A vehicle radar safety apparatus employs a radar for detecting an object in front and/or to the rear and sides of a vehicle and for producing an indication of the distance and closing speed between the vehicle and the detected object. A signal processing unit sums the vehicle speed and the closing speed between the vehicle and detected object and compares the summed output with a signal corresponding to the distance between the vehicle and the detected object to provide an output to a display indicating the vehicle's capability of stopping prior to colliding with the detected object. The output from the signal processing unit is optionally applied to an accelerator and/or brake control circuit to automatically slow down the vehicle. A brake pedal override switch is connected to the accelerator and brake controls to override the accelerator and/or brake controls when the vehicle operator depresses the vehicle brake pedal. The radar includes a horn antenna having a plano-convex dielectric lens mounted at an exterior end. The lens has an exterior convex surface shaped to reduce side lobe generation of the transmitted radar wave so as to transmit a radar wave of a minimal beam width at a specified operating frequency and effective radar antenna diameter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to vehicle safety apparatus and, more specifically to vehicle safety apparatus for locating an object surrounding a moving vehicle and to provide an indication of the vehicle's capability of stopping to avoid collision with the detected object.
2. State of the Art
Radar systems for controlling a vehicle in response to the detection of an object surrounding the vehicle are known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,652 discloses such a vehicle radar system in which front, rear and side sensors are mounted on a vehicle. A radar means is connected to each of the sensors and calculates the distance and closing speed to an object detected by one of the sensors, particularly the front or rear sensors. The vehicle velocity is used to calculate a distance which, under existing conditions, is the minimum safe distance the vehicle should be with respect to the detected object if the detected object immediately stops, so as to provide an indication of the moving vehicle's capability of stopping without collision with the detected object.
The radar system provides an indication to the operator of the vehicle of the vehicle's capability of stopping prior to collision with the detected object. The indicator is preferably a visual indicator in the form of a light on a display console mounted in the vehicle. This radar system also provides for automatic control of the vehicle accelerator and/or brakes to automatically slow the vehicle down to avoid collision an with object detected in front or to the rear of the vehicle.
The existing road conditions, whether wet, dry or icy, is also a factor in the computation of the safe operating distance of the vehicle and is input to the radar control apparatus via a switch mounted on the operator console.
The radar employed for the front and rear sensors in this system is a Doppler radar. While the vehicle safety and protection system disclosed in this patent is effective in detecting and controlling the vehicle within safe operating limits to avoid a collision with a detected object, it has been found that certain improvements could be made to this system to improve its efficiency and to provide greater operator control over the system.
The Doppler radar employed in this patented system is large and requires a considerable amount of space in the vehicle. The large diameter radar and low operating frequencies is necessary to provide the desired narrow beam directly in front of or to the rear of the vehicle so as to avoid detecting objects to the sides of the vehicle which do not prevent a potential collision situation to the vehicle. Specifically, the radar in this patent as well as other similar prior art vehicle radar systems has an effective diameter of six inches at an operating frequency of 10 to 24 GHz. This effective diameter and operating frequency creates a radar beam having a 6.degree. beam width which is particularly suited for vehicle applications as 6.degree. covers one road lane width at the range of the radar. However, the six-inch diameter radar is large and unwieldy and cannot easily be mounted in existing vehicles due to minimal available space at the front and/or rear of such vehicles. However, merely employing a smaller effective diameter radar at a higher operating frequency, such as 24 GHz, has the effect of increasing the beam width to approximately 18.degree.. This is unsuitable for vehicle applications as 18.degree. would cover up to three lanes of roadway and thereby detect objects to the sides of the vehicle in front or back of the vehicle which do not pose a potential collision situation.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a vehicle radar safety system which is capable of employing a smaller diameter radar than that previously employed in vehicle radar systems. It would also be desirable to provide such a small diameter radar in a vehicle radar system which is capable of operating at a high frequency and yet provides a sufficiently narrow radar beam. It would also be desirable to provide a vehicle radar safety apparatus which enables the operator of the vehicle to selectively control various operating features of the radar system. Finally, it would be desirable to provide a vehicle radar system which automatically compensates for existing road conditions, i.e., wet or dry.


A magnet roller comprises a magnet body integrally molded out of a resin magnet composition prepared by mixing and dispersing magnetic powders in a resin binder and a shaft portion projecting from both ends or one end in an axial direction of the magnet body and has a magnetization pattern with a zero-gauss zone between a pair of magnetic poles having the same polarity which are adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction, wherein a cut-out portion extending in an axial direction is formed on the side of the magnetic body at the predetermined position of the zero-gauss zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnet roller for use in the developing unit of an electrophotographic device or electrostatic recording device using magnetic toner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, in the field of electrophotographic devices and electrostatic recording devices such as copiers, printers and facsimiles, there has been known a developing method which comprises forming an electrostatic latent image on a latent image holder such as a photosensitive drum and visualizing the electrostatic latent image by supplying magnetic toner to the electrostatic latent image by means of a developing device.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the constitution of a conventional developing device 40. The developing device 40 comprises a developing roller 50 which contains a cylindrical magnet roller 52 magnetized to a predetermined magnetizing pattern in a rotating cylindrical sleeve 51. The developing device 40 sucks up magnetic toner T stored in a developing container 53 to the surface of the sleeve 51 based on the magnetizing pattern and carries it, forms a uniform thin layer of the magnetic toner T by means of a layer forming blade 54, and supplies the magnetic toner T on an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photosensitive drum 60 to visualize it by a so-called jumping phenomenon that the magnetic toner 5 is jumped on the photosensitive drum 60 by the magnetic force characteristics of the magnet roller 52. The magnetic toner T remaining on the surface of the sleeve 51 is separated from the sleeve 51 and collected thereafter.
In the magnet roller 52, the above magnetizing pattern is designed such that a sucking pole 52a for sucking up the magnetic toner T and a collection pole 52b for separating the magnetic toner T are made the same in polarity to carry out the collection and sucking of the magnetic toner T by repulsive force between the two poles. A zero-gauss zone where the peak magnetic force becomes 100 gauss or less is formed between the above two poles to separate them from each other to improve the recovery of the remaining magnetic toner T.
The above magnet roller 52 is produced by injection molding or extrusion molding into a roll form a pellet-shaped bond magnetic composition prepared by mixing magnetic powders such as ferrite with a thermoplastic resin such as nylon or polypropylene using a metal mold having a magnetic field formed around a cavity and magnetizing the surface of the roll to a desired magnetization pattern.
Various magnetization patterns are required of the magnet roller according to the specifications of a copier. Therefore, besides the above-described magnet roller produced by magnetizing a roller integrally molded out of a bond magnet composition to a desired magnetization pattern, a cylindrical magnet roller produced by joining together a plurality of bar-shaped magnet pieces whose outer magnetic poles have been made N or S poles by magnetization and whose section is fan-shaped in such a manner that sides of the magnet pieces are contacted to one another.
Along with recent progress in electrophotographic devices and the like, a more complicated magnetization pattern has been desired of a magnet roller. The magnet roller of the prior art has a limit in the design of a magnetization pattern and cannot meet such demand in some cases. Particularly in a magnet roller having a magnetization pattern in which a zone where the peak magnetic force becomes 100 gauss or less (to be referred to as xe2x80x9czero-gauss zonexe2x80x9d hereinafter) is formed at almost an intermediate position between the adjacent poles of the magnetization pattern, the pole positions after magnetization are shifted from predetermined pole positions (designed pole positions) by production differences including a difference in the orientation of magnetic powders at the time of molding, whereby the dislocation of the zero-gauss zone of the magnetization pattern occurs and it is difficult to obtain a magnet roller having a desired magnetization pattern. Therefore, when development is carried out with a developing roller comprising a magnet roller having a magnetization pattern with a dislocated zero-gauss zone, a clear image cannot be obtained.
This problem is also seen in the above-described magnet roller constructed by joining together a plurality of magnet pieces. Since the zero-gauss zone is dislocated by differences in magnetization state among the magnet pieces, a desired magnetization pattern cannot be obtained.
It is an object of the present invention which has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art to provide a magnet roller having a magnetization pattern which rarely experiences the dislocation of a zero-gauss zone though it is simple in structure.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller which comprises a magnet body integrally molded out of a resin magnet composition prepared by mixing and dispersing magnetic powders in a resin binder and a shaft portion projecting from both ends in an axial direction of the magnet body and which has a magnetization pattern with a zero-gauss zone between a pair of magnetic poles having the same polarity which are adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction (for example N and N poles in a magnet roller having N-S-N-N-S poles), wherein a cut-out portion extending in an axial direction is formed on the side of the magnet body at the predetermined position of the zero-gauss zone. Thereby, the position of the zero-gauss zone can be stabilized by suppressing a change in magnetic force between the above magnet poles having the same polarity.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein the size of the cross section of the cut-out portion is 5% or more of the cross-sectional area of the magnet body.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein an area having a difference of 40 gauss or less from the minimum magnetic force point of the magnetization pattern in the zero-gauss zone is 30xc2x0 or more in terms of the angle of the roller.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein the number of magnetic poles of the magnetization pattern is an odd number.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller which comprises a magnet body constructed by arranging in a circumferential direction a plurality of magnet pieces molded out of a resin magnet composition prepared by mixing and dispersing magnetic powders in a resin binder and shaft portions projecting from both ends in an axial direction of the magnet body and which has a magnetization pattern with a zero-gauss zone between a pair of magnet pieces adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction, wherein the magnet pieces are arranged in such a manner that the joint between the adjacent magnet pieces of two magnet poles is located at the predetermined position of the zero-gauss zone to stabilize the position of the zero-gauss zone.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein the difference of angle between the position of the zero-gauss zone and the position of the joint is 30xc2x0 or less.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller which comprises a magnet body constructed by arranging in a circumferential direction a plurality of magnet pieces molded out of a resin magnet composition prepared by mixing and dispersing magnet powders in a resin binder and shaft portions projecting from both ends in an axial direction of the magnet body and which has a magnetization pattern with a zero-gauss zone between a pair of magnet pieces adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction, wherein a space is formed between the above adjacent magnet pieces of two magnetic poles and located at the predetermined position of the zero-gauss zone to stabilize the position of the zero-gauss zone.
According to an eighth aspect. of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein rare earth alloy powders are used as the magnetic powders to obtain high magnetic force even when the roller has a small diameter.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein the rare earth alloy powders are anisotropic rare earth alloy powders.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet roller, wherein the anisotropic rare earth alloy powders are any one of anisotropic Smxe2x80x94Fexe2x80x94N alloy powders and anisotropic Ndxe2x80x94Fexe2x80x94B alloy powders or a mixture thereof.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A white hardening resin composition includes a hardening resin and rutile-type titanium oxide produced by a chlorine method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a white hardening resin composition, a hardened material, a printed-wiring board including the hardened material, and a reflection board for light emitting devices including the hardened material.
2. Discussion of the Background
In printed-wiring boards, there have been recently increased applications of use that LED emitting by a low electric power in a backlight of liquid crystal display for mobile terminals, personal computers and televisions and the like, or a light source of lighting equipment is directly mounted. See, for example, the paragraphs [0002] to [0007] of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-249148. The contents of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-249148 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In this case, regarding an insulation film coated and formed as a protective film in a printed-wiring board, in addition to characteristics such as solvent resistance, hardness, solder resistance and electrical insulating properties generally required in a solder resist film, an excellent light reflectivity capable of utilizing emission of LED effectively has been desired.
However, a white solder resist composition conventionally used has had a problem that oxidation of resin due to light and heat irradiated by LED proceeds to turn yellow, lowering reflectivity with time.

White hardening resin composition, hardened material, printed-wiring board and reflection board for light emitting device


An image synthesizing method and apparatus for forming a composite image from basic images with complex image values acquired by sensors having sensitivities which vary differently across the area to be imaged, includes the deviation of complex image values of the composite image from the image values of the basic images which have been weighted in dependence on the complex values of the sensitivity of the sensors. The complex sensitivity values are determined according to the invention in that the sensitivities of the sensors are estimated on the basis of the basic images themselves by determining the sensitivity of each sensor from the basic image acquired thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image synthesizing method for forming a composite image from one or more basic images, each of which is acquired by means of a respective sensor having a sensitivity which varies across the area to be imaged, the image values of the composite image being derived from the image values of the basic image, or basic images, weighted in dependence on the sensitivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image synthesizing method of this kind can be used notably for MR examinations intended to determine the nuclear magnetization distribution in an examination zone, the MR signals generated in the examination zone then being picked up by a plurality of surface coils which are distributed around the examination zone and whose data is first separately processed and converted into basic images. In comparison with an MR examination utilizing only one receiving antenna having a constant sensitivity across the entire area to be imaged, the advantage of an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio is thus achieved. However, the sensitivity of such surface coils is strongly dependent on the location, so that the basic images determined for the individual coils cannot be simply added so as to obtain a composite image which optimally reproduces the entire examination zone.
An image synthesizing method of the kind set forth is already known from an article by Roemer et al. in Magn. Reson. Med. 16, pp. 192-225 (1990); therein, a composite image is formed from a plurality of basic images in conformity with the relation EQU P.sub.jk =p.sub.j.sup.t.sub.k R.sup.-1 b*.sub.jk ( 1)
Therein:
P.sub.jk is a complex image value of the composite image for a pixel situated in row j and column k of the composite image, PA1 p.sup.t.sub.jk is the transposed form of a column vector p.sub.jk which is composed of the complex image values of the individual basic images for the pixel jk PA1 R.sup.-1 is the inverse of the so-called noise correlation matrix (called a "noise resistance matrix" in the article by Roemer), and PA1 b*.sub.jk is the conjugate complex form of a column vector b.sub.jk which is composed of the values of the sensitivities of the individual sensors for the pixel jk.
However, the effect of the location-dependent sensitivity is still noticeable, in the image values P.sub.jk of the composite image thus calculated, so that the points jk in the composite image which are situated furthest from the individual sensors or coils have the lowest brightness. The effect of the location-dependency of the sensor sensitivities can be eliminated according to Roemer as follows: ##EQU1## Therein, b.sup.t.sub.jk is the transposed form of the sensitivity vector b.sub.jk.
If this calculation rule is used in practice, a problem is encountered in that b.sub.jk, or the sensitivity of the individual sensors, at the various pixels of the examination zone is not known.
EP-OS 695 947 describes an MR method in which the sensitivity of the individual surface coils is determined by means of an additional coil which has an approximately constant sensitivity for the entire examination zone. During temporally separated steps MR images are then formed for this coil on the one hand and for the surface coils on the other hand, a measure of the sensitivity of the surface coil in the relevant pixel being derived from the ratio of an image value of the additional MR coil to an image value of a surface coil for the same pixel. Using the complex values of the sensitivity and the image values of the basic images of the individual coils thus obtained, a synthesizing operation is performed in conformity with the equations given in the cited publication, thus forming a composite image from the basic images. It is a drawback, however, that an additional MR coil and additional measurements are required.
Knowledge of the spatial variation of the sensitivity is important also if a basic image picked up by a single sensor is to be reproduced in such a manner that the location-dependent sensitivity of this sensor does not become manifest as a location-dependent brightness difference.

Image synthesizing method for forming a composite image from basic images


A positive active material for lithium battery, includes a lithium-containing amorphous nickel oxide represented by a chemical composition formula of Li.sub.x NiO.sub.2 ; wherein x is from greater than 0.25 to 2. Preferably, x is from greater than 1 to 2. More preferably, x is from greater than 1.4 to 2. The positive active material may contains cobalt from 2 to 60 mol % {(Co/(Ni+Co)}.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive active material for lithium battery, a lithium battery having such a positive active material, and a method for producing such a positive active material for a lithium battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a lithium ion battery comprising as a negative electrode a carbon-based material and as a positive electrode lithium cobaltate which is a composite oxide having a layered structure has rapidly spread because of its advantage, i.e., high operating voltage and high energy density. On the other hand, lithium cobaltate occurs scarcely and is expensive. Thus, lithium nickelate has been extensively studied as a substitute material.
Lithium nickelate (LiNiO.sub.2) is a layered structure compound having the same crystal structure as lithium cobaltate, which has already been put into practical use. In the crystal structure of lithium nickelate, lithium is arranged to be occluded between layers in edge shear of NiO.sub.6 octahedral. The production of lithium nickelate is normally carried out by a method which comprises mixing Ni(NO.sub.3).sub.2, Ni(OH).sub.2, NiCO.sub.3, NiO, NiOOH or the like as a nickel source and LiOH, LiNO.sub.3, Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3, Li.sub.2 O.sub.2 or the like as a lithium source, and then subjecting the mixture to heat treatment at a temperature of about 600.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. in a stream of oxygen.
However, as reported in "Solid State Ionics", 44, 87, 1990, "Chem. Express", 7, 689, 1992 and 33rd Battery Symposium in Japan, page 21, 1992, lithium nickelate is disadvantageous in that its structure is similar to rock salt structure and thus is liable in the production method to substitution of nickel with lithium ions, thereby giving asymmetric structure that causes capacity decrease.
In this respect, the use of nickel oxyhydroxide as a nickel material has boon attempted. For example, a method has been proposed, which comprises allowing lithium nitrate to act on nickel oxyhydroxide containing cobalt to synthesize lithium nickelate which undergoes uniform charge-discharge reaction as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. (kokai) Hei. 8-306360. Further, a method for the application of electrochemically produced lithium nickelate to lithium battery has been proposed, which comprises charging nickel hydroxide electrochemically in a lithium hydroxide solution as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication (kokai) No. Sho. 63-19761.
Moreover, an active material for lithium battery has been proposed, which is made of nickel oxyhydroxide containing cobalt in an amount of from 20% to 75% as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication (kokai) No. Sho. 63-19760.
As mentioned above, various studies have been made of lithium nickelate. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to obtain a sufficient capacity with lithium nickelate. A further difficulty is that lithium nickelate exhibits charge-discharge characteristics that are liable to change by steps, e.g., four stages and shows poor high rate discharge performance.

Positive active material for lithium battery, lithium battery having the same and method for producing the same


Disclosed herein are processes for the production of polycarbonates by melt polycondensation of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester or a diphenyl carbonate compound wherein said polycondensation is carried out in the presence of from 0.05 to 15 mol %, based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound, of a phenol having from 10 to 40 carbon atoms, a carbonic acid diester having from 17 to 50 carbon atoms or a carbonic acid diester having from 13 to 16 carbon atoms, using a catalyst comprising (a) a nitrogen containing basic compound, (b) from 10.sup.-8 to 10.sup.-3 mole, based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound, of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and (c) boric acid or boric ester. Also disclosed is a polycarbonate in which from 5 to 30% of its terminal groups are hydroxy groups and it has a sodium content of not more than 1 ppm and a chlorine content of not more than 20 ppm.

Because of their excellent mechanical characteristics, such as impact strength, and because of their excellent heat resistance and transparency, polycarbonates are widely used for various purposes. Known as processes for the production of the polycarbonates are processes which involve a direct reaction of aromatic dihydroxy compounds such as bisphenols with phosgene (interface processes), and processes in which aromatic dihydroxy compounds such as bisphenols and carbonic acid diesters such as diphenyl carbonate are allowed in molten state to undergo ester interchange reaction (polycondensation reaction).
In processes for the production of polycarbonates by ester interchange of aromatic dihydroxy compounds with carbonic acid diesters, the reactants are normally heated at a temperature of from 250.degree. to 330.degree. C. under reduced pressure and allowed in molten state to undergo the ester interchange in the presence of catalysts such as organic salts, inorganic salts, oxides, hydroxides, hydrides and alcoholates of metals. These processes are advantageous over the above-mentioned interface processes in that polycarbonates are produced in relatively low costs. These processes involving the reaction of the aromatic dihydroxy compounds with the carbonic acid diesters in molten state; however, the polycarbonates produced are generally poor in color tone, heat resistance or water resistance.
With a view of solving the problem we conducted extensive research and eventually accomplished the present invention on the basis of our finding that excellent heat resistance and water resistance can be provided by reducing terminal hydroxy groups of polycarbonates being formed by end capping them with specific compounds.

Polycarbonate containing terminal hydroxy groups, low sodium and chlorine content


A method of controlling a multiple sub-carrier optical channel of an optical communications system. The multiple sub-carrier optical channel includes at least two sub-carriers modulated with respective sub-channel data streams within a spectral range allocated to a single optical channel of the optical communications system. A transmitter modem of the optical communications system applies a respective dither signal to each sub-carrier. A receiver modem of the optical communications system detects a respective quality metric of each sub-carrier. A respective optimum power level of each sub-carrier is estimated based on the applied dither signals and the detected quality metrics. A respective power level of each sub-carrier is then adjusted in accordance with the estimated respective optimum power level of each sub-carrier.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, an optical channel shall be understood to refer to a physical layer connection through an optical network between a single transmitter modem and a single receiver modem. Typically, each optical channel will be allocated a predetermined spectral band, and thus will have a known central wavelength and spectral width (which may be represented as a nominal spacing between the central wavelengths of adjacent channels). For example, ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 recommends a spectral grid of optical channels in which the respective central wavelengths are separated by 20 nm.
It is common practice to convey user data through an optical channel by modulating the user data onto a single narrow-band optical carrier light having a mean wavelength corresponding to the channel's central wavelength. However, more recent developments contemplate the use of two or more narrow-band subcarrier lights which are spaced apart within the spectral band allocated to one optical channel. Each subcarrier light may be modulated with a respective different portion of the user data. Because all of the subcarrier lights of a given optical channel lie within the optical channel's spectral band, they cannot be separately routed through the network and cannot be added or dropped independently of the other subcarriers of the channel. As such, all of the subcarriers of a given optical channel will be routed through the network together, between the transmitting and receiving modems allocated to that optical channel. This feature clearly distinguishes a multiple subcarrier optical channel from a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal well known in the art.
A problem with multiple subcarrier optical channels has been identified, in that the bit error rate (BER) of the optical channel is dominated by the signal-to-noise (SNR) of the subcarrier having the lowest optical power. It is therefore desirable to equalize the respective optical power levels of the subcarrier lights within a given optical channel.


A surge arrester module having an array of MOV's and other components includes an insulative coating (16) for applying an axially compressive force to the stacked array. The component stack (20), while held in an axially compressed condition, receives the insulative casing that includes thermosetting resin that, when cured, has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than that of the components of the stack. The coated stack is then cured at a temperature that exceeds the maximum expected temperature that will be experienced by the arrester components. Upon cooling, the components of the array are held in compression and adequate electrical contact with each other is maintained by the casing. Fiberglass strands (24, 28) are included in the casing for reinforcement and cantilever strength. A method of manufacturing the module is also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to electrical power distribution equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to sub-assemblies or modules that contain discrete electrical components and that are employed in protective devices such as surge arresters. Still more particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for applying an axially-compressive force to an array of electrical components and retaining those components under compression in end-to-end relationship within the module.
Under normal operating conditions, electrical transmission and distribution equipment is subject to voltages within a fairly narrow range. Due to lightning strikes, switching surges or other system disturbances, portions of the electrical network may experience momentary or transient voltage levels that greatly exceed the levels experienced by the equipment during normal operating conditions. Left unprotected, critical and costly equipment such as transformers, switching apparatus, computer equipment, and electrical machinery may be damaged or destroyed by such over-voltages and the resultant current surges. Accordingly, it is routine practice within the electrical industry to protect such apparatus from dangerous over-voltages through the use of surge arresters.
A surge arrester is a protective device that is commonly connected in parallel with a comparatively expensive piece of electrical equipment so as to shunt or divert the over-voltage-induced current surges safely around the equipment, thereby protecting the equipment and its internal circuitry from damage. When caused to operate, a surge arrester forms a current path to ground having a very low impedance relative to the impedance of the equipment that it is protecting. In this way, current surges which would otherwise be conducted through the equipment are instead diverted through the arrester to ground. Once the transient condition has passed, the arrester operates to open the recently-formed current path to ground, thereby again isolating the distribution or transmission circuit in order to prevent the non-transient current of the system frequency from "following" the surge current to ground, such system frequency current being known as "power follow current."
Conventional surge arresters typically include an elongate outer enclosure or housing made of an electrically insulating material, a pair of electrical terminals at opposite ends of the enclosure for connecting the arrester between a line-potential conductor and ground, and an array of other electrical components forming a series path between the terminals. These components typically include a stack of voltage-dependent, nonlinear resistive elements. These nonlinear resistors or "varistors" are characterized by having a relatively high resistance at the normal steady-state voltage and a much lower resistance when the arrester is subjected to transient over-voltages. Depending on the type of arrester, it may also include one or more spark gap assemblies housed within the insulative enclosure and electrically connected in series with the varistors. Some present-day arresters also include electrically conducting spacer elements coaxially aligned with the varistors and gap assemblies. Electrodes of a variety of types and configurations may also be included in the component array in conventional arresters.
For an arrester to function properly, it is important that contact be maintained between the ends of the various surge arrester components in the array. To accomplish this, an axial load is placed on the elements in the array. Such loading is typically applied by employing springs within the housing to urge the stacked elements into engagement with one another. Good axial contact is important to ensure a relatively low contact resistance between the adjacent faces of the components, to ensure a relatively uniform current distribution through the elements, and to provide good heat transfer between the arrester elements in the array and the end terminals.
Another conventional means for supplying the required axial force is to wrap the stack of arrester elements with glass fibers so as to axially-compress the elements within the stack. Examples of such prior art surge arresters include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,043,838, 5,138,517, 4,656,555 and 5,003,689. These patents generally describe rather elaborate techniques for winding the fibers about the ends of a stack of arrester components to apply the appropriate axial force to the components within the stack. Employing certain of these techniques requires the inclusion of specially-configured components within the stack, such as special end terminations for maintaining specific separations between the fibers (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,838) or for creating a shoulder against which the fibers can be wound (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,517).
In addition to maintaining an axial compression, these stacked arrester components must be retained in such a manner that will permit gases evolved during arrester failure to be safely vented from the arrester. Occasionally, a transient overvoltage condition may cause some degree of damage to one or more of the resistive elements. Damage of sufficient severity can result in arcing within the arrester housing, leading to extreme heat generation and gas evolution as the internal components in contact with the arc are vaporized. This gas evolution causes the pressure within the arrester to increase rapidly until it is relieved by either a pressure relief means or by the rupture of the arrester housing. The failure mode of arresters under such conditions may include the expulsion of components or component fragments at high velocities and in all directions. Such failures pose potential risks to personnel and equipment in the vicinity.
Attempts have been made to design and construct arresters that will not catastrophically fail with the expulsion of components or component fragments. One such arrester is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,614 which discloses an arrester having a non-fragmenting liner and outer housing, and a pressure relief diaphragm located at its lower end. A shatterproof arrester is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,656,555, 4,930,039 and 5,113,306. Arresters having pressure relief means formed in their ends are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,727,108, 4,001,651, and 4,240,124. U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,838 discloses a filament wrapped arrester module that includes openings between the crisscross pattern of windings. These openings are filled with an epoxy or similar insulating material that is permitted to rupture to allow the expulsion of gasses.
Despite such advances, however, state of the art arresters may still occasionally fail with the expulsion of components or fragments of components. This may, in part, be due to the fact that once the internal components in these arresters fail, the resulting arc vaporizes the components and generates gas at a rate that cannot be vented quickly enough to prevent rupture of the arrester enclosure. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an arrester which, upon failure, will fail in a non-fragmenting and safe manner. A need also exists for an arrester whose components are axially compressed without the use of a spring.
There further remains a need in the art for a means to compress axially an array of arrester components that may be applied simply and easily, without elaborate and costly manufacturing procedures or the addition into the component stack of specialized components. Preferably, the means would be easily applied to the external surfaces of the stacked components. It would be further advantageous if the compression means were to include features enhancing the tensile and cantilever strengths of the arrester assembly. Further, the device should provide a venting means for relieving gas pressure and preventing the electrical assembly from failing in a dangerous fashion, and should provide good bonding at each interface from the MOV stack outward without requiring complicated assembly procedures or costly waste.

Self-compressive surge arrester module and method of making same


A trusted computing environment may be dynamically certified by providing a selectable boot option that controls running a loadable boot image in one of a test mode and a production mode. The test mode may automate running a processing standard validation test to obtain a processing standard validation test result. Responsive to running the processing standard validation test with a successful test result, a record indicating the successful test result and the loadable boot image is stored within the trusted computing environment, utilizing a certification process. Responsive to running the production mode, the trusted computing environment and the loadable boot image may be loaded.

In many computing environments, users may need to verify that a cryptographic status of a computing system conforms to certain strict standards. For example, for applications that access highly sensitive information (e.g., information relating to national security, highly sensitive personal information), users may be required (e.g., by contract) to verify that the computing system conforms to strict requirements of cryptographic status.

Trusted computing attestation of system validation state

International Business Machines Corporation


An image forming method includes an ink applying step of applying an ink composition containing a pigment, a compound represented by the following structural formula (1), a compound represented by the following structural formula (2) and water, onto a recording medium being conveyed at a conveyance speed of 80 m/min or higher:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming method using a water-based ink composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as a result of the progress in inkjet recording technologies, there have been suggested image forming technologies utilizing an inkjet method as a method for forming high definition images directed to photograph applications or offset printing applications. Similarly to the conventional image forming technologies, in the case of forming an image by an inkjet method as well, it is required that high quality images can be formed at a high speed.
More recently, there is a tendency that the demand for image forming at a high speed is further increasing. For example, in a system of drawing an image (forming an image) at a high speed by using a rolled paper, scratch resistance of an image obtained after drawing is important. That is, if the scratch resistance of an image is low, after an image is drawn, when the rolled paper that had been subjected to drawing is rolled and piled up for a short time, the image may be brought into contact with paper and rubbed, and blurring, bleeding or the like may occur in the image, so that the product value may be lost.
Specifically, if the scratch resistance of a drawn image is poor, a trouble occurs such that when a character image is drawn, the character may become faint, and when dropout characters are drawn, the characters cannot be read. Furthermore, when an image of a bar code or a QR Code (registered trademark) is drawn, a trouble that the code may not be normally read in may occur. Such a trouble is likely to occur significantly, particularly in a paper in which an ink pigment can be easily retained at the paper surface, for example, a paper exclusive for inkjet printing that does not have a porous ink-receiving layer (for example, a business form paper for inkjet printing). Particularly, a business form paper is generally used in applications where drawing is achieved at a high speed, and is required to have high strength against abrasion on images.
Furthermore, in the case of forming an image according to an inkjet method, there are occasions in which print suitability to crimped postcards is required in addition to the paper exclusive for inkjet printing.
On the other hand, in regard to the ink used in inkjet methods, attention is paid to water-based inks in view of considering the environment. For example, from the viewpoints of ejection stability of the ink, and print quality such as less bleeding of an image on ordinary paper, aqueous inks containing ethylene oxide adducts or propylene oxide adducts of glycerin have been disclosed (see, for example, JP2009-191135A; JP2005-82613A; WO2001/048101; JP1992-18465A (JP-H04-18465A); and JP2004-51779A).
Furthermore, in view of obtaining high glossiness on glossy paper for inkjet printing, ink compositions using compounds formed from ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymers have been disclosed (see, for example, JP2005-82663A and JP2007-9132A). Furthermore, inks for inkjet printing containing an organic solvent which has a structure containing an ethyleneoxy group or a propyleneoxy group together with a coloring material (pigment), water and the like have also been disclosed (see, for example, JP2000-345082A and JP2011-74255A).
In addition to those, it has been disclosed that inks containing a wax as a slipping agent provide abrasion resistance of an image (see, for example, JP2010-155359A and JP2867491B).

Abstract: wherein l, m and n each represent an integer of 1 or more (l+m+n=3 to 15); AO represents ethyleneoxy or propyleneoxy; R represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms; PO represents propyleneoxy; EO represents ethyleneoxy; and p and q represent integers that satisfy the relations: 0≦p≦10 and 1≦q≦50.


A room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition comprising: (A) 100 parts by weight of a diorganopolysiloxane blocked by hydroxyl group at both terminal ends of its molecule, (B) from 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of an organosilicon compound having at least three silicon-bonded hydrolyzable groups in its molecule or a partially hydrolyzed product of the organosilicon compound, (C) from 0.1 to 15 parts by weight of an alkoxysilane having the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each an unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is a divalent hydrocarbon group of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may contain an amide linkage (--CONH--) or ether oxygen linkage, Rf is a divalent perfluoroalkylene group or a divalent perfluoropolyether group, and n is an integer from 1 to 3, and a cured product of the composition. The composition and the cured product thereof ensure lessened contamination on surfaces of the cured product and in the surroundings, and permit easy removal of fungi, if any, from surfaces of the cured product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition which readily cure under the action of moisture, and to a cured product of said composition. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition which does not cause contamination on surfaces of a cured product thereof or in the surroundings when used outdoors and which permits easy removal of fungi, if any, from surfaces of the cured product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, so-called room temperature curable organopolysiloxane compositions are known which remain stable with a flowing property under hermetically sealed conditions but which, under the action of moisture in air, cure at room temperature to form a rubber-like elastic material. This type of compositions are in extensive use as sealing material, coating material, adhesive and the like in construction, machine and electric industries.
However, these room temperature curable organopolysiloxane compositions have the disadvantage that when used as sealing material or coating material, they are liable to cause contamination on surfaces thereof or in the surroundings, thereby damaging the appearance of a building or the like. For suppressing or inhibiting such contamination, a variety of additives have been investigated and a number of methods have been proposed. For instance, there are known a method in which a surface active agent having a polyoxyethylene group, a residue group of sorbitan, a residue group of a disaccharide, or the like is used (Refer to Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) Nos. 56-76452 and 56-76453), a method in which a surface active agent having at least one fluorine atom in its molecule is used (Refer to Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 58-167647), and a method in which a surface active agent having at least one fluorine atom in its molecule and an organosilicon compound having an amino group are used together (Refer to Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 61-34062). However, contamination inhibitive properties given by these methods do not last long and, therefore, produce little effect on long-term contamination.
Besides, cured elastic materials obtained from known room temperature curable organopolysiloxane compositions have the drawback as follows. Although they exhibit good appearance upon application thereof, they are susceptible to contamination by various contaminants (dirt from human bodies, detergents, foods, etc.) where they are applied in a bathroom, kitchen, toilet or the like. Where these compositions are used in highly humid environments, in particular, the appearance of the applied compositions are liable to be damaged by propagation of fungi thereon.
In view of the above, as a method for imparting a mildew-proofing property to a moisture-curing type room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition, Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 54-43260 discloses addition of a benzimidazolyl alkyl carbamate to the composition, whereas Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 57-18758 discloses addition of an organosilicon compound having a tetraorganoguanidyl group.
The compositions thus provided with a mildew-proofing property, however, are incapable of retaining the mildew-proofing property for a long time, because the mildew-proofing agent used will exude from the composition in the presence of water.

Room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition and cured product of the same


An easy to use, universal, simple, lightweight, compact, portable, dynamically configurable and modular system of concealment and shelter. An operator configures a number of concealment blinds or shelters using brackets, supports, segmented and folding shafts, covers, curtains, and skirts, and more complex modules. Advanced modules include user adjustable domes and angular structures. Angular frames with corresponding angular covers provide improved headroom. The system can be configured for placement on a hillside or over rough terrain and obstacles, or for different types use. The system provides covers with novel windows, movable panels, and configuration attachments. The operator changes the configuration of the structure to quickly provide cover, to increase cover, and to adapt to terrain or changing weather. The system includes novel methods of tightening the skin on a cover to reduce movement and noise, while improving safety. Methods include using the full human body, from hands to feet, and its strongest muscle groups to rapidly set up the system with tighter skin. Foot attaching means and hand attachment means enable methods for setting up a fast setup frame or angular frame with the body in a horizontal seated row or a vertical power jerk position. Improved fast setup frame and angular frame are comprised of novel simpler components such as plates with single anchor connections. The components are easier to make, less costly using less material, yet yielding stronger, more durable frames. The system includes novel tent floors, netting, and rain cover configuration for use on fast setup frames or angular frames.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lightweight portable concealment and shelter systems and methods.
2. Description of Prior Art
There is often a need to conceal oneself when researching wildlife, hunting, camping, working on construction projects, or working in the outdoors. Wildlife researchers conceal themselves so that they can film and study wildlife without disturbing the behavior of the animals. Hunters often conceal themselves in various hunting blinds to avoid being detected by their prey. Campers often conceal themselves to bathe, change clothes, and perform other personal or hygiene activities. Construction workers, military, law enforcement, and others who work in the outdoors also have similar needs for concealment. Various methods have been employed to accomplish these tasks.
In the past, quite complex, heavy structures have been built or constructed for concealment. Hunters have built permanent hunting blinds. Portable huts, shower stalls, dressing shelters, tents, canopies, and complex tree blind structures have been carried into the great outdoors.
The related applications provided lists of patents and products relating to this field of invention. The discussion of these prior art references is included by reference.
The use of such devices has several disadvantages such as being heavy, bulky, noisy, expensive, and complicated to assemble or use. Most of these devices have only a single use with poor performance. There is a need for a simple, lightweight, compact, portable, multi-use means of concealment.
To avoid being detected by their scent, hunters and other wildlife observers climb trees using tree steps and then remain for hours in a tree stand watching and waiting for animals to pass by. However, a person in a tree stand makes a silhouette against the sky or background and is exposed to a 360-degree view. Animals can easily detect the human silhouette or movement. Further, if the person or equipment makes a noise the animal will know where to look. There is a need for a device that eliminates the silhouette.
Complicated equipment or procedures create a situation where a person may drop equipment or, even worse, fall from the tree stand. Most of the existing devices block the view or mobility of the person.
Metal objects screwed into trees are sometimes forgotten and become over grown by the tree. Later when the lumber is harvested and cut, the saw strikes the metal object and can cause severe damage. Some states have banned the use of metal tree screws or spikes. Any device used for attaching to trees in the forest needs an embodiment that attaches to the outside of the tree and can be easily removed.
The following ground blinds or tents are known in the art:                Hunter 's Specialties' "Lightweight Portable Ground Blind"        Avery' "Avery Quick Carry Ground Blind"        U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,234, entitled "Portable Blind"        Double Bull "Matrix"        Cabela's "Lightning Set" and "Lightning Set 4-Season"        Black Stump's "Instant Tent"
There are a number of very old patents relating to curtain support brackets. These are associated with hanging curtains inside a building on a wall and fail to anticipate many novel features of the present invention.
There are also a number of very old patents relating to tents with hinged shafts, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,502,898, Berg, filed Jan. 12, 1924, or umbrella tents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,649,219, Goldberg, filed Mar. 23, 1927. U.S. Pat. No. 74,933, Palmer, issued Feb. 25, 1868, disclosed an inverse umbrella-type frame deployed by a rope external to the enclosure. U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,054, Watts, issued Feb. 26, 1974, disclosed an inverse umbrella tent.
However, these are limited in various ways.
3. Human Body Strength and Skin Tighting
In the field of lightweight, portable outdoor blinds, there is a long felt need to have skins extremely tight to avoid detectable movement and noise. Numerous blind designs have attempted to provide the desired skin tightness but have failed without using complex, heavy frames that require significant time and athleticism to set up. Those that are lightweight and fast, such as conventional umbrella designs, fail to put enough force into the frame to provide the desired result. Further, because many blind products have promised, but have failed to deliver, cover skins that remain substantially motionless in windy conditions encountered while hunting, consumers are skeptical. To be successful a product must also stay taut when shaken by potential buyers on the trade show floor or in dealers' show rooms.
The arm muscles (biceps and triceps) of the human body are relatively weak compared to other muscle groups such as the legs, abdomen, back, and shoulders. This is especially true when arms are extended away from the body above the shoulders as is required to deploy conventional umbrella type blinds. Such blinds are set up with the frame expanded in an upright position and the operator either a) pushing up from inside with one hand while pulling a pull cord or shaft down with the other hand, or b) pushing down from outside with one hand while pulling a pull cord up with the other hand while standing beside the structure. For example, see the art cited in U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,316, Chen. Neither of these conventional methods take advantage of the strongest muscles groups in the body to provide the skin tightening force.
In the power jerk position, the full human body can apply hundreds of pounds of force between the hands and the feet. In 1970 for example, Olympic lifters were able to clean and jerk over 500 lbs. A typical outdoorsman can apply up to about 75 pounds of continual force in the power jerk position. A six-foot human body has about 33 inches up to about 40 inches of range of motion in the power jerk.
In a horizontal, seated row position, for example as used in Olympic rowing, all of the large muscle groups of the body, including legs, abdomen, back, shoulder, and arms, are used to apply the force through the body between the feet and the hands. A typical outdoorsman can apply up to about 75 pounds of force in the seated row position, with an average of about 40 pounds over the full stroke. A six-foot human body has up to about 45 inches of range of motion in the seated row position (and about up to 65 inches if the arms are extended beyond the head).
Work or energy is measured in foot-pounds. When an operator applies an average of 45 pounds of force over a distance of 3.5 feet (i.e. 42 inches) about 157 foot-pounds of energy is applied. About the same amount of energy could also be stored by applying 57 pounds of force over a distance of 2.75 feet (i.e. 33 inches).
What is needed is a method of setting up a blind where the full muscle strength of the human body from hands to feet can be used to quickly provide the skin tightening force to a lightweight, portable blind.
Although arch shaped quickset blinds have been used with some success, the arch shape does not provide maximum headroom close to the walls, and a larger amount of energy must be stored in the arches to achieve skin tightness.
What is needed is a structure where headroom is maximized near the walls of a blind or tent and where skin tightening forces are provided by relatively small mechanical movement.
People spending time in the outdoors, especially warfighters, often have a need to quickly set up shelter for them and their equipment.
What is needed is a tent that can be quickly deployed to provide protection from rain, snow, heat, and insects and reptiles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for rapid concealment and shelter including angular frames and warfighter covers


An information processing apparatus configured to control communications of a plurality of devices via a common communication channel on the basis of predetermined priority levels of the devices includes a changing unit configured to change the priority level of a predetermined device, which is one of the plurality of devices, having a first priority level to a second priority level for a predetermined amount of time and a controlling unit configured to control the length of the predetermined amount of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a method of processing information, and a program for processing information and, more specifically, relates to an information processing apparatus, a method of processing information, and a program for processing information that are capable of controlling communication among a plurality of devices via a common communication channel in accordance with priority levels.
2. Description of the Related Art
As methods of bus arbitration, there are known methods of arbitrating access in a fair manner based on a round-robin method or arbitrating the order of access based on a fixed-priority method.
According to the round-robin method, a plurality of masters occupies the buses in sequence, regardless of the processing state. Therefore, unnecessary waiting time is generated, and access of the masters becomes inefficient.
According to the fixed-priority method, if the priority level of a master frequently sending access requests is set high, access requests from other masters having lower priority levels will not be accepted, and the system operation will fail.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a known apparatus employing the fixed-priority method. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a master A 31, a master B 32, a masters C 33, and a masters D 34 that are connected to a bus arbitrating mechanism (hereinafter referred to as an "arbitrator") 35.
Among the masters A 31, B 32, C 33, and D 34, the master A 31 has the highest priority level, the master B 32 has the second highest priority level, the masters C 33 has the third highest priority level, and the masters D 34 has the fourth highest priority level.
When the arbitrator 35 receives an access request from the master A 31, B 32, C 33, or D 34, the arbitrator 35 responds to the access request from the master having the highest priority level among all the masters sending access requests and permits access of this master. Either the master A 31, B 32, C 33, or D 34 is permitted access after receiving a response from the arbitrator 35.
For example, when the masters A 31, B 32, C 33, and D 34 simultaneously send access requests, the masters are arbitrated on the basis of their priority levels. Therefore, the request from the master A 31 having the highest priority level is received with priority. In this case, the arbitrator 35 responds to the master A 31, and then the master A 31 is permitted accesses.
Hereinafter, the priority levels are referred to as priority level 1, priority level 2, priority level 3, priority level 4, and priority level 5, where priority level 1 is the highest priority level and priority level 5 is the lowest priority level.
FIG. 2 is a timing chart of a known case in which access requests from and responses to the masters A 31, B 32, C 33, and D 34 when the delay time from sending a request to receiving a response is equal to 1 clock pulse.
The timing chart in FIG. 2 illustrates, from top to bottom, a clock pulse, a request from the master A 31, a request from the master B 32, a request from the master C 33, a request from the master D 34, a response to the master A 31, a response to the master B 32, a response to the master C 33, and a response to the master D 34. Timings T1 to T23 each represent the rising time of clock pulses.
As shown in FIG. 2, when, at the timing T3, access requests are simultaneously sent from the master A 31 and the master B 32, the arbitrator 35 responds to the master A 31, having higher priority, and does not respond to the master B 32. Thus, at the timing T3, the master A 31 is permitted access but the master B 32 is not.
Similarly, when, at the timing T5, access requests are simultaneously sent from the master B 32 and the master C 33, the arbitrator 35 responds to the master B 32, having higher priority, and does not respond to the master C 33. Thus, at the timing T5, the master B 32 is permitted access but the master C 33 is not.
When, at the timing T7, an access request is sent only from the master C 33, the arbitrator 35 responds to the master C 33. Thus, at the timing T7, the master C 33 is permitted accesses. When, at the timing T9, an access request is sent only from the master D 34, the arbitrator 35 responds to the master D 34, and the master D 34 having the lowest priority level is permitted access.
Since, between timings T12 and 16, access requests are simultaneously sent from the masters A 31, B 32, C 33, and D 34, the master A 31 having the highest priority level is permitted exclusive accesses. With the priority levels fixed, if a access request from the master A 31 extends for a long period of time, as shown in FIG. 2, access requests from the masters B 32, C 33, and D 34 whose priority levels are lower than that of the master A 31 are completely rejected. Therefore, the priority levels of the masters must be determined carefully based on the order of priority of processing.
Accordingly, a mechanism for changing the access order is commonly provided. For example, a method that allows fine control of the priority levels by controlling the time intervals of access requests on the master side using a simply bus arbitration mechanism is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-186824).

Arbitration apparatus, method, and computer readable medium with dynamically adjustable priority scheme


An oxidant solution for synthesizing a heat-resistant electroconductive polymer, composed of a solution of a non-protonic organic solvent and an oxidant of the organic compound iron salt expressed by the following formula: EQU Fe.sup.3+O [(X)L--(M)m--(Y.sup.-)n]pH.sup.+ q. where X is COOH or OH. M is organic compound PA2 Y is strong electrolytic anion PA2 "L", "m" and "n" are not less than 1 PA2 3O+q=np, but in the case of O=1, 3<p

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oxidant (oxidizing agent) solution for synthesizing a heat-resistant electroconductive polymer and a method for preparing the electroconductive polymer, and more specifically to an oxidant solution for synthesizing, by a chemically oxidative polymerization, a heat-resistant electroconductive polymer which can stably hold its performance for a long term under a high temperature, and which be used in various electric or electronic devices utilizing an optical, electronic or electromagnetic characteristics of the electroconductive polymer, such as a battery cell, a capacitor, a diode, a display element, a secondary cell, a sensor, etc., and also a method for preparing the electroconductive polymer.
2. Description of Related Art
An electroconductive polymer can be said to be one which a conjugative bond highly develops in a polymer chain. A method for preparing the electroconductive polymer includes a chemical polymerization of polymerizing monomers by means of an oxidant or a catalyst, a method for heat-treating a chemical intermediate composed of a non-conjugative monomer, and an electrolytic polymerization for polymerizing the monomer by electrochemically oxidizing or reducing the monomer.
The method for preparing the electroconductive polymer, to which the present invention is directed, is chemical polymerization. In connection with chemical polymerization, there have been proposed a synthesis of a polyacetylene using the Ziegler-Natta catalyst, and a synthesis of a polyparaphenylene for polymerizing benzene by an oxidizing cationic polymerization.
The electroconductive polymer includes, in addition to the polyacetylene and the polyparaphenylene mentioned above, a fused ring electroconductive polymer such as polythiadile, polydiacetylenen and polyazulene, and a heterocyclic compound such as polypyrrole and polythiophene.
These electroconductive polymer are considered to be used as a solid electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor and applied into a through hole in a printed circuit board since it is possible to easily polymerize into an electroconductive polymer having the conductivity of not less than 10 S/cm by a chemically oxidative polymerization using an oxidant such as an iron salt, for example, iron chloride (FeCl3).
Here, as one example of an industrial application of the electroconductive polymer, application of the polypyrrole into a tantalum solid electrolyte capacitor will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the tantalum solid electrolyte capacitor, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged sectional view of the portion "B" in FIG. 4A.
The shown tantalum solid electrolyte capacitor is formed as follows: A powder sintered body 4 of a metal tantalum which is a valve metal, is anodized in an electrolyte solution such as a phosphoric acid, so that the oxidized film 6 is formed on the tantalum body 4. The tantalum body 4 having the oxidized film 6 formed thereon is immersed in an aqueous solution containing the iron chloride (FeCl3), and then, immersed in a pyrrole monomer to form a polypyrrole. The oxidant solution held in the tantalum sintered body contacts with the pyrrole monomer, so that a polypyrrole layer 1 is formed on the oxidized film 6. In general, a desired polypyrrole thickness cannot be obtained with only one processing. Therefore, after repeatedly performing the above processing, a graphite layer 2 and a silver paste layer 8 are formed on the polypyrrole layer 1 in the named order.
In the iron chloride solution used as the oxidant for forming the polypyrrole, an iron (III) ion acts as the oxidant for the chemically oxidative polymerization for forming the polypyrrole, and a chlorine ion which is a pairing ion is introduced into the polymer as a dopant.
Since the conductivity of the polypyrrole is as large as 100 times that of manganese dioxide which was used in the prior art tantalum solid electrolyte capacitor, the tantalum solid electrolyte capacitor formed as mentioned above has an excellent high frequency characteristics. In addition, since the polypyrrole can be polymerized with only the contact of the pyrrole monomer with the oxidant solution, differently from the electrolytic polymerization, the polymerization is simple and therefore is high in industrial value.
As mentioned above, the chemical polymerization method for preparing the electroconductive polymer, using the iron salt such as the iron chloride, can form the electroconductive polymer having excellent conductivity by a simple process. However, in order to utilize the electroconductive polymer, it is required to have certain exposure properties, in particular, stability under a high temperature. In general, the electroconductive polymer is in a highly oxidized condition doped with anion, and therefore, is easily deteriorated with a coacting external factor such as heat, light, oxygen or water. This is a large hindrance in utilizing the electroconductive polymer as a device material. This is not exception in the polypyrrole having a relatively high thermal stability.
In order to increase the heat-resistant property of the polypyrrole, various methods have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Post-examination Publication No. JP-B-5-64970 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,001 (the content of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application) reports that a thermally stable polypyrrole can be obtained by oxidatively polymerizing the pyrrole, using a strong oxidant including cations of Fe.sup.3+, Cu.sup.2+, Ce.sup.4+ and (C6H5)3C.sup.3+, in the presence of a dopant anion selected from the group consisting of alkylsulfonate, arylsulfonate and fluorinated carboxylate.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Pre-examination Publication No. JP-A-09-025417, (the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application, and also an English abstract of JP-A-09-025417 is available from the Japanese Patent Office and the content of the English abstract of JP-A-09-025417 is also incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application) propose to use, as a dopant anion, a compound including at least one of --COOH-- and --OH--. This proposal is to prevent an oxidation deterioration of the polypyrrole starting from a proton dissociation of the pyrrole ring "N--H" or elimination of hydrogen of the .beta. site, by proton or hydrogen supplied from the dopant.
In fact, however, in the case of forming the electroconductive polymer such as polypyrrole by a chemical polymerization, even if the compound including at least one of --COOH-- and --OH-- is utilized as the dopant anion with the purpose of realizing the thermal stability of the electroconductive polymer, a satisfactory heat-resistant property cannot be obtained.
The reason for this is that: when the protonic solvent is used as a solvent for the iron salt, containing the dopant anion, the dopant anion cooperates with the iron (III) ion to form a chelate complex, which is taken or entrapped into the electroconductive polymer such as polypyrrole. The proton or hydrogen to be supplied from the dopant is not actually supplied, with the result that the thermal stability is lowered.

Oxzidant solution for synthesizing heat-resistant electroconductive polymer and method for preparing electroconductive polymer


In a double wishbone type wheel suspension system comprising an upper A-arm and a lower A-arm, a toe control link is additionally provided between the vehicle body and a forward part of the knuckle. In particular, the pivotal attachment of the toe control link to the vehicle body is located below the plane defined by the lower A-arm, and the toe control link is located generally ahead of the spindle of the wheel. Therefore, the toe control link can be arranged close to the road contact surface of the wheel so that the resistance of the wheel against the side force which tends to tilt the wheel in the direction to change the camber angle can be increased so that a high camber rigidity can be achieved. This improves the anti-squat property of the vehicle, and improves the lateral stability of the vehicle when traveling over irregular road surfaces as well as when making turns. Also, because the toe control ink is placed ahead of the spindle, it is possible to maximize the distance between the control link and the king pin axis, which typically has a negative caster angle and a negative caster trail. Therefore, a highly controllable toe compliance can be produced so that a suitable side-force steer-in property can be achieved while maintaining a sufficient camber rigidity.

When a suitable amount of toe angle is given to the outer rear wheel of a vehicle making a turn so as to tilt the outer rear wheel inwardly with respect to the turning circle of the vehicle, because the slip angle required for the outer rear wheel can be achieved while involving a relatively small vehicle body slip angle, a relatively brisk rise in the cornering force can be achieved as the front wheels are steered. This is desirable as it improves the handling of the vehicle. In particular, it is beneficial to cause the toe angle of the outer rear wheel, which supports a larger part of the vertical load, to change so as to turn inward with respect to the turning circle when subjected to a side force.
To achieve such a tendency, which is called as a side-force steer-in property, a suitable amount of toe compliance is required for each rear wheel suspension system. On the other hand, for the vehicle to be able to recover itself briskly from a turning maneuver and to improve the stability of the vehicle when traveling straight ahead, each wheel suspension system is required to have a high camber rigidity. Therefore, the rear wheel suspension system is required to have two conflicting properties, rigidity and compliance. From a practical view point, it is desirable for the rear wheel suspension system to have as high a rigidity as possible to allow a desired handling of the vehicle to be achieved.

Wheel suspension system having a high rigidity to side forces


One embodiment relates to a method for automated correction of duplex mismatches. A duplex mismatch is detected at a port of a network device, and characteristics of the duplex mismatch are determined. The configuration of the mismatched port is automatically modified based upon said characteristics. Another embodiment relates to an apparatus for automated correction of duplex mismatches. The apparatus includes a duplex mismatch detector and an automated duplex mismatch fixer. The duplex mismatch detector is configured to detect a duplex mismatch at a port of a network device and to determine characteristics of the duplex mismatch. The automated duplex mismatch fixer is configured to modify a configuration of the mismatched port based upon said characteristics. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.

Many local area network (LAN) products today use a medium formed by copper wire pairs for the transmission and reception of data. A network that used the copper wire pairs is defined as a copper based network. Existing technology based on the copper wire pairs include, for example, 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T. All of these technologies have the ability to negotiate speed, duplex mode (half duplex or full duplex), flow-control, and other important aspects of a link operation by using low frequency pulses to communicate the desired state of operation for the link prior to actually engaging in the specific link signaling. This negotiation process is called "auto-negotiation".
During link negotiation between two nodes in a link in a network, for example, a port of a first node may be set in the auto-negotiation mode, while a port of the second node is not set in the auto-negotiation mode. As a result, the first node may be made to negotiate at half-duplex, while the second node may be set to full-duplex. For example, the first node (which is in auto-negotiation mode) may be set to negotiate at 100 half-duplex or full-duplex, while the second node (which is not in auto-negotiation mode) may be set (by a forced setting) to 100 full-duplex. This creates a duplex operation mismatch (duplex mismatch) as the port in auto-negotiation mode will link in half duplex as per the standard.
As known to those skilled in the art, full-duplex data transmission means that data can be transmitted in both directions on a signal carrier at the same time. For example, on a local area network with a technology that has full-duplex transmission, one workstation can be sending data on the line while another workstation is receiving data. As also known to those skilled in the art, half-duplex data transmission means that data can be transmitted in both directions on a signal carrier, but not at the same time. For example, on a local area network using a technology that has half-duplex transmission, one workstation can send data on the line and then receive data on the line once its data has been received by the link partner.
The above-mentioned duplex operation mismatch (where one node is set to half-duplex and the other node is set to full-duplex) can lead to degraded performance between the two nodes. The degraded performance may manifest as a slower network connection with frequent errors and collisions.
The degraded performance often results in trouble calls by the customer to the network support center of a node vendor. In a 10BASE-T/100BASE-T network, duplex mismatch problems are typically the most fielded calls by support engineers from customers and is thus the most costly product issue.
Conventional technology does not provide the ability for the customer to know, detect and correct a duplex mismatch condition. Hence, conventional technology does not reduce the countless support calls to the support engineers from customers and does not lead to reductions in costs for the node vendor.
A conventional port configuration method from Cisco Corporation merely provides settable flags that indicate network error. However, this previous port configuration method does not provide specific guidance to the customer on identifying the network problem and simply shuts down the port and informs the customer that an error has occurred.
Therefore, the conventional technology is limited in its capabilities and suffers from at least the above constraints and deficiencies.

Automated correction of duplex mismatches

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method and apparatus for compression of data. The invention provides for the application of a plurality of compression schemes to the data such that improved compression ratios are achieved. A first embodiment provides for compression of each pixel by one of a plurality of different entropy-based compression schemes based upon a probability cost analysis. A second embodiment provides for compression of each pixel based on a hybrid context formed using a plurality of compression schemes for improved probability determination, and thus improved entropy encoding. In embodiments of the invention, a context compression scheme similar to JBIG is applied, as well as an inverse scheme. The context scheme forms a statistical context from a concatenated sequence of previous pixel values. The inverse scheme provides a gray value estimation method based upon previous pixel values and respective threshold values. Statistics are maintained with respect to the actual current pixel value and the difference between an estimated gray value and the current pixel threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of compression and decompression of data.
2. Background Art
Information is represented in a computer system by binary data in the form of 1s and 0s. This binary data is often maintained in a data storage device. In a computer system, data storage is a limited resource. To more efficiently use data storage resources, data is often compressed prior to storage so that less storage area is required. When the data is retrieved, it is decompressed for use. The need for compression can be demonstrated by describing the way that images are represented in a computer system, the transformation of such images into a form suitable for printing, and the storage problems associated with such images. This discussion is followed by descriptions of compression techniques and prior art approaches to compression.
If a person were to look closely at a television screen, computer display, magazine page, etc., he would see that an image is made up of hundreds or thousands of tiny dots, where each dot is a different color. These dots are known as picture elements, or "pixels," when they are on a computer display and as dots when printed on a page. The color of each pixel is represented by a number value. To store an image in a computer memory, the number value of each pixel of the picture is stored. The number value typically represents the color and intensity of the pixel.
The accuracy with which a document can be reproduced is dependent on the "resolution" of the pixels that make up the document. The resolution of a pixel is determined by the range of the number value used to describe that pixel. The range of the number value is limited by the number of "bits" in the memory available to describe each pixel (a bit is a binary number having a value of 1 or 0). The greater the number of bits available per pixel, the greater the resolution of the document. For example, when only one bit per pixel is available for storage, only two values are available for the pixel. If two bits are available, four levels of color or intensity are available. While greater resolution is desirable, it can lead to greater use of data storage. For example, if each pixel is represented by a 32-bit binary number, 320,000 bits of information would be required to represent a 100.times.100 pixel image. Such information is stored in what is referred to as a "Frame Buffer" or gray array ("G array").
A black and white printer has resolution of only one bit per pixel or dot. That is, the printer is only capable of printing a black dot at a location or of leaving the location blank. When an image is to be printed on a black and white printer, the image must be transformed so that its bit resolution matches the bit resolution of the printer. This transformation is known as "thresholding" and consists of determining, for each pixel in the source image, whether the dot to be printed at the corresponding location on the printed page is to be black or white.
Although the printer can only do black and white printing, a printed image can appear to have many different shades of gray depending on the pattern of black and white dots. When every other dot is black, for example, the resulting printed image will appear gray, because the human eye blends the tiny dots together. Many printers are capable of printing 600 dots per inch in the horizontal and vertical directions. Because of the large number of tiny dots, other shades of gray can be simulated by the relative percentage of black and white dots in any region. The more black dots in a region, the darker that region appears.
As noted above, when thresholding, a decision is made for each pixel, based on its original color in the source image, of whether to print a black or white dot on the page for that pixel. Consider a thresholding scheme where each pixel in the stored grayscale image may be represented by 8 bits, for example, giving 256 (2.sup.8) possible values. One thresholding method that does not produce very realistic images is to assign a black value to all image pixels with a value of 128 (out of 256) or above, and a white value to all image pixels with a value of 127 or below. Using thresholding, an entire multi-bit depth frame buffer can be compressed into a one bit per pixel buffer. However, the resulting image is "aliased" (appears like steps or contains jagged edges) and does not approximate the original image. To produce better images, a threshold matrix is generated and used to determine the thresholded value of an image pixel.
A threshold matrix uses different threshold values for an image pixel, depending on the address of the image pixel in the array. Thus, each cell of the frame buffer corresponds to a threshold matrix cell which has an independent threshold level. The threshold matrix need not be the same size and is often smaller than the G array. For example, at one location, an image pixel may be thresholded to black if its value is 128 or above, while an image pixel at another location may be black only if its value is 225 or higher. The result of applying the threshold matrix is an array of 1s and 0s that could be printed to represent the original continuous tone image.
FIG. 1A depicts a frame buffer (G array), with indices i and j (G.sub.[i][j]). FIG. 1B depicts a threshold matrix (T array), with indices i' and j' (T.sub.[i'][j']). FIG. 1C depicts the resulting output or pixel array (P array) with i rows and j columns (P.sub.[j'][j']). Thus, for example, if the pixel maintains a value of 123 (G.sub.11 of FIG. 1A) and the threshold level is 128 (T.sub.11 of FIG. 1B), the resulting value is 0 (P.sub.11 of FIG. 1C) due to the fact that the pixel value is less than the threshold level. Hence the resulting pixel array is created by thresholding the G array as follows: ##EQU1## where G[i][j] is an array of the same dimensions as P but takes on many values, typically 0,1, . . . ,255. T[i'][j'] is a threshold array, a matrix of dimension n threshold rows by m threshold columns and taking on values in a range like G, typically 1,2, . . . ,255. For the thresholding (i',j') is a function of (i,j) typically: EQU i'=i modulo n EQU j'=j modulo m
where modulo means the remainder after division.
After this thresholding step, the entire page can be represented in a memory of 1s and 0s by the same number of bits as there are dots on the page. Even at 1 bit per dot, the amount of memory required can be substantial. For a page that is 8.5 by 11 inches and has a resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi), the amount of memory needed is approximately 4.2 megabytes of memory (if monochrome). This memory in a printer is referred to as a "buffer". Memory is an expensive component, and it is an advantage to reduce the amount of memory required in a printer buffer. In the past, this has been accomplished by applying a "compression algorithm" to the data in the buffer. Despite the significant compression which may arise from thresholding, further compression is desired.
There are currently compression schemes for single bit data. Some of these schemes work preferentially better on data that was originally text and some work better on data that was originally an image. Some of these schemes include facsimile standards, such as the ITU standards, using Huffman encoded run lengths and the JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Group) standard.
There are two distinct families of prior art compression schemes: lossy and lossless. Lossless compression guarantees that no data will be lost upon a compression and decompression sequence. For example, one lossless compression scheme accomplishes this guarantee by searching the data for any repeating sequences such as "001001001001001001". Using this lossless compression scheme, the sequence "001" would be stored along with the number of times it recurs--six. However, lossless compression schemes may not provide a satisfactory level of compression, e.g., due to the absence of repeating sequences in the source data for the above example. Nonetheless, due to its accuracy, lossless compression is used when storing database records, spreadsheets, or word processing files.
A lossy scheme achieves a greater level of compression while risking a loss of a certain amount of accuracy. However, certain types of stored information do not require perfect accuracy, such as graphics images and digitized voice. As a result, lossy compression is often utilized on such types of information.
The most interesting prior art method is set forth in the JBIG standard. Pixels are processed in the usual scan order, i.e., row.sub.i is entirely processed before row.sub.i+1 and in each row, column.sub.i precedes column.sub.i+1. Encoding the current pixel uses a context, which comprises a set of nearby pixels that have already been encoded. If, e.g., ten pixels were used as a neighborhood, there would be 2.sup.10 possible contexts. Based on the frequency with which the current context has been previously encountered, the encoder makes a prediction and estimates the probability that the prediction is accurate. If the estimated probability is reliable and near to certainty, then an arithmetic entropy encoder can losslessly encode the prediction error (e.g., 0 for no error, 1 for error) with much less than 1 bit per pixel. The decoder has the same context and frequency information, and is therefore able to interpret the 0 or 1 to determine the true value of the pixel.
See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,458, issued to Rabbani et al., which is directed to an encoding method for image bitplanes using conditioning contexts based on pixels from the current and previous bitplanes.

Method and apparatus for data compression and gray value estimation


Direct drive rotating electrical machines with axial air gaps are disclosed. In these machines, a rotor ring and stator ring define an axial air gap between them. Sets of gap-maintaining rolling supports bear between the rotor ring and the stator ring at their peripheries to maintain the axial air gap. Also disclosed are wind turbines using these generators, and structures and methods for mounting direct drive rotating electrical generators to the hubs of wind turbines. In particular, the rotor ring of the generator may be carried directly by the hub of a wind turbine to rotate relative to a shaft without being mounted directly to the shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to rotating electrical machines, such as motors and generators, and more particularly to direct drive generators with axial air gaps.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical electrical generator, a rotor with an array of magnetic elements, such as permanent magnets, is driven by a mechanical force to rotate in close proximity to a stationary stator, which carries metallic windings. An air gap is maintained between the magnetic elements of the rotor and the windings of the stator. Typically, the mechanical force used to turn the rotor is supplied by a rotating input shaft, and a gearbox is coupled between the input shaft and the shaft on which the rotor is mounted in order to increase the angular velocity of the rotor shaft as compared with the input shaft.
Electrical generators are used in a variety of contexts, including wind turbines. In a wind turbine, wind provides the mechanical force to drive an electrical generator. In a typical case, the wind drives a set of blades, which cause a hub to rotate an axle. The axle acts as the input shaft for the generator. The generator is generally coupled to the axle through a gearbox.
More recently, so-called "direct drive" generators have shown promise in use with wind turbines. In a direct drive generator, there is no gearbox; the generator rotor turns or rotates at the same rate as the blades and hub. Because a direct drive generator does not use a gearbox, it is typically much larger than a traditional generator, so that it can generate adequate electricity at the slower speed of rotation. Direct drive generator diameters of greater than 3 meters are common in wind turbine applications with a power rating above 2 Megawatts (MW).
In a typical direct drive generator, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,456,534 to Engstrom, the air gap between the rotor and the stator is a radial air gap—i.e., the gap between the rotor and the stator lies along the radial edge of the rotor, and the stator faces the radial edge of the rotor on the other side of the air gap. In such direct drive generators, one of the main problems is maintaining a uniform air gap. The dimensions of the typical direct drive generator make that difficult—the diameter of the rotor may be 2 meters or more, but the air gap is usually on the order of 5 to 10 millimeters.