To provide a novel substance having an excellent water-dispersibility capable of forming an emulsion which spreads rapidly onto the skin, does not undergo aggregation or segregation due to a salt, and is excellent in a low temperature stability. The aforementioned problems were found to be solved by means of a certain polysaccharide and the invention was established.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polysaccharides and an emulsified products containing the same.
2. Discussion of the Background
An emulsion is employed widely in an industrial field as a form capable of dispersing a water-insoluble substance into water and an oil-insoluble substance into oil. Typically, it is employed in various products including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, adhesives, resins, paints and the like.
Since an emulsified condition is unstable thermodynamically, and subjected to various attempts to keep it over a prolonged period. For example, a stabilization by thickening the system is conducted generally. One example of the techniques for thickening is to add a water-soluble polymer such as a carboxyvinyl polymer. However, the stabilization of the emulsion by the thickening has a drawback experienced as a substantial change in the touch of the emulsion, which is characterized typically by a slower spreadability onto the skin. In addition, some types of the water-soluble polymers are less resistant to salts, and in that case, the emulsion may undergo segregation or aggregation without showing a stability of the emulsified condition in the presence of salts. Because of this, the some types of the water-soluble polymers sometimes can not be used together with inorganic salts, plant extracts and sea water extracts as well as vitamins.
In Patent Literature 1, a starch and a hydroxyalkyl starch are employed to achieve a stable emulsified condition. However, the hydroxyalkyl starch is poorly dispersed in water, and may cause precipitation. In addition, the stability of the emulsification at a low temperature still involves problems.
On the other hand, Patent Literature 2 describes that a gel composition containing a certain acyl group-containing composition is preferably stable. However the acyl group-containing composition thickens an aqueous component into a gel, thereby it still has a problem with regard to the spreadability onto the skin. In addition, the stability of the emulsification at an acidic condition remains unsolved.
[Patent Literature 1] JP-T-2000-514435 (the term "JP-T" as used herein means a published Japanese translation of a PCT present application)
[Patent Literature 2] Domestic Re-publication of PCT patent application WO2004-20394

N-acylamino acid derivatives of cellulose or starch based polysaccharides and emulsified products containing the same


Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.

Coatings are incorporated into foods for various reasons. Coatings can provide protection of food pieces, prevent or delay moisture or oil uptake, maintain a desired moisture content, provide flavor or sweetening, add a nutritional component, provide a desired texture, or provide a desired appearance, among other things.
The number of coatings on a piece of food is generally determined by the method used to apply the coating. Some methods, such as enrobing, can be used to apply a single coating per pass. Some methods of coating food products, such as panning, can result in multiple coatings.
Most current methods result in products that are generally homogenously coated, resulting in a homogenous appearance and texture amongst the coated pieces. There exists, therefore, a need for a continuous coating method that results in a more visually and texturally interesting product.


Methods and apparatus are provided for transporting a solid rocket motor, rocket or other object. A transport for an object suitably includes a trailer having a longitudinal axis. A tail support coupled to the trailer has a notch configured to receive a pin affixed to the object to prevent movement along the longitudinal axis during transport. A chock assembly includes a chock and a trolley, wherein the chock is configured to accept the solid rocket motor and to pivot about a rotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trailer. By pivoting with the object, the rotable chock maintains intimate contact with the object during transport and/or elevation, thereby improving response to flexing of the transport and reducing the possibility of damage to the object.

Rocket engines remain the primary launch engines for satellites, manned and unmanned space vehicles and the like. The solid rocket motors (SRMs) used in space shuttle launches, for example, each bum for about two minutes and generate about 3.3 million pounds of thrust. Other rocket engines (such as the Delta series rockets manufactured by the Boeing Company) are designed to propel large payloads (e.g. on the order of thirteen tons or more) into space with relatively short setup times (e.g. ten to twenty days).
Rocket-type propulsion engines are typically relatively difficult to transport from place to place (e.g. from a manufacturing or storage site to the launch site) due to their sheer size. The solid rocket motors used in space shuttle launches, for example, are approximately forty yards in length and about four yards in diameter, and weigh approximately seventy tons even when unloaded. Delta series rockets, as well as other types of rockets, are even larger (e.g. on the order of eighty yards in length or more) and therefore can be similarly unwieldy to transport.
Rocket engines are typically transported on a flatbed-type trailer that can be pulled by a semi-truck or railroad engine. These trailers, however, are generally relatively rigid, and flexing of the trailer during transport may result in localized loading and other stresses that could result in damage to the exterior of the engine. The risk of localized loading and associated damage to the engine is also present when the rocket engine is erected from the trailer to the upright launch position.
Accordingly, it is desirable to create a transport for rocket engines and other objects that is resistant to localized loading conditions. In addition, it is desirable to create a chock for a transport that is resistant to localized loading conditions. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Solid motor transport trailer with rotatable chock supports


The present invention provides a stapler with a novel leaf spring actuation mechanism. According to the teaching of the present invention, the stapler comprises a striking plate for dispensing a staple from a staple magazine, a leaf spring engaged with the striking plate for driving the striking plate, and an actuation bar for lifting the leaf spring from a first position to a second position whereby lifting the striking plate from an initial position to a release position in which the leaf spring is released from the actuation bar to drive the striking plate towards the initial position. Preferably, a pair of lugs on the actuation bar pushes up a pair of tabs on the leaf spring when an L-shaped front end of the actuation bar moves upward along a ramp when an external force is applied to the actuation bar during the stapling operation.

In a spring-actuated stapler, when an external force is applied to the stapler (usually by pressing a cover of the stapler), a spring element is loaded, and at the same time a striking plate is moved from an initial position to a release position. When the striking plate arrives at the release position, the spring element is unloaded to powerfully drive the striking plate from the release position back to the initial position to individually dispense a staple from a staple magazine.
There are numerous spring actuation mechanisms to carry out the above operations, however, efforts have never stopped in designing better ones with improvement in simplicity, preciseness and reliability.

Stapler with leaf spring actuation mechanism


A positioning control method includes: determining a position of a positioning object; determining, based on the position of the positioning object, at least one target positioning beacon whose distance to the positioning object satisfies a predetermined condition; and sending a prompt message to the target positioning beacon, wherein the prompt message is intended to instruct a positioning beacon to switch a broadcast frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency which is greater than the first frequency.

In the field of positioning technologies, for example, in the field of the indoor positioning technology, the life cycle of a positioning beacon exerts a great impact on the hardware update and positioning accuracy of a positioning system. Therefore, reducing the power consumption of the positioning beacon and prolonging the life cycle of the positioning beacon are of great significance to an indoor positioning system.

Positioning control method and device, positioning system and storage medium

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


A vehicular wiper device includes a wiper motor secured to a crank arm, a first pivot holder rotatably supporting a wiper arm and a first pivot lever, a second pivot holder rotatably supporting a wiper arm and a second pivot lever, and a link structure connected to the crank arm. Rotation power of the wiper motor is transmitted to the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever via the crank arm and the link structure. The wiper motor is secured to a rear face of a motor bracket portion of the first pivot holder on an opposite side as the wiper arm with respect to the motor bracket portion. The crank arm is arranged on the opposite side as the wiper motor with respect to the motor bracket portion. A dimension between the rear face of the motor bracket portion and the first pivot lever is set to be greater than a dimension between the rear face of the motor bracket portion and the crank arm.

According to JP-A-2002-200969, an impact absorbing structure is constructed in a conventional vehicular wiper device. The wiper device has a fixing portion, to which a wiper arm is secured, and the fixing portion includes a fragile part. The fragile part is broken and the wiper motor is separated from a wiper frame at the fragile part, when impact is applied to the wiper motor from the outside of the vehicle. In this situation, the wiper motor is moved to the inside of the vehicle, and impact applied to the wiper motor is absorbed by the wiper device.
However, the fixing portion may be weakened due to the fragile part in the conventional structure, and the fragile part may be broken when a high load is applied to the fragile part while the wiper device wipes accumulated snow. On the contrary, when the fragile part is excessively strengthened, impact absorption structure cannot be properly constructed.
Furthermore, when a colliding object (object to be protected) collides against the wiper motor, and impact force is applied to the wiper motor from the outside, the impact force may be absorbed by a vehicular body (collided object). However, a large impact is applied to the colliding object (object to be protected) when the colliding object (object to be protected) collides against a hard massive object such as a wiper motor. In this situation, impact applied to the colliding object (object to be protected) may not be sufficiently absorbed.
Specifically, a wiper motor is located on the upper side of a motor bracket portion, and an output shaft penetrates through the motor bracket portion in a conventional wiper device according to JP-A-2002-200969. A crank arm is located on the lower side of the wiper motor to move a link structure of the wiper. In this structure, the wiper motor is in the vicinity of a fixing portion, in which the wiper device is secured to the vehicular body, in a height (vertical) direction. The fixing portion is a part of a pivot holder that has a rotation axis of the wiper. Therefore, distance between the wiper motor and the vehicular body becomes small. An engine hood deforms when the colliding object (object to be protected) collides against the engine hood. In this structure, deformed portion of the engine hood reaches at the wiper motor immediately after starting of deformation of the engine hood, and effect of impact absorption cannot be sufficiently achieved by deformation of the vehicular body.

Vehicular wiper device having motor and internal space


In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method selects a program from a library of programs. A user selection is determined based upon a voice command, and the program is presented at a display device in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system selects a program from a library of programs. The system includes a processor that determines a user selection based upon a voice command, and also includes a display device that presents the program in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium contains a set of instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a user selection based upon a voice command and to command a display device to present the program, in accordance with the voice command.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of intelligent displaying of content, and more particularly to selection of audio-visual content for displaying.
Description of the Related Art
Home entertainment systems generally allow users to display audio-visual content, including movies, sporting events, and educational programs. However, selection of the content may be cumbersome. Hundreds of channels may be available through a satellite or cable system, and hundreds or thousands of other programs and other audio-visual content may be available through a Video On Demand (VOD) or a Pay Per View (PPV) server. Many systems provide only a simple scroll-bar for the user to interface, and consequently force the user to scroll through a lengthy list of available programming to select a program to view. Moreover, each program is usually identified by a few words of text. If the user does not recognize a particular program by the few words that the user interface is able to provide, the user might scroll past the program and not view it. Consequently, programs that the user might want to watch can be ignored by the user simply because the user cannot recognize the name of the program from the user interface that the system provides.

Multimedia search application for a mobile device


A crosslinkable silicone compound including: a crosslinkable silicone polymer, constituted by polyorganosiloxane; a crosslinking agent, constituted by polyhydrogen organosiloxane; a platinum catalyst; and a synthetic sodium-aluminum zeolite. The compound is completed by inhibitors and/or fillers and/or release agents and/or colors and/or plasticizers and/or additives to modify its rheological characteristics.

The present invention relates to a crosslinkable silicone compound, stable under storage conditions.
The compound is used particularly but not exclusively in dentistry for preparing impression materials.
Conventional silicone rubbers are substantially constituted by silicone polymers and fillers.
They are mainly different according to the kind of polymer being used and to the cross-linking mechanism.
In materials for dental impressions based on addition-crosslinking polyorganosiloxanes, the crosslinking mechanism arises from the addition of silicon-hydrogen groups by means of double bonds in the presence of a catalyst based on platinum salts.
This reaction is known as hydrosilylation and occurs at room temperature when metal/olefin platinum complexes are used.
The setting reaction allows to obtain an elastomeric compound which has excellent characteristics.
Natural or synthetic mineral fillers, pigments, release agents, rheological modifiers et cetera are normally used in silicone rubbers.
For RTV (room temperature vulcanization) silicone rubbers used in dentistry for taking impressions, the product is usually marketed in two separate mixes, called "base" and "catalyst", which must be mixed uniformly before use.
After mixing, therefore, the compound is placed in contact with the surfaces to be duplicated until it sets completely.
Between the beginning of the mixing and complete crosslinking there is a first period, known as "working time", during which the two parts mixed together are plastic and can be worked, and there is a second period during which the mass loses its plasticity and setting begins.
The time during which the reaction occurs is known as "setting time"; at the end of this period, the product has become an irreversible elastomer.
To allow optimum clinical application, the total cycle up to setting must last a few minutes, usually between a minimum of one minute to a maximum of ten minutes from when mixing begins.
For users it is furthermore essential to have control over the reaction and to have a reaction in which performance always remains the same until the expiration date.
After setting, the product must exhibit some essential requirements for specific application in dentistry, such as dimensional stability, high detail reproduction ability, and as mentioned, constant working time and setting time.
The working time and the setting time can be affected by adding to the compound inhibitors which belong to the group of methyl or vinyl cyclotetrasiloxanes; apart from the possibility to control the reaction, it is very important that these parameters remain unchanged during the period of guarantee determined and specified by the manufacturer.
In order to ensure these conditions, the reactivity of the component which is most sensitive and therefore most unstable, i.e., the platinum catalyst, would have to remain constant; in practice, instead, it tends to lose part of its reactivity over time, degrading due to reasons which have not been properly clarified yet.
This becomes evident through an increase in the setting time, until the product becomes no longer suitable for use or no longer conforms to the specifications of the manufacturer.
This effect increases if the product is stored and especially if it is stored at high temperatures.

Crosslinkable silicone compound, stable under storage conditions


A method of manufacturing a fishing jig hook allows a user to create a custom fishing jig hook that attracts fish. A user can attract specific fish by using jigs that mimic the appearances of the smaller bait fish that the target fish usually consumes. The fishing jig produced is reusable, thus reducing waste due to extended periods of fishing. Further, the fishing jig is bent to provide a hydrodynamic shape. The formed apparatus provides a malleable disk, a fishing jig hook, a metal-cutting tool, a folding rod, a ruler, a marker, a metal-puncturing tool, and at least one ornament. These tools include the necessary jig lure material required as well as the tools needed to subsequently shape that material.

People have been hunting for food since the development of sustained cooking fires. Cooking meat has facilitated the generation of useful energy from food and thus provided a powerful stimulus for the growth of the human brain. This allowed humans to spend less time eating and more time developing items and tools. Among other things, technology improved to allow for more efficient capture and more enjoyable preparations of various foods. Fishing in particular has evolved to allow for control over selective removal of individual fish. Fishing rods with interchangeable hooks, lines, reels, and other such features enabled fishermen to send their lines over greater or shorter distances and to greater or smaller depths.
As fishing technology and fishing knowledge increase, so too does the need for innovative lures and line additions that can positively impact the ability of fishermen to attract specific fish. However, the equipment required to attract particular fish can be expensive and complex. Modern specialty lures and jigs often are large and unwieldy, resulting in difficulty securing to a line as well as increasing the chances of the added equipment snagging on loose plants underwater. The shape of most such line additions is often not hydrodynamically designed to allow for ease of reeling, but rather bulbous and oftentimes flat, resulting in increased force required when manipulating hook position and collecting fish. Furthermore, jigs and lures often fail to accurately represent the bait they are attempting to replicate. What is needed is a fishing jig that accurately depicts bait animals. Further desirable is a jig that is bent appropriately to ensure hydrodynamic movement.
The present invention addresses these issues. The present invention relates to a process for developing fishing jigs for addition to a fishing line. Developed fishing jigs are shaped from malleable materials, allowing them to adjust to water flow. A crucial step of the present invention involves folding the raw material in half, which results in a consistently hydrodynamic shape. Subsequent processing allows a created fishing jig to more accurately represent bait. Simple assembly results in an adequate amount of exposed hook, as well as ease of fish removal.


An apparatus is provided for handling workpieces, such as semiconductor wafers, during semiconductor processing. The apparatus includes a wafer platen having a plurality of channels each extending from a top surface to a bottom surface of the wafer platen, a plurality of lift pins in alignment with the channels, and a mechanism for engaging the lift pins in a loading position of the workpiece, a clamping position of the workpiece so that desired semiconductor processes may be performed to the workpiece, and a lift off position for removing the workpiece from the wafer platen after the semiconductor processes are completed. The mechanism places the lift pins below the surface of the wafer platen in the load position and then raises the lift pins to a first predetermined distance above the surface of the wafer platen in the clamp position such that the first predetermined distance allows the workpiece to be clamped to the wafer platen. Then, the mechanism places the lift pins at a second predetermined distance above the surface of the wafer platen in the lift off position such that a workpiece removing device, such as a robotic arm, may be positioned between the workpiece and the wafer platen without contacting either surface.

(1) Field
The disclosed methods and systems relate generally to semiconductor processing, and more particularly to wafer handling methods and systems utilizing a wafer platen having an electrostatic clamp for plasma doping processes.
(2) Description of Relevant Art
In previous approaches, various methods and materials have been tested in order to provide a good electrical contact between the wafer and the platen, such as utilizing flat metal platens (e.g. Aluminum), spring-loaded sharp/flat pins (e.g. Tungsten, graphite, aluminum), aluminum foil, etc. However, previous approaches have relied on the gravitational force of the wafer which has not provided enough force for penetrating the oxide layer on the wafer. Therefore, problems have arisen such as poor electrical contact between the metal platen and the wafer; poor secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) as-implanted junction depth repeatability; wafer charging damage; micro-discharge between the wafer and the platen; wafer backside particle generation; and excessive wafer temperature increase.
For instance, in prior art systems disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2001/0016302 and 2002/0067585, wafer cooling schemes use an electrostatic chuck. However, these systems fail to address the problems relating to the electrical contact to the wafer and high voltage wafer biasing during backside gas cooling.
In other prior art systems, techniques of residual charge removal for unclamping after processing the wafers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,117,121; 6,033,482; and 6,567,257 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0030961. However, each of these systems are problematic due to the fact that complicated circuitry and control systems are required or contamination issues arise due to the use of radiation sources or the like.
The use of partially implanted insulating surfaces to provide both electrical contact and a larger area of thermal contact for wafer cooling purposes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,892. However, the cooling efficiency is low in the vacuum environment and the insulating surfaces described above typically have relatively low melting temperatures and low chemical resistance which limits its applications. In yet other prior art systems directed to RF applications, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,529,362 and 6,033,482, electrical contact is not required during processing due to the RF driven self-bias effect.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved wafer handling systems utilizing a wafer platen having an electrostatic clamp for improving the electrical contact between the platen and the wafer to increase the wafer cooling capability, suppress the wafer backside discharge and reduce wafer backside particle generation.

Wafer platen equipped with electrostatic clamp, wafer backside gas cooling, and high voltage operation capability for plasma doping

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


In an attachment structure of a rear panel to a tuner, a rear panel to be attached to a tuner that is smaller in depth size has, in portions corresponding to connector connection parts of the tuner, two holes for inserting the connector connection parts, and has, in a portion corresponding to a small protrusion with a tapped hole of the tuner, a small cylindrical part. When the rear panel is attached onto the front surface of the tuner, the two connector connection parts of the tuner are inserted into the two holes, a leading end of the small cylindrical part is brought into contact with a front surface of the small protrusion with the tapped hole of the tuner, a male screw is inserted into the small cylindrical part from the front surface side of the rear panel, and a leading end of the male screw is screwed into the tapped hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to attachment structure of a rear panel to a tuner in which rear panels are attached and fixed respectively onto front surfaces of two tuners different from each other in depth size, of which each has two connector connection parts protruding in front, and a small protrusion with a tapped hole for panel attachment provided in a middle position between the connector connection parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally an attachment structure of a rear panel to this kind of tuner has a rear panel 102 to be attached and fixed on a front surface of a tuner 101 that is smaller in depth size as shown in FIG. 4. Portions of the rear panel 102 corresponding to two connector connection parts 103, 103 and a small protrusion with a tapped hole of a tuner 101 is recessed by drawing, and then the rear panel 102 is brought into contact with the front surface of the tuner 101, and a male screw 105 is screwed into a small protrusion 104 with a tapped hole, whereby the rear panel 102 is attached and fixed.
However, there has been a problem that structure of a die for drawing the rear panel becomes complicated.
Another related art is shown in FIG. 5. In structure in which holes 201a and 201b are provided on the upper side and the lower side of a housing 201 of an electronic control device including pressed products, and one screw 104 passes through the upper hole 201a and the lower hole 201b, after the lower hole 201b has been subjected to burring, a burring hole forming side is expanded by press, and the expanded diameter by this expanding work is set to 1.3 times or more the size of the burring diameter, whereby the screw 204 that has passed the upper hole 201a becomes easy to pass through the lower hole 201b (refer to JP-A-2002-134940).
However, this structure only makes the screw 204 pass through the upper hole 201a and the lower hole 201b easily.

Attachment structure of rear panel to tuner


A method and apparatus are disclosed for configuring at least one set of beta offset values, and for each of the at least one set of beta offset values, at least one subset of beta offset values being defined for information corresponding to Uplink Control Information, UCI, and being associated with at least one service type. A method and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a configuration of at least one set of beta offset values, for each of the at least one set of beta offset values, the configuration being associated with at least one subset of beta offset values, the at least one subset of beta offset values being defined for information corresponding to UCI and being associated with at least one service type.

URLLC traffic has been identified as one traffic group to be served in wireless networks, such as, for example, New Radio (NR). As compared to enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) traffic, URLLC traffic may be considered to have the following characteristics:                the data packet for URLLC traffic is much smaller;        the data packet arrival is much sparser;        much lower delay budget over the air interface;        low Medium Access Control (MAC) delay requirement in the air interface and possibly Radio Link Control (RLC)/Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) not applicable; and        the control and data channel reliability is much higher. For example, the Block Error Rate (BLER) target is about 10−5 and may in some cases be even more stringent, such as, for example, the BLER target may even be close to 10−6.
In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the following aspects may be considered:                Packet duplication in the PDCP layer;        Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) enhancement (such as, for example, increase in the PDCCH aggregation level, duplicate PDCCH transmission, etc.);        Channel State Information (CSI) enhancement (such as, for example, use of more stringent BLER target for the CSI derivation); and        Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) enhancement (such as, for example, use of separate Transport Block Size (TBS) tables for URLLC and eMBB).
Other considerations include performing more reliable transmission of UCI based on different service types. However, how to implement more reliable transmission is quite challenging.
It may be considered that, for UCI on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), support for both dynamic and semi-static beta offset, βoffset, indication is provided. For dynamically scheduled PUSCH transmission, a plurality of sets of beta offset values can be configured by Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, and the PDCCH can dynamically indicate an index to a set of beta offset values. Each set of beta offset values may include a plurality of entries, each of the plurality of entries corresponding to a respective UCI type (including two-part CSI when applicable). The beta offset, βoffset, may be considered to be used for computing the amount of Resource Elements (REs) for each respective UCI on the PUSCH. UCI may include, for example, HARQ-ACK and CSI.
If a wireless device (WD) (e.g., user equipment (UE)) is configured with dynamic beta offset, four (4) sets of beta offset values may be configured for each Hybrid-ARQ-ACK (HARQ-ACK) (also called the HARQ ACK/NACK, HARQ acknowledge message, HARQ feedback, etc.) payload range and CSI payload range and type, respectively via RRC signaling. Also, two (2) bits in the Downlink Control Information (DCI) may indicate one out of the four (4) sets of beta offset values. Each set of beta offset values may include beta offset values for HARQ-ACK ranges and beta offset values for CSI payload ranges and type. The beta offset values may be given by:                Three (3) beta offset values are defined as one set, when HARQ-ACK piggyback on PUSCH. The three (3) values may correspond to the following cases:        The number of HARQ-ACK bits OACK≤2        The number of HARQ-ACK bits falls into [3]≤OACK≤[11]        The number of HARQ-ACK bits OACK>[11]        Four (4) beta offset values are defined for CSI as one set, when CSI piggybacks on the PUSCH. The four (4) values may correspond to the following cases:        Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, the number of bits for CSI part 1 OCSI_part1≤[11]        Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, the number of bits for CSI part 1 OCSI_part1>[11]        Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, the number of bits for CSI part 2 OCSI_part2≤[11]        Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, the number of bits for CSI part 2 OCSI_part2>[11]
It has been agreed that CSI is always split into CSI part 1 and CSI part 2 when CSI piggybacks on the PUSCH (with CSI type 1, CSI part 2 does not exist when there is no Precoding Matrix Indicators (PMI) and with rank up to 4).
As one example, the beta offset values can be configured as in Table 1.
TABLE 1Beta Offset Values Configuration in RRC SignalingSet k For βack(k,0) When the number of HARQ-ACK (k = 0, 1, 2, 3) ACK bits OACK ≤ 2 βack(k,1) When the number of HARQ-ACK bits falls into [3] ≤ OACK ≤ [11]βack(k,2) When the number of HARQ-ACK bits OACK > [11]For βCSI(k,0) Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, when the CSI number of bits for CSI part 1 OCSI_part1 ≤ [11]βCSI(k,1) Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, when the number of bits for CSI part 1 OCSI_part1 > [11]βCSI(k,2) Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, when the number of bits for CSI part 2 OCSI_part2 ≤ [11]βCSI(k,3) Regardless CSI type 1 or 2, when the number of bits for CSI part 2 OCSI_part2 > [11]Two (2) bits in DCI will be used to inform which set is used for the final beta offset valueBeta offset value will be configured via RRC
It has been agreed that a good performance can be achieved when only eMBB or only URLLC is supported. However, for one terminal that supports eMBB and URLLC simultaneously at a given interval, the performance may not be optimized with the current agreed mechanism. For example, when a beta offset value is decided on, the RRC can be used to configure the beta offset value with an assumption of an eMBB service. In this case, when URLLC service is transmitted, the same sets of beta offset values are applied to both eMBB and URLLC services and thus, the performance of UCI for the URLLC services may not meet the high reliability requirements since the configured beta offset values may be too small for the reliable transmission of UCI. On the other hand, if RRC is used to configure the beta offset values with an assumption of URLLC service, resources may be wasted when only eMBB UCI is required.


The invention is a garment that is made from an elastic and puncture resistant material that provides protection to the wearer against shark attacks. The garment includes at least one elastic base layer, a plurality of protective elements that overlap each other to form a protective layer, and a fabric layer to join the elastic material and the protective element against each other. The protective elements are rigid, but configured in such a way to maintain flexibility in the overall garment.

There are currently numerous "wet" suits worn by water sports enthusiasts. Some are made of elastic materials like nylon to reduce the body's natural "drag" against the water, such as used by Olympic swimmers. Others are made of elastic materials like nylon by surfers for the purpose of providing a thin level of rash protection from contact with the surfing equipment. Some are made from insulating materials like neoprene which provide thermal insulation for those participating in colder waters.
In order for these garments to work effectively, they must stretch and cling to the wearer. In order for these garments to be desired by enthusiasts (and actually be worn) they must allow for a high level of mobility, which again requires a high level of stretch and elasticity.
Current wetsuits do provide for simple rash protection or thermal insulation, but are not designed to resist puncture, cutting, or tearing, such as may be received from impacts with sharp rocks or reefs, or from shark bites. Many fatalities from shark bites result not from blunt force trauma or drowning induced by the shark, but rather from the deep puncture and cutting of tissue from the shark's razor sharp teeth. Some dive shops do offer chain mail garments designed to be worn over wetsuits or rash guards. These garments function when engaged in slow deliberate movements like SCUBA diving. However, these suits are too oversized, bulky, heavy, and burdensome for those participating in vigorous water sports like swimming or surfing.
So, manufacturers of wet suits for vigorous water sports have long sought a means to effectively protect the wearer from cutting, puncture, and tearing in a garment that remains highly elastic and form fitting.
There are essentially four "groups" of related art that should be discussed in detail. The first group of references is related to wet suits or thermal suits for diving, which do not significantly protect the wearer from cutting or puncture. The second group of references is related to suits or materials with small rigid elements or platelets designed for protection from fire, knife stabbing, or high velocity punctures (such as bullets). These materials are generally not designed to expand and contract, as such a property would be deleterious to their intended use (by allowing gaps between individual platelets to form during expansion of the base material, which may defeat the protection altogether). The third group is references contain materials designed primarily for the medical profession, in the form of gloves and various materials, to prevent accidental needle sticks and scalpel cuts. These materials are generally not intended for full suits or for vigorous water activities. The fourth group of references is related to suits or materials specifically for shark bite protection, with materials ranging from chain mail to spiked outfits. All of the groups of referenced related art have serious limitations for use, which explains why they are not used by water sports enthusiasts currently.
Group one depicts thermal protection suits that do not possess significant cutting or puncture resistance. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,749,551 and 2,981,954, issued to Garbellano, depict such underwater thermal suits. Garbellano's suits are designed primarily for thermal insulation, and do not possess significant cutting or tearing resistance other than that afforded by the neoprene and fabric itself. U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,978, issued to Pankopf, discloses a protective garment for water activities. The suit is designed for ease of wearing, not to protect against biting or cutting. U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,774, issued to Mitchell, discloses a scuba wet suit with constant buoyancy. It includes a plurality of rigid-wall containers, supported by at least one support layer, which are designed to provide insulation and buoyancy. These containers, and their support layer(s), do not provide protection against shark bites or reefs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,572, issued to Buck, discloses a floatation fabric and life preserver made therefrom. The floatation fabric is composed of two opposed layers of water-permeable, flexible, woven or knitted material. Sandwiched between the layers are small particles, pellets or beats of closed cell foam plastic material, which give the fabric its buoyancy. Buck's patent is designed for floatation, not for shark attack prevention.
Group two depicts suits or materials designed for knife stabbing or high velocity bullet protection. U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,406, issued to Waterbury, is designed to be buoyant and to repel bullets. The material from which to construct the suit, however, is not well-defined (cellular plastic with submicron metallic particles at the molecular level), and the suit would appear to have limited flexibility and expansive characteristics due to a base of semi-rigid plastic. U.S. Pat. No. 2,819,759, issued to Goodloe; U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,281, issued to Burgess, et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,541, issued to Sacks and Jones, suggest plates affixed to a flexible, yet preferably non-elastic base. The non-elastic nature of the base material provides for flexibility but eliminates the clinging elastic properties required for vigorous water sports. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,241, issued to Zieglar, depicts a chain mail glove impregnated with neoprene. Infusing flexible metal with rubber renders the composite material substantially inflexible and inelastic, because the elastic neoprene material would bond to virtually all of the steel ring surfaces. All of these referenced suits or materials seem to possess a significant degree of flexibility, but lack a significant level of elasticity.
The third group features many designs of materials and garments designed to protect the skin, especially professionals in the medical field from accidental needle sticks or scalpel cuts. These materials are not generally intended for complete suits or for use in the water. The arrays of tiny platelets in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,689, issued to Jones; U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,263, issued to Gould and Nichols; U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,930, issued to Samples; U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,895, issued to Cunningham; U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,751, issued to Kobren; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,774, issued to Kim, are small and smooth faced. Teeth from a shaking shark bite would likely slide over the smooth faced platelets and find their way in between them. The woven metals or woven aramid fibers of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,779,290 and 4,833,733, issued to Welch and Dombrowski; U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,578, issued to Seid; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,540, issued to Bettcher and Bettcher, are flexible, but inelastic, and would prevent high degrees of elasticity and mobility required by water sports enthusiasts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,828, issued to Fogt, et al, discloses a protective, cut-resistant material for use in articles of apparel. Such material, however, would not guard against shark bites.
The final group discloses suits specifically designed for protection while engaged in water activities. U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,806, issued to Prasser, depicts a thermal rubber wetsuit with impregnated steel mesh or a plurality of "intermeshed" rings to form an "interlinked fabric." This design is similar in limitations to Ziegler, wherein the infusing of flexible metal with rubber renders the composite material as substantially less flexible and inelastic. This is because the elastic neoprene material would bond to virtually all of the inelastic steel surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,569, issued to Sullivan, suggests chain mail with large steel plates. This suit is limited by non-clinging or form-fitting steel chain mail, with plates of steel strapped to the outside. This entire arrangement would be very difficult to efficiently maneuver through the water. Further, this arrangement would be prohibitively expensive and cumbersome to manufacture in requiring tailoring to the many different sizes and shapes of people. U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,384, issued to Schneider, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,729, issued to Fox, both suggest elements on the outside of the suits (spikes or repulsive chemical sacs) to deter shark attacks. Due to gear entanglement issues and the outrageous appearance of the suits, neither product would likely be considered by someone involved in vigorous water sports. French Patent No. 2819151, issued to Daniel and Olivier, discloses a protective suit. It does not however solve critical issues whereby an extensive cross section of surface area is connected from protective elements to the elastic elements, which renders that same cross section of elastic material as inelastic, does not provide adequate protection when the elastic material is elongated, the protective elements are defined as non-deformable bands (i.e. rigid, which creates a much less flexible and pliable composite material) and finally the protective layers are externally exposed, which allows these layers to both snag on equipment and create significant water drag.
In conclusion, the present invention seeks to remedy the following several critical problems in the referenced patents:                (a) They attempt 100% solutions to a protection problem, providing so much protection that ultimate mobility and manufacturing costs are compromised. This results in garments that are not either not purchased or not worn.        (b) Some suits offer only thermal or rash protection, and offer little to no protection from cuts or punctures such as may be imposed by a shark bite or a sharp rock or reef.        (c) The referenced platelet designs have problems in that: 1) they are mounted to bases that are flexible but preferred as non elastic, which prevents both the clinging form fitting nature and high degrees of mobility and 2) they propose small, rigid, smooth faced individual plates, which would not prevent teeth in a shaking shark bite to slide in between platelets.        (d) The chainmail, chainmail and metal plate, neoprene infused chainmail, and steel mesh designs are limited in that they are 1) heavy, 2) expensive to manufacture, and 3) they do not allow free expansion and contraction (they are limited to the designed expansion of the interconnected metal elements of the chainmail or steel mesh). Currently available chainmail suits for water activities are manufactured oversized to allow donning and doffing. The excess material is bound up with additional straps and rubber bands (creating significant water drag). These suits are generally acceptable for slow deliberate movements like scuba diving, but impractical for vigorous sports like surfing or swimming.        (e) The spike and chemical sac suits both suffer from an expensive manufacture process, likely entanglements of other gear or equipment (like scuba gear), imposed difficulty in the wearer's movement (swimming, surfing, etc.), large amounts of drag when moving through the water, and an appearance that would discourage use by water sports enthusiasts.


An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzles arranged in a grid and configured to inject fluid within an air intake system of the gas turbine system upstream of a filter to keep ice from forming on the filter. Each nozzle of the multiple nozzles includes multiple orifices for injecting the fluid via jets. The anti-icing system also includes a nozzle head coupled to a nozzle of the multiple nozzles. The nozzle head is disposed over the multiple orifices and is configured to rotate relative to the nozzle. The nozzle head includes at least one outlet for injecting the fluid from the jets via at least one jet.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an anti-icing system for gas turbine engines.
In general, gas turbine engines combust a mixture of compressed air and fuel to produce hot combustion gases. The combustion gases may flow through a turbine to generate power for a load and/or a compressor. In inclement conditions, ice buildup may occur that adversely affects a filtration system located within a gas turbine air intake upstream of the compressor. The ice buildup may result in excessive pressure loss within the gas turbine system, thus, impacting system performance.


A virtual electronic fuse apparatus and methodology are disclosed that permit the state of an electronic fuse to change from an un-blown state to a blown state and then back to a virtual un-blown state. In one embodiment, the electronic fuse may change from the virtual un-blown state back to a virtual blown state.

Modern electronic devices often include electronic fuses for use in final configuration after completion of semiconductor masking and fabrication processes. These electronic fuses are typically useful in the customization of electronic devices or to correct semiconductor manufacturing defects. For example, an integrated circuit such as a processor may include multiple electronic fuses that store digital information. Each electronic fuse may store a logic 0 or logic 1 depending on whether the fuse exhibits an un-blown state or a blown-state. A programming mechanism passes a high current through a polysilicon electronic fuse to permanently change the resistance of the fuse from a low resistance of approximately 100 ohms (the un-blown state) to a high resistance of approximately 5K ohms (the blown state). This action effectively "blows the fuse".
A "blown fuse" is an electronic fuse that exhibits high resistance after the programming mechanism passes a high current therethrough. An "un-blown fuse" is an electronic fuse that still exhibits a low resistance. The programming mechanism stores digital information in an electronic fuse bank by either blowing or not blowing individual fuses of the bank. An un-blown fuse that exhibits a low resistance may correspond to a logic low or 0. A blown fuse that exhibits a high resistance may correspond to a logic high or 1. This logic convention is reversible.
Once the programming mechanism stores digital information in the electronic fuse bank of an electronic device, the storage is permanent or nonvolatile. Nonvolatile storage of digital information is often desirable. However, circumstances arise wherein it is desirable to change or update the digital information in a nonvolatile electronic fuse bank. For example, a processor manufacturer may store final configuration information in the fuse bank of the processor. It is possible that after manufacturing a large quantity of processors and programming the fuse banks with final configuration information, an unexpected engineering change may require that the processors include different final configuration information. Under these circumstances, with no mechanism to update the final configuration information, it is unfortunately possible that those processors that store the original final configuration information may become scrap. Clearly, designating a large quantity of expensive electronic devices as scrap is not desirable.

Virtual electronic fuse apparatus and methodology

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for computing devices includes a central processing unit (CPU that is configured to perform in a plurality of power modes, each power mode being pre-defined to have a different code-execution performance capability than remaining ones of the plurality of power modes. The system further includes a sampling peripheral, an electrical output, and a memory device. The memory device is configured to select and execute a specific module from the plurality of modules based on the context-identifying input triggering the specific module. If triggered, each module is executed to receive the context-identifying input from the sampling peripheral, and to operate the CPU in a dedicated power mode of the plurality of power modes.

In recent years, due to the growth of portable electronics, there has been a push to decrease the power used by microcontrollers (or "MCU"), microprocessors, application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), neural processing units (NPUs), and other circuits used in portable electronic appliances. Power consumption is highly correlated to types of sensors and actuators being used, the respective modes, sampling rates, and algorithms used to act on collected data. With lower power requirements, effective electronics operation time can be extended, or alternatively, smaller batteries can be used. Commonly, the power consumption of a microcontroller and associated circuits may be reduced by using a lower supply voltage, or by reducing the amount of internal capacitance being charged and discharged during the operation of the circuit.
One method for reducing microcontroller power relies on hardware or software-based power mode switching. Power modes can be selected for microcontroller components or resources based on operating state, operating conditions, and/or sleep cycle characteristics and other factors to configure low power modes for selected microcontroller components at the time the processor enters a low power or sleep state. In some systems, a set of predefined low power configurations can be used, while more sophisticated systems can dynamically select low power configurations to maximize power savings while still meeting system latency requirements.
Current computing devices, however, operate inefficiently in the power modes, lacking adequate switching between the power modes. Thus, even with available low power modes, microcontroller power usage can be adversely affected by interactions with connected sensors, memory systems, or other peripherals. Frequent interrupts or requests for service from such peripherals can greatly limit the time a microcontroller can remain in a low power mode. In another example, computing chips are turned on at the same rate, regardless of activity level, which results in using unnecessary power. Systems that provide a reliable overall power management protocol and components for very low power operation are still needed.

On-chip system with context-based energy reduction


A curved display apparatus includes a projector, first and second mirrors, a curved screen, an infrared illuminator, an infrared camera, and a controller. The projector is configured to project an image onto a projection area. The first mirror is configured to reflect the image projected from the projector. The second mirror is configured to reflect the image reflected from the first mirror. The curved screen is configured to display the image reflected from the second mirror. The infrared illuminator is configured to output infrared rays onto the curved screen. The infrared camera is configured to capture an infrared image of the curved screen. The controller is configured to determine the image displayed on the curved screen and control the projector according to the determined image, determine a light reflection area based on the infrared image, and control the projector to rearrange an image displayed in the light reflection area.

The screen size of a display apparatus mounted within a vehicle has increased over the years. The increase in screen size is advantageous in terms of visibility of a driver, but may be a drawback in terms of light reflection. That is, an area where light reflection occurs may increase in proportion to the screen size.
Examples of external light interference that causes the light reflection may be sunlight, a streetlight, or a headlight of another vehicle. Particularly, when the sunlight is reflected from the screen, the visibility of the driver is significantly deteriorated.
Since the light reflection that occurs on the screen influences driving stability, the light reflection needs to be aggressively prevented.
A reflection reduction film may be attached to the screen in order to prevent the light reflection, but cost of the display apparatus may be increased and display quality may be deteriorated.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


There are provided an electromagnetic shielding sheet and a plasma display apparatus. The electromagnetic shielding sheet includes a base sheet; a first layer on a first surface of the base sheet, the first layer including first and second patterns crossing each other; and a second layer on a second surface of the base sheet, the second layer including a third pattern. The first and second patterns include a conductive material, the third pattern includes a light absorbing material, and at least one of the first and second patterns is grounded. Accordingly, conductive patterns for shielding electromagnetic waves and blocking external light are formed on a first surface of a base sheet, and patterns for blocking external light are formed on a second surface of the base sheet, so that the functions of shielding electromagnetic waves and blocking external light can be simultaneously performed using one sheet, and therefore, the ambient contrast ratio of a display image can be enhanced without increasing manufacturing costs. Further, patterns for shielding electromagnetic waves are directly formed a glass member of a filter or an upper substrate of the panel, so that processes of forming an electromagnetic shielding sheet can be easily performed.

1. Field
An electromagnetic shielding sheet and a plasma display apparatus use an electromagnetic shielding sheet. In one implementation, a plasma display apparatus filter includes an electromagnetic shielding sheet and is disposed on a front side of a plasma display panel.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, a plasma display panel is an apparatus that displays images including characters or graphics by applying a predetermined voltage to electrodes installed in a discharge space to cause discharge, and allowing plasma generated in a gas discharge to excite phosphors, and has the advantages such as large-scale, lightweight and surface-thinning, vertically and laterally wide view angle, full color and high brightness.
In such a plasma display panel, when a black image is implemented, external light is reflected from a front side of the panel due to a whitish fluorescent material exposed on a lower substrate of the panel. Therefore, a black image is recognized as a bright dark color, and thus contrast may be lowered.

Electromagnetic shielding sheet, plasma display apparatus using the same, and related technology


The disclosed invention is related to compositions, kits and methods comprising one or more oligomers targeting 16S rRNA target nucleic acid from Campylobacter species jejuni, coli and/or lari. Compositions include amplification oligomers, detection probe oligomers and/or target capture oligomers. Kits and methods comprise at least one of these oligomers.

Campylobacter contamination is one of the major causes of food-borne illness, and can lead to Campylobacteriosis. Campylobacter are also a major cause of diarrhoeal illness in humans and are generally regarded as the most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. In the United States, Campylobacter are estimated to affect two million people a year. Common routes of transmission are ingestion of contaminated food, water or milk, eating raw meat, person-to-person sexual contact, and fecal-oral. The infectious dose for Campylobacter may be as low as 400-500 bacteria as shown by human feeding studies, however, the infectious dose and the dose response are dependent upon the strains used, and the age and physical condition of the individuals. Symptoms appear 2-10 days after ingesting the bacteria and include fever, abdominal cramps, and mild to severe diarrhea, which may be bloody. Most infections are caused by C. jejuni, normally found in cattle, swine, and birds, where it is non-pathogenic, however, the illness may also be caused by C. coli (also found in cattle, swine, and birds) and C. lari (present in seabirds in particular). Some strains of C. jejuni produce a cholera-like enterotoxin, which is important in the watery diarrhea observed in infections. Most Campylobacter infections clear on their own or with the aid of antibiotics, however, long-term sequelae include reactive arthritis, Guillain-Barré syndrome and Miller Fisher Syndromes.
Studies have shown that Campylobacter can be isolated from a wide variety of sources, including chicken, cattle, pets, goats, sheep and pond water and river water. Milk, particularly unpasteurised (raw) milk, and poultry are the most common food items associated with Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter may also be isolated from red meat, but the frequency of contamination is generally much lower than poultry. Isolation of Campylobacter from food sources is difficult because the bacteria are usually present in very low numbers since they generally do not multiply in the foods they infect. Culture methods require an enrichment broth containing antibiotics, special antibiotic-containing plates, incubation at two different temperatures, and a microaerophilic atmosphere with an elevated concentration of carbon dioxide. Isolation can take several days to a week. Identification of Campylobacter using current USDA methods for detection can take 2-3 days. There is a need for a rapid, sensitive and accurate method to detect C. jejuni, C. lari, or C. coli so that the contaminating or infectious source can be accurately detected and eliminated. There is also a need for methods that allow rapid and accurate diagnosis of C. jejuni, C. lari, or C. coli infections in humans so that infected individuals may be treated promptly to limit morbidity and prevent further infections.

Compositions, kits and methods for detection of campylobacter nucleic acid


Hybrid clays for obtaining nanocomposites useful in the automotive, aviation, construction and packaging industry, among others. The hybrid clay comprises clays intercalated with the itaconic acid (ITA) monomer or its derivative monooctadecyl itaconate (MODIT), and a process for the preparation of these hybrid clays and the process to obtain polyolefin/clay nanocomposites.

The first scientific report of the use of hybrid clays in the preparation of nanocomposites appeared in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,396, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This patent, filed in 1947, describes the use of organically modified bentonites to provide structural reinforcement to elastomers such as rubber, polychloroprene and polyvinyl compounds. Several patents granted in 1984, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,472,538; 4,739,007; 4,810,734; 4,889,885; and 5,091,462, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, use hybrid clays for plastics and describe the use of structural commercial plastics, for example, to replace steel components in automobiles.
Patents not related to nanocomposites have also been published describing hybrid clay compositions as technological additives that include the product of the reaction of clay, the cuaternary ammonium compound and the organic anions that are inserted in the clay, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which uses a large variety of organic compounds, including carboxylic acids, that are capable of reacting with the quaternary ammonium.
The manufacture of nanocomposites also includes the mixture of hybrid clay with a powdered polymer, which is compressed to obtain a pellet while is heated at an appropriate temperature. For example polyestyrene has been intercalated by mixing polystyrene with montmorillonite modified with alkylammonium and heated in vacuum. The temperature is chosen in such a way that it is higher than the glass transition temperature of polystyrene in order to ensure the melting of the polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,734, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a different process for producing a nanocomposite that involves a contact step between a clay with a cation exchange capacity of 200 milliequivalents per 100 g with a swelling agent in a dispersing medium, forming a complex that has the property of swelling with the monomer (for example, an amino acid for a polyamide, vinyl chloride for vinyl polymers, among others) and then the monomer in the mixture is polymerized. The "swelling agent" used has an onium ion (for example, the ammonium, triethylammonium, trimethylphosphonium or dimethylsulfonium ions, among others) and a functional group (for example, a vinyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, epoxy or amino group, among others) capable of reacting with the polymer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,885, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a nanocomposite that comprises at least one resin chosen from the vinyl base polymer group, a thermostable resin and a rubber, and laminar bentonite uniformly dispersed in the resin. The laminar silicate has a layer thickness of approximately 7 to 12 nm, and an interlaminar distance of at least 30 nm, where the resin is connected with a silicate sheet by means of an intermediary.
There have also been several U.S. patent applications, among them U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,690,868 and 4,798,766, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, in which ammonium gas is used to modify smectic clays prior to preparing the nanocomposite.
Many of the products described in the aforementioned references cite that the products are easy to process and isolate, but are difficult to disperse in a polymer matrix.
Hybrid clays manufactured by intercalation of the quaternary ammonium salts are easy to isolate by filtering and washing because the clay acquires a more hydrophobic character. These materials, however, do not have good compatibility with certain plastic materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,469, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes the use of hybrid clay by intercalation in a water-soluble polymer, but there are problems in separating the modified clay from the aqueous phase. Isolation of the clay was possible from the aqueous solution at 100° C. This process leaves unintercalated polymer together with the intercalated clay, and therefore its isolation is not possible. A mixture of clay and monomer was subjected to polymerization forming a nanocomposite in situ in which the clay is well dispersed in the polymer. Unfortunately, this technique is a polymerization process of very high cost and it also produces contamination of the plant with clay.
Recent patents of invention since 1999, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,769; EP0952187; WO0044825; EP1055706; WO0166268; US2004087700; WO2006058846, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, have shown the interest in the development of nanocomposites using hybrid clays or clays intercalated with various synthetic and commercial organic compounds, and even some of natural origin, with the purpose of trying to optimize the compatibilization with polymer matrices in order to obtain nanocomposites.

Hybrid clays for obtaining nanocomposites and a preparation process therefore


An image reproduction apparatus with a plurality of disk players which concurrently perform play operation so as to produce a plurality of division video format signal concurrently. The video format signal are combined into a signal/final video format signal. The respective frame numbers extracted from the respective division video format signals are compared with the corresponding designated frame numbers. When the extracted frame number and the designated frame number do not coincide to each other, the corresponding division video format signal is ignored in the synthesis operation for producing the final video format signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus for synthesizing a plurality of video format signals (signals such as video composite signals including horizontal and vertical sync signals: the same shall also apply hereinbelow), which are generated from a plurality of disk players, and for obtaining a single video signal and for displaying it as an image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
JP-A-63-175595, discloses an apparatus in which a video format signal is, for example, frequency divided and division signals obtained thereby are recorded onto a set of video disks. After that, the set of video disks are played by driving a set of players concurrently and the signals obtained are synthesized and displayed as an image.
When a set of a plurality of video disks as mentioned above are played and recording signals are reproduced in an ordinary manner, the division video signals recorded in the same frames of a plurality of disks must be reproduced and synthesized. For this purpose, it is necessary for a main controller in the apparatus to designate frame numbers to be reproduced by the players. However, there is no guarantee such that a plurality of players including mechanical driving sections, instantaneously and simultaneously reproduce a designated frame and generate a video signal at any particular, time. That is, there is a possibility that any one of the plurality of players cannot reproduce a designated frame, due to some problem. In any of the above cases, the synthesized and displayed image is disordered.

Apparatus with frame check capability for reproducing images by combining outputs of concurrently operating disk players storing portions of the images


Generally, this disclosure enables a chatbot to host a chat session with a user. In some implementations, when the chatbot is not able to or does not know an answer to a query from the user, then the chatbot can import another chatbot into the chat session such that the user is aware of such importation and such that the other chatbot can output the answer to the query into the chat session. In other implementations, when the chatbot is not able to or does not know the answer to the query from the user, then the chatbot can query another chatbot, in background, without notifying the user, and when the response is received from the other chatbot, the chatbot can output that response to the user seamlessly such that the user is not aware of such querying.

In this disclosure, where a document, an act, and/or an item of knowledge is referred to and/or discussed, then such reference and/or discussion is not an admission that the document, the act, and/or the item of knowledge and/or any combination thereof was at a priority date, publicly available, known to a public, part of common general knowledge, and/or otherwise constitutes any prior art under any applicable statutory provisions; and/or is known to be relevant to any attempt to solve any problem with which this disclosure is concerned with. Further, nothing is disclaimed.
A chatbot can host a chat session with a user in order to help the user with a task, such as e-commerce, consulting, counseling, or others. However, there is a possibility of a scenario when the chatbot is not able to adequately assist the user with the task, such as due to the chatbot not being adequately programmed for the task. For example, the chatbot may not be able to provide an adequate response to a query submitted by the user. Although the user can look up a topic related to the task or to the query during the chat session or conduct a plurality of chat sessions simultaneously with a plurality of chatbots, the user still needs to switch back-and-forth between a plurality of tabs, windows, user interfaces, applications, chat sessions, or devices, which is inconvenient, distracting, mentally draining, and time-consuming. As such, there is a desire to solve this technical problem.

Systems and methods for chat sessions involving multiple chatbots

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company


A method for the production of a fluorinated phenylenediamine is provided which comprises steps of reacting a diamide represented by the following formula with NaOCl at a molar ratio of the NaOCl to the diamide in the range of 2.0-6.0 and NaOH at a molar ratio of the NaOH to the diamide in the range of 1.8-6.0 is provided. According to this invention, the fluorinated phenylenediamine can be produced conveniently in a high yield.

A fluorinated phenylenediamines such as tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine is an important intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutical preparations, pesticides, and macromolecular compounds, and is particularly useful as a raw material for a fluorine-containing polyimide having a low dielectric constant and a low refractive index, absorbing light sparingly, and having excellent water repellency.
Tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine, for example, has been heretofore produced by the ammonolysis of hexafluorobenzene or pentafluoroaniline or by a process of reacting pentafluoroaniline with such a nucleophilic reagent as phthalic imide which can add an amino group thereby inducing the substitution of an amino group for the fluorine atom and then converting the fluorine atom into the amino group. For example, Example 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,135 discloses a method for producing tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine by reacting pentafluoroaniline with phthalimide potassium and redistilled dimethyl formamide, adding ethanol and hydrazine to the mixture, refluxing the resultant reaction solution, and subsequently adjusting the pH of the refluxed product with sodium hydroxide to a weak alkali. This method, however, produces tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine in such a low yield as 13.4% and, by-produces tetrafluoro-p-phenylenediamine which is an isomer thereof as well as the tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine. As mentioned above, when tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine is to be produced, tetrafluoro-p-phenylenediamine is generally by-produced simultaneously at an approximate ratio in the range of 8: 2 to 9:1.
The tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine aimed at, therefore, must be separated and purified as by a process of distillation, recrystallization, column chromatography, and sublimation, for example. It is, however, extremely difficult to separate and purify the tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine and the by-produced tetrafluoro-p-phenylenediamine from each other.
JP-B-47-6,294 discloses a method for separating and purifying tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine, which comprises acylating crude tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine containing tetrafluoro-p-phenylenediamine thereby precipitating the m-isomer in the form and subjecting the residual filtrate further to diacylation and hydrolysis, and separating the m-isomer in the filtrate in the diacylated form. This method also requires to involve a process of separation and purification or tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine.
Another known method for producing tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine comprises reacting tetrachloroisophthalonitrile in a benzonitrile medium with a fluorinating agent at a temperature in the range of 190-400° C. under spontaneous pressure (JP-B-63-5,023) thereby producing tetrafluoroisophthalonitrile, transforming this product to the form of a diamide (tetrafluoroisophthalamide), and subjecting the resultant tetrafluoroisophthalamide to Hoffmann rearrangement ("Synthesis of fluoride compound and function," pp. 204-205, published by CMC K.K. on May 6, 1987).
Yet another known method for producing tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine comprises reacting tetrafluoroisophthalic acid with sodium azide in a strong acid thereby producing tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine (JP-A-2001-226,329). In Example 2 thereof, tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine is produced in a high yield of 74.0%. In Comparative Example 1 of this official gazette, a method for obtaining tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine which comprises using tetrafluoroisophthalamide as a raw material, adding sodium hydroxide and bromide thereto thereby converting the group, —CONH2, into a group, —CONHBr, extracting the resultant compound with isopropyl alcohol, and hydrolyzing the extract by the addition of hydrochloric acid is described. This method comprises causing a mixed solution of sodium hydroxide and bromine to act on the amide moiety of tetrafluoroisophthalamide thereby converting the amide into an amine by Hoffmann rearrangement and eventually obtaining tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine. The yield of this product is 13.8%.
Since the Hoffmann rearrangement which is effected in the method described above uses a strong alkali such as sodium hydroxide in an excess amount, however, the fluorine atoms are partially converted into a hydroxyl group. On other words, as described in detail in Comparative Example 1, the Hoffman rearrangement in a strong acid entails the problem of lowering the yield of tetrafluoro-m-phenylenediamine as the target product.

Method for production of fluorinated phenylenediamine


Fast phase coordinating systems and methods are disclosed. An example system includes a phase locator configured to detect a first phase of a reference signal and a first phase of a coordinating signal after the first phase of the reference signal. An integrator is configured to integrate from the first phase of the reference signal to a location phase of the coordinating signal and integrate oppositely from the first phase of the coordinating signal to a time-shifted phase of the reference signal and output the result. A control function is configured to shift the phase of the coordinating signal in response to output from the integrator.

Phase locked loops (or PLLs) traditionally have been used to attempt to lock (albeit poorly) a phase of a signal to a reference phase of a reference signal by control feedback to a controllable oscillator providing the signal. However, this attempt to lock is severely hampered by jitter amplification or jitter peaking, forcing traditional PLLs to a compromised locking to an average of phases over many multiple cycles via large loop filtering. The respective location of the signal phase relative to a reference phase is established by a phase detector which outputs a signal used to shift the frequency and hence the phase of the oscillator. Phase locked loops have application in board-level communication, wireless communication (including FM demodulation), clocking schemes, and frequency synthesis in industries including radio, telecommunications, and computers, to name only a few examples.
Historically, phase detectors have been used to detect the relative locations of signal phases to reference phases from reference signals. All phase detecting methods used previously have relied on once-a-cycle sampling (discrete-time control systems) to determine whether the signal phase precedes or follows the reference phase, and then amplifying that difference via the loop to shift the signal phase in the direction of the reference phase. Due to inherent jitter peaking, amplifying the detected difference to shift the signal phase too far past the reference phase to where the loop becomes unstable, amplification thus has to be greatly reduced via loop filtering. This severely limits accuracy and leads to a low bandwidth compromise. All traditional PLLs have grappled with jitter peaking and have had to settle for far from ideal performance due to this limitation.


A superimposing apparatus and method for broadcasting a 3DCG image can calculate and superimpose additional information such as characters and figures expressed by a 3DCG image on a TV frame in real time by combining a general three-dimensional graphics accelerator board and a conventional TV broadcasting hardware and devising a software processing. The superimposing apparatus performs a rendering process for rendering a 3DCG image datum by a three-dimensional graphics accelerator and a mixing process for mixing a 3DCG image and an input TV signal by a superimposer. The rendering process is carried out concurrently with the mixing process. A frame to be mixed is a previous frame advanced by one frame from a frame to be concurrently rendered. A system memory to be read out is changed to even frames and odd frames in accordance with an input TV signal so as to avoid an interference of rendering and superimposing.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for transferring and displaying a superimposed image using a three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) image in a picture upon transferring information for rapid display such as a sport broadcasting, an election advisory, or the like.
A basic principle of rendering a 3DCG image in real time and superimposing the mixed signal on an input television (TV) signal will be described below by referring to the drawing for convenience of explanation. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process for superimposing a 3DCG image on an input TV signal in real time. As shown in FIG. 1, information required for rendering a 3DCG image is pre-calculated to be sent to a three-dimensional graphics accelerator (A), and then a 3DCG image is formed by rendering the pre-calculated information in the accelerator (B). The formed 3DCG image is transferred to a superimposer and is pre-mixed prior to composing it with an input TV signal (C). A mixing process (D) forms a broadcasting image including the TV signal mixed with superimposed images and a broadcasting image signal is transmitted (E).
In order to realize a visually smooth animation, it is necessary to display a 3DCG image to meet National Television System Committee (NTSC) broadcasting system or Phase Alteration by Line (PAL) broadcasting system (for example, about 60 fields per second in the NTSC broadcasting system). However, in order to render a 3DCG image and then to mix the image with the input TV signal and broadcast the mixed signal in real time processing, a period of time T required for serial processing from the pre-calculating process (A) to the mixing and transferring process (D) is limited to about 16.67 msec (60 field/second) to 20 msec (50 field/second). In addition, since a given period of time is required to transfer the 3DCG image datum from the accelerator to a system memory and from the system memory to the superimposer, respectively, a period of time for rendering process must be necessarily shorten. Consequently, when a complex 3DCG image is transferred as a superimposed image, all processes cannot be completed within the above time limit of period and thus it is difficult to transfer necessary fields.
Thus, a special system that is designed for the purpose of a broadcasting application to process a 3DCG image was used. The special system has a special hardware including a function of superimposing and a function of processing the 3DCG image. The system having these functions takes a high cost in production due to high specialty. It is difficult for broadcasting staffs using the system to adopt many systems on the aspect of cost performance ratio. On the other hand, a performance of a current three-dimensional graphics accelerator is progressing and current 3D accelerators will soon become obsolete or outmoded. Accordingly, since a new, specialized system would clearly be obsolete soon after it was bought, it was a mistake to introduce a new expensive three-dimensional graphics accelerator integrated with a transferring function and a hardware that are designed for the above purpose of broadcasting.
As a measure for replacing such a very expensive special broadcasting system and for shortening a process period of time to transfer a 3DCG image, Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. HEISEI 5 (1993)-91413 discloses a superimposing apparatus in which, before broadcasting, a 3DCG image that rendered a necessary image has been once stored in a storage device such as a hard disk memory or the like, and then the stored 3DCG image is invoked at a suitable timing upon broadcasting the 3DCG image and is mixed and transferred.
However, such a superimposing apparatus requires a mass-storage device since the apparatus must pre-render necessary images and store them in the storage device. Since the apparatus also requires a pre-rendering time, it induces vainness in economy and time. Accordingly, the apparatus cannot comply with an application of a superimposer requiring immediacy.

Superimposing apparatus and method for broadcasting three-dimensional computer graphics image


A frequency synthesizer includes a first counter for counting cycles of an input clock and for generating a reference output bus, a VCO for generating an output signal, a second counter for counting cycles of the output signal and for generating a VCO output bus, and a phase detector for measuring the phase error between the reference bus and the VCO output bus and for generating a control signal which is applied to the control input of the VCO. The phase detector includes circuitry for computing a corrected bus by multiplying the VCO output bus with a correction coefficient proportional to the reciprocal of the modulo count of the second counter.

The frequency synthesizer generates the high frequency signal at a controlled frequency, that is used in wireless communications and a wide variety of other applications. One widely used implementation of the synthesizer is the Phase-Lock Loop (PLL) system. Another type of synthesizer implements a frequency loop using counters pair/computer system, uses a pair of counters to concurrently count a reference signal and the oscillator (VCO) signal, to compute the frequency deviation and correct it in a closed loop.
Of paramount importance in wireless is efficient use of the frequency spectrum. It is difficult to accommodate the growing number of users of wireless, while the frequency spectrum remains fixed and limited. An effective answer is to better utilize the available spectrum, by transmitting more information (at higher bits/second rates) in the available spectrum (per each Hertz of bandwidth).
Frequency synthesizers are an important part of communication systems.
They are used both for transmission and reception, and influence the achievable rate of communication (bits/second). The lower the phase noise of the synthesizer, the lower is the Bit Error Rate (BER) of the communication channel.
The occurrence of errors requires the retransmission of messages and more overhead, resulting in a low overall communication speed, even if the initial bit rate was high. Thus, the phase noise limits the actual, effective communication speed. Therefore, low phase noise is required of a synthesizer for wireless communications.
The BER can be decreased by increasing the signal to noise ratio, that is by transmitting at a higher power. This has other disadvantages, like shorter battery lifetime and possible damage to users from radio frequency radiation. Moreover, the cost for the transmitter is higher. Accordingly, for a given transmission rate and BER, by lowering the phase noise of the synthesizer it is possible to use a lower transmitted power, thus the battery lasts longer and the possible damage from radiation is diminished.
PLL devices have a finite, distinctive phase noise which influences the wireless system performance. Frequency loop devices have higher phase noise, because of the quantization error and other effects.
Frequency settling time is another important parameter in frequency synthesizers. Spread spectrum by frequency hopping is a proven method for effective spectrum utilization. The method requires that the synthesizer change the output frequency at predefined times. It takes time for the synthesizer to switch to a new frequency, with the time lost in the process limiting the performance of the communication channel. Counter pair/computer devices have fast settling times, but their use in communication systems is limited because of phase noise, uncontrolled phase errors and other limitations.
PLL devices have a long settling time. These devices are usually described as linear, closed loop systems. But the linear model holds only for the PLL in locked state.
Prior to lock-on (that is, during the transition to a new frequency) the device is nonlinear, with a complex process including "beats" or the phase approaching to and departing from the lock-on value, until lock is achieved. The complex process presents a difficult to predict settling time.
Long-term frequency precision is another important requirement of frequency synthesizers. PLL devices have a definite advantage, since the oscillator phase is locked to the reference, and thus the output frequency is a precise multiple or submultiple of that reference. The problem is the instantaneous frequency, which may exhibit large excursions, as detailed later.
Phase-lock loops have a precise output frequency without error, whereas frequency loops usually have a frequency error because of the truncation error and limitations in the computer capability and speed/performance overall limits.
My previous disclosure, as detailed in Israeli Patent No. 096351 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,528, describes a digital frequency synthesizer using a smart, computer- controlled closed loop to generate a precisely controlled frequency. The closed loop comprises the oscillator, the digital frequency measurement means, and a computer which is connected back to the oscillator. This is a frequency loop. There is no phase lock between the reference and the output signal. This is not a PLL.
This prior art synthesizer has a fast frequency switching, but requires a complex computation to find the frequency ratio, since the accumulated count may achieve large values. The ratio computation may take time to perform. Moreover, there are no provisions to achieve low phase noise, an important consideration in communication systems. There are no provisions to achieve phase coherency between the reference signal and the oscillator signal, another desired property in precise signal generators.
Phase Lock Loops (PLL) used at present achieve a phase lock between a reference and the output signal. However, in these PLLs there is a difficult trade-off between frequency switching speed, the reference frequency, the output frequency increment and the phase noise.
For example, to achieve fine frequency increments a low reference frequency is required. This, however, results in higher phase noise because of the additional noise introduced during frequency multiplication. The lower the reference frequency, the slower is the frequency switching because of the low pass filter required. At present, a widely used solution is the fractional counter PLL which allows for both higher frequency reference and fine output increments. This solution however introduces phase noise and the frequency switching is still slow.
Taki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,435, discloses a frequency synchronous circuit for obtaining original clock signal by removing noise components. This is basically a frequency control closed loop, with two counters counting cycles of a reference signal and a VCO output, respectively. The counters are concurrently activated for a time period T each time, with the reading in the counters being indicative of the frequency error. The difference between the counter readings indicates the frequency deviation.
This structure includes a storage/average unit that is applied to the reference readings. The purpose of the system, apparently, is to address the problem of a noisy reference signal. By averaging the readings of the reference counter, the noise in the reference is decreased.
Thus, Taki is not a phase-locked system but a frequency loop system.
Frequency loop systems have a nonzero frequency error, this resulting in lower performance systems. The only operation on the bus is averaging. There is no scaling/normalization of one bus (either the reference or the VCO bus) so that the two digital buses represent phase in the same units to allow direct subtraction between these buses.
Ho, U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,419, discloses a dual phase-locked loop having forced mid range fine control zero at handover. The system includes a coarse frequency control loop and a fine phase-lock loop. There is a specific method of transferring control from the coarse loop to the fine loop. The coarse loop is a frequency control type having a frequency error, and thus does not provide the high performance as disclosed in the present invention. The fine loop is has a regular PLL structure as known in the art, using just one bit of the reference that is compared with only one bit of the VCO counter.
There is no scaling/normalization of one bus (either the reference or the VCO bus) so that the two digital buses represent phase in the same units to allow direct comparison between these buses.
Contemporary wireless systems usually use a phase-locked synthesizer for better performance. Of the above cited references, Zuta and Taki are frequency control loops that do not achieve phase lock. Ho uses a phase lock system, however the PLL itself does not include means for achieving higher performance, except the coarse loop for achieving faster lock-on. A fast lock-on is achieved for a high reference frequency (25 MHz in the cited example), this having the disadvantage of coarse frequency resolution. That is, the output frequency can only be set on 25 MHz increments, for example 900 MHz, 925 MHz, 950 MHz, 975 MHz etc.
Some of the most important characteristics of a frequency synthesizer include the frequency precision, low phase noise, fast frequency settling time and good frequency resolution. Good frequency precision is achieved with phase-lock loops, that feature a zero frequency error. This performance is superior to that achievable with frequency loops, that usually have a finite nonzero frequency error. Low phase noise usually requires a high reference frequency; this, however, prevents good frequency resolution (fine frequency steps). Fine frequency steps result in higher phase noise because of the frequency multiplication.
None of the above-mentioned references addresses the problem of concurrently improving all the above mentioned synthesizer characteristics in a phase-lock system: the phase noise, frequency settling time and the frequency resolution.
A description of a frequency synthesizer using digital bus correction/normalization was published by the present inventor in the June 1998 issue of the "Microwave Journal" magazine, pp. 94-108, titled "A New PLL with Fast Settling Time and Low Phase Noise".
It is an objective of the present invention to provide for a digital frequency synthesizer with means for overcoming the abovedetailed disadvantages.

Digital frequency synthesizer system and method


The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the combination of distance and relative direction between two locations in a fluid medium. This is accomplished by transmitting a first periodic signal from a first device located at a first location within the fluid medium, receiving the first periodic signal by two or more receivers displaced about the periphery of the second device, wherein one of the receivers receives the signal before the periodic signal is received by any other receiver, initially synchronizing in time the first periodic signal with a second periodic signal generated by the second device, wherein the synchronizing occurs when the first and second devices are proximate one another, at any time thereafter, determining the distance between the first and second devices by measuring a time difference between the first periodic signal, which continues to be received by the second device, relative to the second periodic signal generated by the second device, where the time difference is related to the distance between the first and second devices; and, determining which of the receivers first received the signal, wherein the determining also aids in determining the relative direction between the first and second devices.

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for measuring distance and determining direction in a fluid medium. More particularly, the invention pertains to the measurement of distance and determination of direction in a liquid. Still more particularly, the invention provides a navigational method and apparatus for divers and aquanauts to help them determine the distance between two or more points underwater, and to determine the azimuth or relative direction in which a diver should travel to reach a particular reference point.
Underwater navigation for divers, aquanauts, etc. requires that at least two primary elements of information be available to the user--that of azimuth or relative direction to some reference point and that of range to that point. Various investigators have invented means to supply these two primary needs.

Method and apparatus for measuring distance and determining direction in a fluid medium


A dispensing container that dispenses a liquid contained therein in foam includes: a container body storing therein a liquid; and a base cap mounted to a mouth of the container body. The container body is flexible so that a squeeze operation may be performed on the container body. The base cap is provided, on a top wall, with a nozzle forming a tubular passage communicating with a front end orifice. The nozzle is provided with a foaming mechanism for the liquid at an upstream end portion and with a through-hole in a predetermined position on a circumferential wall of the nozzle that is downstream of the foaming mechanism. The through-hole is provided with a check valve, and the front end orifice communicates with an inside of the container body through the through-hole.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a utility model directed to a dispensing container so-called squeeze foamer container configured to cause a liquid in a container body to join with air in an air-liquid mixing chamber provided inside with use of squeeze property of the container body, to form an evenly foamed liquid by letting the mixture of liquid and air pass through a foam-uniformizing tubular body having a tubular-shaped net holder provided with a net at upper and lower ends thereof, and to dispense the foamed liquid from a nozzle. Squeeze foamer containers of the kind are used in a wide variety of applications, such as for hair cosmetic and for cleansing agents used in a bath, a kitchen, and a toilet room.
In such a dispensing container, when pressure applied to the container body is released, a circumferential wall of a trunk is elastically restored from a squeezed state under the pressure, which is what is called squeeze-back. Due to the squeeze-back, pressure inside the container body is lowered, and outer air is introduced into the container body through an outer-air inlet passage provided on an outer circumferential surface of the foam-uniformizing tubular body.
Patent Literature 2 also proposes a dispensing container including a foaming member made of a mesh and the like incorporated in a passage of content, wherein, in response to squeezing of a flexible trunk, the content is caused to be mixed with air, and the mixture of the content and air is also caused to pass through the foaming member to be foamed. The foamed content is expelled from an ejection orifice of a nozzle.