To provide a temperature-sensitive indicator which, when using the temperature-sensitive indicator having a capsule packed with a heat-sensitive material, enables easy rupture of the capsule, without being affected by the temperature of a finger of a user. The indicator includes: a base; a concave portion formed in the base; a capsule accommodated in the concave portion and packed with a heat-sensitive material; an absorbing member placed on the capsule; pressing means which is arranged above the absorbing member, and which is formed of a transparent heat insulating material; and a cover which covers at least the capsule and the absorbing member. By pressing on the capsule using the pressing means 6, the capsule is ruptured.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a temperature-sensitive indicator which indicates irreversibly that a temperature has risen to a prescribed temperature or higher or has fallen to a prescribed temperature or lower, and in particular relates to a temperature-sensitive indicator that visually enables to confirm exposure to an environment at a prescribed temperature or higher, or at a prescribed temperature or lower.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, temperature management has become important in management of merchandise and products. For example, when handling perishable foods, cut flowers and other perishable items, pharmaceuticals, or semiconductor materials, if products are exposed to temperatures at or above a prescribed temperature without performing adequate temperature management, the quality of the merchandise or product may decline, or there may be degradation, or propagation of bacteria, or spoiling.
Hence strict temperature management of such merchandise and products is necessary not only at the time of production, but during physical distribution and storage as well; and temperature-sensitive indicators are used as one means of continuously monitoring such temperature management.
As such temperature-sensitive indicators, that described in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication H3-562 (Patent Reference 1) has been proposed. The temperature-sensitive indicator described in Patent Reference 1 is explained based on FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. In the figures, the symbol 51 is a base, and on the upper face of this base 1 is arranged a wall portion 51a which has a ring shape in planar view. Further, on the upper face of the base 51 on the inside of this wall portion 51a is provided a porous pad 52. This porous pad 52 is saturated with a solution of a dye and a chemical material which remains in the solid phase at and below a critical temperature, but at or above the critical temperature changes to the liquid phase.
On the upper-end face of the wall portion 51a is mounted a display core 53. And, the top of the display core 53, and the outer peripheral face of the wall portion 51a, are covered by a cap 54. This cap 54 has a convex shape and is formed into a so-called dome, such that when a certain external force acts, the center portions is collapsed and deformed into a concave shape. The display core 53 is enclosed between this cap 54 and the wall portion 51a, and hold the display core 53. In addition, an adhesive 55 is formed on the rear face of the base 51, and a release liner 56 is provided so as to cover this adhesive 55.
The release liner 56 is peeled from the temperature-sensitive indicator 50 configured in this way, the base 51 is affixed to merchandise or a product, and then, the center portion of the cap 54 is pressed in with a finger to bring the display core 53 into contact with the porous pad 52.
When the product or similar onto which this temperature-sensitive indicator 50 is affixed is exposed to a prescribed temperature or above, the dye in the porous pad 52 changes from the solid to the liquid phase, and due to the concentration gradient between the display core 53 and the porous pad 52, the colored chemical material moves from the porous pad 52 to the display core 53. As a result, by visibly confirming the colored state of the display core 53, it is possible to judge whether the product or similar has been exposed, even once, to an environment at or above a prescribed temperature.
However, with such a temperature-sensitive indicator there are concerns that upon storage in a high-temperature environment the dye may change to the liquid phase and then evaporate, or that the chemical substance solution may evaporate, and so there has been the problem that when storing such temperature-sensitive indicators, temperature management of the temperature of the temperature-sensitive indicator itself is necessary. Moreover, when the center portion of the cap 54 is pressed in with a finger, there is the problem that the temperature of the finger is sensed.
Further, another temperature-sensitive indicator is proposed in Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-29829 (Patent Reference 2).This temperature-sensitive indicator is explained based on FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.
In the figures, the temperature-sensitive indicator 60 comprises a base 61; capsules 62, provided on the base 61, into which is packed a mixture of an oil-soluble coloring agent, pigment or dye, mixed with a solid material comprising a straight-chain hydrocarbon or with a composition comprising a straight-chain hydrocarbon (a so-called colored wax); and, filter paper 63, provided so as to cover the capsule 62.
When using this temperature-sensitive indicator 60, a finger is used to exert pressure onto the capsules 61 from above the filter paper 63, to crush the capsules 62. When the temperature rises to a prescribed temperature or higher, the colored wax melts, and the oil-soluble coloring agent, pigment or dye permeates the filter paper. Hence by visibly confirming the coloration state of the filter paper 62, it is possible to judge whether the product or similar has been exposed, even once, to an environment at or above a prescribed temperature.
In this temperature-sensitive indicator 60 described in Patent Reference 2, the so-called colored wax, which is an oil-soluable coloring agent, pigment, or dye mixed with a solid material comprising a straight-chain hydrocarbon or with a composition comprising a straight-chain hydrocarbon, because the so-called colored wax is housed within capsules, evaporation can be suppressed, and management at normal temperatures is possible.
However, a temperature-sensitive indicator such as that described in Patent Reference 1 which judges whether there has been exposure to an environment at or above a prescribed temperature has the problem that, when pressing in the center portion of the cap with a finger, the finger temperature is detected. Similarly, a temperature-sensitive indicator such as that described in Patent Reference 2 has the problem that, when a finger is used to press on and rupture capsules, the so-called colored wax packed inside the capsules is liquefied by the temperature of the finger, so that when capsules are ruptured the filter paper assumes a colored state, and use is no longer possible.
Moreover, the capsules are merely placed on the flat base, so that when the capsules are pressed with the finger, capsules elude the pressing force, and so there is the problem that capsules are not ruptured.


A bearing failure indicator for sealed and lubricated rolling cutter earth boring drill bits is disclosed. A plurality of cutting inserts, arranged in a plurality of rows, are secured in the rolling cone cutters. At least two of the rolling cone cutters are intermeshing cutters, arranged such that they have intermeshing rows of cutting inserts. A groove is formed in the intermeshing cutters with a row containing a plurality of generally flat top bearing inserts. In the normal operation of the drill bit, the rows of generally flat top bearing inserts do not contribute to the drilling action of the drill bit. However, when a bearing assembly fails in operation, the generally flat top bearing inserts engage the intermeshing rows of inserts in the adjacent intermeshing cutter causing the drilling torque to increase and thereby providing a signal indicating the bearing has failed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to rolling cutter earth boring drill bits used for the exploration and retrieval of petroleum and other minerals from the earth. In particular, the invention is a new form of bearing failure indicator for a rolling cutter earth boring drill bit.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is commonplace during drilling into the Earth for minerals such as oil and natural gas to drill boreholes thousands of feet deep. A rolling cutter drill bit used to drill these wells is so remote from the surface that even high quality instrumentation located near the bit while drilling is not able to accurately indicate the impending failure of the bearing in the drill bit. Oftentimes the drill bit fails suddenly and causes the drilling operation to be halted while the xe2x80x9cjunkxe2x80x9d left behind by the failed bit is removed from the bottom of the borehole. The time lost in recovering this junk may cost the drilling company many thousands of dollars, and unless all the junk left by the failed bit is recovered, the replacement drill bit may also fail prematurely from damage by the junk.
Detecting impending bit failure is particularly difficult with rolling cutter type drill bits that utilize sealed and lubricated friction bearing systems. The reason for this is that when these bits first experience bearing failure, only relatively minor changes in drilling torque and drilling rate of penetration occur. Since these changes are usually within the range of normal torque and ROP variations, the bearing failure is usually not detected at the surface.
Often, the only indication of failure is the sudden decrease in drilling rate of penetration that occurs when bearing failure is total and junk is left in the hole. Although instrumentation packages built into measuring while drilling tools may at times be able to accurately detect impending bit failure, they are not able to detect it reliably. Furthermore, these MWD packages often add considerable expense to the drilling operation, and are therefore used sparingly. Consequently, it is highly desirable that any bearing failure mechanism be made into the drill bit.
Bearing failure indicator schemes are disclosed in numerous different rolling cutter drill bit designs, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,058,532, 3,011,566, 3,062,302, 3,363,702, 3,678,883, 3,853,184, 4,346,591, 4,436,164, 4,548,280, 4,655,300, 4,785,894, 4,785,895 and 5,183,123, all incorporated by reference herein for all they disclose. The complexity of these designs, and/or their tendency to falsely indicate a bearing failure have limited their utility. In fact, these designs have had only limited commercial success.
A new type of bearing failure indicator for sealed and lubricated rolling cutter drill bits is disclosed. The rolling cutter drill bit comprises a bit body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a plurality of extending legs, and a cantilevered bearing spindle formed on each leg. A plurality of rolling cone cutters are rotatably mounted upon the bearing spindles with the cone apices adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the bit. A plurality of cutting inserts are secured in the rolling cone cutters, and arranged in a plurality of rows. At least two of the rolling cone cutters are intermeshing cutters, arranged such that they have intermeshing rows of cutting inserts. At least one of the intermeshing cutters has at least two rows of cutting inserts arranged as two inner rows. A groove is formed intermediate the two inner rows. Within the groove is a row containing a plurality of generally flat top bearing inserts.
In the normal operation of the drill bit, the rows of generally flat top bearing inserts do not contribute to the drilling action of the drill bit. However, when a bearing assembly fails in operation, the generally flat top bearing inserts engage the intermeshing rows of inserts in the adjacent intermeshing cutter.
This engagement causes a sudden, relatively large increase in the drilling torque of the drill bit. This torque increase is readily discernable at the drill rig by the drilling crew, providing a reliable indication of a failed bearing. The disclosed arrangement provides an extremely reliable means of indicating a failed bearing in a rolling cutter drill bit.

Failure indicator for rolling cutter drill bit


A script hosting server receives a script from an authenticated source, associates the script with a certificate profile for digital certificates based on input from the authenticated source, receives user enrollment information for the certificate profile from the authenticated source, receives a script request of a client device, the script request identifying the certificate profile and a user of the client device, determines whether the user is enrolled in the certificate profile based on the user enrollment information, and, upon determining that the user is enrolled, providing the scripts to the client device.

Enterprises can control user access to enterprise applications, such as web applications, by authenticating users via user credentials, such as a username and password. Enterprises may wish to provide a more secure environment by implementing strong authentication, also known as second-factor authentication. Second-factor authentication requires a user to provide additional evidence of who they are, for example, via a digital certificate (e.g., a public key infrastructure (PKI) certificate). Enterprises can develop proprietary applications to integrate a strong authentication service provider into an existing application infrastructure. For example, an enterprise can integrate second-factor authentication via digital certificates. However, the enterprise applications, such as virtual private network (VPN) applications and secure/multipurpose internet mail extensions (S/MIME) applications, typically require configuration for using digital certificates and for a root certificate to be installed on a client computer. A root certificate may be part of a trusted set of certificates known to both the issuer of a digital certificate (Certificate Authority) and the recipient of the digital certificate. Upon receiving the digital certificate, the recipient may verify that the digital certificate chains up to a trusted root certificate. If the received digital certificate chains up to a trusted root certificate, the recipient will trust and use the digital certificate. Otherwise, the recipient may discard the digital certificate and request another digital certificate.

Dynamic framework for certificate application configuration


So that in a tire cleaning apparatus for wheelchairs the tires of wheelchairs can be quickly and reliably cleaned without outside help, there is provided a cleaning apparatus which has at least two rollers which carry the wheelchair tires with the wheelchair, wherein at least one roller is drivable for rotating the tires or is switchable into a freewheel condition, and at least one cleaning device associated with at least one tire.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a tire cleaning apparatus for wheelchairs.
Wheelchairs are generally used by handicapped people and have to replace or at least temporarily relieve the strain on the functioning of the walking equipment, both inside and outside buildings. Unlike the situation in relation to people who are not handicapped, when entering a building the wheelchair cannot be simply changed like a normal pair of shoes but, if the tires are dirty, it has to be cleaned and also further used within the building. For removing in particular large-size soiling hitherto cleaning cloths or brushes were used, which were passed around the entire periphery of the wheel in a time-consuming manner; the handicapped person frequently could not do that without outside help. In addition the dirt which dropped off in the cleaning operation had to be subsequently removed.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,375 shows a cleaning apparatus for wheelchairs which however is only intended for wheelchairs which are pushed by hand. The wheelchair, without the handicapped person, must be introduced into a container by a non-handicapped person. It is also not stated that at least roller (48, 49), see FIG. 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,375, is to be switched into a free-wheel condition.


An antenna having a plurality of ports coupled to at least one radiator opening or protuberance formed on a metallic surface. A plurality of modulators are coupled to the plurality of respective ports and configured to modulate phase or amplitude of a plurality of signals radiated at the plurality of respective ports. A combiner is configured to combine the modulated signals to substantially cancel power reflected from the plurality of respective ports, wherein the plurality of respective ports are functionally aggregated into a single port.

Metallic cases have the potential to offer designers the freedom to make mobile devices very thin. There is design trend toward all-metal cases, but there is also a fundamental limitation to the percentage of the mobile device case area that can be metallic.
Slots in the surface of the metallic case may be used to obtain acceptable radiation performance. However, when the size of the mobile device is small compared to the frequency of operation, the inefficient radiation and narrow-band nature of slot antennas are drawbacks. Furthermore, slots are highly susceptible to detuning by the presence of the user's relatively high dielectric and lossy tissue. To combat its narrow band nature, a slot antenna can be made tunable to cover an instantaneous bandwidth. However, due to the wide bandwidth used by the Long Term Evolution (LTE)-advanced protocol, tuning of single slot antennas cannot cover all instantaneous bandwidths required for future wireless platforms.

Antenna for mobile device having metallic surface


A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing having a central cavity configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The central cavity may also be configured to direct a first fuel into the combustor substantially unmixed with air. The fuel injector may also include an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the downstream end of the central cavity. The air discharge outlet may be configured to discharge compressed air into the combustor circumferentially about the first fuel from the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet at the downstream end. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially about the compressed air from the air discharge outlet.

In a typical gas turbine engine (GTE), one or more fuel injectors direct a liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel into a combustion chamber (called combustor) for combustion. The combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in the combustor produce undesirable exhaust constituents such as NOx. Different techniques are used to reduce the amount of NOx emitted by GTEs. In one technique, a lean premixed fuel-air mixture is directed to the combustor to burn at a relatively low combustion temperature. A low combustion temperature reduces NOx formation. In another technique, steam is directed to the combustor to reduce the temperature and reduce NOx production. U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,862 B2 to Held et al. (the '862 patent) describes a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine in which fuel is injected from the fuel injector into the combustor through primary and secondary openings. Steam is injected alongside the fuel to decrease the temperature of the flame in the combustor, and thereby reduce NOx production.

Gas turbine and fuel injector for the same


A PCI Express device is provided. The PCI Express device includes a symbol lock module that includes a state machine for detecting a special character in a serial bit stream received from a serial/de-serializer, wherein the state machine receives a first special character and verifies alignment of the special character by comparing with a previously stored alignment value and the state machine declares a symbol lock if at least more than one special character alignment matches with a same stored alignment value. The special character is a comma sequence. After a symbol lock is declared, the state machine continues to monitor incoming bit stream data and compares each new special character alignment with the previously stored alignment value. During the monitoring if a misaligned special character is detected, then the state machine waits to receive another special character before declaring a loss of synchronization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computing systems, and more particularly, to synchronizing serial bit stream data for PCI Express devices.
2. Background of the Invention
Computing systems typically include several functional components. These components may include a central processing unit (CPU), main memory, input/output ("I/O") devices, and streaming storage devices (for example, tape drives). In conventional systems, the main memory is coupled to the CPU via a system bus or a local memory bus. The main memory is used to provide the CPU access to data and/or program information that is stored in main memory at execution time. Typically, the main memory is composed of random access memory (RAM) circuits. A computer system with the CPU and main memory is often referred to as a host system.
Host systems often communicate with peripheral devices via an interface such as the Peripheral Component Interconnect ("PCI") interface, a local bus standard using parallel data transfer that was developed by Intel Corporation®, or the extension of PCI known as PCI-X. More recently, PCI Express, a standard interface incorporating PCI transaction protocols at the logical level, but using serial data transfer at the physical level has been developed to offer better performance than PCI or PCI-X.
Host systems are used in various network applications, including TCP/IP networks, storage area networks ("SANs"), and various types of external device attachment. In SANs, plural storage devices are made available to various host computing systems. Data is typically moved between plural host systems and storage systems (or storage devices, used interchangeably throughout this specification). The connectivity between a host system and networks or external devices is provided by host bus adapters ("HBAs"), which plug into the host system. HBAs may attach to the host system via a standard interface such as PCI Express.
PCI Express HBAs receive serial data streams (bit streams), align the serial data and then convert it into parallel data for processing. PCI Express HBAs operate as transmitting devices as well as receiving devices using the Comma sequence for identifying symbol boundaries.
PCI Express is an Input/Output ("I/O") bus standard (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) that is compatible with existing PCI cards. PCI Express uses discrete logical layers to process inbound and outbound information. In the PCI Express terminology, a serial connection between two devices is referred to as a link.
Various other standard interfaces are also used to move data between host systems and peripheral devices. Fibre Channel is one such standard. Fibre Channel (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) is an American National Standard Institute (ANSI) set of standards, which provides a serial transmission protocol for storage and network protocols.
PCI Express, Fibre Channel and other serial interfaces use 8-bit to 10-bit encoding, in which each 8-bit character of source data is encoded into a 10-bit symbol prior to transmission. A receiving device decodes the 10-bit data to recover the original 8-bit character. 8b-10b encoding provides a number of advantages such as the ability to embed clocking information into a serial bit stream and the ability to detect transmission errors.
In order to recover data from a serial bit stream, the receiving PCI Express device performs clock recovery, de-serialization and symbol lock. In clock recovery, the receiving device generates a serial bit clock that is phase locked to the incoming serial bit stream. This is also known as bit synchronization. For de-serialization, the recovered clock is used to sample the incoming serial bit stream and converts it into parallel data.
For symbol lock, the boundary between consecutive 10-bit symbols is determined and the de-serialized data is aligned to the boundary. After the symbol lock, the 10-bit data is sent to an elastic buffer and then the 10-bit data is decoded to 8-bit data for further processing.
A COMMA symbol is a special bit pattern that is often used to determine symbol and word alignment in a serial stream of data. K28.5 Comma symbol is a unique bit pattern used in bit streams to identify special control sequences not normally found in conventional user data. The 10-bit encoding of the Comma symbol is unique because it is the only symbol that contains two bits of one polarity followed by five bits of opposite polarity, i.e., 0011111010b or 1100000101b. The nature of the 8-bit to 10-bit coding provides a comma sequence that does not occur in a non-comma character, nor in any consecutive combination of non-comma characters, and hence, identifies symbol boundaries.
Once a Comma symbol (or sequence) is detected, the receiving device assumes that the received symbols that follow will be on the same 10-bit boundary. The receiving device also assumes that data is aligned after the Comma character is detected. However, in reality, a data stream may get misaligned due to single bit errors and cause various processing errors. Errors may include loss of bit synchronization and random bit errors. The former may cause bits to be added to or deleted from the de-serialized data, resulting in loss of symbol lock; the latter causes incorrect values to be assigned to one or more bits without loss of synchronization or loss of symbol lock.
Most serial protocol standards specify exact requirements for detecting symbol lock and for detecting loss of symbol lock. Such is not the case with the PCI Express standard, which has left the functional requirements for symbol lock to designers of PCI-Express devices.
Conventional symbol lock techniques used for interfaces such as Fibre Channel do not provide an effective solution for PCI Express applications, as described below. In Fibre Channel, symbol alignment involves aligning to transmission word boundaries, where a word is four consecutive 10-bit symbols. If a transmission word contains a comma character, then the comma character is expected to be in the first symbol only.
In Fibre Channel, comma characters occur frequently; there is a minimum of 6 ordered sets transmitted in an inter-frame gap following every frame of 2112 symbols or less, where an ordered set is a transmission word containing a comma character followed by a prescribed sequence of non-comma characters. The Fibre Channel symbol lock requirement calls for detection of 3 ordered sets, each starting with a comma, with no intervening invalid transmission words. Once symbol lock is achieved, the symbol lock circuit monitors the data stream for the occurrence of transmission errors. If a sequence of 7 consecutive transmission words contains 4 or more invalid transmission words, then a loss of symbol lock is declared, and the initial alignment procedure is repeated.
Although it uses the same 8b-10b coding set, PCI Express differs from Fibre Channel, which makes the above method impractical. First, PCI Express does not group symbols into transmission words, so an ordered set may begin on any symbol that is not part of a packet. Thus, a symbol lock circuit for PCI Express needs to examine individual symbols rather than transmission words. Second, PCI Express devices do not transmit comma characters as frequently, except during training sequences, which are used to establish bit synchronization and symbol alignment during link initialization and following low-power link states during which data transmission is suspended. During normal full-power operation, there may be as many as 5650 symbols between comma characters. This corresponds to the maximum allowed scheduling interval for skip ordered sets, which are ordered sets per the PCI Express standard for prevention of overflow or underflow of the elastic buffers of receiving devices, plus the maximum residual packet length before the scheduled skip ordered set is actually transmitted. Furthermore, because skip ordered sets are isolated, (unlike in Fibre Channel, in which ordered sets are clustered in the inter-frame gaps), the receipt of 3 commas for symbol lock acquisition would span multiple PCI Express packets.
Bit error rates are typically expected to be low, but are not bounded by the PCI Express standard, so the symbol lock circuit is expected to perform well in noisy systems with high bit error rates. In such an environment, there exists a significant probability that an alignment attempt using the Fibre Channel method would fail due to transmission errors within the first three comma occurrences, extending the time required for symbol lock far beyond the original expectation.
Conventional systems are not efficient in detecting unique bit sequences and maintaining proper alignment. Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that can detect a unique bit stream pattern, monitor a data stream for errors and maintain proper alignment.

Method and system for synchronizing bit streams for PCI express devices


A dual polarised antenna 1 has two types of antenna elements combined. Each type of antenna element is formed on a planar substrate. The substrates are furnished with inter-engaging slots to enable assembly of the elements. Signal feeds are connected to the active parts of the elements by means of connection points furnished at off axis positions. The off-axis positions for connection enable an arrangement in which the locus of the effective phase centres of the antenna element scan be co-located yielding a convenient arrangement with good performance.

A Vivaldi antenna element is a radiating element having a tapering slot or notch formed by the element which produces a linear polarisation to the radiated signal. An example of a Vivaldi antenna is described in patent application GB1601441.
Vivaldi type elements have been incorporated into larger arrays to form phased array antennas as described in EP0349069. The antenna produces radiated signals having planes of polarisation which are orthogonal and it is used in radar and other direction finding applications. The array is formed by horizontal and vertically disposed planar substrates bearing the metallised layers etched to produce the antenna elements. The substrates are configured to interlock by means of inter-engaging projections and rebates and the array is formed into a number of square sectioned open ended boxes with the sides of the boxes each bearing a tapering Vivaldi notch. The problem of coupling signals into and out of the notch when the two orthogonal notches have phase centres which are co-located is addressed in an imperfect manner in the prior art described in that document. Indeed the problem is described as insurmountable and another approach is adopted namely ensuring that phase centres of the elements are not co-located. However, by not co-locating the phase centres it is necessary for signal processing to be employed that compensates for the arrival of an incoming signal at phase centres at different times and this is undesirable.


A method is provided for increasing the quality of audio reproduction of a binaural rendering in a passenger environment having a number of seats, each seat having an audio system including a headphone jack for interconnection with a headphone device. The method comprising the steps of: playing predetermined audio tones over the audio system, and interconnecting a testing system to the headphone jack of the seats to monitor the signal received by the headphone jack to determine the audio quality of reproduction of the seat. The invention extends to an audio monitoring device, an audio monitoring system, and a storage medium carrying said audio tones.

It is common to provide for an audio listening experience in modern commercial airliners and passenger trains or the like. The airline listening experience normally comprises playing a multi-channel video tape or providing audio music which is streamed to each airline seat for selection by passengers listening to the audio output utilising a headphone plugged into the headphone jack of the audio system formed within each passenger's seat.
It is often desirable to provide for a high quality audio listening experience in airlines. This is particularly the case with the recent introduction of high quality headphone audio formats such as the Dolby Headphone (Trade Mark) audio format which provides for extensive pre-processing of the audio signals for rendering over stereo headphone devices. With a high end audio format, it is desirable to ensure that the headphone output of each passenger seat is of a sufficient quality so as to bring out the attributes of the high quality audio format.

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


A sampling device for collecting unit dose, bulk or unit dose and bulk samples simultaneously at different periods from a falling stream of material directly into various sample containers. The sampling device enables the compressing of collected powder samples in the sampling cups directly with a compression machine without transferring the powder samples into another container. One size of the sampling device enables the sampling from different sized blenders, mixers and other containers. Multiple samples are obtained simultaneously. The sampling device is simple in construction, simple to use and simple to disassemble, clean and reassemble.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sampling device useful in taking unit dose samples and/or bulk samples of powders, liquids or semi-solids from a stream of pharmaceutical or food compositions at different time periods. Samples can be collected directly into gelatin capsules or any other suitable sample container positioned in the sampling device, thus eliminating the need to transfer the collected samples to sample containers. Alternatively, the samples can be collected into cavities in the sample collecting disc, and the samples subsequently compressed into pills using a compression machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of solid dosage forms in the pharmaceutical and food industries, blending of different active and inactive ingredients is required in a blender. Such blends are routinely sampled and tested for uniformity in content. A proper sampling technique requires unit dose or bulk sampling from different areas of the blender, e.g., top, middle and bottom of the blender. A unit dose sample is defined as a sufficient sample size to provide one dose of the active ingredient. A bulk sample is defined as a sample size large enough to provide several doses of the active ingredient. Conventionally, samples are obtained by inserting a rod-shaped sampling device having multiple sampling cavities with or without dies into the blended composition undergoing mixing in a mixing vat, drum or the like. However, such a sampling technique, especially for powder compositions, disturbs a powder bed during sampling, thus influencing the test results, and requires samplers of different lengths for different depths. In addition, such powder sampling devices cannot offer the versatility of compressing the powder samples into tablets or collecting the powder samples directly into gelatin capsules. Moreover, conventional powder sampling devices do not combine unit dose and bulk sampling in one sampling device as in the present invention.
The related art will be discussed in the order of its perceived relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,017 issued on Dec. 19, 1995, to Ivan Pinto et al. describes a unit dose material sampling apparatus for removing a sample of granular or powder material from a vat in which such materials are mixed in bulk. A tubular housing contains a shaft with a piston on one end and a threaded section proximate the opposite end which has a thumb wheel and a spring outside the housing. The housing has a thumb or set screw which adjusts the volume of sample to be taken by cooperating with the threaded section of the shaft. The housing supports by external collars a cam rod and handle which rotates a conical closure cap for closing and opening the housing for sampling. The device is distinguished by its reliance on an internal piston structure to collect and pack the pharmaceutical powder sample.
Japan Patent No. 39-5897 issued on Apr. 28, 1964, describes an automatic sampler device for sampling a falling stream of a powder-grain mixture by mechanically inserting a cylindrical sampling tube into and withdrawing from the flowing stream. The sample mixture is mechanically dumped into a case. The device is distinguished by the dissimilar structure of the mechanical sampling device.
Russia Patent No. 423,845 issued on Sep. 4, 1972, describes an automatic sampling machine for obtaining single granules flowing down from a conveyor belt. The sampler consists of four truncated semicones on individual spokes of different adjustable lengths which rotate on a driven shaft in a ferris wheel manner. The intent is to sample granules from different parts of the falling stream. The rotating semicones dump their granules into a trough which feeds an analyzing device. The machine is distinguished by the mechanical and structural differences from the singular manual device of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,642 issued on Sep. 20, 1988, to William H. Parth et al. describes two solids sampler devices (movable and non-movable) permanently positioned horizontally for collecting and continuously analyzing for moisture content by either infrared ray or neutron absorption of a sample of particulate polymer resin beads from a vertical pneumatic conveyer system pipe. The movable embodiment involves a sampling cup installed within the pipe with the sample collecting cavity moving in and out from below the cup. The devices are distinguished by their fixed structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,587 issued on Feb. 28, 1984, to Norton W. Risdal describes an automatic sampler device for dry material flowing under pressure of 15-100 p.s.i. in a horizontal flow duct or spout. The sampling device is attached at an oblique angle of 30-60.degree. below the horizontal duct. The sample tube is housed in a tubular casing having an enlarged box chamber at an outer end connected to an air cylinder which controls the input and exhaust of pressurized air to motivate a piston to project a slotted sample tube into and out of the flow duct. The tubular casing has a sample delivery duct with a collection bag for automatically collecting the sample when the sample tube is retracted. The projection and retraction periods are automated by timers. The dry material sampling device is distinguished by its fixed and automatic structure of the dry material sampler.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,477 issued on Aug. 22, 1989, to Dennis A. Wienck describes an improved dry material sample collector for intermittently sampling a cross-section of a conveyed bulk material such as a cement mixture. A permanently housed sampling unit is affixed on a liquid cement mixture flow pipe with its collector head, i.e., a hollow piston rod, inserted in the cement flow. The housing contains a pneumatic cylinder and various flow control valves such as a check valve, a pinch valve, a long delay switch valve, and a short delay adjustment switch modular valve. The liquid cement mixture is separated within the housing to collect the sample in a jar and to exhaust gas. The dry material sample collector is distinguished by its dissimilar structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,978 issued on May 12, 1987, to Ralph Linski et al. describes a clean grain sampler for a combine harvester. A prism-shaped receiving cup rocks about its bottom edge to collect grain samples and dumps the samples with its sides acting as closures for the grain tank. The clean grain sampler is distinguished by its unique pivoting structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,997 issued on Sep. 19, 1989, to Kevin W. Kaufman describes a telescopic grain probe with a thermistor attached at one end to automatically measure the temperature of the grain sample. The probe tip has a grain receiving chamber which is automatically closed on insertion of the probe device, and automatically opened for sampling by two diametrically opposed inclined fins which accommodate flaps. The structural differences of the temperature measuring grain probe distinguish this apparatus from the present invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, the manually operated stream sampling device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Manually operated stream sampling device and method


A power transmission device performs power-saving power transmission that transmits a small amount of power as compared with normal power transmission when the power transmission device has detected that a battery of a load has been fully charged so that the operation of a charge control device (charge control IC) of the load is maintained, thereby enabling recharging due to a charge management function of the charge control device. Since the load state of a power reception device increases when recharging has started, the power transmission device detects an increase in the load state and changes power transmission from power-saving power transmission to normal power transmission. When the power reception device has been removed during power-saving power transmission, the power transmission device detects that the power reception device has been removed, and stops continuous power transmission so that unnecessary power consumption does not occur.

The present invention relates to a power transmission control device, a power reception control device, a non-contact power transmission system, a power transmission device, a power reception device, an electronic instrument, and the like.
In recent years, non-contact power transmission (contactless power transmission) which utilizes electromagnetic induction to enable power transmission without metal-to-metal contact has attracted attention. As application examples of non-contact power transmission, charging a portable telephone, a household appliance (e.g., telephone handset), and the like has been proposed.
JP-A-2006-60909 discloses a non-contact power transmission device using a primary coil and a secondary coil, for example.
In a charging device utilizing non-contact power transmission disclosed in JP-A-6-339232 and a non-contact power transmission system disclosed in JP-A-11-146569, a power-receiving-side device detects that a secondary battery has been fully charged and notifies a power transmission device that charging has completed, and the power transmission device then stops power transmission.
A non-contact power transmission system disclosed in JP-A-2005-6459 detects an abnormality in load (i.e., an open state or a low-load state has occurred) when supplying power, and causes a power transmission device to decrease the oscillation frequency of an oscillation circuit so that heat generation or breakage of components is prevented.
When a secondary battery is connected to a charger after completion of charging, the battery voltage gradually decreases due to a discharge from the secondary battery. Therefore, it is desirable to recharge the battery, if necessary.
According to the technologies disclosed in JP-A-6-339232 and JP-A-11-146569, since power supply from the power transmission device is completely stopped after the battery of the power reception device has been fully charged, it is impossible to recharge the secondary battery after completion of charging.
The technology disclosed in JP-A-2005-6459 aims at preventing heat generation or breakage of components due to an abnormality in load when supplying power, and does not take recharging into consideration.

Power transmission control device, power reception control device, non-contact power transmission system, power transmission device, power reception device, and electronic instrument

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.


An apparatus for transmitting signals with multiple antennas is disclosed. The multiple antenna transmission apparatus performs space-time encoding or space-frequency encoding, and cyclically delays the encoded symbol with a plurality of delay-values to generate a plurality of delayed symbols. The multiple antenna transmission apparatus transmits the plurality of delayed symbols to the channel through a plurality of antennas. By changing the number of space areas for encoding and the number of delay-values for delaying, the number of antennas for the multiple antenna transmission apparatus is easily expanded.

Important issues for designing the multiple antenna transmission apparatus are diversity gain and reception complexity. One of methods for getting the maximum diversity gain is the Alamouti transmission method.
The signal transmission apparatus according to the Alamouti transmission method includes two antennas, and has a transmission efficiency of 1. As the signal transmission apparatus according to the Alamouti transmission method has the maximum diversity gain and low reception complexity, it is widely used. However, if the signal transmission apparatus according to the Alamouti transmission method has 3 or more antennas, it does not have a transmission efficiency of 1 for the maximum diversity gain and low reception complexity. Also, the signal transmission apparatus has large reception complexity for the maximum diversity gain and the transmission efficiency of 1.
To resolve this problem, a method ('IEEE802.16e/D12, Part 16: Air interface for fixed and mobile broadband wireless access systems', October 2005, p. 473-474) of using two Alamouti Blocks such as in Equation 1 has been disclosed.
                    (                                                            s                1                                                                    -                                  s                  2                  *                                                                    0                                      0                                                                          s                2                                                                    s                1                *                                                    0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                                      s                3                                                                    -                                  s                  4                  *                                                                                0                                      0                                                      s                4                                                                    s                3                *                                                    )                            [                  Equation                                                              1                ]
In the matrix of Equation 1, symbols of each row mean symbols transmitted to different antennas respectively, symbols of the first row and the third row mean symbols transmitted at a time k, and symbols of the second row and the fourth row mean symbols transmitted at a time k+1. The first Alamouti block consisting of the first row and the second row and the second Alamouti block consisting of the third row and the fourth row are transmitted through different orthogonal resources (or subcarriers).
However, the signal transmission apparatus according to the method such as Equation 1 has a loss of diversity gain for low reception complexity and a transmission efficiency of 1. Also, the method such as Equation 1 is not suitable for a signal transmission apparatus with 3 or 5 antennas.

Apparatus and method for transmitting signals with multiple antennas

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The present invention is test structures in unused areas of semiconductor integrated circuits and methods for designing the same. In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for placing test structures in a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: (a) detecting a dummy area in a semiconductor integrated circuit, the semiconductor integrated circuit including probe pads on a top metal layer; (b) filling the dummy area with active test cells, the active test cells being connected to one another; and (c) connecting each of the active test cells to the probe pads with a metal line.

In the semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry, there is a continuing demand for higher circuit packing densities. This demand of increased packing densities has led the semiconductor industry to develop new materials and processes to achieve sub-micron device dimensions. Manufacturing IC's at such minute dimensions adds more complexity to circuits, and the demand for improved methods to inspect IC's in various stages of their manufacture is ever present.
Although inspection of such products at various stages of manufacture is very important and may significantly improve production yield and product reliability, the increased complexity of IC's increases the cost of such inspections, both in terms of expense and time. However, if a defect can be detected early in production, the cause of the defect can be determined and corrected before a significant number of defective IC's are manufactured.
In order to overcome the problems posed by defective IC's, IC manufacturers sometimes fabricate semiconductor defect test structures (test structures). Such test structures are dedicated to defect analysis. The test structures are fabricated such that they are sensitive to defects that occur in IC product, but are designed so that the presence of defects is more readily ascertained. Such test structures are often constructed on the same semiconductor substrate as the IC products. One place to hold test structures is the scribe line. A scribe line is an area at the edge of the die where the die will be separated from each other by a diamond saw. Since the scribe line occupies a very small area, the scribe line can only hold a very limited number of test structures. Furthermore, since the test structures need probing when they are tested, most of the scribe lines are occupied by probe pads, which are located on a top metal layer of a chip.
With the development of deep sub-micron technology, there exists a need to place more test structures in both a test chip and a product chip such as RapidChip™ developed by LSI Logic Corporation, and the like, since previous Q-chip (Qualification-chip) qualification cannot guarantee the later tape-out being successful as well. However, real estate in a semiconductor integrated circuit is precious and limited. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for placing more test structures in a semiconductor integrated circuit.

Test structures in unused areas of semiconductor integrated circuits and methods for designing the same


A content delivery network (CDN) comprises a set of edge servers, and a domain name service (DNS) that is authoritative for content provider domains served by the CDN. The CDN is extended into one or more mobile or wireline networks that cannot or do not otherwise support fully-managed CDN edge servers. In particular, an “Extender” is deployed in the mobile or wireline network, preferably as a passive web caching proxy that is beyond the edge of the CDN but that serves CDN-provisioned content under the control of the CDN. The Extender may also be used to transparently cache and serve non-CDN content. An information channel is established between the Extender and the CDN to facilitate the Extender functionality.

Technical Field
This application relates generally to extending a content delivery network (CDN) functionality into a network, such as a mobile network, in which it is not practical or possible to provide Internet-based managed CDN services.
Brief Description of the Related Art
Distributed computer systems are well-known in the prior art. One such distributed computer system is a "content delivery network" or "CDN" that is operated and managed by a service provider. The service provider typically provides the content delivery service on behalf of third parties, such as content provider customers. A "distributed system" of this type typically refers to a collection of autonomous computers linked by a network or networks, together with the software, systems, protocols and techniques designed to facilitate various services, such as content delivery or the support of outsourced site infrastructure. Typically, "content delivery" refers to the storage, caching, or transmission of content, streaming media and applications on behalf of the content providers, including ancillary technologies used therewith such as DNS query handling, provisioning, data monitoring and reporting, content targeting and personalization, and business intelligence.
It is known in the prior art to extend an Internet content delivery network (ICDN) into an enterprise computing environment that may be located behind an enterprise firewall. An example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,025, which is commonly-owned. It is also known to associate third party caches with a content delivery network in a manner such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,578, which also is commonly-owned.
Because of the way that fixed or wireless mobile networks are architected and operated, it is not always possible or practical to deploy fully-managed CDN servers therein (i.e., close to end-users). For example, in the case of the dominant 3G mobile technology, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), a mobile device connects over the air to a tower, the towers connect over a terrestrial network called the UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) to the RNCs (Radio Network Controllers), the RNCs connect through the Packet Core to Service Nodes, and the Service Nodes connect through gateways to the Internet. A typical mobile network has only a handful of these Internet gateways, which can be thousands of miles and tens or even hundreds of milliseconds away from the end-users, but these gateways may be the only locations where the CDN's fully-managed servers can be deployed. Beyond these locations, into the Packet Core and the UTRAN, typically it is not possible to deploy a device with a publicly routable IP address and open ports to the Internet.
Wireline networks also typically have a barrier beyond which it is not possible to deploy fully-managed CDN servers. That barrier in wireline networks is generally far deeper, far closer to the end-users, than in the case of mobile networks, but it many cases, it still represents a real impediment to realizing fully the benefits of a CDN or other distributed network. It is also worth noting that even when there is no such technical barrier, often there is a cultural or business barrier. Specifically, many network operators are highly protective of their networks and will not allow a fully-managed device beyond some barrier therein.

Extending a content delivery network (CDN) into a mobile or wireline network


Efficient virus detection and removal are realized by changing a mode of collecting logs in accordance with a network usage status. A configuration includes a processing monitoring unit that executes processing of monitoring a data communication network, and the processing monitoring unit includes a system load monitoring unit that monitors an available bandwidth of a network and a virus monitoring unit that collects log information corresponding to a communication message and performs virus detection. The virus monitoring unit changes a mode of collecting log information in accordance with information regarding the available bandwidth of the network acquired by the system load monitoring unit. In a case where a virus is detected and the available bandwidth is neither equal to nor larger than a predetermined threshold, only limited log information corresponding to a high-priority communication message is collected.

Recent automobiles are equipped with a large number of electronic control units (ECUs) controlled by programs (software).
For example, an automobile is equipped with various different electronic control units (ECUs) such as an electronic control unit (ECU) that performs drive control of the automobile, an electronic control unit (ECU) that performs control other than control of a drive system, such as opening and closing of doors, air conditioning control, and displaying control of a display, and those electronic control units perform various kinds of processing in accordance with individual programs, respectively.
Such a plurality of ECUs is connected to each other by, for example, a controller area network (CAN) standardized as an in-vehicle network, and is configured to transmit and receive CAN messages conforming to a CAN protocol via the network.
However, the ECUs controlled by programs (software) may be illegally controlled by, for example, a virus or malicious program intruding from outside of the network.
The virus and the like may intrude at various timings from, for example, an external device, an external storage medium, or the like connected to the CAN.
Therefore, in many cases, a system including the ECUs is provided with a monitoring apparatus for performing detection of fraud and restoration processing.
The monitoring apparatus acquires, for example, log information corresponding to various kinds of processing executed in the ECUs, and performs detection of fraud, restoration, and the like on the basis of the log information.
Note that the system is also configured as follows: log information acquired by the monitoring apparatus of the vehicle is transmitted to an external server, and the server executes analysis of fraud and transmits an analysis result to the monitoring apparatus of the vehicle, and then elimination of the fraud and restoration processing are performed by using the analysis result received by the monitoring apparatus from the server.
In a case where such analysis of fraud based on log information is performed, it is necessary to collect log information corresponding to communication messages (CAN messages) transmitted and received by the ECUs connected to the network.
However, in the configuration in which the plurality of ECUs is connected to a single network, i.e., the CAN, various CAN messages are transmitted and received via the network (CAN) even in a normal state.
In a case where some special processing is further performed, more messages are transmitted and received.
When the monitoring apparatus further attempts to collect logs from each ECU while a large number of messages are being transmitted and received as described above, it is necessary to transmit and receive log messages from each ECU to the monitoring apparatus by using a limited bandwidth of the network. This reduces an available bandwidth. As a result, there arises a problem that transmission and reception of normal control messages are congested or delayed.
As a related art, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-206698) discloses control performed in a case where a large amount of log information is generated.
Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which priority is set for log messages and, in a case where a resource load is in a high state, only high-priority log messages are selectively collected.
However, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 is a configuration in which collection of log messages is controlled only on the basis of the state of the resource load.
In a case where, in the network to which the plurality of ECUs is connected, for example, a virus is detected, it is necessary to rapidly perform processing for removing the virus and eliminating an influence of the virus.
In the configuration in which log messages are collected only on the basis of the state of the resource load described in Patent Document 1, even if a virus is detected, acquisition of log messages is restricted in a case where it is determined that the resource load is large. Thus, the configuration may fail in acquiring log messages required for virus countermeasures.

Information processing apparatus, moving apparatus, and method


When an object image at a preset position is zoomed in at a target magnification by a zoom lens, the focus point position N of the object image at the zoom position Z1 of the target magnification is calculated. In addition, the mutual relation value (interior division ratio x:y) between the tracking curve I, II and the focus point position is calculated and the position or the focus lens is controlled so that the mutual relation value is kept with respect to the tracking curve when zoom-in is carried out. Accordingly, an object image in focus can be picked up at all times even during zooming.

The present invention relates to an imaging device for use in a monitoring camera system or the like, and particularly to a lens driving method for an imaging device, an imaging device and a camera system that are suitable to pick up a zoom-in image of an object while bringing the object into focus (point).
An imaging device such as a monitoring camera system or the like is equipped with a zoom-in mechanism to make it possible to pick up a zoom-in image of a prescribed window when the window is targeted as an object to be monitored. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a tracking curve of a camera lens. As shown in FIG. 5, the tracking curve inherent to the lens contains two tracking curves, one tracking curve I focusing on a short-distance (1.6 m) point and the other tracking curve II focusing on a point at infinity.
Both the tracking curves are substantially coincident with each other when the zoom magnification is not high, and a focus lens is moved along any one of the tracking curves in conformity with the zooming of a zoom lens, whereby the zooming can be performed under the state that the focusing is established at all times. However, as the magnification of the zoom lens is raised, the gap between both the curves is larger, and the focus lens position at which the focusing is actually established is coincident with any position between both the curves.
Therefore, according to the conventional zoom mechanism, when a zoom magnification is determined, the zoom lens is moved to the position corresponding to the zoom magnification concerned at a stroke until the zoom magnification concerned is achieved. Further, the focus lens is moved along the tracking curve I in conformity with the movement of the zoom lens so as to reach a K-point position of FIG. 5, and then the focus lens is further moved to the focus position N by using an autofocusing technique or the like.
The imaging device for use in the conventional monitoring camera system or the like can achieve a zoom-in image of an object at high speed. However, there is a problem that the image of the object under zoom is blurred and it is impossible to carry out the monitoring based on clear images until the focusing operation is completed after the zooming operation.

Lens driving method for imaging device, imaging device and camera system

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of cold forming titanium alloy sheet metal, the titanium alloy consisting of 5.5 to 6.75 wt % aluminum, 3.5 to 4.5 wt % vanadium and the balance titanium plus incidental impurities, the method comprising the steps of (a) heat treating at 700° C. for at least 30 minutes and (b) cold forming at room temperature. Step (b) may comprise bending the titanium alloy sheet metal using a press brake. Step (b) may comprise placing a neoprene rubber film or a rubber film between the titanium alloy sheet metal and a lower V of the press brake. Step (b) may comprise placing the titanium alloy sheet metal into the press brake such that the grain of the titanium alloy sheet metal is arranged at an angle to the bend axis of the press brake. The method reduces and preferably overcomes cracking of the titanium alloy sheet metal during cold forming.

There are problems associated with the cold forming, for example bending using a press brake, of titanium alloy sheet metal, Ti64, consisting 5.5 to 6.75 wt % aluminium, 3.5 to 4.5 wt % vanadium and the balance titanium plus incidental impurities. Ti64 has poor cold formability and the problem is one of cracking due to the slightest surface defect, even when caused by an appropriate method of handling or appropriately polished press brake tooling. Therefore, the use of Ti64 as a cold-formed sheet metal is fraught with difficulties and is liable to create components which require laboratory investigations after manufacture in order to gain confidence that there are non cracks or any other type of defect present. Such laboratory investigations extend the lead-time of the component and add considerable cost to the manufacturing process.
Due to the problem associated with cold forming of titanium alloy sheet metal consisting 5.5 to 6.75 wt % aluminium, 3.5 to 4.5 wt % vanadium and the balance titanium plus incidental impurities it has recently been common practice to use a titanium alloy sheet metal, AMS 4914, consisting 15 wt % vanadium, 3 wt % chromium, 3 wt % aluminium, 3 wt % tin and the balance titanium plus incidental impurities. AMS 4914 has good cold formability and may be heat treated after cold forming.
However, AMS 4914 is more expensive than Ti64. In addition, the heat treatment required for AMS 4914 titanium alloy sheet metal is of 8 hours duration at approximately 450° C. During this heat treatment the "stressed" formed titanium alloy sheet metal component is liable to further distortion, due to stress relaxation, which may have to be corrected after the heat treatment and thus incur further costs.

Method of cold forming titanium alloy sheet metal


A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided. The rotor blade includes an elongate blade base body with a number of connecting elements each having at least one axially extending connecting portion adapted to be connected with at least one corresponding connecting portion of a rotor hub of a wind turbine, wherein the respective connecting elements are connected to at least two circumferentially extending connecting members with the connecting members being adjacently disposed in circumferential direction so as to build a ring-like shape. Further, a wind turbine with such a rotor blade is provided.

Rotor blades for wind turbines are usually built as fibre-reinforced hollow composite structures. Hence, they are usually fabricated by impregnating respective aligned and orientated fibres or fibre clutches with a casting or resin material respectively. Respective connecting elements in the shape of studs or the like having respective connecting portions such as threaded holes are integrated within the casting material so as to provide an interface for a mechanical connection with respective corresponding connecting portions of a rotor hub such as threaded bolts or the like.
Thereby, removing of the cast rotor blade from the mould is oftentimes problematic since particularly in the region of the ring-like shaped root of the blade ovalisation may occur due to the self-weight of the rotor blade. Respective ovally shaped or deformed rotor blades are difficult to machine and particularly difficult to mount on a respective rotor hub of a wind turbine.
It has been proposed to strengthen the blade root by inserting respective metal rings in the region of the blade root while or before moulding. Another proposal to enhance the mechanical properties, in particular the stiffness of the blade root is to provide bulky circular plates with the blade root. This principle is of particular disadvantage regarding the manufacturing process of vacuum injection since the circular plates impair the insertion of a respective mandrel for injecting the casting material. Another proposal was to provide the blade root with additional material, i.e. increase wall thicknesses, etc. in the blade root.
The respective approaches for strengthening respective blade roots are deemed as comparatively cumbersome and costly.


An embodiment for simulating a live video presentation in a recorded video is provided. The embodiment may include receiving a previously recorded online meeting. The embodiment may also include transcribing and indexing the transcription of the previously recorded online meeting. The embodiment may further include receiving audio content from a user. The embodiment may also include searching for a response to the audio content in the transcription. The embodiment may further include in response to determining the response is found in the transcription, generating a solution for the audio content from the transcription. The embodiment may also include integrating the generated solution into the previously recorded online meeting. The embodiment may further include updating one or more video frames of the previously recorded online meeting based on the generated solution.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly to a system for simulating a live video presentation in a recorded video.
Video conferencing through a variety of desktop and mobile collaborative meeting applications, as well as collaborative meeting cloud and browser extensions, has become an effective interaction and communication tool that enables both small and large-scale companies to reduce travel and operational costs incurred in conducting in-person meetings. Demand for remote workforce management using these collaborative meeting applications has increased steadily in recent years due to rapid digital transformation and globalization. Such software is extremely helpful in bridging the distance between individuals in these small and large-scale companies and allowing them to view presented content. Several departments within the company may hold these video conferences simultaneously. In such instances, a viewer may attend a live online meeting and then watch a recorded online meeting on demand at a later time.

Simulate live video presentation in a recorded video

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a machining, examination, and welding integral device for a nozzle, and more particularly, to a machining, examination, and welding integral device for a nozzle in which machining, examination, and welding can be made in the nozzle by one device. To this end, there is provided a machining, examination, and welding integral device for a nozzle including: a pair of caps provided to be separated from each other; a welding unit provided between the pair of caps to weld a junction part of the nozzle and a pipe; a examination unit coupled to one side of the welding unit to check whether the junction part is defective; and a machining unit coupled to the top of the welding unit to remove the surface of a welded portion of the junction part and/or process the welded portion of the junction part.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a reactor vessel in a nuclear power plant in the related art.
In general, a primary-side main facility of a westinghouse type nuclear power plant includes a reactor vessel 100, and a total of six nozzles 110 of three inlet nozzles and three outlet nozzles on an outer periphery of the top of the reactor vessel 100.
Further, the six nozzles 110 mounted on the reactor vessel 100 and a pipe 130 are connected with each other by a dissimilar metal weld part 120.
Herein, the reactor vessel 100, the pressurizer, the steam generator, the coolant pump, and the like are made of low carbon steel and a main pipe is made of stainless steel.
Further, the dissimilar metal weld parts 120 connecting the nozzle 110 and the pipe 130 are welded to each other by an alloy 82/182 material that can buffer different mechanical properties of materials.
However, according to an apparatus having a configuration in the related art, with an increase in operating years of the nuclear power plant, primary water stress corrosion cracking in the dissimilar metal weld parts 120 gradually increases.
Since an operator needs to approach an inner part of the reactor vessel to replace each of machining, examination, and welding devices which are independently configured according to a required process in order to remove the aforementioned defect, there was a problem in that an error may occur in an operating position according to the device.
Since a safety of the operator is significantly influenced by the vicinity of a nozzle part of the reactor vessel as a zone which is polluted by radioactivity, there was a problem in that it is difficult to perform repairing by hand.

Machining, examination, and welding integral device for nozzle

KOREA PLANT SERVICE & ENGINEEERING CO., LTD


A compact apparatus for severing and removing tie wraps after their installation consists of a cap, a base, a button having a cutting blade mounted for reciprocating motion therein and springs for returning the button to its original position after operation. A tie wrap is passed through the device prior to being secured. The tie wrap is severed by manually reciprocating the blade.

The present invention relates to a cutting tool and more particularly to such a tool for removing self-locking tie wraps after installation.
Tie wraps are commonly used for a variety of purposes in industrial settings. Typically, the tie wrap consists of a strap having a securing mechanism integral therewith. The distal end of the tie wrap is passed through an opening in the securing mechanism, which contains a tab that engages teeth disposed along the length of the strap. The tab engages successive teeth as the strap is pulled through the securing mechanism. The tab acts as a ratchet, effectively preventing the strap from being removed after it is installed. Tie wraps may be made f rom a wide range of material (for example, nylon).
One such purpose for which tie wraps are commonly used is securing tags to equipment that is to be serviced for maintenance purposes. In order to comply with regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, recent regulations require that these tags be secured by non-reusable means. Obviously, the tags must be removed after maintenance operations have been completed. Typically, maintenance employees use diagonal pliers or similar cutting tools to remove the tags; however, pliers are easily misplaced. Additionally, some alternative tools, such as razor knives, can be dangerous to operate. A device that overcomes these problems is desirable.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing self-locking tie wraps.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a device that is quickly and easily installed and remains secured to the tie wrap.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device that is simple and safe to use.
It is still another object of the invention to provide such a device that is reusable.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a device having durable construction and low cost.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The present invention relates to an image reader well suited for reading for reading bound documents such books and magazines, the image reader comprises a document table to support a document to be read, an image sensor to convert a document image to electrical signals, and a signal processing unit to quantize and output said electrical signals to external devices. The signal processing unit is constructed so as to be capable of reading the edge surfaces in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction of a document in an open-faced state and is provided with a size detector to detect the document edge positions on bilateral sides of the open-faced document in a lateral direction, a page size calculator to calculate the length of one page in a lateral direction of said open-faced document based on the read information of the edge surfaces and document edge position detected by said document size detector, and output range setting device to set the image output range in accordance with the length of one page calculated by the page size calculator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reader well suited for reading bound documents such as books and magazines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image readers have been commercialized as book scanners. In such devices, an image sensing unit is arranged above a document table so as to have an open space of several tens of centimeters between said image sensing unit and said document table. When reading a bound document (hereinafter referred to as "book document") such as a book, magazine and the like, a user places the book document on the document table in an open state facing upward. Scanning of the document surface (reading target surface) begins when the start key is turned ON, and the document image read in conjunction with said scan is sequentially output to an external device. If the external device is a printer, a copy image is formed in real time. When using a book scanner, the operation of reading multiple pages is accomplished with high efficiency because the pages can be turned while the document is on the document table. Furthermore, damage to the book is markedly reduced in comparison to arrangements wherein the book is placed in an open state facing downward. The aforesaid book documents include file-type documents. Unlike single sheet documents, the document surface of book documents are curved. Therefore, distortion corresponding to said state of curvature appears in the read image. A read image corrected for said distortion is output to the external device, i.e., a read image is output which has an image quality identical to the read image of a sheet document. Methods of detecting the state of curvature of a document surface include a method of image analysis accomplished by reading the so-called "head" portion of a book document (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-161002).
In reading book documents, the edge (the so-called "fore-edge" of the book) of overlapping sheets appearing at bilateral sides of the document surface when a book document is in an open state are read together with the document surface. The read image of this fore-edge is unnecessary information and detracts from the appearance of the output image. Conventionally, there are two well-known methods of outputting an image which does not include the read image of the fore-edge. A first method utilizes the difference in luminance between the edge and the background of the document surface to detect the border between the edge portion and the document surface in the read image so as to erase the image outside said border. A second method detects the inflection point of the change in height of the document surface, and erases the read image on the exterior side of said inflection point.
However, in the first method utilizing the difference in luminance, disadvantages arise inasmuch as the document surface and edge portion cannot be distinguished when there the difference in luminance is slight as in the case, for example, of old books documents wherein the pages have become yellowed or faded. Furthermore, in the second method of checking for changes in the height of the document surface, disadvantages arise inasmuch as errors readily occur in the inflection point detection because a clear inflection point may not exist as in the case of relatively thin documents such as magazines and thin volumes.

Apparatus and method for determining the size of a page size in an image reader


A method and system for providing transcribed voice content in a human-readable format during an on-going teleconference is provided. In the method, a first terminal engages in an on-going teleconference with a second terminal. During the on-going teleconference, the second terminal is operable to communicate voice content. Sometime during the on-going teleconference, the first terminal may invoke a transcription service for transcribing the voice content into a human-readable notation. After being invoked, the transcription service transcribes the voice content into the human-readable notation and forwards it to the first terminal. After receiving the human-readable notation, the first terminal is operable to display the human-readable notation.

1. Field
The present invention relates to communications and, more particularly, to a method and system for transcribing voice content of an on-going teleconference into human-readable notation.
2. Description of Related Art
A conference call or teleconference allows two or more parties from remote locations to participate in a telephone conversation via their subscriber terminals (e.g., their desktop telephones, mobile telephones, computers or handheld computing devices). Accordingly, a teleconference enables the parties to meet without being in face-to-face contact. And for the most part, the cost associated with holding and participating in the teleconference is generally much less than the cost associated with gathering the parties in one location to hold face-to-face meetings, especially as the number of parties increase.
Businesses, as represented by their business people, use teleconferences to communicate and/or discuss a myriad of information for countless purposes. For example, businesses may hold teleconferences with a various number of parties for the purposes of carrying out business matters, reporting their financial status, relaying information to their employees, providing information to their customers and suppliers, and the like. The number of the parties participating in these teleconferences is generally commensurate with the purpose and/or topic of the teleconference.
For example, the number of parties to the teleconference may be quite substantial when reporting the financial status of a business. On the other hand, the number of parties to the teleconference may be only a few when the topic of discussion relates to some aspect of running the day-to-day business.
To carry out a teleconference, the parties first initiate or establish a teleconference, and then carry on a conversation as if carrying on a normal telephone call between two people. When the parties are finished, they hang up as if ending the normal telephone call.
Establishing a teleconference may be carried out in a number of ways. For example, a teleconference may be established by adding a third party to an on-going telephone conversation between a first and a second party. This may be carried out by the first party (i) placing the second party on hold, (ii) calling the third party on a second line, and (iii) then bridging the second and third parties by releasing the second party from hold.
Alternatively, a teleconference may be established by having parties with invitations to the teleconference dial into and connect a conference server using information contained within the invitations. In such case, each party connected to the conference server receives from the conference server voice content provided by any other party. After establishing the teleconference, the parties participate in the now on-going teleconference by speaking voice content into a microphone and/or listening to spoken voice content via a speaker.
In some instances, not all of the parties to the teleconference will have equal rights in participating in the on-going conversation. For example, some of the parties may not be allowed to speak voice content, i.e., the voice content may not be forwarded to the conference participants. Instead, they may be relegated to merely listening the conversation.
Such limitations may depend upon the information being exchanged or the purpose for the teleconference. For example, a teleconference held by a business for communicating information to employees may not allow the employees to interject in the conversation, whereas a teleconference between members of a particular business unit discussing a particular business matter may have equal access in interacting with the other members.
If, after establishing the teleconference, a user of the first subscriber terminal desires to place an outbound call, receive an incoming call, mute the conversation, and/or otherwise suspend the on-going teleconference, then that user may first place the teleconference on hold. To place the teleconference on hold, the user of the first subscriber terminal may depress on the first subscriber terminal a key or sequence of keys on, such as the hold key or a sequence of numbered digits, respectively.
This, in turn, causes the first subscriber terminal to issue a service-event signal, such as a dual-tone multifrequency signal, to the other subscriber terminals, the conference server or other network node between the first subscriber terminal and the conference server. The service-event signal allows causes the first subscriber terminal, other subscriber terminals, the conference server, and/or the network node to place the first subscriber terminal hold, but not let it be dropped from the teleconference.
When desiring to rejoin the teleconference, the user of the first subscriber terminal may again depress a key (e.g., the hold key) on the first subscriber terminal. As before, this causes the first subscriber terminal to issue another service-event signal to the other subscriber terminals or the conference server. Responsive to this second service-event signal, the first subscriber terminal, other subscriber terminals, the conference server, and/or network node releases the first subscriber terminal from hold.
When on hold, the voice content of the on-going teleconference is not transmitted to the user of the first subscriber terminal. As such, the user is free to do other activities, such as having a face-to-face conversation with a person, placing the outbound call and/or receiving the incoming call, without interference from the conversation of the on-going teleconference.
Unfortunately, this presents a conundrum for the user of the first subscriber terminal who may desire to be apprised of the substance of the teleconference while the teleconference is suspended. This is because the user must decide to either participate in the on-going teleconference or the other activities, but not both.
Therefore, the inventors have discovered a need for a system and method that allows the user of a subscriber terminal to be apprised of the substance of an on-going teleconference whenever the teleconference is placed on hold or otherwise suspended. Further, the inventors have discovered a need for a system and method that allows the user of a subscriber terminal to be apprised of the substance of an on-going teleconference while being able to carry out a second communication.

Method and system for transcribing voice content of an on-going teleconference into human-readable notation


Methods and apparatuses for link-based content ratings for pages are described herein. According to one embodiment, statistics for each of multiple pages is determined with respect to one or more predetermined categories based on the content rating of each of the pages. For each of the categories, a set of primary pages having relationships (e.g., links) with one or more secondary pages is selected, where the selected pages probabilistically distinguish from relationships with other pages. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Today, various content filtering mechanisms are provided to entities to manage and/or control user access to the Internet via facilities provided by the entities. For example, a company typically implements some forms of content filtering mechanisms to control the use of the company's computers and/or servers to access the Internet. Access to content within certain predetermined categories using the company's computers and/or servers may not be allowed during some predetermined periods of time.
A typical content filtering client, which typically resides in a firewall, sends a request for the content rating of a web page in response to each web page browsed. The content rating requests are routed to a separate content rating server. When the content rating server receives a request, the content rating server retrieves the content rating for that request from a database and sends the content rating to the content filtering client.
Based on the content rating retrieved, the content filtering client determines whether the user is allowed to access the web page. If the user is allowed, the content filtering client passes the web page. Otherwise, the content filtering client blocks the web page.
To build the database of content ratings (hereinafter referred to as ratings) used in content filtering, one conventional way is to have a number of workers manually browsing a number of web pages (e.g., Web crawling) to evaluate the content of the web pages. Then the workers assign a content rating to each web page evaluated. The content ratings are stored in the database. Although this type of rating is generally highly accurate, it takes a long time to rate web pages manually. Furthermore, the problem is worsened due to the large number of web pages available over the Internet.
Another existing way to rate web pages is to scan the text in the web pages for keywords or key phrases and evaluate the web pages based on the presence or absence of certain keywords or key phrases. This mechanism can be automated using servers or computing devices well known in the art, and hence, is faster than the manual evaluation discussed above. However, this mechanism suffers from lower accuracy in the ratings resulted. For example, this mechanism may classify a web page having the keyword "breast" in the pornography category. However, medical web pages discussing breast cancer may also be inadvertently classified as pornography because of the use of the word "breast." Furthermore, content rating is typically limited to the content within a document or Web page.


A coherent mixer includes a substrate including a principal surface, the principal surface having a first area and a second area; a multi-mode interference device provided on the first area of the substrate; a light-receiving device provided on the second area of the substrate, the light-receiving device including a plurality of waveguide-type photodiodes; a first input waveguide optically coupled to the multi-mode interference device; a second input waveguide optically coupled to the multi-mode interference device; a plurality of optical waveguides optically coupling the multi-mode interference device to the plurality of waveguide-type photodiodes; and a protective layer covering the first and second areas of the substrate, the protective layer covering the plurality of waveguide-type photodiodes. The protective layer has an opening in the first area of the substrate. In addition, the multi-mode interference device has a surface that is at least partially exposed at the opening of the protective layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coherent mixer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A monolithically integrated 90° hybrid is discussed in "First monolithic indium phosphide based (InP-based) 90°-hybrid opto-electronic integrated circuit (OEIC) comprising balanced detectors for 100GE coherent front ends" IPRM2009, TuB2.2 (Non-Patent Literature 1) by R. Kunkel et al. The 90° hybrid is formed of an InP-based semiconductor material. When the 90° hybrid includes a 2×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler, in order to precisely control the phase of an optical signal, a phase shifter is included in the 90° hybrid.


A materials processing system adapted for the reduction of metallic materials including a material feed portion configured to convey materials to a mill portion comprising a motor driven rotor in close running fit with a cage mounted grate through which reduced material is discharged onto a conveyer. The cage is biased to a closed operating position by one or more hydraulic rams. A control system receives signals from a speed sensor operatively coupled to the rotor, and is configured to regulate the hydraulic rams, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the cage in response to rotation of the rotor. The control system is further configured to regulate the operation of the materials feed portion to suspend material feed during opening of the cage, permitting trapped or jammed material to be expelled from the mill portion.

The present invention is generally related to apparatus for grinding and granulating various types of waste material which may contain hard to grind stray materials, and in particular, to an adaptation to a materials processing system which is adapted to protect the grinding and driving components of the system from damage when such hard to grind stray materials becomes trapped or jammed within the grinding components.
In conventional apparatus configured for the processing of material by grinding, shredding, or crushing, there is a constant problem associated with the intake of material which is either to large or to hard for the apparatus to effectively reduce. Such material, commonly referred to as "tramp material", can become trapped or jammed within the grinding, shredding, or crushing components, resulting in severe damage or destruction to these components or any associated drive mechanisms before the driving motors can be shut down. The high operational speeds of conventional material grinding, shredding, or crushing apparatus make it especially difficult to timely shut down the driving motors when such tramp materials are encountered.
One solution to which reduces the risk of damage to the grinding, shredding or crushing components of a materials processing apparatus is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,472 to Williams, Jr. et al. The '472 Williams, Jr. et al. patent discloses an electrical safety cutoff circuit means which is operative upon the loss of a shear pin support means for a sizing screen and shredding cutter for stopping the electrical current supply to a drive motor of the materials processing apparatus. Essentially, the '472 Williams, Jr. et al. patent discloses an automatic cutoff system for the drive mechanism of the materials processing apparatus which is triggered by the loss of a shear pin support means due to trapped or jammed tramp material exerting an excess load on the sizing screen. In the '472 Williams, Jr. et al. system, once the shear pin support means is lost, tripping the electrical safety cutoff, the materials processing apparatus is completely shut down until an operator manually replaces the lost shear pin and restarts the system. This can result in a significant interruption in the materials processing system, due to the time required to replace the shear pin and re-start the associated materials feed systems, drive systems, and processed materials removal systems.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an apparatus which is adapted to protect the grinding and driving components of a materials processing system from damage when such hard to grind stray materials becomes trapped or jammed within the grinding apparatus, and which is capable of being automatically reset, thereby eliminating the need for an operator to manually replace frangible parts and restart the system.