A control signal generated as a result of the actuation of each of control switches of a control section is multiplexed by a multiplexing section, and the thus multiplexed signal is sent to a multiplex transmission line. Load control sections receive the multiplexed control signal sent over the multiplex transmission line. The load control sections then control the electric power fed to a corresponding one of loads on the basis of the received control signal. Control data, representing the form of output control of the corresponding load which is controlled as a result of the actuation of the control switch, are stored according to the control switches. Control means control the electric power fed to the load on the basis of the control signal using the control data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle load control system suitable for use in controlling electric power fed to lamps and motors aboard a vehicle.
2. Related Art
In a common vehicle, various loads such as lamps and motors are distributed throughout a vehicle body, and control switches for activating the loads are disposed around a driver's seat. The control switches and the loads which correspond to the control switches are connected together by signal lines. Recent vehicles are provided with a larger number of loads, and hence the number of signal lines is also increased. As a result, a wire harness (WH) which ties the signal lines and power lines in a bundle becomes larger in diameter and weight. This, in turn, makes it very laborious to lay the wire harness in the vehicle body, as well as resulting in the heavier vehicle body.
To prevent the above problem, a multiplex communications system is conventionally proposed, as shown in FIG. 37. In this system, the control switches disposed around the driver's seat are intensively connected to one unit A provided in the vicinity of the driver's seat. The loads distributed throughout the vehicle body are intensively connected to, for example, one unit B disposed in the vehicle body. These units A and B are connected to each other through a multiplex transmission line L.
In that multiplex communications system, control switches SW.sub.1 -SW.sub.n such as switches and volumes are connected to the unit A which acts as a control signal multiplex-processing section. On the other hand, loads LR.sub.1 -LR.sub.n which are arbitrarily activated by the control switches SW.sub.1 to SW.sub.n are connected to the unit B which acts as a load control section. The units A and B are connected to each other through a multiplex transmission line L. Control signals generated as a result of the operation of the control switches SW.sub.1 -SW.sub.n are combined into a single signal by time-division multiplexing. The thus multiplexed signal is then sent to the unit B over the multiplex transmission line L, and the unit B then separates the multiplexed signal into the original control signals. By means of these control signals, the electric power fed to the corresponding loads LR.sub.1 -LR.sub.n is controlled. The means for connecting the units A and B to each other is standardized by the multiplex transmission line L. Hence, even if the control switches SW.sub.1 to SW.sub.n and the loads LR.sub.1 and LR.sub.n are changed, it is not necessary to change the connecting means. In consequence, the number of wire harness to be laid in order to connect the control switches with the load is considerably reduced.
Recently, associated with an increase in the number of on-vehicle systems and improvements in the performance of them, the number of, and the number of types of, control switches related to the on-vehicle systems are increasing. Further, the positions of the control switches which are many in number and have a lot of types also change as the number of types of vehicle specification increases. Even in such a circumstance, the use of the multiplex transmission line makes it possible to standardize inter-unit wire harness for each type of vehicle specification.
The loads are not simply turned on and off by the actuation of the control switches SW.sub.1 -SW.sub.n. For example, there are several types of lamp; namely, a lamp which constantly illuminates in response to the actuation of the control switch, a lamp which blinks by the actuation of the control switch, and a lamp which does not immediately illuminate by turning on the control switch, such as a lamp used in a bus which illuminates constantly or blinks corresponding to the opening/closing action of the door. If the lamps are changed according to the vehicle specifications, it is necessary to change the unit A which acts as the control signal multiplex processing section and the unit B which acts as the load control section, for each change. The diversification of parts results in increased manufacturing cost as well as the troublesome management of the parts.
Further, the wire harness laid between the control switches SW.sub.1 to SW.sub.n and the unit A in order to connect them together becomes complicated, or the number of types of wire harness increases. Further, the ease of connection of the wire harness to the switches is deteriorated, which in turn adds to the manufacturing cost.


Air propulsion system for a boat comprises an internal combustion engine for powering a propeller in a single rotational direction. A pivoting mechanism pivots the propulsion system through a 360 degree arc about a transverse horizontal axis from a first position in which the propeller produce a forward thrust, through a second position in which the propeller produces a downward neutral thrust and a turning torque, to a third position in which the propeller produce a reverse thrust, to a fourth position in which the propeller produces an upward neutral thrust and a turning torque. The turning torque produced by the propeller turns the boat to the left in the second position and to the right in the fourth position. The engine is adapted to pivot with the propeller and continues to operate under throttle control in all pivoted orientations.

The present invention relates generally to a system for propelling an air boat, generically referring to flat bottomed boats, kayaks, and dual and multi-hulled aquatic crafts, including outriggers and catamarans. Even still more particularly, this invention relates to a system which permits the swivel mounting of an internal combustion engine powering a propeller in which the propeller can rotate roughly 180 degrees about a horizontal axis to propel the air boat in forward, reverse and neutral directions, while permitting continuous operating control of the throttle. Preferably, the system permits the swivel mounting of an internal combustion engine powering a propeller and the propeller can rotate roughly 360 degrees about the horizontal axis to propel the air boat in forward, reverse and two neutral turning directions, while permitting continuous operating control of the throttle. This will facilitate the turning motion discussed hereinafter.
This invention relates to a system to propel an air powered boat with means for rotating a propeller about a transverse horizontal axis from a first position in which the propeller produces a thrust to move the boat in a forward direction through a second position in which the propeller produces a downward neutral thrust to a third position in which the propeller produces a thrust to move the boat in reverse through a fourth position in which the propeller produces an upward neutral thrust, while the engine continues running. It comprises means for propelling the air boat in any one of a forward, reverse and neutral direction with an engine powering the propeller in a single rotational direction. When the propeller is disposed in the second position in which the propeller produces a downward thrust, the torque from the engine/propeller assembly acts to turn the boat to the left. The reverse is true when the propeller is disposed in the fourth position. Means for securing the means for propelling to the air powered boat are also provided.
Alternative technology is available in the form disclosed in earlier patents issued for air boats which include U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,785 issued in 1988 to Van Hauwaert for a frame support for connecting two float members with a fan supported on a frame. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,647 issued to Grengs et al. in 1961 for a rescue craft with a similar fan supported rigidly by a frame. No means of reversing the boat without the use of a reversible engine were taught.
Prior aerodynamic styled propellers operate to power and steer an aquatic craft by pivotally mounting the propeller and engine on a vertical axis. In such case, the ability of the steering apparatus to smoothly maneuver the craft is limited. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,125 issued in 2002 to Duer for a canoe air propulsion machine which is pivotally mounted and rotatable about a vertical axis. A similar vertical rotation is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,839 issued in 1990 to Pitchford for a propulsion and steering apparatus.
To alleviate this problem, and others which will become apparent from the disclosure which follows, the present invention conveniently has the ability to rotate the propeller, to dispose the propeller's rotational axis to a rear horizontal position to propel the boat forward, to a forward horizontal position to propel the boat in reverse and to a vertical position, while the engine continues to run. When the propeller axis is vertically disposed, the air boat is propelled in a neutral turning direction, neither forward nor reverse.
The citation of the foregoing publications is not an admission that any particular publication constitutes prior art, or that any publication alone or in conjunction with others, renders unpatentable any pending claim of the present application. None of the cited publications is believed to detract from the patentability of the claimed invention.


The invention generally provides a method for routing data into and out of a network having a plurality of host computers corresponding to a plurality of network topologies. The method of the invention primarily comprises the steps of electing a destination host from the plurality of host computers in the network, determining an addressing methodology for the destination host in accordance with a destination topology out of the plurality of network topologies corresponding to the destination host, addressing the destination host according to the determined addressing methodology, determining a routing path corresponding to the determined addressing methodology, and routing the data to the destination host through the determined routing path. The routing path can be an inbound or an outbound routing path with respect to the network. The method according to the invention further comprises the step of defining the routing path with a host ID comprising a sequence of at least one host address corresponding to at least one of the plurality of host computers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention claimed in the present patent application generally relates to computer network infrastructure management and, more particularly, to a data routing framework over various network topologies.
2. Description of the Related Art
A primary network management objective for a computer network in the art is to manage the infrastructure and data routing within and without the network. A network generally comprises a plurality of computers connected to each other. Data can travel into and out of the network, with the data being routed to a particular computer therein or out therefrom to the Internet or another network. For data inbound into the network, proxy servers are typically used in the art for routing the inbound data and preventing the entry of computer viruses into the network. For outbound data, proxy servers are typically used in the art for properly routing the outbound data from within the network and out to the Internet or another network. A proxy server is generally disposed between the Internet and a computer in the network. A proxy is a program that receives Internet service requests by a computer in the network and makes those requests to the Internet through a single Internet protocol (IP) address.
Data routing is generally direct when accessing the computers in the network. However, routing data through proxy servers for accessing computers in the network or computers protected by firewalls becomes circuitous in navigating through the proxy addressing. These shortcomings in the art become exacerbated as the topologies of the network become more complex.
There is thus a general need in the art for an optimal network architecture that overcomes at least the aforementioned shortcomings in the art. In particular, a need exists in the art for a data routing framework and method thereof for efficient access to computers in the network having firewalls and proxy servers or other complex network topologies.

Network infrastructure management and data routing framework and method thereof


The actuator for a motor vehicle has an electric motor having an output shaft. A gear comprising a spindle nut and a gear case is connected to the output shaft. A spindle engages the spindle nut. A bracket forms an at least partial surrounding grip abut the gear case. A pivot bearing is provided between the gear case and the bracket. Further, an abutment lying substantially opposite the pivot bearing is formed between the gear case and the bracket.

The invention relates to an actuator for a motor vehicle, more specifically for a motor vehicle seat, with an electric motor having an output shaft, with a gear comprising a worm, a spindle nut and a gear case and being connected to the output shaft, with a spindle engaging the spindle nut and with a bracket surrounding at least partially the gear case.
Such an actuator has been previously known from WO 03/068551 A1, a similar actuator also appears from DE 103 53 245 A1. The bracket fixes the gear case and absorbs the reaction forces of the actuator. The gear case may thereby be pivoted relative to the bracket about an axis defined by the axis of the spindle.
In principle, such type actuators have proved efficient. They are utilized in many motor vehicles. The reader is additionally referred to the prior art documents DE 1 755 740 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,922 B1 and DE 198 15 283 C2.
It has been found out that the movement of the gear case relative to the bracket is not sufficient and that in some cases it is not even necessary. Requirements during mounting and practical use of the actuator make it necessary to compensate for inaccuracies and differences. If these are not compensated for, the gear case may get jammed with respect to the bracket, or in any case will move with difficulty. It is also of benefit to have sufficient freedom for adjustment movements. Additionally, it is desired that the gear case be capable of moving with respect to the bracket with as little friction as possible.
Therefore, it is at least one objective of the invention to provide for more possibilities for the gear case to move relative to the bracket, with as little friction as possible, so that finally the torque provided by the electric motor is best used for the drive.

Actuator for a motor vehicle with a gear case


A damage assessment module operating on a computer system automatically evaluates a roof, estimating damage to the roof by analyzing a point cloud of a roof. The damage assessment module identifies individual shingles from the point cloud and detects potentially damaged areas on each of the shingles. The damage assessment module then maps the potentially damaged areas of each shingle back to the point cloud to determine which areas of the roof are damaged. Based on the estimation, the damage assessment module generates a report on the roof damage.

Insurance companies spend considerable amounts of resources estimating damage caused to shingles. Currently an estimator needs to be on site to determine whether or not a roof needs to be replaced. Generally, the estimator uses a subjective assessment of the roof. Unfortunately, subjective assessments generally do not provide a repeatable or consistent approach, resulting in inconsistent and unreliable results. For example, once on the roof, different lighting conditions and shingle types may make it very difficult, even for an experienced estimator, to assess the amount of damage to a roof.
In addition to providing inadequate results, a subjective assessment may expose the estimator to dangerous conditions. For example, the estimator exposes himself or herself to the risk of falling. Windy or rainy conditions, which are common in many locales, enhance this risk.

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY


A tube for a steam cracking furnace comprising: at least one downstream tubular segment of circular section having a main diameter; at least one twisted tubular segment having a length less than a quarter of the length of the tube, and comprising: a central part with an elliptical or lobed section, having a helical pitch between one times and ten times the main diameter, and an aspect ratio of the elliptical or lobed section between 0.5 and 0.8; an upstream transition part establishing a geometric transition between the central part and a tubular segment of circular section; a downstream transition part establishing a geometric transition between the central part and the downstream tubular segment, with a fluid being intended to flow from the upstream transition part to the downstream transition part.

Improving the heat exchange performance capabilities in steam cracking furnace tubes is a major concern. Steam cracking furnaces are generally made up of an assembly of tubes connected together by elbows, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The design of this assembly of tubes can of course vary according to different criteria, with that of FIG. 1 being shown only by way of an example. The fluid (for example, ethane, naphtha, etc.) and water vapor circulate in this assembly of tubes and are brought to high temperatures in order to trigger a steam cracking reaction. For a given temperature of the inner wall of the tubes, the greater the heat exchanges between the wall and the fluid, the higher the yield of the reaction.
However, spurious reactions are responsible for the deposition of a layer of coke on the inner wall of the assembly of tubes. The thickness of this layer increases over time, which clogs the tubes, decreases the heat transfers between the wall of the assembly of tubes and the flowing fluid and increases the pressure losses.
The kinetics of coke formation partly depend on the temperature of the inner wall of the tubes. It is therefore worthwhile limiting the operating temperature (to limit coking), but at the same time increasing the heat exchange performance capabilities between the tubes and the fluid to obtain a high yield from the steam cracking reaction.
Solutions implementing a swirling flow have thus been proposed since such a flow has the advantage of improving the heat exchanges between the fluid and the inner walls of the assembly of tubes. Indeed, a swirling flow disrupts the dynamic and thermal boundary layer that is conventionally established along smooth cylindrical walls and that negatively affects heat exchange. Furthermore, the increase in parietal stresses linked to a swirling flow can promote the separation of the coke layer. However, it is to be noted that a swirling flow is responsible for an increase in pressure losses compared to a non-swirling flow (a higher fluid inlet pressure is required), which is detrimental to the steam cracking reaction yield. The improvement in heat transfers between the wall of the tube and the fluid, combined with the mixing thereof by the swirling flow, also makes it possible to obtain greater homogenization of the temperatures within a flow section of the tube. In other words, with a swirling flow not only is the average temperature of the fluid closer to that of the wall of the tube, but the standard deviation of the distribution of the temperatures in a flow section is also smaller. The improvement in the homogenization of the temperatures promotes the selectivity of certain chemical species with high added value in the steam cracking reaction and is therefore an important parameter.
Document EP 1561795 proposes an assembly of tubes, the inner wall of which comprises fins discreetly arranged on a helical path. Document US 2005/0131263 proposes a technology involving tubes having internal fins following a helical path. These two approaches provide an efficient level of heat exchanges between the fluid and the assembly of tubes, but at the expense of significant pressure losses, enhanced by the increased number of contact surfaces between the tube and the fluid.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 7,749,462 discloses an assembly of tubes of circular section, the axis of which follows a low amplitude helical path. This solution that promotes heat exchange has the disadvantage of being bigger than a conventional tube and remains complex in terms of manufacturing.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,422 proposes introducing a twisted blade into the assembly of tubes over a given length of the assembly. This enables the pressure losses to be limited, but the performance capabilities for improving heat exchange remain limited; moreover, this blade generates significant mechanical stresses on the tube due to thermal expansion and leads to operational damage.

Tube for a steam cracking furnace having a segment with an elliptical or lobed cross section

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


In an ink set having a plurality of inks, the ink set has at least a pigment ink and a dye ink. The pigment ink contains at least water, a surfactant, a self-dispersion pigment, and a poor medium for self-dispersion pigment and/or a salt; a dynamic surface tension of the pigment ink at a lifetime of 50 milliseconds is higher than 47 mN/m. The dye ink contains at least water, a surfactant and a dye. An ink set is provided which can obtain images having a high image density and a superior bleeding resistance without regard to the types of recording mediums.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ink set, an ink jet recording method, an ink cartridge, a recording unit and an ink jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, ink jet recording apparatus have become popular which carry both pigment inks and dye inks and are both achievable of sharply recording images of photographs or the like and sharply recording common documents, web pages, e-mails or the like on recording mediums such as plain paper mainly in monochrome modes. In order to attain a high image quality level when images are recorded on recording mediums such as plain paper by the use of an ink set having a pigment ink and a dye ink, it is demanded to use inks not only affording a high image density but also less causative of blurs. The use of inks less causative of blurs can keep the blurs from being caused at boundaries where images formed using a pigment ink and images formed using a dye ink adjoin one another, i.e., enables formation of images having superior bleeding resistance.
In general, in order to improve image density in images formed using pigment inks, the following are attempted. For example, in order to leave coloring materials on a recording medium in a larger quantity, it is attempted to control the permeability of inks into the recording medium, and, in order to secure a large area where the surface of a recording medium can be covered with coloring materials (the area being what is called an area factor), it is attempted to apply inks in a large quantity.
In such methods, however, it may take a time for the inks to dry, because the permeability of inks has been controlled or the inks are applied in a large quantity. Hence, when images are continuously recorded at a high speed, problems such as set-off may come about during continuous recording or the bleeding resistance may greatly lower. More specifically, during the time that recorded images formed on a second sheet after images have been formed on a first sheet are delivered out of an ink jet recording apparatus, inks of the recorded images on the first sheet may adhere to the back of the second-sheet recording medium because the inks of the images on the first sheet have not well dried (fixed). In addition, where images formed using a pigment ink and images formed using a dye ink form images adjoining one another, a phenomenon may remarkably occur in which the pigment ink blurs to the dye ink, to cause a lowering of the bleeding resistance.
In order to improve the bleeding resistance, it is also attempted to, e.g., improve the permeability of inks into a recording medium to keep the inks from blurring. In this method, however, the coloring materials may less remain on the recording medium to achieve no sufficient image density.
Thus, the improvement in image density and the improvement in bleeding resistance stand a relationship of trade-off each other in many cases. In order to resolve such problems together, studies have hitherto been made on various techniques as stated below. For example, proposals are made on a technique in which the composition of the pigment ink is designed so as to make coloring materials highly associative or aggregative (see Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2000-198955, No. 2005-206615, No. 2002-167534 and No. 2004-143290). A proposal is also made on a technique in which a pigment ink is reacted with a reaction fluid containing a specific compound, so as to accelerate the aggregation of a pigment (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-63719). Proposals are still also made on a technique in which the physical properties of a pigment ink are specified so as to control the permeation or blurring of the pigment ink (see Japanese Patent No. 2516218 and Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-238851, No. 2005-200566 and No. 2003-231838). Proposals are still also made on a technique in which the physical properties of a dye ink are specified so as to control the permeation or blurring of the dye ink (see Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. S63-213581, No. 2004-83621 and No. H09-296139). A proposal is further made on a technique in which the relationship of physical properties between a plurality of inks is specified so as to control the permeation or blurring of these inks (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-63322). The background arts enumerated above are further discussed below.
As the technique in which the composition of the pigment ink is designed so as to make coloring materials highly associative or aggregative, a proposal as reported below is made. For example, an ink containing a self-dispersion type carbon black and a specific salt are used so as to achieve improvements in image density and bleeding resistance (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-198955). In this technique, the pigment present in the ink in a dispersed state is forcedly aggregated on the surface of a recording medium so that the pigment can be kept from permeating into the recording medium, to achieve higher image density and bleeding resistance on images obtained using a conventional pigment ink. In this technique, however, pigment particles are made to aggregate on the surface of the recording medium, and hence the area where the recording medium surface can be covered with coloring materials (what is called "area factor") may be insufficient as compared with the volume of ink droplets.
To cope with such a problem, a proposal as reported below is made. For example, a proposal is made on that an ink containing a plurality of water-soluble organic solvents and a water-insoluble coloring material is made up as described below, so as to make the coloring material aggregate effectively in the vicinity of the surface of a recording medium even though ink droplets have a small volume, to achieve a sufficient image density (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-206615). Stated specifically, it is an ink so made up that the plurality of water-soluble organic solvents are a good medium and a poor medium, for a self-dispersion pigment, and a water-soluble organic solvent which shows the maximum Ka value among the respective Ka values of the plurality of water-soluble organic solvents as determined by the Bristow method is the poor medium.
In respect of changes in particle size of a pigment or dispersion stability of the pigment at the time a pigment ink containing water or a water-soluble organic solvent is evaporated, a proposal as reported below is made. For example, a proposal is made on that the increase rate of the average particle size of the pigment is controlled to be 25% or less in a pigment ink 30% by mass of which has been evaporated (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-167534). A proposal is further made on an ink achievable of dispersion stability even though 50% by mass of a pigment ink has been evaporated (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-143290).
As the technique in which a pigment ink is allowed to react with a reaction fluid containing a specific compound, so as to accelerate the aggregation of a pigment, a proposal as reported below is made. For example, a proposal is made on that an ink containing a pigment, fine polymer particles, a water-soluble organic compound and water and an aqueous solution containing a polyhydric metal salt are applied to a recording medium and these ink and solution are allowed to react with each other on the recording medium so as to form images with a high quality level (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-63719).
As the technique in which the physical properties of a pigment ink are specified so as to control the permeation or blurring of the pigment ink, a proposal is made which takes note of dynamic surface tension of ink. For example, a proposal is made on that an ink having been set to be [dynamic surface tension (dyne/cm) at lifetime of 0 millisecond+viscosity (cp)] 42 to 49 can be an ink having superior drying performance (see Japanese Patent No. 2516218). A proposal is also made on an ink in which the maximum value of the rate of change in dynamic surface tension with time is controlled to be from 0.2 mN/m/s or more to 0.4 mN/m/s or less (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-238851). A proposal is further made on an ink in which the dynamic surface tension (dyne/cm) at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds is from 25 to 50 mN/m and the difference in dynamic surface tension between the maximum value and the minimum value is 5 mN/m or less (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-200566). A proposal is still further made on an ink in which the dry viscosity is 100 mPa·s or less, the dynamic surface tension (dyne/cm) at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds is 45 mN/m or more and the dynamic surface tension (dyne/cm) at a lifetime of 1,000 milliseconds is 35 mN/m or less (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-231838).
As the technique in which the physical properties of a dye ink are specified so as to control the permeation or blurring of the dye ink, a proposal is made which takes note of static surface tension (what is called "surface tension") of the ink and dynamic surface tension of the ink. As to the former, a proposal is made on that the surface tension of ink at 20° C. is controlled to be 45 mN/m or more so as to make small the area per one dot the ink forms, to keep the ink from blurring on a recording medium (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S63-213581). A proposal is also made on that the surface tension of ink is controlled to be 40 mN/m or more so as to keep the ink from blurring (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-83621). As to the latter, a proposal is made on that the surface tension of ink at an air-bubble period T (second/air bubble) of ≦0.2 is controlled to be 40 mN/m or more so as to keep the ink from blurring, and the surface tension at T>1 is controlled to be less than 50 mN/m so as to improve the ink in its ejection reliability (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H09-296139). In the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-231838, it is also disclosed that the dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds is controlled to be 45 mN/m or more so as to keep the ink from blurring and the dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 1,000 milliseconds is controlled to be 35 mN/m or less so as to improve the ink in its quick-drying performance.
As the technique in which the relationship of physical properties between a plurality of inks are specified so as to control the permeation or blurring of these inks, a proposal as reported below is made. For example, a proposal is made which takes note of the relationship of dynamic surface tension in a plurality of inks making up an ink set (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-63322). More specifically, in an ink set consisting of a black ink, a yellow ink, a magenta ink and a cyan ink, the dynamic surface tension of each ink in the same lifetime within the range of lifetimes of from 30 milliseconds to 1,000 milliseconds at a temperature of 25° C. as measured by a maximum bubble pressure method is specified in the following way: (1) The yellow ink has a higher dynamic surface tension than the black ink. (2) The difference in dynamic surface tension between the yellow ink and the black ink is 5 mN/m or less. (3) The difference in dynamic surface tension between the yellow ink and the magenta ink and the difference in dynamic surface tension between the yellow ink and the cyan ink are both 3 mN/m or more. (4) The magenta ink and cyan ink each have a lower dynamic surface tension than the black ink. It is disclosed that specifying the dynamic surface tension in these ways brings an improvement in bleeding resistance.
The present inventors have investigated advantages and problems any conventional inks have had, and have analyzed characteristic features of images obtained using such inks. As the result, they have found that the rate at which the ink permeates into a recording medium after an ink having been ejected out of a recording head has adhered to the recording medium and the manner of a change in condition (aggregation) of the ink differs depending on the type of the recording medium. Here, the rate at which the ink permeates into the recording medium refers not to the rate at which it diffuses through the interior of the recording medium, but to the rate at which the ink comes not to exist on the surface of the recording medium after the ink has been applied to the recording medium.
That is, the background arts for achieving a high image density have mainly aimed to control the state of a coloring material. Accordingly, where an ink the coloring material of which aggregates concurrently as the ink permeates into the recording medium is applied to a recording medium having a high ink permeation rate, the coloring material may insufficiently come to aggregate during the time the ink permeates into the recording medium, and hence no sufficient image density has been achievable in some cases. Besides, where images are formed in which regions of images formed using a pigment ink and regions of images formed using a dye ink adjoin one another, the pigment may insufficiently come to aggregate during the time the pigment ink permeates into the recording medium, to tend to come into contact with the dye ink, and hence bleeding has occurred in some cases.
To cope with such a problem, it is attempted as in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-206615 to bring a water-insoluble coloring material and a plurality of water-soluble organic solvents into a specific relationship, stated specifically, to use as a poor medium for the water-insoluble coloring material a water-soluble organic solvent having the maximum Ka value determined by the Bristow method. This makes the coloring material diffuse and aggregate effectively in the vicinity of the surface of a recording medium even though ink droplets have a small volume, to achieve sufficient image density and bleeding resistance, as so reported. In this technique, however, after the ink has been applied to the recording medium, the coloring material is made to aggregate while it is made to diffuse in the vicinity of the surface of the recording medium. Hence, any coloring material that has not come to aggregate at the time the coloring material begins to diffuse permeates into the recording medium in its thickness direction. As the result, in a recording medium having a high ink permeation rate, it has sometimes come about that any high image density is not obtainable and the bleeding can not be kept from occurring. This means that, where in a recording medium it differs in surface state or in wettability to inks, the ink differs greatly in its permeation rate and diffusion rate to the recording medium. Then, when images are formed on such a recording medium having a high ink permeation rate, the aggregation of the coloring material comes not to catch up the permeation and diffusion of the ink, so that the coloring material in the ink permeates into the recording medium in its thickness direction. As the result, depending on the type of the recording medium, the problems may come about such that no sufficient image density and bleeding resistance are achievable.
In both the above Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2002-167534 and No. 2004-143290, what is taken into account is limited only to how the pigment in the pigment ink behaves after its dispersion has come to stable regions or dispersion has become unstable until it begins to aggregate, and is insufficient for well improving the image density and the bleeding resistance. In the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-63719, a pigment ink and an aqueous solution containing a polyhydric metal salt are allowed to react with each other on the recording medium. However, components making up an ink and recording systems are demanded to be more simplified. That is, it is demanded that inks are made less dependent on external factors so as to keep the inks from the difficulty of a lowering of reliability or the like that is caused by complex action, to provide inks in which coloring materials, water-soluble organic compounds and so forth have appropriately be designed.
As in the above Japanese Patent No. 2516218 and Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-238851, No. 2005-200566 and No. 2003-231838, some proposals are made on inks taking not of dynamic surface tension. All of these techniques, however, do not at all take account of what changes in condition the coloring material has caused in the course that the ink comes to permeate after it has been applied to the recording medium. That is, in the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2516218 and Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-238851, No. 2005-200566 and No. 2003-231838, the phenomenon being taken place in the recording medium is not taken into account, and hence any high image density and bleeding resistance the present inventors seek are not achievable by merely specifying ink physical properties as in these publications. For example, in the ink disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2516218, the value is specified that is found by adding the values of dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 0 millisecond and viscosity. In the inks disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-238851, No. 2005-200566 and No. 2003-231838, the dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 10 millisecond and the value at which the dynamic surface tension changes are specified. Accordingly, the present inventors have prepared an ink which satisfies the conditions disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2516218 and Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-238851, No. 2005-200566 and No. 2003-231838, and have studied image density and bleeding resistance brought by such an ink. However, it has been found unable to achieve any image density and bleeding resistance at the level the present inventors have sought. This is because the ink does little come to evaporate at the lifetime of 0 millisecond or 10 milliseconds, and the ink has not come to change in condition to such an extent as to enhance image density and bleeding resistance on the recording medium. That is, the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2516218 and Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-238851, No. 2005-200566 and No. 2003-231838 do not at all take account of the changes in condition of ink on the recording medium, and hence the dynamic surface tension at the lifetime of 0 millisecond or 10 milliseconds can be said to be a value having no significance at all in regard to how the image density and bleeding resistance be improved.
In addition, the value [dynamic surface tension (dyne/cm) at lifetime of 0 millisecond+viscosity (cp)]=42 to 49 in the above Japanese Patent No. 2516218 is too low to keep the ink from permeating into, in particular, a recording medium with coarse fiber and many voids. Similarly, the value that the dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds is 45 mN/m as in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-231838 is also too low to keep the ink from permeating into, in particular, such a recording medium with coarse fiber and many voids. From these points as well, the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2516218 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-231838 can be said to be unable to improve the image density and the bleeding resistance.
In the case when the images are formed in which images formed using a pigment ink and images formed using a dye ink adjoin one another, it is considered that the dye ink blurs so greatly as to tend to come into contact with the pigment ink, to cause bleeding. Accordingly, in respect of the bleeding resistance, it is important not only to control aggregative properties, blurring and permeation of the pigment ink, but also to take an approach from the dye ink.
However, in the dye ink as well, like the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S63-213581 or No. 2004-83621, it may be unable to control the blurring by merely making the ink have a high surface tension. This is because, if the ink continues to have a high surface tension for a long time, the permeation of ink into the recording medium does not proceed, so that the ink may spread on the surface of the recording medium. In addition, if the dye ink is made to have a high surface tension, it can not wet the surface of the recording medium uniformly, and hence the uniformity of colors in images may lower. Besides, if the ink is made to have a high static surface tension, the ink comes less permeable into the recording medium, and hence it may take a long time until the ink permeates completely into the recording medium, so that ink set-off or the like may occur.
In the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-231838 and No. H09-296139, it is attempted to control blurring and permeation, taking note of the dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds and changes in the dynamic surface tension. However, studies made by the present inventors have revealed that any bleeding resistance at the level the present inventors seek is not achievable at least by specifying the dynamic surface tension as disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-231838 and No. H09-296139. This is presumed due to the fact that the ink has little come to evaporate, or permeate into the recording medium at its surface regions, at least at the lifetime of 10 milliseconds and the dot area has not been made controllable even by specifying the value of dynamic surface tension at the lifetime of 10 milliseconds. That is, in the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2003-231838 and No. H09-296139, the changes in condition in ink on the recording medium is not taken into account, thus the dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds can be said to be a value having no significance at all in regard to how the blurring be controlled and how the bleeding resistance be improved.
Further, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-63322, the relationship of dynamic surface tension within the range of lifetimes of from 30 milliseconds to 1,000 milliseconds between a black ink and color inks is specified. Stated specifically, the dynamic surface tension of a yellow ink and a black ink each in the same lifetime within the range of lifetimes of from 30 milliseconds to 1,000 milliseconds is so specified that the yellow ink has a higher dynamic surface tension than the black ink. In virtue of this, when these inks come into contact with each other on the recording medium, the permeation of the yellow ink is pulled by the permeation of the black ink, where images formed using the black ink are color-mixed with the yellow ink, greatly different in color value, and this can keep the bleeding from occurring, as so reported. Accordingly, the present inventors have prepared an ink which satisfies the requirements disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-63322, and have studied image density and bleeding resistance in images formed by applying to a recording medium the ink obtained. As the result, it has been found that any image density and bleeding resistance at the level the present inventors seek is not achievable. As to the reason therefor, the present inventors consider it as stated below. Relatively large voids are present in a large number in plain paper, and hence, as the inks are applied to make the surface of plain paper wet, the inks are taken into the voids, where the movement of the inks is restricted to a certain extent. Hence, the influence the relationship of physical properties in a plurality of inks has on the bleeding resistance is limitative. In an ink set made up of a plurality of inks, in order to control the bleeding, it is a very important factor to appropriately determine the wettability of each ink to plain paper and the extent of blurring in the above each ink. That is, the bleeding can not be controlled by merely specifying the relationship of dynamic surface tensions in a plurality of inks making up the ink set as in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-63322.

Ink set, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit, and ink jet recording apparatus


A phosphor material for producing white light under excitation of UV light and a method for making the same. The phosphor material is an alkaline-earth silicates compound with a chemical formula of (A2-x-yCexEuy)SiO4. A is one or more elements selected from the collection of Ba, Sr and Ca alkaline-earth metals. The range of x and y correspond to 0<x<1.0 and 0<y≦0.5 respectively. The phosphor material requires two rare earth elements: Ce and Eu. By blending the best co-doped composition of Ce and Eu ions, the single phosphor can directly produce white light under UV light excitation. In addition, the material in this invention is easy and fast to prepare in a large amount. Therefore, the phosphors can have a high industrial value.

The objective of research and development in the field of illumination light source of this century is to use a light emitting diode (LED) to produce a white light having a similar hue of sunlight to replace the white-light illumination of traditional fluorescent lamps. At present, single-chip white-light LED technology promoted all over the world primarily uses a blue-light LED chip that emits a wavelength of 440 nm˜460 nm by exciting a yellow-light phosphor to produce white light. The method features the advantages of simple manufacturing process and low cost, but the white light produced by the method has the disadvantages of poor color saturation and color rendering.
In recent years, ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) chip that emits a wavelength of 360 nm˜400 nm is used for exciting phosphors of three different colors: red (R), green (G) and blue (B), and these three colors can be mixed to form white light. The method features the advantages of high light emitting efficiency and color rendering as well as the UV-LED chip can work with various different phosphors, but the method has the disadvantages of damaging the products under the exposure of UV light for a long time and reducing the life expectancy of the chip, since the UV light has a short wavelength and the released energy is much higher than that of blue light or green light. In addition, it is necessary to mix several types of phosphors appropriately to control the quality of the white-light light source, and thus the research and development of the foregoing method and technology uses UV light to excite a single phosphor to produce white light, and the industrial value derived from such method and technology are immeasurable.
In the prior art, an alkaline-earth silicates compound is used as the main material, and phosphors applicable for the excitation of blue light or UV light have been disclosed in many issued patents including OSRAM's U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,500, General Electric's U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,211 and Toyota Gosei's U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,347, etc.
However, the foregoing patents come with a light emitting activator selected from a bivalent europium (Eu2+) for radiating yellow-green as well as yellow to orange lights under the excitation of blue light or UV light. At present, there is no alkaline-earth silicates compound related patent that produces white light by exciting a phosphor material with UV light yet.
In addition, a patent related to the phosphor material of A2-2xNaxExD2V3O12 as disclosed in General Electric's EP Pat. No. 1,138,747 similarly excites a single phosphor by UV light, but such patent selects a vanadates compound for the phosphor material.

Phosphor for producing white light under excitation of UV light and method for making the same


Constructs including bars, capsules, beads, and sheets are configured with a radionuclide core that emits energetic particles activating a phosphorescent shell material surrounding the radionuclide core so that it emits light to administer light therapy or PDT. A biocompatible coating that is generally optically transparent encloses the radionuclide core and phosphorescent material to prevent a patient's body in which the constructs are disposed from being affected by any toxicity of the phosphorescent shell material. In a typical application of the constructs, a photoreactive agent is infused into the treatment site and selectively absorbed by abnormal tissue, for example, in a cancerous tumor. Light emitted by the phosphorescent material when activated by the energetic particles emitted from the radionuclide core administers photodynamic therapy, which destroys the abnormal tissue. Particularly, the beads, which are relatively small in size, can be targeted to abnormal tissue by providing a linking mechanism on the biocompatible coating so that the beads are coupled to antibodies found on the abnormal cells, but not on normal tissue. If a glass phosphor material that includes fused quartz or silica glass doped with metal ions is used for the phosphorescent shell material, the beads or other construct must be exposed to IR or other light, causing electrons that have been trapped inside the glass materials to combine with holes, emitting light of a shorter wavelength. The glass phosphor material is preferable, since it is substantially less toxic than other types of scintillators or phosphor materials.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is commonly administered to a treatment site that is disposed on or within a patient's body using a light source that is energized with an electrical current. The light source, which may be positioned either external or internal to the patient's body, emits light having a characteristic wave band selected to match an absorption wave band of a photodynamic reagent that has been administered to the treatment site. The photoreactive reagent is preferentially absorbed by abnormal tissue at the treatment site. When exposed to the light, the abnormal tissue that has absorbed the photoreactive agent is destroyed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,608 (Chen et al.) discloses that even relatively low intensity light, such as that produced by light emitting diodes (LEDs), can be very effective in destroying abnormal tissue and undesired organisms within a patient's body. Because of the relatively low intensity of the light emitted by an LED compared to a high power laser, the treatment is preferably administered for an extended period of time, or at least for a longer time than would be done if a high intensity laser light source were used as the light source. This patent reference also discloses several embodiments for probes that includes such low intensity light sources and which are intended to be implanted within a patient's body to administer PDT for relatively longer periods of time, thereby destroying a tumor or abnormal cells at an internal treatment site. However, electrical power must be supplied to energize the light sources on the implanted probe. The patent teaches that either a battery and/or an internal power supply receiving energy from an external power source, e.g., by electromagnetically coupling the internal power supply to the external power source, can be used for energizing the light sources on the probe.
Clearly, there would be significant advantages in developing a system for delivering light therapy that does not include a battery, does not require recharging, and which does not require any energy transfer from outside the patient's body. Instead, such a system would be self-powered to obviate the need for continual or intermittent power transfer from an external power source. By eliminating a battery supply and/or a power receiver coil, a system for administering PDT could be substantially simplified, requiring fewer components, and could be greatly reduced in size. This reduction in size might facilitate the administration of PDT to an internal treatment site not readily achieved with larger and more complex devices that must be intermittently coupled to an external power source or which must include a relatively large power storage device.
It would also be desirable to enable a light source disposed within a patient's body to be easily moved to a treatment site and maintained at that position. Further, once the light therapy has been completed, it would be desirable to enable the light source to be readily removed from the patient's body, preferably without the need for invasive surgery. The self-energized light source should also preferably be sealed to minimize any risk of exposure of the patient to components of the system used to administer the therapy that might be toxic and to protect the light delivery system from damage due to exposure to bodily fluids.

Radionuclide excited phosphorescent material for administering PDT


A computerized system/network includes a central control unit which communicates with a player control unit operated by players or clients who wish to participate in or play a game of chance held in a region geographically remote for the player/client. The central control unit communicates with agent control units geographically located in the region where the game of chance to be participated in is played. Communication between the central control unit and player control unit is isolated from the agent control unit. Selected game play data is transmitted between the central control unit and the agent control unit. An agent located on-site where the game of chance is to be played purchases, holds and collects units of participation ordered by the central control unit, on order of the player/client. Game purchase funds and game winning funds are transferred between the central control unit and the agent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer networks and systems and is essentially an electronic bulletin board or electronic trading system that advertises relevant data related to continuous offerings of subscription rights to `Games of Chance.` The system does not solicit advice; offer guarantees; or intermediation between subscriber/purchaser and issuer or offerer.
At the present time some of the states of the United States of America; other authorized operators and countries foreign to the United States, issue or offer subscription or purchasing rights in the form of a complete Unit of Participation for each outstanding class of `games of chance.`
The owner of record of one complete Unit of Participation in any class owns one right to a `future claim` which when exercised on or within a prescribed expiration period after expiration of each class leads to a financial claim.
For the most part, these offerings are designed to enable public participation in any or all classes of offerings. Participation in any game of chance offered by a particular state in the U.S.; or other authorized operators; or in countries foreign to the U.S., can only be made within the state; or within the location where such offerings are available; or in the country foreign to the U.S. The offering of each class of Unit of Participation is closely supervised, so that the right to own one complete Unit of Participation in any class of offering is not available outside the state; or the location of the authorized operator; or the country that is foreign to the U.S.
This means that an individual or resident of California, who wishes to subscribe or purchase into any class of offering by the State of New York, or Florida, or any other authorized operator, or a country that is foreign to the U.S. must be personally and physically present within the State of New York or the State of Florida; or personally and physically present within the premises where these offerings are legitimately available; or in the country that is foreign to the U.S.; or alternatively establish private arrangements to be represented as a subscriber or purchaser. This of course has its drawbacks. Another problem with participating in any or all classes of offerings is that an owner or record of a complete `right` leading to a `future claim`, must, for the most part furnish adequate proof that he or she is the beneficial owner of record of each complete Unit of Participation when submitting a `right to claim` to the Issuer. A misplaced or lost Unit of Participation, which is only issued as a Bearer Certificate, could mean the loss of all rights to claim and thus the total loss of prize money. The inability of being able to be physically and personally present to subscribe or purchase into other classes of offerings of `games of chance` is equally financially unrewarding.

Computerized network for subscribing/purchasing into games of chance


A system and method for satellite based controlled ALOHA is provided. The system and method configure VSATs so that they accept guidance from a centralized and/or distributed system controller to determine when, where, and/or on what portion of a satellite resource to attempt to access a channel. The system and method take advantage of traffic patterns to maximize efficiency by utilizing a centralized and/or distributed control to determine which VSATs are and are not currently active, and to allocate to a portion of the inbound channel to the active VSATs and a portion of the inbound channel to the inactive VSATs. In a distributed approach, each VSAT decides for itself whether it captures a certain part of the inbound resource or not. This decision can be made based on previous transmissions that went through the part of the inbound intended to be captured.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of satellite multi-access control mechanisms and, more particularly, to apparatuses and techniques for controlling random access to satellite communication networks.
2. Description of Related Art
Various types of multiple access schemes are known to allow multiple users to utilize satellite communication system resources.
A substantial improvement to the basic ALOHA system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,782('782 patent) having a common assignee as the present application. Other variants of the ALOHA scheme include U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,900 ('900 Patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,631 ('631 patent) to Spacenet, a subsidiary of the present assignee.
Coordinating the data transfer from the hub to the VSATs (outbound) is relatively simple because the hub is a unique source of information. However, coordinating the data transfer from the VSATs to the hub (inbound) is significantly more complex particularly where there are thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of terminals vying to access the same satellite resources in a non-synchronized manner. There is a need for a satellite network to connect a very large numbers of very small aperture terminals (VSATs) and one or more central stations (hubs) via a two directional communication satellite link. Current schemes are limited in their performance. In particular, the maximal utilization under a given response time constraint is limited. Thus, there is a need for a system and method for a multiple access scheme which allows a very large number of remote stations with infrequent bursts of data to communicate over a shared VSAT channel in a more efficient way than currently known multiple access schemes provide. Further, the system needs to be inexpensive so that it may deployed in a mass market bringing the benefits of VSAT technology to the average consumer.

System and method for satellite based controlled ALOHA


A camera assembly is disclosed which may be implemented on a mail processing system for photographing flats mail items. In one embodiment, the assembly includes lighting components (e.g., light emitting diodes) which are capable of projecting light toward a mail item in a viewing station at a specific angle, which angle may be adjusted to reduce the amount of specular reflection from an item toward a camera. The lighting components may reside in a nose unit which may be easily attached to and detached from the housing for ease of maintenance. The nose unit may be attachable to the housing in a manner which seals the camera and lighting components off from the operating environment, such that airborne dust and debris does not enter the housing or nose unit and damage the camera or lighting components.

Line scan cameras have been implemented in numerous industrial and commercial settings, such as on high-speed mail sorting systems. In one exemplary implementation, a line scan camera may be fixed in a stationary position and mail items may be conveyed to a viewing station within the camera's field of view via a conveyor path. As the mail items reach the viewing station, they may be scanned or photographed by the camera. Image data captured by the camera may be decoded or otherwise processed by a signal processing circuit.
Often, line scan cameras are implemented on mail sorting systems as part of a camera assembly. For example, many line scan cameras reside in a housing which protects the camera's components from the operating environment. The camera assembly may, for example, define an aperture which provides the camera with a field of view toward mail items on the conveyor path. In addition, because many line scan cameras require a mail item to be illuminated with relatively bright light to capture an accurate image, the camera assembly may include lighting components, such as fluorescent, halogen or sodium vapor lamps, to illuminate an item in the viewing station. Further, many camera assemblies include components to aerate and/or cool the assembly, since lighting and/or image capture components may produce sufficient heat to reduce the useful life of other components inside the housing.
Some conventional line scan cameras employ a charge-coupled device (CCD), which is a device comprising an array of photosensitive elements that produces image data in the form of an array of pixels. The CCD typically provides this image data to a signal processing circuit for decoding and processing. The signal processing circuit may reside in a computer external to the camera assembly.

Low maintenance flat mail line scan camera system


In the present invention, information is analyzed, the positional relationship of cells/microbes in the optical axis direction is detected, and motility of cells/microbes is evaluated even in an out-of-focus view from an image obtained by a single image capture in an observation view of the cells/microbes. The present invention is provided with an optical system used to measure microparticles present in a sample liquid in a sample container, a drive mechanism for driving the sample container and/or a portion of the optical system in order to three-dimensionally search a bottom surface of the sample container, a control unit for controlling the optical system or the drive mechanism, an image processing unit for dividing an image of microparticles in the sample container at a first time and a second time into an in-focus region and an out-of-focus region and acquiring information relating to the microparticles, and a display unit for displaying the information relating to the microparticles as information representing a temporal change between the first time and the second time.

In the relate art, a measurement of an activity of a drug solution in a microorganism, cells/microbes, or the like are extensively developed in a research or clinic place in a pharmaceutical field. As a method of measuring a state of the cells/microbes in the liquid, there are mainly provided a light scattering method of analyzing the scattering of the light, and an imaging method of capturing an image by using a microscope or the like. In the light scattering method, the size or the number of particles having a relatively high concentration can be measured simply. The light scattering method is a method of measuring a scattering intensity of the light incident on a sample liquid in which the cells/microbes are suspended. The scattering intensity has a relation with the volume or the number of the cells/microbes, and is generally used as a method of inspecting the activity of the drug solution. For example, the light is radiated on the liquid in which the microbes are included, and the incident light is scattered by the microbes. The attenuation of the transmitted light is measured. Accordingly, the proliferative state of the microbes is measured. In addition, the imaging method of measuring the shape of the cells with the microscope observation as well as the volume or the number of the cells is recently used extensively. The inspection of the activity of the drug solution with respect to the cells is considered to be essential to clarify the property or the like of hepatic cells which are taken as important as a canceration mechanism or a regenerative drug solution realizing tool.
An optical microscope observation, a fluorescence microscope observation, and the like are known as a method of observing the state of the cells by imaging. Most general and simple method is the optical microscope. However, there is a case where the cells are transparent and the shape of the cells is recognized hardly. A method of observing the transparent cells by the observation method to apprehend the change of the refractive index (referred to as a phase difference observation method) is used as a method of observing the cells by an optical microscope. Compared to the typical optical microscope, the fluorescence microscope can recognize the cells with a high sensitivity by dyeing the cells with the fluorescent material. Since the fluorescence microscope necessarily dyes the cells with the fluorescent material, the cells itself as an observation target cannot be observed in some case. In addition, there is a risk that a molecule or a protein introduced as a fluorescent material affects the activity of the biomolecule. When the activity of the drug solution is inspected, it is necessary to observe the original state of the cells.
In the inspection of the activity of the drug solution with respect to the microbes, a device (sensitivity inspection device) is provided which inspects the effect of the antimicrobial on the microbes, that is, whether the proliferation of the microbes is suppressed by an antimicrobial agent. In the sensitivity inspection device, the number of the microbes is counted by using the light scattering method. As described above, the imaging method is used as a method to count the number of the microbes in addition to the light scattering method. The proliferation process of one bacterium is observed by the microscope observation. The microbes include microbes having taxis (for example, colon bacillus), and the change of taxis due to the antimicrobial agent can be apprehended by the imaging method. The moving image is generally acquired in order to inspect the taxis, that is, the motility. For example, as for a pulsating myocardial cell, a device is proposed which detects the effect of the drug solution on the motility (see PTL 1).
In some cases, the cells/microbes are moved to be deviated from the focal plane, so as to be positioned on the front side or the rear side of an objective lens. Although it is determined that the cells/microbes are positioned on the front side or the rear side, the motility of the cells/microbes can be evaluated. There is a device which determines whether the cells adhere to the focal plane such as the bottom surface of the sample container or are deviated from the bottom surface. It is recognized whether the cells are in the image, and it is determined whether each of the recognized cells adheres to the bottom surface of the sample container (see PTL 2).


An offshore well drilling system for drilling a subsea well is presented that includes a floating platform, a surface BOP stack, a riser, and a driveable environmental safe guard system. The safe guard system includes an upper wellhead connector, a lower wellhead connector, a blowout preventer with shearing blind rams, and a subsea pressure control system. The subsea pressure control system can be electric, hydraulic, acoustic, or ROV actuated. More importantly, the environmental safeguard system is moveable, and can be driven around using as ROV. The present invention provides swift disconnect and recovery for emergency situations. The subsea environmental safe guard system is also much lighter in weight than traditional subsea stacks.

Drilling and producing offshore oil and gas wells includes the use of offshore platforms for the exploitation of undersea petroleum and natural gas deposits. In deep water applications, floating platforms (such as spars, tension leg platforms, extended draft platforms, and semi-submersible platforms) are typically used. One type of offshore platform, a tension leg platform ("TLP"), is a vertically moored floating structure used for offshore oil and gas production. The TLP is permanently moored by groups of tethers, called a tension legs or tendons, which eliminate virtually all vertical motion of the TLP due to wind, waves, and currents. The tendons are maintained in tension at all times by ensuring net positive TLP buoyancy under all environmental conditions. The tendons stiffly restrain the TLP against vertical offset.
The offshore platforms typically support risers that extend from one or more wellheads or structures on the seabed to the platform on the sea surface. The risers connect the subsea well with the platform to protect the fluid integrity of the well and to provide a fluid conduit to and from the wellbore. During drilling operations, a drilling riser is used to maintain fluid integrity of the well. After drilling is completed, a production riser is installed.
As drilling rigs venture into ever increasing water depths and encounter new challenges, well control has become increasingly problematic. As costs of floating mobile offshore drilling units escalate, traditional time-intensive operations are constantly being re-evaluated in an effort to reduce overall non-drilling time, thereby increasing the drilling efficiency of the rig. With the economic pressures facing the oil industry today, it has become even more important to provide cost-effective alternatives to traditional drilling/well control methods.
Traditionally, offshore drilling is done either with a floating vessel, utilizing a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) stack, with full control and drilling riser systems or with a jackup or platform utilizing a surface BOP stack and controls. These methods could be viewed as safe and reliable, but not always the most cost effective. There are also concerns with other traditional control methods. For instance, another method utilizes a floating vessel with surface BOPs in place of subsea BOPs. High-pressure riser is run from the surface BOPs to the sea floor where it is cemented in place. This means that the rig is essentially cemented in place, allowing no practical means of disconnecting in the event of an emergency. Also, if anything damages the high-pressure riser while drilling, fluids in the riser escape to the environment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Offshore well system with a subsea pressure control system movable with a remotely operated vehicle


A system and method of determining a cell layout are disclosed. The method includes receiving a circuit design corresponding to a predetermined circuit design, the circuit design having a first set of cells and abutting adjacent cells in the first set of cells, the abutted cells having a first boundary pattern therebetween. The first boundary pattern is exchanged with a second boundary pattern based on a number or positions of signal wires in the first boundary pattern. A cell layout for use in a patterning process can then be determined, the cell layout including the second boundary pattern.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/790,182, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Integrated circuits (ICs) are created by patterning a substrate and materials deposited on the substrate or semiconductor wafer. The patterned features generally comprise devices and interconnections. Processes for creating an IC generally commence by a designer hierarchically defining functional components of a circuit using hardware description language. From this high-level functional description, a physical circuit implementation dataset is created describing cell-to-cell connectivity. Using this dataset, a layout file is created through a placing and routing process assigning logic cells to physical locations in the device layout and routing their respective interconnections. Component devices and interconnections of the IC are then constructed or processed layer by layer.
With a continuing desire to provide greater functionality in smaller packages and the evolution of system-on-chip and mixed-signal designs, IC feature geometries are being driven to smaller and smaller dimensions. One class of technologies used to enhance feature density is referred to as multiple patterning and/or double patterning There are several types of double patterning in use, including: litho-etch -litho-etch (LELE); litho-freeze-litho-etch (LFLE); self-aligned double patterning (SADP), also known as spacer-assisted double patterning, or sidewall image transfer (SIT). Such techniques can be used to enhance feature density; however, there are limitations to these techniques.

Cell boundaries for self aligned multiple patterning abutments

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


An update method includes acquiring a list of plural pieces of content selected from a library including plural pieces of content, selecting, from the list, first content to be deleted from the list, selecting, from the library, second content to be interchanged with the first content based on details of the list, and interchanging the first content with the second content in the list.

A reproducing apparatus that reproduces content of music data or the like is known. In association with increase in the capacity of a storage and development of cloud computing techniques, it is possible to reproduce an enormous number of pieces of content in this kind of reproducing apparatus. In reproduction of content, a list of pieces of content selected by a user (so-called playlist) is often used. The user creates a list of user's favorite pieces of content from pieces of content that can be reproduced. The reproducing apparatus reproduces content registered in this list. For example, in PTL 1, a technique of automatically creating a playlist suitable for user's preference is described.


Flexible microsurgical instruments incorporating a sheath having tactile and visual position indicators are disclosed. A flexible lubricous sheath which covers at least a distal portion of the flexible coil of the instrument is provided with either contrasting colored stripes or palpable ridges, or both, which are located a predetermined distance from the distal end of the instrument. When the coil is removed from an endoscope, the practitioner or the assistant observes the coil as it is withdrawn and notices the appearance of the stripes as an indication that the distal end of the instrument is not far away. Upon observing the stripes, the practitioner or the assistant may then slowly remove the remainder of the coil to avoid whipping the distal end as it exits the endoscope. Alternatively, the practitioner or assistant may grasp the coil between a thumb and fingers to feel for the palpable ridges as the coil is withdrawn from the endoscope or feel for vibration of the coil as the textured portion exits the endoscope. Preferred aspects of the invention include: covering the entire flexible coil with the sheath, locating the indicator(s) approximately eight to ten inches from the distal end of the instrument, applying the tactile indicator by hot stamping the sheath and applying the visual indicator with pigment bearing polymeric based tape.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flexible microsurgical instruments. More particularly, the invention relates to a sheath which covers the flexible coil of a flexible microsurgical instrument and which has a tactile and a visual position indicator.
2. State of the Art
Flexible microsurgical instruments, in particular endoscopic biopsy forceps, are used for taking tissue samples from the human body for analysis. These instruments typically have a long (e.g. 8 feet) flexible coil containing one or more control wires coupled to a proximal actuating handle. The actuating handle moves the control wires relative to the coil to effect a tissue sampling operation at the distal end of the coil. A pair of forceps jaws are mounted on a clevis at the distal end of the coil. The forceps jaws are coupled to the control wires so that movement of the control wires causes the jaws to open and close to bite a tissue sample.
The endoscopic biopsy procedure is accomplished through an endoscope which is inserted into a body and guided by manipulation to the biopsy site. The endoscope typically includes a long narrow flexible tube with an optical lens and a narrow lumen for receiving a biopsy forceps. The practitioner guides the endoscope to the biopsy site while looking through the optical lens and inserts the biopsy forceps through the lumen of the endoscope to the biopsy site. While viewing the biopsy site through the optical lens of the endoscope, the practitioner manipulates the actuating handle to effect a tissue sampling operation at the distal end of the instrument. After a sample has been obtained, the practitioner and/or an assistant carefully withdraws the instrument from the endoscope while holding the actuating handle to maintain the jaws in a closed position lest the sample be lost inside the endoscope. The flexible coil of the instrument is "springy" and subject to a whip-like behavior as the jaws of the instrument are withdrawn from the endoscope. If the coil is withdrawn from the endoscope too quickly, the jaws of the instrument will be whipped through the air as they exit the endoscope and result in the possible loss or contamination of the biopsy sample. Therefore, the practitioner and/or the assistant must be very careful in withdrawing the flexible coil of the instrument to be aware of when the jaws will exit the endoscope.


The present invention relates a vascular prosthesis for a blood vessel of a patient, which has the following: a hollow-cylindrical main body with a main lumen extending therein, an also a multiplicity of stent rings, which are not connected to one another, are arranged spaced apart one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the vascular prosthesis and running around in a meandering formation. The vascular prosthesis also has four side branches, which extend distally into the main lumen from fenestrations in the prosthesis material lying between the stent rings.

The present invention relates to a branched vascular prosthesis for a blood vessel of a patient.
It is generally known for intraluminal vascular prostheses or implants, also referred to as endovascular stents or stent grafts, to be used for treating weakened, damaged or torn vessels or aneurysms. For this purpose, a vascular implant or a stent graft is released at the diseased or damaged site of the vessel and restores the functionality of the original vessel or supports the still existing integrity of the vessel.
An aneurysm is understood here as a widening or bulging of an arterial blood vessel as a consequence of congenital or acquired lesions of the wall. The bulge in this case can affect the vessel wall as a whole or, in what is called a false aneurysm or dissection, blood flows from the lumen of the vessel in between the layers of the vessel wall and tears these apart from one another. Non-treatment of an aneurysm may lead in the advanced stage to a rupture of the artery, after which the patient suffers internal bleeding. The cause of a thoracic and thoracicoabdominal aortic aneurysm may be arterial sclerosis, high blood pressure and inflammation processes of the vessel wall. Injuries of the thorax due to serious accidents may also lead to acute or chronic aortic aneurysms.
The self-expanding vascular prostheses used for the treatment of aneurysms generally consist of a hollow-cylindrical metal framework of which the lateral surface is covered by a textile or polymer film, such that a hollow-cylindrical body is obtained. For implantation, the vascular implant is radially compressed, such that its cross-sectional area is greatly reduced. With the aid of an insertion system, the vascular implant is then brought into the area of the aneurysm, where it is released. By virtue of the resilience of the metal framework, the vascular implant expands again to its original shape and in so doing stretches its lateral surface, which lodges inside the blood vessel proximally and distally in relation to the aneurysm. In this way, the blood now flows through the vascular implant, and further loading of the bulge is prevented.
The metal framework of such vascular implants generally consists for example of a wire mesh or of so-called stent springs, which are arranged one behind the other, running around in a meandering formation, and if appropriate are connected to one another by connecting struts made of wire, or which are merely connected to one another via the material of the implant. The wire mesh or the stent springs are usually made of a shape-memory material, generally of Nitinol, as a result of which, after insertion into a vessel for release, the stent springs return to the expanded state and thus "open up" the vascular implant.
Aneurysms often occur in the area of the abdominal aorta (Aorta abdominalis) or thoracic aorta (Aorta thoracica), it being possible for a thoracic aneurysm to occur in what is called the ascending branch of the aorta (Aorta ascendens), in the aortic arch and/or in the descending branch of the aorta.
In the case of thoracicoabdominal aortic aneurysms, the aneurysm does not just remain confined to a limited part of the principal artery but is located both in the chest cavity, that is to say the thorax, and in the abdominal cavity (abdomen).
Thoracicoabdominal aorta aneurysm is a very complex disease and difficult to treat. Before the aortic stent became established, it was almost always necessary to open both the thorax and the abdominal cavity. Today it is alternatively possible in the course of hybrid operations for opening of the abdominal cavity to be performed in combination with an aortic stent, or for a total endovascular treatment of thoracicoabdominal aortic aneurysms to be performed.
In the case of thoracicoabdominal aortic aneurysms, the situation is almost always made more difficult by the fact that arteries of all the major organs (arteries of the intestines, Truncus coeliacus, arteries of the kidneys) are affected during the reparation and have to be reconstructed in some form or other. The therapy for a thoracicoabdominal aneurysm is therefore difficult, involves complications and is often carried out by special centers.
The vascular prostheses used in the therapy must meet many requirements, in particular with regard to the size, length and morphology of the aneurysm and native aorta to be bridged; the permeability of the segmental arteries in this area, the coexistence of other aneurysms and the diameter of the iliac and femoral vessels also play a great role.
As before, there is therefore still a great need for stent/stent graft systems, or vascular prostheses, with the aid of which the intervention described above could be made easier and reduced in time.


A method and system for allowing a server blade in a blade chassis to use a remote universal serial bus (USB) device. Multiple USB devices are coupled to a management module in the blade chassis. A persona describing only authorized USB devices is sent to a reconfigurable input/output (I/O) device in the server blade in the blade chassis, allowing the server blade to utilize the remote USB device(s).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of computers, and in particular to multiple server blades housed in a server chassis. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for configuring an input/output processor on a server blade to allow multiple Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices to be connectible to the blade server.
2. Description of the Related Art
Server blade computers offer high-density server boards (blades) in a single server blade chassis (blade center chassis). A typical server blade computer is illustrated in FIG. 1, identified as server blade chassis 102. Server blade chassis 102 includes multiple hot-swappable server blades 104a-n. There are typically fourteen server blades 104 in server blade chassis 102. The operations of server blades 104 are coordinated by logic identified as management modules 108, each of which allocates jobs and data to the different server blades 104. Typically, a first management module 108a is designated as the primary management module, and a second management module 108b is a back-up to be used if the primary management module 108a should fail.
During configuration and set-up of server blades 104, server blade designers have to know which hardware devices they want installed on a blade planar. For example, when initially set up, server blade 104n was set up with a first USB port 110a coupled to a first USB device 112a, and a second USB port 110b coupled to a second USB device 112b. The USB devices 112 may be any USB compliant device, such as a CDROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) drive, a modem, a mouse, a keyboard, a hard or floppy drive (or their image), or an Ethernet. Space must be allocated on the planar (physical board on which devices making up the server blade 104 are mounted) for both the USB ports 110 as well as the USB devices 112, thus fixing the function of each server blade 104 (and its associated devices) at design time.
What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for allowing multiple USB devices to be on-the-fly configurable on a server blade without the need for additional hardware connection points or hardware devices. Preferably, the method and system would use a reconfigurable input/output (I/O) processor, on the server blade, wherein the reconfigurable I/O processor would allow a user to choose the function of the reconfigurable I/O processor based on functionality required, local and remote security levels, and/or locally available resources.

International Business Machines Corporation


A transportable container for bulk goods and a method for the container are disclosed. The transportable container is formed from a bag having a closed base and an open top. The open top is in a folded over position and a bottom support is located adjacent to the closed base. A particulate material is filled into the bag and an outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bottom support and the bag such that the outer wrap secures the bag to the bottom support and secures the open top in the folded over position. The method for forming the transportable container includes the steps of securing the open top of the bag in an opened position and supporting a base of the bag. The bag is filled to a predetermined level with a particulate material and while being filled the fill level of the particulate material in the bag is monitored. Simultaneously with filling of the bag, an outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bag in an upward direction to a predetermined fill level. Once the bag is completely filled the open top of the bag is released and moved into a folded over position whereupon the outer wrap is spirally wound around the bag in a downward direction to secure the open top in the folded over position thereby forming the transportable container.

This invention relates generally to a container for transporting bulk goods and, more particularly, to a transportable container comprising a flexible bag for receiving particulate fill material and a spirally wound overwrap for stabilizing the bag.
Typical containers utilized for transport of bulk particulate fill material are inefficient, do not have a very large volume, and often require a large amount of manual labor be used in filling and handling of the container. Also these containers are typically stacked on top of each other during handling and transport, because the containers are not stabilized, this results in damage to the material.
Johnstone et al. discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,530 method for packaging of irregularly shaped articles, flowable granules, or liquids comprising placing an open framework on a pallet to create a space. The space is filled with the material and then a stretch wrap film is wrapped around the material and the framework. Finally the framework is removed from the film.
Williamson discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,146 a container comprising a spirally wound film to form an inner container, this is surrounded by a middle layer of spirally wound polyester filament, which is in turn surrounded by an single outer wrap sheet. The ends of the inner container are closed with ties and a support sling is located between the middle and outer layers. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,507 Williamson discloses a two ply inner tube covered by an over wrap that is bonded to the inner tube. One end of the inner tube is folded and sealed to form a closed bag like structure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,599 Sanders discloses a method comprising dropping the materials into a container mounted to a conveyor, placing a continuous tubular thermoplastic netting around the container, sealing one end of the netting, then dropping the netting and material out of the container onto a second conveyor where the other end of the netting is sealed. The netting may subsequently be heated to form a firmer package.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,936 Dockstader et al. discloses a protective tray for use in forming a palletized load of stacked bags of particulate material. The protective tray comprises double wall corrugated cardboard or rigid plastic and in a preferred embodiment it is surrounded by a stretch wrap that encircles the protective tray and the bags.
Connolly discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,501 a system comprising wrapping a palletized load with a sheet of thermoplastic netting material. Finally, Humphrey discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,076 a system for wrapping a stabilizing overwrap around a load mounted on a pallet, which is placed on a rotating turntable. The overwrap has a width that is equal to the height of the load and with each rotation the overwrap undergoes successive increasing stages of tension and stretch.
The present invention provides a transportable container that is a space and cost savings alternative to other know containers. The transportable container of the present invention generates hoop forces on the particulate fill material that immobilize the material in the container, make the container rigid, and prevent the material from shifting during transport thereby preventing damage to the material. The hoop forces promote contact between the particles of the particulate material, thereby both stabilizing and compressing the material, such that the container of the present invention can hold up to three times the amount of particulate material as compared to a conventional tote. Further advantages include reduced contamination of the particulate material, reduced stacking damage, reduced spoiling, and reduced trapping of the material in the container. Finally, the present container allows easy identification of the contents because it is preferably formed from clear materials.
In one embodiment the present invention is a transportable container for bulk goods comprising: a bag having a closed base and an open top, the open top in a folded over position; a bottom support adjacent the closed base; a particulate material in the bag; and an outer wrap spirally wrapped around the bottom support and the bag, the outer wrap securing the bag to the bottom support and the open top in the folded over position.
In another embodiment the present invention is a method of forming a transportable container for bulk goods comprising the steps of securing an open top of a bag in an open position and supporting a base of the bag; filling the bag to a predetermined level with a particulate material; detecting a fill level of the particulate material in the bag; spirally wrapping an outer wrap around the bag in an upward direction up to the predetermined level; releasing the open top of the bag and moving it to a folded over position then spirally wrapping the outer wrap around the bag in a downward direction to secure the open top in the folded over position.
These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.

Transportable container for bulk goods and method for forming the container


An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a first substrate including a display area and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The OLED display also includes a sealing member surrounding the display area and attaching the first and second substrates to each other and a gold layer formed on the sealing member.

1. Field
The described technology generally relates to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Displays are used to provide visual information, such as images or video, to a user. These displays can be manufactured to have various different shapes.
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are self-emissive displays that emit light by electrically exciting an organic compound. OLED displays are receiving attention as next generation displays due to their favorable characteristics such as low driving voltages, their profile, wide viewing angles, and fast response speeds.

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and method for manufacturing the same