A ice skate boot that keeps the skaters feet warm. Thermal insulators are placed between the mounting plates and the sole of the boot. Thus, the amount of heat transfer between the boot, bracket and blade is reduced. Hence, the skaters feet are warmer and the skater is more comfortable. In an alternate embodiment of the invention a heater is placed in the interior of the boot and the skater may adjust the amount of heat emitted by the heater.

Ice skating is not only a means of travel on ice. It is also a well established sport and recreational activity. Ice skating is essential in the game of ice hockey, and the sports of figure skating and speed skating. The typical ice skate known in the prior art generally includes a single narrow blade extending longitudinally and connected subjacently to brackets that are connected to the sole of a shoe or boot that is secured to the foot of the skater. The blade and brackets are typically made of metal and are in direct contact with the ice and the boot of the skate is generally exposed to cold air. Thus, the feet of the skaters typically become cold causing the skater to become uncomfortable. The forgoing reduces the skaters skating proficiency as well as reducing the amount of time the skater is on the ice.
Our bodies direct knowledge of heat is provided by the sensation of hotness or coldness the body receives when it comes in contact with various physical substances. A person's sensations of heat is qualitative and is considerably influenced by the substance a person comes in contact with. Every substance is in some measure a conductor of heat, though liquids are poor conductors and gasses almost non-conductors. The best conductors are metals. The flux of heat through a layer of any substance by conduction is proportional to the temperature gradient (fall of temperature per unit thickness) and to a factor called the "thermal conductivity" of the substance. The thermal conductivity is the heat flow across a surface per unit area per unit time divided by the negative of the ratio of the change of temperature with distance in a direction perpendicular to the surface. Thus, on a frosty day a piece of metal feels considerably colder than a piece of leather although the two are presumably at the same temperature. Temperature changes are produced by the addition or subtraction of heat from a object. Hence, temperature may be regarded as a measure of the concentration or intensity of heat. In general, the more heat that is it added to body the more the temperature rises.
Previously, skaters kept their feet warm by wearing thick leather boots and warm socks. One of the problems encountered with socks was that the thickness and number of the socks worn by the skater had to be constant so that the skaters feet would fit properly within the boot. Since, the temperature was not always the same sometimes the skaters foot would be cold and at other times the skaters foot would be warm. Thus, a disadvantage of the prior art was that skaters had difficulty in keeping their feet warm.
An additional disadvantage of the prior art was that the skater was unable to adjust the temperature inside the boot of the skate to the skaters desired temperature.

System for controlling the internal temperature of an ice skate boot


A variable focus liquid lens is formed using two substrates with at least two through holes in at least one of the substrates. One end of each through hole is covered with a distensible membrane, one on the exterior surface of the substrate and the other on the interior surface. The substrates are sealed about the periphery to form a chamber and the chamber is filled with a liquid material. When pressure is applied to the membrane the liquid in the chamber is redistributed to form the lens. The variable focus liquid-filled lens is formed by providing a first and second substrate, forming at least two through holes in at least one of the first and second substrate, sealing one end of each of the at least two holes with a flexible transparent membrane, and sandwiching a liquid in a chamber formed between the first and second substrate.

Adaptive-focus liquid lens has been used over the years for eyeglasses, cameras, projectors, cell phone as well as other machine vision applications. Based on the operating mechanisms and device structures, liquid lenses can be classified into three types. The first type is the liquid lens having a fixed volume of clear liquid which is sandwiched between a rigid lens (or a planar substrate) and a thin transparent elastic membrane, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,494, 5,999,328 and 6,040,947 issued to Kurtin et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,067 issued to Cronin et al. By moving the periphery of the elastic membrane, the liquid inside the lens assembly is redistributed such that the curvature of the film is changed. The changed curvature of the liquid lens surface bounded by the elastic membrane can vary the optical power, also known as diopter, of the lens. The shortcoming of this kind of liquid lenses is the difficulty keeping the periphery of the elastic membrane parallel to that of the rigid lens or planar substrate during the distance change. Moreover, the operating system for tuning the focus is complicated.
The second type of liquid lens requires to pump liquid in and out the lens chamber in order to change the curvature of the elastic membrane surface. Such an operating mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,684,637 and 6,715,876 issued to Floyd. These lenses operate by injecting or pumping liquid into the body of the lens, a complicated control system is usually needed; thus such lenses are bulky, expensive and sensitive to vibration.
The third type of lens focuses light based on the electrowetting mechanism; an applied voltage can change the curvature of the liquid lens, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,954 to Berge et al and U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,127 to Bao et al. By applying an external voltage to the liquid, the surface profile of the liquid is tuned because of the contact angle change. As a result, the focal length of the liquid lens is varied. Usually the applied voltage is high and the lens system is complicated and expensive. Another drawback of the electrowetting lens is that it is accompanied by liquid evaporation.
In the present invention, a tunable-focus liquid lens is demonstrated based on the pressure induced liquid redistribution. The liquid lens is composed of a flat cell and a liquid. The rigid flat cell has two through holes but these two holes are not overlapped. For example, one is on the top substrate and the other is on the bottom. The two holes are sealed with elastic membranes. One membrane is adhered on the outer surface of a substrate and the other is adhered on the inner surface of another substrate. For the convenience of discussion, hereinafter we call the former hole as the reservoir hole and the latter as the lens hole. The liquid is fully filled in the cell chamber and sealed using glue in order to prevent any leakage. Initially the two membranes are flat, so no focusing effect takes place. Squeezing the outside membrane inward by an actuator or other electro-mechanical means will redistribute the liquid rapidly, thus the inside membrane will swell outward. Because of this membrane shape change, focusing effect occurs.
To overcome these problems, what is needed is a lens with large aperture, large focusing power, polarization independence, wide spectral range (form visible to infrared), high resolution, and relatively fast response time for real-time imaging. The lens aperture size, in principle, has no constraint, depending on the applications. For instances, it can be made in micron sizes for microlens array, millimeter for call phone zoom lens, to several centimeters for eyeglasses.

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


Embodiments of the present application relate to a prediction mode selection method performed at a video encoding device, including: acquiring a first optimal intra-frame prediction mode of a downsampled unit obtained by downsampling an image frame to which a target prediction unit belongs and then dividing the downsampled image frame, and the first optimal intra-frame prediction mode obtained by performing precoding analysis on the downsampled unit; adding a candidate intra-frame prediction mode to a candidate mode set according to the first optimal intra-frame prediction mode; adding a candidate intra-frame prediction mode to the candidate mode set according to a second optimal intra-frame prediction mode of an adjacent PU corresponding to the target PU; and determining an optimal intra-frame prediction mode of a current PU according to prediction residuals and encoding cost values corresponding to the candidate intra-frame prediction modes in the candidate mode set.

A High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard is a new-generation video encoding standard following H.264. 35 intra-frame prediction modes are defined in the HEVC standard. During encoding of an image frame, an optimal intra-frame prediction mode is selected from the 35 intra-frame prediction modes, and the optimal intra-frame prediction mode is used to perform encoding.
To select the optimal intra-frame prediction mode, for each prediction unit (PU) in an original image frame, prediction residuals of the PU in the 35 intra-frame prediction modes are calculated. Each prediction residual is used for indicating a difference between a predicted value predicted according to an intra-frame prediction mode and an original value. Candidate intra-frame prediction modes are further initially selected according to the prediction residuals. An encoding cost value of each selected candidate intra-frame prediction mode is calculated. A candidate intra-frame prediction mode corresponding to a minimum encoding cost value is determined as the optimal intra-frame prediction mode. The encoding cost value may be represented by using a bit rate after encoding and a distortion rate of a reconstructed image frame.
However, during the selection of an intra-frame prediction mode, a prediction residual needs to be calculated for all intra-frame prediction modes, and as a result, it takes a long time to select an intra-frame prediction mode, and a video encoding speed is reduced.

Prediction mode selection method, video encoding device, and storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Embodiments include methods, systems and computer program products for controlling a lateral position of a tape head of a magnetic tape drive. Aspects include determining a first servo signal by reading position marks from a first servo band on a magnetic tape using a first sensor and determining a second servo signal by reading position marks from a second servo band on the magnetic tape using a second sensor. Aspects also include delaying the first servo signal relative to the second servo signal by a delay and calculating an average signal based on the first and the delayed second servo signal. Aspects further include determining servo information from the average signal indicative of a deviation of the lateral position of the tape head from an ideal lateral position of the tape head and controlling the tape head to adjust its lateral position such that the deviation is decreased.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the lateral position of a tape head of a magnetic tape drive as well as to a corresponding magnetic tape drive and a computer program product.
In magnetic tape recording a magnetic tape transport system moves a magnetic tape from a cartridge reel to a take-up reel and vice versa guided by a set of rollers. Compressional waves oscillating between the rollers are excited by tape head friction and lead to high-frequency velocity variations observed in the server read back signal. In timing-based servo systems this causes a degradation of the track-following performance in particular if the compressional wave disturbance aliases into the frequency range where the track-following servo controller amplifies disturbances.

Method for controlling the lateral position of a tape head of a magnetic tape drive

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A printing method comprises the steps of: in a first movement, moving a print head to form dots on a medium at aperiodic intervals in a moving direction of the print head, wherein the print head includes N pieces of nozzles arranged at a constant pitch in a direction that intersects with the moving direction, wherein the N pieces of nozzles are for forming N dots of a same color, and wherein N is an integer of at least two; in second through M-th movements, moving the print head to form, on the medium, the rest of the dots that were not formed in the first movement, wherein M is an integer of at least two; and repeating the first through M-th movements to print information on the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing methods, printing apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media.
2. Description of the Related Art
Straight-feed printers (in which a medium is carried straightly) and drum-feed printers (in which a medium is carried while being bore on a drum) are known as printing apparatuses that perform printing by moving (or "scanning") a print head in a moving direction (or "main-scanning direction"). U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,642 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 53-2040 disclose a technique, which is referred to as the "interlace scheme", for improving the image quality of such types of printers, and in particular, inkjet printers.
FIG. 29 is a diagram for illustrating an example of the interlace scheme. It should be noted that the following parameters are used in the present specification for defining each printing scheme:                N: number of nozzles (pieces)        k: nozzle pitch (dot pitch)        s: number of times scanning is repeated        D: nozzle density (pieces/inch)        L: sub-scanning pitch (inch)        w: dot pitch (inch)
The number of nozzles N (pieces) is the number of pieces of nozzles that are used for forming dots, and indicates the maximum number of nozzles that can be used upon one scanning movement in the main-scanning direction. In the example of FIG. 29, N=3. The nozzle pitch k (dot pitch) indicates the number of pitches of a printed image (i.e., the number of dot pitches w) that amounts to an interval between the centers of two nozzles in the print head. In the example of FIG. 29, k=2. The number of times scanning is repeated s (times) indicates the number of times of main-scanning movements required for filling up one main-scan line with dots. In the example of FIG. 29, each main-scan line is filled up with one main-scanning movement, and therefore, s=1. As described in detail below, if s is two or more, then dots will be formed intermittently in the main-scanning direction. The nozzle density D (pieces/inch) indicates the number of nozzles arranged per inch in a nozzle array of the print head. The sub-scanning pitch L (inch) indicates the distance over which a medium is moved per one sub-scanning movement. The dot pitch w (inch) indicates the pitch between dots in a printed image. It should be noted that generally, w=1/(D·k) and k=1/(D·w) hold true.
In FIG. 29, the circles, each containing a two-digit number, indicate the positions at which dots are printed. As indicated by the legend shown in FIG. 29, the number on the left, of the two-digit number in one circle, indicates the nozzle number, and the number on the right indicates the printing order (i.e., the number of the main-scanning movement during which that dot was printed).
The interlace scheme shown in FIG. 29 features the nozzle array configuration in the print head and the way in which sub-scanning movement is performed. More specifically, according to the interlace scheme, the nozzle pitch k, which indicates the interval between the centers of two adjacent nozzles, is set to be an integer of two or more, and coprime integers are selected as the number of nozzles N and the nozzle pitch k. Further, the sub-scanning pitch L is set to N/(D·k) (=N·w).
The interlace scheme is advantageous in that it is possible to disperse, over the printed image, variations in nozzle pitch, ink ejection characteristics, and so forth. Therefore, even if there are variations in nozzle pitch and/or ejection characteristics, the interlace scheme has the effect of being able to lessen the influence caused by such variations, thus improving image quality.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 3-207665 and Japanese Patent Application Examined Publication No. 4-19030 disclose another technique, which is referred to as the "overlapping scheme" or the "multi-scan scheme", aimed at improving the image quality of color inkjet printers.
FIG. 30 is a diagram for illustrating an example of the overlapping scheme. In the overlapping scheme of this example, eight nozzles are divided into two nozzle groups. The first nozzle group is made up of the four nozzles whose nozzle numbers (i.e., the numbers on the left in each circle) are even, and the second nozzle group is made up of the four nozzles whose nozzle numbers are odd. In the first main-scanning movement, dots are formed in the main-scanning direction at intervals of (s−1) dots by driving each nozzle group at intermittent timings. In the example of FIG. 30, every other dot is formed because s=2. Further, the timings for driving each nozzle group are controlled such that each group forms dots at different positions in the main-scanning direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 30, between the nozzles in the first nozzle group (with nozzle numbers 8, 6, 4, and 2) and the nozzles in the second nozzle group (with nozzle numbers 7, 5, 3, and 1), the printing positions are misaligned in the main-scanning direction by one dot pitch. By performing the main-scanning movements for a plurality of times and shifting the timing for driving the nozzle groups per each main-scanning movement, all dots of each main-scan line are formed.
With the overlapping scheme, the dots of a main-scan line are not printed by a single nozzle, but they are printed using several nozzles. Therefore, even if there are variations in nozzle characteristics (such as characteristics in pitch and/or ejection), it is possible to prevent such characteristics of a specific nozzle from affecting the whole main-scan line, and thus, it is possible to improve image quality.
In printers that perform printing by driving a print head in the main-scanning direction, there are situations in which "banding" (i.e., unevenness in printing that appears in band-like strips) occurs due to misalignment of the angle at which the print head is mounted.
FIG. 31 is a diagram for illustrating how banding occurs. In this example, the values for the print head 200 are set as follows: number of nozzles N=4; k=2; s=2; D=360 (dpi); and as for the sub-scanning pitch L, two kinds of values, i.e., a value that is 3/2 times the nozzle pitch k and a value that is half the nozzle pitch k, are mixed. It should be noted that the matrix-like outer border 210 shown in FIG. 31 is only for elucidating the dot forming positions.
In the example of FIG. 31, the left end of the outer border 210 is regarded as the starting position, and during the first scanning movement, four dots are formed at two-dot intervals in the sub-scanning direction, and dots are formed at two-dot intervals in the main-scanning direction. After a sub-scanning movement for a distance amounting to 3/2 times the nozzle pitch is carried out, dots are formed in the same way as described above, taking the left end of the outer border 210 as the starting position as in the first scanning movement. Then, after a sub-scanning movement for a distance amounting to half the nozzle pitch is carried out, dots are formed in the same way as described above, taking the position that is shifted from the left end of the outer border 210 towards the right by one dot as the starting position. Next, after a sub-scanning movement for a distance amounting to 3/2 times the nozzle pitch is carried out, dots are formed in the same way as described above, taking the position that is shifted from the left end of the outer border 210 towards the right by one dot as the starting position.
The matrix-like area within the outer border 210 is filled in by repeating the above-described operations.
FIG. 32 is a diagram showing how dots are formed according to the same printing method as FIG. 31, but when the print head 200 is tilted by an angle θ. As shown in FIG. 32, if the print head 200 is tilted by the angle θ, then at the upper end of the print head 200, the dots that have been formed are shift towards the left, whereas at the lower end, the dots are shifted towards the right. Thus, as shown in FIG. 33, in some positions of the dots, there appear sections 220 in which the dots are densely gathered and sections 230 in which the dots are sparsely scattered. These sections are recognized respectively as sections with high density and sections with low density compared to peripheral sections, and this causes deterioration in image quality.

Printing method, printing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium


A process for producing resin-coated metal particles includes coating surfaces of metal particles with silica; allowing a polymerizable group to adsorb onto the surfaces of the silica-coated particles by the use of a silane coupling agent; and coating the surfaces of the silica-coated particles with a polymeric resin by mixing the particles to which the polymerizable groups have been adsorbed, a polymerizable monomer, a polymerization initiator, and a dispersant to polymerize the polymerizable monomer and the polymerizable groups.

For example, toner which is used for forming a circuit and which contains a conductive material coated with an insulating synthetic resin has been used in forming a circuit pattern on a substrate by electrophotography.
Specifically, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a process for producing powdery toner, the process including preparing an aqueous dispersion (I) by emulsifying a mixture of a conductive material and a water-insoluble resin in the presence of a neutralizer, the water-insoluble resin being self-water dispersible after neutralization; preparing an aqueous dispersion (II) by subjecting an acid-group-containing resin to phase-inversion emulsification in the presence of a basic neutralizer, the acid-group-containing resin being self-water dispersible or water-soluble after neutralization; adding an acid to a homogeneous mixed solution of the aqueous dispersion (I) and the aqueous dispersion (II) to attach or deposit the acid-group-containing resin to surfaces of the resin particles coated with the conductive material; and fixing the resin to the surfaces.
Patent Document 2 proposes metallic toner for forming a conductive pattern, the toner being produced by a process of attaching a polymerization catalyst (Ziegler-Natta catalyst) to the surface of a conductive metallic material; bringing a gaseous monomer such as ethylene into contact with the catalyst attached to the surface of the metal particles to polymerize the monomer, i.e., polymerizing the monomer by direct polymerization, and to form insulating resin layers on the surfaces of the metal particles; and providing an electrification characteristic-imparting layer composed of an electrification material around or inside the insulating resin layer.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-154397
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3232280

Process for producing resin-coated metal particles, resin-coated metal particles, and toner for forming circuit


An electronically controlled security lock is provided for use with safes, vaults, hotel rooms, safe deposit boxes, and the like. The security lock includes a housing having an interior region, exterior surfaces, and an aperture therethrough with a pair of opposed channels. The security lock also includes a dead bolt which is slidably disposed within the aperture of the housing, an actuator with a movable plunger element such as an electromagnetic solenoid which is arranged within the interior region of the housing, and a linkage which connects the plunger element and the dead bolt. The linkage of the security lock includes a pin which is received by openings formed in the dead bolt and by the channels of the aperture. In operation, the plunger element of the actuator moves the linkage and the dead bolt when an electric current is passed through the actuator. More specifically, the dead bolt moves between a retracted position wherein the dead bolt is substantially withdrawn within the housing and an extended position wherein the dead bolt protrudes at least partially outwardly away from the housing. When the dead bolt is in the extended position, the pin of the linkage engages stops formed within the channels of the aperture and latches the dead bolt in the extended position. A spring is also provided between the actuator and the linkage for biasing the dead bolt towards the extended position.

Many different types of electronically controlled security locks for safes and the like are known in the art. Examples of such "lock boxes" are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,926,664, 5,020,345, and 5,033,282. The simplest and most practical type of lock box utilizes a dead bolt which is biased into an extended or locking position by a spring and is withdrawn into a retracted or unlocking position by an electromagnetic solenoid. Such locks, however, suffer from certain deficiencies which may permit a person familiar with their construction and manner of functioning to pick or otherwise defeat the lock. For example, such locks may be defeated by applying an external prying force to the dead bolt in a way which overcomes the biasing of the spring. Such locks may also be defeated by applying an external jarring force to the lock by dropping the safe where the lock is incorporated, by exerting a heavy blow in a direction opposite to the movement of the dead bolt, or by jolting the lock in some other manner which overcomes the biasing of the spring.
More complex types of electronically controlled security locks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,745,784, 4,904,984, and 5,249,831. Such locks include rather complex mechanical or auxiliary latching arrangements disposed within the lock box for retaining the dead bolt in the extended position. Such latching arrangements, however, are not only costly to manufacture, but difficult to assemble and prone to malfunction.


A system and method for detecting erosion in turbine engine blades is provided. The blade erosion detection system includes a sensor data processor and a cluster analysis mechanism. The sensor data processor receives engine sensor data, including exhaust gas temperature (EGT) data, and augments the sensor data to determine sensor data residual values and the rate of change of the sensor data residual values. The augmented sensor data is passed to the cluster analysis mechanism. The cluster analysis mechanism analyzes the augmented sensor data to determine the likelihood that compressor blade erosion has occurred. Specifically, the cluster analysis mechanism performs a 2-tuple cluster feature analysis using Gaussian density functions that provide approximations of normal and eroded blades in a turbine engine. The 2-tuple cluster feature analysis thus provides the probability that the sensor data indicates erosion has occurred in the turbine engine.

Modern mechanical systems can be exceedingly complex. The complexities of modern mechanical systems have led to increasing needs for automated prognosis and fault detection systems. These prognosis and fault detection systems are designed to monitor the mechanical system in an effort to predict the future performance of the system and detect potential faults. These systems are designed to detect these potential faults such that the potential faults can be addressed before the potential faults lead to failure in the mechanical system.
One type of mechanical system where prognosis and fault detection is of particular importance is aircraft systems. In aircraft systems, prognosis and fault detection can detect potential faults such that they can be addressed before they result in serious system failure and possible in-flight shutdowns, take-off aborts, delays or cancellations.
Modern aircraft are increasingly complex. The complexities of these aircraft have led to an increasing need for automated fault detection systems. These fault detection systems are designed to monitor the various systems of the aircraft in an effort to detect potential faults. These systems are designed to detect these potential faults such that the potential faults can be addressed before the potential faults lead to serious system failure and possible in-flight shutdowns, take-off aborts, delays or cancellations.
Turbine engines are a particularly critical part of many aircraft. Turbine engines are commonly used for main propulsion aircraft. Furthermore, turbine engines are commonly used in auxiliary power units (APUs) that are used to generate auxiliary power and compressed air for use in the aircraft. Given the critical nature of turbine engines in aircraft, the need for fault detection in turbine engines is of extreme importance.
Traditional fault detection systems for turbine engines have been limited in their ability to detect the occurrence of erosion in turbine blades. Erosion in compressor blades can result in serious blade damage, which can cause severe performance problems in the turbine engines. Unfortunately, previous fault detection methods have been unable to suitably detected erosion in the compressor blades with sufficient accuracy based on the limited data sets available for fault detection. Other fault detection methods have relied upon using devices such as borescopes for visual inspection of the turbine blades. These methods are also limited, as they typically require removal of the engine, thus resulting in excessive costs and vehicle downtime.
Thus, what is needed is an improved system and method for detecting erosion in turbine blades that can consistently detect erosion from engine faults from limited and sometimes noisy engine data sets.

Clustering system and method for blade erosion detection


A portable device is provided for configuring a machine of the type which handles coins or valuable papers and which has an interface for connecting an external unit, thereby allowing the machine to be configured from the external unit. The portable device has a control unit; a memory; a first interface adapted to be connected to said external unit; and a second interface adapted to be connected to the interface of said machine. The control unit is adapted, when the portable device is connected to the external unit via the first interface, to emulate said machine and to receive configuration data intended for said machine from the external unit and store it in the memory. The control unit is further adapted, when the portable device is connected to said machine via the second interface, to emulate the external unit and deliver said configuration data stored in the memory to said machine.

It goes without saying that machines of the kind stated above are known in the art. Examples thereof are coin sorters, coin counters, banknote counters, banknote readers, check readers, vending machines, gambling machines, ATMs, machines for testing the quality of coins, banknotes or checks, machines for identifying counterfeit or foreign coins/banknotes/checks, etc. Such machines usually comprise a large number of operating parameters, settings and the like, which can be referred to collectively as configuration data. Although a particular machine is configured at the factory, subsequent reconfiguring thereof at the site of operation may be necessary, for different reasons, on one or more occasions. Reconfiguring may include the need to update the software of the machine.
One example of a prior-art machine of the kind stated above is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a coin sorter 100. The coin sorter 100 comprises a coin intake associated with a hopper-type coin feeding device 106 as well as a coin discriminator 108, a sorting device 110, a coin return means 112 and a plurality of coin cassettes 114. The machine 100 further comprises an internal microprocessor (CPU) or similar control unit, which in turn is connected to a memory, such as a RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, hard disk, or any combination thereof. The memory stores, inter alia, machine software to be executed by the microprocessor, and can also store configuration and working data for the coin discriminator 108 and the sorting device 110. One of the tasks of the software is to form a user interface together with a front display 102 and keypad 104.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior-art method of configuring the coin sorter 100 to change, for example, its settings and/or update its software. A service engineer brings a portable computer 120 to the site of operation where the machine 100 is used. The computer 120 is connected to the machine 100 by means of, for example, a serial cable 124 between an RS232 interface on the computer and a corresponding RS232 interface on the machine. It may also be necessary for the service engineer to connect the computer 120 to the power grid through a power supply unit 122 to ensure that the service can be carried out even if the computer battery runs out. When the computer is installed, the service engineer first launches its operating system, for example Microsoft® Windows, and then an appropriate configuration application. Using the application the service engineer is then able to configure the machine 100. To use the configuration application in this way the service engineer must, of course, be qualified in the use thereof.
Examples of configuration data for the coin sorter 100 are help texts and menus for the display 102, or the equivalent for a printer installed on the machine (not shown in FIG. 1). Other examples are parameter values for the coin discriminator 108—such as different acceptance ranges within which a number of physical parameters relating to different coin denominations must fall for the coins to be considered valid. Such physical parameters can include, for example, conductivity, permeability, thickness, diameter or weight. One of many situations in which the machine 100 may need to be reconfigured is when it is to be used for a different currency, or when the coin system which the machine is set to handle is changed in any way.
The machine's software may need to be updated due to errors, performance deficiencies, or the like, or when the user has requested a new or additional functionality.
One problem with, and drawback of, the current configuration method is that it requires a qualified service engineer, who has to travel to the site of operation bringing a relatively heavy and bulky PC (including cables and power supply unit). Furthermore, connecting the computer and launching its operating system and the relevant application is time-consuming. Moreover, a sufficiently large working area is needed to set up the computer 120 adjacent to the machine 100.

Portable set-up device and method for a coin handling or valuable paper handling machine


In a coaxial receptacle connector for receiving an coaxial plug connector having a plug side central contact and a plug side outer contact surrounding the plug side central contact, a receptacle side outer contact and a connection detecting element are placed around a receptacle side central contact to form a substantially cylindrical portion in cooperation with each other with gaps left therebetween in a circumferential direction. The receptacle side central contact is for being brought in contact with the plug side central contact. The receptacle side outer contact is for being brought into contact with the plug side central contact. The connection detecting element for detecting a connection between the coaxial plug connector and the coaxial receptacle connector.

This invention relates to a coaxial receptacle connector having a function for detecting a connection of a coaxial plug connector.
Such a conventional coaxial receptacle connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Prepublication No. 223924/1994. The conventional coaxial receptacle connector comprises a first and a second connection detecting element which are driven by a coaxial plug connector connected to the coaxial receptacle connector. The first connection detecting element is in contact with the second connection detecting element when the coaxial plug connector is not connected to the coaxial receptacle connector. When the coaxial plug connector is connected to the coaxial receptacle connector, the first connection detecting element is separated from the second connection detecting element. Thus, it is possible to detect whether or not the coaxial plug connector is connected to the coaxial receptacle connector.
In the conventional coaxial receptacle connector, however, the first and the second connection detecting elements do not cause a wiping action therebetween known in the art. Accordingly, it is apt to make contact failure between the first and the second connection detecting elements.

Coaxial receptacle connector having a connection detecting element

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates implementation of an incentive or loyalty program by providing a universal rewards currency. This universal rewards currency may be “spent” by participants who have earned rewards and accepted by the other participants in the multi-tiered network created by the system. The network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers, retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates data analysis on a network level based upon several factors, including a consumer ID, consumer profile, retailer ID, SKU number, UPC, manufacturer ID, and/or the like. The system may compile any of the above data across multiple entities for the purpose of data analysis, such as analyses which may be employed in strategic planning and marketing for example.

Incentive award programs have been developed in a variety of industries to promote customer loyalty. Generally, such programs reward customers for repeat business with the same merchant or service provider by accumulating reward points which can then be redeemed in a plurality of ways, including exchanging the reward points for additional goods and services that may be selected from an approved list or a redemption catalog for example. The reward points are usually calculated using a predetermined formula or ratio that relates a customer's purchase volume (i.e., in terms of money value or some other volume parameter) to a certain number of reward points. For example, reward points may be issued on a one-for-one basis with each dollar that a customer spends on particular goods and services.
One well-known example of a customer incentive program is a "frequent flyer" program which rewards airlines passengers with "mileage points" based upon the distances that the passengers fly with a particular airline. The mileage points may then be redeemed for free airfare or free car rentals. Other incentive award programs are designed to induce usage of particular financial instruments, such as credit cards or debit cards, by accumulating reward points or dollar value points based upon the volume of purchases made using the particular financial instrument. These types of programs may be designed such that customers of the financial institution accumulate reward points which can be redeemed for selected goods or services or, alternatively, such that customers accumulate points which have a dollar value which can be applied toward a credit or debit balance, depending on whether the instrument is a credit or debit instrument, for example.
These and other similar incentive award programs are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,774,870 and 6,009,412, issued to Thomas W. Storey and assigned to Netcentives, Inc., both of which are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent that they describe an automated rewards system. For more information on loyalty systems, transaction systems, electronic commerce systems, and digital wallet systems, see, for example, the Shop AMEX™ system as disclosed in Ser. No. 60/230,190 filed Sep. 5, 2000; the MR as Currency™ and Loyalty Rewards Systems as disclosed in Ser. No. 60/197,296 filed on Apr. 14, 2000, Ser. No. 60/200,492 filed Apr. 28, 2000, and Ser. No. 60/201,114 filed May 2, 2000; a digital wallet system as disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/652,899 filed Aug. 31, 2000; a stored value card as disclosed in Ser. No. 09/241,188 filed on Feb. 1, 1999; a system for facilitating transactions using secondary transaction numbers as disclosed in Ser. No. 09/800,461 filed on Mar. 7, 2001; and also in related provisional application Ser. No. 60/187,620 filed Mar. 7, 2000, Ser. No. 60/200,625 filed Apr. 28, 2000, and Ser. No. 60/213,323 filed May 22, 2000, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Other examples of online membership reward systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,870, issued on Jun. 30, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,412, issued on Dec. 29, 1999, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A further example of a loyalty and reward program may be found at the AIR MILES® Web site (www.airmiles.ca), which describes a loyalty program offered by The Loyalty Group, a privately held division of Alliance Data Systems of Dallas, Tex., and which is hereby incorporated by reference. Additional information relating to smart card and smart card reader payment technology is disclosed in Ser. No. 60/232,040, filed on Sep. 12, 2000, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,742,845; 5,898,838 and 5,905,908, owned by Datascape; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Information on point-of-sale systems and the exploitation of point-of-sale data is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,457, issued on Nov. 3, 1998 to O'Brien et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Portions of each of the above-described programs may be used to induce customer loyalty to particular merchants or service providers who directly provide goods or services to the consumer. In other words, these prior art frequency awards programs provide a means for retail businesses, financial institutions, and others in direct contact with the customers they service to provide incentives to their customers to encourage repeat and/or volume business. However, these programs do not sufficiently address the similar needs of businesses that are further up in the distribution chain, such as manufacturers, to promote volume purchases by customers based upon, for example, brand loyalty independent of the retail source for the purchase. Additionally, the prior art programs do not provide a means for monitoring, tracking, and/or, analyzing consumer and product data across distribution channels for a particular manufacturer and/or the variety of goods which that manufacturer places into the stream of commerce for ultimate sale to consumers by a retailer.
Generally, before a product arrives at a retail establishment for sale to a consumer, the product travels through a distribution chain which originates with the manufacturer. The manufacturer typically sells its products to a wholesaler who in turn sells those products to various retailers. Most modern retailers implement some form of computerization or electronic technology in their day-to-day operations. This technology typically consists of using point-of-sale (POS) systems for automating checkout procedures, assisting sales personnel, and the like. POS systems generally include one or more automated check-out terminals which are capable of inputting or sensing and interpreting a symbol or other indicia related to the product, such as a Universal Product Code (UPC), generally comprising a machine-readable bar code coupled with a human-readable UPC number, that is printed on a label or tag which is placed on each item of merchandise to be purchased. The manufacturer may assign and mark each product that it sells with a UPC. Conventionally, once the product reaches the retailer, the retailer further identifies each product with a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) number or code as well as other information for identifying a specific item or style of merchandise. The retailer's SKU number may be either an entirely different number used to identify each product (e.g., by style) or a modified version of the manufacturer's UPC number, derived, perhaps, by adding a SKU number to the UPC number for example.
A POS terminal, a kiosk terminal, or a sales person's hand-held terminal might be coupled to a store computer system, such as a network server or some other store platform host, which is able to recognize and process UPC and/or SKU information which has been manually keyed-in or sensed and interpreted by a device, such as a barcode reader, coupled to the terminal. The computer system typically includes a database which stores information relating to the retailer's product inventory, such as stocked merchandise, a UPC and/or SKU number for each item of merchandise, and various types of merchandise identification information, such as price, inventory, style, color, size, etc., which is associated with each UPC and/or SKU number. When a customer purchases an item of merchandise, store personnel frequently use an automated terminal to read the barcode markings which are attached to the item. A computer interprets the UPC and/or SKU number comprised by the barcode, accesses the database to determine the price for each item, and maintains a running total of the total transaction price.
One problem that results from the independent identification schemes of the manufacturer and the retailers is that there is no way for the manufacturer to track the quantity of any particular product that each retailer sold. For example, even if a manufacturer obtains all of the SKU numbers representing items purchased from Retailer 1 and Retailer 2 by consumers, the manufacturer has no means for determining which SKU number corresponds to the manufacturer's UPC, since the UPC's and SKU numbers of the various retailers are not tracked and matched.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an incentive or loyalty program which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. Thus, there is a need for a system and method which provides a universal customer incentive program that networks various levels of the product distribution chain, such as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, to provide incentives to consumers to purchase products not only from a particular merchant or group of merchants but also from particular manufacturers, regardless of the specific merchant who sells the manufacturer's products to the consumer. Additionally, a need exists for a system and method for gathering data which associates particular consumer purchasing behaviors and specific products or product criteria across a manufacturer's distribution channels.

System and method for networked loyalty program

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.


A projection system for projecting a shape onto a scene (e.g., the surface of an object, the body of a patient, or the like) so that the shape appears to be projected via a light beam emanating from a desired source location includes two or more projection assemblies for projecting planes of light which intersect the scene to form light stripes on the scene. The intersection of the light stripes defines a point of light projected onto the scene so that the point of light appears to emanate from the source location. The first and second projection assemblies rotate about first and second axes which extend through the source location for controlling the position of the point of light on the scene.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and method for projecting a shape onto a scene, and more particularly to a system and method for projecting a shape onto a scene so that the shape appears to be projected via a light beam emanating from a desired source location.
There are several applications in industry that may benefit from projecting a shape into a scene (e.g., onto the surface of an object). In these applications, the intention is typically to guide a user during the performance of a task, for example, to guide a user during mechanical repair of complex systems, or to guide a user during patient set-up for radiation oncology.
In radiation oncology, a light field is typically used to represent the geometry and profile of high-energy beams that treat patients. A mirror angled at forty five degrees (45°) is positioned on a central axis of the radiation beam to bend a beam of light as if it originated from the radiation source. This method of precision alignment may achieve congruence of the light field with the radiation field. However, the method has several limitations. First, the physical characteristics of visible light are different from those of high-energy gamma rays, X-rays, or the like. For example, X-rays penetrate the beam limiting devices (e.g., jaws or maximum contaminate level (MLC) leaves), which may result in the penumbra phenomenon, where a penumbra extends the effective field beyond what is illuminated by the light field. Also, it is not possible to illuminate the scene beyond the field opening. Further, in certain situations, it may be desirable for the X-ray beam to pass through a 2-dimensional detector for entrance dosimetry. To benefit from a visible light field, such as for visual alignment, it would be necessary to move the two-dimensional detector out of the beam path, thereby adding to the design complexity of the radiation treatment device.
Consequently, it would be advantageous to provide a projection system for projecting a shape onto a scene (e.g., the surface of an object) so that the shape appears to be projected via a light beam emanating from a desired source location which may not be accessible, such as, for example, the radiation source of a radiation treatment device used in radiation oncology.


The invention provides liquid electrographic toner compositions comprising a liquid carrier having toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier. The liquid carrier has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL. The toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The S material portion comprises at least one soluble component and at least one insoluble component, wherein the insoluble component is the reaction product of monomers having an absolute difference in Hildebrand solubility parameter from the liquid carrier of about 3.0 MPa1/2 or greater. These toner particles can exhibit excellent final image durability characteristics, and can also provide toner compositions that provide excellent images at low fusion temperatures on a final image receptor.

In electrophotographic and electrostatic printing processes (collectively electrographic processes), an electrostatic image is formed on the surface of a photoreceptive element or dielectric element, respectively. The photoreceptive element or dielectric element can be an intermediate transfer drum or belt or the substrate for the final toned image itself, as described by Schmidt, S. P. and Larson, J. R. in Handbook of Imaging Materials Diamond, A. S., Ed: Marcel Dekker: New York; Chapter 6, pp 227–252, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,728,983, 4,321,404, and 4,268,598.
Electrophotography forms the technical basis for various well-known imaging processes, including photocopying and some forms of laser printing. Other imaging processes use electrostatic or ionographic printing. Electrostatic printing is printing where a dielectric receptor or substrate is "written" upon imagewise by a charged stylus, leaving a latent electrostatic image on the surface of the dielectric receptor. This dielectric receptor is not photosensitive and is generally not re-useable. Once the image pattern has been "written" onto the dielectric receptor in the form of an electrostatic charge pattern of positive or negative polarity, oppositely charged toner particles are applied to the dielectric receptor in order to develop the latent image. An exemplary electrostatic imaging process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,974.
In contrast, electrophotographic imaging processes typically involve the use of a reusable, light sensitive, temporary image receptor, known as a photoreceptor, in the process of producing an electrophotographic image on a final, permanent image receptor. A representative electrophotographic process involves a series of steps to produce an image on a receptor, including charging, exposure, development, transfer, fusing, cleaning, and erasure.
In the charging step, a photoreceptor is covered with charge of a desired polarity, either negative or positive, typically with a corona or charging roller. In the exposure step, an optical system, typically a laser scanner or diode array, forms a latent image by selectively exposing the photoreceptor to electromagnetic radiation, thereby discharging the charged surface of the photoreceptor in an imagewise manner corresponding to the desired image to be formed on the final image receptor. The electromagnetic radiation, which can also be referred to as "light," can include infrared radiation, visible light, and ultraviolet radiation, for example.
In the development step, toner particles of the appropriate polarity are generally brought into contact with the latent image on the photoreceptor, typically using a developer electrically-biased to a potential having the same polarity as the toner polarity. The toner particles migrate to the photoreceptor and selectively adhere to the latent image via electrostatic forces, forming a toned image on the photoreceptor.
In the transfer step, the toned image is transferred from the photoreceptor to the desired final image receptor; an intermediate transfer element is sometimes used to effect transfer of the toned image from the photoreceptor with subsequent transfer of the toned image to a final image receptor. The transfer of an image typically occurs by one of the following two methods: elastomeric assist (also referred to herein as "adhesive transfer") or electrostatic assist (also referred to herein as "electrostatic transfer").
Elastomeric assist or adhesive transfer refers generally to a process in which the transfer of an image is primarily caused by balancing the relative energies between the ink, a photoreceptor surface and a temporary carrier surface or medium for the toner. The effectiveness of such elastomeric assist or adhesive transfer is controlled by several variables including surface energy, temperature, pressure, and toner rheology. An exemplary elastomeric assist/adhesive image transfer process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,718.
Electrostatic assist or electrostatic transfer refers generally to a process in which transfer of an image is primarily affected by electrostatic charges or charge differential phenomena between the receptor surface and the temporary carrier surface or medium for the toner. Electrostatic transfer can be influenced by surface energy, temperature, and pressure, but the primary driving forces causing the toner image to be transferred to the final substrate are electrostatic forces. An exemplary electrostatic transfer process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,244.
In the fusing step, the toned image on the final image receptor is heated to soften or melt the toner particles, thereby fusing the toned image to the final receptor. An alternative fusing method involves fixing the toner to the final receptor under high pressure with or without heat. In the cleaning step, residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor is removed. Finally, in the erasing step, the photoreceptor charge is reduced to a substantially uniformly low value by exposure to light of a particular wavelength band, thereby removing remnants of the original latent image and preparing the photoreceptor for the next imaging cycle.
Electrophotographic imaging processes can also be distinguished as being either multi-color or monochrome printing processes. Multi-color printing processes are commonly used for printing graphic art or photographic images, while monochrome printing is used primarily for printing text. Some multi-color electrophotographic printing processes use a multi-pass process to apply multiple colors as needed on the photoreceptor to create the composite image that will be transferred to the final image receptor, either by via an intermediate transfer member or directly. One example of such a process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,591.
A single-pass electrophotographic process for developing multiple color images is also known and can be referred to as a tandem process. A tandem color imaging process is discussed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,718 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,676. In a tandem process, the photoreceptor accepts color from developer stations that are spaced from each other in such a way that only a single pass of the photoreceptor results in application of all of the desired colors thereon.
Alternatively, electrophotographic imaging processes can be purely monochromatic. In these systems, there is typically only one pass per page because there is no need to overlay colors on the photoreceptor. Monochromatic processes may, however, include multiple passes where necessary to achieve higher image density or a drier image on the final image receptor, for example.
Two types of toner are in widespread, commercial use: liquid toner and dry toner. The term "dry" does not mean that the dry toner is totally free of any liquid constituents, but connotes that the toner particles do not contain any significant amount of solvent, e.g., typically less than 10 weight percent solvent (generally, dry toner is as dry as is reasonably practical in terms of solvent content), and are capable of carrying a triboelectric charge. This distinguishes dry toner particles from liquid toner particles.
A typical liquid toner composition generally includes toner particles suspended or dispersed in a liquid carrier. The liquid carrier is typically a nonconductive dispersant, to avoid discharging the latent electrostatic image. Liquid toner particles are generally solvated to some degree in the liquid carrier (or carrier liquid), typically in more than 50 weight percent of a low polarity, low dielectric constant, substantially nonaqueous carrier solvent. Liquid toner particles are generally chemically charged using polar groups that dissociate in the carrier solvent, but do not carry a triboelectric charge while solvated and/or dispersed in the liquid carrier. Liquid toner particles are also typically smaller than dry toner particles. Because of their small particle size, ranging from about 5 microns to sub-micron, liquid toners are capable of producing very high-resolution toned images, and are therefore preferred for high resolution, multi-color printing applications.
A typical toner particle for a liquid toner composition generally comprises a visual enhancement additive (for example, a colored pigment particle) and a polymeric binder. The polymeric binder fulfills functions both during and after the electrographic process. With respect to processability, the character of the binder impacts charging and charge stability, flow, and fusing characteristics of the toner particles. These characteristics are important to achieve good performance during development, transfer, and fusing. After an image is formed on the final receptor, the nature of the binder (e.g. glass transition temperature, melt viscosity, molecular weight) and the fusing conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure and fuser configuration) impact durability (e.g. blocking and erasure resistance), adhesion to the receptor, gloss, and the like. Exemplary liquid toners and liquid electrophotographic imaging process are described by Schmidt, S. P. and Larson, J. R. in Handbook of Imaging Materials Diamond, A. S., Ed: Marcel Dekker: New York; Chapter 6, pp 227–252.
The liquid toner composition can vary greatly with the type of transfer used because liquid toner particles used in adhesive transfer imaging processes must be "film-formed" and have adhesive properties after development on the photoreceptor, while liquid toners used in electrostatic transfer imaging processes must remain as distinct charged particles after development on the photoreceptor.
Toner particles useful in adhesive transfer processes generally have effective glass transition temperatures below approximately 30° C. and volume mean particle diameter between 0.1–1 micron. In addition, for liquid toners used in adhesive transfer imaging processes, the carrier liquid generally has a vapor pressure sufficiently high to ensure rapid evaporation of solvent following deposition of the toner onto a photoreceptor, transfer belt, and/or receptor sheet. This is particularly true for cases in which multiple colors are sequentially deposited and overlaid to form a single image, because in adhesive transfer systems, the transfer is promoted by a drier toned image that has high cohesive strength (commonly referred to as being "film formed"). Generally, the toned imaged should be dried to higher than approximately 68–74 volume percent solids in order to be "film-formed" sufficiently to exhibit good adhesive transfer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,363 describes the formulation of liquid electrophotographic toners suitable for use in imaging processes using adhesive transfer.
In contrast, toner particles useful in electrostatic transfer processes generally have effective glass transition temperatures above approximately 40° C. and volume mean particle diameter between 3–10 microns. For liquid toners used in electrostatic transfer imaging processes, the toned image is preferably no more than approximately 30% w/w solids for good transfer. A rapidly evaporating carrier liquid is therefore not preferred for imaging processes using electrostatic transfer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,048 describes the formulation of one type of liquid electrophotographic toner suitable for use in imaging processes using electrostatic transfer.
The art continually searches for improved liquid toner compositions that produce high quality, durable images at low fusion temperatures on a final image receptor.

Liquid toners comprising amphipathic copolymeric binder having insoluble components in the shell portion thereof


An air mass flowmeter having a sensor element of microelectromechanical design, a heating element, and a temperature sensor element. The temperature sensor element is a thermocouple assembly having a multiplicity of thermocouples connected in series. Each thermocouple is a first metal conductor and a second, different metal conductor connected to one another at one end by a connection point. To reduce the distortion of measurement results by the soiling of the sensor element, the first thermocouple(s) and the last thermocouple(s) of the thermocouple assembly are polarized such that an electrical current flows first through the second metal conductor and then through the first metal conductor in each case. The remaining thermocouples of the thermocouple assembly are polarized such that the electrical current flows first through the first metal conductor and then through the second metal conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an air mass flowmeter having a microelectromechanical sensor element, a heating element, and at least one temperature sensor element. The temperature sensor element is a thermal element. The thermal element comprises a large number of thermocouples connected in series and through which an electric current flows in succession. A thermocouple comprises a first metal conductor and a second metal conductor connected to one another in each case at an end by a connecting point, the first metal conductor and the second metal conductor are formed from different metals.
2. Detailed Description of the Prior Art
Air mass flowmeters are used, for example, in motor vehicles for determining the air mass drawn in by an internal combustion engine. On the basis of information about a drawn-in air mass, which is as reliable as possible, a combustion process can be optimized by an electronic control system of the internal combustion engine to precisely a quantity of fuel to the air mass supplied to the respective combustion chambers. This results in better energy utilization together with a low level of pollution emissions.
DE 44 07 209 A1 discloses an air mass flowmeter inserted into an intake duct for determining an air mass, wherein a defined proportion of the total flow flows through the air mass sensor. The mass sensor is in the form of an insertion-duct air mass flowmeter. The air mass flowmeter comprises a sensor element, which is arranged in a measuring duct, electronics, which are arranged in a housing for evaluating and/or detecting the measurement values from the sensor element, and also an outlet duct on the other side of the sensor element. For a space-saving arrangement, the specified ducts or air-guiding paths are U-, S- or C-shaped, with the result that an apparatus that is compact overall and is designed as an insertion element is formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,351 A1 discloses an air mass flowmeter in which the temperature sensor elements, which are in the form of thermal elements, in the edge region of the sensor element are protected by additional thermal elements.
DE 100 57 403 A1 discloses a thermoelectric sensor of the thermopile type. The output signals from the thermoelectric sensor of the thermopile type can be set in such a way that a thermoelectric structure for setting the sensitivity is connected in series with a plurality of thermoelectric structures which form a thermopile.
An air mass flowmeter designed in accordance with the WO 03/089884 A1 is in the form of a hot-film manometer has proven effective in principle.
During the development of modern air mass flowmeters that operate on the basis of sensor elements in the form of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), it has become apparent that the measurement results of the sensor elements are influenced in a particularly disadvantageous way by contamination. Contamination can be caused by, for example, oil droplets in the air mass flow, and results in signal drift in the sensor element over time. The signal drift may lead to incorrect measurement values for the air mass flow. However, sensor elements in the form of microelectromechanical systems have a large number of advantages that should not be dispensed with.


A direct mail form having a bond paper layer extending across an entire width and length of the form. An adhesive label portion extends across a limited portion of the bond paper layer. The adhesive label portion of the bond paper layer is treated with a silicone release coating prior to application of the adhesive label portion to the bond paper layer. A bottom surface of the bond paper layer is printed prior to application of the silicone layer. The adhesive label portion and remaining free portion of the bond paper layer are subsequently printed with the bond paper layer also being printed prior to application of the silicone layer and adhesive layer portion so that upon removal of the adhesive label portion, printing is exposed.

The direct mail form industry has a general standard construction for pharmacy "mated" forms. The two primary materials used are a pressure sensitive label stock and bond paper. The two materials are glued together along a lateral edge in-line on press to create a form that the pharmacy can print and peel labels off of one side for application on prescription containers while printing instructions on the bond paper side for insertion into the prescription bag. The glue used is applied from a mounted in line glue gun dispensing a thin bead of either emulsion or hot melt adhesive (glue).
In general, this construction slows press speeds down to 20% efficiency. The glue dispenses at a certain speed. If this speed is changed, the amount of glue will vary causing inconsistencies. The glue is often applied immediately after the two rolls of pressure sensitive label stock and bond paper unwind and before the stock and paper enter the print stations. Often there is printing on the back of these forms.
Some of the problems with this construction start with the difference of material thickness between the single layer of bond or paper material and the multi-layered pressure sensitive material. The pressure sensitive material will tend to try and run faster through the press than the bond material. This can cause the central glued area to separate and the construction to tear in the press. It is also very difficult to turn this material for back printing. Wrinkling is common when doing this, and wrinkling is also due to the different thicknesses in the materials.
The current industry standard construction for non-profit direct mail return address label forms is generally 16 to 18 inches wide of full pressure sensitive stock labels. In many cases, these are two across, so the actual finished size after the form is lasered at a mail shop is 8 or 9 inches wide. Pressure sensitive direct mail forms run very efficiently, 80% to 100% press speed. This business segment is also generally very high volume production.
One of the problems in the industry has been the unavailability of a direct mail mated form producible at high speeds. Direct mail shops separately laser these forms, usually lasering a letter on a bond letter material. Both of these pieces are done on different pieces of equipment in the mail shop and both are personalized. This means that the mail shop will have another process of matching the two personalized pieces together for insertion into an envelope for mailing.
By using the pharmacy label mated process, it is possible to supply the mail shop with a product in which both pieces are lasered at the same time thus eliminating the additional process of matching two disparate pieces of mail before envelope insertion. This could be a potentially tremendous savings and increase in efficiency for the mail shop.
However, production concerns are raised in doing a pharmacy label style mated direct mail form. All of the inefficiencies of a mated pharmacy form would create a major negative issue with direct mail forms. Waste would increase, press down time would increase and production times would be cut by 50% or more.


A tilt control method for a near-field optical disc drive is provided. A gap between a lens and a disc is estimated. A tilt compensation for the lens is estimated according to a tilt signal when the lens is within a far-field region. A coarse tilt control is performed on the lens according to the tilt compensation when the lens is within the far-field region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a tilt control method of a near-field optical system.
2. Description of the Related Art
For the existing disc technology, the increase in storage capacity can be implemented by way of multi-layered rewritable discs or by reducing the size of the focused light spots for increasing the storage capacity per layer, hence increasing the total storage capacity of a disc. The size of the focused light spots is normally determined according to the wavelength of the laser light and the numerical aperture (NA) of the optical system. In general, a light source with short wavelength and an optical system with large numerical aperture can generate small focused light spots.
Due to the development in the increase of the storage capacity of the disc in recent years, the wavelength of the laser light has become shorter and shorter, and the laser light has been changed from the infra-red light laser (for use in CD) to the red light laser (for use in DVD), and further to the blue light laser. Since the blue light laser is used as the laser light, the related development in increasing the storage capacity of the disc is directed to reading/writing a disc with a near-field optical system for generating smaller focused light spots by increasing NA value. To increase the NA value, the near-field optical system normally generates focused light spots with an assembly of an object lens (convex lens) and a solid immersion lens (SIL). When reads/writes a disc with a near-field optical system, the gap between the SIL and the disc surface would become even smaller such as about 30-100 nm if a blue light laser is used, and such region is called near-field region.
Since the perpendicularity between the focused beam and the disc data layer affects the capability and accuracy of an optical disc drive in the read/write of data, the drive normally performs tilt control on the optical system (or the optical head) during the read/write of data, so that the focused beam is perpendicular to the disc data layer. However, the SIL and the disc surface are very close when a near-field optical system is used for reading/writing a disc. Therefore, how to perform the tilt control on the SIL and how to avoid the SIL colliding with the disc have become a prominent task for the industries.
However, before entering the near-field region, if the tilt angle between the SIL of the optical head and the disc is very large, the distance between the SIL and the disc might be erroneously judged. Under the case that the gap ranges 30-100 nm, the SIL may easily collide with the disc during adjustment of the tilt angle of the optical head. Thus, the accuracy of the near-field optical disc drive is negatively affected. Besides, for a generally known near-field optical disc drive, when the optical head is still within a far-field region (the gap between the SIL and the disc surface is larger than the near-field region), the position of the SIL can hardly be determined, and the tilt control cannot be performed on the optical head (or the SIL) within the far-field region.

Tilt control method of near-field optical system


A location pad includes multiple field-generators and a frame. The multiple field-generators are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient organ, so as to measure a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest. The frame is transparent to an X-ray radiation, and is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest.

Magnetic position tracking systems are used in a wide range of medical applications, such as in minimally invasive procedures. Examples of prior art techniques are provided below.
U.S. Patent application publication 2017/0007155, now abandoned, describes a location pad of a magnetic position tracking system. The location pad includes multiple field-generators and a frame. The field-generators are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient body, for measuring a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest. The frame is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest. The frame is open on at least one side of the region-of-interest.
U.S. Patent application publication 2014/0275998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,702 on May 3, 2016, describes a system for navigating a medical device including a magnetic field generator assembly that generates a magnetic field. Position sensors on the medical device, on an imaging system and on the body generate signals indicative of the positions within the magnetic field. The generator assembly and reference sensors are arranged such that a correlation exists between them and the positions of the body and of a radiation emitter and a radiation detector of the imaging system. An electronic control unit (ECU) determines, responsive to signals generated by the sensors, a position of the medical device, a position of one of the radiation emitter and detector and a distance between the emitter and detector.

Location pad for neurosurgical procedures


A self-propelled vehicle includes a frame having a pair of foot treadles mounted in side-by-side relation and depressible with respect to the frame; an overrunning clutch for each of the foot treadles and having a drive member coupled to its respective foot treadle and a driven member coupled to the drive wheel; and a planetary gear assembly for each of the overrunning clutches for coupling the drive member to the respective foot treadle such as to multiply, by a factor of at least two, the displacement of the clutch driven member by its respective foot treadle.

The present invention relates to self-propelled vehicles, and particularly to self-propelled vehicles of the scooter type propelled by the operator's feet.
A large number of self-propelled scooter constructions have been proposed, as illustrated for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,237,969, 1,440,372, 1,529,952, 1,571,562, 2,062,830, 2,183,534, 2,723,131, 3,175,844, 3,180,656, 3,992,029, 4,124,222, 4,779,863 and 4,846,488, Belgian Patent 411,107, British Patent 603,916, and French Patents 501,552 and 754,319. Such proposed constructions, however, have generally not been entirely satisfactory for one reason or another, and apparently have not found widespread use.
An object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled vehicle of the foregoing type but having advantages over the prior known constructions.


The invention provides a golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. The cover is formed of a diamine complex ionomer resin having a flexural rigidity of 340-410 MPa. The intermediate layer is formed of an ionomer resin or non-ionomer thermoplastic elastomer having a flexural rigidity of 20-350 MPa. The hardness of the ball is adjusted to a distortion of 2.6-4.5 mm under a load of 100 kg.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, and more particularly, such a golf ball wherein the cover is formed of a specific diamine complex ionomer resin so that the ball is improved in flight performance, hitting feel and durability.
2. Prior Art
Various types of golf balls are available in the market. The majority of the ball market is shared by two-piece solid golf balls in which a rubber base core is enclosed with a cover of ionomer resin or the like and wound golf balls in which a wound core having thread rubber wound on a solid or liquid center is enclosed with a cover.
Most average golfers favor two-piece solid golf balls because of superior flight performance and durability. The two-piece solid golf balls, however, have the drawback that hitting feel is hard and controllability is low because of quick separation of the ball from the club head. Thus many professional golfers and low-handicap players prefer wound golf balls to two-piece solid golf balls. The wound golf balls are superior in feel and control, but inferior to two-piece solid golf balls in flight distance and durability.
Under the present situation that two-piece solid golf balls and wound golf balls have contradictory characteristics as mentioned above, players make a choice of golf balls depending on their own skill and preference.
In order to develop solid golf balls having a feel approximate to the wound golf balls, various two-piece solid golf balls of the soft type have been proposed. To obtain such two-piece solid golf balls of the soft type, soft cores are used. Softening the core can reduce resilience, deteriorate flight performance, and substantially lower durability, resulting in two-piece solid golf balls which not only fail to possess their characteristic excellent flight performance and durability, but also lose actual playability. Differently stated, while the structure of conventional two-piece solid golf balls is determined by the desire to optimize three factors, softness, resilience and durability, an attempt to improve one of these factors tends to sacrifice the remaining factors.
To solve the above-mentioned problem, JP-A 24084/1995 proposes a golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. In order that the ball of this structure exert its performance to a full extent, it is desired to further improve the materials used therein. There is a need for further research work to improve the golf ball having an intermediate layer between a core and a cover.


A data processing system includes, among others, three memory areas: a source memory which is addressed in planar, data unit increments and stores display data units on a bit per plane basis; a target memory for storing display data units in a manner suitable for operation of a display unit; and a window buffer for transferring display data units from the source memory to the target memory. The system includes apparatus for inhibiting certain data units from the source memory from overwriting data units already in the target memory. The method comprises first accessing a plurality of data units from the source memory and then logically determining if all bits of each accessed data unit meet a predetermined criteria. Each data unit found to meet the predetermined criteria is inhibited from altering any data unit already in the target memory.

Currently, there are program products available for personal computers which allow the user to produce an audiovisual presentation or to add images and audio to other applications for presentation purposes. Such program products enable the display of real images with high quality sound, text, graphics, animation and other special effects. In utilizing the personal computer to assemble such presentation packages, the user must often provide for picture-to-picture transition (e.g. dissolves), for overlays of one image upon another (e.g. animation) and for other applications wherein portions of one image are transparent in relation to an underlying image, both images being superimposed during preparation of the presentation.
As is known, to enable the creation of such presentations requires the movement of various "screens" of data from one place to another within the PC. A screen of data is an image in memory that is viewable by the user on the display. In essence the screen is comprised of a block of data which, when inserted into the display, enables it to show the image on a CRT or other presentation device.
PC memories are often not designed to interface readily with sophisticated graphic display units For instance, many PC random access memories (RAMs) are organized on a bit-planar basis with each respective bit of a byte or word resident in a plurality of planes in correspondingly aligned bit positions. Such PC/RAM organization are useful for data processing applications where predetermined blocks of data are accessed and handled. However, when it is necessary to access a block of data, where the block may have any starting point and any end point, and to transfer such block of data into a display memory at a starting point chosen by the user, such an operation can be accomplished but generally slowly.
Block data transfers are encountered in display applications where it is desirable to insert in a display memory, a new screen of data in place of or superimposed over a pre-existing screen. In the case of such data transfers, the system must access a data unit corresponding to a first picture element (Pel) and then continue accessing data units until the last Pel is retrieved. The accessed data units must be aligned so that they are properly justified when inserted into the display memory. This allows optimum use of the display memory's capacity In certain cases, it is desirable that portions of the inserted screen be "transparent", so that corresponding portions of the preexisting screen are not obscured when the new screen is written over the preexisting screen.
Many PC/RAMs are accessible on only a byte or larger data unit basis, so if the initial Pel starts in the interior of a byte, the Pel must be extracted from the byte, aligned and then transferred. All of this is preferably done with a minimum number of memory accesses to avoid the delays inherent therein.
In the referenced co-pending applications, methods are disclosed therein for enabling extremely rapid transfers of blocks of data through a window buffer that forms the main gateway to and from a display memory. There is no provision in the aforementioned methods for coping with the question of image transparency.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,336 to Robertson et al, assigned to the same assignee as this application, the matter of image overlays is addressed Robertson et al disclose a word processing system wherein alphanumeric data can be overlaid on a graphics image. The system merges the alphanumeric's over the graphics and elects to display the non-blank image at each screen area, with conflicts being resolved in favor of the alphanumerics. Robertson et al do not contemplate or teach how to accomplish an image overlay, as the foreground image is being transferred to the background image memory and is in the process of being reformatted to match the background image memory.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and means for block data transfers wherein one block is written over another only in selected areas.
It is another object of this invention to provide a rapid method and means for screen data transfer wherein one screen has transparent portions and is written over a background screen.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a rapid method and means for display data transfers between memories through a window buffer wherein the transfer accomplishes alignment and transparency tests in a rapid fashion.


The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing a contaminant from an object. According to one aspect, an apparatus for washing an object which has contaminant is arranged to recover the contaminant. The apparatus includes a support floor that supports an object to be washed and a basin mounted below the support floor. The basin is divided into a plurality of chambers which include a clean water chamber, a secondary water chamber, an oil containment chamber, and a contaminated water receiving chamber which receives water which is contaminated after it is flowed over the object to remove the contaminant. The contaminated water received in the contaminated water receiving chamber must pass sequentially through the oil containment chamber and the secondary water chamber prior to entering the clean water chamber. The clean water chamber is flowably coupled to the secondary water chamber by a first flowpath near the operational water level, while the secondary water chamber is flowably coupled to the oil containment chamber by a second flowpath near the bottom of the basin. The oil containment chamber is flowably coupled to the contaminated water receiving chamber by a third flowpath near the operational water level. The apparatus also includes a first pump which draws and filters water from the secondary water chamber and returns the filtered water to the clean water chamber.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for use in pressure washing. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for safely washing objects with a pressure washer, or similar device, and recovering contaminants from the objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Contamination of the environment by man-made substances has been considered a serious problem for a long time. Recently, concern about contamination of earth, air, and groundwater by oil, toxic chemicals, and other hazardous wastes has expanded beyond large-scale industry to encompass the activities of many small businesses including automobile service stations, and many others. Both government regulations and social outcry have placed tremendous pressure on these businesses to avoid discharging hazardous wastes into the environment in the course of ordinary business activities.
Many businesses partake in activities which are likely to produce waste which may be harmful to the environment. For example, in an automobile service station, washing or steam-cleaning auto parts, e.g., an automobile engine, often causes engine oil, gasoline, and other chemicals to enter a storm drain system, or other waterways, thereby leading to the potential contamination of groundwater. In addition, those who service remotely located equipment generally have a need to wash the equipment without discharging hazardous waste into the environment. By way of example, persons who service roof-mounted air conditioners that contain lubricating petrochemicals, trapped pollutants, or other chemicals are not permitted to wash the equipment in a manner that could cause chemicals to run off the roof and into the surrounding environment.
High pressure washing equipment, which is used, for example, to clean auto parts, is generally available. However, many pressure washers do not have containment capability for hazardous materials. Hence, such pressure washers may not prevent hazardous materials from entering the surrounding environment. Some pressure washers may be able to recover some wash fluid, although pressure washers which recover some wash fluid often do not filter hazardous wastes, or do not efficiently filter all hazardous wastes out of the wash fluid. As such, pressure washing systems often generate relatively large volumes of wastewater which must either be processed separately, or placed in barrels for disposal. Further, since such pressure washing systems are often required to handle large volumes of wastewater, the pressure washing systems are not readily moved.
Therefore, what is desired is a portable, zero-discharge wash apparatus which may recover oil, chemicals, and other hazardous materials from an object which is being washed. In addition, what is desired is a wash apparatus which may efficiently recirculate, and repeatedly filter, a washing agent, thereby minimizing the quantity of waste material produced during a washing process. That is, what is desired is a portable, self-contained way to conveniently, efficiently, and safely wash objects, e.g., automobile engines or parts, and recover contaminants from them by providing a controlled water supply to an adjustable pressure washer.

Method and apparatus for pressure washing


A disassembling device for separating a pedestal, a ceramic element and a base from an electrostatic chuck assembly. The base has a first end surface and a second end surface. The ceramic element is disposed on the first end surface. The pedestal is disposed on the ceramic element. The disassembling device includes a main body and at least one pushing element. The main body is disposed on the second end surface and has a through hole. The at least one pushing element penetrates the through hole and pushes against the ceramic element and pedestal to separate the ceramic element and pedestal from the first end surface of the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disassembling device, and in particular to a disassembling device that protects an electrostatic chuck assembly from damage when the electrostatic chuck assembly is disassembled.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally speaking, when a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) process is performed, a wafer is placed on an electrostatic chuck assembly in a chamber and Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) is deposited thereon.
The electrostatic chuck assembly is mainly comprised of a pedestal, a ceramic element, a base and a cover.
However, the electrostatic chuck assembly is difficult to disassemble. Conventionally, a hammer is employed to separate the pedestal and the ceramic element from the base. Specifically, an operator strikes the ceramic element upwardly from the bottom of the base by means of the hammer to overcome the adhesive bond and separate the pedestal and the ceramic element from the base. The ceramic material, however, is brittle and consequently the ceramic element is easily broken when it is subjected to a blow from the hammer or other striking object. A new ceramic element is needed to replace the broken one. Thus, the manufacturing cost and manpower spent in the deposition process are increased considerably.
Another method is the use of isopropanol (IPA). Even when IPA is employed, the pedestal and ceramic element cannot be easily separated from the base. Instead, a hammer is typically employed to separate the pedestal and the ceramic element from the base. Similar to the previous description, the ceramic element is easily broken by blows from the hammer.
Consequently, there is a need to provide a disassembling device that avoids breakage when separating the pedestal, ceramic element and base from the electrostatic chuck assembly. Such will increase the lifespan of the ceramic element and reduce the wafer manufacturing cost.

Electrostatic chuck assembly having disassembling device

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co,, Ltd.


Novel magnetorheological elastomer compositions are provided. The magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) may have aligned or randomly arranged magnetizable particles in a thermoset or thermoplastic matrix. The magnetizable particles may be coated to reduce corrosion and/or improve bonding between the particle and the matrix. The magnetizable particles may be flake-shaped. The MREs may have matrices selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated nitrile rubbers, butyl rubbers, ethylene-propylene copolymers and terpolymers, ethylene-acrylic copolymers, fluorinated elastomers, silphenylene-siloxanes, silarylene-siloxanes, poly(carborane-siloxane-acetylene)s and blends thereof. The MREs may also have matrices selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene block copolymers, copolyesters, polyamides, polyether block amides, polyolefin-elastomers other than polyalpha olefins, chlorinated polyethylenes, ionomers, chlorosulfonated polyethylenes, blends thereof, and blends of thermoplastic polyurethane with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylindene fluoride (PVDF), polycarbonate, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

This invention is in the field of magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) and processes for their manufacture.
A magneto-rheological elastomer is comprised of an elastomeric host or matrix material filled with iron or other magnetizable particles. The addition of magnetizable particles to the matrix produces an elastomer whose mechanical properties can be rapidly and continuously controlled with an applied magnetic field. The strength of an MRE can be characterized by its field-dependent modulus. A magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) is a field-controllable material with tunable stiffness and damping characteristics which makes it useful for vibration isolation and damping applications.
If a magnetic field is applied to the elastomer during curing or solidification and the particles are able to move through the host medium, the magnetizable particles can orient into chains or columns parallel to the direction of the magnetic field (Ginder, J. M., Nichols, M. E., Elie, L. D., Tardiff, J. L., (1999), "Magnetorheological Elastomers: Properties and Applications, Smart Materials Technologies," Ed. by M. Wuttig, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 3675, 131-137). As the elastomer cures or solidifies, the aligned magnetizable particles are locked into place and are ready for activation when installed in a device that can energize the material with a magnetic field. Under the influence of a magnetic field, dipole moments are induced in the magnetizable particles resulting in an increase or decrease in stiffness and damping or dimensions of the composite material depending on magnetic field strength.
A variety of elastomers, as well as other polymers, have been proposed as matrices for magnetizable particle-elastomer composites. Magnetizable particles were cured in silicone elastomers to produce transparent sheets whose conductivity along the field direction was extremely sensitive to pressure and used these sheets in touch-screen panels. (S. Jin, T. Tiefel, R. Wolfe, R. C. Sherwood, J. J. Mottine, Science 255, 446-448, 1992). Highly anisotropic magnetizable particles were dispersed in rigid epoxies to produce highly anisotropic dielectric materials for microwave frequencies (F. Behroozi, M. Orman, R. Reese, W. Stockton, J. Calvert, F. Rachford, P. Schoen, 1990) Ginder et al. describe MREs having micrometer-sized carbonyl iron particles embedded in natural rubber (Ginder, J. M., Nichols, M. E., Elie, L. D., Tardiff, J. L., (1999), "Magnetorheological Elastomers: Properties and Applications, Smart Materials Technologies," Ed. by M. Wuttig, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 3675, 131-137). Shiga et al identify rubber as a carrier material (English abstract of Japanese publication 04-266970, English abstract of Japanese publication 05-025316A). Elie et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,856) list natural rubber, silicone, polybutadiene, polythethylene, polyisoprene, polyurethane and the like as elastomeric carrier materials. Viera et al. (WO 02/09015) list natural rubber, silicone, polybutadiene, polyethylene, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) nitrile rubber, polychloroprene, polyisobutylene, synthetic polyisoprene, and blends thereof as elastomeric carrier materials. Ottaviani et al. (U.S. Publication 2004/0074061) list elastomeric polymer matrices of polyalpha-olefins, natural rubber, silicone, polybutadiene, polyethylene, polyisoprene, polyurethane, and the like, and combinations.

Tunable magneto-rheological elastomers and processes for their manufacture

The Board of Regents of The University and Community College System of Nevada on behalf of the University of Nevada, Reno