An adaptive receiver apparatus including a demodulating circuit for demodulating a reception signal, an adaptive equalizer for equalizing a demodulated output to output a demodulated signal, a difference signal upon equalization and a channel impulse response estimate estimated upon equalization, a noise level detector for detecting a noise level based on the difference signal upon equalization, a channel impulse response variation magnitude detector for detecting a variation in the magnitude of the impulse response estimate at a predetermined level, and a coefficient controller for adjusting a coefficient determining a tracking property of an adaptive algorithm of the adaptive equalizer depending on the variation magnitude of the channel impulse response estimate detected by the channel impulse response variation magnitude detector and the noise level detected by the noise level detector.

The present invention related generally to an adaptive receiver apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to an adaptive receiver apparatus which adaptively equalizes reception signals following variations of channel characteristics in time sequence in a digital mobile communication system.
In a digital mobile communication system, since a radio wave is received through a plurality of paths, it is important to overcome the problem of irregular variations of the levels of reception signals, i.e. the so-called problem of multi-path fading during traveling. In particular, when the lag time difference between reflected waves reaching a receiver apparatus is large relative to a time interval of a transmission signal cannot be ignored. Accordingly, an adaptive equalization technology for equalizing wave form distortion following variations of channel characteristics is an important technology.
An adaptive equalizer initially derives a channel impulse response upon reception of known data sequence signals. Thereafter, the adaptive equalizer sequentially updates the channel impulse response employing an adaptive algorithm, such as the LMS (Least-Means-Squares) algorithm, RLS (Recursive Least-Squares) algorithm, and so forth, using decision signals as reference data sequence signals, upon reception of information data sequence signals for following sequential variations of the channel characteristics. The adaptive algorithm is discussed in C. F. N. Cowan and P. M. Grant, "Adaptive Filters", Prentice-Hall, Inc. England, 1985, for example. The disclosure in the above-identified publication is herein incorporated by reference for the sake of disclosure. However, in the adaptive equalization algorithm, it has been known to trade-off between a tracking speed (converging speed) and a tracking precision (residual error upon convergence). For example, in the LMS algorithm, when a correction coefficient, i.e. step size parameter defining a tracking property, is set at a relatively large value, high tracking speed can be achieved while tracking precision is lowered. On the other hand, when the step size parameter is set at a relatively small value, high tracking precision can be achieved by sacrificing the tracking speed. Similarly, in the case of the RLS algorithm, by setting a forgetting factor at a relatively small valve, high tracking speed can be achieved while the tracking precision is lowered. On the other hand, when the forgetting factor is increased to be close to 1 , the tracking precision can be increased while the tracking speed is sacrificed.
In mobile communication, a traveling speed of a mobile station is not constant and, rather, varies sequentially. It is also known to attain excellent equalization characteristics by providing higher priority for the tracking precision rather than the tracking speed at a low traveling speed where a time-variation is moderate, and provide higher priority for the tracking speed rather than the tracking precision at a high traveling speed where the time-variation is rapid. For example, relevant discussion has been given in E. Eleftheriou and D. D. Falconer, "Tracking Properties and Steady-State Performance of RLS Adaptive Filter Algorithms", IEEE Transaction on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, vol. ASSP-34, No. 5, pp 1097.about.1110, October, 1986. Accordingly, there exist no optimal values for the coefficient defining the tracking property at any condition, to make it difficult to preliminarily set this coefficient. In other words, even when the coefficient is set at one factor, it is not possible to attain the optimal equalization effect.


An insert in the form of a bin partition improves flow of powder or particulate material once installed into an existing bin. The insert has a triangular shape with a baffle on top of it covering a portion of the partition. The partition changes the shape of the exit area of a bin and enables better control of powder or particulate material flow, thus preventing bridging and uncontrolled flooding while filling the bin's hopper.

This disclosure relates in general to bulk material bins, and more particularly, to a mass flow bulk material bin.
Typically, a hopper bottom bin for flowable bulk materials, such as, dry powders or toner used in copiers/printers has a vertical cylindrical section joined at its lower edge to a conical or frusta-conical hopper. The bin is filled through an inlet opening at the top of the cylindrical section, and is emptied through an outlet at the lowermost point of the hopper. Discharge apparatus for guiding the material from the bin to its destination or starting and stopping the discharge flow is commonly bolted or welded to a bolt ring mounted around the outer surface of the hopper at its bottom.
While the heretofore-mentioned configurations are typical, the geometry of bins varies. For example, the inlet opening may be centered over the bin, or positioned to one side of the bin roof or on a sidewall of the bin. The hopper may be a right circular cone with a centered outlet, or a cone having an oblique axis and an outlet that does not lie along the central axis of the bin.
In nearly all bins, despite these variations, the segregation of material according to particle size, shape or density as it is introduced into a bin creates a problem. Material deposited in a bin generally forms a conical pile centered under the inlet opening, with coarse particles tending to roll outward down to the periphery of the bin and fine particles tending to accumulate in the center. This results in segregation of different size particles in different regions with the bin.
Yet another problem common to many bins is a tendency for segregation of material to become enhanced as the material is discharged from the bin. This is a result of funnel flow, where material directly above the discharge outlet moves downward at a greater speed than material elsewhere, while material in some regions of the bin may not move at all. If the outlet is located directly under the inlet, the fine particles that tend to accumulate directly under the inlet will be discharged before the coarser one, resulting in more pronounced segregation. If the outlet is elsewhere, the coarser particles will be discharged first, and more pronounced segregation will still result.
Another undesirable effect of funnel flow is that it causes layers of material deposited at successive time intervals to intermix in an uncontrolled manner. In some circumstances it is desirable to have material exit a bin in the same order that it entered, while in other situations, it may be desirable for material from successive layers to be blended together as the bin is emptied. Adequate control of the extent of the intermixing of layers, either to prevent or to promote their blending, is not provided by the structure of most bins.
In contrast to funnel flow, where some material in a bin moves downward while a portion remains stationary, mass flow is a condition where all material in the bin moves simultaneously, and not stand still. But, mass flow is difficult to obtain because the vast majority of bins are shaped like funnels, i.e., cylindrical vessels with a converging lower part that helps to contain and direct the discharge. The inherent exit flow problems of all symmetrically shaped bins filled with powder materials are bridging and "rat-holing". Bridging is when the powder forms internal spherical structure (arches), thus restricting of completely blocking the flow. "Rat-hole" effect is when, due to the different friction forces between, for example, toner particles and other toner particles and toner particles and bin walls, a hole is formed in the toner mass at the bin's exit. This hole is also shaped like a funnel and remains constantly open. Thus, when a batch of new, highly fluidized toner is dumped into the bin, it travels directly through the "rat-hole" since it does not have time to settle. Therefore, when a valve in the bin's hopper is opened, the highly fluidized freshly dumped toner uncontrollably flows through the "rat-hole" flooding the hopper. To prevent bridging and "rat-holing," relatively small hoppers are equipped with a rotating agitator in the form of a mechanical arm. This solution for a bin of 1000 kg would be extremely difficult and would require big energy consuming motor and gearbox. Smaller devices like fluidizers (air injectors) or small agitators positioned near the exit are not always effective or change the density of the material in a harmful way.
Other attempts at improving the flow of controlling the flow of powders include U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,595 issued Apr. 8, 1997 to Jerry R. Johnson et al. employs a cylindrical bin and a conical transition section disposed below the cylindrical bin. In one embodiment, a baffle having triangular cross-sectional areas is disposed within the conical transition section. In another embodiment, the transition section is formed with triangular-shaped, flat side outer panels.
A blending apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,883 to Johanson includes a conical insert to promote mass flow movement of material in a self-emptying hopper.
Solid particulate material is moved through a hopper bottom bin shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,342 issued Oct. 22, 1985 to Glen W. Fisher in mass flow inducted by a conical surface positioned within the hopper to compensate for the shallowness thereof. Laminar mass flow movement will occur in the uppermost region of the material within the vertical bin walls. The hopper cross-section is separated into segregated flow channels by the conical surface, and by webs extending therefrom. The conical surface and webs have overall dimensions small enough for insertion through a bolt ring on the bottom of the hopper. The proportions of the material flowing through each channel is chosen to achieve a desired discharge flow pattern by varying the relative cross-sectional areas of either the inlets or the outlets of the channels. This results in changes in the velocity profile of the downwardly flowing material in a zone above and adjacent to the separate flow channels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,281 issued Jun. 23, 1998 to Lyndon Bates discloses an insert system for changing the pattern of material flow in a bulk storage hopper during the discharge process, from a form where a channel flow develops within a mass of static material into a form where the entire stored contents are caused to flow. This change is affected by the provision of insert members supported within the hopper, which modify the stress pattern in the flowing contents to allow the bulk material to deform more readily and for slip to take place on all contact surfaces between the material and the hopper walls.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,328,183 B1 issued Dec. 11, 2001 to Clarence B. Coleman discloses a bin for storing dry powder bulk material or granules. Bulk material is deposited in an upper section of the bin and is discharged from the bottom of the lower section of the bin. The lower section of the bin is formed with oppositely directed, downwardly sloping walls, joined by opposing vertical walls. The downwardly sloping walls, respectively, slope downwardly at an angle greater than the angle of repose of the material or granules in the bin. Disposed in the lower section of the bin is a planar vertical divider wall that is supported by the vertical walls of the lower section. The vertical divider wall has flat surfaces that face, respectively, the oppositely directed, downwardly sloping walls of the lower section for reducing bridging of the dry powder bulk material or granules in the bulk material bin during mass flow from the upper section through the lower section of the bin.
Thus, the bulk materials handling art has long needed a system that can achieve or exceed the flow control provided by prior art devices, while being easily retrofitted to a variety of existing hopper bottom bins. Especially, if such a device would be inexpensive to manufacture and ship, and would be installed with little or no on-site alteration of preexisting bin structure.
Accordingly, a bin partition that improves flow of powder or particulate material is disclosed that is to be installed into an existing bin. The partition has a triangular-like cross-section with a baffle on top thereof covering a portion of the partition. The partition changes the shape of the exit area of a bin and enables better control of powder or particulate material flow, thus preventing bridging and uncontrolled flooding while filling a bin's hopper.
While the disclosure will be described hereinafter in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that limiting the disclosure to that embodiment is not intended. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.


Some embodiments provide a method comprising delivering neural stimulation for a neural stimulation therapy according to a programmed schedule, detecting a swallow event, and responding to the detected swallow event by overriding the programmed schedule.

Neural stimulation, such as vagus nerve stimulation, has been proposed as a therapy for a number of conditions. Examples of neural stimulation therapies include neural stimulation therapies for respiratory problems such as sleep disordered breathing, blood pressure control such as to treat hypertension, cardiac rhythm management, myocardial infarction and ischemia, heart failure (HF), epilepsy, depression, pain, migraines, eating disorders and obesity, and movement disorders.

Systems and methods for avoiding aspiration during autonomic modulation therapy


A hinge apparatus used to connect a base and a display unit comprises a connecting member a first fastening member a second fastening members a first pivoting member and a second pivoting member, wherein the connecting member includes a first hole and a second hole. One end of the first pivoting member is fixed with a display unit and the other end crosses through the first hole and is then fastened with the first fastening member. One end of the second pivoting member is fixed with a base and the other end crosses through the second hole and is then fastened with the second fastening member. With the connectivity between the connecting member the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member, the motion of the hinge apparatus is capable of rotating 360 degrees.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hinge apparatus capable of rotating 360 degrees.
2. Description of Related Art
Two types of tablet PCs (Personal Computers) are available. One type has a keyboard and the other type doesn't and requires a stylus or voice command as the input device. The keyboard type tablet PC integrates a display unit and a base via a superimposing mechanism called a convertible tablet PC (for example—Acer TravelMate C300).
A convertible tablet PC requires several steps to convert it from one operational status (such as a normal notebook) to another operational status (such as tablet PC). First, the angle between the display unit and the base must be large enough; second, the display unit must be rotated 180 degrees; and finally, the display unit must be pushed down to cover the base. The main disadvantage of a traditional tablet PC is that these conversion steps are too complicated to use for those who are not familiar with a notebook or tablet PC.
Besides, during the second step, while rotating the display unit 180 degree, the screen can only be rotated in one direction, clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the hinge apparatus. In other words, the user has to remember the preset rotation direction when rotating the screen or the hinge apparatus may be damaged. To solve the problem, a user could apply a little force first to test which direction is correct, however, the little force accumulated over a long period would still cause damage to the hinge apparatus.


A light-receiving device comprises, on a substrate, a first light-receiving part for detecting light of a first wavelength range, and a second light-receiving part for detecting light of a second wavelength range. At least a part of incident light is transmitted through the first light-receiving part and then received by the second light-receiving part. The central wavelength of the first wavelength range is longer than the central wavelength of the second wavelength range, and the first light-receiving part is composed of an organic semiconductor having an absorption spectral maximum in the first wavelength range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color image pickup device and a light-receiving device.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, as light-receiving devices, devices using p-n junctions or p-i-n junctions of compound semiconductors such as crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon and GaAs have been generally used. These light-receiving devices are two-dimensionally arranged to form a plane-type image pickup device, or one-dimensionally arranged to form a line sensor.
In the color image pickup device and line sensor, a color filter system in which color filters each allowing light of a specific wavelength range to pass through are placed is generally used for color separation. That is, in the color image pickup device, color filters 701 are placed on the top of CCD or CMOS sensors 702 as shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B. Examples of color filter systems include a color filter system in which color filters of three primary colors: red (hereinafter abbreviated as R), green (hereinafter abbreviated as G) and blue (hereinafter abbreviated as B) are placed, and a color filter system involving color separation into cyanogen, magenta, yellow and green as complementary color filters.
Also, systems for high image quality include a multiple plate system in which a color image is separated by a color separation prism, and three to four image pickup devices are used. For example, incident light is color-separated by using a prism, and thereafter CCDs are placed-for three colors of R, G and B. In addition, a four-plates system employing two CCDs for G for improving the resolution is known.
However, the color filter system has the following problems: (1) the light amount decreases because a part of light is absorbed by the color filter; and (2) a false color is produced because color separation is done by detecting different colors at different locations. Also, an optical lowpass filter is required for preventing the problem of false color, and a loss of light occurs also in this case.
In the multiple plate system, on the other hand, a high accuracy prism or color separating film (dichroic mirror) is required, and a high level of registration technique is required, thus raising problems such that the cost is increased, the equipment is scaled up and a loss of light occurs in an optical device such as a prism.
For solving the problem of false color, there is a stacked-type image sensor structure. That is, if light-receiving devices sensitive to different colors can be stacked, color separation can be performed at the same (in-plane) location, thus making it possible to prevent the problem of false color.
One example of the stacked-type image sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,875. This structure has light-receiving parts stacked utilizing the dependency of the absorption coefficient of Si on the wavelength, in which color separation is performed in the depth direction thereof. FIG. 23 shows dependency of the absorption coefficient of Si on the wavelength, wherein as the wavelength increases, the level of absorption decreases, and light incident on the surface can enter a long distance in the depth direction. Utilizing this nature, P-N junctions that are light-receiving parts are stacked in three layers in the depth direction, in which light of a shorter wavelength is detected in a light-receiving part located closer to the surface, and light of a longer wavelength is detected in a light-receiving part existing at a deeper location.
This image pickup device is effective for the false color, but has a disadvantage that as far as using light penetration depth dependence on the wavelength in Si, the spectrum range detected in each stacked light-receiving part is broad, and thus color separation is inadequately performed. Specifically, light of a long wavelength (e.g. red) is adsorbed even in a light-receiving part (e.g. blue) detecting light of a short wavelength, and conversely light of a short wavelength (e.g. blue) is absorbed even in a light-receiving part (e.g. red) detecting light of a long wavelength. This raises a problem such that the amount of light substantially converted into a signal decreases to reduce the sensitivity. Also, color separation can be controlled to some extent by designing the depth of the P-N junction of each light receiving part, but there is a tradeoff relationship between the sensitivity and the color separation, and the design is severely limited, for example the improvement in color separation results in a reduction in sensitivity.
It is especially difficult to achieve compatibility between the sensitivity and the color separation for green of high visual sensitivity. For example, in an ordinary visible color image sensor, red, green and blue have peak sensitivities at about 450 nm, about 550 nm and about 650 to 700 nm, respectively, but this device is poor in color purity because the sensitivity peak of green is at 500 nm, which is slightly shifted toward the short wavelength region, and the sensitivity of red is shifted toward the long wavelength region.
In addition, due to the three-layer stacked structure, structures such as a wiring are complicated, fabrication work becomes difficult, and thus the cost is increased.

Color image pickup device and color light-receiving device


A method and apparatus for folding an article includes supplying an article to a folder; engaging a first surface of a leading portion of the article with a first conveyor; moving the first conveyor at a first conveyor velocity; engaging a second surface of a trailing portion of the article with a second conveyor; moving the second conveyor at a second conveyor velocity greater than the first conveyor velocity; contacting the first surface of the article with at least one folding guide; moving the folding guide in the machine direction at the second conveyor velocity; and folding the article about the folding guide such that the first surface of the leading portion is in facing relation with the first surface of the trailing portion.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for folding articles, such as, for example, disposable diapers. Typical folding systems move a leading portion of an article past a nip defined by two belts or rollers. After the leading portion of the article moves past the nip a tucker blade or similar apparatus orthogonally contacts the article creating a fold while forcing the folded article into the nip. This tucking and folding method involves a sudden and severe reversal in direction of the leading portion of the article which can result in folding inaccuracies and/or damage to the article particularly at high speeds.
As such, there exists a need for a method and apparatus for folding articles that is gradual and smooth thereby increasing the accuracy of the fold and minimizing damage to the article being folded.

Method and apparatus for folding articles


A method for load sharing between tunnels connecting communication networks includes receiving a communication from a subscriber using the first communication network, determining tunnel selection criteria for the communication, selecting one of the at least one tunnel based on the tunnel selection criteria and forwarding the communication on the selected tunnel. The tunnel selection criteria indicate the basis for selecting one of the tunnels. An apparatus for load sharing between tunnels connecting communication networks includes a receiving interface to receive a communication from a subscriber using the first communication network, a tunnel selection criteria determiner to determine tunnel selection criteria for the communication, a tunnel selector to select one of the tunnels based on the tunnel selection criteria and a session forwarder to forward the communication on the selected tunnel. In one aspect of the invention, load sharing is performed between Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) tunnels.

Computer networking capabilities of a home personal computer (PC) are typically provided by telephone companies (Telcos) or commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who operate network access points along the information superhighway. It is through these network access points that the user is able to connect with public domains, such as the Internet, and private domains, such as an intra-company computer network of the user's employer.
In the wholesale Internet access environment, the network access provider (NAP) and the network service provider (NSP) are not necessarily the same entity. Telcos and other wholesale ISPs are typical NAPs, who operate gateways (network access servers, access routers, or the like) in their points of presence (PoPs), and provide local loop access services to PCs. NSPs are typically the customers of NAPs, who are allowed to use the NAP's gateways to provide their Internet Protocol (IP)-based services, such as Internet access, network access, or voice over IP (VoIP) services to the PCs.
FIG. 1 illustrates Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP). L2TP tunneling is a common service architecture for Point-to-Point (PPP) clients currently available at NAPs. In the typical L2TP tunneling environment, a PC 100 of a PPP client 105 starts a PPP session by dialing into a L2TP access concentrator (LAC) 110 located at the NAP's point of presence (PoP). The LAC 110 exchanges PPP messages with the client's PC 100 and communicates with a L2TP network server (LNS) 115 of a remote domain 120 such as an ISP or a private company. The LNS 115 is typically a home gateway (HGW) of the remote domain 120. The communication between the LAC 110 and the LNS 115 is by way of L2TP requests and responses. When a L2TP tunnel 125 is set up, the LAC 110 forwards the PPP session over the L2TP tunnel 125 to the LNS 115. Data packets in the PPP session are encapsulated into L2TP frames that are destined for the IP address of the LNS 115.
The LNS 115 is a termination point of the L2TP tunnel 125. The LNS 115 accepts L2TP frames, strips the L2TP encapsulation, and processes the incoming PPP frames for the appropriate interface. The PPP frames are processed and passed to higher layer protocols, i.e., the PPP session is terminated at the LNS 115. The PPP session termination requires and includes user authentication via a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) or other means. An authenticated PPP client then receives an IP address, a Domain Name System (DNS) address, and IP-based services that the client contracted. These are forwarded back to the client over the L2TP tunnel 125 through the LAC 110.
The L2TP passes protocol-level (or Data Link-level) packets through the virtual tunnel between the endpoints of a point-to-point connection, i.e., the client's PC 100 and the LNS 115. The L2TP is suitable for virtual private networking (VPN), in which users can dial into a NAP's network access server and join a private (typically corporate) network that is remote from the NAP's PoP.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a L2TP service architecture in which the NAP and NSP are different entities. Users 200–215 represent authorized users of a network at remote domain 220. NAP 225 provides network access to user A 200 and user B 205 and tunnels the PPP sessions via tunnel 230 to LAC 250. NAP 240 provides network access to user C 210 and user D 215 and tunnels the PPP sessions via tunnel 245 to LAC 250. NSP 235 may also provide services for other remote domains (not shown in FIG. 2). LAC 250 aggregates tunnels 245 and 230 into a single tunnel 255 to the LNS 275 at remote domain 220.
A typical service level agreement (SLA) specifies a minimum bandwidth to be provided during specified times of the day or week together with pricing information for the provision of such services. As shown in FIG. 2, NAP 225 and NAP 240 have separate SLAs 260, 265 with NSP 235. Additionally, NSP 235 has a third SLA 270 with the remote domain 220. However, since sessions going to the remote domain 220 use the same tunnel, they are accorded the same level of service for that interface.
This approach has a number of drawbacks. First, placing all L2TP sessions for a particular remote domain on single tunnel increases the risk that all sessions will be dropped if the tunnel drops. This in turn increases the risk of violating a SLA. Second, placing all L2TP sessions for a particular remote domain on a single tunnel accords the same level of service to all sessions, regardless of any SLAs. Third, concentrating sessions over a single interface typically results in relatively inefficient resource utilization.
What is needed is a solution that minimizes the risk of putting all tunneled sessions to a remote domain on a single tunnel. A further need exists for such a solution that enables differentiated service for each tunneled session. Yet another need exists for such a solution that provides relatively efficient utilization of resources.


A process for isomerizating a feed containing alkylaromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., monocyclic alkylaromatic hydrocarbons and/or bicyclic alkylaromatic hydrocarbons. The process is carried out by contacting the feed under conversion conditions with a zeolite bound zeolite catalyst which comprises first crystals of an intermediate pore size first zeolite and a binder which comprises second crystals of a second zeolite. The process finds particular applications in isomerizing a feed containing ethylbenzene and less than equilibrium amounts of xylenes with ethylbenzene and can produce a product containing above equilibrium quantities of para-xylene and low aromatics ring loss and xylene loss.

Xylenes are valuable industrial chemicals. Sources of xylenes include catalytic reformate, pyrolysis gasoline, toluene disproportionation; C.sub.7 -C.sub.9 aromatic transalkylation, and the like. For example, catalytic reforming hydrocarbon feeds such as naphtha using conventional aromatization catalysts produces a reformate which is richer in the content of C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aromatics than the feeds. Of these aromatics, significant quantities of C.sub.8 aromatics are produced which comprise a mixture of ethyl benzene, and mixed ortho-, meta- and para-xylene isomers. Typically, the product from the catalytic reformer (reformate) is fed to an aromatic extraction plant where the aromatics, e.g., C.sub.6, C.sub.7 and C.sub.8 aromatics, are separated from the paraffins and other non-aromatic products present in the reformate. The C.sub.8 aromatic fraction may then be separated from the lower boiling C.sub.6 and C.sub.7 aromatics by distillation.
The C.sub.8 aromatic fraction normally contains a mixture of ethyl benzene and the ortho-, para-, and meta-xylene isomers. The three xylene isomers are usually present in near thermodynamic equilibrium amounts, e.g., generally 52-53 wt. % meta-xylene, 23-24 wt. % para-xylene and 23.5 to 24.5 wt. % ortho-xylene. Of the xylene isomers, meta-xylene is typically the least desired product. Because para-xylene is of particular value as a chemical intermediate in a number of applications, it may be desirable to separate the para-xylene from the other isomers using conventional techniques such as crystallization, or by adsorption/desorption on zeolites. After such separation, the residual C.sub.8 aromatic fraction contains non-equilibrium quantities of ethylbenzene and the mixed ortho- and meta-xylene isomers and is lean with respect to para-xylene content.
The para-xylene lean residual product may be further upgraded by subjecting it to isomerization conditions wherein at least a portion of the ethylbenzene is converted to other products such as diethylbenzene or benzene and ethane and a portion of the ortho- and meta-xylenes are isomerized to produce a mixture which once again approximates the equilibrium concentration of the ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene isomers. Typically such isomerization conditions comprise contacting the non-equilibrium C.sub.8 aromatic feed with a suitable isomerization catalyst in a suitable reactor at temperatures above about 600.degree. F. and preferably at pressures sufficient to maintain the reaction in the vapor phase.
A commercially viable xylene isomerization process must exhibit high xylene isomerization activity and, also, must produce the desired product without a significant loss of xylenes. The loss of xylene is a result of undesired side-reactions, involving hydrogenation of the aromatic ring, hydrogenolysis, demethylation, and particularly disproportionation and transalkylation.
Another factor of importance in a xylene isomerization process is the effect that ethylbenzene has on the entire isomerization and xylene recovery loop. When ethylbenzene is present in appreciable quantities in the feed to the isomerization process, it will accumulate in the loop unless it is excluded from the feed or converted by some reaction in the loop to products which are separable from xylenes. Ethylbenzene can be separated from the xylenes by "superfractionation", but this procedure is very expensive. A more desirable method of eliminating the ethylbenzene is through a conversion reaction taking place simultaneously with the isomerization reaction of the xylenes. One method of converting ethylbenzene is to isomerize the ethylbenzene to xylenes. It is often desirable that the ethylbenzene conversion reaction be a deethylation reaction producing benzene and ethane rather than a disproportionation reaction to benzene and diethylbenzene. The deethylation reaction preserves more xylenes and produces a high quality reaction product.
Zeolites are comprised of a lattice of silica and optionally alumina combined with exchangeable cations such as alkali or alkaline earth metal ions. Although the term "zeolites" includes materials containing silica and optionally alumina, it is recognized that the silica and alumina portions may be replaced in whole or in part with other oxides. For example, germanium oxide, tin oxide, phosphorous oxide, and mixtures thereof can replace the silica portion. Boron oxide, iron oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, and mixtures thereof can replace the alumina portion. Accordingly, the terms "zeolite", "zeolites" and "zeolite material", as used herein, shall mean not only materials containing silicon and, optionally, aluminum atoms in the crystalline lattice structure thereof, but also materials which contain suitable replacement atoms for such silicon and aluminum, such as gallosilicates, silicoaluminophosphates (SAPO) and aluminophosphates (ALPO). The term "aluminosilicate zeolite", as used herein, shall mean zeolite materials consisting essentially of silicon and aluminum atoms in the crystalline lattice structure thereof.
Numerous processes have been proposed for the isomerization of xylene feeds using zeolite catalysts. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,790 involves a xylene isomerization process using an alumina bound zeolite catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,110 involves a xylene isomerization process using a zeolite catalyst such as a ZSM-5 which is bound by a binder material such as alumina, silica, or clay.
Synthetic zeolites are normally prepared by the crystallization of zeolites from a supersaturated synthesis mixture. The resulting crystalline product is then dried and calcined to produce a zeolite powder. Although the zeolite powder has good adsorptive properties, its practical applications are severely limited because it is difficult to operate fixed beds with zeolite powder. Therefore, prior to using the powder in commercial processes, the zeolite crystals are usually bound.
The zeolite powder is typically bound by forming a zeolite aggregate such as a pill, sphere, or extrudate. The extrudate is usually formed by extruding the zeolite in the presence of a non-zeolitic binder and drying and calcining the resulting extrudate. The binder materials used are resistant to the temperatures and other conditions, e.g., mechanical attrition, which occur in various hydrocarbon conversion processes. Examples of binder materials include amorphous materials such as alumina, silica, titania, and various types of clays. It is generally necessary that the zeolite be resistant to mechanical attrition, that is, the formation of fines which are small particles, e.g., particles having a size of less than 20 microns.
Although such bound zeolite aggregates have much better mechanical strength than the zeolite powder, when such a bound zeolite is used for xylene isomerization, the performance of the zeolite catalyst, e.g., activity, selectivity, activity maintenance, or combinations thereof, can be reduced because of the binder. For instance, since the binder is typically present in an amount of up to about 50 wt. % of zeolite, the binder dilutes the adsorption properties of the zeolite aggregate. In addition, since the bound zeolite is prepared by extruding or otherwise forming the zeolite with the binder and subsequently drying and calcining the extrudate, the amorphous binder can penetrate the pores of the zeolite or otherwise block access to the pores of the zeolite, or slow the rate of mass transfer to the pores of the zeolite which can reduce the effectiveness of the zeolite when used in xylene isomerization. Furthermore, when the bound zeolite is used in xylene isomerization, the binder may affect the chemical reactions that are taking place within the zeolite and also may itself catalyze undesirable reactions which can result in the formation of undesirable products.

Process for isomerization of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting element includes forming a semiconductor stacked layer body on a substrate, the semiconductor stacked layer body including a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer; removing a portion of the semiconductor stacked layer body and exposing the first semiconductor layer such that the second semiconductor layer includes an extending portion that extends in a plane direction; forming a conductor layer electrically connecting the first semiconductor layer and the extending portion of the second semiconductor layer; forming a first electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and a second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer; forming a protective film covering at least a portion of the first electrode and at least a portion of the second electrode; and after forming the protective film, removing a portion of the exposed portion of the extending portion.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting element having an electrode made of a metal material on a surface of the semiconductor stacked layer body.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor light emitting element has a semiconductor stacked layer body which is formed by successively stacking an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer on a substrate, and is configured to emit light upon applying electric current to the semiconductor stacked layer body. On the semiconductor stacked layer body, electrodes for supplying current are formed, which are then covered with a protective film made of an insulating material for preventing occurrence of short circuit. In manufacturing such a semiconductor light emitting element, a method for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of elements may be adopted.
Generally, the electrodes of the semiconductor light emitting elements are made of a metal material and formed by using a lift-off method. First, a photoresist is applied to the entire upper surface of the semiconductor stacked layer body and then by using a photolithography method, openings are formed in the photoresist where the electrodes are to be formed. A metal layer is formed on the entire upper surface of the semiconductor stacked layer body and then the metal layer formed on the photoresist is removed by performing lift-off processing. Thus, the electrodes are formed at the predetermined locations.
However, with this method, migration of the material of the electrodes such as Ag may occur at the time of lift-off, resulting in deposition of metal at various locations of the semiconductor stacked layer body. The deposited metal may cause a short circuit between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, due to metal migration. Thus, metal migration has to be prevented as much as possible. For this reason, a metal such as Ag which is likely to cause migration has been deemed inappropriate as a material for electrodes.
On the other hand, Ag is a material that has both high conductivity and high reflectance, which creates a strong demand for its use as the material of the electrodes in semiconductor light emitting elements, in order to improve the luminous efficiency of the semiconductor light emitting elements.
Accordingly, for example, in a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting element described in JP 2013-171982, the potential difference between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, which may be a factor in the occurrence of migration, is canceled by causing short-circuit between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer using a conductive material (e.g., a conductor layer). The electrodes are formed in a state where the potential difference is canceled, thus, preventing the migration of the material, such as Ag, of the electrodes.
In the technologies described in JP 2013-197197A, after canceling the potential difference between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, a conductor layer made of a material such as ITO is removed by etching, thus eliminating occurrence of short-circuit. However, particles of a metal material generated at the time of etching the conductor layer may adhere to the semiconductor light emitting element, which requires further improvement in the method.

Method of manufacturing light emitting element


The present invention provides a cart system for moving product from one point to another. The system includes at least one inner cart and at least one outer cart. The outer cart includes a gate for receiving the inner cart and also includes couplers for coupling a plurality of outer carts in tandem.

The shipping process used by the food industry, as well as other industries, includes heavy duty carts with couplers that enable the carts to be joined in tandem Product may be stored in a warehouse covering a great expanse. When an order comes in from a buyer, a warehouse worker will pick the order; i.e., move about the numerous aisles of the warehouse obtaining each of the items and quantities listed in the order.
So as to economize the efforts of the worker, several orders from one or more buyers may be picked simultaneously by the worker. The worker will move about the warehouse with several carts coupled together, depending on the size and number of the orders. The carts may be pulled by a fork lift or the like. Each cart is usually loaded only with product to be delivered to the same destination.
After the orders have been picked, the carts are loaded onto a shipping means such as a trailer. Upon reaching the delivery destination, the carts are used to transport the product throughout the delivery destination for unloading. The empty carts are loaded back onto the trailer and returned to the warehouse.
The problems presented by this shipping process are that the shipping means has both weight and space limitations, yet the carts must be constructed with sufficient size and weight to pull heavy product loads about the warehouse. Additionally, many delivery destinations have space limitations which make it difficult to maneuver the carts when the product is being unloaded. Moreover, the coupling mechanisms of the carts are subject to being damaged during the delivery phase, and as a result require frequent maintenance.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a product delivery system that is compact, is light weight, and requires low-maintenance.


An instrumentation gauge for a vehicle includes a single piece light guide divided into multiple sections by an opaque light guide insert. The single piece light guide includes at least one telltale graphic printed on a surface of the light guide in each of the light guide sections. When light is communicated into a given section of the light guide, the light scatters on the telltale graphic causing the graphic to be illuminated and distinguishable from a same or similar colored background.

Instrument clusters for a vehicle are typically located on a vehicle dashboard and may include a speedometer, tachometer, engine condition indicator, ABS braking indicator, and other vehicle marks. This cluster of display marks may have lighting to illuminate each mark, when appropriate. For example, an ABS braking mark may be illuminated when the vehicle is undergoing ABS braking. In previous designs, this lighting was provided by individual lamps or LEDs that illuminate each indicator of the dashboard. The type of lighting used in these designs takes up significant space and can require a high voltage circuit to supply current to each of the lamps. A high voltage further requires insulation to protect against shock, thereby increasing the cost and size of the instrument cluster.
One alternative to the lamp illumination described above is the use of optical light guides to bring illumination to each of the display marks of the instrument cluster. However, in order to illuminate each mark individually, each mark requires its own light guide and light source. A typical example instrument cluster can have a significant number of separate indicators that require such lighting. Each light guide associated with each indicator is painstakingly assembled into the cluster one at a time. Consequently, the use of individual light guides requires a great deal of time and effort for assembly in the instrument cluster.

Instrument cluster including telltale illumination


A fenestration product includes a door assembly having a door shiftable into and out of a closed position, at least one generally flat door jamb presenting an inner face that faces inwardly toward the door when the door is in the closed position and a generally oppositely facing outer face, and door hardware positioned along the inner face of the door jamb and configured to associate the door with the door jamb. The product further includes a substantially flat reinforcement plate secured flatly against the outer face of the door jamb. Moreover, the door hardware has at least a portion thereof that is securely fastened to the reinforcement plate so that movement of the hardware relative to the doorjamb and reinforcement plate is prevented. A method of reinforcing a fenestration product in this manner is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fenestration products, such as a door assembly, for installation into a building. More particularly, the present invention concerns a reinforced fenestration product design that utilizes standard door hardware but still reduces the risk of intrusion through the product.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
The security of a building is highly dependent on the ability of an exterior door assembly to withstand large impact loads exerted against the outside of the door. This has previously been identified in our co-pending applications for U.S. Letters patent Ser. No. 08/864,547, filed May 28, 1997, entitled REINFORCED FENESTRATION PRODUCT; Ser. No. 09/136,990, filed Aug. 20, 1998, entitled REINFORCEMENT MEMBER FOR A FENESTRATION PRODUCT; Ser. No. 09/137,023, filed Aug. 20, 1998, entitled METHOD OF REINFORCING A DOOR; and Ser. No. 09/128,517, filed Aug. 3, 1998, entitled IMPROVED STRIKE PLATE FOR A DOOR ASSEMBLY; all of which are assigned of record to the assignee of the present application. It is noted that these prior applications disclose various inventions that improve the security provided by a fenestration product. As particularly indicated in the '517 application, there is still a risk of intrusion through a conventional door assembly, even though one or both of the doorjambs has been reinforced. Specifically, it has been determined that a large impact load exerted against the exterior side of the door may cause the door latch bolt and lock bolt to fail (e.g., bend). This is believed to be attributable to the fact that a conventional door assembly will often require the distal ends of the latch bolt and, more importantly, the lock bolt to resist movement of the door when a large impact load is exerted against the exterior side of the door. There will consequently be a large moment experienced by the bolts, and they therefore have a tendency to fail (e.g., bend) under these conditions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for reinforcing a door assembly


In a digital image forming apparatus, a document image is read as digital data, and an image type of bi-level image or multi-level image is discriminated from the digital data. For a bi-level image, an intensity of laser beam for exposing a photoconductor is modulated according to the image data with a duty ratio of 100%. On the other hand, for a multi-level image such as a photograph image, the intensity of laser beam is modulated with a duty ratio in the unit of two or more dots according to the image data. The duty ratio and the laser output power are changed according to a type or document image or according to sensitivity characteristic of the photoconductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus such as a digital printer or a digital copying machine which expresses gradation by modulating light intensity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a digital image forming apparatus such as a digital printer or a digital copying machine which forms an image by modulating a light intensity of a laser beam, a photoconductor is exposed in raster scan with a laser beam at an intensity modulated according to image data of a document read by an image reader. In the raster scan, the photoconductor is exposed during a time in correspondence to a length of one dot. Thus, each dot is formed in correspondence to an amplitude of image density data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor.
The modulation of laser intensity can form an image with a high resolution, while it can form an image with smooth gradation characteristic. However, this method has a disadvantage in that pit noises along the subscan direction is liable to occur to deteriorate image quality. Further, gradation correction needed to correct the nonlinear gradation characteristic between image density on a document and output image density on a paper is affected by environment conditions and the like. Especially for a color image forming apparatus, image quality and gradation correction are important because a document including a color photograph is reproduced usually.
In order to solve the problems, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/971,055, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,614 discloses that an interval is provided between light emitting periods or the laser beam irradiates the photoconductor intermittently. By providing such intervals, the above-mentioned pitch noises do not become noticeable and this improves the smoothness of an image. Further, the nonlinearity of gradation characteristic which also affects image quality is also improved, and the image can be reproduced more stably. A duty ratio, defined as a ratio of a light-emitting period to a sum of the light-emitting period and a non-light-emitting period, can be changed. It is also disclosed that the above-mentioned interval is provided in the unit of a plurality of dots, say two dots.
Though the introduction of duty ratio improves the image quality and gradation characteristic as mentioned above, the image quality also depends on a kind of image such as a photograph image, and gradation characteristic is affected by environment such as humidity. Therefore, it is desirable that an image quality is improved more by taking them into account.


A novel human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 and a monoclonal antibody ABC71 for preventing AG-CD71 are provided. The human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 is an abnormal glycosylated transferrin receptor TFRC; the abnormal glycosylated transferrin receptor TFRC refers to the TFRC carrying a saccharide structure Fucal-4(GlcNAcbl-3)[6OSO3]GlcNAc as an epitope. Also provided is an antibody for the human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71; the antibody is the monoclonal antibody ABC71 specific for the human bladder cancer AG-CD71; the monoclonal antibody is secreted from the hybridoma cell strain the preservation number of which is CGMCC No. 14312.

Bladder cancer is a malignant tumor on bladder mucosa, and is the most common malignant tumor, which also is one of ten common tumors. In China, its incidence rate ranks first in terms of urogenital neoplasms, but in western countries, its incidence rate ranks only second to prostate cancer. In China, as aging of population is aggravating, the smoking population is increasing, and industrialization process and environmental pollution are exacerbating, the incidence rate of bladder cancer is increasing year by year, and the overall incidence rate is in the 6th place among men, which ranks first in terms of urogenital neoplasms; wherein the incidence rate among men is 4 times of that among women, and the incidence rate increases with age. It is a serious damage to the health of population in China.
At present, the diagnosis and follow-up mainly depend on urethrocystoscopy. However, invasive urethrocystoscopy is expensive and inconvenient, it not only greatly painful for patients, but also has the risks of infection and bleeding etc. Urine is an ideal source of tumor markers. It is very necessary to find an efficient, simple and convenient, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic method for detecting bladder cancer by urine.
Transferrin receptor TFRC is a transmembrane glycoprotein on the surface of cells, of which the molecular weight is approximate 180 kD, and is consisted of two homologous dimer subunits crossed by two disulfide bonds. TFRC participates in iron absorption and cell growth regulation, and is an important medium for normal iron metabolism of human body. It has a low expression in all normal karyocytes, and has a relatively high expression level in cells with a high proliferation rate. Its expression is increased more significant especially in tumor cells possibly due to their requirement for iron. In recent years, TFRC gradually becomes a hot spot in basic and clinical researches and of tumor diseases.
Therefore, based on that the abnormal glycosylation of TFRC can change the malignancy of tumor cells, investigating the abnormal glycosylation of TFRC in bladder cancer provides a novel target for the screening, diagnosis, prognosis estimation and treatment of bladder cancer, and is very important for the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer.

Human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 and antibody ABC71 and application thereof


In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to measure compressional wave velocities in a geological formation surrounding a first well, to provide measured compressional wave velocity data, and to subsequently determine corrected compressional wave velocities for the first well. These corrected compressional wave velocities for the first well may be determined using a combination of the measured compressional wave velocity data and corrected compressional wave velocity data associated with one or more second wells. Predicted pore pressure data for the first well may be subsequently generated, using the corrected compressional wave velocities for the first well. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.

Understanding the structure and properties of geological formations can reduce the cost of drilling wells for oil and gas exploration. Measurements made in a borehole (i.e., down hole measurements) are typically performed to attain this understanding, to identify the composition and distribution of material that surrounds the measurement device down hole.
For example, compressional wave velocity measurements can be used to predict pore pressure in non-gas bearing formations, where the pore pressure can be used to determine various characteristics of the formation. However, the presence of gas and total organic carbon (TOC) in the formation can affect measurement accuracy. Pore pressure prediction in these circumstances (e.g., in shale gas formations) may be even more useful, because the pressure can increase from a relatively normal to abnormally high values over a comparatively short depth interval. Thus, pore pressure prediction in shale gas plays may offer even greater challenges than in other types of reservoirs.

Compressional velocity correction apparatus, methods, and systems


The present invention includes a process for making a mixture of homogeneous texturizing or flavoring particles that include fiber and protein from a mixture of heterogeneous particles. The process includes providing a mixture of heterogeneous particles that comprises particles of a cereal grain having a flavor and a fiber concentration. The process also includes moistening the particles to form a dough-like mixture, extruding the mixture and cutting the extruded mixture to form homogeneous texturizing and flavoring particles. The present invention also relates to an edible flake that includes a cereal grain. The edible flake includes an imparted flavor and a fiber concentration.

The present invention relates to an extruded flavored and texturized particle and to a process for making the particle.
Process steps of mixing, transporting and storing a particulated bulk solid material have been exceedingly difficult to accomplish without detrimentally changing the bulk solid material. The detrimental changes have occurred as a consequence of particle segregation, particle breakage, particle reaction and degradation.
The particle segregation problem is exacerbated for bulk solid particle mixtures that include several different materials, i.e. heterogeneous particle mixtures. This is because the different materials have particles of different densities as well as different particle size distributions and different shapes. Particle based condiments are one type of heterogeneous particle mixture.
An additional problem for heterogeneous particle mixtures is one of surface properties of particles that cause some particles to stick to each other and subsequently segregate on the basis of weight. Some particles may be exceedingly brittle and break apart when the heterogeneous mixture is handled. These types of brittle particles are responsible for an inordinate amount of fines in a final mixed product.
Undesirable consequences result from segregation, breakage, and reaction of heterogeneous particles used to flavor food. Food flavoring is inconsistent within the particle mixture. The texture of the food also undesirably changes as a result of fines generation.

Method of flavoring and texturizing food particles and the flavored and texturized food particle


A secure computer controlling access to internal devices via an integrated card reader. A microprocessor-controlled card reader interface logically connected to the CPU of the computer reads and writes information from and to a card placed in the card reader and performs additional functions in response to commands received from the CPU. The boot ROM of the computer is programmed to start execution from a program logic device which runs a verification program to verify the authenticity of a user. Upon a valid user card being placed in the card reader, one or more questions are read from the card and displayed to the user. The user's responses are saved and compared to the correct answers stored on the card, and if the responses match the correct answers, a power control circuit is used by the CPU to turn on power to computer peripherals the user has been authorized to use.. The system additionally provides for a method of initializing and authorizing a user card with a security administrator card. Upon a valid security administrator card being placed in the card reader, a security administrator initializes and authorizes one or more individual user cards by selecting from a list of menu options displayed to the security administrator. The security administrator inputs a list of questions and answers which are then stored on the user card for use during the verification procedure.. The system further provides for the physical and logical destruction of data in response to unauthorized attempts by a user to violate the physical or logical integrity of the computer system. The physical and logical destruction of data may be disabled for maintenance or configuration purposes by the use of a maintenance card.

The power and flexibility of personal computers has seen a tremendous growth in their use in all areas of our society, including applications where the data is sensitive in nature. Traditionally, these applications have been found within agencies of the federal government, but the highly competitive marketplace has made such information as marketing, financial, and business plans equally as sensitive to companies who compete against each other in the commercial sector as well.
In the early years of the industry when computers were large mainframes, it was relatively easy to control access to them simply by controlling physical access to the room they were contained in. Since modern personal computers are much smaller and may in fact be designed to be carried with a user, it is much more difficult to prevent unauthorized access while still maintaining the advantage of portability.
While it is possible through a software program running on the computer to require a user to enter a password or other verification code, this method is not robust in that a password may be guessed, or the software program may be bypassed by commercially available software development tools. Other security methods involving various hardware devices or keys have been proposed and implemented, but they too suffer from the disadvantage that a sufficiently knowledgeable and persistent user may gain unauthorized access to data by tapping into the computer's operating system with specially designed software programs. For applications with particularly sensitive data, it may also be desirable to provide a way to physically and logically destroy the data before it becomes compromised.
Therefore, there is a need to have a convenient way to prevent the unauthorized use of a computer system which is not subject to bypass while still maintaining the portability and flexibility of the computer system. There is an additional need to provide a way to authorize users to use the computer system. There is a further need to physically and logically destroy data in response to unauthorized attempts by a user to violate the physical or logical integrity of the computer system.

Preboot protection of unauthorized use of programs and data with a card reader interface

Integrated Technologies of America, Inc.


The present invention involves a method for separating a first copper-containing mineral from a second copper-containing mineral using froth flotation where one of the minerals has a more readily oxidizable surface than the other. Prior to flotation, a slurry containing the copper-containing minerals is oxidized and conditioned to achieve an effective pH. Thereafter, the slurry is subjected to a froth flotation process by which a first copper-containing mineral, such as chalcocite, and a second copper-containing mineral, such as enargite, are recovered.

A major operation in mineral processing involves the separation of desirable minerals from ore bodies within which the minerals are contained. Froth flotation is a common technique employed to facilitate such separation. In froth flotation, ground ore is typically fed as an aqueous slurry to froth flotation cells. The chemistry of the slurry is adjusted such that certain minerals selectively attach to air bubbles which rise upward through the slurry and are collected in froth near the top of a flotation cell. Thereafter, minerals in the froth can be separated from different minerals in the cell.
The surfaces of specific mineral particles in aqueous suspension are treated with chemicals called flotation reagents or collectors. Flotation reagents provide the desired mineral to be floated with a water-repellent air-avid coating that will easily adhere to an air bubble, which will raise the mineral through the slurry to the surface. The minerals are trapped within froth which is generated by vigorous agitation and aeration of the slurry in the presence of a frothing agent. The valuable mineral separated and collected during the flotation process may be either the froth product or the underflow product.
Other chemical agents, such as depressants or modifiers, can also be added to the slurry to aid in mineral separation. The presence of depressants generally assists in selectivity and/or stops unwanted minerals from floating. Modifiers facilitate collection of desired minerals. Modifiers include several classes of chemicals such as activators, alkalinity regulators and dispersants. Activators are used to make a mineral surface amenable to collector coatings. Alkalinity regulators are used to control and adjust pH, an important factor in many flotation separations. Dispersants are important for control of slimes which sometimes interfere with selectivity and increase reagent consumption.
One difficulty encountered in froth flotation is the separation of a first copper-containing mineral from a second copper-containing mineral. Typically, two such minerals will collect together during traditional froth flotation. An example of such minerals are chalcocite and enargite.
Generally, a copper-containing mineral slurry is conditioned to achieve an effective pH, that is a pH that will help effectuate desired mineral separation. The slurry is subjected to a copper flotation process, using a collector and frother as required. However, when a slurry contains a first and second copper-containing minerals with similar flotation characteristics, the process is unsatisfactory due to inefficiency in achieving the desired copper-containing mineral separation. Specifically, the separation of chalcocite from enargite using a traditional flotation process is typically unsuccessful because both minerals will generally float.
Practitioners of the froth flotation art have sought to separate desired copper-containing minerals from a second similarly floatable copper-containing mineral, but have met with limited success. One method which has been employed to enhance the separation of such minerals is to grind the mineral containing ore to an extremely fine size, e.g., less than 625 mesh. In this way, particles are formed which typically have surface characteristics of a base mineral, allowing conventional flotation techniques to be utilized. However, it is relatively expensive to grind the minerals to such an extremely fine size, and the degree of separation is often times still less than desired.
As a result, it would be advantageous to have a process for efficiently and economically separating a desired copper-containing mineral from a second copper-containing mineral having similar flotability characteristics. In particular, it would be advantageous to have a froth flotation process for effectively separating chalcocite from enargite, since it is known in the art that a high grade enargite concentrate can be economically processed using a special smelting process. Likewise, a high grade chalcocite concentrate, mostly free from enargite, can also be efficiently smelted. It would also be advantageous if the process for separating copper-containing minerals could be accomplished using ordinary flotation equipment, to produce a high grade desired copper-containing mineral concentrate.

Method for achieving enhanced copper-containing mineral concentrate grade by oxidation and flotation


The present disclosure relates to an imaging device, a method for manufacturing an imaging device, and an electronic device capable of reducing light entering an electric-charge holding unit in a back-illuminated imaging device. An imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit; an electric-charge holding unit; a semiconductor substrate; a wiring layer; an insulation film layer; a first light-shielding film; and a second light-shielding film. The insulation film layer, the first light-shielding film, and the wiring layer are stacked on a second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second light-shielding film includes: a first light-shielding portion extending from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate to a middle of the semiconductor substrate; a second light-shielding portion penetrating the semiconductor substrate; and a third light-shielding portion covering a part of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.

In a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor having a global shutter function, an electric-charge holding unit is provided in a semiconductor substrate. The electric-charge holding unit temporarily holds electric charge generated by a photoelectric conversion unit. In a case where light enters the electric-charge holding unit, unnecessary electric charge is generated. Accordingly, optical noise is generated, deteriorating image quality. In view of the circumstances, a study has been conventionally conducted to reduce light entering the electric-charge holding unit.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a first embodiment in which among the surfaces of an electric-charge holding unit, the top surface and the bottom surface are covered by light shielding films. The top surface of the electric-charge holding unit is at the incident-surface side of a semiconductor substrate from which light enters. The bottom surface is opposite to the top surface. This configuration prevents not only light entering from the incident surface side of the semiconductor substrate but also light reflected off a wiring layer stacked on the surface opposite to the incident surface of the semiconductor substrate from entering the electric-charge holding unit.
Further, PTL 1 discloses a second embodiment in which the light shielding film covers the top surface and the side surfaces of the electric-charge holding unit and a part of the light shielding film on the side surfaces penetrates the semiconductor substrate. This configuration allows blocking of light that would otherwise enter the side surfaces of the electric-charge holding unit in a more reliable manner.

Imaging device, method for manufacturing imaging device, and electronic device


A system for performing face registration and authentication using face information, and a method thereof. A set of readily distinguishable features for each user is selected at a registration step and only the set of features selected at the registration step is used at a face authentication step, whereby memory use according to unnecessary information and amount of data calculation for face authentication can be reduced. Thus, the present system has an advantage in that identity authentication through face authentication can be performed even under restricted environments of a USB token or smart card with limited resources. The present system further has advantages in that authentication performance is improved, as readily distinguishable feature information is used, and the time for face authentication is reduced, as face authentication is performed using the SVM built by using the optimal set of readily distinguishable features at a training step.

As well known to those skilled in the art, an identity authentication system is used to restrict an access to a certain region or building, which needs security, to only previously registered persons. Among identity authentication systems, a smart card system is widely used, wherein various personal information of a user and PIN number for gaining an access to a certain building are stored in a smart card so that the access is given to the user only when the personal information and PIN number in the card are matched to those previously registered. However, the smart card system has a disadvantage in that a surreptitious use, counterfeiting and altering of the card by another person are relatively easy.
In recent days, interest is directed to a technological field of biometric identification using unique biometric information of a user such as a retina, iris, fingerprint, signature, voice or face for identity authentication, because of its superior security. Since security is a main concern of society, users require more reliable security systems. Thus, a security system using biometric identification shows significant increase in use in spite of its high establishment cost.
A conventional biometric information authentication system using the fingerprint, retina, iris, signature or etc. has a problem of causing inconvenience to a user upon entering biometric information, wherein the system forces the user to perform a certain behavior such as personally entering fingerprint information in a fingerprint recognition device or placing eyes very close to a iris recognition device. When face information among above biometric information is used, inconvenience or discomfort that the user experiences upon entering biometric information is much reduced, which is advantageous. Therefore, researches and studies into identity authentication technology using face identification have been actively conducted.
The researches and studies into the face identification can be conventionally classified into a holistic approach and an analytic approach.
The holistic approach represents a universe characteristic of face image domain by using a set of orthonormal basis vectors. One now widely used among the basis vectors is an eigenface. The eigenface is derived from the covariance analysis of the face image population. If two faces are sufficiently identical to each other in an eigenface feature space, they are regarded as the same. For example, a template matching-based face recognition system employs such holistic approach. The holistic approach considers all parts of a pattern, uses information of a whole image, thereby causing a problem of slow data processing.
The analytic approach extracts such facial attributes as nose and eyes from the face image and uses the invariance of geometric properties among the face landmark features, to thereby recognize the features of a face. This approach requires high recognition speed and low-memory, while the selection and extraction of features are difficult.
Recently, among the researches and studies into the face identification, a research and study using SVMs (Support Vector Machines) capable of performing a fine classification function has been actively conducted. The face identification usually applies the SVMs to information of whole face image, whereby the SVMs has to store SVs (Support Vectors) of high dimensions in order to store an OSH (Optimal Separating Hyperplane). This causes a problem in the SVMs themselves, that a large memory is required. Therefore, the face identification has a problem that it is hard to use in restricted environments, such as those with a limited memory and capability of calculation.

System for registering and authenticating human face using support vector machines and method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The disclosure herein provides a heat management system for a vehicle, comprising: a first heat circuit in which first heat medium flows; a second heat circuit in which second heat medium flows; and a main heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the second heat medium to the first heat medium. The first heat circuit comprises: a compressor; a cabin heater; a first air heat exchanger; an evaporator; a first bypass channel configured to allow the first heat medium to bypass the main heat exchanger; and a first switching valve by which one of the main heat exchanger and the evaporator is selected as a flow destination of the first heat medium flowing out from the first air heat exchanger. A single heat circuit (the first heat circuit) can achieve both heating and cooling of the air in the cabin.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-181594 describes a heat management system mounted on a vehicle. The heat management system includes a plurality of heat circuits (an engine cooling circuit, a cooling water circuit, etc.) in which heat medium circulates. The heat management system is configured to cool an engine by the engine cooling circuit and heat air in a cabin of the vehicle by heat obtained from the engine. The cooling water circuit has a function of cooling an inverter configured to supply electric power to an electric traction motor and a function of cooling the cabin. In the heat management system of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-181594, a cabin heater is incorporated in the engine cooling circuit and a cabin cooler is incorporated in the cooling water circuit.


The present invention allows for the reduction in power consumption of memory devices. A memory device in one embodiment prohibits address signal propagation on internal address buses based upon a function being performed by the memory. As such, some, all or none of the externally provided address signals are allowed to transition past address buffer circuitry.

Memory devices are widely used in processing systems and consumer products. One type of memory device is a dynamic random access memory. Various kinds of DRAMs are commonly used. Typical examples are the synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) in which data is stored or retrieved in synchronism with a system clock and a double-data-rate SDRAM (DDR-SDRAM) which makes it possible to use both edges of a clock pulse as triggers for data access. In addition to the above described DRAMs, a RAMBUS DRAM (RDRAM) (under specifications of Rambus Inc.) in which data transfer is enabled at a high speed with a protocol-based command, and the like have also been developed.
Three prominent trends in memory design and manufacturing have been the reduction in component size, reduced operating power levels and the increase in operating speed. These three trends are interrelated and often adversely affect each other. For example, component size reductions are necessary to achieve desired memory storage density without significant increases in die size. The reduction in component size can increase communication line resistances, which result in slower operating speeds and increased power consumption.
All memory devices use an addressing scheme to access memory cells, or locations. Specifically, many memory devices have memory cell arrays that are arranged in multiple banks of rows and columns. External address input connections are used to provide the bank, row and column addresses. These addresses are usually buffered and routed to different locations of the memory device.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a memory device address management system that allows for reduced power consumption.


An electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention includes: an electrolyte membrane; an anode-side electrode including an anode-side catalyst layer disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane and an anode-side gas diffusion layer formed on the anode-side catalyst layer beyond a surface-direction end of the anode-side catalyst layer; an anode-side adhesive layer disposed on at least a part of a periphery of the anode-side catalyst layer; and an anode-side gasket layer disposed in contact with the anode-side adhesive layer, wherein a surface-direction inner end of the anode-side adhesive lay is located inside beyond a surface-direction inner end of the anode-side gasket layer, and a part of the anode-side adhesive layer is located to overlap with a part of the anode-side gas diffusion layer with respect to a thickness direction. Further, on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, cathode-side respective layers having the same constructions as above are disposed.

In recent years, a fuel cell capable of operating even at room temperature and obtaining a high output density has attracted attention as a power supply for an electric vehicle and a stationary power supply in response to social demand and trend against a backdrop of energy/environmental problems. In the fuel cell, a product generated by an electrode reaction is water in theory, and the fuel cell is a clean power generation system that hardly affects the terrestrial environment. In particular, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell operates at a relatively low temperature, and accordingly, has been expected as the power supply for the electric vehicle.
In general, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a single cell in which a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is sandwiched between separators on which gas flow passages and the like are formed. The electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is one formed by disposing electrodes having catalyst layers and gas diffusion layers on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane. Ends of the electrolyte membrane in a surface direction protrude from ends of the electrodes in the surface direction to the outside. And, on such protrusions of the electrolyte membrane, gasket layers having a gas sealing function are provided in order to prevent gas leakage to the electrodes opposite thereto or gas leakage to the outside.
In the conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell, in some case, a clearance has occurred between each of the separators and each of the gasket layers, and fuel or oxidant gas has leaked therefrom, whereby performance of the fuel cell has been decreased, and intimate contact property between each of the separators and each of the electrodes cannot be ensured sufficiently, resulting in that desired power generation characteristics are not exerted. In this connection, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2002-324556, there has been disclosed a single cell in which an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly having gasket layers is sandwiched by separators, wherein a thickness of the gasket layers before being sandwiched by the separators is made thinner than a thickness of electrodes.

Electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and production method thereof


A rotator cuff stretching machine with pivoting members provides for simultaneously stretching of the rotator cuff, shoulder and elbow in selective upper arm positions of yaw and pitch angles and selective elbow positions of flexion or extension. The apparatus adjusts to allow internal and external rotation stretching of the shoulder at levels of abduction from 45 degrees to 100 degrees and allows that stretch to be accomplished at various levels of horizontal adduction and abduction. The apparatus comprises an arm assembly which includes a forearm assembly for receiving a forearm of the user pivotably joined to an upper arm assembly for receiving the corresponding upper arm of the user. The arm assembly is attached to a rotating assembly so that rotation of the rotating assembly causes the arm assembly to rotate. The rotation assembly and attached arm assembly is attached to a vertical support that rotates in horizontal yaw on a vertical yaw pivot pin. This rotation produces horizontal adduction and abduction of the shoulder and arm assembly. The arm assembly is pivotably connected to the rotating assembly with a pitch pivot joint that allows the upper arm assembly to alter its pitch angle. The arm assembly also is adjustable to the length of upper arm.

The rotator cuff of the shoulder is a group of four muscles that are primarily responsible for internal and external rotation of the arm and shoulder. This muscle group is very prone to injury from overhead throwing, lifting and various activities performed overhead. The lack of flexibility of the rotator cuff is a primary cause of many of these injuries. Stretching these tissues correctly is the way to prevent and or rehabilitate injuries and increase range of motion of these joints, and their associated connective tissues.
The optimal way to stretch a muscle is to do so without causing contraction of the stretched muscle. This can only be accomplished by performing passive static stretching. This method allows stretching force to be applied to the connective tissue of the muscle without causing active bonding of the contractile components. Longtime use of this method of stretching breaks down scar tissue and adhesions and stimulates the healing process of the connective tissue. This results in elongation of the connective tissue fibers which are also less rigid and more elastic. Carefully controlling the amount of tension applied to these tissues during stretching is the safest method. This makes the tissue less likely to reach its end point of flexibility during the stretch-contraction cycle and consequently less prone to tearing and injury.
The rotator is not easily stretched correctly with the arm abducted around 90 degrees, which is the position employed by previously-existing exercisers. Abduction of a shoulder with impingement syndrome causes the supraspinatus muscle of the rotator cuff to contract. When this occurs during stretching it is less effective as a stretch and could possibly irritate or further injure the muscle. One way to stretch the rotator cuff and shoulder into external or internal rotation while putting less stress on the cuff is to move the arm into horizontal adduction. Another way to reduce impingement and stress on the shoulder during internal and external rotation, is to decrease the amount of abduction the arm is placed in while stretching.
Stretching the arm when it is abducted at 90 degrees and internally or externally rotated also puts a stretch on the tissues of the elbow. Having a device that would allow the arm to be extended while in these positions would allow the user to maintain the stretch on the shoulder while changing the forces on the elbow to that which would be pain free and beneficial. When the shoulder is stretched with the elbow bent at 90 degrees, pain may be caused at the elbow which prevents the appropriate level of stretch on the shoulder. Extending the elbow (straight) allows the shoulder to be stretched in this circumstance because the elbow pain will be eliminated. Also, for persons with elbow tendonitis (i.e., tennis elbow, little league elbow), stretching the elbow into proration and supination with the elbow extended (straight at 180 degrees) is beneficial in treating elbow tendonitis.
A currently-used method for stretching the rotator cuff into internal and external rotation while the arm is abducted is to lie on one's back on the edge of a table and let the forearm hang over the edge, while holding a weight in ones' hand. While this stretches the muscles, the weight applies a force against the muscles, which may or may not be the exact level of tension needed to produce a beneficial stretch. This stretch applied to a contracting muscle would be more likely to cause injury, and provide a less effective stretch on the connective tissue. The foregoing method is much more easily applied to the movement of external rotation than internal rotation. Internal rotation done using the above method allows much more movement of the scapula. This would make the likelihood of active contraction during the internal rotation stretching process greater. Another similar method is to have another person hold the arm abducted while moving the forearm into internal and external rotation.
Another method used to stretch the rotator cuff requires the assistance of another person. A partner places the arm in the 90.degree. abducted position, while the user to be stretched lies on the user's back, or is standing. This method has two drawbacks. The first is that a second person is required and the second is that the person applying this force must be very responsive to feedback from the user about the intensity of the stretch. Too much pressure can very easily injure the rotator cuff. Therefore, the user being stretched does not have complete control over the force of the stretch being applied. In other words, the user is required to place his or her injured and sore arm, as well as his or her complete trust, in a therapist's hands. This is particularly a difficult situation, especially in the beginning of a therapy program. Patients tend to guard their muscles during the stretching, resulting in non-voluntary contractions of the muscles being stretched. This can be very painful for the user and frustrating for the therapist. Oftentimes, extended periods are required to do a few short stretches.
Currently, there are devices that are used to increase range of motion of the shoulder known as constant passive motion machines (CPM). These are motorized devices that attach to a chair and are used by physicians after shoulder surgery and manipulations of frozen shoulders. Certain CPM devices can initiate shoulder flexion and abduction as well as combining abduction with external rotation. However, these devices do not allow the user to move into selective levels of horizontal adduction or extend the elbow. These devices also use motors to provide movement and not direct application and control by physical means the user.
There are also a number of machines that strengthen the shoulder and rotator cuff with the arm at 90 degrees of abduction and the elbow flexed at 90 degrees. However, those machines apply resistance via weight plates against gravity. This does not allow the user to control the amount of stretch or tension being applied to the musculature. It is determined by the amount of weight that has been previously loaded onto the machine. This could be more or less than the amount that is beneficial which amount is best measured only by the user during use. A machine that is designed to provide the exact amount of tension in positions that are comfortable and physiologically safe under the current level of injury to the shoulder would provide a better method of prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder and elbow injuries.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a machine for increasing flexibility that can place the user in various levels of abduction, horizontal adduction, internal and external rotation and elbow flexion or extension at the same time. It is a further object that the machine simultaneously stretch the rotator cuff, shoulder and elbow in selective positions. It is another object that the machine provide the user with complete control of the intensity of stretch via self-imposed manual means that places the shoulder and elbow in positions that allow the stretch to be done when other positions would be painfull and therefore not performable. It is yet another object that the machine be adapted to rehabilitate elbow tendonitis by applying proration and supination (internal and external rotation of the forearm) at the proper intensity. It is a final object that the machine be usable to treat elbow problems as well as shoulder problems, or allow treatment of one area when pain in the other prevents certain therapeutic stretching.

Shoulder, rotator cuff, and elbow stretching machine


The present invention resolves the problem by using a multilayer-structured carbon material, as a nonaqueous electrolytic solution secondary battery negative electrode, which satisfies the following (a) and (b):                (a) (Void fraction calculated from DBP oil absorption)/(Void fraction calculated from tapping density) is less than 1.01; and        (b) Surface oxygen content (O/C) determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 1.5 atomic % or more.

In recent years, with miniaturization of electronic devices, a demand for high capacity secondary batteries has increased. Particularly, attention has been attracted to a lithium ion secondary battery having a high energy density and excellent large-current charge-discharge behavior as compared with nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel-hydrogen batteries.
It is known to use graphite as a carbon material for the lithium ion secondary battery. Particularly, when graphite having a large graphitization degree is used as a carbon material for the lithium ion secondary battery, a capacity close to 372 mAh/g that is a theoretical capacity for lithium occlusion of graphite is obtained and furthermore, costs and durability are also excellent, so that it is known that the graphite is preferable as an active material.
However, when graphite is only applied to the lithium ion secondary battery, it is difficult to increase the energy density, obtain the large-current charge-discharge behavior, and exhibit durability characteristics represented by cycle characteristics and applicability of a paste simultaneously.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a lithium ion secondary battery using an aqueous binding agent can be also charged fast by subjecting graphite particles to a mechanochemical treatment and thereby hydrophilizing surfaces of the graphite particles.

Multilayer-structured carbon material for nonaqueous electrolytic solution secondary battery negative electrode, negative electrode for nonaqueous secondary battery, lithium ion secondary battery, and process for producing multilayer-structured carbon material for nonaqueous electrolytic solution secondary battery negative electrode


Systems and methods are disclosed for backing up a computer with a distributed meta data store by splitting meta data from file data; storing the meta data for each file in a separate file; mapping the file data and meta data to an arbitrary file system; and reconstructing files for the arbitrary file system.

A distributed data store is either a distributed database where users store information on a number of nodes, or a computer network in which users store information on a number of peer network nodes. Distributed data store are non-relational databases that make a quick access to data over a large number of nodes possible. Examples for this kind of data stores are Google's BigTable, which is much more than a distributed file system or a peer-to-peer network, Amazon's Dynamo and Windows Azure Storage.
As the ability of arbitrary querying is not as important as the availability, designers of distributed data stores have increased the latter at an expense of consistency in certain implementations. But the high-speed read/write access results in reduced consistency, as it is hard to have consistency, availability, and partition tolerance of the network.
As companies today become more accustomed to storing important company information on their data network, the value of these networks and the data they store continues to grow. In fact, many companies now identify the data stored on their computer network as their most valuable corporate asset.