A process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of composite particles composed of addition polymer and finely divided inorganic solid is described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of particles composed of addition polymer and finely divided inorganic solid (composite particles), in which process a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers is dispersely distributed in aqueous medium and is polymerized by the method of free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization by means of at least one free-radical polymerization initiator in the presence of at least one dispersely distributed, finely divided inorganic solid and at least one anionic, cationic and nonionic dispersant. The present invention further relates to the use of the aqueous dispersion of composite particles and to the composite-particle powders obtainable therefrom.
2. Description of the Background
Aqueous dispersions of composite particles are general knowledge. They are fluid systems whose disperse phase in the aqueous dispersion medium comprises polymer coils consisting of a plurality of intertwined polymer chains—known as the polymer matrix—and particles composed of finely divided inorganic solid, which are in disperse distribution. The diameter of the composite particles is frequently within the range from 30 to 5000 nm.
Like polymer solutions when the solvent is evaporated and aqueous polymer dispersions when the aqueous dispersion medium is evaporated, aqueous dispersions of composite particles have the potential to form modified polymer films containing finely divided inorganic solid, and on account of this potential they are of particular interest as modified binders—for example, for paints or for compositions for coating leather, paper or plastics films. The composite-particle powders obtainable in principle from aqueous dispersions of composite particles are, furthermore, of interest as additives for plastics, as components for toner formulations, or as additives in electrophotographic applications.
The preparation of aqueous dispersions of composite particles is based on the following prior art.
A process for preparing polymer-enveloped inorganic particles by means of aqueous emulsion polymerization is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,500. In this process the inorganic particles are coated with water-insoluble polymers before the actual aqueous emulsion polymerization. The inorganic particles thus treated in a complex process are dispersed in an aqueous medium using special stabilizers.
EP-A 104 498 relates to a process for preparing polymer-enveloped solids. A characteristic of the process is that finely divided solids having a minimal surface charge are dispersed in the aqueous polymerization medium by means of a nonionic protective colloid and the ethylenically unsaturated monomers added are polymerized by means of nonionic polymerization initiators.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,660 discloses a process for preparing aqueous dispersions whose disperse particles feature inorganic particles surrounded completely by a polymer shell. The aqueous dispersions are prepared by free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization of hydrophobic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of inorganic particles in disperse distribution.
A process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of uncharged inorganic solid particles stabilized in the aqueous reaction medium using nonionic dispersants is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,401.
The free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of modified silicon dioxide particles is described by Furusawa et al. in Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 109 (1986) 69 to 76. The spherical silicon dioxide particles, having an average diameter of 190 nm, are modified using hydroxypropylcellulose.
Hergeth et al. (see Polymer 30 (1989) 254 to 258) describe the free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate and, respectively, vinyl acetate in the presence of aggregated, finely divided quartz powder. The particle sizes of the aggregated quartz powder used are between 1 and 35 μm.
GB-A 2 227 739 relates to a special emulsion polymerization process in which ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized using ultrasound waves in the presence of dispersed inorganic powders which have cationic charges. The cationic charges of the dispersed solid particles are generated by treating the particles with cationic agents, preference being given to aluminum salts. The document, however, gives no details of particle sizes and stability of the aqueous dispersions of solids.
EP-A 505 230 discloses the free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of surface-modified silicon dioxide particles. They are functionalized using special acrylic esters containing silanol groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,882 relates to the preparation of composite particles by means of a special emulsion polymerization process. Essential features of the process are finely divided inorganic particles dispersed in the aqueous medium by means of basic dispersants; the treatment of these inorganic particles with ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids; and the addition of at least one amphiphilic component for the purpose of stabilizing the dispersion of solids during the emulsion polymerization. The finely divided inorganic particles preferably have a size of between 100 and 700 nm.
Haga et al. (cf. Angewandte Makromolekulare Chemie189 (1991) 23 to 34) describe the influence of the nature and concentration of the monomers, the nature and concentration of the polymerization initiator, and the pH on the formation of polymers on particles of titanium dioxide dispersed in an aqueous medium. High encapsulation yields of the titanium dioxide particles are obtained if the polymer chains and the titanium dioxide particles have opposite charges. However, the publication contains no information on the particle size and the stability of the titanium dioxide dispersions.
In Tianjin Daxue Xuebao 4 (1991) 10 to 15, Long et al. describe the dispersant-free polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of finely divided particles of silicon dioxide and, respectively, of aluminum oxide. High encapsulation yields of the inorganic particles are obtained if the end groups of the polymer chains and the inorganic particles have opposite charges.
EP-A 572 128 relates to a preparation process for composite particles in which the inorganic particles are treated with an organic polyacid or a salt thereof at a defined pH in an aqueous medium, and the subsequent free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers takes place at a pH<9.
Bourgeat-Lami et al. (cf. Angewandte Makromolekulare Chemie 242 (1996) 105 to 122) describe the reaction products obtainable by free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethyl acrylate in the presence of functionalized and unfunctionalized silicon dioxide particles. The polymerization experiments were generally carried out using anionically charged silicon dioxide particles, the nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate NP30 and the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as emulsifiers, and potassium peroxodisulfate as free-radical polymerization initiator. The authors describe the resulting reaction products as aggregates containing more than one silicon dioxide particle or as polymer clusters which form on the silicon dioxide surface.
Paulke et al. (cf. Synthesis Studies of Paramagnetic Polystyrene Latex Particles in Scientific and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers, pages 69 to 76, Plenum Press, New York, 1997) describe three fundamental synthesis routes for preparing aqueous polymer dispersions containing iron oxide. Because of the deficient stability of the aqueous dispersion of solids, the use of freshly precipitated iron(II/III) oxide hydrate is an unavoidable precondition for all of the synthesis routes. In the first synthesis route, in the presence of this freshly precipitated iron(II/III) oxide hydrate, the free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization of styrene takes place with SDS as emulsifier and potassium peroxodisulfate as polymerization initiator. In the authors— favored second synthesis route, styrene and methacrylic acid are polymerized in the presence of the freshly precipitated iron(II/III) oxide hydrate, the emulsifier N-cetyl-N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and special surface-active polymerization initiators (PEGA 600) in methanolic/aqueous medium. The third synthesis route uses ethanol and methoxyethanol as polymerization medium, hydroxypropylcellulose as emulsifier, benzoyl peroxide as polymerization initiator, and a special iron(II/III) oxide/styrene mixture in order to prepare polymer dispersions containing iron oxide.
Armes et al. (cf. Advanced Materials 11 (5) (1999) 408 to 410) describe the preparation of silicon dioxide composite particles which are obtainable in an emulsifier-free, free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization at a pH of 10 with special olefinically unsaturated monomers in the presence of dispersed silicon dioxide particles. Postulated as a precondition for the formation of polymer particles containing silicon dioxide is a strong acid/base interaction between the polymer formed and the acidic silicon dioxide particles used. Polymer particles containing silicon dioxide were obtained with poly-4-vinylpyridine and copolymers of styrene and, respectively, methyl methacrylate with 4-vinylpyridine. As the smallest possible content of 4-vinylpyridine in methyl methacrylate and/or styrene monomer mixtures which were capable of forming composite particles comprising silicon dioxide, from 4 to 10 mol % were stated.
In the German patent application bearing the file reference 19942777.1, unpublished at the priority date of the present specification, a process for preparing aqueous composite-particle dispersions is described wherein the dispersed inorganic solid particles and the radical-generating and/or dispersing components used in the free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization have opposite charges.
In the German patent application bearing the file reference 10000281.1, likewise unpublished at the priority date of the present specification, the same applicant describes a process for preparing aqueous composite-particle dispersions wherein the dispersed inorganic solid particles have a nonzero electrophoretic mobility and wherein specific copolymers are used for the aqueous emulsion polymerization.

Method for producing an aqueous dispersion of particles composed of a polymer and a fine-particle inorganic solid


A computing environment includes client computers in communication with a mainframe computer. The mainframe computer stores customer data under keys. A client computer is adapted to execute one or more application programs and a desktop bus. Each application program has a bus interface component for enabling the application program to communicate with the bus. Upon execution, each application program preferably registers with the bus. When an application program learns a key from a source other than the bus, the application program sends a message to the bus including the key. The bus stores the key and, depending upon whether another application is designated as either “hot” or “cold,” either sends the key to the application or notifies the application that the key has changed. In response to receiving the key, the application accesses the mainframe to retrieve the associated customer data.

Customer service representatives, such as representatives behind a customer service desk at a retail establishment or performing telephone-based customer support at a call center, require the ability to quickly access customer information. Customer information includes information such as account numbers, names and addresses, transactions performed by customers, and bills or other statements provided to the customers. Typically, this information is stored on a centralized mainframe computer system and accessed via a networked client computer system.
Representatives typically use a terminal emulator program to access programs and data stored at the mainframe via command line or menu-based programs. These programs are tightly integrated and allow representatives to access all of a customer's information nearly concurrently. For example, if a representative calls up the address of a customer, the representative, through a few commands, can easily call up transaction data for the same customer.
However, the functionality of such data access methods is inherently limited by the nature of terminal emulator programs. In general, the command line and/or menu-based programs lack the ease of use of more modern applications that execute on the client computer. Client-based programs can take advantage of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and other functionality provided by modern operating systems. Therefore, there is a general desire to transition away from terminal emulator programs and toward programs that execute on the client computer, even though customer data are still held on the mainframe computer system.
In order to ease development, the customer service functionality is preferably provided by a suite of application programs. For example, one program allows a representative to update a customer's address, while another program allows the representative to perform transactions on behalf of the customer. Ideally, the programs work together, so that when a representative calls up a particular customer in one program, the representative can easily call up the same customer in the other programs.
In practice, however, such integration between the programs is difficult to achieve. One way to enable this integration is to provide each program with the ability to communicate and/or control the other programs. This solution works if there are only a few programs, but rapidly breaks down if there are multiple applications that must communicate with each other. Moreover, such direct communication creates a chain of dependencies throughout the programs. If one application program is changed, the change may affect all of the other programs that send messages to, or receive messages from, the changed program. As a result, client-based applications are frequently not integrated and therefore require the representative to re-enter the customer information into each program in order to separately call up information about the customer.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a way to integrate multiple client-based application programs in a manner that is conducive to use by a customer service representative. The solution to this need should be relatively easy to implement, occupy a small footprint on the client computer, and be scalable in order to support many applications.


Aqueous ink for inkjet contains water; a hydrosoluble organic solvent; a pigment; and a resin, wherein the hydrosoluble organic solvent contains 2,3-butane diol having meso-2,3-butane diol in an amount of 50% by weight or more in 2,3-butane diol and 2,3-butane diol accounts for 5% by weight to 40% by weight of the entire of the aqueous ink.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an aqueous ink for and an ink cartridge, and an inkjet recording device.
2. Background Art
Since inkjet printers are relatively quiet, enjoy low running costs, and easily capable of printing color images, they are now widely used at home as output device of digital signals.
In recent years, inkjet technologies have been appealing in business field of, for example, display, posters, and signboards in addition to home use.
As such ink, development of inkjet technology is in progress to use solvent-based inkjet ink containing a resin dissolved in an organic solvent which is used as a vehicle, ultraviolet-curable inkjet ink using a polymerizable monomer as its main component, and aqueous ink, which is less burden on environment, for industrial use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aqueous ink for inkjet, ink cartridge, and inkjet recording device


A wireless alarm system for generating alarm signals discernible to the hearing impaired. The system includes a detection unit having a smoke or carbon dioxide detector which generates a signal upon sensing the occurrence of smoke or carbon dioxide. A transmitter in the detector unit generates a wirelessly transmitted signal. A receiving unit worn on the body of a person includes a receiver and receives the signal generated by the transmitter. An alarm in the form of a vibrator is coupled with the receiver and generates a vibration discernible to the body of the user. A second alarm operates, or not, depending on whether the person acknowledges the vibrator.

Smoke detectors of various designs are old and well known. Typically the components are coupled in a housing and the assembly is secured to the ceiling in an area of a residential or commercial dwelling. Most often various assemblies are installed throughout the dwelling. The components are most frequently energized by a battery. Whenever smoke is detected an electrical signal is usually transmitted to an audible alarm. The known smoke detectors are for all intents and purposes satisfactory to people with normal hearing capacity and in hearing range. The problem with these smoke detectors is that they do not provide an alarm signal which is discernible to the hearing impaired. The many hearing impaired cannot hear the audible alarm generated by the known and widely used smoke detectors and where smoke from a fire is detected, the hearing impaired may not realize the danger they would be in and may suffer serious injuries or death before they would realize the dangerous condition surrounding them.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates role-based cryptographic key management. The system operates by receiving a request at a database server from a user to perform a cryptographic operation on data on the database server, wherein the user is a member of a role, and wherein the role has been granted permission to perform the cryptographic operation on the data. Next, the system receives from the user at the database server a user key, which is associated with the user. The system then unwraps a wrapped role key with the user key to obtain a role key, which is associated with the role. Next, the system unwraps a wrapped data key with the role key to obtain a data key, which is used to encrypt and decrypt the data. Finally, the system uses the data key to perform the cryptographic operation on the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to databases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for facilitating role-based cryptographic key management for a database.
2. Related Art
Businesses have a vested interest in protecting sensitive information. Customers and clients are generally reluctant to do business with organizations that have a weak record of protecting their data. One existing technique for protecting sensitive data is to encrypt the sensitive data so that only individuals or systems that have the corresponding decryption keys can decrypt the data. However, encryption and decryption operations are computationally expensive, which can create a significant computational burden if large amounts of data are involved. Moreover, more secure encryption/decryption techniques tend to involve expensive, in terms of time and computer resources, encryption and decryption operations.
In cases where this sensitive information is stored in databases that are accessed by many individuals, management of cryptographic keys is extremely problematic. One way to allow many individuals to access sensitive data is to give them all copies of the same encryption/decryption key. However, this is problematic for a number of reasons. If a person is removed from a job where they have access to the data and the encryption/decryption keys, then all of the data must be encrypted with a new key and copies of the new key must be issued to everyone who requires access to the sensitive data. Furthermore, when more copies of the encryption/decryption keys are distributed, it becomes more likely that a copy of one of the keys will fall into the wrong hands.
A better way to secure sensitive data is to issue every user a different encryption/decryption key. As users are granted access to sensitive data, the key that was used to encrypt/decrypt the data (the data key) can then be wrapped with the users' public keys. If a user then wishes to access the data, the user can then unwrap the data key with their private key. Under this technique, revoking a user's access to the data is as simple as removing the copy of the data key that is wrapped with the user's public key.
A major drawback to this encryption/decryption technique is that it does not scale well with a large number of users. In order for an administrator to grant access to a large number of users, the administrator must grant access to each user one at a time. Furthermore, if the data key is ever changed, the new data key must then be rewrapped with a user key for every user who requires access to the data.
Hence, what is needed is a method for maintaining cryptographic keys without the problems described above.

Method and apparatus for facilitating role-based cryptographic key management for a database


An echo prevention circuit includes a filter that receives a first digital signal and outputs second and third digital signals; first and second DA converter that convert the second and third digital signals into first and second analog signals respectively; a circuit to subtract the second analog signal from a signal generated by combining the first analog signal and a third analog signal, a circuit to amplify the signal from the subtracting circuit; an AD converter that converts the amplified signal into a digital signal; a responsive signal acquiring unit to acquire a first response signal from the input of the first DA converter to the output of the AD converter and to acquire a second response signal from the input of the second DA converter to the output of the AD converter; and a unit to set filter coefficients based on the first and second response signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an echo prevention circuit, a filter coefficient setting method, and a recording medium with program recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, for example, in some communication devices such as mobile phones and hands-free phones connected to earphone microphones, echo prevention circuits are incorporated to prevent echo from occurring due to acoustic coupling from speaker to microphone, electric reflection on circuits, etc. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3293029 discloses a circuit preventing echo by canceling an input signal with the use of a signal having the antiphase of and the same amplitude level as the input signal. However, although in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3293029, a circuit constant of each circuit element must be set highly accurately to cancel the echo highly accurately, such setting is not easy and the echo cannot be cancelled highly accurately.
Therefore, a method is considered for canceling echo highly accurately with the use of digital processing. FIG. 15 depicts an example of an echo prevention circuit using a DSP 200. As shown in FIG. 15, an AD converter 201 receives input of an analogue signal representing voices transmitted from the other party using a mobile phone, etc. The signal is converted to digital by the AD converter 201 and output after a convolution process is performed by FIR filters 202, 203 in the DSP 200 based on each filter coefficients. The signal output from the FIR filter 202 is input to a DA converter 204. The signal is converted to analog by the DA converter 204, is amplified by an amplification circuit 205 and output to an earphone microphone through an input/output terminal 206, and is input to one terminal of a differential amplification circuit 207. The signal output from the FIR filter 203 is input to a DA converter 208. The signal output from the DA converter 208 is amplified by an amplification circuit 209 and input to the other terminal of the differential amplification circuit 207.
The signal output from the differential amplification circuit 207 is amplified by an amplification circuit 210, converted into a digital signal by an AD converter 211, and input to the DSP 200. This digital signal is output from the DSP 200, converted to an analog signal by a DA converter 212, and output as the output signal of the echo prevention circuit.
The DSP 200 acquires an impulse response of the DA converter 204 through the AD converter 211 from the output of the AD converter 211 when outputting an impulse to the DA converter 204. The DSP 200 also acquires an impulse response of the DA converter 208 through the AD converter 211 from the output of the AD converter 211 when outputting an impulse to the DA converter 208. The echo can be cancelled by appropriately setting the filter coefficients of the FIR filters 202, 203 based on these impulse responses.
By the way, although an earphone microphone can convert voices generated in the ear due to vocalization into an analog signal to be output, this signal is very weak. Therefore, in the echo prevention circuit shown in FIG. 15, the weak signal input from the earphone microphone is amplified by the differential amplification circuit 207 and the amplification circuit 210 by about 50 dB, for example.
In such an echo prevention circuit, the differential amplification circuit 207 and the amplification circuit 210 also amplify the impulse generated when acquiring the impulse responses used for setting the filter coefficients of the FIR filters 202, 203. Therefore, by generating a small impulse as shown in FIG. 16A, suitably sized impulse responses can be acquired as shown in FIG. 16B. However, since a small impulse as shown in FIG. 16A is vulnerable to circuit noises, background noises input from the earphone microphone, etc., accurate impulse responses cannot be acquired. On the other hand, if the impulse is increased to reduce vulnerability to circuit noises and background noises as shown in FIG. 17A, the impulse responses will overflow in the AD converter 211 as shown in FIG. 17B.
Therefore, in the echo prevention circuit shown in FIG. 15, since the accuracy of the acquirable impulse responses is low and the filter coefficients cannot be set appropriately for the FIR filters 202, 203, it is difficult to cancel the echo effectively.

Echo prevention circuit, filter coefficient setting method, and recording medium with program recorded


A method of executing a distributed join query for a set of documents includes communication between a first server and a second server. In the first server, a first tuple list is generated from a first list of documents matching a precondition part of the query. A first set of value identifiers of attributes associated with the first list of documents is extracted from the first tuple list. A first set of dictionary keys is generated from the set of value identifiers. Then, the first set of dictionary keys is sent with a join condition attribute to a second server. In the second server, the first set of value identifiers is converted to a second set of value identifiers of attributes associated with the second server based on the set of dictionary keys. Then, a lookup of documents is performed based on the second set of value identifiers.

An index is an ordered collection of numbers or character strings, or both, such that some numbers or character strings represent objects and other numbers or character strings represent information about these objects. For example, one form of index can be viewed as a table whose rows represent documents and whose columns represent attributes of these documents. Such a column in a table T can be referred to as T. attribute.
Joins are a class of data-processing operations that may be performed on indexes. Joins are used to match documents from different indexes by finding matching values of certain attributes of these documents. As an illustrative example, FIG. 1 shows two indexes A and B. In index A, documents represent customers and their attributes are surname, first name, and city. In index B, documents represent suppliers of certain goods and their attributes are company name and city. From indexes A and B, a table listing customers and companies in their home towns can be created. That is, the following SQL-like "join query" is evaluated:
SELECTA.surname, A.first_name, B.company FROM A, B where A.city=B.city
To evaluate this join, these two indexes are joined by join attributes A.city and B.city. The corresponding documents from the two indexes are merged by matching their values of the join attributes. This yields the table of values shown in FIG. 3.
Consider a distributed landscape in which indexes are hosted on separate machines. One problem is that the amount of network traffic required to compute such a distributed join may be the main factor limiting the performance achievable with a given join process. Conventional processes for computing the join may require network traffic proportional to the size of the join table. If, for two indexes, one index has N rows and the other index has M rows, then the join table may consist of as many as N*M rows, and has all the requested attributes from both tables.
The problem is exacerbated in situations where indexes are too large for a single machine. Such indexes may be split up and stored on different servers. To process join queries over such distributed indexes, it may be necessary to transfer even more data over the network than in the case where each index has its own host. What is needed is a join method that minimizes network traffic.

Method for calculating distributed joins in main memory with minimal communicaton overhead


An exhaust emission control apparatus for a general-purpose internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust passage allowing passage of an exhaust gas therethrough and having a ternary catalyst, and an air pump for supplying a secondary air to the exhaust passage. The air pump is driven by rotation of a camshaft having a cam for opening and closing an exhaust or intake valve of the internal combustion engine. The drive of the air pump is effected by a pump rocker arm disposed between the cam and a pump shaft of the air pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust emission control apparatus for controlling an exhaust emission or gas of a general-purpose internal combustion engine by applying a secondary air to a ternary catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of the engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Technology is known in which for controlling an exhaust emission of a general-purpose internal combustion engine, a secondary air is applied to a ternary catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of the engine to thereby improve the rate of oxidization of pollutants in the exhaust emission.
Such known technology is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. HEI-4-325709 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN EXHAUST EMISSION OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE" and HEI-5-113119 entitled "GENERAL-PURPOSE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING A SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY DEVICE".
The exhaust emission control apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI-4-325709 has a catalytic member disposed closely to an outlet of a muffler and is arranged such that the atmosphere is caused to come into a downstream portion of the catalytic member by exhaust pulsation, whereby the oxidization reaction of the exhaust emission at the downstream portion of the catalytic member is promoted by the backflown air.
However, the disclosed apparatus has a drawback in that the amount of the backflown air is small and hence the apparatus can hardly pass a required high exhaust gas control value.
In order to achieve the pulsation more effectively, the general-purpose internal engine disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 5-113119 has a tailpipe which is longer than an exhaust pipe connected to a muffler with exhaust gas control capability and connected at an upstream end thereof to the muffler.
However, because the length of the tailpipe of the disclosed general-purpose internal combustion engine is set to provide optimal pulsation at a rated speed, high exhaust gas control efficiency can hardly be achieved in the engine operated at a wide range of engine speeds. Further, it is undesirable to have such a long tailpipe in the general-purpose internal combustion engine which is required to be compact.
Consequently, there is a demand for the provision of an exhaust emission control apparatus for a general-purpose internal combustion engine, which apparatus is compact and capable of supplying a sufficient secondary air and of coping with a wide range of engine speeds.

Exhaust emission control apparatus for a general-purpose internal combustion engine


A vehicular safety device for actuation of an occupant restraint means includes a cylinder tube having an axis, a cylinder wall with an outer envelope surface and a through-opening in the cylinder wall, a pyrotechnical gas generator material disposed in the interior of the cylinder tube adjoining the cylinder wall and an electrical igniter. The pyrotechnical gas generator material generates gas upon inflation for actuating the restraint means. The igniter is configured as an elongated body extending parallel to the axis and is applied to the outside of the envelope surface of the cylinder tube opposite the through-opening.

Hitherto, in the case of inflation units for gas bags the electrical igniter stands far out from the side of the cylinder tube, the igniter mostly being non-releasably connected to the cylinder tube. For such an inflation unit correspondingly much installation space needs to be made available therefor in the vehicle, as a result of which space-availability may become a problem. Similar problems are also experienced in the case of linear drives, in which a projection usually protrudes from the side of the wall of a cylinder of a piston/cylinder unit in which gas generator material is accommodated and from which in turn the igniter, mostly firmly embedded in place, also protrudes. If the cylinder tube has no projection and if the gas generator material is disposed in the interior of the cylinder tube, then, however, the electrical igniter protrudes far away from the side of the cylinder tube. In addition to this, parts protruding from the side are physically endangered due to the long leverage arm involved.


A frequency dependent resistor is disclosed, in which a reactive load represented by a coil or a capacitor is connected to the output of a voltage-current converter thereby to constitute a phase rotator for rotating the phase of an input voltage by 90 degrees. Plural phase rotators are connected in cascade, and the output voltage of a phase rotator in an even-numbered stage is converted into a current and applied to the input terminal of the phase rotator in the first stage.

In designing a filter circuit, appropriately combining resistors, capacitors, coils, operational amplifiers configure a passive filter or an active filter. Some specific examples are some single-tuned circuits using resistors, capacitors and coils, and further, a Butterworth, Chebyshev, Bessel or an elliptic function filters combining an operational amplifier with the elements. These filters have such a characteristic of which the phase of the output signal changes with the frequency of it. The reason is that the ratio between the imaginary number component and the real number component of the impedance of these filters changes with frequency. In the signal processing, when the phase change with frequency is at least linear in characteristic, the group delay characteristic is flat. Thus, we can remove the distortion of the output with respect to the input signal waveform. With the Bessel filter, for example, limiting the frequency flattens the group delay characteristic as far as possible.
A single tuned circuit that is one of the conventional filter units is shown in FIG. 30. This single tuned circuit comprises a resistor 130 having a resistance value of 10 k.OMEGA., a coil 50 having an inductance value of 0.01 H, and a capacitor 52 having a capacitance value of 10 pF connected in series, and a signal source 140 having a phase of zero degree and an amplitude of unity connected across the series circuit. The output signal's amplitude and phase characteristic with respect to the input signal of this single tuned circuit is shown in FIGS. 31 to 33. FIG. 31 shows the lowpass filter characteristic obtained at a terminal 13, FIG. 32 shows the band rejection filter characteristic obtained at a terminal 14, and FIG. 33 shows the bandpass filter characteristic obtained between the terminals 14 and 15. FIGS. 31 and 32 show that, in spite of the cut off frequency of about 500 kHz, the phase begins to change already at 10 kHz in a signal-pass frequency range. FIG. 33 shows that the phase changes sharply at both side of central frequency of signal-pass frequency range.
In the case where the chrominance.signal is taken out of the composite video signal of a TV signal using these conventional bandpass filters, unevenness of group delay develops in the frequency about the carrier frequency. Therefore, a distortion occurs in the waveform after demodulation, sometimes inconveniently making an adverse effect in doing faithful color reproduction. For removing the high harmonics from the demodulated chrominance signal, a lowpass filter is used, so that a comparatively large phase delay is developed for the signal. To correct the time delay due to the phase delay, inserting a delay line in a luminance signal processing circuit having no time delay is necessary.
The FDNR (frequency dependent negative converter) has been proposed as one of the impedance converts (also called GIC), which comprises a combination of two operational amplifiers and five elements in which two elements are made up capacitors and the remaining elements are resistors.
This FDNR has the characteristic that the phase characteristic of it remains unchanged with frequency but the resistance value of it changes with frequency. Nevertheless, the resistance characteristic of FDNR is negative and is limited to the square of the frequency. Also, since replacing the value of each component element with another value is needed for changing the resistance value, the field in which the FDNR is applicable was limited.
Further, when noises are removed from the pulse signal using these conventional lowpass filters, the large phase change sometimes causes a considerable difference between the phase of the input pulse and that of the pulse output. Especially, there happened a serious trouble in a circuit requiring synchronous processing.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention is directed to a dental bracket and associated kit used to attach a medicament-releasing pellet on a tooth. The kit is designed to provide slow release of fluoride or other medicament over a desired period of time. The medicament release kit includes a medicament-releasing pellet and a dental bracket. The bracket comprises a base and a socket configured to receive and retain the pellet at least partially therein. The device may be installed by a dental practitioner and remain attached to a patient's tooth for a few months or up to 20 years. The medicament-releasing pellet, designed to slowly release small quantities of fluoride or another medicament, may be replaced, for example, every 6 months to 2 years. Replacement of the medicament-releasing pellet may be performed at home or at a dentist's office.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of apparatus and methods for the slow release of a medicament, particularly, but not exclusively, fluoride for the improved treatment and/or prevention of dental caries. More particularly, the invention relates to brackets for retaining a medicament-releasing pellet on a tooth.
2. The Relevant Technology
Dental caries consist of demineralization of a tooth caused by bacteria. In the early stages of caries a white spot develops on the tooth and if the disease is not halted and reversed, the enamel surface breaks down to form a lesion. This can then lead to decay and eventually, a fractured or pitted tooth. It is well known that development of dental caries may be reduced by means of various factors, such as diet and oral hygiene measures, anti-microbial treatments and the application of fluoride to the teeth.
Current methods for administering fluoride include the fluoridation of drinking water, the ingestion of fluoride tablets or liquids, the incorporation of fluoride into mouth washes, dentifrices and foods, the topical application of fluoride solutions, gels and varnishes, and recently, the incorporation of fluoride in dental materials and special devices. These have a variable effect on caries which can be unpredictable on an individual basis and is dependent on patient compliance in following the prescribed regimen.
Evidence supports the efficacy of frequent applications of relatively low concentrations of fluoride ions for the elimination of caries. A sustained and controlled release delivery system could help to achieve this goal. At least three general approaches have been reported for the application of sustained and controlled slow releasing systems: (1) a sustained release ingested tablet or capsule (Masuhara et al. 1985); (2) incorporation of fluoride into dental cements (McClean & Wilson); and (3) an intra-oral device attached to the teeth (Minth et al. 1983). However, each of these existing technologies has been difficult to use, unpredictable, susceptible to damage, an irritant to surrounding tissue, or unacceptable to the patient.

Dental brackets for retaining a medicament-releasing pellet on a tooth and kits including such brackets


A display processing construct utilized in information device, discloses a first and a second display processing devices. The display signal outputs from the first and second display processing devices are against the switches separately, wherein the switching of switches are utilized to choose or control the delivery of display signal from the first or the second display processing devices to the displayer. Further a selector is used to control or choose the contact of the switch of the first or second display processing devices so as to deliver the display signal from the first or the second display processing devices to the displayer and contain the power supply module to offer the power to said selected display processing device. The user can choose the appropriate display processing device according to the desirable effectiveness of the displaying and further advance the function of the information device and save the power of the battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a display processing construct, especially a plurality of display processing devices installed in the information device so that the user can switch the module according to the requirement to select an appropriate display processing device so as to manage a better image display effectiveness.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the busy twenty-first century, the convenient portable information devices for the workers are regarded as very important companies. Such as the notebook computer and portable electronic device can offer the workers to deal with affairs, including in time checking and sending e-mails, writing report, usual data processing, and son on, whenever in the long commutation so as to save time. Moreover, it can even relax the exhaustion in the long trip by displaying music or video. In addition, the workers who often get out to hold meeting so as to brief or introduce the company's products can utilize the portable information device to make meeting record, briefing, or product introducing so as to dispense the heavy document, presentation data, or product posters, thus facilitating the convenience and efficiency on the job.
Following the requirement of people, the function of the computer software has been evolving strongly and completely, especially the image processing function. Therefore, that forces the display processing device, such as display card or display chipset, installed in the information device, to comply with high efficiency so as to be compatible with the computer software with high display efficiency such as 3D drawing software, 3D image processing software, game software, and so on. In the contrary, the utilized display processing device with high efficiency would definitely gorge more power, but if the information device performs the low efficiency display software by high efficiency display processing device, it would shorten the life of information device after a long time of using the power supply of battery. However, at this moment, the information device can only be installed with a display processing device and that would cause the inconvenience to the users.
Therefore, the present invention is to propose a kind of display processing construct utilized in the information device to conquer the failure that the conventional information deice can be installed with only a display processing device. The information device is installed with a plurality of display processing devices to offer the user to switch to an appropriate display processing device according to the running environment of information device to conquer the above-mentioned problem.

Display processing switching construct utilized in information device


A passenger seat, such as an aircraft passenger seat, includes a seat base and an entertainment system. The seat base includes a cushioning member and a cover covering the cushioning member. The entertainment system is positioned between the cushioning member and the cover and is removably connected to the cushioning member. The entertainment system is configured to determine a force caused by a passenger's legs in at least two locations on an upper surface of the seat base when used.

Passenger vehicles, such as aircraft, buses, trains, ships, and automobiles, include passenger seats for passengers to sit in during travel. While passenger seats are designed to provide comfort the passenger, many passengers become fatigued and stiff when forced to remain seated for long durations (such as on long-haul flights) because their movement is relatively limited. Moreover, passengers may be less motivated to move about a cabin of the passenger vehicle at the risk of inconveniencing other passengers or drawing attention to themselves. The stiffness and fatigue from limited movement may cause discomfort during travel and continue to affect the passenger even after they have exited the passenger vehicle and are no longer travelling. The limited movement may further potentially cause health issues or other problems with the passengers. Such discomfort detracts from the passenger travel experience, and may discourage the passenger from travelling often or opting for other means of transport. Therefore, there is a need for a passenger seat that improves the passenger travel experience.


An information processing system which utilizes apparatus data recorded in a database in conformity with a data definition which can be updated as needed, comprises a storage unit configured to store a data definition history in which a data definition version is associated with a period for which a data definition in the data definition version is used, a data definition library configured to register a data definition version and a data definition in the data definition version in association with each other, an extractor configured to extract, from the database, apparatus data which meets an extraction condition including an extraction period designated via a user interface, and a converter configured to convert an expression of the apparatus data extracted by the extractor into an expression conforming to a data definition designated via the user interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device can generate a large amount of apparatus data in the process of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The apparatus data can include, for example, data pertaining to events that occur in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and data indicating the measurement results. The apparatus data can be recorded in a shared database and used for, for example, abnormality detection, status diagnosis, and abnormality cause analysis for the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is always required to form finer patterns and therefore its precision may be frequently improved by, for example, upgrading control software to control it. To keep up with this improvement, the unit and the number of significant digits of the measurement value obtained by a measurement unit mounted in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus may be changed. When such a change takes place, it takes a lot of trouble to find and correct a portion, where the unit or the number of significant digits has changed, in analyzing the apparatus data output from the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-13819 discloses a technique of managing numerical data in combination with the unit of the numerical value, and a technique of converting the unit of the numerical data to another one in response to a unit conversion instruction. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-110182 discloses a technique of converting data at the data extraction source so as to meet the specifications of data at the data extraction destination in accordance with the conversion process contents registered in a data conversion library and the conversion relationship defined in an item conversion map.
Unfortunately, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-13819 and 2004-110182 neither disclose nor suggest a technique of managing a data definition and its version in association with the period for which apparatus data is recorded in conformity with the data definition, and utilizing the managed data.

Information processing system, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium


The control systems for reducing NOx in the combustion systems of past gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques to reduce the NOx level. For example, such systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present system reduces the formation of NOx within the combustion zone by controlling the air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio. The present system includes a device for directing a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section into an injection nozzle and into a combustor, a device for reducing the flow of compressed air into the combustor. The system monitors an engine parameter, such as a power turbine inlet gas temperature, sends a signal to a computer which interpreters the signal and directs a second signal to a power cylinder which causes a throttling mechanism to move between an open position and a closed position depending on the temperature of the gases. The system provides an economical, reliable and effective method for reducing and controlling the amount of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emitted from the gas turbine engine.

The use of fossil fuel as the combustible fuel in gas turbine engines results in the combustion products of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, smoke and particulates, unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. Of these above products, carbon dioxide and water vapor are considered normal and unobjectionable. In most applications, governmental imposed regulation have and are further restricting the amount of pollutants being emitted in the exhaust gases.
In the past the majority of the products of combustion have been controlled by design modifications. For example, smoke is normally controlled by design modifications in the combustor, particulates are normally controlled by traps and filters, and sulfur oxides are normally controlled by the selection of fuels being low in total sulfur. This leaves carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides as the emissions of primary concern in the exhaust gases being emitted from the gas turbine engine.
Oxides of nitrogen are produced in two ways in conventional combustion systems. For example, by the direct combination of atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen at the high temperatures occurring in the combustion zone and the presence of organic nitrogen in the fuel causes the production of nitrogen oxides. The rates with which nitrogen oxides form depend upon the flame temperature and, consequently, a small reduction in flame temperature will result in a large reduction in the nitrogen oxides.
Past and some present systems provide means for reducing the maximum temperature in the combustion zone of a gas turbine combustor have included schemes for introducing more air at the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,527 issued on Mar. 29, 1988 to Harry A. Kidd. The method and apparatus disclosed therein automatically maintains the NOx emissions at a substantially constant level during all ambient conditions and for no load to full load fuel flows. The water/fuel ratio is calculated for a substantially constant level of NOx emissions at the given operating conditions and, knowing the actual fuel flow to the gas turbine, a signal is generated representing the water metering valve position necessary to inject the proper water flow into the combustor to achieve the desired water/fuel ratio.
Another example of a method and apparatus for reducing NOx emissions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,535 issued on Aug. 5, 1980 to George D. Lewis. In this patent, the apparatus has a combination of serpentine geometried, fuel-mixing tubes discharging to the radially outward area of the combustor and an axially oriented, fuel-mixing tube near the center of the combustor are adapted to generate a strong centrifugal force field within the combustor. The tube near the center has a convergent section and a divergent section. A fuel supply means discharges fuel into the convergent section wherein vaporization of liquid fuel is aided by a differential axial velocity over the length of the tube. The force field promotes rapid mixing and combustion within the chamber to reduce both the magnitude of the combustor temperature and the period of exposure of the medium gases to that temperature, thus, reducing the formation of NOx.
Another method for reducing the formation and emission of NOx is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,597 issued Oct. 22, 1974 to Frederic Franklin Ehrich. This patent teaches a means for bleeding and cooling a portion of the airflow pressurized by the compressor which is then introduced into the primary combustion zone of the combustor in order to reduce the flame temperature effecting a reduction in the rate of formation of oxides of nitrogen.
The above systems are examples of attempts to reduce the emissions of oxides of nitrogen. Many of the attempts have resulted in additional expensive components. For example, the Kidd concept requires an additional means for injecting water into the combustion chamber which includes a water source, a control valve, a controlling and monitoring system and a device for injecting water into the combustion chamber. The Lewis concept requires a plurality of fuel-mixing tubes or injectors, a control system for each tube and a monitoring system with feedback to each of the controls of individual tubes. The Ehrich concept requires additional components to bleed and cool a portion of the airflow pressured by the compressor and hardware to reintroducing the cooled air into the combustor.

Low emission combustion system for a gas turbine engine


A water proof electrical connector assembly for securing metal tubing to a junction box or in an end to end connection having a connecting body with opposed open ends, and an electrical metal tubing secured to at least one open end. The open end includes a linear length sized to snugly receive the end of the metal tubing and a diverging linear length immediately adjacent the open end. A sealing gland having a complementary tapered outer surface with a radially outwardly extending flange and a split compression ring fitted onto the metal tubing so that when assembled, the sealing gland provides a fluid tight seal, and the split ring effects a mechanically tight, electrically grounded, connection between the connecting body and the metal conduit.

Heretofore it was common practice to secure a conduit that shields electrical conductors, wires or cables by inserting one end of a conduit into an externally threaded inlet end of a connecting body and securing the conduit to the threaded inlet end of the connecting body by a suitable tightening nut. The outlet end of the connecting body in turn was secured to an electrical outlet box by inserting the other or outlet end of the connecting body into the knockout hole of the electrical outlet box and securing the same by a locking nut or other suitable means, e.g. a snap fit retaining means as disclosed in a co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/283,976 filed Oct. 30, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,758, which is incorporated herein by reference. It has been noted that many prior connecting assemblies did not satisfactorily prohibit rain or water from electrical grounding of conduits was not at all times positive.

Weatherproof compression connecting assembly for securing electrical metal tubing


A beam shaping system including an all-optical liquid crystal beam shaper, the beam shaper including a photoswitchable alignment material including at least one of a PESI-F, SPMA:MMA 1:5, SPMA:MMA 1:9, ora SOMA:SOMA-p:MMA 1:1:6 material, at least some of the liquid crystals of the beam shaper including at least one of a phenylcyclohexane, cyclo-cyclohexane, or a perfluorinated material.

Liquid crystals (LC's) have anisotropic optical properties that make them ideal materials from which to construct either passive or active devices that offer polarization, phase, or intensity control. Though LC's are commonly associated with the display industry, they are useful in a wide variety of other applications, including in various laser systems for spectral and polarization control of the laser beam. For example, LC circular polarizers and wave plates have been key components in the near-infrared portion of the 351-nm, 1-ns, 40-TW OMEGA laser at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) for over 30 years. The laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the material (or optical component) is a key factor in determining the suitability and performance parameters for most optical materials incorporated in such laser systems. Because the utilization of lasers is continuously expanding into an increasing number of applications, there is a growing need for optical components suitable for higher average power and/or peak intensity systems. As the constituent optical materials and optical components represent a limit (damage threshold) on how much energy they can handle, increasing the power output of laser systems requires an accompanying increase in their clear aperture. An additional growing need is associated with attaining a higher quality spatial distribution of the laser energy within the laser beam profile, including the ability to control the spatial distribution of the beam amplitude and/or phase. Optical devices that can offer this capability, typically referred to generically as "light valves", must be able to withstand the transmitted power of the laser beam while maintaining performance and beam profile characteristics for the application-specific time durations.
Recent work has highlighted the potential of LC electrically-biased optically-addressable light valve (OALV) technology to advance additive manufacturing applications (3D printing) by allowing for a continuously variable beam profile to print entire layers of metal powder simultaneously. Such an approach will expedite the manufacturing process, reduce cost, and improve as built material properties.

All-optical, optically addressable liquid crystal-based light valve employing photoswitchable alignment layer for high-power and/or large aperture laser applications


There is provided an axial fan apparatus including an axial-flow impeller, a drive unit, and a housing. The axial-flow impeller is capable of rotating and includes a plurality of blades inclined with respect to a rotational axis direction. The drive unit rotates the axial-flow impeller. The housing is mounted with the drive unit, and includes a sidewall, and a plurality of slits that circulate gas. The sidewall is provided around the axial-flow impeller. The plurality of slits are provided to the sidewall and inclined with respect to the rotational axis direction in a direction opposed to a direction in which the plurality of blades incline.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an axial fan apparatus that blows air in an axial-flow direction, a housing that is used for the axial fan apparatus, and an electronic apparatus that is mounted with the axial fan apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, fans are used to cool down heat generators in most electronic apparatuses such as PCs. Herein, it is necessary to increase flow rate of the fans and to reduce noise generated by the operating fans.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-003900 (paragraphs 0016 and 0017, FIG. 1; hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses an axial-flow fan including a housing (5) surrounding a fan rotor (1). Lateral slits (14) are formed to the housing (5). A width of the slits (14) is set such that laminar flows of air are generated. Patent Document 1 describes that, with this structure, generation of turbulent flows and noise are suppressed.

Axial fan apparatus, housing, and electronic apparatus


An NMR probe is designed to generate both a homogeneous RF field over the sample volume and, alternatively, a "radial" field comprising two orthogonal gradient fields generated simultaneously in the transverse plane or a linear gradient field. The homogeneous field is generated by means of a known homogeneous coil construction, such as a Helmholtz coil or modified Helmholtz coil. The radial field can be generated by means of an inverted Helmholtz coil, either modified or unmodified, and the linear field can be generated by a Golay type coil, which coils are positioned coaxially with the homogeneous coil. The two coils are connected in parallel to the RF signal generator and switching can be accomplished either by means of an active switch or by detuning one of the coil resonant circuits when the other coil is in use.

All atomic nuclei with an odd atomic mass or an odd atomic number possess a nuclear magnetic moment. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a phenomenon exhibited by this select group of atomic nuclei (termed "NMR active" nuclei), and is based upon the interaction of the nucleus with an applied, external magnetic field. The magnetic properties of a nucleus are conveniently discussed in terms of two quantities: the gyromagnetic ratio (.gamma.); and the nuclear spin (I). When an NMR active nucleus is placed in a magnetic field, its nuclear magnetic energy levels are split into (2I+1) non-degenerate energy levels, which are separated from each other by an energy difference that is directly proportional to the strength of the applied magnetic field. This splitting is called the "Zeeman" splitting and is equal to .gamma.hH.sub.o /2.pi., where h is Plank's constant and H.sub.o is the strength of the magnetic field. The frequency corresponding to the energy of the Zeeman splitting (.omega..sub.o =.gamma.H.sub.o) is called the "Larmor frequency" and is proportional to the field strength of the magnetic field. Typical NMR active nuclei include .sup.1 H (protons), .sup.13 C, .sup.19 F, and .sup.31 P. For these four nuclei I=1/2, and each nucleus has two nuclear magnetic energy levels.
When a bulk sample containing NMR active nuclei is placed within a magnetic field, the nuclear spins distribute themselves amongst the nuclear magnetic energy levels in accordance with Boltzmann's statistics. This results in a population imbalance between the energy levels and a net nuclear magnetization. It is this net nuclear magnetization that is studied by NMR techniques.
At equilibrium, the net nuclear magnetization is aligned parallel to the external magnetic field and is static. A second magnetic field perpendicular to the first and rotating at, or near, the Larmor frequency can be applied to induce a coherent motion of the net nuclear magnetization. Since, at conventional field strengths, the Larmor frequency is in the megahertz frequency range, this second field is called a "radio frequency" or RF field.
The coherent motion of the nuclear magnetization about the RF field is called a "nutation." In order to conveniently deal with this nutation, a reference frame is used which rotates about the z-axis at the Larmor frequency. In this "rotating frame" the RF field, which is rotating in the stationary "laboratory" reference frame, is static. Consequently, the effect of the RF field is to rotate the now static nuclear magnetization direction at an angle with respect to the main static field direction. By convention, an RF field pulse of sufficient length to nutate the nuclear magnetization through an angle of 90.degree., or .pi./2 radians, is called a ".pi./2 pulse."
A .pi./2 pulse applied with a frequency near the nuclear resonance frequency will rotate the spin magnetization from an original direction along the main static magnetic field direction into a plane perpendicular to the main magnetic field direction. Because the RF field and the nuclear magnetization are rotating, the component of the net magnetization that is transverse to the main magnetic field precesses about the main magnetic field at the Larmor frequency. This precession can be detected with a receiver coil that is resonant at the precession frequency and located such that the precessing magnetization induces a voltage across the coil. Frequently, the "transmitter coil" employed for applying the RF field to the sample and the "receiver coil" employed for detecting the magnetization are one and the same coil.
In addition to precessing at the Larmor frequency, in the absence of the applied RF energy, the nuclear magnetization also undergoes two relaxation processes: (1) the precessions of various individual nuclear spins which generate the net nuclear magnetization become dephased with respect to each other so that the magnetization within the transverse plane loses phase coherence (so-called "spin-spin relaxation") with an associated relaxation time, T.sub.2, and (2) the individual nuclear spins return to their equilibrium population of the nuclear magnetic energy levels (so-called "spin-lattice relaxation") with an associated relaxation time, T.sub.1.
The nuclear magnetic moment experiences an external magnetic field that is reduced from the actual field due to a screening from the electron cloud. This screening results in a slight shift in the Larmor frequency (called the "chemical shift" since the size and symmetry of the shielding is dependent on the chemical composition of the sample).
Since the Larmor frequency is proportional to the field strength, it is generally desirable to insure that the main magnetic field and the RF magnetic field are spatially homogeneous, at least in the sample area, so that all parts of the sample generate an NMR signal with the same frequency. However, there are some known applications of NMR techniques for which it is desirable to establish a magnetic field gradient across the sample: examples of such applications include NMR imaging, molecular diffusion measurements, solvent suppression, coherence pathway selection and multiple-quantum filters.
A conventional method of applying such gradients is to use special gradient coils that create a B.sub.O field in addition to the coils which generate the main static field and the coils which generate the RF magnetic field. These special coils are often located in the NMR probe and generate a magnetic field gradient called a B.sub.O gradient which has at least one field component that has a direction parallel to the main static field direction, but has an amplitude which varies as a function of spatial position. All of the aforementioned NMR applications have been demonstrated utilizing a B.sub.O gradient. The coils which generate the B.sub.O gradients are well-known and not of significance with regards to the invention.
Another method of generating a magnetic field gradient is to use special RF field coils to generate a magnetic field gradient called a B.sub.1 gradient which has at least one component with a direction lying in the plane perpendicular to the main static field direction and a magnitude that varies across the plane. All of the previously-mentioned applications have also utilized such a B.sub.1 gradient.
There have been three different prior art approaches that used B.sub.1 gradient coils in high-resolution spectroscopy. The first of these approaches was to use the inherent inhomogeneity of a standard RF coil to generate a non-homogeneous field. Consequently, this approach did not use true gradients. The approach is described in detail in an article entitled "The Selection of Coherence-transfer Pathways by Inhomogeneous z Pulses", C. J. R. Counsell, M. H. Levitt and R. R. Ernst, Journal of Magnetic Resonance, v. 64, pp. 470-478.
A second approach utilized a special "straddle" coil to generate the required gradient. This approach is described in detail in an article entitled "Spatial Localization Using a `Straddle Coil`", Journal of Magnetic Resonance, v. 77, p. 101 (1988).
A third approach used a surface coil to generate the gradient. This approach is described in detail in an article entitled "Self-Diffusion Measurements Using a Radiofrequency Field Gradient", D. Canet, B. Diter, A. Belmajdoub, J. Brondeau, J. C. Boubel and K. Elbayed, Journal of Magnetic Resonance, v. 81, pp. 1-12 (1989).

NMR probe which includes B1, gradient coils


An organic electroluminescent device encapsulating package including a substrate, an organic electroluminescent device carried by the substrate, an inorganic perimetric seal carried by the substrate, the perimetric seal encircling the organic electroluminescent device within a perimeter thereof, and an inorganic cover overlying the organic electroluminescent device and sealingly coupled to the substrate in a spaced apart relationship by the inorganic perimetric seal.

Organic electroluminescent devices (OEDs), and especially organic light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the like, generally utilize a layer of reactive metal in the cathode to ensure efficient injection of electrons and low operating voltages. However, reactive metals are particularly susceptible to damage due to oxidation in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Oxidation of the metal severely limits the lifetime of a device. A hermetic seal is normally required to achieve long term stability and longevity. For example, the time to half the luminance intensity under constant current condition for an unencapsulated device versus an encapsulated device is 200 hours as opposed to 1000 hours. Also, the rate of dark spot growth is significantly reduced for encapsulated devices.
Several approaches to protecting or encapsulating OEDs have been reported. In a prior art (JP 91359134), a glass cover was directly adhered to the OED active area and device substrate with a photo curing resin layer. Another prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,405), used a series of sheets inside a cover laminate consisting of a metallic foil between two organic resin films adhered to the OED glass substrate using an epoxy resin. Typically, a low temperature, thermally cured organic epoxy material is used to create the perimeter seal or barrier and adhere the cover to the device substrate, and is usually accomplished by curing the organic epoxy at 85 degrees Celsius over a two hour period. Furthermore, the permeation rate of oxygen and water through organic barriers is several orders of magnitude greater than through inorganic barriers. Thus, the organic epoxy provides a path for the ingress of oxygen and water. A further problem is a result of the fact that the organic layers, particularly the hole transport materials are sensitive to temperatures as related to their property of glass transition. The glass transition is best described as a molten solid, and for many organic materials occurs at relatively low temperatures, such as below 100 degrees Celsius. The potential for the organic material to crystallize is greater once the glass transition has been reached. Crystallization of an organic film in the fabrication of an OED leads to low charge mobility, charge traps, pinholes and shorts. In many instances, even approaching the critical temperatures of the organic layers, especially if the elevated temperatures are maintained for relatively long periods of time, can degrade the organic material and reduce the reliability and/or the longevity of the device.
Several integrated approaches have also been developed. The integrated approaches typically include a protection layer deposited on the discrete device as part of the fabrication process. The integrated encapsulation schemes require specialized processing equipment and techniques.
Accordingly, it is highly desirable to devise a relatively inexpensive and convenient encapsulation package for hermetically sealing organic electroluminescent devices.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved encapsulation package for organic electroluminescent devices.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved encapsulation package for organic electroluminescent devices which has a thin profile and is light in weight.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide an encapsulation package for organic electroluminescent devices which acts as an effective barrier to oxygen and moisture.

Organic electroluminescent device hermetic encapsulation package and method of fabrication


The initiation of a reload event by a user of a client-side application who requests a web resource from a server is an implicit indication that the user is dissatisfied with at least some aspect of the loading of the web resource by the client-side application. Information regarding the operational condition of the application at the time of a reload event may be instructive in identifying any issues or deficiencies exist regarding the web resource, the client-side application or the server. Code for displaying the web page may include one or more detection scripts which instruct the client-side application and/or the server-side application to detect a reload event, to capture the information upon the initiation of the reload event and to transfer the captured information back to the server, where the information may be compared against thresholds or tolerances to determine whether any such issues or deficiencies exist.

Computer users may access the vast resources of the World Wide Web using web browsers and other like client-side applications, which generally operate by receiving code written in a computer language such as Hypertext Markup Language (or "HTML") from one or more servers and/or server-side applications according to a certain protocol, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (or "HTTP"); parsing the code into a Document Object Model (or "DOM"); and assembling the DOM into a web page that may be displayed to a user on a user interface. Such browsers or other applications typically include engines for translating information received from a server into content that may be displayed on the user interface, interpreters for parsing and executing script, and databases or other data stores for storing information in the form of "cookies," or files that relate to a user's browsing activity and may be retrieved by the same web site or other web sites in the future.
The display of a web page on a web browser begins with the initiation of a load event, which causes the web browser to transmit a request for one or more files associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (or "URL") or other file location targeted by the load event. Such load events may include the entry of a URL into an address box or address bar; the selection of an image or set of text that may be hyperlinked to a URL; the selection of a bookmark, a home button or any other feature that may be linked to or otherwise associated with a URL; or a shut-down of the web browser and a subsequent return to the web page upon a restart of the web browser. When a user of a web browser provides the browser with a load event, the web browser may perform a search of various data stores, sometimes called a Domain Name System (or "DNS") "lookup," for an Internet Protocol (or "IP") address associated with the URL. For example, when attempting to locate IP addresses that may be associated with the URL, the browser may search its own cached records, or records stored in caches on the operating system or router through which access to the Internet is provided, as well as external sources.
Once an IP address associated with the URL is identified, the browser sends a request for the web page at the URL, in accordance with the HTTP, to the server where the files associated with the page are located, and the server handles the request by providing a response to the browser in the form of code expressed in one or more computer languages, such as HTML. The browser may then begin to render the code into the web page, and may transmit requests, as necessary, for files that may be embedded within the code provided by the server. For example, where the code comprises HTML and refers to images, multimedia or other files that may be found at other locations (e.g., on external servers), the browser may transmit requests for each of the files. As the code and other files are received by the browser from the server, the browser may begin to assemble the web page for display on a user interface.
Occasionally, during the loading of a web page, or after the loading of a web page has completed, a user of a web browser may elect to initiate a reload event which results in the retransmission of a request for the one or more files associated with the same URL that was provided in the load event that prompted the initial loading of the page. Most commonly, a reload event includes the selection of a "reload" or "refresh" button, which resubmits the URL for the web page that was most recently submitted to the servers, and causes the web browser to begin to load the web page again. Other reload events may include, but are not limited to, the reentry of the same URL that was provided with the load event into an address bar or address box, the reselection of an image or set of text that is hyperlinked to the same URL that was provided with the load event (i.e., selecting a hyperlink in a web page or electronic mail document, the selection of a bookmark for a web page that is currently displayed), or any step that returns the web browser to the web page following a shut-down or other action that secures the operation of the web browser.
A user of a client-based application such as a web browser may initiate a reload event for a variety of reasons. First, the user may be dissatisfied with the rate at which the web page, or one or more elements expressed thereon, loads on the display. Second, one or more of the elements intended to be expressed on a web page, or the entire web page itself, may ultimately fail to load. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the user may be hindered or prevented from performing one or more tasks that prompted the user to visit the web page in the first instance. In this regard, the user's initiation of a reload event, which results in the submission of a second or subsequent request for a web page, may be detected and interpreted as an expression of dissatisfaction with at least one aspect of the web page, or an indication that the user is experiencing a difficulty in performing one or more tasks such as those that may ultimately be performed after the reload event. Accordingly, the initiation of a reload event, or the frequency with which users initiate reload events (e.g., the number of reload events initiated per unit time), may be tracked and analyzed to determine the interactivity of the web page and/or whether any remedial measures are required with respect to the web page, the client-side application or the server on which the web page and associated content is stored.

Interactivity analyses of web resources based on reload events


A siloxane resin and photoelectric device employing the same are provided. The siloxane resin composition includes (a) 45-87 parts by weight of a first siloxane compound represented by Formula (I), wherein each R1 is independently C1-3 alkyl group, and n is an integer from 2 to 15;

Organic resin has high processability and is lightweight, low-cost, and impact resistant. Due to these properties, organic resin has gradually replaced inorganic compounds for use as a packaging material for light emitting diodes. Recently, due to the development of light-emitting diode techniques, there have been calls for organic siloxane resins and a packaging material with a high gas-barrier capability and good adhesion.
However, the conventional packaging material for a light emitting diode (such as siloxane resin) has insufficient gas-barrier capability and adhesion. Therefore, a novel siloxane resin with a high gas-barrier capability and good adhesion is required to solve the aforementioned problems.

Siloxane resin composition, and photoelectric device employing the same

Abstract: (b) 5-35 parts by weight of a second siloxane compound represented by Formula (II), wherein each R2 and R3 are independently C1-3 alkyl group; each R4 is independently C1-3 alkyl group, or epoxy group; x≧1, y≧2, and x/y is from about 0.1 to 3; and

Abstract: (c) 2-20 parts by weight of a third siloxane compound represented by Formula (III), wherein each R5 is independently C1-3 alkyl group, and the sum of the first siloxane compound, the second siloxane compound, and the third siloxane compound is 100 parts by weight

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A new and improved exercise treadmill may include a frame having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is parallel to the first end. Two sidewalls interconnect the first and second end. The treadmill may further comprise a motor in order to drive a belt, which is trained over a front roller and a rear roller. A deck is positioned underneath the belt in order to support the user. The treadmill may also comprise a belt tensioning device, which provides a visual indicator so that the rear roller may be moved on each end in equal distance relative to the front roller. Another feature of the invention is a slot between the side rails and the frame so that an extended member can be inserted therein to lubricate the belt.

A. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for exercise treadmills. More specifically, it pertains to apparatuses and methods for various features of exercise treadmills, including but not limited to, one touch program buttons, a belt tensioning device, resilient support members to provide shock absorption, and mechanisms for easy treadmill maintenance.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the art that exercise combined with a well balanced diet is important for good general health. Many exercise through various means including working out at home, taking advantage of good weather by jogging or walking outside, and many frequent their local gym. Regardless of the location, walking, jogging, and running are some of the most common and popular methods of achieving a cardiovascular work-out. For the exerciser's convenience, a treadmill is often utilized at home or at a gym. Treadmills to date, have served their intended purpose. They provide a variety of functions, including various speeds, various deck inclination, shock absorption, and even foldability for easy storage when the treadmill is not in use. However, despite the numerous features found in treadmills today, many problems still exist with respect to programming keys, treadmill maintenance, and the ability to maintain proper tension on the treadmill belt.
With respect to programming keys on a console, normally, there are pictures of various programs on the console. As a user chooses which program to use, they must press a "select" key and then an "enter" key. The user may also need to use arrows keys to scroll through the various program choices. This may become cumbersome and frustrating to the user as they try to switch between programs. As such, there is a need in the art to construct a console for a treadmill that has one-touch programmability.
Another problem in the art is the ability to maintain proper belt tension on the treadmill belt. To date, there are mechanisms available to tighten the belt by increasing the distance between the front and rear roller. Usually, it is the rear roller that is adjusted while the front roller remains stationary. It is difficult to use because current devices utilize Allen screws. In some embodiments, the user has two allen screws. One has to be turned clockwise, and the other has to be turned counterclockwise. One of the problems associated with these designs is the awkwardness of fitting an allen wrench into the screws for adjustment.
Another problem with belt tensioning devices is the lack of a visual indicator. Without a visual indicator, a consumer can easily over tighten one side of the rear roller so that it is farther or closer than the other side. If one of the treadmill rollers is even a little bit off, meaning not parallel with the other roller, it can cause the belt to wander and the motor to overstress. By providing a visual indicator on both sides of the roller, the user can easily adjust the distance between the rollers for even belt tension. By providing instant feedback to the user, the adjustment is easy and no guesswork is required.
Still yet, another problem faced by treadmill users is maintenance. Over time, belts need to be lubricated in order to reduce friction between the belt and the deck. The difficulty in lubricating the belt is obtaining access to the deck. Normally, when a user decides to clean the underside of a deck, the preferred method is to lift the belt, which may cause the belt to stretch, and to slide something underneath it. More and more treadmills are manufactured where one side of the belt actually disappears under the side paneling. Because the belt is trained around the rollers at high tension, it is very difficult to access the deck without torquing the belt, stretching the belt, or causing the belt to lift up. As such, there is a need in the art to provide access to the belt so that it can be easily lubricated without compromising the characteristics of the belt.


An improved machine learning system is provided. For example, a content management server may provide real-time analysis of a user's handwriting to assess the user's knowledge of a language, including using a convolution neural network method. The convolution neural network method may be executed to normalize at least some identified strokes in the user's handwritten user input. Normalization may be performed by translating a window comprising a subset of pixels in a digital representation of the handwritten user input amongst a plurality of pixels in the digital representation.

An assessment of language skills can be objective or subjective based on the type of assessment. For objective assessments, a set of predetermined test questions are provided to a user to determine their knowledge language. This type of assessment process may lack clarification of which portions of the language the user is underperforming. For subjective assessments, the scalability of this type of assessment is limited to the number of users that are able to provide the questions to the users answering the questions.
When attempting to implement the assessment on a machine, the users answering the questions interact differently with the machines than they would with questions provided in a face-to-face environment. The scoring of the assessment may change. Additionally, these machines are often implemented in a poorly networked environment that may affect the assessment and data-gathering with unintended consequences.

Electronic handwriting processor with convolutional neural networks


A torsion bar (50) and seat belt retractor (20). The torsion bar (50) has a circular cross section where the torsion bar is formed as a cold headed extruded part and wherein the grain structure of the metal is aligned along the axis (axial direction) of the bar generally in the center of the bar and the grain structure smoothly diverges from the axial direction near an end formation (52a,b). The seat belt retractor (20) includes: a frame (22) to rotationally support the torsion bar and spool (30). The torsion bar (30) is characterized by an elastic deformation zone and a sharp onset into a plastic deformation zone. The spool is operatively connected to rotate with the torsion bar. The retractor also includes a locking device, activated during a vehicle accident and operatively linked to the torsion bar for preventing one side of the torsion bar from rotating while permitting the other side and the spool to rotate once loaded by the occupant.

The present invention generally relates to torsion bars usable in energy absorbing seat belt retractors.
The classic type of seat belt retractor comprises a frame with a spool rotationally mounted upon the frame. The spool will typically include one or more lock wheels each having a plurality of teeth which are engaged and locked by a corresponding lock pawl. The lock pawl or lock dog is rotationally mounted to the frame and movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position with a tooth of the lock wheel. In this type of retractor once the spool is locked, further rotation of the spool is prohibited. One skilled in the art will appreciate that all forward motion of the occupant will not be stopped in this type of retractor because as the occupant loads the locked retractor, the seat belt is stressed and stretches and the seat belt slips over itself (the so called film spool effect).
However, with an energy absorbing retractor, the spool and its associated mechanisms are permitted to rotate and the seat belt is controllably permitted to protract in response to the load imparted to the seat belt by the occupant. The forward motion of the occupant is restricted by a reaction force or torque generated within the retractor. In this way the protraction of the seat belt and the forward motion of the occupant are controlled. Energy absorbing seat belt retractors often employ a deformable member such as a crushable bushing or a torsion bar. In either case, the bushing is crushed or the torsion bar twisted beyond its elastic limit into its plastic range or zone of operation to generate the desired (theoretically constant) reaction torque which acts against the torque transferred to the retractor spool via the forces imparted to the seat belt by the moving occupant.
The goal of an energy absorbing retractor is to generate a generally constant reaction force to oppose the forward motion of the occupant and to be able to generate this constant force during the accident event, that is, during entire time that the seat belt is loaded by the occupant. In theory this can be achieved by utilizing a crush bushing or torsion bar that always operates in its constant plastic zone.
In a torsion bar, seat belt retractor, one end of the torsion bar is fixedly attached to a lock wheel and the other end is fixed to the retractor spool. During an accident the lock wheel is prevented from rotating by interposing a lock dog or lock pawl within the teeth of the lock wheel. As the seat belt is loaded by the occupant, the spool will tend to rotate in opposition to the reaction torque generated within the torsion bar, as the torsion bar is twisted. The generated reaction torque depends upon the amount that the torsion bar is rotated or twisted as well as upon the physical characteristics of the torsion bar.
More specifically, the reaction torque generated by a torsion bar will vary depending upon whether the torsion bar is in its elastic, transition or plastic zones or ranges. As mentioned, in an ideal torsion bar, the elastic range is characterized by a steep (preferably infinitely steep slope or deflection curve) and the plastic range is characterized by a perfectly constant torque deflection region having a sharp transition from the elastic region. In this ideal torsion bar and corresponding seat belt retractor, once a first end of the torsion bar is locked and the spool loaded, the torsion bar will immediately make a transition from its elastic range (see curve 100 of FIG. 1) into the plastic range of operation such that a constant reaction force is generated by the retractor as the seat belt is protracted.
Prior art torsion bars have been made using a number of different manufacturing methods. In one method, an over-sized metal bar is machined to reduce its diameter to a desired dimension. Subsequently, end formations are formed on the machined bar such as by cold rolling. The machining of the bar may produce stress risers which are typically non-uniform and the cold rolling of the machined bar, it is believed, reorients the grain structure of the metal in an undesirable manner. To make the stress distribution within the torsion bar more uniform, an annealing step (heating within an oxygen-controlled atmosphere) is often used, which adds to the cost of the final product. However, this type of torsion bar does not achieve the objects of the present invention as it displays the characteristic torque deflection curve similar to that shown in curve 102 of FIG. 1 having an elastic zone, an extended elastic/plastic transition zone and a plastic zone. In another method of manufacture the torsion bar is made using a cold-formed process in which a metal bar or wire (large diameter), has a diameter less than the desired dimension. The smaller than desired diameter bar is expanded into a bar having the desired larger diameter. This type of bar has been tested and it displays or shows a characteristic torque deflection curve similar to that of curve 102 of FIG. 1. The prior art has also suggested a method of making a torsion bar having a shortened or abrupt elastic/plastic transition zone. In this method a pre-machined or pre-formed torsion bar is work hardened (by being pre-torqued or twisted beyond its yield torque level) prior to installation within a seat belt retractor. One potential deficiency of this technique is that the pre-twisting reduces the useful range through which the torsion bar can be additionally twisted, during an accident, once installed within a retractor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a torsion bar which displays an abrupt transition from its elastic zone to its plastic zone. A further object of the invention is to provide an energy absorbing seat belt retractor which uses the above type of torsion bar.
Accordingly, the invention comprises: a torsion bar having a circular cross section where the torsion bar is formed as a cold headed extruded part. Preferably, the grain structure of the metal is aligned along the axis (axial direction) of the bar. If the grain structure diverges from the axial direction near an end formation it does so smoothly.
Additionally, the invention comprises a seat belt retractor having: a frame; wherein the torsion bar is rotationally supported relative to the frame and wherein the torsion bar is capable of generating a determinable reaction torque as it is twisted (with one end thereof fixed). The torsion bar is characterized by an elastic deformation zone and a sharp onset into a plastic deformation zone. The retractor also includes a spool operatively connected to rotate with the torsion bar; lock means, adaptable during a vehicle accident and operatively linked to the torsion bar for preventing one side of the torsion bar from rotating while permitting the other side and the spool to rotate once loaded by the occupant.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.

Torsion bar with sharp, rapid onset property and retractor