The present invention is in the field of charging a capacitance of a memory cell. Embodiments of the present invention program a memory cell by determining programming pulses to be used to program the memory cell based on a target state and the memory cell""s response to previous program pulses.

The present invention is in the field of charging a capacitance of a memory cell. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention can set a threshold voltage of a memory cell to represent data.
One factor of the size, speed, and power consumption of memory can be the programming algorithm. A programming algorithm is an algorithm that can store a charge on a floating gate of a transistor, changing the threshold voltage of the transistor. Multi-level-cell (MLC) programming algorithms may program the transistor from an erase state, a minimum charge range, to more than one program states. Each program state may be a range of charge on the floating gate and can be separated by an error range to allow a read circuit to distinguish program states. Further, the width of each program state can depend on the accuracy of the programming algorithm and the width of each error range can depend on the accuracy of the reading circuitry when considering the effects of noise.
Programming algorithms may apply programming pulses to a transistor in saturation mode to reduce the chance of overshooting a target state. Applying programming pulses to the transistor can increase the charge on the floating gate to a target threshold voltage, a charge level within the target state. When the programming pulses are applied so the transistor remains in saturation mode, the charge increases logarithmically to program the transistor slowly. The chance of overshooting the target state can be reduced by programming in saturation mode at the cost of applying extra pulses. However, overshooting a target state can slow down the speed of the memory even more since the overshoot can require a row of transistors to be erased and reprogrammed.
Programming algorithms program a transistor, for example, by applying one-microsecond programming pulses using a gate voltage that is increased by 250 millivolts for each pulse until the transistor verifies as having a charge within the target state. However, algorithms may be data dependent because program states that require a greater charge can also require more programming pulses. Each extra programming pulse requires more time and energy. Thus, the amount of time and energy expended to store data depends on the data to be stored.

Charging a capacitance of a memory cell and charger


In a magneto-optical signal reproducing apparatus for reading out a signal recorded on a magneto-optical recording medium by an optical pickup device so as to provide a magneto-optical signal which, in turn, is level-discriminated on the basis of a reference level to reproduce data therefrom, the reference level is controlled in accordance with a level of an in-phase signal component provided from the optical pickup device, thereby enabling stable data reproduction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magneto-optical signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a magneto-optical signal obtained from a magneto-optical recording medium.
2. Related Art Statement
In the prior art, data are reproduced from a magneto-optical recording medium, for example, a magneto-optical disk, by focusing a laser beam on the magneto-optical recording medium. A reflected light or a transmitted light is thereafter detected by means of a photo detector, included in an optical pickup device. A difference between detected polarized light components, which are different from each other, provides a magneto-optical signal. This magneto-optical signal is level-discriminated on the basis of a predetermined reference level, or a threshold level, to provide a binary signal which is demodulated/decoded so as to reproduce the data therefrom.
If the level of a signal detected by the photo detector of the optical pickup device changes due to defects related to the recording medium which, for example, may be caused by disturbances at the time of recording or reproducing, or the like, there is a possibility that the level discrimination utilized in forming the binary signal, or the binarization thereof, is not properly conducted.
For this reason, in the prior art, the magneto-optical signal provided from the optical pickup device is delivered to an AGC (automatic gain control) circuit for conducting an automatic gain control thereon. However, in the case of a magneto-optical storage disk, a signal stored thereon typically has a broad frequency band which, for example, may be between 10 Hz and 20 MHz. As a result, a high speed AGC is required which, in turn, results in a relatively complicated circuit configuration and/or increased cost.

Magneto-optical signal reproducing apparatus in which reproduced magneto-optical signal level is compared with reference signal level varied in accordance with in-phase signal


A solar trough reflector including two forms with identical surfaces, preferably convex parabolic curves. The form members are carried on a longitudinal slideway in which at least one is free to slide. Positive mechanical means, such as a threaded screw, moves the slide to adjusted position on a slideway. Gripping means hold a flexible sheet with a reflecting surface tightly around the convex surfaces and then the adjusted means moves the slidable form away from the other to tension sheet. The entire slideway is pivoted on support members so that the trough so formed may be tilted to receive the direct rays of the sun.

Generally, reflecting solar troughs are made of shiny metal sheets which are backed by supporting ribs. Primarily because of manufacturing limitations at the mill, there are necessarily restrictions on the areas of the sheets. Consequently, a multiplicity of reflectors are often required for a given solar energy project. As a rule, the sheets with rigid supporting ribs, are assembled at plant site because of the difficulty and expense in attempting to assemble the sheets and ribs in the field. As a result, the mirrors are heavy and bulky and difficult to ship, adding further costs to the finished product.

Solar reflector with flexible sheet tightly secured around form surfaces


The present invention provides a novel method of manufacturing germinated plant seeds suitable for producing a large amount of phytoalexin, a method of manufacturing raw material seeds for germination induction for use in manufacture of the above germinated plant seeds, an extract composition of the germinated plant seeds and a screening method for a plant seed candidate for use in producing a target substance. The method of manufacturing raw material seeds for germination induction comprises a pre-treatment step of maintaining plant seeds under atmosphere conditions of a carbon dioxide concentration of 400 ppm or more and/or an oxygen concentration of 19 vol % or less continuously for 5 hours or more.

Plants are known to produce useful compounds such as phytochemicals during metabolic activities. Phytochemicals can be used in pharmaceutical products and health foods. Further, plant metabolism depends on growth environments of the plant. Therefore, the types and amounts of compounds produced in the course of the plant metabolism are thought to be changed by altering environment factors related to the growth of the plant. Accordingly, studies have been traditionally conducted for allowing plants to produce useful compounds such as phytochemicals by changing environmental factors related to the growth of the plants.
As phytochemicals, for example, polyphenol is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of manufacturing germinated plant seeds, comprising maintaining plant seeds under atmosphere conditions of a carbon dioxide concentration of 2000 ppm or more and/or an oxygen concentration of 18 vol % or less and further maintaining the plant seeds at a temperature within the range of the germination temperatures, wherein the amount of a readily water-soluble polyphenol is increased.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2008-125515

Method for producing germinated plant seeds, a method for producing germination induction raw material seeds, extract composition of germination processing plant seeds, and screening method


The invention is a catalyst for solid polymer fuel cell having catalyst particles composed of platinum, cobalt and magnesium supported on a carbon powder carrier, in which a composition ratio (molar ratio) among platinum, cobalt and magnesium in the catalyst particles is Pt:Co:Mg=1:0.4 to 0.5:0.00070 to 0.00095. This catalyst is manufactured by supporting cobalt and magnesium on a platinum catalyst and then conducting a heat treatment and a treatment to be brought into contact with an oxidizing solution, the feature of the catalyst manufactured in this manner includes a peak position of a main peak appearing between 2θ=40° and 42° in X-ray diffraction analysis, and the peak position is shifted to from 41.0° to 41.5°.

A fuel cell, particularly a solid polymer fuel cell is greatly expected as a next-generation power generating system and has advantages that the operating temperature is lower and the fuel cell is compact as compared to fuel cells of other types, and it is expected as a promising power source for home use and automobiles for these advantages. A solid polymer fuel cell has a layered structure consisting of a hydrogen electrode, an air electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between these electrodes. Incidentally, a hydrogen-containing fuel is supplied to a hydrogen electrode and oxygen or air is supplied to an air electrode, respectively, and electric power is drawn out by oxidation and reduction reactions that occur in each electrode. Moreover, a mixture of a catalyst for promoting the electrochemical reaction and the solid electrolyte is generally applied to both electrodes.
As the catalyst constituting the electrodes described above, a precious metal, in particular a platinum catalyst supporting platinum is widely used as a catalyst metal hitherto. This is because platinum as a catalyst metal exhibits high activity upon promoting the electrode reaction in both the fuel electrode and the hydrogen electrode.
Meanwhile, in recent years, the investigation cases on an alloy catalyst to apply an alloy of platinum and another metal as a catalyst metal have increased in order to secure the catalytic activity while decreasing the amount of platinum used for the cost reduction of a catalyst. Particularly, a Pt—Co catalyst adopting an alloy of platinum and cobalt as catalyst particles is known as a catalyst that can exert higher activity than that of the platinum catalyst even though the amount of platinum used is decreased (Patent Document 1). Moreover, a ternary alloy catalyst (Pt—Co-M alloy) in which a third metal element (M) is alloyed in order to further improve the Pt—Co catalyst has also been reported (Patent Document 2).

Catalyst for solid polymer fuel cell and method for manufacturing the same


A text processing system that is able to appropriately determine textual entailment between sentences with high coverage is provided. The text processing system is configured to execute: processing of extracting a common substructure that is a partial structure of a same type, the partial structure being common to a first sentence and a second sentence and, based on the a structure representing the first sentence and a structure representing the second sentence; processing of extracting at least one of a feature amount representing a dependency relationship between the at least one common substructure in the first and second sentences and a feature amount representing a dependency relationship between the common substructure in the first and second sentences and a substructure different from the common substructure; and processing of determining an entailment relationship between the first sentence and the second sentence by using the extracted feature amount.

Technologies referred to as textual entailment recognition have been known in recent years. The textual entailment recognition is a technology of determining whether or not, with regard to two statements (sentences), one sentence (target sentence) includes a meaning represented by the other sentence (hypothetical sentence). In other words, the textual entailment recognition is considered to be a technology of recognizing (determining) an entailment relationship between two or more sentences.
In relation to such textual entailment recognition, for example, the following technologies are known.
NPL 1 discloses various technologies (techniques) proposed in relation to textual entailment recognition. In most of the techniques disclosed in NPL 1, the coverage rate of a character or a word is used to determine an entailment relationship between text. The coverage rate is the rate of an element (for example, word, clause, or the like) in a hypothetical sentence that is common to a target sentence. The coverage rate represents the possibility of entailment in a vocabulary. Therefore, the coverage rate is information (feature amount) that is commonly used in determination in the textual entailment recognition.
NPL 2 discloses an example of a technology of determining an entailment relationship between a target sentence and a hypothetical sentence. The technology disclosed in NPL 2 converts a target sentence and a hypothetical sentence into tree structures that represent dependency structures, respectively. This technology determines the entailment relationship between the target sentence and the hypothetical sentence on the basis of the rate of a subtree common to the tree structure that represents the target sentence with respect to the tree structure that represents the converted hypothetical sentence.
NPL 3 discloses another example of a technology of determining an entailment relationship between a target sentence and a hypothetical sentence. The technology disclosed in NPL 3 converts a target sentence and a hypothetical sentence into tree structures that represent dependency structures, respectively. This technology determines the entailment relationship between the target sentence and the hypothetical sentence on the basis of the number of editing operations executed when the tree structure that represents the target sentence is transformed into the tree structure that represents the hypothetical sentence. The number of the editing operations described above represents the number of operations of editing the tree structures, such as insertion, deletion, and replacement of each node constituting the tree structures, and movement of a subtree. Specifically, the technology disclosed in NPL 3 determines the entailment relationship between the target sentence and the hypothetical sentence by using a feature amount (i.e., state (degree) of difference between tree structure that represents hypothetical sentence and tree structure that represents target sentence) represented by the number of the editing operations.
The above may be summarized as follows: most of the technologies disclosed in NPL 1 are technologies of determining an entailment relationship by using a coverage rate as one of feature amounts. The technology disclosed in NPL 2 or PTL 3 is a technology to focus on whether a common node or subtree is included in a tree structure that represents a target sentence and a tree structure that represents a hypothetical sentence, or whether a node or subtree being not common is included in a tree structure that represents a target sentence and a tree structure that represents a hypothetical sentence, and to determine an entailment relationship by using such a node or subtree as a feature amount.
Hereinafter, a node and a subtree in a tree structure may be collectively referred to as "substructure".
For example, the following PTLs are disclosed as technologies of focusing on a relationship between plural texts.
PTL 1 discloses a technology of generating a new text on the basis of plural texts collected in advance. The technology disclosed in PTL 1 collects aggregated data including a pair of a text and an intention represented by the text. Such a technology makes hierarchies of plural intentions on the basis of a relationship between the intentions. Such a technology uses plural texts associated with the hierarchized intentions to combine a match portion and a unmatch portion of morphemes that constitute the texts, thereby generating a new text.
PTL 2 discloses a technology of generating a rule used in classification of a structured document such as XML (Extensible Markup Language). The technology disclosed in PTL 2 defines feature values relating to fluctuation portions in the schema of a structured document (element and attribute of structured document). The technology disclosed in PTL 2 generates a rule used in classification of plural structured documents on the basis of feature values obtained from the structured documents. Such a technology determines similarity between the structured documents on the basis of the generated rule.
PTL 3 discloses a technology of determining the similarity of description data (document or source code or the like) described based on a particular rule. The technology disclosed in PTL 3 converts plural pieces of description data described based on the particular rule (grammar or the like) into a description format such as a parse tree. Such a technology prunes the parse tree at a specific level, thereby fragmenting the parse tree into subtrees. Such a technology determines similarity between the pieces of description data by determining the similarity of the combinations of the corresponding subtrees between the plural pieces of description data.
PTL 4 discloses a technology of extracting a synonymous representation from a pair of sentences similar to each other. The technology disclosed in PTL 4 executes dependency analysis of each sentence of the pair of similar sentences. Such a technology extracts a common representation included in each sentence in common, and a different representation included only in either of the sentences on the basis of the results of the dependency analysis. The technology disclosed in PTL 4 extracts the synonymous representation on the basis of the similarity of the relative positions of the common representation arranged in the respective sentences, and the similarity of the relative positions of the different representation and the common representation.

Text processing system, text processing method and storage medium storing computer program


An electrical filter including a first electrode; a second electrode; a dielectric means connected between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a resilient coupling providing an electrical connection between the dielectric means and each of the first and second electrodes and permitting relative motion therebetween. The resilient coupling prevents fracture of the dielectric means.

This invention relates generally to high frequency feed-through electrical filters and, more particularly, to electrical filters using multiple capacitors constructed of planar dielectric devices.
Capacitive coupling to an electrical conductor at high frequencies is a critical element in passive low pass filters. The fundamentals of low pass filters are well established in the prior art. Design of the capacitive elements for such filters is a challenge, particularly at high frequencies. Discrete leaded capacitors are not suitable at high frequencies because of the inherent self inductance associated with even the shortest of leads. Any practical connection length in the capacitive circuit will interfere with the proper operation of a low pass filter, due to the inductance impedance of these leads.
Because of these deleterious effects, high frequency capacitors have here-to-fore been constructed using an annular configuration, in which the inside diameter effectively is one electrode of a capacitor, and the outside edge constitutes the other electrode of the capacitor. The annular volume is used to house a dielectric material. This variety of electrodes surface configurations to maximize the area affected by the dielectric. However, known annular configurations present several problems. In the cases in which ceramic dielectric is used, the resultant configurations are subject to breakage, if there is relative motion between a housing and an electrode. Also, the dielectric is difficult to form, and can be limited in dielectric volume because of practical size limitations. Furthermore, the exact geometry and thus capacitance value is difficult to control. For those cases in which the capacitor is of a wound film construction, voids and defects are chronic problems. The inspection and repair of wound film types is extremely difficult.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved electrical filter.

Electrical filter with resiliently mounted planar dielectric devices


A tool for opening and closing a boot buckle that has a latching lever including a base portion and a longitudinally extending first working head with an opening sized to engage the latching lever. A tongue portion projects from the base portion into the opening, and this opening may be formed as an annulus. Teeth may be provided on the internal sidewall of the opening. A second working head may be provided with a socket portion thereon to mount a tool piece. A lidded compartment may be formed in the base portion. A cord may mount to the base portion.

The present invention is broadly directed to an apparatus to assist a skier while participating in his/her sport. The tool disclosed herein is particularly useful in assisting a skier in the buckling and unbuckling of ski boots. Some of the embodiments described herein also provide assistance in adjusting ski boot bindings. In addition, an embodiment is provided which may be used by a skier to treat the edges of a ski or snowboard. The tool also permits easy transport of a pair of ski boots. The tool may also be used, in certain circumstances, to open a beverage bottle.
As is well known, quick release latches are commonly used on ski boots. Such quick release latches typically have a clamping loop or cable secured to a first portion of the ski boot and an elongated buckle or lever pivotally secured to a second portion of the boot. A clamping loop or cable engages the boot at a desired location when in a release position. When pivoted to a fastened position, the buckle or lever draws the two ski boot portions together so as to clamp the boot around the foot of the skier. Often, manipulation of the buckle or lever requires exertion of significant force in order to achieve the desired clamping action. Conversely, releasing the buckle or lever also requires exertion of a counteracting force.
It is desirable that the profile of such ski boot buckles or latches be reduced as much as possible. Accordingly, there is often limited space available for the skier to gain purchase on the lever, especially when moving it from a fastened position to a released position. Grasping of the buckle lever can further be impeded by the presence of snow which may become compacted around the ski boot buckle during skiing. In addition, manipulation of the ski boot buckle or lever may be more difficult for older skiers or skiers with disabilities.
In addition, it is known that ski boot bindings are adjusted to allow a ski boot to release when torque forces on the ski boot exceed a certain magnitude. Such release, of course, is desirable to avoid injury to the skier. The threshold for the release force between the ski boot and the boot binding is typically set based on the skier's ability, weight and the type of terrain over which the skier intends to traverse. While the threshold level may be set at the outset of a skiing day, many skiers wish to adjust their bindings during a skiing event either because the release force has been set too low or too high for a selected terrain.
Another problem encountered by skiers during a skiing event is the dulling of the edges of a ski or a ski board. This can especially occur when the skier encounters rocks or debris on a ski slope where damage to the edge of the ski results from such contact. Skiers do not usually have available any means for repairing such damage during a particular outing.
Finally, the universal problem encountered by skiers is the transportation of their equipment. A skier typically must transport his/her skis or snowboard along with coats, gloves, hats or other clothing. In addition, the skier must transport his/her ski boots and often carries a daypack, fanny pack or other carrier in which to store personal items, food, etc. The transportation of ski boots is particularly awkward since there are few convenient places to grasp the ski boot and due to their weight.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved tools that may be used by skiers during a skiing event. There is a need for a tool which may be used in a variety of applications so as to assist a skier in adjusting his/her bindings and in repairing damage to the edges of a ski or snowboard or otherwise to fine tune the edges thereof in order to enhance the skiing event. In addition, there is a need for a ski tool which will assist skiers in the buckling and unbuckling of their ski boots as well as to assist the skiers in the transportation of such ski boots. The embodiments described herein are directed to meeting these needs.

Tool for use with ski boots, bindings and boards


The present disclosure relates to a thermoplastic resin composition and a molded article manufactured therefrom. More particularly, in accordance the present disclosure, a thermoplastic resin composition exhibiting superior colorability, fluidity, scratch resistance, heat resistance, and weatherability and a molded article manufactured therefrom are provided.

Recently, electric and electronic products are required to have high housing quality as well as superior performance. Accordingly, research into materials that allow superior mechanical properties, such as superior scratch resistance and impact strength, and improvement of emotional quality related to appearance characteristics, such as gloss and black impression, of a product housing is actively underway.
With regard to this, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (hereinafter referred to as "ABS") copolymer, an ABS resin, is considered as a representative resin having both functionality and versatility and provides superior impact strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, flame resistance, and the like. Accordingly, an ABS resin is widely used as a material for automobile components, various electric and electronic components, and the like. However, such an ABS resin is easily scratched during injection molding or in use and has difficulty in expressing high-quality color. In addition, when an ABS resin is exposed to UV rays for a certain period or more, the double bonds of butadiene rubber are decomposed by oxygen in the air, ozone, light, and the like, and thus, discoloration easily occurs. Accordingly, an ABS resin has a drawback such as poor weatherability.
To overcome such disadvantages of an ABS resin, surfaces of products are generally painted or coated. However, such painting or coating method entails subsequent processes, which results in productivity decrease problems such as complicated operation and an increase in a defect rate. In addition, it is difficult to recycle products manufactured therefrom.
Meanwhile, as scratch resistant-materials not requiring processes such as painting, coating, and the like, polymethyl methacrylate (hereinafter referred to as "PMMMA"), an acrylic resin, and the like providing superior colorability and gloss are mainly used. However, a PMMA resin exhibits low impact resistance and poor injection moldability. In addition, when a scratch resistant-material, a methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (hereinafter referred to as "transparent ABS resin"), is used, colorability, gloss, impact resistance, and the like are satisfactory, but hardness and flexural modulus are poor. Accordingly, problems, such as scratch resistance decrease and deformation during molding, may occur.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for a resin that provides superior colorability, fluidity, scratch resistance, heat resistance, and weatherability.

Thermoplastic resin composition and molded article manufactured therefrom


Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed that can provide a modular approach to an accessory shell for a portable DR detector that can accessorize features for various applications.

Portable radiographic detectors are used with many varied radiographic systems (e.g., in room, mobile radiographic systems, portable radiographic systems, NDT systems) at many varied examination locations (e.g., field use, under bedridden patients), at many varied conditions. There is a need for improved modular accessory housing or kits for portable radiographic detectors.

Modular accessory sleeve for portable radiographic detectors


A catalyst for hydrotreating residual petroleum oil has a pore size distribution related to the measured size distribution of sulfur, nickel and vanadium containing molecules in the residual oil to be hydrotreated. The size distribution of the sulfur, nickel and vanadium containing molecules in the residual oil is measured by gel permeation chromatography. From this measured size distribution, the catalyst pore size distribution which produces desired demetalization and desulfurization is determined for specified process conditions. A catalyst having the determined pore size distribution is produced by calcining alumina at different temperatures to produce alumina with the determined pore size distribution. The alumina is impregnated with cobalt molybdenum to produce the catalyst which is tailored to produce the desired demetalization and desulfurization of the residual oil to be treated.

This invention relates to catalysts for hydrotreating residual petroleum oil, to methods of making the catalyst and more particularly to methods of tailoring the pore size distribution of the catalyst to the measured size distribution of sulfur, nickel and vanadium containing molecules in the residual oil to produce desired hydrotreating of the residual oil.
Residual petroleum oil fractions such as those heavy fractions produced by atmospheric and vacuum crude distillation columns, are typically characterized as being undesirable as feedstocks for most refining processes due primarily to their high metals and sulfur content. The presence of high concentrations of metals and sulfur and their compounds precludes the effective use of such residua as chargestocks for cracking, hydrocracking and coking operations as well as limiting the extent to which such residua may be used as fuel oil. Perhaps the single most undesirable characteristic of such feedstocks is the high metals content. Principal metal contaminants are nickel and vanadium.
Sulfur is also undesirable in a process unit charge-stock. The sulfur contributes to corrosion of the unit mechanical equipment and creates difficulties in treating products and flue gases. At typical cracking conversion rates, about one half of the sulfur charged to the unit is converted to H.sub.2 S gas which must be removed from the light gas product.
Increasingly, residual oil is being upgraded into lighter petroleum products, notably transportation fuels, by hydrotreating the residual oil. This treating of residual oil in the presence of a catalyst and hydrogen to transform it into lighter petroleum products is difficult because of the aforementioned presence of sulfur, nickel and vanadium in the molecules of the residual oil.
Catalysts having difficult size pores have been used to hydrotreat residual oil. For example, it has been recognized that large pore catalysts remove metals faster than small pore catalysts whereas small pore catalysts remove sulfur faster than large pores.
Two layer catalyst beds have been used to hydrotreat residual oil. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,643 Milstein describes a hydrotreating process in which two beds are used to treat residual oil.
In the prior art, catalysts having different catalysts pore size distributions have been used. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,876,523 Rosinski et al and 3,891,541 Oleck et al describe methods for preparing catalysts having specific pore size distributions. Generally, any given catalyst is a compromise if it is used to process all residual oils. While a catalyst having a given pore size distribution may be good for one residual oil, it will not be as effective for other residual oils.
"CONFIGURATIONAL DIFFUSION EFFECTS IN CATALYTIC DEMETALIZATION OF PETROLEUM FEEDSTOCKS" by J. C. Spry, Jr. and W. H. Sawyer, a paper presented at the 68th Annual AICHE meeting, Nov. 16-20, 1975, describes the analysis of residual oils by gel permeation chromatography. This paper also describes a computer model for defining catalyst performance in terms of catalyst properties. The paper concludes that there is an optimum catalyst pore size which is dependent upon the molecular size of the reactant. However, there is no disclosure of tailoring the catalyst pore size distribution to the measured characteristics of the residual oil to be processed.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to use different catalysts having different pore size distributions to produce hydrotreating of the residual oil having measured characteristics.

Catalyst for hydrotreating residual petroleum oil


Articles of footwear include a textile upper member with an exterior constructed from knitted textile material, the exterior including a region with stability ribs and a second unribbed region. The region(s) having stability ribs may be located, for example: along a lateral midfoot side of the upper member; along a forefoot portion of the upper member; and/or along a medial midfoot side of the upper member. Other articles of footwear include an upper member having exterior and interior textile elements joined together in a stitchless manner at the foot-receiving opening of the upper member. The exterior surface of this upper member also may include one or more regions with stability structures. The stitchless textile engagement techniques can provide a smooth, non-bulky, and breathable joint that does not require thick layers of textile material in contact with or adjacent the wearer's foot.

Conventional articles of footwear, e.g., athletic footwear, have included two primary elements, namely an upper member and a sole member. The upper member and the sole member, at least in part, define a foot-receiving chamber that may be accessed by a user's foot through a foot-receiving opening. The upper member provides a covering for the foot that securely receives and positions the foot with respect to the sole member. The upper member may extend around the ankle, over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. In addition, the upper member may have a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration.
The sole member generally is secured to a lower portion of the upper member and generally is positioned between the foot and the contact surface (any foot or footwear contact surface, including but not limited to: grass, dirt, snow, ice, tile, flooring, carpeting, synthetic grass, and the like). In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces, the sole member may provide traction and help control foot motion, such as excess pronation. Accordingly, the upper member and the sole members may operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a variety of ambulatory activities, such as walking and running.
The sole member of an article of footwear, in at least some instances, will exhibit a layered configuration that includes a comfort-enhancing insole, a resilient midsole (e.g., formed, at least in part, from a polymer foam material), and a surface-contacting outsole that provides both abrasion-resistance and traction. Suitable polymer foam materials for the midsole member include ethylvinylacetate ("EVA") or polyurethane ("PU") that compress resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground reaction forces. Conventional polymer foam materials are resiliently compressible, in part, due to the inclusion of a plurality of open or closed cells that define an inner volume substantially displaced by gas.

Footwear structure with textile upper member


Disclosed herein is a method for adjusting the tuning frequency of a tuning circuit, which is implemented as a parallel circuit of a coil and series circuits Ai each including a capacitor Ci and a switch device Qi (i=one to n, where n denotes an integer at least equal to two), by varying the tuning frequency through control to turn on and off the switch devices Qi in accordance with control data bi, the method for adjusting the tuning frequency of a tuning circuit including the steps of: finding control data bi for a desired tuning frequency from control data bi for a tuning frequency equal to a first frequency and control data bi for a tuning frequency equal to a second frequency; and applying the control data bi found for the desired tuning frequency to the switch devices Qi.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for adjusting a tuning circuit and a receiver circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high-frequency circuit employed in a receiver adopting a synthesizer method has a configuration like one shown in FIG. 10. As shown in the figure, broadcast signals received by an antenna 1 are supplied to an antenna tuning circuit 2 for selecting a signal SRX having the frequency of a desired broadcast. The antenna tuning circuit 2 supplies the selected signal SRX to a mixer circuit 5 by way of a high-frequency amplifier 3 and an inter-stage tuning circuit 4. In the mean time, a VCO (Voltage-Controlled Oscillator) 61 generates an oscillation signal SLO having a frequency determined in advance and supplies the signal SLO to the mixer circuit 5 as a local oscillation signal.
The antenna tuning circuit 2 is an alternating-current parallel circuit consisting of a tuning coil 2L and a variable-capacitance diode 2C. By the same token, the inter-stage tuning circuit 4 is an alternating-current parallel circuit consisting of a tuning coil 4L and a variable-capacitance diode 4C. A system control circuit 8 supplies digital tuning data D2 and D4 to a D/A conversion circuits 92 and 94 respectively. The D/A conversion circuit 92 coverts the digital tuning data D2 into an analog tuning voltage V2 and supplies the analog tuning voltage V2 to the variable-capacitance diode 2C in order to control the frequency of a signal generated by the antenna tuning circuit 2. By the same token, the D/A conversion circuit 94 coverts the digital tuning data D4 into an analog tuning voltage V4 and supplies the analog tuning voltage V4 to the variable-capacitance diode 4C in order to control the frequency of a signal generated by the inter-stage tuning circuit 4.
The VCO 61 is a portion of a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) circuit 6. The VCO 61 also supplies the oscillation signal SLO generated thereby to a variable frequency division circuit 62 for generating a divided-frequency signal with a frequency 1/N times the frequency of the oscillation signal SLO, where notation N denotes a positive integer. The variable frequency division circuit 62 supplies the divided-frequency signal to a phase comparison circuit 63. In the mean time, a signal generation circuit 64 generates a signal having a reference frequency and supplies the reference-frequency signal to the phase comparison circuit 63.
The phase comparison circuit 63 compares the phase of the divided-frequency signal received from the variable frequency division circuit 62 with the phase of the reference-frequency signal received from the signal generation circuit 64 and supplies an output signal representing a difference in phase between the divided-frequency signal generated by the variable frequency division circuit 62 and the reference-frequency signal generated by the signal generation circuit 64 to a loop filter 65. The loop filter 65 extracts a DC voltage from the output signal received from the phase comparison circuit 63 and supplies the DC voltage to the VCO 61 as a voltage for controlling the oscillation frequency. The DC voltage has a level varying in accordance with the difference in phase between the divided-frequency signal generated by the variable frequency division circuit 62 and the reference-frequency signal generated by the signal generation circuit 64. Thus, since the frequency of the oscillation signal SLO generated by the VCO 61 is N times the reference frequency of a signal generated by the signal generation circuit 64, the frequency of the oscillation signal SLO generated by the mixer circuit 5 can be changed in accordance with control executed by the system control circuit 8 to vary the frequency-division rate N.
Receiving the oscillation signal SLO from the VCO 61 and the signal SRX of the desired broadcast from the inter-stage tuning circuit 4, the mixer circuit 5 converts the signal SRX into a signal SIF having an intermediate frequency and supplies the SIF to an intermediate-frequency circuit 7.
It is to be noted that, in this specification, the following references are used: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-037480 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2006-287459.

Method for adjusting tuning circuit and receiver circuit


A tropism modified cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3-CTV; Ad.5/3-CTV-M7) has been found to have infectivity that is Coxsackie Adenoviral Receptor (CAR) independent. The Ad.5/3-CTV (Ad.5/3-CTV-M7) may be used alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents such as agents that augment reactive oxygen (ROS) production, HDAC inhibitors, MCL-1 inhibitors and Bcl-2 inhibitors to treat a variety of cancers particularly including malignant glioma (GBM), renal cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to improved methods of adenoviral cancer therapy. In particular, the invention provides adenoviral vectors that are Coxsackie Adenoviral Receptor (CAR) independent, cancer-specific in their replication and produce a systemically active anti-cancer cytokine.
Background
Adenoviral vectors have shown great promise with respect to the delivery and expression of therapeutic agents to cells. However, to date, the level of infectivity, and hence the efficacy, of adenoviral vectors is determined by the presence, in the targeted cells, of Coxsackie Adenoviral Receptors (CARs), which mediate viral entry into the cell. In this regard, it is particularly unfortunate that many types of cancer cells express low or no appreciable levels of CARs. This feature of cancer cells severely curtails the otherwise promising use of adenoviral vectors as anticancer agents. Additionally, an ability to selectively replicate in cancer cells and also produce a therapeutically active and safe secreted cytokine will limit non-specific toxicity and allow for treatment of both primary infected tumors and distant infected or non-infected metastases.

Tropism modified cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3 CTV;AD.5/3-CTV-M7)


A rotorcraft, such as a tiltrotor aircraft having helicopter and airplane modes, includes an airframe, an engine and an engine mount assembly for coupling the engine to the airframe. The engine includes an engine lug forming an aperture. The engine mount assembly includes a mount having an aperture substantially aligned with the engine lug aperture. A sleeved bolt assembly extends through the apertures to secure the engine lug to the mount. The sleeved bolt assembly includes a bolt undersized relative to the apertures forming a circumferential gap within the apertures, a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bolt substantially filling the circumferential gap and a nut adapted to thread onto a threaded portion of the bolt. The use of the undersized bolt within the sleeve permits increased clearance between the sleeved bolt assembly and the engine while maintaining strength requirements in high load environments.

An aircraft may have one or more engines that are secured within or against another portion of the aircraft, such as a nacelle or airframe. Due to their large size, power output and other characteristics, aircraft engines may move or vibrate during operation. Engine mounts, in addition to securing engines on an aircraft, can be used to control or absorb an engine's vibrations to prevent structural instability during flight. Such instability may occur on rotorcraft, for example, if the rotor and associated engine have conflicting modes of vibration. Further complicating matters, engines may vibrate along multiple degrees of freedom at different respective magnitudes, including movement in the lateral, vertical and torsional directions. Load, motion, spatial and other operational constraints may require engine movement to be tuned or controlled in the vertical, lateral, and torsional directions. Current engine mounts, however, fail to allow for an engine's movement along the various degrees of freedom to be independently controlled. For example, current engine mounts may have stiffness in the torsional direction and stiffness in the lateral direction that are coupled to one another such that changing the stiffness in the torsional direction affects the stiffness in the lateral direction, or vice versa, making lateral and torsional engine movement difficult or impossible to independently control. Accordingly, a need has arisen for engine mounts that allow motion or vibration along the various degrees of motion of an engine to be independently tuned.

Sleeved bolt assemblies for aircraft engine mount assemblies


A call monitoring and debugging tool is disclosed that allows a developer to test an interactive voice response (“IVR”) application comprising a plurality of menu modules. The developer can initiate a call to the IVR and is presented on a computer display a set of variable identifies and corresponding values used by the IVR application in real time. The developer can view a graphical representation of a subset of the plurality of menu modules and view a representation of the navigation of the caller through the IVR application. The developer can also view a current set of variable identifiers used by the IVR and their corresponding values in real time. Finally, the developer can invoke one of several navigation control functions to force navigation of the call in the IVR application, including forcing the call to a previously encountered menu module.

Interactive voice response ("IVR") units (or simply "IVRs") are commonly used in contact centers to receive a call, play an announcement to the caller, present the caller with a set of menu options, and frequently collect a caller response to a menu option. The IVR provides an easy-to-use self-service platform that can be used to answer typical caller questions, which may be used determine the purpose of the call so as to better route the call. In many applications, the IVR may reduce the need for contact center agents.
In many instances, the IVR may have a sophisticated menu structure, providing for various levels of menus. This structure may reflect normal (e.g., non-error) user interactions with the IVR. In addition, the IVR may be programmed to account for each of the various possible types of errors that a user may cause during a call. Such errors may include entering a non-allowed input, entering a series of digits too quickly, waiting too long to respond to a prompt, etc.
Testing an IVR to ensure that the normal call flow interactions work property, as well accommodating all the possible abnormal interactions can be difficult for a developer. While some debugging tools allow a developer to test various scripts or menu flows by simulating a call to the IVR, such testing does not always identify all the possible problems that may occur when interacting with a live call. Invariably, effectively testing the menu options, response handling, and logic of an IVR requires the use of live calls interacting with the IVR under actual conditions to detect problems that a simulator may not always detect. However, using live calls can be time-consuming. This may require the developer to place a live call to a number to access the IVR, interact through a series of menu levels, and then select one of a plurality of menu options. Each time an option is selected, the user may have to terminate the call, and begin over to navigate to a same menu level to then select the next option. It would be much more convenient if a developer could somehow "back-up" a single menu level during the live call, rather than having to begin with another call to the IVR and repeat the interactions in order to return to the same location. While this capability could be provided to the caller as an IVR menu option, this may not always be possible. Thus, improved approaches are needed for being able to use a live call to debug an IVR and control navigation in the IVR separate from using the telephone. It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure herein is presented.

Live call debugging and monitoring tool for an interactive voice response unit


A circuit pattern inspection device includes a stage on which circuit patterns to be inspected are arranged so as to be symmetrical about a center of the stage about which the stage can rotate, a plurality of sensors which are positioned with respect to the center and scan the circuit patterns, and a signal processing circuit which determines whether or not the circuit patterns are normal on the basis of output signals of the plurality of sensors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern inspection carried out in the process of producing semiconductor integrated circuit devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, it has become difficult to inspect circuit patterns of integrated circuits and to inspect a mask and a reticle used to draw circuit patterns by exposure as the integration density has increased.
A conventional pattern inspection uses a scanning-type electron microscope (SEM) by which circuit patterns are observed. The observation results are compared with the results of observation of normal patterns stored in a memory beforehand, or are compared with data stored in a database. Normally, a low acceleration voltage equal to or lower than 1 kV is used in the observation using the scanning-type electron microscope in order to avoid charging up.
However, the use of such a low acceleration voltage makes it difficult to reduce the size of the electron beam and obtain a large beam current while obtaining a wide field of view.
Recently, an electron microscope has been proposed which has a reduced lens cylinder or barrel in order to simultaneously realize a reduced size of the electron beam and an increased beam current. However, such a proposed electron microscope has a difficulty in the formation of a wide field of view and needs an increased number of movement steps of the stage. This prevents speeding up of the inspection.

Circuit pattern inspecting device and method and circuit pattern arrangement suitable for the method


A sit-up exercise apparatus includes a substantially inverted-U shaped handle bar and a support bar provided with a head rest firmly secured to the side arms of the handle bar. A shaft is provided at each end of the handle bar and is fitted with a roller having a sector-like slot, a spring capable of rotation with the shaft and the roller, and a bolt for limiting rotation of the shaft and roller. Each roller is also tightly fitted with a cover. The rollers are capable of rearward or forward rotation with the forward push or rearward pull of the handle bar to a suitable extent. By means of the springs and the bolts, rotation of the rollers as well as the forward displacement of the handle bar may be controlled, achieving an excellent exercise apparatus which is safe and comfortable to operate.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus, and more particularly to a sit-up exercise apparatus which is safe, smooth and comfortable to operate.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A prior sit-up exercise apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The prior apparatus essentially comprises two curved bars 11 arranged in a parallel relation at opposite ends of an inverted-U shaped stem 12. The stem 12 has a middle section with a head rest 13 disposed thereon and a curved stem 14 extending therefrom. The end of the curved stem 14 is connected to a horizontally disposed hand grip 15. Each of the curved bars 11 has a pad 16 substantially vertically provided thereon at a suitable position. With reference to FIG. 2 which illustrates operation of the prior apparatus 10, a user lies flat between the curved bars 11 with his/her head resting on the head rest 13 and both hands gripping the ends of the hand grip 15. When the user pushes the hand grip 15 forwardly, the curved bars 11, by means of their curved sections 111 as the pivots, will rotarily displace forwardly so that the upper trunk of the user rises. However, it has been found that users of this type of sit-up exercise apparatus are quite uncomfortable and scared when using it. This is because when the user pushes the hand grip 15 forcefully forward so as to lift the trunk, the pivots of the apparatus, i.e., the curved sections 111 of the curved bars 11, will be subjected to the reverse action of the forward force to displace rearwardly, so that a pivot A displaces forwardly to near a point B closer to the end of the curved section 111, and when the apparatus 10 displaces rearwardly and then forwardly again with the push of the user's hands on the hand grip 15, the pivot A will shift to A', and the pivot A' will displace forwardly to the point B'. As a result, with every push of the hand grip 15, the pivot of the apparatus shifts forwardly, affecting the user's operation of the apparatus. Worse still, if the user exerts an excessive force on the hand grip 15, the whole apparatus might overturn and hurt the user.
There is another type of sit-up apparatus designed to overcome the drawbacks with the above-described apparatus. With reference to FIG. 3, a sit-up exercise apparatus 20 essentially comprises a U-shaped bottom bar 21 with two slightly curved ends, a head rest 22 fixedly disposed at a straight section 211 of the bottom bar 21, an inverted-U shaped handle bar 23 having its ends fixed secured to two side arms 212 of the bottom bar 21, and a support seat 24 is pivotally mounted at each curved end of the bottom bar 21. In use, the user lies flat between the two side arms 212 of the bottom bar 21 with his/her head resting on the head rest 22. When the user grips the handle bar 23 and pushes forwardly, the bottom bar 21 will rotarily displace upwardly with the support seats 24 as the pivots, lifting the user's trunk. At this time, as the apparatus 20 is provided with two support seats 24 as the pivots, undue displacement of the pivots when the user exerts a force on the handle bar 23 to bring the bottom bar 21 to rotarily displace may be prevented. In other words, the entire apparatus 20 will not displace rearwardly with the movement of the user. However, such a design engenders another problem. With reference to FIG. 4, when the user exerts a force on the handle bar 23 to lift his/her trunk up, the apparatus 20 utilizes the support seats 24 as its pivots so that the bottom bar 21 displaces through an angle with the handle bar 23, so that the user's body is supported by his/her buttocks and his/her upper trunk lifted by the bottom bar 21. However, as can be seen from FIG. 4, a distance C from the support seats 24 to the head rest 22 and a distance D from the user's buttocks to the head rest 22 is different (i.e., the radius of rotation is not the same). Therefore, when the bottom bar 21 displaces upwardly and the user's upper trunk is lifted, the user's head will move away from the head rest 22 so that only a part thereof or the neck touches the head rest 22, which is very uncomfortable and will thus affect the exercising effects.


A tool permitting a longshoreman to install and remove stacking pins from cargo containers without the necessity of using a ladder is disclosed. The stacking pin tool includes a segmented, elongated, handle with one end segment thereof terminating in a specifically designed stacking pin engagement and retention structure for a specific design stacking pin. The longshoreman remains on the deck while engaging and retaining the stacking pin with the end of the tool, rotating the tool and pin 180.degree. to individually position stacking pins over and in position to be inserted in each of the four reinforced corners of a cargo container. The length of the elongated handle is adjusted by adding or removing segments therein for use in one or two tier cargo container stacks. When needed, a second elongated tool, having a flashlight and mirror on one end thereof, is employed by a second longshoreman to illuminate the reinforced corner area and assist the first longshoreman, via the mirror image, to position the stacking pin within the corner opening.

The use of container ships to transport containerized cargo has become one of the primary means for shipping numerous types of cargo. Standard size containers and pierside crane systems substantially increase the productivity while reducing the manpower required, and hazards incurred, in loading and unloading freight transporting ships. Cargo containers are of two basic sizes, each essentially eight feet high, eight feet wide and either slightly less than twenty feet, or slightly less than forty feet, long. Each container is provided with metal reinforced corners at the top and bottom surfaces thereof. These metal reinforced corners provide attachment for turnbuckle attached tie down cables and are provided with openings through flat steel plates therein to receive latches on the spreader mechanism of a crane for lifting and positioning of the container onboard a ship or on a pierside dock. After a container is positioned by the crane operator, a longshoreman "latcher" releases the spreader mechanism from the container and a second longshoreman "stacking pin installer" normally places individual stacking pins in each of the exposed reinforced corners to permit stacking of a second container onto the first container.
The stacking pins serve to support the entire weight of the second "stacked" container in spaced relationship over the first container with the space therebetween permitting passage of tie-down cables. These stacking pins may vary in structural shape from ship-to-ship, and are normally six to ten inches in length, weigh from 20-30 pounds each, and provided with rotatable locking extensions, or tits, that are releasably secured to adjacent reinforced corners of stacked containers.
In present practice, a ladder must be manually positioned by the pin installer at the corners to enable the longshoreman to carry each stacking pin from the deck level to the top of the container for installation thereof. This time consuming procedure results in crane inactivity while being performed, and adds safety hazards through the use of ladders. When stacking a third container onto a first stack of two containers, a longer ladder and much more time is consumed. As in most labor operations, time is money and any change in equipment or procedure to reduce the time in performing necessary tasks can result in savings to all concerned.
There is thus a definite need in the art for added equipment, or a simplified procedure, that will improve the safety and reduce the time and effort involved in loading and unloading of containerized cargo.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool that permits a longshoreman to install or remove cargo container stacking pins without the necessity of a ladder.
Another object of the present invention is a tool that can be operated by a longshoreman standing on the deck level to install or remove stacking pins from the top reinforced corners of a cargo container.
A further object of the present invention is an elongated, rigid, segmented tool support for engaging and lifting stacking pins from a deck and positioning the stacking pins in a top reinforced corner of a cargo container.
An additional object of the present invention is a tool that permits a longshoreman to remove stacking pins from the top of a cargo container while standing on a support surface for the cargo container.
Another object of the present invention is a tool that permits a longshoremen to install or remove stacking pins in the top reinforced corners of two or three tier stacked cargo containers while standing on a deck level and without the use of ladders.
Still another object of the present invention is an improved safety and reduced time process for installing and removing stacking pins from the top reinforced corners of cargo containers without requiring the longshoreman to mount a ladder.


Protection against abusive ringing of doorbells is provided by a ring limiting circuit including ring counter and ring timer circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of doorbells, ringers and other signaling devices such as are installed near a doorway of a dwelling and used to announce the arrival of visitors.
2. State of the Prior Art
Exterior doors of homes and other dwellings are commonly equipped with a doorbell by which a visitor may announce him or herself to those inside the dwelling. The doorbells typically include a push-button electrical switch mounted on an exterior wall or other support outside the dwelling. The doorbell switch is operatively connected, either by electrical wiring or a wireless link, to an interior signaling device such as an electromechanical ringer or electronic tone generator mounted inside the dwelling. The interior signaling device is actuated when the exterior doorbell switch is pressed by a visitor.
Such doorbells are, however, subject to abuse when repeatedly or continuously pressed by pranksters or others intent on annoying or harassing the occupants of the dwelling, or simply by an impatient visitor who repeatedly or continuously rings the bell until someone responds.
Three forms of abusive doorbell ringing can be identified. A first form of abuse occurs when the door bell is rung repeatedly many times in rapid succession within a relatively short period of time. A second form of abuse occurs when the door bell is rung only a few times but with rings of excessively long duration, such that each ring alone would not be objectionable but in combination the rings add up to excessive bell ringing time within some preset time interval. A third form of abuse occurs where the door bell is rung only once but is rung continuously for an unacceptably long time.
Many modem doorbells are partially protected from abuse in that actuation of the ringer results in playback of a musical tune or sound effect stored in the signaling device, and repeated actuation of the doorbell is ineffective until the tune or sound effect has played out. However, when a short tune or sound effect is selected by the homeowner, the doorbell can be rung repeatedly at an annoyingly high rate. Even long-playing tunes can be replayed unnecessarily. And in continuous ring mode, the doorbells are subject to all forms of abuse mentioned earlier.
Existing doorbell installations lack adequate protection against such abuse and as of yet no practical solution has been proposed to this problem. A continuing need exists for doorbells with built-in protection against harassment caused by abusive ringing of doorbells.


An example computer-implemented search method. A location of a user communication device over a network is determined. A search request from the user communication device is received via an interactive application. A database is queried based on the location and the search request. The database stores data representing a plurality of menu items from a plurality of food or beverage delivery services for a plurality of restaurants, and includes data associated with the plurality of restaurants. If restaurants within a predetermined range of the determined location are associated with the received search request, the restaurants are linked to food or beverage delivery services. Data representing the food or beverage delivery services is combined onto a rendered page of the interactive application. Selection of at least one menu item is received. For each delivery service, cost for delivering the selected menu item to the determined location is estimated. The cost for each delivery service is visually associated with the respective delivery service on the page. The page is transmitted to the user communication device.

For convenience and other benefits, it is useful to provide a customer with the ability to order services online for in-person delivery, such as to a customer's home or business. For example, it is well known in the art to provide an interactive application or website by which a customer can order food items (such as pizza) from a restaurant for delivery. For example, the user can enter a website operated by a particular restaurant, select one or more food items provided by that restaurant, and place an order for delivery.
More recently, food and beverage delivery services have been introduced separately from the restaurants to provide a customer with the ability to select online food and beverage items from among several restaurants for which the delivery service can deliver food and beverage items. To order a food or beverage item, the customer enters a website or application for a particular delivery service and selects from among the restaurants and then food or beverage items that are available through that particular delivery service. Upon completion of the customer's order, the delivery service acquires the selected food or beverage items from the restaurant and delivers the food or beverage items to the customer.

Methods, systems and program products for aggregating and presenting service data from multiple sources over a network


A vacuum conveyor system for transporting sheets between two process stations in an image producing apparatus, such as copiers and printers. The system includes a plurality of interleaved belts which extend between the process stations and around rollers to convey the sheet without image disruption or sheet damage between the processing stations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to photocopying apparatus and, more specifically, to prevention of toner image disruption when using a vacuum conveyor system for transporting sheets in copiers and printers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Image producing apparatus, such as electrostatographic copiers and printers, often have a number of different process stations through which receivers, such as copy sheets, pass for processing. In order to move the sheets between the stations, various types of transport or conveyor systems are used according to conventional practice. One type widely used in the industry employs a vacuum transport system comprised of perforated conveyor belts disposed over openings in a vacuum plenum. There is a differential pressure exerted between the top surface of the sheet, which is exposed to the ambient, and the bottom surface of the sheet adjacent to the perforations of the belts and exposed to the vacuum of the vacuum plenum. This pressure differential causes the sheet to be attracted to and retained by the vacuum through the perforations of the belts, for vacuum belt transport, of the sheet, from one station to another station within the apparatus.
One frequent location for such a vacuum transport system is between the transfer station, where toned images are transferred to the o sheet, and the fixing or fusing station, where the toner, of the toned images, is melted and fused to the sheet to form a permanent image on said sheet. Depending on the application, the conveyor system between these stations either transports the sheet above or below the transport system, but with the image side of the sheet being opposite the belts as the toned sheets are transported to the fusing station for fusing.
While vacuum transport systems are excellent transport systems for conveying sheets from one station to the next, when used to convey toned sheets from a highly charged station such as the transfer station, to an uncharged station, such as the fusing station, disruption of the toned images on said sheets may occur as the sheets leave the transport system. The disruption is caused by an electrical field created by the charge or potential differential between the toner on the transported sheet and the induced charge on the conductive plenum of the vacuum transport system. This differential results from the toner having a charge as it leaves the transfer station, which charge induces an opposite charge on the conductive plenum as the sheet, containing the toned image, moves with the vacuum belts across the conductive plenum. This induced or image charge on the vacuum plenum has a tendency to attract or hinder the toner from moving with its carrier, the transported sheet, as the transported sheet moves toward the fusing station and away from the induced charge. This interaction between the charge of the toner and the charge of the plenum results in a shifting or disruption of the toner particles on the sheet.
One method customarily used to prevent the above attraction or shifting of the toner or toned image caused by such electrical field, is a corona discharge element located adjacent to where the sheet leaves the transport system. By subjecting the charge remaining on the toner to the corona discharge device, the charge on the toner is substantially eliminated. No electrical field, therefore, can be set up between the toner and the plenum that would cause toner disruption. A corona discharge device, however, takes up space in the apparatus, has objectionable ozone discharge, is costly and uses apparatus power.
Another problem with the above transport system is triboelectric charging of the vacuum plenum caused by the transported sheet and vacuum belts rubbing against the plenum, which if not dissipated, causes the surface of the plenum to attract dust and floating toner particles. The dust or toner particles then rub off onto the copy sheet.
In addition to the image disruption problem and the triboelectric problem of vacuum transport systems, such systems also have a tendency to cause wrinkling or creasing of the sheet being transported. The wrinkling is caused by the sheet being drawn into the gaps between the individual vacuum belts of the transport system by vacuum from vacuum ports located in said gaps, which are needed to initially attract and direct the leading edge of the sheet toward the transport system. If this wrinkling or creasing is left uncorrected, the creasing or wrinkling becomes permanent as the sheets pass into and through the fusing station.
Therefore, it is desirable, and an object of this invention, to provide a transport system which can smoothly and predictably control the movement of the sheets, while also controlling the electrical fields established between the sheets and the transport system to avoid any image disruption or wrinkling of the sheets as said sheets are transported between two process stations in a copier, printer, or like apparatus.


A missile includes a warhead accommodated in an inner space at a front portion of the missile; a ball joint being in alignment with the longitudinal missile axis and pivotally supporting the warhead; and an aiming device for placing the warhead into a desired pivotal orientation. The aiming device includes a plurality of inflatable vessels arranged axially adjacent the warhead in a distribution about the missile axis. Each vessel has a first end oriented toward the warhead and a second end oriented away therefrom. The vessels are supported at their second end by a disk situated in the inner space of the missile. A gas generator is coupled to each vessel for charging the vessel with a gas to place the vessel into its inflated state. In the inflated state each vessel exerts a torque on the warhead about the ball joint by an engagement between the first end of the respective vessel and the warhead. Further, an electronic control system is accommodated in the inner space of the vessel. The electronic control system is connected to each gas generator for actuating a selected gas generator to place the warhead into a desired inclined orientation relative to the missile axis.

This invention relates to a missile which carries in its interior a warhead that is pivotally supported by means of a ball joint. The pivotal motion of the warhead is effected by an aiming device controlled by an electronic control system.
Missiles which attack a target in the course of their flight over or past the target without the need of proceeding directly thereagainst are known and are described, for example, in German Patent No. 3,605,579. The missile has an internal warhead which, in flight, may be pivoted in a direction towards the target by virtue of its ball joint support. After target detection, for example, by onboard sensors, the warhead is oriented into the optimal direction and fired by means of an aiming device and an electronic control system. As a result of this process, one or more payload units are ejected or accelerated in the direction of the target. The above-noted patent, however, does not describe an appropriate aiming device which may effect a pivotal motion of the warhead.


Photopolymerization compositions which include maleimides and processes using the same are disclosed. Polymerization of compositions which include maleimides in combination with a benzophenone compound/hydrogen atom donor sensitizer system may be activated by irradiating the composition with radiation.

This invention relates generally to photopolymerizable compositions and more particularly to photopolymerizable compositions which include maleimide compounds as a component and methods of using the same.
Ethylenically unsaturated compounds, such as acrylate derivatives, can be polymerized by exposure to radiation, typically ultraviolet light, in the presence of a photoinitiating system. Typically, the photoinitiating system includes (1) a compound capable of initiating polymerization of the ethylenically unsaturated compound upon exposure to radiation (a xe2x80x9cphotoinitiatorxe2x80x9d) and optionally (2) a coinitiator or synergist, that is, a molecule which serves as a hydrogen atom donor. The coinitiators or synergists are typically alcohols, tertiary amines, amides, or ethers which have labile hydrogens attached to a carbon adjacent to a heteroatom. Currently commercially available photoinitiators include benzophenones and derivatives thereof, such as thioxanthone derivatives.
Maleimides, and in particular N-aliphatic and ortho-substituted (i.e. xe2x80x9ctwistedxe2x80x9d) N-aromatic maleimides have been investigated as comonomer-photoinitiators of UV-curable acrylic systems. These maleimides have been observed to require the presence of a hydrogen atom-donor synergist (such as an amine, ether, thiol, or the like) to obtain reasonable rates of initiation and polymerization.
J. Put and F. C. De Schryver, xe2x80x9cPhotochemistry of Nonconjugated Bichromophoric Systems,xe2x80x9d Journal of the American Chemical Society. 95, 1, 137-45 (1973); xe2x80x9cPhotocyloaddition Polymerization. I. Preparation and Characterization of Poly-N,Nxe2x80x2-polymethylenebisdichloromaleimides,xe2x80x9d Journal of Polymer Science: Part A-1. 8, 1939-48 (1970); and N. Boens et al., xe2x80x9cSolid-State Ultraviolet Irradiation of Some Maleimides and Bismaleimides,xe2x80x9d Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Chemistry Edition 13, 210-13 (1975) report studies of the sensitization of maleimides with benzophenone and thioxanthones for the formation of maleimide 2+2 cycloadducts. F. C. De Schryver, et al, xe2x80x9cPhotochemistry of Nonconjugated Bichromophoric Systems. Photopolymerization of N,N-Alkylenebis (dimethylmaleimides),xe2x80x9d Journal of the American Chemical Society 96, 20, 6463-69 (1974) also report the formation polymer networks by the sensitized step-wise 2+2 cycloaddition of maleimides.
The present invention is directed to photopolymerizable compositions and methods for radiation curing of the same. The compositions of the invention include at least one radiation curable compound. The compositions preferably include ethylenically unsaturated compounds, and in particular, acrylate derivatives.
The compositions further include at least one maleimide which is capable of initiating the photopolymerization of a radiation curable compound. The maleimide can be an alkyl maleimide, functionalized aliphatic maleimide, aromatic maleimide, maleimide, maleic anhydride, or mixtures thereof. The maleimide component can be substantially completely consumed during initiation and photopolymerization (incorporated into the polymer structure).
The composition further includes additional photoactive compounds as sensitizers. Specifically, the composition includes at least one benzophenone compound which is capable of initiating polymerization of the ethylenically unsaturated compound upon exposure to radiation. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cbenzophenone compoundxe2x80x9d includes benzophenone and derivatives thereof, including thioxanthone and derivatives of thioxanthone. In addition, the composition optionally includes at least one coinitiator or synergist as a hydrogen atom donor or an electron donor. The hydrogen atom donor can be present as a separate compound or can be included as a molecular component of the photopolymerizable compound. The synergistic effect described herein which occurs when a sensitizer is used in conjunction with a maleimide in the presence of a hydrogen atom donor has been observed to dramatically increase rates of polymerization of typical acrylic photo-curable systems, as compared to rates obtained using the same acrylic photo-curable system with either maleimide with a hydrogen-atom donor or the sensitizer with a hydrogen-atom donor as the initiating system.
The present invention also provides methods for radiation curing of photopolymerizable compositions of the invention.

Photopolymerization compositions including maleimides and processes for using the same


A multi-tenant media communication platform system and methods. The platform system includes media communication micro-services and micro-service configuration for a plurality of entities configured for use of the platform system. Enrolling an entity in the platform system includes setting entity configuration for use of the platform system by the entity. A micro-service request is processed according to the entity configuration. The micro-service request is a request for use of at least one micro-service of the platform system on behalf of the entity. Use of each micro-service is accounted for on behalf of the entity. Billing information for the entity is generated based on the accounting for the use of each micro-service on behalf of the entity. Entity configuration includes micro-service configuration, and micro-service configuration specifies at least one of: an endpoint mapping to at least one application logic URI, an event callback URI, and an event application logic URI.

The rise of smart phones and the merging of communication and applications have caused a proliferation of modes of communication. Additionally, new communication platforms have provided tools to integrate phone calls, text messaging, and other forms of communication. Many solutions lack basic features that enable easy integration with a system built for particular forms of communication. Other platforms are built for the general public and as such have additional features that may not be utilized uniformly across all users, which can cause such solutions to be unfeasible in terms of cost and functional overhead. However, building out the infrastructure to support the communication application may require tremendous amounts of engineering resources both to build and maintain such a solution. Thus, there is a need in the communication platform field to create a new and useful system and method for providing a micro-services communication platform. This invention provides such a new and useful system and method.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for providing a micro-services communication platform


In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display and one or more accelerometers. The method includes displaying information on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. The method also includes detecting a predetermined finger gesture on or near the touch screen display while the information is displayed in a first view, and in response to detecting the predetermined finger gesture, displaying the information in a second view and locking the display of information in the second view. The method further includes unlocking the display of information in the second view when the device is placed in an orientation where the second view is displayed based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers.

As portable electronic devices become more compact, and the number of functions performed by a given device increase, it has become a significant challenge to design a user interface that allows users to easily interact with a multifunction device. This challenge is particular significant for handheld portable devices, which have much smaller screens than desktop or laptop computers. This situation is unfortunate because the user interface is the gateway through which users receive not only content but also responses to user actions or behaviors, including user attempts to access a device's features, tools, and functions. Some portable communication devices (e.g., mobile telephones, sometimes called mobile phones, cell phones, cellular telephones, and the like) have resorted to adding more pushbuttons, increasing the density of push buttons, overloading the functions of pushbuttons, or using complex menu systems to allow a user to access, store and manipulate data. These conventional user interfaces often result in complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies that must be memorized by the user.
Many conventional user interfaces, such as those that include physical pushbuttons, are also inflexible. This is unfortunate because it may prevent a user interface from being configured and/or adapted by either an application running on the portable device or by users. When coupled with the time consuming requirement to memorize multiple key sequences and menu hierarchies, and the difficulty in activating a desired pushbutton, such inflexibility is frustrating to most users.
Some portable devices use one or more accelerometers to automatically adjust the orientation of the information on the screen. In these devices, information is displayed on the display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. For these devices, the user may occasionally want to override the orientation displayed based on the accelerometer data. At present, such devices contain little, no, or confusing heuristics for ending the user override of the orientation displayed based on the accelerometer data.
Accordingly, there is a need for portable multifunction devices with more transparent and intuitive portrait-landscape rotation heuristics. Such interfaces increase the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction with portable multifunction devices.

Portrait-landscape rotation heuristics for a portable multifunction device