Redundancy for Virtual Private Network (VPN) service with an Ethernet access network is provided by a full-mesh of dedicated pseudowires connected among the network-facing provider edge (n-PE) devices, each of which is associated with the same Ethernet access network. A provider Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) generated by a provider bridge node in the Ethernet access network and received at an input interface of one n-PE device is relayed (without being processed) to all other n-PEs associated with that access network over the full-mesh of dedicated pseudowires. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Many enterprises are changing their business processes using advanced information technology (IT) applications to achieve enhanced productivity and operational efficiencies. These advanced applications tend to place increasing importance on peer-to-peer data communications, as compared to traditional client-server data communications. As a result, the underlying network architecture to support these applications is evolving to better accommodate this new model.
The performance of many peer-to-peer applications benefit from being implemented over service provider networks that support multipoint network services. A multipoint network service is one that allows each customer edge (CE) end point or node to communicate directly and independently with all other CE nodes. Ethernet switched campus networks are an example of a multipoint service architecture. The multipoint network service contrasts with the hub-and-spoke network service, where the end customer designates one CE node to the hub that multiplexes multiple point-to-point services over a single User-Network Interface (UNI) to reach multiple "spoke" CE nodes. In a hub-and-spoke network architecture, each spoke can reach any other spoke only by communicating through the hub. Traditional network service offering to the end customers via wide area networks (WANs) such as Frame Relay (FR) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks are based on a hub-and-spoke service architecture.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) services provide secure network connections between different locations. A company, for example, can use a VPN to provide secure connections between geographically dispersed sites that need to access the corporate network. There are three types of VPN that are classified by the network layer used to establish the connection between the customer and provider network. Layer 1 VPNs are simple point-to-point connections such as leased lines, ISDN links, and dial-up connections. In a Layer 2 VPN (L2VPN) the provider delivers Layer 2 circuits to the customer (one for each site) and provides switching of the customer data. Customers map their Layer 3 routing to the circuit mesh, with customer routes being transparent to the provider. Many traditional L2VPNs are based on Frame Relay or ATM packet technologies. In a Layer 3 VPN (L3VPN) the provider router participates in the customer's Layer 3 routing. That is, the CE routers peer only with attached PEs, advertise their routes to the provider, and the provider router manages the VPN-specific routing tables, as well as distributing routes to remote sites. In a Layer 3 Internet Protocol (IP) VPN, customer sites are connected via IP routers that can communicate privately over a shared backbone as if they are using their own private network. Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) networks are one type of L3VPN solution. An example of an IP-based Virtual Private Network is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,878. U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,273 describes a MPLS system with a network device for traffic engineering.
Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) has recently generated interest with enterprises and service providers as it offers multipoint Ethernet LAN services, often referred to as Transparent LAN Service (TLS), over MPLS networks. VPLS is an architecture that delivers a Layer 2 multipoint VPN service that in all respects emulates an Ethernet LAN across a wide metropolitan geographic area. All services in a VPLS appear to be on the same LAN, regardless of location. In other words, with VPLS, customers can communicate as if they were connected via a private Ethernet segment, i.e., multipoint Ethernet LAN services. VPLS thus supports the connection of multiple sites in a single bridged domain over a managed IP/MPLS network.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a basic VPLS architecture with an IP or MPLS service provider network core. The customer sites (i.e., CE devices) are connected to the service provider network at a PE device. Each PE-CE pair is shown connected by an Attachment Circuit (AC). An AC is the customer connection to a service provider network; that is, the connection between a CE and its associated PE. An AC may be a physical port, or a virtual port, and may be any transport technology, i.e., Frame Relay, ATM, Ethernet VLAN, etc. In the context of a VPLS, an AC is typically an Ethernet port. In the example of FIG. 1, each PE includes a Virtual Switch Instance (VSI) that emulates an Ethernet bridge (i.e., switch) function in terms of MAC address learning and forwarding in order to facilitate the provision of a multi-point L2VPN. A pseudowire (PW) is shown connecting every two VSIs. A PW is a virtual connection that is bi-directional in nature and, in this example, consists of a pair of unidirectional MPLS Virtual Circuits (VCs).
Conceptually in context of the VPLS service, a PW can be thought of as point-to-point virtual link for each offered service between a pair of VSIs. Therefore, if each VSI can be thought of as a virtual Ethernet switch for a given customer service instance, then each PW can be thought of as a virtual link connecting these virtual switches to each other for that service instance.
Another type of provider provisioned VPN architecture that uses PWs is the Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS). VPWS is a Layer 2 service that provides point-to-point connectivity (e.g., Frame Relay, ATM, point-to-point Ethernet) and can be used to create port-based or VLAN-based Ethernet private lines across a MPLS-enabled IP network. Conceptually, in the context of the VPWS service, a PW can be thought of as a point-to-point virtual link connecting two customer ACs. After a PW is setup between a pair of PEs, frames received by one PE from an AC are encapsulated and sent over the PW to the remote PE, where native frames are reconstructed and forwarded to the other CE. All PEs in the SP network are connected together with a set of tunnels, with each tunnel carrying multiple PWs. Depending on the number of customer sites and the topology for connecting these sites, the number of PWs setup for a given customer can range from two, for a customer with only two sites, to many PWs for a customer who has locations connected to every PE.
For an Ethernet network to function properly, only one active path can exist between any two nodes. To provide path redundancy and prevent undesirable loops in the network topology caused by multiple active paths, Ethernet networks typically employ Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), or some variant of STP, e.g., MSTP or RSTP. (For purposes of the present application, STP and its variants are generically denoted by the acronym "xSTP".) Switches in a network running STP gather information about other switches in the network through an exchange of data messages called Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs). BPDUs contain information about the transmitting switch and its ports, including its switch and port Media Access Control (MAC) addresses and priorities. The exchange of BPDU messages results in the election of a root bridge on the network, and computation of the best path from each switch to the root switch. To provide path redundancy, STP defines a tree from the root that spans all of the switches in the network, with certain redundant paths being forced into a standby (i.e., blocked) state. If a particular network segment becomes unreachable the STP algorithm reconfigures the tree topology and re-establishes the link by activating an appropriate standby path. Examples of networks that run STP are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,519,231, 6,188,694 and 6,304,575.
A redundancy mechanism for Virtual Private LAN Service with Ethernet access network is described in Section 11.2 of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) document draft-ietf-l2vpn-vpls-ldp-01.txt. The redundancy mechanism described in that draft leverages the use of xSTP on the Ethernet bridges in the access network as well on the PEs to provide a failure recovery mechanism for link and node failures. According to this approach, each network-facing PE (n-PE) runs xSTP such that each BPDU packet is terminated by the receiving n-PE and the information in the BPDU packet is processed by the n-PE. The n-PE then originates a new BPDU packet using the newly processed information. The main drawback of this mechanism is that it requires every node in the Ethernet access network, including n-PE devices, to execute the spanning-tree protocol. However, certain platforms (e.g., with router-based platforms) utilize n-PE devices that are not equipped to run xSTP protocols. These platforms would require costly xSTP-related software development in order to run xSTP protocols.
Thus, there is a need for alternative methods and apparatus that achieve redundancy functionality for VPLS services with Ethernet access networks, while obviating the need to run xSTP protocols on the n-PEs.

L2VPN redundancy with ethernet access domain


An ion implantation system having a dose cup located near a final energy bend of a scanned or ribbon-like ion beam of a serial ion implanter for providing an accurate ion current measurement associated with the dose of a workpiece or wafer. The system comprises an ion implanter having an ion beam source for producing a ribbon-like ion beam. The system further comprises an AEF system configured to filter an energy of the ribbon-like ion beam by bending the beam at a final energy bend. The AEF system further comprises an AEF dose cup associated with the AEF system and configured to measure ion beam current, the cup located substantially immediately following the final energy bend. An end station downstream of the AEF system is defined by a chamber wherein a workpiece is secured in place for movement relative to the ribbon-like ion beam for implantation of ions therein. The AEF dose cup is beneficially located up stream of the end station near the final energy bend mitigating pressure variations due to outgassing from implantation operations at the workpiece. Thus, the system provides accurate ion current measurement before such gases can produce substantial quantities of neutral particles in the ion beam, generally without the need for pressure compensation. Such dosimetry measurements may also be used to affect scan velocity to ensure uniform closed loop dose control in the presence of beam current changes from the ion source and outgassing from the workpiece.

In the manufacture of semiconductor devices, ion implantation is used to dope semiconductors with impurities. Ion beam implanters are used to treat silicon wafers with an ion beam, in order to produce n or p type extrinsic material doping or to form passivation layers during fabrication of an integrated circuit. When used for doping semiconductors, the ion beam implanter injects a selected ion species to produce the desired extrinsic material. Implanting ions generated from source materials such as antimony, arsenic or phosphorus results in "n type" extrinsic material wafers, whereas if "p type" extrinsic material wafers are desired, ions generated with source materials such as boron, gallium or indium may be implanted.
Typical ion beam implanters include an ion source for generating positively charged ions from ionizable source materials. The generated ions are formed into a beam and directed along a predetermined beam path to an implantation station. The ion beam implanter may include beam forming and shaping structures extending between the ion source and the implantation station. The beam forming and shaping structures maintain the ion beam and bound an elongated interior cavity or passageway through which the beam passes en route to the implantation station. When operating an implanter, this passageway is typically evacuated to reduce the probability of ions being deflected from the predetermined beam path as a result of collisions with air molecules.
The mass of an ion relative to the charge thereon (e.g., charge-to-mass ratio) affects the degree to which it is accelerated both axially and transversely by an electrostatic or magnetic field. Therefore, the beam which reaches a desired area of a semiconductor wafer or other target can be made very pure since ions of undesirable molecular weight will be deflected to positions away from the beam and implantation of other than desired materials can be avoided. The process of selectively separating ions of desired and undesired charge-to-mass ratios is known as mass analysis. Mass analyzers typically employ a mass analysis magnet creating a dipole magnetic field to deflect various ions in an ion beam via magnetic deflection in an arcuate passageway which will effectively separate ions of different charge-to-mass ratios.
Dosimetry is the measurement of ions implanted in a wafer or other workpiece. In controlling the dosage of implanted ions, closed loop feedback control systems typically are utilized in order to dynamically adjust the implantation to achieve uniformity in the implanted workpiece. Such control systems utilize real-time current monitoring to control the slow scan velocity of an implanter. A Faraday disk or Faraday cup periodically measures the beam current and adjusts the slow scan speed to ensure a constant dose. Frequent measurement allows the dose control system to respond quickly to changes in beam current. The Faraday cup may be stationary, well shielded, and located close to the wafers, making it sensitive to the beam current dosing the wafers. However, Faraday cups measure only the electric current portion of the beam current.
Interactions between the ion beam and gases evolved during implant can cause the electric current, a charge flux, to vary even when the particle current, a dopant flux, is constant. To compensate for this effect, the dose controller may read the beam current from the Faraday cup and the pressure from a pressure gauge concurrently. When a pressure compensation factor is specified for an implantation recipe, the measured beam current is modified by software to present a compensated beam current signal to the circuit controlling the slow scan. The amount of compensation (e.g., in the compensated beam current signal) in such a closed loop system may thus be a function of both the current measured at the Faraday cup and the pressure.
When properly applied, pressure compensation improves repeatability and uniformity over a wide range of implant pressures. However, the vacuum in an implanter is never perfect. There is always some residual gas in the system. Usually the residual gas poses no problems (in fact, a small amount of residual gas is beneficial for good beam transport and effective charge control). However, at high enough pressure, for example, increased pressure due to photoresist outgassing, charge exchange between the ion beam and the residual gas can cause dosimetry errors. If the shift in dose between implants into bare wafers and implants into photoresist-coated (PR) wafers is unacceptably large, or if the dose uniformity is significantly degraded, then pressure compensation may be employed in order to improve uniformity.
Charge exchange reactions between ion beams and residual gas can add or subtract electrons from the ion, changing the ion's charge state from the value desired in the recipe. When the charge exchange reaction is neutralization, a portion of the incident ion flux is neutralized. The result is a reduction in the electrical current while the particle current (including neutrals) remains unchanged. When the charge exchange reaction is electron stripping, a portion of the ion flux loses electrons. The result is an increase in the electrical current while the particle current remains the same.
For typical recipes where charge exchange is an issue, the beam often undergoes much more neutralization than stripping. As a result, the beam current measured by the Faraday cup decreases whenever the end station pressure increases. Ions in the beam are neutralized, but they are not deflected or stopped by the residual gas. The dose rate, dopant atoms per area per time, is unchanged by charge exchange after the analyzer magnet. Implanted neutrals contribute to the dose received by the wafer, but are not measured by the Faraday cup. As a result, the wafer may become overdosed.
Pressure compensation may thus be employed whenever charge exchange between the ion beam and residual gas in the process chamber has a significant effect on dose. The pressure at which this happens depends on the recipe and the process specifications. For some recipes, compensation is required to meet implanter specification when the pressure due to photoresist outgassing is 5×10−6 torr as measured on the pressure gauge. For most recipes where the pressure due to photoresist outgassing is 2×10−5 torr or higher, compensation may be worth investigating. Such compensation may include measuring the effect of photoresist outgassing by implanting monitor wafers with and without photoresist, and comparing the measured variation to the process specification. The amount of compensation required depends on the pressure, which the dose controller reads from a pressure gauge during the implant.
In addition, changes in the ion source output itself may result in some of the beam current variations measured at the dose cups. Dose cup measurements of such ion source changes at the wafer are also subject to the proportion of neutral generation to the electric current measured and outgassing pressure changes as discussed. It is necessary to compensate dose rates for the actual change in ion flux at the wafer which requires the system to differentiate between a change in the current caused by a change in source output and a change caused by charge exchange in the gas in the beam path. Therefore, the use of such dose cup measurements to correct or compensate dose rates may be significantly hampered by these variables.
Thus, there is a need for improved systems and methods for obtaining uniform dose rates in ion implanters without the added complications and costs associated with the use of pressure measurements and pressure compensation in the presence of beam current changes from the ion source and outgassing from the wafer.

Dose cup located near bend in final energy filter of serial implanter for closed loop dose control


The present invention concerns a method for performing optical dispersion compensation of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals. The method comprises the steps of providing a compensation stage with an optical transmission medium to be used as parallel operating cascade of polarization controllers and optical birefringent elements to compensate dispersion of the WDM optical signals when being transmitted spectrally dispersed into the different wavelength channels in parallel through the parallel cascades. The method is being characterized by determining the chromatic dispersion of the optical signals at one or few different wavelength channels possibly allowing an extrapolation of the chromatic dispersion to the other wavelength channels for defining accordingly an additional feedback signal to be used for the polarization controller setting.

The input data stream of an optical transmission system may be viewed as a series of light pulses representing digital bits. The bit rate of current optical transmission systems generally range from 10 Gbit/s to 40 Gbit/s resulting in light pulses (or bit periods) that are, respectively, 100 to 25 picoseconds (psecs) wide.
Receivers in an optical transmission system convert each bit period in the data stream into digital ones or zeros by determining, for each bit period, whether a light pulse has been received (digital one) or not (digital zero).
Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is a phenomenon that may distort the light pulses of the data stream and thus impair the ability of a receiver to determine whether a bit period should be converted into a one or zero. As a result, PMD limits the transmission accuracy and capacity of optical transmission systems and therefore is a critical parameter in optical communications. The fundamental mode of a single mode optical fiber is the solution to the wave equation that satisfies the boundary conditions at the core-cladding interface. Although this appears to be counter-intuitive, there are two solutions to the wave equation that correspond to the fundamental mode. The fiber is deemed to be a single mode fiber because both solutions have the same propagation constant. The two solutions are referred to as the polarization modes. These polarization components are mutually orthogonal. The state of polarization refers to the distribution of light energy between the two polarization modes. In practice, since the cross-sectional area of a fiber is not perfectly circular, the two polarization modes have slightly different propagation constants that give rise to pulse spreading. One polarization mode is referred to as the "fast-mode", and the other polarization mode is known as the "slow-mode". The fast mode and the slow mode mix as they travel down the fiber, becoming indistinguishable. The resulting difference in propagation time between polarization modes is known as the differential group delay.
Optical signal transmitted through an optical fiber are subjected also to another physical dispersion known as chromatic dispersion (CD). This occurs because each wavelength of the optical signals travels through a given medium, such as an optical fiber, at a different speed. Since the various wavelengths of light have different velocities, a given wavelength of light will arrive at a receiver disposed at the end of a transmission fiber before another wavelength of light will arrive at that receiver. The time delay between different wavelengths of light leads to pulse broadening. Chromatic dispersion is obtained in an optical fiber by measuring fiber group delays in the time domain. Chromatic dispersion is a relatively stable phenomenon. It can be in the range of 300-500 psec in a 10 Gb/s system before incurring a 1 dB power penalty. In a 40 Gb/s system, the range decreases to 18-25 psec.
CD can be time variant as a result of changes with temperature or stress, but typically, the time variance of CD is not particularly strong. PMD, on the other hand, is very time variant, and thus, compensation should track with time. PMD describes the statistical broadening of optical pulses within an optical fiber caused by polarization effects. This broadening effect, similar to pulse broadening from chromatic dispersion, ultimately prevents the correct detection of the waveform at the receiver.
In WO 03/040777 is described an integrated system for performing dispersion compensation on wavelength channels in WDM or DWDM transmissions (D for dense). The system includes a tunable integrated dispersion compensation module that performs chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation on each of the wavelength channels in the transmission. Feedback is used to adjust the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module until receiver performance is optimized. Such an integrated system as described in WO 03/040777 has the big disadvantage to require a specific dispersion compensation module for each different wavelength channels of the optical signals. A dispersion compensation using such solution will imply high costs and therefore can not be really efficient.
In WO 02/080411 is described a method and apparatus for compensation for polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in an optical transmission system without perturbing the laser source. Such optical PMD compensator is rather attractive for bit rates from 10 GHz to 40 GHz WDM optical transmission system. Indeed, the approach is cost-effective due to parallel processing of many channels within one hardware (Liquid crystal display array for polarization controllers) and one birefringent crystal (polarization maintaining fiber) for all parallel wavelength channels. Also only one wavelength scanning polarimeter (feedback signal) is shared among all channels. Furthermore, it is taken advantage of the use of fastfeed-forward adaptation which avoids time consuming dither techniques i.e. consecutive variations of polarization controller tuning parameters into the direction of an optimized feedback signal.
Nevertheless, a solution as proposed in WO 02/080411 has still the big drawback that neither chromatic dispersion (CD) or transmitter shirp nor self-phase modulation (SPM) can be compensated.


Contents on a server that need not be updated for a fixed period of time are recorded directly in a medium, and desired contents in a local device can be accessed by the same operation procedure as that for accessing the server storing the contents. When a request to acquire delivery information is made from information browsing unit with respect to a local proxy server, the local proxy server analyzes the request, and acquires a server-side control file managed by a server with respect to which the request has been made, and a local-side control file in duplicate information storing unit. If corresponding information exists in the duplicate information storing means and also if the information has the latest version number, the information is fetched from the duplicate information storing unit; otherwise the delivery information is fetched from a server computer.

1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information management system, a local computer, a server computer, a computer-readable recording medium recording an information acquisition program and a computer-readable recording medium recording a server program, and more particularly, to an information management system, local computer, server computer, computer-readable recording medium recording an information acquisition program and computer-readable recording medium recording a server program for handling information delivered through a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a result of recent rapid popularization of the Internet, it is usually the case that a plurality of servers are started within a server computer to provide a large number of users with innumerable contents such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)-based text, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) files, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) files, and sound files. Image files like JPEG files and sound files have large file size as compared with text files, and thus take time to be transmitted. Consequently, the amount of information transmitted over lines drastically increases, causing overloading of lines.
To avoid such line congestion, contents once accessed are cached in a local medium (such as a hard disk unit). This permits the cached contents to be read out from the local medium when accessed again, so that the amount of information transmitted over communication lines can be reduced.
The method of caching contents is, however, associated with a problem that information must always be transferred from a server when accessed for the first time. Also, cached data is usually kept only for a limited term, and therefore, access after expiry of the term is influenced all the same by the capacity of transmission lines.
Meanwhile, some contents on the Internet are updated almost every day, while others need not be updated for a fixed period of time. For example, contents such as a list of participants in some meeting scarcely need to be updated after the meeting schedule and the participants are fixed until the end of the meeting. Moreover, if particular members alone are to attend such a meeting, it is enough that the contents about the meeting can be viewed only by the members concerned.
Such specific contents may therefore be recorded in CD-ROMs (Compact Disk Read Only Memories) and the CD-ROMs may be distributed to those who require the contents. In this case, however, when the contents are recorded in the media, inter-content links must be rewritten. Specifically, where HTML files exist in a server, links and image files to be shown in-line are designated by URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) assigned to respective designated files on the server. Accordingly, in the case of storing, in a CD-ROM, contents including linked files and image files to be shown in-line, the location of files to be designated should be the local medium. To permit the local medium to be accessed as the target of links, the URL specifications need to be rewritten so as to include the local name. Rewriting the URLs of all HTML files, however, consumes much labor and time.
Taking the above into consideration, an object of the present invention is to provide an information management system which records, directly in a medium, contents on a server that need not be updated for a fixed period of time and which permits desired contents in a local device to be accessed by the same operation procedure as that for accessing the server storing the contents.
To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an information management system for management of information delivered through a network, comprising:
a server computer including delivery information storing means for storing delivery information to be delivered through the network and a server-side control file in which attribute information of the delivery information is registered, and a server for delivering, in response to a request, information stored in the delivery information storing means; and
a local computer including duplicate information storing means for storing duplicate information corresponding to the delivery information in the delivery information storing means and a local-side control file in which are registered location information indicative of a location within the delivery information storing means where the duplicate information existed and attribute information of the duplicate information, and request relaying means, responsive to a request to acquire the delivery information stored in the delivery information storing means, for acquiring the server-side control file and the local-side control file, comparing the attribute information of the requested delivery information with the attribute information of the duplicate information corresponding to the requested delivery information, and determining information to be acquired in accordance with a result of comparison.

Information management system, local computer, server computer, and recording medium


An asphalt composition comprising from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer (a) and 100 parts by weight of asphalt (b), wherein the hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer (a) comprises a polymer block (A) comprising vinyl aromatic monomer units and at least one hydrogenated copolymer block (B) obtained by hydrogenation of a non-hydrogenated random copolymer block comprising conjugated diene monomer units and vinyl aromatic monomer units, the hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer (a) having the following characteristics (1) to (5):                (1) the content of the vinyl aromatic monomer units is more than 30% and not more than 60% by weight per weight of the hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer;        (2) the content of the polymer block (A) is from 5% to 50% by weight per weight of the hydrogenated copolymer;        (3) the weight average molecular weight is from 30,000 to 500,000;        (4) the percentage of hydrogenation of the double bonds in the conjugated diene monomer units is from 60% to 100%; and        (5) at least one peak of the loss tangent (tan δ) is present in the range of from −40° C. to less than −10° C. in a dynamic viscoelastic spectrum obtained with respect to the hydrogenated copolymer.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an asphalt composition containing a hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer with a specific structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to an asphalt composition comprising 0.5 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer (a) and 100 parts by weight of asphalt (b), wherein the above described hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer (a) comprises a polymer block (A) comprising vinyl aromatic monomer units and at least one hydrogenated copolymer block (B) obtained by hydrogenation of a non-hydrogenated random copolymer block comprising conjugated diene monomer units and vinyl aromatic monomer units, the above described hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer (a) having the following characteristics (1) to (5):
(1) the content of the above described vinyl aromatic monomer units is more than 30% and not more than 60% by weight per weight of the above described hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer;
(2) the content of the above described polymer block (A) is from 5% to 50% by weight per weight of the above described hydrogenated copolymer;
(3) the weight average molecular weight is from 30,000 to 500,000;
(4) the percentage of hydrogenation of the double bonds in the above described conjugated diene monomer units is from 60% to 100%; and
(5) at least one peak of the loss tangent (tan δ) is present in the range of from −40° C. to less than −10° C. in a dynamic viscoelastic spectrum obtained with respect to the above described hydrogenated copolymer.
The asphalt composition of the present invention has high softening point, modulus and elongation and is excellent in high-temperature storage stability. In particular, the asphalt composition has extremely high softening point and modulus even when it contains a low content of the hydrogenated copolymer. Furthermore, the asphalt composition has excellent high-temperature storage stability even when it contains a high content of the hydrogenated copolymer. The asphalt composition of the present invention can be suitably utilized for road pavement, roofings/waterproof sheets and sealants, by making the most of such characteristics. In addition, the asphalt composition is very suitable for roofing shingles since it is also excellent in weatherability in addition to the above characteristics.
(2) Description of Related Art
Asphalt compositions have been widely used for applications such as road pavement, waterproof sheets, sound isolation sheets, and roofings. Various attempts have been made to improve the properties by adding various polymers to asphalt. Specific examples of these polymers include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, rubber latexes, block copolymers consisting of conjugated dienes, and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons and the like.
In recent years, there is an increasing demand for asphalt mixtures with excellent strength and abrasion resistance associated with circumstances such as the increase or speedup of vehicles passing through roads. This requires a higher softening point and mechanical strength such as modulus, and the improvement of these strength properties has been attempted, for example, by increasing the molecular weight of the above block copolymers. However, the asphalt composition obtained according to such a method does not provide sufficient storage stability during high-temperature storage, resulting in separation of polymers from the asphalt composition, increase in melt viscosity and reduction of workability for road pavement.
Consequently, the improvement of storage stability has been generally attempted by adding an aromatic oil or crosslinking by adding sulfur or peroxides. For example, JP-B-57-24385 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,322) discloses the use of sulfur, and JP-A-03-501035 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,112) discloses the combination of sulfur, a vulcanizing agent and a vulcanization accelerator containing sulfur. However, such improvement methods have not yet provided adequate results and a further improvement has been desired.
In addition, US Patent No. 2003/0149140 discloses an asphalt composition using a copolymer consisting of a conjugated diene with a special structure and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon. However, the above described composition is inadequate in the balance of the softening point, modulus, and high-temperature storage stability and is poor in weatherability and low-temperature characteristics. Therefore, a further improvement has been desired.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,913 discloses an asphalt composition for roofing shingles comprising a block copolymer consisting of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene and fillers. However, since the above described composition uses a common block copolymer consisting of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene, it is inadequate in high-temperature storage stability and poor in weatherability, therefore, a further improvement has been desired for use in roofing shingles.

Asphalt composition containing hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer


An adjustable junction box is provided that allows a technician to selectively adjust the distance between an outer surface of the junction box and an outer surface of a stud to which the junction box is interconnected. A selectively-removable cover is also provided that allows an outlet, for example, to be interconnected to a power supply and later removed for inspection.

Electrical wires connected to electrical devices (i.e., outlets and switches) found in dwellings and office buildings terminate or meet in junction boxes. Junction box location is strictly controlled by building codes. The number and quality of wires extending into a junction box is also verified by building inspectors.
Normal installation entails interconnecting the junction box to a wooden or metal stud. Wires are then brought to the junction box and capped. A "rough-in" inspection is often performed next where the inspector verifies proper junction box location and the presence of wires required.
Eventually an internal building surface, i.e., drywall, is added to the stud. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, this process is messy and drywall joint compound, which is often referred to as "mud," often enters the junction box. Drywall mud can contact wires and, as it hardens, will cause the wires to lose resiliency which makes it difficult to later install the electrical device. The wire ends can also be compromised, wherein cleaning or trimming may be required so that they can interface with the electrical device. Furthermore, junction boxes usually include bosses that accommodate screws used to interconnect the electrical device to the junction box. The bosses can also be filled with mud, thereby making it difficult to later interconnect the outlet or switch.
After installation, the edge of the junction box may not be flush with the internal building surface, which may make it difficult to install finish plates onto the electrical device. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that alignment mismatches often require longer fasteners, which often do not come with the finish plates, to connect the electrical device to the junction box. If the junction box extends past the interior building surface, there may be a gap between the edge of the interior building surface and the finish plate which is not aesthetic and must be addressed.
After these common installation issues are addressed, the electrical device is interconnected to the junction box and the inspector will be invited to re-inspect the electrical system to ensure all outlets and switches work properly.
Accordingly, it is a long felt need to provide a junction box that facilitates interconnection of the electric device, allows realignment relative to the building surface if required, expedites installation, and expedites inspection.


A torsional vibration damping disk with a base body which has a circumferential edge on the outside which is partially turned back in order to form receiver spaces for spring elements, in particular for bow spring elements. In order to create a torsional vibration damping disk which has a long service life at high rotational rates, a reinforcement strap, the free end of which is fastened to the base body, extends out from the circumferential edge in the area of at least one receiver space.

The task of the invention is to create a torsional vibration damper disk with a base body which has a circumferential edge on the outside which is partially turned back in order to form receiver spaces for spring elements, in particular for bow spring elements, which even with high rotational speeds have a long service life.

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if the device is reverse wired. Methods for ensuring a reset lock out state before shipment are provided.

1. Field
The present application is directed to resettable circuit interrupting devices including without limitation ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's), arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI's), immersion detection circuit interrupters (IDCI's), appliance leakage circuit interrupters (ALCI's), equipment leakage circuit interrupters (ELCI's), circuit breakers, contactors, latching relays and solenoid mechanisms. More particularly, the present application is directed to circuit interrupting devices that include a circuit interrupting portion that can break electrically conductive paths between a line side and a load side of the device and between a line side and a user load. Certain embodiments of the present application are directed to circuit interrupting devices including a reset lock out portion capable of preventing the device from resetting if the circuit interrupting portion is not functioning, if an open neutral condition exists or if the device is mis-wired. Certain embodiments of the present application are directed to methods of manufacturing circuit interrupting devices to be initially in a tripped condition. Certain embodiments of the present application are directed to methods of manufacturing circuit interrupting devices to be initially in a reset lock out condition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many electrical wiring devices have a line side, which is connectable to an electrical power supply, and a load side, which is connectable to one or more loads and at least one conductive path between the line and load sides. Electrical connections to wires supplying electrical power or wires conducting electricity to the one or more loads are at line side and load side connections. The electrical wiring device industry has witnessed an increasing call for circuit breaking devices or systems which are designed to interrupt power to various loads, such as household appliances, consumer electrical products and branch circuits. In particular, electrical codes require electrical circuits in home bathrooms and kitchens to be equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI), for example. Presently available GFCI devices, such as the device described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,894, use an electrically activated trip mechanism to mechanically break an electrical connection between the line side and the load side. Such devices are resettable after they are tripped by, for example, the detection of a ground fault. In the device discussed in the '894 patent, the trip mechanism used to cause the mechanical breaking of the circuit (i.e., the conductive path between the line and load sides) includes a solenoid (or trip coil). A test button is used to test the trip mechanism and circuitry used to sense faults, and a reset button is used to reset the electrical connection between line and load sides.
However, instances may arise where an abnormal condition, caused by for example a lightning strike, occurs which may result not only in a surge of electricity at the device and a tripping of the device but also a disabling of the trip mechanism used to cause the mechanical breaking of the circuit. This may occur without the knowledge of the user. Under such circumstances an unknowing user, faced with a GFCI which has tripped, may press the reset button which, in turn, will cause the device with an inoperative trip mechanism to be reset without the ground fault protection available.
Further, an open neutral condition, which is defined in Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard PAG 943A, may exist with the electrical wires supplying electrical power to such GFCI devices. If an open neutral condition exists with the neutral wire on the line (versus load) side of the GFCI device, an instance may arise where a current path is created from the phase (or hot) wire supplying power to the GFCI device through the load side of the device and a person to ground. In the event that an open neutral condition exists, current GFCI devices, which have tripped, may be reset even though the open neutral condition may remain.
Commonly owned application Ser. No. 09/138,955, filed Aug. 24, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,967, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, describes a family of resettable circuit interrupting devices capable of locking out the reset portion of the device if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.
Some of the circuit interrupting devices described above have a user accessible load side connection in addition to the line and load side connections. The user accessible load side connection includes one or more connection points where a user can externally connect to electrical power supplied from the line side. The load side connection and user accessible load side connection are typically electrically connected together. An example of such a circuit interrupting device is a GFCI receptacle, where the line and load side connections are binding screws and the user accessible load side connection is the plug connection to an internal receptacle. As noted, such devices are connected to external wiring so that line wires are connected to the line side connection and load side wires are connected to the load side connection. However, instances may occur where the circuit interrupting device is improperly connected to the external wires so that the load wires are connected to the line side connection and the line wires are connected to the load connection. This is known as reverse wiring. In the event the circuit interrupting device is reverse wired, fault protection to the user accessible load connection may be eliminated, even if fault protection to the load side connection remains.
Furthermore, studies related to GFCI devices indicate that perhaps 10-20% or more of all GFCI devices installed were found to be inoperable by the user. However, after those devices were returned to the manufacturer, most were found to be operational. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the devices were reverse wired by the user (line-load side reversal). Furthermore, regulatory codes and industry standards codes such as those by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) may require that GFCI devices be manufactured with a warning label advising the user to correctly wire the line and load terminals of the device. However, even such warnings may not be adequate as suggested by the studies above. Furthermore, a reasonably foolproof mis-wiring prevention scheme may obviate the need for such a warning label.
Conventional GFCI devices may utilize a user load such as a face receptacle. Typically GFCIs are four terminal devices, two phase or AC leads for connection to AC electrical power and two LOAD leads for connection to downstream devices. If a conventional GFCI is properly wired, the GFCI provides ground fault protection for devices downstream and the incorporated receptacle. However, if a conventional GFCI is reverse wired, unprotected power is provided to the receptacle face at all times. For example, when a conventional GFCI is reverse wired, the face receptacle is "upstream" from the current imbalance sensor coil. Accordingly, if the conventional GFCI is in either the tripped or normal state, the face receptacle is provide unprotected power.
In spite of detailed instructions that come packaged with most GFCIs and identification of AC and LOAD terminals, GFCIs are sometimes mis-wired. One reason that this problem exists is that in new construction, both the input line and downstream cables appear identical when the installer is connecting a new ground fault circuit interrupter. This is especially a problem in new construction where there is no power available in order to test which cable is leading current into the device.
The problem may be compounded when it is considered that many typical duplex receptacle GFCIs have a test button that will trip and shut off the power when pushed to verify operations of internal functions in the GFCI. However, use of the test button does not indicate whether the built in duplex receptacle is protected. Typical users may not be aware of this. Users simply test the device after installation and verify that the unit trips upon pressing the test button by way of an audible click, for example. This gives the user a false sense that all is well. What is actually happening when the GFCI is reverse wired is that the GFCI disconnects power from and protects everything downstream, but does not protect the receptacle contacts of the GFCI itself. The device will trip depending on the condition of internal components and irrespective of how the GFCI was wired. It does not matter that the GFCI was reverse wired when it was tested.
Certain references described devices that attempt to warn the user of a reverse wiring condition. For example, one approach utilizes a GFCI with reverse line polarity lamp indicator to indicate proper installation of the GFCI. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,193 issued to Bienwald et al. on Oct. 25, 1983 and assigned to the owner of the present invention. However, a push button needs to be manually pressed in accordance with instructions in order to detect whether the GFCI is mis-wired.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,412 issued to Neiger et al. on Dec. 19, 1995 and owned by the assignee of the present invention, is directed to a ground fault circuit interrupter incorporating mis-wiring prevention circuitry. Mis-wiring sense circuitry automatically triggers the generation of visual and audible alarms in the event of mis-wiring conditions. The circuit employs an alarm inhibiting technique that incorporates sense circuitry connected to the AC terminals on one side of the internal GFCI switches or relays and alarm generation circuitry connected to the load terminal on the opposite side.
Commonly owned application Ser. No. 09/204,861, filed Dec. 3, 1998, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, describes a device to test for reverse wiring and provide an indication of reverse wiring.

Method of distribution of a circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection


A plastic container of the type that may be formed from a material such as PET using the stretch blow molding process includes a main body portion and a base portion that is characterized by a relatively tall and narrow profile above the standing ring and that has a deep inset recess defined therein. The deep inset recess is defined in part by an upstanding inner sidewall portion adjacent to the standing ring that has a height that may be greater than about 0.35 inch. The upstanding inner sidewall portion may have a substantially straight portion that is substantially parallel to a substantially straight portion of an outer sidewall of the base.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the design and manufacture of plastic containers, particularly plastic containers that are made by the reheat stretch blow molding process.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Plastic containers for packaging beverages are commonly fabricated from polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET containers are lightweight, inexpensive, and recyclable and can be economically manufactured in large quantities.
PET containers are typically manufactured using the stretch blow molding process. This involves the use of a preform that is injection molded into a shape that facilitates distribution of the plastic material within the preform into the desired final shape of the container. The preform is first heated and then is longitudinally stretched and subsequently inflated within a mold cavity so that it assumes the desired final shape of the container. As the preform is inflated, it takes on the shape of the mold cavity. The polymer solidifies after contacting the cooler surface of the mold, and the finished hollow container is subsequently ejected from the mold.
PET containers are common for use in packaging beverages such as juices using what is known in the industry as the hot-fill process. This involves filling the containers while the liquid product is at an elevated temperature, typically 68° C.-96° C. (155° F.-205° F.) and usually about 85° C. (185° F.) in order to sterilize the container at the time of filling. Containers that are designed to withstand the process are known as "hot fill" type containers. After filling, such containers undergo significant volumetric shrinkage as a result of the cooling of the product within the sealed container. Hot fill type containers accordingly must be designed to have the capability of accommodating such shrinkage. Typically this has been done by incorporating one or more concave vacuum panels into the side wall of the container that are designed to flex inwardly as the volume of the product within the container decreases as a result of cooling. More recently, it has been proposed to accommodate such volumetric shrinkage by providing a movable vacuum panel in the bottom of the container.
In some instances, it is desirable for a plastic container to be formed with a deep inset base, i.e. a base that is shaped to have a relatively tall and narrow standing ring. A deep inset base may be desirable for any one of a number of different reasons, including but not limited to the placement of a movable vacuum panel in the bottom of the container. For example, a manufacturer may desire to place an article in the space that is defined by the container bottom, or a deep inset base may be desirable in order to provide stackability of the containers with respect to each other.
Unfortunately, it has been problematic in the past to manufacture a container having a deep inset base using the reheat stretch blowmolding process. Efforts to produce such containers often resulted in unwanted extreme stretching and thinning of the container wall in the area of the standing ring of the container base, crimping or folding of the standing ring, or other unwanted deformities in the bottom of the container. These problems made it practically impossible to effectively for a container having a deep inset base. A need exists for an improved container having a deep inset base and an improved method for manufacturing such a container.

Plastic container having a deep-inset base


An animal underbelly bone splitter preferably includes a base member, a bottom leg, a top leg and a handle portion. The bottom leg extends from one end of the base member at a bottom thereof. The top leg extends from the one end of the base member at a top thereof, such that a bone slot is created between the bottom leg and the top leg. A curved connecting surface preferably connects the bottom leg with the top leg. A cutting edge is formed on a top edge of the bottom leg. The handle portion extends from an opposing end of the base member at an acute angle from the top edge of the top leg. A resilient grip is formed on the handle portion. A second embodiment of the animal underbelly bone splitter includes a bone pocket tab, which extends downward from an end of the top leg.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to dressing an animal and more specifically to an animal underbelly bone splitter, which allows underbelly bones to be easily split for animal dressing.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,548 to Jones et al. discloses a pelvic griddle splitter tool and method. Pat. No. D442342 to Parrish discloses an animal dressing tool. U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,312 to Elrod et al. discloses a pelvic bone splitter, particularly for deer. U.S. Pat. No. 8,235,775 to Moy discloses a bone splitting and breaking tool.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an animal underbelly bone splitter, which allows the pelvic bone and the brisket bone of an animal to be split in one upward motion.


The disclosed embodiments provide methods and apparatus for detecting or announcing presence and/or location information in a wireless communication network. In one aspect, a method for sharing user information in a wireless communication network includes sending an alert from an originator to a target, the alert including information about the originator and requesting information about the target, receiving information by the originator from the target in response to the alert, and updating information in the originator about the target, based on the received information. In another aspect, a method includes sending at least one alert from an originator, requesting information about at least one target user; receiving information by the originator in response to the alert; and updating information by the originator about the target user, based on information received.

A class of wireless services intended for quick, efficient, one-to-one or one-to-many (group) communication has existed in various forms for many years. In general, these services have been half-duplex, where a user presses a "push-to-talk" (PIT) button on a phone/radio to initiate a group communication. If granted the floor, the talker then generally speaks for a few seconds. After the talker releases the PTT button, other users who are available may request the floor. These services have traditionally been used in applications where one person needs to communicate with a group of people, such as field service personnel or taxi drivers, generally known as group communication services.
There is a need, therefore, for mechanisms that allow a user or a group of users to efficiently detect or announce information, such as user presence and/or location information, to other user or group of users.

Method and apparatus for sharing user information in a group communication network


A method of decoloring a colored concrete, comprises adding to the colored concrete, a decoloring pigment comprising a titanium oxide pigment, or a titanium oxide pigment and a pigment having a complementary color relative to color of the colored concrete. Such method can decolore the color of the colored concrete residue which attaches to or remains in production facilities in order to return a color thereof to that of an ordinary plain concrete, without works or treatments for washing-out or removing the colored concrete residue which attaches to or remains in the production facilities, in which the works or treatments are required in the case where the production facilities are used for the production of an ordinary plain concrete after the colored concrete has been produced therein, and without works or treatments for purifying a waste water generated upon washing-out or removing the residue and for making the waste water harmless; and a pigment used therefor.

The present invention relates to a method of decoloring a colored concrete. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of decoloring a colored concrete residue which attaches to or remains in production facilities in order to return a color thereof to that of an ordinary plain concrete, without works or treatments for washing-out or removing the colored concrete residue which attaches to or remains in the production facilities, in which the works or treatments are required in the case where the production facilities are used for the production of an ordinary plain concrete after the colored concrete has been produced therein, and without works or treatments for purifying a waste water generated upon washing-out or removing the residue and for making the waste water harmless; and a pigment used therefor.
In recent years, there have been a variety of needs for concrete constructions because of advancement of industrial structure and improvement in people's life in association with the development of industry and economy. In consequence, the concrete constructions have been demanded to satisfy conformity to natural environment or beauty.
In order to meet such a demand, there has been an increasing tendency that dry-as-dust concrete constructions are colored so as to be harmonized with nature or enhance the beauty or favorableness. For this reason, colored concrete constructions have been presently spotlighted.
Hitherto, the colored concrete constructions have been constructed using a colored concrete which is prepared by adding not more than 10% by weight of powdery or granular coloring pigment to a cement admixture composed usually of cement, coarse aggregate (gravel), fine aggregate (sand), water and various additives such as an admixing agent, and then kneading the resultant mixture. The colored concrete has been widely used in various constructions such as buildings, pavements of park promenades, roads, bulkheads for shore or bank protection, and the like, mainly for purposes of conformity to natural environment and beauty.
Meanwhile, in the production of the colored concrete, a residue of the colored concrete (which is composed substantially of mortar containing almost no coarse aggregate and the like) has attached to concrete production facilities such as a mixer or a belt conveyer, or to an inside of drum of a ready-mixed concrete conveying truck (agitator truck). Consequently, in the case where it is intended to produce other colored concrete or ordinary plain concrete in same production facilities or agitator trucks after the production of the colored concrete, it is necessary to recover the colored concrete residue attached thereto for its reuse, or wash out or remove the colored concrete residue therefrom.
As the method for recovering a concrete residue for its reuse, in Attachment 10 of JIS A 5308, there has been described a method of using mortar (concrete residue) which attaches to an inside of an agitator truck. In the method described in JIS A 5308, after concrete is completely unloaded, i.e., a whole amount of concrete is discharged from the agitator truck, a mortar residue which attaches to drum inner walls, mixing blades and the like of the agitator truck is slurried using a mortar stabilizer and then the resultant slurry is mixed with a fresh ordinary plain concrete.
However, in the case where the colored concrete residue, there arises a problem that when a fresh ordinary plain concrete (uncolored concrete) is loaded and mixed with the colored concrete residue, the resultant mixed concrete is wholly colored by pigments contained in the colored concrete residue, thereby making the resultant mixed concrete non-reusable.
On the other hand, in the case where the colored concrete residue attached is washed out, it has been demanded that colored concrete-containing waste water generated upon cleaning the production facilities for ready-mixed concrete, such as mixers, belt conveyers and the like, or an inside of drum of the agitator truck, should be purified and rendered harmless before being discharged from these production facilities or agitator trucks, or should be recovered for reuse thereof.
However, in the case of the colored concrete-containing waste water, since a supernatant liquid obtained by separating cement, fine aggregate and the like from the waste water is disadvantageously colored, it is impossible to reuse the supernatant liquid as a kneading water. Further, operations for purifying the supernatant liquid and making it harmless are complicated and it is extremely difficult to purify the supernatant liquid and make it harmless. Incidentally, the reason why it is difficult to purify the supernatant liquid is considered such that a coloring pigment contained in the colored concrete residue is readily dispersed in the supernatant liquid by a cement dispersant (admixing agent) usually mixed into a cement admixture of the colored concrete upon the production thereof. It is further considered that in the case where the coloring pigment is surface-treated in order to enhance its dispersibility in the cement admixture, the supernatant liquid is more readily colored.
In the field of mortars composed usually of cement, sand and water, which contain no coarse aggregate, colored mortars also have the same problems as described hereinbefore.
As described above, technical problems in the fields of colored concrete production are how to recover and reuse the colored concrete residue or colored mortar residue which attaches to production facilities thereof, or how to purify the colored concrete-containing waste water and render it harmless to discharge out of the production facilities or to obtain a colorless transparent supernatant liquid for its reuse as a kneading water. Nevertheless, no simple and effective methods therefor has been proposed.
As a result of the present inventor's earnest studies for solving the above-mentioned problems, it has been found that by adding to the colored concrete residue (i) a titanium oxide pigment, or (ii) a titanium oxide pigment and a pigment having a complementary color relative to the color of a coloring pigment contained in a colored concrete, the color of a hardened concrete containing the colored concrete residue can be similar to that of an ordinary plain concrete. The present invention has been attained based on the finding.


The invention relates to a hair treatment method for treating hair by using a hair treatment tool (1). The hair treatment tool (1) includes: a fiber structure member (5) that retains a hair cosmetic; and a liquid-impermeable sheet (3) to which the fiber structure member (5) is fixed. The fiber structure member (5) retains a hair cosmetic that includes a pigment and a film-forming resin, and is sealed in a packaging (2). The hair treatment method of the invention treats hair by: exposing a surface of the fiber structure member (5) of the hair treatment tool (1); and bringing the fiber structure member (5) into contact with hair, and in this state, moving the fiber structure member (5) in a direction of orientation of the hair.

Currently existing hair dye agents for changing hair color include: permanent hair dye agents for coloring hair by causing a dye precursor to permeate into the hair and causing a chemical reaction within the hair; semi-permanent hair dye agents in which a dye is caused to directly permeate into the hair; and temporary hair colorants in which a pigment etc. is caused to adhere to the surface of the hair.
Such hair dye agents, and especially permanent hair dye agents, are relatively easy to use for full coloring, in which all the hair on one's head is dyed uniformly. It is, however, difficult to perform partial coloring, or touch-up, in which a portion of the hair is selectively dyed, and this task is difficult for an ordinary consumer who is not a hairdresser to perform on his/her own. Thus, there have been proposed various dedicated tools for allowing a user to perform partial coloring easily.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a partial hair dyeing tool in which a water-absorbent sheet for impregnation with a chemical solution, such as a hair dye agent or a bleaching agent, is provided on the inner surface of a cover material that can be folded in two and that is formed so as to be openable and closable. With this partial hair dyeing tool, partial coloring is achieved by: combing out a portion of hair; sandwiching the combed-out hair strand by the partial hair dyeing tool; and leaving the tool in this state for a while to wait for the chemical solution to permeate into the hair.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a partial hair dyeing tool, in which a hair strand is sandwiched between: a first sheet including a liquid-absorbent sheet for impregnation with a dyeing agent or a bleaching agent, and a liquid-impermeable sheet serving as a cover material and having an adhesive layer on the surface; and a second sheet consisting of a sheet having the same structure as the first sheet, or consisting only of a liquid-impermeable sheet. With this partial hair dyeing tool, the hair is dyed by fixing the first and second sheets in tight contact with one another, and then peeling the sheets apart after hair dyeing is finished.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a hair dyeing tool wherein microcapsules in which a hair dye liquid is sealed are provided on a base sheet material, and, by breaking the microcapsules, the base sheet material is impregnated with the dye, to thereby allow dyeing of hair. According to Patent Literature 3, it is only necessary to fold the base sheet material and sandwich a hair strand therebetween, and also, the dye liquid permeates into the base sheet material and thus does not seep out to the fingertips, thus preventing soiling of the fingers, clothes, etc. during dyeing.
Patent Literature 4 discloses a hair treatment applicator system including an absorbent substrate having a specific pore radius, and a highly viscous hair treatment composition. In the disclosed method for applying the hair treatment composition: a hair strand is held by the absorbent substrate in a state where the absorbent substrate is folded along one of its dimensions, so that the inner surface can be wrapped around the hair strand while the user holds the hair treatment application system between the thumb and the index finger; and, with the user holding the hair strand with the other hand, the hair treatment composition is applied by swiping the hair treatment applicator system along the entire length of the hair strand.
Patent Literature 5 discloses a hand-held applicator including: a flat, pouch-like container containing content, such as a hair coloring agent or a hair bleaching agent; an outlet for dispensing the content by pressing the principal surfaces of the container; and flaps for spreading the content. Patent Literature 5 describes that, with this applicator, it is possible to prevent soiling of the user's hands by the content, and also spread the content even over a surface that is easily ripped.

Hair treatment method and hair treatment tool


An audio apparatus is disclosed which allows a user to easily visually confirm deviation of an operation position from a prescribed value even when the deviation is small. The audio apparatus includes an operator that operates an audio signal, a display that displays a relationship between a parameter setting value according to an operation of the operator and a prescribed value, and one or more processors that change a display form of the display. The one or more processors cause, when the parameter setting value is deviated from the prescribed value, display with a display form different from that when the parameter setting value coincides with the prescribed value, regardless of an amount of the deviation.

In the related art, structures are proposed in which, in an audio apparatus such as a mixing console, when a parameter setting value such as sound image localization (pan), a sound volume, or the like is displayed, an instruction line is displayed on a bar-shaped element or on a circular knob.
FIGS. 30 and 31 show example displays of a parameter setting value in the related art. FIG. 30 shows an example display 100 in which a line showing a prescribed value is displayed in a display region having a quadrangular shape (elongated shape), and a bar showing a current parameter setting value is displayed in an overlapping manner. FIG. 31 shows an example display 200 in which a line showing a prescribed value is displayed near a circular knob and a line showing the current parameter setting value is displayed.
Parameters to be set include parameters having prescribed values such as center of the sound image localization (pan) or 0 dB of the sound volume, and it is desired that the user can easily visually confirm whether the current parameter setting value coincides with the prescribed value or is deviated therefrom.
JP 3951655 B discloses, in order to provide a display device of an operator with improved viewability of an operation position of the operator, a display device of the operator having index display control means which causes an index to be displayed with a predetermined display form when the operation position of the operator is a predetermined reference position, and which gradually changes a display form of a display color, lightness, or a size of the index to a different display form from the predetermined display form according to an amount of deviation of the operation position from the reference position.
However, in the related art described above, because the display color, the lightness, or the size of the index is gradually changed according to the amount of deviation of the operation position from the reference position or the prescribed value (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "prescribed value"), when the deviation of the operation position from the prescribed value is small, the change of the display color or the like of the index is also consequently small, and there has been a problem in that it is difficult for the user to notice the change.
An advantage of the present disclosure lies in provision of a technique which allows the user to easily visually confirm that the operation position is deviated from the prescribed value even when the deviation of the operation position from the prescribed value is small.


A power transmission system used in connection with a vehicle power wheel of a bicycle or other vehicle which has a fixed axle and which utilizes a rotating chain sprocket engaging an endless chain for receiving an input torque and transmitting an output torque. The system includes a transmission ratio varying apparatus that is operably connected to the wheel by the endless chain. The transition ratio apparatus incorporates a drive collar fixedly secured to a sprocket and having one or more input and output drive rings. A drive body is displaceable with respect to the input and output drive rings and includes input and output pawls pivotally connected to the drive body and engageable with the input and output drive rings. A shifter housing is moveable with respect to the fixed axle cam to rotatably shift the drive body with respect to the drive ring and change the relationship between the input and output pawls and thereby vary the torque transmission ratio. An operator lever and a cable connecting the operator lever with the shifter collar functions to move the shifter housing with respect to the fixed axle cam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power transmission system and, more particularly, to a system wherein input and output pawls are utilized to be driven by an input drive ring and drive an output drive ring through a plurality of different torque transmission ratios.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of variable transmission systems having pulleys with varying diameters are known such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,626,701 (Sleeper) and U.S. Pat. No. 1,279,271 (Sock1). These devices contain variable pulleys associated with belt drive power transmission systems. Another type of system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,944 which discloses a variable ratio chain sprocket where a plurality of chain engaging segments are slidably affixed first between a pair of discs and are constrained to move in a radial direction with respect thereto. There are, however, variables in this type of construction that make it difficult to precisely adjust the transmission and to avoid excessive wear. More recently, a system shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,240 covers a variable transmission system utilizing in one embodiment a shifter device with a stationary shifter ring, a moveable shifter plate, and an appropriate control mechanism for selectively displacing the shifter plate with respect to the shifter ring and sprocket. While this patented device reflects a relatively new approach to variable speed transmission systems, there is a limitation with respect to the range within which the torque transmission ratio can vary.
Thus, there is a need to provide an even more efficient and greater variation in the torque transmission ratio range of such transmission system. It is to this need that the present application is directed.


An inflatable car cover (10) comprising a covering (12) having a plurality of channel supported air pockets (14) to fit over an exterior finish (16) of a car (18). A plurality of restraint straps (20) are provided. Each restraint strap (20) has a channel supported air pocket (22) fluidly attached at a first end (24) to a first lower edge (26) of the covering (12). A component (28) is for inflating all of the channel supported air pockets (14) within the covering (12) and all of the channel supported air pockets (22) in the restraint straps (20). A structure (30) is for attaching a second end (32) of each restraint strap (20) to an opposite second lower edge (34) of the covering (12) under the car (18), to hold the covering (12) in place upon the exterior finish (16) of the car (18). This will protect the exterior finish (16) of the car (18) from the elements, such as damaged caused by rain, sun and leaves, as well as protection from falling debris, such as acorns, hail, branches and stones.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates generally to car covers and more specifically it relates to an inflatable car cover.
The conventional car cover is a fitted fabric that normally protects the finish of the car from wind-blown dust, rain, snow, ice, sun, salt spray, tree sap, smog, bird droppings and airborne pollutants. The conventional car cover will not protect the car from falling debris, such as acorns, hail, branches and stones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous car covers have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,302 to Adams; 4,294,483 to Ferris; 5,242,206 to Heck; 5,287,904 to Smith et al.; 5,350,000 to Wang and Des. 321,254 to Harp all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

Inflatable car cover and method of covering


A zoom lens system includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. At least the first and third lens groups move along the optical axis for zooming. The second lens group includes at least one negative lens element, and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens system, and in particular, relates to a telephoto zoom lens system which has a zoom ratio of about 2.5 to 3.0, the angle of view of less than 10xc2x0 at the long focal length extremity, and is mainly used for a single lens reflex (SLR) camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Telephoto zoom lens systems with a zoom ratio of about 3.0 have been known from, for example, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,399, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,594. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,399, the telephoto zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object, and the first lens group is stationary while the second and third lens groups are moved upon zooming. In such a zoom lens system, the entire length thereof is advantageously maintained constant upon zooming; however, the entire length of the lens system cannot be made short, which is unsuitable for miniaturization.
Furthermore, the telephoto zoom lens system taught in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,594 likewise has a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object; however, each lens group is moved independently of each other upon zooming. In such a zoom lens system, since zooming is performed by moving all of the lens groups independently, freedom in the optical design thereof is increased, so that the correcting of aberrations, and miniaturization of the lens system can be advantageously attained. On the other hand, the embodiments of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,594 have disclosed thirteen lens elements, which is relatively large, so that difficulties arise in reducing the cost of the lens system. Furthermore, the traveling distance of the second lens group is relatively long, which has made the structure of the lens frame complicated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a miniaturized telephoto zoom lens system which has a zoom ratio of about 2.5 to 3.0, the angle of view of less than 10xc2x0 at the long focal length extremity, a simple structure, and is produced at a low cost.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, there is provided a zoom lens system including a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object. At least the first lens group and the third lens group are moved along the optical axis to perform zooming. The second lens group includes at least one negative lens element, and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:
0.65 less than fw/f1 less than 0.80xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
1.73 less than N2n less than 1.85xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
0.15 less than X3/fw less than 0.21xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
xe2x88x920.05 less than X2/X1 less than 0.10xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
wherein
fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity;
f1 designates the focal length for the first lens group;
N2n designates the average refractive index, with respect to the d-line, of the negative lens elements in the second lens group;
X3 designates the traveling distance, upon zooming, of the third lens group from the short focal length extremity towards the long focal length extremity, under the condition that the direction from the image plane towards the object is defined as the positive direction;
X2 designates the traveling distance, upon zooming, of the second lens group from the short focal length extremity towards the long focal length extremity, under the condition that the direction from the image plane towards the object is defined as the positive direction;
X1 designates the traveling distance, upon zooming, of the first lens group from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, under the condition that the direction from the image plane towards the object is defined as the positive direction.
It is preferable that the second lens group be stationary upon zooming. According to this arrangement, only the first and third lens groups are the moveable lens groups, so that a frame structure for supporting the lens groups can be simplified.
The first lens group is preferably constituted by a three-lens-element arrangement in which a positive single lens element, a negative single lens element and a positive single lens element are provided, in this order from the object; and the first lens group satisfies the following condition:
62 less than xcexd1pxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
wherein
xcexd1p designates the average Abbe number of the positive lens elements in the first lens group.
Furthermore, the most image-side lens element in the third lens group includes a negative meniscus lens element having the concave surface facing towards the object, and the third lens group preferably satisfies the following condition:
xe2x88x920.90 less than f3/f3end less than xe2x88x920.65xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(6)
wherein
f3 designates the focal length of the third lens group; and
f3end designates the focal length of the most image-side lens element in the third lens group.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-11-371586 (filed on Dec. 27, 1999) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Abstract: wherein fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system; f1 designates the focal length of the first lens group; N2n designates the average refractive index of the negative lens elements in the second lens group; X3 designates the traveling distance of the third lens group; X2 designates the traveling distance of the second lens group; X1 designates the traveling distance of the first lens group.


A pair of pushbuttons on opposite sides of a release pushbutton are individually depressible to operate a respective set of normally open contacts to a closed position. A rotatably mounted latch is spring biased against a medial surface of one of the pair of pushbuttons to engage a latch surface upon depression sufficient to close the contacts. The release pushbutton overlies a lever arm of the latch and depression of the release pushbutton rotates the latch free of the latch surface to release the depressed pushbutton. A solid bar interlock is pivotally mounted on the release pushbutton, and opposite ends of the interlock extend into the paths of the pair of pushbuttons. Latched depression of one outer pushbutton draws the release pushbutton down close to the latch lever arm, whereupon little movement of the other outer pushbutton is required to operate the latch to a release condition. Simultaneous depression of both outer pushbuttons is blocked by a limit stop prior to closure of either contact set.

This invention relates to pushbutton selector switches of the type wherein a pair of pushbuttons housed in a common housing are depressible to operate respective individual switch contact sets to an ON condition. An interlock is provided to prevent depression of both buttons simultaneously. A latch mechanism is provided to latch a respective pushbutton in a depressed position, thereby retaining the associated contact set in a closed position. A third pushbutton located between the aforementioned pair of pushbuttons is depressible to release the latch mechanism.
Switches of the aforementioned type have been known heretofore. The pushbutton switch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,029 issued Jul. 5, 1983 to William J. Schaad et al and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,688 issued May 8, 1984, a division of 4,392,029, discloses various arrangements of pushbuttons which may be interlocked or latched, some of which include a separate release button. A deflectable arm molded integral with the housing is disposed between and parallel to a pair of adjacent pushbuttons for engagement by projections on the pushbuttons to deflect the member into the path of one pushbutton upon depression of the other, thereby providing an interlock between adjacent pushbuttons, preventing both pushbuttons from being depressed at the same time. The same arm is provided with latch surfaces as are the projections on the adjacent pushbuttons whereby depression of one pushbutton causes the arm to engage that pushbutton and latch it depressed until the other pushbutton is depressed to release the latch. This switch can provide latching or interlocking between an adjacent pair of buttons only and not between a widely spaced pair of pushbuttons. The projections on the pushbuttons bear downward on the deflectable arm to place the arm under compression. The projections and the upper surfaces of the arm are angled, providing sliding cam surfaces which deflect the arm at a right angle direction change for the movement of the pushbutton.
Another switch of the aforementioned type is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,810 issued Oct. 1, 1985 to Edmund M. Butterworth and assigned to the assignee of this invention. This switch comprises a pair of depressible outer pushbuttons alternately operable by a sliding interlock structure cammed for movement at right angles to the movement of the pushbutton by cam surfaces on the respective pushbuttons and interlock. A latch system comprises a centrally disposed release pushbutton having an actuator pivotally mounted thereon and a pair of latch members rotatably mounted in the housing on opposite sides of the actuator. The latch members engage both the actuator and a respective adjacent outer pushbutton to hold the release pushbutton depressed against a spring bias. Depression of an outer pushbutton aligns a shoulder on the outer pushbutton with a projection on an adjacent latch member, permitting the latch member to be rotated over the shoulder to a position of interference with the depressed outer pushbutton and permitting the spring to bias the release pushbutton to an extended position. Depression of the release pushbutton carries the actuator beyond a release point of the latch to reset the system. This switch utilizes a 90 degree or right angle direction change in sliding movement for the interlock member and an inter-cooperating multiple part latch system which provides interference to movement of an outer pushbutton member as opposed to true latching engagement with that member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,578 issued Oct. 20, 1987 to J. J. Keranen et al and assigned to the assignee of this invention is an improvement over the Butterworth patent. The outermost pair of pushbuttons in this switch are interlocked to prevent simultaneous depression and are latched in the depressed position by a pair of sliding plates which are cammed for movement at right angles to movement of the pushbuttons by cooperating cam surfaces on the pushbuttons and the slide plates. The slide plates drive rotatably mounted contact actuators. The sliding movement and right angle camming action in this and the aforementioned switches creates high amounts of friction and potential window locking of the elements in operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,677 issued Feb. 2, 1971 and also assigned, by mesne assignments, to the assignee of this invention, discloses a pushbutton selector switch having the outer pushbuttons interlocked against simultaneous contact operation. An interlock bar is pivotally mounted on a centrally disposed OFF pushbutton. Opposite ends of the interlock bar underlie the respective outer pushbuttons. Depression of bout outer pushbuttons causes the interlock bar to depress the central pushbutton, thereby opening a set of normally closed contacts to disconnect electrical power to the switch before both outer contacts close.
While interlocking pushbutton selector switches of the aforementioned type have been useful for their intended purposes, this invention relates to improvements thereover, and more particularly to improvements over U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,578, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.


The present invention features an apparatus for detecting a shoulder load between two components in a drill string, comprising a pin connection, a box connection and a washer for sensing tensioning strain force therebetween. The pin connection has coupling means, and the box connection has corresponding coupling means for coupling to the pin connection to form a drill string. The washer is arranged between the pin connection and the box connection. The washer has embedded fiber optic Bragg Grating sensors that respond to a compressive strain shoulder load force when the pin connection is coupled to the box connection, and further responds to a light signal, for providing a compressive strain shoulder load force light signal containing information about a sensed compressive strain shoulder load force between the pin connection and the box connection in the drill string. The fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor may include either a Bragg Grating single point sensor, multiple Bragg Gratings, or a lasing element formed with pairs of multiple Bragg Gratings.

In the extraction of oil from sub-surface reservoirs, it is necessary to drill a borehole, or indeed several bore holes, in order to access the reservoir. Using current technology, the practice is to drill highly deviated wells, or indeed drill the well in the area of the reservoir horizontal to the access of a main borehole. This involves bending a drill string in the desired direction by adjusting a weight on a bit and by using an individual or combination of devices that adjust the fulcrum point between the bit and that point. Such methods result in a controlled bowing or bending of the drill string. Because the drill string is made of individual lengths of collars, drill bits or specialty tools held together by specially configured American Petroleum Institute (API) or industry proprietary connections, the stress at the connections is dependent upon the respective connection shoulder interface loading. By torquing up the respective drill string pieces relative to each other, the interface loading on the connection shoulder is roughly controlled. This torque measurement is influenced by the thread profile, the type of lubricant used, the calibration of torque readouts, etc. As a result the actual connection shoulder load is never exactly known. See FIG. 1.
During the controlled bowing or bending of the drill string that occurs during directional drilling, the shoulder interface can become unloaded sufficiently to allow the drilling mud, which is circulated at high pressure down through the drill string, to leak through the connection/shoulder into the annulus. Prolonged leakage leads to mud jet cutting, and possibly a washout. If the connection is sufficiently weakened, the drill strings can no longer transmit the torque or carry the weight, and a twistoff may occur. Similarly, if the drill string is rotating, the connection can fatigue due to cyclical stressing of the pin due to bending.
Known techniques for dealing with the above referenced problem associated with drilling in various directions currently relies on the basic principle that the thread profile of both box and pin are accurately machined to be defined API or proprietary thread profile and that thread dope (lubricant) is properly applied. The torque is applied via pulling systems (either hydraulic or winch activated) acting via tong levers which are secured to the respective pieces of the drill string that have to be tightened. The torquing system pulls the tongs in opposing directions radially to the axis of the drill string. The applied torque is calculated to have been applied when hydraulic or strain gauge type readouts, on the torquing system, reach precalculated values. Mechanical spinner systems work on a similar principle although the method of applying the torque may be distributed over a longer section of the drill string.
There are significant problems associated with existing methods of monitoring the torque in such connections. Because most oil-field threads that hold drill string components together are tapered, the ability to apply the correct shoulder load is directly proportional to the thread profile of the mating parts as well as the coefficient of friction. In either case, if the taper is too shallow or extreme, the shoulder load is either too low or too high. Similarly, if the thread lubricant results in too low a coefficient of friction, then there is a high shoulder load and a possible stretched pin. Alternatively, if the thread lubricant has too high a coefficient of friction, then the shoulder load will be too low.

Washer having fiber optic Bragg Grating sensors for sensing a shoulder load between components in a drill string