A flat product of steel with yield strength Rp 0.2 of 660 to 820 MPa, BH2 value greater than 30 MPa, a hole expansion ratio greater than 30%, and a microstructure having a first main component at a proportion of at least 50%, including one or more individual components of ferrite, tempered bainite, and tempered martensite, each with less than 5% carbides, and a second main component at a proportion of 5% to 50%, including one or more individual components of martensite, residual austenite, bainite or perlite, with the steel having a following chemical composition (in weight %): C: 0.04 to 0.12; Si: 0.03 to 0.8; Mn: 1 to 2.5: P: max. 0.08; S: max. 0.01; N: max. 0.01; Al: up to 0.1; Ni+Mo; up to 0.5; Nb: up to 0.08; Ti: up to 0.2; Nb+Ti: min, 0.03; Cr: up to 0.6; the remainder being iron including unavoidable steel-associated elements.

The invention relates to a high-strength hot-roved flat steel product with high edge cracking resistance and, at the same time, high bake-hardening potential. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such a flat steel product.
In particular, the invention relates to flat steel products made from steels with a multi-phase microstructure which generally contains tempered bainite, and with an elasticity limit Rp0.2 in the range of 660 to 820 MPa, in particular for the production of components for automobile construction, which, in addition to a high tensile strength of at least 760 MPa and an elongation at fracture A80 of at least 10%, must have a high hole expansion capability with a hole expansion ratio of over 30% and a high bake-hardening potential with a BH2 value of over 30 MPa.
Bake-hardening effect (BH) is generally understood to mean a controlled ageing process which can be attributed to the carbon and/or nitrogen present in solution in the steel and is accompanied by an increase in the yield strength. The bake-hardening effect can be described by a BH2 value which is defined as the increase in the yield strength after a plastic pre-elongation of 2% and a subsequent heat treatment. The increase in the deflection strength of a component can be achieved e.g. with the bake-hardening effect in that, after formation into the component, a suitable heat treatment is carried out.
Bainitic steels are, according to EN 10346, steels which are characterized by a comparatively high yield strength and tensile strength with sufficiently high elongation for cold-forming processes. An effective welding capability is provided by reason of the chemical composition. The microstructure typically includes bainite with proportions of ferrite. The microstructure can contain in isolation small proportions of other phases, such as e.g. martensite and residual austenite. Such a steel is disclosed along with others e.g. in the laid-open document DE 10 2012 002 079 A1. However, a disadvantage with this is a still insufficiently high hole expansion capability.
The fiercely competitive car market means that producers are constantly forced to find solutions for reducing fleet fuel consumption and CO2 exhaust emissions whilst maintaining the highest possible level of comfort and passenger protection. On the one hand, the weight reduction of all of the vehicle components plays a decisive role as does, on the other hand, the most favorable possible behavior of the individual components in the event of high static and dynamic stress both during use of an automobile and also in the event of a crash.
By the provision of high-strength to ultra high-strength steels with strengths of up to 1200 MPa or more and the reduction in the sheet thickness it is possible to reduce the weight of vehicles by, at the same time, improving deformation behavior of the steels used and the component behavior during manufacture and in operation.
High-strength to ultra high-strength steels must meet comparatively high demands with respect to their strength, ductility and energy absorption, in particular during processing thereof, such as e.g. during stamping, hot and cold forming, during thermal tempering (e.g. air hardening, press hardening), welding and/or a surface treatment, e.g. a metallic finishing, organic coating or lacquering.
Thus, in addition to the required weight reduction by reduced sheet thicknesses, newly developed steels must meet the increasing material requirements for elasticity limit, tensile strength, solidification behavior and elongation at fracture while having good processing properties such as formability and weldability.
For such a reduction in sheet thickness, a high-strength to ultra high-strength steel with a single-phase or multi-phase microstructure must thus be used in order to ensure sufficient strength for the motor vehicle components and in order to meet the high deformation and component demands with respect to toughness, lack of sensitivity to edge cracking, improved bending angle and bending radius, energy absorption as well as solidification capability and the bake-hardening effect.
Improved joining suitability, in the form of better general welding capability, such as a larger usable welding area for resistance spot welding and improved failure behavior of the weld seam (fracture pattern) under mechanical stress, and sufficient resistant to delayed crack formation owing to hydrogen embrittlement are also required to an increasing extent.
The hole expansion capability is a material property which describes the resistance of the material to crack initiation and crack propagation in deformation operations in regions close to the edge, such as e.g. during plunging.
The hole expansion test is regulated e.g. in the ISO 16630 standard. Accordingly, holes which are stamped into a metal sheet are expanded by means of a mandrel. The measurement variable is the change in hole diameter, related to the initial diameter, at which the first crack through the metal sheet occurs at the edge of the hole.
Improved edge crack insensitivity signifies an increased deformation capability of the sheet edges and can be described by an increased hole expansion capability. This situation is known under the synonyms "Low Edge Crack" (LEC) or "High Hole Expansion" (HHE) and xpand®.
On this basis, the object of the present invention is to create a high-strength, hot-rolled flat steel product with good deformation properties, in particular with high edge cracking resistance and with high bake-hardening potential, and a method for producing such a flat steel product, which offer a good combination of strength and deformation properties in relation to the steel.

High-strength, hot-rolled flat steel product with high edge cracking resistance and, at the same time, high bake-hardening potential, and method for producing such a flat steel product


The present invention relates to the removal of hydrocarbon residues from a catalyst and more specifically the air activation of a catalyst containing hydrocarbon residues. It also relates to extruded pipe and utility conduit resins comprising polyethylene, household/industrial chemicals container resins, and to a polyethylene resin particularly suitable for large parts by blow molding and sheet extrusion procedures, wherein the resin is made by a process using an activated chromium and titanium-based catalyst.

Components of a catalyst are often supplied to a support by contacting the support with a solution containing the component, such as for instance contacting a silica support with a solution of chromium acetate in hexane. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,770.
It is well known in the art to activate a supported catalyst comprising chromium, useful in the manufacture of polyolefins such as polyethylene, by a treatment comprising calcining the supported catalyst in the presence of an excess of molecular oxygen at a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 1000° C. for up to about 50 hours. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,831.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,300 discloses that after treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere up to about 850° C. a chromium catalyst is cooled down and then treated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,572 discloses regenerating a chromium catalyst containing organic contaminants by treatment with an oxidizing gas such as air at temperatures of from 350° C. to 400° C. until the organic contaminants disappear, followed by treatment with hydrogen mixed with an inert gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,077 B1 discloses a chromium on silica catalyst activated in an oxidizing ambient at from 600-1100° F. (about 315° C. to about 590° C.) useful in producing a polyethylene having high Environmental Stress Crack Resistance ("ESCR") for blow molding applications. The activation treatment period is from 1 minute to 50 hours. The most preferred activation temperature is from about 900° F. to about 1050° F. (about 480° C. to about 565° C.). U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,346 and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2001/0004663 and 2001/0007894 disclose similar procedures.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,947 discloses treating a chromium catalyst in a dry inert gas, then titanating the catalyst, and then activating with oxygen.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,085 (see also the related EP 1038 886 A1) discloses a thermal treatment for a chromium-based catalyst comprising treatment under N2 at 350-850° C. and then treatment under air at 350-850° C. The treatment with both nitrogen and air preferably occurs at or above 480° C., but according to the disclosure the treatment in nitrogen and air must not be carried out at the same temperature and it is preferred that the treatment in air occur at a temperature lower than the treatment under N2. After the treatment with air, the chromium based catalyst is cooled down to room temperature while replacing the air with nitrogen before contact with ethylene in a polymerization process.
EP 0 882 740 A1 and EP 0 882 743 A1 disclose a supported chromium-based catalyst titanated under specific conditions and used for the homopolymerization or copolymerization of ethylene. After drying in an inert gas at a temperature of at least 300° C., the catalyst is titanated and then activated at a temperature of at least 500° C.
The present inventors have observed that catalysts comprising a support such as silica which is coated with chromium, titanium, and optionally at least one of zirconium, aluminum, and boron, and containing organic residues from the coating process, produce a "heat kick" or temperature spike or exotherm during normal air activation, such as by heated fluidization. While not wishing to be bound by theory, this heat kick is believed to be the result of uncontrolled oxidation of the organic groups. The present inventors have discovered that controlling the temperature spike in the appropriate manner improves the catalyst performance, as hereinafter described.
Embodiments of the present invention may have the advantage over previously known methods of activating supported chromium/titanium catalysts in having one or more of the following: an improved catalyst activity, improved melt index ("MI") response, an improved ESCR in a polyethylene manufactured using the catalyst prepared according to the present invention, or a combination of these improvements. The catalyst prepared according to the invention may be used to produce polyolefins by solution polymerization, slurry polymerization, and gas-phase polymerization techniques.
Large diameter plastic pipe such as highway drainage pipe is typically made in a continuous extrusion process comprising extruding resin through a die to provide a large diameter tube capable of carrying a fluid. One typical use is as highway and/or storm water drainage pipe. The term "pipe extrusion resin" in the art is used to distinguish this type of hollow tube from conduit resin designed to carry utilities such as wire, cable, and the like. These different uses have different requirements.
The emphasis in the extruded pipe market is for a resin that exhibits high ESCR, that may be easily extruded through a relatively large diameter die, and that also has the appropriate strength characteristics to maintain its integrity during use, e.g., as buried drainage pipe.
High molecular weight, high density polyethylene (HMW HDPE) is used to manufacture storage containers, such as large industrial drums (e.g., 30- and 55-gallons) and intermediate bulk containers ("IBC") such as 100- and 300-gallon containers. HMW HDPE is also used in sheet extrusion/thermoforming operations to produce large parts such as truck bed liners, "port-a-potties" or portable toilets, and "dunnage trays" for holding and transporting large industrial parts such as transmissions. The end user expects—and governmental regulations often require—that the container meet certain minimum requirements, such as for impact resistance, top load, ESCR, and chemical resistance. In addition, the manufacturer of the containers expect ease of processability. Depending on the end use, there may be even more specific requirements of the material. For instance, in the case of large drums manufactured by blow molding, a high melt strength is generally desired, as the parison produced in the blow molding process typically must maintain its integrity for longer periods of time as the object made gets larger.
High molecular weight HDPE is also used to manufacture HIC containers, and once again, the end user expects certain minimum requirements will be met, as given above.
In the development of resin there is typically a trade off between characteristics such as resistance to slow crack growth and rupture (measured, for instance, by ESCR), stiffness (measured, for instance, by density) and processability or more specifically ease of extrusion (measured, for instance, by MI). Typically the higher the molecular weight of polyethylene, the higher the resistance to crack growth. However, increasing the molecular weight will decrease processability and make extrusion more difficult.
Conduit resin comprising polyethylene resin is typically used in a continuous extrusion process comprising extruding the resin through a die to provide a hollow pipe or conduit which can carry utilities such as wire, cable, fiber optics, and the like. The electrical conduit market alone uses over 300 million pounds of HDPE annually. The term "conduit" in the art is used to distinguish this type of hollow tube from large diameter pipe, such as highway drainage pipe. These different uses have radically different requirements. The emphasis in the conduit market is for a resin that exhibits high ESCR and that may be easily extruded through a relatively small diameter die.
The manufacturers of the conduit typically have an investment in having their extrusion apparatus set to accept a resin having a certain processability range and the challenge for the resin manufacturer is to provide the target processing characteristics while at the same time optimizing end use characteristics as much as possible. The problem is then to supply the appropriate resin with consistent quality and acceptable price.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,181 B1 relates to a premium performance polyethylene produced using a metallocene transition metal catalyst, providing a high molecular weight component and a low molecular weight component.
A number of patents are directed to producing HDPE having good resistance to stress cracking, for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,947, WO 00/14129, and EP 0905148. Typically such patents are directed to the catalyst systems employed in the production of the HDPE and more specifically to complicated preparation and/or treatment techniques such catalysts to optimize activity and catalyst life, among other characteristics.
However, what is needed is a process for producing a resin targeted for the pipe extrusion and utility conduit markets, wherein the process uses a readily available catalyst, for instance a commercial catalyst, that may be easily and reproducibility activated and wherein the resultant activated catalyst has high activity and long life.
The present inventors have discovered a method of making pipe extrusion and utility conduit resins having a high ESCR and good processability using a chromium and titanium-based supported catalyst which is commercially available and which may be readily activated for polymerization so as to provide for an excellent MI response, high activity, and long catalyst life.
Embodiments of the present invention may have the advantage over previously known methods of producing conduit HDPE by having improved MI and an improved ESCR.
Chromium catalysts are well known catalysts for olefin polymerization and are useful in preparing HMW HDPE. In these catalysts, a chromium compound, such as chromium oxide, is supported on a support of one or more inorganic oxides such as silica, alumina, zirconia or thoria, and activated by heating in a non-reducing atmosphere. U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,721 describes chromium catalysts and methods of making the catalysts. It is also known to increase polymer melt index by using a silica-titania support as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,494. Numerous activation procedures have been described in the prior art for optimizing catalyst performance and resultant ethylene polymer characteristics, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,831; 5,093,300; 5,895,770; 6,150,572; 6,201,077; 6,204,346; 6,214,947; 6,359,085; and 6,569,960; U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2001/0004663 and 2001/0007894; EP 1038 886 A1; EP 0 882 740 A1; EP 0 882 743 A1; EP 0905148; and WO 00/14129.
What is needed is a resin in particular having a high ESCR, good stiffness, and excellent processing characteristics, produced by a process that preferably can employ a commercially available catalyst, and wherein the activated catalyst has high activity and long life.
The present inventors have discovered a method of making a resin particularly suitable for utility conduit; extruded pipe; household/industrial containers; and large part blow molding applications, particularly drums, IBCs, and sheet extrusion parts, having high ESCR, high impact resistance, high stiffness, and good processability, using a chromium and titanium-based supported catalyst activated in a simple manner so as to provide for high activity, and long catalyst life, said catalyst being commercially available.
Embodiments of the present invention may have the advantage over previously known methods of producing blow molding HDPE by having an improved ESCR versus density relationship, yet maintaining good processing and stiffness characteristics.

Catalyst activation and resins therefrom


A method for treating an O-ring to substantially eliminate the adhesion of wafers to the O-ring in semiconductor equipment, which method comprises the steps of: placing an O-ring in a reactor, exposing the O-ring to an ionizing gas for approximately two minutes, and placing the O-ring in the instrument in which the O-ring will function.

Most current generation etch tools require the use of helium backside cooling in order to maintain wafer temperature within stable ranges. The method for achieving sufficient cooling usually involves the use of lipseal O-rings in order to contain the high pressure helium on the backside of the wafer. The lipseals function to secure the etch chamber electrode to the backside of the wafer in order to prevent leakage, which leakage leads to wafer photoresist burning. Lipseal design, material, and hardness must be optimized to produce the proper seal having a sufficient lifetime in a reactive plasma.
Elastopolymeric PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene or Teflon.TM.) compounds are currently the most frequently used materials for use in O-rings.
One significant drawback in the use of lipseal O-rings, and more particularly O-rings fabricated from elastopolymeric PTFE compounds, is that wafers often stick to the lipseal during semiconductor processing. The problem is most notable when high power plasma processes are run. In such cases, a large amount of power (in the form of heat) must be transferred through the wafer, which consequently heats the O-ring. As a result, the lipseal O-ring often fuses to the backside of the wafer. When this occurs, the lipseal can be dislodged from its groove. The misplacement of the O-ring seal causes the next wafer placed into the etch chamber to be burned due to inadequate seal, or broken due to the force of the mechanical wafer clamp.
Seal stickage is also notable in cases in which a seal is placed under high mechanical pressure, such as a slit valve type of assembly frequently used in doors of various instruments. If the valve is activated open by a spring or gravitational method, the O-ring stickage may become severe enough to prohibit valve opening because the spring tension may not be great enough to overcome the adhesion of the door to the O-ring.
O-ring suppliers have tried various methods to prevent the occurrence of lipseal stickage, but to date, have not identified a reliable method to prevent its occurrence.


A fastening arrangement including a grommet, which is configured as a substantially cylindrical sleeve with a head part, with a hollow-cylindrical shaft and with a conical tip, and also a fastener and a nut, for example made of plastic, which is fitted on the first threaded portion of the fastener. The fastener has two threaded portions, wherein one threaded portion is configured as a right-hand thread and the other threaded portion is configured as a left-hand thread (or vice versa). Moreover, the invention comprises a mounting method for such a fastening arrangement, in which the setting operation (anchoring of the fastener, adjustment of the sheath) can be managed in one step without changing the driving direction of the setting tool.

In order to meet current requirements concerning the insulation of flat roof structures, it is necessary for different layers of insulation material, according to climate, to be efficiently handled on a supporting substructure. Normally, the cover layer above the insulation layers consists of roof sheeting or plastic film, and the substructure often consists of trapezoidal sheets. For the purpose of fastening, it is known to use a combination of screw and grommet. Here, a "grommet" is normally to be understood as meaning a tubular sleeve with a narrowing at one end and with a radially projecting head widening at the other end. This head widening has the form of an overdimensioned washer which, in the mounted state, abuts on the roof sheeting and really distributes the tensile loads of the fastener. The inner diameter of the shaft of the grommet is of such a size that the fastener, including the head, can be introduced into the grommet—the grommet thus also acting as an extension of the fastener. During the mounting, the fastener, in the grommet, is drilled into the substructure through the insulation layers. The head of the fastener, during the screwing-in operation, abuts against the tip narrowing of the grommet and provides for a tensile load on the grommet according to the placement depth of the fastener. In the case of substructures such as wood or concrete, it is possible in some cases, by way of turning-back of the fastener, for the tensile loads to be controlled, true regulation independent of the anchoring not however being permitted by this.
In sheet-metal substructures, there is furthermore the problem that the engagement of the fastener in the base (the substructure) is very narrow and high stresses are formed through the thread. Adjustment by way of turning-forward or turning-back of the fastener can have an adverse effect on the extraction forces of the fastener.

Fastener, fastening arrangement and method for mounting


The present invention provides a button including a button body 10 and a fixture 40 for fixing the button body to fabric. The button body 10 includes a shell member 11 constituting a button outer shell and an accommodation member 31. The shell member 11 includes a button cover 22 and a neck 14 formed cylindrically on the back side of the button cover 22 and having an opening 17 at an outer edge thereof. The accommodation member 31 has a shaft 33 accommodated in the neck with a portion thereof protruding from the opening, and an insert hole 34 formed on the protruding end face of the shaft for the fixture to be inserted therein. Crimping parts 18 are formed on one of the inner periphery of the opening or on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft at specified positions with a prespecified space therebetween along the circumferential direction so as to crimp into the other.

As a button used for a garment such as jeans, there has been known a button including a button body and a fixture for holding fabric such as a garment from the opposite side to the button body for fixing the button body to the fabric.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,043 discloses a button for jeans. This button includes a button body having a button covering member and an accommodation member incorporated inside this button covering member and a fixture for holding fabric such as a garment from the opposite side to the button body for fixing the button body to the fabric.
The button covering member includes a front side covering material formed by spinning metal and a back side covering member also formed by spinning metal. The back side covering member includes a cylindrical neck, a flange formed at an edge of the neck and having an outer diameter larger than that of the neck, and an opening formed at another edge of the neck. An outer periphery f the front side covering member is engaged with an outer periphery of the flange to form a button having a disk-like form.
The accommodation member is made of synthetic resin and includes a collar accommodated in the button and a shaft accommodated in the neck. Another end of the shaft protrudes from the opening, and an insert hole for a fixture to be inserted therein is formed at a center of the protruding end face.
When the fixture is inserted into the insert hole of the accommodation member from the opposite side to the button body and through the fabric, an outer periphery of the shaft is expanded outward and contacts an inner periphery of the opening, so that the accommodation member and the button covering member are integrated with each other and the button body is fixed to the fabric.
With the structure described above, however, the accommodation member and the button covering member are not sufficiently integrated with each other.
As a form of a tip of the shaft, namely a form of a cross section near the protruding end part protruding from the opening is formed by beveling corners of the square with R-curved surfaces, and even when the fixture is inserted into the insert hole of the accommodation member, an outer periphery of the shaft only contacts the inner periphery of the opening, and sometimes the button covering member may rotate relative to the accommodation member.
Generally, some decorations such as a character or a logo are provided on a surface of a button used in jeans or the like, namely on a front side covering material of the button covering member, and when the phenomenon as described above occurs, the character or the like becomes harder to be recognized with the beauty lost, which is not preferable from the designing point of view.
For solving the troubles as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a button capable of ensuring tight integration of a shell member constituting a covering shell of a button and an accommodation member incorporated in the shell member for preventing relative rotation of the two members without fail.


A crosslinked, closed cell polyolefin foam sheet has exceptional softness, haptics, moldability, thermal stability and shear strength as well as a laminate and uses thereof.

Closed cell polyolefin foams are commercially produced and used in various applications including automotive, furniture, gasketing, sealing and adhesives.
In these applications, a foam that is soft is often desirable. For example, in the case of an automotive door panel upper, a firm foam will not compress when an elbow is casually placed upon it. Hence, such a foam does not serve its primary purpose of providing a comfortable cushion for the elbow as it rests upon the panel. As a gasket for an electronic component, a firm foam will "push back" against a sensitive or flexible component and will consequently warp or damage that component.
A foam with good haptics is also desirable. Good haptics result in a pleasant soft touch "plush" or "rich" feel to the foam. It is especially desirable in any situation where the foam is being used to impart a feeling of comfort and softness to anyone contacting the foam. Good haptics result in a desirable soft touch feel that is measured by a lack of initial resistance to the gradual compressive displacement of a foam. We quantify such a desirable soft touch feel of a foam with a "haptic factor" which is described below. Intuitively, one would assume that the softer the foam, then the more of a soft touch feel the foam should have. However, foams that are equally soft are not necessarily haptically equivalent. Hence, the need to discuss "softness" and "haptics" as separate characteristics.
Additionally, thermally stable foams are needed in situations where a foam may become heated. Examples of such situations include heat laminating a skin or fabric to a foam; vacuum forming a foam laminate to a substrate; compression molding a foam laminate to a substrate; and end uses where the foam is exposed to constant or intermittent elevated temperatures. Importantly, thermally stable foams are suitable for more commercial applications and markets.
The moldability of a foam is critical in thermoforming processes such as vacuum, pressbond, compression, low pressure and other molding processes. During these molding processes, foams will elongate and bend under tension and the shear forces placed on the foam. The more the foam can elongate and withstand shear forces placed upon it when forming, the better its moldability. With increasing moldability, the foam will be capable of forming more complex shapes and deeper draws before ultimately tearing. Product designers and manufacturers desire foams with better moldability to allow them to create and produce part designs of ever increasing complexity and deeper draws. Importantly, a foam with better moldability can be lighter and still maintain functionality.
Additionally, foams with exceptional "shear strength" as described below are needed. Such foams are useful as mounting tapes where exceptional softness is necessary to ensure sufficient contact with irregular surfaces to be joined and where exceptional shear strength is also necessary. Foam with exceptional shear strength at elevated temperatures is also important in injection molding or low pressure injection molding applications.
Thus, a need exists for crosslinked olefin foams which solve the problem of sacrificing one of these five desired foam physical properties for another. Furthermore, there is a need for methods of making such foams.

Crosslinked polyolefin foam sheet with exceptional softness, haptics, moldability, thermal stability and shear strength


An electrically conductive cellulose composite includes a cellulose matrix and an electrically conductive carbonaceous material incorporated into the cellulose matrix. The electrical conductivity of the cellulose composite is at least 10 μS/cm at 25° C. The composite can be made by incorporating the electrically conductive carbonaceous material into a culture medium with a cellulose-producing organism, such as Gluconoacetobacter hansenii. The composites can be used to form electrodes, such as for use in membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.

Cellulose is the most abundant biologically synthesized polymer on earth. It is composed of monomers of the sugar glucose that are joined into long chains by covalent beta (1,4) glycosidic linkages that are formed between the C1 aldehyde and C4 hydroxyl groups of the glucose molecule. This chemical structure imparts to cellulose its crystalline, fibrous physical structure. Various forms of cellulose are major industrial agricultural products, particularly cotton and wood. Cellulose is the major component of many products such as paper, textiles, cardboard, construction materials, and many other products. Most cellulose is obtained from the familiar multi-cellular photosynthetic terrestrial plants. Cellulose is also produced in the oceans by unicellular plankton or algae using the same type of carbon dioxide fixation found in the photosynthesis of land plants.
Certain bacteria can assemble cellulose via non-photosynthetic pathways, requiring glucose, sugar, glycerol, or other organic substrates for conversion into pure cellulose. One such bacterium is Acetobacter xylinum, now taxonomically classified as Gluconacetobacter xylinus. A single Acetobacter xylinum cell can convert up to 108 glucose molecules per hour into cellulose. The Acetobacter cells produce sub-microscopic cellulose fibrils which gather in an entangled mesh to produce a gelatinous membrane known as a pellicle. The microbial cellulose so formed benefits from the absence of lignin or hemicelluloses, and is completely biodegradable and recyclable. Microbial cellulose also provides high strength, consistent dimensional stability, high tensile strength, light weight and excellent durability. It is also extremely absorbent in the hydrated state.
Another advantage of microbial cellulose is the potential for direct membrane assembly during biosynthesis. The medium can be suspended in a mold or desired shape to directly form useful products. Extremely thin, sub-micron, optically clear membranes can be assembled. Intermediate steps of paper formation from pulp are unnecessary, and textile assembly from yarn is unnecessary. Cellulose orientation during synthesis is possible for dynamic fiber forming capabilities, and uniaxially strengthened membranes. Crystallization can be delayed by the introduction of dyes into the culture medium, and the physical properties of the cellulose such as molecular weight and crystallinity can be controlled. Also, from this cellulose the direct synthesis of cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, carboxymethylcellulose, methyl cellulose and other derivatives is possible. It is also possible to control the cellulose crystalline allomorph (cellulose I or cellulose II). Brown, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,439 disclose a cellulose-producing microorganism which is capable, during fermentation in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances, of reversal of direction of the cellulose ribbon extrusion such that a cellulose ribbon-bundle having a width of at least two cellulose ribbons is produced.
Microbial cellulose is not intrinsically electrically conductive. Various efforts have been made to impart electrical conductivity to such cellulose, including thermal transformation, deposition of metallic or other conductive particles, and infusion of dyes Yoshino et al. in Synthetic Metals 41-43, 1593-1596 (1991) describe the pyrolyzation of bacterial cellulose at temperatures from 1000 to 3000° C. to transform it to a graphite material. Evans, et al, Pub. No. U.S. 2003/0113610 discloses a method for the deposition of metals onto bacterial cellulose, where the bacterial cellulose matrix is placed in a solution of a metal salt such that the metal salt is reduced to the metallic form precipitates in or on the cellulose matrix.

Method of forming an electrically conductive cellulose composite


A check valve may be used to enable desired flow rates of fluid in a particular direction. In some examples, the check valve may have a hollow cylindrical body and a threaded portion on an exterior wall of the hollow cylindrical body such that the check valve may be coupled with an assembly, such as an adapter for a vehicle engine. The check valve may include a plunger having a dome shaped portion (e.g., cone shaped, semi-hemispherical shaped, rounded cone shaped, etc.) that extends out of the hollow cylindrical body into free space when the check valve is in an open position and forms a seal with the hollow cylindrical body when the check valve is in a closed position.

Valves are used in a variety of applications, such as piping, vehicles, and machinery, to regulate, direct, or otherwise control the flow of a fluid. In some cases, it may be desirable to allow the fluid to flow in a particular direction at a particular flow rate. Due to varying viscosities of fluid and to systems downstream of the valve that may create interference to the flow of the fluid (e.g., back pressure in a system), it may be difficult to quickly and efficiently allow fluid to flow through the valve. Thus, there is a need for a valve that allows fluid to flow in a particular direction at a desired flow rate.


In a color processing method and apparatus therefor using two-dimensional (2-D) chromaticity separation for minimizing color difference between an original image and a reproduced image in a color apparatus including a color television receiver, the apparatus includes an index calculator for calculating indexes for projecting R, G and B color signals or luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (R-Y and B-Y) in a 3-D color space onto a 2-D chromaticity plane, a first look-up table in which the indexes are stored, a second look-up table in which matrix transformation coefficients which define an input-versus-output relationship between the R, G and B color signals or luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (R-Y and B-Y) are stored and for outputting a predetermined number of transformation coefficients stored in the corresponding address designated by the output signal of the first look-up table, and a color transformation operation unit for receiving the predetermined number of transformation coefficients output from the second look-up table, and performing a matrix operation with respect to the R, G and B color signals or luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (R-Y and B-Y). The color processing apparatus allows real time processing owing to its simplified structure.

The present invention relates to a color processing method and an apparatus therefor using two-dimensional (2-D) chromaticity separation, and more particularly, to a color processing method and apparatus for minimizing differences between a desired output color and the actual output color in a color display apparatus using 2-D chromaticity separation.
In general, a color display apparatus, specifically, a color television receiver receives and demodulates a color signal produced according to a broadcasting standard (NTSC or PAL) to then be reproduced via a CRT. However, the received color signal may be distorted for various reasons. One of the main reasons for such distortion is caused by the color signal processing in a color TV receiver. In particular, a color reproducibility difference between an input color and a CRT output color is generated due to the difference between R, G, B phosphor characteristics of a CRT and those of a predetermined broadcasting standard. Also, a color deviation of intermediate colors may be generated due to non-linearity of the color TV receiver circuit. Further, an output device such as a color TV receiver must complement insufficient portions of the original colors, or partially requires a visually-sensitive color processing due to the differences in subjective personal perferences for colors.
For solving such problems, a color correction apparatus for correcting a received color signal to suit a user's own taste in colors by adjusting two reference phases in a chromaticity demodulator of a color TV receiver, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,875, has been widely used. However, such apparatuses cause whole color distortion of residual colors other than the user's desired color.
As another conventional technology pertinent to classification of a color apparatus, there are several methods of modelling a relationship between an input color and an output color on the whole color space. Among them, typical methods are a matrixing method using regression analysis and a combined method using a look-up table and volume interpolation. Of the two, the latter method is for measuring multiple color values for obtaining an input-versus-output relationship of a system to then express intermediate values using these measuring points and volume interpolation. This method can obtain relatively exact results, compared to the conventional method. Also, since local color correction for the visually-sensitive color processing is possible, this method is widely used in color printing devices, which, however, is not suitable for commercial use since hardware implementation for real-time processing is difficult to achieve because of the complicated volume interpolation in a display apparatus such as a color TV receiver, and the apparatus adopting this method becomes undesirably expensive. Also, the matrixing method using regression analysis simply converts the input-versus-output relationship into matrices, based on multiple measuring points, which is widely used in a display field. However, the matrixing method must deal with the overall color space by a single matrix. Also, local color correction as in the visually-sensitive color adjustment is not allowed.
To solve such problems, there has been a recent proposal for a method pursuing a color apparatus classification by adopting regression analysis for each section by categorizing a color into five components: flesh, gray, red (R), green (G) and blue (B). However, by dividing the color into only five typical color components, boundaries may occur between the categorized sections. Also, it is difficult to properly exhibit characteristics of various colors expressed by color combination in the color apparatus. Further, local color correction is difficult to achieve in delicate color areas by the combined colors of five primary color components. The above-described problems also occur in another conventional method to locally correct using 6-separated hue region in chromaticity, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,080.

Color processing method and apparatus thereof using two-dimensional chromaticity separation


A document classifying device (10) includes: a unit (22) configured to acquire information regarding a to-be-classified document set in which classification codes based on multi-viewpoint classification are assigned to each document in advance; a unit (23) configured to generate a multi-dimensional feature vector for each document in the to-be-classified document set, the multi-dimensional feature vector having, as elements, all or part of the classification codes assigned to the to-be-classified document set; classifying unit (24) configured to classify the to-be-classified document set using the feature vector of each document; and a generating unit (25) that generates document classification information indicating a result of the classification.

Patent or utility model relating documents such as patent gazettes, registered utility model gazettes, laid-open disclosure public patent bulletin, and published Japanese translations of PCT international publication for patent applications (hereinafter collectively referred to as patent documents) include classification codes such as International Patent Classification (IPC) code, File Index (FI) code, and F-term code. A classification code called CS term is also assigned to various types of documents stored in the computer software database (CSDB) operated by the Japanese Patent Office or distinctive classification code is assigned in certain instances to in-house technical publications and relating documents managed in some companies.
There are various types of methods of searching documents using such classification codes assigned to the documents.
Patent Document 1 described below discloses a method of assisting researchers or developers to easily search for documents relating to industrial property rights such as patent documents. This method extracts a theme code and an F-term code from a result of searching using a publication number inputted by a user as a searching key, and presents them to make it easy to perform searching using the F-term code.
Patent Document 2 described below discloses a method that uses classification codes and performs statistical processing to make it possible to rapidly and simply analyze technical fields to which many patent documents belong. This method extracts plural classification codes assigned to individual patent documents; selects classification codes for numerical analysis from among a set of the extracted classification codes; calculates the coordinate of the classification codes for numerical analysis using numerical analysis; calculates a coordinate of each of the patent documents on the basis of the coordinate of the classification codes for numerical analysis; and on the basis of the coordinate of the patent documents, creates a predetermined map indicating the density thereof.
Non-Patent Document 1 described below discloses a method in which an F-term concept vector or a weighted F-term concept vector is prepared, the F-term concept vector being obtained by quantifying easiness of assigning F-term codes to each patent document, and a similarity degree between patent documents is calculated, thereby improving the accuracy of patent searching. In this method, an SVM classifier for each F-term code is utilized, the SVM classifier being learnt using patent documents as learning data and using, as a feature, morpheme uni-gram appearing in the patent documents, and an F-term concept vector is generated by using the output value from the SVM classifier.


Systems and methods are provided for reducing attack surface of a software environment by removing code of an unused functionality. A security hardening module may identify a portion of code of a software, the software comprising at least one of: an operating system and an application. The security hardening module may determine whether the portion is being utilized, and in response to determining that the process is not being utilized, the security hardening module may generate a live patch that removes the portion from the code and may modify, during runtime, the software using the live patch without restarting the software.

Maintaining security of live information technology software systems is a challenge. Although keeping operating systems and applications up to date and implementing intrusion detection systems help by making an intruder's attempt to access desired data more difficult, they have not resolved the deficiencies in cybersecurity. At best, these techniques may delay an attack or may inform users of an attack that has already occurred.
Rather than simply detecting intrusions, reducing an attack surface of a software environment should be also be an endeavor. Common strategies of attack surface reduction include reducing the amount of code running, reducing entry points available to untrusted users, and eliminating services seldom requested by users. Running less code and disabling unnecessary functionality helps prevent security failures because intruders are given fewer avenues to exploit a system. Simply running less code and disabling functionality, however, is not enough to thwart off an attack as an intruder may identify a way to enable functionality and begin running more code through acquired authorization. The intruder redirects his/her attention to disabling the security and then accessing the desired information in this scenario. While the security can be bolstered using regular updates, substantive updates typically require restarting the system. In environments where intruders are more likely to attack, such as server warehouses, frequently restarting systems is not an option because the servers are needed to perform various requests.
In view of these issues, there exists a demand for hardening security systems so as to reduce attack surface for software environments while enabling updates to be received without requiring restarts.

Systems and methods for hardening security systems using live patching


A new Auto Light Sensor System for automatically controlling a vehicle's parking lights and headlights according to light conditions outside of the vehicle. The inventive device includes a first light sensor secured to the vehicle and electrically connected to the parking lights, and a second light sensor secured to the vehicle and electrically connected to the headlights.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Vehicle Lighting Devices and more particularly pertains to a new Auto Light Sensor System for automatically controlling a vehicle's parking lights and headlights according to light conditions outside of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of Vehicle Lighting Devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, Vehicle Lighting Devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillnent of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art Vehicle Lighting Devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,585; U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,405; U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,941; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 287,408; U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,099; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,662.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Auto Light Sensor System. The inventive device includes a first light sensor secured to the vehicle and electrically connected to the parking lights, and a second light sensor secured to the vehicle and electrically connected to the headlights.
In these respects, the Auto Light Sensor System according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of automatically controlling a vehicle's parking lights and headlights according to light conditions outside of the vehicle.


Concrete products and dry concrete mixes comprise cement, acrylic coated carbon fibers, and any optional components such as silica fumes, slag, stone, sand, and/or other aggregates. Preferably, the acrylic coated carbon fibers have a length of about 2½ inches to about 6 inches. A method of reinforcing concrete comprises mixing the cement, the acrylic coated carbon fibers, any optional components (such as silica fumes, slag, stone, sand, and/or other aggregates), and water to form a cement slurry, and letting the slurry set to cure the cement and form bonds between the cement and the carbon fibers, thereby obtaining reinforced concrete.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to concrete products, and specifically concrete products reinforced with carbon graphite fibers.
2. Background of the Invention
Concrete is used for a wide variety of purposes, including road and bridge building, and, in particular, for the supports of elevated road beds and highways, as well as pilings and pillars. Concrete also has uses in building structures such as skyscrapers, high rises, including commercial as well as residential applications. Concrete may be formed on site, or alternatively, concrete may be pre-formed and moved to the site of use.
Concrete, by its nature, has been known to undergo degradation, deterioration, crumbling, cracking, as well as separation of the concrete matrix. This can occur over time or by exposure to extreme or repeated weather or other environmental conditions. Stresses, such as wear, movement, vibrations and the like may also contribute to the aforementioned problems associated with concrete.
It has become desirable in recent years to take protective measures in buildings, especially government buildings, against terrorist bombings. While structures, such as terrorist concrete barriers, have been used to help fortify buildings against bomb blasts, the force of a bomb blast often causes a portion of the terrorist concrete barrier to shatter, the shattered concrete debris created thereby projecting forcefully outwardly injuring or killing people it strikes and causing further damage to property near the bomb blast site.
A need exists for a way to reinforce the concrete to alleviate or minimize known problems and improve the life and function of the concrete.

Concrete reinforced with acrylic coated carbon fibers


An apparatus and method for improving the connectivity when a radio link failure occurs is disclosed. The method includes detecting, by a user equipment (UE), a radio link failure to a first radio network controller (RNC) and receiving an information message from a second RNC. The method further includes determining whether the first and second RNCs have interface connectivity between them. If the first and second RNCs have interface connectivity between them, performing a connection recovery procedure with the second RNC. However, if the first and second RNCs do not have interface connectivity between them, performing an initial connection procedure to establish a connection with the second RNC without performing a connection recovery procedure.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a method for improving connectivity of wireless devices, and more specifically, improving the connectivity when a radio link failure occurs.
2. Background Art
The Radio Network Controller (or RNC) is a governing element in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN), and is responsible for controlling, evolved Nodes (eNode Bs) that are connected to it. The RNC carries out radio resource management, some of the mobility management functions and is the point where encryption is done before user data is sent to and from the mobile subscriber. The RNC can also connect to the Circuit Switched Core Network through Media Gateway (MGW) and to the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) in the Packet Switched Core Network.
In wireless networks, such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)/UMTS networks, it is possible that the RNCs do not have an interface connectivity between them. For example, in a UTRAN, there are four possible interfaces for connecting the UTRAN internally or externally to other functional entities. One of these interfaces is Iur interface connectivity for connection between RNCs. It is possible that two or more RNCs in a UTAN do not have the Iur connectivity between them.
The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, generally, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Apparatus and method for wireless device connectivity upon radio link failure


A tree stand for hunting includes a frame constructed to stably engage a tree trunk in an elevated position, a seat pivoted to the frame, and a back support pivotally supported by a link mechanism to a telescoping upright of the frame above the seat. Vertical and angular adjustment of the back support allows the hunter to adjust the back support for optimal ergonomic lumbar support and for user preference. Further, the back support and seat can be pivotally adjusted to provide a partial-standing perched position for the hunter. Also, the tree stand can be folded flat for storage and transport.

The present invention relates to tree stands having a back support.
Hunters that use tree stands often spend hours in their stands waiting for prey. During this time, they must remain extremely quiet and also limit their movement in order to avoid spooking prey. This can be very hard on a hunter's back. For these reasons, it is desirable to provide hunters with a tree stand that provides good back support, including the ability to adjust the tree stand to better fit their particular body shape and preferences in a lumbar region of their torso. However, adjustability often adds weight to a tree stand, which is undesirable because the tree stand must be transported to a hunting site, then lifted and anchored to a tree several feet in the air. Further, adjustability often adds joints to the tree stand that reduce a rigidity in the frame of the tree stand, which is undesirable because non-rigid tree stand frames twist and distort such that they are less stable. Also, improperly-designed joints tend to squeak and make noise even with minor movement of the hunter.
In addition, the tree stand should preferably be mechanically simple, and be easy and intuitive to adjust. Yet it also should provide substantial adjustability for meeting user needs and preferences, and be low-cost, robust, and durable to withstand harsh outdoor environments and conditions. Also, the tree stand should preferably be made of materials that minimize noise when sitting on the tree stand and also when adjusting the tree stand. Still further, the tree stand must be flexible for installation on tree trunks that vary in size, shape, and that have non-perfect surfaces.
Thus, a tree stand with back support is desired having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems.


In at least one embodiment, transaction processing systems comprise non-disk persistent memory that is utilized to commit transactions.

Transaction processing systems are computer hardware and software systems that support concurrent execution of multiple transaction programs while ensuring preservation of so-called ACID properties comprising Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation and Durability. A transaction program is a specification of operations that are applied against application state, including the order in which the operations must be applied and any concurrency controls that must be exercised in order for the transaction to execute correctly. The most common concurrency control operation is locking, whereby the process corresponding to the transaction program acquires either a shared or exclusive lock on the data it reads or writes. A transaction refers to a collection of operations on the physical and abstract application state, usually represented in a database. A transaction represents the execution of a transaction program. Operations include reading and writing of shared state.
With respect to the ACID properties, atomicity refers to transactions that exhibit an all-or-none behavior, in that a transaction either executes completely or not at all. A transaction that completes is said to have committed; one that is abandoned during execution is said to have been aborted; one that has begun execution but has neither committed nor aborted is said to be in-flight.
Consistency refers to successful completion of a transaction that leaves the application state consistent vis-à-vis any integrity constraints that have been specified.
Isolation, also known as serializability, guarantees that every correct concurrent execution of a stream of transactions corresponds to some total ordering on the transactions that constitute the stream. In that sense, with respect to an executed transaction, the effects of every other transaction in the stream are the same as either having executed strictly before or strictly after it. Strong serializability refers to the degree to which the execution of concurrent transactions is constrained and creates different levels of isolation in transaction processing systems. In the context of the current document, concern is greatest with respect to transaction processing systems that exhibit the strongest forms of isolation, in which the updates made by a transaction are never lost and repeated read operations within a transaction produce the same result.
Durability refers to the property such that once a transaction has committed, its changes to application state survive failures affecting the transaction-processing system.
One challenge with transaction processing systems pertains to reducing the time that is needed for transactions to commit. Accordingly, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing systems and methods that reduce the time that is needed for transactions to commit.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transaction processing systems and methods utilizing non-disk persistent memory

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A process is disclosed for the pretreatment of a carbon-coated substrate to provide a uniform high density of nucleation sites thereon for the subsequent deposition of a continuous diamond film without the application of a bias voltage to the substrate. The process comprises exposing the carbon-coated substrate, in a microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system, to a mixture of hydrogen-methane gases, having a methane gas concentration of at least about 4% (as measured by partial pressure), while maintaining the substrate at a pressure of about 10 to about 30 Torr during the pretreatment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the formation of diamond films on a carbon-coated substrate. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for pretreating a carbon-coated substrate on which the diamond film is to be formed to thereby provide a smooth surface continuous diamond film over the underlying carbon-coated substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of a process for growth of high quality diamond films on various substrates using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique has resulted in the exploration of various applications for use of the resulting outstanding physical properties of this unique material, including use as a hard protective coating, which employs diamond's very high hardness and low friction coefficient in air; as electronic (semiconductor) material, which employs its high resistance and hole mobility; as optical window material, which employs its transparency to visible, infrared, and most ultraviolet light; and as heat sink material, which employs its high thermal conductivity.
However, for all of these applications, a smooth and uniform film is needed because a rough diamond surface can cause mechanical abrasion of adjacent components; large surface light scattering, resulting in low transmission as an optical window; and poor physical contact, resulting in low heat transfer.
Since diamond films prepared by conventional chemical vapor deposition usually have a rough surface, the desired smooth diamond film is conventionally produced by polishing the diamond film after deposition. Such polishing is an effective tool for a thick (and flat) film used as a wear-resistant coating. However, such polishing techniques can cause surface damage and contamination of the film, and are not easily applied to thin films, or to films on substrates of complex geometric shape.
A superior approach to the surface roughness problem has been found to be control of the grain size or nucleation density during the diamond growth phase, since in principle, if the particle size of nucleation seeds can be reduced, and if a high and uniform density of the nucleation sites is maintained, and subsequent growth is uniform on all nuclei, then the surface roughness of the final film should be reduced accordingly.
Thus the problem of decreasing the surface roughness becomes a problem of increasing the diamond nucleation density. The most common technique which has been employed for obtaining high nucleation density of diamond grown on foreign substrates has been to mechanically abrade (scratch) the substrate with diamond powder or paste or other hard abrasive before deposition. However, such mechanical abrasion of the substrate is not compatible with many of the intended uses of the coating material, e.g., for use on microelectronic substrates.
While such mechanical abrasion of the substrate with diamond powder is not desirable for many applications, studies based on the use of this technique have indicated that such substrates scratched with diamond powder result in high diamond nucleation density. This has, in turn, given rise to a less destructive method of increasing the nucleation sites on a substrate, which comprises coating the substrate with carbon particles. However, it has been found that while the presence of carbon particles on the surface of a substrate may, under some circumstances, provide a high density of nucleation sites for subsequent diamond growth, the increased nucleation density is not always accompanied by film uniformity, thus giving rise to non-uniform diamond growth on the substrate.
More recently Meilunas et al., in a paper entitled "Nucleation of Diamond Films on Surfaces Using Carbon Clusters", published on Dec. 23, 1991 by the American Institute of Physics on pages 3461-3463, described a pretreatment of such a carbon (C.sub.60 /C.sub.70)-based nucleation layer, which comprises applying a negative voltage bias to the substrate of about 200 to 300 volt, while exposing the substrate to a plasma containing a higher concentration of methane (about 10%) in the methane/hydrogen gas mixture than normally used in the standard diamond deposition process, as well as using a lower pressure (about 15 Torr) during this pretreatment than normally used in the standard diamond deposition process.
While the results reported by Meilunas et al. indicate that such a pretreatment does result in the formation of a high density of nucleation sites for diamond growth, resulting in the formation of continuous diamond films, it would be desirable to provide a simpler pretreatment process in which it would be unnecessary to apply a bias voltage to the substrate during the pretreatment, and more importantly, to use other common carbons rather than exotic carbons such as C.sub.60 /C.sub.70 used by Meilunas et al.

Pretreatment process for forming a smooth surface diamond film on a carbon-coated substrate

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention provides a coin handling machine 11 which can handle a large amount of coins, has a transportation structure which can be simplified, reduced in size and cost, and can reduce the occurrence of trouble such as coin jams.

Conventionally, as a coin handling machine which processes depositing and dispensing of coins, there is a coin handling machine to be used for, for example, ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) and CDs (Cash Dispensers).
In this coin handling machine, when depositing coins, coins input from an inlet are received in a depositing and feeding unit and fed out one by one to a transport path, recognized by a recognition unit while being transported through the transport path, and coins recognized as normal are escrowed in denomination-specific escrow units or a bulk escrow unit, and in response to a coin storing command issued according to deposit confirmation, coins in the denomination-specific escrow unit are stored in denomination-specific storing and feeding units and coins in the bulk escrow unit are stored in a collecting unit. During dispensing processing, according to dispensing information, coins fed out one by one from the denomination-specific storing and feeding units are sent into the depositing and feeding unit, the coins are fed out to the transport path one by one from the depositing and feeding unit and transported through the transport path to an outlet and dispensed (for example, refer to Patent document 1).
In retail stores, etc., sales proceeds collected from many cash registers must be deposited and counted, and a change fund must be prepared in advance in each of the cash registers, and a coin handling machine which has these depositing function and change fund dispensing function, rarely causes trouble such as coin jams, and can be easily operated, has been demanded.
For these demands from stores, etc., a conventional coin handling machine to be used in ATMs, etc., is structured by assuming dealing of only a small coin depositing and dispensing amount, and the amount of coins that can be handled at a time is small, so that the machine is not suitable as a coin handling machine for a store etc., at which large amounts of coins must be deposited and dispensed. Moreover, many denomination-specific escrow units and storing and feeding units are configured so that coins are stacked and stored in a cylinder and fed out from the cylinder, however, coins easily stand up in the cylinder and cause trouble such as coin jams.
Further, as a coin handling machine capable of handling a large amount of coins, there are coin depositing and dispensing machines which are used in financial institutions such as banks, however, these coin depositing and dispensing machines are large in size and expensive, and have complicated transport paths, etc., and it is difficult to eliminate coin jams etc., so that these are not suitable for use at stores, etc.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-4640 (pp. 18-20, FIG. 1).

Abstract: The coin handling machine 11 includes a depositing and dispensing unit 13 which processes depositing and dispensing of coins, and a replenishing and collecting unit 14 which replenishes coins to the depositing and dispensing unit 13 and collects coins from the depositing and dispensing unit 13. The depositing and dispensing unit 13 includes a depositing and dispensing transport path 25, a depositing and feeding unit 31, a plurality of storing and feeding units 32, and an escrow unit 38. Each of the depositing and feeding unit 31 and the plurality of storing and feeding units 32 includes a rotary disk 60 which rotates at a position inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, and a hopper which stores coins in an unaligned state on the surface side of the rotary disk 60. The replenishing and collecting unit 14 includes an overflow stacking unit 91 and a coin cassette 92, and includes a replenishment transport path 93 which transports coins fed out from the overflow stacking unit 91 and the coin cassette 92 to the depositing and dispensing unit 13.


Disposable gate structures and a planarization dielectric layer are formed over doped semiconductor material portions on a crystalline insulator layer. Gate cavities are formed by removing the disposable gate structures selective to the planarization dielectric layer. Doped semiconductor material portions are removed from underneath the gate cavities to provide pairs of source and drain regions separated by a gate cavity. Within a first gate cavity, a faceted crystalline dielectric material portion is grown from a physically exposed surface of the crystalline insulator layer, while a second gate is temporarily coated with an amorphous material layer. A contoured semiconductor region is epitaxially grown on the faceted crystalline dielectric material portion in the first gate cavity, while a planar semiconductor region is epitaxially grown in the second gate cavity. The semiconductor regions can provide at least one contoured channel region and at least one planar channel region.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure, and particularly to field effect transistors including at least one contoured channel and at least one planar channel and a method of manufacturing the same.
Extremely thin semiconductor on insulator (ETSOI) devices have drawn attention for their enhanced electrostatic properties. At tight gate pitches and aggressively scaled gate lengths, short channel effects and multiple threshold voltages can be problems for field effect transistors including multiple channels.

Field effect transistors including contoured channels and planar channels

International Business Machines Corporation


Content managed as a content directory is allowed to be selected from a playback apparatus on a network and the playback apparatus is allowed to play back the content. If playback of the content is suspended, the position at which playback was suspended is stored. This content is set in the content directory as virtual content. If this virtual content is selected, playback of the virtual content is resumed from the position at which suspension occurred.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a function for selecting content, which is managed as a content directory, from a playback apparatus on a network, and causing the playback apparatus to reproduce the content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems that store content such as movies, still images and music on a storage device such as a hard disk and reproduce such content so that it may be seen and heard have become widespread in recent years. In such a configuration for utilizing content, there is a resumption playback function for suspending playback of the content and subsequently resuming playback of the content from the location at which playback was suspended.
Resumption playback is such that, first, when playback is suspended, the location of suspension is set in the storage device as a "bookmark", then the operator selects the desired "bookmark" to achieve resumption from the location of suspension.
There has also been proposed a form of utilization in which an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a playback apparatus such as a TV are connected via a network and content that has been stored in the information processing apparatus is reproduced by the playback apparatus so that it can be seen and heard.
In such a system that allows the viewing and hearing of content that has been stored in an information processing apparatus via a network, processing for setting or selecting a "bookmark" must be executed via the network in order to implement resumption playback.
To achieve this, "bookmark" registration and selection is implemented between an information processing apparatus and a playback apparatus by a variety of specifications developed by a number of companies. That is, in a form of utilization that plays back content via a network, it is necessary for the information processing apparatus and playback apparatus to be provided by the same manufacturer in order to implement resumption playback.
However, it may be assumed that a plurality of personal computers and a plurality of TVs will be connected to a network within the home. Purchasing from the same manufacturer all of the information processing apparatuses and playback apparatuses connected to the network would impose a severe restriction upon the user's freedom of choice regarding such merchandise. This is undesirable.

Information processing apparatus and method of reproducing content provided by said apparatus


It is intended to suppress the production of "creak" during paper feed. A support block having a friction rubber element mounted thereon to be rubbed by paper sheets is made of a resin compound having a specific gravity of 2.0 or more containing metal powder.

The present invention relates to a paper separating member used in the paper feeding device of a copying machine or printer, for preventing the concurrent feed of two paper sheets.
There are a variety of paper feeding devices for copying machines, printers and the like, and a paper feeding device 1 shown in FIG. 3 can be designed most compact and its construction is simple, so that it is widely used in copying machines, printers and the like.
The paper feeding device 1 comprises a paper feed roller 2 of rubber journaled for rotation, and a paper separating member 3 opposed to said paper feed roller 2 in substantial contact with the latter. A number of paper sheets 4a, 4b, etc. stored in a cassette (not shown) are delivered one by one by the rotation of the feed roller 2. In order to feed only one sheet 4a while preventing the concurrent feed of two paper sheets 4a, 4b, etc. the paper separating member 3 is pressed against the undesirable paper sheet 4b entering below the paper sheet 4a to be delivered, thereby separating the paper sheet 4b from the paper sheet 4a to be delivered and stopping it by the frictional resistance between the paper sheet 4b and the paper separating member 3.
The paper separating member 3 comprises a support block 3a and a planar friction rubber element 3b mounted thereon to be slide-contacted by the paper sheets 4a, 4b, etc. Heretofore, ABS resin and the like have been widely used to form said support block 3a.
In said paper feeding device 1, an abnormal sound called "creak" is sometimes produced during paper feed, said sound being produced more readily particularly when the paper sheets 4a, 4b, etc. to be fed are coated paper or OHP films. The above-mentioned "creak" originates in the fact that the rubbing between the friction rubber element 3b of the paper separating member 3 and the paper sheets 4a, 4b, etc. produces vibrations with which the attaching members and the like for the paper separating member 3 resonate, producing unpleasant creaking sounds. Therefore, if ABS resin of low specific gravity (standard product: Specific gravity 1.05) is used as the support block 3a for the paper separating member as in the prior art, the vibrations are easily transferred to the attaching members and the like for the paper separating member during paper feed, producing "creak".
Accordingly, to suppress vibrations, a weight of aluminum or lead has been stuck to the paper separating member 3, but this is unsightly and decreases productivity, leading to cost increase.

Paper separating member for paper feeding device


A user input device (300) configured with a communication protocol for communicating transmission data with predetermined apparatus (700, 601) is disclosed. The device (300) comprises a receiving means for receiving protocol data and an associated format function. The protocol data and the format function in combination describe a further communication protocol for communicating with the predetermined apparatus (700, 601). The device (300) also comprises a central processing unit (805) for selecting the received protocol data and the format function and for configuring the device (300) to communicate with the predetermined apparatus (700, 601). The protocol data defines properties of the further communication protocol and the format function is adapted to configure at least a portion of the transmission data for communication with the apparatus (700, 601) according to the further communications protocol.

Infrared (IR) remote control devices (or remote controls) are known, and can be used to control electronic appliances such as televisions, video recorders, stereo systems, set-top boxes, personal computers etc. For example, wireless keyboards and wireless mice can be used to operate a personal computer.
Infrared data transmission in such remote control devices is typically achieved by alternating an Infrared Light Emitting Diode (LED) between two states (i.e., an OFF state and an ON state). In the OFF state, the LED is kept powered down and in the ON state, the LED is rapidly powered on and off at a predetermined frequency. This predetermined frequency is known as the 'carrier frequency'.
Several methods can be used to encode data based on the above-mentioned ON and OFF states. One such method is referred to as 'pulse code modulation', where each bit of a data transmission is encoded by a fixed length duration in one of the two states. Typically, the OFF state represents a '1' bit, and the ON state represents a '0' bit. Another method of encoding data is referred to as 'pulse frequency modulation' where each symbol consists of an ON pulse followed by an OFF pulse. The length of the ON pulse is static while the length of the OFF pulse varies depending on the value of the symbol. Still another method of encoding data based on the above-mentioned two states is referred to as 'pulse position modulation' where each symbol is encoded by the position of an ON pulse within a longer, fixed length, OFF period. One variation of the pulse position modulation is referred to as 'four pulse position modulation, where the ON pulse can occur in one of four positions, thus encoding two bits per data symbol.
Most protocols for infrared transmission utilize a carrier frequency within the range of 32 to 56 kHz. Such protocols also vary in message format, according to the presence and size of data bits, device identifier bits, parity and check bits, sequence bits and start/stop conditions. Remote controlled appliances are typically designed to operate using one particular protocol, and are generally supplied with a remote control device designed to work specifically with that appliance. As a result, many households have several remote control devices to operate individual devices within the same room.
One known method for alleviating the need for different remote control devices for each particular appliance is to combine the functionality of all such remote control devices into one "universal" remote control device. The simplest type of universal remote control device is nothing more than a single remote control device capable of controlling more than one type of appliance. However, such a remote control device adds the demand that all appliances controlled by the remote control device must use the protocol used by the remote control device. In many cases, various appliances are purchased from different manufacturers and vendors. Thus, a particular universal remote control device will generally be unable to control all such appliances.
A reconfigurable remote control device is an advanced version of a universal remote control device, where the functionality of at least some input keys of the remote control device can be reconfigured after the remote control device has been purchased. One such reconfigurable remote control device transmits data using only one protocol. However, the input keys of the remote control device can be reconfigured with different codes as required. Other reconfigurable remote control devices can be configured to transmit data using one of several known protocols.
Most conventional universal remote control devices utilize a keyboard method of input data entry. Some additionally use liquid crystal displays (LCD) in order to provide feedback to the user, such as indicating the current function of certain keys.
Some universal remote control devices provide a touch-sensitive LCD to replace at least some portion of a keyboard configured on the remote control device. However, most retain at least several "hard" keys. The LCD provides the opportunity for a user or manufacturer to customize not only the functions provided by the remote control device, but also the method of interfacing used by the remotely controlled appliance or device itself.
While some reconfigurable remote control devices can only be reconfigured using a limited range of protocols and codes known by each particular remote control device, there are several known methods that can be employed to load additional protocols onto such remote control devices. One such method is commonly referred to as 'learning'. One universal remote control device, which utilizes the learning method, is equipped with a receiver, configured to detect transmissions by other remote control devices. In order to program a code onto this universal remote control device, the user must select "learning mode" on the remote control device (i.e., the learning remote control device), and then use another remote control device which already knows the particular code to transmit the required code to the learning remote control device. The learning universal remote control device then stores a representation of the received code in an on-board memory device, ready to be played back at a later stage.
The main disadvantage of the above 'learning' method is that programming the remote control device using the method is tedious and time consuming since a lot of keys need to be pressed. Additionally, a user must also have another pre-configured remote control device available in order to provide all of the codes to program onto the learning remote control device. If a new universal remote control device is purchased at a later date, the learning process has to be repeated again. Further, if the codes to be learned contain data that varies from message to message, such as sequence bits or numbers, then a remote control device using the learning method is not always able to recognise such sequence bits. Thus, these bits are not able to be reproduced in the correct manner, by the remote control device, when re-transmitting the codes.
Another known method of reconfiguring a remote control device provides the remote control device with the ability to read data from a removable storage medium, such as a control card or smart card. The card has sets of code data and programming stored thereon. The code data is configured to allow the remote control device to operate various appliances (e.g. a television, VCR, cable box, Internet access device or other electronic device). The remote control device is provided or sold to a user essentially "empty" of such code data. The card allows a one-time transfer of a single device code (i.e., code data needed to remotely operate a particular electronic device) from the card into on-board, non-volatile memory of the remote control device. However, such a remote control device is limited as to the number of device codes that can be stored in the non-volatile memory. Further, these stored device codes cannot be easily changed or replaced once the device codes have been loaded into the non-volatile memory. Still further, the user interface of such a remote control device is fixed and cannot be readily changed according to the circumstances of use. In the reconfiguring methods described above, several disadvantages are evident. Firstly, a lot of data is required to program a universal remote control device with a particular range of functions that is required to operate a number of appliances remotely. Such data is required since each button of a universal remote control device typically describes an entire transmission sequence for the particular button at a low level, leading to a lot of data repetition and redundancy. The data repetition and redundancy raises the cost of manufacturing and purchasing such a remote control device since faster processors, more memory and more powerful batteries must be used to power such remote control devices. Secondly, the user interface of a keypad based universal remote control device is fixed, and cannot be readily changed according to the circumstances of use. Thirdly, software code stored on universal remote control devices cannot be easily changed.
Some reconfigurable remote control devices are pre-configured to have existing functions or protocols activated infrequently. For example, a function may be activated on such a remote control device upon purchase of the remote control device. One such remote control device utilizes a bar code displayed on an appliance in a location that is accessible to the remote control device. The remote control device is equipped with a bar code reader and upon reading a bar code from the appliance corresponding to a known configuration, the remote control device is reconfigured to enable remote operation of that appliance. The bar code label contains a data pattern, which identifies the type of appliance and the remote control encoding format to which the appliance responds. If the remote control unit detects a recognizable bar code pattern during the period that the bar code reader is enabled, then the remote control unit proceeds to analyze the identification data. If the appliance type and infrared format are supported by the remote control device, then the remote control reconfigures its programming to match the new appliance. If the device or equipment is not supported by the remote control device, then the remote control device simply remains unchanged in its previous configuration.
Another known remote control device uses a method where prior to receiving a first remote "power on" command, a remotely controlled appliance periodically emits an infra-red "squawk" signal, which encodes information used to identify the appliance. When a "power on" button is pressed on the associated remote control device, the remote control device briefly listens for such a squawk signal before sending the currently configured power on code. If such a squawk signal is detected, the remote control device reconfigures itself to enable operation of the appliance and then sends the correct power on signal to the appliance, prompting the appliance to stop sending further "squawk" signals.
However, the appliance barcode remote control device and the 'squawk' signal remote control device both require that an associated remote control device have prior knowledge of all appliances that can be supported by the remote control device. Any reprogramming of the associated remote control device needs to be performed using one of the methods described above. Additionally, such remote control devices may not be able to be used with existing appliances that are not suitable configured.
Another known method for activating a remote control device to operate with a particular protocol works by configuring the remote control device in order to enter a mode where a single command is transmitted using all known protocols, one at a time. When the user of such a remote control device detects the correct response by the controlled appliance, the remote control device is instructed by a further user selection to stop probing and to send all subsequent commands using the protocol, which instigated the correct response. Such a remote control device is simple to implement, but requires the user to go through an unintuitive protocol selection process, which can also interfere with other appliances.
Still another known remote control device comprises a transparent touch sensitive surface. A control card with a printed user interface on its upper surface can be placed underneath the transparent touch sensitive surface. The remote control device switches to a different operating mode based on a physical property (e.g., a notch) of the card. While providing added versatility, this remote control device is limited to a fixed set of cards. Further, the remote control device is limited to a fixed set of protocols, which are pre-installed on the remote control device. Still further, this remote control device is limited to a predetermined fixed set of functions.
Some appliances or devices are configured to accept data from multiple remote control devices simultaneously. For example, in a multi-player game, each player can hold a remote control device, sending the same set of inputs to a single receiving appliance. The remote control devices generally distinguish themselves from each other by means of a user identifier, which is included as part of each message that is transmitted from the remote control device to the receiving device. User identifiers on such remote control devices are typically changed by means of a switch located somewhere on the surface of the remote control device. The switch is capable of being set to one of two or more settings.
An infrared remote control device must store enough characteristics of an infrared protocol to be able to faithfully reproduce the protocol at some later time. The required information may be stored on an individual button-by-button basis, or as part of a global structure referenced by individual buttons. In the case of a global protocol structure, each button has some associated information to be used in conjunction with the global information in order to produce a unique code. One known method of representing protocol information utilizes a series of instructions, either executed directly or interpreted by a program being executed on a microprocessor. Another known method of representing protocol information counts the number of pulses during each ON period, and records the number of pulses together with the duration of each OFF period. These periods are then grouped into categories having similar sizes, and stored as a sequence of category identifiers.
In each of the infrared remote control devices described above, the amount of data required to be stored on the remote control device for every possible protocol can be large. Some remote control devices are configured to compress the data, for example, by forming categories during a learning process. However, inaccuracies can result during this process which can prevent a protocol from being faithfully reproduced later.
One known remote control device maintains a range of protocols, which are represented by means of a set of properties. Some properties, specifically bit patterns and data formats, are expressed as pointers to one of a finite set of data structures that define these values. While such a remote control device generally provides a compressed format for storing the protocol data, a finite number of bit pattern types and data formats are supported. Thus, a new protocol depends on a compatible format being found.
Control cards, which can be used with remote control devices, as discussed above, often include some form of readable storage means such as a magnetic strip, an optical code (e.g. a bar code) or an on-board memory chip, for storing data (e.g. a personal identification number) associated with the card. Such control cards can be generically referred to as memory cards. However, control cards including a storage means in the form of an on-board memory chip are generally referred to as 'smart cards'. The data stored in the storage means is generally read by some form of terminal device, which includes a set of electrical contacts, for example.
Some smart cards include a microprocessor integrally formed within the smart card. These smart cards are generally referred to as microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) cards.
There are several existing smart card systems, which utilize CPU smart cards including a user interface. One of these existing smart card systems utilizes a reader device including a transparent touch panel positioned above the CPU card so that user interface elements printed on a surface of the smart card are visible underneath the transparent touch screen. The reader device is configured to determine the position of a touch on the transparent panel and use data structure information stored within a memory of the card to determine which user interface elements have been pressed. The reader device then sends a data string associated with the selected user interface elements to a remote application.
In one such existing smart card system, the reader device contains an infrared transmitter, which is used to transmit information received from the card to a set-top box connected to a service provider. Due to the large variety of infrared set-top boxes available, which do not necessarily use the same data transmission protocol, each card reader device must be pre-configured to match a certain set-top box. Once such a reader has been configured for one particular set top box, the software code (i.e.,firmware) resident on the reader cannot be easily changed.
In addition, in order to fully utilize the functionality of a particular smart card, software applications must be created or modified in order to recognize the format of messages sent by a reader device associated with the particular card. The message format is typically implemented above the infra-red protocol layer. None of the existing smart card systems include a mechanism which is able to emulate conventional input devices such as a keyboard or mice, and which would enable a smart card used with such a system to work with existing applications without significant modification to the application.
The reader device of the existing smart card system discussed above, while containing an infrared transmitter, is unable to control the multitude of other appliances that use infrared remote control devices. Thus, the smart card reader device is merely another remote control device to be added to the pile of conventional remote control devices which now exists in most households. This is despite the growing trend towards universal remote control devices as described above.
Finally, the reader device described above, while having the potential to operate in a variety of different modes, with different settings, does not provide a mechanism for operating modes and settings to be reconfigured as necessary by a user of the existing smart card system.
Accordingly, the reader device discussed above is generally limited in application to a predetermined number of pre-installed data transmission protocols. These data transmission protocols cannot be easily changed and additional protocols cannot be easily added. Further, the functionality of the reader device discussed above cannot be easily changed. Thus, a need clearly exists for a reader device, which is capable of transmitting data using one of several protocols, where the protocols can be easily changed and additional protocols can be easily added. Further, a need clearly exists for a reader device, the functionality of which can be easily changed in order to allow the control of many different electronic appliances.

Canon Information Systems Research Australia Pty Ltd