Security vulnerabilities of one or more target hosts are assessed by a remote or local host via a server. The hosts and the server are coupled to the internet and communicate via hypertext pages and email. A user at an arbitrary host on the internet inputs data identifying the user and/or the arbitrary host, and the target host. A network address is obtained for the user and a certification file such as Internic can be checked to determine a network address of the user and confirm that the user is authorized to assess the security vulnerabilities of the target host. A facts file is built on the server by polling the services available at the target host, including inquiries to the various ports of the TCP subsystem, for building a table of services and responses. A security algorithm compares the responses to stored data for identifying likely security vulnerabilities. A hypertext report file (transmitted in a secure manner) is made accessible to the arbitrary host, containing report information identifying likely security vulnerabilities and hyperlinks to descriptive information and outside advisory pages. The report file has a URL unique to the security inquiry, and is deleted after a predetermined time during which the assessment can be rerun by the user to assess the effect of fixes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of computer network security, and in particular concerns an internet or intranet based technique by which operators, who need not have extensive knowledge of network TCP/IP subsystems, can assess the vulnerability of any or all of their network hosts (e.g., servers and workstations) to a variety of intrusion methods. A host or server operating the security system according to the invention uses communication techniques to confirm the identity of an operator who seeks an assessment, and may effect a credit or bank account transaction as a means of payment. A hypertext web page is generated on the security system server for starting the assessment, having a URL that is unique to the operator's request. The URL of the starting page is reported to the qualified operator by email. The operator selects a level of security assessment by selecting a number or class of network hosts to be analyzed and a level of intensity for the analysis. The security system server then launches a series of selected inquiries by TCP/IP communications, assesses points of vulnerability, and inserts hypertext links into the report page, naming vulnerabilities found and linking to hypertext pages explaining each vulnerability and directing the operator to potential fixes and further information. The assessment can be repeated as often as necessary during a limited time period, for example to test fixes made after earlier reports of vulnerability. After the limited time period, the report page and its URL are removed.
2. Prior Art
Standards have been developed for network communications among workstations and servers (collectively "hosts"), and are well documented. The same standards that apply to open network communications can also be used in communications among hosts on a local area network or a wide area network. Communications of this type generally fall into two categories, namely TCP and UDP.
In TCP ("transmission connection protocol"), a connection is made and held between the source of the data and an at-least intermediate destination. Delivery of data in TCP is more or less guaranteed once a connection is made.
In UDP ("user datagram protocol"), data packets are transmitted from a source to a destination, but no standing connection is made. In UDP, it is up to the programmer designing the software to guarantee reliability of the communication session.
Depending upon whether a host is configured to provide the services of a web server, a router, a workstation or the like, that host must be configured to respond to the appropriate inquiries needed to function. When the TCP/IP subsystem of the host is enabled to respond to these inquiries by the software that enables the host to operate as a server, router, etc., one of the numbered TCP ports is caused to respond to the appropriate inquiry.
Some services provide usernames and TCP/IP addresses, and a remote host can use the noted services to learn usernames and/or addresses and thereafter attempt to determine further information or use the information to mount an attack. With a knowledge of usernames, an iterative routine or a program having a dictionary file can attempt to determine passwords randomly or to guess passwords using common words, and attempt to log into a host as a given user. On some servers, particularly of Internet service providers, usernames are used to define the paths to the users' subdirectories. An authorized user can log in to their ISPs server, under their own username, then change directory up a level, and obtain the usernames of all subscribers by listing the username subdirectories. Depending on rights granted, this could enable subscribers to monitor shells, last login times, alter personal web page content and even read or insert pending email messages. It may or may not be appropriate for all such capabilities to be open to users, but in such instances it is appropriate for both the subscribers and the operator of the server to understand fully where the system is vulnerable to attack. For these and other reasons it can be difficult for systems administrators or others to determine the true identity of a person who obtains unauthorized access to information or services.
Networks that may be vulnerable to attack or contain confidential information may be protected by firewalls. Firewalls are intermediate computers that are coupled between a protected network server and the Internet. A firewall is basically a router having filters that pass certain forms of messages and block others. Of course a firewall does not address the possibility of an attack from a user within the network protected by the firewall.
A firewall can be more or less aggressive at blocking messages. Aggressive filtering means that fewer services can be made available in one direction or the other through the firewall. Insufficient filtering leaves the network open to attack. A proper balance is sought by system administrators in setting up the filtering that will be undertaken by the firewall, to provide the needed services and minimize dangers of unauthorized access and of damaging attack. Both innocent and malicious requests are blocked. Firewalls also may provide proxy or masquerading services which "hide" the presence of computers behind it.
One form of attack that is particularly troublesome is a "denial of service" attack. Networks providing information services that are critical for reasons of public safety or national defense need to be operational when called upon. A denial of service attack on a given host or TCP/IP address can result in that host (workstation or server) locking up (e.g., displaying the so-called "blue screen of death," normally a general protection fault) requiring that the affected host be rebooted. A server lockup can disable useful operation of all users logged onto that server by precluding access to shared data. An attack on an individual host on the network at least can disable that host, and it is possible to mount a denial of service attack on all the hosts on a network simultaneously.
Several denial of service attacks are well known and documented, and software patches are available to deal with most of them. For example, the Windows NT service pack from Microsoft deals with certain vulnerabilities found in the Windows TCP/IP subsystem. An example is the Window OOB Bug (aka "WinNuke"). A program can send out of band (OOB) data to a TCP/IP address at which a Windows machine is coupled to the network, for example attacking NetBIOS (TCP port 139). The Windows machine is unable to handle the data and can lock up.
A program called SPING sends fragmented ICMP packets to a TCP address of a Windows machine, requesting an echo of the packet. The machine attempts to reassemble the packets but they cannot be reassembled. The machine's buffers overload and the machine locks up. Similarly, spoofed connection requests can be sent by TCP to a Windows host in a so-called Land Attack. SYN packets are sent to the host address as the destination and appear to have the same address as the source. That is, the packets have the same host and port numbers identifying the source and the destination. As it attempts to resolve the conflict of having information simultaneously being sent and received by the same host over the same port, the system slows down.
The Tear Drop and New Tear Drop (or Bonk) attack concern sending overlapping TCP/IP fragments or corrupted UDP fragments. These attacks fill the available memory buffer space and eventually crash the machine.
The foregoing attacks are exemplary. Additional attacks become possible periodically, as the implementation of the TCP/IP system is further understood. Additionally, public service organizations monitor reports of attacks and publish advisories containing strategies for dealing with attacks. The organizations include CERT, CIAC, ASSIST, and others.
In April 1995, a software package called Security Administrators Tool for Analyzing Networks (SATAN) was made publicly available to enable systems administrators to obtain an automated assessment of their network security. SATAN provides source code for operation on a Unix system. When compiled, configured and run, SATAN attempts to access certain critical data files, to effect file transfers considered dangerous, and to determine which programs are in use. SATAN cannot fully assess a system via TCP/IP through a firewall, from any arbitrary host on the Internet. The administrator can readily configure their firewall to filter certain inquiries such as PING requests, and can block FTP access to files on hosts within the firewall and the like. Thus SATAN is substantially intended for a systems administrator to get his or her own network house in order via internal checks. The systems administrator configures SATAN for operation on their particular system and runs the program to determine whether certain vital network data is accessible.
The foregoing problems have been the subject of various advisories from CERT or CIAC and their implications and fixes are documented in various publications. Although they represent some important potentially exploitable information leaks as well as opportunities for a knowledgeable hacker to wreak mischief or damage to the network, they do not address various possible denial of service vulnerabilities, and do not address a likely source of attack, namely an arbitrary host communicating in TCP or UDP from outside the firewall.
Additionally, as its authors recognize, a security program such as SATAN is a two edged sword. It is helpful to permit systems administrators to identify security gaps which are then plugged by appropriate fixes, but the information it generates is of offensive value to a hacker, because SATAN could enable an easy and automated identification of unfixed network vulnerabilities that might be exploited. As a result, it would be highly inappropriate to permit the operation by others of such a security assessment program on one's network. It would also appear to be ill advised to permit operation of a security assessment program through a firewall, or even to open the firewall filters sufficiently to permit TCP and UDP communications that could conceivably assess, and therefore potentially exploit, vulnerabilities of the TCP/UDP subsystems. On the other hand and as mentioned above, the alternative is to deny access to services that are useful in Internet communications.
It would be advantageous, and it is an object of the present invention, to provide a security assessment program that is not limited to internal operation on a network Unix server, that can be operated conveniently and securely from a World Wide Web (WWW) browser at an arbitrary host, that fully assesses file access, version information, and vulnerability to denial of service attacks, but which has sufficient security to minimize the danger of exploitation by hackers to obtain offensive information.

Method for network self security assessment


An apparatus for testing the structural integrity of a hand rail structure. The hand rail having a plurality of substantially horizontal parallel rail members. The apparatus has an elongate lever arm and a mounting portion on the lever arm. The mounting portion is sized to span at least two rail members. A receptacle on the mounting portion opposite the lever arm receives one of the rail members and vertically supports the lever arm and mounting portion. A force is applied through the lever arm and transmitted to the hand rail. The force is measured by a torque wrench on the lever arm.

This invention relates in general to a testing safety apparatus, and more specifically to a device for testing the structural integrity of safety hand rail structures.
In any industrial setting, safety is a prime concern. It is important to ensure that the safety devices installed to protect workers and others on a job site perform as designed, and also comply with any applicable safety regulations such as those issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and in the case of offshore vessels the U.S. Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). It is also important to ensure that the devices continue to perform as designed throughout their life span. One way to ensure that the safety devices are functioning properly is to test the devices both after manufacture and periodically during use.
When workers and others have access to a raised area, it is sensible to equip the area with hand rails to prevent a possible fall. Additionally, regulatory agencies, such as OSHA, require that fall protection, such as a hand rail, be present in most situations where a worker could fall six feet or more, and sets out strength requirements for the hand rails. While hand rails can be designed to safely support a worker and meet the regulatory standards, it is possible that the finally constructed hand rail could not meet the criteria because of defects in the manufacturing. Therefore, to ensure a safe hand rail and regulatory compliance, it is desirable to test the hand rail upon installation.
Hand rails are often subject to adverse environmental conditions such as salt, sun, and sometimes corrosive chemicals which may deteriorate the strength of an otherwise adequate design. Additionally, the hand rails are sometimes abused and subject to unanticipated loads and impact loads which may damage the railing. To ensure the hand rails remain safe and are adequate for the intended purpose, it is desirable to periodically test the hand rails in service and after any repairs.
Testing the hand rail on site, as discussed above, presents several difficulties which must be overcome to make a hand rail testing apparatus practical. Although some minimum dimensions for hand rails are regulated, hand rails are built in many shapes and from many different material cross-sections. Therefore, a hand rail testing apparatus should be able to accommodate as many hand rail configurations as possible. Many times a worker must carry the hand rail testing apparatus a significant distance, and up stairs and ladders. Additionally, most hand rails are located in confined areas, where space for using the handrail testing apparatus is limited. Thus, a hand rail testing apparatus should be light weight to minimize the strain imposed on the worker when transporting the testing apparatus. Also, a hand rail testing apparatus should be relatively compact, so that it may be used in tight quarters. Finally, it is helpful that the hand rail testing apparatus be easy and inexpensive to construct, so that multiple testing apparatus can be used at different sites.
One device for testing the strength of a hand rail both after installation and periodically is disclosed in U.K. Patent Number GB 2,091,888. This device wedges between the railing and an adjacent structure, and expands with a hydraulic cylinder to load the hand rail. The hydraulic pressure is then measured to determine the loading. This device is functional, but the hydraulic cylinder adds significantly to its weight, and an integral dolly, disclosed in the patent, is required to maneuver the device. This makes it more difficult to transport the device from site to site. Additionally, a solid adjacent structure is required to test the railing, and therefore the disclosed device is not suitable for testing all hand rails. Finally, the inclusion of hydraulics increases the cost of the disclosed testing apparatus because it necessitates the expense of a devoted hydraulic cylinder, gauge, and hydraulic fittings.
Therefore, there is a need for a portable hand rail testing apparatus that has universal applicability to many hand rail installations. Since it is desirable to test the hand rails once installed, the device should be light weight and maneuverable, so that it can be easily transported to the hand rail location. The testing apparatus must be compact to allow testing of handrails in confined areas, and it should also be simple and inexpensive to build, so that many testing devices can be built.
The present invention is directed towards an inexpensive, portable hand rail testing apparatus with universal applicability to many hand rail installations. The invention is an apparatus for testing the structural integrity of a hand rail structure. The hand rail has a plurality of horizontal parallel rail members. The apparatus includes an elongate lever arm wit h a mounting portion on the lever arm sized to span at least two rail members. A receptacle on the mounting portion opposite the lever arm receives one of the rail members and vertically supports the lever arm and mounting portion. A vertical force applied to the lever arm is transmitted to the hand rail.
Further, the apparatus has a force measuring device on the lever arm. The force is applied through the force measuring device. The force measuring device may be a torque wrench. The mounting portion is on a distal end of the lever arm and the force measuring device is on a proximal end of the lever arm. A second receptacle is on the mounting portion positioned to receive a second parallel rail member. The second receptacle is moveable relative to the first mentioned receptacle. The first mentioned receptacle supports the lever arm and mounting portion when the force is applied in a first vertical direction. The second receptacle supports the lever arm and mounting portion when the force is applied in a second vertical direction. The receptacle can be removed and replaced with a different receptacle.


The invention relates to a method for producing aromatic shaped bodies, especially aromatic beads, with bulk densities greater than 700 g/l, whereby a solid and essentially water-free premix comprised of a) 65 to 95 wt. % carrier(s), b) 0 to 10 wt. % auxiliary agent(s), and c) 5 to 25 wt. % perfume is subjected to granulation or compacted agglomeration. In addition, the invention relates to the application of the inventive aromatic shaped bodies in order to scent washing and cleaning detergents, to washing and cleaning detergents containing shaped bodies which are produced according to the invention, and to a method for scenting textiles in a wash machine.

This invention relates to the production of perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, which may be incorporated in detergents and laundry treatment and aftertreatment compositions and which provide the treated laundry with a perfume-enhancing effect. The present invention also relates to detergents containing the shaped bodies produced in accordance with the invention and to the use of the shaped bodies produced in accordance with the invention for perfuming wash liquors.
In the washing, treatment and aftertreatment of laundry, it is now common practice to add small quantities of perfume to the detergents and aftertreatment compositions in order to provide the wash liquor itself and also the laundry treated with the wash liquor with a pleasant fragrance. In addition, besides color and appearance, the perfuming of detergents and aftertreatment compositions is an important aspect of the aesthetic product impression and an important factor in the consumer deciding for or against a certain product. For perfuming, the perfume may, either be directly incorporated in the detergent/composition or may be added to the wash liquor in an additional step. The first method determines a certain product characteristic whereas, in the second method, the consumer is able individually to chose his/her perfume from the various perfume variants on offerxe2x80x94comparable with the choice of an eau-de-toilette or an aftershave lotion.
Accordingly, perfume shaped bodies and processes for perfuming wash liquors are widely described in the prior art. Thus, DE 41 33 862 (Henkel) discloses tablets containing carrier materials, perfumes and optionally other typical detergent ingredients, sorbitol and in addition 20 to 70% by weight of an effervescent system of carbonate and acid being used as the carrier material. These tablets, which may be added for example in the after-rinse cycle or fabric softening cycle of a domestic washing machine, contain about 3 to 15% by weight and preferably 5. to 10% by weight of perfume. In view of their high disintegrator content, the tablets in question are sensitive to atmospheric moisture and have to be stored in a suitably protected form.
DE 39 11 363 (Baron Freytag von Loringhoven) describes a process for the production of a perfume-enriched wash liquor and a perfume addition medium suitable for this purpose. The addition medium present in the form of capsules or tablets contains the perfume together with an emulsifier in liquid form (capsules) or fixed to fillers and carriers (tablets), sodium aluminium silicates and cyclodextrins being mentioned as carriers. The perfume content of the capsules or tablets is at least 1 g for a capsule or tablet volume of more than 1 cm3. Tablets or capsules containing more than 2.5 g of perfume for a volume of at least 5 cm3 are preferred. For storage, tablets or capsules of the type in question have to be provided with a gas- and water-tight covering layer to protect the ingredients. The document in question does not provide any further particulars of the production of physical properties of suitable tablets.
International patent application WO 94/25563 (Henkel-Ecolab) describes a process for the production of detersive shaped bodies using the microwave technique which does not involve any high-pressure tabletting. The tablets produced by this process are distinguished by an extremely dissolving rate or disintegration rate coupled with fracture resistance without any need for a disintegrator. At the same time, they are stable in storage and can be stored without any additional precautions. Tablets with a perfume oil content of 1 to 3% by weight typical of detergents can also be produced by this process. In general, perfume oils are readily volatile and, accordingly, could even evaporate on exposure to microwave radiation. If, therefore, relatively high levels of readily volatile liquid substances are to be used, a two-component system consisting of a component produced by the microwave technique and a component containing the sensitive liquid substances is described.
Particulate additives for perfuming wash liquors and for use in detergents and processes for their production are described in International patent applications WO 97/29176 and WO 97/29177 (Procter and Gamble). According to the teaching of these documents, perfume is added to porous carrier materials (for example sucrose in admixture with zeolite X) and, finally, a coating material (carbohydrates) is applied and the required particle size distribution is established.
Earlier German patent application 197 35 783.0 (Henkel) describes highly concentrated perfume shaped bodies containing carrier material(s), 20 to 50% by weight of perfume(s) and optionally other auxiliaries and additives typical of detergents, at least 50% by weight of the shaped bodiesxe2x80x94after subtracting the quantity of perfumexe2x80x94consisting of fatty acids and fatty acid salts. These perfume shaped bodies are suitable both for perfuming detergents and for perfuming laundry in a washing machine.
A process for applying perfumes to laundry in a washing machine is described in DE 195 30 999 (Henkel). In this process, a perfume-containing shaped body produced by exposure to microwave radiation is used in the final rinse cycle of a washing machine. According to the teaching of this document, the preferably spherical shaped bodies with diameters above 3 mm and bulk densities of up to 1100 g/l are produced by introducing a mixture of predominantly water-soluble carrier materials, hydrated substances, optionally surfactants and perfume into suitable molds and sintering the mixture by exposure to microwave radiation. The perfume contents of the shaped bodies are between 8 and 40% by weight and the carrier materials used include starches, silicas, silicates and disilicates, phosphates, zeolites, alkali metal salts of polycarboxylic acids, oxidation products of polyglucosans and polyaspartic acids. A crucial pre-condition of the process described in this document for producing shaped bodies is that at least partly bound water should be present in the mixture sintered by microwaving to form shaped bodies, i.e. the starting materials should be at least partly present in hydrated form.
The solutions proposed in the cited prior art require either additional barrier layers or coating layers to fix the perfume to the carrier or are not equally suitable for perfuming detergents and for direct use solely as a detergent, for example in the final rinse cycle of a washing machine. In addition, there is no reference in the cited prior art to perfume-enhancing effects on the treated laundry.
The problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a process for the production of perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, which would contain up to 15% by weight of perfume, but which nevertheless would not have to be provided with a gas-tight and water-tight coating layer or pack for storage in order to protect the ingredients or to prevent losses of perfume in storage. Another problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a perfume supply form which could both be incorporated as a compound in standard detergents and also directly used for individually choosing perfume in domestic washing processes and which would create a perfume-enhancing impression on the treated laundry.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a process for the production of perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, with bulk densities above 700 g/l, characterized in that a solid and substantially water-free premix of
a) 65 to 95% by weight of carrier(s),
b) 0 to 10% by weight of auxiliary(ies) and
c) 5 to 25% by weight of perfume
is subjected to granulation or press agglomeration.
In the context of the present invention, the expression xe2x80x9csubstantially water-freexe2x80x9d is understood to apply to a state in which the content of liquid water, i.e. water which is not present as water of hydration and/or water of constitution, is below 2% by weight, preferably below 1% by weight and, more preferably, even below 0.5% by weight, based on the premix. Accordingly, water can only be introduced into the process for producing the premix in chemically and/or physically bound form or as a constituent of the raw materials or compounds present as solids, but not as a liquid, solution or dispersion. The premix advantageously has a total water content of not more than 15% by weight, i.e. the water is present in chemically and/or physically bound form and not in liquid, free form. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the content of water not bound to zeolite and/or to silicates in the solid premix is no more than 10% by weight and preferably no more than 7% by weight.
The function of the carrier materials is to absorb the generally liquid components of the perfume without the particles sticking to one another. A homogeneously plasticized mixture in which the perfume is incorporated in the carrier in fine distribution is only obtained by the action of the mixing tools during the granulation step or the relatively strong shear forces in the press agglomeration step and optionally through the addition of an auxiliary or auxiliaries. This procedure has clear advantages over the conventional application of perfume to porous carrier materials, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.
Preferred carrier materials are selected from the group of surfactants, surfactant compounds, di- and polysaccharides, silicates, zeolites, carbonates, sulfates and citrates and are used in quantities of 65 to 95% by weight and preferably in quantities of 70 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the shaped body formed.
Any surfactants or surfactant compounds solid at temperatures of up to 40xc2x0 C. may be used as surface-active carrier materials. In the context of the present invention, a xe2x80x9csurfactant compoundxe2x80x9d is understood to be a surfactant-containing preparation which, besides typical carrier materials and auxiliaries, contains at least 20% by weight of an anionic, cationic or nonionic surfactant, based on the surfactant compound. The carrier materials typically used in surfactant compounds may advantageously be identical with the above-mentioned carrier materials used in the process according to the invention, although other carrier materials than those mentioned above may also be present as carriers in the surfactant compounds.
In preferred processes, one or more anionic surfactant compounds or anionic surfactants, more particularly soaps, is/are used as carrier materials in quantities of 65 to 95% by weight and preferably 70 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the tablet formed. Examples of anionic surfactant compounds are alkyl benzenesulfonate (ABS) compounds on silicate or zeolite carriers with ABS contents of, for example, 10, 15, 20 or 30% by weight, fatty alcohol sulfate (FAS) compounds on silicate, zeolite or sodium sulfate carriers with active substance contents of, for example, 50 to 70, 80 or 90% by weight and anionic-surfactant-containing compounds based on sodium carbonate/sodium silicate with anionic surfactant contents above 40% by weight. Pure anionic surfactants may also be used as carriers in accordance with the present invention providing they are solid and non-hygroscopic. Soaps are particularly preferred as pure anionic surfactant carriers because, on the one hand, they remain solid up to high temperatures and, on the other hand, do not present any problems through the unwanted absorption of water. Any salts of fatty acids are used as soaps in the carrier materials for the shaped bodies according to the invention. Whereas, in principle, aluminium, alkaline earth metal and alkali metal salts of the fatty acids, for example, may be used, preferred shaped bodies are those in which the alkali metal salts and preferably the sodium salts of the fatty acids are present. Suitable fatty acids, of which the salts may be used as carrier material, are any acids obtained from vegetable or animal oils and fats. The fatty acids may be saturated or mono- to poly-unsaturated. It is of course possible to use not only xe2x80x9cpurexe2x80x9d fatty acids, but also the technical fatty acid mixtures obtained in the hydrolysis of fats and oils, for example palm kernel oil, coconut oil, peanut oil or rapeseed oil or bovine tallow, these mixtures being distinctly preferred from the economic point of view.
Thus, individual species or mixtures of salts of the following acids, for example, may be used in the carrier materials for the highly concentrated perfume shaped bodies according to the invention: caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, octadecan-12-oleic acid, arachic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, cerotic acid, melissic acid, 10-undecenoic acid, petroselic acid, petroselaidic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, ricinoleic acid, linolaidic acid, xcex1- and xcex2-elaeostearic acid, gadoleic acid, erucic acid, brassidic acid. The salts of the fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms, for example the salts of undecanoic acid, tridecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, nonodecanoic acid, heneicosanoic acid, tricosanoic acid, pentacosanoic acid, heptacosanoic acid, may of course also be used.
In particularly preferred processes, one or more substances from the group of sodium salts of saturated or unsaturated C8-24 fatty acids, preferably saturated or unsaturated C12-18 fatty acids and, more preferably, saturated or unsaturated C16 fatty acids is/are used as carrier material(s) in quantities of 75 to 95% by weight and preferably in quantities of 80 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the shaped body formed.
Other suitable carrier materials are, for example, di- and polysaccharides, a broad range of substances from sucrose and maltose through oligosaccharides to the xe2x80x9ctraditionalxe2x80x9d polysaccharides, such as cellulose and starch and derivatives thereof, being suitable. Among the substances belonging to these sub-groups, the starches are particularly preferred.
The carriers typically used in detergents, such as silicates and zeolites, are also suitable as carriers for the purposes of the invention. The finely crystalline, synthetic zeolite containing bound water used is preferably zeolite A and/or zeolite P. Zeolite MAP(copyright) (a Crosfield product), for example, is used as zeolite P. However, zeolite X and mixtures of A, X and/or P are also suitable, for example the co-crystallizate of zeolites A and X marketed as Vegobond(copyright)AX (by Condea Augusta S.p.A.). The zeolite may be used in the form of a spray-dried powder or even in the form of an undried stabilized suspension still moist from its production. Where the zeolite is used in the form of a suspension, the suspension may contain small additions of nonionic surfactants as stabilizers, for example 1 to 3% by weight, based on zeolite, of ethoxylated C12-18 fatty alcohols containing 2 to 5 ethylene oxide groups, C12-14 fatty alcohols containing 4 to 5 ethylene oxide groups or ethoxylated isotridecanols. Suitable zeolites have a mean particle size of less than 10 xcexcm (volume distribution, as measured by the Coulter Counter Method) and contain preferably 18 to 22% by weight and more preferably 20 to 22% by weight of bound water.
Other suitable carriers are layer-form sodium silicates corresponding to the general formula NaMSixO2x+1.yH2O, where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, preferred values for x being 2, 3 or 4. Crystalline layer silicates such as these are described, for example, in European patent application EP-A-0 164 514. Preferred crystalline layer silicates corresponding to the above formula are those in which M is sodium and x assumes the value 2 or 3. Both xcex2- and xcex4-sodium disilicates Na2Si2O5.yH2O are particularly preferred.
Other preferred builders are amorphous sodium silicates with a modulus (Na2O:SiO2 ratio) of 1:2 to 1:3.3, preferably 1:2 to 1:2.8 and more preferably 1:2 to 1:2.6 which dissolve with delay and exhibit multiple wash cycle properties. The delay in dissolution in relation to conventional amorphous sodium silicates can have been obtained in various ways, for example by surface treatment, compounding, compacting or by overdrying. In the context of the invention, the term xe2x80x9camorphousxe2x80x9d is also understood to encompass xe2x80x9cX-ray amorphousxe2x80x9d. In other words, the silicates do not produce any of the sharp X-ray reflexes typical of crystalline substances in X-ray diffraction experiments, but at best one or more maxima of the scattered X-radiation which have a width of several degrees of the diffraction angle. Particularly good builder properties may even be achieved where the silicate particles produce crooked or even sharp diffraction maxima in electron diffraction experiments. This may be interpreted to mean that the products have microcrystalline regions between 10 and a few hundred nm in size, values of up to at most 50 nm and, more particularly, up to at most 20 nm being preferred. So-called X-ray amorphous silicates such as these, which also dissolve with delay in relation to conventional waterglasses, are described for example in German patent application DE-A-44 00 024. Compacted amorphous silicates, compounded amorphous silicates and overdried X-ray-amorphous silicates are particularly preferred.
Other suitable carrier materials are layer silicates of natural and synthetic origin. Such layer silicates are known, for example, from patent application DE-B-23 34 899, EP-A-0 026 529 and DE-A-35 26 405. Their suitability is not confined to a particular composition or structural formula. However, smectites, especially bentonites, are preferred.
Suitable layer silicates which belong to the group of water-swellable smectites are, for example, montmorillonite, hectorite or saponite. In addition, small quantities of iron may be incorporated in the crystal lattice of the layer silicates in accordance with the above formulae. By virtue of their ion-exchanging properties, the layer silicates may additionally contain hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal ions, more particularly Na+ and Ca++. The water of hydration content is generally between 8 and 20% by weight, depending on the degree of swelling and the processing technique. Useful layer silicates are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,629, EP-A-0 026 529 and EP-A-0 028 432. Layer silicates substantially freed from calcium ions and strongly coloring iron ions by an alkali treatment are preferably used.
Useful organic carriers are, for example, polycarboxylic acids usable in the form of their sodium salts, such as citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, sugar acids, aminocarboxylic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), providing their use is not ecologically unsafe, and mixtures thereof. Preferred salts are the salts of the polycarboxylic acids, such as citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, sugar acids and mixtures thereof.
The acids per se may also be used. Besides their efectiveness as a carrier, the acids also typically have the property of an acidifying component and, hence, also serve to establish a relatively low and mild pH value in detergents. Citric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid and mixtures thereof are particularly mentioned in this regard. If they are used in the premix according to the invention and are not subsequently added, these acids are preferably used in water-free form.
The premix may optionally contain auxiliaries which improve the cohesion of the carrier particles mixed with the perfume and which, under the granulation or press agglomeration conditions, envelop the solid particles and bond them to one another in such a way that the final end products are made up almost exactly of these numerous small individual particles that are held together by the auxiliary which acts as a preferably thin dividing wall between the individual particles.
These auxiliaries on the one hand facilitate the plasticization of the premix under the granulation or press agglomeration conditions and, on the other hand, develop disintegration-promoting properties during the dissolution of the perfume shaped bodies without the shaped bodies sticking to one another in transit or in storage.
Suitable auxiliaries are those from the group of polyethylene glycols, fatty alcohol ethoxylates and fatty acid alkoxylates which, in preferred processes, are used in quantities of 0 to 10% by weight, preferably in quantities of 2 to 9% by weight and more preferably in quantities of 5 to 7% by weight, based on the weight of the press granules.
The fatty acid alkoxylates optionally used may be described by general formula (I):
in which R1 is selected from C7-17 alkyl or alkenyl, R2=xe2x80x94H or xe2x80x94CH3 and k=2 to 10. Suitable fatty alcohol alkoxylates correspond to formula (II):
in which R3 is selected from C8-18 alkyl or alkenyl, R4=xe2x80x94H or xe2x80x94CH3 and I=2 to 10. In both cases, the corresponding auxiliaries may readily be produced in known manner by ethoxylation or propoxylation of fatty acids or fatty alcohols, technical mixtures of the individual species being preferred for economic reasons.
Other suitable auxiliaries are polyethylene glycols (PEGs) which may be described by general formula (III):
Hxe2x80x94(Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2)nxe2x80x94OHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(III)
in which the degree of polymerization n can vary from about 5 to  greater than 100,000, corresponding to molecular weights of 200 to 5,000,000 g/molxe2x88x921. The products with molecular weights below 25,000 g/molxe2x88x921 are actual polyethylene glycols whereas relatively high molecular weight products are often referred to in the literature as polyethylene oxides (PEOXs). The polyethylene glycols preferably used may have a linear or branched structure, linear polyethylene glycols being particularly preferred.
Particularly preferred polyethylene glycols include those with relative molecular weights of 2000 to 12,000 and advantageously around 4000, polyethylene glycols with relative molecular weights below 3500 and above 5000 being usable in particular in combination with polyethylene glycols having a relative molecular weight of around 4000 and more than 50% by weight of these combinations, based on the total quantity of polyethylene glycols, advantageously containing polyethylene glycols having a relative molecular weight of 3500 to 5000. However, other suitable binders are polyethylene glycols which, basically, are present as liquids at room temperature/1 bar pressure, above all polyethylene glycol with a relative molecular weight of 200, 400 and 600.
According to the invention, a preferred process is characterized in that one or more substances from the group of polyethylene glycols with molecular weights of 2 to 15 kgmolxe2x88x92 and preferably in the range from 4 to 10 kgmolxe2x88x92 is/are used as auxiliaries in quantities of 0 to 10% by weight, preferably 2 to 9% by weight and more preferably 5 to 7% by weight, based on the weight of the shaped body formed.
The perfume oils or perfumes used in the process according to the may be individual perfume compounds, for example synthetic products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type. Examples of perfume compounds of the ester type are benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert.butyl cyclohexyl acetate, linalyl acetate, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate (DMBCA), phenyl ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, ethyl methyl phenyl glycinate, allyl cyclohexyl propionate, styrallyl propionate, benzyl salicylate, cyclohexyl salicylate, floramate, melusate and jasmecyclate. The ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether and Ambroxan; the aldehydes include, for example, linear alkanals containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxy acetaldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, lilial and bourgeonal; the ketones include, for example, ionones, xcex1-isomethyl ionone and methyl cedryl ketone; the alcohols include anethol, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenyl ethyl alcohol and terpineol while the hydrocarbons include, above all, terpenes, such as limonene and pinene. However, mixtures of different perfumes which together produce an attractive perfume note are preferably used.
Perfume oils such as these may also contain natural perfume mixtures obtainable from vegetable sources, for example pine, citrus, jasmine, patchouli, rose or ylang-ylang oil. Also suitable are clary oil camomile oil, clove oil, melissa oil, mint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lime blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galbanum oil and labdanum oil and orange blossom oil, neroli oil, orange peel oil and sandalwood oil.
After the individual constituents have been combined, the substantially water-free premix is subjected to granulation or press agglomeration. In granulation, the premix is compacted and homogenized by the rotating mixing tools and granulated to form perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads. The granulation of the substantially water-free premix gives perfume beads with a broader particle size distribution (coarse and fine fractions) so that the press agglomeration variant is preferred to the granulation variant.
In the press agglomeration process, the premix is compacted and plasticized under pressure and under the effect of shear forces, homogenized and then discharged from the machines via a forming/shaping stage. Technically the most important press agglomeration processes are extrusion, roller compacting, pelleting and tabletting. Preferred press agglomeration processes for the purposes of the present invention are extrusion, roller compacting and pelleting.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the premix is delivered, preferably continuously, to a planetary roll extruder or to a twin-screw extruder with co-rotating or contra-rotating screws, of which the barrel and the extrusion/granulation head can be heated to the predetermined extrusion temperature. Under the shearing effect of the extruder screws, the premix is compacted under a pressure of preferably at least 25 bar orxe2x80x94with extremely high throughputsxe2x80x94even lower, depending on the apparatus used, plasticized, extruded in the form of fine strands through the multiple-bore extrusion die in the extruder head and, finally, size-reduced by means of a rotating cutting blade, preferably into substantially spherical or cylindrical granules. The bore diameter of the multiple-bore extrusion die and the length to which the strands are cut are adapted to the selected granule size. In this embodiment, granules are produced in a substantially uniformly predeterminable particle size, the absolute particle sizes being adaptable to the particular application envisaged. In general, particle diameters of up to at most 0.8 cm are preferred. Important embodiments provide for the production of uniform granules in the millimeter range, for example in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm and more particularly in the range from about 0.8 to 3 mm. In one important embodiment, the length-to-diameter ratio of the primary granules is in the range from about 1:1 to about 3:1. In another preferred embodiment, the still plastic primary granules are subjected to another shaping process step in which edges present on the crude extrudate are rounded off so that, ultimately, spherical or substantially spherical extrudate granules can be obtained. If desired, small quantities of drying powder, for example zeolite powder, such as zeolite NaA powder, may be used in this step. This shaping step may be carried out in commercially available spheronizers. It is important in this regard to ensure that only small quantities of fines are formed in this stage. According to the present invention, however, there is no need for drying, which is described as a preferred embodiment in the prior art documents cited above, because the process according to the invention is carried out in the substantial absence of water, i.e. without the addition of free non-bound water.
Alternatively, extrusion/compression steps may also be carried out in low-pressure extruders, in a Kahl press (Amandus Kahl) or in a so-called Bextruder.
As in the extrusion process, it is also preferred in the other production processes to subject the primary granules/compactates formed to another shaping process step, more particularly spheronizing, so that, ultimately, spherical or substantially spherical (bead-like) granules can be obtained.
By virtue of the fact that the process according to the invention is carried out in the substantial absence of water, i.e. except for the water present as xe2x80x9cimpurityxe2x80x9d in the solid raw materials used, an ecologically valuable process is also provided because elimination of the need for a subsequent drying step not only saves energy, emissions which occur predominantly in conventional drying techniques can also be avoided. In addition, the absence of subsequent drying steps enables the perfumes to be incorporated in the premix and thus provides for the production of the perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, according to the invention.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process according to the invention is carried out by roller compacting. In this variant, the perfume-containing, solid and substantially water-free premix is introduced between two rollersxe2x80x94either smooth or provided with depressions of defined shapexe2x80x94and rolled under pressure between the two rollers to form a sheet-like compactate. The rollers exert a high linear pressure on the premix and may be additionally heated or cooled as required. Where smooth rollers are used, smooth untextured compactate sheets are obtained. By contrast, where textured rollers are used, correspondingly textured compactates, in which for example certain shapes can be imposed in advance on the subsequent perfume shaped bodies, can be produced. The sheet-like compactate is then broken up into smaller pieces by a chopping and size-reducing process and can thus be processed to granules which can be further refined and, more particularly, converted into a substantially spherical shape by further surface treatment processes known per se.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process according to the invention is carried out by pelleting. In this process, the perfume-containing, solid and substantially water-free premix is applied to a perforated surface and is forced through the perforations and at the same time plasticized by a pressure roller. In conventional pellet presses, the premix is compacted under pressure, plasticized, forced through a perforated surface in the form of fine strands by means of a rotating roller and, finally, is size-reduced to granules by a cutting unit. The pressure roller and the perforated die may assume many different forms. For example, flat perforated plates are used, as are concave or convex ring dies through which the material is pressed by one or more pressure rollers. In perforated-plate presses, the pressure rollers may also be conical in shape. In ring die presses, the dies and pressure rollers may rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions. A press suitable for carrying out the process according to the invention is described, for example, in DE-OS 38 16 842 (Schlxc3xcter GmbH). The ring die press disclosed in this document consists of a rotating ring die permeated by pressure bores and at least one pressure roller operatively connected to the inner surface thereof which presses the material delivered to the die space through the pressure bores into a discharge unit. The ring die and pressure roller are designed to be driven in the same direction which reduces the shear load applied to the premix and hence the increase in temperature which it undergoes. However, the pelleting process may of course also be carried out with heatable or coolable rollers to enable the premix to be adjusted to a required temperature.
Another press agglomeration process which may be used in accordance with the invention is tabletting. In view of the size of the shaped bodies produced, it may be appropriate in the tabletting variant to add conventional disintegration aids, for example cellulose and cellulose derivatives or crosslinked PVP, in addition to the binder described above to facilitate the disintegration of the shaped bodies in the wash liquor.
The perfume shaped bodies produced in accordance with the invention may be additionally sprayed with perfume in a subsequent step. The conventional perfuming variant, i.e. powdering and spraying with perfume, can also be carried out with the perfume shaped bodies produced in accordance with the invention.
Advantageously, at least 30% by weight, preferably at least 40% by weight and more preferably at least 50% by weight of the total perfume present in the perfume shaped bodies produced in accordance with the invention are introduced into the detergent by the production process according to the invention, i.e. incorporated in the granules or press agglomerates, while the remaining 70% by weight, preferably 60% by weight and more preferably 50% by weight of the total perfume present may be sprayed onto or otherwise applied to the granules or press agglomerates which may optionally be surface-treated.
By dividing the total perfume content of the detergents into perfume present in the granules or press agglomerates and perfume adhering to the granules or press agglomerates, it is possible to achieve a number of product features which are only possible through the process according to the invention. For example, the total perfume content of the detergents can be divided into two portions x and y, portion x consisting of firmly adhering perfume oils, i.e. less volatile perfume oils, and portion y consisting of more volatile perfume oils.
Now, it is possible to produce detergents where the percentage of perfume introduced into the detergent through the granules or press agglomerates is mainly made up of firmly adhering perfumes. In this way, firmly adhering perfumes which are intended to perfume the treated articles, more especially textiles, are xe2x80x9cretainedxe2x80x9d in the product and thus develop their effect primarily on the treated laundry. By contrast, the more readily volatile perfumes contribute towards more intensive perfuming of the detergents per se. In this way, it is also possible to produce detergents which, as detergents, have a perfume that differs from the perfume of the treated articles. There are virtually no limits in this regard to the creativity of perfumists because almost limitless possibilities for perfuming the detergents andxe2x80x94through the detergentsxe2x80x94the articles treated with them exist on the one hand through the choice of the perfumes and on the other hand through the choice of the method used to incorporate them in the detergents.
The principle described above can of course also be reversed by incorporating the more readily volatile perfumes in the granules or press agglomerates and spraying the less volatile firmly adhering perfumes onto the detergents. In this way, the loss of the more readily volatile perfumes from the pack in storage and in transit is minimized while the perfume characteristic of the detergents is determined by the more firmly adhering perfumes.
The general description of the perfumes suitable for use in accordance with the invention (see above) represented the various classes of perfumes in general terms. In order to be noticeable, a perfume has to be volatile, its molecular weight being an important factor along with the nature of the functional groups and the structure of the chemical compound. Thus, most perfumes have molecular weights of up to about 200 dalton, molecular weights of 300 dalton and higher being more the exception. In view of the differences in volatility of perfumes, the odor of a perfume or fragrance composed of several perfumes changes during the evaporation process, the odor impressions being divided into the top note, the middle note or body and the end note or dry out. Since odor perception is also based to a large extent on odor intensity, the top note of a perfume or fragrance does not consist solely of readily volatile compounds whereas the end note or dry out consists largely of less volatile, i.e. firmly adhering, perfumes. In the composition of perfumes, more readily volatile perfumes may be fixed, for example, to certain xe2x80x9cfixativesxe2x80x9d, which prevents them from vaporizing too rapidly. The above-described embodiment of the present invention, in which the more readily volatile perfumes or fragrances are incorporated in the press agglomerate, is one such method of fixing a perfume. Accordingly, in the following classification of perfumes into xe2x80x9creadily volatilexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cfirmly adheringxe2x80x9d perfumes, nothing is said about the odor impression or about whether the corresponding perfume is perceived as a top note or middle note.
Firmly adhering perfumes suitable for use in accordance with the present invention are, for example, the essential oils, such as angelica root oil, aniseed oil, arnica flowers oil, basil oil, bay oil, bergamot oil, champax blossom oil, silver fir oil, silver fir cone oil, elemi oil, eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, pine needle oil, galbanum oil, geranium oil, ginger grass oil, guaiac wood oil, Indian wood oil, helichrysum oil, ho oil, ginger oil, iris oil, cajeput oil, sweet flag oil, camomile oil, camphor oil, canaga oil, cardamom oil, cassia oil, Scotch fir oil, copaiba balsam oil, coriander oil, spearmint oil, caraway oil, cumin oil, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, limette oil, mandarin oil, melissa oil, amber seed oil, myrrh oil, clove oil, neroli oil, niaouli oil, olibanum oil, orange oil, origanum oil, palmarosa oil, patchouli oil, Peru balsam oil, petit grain oil, pepper oil, peppermint oil, pimento oil, pine oil, rose oil, rosemary oil, sandalwood oil, celery seed oil, lavender spike oil, Japanese anise oil, turpentine oil, thuja oil, thyme oil, verbena oil, vetiver oil, juniper berry oil, wormwood oil, wintergreen oil, ylang-ylang oil, ysop oil, cinnamon oil, cinnamon leaf oil, citronella oil, citrus oil and cypress oil.
However, relatively high-boiling or solid perfumes of natural or synthetic origin may also be used in accordance with the invention as firmly adhering perfumes or perfume mixtures. These compounds include those mentioned in the following and mixtures thereof: ambrettolide, xcex1-amyl cinnamaldehyde, anethole, anisaldehyde, anisalcohol, anisole, methyl anthranilate, acetophenone, benzyl acetone, benzaldehyde, ethyl benzoate, benzophenone, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl formate, benzyl valerate, borneol, bornyl acetate, xcex1-bromostyrene, n-decyl aldehyde, n-dodecyl aldehyde, eugenol, eugenol methyl ether, eucalyptol, farnesol, fenchone, fenchyl acetate, geranyl acetate, geranyl formiate, heliotropin, methyl heptyne carboxylate, heptaldehyde, hydroquinone dimethyl ether, hydroxycinnamaldehyde, hydroxycinnamyl alcohol, indole, irone, isoeugenol, isoeugenol methyl ether, isosafrol, jasmone, camphor, carvacrol, carvone, p-cresol methyl ether, coumarin, p-methoxyacetophenone, methyl-n-amyl ketone, methyl anthranilic acid methyl ester, p-methyl acetophenone, methyl chavicol, p-methyl quinoline, methyl-xcex2-naphthyl ketone, methyl-n-nonyl acetaldehyde, methyl-n-nonyl ketone, muskone, xcex2-naphthol ethyl ether, xcex2-naphthol methyl ether, nerol, nitrobenzene, n-nonyl aldehyde, nonyl alcohol, n-octyl aldehyde, p-oxyacetophenone, pentadecanolide, xcex2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, phenyl acetaldehyde dimethyl acetal, phenyl acetic acid, pulegone, safrol, isoamyl salicylate, methyl salicylate, hexyl salicylate, cyclohexyl salicylate, santalol, scatol, terpineol, thymene, thymol, xcex3-undecalactone, vanillin, veratrum aldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, ethyl cinnamate, benzyl cinnamate.
The more readily volatile perfumes include, in particular, the relatively low-boiling perfumes of natural or synthetic origin which may be used either individually or in the form of mixtures. Examples of more readily volatile perfumes are alkyl isothiocyanates (alkyl mustard oils), butanedione, limonene, linalool, linalyl acetate and propionate, menthol, menthone, methyl-n-heptenone, phellandrene, phenyl acetaldehyde, terpinyl acetate, citral, citronellal.
In addition to the above-mentioned constituents of the substantially water-free premix, other ingredients may be introduced into the process according to the invention in small quantities of 1 to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 5% by weight and more preferably 1 to 2% by weight, based on the premix. These substances may be used to color the perfume beads or to provide them with certain performance properties. However, it is also possible to add detergent ingredients of which the incorporation is normally attended by process-related disadvantages. Thus, substances normally used in small quantities, such as optical brighteners, phosphonates, dye transfer inhibitors, etc., are subsequently incorporated. By introducing these substances into the process according to the invention, perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, which contain other active substances and which may therefore be introduced into detergents as a perfume and active compound, are obtained. Moeover, an additional process step in the production of detergents is saved in this way.
In other embodiments, the present invention relates to the use of perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, with bulk densities above 700 g/l produced by the process according to the invention by granulation or press agglomeration of a solid and substantially water-free premix of
a) 65 to 95% by weight of carrier(s),
b) 0 to 10% by weight of auxiliary(ies) and
c) 5 to 25% by weight of perfume
for perfuming detergents.
In another embodiment, therefore, the present invention relates to detergents containing perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, produced in accordance with the invention in quantities of more than 0.5% by weight, preferably in quantities of more than 1% by weight and more preferably in quantities of more than 2% by weight, based on the detergent.
The perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, produced in accordance with the invention may be incorporated in standard detergents where they are used as described above for perfuming the detergents. However, the perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, produced in accordance with the invention may also be offered separately as part of a building block system whereby the consumer acquires a perfume-free basic detergent and can then add various perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, in order in this way to be able to chose from the range of perfume variants, depending on the nature of the treated laundry.
If the possibility described above of incorporating small quantities of other substances in the premix is used, detergents consisting of at least two compounds can be produced with the aid of the perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, produced in accordance with the invention, the perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, being one of those compounds. In this case, the constituents of the detergents which are not present at all or are not present in sufficient quantities in the perfume shaped bodies may be mixed with the perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, in the form of one or more compounds. In another embodiment, therefore, the present invention relates to detergents produced by mixing at least two compounds, at least one compound consisting of perfume shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, with bulk densities above 700 g/l which have been produced by granulation or press agglomeration of a solid and substantially water-free premix of 65 to 95% by weight of carrier(s), 0 to 10% by weight of auxiliary(ies), 5 to 25% by weight of perfume and 1 to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 5% by weight and more preferably 1 to 2% by weight of one or more substances from the group of dyes, optical brighteners, complexing agents, dye transfer inhibitors, enzymes and soil-release polymers.
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for applying perfumes to laundry in a washing machine by adding perfume-containing shaped bodies, more particularly perfume beads, in the rinse cycle, characterized in that shaped bodies with bulk densities above 700 g/l produced by the process according to the invention by granulation or press agglomeration of a solid and substantially water-premix of
a) 65 to 95% by weight of carrier(s),
b) 0 to 10% by weight of auxiliary(ies) and
c) 5 to 25% by weight of perfume
are added to the wet laundry in the wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing process.


A method includes associating an e-mail address with a media device at a server of a television network. The media device is associated with the television network and the e-mail address is associated with a network device outside of the television network. The method includes receiving, at the server, an e-mail message directed to the e-mail address. The method also includes sending an e-mail notification from the server to the media device responsive to receipt of the e-mail message. The e-mail notification indicates whether the e-mail message includes an attachment. The e-mail notification permits the media device to provide notification of the e-mail message and an indication of whether the e-mail message includes an attachment to an output device coupled to the media device.

Television viewing is part of daily life. Many individuals prefer not be interrupted while watching television, but they may desire to monitor telephone calls and other forms of communication, for example, in case of an emergency or to avoid reviewing a large number of new messages at a future time. Nonetheless, the integration of communications with television viewing is uncommon. Technical compatibilities pose challenges when integrating conventional telephone and television networks, in addition to data networks, such as the Internet or wireless networks.
Systems that allow a user to access a store of messages from a television do not provide notifications of communications as they occur. They also typically require that the user interrupt television programming. Moreover, these systems provide, at most, message header information, such as a source or time of a message. This header information does not allow a user to monitor the actual content recorded by a sender of the message. Thus, users often cannot accurately assess—based on the limited header information—whether they should interrupt their television viewing to answer a call or make contact with a party who has left a voice or e-mail message.

System and method of delivering notifications


The present invention relates to a novel hydroxyl pyranone compound, a method for producing same, and a cosmetic composition having the compound. The hydroxyl pyranone compound according to the present invention exhibits markedly improved effectiveness compared to the conventional adipocyte differentiation-promoting material, and thus is preferably included as an active ingredient in a cosmetic composition for increasing skin volume or elasticity.

The basic structure of the skin is maintained by subcutaneous adipose tissue. The subcutaneous adipose tissue plays a critical role in maintaining the volume and strength of the skin. Accordingly, in order to maintain and improve the volume and elasticity of the skin, increasing the volume of the adipose tissue rather than imparting the elasticity to the dermis or epidermis in the outer layer of the skin can be a fundamental solution.
Specifically, as the aging of the human body progresses, wrinkles are generated on the skin, and at the same time, the elasticity of the skin is also reduced. The aging of the skin, such as wrinkle formation and decreased elasticity, is a complex phenomenon caused by the decrease in the activity of adipocytes or hence the decrease in lipid droplets along with the degradation and reduction of skin fibers such as collagen and elastin, which are skin components. Therefore, if the lipid droplets can be produced and accumulated by promoting adipocyte differentiation in humans, the wrinkles and elasticity of the skin can be improved.
Recently, upon reviewing various research trends using adipocytes, currently, studies using adipocytes have been actively conducted in a variety of fields including studies for increasing the volume feel and elasticity of the skin. Among them, preadipocytes are widely used because they have the property of differentiating into adipocytes by differentiation inducers such as insulin.
Particularly, among these preadipocytes, mesenchymal stem cells for adipocytes have recently received attention. Since adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells can be differentiated using methods similar to those used to differentiate preadipocytes into adipocytes (Exp. Cell Res. 2006, 312, 1856-1864), they are widely used in the study of adipocyte differentiation (Science 1999, 284, 143-146). In addition, such adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells are known to be able to differentiate not only into adipocytes but also into other types of cells such as chondrocytes and bone cells (J. Cell Sci. 2006, 119, 2204-2213), and are distributed in most tissues of the body, and thus are thought to be infinitely useful.
In the meantime, various attempts have been made to promote the differentiation of adipocytes in order to improve the volume and elasticity of the skin. According to the results of such previous studies, it has been reported that cinnamic acid compounds show adipocyte differentiation promoting effect. In addition, there has been a report that hydroxyl pyranone derivatives including cinnamic acid mother nucleus significantly increase adipocyte differentiation promoting effect compared to cinnamic acid. In this regard, it was confirmed that as a result of analyzing the structural active correlations of various derivatives, the double bond of cinnamic acid plays an important role.
However, since the effect of increasing the volume and elasticity of the skin in the human body, when incorporating these materials for promoting adipocyte differentiation into actual cosmetic compositions, etc. was still insufficient, it has been difficult for consumers to obtain maximum satisfaction related to the use of cosmetic composition.
Accordingly, it was necessary to develop a material for promoting adipocyte differentiation with improved efficacy.

Hydroxyl pyranone compound, method for producing same, and cosmetics composition comprising compound


A tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine represented by the following formula (2):

Amino acids in which amino groups or carboxyl groups are protected with protecting groups are commonly used in production of pharmaceutical bulk drugs and intermediates such as peptides. A tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine is one of important raw material compounds in production of a peptide comprising an arginine as a component.
A method for obtaining a tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine has been reported in which a commercially available arginine is dissolved in an aqueous NaOH solution, and reacted by adding carbobenzoxy chloride and NaOH to convert the arginine into a tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine sodium salt, thereafter filtration is performed to obtain the tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine sodium salt, the tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine sodium salt is neutralized using sulfuric acid, and then extracted with ethyl acetate to synthesize a tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine (Non-Patent Document 1).
However, in the above-mentioned method, a solid is precipitated in an aggregated form in the middle stage of the reaction, so that handling is difficult for production on an industrial scale. In addition, in the above-mentioned method, a di-carbobenzoxy-arginine remains at the end of the reaction, and therefore the yield is markedly reduced. Further, in the above-mentioned method, filtration of the tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine sodium salt is performed several times, but the filtration characteristic is very poor. Thus, the method has a major problem in production on an industrial scale.

Method for producing tri-carbobenzoxy-arginine

Abstract: is produced by carbobenzoxylating the arginine or arginine derivative (1) represented by the following formula (1), or a salt thereof:

Abstract: by adding carbobenzoxy chloride and a base in a water/organic solvent bilayer system to an arginine or arginine derivative (1) represented by the formula (1), or a salt thereof.


The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for crushing material of different grain sizes, particularly an air-swept mill. From the method standpoint there is a regulation of the fluid feed flow in the vicinity of a blade ring and with adjustable reinforcing cladding segments, so that grinding material particle flows are moved in a flow envelope, particularly in a hyperboloid torus. From the apparatus standpoint, stationary and adjustable reinforcing cladding segments are arranged as a function of the grinding rollers rolling on a grinding pan. Using adjusting devices, acting on connecting areas of the reinforcing cladding segments, it is possible to bring about a horizontal or radial adjustment and/or an inclination adjustment of the reinforcing cladding segments for regulating the fluid feed flow from the outside and in continuous manner during a crushing process.

An air-swept mill as a crushing or comminuting device is known from DE-AS 1152297. In this air-swept mill an annular space with a blade ring is bounded by a casing wall with a reinforcing cladding as a protection against wear and a grinding surface or track with a weir. The outlet cross-section of the flow channels or ducts and the radial width of the annular space are constant and predetermined by the fixed, annular reinforcing cladding and the stationary weir. A hydraulic influencing of the feed flow is to be made possible by interchangeable blades with a clearly defined surface curvature.
Another known air-swept mill in the form of a flexible roller mill is known from German patent 189,039 and has an annular space, a weir on the grinding ring and a reinforcing cladding-like baffle wall. In order to concentrate the grinding material and fluid on the gaps between the grinding rollers, guide blades are fixed close to the centre of the grinding pan and to the casing wall. A cover ring and the baffle wall on the casing wall cover an annular space up to opening areas, which are radially adjacent to the grinding rollers. The grinding material fluid flow is deflected into the interior of the grinding chamber and below the grinding rollers. As a result of the high flow rate and the deflections turbulence occurs in the overall flow, which in the same way as inhomogeneities of the grinding bed has a disadvantageous influence on the energy balance and the effectiveness of the method and apparatus.
DE 31 34 601 C2 described an air-swept mill, in which the fluid flow is guided with the aid of feed elements to the points at which the ground material occurs. The feed elements have horizontal legs of varying length and are in each case positioned between two blades of the blade ring.
DE-OS 23 09 900 discloses an air-swept mill, whose reinforcing cladding comprises segments which can be placed on one another. Each segment is detachably fixed with two screw elements and has two upper and lower, in each case differently inclined trapezoidal surfaces as wearing surfaces. By a 180.degree. turn about the longitudinal axis or the vertical axis an unworn surface and edge can be exposed to the feed flow. Turning about the longitudinal axis simultaneously brings about a modified, e.g. sharper deflection of the feed flow and the grinding material particles hurled into the annular space. However, the turning is time-consuming and leads to down-times, giving rise to an increase in operating costs. If only individual reinforcing cladding segments are turned for a local sharper deflection of the feed flow and are in this way adjusted, turbulence of the fluid particle flows can lead to pressure fluctuations in the grinding--classifying chamber and to inhomogeneities in the vicinity of the grinding bed, which impair the grinding capacity.
The known methods and apparatuses provide for an influencing of the grinding process with the aid of a fluid flow, which is deflected with a corresponding speed in a predetermined direction, particularly in the direction of or between the grinding rollers. For deflection purposes use is made of static means, which can only be modified after interrupting the grinding process and by dismantling or reconstruction.
The complex processes in the air-swept mill, the fact that the different parameters are dependent on one another, the influence on the grinding bed and the particle size distribution are only inadequately taken into account, so that the grinding capacity, energy consumption, fine-grain fraction, etc., cannot achieve optimum values.

Method and apparatus for crushing material of different grain size


A radial plunger type pump includes a housing, an eccentric cam shaft rotatably supported by the housing, a pair of bearings for supporting the cam shaft in the housing, a radial plunger reciprocally disposed in a cylinder of the housing and reciprocating within the cylinder of the housing in accordance with the eccentric rotation of a cam portion of the eccentric cam shaft. The pump further includes a pair of counterweights disposed in spaces provided between the bearings and the cam portion of the eccentric cam shaft, the pair of counterweights including a counterweight portion for balancing the rotation of the eccentric cam shaft and washer portion for preventing the plunger from axial movement wherein the counterweight portion and and washer portion are integrally secured and wherein the counterweights are engaged with the eccentric cam shaft for preventing the relative rotation therewith.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a radial plunger type pump and more particularly to radial plunger type pump which has a counterweight for balancing the rotation of the eccentric cam shaft of the pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional radial plunger type pump is disclosed in FIG. 7. An eccentric cam shaft 33 is pivotally supported by pump housing 30 by bearing means 31 and 32 and plunger 35 is slidably provided in the cylinder 36 of the housing 30 to reciprocate within the cylinder 36 by the rotation of the cam shaft 33. For balancing the rotation, a pair of counterweight 37 are secured to the cam shaft 33 and disposed between the cam portion 34 and the bearings 31 and 32. The counterweights also serve as washers for preventing the axial movement of the cam shaft 33.
The counterweights are secured to the cam shaft by bolts and it may be difficult to change the weight of the counterweights for adjusting the rotation of the cam shaft 33 or may be damaged by the bolts during the repetitive use.

Radial plunger type pump with counter weight and washer integrally secured


An electronic control unit starts shift initial oil pressure control after the completion of lockup initial oil pressure control when shift control is performed during the performance of lockup control, the electronic control unit starts shift initial oil pressure control after the completion of lockup initial oil pressure control. Besides, the electronic control unit places priority on the shift control and starts the lockup initial oil pressure control after the completion of the shift initial oil pressure control, when the lockup control is performed during the performance of the shift control. Therefore, the shift initial oil pressure control and the lockup initial oil pressure control are prevented from occurring at the same time when the shift control and the lockup control are performed at the same time.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a control apparatus for a vehicle and a control method for the vehicle that perform lockup control for controlling the engagement pressure of a lockup clutch, and shift control for controlling the engagement pressures of hydraulic engagement devices in shifting a transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known an oil pressure control apparatus that is designed for a vehicular power transmission device equipped with a lockup clutch-equipped fluid-type transmission device and a transmission and that performs lockup control for controlling the engagement pressure of the lockup clutch and shift control for controlling the engagement pressures of hydraulic engagement devices in shifting the transmission. For instance, an oil pressure control apparatus for a vehicular power transmission device that is equipped with a lockup clutch-equipped torque converter and a continuously variable transmission described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-209942 (JP 2010-209942 A) is such an example. In the oil pressure control apparatus for the vehicular power transmission device of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-209942 (JP 2010-209942 A), the lockup clutch is released when an amount of change in accelerator opening degree exceeds a predetermined value during lockup control so that a shift is swiftly started.

Control apparatus for vehicle and control method for vehicle


A method for performing a fracture operation. A log of a formation parameter is obtained for a formation surrounding a wellbore in which the fracture operation is to be implemented. A relation is determined between the formation parameter and a parameter of the fracture operation. A value of the parameter of the fracture operation is selected based on the relation and a value of the formation parameter.

In fracture operations performed on a formation or reservoir, a frac fluid is introduced into a wellbore penetrating the formation in order to break or fracture the formation, allowing an increased production of formation fluid from the formation. The hydrocarbons output from the wellbore depends on several parameters, such as a geometry of the fracture operation or equipment and a frac schedule. The geometry parameters include, for example, a spacing between wellbores, a location of a fracking stage, a spacing between fracking stages, stage length, etc. The frac schedule parameters can include a pump rate, a pump pressure, a proppant type, proppant mass, proppant concentration, etc. The hydrocarbons output from the formation can be maximized or increase by knowing how to set these parameters.

Integrated data driven platform for completion optimization and reservoir characterization


This pneumatic tire has a tread part partitioned by four main grooves into a center land part, an outer intermediate land part, an inner intermediate land part, an outer shoulder land part, and an inner shoulder land part. The center land part is formed with center lug grooves in which the installation outer side is narrower than the installation inner side. The outer intermediate land part is wider than the inner intermediate land part, and the outer shoulder land part is wider than the inner shoulder land part. In the outer (inner) intermediate land part, outer (inner) intermediate first lug grooves which communicate with the main grooves on both sides, and outer (inner) intermediate second lug grooves which communicate only with the main groove on the outside (inside) in the tire width direction are alternatingly arranged in the tire circumferential direction.

A pneumatic tire is normally provided with a carcass ply laid across a pair of bead cores, a belt layer arranged on the tire radial outer side of the carcass ply, and a tread part arranged on the tire radial outer side of the belt layer.
In addition, a tread pattern of the tread part is devised in various ways (see Patent Literature 1) in order to improve various tire performance such as drainage efficiency, operation stability, a traction property and a braking property


Apparatus for increasing resolution of cryogenically cooled vacuum-sealed infrared imaging detector. A two-dimensional detector array of photosensitive pixels is successively exposed to an image scene, acquiring multiple imaging samples. A masking filter, disposed between the detector array and image scene focal plane, is maintained at a fixed position with respect to the detector array, and reduces the region of pixels collecting incident radiation for each imaging sample such that only a portion of each pixel area of the image scene is imaged onto the corresponding detector array pixel. Shifting means successively shifts the optical path of the image scene relative to the masking filter, by a shifting increment or fill-factor reduction amount equal to a fraction of the array pixel width, to image different sub-pixel regions in each imaging sample. A processor reconstructs an image frame having a resolution greater than the intrinsic detector resolution by the fill-factor reduction amount.

An infrared (IR) image detector forms an image by detecting radiation in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the imaged scene. A passive infrared detector operates by measuring the infrared radiation emitted by the sources, particularly thermal energy in the far infrared range, as opposed to active IR detectors which first illuminates the objects with IR radiation and then captures the reflections of the illuminations. The inherent spatial resolution of a detector with a two-dimensional matrix array is a function of the size and number of pixels within the array (the pixel density). For many types of image sensors, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based or charge-coupled device (CCD)-based sensors, it is fairly straightforward to increase the resolution by adding more pixels within a fixed space and/or decreasing pixel size in the array. However, for IR sensors such an approach would be prohibitively difficult and expensive. Furthermore, IR detectors are prone to receiving scarce light (particularly with passive IR detectors), and usually requires manipulations or treatment in order to enhance the amount of radiation collected by the detector to enable effective imaging in the IR wavelength range.
U.K. Patent No. 2,270,230 to Hirose, entitled "Two dimensional image detector", discloses masking the pixels of a sensor array such that a subdivided region is imaged by each pixel. A mask is provided in opposition to a surface of the sensor array, where the mask includes windows having a smaller area than the array pixels. A mask shifter changes the positions of the windows at pitches smaller than those between the pixels. Light passing through the mask window and into each pixel in the sensor array is divided into a desired number of subdivisions as the mask changes position, thus increasing the spatial resolution of the image relative to the pixel size. The mask may be implemented via a metal mask or via electronic manipulation of a substance having polarizing characteristics, such as liquid crystals.
European Patent No. 1,198,119 to Parsons, entitled "Improved resolution for an electric image sensor array", discloses introducing a partially occluding mask/light source between the sensor array and the image. Resolution improvement is obtained by displacement between the array and the mask/light source and calculating grey scale values for the improved resolution from the different changes in the charges of the individual array sensors.
PCT Application Publication No. 98/46007 to Bone, entitled "Imaging system and method", is directed to improving the resolution of a charge coupled device having a two-dimensional array of light sensitive detector elements. Discrete areas of each detector element are sequentially masked with an apertured opaque mask chosen so as to allow for square (n×n) arrays of aperture elements for each detector and so that the apertures can be arranged as an embedded set which facilitate hierarchical refinement of the resolution.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,682 to Wu et al, entitled "Resolution enhancement by multiple scanning with a low-resolution, two-dimensional sensor array", is directed to high-resolution imaging with low-resolution two-dimensional imagers whose sensors are only a fraction of a selected pixel area. Sensors are stepped across an image with an optical or mechanical stepper to acquire an image at each sensor position. Multiple images are obtained from individual sensors, which have a sensed area substantially less than the area of the pixels of the sensor array. The rescanning is accomplished by movable mirrors or lenses that are disposed between an illuminated specimen and a sensor area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,685 to Dumas, entitled "Device to enhance imaging resolution", is directed to improving resolution of a Focal Plane Array (FPA) image sensor with microscanning methodology. A mask having a checkerboard pattern of opaque and transparent areas is located in front of and adjacent to the FPA onto which an image of a scene is optically focused. The mask and FPA are displaced with respect to each other in a number of micro-steps that extend in the same direction as the columns/rows of the FPA grid. The micro-steps are of equal lengths and are each a fraction of the length of a detector element. Opaque areas of the mask progressively cover equal areas of detector elements in discrete steps for each micro-step movement in one direction at the same time as transparent areas of the mask progressively uncover equal areas of other detector elements for each discrete step. Outputs from the detector elements provide signals for sample slices of the scene for each micro-step, and an image of the scene is reconstructed from the signals.

Infrared detector with increased image resolution and method for use thereof


The invention relates to novel compounds of the formula (I)

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel fused bicyclic heterocycle derivatives of the formula (I), to their use as acaricides and/or insecticides for controlling animal pests, particularly arthropods and especially insects and arachnids, and to processes and intermediates for their preparation.
Description of Related Art
Fused bicyclic heterocycle derivatives having insecticidal properties have already been described in the literature, for example in WO 2010/125985, WO 2012/074135, WO 2012/086848, WO 2013/018928, WO 2013/191113, WO 2014/142292, WO 2014/148451, WO 2015/000715, EP 15191440.5, EP 15197267.6 and EP 16152384.0.
However, the active compounds already known according to the documents cited above have some disadvantages on application, whether because they exhibit only a narrow range of application or because they do not have satisfactory insecticidal or acaricidal activity.

Fused bicyclic heterocycle derivatives as pesticides

Abstract: in which R1, R2, R3, Q and n have the meanings given above,    to their use as acaricides and/or insecticides for controlling animal pests and to processes and intermediates for their preparation.


A semiconductor component including at least one planar PN junction formed between a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region, zone guard rings surrounding the first region and surrounded by the second region in order to improve the reverse-current behavior of the PN junction, and a third semiconductor region having the same conductivity type as the second region, but having a higher doping concentration than the latter provided in the second region preceding the respective edges of the guard rings on the side of the PN junction. Typically the third region is doped such that with the PN junction polarized in the blocking direction, at least one point in the third region remains at zero field strength. Additionally provided is a fourth semiconductor region between the guard rings and between the guard ring closest the PN junction and the PN junction, which has the same conductivity type as the second region, but a lesser doping concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to semiconductor components having at least one planar PN junction, and more particularly to such components further having rings which are intended to effect an improvement in the reverse-current behavior of the PN junction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such semiconductor components of the type noted above described, for example, in the book by A. Blicher, "Thyristor Physics", Springer, New York 1976, pages 231-241. These known components have the disadvantage, however, that with reverse voltages greater or equal to 2 kV a plurality of guard rings are required which use up a correspondingly large portion of the active area of the component.

Semiconductor component with at least one planar PN junction and zone guard rings


A message hub is provided for use in a message communication system having a plurality of nodes connected to the message hub by a data communication medium for inter-node messaging. The message hub operates in a scheduling phase and a transmission phase. In the scheduling phase, request receiving means receives a messaging request signal is received from each node. In accordance with the messaging request signal, selecting means selects a selected node in the scheduling phase. Granting means generates a grant signal to the selected node for allowing the selected node to transmit a message to the message hub on the data communication medium. The granting means also generates a listen signal to the other nodes for commanding the other nodes to listen to the data communication medium. The message hub enters in the transmission phase in which message receiving means receives a message transmitted from the selected node on the data communication medium. The message includes an end of message signal at the end of the message. The message is then broadcasted by broadcasting means to all nodes on the data communication medium so as to enter into the scheduling phase by broadcasting the end of message signal.

There are many of different Local Area Network (LAN) technologies. Ethernet is one of the most commonly used LAN technologies. Ethernet uses hub/bus topology. In those systems using bus topology, a plurality of processor based circuit packs or nodes share a common data communication medium, and accordingly, some form of mechanism is required for controlling access to the data communication medium by each node.
The medium access control protocol used by Ethernet is Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD), in which each node monitors the data communication medium and transmits a message when the medium is idle. If two or more nodes attempt to transmit at the same time, a collision occurs. If a collision is detected during the transmission, each node ceases transmission and re-transmit after waiting for random amount of time.
This CSMA/CD system works well while the medium is relatively quiet and there are relatively a few collisions occurring. However, when the medium becomes busy, excessive collisions reduce the overall throughput of the network. Although this system does not favour any node and all nodes can have access to the medium in theory, in worst cases, some nodes may not be able to access the medium due to excessive collisions.
In addition, Ethernet uses transformers to exchange data between nodes, which is extra circuitry not needed for intra system communication.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,395 issued on Dec. 26, 1995 to Goodman et al and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention discloses a serial bus system which operates in an arbitration or scheduling phase and a transmission phase. The system uses a set of four signals, an arbitration clock, a data clock, an arbitration signal and a slot signal. All nodes are connected to those four signals. In order to ensure equal access to all nodes wishing to transmit, each node is provided with an access control means which uses the arbitration signal to ensure only one node accesses the bus, and uses the slot signal to identify the point at which a node has "won" control of the bus so that the other nodes can "win" before the node which has "won". Use of four signals and the access control means add complexity in each node. Also, this system does not allow different levels of priority in transmission requests.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved message communication system which is simple and provides reliable access for each node to the medium, and which allows use of different levels of priority and easy communication with nodes in other network systems.


A data processing apparatus includes a circuit selector and a data processor. The circuit selector makes a selection, in data processing in which multiple unit processes are each selected and repeated, from a generalized circuit that executes the multiple unit processes and one of dedicated circuits that are each dedicated to a corresponding one of the unit processes, the selection being made repeatedly on a basis of a judgment made using continuous repeat counts each of which indicates how many times a corresponding one of the unit processes is continuously repeated. The data processor selectively configures one of the generalized circuit and the dedicated circuit that corresponds to one of results serially obtained from the selection repeatedly made by the circuit selector, the data processor performing the data processing.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and a data processing method.
(ii) Related Art
Data processing apparatuses have been widely used in various fields, and in particular, image processing apparatuses that process image data are a specific example of the data processing apparatuses.
Programmable devices such as programmable logic devices (PLDs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that enable reconfiguration of an internal circuit configuration have been widely used. General PLDs and FPGAs configure internal logic circuits when the circuits are activated; however, programmable devices capable of changing the logic circuit configuration while circuits are active have been developed. In particular, dynamically reconfigurable processors (DRPs) capable of dynamically changing the internal logic circuit configuration have been increasingly used. For example, the use of the dynamic reconfiguration eliminates the need to physically change or add a circuit as hardware and enables change of the internal configuration of the reconfigurable circuit, and data processing appropriate for input data may thus be performed.

Data processing apparatus and data processing method