The subject mater herein relates to Internet-based commerce and, more particularly, to a flexible asset and search recommendation engines. Various embodiments herein provide systems, methods, and software to identify relationships between assets and provide asset recommendations as a function of the identified relationships. In some embodiments, relationships between assets are identified by gathering statistics including a probability of an action in view of one or more other actions an entity may have performed.

Today, many goods and services are offered for sale on the Internet. Consumers are provided with unprecedented product access. Also, sellers are provided with significantly increased market reach to consumers that were previously unreachable to them. However, as a result of increased access, where consumers in a conventional bricks-and-mortar shopping environment may have had only a single source from which to procure a single product to meet a certain need, consumers are now confronted with multiple sources of multiple products to meet that same need. Further, consumers commonly have access to products that may meet an unrealized need. Also, with so many products being offered, the task of finding a product of interest and learning about the availability of such products is becoming an evermore daunting task. What is also lost when shopping via the Internet is the ability to just browse the aisles where products are placed according to likely interest of consumers who would be in a certain aisle.
Consumers are faced with even more issues as a result of increased product and seller access. For example, consumers may not be aware of manufacturer or seller product quality and service reputations. The lack of such knowledge results in poor consumer experiences and reluctance to purchase goods and services from any Internet seller. Further, reputable manufacturers and sellers may lose sales to those who are less reputable. As a result, the integrity and health of the Internet marketplace and eventually consumers may lose their newly found options.
Sellers are also faced with unique issues. Product placement in brick-and-mortar stores has historically driven sales. However, products are not placed in the same manner in an electronic commerce environment. Within an Internet-based marketplace it is not as simple as placing flower pots next to house plants and sales inherently flow. Sellers, or the Internet marketplace, may have certain knowledge of consumers who are interested in their products, but Internet-based stores lack the ability to target such consumers while they are actively viewing the marketplace website.

Flexible asset and search recommendation engines


A device for collecting, compressing and discharging loose material, the device being formed from a body of flexible material having a self-sustaining, scoop-shape. The body has a flat bottom, lateral sides, and an open top. The bottom merges with the lateral sides at one of the ends of the body to form a flat edge thereat, and at its other end, the body has an end wall extending upright from the bottom. The lateral sides have upper edges extending from the flat edge upwardly to an upper edge of the end wall thereby defining an open, interior cavity adapted for receiving loose material therein. The lateral sides and the bottom are joined to the end wall by fold lines forming stabilizing corners which provide the self-sustaining shape of the body while the flexible material of the body allows the lateral sides to be overlapped on one another to compress and confine the loose material in the cavity. When the lateral sides are overlapped on one another, an opening is formed from which the compressed, loose material can be discharged into a receptacle.

Devices are known for collecting material from a surface to enable transfer of the material to a container. A typical device is a dustpan which has a wide, flat, inflexible front edge over which the material is propelled into a semi-open compartment formed by sides extending from the flat edge to a rear wall. Flat ended shovels are similar in function, and can be pushed into the material to be collected and transferred. Larger devices of this type include front end loaders, bucket loaders and the like.
There are no comparable devices for collecting and transferring the type of material encountered while doing yard work and landscaping. The usual technique for transferring leaves and yard debris into containers is to manually transfer the material using one's hands or by scooping it up with a shovel or rake. To enlarge any of the existing devices to a size adequate for dealing with this type of material would make them too unwieldy for use by individuals doing this type of work.
The major disadvantages of devices currently available for collecting material from a surface for transfer into a container include:
(a) the diameter of the smallest opening through which the material can be securely transferred without a significant chance of spillage is determined by the width of the front edge of the collecting device; PA1 (b) when making a transfer with such a device there is no protection for the sides of the container into which the transfer is being made; PA1 (c) these devices do not have the capability to compress the material that is being transferred; PA1 (d) these devices do not have the capability to orient long, thin components, such as branches, of the material being transferred. PA1 (a) it can be partially inserted into a receiving container so that as the transfer of the loose material is being made, the sides of the container are protected from being damaged by the loose material being transferred, PA1 (b) it can compress large amounts of material into a smaller volume for transfer into the receiving container, PA1 (c) it can re-orient the longitudinal axes of long, thin components of the loose material being transferred, i.e. branches or the like, to facilitate their placement in the receiving container, PA1 (d) it is inexpensive and easy to use, and PA1 (e) it can be assembled from a flat piece of material by the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,829 discloses a bag type device for collecting, storing and hauling yard debris. Transfer of the debris from the device is a secondary consideration. The device essentially comprises a foldable container which is closed by pivoting the side flaps around a hinge formed by a bottom longitudinal support of a frame such that the upper edges of the side flaps meet along their entire length. The volume of the container cannot be adjusted once it is closed. In the closed state, the collected debris is transported and the material is not compressed. Any long, thin components of the material will not be re-oriented. The size of the opening that is formed when the container is closed is defined by the length of the frame members at the open end and it cannot be adjusted. Furthermore, for emptying the collected contents through the opening, manual pressure must be applied to the frame members to keep the opening open, making it difficult to insert the end of the device into the receiving container for the collected debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,263 discloses a tote bag for fallen leaves which requires a frame with bracing members for panels of flexible material and shares the disadvantages noted above for the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,829.

Device for the collection, compressing and discharge of loose material


A method for automatically registering the runtime environment and related component applications with an application gateway when transferring the applications from a first wireless device to a second wireless device is provided. Applications installed on the first wireless device are registered with an application gateway, which maintains a registration list of identification information for all registered wireless devices and applications installed thereon. A back-up is created of the applications and registration information for the runtime environment installed on the first wireless device for transfer to a second wireless device. An application container of the second wireless device determining installation and communicating to the application gateway identification information regarding the second wireless device and the restored applications. The application gateway registers the second wireless device by updating the registration list with the identification information for the second wireless device and the applications installed thereon.

When replacing an old wireless device with a new wireless device, it is convenient for users to be able to backup data saved on the old device and to restore it onto the new device. Such data existing on the old device includes user applications, the data associated with the user applications and application registration information, for applications which are registered with a mediating service in order to access a backend application service provider.
Current systems of backup/restore usually allow a user to transfer only application data from one device to another, while the user applications themselves and their associated application registration information cannot be saved and restored. With such systems, once the application data is transferred, all user-installed applications must be re-installed onto the new device, which may be time-consuming and inconvenient for the user. While some systems may allow for back-up of user-installed applications, these applications will need to be re-registered with the application mediating service following the transfer, which necessitates user/IT administrator intervention.
There exists therefore a need for a system allowing the replacement of one wireless device with another while maintaining the mediating service environment and without requiring user interaction.

System and method for efficient transfer of applications and data during device swap


A communications system and protocol for use in a non-dominant bit radio network. The radio network includes transceivers which communicate with other transceivers to allow network variables to be shared by all transceivers. The protocol allows the network to handle collisions between competing transmissions from different transceivers. The protocol also handles communications between transceivers that are out of transmitting range of each other.

A network of devices can be created by arranging a group of devices which communicate with each other via radio frequency (RF) means to transmit data between the devices. Provided that each of the devices is within the range of the maximum communications range of each device, each device can effectively communicate with each other device in the network.
The present invention may be used in a "point to multipoint" system as opposed to a "point to point" system in which communications occur between only two devices at a time. In a point to multipoint communication system, communications occur between one device and two or more of the other devices in the network simultaneously.
A reliable "point to multipoint" communication system allows the creation of a shared network variable. This is a variable which is known to all of the devices in the network. For example, if one device wants to change the value of the shared network variable, it must transmit a request and be guaranteed that all devices receive and process the updated variable simultaneously. If the update cannot be made simultaneously, or not all other devices in the network receive the update, then the network does not have a shared network variable.
Shared network variables allow the creation of a network which has no central controller. All of the essential data about the operation and control of the network is known by each device in the network simultaneously. The data can be updated by any device in the network at any time and all other devices are guaranteed to update their data accordingly. This allows the control of devices within the network to be simplified, more flexible, and less costly when compared with networks having a central controller.
A single communication action between each of the devices is herein referred to as a Transaction. A Transaction occurs between a device (transceiver/transmitter) which transmits data to one or more transceiver/receivers of the data. The Transaction also includes data sent from the transceiver/receivers to the transceiver/transmitter as well as to each other of the transceiver/receiver devices in the network.
In this context, a device which for a given Transaction, transmits the data to be shared throughout the network is referred to as a "transceiver/transmitter" while a device which receives that data within the Transaction, is returned to as a transceiver/receiver. It will be understood that within the same Transaction, a given transceiver/receiver may also transmit an acknowledge signal. In the next Transaction, the transceiver/receiver may become the transceiver/transmitter.
When transmitting to more than one transceiver/receiver simultaneously (also known as a broadcast or multicast), it is important to know that all transceiver/receivers have successfully received the data. If even one transceiver/receiver has not successfully received the data (for example because of a bit error causing data corruption in one transceiver/receiver), then all other transceiver/receivers must be informed that not all of the other transceiver/receivers have successfully received the data.
Such networks usually use a method of coding the data bits to be transmitted. The coding method is chosen as a compromise between the transmission technology available and performance requirements such as data rate and sensitivity. Commonly used coding types include Manchester Coding and bit stuffing.
In conventional point to point communication protocols, a general procedure is to have each device transmit an acknowledge statement some time after receipt of the data. This has the drawback that the transmitting device must know exactly the number of receiving devices within the network, and how to contact each of them. The reliable transfer of the same piece of data to multiple receiving devices requires many transmissions of the same data, and a corresponding wait for each transmission to be acknowledged. The repetitive transmission of the same data to many recipients wastes the available bandwidth of the communication medium. This approach also requires the transmitter to obtain and store data about exactly which receiving devices are to accept a given transmission. This approach allows the creation of a shared network variable, at the expense of unnecessary complexity and poor use of the available bandwidth of the communication medium.
Alternatively a point to multipoint transmission can be used to transfer data to many recipients simultaneously, without any acknowledgment being returned. This renders the data transfer unreliable, and the transmitter will not be able to determine whether all of the receiving devices have successfully received the data. Unreliable transfer of data means that a shared network variable cannot be created.
The situation is compounded when two or more devices are out of communications range of each other. As it will be appreciated, each device has a maximum transmitting range (determined by design factors, including but not limited to transmit power, receiver sensitivity, antenna type, and signal processing algorithms). Communications, and synchronising communications is made more complicated when some devices are outside the maximum range and therefore cannot communicate with each other.
The creation of a shared network variable is also impeded by the occurrence of collisions between transmissions from various devices. Collisions adversely affect the successful transmission of data throughout the network. It is important to be able to detect the occurrence of a collision, and deal with it appropriately. Such appropriate action may include informing the transmitting device that its transmission was interrupted, as well as informing other devices in the network that a collision has occurred.
Traditional methods of reducing the likelihood of collisions include monitoring the medium for a period of time before transmitting. Each device is then delayed in its transmission by either a random period, or a period of time that is unique for each device in the network. For example, this period of time can be made unique for each device by using the devices' unit address (which has to be unique for the device to be uniquely addressable). This can be scaled by the duration of a single bit, so that if several devices wish to start transmitting at exactly the same time, they will then wait for different periods. Whichever waits the shortest time can start transmitting (and the other devices will see this transmission, receive it, and retry their own transmission at a later time).
This approach significantly reduces the likelihood of collisions however, is not fail safe and is not necessarily appropriate when multiple networks are used in which devices in different networks may use the same address.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and protocol for improving the communications between devices in an RF multicast communications system, particularly in the event of a collision occurring between two or more data transmissions.

Collision detection in a non-dominant bit radio network communication system


A low-profile CD/DVD disk case has base and lid portions and spaced apart integrally formed living hinge members that extend between portions of a spine structure, the spine structure forming a rigid enlargement of the base portion. Preferably, the length and width of the base portion, including that of the spine structure, correspond to like dimensions of a standard jewel case, and an overall open length of the base and lid portions also correspond to that of the standard jewel case for automated handling and loading using existing jewel case machinery. Also, the thickness of the case can be only 5.2 mm, about half that of the standard jewel case, and there can be clearance openings for receiving standard storage posts, rings, or the like. Moreover, the case can be configured to hold two conventional disks within the same 5.2 mm thickness.

The present invention relates to the packaging of optical data disks such as compact disks (CDs) and video disks (DVDs) that have central circular locating openings, and more particularly to cases for protectively enclosing such disks for storage of same.
Data disks such as compact disks and video disks typically have large amounts of digitally stored information that is optically readable through a transparent bottom layer of the disk by a movable head during rotation of the disk. Protective containers for CDs and DVDs in common use have a central pedestal for supportively gripping the disc by engaging the central opening without contacting either side of the disk within data-containing regions thereof. Such containers typically have a ledge for contacting portions of an outer perimeter of the disk for stabilizing the disk against tipping on the pedestal. The disk is loaded into the container by lowering it onto the pedestal while gripping opposite perimeter portions, engagement with the pedestal being typically effected by simultaneous finger pressure against the disk proximate the central opening. Removal of the disk is similarly effected by finger pressure against the pedestal and simultaneous lifting at the perimeter portions. See, for example, the present inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,763, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
One class of containers, known as "jewel boxes" have a clear plastic body and a pivotally connected clear plastic lid, an insert member fitting within the body and being formed with the various disk-contacting surfaces and associated members. Another class of containers has the body and lid integrally formed and pivotally joined along opposite edges of a narrow, generally rectangular spine member, with disk-supporting structure integrally formed in the body, such containers referred to as "DVD boxes" being somewhat oversize as compared with the jewel boxes. These boxes have an important advantage of being less expensive to provide than jewel boxes. However, large-scale utilization of integrally formed cases is hampered by large investments in machinery for handling and loading the conventional jewel boxes, such machinery being not suited for handling the integrally formed cases.
An additional advantage of integrally formed cases is that they can be made thinner, with corresponding savings in the space required for storage of the cases. However, existing devices for storing CD and DVD cases have proven somewhat unsatisfactory. Typical storage devices have spaced inwardly facing flanges defining slots for receiving individual cases. These devices are awkward to use in that insertion of the cases between pairs of the flanges at opposite extremities of a case requires some coordination, and the process is made more difficult by the cases being subject to partial opening such that one of the flanges is likely to become stuck between the body and lid of a case being inserted. Storage devices having clear cavities for holding multiple cases also make it difficult to grasp a single case for removal thereof, as well as for inserting a case between a desired pair of previously stored cases.
Thus there is a need for a disk container that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.


A method of producing a charge separation in a plasma having a low particle density which comprises a plurality of electrons and a plurality of positive ions. The method includes generating a magnetic field and passing the plasma having a low particle density along a first axis through the magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated having a component which is perpendicular to the first axis and is configured so as to deflect the plurality of electrons from the first axis and allow the plurality of positive ions to travel substantially undeflected along the first axis. Also provided is a magnetohydrodynamic generator and a low earth orbit thruster making use of the charge separation mechanism.

The study of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) concerns the behaviour of electrically conductive fluids in an external magnetic field. Movement of an electrically conductive fluid in a static magnetic field results in a Lorentz force which acts on the charge carriers to generate currents within the fluid. The Lorentz force acts in a direction which is perpendicular both to the direction of motion and to the magnetic field, as defined by the equation:F=q(v×B)where F is the Lorentz force, q is the charge of a particle moving through a magnetic field B with velocity v.
By moving an electrically conductive fluid through a perpendicular magnetic field, it is possible to achieve charge separation of carriers in the fluid. Where the fluid is sea water, for example, the positive and negative ions will separate, due to the associated Lorentz forces acting in opposite directions, and so the technique can be used in desalination. The charge separation establishes an electrical potential across a third axis, which can be harnessed in an MHD generator to drive a current by applying the potential across a resistive load. MHD generators typically employ seawater, plasma, molten salts or molten metal as the electrically conductive fluid.
Power output from an MHD generator is governed primarily by the flow rate and conductivity of the electrically conductive fluid. Therefore a conventional plasma MHD generator typically uses a hot, dense plasma to ensure maximum conductivity. A conventional MHD generator needs to be large in order to ensure sufficient flow rate of the fluid and sufficient magnetic fields in order to bring about the required charge separation. Typically the dense materials which are used limits MHD to terrestrial applications.
The present invention aims to overcome such restrictions, resulting in a smaller generator which requires a much lower magnetic field to be applied than conventional generators, thereby significantly increasing the number of possible applications.


A system for powering a network element of a fiber optic communication network. When communication data is transferred between a central office (CO) and a subscriber gateway using a network element to convert optical to electrical (O-E) and electrical to optical (E-O) signals between a fiber from the central office and copper wires or coax cable from the subscriber gateway, techniques related to local powering of a network element or drop site by a subscriber or customer remote device or gateway are provided. Certain advantages and/or benefits are achieved using the present invention, such as freedom from any requirement for additional meter installations or meter connection charges. Additionally the system is free of monthly meter charges and does not require a separate power network.

With increasing customer demand for transmitting and receiving increasingly greater amounts of information, telecommunication and cable companies are being pushed to upgrade their communication network infrastructures. In order to supply more information in the form of video, audio and telephony at higher rates, higher bandwidth communication network upgrades are required. Twisted copper wire does not support high bandwidths over a great distance and while coax cable does a better job, it too has reach and bandwidth limitations. Optical fiber can provide virtually unlimited bandwidth thus enabling broadband and multimedia services.
Modern telephone communication network infrastructures, such as fiber in the loop networks (FITL), utilize a combination of fiber optics and twisted pair wire to send communications data to a customer. While modern cable communication network infrastructures, such as Hybrid Fiber Coax networks (HFC), utilize a combination of fiber optics and coax cable to send communication data to a customer. Generally, customers are served by the twisted pair wire or coax cable in the last mile of the telecommunication networks or within the last two to three miles of cable networks. In order to achieve high bandwidths at a customer location, the fiber optic loop must be brought closer to the customer so that the copper drop is of a sufficiently short distance and will be capable of supporting higher data transfer rates.
One major problem with bringing fiber cable within a short distance of a customer location is the added burden of maintaining the multitude of optical to copper drop sites. These drop sites are network elements that are called optical network units (ONUs) or optical network terminals (ONTs) in telecommunication networks and optical node (or simply a node) in cable networks and generally serve to convert signals between the optical domain of a fiber and electrical domain of a twisted copper wire or coax cable.
A significant part of the maintenance of these drop sites is supplying their power requirements. Optical fiber itself is not capable of carrying the electricity to power these drop sites. This creates a challenge in planning, distributing and deployment of electricity to power the drop sites' energy needs. Furthermore, reserve power must also be provided if the main power to the drop site fails with enough reserve capacity capable of meeting performance and reliability requirements of the network. This is often the case with Lifeline telephony service, which is required on telecommunication networks. Lifeline telephone means that the customer telephones must remain energized and operational during an AC power interruption or outage.
The subscriber gateway or customer premise equipment (CPE) found at the terminal end of the telecommunication and cable networks are assumed to be provided with power and reserve power from the subscriber or customer premise. The drop sites can be centrally powered from a distributed copper facility or a power node located near a cluster of drop sites, or locally powered from a nearby commercial power source, or with solar photovoltaic energy.
In the case of centralized power, power can be provided over new or existing copper facilities. Power can also be provided on separate twisted pair wire or coax cable that are bonded to the outside of a fiber or deployed with the fiber during installation of the fiber. However, centralized power is a strategy that requires a separate power network to be deployed that is separate from the information network. With increasing distances between a central office (CO) or head end to the remote drop sites increased voltages are required on the power network to feed the drop site energy needs. However, increased voltages raise craft safety issues. The power network may be augmented with power nodes located near a cluster of drop sites, however additional metallic enclosures increase susceptibility to electrical surges caused by lightning and power-line induction. Furthermore, there is the 24-hour a day cost of supplying electricity to the power network, as well as regular maintenance and support of the power network itself including regular replacement of batteries for Lifeline services, which are generally located at the CO or head end.
In the case of locally powered drop sites, power is derived near a drop site and reserve power is provided with batteries at the drop site. The primary energy source for this architecture is commercial AC power tapped from a power utility's facility. The power supply is placed in a small environmentally hardened enclosure that could be co-located with a drop site; however, the batteries are generally in the same enclosure as the drop site. This results in a large number of battery sites and power access points. Generally the cost of this type of system is high primarily due to the cost of connecting drop sites to a commercial power source. Regional power utility companies may insist on metered connections to their power grid, incurring a one-time ac meter installation and connection charge to be levied. Additionally a minimum monthly meter charge may be levied regardless of usage. This poses a major problem when the monthly energy consumption of a drop site is significantly lower than the minimum charge.
In the case of powering the communication network infrastructure with solar power, this strategy minimizes some of the disadvantages of centralized and locally powering such as vulnerability to lightning and limited battery reserve, allowing fiber to be the sole distribution facility. Solar panels and large batteries are co-located at drop sites, which power the drop sites continuously without any connection to any power gird. However, its use is limited to areas with direct access to sunlight as the output of solar panels decreases with a reduction in incident solar energy. Therefore, this strategy cannot be used everywhere. In addition, solar power requires the highest amount of battery capacity (Wh) to be installed.
As such, a need exists for a system and method for powering a fiber optic communication network that brings fiber within a short distance of a subscriber or customer location. The power strategy or architecture of the fiber optic communication network must be capable of supporting and operating the multitude of drop sites in a cost effective and maintainable manner.

System and method for a subscriber-powered network element


Highly potent dendritic cells are generated in vivo or ex vivo by exposing precursor cells to an effective dose of IL-32.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells present in tissues in contact with the external environment, such as the skin and the inner lining of the nose, lungs, stomach and intestines. They can also be found in an immature state in the blood. Once activated, they migrate to the lymph nodes where they interact with T cells and B cells to initiate and shape the adaptive immune response.
Three major types of DCs have been previously defined in human blood: CD1c+ myeloid DCs, CD141+ myeloid DCs and CD303+ plasmacytoid DCs. Dendritic cells that circulate in blood do not have all the typical features of their counterparts in tissue, i.e. they are less mature and have no dendrites.
Immature dendritic cells constantly sample the surrounding environment for pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs). Such immature DC are competent phagocytes, taking up whole microorganisms and apoptotic cells for processing. Inflammatory stimuli, such as the local release of interferon-γ or lipopolysaccharide, induce the maturation of DC precursors, causing them to lose the ability to acquire further antigens but inducing their migration via the draining lymphatics to the secondary lymphoid organs. Simultaneously, they upregulate cell-surface receptors that act as co-receptors in T-cell activation such as CD80 (B7.1), CD86 (B7.2), and CD40, greatly enhancing their ability to activate T-cells. They also upregulate CCR7, a chemotactic receptor that induces the dendritic cell to travel through the blood stream to the spleen or through the lymphatic system to a lymph node where they act as antigen-presenting cells. It is believed that only dendritic cells can activate naïve T cells through the T cell antigen receptor—a function of the co-stimulatory molecules they express upon maturation, of which CD40, ICAM-1 (CD54), B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) are examples.
Myeloid dendritic cells are believed to arise from monocytes, which in turn are formed from stem cells in the bone marrow. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells are conventionally generated in vitro from monocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by treatment with interleukin 4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), leading to differentiation to immature dendritic cells (iDCs), and subsequent treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to differentiate into mature dendritic cells.
The promise that dendritic cells hold for use in a therapeutic setting makes their culture and analysis of great interest for clinical and research purposes.

Method for generating potent dendritic cells

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention relates to a dosing cap (20) which is a measuring cup adapted to serve as a liquid tight closure. Said dosing cap is lightweighted by providing a wall with two different thicknesses. The thinner walled part (26) is inserted into the neck of the container to achieve the necessary closure. The thicker walled rest of said dosing cap (28) remains outside and serves as a gripping means to open the corresponding container (10).

Packages comprising a container and dosing cap are well known in the prior art. The container is able to contain liquid or granular substances. The dosing cap is a measuring cup adapted also to serve as a closing system. With the help of said dosing cap a certain contained substance is dosed and the container is closed in a detachable manner. Lightweighted packages are desirable, because of the low weight and reduced cost in materials required for their manufacture and the reduced cost related to the disposal. It is an object of the present invention to propose a package which achieves a consistent material saving in the manufacture of said package.
A problem associated with these packages is the spillage from said dosing cap onto the container, when it is applied again after use on the container, which can cause contamination of the closure systems, such as threads, with the contained product, as well as dripping along the container, making the closure and container messy, very slippery and thus difficult to handle.
To solve this problem various solution have been proposed. EP-B-0 369 560 describes an assembly, in which the measuring cup, threaded on the outside of said neck of the container, presents a skirt extending into the pouring spout body, which protects the threads of said measuring cup. A further improvement has been achieved with EP-A-0 417 954 in which the drain back trough is part of the container's body. Said trough has to be formed through an inversion of part of the neck of the container after the blow-molding process.
Other solutions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,416 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,239. The dosing cap has a fastening means formed on its external surface, adapted to be sealed tightly to the interior surface of a collar secured to the orifice of the container. This means that no extra skirt is needed in this case to protect the threads of said dosing cap, although an intermediate piece, which joins the container and the dosing cap, is still required.
In all the previous solutions no limitations on the amount of the packaging material required has been set. On the contrary, more packaging material has been added to solve spillage problems through specific back draining means. The present invention reduces the necessary packaging material by inserting the dosing cap inside the neck of the container directly, as will be described further on.
In order to save material for the manufacturing of a package, which needs to be dosed, such as liquid and/or granular detergent, softeners, bleaches and the like, it would be more desirable that said package is comprised only of two parts: a container and a dosing cap, but no transition piece to convey the back drain. In particular, it would be more desirable for the same reason to avoid the forming of a back drain trough on the neck of the container.
We have now found that these objects are met by partly inserting the dosing cap into the neck of the container. This inserted part, protected by the neck of the container, needs not to be of the same resistance compared to the rest not inserted into said neck. Nevertheless, minimum constraints have to be taken into account, in order to determine the effective material saving.
The amount of packaging material or weight of the dosing cap is primarily determined by the mass density of the manufacturing material and the thickness of the wall of said dosing cap. The thickness determines the final resistance and stability properties of said cap. The resistance and the stability are important features of a reusable dosing cap, since it has to be gripped many times in order to open the container, especially considering that most of the commercially available containers are refillable.

Package with a lighweighted closure system


An object of the present invention is to prevent, in blending an inorganic filler for the purpose of improving rigidity of a thermoplastic resin, deterioration in impact resistance and surface smoothness caused by the inorganic filler. The invention relates to a polyphenylene ether based resin composition containing (a) from 10 to 93% by weight of a polyphenylene ether based resin and optionally a styrene based resin, (b) from 2 to 20% by weight of a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer modified with an imidazolidinone compound, and (c) from 5 to 60% by weight of an inorganic filler that has been surface treated with a silane compound.

Since polyphenylene ether based resins are excellent in light weight, processability, electrical insulation, etc., they are widely used in the automobile field, appliance field or OA instrument field, etc. The polyphenylene ether based resins have a defect such that the rigidity thereof is low as compared with metals, and therefore, a technique of blending it with an inorganic filler for the purpose of enhancing its rigidity is generally employed. In the case where an inorganic filler is added to a polyphenylene ether based resin, though the rigidity or mechanical strength is enhanced, the impact resistance and surface smoothness are lowered. Since polyphenylene ether based resins are amorphous resins, a degree of deterioration in the surface smoothness and impact resistance is extremely large compared with crystalline resins such as nylon resins and polyester resins, and therefore, this is a serious problem.
There is disclosed a technique in which a polyphenylene ether resin is blended with an impact resistance improving agent such as a styrene-butadiene-styrene ternary block copolymer or a hydrogenated product thereof and a clay having specific particle size and surface area, thereby obtaining a material provided with strong toughness (see Patent Document 1). However, according to such a technique, it is impossible to sufficiently avoid deterioration in strong toughness and surface smoothness due to the clay.
There is disclosed a technique of improving a balance between rigidity and impact resistance in blending a thermoplastic resin with an inorganic filler by carrying out the blending so that 30% or more of the interface of the inorganic filler particle is brought into contact with an elastic polymer (see Patent Document 2). As a specific example of the method of bringing the elastic polymer into contact with the interface of the inorganic filler particle, there is described a method in which talc having been surface treated with γ-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane or γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyl trimethoxysilane and a maleic anhydride-modified ethylene-propylene copolymer or a silane-modified ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer are previously mixed in the form of solution or in a molten state, and the mixture is then melt kneaded together with a thermoplastic resin such as nylon 6 and polybutylene terephthalate. In this case, according to the simultaneous melt kneading of the inorganic filler, the elastic polymer and the thermoplastic resin, the desired effect is not obtained. In the description of Patent Document 2, though polyphenylene ether resins are mentioned as an example of the thermoplastic resin. However, as can be seen from the working examples thereof, the description thereof is directed to an improved technique for crystalline resins such as nylon 6 and polybutylene terephthalate, and does not provide a technique for enhancing the balance between rigidity, impact resistance and surface smoothness of amorphous resins which suffer from an extremely large degree of deterioration in surface smoothness and impact resistance due to an inorganic filler as compared with crystalline resins. In addition, it is not preferable to previously mix the inorganic filler and the elastic polymer in a solution state because it takes time and large expense to dissolve the elastic polymer using a solvent and then removing the solvent. Also, the method of previously melt kneading the inorganic filler and the elastic polymer is not preferable, because not only is the method expensive, but also the method results in the deterioration of the impact resistance due to thermal deterioration of the elastic polymer.
There is disclosed a technique of improving the balance between impact strength, mechanical strength, tackiness and appearance by a composition composed of a primary or secondary amino group-containing hydrogenated conjugated diene compound-aromatic vinyl compound block copolymer and at least one kind of a non-polar polymer, a polar polymer, and a filler (see Patent Document 3). In the description of Patent Document 3, polyphenylene ether resins are described as an example of the non-polar polymer, and it is disclosed that inorganic fillers such as kaolin as examples of the filler may be silane-treated materials. However, as can be seen from the working examples thereof, the description thereof is directed to an improved technique for crystalline resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyamides, and blends of polypropylene and polymethyl methacrylate. Also it does not provide any example in which an inorganic filler is blended. Thus, it does not demonstrate an improved technique for a resin composition mainly comprising a polyphenylene ether resin and an inorganic filler.    Patent Document 1: JP 57-502063 T    Patent Document 2: JP 8-53624 A    Patent Document 3: European Patent No. 1245585A2

Polyphenylene ether based resin composition


Crystals of 5-[2-amino-4-(2-furyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one having a diffraction peak at a diffraction angle (2θ±0.2°) of 12.8°, 18.1° and/or 23.5° in a powder X-ray diffraction are excellent in stability against light, therefore are suitable for an active ingredient of a preventing and therapeutic agent for diseases such as constipation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to crystals (crystal form A) of 5-[2-amino-4-(2-furyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one, a compound effective for prevention and treatment for various diseases such as constipation, and processes for preparing the same.
2. Related Background of the Invention
5-[2-Amino-4-(2-furyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one is a compound having adenosine receptor antagonism and being effective for prevention and treatment for various diseases such as constipation (see patent document 1). Patent document 1, Example 16 discloses 5-[2-amino-4-(2-furyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one was obtained as crystals.
Patent document 1: WO 03/035639

Crystals of 5-[2-amino-4-(2-furyl) pyrimidin-5-yl]-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one and processes for preparing the same


A fixed needle syringe has a syringe barrel with its distal portion modified to accept a needle protective housing. In particular, the distal portion is formed with the a groove dimensioned to accept a collar that is attached to the housing. The inside surface of the collar is provided with a number of flanges that fit within the groove formed at the distal portion of the syringe barrel of the fixed needle syringe. Protrusions are provided at the inside surface of the collar to frictionally act against the syringe barrel, so that the needle protective housing does not freely rotate, but is rotatable relative to the syringe barrel by the application of a predetermined torque to either the collar or the housing attached thereto. An internal hook is provided in the housing to grasp the needle of the syringe, when the housing is pivoted to cover the needle extending from the needle hub of the syringe. Coacting locking members are provided at the base of the housing and the outside of the collar for fixedly retaining the housing relative to the collar, once the housing has been pivoted along the alignment position of the syringe. The collar reception portion of the syringe barrel may also be modified with a circumferential boss, with the inside surface of the collar correspondingly grooved so that the collar is matable with the syringe body in an alternative embodiment.

The Assignee of the instant invention has assigned thereto a number of U.S. patents relating to the enclosure of a contaminated needle. The protective devices covered by these patents include an adapter housing that may be used with conventional syringes, a syringe with a fixed housing, Vacutainer holders equipped with a needle protection housing, and ways for fixedly retaining the protective housing over the contaminated needle after use. Without limitations, these patents include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,982,842; 5,139,489; 5,232,454; 5,154,285; 5,277,311; 5,423,765; RE37,110; RE37,252; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,328,713; 6,334,857; and 6,582,397. The respective disclosures of the above noted patents are incorporated by reference herein.
The above patents do not deal with needle syringes that has a needle fixed thereto, for example a fixed needle insulin syringe.

Fixed needle syringe with protective needle housing


The present invention provides a method for sintering, comprising in the following order the steps of: providing a body in the green state or in the pre-sintered state on a support; providing a load on at least one spacer on the support such that the load is located above said body in the green state or in the pre-sintered state without contacting the body; heat treating the body in the green state or in the pre-sintered state at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of organic components contained in the green body and below the softening temperature or decomposition temperature of the spacer; heat treating the body in the green state or in the pre-sintered state at a temperature above the softening point or decomposition temperature of the spacer and below a sintering temperature such that the load contacts the body, and—sintering the body in the green state or pre-sintered state.

Generally, solid oxide cells (SOCs) generally include cells designed for different applications, such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), or membranes. Due to their common basic structure, the same cell may, for example, be used in SOFC applications as well as in SOEC applications. Since in SOFCs fuel is fed into the cell and converted into power, while in SOECs power is applied to produce fuel, these cells are referred to as 'reversible' cells.
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are well known in the art and come in various designs. Typical configurations include an electrolyte layer being sandwiched in between two electrodes. During operation, usually at temperatures of about 500° C. to about 1100° C., one electrode is in contact with oxygen or air, while the other electrode is in contact with a fuel gas.
The most common manufacture processes suggested in the prior art comprise the manufacture of single cells. Generally, a support is provided, on which an anode layer is formed in the green, i.e. unsintered state, followed by the application of an electrolyte layer and a second electrode layer in their green state. The so formed half cell is dried and afterwards sintered at temperatures of up to 1600° C., in some cases in a reducing atmosphere.
The sintering step of the green body however disadvantageously leads to several problems. Since the different layers have a different thermal expansion coefficient, the planar shape of the layers tends to bend during sintering, which causes contact problems if said cell is to be used in a cell stack. Cells being deformed cannot be used and are discarded, making mass production very cost and material extensive and so far unpractical for today's industrial requirements.
In EP-A-2104165 it has thus been suggested to use a symmetrical layer arrangement, wherein the two electrode layers sandwiching the electrolyte layer are formed from the same material. Due to said arrangement, thermal stress during sintering reduces the deformation of the body as the outer layers expand and contract at the same rate. However, this type of cell is very restricted to specific materials as the anode and cathode materials in their green state must have the same thermal expansion coefficient.
It has therefore been desired to improve the manufacturing process of solid oxide cells, to avoid material waste and to make the process more cost effective.


An adjustable spark plug boot in accordance with the present invention includes an assembly, a first groove, a first terminal locator chamber, and a second terminal locator chamber. The assembly has first and second ends with a bore extending from the first end to the second end. The assembly includes an elongated section which extends from the first end along a first axis. The first groove extends at least partially around an outer surface of the elongated section and is in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first terminal locator chamber is located in the bore in the elongated section. The second terminal locator chamber is also located in the bore in the elongated section and adjacent to the first chamber. The first chamber may have a first side which is opposite from the first end and is spaced a first distance from the first end and the second chamber may have a second side which is opposite from the first end and is spaced the first distance from the first groove. The first chamber and the second chamber may also have substantially the same first width along the first axis and the first groove may have a second width along the first axis which is smaller than the first width.

Referring to FIGS. 1(a-c), three prior art spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) are illustrated. Each of these prior spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) includes a rubber bushing 12, a plastic tube 14, and a rubber cap 16. The spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) are assembled by gluing the rubber bushing 12 and the rubber cap 16 to opposing ends of the plastic tube 14. A spark plug wire (not shown) is threaded through the rubber cap 16 and into the plastic tube 14. The spark plug wire includes a connector (not shown) which is connected to a terminal end of a spark plug (not shown) when the terminal end is inserted into the rubber bushing 12.
To accommodate different types of internal combustion engines, spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) typically come in three different lengths, 5.18", 5.88", and 6.26". The length of each spark plug boot 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) is measured from one end of rubber bushing 12 to the center of an opening in rubber cap 16. The length of each of the prior art spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) shown in FIGS. 1(a-c) is adjusted by simply changing the length of the plastic tube 14 used.
Although the prior art spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) discussed above work, there are problems with its design. One of the main problems is that a manufacturer, repair shop, or parts store must maintain an inventory of the three different lengths of spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) to accommodate the different types of engines. This adds significantly to the overhead costs for these businesses. Another problem is that the manufacture of the prior art spark plug boot 10 is time consuming and expensive because the rubber bushing 12 and rubber cap 16 must be glued to the plastic tube 14 and because multiple tools are required to produce the different lengths of spark plug boots 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3).


A system and method provides computer-assisted organization of workpieces to be processed in a production process, wherein the workpiece in question is subjected to at least one processing, preferably to a plurality of different processings. A workpiece position is assigned to each workpiece, and at least one, preferably several, workpiece positions are combined in a magazine. Each workpiece position includes a device for status determination of the respective workpiece position. A control unit is provided for controlling the individual workpiece positions, and a data-processing unit is provided, which communicates with the control unit and in which the information queried from the individual workpiece positions is processed and status data is generated.

The present invention relates to a system for computer-assisted organization of workpieces to be processed, as well as to a corresponding method of organization.
In a production process, workpieces are subjected to different processings, which are carried out by a plurality of different tools. For example, in the production of an injection mold in the tool room, starting from a blank the workpiece in question is bored, milled, wire-cut and ground, polished, and the like. In this, the workpiece in question is usually situated on a workpiece carrier, especially on a so-called "pallet", that serves as a base for the clamping of the workpiece into the processing devices. The pressure of productivity leads to the fact that the cycle times of workpieces must be ever shorter and the utilization of the machines improved. In addition, errors in the production process, for example due to an incorrect occupying of a magazine position by the operator, a necessary reworking of the workpiece, or through false information of the controls, should be avoided. All of this causes considerable delays in the production process. If organizational changes in the production process become necessary, it must be possible to react to such changes quickly.
Known from US 2003/0055525 A1 is a system as well as a method for production of plastic injection-mold components. This known system comprises a number of so-called subcells, in each of which a number of workpieces are held ready and are processed, as well as a superordinated master cell with a central control unit as well as a central robot for feeding the workpieces stored in the master cell to the individual subcells. Each individual pallet is provided with an ID, for example in the form of a computer chip, a barcode, or an optical code. The IDs ensure that the master robot can identify the workpieces in question with the aid of the ID of the pallet and thereby join the correct workpiece, for example an injection mold or an electrode, with the correct carrier intended for it. Typically, extraction robots have a reader on their grasping arms. However, this is associated with very long identification times. During this time, the robot cannot load or unload any machine. If an operator looks at the magazine, he perceives only free as well as occupied workpiece positions. However, the operator cannot perceive which workpiece position is actually free (as opposed to a workpiece position that is only temporarily occupied, since the workpiece is being processed in the machine just then). This represents a source of uncertainty that negatively affects the process.
Described in the offprint from Werkzeug und Formenbau 5, 05, published by MI Verlag moderne Industrie, is the Winstat MES system, in which each pallet, i.e. each electrode holder, possesses a contact-free identification system in the forms of a transponder. At the start of the processing, the workpiece is mounted in the pallet as a blank and the ID of the pallet is registered in the system via a portable PC. Then, depending on the imported ID, the processing programs needed for the planned processing can be called up by the system. Common to the aforementioned prior art is the fact that although pallets are already identified by the system, nevertheless the selection or assignment of pallets to workpiece positions still takes place in operation by the operator, so to speak by hand, or, based on the central data-processing unit, a selection of the relevant workpiece type as such takes place.

System and method for organizing work pieces


A rotary fluid machine is provided in which a rotating shaft (113) fixed to a rotor (41) is rotatably supported on a fixed shaft (102) fixed to a casing (11), sliding surfaces of the fixed shaft (102) and the rotating shaft (113) are lubricated by a first pressurized liquid-phase working medium, and sliding surfaces of the rotor (41) and a vane (48) are lubricated by a second pressurized liquid-phase working medium. By setting the pressure of the first pressurized liquid-phase working medium, which is supplied from an eleventh water passage (W11), comparatively low and setting the pressure of the second pressurized liquid-phase working medium, which is supplied from a first water passage (W1), comparatively high, wasteful leakage of the liquid-phase working medium past the sliding surfaces of the fixed shaft (102) and the rotating shaft (113), where a comparatively small load is applied, can be prevented while enabling the sliding surfaces of the rotor (41) and the vane (48), where a large load is applied, to be reliably lubricated with a high pressure liquid-phase working medium.

A rotary fluid machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-320543 is equipped with a vane piston unit in which a vane and a piston are combined; the piston, which is slidably fitted in a cylinder provided radially in a rotor, interconverts the pressure energy of a gas-phase working medium and the rotational energy of the rotor via a power conversion device comprising an annular channel and a roller, and the vane, which is radially and slidably supported in the rotor, interconverts the pressure energy of the gas-phase working medium and the rotational energy of the rotor.
In such a rotary fluid machine, a rotating shaft, which is fixed to the rotor, is rotatably supported on a fixed shaft, which is fixed to a casing; a hydrostatic bearing is formed by supplying a liquid-phase working medium to sliding surfaces of the fixed shaft and the rotating shaft, and a hydrostatic bearing is also formed by supplying the liquid-phase working medium to sliding surfaces of the vane and a vane channel. Since the pressures of the liquid-phase working medium that are required for the hydrostatic bearings are different from each other, if high pressure water is supplied to the two hydrostatic bearings so as to suit the hydrostatic bearing that requires a high pressure, there is the problem that leakage of the liquid-phase working medium increases wastefully in the hydrostatic bearing that requires a low pressure, and if low pressure water is supplied to the two hydrostatic bearings so as to suit the hydrostatic bearing that requires a low pressure, there is the problem that a sufficient lubrication function cannot be exhibited in the hydrostatic bearing that requires a high pressure.


A method of receiving an FM digital audio broadcasting signal including a first plurality of subcarriers in an upper sideband of a radio channel and a second plurality of subcarriers in a lower sideband of the radio channel comprises the steps of mixing the digital audio broadcasting signal with a local oscillator signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal, passing the intermediate frequency signal through a bandpass filter to produce a filtered signal, determining if one of the upper and lower sidebands of the digital audio broadcasting signal is corrupted, and adjusting the local frequency oscillator signal to change the frequency of the intermediate frequency signal such that the bandpass filter removes the subcarriers in the upper or lower sideband that has been corrupted. A receiver that processes a digital audio broadcasting signal in accordance with the method is also provided.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for receiving a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) signal, and more particularly, to such methods and apparatus that mitigate adjacent channel interference in the DAB signal.
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a medium for providing digital-quality audio, superior to existing analog broadcasting formats. Both AM and FM DAB signals can be transmitted in a hybrid format where the digitally modulated signal coexists with the currently broadcast analog AM or FM signal, or in an all-digital format without an analog signal. In-band-on-channel (IBOC) DAB systems require no new spectral allocations because each DAB signal is simultaneously transmitted within the spectral mask of an existing AM or FM channel allocation. IBOC systems promote economy of spectrum while enabling broadcasters to supply digital quality audio to their present base of listeners. Several IBOC DAB approaches have been suggested.
FM DAB systems have been the subject of several United States patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,259,893; 6,178,317; 6,108,810; 5,949,796; 5,465,396; 5,315,583; 5,278,844 and 5,278,826. One FM IBOC DAB system uses a composite signal that includes orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) subcarriers in the region from about 129 kHz to 199 kHz away from the FM center frequency, both above and below the spectrum occupied by an analog modulated host FM carrier. Some IBOC options (e.g., the All-Digital option) permit subcarriers starting as close as 100 kHz away from the center frequency.
The digital portion of the DAB signal is subject to interference, for example, by first-adjacent FM signals or by host signals in Hybrid IBOC DAB systems. The FM Digital Audio Broadcasting signal is designed to tolerate interference in a number of ways. Most significantly, the digital information is transmitted on both lower and upper sidebands. The digital sidebands extend out to nearly 200 kHz from the center carrier frequency. Therefore an intermediate frequency (IF) filter in a typical FM receiver must have a flat bandwidth of at least ±400 kHz. One proposed First Adjacent Canceller (FAC) technique requires an approximately flat response out to about ±275 kHz from the center for effective suppression of a first adjacent signal. This would normally require an IF filter with a flat bandwidth of at least 550 kHz. A first adjacent cancellation technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,893, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
DAB systems utilize a specially designed forward error correction (FEC) code that spreads the digital information over both the upper and lower sidebands. The digital information can be retrieved from either sideband. However, if both sidebands are received, the codes from both the upper and lower sidebands can be combined to provide an improved output signal.
FM stations are geographically placed such that the nominal received power of an undesired adjacent channel is at least 6 dB below the desired station's power at the edge of its protected contour or coverage area. Then the D/U (desired to undesired power ratio in dB) is at least 6 dB. There are exceptions to this rule, however, and listeners expect coverage beyond the protected contour increasing the probability of higher interference levels.
At a station's edge of coverage, a second adjacent's nominal power can be significantly greater (e.g. 40 dB) than the host's nominal power within the desired coverage area. This can present a problem for the IF portion of the receiver where dynamic range is limited. The IF is where the IBOC DAB signal is converted from analog to digital. The sample rate and number of effective bits in the analog-to-digital (A/D) converter limit the dynamic range of the IF section.
A B-bit A/D converter has a theoretical instantaneous dynamic range of about (1.76+6*B) dB (maximum sinewave to noise ratio in its Nyquist bandwidth). For this discussion, assume that a practical AID converter has a dynamic range of 6 dB per bit of resolution. Oversampling of the signal of interest can improve the effective dynamic range by spreading the quantization noise over the larger Nyquist bandwidth of the A/D. The effect is to increase the dynamic range by one bit for each quadrupling of the sample rate. On the other hand, some headroom must be allowed in the A/D sampling to control clipping to an acceptable level.
As a practical IBOC DAB example, assume an 8-bit AID with 48 dB instantaneous dynamic range in its Nyquist bandwidth. Further assume a headroom of 12 dB peak-to-average ratio in the AGC, and another 10 dB of margin for fading and AGC "slop". An oversampling ratio of 256 can increase the effective dynamic range in the signal bandwidth by 12 dB (in effect canceling the A/D headroom loss). Then the effective IF dynamic range in the IBOC signal bandwidth would be about 48 dB minus the 10 dB margin for fading, resulting in about 38 dB. If an instantaneous signal dynamic range of 28 dB in the signal bandwidth is required to detect the IBOC DAB signal without fading, then there is a margin of about 10 dB in the IF and A/D. This margin could be consumed by a large second adjacent signal entering the analog IF filter prior to A/D conversion.
It is a reasonable assumption that a good selective IF filter would suppress the second adjacent analog FM signal at 400 kHz away from FM center frequencies, but its IBOC sideband at 200 to 270 kHz from center would pass through the filter. If a second adjacent interferer is more than about +20 dB, then the dynamic range requirement of the A/D is increased by the excess second adjacent signal level above 20 dB. For example, if the second adjacent interferer is +50 dB, then the increased requirement above the minimum dynamic range is 30 dB, or about 5 more bits of A/D resolution above the minimum. However, there are ways to deal with the dynamic range issue other than the brute force method of increasing the bits in the A/D.
When a second adjacent interferer is +30 dB higher than the signal of interest, then the out-of-band emissions from it will likely corrupt the digital sideband on that side. Since corruption at that level will render that sideband useless, it may be preferable to filter out that sideband prior to A/D conversion. Filtering out the large second adjacent signal will restore the effective dynamic range eliminating the need for more bits of resolution. One way to approach this problem is to provide a set of selectable filters having different passbands for IF filtering prior to the A/D/converter.
Although the use of multiple filters may provide a good technical solution, the cost of the receiver is increased by the additional filters and switches. Also the accuracy of the filters may have an effect on cost.
There is a need for an improved method of minimizing the effects of first adjacent interference in IBOC DAB signals.

Adjacent channel interference mitigation for FM digital audio broadcasting receivers


A short pulse rejection circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a signal transition detecting circuit, a control signal generating circuit, a capacitor resetting and charging circuit, and a charge pulse detecting circuit. The signal transition detecting circuit is to output detecting pulses in response to any input pulse. The control signal generating circuit generates two control signals for capacitor charging and discharging in response to the detecting pulses. The capacitor resetting and charging circuit generates discharging and charging signals in response to two control signals. The charge pulse detecting circuit generates output enable pulse and outputting a short pulse rejected pulses in response to the charging signals and original input pulse.

For integrated circuits, the role of the input/output (I/O) pad likely acts as a bridge which communicates the chip itself to another. An ideal I/O pad serves as a buffer without signal gain or degradation, as is shown in FIG. 1a with an input terminal A and an output terminal Z. As a signal pulse imposes on the input terminal A, the signal is fed into the buffer, usually an even numbers of inverters, for a time delay of about several nano-seconds, the output terminal Z should get the same pulse width as the original one.
If a low pass filter is added to the I/O pad to make the I/O pad have the function of filtering, it may result in malfunctioning. An example is shown in FIG. 1b. It shows a low pass filter I/O pad series connected with two inverters having a capacitor C in between, where "A" is an input terminal, "Z" being an output terminal, and VCP is the terminals voltage of the capacitor C. Assuming the forgoing low pass filter circuit is desired to filter those pulses having short pulse width, such as 20 ns and below, the filter may get a malfunction due to the situation described below. Supposing a first pulse H1 having pulse width 15 ns is passed through the first inverter INV1, the signal charging the capacitor C to a voltage of VCP is followed. Since the VCP does not reach the threshold voltage VTH of the second inverter INV2, VZ=0 is resulted. Hence, the pulse H1 had been filtered out successfully. Thereafter, VA returns to its original level (e.g. 0) for a time duration L (e.g. 5 ns), and then the charges in the capacitor C, discharge through the first inverter INV1. However, if the capacitor C is not discharged completely within the time duration L, and a second pulse H2 following H1 is exerted on terminal A, the VCP may still possibly attain to the threshold voltage of VTH of the second inverter INV2 even though the pulse width of the second pulse H2 is smaller than 20 ns due to the residue charges in the capacitor C. In other words, the interval between pulses H1 and H2 becomes critical. Thus, taking the time duration L=5 ns as an example, as shown in FIG. 1b, the pulse H2 may make the VCP exceed VTH while approaching the ending of the pulse H (it may be about 10 ns). As a result, an undesired pulse H2 appears at the output terminal Z.
An object of the present invention is thus to provide a circuit, which utilizes feed back signals associated with MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) transistors, to reset the charging/discharging circuit. The high current drivability of the MOS makes the operation of fast charging/discharging possible, and prevents the malfunction due to residual charges.


A method and system for determining shelf life and sell-through time for retail products. The solution employs a data warehouse, a self monitoring product and product traceability. The data warehouse is utilized to track delivery information throughout the supply chain, e.g., time, quantity, product information, traceability; return information of unsold inventory returned from a retailer or customer as saleable; return information of inventory returned as unsaleable, damaged or defective; and data relating to evaluation of returned inventory. A self monitoring product is one that is capable of recording events such as number of times the product has been used, time since initial use, cumulative time and other items of interest such as stress variables, dates, min/max values, updates, etc. The solution involves evaluation of all returned product and comparing the information on the self monitoring product with known information from the supply line and return results contained in the database. The returns effectively act as a sample of all products and provide information about the product shelf-life, use profiles, installation issues, abuse, defects, etc.

A "supply chain" refers to a chain of entities, paths, and other points across which a raw material, part, or product is processed, transferred, and/or otherwise manipulated. Typically, the supply chain for a business enterprise includes suppliers, manufacturing centers, warehouses, distribution centers, and retail outlets. Efficient and cost-effective supply chain management requires controlling the flow and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory and finished products within and between various facilities. The goal of a properly managed supply chain is to allow merchandise to be produced and distributed in the right quantities, to the right locations and at the right time, while minimizing system-wide costs in order to satisfying customer service expectations.
Advances in data warehousing provide the ability to store detailed event information across all aspects of the supply chain. Properly correlating and analyzing this data can result in improved customer service without increased costs and inventory—effectively trading information for inventory.
Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation, has developed a suite of analytical applications, referred to as Teradata Supply Chain Intelligence (SCI), to assist manufacturing, retail and transportation companies striving to create efficient flows of new and existing, cost-effective products. The solution helps address several critical challenges facing the retail industry, including product out-of-stocks, inventory turns, security and transportation efficiency.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the Teradata Supply Chain Intelligence analytical application suite 101 is shown to be part of a data warehouse solution built upon NCR Corporation's Teradata Data Warehouse 103, using a Teradata Supply Chain Logical Data Model (LDM) 105. The Teradata Data Warehouse 103 provides a framework for tracking and reporting on extremely complex product flows associated with manufacturing and supply chain.
The Teradata Supply Chain Intelligence application suite 103 includes four key components: Procurement application 109, Production application 111, Logistics application 107 and Fulfillment application 113. Procurement application 109 is utilized to optimize purchasing efforts by evaluating global sourcing strategies and managing the most effective supplier base. Production application 111 provides managers and executives with the ability to measure and improve the way they convert the factors of production, e.g., raw materials, labor and capacity, into finished goods. Fulfillment application 113 is used to optimize customer service levels and margins through predictive inventory analysis and profitability management. Advanced Logistics application 107 provides the ability to link and manage transportation, inventories, and logistic operations across your extended supply chain.
Although integration of a data warehouse into a supply chain provides many benefits, the availability of data is typically limited to entities that are under the control of the organization or willing to cooperate. Providing the best product and customer service requires an understanding of information that may not be directly obtainable.
FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified supply chain integrated with a data warehouse. Product movements are represented by arrows 230 and information transmissions are shown by arrows 240. Product moves through the supply chain from suppliers/factory 203 to warehouse 205 and retail centers (or OEM distributors) 209 to consumers 211. Also shown are return/repair centers 217 which receive unsold inventory 213 from retail centers 209 and return product 215 from consumers 211. In this example, factory 205, warehouse 207 and retail centers 209 and return centers 217 are all linked via a data warehouse 201. The area contained in box 220 represents information that is generally not made available to the warehouse. Note that this may include parts of retail centers 209 and return centers 217.
Frequently, supply chain analysis ends at the last available data collection point—generally with a retail or OEM delivery. Once a product is at the retail level, the amount of information available to a data warehouse varies with the sophistication of the retailer. While point-of-sale information is becoming more accessible, it is not always available to the supply chain integrator, often because of privacy or competitive advantage issues.
When the product reaches the consumer, there is generally little data available to the data warehouse. Registration and customer service requests provide, at best, limited information.
The supply chain integration needs to provide more accurate evaluations of use profiles and product distribution at the end customer. Customer returns and rejects are beset with uncertainties. Some of the questions difficult to answer once a product leaves the control of the manufacturer or retailer include:                'Was the product defective prior to purchase'—suggesting quality control, handling and/or storage issues?        'Was the product properly installed and failed after use—or was there an installation issue?'        'Is there evidence of customer fraud—was a used product returned as new?'        'Was the product used for a reasonable amount of time?'        'What is the typical time between purchase and use of the product?'        'What is a typical use profile?'
Providing data to support answering these questions will help the manufacturer/supply chain manager evaluate current policies, product documentation, returns, etc. and improve overall customer satisfaction.
Additionally, many products may have limited shelf life or other specific inventory requirements. Also, many products may be returned as defective when in reality handling and/or storage issues are to blame. The data to address these issues is typically not available as a direct feed to the data warehouse.
Supply Chain optimization is always based on a balance of demand patterns against inventory levels and production/shipments, with a goal to maximize customer service while minimizing inventory and costs. Unfortunately, demand signals tend to be provided only at the retail/OEM level, and not actual customer demand. Direct observation of customer demand is difficult to obtain, but evaluation of inventory shelf life can provide an indicator of demand changes.

System and method for determining sell-through time and inventory aging for retail products


A method of fabricating a thin film transistor using a metal induced lateral crystallization is provided. The thin film transistor fabrication method includes the steps of: forming an amorphous silicon film on an insulation substrate, and then patterning the amorphous silicon film, to thereby form a semiconductor layer; sequentially forming a gate insulation film and a gate electrode on the substrate, and forming a photosensitive film pattern for forming the gate electrode, and then over-etching the gate electrode by a wet etching process; dry-etching the gate insulation film and then patterning the dry-etched gate insulation film again by the wet etching process; removing the photosensitive film pattern; and ion-injecting high-concentration impurities into the semiconductor layer to thus form a source/drain region and a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure simultaneously. When a thin film transistor is fabricated according to the above-described steps, an off-set and LDD structure essential for the thin film transistor can be effectively formed without requiring for an additional mask process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a low-temperature poly-silicon thin film transistor using a metal induced lateral crystallization (MILC) technology, and more particularly, to a new method of fabricating a thin film transistor in which an additional mask process and a separate ion injection process are not necessary in order to form an off-set and lightly doped drain (LDD) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a thin film transistor which is used in a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is fabricated by the processes of depositing amorphous silicon on a transparent substrate such as glass or quartz, forming a gate insulator and a gate electrode, injecting a dopant into a source and drain, and then annealing the dopant-injected source and drain so as to be activated to then form an insulation layer.
By the way, as a display device using a thin film transistor requires for a fast operating speed and becomes compact in size, a degree of integration of a driving integrated circuit (IC) becomes large and an aperture ratio of a pixel region becomes reduced. Accordingly, an electron mobility on a silicon film should be heightened so that a driving circuit is formed on a pixel thin film transistor (TFT) and a glass substrate simultaneously, and an aperture ratio of each pixel should be heightened.
For this purpose, an amorphous silicon film is crystallized by metal induced lateral crystallization (MILC) to thus form a poly-crystallization thin film transistor. Accordingly, in addition to the need to heighten the electron mobility and the pixel aperture ratio, a driving circuit is formed simultaneously together with a pixel thin film transistor (TFT), to thereby provide a merit of reducing a production cost. In addition to the MILC, a solid phase crystallization (SPC) method by high-temperature heat treatment and an eximer laser annealing (ELA) method by laser crystallization are known as the amorphous silicon film crystallization method.
Meanwhile, since a leakage current is large in the case of a poly-crystallization thin film transistor differently from an amorphous thin film transistor, a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure has been known as being essential in order to suppress the leakage current (see IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, Vol. 40, No. 5, p. 938, 1993).
In particular, it is reported that leakage current is caused by metal pollution at a boundary portion between a source/drain and a channel, in the case of a MILC poly-crystallization thin film transistor (see IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, Vol. 32, p. 258, 1998).
Also, in the case that a thin film transistor is generally fabricated using MILC, a boundary plane between MILC and MIC (Metal Induced Crystallization) is positioned in a channel region. As a result, a trap phenomenon occurs at the channel region through the boundary plane, to thereby influence upon features of the thin film transistor device. Thus, in order to avoid the trap phenomenon, it is necessary to form an off-set region between a metal film for MILC and a gate insulation film.
A conventional method of fabricating a thin film transistor using a MILC method will follow.
FIGS. 1A through 1D are cross-sectional views for explaining a conventional low-temperature poly-silicon thin film transistor fabrication method using a MILC method, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a buffer layer 10 made of an oxide film is formed on an insulation substrate such as a glass substrate (not shown), and then an amorphous silicon film is formed on the buffer layer 10. An active layer pattern 11 is formed by photographically etching the amorphous silicon film. Subsequently, an insulation film and a metal film are deposited on the active pattern 11, and then patterned by a photographic etching process, to thereby form a gate electrode 13 and a gate insulation film 12.
Then, referring to FIG. 1B, a lightly doped drain (LDD) region 17 is formed through low-concentration ion injection. Then, as shown in FIG. 1C, a spacer 14 is formed at both sides of the gate electrode 13 and the gate insulation film 12 using a photosensitive agent, to thereby form an off-set structure. Then, a nickel (Ni) film 15 is deposited on the entire surface as crystallization expediting metal, and then a source 11S and a drain 11D are formed through high-concentration ion injection.
Referring to FIG. 1D, the photosensitive film 14 is removed by using a lift-off method, and then a MILC heat treatment is performed between 400° C. through 600° C. which is not more than a glass modification temperature of glass used as a substrate, to thereby crystallize a channel portion 16.
As described above, in the case of a conventional thin film transistor fabrication method using the MILC method, separate photographic etching processes are necessary to form an off-set structure and a LDD structure. Thus, these separate photographic etching processes cause productivity to be lowered and production cost to increase. Also, in order to form a LDD region at a junction portion between a channel and a source/drain, a separate ion injection process differing from the ion injection concentration injected into the source/drain region becomes necessary.
Thus, in order to form a LDD region, an additional ion injection process and a spacer forming process are necessary as described above, which also causes productivity to be lowered and production cost to increase.

Method of fabricating poly-silicon thin film transistor using metal induced lateral crystallization


A system for providing electrical power to a remote device through wireless transmission and the system comprises a power transmitting data unit (PTDU) receiving electrical power from a power source and at least one power receiving data unit (PRDU), connected to the remote device, receiving electromagnetic waves and converting the electromagnetic waves to the electrical power. The PTDU further comprises a controller, a first resonator emitting electromagnetic waves, and a DC/AC converter receiving electrical power from a remote power source and providing a driving voltage at a driving frequency to the first resonator, the driving frequency being independent from a resonant frequency of the first resonator, and the controller monitors environment variables related to the emitting of electromagnetic waves.

Traditionally electrical power is delivered by connecting physically a device to an electrical grid and in recent years new system has been developed to deliver electrical power through electromagnetic induction. For wireless power transfer, non-radiative technique is generally used and the power is transferred over short distances by magnetic fields through inductive coupling or electric field through capacitive coupling. The transmission of electrical power through electromagnetic induction involves two devices, one is an electromagnetic wave transmitter and other is an electromagnetic wave receiver. The electrical power is transmitted by the electromagnetic wave transmitter as electromagnetic wave through the air or through other medium and received and converted back to the electrical power by the electromagnetic wave receiver. Each of the transmitter and the receiver includes a resonator operating at a certain frequency. The effective transmission of the power requires the frequencies used in the resonator in the transmitter and the resonator in the receiver to be the same or within a narrow band of each other.
This requirement of the operating frequencies to be the same or within a narrow band places a limitation on the wireless power transfer. Hence, it is imperative to devise a system that improves the wireless power transfer.

Smart wireless power/data transfer system


A battery system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells each having at least one terminal and a plurality of members coupled together to form a frame for securing the electrochemical cells in place. At least one of the members has openings configured to receive the terminals of the plurality of cells and also has features for spacing apart the plurality of cells to facilitate the flow of a cooling fluid between the cells. The battery system further includes a battery management system provided at a first end of the frame and a device provided at a second end of the frame for providing the cooling fluid to the cells and to the battery management system simultaneously.

The present invention relates generally to the field of batteries and battery systems. More specifically, the present system relates to a system for packaging, connecting and regulating a plurality of batteries (e.g., in a cell assembly or module).
It is known to provide batteries for use in vehicles such as automobiles. For example, lead-acid batteries have been used in starting, lighting, and ignition applications. More recently, hybrid vehicles have been produced which utilize a battery (e.g., a nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) battery) in combination with other systems (e.g., an internal combustion engine) to provide power for the vehicle.
Lithium-ion batteries have a higher charge density than nickel metal hydride batteries (i.e., a lithium-ion battery can be smaller than an equivalent nickel metal hydride while still holding the same charge), and therefore occupy much less space while accommodating generally similar electrical loads.
It is generally known that lithium batteries perform differently than nickel-metal-hydride batteries. In some applications, it may be desirable to obtain the enhanced power and/or performance of a lithium battery. For example, lithium batteries may provide greater specific power than nickel-metal-hydride batteries. However, the application of lithium battery technology may present design and engineering challenges beyond those typically presented in the application of conventional nickel-metal-hydride battery technology.
The design and management of a lithium battery system that can be advantageously utilized in a hybrid vehicle may involve considerations such as electrical performance monitoring, thermal management, and containment of effluent (e.g., gases that may be vented from a battery cell). For example, thermal management is often an important consideration for vehicles utilizing lithium battery systems because high temperatures can create dangerous situations and greatly reduce usable battery life.
Typical hybrid electric vehicle batteries require 50 to 150 or more buss bars connecting individual battery cells or modules. Each of these must be separately placed and fastened onto the assembly. Each buss bar must have a wire with a terminal leading to a connector for sensing the voltage step of each cell or module. This leads to a total of 250 to 750 or more parts, including buss bars, nuts, wires, and terminals. The typical relatively complicated assembly and large number of parts required may increase manufacture, retail, and maintenance costs and may deter manufacturers and consumers from making or purchasing hybrid electric vehicles.
A battery management system component for a battery module is typically separate from the battery module. Such a typical system may add further complication to the assembly of battery systems and may also increase the length of the wire(s) needed to connect the battery management system to the battery. Relatively long connecting wires may lead to the introduction of performance-affecting electrical noise that may interfere with the battery management system and/or battery system operation. Typical battery management systems and battery systems may also be difficult to maintain, service, and/or replace as the battery management system is typically not integrated with the battery module.
It would be desirable to provide a battery system that includes one or more lithium batteries or cells (e.g., lithium-ion batteries or cells). It would further be desirable to provide a battery system that includes a design that is configured to provide cooling for the batteries or cells included therein. It would further be desirable to provide a battery system that is relatively simple to assemble and that used a relatively small number of parts. It would further be desirable to provide a battery system that includes a battery management system or module that is provided in relatively close proximity to the battery system, minimizing the length of wires necessary to couple the battery management system to the battery system. It would further be desirable to provide a battery system that includes a battery management system that is integrated with the battery system.
It would be desirable to provide a system and/or method that satisfies any one or more of these needs or provides other advantageous features as will be apparent to those reviewing the present disclosure. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.


A semiconductor light emitting device includes a silicon substrate, a p-type semiconductor layer provided on the silicon substrate, a n-type semiconductor layer provided on the silicon substrate, the n-type semiconductor layer adjoining the p-type semiconductor layer, and a light emitting section formed at a p-n homojunction between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. The p-n homojunction is substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the silicon substrate. The p-n homojunction is corrugated with a period matched with an integer multiple of an emission wavelength at the light emitting section.

The performance improvement of electronic devices such as bipolar transistors and field-effect transistors has dramatically increased the operating speed of large-scale integrated circuits (LSI). However, although achieving performance improvement, the scaling down of transistors has caused a serious problem with electrical interconnects therebetween in relation to the increase of the electrical line resistance and the capacitance between adjacent electrical line, which is becoming a bottleneck in the improvement of LSI performance.
In view of the foregoing problem with electrical interconnects, some proposals have been made for an optically interconnected LSI, where the elements therein are optically interconnected. The optical interconnect has marginal frequency dependence of loss at frequencies from DC to 100 GHz or more. Furthermore, the interconnect path suffers from no electromagnetic interference. Hence interconnection at several 10 Gbps or more can be easily realized.
For the purpose of integration into an LSI, the semiconductor light emitting device serving as a light source for optical interconnects needs to be easily coupled to a light waveguide for transmitting light and to be highly adaptable to LSI processes. For use as a light source for intra-LSI optical interconnection, a silicon-based light emitting device is desirable. For example, a silicon-based semiconductor light emitting device is disclosed in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 45, No. 27 (2006) p. L679 (hereinafter referred to as Non-Patent Document 1).
The device disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 is a light emitting diode that emits light by spontaneous emission. Because its operating speed is restricted by carrier lifetime, there is little hope for fast operation.


A rotatable and retractable rear gun sight is disclosed. The rear gun sight is coupled to a body of a gun. Three different apertures are provided for rear sight viewing of targets of three different distances. The apertures can be rotated out of view or into use depending on the estimated target distance. The rear gun sight can also be flipped down.

Guns are often equipped with a front sight and a rear sight to provide a two-point visual reference for locating an intended target.
A user views the target through the rear sight, closest to the user's eye, and then aligns the front sight, typically a pin, on the target.
The rear sight is sometimes equipped as a "peep sight," or a circular structure with a void space in the middle for referencing and framing the front site. With the increasing use and popularity of long-range firearms such as rifles, the use and popularity of scope sights have likewise increased.

Rotatable and retractable rear gun sight