In an image-forming device and method which includes an information-detecting device for detecting information A regarding a first processing condition and information B regarding a second processing condition, and a judging system for judging, according to the information A, whether or not a regulation of the first processing condition needs to be performed. When the judging system judges that the regulation of the first processing condition needs to be performed, a first regulation mode is performed in which the regulation of the first processing condition is performed, the information-detecting device detects at least the information B, and a regulation of the second processing condition is performed according to the information B. When the judging system judges otherwise, a second regulation mode is performed in which the first regulation mode is not performed, and the regulation of the second processing condition is performed according to the information B.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image-forming device, such as a copying machine utilizing electrophotography, a facsimile, and a printer, and more particularly, to an image-forming device including process regulating means for regulating an image-forming electric potential formed on a latent image on an image-bearing member, and for regulating a toner density of a developer to form a toner image of the latent image, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an image-forming device of this type comprises various types of image-forming means, such as a photosensitive member functioning as an image-bearing member, an electrifying device electrifying the photosensitive member, an exposing device forming a latent image on the electrified photosensitive member, a developing device developing the latent image on the photosensitive member so as to form a toner image on the photosensitive member, a transferring device transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive member to a recording paper functioning as a recording medium, a cleaning device removing a residual toner on the photosensitive member after transferring, and a fixing device fixing the transferred toner image on the recording paper.
Further, in order to form an output image of a targeted quality, the image-forming device of this type conventionally performs various process regulations, such as an image-forming-potential regulation for regulating an image-forming electric potential of the latent image formed on the photosensitive member, and a toner-supplement regulation for adjusting a toner density of the developer used to form the toner image from the latent image.
The above-mentioned toner-supplement regulation is performed, for example, as follows.
First, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality (three in the figures) of latent image patterns 20a, 20b and 20c at predetermined electric potentials are formed on a photosensitive member 20.
Next, an infrared light is projected from a toner-amount detecting sensor 25 to the photosensitive member 20 so as to detect the amount of toner attached on the latent image patterns 20a, 20b and 20c.
The toner-amount detecting sensor 25 comprises a light-emitting element 25a emitting the infrared light, and a light-receiving element 25b receiving a regular reflected light (a light beam having a reflection angle equal to an incident angle) of the infrared light, as shown in FIG. 2.
The toner-amount detecting sensor 25 detects whether or not the amount of the toner attached on the latent image patterns 20a, 20b and 20c is equal to a targeted amount of toner corresponding to a desired output image, on the basis of a luminous energy of the regular reflected light received by the light-receiving element 25b. When the luminous energy of the regular reflected light received by the light-receiving element 25b is large, i.e., when the amount of the toner attached on the latent image patterns 20a, 20b and 20c is insufficient, a toner supplement signal is output from the light-receiving element 25b.
Then, when the toner supplement signal is output from the light-receiving element 25b, a proper amount of toner is supplemented from a toner-supplementing device (not shown in the figures) to the above-mentioned developing device. Thereby, the toner density of the developer supplied from the developing device is made appropriate so that the amount of the attached toner of the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 20 becomes an amount that can achieve a targeted quality of the desired output image.
On the other hand, the above-mentioned image-forming-potential regulation is performed, for example, as follows.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality (three in the figure) of patterned latent images at electric potentials different from one another by increasing degrees are formed on the photosensitive member 20, and are developed by using a toner so that latent image patterns 30a, 30b and 30c having different toner densities are formed on the photosensitive member 20.
Next, a development characteristic (a development xcex3) of the above-mentioned developing device is calculated from the relationship between the amount of toner attached on the latent image patterns 30a, 30b and 30c and the surface potential of the latent image patterns 30a, 30b and 30c detected by a potential sensor (not shown in the figure). A grid voltage of the above-mentioned electrifying device, a development bias of the above-mentioned developing device, and an LD (a laser luminescence) power of the above-mentioned exposing device, etc. are regulated so that the amount of the toner attached on the latent image patterns 30a, 30b and 30c becomes equal to a targeted amount of toner. Thereby, the electric potential to form the toner image on the photosensitive member 20 is optimized so that the amount of the attached toner of the toner image becomes an amount that can achieve a targeted quality of a desired output image.
Thus, it is supposed that, in the image-forming device of this type, if the toner density of the developer supplied from the developing device and the electric potential to form the toner image on the photosensitive member 20 are optimized by the above-described toner-supplement regulation and the image-forming-potential regulation, the amount of the attached toner of the toner image is maintained in an ideal condition that can achieve the targeted quality of the desired output image.
In reality, however, the image-forming device of this type performs an image formation in various cases as follows: the toner image is formed only by a developer of a particular color; an image area is extremely small; a normal image formation is hardly performed, and therefore, only an automatic regulation is performed in which the toner supplementation by the above-mentioned image-forming-potential regulation, etc. is not performed. At this point, normally in the above-mentioned toner-supplement regulation, when the toner image is not formed on the photosensitive member 20, no toner is supplemented from the above-mentioned toner-supplementing device to the above-mentioned developing device. Therefore, when the development capability (a capability of developing the latent image) of the developing device is either higher or lower than a standard level, there occurs a problem that the image-forming potential-regulation alone cannot sufficiently regulate the amount of the attached toner of the toner image.
In order to solve this problem, there is a conventional image-forming device performing a so-called self-check, in which a toner is supplemented to the above-mentioned developing device; or a toner is consumed in the developing device, at a predetermined timing, so as to adjust the toner density of the developer supplied from the developing device, and thereafter, the above-mentioned image-forming-potential regulation is performed.
The image-forming-potential regulation in this image-forming device is performed as a special job at a timing different from an image-forming routine of a normal toner image. For example, the image-forming-potential regulation is performed, for example, immediately after electric power is supplied to the image-forming device having the above-mentioned fixing device in a cool state, after an image-forming job is performed predetermined times, or after a predetermined time has passed since the previous image-forming-potential regulation.
The special job for the self-check as mentioned above is effective in maintaining an image quality. Especially, in a color-image forming device, the process regulations are made more stable by performing various regulations, as described above, based on plenty of information in a sufficient period of time for each color.
However, in an image-forming device structured so as to perform the special job for the self-check as mentioned above, various regulations are performed in the special job, based on plenty of information in a sufficient period of time for each color. This results in a problem that a user cannot use this image-forming device to conduct an image-formation during a predetermined time in which the regulations are performed.
Conventionally, in consideration of such an operability for the user, the special job is performed using a period of time in which the fixing device warms up upon supplying electric power to the image-forming device for the day. However, a recent image-forming device is required to have a shortened start-up time; therefore, it is difficult to secure a sufficient period of time to perform the special job.
Additionally, an image-forming device installed in a convenience store, for example, is frequently used while electric power is kept supplied 24 hours a day. With respect to this image-forming device, there is a problem that a user has no time or place to wait for the special job to be performed.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful image-forming device in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an image-forming device which can perform a self-check in a shortened period of time while maintaining a targeted image quality.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to one aspect of the present invention an image-forming device comprising:
information-detecting means for detecting information A regarding first processing means and information B regarding second processing means; and
judging means for judging, according to the information A, whether or not a regulation of the first processing means needs to be performed,
wherein, when the judging means judges that the regulation of the first processing means needs to be performed, a first regulation mode is performed in which the regulation of the first processing means is performed, the information-detecting means detects at least the information B, and a regulation of the second processing means is performed according to the information B, and
when the judging means judges that the regulation of the first processing means does not need to be performed, a second regulation mode is performed in which the first regulation mode is not performed, and the regulation of the second processing means is performed according to the information B.
In the image-forming device according to the present invention, when the judging means judges that the regulation of the first processing means does not need to be performed, the regulation of the first processing means is not performed, and the information-detecting means does not detect the information B once again. Accordingly, the image-forming device according to the present invention can perform the process regulations as above in a shortened period of time when the judging means judges that the regulation of the first processing means does not need to be performed.
Additionally, in the image-forming device according to the present invention, the information A may regard a toner-density regulation regulating a toner density of-developing means functioning as the first processing means, and
the information B may regard at least one of an electrification potential of electrifying means, a write luminous energy of image-writing means, and a developing bias of the developing means, the electrifying means, the image-writing means, and the developing means functioning as the second processing means.
Additionally, in the image-forming device according to the present invention, the developing means may comprise a plurality of developing devices respectively containing toners of a plurality of colors.
In the image-forming device according to the present invention, when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of the developing means does not need to be performed, the toner-density regulation of the developing means is not performed, and the information-detecting means does not detect the information B once again. Accordingly, the image-forming device according to the present invention can perform the process regulations as above in a shortened period of time when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of the developing means does not need to be performed.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is also provided according to another aspect of the present invention an image-forming device comprising:
information-detecting means for detecting information A regarding a toner-density regulation of a plurality of developing devices and information B regarding at least one of an electrification potential of electrifying means, a write luminous energy of image-writing means, and a developing bias of each of the developing devices; and
judging means for judging, according to the information A, whether or not the toner-density regulation of each of the developing devices needs to be performed,
wherein, when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of one of the developing devices needs to be performed, a first regulation mode is performed in which the toner-density regulation of the one of the developing devices is performed, the information-detecting means again detects at least the information B with respect to the one of the developing devices, and a regulation of at least one of the electrification potential of the electrifying means, the write luminous energy of the image-writing means, and the developing bias of the one of the developing devices is performed according to the information B, and
when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of one of the developing devices does not need to be performed, a second regulation mode is performed in which the first regulation mode is not performed with respect to the one of the developing devices, and the regulation of at least one of the electrification potential of the electrifying means, the write luminous energy of the image-writing means, and the developing bias of the one of the developing devices is performed according to the information B.
In the image-forming device according to the present invention, when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of a particular one of the developing devices does not need to be performed, the first regulation mode is not performed with respect to the particular developing device. In other words, when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of a particular one of the developing devices needs to be performed, the first regulation mode is performed with respect to the particular developing device. Thereby, even when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation does not need to be performed for the first developing device, for example, the judging means surely judges whether to perform the toner-density regulation with respect to the other developing devices without erroneously skipping those judgments and proceeding to the process regulations. Besides, when it is arranged that the information-detecting means detects the information by sensing latent image patterns formed on an image-bearing member, the latent image patterns do not need to be re-formed to sense the latent image patterns again, when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of the particular developing device does not need to be performed. This prevents the toner from being wastefully consumed.
Additionally, in the image-forming device according to the present invention, each of the developing devices may be moved to a predetermined position so as to perform an image-development, and
the judging means may judge, according to the information A, whether or not the toner-density regulation of each of the developing devices moved to the predetermined position needs to be performed, and successively, when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation of one of the developing devices moved to the predetermined position needs to be performed, the toner-density regulation of the one of the developing devices may be performed.
In the image-forming device according to the present invention, the judging operation and the toner density regulation are performed in succession when the judging means judges that the toner-density regulation needs to be performed with respect to one of the developing devices moved to the predetermined position. Thereby, the developing devices do not have to be moved to the development position between the judging operation and the toner density regulation. This minimizes a time required for shifting the developing devices to the development position. Thus, the image-forming device according to the present invention can perform the process regulations as above in a shortened period of time.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Image-forming device and method using information obtained for a toner-density regulation and also in a potential regulation when the toner-density regulation is not performed


A non-contact voltage detection panel mount assembly is provided. The assembly includes a base to mount to an electrical enclosure, the base including of four voltage portals, a test point and a test voltage generator circuit used to test a pen. The pen is operatively connected to the base and includes an electrical charge storage device, a charge indicator operatively connected to the electrical charge storage device to indicate a presence of a charge within the electrical charge storage device, and a voltage present indicator to indicate presence of a voltage. The pen has a first position for lock-out-tag-out to monitor and test for voltage in any one of the four voltage portals and a second position to determine presence of voltage in the test point.

Electrical safety demands we know the correct answer to one question: Is there voltage? Since a wrong answer can have life threatening consequences, like arc flash, for example—many companies spend time and money making sure they can answer that question with unerring certainty. When the NFPA published their Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace in the year 2000, that document generated essential changes in the way both electrical and mechanical maintenance is performed in today's industrial and commercial facilities. There is no doubt these changes are positive because injuries and deaths caused by electrical accidents have been significantly reduced. Yet, as with any new regulation, employee productivity has been adversely affected because of the Standard.
What is needed is a method and system which would allow for maintaining the reduction in injuries and deaths attributable to NFPA 70e, but in a manner which allows for returning to the level of productivity experienced prior to NFPA 70e.
Non-contact voltage detectors (NCVD's) are one example of devices which may be used to determine whether or not voltage is present at a location (such as a wire or contact point) being probed. But, because of the possibility of false negatives, meaning that the voltage tester falsely indicates that there is not a voltage when there actually is, NCVD's have not been considered a reliable means in determining electrical isolation. Because of the possibility of a false negative reading, some plants will not allow maintenance workers to carry them. Because a NCVD relies on capacitance, external factors not related to the tested conductor may affect the voltage reading which creates a potential false negative situation when voltage is present. Examples of factors that affect the operation of a NCVD include, without limitation, AC Only, minimum voltage level, phase cancellation, metal barriers (small enclosures), underground cables, hand position, temperature, induced voltage, and frequency. Despite these problems, a voltage portal correctly installed into an electrical panel increases the reliability of the NCVD voltage reading by reducing these variables. In addition, because NVCDs are portable, they can also be checked to an independent voltage source as per NFPA 70E 120.1(5).
Another way to test for voltages is to use a voltage indicator. Voltage indicators installed by qualified electricians are hardwired to the main power disconnect and earth ground. Installation is simple because a phase-neutral high impedance voltage detection circuit on each phase senses and illuminates AC/DC voltage. Two issues with voltage indicators are that (1) it is impractical to verify the voltage indicator to another independent voltage source as attempting to do so adds complexity and reduces reliability and (2) since the voltage indicator's sole purpose is to indicate voltage, any electrical connection between the source voltage and the voltage indicator increases the chance of a false negative voltage reading.
Therefore, what is also needed is an improved device and system for electrical safety.


A terminal --CH.sub.2 OH moiety is selectively cleaved from an alkoxyalkanol at elevated temperatures, in the optional presence of water, over a catalytically effective amount of heterogeneous nickel.

This invention relates to a process for the treatment of alkoxyalkanols. More particularly, this invention is directed toward a process for the cleavage of a terminal --CH.sub.2 OH moiety from an alkoxyalkanol at elevated temperatures in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of heterogeneous nickel. The resulting compounds are referred to herein as methyl-capped alkoxylates.
Methyl-capped alkoxylates find use as solvents or as low foam detergents for industrial applications. Since these detergents are composed only of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, they do not pose the environmental problems which stem from detergents containing such heteroatoms as nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus. However, in the production of the methyl-capped alkoxylates, the ether linkages in the alkoxyalkanol starting materials degrade easily at elevated temperatures; a mild, selective process for production of the methyl-capped alkoxylates is thus of commercial interest.
Rylander, "Organic Synthetic with Noble Metal Catalysts," (1973) discloses on page 269 the dehydrogenation and decarbonylation of primary alcohols upon heating with a catalyst. There appears no disclosure of nickel catalysts or alkoxylated alcohols however.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,107 discloses the conversion of alcohols to hydrocarbons over a zeolite catalyst impregnated with a metal cation from Groups I-VIII. U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,766 teaches the conversion by simultaneous dehydration and hydrogenation of t-butanol to isobutane over a supported nickel catalyst. Neither of these patents disclose a process which yields a product with one less carbon atom than the reactant alcohol.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,546 discloses the conversion of alcohols with n carbon atoms to hydrocarbons with (n-1) and (2n-1) carbon atoms over a palladium on titanium dioxide catalyst. The presence of water is said to favor products with (2n-1) carbon atoms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,496 teaches the steam dealkylation of alkyl-aromatic hydrocarbons over a supported alumina catalyst containing oxides of nickel, potassium and chromium, with at least a portion of the nickel being in the form of free metal.
Badin, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 65, pages 1809-13 (1943), shows the liquid phase conversion of primary aliphatic alcohols into the corresponding aldehyde, an unsaturated hydrocarbon of one less carbon atom and the saturated hydrocarbon of one less carbon atom. The catalyst employed was Raney nickel.


A photovoltaic generator including at least one photovoltaic cell, and a transparent matrix placed with at least one optically active material with an absorption wavelength xcexa and a reemission wavelength xcexr, the optically active material selected such that xcexa corresponds to a range of the photovoltaic cell with a lower sensitivity than xcexr, the matrix having an input surface and an opposite surface and comprises a reflecting coating an a dichroic filter on the input surface that substantially reflects wavelengths longer than about 950 nm and is substantially transparent for wavelengths less than about 950 nm, and on the opposite surface the matrix has a reflecting coating that reflects wavelengths greater than about 400 nm, and wherein the photovoltaic cell is included in the matrix.

This invention relates to the field of photovoltaic conversion.
Electricity generators comprising photovoltaic cells are known in the state of the art. These cells are composed of semi-conducting barriers that output an electric signal that depends on the light intensity illuminating their surface. Various works have been done to improve the efficiency of this type of cell.
A first series of work applies to improvements to the cells themselves, for example, by the production of monocrystalline cells. These improvements result in cells with an extremely high manufacturing cost.
Another series of work has been done to improve cell illumination conditions, particularly by techniques to convert the solar spectrum to optimally adapt light radiation acting on the cells, to the sensitivity curve of these cells.
For example, U.S. Pat. NO. 4,110,123 discloses an example photovoltaic conversion device comprising a support doped with fluorescent materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,238 also discloses a solar sensor presenting durable fluorescent properties comprising a polymer matrix, a coloring agent and a stabilizer. The polymer matrix is composed of polycarbonate and the coloring agent is chosen among the group comprising essentially thioxanthobe, perylene imide and/or compounds of thioindigoid. This patent also proposes to position reflecting elements such that collected sunlight can be aimed at a solar cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,367 describes a collector suitable for concentrating solar energy on a photoelectric cell comprising at least one fluorescent doping agent. The cell is fixed on one edge of the collector which is coated with a reflecting coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,582 also describes a solar converter comprising a substrate doped with photo-active combinations called xe2x80x9clight cascadesxe2x80x9d to improve the quality of the light spectrum illuminating the photoelectric cells.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved, compact, high efficiency photovoltaic generator.
This invention relates to a photovoltaic generator including at least one photovoltaic cell, and a transparent matrix placed with at least one optically active material with an absorption wavelength xcexa and a reemission wavelength xcexr, the optically active material selected such that xcexa corresponds to a range of the photovoltaic cell with a lower sensitivity than xcexr, the matrix having an input surface and an opposite surface and comprises a reflecting coating and a dichroic filter on the input surface that substantially reflects wavelengths longer than about 950 nm and is substantially transparent for wavelengths less than about 950 nm, and on the opposite surface the matrix has a reflecting coating that reflects wavelengths greater than about 400 nm, and wherein the photovoltaic cell is included in the matrix.

Photovoltaic generators with light cascade and varying electromagnetic flux


A water-soluble photo-activatable polymer including: a photo-activatable group adapted to be activated by an irradiation source and to form a covalent bond between the water-soluble photo-activatable polymer and a matrix having at least one carbon; a reactive group adapted to covalently react with a biomaterial for subsequent delivery of the biomaterial to a cell; a hydrophilic group; and a polymer precursor. A composition including a monomolecular layer of the water-soluble photo-activatable polymer and a matrix having at least one carbon, wherein the monomolecular layer is covalently attached to the matrix by a covalent bond between the photo-activatable group and the at least one carbon. The composition further includes a biomaterial having a plurality of active groups, wherein the biomaterial is covalently attached to the monomolecular layer by covalent bonding between the active groups and reactive groups. Also provided is a method for delivery of a biomaterial to a cell.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to surface modifications and more particularly to immobilization of molecules to surfaces by photochemical coupling.
2. Description of Related Art
A common shortcoming of implantable medical devices or surfaces is recognition of these devices by an organism as foreign objects followed by inflammation or even a rejection of such devices. Surface modification science concentrates on finding a better interface between a living tissue and a solid matrix. It is known to use various coatings to impart desirable properties to implantable surfaces. Such coatings are based on polymers and may include biologically active materials. Challenges in preparing such coatings include attaching biologically active materials to inert surfaces.
One of the techniques for derivatizing inert surfaces is photochemical coupling (see reference [1]). Photo-cross-linking chemistry based on organic solvents is well established (see references [2-5]). It is not known to use adsorption from aqueous solutions for application of photo-cross-linkers onto a polymer surface.
Aryl ketones (e.g., benzophenone or acetophenone derivatives) and aryl azides are known as photo-activatable cross-linkers suitable for covalent binding to virtually any type of polymer surface as described by Amos et al. Upon irradiation with long-wave UV (at about 350 nm), benzophenone residues form energy-rich excited triplet species, which are then inserted into carbon-hydrogen bonds (C—H bonds) of a polymeric surface by abstraction of hydrogen atoms from C—H bonds and form new carbon-carbon bonds (C—C bonds), resulting in covalent binding of benzophenone residues onto the polymeric surface (see FIG. 1).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,909 to Pappin et al. discloses a method for immobilizing proteins or peptides onto a membrane by formation of a polymeric network, which entraps the protein or peptide.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,959,078, 5,512,329 and 5,741,551 to Guire et al. disclose covalent bonding of polymeric molecules to surfaces through external activation. This approach is used to bind fibronectin peptide to a polystyrene surface by a photo-reaction between the peptide and a surface having a photo-activatable group.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,460 to Swan et al. discloses attaching a target molecule (synthetic polymers, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, etc.) to a surface by using photo-activatable groups.
It is evident from the prior art discussed above that prior to the present invention, photo-cross-linkers were not used for the attachment of functional reactive groups (other than the same photo-activatable groups used in the initial step of photo-immobilization) to the surface in order to activate it for further immobilization of biomolecules.
Replication defective adenoviruses (Ad or AdV) have been extensively used in both experimental and human gene therapy. Ad cell entry takes place through receptor-mediated endocytosis via dual Coxsackie-Adenovirus Receptor (CAR)/αvβ3 integrins receptor system, although alternative pathways, such as fluid phase endocytosis might be operative under certain conditions (Meier and Greber, 2003). Various cell types differ widely in their level of CAR expression and this has proved to be a limiting factor for the level of transgene expression achievable with Ad. Furthermore, it is also clear that Ad cell entry and processing within cells via non-receptor endocytosis is a far less efficient means for vector processing than CAR-mediated cell entry. Thus, transgene expression in cells with relatively low amounts of CAR can only be achieved with high doses of Ad (Baker, 2004; Xu et al., 2005), and this has proved to be a major concern in terms of safety and toxicity (Yei et al., 1994; Thomas et al., 2001; Brunetti-Pierri et al., 2004).
Despite the foregoing developments, there is a need in the art for alternative means of attaching target molecules to surfaces.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Photochemical activation of surfaces for attaching biomaterial


A system and method for monitoring the operating parameters of an electric arc furnace having a primary electrical circuit comprising a primary current transformer. The method includes monitoring the furnace's primary current transformer; collecting data therefrom; transmitting the collected data to a server having an operatively connected monitor; and displaying the collected data on the monitor in substantially real-time. The server also collects information about the performance of the furnace from a programmable logic computer and information entered manually by an operator at a furnace monitoring viewer system, which may also be displayed in substantially real-time on the monitor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and more specifically, to a monitoring system and method therefore that provides substantially real-time data about the operation of the electric arc furnace to a local user and which is transmitted over a global computer network to a remote secured database, from which historical reports may be generated as desired.
2. Background Art
In the steel industry, electric arc furnaces (EAFs) are used to melt metals and other ingredients to form steel. The heat needed to melt the metals is generated by passing current through one or more carbon bodies, commonly referred to as graphite electrodes, and forming an arc between the electrode(s) and the metals in the furnace.
In conventionally operated EAFs, the operator periodically collects raw data about different operational aspects of the furnace, such as operating electrical current levels, cumulative oxygen used, temperature of the molten steel, etc.
This raw data is typically stored on a local programmable logic computer (PLC) and accumulates quickly. The raw data is collected at a faster rate than the operator can review and assess it. Sometimes, the raw data is printed out. At the time the operator starts his or her review of the data, the data is often out-dated, leaving the operator only the ability to prepare reports based on the historical operation of the furnace. As a result, although the operator has access to lots of information, it is not as useful to him or her as it could be since it does not allow the operator to view the data in substantially real-time so as to adjust the furnace operation in an effort to maximize the furnace's performance and, for example, minimize electrode consumption.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,768 to Kracich (the '768 patent) discloses an electric arc furnace electrode consumption analyzer. In known electric arc furnaces, the furnace includes at least one electrode projecting into a furnace for containing a charge to be heated and an electrode support structure for moving the electrode toward and away from the charge. Specifically, the '768 patent teaches the use of a sensor for detecting the position of electrode support structure from an initial position. A processor calculates the travel distance and the rate of electrode consumption and triggers an alarm at certain predetermined operational parameters. While this device is useful to improve electrode performance because it provides substantially real-time data that the operator may use to make decisions about the furnace operation, it is disadvantageous because it limits the operator's decision based on travel distance alone, when electrode consumption is generally a function of many variables.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,438 to Gulden, Jr. et al. teaches the use of a method for "on-line" monitoring and control of the performance of an electric arc furnace. Here, the term "on-line" does not refer to any global computer network, but rather is used as a synonym for "direct." The '438 patent teaches that for many years, electric arc furnaces have been operated by manually controlled relay panels, which over time have been replaced by programmable logic controllers. The '438 patent teaches the integration of the PLCs and microcomputers and a method of information handling to provide on-line data collection and data communication between the programmable logic controller and the data processing microcomputer in a stand alone unit for control of the furnace, thus eliminating the need for higher level computers. While the method taught by the '438 patent has advantages, it is disadvantageous in that it does not provide the operator with substantially real-time data about the furnace operation that may be transmitted over both a secure local computer network and over a global computer network to a secure database so that the operator may make real-time decisions about the operation of the furnace.
What is desired, therefore, is a system and method for monitoring an electric arc furnace, wherein data may be collected and displayed on a local user's personal computer in substantially real-time and also transmitted to a remote secured database, where reports using the collected data stored in the remote secured database may later be prepared to evaluate the furnace's historical operation.

Electric arc furnace monitoring system and method


A modular valve service box having a modular element cooperative with variable sized valve housings in order to secure variable sized valve housings beneath the ground and provide a conduit for access to same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to valve services boxes, more commonly known as curb boxes, which generally have an upper portion having at least one pair of telescoping tubular members and a lower tubular member having a housing formed thereon for encasement of a valve buried beneath the surface of the ground.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Valve service boxes, commonly known as curb boxes, are well known in the art. Modern valve boxes are generally fabricated of some suitable plastic, such as either a filled or unfilled ABS. The upper portion comprises generally a pair of telescoping tubular members cooperative with a lower member which defines a valve housing. The lower member fits over the valve housing protecting the valve and maintaining the valve in a proper position while allowing the underground utility, gas, water or the like, to extend outwardly from the valve.
The size of the valves used by utility companies, and the size and material used with the underground utility lines has undergone great development over the past years. This development of valve and valve materials and pipe materials has been the impetus for the development of certain developments in valve service boxes as evidenced in U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,143 for a valve service box which engaged a portion of the valve and pipe in order to prevent the torsional twisting of the valve; U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,056 which allowed the valve box to accommodate two different sized valves; U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,494 which provided a selective means for allowing the housing member of the valve box to be sized to fit different sized valves. Each of the aforementioned patents were developed by and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.
The underground utility industry has in recent years become more competitive and have sought to find the lowest cost for valve models and sizes which meet the testing requirements for the utility. Therefore, instead of standardizing all of the valves in a system, the utility companies now find themselves utilizing valves from different manufacturers, perhaps along the same utility line path and each of the valves may have a radically different physical geometry so that one valve box model cannot accommodate the full range of valve models and sizes which meet the testing requirements and are approved by the utility company and purchased by the utility company.
The utility company then finds itself having to maintain a large inventory of valve service boxes to accommodate the different physical geometries of the valves.
In most instances, it is only the lower portion of the valve box, namely, the valve housing portion which must vary in order to accommodate the valve, but thus far in the industry, the telescoping tubular members which extend upwardly to the ground surface from the housing member are manufactured integrally with the housing member and thus are designed for use with one particular housing member. The utility company must therefore maintain an inventory of complete valve service boxes including the telescoping tubular members as well as the housing member for each valve that it maintains in its inventory which is approved for use.
The present invention of Applicant relates to an improved valve service box assembly in which the housing member is designed to fit each specific type and size of valve, but the telescoping tubular section is modified such that the tubular member engaging the housing member can fit a plurality of different sized housing members which thereby standardizes that portion of the valve service box which extends upwardly from the housing member. In this type of configuration, it would be possible for the manufacturer to manufacture the housing member and include the housing member in the sale of the valve and package the housing member with the valve. The utility then only needs to maintain an inventory of the novel telescoping tubular members as set forth herein which can be adapted to any one of a plurality of valves and the respective housing member which accompanies the valve at the point of sale.


The closed end of a toothpaste tube is inserted into an internal cavity of a self-supporting toothpaste dispensing device, and a key is manually turned to coil the tube within the cavity. The cavity walls are resiliently yieldable and constantly bear against different contact zones on the coiled tube to empty its paste contents.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dispensing devices for manually emptying the paste contents from collapsible tubes such as toothpaste tubes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dispensers for manually emptying the paste contents from toothpaste tubes are well known. Such dispensers generally comprise a ceramic stand, and a manually-turnable key for coiling the tube. The key is typically either journalled in holes formed in the ceramic stand, or spring-mounted on the stand.
However, the known toothpaste dispensers have not proven to be altogether satisfactory in use. One source of dissatisfaction is that the ceramic stand is prone to breakage due to the brittle nature of the ceramic material. This is particularly true for the bathroom environment where had sink and floor surfaces are common.
Another major drawback is that the known dispensers do not substantially empty the paste contents from the toothpaste tube. The coiled tubular portion is generally not tightly wrapped around the key, i.e. not fully squeezed, thereby resulting in lost paste and inefficient operation.


In an image data transfer system including an electronic still camera and equipment separably connected to the camera, the camera has an imaging device for shooting a desired subject. A signal converter converts an image signal generated by the imaging device to digital image data. A data processor executes predetermined image processing with the digital image data. A transmitting section sends the processed image data output from the data processor to the equipment. A controller controls the transmitting section in such a manner as to control a transfer rate for transferring the image data to the equipment. The equipment has a receiving section connected to the transmitting section of the camera by a data line for transferring the image data, and a control line for reporting to the camera the permission/inhibition of data transfer from the camera by using an ON/OFF control signal. The controller controls, at the time of transfer of the image data to the equipment, the transmitting section so as to send a transfer rate set command representative of a transfer rate to the equipment over the data line. In response, the receiving section reports to the camera whether or not the equipment accepts the transfer rate by varying the ON/OFF control signal in the form of pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image data transfer system operable with an electronic still camera and, more particularly, to an image data transfer system feasible for the transfer of image data generated an electronic still camera to a personal computer or similar equipment connected thereto.
2. Description of the Background Art
An image data transfer system is conventional in which image data representative of an image picked up by a digital electronic still camera or similar image pick-up device are sent to desired equipment connected to the camera. For example, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 83666/1993 teaches a system for recording and reproducing images picked up. Japanese patent application No. 101740/1994 discloses an electronic still camera, and a method of sending image data generated thereby.
In the above image recording and reproducing system, when a camera shoots a desired subject, an image representative of the subject is incident on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or similar imaging device via a lens. In response, the imaging device generates image signals in the form of YC signals consisting of a luminance signal y and chrominance signals C. The image signals or YC signals are sent as analog or digital image data from the camera to DAT (Digital Audio Tape) or similar recording and reproducing equipment connected to the camera. In the equipment connected to the camera, the image data are written to a digital audio tape and then read thereoutof to be reproduced on, e.g., a display. The camera and DAT equipment are connected to each other by an exclusive transfer cable. The camera sends the image data to the DAT equipment over the cable in response to synchronizing pulses generated by a timing signal generator which is built in the camera.
In the prior art electronic still camera and image data transfer method mentioned previously, image signals representative of a subject picked up by a CCD image sensor or similar imaging device are transformed to digital YC signals, compressed by a preselected compression scheme, and then recorded in a semiconductor memory, e.g., a memory card removably mounted to the camera. The compressed image data are read out of the memory card and then sent to a computer system via serial communication interfaces respectively included in the camera and computer system. The interfaces are based on, e.g., RS-232C or RS-422 as prescribed by EIA (Electronic Industries Association) standards. A printer or similar peripheral is connected to the computer system. The RS-232C or RS-422 interfaces are connected to each other by a cable including a data line assigned to the image data, and a control line assigned to a control signal which is selectively controlled to an ON state or to an OFF state. For example, when the control signal being sent from the computer system to the camera is in an ON state, image data are transferred from the camera to the computer system over the data line. The data transfer from the camera is interrupted when the control signal goes OFF, and then resumed when it again goes ON. On receiving the compressed image data, the computer system expands them, and displays the expanded image data or prints them out.
However, in both of the above conventional systems, the camera is operable only with a particular kind of equipment, and therefore knows the transfer rate available with the equipment before the connection of the equipment. Particularly, the former system does not include RS-232C or similar communication interfaces having a variable transfer rate, so that the image data must be transferred only at a transfer rate particular to the camera. The latter system including the RS-232C or similar communication interfaces is capable of varying the transfer rate within a certain range. However, even the latter system has a drawback that a particular transfer rate matching a processing speed available with the computer must be set on, e.g., a dip switch beforehand.
Generally, not only the exclusive equipment but also a general-purpose personal computer is capable of receiving the image data. However, when a personal computer receives serial data, the transfer rate depends on the hardware characteristic of the computer. Of course, if the communication between the image pick-up device and the computer is bidirectional, they can interchange information in order to set up a compatible transfer rate. However, an electronic still camera or similar miniature apparatus has only a limited number of pins on its connector and only a limited drive circuit scale. Hence, an additional data line is not desirable with this kind of apparatus. In this condition, the sending station must be matched in transfer rate to the receiving station.

Image data transfer system operable with an electronic still camera


A terminal location estimation method in a wireless communication system in which an access point (AP) provides an access service to a plurality of terminals includes defining a plurality of beam spaces around the AP through space multiplexing; scheduling the beam spaces according to a predetermined pattern; simultaneously forming a beam in at least one beam space; and detecting the existence and location of a terminal according to whether a response message in response to the formed beam is received. Accordingly, an AP forms beams in a predetermined scheduling pattern, and each of the terminals detecting the beams registers its location by informing the AP that each of the terminals exists in a relevant beam area, and thus, a location of each of the terminals can be estimated without using a complex DOA algorithm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a wireless communication system, and in particular, to a method of estimating the location of a terminal in a switched-beamforming based wireless communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional cellular wireless communication systems, an access point (AP) transmits and receives signals using an omni-directional antenna, and according to the characteristics of the omni-directional antenna, the AP can communicate with terminals in a service area but cannot communicate with terminals outside the service area.
An IEEE 802.11 based wireless local area network (WLAN) is one of the cellular wireless communication systems. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of a conventional wireless communication system. Referring to FIG. 1, a service area 10 of an AP 110 is determined by the level of transmission power. Terminals 121 and 122 in the service area 10 can communicate with the AP 110, but a terminal 123 outside the service area 10 cannot communicate with the AP 110.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration of a WLAN operated by an improved AP 210. Referring to FIG. 2, the AP 210 communicates with all terminals using a smart antenna. The AP 210 having the smart antenna can form a beam directing each of the terminals, and each of the terminals also can form a beam directing the AP 210, thereby improving system performance. If an IEEE 802.11 system uses the smart antenna, since the AP 210 can concentrate transmission power in a specific direction in which a terminal is located, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a service area can be expanded in the specific direction.
However, according to the characteristics of a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) mechanism of the IEEE 802.11 system, a certain terminal examines whether other terminals occupy a channel and operates according to the channel state. Thus, when a directional beam is used, the certain terminal cannot detect signals transmitted from other terminals in the WLAN. In other words, a terminal of the IEEE 802.11 system measures signals transmitted from APs and other terminals, and if signals transmitted from the other terminals are not detected, the terminal tries channel occupation. Thus, when a directional antenna is used, in many cases, a terminal determines that a channel is in an idle state even if the channel is being used. This phenomenon, called a hidden beam problem, significantly affects the system performance.
In addition, in a smart antenna mechanism, the movement of a terminal must be traced for reliable communication, and a direction of arrival (DOA) scheme is used in general as a terminal location estimation scheme.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the DOA scheme in a conventional cellular system using a smart antenna. Referring to FIG. 3, when a terminal 320 communicating with an AP 310 in a beam area 30 moves, the AP 310 cannot detect the movement of the terminal 320. Thus, the terminal 320 transmits a beam request message to the AP 310 to inform the AP 310 of a location thereof, and then, the AP 310 can detect a location of the moved terminal 320′ through a DOA algorithm by receiving the beam request message. When the AP 310 detects the location of the terminal 320′, the AP 310 communicates with the terminal 320′ by forming a beam directed to the detected location.
However, in the conventional DOA scheme, since an AP cannot detect the movement of a terminal until the AP receives a beam request message from the terminal, the probability that a downstream link transmission error is generated is high. In addition, since the AP must perform the DOA algorithm every time the AP receives a beam request message from the terminal, an excessive processing overhead is generated.

Method of estimating location of terminal in switched-beamforming based wireless communication system


A receiver (10) for extracting complex values by reference to a local frequency reference determines the frequency offset between a local oscillator (16) and the carrier by employing a circuit (40) for determining a "phase rotation." When a record of the input signal is determined to have resulted from a predetermined reference sequence of complex values, the phase-rotation circuit (40) compares the phases of complex values extracted from this record with corresponding symbols of the reference sequence. By comparing this difference for one part of the sequence with that for another, circuitry (38, 50, 52, 53, 54) in the receiver infers the frequency offset between the transmitter reference and the receiver reference, and a complex multiplier (34) compensates for this offset by multiplying the successive complex-valued samples by a complex exponential whose frequency is the negative of the frequency offset.

The present invention is directed to radio receivers of the type employed for digital-signal reception. It particularly concerns the manner in which such receivers maintain the proper frequency relationship between the received signal's carrier and the local oscillator by reference to which the symbol content of the received signal is extracted.
In digital communication systems such as those of the type proposed for North American cellular-telephone traffic, information is transmitted as symbols encoded in the phase of the transmitted signal with respect to its carrier. For proper extraction of the symbols, therefore, the receiver's local reference must be quite close in frequency to the carrier signal; a frequency difference causes the apparent phase relationship to "rotate" undesirably.
Certain transmission protocols have the tendency to reduce this effect. In differential quadrature phase-shift keying ("DQPSK"), the information is contained, not in the absolute phase, but rather in the difference between the phase of a given sample and the phase of the previous sample. In an otherwise ideal transmission channel, therefore, the frequency difference does not present a significant problem so long as the reciprocal of the symbol period is large with respect to the frequency error. In actual practice, however, the channel is not ideal: it is subject to multipath fading and dispersion, so some type of process, such as adaptive equalization, that involves adaptive channel characterization is needed in order to extract symbols accurately from the time-varying channel. Such processes tend not to be very tolerant of significant uncorrected frequency offsets; their effect is to make the channel vary rapidly, and there are limits to the rate at which the adaptive processes can adapt. Even for DQPSK systems, therefore, accurate frequency tracking is necessary in practice.
The conventional approach to frequency tracking is to employ phase-locked-loop systems. That is, the phase of the received signal, or a frequency-translated version of it, is compared with the local phase reference, and the average phase difference over time is used to adjust the frequency of that reference. Unfortunately, phase-locked-loop systems tend to require a fair amount of time to achieve phase lock, and the result in a cellular-telephone system can be an objectionable amount of dead time when the user's equipment is "handed off from one cell, where one frequency prevails, to another cell, where the base-station equipment does not in general communicate with the user at the same frequency. This is true both for conventional, analog phase-locked-loop systems and for digital equivalents.
Certain other digital techniques perform the local-reference adjustment digitally, relying on data extracted from the carrier in order to estimate the offset. Such techniques are not applicable in a time-dispersive-channel environment, however, because the process for extracting the data depends on adaptive processes, which, as was explained above, are themselves relatively intolerant to significant frequency offsets: such techniques for adjusting the local reference frequency can function only after the local reference frequency has already been adjusted.
One digital approach, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 804,424, filed on Dec. 9, 1991, by Scott et al. for Timing and Automatic Frequency Control of Digital Receiver Using the Cyclic Properties of a Non-Linear Operation, employs the average phase relationship between successive received-signal samples to determine not only the frequency offset but also the sampler phase error. In order to attenuate data-dependent effects sufficiently that the frequency- and phase-dependent effects dominate, however, it is necessary to average the phase relationships over a large number of symbols, and this can result in a significant delay in achieving an accurate enough offset estimate.

Frequency offset estimation using the phase rotation of channel estimates


The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for processing seismic data, and belongs to the field of geological surveys. The method comprises: stacking seismic trace gathers in a predetermined range among S seismic trace gathers after a Normal Move Out (NMO) correction processing to obtain a model trace, S being an integer; calculating a correlation coefficient of each seismic trace gather with the model trace, and selecting a K-th seismic trace gather with a maximum correlation coefficient; calculating an optimum point of each seismic trace gather from the K-th seismic trace gather to two sides orderly; and performing a residual NMO correction of the seismic trace gathers according to the optimum points.

The seismic exploration technique explores the underground geological conditions by propagating an artificially excited seismic wave in the stratums. When a seismic wave excited at a certain place on the ground is propagated underground, reflection waves or refraction waves will be generated at stratum interfaces of different elasticity and returned to the ground surface. Special instruments may be used to record those waves and analyze the characteristics of the recorded waves (e.g., propagation time and vibration shapes of the waves), so as to accurately measure the depths and forms of those interfaces, and judge the lithology, physical properties and liquid-filled properties of the stratums.
Since the seismic record is noisy, usually the seismic reflection waves of the same point underground are excited and received at different positions, and a set of those seismic reflection wave from the same point is referred to as a seismic trace gather. By stacking seismic signals, the noise can be eliminated and the signal-to-noise ratio can be improved.
The same reflection point of seismic data collected in the field has different seismic reflection time which depends on the offset and the seismic propagation velocity, thus it is necessary to correct seismic record time of different offsets to a self-excitation and self-receiving seismic reflection time position, and this process is referred to as a Normal Move Out (NMO) correction, for the purpose of seismic signal stack.
However, the propagation velocity of the seismic wave is unknown, thus an NMO correction is usually realized by designing a series of seismic propagation velocities to perform an NMO correction processing of the seismic trace gather.
Since the volume of seismic data collected in the field is very huge, it is impossible for people to perform a velocity analysis for each seismic reflection point. Usually, a velocity analysis is performed for one seismic reflection point at an interval of several tens of traces, while a velocity of a trace gather without a velocity analysis is obtained by an interpolation of the velocity of the trace gather for which a velocity analysis has been performed. As the seismic velocities are not uniform, the interpolation velocities have certain errors more or less, and the NMO correction result cannot reach an ideal effect, thus it is difficult to correct the events of all of the seismic trace gathers into a horizontal state.

Method and apparatus for processing seismic data


A conditional access system (CAS) computer in a downloadable CAS receives a downloadable management certificate (DMC) and determines, using the DMC, security information including a DMC key size and an expiration time of a DMC subordinate certificate authority (sub-CA) certificate, for the client device. The CAS computer then determines whether the DMC is valid based on the expiration time of the DMC sub-CA certificate. If the DMC is determined to be valid, the CAS server sends a cryptographic identity for the client device and a CAS client to the client device protected using the DMC. At a later time, if the DMC key size is considered to be still sufficiently secure, the validity of the DMC is extended by issuing a new DMC sub-CA certificate with the same public key as the original DMC sub-CA certificate.

Digital rights management (DRM) is a term for access control technologies that are used by a content provider, such as a hardware manufacturer, a content publisher, a content copyright holder or another content owner. A content provider uses DRM technologies to impose limitations on the use of content or the devices that use the content. DRM is used to describe any technology that inhibits the use of content which is not desired or intended by a content provider.
Conditional access is the protection of content by requiring certain criteria to be met before granting access to the content. Conditional access can utilize encryption systems using encryption keys (also referred to as keys) and/or digital certificates. In encryption systems, an encryption key is generally a piece of information that determines the functional output of an encryption algorithm.
Encryption keys can be used in symmetric key encryption systems and in asymmetric encryption key encryption systems. Symmetric encryption key encryption systems often use a single encryption key, or two very similar encryption keys, shared by the sender and receiver for both encryption and decryption. To use a symmetric encryption key encryption system, the sender and receiver generally share an encryption key by some secure means in advance.
In an asymmetric encryption key encryption system the encryption key that is used to encrypt a message is not the same as the encryption key used to decrypt the message. Each user has a pair of encryption keys: a public encryption key and a private encryption key. The private encryption key is kept secret, while the public encryption key may be widely distributed. Messages can be encrypted with the recipient's public encryption key and can only be decrypted with the corresponding private encryption key, which is securely stored in the user device and is not disclosed. The public encryption key and the private encryption key can be related mathematically, but the private encryption key is not easily derived from the public encryption key.
Encryption key size is usually measured in bits of the encryption key that is used for an encryption algorithm. Strength of an encryption key is a measure of the keys resistance to being cracked, compromised or otherwise determined by an unauthorized user. Strength may be based on key size and/or other key attributes. The security of an encryption algorithm is generally related to its encryption key size or key strength since an encryption algorithm can be cracked by using a brute force algorithm. In general, a larger encryption key provides greater security because it takes longer for a brute force algorithm to crack an encryption algorithm having a larger encryption key. However, as time goes by, the strength of an encryption key used in an encryption system can diminish. This is because the computer systems used to run brute force algorithms to crack encryption keys and algorithms continuously improve and grow in strength relative to an encryption key which remains unchanged.
One type of DRM technology is a conditional access system (CAS). The CAS is typically a downloadable system which can be associated with a device that can host a download manager, or other devices. The CAS includes a CAS client. A CAS client is a computer program for the protection of content.
The device on which a CAS client resides is called a client device. The CAS client protects content, stored on or otherwise accessible to the client device, by requiring certain criteria to be met before granting access to the content. A client device is typically a consumer media device, such as a set-top box, a smart-phone, a computer, or any other device capable of storing or displaying content.
Traditionally, a CAS client is built into the client device. In a downloadable security system, or downloadable CAS system, a download manager sub-system is included in a client device that allows a CAS identity and CAS client to be downloaded and executed on the client device. In this case, when a new client device is purchased by a user, the client device may not have a CAS client that allows it to decrypt content. The client device, however, may have a bootstrap key that is used to secure the download of a cryptographic identity unique to the client device and a CAS client. Examples of a cryptographic identity unique to the client device are a private key for the client device or a symmetric client device key. A private key may also be associated with a digital certificate that is unique to a client device. However, in some situations, the bootstrap key may become obsolete or be considered at risk, for example, due to a small key size such as described above. In these instances, the cryptographic identity unique to the client device that is delivered to the client device using the bootstrap key is also considered at risk and compromised.
Typically, the CAS cannot determine which client devices have previously downloaded their cryptographic identities using an at risk bootstrap key. As a result, those client devices that have at risk cryptographic identities continue to download encrypted content even though the cryptographic identities used to encrypt the content are considered at risk for unauthorized access.
The security provided through a CAS client can become compromised if a cryptographic key in the CAS client is subject to being overcome by a brute force algorithm. Some cryptographic keys can become obsolete as computer systems running brute force algorithms or other cracking technologies become more powerful. For this reason, typically a public key digital certificate has a limited lifetime and is meant to expire when it is no longer safe to continue using the same key of this size. In the case of a bootstrap digital certificate, there are no easy or automated methods defined to replace it after expiration. When a bootstrap digital certificate is about to expire, it may be determined that the key size is still safe and the lifetime of this digital certificate could be extended. But there is still no convenient way to make such an update to thousands or millions of bootstrap digital certificates located in consumer devices.

Downloadable security based on certificate status


In an example, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a receive circuit, a transmit circuit, and a control circuit. The receive circuit includes a receive data path and a receive control interface, the receive data path coupled to store received transmission control protocol (TCP) data for a plurality of TCP sessions in a respective plurality of receive buffers in an external memory circuit external to the IC. The transmit circuit includes a transmit data path and a transmit control interface, the transmit data path coupled to read TCP data to be transmitted for the plurality of TCP sessions from a respective plurality of transmit buffers in the external memory circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the receive control interface and the transmit control interface, the control circuit configured to maintain data structures to maintain TCP state information for the plurality of TCP sessions.

Transmission control protocol (TCP) is a core transmission layer protocol used in communication networks, such as the Internet. The core of TCP is defined in RFC 793, with additional features specified in other RFCs (e.g., RFC 5681 for TCP congestion control, RFC 2414 for increasing TCP's initial window, etc). TOP engines can be implemented in either software or hardware. Software implementations of TCP approach and solve challenges posed by TOP differently than hardware implementations. For example, software implementations operate on packets that have already been stored completely in memory (after being read by a network controller). In general, unlike hardware implementations of TCP, software implementations of TOP do not have to process packets of a TCP stream over successive clock cycles. Software implementations also take advantage of a large amount of available memory. Thus, software implementations of TCP can use data structures such as linked lists, which cannot be used in hardware implementations of TCP.
HW implementations of TOP, sometimes referred to TOP offload engines, can process TOP streams with low latency as compared to software implementations. A typical TCP offload engine employs ternary content address memories (TCAMs) for TCP session lookup. However, the use of TCAMs for TCP session lookup limits scalability of the TCP offload engine in terms of TCP session count.

Data-flow architecture for a TCP offload engine


A device for converting heat energy to mechanical energy includes a reservoir of a hot fluid and a rotor assembly mounted thereabove so a portion of it dips into the hot fluid. The rotor assembly may include a shaft having four spokes extending radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, a floating ring and four flexible elements composed of a thermal memory material having a critical temperature between the temperature of the hot fluid and that of the ambient atmosphere extending between the ends of the spokes and the floating ring. Preferably, the flexible elements are attached to the floating ring through curved leaf springs. Energetic shape recovery of the flexible elements in the hot fluid causes the rotor assembly to rotate.

This invention relates to a device for converting heat energy to mechanical energy.
In more detail the invention relates to a device that utilizes a shape-memory material to convert low temperature thermal energy to mechanical energy.
Sources of low-grade heat frequently exist at the site at which a demand exists for low-grade energy. For example, homes, farms, factories, office buildings, hotels, and the like frequently have a constant supply of hot water available, not all of which is utilized for its intended purpose. In addition, the waste heat of industrial, farm or home equipment may be economically utilized to heat water to a low temperature. Furthermore, it can confidently be predicted that low-grade heat in the form of hot water will in the near future be economically available almost everywhere from solar power. In general, this water is not hot enough to drive a turbine or use in any conventional type of energy-generating equipment.
Frequently, the energy demand may be for relatively low-power energy, either constant or constantly available even if not required constantly. Among the small-scale--and yet important--applications envisioned for heat engines working at low temperatures across a small .DELTA.T to produce a limited but significant amount of power are devices designed to orient solar apparatus, to regulate thermal heat control and as a thermal safety valve. Despite the limitations imposed on low-temperature heat engines, sources of low-grade heat are so wide spaced and available that utilization of a small fraction thereof could have a significant impact on the world energy supply.
Low-temperature energy conversion utilizing heat engines based on the energetic shape recovery of a deformed thermoelastic material--called a shape-memory material--have been extensively investigated. These "memory materials" are capable of undergoing a martensitic transition with the ability of the alloys to undergo such a transition being both temperature and stress dependent. The temperature range at which this transition can occur is hereinafter called the critical temperature and is characteristic of the particular alloy under consideration. At temperatures below their critical temperatures, these alloys are relatively soft and pliable. Annealed at a temperature above its critical temperature in a given shape (hereinafter designated the "heat-treated configuration") and deformed into a "trained configuration" at a temperature below that critical temperature, such an alloy will revert back to its trained configuration when heated to or above its critical temperature. The process is called shape-recovery since the alloy element will move in a direction opposite to the direction in which it had been deformed and in so doing will recover its trained shape. This recovery is found to occur with some force supplied by a part of the martensitic latent heat of transformation which is about 2 cal/g. Experimentally it is found that the portion of this thermal energy which can be converted to the mechanical energy is about 0.16, and the Nitinol engine efficiency cannot exceed 5%. These memory materials are produced in the forms of wires, rods, foils, plates, tubes, springs, etc., and with wide ranges of temperature responsiveness which is a function of alloy composition and production history. For example, memory materials are available that possess critical temperatures in the range of from -150.degree. C. to +150.degree. C. The alloys of one such series, referred to as 55-Nitinol, have chemical compositions in the range from about 53 to about 57 weight percent nickel, balance titanium, and are based on the intermetallic compound NiTi. Descriptions of these and other titanium-based memory materials are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,174,851 (W. J. Buehler et al, "Nickel-Base Alloys," Mar. 23, 1965); 3,403,238 (W. J. Buehler et al, "Conversion of Heat Energy to Mechanical Energy," Sept. 24, 1968); and 3,558,369 (F. E. Wang et al, "Method of Treating Variable Transition Temperature Alloys," Jan. 26, 1971).
These alloys have found practical application in a number of different areas such as control devices and medical instruments. A wide variety of heat engines employing the alloys have also been proposed. A partial list of patents directed to such devices follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,326--Banks--Oct. 21, 1975 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,479--Cory--May 6, 1976 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,769--Smith--May 2, 1978 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,971--Hart--May 9, 1978
The following publications also describe such devices.
Science Magazine, Vol. 191, Mar. 5, 1976, pages 934-6.
Intersociety Energy Conversion Conference, 1975 record, pages 530-4.
Scientific American, Apr. 1971, pages 118-122.
A heat engine somewhat similar to that described herein is disclosed in Acta Metallurgica, Vol. 25, page 1320. In this device an inch of leaf-spring, an inch of NiTi wire, a three-inch rod, another inch of NiTi wire and another inch of leaf-spring in the same plane as the first are joined in a straight line. This assembly is bent into an S-shape and the outer ends of the leaf-springs are fixed into slots in two pieces of metal mounted four inches apart on an axle. The axle rests across a dish of hot water. When either NiTi bend dips into the water, it stiffens and straightens a little. This increases the bend of the other and displaces the center of gravity of the whole assembly so that it rocks over and dips the cold NiTi bend into the water in its turn. The assembly rocks at about two strokes per second so long as the water is above the transformation temperature. An excellent recent discussion of shape-memory alloys and uses thereof appears in Scientific American, November 1979, pages 74-82.
Although these and numerous other approaches have been proposed and utilized to provide thermally driven motive power sources, most prior art devices have been so mechanically complicated or grossly inefficient as to be impractical.
It is accordingly the object of the invention to provide a thermal engine which is mechanically simple and operationally feasible for certain applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermal engine which is capable of carrying a load adequate to perform useful work.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a thermal engine which is capable of scale-up in power developed by the simple addition of units.

Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A transfer system for transferring a moving wet cellulosic web between two moving elements of a paper machine without excessive sheet flutter or breakage, supports the web and permits higher web speeds than presently used. The transfer system comprises a suction roll that forms a nip in contact with the web on the surface of a roll or web supporting belt, a doctor blade positioned in contact with the surface of the roll or web supporting belt immediately after the nip to ensure the web separates from the surface, and an air jet adjacent the doctor blade that blows air in a direction substantially opposite the moving web, between the moving web and the surface of the roll or web supporting belt, to guide and support the web towards the suction roll.

The present invention relates to the transfer and support of wet cellulosic webs between two moving elements in a paper machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to the detachment of moving wet cellulosic webs from a press roll or web supporting belt to another moving element in the press section or dryer section of a paper machine.
In the fabrication of paper, a suspension of cellulosic fibers, referred to as a furnish, is spread on one or more moving forming fabrics or carriers and the bulk of water drained away. This cellulosic web or sheet, which is initially weak and wet, is transferred onto a press felt which carries it into a press nip formed by two press rolls. The mechanical compression between the two press rolls compacts the web and eliminates part of the water from the wet web. The web usually leaves the press nip adhering to one of the press rolls, and must be peeled from the roll before it can be transferred to the next section of the paper machine. Paper machines generally have one to four presses in the press section followed by a dryer section with heated dryer rolls, to evaporate most of the water remaining in the pressed web. In the fabrication of some paper grades, the dry web is moistened by the application of an aqueous suspension of sizing agents. This occurs in a size press after a first drying stage, and the moist sized paper is then again transferred to a second dryer section where it is dried for a second time.
While in the different sections of the paper machine, the wet cellulosic web is usually supported by a pervious belt such as forming fabric, press felt, and drying fabric, or by other means such as a press roll. A mechanical support is often unavailable during web transfer between the individual moving elements of the machine. Thus during web transfer there is an increased danger of the web or sheet breaking, especially if it is moist and the machine operates at high speed. To reduce the danger of sheet breaks it is sometimes necessary to reduce the machine speed, even though this leads to a decrease in production. The danger of sheet breaks is sometimes reduced by the addition of chemicals or by increasing the proportion of a stronger, but more expensive, component such as chemical pulp or long fibre pulp in the furnish or initial fibre mix.
The most critical areas of sheet transfer are from the forming section to the press section, between the consecutive presses in the press section, and between the last press in the press section and the first roll in the dryer section. In all of these transfer areas, the web or sheet is still wet and thus is comparatively weak. Several methods have been used for transferring the sheet at these areas. In one method, the sheet is pulled unsupported from one element to the next through a so-called "open draw". The wet sheet in the open draw is unstable at high speeds and reacts to small variations in the process, sometimes having a tendency to oscillate or flutter. An excessive sheet flutter can cause deformations and wrinkling of the web and reduce the product quality or completely break the sheet and interrupt production. Thus, paper machines with an open draw between the former and the first press rolls usually operate at speed below 750 meters per minute.
All the machines operating at high speeds, that is to say in excess of 1,000 meters per minute, provide a continuous support of the web from the former to at least the first nip in the press section. On machines with multiple roll press arrangement, the web is continuously supported up to the second or third press nip. However, on all present paper machines, the sheet passes through an open draw as it is peeled from the roll of the last press.
In the open draw method of transfer, the reduction of excessive sheet flutter and stabilization of the web is sometimes achieved by increasing the tension in the web by increasing the speed differential between the machine elements. The tension required to peel the web and to stabilize it in the open draw transfer may, in some instances, be sufficiently great to cause a break in the web and even if it does not break, a high tension can permanently stretch the web and, therefore, make it more susceptible to breaks during the subsequent operations on the paper machine. This reduced extensibility is preserved even in the finished product and can lead to an increased number of paper sheet breaks during converting or printing operations.
The speed of paper machines has been increasing throughout the history of papermaking; however, not always at an equal rate. Several times in the past, the machine speed reached a level at which a technical innovation had to be introduced to make a speed increase feasible. For example, the open-draw between the former and the first press subjected the weak paper web to failure stresses and limited the machine speed to a maximum of about 750 m/min. This problem has been eliminated in the 1950's by the introduction of a so-called suction pick-up. In machines with this system, a vacuum roll wrapped by a press felt removes the moist paper web from the forming fabric and carries it into the first press. Paper machines in which the first open draw occurs only after the first press can reach speeds of up to about 800 m/min. Further speed increase was achieved in the 1960's by the introduction of three-roll inclined presses which closed the open draw between the first and second press. Machines with the open draw after the second press have since reached speeds up to about 1100 m/min. In the 1970's further speed increase was made possible by the introduction of four-roll, three-nip presses which closed the draw between the second and third press. Machines with this press arrangement are now operating at speeds greater than 1200 m/min. In the 1980's so-called "unifelted" dryer sections were introduced, which eliminated open draws between the wet-end dryers. In the machines built in recent years, all the open draws in the dryer section have been closed and the maximum speed of such machines approaches 1500 m/min. The open draw between the last press and the dryer section is the only remaining open draw of a modern paper machine. This last open draw must be eliminated before any further increase in machine speed can be achieved.
The need to improve the web transfer from the press section to the dryer section is widely recognized by the industry and much effort is presently being devoted to resolving this problem. As an example of this effort, we would like to list several recent patents which address the web transfer, in a different manner than our invention: U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,032, issued Apr. 5, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,351, issued Jul. 24, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,160, issued Sep. 24, 1985; and CA 1223143, published Jul. 23, 1987. In spite of all this effort, the problem of web transfer from the press section to the dryer section has not yet been resolved and, to our knowledge, no machine is completely free of open draws.
The importance of the open draw closure is illustrated by the following two examples. A major Canadian supplier of paper machines has prepared a proposal for the installation of a web-transfer system according to our invention for paper mills of two major paper manufacturers. The proposals are presently under consideration by the mills which belong to the world's leading pulp and paper companies.
It has been suggested that the vacuum transfer roll had been previously described in GB 1078634 (published in August 1967). In that patent, the vacuum roll was a press roll, while our invention teaches the application of a no-load transfer roll which only lightly contacts the press roll.
The suction presses such as that described in GB 1078634 cannot support a sufficiently high nip load to provide the desired degree of water removal and, therefore, today their application is only limited. For example, the latest survey of Canadian newsprint machines (I. I. Pikulik and T. H. Owston, Annual Meeting TS CPPA, Montreal, Canada, January 1992) revealed that none of the third presses had a suction roll. However, a main application of our invention is to close the open draw between the third presses and dryers.
The reduction of press nip pressure to optimize it for transfer would not lead to a desirable result. The main function of the press section is to increase the web solids content by mechanical means. The web solids content increase is affected by several parameters and, in particular, is proportional to the pressure in the press nip.
The nip pressure normally increases going from the first to second to third (and possibly to a fourth) press. In the work according to the instant invention, we have found that the application of low pressure in the last nip has a detrimental effect. For example, if the pressure in the last nip is lower than the pressure in the preceding nip, then the last nip removes no water from the web and furthermore some water is transferred from the press felt into the web. Such a result is contradictory to the main objective of web pressing, and is clearly unacceptable. During the work in accordance with the instant invention, it was discovered that if the nip pressure is almost completely eliminated and replaced by only light contact between the transfer roll and the press roll, web rewetting does not occur. This observation can be explained in the following manner. When the nip pressure is greater (such as in a lightly-loaded press nip) the felt is compressed sufficiently to become saturated with water, which is then transferred by capillary forces to wet paper. No such saturation of the nip occurs at very low nip loads. This observation was made during long and extensive research on pressing conducted in connection with the instant invention. The mechanism of rewetting by the felt is not known and would not be obvious to a person knowledgeable in the art of papermaking. Furthermore, if a press roll is used as a transfer roll, the paper sheet rewetting would continue even outside the nip, as long as the sheet adheres to the felt. The sheet moisture content could be increased by 3% or more, a severe penalty.
Another method of transferring a web from a pervious carrier or belt such as a forming fabric to another pervious carrier such as a press felt is with the assistance of a drilled roll equipped with a vacuum chamber. Most high speed paper machines use such a vacuum pick-up system to transfer the web from the former to the first press roll. In a vacuum pick-up system, however, a suction roll can only efficiently transfer a web from a pervious carrier to another pervious carrier. Press rolls are generally solid rolls and thus a vacuum system such as a suction roll cannot by itself initiate peeling of a web from a solid press roll or even an impervious belt. In the case of a press roll, the web normally adheres better to the smoother and less pervious surface.
Since separation of the leading edge of a wet web from a press roll or web supporting belt is difficult to achieve, paper machines are commonly initially threaded with only a narrow band of the web which is sometimes referred to as a "tail". When this narrow band has been successfully threaded through the length of the machine, it is gradually widened until the full width of the paper machine is achieved. This narrow band of paper is initially very weak because it is so narrow and air currents in fast running machines frequently cause the narrow strip to break, thus prolonging the start-up procedure. All the paper produced during machine start-up is unusable and must be recycled. If the machine threading time could be shortened and the machine threaded with the full width of the sheet or web, then production losses would be decreased and a higher efficiency achieved.
Undesirable materials, which generally represent fractions of cellulosic fibres, often adhere to various paper machine rolls such as press rolls, dryers or callender rolls, and are commonly removed by so-called "doctor blades" which have sharp edges positioned in close proximity to the surfaces of the machine rolls and scrape off the web and fibres adhering to the roll. The web removed in this manner is generally densely crimped or creped and cannot be converted into a smooth paper. Creping of a web by a doctor blade may be applied commercially to produce soft and bulky tissue paper used primarily for hygienic products. For high bulk and softness, it is desirable that the tissue paper have regularly and densely spaced creped ridges. Good creping requires a sharp doctor blade and an optimal contact angle between the blade and the impinging web. Canadian Patent number 1,044,459 and Japanese Patent Number 43160 disclose methods of creping by using a hollow doctor blade from which a flat jet of compressed air is blown from a location adjacent the blade. Both of these patents have as a primary objective, the reduction of the wear of the roll and the blade through a reduction or elimination of blade contact with the roll. These hollow doctor blades were designed for production of creped paper rather than for initiation of the transfer of a wet cellulosic web in the press section or immediately prior to the dryer section. Because creping occurs when a web is removed by a blade from a smooth surface, such as a press roll, doctoring has not been used as a means of transfer for wet cellulosic webs to produce paper which requires a smooth surface.

Wet cellulosic web transfer method using air doctor blade

Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada


A positive type light-sensitive composition is disclosed, comprising an alkali-soluble high-molecular binder and at least one p-iminoquinonediazido-N-sulfonyl compound. This composition can be used for forming a resist for an IC board, a printing plate, a silver-free, image-forming material, etc.

Resist compositions have encountered a new limitation in the field of very small electronic parts. The requirement for producing etched structures of a microscopic dimension on a large scale leads to a demand for those resists which have a higher sensitivity to actinic radiation, which provide a higher contrast, which possess a better spectral sensitivity and, therefore, provide an improved resolving power and a broader processing allowance, and which servo to reduce the unit cost of final electronic devices.
One useful positive type light-sensitive composition contains a polymer having repeating units with photosensitive pendant quinonediazido groups and a monomer which may insolubilize the polymer, where the quinonediazido groups have not undergone decomposition by exposure to actinic radiation. One function of such a monomer is to impart some thermal resistance to the composition by its thermal conversion to a ketene and subsequent cross linking. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,019 describes 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene esterified with 1,2-naphthoquinonediazidosulfonic acid as the monomer. A particularly useful polymer is the so-called novolak resin. The image/non-image difference in a diazoketone/novolak photoresist system is determined by the principle of solution inhibition. This diazoketone/novolak system positive type photoresist usually functions very well, but is still insufficient because 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide light-sensitive substances have conventionally been known to be difficult to shift their sensitive wavelength and to spectrally sensitize, and they therefore have been limited as to their application as both resist materials and printing materials such as printing plates.

Positive type light-sensitive composition


A pressure build-up pulse is provided at the brake of a driven wheel each time slippage of the driven wheel exceeds one of a series of successively larger threshold values. Build-up pulses continue until the slippage falls below the last threshold value exceeded, and pressure reduction pluses are effected each time the slippage falls below a succeeding smaller threshold value. If the slippage does not fall below the last exceeded threshold value by a given time, a build-up pulse is initiated even if the next higher threshold value is not exceeded.

The present invention relates to a drive slip control system in which the driven wheels of a motor vehicle are braked when they tend to spin, for which purpose the brake pressure is fed in by build-up pulses through control valves. Such a drive slip control system is disclosed in DE 41 23 783.