A fumaric acid diester based resin containing a dipropyl fumarate residue unit and a fumaric acid diester residue unit having a C1 or C2 alkyl group, wherein in a retardation film composed of the resin, when a refractive index in the fast axis direction within the film plane is designated as nx, a refractive index in the film in-plane direction orthogonal thereto is designated as ny, and a refractive index in the thickness direction of the film is designated as nz, the respective refractive indices are satisfied with a relationship of (nx≦ny<nz) and a relationship between a film thickness and an out-of-plane retardation measured at a wavelength of 550 nm and expressed by the specific equation is 4.5 nm/film thickness (μm) or more in terms of an absolute value.

Liquid crystal displays are used as a display device which is the most important in the multimedia society in a wide range inclusive of from mobile phones to monitors for computer, monitors for laptop computer, and television receivers. For the liquid crystal displays, a lot of optical films for enhancing display characteristics are used. In particular, retardation films play a large role for enhancement of a contrast in the case of being viewed from the front or oblique direction, compensation of a color tone, or the like. In conventional retardation films, polycarbonates or cyclic polyolefins are used, and all of these polymers are a polymer having positive birefringence. Here, the terms "positive" and "negative" of birefringence are defined as follows.
The optical anisotropy of a polymer film having been subjected to molecular orientation by means of stretching or the like can be expressed by a refractive index ellipsoid shown in FIG. 1. Here, in the case of stretching a film, a refractive index in the fast axis direction within the film plane is designated as nx, a refractive index in the film in-plane direction orthogonal thereto is designated as ny, and a refractive index in the thickness direction of the film is designated as nz. Incidentally, the fast axis as referred to herein means an axis direction with a low refractive index within the film plane.
Then, the "negative birefringence" as referred to herein means that the stretching direction is the fast axis direction, and the "positive birefringence" as referred to herein means that a direction vertical to the stretching direction is the fast axis direction.
Namely, in uniaxial stretching of a polymer having negative birefringence, the refractive index in the stretching axis direction is small (fast axis: stretching direction), and in uniaxial stretching of a polymer having positive birefringence, the refractive index in the orthogonal axis direction to the stretching axis is small (fast axis: vertical direction to the stretching direction).
A lot of polymers have positive birefringence. While examples of a polymer having negative birefringence include an acrylic resin and polystyrene, the acrylic resin is small in retardation and insufficient in characteristics as a retardation film. The polystyrene involves a problem regarding stability of retardation such that because of a large photoelastic coefficient in a low temperature region, the retardation is changed by even a few stress; a problem in optical characteristics such that wavelength dependency of the retardation is large; and moreover, a problem in view of practical use such that heat resistance is low, and hence, the polystyrene is not used at present.
The wavelength dependency of the retardation as referred to herein means that the retardation changes depending upon the measuring wavelength and can be expressed as a ratio (R450/R550) between a retardation measured at a wavelength of 450 nm (R450) and a retardation measured at a wavelength of 550 nm (R550). In general, in polymers of an aromatic structure, a tendency that this (R450/R550) becomes large is strong, and a contrast or viewing angle characteristic in a short-wavelength region is lowered.
In stretched films of a polymer exhibiting negative birefringence, the refractive index in the thickness direction of the film is high, and a retardation film which has not been found so far is produced. Therefore, for example, such stretched films are useful as a retardation film for compensation of the viewing angle characteristic of a display such as a super-twisted nematic type liquid crystal display (STN-LCD), a vertical alignment type liquid crystal display (VA-LCD), an in-plane switching type liquid crystal display (IPS-LCD), a reflection type liquid crystal display (reflection type LCD), etc., or a viewing angle compensation film of a polarizing plate, and requirements of the marketplace for retardation films having negative birefringence are strong.
On the other hand, there are proposed manufacturing methods of a film with an increased refractive index in the thickness direction of the film using a polymer having positive birefringence. One of them is a treatment method in which a heat-shrinkable film is adhered onto one or both surfaces of the polymer film, the resulting laminate is subjected to a heat-stretching treatment, and a shrinkage force is applied in the film thickness direction of the polymer film (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). In addition, there is proposed a method in which a polymer film is uniaxially stretched within the plane while impressing an electric field thereto (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
Besides, there is proposed a retardation film composed of fine particles having negative optical anisotropy and a transparent polymer (see, for example, Patent Document 5).
But, the methods proposed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 involve such a problem that productivity is inferior because the manufacturing step is very complicated. In addition, control of uniformity of the retardation, or the like is remarkably difficult as compared with the conventional control by stretching.
In the case of using a polycarbonate as a base film, a photoelastic coefficient at room temperature is large, and the retardation is changed even by a few stress, so that there is involved a problem regarding stability of retardation. Furthermore, there is involved such a problem that the wavelength dependency of the retardation is large.
The retardation film obtained in Patent Document 5 is a retardation film exhibiting negative birefringence by the addition of fine particles having negative optical anisotropy, and from the viewpoints of simplification and economy of the manufacturing method, a retardation film which does not require the addition of fine particles is demanded.
In addition, there is proposed a film composed of a fumaric acid diester based resin (see, for example, Patent Document 6). While the optically compensatory film obtained in Patent Document 6 has an out-of-plane retardation to some extent, a film having a high out-of-plane retardation even in a thin film is demanded.
Patent Document 7 discloses a fumaric acid diester copolymer having a storage elastic modulus (E′), as determined by the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at 200° C. at a frequency of 10 Hz, of 2.0×107 Pa or more and exemplifies a copolymer of diisopropyl fumarate and di-n-butyl fumarate or bis(2-ethylhexyl) fumarate. Patent Document 7 is a patent application which is concerned with a fumaric acid diester copolymer having excellent transparency, heat resistance and mechanical characteristics and an optical film composed of the subject copolymer, in particular a plastic film substrate. However, Patent Document 7 does not provide a description regarding the retardation, and a resin with higher retardation revelation properties is demanded as the resin for retardation film.

Fumaric acid diester based resin for retardation film and retardation film comprising the same


An aspect of the present invention facilitates users to view temporal values for multiple fields. In one embodiment, a first value and a second value are displayed respectively for a first field and a second field, with the first value and second value representing temporal values at a first time instance for the two fields respectively. Upon receiving data representing a second time instance, the display is updated by displaying a third value and a fourth value for the first field and the second field respectively, with the third value and the fourth value representing corresponding temporal values at the second time instance for the two fields.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to enterprise systems, and more specifically to facilitating users to view temporal values for multiple fields.
2. Related Art
A field generally refers to a variable that can take on multiple values. When each value has an associated time reference, the values are said to be temporal. For example, the daily sales of a company can be different for different days and thus the field 'daily sales' is said to have temporal values, with a corresponding value for each day.
There is often a need for users to view such temporal values for multiple fields. For example, a user may wish to view the daily sales of a company in different regions, with the daily sales of each region provided as a corresponding field. As another example, sales in each day may be viewed as one field, while the number of tourists each day can be another field.
It may be desirable to facilitate users to conveniently view the different temporal values for such multiple fields.
In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.

Facilitating viewing of temporal values for multiple fields


A combined commutator brush retainer clip and electrical connector includes a main body portion and a terminal portion. The main body portion has a recessed portion with a plurality of dimples therein. A commutator brush is electrically connected to a brush holder sleeve, and the brush holder sleeve is, in turn, clampingly engaged to the commutator housing with the retainer. The brush holder sleeve is disposed within the recessed portion of the retaining clip and is frictionally engaged by the dimples. The terminal portion of the retainer engages a corresponding terminal member on the motor stator such that an electrical connection is established between said commutator brush and said stator by way of said retainer.

Heretofore, it has been known to use commutated motor assemblies for a wide variety of applications. Accordingly, a wide variety of means have been employed for maintaining commutating brushes in proper position relative to the commutator. For example, it has been known to use molded commutator housings having brush holders molded therein. It has also been known to use separate metal brush holders which are insulated from the commutator housing by integrated plastic holders. Similarly, separate plastic brush holders are often used and are typically secured to the commutator housing by way of a retaining clip.
Electrical contact between the commutating brush and the stator has been effected by way of a lead wire which is generally affixed to the brush member and also to the stator. Alternatively, it has been known to establish a connection between the brush and the brush holder and then, in turn, between the brush holder and the stator.
Such previously known methods for maintaining commutating brushes and for establishing the requisite electrical connection therewith, have resulted in greater manufacturing expenses due to the numerous required parts and the resulting added labor due to material handling and ergonomic problems.
Thus it is most desirable to obtain a device for both retaining a commutator brush assembly and making the requisite electrical connection without the disadvantages of previously known devices.

Brush retaining clip and electrical connection


Oral pharmaceutical solution comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of lisdexamfetamine, and a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier comprising a buffer and a cosolvent selected from the group consisting of a glycol, a polyol, and a mixture thereof, wherein the pH of the solution is from 5.5 to 9.0. The oral pharmaceutical solution presents excellent physicochemical stability, even under alkaline conditions.

Lisdexamfetamine or L-lysine-d-amfetamine (LDX; formerly NRP-104), (2S)-2,6-diamino-N-[(1S)-1-methyl-2-phenylethyl] hexanamide dimethanesulfonate) was first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,486.
Lisdexamfetamine has the following structure.

Lisdexamfetamine, sold under the brand names Elvanse® (DK, GB, SE), Tyvense® (IE), Venvanse® (BR), Vyvanse® (US, CA) among others, is a medication that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in people over the age of six as well as for moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults.
Lisdexamfetamine is a pro-drug of dexamfetamine and contains D-amfetamine covalently linked to the essential amino acid L-lysine. It lacks stimulant properties but is hydrolyzed in the gut wall to release d-amfetamine. As it is an inactive material, it cannot be taken nasally, intravenously or in any other way b achieve an illicit stimulant effect. Furthermore, the metabolic hydrolysis of the pro-drug takes some time and as such the formulation has an element of in-built controlled release notwithstanding that the product may contain only excipients employed in immediate release dosage forms. The product can deliver dexamfetamine over a period of about 8 hours and so it is useful to treat ADHD in paediatric populations (aged 6 to 12), but the extent of its duration is not considered to be sufficient to treat adolescent and adult populations having much longer active days.
Lisdexamfetamine is currently commercially available only as 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 hard capsules or chewable tablets. Each capsule or chewable tablet contains 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 mg lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, equivalent to 5.8 mg, 11.6 mg, 17.3 mg, 23.1 mg, 28.9 mg or 34.7 mg lisdexamfetamine, respectively.
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate has the following structure.

Although oral solid dosage forms such as capsules are very popular for reasons that are mainly due to ease of management, for certain users (e.g. children) these forms are not necessarily a convenient option, especially due to difficulty in swallowing these forms. This lack of convenience results in high incidence of non-compliance and ineffective therapy.
Moreover, the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) of Vyvanse®& Elvanse® discloses a dosing scheme for children over 6 years of age according to which the dosage should be individualised according to the therapeutic needs and response of the patient, while careful dose titration is necessary at the start of treatment with Vyvanse® or Elvanse®. The concept of tailored treatment sets as prerequisite pharmaceutical forms, such as oral solutions, that enable dose fractioning.
According to WO 2006/121552, lisdexamfetamine can be alternatively formulated as an aqueous solution, or a sterile composition. Compositions in these cases may be stored in freeze-dried form and may be associated with a stabilizing agent such as a carbohydrate. In use, the composition may be deployed in an aqueous solution containing salts, e.g., NaCl, detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and other components. Furthermore, according to this patent document lisdexamfetamine may be formulated as liquid dispersion for oral administration, for example as a syrup, emulsion, or suspension. However, no specific liquid based compositions are described in WO 2006/121552.
There are a number of challenges surrounding the development of liquid based formulations such as stability and solubility not adequately elaborated in the prior art. In fact, active pharmaceutical agents in liquid forms are more susceptible to chemical and physical instability than in the solid state. In addition to the solubility, the active pharmaceutical agent needs to be physically and chemically stable in the oral solution. Trace amounts of impurities from active pharmaceutical agents or excipients and the pH of the solution may cause the degradation of the active pharmaceutical agent and this may cause an increase in instability when the solution is consistently introduced into the atmosphere.
Although lisdexamfetamine acid addition salts, such as lisdexamfetamine dimesylate and lisdexamfetamine hydrochloride are very soluble in water, the desire for the development of an oral solution of a lisdexamfetamine salt is complicated by the fact that the molecule degrades significantly at basic (alkaline) and oxidative conditions.
According to Carlos G. et. al., "Assessment of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate stability and identification of its degradation product by NMR spectroscopy" Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2019 January, although lisdexamfetamine dimesylate degrades at both acidic and alkaline conditions, it is more hydrolysis-susceptible under alkaline conditions.
According to Shenghua G. et. al., "Identification, characterization and quantification of process-related and degradation impurities in lisdexamfetamine dimesylate: identification of two new compounds", molecules. 2018 December; 23(12): 3125, lisdexamfetamine can produce at least Imp-A, Imp-B or Imp-C in alkaline conditions, whereas at least Imp-M is produced under oxidative conditions.
The main known degradation impurities of lisdexamfetamine are shown below.

Technically, the biggest challenge is the development of liquid based formulations. using stabilizing excipients with low toxicity in the lowest feasible concentrations without compromising the stability of the formulations. In other words, the low concentrations of stabilizing excipients may contribute to reducing the potential for toxicological effects, but they may be insufficient for achieving the required level of physicochemical stability.
The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art and provides an oral pharmaceutical solution, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of lisdexamfetamine, which exhibits excellent stability and extended lifetime.

Oral solutions comprising lisdexamfetamine salts


The present invention is directed both to an improved in situ penetrometer probe and to a heated, flexible transfer line. The line and probe may be implemented together in a penetrometer system in which the transfer line is used to connect the probe to a collector/analyzer at the surface. The probe comprises a heater that controls a temperature of a geologic medium surrounding the probe. At least one carrier gas port and vapor collection port are located on an external side wall of the probe. The carrier gas port provides a carrier gas into the geologic medium, and the collection port captures vapors from the geologic medium for analysis. In the transfer line, a flexible collection line that conveys a collected fluid, i.e., vapor, sample to a collector/analyzer. A flexible carrier gas line conveys a carrier gas to facilitate the collection of the sample. A system heating the collection line is also provided. Preferably the collection line is electrically conductive so that an electrical power source can generate a current through it so that the internal resistance generates heat.

In recent years, public attention has been directed to subsurface soil/groundwater contamination by toxic wastes. Increased governmental and private resources have been devoted to both assessing the extent/concentration of the contaminants and also remediation.
The most commonly used technique for detecting subsurface contaminants is soil sampling. A bore hole is drilled to a desired depth, with a sample of the soil being physically collected. The sample is cataloged and sent to a laboratory to determine the type and concentrations of contaminants contained in the soil typically using solvent extraction techniques. This approach, while providing the accuracy and precision of laboratory analysis, is both slow and costly. Separate bore holes are usually drilled for each sample collected, and the transportation of the sample to the laboratory followed by analysis require days to weeks before the results are available.
Cone penetrometer technology has been developed as a solution to some of the problems associated with physical collection/laboratory analysis. Typically, a cone penetrometer is advanced or pushed through the soil by lengths of drilling rod or pipe that connect the probe to a hydraulic pushing device, typically located in a truck. The penetrometer can be configured to collect multiple samples as it is advanced through the soil or, in some situations, tests the soil samples in situ. According to one technology, the end of the penetrometer probe is opened, and then the probe is advanced slightly to collect a small sample of soil in a chamber within the probe. Gases are collected from the soil as it is moderately heated, and the gases carried through collection tubes to the surface. There, gas chromotomography can be performed to identify contaminants in the soil.
Existing in situ cone penetrometer technology finds only limited practical use due to its poor accuracy/precision. The efficiency with which the soil contaminants may be identified is relatively poor compared to laboratory soil analysis. For example, the effective sample size of the previously-mentioned probe is limited by the size of its chamber, which in turn is only some fraction of the probe""s overall width. Small sample sizes lead to low detection limits. Moreover, the existing technology generally provides a high level of inter-sample contamination. That is, the contaminants collected from earlier samples tend to accumulate in the probe, distorting the results of later sampling events.
The present invention is directed both to an improved in situ penetrometer probe and to a heated, flexible transfer line. In the preferred embodiment, they are implemented together in a penetrometer system in which the transfer line is used to connect the probe to the surface.
In general, the inventive probe comprises a heater that controls a temperature of a geologic medium surrounding the probe. At least one carrier gas port and vapor collection port are located on an side wall of the probe. The carrier gas port provides a carrier gas into the geologic medium, and the collection port captures vapors from the geologic medium for analysis.
The heating of the surrounding soil enables both the debinding of chemicals otherwise locked in the soil and the collection without the need to draw the soil into the probe as in some prior art designs. The location of the ports on the side wall of the probe offers a number of further advantages over the prior art configurations. First, the construction need not be overly complex. Carrier gas and collection lines can be terminated in the side wall without requiring moving parts. More importantly, however, is the fact that soil is not drawn into the probe. Thus, there are no contaminants trapped in the probe to undermine the accuracy of subsequent samples. Soil from earlier samples is stripped from the probe""s exterior as it is advanced for the next sampling. Thus, the inventive probe does not suffer from measurement accuracy or precision problems, when vapor samples are gathered at different depths.
In embodiments, at least one, but preferably two or more vapor collection ports are spaced around a circumference of the probe. Corresponding carrier gas ports are also circumferentially located around the probe. Alternatively, in other embodiments, multiple collection and carrier gas ports can be spaced axially along the probe.
In the preferred embodiment, the probe comprises a temperature transducer to detect the temperature of the geologic medium surrounding the probe. The heater is capable of raising the temperature of this medium to greater than 200xc2x0 C., and preferably to approximately 400xc2x0 C. or greater. These temperatures are substantially higher than those obtained in many prior art devices, which worked in the approximately 100xc2x0 C. temperature range. This shortcoming was one reason why the prior art failed to achieve accurate results. Research associated with the present invention has shown that the higher temperatures are required to debind many types of contaminants, especially semi-volatile organic compounds, from the soil.
In still other embodiments, the carrier gas, which is injected into the surrounding soil, may be heated. In this way the soil can be directly heated with hot gas thereby reducing or eliminating the need for the heater in the probe.
In general, the invention also relates to a method for thermally extracting subsurface chemicals from soil with a high water content. This method comprises first advancing a probe through the soil to a desired depth. The soil surrounding the probe is then heated to at least 100xc2x0 C., preferably 120xc2x0 C., while a carrier or similar gas is exhausted into the soil. This has the effect of pushing water vapor away from the probe""s collection port. After this is completed, the soil is heated to substantially higher than 100xc2x0 C., and vapor is collected from the soil. Since the moisture content of the surrounding soil has been substantially reduced, more contaminates are found in the collected vapor since high moisture tends to keep the contaminants in the soil.
In the preferred embodiment, before future sampling, any contaminants remaining in the collection line are preferably backflushed back out of the line.
In general, according to another aspect, the invention also features the heated transfer line system. In the system, at least one flexible collection line conveys a collected fluid, i.e., vapor sample. At least one flexible carrier gas line conveys a carrier gas to facilitate the collection of the sample. The collection line is also heated.
The flexibility of the line is required by the penetrometer system because the line must pass through the pipe sections when they are stacked, i.e., not connected. Specifically, the line should have a bending radius of approximately 10 inches or less. In the preferred embodiment, the bending radius is 4 inches or less.
The flexibility of the line also enables its use in other applications and thus the line is not limited to penetrometer systems. For example, in smoke-stack emissions or airport bomb detection, a flexible transfer line is useful to carry a vapor sample from some remote location to a collector/analyzer.
When implemented in a penetrometer system, the line must be relatively long, greater than 50 feet and as long as 300 feet. These lengths are required because the line must pass through the pipe section in the soil but also the disconnected sections stacked in the truck.
A number of different options may be used to heat the collection line. Heating filaments or other heating device may be laid with the line. In the preferred embodiment, however, the collection line is electrically conductive so that an electrical power source can generate a current through it. Therefore, the collection line""s internal resistance heats the line. In either case, the heating capability should be strong enough to raise the line""s temperature to at least 280xc2x0 C. to keep contaminants, particularly semi-volatile organic compounds, vaporized in the line and later remove any condensed water during backflushing. In the preferred embodiment, the line may be heated to 200-400xc2x0 C. These temperatures are needed to debind many chemicals from the line""s walls if adsorbed to ensure that subsequent samples are not tainted.
The high temperatures at which the collection line may be maintained distinguish the invention from penetrometer systems in the prior art. While prior art probes had capabilities to heat the soil, any semi-volatile organic compounds that were vaporized could not be carried to the surface. They condensed in the cooler transfer line. In contrast, the present line can be uniformly heated so that the compounds remain vaporized, allowing the carrier gas to transport them to the surface.
In the preferred embodiment, the collection line is surrounded by at least one thermally insulating layer. At least one electrically insulating layer is also used. A slippery layer promotes flexibility allowing layers to slip with respect to each other. The insulating layers are needed so that the collection line""s temperature may be uniformly maintained across it extended 100 foot or more length. A somewhat related requirement is the fact that the temperatures and electric fields generated around the line must not endanger the personnel operating the line even in wet environments. Thus, various layers must also keep the line""s surface temperatures low enough to avoid burns and seal the line to prevent shock.
The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Situ soil sampling probe system with heated transfer line


Apparatus for the spectral assessment of fruit includes a sensor head (10) positioned adjacent a near infrared light source (11). The sensor head is coupled to a spectrometer via fibre optics (30). The sensor head is positioned close to the periphery of fruit substantially parallel with the light from the light source so that the fibre optics sense only the internally reflected or refracted light emanating from the fruit.

The monitoring of eating quality of fruit and vegetables by objective methods is usually destructive and slow (eg squeezing juice to measure Brix). There is a need to be able to rapidly and non-invasively evaluate the internal quality of fresh fruit and vegetables which may enter the fresh market channels or be used for processing. Near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and acoustic techniques all offer potential for the non-invasive assessment of the internal composition of intact fruit. Of the above NIRS is the most advanced technique with regard to instrumentation, applications, accessories and chemometric software packages, and with respect to cost and speed of operation.
Near infra-red light (NIR) is a small part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation—which starts at high-energy waves such as x-rays, through the visible spectrum, to low energy waves such as microwaves and radio waves. NIR is next to the visible portion of light and is a natural part of sunlight. NIR is typically defined as radiation of wavelengths 700–2500 nm, which is invisible to the human eye.
Specific molecules can absorb specific wavelengths. This characteristic is useful in the identification and quantification of a given compound. Absorption of ultraviolet and visible light is associated with the transition of electrons between orbitals in an atom or molecule. Absorption of infra-red radiation by biological material principally involves the rotation and stretching of N—H, C—H and O—H bonds. These bonds are associated with constituents of interest to fruit quality evaluation, including sugar, starch, protein, lipids and water. The infra-red absorption spectrum is commonly used by organic chemists to fingerprint organic molecules. However, ultraviolet, visible and infra-red radiation have poor penetration through bulk tissue. In essence, techniques relying on these wavelengths are useful for solutions or for surface studies. Fortunately, the near infra-red region of the electromagnetic spectrum does penetrate relatively well through bulk biological material, and this region also carries an 'echo' of information of the infrared absorption spectrum. Unfortunately, the second and third overtone absorption bands which occur in the near infra-red region are weak and broad, and thus NIRS have been a 'slow starter' relative to other techniques, and are only now achieving widespread commercial application.
NIRS technology has been trialed in horticultural applications for over 20 years. However, recent developments in fibre optics, array detectors computing power of PCs and of software capable of carrying out the complex statistical mathematics has made application to inline fruit packing possible.
Past proposals involve the use of either reflectants spectroscopy, with a detector viewing an illuminated area of the fruit, or partial transmittance spectroscopy with the detector mounted at an angle away from the detector. The detector is commonly an array spectrometer, allowing spectral analysis to determine characteristics of the fruit.
Past proposals involve use of tungsten halogen light sources as strong emitters of NIR or NIR emitting diode lasers, at wavelengths chosen relative to the band assignments of the character of interest. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,271 employs NIR lasers directed at the center of the fruit at an angle of other than 0° and 180°, and commonly 40° to 60°, to the line of the detector and fruit center.


A memory cell comprises a chalcogenide random access memory (CRAM) cell and a CMOS circuit. The CMOS circuit accesses the CRAM cell. The CRAM cell has a cross-sectional area that is determined by a thin film process (e.g., a chalcogenide deposition thin film process) and by an iso-etching process. If desired, the chalcogenide structure may be implemented in series with a semiconductor device such as a diode or a selecting transistor. The diode drives a current through the chalcogenide structure. The selecting transistor drives a current through the chalcogenide structure when enabled by a voltage at a gate terminal of the selecting transistor. The selecting transistor has a gate terminal, a source terminal, and a drain terminal; the gate terminal may be operatively coupled to a word line of a memory array, the source terminal may be operatively coupled to a drive line of the memory array, and the drain terminal may be operatively coupled to a bit line of the memory array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to chalcogenide memories and, more particularly, to thin film phase-change memories.
2. Description of Related Art
Chalcogenide phase-change memories are not easily driven by CMOS circuits. The chemical compounds known as chalcogenides generally require relatively high currents (or, more specifically, current densities) before undergoing a change of phase. Reducing the cross-sectional area of the chalcogenide or electrode can reduce the current requirement directly. Many structures have been proposed to reduce area, for example, by fabricating an ultra small contact and placing the chalcogenide into the contact. However, these efforts can be limited by lithography. Furthermore, it can be difficult to place materials into ultra small holes.
Wolstenholme, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,264, entitled "Small pores defined by a disposable internal spacer for use in chalcogenide memories") and Reinberg (U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,582, entitled "Small electrode for a chalcogenide switching device and method for fabricating same,") describe processes of lithographically implementing several small holes (also called "pores" or "ultra small pores"). To the extent pores with reduced pore sizes are possible, a shrinking ratio of such pores is not unlimited since, for example, overhanging dielectric material may seal the hole when the hole is made too small. Therefore, the pore size can be limited by lithography. Accordingly, the pore size can be difficult to scale down. Also, the size uniformity of the ultra small pores can be difficult to control. Moreover, as previously alluded, it can be difficult to place chalcogenide into the holes.
Harshfield (U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,287, entitled "Contact structure and memory element incorporating the same,") and Zahorik (U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,713, entitled "Integrated circuit memory cell having a small active area and method of forming same") describe electrode areas that can be reduced, but the shrinking ratio can be limited by the film thickness. For example, if pore diameter is 0.15 um and film thickness is 200 Å, the shrinkage ratio is only approximately 50%. Therefore, the pore size is basically limited by lithography and can be scaled down only with difficulty. Additionally, the phase change region may depart from the electrode. Therefore, the ON/OFF ratio may not be as large as expected. The electrode may be very weak because the current flow in the electrode is very high. Thus, the electrode can limit the current. Accordingly, processes wherein photo/thin film techniques define the cross-sectional area of chalcogenide are not without shortcomings.
A need exists in the prior art for a phase change that can easily be driven by a CMOS circuit. A further need exists for a phase change memory having a reduced cross-sectional area that can reduce the current requirement directly.


An image shooting device with an image sensing portion that acquires a series of input images formed in chronological order; a face detection portion that, detects a human face from each input image outputting position information of the detected face; a priority face choice portion that chooses a priority face from the detected faces; an identification portion that, searches for the priority face; and a re-choice portion that, when the priority face is detected from a first input image acquired but the priority face is not detected by the identification portion from a second input image retains information including position information executes a re-choice processing to re-choose the priority face searching within the third input image for a face to be re-chosen as a priority face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image shooting devices such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras.
2. Description of Related Art
In digital still cameras and digital video cameras, processing for detecting a human face from a shot image has been put into practical use, and methods have been proposed for executing camera control and various application programs with the detected face taken as of interest. More than one face may be detected from a shot image, in which case one of those faces is chosen which is to be taken as of interest, and camera control and various application programs are executed with respect to the face of interest thus chosen. Such a face of interest is called a priority face.
For example, in a conventional digital camera furnished with a face detection function, when more than one face is detected from one shot image (still image), a priority face is chosen based on the distances of the faces on the shot image from its center and the sizes of the faces, and automatic focusing control is executed so that focus comes on the priority face.
In the case of a moving image, once a face is chosen as a priority face at a given time, as long as the face continues to be detected, that face needs to be kept recognized as the priority face. Accordingly, in a digital camera that performs camera control etc. with a priority face on a moving image taken as of interest, the priority face is followed up through face identification processing. Such identification processing is generally achieved based on the position information of a face on an image. Identification processing based on position information exploits the following principle: change in the position of a face on an image is continuous in the temporal direction.
Now, with reference to FIGS. 19A and 19B, identification processing based on position information will be described briefly. Consider a case where shooting at a first time point yielded an image 901 as shown in FIG. 19A and then shooting at a second time point yielded an image 902 as shown in FIG. 19B. The length of time between the first and second time points is, for example, equal to the frame period in moving image shooting. Through face detection processing on the images 901 and 902, face regions 911 and 921 are extracted from the image 901, and face regions 912 and 922 are extracted from the image 902. In this case, through identification processing based on position information, the positions of the face regions are compared between the images 901 and 902, and such face regions whose positions are close to each other are judged to contain an identical face, thereby achieving face identification. In the example shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the faces contained in the face regions 911 and 912 are judged to be identical, and the faces contained in the face regions 921 and 922 are judged to be identical.
A technology is also known that exploits face recognition technology to follow up a particular face. Inconveniently, however, face recognition technology requires complicated processing for extracting an individual's features from an image of his face to achieve the following-up of a particular face. By contrast, the above-described identification processing based solely on positional information allows the following-up of a particular face through simple processing, and is therefore helpful.
Indeed, a priority face can be followed up in the manner described above; however, for some cause, the face of interest to be grasped as the priority face may temporarily become undetectable. For example, when the face of interest happens to be located behind another subject, and thus out of the camera's view, that is, when the face of interest is shielded, as long as it is shielded, it cannot be detected. Conventional identification processing that can be executed in such a case will now be described with reference to FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 20C.
FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 20C show images 950, 960, and 970 obtained by shooting at first, second, and third time points respectively. It is assumed that the first, second, and third time points occur one after another in the this order. At the first, second, and third time points, two faces FC1 and FC2 are present inside the shooting region of a digital camera. Suppose that, with respect to the faces FC1 and FC2, face regions 951 and 952, respectively, are extracted from the image 950, and that the face FC1 is chosen as the priority face at the first time point. In FIGS. 20A to 20C (and also in FIGS. 21A to 21C described later), faces enclosed in thick solid-lined frames are the priority face.
At the second time point, suppose that, as a result of movement of the subject, the face FC1 is hidden behind the face FC2, and thus the face FC1 is not detected from the image 960 at the second time point. The reference sign 962 represents the face region of the face FC2 extracted from the image 960. The position of the face region 962 is close to the position of the face region of the priority face (e.g., the position of the face region 951) on the shot image obtained immediately before the image 960. In addition, only one face region is detected from the image 960. Consequently, at the second time point, instead of the face FC1, the face FC2 corresponding to the face region 962 is recognized as the priority face.
As a result of movement of the subject thereafter, the faces FC1 and FC2 are detected from the image 970 at the third time point, and the face regions 971 and 972 of the faces FC1 and FC2 are extracted from the image 970. What should be noted here is that, although the face that the user takes as of interest is the face FC1, since the priority face shifted from the face FC1 to the face FC2 at the second time point, through identification processing between the second and third time points, the priority face in the image 970 remains the face FC2.
In the example corresponding to FIGS. 20A to 20C, the hiding of the face FC1 behind the face FC2 makes the face FC1, which is to be taken as the priority face, temporarily undetectable. A similar phenomenon occurs also in a situation where the face FC1 temporarily goes out of the shooting region (field of view) of the camera. A conventional method for choosing a priority face which can cope with such a situation will now be described with reference to FIGS. 21A to 21C.
FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C show images 950a, 960a, and 970a obtained by shooting at first, second, and third time points respectively. Suppose that, with respect to faces FC1 and FC2, face regions 951a and 952a, respectively, are extracted from the image 950a, and that the face FC1 is chosen as the priority face at the first time point. As a result of, for example, movement of the face FC1 between the first and second time points, if all or part of the face FC1 goes out of the shooting region of the camera so much that the face FC1 cannot be detected, the face FC1 is not detected from the image 960a. At this time, if the face FC2 is detected from the image 960a and the face region 962a of the face FC2 is extracted, the camera chooses the face FC2 anew as the priority face instead of the face FC1. As a result of, for example, movement of the face FC1 or panning of the camera thereafter, even if the faces FC1 and FC2 are detected from the image 970a at the third time point and their face regions 971a and 972a are extracted, through identification processing between the second and third time points, the priority face in the image 970a remains the face FC2.
In this way, when a face of interest to be grasped as a priority face becomes temporarily undetectable, executing identification processing simply with the same conditions as when the face of interest has been detected may lead to another face—one different from the face of interest—being chosen as the priority face. This makes it impossible to continue camera control or the like with respect to the face of interest.


An unauthorized access prevention system includes a countermeasure method determination unit determining a method of taking countermeasures to protect a destination against unauthorized access based on a rate indicating a probability that predetermined traffic is unauthorized access. The rate is determined by calculating a number of times that the countermeasures were taken and subtracting a number of times that countermeasures were suspended, and dividing the resultant number of times that countermeasures were taken without suspension by the number of times that countermeasures were taken, for the predetermined traffic. The system also includes a storage device storing the number of times that countermeasures were taken and the number of times that countermeasures were taken without suspension. A countermeasure execution control unit controls when to take the countermeasures in the determined method. The countermeasure method determination unit selects an appropriate method of taking countermeasures by comparing the rate to predetermined threshold values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the technology for preventing unauthorized access in a communications network, and more specifically to the technology of offering a service for preventing unauthorized access, for example, from an Internet service provider (ISP) to a client. Especially, it relates to the technology of taking effective countermeasures against an unauthorized access attack represented by distributed denial of services.
2. Description of the Related Art
The denial of services refers to an attack which suspends or disables a system by intentionally issuing a process request exceeding a permissible limit of system resources, and there is the problem that it is difficult to discriminate between a valid process request and an invalid process request. Among the attacks, those from attackers distributed over a network are called distributed denial of services (DDoS)(hereinafter referred to as "DDoS attacks"). The DDoS attack is described in detail in, for example, the following literature.
Kevin J. Houle and George M. Weaver, "Trends in Denial of Service Attack Technology", October, 2001, CERT Coordination Center, [searched on Feb. 17, 2003], Internet.
The conventional technology for countermeasures against the DDoS attack is basically formed of the unauthorized access detecting technology by an IDS (intrusion detection system) and the defensive technology by packet control. Since the technology is used near an attacker, it is possibly provided with the attacker searching technology. Furthermore, it can be provided with the inter-organization cooperating technology for cooperative defense in a position close to the attacker.
The technological approach to realize countermeasures against a DDoS attack falls roughly into two categories, that is, the existing router replacing system which requires a router loaded with an extension of an IP protocol or a new protocol, and the existing router application system which requires no change of an existing router. The technology disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2002-164938 which is the Japanese publication of patents is an example of the former system while Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2002-16633 which if the Japanese publication of patents is an example of the latter system.
The technological information about the DDoS attack can be located in the following link.
Dave Dittrich "Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks/tools" [searched on Feb. 17, 2003], Internet.
However, there are the following potential problems respectively with the unauthorized access detecting technology by an IDS used by the conventional technology for countermeasures against the DDOS attack and the defensive technology by packet control. The problems are described below by referring to FIG. 1.
In an example of configuring a network shown in FIG. 1, a Web system 1001 for providing a Web service is operated in a client site 1000 which is provided with a firewall 1002 for protection against unauthorized intrusion to the Web system 1001. The Web system 1001 is connected to a boundary router 2001 through the firewall 1002.
The boundary router 2001 is managed by an ISP-A 2000 which is an Internet service provider. The ISP-A 2000 is connected to an ISP-B 3000 which is an Internet service provider adjacent to the ISP-A 2000 over a network through a boundary router 2002, and to an ISP-C 4000 which is an Internet service provider adjacent to the ISP-A 2000 over a network through a boundary router 2003, and they are also managed by the ISP-A 2000.
The boundary routers 2001, 2002, and 2003 are interconnected through a router 2004 managed by the ISP-A 2000. The terminal used by a user of the ISP-A 2000 can be connected to the router 2004 to make the ISP-A 2000 available.
The ISP-B 3000 manages a boundary router 3001. The terminal used by a user of the ISP-B 3000 can be connected to the router 3001 to make the ISP-B 3000 available.
The ISP-C 4000 manages a boundary router 4001. The terminal used by a user of the ISP-C 4000 can be connected to the router 4001 to make the ISP-C 4000 available.
The boundary routers 2001, 2002, 2003, 3001, and 4001, and the router 2004 are loaded with an IDS.
By referring to the network with the above-mentioned configuration, the problems with the conventional technology for countermeasures against the DDOS attack is explained.
First, there is the problem of misdetection.
The misdetection of an IDS roughly falls into two cases, that is, a false-positive case in which a non-attack has been misdetected as an attack and a false-negative case in which an attack cannot be successfully detected.
When an authorized user uses an authorized user terminal 4100 to use a Web service by the Web system 1001 with the configuration of the network shown in FIG. 1, the authorized user terminal 4100 is first connected to the boundary router 4001, and authorized access from the authorized user terminal 4100 to the Web system 1001 is gained through the boundary routers 4001, the boundary router 2003, the router 2004, and the boundary router 2001. At this time, for example, the IDS provided in the boundary router 2003 can misdetect the authorized access as unauthorized access, and the boundary router 2003 can cut off the authorized access, thereby causing the false-positive case.
When an attacker intends to make a DDoS attack on, for example, the Web system 1001 using an attacker terminal 2100, the attacker terminal 2100 is connected to the router 2004 first, and unauthorized access from the attacker terminal 2100 to the Web system 1001 is to be gained through the router 2004 and the boundary router 2001. At this time, for example, the IDS provided in the router 2004 can misdetect the unauthorized access as authorized access, and the router 2004 can pass the unauthorized access, thereby causing the false-negative case.
The method of detecting unauthorized access by an IDS roughly falls into two systems, that is, a signature system by packet pattern matching and an anomaly system by detection of an abnormal traffic status. They can potentially include the problem of the misdetection. The misdetection can be reduced to some extent, but cannot be completely removed essentially.
On the other hand, there is the problem of the influence on an authorized user with the defensive technology. That is, since it is difficult to discriminate between a packet of denial of services (attack packet) and a packet of an authorized user (authorized packet), an authorized packet as well as an attack packet can be blocked.
In FIG. 1, for example, when the IDS provided for the boundary router 3001 detects that an attacker who is making a DDoS attack on the Web system 1001 operates an attacker terminal 3100, and tries to connect it to the boundary router 3001 to gain unauthorized access from the attacker terminal 3100 to the Web system 1001, the boundary router 3001 cuts off the unauthorized access. However, by the cutoff of the access, authorized access for a Web service by the Web system 1001 by an authorized user using an authorized user terminal 3200 can also be rejected, which is also the problem with the conventional technology.
The problem occurs because an attack packet which is unauthorized access and an authorized packet which is authorized access are the same in terms of packets, and it is impossible to discriminate between them by comparing them in terms of packets only.
In sum, there are the following problems for the conventional technology for countermeasures against a DDoS attack.
Although a state in which countermeasures are taken against a non-attack, or a state in which no countermeasures are taken against an attack occurs, correct countermeasures are to be taken against unauthorized access attack.
When countermeasures are taken against a DDOS attack, the influence on an authorized user is to be the smallest possible.


A computer controlled regram machine for adjusting the loads on head gimbal assemblies to bring the loads within a desired specification window defined by upper and lower window specifications. The regram machine includes a load cell for measuring actual gimbal assembly loads, a mechanical bending mechanism for implementing mechanical adjust procedures to increase and decrease the gimbal assembly loads, and a heat source for implementing light adjust procedures to decrease the gimbal assembly loads. The algorithm executed by the machine includes:. (a) initiating mechanical adjust procedures in an attempt to increase the gimbal assembly loads to a bend load target if the measured loads are below the specification window, the bend load target being a load greater than the upper window specification and an optimum load from which to initiate light adjust procedures; PA0 (b) initiating mechanical adjust procedures in an attempt to decrease the gimbal assembly loads to the bend load target if the measured loads are greater than a light adjust threshold, the light adjust threshold being a load greater than the bend load target and characterizing the upper limit of load changes that are to be implemented by light adjust procedures; PA0 (c) initiating light adjust procedures in an attempt to decrease the gimbal assembly loads to the specification window if the measured loads are above the specification window but less than or equal to the light adjust threshold; and PA0 (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until the measured loads of the gimbal assemblies are within the specification window.

The present invention relates generally to machines for measuring and adjusting small force loads. In particular, the present invention is a machine for adjusting the gram load on head gimbal assemblies and/or suspension assemblies used in magnetic disk drives, by bending or otherwise changing the characteristics of the load beam spring.
Head gimbal assemblies are commonly used in magnetic disk drives to support magnetic heads in close proximity to moving disk surfaces. Assemblies of this type are disclosed generally in the Watrous U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,765, and typically include an air bearing head slider assembly mounted to a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly includes a base plate configured to be mounted to a positioning arm, a load beam, and a T-flexure or gimbal. The load beam is an elongated, triangularly shaped member which extends from the base plate. The gimbal is located at the load beam apex. The air bearing head slider assembly contains a magnetic head and is mounted to the gimbal. The load beam is typically manufactured by chemically etching a thin sheet of stainless steel, and mechanically forming flanges and lead clamps on the sides of the blank between the base and apex. The gimbal is also etched from stainless steel, either integrally from the apex of the load beam, or from a separate member which is welded to the load beam. During subsequent manufacturing operations the slider assembly is mounted to the gimbal and the wire leads from the magnetic head clamped to one of the load beam flanges.
High performance disk drive operation requires the air bearing head slider assembly to closely follow the moving magnetic disk surface at a constant spacing and attitude. To meet this critical requirement, the gram loading force applied to the slider assembly by the suspension assembly or load beam must be within a relatively tight specification window. In one disk drive, for example, the specification window is 7.50-7.90 grams (i.e., the upper and lower window specifications), with 7.70 grams being nominal. The gram load of the load beam is therefore adjusted after the suspension assembly is manufactured, and before the gimbal and/or head slider assembly are mounted thereto.
The assignee of the present invention has for a number of years used what is known as a "light adjust" method to adjust the gram load of load beams following their manufacture. A known property of stainless steel members such as the load beams is that the force they exert in response to attempts to bend them can be reduced (stress relieved) through exposure to thermal energy. The functional relationship between the amount of force reduction and the amount of heat to which a member is exposed can be empirically determined. The light adjust method makes use of this empirically determined relationship to "downgram" or lower the gram load on load beams that have been purposely manufactured to have an initial gram load greater than the desired specification window. Downgramming by means of the light adjust method has been found to accurately produce load beams having stable loads.
The light adjust method uses a load cell to measure the gram load of a load beam clamped to a test fixture. A computer controlled actuator moves the load cell with respect to the load beam. As the load cell measuring arm is engaged by the load beam, the computer monitors the measured gram load as a function of time. In practice, the measured gram load quickly slews (i.e., rises) toward its current actual value. When the measured gram load reaches the upper window specification, the computer actuates or turns on a high intensity lamp to apply heat to the load beam. Since the applied heat reduces the actual gram load of the beam, the measured gram load quickly peaks at a point above the upper window specification. Continued application of heat causes the measured gram load to decrease with time. The computer deactuates or turns off the lamp when the measured gram load has decreased to a predetermined set point, typically a load between the nominal gram load and the lower window specification. Once the lamp has been turned off, the measured decrease in gram load quickly slows and reaches its minimum value (often at a gram load below the lower window specification) as the heat in the load beam dissipates. However, as the load beam continues to cool, the measured gram load increases and stabilizes at an equilibrium or final load value that is preferably well within the specification window, and ideally close to the nominal specification. The final gram load of the load beam is also measured following the light adjust procedure. This measurement is used by the computer to continually update the stored model (e.g., the setpoint) of the functional relationship between the amount of heat applied and the gram load reduction to optimize the accuracy of the results obtained by the light adjust procedure.
The assignee of the present invention also uses a computer controlled mechanical bending method to adjust the gram load on load beams. The mechanical bending method makes use of an empirically determined relationship between the amount that a load beam is mechanically bent and the associated change in gram load. For the range of gram load adjustments that are typically performed by this technique, a simple linear regression line has been found to accurately describe this relationship. In practice, this technique is implemented by a computer coupled to a stepper motordriven bending member and a load cell. A model of the relationship between changes in gram load and the number of motor steps (i.e., the associated amount or extent of bending required) is stored in the computer. After the actual load on the load beam is measured by the load cell, the computer calculates the required load correction (i.e., the difference between the measured and desired loads). The computer then accesses the model as a function of the required correction to determine the number of motor steps needed to achieve the required load correction, and actuates the stepper motor accordingly. Once the load beam has been bent, the actual load is again measured and used to update the model. Measured data from a given number of the most recently executed mechanical bends is used to recompute the regression line data prior to the execution of the next mechanical bend. Although this bending technique can be used to both increase and decrease gram loads, it does not offer sufficient long term stability.
The air bearing head slider assemblies are mounted to the gimbal, and the head leads clamped to the load beam, after the gram load of the load beam has been initially set using methods such as those described above. Unfortunately, the mechanical handling and assembly procedures involved in this manufacturing operation sometimes force the gram loads of the assembled head gimbal assemblies beyond the specification window. Since the gram load specification is so critical to proper disk drive operation, these out-of-specification head gimbal assemblies cannot be used.
Head gimbal assembly manufacturing is by nature a high volume, low margin business. To date, it has not been commercially feasible to "regram" (i.e., readjust the gram load) of out-of-specification head gimbal assemblies by means of the techniques described above. Nonetheless, the waste associated with the unusable out-of-specification assemblies is relatively great. With the development of higher performance disk drives requiring head gimbal assemblies with even tighter load window specifications, it is likely that the number of out-of-specification assemblies, and therefore the waste, will continue to rise.
A microprocessor controlled manufacturing system for load support arms is disclosed in the Smith Et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,567. This system includes a waling beam transport system for moving load beams extending from frets between several stations. A radius forming station mechanically bends the load support arms to increase gram loads. A thermal adjust station is operated in a manner similar to the light adjust method described above to reduce gram loads. The load beams are cut from the fret at a shear station after they have been processed at the radius forming and thermal adjust stations. This manufacturing system is not, however, adapted for readjusting gram loads after the load beams have been assembled into gimbal assemblies. The system is also relatively complicated.
It is evident that there is a need for a machine capable of economically readjusting the gram loads on suspension assemblies and head gimbal assemblies. The machine must of course be capable of accurately adjusting the gram loads. To be commercially viable, the machine must also be relatively easy to operate and capable of quickly performing the regram operations.

Load adjusting machine for magnetic disk drive head gimbal assemblies


A product dispenser, comprising a cartridge containing a product; a housing having a base portion and a cartridge receiving portion movably mounted to said base portion, said cartridge receiving portion having a sidewall defining an interior space for receiving said cartridge; access means defined by said sidewall for installing and removing said cartridge in said interior space; and means associated with said housing for dispensing said product from said cartridge.

The invention relates to a product dispenser and, more specifically, to a dispenser having a separable refill cartridge.
A number of products and containers are on the market in connection with products, specifically dental preparations, wherein a combination of two substances or ingredients are provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,663 is drawn to an article for storage and delivery of baking soda and peroxide preparations. As pointed out in this patent, hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate may not normally be premixed, as they immediately react and are thereby rendered ineffective for subsequent use. The '663 patent, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,964,539, D315,496, 5,020,694, 5,038,963 and 5,289,949 are drawn to dispensing containers addressing the problem of keeping sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide separate until use.
Containers such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,949 mentioned above include a base portion and a housing/cartridge structure which slidably moves over the base portion. The product is contained in two cylinders which are an integral portion of the upper housing structure. When product from the cylinders is exhausted, the entire upper portion of the package must be discarded and replaced, leaving only the base as a reusable element.
The container of the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,949 and others are successful at providing product in a form wherein the hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate are maintained in separate sections of a container. However, consumers recognize the waste in discarding the entire upper housing/cartridge structure, and the need remains for a solution to this problem.
It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser having a readily interchangeable refill cartridge wherein the entire housing is reusable.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser wherein removal and installation of replacement cartridges is readily accomplished.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser having a separable refill cartridge wherein product portions or components are readily provided through a product outlet or nozzle.
Other objects and advantages will appear hereinbelow.

Product dispenser having separable refill top loading cartridge


An internal combustion engine control device has a torque increase amount obtaining section that obtains engine rotation speed fluctuation amount (output torque increase amount) caused with small quantity injection as a torque increase amount sensing value, an adaptation value setting section that variably sets an adaptation value used for engine control in accordance with a fuel property determined based on the torque increase amount sensing value, a confirmation injection control section that performs the small quantity injection again while the engine control is performed based on the set adaptation value, and an accuracy determination section that determines accuracy of fuel property determination result or the adaptation value based on whether a confirmation sensing value, which is the engine rotation speed fluctuation amount obtained when the confirmation injection control section performs the small quantity injection, is outside a predetermined range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine control device that determines a property of fuel used for combustion in a compression ignition internal combustion engine (e.g., cetane number of light oil) and that controls an operation state of the internal combustion engine according to result of the determination and to a control system using the control device.
2. Description of Related Art
In a compression ignition internal combustion engine, a combustion state in a cylinder changes if a fuel property such as cetane number differs. Therefore, if an operation state of the internal combustion engine is controlled by adapting the control to fuel having a specific fuel property, there is a possibility of occurrence of a problem such as decrease of output torque or increase of a noise. For example, in a case where the operation state of the internal combustion engine is controlled by adapting the control to fuel having a specific cetane number, there occurs a problem of increase of a combustion noise if fuel having a higher cetane number than the specific cetane number is used. If fuel having a lower cetane number than the specific cetane number is used, there occurs a problem of decrease of output torque.
According to Patent document 1 (JP-A-2007-321706), an attention is paid to a phenomenon that a fluctuation amount of engine rotation speed (i.e., output torque increase amount) caused with injection increases as the cetane number increases. Therefore, a control device described in Patent document 1 determines the cetane number based on the fluctuation amount and controls the operation state of the internal combustion engine by variably setting adaptation values in accordance with the determined cetane number.
In a normal operation range, it is common to inject fuel at timing on an advanced side of a compression top dead center. Even if small quantity injection of fuel is performed at such the timing, change in the fluctuation amount corresponding to the cetane number does not appear notably (refer to Tb in FIG. 2). Therefore, the inventors of the present invention examined a scheme of performing the small quantity injection of the fuel at predetermined timing on a delayed side of the compression top dead center (referred to as delayed timing) and determining a fuel property based on output torque increase amount of the internal combustion engine caused with the small quantity injection. In the case where the fuel has a property of low ignitability (i.e., low cetane number), an ignition delay increases and the output torque increase amount becomes a very small value if the small quantity injection is performed at the delayed timing. In the case where the cetane number is high, even if the small quantity injection is performed at the delayed timing, the ignition occurs with the ignition delay similar to the delay in the case where the injection is performed before the compression top dead center and the output torque increase amount becomes a value similar to the value in the case where the injection is performed before the compression top dead center.
When the small quantity injection is performed at the delayed timing and the fuel property is determined based on the output torque increase amount at that time, a variation occurs in a sensing value of the output torque increase amount (i.e., a torque increase amount sensing value). Therefore, from a viewpoint of heightening accuracy of the fuel property determination, it is desirable to perform the small quantity injection multiple times and to obtain the multiple torque increase amount sensing values in order to compensate the variation. However, frequent execution of the small quantity injection causes problems of prolonged execution of an operation state with deteriorated exhaust emission and deterioration of fuel consumption. That is, there is a relationship of trade-off between inhibition of deterioration of accuracy of the fuel property determination and inhibition of deterioration of the exhaust emission and the fuel consumption.

Internal combustion engine control device and internal combustion engine control system


Techniques are described for integrating prediction capabilities from data management platforms into applications. Implementations employ a data science platform (DSP) that operates in conjunction with a data management solution (e.g., a data hub). The DSP can be used to orchestrate data pipelines using various machine learning (ML) algorithms and/or data preparation functions. The data hub can also provide various orchestration and data pipelining capabilities to receive and handle data from various types of data sources, such as databases, data warehouses, other data storage solutions, internet-of-things (IoT) platforms, social networks, and/or other data sources. In some examples, users such as data engineers and/or others may use the implementations described herein to handle the orchestration of data into a data management platform.

Given the ubiquity of computing devices of various types of uses, entities have access to increasing volumes of data of various types, which may be generated in high volume. Such data can be produced by various types of source devices, such as computers, sensors, internet-of-things (IoT) (e.g., smart) devices, industrial control systems, and so forth. The data can be of different types and/or formats, such as process log files, images, videos, location or navigation data, sentiment data from social media, and so forth. Entities seek to mine or otherwise exploit this data to determine patterns, insights, opportunities, and so forth, which can provide a competitive advantage and/or other benefits. However, the quantity and variety of the data in such "big data" environments pose many challenges for data analysis and other data processing.

Prediction integration for data management platforms


The invention relates to a process for producing a dental restoration part using a machine tool (10), especially a dental processing machine intended for a dentist's office, wherein, in a first step, a rotating processing tool (16) rotationally mills or processes or grinds a workpiece (18) while, except from at least one entry and/or exit path, it is in continuous contact with the workpiece (18), i.e. with 0% air battle, by machining the outer profile (19) of the workpiece (18) substantially completely in helical-shape. The invention also relates to a dental processing machine.

Conventional dental processing machines process workpieces essentially according to a method in which the workpiece is processed or milled in accordance with predetermined parameters, wherein a processing tool of the dental processing machine is moved along a predetermined processing path to produce a desired contour or surface. The processing tool is conventionally moved relative to the workpiece such that the tool is immersed into the workpiece and, after moving along the specified machining path, is withdrawn from the workpiece to start a new machining path. For completion of the dental restoration part, the processing tool thus performs a large number of stops and start on the workpiece to be machined, to re-position the processing tool relative to the workpiece and travel a new machining path.
DE 10 2008 027 941 B4 discloses a method for rotary milling of round sections of workpieces, wherein a rotary milling tool having at least one end cutting edge is rotatably driven around a tool rotational axis which has an eccentricity with respect to a workpiece rotational axis, and the rotary milling tool is brought into engagement with the workpiece by delivering towards the tool rotational axis while continuously reducing the eccentricity.
DE 10 2010 061 116 A1 discloses a method for the material-removing machining of an especially flat blank for the production of dental workpieces, such as inlays, crowns, bridges, webs, implant superstructures or the like, wherein a rotating tool is used alternately for machining a crown inner side of the workpiece in the intrados position of the blank, and a crown outer side in the extrados position of the blank. In order to use the side surfaces of the tool insert for essential material removal, the workpiece is additionally machined in a position of the blank that bisects the angle between the intrados position and the extrados position in a metados position.
DE 10 2015 010 322 A1 discloses a method for milling a workpiece, wherein the workpiece is milled by means of a cutter at least in a concave partial region by moving the cutter along a milling path relative to the workpiece, wherein the milling path has a trochoid-like course at least in a region where the cutter is moved while milling the concave partial region.

Method for producing a dental restoration part, and a dental processing machine


In a network having a plurality of entities and a center, the center creates random numbers for all the combinations of two of the entities within the network, and delivers to each entity random numbers created for those combinations involving that entity. A sender entity selects a random number corresponding to the combination of that entity and the destination entity from a group of random numbers delivered to the sender entity, encrypts a communication text using an encryption key determined by the selected random number and sends the encrypted text to the destination entity. The destination entity selects a random number corresponding to the combination of itself and the sender entity from the random numbers delivered to the destination entity, and decodes a cipher text received using an encryption key determined by the selected random number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication method using encryption, and more particularly to a method and network for sharing between a group of communicating entities (subjects of communication such as an apparatus, a software, a man and a collection thereof) an encryption key intrinsic to the group of entities prior to the communication.
2. Related Background Art
In communications using encryption, the security of communication contents significantly relies on the fact that only the entities which will become a sender and a receiver know an encryption key but no other entities know the encryption key, whereby a safer and more efficient encryption key sharing method is desired.
The encryption key sharing method has been described in detail in the documents as listed below:
R. Blom, "Non-public key distribution", CRYPTO' 82, 1982
S. Tujii, T. Ito and K. Kurosawa, "ID-based cryptosystem using discrete logarithm problem", Elect. Lett., Vol. 23, No. 24, 1987.11.
Conventionally, the encryption key sharing methods are largely classified into the following four categories, the features of which will be presented below.
The first encryption key sharing method is a method in which each entity shares an encryption key with all the communication partners supposed by making individual arrangements through the communication using other encryption or by physical means. The first encryption key sharing method has a higher security, but takes much trouble when there are a great number of communication partners supposed. Since it is difficult to make arrangements for the key with indefinitely many unknown partners, the first encryption key sharing method is unsuitable for encryption communication with such indefinitely many partners.
The second encryption key sharing method is a method in which each entity creates public information based on its own secret information, registers this public information into a public film which can be freely read from but is strictly managed for writing or deleting, and in making communication, calculates an encryption key to be shared from its own secret information and the partner's public information. The second encryption key sharing method allows the sharing of an encryption key with any entity by referring to the public film as necessary in making communication, and is therefore available for encryption communication with indefinitely many partners, but requires a management system for the public film or corresponding public information. Further, in a large-scale network, each entity may take much trouble in referring to the partner's public information.
The third encryption key sharing method is a method in which each entity exchanges a value generated from random numbers secretly determined, using the public information determined intrinsic to a communication path, to calculate an encryption key to be shared. The third encryption key sharing method allows simply the sharing of encryption key with any entity only by exchanging the random number information. However, prior to encryption communication, a preliminary communication for exchanging the random number must be performed, in which it is not possible to confirm the communication partner. Therefore, a so-called "impersonation" may arise to attempt to pass the approval by pretending to be another person.
The fourth encryption key sharing method is a method in which the center accepts an identifier (ID) of each entity such as a name or a telephone number, generates a secret key corresponding to its ID, using a secret algorithm intrinsic to the center, and sends it to each entity, each entity calculating an encryption key to be shared from its secret key and the communication partner ID. This method is called an ID-based key sharing method, and allows for the confirmation of the communication partner. This method is further subdivided into a method of requiring preliminary communication prior to encryption communication and a method of not requiring preliminary communication. The method of requiring preliminary communication is unusable like an electronic mail capable of sending only the communication text by encryption, whereas the method of not requiring preliminary communication can be used like the electronic mail and has wider service ranges.
The key sharing method of not requiring preliminary communication is expected for use in the future, and has the following features.
First, as preparation, the center determines a secret algorithm g(i, j) (where i, j is ID, and assumed to be exchangeable), and delivers gi(j) with i fixed to each entity. Where it is desired that the entities A, B share the key, A enters ID of B into its own algorithm to obtain a common key kAB: EQU kAB=gA(B).
Also, B enters ID of A into its own algorithm to obtain the same common key kAB: EQU kAB=gB(A)
However, the ID-based key sharing method of not requiring the above preliminary communication had some problems as stated below.
There is a possibility that one algorithm g(i, j) which is a secret of the center may be destroyed by the collusion of a plurality of entities having gi(j).
Also, since the safety relies on mathematical characteristics of the system such as the computational complexity or the rank of matrix used, the extended safety or system is difficult to attain.
Further, if only one center is provided, an attack on security from the center itself cannot be prevented, because the center has a grasp of all the secrets. This will be further detailed below.
In the conventional example, it is supposed that the center is reliable, or a plurality of centers which are not in collusion are provided, but nowadays when there is no public institution or system for the key sharing method, the center may be possibly a company which has manufactured the key sharing method or a firm which markets the key sharing method by obtaining permission from its manufacturing company. In such situations, it is not ensured that the center is reliable, nor that there are a plurality of centers which are not in collusion with one another. Accordingly, from this aspect, none of the conventional key sharing methods without preliminary communication are safe, but no safe methods in practice have been proposed.
Also, the conventional key sharing methods without preliminary communication have the following problem associated with the collusion, even though the center is reliable. For example, it is supposed that the same key sharing method is adopted for A firm and B firm, and shared among a number of personnel in each of those firms. Further, it is supposed that the A firm knows that the B firm also adopts the same key sharing method, but the B firm does not know what other firms adopt the same key sharing method. If there are personnel necessary for collusion in the A firm, the secret of the center is exposed by the collusion only within the A firm, and the secret of the B firm is also exposed. As a result, the B firm is subjected to a damage such as tapping or tampering, but cannot tell who the offender is. Although this situation can be resolved by providing separate secret algorithms for the A firm and the B firm, the secret communication between A and B firms is not assured.

Method and network for communicating between a group of entities a text encrypted using an encryption key intrinsic to the group of entities in a network having a plurality of entities and a center


A device for covering the peak load of an electrical consumer (VB) that is connected to an alternating current terminal of a public electricity network (ENT). A power inverter (WR) is fed from a direct current accumulator (BAT) and is connected in parallel at the output thereof to the electricity supply (EB) of the consumer (VB). A measuring device (Z1, Z2) is connected in the connection circuit (EN) of the consumer and a control device (STE). With the aid of the measuring device (Z1, Z2), the control device monitors the energy consumption of the consumer (VB), estimates from it a consumption quantity of electrical energy (E*(T)) up to the end (T) of a given time interval, for example via linear extrapolation, and in the event that the prognosis value obtained in this way exceeds a given threshold value (Emax), puts the power inverter (WR) in operation in order to support the supply of the consumer.

Electric companies often have, especially in the commercial sector, rate models that are oriented not just toward overall consumption, but also toward consumption peaks, that is, according to the maximum value of (integrated) temporary consumption (likewise measured in kWh since it is related to a short time interval). Here, the current consumption is integrated over a given time unit, for example, 15 minutes, and the highest value at that time is stored. The underlying purpose of this procedure is for the energy provider to have to take into account also the supply of energy in the rate, even if the extent of the supply is not completely exhausted.
Known solutions to avoid exceeding a given maximum value during a consumption peak employ, for example, a peak load watchdog. These are consumption meters that continually measure the current consumption and trigger an alarm if the maximum is about to be exceeded. In such a case it is left up to the operator of the consumer system to reduce consumption, for example, by shutting off equipment that is not absolutely necessary. In further developed solutions, the peak load watchdogs are automated to the extent that they directly trigger the temporary shutdown of a portion of the consumer system, for example, non-time-critical consumers, such as a hot water heater.
In addition, there are also other scenarios in which it is important to avoid or compensate for peak loads. It often occurs that in a business a system needs a high level of power for only a brief time (for example, a few minutes a day), while otherwise there is generally a significantly lower level of energy consumption.
European Patent Application 1 253 696 A1 describes a supply of electricity for a load having predictable load peaks, where, based on a signal that reports a load peak, a battery is brought into circuit to prevent an overload of the normal power source (PWR). This method assumes advance knowledge of the load peak times and requires an additional signal line from the load to the supply control.
It is desired to provide a power supply that covers consumption peaks and thereby "hides" them with respect to the supply network. Of course, this is supposed to occur automatically (without intervention on the part of the operator) and without interruption of the supply of electricity to the consumer or individual consumer devices.


A loopback housing has an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are removably connected to one another. One of the body portions has a fiber opening to protect the optical fibers that are looped around for the fiber optic connector. The loopback housing also functions to remove and insert the fiber optic connector into an adapter, particularly in a high density application.

1. Field of the Invention
In the fiber optic industry, a loopback refers to the testing of the transmission of digital data streams from the origination point to a particular point and then back to the point of origination. This generally requires a fiber optic connector that has optical fibers with both ends secured in the same fiber optic connector. The optical fibers extend out of the connector and then "loopback" into the fiber optic connector. These optical fibers must be protected during use and they cannot be routed back in a too-tight circle or the optical fibers may break or crack, interfering with the transmission of light down the optical fibers. In certain applications, the loopback connectors are used in a high density application, making the insertion and removal of the loopback connector difficult because the optical fibers potentially protruding from the rear of the fiber optic connectors.
Thus, a new housing has been devised that allows the connectors to be inserted and removed from a high density application while providing protection and sufficient area for the optical fibers to be routed without breaking.
2. Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a loopback housing to be attached to an outer portion of a fiber optic connector to protect optical fibers extending from a rear portion of the fiber optic connector, the optical fibers having two ends, both of the ends of the optical fibers terminating within the fiber optic connector, and the fiber optic connector having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the inner and outer sleeves being movable relative to one another, including an upper body portion having an internal surface, an external surface, a front end, and back end, a lower body portion connectable to the upper body portion and having an internal surface, an external surface, a front end, and back end, at least one interior extension extending from the interior surface of at least one of the upper body portion and the lower body portion to engage the inner sleeve of the fiber optic connector, at least one of the upper body portion and the lower body portion having at least one rearward facing surface to engage the outer sleeve of the fiber optic connector, and a handle extending from a portion of the housing away from the front end and beyond the back end of the upper body portion and lower body portion.
In some embodiments, the upper body portion and the lower body portion are removably connectable to one another.
In other embodiments, the upper body portion has an inward extending portion disposed adjacent the back end, the handle emanates from the inward extending portion and away from the loopback housing.
In yet other embodiments, the loopback housing slides forward and backward relative to the fiber optic connector.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows and, in part, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description, the claims, and the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention.

Loopback housing for a fiber optic connector


A wire-to-board connector for connecting with a board-to-wire connector that includes a plastic body having a raised portion and two coupling portions, wherein the raised portion defines multiple through holes, each coupling portion is formed with an upright support having an enlarged top end, and multiple conductive terminals are fitted through the multiple through holes, wherein each conductive terminal has a fixed section, a solder section, and a connecting section. The wire-to-board connector comprises a dielectric housing and multiple conductive terminals. The dielectric housing defines two engaging holes and multiple positioning recesses. The conductive terminals of the wire-to-board connector are disposed in the positioning recesses for electrical connection to the connecting sections, wherein a protrusion is formed on an inner surface of each engaging hole, corresponding to the enlarged top end.

Connectors are a circuit component that provides electrical connection between different electronic devices, so that electrical current or signal can be transmitted between the devices and thus enables the devices to communicate with each other. Since electronic devices are usually separated at a certain distance, cables are required for communication therebetween. To facilitate a connection, each cable and its associated circuit board need to be installed with a connector. Generally, the connector installed at a cable is called a wire-to-board connector while the connector installed at a circuit board is called a board-to-wire connector. Although the functions of both connectors are simple, they are usually applied in the circuits of electronic products. Since the space relationship between a cable and a circuit board may be changed with the locations of the associated electronic devices, the structural strength of those connectors is important and necessary for ensuring a stable communication therebetween. On the other hand, due to the highly competition of electronic components, the cost is a key point for maintaining the competitiveness of connector components on the market.
With slim and light demand on electronic products, wire-to-board connectors for connecting with board-to-wire connectors installed at electronic products need continuous process.
In downsizing the wire-to-board connectors, they should also have an adequate strength to withstand multiple repeated connecting and disconnecting operations. The existing wire-to-board connectors employ elastic arms in recesses thereof to engage with the enlarged ends of corresponding supports of the board-to-wire connectors to increase the connection strength between them and the board-to-wire connectors.
However, the elastic arms of the existing wire-to-board connectors may lose their original elasticity after multiple repeated connections and disconnections. Thus, the connection strength between the existing wire-to-board connectors and the board-to-wire connectors may be reduced, and thus the existing wire-to-board connectors may be raised above the corresponding board-to-wire connectors, thereby reducing the reliability and stability of the connection therebetween. In another situation, when the elastic arms are broken, the remained elastic parts will not have a full capability of engaging the connectors, users often need to adjust the engagement angle between the connectors by nails or sharp tools, to ensure the stability of signal communication. Even worse, the broken parts left in connectors of electronic products will damage the connectors if they are not removed.
Furthermore, since the elastic arms used in the existing wire-to-board connectors should be formed as a z-shaped structure, so that the mold for manufacturing the elastic arms become complicated and the molded structure may occupy a larger space. Thus, for conforming the trend of product miniaturization, the existing wire-to-board connectors have some difficulty.
In view of the foregoing, the existing wire-to-board connectors has disadvantages, including inadequate structural strength which may cause troubles after multiple repeated connections and disconnections, difficulty in product miniaturization, and complexity of structure and associated mold. For solving the disadvantages, the applicant has contrived an improved wire-to-board connector, which can provide an adequate strength in structure to meet the habits of users in using wire-to-board connectors.

Electrical connector having a housing with a hole with a protrusion engaging an enlarged end on a housing of a corresponding connector