A heat-shrinkable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding jacket sheathable over a generally elongate object of a given outer diameter extent. The jacket is formed of a tubular outer member of an indefinite length and an expanded inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the object, an electrically-conductive inner member received coaxially within the outer member and extending coextensive therewith, and a generally continuous, thermoplastic interlayer interposed between the outer and inner members and extending coextensive therewith. The interlayer bonds the inner member to the outer member along substantially the entire length thereof for consolidating the jacket into an integral structure. The outer member, in turn, is heat-shrinkable to a recovered, i.e., contracted inner diameter smaller than the expanded inner diameter for substantially conforming the jacket to the outer diametric extent of the object.

The present invention relates broadly to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and more particularly to a heat-shrinkable sheathing or other jacket for shielding a wire, cable, data or signal line, antenna, or other electrical conductor or elongate article.
The operation of electronic devices such as computers, business machines, communications equipment, and the like is attended by the generation of electromagnetic radiation within the electronic circuitry and transmission lines of the equipment. As is detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,536; 5,142,101; 5,105,056; 5,028,739; 4,952,448; and 4,857,668, such radiation often develops as a field or as transients within the radio frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., between about 10 KHz and 10 GHz, and is termed "electromagnetic interference" or "EMI" as being known to interfere with the operation of other proximate electronic devices.
To attenuate EMI effects, shielding having the capability of absorbing and/or reflecting EMI energy may be employed both to confine the EMI energy within a source device, and to insulate that device or other "target" devices from other source devices. In this regard, the shielding is provided as a barrier which is inserted between the source and the other devices. For the electronic device itself, the shielding typically is configured as an electrically conductive and grounded housing which encloses the device. For the electrical wire, cable, cord, or other conductor which supplies power to the device or transmits signals to or from the device, shielding has been provided in a similar manner by enclosing the conductor within an electrically conductive conduit or other housing.
A more flexible and less cumbersome shielding has been provided by sheathing the conductor, which typically includes an inner conductive core and an outer layer of an electrically-insulating, dielectric material, within a tubular shielding layer woven or braided of a metal wire or other electrically-conductive fiber. For example, Hardie et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,020 discloses a parallel pair cable for high data signal transmission. The cable has a pair of parallel conductors which are surrounded by an insulating dielectric layer. The dielectric, in turn, is surrounded by a braided metal shield of a plated electrical conductor, which shield itself may be covered with an optional jacket.
Singles et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,011 discloses a low-noise signal transmission cable which employs an insulative layer that is bonded to a surrounding shield layer via an adhesive. The shield may be a braided metal, conductive polymer, or wrapped foil layer.
Gebs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,001 discloses a flexible, shielded cable assembly. The assembly includes a flexible metal conductor, a dielectric layer positioned about the conductor, and a flexible metallic shield disposed about the dielectric. The shield preferably employs a thin metallic foil and a metallic braid, ribbon, or tape disposed about the foil.
Davies, U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,530 discloses a shield cable which includes an internal conductive core with 1-4 wire leads, each of which are insulated with a wrapping of an insulative tape. The voids between the leads are filled with an amorphous elastomer. A shield layer is provided by braiding a silver-copper alloy wire over the elastomer-covered conductive core. The strands of the shield become embedded in the elastomeric material which thereby fills the spaces in the braided structure. A barrier of an insulative jacket surrounds the elastomer-covered shield and conductive core.
Vaupotic et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,800 discloses a controlled impedance transmission line which consists of a flexible cable having a side-by-side pair of conductors. The conductors are surrounded by respective inner and outer dielectric layers. A braided wire shield surrounds the dielectric layers, which shield, in turn, is surrounded and penetrated by an exterior jacket.
Pithouse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,545 discloses a conductor which is surrounded by a dielectric. A fabric in the form of a tubular sleeve is woven or positioned around the conductor. The fabric may include a conductive metal warp and a recoverable polymeric weft, which weft is recovered to secure the fabric through engagement with the dielectric.
Maul et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,229 discloses a flexible, shielded electrical conduit. The conduit includes a flexible tubing, a flexible electrical shielding disposed within the tubing, and an axially compressed, radially expanded elastic woven retainer which forces the shielding into continuous contact with the tubing. The shielding may be provided as a weave of electrically conductive filaments.
More recently, proposals have been made to provide shielding for wires, cables, lines, and the like in the form of a tubular, heat-shrinkable outer layer within which is received a conductive inner layer. For example, Derby, U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,387 discloses a heat-shrinkable shield formed of an outer layer of a heat-shrinkable tubing having an thin layer of a metal-filled polymeric matrix bonded to the inner surface thereof. The shield may be sheathed over an insulated wire or cable, and then heated to shrink the outer layer of the shield over the insulation of the wire or cable.
Lau et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,437 discloses a conformable electromagnetic radiation suppression cover for a reflecting structure. The cover includes a tubular outer layer of an electromagnetic radiation absorber formed of a nonconductive composite with one or more kinds of dissipative particles dispersed in a shrinkable dielectric binder. An inner sealant layer is employed to fill any voids between the absorber and the structure. A thin metallic foil may be bonded between the sealant and the absorber as a ground plane.
Nakamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,422 discloses a magnetic shielding article which includes a heat-shrinkable outer layer of a thermoplastic polymeric material and an inner layer of a magnetic shielding layer. The shielding layer may be formed of a thermoplastic material filled with a powdered ferrite.
Landry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,139 discloses a another heat-shrinkable tubing article. Such article is formed of an outer layer of a tubular, heat-deformable material having a thermoplastic melt liner which is bonded to the inner surface thereof. A fiber reinforcement layer is disposed between the melt liner and the shrink tubing.
A representative commercial heat-shrinkable tubing shielding is marketed under the name "CHO-SHRINK.TM." by the Chomerics Division of Parker-Hannifin Corp., Woburn, Mass. The shielding is formed by coating a conductive compound onto the outer surface of a heat-shrinkable tube. Another such product is manufactured by Raychem Corp., Menlo Park, Calif., as a heat-shrinkable tube electroplated with an outer layer of a conductive metal.
The above-described references and products have garnered acceptance for general use, and heretofore have constituted the state of the art with respect to the EMI shielding of wires, cables, data or signal lines, antennas, electrical conductors, and the like. It will be appreciated, however, that continued improvements in such shields would be well-received by the electronics industry. A preferred shielding would be of low cost and economical to manufacture, and would provide a uniform surface which resists cracking and other mechanical damage within rigorous service environments.

Heat-shrinkable jacket for EMI shielding


A battery pack includes a plurality of battery units mutually connected in parallel, each including a cell group in which one or two or more secondary cells are connected in series, and a first current control element that is connected in series with this cell group, a first control means that controls the charging/discharging current for each battery unit by controlling the operation of the first current control element included in each of the battery unit; a voltage measurement means that measures the voltage of the cell group or cells included in each of the battery unit, and a diagnosis means that diagnoses a deterioration level or a fault of each battery unit on the basis of the voltage of the cell group or cells measured by the voltage measurement means.

Prior art battery packs such as disclosed in Patent Document #1 are per se known for use as secondary cell systems for which high capacity is required, such as systems for electric automobiles, railroad engines, power storage systems for electrical power systems, and so on. These battery packs include series cell groups in which a large number of secondary cells are connected in series, and are made by connecting a plurality of these series cell groups in parallel.
On the other hand, in Patent Document #2, for a battery pack in which a plurality of blocks are connected in series, with a plurality of secondary cells being connected in parallel in each parallel block, it is proposed to detect the amount of change of the voltage of each parallel block before and after charging and discharging, and to determine the presence or absence of faulty cells on the basis of the results of detection.

Battery pack and battery pack controller


The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition comprising a lubricating base oil, and at least one ester additive selected from a first ester that is a fatty acid 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl alkyl ester and a second ester that is a 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl carboxylic acid alkyl ester, wherein a content of the ester additive is 0.01 to 5.0% by mass based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition.

Mechanical systems such as industrial machineries, vehicles and refrigerating equipments have a variety of sliding parts such as various bearings, pistons, cylinders, gears and drive systems in which frictions are constantly repeated. If poor lubrications occur in these sliding parts, lubrication systems or mechanical systems including the same are no longer able to work as desired. Therefore, various lubricating oils are used as lubricants in the sliding parts depending on the operating environments and conditions.
High stability is required for these lubricating oils from the viewpoint of long-term reliability, but acidic substances are generated due to thermal and oxidative deterioration along with use of the lubricating oils. Since the generated acidic substances exerts a so-called autocatalytic effect, promoting further deterioration, the stability of the lubricants can be greatly increased by removing the acidic substances at an early stage.
In the field of refrigerating equipments, there are movements of transition from current hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants having a high global warming potential (GWP) to hydrofluoroolefin (FIFO) refrigerants having a 1/100 or less GWP, from the viewpoint of the prevention of global warming, and a wide range of investigations such as mixed refrigerants containing HFO is underway.
However, since these HFO refrigerants have a low GWP, that is, are easily degradable, hydrofluoric acid (HF) that is a strong acid is therefore generated when degraded in the co-presence of lubricating oils in a refrigeration cycle, and promotes the further deterioration of the lubricating oils and refrigerants, or may cause corrosive wear in some cases to become the cause of system troubles. Thus, it is a major object to increase the stability of a mixed fluid of refrigerants and lubricating oils by effectively removing hydrofluoric acid and acidic substances generated due to the deterioration of lubricating oils.
Since dichlorodifluoromethane (R12) and hydrochlorodifluoromethane (R22) have been largely used as a conventional refrigerant in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems such as refrigerators, car air conditioners and room air conditioners and hydrochloric acid is generated when these refrigerants containing chlorine are mixed with lubricating oils of compressors and deteriorated after used for a long time, it is known to add phenyl glycidyl ether and alkylene oxide compounds which capture hydrochloric acid in the molecules to lubricating oils for compressors (refrigerating machine oils).
Thereafter, the stability of refrigerating machine oils has been attempted to be further improved; for example, Patent Literature 1 shows a refrigerating machine oil containing a glycidyl ether compound having two or more epoxy groups in the molecule; Patent Literature 2 proposes a lubricating oil wherein a phosphorus-based additive and a specific epoxy compound are added in combination therewith; and Patent Literature 3 proposes a refrigerating machine oil to which tricresyl phosphate and an epoxy constituted by glycidyl ether or a carbodiimide are added. Further, Patent Literature 4 shows a refrigerating machine oil containing an alicyclic polycarboxylic acid ester compound as a lubricating base oil, and additionally at least one of an epoxy compound selected from the group consisting of a glycidyl ester type epoxy compound and an alicyclic epoxy compound.
However, these stabilizing agents have a purpose of capturing hydrochloric acid or suppressing the hydrolysis of an ester that is a lubricating base oil, and their effects are insufficient for a novel HFO refrigerant generating hydrofluoric acid that is a strong acid. Moreover, since organic materials such as plastics have come to be largely used in recent devices, for reductions in size and weight and higher efficiency, a stabilizing agent exhibiting a high effect even at a small amount thereof added is desired in order to reduce influences on these organic materials.


Callers of an enhanced communication system are enabled to improve their communication experience by receiving context specific call controls on their peripheral device before, during, and/or after a call. A communication application determines context specific commands and configures/reconfigures call controls on the peripheral device. The peripheral device displays the call context specific controls in different stages of operation and forwards user selection(s) to the communication application without a need to understand the commands of perform actions associated with the commands.

As an alternative to Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) systems, a recent development is the wide spread use of Voice over IP (VOIP) telephony, which uses internet protocol over wired and wireless networks. With the availability of diverse types of communication networks and devices capable of taking advantage of various features of these networks, a new technology is bringing different communication networks together providing until now unavailable functionality such as combining various modes of communication (e.g. instant messaging, voice calls, video communications, etc.). This technology is referred to as unified communications (UC). A network of servers manages end devices capable of handling a wide range of functionality and communication while facilitating communications between the more modern unified communication network devices and other networks (e.g. PSTN, cellular, etc.).
One of the key value propositions of Unified Communications is enabling the use of the PC as a phone for real time communications (soft phone). A significant inhibitor to the successful adoption of the PC as a soft phone is the availability of a good quality PC audio peripheral, which is able to provide the functionality of the desk phone it replaces. A number of peripherals have been introduced, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices. These peripherals provide the ability to control the call from the peripheral without needing to interact with the PC user interface, which may be locked and not readily visible to the user at the time of a call. Control commands are, however, currently limited to the number of buttons provided by the peripheral.

Dynamic configuration of call controls for communication peripherals


An electrically conductive oil mud meeting the fluid requirements for resistive logging tools and a method for preparing such mud is disclosed. The fluid has been optimized to deliver performance in a manner as similar to that of a traditional invert emulsion drilling fluid as is practical while still maintaining the required electrical conductivity for resistivity-based logging tools. This electrically conductive oil-based mud comprises a polar synthetic ester base and complimentary ester surfactants, one being more oil soluble, the other being more water soluble. The surfactants interact synergistically to provide dense packing of micelles at the palisade layer. This fluid is oil-wetting to solids, and in general behaves like a traditional oil mud.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to oil-based muds or fluids for use in drilling wellbores in subterranean formations. More particularly, the invention relates to oil-based muds suitable or compatible for use with resistivity imaging of the wellbore or the formation.
2. Description of Relevant Art
In the oil and gas industry, there are generally three primary or commonly used techniques for imaging of wellbores. These three techniques are: acoustic imaging, azimuthal density neutron imaging, and resistivity imaging. Of the three, resistivity imaging is often preferred for its relative simplicity of operation, rapid acquisition of real-time data, and highly accurate images of geological features.
Resistivity imaging techniques are based on measurements of the electrical resistance of the formation exposed to the wellbore. Tools based on this technique, such as Halliburton's Electro-Micro-Imager™ (EMI), available from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. in Houston, Tex., typically apply an alternating current of approximately one volt at an operating frequency of about 15 kHz. The current is applied to the formation through a series of pads that are pressed firmly against the wellbore. After passing into the formation, the signal is conducted back to a detector on the tool by the wellbore fluid.
The electrical conductivity of a wellbore fluid directly affects the quality of the resolved image. If the fluid is overly conductive, such as a concentrated salt brine, a poorer image may result due to an electrical short preventing good electrical penetration into the formation. If the fluid behaves as a dielectric or a capacitor, the lack of a signal or an unfavorable signal-to-noise ratio may prevent satisfactory image resolution. Such dielectric behavior is exhibited by a traditional oil-based mud. The continuous hydrocarbon phase of an oil mud is an electrical insulator, causing the oil mud to behave in a dielectric manner. Thus, resistance imaging devices are typically used when the wellbore contains an aqueous fluid, or when aqueous-based drilling fluids are used to drill the wellbore.
In resistance logging applications, the EMI tool is serviceable in fluids having resistances of about 2000 to about 0.2 ohm-m. Preferably, the fluid has a minimum conductivity in the range of about 1–10 ms/m (millisiemens-per-meter), which is equivalent to about 10- to about 100 μs/cm. These values are represented in terms of resistivity by about 1000- to about 100 ohm-m. The serviceability of any conductive fluid is dependent on its lack of dielectric (electrically insulating) properties. A fluid that exhibits low conductivity and no dielectric or capacitance properties should, at least theoretically, be capable of yielding or facilitating good wellbore images, owing to its favorable signal-to-noise ratio.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,831, issued Dec. 28, 1999 and assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corp., discloses additives comprising certain metallic and non-metallic particles and fibrous materials said to enhance the images obtainable with electrical logging techniques when added to certain wellbore fluids. The wellbore fluids are either based on traditional invert emulsion drilling fluid technology or are 100% oil fluids. These additives have an aspect ratio of two or greater. They are said to improve electric logging results by bridging solely among themselves, by linking the emulsified brine droplets, or by a combination of these two mechanisms. In the patent, most of the treated fluids were said to display electrical stabilities well above 100 volts; the lowest electrical stabilities were in the 15–20 volt range. However, these fluids showed relatively high resistivities, making them unfavorable for most drilling or well service fluid applications.
International patent application publication number WO 00/41480, published Jul. 20, 2000 and assigned to Sofitech N.V., Schlumberger Canada Limited, and Dowell Schlumberger, discloses invert emulsion drilling fluids containing carbon black particles having preferred surface areas of 500–1500 m2/g at concentrations of 0.2–10% by volume. Although, traditional calcium fatty soap-related technologies used to prepare invert emulsions are said to tend to modify the surface of carbon black and render it nonconductive in such applications, monovalent surfactants, such as sodium ion fatty acid soaps, or nonionic surfactants, used to prepare invert emulsions, are said not to modify the carbon black. Rather, the carbon black particles in such emulsions are said to be free to associate such that conductivity through the fluid is established. Examples of surfactant chemistries said to be preferred for the invention are diethanolamides, alcohol alkoxylates, copolymers, fatty acids, phosphate esters, and phosphonates. The internal brine phase may contain monovalent salts and any materials that complex with or precipitate polyvalent ions. Conductivity near the 100 μs/cm level is cited in an example. Applications claimed include drilling, logging, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), and logging-while-drilling (LWD).
Notwithstanding laboratory results reported in the WO/00/41480 publication, fluids based on traditional albeit monovalent or nonionic surfactant invert oil emulsions with electrically conductive properties imparted to them by conductive particle additives are still expected to possess traditional invert emulsion drilling fluid properties. Such fluids will not necessarily have the electrically conductive properties of a continuous aqueous phase. The dielectric (electrically insulating) properties of the oil will undoubtedly have an effect in the field on the conductivity of the particles, causing such fluids to display conductivity having dielectric or capacitance properties, which in turn can result in the detected logging current having a poor signal-to-noise ratio. Even where conductive properties seem favorable in lab tests, any source of multivalent cations in the actual wellbore, such as may be caused by lime or salt water flows in the field, can affect the conductive properties and result in a poor signal to noise ratio. Even without disruption of conductivity in the whole drilling fluid, filtrate that invades the formation may exhibit little or no conductivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,755, issued Feb. 29, 2000 and assigned to M-I L.L.C., discloses a fluid composition of an oleaginous fluid, an aqueous solution containing electrolytic salts, an emulsifier, and a water-soluble alcohol said to be useful for resistivity imaging. However, the fluid prepared according to the patent is actually not believed to be a true invert emulsion oil mud. The oleaginous fluid is said to preferably be oil-soluble glycols, butyl ethers of propylene glycols, or a mixture of these with synthetic, mineral, vegetable, or silicone oils. These glycol-based chemistries represent the well-known class of materials known as mutual solvents. The aqueous solution is said to contain any of the following electrolytic salts: chlorides of sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, and calcium; bromides of sodium and calcium; acetates of sodium and potassium; or citrate of sodium. The emulsifier is said to consist of tall oil fatty acid (TOFA), oxidized TOFA, surfactants, phosphate esters, amidoamines, or imidazolines. The water-soluble alcohol component is said to consist of ethylene glycols, propylene glycols, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) copolymers, or butylene glycol (1,4-butane diol). Supplemental additives described include clay-based or polymeric gelling agents and corrosion inhibitors. Conductivity in such fluid is believed to be occurring through the aqueous phase. Because this fluid is not believed to be a true invert emulsion oil mud, it is not believed capable of preventing shale dispersion or inhibition in the manner of a traditional invert emulsion drilling fluid. Further, mutual solvents are well known to have detrimental effects on polymeric components of rig equipment.
There continues to be a need for new and improved oil-based invert emulsion drilling fluids with electrical conductive properties suitable for use with resistivity logging.


An action group arbitration system can include an action table and a search block having a first type memory portion and a second type memory portion is disclosed. The search block can provide a plurality of search results, each corresponding to a group number, in response to a search key. The action table may receive the search results and provide an action indication in response to each of the plurality of search results that contain a hit indication. The first type memory portion can include static random access memory (SRAM) and the second type memory portion can include ternary content addressable memory (TCAM). Further, the action table may be divided into portions corresponding to the group number.

In networking systems, classification engines can be used to determine an action to perform and/or a rule to apply to a particular packet. Such classification can include the use of a lookup function, which can be implemented as a hardware "search engine" or the like. Such search engines can include content addressable memory (CAM) and/or a standard memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM). The standard memory is commonly accessed using "hashing" to essentially provide a "many-to-one" function. Such an approach can allow for a smaller memory size so that overall system costs can be reduced. Further, types of CAM include "ternary" CAM, which can allow for matching one of three possible storage states: 0, 1, or "x" (i.e., a "don't care" term).
A search key applied to a search engine can result in several "hit" or "miss" indications. If the search key is found (i.e., a "match" occurs) at multiple locations within the memory system, a priority or "precedence" determination must be employed in order to provide an overall winner. Further, the overall winner in a system or a subsystem may be used to determine an action to be performed on a packet. Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a conventional action selection system is shown and indicated by the general reference character 100. The search key "Key" can be applied to Search Engine 102, which provides Search Results, including hit or miss indications, to Precedence Determination 104. Of course, this precedence determination may be integrated with the search engine. In any event, the precedence determination can choose a highest priority hit indication (e.g., Winning Hit) from among multiple hit indications. The winning hit can be provided to Action Select 106, which can provide an "Action" to be performed on a packet.
A limitation of this conventional approach is its scalability: as the number of types of actions is increased, the approach becomes less viable. Also, even though some action types are orthogonal (i.e., unrelated in nature) to each other, they are all included in the same action set in this approach and, as a result, the overall system is not efficient for a large number of possible actions. Consequently, what is needed is an action group generation and arbitration approach that allows flexibility in selecting appropriate actions to perform on a packet based on hit results from different matched rules or search patterns.

Method and apparatus for action group generation and arbitration in a classification engine


A geared hydraulic machine destined to function as a pump or a motor, comprising at least a module (1) comprising a body (10) in which two chambers are afforded, which two chambers intersect, and each of which contains a gear (12, 13) which enmeshes with a gear (12, 13) contained in the other chamber, the body (10) having at least an open end that is closed by a cover (20) comprising at least a seating (21, 22) for a support bearing (210, 220) of at least a gear (12, 13) of the gears; the coupling between the body (10) and the cover (20) comprises at least two abutments (23, 24) which are fashioned in one of the body (10) and the cover (20), each of which abutments (23, 24) is housed in a respective sunken seating (16, 17) which is afforded in the other of the body (10) and the cover (20).

As is known, a geared hydraulic machine, whether of the type designed to work as a pump or as a motor, generally comprises a body in which a chamber is afforded having a transversal section conformed as a figure of 8 and consisting of two cylindrical chambers which reciprocally intersect, each of which snugly contains a gear that enmeshes with a gear contained in the other chamber.
The body can be cup-shaped, and thus can comprise a single open end, which is closed by a cover comprising the seatings for the support bearings of the gear shafts; the other support bearing of the shafts of the gears being housed in opposite seatings afforded on the bottom of the cup-shaped body. Alternatively, the body can be substantially tubular with two open opposite ends which are closed by a respective cover, each of which comprises the seatings for the bearings of the gear shafts.
In both cases, each cover is generally fixed to the body by means of a plurality of screws or bolts which insert in respective opposite holes afforded in the cover and the body.
The gears sub-divide the internal volume of the hydraulic machine into two operating environments, of which a first environment communicates with an inlet hole of a hydraulic fluid and a second environment communicates with an outlet hole of the hydraulic fluid.
When the hydraulic machine is used as a pump, the fluid is aspirated at low pressure through the inlet hole, is compressed by the rotation of the gears and thus is sent at high pressure through the outlet hole.
When the hydraulic machine is used as a motor, the fluid is supplied at high pressure through the inlet hole, is used to rotate the gears, and is then discharged at low pressure through the outlet hole.
It follows that between the first operating environment of the hydraulic machine, communicating with the inlet hole, and the second operating environment, communication with the outlet hole, a certain pressure difference is always generated which in certain circumstances can reach very high levels.
This pressure difference can cause the deformation of the body of the hydraulic machine and/or the flexion of the gear shafts, from which an increase obtains in the radial distance between the gears, which causes a reduction of the positive displacement efficiency of the hydraulic machine.
The deformation of the body can further cause a displacement of the support bearings in the respective seatings, as well as a reciprocal dealignment of the bearings, especially if the body is cup-shaped, as in this case the deformation of the body is more accentuated at the open end, where the cover is located.
The dealignment is a negative phenomenon inasmuch as it reduces the efficiency of the hydraulic machine and damages the bearings, reducing the working life thereof.
To encounter these drawbacks, a solution has been proposed in which the coupling between each open end of the body and the relative cover is obtained by a non-circular edge, afforded at the open end of the body, which is housed jointedly internally of a corresponding non-circular recess afforded in a continuous flange which projects from the peripheral region of the cover. In this way, the continuous flange of the cover surrounds the edge of the body, opposing the deformation, from the inside towards the outside, to which the open end of the body is subjected due to the internal pressure.
In a further known solution the coupling between each open end of the body and the relative cover is obtained by blocking pins, each of which is housed in respective opposite elongate seatings afforded on the body and the cover. In this way, the blocking pins guarantee reciprocal positioning between the body and the cover, and oppose deformation.
Both these solutions are however rather complicated and expensive. In particular, the mechanical operations required to realise the edge and the corresponding non-circular seating of the first solution are rather complex, and thus require adequate machines and a careful programming thereof.
The mounting of the cover on the body of the second solution, which comprises inserting the blocking pins in the respective seatings, is rather slow and laborious.


A target object detection device is provided. The device includes a transmitter for transmitting at least one transmission wave in a predetermined azimuth, an echo signal receiver for receiving echo signals of the transmission waves, an echo signal suppressor for suppressing levels of the echo signals corresponding to sampling positions, a target object detector for detecting the target object(s) based on the level-suppressed echo signals, a first updater for comparing amplitude level(s) of echo signals of sampling positions, with the threshold that is set in association with the first distance, and determining to update the values with a new threshold and a new suppression value, and a second updater for comparing amplitude level(s) of echo signals of sampling positions, with the threshold that is set in association with the second distance, and determining to update the values with a new threshold and a new suppression value.

Conventional target object detection devices transmit radio waves for detection and detect target objects based on echo signals of the transmitted radio waves. As one kind of such target object detection devices, a radar equipped in a ship and for detecting a target object (e.g., another ship on the sea) and a land by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves by an antenna has been known. With the radar, unnecessary components caused by, for example, a sea surface reflection echo (sea clutter) is suppressed so that the target objects (e.g., the other ship and land) are easily distinguished. Here, a threshold is set to determine whether the echo signal is an unnecessary component, and determine a suppressing amount of the echo signal.
As a conventional threshold setting method, a method so called CFAR processing (Constant False Alarm Rate processing) has been known, which calculates a moving average using a group of echo signals in a distance direction, in other words, in a direction away from an antenna position (see Sekine Matsuo, "Radar Signal Processing Techniques" The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Sep. 20, 1991).
However, sea surface reflection echoes have a characteristic in which a level difference generally becomes larger as a distance from a radar apparatus (a ship) is shorter. Therefore, even when the CFAR processing is used, a threshold level will be set as an average value of levels of the sea surface reflection echoes. Therefore, the sea surface reflection echoes cannot be suppressed appropriately by using such a threshold. Particularly, when the sea surface reflection echo has a high signal level, the suppressing effect is low.

Target object detecting device and echo signal processing method


Illustrative embodiments of integrated pest management (IPM) systems and electronic insect monitoring devices (EIMDs) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the EIMDs may each comprise a lure for attracting at least one target insect species, one or more sensors that generate one or more output signals in response to an insect approaching the lure, and an electronic controller configured to determine if the insect approaching the lure belongs to the at least one target insect species using the one or more output signals. In some embodiments, the IPM system may comprise a plurality of EIMDs configured to communicate over a wireless network shared by the plurality of EIMDs.

A consensus exists among government agencies, research institutions, industry, grower organizations, and the general public that regularly scheduled applications of broad-spectrum pesticides should be reduced, as these pesticides give rise to a number of economical, environmental, and social issues (e.g., overuse of pesticides, pesticide resistance, toxicity to natural enemies, worker safety, food residues, etcetera). Developing IPM programs based on ecologically sound technologies offers a unique opportunity toward meeting this and other needs.
Monitoring insect populations is an important component in any ecologically sound IPM program. For example, if a grower underestimates an insect population to be below a treatment threshold, the grower may not apply pesticide even though there are enough insects to cause serious fruit damage. On the other hand, if the grower overestimates the insect population to be above the treatment threshold when it is actually below the treatment threshold, the grower may waste money and resources by applying unnecessary pesticides.
In the tree fruit industry, the most economically significant insects are moths, including, but not limited to, codling moths (Cydia pomonella), Oriental fruit moths (Grapholita molesta), and leafrollers (Archips argyrospila and Choristoneura rosaceana). In the stored product industry, moths and beetles are the two major pests, including, but not limited to, Indianmeal moths (Plodia interpunctella), Mediterranean flour moths (Ephestia kuehniella), cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne), and warehouse beetles (Trogoderma variabile). For each of these insects, artificial lures have been developed based on the specific sex pheromone that the female of each species uses to attract males for mating. During the last three to four decades, the capture of male moths in pheromone-baited traps has been the most principled measure utilized to control insect populations and to inform pest management decisions (e.g., when to initiate a pesticide treatment, where and how much pesticide to apply, etcetera). Such techniques have permitted a relatively large decrease in the number of pesticide applications, as described in M. G. Solomon, Integrated Pest Management (1987); O. B. Kovanci et al., Comparison of Mating Disruption with Pesticides for Management of Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in North Carolina Apple Orchards, J. Econ. Entomology 1248-58 (2005); D. Thomson et al., Ten Years Implementing Codling Moth Mating Disruption in the Orchards of Washington and British Columbia: Starting Right and Managing for Success, IOBC WPRS Bulletin 23-30. (2001); T. Alway, Codling Moth Mating Disruption and Establishing a Pheromone-Based Codling Moth Management Site in the Pacific Northwest, Wash. State Univ. (1998); L. J. Gut et al., Pheromone-Based Management of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Washington Apple Orchards, J. Agric. Entomology 387-405 (1998); and L. H. Blommers, Integrated Pest Management in European Apple Orchards, 39 Ann. Rev. Entomology 213-41 (1994), the entire disclosures of which are each incorporated by reference herein.
Despite the potential benefit, the labor-intensive activities associated with managing pheromone traps have been a key factor slowing down their widespread adoption. It is typically recommended that pheromone traps be distributed at densities of one trap per hectare (i.e., about 100 m apart) for tree fruit pests and one trap per 100 m2 (i.e., about 10 m apart) for stored product pests. Additional traps are often needed around the border and other areas susceptible to new pest immigrations. Currently, pheromone traps need to be inspected on a regular basis—typically one to five times per week depending on the time of the season and the pest species. Trap inspection typically consists of (1) locating individual traps, (2) manually counting the number of target pests captured in each trap and writing the number down on a piece of paper, and (3) replacing the sticky bottom in each trap, as insects and other debris cover the sticky bottom. As such, the labor costs associated with pheromone traps can easily become prohibitively expensive (i.e., greater than any savings realized from pesticide reduction). These labor costs have been documented in S. C. Welter, Range of Attraction for Modified Pheromone Ttrap-Lure Combinations for Mating Disruption Orchards, Calif. Pear Advisory Bd. (1997); E. R. Williamson et al., Economics of Employing Pheromones for Mating Disruption of the Codling Moth, Carpocapsa Pomonella, Crop Protection 473-477 (1996); L. H. Blommers (cited above); and P. G. Fenemore et al., Problems of Implementing Improvements in Pest Control: A Case Study of Apples in the UK, Crop Protection 51-70 (1985), the entire disclosures of which are each incorporated by reference herein. Constant monitoring of insect populations thus remains one of the most challenging components of any IPM program.

Automatic monitoring of insect populations


Surfaces containing high purity silica (silicon dioxide) exhibit high loading potential for nucleic acids.

The binding of nucleic acids, especially DNA, to surfaces has been reported many times in the scientific literature. Binding may be accomplished either through non-specific electrostatic or hydrophobic means, or through formation of covalent bonds to the terminus of the nucleic acid.
Covalent bonding of nucleic acids to surfaces is generally preferred, as it specifically orients the nucleic acids in a given manner. The bonded nucleic acids may be used for hybridization experiments when contacted with other nucleic acids in solution.
Traditionally, glass has been used as the substrate for binding nucleic acids. The glass is heated in order to produce slides or beads. During heating, impurities tend to migrate towards the surface of the material, reducing the surface area available for binding nucleic acids.
Electrostatic interactions between the nucleic acids and the surface result in a fraction of the nucleic acids becoming nonspecifically bound to the surface. This may result in nucleic acids "laying down" or orienting themselves parallel to the surface, rather than being perpendicular to the surface. This orientation reduces or eliminates the ability of the bound nucleic acid to interact with other nucleic acids in solution, and additionally may result in the blockage of other covalent bonding sites on the surface.
There exists a need for improved materials for the preparation of nucleic acids bound to surfaces, and methods to improve the specific covalent bonding of nucleic acids to surfaces.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Materials and methods for binding nucleic acids to surfaces

Abstract: Formulations containing nucleic acids and materials which mask the electrostatic interactions between the nucleic acids and surfaces are disclosed. By masking the phosphate charges of the nucleic acids, undesired interactions may be minimized or eliminated, thereby allowing the covalent bonding of the nucleic acids to the surface to proceed. The use of such formulations additionally minimizes nonspecific binding of the nucleic acids to the surface. Examples of materials to be included in such formulations include cations, xanthines, hexoses, purines, arginine, lysine, polyarginine, polylysine, and quaternary ammonium salts.


Aluminum pipes 63 and 65 are provided at the ends thereof with a flange unit 3 constructed by two separate flange sections 5 and 7 produced by injection moulding a plastic material selected from polypropylene, polyoximethylen, epoxy, polyester or nylon 66. As the plastic resin material, nylon 66 is most preferable. The flange sections 5 and 7 from semicircular grooves in which the pipes 63 and 65 are accommodated, and the sections 5 and 7 are moved toward each other to be brought into a face to face contact while projected portions 27 and 29 of the first section 5 are engaged with hook portions 59 and 61 of the second section 7. Then the sections 5 and 7 are connected to each other by a screw 7, to obtain an assembled state of the flange unit 3. With this flange assembly, a contact between different metal materials does not occur, and thus any corrosion of the pipes is substantially prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus for an automobile, wherein a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant is carried out, and more particularly, to a coupling for connecting pipes made of an aluminum material to thereby create passages for carrying the refrigerant.
Throughout the specification the term aluminum includes not only pure aluminum but also any alloy based on aluminum, except where otherwise defined.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current requirements for a reduction of the weight of an automobile, as much as possible, have led to a requirement for a similar reduction of the weight of an air conditioning apparatus used in the automobile. To reduce the weight of an air conditioning apparatus, pipe couplings used in the air conditioning apparatus must have as low a weight as possible, and to obtain such a light weight pipe coupling, a coupling has been proposed that is constructed by a pair of flanges made of aluminum and mounted at each ends of pipes to be connected. These flange members mounted at the ends of the pipes are connected to each other to thereby connect the pipes. (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-43416).
Nevertheless, in view of the high pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the pipes, the strength of the pipe couplings constructed by the flanges made of aluminum is too low unless the flange is provided with a large outer diameter, but a flange having such a large outer flange is not desirable from the viewpoint of an efficient utilization of space.
Therefore, it has been proposed to use an inner flange made of a steel material and arranged between a pipe and an outer flange both made of aluminum. Such a construction, however, allows a contact between different materials, i.e., aluminum and steel, and this generates an electromotive force between the flange made of steel and the pipe made of aluminum, and accordingly, a more rapid corrosion of the metal parts. Depending on the components of the steel used for the flange, a corrosion of the pipes may occur, and thus the refrigerant under a high pressure may be leaked to the outside.

Flange coupling for connecting pipes for carrying refrigerant during refrigerating cycle


An electrical powered vehicle includes a secondary self-resonant coil, a secondary coil, a rectifier, and a power storage device. The secondary self-resonant coil is configured to be magnetically coupled with a primary self-resonant coil of a power feeding device by magnetic field resonance, and allow reception of high frequency power from the primary self-resonant coil. The secondary coil is configured to allow reception of electric power from the secondary self-resonant coil by electromagnetic induction. The rectifier rectifies the electric power received by the secondary coil. The power storage device stores the electric power rectified by the rectifier.

Great attention is focused on electrical powered vehicles such as an electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle as environment-friendly vehicles. These vehicles incorporate an electric motor for generating a driving force for running, and a rechargeable power storage device for storing electric power to be supplied to the electric motor. A hybrid vehicle refers to a vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine as a power source, in addition to an electric motor, or a vehicle further incorporating a fuel cell in addition to a power storage device as the direct current power source for driving the vehicle. A hybrid vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as the power source is already put into practice.
Among the hybrid vehicles there is known a vehicle that allows charging of the vehicle-mounted power storage device from a power source external to the vehicle, likewise with an electric vehicle. The so-called "plug-in hybrid vehicle" that allows the power storage device to be charged from a general household power supply by connecting the plug socket located at an establishment with the charging inlet provided at the vehicle is known.
As a method for power transfer, attention is recently focused on wireless electrical power transmission not using power supply cords and/or cables for electrical transmission. Three promising approaches of this wireless power transfer technique are known, i.e. power transfer using electromagnetic induction, power transfer using radio waves, and power transfer through the resonance method.
The resonance method thereof is directed to power transfer taking advantage of the resonance of the electromagnetic field, allowing electric power as high as several kW to be transferred over a relatively long distance (for example, several meters) (refer to Non-Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-8380
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 8-126106
Non-Patent Document 1: Andre Kurs et al., "Wireless Power Transfer via Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonances" [online], Jul. 6, 2007, Science, vol. 317, pp. 83-86, [retrieved on Sep. 12, 2007], Internet sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/317/5834/83.pdf>

Electrical powered vehicle and power feeding device for vehicle


The invention relates to a device for tensioning the retractable top of a motor vehicle (1). Said top comprises a front element (2) and a rear element (3) which are displaceable between the closed and opened positions thereof. The displacement of said elements is controlled by two articulated arms (6, 7). The inventive device is provided with arresting means (9) carried by the first arm (7) in such a way that is abuts against the second arm (6) when two elements (2, 3) of the top are relatively near to the closed position thereof. The arresting means (9) are provided with elastic means able to resist to the relative motion of the arms (6, 7) when the elements of the top (2, 3) are displaced from the relative position thereof, which is near to the closed position, and move towards said closed position.

This invention relates to a device for tensioning a retractable roof of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to such a device designed for a roof including a front element and a rear element that are mounted to be movable between a closed position in which said elements cover the passenger compartment of the vehicle and an open position in which said elements are folded away into the rear trunk of the vehicle, the elements being caused to move by two hinged arms, each of which is hinged firstly to the structure of the vehicle in the vicinity of the front edge of the trunk, and secondly to the front element of the roof, so that the two arms and their respective hinges form a deformable parallelogram, said device including abutment means carried by a first arm to come into abutment against the second arm when the two roof elements are in a relative position that is close to their closed position.
Such a device is known from Document FR-A-2 802 478.
During roof closure, the abutment means cause tension between the two arms, thereby stiffening the roof and therefore reducing the vibration of the roof while the vehicle is moving. In addition, the stiffening of the roof enables said roof to participate in the rigidity of the entire body of the vehicle, as the roof does in a vehicle having a non-retractable roof.
In the above-mentioned document, the abutment means are constituted by an eccentric which is adjusted by turning about a point that is fixed relative to the arm on which it is mounted, and the eccentric is locked when it comes into contact with the other arm when the elements are in a relative position that is close to the closure position.
Such an arrangement is generally satisfactory.
However, it has the disadvantage of being difficult to adjust. Unless it is adjusted almost perfectly, a certain amount of vibration can remain.
In addition, it is not always suitable, depending on the vehicle which it is to be used in. In particular, it can be difficult to implement when the distance between the arms at the desired abutment point is large.

Device for tensioning the retractable top of a motor vehicle

Societe Europeenne de Brevets Automobiles - Seba


The chip card comprises a card body (10) and a chip module (12) embedded in the card body and incorporating an integrated circuit. The card body includes at least one security feature (20, 22) incorporated in a layer, or applied on a surface, of the card body. An additional tamper-detection layer (26) is provided including a conductive pattern (28) forming an electrical loop connected between terminals of the integrated circuit, said conductive pattern having at least one region located beneath or above said security feature (20, 22). The integrated circuit is adapted to perform an integrity check of said conductive pattern for conditionally performing further operations only in case said integrity is recognized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the protection against tampering of security features incorporated in chip cards.
2. Background Art
A chip card comprises a card body and a chip module which is embedded in the card body and incorporates an integrated circuit (IC).
In addition to the embedded IC, so-called "security features" are often present on the surface of the card body. As a matter of fact, since smart cards are often used for authorising certain operations or to personally identify the holder of the card, it is necessary to include in the card some physical features that may be characterised on visual inspection, in contrast to authentication algorithms which rely on the exchange of signals with the microprocessor of the IC.
There has been proposed a number of security features, such as a photograph of the holder of the card, holograms, hologram-like features such as multiple laser images (MLI), laser engraving of individual data such as name and card number, etc. These features are created directly on the card body at the manufacturing stage, or maybe added at a later stage in the course of the personalization step of the blank card.
A problem nevertheless remains in ensuring integrity and security of the card. Though it is generally difficult to modify features as holograms, laser engraving, etc. without blatant alteration of the card, there exists some simple frauds consisting e.g. in peeling as a whole a layer of the card to replace printed or engraved information, still keeping unchanged the other layers of the cards and the chip module. Photographs printed on a card, like on driving licenses, passport, etc. are usually the first targets of such physical attacks.
Another attack consists in keeping the card body with all its security features as such, but removing the chip module and replacing it by a counterfeited module or a module taken from another card.
In order to make such physical attacks more difficult or render them more apparent in case of alteration of the card, multiple, different security features are incorporated in a single card and/or more and more sophisticated security features are used.
However, this makes the manufacturing process more complex and more expensive, while remaining vulnerable to some kinds of physical attacks such as exchanging the IC or peeling as a whole the layer incorporating the different security features. Thus the security features proposed so far, despite their sophistication, are not really tamper-proof and are still open to some kind of physical attacks.

Chip card including tamper-proof security features


An image processing system includes an object illuminated by a pre-determined first spectrum of light and an array of fringe lines, an imaging device configured to capture an image of the object including the first spectrum of light and the fringe lines reflecting from a surface of the object, and a processor in signal communication with the imaging device to receive an input data representing the image of the object, wherein the processor: generates a first data model based on the input data; removes a DC-component from the first data model to create a second data model; and performs a two dimensional Fourier transform profilometry based on the second data model.

In Fourier transform profilometry (FTP) an object is illuminated by both ambient (controlled or uncontrolled) lighting and (highly controlled) sinusoidal fringes (fringes can be at multiple spatial frequencies but are in most implementations single-frequency). An image of the illuminated object is captured and then processed.
To obtain a three-dimensional map of the surface, a portion (e.g. either one-dimensional or two-dimensional) of a full spectrum is typically extracted from the captured image. The full spectrum of the captured image includes a modulated sinusoid corresponding to a height (i.e. depth) information of a surface of the object, wherein a contour of the object spreads (i.e. modulates) the spectrum of the sinusoidal fringes from a single bin to a region (i.e. blob) about the central frequency.
Also present in the spectrum of the captured image is a region referred to as a DC-component, which is a spectral information corresponding to the ambient-illuminated image of the object. The DC-component contains a DC bin, wherein DC stands for a direct current that typically represents an average intensity of the captured image. A region of the spectrum containing the DC-component typically overlaps with a region including the modulated sinusoid and therefore, limits the amount of information one can utilize.
The problems inherent to the overlapping regions of the spectrum of the captured image are currently addressed using multiple images and a one-dimensional spectrum processing.
For example, a method for FTP DC-removal has been proposed including a one-dimensional Fourier transform and an acquisition of an additional image of the object without fringes for use as a DC-spectrum to be removed from an image including the fringe (modulated sinusoid) spectrum. (See Chen and Su, Proc. SPIE V. 4231 p. 412, 2000).
An alternative approach requires the use of two cameras. Specifically, one camera captures an image of the object including reflected fringes, while another camera includes a filter to block a wavelength of the fringe illumination to capture only a DC-component and not the modulated-sinusoid. The "two-camera" solution requires significant increase in cost (additional camera, filter, and optics), system complexity (camera synchronization), and alignment (to ensure that the two cameras have precisely the same field-of-view). It may also be necessary to simultaneously illuminate the object with a non-fringed pulse of light of different wavelength than the fringes for motion-freezing and to provide identical illumination, and thus, identical DC-components for the two cameras (again increasing cost, complexity, and alignment).
It is desirable to develop a system and a method for maximizing a precision of Fourier transform profilometry using a single image and a two-dimensional spectrum processing.

Single image DC-removal method for increasing the precision of two-dimensional fourier transform profilometry


The invention relates to biodegradable hot-melt adhesive compositions, preferably without residual tackiness at room temperature and having a biodegradability, as measured by the released carbon-dioxide analysis method pursuant to Standard EN ISO 14855, that is higher than 55% , preferably higher than 60% , and preferably higher than 90% , and to the use thereof. This percentage is given by reference with the cellulose biodegradability measurement, which amounts to 100% in the same conditions.

In the context of the developing market in so-called "bio" products, the big players among the major supermarket chains are turning to their suppliers, demanding products that fulfil these expectations.
These expectations are further increased as European directives require the progressive introduction of so-called "compostable" products that in particular satisfy the criteria set out in the European standard EN13432. In this connection, standard EN13432 specifies that the biodegradability of a product measured according to the released carbon-dioxide analysis method set out in EN ISO 14855 must be greater than 90%.
In the fields of packaging in general such as for example the closure of cans and cases, the assembly of cardboard trays, or in the more specific field of food packaging, adhesive compositions are commonly used for bonding printed papers onto any type of container, for food use or not, such as paper, bottles or pots, these containers sometimes being made from polystyrene, polypropylene, polylactic acid.
Customers' expectations in terms of compostable products are reflected at the level of the suppliers of each part of the packaging and customers require each of the components of a product to be biodegradable.
As a result, the supply of packaging items that are fully compostable or biodegradable therefore also involves the supply of hot-melt adhesive compositions that are compostable and/or biodegradable.
In this context, a hot-melt adhesive must also comply with said biodegradability standard EN ISO 14855 while retaining all of the other properties of a standard hot-melt adhesive, in particular the properties necessary for applying labelling to any type of container, for food use or not.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,850 describes the preparation of hot-melt adhesive compositions using certain ingredients known to be biodegradable. These compositions include 20 to 98% by weight polylactide (PLA) polymer containing at least 20% moles of lactide monomer, 2 to 80% adhesion-promoting resin having a softening point according to ASTM E 26 of approximately 60° C., 0 to 50% plasticizing agent and 0 to 30% wax as diluent and 0 to 3% stabilizing agent. No indication is given with respect to the biodegradability of the final composition according to standard EN ISO 14855.
WO 95/10577 describes the production of hot-melt adhesive compositions, preferably pressure-sensitive (hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives or HMPSA) called fully biodegradable/compostable by combining polyesters derived from lactic acid which are already known biodegradable polymers with biodegradable plasticizing resins based on polylactic acid (PLA), having a molecular weight less than 20,000 and having a Tg less than 60° C. No indication is given with respect to the biodegradability of the final composition according to standard EN ISO 14855.
These compositions containing PLA are not suitable for the fields of food packaging as they have the drawbacks of being rather stiff and having a heat-reactivation temperature that is too high for applications in the sought fields.
In the field of biodegradable hot-melt adhesive compositions without PLA, EP553394 describes the preparation of hot-melt adhesive compositions comprising a specific polyester obtained from 3-hydroxy-butyric and 3-hydroxy-valeric acid. No indication is given with respect to the biodegradability of the final composition according to standard EN ISO 14855.
EP 741178 also describes the preparation of hot-melt adhesive biodegradable compositions comprising a specific polyester obtained by reaction between a carboxylic diacid and a diglycidyl ether or ester. No indication is given with respect to the biodegradability of the final composition according to standard EN ISO 14855.
There is therefore a need to have available compostable hot-melt adhesive compositions capable of complying with European standard EN ISO 14855 and also fulfilling all the properties of a standard hot-melt adhesive, in particular the properties for applying labelling to any type of container, for food use or not.

Biodegradable hot-melt adhesive composition


A high voltage bushing for a high voltage device containing insulating liquid includes a voltage grading shield, improving performance and facilitating manufacturing.

It is known that electrical equipment and devices, such as high voltage transformers, are usually equipped with bushings, which are suitable to carry current at high potential through a grounded barrier, e.g. a transformer tank or a wall.
Conventional high voltage transformer bushings are constituted by an insulator made of ceramic or composite material, which is provided with sheds and is generally hollow, and on the inside is the voltage grading performed with a condenser body comprising paper-oil or resin impregnated epoxy through which the electrical conductor passes, allowing to connect the inside of the device on which the bushing is fitted to the outside. Thus, the condenser core provides a smooth electric potential distribution between the high voltage and the grounded parts.
Common to transformer bushings with a condenser body is that the part of the bushing that is submerged in the transformer tank contains oil.

High voltage bushing and high voltage device comprising such bushing


A condulet coupler is provided for attachment to a condulet. The condulet coupler can facilitate tapping into an existing conduit system and reclosing the condulet opening to introduce new conduit runs beginning midstream in an in-place conduit and to introduce splices in an existing run. Other functional changes, such as rerouting select wiring, can also be served by the condulet coupler.

Various electrical codes require in-conduit wiring for runs emanating from power boxes and terminating at termination points, such as receptacles, in or outside of a building. Commonly, the conduits are filled to about 80% capacity in new construction. These conduits are often installed before the interior of new construction is completed and may also be in place in existing construction—both interior and exterior uses. Not all wiring is used initially, as the intent is to have excess capacity available when needed without the costly need to run additional conduit. Because of the high capacity in a conduit, working in an existing conduit may be space limited.
As a part of the electrical building code, conduit runs include devices called conduit outlet bodies, or condulets, typically placed every 100 feet or less and/or after every third 90 degree bend. These condulets provide access to the embedded wiring and serve as junction points for internal wiring and afford access to embedded wiring if needed. Condulets have removable cover plates and, when the cover plate is removed, the internal wiring is accessible to an electrician, such as to obtain access to wiring for splicing purposes. However, because the wiring remains embedded in the conduit and the available space in the conduit for rewiring may be limited, new wiring to a different portion of the building typically needs to be extended from one of the available ends of the conduit points of connection at either the end near the power box or the distal end, and not from the condulet. In some circumstances, the electrical code requires wiring to be in conduit. Because of the obligation to have wiring in conduit, additional wiring requires laying new conduit from the point of connection and has expense associated with any system down-time, labor, and materials of the installing the new conduit.


A print controller apparatus and method thereof for controlling the movement of a printhead assembly including a carriage, printhead, and head pins. First and second moving times of the carriage moving from first and second predetermined distances and a difference between these moving times are determined. The carriage at a third predetermined distance is then determined based on the first and second moving times and the difference of the moving times. A basic timing signal corresponding to the current print mode is generated in accordance with the current moving time of the carriage. A correction value is then computed based on the current moving time of the carriage and from a preceding detected moving time which equals a predetermined time the printhead arrives at the printing paper. The basic timing signal is corrected using the correction value to thereby generate a print timing signal. In accordance with a speed signal being of an inverse proportion to the current moving speed of the carriage and with a preceding computed print timing signal, a drive signal in proportion to the speed signal causes the head pin to make contact with the printing paper for a corresponding amount of time.

The present invention relates in general to a printer and more particularly to an apparatus and method for controlling the movement of a printhead assembly.
Conventional dot matrix printers have become very popular because they provide high quality characters and bit images at a relatively low cost. Dot matrix printers of a serial type operate by driving a head fixing base or carriage having a printhead thereon in a printing direction. The movement of the carriage is controlled by print timing signals, which are generated according to how fast or far the carriage moves relative to a slit plate.
In conventional printers, each line is printed only while the carriage is moving at a constant speed in a printing area (FIG. 17). A slit detector generates encoder signals as the carriage moves relative to the slit plate, which has slits a predetermined distance apart. The generated encoder signals are used as starting points and corresponding print timing data is set in a timer circuit in accordance with print instruction data received from an external device at timings corresponding to the respective printing modes of the printer. Once the timer circuit is set, print timing signals are generated to control the further movement of the carriage and the printhead striking the paper.
As shown in FIG. 18 herein, Japanese Patent Publication (Tokkai) No. 3-2059 of Heisei discloses a print timing control method for correcting variances in printing positions between respective dots in a transverse direction. This reference employs delay circuits 301 for controlling a drive circuit 302 which drives the respective head pins of a printhead 303. The delay circuits 301 change the delay time according to the printing direction to compensate for variances in the printing position.
Further, head pins which are provided in the printhead of a serial type printer are respectively driven at a predetermined cycle. The time for energizing a head pin driving solenoid or for applying voltage to a head pin driving piezoelectric element during one cycle is fixed independent of the moving speed of the carriage.
There is a demand for increased print speed which has resulted in an increase in the printing speed during the constant speed movement of the carriage. The demand for increased print speed has also resulted in printing during the accelerating and decelerating movements of the carriage (i.e., in the periods shown by oblique lines in FIG. 17). However, to print during the accelerating and decelerating movements of the carriage, print timings must be generated relative to the moving speed of the carriage which changes momentarily. Furthermore, during the accelerating and decelerating periods, the movement of the carriage is greatly influenced by the variations of loads occurring while controlling the print carriage drive mechanism. In conventional printers, the movement of the carriage during the accelerating and decelerating periods is based on timing signals corresponding to the print area. As a result, the printing quality is not satisfactory.
In addition, in the conventional method, the printing operations are performed in such a manner that the carriage moves without stopping to strike the head pins against the paper via a ribbon. Therefore, as the printing speed of the printer increases, the contact distance on the paper between the head pin and the paper increases thereby spreading the shapes of dots printed on the paper. The result is that the printing quality is deteriorated. Further, the change in the shape of the dot is clearly recognized as a change in the shape of a character or image especially when the printing is performed in the accelerating or decelerating movements of the carriage. The change in the dot shape is undesirable from the viewpoint of the printing quality.


A measurement device (1) including a measurement module (2) and a communication module (3), in which the measurement module (2) has at least one sensor (4) for measuring a physical or chemical quantity. In the position of use, an interface (5) is provided for the communication between the measurement module (2) and the communication module (3). The measurement module (2) has a measurement module housing (6) and the communication module (3) has a communication module housing (7), which can be interconnected in a mechanically releasable manner and form in the connected state a closed measurement device housing (15).

The invention relates to a measurement device comprising a measurement module and a communication module, wherein the measurement module comprises at least one sensor for measuring a physical and/or chemical parameter, wherein an interface is or can be organized for the communication between the measurement module and the communication module.
The invention further relates to a design series and the use of a communication device for the sending and/or receiving of data and/or commands to and/or from a measurement device.
Such measurement devices are known and are formed for example by mounting a separate sensor in a communication device, such as a mobile telephone, at an electrical interface, such as a USB socket and/or an audio jack socket.
The drawback in these solutions is that the sensors must always be directly attuned to the communication device. This may involve for example a mechanical coupling site between the respective communication device and the sensor and/or an electrical coupling for example via electrical contacts between the respective communication device and the sensor. The communication device manufacturers almost all use different configurations of their device housings for their mobile telephones, so that for example the geometries of the devices and/or the existing interfaces on the communication devices have different configurations and/or positions, in order to allow a unified design of a sensor to be connected with the communication device.
Moreover, a loose connection or coupling, which is produced for example solely by a mechanical and/or wireline interface, such as a USB socket, does not afford sufficient stability and robustness, so that such a loose arrangement is hardly practicable. Because of the loose connection, the components may often become lightly damaged or the transmission between components will be faulty, for example, if a plug slides out from the socket during a data transmission.

Measurement device, design series, and use of a communication device


A computerized system and method for changing the textual length of an electronic text content while maintaining the meaning of the electronic text content is disclosed. The system includes an electronic reader, or e-reader, device having an electronic touch screen for displaying an electronic text content and for receiving a user touch gesture for identifying a portion of the electronic text content targeted for a textual length change, and a semantic server programmed to receive requests for a semantic text alternative for a targeted electronic text content identified by way of the e-reader device and to determine a semantic alternative electronic text content for the targeted electronic text content, wherein the determined semantic alternative electronic text has a different textual length than the targeted electronic text content, and for replacing the targeted electronic text content displayed by the e-reader device with the determined semantic alternative electronic text content.

Reading sessions involving electronic books, or e-books, have grown in popularity, and the electronic nature of the e-book experience presents new opportunities and challenges as the frontier of e-book technology advances. Many of the new opportunities and challenges pertain to enhancing the e-book reading experience.
An e-book is an electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using an electronic reader, or e-reader, device. E-reader functionality for reading e-books is in part provided by an e-reader device having a display for displaying text and graphics and a control input for receiving user input to manipulate e-book pages. Some modern e-reader devices include a touch screen display that is useable as both a control input and a display.
E-reader functionality may be provided on a dedicated e-reader device such as an Amazon.com Kindle™ or Barnes & Noble Nook™, or provided as an additional function of a communication device, such as a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, or the like. Any device that provides e-reader functionality is rendered an e-reader device. A present example of a mobile telephone device that may be rendered as an e-reader device is the iPhone™ smart phone, which is presently manufactured by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. For example, an e-reader software application running on the iPhone™ renders the iPhone™ an e-reader device. A presently available e-reader software application is Stanza provided by Lexcycle LLC, which is presently owned by Amazon.com.
In operation, e-book content is downloaded to the e-reader device and then displayed as text and/or graphics, generally on a page by page basis. For example, e-reader devices provide user interfaces that are used to virtually turn pages and provide input for searching and requesting particular e-book content. Once a page is read, the user can instruct the e-reader device to present the next page, and so on and so forth. In response to a search query, content or pages responsive to the query are presented. Moreover, an e-reader device typically has wireless connectivity for downloading content and conducting other Web-based tasks such as browsing the Internet and receiving email.
One problem facing users of mobile devices rendered as e-reader devices is that mobile devices tend to include display screens having limited space for presenting content such as text. For the purpose of this disclosure, a text can be a letter, a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, and combinations thereof. Touch screen gesture techniques or buttons associated with controlling such e-reader devices are useable to zoom in and out on sections of text or to scroll through sections of text. However, it is easy for a user of an e-reader device to lose his or her reading place while zooming or scrolling text. Moreover, zooming and scrolling activities do little to assist the user's understanding of the text being displayed. Thus, a need exists for systems and methods that allow users of e-reader devices to have more control over the presentation of text such that the readability of the text is enhanced. One such enhancement could limit the opportunity to lose one's reading place while also increasing the understandability of the text. Another enhancement would maximize the output of an e-reader display.