An apparatus includes a protrusion determination unit that determines a protrusion of print data with respect to a data arrangement area, an attribute determination unit that determines whether the attribute of the print data is text or non-text, a segmentation unit that segments text data into block data that can be arranged on at least two or more of data arrangement areas adjacent to each other when the print data is text data, and an arrangement order determination unit that determines an arrangement order of the plurality of block data after segmentation processing with respect to the plurality of data arrangement areas based on the arrangement order of text data prior to segmentation processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a document image layout apparatus that respectively arranges print data on a data arrangement area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, drawing elements such as graphics and character strings are arranged at a predetermined position on a page in accordance with a template. As used herein, the term "page" refers to a limited area such as A4 paper on which non-text data such as graphics or tables and text such as character strings are arranged.
As conventional page layout techniques, for example, an area on which an image is arranged is segmented into several areas on the paper surface so as to assign an article to these areas (e.g., see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-146949). A technique for cutting out an image for rearrangement is also known (e.g., see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-153371).
However, the size of the data arrangement area on which print data is arranged is fixed, whereas the size of print data with respect to the data arrangement area is not constant. Consequently, print data may protrude from the data arrangement area.
For example, assume the case where the original document is scanned by a scanner, data (image data) that has been cut out from the scanned data is arranged in the data arrangement area as the print data so as to make a print thereof. In this case, when the print data protrudes from the data arrangement area, it may require that the size of the print data is reduced in print data units or page units.
However, since there are various sizes of the print data with respect to the data arrangement area, the readability of print data, in particular, print data relating to a text attribute, is significantly reduced due to excessive reduction as shown in FIG. 35.
Also, although the size of the data arrangement area is constant, unwanted margin is undesirably increased due to the reduction in the size of the print data.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-146949, a plurality of patterns of the areas on which images are arranged is generated, and the images are then arranged in the respective areas so as to evaluate the patterns, which may require a considerable amount of time for processing. In addition, unwanted margin may occur depending on the pattern of the data arrangement area.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-153371, a predetermined segment is recognized, and article data having various shapes and sizes is synthesized, relying on the segment used for an image cutout. In this case, print data cannot be resided within the data arrangement area. Also, in this case, unwanted margin may occur within a page.
When text data that has been converted into a character code by performing character recognition such as OCR is arranged in the template TP, loss of information may occur due to false recognition and language (e.g., Japanese, English) dependency.


This invention relates to a portable grounding mat, and more particularly to a mat specifically designed to protect electrical workers by providing a zone of equi-potential. The mat has a flexible base to which is attached at least one conductive element laid out in a grid pattern. A novel terminal that electrically connects the mat to a power source has an inner core to provide an electrical load path and an outer casing to provide a mechanical load path, resulting in a superior mat design.

Electrical terminals for existing grounding mats have certain drawbacks, and have proved to be a weak point of the mat designs. The terminals typically comprise lengths of flat braid wire protruding from one or more corners of the mat (as shown in FIGS. 1&2), and serves as an electrical load path between the mat and the power source being serviced by the user. However, users have a tendency to grip the terminals by hand to lift, move and position the mat. Unfortunately, such handling induces strains in the terminal, subjecting the flat braid wire to bending, such as by twisting and rolling motions, and tensile forces. Hence, the wire also serves as the conduit for such forces, or "loads", to and from the mat, referred to herein as the "mechanical load path".
Repeated handling has shown to lead to failure of the terminal. This can be catastrophic for the user, as a break in the terminal during use of the mat will extinguish the zone of equi-potential, and thus the protection afforded by the mat, resulting in the possible electrocution and potential death of the user.
What is therefore desired is a novel terminal design for a grounding mat which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of the existing terminals. Preferably, it should provide for greater structural strength of the terminal and prolong its working life. The terminal should provide substantially separate paths for electrical loads and mechanical loads.

Portable grounding mat with improved terminal


Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for data traffic steering based on quality of service. According to some embodiments, a system can comprise receiving data packets associated with a quality of service value, wherein the data packets are stored in a buffer and transmitted utilizing a first link, determining whether a condition that indicates a modification to a data routing schedule is satisfied and whether a second link is available, and in response to the determining indicating that the condition is satisfied and that the second link is available, performing the modification of the data routing schedule comprising utilizing the second link and the first link to transmit the data packets associated with the quality of service value.

5G wireless systems represent a next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards beyond the current telecommunications standards of 4th generation (4G). In addition to faster peak Internet connection speeds, 5G planning aims at higher capacity than current 4G, allowing a higher number of mobile broadband users per area unit, and allowing consumption of higher or unlimited data quantities. 5G research and development also aims to be interoperable with technologies used for the priority service or priority customer. The priority service for priority customers is a nationwide high-speed broadband wireless network platform for law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics and other public safety officials in every state, county, locality and tribal area. The priority service uses a public safety's spectrum (e.g., Priority frequency band) for its operations. Public safety personal using priority service devices will have specified quality of service (QoS) channel indicator (QCI) or subscriber profile identification (SPID) and dedicated access to this network in times of crisis, they will be preferred over commercial users.
The above-described background relating to relating priority service in the 5G communication system, is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues, and is not intended to be exhaustive (e.g., although problems and solution are directed to next generation networks such as 5G, the solutions can be applied to 4G/LTE technologies). Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

Quality of service based or subscriber profile ID data traffic steering for 5G or other next generation wireless network


A vehicle for transporting a removable product carrier having a pair of handles, such as a bag. The vehicle has a wheeled frame and a pivotal forward frame member which can be collapsed against the frame or positioned at a predetermined pivotal orientation in relation to the frame. A pair of suspension brackets, one each on the forward frame member and the frame, engage the handles of the product carrier to suspend it in the vehicle.

This invention relates to vehicles for transporting products, and in particular to a vehicle for transporting a removable product carrier which is suspended from a pair of handles.
Shopping bags, whether they are simple paper bags, cloth bags, or other similar structures, are often provided with a pair of handles. When the bag is used for shopping or carrying of products, often it is desired to have the bag transported separately, due to the weight of the bag, a disability of the person transporting the bag, or simply due to the shear number of bags being carried. Accordingly, bags often are set in a shopping cart or various other types of wheeled totes, for ease of mobility.
While such implements serve the purpose of carrying a bag, they are often bulky, and since they are not designed specifically for carrying a bag, often make transportation of the bag practically as difficult as carrying the bag itself.

Vehicle for transporting a bag or the like


A composite proppant having an increased buoyancy comprising a proppant substrate such as a porous ceramic or a silica sand coated with a material of a lesser actual density than the apparent density of the proppant substrate to increase the buoyancy of the composite proppant.

Proppants are used to keep open fractures created by hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation, e.g., in an oil or gas bearing strata. Typically, the fracturing is performed in a subterranean formation to increase oil or gas production. Fracturing is caused by injecting a viscous fracturing fluid at a high pressure into the well. As fractures are formed, a particulate material, referred to as a "propping agent" or "proppant" is placed in the formation to maintain the fracture in a propped open condition when the injection pressure is released. As a fracture forms, the proppants are carried into the well by suspending them in a fluid filling the fracture with a slurry of proppant. Upon release of the pressure, the proppants lodge in the fractures so that the fractures do not close once fracturing pressure is reduced. Using proppants increases production of oil and/or gas from a subterranean formation by providing highly conductive channels through the formation.
The maintenance of these channels provides increased flow of various fluids, e.g., hydrocarbons such as natural gas and oil.
Proppant materials that have been widely used include: (1) particulate sintered ceramics, typically aluminum oxide, silica, or bauxite, often with clay-like binders or other additives to increase the particulate's compressive strength, especially sintered bauxite; (2) natural, relatively coarse, sand, the particles of which are roughly spherical, generally called "frac sand" and (3) resin-coated particulates of (1) and (2), i.e., resin-coated proppant.
Unfortunately, each of these materials (as well as others) has a relatively high density (high specific gravity) that causes the proppants to settle rapidly once suspended in a transporting fluid, e.g., fracture fluid or frac fluid. In particular, such proppants generally have a density above 1.60 g/cc. and often above 3.50 g/cc.
Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the density of the material or substance whose specific gravity is being determined to the density of a reference material, usually water, reported at a reference temperature (usually under a condition where the density of water is 1 gm/cc). Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity. The density of a material or substance is the ratio of the mass of the material to the volume that the mass of material occupies (mass/volume) and is often reported in grams/cubic centimeters (gm/cc or g/cc) or grams/milliliter (gm/ml or g/ml).
When the proppant settles too rapidly from the frac fluid, the settlement interferes with positioning of the proppant throughout the fractured formation. To counteract this result, the fracturing fluid is often thickened to increase its viscosity and thus slow the rate of a specific proppant's settlement. One issue with using a higher viscosity fracturing fluid, however, is the increased amount of energy required to pump the fluid into the subterranean formations when the fractures are created and when proppant is delivered throughout the formation. In other words, more energy is required to pump thicker fluids.
Another method of reducing the rate of proppant settlement is to use proppants having a lower specific gravity (i.e., a higher buoyancy) such as hollow glass balls, walnut hulls and sealed porous ceramics. These types of proppants exhibit a lower apparent specific gravity. The apparent specific gravity is the measurement of the specific gravity of a porous solid or substance when the volume used in the density calculation is considered to include the porosity, i.e., the porous permeable interior, of the porous solid or substance. Thus, in the case of porous materials the apparent density is less than the intrinsic density of just the solid mass of material.
Since these proppants appear or perform as if they are less dense than silica sand or ceramic proppants) they tend to settle more slowly in a fluid. However, these types of proppants are generally less crush resistant and realistically are only satisfactorily used in shallower wells at 3,000 to 4,000 psi closure pressures. Many formations may experience closure stresses of 6,000 to 10,000 psi and higher.
In view of the foregoing, interest in developing new solutions to proppant design and transport in well recovery operations remains strong. In particular, particulate compositions (proppants) that have slower settlement times yet are able to function at higher closure stresses continue to be in demand.

Increasing buoyancy of well treating materials


The invention relates to a motor vehicle door hinge comprised of a first hinge part (2), a second hinge part (3), a shaft section (4), which joins a hinge eye (10) of the first hinge part (2) and a hinge eye (17) of the second hinge part (17) to one another in an articulated manner, and of a door arrester unit (25), which produces a holding force that is to be surmounted by tensioning a spring unit (32). Preferred holding angles of the door arrester unit (25) are stipulated by detent markings. The aim of the invention is to create a motor vehicle door hinge that can be economically produced and mounted. To this end, the hinge parts (2, 3) are provided in the form of U-shaped sheet metal shaped parts with hinge eyes (10, 11; 17, 18) that are placed in limbs (6, 7; 15, 16) of the hinge parts (2, 3), and the shaft section (4) is prevented from rotating with the one (26) of the cam disk (30) and detent disk (26) that is subjected to the action of the spring unit (32), whereas the other (30) of the cam disk (30) and detent disk (26) is joined in a non-rotatable manner to the hinge part (3) in which the shaft section can rotate.

EP-A-0 931 897 describes a motor vehicle door hinge, in which a first and a second hinge part in each case in the form of a single section and designed as a profiled and forged hinge part are connected to each other in a pivoting articulated manner via a common hinge pin. The hinge can be unhinged by the hinge pin being designed in a manner such that it can be taken out of that hinge part in which the hinge pin is held in a rotationally fixed manner, by releasing a nut. The hinge pin is to be designed to be of an appropriate length. The hinge furthermore comprises an arrester unit which comprises a cam disk, which is secured in a rotationally fixed manner on the outwardly directed end joint of that hinge part through which the hinge pin passes in a pivotable manner by means of a sleeve, and a corrugated disk, which is coupled to the hinge pin via a driver profile and is prestressed in the direction of the cam disk by a disk spring assembly, as a result of which the arresting or braking movement is provided by the relative movement of the corrugated disk and cam disk. The first problem with the known motor vehicle door hinge is the complicated subdivision of the arrester unit into cam disk and corrugated disk, this having to be provided, however, in order to put the disk springs favorably to use. The configuration as a separable motor vehicle door hinge means that the single-section hinge parts, the gudgeons of which absorb the entire load, have to be designed as forged parts or complicated profiles, with the production costs being considerable as a result. In particular, the manufacturing of a hinge pin with a multiplicity of profiles for securing it on the one hinge half, for screwing on the hinge pin tightly and for driving the corrugated disk is complicated and cost-intensive, in particular when taking the tolerances into consideration. Finally, the driving of the corrugated disk via the hinge pin, which is designed with a square bar profile, causes an unfavorable tendency for jamming to occur, as a result of which the axial movability of the corrugated disk is restricted and, in particular in the case of latching movements, there is an unfavorable surface pressure in the narrow region of the corrugated disk. Furthermore—as in other hinges known from practice—a rolled bushing is provided as the sliding bushing, the collar of which is produced by crimping and, as is generally known, has a triangular interruption and therefore a reduced contact area, the crimping causing undesired fluctuations in the thickness in the collar region which also has a disadvantageous effect on the running characteristics of the hinge, such as reduced adhesion of the sliding layer, and so, in series manufacturing, undesirably high tolerances and running fluctuations have to be accepted, and, moreover, the sealing against penetration of impurities from the surroundings is not entirely ensured.
EP-A-0 897 044 describes two types of door hinges comprising two hinge parts which are connected to each other in an articulated manner by a shaft section and are designed with an arresting device, which is provided outside the hinge parts and is provided coaxially on that part of the hinge pin which protrudes over the hinge parts. In a first embodiment, a cage is held by rolling bodies, which are designed as tapered rollers, on a housing which is connected to a hinge part while a latching disk, which is acted upon by a helical spring supported against the housing and has latching markings for the rolling bodies, is carried along by the shaft section and is rotated relative to the cage. In a second embodiment, a latching disk with latching markings for rolling bodies is secured on a housing connected to a hinge part or on a housing connected with the hinge part, and a cage with rolling bodies designed as tapered rollers or balls is carried along by the shaft section and rotated relative to the latching disk, in which case a pressure-distributing ring is acted upon by a spring, which is supported against a supporting plate, in the direction of the rolling bodies in order to press the rolling bodies into the latching markings, the cage and the pressure-distributing ring both having to be moved for this purpose up and down counter to the restoring force of the spring. Both embodiments require a complicated mounting of the multiplicity of mutually rotatable disks by means of ball bearings or the like which are placed in between, and furthermore require the provision of moveable rolling bodies, the rolling resistance of which slackens off severely over time, which means that the characteristic of the arrester unit differs significantly from the original setting. At the same time, this and also the diameters of the rolling bodies cause the arrester unit to have an undesirably large overall height. The parts to be manufactured are numerous and some of them have geometries which can be obtained only in a complicated manner, which means that production and installation are complicated.
EP-A-0 382 170 describes a motor vehicle door hinge, in which the two hinge parts each have two gudgeons which are connected to each other in an articulated manner via the same hinge pin, the hinge pin being secured in a rotationally fixed manner in the two gudgeons of the one hinge part and being mounted in a pivotable manner in the two gudgeons of the other hinge part. This motor vehicle door hinge does not permit any preferred securing at certain opening angles of the motor vehicle door; furthermore, the known hinge requires wings which are deposited outside the base of the parts having the gudgeons and in which the apertures for fixing it onto the door assembly parts are provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,055 describes a furniture hinge with two U-shaped hinge parts which each have a base with apertures for fixing said hinge onto a wall element and from which in each case two limbs protrude at right angles, the hinge parts being connected to each other via gudgeons, which are provided in the limbs, in a paired manner in each case by means of rivets, the furniture hinge furthermore securing a spring wire on the one hinge part and it being possible for its free ends to interact with projections provided on the other hinge part in order to hold a completely opened or completely closed position of the wall element. Among the disadvantages of the known furniture hinge is that the hinge axis is at the same large distance from both of the hinge parts. The use of a hinge of this type is not suitable in the case of a heavy motor vehicle door.
DE-A-2 342 945 describes a hinge, in which two hinge parts are connected to each other in an articulated manner by a hinge pin, two plate bodies outside the hinge parts enclosing a spring which pushes the two plate bodies apart, the hinge pin passing rotatably through the spring and the two plate bodies, the two plate bodies having a recess by which they are secured on a shaft, which is attached to the one hinge part, in such a manner that the plate bodies are carried along by this hinge part, the hinge pin furthermore having studs which engage around the plate bodies from the outside, protrude over the diameter of the hinge pin and interact with latching markings, which are formed in those sides of the plate bodies which face the studs, and are intended for the engagement of the studs, in such a manner that, when a stud is engaged in an appropriate position, corresponding, for example, to a holding position of a door, the spring is relaxed and, when the position is left, the spring is tensioned. Since the studs are placed fixedly in the hinge pin, the plate bodies have to be designed in a manner such that they can be displaced relative to the hinge pin and therefore also relative to the shaft, which is used to carry along the plate bodies, which means that there is a risk of jamming and, furthermore, of noises being produced. The structural space required by the known device is undesirably large in terms of height and width and furthermore lacks protection against the penetration of impurities. For the assembly, a separate installation aid is required because the studs can only be driven through the hinge pin at the end.
DE-A-198 31 085 describes a hinge with two hinge parts which are designed in each case as an outer and an inner bracket, in which a hinge pin passes through the two limbs of the two brackets, in which, in order to realize an arresting device, a spring which is supported against the one limb of the outer bracket acts upon the sleeve arranged on the hinge pin, and in which, furthermore, two divided tube sections are provided around the hinge pin, said sections being secured in each case by their mutually remote ends on one of the brackets and their mutually facing end sides having an intermeshing cam-type profile comprising depressions and projections running along a closed ring, the spring forcing the two tube sections in each case into positions in which all of the depressions and projections of the one tube section intermesh with all of the projections and depressions of the other tube section. One of the disadvantages of this hinge is the complicated production and installation, with the arresting device also resulting in the hinge axis having an unfavorable and thick configuration, and therefore needing to be at a large distance from the respective base of the brackets. Furthermore, it is inevitable that the one bracket with the associated tube section be inevitably displaced axially relative to the hinge pin during the opening movement, this not being acceptable for a motor vehicle hinge.
EP-A-0 848 128 describes a hinge comprising two hinge parts which are connected to each other in an articulated manner by a shaft section and are designed with an arresting device which is provided outside the hinge parts and is provided coaxially on that part of the hinge pin which protrudes over the hinge parts. In this case, a latching disk with latching markings for rolling bodies is secured on a housing, which is connected to a hinge part, and is decoupled from the hinge pin via a needle bearing. A complicated bearing unit for rolling bodies designed as tapered rollers is carried along in the rotational movement by a supporting plate, which is connected to the shaft section, via intermeshing projections of the supporting plate and recesses of the bearing unit, in which case a sleeve supports the bearing unit for an axial movement relative to the shaft section, which is cylindrical there. For this purpose, the bottom of the recesses in the bearing unit is at a distance from the projections of the supporting plate, which distance restricts the axial displaceability of the bearing plate. One end of a spring unit is supported against the supporting plate, the spring unit using its other end to prestress a shoulder of the bearing unit, the shoulder supporting the rolling bodies via a rigid connection. The carrying-along of the bearing unit via the supporting plate is problematic because there is a risk of it becoming jammed. The arrester unit furthermore requires a complicated mounting of the moveable rolling bodies, the rolling resistance of which severely slackens off over time, as a result of which the characteristic of the arrester unit significantly differs from the original setting. At the same time, the complicated design of the bearing unit and also the diameters of the rolling bodies result in the arrester unit having an undesirably large overall height. The parts which are to be manufactured are numerous and some of them have geometries which can only be obtained in a complicated manner, which means that production and installation are complicated.
DE-A-199 01 263 describes a hinge, in which two hinge parts are connected to each other in an articulated manner by a hinge pin, an arrester unit which is provided outside the hinge parts comprising a disk spring assembly which is arranged concentrically around the hinge pin on an extension thereof and has revolving balls and disks which are designed with recesses in order to carry along said balls, the vertical movement taking place along the hinge pin via longitudinal grooves formed in the latter and being blocked by brake plates.
DE-A-199 36 280 describes a hinge with two hinge parts and a hinge pin connecting said hinge parts, in which an arrester unit which is prestressed by a spring is provided outside the hinge pin and, by means of rollers which are provided at both ends of the arrester unit, presses against running surfaces, which are formed with profiled structures and are provided in addition to the hinge parts.


A multi-layer coating for a surface of an article comprises a diffusion barrier layer and an erosion resistant layer. The diffusion barrier layer may be a nitride film including but not limited to TiNx, TaNx, Zr3N4, and TiZrxNy. The erosion resistant layer may be a rare oxide film comprising YZrxOy. The diffusion barrier layer and the erosion resistant layer may be deposited on the article's surface using a thin film deposition technique including but not limited to, ALD, PVD, and CVD.

Various manufacturing processes expose semiconductor process chamber components to high temperatures, high energy plasma, a mixture of corrosive gases, high stress, and combinations thereof. These extreme conditions may erode the chamber components, corrode the chamber components, lead to diffusion of chamber components' materials to the substrates, and increase the chamber components' susceptibility to defects. It is desirable to reduce these defects and improve the components' erosion, corrosion, and diffusion resistance in such extreme environments. Coating semiconductor process chamber components with protective coatings is an effective way to reduce defects and extend their durability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-layer coating with diffusion barrier layer and erosion resistant layer


A client computer is capable of designating one of a plurality access paths via respective servers on a file-by-file basis. The client computer defines a plurality of access paths to the storage device by way of the respective server computers (step S1). Next, when an access request defining a file within the storage device is received, the client computer determines a relay server computer which should provide an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis (step S2). Then, the client computer accesses the file within the storage device by the access path via the designated relay server computer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a remote access program, a remote access request-processing program, and a client computer, for carrying out remote access, and more particularly to a remote access program, a remote access request-processing program, and a client computer, for using a storage device connected to a plurality of server computers.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a file system enabling resources to be used in a shared manner via a network, NFS (Network File System) is generally used. In an NFS network, a storage device is connected to a server computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as "the server"). This storage device is provided for use by another client computer (hereinafter simply referred to as "the client") connected to the storage device via the network as a resource on the server.
A client which makes use of the NFS mounts a resource on the server at a mount point on the client (in the case of a UNIX (registered trademark)-based OS (Operating System)). This enables the user of the client to access the resource on the server via the mount point, in the same manner as in the local file system. At this time, only one server can be designated for one mount point.
By the way, as a system which enables the direct shared use of a storage device, such as a magnetic disk, from a plurality of nodes of a network, a SAN (Storage Area Network) has been conventionally used. The SAN is capable of causing the whole network to serve as a file server. In this case, a plurality of servers constituting the SAN can each play the roll of a file server. At this time, a client can access the storage device provided by the SAN by designating a desired one of the servers for one mount point.
It should be noted that there is a case in which a large number of clients are connected to a network. In such a case, for each client to access a resource on servers constructed by the SAN, by the NFS, it is necessary to distribute designated servers among the servers on a client-by-client basis or a mount point-by-mount point basis, so as to prevent load from being concentrated on one server.
However, even if the designated servers providing access to the resource are distributed among the servers on a client-by-client basis or a mount point-by-mount point basis, the biased or non-uniform use by the clients can result in a large number of accesses which are made via only one specific server. That is, if a plurality of clients which have designated the same server simultaneously accesses the resource provided by the SAN, even if the other servers are each well within the processing capacity thereof, the access is only permitted via the server designated by the clients beforehand. Therefore, even when the SAN as a whole is well within the processing capacity, the processing speed is lowered.
Further, assuming that the servers are distributed on a client-by-client basis, if the same resource is accessed by them, the same file (data) are controlled by the plurality of servers, which makes it difficult to ensure the consistency of the file (data).
Further, there is a strong demand for a system in which a processing request from a client which has designated a server as an access point is automatically switched to another server, in the event that the server has undergone a system shut down due to failure or the like.

Remote access program, remote access request-processing program, and client computer


Integrity of a physical object is verified by receiving, data encapsulating a request to verify the integrity of the physical object. Subsequently, a data structure is accessed that includes a plurality of linked segments each characterizing an entity within a supply chain for the physical object. Each segment includes a respective predecessor field and a respective hash value. All of the segments can be iterated through in reverse chronological order to confirm, for each segment, whether a value for the predecessor field is equal to a hash value in a hash field in an immediately previously segment, the hash value being a hash of all values of the particular segment. Data characterizing the iteration can then be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Counterfeiting of manufactured objects remains a significant problem for almost all brand manufacturers and suppliers. Even in the absence of counterfeiting it is often desirable to track high value objects for a variety of reasons including warranty and maintenance. Typical solutions to these challenges are security features that are attached to the object and which are difficult to duplicate. In addition, centralized tracking databases are sometimes implemented which typically require user registration and/or access to a supply chain management (SCM) system.
Buyers typically have no visibility in the history of products shipped to them. Even when centralized tracking databases are used, access to the product tracking information is typically limited to the manufacturer and/or an intermediate distributor.


An acoustical holographic imaging method and apparatus for introducing a reference wave into a hologram surface such that the reference wave does not interfere with an object placed adjacent to or in close proximity to the hologram surface. More particularly, the ultrasonic holographic imaging system may use a reference wave introduced on the side of a thin (3 element) detector that acts as a wave guide; to introduce the reference wave to a liquid-to-gas interface or alternatively, from the topside of the detecting surface through a liquid-to-liquid interface. The system eliminates the acoustic lens system, thereby reducing the size and cost of the system. Further, an object may be placed at the detecting surface, increasing the depth of field of the resultant image and reducing the energy needed from the object source. The system may additionally utilize multiple reference sources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to acoustic imaging and more particularly the direct imaging of an object utilizing the method of acoustical holography whereby the object being imaged can be in close proximity to the hologram surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Holography involves combining or interfering an object wave or energy with a reference wave or energy to form an interference pattern referred to as the hologram. A fundamental requirement for the forming of the hologram and the practice of holography is that the initial sources of the object wave and reference wave or energy are coherent with respect to the other wave. That is to say that all parts of both the object wave and the reference wave are of the same frequency and of a defined orientation, namely, a fixed spatial position and angle between the direction of propagation of the two sources. When performing holography the object wave is modified by interference with the structure within the object of interest. As this object wave interacts with all points of the object in the path of the wave, the three-dimensional features of the object impart identifying phase and amplitude changes on the object wave. Since the reference wave is an unperturbed (pure) coherent wave, its interference with the object wave results in an interference pattern that identifies the 3-D positioning and characteristics (ultrasonic absorption, diffraction, reflection, and refraction) of the scattering points of the object.
A second process, (the reconstruction of the hologram) is then performed when a coherent viewing source (usually light from a laser) is transmitted through or reflected from the hologram. The hologram pattern diffracts light from this coherent viewing or reconstruction source in a manner to faithfully represent the 3-D nature of the object, as seen by the ultrasonic object wave.
Thus, traditionally, to perform holography, coherent wave sources are required. This requirement currently limits practical applications of the practice of holography to the light domain (e.g., a laser light) or the domain of acoustics (sometimes referred to as ultrasound due to the practical application at ultrasonic frequencies) as these two sources are currently the only available coherent energy sources. Thus, further references to holography or imaging system will refer to the through-transmission holographic imaging process that uses acoustical energies usually in the ultrasonic frequency range and more specifically from 1 to 10 MHz. Alternatively, higher or lower frequencies would also apply.
In the practice of ultrasound holography, one key process is the generation of the ultrasound, such as by a large area coherent ultrasound transducer. A second key process is the projection of the object wave information from a specific volume within the object into the hologram detection plane by means of the ultrasonic lens projection system. A third key process is the detection and reconstruction of the ultrasonic hologram into visual or useful format.
Although other configurations can be utilized, a common requirement of the source transducers for both the object and reference waves is to produce a large area plane wave having constant amplitude across the wave front and having a constant frequency for a sufficient number of cycles to establish coherence. Such transducers will produce this desired wave if the amplitude of the ultrasound output decreases in a Gaussian distribution profile as the edge of the large area transducer is approached. This decreasing of amplitude as the edge is approached, reduces or eliminates the "edge effect" from the transducer edge, which would otherwise cause varying amplitude across the wave front as a function distance from the transducer.
In the process of through-transmission ultrasonic holographic imaging, the pulse from the object transducer progresses through the object, then through a focusing lens system and at the appropriate time, the pulse of ultrasound is generated from the reference transducer such that the object wave and reference wave arrive at the detector at the same time to create an interference pattern (i.e., the hologram). For broad applications, the transducers need to be able to operate at a spectrum or bandwidth of discrete frequencies. Multiple frequencies allow comparisons and integration of holograms taken at selected frequencies to provide an improved image of the subtle changes within the object.
A hologram can also be formed by directing the object wave through the object at different angles to the central axis of the lens system. This is provided by either positioning or rotating the object transducer around the central axis of the lens system by using multiple transducers positioned such that the path of transmission of the sound is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the lens system.
With a through-transmission imaging system, it is important to determine the amount of resolution in the "z" dimension that is desirable and achievable. Since the holographic process operates without limits of mechanical or electronic devices to detect and form the image, but rather reconstructs images from wave interactions, the resolution achievable can approach the theoretical limit of ½ the wavelength of the ultrasound used. However, the amount of information displayed for the user in this situation may be too great. It may be desirable to limit the "z" direction image volume so that on can "focus" in on one thin volume slice and thereby reduce the amount of data. Thus, it is of value to develop a means for projecting a planar slice within a volume into the detector plane. One such means is a large aperture ultrasonic lens system that will allow the imaging system to "focus" on a plane within the object. Additionally, this lens system and the corresponding motorized computer controlled lens drive will allow one to adjust the focal plane and at any given focal plane to be able to magnify or demagnify at a selected z dimension position (i.e., a zoom lens).
The image is detected and reconstructed at the detector. Standard photographic film may be used for the recording of light holograms and the 3-D image reconstructed by passing laser light through the film or reflecting it from the hologram pattern embossed on the surface of an optical reflective surface. However, there is no equivalent "film" material to record the intricate phase and amplitude pattern of a complex ultrasonic wave. One of the most common detectors uses a liquid-air surface or interface to record, in a dynamic way, the ultrasonic hologram formed. The sound energy at the frequency of ultrasound (above range of human hearing) will propagate with little attenuation through a liquid (such as water) but cannot sustain substantial propagation through air. At these higher frequencies (e.g., above 1 MHz) the ultrasound will not propagate through air because the wavelength of the sound energy is so short [λ(wavelength)=v(velocity)/f(frequency)]. The density of air (approximately 0.00116 g/cm3) is not sufficient to couple these short wavelengths and allow them to propagate for any significant distance. On the other hand the density of a liquid (e.g., water) is a favorable media to couple and propagate such wavelengths. For example, the velocity of sound in air is approximately 346 meter/second whereas in water it is approximately 1497 meter/second. Thus, for water, both the density (1 g/cm3) and the wavelength (˜1.5 mm at 1 MHz) are significantly large that ultrasound can propagate with little attenuation. In contrast, for air both the density (0.00116 g/cm3) and wavelength (0.346 mm at 1 MHz) are sufficiently small such that the energy at these ultrasonic frequencies will not propagate.
Thus, when ultrasound propagating in a liquid encounters a liquid-air interface the entire amount of the energy is reflected back into the liquid. Since ultrasound (or sound) propagates as a mechanical force it is apparent that the reflection (or changing direction of propagation) will impart a forward force on this liquid-air interface. This force, in turn, will distort the surface of the liquid. The amount of surface distortion will depend upon the amplitude of the ultrasound wave at each point being reflected and the surface tension of the liquid. Thus, the pattern of the deformation is the pattern of the phase and amplitude of the ultrasonic wave at the plane (i.e. the ultrasonic hologram).
In this manner, the liquid-air interface can be readily used to provide a near real-time recorder ("film equivalent") for an ultrasonic hologram. The shape of the surface deformation on this liquid-air detector is the representation of the phase and amplitude of the ultrasonic hologram formed by the interference of the object and reference ultrasonic waves.
The greatest value of the ultrasonic holographic process is achieved by reconstructing the hologram in a usable manner, usually in light, to make visible the structural nature of the initial object. In the case of a liquid-air interface, the reconstruction to achieve the visible image is accomplished by reflecting a coherent light from this liquid-air surface. This is the equivalent process to reflecting laser light from optically generated hologram that is embossed on the surface of a reflecting material (e.g., thin aluminum film).
The reflected light is diffracted (scattered) by the hologram to diffractive orders, each of which contains image information about the object. These diffracted orders are referred to as ±nth orders. That part of the reconstructing light that does not react with the hologram is referred to as zero order and is usually blocked so that the weaker diffracted orders can be imaged. The higher the diffracted order the greater is the separation angle between the zero order of reflected light. Once reconstructed, the image may be viewed directly, by means of a video camera or through post processing processes.
Ultrasonic holography is illustrated in prior art FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a plane wave of sound 12 (i.e., ultrasound) that is generated by a large area object transducer 10. One example of a large area object transducer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,202. The sound is scattered (i.e., diffracted) by structural points within the object. The scattered sound 14, from the internal object points that lie in the focal plane 16, are focused (i.e., projected) into a hologram detector plane 18 of a hologram detector 20. The focusing is accomplished by an ultrasonic lens system 22, which focuses the scattered sound into the hologram detector plane 18. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,553, an ultrasonic lens is described that may be satisfactorily used for the ultrasonic lenses illustrated as the lens system 22 in FIG. 1. The ultrasonic lens system 22 also allows the imaging process to magnify the image (i.e., zoom) or change focus position. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,571 a lens system is illustrated that can magnify the image and change focus position, and may be used satisfactorily for the lens system 22.
Since the focal point 24 of the unscattered sound is prior to the hologram detector plane 18, this portion of the total sound again expands to form the transparent image contribution (that portion of the sound that is transmitted through the object as if it were transparent or semi-transparent). In such an application an ultrasound reflector 26 is generally used to direct the object sound at a different angle thus impinging on the horizontal hologram detector plane 18; the hologram detector plane 18 usually contains a liquid 28 that is deformed by the ultrasound reflecting from the liquid-air interface.
When a reference wave 30 and the object wave are simultaneously reflected from the hologram detector plane 18, the deformation of the liquid-air interface is the exact pattern of the ultrasonic hologram formed by the object wave (12 combined with 14) and the "off-axis" reference wave 30.
This ultrasonic hologram formed on the detector plane 18 is subsequently reconstructed for viewing by using a coherent light source 32, which may be passed through an optical lens 34, and reflected from the holographic detector plane 18. A hologram detector suitable for use as the hologram detector 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/589,863.
In the practice of ultrasonic holography an object wave is passed through or reflected from the interior or exterior structural characteristics of an object being investigated. Since this is off-axis holography, a reference wave is required to form the ultrasonic (or acoustical) hologram. Since the reference wave needs to pass unaltered from the reference transducers to the hologram area, the prior art systems required some volume or space on the ultrasonic side of the hologram that is free of the object, thus allowing an unaltered path for the reference.
These conditions required that there was some distance from the object to the hologram. This meant that the "object distance" was great; the object distance then determined the image distance. Thus, an opportunity to have a full 3-D (three dimensional) view is compromised since the aperture size to the object distance limits the 3-D information.

System, method and apparatus for direct imaging in ultrasonic holography


The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device with a source driver in which a significant signal delay is not generated, and which has a fast response speed. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display device comprising a scan driver including a D/A converter for outputting analog signals corresponding to gradation data input, a triangular wave generator for outputting triangular wave signals, and a comparator for applying data voltage to each pixel which include OCB liquid crystal cells by comparing the analog signals with the triangular wave signals. The data voltage is a PWM pulse with a varied voltage width.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device. Specifically, to a liquid crystal display device with a source driver in which a significant signal delay is not generated, and which has a fast response speed.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, weight reduction and shape thinning of display devices have been required to conform to the weight reduction and shape thinning of personnel computers, televisions, etc. Therefore, flat panel displays such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are being developed to meet these requirements, instead of cathode ray tubes(CRTs).
LCDs are display devices for obtaining a desired image signal by applying an electric field to liquid crystals having an anisotropic dielectric constant placed (i.e., injected) between two substrates and controlling electric field intensity, thereby controlling an amount of light transmitted onto the substrates from an external light source(backlight).
Generally, LCD devices have already widely been used as screen display devices for portable information appliances such as cellular phones, computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs), because they are thinner, lighter and consume less electric power compared with CRTs. Further, LCD devices are commonly used in certain fields, because fewer electromagnetic waves are emitted from the LCD devices than from CRTs.
LCD devices are typically used as display devices in portable flat panel displays, and a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), in which a thin film transistor is used as a switching device, is commonly used in LCD devices.
Generally, LCD devices are categorized according to the method of displaying color images into color filter type LCD devices and field sequential driving type LCD devices.
The color filter type LCD devices display desired images by forming a color filter layer including of three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) on one of two substrates and controlling an amount of light transmitted onto the color filter layer. The color filter type LCD device displays desired images by controlling an amount of light transmitted onto the R, G and B color filter layers, thereby combining R, G and B colors when transmitting light irradiated from a single light source onto R, G and B color filter layers.
In an LCD device for displaying images by using the single light source and the three color filter layers, the LCD device requires three times as many pixels as an LCD device for displaying images by using black and white colors because each display point in the device is composed of three unit pixels corresponding to R, G and B regions. Therefore, a technology for delicately fabricating these complex LCD panels is required to obtain images of high resolution. Further, it is inconvenient to fabricate the LCD device, because each color filter layer should be formed on a separate substrate, and consequently the luminance of the LCD device is reduced, because light transmittance of each color filter is low.
The field sequential driving type LCD device obtains full color images by lighting independent light sources of R, G and B colors sequentially and periodically and applying corresponding color signals to respective pixel and synchronizing the lighting cycles of the light sources. Specifically, the field sequential driving type LCD device displays images by sequentially time-share displaying lights of three primary colors of R, G and B that are outputted from R, G and B backlights onto one pixel where the one pixel is not divided into R, G and B unit pixels, thereby creating a persistent image for the eyes.
The field sequential driving type LCD devices are further divided into analog driving type LCD devices and digital driving type LCD devices. The analog driving type LCD device displays gradation in a transmission at a level that corresponds to the gradation voltage applied. This is done by setting a plurality of gradation voltages corresponding to the number of gradations to be displayed and selecting one gradation voltage corresponding to gradation data from the gradation voltages so that a liquid crystal panel is driven by the selected gradation voltage.
On the other hand, the digital driving type LCD device displays a gradation by constantly applying a driving voltage to liquid crystals and controlling an applying time of the driving voltage. According to the digital driving type LCD device, a gradation is displayed by constantly maintaining a driving voltage and timely controlling the voltage applying state and the voltage non-applying state, thereby controlling an amount of light that is transmitted through the liquid crystals.
LCD devices have a drawback of having a narrow viewing angle since light, darkness and color tone change according to the screen viewing direction. Various methods for overcoming this drawback have been suggested.
For example, in order to improve the viewing angle of an LCD device, a method for improving the vertical luminance as much as 30% or more by attaching a prism film to the surface of a light guide plate may be used, thereby improving the straightness of incident light from the backlight of the LCD device. A method for increasing the viewing angle by attaching a negative light compensation plate to the surface of the light guide plate may also be used.
Further, although the in-plane switching mode provides vertical and horizontal viewing angles of 160 degrees which is a wide viewing angle that is almost on the same level with cathode-ray tubes, an improved countermeasure for a lower opening ratio is necessary since the in-plane switching mode has a relatively low opening ratio.
Additionally, many techniques for improving viewing angle of the LCD devices concentrate on providing optically compensated bend (OCB) mode LCD devices, polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) mode LCD devices and deformed helix ferroelectric (DHF) mode LCD devices using thin film transistors (TFTs). Particularly, the OCB mode LCD devices are currently actively being studied due their benefits of fast response speed and wide viewing angle of liquid crystals.
FIG. 1 is a liquid crystal state diagram for explaining the operation of an ordinary OCB mode LCD device.
Referring to FIG. 1, the initial alignment state of liquid crystals positioned between an upper plate electrode and a lower plate electrode is the homogeneous state, and when a certain voltage is applied to the upper and lower plate electrodes, the liquid crystals operate in an OCB mode after the homogeneous state is converted into the bend state through transient splay and asymmetric splay.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, formed OCB mode liquid crystal cells generally have about 10 to 20 degrees of tilt angle and 4 to 7 μm of thickness, and an alignment film of the liquid crystal cells is rubbed in the same direction. A high voltage is applied to the liquid crystal molecules to form the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules at 90 degrees in the center of the liquid crystal layer. A voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal molecules is varied to modulate polarization of light passing through the liquid crystal layer by changing the tilt of the rest of the liquid crystal molecules except the alignment film and the liquid crystal molecules in the center of the liquid crystal layer since the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the center of the liquid crystal layer is horizontally symmetrical so that a tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules at a specific voltage or less is zero degrees, and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules at a specific voltage or more is 90 degrees. It generally takes several seconds to arrange the liquid crystal molecules of a central portion of the liquid crystal layer to have a tilt angle of 0 to 90 degrees. A reaction time of the liquid crystal molecules is very fast at about 10 μs since the arrangement is a bending deformation having a highly elastic coefficient without back-flow.
The above described conventional LCD device includes an LCD panel equipped with a plurality of pixels, a source driver, a scan driver and a backlight for driving the LCD panel. Therefore, scan signals are sequentially applied from the scan driver, and a data voltage is synchronized with the scan signals to be applied from the source driver to corresponding pixels so that the transmittance of liquid crystals is changed according to the applied voltage, wherein a light is cast on the LCD panel from the backlight so that a screen image is displayed by emitting the light in a luminance corresponding to the transmittance of the liquid crystals.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a source driver of the conventional LCD device. Referring to FIG. 2, a source driver 20 of a conventional LCD device includes a digital to analog converter 21 and an amp/buffer 22. The digital to analog converter 21 outputs the converted voltage value by receiving gradation data for red R, green G and blue B that corresponds to screen display data and converting the gradation data into an analog voltage value. The amp/buffer 22 amplifies the analog voltage value so that the amplified analog voltage value is output to an LCD panel 10.
However, a slew rate is limited in the above mentioned source driver 20 of the conventional LCD device due to technical limitations of the output of the operational amplifier included in the amp/buffer 22. That is, the output of the amp/buffer 22 is amplified with a time delay compared with an expected voltage value corresponding to the analog voltage value that is the input of the amp/buffer 22. Since this phenomenon limits frame frequency of an OCB mode LCD device, the conventional LCD device has a problem that the benefit of fast response speed possessed by the OCB mode LCD device is not sufficiently exhibited.


Method and apparatus for generating variable length coded for video encoding. A plurality of memory tables contain variable length codes tailored to patterns of input video information that is likely to be input to the variable length encoder. The patterns are determined in large part by a value of a quantizer used in video encoding. A separate memory table containing separate variable length codes is established for each of a plurality of quantization parameter values. The quantization parameter is input to the encoder to enable one of the memory tables and the video information is input to the enabled table to generate the variable length code.

The present invention relates to video coders and, specifically, to variable length coders utilized in the coding of video images.
Currently, several standards for video coding have been defined or are under consideration. The proposed standard for video coding of motion pictures, MPEG-4, provides for coding according to a discrete cosine transform, quantization, run length coding and additionally variable length coding (VLC). VLC tables are preferred due to their low complexity. They permit bit savings by allocating shorter codes to video signals that occur with high frequency and longer codes are allocated to video signals that occur with lower frequency. However, VLCs are narrowly tailored for specific applications; they do not adapt to dynamic conditions. For example, for intra coding in the verification model no. 6 of the proposed MPEG-4 coding standard, a first VLC table is used to code DC coefficients of luminance, a second VLC table codes AC coefficients of luminance, a third VLC table codes DC coefficients of chrominance and a fourth VLC table codes AC coefficients of chrominance. For inter coding, additional VLC tables may be required. However, the addition of VLC tables increases system complexity and requires additional signaling to identify when specific VLC tables are in use. Such overhead consumes bandwidth and contributes to coding inefficiencies.
Video coders now may advantageously employ variable quantizers. Quantizers divide down a video signal by a quantization parameter to reduce bandwidth occupied by the coded signal. A variable quantizer divides down by a variable quantization parameter but it changes the statistics of the video signal coded by the VLC tables. Thus, changes in the quantization parameter affects the coding efficiencies of the VLC tables. Coding savings obtained at the quantizer may result in costs at the VLC table.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a coding scheme that integrates a variable quantizer with a variable length encoder. Further, there is a need in the art for such a coding scheme that switches among VLC tables without additional overhead signaling.

Video coder having scalar dependent variable length coder


An appliance for the control/equalization of electric and/or electromagnetic fields being below 900 MHz, where the field/s is/are not generated in a resonant cavity. The appliance includes a dielectric load placed in a dielectric material/s. An average dielectricity constant of this material/s, at applied frequency/ies, exceeds 20% of an average dielectricity constant of the load. Additionally, a loss factor of this material/s, at the applied frequency/ies, is below 75% of an average loss factor of the load. At least 20% of a surface of the load adjoins and is in contact with the mentioned dielectric material/s. In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention the load includes a bag/container of blood.

It is well known that dielectric matters can be heated by oscillating electric and/or electromagnetic fields. Microwaves, which are generated in a resonant cavity, are the most frequently used kinds of fields. As a rule micro waves are defined as electric/electromagnetic fields oscillating at frequencies exceeding 900 MHz, still better at frequencies exceeding 400 MHz and best of all at frequencies exceeding 300 MHz.
The disadvantage of microwaves is that the heating usually takes place ia a surface zone, where the energy is focused to so called hot spots.
Oscillating electric/electromagnetic fields at frequencies below microwave frequencies are generally generated between two capacitor discs. Dielectric matters are placed in the air space between the discs, It is of frequent occurrence that heating between capacitor discs is disturbed by the formation of sparks.
This can be avoided by coating the capacitor discs with electrically isolating materials having small values on their dielectricity constant and loss factors implying no or little influence on the electric field. Simultaneously the isolating material shall be characterised by a high electric penetration resistance (EP 85319, U.S. Pat. No. 551,273)
It is also known that the addition of dielectric substances influences the dielectric properties of the load, which is to be heated. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,081, U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,965)
A drawback tied to dielectric heating is that the field lines are concentrated to relatively defined areas of the load so that these areas become unequally heated, which implies local heat concentration as a consequence. Especially this is valid, if the load has marked edges and/or protrusive parts. Thus there is a serious problem, if the load to be warmed is perishable to any kind of overheating. An example representing a living matter is a concentrate of red blood cells kept in a bag and meant for intravenous transfusion.
Methods designed for a slow warming of blood have been developed partly by utilising convection. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,663) and by partly by utilising microwaves, which at low power warm blood in the course of a transfusion (WO 9926690). The power, which is applied to the warming of blood in accordance to WO 9926690, is so low, that the problem tied to an uneven field distribution is negligible. However methods suitable for the fast warming of perishable loads are lacking.
Bags holding red blood cell concentrates to be used for intravenous transfusion are in general stored in refrigerators at 4° C. Two problems exist as a consequence of this temperature as a blood concentrate is viscous and cold.
It takes long time to get it out of a bag. Thus a blood transfusion will be retarded
Before a blood concentrate is transfused intravenously to a patient it has to be warmed, best of all to body temperature. At acute transfusion occasions, efforts are tried to attain rapid warming of bags holding blood concentrate, in general with water-baths. Such a warming process is in spite of all pains time wasting and as a consequence patients do not receive their transfusions in due course of time.
If for example a patient is in a state if chock owing to an accident, a cooling caused by the transfusion entails a danger of life of the patient.
Experiments implying the rapid warming of bags with blood concentrates by applying micro waves as well as traditional capacitive warming have caused local overheating damages, particularly in surface zones and comers. These damages have occurred in form of coagulated blood parts and have had as consequences that patients have died owing to clots of blood.

Appliance for the equalization of heat in a dielectric load heated by an oscillating electric/electromagnetic field


A locking device having a locking cylinder and a key. The locking cylinder includes a cylinder core with tumblers in a cylinder core, which is rotatably mounted in a cylinder housing. Standard coding for the key is produced by a step with longitudinal profiling on at least one flat side of the edge profile of the key, said step being associated with a counter step on the tumbler. In addition to the standard coding produced by step and counter step, the key has at least one set of beveled edge coding in a corner section of the edge profile. The beveled edged coding consists of recesses in the form of beveled cuts in the corresponding corner sections of the edge profile, relative to which are provided counter touching points in the corresponding tumbler. In a section of the key shaft, either the standard coding or beveled edge coding can optionally be used, thereby considerably increasing the diversity of the locking device while retaining the space-saving design.

The invention concerns a lock device. On a flat side of the edge profile, a profiled shoulder extends in the longitudinal direction of the key. This profiled shoulder produces a family of scanning points for a standard coding on the key by virtue of the course of its profile. At least some individual tumblers are provided with a cooperating shoulder, which, when the key is inserted, is supported on a well-defined location of this shoulder. These cooperating shoulders function as cooperating scanning points for the standard coding of the key, and for this reason they are to be called "standard tumblers". The family of all standard tumblers located in a cylinder core produces with its cooperating shoulders the complementary standard countercoding to the associated key.
A lock device of this type is disclosed by DE 199 44 070 C2. In that lock device, the coding of the key consists of a coding groove that extends in the longitudinal direction of the key. The corresponding tumblers have projections that serve as scanning points, and, when the key is inserted, these projections fit into a certain cross section of the coding groove. The range of variation for the coding of the key and countercoding in the associated package of tumblers can be increased with a given height of the increments between successive code points only by increasing the length or the width of the key. With a longer key, a larger number of tumblers can be positioned in the cylinder core. With a wider key, the number of increments for coding the key can be increased. Both of these measures have the disadvantage that they increase the overall height or overall length of the lock device as a whole. An increase in the dimensions of the lock device is undesirable. Furthermore, the previously known lock device has the disadvantage that it can be forced open relatively easily with picking tools.
EP 0 267 316 A1 describes a lock device of a different type, in which the bit of the key has a polygonal cross section. In isolated positions that are circumferentially and axially separated from each other, notches of different depths are located on the edges of the key bit and are used for the coding of tumbler pins. In the area of a cross section of the key bit, the only pin tumbler that can engage in this area is one which is oriented in a certain direction and is associated with the notch located in that area and cannot be replaced by other pin tumblers that are oriented in a different direction and are spring-loaded. At the tip of the key shaft, bevels are provided in the lateral surfaces between the edges, but these only serve the purpose of raising the tumbler pins when the key is inserted.

Locking device with a locking cylinder and a key


A vertical panel delineator system is capable of withstanding high winds without rotating from a preferred orientation wherein the full width of the device is perpendicular to the direction of oncoming traffic, is stackable without sticking or jamming, and is capable of accommodating multiple reflective sheeting configurations fully within recessed receiving panels on the delineator device. The vertical panel delineator further accommodates, in a secure manner, warning barricade lights of any known construction, and is uniquely capable of retaining secure engagement of the panel body with its ballasting base when being transported or during ordinary deployment, yet readily disengaging body and base upon impact by a vehicle.

This invention relates to traffic safety devices and, more specifically, to vertical panel display systems.
Traffic safety delineators are extensively used at the present time to mark potential driving hazards, such as construction zones, lane closures, detours, potholes, etc., as well as to channelize traffic past such hazards. They are often used, as well, on sidewalks, bicycle paths, parking lots, indoor shopping malls, and the like to alert passersby to potential dangers, whatever the mode of transportation.
Vertical panels are well known in the prior art for use as vehicular traffic delineators. They are particularly useful in situations where space for lane closures is limited on the roadway and a full size circular channelizer (such as a drum) cannot be used. Vertical panel channelizers are most usually fabricated of polyethylene sheeting and have a minimum frontal surface area of 270 square inches as required by U.S. government standards, the frontal surface comprising alternating contrasting stripes (typically orange and white contrasting stripes) arranged in a diagonal pattern. This configuration has been shown to assist motorists in guiding their vehicles through the demarcated zone. Prior art vertical panels have a variety of problems, however, which prevent them from being ideally suited to their intended purpose. For example, if they are stackable (which is desirable to facilitate easier transportation and storage), they typically jam and stick, causing difficulty during deployment and often damaging the reflective sheeting displayed thereon. Additionally, they often fail to separate from their ballasting base upon vehicular impact, thus causing potential damage to the impacting vehicle, its occupants, and the delineator device, as well as causing the device to not be in compliance with governmental regulations in many localities. A further problem with prior art devices is that they are often structurally incapable of withstanding the stresses imposed thereon by high winds created by weather conditions or passing vehicles, particularly trucks.


An advanced generation interspecific hybrid of Cornus kousa and C. florida that is distinguished by its exceptionally high vigor, attractive foliage, very floriferous display of white floral bracts, high level of winter hardiness, tolerance of drought and shade, and high resistance to the incitants of Powdery Mildew and Dogwood Anthracnose.

This new cultivar is a product of a longstanding detailed program of interspecific hybridization and selection of dogwoods, in this instance a cross of an F1 interspecific hybrid of Cornus kousa×C. florida 'Sweetwater' backcrossed to an unrelated C. kousa. The progeny were carefully retained and characteristics analyzed for their differences and outstanding value as potential commercial varieties or cultivars.
The particular seedling hereof were selected from certain progeny grown in a cultivated area and, as a result, have in turn been asexually reproduced by grafting, usually by T-budding or chip-budding. It can also be propagated by softwood stem cuttings. The reproduction and actual growth and selection of the new cultivar took place in the vicinity of New Brunswick, N.J. and has been found to be distinctive as to its winter-hardiness in that area, USDA Plant Hardiness Map Zone 6a. This new cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
As will be understood from the detailed description of the invention that appears hereinafter, the new cultivar is in fact outstanding and readily identified as such. With the foregoing in mind, the description that follows will be understood as clearly defining the new cultivar, the desirable characteristics of which are the result of such a program as has been heretofore suggested.

Interspecific hybrid dogwood tree designated ‘KF 111-1’


This invention provides novel thermoelectric compounds comprising:                a) atomic percent Ytterbium        b) between 50 and 74.999 atomic percent Aluminum        c) between 0.001 and 25 atomic percent Manganese and a process for their preparation.

Thermoelectric or Peltier refrigerators produce only a moderate amount of cooling but have poor efficiencies when compared to compressor based refrigerators. The thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency is measured in terms of the dimensionless "figure of merit, ZT". To maximize ZT, materials with large Seebeck coefficient, high electrical conductivity, but with low thermal conductivity are needed. The known intermetallic compound YbAl3 has a relatively high Seebeck coefficient and high electrical conductivity but its thermal conductivity is too high e.g. 12 W/μK. Usually intermetallic materials are poor thermoelectric materials but this compound exhibits unusual transport properties leading to a large Seebeck coefficient. Adding materials with very low thermal conductivity lowers the ZT, if the addition does not degrade the other inter-related parameters.

Figure of merit in Ytterbium-Aluminum-Manganese intermetallic thermoelectric and method of preparation


A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system includes an on-board ammonia generation system that produces nitrogen from air and hydrogen from a source of a hydrogen-containing compound, and generates an ammonia product from the nitrogen and hydrogen to provide the ammonia product into an exhaust from a NOx generator to reduce the NOx in the exhaust. Oxygen from one or both of the nitrogen generator and the hydrogen generation cell can be supplied to the NOx generator for cleaner combustion or to a particulate filter for cleaning the filter. H2O from the NOx generator can at least partially provide a water source for the hydrogen generation cell.

Combustion engines, such as those used in power plants and motor vehicles, emit substances that are harmful to the environment, including nitrogen oxide. Nitrogen oxides such as nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are extremely toxic. Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are often present when nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced during combustion.
When NOx and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight they form photochemical smog. This smog is a significant form of air pollution, especially in the summertime. Children, people with lung diseases, such as asthma, and people who work or exercise outside are susceptible to adverse effects of smog such as damage to lung tissue and reduction in lung function. Also, NOx forms nitric acid when dissolved in atmospheric moisture, forming a component of acid rain. As is well known, acid rain causes negative visual and physical affects to buildings and other structures. Furthermore, any unnatural level of nitric acid in the environment due to acid rain is undesirable.
There are conventional ways to remove NOx such as by filtering, absorption, and/or catalytic reactions. In order to remove NOx from emissions of internal combustion engines, one of the conventional methods is selective catalytic reduction (SCR), which is conventionally used for diesel engines, for example.
Conventional applications of SCR to reduce NOx emissions for motor vehicles include injection of ammonia supplied from a tank of liquid ammonia or urea (a major component of which is ammonia) into the emissions stream of the diesel engines. However, the liquid ammonia supply has to be maintained and replenished. Planning and performing periodic maintenance to check and replenish urea supplies is costly and, hence, can be dismissed, despite the negative environmental effects of NOx emissions

Systems and methods for on-site selective catalytic reduction


A flexible pipe connector for effecting control and forced circulation of corrosion-inhibiting fluids through an annulus between inner and outer sheaths of a flexible pipe having multiple connected segments includes an attachment mechanism for connecting to an end of a segment of flexible pipe and at least two distributing rings for distributing corrosion-inhibiting fluid. The rings are configured to be positioned in the annulus of the flexible pipe, wherein at least one distributing ring has fluidic access to the annulus of the flexible pipe. This distributing ring is configured to be connected fluidically to at least one distributing ring, in an adjacent connector, that does not have fluidic access to the annulus, A distributing ring that does not have fluidic access to the annulus of the flexible pipe is configured to be connected fluidically to at least one distributing ring, in an adjacent connector, that comprises fluidic access to the annulus.

Petroleum production in the offshore environment makes wide use of ascending pipelines, known as risers. Such a pipeline, which may be flexible or rigid, collects the oil produced by the subsea well, and conveys it to a floating unit, and then to tankers or directly to onshore facilities.
Flexible pipes of the "unbonded" type designed according to standards API Spec 17J and API RP 17B, the descriptions of which are incorporated herein by reference, possess armouring normally constructed of carbon steel and carbon-manganese steel, which is confined within the annulus between two permeable polymer layers, the first layer (referred to as the "barrier") for isolating the fluid conveyed inside the pipe and the second for isolating the surroundings (referred to as the "outer sheath" or "outer cover"). That is, the barrier and outer cover can be considered to be inner and outer sheaths of the pipe. The term "annulus" is used through the present document to refer this space between the barrier and the outer cover.
The armouring is susceptible to corrosion by corrosive gases (CO2 and H2S) and water that permeates from inside the pipe, through the polymer of the barrier. Any loss of hermeticity of the outer sheath also results in the presence of water in the annulus.
Corrosion may lead to failure mechanisms, such as stress corrosion—caused by CO2 or by H2S—and pitting corrosion. Stress corrosion caused by CO2 (SC—CO2) is a failure mechanism that is not covered by the current versions of the international standards for flexible pipes (API Spec 17J and ISO-13628-2). The contents of standard ISO-13628-2 are also relevant and incorporated herein by reference.
At present, flexible pipes are normally constructed without an integrated system (to the pipe body and connectors) for forced circulation with the annulus between the outer cover and the barrier, which would make it possible to displace the corrosive gases that may be present in its annulus, so as to reduce their concentration or fugacity and prevent or minimize their corrosive effects.
In some cases in the oil industry, the various sections or segments of a flexible pipe, which are provided with flanges at their ends, have their annular spaces interconnected so as to allow a reduction in the concentrations of the corrosive gases. However, this conventional technical solution is not sufficient to prevent corrosion due to condensation of water in the annulus or loss of integrity of the annulus through ingress of sea water. In general, the annular space is very restricted, making circulation of the gases that have permeated and of other fluids difficult. Consequently, removal or dilution to acceptable levels of corrosive fluids also becomes difficult, if forced circulation is not used or there is no change in the design features of the flexible pipe.
The flexible pipes currently on the market have layers on their annulus that make circulation of fluids difficult, and in which droplets or bubbles of CO2 with dissolved water may be trapped owing to the geometric characteristics both of some metallic layers (for example, "Z-shape", "T-shape" or "C-shape" layers, as shown in FIG. 7 of the practical recommendations API RP 17B) and in the interstices between metallic and polymer layers, or else in elements arranged between these layers, such as anti-wear tapes or anti-buckling tapes.
Document US20130068465A1, for example, discloses a method for circulation of fluids through the annulus of a flexible riser, which requires the use of an umbilical with a pipe for allowing circulation of, for example, corrosion inhibitor in the annulus. However, that document does not provide changes in the structure of the flexible pipe or connectors necessary to allow mitigation of the problems of corrosion in the armouring of the flexible pipe, such as SC—CO2 and pitting corrosion. The document only contemplates a single continuous riser, rather than a riser consisting of several segments.
As such, document US20130068465A1 does not consider how to mitigate corrosion in the armouring of the flexible pipe in the case of loss of hermeticity of the annulus, for example due to damage in the outer sheath in an area (e.g. a particular segment, when the flexible pipe is made up of several segments). In such a scenario, the circulation will be interrupted in the area in which the annulus becomes flooded with sea water. Moreover, the method taught by US20130068465A1 requires additional support on the platform for each riser to be serviced by the umbilicals.
Document EP1867906A1 relates to an apparatus and a method for providing a connector for a flexible pipe. The document relates to a method of assembly and apparatus used during connection of the connector to the flexible pipe in which the body of the connector is pushed onto the body of the flexible pipe.
Document EP1867905B1 relates to an apparatus and a method for providing a flexible pipe connector. In particular, this document refers to an internal and/or external collar of a flexible pipe, wherein at least one of them includes a shaped surface for controlling a radius of curvature of wires of an armouring layer of the flexible pipe when the flexible pipe body is mounted in a connector.
Document WO2008037867A1 relates to a connector for a flexible pipe having increased resistance to pulling-out of the pipe.
Document US2011109079A1 relates to a method and apparatus for fixing a flexible pipe to another flexible pipe. In particular, this document relates to a method for joining flexible pipe segments together to form a duct in which the gases trapped in an annular region of a flexible pipe, in a portion of the pipeline, may be transferred to a corresponding annular region in some other part or parts of the pipeline.
Document WO2012022908A1 describes a connector for joining a flexible pipe for transporting a cryogenic fluid comprising a corrugated inner pipe, at least one layer of tensile armour arranged around the corrugated pipe, at least one layer of thermal insulation arranged around the armouring layer, and an outer sealing layer arranged around the layer of thermal insulation. The connector in this document further comprises a front part that comprises, on the one hand, a front end flange for holding the corrugated pipe in its defined place and, on the other hand, elements for fastening the armouring layer. The connector also comprises a rear part comprising at least one rear end flange for exerting pressure on the outer layer and for holding the layer of thermal insulation in place, the front and rear ends respectively being joined together by coupling elements. Finally, the connector described comprises means for thermal insulation interposed between the front end flange and rear end flange, respectively, so as to isolate the rear part from the front part of the connector.
Document WO2012126999A1 describes a connector of a flexible pipe for conveying a fluid in a marine environment, wherein the flexible pipe is of the unbonded type used for offshore exploration of oil and gas reservoirs.
This document also relates to a method for connecting a connector of the type described at one end of a flexible pipe of the unbound type.
Document WO2014174244A1 relates to a method and an apparatus for fixing a flexible pipe body in a connector. In particular, this document describes the use of a sealing ring for providing a fluid seal between a polymer layer of the flexible pipe body and the connector.
Finally, document WO2016092282A1 relates to a flexible pipe connector, and an apparatus and a method for making a flexible pipe connector. This document gives details of the manufacture of a connector for a flexible pipe, wherein at least one component part of the connector is formed first as a near net shape (NNS) precursor, the shape of which approximates to the final shape, by means of an additive process, and is then finished to supply the component part.
It is therefore clear that the prior art does not comprise connectors for flexible pipes that provide control and access to the annulus of the flexible pipe, to allow forced circulation of N2 or of other non-corrosive fluids through this annulus, so as to minimize the corrosive effects mentioned above, caused by the presence of water and undesirable gases, such as CO2 or H2S.
As will be described in more detail below, the present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art described above in a practical and efficient manner.

Flexible pipe connector suitable for effecting control and forced circulation of anticorrosive fluids through the annulus of the flexible pipe


In a method and apparatus for withdrawing a strand in a horizontal continuous casting installation, the strand is withdrawn from a mold by a predetermined stroke and then retracted by a smaller stroke corresponding to shrinkage of the strand. This cycle of withdrawal and retraction is repeated intermittently. A strand withdrawing and retracting characteristic of a cycle is set in a control unit, and pinch rolls for withdrawing and retracting the strand are controlled based on the set characteristic. Actual withdrawing and retracting strokes of the strand are detected by a detecting device and the detected signal is compared with the set characteristic to produce an instruction signal which is fed back to the pinch rolls, so that the positional accuracy of the strand and the quality of the strand are improved.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for withdrawing a strand in a horizontal continuous casting installation in which a strand is intermittently withdrawn from a mold provided for a tundish by repeating a cycle of withdrawal of the strand over a predetermined stroke and retracting the strand over a small stroke.
The strand withdrawing device of the horizontal continuous casting installation is constructed to carry out cycles of intermittent withdrawal of the strand from a mold provided for a tundish during a predetermined number of strokes (10-20 mm, for example) and retraction of the strand over a small stroke (0.3-1.5 mm, for example).
Molten steel supplied from the tundish and cast in the mold starts solidification from its outer surface. Subsequently, when the solidified strand is withdrawn over a predetermined stroke, the molten steel is poured again into the mold, and the cast steel begins to solidify. The cast strand extending to the outside of the mold gradually cools and shrinks. For this reason, after the withdrawal, and after stopping the cast strand for a short waiting time the strand is retracted toward the mold over a distance or stroke at least equal to the amount of the shrinkage. The purpose of the retraction is to ensure positive connection between a newly solidified shell in the most upstream portion of the mold and a solidified shell contiguous thereto. Then, the cast strand is stopped for a very short interval, and then the withdrawal of the cast strand of the next cycle is started. By repeating such intermittent withdrawal and retraction at intervals of 0.5 second, for example, the strand is formed continuously.
The behavior of formation of solidified shell in the mold is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei-1-39,860 published in 1989. The small stroke of retracting the cast strand is very important for improving the quality of the strand. Where the retraction stroke is deficient, a cold shut cracks tend to be formed at the interface between solidified shells, whereas when the retraction stroke is too large an adverse phenomenon occurs in the steel structure during solidification, so that it becomes unable to obtain cast strands of a predetermined quality. Thus, the ability of the retracting device depends greatly upon the high degree of positional accuracy at the time of withdrawal and retraction of the cast strand.
The cast strand withdrawing device of the horizontal continuous casting installation disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho-58-202,954 published in 1983 includes two sets of withdrawing devices each having a hydraulic type clamping mechanism for clamping the cast strand, and a withdrawal hydraulic cylinder for withdrawing the clamping mechanism. By alternately operating these withdrawing devices, the cast strand can be intermittingly withdrawn.
The cast strand withdrawing device of a horizontal continuous casting installation disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho 54-24,224 published in 1979 comprises a reversible continuous rotating shaft system and a reversible intermittent rotating shaft system having a clutch, a reciprocating mechanism for converting a rotary motion into a reciprocating motion, a mechanism for forwardly rotating pinch rolls during a forward operation of the reciprocating mechanism, and a mechanism for rearwardly rotating the pinch rolls during a rearward operation of the reciprocating mechanism.
In the strand withdrawing device of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho-58-202,954 referred to above, the strand is withdrawn by the hydraulic cylinder, so that there is an influence of the compressibility of the hydraulic fluid, and therefore the positional accuracy is small. Furthermore, the strand are alternately withdrawn with two sets of withdrawing devices, and the loads of the withdrawing devices are different when the withdrawing devices are changed, thus resulting in increase of the positional error.
In the strand withdrawing device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho-54-24,224 referred to above, the gear train of the intermittently reversed rotating shaft system has a large backlash, so that the positional accuracy of the strand is lowered greatly and therefore such device cannot be used practically. In addition, in this withdrawing device, the intermittently reversed rotating shaft system and the reversible continuously rotating shaft system protrude beyond the end surfaces of the pinch rolls, where a plurality of molds are mounted on the tundish. For this reason the spacing between the strands (spacing between the lines) becomes large, so that there is a problem in the installation space. Furthermore, the intermittently reversed rotating shaft system and the reversible continuously rotating shaft system include many parts (gears, shafts, clutches, sprocket wheels, chains, etc.) whereby the construction becomes complicated and bulky, and is expensive.

Method of and apparatus for withdrawing strand in horizontal continuous casting installation


A bone mill for preparing the second-stage opening in crestal bone surrounding the gingival surface of a dental implant in a jawbone is tubular in form and has teeth with a negative rake on an end surface and the adjacent side surface for forming a shaped opening to the implant. The side surface of the mill near the end surface is tapered to the desired shape of the opening. A guide pin fixed in the implant mates with an opening in the bone mill to center the mill relative to the implant.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,196 (which is owned by the Assignee of the present application) teaches, among other things, a second-stage healing abutment for forming and preserving in the mucosa above a dental implant a transmucosal opening large enough to receive an artificial tooth which faithfully replicates a natural tooth being restored. This opening expands in size from the implant to the outer surface of the overlying gingiva, where the opening has width approximating that of the lost natural tooth being replaced, where it emerged from the gums. During the first stage of dental implantation, however, when the implant with its cover screw is left unloaded in the jawbone for a time interval while osseointegration proceeds, the crestal cortical bone tends to grow over the periphery of the cover screw, and this overgrowth must be removed at the beginning of the second stage, if only to permit the cover screw to be removed from the implant. Removing this bone overgrowth is now done by hand. This practice is tedious and imprecise, and potentially harmful to the patient.

Method and means for dental bone profiling