The invention is a one piece glove used as a sports aid to decrease slippage during grip, that is comprised of an elastomeric fabric component which fits precisely incorporating all the fingers of the hand; the wrist; and the thumb. The elastomeric fabric component is completely flexible not containing any rigid positional elements for the wrist or fingers. The palmar side of all the finger sleeves of the glove, as well as the palm of the glove have attached a silicone of prosthetic quality which is fused to the elastomeric fabric in such a fashion that all the external aspects of the finger sleeves facing the sports apparatus such as, but not limited to, a bowling ball, as well as the internal aspects facing the fingers are fused with the silicone. The surface of the palm of the glove is comprised of silicone and elastomeric fabric fused on the external aspect that contacts the bowling ball, and the internal aspect that contacts the palm itself. This construction of silicone fusion to elastomeric fabric greatly increases the ability of the bowler to grip the ball with less force because slippage is reduced. The adherence to the ball of the silicone plus its shock absorbing effect relative to the fingers allows greater "lift" and increased revolutions of the bowling ball upon ball release from the hand thus imparting greater energy applied to the pins upon impact.

Many bowling accessories have been developed represented by wrist splints, tape to be put into ball holes, towels, finger plugs which attach to the bowling ball, resin bags, and various skin adhesives all of which have the purpose of allowing the bowler better grip and control of the ball.
One particular bowling aid, the glove has had many attempts at introduction, but most have proved unsatisfactory. Prior art in gloves has usually attempted to combine in some way, a variation of a glove (with multiple finger sleeves, some of the sleeves open and some closed) and a wrist and/or forearm support stiffened by plates of some rigid substance as in the devices of Charles Robinson, Edward Patton, James Duggin, George Hollman, and Charles Purin. This combination of glove and wrist brace, was an attempt at controlling position of the hand and wrist in a straight line during delivery of the ball, for better ball control.
Attempts at decreasing impact to the bowler's hand by proponents of the glove plus wrist brace concept were made by inserting various foam pouches in the finger sleeves (Kenneth Mitchell), or by using a resilient pad in the palm or long and ring finger sleeves as in the inventions of Robert Krzewinski et al, Joseph Andolino, and Torrence Ingold.
An attempt at improving velocity of the bowling ball was made by Charles Purin with his invention comprised of a rigid wrist plate and a rigid hand plate with rigid projections to the fingers. Another attempt to increase ball velocity was made by placing a spring in the palmar pocket of a glove invented by Brigidi and Hebling.
Placing weights in a glove applied to the bowler's opposite free hand to provide counterbalance to the ball-holding hand was advocated by Lewis Wester.
An entirely different idea was put forth by another group of inventors who espoused that only finger covers and not gloves might help the control, grip, and delivery of the bowling ball. These finger covers were sometimes rigid in character (David Albert); were sometimes control loops or straps attached by proximal extensions to the hand (James Loafman, Albert Rasche); and in other devices the finger supports were attached to a glove via knobs to prevent overtaxing muscles (William Gooch). Some inventors created a finger support totally unattached proximally and used it to cover only the little finger of the bowling hand, predicated on the concept that during ball release the little finger support alone would center the ball in the palm and allow greater control (Paul Buneta).
None of the aforementioned devices have stood the test of time. Only two gloves produced by Ebonite and AMF have had only fair success to date. The Ebonite example of prior art termed the Ultra-Gripper.TM. has a sprayed-on Tackified.TM. substance placed onto thin soft leather which must be rejuvenated weekly by washing the glove with soap and water. The soft thin leather offers no protection to the joints or skin of the bowler, particularly the young and elderly bowler, whose joints and skin are particularly prone to injury. The Ebonite glove fails to provide shock absorbency to the joints. The AMF glove has a rough surface rubber palm and finger section without splinting benefit to the index or little fingers and offers no direct benefit to the skin other than a claim of being "breatheable".
The present invention attempts to deal with the shortcomings of prior art in a different, yet simple way, by fusing a prosthetic quality silicone onto an elastomeric fabric such as, but not limited to, spandex-nylon. Silicone has not previously been used in the manner in which it is employed in the present invention. Silicone has been incorporated into tubular plugs which are then glued into the bowling ball holes themselves, but the manner and method of use in the present invention are completely different.
Silicone is generally thought of as a lubricating substance rather than a shear force resisting substance, the property of which being easily illustrated by placing a flat piece of "cured" prosthetic silicone on any polished table top and then trying to move the piece of silicone sideways along the tabletop using one or two fingers. One instantly finds that the piece of silicone resists movement and appears to stick to the tabletop. The "cured" prosthetic silicone also has the ability to be compressed, and itself to be slightly elastic which allows for a significant degree of shock impact absorbancy depending on the firmness of which the silicone is "cured" based on the Shore durometer system of firmness rating. Also of significant importance is the fact that stiffness of the device may be controlled by using the appropriate silicone of higher Shore durometer rating plus, applying multiple coatings of the silicone in its "pre-cured" state to form the device.
Because of improved grip and control that the present invention allows the bowler to impart to the bowling ball, the bowler is able to throw or deliver a lighter weight ball with greater velocity thus employing a greater kinetic energy to strike the pins as the kinetic energy is represented by the formula:
KE=1/2 MV.sup.2 where PA1 KE=Kinetic Energy PA1 M=Mass or Weight of the bowling ball PA1 V=Velocity
which clearly shows that the greatest increase in kinetic energy comes from the velocity with which the ball is thrown raised to the 2nd power or squared.
Also, it has been recently shown medically, that "cured" silicone when in contact with the skin, has the ability to soften the skin and reduce scar formation. Sheets of this type of silicone are being used at the present time as post-surgical dressings to control the scarification process. The present invention contains a thin coating of silicone inside the finger sleeves of the glove, purposely contacting the skin of the fingers and palm in order to prevent or decrease callous formation, nail splitting and separation, and deformity.
Thus by addressing all the important factors of ball handling such as grip, control, impact, velocity, and hand protection,--the present invention sets itself uniquely apart from all prior art.


Disclosed herein is a system and method for notifying a person that they have become separated from their mobile communication device. A comparison between location information for the device and presence information for the person is used to determine whether or not a separation exists. Certain corrective actions are possible in order to mitigate the consequences of the separation. A separation may be allowed to exist within a certain maximum allowable distance of separation without the system or method notifying the person.

Mobile devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and laptop computers are widely used for the many benefits they provide. The portability of these devices allows a person greater levels of connectivity. A cellular telephone, for example, can be carried allowing a person to send and receive telephone calls. A personal digital assistant can be used to send and receive email or instant messages. A laptop can be used at a wireless hot spot to send and receive electronic communications such as instant messages and email.
These devices, while providing the convenience of mobile communication, can be lost, stolen or forgotten. For instance, a person may leave a cellular phone behind when leaving the house or a laptop computer may be stolen. In some instances a person may not realize that they have become separated from their mobile device. As a result, communications directed to the device can be missed, resulting in perhaps a loss of productivity or missed opportunities.
Prior art solutions to the problem of being separated from a mobile communication device include periodically calling a voice mail box to check for messages or traveling back to the last known location of the mobile device. These solutions can be an inconvenience, as they may involve unwanted travel and time commitments. In addition, these prior art solutions do not provide an indication that a person has become separated from a mobile device. Accordingly, it would be desirable for a person to be automatically notified that he or she has become separated from his or her phone or other communication device and possibly to be provided with options for taking corrective actions that mitigate the consequences of the separation.

Method and apparatus for notifying a user of separation from a mobile device


A reaction chamber arrangement is provided, the reaction chamber arrangement including a first chemical reaction chamber; a second chemical reaction chamber; an isolation member between the first chemical reaction chamber and the second chemical reaction chamber, wherein a first electrode is mounted on a first side of the isolation member, an exposed surface of the first electrode facing into the first chemical reaction chamber and wherein a second electrode is mounted on a second side of the isolation member, an exposed surface of the second electrode facing into the second chemical reaction chamber; and an electronic component configured to measure or control at least one of the first chemical reaction chamber and the second chemical reaction chamber, wherein the electronic component is arranged between and connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least partially surrounded by an isolation material of the isolation member.

Currently, circuits, e.g. sensor circuits, e.g. battery circuits, e.g. lead acid batteries, may be monitored or controlled by an electrical circuit, e.g. an external electrical circuit. Most electrical systems may include electronic control units that check the battery status, control the charging process, and generally try to elongate the battery lifetime as long as possible. The monitoring or control units may be spatially separated from the battery. In other words, the electrical circuits may not be integrated within the battery cell, but may instead be situated outside the battery cell, as shown in FIG. 1. For example, batteries, e.g. Li Po batteries which may be used for model building and mobile applications, may currently be controlled by a system in package solution. A battery cell 102 and separate control electronics 104 may be packed together in a package. Current control units 104 may oversee and control the whole battery pack but not individual cells of the battery pack. The current electronic control units may be arranged outside of the battery system, for example, in the case of Li—Po batteries, the control units may be closely packed beside the battery arrangement.

Reaction chamber arrangement and a method for forming a reaction chamber arrangement


Described herein are systems, methods, and software to manage replay windows in multipath connections between gateways. In one implementation, a first gateway may receive a packet directed toward a second gateway and identify a path from a plurality of paths to the second gateway. Once identified, the first gateway may increment a sequence number associated with the path and encapsulate the packet with a unique identifier for the path in the header with the incremented sequence number. The first gateway the communicates the encapsulated packet to the second gateway.

In computing networks, gateways are used to provide connectivity between different computing sites or datacenters. These gateways may be used to implement network address translation, encapsulation, encryption, firewalls, and a secure virtual private network (VPN) tunnel based on a security protocol such as Internet Protocol Security (IPsec). The computers at each of the computing sites may include physical computing systems, such as desktop computing systems, servers, and the like, and may further include virtual computing systems, such as virtual machines, containers, and the like.
In some implementations, a connection between two gateways may be possible using multiple paths, wherein each of the paths can use a different combination of one or more forwarding devices such as routers to provide the connection. These different paths may provide varying latency, bandwidth, packet drop rates, and other connection characteristics between the gateways. However, while one may improve a connection's characteristics by selecting and using different paths between gateways, difficulties can arise in managing secure connections between the gateways. For example, sequence numbers that prevent replay attacks and other attacks on the connection can be disrupted when multiple paths are used between the gateways.
Overview
The technology disclosed herein manages replay windows associated with multipath connections between gateways. In one implementation, a method of operating a first gateway includes receiving a packet having a security protocol header from a second gateway and identifying a unique path identifier a sequence number associated with the unique path identifier in the security protocol header. The method further provides determining whether a value of the sequence number is within a replay window and a window update buffer associated with the unique path identifier. Based at least in part on whether the value of the sequence number is within the replay window and the window update buffer associated with the unique path identifier, dropping the packet, or subjecting the packet to further ingress processing operations. In some implementations, the security protocol header may comprise an IPsec protocol header.

Managing replay windows in multipath connections between gateways


A removable artificial climbing hold comprising a molded or cast body having an opening for a threaded fastener to pass through, and safety means incorporated in the body around the opening to retain the debris in the event of the body breaking.

Removable climbing holds are designed for climbing training and exercises on a wall, on an artificial climbing surface, or on an individual apparatus.
All known removable holds are fixed to their support by means of a mechanical bolt. Such a bolt fixing system enables the climbing hold to be moved, rotated, removed or changed.
The holds are generally manufactured from molded resin material, and the presence of the hole for passage of the bolt in the middle area does however cause a weakening of the mechanical strength of the hold. When the bolt is tightened too tightly, or during the climber's climbing exercise, this type of hold can break. The bits of the broken hold are then liable to fall onto the people standing near the climbing wall. The climber hanging on to the broken hold is also likely to fall, and is further secured by the cord attached to its harness.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,327 describes a climbing hold which is capable of being securely fastened to a climbing wall without fracturing. A reinforcing sleeve is therefore secured within the aperture of the hold body, so as to support a portion of the fastener. The sleeve includes a tubular portion extending through the aperture, and radially extending end faces to prevent translation of said hold body when mounted to the climbing wall. The presence of this tubular sleeve cannot prevent the hold to break when the bolt is tightened too tightly.

Artificial climbing hold including a safety system


A nitrogen oxides-containing gas is contacted with a solid catalyst in the presence of methyl tert-butyl ether as a reducing agent for the conversion of the nitrogen oxides into molecular nitrogen. A supported catalyst including an alumina carrier having Pt, Rh or Ru supported thereon is desirably used as the solid catalyst.

This invention relates generally to prevention of air pollution and, more specifically, to a method of treating a nitrogen oxides-containing gas for the removal of the nitrogen oxides therefrom.
Serious problems are now caused by air pollution, especially by nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) discharged from internal combustion engines, boilers, nitric acid-related industries, etc. One known technique for the treatment of an NO.sub.x -containing waste gas includes a step of contacting the waste gas with a solid catalyst, such as a proton-type mordenite, in the presence of an organic compound, such as propane, as a reducing agent. The known technique, however, is not fully satisfactory with respect to NO.sub.x reducing efficiency.

Method of removing NO.sub.x from NO.sub.x -containing gas

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology


An adaptive networking device including a plurality of network ports operable at any one of a plurality of media standards, a bus and a first device coupled to the bus that communicatively couples to any of the network ports that operate at a first media standard in order to transfer data between the bus and network ports communicatively coupled to the first device. The adaptive networking device further includes a second device operable at a second media standard and including a link port, where the second device communicatively couples to any of the network ports that operate at the second media standard to transfer data between the link port and those network ports communicatively coupled to the second device. The adaptive networking device further includes a bridge that transfers data between the link port and the bus to enable communication between the first and second devices. The first device preferably establishes a switched domain and the second device preferably established a shared domain. The bridge preferably operates to enable communication between the switched and shared domains.

The present invention relates to the field of networking data devices, and more particularly to an adaptive networking device for enhancing performance of a hybrid networking system.
Ethernet is a shared-media network architecture defined in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standard, and is currently the most widely used architecture for local-area networks (LANs). Ethernet uses both bus and star topologies having nodes attached to a trunk segment, which is the main piece of cable in an Ethernet network. The 10Base-T is a communication protocol based on the IEEE 802.3 standard, which is a baseband 802.3-based Ethernet network that operates up to 10 Mbps (megabits per second), and uses unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable configured in a star topology. The 10Base-T protocol is also known as twisted-pair Ethernet or UTP Ethernet.
Another Ethernet standard has emerged, referred to as fast Ethernet or 100Base-T Ethernet, which includes implementations capable of 100 Mbps transmissions speeds over UTP or shielded twisted-pair (STP) and is defined in IEEE 802.3u. 100Base-T covers several physical media types, including 100Base-T4 and 100Base-TX using twisted-pair wires. Twisted-pair Ethernet networks typically use RJ-45 modular connectors or variations thereof. Other mediums are known, such as 10Base-F for fiber-optic cable, including fiber passive (FP), fiber link (FL) and fiber backbone (FB). Networks using fiber optic media operate in a similar manner as twisted-pair, but include appropriate fiber-optic cabling, connectors, and physical media interface devices.
Each node in the network is typically a computer of some type, such as a personal computer (PC), minicomputer, mainframe, or the like, where the computer generally includes a network interface card (NIC) for interfacing the computer to a network device, such as a hub, concentrator, repeater, router, bridge, switch, etc., to enable networking capabilities. In the present disclosure, each node or segment is associated with a network device or data terminal equipment (DTE), where each generally refers to any source or destination of data connected to any network system, such as a LAN or the like.
A network operating according to a given communications protocol may be expanded by using one or more repeaters. A repeater is a hardware device that functions at the physical layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model and includes several ports to connect two or more segments of the same network. In particular, a repeater receives packets or data from a node coupled to one port and re-transmits the packets or data to nodes attached to the other ports of the repeater. For example, a 10 Mbps repeater in a star configuration with six ports receives a data packet on one of its ports and repeats or re-transmits the message to the remaining five ports. One particular disadvantage of repeaters is a significant amount of extraneous data traffic, since data is repeated to all nodes even though usually intended for only one or a subset of the nodes.
A bridge is a hardware device which passes packets from one network to another. Bridges operate at the data-link layer of OSI Reference Model and makes several networks appear as a single network to higher level protocols or programs. A bridge serves both as a medium and as a filter, and it allows packets from a node on one network to be sent to a node on another network. At the same time, the bridge discards any packets intended for the originating network rather than passing these to the other network. A switch is a device that connects information coming in with an appropriate outlet. For example, the input may be packets and the outlet might be an Ethernet bus, such as in an Ethernet switch. A switch is similar in function to a multi-port bridge.
The advent of the 100 Mbps standard and a corresponding transition in the industry towards higher transmission rates often results in hybrid systems that service both 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps data devices. One particular product is the 28115 10/100 Ethernet Switch by Bay Networks. The 28115 switch has 16 ports, each capable of operating at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps switched. This particular product is relatively expensive since each port is capable of operating at 100 Mbps, where the port is simply throttled back when coupled to a 10 Mbps device. A device which is capable of switch functions at 100 Mbps is very expensive. Also, if several slower speed devices are connected to a single high speed device, such as a server, much of the high speed switch capability is wasted, resulting in an inefficient design.
As networks have evolved with a mix of data devices operating at different communication rates, hardware typically has to be modified and upgraded. It is desired to provide hybrid operation and to enable modifications or upgrades in a cost effective manner.
An adaptive networking device according to the present invention includes a plurality of network ports operable at any one of a plurality of media standards, a bus, and a first device coupled to the bus that communicatively couples to any of the network ports that operate at a first media standard in order to transfer data between the bus and network ports communicatively coupled to the first device. The adaptive networking device further includes a second device operable at a second media standard and including a link port, where the second device communicatively couples to any of the network ports that operate at the second media standard to transfer data between the link port and those network ports communicatively coupled to the second device. The adaptive networking device further includes a bridge that transfers data between the link port and the bus to enable communication between the first and second devices.
In an embodiment described herein, the first device operates as a network switch, the second device operates as a network repeater and the bridge operates as a switch for filtering communication between the link port and the bus. Each of the network ports includes media circuitry that detects a node coupled to a corresponding port and determines the media standard of the node. The media circuitry communicatively couples the corresponding network port to one of the first and second devices based on the determined media standard. In this manner, a network node that operates at the first media standard and that is coupled to the adaptive networking device via a network port is placed into a switched domain whereas a network node that operates at the second media standard is placed into a shared domain. The bridge enables communication between the switched and shared domains without substantially affecting the performance of either domain. In an embodiment described herein, the first media standard is 10BaseT Ethernet(trademark) operating at 10 megabits per second (Mbps) and the second media standard is 100BaseTX operating at 100 Mbps. The bus is implemented according to the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) standard and operates at a data transmission rate of approximately one gigabit per second (Gbps). The bridge preferably includes a second link port that operates as an uplink port for the adaptive networking device. The uplink port enables expansion of either one of the switched and shared domains. A management device may be coupled to the bus and the second device to provide management functionality. A memory device may also be provided and coupled to the management device.
The present invention contemplates the use of network components commercially available. In an alternative embodiment, the first device may instead be a plurality of switch modules coupled to the bus, where each couples to a respective subset of the network ports. Also, the second device may instead be first and second repeater modules, each coupled to respective first and second sets of the network ports. For example, the adaptive networking device may include 24 ports, where three switch modules handle eight ports each and two repeater modules handle 12 ports each. The switch modules each include bus interfaces for communicatively coupling to the bus. The bridge includes a bus interface for communicatively coupling to the bus and a MAC port for communicatively coupling to a corresponding MAC port of one of the repeater modules.

Adapting networking device for enhancing performance of a hybrid networking system

Compaq Information Technologies Group, Inc.


This circuit is a back terminated transmission line driver which dissipates no outgoing power across its back terminating resistor by using both a voltage source and a current source.

1. Field of Invention
Constant impedance transmission lines are used to move electrical signals. A transmission line is terminated at the receiving end by a resistor whose resistance is equal to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. This terminating resistance prevents reflection of the arriving signal. Imperfections in the transmission line also cause reflections. If the source does not have a resistance equal to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line, reflected signals, arriving at the source, are reflected toward the receiver. Reflected signals cause problems. To prevent these problems the resistance of the source is made equal to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line.
2. Description of Prior Art
A transmission line driver is a circuit that drives a transmission line having a characteristic impedance of Zo. Both the driver and receiver should have a characteristic resistance of R=Zo to minimize reflections on the transmission line. There are three prior art ways of designing a terminated line driver.
A voltage source of twice the output voltage is used in series with the driving resistor Ro. Half of the source voltage is lost in Ro and the power dissipated equals the output power. FIG. 1.
A second way is to use a current source with twice the output current and a source resistance to ground. Again, the power dissipated equals the output power. FIG. 2.
The third way is to use feedback to change the value of a resistance different from the characteristic impedance to Zo. U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,399 covers this technique.

Very high efficiency transmission line driver


A microwave level gauge for measuring a level of a process material in a tank includes a ceramic seal and a microwave conductor. The ceramic seal is disposed adjacent to an opening in the tank and adapted to isolate circuitry from the process material. The microwave conductor is electrically coupled to the circuitry and extends through the hermetic seal and into the process material in the tank. The ceramic seal and an isolating adapter cooperate to isolate the microwave conductor from the process fluid and from external forces.

The present invention relates to a microwave level gauge adapter having a thermal barrier for use with a tank level sensor.
Level gauges are generally used in the process control industry to measure the level of material contained in a tank. As used herein, the term "tank" refers to a container, receptacle, vessel or other device for holding gases, liquids or solids. Radar level gauges are often used to measure process fluids or process solid levels in tanks, where the process materials range from benign materials to severely corrosive or abrasive compounds.
One type of level gauge for measuring a level of material in a tank is called a microwave level gauge. Microwaves are high frequency, short wavelength, electromagnetic waves. Microwaves, because of their short wavelengths, tend to travel in straight lines. This property gives rise to their application in radar, where objects are detected by the reflection of microwaves.
Generally, microwave or radar level gauges transmit an electromagnetic pulse into the materials contained within the tank, and measure the level of the process materials using the reflected pulse. As used herein, the term "microwave" refers to a high-frequency electromagnetic wave. The term "microwave pulse" refers to a microwave signal of short duration that is transmitted on a microwave antenna or conductor. The terms "microwave antenna" and "microwave conductor", as used herein, refer to a conductive structure specifically designed to couple high-frequency electromagnetic energy (or to radiate electromagnetic energy). Typically, the microwave antenna or microwave conductor can both transmit and receive electromagnetic energy.
In a conduction waveguide assembly, the antenna typically extends from a transmitter assembly into the process materials. For example, a microwave pulse travels along the antenna, and is reflected back when the pulse encounters a material with a different dielectric constant. Generally, the pulse is affected by the change in the dielectric constant at the surface of the process material within the tank. Various techniques may be used to analyze the reflected microwave pulse (including, for example, time domain reflectometry).
Since the process materials within the tank tend to be corrosive and are often stored under pressure, there is a process seal positioned between the sensor and the potentially aggressive materials within the tank. Conventionally, an O-ring or a teflon seal was used to isolate the process fluid from the transmitter housing and sensor electronics. In addition to isolating the electronics from the process fluid, such seals were typically constructed of materials selected so as not to cause microwave reflection.
While such seals typically met microwave transmission requirements, the seals were not particularly well-suited for high pressure/temperature applications.

Tank seal for guided wave radar level measurement


A lever button of an electronic product is provided. The lever button is disposed inside a housing, and is deformed under an external force to generate a displacement to press a switch. The lever button includes a fulcrum shaft pivotally disposed in the housing, a pressing section extending from the fulcrum shaft, and at least one suspension arm in the direction opposite to the extending direction of the pressing section. The suspension arm together with the pressing section and the fulcrum shaft forms a lever structure to urge against the housing in the direction opposite to the pressing direction when a user presses the pressing section. The lever button adopts an assembly configuration, and after being assembled, the fulcrum shaft and the suspension arm urge the housing to make the pressing section evenly attached on the housing.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a lever button, and more particularly to a lever button of an electronic product, which uses a lever to rotate to generate a travel range and the travel range can be felt by a user when the user presses the lever button.
2. Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a schematic view of the structure and action of a cantilever button of the prior art is shown. A button member 11 of a housing 10 of a conventional electronic product (e.g., a server, notebook computer, etc.) employs a hot melt process to deform a cantilever 12 to form a fixed point, and the cantilever 12 swings with the fixed point as a fulcrum to achieve the action way that a pressing section 13 is pressed downward and recovers automatically. However, this action way has the following defects. The tolerance is difficult to control, the consistency of hot melt is not good, strength is poor, a fixture is needed in course of construction of hot melt, and the materials (including the entire panel and button) cannot be recovered as an error or damage occurs. The feeling of touch differs when pressing down, especially as two points are hot melted, the feeling of touch on left and right sides of the pressing section are different. Buttons cannot be evenly attached onto the panel.


The present disclosure relates to a protective device (100) for protecting a head from impact, the device 100 comprising a shell (110) substantially formed in a dome-shape and having a first outer edge (1101); an inner layer (120) substantially formed in the dome-shape disposed within the shell (110), having an second outer edge (1201) and arranged at a gap distance in a direction of in the surface normal of the shell (110), at least one connecting member (130) interconnecting the shell (110) and inner layer (120) by interconnecting the first outer edge (1101) and the second outer edge (1201), an intermediary structure (140) comprising a plurality of deformable elements (1401) arranged in a single layer, wherein each of the deformable elements (1401), in an undeformed state, is arranged in simultaneous contact with the shell (110), the inner layer (120) and at least one other deformable element of the deformable elements (1401).

When the head of a person is subjected to impact, e.g. when falling over or when exercising a sport, brain injuries may easily be induced. Traumatic brain injuries are even more easily induced by large magnitudes of rotational kinematics caused primarily by oblique impacts to the surface of the head or to a surface of a protective device, such as a helmet, worn on or over the head. The brain and other organs are sensitive to an impact that results in acceleration of the organ. There are two distinct types of accelerations of the head that can occur at an impact, namely linear and angular acceleration. Instances of pure angular acceleration, e.g. rotation about the center of rotation of the skull are rare. The most common type of motion of the head is a combined linear and angular motion. Angular or rotational motion is induced by an oblique impact creating both tangential and normal force components on the helmet and is considered to cause a relatively greater damage to the brain than linear acceleration.
It can be appreciated that a material that protects e.g. the head and brain from different types of impacts can be used in several different contexts, including helmets, vehicle interiors, vehicle exteriors and boxing gloves.
A problem with conventional helmets is that they transfer a large amount of any tangential forces, resulting from an impact to the head or device, into a rotational motion of the head. This is due to the fact that conventional helmets typically have a continuous liner material, usually made of cellular polymer foams, adhered to a hard outer shell.
Damage to the brain due to linear and angular acceleration is discussed e.g. in Ommaya, A. K. and Gennarelli, T. A., "Cerebral Concussion and Traumatic Unconsciousness: Correlations of Experimental and Clinical Observations on Blunt Head Injuries", Brain, 97, 633-654 (1974) and Kleiven, S. "Why most traumatic brain injuries are not caused by linear acceleration but skull fractures are", Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 1. (2013). Examples of rotational injuries are on the one hand subdural haematomas (SDH), which are bleeding as a consequence of blood vessels rupturing, and on the other hand diffuse axonal injuries (DAI), which can be summarized as nerve fibers being injured. Depending on the characteristics of the rotational force, such as the duration, amplitude and rate of increase, either SDH or DAI occur, or a combination of these is suffered.
Different types of padding are efficient in reducing linear acceleration but the prior art contains few examples of padding or shock attenuation systems intended to mitigate angular acceleration/motion. This lack of systems intended to reduce the angular acceleration and angular velocity is significant. In addition, the materials or systems that best manage or modulate linear forces may in many instances not best manage or modulate angular forces.
Many different arrangements are used in modern motor vehicles, such as automobiles, in order to protect the drivers, passengers and pedestrians in the event of a collision and other types of accidents. However, the prior art in the field contains relatively few examples of materials or structures intended to manage changes in angular acceleration and angular velocity.
There are many examples of helmets or protective headgear intended to attenuate shock directed at the head. Helmets or protective headgear are used in many human sports and activities such as cycling, motorcycling, American football, racing, martial arts, equestrian sports, lacrosse, baseball, hockey, inline skating, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and rock climbing. Protective headgear is also used in work activities such as construction activities, military activities and fire-fighting activities.
One strategy of reducing angular acceleration of the head when subjected to an impact force is to use two or more layers/sections that can slide relative to each other after an impact. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,671. The patent describes a helmet that has an outer shell separated from the inner shell by at least one sliding layer, enabling it to be moved relative to the inner shell. Coupling fittings at opposite ends of the two shells are used to absorb energy generated as a result of this relative movement, enabling the shock of a downward impact against the helmet to be effectively absorbed. This design reduces the angular forces/acceleration on the brain by approximately 30-40%.
A somewhat similar concept is described in Chinese Patent No. CN103284392A. In this patent, a helmet is described which contains spherical elements (2). However, the spheres are placed at a distance from each other connected with elements (6) or (7) and each sphere is placed in a shallow furrow (5) which has the disadvantage to prevent rolling and separation of the elements to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration.
In CN202476548U, a helmet is described which contains spherical elements 3 is described. This invention only describes small spheres without contact between themselves and both the inner and outer shell layers. This has the disadvantage to provide poor protective effect in case of angular acceleration and angular velocity at an oblique impact.
JP2013057137A describes a protective headgear which contains spherical elements 21. However, the spheres are placed at a distance from each other connected with embodiments 22a or 26 which has the disadvantage to prevent rolling and separation of the elements to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration and angular velocity.
WO9949745A1 describes a protective headgear which contains spherical elements 4. However, most of the spheres are without contact between both the inner and outer shell layers which has the disadvantage to prevent rolling and separation of the elements to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration and angular velocity.
US2017318891A1, describes a helmet which contains compressible balls 200. However, the compressible balls are placed without initial contact between themselves which has the disadvantage to prevent rolling and separation of the elements to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration and angular velocity. Also, the spheres are constrained by the walls of ventilation openings 104, or connected with breakable attachment members 312, flexible strings 320, or housed within a tubular net or mesh material 340. This will constrain the motion and has the disadvantage to prevent rolling and separation of the elements to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration. One configuration described contains compressible balls 500 and one or more attachment members 600 between them as a part of a structural padding system 400. This will constrain the motion and has the disadvantage to prevent rolling and separation of the elements to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration.
US2017303622A1 describes a protective headgear impact absorbing material comprising arrays of various hexagonal or other deformable polygonal-shaped structures positioned between an exterior surface and an interior surface. One configuration contains impact absorbing structures 615 having a spherical wireframe shape, in accordance with another embodiment. The wire frame shape will exclude having a smooth, spherical outer surface. This has the disadvantage to prevent rolling of the impact absorbing structures to protect against angular forces or rotational acceleration and angular velocity.
Thus there is a need to provide a solution which mitigates or solves the described drawbacks and problems, in particular providing improved impact protection against linear and angular acceleration, e.g. at for oblique impacts, when the head is subjected to rotational forces.


Devices and methods are provided for extracting content from audio files. The device may determine starting and ending quotation marks in a text file, and a string between the starting and ending quotation marks. The device may determine that a verb is near the starting quotation mark or the ending quotation mark. The device may determine, based on the verb, that the string is attributed to a character name in the text file. The device may determine a first time in a first audio file including an audio representation of the text file, and may determine a second time in the first audio file, wherein the first time is before the first word and the second time is after the second word. The device may generate a second audio file by extracting audio from the first audio file based on the first and second times.

Devices may execute applications which cause playback of audio to users and allow users to identify the audio. The audio may include quoted portions of books. However, some methods of generating audio representing quoted portions of books may result in the audio being difficult for a user to identify because the quoted portions may be incomplete or may include extra words from the book which are not included in a quote, or because a voice used by a device to play the audio may not correspond to a recognizable voice of a book character who said the quoted portion. Also, when creating applications which present audio representing quoted portions of books, a user may not be aware of which books may have available audio of quoted portions, resulting in difficulty in identifying books and their quoted portions.
Certain implementations will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various implementations and/or aspects are shown. However, various aspects may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the figures refer to like elements throughout. Hence, if a feature is used across several drawings, the number used to identify the feature in the drawing where the feature first appeared will be used in later drawings.

Extracting content from audio files using text files


The present invention is a decorative glass laminate comprising a rigid interlayer bearing a printed image that has been ink-jetted onto at least one of the interlayer surfaces, and a process for preparing same. The interlayer has a storage young's modulus of 50–1000 Mla at 0.3 Hz and 25 C, as determined according to ASTM D 5026-95a and a finite thickness of less than equal to about 0.38 mm.

Laminated safety glass consists of two lites of glass joined by an energy absorbing plastic interlayer, typically polyvinylbutyral (PVB). Laminated safety glass is used in automotive windshields and in architectural building glass. Architects are continually using glass in more demanding applications such as balustrades, partitions, floors, doors, and overhead bolted glass. Laminated safety glass using plasticized PVB as the interlayer typically does not meet the strength or post glass breakage requirements for these applications. Ionomers of ethylene/methyacrylic acid copolymers (sold under the DuPont tradename Surlyn®) yield interlayer materials that are rigid, much stiffer and tougher than traditional PVB interlayers. Laminated safety glass utilizing stiffer, tougher interlayer has been shown to possess the strength and post glass breakage requirements needed for these demanding architectural applications.
In addition, it has been found that interlayers of ionomeric ethylene/methyacrylic acid copolymers demonstrate much improved edge stability over traditional PVB interlayers. This improved edge stability allows for laminated glass (with interlayers of ionomeric ethylene/methyacrylic acid copolymers) to be used in applications such as shower doors and exterior open edge applications where traditional laminated glass (with PVB interlayers) would not be used. In many of these above-mentioned applications (balustrades, partitions, floors, doors, overhead bolted glass, and shower doors) it would be desirable to have a decorative image in the laminated safety glass.
Processes for making laminated decorative glass have been disclosed in WO 02/18154A1, DE 29706880, U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,553, U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,178, EP 1129844A1, and DE 20100717. These decorative laminates use PVB, PVB/PET/PVB composites, or EVA (ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers) as the interlayer. While the resulting decorative safety glass laminates may meet the architectural safety codes, these laminates may not perform well in demanding applications such as those outlined above.
Further many of these references disclose a process for making decorative laminated glass via a silk screening process DE 29706880, U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,553, U.S Pat. No. 5,914,178, EP 1129844A1, and DE20100717). Silk-screening an image onto an interlayer is a very time-consuming and expensive process for making decorative laminated safety glass. Inkjet technology is very flexible; any digital image can be printed onto the substrate. Using ink jet technology to print on flexible interlayers (PVB and polynrethanes) for laminated safety glass has been disclosed in WO 0218154. Several disadvantages of ink jet printing directly on PVB include the fact that all PVB interlayers have a roughened surface pattern (Rz from 30–60 μm), which is present to allow for air to escape during the lamination process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,103. The rough surface pattern can effect image quality with respect to mottle and resolution. Also, polyvinyl butyral is a viscoelastic polymer, which can lead to poor dimensional stability in the image-bearing interlayer.
Interlayers obtained from an ionomer of an ethylene/methyacrylic acid copolymer are stiff relative to other conventional interlayers, and can have improved dimensional stability relative to PVB, for example. However, the Applicants have found that one problem with printing on a stiff material is that a stiff polymer is not amenable to conventional printing processes. The Applicants have found that the process of ink jet printing on a conventional ionomeric interlayer using a conventional ink jet printer is problematical because an ionomer of ethylene/methyacrylic acid copolymer is not flexible enough to be fed through the ink jet printers.

Ink-jet printed rigid interlayer and a process for preparing same


A dart may include a foam body, a filtering material at least partially covering the foam body, and a mandrel. The foam body may surround the mandrel.

The present disclosure generally relates to subterranean operations. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to improved darts for use in subterranean wells.
During the drilling and construction of subterranean wells, casing strings are generally introduced into the well bore. To stabilize the casing, a cement slurry is often pumped downwardly through the casing, and then upwardly into the annulus between the casing and the walls of the well bore. One concern in this process is that, prior to the introduction of the cement slurry into the casing, the casing generally contains a drilling fluid or some other servicing fluid that may contaminate the cement slurry. To prevent this contamination, a plug, often referred to as a cementing plug or a "bottom" plug, may be placed into the casing ahead of the cement slurry as a boundary between the two. The plug may perform other functions as well, such as wiping fluid from the inner surface of the casing as it travels through the casing, which may further reduce the risk of contamination.
Similarly, after the desired quantity of cement slurry is placed into the well bore, a displacement fluid is commonly used to force the cement into the desired location. To prevent contamination of the cement slurry by the displacement fluid, a "top" cementing plug may be introduced at the interface between the cement slurry and the displacement fluid. This top plug also wipes cement slurry from the inner surfaces of the casing as the displacement fluid is pumped downwardly into the casing. Sometimes a third plug may be used, to perform functions such as preliminarily calibrating the internal volume of the casing to determine the amount of displacement fluid required, for example, or to separate a second fluid ahead of the cement slurry (e.g., where a preceding plug may separate a drilling mud from a cement spacer fluid, the third plug may be used to separate the cement spacer fluid from the cement slurry), for instance.
In certain applications, for example, when drilling offshore, the casing string may be lowered into the hole by a work string, which is typically a length of drill pipe. Because most cementing plugs are too large to pass through the work string, sub-surface release ("SSR") plugs are used. These plugs are often suspended at the interface of the drill pipe and the casing string, and are selectively released by a remote device when desired. Because SSR plugs are suspended at the interface between the work string and the casing, fluids must be able to pass through the plugs. However, when used to prevent contamination as described above, the channels through the plugs must be selectively sealed.
Several methods are known in the art for sealing the channels through SSR plugs. For example, if the channel is funnel-shaped, then a weighted ball may be dropped into the funnel in the plug to seal it. Another method involves a positive displacement plugging device, often referred to as a "dart." Darts generally comprise two or more rubber "fins" that flare outwardly from a mandrel or stem. Such fins are generally sized to engage the inside wall of the pipe in which they are deployed. Because its fins prevent a dart from free falling to the plug, a pressure differential, or otherwise downward flow of fluid, usually is applied to force the dart to the plug.
When used to release plugs, the fins of a dart must collapse or compress sufficiently to allow the dart mandrel to advance through the work string and reach the intended plug. In some instances where there is a plurality of plugs, each succeeding plug may have a successively smaller minor diameter channel such that successively larger dart noses can be used to release the plugs in sequence. Thus, a particular dart must be capable of collapsing to a small enough diameter to reach an intended plug. Several problems, however, have been encountered with conventional darts in such applications. For instance, when a conventional dart has fins that are properly sized to engage the inside wall of the work string, such fins may approach an equivalent solid mass when compressed while passing through the minor diameter of successively smaller plugs; accordingly, excessive pressure may be required to push the dart (having fins in such compressed state) to the desired plug. Using excessive pressure is undesirable, because such excessive pressure may cause the cementing plug to be released prematurely and/or out of the desired sequence. Also, excessive pressure may cause the premature activation of some hydraulically set liner hangers which can provoke catastrophic problems in the proper execution of the cementing job. Moreover, a dart with easily compressible fins generally does not adequately engage the inner wall of the drill string and, therefore, does not act as an effective wiping device.
Foam darts, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,966, can pass through more severe restrictions, but must re-hydrate or "swell" back into shape before being suited to sufficiently clean and displace. In order for a foam dart to swell completely within a reasonable time, the particulated fluid in which the dart sits must be quickly absorbed into the voids of the foam. However, due to the particulated nature of the fluid, it may start caking or bridging off or otherwise not readily entering the voids.


A molding tray and system for making molded structures using a moldable material. The molding tray includes an outer tray and a resilient inner mold fitted therein. The outer tray includes a hole in a bottom wall thereof to provide access to a bottom face of the inner mold such that pressure may be applied to the bottom face through the hole so as to dislodge a molded structure.

Molded cobble-like blocks or stones are commonly used in the fabrication of walls, paths and landscaping structures. These blocks are generally fabricated by molding cement or other such materials in various shapes and configurations and, once settled and dried, assembled by a mason or other such stoneworker in various structures.
However, apparatus and methods for making these blocks generally require significant manpower to ensure a proper molding of the blocks, that is, to provide various smoothing and finishing touches to the wet and/or drying cement blocks to minimize unwanted defects and reduce a number of misshaped products.

Apparatus and method for making cobble-like blocks


The present invention has, as its object, a processed fish flesh having a high yield and a high nutritious value, showing a powerful heat binding characteristic and a resiliency, having a versatile processing, preventing a denaturation loss, capable of eliminating almost of all flowing-out of drip such as a low molecular nutritious substance and utilizing these features effectively. The processed fish flesh of the present invention has a configuration including salt of 0.2 to 4 weight parts in its dry weight added in a form of solution in 1.5 to 7 mol concentration dissolved in water or drip, and alkali agent of 0.1 to 2.7 weight parts in its dry weight added in a form of solution in 0.3 to 3 mol concentration dissolved in water or drip.

In recent years, the fishery products have been improved as superior protein foods and in particular they have been evaluated as superior food materials in view of health of a person. As the processed foods of the fishery product, a fish-paste product such as boiled fish paste has been widely known and frozen ground fish has been frequently used as its raw material.
However, due to the fact that there were many kinds of fishery products, flesh tastes were substantially different from each other in view of age, sex, seasons and nutritive conditions or the like and in particular, the muscles of the fishery products contained 70 to 80% moisture therein, deteriorations in quality such as reduction in weight, flesh collapse, hardening or oxidation of flesh tissue or the like caused by discharging of drips of the fishery product in the case that the fishery products were processed (frozen, refrigerated, stored with salt and heating or the like) have become a problem.
In view of this fact, as means for improving these prior art problems, various kinds of processing methods have been proposed.
1. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 53-50358 is disclosed a processed food manufacturing method in which salt is added to fine flesh and plant albumin to form paste and then oil and fat and heat solidifying raw material are non-uniformly mixed from each other and they are gradually frozen.
2. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 54-2368 is disclosed a smoked and processed fish flesh product in which a step for getting a bonito pickled in sorbitol liquid of NaHCO.sub.3 and NaHPO.sub.4 and a step for sprinkling with salt are concurrently carried out or almost simultaneously to soften the flesh quality or stabilize flesh pigment tissue.
3. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 55-144844 is disclosed a fishery frozen food manufacturing method in which a fish flesh with bones is pickled in solution of salt, sodium bicarbonate, alkaline phosphate, dehydrated and the flesh is pressurized, heated and then frozen.
4. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 57-5668 is disclosed a fish flesh ham manufacturing method in which a fish flesh is pickled in solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate of 0.3 to 1.0% and sorbitol of 0.3 to 1.0% or their mixed solution, dehydrated, and after this dehydration, the flesh is pickled in salt solution, and processed with casing to improve a fish flesh binding state.
5. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-19069 is disclosed an edible protein raw material manufacturing method in which soft tissue of a walleye pollack bleached with water is pickled in mixture liquid of edible oil or salt or saccharide for a longer hour so as to improve its state, and gradually frozen.
6. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-165634 is disclosed a processed marine product pre-processing method in which inorganic salt is dissolved in aqueous solution of sodium chloride acting as pre-processing agent, sodium carbonate is added to keep a value of pH of entire aqueous solution in alkaline state, the marine product is pickled in the pre-processing liquid for a longer hour and kept at 0 to 20.degree. C., boiled and thawed in order to keep deterioration in quality caused by processing of the marine product at a minimum value.
7. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-49012 is disclosed a shark flesh frozen cut tissue manufacturing method in which the shark cut tissue is added directly with saccharide, polymerization phosphate (6 to 12 weight parts, polymerization phosphate of 0.05 to 0.4 weight parts and dimetallic salt (0.2 to 1.0 weight parts) without bleaching with water, then sufficiently agitated by an agitating machine, frozen at -40.degree. C. and occurrence of bad odor during processing is prevented.
8. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 53-145948 is disclosed a manufacturing method in which a whale flesh is cut into a desired thickness, washed with water, salt of 1 to 3% is added to the flesh, salt soluble protein only at the surface of the flesh is dissolved by an agitating and mixing machine without damaging its inner tissue, the flesh is molded under a reduced pressure of 70 mmHg, then heated in hot water of 90.degree. C. for 2 hours and 30 minutes, the flesh is cut into a proper shape and canned with whale blocks.
9. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-311374 is disclosed a method in which fish with deteriorated freshness and fish with soft flesh tissue are added with quality improving agent of calcium chloride or salt after its bleaching with water or its preliminary dehydration so as to make a resilient fish flesh.
10. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-130667 is disclosed a frozen ground flesh in which sodium carbonate (0.04 to 0.06%) and/or sodium hydrogencarbonate 0.05 to 0.15% is added during pickling at the ground flesh manufacturing stage and its value of pH is adjusted to 7.5 or less.
11. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-295466 is disclosed a resilient paste product manufacturing method in which basic calcium of 0.01 to 0.1 weight parts is added to get a value of pH of 7.3 to 8.5 and animal and plant proteins of 0.5 to 5 weight parts is added during manufacturing of fish paste product.
12. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-203769 is disclosed a fish paste product manufacturing method in which calcium salt, magnesium salt and strontium salt are applied during bleaching with water to prevent a flowing-out of a protein cross-linking factor and adding of phosphate enables its to be increased.
13. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 1-222761 is disclosed a method in which a fish flesh is finely divided into powder by a homoginizer in phosphate (0.2% or less) or sodium bicarbonate solution at the stage of bleaching with water, the flesh is bleached with water for 20 minutes under a reduced pressure by 100 mmHg so as to improve a gelation forming capability.
14. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 54-80456 is disclosed a corn beef manufacturing method in which a raw material meat of block form is scarred, thereafter phosphate compounding agent and adding agent such as salt are added, the meat is agitated and mixed under a reduced pressure of 60 cmHg or more to perform a pickling operation, and a manufacturing yield is improved by 15 to 20%.
15. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 59-39111 is disclosed a chicken block manufacturing method in which salt of 1 to 3% is added to a chicken, a gradual agitation and mixing is applied to the chicken, salt soluble protein of meat-paste like form is dissolved out at the surface of the meat block, the meat is fed into a mold under a reduced pressure and filled in it, the meat is further heated and solidified.
16. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-29953 is disclosed a meat processed product manufacturing method in which pickle liquid heated with water vapour is injected into meat to get meat processed product having a low salt amount, low calorie and low phosphoric acid.
17. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 3-180138 is disclosed a seasoned meat manufacturing method in which proper amounts of saccharide, binding agent, coloring auxiliary agent, emulsion stabilizer agent, pH adjusting agent or the like as well as a major substance of ground salt and a raw material meat is immersed for 10 to 30 hours in a large amount of pickle solution having a composition of which concentration is approximately equal to that of body liquid.
18. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 58-37826 is disclosed a sheet-of-meat block manufacturing method in which sodium salt is added to a meat block, ion intensity at the surface of the meat block is adjusted to 0.6 or more, actomyosin is dissolved at the surface of the meat block, frozen at -2 to -8.degree. C., thereafter molded under a pressure of 3 to 70 kg/cm.sup.2 and the meat blocks are contacted from each other.
19. In the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-308774 is disclosed a method of reforming small pieces of meat in which paste meat having the myofibril protein dissolution agent such as salt added to small pieces of meat with 10 to 90 weight parts to have a pH value of 6.0 to 7.3 and mixture meat having residual small pieces of meat with 90 to 10 weight parts to have a pH value of 6.5 or less are kneaded to each other under application of a vacuum agitator, a line mill and a liner mixer while avoiding mixing of oxygen gas.
However, each of the aforesaid prior art processing methods had the following problems.
(1) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 53-50358 is operated such that plant protein and salt are added to fine meat, crushed to each other to make paste-like meat, fat is blended with the paste and thereafter a gradual freezing is carried out for 5 hours to several days to make an alternative product for roast ham and the like. However, this method had a problem that a product temperature was increased due to friction during crushing operation, its quality could easily be deteriorated, and a cooling operation or the like was required to prevent the product temperature from being increased and its poor working characteristic was resulted. In addition, this method had a problem that a bonding feature of fish flesh was reduced due to an easy discharging of drip under activation of enzyme, the bonding characteristic of the fish flesh was reduced due to adsorption of drip with flesh paste, plant protein was required to accommodate for it to deteriorate taste of the flesh. Accordingly, this method had a problem that the fish flesh could not be made of full fish, manufacturing also required longer hours, various problems were found in view of quality as well as sanitation and further it had a low productivity.
(2) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 54-2368 had a problem that blood of fish flesh such as a bonito which was easily hardened and changed in color to charcoal after cooking was removed with salt water, salt was sprinkled over it for pickling it for 48 hours, then the flesh was pickled in bicarbonate soda, secondary phosphate soda and sorbitol liquid to soften the tissue quality, although a large amount of salt were sprinkled over the surface of the tissue, resulting in that the tissue was bitter, a salt pickling stage required longer hours, fine elements of low molecular weight such as water soluble protein was dissolved and discharged out, its yield was reduced, a poor productivity occurred and a concentration of salt was high. In addition, it had a problem that its taste was deteriorated and a pickling stage required longer hours, resulting in that its productivity was poor.
(3) Although the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 55-144844 enabled fish flesh to be eaten together with bones and showed a superior taking of calcium, it had a problem that its working during manufacturing was troublesome, showed a poor workability and had a poor productivity. In addition, this method had a problem that it had pressurizing and heating stages, nutritious substances were damaged and nutrition of fish could not be fully utilized.
(4) Although the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 57-5668 was preferable for improving binding feature of fish flesh ham, it had a problem that quality of fish flesh might easily be deteriorated due to a long pickling time. In addition, it had a problem that a temperature controlling operation was troublesome due to restriction on deterioration of quality and it had a poor productivity. In addition, it had a problem that water soluble protein as well as taste substance of low molecule or effective nutritious substance and the like were dissolved and discharged out.
(5) Although the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-19069 was preferable to improve fish flesh such as a walleye pollack having soft tissue or dry and crumbling taste, it had a problem that effective nutritious substances such as fat or low molecular protein substance were discharged into mixture liquid of edible oil or salt or saccharide by an osmotic pressure, the fish flesh was lack in nutritious value and lack in binding feature, and also its processing characteristic was lack.
(6) Although the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-165634 had an effect to restrict deterioration in quality associated with a processing of marine products, it had a problem that its pickling operation required a longer time and was lack in productivity. In addition, it had a problem that drip of taste substances or the like was dissolved into the processing liquid during a pickling of longer time by osmotic pressure or deterioration in quality was generated during pickling operation.
(7) Although the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-49012 was preferable for processing sharks containing urea, trimetyleamioxide of about 10 to 20 times of that of normal fish and producing bad odor of ammonia and trimetylamine as a degree of freshness of sharks was decreased, it had a problem that quality might easily be deteriorated during rubbing with salt due to requiring of a step of rubbing with salt and inclusion of solid salt, and further its work was troublesome and lacked in productivity.
(8) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 53-145948 had a problem that after the flesh was bleached with water and its blood was removed, salt was added to the flesh and they were agitated, molded under a reduced pressure, it showed a low productivity due to complex production step, its taste substance was flowed out and then the flesh was lack in its nutritious value and the like.
(9) Although the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. Hei 4-311374, Sho 62-130667 and Hei 2-203769 were preferable for improving quality of fish having soft flesh tissue, they had a problem that when denatured portions of the myofibril protein were removed by adding salt during bleaching with water or strengthening of tissue was improved by increasing the number of times of bleaching with water or processing time, nutritious substance of low molecule was discharged out under the bleaching with water to cause its taste to be lack and also a product yield was decreased.
(10) Although the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-295446 showed superior resiliency, texture or odor and the like, it had a problem in view of reaction time and resiliency when basic calcium, in particular, burned calcium was added, and its preservation under a high pH value.
(11) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 1-222761 is carried out such that a cut tissue is divided into fine pieces by a homogenizer in bleaching water (added with phosphate or tripoti acid chloride of 0.2% or sodium bicarbonate) and a pressure reduced bleaching at 100 mmHg is performed. Although fat were removed upon completion of the pressure reduced bleaching operation, this method had a problem of reduction in yield or reduction in productivity caused by complex production steps due to discharging of low molecular nutritious substance caused by bleaching with water, fine piece formation within the bleaching water or reduced pressure bleaching.
(12) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 54-80456 is carried out such that after the muscle membrane or the tendon of flesh pieces is cut into short pieces, additive agent is added to the pieces, the pieces are agitated under a reduced pressure condition, then they are pickled for 48 hours at 3 to 5.degree. C., boiled with vapour for 60 to 90 minutes at 115 to 118.degree. C., the processed flesh is untangled, the muscle membrane, tendon and blood vessel are removed to produce a product. Thus, this method had a problem of lack in productivity due to a complex working steps and longer working hours. In addition, it had a problem that the flesh showed a bad color as a corn beef and it was not preferable in view of safety and sanitation due to adding of phosphate, sodium nitrite and the like.
(13) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 59-39111 had a problem that the reaction was performed only at the surface of the flesh and quality of inner part in the flesh could not be improved. In addition, it had a problem that the processing step became a complex processing step due to requiring a molding operation of 12 to 48 hours under the pressure reduced state and a heating operation of 2 to 3 hours, its cost was highly expensive and it was lack in mass productivity.
(14) It was found that the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-29953 or Hei 3-180138 showed that an effect of salt solution was poor due to a low concentration of salt and a flesh tissue quality improvement could not be carried out due to a quite slow gelation and emulsification. In addition, this method had a problem that the product was lack in texture such as resiliency or resistance to the teeth and further it had a problem that the flesh was easily oxidized and its color was easily faded. In addition, it had another problem that its quality was dispersed and a flesh block had bad color. Further, it had a problem that it was difficult to improve a layer of fat, flesh having a large amount of fat was easily dispersed in quality and had a poor productivity.
(15) The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 58-37826 or Hei 2-308774 had a problem that it had a poor binding characteristic and the flesh was easily collapsed during heating operation due to the fact that elution reaction or bio-chemical reaction of actomyosin was not generated under the presence of the layer of fat in the flesh block. Due to this fact, there was a problem that a full utilization of waste flesh having a large amount of layers of fat was difficult and its workability was lack.
In addition, all these prior arts were processing methods in which the granular additives were sprinkled or the flesh was fully dipped in a large volume of processing and treating solution of low concentration, so that these methods had a problem that it required a longer hour working time to attain the intended object through these processing methods, reduction in quality of fish flesh (softening or hardening, oxidation) was produced and the yield was remarkably reduced. Due to this fact, these prior art methods had a problem that the texture or taste such as resistance to the teeth when the fish flesh was eaten was reduced. In addition, they had a problem that they required a wasting facility for processing a large amount of pickling liquid used for the pickling operation or fat or low molecular nutritious substances discharged out of fish flesh. Further, the prior art processing methods had a problem that they had no universal processing of fish flesh, but they could be utilized only in the specified application.

Processed fish flesh, fish flesh material using the same and method of preparing processed fish flesh


A system and a method of controlling a transmission for a vehicle can protect the transmission by controlling an oil temperature in the transmission when driving on a long uphill road. The system may include: an engine generating driving torque; a transmission converting and outputting the driving torque generated at the engine; a lock-up clutch disposed between the engine and the transmission, and directly coupling the engine to the transmission selectively; a data detector detecting data for controlling the transmission; and a controller determining whether a long uphill road condition is satisfied based on the data, determining whether a protective logic operating condition is satisfied if the long uphill road condition is satisfied, and operating a protective logic if the protective logic operating condition is satisfied.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a system and a method of controlling a transmission for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a method of controlling a transmission for a vehicle that can protect the transmission by controlling an oil temperature in the transmission when driving on a long uphill road.
2. Description of Related Art
An automatic transmission predicts a driver's will and performs a shift automatically according to the predicted driver's will. A vehicle where the automatic transmission is mounted is provided with a torque converter disposed between an engine and the automatic transmission. The torque converter increases torque of the engine hydraulically and delivers the increased torque to the automatic transmission. Since the torque converter transmits the torque hydraulically, power delivery efficiency may be low.
To solve such problems, the torque converter is provided with the lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch delivers the torque of the engine to the automatic transmission without torque multiplication by directly coupling the engine to the automatic transmission at a region where power delivery efficiency of the torque converter is poor.
Generally, when the vehicle provided with the automatic transmission runs on an uphill road, the lock-up clutch is released and the vehicle drives using torque multiplication effect of the torque converter for securing drivability. However, if the vehicle drives on a long uphill road, heat energy is excessively generated by hydraulic friction, and thus the oil temperature of the automatic transmission rises to a threshold temperature or higher. At this time, the lock-up clutch is engaged and hydraulic friction is reduced for protecting the automatic transmission.
FIG. 4 shows a conventional method of controlling a transmission when a vehicle provided with an automatic transmission runs on a long uphill road.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle provided with the automatic transmission enters the long uphill road during running at a seventh forward speed, a controller releases the lock-up clutch and maintains a shift-speed to be the seventh forward speed. In this case, since the lock-up clutch is released, the oil temperature of the automatic transmission rises due to the hydraulic friction.
If the oil temperature of the automatic transmission rises to a threshold temperature or higher, the controller engages the lock-up clutch so as to prevent rise of the oil temperature. Since torque multiplication effect vanishes if the lock-up clutch is engaged, torque transmitted from the engine to the automatic transmission is reduced.
Therefore, the automatic transmission lowers the shift-speed so as to assist the torque. That is, the shift-speed is lowered from the seventh forward speed to a sixth forward speed or a fifth forward speed.
If the conventional method of controlling the transmission is applied, the automatic transmission may be protected to a certain degree but it is difficult to prevent rise of the oil temperature. Since the shift is performed on the uphill road, shift feel may be deteriorated.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

System and method of controlling transmission for vehicle


A pharmaceutical preparation for controlling pathogenic microorganisms causing diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal troubles in man and in animals contains Streptococcus lactis strain LIa in at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium in which the microorganism retains its viability. The use of the preparation for controlling pathogenic microorganisms causing diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal infections in man and in animals is also described.

Diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal troubles caused by pathogenic microorganisms constitute a widespread health problem, which affects in particular tourists travelling abroad, people having received cancer therapy involving antibiotics or radiation, and people working in day nurseries. Such pathogenic intestinal bacteria causing diarrhoea include Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, E. coli, Pseudomonas, Clostridium dificile and sordelli, Stafylococcus aureus and Campylobactus. These pathogenic microorganisms adhere to the mucous membranes of the intestine and upset the intestinal function, thereby causing diarrhoea.
It is well-known that microorganisms affect each other positively or negatively by promoting or restraining each other's growth. This interference phenomenon has above all been studied in the flora of the skin, the pharynx and the intestine of human beings. Although the underlying causes are not fully known, it has been found that the normal bacterial flora is of considerable importance in the defence against pathogenic bacteria. The bacteria of the normal flora inhibit invading bacteria in many different ways, e.g. by producing antibiotic-like substances called bacteriocines. Unlike antibiotics, the bacteriocines mostly have a very selective effect on a specific group of bacteria without influencing the remaining bacterial flora. Treating infected patients with such harmless bacteria of specific effect has been not only discussed, but also tried to some extent. Naturally, the bacteria supplied must be able to settle in the intestinal area where they are to produce their effect. This is one of the ideas behind giving soured milk to patients whose intestinal flora is disturbed, and who suffer from severe diarrhoea after treatment with antibiotics. However, there has been no scientific follow-up of what actually happens with the intestinal flora, and the effect, if any, has mostly been uncertain, probably because no bacterial colonisation has taken place in the intestine or because the bacteria supplied lack the capacity to affect the diarrhoea-inducing bacteria. Efforts have also been made to replace the existing bacterial flora in the nasal mucous membrane, the skin and the pharynx with harmless microorganisms, and it has been shown that so-called recolonisation is possible and may be effective.
As mentioned above, supplying bacteria to patients suffering from different illnesses induced by pathogenic microorganisms has mostly been inconclusive, obviously because of insufficient knowledge of what bacteria strains are best suited for bringing about colonisation and interference.
By working under given conditions, it has in recent years been possible to establish important principles for the mechanisms controlling the interaction between different microorganisms, and also to develop methods for examining this interaction. Thus, it has become possible to intervene in this interaction in a meaningful and reproducible fashion, which may be used therapeutically/prophylactically when treating infections.

Pharmaceutical preparation for controlling pathogenic intestinal bacteria


A pneumatic multi-valve device includes a housing (21) having a plurality of electromagnetic valve actuators (1), each having coil elements (2) arranged stationary in the housing (21), a core (4) arranged in the housing (21), and armature elements (24). The cores (4) each have a venting bore (5) connected to a venting collection channel (14) on the side of the cores (4) facing away from the connection housing side (23). The venting collection channel is connected to a venting opening (28) of the housing (21), which venting opening is arranged on a housing side different from the housing back side (25). The venting collection channel (14) is formed by a plurality of venting channel elements (13), which are connected to each other.

The invention relates to a pneumatic multi-valve device (valve block), in particular for use in electronically regulated air spring systems of vehicles, preferably utility vehicles, comprising a housing, which has a plurality of electromagnetic valve actuators, each having coil elements arranged in the housing in a stationary manner, a core arranged in the housing, and armature elements, which can be displaced along a displacement axis in the housing relative to the core and to a (respective) pneumatic connection of the housing as a response to energization of the coil elements, wherein the displacement axes of the armature elements of the (plurality of) valve actuators are oriented parallel and the pneumatic connections associated with the armature elements are arranged adjacent to each other on a connection housing side (of the housing), which is spaced apart from a housing back side facing away therefrom along the displacement axes, wherein the cores each have a venting bore, which is connected in an air-conducting manner to a venting collection channel on the side of the cores facing away from the connection housing side, which venting collection channel is connected in an air-conducting manner to a venting opening of the housing, which venting opening is arranged on a housing side different from the housing back side, in particular on the connection housing side having the pneumatic connections.
The invention further relates to a method for producing such a multi-valve arrangement.
Known multi-valve devices (valve blocks) are used in the context of electronically regulated air spring systems for utility vehicles. In the case of the known multi-valve arrangements, the armature elements of the different valve actuators interact with a respective valve seat arranged outside of the housing in a distributor plate connected to the housing, in order to open and to close the connection from a compressed air line to a working line in the context of the air spring application. The individual valves or valve actuators, respectively, are vented via venting bores, which are provided in the armature elements and which, on a pneumatic connection side (connection housing side) of the housing back side facing away from the housing, which is connected to the distributor plate, lead into a collection area or collection channel, respectively, which is bounded by a cover, which is screwed to the housing and which is characterized accordingly in a three-dimensional manner to embody the collection channel.
The venting air flows from the collection channel to a venting opening on the connection housing side via a housing-side venting channel parallel to the displacement axes of the actuator elements. The guiding of the armature elements takes place in armature guide tubes, which are accommodated the coil carrier of the coil elements of the valve actuators.
The extensive manufacturing process is perceived to be disadvantageous in the case of the known multi-valve devices, because the housing has to be produced in a two-stage overmolding process. The reason for this is that the coil carriers, together with a wire mesh arrangement for electrically contacting the coil elements, are initially overmolded and the unit of various coil elements produced in this way is accommodated in a joint carrier yoke, which clasps the various coil elements, whereupon the carrier yoke and already overmolded coil elements or the coil element unit, respectively, are or is overmolded again, respectively. The housing produced in this way is then screwed on the back side to the cover in order to form the venting collection channel or area, respectively, and is connected to the distributor plate on the pneumatic connection side. In addition, the required amount of copper for forming the coil elements is relatively high.

Pneumatic multi-valve device and production method


Even when a high voltage in electric railways is applied from power lines, an electric automobile makes it possible to apply an appropriate voltage lower than the high voltage to a motor and an inverter that supplies the motor with electric power. The electric automobile includes, a first DC/DC converter that steps up the battery voltage of a high-voltage battery to a level corresponding to an power line feeding voltage, a second converter connected between power line contact terminals, which are brought into contact with power lines to receive electric power from the power lines under the high power line feeding voltage, and the DC terminals of the inverter for energizing the motor. Therefore, even if the high power line feeding voltage is applied from the power lines, the second DC/DC converter functions as an electric damping device to prevent the high voltage from being applied to the inverter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric automobile for converting electric power supplied from an electric energy storage device mounted on the electric automobile and/or power lines through power line contact terminals on the electric automobile, by an inverter mounted on the electric automobile, and supplying the converted electric power to a motor for propelling the electric automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there has been proposed an electric automobile that is propelled by a motor which is energized by electric power supplied from power lines or electric power stored in a battery counted on the electric automobile (see WO2009/001788).
The battery on the electric automobile is charged with the electric power that is supplied from the power lines through a power collector on the electric automobile which is held in contact with the power lines. At the same time, the electric power is converted by an inverter mounted on the electric automobile and supplied to the motor to propel the electric automobile. When the electric motor travels on a road which is free of power lines, the electric power stored in the battery is supplied from the battery through the inverter to the motor (see Abstract of WO2009/001788).
WO2006/018131 discloses an apparatus for controlling electric care in the field of electric railways.


A liquid crystal display (LCD) module is provided. The LCD module includes a housing that includes a plurality of openings formed in a lower surface of the housing, an LCD panel formed within the housing, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) formed on the edge of the peripheral circuit area of the LCD panel. The FPCB has a extending portion and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) formed below the lower surface of the extending portion. The LEDs of the FPCB inset into corresponding openings of the housing when the extending portion of the FPCB crosses the edge of the LCD panel and is deflexed to the lower surface of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display(LCD) module, and more particularly, to a modified LCD module using a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a backlight source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices have been widely used in notebooks, personal digital assistants(PDAs), cellular phones, and other electronic products because the price of LCDs is low and the quality of LCDs is high. LCDs are passive optical devices. Therefore, a frontlight module or a backlight module needs to be attached to the LCD panel to provide sufficient illumination to make the LCD device visible at night and display in full color. Generally, the backlight module, comprising a light source generation and a diffusion sheet, is usually attached below the LCD panel to provide the light source and to disperse the light uniformly. The dispersed light is imported to the LCD panel to display an image.
Currently, the light source generator of the backlight module usually is one of two types. One type is a cold cathode fluorescence lamp (CCFL) and the other type is a light emitting diode (LED). The luminescent efficiency of the CCFL is relatively higher, but the volume of the CCFL is bigger and the CCFL consumes more electricity. Therefore, the CCFL is only suitable for a multicolored display having great brightness levels and a big size. The luminescent efficiency of the LED is lower, the volume of the LED is smaller, the emitter light of the LED is more focused, and the life of the LED is longer. In addition, even when the LED is abandoned, the LED results in less pollution. Therefore, the LED is suitable for a monochromatic, electrically-efficient small sized product, such as an LCD panel used in a cellular phone or used in a vehicles satellite navigation system.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a structural schematic diagram of an LCD module 10 according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the LCD module 10 comprises an LCD panel 12 used for displaying an image, a backlight module 14 used for providing a light source, a printed circuit board (PCB) 16, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) 18 used to electrically connect the LCD panel 12 with the PCB 16, and a FPCB 20 used to electrically connect the backlight module 14 with the PCB 16.
Generally, the backlight module 14 comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array and formed on a substrate. A reflecting plate, a light-guide plate, a diffusion sheet, and an optical prism are installed on the substrate of the backlight module 14 (not shown). The light-guide plate keeps the light produced by the LEDs illuminating the LCD panel 12 more uniformly. The reflecting plate mostly adheres to the lower surface of the light-guide plate for reflecting the light produced by the LEDs upward to increase the light utilization rate. The reflecting plate could be a smooth white cardboard. The diffusion sheet diffuses the incident light source to provide a more uniform light source to the LCD panel. The optical prism increases the light intensity. Additionally, the quantities and the arrangement of the reflecting plate, the light-guide plate, the diffusion sheet, and the optical prism could be modified according to design requirements.
It is noted that the PCB 16 further comprises a plurality of electrical components (not shown). The LCD panel 12 further comprises at least one source driver integrated circuit 22 and at least one drain driver integrated circuit 24. The FPCB 18 electrically connects the electrical components of the PCB 16 with the source driver integrated circuit 22 and the driver integrated circuit 24 of the LCD panel 12. The FPCB 18 also electrically connects with the LEDs of the backlight module 14. Therefore, the LCD module 10 of the prior art can control the electrical components of the PCB 16 to make the LEDs illuminate, and to drive the source driver integrated circuit 22 and the driver integrated circuit 24 of the LCD panel 12 to illuminate the LCD panel 12 to display an image.
Furthermore, the LCD module 10 also can mount the FPCB 20, electrically connecting with the backlight module 14, by a way that is to adhere or to solder or to electrically connect with the FPCB 18. Additionally, the FPCB 18 electrically connects with the PCB 16.
However, the aforementioned LCD modules 10 of the prior art need the FPCB 18 and the FPCB 20 to respectively electrically connect the LCD panel 12, the backlight module 14, and the PCB 16 to respectively drive the LCD panel 12 and the backlight module 14. However, the price of the FPCB is very expensive. Therefore, how to compete in the market, how to reduce the cost, and how to fabricate a product with a high quality are big problems in the current LCD module field.

Liquid crystal display housing with LEDs formed below the lower surface of the extending FPCB inset into openings of the housing