A method of processing a mosaic digital image includes simultaneously performing edge-sensitive denoising and color interpolation on a first color plane of the digital image. The interpolation fills in missing pixel information in the first color plane.

A typical digital camera includes an array of photosensors, with each photosensor sensitive to only a single color of light. For example, each photosensor is sensitive to one of red, green and blue light. During image acquisition, an image is focused on the photosensor array, and each photosensor measures or "samples" a single color of the image. If red-sensitive, green-sensitive and blue-sensitive photosensors can be located at each pixel, the photosensor array can acquire an image having "full color" at each pixel.
The photosensor arrays of certain digital cameras have only a single photosensor at each pixel location. These cameras produce digital images that do not have full color information at each pixel. Since each photosensor is sensitive to only a single color, the photosensor array produces a digital image having only a single color sample at each pixel. Consider a digital camera that produces a digital image having one of red, green and blue sampled information at each pixel. Information about the other two colors at each pixel is missing. This undersampled digital image is referred to as a "mosaic" image.
A demosaicing algorithm may be used to transform an undersampled digital image into a digital image having full color information at each pixel value. A typical demosaicing algorithm interpolates the missing pixel information from the sampled pixel values in the mosaic image.
Edges and other abrupt photometric transitions present a particular problem to demosaicing. A simple demosaicing algorithm such as bilinear interpolation fills in a missing pixel value by taking an average of sampled values from neighboring pixels. However, some of those neighbors might lie on opposite sides of an edge. Some of the neighbors lying on one side of the edge might belong to one object, while the other neighbors lying on the other side might belong to a different object. Consequently, the interpolated pixel information might not describe either object. Since traditional bilinear interpolation does not account for edges, color information at edges in demosaiced images can be distorted.
More complex demosaicing algorithms try to account for edges. Still, even the more complex demosaicing algorithm can introduce artifacts into demosaiced images. Zippering and fringing are typical artifacts at edges in the demosaiced image. These artifacts can degrade image quality.
A digital camera can perform the demosaicing. On-board demosaicing allows a digital camera to display and upload images having full color at each pixel. However, memory and processing power of a typical digital camera are limited. The limited memory and processing power can constrain the complexity of the demosaicing algorithm and hamper the ability to account for edges and reduce artifacts at the edges during demosaicing.
A demosaicing algorithm that is simple and fast, and that reduces edge blurring and the visibility of certain artifacts at edges, is desirable. Such a demosaicing algorithm is especially desirable for digital cameras.
There is also a need to reduce noise in the demosaiced images. If the mosaic images are noisy, the demosaiced images produced by the demosaicing algorithm could be noisy too. Further, if post-processing such as image sharpening is performed on the demosaiced images, the post-processing could significantly increase structured or unstructured noise. Such noise might not be perceptible in unsharpened images, but it might become very visible after sharpening. Still further, the demosaicing could create cross-hatching artifacts on critically sampled regions (that is, regions containing components with spatial frequency close to the sampling frequency) of the sharpened images.
A demosaicing algorithm with embedded noise reduction capability is desirable.

Edge-sensitive denoising and color interpolation of digital images

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A latch type solenoid switch including a frame, a permanent magnet providing magnetic force to the frame, a coil unit which offsets the magnetic force of a permanent magnet when power is supplied, and a moving part which adheres to and detaches from the frame depending on the power supply to the coil unit. Anti-corrosion coating is applied to the surface of the frame and the moving part. The plating thickness on the contact surfaces between the frame and the moving part is thinner than on the other surfaces of the two bodies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solenoid switch, and more particularly, to a latch type solenoid switch plated with anti-corrosion material and a method of plating the solenoid switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
A solenoid switch operates by magnetic forces applied by a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a general latch type solenoid switch.
Referring to FIG. 1, the solenoid switch includes a coil unit 10, a frame 20, a permanent magnet 30 and a moving part 40. The coil unit 10 includes a coil 12 wound around a cylindrical bobbin 11, and when current is supplied to the coil unit 10, a magnetic field is generated in a direction opposite to a magnetic field of the permanent magnet 30. A section of the moving part 40 is inserted into the bobbin 11, and is elastically biased away from the permanent magnet 30 by a spring 50.
In the above structure, when current is not supplied to the coil unit 10, the moving part 40 adheres to the frame 20 due to force acting thereon in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 30. When current is supplied to the coil unit 10, a magnetic field opposite to that of the permanent magnet 30 is generated in the coil unit 10, and the moving part 40 is detached from the frame 20 by the restoration force of the spring 50. In this way, depending on the current supply to the coil unit 10, the moving part 40 moves in the directions indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1.
In general, the frame 20 and the moving part 40 are made of steel and are plated to prevent corrosion. The layer of plating has a thickness of about 3 μm, which is very thin. If the layer of plating is too thin, chemical resistance to salt in sweat from people's hands may be too weak. In order to increase resistance against corrosion, a sufficiently thick layer of plating is necessary, but if the layer is too thick, there is a possibility of reducing the adhesion force between the moving part 40 and the frame 20 by shielding the moving part 40 from the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 30.

Solenoid switch and plating method thereof


A technique to maintain the fast search capability for the large-scale documents without causing the update delay is provided. This search processing method includes: causing an index search unit for carrying out an index search using a search index before document update to carry out the index search relating to a search request, and obtaining a first list of document IDs of pertinent documents; causing a string pattern matching unit having document contents after the document update to carry out a string pattern matching relating to the search request for the document contents after the document update, and obtaining a second list of document IDs of pertinent documents; and generating a search result for the search request by using the first and second lists and a third list of document IDs of documents relating to the document update.

Recently, a demand of carrying out a fast text search for a large-scale document set, which is frequently updated, has been occurred. For example, although blogs and news, which are opened on the Internet and the Intranet, are frequently updated, there is a demand of providing these on a search service without any time delay. In addition, in a call center, there is also a demand of carrying out a fast search for a huge volume of (incidents) correspondence records, which have been stored and are received just before, without any time delay of the content change.
For these demands, as a broadly implemented method for the document search, there are two methods: one is a method in which the index is created, and the other is a string pattern matching method for scanning the text of the documents to be searched in order to judge whether or not a search key is contained in the documents to be searched.
The index method is a method for creating the index for the search targets to make the search fast, and the representative one is a method using "inverted file". The "inverted file" is an index structure holding words, which appear in the documents, and the document number sequence. The speed of the search using the "inverted file" is high, the search capability indicates several GB to several ten GB per 1 second by one Central Processing Unit (CPU) (e.g. a CPU whose frequency is 3 GHz), and it is suitable for the large-scale document search. However, because the implementation in which the grand document number sequence is compressed is usual, the updating process is always difficult.
On the other hand, the string pattern matching (also called a pattern matching) is a method for scanning the text to be searched without creating the index to judge whether or not the pattern of the search target exists in the text. When a search mechanism is implemented by using the string pattern matching, the search capability indicates 10 to 100 MB per 1 second by one CPU (e.g. a CPU whose frequency is 3 GHz), and the speed of the search processing is slow. On the other hand, because the index is not used, the updating process is completed only by the update of the search target, and it is easy and has fast.
Incidentally, JP-A-H08-272806 discloses a technique for automatically judging conditions of a searched formula input by a searcher to efficiently carry out a search using merits of the respective search methods, in a database search system capable of executing plural search methods. Specifically, as search means for searching a database in a database storage, for example, index search means and full text search means are provided. Then, the database search system has input means for inputting a search formula; dividing means for dividing the search formula into nominals; assigning means for assigning the respective nominals obtained by the dividing means as a search key to either of the index search means and the full text search means; operation means for carrying out a logical operation for the search results from the index search means and the full text search means based on the aforementioned search formula to output the result of the logical operation as the search result of the search formula to display means. However, this publication does not investigate the update of the database.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,890 discloses a technique capable of carrying out the data search at fast, and effectively utilizing system resources. Specifically, a database system includes a single-coupled database respectively having two coupled data columns; a data base driver respectively executing the search of them; and an interface driver to couple the search result in the database driver. The interface driver instructs the database driver corresponding to the single-coupled database having a desired search item, and by coupling those search results, it obtains the desired search results. Also in this publication, the update of the database is not investigated.
Furthermore, JP-A-H01-98020 discloses a technique in which a cache index is used in addition to a base index having all key values, the update information is temporarily stored in the cache index by update means, and in response to a search request, the search merging both indexes is carried out, and when a portion corresponding to the base index exists in the cache index, the corresponding portion in the cache index is deleted, and the content is reflected to the corresponding portion in the base index. Although the update of the index is discussed, the update of the database is not investigated.
As for the aforementioned "inverted file", because the document number sequences in the index are compressed, the update of the index during the search service is difficult, generally. In order to deal with this problem, a method is adopted in which the index is duplicatively held, and one is used for the search and the other is used for the update in the background, and when the update is completed in the background, the indexes are exchanged. This method causes the delay about several ten minutes for the update completion of the index from the update of the original documents, although it depends on the document scale to be updated.
In addition, in the string pattern matching, although the update speed is high because there is no need to update the index (specifically, it can be presumed that the delay time is zero in actual), the search speed is slow, and when the documents having a volume equal to or more than several GB is searched, a lot of hardware resources are required to hold the documents to be searched, in a distributed manner. This is a large problem.

Search processing method and search system


Capacitor of a semiconductor device, and a method of fabricating the same, include sequentially forming a mold structure and a polysilicon pattern over a semiconductor substrate, patterning the mold structure using the polysilicon pattern as an etch mask to form lower electrode holes penetrating the mold structure, forming a protection layer covering a surface of the polysilicon pattern, forming lower electrodes in the lower electrode holes provided with the protection layer, removing the polysilicon pattern and the protection layer to expose upper sidewalls of the lower electrodes, removing the mold structure to expose lower sidewalls of the lower electrodes, and sequentially forming a dielectric and an upper electrode covering the lower electrodes.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device and/or a method of fabricating the same, and in particular, to a capacitor of a semiconductor device and/or a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, a capacitor having sufficient capacitance in a limited area is required. The capacitance of a capacitor is proportional to a surface area of an electrode and a dielectric constant of dielectric film, and is inversely proportional to an equivalent oxide thickness of the dielectric film. In methods for increasing the capacitance of capacitor in a limited area, a surface area of electrode may be increased by forming a capacitor of a three dimensional structure; an equivalent oxide thickness of dielectric film may be reduced; and a dielectric film having a high dielectric constant may be used. In methods that increase the surface area of electrode, a height of lower electrode (or a storage electrode) may be increased; an effective surface area of lower electrode using a hemi-spherical grain (HSG) may be enlarged; and an inside area and an outside area of cylinder using one cylinder storage (OCS) electrode may be used.

Capacitor of semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


In one embodiment, a method for making an payment from a buyer to an online seller includes providing the buyer with a mobile payment application that is operable when run on one or more processors of a mobile device of the buyer to effect payments to the seller using a payment service provider. The seller is provided with computer code that is operable when run on one or more processors of a web server of the seller to detect whether a mobile device of a buyer in communication with the server has the payment application installed thereon, and if the server detects that the buyer's device has the application installed thereon, the seller's server automatically redirects the buyer to a web server of the payment service provider to effect a payment from the buyer to the seller using the mobile payment application.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to facilitating electronic commerce (e-commerce) over a network and, more particularly, to making payments through mobile devices using a novel mobile payment application ("app").
2. Related Art
The number of persons who shop online or electronically has increased dramatically in recent years. This is due in part to the ease in which consumers can find and pay for an item and complete a purchase transaction therefor in a secure manner and without the necessity of having to go to a seller's physical location to do so. Currently, such online shopping is predominantly effected through a consumer's PC or laptop, and as a consequence, payment providers, such as PayPal, Inc., of San Jose, Calif., and Google, Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., acting in the role of a "payment service provider," have developed payment or checkout "flows" that enable an online consumer to make an online payment for a purchase quickly, easily, and safely.
More recently, an increasing number of consumers are making purchases and payments through his or her mobile device, such as a "smart phone," or a "tablet" device, such as an Apple iPad or the like. This provides greater flexibility than using a personal computer (PC), as the consumer can make a purchase virtually anywhere, as opposed to using a PC, which is typically located at the consumer's place of work or residence. However, in a typical mobile payment situation, the consumer is still obliged to go through a web-based payment flow. This can be cumbersome and time-consuming for a number of reasons. For example, the display of a mobile device is typically much smaller than that of a PC, which results in the consumer having difficulty reading and entering transaction information on the screen. Secondly, mobile device keypads or keyboards are typically much harder to use than a standard PC keyboard, resulting in a higher likelihood of entering erroneous data.
The problems associated with making a payment through a mobile device using a web-based checkout flow can result in a consumer deciding to forego the purchase altogether, or to delay the purchase until the consumer can effect it on a PC, in which case, the consumer might not make the purchase at all. This results in lost sales for the merchant, as well as the consumer missing out on a desired purchase, for example, a purchase available at a sale price that is time-sensitive.
It would therefore be advantageous to have systems and methods by which a consumer can easily and reliably make a payment from a mobile device without having to go through a typical web-based checkout procedure.

Automatic detection of mobile payment applications


The present invention relates to optical switches in which switching occurs by changing the rotation of the plane of polarization by application of an externally applied control signal, particularly to magneto-optical switches controlling the port by which light emerges from the switch by externally-applied magnetic fields. The switches of the present invention function for randomly polarized input light, producing similarly randomly polarized light at the appropriate output port. Specific embodiments relate to 1xc3x972 and 1xc3x974 switches in both single pass and dual pass embodiments. Single pass embodiments are switches in which light passes through the optical components in one direction emerging at the appropriate output port depending on the desired switching. Dual pass embodiments are switches in which the light makes a forward and reverse traverse of the switch with total reflection. Dual pass switches typically reduce crosstalk without increasing the size of the switch. Single pass embodiments using two Faraday rotators are also disclosed for reducing crosstalk.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to optical switches and, more particularly, to optical switches based upon rotation of the plane of polarization of components of the incident light and, most particularly, to switches based upon magneto-optical effects.
2. Description of Related Art
One of the key components in optical communication networks is the optical switch which controls the direction of one or more incoming optical signals among several output ports under the control of one or more control signals. An example is the xe2x80x9c1xc3x972xe2x80x9d switch in which light entering the 1xc3x972 switch via an input port (port 1), is caused to exit from the switch via either of two output ports, port 2 or port 3, under the control of an external control signal, typically an electrical control signal. Traditionally, optical switches are used for network protection and for multiplexing two light beams into a single beam (xe2x80x9cadd/dropxe2x80x9d). With the advent of all-optical networks (that is, without interconversion between optical and electrical signals during transmission) optical switches are expected to play a more and more important role in communication networks. New applications based upon optical switching are continuously being introduced, including an all-optical cross-connect.
Optical switches are typically classified into categories. One category is mechanical-optical switches in which the mechanical motion of a micromirror or other component directs the light beam to one of many optical fibers or other output ports. While mechanical-optical switches have been used in network systems, the necessity for mechanical motion may limit the number of switching cycles, the switching speed as well as the size and the long-term reliability of the device.
Optical mirror switches have been proposed that make use of a xe2x80x9cwalk-offxe2x80x9d device that causes a light beam to take an angular path with respect to a direct, xe2x80x9cpass-throughxe2x80x9d beam causing the angular beam to walk-off laterally with respect to the pass-through beam. In a first state of this switch, the input and output ports are directly coupled in a pass-through state. In a second or xe2x80x9creflective state,xe2x80x9d the input and input ports are decoupled so that an input signal is directly reflected and returned thorough the same input port. That is, an optical signal directed into a first port would be reflected and returned through the same port. Possibly an optical signal input via a second input port is reflected and returned to the second port. This type of switch cannot be used in multiple port switches.
Another category of optical switch is thermal-optical in which an optical path change is effected by a change in the ambient temperature. While thermal-optical switches have also been used in optical network systems, some drawbacks occur. Due to the need for precise temperature control, continuous power consumption is required. Thermal inertia may also limit the range of switching possible as well as limit the switching speed.
Acousto-optical switching makes use of piezoelectric materials in which the refractive index changes by a useful amount when pressure in the form of an acoustic wave is applied to the material. While microsecond switching speeds are obtainable with acousto-optical switches, continuous RF is typically needed to maintain the switching status, limiting the usefulness of such switches.
Electro-optical switches make use of the electro-optical effect in some materials in which the index of refraction changes under the influence of an applied electrical field. Such materials include lithium niobate, electro-optical ceramics, polymers and other nonlinear optical and semiconductor materials. Fast switching times can be obtained with electro-optical switches, on the order of nanoseconds (10xe2x88x929 sec.) for the case of lithium niobate. However, it is difficult to implement an electro-optical switch that has low insertion losses of light and whose performance is independent of the polarization of the input light. The high cost of typical electro-optical switches has hindered their wide application in networks.
Another type of proposed switch is the optical add/drop wavelength switch. This switch can change from a bridge state (in which output is identical to input) to an add/drop state. Polarization controllers and discriminators are used to selectively align or combine the add signal. This is typically a switch having two input ports and two output ports in which the light beam passes once through each polarization device within the switch. Thus, the crosstalk of the switch is basically determined by the contrast ratio of the polarization controllers used (i. e. the intensity ratio between on and off states), rendering it difficult to achieve very high isolation. Switches of this type typically achieve isolation less than about xe2x88x9250 dB.
The present invention relates to optical switches making use of rotation of the plane of the light""s polarization, particularly by means of the magneto-optical effect in which application of a magnetic field to a magneto-optical material (a Faraday rotator) leads to switching. Particular embodiments of 1xc3x972, 1xc3x974, three-port optical circulator and optical add/drop switches are described. Some embodiments employ a dual forward and reverse traversal of the switch to accomplish the switching function. Such dual traverse optical switches reduce crosstalk without increasing the size of the switch.
The present invention relates to optical switches and particularly to magneto-optical switches controlling the direction or port by which light emerges from the switch by externally-applied magnetic fields, in particular, Faraday rotation. The input light need not have any particular state of polarization, the switches of the present invention function for randomly polarized input light, producing similarly randomly polarized light at the appropriate output port. Specific embodiments relate to 1xc3x972 and 1xc3x974 switches in both single pass and dual pass embodiments. Single pass embodiments are switches in which light passes through the optical components in one direction emerging at the appropriate output port depending on the desired switching. Dual pass embodiments are switches in which the light makes a forward and reverse traverse of the switch with total reflection. Dual pass switches typically reduce crosstalk without increasing the size of the switch.
In the operation of a typical 1xc3x972 switch, a beam of randomly polarized input light is split into 2 beams having orthogonal polarizations by the action of a first birefringent crystal functioning as a beam separator, causing the extraordinary beam to leave the first birefringent crystal displaced by a walk-off distance, L from the ordinary beam. The beams then pass through half-wave plates having configurations so as to rotate the plane of polarization by 45xc2x0 in opposite directions. Both beams now pass through a Faraday rotator having a configuration and magnitude of applied magnetic field such that light passing through the rotator has its plane of polarization rotated by 45xc2x0 in either clockwise or counterclockwise (positive or negative) directions as determined by the orientation of the applied magnetic field. Passage through another set of half-wave plates and a second birefringent crystal of appropriate configurations leads to the light beams being recombined at one of two output ports, determined by the sense (positive or negative) of Faraday rotation. A 1xc3x974 switch is made by a combination and generalization of the techniques used in the 1xc3x972 switch. Further sequential uses of Faraday rotators pursuant to the present invention produce a 1xc3x97N switch where N=2k, and k=the number of Faraday rotators.
Other embodiments of the 1xc3x972 magneto-optical switch employ two Faraday rotators configured so as to provide reduced crosstalk (typically less than approximately xe2x88x9240 dB), in a single pass switch which is beneficial for applications in optical network systems. Generalizations of the magneto-optical switches described herein yield a 2xc3x972 optical add-drop switch. A dual Faraday rotator magneto-optical switch having two input beams and sufficient width to accommodate three output beams is configured having as input ports xe2x80x9cinxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9caddxe2x80x9d and three output ports, xe2x80x9cdump,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cout,xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdrop.xe2x80x9d The nature of the switch is to guide one of the two inputs to the active output port under control of the external control signals applied to two Faraday rotators.
Other embodiments of a 1xc3x972 magneto-optical switch make use of a total reflector, such that the input port and both output ports are on the same side of the switch with the light beams traversing the switch twice, once in forward and once in reverse direction. This configuration of components helps to reduce the overall size of the switch.
Embodiments of the 1xc3x972 optical switch can be converted to a three port optical circulator by, among other modifications, using a Faraday rotator causing a fixed polarization rotation rather than a variable rotator under the control of an external control signal.
Other embodiments of the present invention include: 1) A 2xc3x972 add-drop switch including a reflective element. 2) A magneto-optical switch with a prism. 3) Additional embodiments of 1xc3x974 magneto-optical switches.


The invention provides a method of treating a target area with an ultrasound wave pattern, including: providing an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound wave generator operatively attached to a plurality of transducers, coupled to an immersible support and configured to emit an ultrasound wave; immersing the apparatus into a water environment; positioning the apparatus proximate to a target area to treat at least one in situ organism; and emitting a pattern of ultrasound waves from the transducers, the pattern of ultrasound waves additive in effect and emitted onto the target area to threat an in situ underwater organism.

Invasive species in non-native ecological systems and environments often results in overpopulation of that species such that the native species and ambient environment is thrown out of balance. The invasive species may out-compete native species for food and shelter, and may not have any natural predators to keep non-native populations in check. Once an invasive species is introduced into a non-native environment, the non-native species may quickly repopulate the area, drastically shifting the ecological balance and system. For these reasons, vast resources are invested each year in efforts to eliminate invasive plant and animal species in the United States and abroad. Previous control methods vary whether the species is microbial, animal, or plant.
The control and elimination of invasive aquatic animal species is done by methods including, for example, physically catching and removing the animals, sterilization, building mechanical barriers, or treating the water chemical dispersions, toxic bait, or various piscicides. The control of invasive aquatic plants is done, for example, by mechanical harvesting, manual removal, and chemical spraying. Each of the aforementioned methods of control and removal of invasive species has limitations in use and problems and associated with it. Some of the problems include the propagation and increase of pollutants, environmental and ecological damage, great cost, low efficiency, and overall ineffectiveness.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for ultrasound treatment of aquatic organisms

The Research Foundation of State University of New York


A notebook computer includes a display and a host panel. The display includes a number of first contacts electrically connected to a number of controlling circuits therein for controlling the display to display images. The host panel is pivotably connected to the display. The host panel includes a number of second contacts corresponding to the first contacts and each electrically connected to a triggering circuit of the host panel, for triggering a function of the notebook computer. The first contacts are arranged along a first line and a number of ends of the second contacts on a same side are arranged along a second line. An acute angle is defined between the first line and the second line. When the display is rotated relative to the host panel, the first contacts contact the second contacts in sequence, to trigger multiple functions of the notebook computer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to computers and, particularly, to a notebook computer which is capable of switching functionality when the display is rotated.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, people generally change a notebook computer into different functionalities, for example, logging off or shutting down, via a mouse or a keyboard. It is not always convenient for people.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a notebook computer, which can overcome or at least alleviate the above-mentioned problems.

Notebook computer having rotating roller

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A binocular display device can include first and second display assemblies. A rail system can adjustably support the first and second display assemblies. The rail system can have a first rail slidably secured to a front region of the display assemblies, and second rail slidably secured to a rear region of the display assemblies. One rail can be at an upper region and the other rail can be at a lower region. Each display assembly can be slidably mounted to one rail along a bearing length L1 and to the other rail along a bearing length L2 that is less than the bearing length L1. A release/locking system can be included for releasing the display assemblies relative to the rail system to allow the position of the display assemblies relative to each other on the rail system to be adjusted, and for locking the display assemblies at a desired position.

Binocular display devices typically include two display assemblies, each having a display panel, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and a lens assembly, for viewing the display panel. For binocular viewing, the two display panels are aligned so that the images on the display panels appear to converge at a predetermined distance. Some binocular display devices can have display assemblies that are positioned at a fixed distance apart from each other. Since the distance between the eyes or interpupillary distance (IPD) of some individuals can vary, the quality of viewing by individuals having an IPD that differs from the fixed distance between the display assemblies can be less than optimal.

Binocular display having an adjustment system


A body cover, or clothing, for athletes is disclosed. The body cover is comprised of a first material portion adapted to be placed over the anterior portion of the body of the athletes. The first material portion is comprised of a plurality of longitudinal, attached panels of "NEOPRENE" having a thickness of preferably from about 1 to 3 millimeters. The first material portion is waterproofed, provides insulation and wind protection, and is adapted to hold liquid against the anterior portion of the athlete's body such that the liquid absorbs body thermal energy. A second material portion adapted to be placed over the posterior portion of the body of the athlete is comprised of a plurality of longitudinal, attached panels of "LYCRA". The second material portion allows evaporation of liquid on the posterior portion of the body of the athlete and radiation of thermal energy therethrough. Third material portions attach the first material portion and the second material portion to form the body covering. The third material portion is comprised of an elastic substance.

The present invention pertains to body covering, or clothing, for outdoor use. More specifically, the present invention relates to body covering for use during athletic endeavors such as bicycling, motorcycling, running, roller skating, skate boarding, skiing, ice skating, or any other type of athletic activity in which winds are encountered or in which relative motion of the individual produces a wind chill factor.
Conventional clothing for sports activities described above are generally comprised of "LYCRA" or cotton fabric in order for perspiration to be able to evaporate and for thermal body energy to be able to radiate therethrough. However, this "LYCRA" or cotton clothing provides no protection from wind, or wind chill caused by relative movement of the athlete, and the wearer thus is subject to hypothermia due to loss of body heat. Additionally, this "LYCRA" or cotton clothing absorbs moisture such as sweat and/or perspiration, thus exacerbating the loss of body heat which results in hyperthermia. In order to circumvent the above short comings of the "LYCRA" or cotton clothing, clothing comprised of "NEOPRENE" has been employed. While "NEOPRENE" does act as a wind breaker, is waterproof, and provides insulation, "NEOPRENE" of traditional thickness restricts bodily movement and, due to its lack of porosity, causes body overheating because sweat and body thermal energy cannot escape therethrough.
A need thus exists for body cover, or clothing, for use during outside athletic activities where wind, or wind chill caused by relative body movement, or moisture is encountered; said body cover being waterproof, insulating, providing wind protection, and allowing evaporation of liquid from the human body and radiation of body thermal energy therethrough.

2
67
XCL 2115
XCL 2108
XCL 2 79
XCL 2227
XCL 2228
XCL 2DIG4
XCL 2DIG1
XCL 2 82
XCL 2 46


A composite heat spreader (10) having an in-plane thermal conductivity of greater than 600 W/m*K and a thickness of greater than 50 microns, the composite heat spreader including a first element (20) which includes at least one sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite having a density of at least about 1.4 grams/cc; and a second element (30) which includes at least one sheet of synthetic graphite having a density of at least 1.8 grams/cc and an in-plane thermal conductivity of at least 700 W/m*K, where the first element and the second element are joined into a composite sheet without the use of adhesives.

With the development of more and more sophisticated electronic devices, such as cell phones, small laptop computers, sometimes referred to as "netbooks," electronic or digital assistants, sometimes referred to as "smart phones," etc., including those capable of increasing processing speeds, display resolution, device features (such as cameras) and higher frequencies, relatively extreme temperatures can be generated. Indeed, with the desire for smaller devices having more complicated power requirements, and exhibiting other technological advances, such as microprocessors and integrated circuits in electronic and electrical components and systems as well as in other devices such as high power optical devices, thermal management is even more important. Microprocessors, integrated circuits, displays, cameras (especially those with integrated flashes, and other sophisticated electronic components typically operate efficiently only under a certain range of threshold temperatures. The excessive heat generated during operation of these components can not only harm their own performance, but can also degrade the performance and reliability of other components, especially adjacent components, and the overall system and can even cause system failure. The increasingly wide range of environmental conditions, including temperature extremes, in which electronic systems are expected to operate, exacerbates these negative effects.
In addition, the presence of heat-generating components can create hot spots, areas of higher temperature than surrounding areas. This is certainly true in displays, such as plasma display panels or LCDs, where temperature differentials caused by components or even the nature of the image being generated can cause thermal stresses which reduce the desired operating characteristics and lifetime of the device. In other electronic devices, hot spots can have a deleterious effect on surrounding components and can also cause discomfort to the user, such as a hot spot on the bottom of a laptop case where is sits on a users lap, or on the touch points on the keyboard, or the back of a cell phone or smart phone, etc. In these circumstances, heat dissipation may not be needed, since the total heat generated by the device is not extreme, but heat spreading may be needed, where the heat from the hot spot is spread more evenly across the device, to reduce or eliminate a hot spot.
With the increased need for thermal management and dissipation from electronic devices caused by these conditions, thermal management becomes an increasingly important element of the design of electronic products. As noted, both performance reliability and life expectancy of electronic equipment are inversely related to the component temperature of the equipment. What can complicate these issues, however, is the fact that different devices have different needs. For instance, some devices may need a heat spreader having an in-plane thermal conductivity of 600 W/m*K, while others many need a heat spreader having an in-plane thermal conductivity of 900 W/m*K, etc. (for the purposes of the present disclosure, in-plane thermal conductivity is determined by an Angstrom test method or by other known techniques. In general most techniques have an error measurement of no more than plus or minus ten (±10%) percent). In addition, some devices, especially large display devices such as plasma display or LCD televisions, can generate so much heat that a thin (i.e., less than 50 microns in thickness) heat spreader is "overwhelmed," such that heat passes through the thickness of the spreader, regardless of its in-plane thermal conductivity.
Graphite flake which has been greatly expanded and more particularly expanded so as to have a final thickness or "c" direction dimension which is as much as about 80 or more times the original "c" direction dimension can be formed without the use of a binder into cohesive or integrated sheets of expanded graphite, e.g. webs, papers, strips, tapes, foils, mats or the like (typically referred to commercially as "flexible graphite"). The formation of graphite particles which have been expanded to have a final thickness or "c" dimension which is as much as about 80 times or more the original "c" direction dimension into integrated flexible sheets by compression, without the use of any binding material, is believed to be possible due to the mechanical interlocking, or cohesion, which is achieved between the voluminously expanded graphite particles.
In addition to flexibility, the sheet material, as noted above, has also been found to possess a high degree of anisotropy with respect to thermal conductivity due to orientation of the expanded graphite particles and graphite layers substantially parallel to the opposed faces of the sheet resulting from high compression, making it especially useful in heat spreading applications. Sheet material thus produced has excellent flexibility, good strength and a high degree of orientation.
The expanded graphite sheet material exhibits an appreciable degree of anisotropy due to the alignment of graphite particles parallel to the major opposed, parallel surfaces of the sheet, with the degree of anisotropy increasing upon compression of the sheet material to increase orientation. In compressed anisotropic sheet material, the thickness, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the opposed, parallel sheet surfaces comprises the "c" direction and the in-plane directions ranging along the length and width, i.e. along or parallel to the opposed, major surfaces comprises the "a" directions and the thermal and electrical properties of the sheet are very different, by orders of magnitude, for the "c" and "a" directions.
Pyrolytic graphite is a type of graphite which exhibits anisotropic properties. A factor in its anisotropic nature is the continuity of covalent bonding within the plane of the graphene layers. The predominant bonding between the graphene layers is more a function of Van Der Waals interactions than covalent bonding. A difference between the pyrolytic graphite and the natural graphite in this regard is the crystallite size in the pyrolytic graphite is much larger than in the natural graphite. This allows heat to be more efficiently conveyed in the X-Y plane in pyrolytic graphite. Further larger crystallite size means lower contact resistance in the pyrolytic vs. the natural graphite. Generally it is produced by heating a hydrocarbon nearly to its decomposition temperature, and permitting the graphite to crystallize (pyrolysis). One method is to heat synthetic fibers in a vacuum. Another method is to place seeds or a plate in the very hot gas to collect the graphite coating. Pyrolytic graphite sheets usually have a single cleavage plane, similar to mica, because the graphene sheets crystallize in a planar order, as opposed to graphite, which forms microscopic randomly-oriented zones. Because of this, pyrolytic carbon exhibits several unusual anisotropic properties; for the purposes of the present disclosure, however, it exhibits thermal anisotropy, as does expanded graphite sheets. Indeed, pyrolytic graphite sheets are, in general, more thermally conductive along the cleavage plane than expanded graphite, making it one of the best planar thermal conductors available.
Graphitized polyimide is used herein to refer to graphite films with high crystallinity and which can be created by the solid-state carbonization of an aromatic polyimide film followed by a high temperature heat treatment. Graphitized polyimide films also exhibit significant thermal anisotropy.

Composite heat spreader containing synthetic graphite sheet and compressed graphite layer joined without adhesive


A device for testing a test specimen for surface faults is equipped for delivering a magnetic flux into the specimen and has induction probes measurement sensors. At least two yoke legs have opposed gap-forming ends with oppositely poled exciter coils between which the test specimen can be guided. Outside ends of the yoke legs opposite the gap-forming ends are connected to one another by a magnetic flux conductor so that the magnetic flux runs perpendicular to the lengthwise direction through the test specimen. To adapt to test specimens of different cross section, the yoke legs can be moved and fixed. Testing of test specimens by means of high-energy magnetic alternating fields improved because the high heat losses produced in this process are adequately dissipated. The device is especially well suited to determine the quality of bars, pipes and the like in a hot rolling mill with high-energy alternating magnetic fields.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for testing a test specimen for surface faults by magnetization means by delivering a magnetic flux into the specimen and using induction probes as measurement sensors, the induction probes being capable of turning around the specimen, which can be guided in the lengthwise direction, in order to scan it helically.
2. Description of Related Art
These devices are used to determine, for example, surface faults on metallic articles with a round profile, such as billets, bars, steel pipes and the like, while these articles, which can have high temperatures depending on the choice of fabrication process, run through a production line, for example, a mill train.
Magnetization means magnetize the test specimen such that the faults near the surface produce a stray flux which can be detected by means of induction probes. Faults in and under the surface of a test piece cause, for example, a stray flux which is detected by means of induction probes. Therefore, the output signals of the induction probes are a measure of impurities and faults in and under the surface of a test specimen. The induction probes for fault detection are located near the peripheral wall of the test specimen. The induction probes can be suited to detecting magnetic stray flukes or can be designed as eddy current sensors. The induction probes can also operate based on magneto-resistive effects.
German Patent DE 39 37 261 C2 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,435 describe such a device, with a rotating head, for scanning of metallic test material. The rotating head is composed essentially of a housing having a hollow shaft for routing through a test specimen, and having a rotating part to which the induction probes, for example, the eddy current detectors, are attached. Furthermore, there are drive means to produce the peripheral motion of the rotating part. The drive wheel of a drive motor is connected via a drive belt to a drive wheel which sits rigidly on the hollow shaft. On each of the front and back end of the hollow shaft sits a respective protective sleeve, by which the test specimen is guided. A rotating disk is rigidly connected to the hollow shaft. Two levers are pivotally mounted on the hollow shaft and each bears an induction probe. A magnetic flux in the lengthwise direction is routed into the test specimen by means of a magnetization coil which surrounds it and by means of a magnetic flux conductor. Parts of the housing and the hollow shaft are used as the magnetic flux conductor. To homogenize the magnetic field in the test region, there is a homogenization ring of magnetically conductive material.
German Patent Application DE OS 29 05 399 and corresponding UK Patent Application 20 14 317 application disclose another such device and in which a test specimen can be guided by a cylindrical element which can be rotated around its lengthwise axis. Several induction probes, which are made as eddy current fault detector coils, are attached to the cylindrical element near its peripheral wall. By rotating the cylindrical element and simultaneously guiding the test specimen in the lengthwise direction, the specimen is scanned helically by the coils. The output signals of the coils are evaluated in a signal detector circuit. An alternating current signal of fixed frequency is applied to the coils and produces an eddy current a short distance underneath the surface of the test specimen. Faults in the test specimen change the coil impedance. The magnetic flux runs in the test specimen in the lengthwise direction on and underneath the jacket surface of the specimen.
The indicated known devices are subject to the first disadvantage that they cannot be quickly and economically adapted to different dimensions, especially the cross sections, of the test specimens. A second disadvantage lies in the inadequate heat dissipation which, as the third disadvantage, sets narrow limits on the service life of the device, and finally, limits the magnetizing power as the fourth disadvantage. The shape of the coil cores used in the indicated devices can only be changed at high costs for bobbin cores which have been wound insulated.

Device for testing a test specimen for surface faults by magnetization means and by means of induction probes as measurement sensors


A method of radiotherapy treatment planning is described. A planned target volume is identified for radiotherapy treatment and at least one volume of interest is identified. The mass, density, and total deposited energy contained in the planned target volume and the volumes of interest are identified and dose objectives are determined. At least one of the objectives is a function of the identified mass, density, or deposited energy. A composite objective function is determined using the dose objectives for the planned target volume and the volumes of interest. A near optimal solution to the composite objective function is determined to produce a radiotherapy treatment plan.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells. Radiation therapy may be curative in a number of types of cancer. It may also be used as part of curative therapy, to prevent tumor recurrence after surgery to remove a primary malignant tumor (for example, early stages of breast cancer). Radiation therapy has been used before, during, and after chemotherapy in susceptible cancers.
Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control cell growth. Ionizing radiation works by damaging the DNA of exposed tissue leading to cellular death. Normal tissues (such as skin or organs which radiation must pass through in order to treat the tumor), also receive radiation dose causing cellular damage and death which leads to sometimes serious side effects.

Advanced radiotherapy treatment planning optimization


Middlebox systems that can enter a connection include a monitoring module to monitor information in a connection between a client and a server, a processor to determine that the connection is idle, a table configured to create a first entry for the client and a second entry for the server, where the entries are initialized using information gathered by the monitoring module, and a control module to redirect the connection between the client and server to the middlebox. Middlebox systems that can exit a connection include a processor to determine a mismatch between sequence numbers in a first connection to a client device and in a second connection to a server device. A network control module delays acknowledgment signals from the middlebox on a connection to decrease the degree of mismatch and establishes a direct connection between the client device and the server device when mismatch is zero.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to network optimization and, more particularly, to the addition and removal of middleboxes from existing network connections.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the growth in mobile data traffic, network congestion has become a major issue for mobile network operators. In response, vendors have been offering a large number of network appliances, commonly called middleboxes, to alleviate network congestion. Those middleboxes are designed to reduce transmission delays and improve the throughput of wireless users. A middlebox may be, e.g., a proxy or network optimizer. Proxies such as split-TCP split a network connection between a client and server into two transmission control protocol (TCP) connections. This splitting decouples the network congestion and flow controls on the two legs of the connection and has been shown to improve performance, especially when the client-to-proxy segment has a low round-trip time and high packet losses, while the proxy-to-server segment has a high trip time and low packet losses. Network optimizers eliminate redundancy in network flows and thereby reduce the resource utilization between two wide-area network optimizer gateways.
To simplify the configuration and management of users, middleboxes are preferably introduced in the network to operate in a transparent mode, where the middlebox first intercepts a TCP connection setup request from the client and then initiates a new TCP connection from the middlebox to the server. Such approach allows the middlebox to fully intercept and analyze the requests from the users. In addition, since both TCP connections (a) from client to middlebox, and (b) from middlebox to the end-server, have the source and destination IP addresses set to those of the client and end server, the presence of the middlebox is rendered invisible to the users.
However, existing middlebox solutions must be engaged at the beginning of a network connection and, once engaged, cannot be disengaged. As network conditions change, the use of a middlebox may become superfluous or even degrade connection quality. For example, during the retrieval of a large file, a user may move or the conditions of the network may change in such a way that the presence of a middlebox can slow down the connection. Because existing middleboxes are forced to remain in the path, CPU resources at the middlebox are consumed that would be better used in serving other users. Similarly, if conditions change such that a connection could benefit from a middlebox, existing middlebox solutions cannot insert a middlebox in a pre-existing connection.
Because the two connections are independent and have their own sequence numbers, it is not feasible using existing middlebox solutions to add or remove a middlebox. If the middlebox stops processing the packets from the client but simply forwards them to the server, the sequence number will not match the sequence number that is expected by the server. Similarly, if a connection were added to the middlebox in the middle of a transfer, a standard TCP stack would not recognize it and terminate the connection.

Transparent middlebox with graceful connection entry and exit

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Disclosed herein is a supplemental reinforcing structure for supplementally reinforcing an existing reinforced concrete pier and a reinforced concrete pier reinforcing method facilitating and simplifying field work, and capable of saving time and labor necessary for field work and of improving the quality and reliability of field work. A closed steel plate structure is constructed so as to surround a reinforced concrete pier with a space formed between the closed steel plate structure by connecting a plurality of steel elements including flat steel elements (6) having longitudinal mating edge portions (5) for forming mechanical joints and angular steel elements (7) having longitudinal mating edge portions (5) for forming mechanical joints and a shape resembling an angle iron. The mating edge portions (5) of the adjacent steel plates (6, 7) are joined together to connect the adjacent steel plates (6, 7). A freely formable hardening material is filled in the space and is made to harden therein. Since the steel elements (6, 7) are firmly connected together by mechanically joining together the adjacent mating edge portions (5) without requiring welding, field work is facilitated and simplified, and the steel elements may be made of a corrosion-resistant metal or may be formed by processing surface-treated metal plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing reinforced concrete piers in the civil engineering industry, the harbor industry and the building industry, and a method of reinforcing such reinforced concrete piers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing reinforced concrete piers wrapped with high-performance, labor-saving steel plates which enhance the functions of earthquake-resisting hoops, and a method of reinforced concrete piers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reinforced concrete piers which failed during the Kobe earthquake have taught that the hoop density, i.e., the number of hoops per unit length, of existing reinforced concrete piers is far less than that necessary to secure satisfactory earthquake resistance. Recently, a method of reinforcing existing reinforced concrete piers by wrapping the same with steel plates has been seen as prospective means for enhancing the earthquake resistance of existing reinforced concrete piers.
Referring to FIG. 24 showing a supplemental reinforcing structure for reinforcing an existing reinforced concrete pier, using wrapping steel plates, a reinforced concrete pier 52 provided with a plurality of longitudinal main reinforcing bars 50 and lateral hoops 51 is wrapped with steel plates with a space between the surface of the reinforced concrete pier and the steel plates. The steel plates includes flat steel plates 53 for covering flat portions of the surface of the reinforced concrete pier 52, and angular bent steel plates 54 having a cross section resembling the letter L, for covering the corner edge portions of the reinforced concrete pier 52. The respective edges of the flat steel plates 53 and the adjacent angular steel plates 54 are welded together by seam welding. The space between the reinforced concrete pier 52 and the steel plates 53 and 54 of the supplemental reinforcing structure is filled up with a freely formable hardening material 55, such as mortar. In FIG. 24, backing strips are indicated at 56.
This conventional supplemental reinforcing structure using the steel plates as shown in FIG. 24, however, is subject to circumferential tension, needs field seam welding and has the following disadvantages.
The reliability of the quality of welded portions of the steel plates of the supplemental reinforcing structure formed by seam welding at site is uncertain, field welding needs temporary work and large-scale scaffolding, requires troublesome work and increases costs.
The tendency of weld quality to deteriorate becomes more conspicuous if a corrosion-resistant metal, such as a stainless steel, or a high-strength steel is used.
If surface-treated steel plates, such as plated steel plates or coated steel plates, are used, corrosion proofing measures including pretreatment for the surface-preparation of the surfacing material in portions of the steel plates to be welded, and field posttreatment for touch-up painting and the like are necessary, and troublesome field work is unavoidable.

Supplementary reinforcing construction for a reinforced concrete pier and a method of carrying out the supplementary reinforcement for the reinforced concrete pier


A novel process produces a novel hydrogenated nitrile rubber (B) which features a very narrow molecular weight distribution and a correspondingly low value for the polydispersity index. The preparation process encompasses the treatment of a hydrogenated nitrile rubber (A) with ultrasound, whereupon the resultant hydrogenated nitrile rubber (B) has a lower weight-average molecular weight (Mw) than the hydrogenated nitrile rubber (A). The resultant hydrogenated nitrile rubber (B) has excellent suitability for the production of mouldings via processing by extrusion processes or by injection-moulding processes.

Hydrogenated nitrile rubber, also known by the abbreviated term HNBR, is prepared via hydrogenation of nitrile rubber, also known by the abbreviated term NBR.
Nitrile rubbers, also known by the abbreviated term NBR, are rubbers which are copolymers composed of at least one unsaturated nitrile and of at least one conjugated diene and possibly of other comonomers.
Hydrogenated nitrile rubber is a specialty rubber which has very good heat resistance, excellent resistance to ozone and chemicals, and also exceptional oil resistance.
The abovementioned physical and chemical properties of HNBR are associated with very good mechanical properties, in particular with high abrasion resistance. For this reason, HNBR is now widely used in a very wide variety of application sectors. HNBR is used, for example, for gaskets, hoses and damping elements in the automobile sector, and also for stators, borehole seals and valve seals in the oil extraction sector, and also for numerous electrical-industry components, mechanical-engineering components and shipbuilding components.
Marketed HNBR grades have a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 @ 100° C.) in the range from 55 to 105, corresponding to a weight-average molecular weight Mw (determined by: gel permeation chromatography (GPC) against polystyrene equivalents) in the range from about 200 000 to 500 000. The polydispersity indices D found here (D=Mw/Mn, where Mw is the weight-average molecular weight and Mn is the number-average molecular weight) indicate the breadth of molecular weight distribution and are greater than 3.0. The residue double bond content is moreover in the range from 1 to 18% (determined via IR spectroscopy).
The relatively high Mooney viscosity places severe restrictions on the processability of HNBR. Many applications would ideally use an HNBR grade whose molecular weight is lower and whose Mooney viscosity is therefore lower. This would give a decisive improvement in processability.
In the past, numerous attempts have been made to shorten the chain length of HNBR via degradation. One possibility is mechanical degradation via what is known as mastication, e.g. on a roll mill. Another possibility is chemical degradation, e.g. via reaction with strong acids. However, a disadvantage of this chemical degradation is that functional groups such as carboxylic acid groups and ester groups are incorporated into the molecule, and there is moreover a substantial change in the microstructure of the polymer. All of these changes have attendant disadvantages for the material's applications.
Using the methods currently predominant in standard production processes it is impossible or very difficult to prepare an HNBR with a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 @ 100° C.) smaller than 55 and which therefore has improved processability. The familiar preparation process for HNBR is hydrogenation of NBR. This hydrogenation normally increases the Mooney viscosity of the polymer by a factor of 2 or more, the function, inter alia, of the NBR grade used and of the degree of hydrogenation. This means that the viscosity range of marketed HNBR is limited via the lower limit of the Mooney viscosity of the starting material NBR, which nowadays is at values somewhat below 30 MU.
WO-A-02/100941 and WO-A-02/100905 represent the closest prior art. WO-A-02/100905 describes a process which encompasses the degradation of nitrile rubber starting polymers via olefin metathesis and subsequent hydrogenation. In this process, a nitrile rubber is reacted in a first step in the presence of a co-olefin and of a specific complex catalyst based on osmium, on ruthenium, on molybdenum or on tungsten, and in a second step is hydrogenated. According to WO-A-02/100941, hydrogenated nitrile rubbers with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) in the range from 30 000 to 250 000 and with a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 @ 100° C.) in the range from 3 to 50 and with a polydispersity index D smaller than 2.5 are obtainable by way of this process. The resultant HNBR degradation products therefore feature a broad range of possible molecular weights, and also a molecular weight distribution which is relatively narrow in relation to the starting polymer. However, a disadvantage of this metathesis reaction is that it is necessary to use a catalyst which requires complicated preparation and is expensive. Another disadvantage is the fact that the breadth of molecular weight distribution or the polydispersity index has a lower limit by virtue of the nature of the chemical degradation of the molecular weight. In the olefin metathesis, a random chain degradation takes place and leads to a polydispersity of at least 2.0. In "The Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia", CRC Press, Inc. 1996, V. V. Korshak, "Metathesis polymerization, Cycloolefins", page 12 says, for example, that a polydispersity index of from 2.01 to 2.23 is achieved via metathesis degradation of unsaturated carbon polymer chains. Values smaller than 2.01 must therefore be values distorted via the measurement errors of the test method.
Starting from the prior art, the object of the present invention consisted in providing a process which can prepare a hydrogenated nitrile rubber which has narrower molecular weight distribution or respectively a smaller polydispersity index than the hydrogenated nitrile rubbers of WO-A-02/100941 previously disclosed and at the same time also has low values for the weight-average molecular weight.

Hydrogenated nitrile rubber with narrow molecular weight distribution, a process for its preparation and a method of use


A torque transmission driver has a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source, and a second end portion including a shaped tapered bit having drive surfaces with an alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces in a plurality of at least two size fasteners, the tapered drive surfaces of the bit comprising a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener. The taper angle may be nominally 52° from the rotational axis.

The present invention is directed to a torque transmission driver used to transmit torque from a torque generating source, such as a power driver, to a fastener for assembly of a structure or device.
Torque transmission drivers for torque transmitting systems and fasteners used in those systems are well-known in the art. The bit of the driver had a recess or a projection of a particular shape which fit a complimentary shaped projection or recess in the fastener. One of the more commonly known torque transmitting systems was the cruciform type drive system commercialized as the PHILLIPS® drive system. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,046,837. Numerous forms and shapes of torque transmitting drive systems have been proposed. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,216.
Spline-type torque transmitting systems of four-lobe, five-lobe and six-lobe have been well-known. Examples of these four-lobe, five-lobe and six-lobe torque transmitting systems, with their fasteners and drivers, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,969,250; 3,187,790; 3,584,667; 4,970,922 and 5,279,190. Early versions of such spline-type torque transmission drive systems had square corners, for which corresponding fastener recesses were difficult and expensive to make and resulted in stresses in the fastener and/or driver which lead to fatigue failure with repeated use. Later versions of five and six lobe spline type torque drive systems had a plurality of intersecting oppositely curved surfaces evenly positioned about the 360° circumference of the fastener head or driver bit to form an alternating series of lobes and flutes. These latter torque drive systems overcame some of the problems inherent in the earliest spline type systems, but were not generally capable of retaining a lobe drive angle less than five degrees. Upon application of higher torques, force components would rise causing failure or strip out of the lobes from the fasteners or the drivers. One version of these later spline type torque drive systems, known commercially as the TORX® drive system, had six-lobe and five-lobe configurations based on mating arcuate surfaces designed to attain drive angles within the range of 10° to 20°. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,667.
A later version of this spline type torque transmission drive system reduced the drive angle to zero by having both the driven surfaces of the fastener head and the drive surfaces of the torque driver formed by a first series of elliptically curved surfaces with a second series of elliptically curved surfaces alternating there between. One series of these elliptically curved surfaces was convex, while the alternating series of elliptically curved surfaces was concave. The alternating concave and convex elliptically curved surfaces merged smoothly and tangentially to define a series of alternating flutes and lobes extending about the 360° circumference of the fastener head or the driver bit. Both the lobes and the flutes of the fastener head and driver bit were elliptically curved in section. Also, the centers of the elliptically curved lobes and corresponding centers of the elliptically curved flutes were disposed at the apexes of a regular hexagon, although not the same hexagon, due to the alternating nature of these components. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,190. An embodiment of this lobular torque transmission drive system has been commercially marketed as the TORX PLUS® drive system.
Certain prior torque transmission drivers have been limited by their dedication to one or a limited number of sizes of fastener having drive surfaces, with recess or projections, corresponding to the size of the driver. For example, the lobular fastener marketed under the brand name TORX® required a separate driver of a diameter to match each size of corresponding fastener. This meant that a set of the drivers had to be maintained on site by assemblers, and each time a different size fastener was installed a different size bit was retrieved from the set and installed in a torsion gun. For example, a T-1 TORX® driver was required to drive a T-1 TORX® fastener, and a T-2 TORX® driver was required to drive a T-2 TORX® fastener, and so on. Other fastener systems, such as a cruciform type system sold under the brand name PHILLIPS®, could drive more than one size fastener, but these systems were susceptible to driver cam-out from the fastener. Cam-out is a rotational lifting movement by which the driver lifts out of the fastener recess, caused when the fastener and the driver have angled surfaces that enable sliding movement between the surfaces. Cam-out by the prior torque transmission systems caused damage to the fasteners and drivers, prevented fasteners from being tightened to a proper torque, as well as generated shavings and burrs that damaged components in the assembly.
The prior systems created inefficiency for assemblers who install fasteners of different sizes who have to pick up one driver to install one size fastener and pick up another driver to install another size fastener, or alternatively attempt to drive a fastener with the wrong size driver or a driver that cams out, which added to the difficulty where not impossible. Driving a fastener with a driver that was too large or too small for the fastener prevented the driver from seating properly increasing the prospect of cam-out of the driver from the fastener, strip-out or shearing of the fastener recess or projections, and/or improperly torqued fastener installation. This presented inefficiency and waste in installation and an increased incidence of mis-installed fasteners in assemblies and failure of the assemblies. Tapered drive systems in the past of the cruciform type, e.g. PHILLIPS® drivers, were well know to cam out of fasteners under torque, causing damage to and waste of fasteners or drivers, with decreased efficiency and increased incidence of mis-installed fasteners and misassembly of products, devices and machines. Additionally, the prior spline-type systems were less effective with thread forming and thread cutting fasteners because the drivers tended to cam out of the fastener and the drivers wobbled in the fasteners not maintaining axial alignment. All of these problems were accentuated in extremely small size fastener heads and torsion drivers, particularly for fasteners with a major thread diameter smaller than about 0.063 inch (1.6 millimeter), and more particularly for fasteners with a major thread diameter smaller than about 0.039 inch (1.0 millimeter) In addition to the problems discussed above, such small fasteners tended to deform when in use because of the small size of the fasteners, the sizes of the lobes, and the clearance tolerances involved.
What is disclosed is a torque transmission driver having                a main body having a first end portion and a second end portion,        the first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source,        the second end portion opposite the first end portion comprising a shaped tapered bit having drive surfaces comprising an alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis having tapered drive surfaces with a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces of similar shape and taper in a plurality of at least two size fasteners,        the tapered drive surfaces of the bit comprising a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener, each lobe having a tapered height and width with a substantially constant ratio of lobe width to height.
In one alternative, the drive surfaces may have four lobes and troughs.
The bit drive surfaces include a drive side transition between each lobe and the trough on at least one side of each lobe having a drive angle adapted to engage a corresponding fastener surface. The drive angle of the drive side transition may be between 0° and 5°. In some embodiments, the drive angle may be less than zero degrees, such as between 0° and −10°, or between −2° and −10°. The drive side transition may be between about 20% and 60% of the lobe height.
The fastener drive surfaces may form a recess, and the tapered bit is operable to engage at least two sizes of fastener drive surfaces. In an alternative, the fastener drive surfaces form a projection, and the tapered bit is operable to engage at least two sizes of fastener drive surfaces.
The tapered drive surfaces of the torque transmission driver may have a taper angle between 20° and 40° from the rotational axis, between 30° and 40° from the rotational axis, between 45° and 65° from the rotational axis, between 55° and 65° from the rotational axis, between 45° and 55° from the rotational axis, or between 50° and 55° from the rotational axis.
Also disclosed is a fastener system including                a plurality of fasteners having a mix of at least two sizes of tapered drive surfaces, each fastener having a drive end portion with the tapered drive surfaces and a lead end portion,        the drive end portion of each fastener operable to engage a torque transmission driver and the lead portion operable to fasten the fastener,        the fastener drive surfaces comprising an alternating series of five or six fastener lobes and fastener troughs about a rotational axis and having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces of a similar shape and taper on the torque transmission driver, each fastener lobe of the drive surfaces having a tapered height and width with a substantially constant ratio of lobe width to height,        a torque transmission driver comprising a main body having a first end portion and a second end portion,        the first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source,        the second end portion opposite the first end portion comprising a shaped tapered bit comprising a series of alternating five or six driver lobes and driver troughs about a rotational axis forming tapered bit drive surfaces having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage the at least two sizes of drive surfaces of the plurality of fasteners,        the tapered drive surfaces of the bit having a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion adapted to engage drive surfaces of in a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener, each driver lobe having a tapering height and width with a substantially constant ratio of lobe width to height,        the driver lobes and troughs of the driver complimentingly engaging the fastener troughs and lobes of the fasteners.
In one alternative, the bit drive surfaces and corresponding fastener drive surfaces may have four lobes and troughs.
Each of the at least two sizes of fastener drive surfaces may have at least one cross section substantially the same. The bit drive surfaces include a drive side transition between each lobe and the trough on at least one side of each lobe having a drive angle adapted to engage a corresponding fastener surface. The drive angle of the drive side transition may be between 0° and 5°. In some embodiments, the drive angle may be less than zero degrees, such as between 0° and −10°, or between −2° and −10°. The drive side transition may be between about 20% and 60% of the lobe height.
The fastener drive surfaces may form a recess, and the tapered bit is operable to engage the at least two sizes of fastener drive surfaces. In an alternative, the fastener drive surfaces form a projection, and the tapered bit is operable to engage the at least two sizes of fastener drive surfaces.
In some embodiments, the tapered drive surfaces of the torque transmission driver may have a taper angle between 20° and 40° from the rotational axis, between 30° and 40° from the rotational axis, between 45° and 55° from the rotational axis, between 50° and 55° from the rotational axis, between 55° and 65° from the rotational axis, or between 45° and 65° from the rotational axis. In some embodiments the tapered drive surfaces of the torque transmission driver may have a taper angle that is nominally 45° or nominally 52°.
Additionally, the present disclosure includes a selection of a plurality of fasteners including                a plurality of fasteners having a mix of at least two sizes of tapered drive surfaces, each of the at least two sizes of drive surfaces having a similar cross-sectional shape, each fastener having a drive end portion and a lead end portion,        the drive end portion of each fastener operable to engage a torque transmission driver and the lead portion operable to fasten the fastener,        the drive end portion of each fastener comprising a alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis forming the tapered drive surfaces having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces of similar shape and taper on the torque transmission driver, each lobe of the drive surfaces having a tapered height and width with a substantially constant ratio of lobe width to height.
In one alternative, the tapered drive surfaces may have four lobes and troughs.
Each of the at least two sizes of tapered drive surfaces may have at least one cross section substantially the same. The fastener drive surfaces include a drive side transition between each lobe and the trough on at least one side of each lobe having a drive angle adapted to engage a corresponding driver surface. The drive angle of the drive side transition may be between 0° and 5°. In some embodiments, the drive angle may be less than zero degrees, such as between 0° and −10°, or between −2° and −10°. The drive side transition may be between about 20% and 60% of the lobe height.
The fastener drive surfaces may form a recess. Alternatively, the fastener drive surfaces form a projection. In some embodiments, the tapered drive surfaces may have a taper angle between 20° and 40° from the rotational axis, between 30° and 40° from the rotational axis, between 45° and 55° from the rotational axis, between 50° and 55° from the rotational axis, between 55° and 65° from the rotational axis, or between 45° and 65° from the rotational axis. In some embodiments the tapered drive surfaces may have a taper angle that is nominally 45° or nominally 52°.
Also disclosed is a torque transmission driver having                a main body having a first end portion and a second end portion;        the first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source;        the second end portion opposite the first end portion comprising a shaped tapered bit corresponding to a recess of similar shape and taper in a plurality of differently-sized fasteners, wherein the shaped tapered bit has a taper angle between 15° and 65° from a rotational axis;        wherein the shaped taper bit includes a drive surface corresponding to a first torque direction, the drive surface adapted to engage a corresponding tapered fastener surface at a lift angle less than 2°.
The second end portion of the torque transmission driver may be continuously tapered.
The shaped tapered bit may include a plurality of lobes including the drive surface and a trailing surface corresponding to a second torque direction. The drive surface may be approximately parallel to a radial of the shaped tapered bit. The distance between the drive surface and the trailing surface decreases along the taper of the shaped tapered bit. Alternatively or additionally, the taper of the shaped tapered bit may be different than the taper of the corresponding fastener recess.
In yet another aspect, a driver is disclosed comprising a central shaft having a gradually tapering diameter about an axis and adapted to engage a plurality of various fastener sizes to apply a torque to the fasteners, the driver having                a lobular profile for engaging recesses on said fasteners, said lobular profile having a plurality of lobes, each lobe having a drive side and a trailing side, wherein the lobular profile has a taper angle between 15° and 65° from a rotational axis of the driver;        wherein the drive side of each lobe is at approximately constant radial position along said gradually tapering diameter; and        wherein the drive side of each lobe engages the fastener at a reduced lift angle to thereby reduce cam-out.
The distance between the drive side and the trailing side of the driver may reduce along the gradually tapering diameter. Alternatively or additionally, the lift angle may be between 0 and 2 degrees. In one alternative, the lift angle may be between 0 and 1 degree.

Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.


In some types of non-volatile memory devices, the same signal from a memory device may be used for two purposes: During a read operation, the signal may be used by a memory controller to latch the data that is being received from the memory device. During a block erase operation and/or a block write operation, the signal may be used to notify the memory controller that the operation has been completed by the memory device.

Flash memory devices perform block erase operations (i.e., erasing an entire block of memory locations at a time), which may take a relatively long time to accomplish. In NAND flash memory systems, block write operations may also take a relatively long time to accomplish. The memory controller, after triggering the flash memory device to perform the erase operation, may then perform operations with other memory devices while this erase or block write operation is being executed within the flash memory device. With current types of NAND flash memory interfaces, there is no efficient way for the memory controller to know when the erase operation is completed. Conventional solutions are to periodically poll the memory device (which is time consuming and inefficient), or to dedicate a separate signal line to each memory device to indicate completion (which adds to the pin count and takes up addition space). When high bandwidth and low pin-count are both important, neither of these alternatives is satisfactory.

Dual use for data valid signal in non-volatile memory


An apparatus and method are disclosed for generating timing pulses to control various functions in a video monitor including the switching of video amplifiers in cathode ray tube (CRT) devices, the control of the phase and frequency of phase locked loops, etc. Unlike previous methods, where switching is timed and controlled by monitoring the retrace voltage level, the system of the present invention monitors the change in direction of current in the retrace tuning capacitor. Monitoring the retrace capacitor current, provides an extremely accurate method for timing in horizontal deflection circuits. The apparatus of the present the invention comprises a small bead inductor placed in the current path of a horizontal retrace capacitor within the horizontal deflection circuit of the cathode ray tube device. Measuring the voltage across the bead inductor allows a very precise monitoring of the current through the retrace tuning capacitor. By designing the size of the bead inductor as disclosed, precise electrical pulses can be generated and detected during the retrace time of the CRT electron beam. These precise pulses are then used to generate accurate control signals for use within the CRT device. The invention also discloses an apparatus and method that minimizes left side ringing distortion in cathode ray tube video displays. Left side ringing is reduced due to the addition of the bead inductor to the horizontal deflection circuit, which lowers the stray resonant frequency within the horizontal deflection circuit.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to raster scanned cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and more particularly to generating a precisely timed blanking pulse in a CRT horizontal deflection circuit.
B. Definitions
Bead inductor means an inductive electronic component that is designed to saturate at a predetermined current level.
Bead transformer means a bead inductor that is configured as a transformer.
Blank means to cause a video image to be substantially not visible on a cathode ray tube screen.
Blanking means to blank or unblank.
Cathode ray tube monitor means a device for viewing a video image using a cathode ray tube device.
Circuit resonance means a resonate frequency oscillation that occurs in a circuit due to the circuit architecture.
Control signal means a signal generated for the purpose of initiating an action or event.
Current path means the route of flow of current in a circuit.
Decode means to identify an outcome based upon an input.
Decoder means a device that decodes.
Detector means a device that senses an input and is capable of generating an output indicating that an input has been sensed.
Direction of current flow changes means a change in current about a zero point.
Electrical pulse means any pulse comprised of current, voltage, energy, or any other measurable electrical component or combination thereof.
Horizontal deflection circuit means circuitry in a cathode ray tube device that is used to control the horizontal deflection of an electron beam.
Horizontal trace means a path of an electron beam across a cathode ray tube that is intended to occur while a video signal is being applied to said electron beam.
Inductor means an inductive electronic component.
Inverter means a device that reverses the polarity of a signal.
Left side ringing means a type of video image distortion characterized by vertical bars at the beginning of a trace of a CRT raster typically on the left side of a CRT screen.
Logic circuit means a device that performs binary operations.
Retrace tuning capacitor means a capacitor that stores energy to create a retrace pulse in a cathode ray tube horizontal deflection circuit.
Switching signals means signals that are capable of turning other circuitry on and off.
Unblank means to not blank.
Video amplifier means a device for amplifying a video signal.
Video image means the displayed image that appears on the cathode ray tube screen which is produced in response to an input video signal.
Video signal means the electronic signal that is applied to the electron guns of a cathode ray tube.
C. Description of the Background.
In cathode ray tube devices, video amplifiers are unblanked during the trace time when the electron beam is tracing the video image (from left to right) and blanked, during the retrace time, while the electron beam is being moved back from right to left, in order to begin the trace of the next image line on the CRT raster. This blanking of the signal amplifiers is done to hide both the horizontal and vertical retrace lines which would be visible in the video image if the amplifiers were not blanked. Also, if the video image is not accurately centered, leaving the video amplifiers unblanked would result in the image being folded or wrapped around the edge of the raster. When horizontal blanking is working well, an off-center picture will be blanked at the edge of the raster and will not be folded back around the CRT screen.
As cathode ray tube devices have become faster and operate at ever higher frequencies, the problem of detecting when, during trace, to blank the video amplifiers and before retrace begins, has become more difficult. This is primarily due to the shorter time period available in which to detect a raster edge and to reverse scan direction. In fact, the duration of time required to switch some semiconductor components commonly used in horizontal deflection circuits is nearly as long as one third of the total trace time. Also the operating characteristics of semiconductor components used in horizontal deflection circuits for switching may vary with environmental conditions further confounding the use of these components for timing.
The usual method of determining the horizontal retrace time is to detect the beginning and end of the horizontal retrace pulse. This pulse is typically 1,000 to 1,500 volts and lasts for the duration of the horizontal retrace. The ending edge of this high voltage pulse is easy to detect because the trailing edge of the pulse falls very quickly, crosses ground (zero volts), and ends slightly below ground. A voltage comparator having a reference voltage set at approximately the ground voltage is capable of detecting the end of the retrace pulse. On the other hand, detecting the start of the retrace pulse or the end of the horizontal trace is very difficult. The difficulty arises because the start of the retrace pulse has a slow rise time and is dependent upon the operating characteristics of the horizontal switching transistor. The operational characteristics of the horizontal switching transistor may vary significantly with time, temperature, and load. Also, because the shape of the voltage curve during the first 10 to 20 volts of the horizontal pulse voltage curve is so unpredictable, the reference voltage input of a voltage comparator used to detect the start of the horizontal retrace pulse must be set high, which causes a time delay in detecting the start of the retrace. This delay adds to the delay of the video amplifier switching circuit, and makes it generally impossible to detect the start of retrace during the current fall time of the horizontal switch transistor. Another problem with the present detection method is that it is difficult and expensive to build a voltage comparator that can handle 1,000 volt pulses and still accurately measure voltage in the range of 10 volts.
In summary, when using the typical voltage detection method for timing CRT horizontal deflection circuits, it is easy to detect the end of a retrace (start of a trace), but difficult to detect the end of a trace (start of retrace). This creates difficulty in determining when to blank the video amplifiers. Often, when using the usual detection method, the horizontal trace reaches the right edge of the raster and has reversed direction before detection is accomplished and before the video amplifiers are blanked. Because of these problems it would, therefore, be desirable to provide an accurate method of determining the beginning of the retrace pulse so that the video amplifiers can be accurately switched at the appropriate times. It is against this background, and the limitations and problems associated therewith, that the present invention has been developed.

Detecting horizontal blanking time in cathode ray tube devices


A method (100) for handling chassis is disclosed. The method (100) can include: providing (110) a multi-level structure including a plurality of levels including a first level with an opening to receive a chassis and a second level; locating (120) a plurality of shelves adjacent to the opening including a port shelf and a starboard shelf, each configured to receive a chassis; and providing (130) an transfer mechanism configured to pick a chassis and place it on one of the plurality of shelves. The method allows compact storage, stacking and retrieving and inventorying of chassis, for enhanced logistics.

Containerization continues to grow at a rapid pace in connection with the intermodal industry. Land at rail and shipping terminals and distribution hubs is at a premium. There is generally a scarce amount of land for expansion to store and accommodate chassis storage on the ground level. With the shortage of land in terminals and hubs, there is a need to better utilize space.
There is a need to handle and store chassis in more efficient ways that have minimal land requirements and footprints.
There is a need to be able to handle, accommodate and temporarily store, a high volume of chassis in proximity to terminals, hubs and the like that accommodate chassis, with multi-level storage stalls or racks.
Bottlenecks are seen in existing rail terminals and hubs, which result in freight delays. Terminal and hub operators would desire to use scarce land for more efficient uses then chassis storage. There is a myriad of potential inefficiencies associated with handling and accessing chassis. For example, ground level storage areas can be cluttered with poorly parked chassis, chassis can be difficult to find or difficult to access, damaged chassis can be intermingled with undamaged ones, etc. which can introduce significant delays, costs and inefficiencies.
In more detail, truck line carriers typically return a chassis to a ground level storage. The truck line carrier or driver can damage a chassis during operation and can deliberately or erroneously deposit the chassis in the "usable chassis area", which is the area designated as serviced and approved to use. This way the truck line carrier or driver avoids a damage claim being made. There is a need to minimize and prevent damage claims not being reported, called "phantom damage".
In further detail, when a subsequent driver picks up a damaged chassis in a ground level storage area and is not aware that the chassis is damaged, unsafe or in need of maintenance, this causes major delays and costs. The driver may not recognize there is damage to the chassis, until a container is placed onto the chassis. Now the container has to be off loaded and the damaged chassis must be taken out of service, and a new undamaged chassis must be put in service. These kind of problems can cause hours of delay for drivers, operations personnel and crane operators. There is a need to minimize erroneous use of damaged chassis.
There is a need to provide a method and device that minimizes the possibility of placing a damaged chassis in service.
There is a need to provide a method and device that minimizes the possibility of placing a damaged chassis in service, by providing a method for examining that inbound chassis are substantially undamaged before they can are placed back in service.
Thus, there is a need for the development of new technologies to improve the efficiency of freight and chassis transfer operations at terminals and distribution facilities.