Staged restore of a decremental backup chain. In one example embodiment, a method includes, first, restoring a first backup of a source storage to a restore storage. Next, a second backup of the source storage in a decremental backup chain of the source storage is identified. Then, a third backup of the source storage in the decremental backup chain of the source storage is identified. Next, blocks in the decremental backup chain that were newly allocated in the source storage between the first point in time and the second point in time are identified. Then, the newly-allocated blocks are restored to the restore storage. Next, blocks in the decremental backup chain that were changed in the source storage between the first point in time and the second point in time are identified. Lastly, the changed blocks are restored to the restore storage.

A storage is computer-readable media capable of storing data in blocks. Storages face a myriad of threats to the data they store and to their smooth and continuous operation. In order to mitigate these threats, a backup of the data in a storage may be created at a particular point in time to enable the restoration of the data at some future time. Such a restoration may become desirable, for example, if the storage experiences corruption of its stored data, if the storage becomes unavailable, or if a user wishes to create a second identical storage.
A storage is typically logically divided into a finite number of fixed-length blocks. A storage also typically includes a file system which tracks the locations of the blocks that are allocated to each file that is stored in the storage. The file system also tracks the blocks that are not allocated to any file. The file system generally tracks allocated and free blocks using specialized data structures, referred to as file system metadata. File system metadata is also stored in designated blocks in the storage.
Various techniques exist for backing up a source storage. One common technique involves backing up individual files stored in the source storage on a per-file basis. This technique is often referred to as file backup. File backup uses the file system of the source storage as a starting point and performs a backup by writing the files to a destination storage. Using this approach, individual files are backed up if they have been modified since the previous backup. File backup may be useful for finding and restoring a few lost or corrupted files. However, file backup may also include significant overhead in the form of bandwidth and logical overhead because file backup requires the tracking and storing of information about where each file exists within the file system of the source storage and the destination storage.
Another common technique for backing up a source storage ignores the locations of individual files stored in the source storage and instead simply backs up all allocated blocks stored in the source storage. This technique is often referred to as image backup because the backup generally contains or represents an image, or copy, of the entire allocated contents of the source storage. Using this approach, individual allocated blocks are backed up if they have been modified since the previous backup. Because image backup backs up all allocated blocks of the source storage, image backup backs up both the blocks that make up the files stored in the source storage as well as the blocks that make up the file system metadata. Also, because image backup backs up all allocated blocks rather than individual files, this approach does not necessarily need to be aware of the file system metadata or the files stored in the source storage, beyond utilizing minimal knowledge of the file system metadata in order to only back up allocated blocks since free blocks are not generally backed up.
Image backup can be relatively fast compared to file backup because reliance on the file system is minimized. An image backup can also be relatively fast compared to a file backup because seeking during image backup may be reduced. In particular, during image backup, blocks are generally read sequentially with relatively limited seeking. In contrast, during file backup, blocks that make up individual files may be scattered in the source storage, resulting in relatively extensive seeking.
Although image backup may be fast compared to file backup, creation of a base backup of source storage can take hours and possibly days to complete, depending on the size of the source storage. Further, repeatedly backing up an entire source storage may be unnecessary where most of the allocated blocks in the source storage do not frequently change.
One alternative to creating multiple base backups is to employ an incremental backup system. Incremental backup systems generally create a base backup of a source storage and then create multiple incremental backups of the source storage. An incremental backup generally includes only allocated blocks that were modified since the last backup of the source storage. The source storage can later be restored by applying the backups to a restore storage. Specifically, the base backup is first applied to the restore storage and then each successive incremental backup is applied to the restore storage. The structure of the base backup and incremental backups in incremental backup systems conveniently allows for a staged restore, where the base backup and one or more incremental backups are restored to a restore storage in advance of any need for the restore storage. Then, when the restore storage becomes needed, because the source storage becomes unavailable, for example, the final incremental backups can be restored quickly, and the restore storage will be available relatively quickly with a relatively short downtime between the source storage becoming unavailable and the restore storage becoming available.
Another type of image backup system is a decremental backup system, also known as reverse incremental backup system. Decremental backup systems initially create a base backup to capture the state of a source storage at an initial point in time, then update the base backup to capture the state of the source storage at a subsequent point in time by modifying only those blocks in the base backup that were modified between the initial and subsequent points in time. Prior to the updating of the base backup, however, any original blocks in the base backup that correspond to the modified blocks are copied to a decremental backup, thus enabling restoration of the source storage at the initial point in time (by restoring the updated base backup and then restoring the decremental backup) or at the subsequent point in time (by simply restoring the updated base backup). Since restoring a single base backup is generally faster than restoring a base backup and one or more incremental backups, employing a decremental backup system instead of an incremental backup system may enable the most recent backup to be restored more quickly since the most recent backup is always a base backup instead of potentially being an incremental backup.
One common problem that is encountered with decremental backup systems, however, is that the structure of the base backup and decremental backups in decremental backup systems do not conveniently allow for a staged restore of the backups. In particular, unlike incremental backup systems in which incremental backups created subsequent to the staged restore of a base backup or an incremental backup can simply be applied to the restore storage, decremental backups created subsequent to the staged restore of a base backup or a decremental backup in decremental backup systems cannot simply be applied to the restore storage. Therefore, when a restore storage becomes needed, because the source storage becomes unavailable, for example, decremental backup systems may exhibit a relatively long downtime of the restore storage compared to incremental backup systems that include a staged restore capability.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.


Provided is a navigation system for a leader vehicle leading follower vehicles, including: the leader vehicle, configured to transmit, real-time movement data to follower vehicles; and, the follower vehicles, each comprising: a signal receiver for receiving the data from the leader vehicle; sensors configured to detect at least one maneuverability condition; a memory; a vehicle maneuver controller; a distance sensor; and a processor configured to: determine a route for navigating the local follower vehicle from an initial location; determine a preferred range of distances from the vehicle in front of the respective follower vehicle that the respective follower vehicle should stay within; determine a set of active maneuvering instructions for the respective follower vehicle based on at least a portion of the data received from the guiding vehicle; determine a lag in control commands; and, execute the set of active maneuvering instructions in the respective follower vehicle.

Currently, various driver assistance systems are available in cars to assist drivers in the operation of vehicles. These systems help drivers with the work required to safely drive from an origin to a destination. Some driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, are advantageous for assisting the driver with the control and stability of a vehicle, but still require a human to manually command and navigate the vehicle.
Although much effort and research has been put toward autonomous vehicles capable of driving from one location to another without the need for human assistance, a fully automatic vehicle that monitors road conditions, reads signs, and processes and reacts to objects while navigating a route between two points requires extensive technological advancement and has been prohibitively expensive to implement. A need exists for a less costly method to automate some aspects of driving motor vehicles.

Method for sharing data between motor vehicles to automate aspects of driving


A paper binding device includes a base, two binding ring assemblies, a pull plate, and a bottom plate. By causing the pull plate to displace forwardly and rearwardly in the center of the base, positioning pins on the pull plate may displace in corresponding guide slots of the binding ring assemblies to force the binding ring assemblies to open or close. The pull plate further has stop pieces that may firmly secure the binding ring elements in position when the binding ring assemblies are in a closed state. The pull plate effectively eliminates the problem of small open angle with conventional paper binding devices which make it difficult to bind papers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a paper binding device, and more particularly to a paper binding device having a unitary device to control the opening or closing of the binding device for keeping papers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional binding devices for binders have various problems. The binding force of the binding device will decrease with time so that it cannot properly hold the papers in place. The binding rings may hurt or clamp the user's fingers if not properly manipulated. Besides, the binding rings are generally openable at an angle of about 30.degree. and unable to open at a relatively large angle since the binding rings are generally operated by springs that are not allowed much change in angle in the limited space of the binding device. Because of this defect, the user cannot slip a big pile of paper directly onto the binding rings of the binder at one time and has to divide it into several small piles before she/he can put them in place, keeping alert that the binding rings may abruptly close to hurt her/his fingers.

4F-3, No. 311, Sec. 4, Chung Hsiao E. Rd.


An agricultural implement for supporting a plurality of gangs of disk blades extending generally laterally relative to a forward travel direction. The implement has carrier frames pivotally connected to wheel assemblies for controlling the height of the carrier frames relative to the ground through hydraulic actuators acting on the wheel assemblies. The hydraulic control unit enables independent and individual control of each actuator. An electronic control unit (ECU) receives displacement signals from the actuators and stores the signals when the agricultural implement is on a reference surface for synchronized set points. Thereafter any deviation from the synchronized set point is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to farm implements, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for maintaining such implements level relative to the soil.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the continuing quest for providing greater efficiency in the operation of farm implements, machines have been constructed to have ever increasing lateral spans relative to a tractor or central unit propelling the unit over a field. When the span increases to realize greater efficiency and speed, the criteria of having a uniform and level tool contact with the soil becomes extremely critical. Equipment with significant lateral spans have many different joints and are usually articulated to enable transport to and between fields.
An area of special importance to level positioning of farm implements is found in the tillage field. The desirable outcome is a uniform physical depth of the tillage and a uniform entry of the disk blades or harrows into the soil. The need to have a level positioning of the implement is made more challenging with the use of hydraulic actuators which control the depth of penetration of the disk blades or other tools. In current practice, hydraulic actuators are connected in series and it is possible through normal operation for hydraulic fluid leakage to make the actuators out of sync with one another. In addition, field conditions, such as wheel loading and other variables, require an adjustment to the synchronization of the different sections of the tillage implement, thereby requiring the operator to dismount from a tractor and make manual adjustments.
It is current practice to partially counter this occurrence by fully elevating the implement to the point where bypass lands in the actuators allow full flow of hydraulic fluid to pass through the actuators and again synchronize the multiple units. However, this adds an additional step to the operation, particularly in the field, thereby decreasing the efficiency and speed with which the particular task is accomplished.
What is needed in the art therefore, is an efficient apparatus and method for maintaining agricultural implements in a level position relative to the soil.


A compact collapsible wheelchair comprises first and second side frames, wherein each side frame includes a seat support rod and wheel support member. A collapsible support framework is operatively attached to the first and second side frames and includes a first auxiliary seat support member and a second auxiliary seat support member positioned relative to a flexible seat connected between each seat support. The flexible seat is urged into engagement with the first and second auxiliary seat support members in response to the bodyweight of the user. At least one hinged cross brace extends between the first and second side frames for maintaining the side frames in spaced relationship when the wheelchair is in the open position. A first and second main wheel are attached to the wheel support members on the first and second side frames respectively. First and second smaller swivel wheels are attached to the wheel support member on the first side frame and on opposite sides of the first main wheel. Third and fourth smaller swivel wheels are also attached to the wheel support member on the second side frame and on opposite sides of the second main wheel.

Portable wheelchairs capable of folding or collapsing have been in use for many years to accommodate wheelchair users who travel and need to take their wheelchairs with them and store them in space limited compartments. Typically, wheelchairs that are designed to fold or collapse incorporate a pair of diagonally extending cross members secured between a right and left frame member which may be scissored together to collapse the wheelchair. Although increasing the collapsibility and portability of the wheelchair, the typical cross member frame sacrifices strength and stability.
Additionally, standard cross member frame construction for portable wheelchairs is bulky and heavy, making transportation or storage difficult at best. Consequently, portable wheelchairs are not designed for storage in standard luggage compartments such as on airlines, trains and other mass transit mediums.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,627 to Zatulovsky et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,056 to Duffy, Jr. et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,438 to Barclay, incorporate various cross member support structures for maintaining stability of the frame. It is also well known in the art to incorporate a plurality of links that join an upper portion of the cross member to an adjacent upper portion of the frame and that pivot at least at the point where the link is connected to the cross tube member for controlled folding of the cross members and preventing the same from spreading apart when the wheelchair is in its fully expanded position.
Although the prior art addresses some of the structural criteria necessary for maintaining a portable wheelchair that is structurally stable, the present invention provides for a more compact, lightweight collapsible wheelchair that is both structurally stable and suitable for travel and storage in standard luggage compartments.


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a random access response receiving and sending method, a user equipment, a base station, and a system. The method includes: after sending a dedicated random access preamble to a network side, on a physical downlink control channel, according to a pre-obtained dedicated identifier, detecting control signaling masked by using the dedicated identifier, where the dedicated identifier is a user equipment-specific temporary identifier configured by the network side for the user equipment, and the control signaling includes information about a physical downlink shared channel used to send a random access response and information required for decoding the random access response; and receiving the random access response on a corresponding physical downlink shared channel according to the control signaling.

In a long term evolution (LTE) system, a user equipment (UE) may perform a random access procedure to obtain uplink resources required for uplink synchronization and/or communication. When the UE performs random access, the UE sends a random access preamble (RAP) to an eNB. Depending on whether the RAP is UE-specific, the random access procedure breaks down into a non-contention based random access procedure and a contention-based random access procedure. In the non-contention based random access, a dedicated RAP allocated by an eNB to the UE is applied.
In at least the following scenarios, a non-contention based random access procedure may be initiated. One scenario is that downlink data arrives at the eNB side but the UE is out of synchronization in the uplink at this time; and another scenario is that the eNB side instructs the UE to perform cell handover. In a non-contention based random access procedure, the UE sends a dedicated RAP to the eNB; and, if the UE receives a random access response (RAR) sent by the eNB, the UE determines success of the random access. If the UE receives no RAR in a specified time window, the RAP may be sent again immediately or after a period to trigger the whole random access procedure; and such actions are repeated until the random access of the UE succeeds or until a preset maximum random access count is reached which triggers an action other than the random access.
In the prior art, the RAR schedules transmission by using physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) control signaling that is sent in a common search space (CSS) and masked by using a random access radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI). Each RA-RNTI corresponds to a PRACH resource. In an LTE system, one PRACH resource is a length that can accommodate a RAP in a time domain, and is a size of six physical resource blocks in a frequency domain. Each PRACH resource can bear multiple RAPs. For example, in a possible implementation manner, an RA-RNTI corresponds to 64 RAPs. Different UEs that send different RAPs on the same PRACH resource use the same RA-RNTI to receive the RAR. Therefore, although different UEs use respective dedicated RAP when initiating a non-random access procedure, the dedicated RAPs may correspond to the same RA-RNTI. In addition, the RA-RNTI is independent of each carrier. That is, the RA-RNTIs used on different carriers may be the same, for example, the RA-RNTI corresponding to the RAP, which is sent by UE 1 on carrier 1, may be the same as the RA-RNTI corresponding to the RAP, which is sent by UE 2 on carrier 2.
For the RAPs sent by multiple UEs on the same carrier, if the RAPs correspond to the same RA-RNTI, multiple RARs in response to the RAPs of the multiple UEs may be set into a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU). Therefore, in the same PDCCH transmission scheduling process, the eNB uses an RA-RNTI to mask PDCCH control signaling to schedule transmission of an RAR. The UE uses the RA-RNTI to perform blind detection for the PDCCH control signaling, and receives the RAR from the PDSCH indicated by the control signaling. If the correctly received RAR carries an identifier compliant with the UE-specific RAP, it indicates that the RAR is an RAR sent to the UE. Otherwise, it indicates that the RAR is not an RAR sent to the UE. Before an RAR receiving timer times out, the UE continues the blind detection of the control signaling masked by using the RA-RNTI and the corresponding RAR until the RAR sent to the UE is received successfully. If the RAR receiving timer times out and the UE has not successfully received the RAR sent to the UE, the UE sends a dedicated RAP to the eNB again, and the foregoing procedure is repeated. Therefore, it can be seen that the complexity for a UE to receive a random access response is high in the prior art.

Random access response receiving and sending method, user equipment, base station and system


Embodiments of the present invention include products and methods for reducing fractures with the aid of image guidance. In one embodiment, products and methods are directed to reduction for the placement of an intramedullary nail.

Fracture fixation of long bones such as the femur, tibia, humerus, fibula, or other long bones is challenging because of the difficulty of properly aligning and then securing fractured bone segments in place to allow the bone to heal. One very effective means of securing such fractures is intramedullary nailing. Intramedullary nailing is well-known in the art and essentially entails aligning two or more segments of bone that result from a fracture about a rod or nail that fits down the medullary canal of the fractured bone. Various techniques for intramedullary nailing are discussed in U.S. Pats. Nos. 5,951,561 and 6,010,506, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Whether fixation is by intramedullary nailing or by some other means, the repositioning of the segments of a long bone fracture (fracture reduction) is one of the most challenging aspects of fracture fixation. The contraction of soft tissue subsequent to a fracture tends to shorten the fractured limb and place the fractured segments of the bone out of alignment relative to each other. Repositioning these segments to restore anatomic alignment can be very challenging.
One technique for realigning fractured bones comprises the use of a fracture table to first distract a limb back to its original length. When a patient is positioned and secured on the fracture table, a surgeon may then manipulate segments laterally to realign the segments. However, fracture tables are expensive and many surgeons do not use them due to cost, availability, or the limitations of having a patient fixed in one position. Multiple intra-operative x-ray or fluoroscopic images may need to be taken to assure alignment of the segments in all planes. Additionally, a fracture may continue to shift out of alignment as fixation is applied.
Another method for fracture reduction includes the attachment of an external distraction device to the bone via bone pins that pass through soft tissue and attach to the bone. These types of devices allow a surgeon to turn a threaded knob or other actuator and pull a fracture apart. Once distracted, repositioning is then accomplished by manual, physical manipulation of the limb. Once again, multiple intra-operative x-ray or fluoroscopic images may be necessary to assure proper realignment of the segments, and segments may shift out of alignment as fixation is applied.
Another method for fracture repositioning or reduction is through the use of the Internal Fracture Reduction Device manufactured by Smith & Nephew, Inc. This device is inserted into a portion of the fractured long bone and allows manipulation of a segment of the fractured bone. However, such a device must be inserted over a guide rod that has already been placed through the medullary canal of all fractured bone segments. Therefore, placement of the guide rod first requires at least adequate fracture alignment to place the guide rod through the realigned medullary canal.
Smith & Nephew, Inc. also manufactures a reducer for use with its TRIGEN® brand intramedullary nailing system. As shown in FIG. 1, the reducer 100 is an elongated, cannulated tube 101 with a connector 102 for attaching a handle 103. The inner diameter of the tube 101 is large enough to accommodate the passage of a guide rod (not shown). The outer diameter of the tube 101 is small enough to be inserted into a long bone without reaming the bone. The tube 101 is typically formed to the same shape as the intramedullary nail that will subsequently be implanted in the bone. The distal tip of the tube 101 includes a finger 104 that is bent up slightly. This finger 104 serves several purposes.
First, the finger 104 can be used to deflect a guide rod as the end of the guide rod passes the end of the tube 101. Specifically, the guide rod may be deflected in a desired direction by rotating the reducer 100 such that the distal end of the finger 104 is pointed in the desired direction. Second, the finger 104 places resistance on a guide rod that passes into or through the finger 104, thereby holding the guide rod in position relative to the reducer 100 by friction. Third, the curved tip of the finger 104 allows the reducer 100 to be pushed smoothly through the medullary canal of a proximal segment and into a distal segment. While the TRIGEN® system reducer has significant advantages, multiple intra-operative x-ray, fluoroscopic, or other such images must still be used to assure proper alignment of the segments in all planes as the reducer 100 is inserted.
Several manufactures currently produce image-guided surgical navigation systems that are used to assist in performing surgical procedures. The TREON™ and iON™ systems with FLUORONAV™ software manufactured by Medtronic Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. are examples of such systems. Systems and methods for accomplishing image-guided surgery are also disclosed in U.S. S No. 60/271,818 filed Feb. 27, 2001, entitled Image Guided System for Arthroplasty, which is incorporated herein by reference as are all documents incorporated by reference therein. Further image-guided surgery devices, systems, and methods are disclosed in a provisional application entitled SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES, Application Serial No. 60/355,899, filed on Feb. 11, 2002, hereby incorporated by this reference.
The Medtronic systems use fluoroscopic imaging to capture anatomical characteristics and infrared cameras that detect certain targets placed in the surgical field to track instruments and anatomy. As used herein, an infrared camera can be any type of sensor or detector that is capable of sensing or detecting light of an infrared wavelength. Any number and orientation of so-called targets, fiducials, frames, markers, indicia, or any other desired location-assisting functionality ("references") can be used as targets to be detected by an imaging system or sensor. Other imaging or data capture systems such as CT, MRI, visual, sonic, digitized modeling, traditional x-ray equipment, or any other effective system or technique which has the capacity to image bone or other desired structures or tissue in the body can be used. Such systems generally include transducer functionality for emitting energy or otherwise performing sensing or location of objects and anatomical structure, a processor, mass memory storage, input/output functionality to control and direct operation of the system, and at least one monitor or other visual output functionality for rendering images that may be constructed by the system, whether or not in combination with images obtained from the transducer in real time.
Such systems typically combine processes and functionality for obtaining, storing, manipulating and rendering images of internal body structure with functionality that senses, stores, manipulates and virtually renders representations of components or objects such as instrumentation, trial components, surgical tools and other objects. The systems can then generate and display representations of the objects in combination with images of the body structure or tissue. Such combination renderings can be created using real time imaging of the body structure or tissue, or the system can obtain appropriate imaging of such structure or tissue and later computer generate and display renderings of it. The Medtronic systems, for instance, require the use of references attached to the anatomy, typically in a rigid fashion, such as to bone structure. The system tracks movement of the reference in three dimensions and then generates images of the bone structure's corresponding motion and location.
The references on the anatomy and the instruments either emit or reflect infrared light that is then detected by an infrared camera. The references may be sensed actively or passively by infrared, visual, sound, magnetic, electromagnetic, x-ray, or any other desired technique. An active reference emits energy, and a passive reference merely reflects energy. In some embodiments, the references have at least three, but usually four, markers that are tracked by an infrared sensor to determine the orientation of the reference and thus the geometry of the instrument, implant component or other object to which the reference is attached. References have been attached to surgical and implant devices such as instrumentation, trial instruments, and the like. For example, references have been attached to probes, instruments for placing acetabular cups and trial implants, drill guides, and cutting blocks.
The Medtronic imaging systems allow references to be detected at the same time the fluoroscopy imaging is occurring. Therefore, the position and orientation of the references may be coordinated with the fluoroscope imaging. Then, after processing position and orientation data, the references may be used to track the position and orientation of anatomical features that were recorded fluoroscopically. Computer-generated images of instrumentation, components, or other structures that are fitted with references may be superimposed on the fluoroscopic images. The instrumentation, trial, implant or other structure or geometry can be displayed as 3-D models, outline models, or bone-implant interface surfaces.
Current systems and techniques do not provide for effective image-guided reduction of fractures. Improved products and methods would include structures and techniques for guiding a reducer through the medullary canals of two or more bone segments that have been created by a fracture of a bone. Improved products and methods would also provide for reduced numbers of x-ray, fluoroscopic, or other images, and would not necessitate pre-operative imaging or surgical procedures prior to the primary procedure. Further, improved products and methods would allow alignment of bone segments to occur using images of at least one of the bone segments in combination with images of one or more implements, instruments, trials, guide wires, nails, reducers and other surgically related items, which are properly positioned and oriented in the images relative to the bone segments. Further, improved products and methods would provide for updated monitoring of bone segment positions, and therefore, rapid alignment of bone segments.


A compartmentalized container for holding and dispensing flowable material and method for making such a compartmentalized container includes opposite sheet portions selectively sealed together to define a plurality of single use dispensers and a header portion that is integral with the dispensers. Each of the dispensers includes a closed cavity defined by an area of the sheet portions that is not sealed together. Each of the dispensers is separable from the container and openable to dispense the flowable material from a respective one of the cavities. The dispensers may be separable from the container via cutting or tearing the dispensers from one another or from the header portion. The header portion may include product information and may include a means for hanging the container. Each of the dispensers may include an applicator brush formed or defined at an edge portion of the dispenser.

In the past, flowable materials have often been stored in individual packets that consist of two flexible foil sheets secured together about their periphery to define a cavity between the sheets. The cavity is filled with whatever material is being stored. Such packets find widespread use for storing food condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and other liquid or semi-liquid foods. When it is time to access the contents of the packet, the user simply tears off a corner portion of the foil material and squeezes out the contents. The use of such packets as storage vessels, however, has suffered from a number of disadvantages. Often times the user of such a packet ends up spilling the contents of the packet onto their fingers. Alternatively, the contents may end up dribbling down the side of the packet. This presents the user with the undesirable options of having to either scrape the contents off the packet onto the intended object, or discard the packet with a substantial amount of the contents being left unused on the packet itself.
Other disadvantages of prior art packets include the difficulty of applying the contents of the packet precisely to a desired location. For example, when a person opens up a conventional ketchup packet, it is difficult to predict exactly where the ketchup may squirt out of the packet upon compression of the packet. This, of course, can lead to ketchup being applied to undesired objects. The user of condiment packages is also problematic because there are typically no structures on the packet that define the size of the outlet that is created when the user tears off a corner of the packet. In some instances the user might only tear off a small corner, creating a very small outlet. This can cause the user to have to squeeze the container excessively to expel the contents, as well as causing the contents to squirt out of the packet a considerable distance. In other instances, an excessively large portion of the packet may be torn off, creating a large outlet orifice. This can lead to the contents immediately exiting the packet during the tearing off process, which typically causes the contents to spill onto the user's hands.
In addition to the conventional packets used to store condiments, a wide variety of other types of containers have been used in the past to store other types of flowable materials. Many of these other types of containers have suffered from other disadvantages. For example, a large number of containers for flowable material are made from molded plastic and the cost of the container can be a significant component of the overall cost of the product. In fact, in some cases, the container may cost as much as or more than the contents in the container. This not only causes increased costs to the consumer of the product, but can also lead the manufacturer to limit the marketing of their product to container sizes that may be too large for many situations in which their product is used.
As but one example, automotive brake fluid is often sold in containers that hold about eleven ounces or more of fluid. In certain situations, however, such as where brake fluid is being bled off to remove any air bubbles in the brake system, a person may only need to use about three to four ounces of brake fluid. Selling a container of three or four ounces of brake fluid, however, may not be economical to the manufacturer of the brake fluid, because the cost of the container may be so high as to not allow the manufacturer to sell the three to four ounce container for any meaningfully less amount of money than what the eleven to twelve ounce container is sold for. A consumer confronted with a three ounce container that costs pretty much the same as a twelve ounce container would undoubtedly tend to choose the large container for purchase. The smaller containers would therefore not likely be purchased, and the consumer may end up with more product than is necessary for his or her task. This can lead to wasting of the product, or messy attempts to save the unused contents in the container for later use. For some products, such as brake fluid, the contents may degrade over time if exposed to air, and an unwary consumer might end up putting degraded brake fluid into their automotive system. The economic difficulties of prior containers therefore can lead to a variety of different problems and disadvantages. The desire for a container that overcomes or alleviates such disadvantages can be seen.
Also, quick drying adhesives, such as Super Glue, Krazy® Glue or the like, which often contain ethyl (or methyl) cyanoacrylate or the like, are often moisture curing adhesives and, thus, bond rapidly in the presence of moisture, such as when dispensed from a sealed container onto an item exposed to the environment. Sometimes, anaerobic adhesives (which cure in the absence of air) or other solvents and air-curing compounds may also be used as quick setting or quick drying adhesives. Such quick drying adhesives may cure once dispensed from their sealed container and thus work almost the opposite of other types of air-curing adhesives, such as solvent-based adhesives and epoxy adhesives that involve two components to activate the curing process. Such quick drying adhesives are typically provided in containers having a screw cap at a dispensing end of the container. The containers are intended for multiples uses and the screw cap is intended to reseal the containers after each use. However, the quick drying capability of such adhesives results in various problems in providing a tube of adhesive that may be used multiple times because the screw-on cap that is typically provided with such tubes of adhesive bonds to the tube after a single use or application. Various bond-breaking devices have been developed to facilitate multiple uses of the multiple application tubes that often contain four to eight grams of adhesive.
Because the glue containers often result in only a single use, multiple containers are often sold in a package. The multiple containers are separate dispensers, each with a screw cap or the like for attempting to seal the container after the first use. It is known to make very small, single use tubes of such glue or adhesive. Some manufacturers have developed "single" use tubes in the 0.3 to 0.5 gram range so that the small tubes can be disposed of after use, without any re-capping and sealing problems. However, the single use tubes are substantially similar in design and appearance and overall structure to the multi-use tubes and each include a plastic or metal tube, a label and a cap. The dispensing end of the single use tubes may be removed to access and pierce a foil cap or end portion of the container, whereby the dispensing tip may be reattached or screwed onto the container for dispensing adhesive therefrom. After a single use, the container may be discarded or thrown away.
During manufacture of such single use tubes, each tube undergoes a separate filling operation to fill the tube with adhesive, and then several tubes are packed into a box and/or plastic bubble which is attached to a cardboard display card with a hang-up hole or the like, graphics, UPC code and any appropriate information and/or warning labels. Although the single use tubes reduce the amount of waste of the adhesive that is typically encountered with the multiple use tubes, the single use tubes individually may cost about fifty percent as much to manufacture as the multiple use tubes (because they are similar in design to the multiple use tubes) while providing only about ten percent of the adhesive content. Also, it is difficult to provide the required warning labels and product information that is typically required for the quick drying adhesives on the outer surface of the separate small tubes.
Additionally, the smaller single use tubes may require special packaging to hold two or more of the single use tubes for sale to the customer and for storage at the customer's home. For example, it is known to provide a plastic hinged box that may contain four tubes, whereby each of the tubes is snapped into corresponding projections formed in at least one side of the plastic hinged box. While such a device provides a convenient storage container, the costs associated with manufacturing such a container substantially limit the practicality of the tubes. Because the small tubes and packages may cost as much as the larger, multiple use tubes, there is little advantage to the consumer in purchasing the smaller tubes.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for product containers and dispensers which overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.


The invention is polymerizable compositions comprising in one part an organoboron compound capable of forming a free radical generating species and a stabilizing amount of one or more compounds comprising a dihydrocarbyl hydroxyl amine, an alicyclic hydroxyl amine, or a nitrile oxide of a dihydrocarbyl hydroxyl amine or an alicyclic hydroxyl amine, and in the second part one or more compounds capable of free radical polymerization.

This invention relates to stabilized polymerizable compositions comprising compounds containing moieties capable of free radical polymerization and organoborane initiators capable of initiating free radical polymerization and adhesives based on such compositions. In another embodiment the invention relates to a method of polymerizing compounds containing moieties capable of free radical polymerization and to methods of bonding substrates using such compositions.
Low surface energy olefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polytetrafluroethylene have a variety of attractive properties in a variety of uses, such as toys, automobile parts, furniture applications and the like. Because of the low surface energy of these plastic materials, it is very difficult to find adhesive compositions that bond to these materials. The commercially available adhesives that are used for these plastics require time consuming or extensive pretreatment of the surface before the adhesive will bond to the surface. Such pretreatments include corona treatment, flame treatment, the application of primers, and the like. The requirement for extensive pretreatment of the surface results in significant limitations to the designers of automobile components, toys, furniture and the like.
A series of patents issued to Skoultchi (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,106,928; 5,143,884; 5,286,821; 5,310,835 and 5,376,746 (all incorporated herein by reference)) disclose a two-part initiator system that is useful in acrylic adhesive compositions. The first part of the two-part system includes a stable organoborane amine complex and the second part includes a destabilizer or activator such as an organic acid or an aldehyde. The organoborane compound of the complex has three ligands, which can be selected from C1-10 alkyl groups or phenyl groups. The adhesive compositions are disclosed to be useful in structural and semi-structural adhesive applications, such as speaker magnets, metal to metal bonding, automotive glass to metal bonding, glass to glass bonding, circuit board component bonding, bonding select plastics to metal, glass to wood, etc. and for electric motor magnets.
Zharov, et al. discloses in a series of US patents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,070; U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,780; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,065 (all incorporated herein by reference)) polymerizable acrylic compositions which are particularly useful as adhesives wherein organoborane amine complexes are used to initiate cure. It is disclosed that these complexes are good for initiating polymerization of an adhesive that bonds to low surface energy substrates.
Pocius in a series of patents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,796; U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,143; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,910; U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,544; U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,977; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,657 (all incorporated herein by reference)) disclose amine organoborane complexes with a variety of amines such as polyoxyalkylene polyamines and polyamines which are the reaction product of diprimary amines and compound having at least two groups which react with a primary amine. Pocius (U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,544) discloses a composition comprising an organoborane polyamine complex, polyol and an isocyanate decomplexing agent.
Kendall et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,555 and Kneafsey et al., U.S. Patent Publications 2003/0226472 and 2004/0068067 disclose quaternary boron salts which may be used as initiators for the polymerization in adhesive compositions. The adhesive compositions may be used for bonding low surface energy substrates.
Many of the initiators disclosed in the prior art are not stable in compositions containing olefinic unsaturation at, or near, ambient temperatures and induce polymerization at, or near, ambient temperature with time. This instability at or near, ambient temperature can result in polymerization before desired and can result in compositions that are unsuitable for the desired use. Further, the compositions generally are two part compositions in which one side is a resin side and the other side is a hardener. One side (hardener) contains the organoborane compound and the other contains the decomplexing agent. In most cases the volume ratio of the two parts is significantly different, that is greater, than 4:1, often up to about or at 10:1. The problem is that most commercial equipment designed to dispense two part compositions utilizes ratios of 4:1 or less. In order to get these compositions to work in such equipment, resin or nonreactive ingredients are added to one side or the other to get a suitable volumetric ratio. The problem is that if resin is added to the side containing the organoborane compound, the mixture may be unstable and could begin to cure at ambient temperatures and render the composition useless. If excessive inert materials are added to the hardener side, the inert ingredient can act as a plasticizer or create a weak continuous phase and negatively impact the properties of the polymerized composition.
Some of the references discussed above disclose the use of phenolic compounds, such as hydroquinones to stabilize the compositions against undesired polymerization. See Pocius U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,102 at column 18, lines 45-53; Pocius U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,910 at column 13 lines 17 to 24. Jennes U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,823 discloses the use of hydroquinones, phenathiazine or t-butyl pyrocatechol as stabilizers in alkylborane initiated acrylate systems.
Therefore, there is a need for adhesive systems which are capable of bonding to low surface energy substrates, and initiator systems which facilitate such bonding. What are further needed are polymer compositions and adhesive systems which are thermally stable at, or near, ambient temperatures and which will undergo polymerization when the user desires. Also needed are adhesive compositions which are capable of bonding to low surface energy substrates, and bonding low surface energy substrates to other substrates, without the need for extensive or costly pretreatment. Further compositions that can be used in existing commercial equipment at mix ratios of 4:1 or less are needed. Compositions that have stability, strength and adhesion at elevated temperatures are also desired.

Stabilized organoborane polymerization initiators and polymerizable compositions


A valve holding member made of a sheet metal includes a hub part (33) having a guide hole (34) through which a valve stem (23) and a plurality of arm parts (32) formed at the peripheral edge of the hub part. The arm parts are extend from the peripheral edge in an axial direction and in a radially outward direction with respect to the axis of the valve stem. The valve holding member also includes any one of a first reinforcing protrusion (35) formed in at least one of the arm parts which extends along a longitudinal direction of the at least one arm part and protrudes radially outward or inward with respect to the axis of the valve stem, a tubular reinforcing part (35c, 35e) formed around the guide hole and extending from the hub part in the axial direction, and a second reinforcing protrusion (35b) formed in the hub part and protruding in the axial direction.

In a pipe coupling which employs a poppet valve for opening and closing a fluid passage, a valve holding member is used, which has a hub part through which a valve stem of the poppet valve passes, and a plurality of arm parts extending radially outwardly from the hub part and firmly engaging with the inner surface of the fluid passage to retain the hub part in the center of the fluid passage. The valve is set such that a valve head thereof is pressed against a valve seat formed on the inner surface of the fluid passage by means of a coil spring disposed around the valve stem and between the hub part and the valve head.
The present applicant has filed an application related to a valve holding member characterized in that the valve holding member is made of a single sheet metal (Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. S55-33091). This valve holding member has an advantage of being fabricated at low cost. However, due to its low stiffness, the valve holding member is mainly used for low-pressure and small-diameter pipe couplings, in which a biasing force of a coil spring acting on a valve is small.
However, there is a need for a valve holding member made of a sheet metal which has a high stiffness for withstanding a large spring biasing force so as to be used for high-pressure and large-diameter pipe couplings. In order to increase stiffness, there is a method in which the thickness of the sheet metal and/or the width of arm parts are increased. However, if a thick sheet metal is used, the arm parts lacks resilience, whereby it becomes difficult to insert the valve holding member into a pipe coupling. Further, if the arm parts are made wider, a flow resistance of the fluid passage is made greater.
Conventionally, as a high-strength valve holding member for high-pressure and large-diameter pipe couplings, there have been used block-type valve holding members (which are sufficiently thick in the fluid passage direction of a pipe coupling) as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 59-105683, and ring-type valve holding members (in which arm parts are connected together by means of a ring) as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 51-98825. In fabricating the above valve holding members, however, it is necessary to machine a blank material or to mold powder metal. As a result, the fabricating cost and weight of the products increase compared to a sheet metal valve holding member which can be fabricated by pressing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet metal valve holding member which has reinforcing structures to increase its stiffness, thereby allowing them to be used for high-pressure and large-diameter pipe couplings.


The sensitivity to shock initiation of cast 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) is reduced when an effective amount of at least one nitro-substituted aromatic amine is added to a melt comprising TNAZ.

The invention relates to a method for producing low porosity composite castings of 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ).
1,3,3-Trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) is a high density, high energy explosive compound consisting of a 4-membered azetidine ring, with a geminal dinitro substituent in the 3-position and a nitramine substituent in the 1-position: ##STR1##
TNAZ has the advantages of (1) a high level of energy release and (2) a stable low melting point of 101.degree. C., making it a melt castable substitute for TNT with double TNT's energy. However, TNAZ has a high vapor pressure and large volume change upon freezing which results in excessive shrinkage and crystal growth upon solidification. Such recrystallization results in significant defects and porosity which result in unacceptable sensitization of cast charges to shock initiation. Porosity is typically 10-12 percent compared with 2-4 percent usually obtained in TNT casting. The porosity of neat-cast TNAZ charges is excessive for use in secondary explosive applications. Sensitivity levels of from 1-4 kbar have been observed in such charges. This is significantly greater than the reported value of 10.4 kbar observed in fine particle size (10 micron) TNAZ recrystallized from ethanol in a crash precipitation process and pressed to high percents (98%) of theoretical maximum density (TMD).
What is desired is a method for casting TNAZ, whereby excessive vapor pressure is suppressed, charge porosity is reduced and crystal growth rates are such that excessive sensitization to shock initiation of cast TNAZ charges does not result.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for casting TNAZ, whereby excessive vapor pressure is suppressed, charge porosity is reduced and crystal growth rates are such that excessive sensitization to shock initiation of cast TNAZ charges does not result.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Castable TNAZ/nitroaromaticamine composite explosive

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


Ordering instructions for specifying the execution order of other instructions improve throughput in a pipelined multiprocessor. Hardware, in conjunction with compiler directives, allows memory write operations local to a CPU to occur in an arbitrary order, and places constraints on shared memory operation to occur in a specified order. Multiple sets of instructions are provided in which order of execution of the instructions is maintained through the use of CPU registers, write buffers in conjunction with assignment of sequence numbers to the instruction, or a hierarchical ordering system. The system ensures that an earlier designated instruction has reach a specified state of execution prior to a latter instruction reaching a specified state of execution. The ordering of operations allows memory operations local to a CPU to occur in conjunction with other memory operations that are not affected by such execution. Accordingly, the freedom of operation provided to local memory operations in conjunction with specified directives to global memory operations improves throughput of operation for a shared multiprocessor computing environment.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to pipelining processes in a multiprocessor computing environment. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and system for improving throughput based upon ordering constraints for shared memory operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multiprocessor systems contain multiple processors (also referred to herein as CPUs) that can execute multiple processes or multiple threads within a single process simultaneously in a manner known as parallel computing. In general, multiprocessor systems execute multiple processes or threads faster than conventional single processor systems, such as personal computer, that execute programs sequentially. The actual performance advantage is a function of a number of factors, including the degree to which parts of a multithreaded process and/or multiple distinct processes can be executed in parallel and the architecture of the particular multiprocessor system. The degree to which processes can be executed in parallel depends, in part, on the extent to which they compete for exclusive access to shared memory resources.
Shared memory multiprocessor systems offer a common physical memory address space that all processors can access. Multiple processes therein, or multiple threads within a process, can communicate through shared variables in memory which allow the processes to read or write to the same memory location in the computer system. In order to increase operating efficiency in a multiprocessor system it is important to increase the speed by which a processor executes a program. One way to achieve this goal is to execute more than one operation at the same time. This approach is generally referred to as parallelism. A known technique for supporting parallel programming and to manage memory access operations in a multiprocessor is pipelining. Pipelining is a technique in which the execution of an operation is partitioned into a series of independent, sequential steps called pipeline segments. Each segment in the pipeline completes a part of an instructions, and different segments of different instructions may operate in parallel. Accordingly, pipelining is a form of instruction level parallelism that allows more than one operation to be processed in a pipeline at a given point in time.
In a cache-coherent system, multiple processors see a consistent view of memory. Several memory-consistency models may be implemented. The most straightforward model is called sequential consistency. Sequential consistency requires that the result of any execution be the same as if the accesses executed by each processor were kept in order and the accesses among different processors were interleaved. The simplest way to implement sequential consistency is to require a processor to delay the completion of any memory access. However, sequential consistency is generally inefficient. FIGS. 1a-c outline the process of adding a new element 30 to a data structure 5 in a sequential consistency model. FIG. 1a is an illustration of a sequential consistency memory model for a data structure prior to adding or initializing a new element 30 to the data structure 5. The data structure 5 includes a first element 10 and a second element 20. Both the first and second elements 10 and 20, respectively, have three fields 12, 14 and 16 , and 22, 24 and 26. In order to add a new element 30 to the data structure 5 such that the CPUs in the multiprocessor environment could concurrently search the data structure, the new element 30 must first be initialized. This ensures that CPUs searching the linked data structure do not see fields in the new element filled with corrupted data. Following initialization of the new element's 30 fields 32, 34 and 36 , the new element may be added to the data structure 5. FIG. 1b is an illustration of the new element 30 following initialization of each of it's fields 32, 34 and 36 , and prior to adding the new element 30 to the data structure 5. Finally, FIG. 1c illustrates the addition of the third element tote data structure following the initialization of the fields 32, 34 and 36. Accordingly, in a sequential consistency memory model execution of each step in the process must occur in a pre-specified order.
The process of FIGS. 1a-c is only effective on CPUs that use a sequentially consistent memory model. For example, the sequential memory model may fail in weaker memory models where other CPUs may see write operations from a given CPU happening in different orders. FIG. 2 is an illustration of a weak memory-consistency model for adding a new element to a data structure. In this example, the write operation to the new element's 30 first field 32 passes the write operation to the second element's 20 next field 22. A CPU searching the data structure may see the first field 32 of the third element 30, resulting in corrupted data. The searching CPU may then attempt to use the data ascertained from the field 32 as a pointer, and most likely this would result in a program failure or a system crash. Accordingly, it is desirable to place some form of a memory barrier instruction to be executed prior to storing a pointer from the second element in the data structure to the new element in the data structure.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram 40 illustrating the segregation of instructions into groups, wherein one group of instructions occurs before the memory barrier and another group of instructions occurs after the memory barrier. This diagram follows the linked data structure example of FIGS. 1 and 2. There are essentially four levels of operation. The first level includes the following operations: storing a NULL pointer into the new element's first field 42, storing the character string "IJKL" into the new element's second field 44, and storing the number "9012" into the new elements third field 46. Following this group of write operations, a memory barrier 50 is executed. The memory barrier ensures that each of the write operations 42, 44 and 46 occur prior to any other computations. Following the execution of the memory barrier 50 and the execution of the write operations 42, 44 and 46, the address of the second element may be computed 52. Step 52 is a local memory operation, and it may involve a plurality of write operations to the CPUs local memory. Finally, following step 52, a pointer to the new element is stored in the second element's first field 54. Although the memory barrier instruction 50 prevents the memory write operations 42, 44 and 46 from appearing to have occurred later than memory write operation at 54, it needlessly prevents the write operations in 42, 44 and 46 from appearing to have occurred later than computation of address 52. Accordingly, the prior uses of memory barrier instructions as shown in FIG. 3 results in an inefficient use of the CPU's resources resulting in a delayed execution of the program.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram 60 similar to the example shown in FIG. 3 without the memory barrier instruction. This diagram follows the linked data structure example of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this example, the memory barrier instruction 50 is removed, and as such there are two levels of operation. The first level includes the following operations: storing a NULL pointer into the new element's first field 42, storing the character string "IJKL" into the new element's second field 44, and storing the number "9012" into the new elements third field 46. Following the write operations of 42, 44 and 46, the address of the second element may be computed 52. At the same time, a pointer to the new element is stored in the second element's first field 54. The removal of the memory barrier instruction allows the address of the second element to be computed 52 at the same time as storing a pointer to the new element in the second element's first field 54. The removal of the memory barrier instruction increases the efficiency of operation of the program. However, there may temporarily be corrupted data in the new element. Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient pipelining model that maintains data integrity while improving operating efficiency.
One programming model that allows a more efficient implementation is synchronization. A program is synchronized if all access to shared data is ordered by synchronized operations. In addition to synchronizing programs, there is also a need to define the ordering of memory operations. There are two types of restrictions on memory orders, write barriers and read barriers. In general, barriers act as boundaries, forcing the processor to order read operations and write operations with respect to the barrier. Barriers are fixed points in a computation that ensure that no read operation or write operation is moved across the barrier. For example, a write barrier executed by a processor A ensures that all write operations by A prior to the write barrier operation have completed, and no write operations that occur after the write barrier in A are initiated before the barrier operation. In sequential consistency, all read operations are read barriers, and all write operations are write barriers. This limits the ability of the hardware to optimize accesses, since order must be strictly maintained. The typical effect of a write barrier is to cause the program execution to stall until all outstanding writes have completed, including the delivery of any associated invalidations.
In an attempt to increase performance, it has become known to reorder execution of instructions. However, in reordering instructions special synchronizing instructions are required in order to specify to the CPU which accesses may not be reordered. Accordingly, there is a need for a computer system comprising multiple processors for maximizing CPU performance by placing constraints on shared memory access while removing constraints on non-shared memory accesses.

Instructions for ordering execution in pipelined processes

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for cross-correlation frequency domain fluorometry-phosphorimetry comprises a source of electromatic radiation and means for amplitude modulating the radiation at the first frequency. The amplitude modulated radiation is directed at a sample, while an optical array detector measures the resulting luminescence of the sample. A signal is provided coherent with the amplitude modulated electromagnetic radiation signals, at a second frequency which is different from the first frequency. The apparatus has the capability for shutting off and turning on the coherent signal at the second frequency in a cycle which is at a third frequency that is different from the difference between the first and second frequencies. This produces a resultant signal at a frequency derived from the difference and the third frequency. The resultant signal, when turned on, modulates the gain of the detecting means or multiplies its output, depending upon the nature of the detecting means. The amount of luminescence measured by the optical array detector is read when the coherent signal is off in its cycle of the third frequency. A signal from the reader described above is then detected at a frequency of the resultant signal to determine phase shift and modulation changes of the luminescence.

In Gratton U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,485, and numerous other references, a method is disclosed of performing cross-correlation frequency domain fluorometry and/or phosphorimetry. This technique is capable of obtaining sophisticated data about phase shifts and modulation changes of luminescence (including phosphorescence) by the use of an amplitude modulated excitation light at a first frequency for the material being tested, coupled with a detector where the gain is modulated at a different frequency. Data is recovered at the cross-correlation frequency, which is the difference between the above two frequencies.
In accordance with this invention, improvements are provided in the simultaneous measurement of the spectral intensity of the luminescence (phosphorescence) of a target material at a number of wavelengths, making use of optical array detector means for example. As is known to the art, an optical array detector can be made using a linear array of detectors or matrix of detectors such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or charge insulator device (CID) chip. For example, to obtain spectral information from the luminescence of a target material excited by a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy, these devices are placed at a focus of an aberration-corrected, flat-field dispersive monochromator or polychromator to create a spectrum. Individual points on the spectrum are then detected at different diodes or other detectors of the array of detectors. As an advantage of this technique, the many detections at various points along the spectrum may be made simultaneously, which provides a significant improvement over a scanning monochromator-based instrument with a single detector, where measurements are sequentially made along the spectrum of luminescence.
One disadvantage of diode array detectors, for example, is that they are generally less sensitive than photomultiplier tubes, since in a diode array a photon can produce only one charge while a photomultiplier tube can have a high electron gain. Also, diode arrays are electronically noisier than photomultipliers, and the dynamic range of diode arrays is less than photomultipliers. Optical array detectors and CCD cameras have been used for more than a decade by several companies in equipment designed for steady-state luminescence measurements (for purposes of this application, the term "luminescence" is intended to include fluorescence). The reading of the device in such analyzers, i.e. The measurement of the intensity of each element of the array, is performed sequentially. Some devices allow random addressing of elements of the array. Thus, it takes a substantial amount of time to read the content of the entire array. The fastest linear array can be read in a fraction of a millisecond, but normally the entire array can be read at a rate of no more than about a hundred times a second. Thus, spectral or spatial variations that occur in a faster time scale than this can not be directly recorded using these devices.
To measure fast spectral changes, for example in the nanosecond range, the above devices may be generally coupled with a fast, gatable, proximity-focused image intensifier. The gain of the intensifier can be changed very rapidly, i.e., in a few nanoseconds, providing a simple method to acquire a time slice or sampling of a repetitive, fast changing signal. The entire time evolution of the process can be measured by varying the delay between the start of the repetitive process and the opening of the gate of the image intensifier. Using this method, the time evolution can be recorded to the shortest time the gate can be opened, which is about five nanoseconds for most of the systems available. Recently, a new technique, based on a RF matched strip on the cathode of the micro-channel plate intensifier has been introduced with a time window of about fifty picoseconds. However, such a sampling method of data collection is very inefficient, since the overall duty cycle, i.e., the time of data collection relative to the total time of a measurement, is very small. For example, to acquire one hundred data points of a time varying process using a time slice of five nanoseconds results in a duty cycle of about 5.times.10.sup.-7 seconds if the array can be read at a maximum speed of 100 Hz. Of course, the duty-cycle problem is not very severe for low repetitive pulsed laser sources, but it becomes of crucial importance when high repetition rate laser sources or sinusoidally intensity modulated sources are employed such as in the K2 Multifrequency Phase Fluorometer (MPF) made by I.S.S..
Recently, microchannel plate detectors (MCP) have been used also in frequency domain fluorometry and/or phosphorimetry. See, for example, Lakowicz, et al. "Gigahertz Frequency Domain Fluorometry: Applications to Picosecond Processes and Future Developments", Time-resolved Laser Spectroscopy in Biochemistry, edited by J. R. Lakowicz, Proceedings S.P.I.E., Vol. 909, p.15-22, (1988); Laczko, et al., "A 10-GHz Frequency-Domain Fluorometer", Rev. Sci. Instrum., Vol 61, pp. 2332-2337, (1990). The MCP-PMT response to short-lived phenomenon is much better since the spread in electron paths in such devices is much less. Typical frequency response ranges to 3 GHz (50% response point) for 6 micron MCP tubes. However, their high internal resistance precludes the use of internal heterodyning although one attempt was made, Berndt, K. W., et al., "4-GHz Internal MCP-Photomultiplier Cross-correlation", Rev. Sci. Instrum., Vol 61, pp. 2557-2565, (1990). One of the drawbacks of non-imaging, photomultiplier tube detectors is their inability to simultaneously process the various regions of a spectrum. One can select various emission wavelengths and obtain spectrally resolved luminescence lifetime information by the above prior art. However, the procedure is quite time consuming since only one emission wave length is acquired at a time.
Micro-channel plate detectors have been used in frequency domain fluorometry and/or phosphorimetry as image intensifiers in Gratton et al., "Parallel Acquisition of Fluorescence Decay Using Array Detectors", Time-resolved Laser Spectroscopy in Biochemistry II, edited by J. R. Lakowicz, Proceedings S.P.I.E., Vol 1204, part 1, p. 21-25 (1990). In this article, the radio frequency gain modulation of a gatable, proximity-focused micro-channel plate image intensifier is optically coupled to a diode array of 512 elements. This system is used with a light source amplitude modulated in the MHz range. Equivalent time-resolution of this instrument is about 100 ps. The frequency response of the instrument was 100 MHz. High frequency information, in the MHz region, is down converted into a low frequency signal of several to tens of Hz by way of internal gain modulation of the detector as discussed in Gratton and Limkeman, "A Continuously Variable Frequency Cross-Correlation Phase Fluorometer with Picosecond Resolution", Biophysical Journal, Vol. 4, p. 315-324 (1983).
This method provides a simple way to conveniently and accurately determine phase and modulation at high frequencies in the MHz range. From the phase and modulation values, the characteristic relaxation times of the system under investigation can be easily obtained using standard methods. A slow readout diode array or charge coupled device detector (with a maximum frame-transfer readout speed of 60 Hz) is combined with the frequency down-conversion capabilities of a fast-gain-modulated proximity-focused image intensifier. Modulation frequencies of the intensity modulated light source and the gain modulated detectors differ by an amount of this cross-correlation or heterodyning frequency. This low frequency signal thus produced by the cross-correlation or heterodyning passes through the phosphor screen, which has a frequency response maximum of about 1 KHz.
The above articles comprise the first description of the use of single-step, internal cross-correlation heterodyning with an array detector in multifrequency phase fluorometry. Such a gain-modulated array detector system overcomes the low duty cycle and some disadvantages of other non-imaging detector systems. As described in Feddersen et al., the system cannot be used other than at selected modulation frequencies and in a relatively narrow range of frequency. The main problem is the strong radio frequency interference of the system and the low integration capability.
By this invention, an apparatus and method for cross-correlation frequency domain fluorometry-phosphorimetry is provided which exhibits significant improvements in the speed of data acquisition at multiple points across a luminescence spectrum. Thus, the apparatus of this invention can be used to derive data from a decaying spectrum under non-steady state conditions in a manner showing significant improvements over detectors of the prior art. Time resolutions in the picosecond time range may be achieved when modulation frequencies in accordance with this invention are in the 100 to 200 MHz range, so that transient, unstable luminescence phenomena may be studied. Also, the problems arising from radio-frequency interference present in the apparatus described by Gratton et al. are here completely resolved by use of a novel double modulation scheme.

Time resolved optical array detectors and CCD cameras for frequency domain fluorometry and/or phosphorimetry


The invention relates to a device for controlling the contact pressure of a transmission element of a continuously variable transmission, especially the traction element of a flexible drive for motor vehicles. The inventive device is provided with at least two levers as the transmission elements that provide the contact pressure depending on torque and ratio. Said levers are pivoted to the driving transmission elements and to the driven transmission elements and act upon an axially displaceable transmission element that indirectly or directly exerts the contact pressure via at least one rolling element each. The lever length effective to exert the contact pressure can be varied in accordance with the selected transmission ratio.

Such continuously variable transmissions are, for example, in the form of toroid drives or traction mechanism drives, the contact pressure of the transmission means, such as a link chain or thrust link conveyor, being controlled for the most part as a function of torque. The purpose of such transmissions is on the one hand to permit transmission of the drive torque as free of slippage as possible but on the other to counteract efficiency losses and wear resulting from application of too great a contact pressure force to the transmission means.
DE 42 01 692 A1 also discloses additional configuration of the contact pressure so that it is not dependent on the transmission ratio, for example, the contact pressure on the link chain in a traction mechanism drive being higher with a smaller effective belt contact radius on the drive side and lower with a greater belt contact radius on the drive side.

Device for controlling contact pressure in a continuously variable transmission


A packing container for liquid products comprises a closure which opens and closes automatically when the pressure in the container varies, such that the container is easy to handle irrespective of its filling level and can be reliably secured to a wall or the like. The container also includes at least one flat side wall for securing it to a flat surface, and at least one concave or convex actuation surface in the region of opposing side walls such that the user can apply manual pressure.

1.0 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a container for packaging liquid products, and more specifically to such a container that includes a closure which opens and closes automatically in the event of changes in pressure in the container.
2.0 Discussion of Related Art
Packaging containers in the field of the invention, for example in bottle form, are known. These packaging containers are provided, for example, with a membrane closure which opens when the pressure in the container increases and which automatically closes again when the pressure in the container falls. To produce the increase in pressure, the side walls of the container have to be subjected to pressure so that the packaging container has to be made sufficiently flexible. Unfortunately, the effect of this is that the container is relatively difficult to handle, particularly if it is partly empty. In addition, a container of the type in question is difficult to keep upright or fix to a wall, for example where it is used in toilets as a liquid soap dispenser.
3.0 Summary of the Invention
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved container for liquid products that is easy to handle at all liquid levels, and can be easily mounted on a wall or flat surface.
In one embodiment of the invention, the container has at least one flat side wall for attaching it to a flat surface, and at least one concave or convex actuation surface formed in its side walls to enable pressure to be applied by the hand of the user.
A packaging container designed in this way is easy to handle and easy to attach to a wall or the like. Thus, it may be bonded to a flat wall, for example through its flat surface, or may be placed in a stand or in a wall-mounted holder, the at least one flat surface ensuring that the container is unable to rotate in the holder or stand. The container is arranged with its closure underneath so that, whatever the filling level, liquid product is always present in the vicinity of the closure so that, by applying pressure to the actuation surface, the pressure in the container increases and the product can be dispensed. The controlled actuation by application of pressure to the actuation surface prevents the container from becoming unstable.
To facilitate handling, at least two actuation surfaces located on two opposite side walls are preferably provided.
In one particularly preferred embodiment, the walls of the container are thinner in the region of the actuation surfaces than elsewhere. The wall thickness of the container may thus advantageously be selected so that the container is basically stable and its side wall can only be indented or pushed inward in the vicinity of the actuation surfaces by normal application of pressure.
To increase its stability and to enable it to be easily fixed in a wall-mounted holder or a stand, the container is provided with encircling profiles for insertion into a wall-mounted holder or a stand.
In another preferred embodiment, the container has a rectangular cross-section with a rounded front wall. The combination of this rounded front wall with flat side walls creates a decorative surface which can be seen from all three visible sides. In addition, the fact that the flat rear wall is fixed to a wall surface by adhesive bonding thereto or anchoring in a wall-mounted holder protects the container from bulging when pressure is applied to the actuation surfaces. Another advantage of this cross-sectional form lies in the combination of the advantages of rectangular and circular shapes, i.e. on the one hand there is the isomodular (rectangular) form while, on the other hand, an optimally squeezable bottle (rounded part) is available.


A perimeter for examining a state of a visual field of a patient's eye includes: a target presenting unit that presents a stimulation target for examination to the eye, a presentation position and a presentation brightness of the target being variable; a first arithmetic unit that obtains a threshold of sensitivity with respect to the presentation brightness at each examination point on a retina corresponding to each presentation position; an input unit that inputs function information at each examination point, the function information at each examination point being objectively obtained by processing a first fundus image of the eye taken before irradiation onto a fundus of the eye and a second fundus image of the eye taken after the irradiation; and a determining unit that determines an initial reference value of the presentation brightness at each presentation position based on the input function information at each examination point.

The present invention relates to a perimeter for examining a state of a visual field of a patient's eye.
When diagnosing disease such as glaucoma, examining (measuring) the state of the visual field (perimetry) is considered to be effective. As an apparatus for examining the state of the visual field (perimeter), such an apparatus is known in which a stimulation target (optotype) for examination is projected on a dome-shaped screen or is displayed on an electronic display panel such as a liquid crystal display to be presented to the patient's eye fixing to a predetermined fixation point while varying a presentation position and a presentation brightness (luminance) of the target, and the minimum brightness at which the patient can visually recognize (perceive) the presented target, that is, the threshold value of sensitivity with respect to the presentation brightness, is examined at each examination point on a retina of the patient's eye corresponding to each presentation position by obtaining whether or not patient can recognize the presented target (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,726 (corresponding to JP 2003-235800A)).
However, in this kind of the perimeter, since the presentation brightness of the target is gradually lowered (made darker) from a constant reference value at each of 50 to 100 examination points, it takes a long time for examination, and hence the burden on the patient is significant. Further, if it takes long time for examination and a burden on the patient is significant, reliability of the examination result is reduced.


The disclosed System enables word-level text entry on a small displayed keyboard by tracing an input path that begins on or near the key of the first letter, passes through or near the key of each letter in sequence, and terminates in the vicinity of the key of the last letter. The input path is processed by scoring it against words in a database that includes an indication of relative frequency. A correctly spelled word is output even when the input path corresponds to an incorrect spelling of a word. Words are ranked according to a score calculated from the weighted distances from each associated key to determined input path points, further weighted by the frequency of use and by other characteristics of the input path. Alternate word choices are presented to the user in a manner to minimize distraction. Efficient editing mechanisms and other enhancements are included.

The origin of the modern keyboard as the primary method for inputting text from a human to a machine dates back to early typewriters in the 19th century. As computers were developed, it was a natural evolution to adapt the typewriter keyboard to use as the primary method for inputting text. For a skilled typist, it has remained the fastest way possible to input text into the computer.
With ongoing efforts to make computers smaller and more portable, the physical keyboard has become one of the most significant limiting factors in just how small a device can become: the physical size of the human finger is not something computer designers could change. As a result, computers for certain portable applications have been designed without a physical keyboard, and use touch-screen based input methods as the primary form of human-computer interface. (This is also the case for some applications where people are physically unable to use a keyboard, such as persons with physical disabilities.)
Input methods that are designed for portable touch-screen based devices have two primary requirements that frequently conflict with each other. The method of input must be as fast as possible and at the same time the method of input must take as little of the display screen as possible. Unfortunately, as the space taken up for input on the display screen is decreased, it becomes difficult to increase speed without adversely affecting accuracy.
In spite of a recent surge in the market for pen-based computing devices, many people who must generate text still do so with a standard keyboard. To date, pen-based computing has not replaced conventional portable laptop computers as was originally forecast, for the simple reason that text input on pen-based computers is too slow. Other devices sacrifice half of the area of the face of the device in order to include a "thumb" keyboard with miniature keys that are difficult to use, time-consuming, and error-prone. At the same time, such an approach means that the area relegated to a physical keyboard can no longer be used to provide a much larger display with correspondingly more efficient and enjoyable access to information.
Analogous to one-finger typing, the current state-of-the art for inputting using a virtual keyboard is called "point and tap". A stylus is moved from letter to letter and a "tap" is performed by contacting the screen on the desired key to select it. This results in the need to constantly lift the stylus from the screen and set back down again, significantly slowing input. Cursive handwriting was invented to allow a better (and faster) flow from letter to letter and reduce the number of pen (or quill) lifts. In a similar way, the current invention reduces the number of taps required when inputting using an on-screen keyboard, thus speeding text entry.
The natural way for a human to create text on anything other than a machine is to "write" it by hand, so it is not surprising that handwriting recognition software has been developed to allow a user to enter text by writing on the screen of the computer. However natural, handwriting is slow. Each letter requires several strokes of the stylus, making it very inefficient. Further, with varying handwriting styles, accuracy of this software is still below user-acceptance levels (see MacKenzie, I. S., & Chang, L. (1999), A performance comparison of two handwriting recognizers. Interacting with Computers, 11, 283-297.). As mentioned above, the reliance on the use of "digital ink" by even the "latest and greatest" of computer touch-screen technology, the Tablet PC, provides clear evidence that handwriting recognition is still not good enough to satisfy most users. Furthermore, even if a completely accurate method of handwriting recognition were available, handwriting itself is simply too slow and tiring to provide a satisfactory input method (especially on a touch-screen, which does not provide the same "feel" as a pen on actual paper).
There are two large shortcomings of on-screen keyboards: first they take up valuable screen space on the computer needed for whatever task is requiring text input. Second, and more importantly, they are slow because the user is forced to tap one letter at a time—effectively reducing the user to input text in a way that is analogous to single finger typing on a regular physical keyboard.
Another factor in slowing text entry on touch-screen keyboards was the time it takes to lift the stylus from the screen and then bring it back down between each key selection ("tapping"). This is a fundamental problem in that, particularly for devices that must utilize touch-screen keyboards that are reduced in size, the additional actions of lifting the stylus and bringing it back into contact with the screen in a controlled manner drastically slow down the input process. In addition, there is a need for an input system that is generally able to determine and produce the correctly spelled word intended by the user even when the user enters an erroneous gesture (where the user made one or more errors in the attempt to enter a correctly shaped gesture for the intended word) or an incorrect gesture (where the user's conception of the spelling of the intended word is incorrect—for example, entering a gesture corresponding to the key sequence "freind" in order to input the word that is actually spelled "friend").
The present invention allows rapid gestural input of virtually every word, with the very rare exception of a word not yet present in the lexical database of the system, which therefore must be entered once by tapping each letter in order to add it to the database. To maximize the user's potential for rapid text entry, the system needs to accommodate a wide variety of errors in the entry of word input gestures ("input paths") and still determine and produce the correctly spelled word intended by the user. Erroneous input paths are an almost inevitable result of any text input system, as each user will tend to try to input text faster and faster, until an unacceptable number of errors limits the effective rate of text entry. The robustness of the present invention with respect to erroneous and incorrect input paths is an important characteristic of the present system that allows much faster entry of input paths since there is a greatly reduced need for precision. There is also a need to accommodate errors caused by "the environment"—for example, such as trying to use a touch-screen device in a moving car, where the stylus may bounce unintentionally off of the touch-screen while trying to enter text. There is also a need to facilitate simple and rapid recovery from misrecognition errors, where the intended word was identified by the system but a different word was actually output due to having a higher priority. Finally, to accommodate greater speed in the entry of gestures, there is a need to allow the user to be less precise in entering gestures without sacrificing the ability to consistently interpret the user's gestures in such a way that they are correctly matched with the intended word. This includes a need for the system to be able to frequently identify a correctly spelled word from an input path corresponding to an incorrect spelling of the word, as well as the need to accommodate a wide variety of path tracing errors including inadvertent gross errors in entering a path for an intended word.
It is also relevant to consider that, in contrast to the usual expectations for new hardware technology, handheld touch-screen devices are in some instances being developed with slower rather than faster processors. This is particularly true for touch-screen devices that are also cellular phones, as it is very important to create phone devices that extend the battery life as long as possible on a single charge, and slower processors help in that regard. Thus, it is very important to create a system that uses the most efficient means possible to identify the intended word as often as possible given these constrained resources. Furthermore, mass-market devices such as touch-screen cellular phones are designed to be able to be produced as cheaply as possible, which also tends to put a premium on the use of memory resources by applications which target these devices, so that minimizing the size of such applications (and in particular the databases required for such applications) is another critical goal.
The present invention solves all of the above problems. As described below, the various aspects of the present invention combine to yield an unexpected result—that visually guided gesturing with reference to a displayed virtual keyboard is far faster than tapping, and can be used to enter words from a vocabulary that is large enough (for example, over 60,000 words in one implementation of a system for the English language) that the user only needs to resort to tapping to enter an unusual name or word the first time that word is entered using the system. This initial entry of a new word can reasonably be viewed as a process that is outside the normal text entry method, since once such a word has been tapped in it is then known to the system and can thereafter be entered using gesturing. The present invention, however, also includes aspects with respect to the tapping of words that improve upon anything known in the prior art. And, as will be shown in the following description, the present system allows the user to easily enter distinct words that "collide" because they otherwise map to the same basic gesture, or input path. Also importantly, the method presented can be implemented such that the processing resources and memory required are within acceptable limits for virtually all of the handheld touch-screen devices being developed.

System and method for continuous stroke word-based text input