatus of the VR system, i.e. controllers and headset.
An issue with this approach to the provision of warning is that, if the user moves suddenly or performs a sudden action that results in passing through the defined safe boundary, the system may not have enough time to provide a warning to the user before the action is completed. For example, the user may perform a high-velocity action, e.g. hitting a virtual entity, throwing a virtual object, or quickly turning around. This action may bring the user towards the edge of and beyond the defined safe boundary. This may not leave the user with enough time to acknowledge and/or physically react to the warning, resulting in a potential collision with the physical surroundings outside the defined safe boundary.

Controlling the provision of a warning in a virtual environment using a virtual reality system

International Business Machines Corporation


An electric connector includes a base, a plurality of conductive terminals, an upper casing and a driving member for fixing and electrically connecting an electronic device on both ends of the base. The base includes a plurality of terminal containing holes for receiving a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal contacted said first conductive terminal. The first conductive terminal is protruded out of the containing hole for pressing and contacting the electronic device. The second conductive terminal has a solder for electrically connecting a circuit board. therefore, the conductive terminals can installed easily, and the electronic device can be electrically connected to the circuit board in a better manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric connector, and more particularly to an electric connector used for pressing and contacting a chip module.
2. Description of Related Art
Some of the present electronic products (such as computers) come with an LGA chip module, and the conductive terminals of this kind of chip modules is in the shape of a gasket, and the connector for connecting the chip module includes a terminal to be pressed and contacted by the conductive terminals. Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16 for the prior art electric connector, the connector includes an insulating body 100 and a conductive terminal 200. The insulating body 100 includes a terminal containing groove 300 for containing the conductive terminal 200. The conductive terminal 200 is integrally formed and includes a fixing section 400 for being fixed to the body 100. The fixing section 400 includes a soldering part 500 extended downward and soldered with a circuit board, and a contact section 600 extended upward to be abutted against the chip module. Although the conductive terminal has a higher conductivity, its installation is more complicated, and the terminal may be fatigued easily to produce permanent deformations which will affect the electric connection between the chip module and the circuit board. Therefore, it is necessary to design a novel electric connector to overcome the foregoing shortcomings.
In view of the foregoing shortcomings, the inventor based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches, and finally invented a design of the present invention to feasibly and effectively improve the foregoing shortcomings.


A method for localizing a short circuit between a conductor and an electrically conductive shield of a high-voltage cable comprises providing at least two measuring apparatuses arranged at the high-voltage cable at a known distance from one another and having timers, synchronized with one another, and a measuring device for detecting an electric current flowing in the shield and/or an earthing line connecting the shield and earth. The measuring apparatus transmits pairs of current measurement values and associated values of the timer to an analysis unit, which, upon the occurrence of a current exceeding a threshold value and/or of a current profile over time that satisfies specific stipulations, feeds to a calculation unit the associated values of the timers and also an indication about the location of the measurement, for which first effects of the short circuit occurred. The calculation unit calculates the location of a short circuit from the known distance between the measuring apparatuses and a difference between the values of the synchronized timers.

High-voltage power cables are generally used for the transmission of electrical energy where overhead lines or gas-insulated transmission lines cannot be used. They are preferably used in long lengths for submarine power cables and high-voltage direct current transmission links. High-voltage power cables comprise a live electrical conductor, which carries the current and which is surrounded by an electrical insulation. The electrical insulation is in turn surrounded by an electrically conductive shield, which is connected to earth singly or multiply usually at both ends and optionally along the link. The electrically conductive shield can be a metallic shield, for example, which can moreover additionally afford mechanical protection of the insulation.
High-voltage power cables can be transported in one piece only to a specific maximum length, which is determined inter alia by the weight and the diameter of a cable drum or cable reel that takes up the cable. Maximum weight and diameter are dependent on the available means of transport and the transport paths to be used. In order to lay power cables over relatively great distances, it is therefore necessary for a plurality of power cables to be conductively connected to one another. This is done using special connection kits that connect together the conductors and the electrically conductive shields of two cable segments of a transmission link for electrical energy. In order to prevent relatively high voltages from arising on the electrically conductive shield during operation, it is possible for the shields not only to be connected to one another, but also to be connected to earth, at the respective connection points.
The electrical insulation between the electrical conductor and the electrically conductive shield can fail for a variety of reasons, for instance in the case of an excessively high voltage, as a result of external mechanical damage or as a result of so-called "electrical treeing". Electrical treeing describes damage to the insulation on account of partial discharges, said damage preceding a breakdown of a solid insulating layer and progressing slowly through the insulating layer and in the process forming paths that resemble the branches of a tree. Electrical treeing occurs preferentially at points of an insulation which have impurities or bubbles in the insulating material or which have been or are subjected to mechanical loads.
Failure of the electrical insulation is manifested as a more or less low-resistance short circuit between the electrical conductor and the electrically conductive shield. Since the shield is connected to earth with comparatively low resistance at the ends of the transmission link, a current flows from the conductor via the short circuit to the shield and via the shield to earth. In this case, the current flows from the location of the short circuit to the two earthed ends of the shield, the current on each side of the short circuit being dependent on the impedance of the cable link.
The point in time of the failure of the electrical insulation and primarily the location of the failure cannot be predicted with certainty. Although there are methods for checking the state of the cable link, e.g. measuring the loss factor or the partial discharges, they usually require deactivation of the cable link, that is to say that the cable link cannot transmit energy during the time of the check. Moreover, very accurate localization of incipient or advanced damage to the insulation is not possible even with the known methods.
If a breakdown of the insulation has occurred, the defective point of the cable must be repaired or replaced. For this purpose, it is necessary to know where the exact location of the fault is situated, i.e. at what distance from an end of the cable or in which segment of a cable, because the cables are generally buried in the ground, and excavating the cable over its entire length is ruled out if only for cost reasons.
Taking this as a departure point, the present invention has the object of providing a method for localizing short circuits between the conductor and the shield or breakdowns in the insulation of high-voltage cables, which method localizes the fault during fault development in operation and affords a high accuracy. A further object of the invention is to provide a method that improves the accuracy of offline fault locating methods, wherein extraneous voltages for fault locating are fed in after the occurrence of the fault and after the cable link has been disconnected from the electrical grid.

Method and system for localizing a short circuit between a conductor and an electrically conductive shield surrounding said conductor


The present disclosure relates to tie components that allow for the length of an overall tie assembly to be adjustable, after being anchored in place. Such tie components may exhibit a swiveling capability where a portion thereof may rotate with respect to a corresponding adjustment member, resulting in movement of the tie component and adjustment member back and forth relative to one another, as desired. One or more tie components of a tie assembly may be anchored (e.g., to a wall), yet the overall length, or tension, of the tie assembly may be adjusted. A tie component may include a first portion having an anchor end that may be fixed to a wall, and a swivel end located opposite thereof. The tie component may also include a second portion having an adjustment end that may engage with an appropriate adjustment member, and a swivel end located opposite thereof. The respective swivel ends of the first and second portions of the tie component may be rotatably coupled.

1. Field
Aspects described herein relate generally to tie components, assemblies and methods of installation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Concrete is a composition used to form walls, floors, roofs and other structural materials. Concrete includes a coarse granular material embedded in a hard matrix of material, such as cement or binder. The cement or binder fills space that may otherwise exist between aggregate particles, and adheres them together.
In forming a concrete wall, tie assemblies, or tie rod assemblies, for concrete forms are often used to hold spaced apart sections of wall panels in place when the concrete is poured between the wall panels. Such tie assemblies have components that are latched to, or embedded in, the wall, and may exhibit relatively high tensile strength (e.g., at least 2800 lbs). Such tensile strength may be sufficient to resist large hydrostatic stresses that may arise from the poured concrete.
Some tie components include an anchoring section and an adjustment section. The anchoring section is generally configured to be fixed to or otherwise coupled with a wall panel. The adjustment section typically includes a threaded coil that permits a threaded adjustment rod to be manipulated (e.g., screwed) back and forth along the coil. Another tie component, having respective anchoring and adjustment sections, may be coupled or fixed to an opposing wall panel. Accordingly, a tie assembly may include one tie component anchored to one wall and another tie component anchored to an opposing wall. The threaded rod is engaged with respective threaded coils of each of the tie components. In some cases, the threaded rod is attached to one of the tie components (e.g., formed as a single monolithic component).

Adjustable tie rod assembly employing a free swiveling capability


A vehicle control system for controlling at least one subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising: a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the at least one vehicle subsystems in one of a plurality of baseline subsystem control modes by setting at least one control parameter of the or each of the at least one subsystems to a predetermined, stored, value or state applicable to that baseline subsystem control mode, each baseline subsystem control mode corresponding to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle; and input means for permitting a user to provide an input to the control system, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of baseline subsystem control modes, the control system is configured to allow a user to define, via the input means, a user-configured subsystem control mode based on one said at least one baseline subsystem control mode by adjusting the value or state of at least one of said at least one control parameters to a value or state other than the predetermined stored value or state applicable to that baseline control mode, the subsystem being configured to cause the subsystem controller to initiate control of the or each of the at least one vehicle subsystems in the user-configured subsystem control mode.

It is known to provide a control system for a motor vehicle for controlling one or more vehicle subsystems. U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,776 discloses a vehicle control system comprising a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controller and a suspension controller. The subsystem controllers are each operable in a plurality of subsystem function or configuration modes.
The subsystem controllers are connected to a vehicle mode controller which controls the subsystem controllers to assume a required function mode so as to provide a number of driving modes for the vehicle. Each of the driving modes corresponds to a particular driving condition or set of driving conditions, and in each mode each of the sub-systems is set to the function mode most appropriate to those conditions. Such conditions are linked to types of terrain over which the vehicle may be driven such as grass/gravel/snow, mud and ruts, rock crawl, sand and a highway mode known as 'special programs off' (SPO). The vehicle mode controller may be referred to as a Terrain Response (TR)® System or controller. The driving modes may also be referred to as terrain modes, terrain response modes, or control modes.
As noted above, for each of the driving modes each of the sub-systems is set to the function mode most appropriate to those conditions. The present applicant has recognised that the particular configuration of a subsystem in a given driving mode may not be optimum for the actual prevailing conditions, or a driver may have a particular preference for the manner in which one or more of the subsystems are configured in a given driving mode other than the default configuration corresponding to the driving mode. By way of example, it is to be understood that the Sand driving mode may not provide optimum vehicle performance when driving on wet or damp sand, compared with dry sand.
It is against this background that the present invention has been conceived. Embodiments of the invention may provide an apparatus, a method or a vehicle which addresses the above problems. Other aims and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description, claims and drawings.


A method of manufacturing a mask for depositing a thin film is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes i) providing a raw material substrate for a deposition mask; ii) removing a portion of the raw material substrate to form a pattern, wherein a plurality of openings are defined in the pattern; and iii) irradiating at least a laser beam onto the openings of the pattern at an inclination angle with respect to the raw material substrate such that inclined portions are formed at the side surfaces of each of the openings of the pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed technology generally relates to a method of manufacturing a mask for depositing a thin film, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a mask for depositing a thin film in which a mask pattern includes inclined portions having sharp edges, and thus a shadow effect does not occur.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Flat panel displays, such as liquid crystal displays or electroluminescent displays, are lightweight and thin, and thus research on flat panel displays with high display quality and large screen sizes has been actively conducted. In particular, electroluminescent displays have wide viewing angles, high contrast, and a short response time, and thus they have drawn attention as a next generation display.
In general, electroluminescent displays, which are self-emissive, include an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and an emissive layer disposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and display images by emitting light from the emissive layer in response to voltages applied to the upper and lower electrodes.

Method of manufacturing mask for depositing thin film


A fuel interrupt/pressure release valve arrangement includes a casing mounted at an upper portion of an interior space of a fuel tank. The casing has openings for communicating the interior of the casing with an atmosphere the interior of the fuel tank. A valve housing is formed in the casing having a discharge opening at an upper end. The opening is closed by a stopper biased in a valve closing direction by a spring. A float is provided in the casing having an indentation for loosely receiving the valve housing and a through hole is formed through the float at an apex of the indentation corresponding to the position of the discharge opening of the valve housing. A protrusion formed on the float in the vicinity of the through hole so as to project in an opening direction of the valve so as to be normally in touching contact with the stopper. The buoyancy of the float is determined as to be urged in a valve closing direction by the presence of liquid state fuel in the casing and to be urged in a valve opening direction proportionally according to presence of fluid pressure of evaporated fuel in the casing. The buoyancy determined for the presence of liquid state fuel is less than the spring force of the spring by a predetermined degree.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fuel interrupt arrangement for an automotive fuel tank. Particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel interrupt/pressure release valve arrangement for a fuel tank which can prevent overflow, or spillage of fuel to the outside of a fuel tank when a vehicle operates or parks on inclines, hill, steep angles etc., or when a vehicle is in a roll-over condition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A fuel interrupt arrangement is well known which is provided for preventing spillage of fuel when a vehicle operates on inclines, or turns etc. In such a fuel interrupt arrangement, a float is provided for blocking an outlet from a fuel tank, which outlet is normally connected to an evaporation tube and a canister. In such arrangement, when a vehicle turns or operates on a hill, etc., the float is buoyed upward. An upper surface of the float is provided with means for blocking the fuel tank outlet thus preventing spillage of fuel.
However, in such arrangements, if a pressure within a fuel tank is substantially high, separation between the upper surface of the float and the outlet may be prevented, causing the valve to become stuck. To prevent this, the float must be made substantially large and heavy, increasing vehicle weight and taking up space in the fuel tank.
To prevent sticking, a fuel interrupt arrangement for preventing spillage of fuel outside of a vehicle fuel tank has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model First Publication (unexamined) No. 62-75278. In the above mentioned application, a casing of the fuel interrupt arrangement is provided with a release valve thereon. Thus according to this structure, when the float closes the outlet and pressure within the fuel tank is substantially high, the release valve opens to release pressure within the tank to prevent sticking of the valve. In this arrangement, a valve opening pressure must be selected below a pressure at which sticking occurs (hereinbelow, sticking pressure), according to this, if a release pressure is to be set substantially low, the sticking pressure must be lowered accordingly, requiring a larger float. Accordingly, there no practical way to increase the sticking pressure beyond a certain level.
Therefore, it has been required to provide a release valve which can resist sticking thereof and in which a sticking pressure can be suitably set and which is substantially small in size and low in cost.

Fuel interrupt/pressure release valve arrangement for fuel tank