A pipe for adsorbing fuel evaporation gas in automobiles. An aluminum pipe portion is etched with acid or base so as to increase its surface area and improve its coating properties. The pipe is subjected to a thermal treatment to further improve its coating properties due to creation of an oxidation layer through such etching process, and then is coated at the surface thereof with zeolite slurry with improved adhesion, thereby effectively adsorbing the evaporation gas in terms of performance, endurance and layout.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a pipe for adsorbing fuel evaporation gas for automobiles.
2. Background of the Related Art
Existing exhaust gas regulation is applied to both exhaust gas released from a tail pipe and evaporation gas (e.g. volatile organic compound: VOC) generated from an automobile.
Typically, problems associated with the exhaust gas are addressed by an engine or post-treatment technology, but problems associated with evaporation gas are difficult to cope with and address as they are involved in the entire structure of the automobile.
Such evaporation gas becomes a main source of the formation of optical smog and has ozone for its main ingredient. Evaporation gas regulation is largely divided into non-fuel regulation and fuel regulation.
The non-fuel regulation is designed to regulate evaporation gas released from an automobile besides a fuel supply system, and the fuel regulation is designed to regulate evaporation gas generated from the fuel supply system. Particularly, in case of the fuel regulation of evaporation gas regulation, it is difficult to satisfy a regulation level of the evaporation gas.
For the fuel regulation, almost all of the evaporation gases are generated in such a fashion that when an automobile engine is stopped, evaporation gas is generated from a fuel tank and flows backwards to an intake air supply system from which air is supplied so as to be discharged to the outside of the automobile. That is, the evaporation gas sequentially flows out via the fuel tank, the engine and the intake air supply system. Also, as another discharge path of the evaporation gas, the evaporation gas flows out from the engine to the intake air supply system so as to be discharged to the outside.
Since such evaporation gas occupies more than 50% of fuel evaporation gas from the automobiles, the collection of the evaporation gas flowing out from the intake air supply system is the easiest strategy for complying with the evaporation gas regulation.
FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating comparisons between an intake air supply system and a general exhaust gas regulation system in terms of the amount of hydrogen carbide (HC) emitted from the intake air supply system and the general exhaust gas regulation system according to the size of automobiles. As shown in a graph of FIG. 3, it can be seen that as the size of vehicles increases, the amount of hydrogen carbide (HC) released from the intake air supply system also increases. Thus, it is necessary that hydrogen carbide (HC) released from the intake air supply system should be removed.
Methods of removing the evaporation gas are largely divided into two cases: a first method of basically suppressing the generation of the evaporation gas, and a second method of removing or adsorbing the evaporation gas which has been released from the intake air supply system.
The first method is to basically suppress the evaporation gas to be generated in consideration of the entire system of the automobiles such as a fuel system (connection portion and fuel tank), an engine system, etc. However, it is difficult for the first method to cope with the evaporation gas regulation as the entire system must be taken into consideration in terms of cost and method.
The second method, i.e., a post-treatment method, is to allow the automobile to be equipped with a component for removing or adsorbing the evaporation gas released from the intake air supply system since the amount of the evaporation gas emitted from the intake air supply system also increases as the displacement of the engine increases.
Specifically, the second method is one for appropriately coping with the evaporation gas regulation in which the evaporation gas from the intake air supply system that occupies around 50% of the total emission amount (in case of large vehicles) of the evaporation gas is effectively eliminated or adsorbed so that the release of the evaporation gas from a part of the vehicle can be efficiently suppressed. Thus, a hydrogen carbide (HC) adsorbent is conventionally installed at the intake air supply system side to cope with the evaporation gas regulation.
To this end, there has been proposed various evaporation gas adsorbing methods. As one method among them, activated carbon is installed at the intake air supply system. But such evaporation gas adsorbing method can have problems in that the back pressure of the exhaust gas increases and that the installed activated carbon is apt to be broken due to vibration occurring during operation of the vehicle, which may adversely affect the engine.
As another evaporation gas adsorbing method, the intake air supply system is equipped with an activated carbon sheet fabricated by mixing pulp and activated carbon and compressing the resultant mixture.
Problems involved with the activated carbon sheet include that the back pressure varies depending on its installation method and position, and the activated carbon granules compressed against the surface of the sheet are broken away due to vibration during vehicle operation, which has an adverse influence on the engine. In addition, since the activated carbon sheet is formed in a flat sheet shape, in the case where it is installed inside an air cleaner or a pipe, sheet-securing means is required to support the activated carbon sheet while exerting a certain force thereto.
Furthermore, the back pressure increases at the activated carbon, but the rolled-type sheet with easy installation needs a linear pipe to be mounted inside the intake air supply system and requires a separate structure which is capable of supplying the sheet with a certain force when being installed.

Method of fabricating pipe for absorbing fuel evaporation gas for automobiles


A fuel injection device has a two-way control valve driven by a two-position actuator. The control valve directly controls oil pressure in a back pressure chamber to control an injection operation of an injection nozzle. A two-position three-way flow passage switching valve operated by control pressure of the control valve selectively connects a control chamber of a pressure intensifier with a fuel supply passage leading to a pressure accumulator or a pressure release passage leading to a low-pressure system to indirectly control oil pressure in the control chamber. The flow passage switching valve starts a pressure intensifying operation in retard of the injection operation. When pressure is supplied to the control chamber, stoppage of the pressure intensification operation and returning operation of the pressure intensifier do not lag behind the injection operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel injection device of an internal combustion engine, specifically, a diesel engine. Specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel injection device that has a pressure intensifying mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
A common rail system is known as a fuel injection device for a diesel engine. The common rail system has a common pressure accumulator to accumulate pressurized fuel pressure-fed from a fuel supply pump and injects the accumulated fuel into respective cylinders by opening and closing injection nozzles with oil pressure control valves. The common rail system has excellent properties such as an ability to control injection pressure and injection amount independently.
In recent years, further improvement of performance of the common rail system has been required from the viewpoint of exhaust emission purification or fuel consumption improvement. In order to respond to this requirement, a newly proposed system has a pressure intensifying mechanism that raises the fuel injection pressure and a mechanism that controls a nozzle opening-closing operation with oil pressure, which is an advantage of the common rail system, for example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 2885076.
This fuel injection device can perform the injection at higher pressure than before with the use of the pressure intensifying mechanism. In addition, this system can change the injection pressure in one injection cycle by controlling both of the pressure intensification and the injection. Further, this fuel injection system enables multiple injection modes such as a minute amount injection at low pressure or a main injection at extra-high pressure. Accordingly, fine control corresponding to an operating state can be performed to optimize combustion.
Since this kind of system essentially has to control the two operations, i.e., the pressure intensifying operation and the injection operation, respectively and independently, the system has to have at least two actuators. Accordingly, the structure of the system tends to be complicated, increasing a cost. It has been required to realize the similar function with an easier structure.
Another system described in JP-A-2003-106235 selectively opens and closes flow passages leading to a nozzle back pressure chamber and a pressure intensification control chamber with a control valve. A degree of control freedom is limited, but only one actuator is used and an entire structure is simplified.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the fuel injection device described in JP-A-2003-106235. The fuel injection device 1 has a pressure accumulator 10, a pressure intensifier 20, an injection nozzle 30, a check valve 40 and a control valve 50 for controlling operations of the parts 10-40. The pressure intensifier 20 intensifies pressure of fuel in a high-pressure chamber 24 by driving a pressure intensifying piston provided by a large diameter piston 21 and a small diameter plunger 22 and supplies the fuel to the injection nozzle 30. Several restrictors are provided in fuel passages connecting the parts 10-50. For example, a control chamber 25 of the pressure intensifier 20 communicates with the pressure intensifier 10 through a restrictor 91 and communicates with the control valve 50 through a restrictor 92. Thus, pressure supply to the control chamber 25 and pressure release to a low-pressure system are controlled. A back pressure chamber 34 of the injection nozzle 30 communicates with the pressure accumulator 10 through restrictors 91, 92, 93 and communicates with the control valve 50 through the restrictor 93. Thus, pressure supply to the back pressure chamber 34 and pressure release to the low-pressure system are controlled.
In the above-described structure of the related art, the single control valve 50 controls pressures of the two chambers, i.e., the control chamber 25 of the pressure intensifier 20 and the back pressure chamber 34 of the injection nozzle 30. Therefore, the above structure is provided as an oil pressure circuit for connecting these elements. Even if the three restrictors 91, 92, 93 are used, it is difficult to optimize all of the pressures. When the control valve 50 is opened, a large amount of the fuel is continuously discharged from the pressure accumulator 10 due to the pressure intensifying control. Characteristics of a pressure-feeding stroke and a returning stroke of the pressure intensifier 20 can be set respectively but restrictor values are subject to restraint because the characteristics are not independent of injection characteristics. As a result, the optimization becomes further difficult.
As described above, the pressure in the control chamber 25 of the pressure intensifier 20 and the pressure in the back pressure chamber 34 have to be controlled. However, since the oil pressure circuit connects these chambers 25, 34 with each other, the pressure intensifying operation and the injection operation occur at the same time necessarily. Therefore, the injection cannot be performed at low pressure, i.e., without intensifying the pressure. As a result, multi-step injection at low pressure, which is preferable from the viewpoint of exhaust emission purification, cannot be performed, for example. Optimization of combustion through more sophisticated control has been required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fuel injection device of internal combustion engine


A base station communicates with a user device in the mode of time division duplexing based on the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing scheme. The physics transmission resource used for communicating between the station and device is divided into a plurality of continuous frames in the time domain, each containing a plurality of sub-frames. The base station can include: a period determination device, for determining the period of the current frame, composed of a predetermined number of frames in a plurality of frames; a judgment device, for determining whether each sub-frame in the current frame is marked as the first or second state; a communication control device, for permitting the base station to communicate with the user device on the sub-frame when it is in the first state, forbidding communication only concerned with the user device performed by the base station on the sub-frame when it is in the second state.

With rapid popularization of a user equipment such as a mobile phone, the user equipment is playing a more and more important role in people's life. Other functions besides communication in the user equipment are being more and more widely used, for example, accessing to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) with the user equipment. Moreover, interfaces such as infrared, BLUETOOTH, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) gradually become a standard configuration of the user equipment, in order to facilitate the communication link, data exchange and the like between the user equipment and other equipment. Particularly, the BLUETOOTH headset is becoming more and more widely used. Both the WLAN system and the BLUETOOTH system work at the Industry, Science and Medical (ISM) frequency band. For example, the frequency band 2400 MHz-2483.5 MHz is one of the international ISM frequency bands, and is also one of the ISM frequency bands used most frequently.
In a case in which the frequency band on which the communication between the user equipment and a base station is based is close to or a multiple of the frequency band on which the communication between the user equipment and other equipment is based, those two types of communications may interfere with each other. For example, the advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE) system in the wireless communication system is one of the system beyond 3G (beyond IMT-2000). According to the LTE standard series [36.101], the LTE system may work at several frequency bands. Among these LTE working frequency bands, some frequency bands are adjacent to the ISM frequency band, such as the frequency band 40 for deploying a LTE Time Division Duplexing (TDD) system, 2300 MHz-2400 MHz, and the frequency band 7 for deploying a LTE Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) system, uplink 2500 MHz-2570 MHz, downlink 2620 MHz-2670 MHz. If a certain LTE user equipment works at the above frequency band while the WLAN system or the Bluetooth system in this user equipment is in an activated state, then due to adjacent frequency band leakage, the LTE system and the ISM system (WLAN system, the Bluetooth system and the like) which work in the adjacent frequency bands in this user equipment may interfere with each other, and may even fail to communicate because of too high a bit error rate.
A conventional approach to resolve this problem is to provide a transmission filter with higher performance both in the transmission side (such as the LTE system) for communication with the base station on the user equipment and in the transmission side (such as the ISM system) for communication with other equipment on the user equipment, so as to decrease the adjacent frequency band leakage as much as possible. The disadvantage of this approach is that the cost of the user equipment will be significantly increased.

Method for allocating resource of wireless communication and corresponding user device and base station


Methods, systems, and devices supporting querying disparate data sources are described. Querying disparate data sources may include receiving an input for data stored at a first data source from a plurality of data sources, selecting a first data connector from a plurality of data connectors, wherein the first data connector corresponds to the first data source, and identifying a first query language corresponding to the first data source from a plurality of query languages. Querying the disparate data sources may further include generating a converted query based at least in part on the first query language and retrieving the data from the first data source using the first data connector based at least in part on the converted query.

A cloud platform (i.e., a computing platform for cloud computing) may be employed by many users to store, manage, and process data using a shared network of remote servers. Users may develop applications on the cloud platform to handle the storage, management, and processing of data. In some cases, the cloud platform may utilize a multi-tenant database system. Users may access the cloud platform using various user devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, or other computing systems, etc.).
In one example, the cloud platform may support customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. This may include support for sales, service, marketing, community, analytics, applications, and the Internet of Things. A user may utilize the cloud platform to help manage contacts of the user. For example, managing contacts of the user may include analyzing data, storing and preparing communications, and tracking opportunities and sales.
A user of the cloud platform may desire to analyze data from multiple sources. The data may be stored on different systems that are not connected and that utilize differing programming languages and data storage techniques. Querying the different data domains may pose multiple challenges, such as generating query forms using language specific to an application programming interface (API) for each of the different data locations, presenting the data to a user using multiple and separate user interfaces, and abiding by data residency rules specific to the data in question. In some systems, querying multiple data domains using multiple and distinct types of query forms may increase system latency and degrade user experience. In order for the user to visualize and/or analyze the data queried from third party sources, the user may utilize multiple and separate programs for the resident data and the queried third-party data. In some cases, importing data from third party sources to facilitate visualization of the data alongside data native within a single system may result in data residency concerns associated with storage of the imported data.

Query conversion for querying disparate data sources


A vibration testing platform includes, on one side, a fastening point connected to three actuators placed in orthogonal directions to one another by link-rods hinged at both ends thereof and, on the other side, three fastening points, each point being connected to the ground by a link-rod hinged at both ends thereof. The two end link-rods are vertically oriented and the third one is horizontally oriented and placed in a transversal direction.

The present invention relates to a triaxial vibration testing platform, particularly for helicopter simulators.
Helicopters undergo numerous vibrations during flight. These vibrations can be split up into components along three orthogonal axes. To be sufficiently realistic, helicopter simulators should be capable of reproducing these components along all three orthogonal axes.
There are known vibration testing platforms that comprise three or four control hydraulic actuators for each of the three vibrational axes. These actuators, with their hydraulic conduits, occupy a great amount of space, and their numbers make the simulator costly.

Triaxial vibrating platform, particularly for helicopter simulators


A method and system for selectively excluding a program from a security policy is provided. The security system receives from a user an indication of a program with a problem that is to be excluded from the security policy. When the program executes and a security enforcement event occurs, the security system does not apply the security policy. If the problem appears to be resolved as a result of excluding the program from the security policy, then the user may assume that the security policy is the cause of the problem.

Although the Internet has had great successes in facilitating communications between computer systems and enabling electronic commerce, the computer systems connected to the Internet have been under almost constant attack by hackers seeking to disrupt their operation. Many of the attacks seek to exploit vulnerabilities of software systems including application programs or other computer programs executing on those computer systems. Developers of software systems and administrators of computer systems of an enterprise go to great effort and expense to identify and remove vulnerabilities. Because of the complexity of software systems, however, it is virtually impossible to identify and remove all vulnerabilities before software systems are released. After a software system is released, developers can become aware of vulnerabilities in various ways. A party with no malicious intent may identify a vulnerability and may secretly notify the developer so the vulnerability can be removed before a hacker identifies and exploits it. If a hacker identifies a vulnerability first, the developer may not learn of the vulnerability until it is exploited—sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Regardless of how a developer finds out about a vulnerability, the developer typically develops and distributes to system administrators "patches" or updates to the software system that remove the vulnerability. If the vulnerability has not yet been exploited (e.g., might not be known to hackers), then a developer can design, implement, test, and distribute a patch in a disciplined way. If the vulnerability has already been widely exposed, then the developer may rush to distribute a patch without the same care that is used under normal circumstances. When patches are distributed to the administrators of the computer systems, they are responsible for scheduling and installing the patches to remove the vulnerabilities.
Unfortunately, administrators often delay the installation of patches to remove vulnerabilities for various reasons. When a patch is installed, the software system and possibly the computer system on which it is executing may need to be shut down and restarted. If the vulnerability is in a software system that is critical to the success of an enterprise, then the administrator needs to analyze the tradeoffs of keeping the software system up and running with its associated risk of being attacked and of shutting down a critical resource of the enterprise to install the patch. Some administrators may delay the installation of the patch because they fear that, because of a hasty distribution, it might not be properly tested and have unintended side effects. If the patch has an unintended side effect, then the software system, the computer system, or some other software component that is impacted by the patch may be shut down by the patch itself. Administrators need to factor in the possibility of an unintended side effect when deciding whether to install a patch. These administrators may delay installing a patch until experience by others indicates that there are no serious unintended side effects.
Intrusion detection systems have been developed that can be used to identify whether an attempt is being made to exploit a known vulnerability that has not yet been patched. These intrusion detection systems can be used to prevent exploitations of newly discovered vulnerabilities for which patches have not yet been developed or installed. These intrusion detection systems may define a "signature" for each way a vulnerability can be exploited. For example, if a vulnerability can be exploited by sending a certain type of message with a certain attribute, then the signature for that exploitation would specify that type and attribute. When a security enforcement event occurs, such as the receipt of a message, the intrusion detection system checks its signatures to determine whether any match the security enforcement event. If so, the intrusion detection system may take action to prevent the exploitation, such as dropping the message.
A set of one or more signatures may be considered a security policy. Developers of intrusion detection systems may provide various security policies. For example, a developer may provide one security policy that defines signatures of vulnerabilities of an operating system and many other security policies that are specific to an application or a class of applications. Similarly, an administrator may define a security policy that is specific to custom applications used by the enterprise.
Unfortunately, security policies may have restrictions that adversely impact programs (e.g., application programs and operating system components) running on a computer system. For example, a security policy may conflict with access requirements of a program to a resource. For instance, a program may require access to a certain server, but the security policy may prevent access to the server. If the program cannot access the resource, then the program may appear to have a problem. It can be a difficult and time-consuming process requiring a high degree of skill to debug the program, the security policy, or both in order to fix the problem. When a problem with a program occurs, a system administrator may simply disable the security policy, rather than spend the resources needed to debug and fix the problem.
The disabling of a security policy may have very adverse consequences for many programs including the program with the problem. The disabling of the security policy may open all the programs to exploitation of their vulnerabilities. It would be desirable to have a mechanism that would allow for only limited disabling of a security policy in a way that would not open all programs to exploitation of vulnerabilities covered by the security policy.

Method and system for troubleshooting when a program is adversely impacted by a security policy


A method (which can be computer implemented) for assisted remediation of at least one problem with a computer system includes the steps of obtaining data from the computer system, the data being indicative of the at least one problem; hypothesizing at least a first candidate remediation process for the problem from among a plurality of annotated remediation process descriptions, based at least in part on the data; associating at least a first attribute with the at least first candidate remediation process; and facilitating presentation of the at least first candidate remediation process with the associated attribute to a remediation agent.

Computers require maintenance, as do most complex systems. When problems occur with their hardware or software, several steps must be taken:
1. The problem must be detected.
2. Information about the problem must be gathered.
3. A provider of maintenance actions must be identified.
4. The information must be transmitted to the provider.
5. The provider must determine one or more possible courses of action.
6. The provider must select a course of action and take it.
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to step 6, specifically to the selection of the course of action to be taken from a set of one or more than one possible courses of action.
Step 1, the detection of a problem, can be performed by hardware, software or by a human user who observes behavior typical of a problem. Steps 2-5 can be similarly performed by hardware, software or by one more human users or maintenance personnel. In current practice, step 5 is often performed by a human operator at a help desk, located remotely from the site of the problem. This operator interacts with a human user, located proximately to the computer with the problem. The help desk operator asks the user a relies of questions and directs the user to perform a series of actions, these questions and actions being directed to obtaining the most accurate diagnosis possible of the problem. Alternatively, a second computer equipped with diagnostic software may interact directly with the computer with the problem, similarly obtaining data and pet forming actions on the problem computer, with the goal of obtaining the most accurate diagnosis possible of the problem.
Once this diagnosis is obtained, whether by computer-to-computer interaction or by interactions between humans, it now remains to determine a problem remediation process. Often there are multiple ways in which this problem can be fixed. These may be variations of a single way, or completely different ways. As an example, it may be the case that a given computer has an application program that is not mentioning correctly. One remediation procedure may be to uninstall and then reinstall that application program, while another may consist of a possibly complex sequence of steps to edit information in the computer operating system's registry, as in the Microsoft Windows® XP operating system (registered mark of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. USA).
Whether the agent designated to fix the problem is human or otherwise, that agent must select among the candidate problem remediation processes. The criteria used in this selection are various, including simplicity, risk, effectiveness, speed, the scope of change and cost, among others. Whatever the chosen criteria, each candidate remediation process must have associated data that allow for comparison with other remediation processes using the selected criteria. In current practice, human agents often make their decisions in the absence of this data, or on the basis of their episodic knowledge of the characteristics of remediation processes that they have personally observed. Reliance on personal observation does not permit the sharing of knowledge among human agents, limiting the improvements possible in an organization responsible for problem remediation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,236 to Ruppelt discloses a method and apparatus for problem diagnosis and solution. In particular, a method for problem diagnosis based on queries received from remote locations includes the steps of determining applicable solution recommendations based on a diagnosis query, displaying the applicable solution recommendations on a screen of a remote terminal, and determining whether a case based reasoning tool is available to answer the diagnosis query. When the case based reasoning tool is available, the method presents the case based reasoning tool on the screen with the applicable solution recommendations.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0243532 of Steward discloses a method and apparatus/software to assist persons in complex cause-and-effect reasoning. In particular, the method is directed to generating, refining and determining the consequences of complex systems of multiple cause and effect relationships. The method of Steward is applicable to biological systems as well as man-made systems, as it is based on the collecting and using observed behaviors as well as previous understood mechanism or relationships. The method is particularly useful in multi-variable system with significant interactions among sub-components, especially when there is limited expertise or complete understanding of all the components and their respective relationships interactions. In these cases the method provides guidance for future experiments that develop further expertise. The method has particular power and benefit as it provides for a distinction and comparison of the merits of conducting further experiments based on defined criteria. For example alternative solutions or experiments can be suggested and distinguished on the basis of cost, delay or a negative or detrimental outcome, based on prior experience and knowledge of interactions, in contrast to those that provide additional insight or solve the problem with a lower risk of negative implications.
US Patent Application Publication 2006/0095474 of Mitra et. al. discloses a system and method for problem solving through dynamic/interactive concept-mapping. A computer-implemented method of problem solving includes graphically displaying a plurality of concepts, dynamic links between the concepts, and solving a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links. Other embodiments include: a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon for causing a suitably programmed information-processing apparatus to perform a method of the problem solving that includes graphically displaying a plurality of concepts, displaying dynamic links between the concepts, and solving a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links. Still other embodiments include a computerized apparatus that includes a display output unit, a display drive unit that causes a plurality of concepts to be displayed on the display unit, and that causes dynamic links between the concepts to be displayed, and a solution unit that solves a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links, and that displays the solution.
It would be desirable to overcome the limitations in previous approaches.

International Business Machines Corporation


A transmission device includes: a first transmission unit that transmits data between the transmission device and an information processing device; a second transmission unit that receives data from an external transmission terminal; a determination unit that determines whether the information processing device is executing a data transmission processing program for controlling reception processes of the second transmission unit; and a control unit that, when the second transmission unit is to receive data from the external transmission terminal but not when the determination unit determines that the information processing device is not executing the data transmission processing program controls the first transmission unit to transmit to the information processing device, a predetermined control signal indicating that the second transmission unit is to receive data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission device such as a facsimile machine and more particularly relates to a transmission device capable of being used in combination with an information processing device such as a personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known a facsimile machine with a function for connecting with a personal computer. With this type of facsimile machine, when the facsimile machine receives a call signal from a remote facsimile machine, the facsimile machine transmits a predetermined control signal, called a ring command, to the personal computer. Because the facsimile machine transmits this control signal to the personal computer when it starts facsimile reception processes, the personal computer is capable of controlling facsimile transmission processes executed between the facsimile machine and the remote facsimile machine. By having the personal computer control execution of facsimile transmission processes, image data received during the facsimile transmission can be inputted as is from the facsimile machine to the personal computer. In this case, the user can process the image data in the personal computer as he or she desires.
However, the personal computer will be unable to control execution of facsimile transmission processes, unless the facsimile transmission processing program is not only prestored in a memory of the personal computer, but also is being presently executed by the personal computer. However, the facsimile transmission processing program is seldom continually being executed. For example, the user often executes other programs without executing the facsimile transmission processing program.
On the other hand, whenever this type of conventional facsimile machine receives a facsimile transmission, it will always transmit the ring command signal to the personal computer in order to start up the facsimile transmission processes. Accordingly, even when the facsimile transmission processing program is not being executed in the personal computer, the facsimile machine will transmit the predetermined control signal to the personal computer whenever it receives a call signal from a remote facsimile machine.
When the facsimile machine transmits the predetermined control signal to the personal computer while the personal computer in not executing the facsimile transmission processing program, the personal computer will nevertheless execute some type of response process in response to the control signal. When the personal computer is executing some other program when it receives the control signal, the process it performs in response to the incoming control signal will interrupt and temporarily stop the program presently being executed. On the other hand, even if the personal computer executes this response process, as long as the personal computer is not executing the facsimile transmission processing program, then the personal computer can not execute control of facsimile transmission processes based on the facsimile transmission processing program.
In this way, the conventional facsimile machines transmit the predetermined control signals to the personal computer in order to start facsimile transmission processes in the personal computer. Depending on the operation condition of the personal computer, this control signal may only cause the personal computer to execute an unnecessary interrupt process, thereby temporarily stopping data processes presently being executed by the personal computer. This reduces the processing efficiency of the personal computer.
This problem is not limited to a system wherein a facsimile machine is connected to a personal computer. For example, when another type of transmission device, that is, other than a facsimile machine, is connected to another type of information processing device, that is, other than a personal computer, the same type of problem may occur when data is transmitted between the two devices.
It is conceivable to disconnect the connection between the facsimile machine, or other transmission device, and the personal computer, or other information processing device, whenever the facsimile machine receives a facsimile message. Although this would prevent the ringing command from reaching the personal computer, this method is unacceptable because it would also prevent exchange of necessary commands between the personal computer and the facsimile machine.
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems and to provide a transmission device, such as a facsimile machine, that can be controlled as necessary by an independent information processing device during desired transmission processes, but without unnecessarily interrupting data processes being executed by the information processing device when it is unnecessary for the information processing device to control data transmission processes, thereby enhancing efficiency of the information processing device.
A transmission device including: a first transmission unit that transmits data between the transmission device and an information processing device; a second transmission unit that transmits desired data between the transmission device and an external transmission terminal; a determination unit that determines whether the information processing device is executing a data transmission processing program for controlling transmission processes of the second transmission unit; and a control unit that, unless the determination unit determines that the information processing device is not executing the data transmission processing program, controls the first transmission unit to transmit a predetermined control signal to the information processing device when the second transmission unit is to receive data from the external transmission terminal, the predetermined control signal indicating that the second transmission unit is to receive data.
With this configuration, when the information processing device, such as a computer, is executing the program required for data transmission processes using the second transmission unit of the transmission device, that is, the data transmission processing program, the transmission device will transmit the predetermined control signal to the information processing device so that the information processing device will perform appropriate and desired data transmission processes using the data transmission processing program. On the other hand, when the information processing device is not executing the data transmission processing program, then the transmission device will not transmit the predetermined control signal to the information processing device.
This is in contrast to the conventional situation, wherein the conventional transmission device will attempt to access the information processing device regardless of whether or not the information processing device is capable of executing desired data transmission processes, thereby causing the information processing device to perform unnecessary interrupt routines and unnecessary data processing. In the device according to the present invention, data process efficiency of the Information processing device can be maintained at a high level without the reduction in data processing performance that occurs in the conventional situation.
According to another aspect of the present invention, when the information processing device is not presently executing the data transmission processing program for data transmission processes using the second transmission unit of the transmission device, then whether or not the information processing device is presently executing the data transmission processing program is determined based on signals transmitted from the information processing device to the transmission device when the information processing device starts and stops executing the data transmission processing program. As a result, this determination can be accurately and correctly performed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, when the information processing device is presently executing a facsimile transmission program for performing facsimile transmission using a modem, then the transmission device will transmit the predetermined signal to the information processing device. Then, the information processing device will perform appropriate facsimile transmission processes based on the facsimile transmission program. On the other hand, when the information processing device is not presently executing the facsimile transmission program, then the transmission device will not attempt to unnecessary access the information processing device. As a result, other data processing programs presently executed in the information processing device can be effectively performed without interruption.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a transmission device including: a first transmission unit that transmits data between the transmission device and an information processing device; a second transmission unit that receives data from an external transmission terminal; a determination unit that determines whether the information processing device is executing a data transmission processing program for controlling reception processes of the second transmission unit; and a control unit that, when the second transmission unit is to receive data from the external transmission terminal but not when the determination unit determines that the information processing device is not executing the data transmission processing program controls the first transmission unit to transmit to the information processing device, a predetermined control signal indicating that the second transmission unit is to receive data.


The disclosure relates to a rapid and high precision centroiding method for spots image comprising the following steps. First, the method requires convoluting the gray value of a pixel with a Gaussian filter and judging whether the result thereof exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the method requires marking the current pixel with a flag to identify which spot it belongs to, and then accumulating the product of the gray value and a coordinate value of the same spot; and at the same time, accumulating the gray value of the same spot; and saving the results of the accumulation respectively. If the gray value of the pixel does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the method requires marking the current pixel as a background flag. After all pixels of the image has been disposed of completely, the method includes calculating a quotient of the accumulations of the product of the gray value and the coordinate value and the accumulations of the gray value, and outputting the quotients. At the same time, a centroiding system for spots image is also presented.

Spots image is the common image information in the field of machine vision and pattern recognition. The character of the spot image is the center of the spot. The spot center is widely used in object tracking in machine vision, high accuracy 3D measurement in vision and celestial navigation.
At present, there are two known methods of locating the center of the spot's image, one is based on the gray value of the pixels, and another is based on the edge. The information of the distribution of the gray value of the spots image is made use by a locating method which is based on the gray value, such as a centroiding algorithm and a curved surface fitting, method etc. The information regarding the shape of the edge is always used by the locating method which is based on the edge, including circle fitting, Hough transform etc.
The method which is based on the gray value has higher accuracy than the method which is based on the edge. Usually, the method of curved surface fitting fits the gray value distribution of the spots image by a 2D Gaussian curved surface, so the method is too complicated. The centroiding algorithm is used most frequently, due to its easy implementation and its high precision. The centroiding algorithm has some improved forms, mainly including the centroiding algorithm with a threshold value and the square weighted centroiding algorithm. The centroiding algorithm with threshold value is to subtract the background threshold from the original image, calculating the centroiding of the pixels which exceeds the threshold value. The square weighted centroiding algorithm uses the square of the gray value to replace the gray value and highlights the influence of the gray value nearer to the center of the spot.
In the prior art, for real-time application in vision dynamic tracking and the requirement of miniaturization in space application, spot centroiding which is to handle a mass of data and the processing exists in parallel, including operation parallelism, image parallelism, neighborhood parallelism, the pixel position parallelism and so on. But at present, the method of the spot centroiding is implemented mostly by the software in the computer. The implementation is done by instruction and is serial, so spot centroiding becomes the bottleneck of the image processing. For real-time spot centroiding, the system of on-chip windowed centroiding is proposed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory ("JPL"), neuro-MOS circuits have been implemented and integrated with a complementary metal oxide semiconductor ("CMOS") active pixel sensor ("APS"). More than two windows are set to locate spots centroid at the same time by the system. But due to the analog circuit and windowed processing, some disadvantages are as follows:
1) The window can not be set too large otherwise when more than two spots exist in one window, the two spots will be calculated as one spot which will skew the result with this error. Thus, the approximate position and the range must be known ahead to set the window.
2) Because of the limitation of the process and transmission speed, the number of windows can not be too much, so some spot's centroid can not be calculated
3) Because of implementation with the analog circuit, the centroiding algorithm is sensitive to noise which is the source of the error thereof.

Rapid and high precision centroiding method and system for spots image


A data processing system and method are disclosed for editing a text document stored as an alphanumeric string of structured document text and displayed as WYSIWYG text. The invention enables changing emphasis characteristics of a marked area of the WYSIWYG text located within a parent structure of the document. The method displays an emphasis menu of the valid emphasis types for the particular parent structure, indicating which ones of the emphasis types are present in the marked area. The method enables deleting an emphasis type from the marked area and will then remove the displayed present indication in the emphasis menu corresponding to the emphasis type deleted from the marked area. The method also enables adding an emphasis type to the marked area and will then display a present indication in the emphasis menu corresponding to the emphasis type added to the marked area.

1. Technical Field
The invention disclosed broadly relates to electrical computers and data processing systems and more particularly relates to data processing systems and methods for editing structured document text.
2. Background Art
Modern word processing and text editing programs employ structured document architecture to provide greater control and flexibility in the displayed and printed appearance of documents prepared with the programs. Structured document architecture is described, for example, in the below referenced U.S. patent application by Bennett, et al. A structured document can be prepared in accordance with the Standardized General Markup Language, such as is described in the International Standards Organization, Standard 8879-1986. A data stream of text marked up in accordance with the Standardized General Markup Language, will have its text divided into elements consisting of a begin tag and its content and terminated by an end tag, when necessary. Within a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor, text is displayed to the user as it will appear when it is printed, even though its structure is defined by the begin tags and end tags for each element of text. Formatting of the elements within a structured document is done when the document is displayed to the user. Those elements which fall into the category of commonly used elements include paragraphs, simple lists, ordered lists, bulleted lists, list items, headings, and document titles. A hierarchical structure can be attributed to these various elements, such as assigning the title element as having the highest level in a hierarchy, assigning a chapter heading as having a next highest level in the hierarchy, and assigning a paragraph element as having a third highest level in an example structured document hierarchy.
Modern displays and printers are capable of representing strings of text in highlighted conditions, which are generally referred to as "emphasis." Example types of emphasis include bold face, color, italic, monospace font, overstrike, subscript, superscript, underscore, and other defined symbols. In a structured document architecture, the portion of the displayed and printed text which will be emphasized by a particular type of emphasis, will be defined by a begin tag and an end tag which characterizes the type of emphasis.
In a structured document architecture having emphasis display capability, if the text displayed on the display unit during the editing operation is in the WYSIWYG form, existing emphasis begin and end tags which are embedded in the structured document text, will not have their positions precisely shown on the display screen. Thus, during editing operations, when the user wishes to delete existing emphasis characteristics by removing the corresponding emphasis begin and end tags, the user's ability to distinguish the exact location of each respective tag will be impaired by the tags having been concealed in the WYSIWYG display. If the user fails to remove both the begin tag and the end tag corresponding to the emphasis characteristic to be removed, the editing operation will be incomplete. Another problem occurs when the user wishes to have two or more forms of emphasis for the same portion of text. The user must be able to accurately place both the begin tag and the end tag for an added emphasis characteristic at the desired locations in the structured document text. However, since WYSIWYG display conceals the exact location in which the begin tag and end tag need to be placed, an incomplete operation will occur.
An additional consideration must be given to those structured document architectures which prohibit certain types of emphasis occurring for particular types of parent document structures. For example, many structured document architectures will prohibit the use of the overstrike form of emphasis in a title or a chapter heading. Unless the user has a detailed understanding of the structured document architecture, it is likely that mistakes will be made in attempting to add emphasis characteristics to prohibited parent structures in a document.
3. Related Patent Applications
The following patent applications serve to describe the background of the invention and are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 344,322, filed Apr. 26, 1989, now abandoned, by Bennett, et al., entitled "A Method for Manipulating Elements Within a Structured Document Using Active Intent Interpretation," assigned to the IBM Corporation, and incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 344,342, filed Apr. 26, 1989, to Lim, et al., now abandoned, entitled "A Method for Copying a Marked Portion of a Structured Document," assigned to the IBM Corporation and incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 344,343, filed Apr. 26, 1989, to Lim, et al., now U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,521, entitled "A Method for Deleting a Marked Portion of a Structured Document," assigned to the IBM Corporation and incorporated herein by reference.

System and method for editing a structured document to modify emphasis characteristics, including emphasis menu feature

International Business Machines Corporation


A rubber composition for sidewall contains 10 to 40 mass % syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene-containing polybutadiene rubber and 10 to 30 mass % tin-modified polybytadiene rubber in a polymer component, and contains 10 to 40 parts by mass silica with respect to 100 parts by mass polymer component. Thus, cut resistance and ozone resistance as well as fuel efficiency of a car can be improved.

As preservation of environments in addition to energy saving has particularly been required in recent years, development of a technique for achieving higher fuel efficiency of a vehicle has become an important issue. As decrease in a rolling resistance of a tire represents one requirement for fuel efficiency, various studies have been conducted in the field of the art.
Regarding a technique for achieving higher fuel efficiency in connection with a sidewall of a tire, decrease in an amount of a reinforcing agent such as carbon black blended in the sidewall or use of carbon black having a large particle size is most effective. In many cases, however, such measures lead to lower physical properties representative of hardness, such as hardness or modulus, of a mixture of rubber. Namely, when a tire is attached to a car and used, resistance to flaw lowers.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-106796 discloses a rubber composition containing polybutadiene rubber including a large amount of a linear component, as a rubber composition for sidewall for a tire for a passenger car that can achieve lower rolling resistance of a tire.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-063143 discloses a rubber composition containing polybutadiene rubber including 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene crystals and tin-modified polybutadiene rubber, as a rubber composition achieving both cut resistance and high fuel efficiency.
Meanwhile, a rubber composition capable of achieving both high fuel efficiency and improved appearance has been desired.

Rubber composition for sidewall and tire


A system that enables enhanced air flow to the air intake of an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger is disclosed. The air induction system includes a plenum or expansion chamber located within the area directly in front of the inlet of the turbocharger. Alternatively, the air induction system may include a diffuser and/or an expansion chamber for reducing the velocity of the air flow within the clean air duct in an area directly in front of the inlet of the turbocharger.

An internal combustion engine typically includes an air induction system with which air is introduced into an intake manifold assembly. In contrast, the air induction system of a turbocharged engine delivers induction air to the impeller of the turbocharger compressor instead of directly to the intake manifold assembly of the engine.
Prior turbocharged induction systems exhibit problems related to the loss of air induction system pressure head. Common attempts to minimize air induction system head loss include the use of short-length air induction systems, large diameter ducting, or ducting with as few directional changes as possible. However, these solutions are not always possible due to the placement of the engine relative to the surrounding vehicle packaging. Additionally, within the design of the system, certain geometry can be used to minimize flow losses, including diffusers and expansion chambers, at a location where flow must pass through a bend or a bell-mouth transition located within the clean air duct upstream of the inlet to the turbocharger.
A diffuser can be utilized to increase the static pressure of fluid passing through the system. Typical conical diffusers provide for a gradual conical expansion of the area encompassed by a system, the rate of area expansion being determined by what is known in the art as the "cone angle."
Additionally, an expansion chamber or plenum may also be utilized to achieve similar results, under certain conditions. The plenum may encompass an expansion or area increase intended to reduce velocity in order to recover the pressure head of the flow. As air or fluid flow enters the plenum, a reduction in flow velocity occurs. The velocity reduction results in the kinetic energy of the fluid being converted to a static pressure rise due to the conservation of linear momentum and the conservation of angular momentum when swirl is present. Due to the static pressure rise, expansion chambers must be carefully designed to avoid increasing overall head loss.
Furthermore, a bell-mouth transition at the inlet of the turbocharger can be utilized to reduce the amount of head loss and restriction generated as the induction air enters the inlet of the turbocharger.
Although the use of a single approach, such as either a diffuser, an expansion chamber, or a bell-mouth transition, to reduce static pressure losses is well-known, these three features have not been combined in the prior art to obtain the lowest possible turbocharger entrance losses. Moreover, the prior art air induction systems do not utilize a plenum, diffuser, or other means for restoring static pressure head within the area directly in front of the inlet of the turbocharger. Additionally, packaging and manufacturing constraints have often led to design inefficiencies. Prior to the invention, the air induction system would have had to include a plurality of dimensional bends or elbows within the clean air duct to satisfy packaging and design constraints. However, such bends or elbows create a high restriction yielding lower than desired pressure conditions at the inlet of the turbocharger compressor. Furthermore, the prior art air induction systems did not utilize the limited space available after the engine and underhood compartment had already been designed to enhance the flow of induction air.

Apparatus for increasing induction air flow rate to a turbocharger


A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock containing waxy components and having an end boiling point exceeding 650° F., which includes contacting the feedstock at superatmospheric hydrogen partial pressure with an isomerization dewaxing catalyst that includes ZSM-48 and contacting the feedstock with a hydrocracking catalyst to produce an upgraded product with a reduced wax content. Each catalyst is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the cloud point and the pour point of the feedstock at a conversion of greater than about 10%, and an overall distillate yield of greater than about 10% results from the process.

The present invention relates to the catalytic dewaxing of hydrocarbon streams. In particular, the present invention relates to a catalyst combination that provides a high distillate yield with a reduced pour point and cloud point.
Most lubricating oil feedstocks must be dewaxed in order to produce lubricating oils which will remain fluid down to the lowest temperature of use. Dewaxing is the process of separating or converting hydrocarbons which solidify readily (i.e., waxes) in petroleum fractions. Processes for dewaxing petroleum distillates have been known for a long time. As used herein, dewaxing means removal of at least some of the normal paraffin content of the feed. The removal may be accomplished by isomerization of n-paraffins and/or cracking.
Dewaxing is required when highly paraffinic oils are to be used in products which need to flow at low temperatures, i.e., lubricating oils, heating oil, diesel fuel, and jet fuel. These oils contain high molecular weight straight chain and slightly branched paraffins which cause the oils to have high pour points and cloud points. In order to obtain adequately low pour points, these waxes must be wholly or partly removed or converted. In the past, various solvent removal techniques were used, such as MEK (methyl ethyl ketone-toluene solvent) dewaxing, which utilizes solvent dilution, followed by chilling to crystallize the wax, and filtration.
The decrease in demand for petroleum waxes as such, together with the increased demand for gasoline and distillate fuels, has made it desirable to find processes which not only remove the waxy components but which also convert these components into other materials of higher value. Catalytic dewaxing processes achieve this end by either of two methods or a combination thereof. The first method requires the selective cracking of the longer chain n-paraffins, to produce lower molecular weight products which may be removed by distillation. Processes of this kind are described, for example, in The Oil and Gas Journal, Jan. 6, 1975, pages 69 to 73 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,668,113. The second method requires the isomerization of straight chain paraffins and substantially straight chain paraffins to more branched species. Processes of this kind are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,220 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,926.
In order to obtain the desired selectivity, previously known processes have used a zeolite catalyst having a pore size which admits the straight chain n-paraffins, either alone or with only slightly branched chain paraffins, but which excludes more highly branched materials, cycloaliphatics and aromatics. Zeolites such as ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-23, ZSM-35 and ZSM-38 have been proposed for this purpose in dewaxing processes and their use is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,938; 4,176,050; 4,181,598; 4,222,855; 4,229,282 and 4,247,388. A dewaxing process employing synthetic offretite is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,174. A hydrocracking process employing zeolite beta as the acidic component is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,641.
An improved dewaxing process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,220 to La Pierre et al., the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This patent discloses that hydrocarbons such as distillate fuel oils and gas oils may be dewaxed primarily by isomerization of the waxy components over a zeolite beta catalyst. The process may be carried out in the presence or absence of added hydrogen, although operation with hydrogen is preferred. This process can be used for a variety of feedstocks including light gas oils, both raw and hydrotreated, vacuum gas oils and distillate fuel oils obtained by Thermofor catalytic cracking (TCC).
Although catalytic dewaxing (whether shape selective dewaxing or isomerization dewaxing) is an effective process, it has some limitations. A catalytic dewaxing process removes wax, but it does not change the end point of the product to a great extent. The problem is most severe when using a shape selective zeolite catalyst, such as ZSM-5, which selectively cracks the normal and slightly branch chain paraffins, but leaves most other components untouched. Thus, the feeds to most shape selective catalytic dewaxing processes are selected based on the desired product because the end point of the product usually sets the end point of the feed. This limits the available feedstocks, since these dewaxing processes can be used to dewax heavier feedstocks, but the heavier feedstocks cannot produce light products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,007 to Smith, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a process for producing a relatively high octane gasoline by-product from the cracking of normal paraffins by increasing the hydrodewaxing temperature to at least 360° C. within about seven days of start-up. This approach improves the economics of the dewaxing process by making the light by-products (the gasoline fraction) more valuable, but does not address the end-point problem. As a consequence, Smith does not take full advantage of the ability of the process to tolerate heavier feeds.
Other dewaxing processes reduce the pour point and cloud point of waxy feeds through the use of catalysts which isomerize paraffins in the presence of aromatics. These processes typically operate at relatively high temperatures and pressures, which results in extensive cracking and thereby degrades useful products to less valuable light gasses.

Process for catalytic dewaxing and catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon streams

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A subframe processing method and device are disclosed. A terminal can determine a special subframe in a non-contiguous secondary carrier according to a maximum continuous channel occupancy duration and a channel listening duration of the non-contiguous secondary carrier, and a channel occupancy start reference time point and/or a channel listening start reference time point of the non-contiguous secondary carrier that are obtained, where the special subframe includes all or some gap symbols occupied by the channel listening duration, use all symbols except the gap symbols in the special subframe as symbols that can be occupied by a PDCCH and/or a PDSCH, and correspondingly receive or decode the PDCCH and/or the PDSCH in the special subframe according to the symbols that can be occupied by the PDCCH and/or the PDSCH.

In an LTE (Long Term Evolution) system or an LTE-A (LTE-Advanced, Long Term Evolution Advanced) system, to increase uplink and downlink peak rates in the system, a CA (Carrier Aggregation) technology is introduced, that is, a plurality of contiguous or non-contiguous carriers is aggregated to simultaneously serve UE (User Equipment) when necessary, so as to provide a required rate. The CA technology may be used to maximize resource utilization and effectively utilize discrete spectrum resources.
Specifically, in the CA technology, a network-side device such as a base station may configure a plurality of operating carriers for each UE, where one carrier is a primary carrier, and the other carriers are secondary carriers. In addition, to maximize resource utilization, each secondary carrier may be configured in an unlicensed spectrum. The unlicensed spectrum generally refers to a common spectrum, that is, a spectrum that can be used by any organization or any individual. Therefore, generally, a rule of listening before transmitting needs to be followed in the use of the unlicensed spectrum, that is, a signal can be transmitted in the unlicensed spectrum only when it is detected that the spectrum is idle. In other words, if a secondary carrier is deployed in the unlicensed spectrum, the rule of listening before transmitting also needs to be followed in the use of the secondary carrier. Therefore, transmission in the secondary carrier may be discontinuous.
Specifically, for a non-contiguous carrier deployed in a spectrum such as an unlicensed spectrum, a base station may generally perform a CCA (Clear Channel Assessment) to assess whether a channel occupied by the non-contiguous carrier is idle, so as to determine whether the channel can be used. Generally, when the base station performs the CCA, a minimum duration of the CCA (which may also be referred to as a channel listening duration or a channel assessment duration) is not shorter than 20 s. In addition, a maximum duration in which the base station transmits a signal by using the non-contiguous carrier every time cannot exceed 13 ms (that is, a maximum continuous channel occupancy duration of the non-contiguous carrier cannot exceed 13 ms). In addition, if the base station determines that the channel is not occupied by other devices for a long time, the base station periodically occupies the channel, where every two durations of occupancy by the base station may be separated by a CCA.
It can be known from the foregoing content that, for any UE, when there is a non-contiguous carrier in a plurality of operating carriers configured for the UE, there is a minimum duration of 20S (namely, a CCA duration) in which the non-contiguous carrier cannot transmit any signal. Although the CCA duration may occupy merely less than one symbol in a subframe, because the UE does not know a time point at which the CCA occurs, the UE cannot exclude the symbol occupied by the CCA from the entire subframe in which the CCA occurs. Consequently, no signal can be transmitted in 14 symbols of the entire subframe in which the CCA occurs, and resource utilization is reduced.


A wheel for a cart has a static dissipative mechanism. The wheel has a hub that has a central bore for receiving one or more bearings. The outer periphery of the hub has a conductive ring that has projections extending radially outward. The projections are surrounded by a tread material. A conductive wire extends from the central bore where the bearings are, on the outside of the hub, to the conductive ring. A conductive path is provided for the cart through the bearings, the wire, the conductive ring to ground.

Material handling equipment, such as carts, are used to transport a variety of objects. One example of a cart is a shopping cart used to transport groceries in the store and to and from vehicles. Another example of a cart is a utility cart used to transport dry goods such as lumber, and other kinds of bulk materials. Still another kind of cart is a luggage cart, a baker's rack, and so on.
The carts roll on wheels. The wheels are typically provided with a rubber or plastic tread, which tread is non-conductive.
When the cart moves across a surface, such as a store floor, the cart picks up an electrical charge in low humidity environments. The phenomena is similar to a person in socks or rubber sole shoes shuffling on a carpet in a low humidity environment. When the person touches a door knob or other metal object that is grounded, a static discharge occurs and the person feels "shocked". Similarly, with a cart, as the cart becomes electrically charged, due to its electrical isolation from the ground, it can be discharged through a person, resulting in an unpleasant electrical shock. The shock occurs when the person touches the cart through grounded shoes or touches the cart and the grounded object such as a metal shelf or counter.
It is desirable to make the cart self-grounding in order to avoid the build-up of an electrical charge and the discharge thereof. A self-grounded cart has an electric path from the cart to the ground. This electric path can be separate from the wheels or can be through the wheels.
In the prior art, electrical paths are provided by a metal chain that is separate from the wheel. An example is shown by Lissner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,022. The chain extends from the metallic body or chassis of the cart to the ground. The chain is typically located adjacent to a wheel. The chain picks up debris as it drags along the ground. This debris may cause the chain to lose its electrical connection to the ground.
Still another way to ground the cart is directly through the wheels. Various prior art patents accomplish this, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,716,997 and 6,786,559, as well as Swiss Patent No. 643,189.
It is desirable to have a low cost wheel that is reliable and that provides a conductive path to the ground.

Cart wheel with static dissipative mechanism


Provided are a data relatedness assessment device, a data relatedness assessment method, and a recording medium that stores a program, which calculates relatedness between two or more pieces of data relevant to a task of a worker. A display area acquirer (13) acquires display area information that denotes respective display areas of two or more pieces of data displayed on the screen of a display (3). A line of sight information acquirer (11) acquires a line of sight position that is the position of the line of sight of a worker on the screen of the display (3). A gazing data generator (14) generates gazing data information that denotes data that the worker is gazing at based on the line of sight position and the display area information. An operation information acquirer (16) acquires operation information that denotes a content of an operation that the worker has executed on the displayed data. A data relatedness calculator (18) calculates mutual relatedness between the two or more pieces of data in the task of the worker according to a predetermined rule based on the gazing data information and the operation information.

In businesses using computers, a worker often uses a plurality of applications simultaneously. In such a case, it is important to keep associating data, such as documents and images, with each other used in each application (including business data) with the business. This is because association of each business and data related to the business, for example, facilitates the worker to resume the business after once stopping the business.
Further, the data associated with the business is possibly utilized such as for assessing businesses similar to said business, extracting a file (data) that is considered necessary to carry out said business from data associated with the similar businesses, and thereby informing the worker of the file.
Patent Literatures 2, 4, and 5 disclose techniques for associating data with each other. Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique in which similarity of data is calculated based on keywords included in the data, and the data are associated with each other based on the similarity thereof. Patent Literature 4 discloses a technique in which data are associated with each other based on simultaneity of access time to the data. Patent Literature 5 discloses a technique in which copy and paste operations are detected on a computer, and data between the copy source and the copy destination are associated with each other.
Besides the techniques for associating data with each other, Patent Literatures 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8 disclose techniques that utilize line of sight information that denotes the line of sight of a user. The video playing device of Patent Literature 1 classifies a video or a video section to be played according to the degree of user's concentration on the video. Then, the video playing device selects a video or a video section to be played based on the classification result and the degree of user's concentration on the video. The liquid crystal display device of Patent Literature 3 computes the visual line angle of an audience with a television, and displays a video of image quality adjusted to the position of the audience. The work training system of Patent Literature 6 displays on a head-mounted display device the footage of a virtual vehicle and a virtual component that moves correspondingly to the movement of an operator.
Further, Patent Literature 7 discloses a technique of controlling a computer apparatus based on eye-tracking information. Patent Literature 8 discloses a technique of displaying feedback data on a display screen based on the absolute position of the gazing point of a user.

Data relatedness assessment device, data relatedness assessment method, and recording medium


The present disclosure relates to a method incorporating computer-implemented steps, a computing device, and a computer readable storage medium, for providing alignment information data for the alignment of an orthopaedic implant for a joint of a patient. The method comprises the computer-implemented steps of being responsive to patient specific information data for deriving patient data, where the patient specific information data is indicative of one or more dynamic characteristics, and being responsive to the patient data for providing the alignment information data for the alignment of the orthopaedic implant.

Replacing joints with orthopaedic implants due to injury or degeneration has been commonplace for many years. A more fitness-driven outlook and active lifestyle pursued by the older generation is giving rise to an increasing frequency of joint degeneration or injury from an earlier age.
As such, joints, such as knee and hip joints, must be surgically repaired or, in some cases, totally replaced. The current method for replacing joints typically involves mechanical axis alignment of a joint for placing the orthopaedic implant. This involves taking a number of stationary physical measurements to align the orthopaedic implant to the patient's primary mechanical weight bearing axis. For example, for a knee joint, this involves aligning the orthopaedic implant based on a mechanical weight bearing axis that intersects the centre of the hip, the centre of the knee and the centre of the ankle.
Current standard surgical practice is to use instruments (mechanical and computer driven) to align implants to reference points. The mechanical axis in knees and an analogous geometrical reference frame in hips is used (for example, 45 degrees cup inclination, 15 to 20 degrees cup ante-version, neutral femoral stem position).
It is also known to try to adjust the range of motion of the joint by varying the implant position. This is either done manually, through the expert handling/feel of the surgeon, or, through the computed identification of a central axis of the range of motion.
It is also noted that commercially available computer navigation systems currently provide information about mechanical alignment and the ability to customize implant position from this information.
Total joint replacements that are aligned using mechanical axis alignment, although showing favourable results for survivorship and longevity, are often disappointing when measured in terms of functional patient outcomes. That is, the joints are not suited to activities that a person may wish to undertake, therefore causing pain and discomfort to the person. In some cases, such activities will cause the implant to fail.
People with total joint replacements rarely achieve the lifestyle equivalents of their non-arthritic peers. As such, there is a lack of techniques that demonstrate improvements in patient function and quality of life, after a total joint replacement.
The problems mentioned above can be attributed to the lack of patient specificity offered by 'off the shelf' orthopaedic implant designs. All patients receive the same implant designs in the same position regardless of their age, gender, activity level or body shape. However, not all patients are the same.
Patient diversity has recently received much attention within the orthopaedic literature. A topical example is the difference in the size of male and female knees. This has led total knee replacement (TKR) manufacturers to introduce separate size ranges for male and female implants.
This only goes some of the way to addressing the diversity encountered by orthopaedic surgeons in practice today. Many published studies highlight many more morphological differences that exist within sampled patient populations.
A pertinent example is that of the slope of patients' tibial plateaus. Males have been measured on average to have significantly different posterior slopes to that measured in females. Furthermore, there has been significant inter-sex variation observed. Yet manufacturers recommend to surgeons implanting knee replacements that they align the tibial components with a one size fits all 'standard' recommended prostheses alignment. This alignment recommendation does not change if you are male or female, whether you have a severe tibial slope or a mild tibial slope, whether you are short or tall, or whether you have a high or low demand lifestyle.
This is not just the case for tibial component alignment. All of the alignment parameters generally recommended to surgeons are one size fits all generalisations. This one size fits approach to TKR surgery contributes to the relatively poor functional outcomes.
Similar generalisations can be found in the hip replacement arena. The 'gold standard' acetabular cup position for all patients is defined to be forty-five degrees of inclination and twenty degrees of ante version with reference to the anterior pelvic plane. This standard alignment becomes inappropriate when a patient presents with an anatomical variation, such as, pelvic tilt, pelvic mobility or pelvic stiffness.
Examples of processes for achieving mechanical axis alignment in total knee replacement surgery using imaging data and rapid prototype manufacturing techniques include: Prophecy™ (Wright Medical Technology, Inc.), Trumatch™ (DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. a Johnson & Johnson Company), Signature™ Personalized Total Knee Replacement (Biomet, Inc.), MyKnee™ (Medacta, International SA), Zimmer™ Patient Specific Instruments (Zimmer, Inc.), Otis Knee™ (OtisMed, Corp.), and Visionaire™ (Smith & Nephew, Inc.), amongst others.
Examples of processes for achieving mechanical axis alignment in total knee replacement surgery using computer navigation software include: eNact Knee Navigation System™ (Stryker) and BrainLab™ Knee Navigation (BrainLab, Inc.).
Examples of processes for achieving mechanical axis alignment in total knee replacement surgery using robotics systems include: MAKOplasty™ Partial Knee Resurfacing (Mako Surgical Corp.).
However, as with known alignment processes, there is no factoring into the processing of, amongst others, age, gender, activity level or body shape which ultimately will have an effect on how a person will respond to a particular alignment.
The present invention seeks to provide a computer-implemented method, a computing device, and a computer readable storage medium for providing alignment information data for the alignment of an orthopaedic implant for a joint of a patient, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Methods for providing and calculating implant data, and for controlling an orthopaedic implant alignment system


Apparatus and method for pulling or inserting jointed pipe sections (18) having upset ends (20) within a well utilizing a coiled tubing injector (26). The coiled tubing injector (26) has a pair of opposed endless chains (50, 52) including gripper blocks (58) for gripping the pipe sections (18). An axial gap (G) is provided in chains (50, 52) between adjacent gripper blocks (58) to receive the upset ends (20). To align accurately upset ends (20) with gap (G), a sensing mechanism (100, FIGS. 11 and 12) is provided to sense the location of upset end (20) and a sensing mechanism (110, 112, FIGS. 13 and 14) is provided to sense the location of gap (G). An operator in response to signals from the sensors accurately aligns upset ends (20) with gap (G).

Workover operations are provided on existing production wells for various reasons. Several well workovers require a series of separate steps or tasks. Some of the steps may involve the insertion of coiled tubing (CT) downhole through the production tubing string, and then the lifting or pulling of the production tubing string. For example, it may be desired to raise the level of the producing zone one hundred (100) feet, for example, above the old producing zone and remove sand from the production tubing. For this purpose, coiled tubing (CT) is inserted within the production tubing by an injector for cleaning the sand from the tubing. Then the CT and CT injector are removed from the production tubing string. Next, a pipe pulling device or structure is mounted over the well for pulling or lifting the production tubing string to the desired height for raising the production zone. The upper end of the production tubing string after being raised is normally removed. Several types of pulling devices may be utilized with a coiled tubing injector as indicated below.
Drilling Rig and Standard Coiled Tubing Unit
The use of a drilling rig and a standard coiled tubing unit is not a standard practice for workover operations. However, the combination is possible and has application in some cases. The drilling rig is used to manipulate the jointed pipe while the coiled tubing unit runs the coiled tubing.
In this method the drilling rig manipulates the pipe in the wellbore to achieve the required task. Pipe which is removed from the well is either racked on the rig or laid down on the pipe rack. When continuous coiled tubing is needed the CT injector is moved on the rig floor and suspended from the traveling block of the rig. The coiled tubing system is then rigged up and the job performed. At the conclusion of the CT operation the injector is removed from the rig floor and rig operations proceed as needed. This exchange of equipment cycles back and forth until the planned intervention is completed.
Pulling Unit and Standard Coiled Tubing Unit
The use of the pulling unit and a standard coiled unit is a standard practice for workover operations. On jobs using a pulling unit and a standard coiled tubing unit, the pulling unit is used to manipulate the jointed pipe while the coiled tubing unit is used to run coiled tubing.
In this method using a large pulling unit, pipe is manipulated in the wellbore to achieve the required task by the pulling units. Pipe which is removed from the well is either racked on the rig or laid down on the pipe rack. When continuous coiled tubing is needed the CT injector is moved onto the rig floor and suspended from the traveling block of the pulling unit. The coiled tubing system is then rigged up and the job performed. At the conclusion of the CT operation the injector is removed from the rig floor and pulling unit operations proceed as needed. This exchange of equipment cycles back and forth until the planned intervention is completed.
For smaller pulling units, pipe which is removed from the well is laid down on the pipe rack. When continuous coiled tubing is needed the pulling unit is moved away from the well. The CT injector is moved over the wellhead and suspended from a crane. The coiled tubing system is then rigged up and the job performed. At the conclusion of the CT operation the injector is removed from the well and its pulling unit is moved back onto the well. This exchange of equipment cycles back and forth until the planned intervention is completed.
Snubbing Unit and Standard Coiled Tubing Unit
The use of a snubbing unit and a standard coiled tubing unit is a standard practice for workover operations. On jobs using a snubbing unit and a standard coiled unit, the snubbing unit is used to manipulate the jointed pipe while the coiled tubing unit is used to run coiled tubing.
In this method, pipe is manipulated in the wellbore to achieve the required task by the snubbing unit. The snubbing unit jacks pipe out or into the well with a series of short (5-15 feet) strokes. Pipe which is removed from the well is laid down on a pipe rack. When continuous coiled tubing is needed the CT injector is moved onto the rig floor and suspended from a crane. The coiled tubing system would then be rigged up and the job performed. At the conclusion of the CT operation the injector is removed from the rig floor and snubbing unit operations proceed as needed. This exchange of equipment cycles back and forth until the planned intervention is completed.
In many cases a snubbing unit rig up is very tall. In many cases the snubbing unit is moved away from the well and the CT unit is suspended over the wellhead with a crane to perform the job. At the conclusion of the CT operation the injector would be removed from the well and the snubbing unit would be moved back onto the well. This exchange of equipment would cycle back and forth until the planned intervention was completed.
Jack-up Frame and Standard Coiled Tubing Unit
The use of a jacking frame and a standard coiled tubing unit is a standard practice for workover operations. On jobs using a jacking frame and a standard coiled tubing unit, the jacking frame is used to manipulate the jointed pipe while the coiled tubing unit is used to run coiled tubing.
In this method, pipe is manipulated in the wellbore to achieve the required task by the jacking frame. The jacking frame jacks pipe out of or into the well with a series of short (5-10 foot) strokes. Pipe which is removed from the well is laid down on a pipe rack. When continuous coiled tubing is needed the CT injector is moved onto the jacking frame floor. The coiled tubing system is then rigged up and the job performed. At the conclusion of the CT operation the injector is removed from the floor and jacking frame operations would proceed as needed. This exchange of equipment cycles back and forth until the planned intervention is completed.
The limitation of all of these methods is that the coiled tubing injector must be rigged up and rigged down repeatedly to complete a job. This invention addresses this requirement and makes the operation more efficient. For the methods using a drilling rig, pulling unit or snubbing unit, a second contractor and additional assets are also required which make a project more difficult to manage and more expensive in terms of costs.

Apparatus and method utilizing a coiled tubing injector for removing or inserting jointed pipe sections


A device for applying a hair treatment solution, such as dye, includes a body having a head and a handle extending from the head. Three arrays of bristles extend from a major surface of the head in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the handle. A center array of bristles has a high bristle density and functions as an absorbent structure for retaining and applying a treatment solution. The end arrays sandwich the center array and have a low bristle density. The bristles of the end arrays have a greater rigidity than those of the center array. The device is used to simultaneously comb hair on one side of a hair partition, apply treatment solution to the partition, spread the treatment solution, and repartition the hair for a subsequent application of treatment solution.

A commonly used process for dying hair is to use a comb to separate strands of hair and then to use a container having a dispensing end to dispense a dye solution to exposed hair roots. A small brush having one row of hard bristles or a finger may be used to spread the dye solution over the exposed hair roots.
After dye has been applied in one location, the person's hair is again partitioned and a second application is provided at the new partition. This process is repeated until the entire hair root system of the person has been treated. The hair must be repeatedly partitioned and combed and dye solution must be spread over each new partition. Great care is taken not to miss any root areas.
There are a number of disadvantages to use of this method, whether practiced at a person's home or at a beauty salon. At a beauty salon, the process is time consuming and therefore expensive. Moreover, the brush that is commonly used to spread dye solution includes a handle and the single row of hard bristles. To ensure that the dye solution reaches each hair at the root area without increasing the time spent, a professional beautician may strike the bristles onto the hair roots. This striking causes discomfort. Another difficulty is that the brush will project dye solution beyond the hairline. If the dye is not removed entirely, an unsightly stain mark that reaches onto the face of the person will be left.
For home applications, the process is not only time consuming, but also tiring, since self-application requires a person to reach up to head level for an extended time. Additionally, the aid of a second person is necessary to ensure that no area at the back of the head of the person being treated is missed. Again, it is difficult to avoid projecting dye onto the face beyond the hairline.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for the application of a dye or other hair treatment solution, wherein the required time is shortened, the application is comfortable, excess dye is avoided, and a reliable self-treatment process is possible.

Brush and method for hair treatment using bristle arrays of different densities and materials


A switchable diffuser is provided and includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a first driving electrode on the first substrate; a second driving electrode on the second substrate; a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film between the first and second driving electrodes. The polymer dispersed liquid crystal film is made of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal composition via polymerizing and curing; the polymer dispersed liquid crystal composition includes: polymerized monomer, photoinitiator, spacer particles, nano scattering particles and liquid crystal. In the polymer dispersed liquid crystal composition, a percentage of the polymerized monomer is 5 wt %˜30 wt %, a percentage of the photoinitiator is 0.05 wt % to 3 wt %, a percentage of the spacer particles is 0.8 wt % to 2 wt %, a diameter of the spacer particles is in a range of 10 micrometers to 50 micrometers, a percentage of the nano scattering particles is 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, a percentage of the liquid crystal is 69 wt % to 90 wt %.

Anti-peeping techniques in the related art include glasses-type technique and naked-eye technique. The glasses-type technique separates and protects confidential information through an external auxiliary device (such as auxiliary glasses). The naked-eye technique realizes anti-peeping by controlling angles of incident light. When an anti-peeping film and a switchable diffuser are set in a display device, the switch between anti-peeping display and normal display can be realized. However, the performance of the switchable diffuser in the related art still needs to be further improved.

Switchable diffuser, method for manufacturing the same, backlight module and display device

Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd.