The present invention relates to a method of forming metallic foams using cold spray processing. The method allows for the formation of metallic foams on existing substrates as a layer. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate for coating of a metallic foam; cold spraying a mixture of metal particles and a foaming agent onto the substrate to form a substrate coated with an unexpanded metallic layer; foam heat treating the substrate coated with an unexpanded metallic layer at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the foaming agent for a time sufficient to form a heated substrate coated with an expanded metal foam layer; and cooling the heated substrate coated with an expanded metal foam layer to about ambient temperature to form a cooled substrate coated with an expanded metal foam layer. The method of forming metallic foams on substrates finds application in the oil, gas, and chemical industry by being an integral part of casings, pipelines, transfer lines, and other flow lines.

Foams and other highly porous materials with a cellular structure are known to have many interesting combinations of physical and mechanical properties, such as high stiffness in conjunction with very low specific weight or high gas permeability combined with high thermal conductivity. Among man-made cellular materials, polymeric foams are currently the most important ones with widespread applications in nearly every sector of technology. Metals and alloys may also be produced as cellular materials or foams.
There are many ways to manufacture cellular metallic materials. Some methods are similar to techniques used for foaming aqueous or polymer liquids, whereas others are specially designed by taking advantage of characteristic properties of metals such as their sintering activity or the fact that they can be electrically deposited. The various methods can be classified according to the state in which the metal is processed. The four "families" of processes are as follows: (i) from liquid metal, (ii) from solid metal in powdered form, (iii) from metal vapor or gaseous metallic compounds, and (iv) from a metal ion solution.
Power metallurgy is a method of forming conventional closed cell foams where the starting materials are metal powders and where the actual foaming takes place in the liquid state. The production process begins with the mixing of metal powders, which can be made up of elementary metal powders, alloy powders or metal powder blends in the presence of a blowing or foaming agent. Afterwards the mix is compacted to yield a dense, semi-finished product. In principle, the compaction can be done by any technique that ensures that the blowing agent is embedded into the metal matrix without any notable residual open porosity. Examples of such compaction methods are hot uniaxial or isostatic compression, rod extrusion or powder rolling. Which compaction method is chosen depends on the required shape of the precursor material. Rectangular profiles with various cross-sections may be made, from which thin sheets can then be formed by rolling. The manufacture of the precursor has to be carried out carefully because any residual porosity or other defects may lead to poor results in further processing.
Heat treatment at temperatures near the melting point of the matrix material is the next step in the powder metallurgy process. The blowing or foaming agent, which is homogeneously distributed within the dense metallic matrix, decomposes at these temperatures. The released gas forces the compacted precursor material to expand, thus forming its highly porous structure.
FIG. 1 shows expansion curves of an aluminum/TiH2 powder compact when foamed at 750° C. The volume of the expanding foam is shown as a function of time together along with some morphologies in various stages of expansion (including the unexpanded precursor which is 9 mm in height and 32 mm in diameter). An expansion maximum is shown which corresponds to a fairly uniform foam morphology, after which the foam collapses. The degree of maximum expansion, and therefore, the density of the solid metal foam, can be controlled by adjusting the content of the blowing agent and several other foaming parameters, such as temperature and heating rates.
The method is not restricted to aluminum and its alloys. Tin, zinc, brass, lead, gold and some other metals and alloys can also be foamed by choosing appropriate blowing agents and process parameters. The most common alloys for foaming are pure aluminum or wrought alloys. Casting alloys such as AlSi7Mg (A356) and AlSi12 are also frequently used because of their low melting point and good foaming properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,414 to Alkhimov et al., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a cold gas-dynamic spraying method for applying a coating to an article by introducing into a gas, particles of a powder of a metal, alloy, polymer or mechanical mixture of a metal and an alloy. The gas and particles are formed into a supersonic jet having a temperature considerably below a fusing temperature of the powder material and a velocity of from about 300 to about 1,200 m/sec. The jet is then directed against an article of a metal, alloy or dielectric, thereby coating the article with the particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,928 to Heinrich et al., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses an apparatus for producing expandable metal, comprising (1) means for feeding a powder mixture containing at least one metal powder and at least one blowing agent in powder form; (2) means for producing a compact body from the powder mixture; and (3) means for heating the compact body to a temperature equal to or above the breakdown temperature of the blowing agent. The cold-gas spray apparatus can be used to form metal foams obtained from the foamable metal bodies.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,933 to Popoola et al., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a method of fabricating a foamed metal structure using a supply of metal particles. The method comprises the steps of (a) introducing a supply of powder metal particles and foaming agent particles into a propellant gas to form a gas/particle mixture; (b) projecting the mixture at or above a critical velocity of at least sonic velocity onto a metallic substrate to create a deposit of pressure-compacted metal particles containing the admixed foaming agent; and (c) subjecting at least the coating on said substrate to a thermal excursion effective to activate expansion of the foaming agent while softening the metal particles for plastic deformation under the influence of the expanding gases.
A need exists for an improved method to form a metallic foam where the powder metallurgy steps of mixing and compaction are eliminated. A need also exists for a method to form a surface layer of a metallic foam structure on preexisting surfaces.

Method of forming metal foams by cold spray technique

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A centrifugal compressor is equipped with a housing including a suction passage which accommodates an impeller. The suction passage is provided with a first opening portion formed at a position facing the impeller, a second opening portion formed on an upstream side of the first opening portion, a circulation flow path which allows the first opening portion and the second opening portion to communicate with each other and extends in an annular shape around a rotational axis of the impeller, and a plurality of guide vanes disposed in the circulation flow path. The circulation flow path includes a first region in which a plurality of guide vanes is disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction, and a second region in which no guide vane is disposed. The second region extends over a wider range in the circumferential direction than the interval between the guide vanes in the first region.

in related art, a centrifugal compressor that suppresses occurrence of surging during low flow rate operation has been known. For example, the centrifugal compressor disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes an annular treatment cavity portion (circulation flow path) in a shroud wall forming an intake port. A plurality of baffle plates is disposed at equal intervals in the treatment cavity portion.


This invention encodes an image mixed of a character or line-drawing image and a natural image. An extraction unit extracts the color of a pixel, which constitutes a high-frequency component, from the input image data as an extracted color and generates identification information indicating whether each pixel in the image data is a pixel of an extracted color or non-extracted color. A replacement unit replaces a pixel value of an extracted color with an average value of non-extracted colors. Using a window having a size of 2×2 pixels, a reducing unit generates one pixel from the window after replacement. If even one non-extracted-color pixel exists in the window, the average value of non-extracted colors within the window is determined to be a pixel value of the reduced image. A packing unit concatenates the extracted color, the result of lossless-encoded identification information and lossy-encoded data of the reduced image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for encoding image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following encoding method is available as a technique for compressing a multi-valued image that is a mixture of characters or line drawings and natural images: Inputting an image in block units from an input multi-valued image; extracting identification information indicating whether a pixel is a character or line-drawing image having a color or density designated in advance; applying entropy encoding to the extracted identification information; and, on the other hand, encoding a multi-valued image that is not a character or line drawing by using an orthogonal transform or the like.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-326669 can be mentioned as one example of a reference that discloses such a technique. According to this reference, an input image is divided into blocks serving as units of orthogonal transformation at the time of encoding, after which a maximum-frequency value, which is a value having the highest probability of occurrence within a block, is assumed to be indicative of a character or line-drawing image. Color information or density information having the maximum-frequency value is then adopted as an extracted color. For every pixel within the block, binary identification information is generated for identifying whether the pixel is one that belongs to the extracted color or one that is a non-extracted color. Lossless encoding processing such as run-length encoding is then applied to the generated identification information. Further, the value of a pixel having the extracted color is replaced with an average value of pixels of the non-extracted colors. The multi-valued image after replacement is then subjected to lossy encoding such as JPEG encoding. Thus, two items of encoded data and an extracted color are combined to generate one block of encoded data.
In case of an image having an attribute of a character or line drawing, it is desired that the edge of the image be retained. In other words, it is preferred that an image having the attribute of a character or line drawing be so adapted that the resolution thereof is maintained.
On the other hand, in the case of an image having the attribute of a natural image, tonality is more important than resolution. That is, in the case of a natural image, a decline in image quality will not be conspicuous even if resolution is lowered somewhat.
If the patent reference cited earlier is considered in this light, it is possible for the resolution of a character or line-drawing image to be maintained, but there remains room for improvement with regard to a natural image.

Image encoding apparatus and method of controlling same


A network component useful in tracking write activity by writing logs containing write address information is described. The tracking component may be used in networked systems employing data mirrors to record data block addresses written to a primary storage volume during the time a data mirror is unavailable. The tracking component can be available to any network originating node, and may therefore track write activity on multiple volumes. At the time a data mirror is reconstructed, the log written may be used to construct a list of block addresses pointing to locations on a primary storage volume wherein data differs from a secondary storage volume member of the mirror. The locations maybe copied from the primary to secondary storage volume to reconstruct the data mirror. The performance impact of the tracking component is minimal and a shared network resource is offered that increases fault tolerance in the event of backup device failures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improving fault tolerance of a storage network. Specifically, the invention relates to apparatus, methods, and systems for mirroring data on a storage network in a shared manner.
2. Relevant Art
Data processing systems often maintain duplicate storage volumes, or data stores. A copy of a source volume (i.e. a target volume) containing the same data as the source volume is commonly referred to as a data mirror. Data mirrors are often created when on-line access to data is critical. If data from the primary volume is unavailable due to failure of a system component, data from the associated secondary volume is available.
To create and maintain a data mirror, data from a primary volume is often copied to one or more secondary volumes. In like fashion, updates to the primary volume are propagated to the secondary volume such that the secondary volume has the same data as the primary volume. Coherency is a term used to indicate the degree that data on a secondary volume is an exact copy of the data on a primary volume.
Synchronous mirroring techniques achieve a high level of coherency by directing each write operation to both a primary and a secondary volume. Synchronously mirrored systems often halt data processing after a write to a primary volume until an acknowledgment has been received that the associated write operation has also been performed on the corresponding secondary volume in a data mirror. Consequently, synchronous mirroring techniques may significantly degrade system performance, particularly when the secondary volume is remotely located and operations are transmitted over a communication line. Moreover, failure of a secondary volume or interruption of communication facilities may bring the processing system to a halt.
In an effort to improve performance in mirrored systems, techniques have been devised to provide "virtual coherency." The term "virtual coherency" is related to the fact that although a secondary volume differs from a primary volume at a point in time, all necessary data to generate an exact copy on the secondary volume is available in various data repositories on the system. Incremental backup systems in which a primary volume is replicated on a secondary volume and then updated periodically with changes are examples of virtual coherency.
Systems that utilize virtual coherency to improve performance are vulnerable to failure of the repositories that store information necessary to reconstruct a data mirror. In the event of such failure, a typical method of recovery is to replicate the primary volume on the secondary volume and subsequently perform synchronous mirroring. This method interrupts the system's ability to provide access to data during the replication operation and severely impacts performance during the operating duration using synchronous mirroring.
What is needed are apparatus, methods, and systems that minimize performance degradation and improve fault tolerance during periods of component failure while achieving an acceptable level of coherency between primary and secondary volumes in a data mirror. Such apparatus, methods, and systems would provide constant access to data and maintain high levels of data integrity.

Shared data mirroring apparatus, method, and system

International Business Machines Corporation


A means for optically coupling a semiconductor laser to an optical fiber is disclosed. In one embodiment, a volume phase holographic element is disposed on a light-emitting surface of a semiconductor laser. The volume phase holographic element acts as an aberration-corrector for a lens that is disposed between the semiconductor laser and the optical fiber. In this way, an inexpensive lens that is not aberration free can be used. In some embodiments, the volume phase holographic element converts a Gaussian light beam emitted by the semiconductor laser into an annular beam that is more suitable for long distance transmission in multimode fibers.

A transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) is an important component of an optoelectronic transmitter or transceiver. A typical TOSA includes a semiconductor laser, a lens and a receptacle into which an optical fiber can be inserted easily. The lens, which is for converging light beams to the end of the optical fiber, generally needs to be a small aberration-free lens with high numerical aperture. Small aberration-free lenses with high numerical aperture are difficult to fabricate and costly. Sometimes, they have to be made of sapphire and constitute a significant portion of the manufacturing cost of optoelectronic transmitters and tranceivers.
In a typical optoelectronic transmitter or transceiver, the semiconductor laser emits light beams that have a substantially Gaussian intensity distribution, sometimes called a Gaussian profile. Such light beams, however, suffer significant intermodal dispersion. Thus, they cannot be transmitted for very long distances in multimode fibers.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an inexpensive means for optically coupling a semiconductor laser to an optical fiber. There also exists a need for a means for optically coupling a semiconductor laser to a multimode optical fiber.

Transmitter optical subassembly with volume phase holographic optics


An inkjet ink set consisting of a black inkjet ink, a cyan inkjet ink and two inkjet inks A and B, optionally complemented by a white ink and/or a colourless ink, wherein the inkjet ink A has a hue angle H* between 70 and 85 and a chroma C* between 30 and 80; the inkjet ink B has a hue angle H* between 20 and 40 and a chroma C* between 30 and 80; and the CIE L* a* b* coordinates were determined on polyethylene coated white paper for a 2° observer under a D50 light source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to industrial inkjet ink printing processes used for reproducing wood colours and patterns on various substrates and objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
In inkjet printing, tiny drops of ink fluid are projected directly onto an ink-receiver surface without physical contact between the printing device and the ink-receiver. The printing device stores the printing data electronically and controls a mechanism for ejecting the drops image-wise. Printing is accomplished by moving a print head across the ink-receiver or vice versa or both.
An increasing interest has been observed for using inkjet ink printing in the manufacture of flooring, kitchen, furniture and wall panels, due to its flexibility which makes short production runs and personalized products possible. However, it has also been found that it is not straightforward to obtain a true reproduction of wood colours, such as oak and cherry.
In addition, the manufacturers who combine various parts of different materials or materials from different sources into one product are also faced with the problem of metamerism. This phenomenon occurs when two materials match in colour under some lighting conditions but not under other lighting conditions. A customer expects all parts of e.g. a kitchen cabinet that are the same colour to match whether viewed in daylight, under halogen lighting or under Neon lighting.
In the CIELAB colour space, a colour is defined using three terms L*, a*, and b*. L* defines the lightness of a colour, and it ranges from zero (black) to 100 (white). The terms a* and b*, together, define the hue. The term a* ranges from a negative number (green) to a positive number (red). The term b* ranges from a negative number (blue) to a positive number (yellow). Additional terms such as hue angle H* and chroma C* are used to further describe a given colour, wherein:H*=tan−1(b*/a*)  equation 1C*=(a*2+b*2)1/2  equation 2.
In the CIELAB colour space, ΔE* defines the "colour-distance", i.e. the difference between two colours, such as the colour of the original printed image and the colour of the same image after light fading. The higher the ΔE* number, the more difference between the two colours:ΔE*=(ΔL*2+Δa*2+Δb*2)1/2  equation 3.The CIE 1994 Colour Difference Model provided an improved calculation of the colour difference by including some weighing factors. The colour difference measured under the new model is indicated by ΔE94.
                                                                                Δ                                                                                E                94                *                                      =                                                                                (                                                                  Δ                                                                                L                          *                                                                                K                        L                                                              )                                    2                                +                                                      (                                                                  Δ                                                                                C                          *                                                                                1                        +                                                                              K                            1                                                                                C                            1                            *                                                                                )                                    2                                +                                                      (                                                                  Δ                                                                                H                          *                                                                                1                        +                                                                              K                            2                                                                                C                            1                            *                                                                                )                                    2                                                                                wherein                                      :                                                                                Δ                                                                                L                  *                                            =                                                L                  1                  *                                -                                  L                  2                  *                                                      ,                                                                                C                1                *                            =                                                                    a                    1                                          *                      2                                                        +                                      b                    1                                          *                      2                                                                                ,                                                                                C                2                *                            =                                                                    a                    2                                          *                      2                                                        +                                      b                    2                                          *                      2                                                                                ,                                                                                Δ                                                                                C                  *                                            =                                                C                  1                  *                                -                                  C                  2                  *                                                      ,                                                                                Δ                                                                                a                  *                                            =                                                a                  1                  *                                -                                  a                  2                  *                                                      ,                                                                                Δ                                                                                b                  *                                            =                                                b                  1                  *                                -                                                      b                    2                    *                                                                                and                                                                                Δ                                                                                H                  *                                            =                                                                                Δ                                                                                E                                                  *                          2                                                                                -                                          Δ                                                                                L                                                  *                          2                                                                                -                                          Δ                                                                                C                                                  *                          2                                                                                =                                                                            Δ                                                                                a                                                  *                          2                                                                                +                                          Δ                                                                                b                                                  *                          2                                                                                -                                          Δ                                                                                C                                                  *                          2                                                                                ,                                              equation                                                  4            and where the weighting factors depend on the application. For graphic arts applications: KL=1, K1=0.045 and K2=0.014.
The use of a "standard" ink set of CMYK inks is insufficient to solve problems of true wood colour reproduction and metamerism. The approach generally taken is to increase the colour gamut by expanding the ink set with other colour inks, such as a red ink, an orange ink and a violet ink. For example, EP 2173826 A (HP) discloses an ink set including a red ink and a magenta ink exhibiting an enhanced colour gamut volume and a reduced metamerism. Improvement can also be made by including so-called light and dark inks. US 2009033729 (HP) discloses an ink set including a light magenta ink and a dark magenta ink to enhance the colour gamut and reduce metamerism.
EP 1857511 A (AGFA) discloses a non-aqueous inkjet ink set including a non-aqueous inkjet ink comprising a diketopyrrolo-pyrrole pigment and at least one polyalkyleneglycol dialkylether having a molecular weight of at least 250. Although the inkset is used for manufacturing decorative wood laminates, the application is silent on metamerism.
US2010/116010 A1 (CLARIANT) discloses aqueous pigment preparations containing (A) at least one organic and/or inorganic pigment, (B) a dispersant of formula (I) or (II), or mixtures of the dispersants of formulas (I) and (II), (C) optionally wetting agents, (D) optionally other surfactants and/or dispersants, (E) optionally one or more organic solvents or one or more hydrotropic substances, (F) optionally other additives used conventionally for the production of aqueous pigment dispersions and (G) water. However, the application is again silent on metamerism.
US 2003106461 (SEIKO EPSON) discloses the combination of a yellow ink, a magenta ink and a cyan ink with an additional inkjet ink composition including a mixture of a yellow pigment, a magenta pigment and a cyan pigment, in order to reduce metamerism.
EP 1239011 A (SEIKO EPSON) discloses an ink set for reducing metamerism including a yellow ink containing C.I. Pigment Yellow 110; a magenta ink containing C.I. Pigment red 122 and/or C.I. Pigment Red 202; and a cyan ink containing C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3 and/or C.I. Pigment Blue 15:4.
However, the addition of extra inks to an ink set not only represents an economical penalization for the customer who, for example, has to foresee in a larger storage room for the different inks, but also renders the inkjet printer and the image processing software more complex.
It is desirable to have an inkjet printing process not requiring a complex inkjet printer and image processing software to use an extended set of inkjet inks for a true reproduction of wood colours having minimal metamerism.


A vibration damper having a rotary input member connectable to the output of an engine and a driven member connectable to the input of a transmission. The vibration damper has a plurality of springs resiliently connecting the rotary input member to the driven member. A first pressure plate is disposed between the rotary input member and the driven member and a second pressure plate is disposed between the driven member and a retainer plate. A spring produces a lateral force urging the first and second pressure plate into frictional engagement with the rotary input member and the driven member. The first and second pressure plates have elongated circumferential slots which receive drive pins attached to the rotary input member and permit the rotary input member to torsionally vibrate relative to the driven member through a predetermined angle with a low frictional lag permitting the springs to absorb a substantial portion of the low amplitude torsional vibrations.

The rotary output of an internal combustion engine has superimposed torsional vibrations caused by the forces produced by the firing of its individual cylinders. The frequency and amplitude of these torsional vibrations are a function of the number of cylinders the engine has and the engine speed. As is known in the art, the amplitude of the torsional vibrations of a four cylinder engine are greater than the amplitudes of the torsional vibrations produced by a six or eight cylinder engine. In a like manner, the amplitude of the torsional vibrations at low engine speeds are greater than the amplitude of the torsional vibrations at high engine speeds.
In automotive vehicles having manual transmissions, a torsional vibration damper is conveniently incorporated into the clutch assembly to absorb or neutralize these torsional vibrations. In vehicles having automatic transmissions, fluid couplings or torque converters have been used to effectively absorb these torsional vibrations and vibration dampers were unnecessary. However, to increase fuel economy, a lock-up clutch is currently being used on many vehicles which under predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle, lock and provide a direct coupling between the output of the engine and the input to the transmission. When the lock-up clutch is engaged, the torsional vibrations of the engine's output are directly coupled to the transmission.
To eliminate this problem, Ling in U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,535 discloses a damper assembly for an automatic transmission in which the driven member is resiliently connected to the driving member by a plurality of springs arranged circumferentially to absorb the torsional vibrations. Friction members disposed in opposite sides of the driven member provide a degree of frictional damping of driven member to dissipate undesirable resonant vibration energy between the engine and the transmission.
The problem with this type of damper is that the friction between the driving member and the driven member is a constant and is selected to produce a frictional lag to dissipate energy stored in the springs during high amplitude torsional vibrations. Unfortunately, this higher frictional lag also couples a portion of the torsional vibrations to the transmission decreasing the efficiency of the drive train and resulting in an undesirable and often perceptible torsional vibration of the transmission and drive train.
The invention is a vibration damper assembly which introduces a lash into the friction between the rotary input member and the driven member and provides a low friction controlled lag for small torsional vibrations and a high friction controlled lag for torsional vibrations having amplitudes which exceed predetermined limits.

Pressure plate for a vibration damper assembly having built in lash


A control device includes a combustion apparatus temperature comparison unit for comparing a temperature of a combustion apparatus and a combustion apparatus temperature range, a combustion apparatus flame-out determination unit for determining whether flame-out occurs in the combustion apparatus based on a comparison result by the combustion apparatus temperature comparison unit, and a combustion apparatus control unit for starting or stopping operation of a start-up combustor based on a determination result by the combustion apparatus flame-out determination unit.

Typically, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) employs a solid electrolyte of ion-conductive oxide such as stabilized zirconia. The electrolyte is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form an electrolyte electrode assembly, for example, a membrane electrode assembly (hereinafter also referred to as MEA). The electrolyte electrode assembly is interposed between separators (bipolar plates). In use, generally, predetermined numbers of the electrolyte electrode assemblies and the separators are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack.
As a fuel cell system including the fuel cell stack of this type, for example, a fuel cell power generation system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-052727 (hereinafter referred to as conventional technique 1) is known. In the fuel cell power generation system, as shown in FIG. 16, after a fuel exhaust gas discharged from a fuel electrode 1a of a fuel cell body is utilized for heat exchange in a fuel preheater 2a, the fuel exhaust gas is mixed with a fuel supplied from the outside through a recycle line 3a, and utilized again. After an exhaust air discharged from an air electrode 4a of the fuel cell body is utilized for heat exchange in an air preheater 5a, the exhaust gas is mixed with the air supplied from the outside through a recycle line 6a, and utilized again.
Further, according to the disclosure, the remaining fuel exhaust gas and exhaust air are combusted in a combustor 7a, and the hot combustion exhaust gas in the combustor 7a contributes improvement in the power generation efficiency in exhaust gas power generation means 8a in a bottoming cycle.
Further, as shown in FIG. 17, a fuel cell system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-166439 (hereinafter referred to as conventional technique 2) includes a start-up combustor 3b, an exhaust gas combustor 5b, and a heat exchanger 7b. At the time of starting operation of the fuel cell system, the start-up combustor 3b reforms or imperfectly combusts the fuel gas 1b supplied from the outside, and supplies the fuel gas as a reducing gas 2b to a fuel electrode. The exhaust gas combustor 5b combusts a fuel electrode off gas 4b discharged from the fuel electrode. The heat exchanger 7b heats air 6b using the heat produced in the exhaust gas combustor 5b.
Further, as shown in FIG. 18, a fuel cell disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-038689 (hereinafter referred to as conventional technique 3), includes a fuel cell stack 1c formed by stacking plate shaped solid oxide fuel cells as power generation units vertically and an air preheater 2c, a combustor 3c, and a reformer 4c provided on both sides of the fuel cell stack 1c in the vertical direction.
A burner 5c is provided below the reformer 4c for receiving a raw material gas and the air, and heating the fuel cell stack 1c, and these components are placed in a heat insulating container 6c.

Fuel cell system and method of controlling the fuel cell system


A packaged assembly is disclosed, including thermal interface material dispensed on an organic package and methods of manufacturing. The method includes dispensing a thermal interface material (TIM) on an electronic assembly. The method further includes removing volatile species of the TIM, prior to lid placement on the electronic assembly. The method further includes placing the lid on the TIM, over the electronic assembly. The method further includes pressing the lid onto the electronic assembly.

Thermal management of multi-chip electronic packages is critical to ideal performance of both single and multi-chip electronic packages. Currently, management of thermal performance in multi-chip electronic packages is provided by encapsulating chips between a lid (e.g., heat spreader) and chip carrier using a thermal interface material (TIM) on the chips. For example, a TIM is dispensed on the chip and a lid is then pressed on the TIM to dissipate the heat generated by the chip, in the packaged assembly.
Adhesion of TIM between the lid and chip interface needs to be optimized in order to ensure adequate thermal performance. This is especially important due to increases in the chip size (e.g., higher than 20 mm) placed on an organic laminate. That is, due to the larger package, the stability and the adhesion of TIM undergo increased stresses due to thermal mismatch between the organic laminate and the chip. These stresses can result in delamination of TIM due to the bending of the package. Also, voiding phenomenon of the TIM decreases thermal performance of the package, which is also directly related to lack of coverage and reduced adhesion.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A computer-implemented method, an apparatus and a computer-program product for determining a quality of a tire. The apparatus includes a sensor array configured to obtain a footprint of the tire, and a processor. The processor determines an intensity profile of the footprint, locates an edge of a tread rib of the tire from the change in intensity, and determines from the location of the tread rib edge a relative quality of the tire.

The subject disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for determining a quality of a tire and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for determining the locations of tread rib edges on a tire.
Certain characteristics of tire force generation are related to the positions of tread rib edges as a function of their transverse position along the tire. Groove wander, for example, is the relatively low frequency vibratory experience arising from variations of lateral force of a tire due to the tread ribs of the tire acting against rain grooves and/or contoured deformations in a road's surface. The varying interactive engagement of multiple tread rib edges and rain groove edges dependent on the relative spatial position and orientation of multiple tread rib edges and multiple rain groove edges results in a lateral dynamic force variation, producing unwanted vibratory motions of the vehicle. This varying engagement occurs as the vehicle encounters various aggregations of rain grooves with the tires during normal transverse movement of the vehicle either within the lane or during intentional lane transitions. The disturbing vehicle motions arise, then from the interaction of the tread rib edges and the rain groove edges, and can be suppressed by management of the relative positioning of the rain groove edges and the tread rib edges. Since the position of rain groove edges are not readily changed, owing to the extensive lane-miles of existing roadways featuring these rain grooves and the accepted practices for newly constructed highways, the position of tire tread rib edges are commonly manipulated to diminish vibrations. Knowing the tread rib widths and location of the tread rib edges of a tire can help to reduce these vibratory motions or identify the tire characteristics that can be manipulated in suppression of the unwanted motions. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system and method for determining a location of a tread rib edge of a tire.


A method and system for assembling a turbine is provided, wherein an annular nozzle carrier is positioned radially inwardly from a casing such that a cavity is defined between the nozzle carrier and the casing. The method and system also includes a flange that is extended from at least one of a leading edge of the annular casing and a leading edge of the nozzle carrier, and a seal ring that is extended between the nozzle carrier and the casing such that the seal ring seals the cavity, wherein the seal ring is positioned between the flange and at least one of the nozzle carrier and the casing.

This invention relates generally to assembling rotatable machinery and, more particularly, to methods and systems for sealing an extraction cavity in a steam turbine.
At least some known steam turbine designs include static nozzle segments that direct a flow of steam into blades coupled to a rotatable member in the turbine. A nozzle airfoil construction is typically called a diaphragm stage. When more than one nozzle stage is supported by an outer structure or ring, the construction is generally referred to as a nozzle carrier, a "drum construction", or a "carrier construction" flowpath. A nozzle carrier is supported within a turbine casing such that the nozzles are substantially aligned with stages of the turbine blades.
In at least some known turbines, steam is extracted from the low-pressure turbine section for use in other applications. Generally, in steam turbines including a nozzle carrier, steam may only be extracted from the turbine section downstream from a last stage of the carrier. However, in some cases, this extraction location may not be the optimum stage from which steam should be extracted. For example, often a higher pressure or higher temperature steam is desired.
Accordingly, at least some known steam turbines utilize separate carriers within the turbine design to enable steam to be extracted from a location defined between the first and the second carriers. However, utilizing separate carriers may make alignment difficult, as both the carrier and the rotor must be removed to make necessary adjustments. Moreover, utilizing separate carriers generally adds complexity to a turbine design that the carrier is intended to improve. As such, costs and/or time associated with fabrication, assembly, and/or maintenance of the turbine may be increased.

Methods and systems for assembling a turbine


An oil contamination detection assembly includes a resistor having a known resistance which is exposed to the air of a vehicle brake system to accumulate a layer of oil contaminating the air. A heater boils non-carbon elements off the resistor, leaving a carbon residue which decreases the resistance of the resistor. A threshold detector circuit produces an oil contamination warning signal when the decreased resistance of the resistor is less than a predetermined value. The oil contamination detection assembly may be installed in an air line within the pneumatic brake system or integrated into an air dryer within the pneumatic brake system.

This application relates to a unique assembly for detecting oil contamination in a vehicular pneumatic brake system.
Heavy vehicles, such as trucks and tractor-trailers, typically use a pneumatic brake system. Pneumatic brake systems, sometimes referred to as compressed air brake systems, use air pressure to actuate the brakes of the heavy vehicle. Typically, pneumatic brake systems include an air compressor and an air dryer. The air compressor includes a cylinder, a piston which reciprocates within the cylinder, and a piston seal disposed between the outer circumference of the piston and the inner circumference of the cylinder. The reciprocating movement of the piston is used to compress or pressurize the brake system air supply. The air dryer includes a canister filled with desiccant to remove moisture and other contaminants from the air supply. Periodically, the canister is purged to remove the moisture absorbed by the desiccant.
Pneumatic brake systems often experience an oil contamination condition, commonly referred to as "blow-by". This type of contamination occurs when lubricating oil located on one side of the air compressor piston is blown by the piston seal into the brake system air supply located on the opposing side of the piston. As the contaminated air is moved through the air dryer, the oil is absorbed by the desiccant. Unlike moisture, oil absorbed by the desiccant cannot be purged out of the air dryer. Over time, the absorption and retention of an increasing amount of oil prevents the desiccant from absorbing additional moisture, thereby allowing some moisture to pass through the air dryer into other portions of the brake system. This non-absorbed moisture can freeze inside the brake system during cold temperature conditions and damage many brake system components.
To avoid brake system damage caused by oil contamination, the air dryer must be periodically serviced by replacing the desiccant canister. Determining when to service the air dryer for excessive oil contamination is a difficult task. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an oil contamination detection assembly for detecting when service of the air dryer for oil contamination is necessary.


A shield for an electrical fuse, including an inner enclosure for housing the electrical fuse and a pair of outwardly flaring end portions extending from the opposite ends of the enclosure. The shield includes walls separating the inner enclosure from each of the outwardly flaring end portions, and a slot in the walls for the extension through that slot of at least a terminal portion of the electrical fuse. The shield may be made of a pair of identical housing pieces with mating tongue and groove elements disposed substantially along the peripheries of those pieces. Preferably, the tongue element of the housing pieces is disposed on the opposite side as the groove element of the housing piece. Each of the outwardly flaring ends, or alternatively the walls, may cooperatively form a seal to aid in preventing entry of moisture or dirt into the shield. A sealing portion that aids in forming the seal may comprise a resilient, compressible grommet. The outwardly flaring end portions include a pair of snap-locking elements for securing a separate, connecting section to the outwardly flaring end portions.

The invention relates to a shield for a fuse, and most preferably a double-ended fuse, i.e., a fuse with dual terminals. The shield prevents access to otherwise exposed electrical terminal leads, and the shield also provides a measure of protection to the fuse enclosed within that shield from moisture, corrosion, dirt, and debris.
Double-ended electrical fuses are depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,229,739 and 5,293,147 (hereinafter the ""739 and ""147 patents, respectively). The disclosures of these references, which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, are incorporated herein by reference. As described at column 4, lines 43 et seq. of the ""147patent, such fuses are generally comprised of an all metal piece 20A and a two-piece plastic housing 20B. FIG. 3 of the ""147 patent depicts the all metal piece 20A and the two-piece plastic housing 20B in their assembled form to create a completed fuse. As may be seen from a review of this FIG. 3, however, the terminals 26, 26xe2x80x2 of this fuse extend out from the housing 20B. The completed fuse is typically bolted into the electrical circuit it is designed to protect. As may also be seen in FIG. 3, holes 28 and 28xe2x80x2 formed in the terminals 26 and 26xe2x80x2 are used to facilitate this connection to the protected electrical circuit. Such connections usually leave the terminals 26 and 26xe2x80x2 somewhat exposed.
For certain applications, it is desirable that the terminals be covered to prevent their exposure. For other applications, it is also desirable that the terminals be protected from moisture, corrosion, dirt, and debris. It is also desirable to prevent human contact with the energized, metallic terminals.
The invention is a shield for an electrical fuse. The shield comprises an inner enclosure for housing the electrical fuse. The inner enclosure has a pair of opposite ends. The shield also comprises a pair of outwardly flaring end portions extending from the opposite ends of the inner enclosure.
The shield includes a wall separating the inner enclosure from each of the outwardly flaring end portions. Each of these walls may include a slot for the extension through that slot of at least a terminal portion of the electrical fuse.
In another aspect of the invention, the shield is made of a pair of identical housing pieces. These identical housing pieces may include mating tongue and groove elements disposed substantially along the peripheries of those housing pieces. Preferably, the tongue element of the housing piece is disposed on the opposite side as the groove element of the housing piece.
In yet another aspect of the invention, each of the outwardly flaring ends includes a sealing portion to aid in preventing entry of moisture or dirt into the shield. In a still further aspect of the invention, the walls may cooperatively form a sealing portion to prevent entry of moisture or dirt into the shield. The sealing portion may be made of a compressible grommet.
The outwardly flaring end portions include a pair of snap-locking elements for securing a separate, male connecting section to each of the outwardly flaring end portions.


A support for clothes hangers includes an upper tube section telescopically received in the upper end of a lower tube section. A support arm is slidably fitted over the upper tube section and extends perpendicularly with respect thereto. Below the support arm is a locking pin which extends through a diametric bore in the upper tube section. Below the pin is a spring which is compressed between upper and lower stop washers. The lower stop washer engages the upper end of the lower tube section. The upper end of the upper tube section and the lower end of the lower tube section may be compressed together against the bias of the spring so as to fit between the ceiling and floor of a room.

This invention relates to a method and means for supporting clothes hangers.
Both in the home and in commercial laundries, it is desirable to have a support for hanging clothes hangers as the clothes are being pressed and hung on hangers. It is also desirable to have a device for supporting the hangers which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled for use or for storage respectively.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved method and means for supporting clothes hangers.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for supporting clothes hangers which includes a vertical post which can be mounted between the floor and ceiling of a room at any desired location.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for supporting clothes hangers which includes a first support arm sufficiently strong to support clothes hangers having clothing hung thereon and a second support member for supporting empty hangers.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for supporting clothes hangers which can be easily adjusted to accommodate rooms having different distances between the floor and ceiling.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for supporting clothes hangers which can be disassembled and placed in a small container for storage.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for supporting clothes hangers which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and efficient in operation.

Method and means for supporting clothes hangers


The present invention relates to a pellet-type non-crosslinked polypropylene foam having a melting point of 125 to 140° C., and a process and device for producing said foam. Since the pellet-type foams of non-crosslinked polypropylene of the present invention has a lower melting point and a closed cell content of 80% or more, it is advantageous to mold such foams. The present invention also relates to an article molded from the above pellet-type non-crosslinked polypropylene foams.

Due to its excellent mechanical strength and cushioning properties, a polypropylene resin foam is widely used as a packaging material, a building material, a heat shield material and the like. However, since polypropylene has a high crystallinity and a low melt viscosity and is difficult to cross-link, it has hereto been quite difficult to obtain a highly expanded product from the polypropylene.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,573 (issued Jun. 18, 1996) discloses extruded closed-cell polypropylene resin foam and several methods for producing said foam. The foam of the US patent is in a plank form and has a minimal cross-sectional area of about 5×2.54 square centimeters, a minimal thickness of 12.7 millimeters and a density of about 5 pounds per a cubic foot. The form and properties make it difficult to mold the foam into desired shaped articles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,617 (issued Apr. 19, 2000) discloses a foamed polypropylene resin particle useful for molding a foamed, molded article and a method of preparing the same. However, the foamed polypropylene resin particle is prepared by grafting a vinyl comonomer to polypropylene resin particles to form the modified copolymer resin particles and foaming the modified copolymer resin particles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,875 (issued Jun. 20, 2000) discloses foamed and expanded beads of a polypropylene resin for molding prepared from a non-crosslinked propylene-ethylene random copolymer. The foamed beads of the US patent has an open cell content of at most 40%, most preferably 25% and has a melting point of at least 141° C.

Pellet-type foams of non-crosslinked polypropylene resin having lower melting point and process and device for producing the same and molded foams therefrom


Improvements in a method of processing wideband audio signals by a sub-band coding system are provided. Linear codes having frequency components in which audio signal power is concentrated are selected from linear codes separated into a plurality of frequency band components and decoded. The presence or absence of sound in the audio signals is detected by referring to the selected linear codes and/or a gain coefficient is determined. Level control of the decoded linear codes is performed by using the thus determined gain coefficient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of processing audio signals when audio signals are encoded by a sub-band coding system to transmit voice sound efficiently and to a method of processing audio signals in a sub-band coding system whereby such a method is suitable for use with general communication apparatuses, such as a video telephone conference system or the like which can be realized by using the above-mentioned process.
2. Prior Art
A 64K bit/s PCM coding system, which at the present time is the most commonly used voice coding system, is designed to encode voice sounds or acoustic signals in a frequency band of between 300 Hz and 3.4 kHz. With the implementation of this voice encoding technology, component technology, such as a voice detector, a voice level controller, an echo canceller, and voice communication apparatuses, such as an audio teleconference apparatus or the like, in which those technologies are used, have come to be realized by using digital signal processing. As an example of that processing, digital audio signal processing in an audio teleconference apparatus will be explained below.
In voice conference apparatuses, generally, an N-1 addition system is adopted in which the voices of all the subscribers who participate in a conference are connected to a conference trunk apparatus, and then one subscriber receives the added voices of the remaining subscribers.
The N-1 addition system is a system in which after all the signals sent from each subscriber have been added, the signal sent from a particular subscriber is subtracted from it, and the resulting signal is distributed, as a reception signal, to such a subscriber. The name of the system is derived from the fact that when the total number of subscribers is N, the number of signals added as reception signals to each subscriber becomes N-1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an audio teleconference apparatus which uses the N-1 addition system. This figure is disclosed, as a known technology, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-123257 and shows a case of four (4) subscribers, i.e., N=4. The N-1 addition system will now be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 1.
Input codes A, B, C, and D from four subscribers are sequentially converted by an expander 1 into linear codes a, b, c, and d and added by the adder 2 to the output from a shift register 3. The codes from the expander 1 are also supplied to a shift register 4. The addition output from the adder 2 is supplied to the shift register 3 and also to a subtracter 5 where the output from the shift register 4 is subtracted. The subtraction output is supplied to a compressor 7 via an attenuator 6, and converted into PCM codes and sent out.
In the case of a conversation involving 4 subscribers (A, B, C, and D), input code A is first converted into code a by the expander 1 and stacked in the shift registers 3 and 4. The next input code B is similarly converted into code b by the expander 1. Then, it is added by the adder 2 with data 1 stacked in the shift register 3, and then transferred to the shift register 3 again. Concurrently, a code-converted output is also transferred from the expander 1 to the shift register 4 where the output is stacked successively on the data a which has already been stacked.
When operations described above are performed on input codes C and D, the sum of A, B, C, and D (a+b+c+d) is stacked in the shift register 3. The codes (a, b, c, and d) are successively stacked in this order in the shift register 4.
Lastly, when data of the content (a, b, c, and d) of the shift register 4 is sequentially subtracted from the content (a+b+c+d) of the shift register 3 by the subtracter 5, appropriate three-way talk is synthesized. Since these data take the form of simple addition, they may go out of range. Therefore, to prevent this and confine the data to a predetermined range, the data is compressed by a compressor 7 to change it again into PCM codes (non-linear) after it is attenuated by the attenuator 6.
Next, a conventional example is shown in FIG. 2 in which 64K bit/s PCM codes are input to an audio teleconference apparatus using the N-1 addition system in order that the output level is automatically controlled. This figure is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-123257 showing a case of 4 subscribers. An explanation will now be provided of the operation of FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the expander 1 and the compressor 7 play the same role as those shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes an N-1 addition circuit which consists of the shift registers 3 and 4, the adder 2 and the subtracter 5, all of which are shown in FIG. 1.
Expanded audio signals a, b, c, and d of 4 subscribers A, B, C, and D are input to the N-1 addition circuit 8. The sum thereof (a+b+c+d) is output after a predetermined process is performed thereon and then input to an absolute value circuit 9. The output .vertline.a+b+c+d.vertline. of the absolute value circuit 9 is supplied to a peak hold circuit 10 where the peak value P is maintained for a preset amount of time. The peak value P is supplied to the level control input terminal of a level controller 11, which is in the form of a variable gain amplifier or the like. Addition output from the N-1 addition circuit 8, i.e., data a'=b+c+d for subscriber A, data b'=a+c+d for subscriber B, data c'=a+b+d for subscriber C, and data d'=a+b+c for subscriber D, are input to the level controller 11 sequentially. The output level is controlled, for example, by a gain coefficient G determined by the following equation (1), using the peak value P. ##EQU1## where the maximum amplitude level per subscriber is assumed to be 1.
As a result, signals a", b", c", and d" respectively for subscribers A, B, C, and D, whose level is controlled automatically and output, become the following: EQU a"=G.times.a'=G.times.(b+c+d) EQU b"=G.times.b'=G.times.(a+c+d) EQU c"=G.times.c'=G.times.(a+b+d) EQU d"=G.times.d'=G.times.(a+b+c)
In this way, automatically level-controlled signals are sent out to each subscriber.
In a situation, such as a conference call, where it cannot be determined how many participants are speaking at the same time, an output level which is automatically controlled is highly favored by users. This feature avoids a situation where there is an insufficient signal regardless of the number of participants, and is recognized as one of the functions of the conference call system. As a consequence, when a conference call apparatus is realized by using the conventional 64K bit/s PCM coding system, it is constructed as described above.
Now, there is a great demand for producing high-quality voice sound transmissions. Application of a wide-band voice coding system which encodes audio signals in a frequency band wider than the conventional system has been desired. However, when a system which encodes/decodes at each frequency band of such a wide-band voice coding system, is used just as it is, audio signal processing objectives can sometimes not be achieved. When such an audio teleconference apparatus is used, the following problems arise:
Consideration will now be given to an audio signal processing in a case where 64K bit/s sub-band adaptive differential pulse code modulation (hereinafter abbreviated as SB-ADPCM) which complies with CCITT recommendation G.722 is applied to a conference call apparatus as an example of an audio call apparatus in which a sub-band coding system is applied. In the SB-ADPCM coding system, performing an N-1 addition process by using linear PCM signals of the whole band (50 Hz to 7 kHz) obtained as normal outputs of an encoder is first considered. That is, when N-1 addition is realized concerning the linear PCM signals of the whole frequency band (50 Hz to 7 kHz), a decoder and an encoder are constructed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. An N-1 addition circuit is connected between points P1 and P3 shown in the figure and constructed as shown in FIG. 5.
However, CCITT recommendation G.722 that prescribes the specification of the coding system recommends that this voice addition be performed by using linear PCM signals of different bands (50 Hz to 4 kHz, and 4 to 7 kHz) for the following reasons:
(1) Conference call apparatuses can be miniaturized because no sub-band and band synthesizing filters are required. PA1 (2) Signal distortion and increased delay can be prevented because no filters are required. PA1 (3) Easier echo control is possible by being performed in each band. PA1 (1) Conference call apparatuses can be miniaturized because no sub-band and band synthesizing filters are required. PA1 (2) Signal distortion and increased delay can be prevented because no filters are required. PA1 (3) Easier echo control is possible by being performed in each band.
Therefore, N-1 addition circuits are respectively connected between points P2 and P4 of each band in a case where an N-1 addition circuit is used for linear PCM signals of different bands to utilize the advantages of (1) to (3) above.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a conference call apparatus which is recommended by the above-mentioned CCITT recommendation G.722. The operation of FIG. 6 will be explained below. When 64K bit/s SB-ADPCM codes are applied to the separation section of an SB-ADPCM decoder 12a placed in the transmission line, they are separated into signals of 16k bit/s in which high-band components of audio signals are encoded and signals of 48k bit/s in which low-band components of audio signals are encoded. They are input to a high-band SB-ADPCM decoder unit and a low-band SB-ADPCM decoder unit. Linear PCM signals are output from decoder units of each band and input to N-1 addition circuits 81 and 82 at each band. Linear PCM signals in which N-1 addition processing has been performed are again distributed band by band, to SB-ADPCM encoder units 13a to 13n for respective subscribers. The signals are encoded by the high-band SB-ADPCM encoder unit to SB-ADPCM codes of 16k bit/s and are encoded by the low-band SB-ADPCM encoder unit to SB-ADPCM codes of 48k bit/s. These codes are synthesized in the multiplexing section and become SB-ADPCM codes of 64k bit/s. In the manner described above, such an apparatus can be miniaturized, has higher quality, and processing can be simplified in comparison with the case in which processing is performed by using linear PCM signals of the whole band by performing an N-1 addition process at each band.
As described above, in a conference call apparatus which uses an SB-ADPCM coding system as an example of an audio signal processing utilizing a sub-band coding system, audio signals of 50 Hz to 7 kHz are separated into low band (50 Hz to 4 kHz) and high band (4 to 7 kHz) signals. N-1 addition processing is performed in each band, resulting in the following advantages: "miniaturization of an apparatus"; "maintenance of high quality"; "elimination of extra delay"; and "easy echo control is possible". However, when automatic level control is performed on the result of the addition process, if a technique in which normal audio signal power of all the bands is determined and a gain coefficient is computed on the basis of the power was used, a synthesis of bands is required. In this case, the above-described advantages cannot be obtained. A voice detection process for detecting a silent condition unique to audio signals is also performed normally by referring to audio signal power in all bands. If bands are synthesized for the purpose of only this voice detecting process, a problem arises in that the amount of hardware of an apparatus increases.

Method for processing audio signals in a sub-band coding system


E-Mail messages transmitted over an E-Mail network are routed to an E-Mail server servicing the recipient, where useful E-Mail messages can be identified, separated from the junk mail, and forwarded as directed by the recipient. The E-Mail server sends a summary of the E-Mail message to the recipient over a different network so that the recipient can select a forwarding destination for the message. The recipient sends a selection signal to the E-mail server which then forwards the E-Mail message to the selected destination. The E-Mail message can be forwarded by the server over another network, such as the public telephone network, to a computer or a FAX machine at the recipient's office, home or other destination.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed broadly relates to communications systems and more particularly relates to a method and system for alerting a recipient when E-Mail arrives.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic mail, commonly referred to as E-Mail, may be simple text messages containing only ASCII characters, or it may be complex messages containing embedded voice messages, spreadsheets, and images. E-Mail messages can be transmitted over a short-haul link such as a local area network or they can be transmit over intercontinental networks. The National Science Foundation's TCP/IP-based network (NSFNET) forms a backbone network that links supercomputing centers and over 2500 academic and scientific institutions around the world. Many private organizations have become communications service providers by connecting their subsidiary networks to the NSFNET. This composite network is popularly called the internet and it has become the primary medium for the transmission of E-Mail messages. Many members of the public have obtained subscriptions from internet service providers, have connected their personal computers to the service, and now exchange a large volume of E-Mail messages. The ease of sending E-Mail messages on the internet has created a significant amount of junk electronic mail that is indiscriminately downloaded into the recipient's personal computer. Valuable time is wasted by recipients who must winnow through unsolicited junk mail messages to find useful E-Mail relevant to their personal interests.


A method implemented by computer means of modifying an initial dioptric function of an initial ophthalmic lens surface, for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens, the method comprising:                an initial surface providing step (S1), during which an initial surface Sini associated with a first coordinate system is provided, said initial surface Sini comprising a plurality of surface points P1, each surface point P1 having a mean sphere Sph(P1) and a cylinder Cyl(P1), said initial surface Sini providing said initial dioptric function,        a modifying surface selection step (S2), during which a number n of nonzero modifying surfaces Smod1, . . . , Smodn is selected, said modifying surfaces Smod1, . . . , Smodn being associated with a second coordinate system, the modifying surface Smodi comprising a plurality of surface points Pi1, . . . Pij, . . . , Pimi, each surface point Pij having a mean sphere Sph(Pij) and a cylinder Cyl(Pij), n, i, j, mi being integers with n≥1, 1≤i≤n, 1≤j≤mi and mi≥1,        an orientation step (S3), during which the relative position and orientation of the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system is determined,a combining step (S4), during which the initial surface Sini and the n modifying surfaces are combined to obtain a functionalized ophthalmic lens surface according to the expression:Sfunc=Sini+Σi=1i=nalphai·Smodi wherein the normalized sphere standard deviation of the normalized sphere values Sph′Smodi of a normalized modifying surface SNmodi is smaller than or equal to 0.2, with:        the normalized modifying surface SNmodi corresponding to the modifying surface Smodi to which the best sphero-toric surface has been subtracted, and        the normalized sphere values over the normalized modifying surface SNmodi at a point Pij of Smodi having the coordinate (x,y,z) being:

The discussion of the background of the invention herein is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of any of the claims.
Usually, a person needing to wear spectacles and having thus a prescription filled by an ophthalmologist or optometrist goes to the shop of an optician. The optician orders a pair of optical lenses corresponding to the prescription of the wearer.
The pair of optical lenses sent to the optician are designed and manufactured according to optical criteria.
Recent improvements in the field of ophthalmic lenses, have allowed providing customized optical lenses, such customization going beyond the wearer's prescription. Further parameters than the wearer's prescription may be considered when designing and manufacturing the pair of ophthalmic lenses.
To meet new needs or specifications of the wearer, methods of optimization of optical lenses depending on the setting of segmentation/customization are usually used. Therefore, when the lens provider wants to implement product customization, he needs to compute a set of new "optical design targets" that will be used to generate the optical function to reach when optimizing the optical lens.
This method has the disadvantage of not being easily transferable to each optical design or products. Indeed, such method requires optimizing as many optical designs as existing products.

Method of modifying an dioptric function of an ophthalmic lens surface

Abstract: Sph              S        modi            ′                  (              x        ,        y            )        =            ⌊                                    SphN                          S                                                                                mod                i                                                                    (                          x              ,              y                        )                          -                  min                                (                          SphN                              S                                                                                mod                  i                                                      )                              ⌋              [                        max                                (                          SphN                              S                                                                                mod                  i                                                      )                          -                  min                                (                          SphN                              S                                                                                mod                  i                                                      )                              ]                      SphNSmod,i(x,y) being the sphere over the normalized modifying surface SNmodi, at the point of SNmodi having the coordinate (x,y),        max(SphNSmod,i) being the greatest value of sphere over the normalized modifying surface SNmodi,        min(SphNSmod,i) being the smallest value of sphere over the normalized modifying surface SNmodi,        alphai being a nonzero weighting coefficient.


The invention relates to a vehicle suspension system. There is a need for a stable walking beam suspension system where the beam can oscillate and move vertically. Such a suspension system includes a support fixed to the vehicle frame and having first and second ends. A swing arm has a first end pivotally coupled to the first end of the support via a pair of spaced apart pivot pins. Air bags are coupled between the frame and the second end of the swing arm. A walking beam has opposite ends coupled to left and right wheel support assemblies. The walking beam is pivotally coupled to the swing arm. A damping cylinder is coupled between the frame and the second end of the swing arm. Resilient bumper members are engagable with the walking beam and are mounted on an end of the swing arm and fixed to an end of the support.

A currently available tracked agricultural tractor includes a walking beam suspension which supports the front of the chassis on left and right track assemblies. U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,072 shows a wheeled agricultural tractor which includes a walking beam suspension which supports the front of the chassis on left and right wheel assemblies. These walking beams are connected to the chassis by a fixed pivot pin. This permits the track or wheel assemblies to pivot or oscillate with respect to the chassis about a fore-and-aft axis. However, the chassis cannot move solely vertically with respect to the track or wheel assemblies or the axis of the pivot pin. Therefore, the track or wheel assemblies cannot move together vertically and independently of the chassis. This can adversely effect the ride or comfort of the vehicle, and can sometimes prevent a track assembly from maintaining contact with the terrain. To solve this problem, some commercially available vehicles include a front support beam which is mounted to rubber blocks on either side of the frame. However, it is desired to have a walking beam suspension which permits independent oscillating and vertical translating motion of the walking beam.
A walking beam suspension is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,718 but this suspension is designed for trucks, and includes a pair of longitudinally oriented suspension assemblies and requires linear stabilizers to stabilize the assembly in a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the walking beam. Also, with this design, the air bags compress in approximately a 1-to-1 ratio to vertical movement of the pivot axis of the walking beam.


An electromagnetic actuating device comprising an armature unit which can be moved along a longitudinal axis relative to a stationary core by passing a current through a coil device, said armature unit being designed to form or define a fluid flow channel, wherein the armature unit has at one end an axially elongate cylindrical section, to which an annular groove-shaped section of reduced outer diameter is connected in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the fluid flow channel extends into the annular groove-shaped section, wherein the fluid flow channel runs through the elongate cylindrical section in the manner of a through-channel, in particular a through-bore, running obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that a first opening at the end side and/or an opposite second opening of the through-channel are provided outside the cylindrical outer wall of the elongate section.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic actuating device according to the preamble of the main claim. The present invention also relates to an armature unit.
A generic device is known in general from the prior art and is described for example in connection with DE 20 2005 012 297 by the Applicant, and especially in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7 therein. More specifically, in such generic devices, an armature unit is moved in a manner otherwise known per se by passing a current through a coil surrounding it in order to control a fluid flow by means of the movement of the armature unit. Typical uses include for example hydraulic or pneumatic valves, and these are in turn typically used in the vehicle industry.
FIG. 8 (cross-sectional view of a known armature unit) and FIG. 9 (perspective view of the armature unit shown in FIG. 8) illustrate such an armature unit which is presumed to be known. An armature body 10 made of a suitable magnetic material has in the circumferential region two elongate ventilation grooves 12 which serve for the described fluid flow. For sealing purposes and for weight reasons, the interior of the described armature unit is moreover filled with a respective vulcanized elastomer (14) which forms wide sealing regions 16 and 18 in respective end regions of the armature body 10. When this illustrated armature unit is used as intended within an electromagnetic actuating device, a fluid flow would then take place through the channels 12 in a manner suitably influenced by moving the armature unit.
However, such a device is disadvantageous for various reasons, in particular with regard to easy and automated manufacture (which is important from the mass production point of view). For example, in the device deemed to be generic, (fully) automated production of the complete armature is difficult to achieve since the illustrated technology requires smooth grinding. Furthermore, the manufacture of the illustrated arrangement with the known fluid guiding channels (ventilation grooves) 12 leads to the formation of burrs, which in turn mean that complex post-machining is required.
The illustrated grooves also have magnetic disadvantages (magnetic losses and thus potentially a reduction in the achievable magnetic force occur on account of the interruption or widening of the air gap in the circumferential direction that is brought about thereby). The illustrated groove contour is susceptible to wear during long-term use and (in a manner mechanically associated with this disadvantage) generates disadvantageous friction when moving in the stationary core unit.
Finally, the illustrated groove geometry which is presumed to be generic for forming the fluid flow channels gives rise to a disadvantageous tilting of the armature relative to the surrounding guide, so that there is also the potential for optimization here.
The object of the present invention is therefore to improve an electromagnetic actuating device according to the preamble of the main claim with regard to its manufacturing properties, magnetic and mechanical properties, in particular to optimize the potential for automated manufacture, to increase the achievable magnetic force, and in the process to reduce friction and wear on the armature.


The present invention is directed to a method for driving a piezoelectric ink jet head comprising a piezoelectric actuator AC that includes two piezoelectric ceramic layers 7a, 7b having such a size that covers the plurality of pressure chambers 2, wherein an electric field of opposite sense to the polarizing direction is applied to the second piezoelectric ceramic layer 7b by using the common electrodes 8a, 8b and, (1) for the pressure chambers 2 from which the ink is discharged, an electric field of the same sense as the polarizing direction of the layer is applied to the first piezoelectric ceramic layer 7a by using the individual electrode 10 and the first common electrode 8a, thereby causing the region of the piezoelectric actuator AC to deflect toward the pressure chamber 2, while (2) for the pressure chambers 2 from which the ink should not be discharged, an electric field of the opposite sense to the polarizing direction is applied to the first piezoelectric ceramic layer 7a by using the electrodes 10, 8a, thereby to maintain the region of the piezoelectric actuator AC in the initial state, so as to discharge an ink droplet selectively through the nozzle 3 that communicates with the pressure chamber 2 described in (1) and form a dot.

For a piezoelectric ink jet head that uses the electrostrictive effect of a piezoelectric element as the drive power source and is employed in an on-demand type ink jet printer or the like, one having such a constitution is employed as a plurality of pressure chambers to be filled with an ink are disposed on one side of a plate-shaped substrate in the direction of surface thereof, each of the pressure chambers being provided with a nozzle for discharging the ink that communicates therewith, and piezoelectric actuator stacked on the side of the substrate whereon the pressure chambers are disposed.
The piezoelectric actuator is generally constituted from an electrically conductive oscillator plate of such a size that covers the plurality of pressure chambers, a piezoelectric ceramic layer that are separately formed in correspondence to the pressure chambers, and a plurality of individual electrodes which are formed separately in correspondence to the pressure chambers, being stacked in this order. The electrically conductive oscillator plate, together with the individual electrodes, sandwiches the piezoelectric ceramic layer so as to serve also as a common electrode for applying an electric field to the piezoelectric ceramic layer.
In the piezoelectric ink jet head described above, when an electric field of the same sense as the polarizing direction of the piezoelectric ceramic layer is applied between at least one of the plurality of individual electrodes that correspond to the pressure chambers and the oscillator plate, the piezoelectric ceramic layer that is sandwiched by the individual electrode and the oscillator plate contracts in the direction of the surface. Since the piezoelectric ceramic layer is fastened onto the oscillator plate, the region of the piezoelectric actuator to which the electric field is applied deflects so as to protrude toward the pressure chamber in accordance to the contraction, while the deflection compresses the ink in the pressure chamber, so that an ink droplet is discharged through the nozzle for printing.
Recently, in order to provide for the ever-decreasing nozzle pitch that corresponds to the resolution of printing in the ink jet printers which has been becoming higher, a piezoelectric ink jet head has been commercialized that employs a piezoelectric ceramic layer of such a size that covers a plurality of pressure chambers, instead of a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layer which are formed separately corresponding to the pressure chambers.
In this piezoelectric ink jet head, when an electric field of the same sense as the polarizing direction of the piezoelectric ceramic layer is applied between at least one of the plurality of individual electrodes that correspond to the pressure chambers and the oscillator plate, a particular region of the piezoelectric ceramic layer that is sandwiched by the individual electrode and the oscillator plate contracts in the direction of the surface like individual piezoelectric ceramic layer that are formed separately. In accordance to the contraction, the region of the piezoelectric actuator to which the electric field is applied deflects so as to protrude toward the pressure chamber, while the deflection compresses the ink in the pressure chamber, so that an ink droplet is discharged through the nozzle for printing.
A so-called bimorph piezoelectric ink jet head is also proposed that comprises two piezoelectric ceramic layers stacked one on another.
In the bimorph piezoelectric ink jet head, at the same time the first piezoelectric ceramic layer is caused to contract in the direction of the surface, a second piezoelectric ceramic layer is caused to expand in the direction of the surface by applying an electric field of opposite sense to the polarizing direction, thereby making it possible to achieve a satisfactory deflection of the piezoelectric actuator toward the pressure chamber, with the electric field of lower intensity than in the conventional piezoelectric ink jet head that has only one piezoelectric ceramic layer (called the unimorph type piezoelectric ink jet head in contrast to the bimorph type).
The piezoelectric ink jet head is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H04-371845-A2 (1992), H08-118630-A2 (1996), H08-118663-A2 (1996), 2000-141647-A2 (2000) and 2001-77438-A2 (2001).
However, since the bimorph piezoelectric ink jet heads described in these publications all have two piezoelectric ceramic layers formed separately in correspondence to the pressure chambers, there has been such a problem that it cannot provide for the smaller nozzle pitch that corresponds to the higher resolution of printing in the ink jet printers.
In order to provide for the smaller nozzle pitch, the first and the second piezoelectric ceramic layers must have dimensions that cover the plurality of pressure chambers. But this leads to a problem of complicated structure of the piezoelectric actuator.
When two piezoelectric ceramic layers that have dimensions that cover the plurality of pressure chambers are used while maintaining the electrode structure in the piezoelectric ink jet head described in the patent publication mentioned above, it may be conceived to use a piezoelectric actuator AC having either the structure shown in FIG. 10 or the structure shown in FIG. 11.
Among these, the piezoelectric actuator AC shown in FIG. 10 is constituted from first individual electrodes 90a formed separately corresponding to pressure chambers 92, a first piezoelectric ceramic layer 97a having such a size that covers a plurality of pressure chambers, second individual electrodes 90b formed separately corresponding to the pressure chambers 92, a second piezoelectric ceramic layer 97b having such a size that covers a plurality of pressure chambers, a common electrode 98a having a size that covers a plurality of pressure chambers 92 and a protective layer 99 having such a size that covers a plurality of pressure chambers for protecting the common electrode 98a from the ink, that are stacked on the substrate 91 in this order from a position far from the substrate 91.
The piezoelectric actuator AC is manufactured by printing an electrically conductive paste to form the second individual electrodes 90b on one side of a green sheet of piezoelectric material that would make the second piezoelectric ceramic layer 97b, stacking a green sheet of piezoelectric material that would make the first piezoelectric ceramic layer 97a thereon, firing the stack so as to bake the three layers described above, printing an electrically conductive paste to form the first individual electrodes 90a on one side of the stack, and printing an electrically conductive paste to form the common electrode 98a on the other side of the stack.
However, the second individual electrodes 90b undergo changes in the position within the plane and in shape as the green sheet of piezoelectric material expands and then shrinks significantly during the firing process; moreover, the changes cannot be observed from the outside after firing.
Thus there is such a problem that it is difficult to align the individual electrodes 90a, 90b with the pressure chambers 92 when printing the electrically conductive paste to form the first individual electrodes 90a in alignment and when bonding the piezoelectric actuator AC onto the substrate 1.
In addition, in order to connect lead wires to the second individual electrodes 90b, it is necessary to form the lead-out wire by printing at the same time as the printing of the electrically conductive paste to form the second individual electrodes 90b, or to form via holes in the first piezoelectric ceramic layer 97a and provide the wiring.
In the case of the former, however, there is such a problem that a space for printing the lead-out wire is required which makes it impossible to provide for the smaller nozzle pitch.
In the case of the latter, there is such a problem that the additional process for forming the via holes or connecting the wire makes the manufacturing process complex and also makes the structure of the piezoelectric actuator AC more complex.
The piezoelectric actuator AC shown in FIG. 11 is constituted from the first individual electrodes 90a formed separately corresponding to pressure chambers 92, the first piezoelectric ceramic layer 97a having such a size that covers the plurality of pressure chambers, the common electrode 98b having such a size that covers the plurality of pressure chambers, the second piezoelectric ceramic layer 97b having such a size that covers the plurality of pressure chambers 92, second individual electrodes 90c formed separately corresponding to pressure chambers 92 and the protective layer 99 for protecting the second individual electrodes 90c from the ink, that are stacked on the substrate 91 in this order from a position far from the substrate 91.
The piezoelectric actuator AC can be manufactured similarly to that described previously.
The first and second individual electrodes 90a, 90c can be printed and formed after firing the green sheet of piezoelectric material, and therefore can be aligned easily with each either and with the pressure chamber 92.
In order to connect leads to the second individual electrodes 90c, it is necessary to form the lead-out wire by printing at the same time as the printing of the electrically conductive paste to form the second individual electrodes 90c, or to form via holes in the first and second piezoelectric ceramic layer 97a, 97b and provide the wiring.
In the case of the former, there is such a problem that a space for printing the lead-out wire is required which makes it impossible to provide for the smaller nozzle pitch, similarly to that described previously.
In the case of the latter, there is such a problem that the additional process for forming the via holes or connecting the wire makes the manufacturing process complex and also makes the structure of the piezoelectric actuator AC more complex.
There is also such a problem that the positions where the via holes are formed in the piezoelectric ceramic layers 97a, 97b undergo unpredictable displacement in the direction of plane in the firing process, thus making the alignment difficult.

Method of driving piezoelectric ink jet head


A container-applicator for fluid products, for cosmetic and pharmaceutical use, comprising, at the mouth of a container, an applicator provided with a spongy-matrix body that is arranged proximate to an opening controlled by a valve element that can be operated from the outside of the container body, the valve element comprising a cap body that can be actuated rotationally in order to pass from a closed position to an open position of the opening and/or vice versa.

The present invention relates to a container-applicator for fluid products, particularly for cosmetic and pharmaceutical use.
U.S. Ser. No. 10/184,975 by the same Applicant, assumed included herein by reference, discloses a container-applicator for fluid products that is generally constituted by a spongy-matrix body arranged proximate to the opening for connection to the inside of a container body.
The fluid product is dispensed by acting on the valve element that controls such opening, which can be operated from the outside of the container body, by way of a pressure to be applied to the spongy body, so as to overcome the elastic contrast and accordingly obtain the intended dispensing of the product.
This embodiment has proved to be valid in many respects but has been also found to be susceptible of improvements, especially as regards the type of actuation of the valve element, introducing a new solution that does not require to apply pressure to the spongy body, such pressure in some cases not being pleasant for the user.

Container-applicator for fluid products, particularly for cosmetic and pharmaceutical use