A device is disclosed for binding together sheet-like articles such as photos or documents. In combination, the device includes a first cover and a second and a plurality of sheet-like articles interposed between the covers and secured therebetween by adhesive. A first closure member is secured with respect to the first cover and the second cover includes a second closure member coacting with the first closure member, whereby the closure members secure the covers in an article-protecting relationship.

Binding together of sheet-like articles such as pages of a book may be accomplished in a number of ways. Some are relatively complex and require machinery. Of course, commercial bookbinders (for either new books or books under repair) usually employ such machinery and pages are permanently bound in the book.
On the other hand, there are situations where it is desirable to bind sheet-like articles together but acquisition of bookbinding machinery is out of the question or at least not warranted. For example, persons who take or otherwise obtain candid photographs often find it desirable to bind such photos between covers to form a book-like arrangement.
Such an arrangement protects the photos, helps prevent loss and retains the order of arrangement. The latter may be important in, say, describing a sequence of events such as a vacation trip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,791 (Iwamoto) depicts a binder said to be useful to hold together post cards, photos, business cards and the like.
But photographs are not the only type of sheet-like article to be bound together in aligned, stacked arrangement. U.S. Pat. Nos. 848,680 (Nelson); 1,765,194 (Von Auw); 3,188,114 (O'Brien et al.) and 4,673,324 (Hanson et al.) all depict ways to bind together other types of such articles, e.g., writing tablet sheets, business forms and the like.
Many such binders and arrangements provide for removal and reinsertion of articles into the binder devices or arrangements. This is often accomplished by use of a releasable adhesive to bind the edges of the articles. Such releasable adhesive allows for removal and reinsertion of individual sheets, e.g., photographs, paper, post cards and the like.
While the prior art arrangements have been generally suitable for their intended purposes, some tend to be characterized by certain disadvantages. This is particularly true with respect to self-applied, pressure-adhering devices used by "amateur binders," e.g., persons wishing to bind photos of their grandchildren.
Common problems encountered include loosening or loss of one or more of the sheet-like articles. Such loosening or loss of the articles may result from adhesive failure. After time adhering tend to lose their adhesive. Harsh treatment of the bound arrangement can also loosen sheets. Additionally, repeated use can reduce the adhesive properties of an adhesive.
Further, improper binding can cause loosening or loss of sheet-like articles. Often, when binder arrangements are applied, the strip including the adhesive is "out of square" when applied and does not fully contact and secure the edges of the articles being bound. Additionally, the strip may not be straight along the aligned edges of the articles being bound, the strip may have a fold or crease along it and does not contact and secure the articles to be bound as well as possible.
And as the articles become larger (or at least where the corresponding edge of the article become longer), flawed binding becomes more likely.
Further, binder arrangements typically include covers that are the same size as the articles being bound, particularly where photographs are being bound. This results in the unbound, free edges of the articles being left exposed to damage from contact with surfaces and objects resulting in bending and mutilation of the free edges of the bound articles.
A new arrangement or device which addresses some of these disadvantages would be an important advance in the art.

Device for binding and protecting sheet-like articles


The present invention is a 1,3,8 substituted xanthine derivative of formula I

The control of glucose production is one of the key aspects of anti-diabetic therapy. Type 2 diabetics have elevated levels of postprandial and fasting blood glucose (Consoli, A., Nurjhan, N., Capani, F. and Gerich, J. Diabetes 38, 550–7, 1989; Shulman, G I Am. J. Card. 84(Suppl.1A):3J-10J, 1999). Excessive hepatic glucose production (HGP) contributes to the fasting hyperglycemia observed in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) (Gastadelli, A., Baldi S., Pettiti M., Toschi, E., Camastra, S., Natali, A., Landau, B. R. & Ferranini, E., Diabetes 49:1367–1373, 2000. Gluconeogenesis is believed to be the major pathway for this increased glucose production (Defronzo, R. A., Bonadonna, R. C. and Ferrannini, E., Diabetes Care 15:318–367, 1992).
Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is a key regulatory enzyme in the gluconeogenic pathway. PEPCK is believed to be the flux controlling, rate limiting enzyme for this pathway (Cimbala, A. N., Lamers, W. H., Nelson, J. E., Monahan, J. E., Yoo-Warren, H., and Hanson R. W., J. Biol. Chem. 257:7629–7636, 1982), hence inhibition of this enzyme represents a novel way to improve glucose homeostasis. Previously, attempts to control hepatic glucose production through inhibition of gluconeogeneis were limited to biguanides such as metformin (Defronzo, R. A., Diabetes Reviews 6:89–131, 1998). Metformin inhibits HGP, but by an unknown mechanism. In addition, it has side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances and lactic acidosis. Inhibition of PEPCK provides superior efficacy and, coupled with reduced side effects, represents a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof show activity as modulators of gluconeogenesis.


A liquid supplying device includes a tank a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber and a joint having a hollow cylindrical shape. In an attachment state where the communicating opening of the cartridge is connected to the joint, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the joint and the second storage chamber is positioned below the joint. At least in the first end portion, the liquid passage has a rectangular shape in a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the liquid passage.

Conventionally, there has been known a liquid supply device provided with a cartridge in which ink is stored, a sub tank connected to a recording head, and a liquid flow passage and a gas flow passage which connects the cartridge and the sub tank. The cartridge is disposed vertically above the sub tank. The liquid flow passage and the gas flow passage connect the cartridge and the sub tank in the vertical direction. The liquid flow passage and the gas flow passage are opened to the lower surface of the cartridge and the upper surface of the sub tank, respectively.

Liquid supplying device having tank and cartridge attachable thereto


A terminal adapter unit for use in a wide-band network based on an ISDN is connected in the data path between a data terminal and the ISDN, and functions to control accessing and releasing a line through the ISDN to an opposite data terminal, in accordance with whether or not data are actually being transferred between the terminals. Unnecessary line utilization costs can thereby be reduced since lengthy intervals in which the terminals are accessing the ISDN while the data transfer is interrupted, due to a data terminal failure or operating error, can be eliminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wide-area network system for data communication, based on an ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network), and in particular to a communication control method for use with an ISDN and a data terminal adaptor apparatus for implementing that method, whereby a substantial reduction can be achieved in unnecessary line utilization costs for the users of such a network system.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates the general configuration of a prior art type of network system based on an ISDN. In FIG. 1, numeral 2 denotes a line of an ISDN 1, 3 denotes a data switching unit (DSU) which is connected to the line 2, 4 denotes a gateway unit which is connected to the line terminating unit 3, for changing the communication protocol, 6 denotes respective data terminals, 7 denotes a host computer, and 8 denotes respective ones of a plurality of user terminals which are connected to the host computer 7, and which can be operated by respective users to generate or display data that are to be sent or are received. The data terminal 6, the host computer 7 and the gateway unit 4 are interconnected as shown, for example by an RSC-232C interface.
The set of units 3, 4, 6, 7 8 shown in FIG. 1 will be referred to in the following as a local system. The overall wide area data network system consists of a number of such local systems which can communicate through the ISDN. That is to say, if a data terminal 6 is available in the local system of FIG. 1, a user of a user terminal 8 can transfer data to/from another user terminal within another local system that is connected to the ISDN 1, via the ISDN 1. In that case, the data terminal 6 to which the user terminal is linked by the host computer 7 will initiate accessing of a line 2 of the ISDN 1. Specifically, that data terminal 6 (which is the calling data terminal) is first supplied with necessary information specifying the user terminal which is to be called (i.e. is supplied with, and thereafter holds, the dialling number of the desired opposite user terminal). That data terminal 6 then becomes connected to the line 2 through the gateway unit 4 and DSU 5, and calls the opposite user terminal. As a result, at the other end of the line 2 the called data terminal will also become connected to that line 2, and data transfer between the two user terminals can then begin. When data transfer has been completed, the line 2 will be released, i.e. the calling data terminal 6 will initiate disconnection from the line 2, whereupon the called data terminal will also disconnect from the line 2.
With such a system, accessing and releasing of a communication channel through the ISDN are executed at the data terminals themselves.
However with such a prior art system, the problem arises that unnecessary line utilization costs will arise for the users. Specifically, due to the fact that accessing and releasing the communication channel is performed by the data terminals themselves, if a fault condition arises after a calling data terminal has accessed an ISDN communication channel (so that transfer of data between that terminal and the data terminal at the other end of the communication channel has become halted), the two data terminals will remain in a condition of accessing the ISDN communication channel, and the cost of the time for which the data terminal calling accesses the ISDN in such a condition must of course be paid by the user of the data terminal, even though no data are actually being transferred. Substantial amounts of wasteful line utilization costs may therefore occur. The same problem will occur if there is an error by the user in executing the operating procedure for a data terminal, i.e. the user of a data terminal may have to pay for line utilization costs which were incurred during periods in which no data transfer actually occurred. As data processing functions become increasingly complex and higher in level, and as the systems which are connected to the respective gateway units of an ISDN become increasingly complex, the operating procedures for executing data communication through the data terminals will accordingly become more difficult. Hence, there is an increasing probability that errors in executing the operating procedures will occur, so that there is an increased danger of unnecessary line utilization costs being incurred by the users of such a network system.
Moreover, when an ISDN communication channel has been accessed by a data terminal, and is subsequently left in the accessed condition although data communication is not actually being executed (e.g. due to some equipment failure having occurred or due to an error by the user in executing the operating procedure), in addition to the above problem of wasteful line utilization costs arising, the problem also arises that the data terminal for which such a condition occurs is no longer available for use by other users for communication through the ISDN.

Communication control method for ISDN, and data terminal adaptor apparatus for same

Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.


An equipment of a weaving machine in which pile warp yarns (7–13), (16–22) extend through the space between the reed dents and are distributed between a number of pile warp yarn systems and provided on the weaving machine to weave a pile fabric. A group of pile warp yarns (7–22) extend through each space between the reed dents and comprise pile warp yarns of at least two pile warp yarn systems (7–13), (16–22). Because of this it is possible to weave pile fabrics having higher pile densities at a certain reed setting. It is an easy and quick method to modify the equipment of a weaving machine, maintaining the reed setting and the pile warp yarns of each space between the reed dents being distributed between at least two pile warp yarn systems. Furthermore, a weaving process is provided in which, per space between the reed dents the pile warp yarns (7–13), (16–22) of at least two pile warp yarn systems are supplied and a pile fabric woven in that manner. The number of complete backing warp yarn systems is smaller than or equal to the number of pile warp yarn systems.

This invention relates to an equipment of a weaving machine, in which pile warp yarns extend through the space between reed dents and, distributed between a number of pile warp yarn systems, are provided on the weaving machine in order to weave a pile fabric.
This invention relates to both the equipment of a face-to-face weaving machine and to a single fabric weaving machine, such as, for instance, a rod weaving machine or a loop pile weaving machine.
More particularly, this invention relates to the equipment of a face-to-face jacquard weaving machine, and among others also to rod and loop pile weaving machine having a jacquard machine.
This invention likewise relates to a method for the modification of the equipment of a weaving machine on which pile warp yarns extend through the space between reed dents and, divided between a number of pile yarn systems on the weaving machine, are provided for weaving a first pile fabric, so that a modified equipment is obtained for weaving a second pile fabric having a higher pile density than the first pile fabric and having a modified number of pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system. It is an understood thing that this method may be applied on all types of face-to face and single fabric weaving machines. A pile warp yarn system is a set of pile warp yarns enabling, in every pile point, to select all colors of pile warp yarns that exist in the installation.
In this patent application, the term "equipment" is used in the meaning of all settings and dispositions, such as among others the reed setting (a number of spaces between dents per meter), the number of hooks of the jacquard machine in order to obtain a number of warp yarn systems per meter, the coupling of the lifting elements of the jacquard machine to the lifting elements of the warp yarns, and the number of pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system, which are necessary to rig up a weaving machine for the production of a pile fabric having well defined characteristics. This equipment, of course, depends on the characteristics of the fabric to be produced.
It is, for instance, common knowledge, that at a well defined reed setting (for instance 280, 300 or 320 spaces between dents per meter) a fabric having a well defined number of pile warp yarn systems per meter (or pile density) is obtained, and that this reed setting should be changed, if a completely different fabric is to be obtained, having another number of pile warp yarn systems per meter (or pile density) and in which a different number of pile warp yarns has to be provided. Moreover, with a jacquard machine a modification of the number of hooks of the jacquard machine, of the coupling of the lifting elements of the jacquard machine to the lifting elements of the warp yarns, and an entirely new heddling of the warp yarns has to be carried out. Such a modification of the equipment of a weaving machine is particularly time-consuming and laborious.
A first objective of this invention is to provide an equipment of the weaving machine, with which, at a well defined reed setting, a greater number of pile warp yarn systems may be realized than the number for which the weaving reed setting has been physically provided. A second objective of this invention is to provide a method for modifying the equipment of a weaving machine, which is far less laborious and time-consuming than the known method described above.
The first objective is obtained in an efficient manner by an equipment having the features mentioned in the first paragraph of this description, in which a group of pile warp yarns extend through each space between reed dents comprising the pile warp yarns of at least two pile warp yarn systems.
By bringing the pile warp yarns of two or more pile warp yarn systems together through a same space between the reed dents, a plurality of the number of pile warp yarn systems is obtained of the number for which the reed setting used has been provided, and thus a greater pile density.
Preferably, this equipment is carried out in such a manner, that also backing warp yarns extend through the said spaces between the reed dents and, distributed between a number of backing warp yarn systems, are provided on the machine in order to form a backing fabric with the weft yarns to be inserted, while, per space between the reed dents the backing warp yarns are provided with a number of backing warp yarn systems, which is smaller than or equal to the number of pile warp yarn systems per space between the reed dents. If a smaller number of backing warp yarn systems is provided, this means economizing on backing warp yarns.
A backing warp yarn system is a set of backing warp yarns enabling the backing weave for the fabric or for each fabric (upper and lower fabric) to be produced according to the backing weave chosen.
Also one or more backing warp yarns may be left out from one backing warp yarn system. This will limit the warp yarn consumption.
Preferably, the equipment according to this invention is carried out on a face-to-face weaving machine destined to work according to a face-to-face weaving method, in which two backing fabrics are woven one above the another, while, per space between the reed dents, the backing warp yarns are provided with a number of backing warp yarn systems having backing warp yarns for both backing fabrics.
Preferably, the backing warp yarn systems having been heddled in such a manner that the backing warp yarn systems are situated between the pile warp yarn systems which are not separated from one another by a reed dent.
A similar equipment is very advantageous, because the pile warp yarn systems not, separated by a reed dent, are yet well separated by the backing warp yarns of the backing warp yarn system situated in-between in this manner.
With another preferred equipment, the number of pile warp yarn systems in each space between the reed dents is equal to number of backing warp yarn systems and per space between the reed dents, each time, at least one backing warp yarn (or a backing warp yarn system) and a pile warp yarn system are provided next to one another.
With this equipment of a weaving machine a fabric is obtained (which according to this invention may be carried out with a high density) in which at least one backing warp yarn and a pile warp yarn system alternately are found, so that the different pile warp yarn systems (each comprising, for instance, a pile forming pile warp yarn and a number of interlaced non pile forming pile warp yarns) in the fabric are separated from one another by at least one backing warp yarn. This is of great importance to reach a good quality of the back of the fabric.
With this equipment, preferably the same sequence of backing warp yarn systems and pile warp yarn systems are respected in each space between the reed dents.
This invention is implemented in such a manner that, for instance, per space between the reed dents, part of the binding warp yarns of the backing warp yarn system(s) present, are close to the same side of the reed dents, while the remaining ones and the tension warp yarns of the backing warp yarn system(s) are situated between the pile warp yarn systems, situated in the same space between the reed dents.
A possible equipment according to the above-mentioned principle provides, for instance, one backing warp yarn system (having two binding warp yarns and 1 tension warp yarn for the upper fabric and two binding warp yarns and 1 tension warp yarn for the lower fabric), and two pile warp yarn systems, in each space between the reed dents from right to left, two pile warp yarn systems, the first pile warp yarn system, the second other binding warp yarns and the tension warp yarns, and the second pile warp yarn system being provided successively.
A fabric, woven on a weaving machine having such an equipment, therefore comprises successive series of yarns, in which, each time, a pile warp yarn system, two binding warp yarns, a pile warp yarn system and two tension warp yarns are provided successively.
It is an understood thing that the backing warp yarns may be divided in other manners and distributed between the pile warp yarn systems and that, per space between the reed dents, also more than two pile warp yarn systems may be provided per space between the reed dents.
On the basis of the same inventive idea, the second objective mentioned above has also been reached, namely by providing a method for a modification of the equipment of a weaving machine presenting the features mentioned in the fourth paragraph of this description, according to the invention the reed setting being maintained, while the pile warp yarns of each space between the reed dents are distributed between at least two pile warp yarn systems.
Because the reed setting can be maintained, the modification of the equipment of a weaving machine according to this method may be realized much quicker and is far easier to be carried out. Moreover, with a jacquard weaving machine, the number of hooks of the jacquard machine and the coupling of the lifting elements of the jacquard machine to the lifting elements of the warp yarns also may remain unchanged.
With a limited rearranging, a weaving machine which has been equipped for a low pile density (a low number of pile warp yarn systems per meter) and a rather high number of pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system, whilst maintaining the reed setting, may be equipped for a rather high pile density (pile warp yarn systems per meter) and a relatively low number of pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system. In this manner, it is possible to weave very different pile fabrics with strongly distinguishing settings as to pile warp yarn systems per meter and as to pile warp yarns per warp yarn system.
With this method, for instance, R pile warp yarn systems per meter and K pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system are provided in the original equipment, while nR pile warp yarn systems per meter and K/n pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system are provided in the modified equipment. Obviously, n is here a whole number greater than 0.
In a very preferable method, an even number of different colored pile warp yarn per pile warp yarn system has been provided in the original equipment, and half of these original pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system are maintained in the modified equipment, while the other half of these pile warp yarns are replaced by pile warp yarns, having the same color as the different pile warp yarns of half of those maintained respectively, and while the pile warp yarns of each space between the reed dents are equally distributed between two pile warp yarn systems, the respective pile warp yarn systems having pile warp yarns of the same color.
Replacing half of the number of pile warp yarns per pile warp yarn system requires a rearrangement in the weaving creel. A bobbin of pile warp yarn is replaced by another bobbin and the new pile warp yarn is tied to the original yarn. When supplying further pile warp yarn the new pile warp yarn is automatically taken along to its exact position on the weaving machine.
When the weaving machine in its original equipment, for example, is provided with a number of hooks of the jacquard machine and a coupling of the lifting elements of the jacquard machine to the lifting elements of the warp yarns, this number of hooks of the jacquard machine and this coupling of the lifting elements of the jacquard machine to the lifting elements of the warp yarns may be maintained in the modified equipment.
Preferably, in each space between the reed dents, each backing warp yarn system is provided between two groups of pile warp yarns, each comprising a same number of pile warp yarns. This is advantageous in order to keep the two groups separated from one another, in case they are used in different pile warp yarn systems in order to produce a pile fabric having a high pile density.
Within the scope of this invention further falls a method for weaving a pile fabric, in which the pile warp yarns are supplied via spaces between the reed dents and, distributed between a number of pile warp yarn systems, are provided on a weaving machine, backing warp yarns being provided on the machine and, in successive working cycles of the weaving machine, weft yarns being inserted into a shed formed between the said warp yarns, so that the backing warp yarns and the weft yarns form a backing fabric and so that at least one pile warp yarn per pile warp yarn system is interlaced in this backing fabric in a pile forming manner and in which, again on the basis of the inventive idea indicated before, the pile warp yarns of at least two pile warp yarn systems are supplied per space between the reed dents.
It should be clear that the weaving process according to this invention and as described above may be provided in order to realize all sorts of backing weaves, such as among others 2/2, 2/2 counterphased, 3/1+1/3 or 1/1 and may also to be applied to all types of single fabric and face-to-face weaving machines.
With this weaving method the backing warp yarns are supplied via the said spaces between the reed dents and, distributed between a number of backing warp yarn systems, provided on the machine, while per space between the reed dents the backing warp yarns are supplied of a number of backing warp yarn systems which is smaller than or equal to the number of pile warp yarn systems per space between de reed dents. A smaller number of backing warp yarn systems will economize on the backing warp yarn and facilitates the crossing of the pile warp yarns during weaving. This latter feature gives a better weaving efficiency.
This weaving method may also be carried out with at least one backing warp yarn system, in which (compared to the other backing warp yarn systems) one or more backing warp yarns have been left out.
Preferably the backing warp yarn systems are supplied between pile warp yarn systems which are not separated from one another by a reed dent. Then the backing warp yarn systems keep the pile warp yarns well separated). Three pile warp yarn systems per space between the reed dents, for instance, may be provided, while two backing warp yarn systems have been provided which are situated between the first and the second pile warp yarn system and between the second and the third pile warp yarn system respectively.
According to a very preferred weaving process, the weaving machine is a face-to-face weaving machine, the method applied is a face-to-face weaving method and per space between the reed dents, the backing warp yarns are provided with a number of backing warp yarn systems having backing warp yarns for both fabrics.
Finally, also a pile fabric produced according to a weaving process as mentioned above falls within the scope of his invention. Such a pile fabric comprises a backing fabric formed by weft yarns and backing warp yarns which are distributed between a number of backing warp yarn systems, and pile warp yarns which, distributed between a number of pile warp yarn systems, have been interlaced in this backing fabric, while a number of these pile warp yarns form the pile, the number of complete backing warp yarn systems being smaller than or equal to the number of pile warp yarn systems.
In such a pile fabric, for instance, one backing warp yarn system and at least two pile warp yarn systems situated next to one another alternately are found or at least one backing warp yarn and one pile warp yarn system alternately. In this last case the back of the fabric is of an excellent quality.
In a most preferred embodiment, a similar pile fabric is characterized in that the pile warp yarns of two pile warp yarn systems extend between the backing warp yarns of two successive backing warp yarn systems, and in that per pile warp yarn system a pile row has been formed. The backing fabric may also comprise incomplete backing warp yarn systems, from which one or more backing warp yarns have been left out.
In the following detailed description of an embodiment of a pile fabric according to this invention the said characteristics and advantages of the invention are further explained. It should be clear that the only intention of this description is to clarify the general principles of this invention by means of a concrete example and that nothing in this description therefore may be interpreted as being a restriction of the scope of the patent rights claimed in the claims, neither of the field of application of this invention.
In the following description, reference is made to the attached figures, by means of reference numbers.

Equipment of a weaving machine, method for the modification of a weaving machine equipment, and weaving process making use of a weaving machine having such equipment


A gravel pack containing a substrate particle coated with an inducibly degradable and a porous particle having an internal interconnected porosity that is at least partially infused with an inducer material for dissolving of a layer of filter cake disposed between the gravel pack and a subterranean formation.

Openhole well completions are oftentimes utilized in the oil and gas industry in efforts to maximize well production by eliminating opportunities for pressure drop caused by casing perforations. In drilling and completing such openhole wells, drilling fluids are used for, inter alia, preventing fluid loss from a subterranean formation surrounding a wellbore during drilling and/or completion of the openhole wellbore. In such applications, the drilling fluids can be forced against the open formation thereby creating an impermeable residue known as filter cake on the formation. The presence of a filter cake may be desirable in certain wells to prevent fluid loss to and/or from the formation. Once the openhole well is completed, such filter cakes are removed so that production may begin. This is accomplished by pumping a chemical wash downhole to contact and hopefully dissolve the filter cake.
Sometimes, a wellbore will need to be "gravel packed" before removal of the filter cake in order to prevent particles (typically referred to as formation fines) from entering the wellbore during production. Gravel packing is done in formations that contain individual sand grains that are not tightly cemented together. If the individual sand grains remain unconsolidated, when production of the formation begins, the force of fluid flow will tend to move the unconsolidated sand grains into the wellbore. Gravel packing prevents this problem. In gravel packing, particulate materials, including proppants, are placed in the annulus of a wellbore, next to the unconsolidated formation fines, essentially working as a filter between the wellbore and the formation during production. The particulate materials are held in place by a slotted screen which prevents the proppants (and formation fines) from migrating into the wellbore, while still allowing the formation fluids to do so. Oftentimes, however, the presence of the gravel pack can prevent the chemical wash from reaching all of the filter cake, resulting in incomplete filter cake removal, which can negatively impact production. Therefore, a need exists for improved filter cake removal when a gravel pack is present in the wellbore.

Gravel pack particles containing mud filter cake dissolving materials


A method of reading a group of memory words from an integrated circuit memory of a contactless tag, comprising the sending by a remote interrogation unit to the contactless tag of a specific command for reading the group of memory words from a given start address, the initialization of an address counter for the contactless tag to the value of the given start address, and the sending by the contactless tag of the memory word at the start address, as well as an iterative process comprising in succession a first step of sending by the remote interrogation unit to the contactless tag of an incrementation marker recognizable by the contactless tag, a second step of incrementation of the address counter for the contactless tag in response to the incrementation marker, and a third step of sending by the contactless tag to the remote interrogation unit of a data frame comprising the memory word stored in the memory at the address pointed at by the current value of the address counter.

RFID tags, or contactless tags, are being used ever more in everyday life, in particular for the traceability of a range of products, or of products individually. An exemplary RFID tag is presented in FIG. 1. With no energy source of its own, it comprises an antenna 2 and an electronic circuit 3 including a memory in which may be stored various items of information specific to the use of the tag, for example an identification code or (identifier) identifying the tag in particular. An RFID tag is a transmitter/receiver remotely energized by a radio field produced by a remote interrogation unit 4. The tag sends the information stored in part or totally, in response to an interrogation message contained in a radio signal 20 received from the interrogation unit 4. The exchanges are carried out in the form of frames containing bit sequences.
The memory serving to store the identifier of the tag may be a memory, for example, of OTP type (standing for "One Time Programmable") or of EEPROM type (standing for "Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory"). Nowadays it may have sizes greater than 64 bits, or even reach sizes of a few tens of kilobits (for example 64 kbits).
Such a memory is typically organized into memory words, also called blocks, the whole set of these words forming the memory plane. A memory word consists of a certain number of adjacent memory cells, each storing one bit, and placed on one and the same row of the memory plane. Each block is identifiable by its position, called the address, in the memory plane.
A memory may moreover be organized into several memory areas, each grouping together one or more blocks. A first area is reserved for storing the identifier of the tag, and is called the UID area ("User Identification"). One or more other memory areas may be present also, and are then available for another use to be defined by the user. Such a memory area is called a USER area. As in the USER area, each of the blocks in the UID area is distinguishable by its address in the memory.
Commands for access to the whole or to a part of the memory plane (called a "memory dump"), on the basis of the address of a determined memory word are known from the standard in force ISO/IEC FCD 15693, like the "read multi block" optional command whose parameters include the reading start address, and the number of blocks to be read.
According to the ISO/IEC 13239 standard in force, the contactless tag accompanies each block or group of blocks transmitted in a frame by a Cyclic Redundancy Check code or CRC, which is dependent on the data of the block or blocks transmitted in the frame, and coded on 16 bits. The role of the CRC is to enable the remote interrogation unit to verify whether there has not been any transmission error in respect of the frame. The remote interrogation unit actually verifies whether the value of the block or blocks received is correct, that is to say complies with the value of the CRC received. If not, the remote interrogation unit ignores the frame received, which may have to be sent again.
The same holds in respect of the "read multi block" command which brings about the transmission of a certain number of blocks of the memory plane in a single frame, and protected by a single CRC. Now, the larger the size of the memory plane, the larger the risk of transmission error.
Should there be a transmission error with regard to the frame, it is the entire frame that has to be retransmitted. It follows that the "read multi block" command is not adapted to the reading of a memory plane of large size.
A protocol for sequential reading by successive commands for reading a memory word, on the basis of the address of a determined memory word, is also known, and is represented diagrammatically in FIG. 2a. However, it requires the sending 60 by the remote interrogation unit of a block read command (COM_ADDRES) after each receipt 61 of a block sent by the contactless tag. Having regard to the memory sizes envisaged today for contactless tags, this sequential reading (blockwise) may give rise to a very long time for reading the entire memory plane. Specifically, for a contactless tag comprising a memory composed of 2048 blocks, each of 32 bits (i.e. 64 kbits in total) and communicating according to the ISO/IEC 15693 protocol, the maximum speed of transfer when sending and receiving is 26.48 kbit/s.
The reading of the memory plane then comprises the following steps, with their respective duration calculated on the basis of the maximum speed of transfer mentioned above:    1. Sending by the remote interrogation unit of the command to read a block COM_ADDRES (coded on 116 bits according to the standard) 4.4 ms    2. Standby time waiting for the response from the contactless tag 0.3 ms    3. Sending by the contactless tag of a block and of the corresponding CRC (coded on 56 bits according to the standard, including 16 for the CRC) 2.1 ms    4. Standby time waiting for the sending by the remote interrogation unit of a new read command 0.3 ms
This sequence of steps is repeated 2048 times for the reading of the whole of the memory plane, this giving a total reading time of 14.5 seconds. It is in particular the systematic sending of a command to read a block COM_ADDRES that is time-consuming. The durations are given by way of indication and are calculated on the basis of the maximum speed of transfer according to the ISO/IEC 15693 standard. Other speeds are possible, in particular according to the ISO/IEC 14443 standard, such as speeds of 106 kbits/s, of 212 kbits/s or 424 kbits/s. In the subsequent account, the maximum speed of 26.48 kbits/s according to the ISO/IEC 15693 standard will be retained for all the durations mentioned.

Method of reading the memory plane of a contactless tag


A thin film manufacturing method and a thin film manufacturing apparatus are provided to manufacture a thin film with good reproducibility. A dummy substrate is conveyed into a chamber, and a dummy processing gas is supplied to the dummy substrate. Moreover, a product substrate is conveyed into the chamber, and a raw material gas different from the dummy processing gas is supplied to the product substrate. The raw material gas contains metal material for manufacturing a thin film with a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. Since the raw material gas is not used as a dummy processing gas, the amount of metal material to be used can be minimized in manufacturing the thin film with good reproducibility.

In the related art, the MOCVD method for forming a thin-film by reacting an organic metal raw material gas with a reaction gas at a high temperature is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a film forming method and a film forming apparatus for forming a PZT (lead zirconate titanate) thin-film by the MOCVD method.
In the film forming method described in Patent Document 1, when the film forming process is started after idling of the film forming apparatus, a PZT thin-film is formed on a dummy wafer that is not a product. After the dummy film forming method are repeated for at least 3 times using the dummy wafers, the PZT thin-film is formed on the product wafer, hi this way, a film forming reproducibility of the PZT thin-film formed on the product wafer is improved (see paragraphs [0019] and [0020] in Patent Document 1.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-222318

Thin-film forming method and thin-film forming apparatus


A semiconductor substrate processing system includes a processing chamber and a substrate support defined to support a substrate in the processing chamber. The system also includes a plasma chamber defined separate from the processing chamber. The plasma chamber is defined to generate a plasma. The system also includes a plurality of fluid transmission pathways fluidly connecting the plasma chamber to the processing chamber. The plurality of fluid transmission pathways are defined to supply reactive constituents of the plasma from the plasma chamber to the processing chamber. The system further includes an electrode disposed within the processing chamber separate from the substrate support. The system also includes a power supply electrically connected to the electrode. The power supply is defined to supply electrical power to the electrode so as to liberate electrons from the electrode into the processing chamber.

Plasma sources utilized for thin film processing in semiconductor device fabrication are often unable to achieve the most desirable condition for dry etching due to the inability to separately control ion and radical concentrations in the plasma. For example, in some applications, the desirable conditions for plasma etching would be achieved by increasing the ion concentration in the plasma while simultaneously maintaining the radical concentration at a constant level. However, this type of independent ion concentration versus radical concentration control cannot be achieved using the common plasma source typically used for thin film processing. It is within this context that the present invention arises.

E-beam enhanced decoupled source for semiconductor processing


The present invention provides a novel human interferon-inducible protein (HIFI) and the polynucleotides which identify and encode HIFI. The invention provides for genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding HIFI and for a method for producing the protein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing HIFI and the use of such compositions for the prevention or treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HIFI. Additionally, the invention provides antisense molecules to HIFI and their use in the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HIFI. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize polynucleotides which hybridize with naturally occurring sequences encoding HIFI and antibodies which specifically bind to the protein.

Interferons (IFNs) are a part of the group of intercellular messenger proteins known as cytokines. .alpha.-IFN is the product of a multigene family of at least 16 members, whereas .beta.-IFN is the product of a single gene. .alpha.- and .beta.-IFNs are also known as type I IFNs. Type I IFNs are produced in a variety of cells types. Biosynthesis of type I IFNs is stimulated by viruses and other pathogens, and by various cytokines and growth factors. .gamma.-IFN, also known as type II IFN, is produced in T-cells and natural killer cells. Biosynthesis of type II IFN is stimulated by antigens to which the organism has been sensitized. Both .alpha.- and .DELTA.-IFNs are immunomodulators and anti-inflammatory agents, activating macrophages, T-cells and natural killer cells.
IFNs are part of the body's natural defense to viruses and tumors. They exert these defenses by affecting the function of the immune system and by direct action on pathogens and tumor cells. IFNs mediate these multiple effects in part by inducing the synthesis of many cellular proteins. Some interferon-inducible (IFI) genes are induced equally well by .alpha.-, .beta.- and .gamma.-IFNs. Other IFI genes are preferentially induced by the type I or by the type II IFNs.
The various proteins produced by IFI genes possess antitumor, antiviral and immunomodulatory functions. The expression of tumor antigens in cancer cells is increased by .alpha.-IFN, and renders the cancer cells more susceptible to immune rejection. The IFI proteins synthesized in response to viral infections are known to inhibit viral functions such as cell penetration, uncoating, RNA and protein synthesis, assembly and release (cf Hardman J G et al (1996) The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, McGraw-Hill, New York N.Y. pp 1211-1214). Type II IFN stimulates expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and is thus used in immune response enhancement.
An IFI gene known as 6-16 encodes an mRNA which is highly induced by type I IFNs in a variety of human cells (Kelly J M et al (1986) EMBO J 5:1601-1606). After induction, 6-16 mRNA constitutes as much as 0.1% of the total cellular mRNA. The 6-16 mRNA is present at only very low levels in the absence of type I IFN, and is only weakly induced by type II IFN.
The 6-16 mRNA encodes a hydrophobic protein of 130 amino acids. The first 20 to 23 amino acids comprise a putative signal peptide. Protein 6-16 has at least two predicted transmembrane regions culminating in a negatively charged C-terminus.
The p27 gene encodes a protein with 41% amino acid sequence identity to the 6-16 protein. The p27 gene is expressed in some breast tumor cell lines and in a gastric cancer cell line. In other breast tumor cell lines, in the HeLa cervical cancer cell line, and in fetal lung fibroblasts, p27 expression occurs only upon .alpha.-IFN induction. In one breast tumor cell line, p27 is independently induced by estradiol and by IFN (Rasmussen U B et al (1993) Cancer Res 53:4096-4101).
Expression of p27 was analyzed in 21 primary invasive breast carcinomas, 1 breast cancer bone metastasis, and 3 breast fibroadenomas. High levels of p27 were found in about one-half of the primary carcinomas and in the bone metastasis, but not in the fibroadenomas. These observations suggest that certain breast tumors may produce high levels of, or have increased sensitivity to, type I IFN as compared to other breast tumors (Rasmussen U B et al, supra). In addition, the p27 gene is expressed at significant levels in normal tissues including colon, stomach and lung, but not expressed in placenta, kidney, liver or skin. (Rasmussen U B et al, supra).
The small hydrophobic IFI gene products may contribute to viral resistance. A hepatitis-C virus (HCV)-induced gene, 130-51, was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from chimpanzee liver during the acute phase of the infection. The protein product of this gene has 97% identity to the human 6-16 protein (Kato T et al (1992) Virology 190:856-860). The investigators suggest that HCV infection actively induces IFN expression, which in turn induces expression of IFI genes including 130-51.
The IFI proteins synthesized in response to viral infections are known to inhibit viral functions such as penetration, uncoating, RNA or protein synthesis, assembly or release. The 130-51 protein may inhibit one or more of these functions in HCV. A particular virus may be inhibited in multiple functions by IFI proteins. In addition, the principle inhibitory effect exerted by IFI proteins differs among the virus families (Hardman J G, supra, p 1211).
The hydrophobic IFI proteins of the invention may provide the basis for clinical diagnosis of diseases associated with their induction. These proteins may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, viral infections, inflammation, or conditions associated with impaired immunity. Furthermore, these proteins may be used for investigations of the control of gene expression by IFNs and other cytokines in normal and diseased cells.

Probes and detection method for a human interferon-inducible protein


A disproportionation catalyst for olefins and a process for disproportionation of olefins using said catalyst are disclosed. The catalyst is a mixture of one part by weight of a first catalyst component comprising silica gel carrying thereon a tungsten oxide or its precursor and a Group I metal oxide or a compound convertible to Group I metal oxide; and 8-75 parts by weight of a second catalyst component which is alumina having a specific surface area of 20-120 m.sup.2 /g, and preferably carrying thereon a Group I or Group III metal oxide or a compound convertible to such an oxide. It exhibits a remarkably extended life of disporportionation activity and is thus applicable to the industrial use. The catalyst, therefore, can produce industrially useful compounds at a low cost by the application of the olefin disproportionation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disproportionation of olefins, and, more particularly, to a novel catalyst system which is useful for disproportionation of olefins and to a process for disproportionation of olefins using such a catalyst.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Disproportionation (sometimes called metathesis) of olefins is defined as a reaction in which one or more olefins are converted into other olefins by the exchange of alkylidene groups as shown in the following formula: EQU (R.sup.1)(R.sub.2)C.dbd.C(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)+(R.sup.5)(R.sup.6)C.dbd.C (R.sup.7)(R.sup.8).fwdarw.(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)C.dbd.C(R.sup.5)(R.sup.6)+(R.s up.3)(R.sup.4)C.dbd.C(R.sup.7)(R.sup.8)
(In the formula, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group.)
This reaction was first discovered by Banks and Bailey in 1964 in a reaction in which ethylene and 2-butene are produced from propylene in the presence of a molybdenum catalyst. The discovery has led to successive developments of various disproportionation catalysts, including molybdenum-, tungsten-, and rhenium-type catalysts. However, several problems still remain to be solved concerning with the application of the disproportionation process to the manufacture of industrially useful products with a high purity at a low cost. Some problems which are to be solved are (1) promotion of the selectivity by suppressing isomerization and polymerization reactions, (2) reduction of the induction period which results improvement in the conversion rate and shortening of start-up time, (3) prolongation of the catalyst life by suppressing loss or denaturation of active sites of catalysts which is caused by changes in the valency of metals due to water, dienes or oxygen-containing substances contained in raw materials or in by-products, or by suppressing accumulation of carbonaceous materials contained in by-products onto the catalysts, and the like.
A number of catalyst systems and reaction methods have been proposed in efforts for overcoming these problems. As regards to the above-described problem (1), for example, a method of adding an alkaline metal oxide to a disproportionation catalyst, e.g., to tungsten oxide catalyst carried by silica gel, was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,602 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,731; and a method of using a mixed catalyst system in which magnesium oxide or the like is combined with a disproportionation catalyst was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,579. Other catalyst systems combining these catalysts, e.g., MgO+WO.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 (KOH), were proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,897, U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,026 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,575.
As regards to the problem (2) above, a brief explanation is given below. In the disproportionation reaction of olefins, long induction period results a poor conversion rate. The reason therefor is that during the induction period, i.e., prior to the commencement of disproportionation reaction, poisonous reaction by-products attack the active sites of the catalyst, and carbons and resinous polymeric materials accumulate onto the surface or active sites of the catalyst which markedly impair the catalyst activity even after the completion of the induction period. In the disproportionation reaction of olefins, it is necessary that the valency of tungsten in the active catalyst should be kept in a specific range, and therefore, the existence of induction period is inevitable due to the time required for changing the valency of tungsten contained in the catalyst to the specific range. Method heretofore proposed for overcoming the above-described problem (2) by subjecting the catalyst to a reducing treatment by hydrogen or carbon monoxide prior to use is well known.
With respect to the problem (3), U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,579 disclosed a method of extending the catalyst life by passing hydrocarbon feed stocks through a pre-activated magnesium oxide bed (a guard bed) to remove poisonous components such as water, dienes, oxygen-containing compounds, and the like contained in the starting raw materials.
None of these methods, however, cannot solve all the above-mentioned problems at the same time. For example, the method disclosed in the above U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,575 which utilizes a mixed catalyst system comprising a disproportionation catalyst in which an alkaline metal oxide is combined with magnesium oxide or the like, is insufficient for industrial use because of its short catalyst life due to a rapid decrease in the conversion rate over time, even though it exhibits a significant effect on the promotion of the selectivity.

Catalyst composition for disproportionation of olefins and process for disproportionation of olefins using the same


A conveyor apparatus for loading and unloading aircraft, the apparatus comprising a first conveyor for conveying articles from an area outside of an aircraft to an entrance to a cargo compartment of the aircraft, and a second conveyor for conveying articles from an end of the first conveyor into the cargo compartment, the second conveyor being telescopically extendable from the first conveyor, wherein the second conveyor comprises an endless flexible member extending between a tail end of the second conveyor adjacent the first conveyor and a head end of the second conveyor segment at a distal end of the second conveyor, and a driver for driving the endless member to convey articles along the second conveyor.

A critical process in the operation of aircraft is the loading and unloading of passengers' luggage from the cargo hold of the aircraft. Tight operating schedules place great demands on the efficient and rapid loading and unloading of luggage into and from the cargo hold. It is common to utilise height adjustable and tiltable endless belt conveyors to convey luggage between a ground level and the entrance to a cargo hold of an aircraft, which may be positioned at a considerable height above the ground. However, once the luggage is delivered into the cargo hold by such conveyors it is normally necessary for the luggage to be manually handled within the luggage compartment, requiring baggage handlers to enter the cargo hold and carry out manual lifting and moving of the luggage delivered from the conveyor, often in confined spaces. This requires the person to lift luggage from the conveyor at the opening of the cargo hold, leading to a risk of injury should the person accidentally fall from the opening.
The conveyor apparatus disclosed in EP 1 248 726 attempts to address this problem by providing a second conveyor extendable from the end of the main conveyor to enter into the cargo hold of the aircraft, the second conveyor including a succession of individual conveyor units, each having a short endless belt conveyor with its own drive system, the conveyor units being coupled together by coupling members permitting sideways pivotal movement of the second conveyor so that it can extend into the cargo hold in an arcuate manner whereby the end of the conveyor can be located at any desired position within the cargo hold, obviating the need to manually lift and carry luggage around within the cargo hold.
However, the use of a succession of individual conveyor units, each requiring its own drive means and power coupling, creates a complex and costly arrangement. Moreover, the failure of just one of the several individual conveyor units will disable the entire conveyor apparatus.

Conveyor apparatus for loading and unloading an aircraft


A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal displays a progress bar for controlling the playback of content, selects two points on the progress bar, and upon receipt of a predetermined operation on the two points, controls the playback of the content, which has a playback portion between the two points. Accordingly, time-based content can be managed more efficiently through the progress bar.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal which is intended to more efficiently control content to run on the mobile terminal, and a method for controlling the same.
2. Related Art
Along with the rapid development of hardware and software technologies associated with various types of electronic devices including mobile terminals, an electronic device is now capable of providing or storing a wide variety of functions and information. Thus, such a wide variety of information is provided on a screen equipped on the electronic device.
In the case of a mobile terminal having a touch screen, a variety of information provided on the touch screen can be accessed simply by a user's touch operation.

Mobile terminal intended to more efficiently display content on the mobile terminal and method for controlling the same


An apparatus and method of performing a time-based operation on a row in a database table includes receiving a function to be applied to a particular row in a table within the database management system. The method may also include, in response to receiving the function, adding a new column to the table. A new cell in the new column includes a timer indicating a time that the processing device will call the function, and the new cell references the function. The method may also include, upon expiration of the timer, determining that the database management system is available for execution of the function, and executing the function on the particular row in the table.

A database management system (DBMS) is computer software that stores data and provides software routines for manipulating the stored data. A DBMS may be used directly (i.e., by human users), as a component of another software package, or to provide service to another software package.
A database is a collection of data which is stored and managed electronically in a computer system. A database is usually controlled as a unit by a DBMS. A "relational database" is a database which contains tables that are used to store sets of data and to specify relationships between the different sets of data stored in the database. Data within most common types of databases in operation today is typically modeled in rows and columns in a series of tables to make processing and data querying efficient. The data can then be accessed, managed, modified, updated, controlled, and organized. Most databases use structured query language (SQL) for writing and querying data. Typically, databases are used to store sets of related data. For example, a database may be used to store all the seat reservations made by the customers of an airline, plus information about the airplane (e.g., seating chart information), information about the customers (e.g., address, credit card used to purchase tickets), and other related information.

Time-to-run column for database management systems


A feed-forward amplifier (600) has an error path (123) replaced by a feed-forward amplifier (603) in a nested feed-forward configuration. By replacing the error path (123) with the feed-forward amplifier (603), design parameters such as efficiency and power output which are difficult to achieve with the conventional error path (123) are easily achieved with the single loop feed-forward amplifier (603). In this configuration, the main path (613) of the feed-forward amplifier (603) is capable of operating in a more efficient Class AB mode while still operating over a large dynamic range with to provide a relatively constant gain/phase relationship, thus insuring good intermodulation performance. The error path (627) of the feed-forward amplifier (603) must still be biased Class A, but it's requirements are much less than those of a Class A error amplifier (124) in an un-nested configuration.

Current feed-forward linear power amplifiers (LPAs) have a significant burst intermodulation (IM) problem when they are operated at high output power levels. This problem is due to the limited output power capability of the error amplifiers within the feed-forward loop. To help explain the problem, reference is made to a prior art feed-forward amplifier as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a signal 101 is input into a radio frequency (RF) coupler 103 which has as an output a signal entering a main gain/phase control block 106. Output from the block 106 is input into a main amp 109 which has an output into another RF coupler 112. In the preferred embodiment, the main amp 109 is a Class AB amplifier as is well known in the art. The main gain/phase control block 106 and the main amp 109 generally comprise a main path 107 for the signal 101 to propagate.
Also output from the RF coupler 103 is a signal which enters a main delay block 115. The amount of time delay presented by the main delay block 115 is approximately equal to the amount of time delay the input signal 101 experiences as it propagates through the main path 107. The signal exiting the main delay block 115 enters RF coupler 118. Also input into RF coupler 118 is an output from RF coupler 112. Each signal entering RF coupler 118 is phased such that the main signal component in each of the input signals will be canceled, thus leaving (theoretically) only an error signal 119 exiting the RF coupler 118.
The error signal 119 exiting the RF coupler 118 is input into an error path 123 which generally comprises an error gain/phase control 121 and an error amplifier 124. In the preferred embodiment, the error amp 124 is a Class A amplifier as is well known in the art. The error gain/phase control block 121 provides fine tune adjustment of both the gain and the phase of the error signal 119 exiting the RF coupler 118. Exiting the error amp 124 is thus an error signal which has been gain and phase controlled.
The signal exiting the RF coupler 112 is a signal which contains both a main signal component and an error component, and this signal is input into an error delay block 127 which provides a time delay which is substantially equal to the time delay the error signal 119 experiences as it propagates through the error path 123. The signal exiting the error delay block 127 is input into the RF coupler 130, as is the gain and phase controlled error signal exiting the error amplifier 124. Again, each signal entering the RF coupler 130 is phased such that the two signals entering the RF coupler 130 will be combined such that the error signal is substantially canceled. Thus, the output signal 131 exiting the RF coupler 130 has (theoretically) only the main component of the original input signal 101 therein.
The IM products seen in the output signal 131 are statistical in nature, and have a peak to average ratio that is proportional to the statistics of the envelope of the broadband input signal. The "burst" IM problem can be quantified by looking at the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of samples of a particular IM product. For example, FIG. 2 shows the CDF of a LPA operated with varying output power levels. The burst IM problem shows up as a slope change of the CDF curve in that the change in slope is indicative of a relatively good "average IM" value that has lower percent probability IM that is considerably worse. For example, the IM level with a probability of a 0.1% occurrence is .about.-56 dBc for 50 W and -30 dBc for 100 W. The same curves show that at the 10% probability level the IM is worse than 64 dBc or -60 dBc; a difference of 4 dBc at high probability levels compared to the 26 dBc difference at lower probability levels. The slope change in the CDF curve has been experimentally determined to be caused by the error amplifiers themselves. To eliminate the problem completely requires a large amount of back-off in the error amplifiers. This large amount of backoff makes the error amplifier prohibitively large and inefficient.
Two main factors in the performance of multi-carrier LPAs force this back-off requirement. The first factor requiring error amplifier back-off is the peak to average nature of the envelope that generates the IM. In multi-carrier systems, the peak-to-average ratio of an envelope is determined by the relative phases of the multi-carrier input signal as well as the modulation itself in digital modulation schemes. For FM carriers, the absolute maximum peak signal is 10 Log of the number of carriers. The peak-to-average ratio of an envelope is also a statistical phenomenon. FIG. 3 depicts theoretical CDF curves for multi-carrier FM input signals. A general rule of thumb is that 10 dB is sufficient peak-to-average ratio for any statistically significant peak. The first factor alone will require approximately 10 dB of back-off in the error amplifiers due to peaking from the average level.
The second factor requiring error amplifier back-off is the degradation of the carrier cancellation in coupler 118 due to the amplitude modulation-amplitude modulation (AM--AM) distortion and amplitude modulation-phase modulation (AM-PM) distortion of the main amplifier. The error signal 119 presented to the error path 123 consists of the IM products (error signal) plus the residual of the canceled carriers. Carrier cancellation is typically assumed to be on the order of 30 dB, and this carrier cancellation and the IM performance of the main amplifier 109 can be used to "size" the error amplifier 124. The amount of carrier cancellation is determined by the amount of amplitude and phase error in the cancellation circuitry, where the magnitude and phase errors of the cancellation circuitry operate over the same dynamic range as the input signal 101. The magnitude and phase error in the cancellation circuitry is determined by both the deviations due to frequency and the magnitude of the input signal 101.
The AM--AM and AM-PM of the main amplifier 109 contributes directly to the amount of carrier cancellation. In the conventional feed-forward amplifier as shown in FIG. 1, the main amplifier 109 is biased Class AB in order to maintain efficiency with the amount of back-off needed for the required peak-to-average ratio of the input signal 101. A response for a typical amplifier biased Class AB is shown in FIG. 4. Important to note is that the amplifier undergoes considerable AM--AM and AM-PM over a 10 dB signal range. The main amplifier in FIG. 4 operated to 1 dB compression point on envelope peaks could typically produce a 1 dB amplitude error (1 dB compression by definition) but also on the order of 10 degrees of phase shift (note the phase shift from the curve end point to 10 dB or 5 divisions earlier on the x-axis of FIG. 4). By using these values to reference the curves of constant carrier cancellation verses phase and amplitude errors shown in FIG. 5, the carrier cancellation is determined to be less then 15 dB. This degraded carrier cancellation from average signal levels must be included in the error amplifier back-off. This corresponds to a large dynamic range requirement of 25 dB in the error amplifier 124.
Thus, a need exists for a improved feed-forward amplifier which overcomes the shortcomings mentioned above.

Method and apparatus for improving intermodulation in a feed-forward amplifier


Embodiments of this application disclose a method for parsing a service platform address by a server. The server receives a DNS parsing request sent by a terminal, the DNS parsing request including a to-be-parsed domain name. The server then obtains target IP information of the terminal based on the DNS parsing request. When the target IP information has a corresponding target user-defined line, the server obtains a preset first parsing record based on the target user-defined line. The server then sends to the terminal a first IP address corresponding to the to-be-parsed domain name based on the preset first parsing record. As such, a corresponding IP address range can be defined using a user-defined line, so that a terminal within the IP address range can obtain a specific IP address corresponding to an access domain name, and provide a service to a user within a more accurate range.

With the development of communications technologies, the Internet has a more and more important position in daily work and life of people. A host in the Internet may be identified in a plurality of manners, for example, a uniform resource locator (English full name: Uniform Resource Locator, English abbreviation: URL) domain name, and the Internet Protocol (English full name: Internet Protocol, English abbreviation: IP). The URL domain name almost includes no position information of the host in the Internet, such as baidu.com. The IP address is corresponding to position information of the host in the Internet, such as 192.158.100.011. Because the URL domain name is easy to memorize, and the IP address is a number type name, and it is difficult to understand and memorize the IP address, people usually access a corresponding host by using a URL domain name. To access a corresponding host by using a URL domain name, a domain name system (English full name: Domain Name Service, English abbreviation: DNS) server of the Internet first needs to query an IP address corresponding to the URL domain name based on the URL domain name, and then a browser accesses the service server corresponding to the URL domain name based on the corresponding IP address.
Currently, network access lines obtained by a DNS server are divided based on operators or regions. For some websites in a designed state, some users may be first selected as grayscale users. The grayscale users can access the website prior to common users, and assist a website developer in improving the website after the access. The website does not get online until the website satisfies requirements of users. In this case, common uses can also access the website.
However, to facilitate managing and monitoring operations of the grayscale users on the website that prepares to get online, the developer needs to accurately find the grayscale users. If the users are divided based on different operators or regions, it may be difficult to position the grayscale users due to a relatively large range.

Method, device and system for service platform address resolution

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Disclosed is a batten riser assembly that is used to install battens for tile roofs. The batten riser assembly can be used to prolong the life of tile roofs since it is made of waterproof materials. The batten riser assembly uses flexible strips that can be easily folded in a compact package and can be installed in a quick and easy manner. The batten riser assembly can be used in conjunction with a marker tape to speed installation. The batten riser assembly is designed to prevent the damming of water that penetrates the tile roof. The batten riser assembly provides a simple and easy way for installers to comply with building codes.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to roofing systems and more particularly to batten systems for tile roofs.
b. Description of the Background
Tile roofs provide an effective form of roofing that is long lasting, if installed properly, fire resistant and can have an aesthetic appearance. Tiles can be made of various different materials including fiberglass, cement, clay and other materials, all of which are generically referred to herein as "tiles". For some time, tiles have been installed over plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) roof decking which is covered by an underlayment and regularly spaced battens, which are fastened through the underlayment to the roof deck. The tiles are then hung from and fastened to the roof battens. If precipitation penetrates the tile, the battens have a potential to dam water resulting in leakage of water through the penetrations of the underlayment as a result of fastening the battens to the roof deck and potential rotting of the battens that are placed in horizontal orientation, the dam water. This substantially threatens the lifespan of the roof.
As a solution to these problems, roofers adopted a lath and batten system, i.e., a counter-batten system in which vertically oriented battens are nailed to a felt covered roof with spacings of anywhere from 16 to 24 inches and horizontally oriented battens are nailed to the vertically oriented battens at spacings that satisfy the overlap dimensions of the tiles. These types of counter-batten systems allow water that seeps through the tiles to flow along the felt and not be dammed by horizontally oriented battens that are nailed directly to the roof. In other words, this type of counter-batten system allowed the free flow of water that penetrates the tiles along the underlayment without being substantially, impeded. In addition, the counter-batten systems create an airspace that provides insulating qualities and mediates the transmission of heat to and from the roof tile. As such, the heat transferred between the roof and the rest of the structure is mediated. In climates where snow can accumulate on the roof surface, this effect reduces the severity of the freeze/thaw cycles that occur on a roof, which can result in damming of water.
However, installation of these types of systems is labor intensive and time consuming. In addition, the spacing of the vertically oriented battens is normally controlled by local building codes. In order to reduce the amount of material used, installers typically install the vertical battens at the maximum width allowed by the building code. This requires careful measuring to ensure that the spacing of the vertically oriented battens does not exceed the maximum spacing allowed by code. If these measurements are not carefully made, the spacing of the vertically oriented battens can exceed the maximum spacing allowed which can, in some instances, result in the building inspector requiring that the roof be removed and reinstalled in accordance with code. Shims can be used to also reduce material costs. However, the same problems are involved with the installation of shims at distances that do not exceed code requirements.
In addition, wooden battens and shims are susceptible to rot in the moist environment of the roof system. As a result, the entire roof system must be replaced periodically because the counter-batten system tends to rot as a result of the naturally moist environment under the tiles. The vertically oriented battens in a counter-batten system and the shims in a shim system are both directly nailed to the felt on the roof and have constant contact with water that flows along the felt. As a result, the vertically oriented battens, in a counter-batten system, and the shims, in a shim system, do not have an extended life cycle.
In addition to the careful measurements that must be made when installing the vertically oriented batten systems, even more precise measurements must be made when installing the horizontal battens. After the proper spacing of horizontal battens is determined at each edge of the roof, a snap line must be used to mark the proper location of the horizontal battens, considering the allowable overlap of the tile. Few battens are straight enough and long enough to individually span the horizontal distance of the roof. Once the chalk snap lines have been placed on the roof, the horizontal battens can be installed. For example, a 14 inch spacing between horizontally oriented battens is typically a suitable spacing for most tiles. This process is a time consuming and labor intensive process that increases the expense of installation of tile roof systems.


A liquid chromatography sample organizer includes a first chamber, a plurality of stacked sample organizer shelves mounted within the first chamber each individually configured to store a sample-vial carrier including a sample, and a shelf magnet affixed to a surface of each of the plurality of stacked sample organizer shelves. A portion of the first chamber is configured to be located adjacent to, and open to, a sample manager configured to inject liquid chromatography samples into a chromatographic flow stream. Disclosed further is a liquid chromatography system having the sample organizer, a sample drawer, and a method of transferring samples between a sample manager and the sample organizer.

Chromatography is a set of techniques for separating a mixture into its constituents. For instance, in a liquid chromatography system, a pump takes in and delivers a mixture of liquid solvents to a sample manager, where an injected sample awaits its arrival. In an isocratic chromatography system, the composition of the liquid solvents remains unchanged, whereas in a gradient chromatography system, the solvent composition varies over time. The mobile phase, comprised of a sample dissolved in a mixture of solvents, passes to a column, referred to as the stationary phase. By passing the mixture through the column, the various components in the sample separate from each other at different rates and thus elute from the column at different times. A detector receives the elution from the column and produces an output from which the identity and quantity of the analysis may be determined.
Prior to being provided into the liquid chromatography system, the sample may be provided to a sample organizer and/or a sample manager. The sample organizer and/or a sample manager may be configured to store the sample in conditions that prevent the sample from degrading or becoming otherwise damaged. The sample organizer and/or sample manager may be configured to provide the sample into the liquid chromatography system. The sample organizer and/or sample manager may be configured to store a plurality of samples prior to analysis by the liquid chromatography system. Movement of a sample between storage and processing and/or introduction into the liquid chromatography application may be necessary. This movement of the sample into and out of storage may need to be accomplished in a precise, repeatable and/or automatic way.
Thus, a sample organizer, tray, system and method for moving a sample, would be well received in the art.

Sample organizer, tray, system and method


There is provided a multi-directional selector valve which makes it possible to control opening and closing of the discharge ports in an easy manner and to minimize increase in cost and size even if the number of branches is increased. The multi-directional selector valve includes a valve case provided with a suction port and at least two discharge ports, at least two valve bodies provided for opening or closing the at least two discharge ports, a drive body formed into a rod-like shape and provided for driving the valve bodies and a drive source for rotating the drive body, and is configured such that any of convex portions provided on the side of the drive body are pressed onto any of the at least two valve bodies by the rotation of the drive body, thereby opening or closing the at least two discharge port in order.

So far, as a valve for distributing air supplied from an air pump or the like into a plurality of pipes, there is, for example, a selector valve configured so as to open or close two discharge ports 104a and 104b by subjecting a movable valve 121 connected to a spring 108 and an electromagnetic device 120 such as a solenoid via a piston rod 126 to reciprocating motion by a biasing action of the spring 108 and a driving force of the electromagnetic device 120 as shown in FIG. 13. Namely in FIG. 13, while an electric current is not fed to the electromagnetic device 120, the movable valve 121 is drawn toward the right side in FIG. 13 due to the biasing action of the spring 108 to close the discharge port 104a, and as a result, the air supplied from an air pump or the like and flowing into an air chamber 123 at the suction side passes through the discharge port 104b and is discharged into a discharge pipe 124b. On the other hand, when an electric current is fed to the electromagnetic device 120, the movable valve 121 is moved toward the left side in FIG. 13 due to the driving force of the electromagnetic device 120 resisting the biasing action of the spring 108 to close the discharge port 104b, and the air supplied from an air pump or the like passes through the discharge port 104a and is discharged into a discharge pipe 124a.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A-15C, there is a selector valve in which a piston rod 226 on which a plurality of movable valves 221a-221e are mounted apart from each other is inserted into a cylinder 225 provided with a suction portion 223 and a plurality of discharge portions 222a-222c, and by subjecting this piston rod 226 to reciprocating motion in the cylinder 225 by means of a drive source 214, the suction portion 223 is communicated with any of the discharge portions 222a-222c via a space partitioned by the movable valves 221a-221e in the cylinder 225. FIGS. 14A and 14B represents a selector valve for distributing air to the two discharge portions 222a and 222b, and FIGS. 15A-15C represents a selector valve for distributing air to the three discharge portions 222a-222c. In FIGS. 15A-15C, the suction portion 223 is connected to the cylinder 225 via a branching port 228a or 228b. In the state shown in FIG. 14A, the air supplied from an air pump or the like and flowing into the suction portion 223 passes through the space at the left side of the movable valve 221a and is discharged into the discharge portion 222a, and on the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the piston rod 226 is moved until the movable valve 221a is located at the left side of an opening 223a of the suction portion 223, the air passes through the space between the movable valve 221a and the movable valve 221b in the cylinder 225 and is discharged into the discharge portion 222b. In the state shown in FIG. 15A, the air supplied from an air pump or the like and flowing into the suction portion 223 passes through the branching port 228a and the space between the movable valve 221b and the movable valve 221c in the cylinder 225 and is discharged into the discharge portion 222a, and in FIG. 15A, when the piston rod 226 is moved toward the right direction, as shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C, the discharge portion communicating with the suction portion 223 is changed from the discharge portion 222a to the discharge portion 222b, further to the discharge portion 222c in order according to the positions of the movable valves 221a-221e, and the air supplied from an air pump or the like is discharged into any of the discharge portions 222a-222c communicating with the suction portion 223.
The conventional selector valve shown in FIG. 13 is configured such that air from the suction side is discharged to any one of the two discharge ports 104a and 104b, and the other discharge port is closed with the movable valve 121 driven by the electromagnetic device 120. Therefore, in the case where there are more than two branches, for each of additional branches, the electromagnetic device 120 and the movable valve 121 are to be added to either of the discharge pipe 124a side of the discharge port 104a or the discharge pipe 124b side of the discharge port 104b or to the both thereof, and thus, there is a problem that the number of electromagnetic devices 120 increases, cost increases largely and a size of the selector valve increases. Further, when using a plurality of electromagnetic devices 120 as mentioned above, it is necessary to control feeding of electric current for driving each of the electromagnetic devices 120, and yet to control it in connection with switching of feeding or stopping of electric current for driving to other electromagnetic devices 120, which causes a problem of complicated control of opening/closing of the discharge port. Furthermore, there is a problem that the increased number of electromagnetic devices 120 increases a failure rate of the selector valve.
Further, since the movable valve 121 is pressed onto the discharge ports 104a and 104b repeatedly, there is a possibility that the movable valve 121 is broken or falls into a condition that it cannot exhibit normal function due to its abrasion or deformation. In that case, the movable valve 121 needs to be replaced. However, in the case of the selector valve shown in FIG. 13, there is a problem that since the movable valve 121 is fixed to a piston rod 126, it cannot be removed easily, and so it is replaced together with the piston rod 126 or the electromagnetic device 120, resulting in increased cost.
Further, the selector valve shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A-15C is configured such that a flow path is formed by combination of the cylinder 225 with the two-way branched flow paths between the suction portion 223 and the plural discharge portions 222a-222c, and the flow path to the discharge portions other than the discharge portion from which air is discharged is blocked with the movable valves 221a-221e. Therefore, there is a problem that for two each of additional branches, branched flow paths such as branching ports 228a and 228b shown in FIG. 13 are needed in the flow path at the suction portion 223 side, resulting in increase in cost and size of the selector valve.
Further, also in the selector valve shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A-15C, since the movable valves 221a-221e slide while being in contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 225, there is a possibility that they need to be replaced due to breakage or the like. However, since the movable valves 121 are fixed to the piston rod 226, they cannot be removed easily, and so they need to be replaced together with the piston rod 226 or the drive source 214, resulting in increased cost.
The presently disclosed embodiment was made in light of the above-mentioned situation, and the object of the presently disclosed embodiment is to provide a multi-directional selector valve which makes it possible to control opening and closing of plural discharge ports in an easy manner and yet minimize increase in cost and size in the case where the number of branches is increased.
Another object of the presently disclosed embodiment is to provide a multi-directional selector valve which makes it possible to easily replace only the valve body, thereby reducing cost for maintaining function of the valve in the case where the valve body falls into a state of being unusable due to breakage, abrasion or deformation.


A liquid supply system with a pump for discharging fixed amounts of liquid composed of a liquid supply vessel which holds a liquid therein; a cylinder device composed of a cylinder cover and a cylinder with a bottom portion having a piston hole, a first liquid suction hole with a liquid suction valve and a second liquid suction hole; a piston device which is slidably disposed within the cylinder, including a piston with a liquid suction inlet and a liquid inlet valve, and a valve-pressing member, a piston cover provided above the piston to form an inner space therebetween to hold the liquid therein, a piston shaft which, in a sealed state, passes through the piston hole formed in the bottom portion of the cylinder, and is integrally connected with the piston in such a manner as to slidably move the piston device along the inner side of the cylinder when pressed upward or downward, the piston shaft including herein a liquid discharge conduit which is connected to the inner space of the piston device and from which the liquid can be discharged for use, and an air displacement port; a spring member; and a cradle on which a seal-packing member is provided so as to tightly close the second liquid developer suction hole when the piston device is at the lowest position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pump-equipped liquid supply system for discharging fixed amounts of a liquid to a liquid tank in such a manner that the liquid held in the liquid tank is maintained constant.
2. Discussion of Background
Examples of conventionally known liquid supply systems for supplying a liquid to a tank containing the liquid to maintain the amount of the liquid in the tank constant are: (1) a liquid developer supply unit which is incorporated into an electrophotographic copying machine and from which a liquid therein is discharged by its own weight from the unit into the electrophotographic copying machine; and (2) a liquid supply unit which is pre-pressurized to discharge a liquid into a tank.
However, there are many problems associated with such conventional liquid supply systems. For example, it is difficult to control the supply of fixed amounts of a liquid by using the aforementioned unit (1), and a special device is required for the application of a constant pressure for the pre-pressurizing in the unit (2).
The applicant of the present application has proposed a pump-equipped liquid developer supply system as shown in FIG. 5, capable of reliably supplying a fixed amount of a liquid developer held in a pump-equipped liquid developer supply vessel to a developer tank at each operation of the pump without providing any pressurizing means, as Japanese Utility Model Application 3-26080 (which corresponds to a copending U.S. application No. 07/800,490) now U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,828, Oct. 26, 1993.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 indicates a liquid developer vessel, reference numeral 20, an air displacement pipe; reference numeral 21, a cylinder cover through which the air displacement pipe 20 passes; reference numeral 22, a cylinder; reference numeral 23, a valve for a liquid developer introducing port; reference numeral 24, a piston cover; reference numeral 25, a piston; reference numeral 26, a lower space portion of the cylinder 22; reference numeral 27, a first liquid developer suction hole through which the liquid developer is sucked from a liquid developer supply vessel; reference numeral 27', a second liquid developer suction hole; reference numeral 40, a piston shaft; reference numeral 28, a liquid developer discharge conduit which is formed within the piston shaft 40 for discharging the liquid developer to a developer tank 50; reference numerals 29 and 30, sealing members; reference numeral 32, a liquid developer suction valve; reference numeral 33, a liquid developer inlet valve; reference numeral 34, a liquid developer inlet valve; reference numeral 35, a spring which urges the piston 25 downward; reference numeral 36, an upper space formed above the piston cover 24; reference numeral 41, an air displacement port; and reference numeral 51, a solenoid.
The operation of this pump-equipped liquid developer supply vessel is as follows: when the piston shaft 40 is pushed upward in the direction B shown by the arrow by the action of the solenoid 51, as indicated in FIG. 5, the liquid developer suction valve 32 opens so that a fixed volume of the liquid developer in the developer supply vessel 1 is drawn into the lower space 26 in the cylinder 22. At the same time, the liquid developer inlet valve 34 is opened and the liquid developer is drawn out from the upper space 36 in the cylinder 22, passes through the liquid developer conduit 28 in the piston shaft 40, and is discharged therefrom to the liquid developer tank 50.
Then, after the piston shaft 40 has completed its upward movement, when the piston 25 is pressed down in the direction A by the action of the spring 35, as indicated the valve 23 is opened and a fixed amount of the liquid developer is drawn into the upper space 36 in the cylinder 22. At the same time, the liquid developer inlet valve 33 is opened and the liquid developer is discharged into the developer tank 50 through the liquid developer discharge conduit 28 formed within the piston shaft 40.
As the liquid developer is discharged from the supply vessel 1 to the developer tank 50, the air in the tank is introduced into the bottom of the liquid developer supply vessel through the air displacement port 41 and through the air displacement pipe 20.
In the above-described pump-equipped liquid developer supply system shown in FIG. 5, the liquid developer is simultaneously drawn into the pump portion of the supply vessel 1 and discharged to the developer tank 50 by the action of the piston in either of the directions A or B.
In the above pump-equipped liquid developer supply system, however, when the internal pressure of the liquid developer supply vessel is extraordinarily increased, there is a problem in that the liquid developer leaks from an outlet of a liquid outlet 28 and/or from an air displacement port 41.
More specifically, with reference to FIG. 5, when the internal pressure of a pump-equipped liquid developer supply vessel 1 filled with a liquid developer is increased, for instance, by the increase of the temperature therein, the liquid developer enters the cylinder 22 through the first liquid developer suction hole 27 and the second liquid suction hole 27' and leaks into the developer tank 50 through the liquid developer discharge conduit 28.
In addition, when this kind of pump-equipped liquid developer supply vessel 1 is incorporated into an electrophotographic copying machine, there is a problem in that the liquid developer in the developer supply vessel 1 enters an air displacement pipe 20 and leaks from the air displacement port 41.


Composite which contains reinforcing fibers comprising carbon and whose matrix comprises silicon carbide, silicon and copper, with the mass fraction of copper in the composite being up to 55%, processes for producing it, in particular by liquid infiltration of C/C intermediate bodies with melts comprising Si and/or Cu and Si, and also its use as friction lining in a friction pairing with ceramic brake discs or clutch discs comprising C/SiC.

In the search for suitable friction materials for high-performance brake systems using ceramic friction bodies, the conventional organically bound friction materials reach their limits because of the high temperatures and high wear rates which occur. This becomes particularly apparent in the case of friction pairings in which C/SiC or C/C—SiC is used as brake disc material. These materials are ceramics formed essentially of SiC and secondary phases comprising Si and C, which is reinforced with carbon fibers, for example as described in DEA 197 10 105. During braking, temperatures around and above 1000° C. occur at the friction surface, and organically bound brake linings consequently decompose.
In EP-A 1 079 137, a sintered metal material is proposed for brake linings which, in combination with C/C-SiC brake discs, leads to an increased operating life and improved frictional behavior and consists of a sintered copper material having a mass fraction of more than 60% of copper. However, inter alia, the high-temperature strength required for ceramic friction partners is restricted by the high copper content and the binder phase.
In DE-A 197 27 586, it is proposed to use a combination of a C/SiC brake disc and a corresponding C/SiC brake lining. The C/C intermediate body for the brake disc has a density which is lower than that of the surface regions of the C/C intermediate body for the brake lining. This leads to a C/SiC having a relatively low strength being formed after the liquid silicization of the C/C intermediate body for the lining. However, the overall frictional and wear behavior, the performance when wet and in particular the comfort characteristics, including constant coefficients of friction and low noise, are not yet satisfactory.
In view of this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a friction material which withstands the high temperatures during braking without suffering damage and displays improved comfort characteristics in combination with ceramic counterbodies. In particular, the friction material should be matched to the combination with C/SiC brake discs.

Composite containing reinforcing fibers comprising carbon