A signature element is attached to a downhole cable or other protected equipment and the signal from a signature position detector is used, at least in part, to control the orientation of a directed perforating device or other directional device. Signal emitting sources can include a radioactive material added to an encapsulating composition of a downhole cable.

This invention in part, relates to well drilling and completion devices and processes. More specifically, the invention, in part, is concerned with providing devices and methods that improve the ability to azimuthally orient perforating devices away from downhole cables within a perforating zone.
Conventional wells and well completions typically provide little or no downhole instrumentation and/or fluid control capability. Some conventional well completion procedures are relatively simple, essentially running production or injection tubing into the well along with perforating, gravel packing, and/or logging steps as needed. Pressure and flow control in conventional oil, gas or other fluid-producing wells typically use valves and instruments located at or near the surface in a Christmas tree arrangement. Formation fluids are typically produced until a downhole problem occurs, e.g., reservoir pressure declines or the water-cut increases or something else happens downhole that significantly reduces production or prevents the well from further commercial operation.
To evaluate the cause of production or injection problems in a conventional well, the well is typically taken off-line and one or more logging tools supported by a wireline are run through the tubing within the well. The logging tools may be used to check downhole fluid pressures, fluid types, zonal flowrates or other parameters at one or more depths to try to determine the cause of the production or injection decline and the corrective action needed. Once the problem is determined and/or new production or injection zones identified, the wireline tools are typically removed and a second re-entry into the off-line well is accomplished to correct the problem, e.g., using a workover rig. For example, a second re-entry might lower a perforating tool to re-perforate/re-complete the well at a new producing level. These conventional well completions, re-entries, and re-completions may consume unacceptable lost production time and costs, especially when applied to deepwater, multi-producing zone, high temperature, and/or high-pressure reservoirs and wells.
In contrast to conventional wells and well systems, the term "intelligent" and "smart" wells and well systems may refer to wells having downhole process control, instrumentation, and/or related components. Other terms used for intelligent or smart well systems include SCRAMS (Surface Controlled Analysis and Management System), IRIS (Intelligent Remote Implementation System), and RMC (Reservoir Monitoring & Control).
But no matter what these well systems are called, they enable real-time downhole operation, surveillance, data interpretation, intervention, and/or process control in a continuous feedback loop. The smart wells allow problems to be detected and possibly minimized or corrected without taking the well off-line. Smart well systems can therefore operate for long periods without the need to shut down and introduce instrumentation or additional wireline tools. However, the introduction of perforating tools is still typically required during the less frequent workover processes.
A smart well system typically uses downhole tubing, cables or other means for transmitting power, real-time data or control signals to or from surface equipment and downhole devices such as transducers and control valves. Power and signals typically use transmission means such as electric and/or fiber optic cables, but other transmission devices can include fluid tubing.
Other well applications may also have cables or other transmission means present during operations that may include perforating. Other well processes and applications that may require downhole transmission means include wells having a submersible electric pump, measurement while drilling (MWD) methods, and the use of downhole directional & inclination indicators, hydraulic actuators, and power supplies, e.g., for data transmission using mud pulse telemetry.
Perforating or re-perforating a well having a downhole cable or other transmission device must avoid damaging the transmission device during the perforating process, typically requiring a step of azimuthally orienting a directional-perforating device. The orienting step directs the perforating action away from nearby cables or other devices in the well. Orientating methods may include magnetic oriented techniques (MOT), obtaining positional data from downhole probes, using gravity-actuated orienting devices for non-vertical boreholes, limiting operations to within guided downhole paths, obtaining orienting data from gyroscopes, and using mechanical indicators or orientation subs.
However, the orienting step can add significant cost and/or present feasibility problems, especially when high temperature, corrosive fluids, high pressures, multiple completion zones, or other difficult downhole conditions are encountered. The added costs and problems can also be compounded by the added time to accomplish the orienting step for deep offshore wells. For example, application of current MOT techniques may be limited by high downhole temperatures and since typical well depths have been increasing, increasing downhole temperature problems for MOT processes may be encountered.


An electronic device and an electromagnetic shielding frame are provided. The electromagnetic shielding frame includes a ring-shaped portion and a plurality of soldering tabs that extend from the ring-shaped portion along a protruding direction. The soldering tabs are spaced apart from each other and are in a ring-shaped arrangement. At least one of the soldering tabs has a patterned slot layout so as to be defined as a patterned tab. A portion of the patterned slot layout of the patterned tab arranged away from the ring-shaped portion has a layout distance. The patterned slot layout is arranged along a first direction and a second direction. The first direction and the protruding direction have a first angle therebetween that is smaller than 90 degrees, and the second direction and the protruding direction have a second angle therebetween that is smaller than 90 degrees.

A conventional electromagnetic shielding frame is soldered onto a circuit board through soldering tails thereof. Since solders on the circuit board are not easy to bond with the soldering tails of the conventional electromagnetic shielding frame, an empty soldering issue may easily occur in the soldering process of the conventional electromagnetic shielding frame and the circuit board, which reduces the manufacturing yield and the product reliability.

Electronic device and electromagnetic shielding frame


A retrofocus wide-angle lens includes a first lens group of negative refractive power, a diaphragm, and a second lens group of positive refractive power. The first lens group includes an object-side lens group, a middle lens group, and an image-side lens group. The object-side lens group includes a plurality of negative lens components and a positive meniscus lens component with its convex surface on the image side. The middle lens group satisfies a particular focal length condition and includes a negative lens component at the object side. The image-side lens group includes a negative lens element and a positive lens element. The first and second lens groups include lens elements of opposite refractive power that are made of anomalous dispersion glass so as to provide chromatic aberration correction and to compensate for variations in refractive index with temperature change that would otherwise cause the focal length to vary with temperature.

Recently, an image pickup camera for broadcast TV, e.g., a so-called E cinema camera capable of recording an image for presentation on a cinema screen, has been developed. A wide-angle imaging lens used in an E cinema camera requires a wider angle and higher performance over the entire image plane than a common image pickup camera for broadcast TV.
Moreover, when a fixed solid-state image pickup element is used in such an E cinema camera, similar to its use in a common image pickup camera for broadcast TV, a low-pass filter and an infrared rejecting filter may also be provided between the imaging lens and the solid-state image pickup element. In that case, room for those filters must be provided in the back focus region of the imaging lens. Furthermore, when imaging in color with an image pickup element for each primary color, a color separation prism is provided in front of the solid-state image pickup elements, and providing room for that prism requires an even longer back focus of the imaging lens. Additionally, internal focusing is preferably used to reduce variations in aberrations and field angle usually associated with focusing in an image pickup camera for broadcast TV.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H04-118612 discloses a retrofocus wide-angle lens that provides very good performance even when the field angle is 90xc2x0 or more. However, the front lens group of that wide-angle lens is too large for the desired compactness of the image pickup camera. For example, in the retrofocus wide-angle lens of Embodiment 1 of that application, with a focal length of 5.0 mm, an FNO of 1.8, and field angle of 95.5xc2x0 (for an image circle of 11.0 mm), the optically effective diameter of the first lens group is 95 mm. However, there is a demand for making it about half that size.
Additionally, the retrofocus wide-angle lens disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H04-118612 is constructed so that focusing is performed by moving lens components in both front and rear lens groups, which requires making complicated mechanisms for focusing. Furthermore, focusing causes significant variations in field angle, which is undesirable in E cinema cameras.
As mentioned above, internal focusing is used in order to reduce variations in aberrations and field angle with focusing. Besides the retrofocus wide-angle lens disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H04-118612, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-131606 discloses a similar retrofocus wide-angle lens that uses internal focusing with a positive lens group and a negative lens group that are included within a first lens group. Focusing is achieved by moving the positive lens group that is on the image side of the negative lens group. However, for the retrofocus wide-angle lens described, the ratio of back focus to the focal length of the entire retrofocus wide-angle lens (i.e., the retrofocus ratio) is about 2.6, which is not always sufficient.
In addition, with retrofocus wide-angle lenses as described above, correction of chromatic aberration is very important. In responding to this requirement, the use of anomalous dispersion glass in a positive lens element of the second lens group is known. The term xe2x80x9canomalous dispersion glassxe2x80x9d is used herein to mean glass having a large deviation in the partial dispersion ratio xcex94 xcex8 g, F (i.e., a large xe2x80x98anomalous dispersionxe2x80x99) from a line connecting normal glasses F2 and K7 when plotted on a graph with the Y-axis being the partial dispersion ratio (xcex8 g, F) and the X-axis being the Abbe number xcexdd. For a complete explanation of what the xe2x80x98partial dispersion ratioxe2x80x99 is and how it is obtained, please see U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,898 (especially FIG. 1 and the paragraph spanning columns 6 and 7), the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a high performance retrofocus wide-angle lens, suitable for TV-type cameras, and particularly relates to a high performance retrofocus wide-angle lens with a long back focus and with a relatively small, optically effective diameter of the lens group at the object side of the retrofocus wide-angle lens that assists in obtaining the high compactness desired in that type of camera. Further, the present invention relates to such a high performance retrofocus wide-angle lens that reduces variations in aberrations and field angle with focusing and allows internal focusing with simple mechanisms. Additionally, the present invention relates to such a high performance retrofocus wide-angle lens that corrects chromatic aberrations without allowing corresponding large changes in the back focal length that are caused by changes in temperature in retrofocus lenses in prior art cameras. The present invention is especially useful for broadcast TV cameras such as E cinema cameras.


In an exemplary method, a network having first and second network manager devices is managed by independently managing a first operation using a first logic of the first network manager device, including managing a first portion of a database, and by independently managing a second operation using a second logic of the second network manager device, including managing a second portion of the database. A peer-to-peer interface can communicate information between the first and second network manager devices. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for managing a network includes a plurality of network manager devices, each device including a logic for managing a different operation, a database, and a peer-to-peer interface for sending queries to a different network manager device in the plurality and receiving queries from the different network manager device in the plurality.

In traditional network or e-service agent-server management environments, data collected and events received by the agent are sent back to a single management station server before they can be displayed and accessed by operators. This single management station server can effectively manage only a limited number of nodes on the network. The agents act like slaves of the server, and cannot be accessed or viewed directly by other existing applications or by users. In addition, agents and the management station server must reside on the same side of a firewall. In addition, the number of managed devices and/or applications that the single management station server can handle is finite.

Method and system for managing a network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In one embodiment, a merge process can determine a primary tree among nodes in a communication network, determine a backup tree for a protected segment of the primary tree, the backup tree having at least a portion of overlap with the primary tree, and stitch the backup tree to the primary tree for each node of the portion of overlap such that when a message is transmitted for a group according to the backup tree, each node of the portion of overlap receives a single instance of the message of the group.

Internet Protocol (IP) communications such as multicast transmission, allow a host to send data (e.g., packets) to a subset of various nodes as a group transmission. Multicast transmission is particularly useful for applications that steam audio and video (e.g., IP television or "IPTV") since multicast transmission conserves bandwidth by minimizing duplication of data. Multicast transmission can be employed using various network routing protocols such as, for example, multi-protocol label switching (MPLS). With respect to MPLS networks, avoidance of packet loss (due to various failures in a network) is imperative to prevent degradation of real-time services (e.g., streaming video, etc.).

Local reroute protection for multicast multiprotocol label switching


A tetrapeptide derivative represented by the following formula or a salt thereof has a higher cytostatic activity than dolastatin 10, and is useful as an antitumor agent: ##STR1## wherein, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or an aralkyl group;. Q represents ##STR2## or a group of -A.sub.2 -R.sub.7, wherein, A.sub.1 represents a direct bond or ##STR3## Y represents a hydrogen atom or --COR.sub.6, R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or an aralkyl group,. R.sub.6 represents a hydroxyl group, a lower alkoxy group, an aralkyloxy group or ##STR4## wherein, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group or a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic group containing one or two hetero atoms selected from S, O and N, or alternatively PA2 A.sub.2 represents a direct bond or a lower alkylene group, and PA2 R.sub.7 represents a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or an indolyl group, PA2 provided that the case is excluded where both R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent isopropyl groups, R.sub.3 represents a sec-butyl group, R.sub.4 represents a methyl group, and Q represents an .alpha.-(2-thiazolyl)phenethyl group.. R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 may combine together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded to form a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring optionally further containing one hetero atom selected from S, O and N,

Peptides having a cytostatic activity and/or an antineoplasm activity have been isolated from marine molluscs, sea hare Dolabella auricularia and these peptides are called dolastatins 1 to 15. Among them, dolastatin 10 is a pentapeptide extracted from Dolabella auricularia from the Indian Ocean in 1987 by G. R. Pettit, et al. and having the following structural formula, and is said to be the strongest cytostatic substance presently known (see G. R. Pettit, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 109, 6883 (1987) and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 167278/1992). ##STR9##
Further, recently, publication was made on the total synthesis of dolastatin 10 itself (see, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,744), but its derivatives have not so far been known at all.
The present inventors had intensely studied about derivatives of dolastatin 10, and as a result they found that certain dolastatin analogs represented by the above formula (I) have a higher cytostatic activity than dolastatin 10. They further found that many of these compounds have a larger therapeutic ratio (maximum effective dose/dose at 30% prolongation of life) and a lower toxicity than dolastatin 10, and are thus excellent as an antitumor agent.
Namely, they found not only that amino acid analogs of dolastatin 10 exhibit a higher activity than the native dolastatin 10, but that the activity is, unexpectedly, extremely increased by introducing a carboxyl derivative into the thiazole ring. Further, they found, throughly astoundingly, that derivatives wherein the thiazole ring is eliminated show extremely higher activity than dolastatin 10.


According to one embodiment, an object retrieval apparatus includes a query acceptance unit and a collision decision unit. The query acceptance unit is configured to accept a retrieval query indicating (N−1)-dimensional surface in N-dimensional space (N is an integral number larger than or equal to three). The collision decision unit is configured to decide whether the (N−1)-dimensional surface intersects N-dimensional cuboid positioned in the N-dimensional space. The collision decision unit decides by using a plurality of decision functions. The plurality of decision functions includes zero-th˜(N−1)-th decision functions to decide whether at least a part of at least one of X-dimensional face (X is all integral numbers larger than or equal to zero, and smaller than or equal to (N−1)) of the N-dimensional cuboid is included in the (N−1)-dimensional surface.

A three-dimensional database controls a set of objects positioned in a spatiotemporal space. For example, the objects are three-dimensional (3D) objects of application software such as GIS or CAD. The three-dimensional database has a function to accept a query indicating a range and return a list of objects included in the range. As a data structure/index of the database, R-tree, Quad-tree, or expansion thereof, are used.
As conventional technique, a function to decide invention/collision by using a quadric surface is known. As to this function, a quadric surface approximating an object (represented as a polyhedron) is generated, and collision decision is simply performed by using the quadric surface. In this case, parts (components) in a machine densely including at largest 10000 parts are decided whether to collide. This technique does not attach importance to accuracy of approximation, and each part is very roughly approximated as a minimum bounded box. On the other hand, in order to quickly decide whether to collide with a quadric surface (indicated), decision steps are finely controlled.
Furthermore, as a thesis thereof, R-tree (Antonin Guttman: R-Trees: A Dynamic Index Structure for Spatial Searching, Proc. 1984 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data, pp. 47-57. ISBN 0-89791-128-8), and Quad-tree (Raphael Finkel and J. L. Bentley (1974), "Quad Trees: A Data Structure for Retrieval on Composite Keys", Acta Informatica 4 (1): doi:10.1007/BF00288933), are well known. In these theses, a data structure to process a large number (such as a million units) of objects is disclosed. However, a region indicated by a query is only a rectangle. Accordingly, the query cannot be finely controlled such as a quadric surface.
Briefly, in R-tree and Quad-tree, each object is controlled as a unit of minimum bounded box (MBB) surrounding the object, and a region indicated by the query is also a cuboid.
However, in 3D database to control position (location) of a PV (Photovoltaic power generation) device (panel), a query such as a list of objects (PV panel) included in a shadow of a building, a list of objects included in a view from some viewpoint, or a list of objects inside a circle having a radius of n km from the indicated point, is often generated.

Apparatus and a method for retrieving an object


A recirculating water extractor includes a swirl vane, a converging nozzle, and two sumps. The recirculating water extractor may be designed to reintroduce uncollected water droplets back into the air stream upstream of both sumps, which may provide additional opportunities for separation. The Coanda effect may be exploited to increase the discharge of water along a surface. Utilizing a converging nozzle may intensify the centrifugal force applied to the air stream rich with entrained water and may move more of entrained water into contact with the wall of the nozzle, which, in turn, may enhance the liquid/vapor separation compared to prior art water extractors. The recirculating water extractor utilizing the Coanda effect and the method for removing entrained water from an air stream may be suitable for, but not limited to, applications in the aircraft and aerospace industries, for example, by being included in environmental control systems of aircraft.

The present invention generally relates to environmental control systems and, more particularly, to a recirculating water extractor utilizing the Coanda effect and a method for water removal from an air stream passing through an aircraft environmental control system.
Environmental control systems are typically used in a closed area, especially an aircraft, to permit life to be sustained; the system generally provides the occupants of such closed area with a suitably controlled atmosphere to permit them to live and work in the area. An environmental control system of aircraft typically provides air supply, thermal control and pressurization for the passengers and crew, but may also provide avionics cooling, smoke detection, and fire suppression. On most aircraft utilizing jet engines, air is supplied to the environmental control system by being bled off a compressor of the jet engine upstream of the combustor. Temperature, pressure, and moisture content of this bleed air vary widely depending upon the thrust setting of the engine and the ambient conditions.
Compressed, warm, humid air, such as bleed air from a compressor stage of an aircraft gas turbine, is often transported into the environmental system of an aircraft. The compressed air is typically cooled with ambient air to near ambient temperature in an air-to-air heat exchanger and then expanded in an air cycle machine to provide a stream of cooled, conditioned air. When the air is cooled, water condenses. Therefore, the water entrained in the air must be removed from the air stream to protect rotating machinery and electronics. Excessive water in the air may also create passenger and pilot discomfort. Typically, the water is removed from the air by a water extractor, such as a conventional fixed vane centrifugal water separator. In many cases it is desirable to remove as much water as possible. Conventional water extractors typically may not collect all the water entrained in the air. Removing as much water as possible from the air using a water extractor as small and lightweight as possible would benefit the aircraft hardware, electronics, crew, passengers, and performance.
A water extractor of an environmental control system for removing water droplets entrained in an air stream has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,195B1. The water extractor includes a swirl section and a water collector section. Water droplets are captured by two sumps. Even though this water extractor is compact and efficient, the air may still contain entrained water after passing the described water extractor and it may be advantageous to remove even more of the water entrained from the air.
Another prior art patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,845, describes an apparatus for separation of a liquid from a multiphase fluid flow flowing through a pipeline, wherein the fluid flow is separated into a central zone essentially containing gas, and an outer annular zone essentially containing liquid, and from which the gas and the liquid in the two zones are discharged via respective outlet means. The described apparatus includes a series of valves, which may be disadvantageous since valves are movable parts.
As can be seen, there is a need for a water extractor that removes more entrained water from an air stream passing through an environmental control system, for example, of an aircraft, than currently possible. Furthermore, there is a need for a compact and highly efficient water extractor that may be used in an environmental control system of an aircraft and that provides comfort to crew and passengers, protects machinery and electronics, and improves the aircraft performance. Still further, there is a need to eliminate movable parts from a water extractor by simplifying the design to eliminate production cost and to prolong the operating lifespan of the water extractor.


In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, with a seat part and a backrest as seat components, of which at least one seat component has a structure (11) and at least one adapter (15) arranged on the structure (11), the adapter (15) bears extensively and with a form-fitting connection on the structure (11).

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular to a motor vehicle seat, having a seat part and a backrest as seat components, with at least one of the seat components having a structure and at least one adapter arranged on the structure.
EP 1 110 809 A2 discloses a vehicle seat of the type described immediately above, in which basic modules are fixed on a standard seat frame and/or backrest frame—without changing the structure—by way of adapters in the form of straps or wires. The basic modules in turn bear additional subassemblies, such as lordosis supports, side cheeks, supporting brackets, shoulder supports, ventilators or seat air-conditioning systems. The adapters are fixed on the frame or on nuts fastened thereto, for example by way of a screw connection or rivet connection, with the intention being for the frames to be weakened as little as possible.

Vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat


The present invention is one that, in measurement of exhaust gases respectively discharged from a first engine and a second engine, reduce a PM measurement error caused by sharing a dilution tunnel, and has: a dilution tunnel for diluting exhaust gas from an engine with dilution air; a diesel exhaust gas introduction path that introduces diesel exhaust gas from a diesel engine DE into the dilution tunnel; and a gasoline exhaust gas introduction path that introduces diluted gasoline exhaust gas from a gasoline engine GE into the dilution tunnel, wherein: the dilution tunnel has a gas mixing part that mixes the diesel exhaust gas introduced by the diesel exhaust gas introduction path and the dilution air with each other; and the gasoline exhaust gas introduction path introduces the gasoline exhaust gas into an upstream side of the gas mixing part in the dilution tunnel.

As this sort of exhaust gas dilution device, as disclosed in JPA 2000-329661, as a device that measures particulate matter (PM) contained in exhaust gas discharged from an engine, there is one that has a dilution tunnel, an exhaust gas introduction pipe for introducing the exhaust gas into the dilution tunnel, and an orifice plate that is provided near an introduction port of the exhaust gas introduction pipe and formed with an orifice.
Also, as disclosed in International Publication No. WO2010/112286, there is an exhaust gas dilution device that is, by providing a single dilution tunnel with a first exhaust gas introduction pipe for introducing first exhaust gas and a second exhaust gas introduction pipe for introducing second exhaust gas, and switching between the exhaust gas introduction pipes by a switching valve, configured to be able to selectively dilute and measure any of the exhaust gases from respective engines. In addition, in the exhaust gas dilution device, on a downstream side of an orifice that mixes the first exhaust gas and dilution air with each other, the second exhaust gas introduction pipe is connected.
However, the second exhaust gas introduction pipe is connected on the downstream side of the orifice, and therefore in the case of performing PM measurement of the first exhaust gas, there is a problem that the first exhaust gas diluted by the orifice is retained in opening space of the second exhaust gas introduction pipe or attached on an inner surface forming the opening space to cause a measurement error in the PM measurement of the first exhaust gas. That is, on the downstream side of a mixing part where the first exhaust gas and the dilution gas are mixed, the exhaust gas is cooled by the dilution gas to produce PM. Further, in the case of providing the dead space on the downstream side of such a mixing part, the PM is attached in the dead space to cause the measurement error. Also, in the case of performing PM measurement of the second exhaust gas after the end of the PM measurement of the first exhaust gas, there is a problem that the PM that arises from the first exhaust and is retained or attached in the opening space of the second exhaust gas introduction pipe may be measured as PM contained in the second exhaust gas, and therefore a measurement error occurs in the PM measurement of the second exhaust gas.

Exhaust gas dilution device and PM measurement system


A method of recycling building materials is described, including the steps of introducing the building material into a cement kiln or a boiler, and combusting a combustible portion of the building material as a fuel within the kiln or boiler. The noncombustible portion of the building material is incorporated into a clinker material within the kiln or used to reduce emissions form the boiler.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related generally to a method and apparatus for recycling building materials in as a supplemental fuel source and source of raw material(s).
2. Prior Art
Cement is produced by heating raw materials, forming a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and small amounts of other ingredients. Common among the materials used in its manufacture are inorganic materials, such as limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate or blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore. Lime and silica typically make up about 85% of the mass. The raw materials are heated in a cement kiln at high temperatures of typically 2600° F. to 3000° F. (1430° C. to 1650° C.). The inorganic minerals are "digested" in the kiln through a very complex set of chemical reactions, yielding oxides, and then finally complex silicates, which comprise the clinker. At 2700° F. (1480° C.), this series of chemical reactions cause the materials to fuse and create cement clinker-grayish-black pellets, often the size of marbles. Clinker is discharged red-hot from the lower end of the kiln in marble-sized pieces, and is transferred to various types of coolers to lower the clinker to handling temperatures. Cooled clinker is combined with gypsum and ground into a fine gray powder. The clinker is ground so fine that nearly all of it passes through a No. 200 mesh (75 micron) sieve. This fine gray powder is (termed) Portland cement.
The raw materials are placed in the high end and as the kiln rotates the materials move slowly toward the lower end. Natural Gas through Flame jets, and/or pulverized coal is feed in the lower end of the kiln to heat the materials in the kiln. Utilizing counter current flow, the kiln heat drives off, or calcines, the chemically combined water and carbon dioxide from the raw materials and forms new compounds (tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate and tetracalcium aluminoferrite). Of the material that goes into the feed end of the kiln, about 67% is discharged as clinker.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,333, pumpable and solid hazardous wastes have been used a supplemental fuel to produce the heat for heating the mixture. Such wastes are typically used primarily for the heat value thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,256, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a process for using various waste fuel sources, analyzing the ash of each, and adjusting the raw material inputs for the cement based on the ash composition. Such wastes are previously known wastes used in such processes, such as sludge waste and such.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,256, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a process for using various waste fuel sources, analyzing the ash of each, and adjusting the raw material inputs for the cement based on the ash composition. Such wastes are previously known wastes used in such processes, such as industrial waste sludge. The '256 patent requires a minimum of two waste streams, and blending and grinding to achieve a maximum 1000-micron particle size with a minimum BTU value and a maximum ash content. Accordingly, the '256 patent restricts the type and form of wastes which can be used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,474 describes using waste materials from electric arc furnaces to supplement the input materials for cement to provide an inexpensive raw material, but not to recover fuel value therefrom.
Likewise, during combustion of organic materials, undesirable emissions typically occur, including SOx and NOx. The level of such emissions may be affected by controlling the combustion temperature and adding calcium carbonate during combustion. A preferred means of accomplishing this includes the use of a fluidized bed boiler ("FBB"). In such a boiler, a bed is fluidized. This bed consists of fuel and lime added to the bed. NOx is generally lower in a FBB due to the relatively low temperature of the bed. As an added NOx control, secondary air can be used as overfire air to further control NOx. The lime within the bed captures the SO2 released from the burning fuel and reacts to form calcium sulfate (gypsum).
Asphalt shingles have been used extensively as a roofing material for the construction of buildings. In the process of making shingles, an organic or glass mat is coated with asphalt filled with limestone or dolomite, and inorganic granules are imbedded in the filled asphalt. Waste product from such an operation, or shingles removed from a house after their useful life, are sent to a landfill, due to the variety of materials used and the difficulty in separation of such materials. Often during the removal of old shingles form a house, nails used in the installation thereof, as well as rotten boards, tar paper, vents and other such materials are removed and sent with the shingles to the landfill. Furthermore, composite shingles have come into use in the recent past, an example of which is the Owens Corning Mira Vista®Shake, which comprises a filled polymeric shingle. Similar to the asphalt shingle, such a composite shingle may be recycled by combusting the polymeric material and using any filler materials therefrom as a component of the cement. Furthermore, other building materials such as siding materials, including asphalt siding, cedar siding, cementious siding and such, may be recycled in a similar manner.
It would be desirable to find an alternative disposal method for scrap building materials from the manufacturing process and building renovations, including asphalt shingles.

Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.


An example composite building material includes one or more layers of polymeric fibers, binding agent, and optional fillers, and at least one surface layer of resin-impregnated paper disposed above and/or below the one or more layers. The one or more layers can include a core layer with longer polymeric fibers and top and bottom layers with shorter polymeric fibers. A method of manufacturing the composite building material includes forming the one or more layers, applying the at least one surface layer above and/or below the one or more layers, and heating and pressing the combined layers.

Natural and manmade composites can be used in building construction, industrial applications, consumer goods, automotive products, and other industries requiring moisture or thermal resistance with various physical properties, such as low moisture absorbance and low thermal distortion. The ability to build composites of this nature, while controlling physical properties such as strength, stiffness, ductility, impact resistance, and hardness, opens a variety of application opportunities. PCs, however, may be expensive to produce, due in part to the high cost of virgin thermoplastic materials used therein. While use of PCs may be desirable as an alternative to natural wood products to limit the depletion of timber resources, the high cost of PCs compared to wood products may limit their use. Moreover, manufacturing PCs requires the manufacturing of even more virgin plastics, thus presenting an additional environmental problem.
There exists growing pressure to re-utilize waste streams which are high in volume and low in degradability. In particular the manufacture, installation, use and (eventually) replacement of floor covering products, especially carpeting, produces a large amount of waste product. Carpet waste from new carpet production, post-consumer landfill or other used carpet applications, is a several billion pound-per-year waste problem. Often, carpet waste is not recycled, but rather is disposed of by land-filling or burning, with the obvious attendant environmental and cost concerns.
What is needed, then, is a plastic composite that may still function acceptably in a variety of applications, while being inexpensive to manufacture, due to incorporation of readily available waste products.

Composite building materials and methods of manufacture


Apparatus, methods and systems for inspecting and/or sensing defects in a thermal pressure relief device. The thermal pressure relief apparatus may comprise a bulb having a fluid therein. In some implementations, a sensor may be used to determine whether the fluid within the bulb exceeds a fill level threshold. Upon determining that the fluid is below the fill level threshold, an action may be taken. In some implementations, the action may comprise providing a notification.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles typically employ high-pressure tanks or other vessels containing compressed hydrogen gas. Such high-pressure vessels often include one or more pressure relief devices. Such pressure relief devices may be located at an end of the high-pressure vessel at which location various valves, pressure regulators, connectors, excess flow limiters, and the like may be located to allow the vessel to be filled with compressed hydrogen gas to "re-fuel."
Such pressure relief devices may be thermally activated. In other words, when the hydrogen gas is exposed to high temperatures, the pressure relief device may be activated to relieve pressure that otherwise could result in rupturing of the vessel. Some such pressure relief devices comprise a fragile bulb comprising a liquid that is exposed to heat from the vehicle and/or vessel. When heated to a predetermined temperature, the bulb is configured to burst, thereby opening a vent and allowing the hydrogen gas to exit the vessel.
However, since such devices may rely on the presence of a liquid in order to burst at the predetermined temperature, it may be imperative that a user or technician be notified in the event that the bulb loses some or all of its liquid. This may occur, for example, if the bulb cracks but does not fully burst.
The present inventors have therefore determined that it would be desirable to provide apparatus, methods, and systems for inspecting and/or sensing defects in a thermal pressure relief device in order to detect, for example, losses in fluid in the bulb of such a device and/or defects in a condition of the bulb, and/or in order to overcome one or more other limitations of the prior art.

Thermal pressure relief devices and related systems and methods


A machine tool includes a rotary table on which a workpiece is mounted, a clamping mechanism for clamping the rotary table against rotation, and a sensor for detecting completion of a clamping operation of the clamping mechanism. A numerical controller for controlling the machine tool calculates the time required for actual operations of the clamping mechanism, taking into account beforehand the processing time for processing a feedback signal from a sensor and the time until the next operation of the machine tool. By controlling the clamping mechanism based on the calculated required time, the cycle time of clamping or unclamping operations is shortened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine tool having a rotary table.
2. Description of the Related Art
A machine tool having a rotary table is equipped with a clamping mechanism for determining the phase of the rotary table and maintaining that phase. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-83013 for example, such a clamping mechanism maintains the determined phase by pushing a pressing member or the like against a disk integral with the rotary table (clamping), or conversely, permits rotation of the rotary table by releasing the pressing member from the disk (unclamping).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-248242 describes a clamping device incorporated in a rotary table that checks clamping after a clamping operation by determining the state of clamping based on positional deviation information.
Traditional clamping mechanisms confirm that clamping and unclamping operations are completed by means of a sensor before performing the next operation. Referring to the timing diagram shown in FIG. 4, a procedure of operations (clamping (unclamping)) associated with such a clamping mechanism will be described.    (1) A command signal to start clamping (or unclamping) is output by a numerical controller of the machine tool.    (2) Mechanistic clamping (or unclamping) operation of the clamping mechanism is started.    (3) Completion of the mechanistic clamping (or unclamping) operation of the clamping mechanism is detected by a sensor.    (4) A command signal for the next operation of the machine tool is output by the numerical controller.
As shown in FIG. 4, the time (clamping mechanism operation time) from output of the clamping (or unclamping) start command signal in (1) to output of the command signal for the next operation of the machine tool by the numerical controller in (4) is Ta. Because the clamping mechanism operation time Ta is not constant, a current clamping mechanism determines Ta by measurement with a sensor and the numerical controller of the machine tool. The actual operation time taken for clamping (or unclamping) (actual clamping mechanism operation time) is time Tb from output of the clamping (or unclamping) start command signal in (1) to start of clamping (unclamping) operation of the clamping mechanism in (2).
It can be thus deemed that a clamping (unclamping) process involves an extra processing time Tc equal to clamping mechanism operation time Ta minus actual clamping mechanism operation time Tb (i.e., Tc=Ta−Tb). The processing time Tc is substantially constant as it essentially depends on the throughput of the tool (time required for signal transmission and time required for signal processing). For a fast clamping mechanism that performs clamping (unclamping) at high speed, the processing time Tc accounts for a relatively large portion of clamping mechanism operation time Ta, being a non-negligible length of time.


An IPS (in-plane switching mode) liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof, in which post treatment lowering the pre-tilt angle is performed on a rubbed alignment layer on a substrate using a non-rubbing method such as UV or ion-beam irradiation, and by which a viewing angle characteristic is enhanced. The present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a gate line and a data line crossing with each other on the first substrate to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor at a crossing of the gate and data lines, a pixel electrode and a common electrode alternately arranged in the pixel area a predetermined interval from each other, an alignment layer over the pixel and common electrodes having a pre-tilt angle equal to or smaller than about 1°, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an IPS (in-plane switching mode) liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, cathode ray tubes (hereinafter abbreviated CRTs) have been the most popular of the various display devices that display image information on a screen. Yet, CRTs have a considerable amount of volume and weight per unit display area, thereby resulting in CRTs being inconvenient for use.
Display devices, which have been used in a limited capacity for TV and the like, are now being employed in personal computers, notebook computers, vehicle instrument boards, and electronic advertisement boards and the like. As massive volumes of data containing image information is enabled to be transferred due to the development of information communication technology, a next generation display device enabling implementation of processing the image information becomes more important.
Such a next generation display device needs to have lightweight, slimness, shortness, smallness, high luminance, wide screen, low power consumption and low price. Hence, a liquid crystal display device is an example of one of the next generation display devices.
Display resolution of the liquid crystal display (LCD) is better than that of any other flat panel display devices. In implementing moving pictures, the LCD has a response speed characteristic as fast as that of CRT.
As one of the popular LCDs, there is a TN (twisted nematic) mode LCD. In the TN mode LCD, electrodes are provided to a pair of substrates, respectively, a liquid crystal director is aligned to be twisted by 90°, and a voltage is applied to the electrodes to drive the liquid crystal director.
Yet, it is disadvantageous that the TN mode LCD has a narrow viewing angle.
To solve the problem of the narrow viewing angle, many efforts have been made to research and develop LCD devices employing various new modes. For example, there are IPS (in-plane switching mode), OCB (optically compensated birefringence mode) and the like.
In the IPS LCD, in order to drive liquid crystal molecules maintaining a horizontal state to a substrate, a voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes formed on the same substrate to generate an electric field in a direction horizontal to the substrate. Namely, a long axis of the liquid crystal molecule is not erected against the substrate.
Hence, the variation of the birefringence of liquid crystals for a viewing direction is small to have a viewing angle characteristic better than that of the related art TN LCD.
An IPS LCD device according to a related art is explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings as follows.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are cross-sectional diagrams of an IPS LCD device according to a related art, in which operations in off/on states are shown, respectively.
In FIG. 1A, since a horizontal electric field is not applied in the off-state, there is no motion of a liquid crystal layer 211.
In FIG. 1B, alignment of liquid crystals in an on-state with voltage impression is shown. There is no phase change of a liquid crystal 211a at a position confronting a common electrode 217 or a pixel electrode 230. Yet, another liquid crystal 211b situated between the common electrode 217 and the pixel electrode 230 is aligned by a horizontal electric field K generated from voltage impression between the common and pixel electrodes 217 and 230 in the same direction of the horizontal electric field K.
Namely, in the IPS LCD, a viewing angle is widened due to the liquid crystals moved by the horizontal electric field.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of fabricating an IPS LCD device according to a related art.
In FIG. 2, upper and lower substrates of an IPS LCD device are prepared (S100).
Subsequently, a cleaning process S110 is carried out to remove particles on the substrates having various patterns formed thereon. An alignment layer printing process S120 for printing polyimide (PI), i.e., an alignment layer raw material liquid on an upper surface of the substrate is then carried out using an alignment layer printing instrument.
Next, an alignment layer plasticizing process S130 for hardening the alignment layer raw material liquid in a manner of heating to dry solvent of the alignment layer raw material liquid is carried out.
Subsequently, an alignment layer rubbing process S140 is carried out using a rubbing machine to form recesses by rubbing a surface of the plasticized alignment layer surface in a uniform direction.
After completion of the alignment layer forming process, a seal pattern is formed on an edge of the upper substrate except a liquid crystal inlet. And, spacers are scattered on the lower substrate (S150).
Subsequently, the upper and lower substrates are bonded to each other (S160). In doing so, since light leakage occurs in case of failing in meeting a specific margin, precision of several micrometers (μm) is needed.
A cell cutting process is then carried out to cut the bonded substrates into unit cells (S170). The cell cutting process, which is to cut the completely bonded substrates into the unit cells having a specific size each, consists of a scribing process for forming lines on surfaces of the upper and lower substrates and a breaking process for cutting the substrates by impacting the scribed lines.
Finally, liquid crystals are injected in a gap between the substrates cut into each of the unit cells and the liquid crystal inlet is then sealed to prevent the liquid crystals from leaking out (S180). Thus, the LCD device is completed.
In this case, physical properties of liquid crystals are changed according to molecule alignment state, whereby a difference in a response to an external force such as an electric field and the like takes place.
Because of the above-explained properties of liquid crystal molecules, alignment control of liquid crystal molecules is essential to a configuration of the LCD device as well as study of liquid crystal physical property.
Specifically, the rubbing process for aligning liquid crystal molecules uniformly in a uniform direction plays an important role in driving the LCD normally and deciding uniform display characteristics of a screen. Hence, many efforts have been made to research and study the rubbing process.
A process of forming an alignment layer to decide an initial alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules according to a related art is explained in detail as follows.
First of all, formation of an alignment layer is carried out in a manner of coating a polymer film and aligning an alignment layer in a uniform direction.
A polyimide-based organic substance is mainly used as the alignment layer, and the alignment layer is aligned by a rubbing method.
The rubbing method is carried out in a manner of coating a polyimide-based organic substance on a substrate, removing a solvent at 60˜80° C., hardening the organic substance at 80˜200° C. to form a polyimide alignment layer, and then rubbing the alignment layer in a uniform direction using a rubbing cloth of velvet and the like.
Such a rubbing method facilitates alignment treatment to be suitable for mass production and to guarantee stable alignment.
Yet, such a rubbing method may result in a failure of rubbing in case of performing rubbing using a roller having a defective rubbing cloth thereto.
Namely, since a rubbing method using a rubbing cloth is carried out through a direct contact between an alignment layer and the rubbing cloth, various problems such as contamination of liquid crystal cells due to particles, breakage of TFT devices previously formed on a substrate due to static electricity, necessity of additional cleaning after rubbing, non-uniformity of alignment in wide area application and the like take place to lower yield of LCD fabrication.
Moreover, unlike the TN LCD, the IPS LCD needs a small pre-tilt angle. The reason is explained as follows.
Since the IPS LCD has a smaller retardation variation according to a gray level in all viewing angles rather than the TN LCD, a viewing angle of the IPS LCD is enhanced. Yet, in case of a small pre-tilt angle, asymmetry of the viewing angle occurs in the IPS LCD.
However, if the alignment layer is formed by performing the rubbing treatment on the generally used alignment layer of polyimide and the like, the pre-tilt angle becomes high. And, it is unable to secure alignment stability of liquid crystals. Moreover, asymmetry of the viewing angle occurs.

Method of fabricating an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display comprising rubbing and applying a beam to set pre-tilt angles


A process for regenerating molybdenum containing ammoxidation catalyst comprising replacing the molybdenum loss from the catalyst during the ammoxidation reaction wherein ammonium dimolybdenum is utilized as the source for replacement of the molybdenum loss from the original catalyst.

Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a method of regeneration of mixed metal oxide catalyst. In particular, the present invention is directed to the regeneration of bismuth-moly-iron-promoted mixed metal oxide catalyst useful in the ammoxidation of propylene to acrylonitrile.
Mixed metal oxide based supported catalysts which are active in ammoxidation reactions, particularly in the production of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile from propylene or isobutylene, ammonia and oxygen are known in the art. A typical mixed metal oxide catalyst suitable for ammoxidation contains molybdenum, bismuth and iron promoted with various metals. It has been observed that the activity of such catalyst declines as a result of prolonged exposure to ammoxidation conditions and this decline, which manifests itself as a reduction in the yield of useful reaction products given by the catalyst, is accompanied by a partial loss of molybdenum. Typically, when the yield of acrylonitrile with respect to propylene conversion is reduced by five or more percentage units compared with the value of a fresh catalyst, the ammoxidation catalyst is spent and needs regeneration.
Several methods have been proposed in the art for the regeneration of spent ammoxidation catalyst. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,882,159; 4,052,332; 4,757,038; 4,536,483; and 4,425,255. Each of these patents discloses various means of regeneration of ammoxidation catalyst. In addition, German Patent No. 3,311,521 also discloses a regeneration procedure for ammoxidation catalyst. Of the foregoing patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,425,255, 4,609,635 and 4,052,332, as well as German Patent 3,311,521 each are concerned with regeneration of bismith-molybdenum-iron-containing catalyst promoted with various other elements. U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,159 discloses a regeneration procedure which includes adding molybdenum oxide on an inert support to the catalyst for regeneration. U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,635 discloses that the catalyst may be regenerated using aqueous ammonium molybdate, in particular, ammonium heptamolybdate to add molybdenum to the catalyst. A similar teaching with the addition of molybdenum trioxide and ammonium heptamolybdate can be seen in German Patent 3,311,521 as well as the U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,255. Generally, each of the references discloses that the regeneration of the promoted bismuth, iron, molybdenum catalyst system requires the replacement of molybdenum onto the catalyst.

Performance of used molybdenum based catalysts by the addition of ammonium dimolybdate


An apparatus to stimulate the vestibular system of an individual. The apparatus comprises an optical stimulator configured to optically stimulate a nerve area affecting a person's balance, and a control module coupled to the optical stimulator, the control module being configured to control the optical stimulator.

The ability of human beings to maintain stability and balance is controlled by the vestibular system. This system provides the central nervous system with the information needed to maintain balance and stability.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing part of the vestibular system 100. As shown, the vestibular system includes a set of ring-shaped tubes, referred to as the semicircular canals 102a-c, that are filled with the endolymph fluid. The semicircular canals are formed by a membrane called the membranous labyrinth. Each of the semicircular canals 102a-c is disposed inside a hollow bony tube (not shown in the diagram) called the bony labyrinth that extends along the contours of the semicircular canals. As further shown in FIG. 1, each semicircular canal 102a-c terminates in an enlarged balloon-shaped section called the ampulla (marked 104a-c in FIG. 1). Inside each ampulla is the cupula 106a-c, on which hair cells are embedded. Generally, as the semicircular canals 102a-c rotate due to rotational motion of a head, the endolymph fluid inside the canal will lag behind the moving canals, and thus cause the hair cells on the cupula to bend and deform. The deformed hair cells stimulate nerves attached to the hair cells, resulting in the generation of nerve signals that are sent to the central nervous system. These signals are decoded to provide the central nervous system with motion information. The three canals are mutually orthogonal and together provide information about rotation in all three spatial dimensions.
The other endorgans in the vestibular system are the otolith organs, the utricle and the saccule. These endorgans act as linear accelerometers and respond to both linear acceleration and gravity.
In response to the vestibular nerve impulses, the central nervous system experiences motion perception and controls the movement of various muscles thereby enabling the body to maintain its balance.
When some hair cells of peripheral vestibular system are damaged, but others remain viable (as often happens in situations involving bilateral vestibular hypofunction), the central nervous system of a person receives inaccurate information regarding the person's motion. As a result, the person's ability to maintain stability and balance will be compromised. Persons with improperly functioning vestibular systems may consequently experience vertigo, dizziness, and clumsiness, which may lead to collisions and spontaneous falls.
Another type of vestibular system affliction is Meniere's disease. Meniere's disease is a medical condition in which the vestibular system, for unknown reasons, suddenly begins varying the pulse-repetition frequency of the vestibular signal, even when the patient is stationary. This results in severe dizziness. Subsequently, and again for no known reason, the vestibular system begins generating a vestibular signal consistent with the person's spatial orientation, thereby ending the person's symptoms.
One way to remedy symptoms associated with ailments that result in the central nervous system receiving inaccurate motion information is to use prostheses based on electrical stimulation. Such prostheses use implanted or non-implanted transmitting electrodes to cause electrical stimulation of a target nerve (e.g., vestibular nerve ganglion cells). Such electrical stimulation results, for example, in corresponding reflexive responses in the vestibulo-ocular and the vestibulo-spinal pathways, thereby enabling the person to maintain balance and stability in response to the electrical stimulation. Alternatively, such electrodes can target nerves other than those associated with the vestibular system.
Similarly, to alleviate symptoms of Meniere's disease, electrical prostheses can be used to provide a stationary signal to the brain. This can be achieved by producing a jamming signal, through electrical stimulation, that, when combined with a non-stationary signal present on the vestibular nerve, causes the vestibular nerve to provide a stationary signal to the brain. A description of the use of electrical, mechanical, and chemical stimulation of the vestibular system to alleviate Meniere's disease symptoms is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/738,920, entitled "Vestibular Stimulator", filed Dec. 16, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Although useful in providing some relief from vestibular system afflictions, electrical stimulation tends to affect large nerve areas. Such stimulation, therefore, is less useful when refined or focused stimulation is sought. Moreover, electrical stimulation is generally performed using electrodes that have to be positioned proximate to the nerves that those electrode will target. Consequently, when the target nerves are the nerves of the vestibular system, the electrodes have to be surgically implanted close to those nerves. Such a surgical procedure often necessitates cutting through bones surrounding the target nerves, thus resulting in considerable collateral damage to the affected area.

Method for optical stimulation of the vestibular system


A procedure for producing printed circuit boards with pads for insertion of SMDs. A copper lined base plate is provided with a positive photoprotective layer with a coating thickness lesser or equal to the depth of the pads to be built up for the connection of SMD components. The positive photoprotective layer is exposed using a primary film with a window mask corresponding to the desired pad arrangement, and the exposed base plate is developed in a developing bath such that the photoprotective layer is removed in the area of the exposed windows, exposing open copper areas there. The base plate developed in this way is exposed with a secondary film with a mask for the strip conductors, whereby the strip conductors are modeled as opaque areas. The twice-exposed base plate is electroplated in a tin or tin-lead bath, whereby a tin or tin-lead coating is built up in the region of the open copper area until the pads have been formed by this means with a depth greater or equal to the thickness of the photoprotective layer. The electroplated base plate is developed in a developing bath, whereby the tinplated pad areas and the protective layer regions covered by the opaque strip conductor areas of the secondary film remain. The base plate developed in this way is etched, whereby the laid-open copper areas are removed and the protective lacquer existing in the strip conductor areas is removed, laying bare the copper strip conductor areas.

Current production of printed circuit boards for the insertion of SMDs takes place, by way of example, through a HAL tin plating. However, severe fluctuations in the effective coating depth occur with this method, and for larger pads, overly light coating levels are frequently ascertained across considerable portions of the pad surfaces with all the negative consequences for subsequent working properties. One such consequence is that the individual connecting legs of the SMD components to be soldered on, ICs, for example, are not soldered.
The so-called optipad printed circuit board procedure is known for eliminating disadvantages of this type; this requires four individual procedural steps. In the first step, application of a temporary solder stop mask with a vacuum laminator takes place over the entire surface of both sides of the printed circuit board. Afterwards, the temporary solder mask is deposited, exposed and developed in a second step. A "cup structure" emerges as a result with precisely defined cavities in the area of the pads to be formed. This cup structure is filled with amounts of solder corresponding to the volume of each of the desired cavities. The solder sets afterward with a flat surface. The temporary solder stop mask is then removed in an aligning step. This procedure is very expensive due to the procedural runoff, which makes an additional mask necessary. In addition, there is a question here of a procedure which requires procedure specific facilities previously not used in the preparation of printed circuit boards.
Also known is the so-called SIPAD procedure, whereby a solder stop foil serving as a pad mask is used as a solder stop resist, and the recesses of the mask filled with solid solder by means of remelting with paste solder such that the surface is aligned level with the solder stop foil. The depth of the solder stop foil and of its recess sets the solder amounts in the solder locations. The SMDs are placed on the solder deposits and then heated to over the soldering temperature. The flat solder deposits deform into round solder bulges in the melting-on process which then rise above the solder stop foil. The level of rise depends, above all, on the geometry of the solder deposit and the soldering atmosphere. After the remelting and eventual cleaning away of the remaining flux, the initially bulge-shaped solder is pressed flat. Likewise, disadvantageous with this procedure there is a very expensive procedural runoff; the printed circuit boards are also exposed to high temperatures a number of times.

Procedure for the production of printed circuit boards provided with pads for the insertion of SMDs


A location support relating to a mobile station that can make use of multiple communication networks more efficiently. In an SUPL server of a location system, a judgment is made as to which of two communication networks is accessed by a mobile station based on information specifying the access point of the mobile station, with this access point being notified from the mobile station, whereby the information is then notified from the SUPL server to a location information management device. As a result, in the location information management device, requests to a communication network, which is not accessed by the mobile station, for location information for use in location of the mobile station are suppressed. This makes it possible for location support relating to a mobile station capable of using multiple communication networks to be carried out more efficiently.

In a communication protocol (3G Protocol) standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), location service is commonly carried out using mobile stations such as cell phones. In the case of employing an independent location method that measures location by receiving only radio waves from a GNSS satellite for the location method using mobile stations, there are concerns such as prolongation of location time or increased power consumption in the mobile station and the like. Consequently, a network assist method is employed that attempts to shorten location time by transmitting capturing information (assist data) such as the location of a GNSS satellite to a mobile station from a location assisted server (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Position measurement system, position information provision device, position information administration device, and position measurement method


Disclosed is a process for the separation of water from a liquid phase medium containing an aliphatic carboxylic acid using azeotropic distillation in the presence of an entrainer. The entrainer, water, and organics are subsequently separated, wherein the entrainer is recycled back to the azeotropic distillation column and organics recycled back to the oxidation reactor.

Aromatic polycarboxylic acids, such as terephthalic acid, are important chemical intermediates used for the production of industrially significant products, including polyester polymers, which can be used for fibre production and in the manufacture of containers, bottles and other molded articles.
Current technology for the manufacture of terephthalic acid involves the liquid phase oxidation of an aromatic feedstock, such as paraxylene, using molecular oxygen in a solvent. The oxidation solvent comprises a lower (e.g. C2-C6) aliphatic carboxylic acid, usually acetic acid and water, in the presence of a dissolved heavy metal catalyst system usually incorporating a promoter, such as bromine. Acetic acid is particularly useful as the solvent since it is relatively resistant to oxidation and increases the activity of the catalytic pathway for the oxidation of aromatic feedstock and reaction intermediates. The reaction is carried out in one or more vessels under elevated temperature and pressure, in the range of about 150 to 250° C. and 6 to 30 barA respectively and typically produces crude terephthalic acid (CTA) in high yield, e.g. at least 95%. Under these conditions the CTA precipitates from the solvent in the oxidation reactor(s) to form a slurry of CTA solids in oxidation solvent, which is maintained in suspension by agitation. The temperature of the slurry is reduced by passing through a series of crystallisers, each at successively lower pressure, before the CTA solids are separated from the oxidation reaction solvent to give the oxidation mother liquor. The separation of the CTA solids from the oxidation mother liquor occurs at positive pressure or under vacuum.
The liquid phase oxidation of paraxylene is an exothermic reaction and the solvent such as acetic acid and water are typically removed as an overhead vapor stream from the oxidation reactor as one means of controlling the temperature of reaction. The vapor stream is condensed to recover condensables, some of which may be recycled as reflux to the oxidation reactor, while other of the condensables are passed to a separation process which, in turn, allows for recovery of the aliphatic carboxylic acid solvent, having a reduced water content.

Dehydration of acetic acid by azeotropic distillation in the production of an aromatic acid


Techniques are provided for forwarding operations to bypass persistent memory. A modify operation, targeting an object, may be received at a persistent memory tier of a node. If a forwarding policy indicates that forwarding is not enabled for the modify operation and the target object, then the modify operation is executed through a persistent memory file system. If the forwarding policy indicates that forwarding is enabled for the modify operation and the target object, then the modify operation is forwarded to a file system tier as a forwarded operation for execution through a storage file system.

A node, such as a server, a computing device, a virtual machine, a cloud service, etc., may host a storage operating system. The storage operating system may be configured to store data on behalf of client devices, such as within volumes, aggregates, storage devices, cloud storage, locally attached storage, etc. In this way, a client can issue read and write operations to the storage operating system of the node in order to read data from storage or write data to the storage. The storage operating system may implement a storage file system through which the data is organized and accessible to the client devices. The storage file system may be tailored for managing the storage and access to data within a particular type of storage media, such as block-addressable storage media of hard drives, solid state drives, and/or other storage. The storage media and the storage file system may be managed by a file system tier of the node. The node may also comprise other types of storage media, such as persistent memory that provides relatively lower latency compared to the storage media managed by the file system tier. The persistent memory may be byte-addressable, and is managed by a persistent memory tier tailored for the performance and persistence semantics of the persistent memory.

Forwarding operations to bypass persistent memory


A primary alkaline battery includes a cathode having manganese dioxide and carbon particles, an anode, a separator and an alkaline electrolyte. The carbon particles include expanded graphite particles and non-expanded graphite particles. The expanded graphite particles have a kerosene absorption greater than about 2.7 milliliters per gram.

Batteries, such as primary alkaline batteries, are commonly used as energy sources. Generally, alkaline batteries include a cathode, an anode, a separator, and an electrolytic solution. The cathode can include, for example, manganese dioxide particles as the active material, carbon particles that enhance the conductivity of the cathode, and a binder. The anode may be, for example, a gel including zinc particles as the active material. The separator is disposed between the cathode and the anode. The electrolytic solution can be, for example, a hydroxide solution that is dispersed throughout the battery.
It is desirable for a primary alkaline battery to have a high discharge capacity. One factor that affects the discharge capacity is the quantity of manganese dioxide in the cathode. As a general rule, the more manganese dioxide in the cathode, the higher the discharge capacity of the battery. But the cathode must also include a sufficient quantity of carbon particles for adequate conductivity. Thus, the quantity of manganese dioxide that can be included in the cathode is limited in part by the quantity of carbon particles required for adequate conductivity.
Typically, the carbon particles used in cathode are composed of graphite. It is known to use a specific type of graphite known as expanded graphite in place of normal graphite particles in the cathode. Expanded graphite is a flake graphite that is chemically treated and heated at a high temperature resulting in the exfoliation of the graphite particles. This produces a graphite with a significantly higher surface area thereby providing better contact with the manganese dioxide particles in the cathode. As a result, a quantity of expanded graphite particles provides a higher degree of conductivity to the cathode than the same quantity of non-expanded graphite particles. This in turn means that less graphite and more manganese dioxide can be included in the cathode, thus increasing the discharge capacity of the battery.


A system for measuring and cutting includes a portable measuring unit and a cutting unit. The measuring unit includes a transmitter and a measuring processor in communication with the transmitter. The measuring unit includes a first retractable tape measure having a first variable resistance wire and a sensor, the measuring processor having programming for determining first distance data and for transmitting that data. The cutting unit includes a saw and a receiver for receiving the first distance data transmitted from the measuring unit. The cutting unit includes a second tape measure with a second variable resistance wire, sensor, and processor for determining a second distance. When the second distance measurement is equal to the first distance measurement, an indicator is actuated so the user knows to actuate the saw to cut the workpiece. The system, therefore, eliminates inaccurate measurements and the need to remember or record measurements.

This invention relates generally to tools and, more particularly, to a system for measuring and recording measurements without having to write down the measurement and for cutting a work piece according to the recorded measurement.
The traditional method for measuring and cutting work materials, such as boards, is to measure, to commit the measurement to memory or record in writing on the work piece itself or even one's hand, and then to cut the work piece according to the measurement. As any construction worker knows all too well, it is often the case that a measurement is either not remembered, improperly recorded, or not understood by another person whose task it is to actually cut it. Frequently, the noisy environment of a construction site contributes to the problems of accurately taking, communicating, or actually cutting the work piece. In addition, the act of actually measuring a work piece with a tape measure is problematic due to human error.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system for measuring and cutting work pieces that eliminates the need to write down or remember a measurement. Further, it would be desirable to have a measuring and cutting system that would eliminate the possibility of an inaccurate measurement from a tape measure. In addition, it would be desirable to have a measuring and cutting system that decreases the time it takes to measure and cut a work piece.


A method and system for determining the reliability of a rotating component compares a normalized stress curve with a normalized strength curve. The resulting overlap corresponds with the reliability of the rotating component.

The present invention is directed towards a method for determining a reliability and its associated inherent safety for a rotating component over a range of speeds.
In many machines having rotating components, such as aircraft, the speed of the rotation will have an affect on the resulting reliability of the rotating component such that at faster speeds the rotating component has a higher likelihood of failure. In order to address this issue, and to prevent in flight failures, the FAA has implemented flight safety substantiation regulations which require a manufacturer to demonstrate the reliability of a certain rotating component, before the rotating component can be approved for use.
One factor which can lead to damage of a rotating component, is if the rotating component is operating in an overspeed condition. All rotating components have a rated speed at which they are able to properly operate. Often, a rotating component will be capable of rotating at a faster speed than the rated speed without becoming damaged. When a rotating component rotates at a speed above a threshold percentage of the maximum rated speed, the rated speed the rotating component is described as operating in an overspeed condition. The threshold percentage is determined on a per application basis. By way of example a threshold speed for an auxiliary power unit may be set at 103% of the rated speed, and therefore any rotation speed above 103% would be considered to be an "overspeed" condition.
An uncontained burst 514 can result from a few known processes as illustrated in FIG. 7. The first process occurs when a component speed increases beyond the maximum rated speed without the occurrence of an automatic shutdown 502. The occurrence of both an overspeed condition and the component failure probability being exceeded 504 is indicated in the figure by way of an AND gate 516. When both conditions occur, an elevated energy fragment release 510 is likely. When an elevated energy fragment release 510 occurs it is possible for the fragment to break through any containment and impact on other components, resulting in an uncontained burst 514.
A second process which can result in an uncontained burst 514 occurs when there is a high energy fragment departure 506, potentially due to wear. If the high energy fragment departure 506 occurs at the same time as a containment part failure 508, as indicated by the AND gate 518, a high energy fragment release 512 results. Both the first process and the second process result in an uncontained burst 514, as the fragments from the burst have not been properly contained by a containment component. The occurrence of either an elevated energy fragment release 510 or a high energy fragment release 512 resulting in an uncontained burst 514 is indicated by an OR gate 520.
One factor in failure rates is the strength of the material from which the rotating component is constructed. Since the strength of a material is a factor in the rotating component reliability, the material strength is utilized in the reliability calculations. It is known in the art that the material strength will vary between a set range of strengths for any material used. While an average material strength can be used to determine a rotating component reliability value, a more accurate reliability value is obtained when the entire range of material strengths is considered.
Current methods and techniques in the art for demonstrating reliability of a rotating component additionally neglect to account for the affect of a varying speed on the reliability or the affects of varying material strengths, and instead determine a single static reliability value based on an average material strength and average speed. One affect of the failure to account for varying speeds is that the reliability issues associated with overspeed conditions are largely ignored in the current state of the art.

Method of determining overspeed reliability


In one embodiment, a method for monitoring operation of a device is provided. Monitoring of the device at a source using a gateway is activated. The device is coupled to the source to receive power from the source for operation of the device. The gateway monitors an electrical characteristic of the source coupled to the device. Monitored information of the electrical characteristic is captured from the source when an event occurs at the device. The monitored information is correlated as being associated with the device. The monitored information is used in an analysis to analyze whether a variance in the monitored information violates a threshold to trigger an indication of a problem in the operation of the device.

Particular embodiments generally relate to monitoring of devices.
A warranty is used to guarantee the operation of a device. For example, when a device fails during a warranty period, the product may be repaired or replaced based on the terms of the warranty. The process of repair may involve notifying a service company to troubleshoot and repair the product at the point of failure. Or, in other cases if the product cannot be repaired, a new product is provided to a user. In both cases, cost to repair or replace the product is incurred by the company providing the warranty. Further, the user may not have use of the product while the product is being repaired or a new product is being shipped, which inconveniences the user.
Typically, the product is used until the product fails. Then, the user has to contact a company to receive the repair or replacement that is covered by the warranty. By having the warranty be invoked after the failure of the product, the user's perception of the product may be damaged. For example, the user may not recommend the device to other people due to the failure even if the warranty covered the repair or provided a replacement.
Accordingly, a solution is desired to proactively monitor the device before failure.

Monitoring system for proactive service of devices


A frame assembly for an open roof assembly comprises a first beam, a second beam and a panel. The first beam and the second beam are mechanically coupled in a joint area, thereby forming a seam. A sealant is provided in the joint area for providing a liquid-tight joint. The panel is at least partly arranged over the first beam and the second beam such that the joint area is at least partly overlapped by the panel. An adhesive bead is solely provided on the first beam for supporting the panel on the first beam, the adhesive bead sealing a dry area between the first beam and the panel.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The invention relates to a frame assembly for an open roof assembly and a method of providing such a frame assembly.
Open roof assemblies are well known in the art. The known open roof assemblies are arranged on a roof of a vehicle, wherein an opening is provided in the roof. A moveable closure member is selectively in an open position or in a closed position. In the open position, an interior of the vehicle is in open contact with an exterior of the vehicle, e.g. for providing fresh air in the interior. In the closed position, the interior of the vehicle is closed and protected against rain and other external influences, for example. In the known open roof assembly, the closure member may be (semi-)transparent to allow sunlight to enter the interior, when the closure member is in the closed position.
The closure member is arranged on a frame. It is known to provide a monolithic frame or a multi-piece frame assembly. In the multi-piece frame assembly at least two frame elements are arranged next or partly on top of each other. Still, as part of the roof, the frame assembly may be partly subjected to water, like rain water, and therefore a fluid tight attachment may be required, at least at some positions. Further, it is noted that as described herein, the frame assembly may be used with an open roof assembly having a moveably arranged closure member. Still, the frame assembly may as well be used with a fixed roof member, like a transparent panel.
In a known open roof assembly, a front cover panel is provided fixed to the monolithic frame with a suitable adhesive. The adhesive is provided as a ring-shaped adhesive bead for providing and sealing a dry area. As used herein, a dry area is an area of the frame or frame assembly that is protected against liquids like water. A wet area—opposed to a dry area—is an area where liquids like water are allowed. Such wet areas are usually needed for water management, e.g. for guiding rain water.
In practice, it may still be challenging to provide a liquid-tight crossing at the transition, in particular in mass-production manufacturing. Testing may be required during manufacturing to ensure the liquid-tightness. Further, the shape of the seam is complex and adds costs to the frame assembly.

Frame assembly for an open roof assembly and a method of providing such a frame assembly


The present invention relates to a flow rate control apparatus for a hydraulic pump which is employed suitably in a hydraulic excavator or a hydraulic crane and driven by a rotating force of a motor. The flow rate control apparatus controls the discharging flow rate of the hydraulic pump to utilize the output power of the motor without an overload applied to the motor, and optimally controls the output flow rate of the pump depending upon an operation signal to provide an excellent operating characteristic to an operator under a high load operating condition applied to a hydraulic machine having hydraulic actuators driven on the basis of the discharge flow of the hydraulic pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow rate control apparatus for a oil-hydraulic pump which is employed suitably in a hydraulic excavator, a hydraulic crane or the like and driven by a rotation force from of a motor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flow rate control apparatus which controls the flow rate discharged from an oil-hydraulic pump to utilize the output power of a motor without overload applied to the motor, and optimally controls the output flow rate of the pump depending upon a manipulated signal to assure an excellent operation capability to an operator under a high load operation condition of a hydraulic machine system with a hydraulic actuator driven on the basis of the discharged flow rate of the oil-hydraulic pump.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a recently proposed hydraulic driving circuit is designed such that the output power of a motor is utilized to its maximum to improve working efficiency. In many cases, according to such a conventional hydraulic driving circuit, the maximum output P of the motor is previously set in consideration of working and load conditions to significantly reduce undesirable energy loss.
More specifically, a variable capacity oil-hydraulic pump has a discharge flow rate determined from a product of the rotational speed of the motor and the inclination-changed value of the inclined plate in the pump. The flow rate discharged from the pump is thus increased in accordance with the inclination-changed value of the inclined plate in the hydraulic pump.
The hydraulic pump is driven by the motor, and as the torque of the oil-hydraulic pump is larger than the output power of the motor, the motor may be overloaded causing the rotational speed of the motor to drop, possibly resulting in that the motor being stopped of the overload to the motor is applied continuously.
For that reason, a regulator is disposed to adjust the inclination of the inclined plate in the pump so as to limit the input torque. With this regulator arrangement, the input torque of the oil-hydraulic pump is limited in a range of the output power of the motor and the output power of the motor is effectively utilized. More specifically, the regulator receives the pressure feed-back from the pump. As the pressure is gradually increased, the regulator properly limits the discharging flow rate of the pump. On the contrary, as the pressure is decreased, the regulator serves to reduce the flow rate so as to effectively utilize the output power of the motor.
With the construction described above, however, since the hydraulic circuit is employed in order to achieve the principle object thereof, the construction is complicated and, hence, the process of fabricating the circuit is also difficult. Further, a technical limit in the process of fabricating the circuit is present, resulting in the decrease in efficiency of the circuit.
Furthermore, the hydraulic circuit for limiting the output level of the hydraulic pump or a hydraulic circuit having an arrangement discharging a flow rate proportional to the manipulating means such as a lever or pedal may be complicated in structure.
In addition, the hydraulic pump discharges a flow rate proportional to the manipulating means at a lower load condition, while the pump discharges the maximum flow rate regardless of the manipulated variable when the manipulated angle of the inclined plate is gradually changed to a higher load condition. As a result, the operational area available to the operator is relatively reduced and the limitation in operation is also undesirable.
In order to solve the above drawbacks, a control apparatus for load sensing hydraulic driving circuit is proposed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2-275101. With the control apparatus, when the discharging flow rate of oil-hydraulic pump is in a saturated condition, a correction of the total flow rate consumed by a pressure correctable flow rate control valve is executed with a substantially improved manipulation capability. Also, the control apparatus suitably controls the pump without a hunting phenomenon in controlling the pump.

Flow rate control apparatus for oil-hydraulic pump


A timing generator capable of improving design efficiency by facilitating adaptation to change in design. The timing generator has work area 9 which outputs parameters in response to control data, and main core 12 to which the parameters are inputted. In the work area, V and H parameters are described. The main core consists of third comparator 11 for comparing a count value of V counter 10 with V parameter and outputting a first control pulse, first comparator 1 for comparing a count value of H counter 3 with H parameter and outputting a second control pulse, second comparator 4 for comparing a count value of high speed counter 8 with H parameter and outputting a third control pulse, first selector 2 for selecting the second control data or the third control data, and first JK flip flop 5 for generating a timing signal from output of the first selector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a timing signal generation apparatus and, in particular, it relates to a timing signal generation apparatus for supplying a timing signal to a solid-state image pick-up device in accordance with set-up information thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
A solid-state image pick-up device such as a video camera and a digital still camera using a solid-state image pick-up element such as a CCD is generally known. Such a solid-state image pick-up device is provided with a control circuit for systematically controlling respective functions of an image pick-up section, a signal processor section, a record processor section and the like, and further with a timing signal generation apparatus, i.e., a so-called timing generator, for generating a timing signal which specifies an operating timing of respective sections.
In the following, a conventional timing generator will be described by referring to the accompanying drawing. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional timing generator. In this timing generator shown here, from a count value of a V counter 101 which starts counting as triggered by a vertical synchronizing signal VD and also using a horizontal synchronizing signal HD as a clock, a third decoder 102 generates a decode value of a difference in timing for each vertical transfer mode so as to generate a timing pulse. The timing pulse from the third decoder is selected in response to a control data from a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcom), and is outputted as a leading edge pulse and/or a trailing edge pulse from a second selector 103. The leading edge pulse and/or the trailing edge pulse outputted from the second selector are outputted via a second JK flip flop 104 as a mask signal of a vertical period. Further, from a count value of an H counter 105 which carries out counting as triggered by a horizontal synchronizing signal HD and also using a master clock signal MCK as a clock at the times of a normal transfer and/or a charge read-out transfer in a vertical transfer mode, a first decoder 106 generates a decode value of a change in timing in the normal transfer and/or the charge read-out transfer in the vertical transfer mode so as to generate a timing pulse therefor. Likewise, from a count value of a high speed counter 107 which carries out counting triggered by a horizontal synchronizing signal HD and also using a master clock signal MCK as a clock at the times of a fast sweep out transfer and a frame shift transfer in a vertical transfer mode, a second decoder 108 generates a decode value of a change in timing in the fast sweep out transfer and the frame shift transfer so as to generate a timing pulse therefor. Timing pulses from the first decoder and the second decoder are selected in response to a control data from the microcomputer, and outputted from a first selector 109 as a leading edge pulse and/or a trailing edge pulse which were masked with the mask signal for the vertical period which was generated by the second JK flip flop as described above. The masked leading edge pulse and/or trailing edge pulse outputted from the first selector are outputted from a first JK flip flop 110 as timing signals XV 1˜4, XSG 1˜2 of the solid-state image pick-up device.

Signal generation apparatus for supplying timing signal to solid state device