The present invention is a recloseable hooded carton, particularly useful for containing granular material such as soap powder or the like. The carton is generally rectangular, having front and rear walls, opposed side walls, a closed bottom structure, and a top opening structure including a recloseable hood. An integral handle is provided for carrying the carton before and after opening the hood. A blank for forming the present invention is encompassed.

Hooded cartons having a hinged, flip-top cover are well known and generally, although not exclusively, used to contain fungible material, such as soap powder or ice cream. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,078,030 (to Gorton), 3,283,991 (to Hughes) and 5,033,622 (to DePasquale et al.) are fairly representative of this type of carton in that each of the patents discloses a box or carton having a cover or hood with a skirt. The carton disclosed in the Gorton patent is intended to be opened and closed a number of times, and the patent refers to flip-top boxes, such as cigarette boxes, that may have an additional piece of paperboard secured to the upper front portion of the box to engage the top when closed. The Gorton patent also notes that such boxes may use inner and outer boxes to achieve box strength and to aid in retaining the top in its closed position. The DePasquale et al. and Hughes patents disclose examples of the well-known "ice cream" cartons. None of the aforementioned Hughes, Gorton and DePasquale et al. patents discloses handles for carrying the subject cartons.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,910,487 (to Jaeschke) and 4,048,052 (to Tolaas) disclose cartons having a hinged, flip-top cover movable back into a closed position after being opened. The Jaeschke carton includes an extended glue flap positioned against the inside of the front panel to serve as a liner panel. The glue flap is foldably connected to the bottom panel of the carton, but according to Jaeschke, a separate panel could be used to form the liner. Neither of the Jaeschke or Tolaas patents discloses a carrying handle.
Cartons with integral carrying handles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,378,905 and 4,546,914 (both to Roccaforte, the inventor of the present invention). The handle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,914 is a reinforced 3-ply elongated handle panel formed from a portion of the outer top panel of the carton. U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,739 (to Collura) discloses a somewhat similar carton and handle, but none of the Collura patent or the two Roccaforte patents discloses or suggests how an integral strap-like handle could be integrated with a hooded or flip-top carton.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,420 (to Gunn et al.) discloses a hooded package with handle. The handle is a separate flat strap-like handle having an arrowhead shaped tip at each end. It is attached to the package by inserting the tips into openings in the side walls of the package. The package requires a liner to prevent the contents from leaking out at the point where the handle is attached, and also to provide a structure for the hood or lid to rest on when closed. In one embodiment of the package, the liner is formed by the flaps of the outer body of the package, and thus, there is no need to attach a separate liner. Although the handle disclosed by Gunn et al. can be used to carry the package after the hood is opened, the handle is not formed integrally with the package and the package requires multi-ply side panels to prevent the contents from leaking out of the package.
The above-noted patents disclose improvements in recloseable hooded or flip-top cartons, but none discloses a hooded carton with an integral handle formed from the same single-piece blank from which the carton is formed. The Gunn et al. patent suggests the desirability of providing hooded cartons with a handle, but the Gunn et al. handle is a separate strap handle attached to the package after the package is formed. As pointed out in the Gunn et al. patent, discretely formed separate handles, their attaching elements, and the process of attaching such handles are expensive. Additionally, the Gunn et al. package and handle arrangement requires a liner to maintain the integrity of the package, thereby increasing the consumption of expensive paperboard or other stock material and complicating the fabrication process.
A recloseable hooded carton for containing particulate or granular products which is easy to open and reclose securely, yet which includes an integral carrying handle and can be produced efficiently and inexpensively, would be a decided improvement over the hooded containers known at present.


A meeting surface between inks injected from the injection needles can be made closer to the filter by varying the timings of the ink injections from the plurality of injection needles, whereby larger pressure is applied to the filter. When pressure is applied which is larger than the ink holding force of the filter generated from the surface tension of the inks, the inks pass through the filter to fill space from an ink supply path to an ink path in a print head. In this manner, ink pressure on the filter can be appropriately controlled without increasing the amount of the ink from the injection needle above the filter. As a result, the inks pass through the filter to fill the ink path in the print head, and the inks can be prevented from leaking from ejection openings at the time of filling the inks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for injecting a liquid into a liquid storage container, and particularly relates to a method for injecting a liquid into a liquid storage container for storing a liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid such as an ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a method for injecting a liquid into a liquid storage container, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-159656 describes a method for injecting inks by inserting a plurality of injection needles into a holding member for holding an ink in an ink tank. According to this method, inks can be injected into the ink holding member uniformly.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-224433 describes appropriately controlling ink injection pressure on a filter provided in an ink path between an ink tank and a print head when filling an ink. This can prevent an ink leak through ejection openings of the print head at the time of filling or refilling an ink.

Method for injecting liquid into liquid storage container


According to a method of cache management in a data storage system including a write cache and bulk storage media, a storage controller of the data storage system caches, in the write cache, write data of write input/output operations (IOPs) received at the storage controller. In response to a first performance-related metric for the data storage system satisfying a first threshold, the storage controller decreases a percentage of write IOPs for which write data is cached in the write cache of the data storage system and increases a percentage of write IOPs for which write data is stored directly in the bulk storage media in lieu of the write cache. In response to a second performance-related metric for the data storage system satisfying a second threshold, the storage controller increases the percentage of write IOPs for which write data is cached in the write cache of the data storage system.

The present invention relates to data storage, and more specifically, to data storage systems employing write caching.
Conventional data storage systems have employed write caches to improve write latency. For example, it is well known for a magnetic disk storage system to implement a write cache in Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) because of the relatively low write latency of DRAM as compared to a magnetic disk drive, particularly for random (as opposed to sequential) addresses. In such embodiments, the disk storage system services a write command by storing the write data into the DRAM write cache and, if required, immediately signaling completion to the requester. The magnetic disk storage system thereafter destages the data from the DRAM write cache to magnetic disk drives, for example, during a period in which a relatively low number of access requests are received or due to capacity constraints in the DRAM write cache. In addition to reducing write latency, the DRAM write cache can reduce the overall amount of data written to the magnetic disk drives because data overwritten while held in the DRAM write cache is never written to the magnetic disk drives. Write caches have also been employed in data storage systems employing other bulk storage media, such as flash memory storage systems.
Management of write caches is often implemented in software rather than hardware due to the complexity of cache management operations and the flexibility provided by software implementation. The present invention recognizes that in software-managed write caches, each time an access request is received, a storage controller of the storage system must execute a sequence of instructions to perform a cache lookup to determine whether or not the target data block specified by the access request is held in the write cache. In the case of a write miss, the storage controller must additionally select a victim entry for eviction from the write cache and destage that victim entry from the write cache to the bulk storage if there is no free space in the write cache. In at least some designs, the processing performed by the storage processor to support use of the write cache can make the storage processor a critical resource under high request rates and reduce the rate at which the data storage system can service access requests.

Selectively enabling write caching in a storage system based on performance metrics


A semiconductor device in which charge capacity of a capacitor is increased without a reduction in aperture ratio is provided. In a transistor including a light-transmitting semiconductor film and a capacitor in which a dielectric film is provided between a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes and the dielectric film are formed using a light-transmitting material. A semiconductor film which is formed on the same surface as the semiconductor film of the transistor is used as one of the pair of electrodes. The dielectric film included in the capacitor is formed using a gate insulating film. The other of the pair of electrodes is formed using a light-transmitting semiconductor film or a light-transmitting conductive film.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to semiconductor devices.
In this specification, a semiconductor device means all types of devices that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics, and a transistor, a semiconductor circuit, a memory device, an imaging device, a display device, an electro-optical device, an electronic device, and the like are all semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, flat panel displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been widespread. In each of pixels provided in the row direction and the column direction in a display device such as a flat panel display, a transistor serving as a switching element, a liquid crystal element electrically connected to the transistor, and a capacitor connected to the liquid crystal element in parallel are provided.
As a semiconductor material for forming a semiconductor film of the transistor, a silicon semiconductor such as amorphous silicon or polysilicon (polycrystalline silicon) is generally used.
Metal oxides having semiconductor characteristics (hereinafter referred to as oxide semiconductors) can be used for semiconductor films in transistors. For example, techniques for forming transistors using zinc oxide or an In—Ga—Zn-based oxide semiconductor are disclosed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LTD.


A computer-based method of monitoring for and reporting of a lien distress event relatable to a property within a client loan portfolio includes inputting property data from the portfolio, standardizing the data for querying a lien distress event database, monitoring the database for lien distress events relatable to the standardized property data, and notifying the client if a lien distress event is detected. The monitoring period and the type of lien distress events to be monitored may be specified by the client. Notifying the client may include generating and delivering a lien distress report including a property valuation. The method may be executed automatically as a service periodically updating and monitoring a loan portfolio of a subscribing client.

1. Field
The present invention relates to real estate loans on properties and more particularly to a method and system for monitoring loans on real property and the liens associated with those loans, determining when a lien distress event has occurred, and reporting notice of that event along with additional data pertaining to the property to the lender.
2. Background
When purchasing real property, purchasers often require or desire to use financing. During this process, the lender often acquires a lien on the property. Liens, usually in one of two forms, enable the lender in the case of default on repayment of the loan, to either take possession and then sell the property in order to repay the loan amount or to force a sale of the property with first rights to the proceeds of the sale up to the amount owed on the loan. In either case, this right is referred to as a lien.
There are also varying degrees of liens. The first or primary lender on the property has a first lien or a first position. A second mortgagee has a second lien or a second position. Subsequent liens are prioritized according to a tertiary position, usually in order of recordation. A lender higher in priority is a senior lender with respect to a lender lower in priority. A lender lower in priority is a junior lender with respect to a lender higher in priority.
When a sale of a property is made or forced pursuant to the rights of one lender's lien, other lenders having liens on the same property have a right of repayment in the specified order of priority. So, for example, a second loan may be taken out on a property in order to make home, improvements on the property, and the corresponding secondary lender may place a secondary lien on the property. In this case, the first mortgage lien has first position and the second mortgage lien has second position. If either loan defaults, the property may be sold and the first loan would be paid off prior to the second loan. Any remainder would be used to pay down the second loan, any remainder thereafter would pay off tertiary positions, and any final remainder would be returned to the mortgagor.
Second and tertiary position lien holders (hereinafter secondary position lenders or secondary position lien holders) are often not as well-equipped to handle potential defaults as a first position lien holder. Secondary position lenders may have limited monitoring resources, or may roll their individual loans into a larger portfolio of loans, which makes monitoring the loans individually more complicated and time-consuming. Often, loans on properties are sold, traded or grouped, such that keeping track of liens and potential defaults on properties under which a secondary lender would be entitled to some portion of foreclosure sale proceeds becomes a cumbersome administrative task.
When one lien holder initiates a foreclosure proceeding, the other lien holders may be notified. Notification by mail of the fact of foreclosure proceedings on a property may be the first and only indication of such proceedings intended to reach a secondary lien holder. Due to limited monitoring capability, a secondary lien holder may not learn of these foreclosure proceedings in a timely fashion and therefore may be unable to take appropriate measures to enforce its lien. Where the secondary lien holder is a corporation, internal delays within the corporation after receipt of the notification may likewise prevent the corporation from taking protective action. Also, notification by mail may be a problem because the address may not be current or valid.
In a typical scenario, while the mortgagor may be delinquent in making payments to a primary lender, secondary or junior lenders may still be receiving timely payments. Many secondary lenders do not begin researching potential foreclosure issues until there has been a substantial delinquency, e.g., 60 or 90 days, in repayment of their own loan. Thus, the secondary lender whose policy it is to begin researching at the onset of a 60 or 90 day delinquency may find that the primary lender has already initiated, or perhaps even resolved foreclosure proceedings on the property.
Therefore, there exists a problem in the industry whereby secondary lien holders often miss opportunities to collect on foreclosure proceeds after a first position or other position lender initiates foreclosure proceedings. The other lenders may know nothing about these proceedings or the potential distress event until after the foreclosure proceedings have occurred or until shortly before they have occurred. What is needed in the industry is an automated method and system for monitoring events associated with a loan that are symptomatic of properties at risk of foreclosure, well in advance of actual foreclosure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for monitoring for and reporting of lien distress events


A method and device for collecting and storing electrophysiological data is presented. The method comprises: (a) sensing electrophysiological data from a patient; (b) classifying data intervals as either a critical interval or a non-critical interval; (c) identifying an episode; and (d) directing storage of the data representing the episode in the memory unit, wherein the data representing the episode is stored at varying sampling frequencies depending on the classification of the data interval. The device comprises a sense circuit, a processor, and a memory unit, wherein the processor is adapted to perform the above-stated method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to implantable devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of optimizing storage of electrophysiological data in an implantable cardiac device.
2. Background Art
The heart is a series of pumps that are carefully controlled by an electrical system. This electrical system attempts to regulate the heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). Abnormally fast heart rates are called tachycardias. As used herein, the term tachycardia means a heartbeat at a rate which is abnormally high and accordingly considered to be dangerous if permitted to continue, or any arrhythmia involving recognizable heartbeat patterns containing repetitions which are in excess of a periodic heartbeat within a safe range. When the ventricular chambers beat too quickly, the arrhythmia (i.e., unusual heart rhythm) is known as ventricular tachycardia (VT). When VT occurs, the ventricles may not be able to fill with enough blood to supply the body with the oxygen rich blood that it needs. Symptoms of VT include feeling faint, sometimes passing out, dizziness, or a pounding in the chest.
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a very fast and irregular heartbeat that is caused by abnormal impulses coming from several areas of the heart. These abnormal impulses take over the natural pacemaker function of the sinoatrial (SA) node. The heartbeat is so fast and irregular that the heart does not pump enough blood to the brain and body tissue, which may cause unconsciousness, or death.
Arrhythmias in the heart have typically been treated using electro-pacing or shock therapy. For example, when a patient's heart is found to be in VF, a jolting electrical pulse, or shock pulse, is delivered to the patient in order to reactivate the electrical signals throughout the heart. The shock pulse may be administered via external defibrillators, or via implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) configured to deliver such a shock.
ICDs, and other implantable cardiac devices, usually have memory storage units to record and store electrophysiological data from the patient. Specifically, data representing the time immediately before, during, and after an arrhythmia is stored for later analysis. Typically, devices use various ultrabreak (polynomial based) compression algorithms to store the data. Compression algorithms allow storage of the data while effectively using minimum amounts of memory. However, compression algorithms require a lot of processing power from the device's battery in order to compress the data, hence reducing the longevity of the device. Also, compression algorithms often take a long time to compress the data, which introduces interaction problems with other critical processes in the device. Compression algorithms are also not effective for compressing noisy and high frequency signals.
What is needed is a method of optimizing storage of electrophysiological data in the memory unit of an implantable device.

Implantable cardiac device and method of optimizing storage of electrophysiological data


There is provided a reflector having tray shapes excellent in shape retention, specifically, a reflector having tray shapes which change little even when exposed to a moist heat environment for a long period of time and is suitable for a direct type backlight unit, an LED lighting unit, and an illumination for a plant factory.

In recent years, many displays using liquid crystal have been used as display devices such as personal computers, televisions, smartphones, tablets, and mobile phones. Since these liquid crystal displays themselves are not light emitters, display is possible by providing a surface light source called backlight from the back side and irradiating light. In addition, the backlight has a surface light source structure called edge light type or direct type, in order to meet the requirement not only that the backlight simply irradiates the entire screen with light but also that the backlight should uniformly irradiates the entire screen with light. Among them, a backlight of an edge light type, that is, a type of radiating light from the side to the screen is applied to thin liquid crystal display applications used in notebook computers, monitors, tablets, etc. where thinness and miniaturization are desired. On the other hand, in the case of a large screen such as a liquid crystal television, a backlight of a direct type, that is, a type of radiating light from the back side to the screen is applied.
High light reflection performance is required for lamp reflectors and reflectors used in surface light sources for such liquid crystal screens (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as reflective films, surface light source reflective members, etc.), and conventionally a film to which white pigments are added or a film that contains fine air bubbles inside is used alone or one obtained by laminating these films with a metal plate, a plastic plate, etc. have been used. In particular, the film that contains fine air bubbles inside is widely used because it has an effect of improving the luminance and a certain effect of uniformizing the screen luminance (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
A large-screen TV with a direct-type backlight is equipped with a function called "local dimming". It is a technology capable of displaying a clearer image with higher contrast in such a manner that the liquid crystal backlight is finely divided, and the backlight is partially driven in accordance with the brightness of the displayed image to generate brightness to each section. As a technical problem of "local dimming", there is a problem that, when the brightness difference between adjacent LEDs is large, light leaks to the adjacent region, and the effect is weakened. Moreover, in the direct-type backlight, there may be a case where unevenness occurs in which only the portions corresponding to the LEDs are brightened depending on the configuration.
As a measure to solve these problems, a light reflector (Patent Document 3) or the like having a concave light reflection surface can be used, but a foam sheet has a problem that voids are easily crushed when a load is applied during forming.


A system includes a base station associated with a railroad crossing having a unique identifier and comprising at least one processor to wirelessly transmit a proximity alert, determine that a train is on approach, and wirelessly transmit a train-on-approach notification. The system further includes a receiver comprising at least one processor to wirelessly receive the proximity alert and the train-on-approach notification from the base station and to provide at least one of a visual and audible indication responsive to at least one of the proximity alert and the train-on-approach notification.

In North America alone, there are more than 224,000 public and private at-grade railroad crossings. Of these railroad crossings, 137,699 or 61% are located on public roads. Of the railroad crossings on public roads, 51% comprise passive railroad crossings and 49% comprise active railroad crossings. Passive railroad crossings are non-electrified and denoted by fixed signage (e.g., crossbucks, stops signs, yield signs) or nothing at all. Active railroad crossings are electrified and include fixed signage in addition to warning systems with flashing lights and gates to more effectively warn vehicles of the presence of trains on approach.
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has studied safety effectiveness of railroad crossing warning systems and found that upgrading a passive railroad crossing to an active railroad crossing with a flasher warning system increased warning system effectiveness by 70% while upgrading a passive railroad crossing to an active railroad crossing with gates and flashing lights increased warning system effectiveness by 83%. However, the majority of passive railroad crossings in the United States remain so out of economic necessity. Passive railroad crossings are expensive to convert to active railroad crossings. A passive railroad crossing can be converted to an active railroad crossing by adding more than $150,000 of equipment, adding track circuits to detect trains on approach, and establishing commercial power at the crossing site.
Between 2002 and 2012, there were 28,125 accidents at railroad crossings in the United States resulting in 14,176 injuries and/or fatalities. Various causes were cited by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics on reported and investigated accidents for this ten-year period, but most accidents were related to driver inattentiveness. According to the FRA statistics, 0.9% of accidents were caused by driver impairment, 40.0% of accidents were caused by driver inattentiveness, 11.3% of accidents were caused by driver misjudgment, 23.1% of accidents were caused by driver violation, 0.5% of accidents were caused by driver unawareness or environmental factors, 0.7% of accidents were caused by a driver being unable to stop (e.g., weather related), 0.1% of accidents were caused by crossing signal malfunction, 10.9% of accidents were caused by deliberate disregard for a crossing signal, and 12.5% of accidents were a result of other causes.
Causes for driver inattentiveness can include distractions associated with cellular telephone or in-vehicle entertainment system use and other activities that take a driver's attention away from the road long enough for the driver to miss a sign at a railroad crossing or an active signal that warns of an approaching train. In addition, some drivers frequently travel the same route and can become desensitized to the presence of a railroad crossing, especially a passive railroad crossing located in a rural or lightly traveled road only equipped with crossbuck signs.
Over the past fifteen years there have been a variety of approaches introduced and tested to address safety at railroad crossings. One approach utilizes a transceiver on a train that communicates directly to radio receivers mounted in vehicles or indirectly through trackside transceivers. In another approach, a K-band radar signal is sent from a trackside transceiver to a specially modified radar detector in a vehicle. In another approach, a vehicle-borne receiver attempts to recognize a train horn acoustic signature to trigger a driver alert.
However, previous approaches have not been successful. Previous approaches have failed for a number of reasons including (1) cost, complexity, and railroad risk of train mounted transceivers, (2) cost and complexity of integrating a receiver into a vehicle either as an aftermarket dash-mounted device or as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in-dash feature, (3) unsatisfactory false triggering and missed event performance, and (4) inadequacy for use at non-electrified passive crossings.

Crossing proximity and train-on-approach notification system


A metal chelated dyestuff for inkjet recording is described, which is a water soluble azo metal chelated compound formed from an azo compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a metal element and is good at the clearness of color tone, light resistance, indoor discoloring and fading property, solubility, storage stability, and the like.

The present invention relates to a water soluble dyestuff for inkjet recording and an aqueous inkjet recording liquid using the same. More specifically, it relates to a metal chelated dyestuff comprising a water soluble azo metal chelated compound suitable for inkjet recording and an aqueous inkjet recording liquid using the same.
The recording by blowing drops of recording liquid containing a water soluble dye such as a direct dye or an acid dye from a minute orifice, so-called inkjet recording method has been practically used.
With regard to the recording liquid, it is required to exhibit fast fixing to a recording paper widely used at general office work such as a paper for PPC (plain paper copier), i.e., a paper for electrophotography, fanhold paper (a continuous paper for computer, etc.), or the like, and also a good print quality of a printed matter, that is, no blotting and a clear outline. In addition, it is necessary to be excellent in stability during storage as a recording liquid. Therefore, the solvents which are possible to use are strictly limited.
With regard to the dye for the recording liquid, it is required that it has a sufficient solubility for the above limited solvents, and, in addition, is stable as a recording liquid even when it has been stored for a long period of time, and a printed image has high saturation and density, as well as the dye is excellent in water resistance, light resistance and indoor discoloring and fading property.
On the other hand, for forming a full color image in the inkjet recording method, using inks of three primary colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) or four colors wherein black (B) is additionally used, an image is formed by controlling the discharging amount of each ink through the mixing of these colors on a material to be recorded. Furthermore, at the formation of a full color image, it is necessary to express not only difference of colors but also shade of colors. The shade part is usually formed by the use of two or more inks different in concentration of dyestuff.
However, with regard to the conventional dyestuffs for inkjet, there is a problem of fading of an image caused by light irradiation, that is, a poor light resistance. In particular, it is a problem that a pale color part where an ink low in concentration of dyestuff is used exhibits a poor light resistance. Thus, it is desired to develop a dyestuff for inkjet which satisfies these many requirements at the same time.
In particular, as the magenta dyestuff to be used in the recording liquid, a metal-free direct dye (C.I. DR-227) and an acid dye (C.I. AR-249) which are commercially available dyes are hitherto employed (by the way, xe2x80x9cC.I.xe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cColor Indexxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cARxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cAcid Redxe2x80x9d, and xe2x80x9cDRxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cDirect Redxe2x80x9d.).
A direct dye is unclear in color tone, but an acid dye showing a clear color tone tends to exhibit an inferior light resistance. Moreover, heretofore, a metal-containing azo dye has a good light resistance but exhibits a somber color tone and poor clearness. Therefore, it is desired to develop a dyestuff for inkjet which satisfies both of the color tone and light resistance.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 42775/1982 discloses an aqueous ink for inkjet printing wherein at least one kind of 5-hydroxypyrazole azo dye having an azo group at the 4-position or complex salt dye thereof with copper, nickel or cobalt. However, the bonding position of the pyrazole ring to the azo group of the dye described therein is different from that in the general formula (1) of the invention.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 259331/1998 discloses an aqueous inkjet recording liquid which contains a water soluble metal complex formed from a benzene azo compound and at least one kind of metal selected from nickel, cobalt, chromium or copper. However, the metal complex is different from the compound of the general formula (1) of the invention in view that the complex does not have a naphthalene ring.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 140367/1999 discloses an ink composition containing a magenta dye ligand of 4-hydroxy-3-(2xe2x80x2-pyridylazo)-1-(sulfo substituted)naphthalene which coordinates to a polyvalent metal ion, and an ink vehicle. However, there is a difference in view that the compound of the general formula (1) of the invention is an azo compound having no pyridine ring.
These dyestuffs described in the known literatures not always satisfy the properties required for the dyestuff for inkjet printing such as clearness of color tone, light resistance, indoor discoloring and fading property, solubility, storage stability, and the like, sufficiently.
An object of the invention is to provide a water soluble dyestuff for inkjet printing which result in a good print quality even at printing on a plain paper and also a clear color tone with a high density, an excellent light resistance, small indoor discoloring and fading of a printed image, and exhibits a good solubility or stability during a long time storage of the dyestuff, and an aqueous inkjet printing liquid using the same.
The present inventors have achieved the above object by the use of a water soluble dyestuff which is an azo chelated compound of a specific azo compound with a metal element.
Namely, the gist of the invention is a metal chelated dyestuff for inkjet recording which is a water soluble azo metal chelated compound formed from an azo compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a metal element, and an aqueous ink jet recording liquid which contains at least one kind of the dyestuff selected from the metal chelated dyestuff and an aqueous medium.
(where general formula (1) represents an azo dyestuff compound having at least one or more hydrophilic group in a molecule, X1 represents plural atoms required for forming at least one 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, the heterocyclic ring containing X1 being a heterocyclic ring other than pyridine ring. The heterocyclic ring containing X1 may have substituent(s) on the heterocyclic ring, the substituent(s) on the heterocyclic ring may form a condensed ring through further condensation. The condensed heterocyclic ring containing X1 may be substituted. Ar1 represents a naphthyl group represented by the following general formulae (2)-(4). Y1 represents a chelating group, Z1 represents any substituent which may be different from each other, and a represents an integer of 0 to 6.)
The following will explain the present invention in detail.
The metal chelated dyestuff of the invention is a water soluble azo metal chelated compound formed from an azo compound represented by the above general formula (1) and a metal element.
X1 represents two or more atoms necessary for forming at least one 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring but the heterocyclic ring containing X1 is a heterocyclic ring other than pyridine ring. The heterocyclic ring containing X1 is preferably imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, isoxazole ring, thiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, pyridazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyrazine ring, benzothiazole ring, benzoxazole ring, or benzimidazole ring. Among them, it is preferred that the heterocyclic ring containing X1 is imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, thiazole ring, or thiadiazole ring.
The heterocyclic ring containing X1 may have one or more subtituents on the heterocyclic ring, and the substituent(s) on the heterocyclic ring may form a condensed ring through further condensation. In that case, the substituents on the heterocylic ring each is selected independently from alkyl group which may be substituted (e.g., alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methyl group, ethyl group, or the like, carboxymethyl group, carboxyethyl group, trifluoroniethyl group, or the like), aryl group which may be substituted (preferably aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, e.g., phenyl group, naphthyl group, or the like), aralkyl group which may be substituted (benzyl group or the like, preferably aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms in total), alkenyl group which may be substituted (e.g., vinyl group, 2-propenyl group, or the like), alkoxy group which may be substituted (preferably alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g., methoxy group, ethoxy group, or the like), aryloxy group which may be substituted (e.g., phenoxy group, or the like), acyloxy group which may be substituted (preferably alkanoyloxy group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms such as acetyloxy group, benzoyloxy group, or the like), alkoxycarbonyl group which may be substituted (preferably alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms, e.g., methoxYcarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, or the like), aryloxycarbonyl group which may be substituted (e.g., phenoxycarbonyl group, naphthyloxycarbonyl group, or the like), carbamoyl group which may be substituted, acyl group which may be substituted (e.g., acyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms such as acetyl group, or the like), carboxyl group, hydroxyl group, cyano group, acylamino group which may be substituted (e.g., alkanoylamino group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms such as acetylamino group, benzoylamino group, or the like), nitro group, halogen atom (e.g., chlorine atom, bromine atom, fluorine atom, or the like), phosphono group, sulfo group, mercapto group, alkylthio group which may be substituted (e.g., allcylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methylthio group or ethylthio group, or the like), alkylsulfoxy group which may be substituted (e.g., alkylsulfoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methylsulfoxy group or ethylsulfoxy group, or the like), alkylsulfonyl group which may be substituted (e.g., alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methylsulfonyl group or ethylsulfonyl group, or the like), and thiocyanato group.
Among them, a metal chelated dyestuff is preferred wherein, in the general formula (1), the heterocyclic ring containing X1 is preferably represented by the following general formula (5), (6), (7) or (8).
(where R1 may be different from each other, is a group selected from alkyl group which may be substituted, aryl group which may be substituted, aralkyl group which may be substituted, alkoxy group which may be substituted, aryloxy group which may be substituted, acyloxy group which may be substituted, alkoxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, aryloxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, carboxyl group, carbamoyl group which may be substituted, hydroxyl group, acyl group which may be substituted, cyano group, acylamino group which may be substituted, nitro group, halogen atom, sulfo group, mercapto group, alkylthio group which may be substituted and thiocyanato group, R1 may further form a condensed ring together with an imidazole ring, c represents an integer of 0 to 2. R2 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group which may be substituted, aryl group which may be substituted and allyl group which may be substituted.)
In particular, preferred is the case that R1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, carboxyl group, or cyano group and preferred is the case that R2 is hydrogen atom or alkyl group which may be substituted. Most preferred is the case that c is 2, both of the two R1""s are cyano groups, and R2 is hydrogen atom or alkyl group which may be substituted.
(where R3 may be different from each other and represents alkyl group which may be substituted, aryl group which may be substituted, aralkyl group which may be substituted, alkoxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, aryloxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, carboxyl group, carbamoyl group which may be substituted, hydroxyl group, cyano group or sulfo group, d represents an integer of 0 to 2. R4 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group which may be substituted or aryl group which may be substituted.)
(where R5 may be different from each other and represents alkyl group which may be substituted, aryl group which may be substituted, aralkyl group which may be substituted, alkoxy group which may be substituted, aryloxy group which may be substituted, acyloxy group which may be substituted, alkoxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, aryloxycarbonyl group which may be substituted, carboxyl group, hydroxyl group, acyl group which may be substituted, cyano group, acylamino group which may be substituted, nitro group, halogen atom, sulfo group, alkylthio group which may be substituted or arylthio group which may be substituted, and R5 may further form a condensed ring together with thiazole ring, e represents an integer of 0 to 2.)
Preferred are the case that R5 is alkyl group which may be substituted, the case that e=0 and R5 is absent, or the case that R5 forms a condensed ring together with thiazole ring.
(where R6 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group which may be substituted, aryl group which may be substituted, aralkyl group which may be substituted, mercapto group, alkylthio group which may be substituted, alkylsulfoxy group which may be substituted or alkylsulfonyl group which may be substituted.)
R6 is preferably hydrogen atom or alkyl group which may be substituted.
Among the heterocyclic rings represented by the above general formula (5), (6), (7) or (8), preferred is imdazole ring represented by the general formula (5).
Moreover, Ar1 in the general formula (1) is naphthyl group represented by the general formula (2), (3) or (4), and Y1 is a chelating group. Y1 is preferably hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, amino group which may be substituted (e.g., amino group, methylaniino group, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino group, or the like), sulfo group, carbanioyl group, alkoxy group which may be substituted (e.g., methoxy group, 2-hydroxyethoxy group, or the like), allcylthio group which may be substituted (e.g., methylthio group, 2-hydroxyethylthio group, or the like), alkylsulfonylamino group which may be substituted (e.g., methylsulfonylaniino group or the like), or arylsulfonylamino group which may substituted (e.g., benzenesulfonylamino group or the like). More preferred is the case that Y1 is hydroxyl group.
It is preferable that Z1 in the general formulae (2) to (4), each is independently a group selected from alkoxy group which may be substituted (e.g., alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methoxy group or ethoxy group, or the like), aryloxy group which may be substituted (e.g., phenoxy group, or the like), acyloxy group which may be substituted (e.g., alkanoyloxy group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms such as acetyloxy group, benzoyloxy group, or the like), alkoxycarbonyl group which may be substituted (e.g., alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, or the like), aryloxycarbonyl group which may be substituted (e.g., phenoxycarbonyl group, naphthyloxycarbonyl group, or the like), carboxyl group, carbamoyl group which may be substituted (e.g., carbamoyl group or the like, carboxyanilide group which may be substituted (3-sulfocarboxyanilide group or the like), hydroxyl group, amino group which may be substituted (e.g., amino group, alkylamino group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methylamino group, or the like), ureido group, acylamino group which may be substituted (e.g., alkanoylamino group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms such as acetylamino group, benzoylamino group, or the like), alkylsulfonylamino group which may be substituted (e.g., alkylsulfonylamino group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methylsulfonylamino group, or the like), arylsulfonylamino group which may be substituted (e.g., phenylsulfonylamino group, 4-methylphenylsulfonylamino group, or the like), phosphono group, sulfo group, and sulfamoyl group which may be substituted (e.g., sulfamoyl group, N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)sulfamoyl group, or the like), a represents an integer of 0 to 6.
Z1 is preferably carboxyl group, carbamoyl group which may be substituted, sulfo group, or sulfamoyl group which may be substituted. a is preferably an integer of 1 to 3, more preferably 1 or 2.
Furthermore, among the naphthyl groups represented by the general formula (2), (3) or (4), preferred is the general formula (2) or (4).
In particular, most preferred is the naphthyl group of the following general formula (4xe2x80x2).
(where R2xe2x80x3 represents sulfo group or sulfamoyl group which may be substituted.)
The azo compound represented by the general formula (1) is a compound having at least one hydrophilic group in a molecule other than Y1 which is a chelating group. Examples of such hydrophilic group include sulfo group, carboxyl group, hydroxyl group, amino group, phosphono group, or the like. Of these, preferred is sulfo group or carboxyl group. It is more preferable that the azo compound represented by the general formula (1) is a compound having 1 to 3 sulfo groups or carboxyl groups in a molecule
In the invention, examples of the metal forming a chelated compound together with the azo compound represented by the general formula (1) include silver (I), aluminum (III), gold (III), cerium (III, IV), cobalt (II, III), chromium (III), copper (I, II), europium (III) iron (II, III), gallium (III), germanium (IV), indium (III), lanthanum (III), manganese (II), nickel (II), palladium (II), platinum (II, IV), rhodium (II, III), ruthenium (II, III, IV), scandium (III), silicon (IV) samarium (III), titanium (IV), uranium (IV), zinc (II), zirconium (IV), and the like.
Preferred are nickel (II), cobalt (II, III), and copper (II). More preferred are nickel (II) and copper (II), and most preferred is nickel (II).
As an anion of the metal salt to be used at the production of the metal complex, a monovalent or divalent anion such as Clxe2x88x92, Brxe2x88x92, CH3COOxe2x88x92, SO42xe2x88x92, or the like may be mentioned.
The dyestuff for use in the invention may be used in a form of free acid, as it is, and when the dyestuff is formed as a salt form at the production, it may be used as it is, or may be converted to a desired salt form. Furthermore, a dyestuff wherein part of the acid groups is a salt form or a mixture of a salt-form dyestuff and a free acid-from dyestuff may be used. Examples of such salt form includes salts with alkali metals such as Na, Li, K, etc.; ammonium salts which may be substituted with alkyl group(s) or hydroxyalkyl group(s); or salts with organic amines. Examples of the organic amines include lower alkylamines, hydroxy-substituted lower alkylamines, carboxy-substituted lower alkylamines and polyamines having 2 to 10 alkyleneimine units having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and the like. In these salt-form cases, the dyestuff is not limited to one kind of form and two or more kinds may be mixed.
Moreover, in the structure of the dyestuff for use in the invention, when two or more acid groups are contained in one molecule thereof, the two or more acid groups are salt forms or acid forms and may be different from each other.
As specific examples of the dyestuff include the dyestuffs having structures shown in following Table 1 to Table 6, but the invention is not limited thereto.
The azo metal chelated compound which is a water soluble dyestuff of the invention can be produced from an azo compound represented by the general formula (1) and a metal compound.
The azo compound represented by the general formula (1) is obtained according to a known method.
(Method A) Diazo Coupling Method
A method which comprises the diazotization of the following compound:
and coupling with Hxe2x80x94Ar1. Alternatively (Method B), the compound is obtained according to the method condensing a hydrazino compound with a 1,2-naphthoquinone derivative.
The water soluble azo metal chelated compound which is a compound of the invention can be produced by reacting the resulting azo dyestuff of the general formula (1) with a metal compound (e.g., NiCl2.6H2O, CuCl2.2H2O, or the like).
As the content of the water soluble dyestuff which is an azo chelated compound of the azo compound of the above general formula (1) with a metal in the recording liquid, the content of a deep color ink is preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight, particularly from 2 to 4.5% by weight in total, relative to the total amount of the recording liquid. In the case that a pale color ink is used, the content of the dyestuff is preferably from 0.1 to 2% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by weight.
Moreover, the aqueous medium for use in the invention preferably contains water and, as a water soluble organic solvent, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (weight average molecular weight: about 190 to 400), glycerol, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethylpyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone, thiodiethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethylene glycol monoallyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 2-pyrrolidone, sulfolane, ethyl alcohol, isopropanol, or the like, for example. These water soluble organic solvents are used usually in the range of 1 to 45% by weight relative to the total amount of the recording liquid. On the other hand, water is used in an amount of 50 to 95% by weight relative to the total amount of the recording liquid.
The quick-drying property and print quality after printing can be further improved by adding, to the recording liquid of the invention, 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight of a compound selected from urea, thiourea, biuret, and semicarbazide relative to the total amount of the recording liquid or by adding 0.001 to 5% by weight of a surfactant relative to the total amount of the recording liquid.

Metal chelated dyestuff for inkjet recording and aqueous inkjet recording liquid using the same


A method is disclosed for producing quantities of microbial inoculants for agricultural uses which involves preparing a medium of ground vemiculite, a nutrient and water. Wheat flour is disclosed as a preferred nutrient for fungal cultures. The medium is placed in containers, sterilized and inoculated with a microbial culture which grows out in the containers. The resulting product can be used moist or air-dried for ease in handling and storage. If the product is to be used moist, plastic bags may be used as the containers so that fermentation, formulation and packaging can all be handled in one step.

It has long been known and practiced in agriculture that certain biological (i.e. microbial) inoculants can be used with certain selected crop species to facilitate the growth of crop plants of that species or to assist the crops of that species in resistance to particular pathogenic organisms. In addition, there is current research data suggesting that there may be several species of root-colonizing microorganisms which may be useful in promoting the growth of flowering plants or acting as antagonists to disease organisms, and thus acting to improve the yield of crop plants. Schroth and Hancock, "Disease-Suppressing Soil and Root-Colonizing Bacteria,"Science, Vol. 216, pp. 1376-1381 (1982). The most long established use of microbial inoculants is the quite common practice of inoculating soybeans and other legumes at planting with bacterial cultures of the genus Rhizobium, so that the Rhizobium bacteria will form colonies in nodules within the roots of the soybean or other legume in which they will fix nitrogen symbiotically for the benefit of the plant as well as the bacteria. Currently this inoculation can be done by several techniques, none of which is optimal for all purposes. Techniques used in current practice include coating the seeds, dusting planted seeds or crops, or by spreading moist living inoculant in the furrows of planted seeds.
There has been a significant effort in the past to optimize products for preparing bacterial crop inoculants, focused particularly on Rhizobium inoculants. The typical process for preparing such inoculants usually requires both a fermentation process to grow up sufficient quantities of bacteria, and a stabilization or formulation process to either stabilize the mature bacteria for storage and shipment in an inactive state or to formulate the bacteria in an active culture for direct delivery to the field. Typically in the prior art the fermentation and formulation processes have been considered quite distinct, and one or more handling or processing operations are required to successfully transfer viable bacteria from fermentation to the formulation process. In addition, in prior art processes the usual carrier for viable Rhizobium cultures was peat. Since direct cultivation of bacteria on peat has not been commonly considered practical, because of microbial contaminants in peat, because peat is difficult to sterilize, and because toxic substances can be created in peat during sterilization, when a peat carrier has been used, a clear separation of the fermentation process from the formulation process was usually required.
It has also been recognized by some in the agricultural field that other, non-Rhizobium microbial organisms can foster the growth of common crop plants. For example, it has been known in the prior art that many fungi are found in association with the roots of certain specific vascular or woody plants. The type of association between fungi and plants is not well characterized and there is not a clear understanding or agreement among mycologists as to which of these associations are more properly characterized as symbiotic and which are more properly termed pathogenic. The association produced by a fungus with the roots of a plant is often referred to as a mycorrhizal association, although there is a poor understanding of this association.
It has now been reported specifically that some certain fungal species or strains have the capability to be antagonists for certain other plant pathogens. For example, it has been reported that the fungus Talaromyces flavus has the capability to be an antagonist for the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae in the cultivation of eggplant. Marois, et al., "Biological Control of Verticillium Wilt of Eggplant Solanum-Melongena in the Field", Plant Disease, 66:12, pages 1166-1168 (1982). Other fungal species have been reported to have similar effects. Papivizas, "Survival of Trichoderma-Harzianum in Soil and Pisum-Sativum Cultivar Perfectid-Freezer and Bean Phaseolus-Vulgaras Cultivar Blue-Lake", Phytopathology, 72:1, pages 122-125 (1982). In U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,317, a preparation for the protection of emerging sugar beets against damping-off, which is caused by a parasitic fungus, is disclosed which includes the use of the fungus Pythium oligandrum, which is used as an inoculant on the sugar beet seed to prevent damage to the plant by other fungal species.
One difficulty in using fungi as crop inoculants is the difficulty in propagating and producing large quantities of propagatable fungal material. The state of the art in fungal cultivation is not far advanced. For a fungal species to be useful as a crop inoculant, it must be producible in reasonable quantities and the end product of the production process must be reasonably easily handled and have a sufficiently long shelf life to be commercially useful. While it is possible for suitable microbial inoculants to be maintained in a living moist state, moist cultures present problems of transportation and storage. It is therefore obviously preferable if the fungi can be reduced to a dried or powdered state which is nevertheless viable upon planting in agricultural soils.
At least one prior attempt is known to devise a method for producing and preparing fungal agents for use as agricultural inoculants. That method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,834 to Soper and McCabe, assigned to the United States Department of Agriculture. That method includes culturing the mycelia of a fungal agent in a suitable media and then harvesting the mycelia on a mesh screen to make mycelial mats. The mycelial mats are then treated with a protective agent, which is preferably a sugar solution, until they are saturated. The mycelia are then incubated and air dried at ambient room temperatures. The present invention is intended to be a more convenient methodology for creating a similar dried propogatable fungal product.

Production of microbial field crop inoculants


An error recovery mechanism for an interconnect is disclosed. A data processing system includes a bus connected between a bus master and a bus slave. In response to a parity error occurring on the bus, the bus slave issues a bus parity error response to the bus master via the bus. After waiting for a predetermined number of bus cycles to allow the bus to idle, the bus master then issues a RESTART bus command packet to the bus slave via the bus to clear the parity error. If the RESTART bus command packet is received correctly, the slave bus will remove the parity error response such that normal bus communication may resume.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a data processing system in general, and in particular to a parity error recovery mechanism within a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a parity error recovery mechanism for an interconnect within a data processing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Within a data processing system, various devices, such as a processor, a system memory, etc., are typically interconnected with each other via a group of wires known as a bus. In fact, the technique of using a bus to transmit data has been in common use since the early days of electronic computers. Two types of buses are typically utilized in a data processing system, namely, a data bus and an address bus. As their names imply, the data bus is utilized to transmit data, and the address bus is utilized to transmit addresses. There are many advantages in using a single interconnect such as a bus for interconnecting devices within a data processing system. For example, new devices can easily be added or even be ported between data processing systems that use a common bus.
Occasionally, a parity error may occur on a bus within a data processing system. According to the prior art, bus parity error recovery is typically handled by a group of pins known as error correction code (ECC) pins that are built into certain devices. However, additional area is required on a device to accommodate such ECC pins, not to mention that the latency of data transfer on the bus will be increased due to the additional time required to generate ECC at a bus master and to check the ECC (and possibly correct corrupted data/address bits) at a bus slave. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved parity error recovery mechanism for a bus within a data processing system such that ECC pins are not required.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a data processing system includes a bus connected between a bus master and a bus slave. In response to a parity error occurring on the bus, the bus slave issues a bus parity error response to the bus master via the bus. After waiting for a predetermined number of bus cycles to allow the bus to idle, the bus master then issues a RESTART bus command packet to the bus slave via the bus to clear the parity error. If the RESTART bus command packet is received correctly, the slave bus will remove the bus parity error response such that normal bus communication may resume.
All objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

Error recovery mechanism for a high-performance interconnect

International Business Machines Corporation


A method is provided for reducing a wrinkle on a skin surface (42). The method includes identifying a person having a skin surface (42) with a wrinkle and in response to identifying the person, positioning at respective sites on the skin surface (42) an array (44) of electrodes (60) coupled to an energy source (46). While the electrodes (60) are at the respective sites: during a first time period, applying energy from the energy source (46) to drive the electrodes (60) to apply radio frequency (RF) current at a first voltage, capable of ablating an epidermal layer of the skin; and during a second time period, applying energy from the energy source (46) to drive the electrodes (60) to apply current at a second voltage, lower than the first voltage. Other embodiments are also described.

Skin, the body's largest organ, is composed of multiple layers. The outer layer, epidermis, is divided into several sublayers; the outermost layer is termed stratum corneum epidermidis. The stratum corneum is generally a non-innervated cell layer consisting of mainly large, dead cells that lack nuclei. Beneath the epidermis, lies the dermis skin layer, which is tightly connected to the epidermis.
A major structural component of the skin is collagen, a fibrous protein, which contributes to skin strength and elasticity. As such, collagen formation and remodeling lead to changes in mechanical properties of the skin such as texture and resilience. Typically, collagen plays an important role in the regeneration of epidermal tissue in wounded skin. Collagen is produced during the wound healing process, thus increasing the tensile strength of a wound.
Collagen contraction, or thermal shrinkage of collagen, occurs by the dissociation of heat-sensitive bonds of the collagen molecule. Thermal denaturing of collagen results in a tightening effect of the skin. In contrast, age-related degradation of collagen leads to sagging of the skin and the formation of wrinkles. Many wrinkles appear on exposed areas of the skin, e.g., the face, the neck and the forearms. These visible effects of aging of the skin are disturbing to some individuals, and therefore methods for rejuvenation of maturing or damaged skin are of interest.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,354 to Olsen et al. describes systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location on an external body surface, such as for skin tissue removal and/or collagen shrinkage in the epidermis or dermis, e.g., the removal of pigmentations, vascular lesions (e.g., leg veins), scars, tattoos, etc., and for other surgical procedures on the skin, such as tissue rejuvenation, cosmetic surgery, wrinkle removal, hair removal and/or transplant procedures. The described system and methods apply high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals adjacent an external body surface, such as the outer surface of the skin, to remove and/or modify the structure of tissue structures within the skin. Depending on the specific cosmetic procedure, the described system and methods may be used to: (1) volumetrically remove tissue or hair (i.e., ablate or effect molecular dissociation of the tissue structure); (2) separate a tissue layer from an underlying tissue layer so that the tissue layer can be removed; (3) shrink or contract collagen connective tissue; and/or (4) coagulate blood vessels underlying the surface of the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,498 to Knowlton describes a method and apparatus that applies radiant energy through the skin to underlying collagen tissue, and is described as not substantially modifying melanocytes and other epithelial cells in the epidermis. A membrane is adapted to receive an electrolytic solution and become inflated to substantially conform to a contacting exterior surface of the membrane to a skin layer. The membrane includes a cooling lumen for receiving cooling fluid. One or more thermal electrodes positioned in the membrane transfers thermal energy to the electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution and cooling fluid is described as creating a reverse thermal gradient from the skin surface to the underlying collagen tissue. A thermal power source is coupled to the thermal electrodes, and a source of electrolytic solution is coupled to the membrane.
US 2006/0036300 to Kreindel describes a method of lipolysis. The method comprises deforming a region of skin so that the region of skin protrudes from surrounding skin. One or more radio frequency (RF) electrodes are positioned on the protruding region of skin so as to generate an electrical current through adipose tissue in the protruding region of skin when a voltage is applied to the electrode or electrodes. A voltage is then applied to the electrode or electrodes so as to deliver sufficient RF energy to the protruding region of skin to damage subcutaneous adipose tissue. The described method may be used, for example, to achieve a reduction in body weight, cellulite reduction, loose skin reduction, wrinkle treatment, body surface tightening, skin tightening, and collagen remodeling.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,107 to Binder describes a system for reducing wrinkles on human skin that utilizes an electrode to conduct a microcurrent through the surface of the wrinkle into the underlying dermal layer. The electrode is moved in multiple passes along the length of the wrinkle, with the electrode in contact with the surface of the wrinkle while generating a periodically repeating microcurrent having a peak amplitude in the range of 10-40 microamps, a peak current density in the range of 10-50 microamps/cm.sup.2, and a frequency in the range of 5-15 Hz. The electrode device is described as self-contained in a battery-containing, cordless case from which a contact electrode protrudes. A hand-engaging second electrode on the surface of the case completes a conductive path through the user's body.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,232 to Avrahami describes a device for ablating the stratum corneum epidermidis of a subject, including a plurality of electrodes, which are applied to the subject's skin at respective points. A power source applies electrical energy between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, in order to cause ablation of the stratum corneum primarily in an area intermediate the respective points.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,706 to Avrahami describes a device for facilitating transdermal passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject. The device preferably includes an electrode and a control unit. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is adapted to drive the electrode to apply to the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance. The control unit detects generation of at least one spark responsive to application of the current, and modifies a parameter of the current responsive to detecting the generation of the at least one spark.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,060 to Avrahami describes a device for treating skin on the body of a subject. The device includes a plurality of electrodes, which are adapted to be placed in contact with the skin and then moved across the skin while maintaining electrical contact with the skin. The device additionally includes a power source, which is adapted to apply a current between two or more of the plurality of electrodes at the same time as the electrodes are being moved across the skin.
Reliant Technologies (California, US) distributes the Fraxel family of cosmetic products, which includes three fractional lasers that produce two non-ablative treatments and one ablative treatment.
The following patent and patent applications may be of interest:
US 2005/0003518 to Avrahami et al.
US 2005/0119605 to Sohn
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U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,377 to Stern
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Some embodiments provide portable handheld devices comprising: first and second displays; a controller; and a first display casing secured within the first display and a second display casing secured within the second display, the second display casing is moveable to move between closed and an open positions; wherein, when in the closed position, at least a majority of the second display is not visible; wherein, when in the open position, both the first display and the second display are visible and configured to display the graphical content; and wherein the controller is configured to cooperatively utilize both the first display and the second display when in the open position such that the graphical content is cooperatively displayed on both the first display and the second display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to consumer electronic devices, and more specifically to displaying graphical content on consumer electronic devices.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Users are accessing content in greater amounts. Further, users are accessing this content through various devices. Numerous devices continue to provide improved ways to allow users to access content.
Still further, some devices display graphical content to users. Many of these devices are portable devices. Because the devices are intended to be portable, they often have displays with smaller sizes than devices that are not readily considered portable by the market place.

Method and apparatus for use in displaying content on a consumer electronic device

Sony Network Entertainment International LLC


A data log for use with conventional hard disk subsystems or other data storage subsystems provides a system to minimize delays caused in a computer system due to the input/output systems, such as hard disks. The data log is preferably one or more hard disks, or any other non-volatile data storage device. Preferably, when the operating system requests a write to the hard disk subsystem, a hard disk controller directs the data to the data log rather than the hard disks. Then, when I/O requests are at a lull, the hard disk controller moves the data from the data log to the hard disk subsystem. Because the data is written to the data log sequentially, the hard disk controller completes the write operation quickly. This minimizes any bottleneck created while the system waits for the completion of the write operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to minimizing the delays in a computer system caused by an input/output (I/O) bottleneck. Specifically, the present invention involves a data logging system for use with hard disk subsystems to relieve the bottleneck caused by the hard disk subsystem in many computer operating environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
For many years, the central processing unit (CPU) in a computer has been the main component limiting the speed of operations carried out by the computer. However, very fast processors (e.g., the INTEL 80386 and INTEL 80486) and highspeed dynamic random access memory (DRAMs) have become available at prices acceptable to personnel computer users. Moreover, the rise in popularity of personnel computers has led to higher capacity hard disk subsystems at a lower price. Unfortunately, the average hard disk subsystems are not significantly faster than previously existing subsystems. Accordingly, the hard disk subsystem is often the source of the main bottleneck in many operating environments.
A variety of solutions for improving the speed of I/O in hard disk operations have been attempted with varying degrees of success. Solutions such as the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) and Multi-Channel Architecture (MCA) improve overall system performance. High speed hard disk adapters (controllers) using architectures such as the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) are also popular. However, these bus architectures and controllers are still limited in speed by the hard disk subsystem (i.e., the access times of the hard disks).
The most popular improvement in I/O performance involves the use of a cache managed at the operating system level. Caching at the controller level is also popular. Caching is a relatively inexpensive method to improve system performance. Analysis has shown that caching at the operating system level is better than caching at the controller level, and caching at both levels performs worse than either alone. Even with caching, the bottleneck remains the hard disk subsystem in most operating environments.
Disk reorganizers are also popular for improving I/O speed. These utilities typically move portions of files spread throughout a hard disk to make individual files contiguous on the hard disk to reduce disk access times. However, the effects of a reorganization on a hard disk are temporary, and many reorganization utilities use shortsighted algorithms.
Larger computer systems often use several disks which are configured to act as a single disk (a disk array) with data striped across the disks. A striped array speeds disk access times, as well known in the art. However, when multiple disks are used as a single disk, the reliability decreases because the failure of one disk often causes a loss of a significant portion of data from most or all of the files on the array.
To solve this reliability problem, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley proposed five logical disk geometries (LDGs) they termed a "Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks" (RAID). For the purposes of this application, RAID 4 and RAID 5 are the most relevant LDGs. RAID 4 and RAID 5 involve logical disk geometries where a number of data disks in the hard disk subsystem are striped along boundaries of a selected size, as well known in the art. In RAID 4, one disk is used for parity, and in RAID 5 the parity is distributed throughout the subsystem rather than being placed on one disk. The parity defined in RAID 4 and RAID 5 is the exclusive-OR of the data on corresponding striped blocks of the other disks in the hard disk subsystem, as well known in the art.
However, even with a RAID 5 subsystem, the bottleneck may remain in the hard disk subsystem because the improvement provided by RAID logical disk geometries is limited by the read-to-write ratio. With the RAID configuration, a write takes much longer to complete than a read because with every write, the parity must also be updated. If the read-to-write ratio approaches 1:1 or even 1.5:1, the RAID 5 architecture generally performs significantly worse than a single hard disk.
If no cache is used, the read-to-write ratio is often about 3:1, which results in a speed improvement using RAID 5. However, if a cache is used, the read-to-write ratio often approaches 1:1 or 1.5:1, and a RAID subsystem may perform significantly worse than a single hard disk.
Accordingly, without significant increases in I/O performance and reliability combined, high-performance computers remain limited in performance by I/O.

Data logging for hard disk data storage systems


A panel for use in the construction of walls. The panel is preferably about 2' high and 10' long with a thickness of approximately 4". An upper pair of grooves is formed longitudinally near the top and another pair formed longitudinally near the bottom. A metal C-shaped reinforcing member is held by these grooves over the top and bottom of the rectangular panel to reinforce the same. Preferably the top and bottom are slightly beveled so that when one panel is placed with its top adjacent the bottom of a superior panel, a slight depression is formed which may be readily filled with a grout to provide a smooth upper surface. The panel is particularly useful in conjunction with spaced fence posts which have grooves to permit the panel to be slid in between two adjacent posts. After grouting, the entire fence or wall may be stuccoed to give it a smooth and attractive appearance.

The field of the invention is building materials and the invention relates more particularly to the building of walls or fences. Perhaps the most common wall is built from cement block which requires a substantial foundation to be dug below the wall and filled with concrete to support the weight of the cement blocks. The cement blocks must be placed by a professional mason or a skilled amateur to provide a wall that has an attractive appearance. In spite of the use of foundations, such walls frequently settle in parts and form a "stairstep" crack along the joints between adjacent blocks. Such block walls are commonly covered with a layer of stucco and this crack is visible on the exterior of the stucco. This is an especially common problem with clay soils which tend to expand when wet and contract when dried.
Other common types of fences include grape stake fences or fences made with vertical slats which are nailed to rails. Unfortunately, wood has become a scarcer and more expensive commodity. Whereas original growth redwood had excellent weathering characteristics, newer redwood does not have this same ability. Thus, when such fences are built utilizing wooden posts, such posts rather quickly rot or are eaten by termites and need to be replaced in less than 10 years. Chain link fences are very widely used but have an industrial look which is unacceptable for most residential or office developments.
Various approaches have been taken to provide walls which overcome some of the problems mentioned above. The present invention also contemplates an efficient process for coating the exterior surfaces of a foam panel and various approaches have been taken for such coating processes. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,722 shows a process for adhering glass fibre tissue to a panel. This is accomplished by passing a tissue through a pair of rollers which impregnate the tissue with adhesive. A moving belt of release material is used to press the adhesive coated tissue onto the surfaces of the foam.
A process for making plasterboard is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,790 where a roll of reinforcing material such as paper, cardboard, metallic film, aluminum sheet, glass, cloth, etc. is placed within a layer of plaster by various methods to form a reinforced plasterboard. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,917, cement board is made by spreading mortar over fiber scrim in a continuous manner.
Various wall constructions are disclosed in the prior art. A noise barrier is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,558. Posts made of channel material hold panels 12. The panels include a foam portion into which various channels are embedded. The foam is covered with plastic facing and chambers are provided to hold a sound absorption material.
A wall utilizing a polystyrene bead board core having a thin concrete facing reinforced with a fiberglass open weave mesh is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,915. Vertical steel studs hold gypsum wallboard 14 on an inner surface. On the outer surface, foam panels have been coated with a fiberglass mesh which contains a thin fiberglass mesh. After the panels have been screwed to the steel studs, the joints are taped and the entire assembly is coated with a Portland Cement exterior coating.
A sound barrier fence is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,593. This sound barrier uses concrete posts which are formed with grooves. Cement panels are placed in the grooves and the space between the cement panels is filled with a foam. U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,498 is another highway sound barrier. The wall panels are made from a foamed material which is covered with a fiberglass reinforced cement composition. The panels are anchored to the ground by a helical screw anchor rod embedded in a concrete pad. U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,298 shows a prefabricated exterior panel system which also uses a plastic foam board reinforced along one surface by spaced-apart reinforcing members, such as aluminum channels. Grooves are cut into the panel and the reinforcing members are held in the grooves by an adhesive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,628 shows a fence wall construction which has reinforcing flanges concealed within the plastic foam body. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,685 shows a foam plastic wall covered with an exterior mesh stucco coating. The panels are held in grooves in adjacent posts. The styrofoam panels are coated after they have been placed between adjacent posts.
Numerous approaches have been tried to make walls out of foam panels covered with reinforced cement. Such approaches have the advantage of a lightweight panel which nonetheless has an exterior coating which is not only strong but is fire and insect proof. The foam panels themselves are relatively weak and can be easily bent. They, thus, must be supported by some sort of substrate before being coated with a reinforced cementitious material. The coating process requires skill and, thus, the form on the jobsite must be done by skilled labor.


An external service application discovery process that connects a host with an external application server running a service application allowing a user of a client computing device to work with a file via a web browser. The host brokers the functionality of an external application server and serves as the platform where interactions between the client computing device and the external application server occur. An open interface protocol, which is a shared communication protocol, allows the host to communicate instructions from the client computing device to the external application server. Through the external service application discovery process, the external application server describes functionality provided by the service application to the host. The host selectively makes the functionality provided by the service application available to users based on the level of implementation of the open platform interface and the conventions of the external service application discovery process understood by the host.

Enterprises often maintain various types of documents that are stored in different places for different purposes. In many cases, such documents are created and stored according to a variety of different software applications and storage systems. For example, documents may be generated using word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, presentation applications, note applications, graphic design applications, photographic applications, and the like. Generated documents may be stored via a variety of storage systems, including one or more content servers used for storing documents of various types, servers for storing documents as attachments to electronic mail items (e-mail), storage systems for storing documents as attachments to meetings, customer relationship management (CRM) systems for storing documents as attachments to leads or customer data, general purpose document stores for storing documents for routine use, and/or specialized document stores (e.g., Documentum® from Documentum, Inc.) for storing documents for specific, highly regulated needs.
Accessing and working with these various types of documents often requires that the appropriate software for each document type be available to users. The typical enterprise scenario envisions that each person who needs to access or work with a document will have the appropriate software locally installed on the computing device they routinely use. Where everyone has access to the same set and versions of applications, this is a workable approach. However, in many situations, where a number of users may only use a given software application on an infrequent basis the given software application may not be loaded on the users' computing devices by the enterprise. One approach to remedy such problems has been to convert documents into a "published" format that is readily viewable but not readily editable. Another approach to providing access to various document types without the need for local installations of the necessary software packages has been to provide viewing and editing functionality innately within a content server or to provide for direct (i.e., hard coded) integration between a content server and a dedicated system for viewing and editing supported documents; however enterprises are often discouraged from integrating such functionality with their content servers for fear that such integration of additional functionality may reduce processing capacity and capability of the likely mission-critical uses, increase downtime, and/or complicate the management of their content servers. Further, the resources invested in a dedicated system (e.g., the time, effort, and expense associated development, procurement, and deployment) are unlikely to be transferable to another platform.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

External service application discovery method


Methods, program products, and systems of intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics are disclosed. A database server can receive, from a user device, a request for data. The database server can determine a data size and a data type of the requested data. The database server can identify, based on the data size and data type, and from multiple candidate data delivery protocols for responding to the request, a data delivery protocol designated for delivering data having the data size and data type. The database server can deliver the data to the user device in response to the request using the identified data delivery protocol.

A database server can provide data stored in a database to a client located remotely from the database server. The database can include a collection of relations, frequently known as tables. A table in the database can include a set of data items or values that are organized using vertical columns and horizontal rows. Each column can have a data type that defines what category of data can be stored in the column. The type of a data column can be specified in a database schema, which can be a data model that defines how data in the relational database are represented or accessed. In a modern relational database, a data field can have a data type that permits storage of data having a large size compared to size of data items of other data fields. For example, multimedia data (e.g., movie clips) can be stored in a relational database.

Intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics


The present invention relates to a method and system for providing sine and cosine value pairs in a processor. The method includes decoding a sine and cosine instruction having a predetermined source angle and generating an index value for a sine cosine table (SCT) using a sine cosine control register (SCCR). The method also includes generating a plurality of quadrant bits using the SCCR, reading a sine and a cosine value pair from the SCT using the index value, and adjusting a sign of each value of the sine and the cosine value pair using the plurality of quadrant bits, if necessary. The method further includes incrementing the SCCR, if the SCCR is to be incremented, executing the sine and cosine instruction using the sine and cosine value pair, and outputting at least one result.

Sine and cosine values are regularly used in, for example, signal processing applications. Typically, computations use a sine/cosine pair of values together, for example in digital down conversion or in rotational transformations of coordinates. Historically, sine and cosine values have been produced by using long latency instructions that either calculate or lookup the sine and cosine values. However, before the values may be looked up, the values must either first be packed in sine and cosine pairs in a lookup table or in two separate tables that are looked up in parallel. Unfortunately, producing both the sine and cosine value pairs using the above long latency instructions can consume tens to hundreds of cycles as well as use lookup tables that use a large amount of memory.
Mechanisms that can efficiently and quickly provide sine and cosine value pairs for instruction processing would be beneficial.

Addressing mode and/or instruction for providing sine and cosine value pairs


Methods for utilizing a supercritical water unit to convert waste plastics to product through hydrothermal treatment in a supercritical unit are provided. Waste plastic is treated in a pretreatment unit, melting the plastic into a liquid and prepares the plastic for the supercritical water unit. The pretreatment unit can dehalogenate the waste plastic. The molten plastic is introduced into a supercritical water unit with water, which generates a product. A flushing stream of product and steam or water from the supercritical water unit is recycled from the supercritical water unit into the pretreatment unit, preheating and pretreating the waste plastic, and acting as a catalyst in the dechlorination reaction. A purge stream removes the products of the dehalogentation reaction occurring in the melting section.

Waste plastics are a significant problem in today's society. Plastics are generated at such a high rate, and are recycled at such a low rate, that plastics and plastic containing materials are a significant source of waste throughout the world. Therefore, new methods of utilizing waste plastics are necessary. Hydrothermal treatment of plastics allows for the depolymerization of the plastics generating oily hydrocarbons. Conventional hydrothermal treatment utilizes high temperatures and water or steam to degrade and depolymerize the plastics, and can also utilize high pressures to further process the plastics. A large portion of waste plastics, however, comprise polyvinylchloride (PVC). Waste plastic can contain 1 to 10 wt % of PVC. PVC can contain chlorine in large amounts, including in the range of 50 to 60 wt % chlorine. When PVC is incinerated, dioxins and other extremely toxic materials are released. PVC releases hydrochloric acid and chloroaromatic compounds when processed through anaerobic pyrolysis, so it is not preferred for these processes. When PVC is processed through hydrothermal processing or other conventional processes, the chlorine and other corrosive materials are released, which can cause severe corrosion in the system. Additionally, waste plastics contain other contaminants that are problematic in processing, clogging systems or generating unacceptable contamination in the final products. Therefore, novel processes are needed to address these deficiencies.

Hydrothermal conversion of plastic to oil