In conduction of light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4, a switching signal 101 is converted into a voltage V2 or 0V through a signal converter 26 in accordance with a logic level thereof. The voltage obtained by the conversion is compared with a voltage V1 on both ends of a resistor R1 through an operational amplifier 20 to open/close an output loop by an NMOS transistor 22, a current If of the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 is limited to a current If1 so as not to exceed a maximum current, and a current defined with an ON duty of the switching signal 101 is caused to flow as a mean current to the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 to inhibit an overshoot current from flowing to the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 while the output loop is closed.

Conventionally, a vehicle lighting device includes a semiconductor light emitting device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) used as a light source. In an ON operation of the LED, for example, a battery voltage is chopped and raised by using a DC/DC converter as a power supply. The raised voltage is rectified and smoothed, and the smoothed DC power is supplied to the LED. In this case, a shunt resistor is inserted together with the LED in an output loop of the DC/DC converter, a current of the LED is detected from a voltage on both ends of the shunt resistor, and feedback control is carried out so that the current flowing to the LED is constant in the DC/DC converter based on the detected current. In the case in which multiple LEDs are connected to each other in series, each of the LEDs can be turned ON to generate the same amount of light even if a forward voltage Vf of the LED varies when the feedback control is performed so that the current flowing to the LED is constant.
On the other hand, in some cases when the LED is used as a light source, the LED is such that the current is greatly changed even if the supply voltage is varied slightly and a ripple component is superposed on the current flowing to the LED in the same manner as in a rectifying diode. For this reason, a smoothing capacitor having a large capacitance is used in the DC/DC converter to suppress the ripple of the current.
Moreover, it is possible to control the ON operation of the LED using the DC/DC converter by reducing a current ("If") to be fed back, corresponding to the amount of a so-called extinction, when decreasing the amount of light emitted from the LED to carry out the extinction, for example. When changing the current to be fed back, corresponding to the amount of extinction, however, there is sometimes a problem in that a color shift is generated when the extinction is carried out to have a small light quantity of 10% with respect to a light quantity of 100% (a light quantity in a full ON operation obtained when a rated current is caused to flow to the LED), for example. More specifically, in an LED which emits white light through the supply of the rated current in the full ON operation, in some cases, when the current to be supplied to the LED is reduced in the extinction ON operation, a blue component in a luminescent color of the LED gradually is reduced and the LED emits a greenish color light.
Therefore, a method has been proposed in which a power circuit including a switching regulator. The method includes repeating control for supplying a rated current from the power circuit to the LED when a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal for giving a command of the extinction of the LED is OFF (LOW level), and stopping the supply of the current from the power circuit to the LED when the PWM signal is ON (HIGH level) in response to the PWM signal. See Japanese Patent Document JP-A-2006-86063, particularly pages 3 to 6 and FIG. 1.) According to this method, during the extinction ON operation, a mean current flowing to the LED is reduced and the light emission of the LED is less than that in the a full ON operation. When the current flows to the LED, however, the rated current flows so that a white chromaticity of the LED can be maintained.
To carry out the extinction by approximately 10% in a full ON state by using the DC/DC converter, the ON duty of a switching device provided in the DC/DC converter is not simply reduced, but the switching device is inserted in series with an LED in an output loop of the DC/DC converter, for example, and the ON duty of the switching signal for ON/OFF controlling the switching device is set to be 10%.
If the switching device is inserted in series with the LED in the output loop of the DC/DC converter and the ON-duty of the switching signal for ON/OFF controlling the switching device is set to be 10% so that the ON operation having 10% extinction is carried out, there is a concern that an overshoot might be generated on the current (If) flowing to the LED the moment the switching device transitions from OFF to ON. It also is possible that the LED may not function because a capacitor having a large capacitance is provided on the output side of the DC/DC converter.
Specifically, when the output of the DC/DC converter has no load, that is, the switching device connected in series to the LED transitions from ON to OFF, an output voltage of the DC/DC converter is raised rapidly. When the capacitor having a large capacitance is used on the output side of the DC/DC converter, a large amount of charge is applied to the LED. Thus, an overshoot current flowing to the LED is increased when the switching device connected in series to the LED transitions from ON to OFF and is then turned ON again.
Operation of the DC/DC converter can be stopped while the switching device is OFF to reduce the overshoot current flowing to the LED. However, there is a concern that the output voltage of the DC/DC converter might be reduced during the stop operation of the DC/DC converter and that the current might not flow to the LED with the reduction in the output voltage of the DC/DC converter when the switching device transitions from OFF to ON.
When switching devices are connected in parallel with some or all of the LEDs connected in series, any of the switching devices connected in parallel with any of the LEDs as a light out target is turned ON to bypass current flowing from the DC/DC converter through the switching device, thereby turning OFF the LED and turning OFF the switching device connected in parallel with the LED to serve as the light out target. The current thus flows from the DC/DC converter to the LED, thereby turning ON the LED. A load of the DC/DC converter fluctuates significantly every time the number of the LEDs to serves as the light out target is changed. Furthermore, operation of the DC/DC converter cannot be stopped as long as the LED to serve as the light out target is present. Moreover, the load fluctuates with respect to the DC/DC converter. As discussed above with respect to the former circuit structure, therefore, an overshoot current is generated when the switching device transitions from ON to OFF and is then turned ON again.
In view of the foregoing circuit structures, it is possible to propose reducing ON speeds of the switching device connected in series with the LED and the switching device connected in parallel with the LED. That is, a transient ON state gradually increases the current flowing to the LED when the overshoot current is to be suppressed. However, a period for which a sufficient current does not flow to the LED is generated when the switching device is turned ON/OFF in an ON duty of 10% in order to reduce the ON speed of the switching device, for example, and the actual amount of light is reduced to 5%, for example, even if the ON operation with extinction of 10% is to be carried out. As a result, there is a concern that a linear relationship between the ON duty and the amount of light of the extinction might not be maintained.

Light emitting apparatus with current limiting


A method of alnico alloy melting includes melting a charge, oxidizing refining of the melted charge, with the melting including introducing the charge into a flux that is heated try electrical current, maintaining a temperature of the flux in a range of 1500-1800xc2x0 C., and carrying out the oxidizing refining until an aluminum content reaches 0.05-1.0%.

This invention relates to metallurgy sphere, particularly to the methods of alloy melting, making use of high-alloyed waste as pieces and fine-dispersed particles containing large amount of non-metal component.
There is a well-known and widely used method by which the waste of ALNIKO alloy, including powder-like one of grinding process, that contains large quantity of a non-metal component is melted and oxidizing refined in an open furnace and then the melt is poured. After this the alloy obtained is melted in another installation followed by additional alloying up to definite composition. (Aba K. Kinzoku: 1977, v.47, No. 10, p.26-30). The main disadvantage of above method is the considerable loss of waste fine-dispersed component because. some amount of it turns as suspended matter to ambient of furnace open space in melting. This powder is irretrievably taken away by effluent gases. Another disadvantage of that method is the restriction related to the possibility of using the powder-like waste in charge (no more than 50%). These restrictions are caused by the difficulty of powder-like waste melting with electric arc.
An object of this invention is to increase the waste metal component and the percentage of possible using of the powder-like charge component through the maintaining the melting conditions at which the waste is remelted in liquid flux the base of present invention makes. With this the harmful non-metal component is bound with flux and the powder-like waste could be remelted practically unlimitedly.
To this aim the method of ALNIKO alloy melting, is proposed, including the charge melting followed by its oxidizing refining. In accordance with the invention the proposed method supposes the charge melting in the layer of flux heated by electric current passed through it. The metal component of powder-like waste is absorbed by flux and the suspended matter irretrievably taken away from the furnace atmosphere by effluent gases does not form. As a result the waste utilization coefficient increases. The liquid flux favors the melting of powder-like part of waste allowing to increase its percentage in charge.
Undesirable impurities (carbon, silicon, chromium etc.) are moved away when using the solid oxidizers (scale, ore etc.) and the gaseous oxygen in melting at the expense of oxidizing refining. With this the aluminium as the most easy oxidized element is also moved away. The quantity of the aluminium remainder in melt is an indication of oxidizing refining efficiency.
If starting charge is very soiled and full extraction of undesirable impurities is riot possible at this stage of melting then the melt is transferred into another installation xe2x80x94a mixer or an induction furnace xe2x80x94wherein the final oxidizing refining is carried out. Then the metal is additionally alloyed up to predetermined chemical composition in the same installation.
When the necessary melt purity is succeeded to attain at first stage of process then the melt is transferred into a mixer or into an induction furnace in order to average its chemical composition and there only additional alloying up to ALNIKO alloy composition is carried out.
The quantity of a non-metal component in the waste used for melting could not be less than 3% because this is the minimal level of soiling at which the oxidizing refining is necessary at all. On the other hand the quantity of a non-metal component should not be more than 60% because otherwise the electrical regime of melting is disturbed.
The oxidizing refining of melt up to remainder aluminium concentration not less than 0.05% is supposed in charge melting in the layer of liquid flux. At these concentrations of aluminium the degree of melt oxidation is sufficient for removing off all undesirable impurities to definite limits. If the content of remainder aluminium in melt is less than 0.05% then the melt will be superoxidized resulting in loss of the components when alloying. At the same time the amount of the remainder aluminium at this stage of melt refining should not be more than 1% because it would be difficult to carry out final refining in induction furnace due to fast growing over of crucible walls with aluminium oxides.
The melting has to be carried out at temperatures more not less than 1500 xc2x0 C. because otherwise the metal will not be melted. At the same time the temperature should not be higher than 1800xc2x0 C. because of intensive corrosion of crucible magnesite lining by melt.


AβN3pE-42 is a β amyloid protein that accumulates specifically as a major constituent of senile plaque in the brains of both sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease patients. The invention provides antibodies that specifically recognize AβN3pE-42 and can be expected to have a strong β amyloid-removing action. Particularly, humanized antibodies against AβN3pE-42 are useful to treat human neurodegenerative diseases. Further, since AβN3pE-42 is localized in the brain, the antibodies of the invention can avoid side effects such as kidney disorders caused by the formation of antigen-antibody complex in the blood. An agent for gene therapy using a vector in which a cDNA encoding a protein comprises the antigen-binding region of the antibody can be an efficient therapeutic drug for removing β amyloid from the brain.

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or senile dementia of Alzheimer type (characterized by the disturbance of memory) is the presence of characteristic lesions called senile plaques, which are observed from the earliest stage of the disease in the brains of Alzheimer patients. Senile plaques contain aggregates of amyloid β protein (amyloid beta-protein; Aβ) a protein having a 40-amino acid and a 42-amino acid form. The formation and accumulation of senile plaques is highly specific to Alzheimer's disease and precedes the neurofibrillary degeneration that is also characteristic of the disease. Thus, the plaques are assumed to be a leading cause of Alzheimer's disease. The accumulation of Aβ has also been observed in the brains of patients with Down's syndrome. Thus, the accumulation of Aβ has also been believed to be a major cause of the neurological symptoms of Down's syndrome. Because of this, suppressing the accumulation of Aβ has become of major interest as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
A recent report describes a method for suppressing the accumulation of Aβ using Aβ vaccination in a mouse model (Schenk et al., Nature 400:173–177, 1999). In this study, the authors aim at preventing the deposition of Aβ in the brain by inducing, via vaccination, a host immune response to Aβ.
In another report, transgenic mice overexpressing a gene encoding a mutated amyloid precursor protein (APP) showed deposition of Aβ in the brain with aging. However, immunization of the mice with Aβ1-42 at an early age (before the onset of Alzheimer-type neuropathologies) induced the production of antibodies against Aβ and prevented the development of Aβ-plaque formation. Immunization of older mice markedly decreased Aβ deposition in the brain and reduced the extent and progression of AD-like neuropathologies (Schenk et al., Nature 400:173–177, 1999). This suggests the possibility that antibodies produced in the body bind to Aβ and inhibit the formation of amyloid aggregates. The hypothesis is supported by the documented result that the direct peripheral administration of an anti-Aβ antibody also suppressed Aβ deposition in the brain (Bard et al., Nature Med. 6:916–919, 2000).
In addition, other reports describe the anti-AD effect of Aβ vaccines. For example, the inoculation of Aβ not only reduced the deposition of Aβ protein but also improved the impaired learning ability of APP mutant mice with aging (Janus et al., Nature 408:979–982, 2000; Morgan et al., Nature 408:982–985, 2000).
These findings provide supporting evidence for the idea that immunotherapy using Aβ protein as a target is useful as a method for treating AD and the like. However, Aβ protein is present in the serum as well as in AD brain lesions. Accordingly, an anti-Aβ antibody administered to a patient may react to Aβ protein in serum, forming immune complexes. Such immune complexes may potentially lead to kidney disorders. In other words, kidney disorders may be potential side effects of immunotherapy using Aβ protein as a target.
There are two types of Aβ proteins, Aβ42 and Aβ40. Aβ42 is a 42-amino acid protein whose sequence is DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKLVFFAEDVGSNKGAIIGLMVGGVVIA (SEQ ID NO:1). Aβ40 is a truncated Aβ protein lacking the last two amino acid residues of Aβ42 at the C-terminal end. Truncation is achieved by digestion with secretase γ. Aβ42 is inclined to aggregate more easily than Aβ40. Thus, Aβ42 is assumed to play an important role in the accumulation of Aβ.
AβN3pE-42 is a particular species of Aβ42 which lacks the first two amino acid residues at the N-terminus of Aβ42 and has a pyroglutamate which has been converted from the glutamic acid (E) at the third amino acid position. AβN3pE-42 is a major protein constituent of senile plaque, and accumulates from early stages of Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease (Saido et al., Neuron 14: 457–466, 1995; Harigaya et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com. 276: 422–427, 2000). A glutamic acid (E) is pyroglutamylated to a pyroglutamate residue (pyroglutamyl formation). Recent studies have showed that AβN3pE-42 comprises nearly 50% of Aβ protein accumulating in brain tissues. The amino acid sequence containing a pyroglutamylated glutamic acid residue at the third amino acid position exhibits a longer half-life in the brain. Thus, the protein containing the pyroglutamylated amino acid is presumed to remain in the brain for a long period. These facts indicate that ensuring the removal of AβN3pE-42 is a therapeutically important challenge.

Amyloid beta-protein 3(pE)-42 antibodies and uses thereof


Disclosed are an apparatus and method for simultaneously biaxially stretching a film (e.g., a continuous web of film). The apparatus includes upper and lower rails, for guiding a pair of endless links that each has link units for grasping side edges of the film. The endless links have upper and bottom rollers for being guided by (e.g., rolling on) the rails. The upper and bottom rollers are guided respectively by the upper and lower rails in different zones of the apparatus, the endless links being lifted and guided by the upper rail in one zone and being supported and guided by the lower rail in another zone. Since rolling, rather than sliding, friction occurs during movement of the endless links, amount of lubricant needed is decreased and dirt in the system due to large amounts of lubricant used, can be reduced. In response to a change of direction of movement of the endless link, the upper and bottom rails are sheared, so the upper and lower rollers can travel in the direction of movement; as a result, stabilized high-speed travel is possible, and bearing life can be extended.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for stretching a film simultaneously in two (biaxial) directions (e.g., both the film travel direction and the film width direction).
In Japanese Laid-open patent No. 4 - 12957, one guiding mechanism for a simultaneous biaxial stretching machine for a film is disclosed. The guiding mechanism is composed of a roll bearing that rolls between vertical side walls of a guidance groove and a thrust bearing which receives a link weight for sliding on a bottom surface in the guidance groove.
Another example of a guiding mechanism for a width stretching machine is disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model No. 1987 - 147520. The disclosed structure has a roll bearing that travels along a guidance rail while receiving its own weight and a roll bearing that guides along the guidance rail.
In the above disclosure, because the weight of a whole link is large, running friction or sliding friction caused by supporting the weight of the link in the operation mode is also large. It is difficult to drive the link at high speed travel. In addition, there is a problem of scattering lubricant to the film, which is a cause of dirt, because of the necessity of applying a lubricant to the slide part.
A complex structure is required in order to combine the roll bearing used in the width stretching machine into the simultaneous biaxial stretching machine. However, it is actually difficult to adopt it, since a thrust load which acts on the roll bearing shortens the life of the roll bearing and a rail.

Simultaneous biaxial stretching apparatus and method


A method for recognition of the synchronization position and the end of the synchronization operation in an automated shiftable transmission with an electromotive shift actuator is disclosed, which is characterized in that the rotational speed of the shift actuator is detected and the synchronization position, as well as the end of the synchronized operation, is determine based upon the change of the rotational speed.

Shiftable transmissions for motor vehicles have long been known in many different forms. In the past, a shiftable transmission was primarily understood to be a manually-shiftable transmission, in which the driver of a motor vehicle equipped with this type of shiftable transmission selects the shift path and performs the gear shift operation by hand via a shift lever. In addition to these manually-shiftable transmissions, it has also been known in the meantime to use automated shiftable transmissions when the operation of selecting and shifting the selected gear stage is executed, for example, according to programmed control by actuators provided in the shiftable transmission.
During operation, an automated shiftable transmission of this kind is subjected to normal wear and tear on its component parts, e.g., the synchronizing means, which wear and tear can lead to displacement of the middle synchronization position. The middle synchronization position is defined herein as a mean position value during the synchronization operation. The blocking position of the synchronizing means can vary somewhat from shift operation to shift operation, because the shift sleeve can engage in the synchronizer ring differently and unpredictably from shift operation to shift operation.
However, accurate knowledge of the synchronization position is important, as the synchronization position should be quickly reached by the shift actuator in order to shorten the shift time. In addition, the shift actuator should also quickly arrive at its end position (i.e., the gear engaged position) at the end of the synchronization operation.
When the shift actuator reaches the synchronization position, the synchronizing means exerts a blocking effect on the shift actuator as a result of the synchronization operation, which leads to an increase in the load current of the actuators. It has already been known to detect the start of the synchronization by this increase in the load current.
However, detecting the load current is comparatively complicated and expensive and furthermore, can only produce a result with regard to a change of the synchronization position within the bounds of a continuous determination of the actuator position, as the position of the actuator when the load current increases must be known.

Method for the recognition of the synchronization position and the end of the synchronization operation of an automated shiftable transmission

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


Organic optoelectronic devices, such as a modulator (54) and a photodetector (73) comprising alternating layers (58) of two crystalline planar organic aromatic semiconductors (60 and 62), have been grown by organic molecular beam deposition. These organic substances have been deposited in ultra-thin layers only 10 .ANG. in depth using organic molecular beam deposition methods. Due to the anisotropic character of these organic materials,, the devices formed using these methods possess unique electronic and optical properties. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) and 3,4,7,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTCDA). While the inventors have identified PTCDA and NTCDA as excellent materials for the manufacture of organic optoelectronic IC devices, the broad scope of the present invention encompasses the use of any planar organic aromatic semiconductor which readily forms a crystalline structure. The preferred method of the invention employs a chamber (23) containing an inorganic substrate (32) with appropriate material for making electrical contact to the organic structures and sources of PTCDA (36) and NTCDA (38). The chamber (23) is maintained at a pressure which is generally less than 10.sup. -6 Torr. The substrate (32) is separated from the source materials by a minimum separation distance of 10 cm. The substrate (32) is held below 150K while the PTCDA and NTCDA are alternately heated. The methods described above may also be employed to fabricate an organic phototransistor/photodetector (78).

Each year the electronics industry develops new techniques for fabricating integrated circuits (IC). The great majority of semiconductor devices currently in use employ silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, or other similar inorganic materials. Many new IC designs utilize extremely thin alternating layers of semiconductor material that measure only a few atoms or molecules in depth. The physical integrity of these "ultra-thin" strata depends upon the physical and chemical forces which hold together the crystalline structure of these materials. When atoms in these crystals are not properly aligned with their neighbors, the resulting "lattice mismatch" can produce mechanical strains that can create dislocations within the crystal. These defects can impair the ability of a crystalline layer to conduct electrons and holes, and so can destroy the usefulness of the semiconductor device in which it resides.
In recent years, many researchers have investigated the use of organic materials to manufacture integrated circuits. In contrast to inorganic materials, organic crystalline materials are held together by relatively weak van der Waals forces. This phenomenon binds the atoms and molecules in the organic crystal in a less rigid, and hence in a more forgiving, fashion than is the case in inorganic structures. As a consequence, organic crystals are less susceptible to the failures caused by mechanical strains that can be built in to the crystal during their fabrication.
One of greatest challenges confronting scientists and engineers in the integrated circuit industry is the development of organic crystalline materials that are suitable for the mass production of integrated circuits. Devices constructed from these organic materials would be highly valuable due to the unique optoelectronic properties offered by many organic substances. The perfection of fabrication methods for these organic integrated circuits would constitute a major technological advance in the IC business. The enhanced performance that could be achieved using these methods would satisfy a long felt need within the semiconductor industry.

Organic optoelectronic devices and methods


Ceramic foams in which the open cells are connected by a three-dimensional, substantially continuous ceramic matrix formed of interconnected hollow ligaments, are made from an open-cell, reticulated precursor metal, i.e. a metal foam. The precursor metal first is treated so as to allow a support coating to form thereon, and thereafter the coated precursor is heated above the melting point of the metal in the presence of an oxidant to form an oxidation reaction product.

Open-cell ceramic foams are commercially desirable for use in a variety of products including filters for molten metals, diesel particulate traps, catalytic converters for automotive exhaust treatment, heat exchangers, heating elements, thermal and electric insulators, etc. In addition to the outstanding high-temperature and chemical resistance afforded by the ceramic, and the benefit of the foam's high degree of porosity and large surface area for such products as filters and catalyst supports, the high strength-to-weight ratio achievable with ceramic foams is an attractive advantage in components for automobiles, aircraft, etc.
In the conventional manufacture of ceramic bodies, including ceramic foams, a number of process steps are required, e.g., grinding, sizing, consolidating, sintering, machining, etc. At each step, inhomogeneities and impurities can be introduced, which may have a deleterious effect on the end product. Another important criterion, which is not feasible with conventional processing, is the ability to manufacture such ceramic bodies in near-final configuration (near net shape), including intricate shapes.
As is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,363, granted Mar. 30, 1976, to M. J. Pryor et al., open-cell ceramic foams can be prepared from an open-cell, hydrophilic flexible organic foam material having a plurality of interconnected voids surrounded by a web of the foam material. The organic foam material is impregnated with an aqueous ceramic slurry so that the web is coated, and the voids are filled, with slurry. Then the slurry-impregnated material is compressed to expel 20-75% of the slurry, and the pressure thereafter is released so that the web remains coated with slurry. After drying, the material is heated, first to burn out the flexible organic foam and then to sinter the ceramic coating, thereby leaving a consolidated ceramic foam having a plurality of interconnected voids surrounded by a web of bonded or fused ceramic in the configuration of the precursor organic foam. With this organic-to-ceramic technique, it has been reported to be necessary to take steps to overcome problems of product non-uniformity caused by a non-uniform distribution of slurry resulting when the organic foam body is compressed by passage through rolls, by excessive handling of organic foam slabs, etc.
In a variation of the above-described process set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,888, granted Feb. 28, 1978, to G. Perugini et al., a metal, metal/ceramic, and/or ceramic coating is applied to a foamed polyurethane sponge via an electroconducting film (e.g., electroless nickel or copper plating) previously applied to the sponge. A galvanic coating is described as being applied over the electroconducting film, followed by a molten-spray coating of metal/ceramic or ceramic applied by means of a 10,000.degree.-15,000.degree. C. argon plasma flame. The final web is described as being hollow and multi-layered in structure and gradually changing from metallic on the inside to an external ceramic character. The molten-spray coating technique is stated to be applicable only to sponges no thicker than 12 mm if the spray can be applied on one face only, and no thicker than 25 mm if spraying can be applied to two opposite sides.
About ten years earlier, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,255,027 (granted Jun. 7, 1966, to H. Talsma), 3,473,938 (granted Oct. 21, 1969, to R. E. Oberlin), and 3,473,987 (granted Oct. 21, 1969, to D. M. Sowards) had disclosed a method of making thin-walled alumina-containing structures by firing, in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, thin aluminum sections (such as cans, tubes, boxes, arrays of tubes, honeycombs, etc., or crumpled forms, made from aluminum sheets or formed by extrusion methods), coated with an oxide of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, copper, silver, zinc, antimony, or bismuth, or precursor thereof as a fluxing agent, and, optionally, a particulate filler refractory. As applied to honeycomb structures, the process was reported to form double-walled sections of refractory having a sheet-like void near the center, said to have resulted from the migration of molten aluminum through fissures in the oxide film formed on the surface of the metal. Oberlin showed this structure to be weak, and described eliminating the double-walled structure by using a vanadium compound and a silicate fluxing agent in the process. Sowards pre-coated the structure with aluminum powder prior to firing, thereby producing the double-walled structure with thicker walls. Only aluminum template structures fabricated from sheets or formed by extrusion were contemplated.
As is stated by Talsma, the interconnected walls of a honeycomb define closed cells or channels longitudinally extending the entire length of the walls. The channels are aligned so as to be parallel to a single common axis, a structure which is less useful for certain purposes than that of open-cell foams, in which the cellular structure is three-dimensional. For example, the particulate collecting efficiency of a ceramic honeycomb filter disposed in an exhaust passage of a diesel engine has been reported to be low (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,540,535), and honeycomb catalyst supports have been reported as suffering from a relatively low geometric area and undesirably low turbulence (U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,834).
Co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 818,943, filed on Jan. 15, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,360, issued on Dec. 15, 1987, in the name of Newkirk et al., describes a generic process for producing ceramic products by the directed oxidation of molten precursor metal. In this process, an oxidation reaction product forms initially on the surface of a body of molten parent metal exposed to an oxidant, and then grows from that surface by transport of additional molten metal through the oxidation reaction product where it reacts with the oxidant. The process may be enhanced by the use of alloyed dopants such as in the case of an aluminum parent metal oxidized in air. This method was improved by the use of external dopants applied to the surface of the precursor metal as disclosed in co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 220,935, filed Jun. 23, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,352, issued on Aug. 1, 1989, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 822,999, filed Jan. 17, 1986, in the name of Newkirk et al. In this context, oxidation has been considered in its broadest sense, to mean one or more metals giving up electrons to, or sharing electrons with, another element or combination of elements to form a compound. Accordingly, the term "oxidant" denotes an electron acceptor or sharer.
In the process described in co-pending, co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 819,397, filed Jan. 17, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,375, issued on Jul. 25, 1989, to by Newkirk et al., ceramic composite products are produced by growing a ceramic product in a bed of filler material adjacent to a body of molten parent metal. The molten metal reacts with a gaseous oxidant, such as oxygen, which has been allowed to permeate the filler bed. The resultant oxidation reaction product, e.g. alumina, can grow into and through the mass of filler as molten parent metal is drawn continuously through fresh oxidation reaction product. The filler particles are embedded within the polycrystalline ceramic product comprising the oxidation reaction product interconnected in three dimensions.
Another co-pending, co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 823,542, filed Jan. 27, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,785, issued on May 9, 1989 to by Newkirk et al., describes a method of making ceramic composite articles, including tubes, by growing a ceramic product in a permeable bed of filler material which surrounds a mold or pattern of parent metal defining a shape to be inversely replicated as a cavity in the ceramic composite article. The metal mold (e.g., a shaped aluminum rod), embedded in the filler (e.g., a permeable mass of alumina or silicon carbide particles), becomes molten, and the molten parent metal reacts with an oxidant such as oxygen, which has been allowed to permeate the adjacent filler bed. The resultant oxidation reaction product, e.g. alumina, can grow into and through the mass of filler as molten parent metal is drawn through fresh oxidation reaction product. When the molten metal in the space originally occupied by the metal mold has been consumed, there remains a cavity that inversely replicates the shape or geometry of the original metal mold, with the cavity being surrounded by the resulting ceramic composite.
These oxidation reaction processes by directed oxidation provide a diversity of shaped ceramic articles, but heretofore have not been applied to producing rigid ceramic foams. Ceramic foams have a distinctive physical structure which imparts many beneficial properties and uses thereto. This structure is characterized by open cells or channels interconnected randomly in three dimensions, affording a high surface area per unit volume and high strength-to-weight ratio. Turbulent fluid flow results from these three-dimensional cellular structures, which can be advantageous in some applications, and is in contrast to the laminar flow in a honeycomb. A need exists for improvements in such products, and in methods of making them.

Method for producing ceramic composite foams


A printing device contains a first native print job control profile and one or more non-native print job control profiles. The printing device receives a print job containing print job commands and compares the print job commands with the first native job control profile. If all the print job commands correspond with command structures in the first job control profile, then the printing device uses the first native job control profile for interpreting print job commands. If the print job commands do not correspond with the command structures in the first native job control profile, then the printing device uses one of the second non-native control profile for interpreting the print job commands.

FIG. 1A shows how a document or image is printed according to a desired set of print requirements, such as number of copies, collation, paper selection, finishing, etc. A client 12 in one example may be a Personal Computer (PC). The client 12 is connected to a printing device 14. In order for the printing device 14 to correctly print a print job 16, a user must select options from a print requirement generation process in the client 12, such as a printer driver, that is compatible with the printing device 14. Alternatively, the default settings of the printing device 14 must be set to the print requirements for the print job 16.
A print requirement may be chosen for the print job 16 that is not compatible with the printing device 14 (e.g., mismatched printer drivers). For example, the print job 16 may include print requirements for a model A printer but the print job may be sent to a model B printer. In this situation the model B printer may generate undesirable results for the print job 16. To solve the problem the firmware in the model B printer would have to be replaced with model A printer firmware 18.
FIG. 1B shows an approach where the numbering for input tray print requirements is not hard-coded into the printing device 14. Instead, the printing device 14 has loadable input tray mapping tables. The mapping tables include a mapping table 20 for the native printing device model B and a mapping table 22 for a model A printing device. The printing device 14 can then be manually set to emulate the input tray numbering for the printing devices associated with mapping tables 20 or 22.
This method has several limitations. For example, the printer only handles remapping of input trays, more specifically, where input trays are specified by a number (e.g., PCL). The printer must also have a mapping for the replacement device and must know to use the replacement device mapping prior to receiving the print job.
Many standard organizations and manufacturers have been moving towards more uniform and compatible print job control language specifications with devices from other manufacturers, such as compatibility with Hewlett Packard's device implementations of the Printer Job Language (PJL).
One method to obtain such compatibility is for a manufacturer to replace their previous job control implementation with the more uniform cross-manufacturer implementation. But, the printer manufacturer would then lose backward compatibility with its own previous printer implementation.
Therefore, there is a need for providing compatibility with a more uniform cross-manufacturer implementation of a job control language, while maintaining backwards compatibility with previous implementations. Further, there is a need to automatically detect whether the print data stream conforms to the uniform cross-manufacturer or the manufacturer's own implementation without having to manually switch between printer implementations.

Method and apparatus for selecting job control device profiles


A starter for an engine includes a motor, a cylindrical tube, a one-way clutch, an output shaft, and a pinion gear. The motor generates a rotational force. A first bearing rotatably supports the tube. The tube includes a female helical spline on its inner surface. The clutch transfers a rotational force from the motor to the tube. The output shaft has first and second ends axially aligned with a shaft of the motor. The first end has a male helical spline that engages the female helical spline of the tube. A second bearing rotatably and slidably supports the second end of the output shaft. The pinion gear is disposed on the output shaft and is slidable to engage the output shaft and a ring gear on the engine. The output shaft has a straight spline engaging the pinion gear.

Japanese Patent document JP-H6-6-23742 Y2 discloses a conventional starter. This starter includes, as shown in FIG. 3, an output shaft 120 supported by a bearing 100 on a housing 110. The output shaft 120 is free to rotate and slide axially. A one-way clutch 140 transfers torque from a motor 130 to the output shaft 120. A pinion gear 150 is fit to the end of the output shaft 120 with a spline. The output shaft 120 of this starter is moved to the right in FIG. 3 by a shift lever 160 to engage a ring gear of an engine (not shown) through the pinion gear 150.
In the conventional art disclosed in the above document, the pinion gear 150 is attached to the end of the output shaft 120 that protrudes from the bearing 100 toward the outside of the housing 110 (opposite the clutch 140). In this structure, the one-way clutch 140 and the pinion gear 150 are both supported by the bearing 100. This results in an increased distance between the clutch 140 and the pinion gear 150. Furthermore, the axial distance between the end of the pinion gear 150 to the rear end of the motor 130 is increased. This makes it difficult to mount the starter to the engine because of possible interferences between the starter and the accessories and/or wires.
The output shaft 120 is only supported at one end based on the relative position of the bearing 100 and the pinion gear 150. This structure provides less strength compared to a structure having two bearings supporting both ends of the output shaft 120 such that the pinion gear 150 is located between the two bearings.
In view of the above-described problem, one object of the present invention is to provide a better way to mount the starter by decreasing its axial length between the edge of the pinion gear and the rear end of the motor and also reinforcing the output shaft.


Provided is a fluid detection device. The fluid detection device may be used to detect body fluids, for example, blood or urine. The fluid detection device includes a first conductive member on a first side of a non-conductive member which is fluid absorbent, and a second conductive member on a second side of the non-conductive member, wherein the first and second conductive members are arranged across a thickness of the non-conductive member. A voltage is applied across the two conducting members. When body fluid is absorbed by the non-conductive member, its resistance decreases so that measurable current flows between the conducting members and can be sensed and used for alarm or other purposes.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a fluid detection device and more particularly to a fluid detection device configured to detect body fluids on the surface of the body or outside the body
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern day medicine and everyday life, it is relatively common for patients to experience the involuntary loss of body fluids. Simple examples may be involuntary urination by children or adults (usually a non life threatening matter), and blood loss due to seepage through an incision, whether surgically created, or temporarily created for inserting a tube for dialysis (this loss of fluid can be life threatening). Several devices are available to monitor a patient's blood loss. These devices, however, may be difficult to manufacture and use, and consequently expensive. Thus, an improved and more economical blood leakage monitoring device is desired.


Systems and methods are provided for the design and implementation of experiments that facilitate the investigation of process data. The experiments involve recording the completion of a task by participants and then playing back the video of task completion to automatically probe participants about their affective, behavioral, and cognitive experiences. As a result of this system, information about affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes can be more easily investigated by researchers without computer programming knowledge. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods are also discussed.

Educational researchers use a variety of tools to better understand the processes involved in effective human learning, acquisition of new knowledge, retention of knowledge, and performance during knowledge-based or skills-based testing. Some of these tools involve observing a person during performance of a task. A researcher may be interested in assessing and evaluating affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes during the performance of the task. As part of such evaluation, the person performing the task may be asked to self-evaluate their thoughts, mood, and attitudes during the performance of the task. However, such self-evaluation may distract them from performing the task, and the resulting evaluation may be skewed because of such interruptions. One of the ways to remove such artifacts from the research results is to avoid interruptions during the performance of the task, and instead playback the video taken during the performance of the task after the completion of the task. The person who performed the task can then be asked about their recollection of their affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes during the performance of the task.
A full experiment may therefore involve a human subject performing a task, video recording that performance, playing back the recording with added questions about human subject's recollection of their state of mind during performance of the task. Setting up such an experiment requires careful balancing of multiple objectives under various limitations. Currently known processes for experimental setup are labor intensive and require strong expertise both in cognition and in computer engineering. For these reasons, the existing processes are expensive, long, and difficult to replicate.
Therefore, there is a need in the technical field for systems and methods of fast, inexpensive, and repeatable experimental setup for data collection of affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes used in educational and cognition research.

Affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes data collection


Improvements in a method to enhance eyelashes are disclosed. The method uses placement of multiple clusters along an eyelid. Because multiple flare lashes are used an installer can weave an alternating thread on opposing sides of the real lash and the false flair lashes. The thread is preferably thin and simulates the appearance of the human or false lash. The thread or hair is woven into the eyelash with a natural needle formed from horse, animal or human hair with a naturally tapering end and a slot cut or formed in the opposing end of the hair to accept thread. Glue is utilized to cement the real eyelashes to the false eyelashes and the thread or hair.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in application of false eyelashes. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of bonding a plurality of discreet cluster lashes to an eyelid and weaving a retaining thread(s) to the cluster lashes and eyelid.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
False eyelashes are embellished onto the existing lashes of a person to enhance or exaggerate the appearance of natural eyelashes. The placement of false eyelashes generally consists of an elongated strip of lashes that are bonded near or on existing eyelashes of a person. In other cases a single false eyelash structure is glued above existing eyelashes, or a series of segments of false eyelash structures are interspersed among the natural eyelashes of each eye. One major problem with these methods is that the false lashes can fall off either in a collective group or as single elements.
A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,831,801 was issued on Nov. 17, 1931 to M. A. Birk and discloses a Method for the Artificial Elongation of Eyelashes. This method bonds individual lashes onto existing individual lashes. The hairs are separated and single straight or curved hairs are glued to the individual hairs at the desired angle to produce the desired visual appearance. While this method produces extenuated lashes, the lashes can fall of individually.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,007 issued on Sep. 3, 1974 to Peggy S. Jacobs discloses Artificial Eyelashes. The artificial lashes are individual hair clusters that are placed and above, or below, existing lashes as individual hair clusters. While this patent discloses artificial lashes the lashes can fall off of the person and they are not collectively bonded to the eyelash or together.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,038 issued on Aug. 19, 1975 discloses a Method of Preparing and Placing Artificial Eyelashes. The artificial lashes are individual hair clusters that are trimmed and shaped prior to being placed and above, or below, existing lashes as groups of hair clusters. While this patent discloses artificial lashes the lashes can fall off of the person and they are not collectively bonded to the eyelash or together.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,218 issued on Feb. 14, 2012 to Quyen T. Nguyen discloses Interlocked V-Shaped Pointed Eyelashes. A plurality of lashes is set onto the eyelid and the overlapping hair of the flared strands is bonded. While this method bonds the expanded hairs the hairs are bonded at a mid-span of the hairs and are only bonded to the eyelid with the mounting portion of the flared strands.
What is needed is a method of bonding false eyelashes that weaves the false lashes with the existing eyelashes to provide a single joined eyelash that prevents the false lashes from separating from the real lashes in pieces or clumps. The proposed method disclosed in this document provides a solution to this problem.


The invention relates to composition comprising at least one modified alkyd binder, selected from a (meth)acrylate modified alkyd binder and a vinyl modified alkyd binder, wherein the (meth)acrylate modified alkyd and the vinyl modified alkyd binder comprise at least one —C(R100)=CH2 group, wherein R100 is hydrogen or methyl; and at least one metal complex comprising a metal or a metal salt of an organic acid or inorganic anion and at least one ligand, wherein the metal is selected from Fe and Mn, and wherein said at least one ligand is a nitrogen donor ligand, selected from the group comprising monodentate, bidentate, tridentate, tetradentate, pentadentate and hexadentate nitrogen donor ligands.

Alkyd resins are one of the most ubiquitous binders used for ambient-cure, solvent-based coatings. The mechanical and chemical resistance properties of traditional solvent-borne alkyd resins are developed via autooxidative crosslinking of the alkyd film. Alkyd resins can be prepared by the esterification or transesterification of polybasic organic acids or anhydrides, polyhydric alcohols and unsaturated fatty acids or the corresponding oils. The types and relative amounts of the alkyd components largely determine the physical properties of the paint or coating film which the resin forms. Crosslinking occurs when the activated methylene groups in the unsaturated fatty acids or oils of the alkyd are oxidized in air to the corresponding hydroperoxides which subsequently decompose to generate free radicals, thus resulting in an oxidative crosslinking process.
Because of the high molecular weight, the architectural structure and the presence of hydrogen bond forming and accepting functionalities, the intrinsic alkyd viscosity is relatively high and consequently cutting solvents are required to obtain a practical processing viscosity. Traditional liquid alkyd paints contain as much as 30 wt % or more of volatile organic solvent which is usually a hydrocarbon liquid such as white spirit, hydrogenated and low aromatic white spirit. Typically, volatile organic compounds (VOC's) have a boiling point of up to 250° C. measured at a pressure of 101.3 kPa. The environmental burden and the health problems caused by solvent emission impose the development of high solids or even solvent free coatings. The directory 2004/42/EG of the European Parliament sets limits to the maximum concentration of VOC's in categorized paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products. The regulatory restrictions have induced research towards new technologies directed at reducing VOC content of coating technologies in a variety of industries.
WO2008/101722 discloses grafted autoxidisable polyester resins showing low viscosities at relatively high average molecular weight, which are highly advantageous in high solid coating formulations. WO2009/062996 describes an autoxidisable coating composition comprising an autoxidisable alkyd resin and an autoxidisable material, wherein said components have a specific molecular weight distribution, which has favorable properties even for high average molecular weights. EP1608694 is related to a method for the preparation of high solids urethane alkyds. WO2007/074333 discloses a coating composition comprising an alkyd resin and a reactive diluent. The reactive diluent is obtained by reacting a polyunsaturated fatty acid with a dicarboxylic acid and a polyol. WO2007/113146 relates to a coating composition comprising an oxidatively drying binder and a reactive diluent. The diluent is an ester of a polyunsaturated alcohol, which can be selected from the group comprising geraniol, nerol, citronellol, and farnesol.
However, while the move to reduced organic solvent-based compositions brings health and safety benefits, these lower VOC coating compositions must still meet or exceed the performance standards expected from solvent-based compositions. Coating compositions with a low content of volatile organic compounds exhibit considerable shortcomings as low rate of drying at temperatures below 30° C., excessive brush drag, more sensitive to forming a film of a patterned appearance ('wrinkling'), less satisfactory yellowing resistance and impeded hardness development. Modifications have been made to alkyd resins in an attempt to address such concerns. Alkyd resins have been developed that next to autoxidative curing also may crosslink at ambient temperature by a second crosslinking mechanism. Such secondary curing mechanisms may be ensured by providing the autoxidisable alkyd resin with functional groups that may impart further crosslinking, resulting in an even faster drying process of the coating composition. The functional groups may be attached to the alkyd resin by means of any well-known reactions.
The oxidative crosslinking process is usually accelerated by adding driers. The most widely used driers are cobalt carboxylates because of their good drying performance at ambient temperature and coloristic properties. However, recent studies have shown that several cobalt carboxylates including cobalt octoate are considered as very toxic to aquatic organisms and there are indications that cobalt carboxylates may induce carcinogenic effects by inhalation as by analogy with the more water soluble inorganic salts such as cobalt sulfate and chloride. Hence there is an increasing demand for alternative, non-cobalt based driers.
None of the cobalt-free drier systems disclosed in the art has, however, reached or exceeded the performance of the conventional cobalt containing driers under conditions of low temperatures and regarding through hardening in coating compositions. There is still a need to provide cobalt-free alkyd resin systems having a markedly reduced solvent content or being solvent free and showing a similar or improved drying performance. However, the curing agents based on alternative complexes do not show a comparable drying activity to cobalt salts under conditions of low temperatures or do not show a comparable activity with regards to through hardening.
Thus, there exists a need to improve the drying performance of non-cobalt or low-cobalt coating compositions. Furthermore, there exists a need for coating compositions which provide faster drying properties than cobalt-comprising coating compositions. Furthermore, there exists a need for coating compositions which provide fast drying properties under adverse conditions, such as at low temperatures and in the dark.


A device having temperature evaluating capabilities, the device includes: (i) a temperature sensitive delay line that comprises multiple first type NMOS transistors and first type PMOS transistors; (ii) an configurable delay line that comprises second type NMOS transistors and second type PMOS transistors; wherein a process condition sensitivity of first type NMOS transistors and first type PMOS transistors substantially equals a process condition sensitivity of the second type NMOS transistors and second type PMOS transistors; wherein the configurable delay line is less sensitive to temperature than the temperature sensitive delay line; (iii) a phase detector, coupled to an output of the temperature sensitive delay line and to an output of the adjustable delay line, the phase detector is adapted to determine a difference between a delay introduced by the temperature sensitive delay line and a delay introduced by the adjustable delay line; and (iv) a controller, adapted to: (a) find a configuration of the configurable delay line that introduces a delay that substantially equals a delay introduced by the temperature sensitive delay line; and (b) determine a temperature of the temperature sensitive delay line in response to the found configuration.

Modern integrated circuits are expected to operate at very high frequencies and over a large range of temperatures. In order to be able to operate at very high frequencies these integrated circuits are manufactured by highly advanced manufacturing processes that are characterized by relatively significant process condition variations.
These process conditions as well as the temperatures of the device strongly effect the manner in which the integrated circuit acts.
Evaluating the temperature of the integrated circuit can be of use in various types of integrated circuits including but not limited to temperature sensors, temperature compensated circuits and the like.

Device and method for evaluating a temperature


To provide a method for producing a compound that enhances dispersibility of a pigment of respective colors in a water-insoluble solvent, as well as a pigment dispersant, and a pigment composition, a pigment dispersion and a toner having a good tinting power. A method for producing a compound, including the following:

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a compound having a colorant structure, suitable as a pigment dispersant, a pigment dispersant containing the compound, a pigment composition containing the pigment dispersant, and a pigment dispersion and a toner containing the pigment composition.
Description of the Related Art
A pigment having a small particle size generally tends to be strong in the aggregation force between pigment particles, and therefore, dispersing thereof in a medium such as an organic solvent and a molten resin is easily insufficient. A pigment, if being insufficient in dispersibility, has a reduced tinting power.
As a dispersant having a high dispersibility, a dispersant has been heretofore used in which a compound having a high affinity with a pigment is bound to a terminal of a polymer that imparts dispersibility in a medium. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-077297 discloses, in order to enhance dispersibility of a pigment in a toner, an example of use of a dispersant in which a colorant compound having a high affinity with a pigment is bound to a terminal of a polymer obtained by radical polymerization using a thiol type chain transfer agent, as well as a method for producing such a dispersant.
Thus, in order to enhance dispersibility of a pigment in a toner particle, various polymer dispersants in toners of respective colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, and production methods thereof have been proposed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-067285 discloses, in order to enhance dispersibility of an azo type pigment in a yellow toner, a dispersant having a compound having an azo backbone structure and a production method thereof.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-030760 discloses, in order to enhance dispersibility of a magenta pigment in a magenta toner, use of a specific polyester type dispersant.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H03-113462 discloses, in order to enhance dispersibility of a phthalocyanine pigment in a cyan toner, use of a polymer containing sodium styrene sulfonate as a monomer unit, as a dispersant.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-148927 discloses, in order to enhance dispersibility of carbon black in a black toner, use of a copolymer of a styrene type monomer and an acrylate type (or methacrylate type) monomer, as a dispersant.

Method for producing compound having colorant structure at main chain terminal of polymer, and pigment dispersant, pigment composition, pigment dispersion and toner containing compound obtained by the production method

Abstract: (i): subjecting a polymerizable monomer forming a monomer unit represented by formula (1) to radical polymerization in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator and an iodine molecule to provide a polymer; and

Abstract: (ii): binding a colorant to a terminal of a main chain of the polymer:

Abstract: whereinR1 represents a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group, andR2 represents a phenyl group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group or a carboxamide group.


A method for automated processing of deposit items at a computing device is described. A deposit item, such as case, a personal check, or certified check, is received at a computing device. The deposit item may represent a request to deposit funds of at least one monetary item into a user account, such as a checking or savings account. A computer associated with the computing device determines whether to hold the funds of the at least one monetary item from deposit into the user account. If it is determined to hold the funds, an amount of the funds to hold and a time period in which to hold the amount of funds may be determined.

People want convenience and automated teller machines (ATMs) have provided that convenience to people. People can utilize an ATM associated with their bank or with other banks provided they share a common network. People want access to their money as quickly as possible and ATMs provide such a service. If a person deposits a check from work into an ATM, the process for how long before the funds of a check are available is dictated by Title 12, Chapter 2, Part 229 of the U.S. Code. This statute commonly is referred to as Regulation CC. Regulation CC describes how long a financial entity, such as a bank, may place a hold on deposit items before making them available to a consumer.
The review and hold placement process for ATM deposits takes place in numerous ATM deposit services (ADS) sites which manually places holds on items based on fraud scrutiny and criteria. The process is a manually intensive procedure resulting in an inefficient process and at times is non-compliant with Regulation CC due to mistakes from a manual interpretation of a highly complex regulation. Liability Risk Management (LRM) establishes policies/business rules on which suspected fraudulent deposits should have a hold placed on them. Processing at an ADS unit may include in excess of 30 people of which 5 or more may be dedicated to the review and hold placement process.
The ADS unit processes the paper side of the ATM deposits by matching the deposited items with the ATM deposit automated processing (ADAP) system tickets that are generated from the customer's electronic ATM transaction. While the deposit transaction is electronically posted, the deposits are then scored and manually reviewed based on the depositing customer's risk score. This includes a check acceptability and negotiability review as well as fraud prevention. Then the ADAP ticket and the deposited items are processed through item processing for posting to a general ledger associated with a financial entity of the ATM.
Recent developments with image-enabled ATMs has resulted in fewer envelope-based deposits for the ADS sites to process. As the deposit process is transitioned to a Universal Landing Zone (ULZ) and associated systems, a hold review and placement process is still required. The ULZ performs data perfection processes to prepare image deposits for posting, balancing, codeline corrections, and image quality. Although image-enabled ATMs provide some additional expedited processing, the manual process associated with reviewing and hold placement processing still hinders financial entities and customers.
Gathered data has shown the error rate associated with manual holds to be approximately 15%. Considering the fact that liability for non-compliance with Regulation CC consists of up to $1,000 per transaction or $500,000 per class action suit, together with attorney's fees, an automated review and hold placement process is needed.


A piston assembly for a multi-disk system may comprise an adjustor sleeve and a piston configured to telescope relative to the adjustor sleeve. A puck may be located at an end of the piston. The piston assembly may include a multi-layer insulator. The multi-layer insulator may comprise a first insulator layer contacting the puck or the piston, and a second insulator layer contacting the first insulator layer. The first and second insulator layers may each comprise a solid disk.

Aircraft brake systems typically employ a series of friction disks, known collectively as a heat sink, that may be forced into contact with one another to stop the aircraft. The brake systems generally include one or more pistons configured to force the friction disks of the heat sink into contact with one another. During braking, heat may be transferred from the heat sink through the piston and into the brake fluid.


A slider lapping texture for implementation in a lapping environment. The slider lapping texture includes a lapping texture structure for utilization in a lapping process performed on a slider. The structure also includes a first surface having a base elevation. The structure further includes a second surface at an elevation higher than the base elevation. The second surface is for lapping the slider. The structure additionally includes an opening for expelling residue associated with a lapping process. The slider lapping texture is configured to generate an attractive force when the slider is motioned thereupon in a substantially unidirectional manner.

Direct access storage devices (DASD) have become part of everyday life, and as such, expectations and demands continually increase for greater speed for manipulating and for holding larger amounts of data. To meet these demands for increased performance, the mechano-electrical assembly in a DASD device, specifically the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) has evolved to meet these demands.
Advances in magnetic recording heads as well as the disk media have allowed more data to be stored on a disk's recording surface. The ability of an HDD to access this data quickly and reliably is the result of steady progress in the engineering disciplines of materials research, electrical engineering, computer science and servo-mechanics. Furthermore, the success of HDDs is highly dependent on sophisticated manufacturing techniques.
A computer storage system may include a magnetic hard disk(s) or drive(s) within an outer housing or base containing a spindle motor assembly having a central drive hub that rotates the disk. An actuator includes a plurality of parallel actuator arms in the form of a comb that is movably or pivotally mounted to the base about a pivot assembly. A controller is also mounted to the base for selectively moving the comb of arms relative to the disk.
Each actuator arm has extending from it at least one cantilevered electrical lead suspension. A magnetic read/write transducer or head is mounted on a slider and secured to a flexure that is flexibly mounted to each suspension. The read/write heads magnetically read data from and/or magnetically write data to the disk. The head gimbal assembly (HGA) incorporates the head and the slider, mounted on the suspension. The slider is usually bonded to the end of the suspension.
A suspension has a spring-like quality, which biases or presses the air-bearing surface of the slider against the disk to cause the slider to fly at a precise distance from the disk with a large stiffness normal to the disk. Movement of the actuator by the controller causes the head gimbal assemblies to move along radial arcs across tracks on the disk until the heads settle on their set target tracks. The head gimbal assemblies operate in and move in unison with one another or use multiple independent actuators wherein the arms can move independently of one another.
Besides increasing the number of bits per inch stored along a track, increasing the number of tracks per inch allows more data to be stored on the surface of the disk. The number of data tracks recorded on the surface of the disk is determined partly by how well, in the presence of mechanical and electrical disturbances, the read/write head on the slider can be positioned and made stable over a desired data track.

Lapping plate texture for increased control over actual lapping force

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A position detection device having a first electrode pair, an electrically conductive body that forms an electrical resistor which is electrically connected to the electrodes of the first electrode pair and extends in a first direction (y), between them, and with a measurement electrode which is in electrically conductive contact with the surface of a measurement area of the body located between the electrodes of the first electrode pair and can move relative thereto. The body is electrically connected to the electrodes of a second electrode pair and extends between them in a second direction (x) such that the measurement area is located between the electrodes of the second electrode pair.

To determine travel paths, Hall sensors, optical sensors and inductive systems are used. For example, DE 10 2007 008 155 A1 discloses a device for detecting relative movements of chassis components of a chassis, which comprises a signal emitter attached on a first chassis component and a signal receiver attached on a second chassis component that can move relative to the first chassis component, the signal receiver being designed such that the three-dimensional position of the signal emitter relative to the signal receiver can be determined. In this case the signal emitter comprises a magnet and the signal receiver a 3D Hall sensor.
The disadvantage of such a no-contact detection method is that its realization incurs considerable costs.


A post pulling attachment system which easily attaches and detaches from a bucket to aid in safely and efficiently removing a post from the ground. The post pulling attachment system generally includes an outer securing plate and an inner securing plate which are positioned on either side of a bucket. Each of the securing plates includes a plurality of corresponding apertures through which a pair of removal members are extended both to secure the present invention to the bucket and to aid in removing a post. When installed, the removal members will extend outwardly from the bucket in spaced-apart relationship. By positioning a post between the removal members, rotating the bucket to jam the post therein and then lifting the bucket, a post may safely and efficiently be removed from the ground without use of a chain.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a post pulling attachment and more specifically it relates to a post pulling attachment system which easily attaches and detaches from a bucket to aid in safely and efficiently removing a post from the ground.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Posts are often used in constructing fences and the like. Due to the posts' effect on the structural integrity of a supported system (such as a fence), it is extremely important that such installed posts be firmly and securely anchored in the ground. Typically, posts are buried within the ground such that at least a third of the length is below-grade for support of the above-grade post. Further, a cement footing is generally poured around the base of the post to further secure the post in the ground.
While such methods have been successfully utilized to secure a post firmly in the ground, such posts are often required to be removed for replacement or other reasons. The methodology utilized to secure the post firmly in the ground also has the side-effect of making removal of the post exceedingly difficult.
In the past, such posts have had to be manually dug out or, in some cases, ripped out from the ground using a chain secured to a vehicle such as a skid steer loader. While using such a method has proven effective, the risks of injury related to usage of a chain, which can often break or move erratically after removal, is extremely high.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved post pulling attachment system which easily attaches and detaches from a bucket to aid in safely and efficiently removing a post from the ground.


System, method and program product for generating an attack profile. A set of messages from a same source IP address sent to a plurality of different destination IP addresses of a same company during an interval of time is identified. Each of the messages contains a respective signature characteristic of a malicious message. First and second messages of the set that are correlated to each other as part of a same attack are determined based on frequency of occurrence of the first message, frequency of occurrence of the second message in the set and similarity in a number of occurrences of the first message in the set to a number of occurrences of the second message in the set. The first message has a first signature and the second message has a second, different signature. An attack profile based on a combination of the first and second messages is generated and recorded. A rule can be automatically generated to detect a combination of the first and second messages.

Networks such as the Internet, Local Area Network, Extranets and Intranets are common today. Networks typically comprise communication media, routers, network switches, and firewalls. Computers, such as client computers and servers, are connected to each other via networks.
Network security is important, especially when the network is connected to the Internet which is not secure. There are various types of malicious "intrusions" that can jeopardize a network. Examples of malicious intrusions are viruses, worms, denial of service attacks, and buffer overflow attacks.
There are various known techniques to protect against such intrusions. A firewall at the gateway to the network or within a computer can block (a) messages containing a known electronic signature of a computer virus or worm, (b) all messages from source IP addresses known from experience to be malicious, (c) messages containing words characteristic of spam, (d) some or all messages from a source IP address which is sending an unusually large number of messages to the same destination IP address, (e) all messages sent from a source IP address to a destination IP address which should not receive messages from this source IP address, (f) entire networks which are known to be malicious and (g) entire countries for which there is no legitimate reason to allow network traffic.
An electronic "signature" of a computer virus, worm or other malicious network activity is a series of bits known from experience to be present in the virus, worm or other malicious network activity. An intrusion detection sensor in a firewall, gateway computer or other network device scans incoming messages for the series of bits that comprise the signature of the virus, worm, or other malicious network activity. If this series of bits is found, then the intrusion detection sensor raises an alarm for inspection by security personnel, and in some cases, can block the virus, worm or other malicious network activity. One major problem with this type of intrusion detection system is the large number of false positive alarms generated by the sensors. A false positive results when an innocent message, by chance, includes the same series of bits and is mistakenly identified by the intrusion detection sensor as malicious activity. Consequently, many intrusion detection sensors are programmed to detect, but not block, messages containing malicious signatures, but simply notify a security analyst for further review to determine whether the detected flagged network traffic requires further action. After review, the security analyst can update a firewall to block subsequent attacks of this nature.
It was known to reduce the number of false positives based on meta alarms or rules which identify known patterns of alarms which have a high probability of representing true attack patterns in alarm streams, as follows. Vendors identify combinations of two or more signatures of two or more respective messages that will occur in certain types of attacks. For example, some attack messages are preceded by "reconnaissance" messages which probe for vulnerable ports, services or operating systems on the victim machine. Both the reconnaissance messages and the subsequent attack messages are characteristic signatures. Security personnel currently identify these combinations of signatures by manual inspection of alarm logs. Subsequently, if a security analyst receives intrusion sensor alerts that two or more messages with these two or more signatures have arrived from the same source IP address on the same day or within a predetermined time window, the security analyst will send an alarm that this source IP address is probably malicious. In response, there will be further investigation of this source IP address, and if the further investigation warrants, action can be taken to block subsequent messages from this source IP address. While this technique is effective, it is limited to predetermined combinations of signatures, and requires a high level of manual inspection to determine new combinations.
It was known to determine events that are associated or correlated to each other based on a "support" factor and a "confidence" factor derived from analysis of events in a set. The "support" factor is based on the frequency with which this combination of events appears in the set. The greater the frequency, the greater the "support" factor. The "confidence" factor is based on how close to a one-to-one relationship are numbers of the two events. For example if there were five groups which contain either of the two events under investigation, and four of the five groups contain both events, and the fifth event only contains one of the events, the number of groups in which the combination of the two events occurs, then the confidence level is ⅘ or eighty percent that these two events are correlated to each other because in four of five groups both events occurred. The closer the numbers match to one-to-one, the greater the "confidence" factor. If the confidence and support factors together are high enough, then events are considered correlated to each other as a combination.
It was also known to provide a table which lists for each destination IP address the source IP addresses of messages containing malicious signatures that were sent to this destination IP address. U.S. Patent Application "System, Method and Program Product for Visually Presenting Data Describing Network Intrusions", Ser. No. 11/486,742" filed by James Treinen on Jul. 13, 2006 discloses a system which generates a graphical representation (comprising vertices representing IP addresses and edges representing malicious message flows including their direction) of destination IP addresses of a customer site, and the source IP addresses that sent each destination IP address messages which contain malicious signatures. From this graphical representation, a security analyst can identify source IP addresses that are sending to the customer site a large number of messages containing malicious signatures. When this occurs, it is likely that the source IP address is malicious.
A Knowledge Discovery in Database ("KDD") process is also known. The KDD process comprises the following steps: (1) understanding the application domain, i.e. analyzing the possible data that can be generated by the application, and understanding the information that is contained in this data, (2) integrating and selecting data, i.e. selecting an appropriate set of data for analysis as a means of obtaining the appropriate end information, (3) mining data, i.e. the actual application of the automated data analysis, (4) evaluating patterns, i.e. inspecting resulting information by skilled analysts and (5) presenting knowledge, i.e. displaying the results in a consumable format for the end users. See "Data Mining for Intrusion Detection A Critical Review, by K. Julisch published in Applications of Data Mining in Computer Security in 2002.
While these techniques are effective in identifying malicious messages and reducing the number of false positives, further improvement can be made to further reduce false positives based on presence of malicious signatures.
An object of the present invention is to identify malicious messages based in part on presence of malicious signatures while reducing false positives.
Another object of the present invention is to automatically take corrective action against malicious messages.

System, method and program product for identifying network-attack profiles and blocking network intrusions

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device which, while preventing an operation error, achieves the shortening of a precharging time and, hence, further shortening of a cycle time of a memory operation. The equalizing control circuit includes a latch circuit. An equalizing control circuit receives a signal WLact and a signal X-ADR from a predecoder and outputs an equalizing signal EQS from these two signals. A latch circuit in the equalizing control circuit is set (the inactivation of an equalizing signal) by a signal X-ADR which is activated with an internal RAS signal and holds its state. The latch circuit is reset (the activation of the equalizing signal) by a signal corresponding to a word line active signal WLact with a word line inactivated. By doing so, it is possible to provide the equalizing control circuit not directly depending upon the internal RAS signal.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device including an equalizing circuit fitted to shorten a memory cycle time in particular.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for achieving the high performance of a dynamic memory device and a stricter demand for the shortening of its cycle time in particular. As shown in FIG. 1, the cycle time of the dynamic memory device is defined by a minimal requisite active time plus a minimal requisite precharging time. How these two should be shortened has been a technical task to be achieved.
Further shortening of the minimal requisite active time of the above-mentioned cycle time also means the shortening of an access time of the memory device and many systems have conventionally been designed to achieve this task.
On the other hand, attempts to further shorten the minimal requisite precharging time of the cycle time have currently attracted not too much attention in spite of its importance the same as the former task.
FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a major section of an ordinary DRAM including equalizing transistors. Generally, the precharging time of the dynamic memory device is set in a manner as will be set out below. That is, the precharge time is set with a time from a "write level" (generally a voltage level determining a "0" or a "1" logical level) state, that is, a state in which a bit line BL is placed by the restoring (rewriting) operation of a sense amplifier SA after information (data) of a given memory cell MC has been read onto that bit line BL, to a state in which the bit line level is balanced to a given potential VBL, by the operation of an equalizing transistor ET, with a word line set in a read-ready state, that is, in an inactivated state (a row decoder set in the inactivated state) in which case the word line controls the transfer gate of the memory cell. The equalizing transistor ET is ON-controlled by an equalizing signal EQS from an equalizing control circuit EC.
In the above-mentioned ready state, the controlling of the equalizing transistor may be achieved by an equalizing signal for satisfying a predetermined time with which the bit line level is balanced through the equalizing signal. In actual practice, however, a longer time than the predetermined time is set as the precharging time, the reason of which will be given below.
FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing an outline of the conventional semiconductor memory device. A RAS buffer 11 receives an external RAS signal (low active signal), and produces an internal signal (internal RAS signal). Upon receipt of the internal RAS signal an address buffer 12 supplies an externally received address signal to a predecoder 13. The predecoder 13 produces a signal X-ADR corresponding to the address signal. The signal X-ADR is used to select a corresponding one of divided memory cell arrays 14 which includes a cell to be accessed. A delay circuit 15 is so arranged as to control a decode timing of each word line and the internal RAS signal is such that it is delayed until column-based control becomes stable. The output of the delay circuit 15 emerges as a word line active signal WLact for controlling the activation/inactivation of the word line.
An equalizing control circuit 80 corresponds to the equalizing control circuit EC in FIG. 2. The equalizing control circuit 80 receives the internal RAS signal, signal WLact and signal X-ADR. The equalizing control signal EQS controls an equalizing circuit 17. The equalizing circuit 17 includes equalizing transistors, as shown in FIG. 2, to set a given potential on the bit line in a balanced state. The equalizing transistors are ON-controlled by the equalizing signal EQS. After the equalization is effected by the equalizing transistors, a predetermined voltage is applied to a control node (the gate of the transistors of associated memory cells MC) of the associated memory cells on a selected one of respective rows (word lines WL) and the transfer node of those memory cells on a selected one of those associated columns (bit line BL) is activated to allow a transfer of data signals into and out of the memory cell array.
Of the row-and column-base decoder 18, the row-base decoder 18 alone is shown as a block diagram. Through the activation of the word line active signal WLact, the divided memory cell array 14 to be activated is selected in accordance with the received internal address signal and a decoding operation is performed.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional arrangement of the above-mentioned equalizing control circuit 80 and FIG. 5 shows a timing chart relating to the circuit operation of FIG. 4. Here, the cycle time is such that RAS (internal RAS) in the memory corresponds to the external RAS (low active).
The equalizing control circuit of FIG. 4 will be explained below with reference to FIG. 5. A NOR gate 81 receives a signal WLact and internal RAS signal as two input signals and an AND gate 83 receives an inverted replica of an output signal of the NOR gate 81 via an inverter 82 and a signal X-ADR as two input signals and, through this combination logical array, an output signal of the AND gate 83 is passed through series-connected inverters 84 and 85 to provide an equalizing signal EQS.
That is, an equalizing operation is inactivated with the signal X-ADR and internal RAS signal both in the states (87) as shown in FIG. 5 and the equalizing operation is activated with the internal RAS signal set in an inactivated (low level signal) state (88) and the word line active signal set in a low level signal state (88) as shown in FIG. 5 so that the corresponding memory cell may be inactivated.
In the above-mentioned arrangement, in order to perform the equalizing operation, both a condition under which the word line active signal is set in the inactivated (low level) state to allow the word line to be inactivated and a condition under which the internal RAS signal is set in the inactivated (low level) state have to be satisfied and, once these conditions are satisfied, an equalizing operation is started.
In the arrangement as set out above, if the precharging time is set shorter on the memory device as indicated, for example, in FIG. 5, an equalizing operation to be performed originally from an inactivated state in which the word line is set is not done because the internal RAS signal has already been set, at that time, to an activated state and, hence, no proper logic is taken between the two (89).
In the prior art, in order to achieve further shortening of the precharging time, it may be possible to perform an adequate equalizing operation by activating an equalizing signal until a word line is activated and, in spite of this fact, the above-mentioned case is such that the equalizing signal is prepared from such a combination logic circuit arrangement, there being a risk that an equalizing signal will not be obtained adequately. Therefore, there is room for further improvement.

Semiconductor memory device equipped with an equalizing control circuit having a function of latching an equalizing signal


An LCD groups pixels in each row into a plurality of blocks, and calculates difference in gray between every two image data applied to a pair of adjacent odd and even pixels in each block including pixels in a row for each of first to third colors. It is determined that a block is first or second dot block depending on a sign of the gray difference when a magnitude of the gray difference between the odd pixel and the even pixel in each pair in the block for at least one color is equal to or larger than a critical value. A current block in a current row and in columns is determined to be a one-dot block when the current block is the first dot block and a previous block in a previous row and in the columns is the second dot block. When the number of the one-dot blocks is a predetermined percentage of the number of the total blocks, it is determined that a one-dot pattern is generated and one-dot inversion of the LCD is changed into another inversion. In this way, a pattern generating flicker is determined and the inversion type is changed for reducing the flicker.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof.
(b) Description of Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes an upper panel including a common electrode and a plurality of color filters and covered with an alignment layer, a lower panel including a plurality of thin film transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes and covered with an alignment layer, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the upper panel and the lower panel. Data voltages and a common voltage are respectively applied to the pixel electrodes and the common electrode to generate electric fields, which determine orientations of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer. The orientations of the liquid crystal molecules in turn determine transmittance of light passing through the liquid crystal layer and a desired image is displayed by controlling the voltages applied to the electrodes.
A polarity of a data voltage applied to a pixel is reversed between adjacent two frames. In addition, the data voltages in a frame for the different pixels do not have the same polarity. This technique of differentiating the polarity of the data voltages for the pixels is called inversion, and the types of the inversion include column inversion, one-dot inversion, double-dot inversion and so on.
The column inversion reverses the polarity of the data voltages for adjacent pixel columns. The one dot inversion and the double-dot inversion perform a line inversion as well as the column inversion. The one-dot inversion reverses the polarity of the data voltages for the pixels connected to a current gate line with respect to that for the pixels connected to a previous gate line. The two-dot inversion reverses the polarity of the data voltages for the pixels connected to the current two gate lines with respect to that for the pixels connected to the previous two gate lines.
When an image displayed on a screen has a pattern like the one-dot inversion and the column inversion, flicker is generated on the screen. The flicker is resulted from the difference in luminance of the pixels supplied with the data voltages with opposite polarities.

Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof