An optical interconnection assembly for a spine-and-leaf network is disclosed. The optical interconnection assembly has spine MF components and leaf MF components. The spine MF components are optically connected to spine MF components of spine switches via spine patch cords. The leaf MF components are optically connected to leaf MF components of leaf switches via leaf patch cords. An array of duplex fiber optic cables serves to optically connect every spine MF component to every leaf MF component so that every spine switch is optically connected to every leaf switch. The optical interconnection assembly facilitates network scale out without the multifiber connections having to be broken up into multiple duplex connections using duplex fiber optic cables.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to spine-and-leaf networks, and in particular relates to an optical interconnection assembly for spine-and-leaf network scale out, and further relates to spine-and-leaf networks that employ the optical interconnection assembly.
2. Technical Background
A data center is a location that houses computers and related telecommunications equipment and components for the purpose of processing (e.g., receiving, storing, managing and transmitting) data. Data centers often need to be expanded or "scaled out," wherein hardware is added to accommodate the increasing data-processing demands. It is thus desirable that the data-center hardware be configured in a manner that is scalable, i.e., that can support scale out of the hardware such that the data-processing performance of the data center improves in direct proportion to the added capacity.
Traditional data-center architectures have relied on a three-tier switching architecture whereby network reliability and scale-out capability is accomplished through switch redundancy. However, the three-tier switching architecture is not optimal for certain types of data centers, such as Internet data centers, that process relatively large amounts of data.
A more suitable network architecture for high-capacity data centers is called a "spine-and-leaf" (S/F) architecture, which flattens the network to reduce latency and redundancy. The S/F architecture utilizes leaf switches and spine switches, with every leaf switch connected to every spine switch to define a network mesh or network fabric. The ability to scale out the S/F network depends on the data rates employed, e.g., 10 GbE or 40 GbE. Presently, the spine-switch multi-fiber (MF) components and the leaf-switch MF components are predominately 40 GbE, so it would seem desirable to create a 40-GbE mesh. However, such a mesh limits the network's ability to be scaled out because the leaf switch used typically has only four 40-GbE uplink MF components to interface with the spine switch, which limits the network to four spine switches.
One approach to overcoming this type of scale-out limitation involves creating a 10-GbE mesh to allow for four times the amount of scale-out capability, i.e., sixteen 10-GbE MF components that allow for sixteen spine switches. This 10-GbE mesh can be created by using cabling in the form of LC duplex jumpers to break out each 40-GbE MF component into 4×10 GbE MF components to obtain the sixteen 10-GbE MF components. However, this creates cabling complexity while simultaneously counteracting the otherwise desirable high-density MTP connections.

Optical interconnection assembly for spine-and-leaf network scale out


A method for preparing an inorganic nano-material is provided. The method includes steps of providing a first solution including plural metal ions; mixing the first solution with a surfactant and adding a reduction agent to generate a second solution, wherein the second solution generates plural metal atoms reduced from the plural metal ions; and adding an oxidation agent into the second solution for oxidizing the plural metal atoms so as to generate plural metal oxides and form the inorganic nano-material.

Photoluminescence can be divided into fluorescence and phosphorescence. When a material absorbs the energy of the external light, the electrons in the ground state in the material are excited to a excited state, at this moment if the energy is quickly released to a state of a minimum vibration, i.e. one of the excited states, and then is released back to the ground state in a form of light emission, and this phenomenon is called fluorescence; while if the energy is transferred by an intersystem crossing to an excited state with different self-spinning multiples, and released to a state of a minimum vibration, and then is released back to the ground state in a form of light emission, and this phenomenon is called phosphorescence. Currently the material able to generate fluorescence or phosphorescence can be divided into inorganic and organic materials. The organic fluorescence materials are usually transferred to a biological body by adopting the transgenic method. For instance, the natural fluorescence protein can be extracted from the bodies of thousands of Aequorea Victoria. This protein can emit green fluorescence, and is called green fluorescent protein (GFP). The research shows that the GFP has a special chromophore, which is a chemical functional group able to absorb and emit light. When radiated by the violet or blue light, the chromophore of the GFP absorbs the energy of the light and is excited, and then emits the light to release the energy, where the emitted light has a wavelength located within the wavelength range of the green light. Since some unanticipated risks of the gene transfer exist, the strict regulations for the gene transfer are setup specially for changing the gene composition of the biological body so as to avoid the damages on the other original biological bodies due to the gene escape.
Another type of inorganic fluorescence materials are fluorescence powders or various metal materials. Since the fluorescence powders have excellent illuminating efficiency, currently most of the illuminating devices adopt the fluorescence powders. The major raw materials of the fluorescence materials are rare earth elements. Since the rare earth elements are rare, and the governments of the countries of the reserve of the rare earth elements have conditionally limited their export. The prices of the rare earth elements grow every year. In additions, the rare earth elements have the issue of the toxicity to the environment according to the assess of the environmental reservation. Besides, the rare earth elements can cause serious damages on the biological bodies if applied thereinto.

Illuminating device and method for preparing inorganic nano-material


The present invention provides a process for producing a crystal nucleator composition comprising; a first step pulverizing 95% by mass or more of a crystal nucleator ingredient containing one or two or more kinds of specific compounds to a primary particle diameter of 0.8 μm or smaller with a dry medium-stirring type pulverizer; and a second step mixing and pulverizing the pulverized crystal nucleator ingredient obtained in the previous step and a metal aliphatic carboxylate ingredient containing one or two or more kinds of specific metal aliphatic carboxylates. Also provided is a crystalline polymer composition comprising a crystal nucleator composition obtained by the production process

Crystalline polymers represented by polyolefin-based polymers are used widely as films, sheets, structural parts, or the like, because of their excellent moldability, thermal stability, and low specific gravities. However, transparency of the molded articles of the crystalline polymers is not necessarily good.
It is known that this defect arises from the crystallizing property of the crystalline polymer and that transparency of the crystalline polymer is improved by addition of a crystal nucleator, whereby the crystallizing temperature of the crystalline polymer is raised and crystallization thereof is accelerated to form fine crystals.
As the crystal nucleators, there are used, for example, a metal carboxylate such as sodium benzoate, aluminum 4-tert-butylbenzoate, sodium adipate, disodium bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylate; a metal salt of phosphate ester such as sodium bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate and sodium 2,2′-methylene-bis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate; a polyalcohol derivative such as dibenzylidene sorbitol, bis(methylbenzylidene) sorbitol, and bis(dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol; and the like.
Among these compounds, especially, a metal salt of cyclic phosphate ester typified by 2,2′-methylene-bis(4,6-ditert-butylphenyl)phosphate exhibits a great effect in improving the properties of crystalline polymer material such as mechanical characteristics and transparency. Patent Documents 1 to 6 disclose that by using a metal aliphatic carboxylate together with the metal salt of cyclic phosphate ester, even better effect is obtained. Furthermore, Patent Documents 3 to 6 disclose that a crystalline polymer material added with a co-pulverized mixture containing a metal salt of cyclic phosphate ester which is a crystal nucleator ingredient and a metal aliphatic carboxylate exhibits an effect specifically in improving transparency.
Furthermore, to prevent the coagulation of crystal nucleator, Patent Documents 7 and 8 disclose a method in which the crystal nucleator, a metal salt of cyclic phosphate ester, is supported on the surface of inorganic material. Also, Patent Document 9 discloses a method of preventing the coagulation of inorganic fine particles, in which inorganic fine particles and inorganic pigments are mixed and pulverized together with a wet pulverizer to give inorganic fine particles supported on the surface of inorganic pigments.
As described above, various methods have been proposed to improve the effect of crystal nucleator in imparting transparency and the dispersibility of fine particles. However, as regards the metal salt of cyclic phosphate ester used as a crystal nucleator, the methods described above do not provide sufficient results and there still remain the following problems.
With the production methods described in Patent Documents 3 to 6, in which the crystal nucleator is co-pulverized with a metal aliphatic carboxylate, there is a problem that the pulverized material sticks together in the pulverizing vessel to lower productivity. There is also a problem that many fisheyes are formed in a crystalline polymer material containing the crystal nucleator to damage the appearance of a polymer. Regarding the production methods described in Patent Documents 7 to 9, there are problems that a drying step of pulverized material is necessary because the methods involve a wet pulverizing step, and moreover, it is difficult to obtain the effect of pulverization because pulverized material reaggregates upon drying.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3058487
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-338820
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-313444
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-335968
Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-083852
Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-054036
Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-026666
Patent Document 8: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-012868
Patent Document 9: Japanese Patent No. 3606400

Process for producing crystal nucleator composition and crystalline polymer composition


A pocket spring mattress arrangement, such as a bed arrangement, having adjustable firmness is disclosed. The mattress arrangement includes a pocket spring mattress having a plurality of pocketed units of coil springs individually arranged in pockets formed of a casing material. The mattress has at least two parts of which at least one is a compactable part. Further, at least one elongate actuation member extends perpendicular to a compacting direction for the compactable part(s), corresponding to a width or length direction of the mattress, and is embedded within the mattress between two of the parts. The actuation member is moveable in the compacting direction to expand or contract at least one of the one or more compactable part(s) of the mattress. Elastic elements may further be provided to contract one or more of the compactable parts.

In mattress arrangements, such as in a bed arrangement or other seating or furniture arrangements, a support is provided to act on the weight or part of the weight of a user, wherein the bed distributes the weight from the body of the user over a part of a surface of the device. Depending on how the bed distributes the weight of the user, the bed will appear as being either soft or firm. The degree of firmness of such a bed is dependent on the properties of the elastic elements, such as the spring constant, and how the elastic elements have been mounted in the bed, such as the degree of clamping or pre-tensioning. Thus, the firmness of the bed is normally set at the manufacturing of the device.
However, different persons wish and require different firmness. Further, different body parts may require different firmness.
It is known to provide bed arrangements with variable firmness. By inducing deformation to the elastic elements to different degrees, the firmness of the device is adjustable. The deformation member has the ability to deform the elastic element independently from the deformation of the elastic element induced by the being. This means that the firmness of the bed is adjustable during initialization, according to the wishes of the user. It is also possible to compensate the firmness of the device for possible changes in the elastic properties of the elastic arrangement over time. Such known solutions are e.g. disclosed in EP 2 245 967 and WO 2009/120270.
Further, it is known to provide variation in firmness of a mattress by arranging coil springs on support plates having variable height. The height of the support plates may be controlled by rotatable elements arranged under the support plates, and having an off-centre rotation axis. Hereby, by rotation of the rotatable elements, the plates assume various height positions. Such firmness adjustment means are e.g. discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,548 and US 2011/0258772. It is also known to use a similar arrangement with support plates having variable height where the height of the support plates may be controlled by displacement members in the form of linear motors, jacks, and other types of lifting mechanism. Such firmness adjustment means are e.g. discussed in AU 55 13 00, U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,137, US 2006/0253994, WO 99/65366 and EP 2 245 967.
However, common problems with these previously known bed arrangements with variable firmness are that they are relatively complex, heavy and costly to produce. Further, these known bed arrangements are also often relatively difficult and cumbersome to use. Further, even though these known bed arrangements provide a certain degree of adjustability, this is often inadequate for the users' needs.
Another approach is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 8,176,589, by the same applicant as in the present application, in which the bed has a variable width, and the mattress is arranged to be expanded/contracted together with the expansion/contraction of the bed frame. However, a significant drawback of this approach is that the size of the bed varies significantly.
Still further, EP 2 923 610 by the same applicant discloses a bed arrangement with two mattresses, wherein the lower mattress is allowed to expand and contract, and a plate arranged between the two mattresses, thereby concealing the empty spaced created when the lower mattress is contracted. However, this solution is also relatively complex and costly, and also the plate is a disadvantage in certain situations and for certain applications.
It is therefore still a need for a mattress arrangement, and in particular a bed arrangement, with adjustable firmness which alleviates the above-discussed problems.

Mattress arrangement, such as a bed, having adjustable firmness


Disclosed are method and device for outputting audio linked with a video screen zoom. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving an audio signal linked with a video and generating a decoded audio signal and object metadata; linking with an execution of a video screen zoom so as to change respective object gain values for objects which are present in a zoom area; and rendering the decoded audio signal by using the changed object gain values. In addition, the method for outputting audio, of the present invention, further comprises a step for changing a channel signal-specific gain value which is linked with the video screen zoom. An audio can be linked, through the method and device for outputting audio, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with the video screen zoom such that the audio which is more realistic can be provided.

Recently, various smart devices have been developed in accordance with the development of IT technology. In particular, such a smart device basically provides an audio output having a variety of effects. In particular, in a virtual reality environment or a three-dimensional audio environment, various methods are being attempted for more realistic audio outputs. In this regard, MPEG-H has been developed as new audio coding international standard techniques. MPEG AVC-H is a new international standardization project for immersive multimedia services using ultra-high resolution large screen displays (e.g., 100 inches or more) and ultra-multi-channel audio systems (e.g., 10.2 channels, 22.2 channels, etc.). In particular, in the MPEG-H standardization project, a sub-group named "MPEG-H 3D Audio AhG (Adhoc Group)" is established and working in an effort to implement an ultra-multi-channel audio system.
MPEG-H 3D Audio is aimed at conspicuously improving the existing 5.1 (or 7.1) channel surround systems and providing a highly-realistic three-dimensional audio. To this end, various types of audio signals (channel, object, Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA)) are inputted to reconfigure a signal to fit a given environment. In addition, it is possible to control a position and volume of an object through interaction with a user and preset information selection.
Moreover, an MPEG-H 3D Audio coder provides realistic audio to a listener using a multi-channel speaker system. In addition, in a headphone environment, a realistic three-dimensional audio effect is provided. This feature allows the MPEG-H 3D Audio coder to be considered as a VR compliant audio standard.
However, in a VR environment, most of contents are played together with video and audio, whereas video and audio are encoded independently of each other and do not interact with each other. This may become a factor for a user to drop the immersive feeling when using a VR content.
The above problem will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 as follows.
A VR content is mostly played in a manner that video and audio are associated with each other. An MPEG-H 3D Audio coder is not fully liked with the video, but has a function of being associated with a screen. For example, when processing an object-based audio signal, it may receive a flag that checks whether an input object is associated with a screen. If a random object is associated with the screen, the corresponding object will also depend on the characteristics of objects in accordance with an area of viewer's interest on the screen. FIG. 1 (a) illustrates, for example, a case where a multitude of audio objects 11, 12 and 13 are present in a video screen 10. If a user zooms in on a partial area 20 of the screen 10, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), some object 11 disappear from the screen, and the positions of the objects 12 and 13 remaining on the screen are changed. Thus, the object 11 having disappeared from the screen 10 due to the zooming is not played, and only the remaining objects 12 and 13 are recognized as played at the changed positions as shown in FIG. 1 (b).
The VR audio technology should provide realism as maximum as possible to a user in a virtual space. Therefore, if it is intended to apply the zooming function shown in FIG. 1 to a VR environment, a gain should be controlled according to a zoom size as well as a position change of the object in order to provide higher realism. However, the existing MPEG-H 3D Audio fails to consider a gain change on zooming.
In addition, the existing MPEG-H 3D Audio is linked to a screen only for an object and an HOA type signal, and does not provide information linked to the screen for a channel signal. Therefore, described in the present invention is a method of processing a channel signal in association with a screen and also controlling a gain in accordance with screen zooming.

Method and device for outputting audio linked with video screen zoom


A new and distinct cultivar of the species Actinidia deliciosa A. Chev. is described. The parentage of this new cultivar is unknown, but it is most likely an open pollinated ‘Haywood’ as it was grown from seed collected from fruit purchased in a grocery store. The new cultivar is distinguished by a slightly later blooming and a bloom period that overlaps the bloom period of ‘AU Fitzgerald’ and ‘Hayward’.

Kiwi plants in cultivation are dioecious deciduous vines that originated in China and parts of Asia. There are over 50 species in the genus Actinidia. The Actinidia deliciosa species originated in China and parts of Asia and is known as the Chinese gooseberry. Plant material of this species was taken to New Zealand where new cultivars such as 'Hayward' were developed. Due to the appearance of the fruit of the Chinese gooseberry, it was given the name kiwi fruit in New Zealand after the native kiwi bird. The kiwi plant is dioecious thereby requiring male pollinizers in the presence of the female plants to ensure fruit production.
'Hayward' is the most commercialized female kiwi cultivar grown and marketed in the world. The 'Hayward' cultivar is produced commercially in California in the U.S. and in New Zealand, and is the kiwi fruit most often found in U.S. grocery stores. Attributes of the 'Hayward' cultivar that have led to its dominance of the kiwi market in the past are its distinctive green flesh, good flavor and long storage life. It is not known what male cultivar was used to pollinate the female flowers that produced the fruit and seed that resulted in the new cultivar. 'Mama' and 'Tomuri' are two male cultivars frequently used for pollination in 'Hayward' plantings.
Many plantings of the 'Hayward' cultivar with 'Matua' and 'Tomuri' were planted in Alabama as well as the adjoining southeastern states. These plantings were established near the coast in most cases. The vines grew vigorously but were unfruitful because the female cultivar 'Hayward' did not produce flower buds. The male plants produced flower buds and flowers. The 'Matua' cultivar bloomed earlier than 'Tomuri' in the plantings made in the coastal areas of south Alabama.


A process that comprises dry etching a trench into a side clad polymer layer using an underlying passive polymer layer as an etch stop, and then back filling the trench with an electro-optic polymer.

All patents, patent applications, and publications cited within this application are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual patent, patent application or publication was specifically and individually incorporated by reference.
Electro-optic polymer modulators have been researched for use in RF photonics and telecommunication. Such polymer modulators may be fabricated by wet etching a trench into a single polymer layer and back filling the trench with an electro-optic polymer. However, the final devices suffer because the etch solution or gas etchant leave the bottom of the trench rough, which results in increased optical loss. Additionally, the depth of the trench is often difficult to control and reproduce because the etching rate depends strongly on both precise etchant composition and etch times.

Method of fabricating polymer modulators with etch stop clads


A distance measuring unit for measurement, based on signal time of flight, of a distance to an object, includes: an emitter configured for the emission of electromagnetic pulses, and sequentially into different emitter solid angle segments of the detection field, a receiver having a first face for detecting electromagnetic radiation, and imaging optics which image the detection field onto the first sensor face, and specifically each of the emitter solid angle segments onto a respective region of the first sensor face. The emitter solid angle segments follow one another along a scan axis, and correspondingly the regions of the first sensor face also follow one another along a first scan line. The first sensor face is subdivided into at least two pixels which adjoin one another on a first separating line. The first separating line extends at least in sections obliquely with respect to the first scan line.

The distance measurement in question is based on a time-of-flight measurement of emitted electromagnetic pulses. If these strike an object, the pulse is partially reflected on its surface back to the distance measuring unit and can be recorded as an echo pulse by a suitable sensor. If the emission of the pulse takes place at an instant to and if the echo pulse is detected at a subsequent instant t1, the distance d to the reflecting surface of the object can be determined by means of the time of flight ΔtA=t1-t0 according tod=ΔtAc/2.  Eq. 1
Since electromagnetic pulses are involved, c is the value of the speed of light.


An improved process for the preparation of cis-1,3-diols is described where a beta hydroxy ketone is treated with a trialkylborane or dialkylalkoxyborane or a mixture of a trialkylborane and a dialkylalkoxyborane followed by recovery and reuse of the alkylborane species to convert additional beta hydroxy ketone to the cis-1,3-diol.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cis-1,3-diols. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use and subsequent recovery and reuse of a trialkylborane or dialkylalkoxyborane or a mixture of a trialkylborane and a dialkylalkoxyborane in the reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone to obtain a cis-1,3-diol. Additionally, the present invention relates to the use of a synergistic combination of a trialkylborane and a dialkylalkoxyborane in the reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone to obtain a cis-1,3-diol.
The use of trialkylboranes or dialkylalkoxyboranes in the stereoselective reduction of 1,3-keto alcohols to the corresponding syn-1,3-diols has been widely described in the literature. This method has given high stereoselectivity without using extraordinarily difficult conditions (Brower P. L., Butler D. E., Deering C. F., Le T. V., Millar A., Nanninga T. N., and Roth B., Tetrahedron Lett., 1992;33:2279; Narasaka K., and Pai F. C., Tetrahedron, 1984;40:2233; Chen K. M., Hardtmann G. E., Prasad K., Repic O., and Shapiro M. J., Tetrahedron Lett., 1987;28:155; Chen K. M., Gunderson K. G., Hardtmann G. E., Prasad K., Repic O., and Shapiro M. J., Chem. Lett., 1987:1923). There seems to be general acceptance of the formation of a borate ester from either the trialkyl or dialkylalkoxyboranes which is said to form a cyclic chelate (Narasaka K. and Pai F. C., Tetrahedron, 1984;40:2233; Chen K. M., Hardtmann G. E., Prasad K., Repic O., and Shapiro M. J., Tetrahedron Lett., 1987;28:155; Chen K. M., Gunderson K. G., Hardtmann G. E., Prasad K., Repic O., and Shapiro M. J., Chem. Lett., 1987:1923; see for example Paterson I., Cumming J. G., and Smith J. D., Tetrahedron Lett., 1994;35:3405). Axial delivery of a hydride to the complex then leads predominately to the syn-product which can be hydrolyzed to the diol. The diols are valued as intermediates for the preparation of, for example, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which are useful hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agents. This is a widely used method of preparation of such agents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,645,854, 5,354,772, 5,155,251, and 4,970,313).
Many procedures in the literature, describe the work-up of the reaction with hydrogen peroxide (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,645,854 and 4,970,313). This results in the destruction of active alkylborane species. Some procedures describe the repeated distillation with methanol and an acid (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,772 and 5,155,251). This also dilutes and eventually destroys the active alkylborane species. We have surprisingly and unexpectedly found that by performing the reduction and workup with a minimal amount of acid, and keeping the distillate streams separated, that the initial distillate can be recovered and reused to obtain very good selectivity in subsequent reductions.
Thus, the present process offers significant advantages over the prior art processes. For example, the cost of additional alkylborane is eliminated for each batch in which the distillate stream is recycled. Additionally, since alkylboranes are hazardous, they must be destroyed prior to being disposed. The present process minimizes this expensive and time-consuming procedure. Moreover, it is especially surprising that very good selectivity in the reductions is obtained using recovered alkylboranes.
Finally, we have also surprisingly and unexpectedly found that a combination of a trialkylborane and a dialkylalkoxyborane is synergistic in selectively reducing a beta-hydroxy ketone to obtain a cis-1,3-diol.


A self-circulating high-efficiency biological denitrification device includes a tank body, where an aerobic zone, an anoxic zone, a settling tank water distribution zone, a sludge zone, a sludge-water separation zone, and an effluent flow stabilization zone are arranged from bottom to top in the tank body; the settling tank water distribution zone includes a settling tank influent guide cylinder, and a circular butterfly jet water distributor is arranged between the settling tank influent guide cylinder and the aerobic zone; the settling tank influent guide cylinder is connected to a guide plate arranged in the aerobic zone, the anaerobic zone, and the sludge zone; the guide plate includes three sections; a nitrification liquid return gap and a sludge return gap are formed; a bottom of the aerobic zone is provided with an aerator; the aerator is connected to an air inlet pipe located outside the tank body.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are the main factors that cause water eutrophication. Mainstream treatment processes for nitrogen and phosphorus include an anaerobic/oxic (A/O) process, an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2/O) process, oxidation ditch (OD) and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) series, various biofilm and membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes, and the like. In all of the treatment processes, it is necessary to create a suitable dissolved oxygen (DO) environment, cultivate a dominant microbial flora, and design an economical return ratio to achieve the effect of biological denitrification.
The denitrification in the prior art generally adopts a combined reactor composed of a denitrification reactor and a secondary settling tank that are horizontally connected in series. A circulating water pipe and a circulating sludge pipe of the reactor are each provided with a circulating pump or each adopt a pump for returning, which is a traditional method and is not energy-efficient. In addition, the denitrification reactor of the combined reactor requires a micro-aerobic environment with a DO concentration of 0.6 mg/L to 0.8 mg/L, which is difficult to control under the accuracy of existing instruments; and sludge deposition is inevitable due to insufficient aeration and stirring intensity.
Chinese patent CN106242050B discloses a vertical internally-circulating integrated sewage treatment device, including a stripping zone, an aerobic zone, an anoxic zone, and an anaerobic zone that are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. In the above solution, reactors with different functions such as anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic, and settling functions are vertically stacked; a three-phase separator is arranged in each of the anaerobic zone and the anoxic zone, and a circulating pump is arranged between the three-phase separator and a bottom of the anaerobic zone; the stripping zone is arranged at a top of the aerobic zone; and a filler zone is arranged at a top of an inclined plate settling zone.
The above solution still adopts a conventional circulating pump in the prior art for water circulation, which consumes a relatively large amount of energy. In addition, the above solution has the following problem: in order to ensure that sludge in each of the anaerobic zone and the anoxic zone is suspended, it is necessary to increase an upflow velocity inside the reactor; and in order to maintain a specified upflow velocity, a slenderness ratio or an internal circulation volume of the reactor has to be improved. If the slenderness ratio is increased, the potential safety hazard will be increased; and if the internal circulation volume is increased, the energy consumption will be increased. A ceramsite filler layer is arranged above an inclined plate layer, which is very easy to cause blockage. The above patent does not mention a countermeasure to delay the filler blockage.

Efficient self-circulation biological denitrification device and working method therefor

CHUANGTSING ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT (NINGBO) CO., LTD.


A wiring harness is enshrouded in a tubular length of stretchable material. The shroud holds pigtails, takeouts, connectors, harness hold-downs and the like which otherwise extend from the harness against a trunk of the harness so that it can be inserted through an opening in a firewall or other structural member of a motor vehicle or other product for installation of the harness. Once inserted through the opening, the shroud is removed, preferably by means of a closure device which initially maintains the shroud as a tubular structure but can be removed to open at least a portion of the tubular structure to facilitate shroud removal. To facilitate installation of the shroud onto a wiring harness, the shroud is initially stretched over a tubular applicator to expand the shroud. A wiring harness is then inserted into the tubular applicator and the shroud is peeled off the tubular applicator onto the wiring harness as the harness is passed through and beyond the applicator to apply the tubular shroud to the harness.

The present invention relates generally to the installation of a wiring harness used for interconnecting electrical equipment and/or circuits and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for dressing or enshrouding such a wiring harness for installation of the harness through an opening of a structural member during manufacture of a product including the structural member. The present invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of motor vehicles and accordingly will be described with reference to that application.
Wiring harnesses used for motor vehicle electrical circuits are normally preformed as a central bundle of electrical conductors. Projecting from the bundle at varying locations along its length are pigtails, takeouts, connectors, harness hold-downs and the like which may be referred to herein as extensions. The extensions serve to make connections from electrical circuits or equipment to or through the electrical conductors of the wiring harness to associated electrical circuits or equipment or to hold the harness in place in the motor vehicle. Oftentimes, preformed wiring harnesses must be routed through openings in structural members, for example through the firewall of a motor vehicle, to make the required connections. When a wiring harness is to be passed through an opening, the extensions tend to catch on the opening and interfere with quick and easy installation of the harness.
Prior to this time, extensions from a wiring harness typically have been taped against the central bundle or trunk of the wiring harness to facilitate installation. Unfortunately, the application of tape to the individual extensions is a time consuming operation.
An alternate wiring harness dressing arrangement involves the use of tubular "heat shrink" material. The extensions from the wiring harness are held against the harness trunk and a length of tubular heat shrink material is slid over the harness. Heat is then applied to the heat shrink material causing it to shrink or reduce in size and trap the extensions down to substantially the size of the wiring harness trunk. The dressed wiring harness is then inserted through an opening in a motor vehicle firewall or other structural element. Once fully inserted, the shrink wrap material is ripped from the wiring harness to release the extensions for the remainder of the installation of the wiring harness.
Unfortunately, the application of heat shrink material to wiring harnesses requires substantial floor space, the application process is difficult to control, the application requires at least as much labor as taping and the heat shrink material is more expensive than tape. Further, there have been problems in removing the heat shrink material. Perforations have been formed in the heat shrink material to attempt to overcome the removal problem. However, even if perforations are provided, problems may persist since excessive heat can bond the perforated sections together. Of course, there is also the possibility that excesive heat will damage the wiring harnesses.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for dressing wiring harnesses for installation through openings in firewalls or other structural elements of motor vehicles and other products.
Preferably the improved wiring harness installation/dressing method and apparatus would utilize inexpensive materials, be readily applied to and removed from wiring harnesses, and permit recycling or reuse of at least some of the apparatus to further reduce the expenses involved in wiring harness installation operations.

Method and apparatus for installing/dressing a wiring harness


A front drive train bicycle has practically the parts of a simple bicycle. The major difference is in the location of the drive train. The front drive train bicycle has a steerer tube extension (38) where the bottom bracket shell. (22) is attached. A crankset consisting of a bottom bracket (21), a chainwheel (24), crank arm (52), and pedals (54) is attached to the bottom bracket shell (22). A rear wheel (32) with its gear or freewheel (28) is attached to the fork tips (42). A chain (26) connects the chainwheel (24) to the rear wheel gear or freewheel (28). A front wheel (34) is attached to the rear dropouts (44). A down tube stay (30) is used instead of a chainstay (20). The front drive train bicycle has a shorter overall length because there is no bottom bracket between the two wheels and also because it uses relatively smaller wheels. It is also lighter in weight because of these. It requires less space for parking and storing away. It is easy to lift and carry around.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to bicycles specifically to one with a front drive train.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Originally and up to today, bicycles are made with rear drive train. This setup requires too much space increasing the overall length of the bicycle. A longer bicycle requires much space in parking and in storing it at home. A shorter overall length is clearly desirable.
However, the simple bicycle is relevant to my invention.
The simple bicycle as a prior art is the basis of my invention. I need not elaborate in describing it since we are all familiar with it.
Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are: 1. shorter overall length which makes it easier to park and store away and 2. lighter in overall weight due to savings in the amount of material used in the frame not to mention the relativly small wheels used in it.
Objects and advantages of my invention are: less effort to push the pedals and 2. less effort needed to lift and carry.
Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.


In an antenna arrangement system having a plurality of radio base stations each of which defines a cell approximated by a regular hexagon and divided into six sectors first and second ones of which are directed towards an angle of 0 degree with respect to an x-axis and towards an angle of 180 degrees, respectively, in an orthogonal coordinate system, first and second base stations are selected from the radio base stations to assign a common frequency channel to the first and the second sectors, respectively, and are located at first and second coordinate positions, respectively. The first and the second coordinate positions may be represented by (.sqroot.3 Rni, 3Rj/2) and (.sqroot.3 R(2ni-1)/2, 3Rj/2) where j takes an even number and an odd number, respectively, and R is representative of a real number, n, a natural number; i and j, integers. Alternatively, the first and the second coordinate positions may be represented by (.sqroot.3 Rni, 3Rj/2) and (.sqroot.3 R(3ni-3)/2, 3Rj/2) under the same conditions. The first and the second coordinate positions may not be restricted to the above-exemplified positions.

This invention relates to an antenna arrangement system for use in a mobile communication system, such as a mobile telephone system, which has a service area assigned thereto.
In a conventional mobile communication system of the type described, a cellular system has been adopted 7hich divides a service area into a plurality of cells which may approximately be represented by regular hexagonal configurations, respectively, and in which a plurality of radio base stations are located at centers of the cells so as to cover the respective cells with the radio base stations. In such a cellular system, consideration is made about effective use of radio frequency channel. For this purpose, the same radio frequency channel is repeatedly assigned to or reused in the radio base stations which are spaced apart from one another so that no co-channel interference occurs among the radio base stations.
When the same frequency channel is repeatedly used or reused among the radio base stations, the radio base stations are divided into object base and interference base stations which suffer from the co-channel interference and bring about the co-channel interference into the object base stations, respectively.
Herein, let the radio base stations have omnidirectional antennae located at the centers of the cells, respectively, and be clustered into a plurality of groups each of which includes a prescribed number of the radio base stations to define the prescribed number of the cells. This shows that the prescribed number defines a cluster size or a repetition number of the cells in each cluster. In this event, an amount of the co-channel interference depends only on a distance between the object and the interference base stations. Under the circumstances, it is necessary to separate the object and the interference base stations from one another as long as possible in order to minimize the amount of co-channel interference with the cluster size kept invariable.
Specifically, maximum distances between the object and the interference base stations are obtained when six of the interference base stations are equidistantly located around the object base station, provided that each cell is approximated by the hexagonal configuration.
In an alternative antenna arrangement system, each of the cells is divided into a plurality of sectors with a single radio base station located at the center of each cell. This antenna arrangement system will be referred to as a sector type of the antenna arrangement system. In this case, each of the radio base stations has a plurality of directional antennae which can cover the respective sectors. The same or identical frequency channel is reused at every cluster size to provide a reuse pattern of the same frequency channel.
With this structure, it is possible to reduce a cell size as compared with the case where the omnidirectional antenna is located in each cell, as mentioned above. In addition, the same frequency channel may be arranged in the service area with a reduced distance between the object and the interference base stations by the use of directivity of the antennae arranged in each sector of the cells. This means that each frequency channel is effectively utilized in the sector type of the antenna arrangement system.
The reuse patterns in the sector type of the antenna arrangement system are classified into a parallel beam pattern system and a back to back beam pattern system. Description is made about the parallel beam pattern system in a paper which is contributed by J. E. Stjernvall to Nordic Seminar on Digital Land Mobile Radiocommunication held on Feb. 5-7, 1985, at Eapoo, Finland and which is entitled "CALCULATION OF CAPACITY AND CO-CHANNEL INTERFERENCE IN A CELLULAR SYSTEM". In such a parallel beam pattern system, the cells are approximated by regular hexagons or regular hexagonal configurations and groupled into clusters each of which has a cluster size composed of a predetermined number of the cells which may be equal to three, nine, twelve, twenty-one, or the like. For brevity of description, it is assumed that each cluster is composed of three cells and that first through third ones of the frequency channels are allocated to each cluster. In this event, the first frequency channels are directed through first predetermined sectors in a first direction identical with one another in the respective clusters. Similarly, the second frequency channels are directed through second predetermined sectors towards a second direction which is identical with one another in each of the clusters and which is different from the first direction. This applies to the third frequency channels. At any rate, the first through the third frequency channels are oriented in the same directions, respectively. This shows that each of the first through the third frequency channels is parallel to one another in the respective clusters. It is to be noted that sector distances among the first or the second sectors of the respective clusters are variable.
With this parallel beam pattern system, strong co-channel interferences take place between the same frequency channels in dependency upon a minimum one of the sector distances.
Alternatively, the back to back beam pattern system is disclosed by G. Falciasecca et al in a paper which is contributed to Second Nordic Seminar (October, 1986) and which is entitled "OPTIMUM USE OF RADIO SPECTRUM IN MOBILE RADIO SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO TRAFFIC PARAMETERS". According to the back to back beam pattern system, it is possible to reduce distances among object and interference base stations as compared with the parallel beam pattern system. However, consideration is made only about coexistence of the omnidirectional antennae and the directional antennae. In other words, such a back to back beam pattern system is locally adopted in a part of the service area wherein traffic is extremely congested. As a result, no consideration is made at all about adopting the back to back beam pattern system over a whole of the service area.
Thus, co-channel interference among the same frequency channels can not be sufficiently removed because directivity of antennae of each base station is effectively used in either the parallel beam pattern system or the back to back beam pattern system.

Antenna arrangement system capable of reducing co-channel interference


A high frequency signal receiver can prevent higher harmonics other than a necessary higher harmonic from being subjected to frequency conversion so as to interfere with the base band signal in a broadcasting channel frequency band. The receiver has a high frequency signal receiving circuit 1 that comprises an input circuit 3 to which a high frequency signal (RF signal) subjected to frequency conversion from a 12 GHz band to a 1 to 2 GHz band is input, a mixer circuit 4 adapted to frequency convert the signal of 1 to 2 GHz band output from the input circuit 3 into a base band signal, a local oscillation output circuit section 5 adapted to supply a signal of a frequency band to be mixed with the signal output of the input circuit 3 to the mixer circuit 4 and a PLL circuit section 6 to which the source oscillation output signal from the local oscillation output circuit section 5 is input. The local oscillation output circuit section 5 has an oscillation circuit 51, a higher harmonic output circuit 52 that generates the fourth harmonic of the output signal of the oscillation circuit 51 and a resonance circuit 53. It controls both the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit 53 of the local oscillation output circuit section 5 and the frequency characteristic of the input circuit 3 by means of the control voltage output from the PLL circuit section 6 so as to boost the higher harmonic of an order that corresponds to desired broadcasting channel frequency and attenuate higher harmonics of all other orders that appear in other frequency bands that overlap the broadcasting channel frequency in the input circuit 3.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high frequency signal receiver to be typically installed in a tuner of a television receiving set.
This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2003-173822 filed on Jun. 18, 2003 and 2004-146917 filed on May 17, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Related Background Art
As a radio wave for digital broadcasting using a broadcasting satellite (to be referred to as BS hereinafter) or a communications satellite (to be referred to as CS hereinafter) is received by a parabolic antenna, it is converted into a high frequency signal (RF signal) of 1 to 2 GHz and then the signal is sent to the high frequency signal receiver of a so-called set top box or tuner having a functional feature of receiving satellite broadcasting. The high frequency signal receiver is provided with a frequency converter for down-converting the RF signal input from the antenna into a signal with a predetermined frequency by mixing it with a locally oscillated signal coming from a local oscillation circuit.
With the trend of producing high density integrated circuits (to be referred to as IC hereinafter) in recent years, ICs that are used as frequency converters are often made to integrally comprise a frequency conversion circuit and a PLL circuit. Particularly, so-called direct conversion type ICs have been developed for frequency converters to be used for tuners for BS and CS broadcasting because they are adapted to directly down-covert the RF signal input to it by way of an antenna into a base band signal without requiring converting it into an intermediate frequency signal (IF signal).
For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-190750) describes a direct conversion type frequency converter adapted to be installed in a tuner in a television receiving set.
Meanwhile, when a frequency converter is prepared by using a direct conversion type IC, the frequency of the signal output from a local oscillation output circuit is between 1 and 2 GHz, which is same as the frequency of the RF signal of the desired and selected channel coming from the antenna. An oscillator that directly oscillates such a high frequency wave of 1 to 2 GHz requires the use of costly parts and additionally can be influenced by distributed capacities and inductors so that it is difficult to regulate it and make it operate stably. For this reason, it has been conceived to use an source oscillator that oscillates approximately at a frequency in the so-called VHF or UHF frequency band and taking out a higher harmonic, e.g., fourth harmonic, of the oscillation output of the source oscillator and using it as locally oscillated output signal.
When a higher harmonic, e.g., fourth harmonic, is used for a locally oscillated output signal and if higher harmonics other than the fourth harmonic required for direct conversion are also input to a mixer circuit and the RF signal from the antenna contains a broadcast signal of the channel that corresponds to any of the unnecessary higher harmonics, the broadcast signal is also converted into a base band signal by frequency conversion.


A new way of citing pages in an alphabetically indexed printed reference material such as dictionaries and thesauruses. It implement a structured method for locating items in those materials and reduces the number of tasks and the frustration involved. This new way involve dividing the reference material into sections. Each section is divided into sub-sections (group of pages). Each page will have two header items (words) indexing range of the items (words) located in the page. The pages in the sub-section is sited so that the header items of each page is just above the header items of the previous page. Locating a word in done through two or three steps. First locating the section, then locating the sub-section (whenever applicable), and finally locating the page. This is done by browsing the header items (words) on each page.

The current method commonly used to layout alphabetically indexed printed references such as dictionaries and thesauruses requires certain steps for a user to look-up an item of interest. This method can become frustrating and time consuming. The invention attacks this problem and simplifies the way the item will be located. This is done by changing the method the pages are sited in those printed references.


A semiconductor device includes a plurality of transistors formed over a substrate, a support body including a horizontal portion and protrusions, wherein the horizontal portion covers at least one of the transistors, and the protrusions are formed over the horizontal portion and located between the transistors, and conductive layers and insulating layers alternately stacked over the support body and protruding upwardly along the sidewalls of the protrusions.

1. Field of Invention
Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic device and, more particularly, to a three-dimensionally stacked memory device having memory cells and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A non-volatile memory retains data stored therein even when not powered. Two-dimensional memory devices in which memory cells are fabricated in a single layer over a silicon substrate have reached physical limits in increasing their degree of integration. Accordingly, three-dimensional (3D) non-volatile memory devices in which memory cells are stacked in a vertical direction over a silicon substrate have been proposed.
In a three-dimensional non-volatile memory device, a plurality of word lines may be stacked. Therefore, in order to select a desired word line, among the stacked word lines staked, pad portions are defined in the respective word lines, and contact plugs are coupled to the respective pad portions. Conventionally, pad portions may be defined by patterning the stacked word lines into a stepped structure. However, it is difficult to pattern the word lines into the stepped structure, because of the contact region having a wide area. Therefore, an increase in the degree of integration of a memory device may be difficult.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A flexible display device includes a protection film and a display panel, and the protection film includes a carrier film and an adhesive layer on the carrier film and including a plurality of adhesive dots separated from each other.

1. Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to a display device and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current popular display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a field effect display (FED), and an electrophoretic display (EPD).
The organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a plurality of OLEDs each including a hole injection electrode, an organic emission layer, and an electron injection electrode, and each OLED emits light due to energy generated when excitons, generated by electrons and holes are combined, drop from an excited state to a ground state, and the OLED display displays an image by using the light.
Because the OLED display has a self-luminance characteristic and a separate light source is not required, unlike a liquid crystal display, thickness and weight thereof may be reduced as compared to the liquid crystal display. Further, because the organic light emitting diode display exhibits high quality characteristics such as low power consumption, high luminance, and rapid response speed, the organic light emitting diode display is receiving attention as a next generation display device.
When the liquid crystal display or the organic light emitting display is used as a display device of, for example, a television, the size of a screen thereof may be relatively large. When the size of the liquid crystal display or the organic light emitting display is relatively large, a difference in the visual field increases according to whether a viewer views a center portion of the screen or views left and right sides of the screen.
To compensate for such difference in the visual field, it is possible to form a display device in a curved shape by bending the display device to have in a concave shape or a convex shape. The display device may be provided in a portrait format having greater vertical length than horizontal length and be bent along a vertical direction based on the viewer, or may be provided in a landscape format having less vertical length than horizontal length and be bent along a horizontal direction based on the viewer.
However, when forming the display device in a curved shape by bending the display device, a curvature radius of a protection film is limited such that there is a limit to the curvature radius desired by a user or a manufacturing company.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


An example method includes initializing a configuration file for a machine learning model, wherein the initializing is performed in response to receiving a request from a user, and wherein the configuration file comprises a plurality of sections that is configurable by the user, configuring at least one parameter of a feature engineering rules section of the configuration file, wherein the configuring the at least one parameter of the feature engineering rules section is based on a first value provided by the user, configuring at least one parameter of an algorithm definitions section of the configuration file, wherein the configuring the at least one parameter of the algorithm definitions section is based on a second value provided by the user, and populating the configuration file using the feature engineering rules section as configured and the algorithm definitions section as configured, to generate the machine learning model.

Machine learning is a subcategory of artificial intelligence that uses statistical models, executed on computers, to perform specific tasks. Rather than provide the computers with explicit instructions, the statistical models are used by the computers to learn patterns and predict the correct tasks to perform. The statistical models may be trained using a set of sample or training data (which may be labeled or unlabeled), which helps the computers to learn the patterns. At run time, new data is processed based on the learned patterns to predict the correct tasks from the new data. Machine learning therefore may be used to automate tasks in a wide variety of applications, including virtual personal assistants, email filtering, computer vision, customer support, fraud detection, and other applications.


A low fringing film coating includes a transparent polymeric layer having a surface, and a plurality of projections extending away from the surface. The projections have a mean height of 0.05 to 1 μm and a mean distance between projections of 0.5 to 2 mm. The coating can be produced by coating a polymeric composition onto a substrate. The polymeric composition includes a polymeric material, a good solvent for the polymeric material and a poor solvent or the polymeric material. The solvents are at least partially evaporated to form a low fringing transparent polymeric layer.

This disclosure relates to optical film coatings. Specifically, this disclosure relates to optical film coatings that reduce interference colors known as Newton rings.
Optical displays typically have an exposed viewing surface made from a thermoplastic film or substrate. Commonly employed thermoplastic polymers have very good optical transparency, dimensional stability and impact resistance, but unfortunately have poor abrasion resistance. The optical displays of devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, touch-sensitive screens and removable computer filters are subjected to frequent handling and contact with the user's face or fingers, styli, jewelry and other objects. For example, facial oils can adversely affect contrast, color saturation or brightness of a cell phone display. The screens of projection televisions and laptop computers are handled less frequently but nonetheless are susceptible to being touched, scratched or smudged. Consequently, the viewing face of the display is susceptible to scratches, abrasion and smudges arising during routine use. This can cause the display to lose resolution and clarity, and sometimes to become unreadable or inoperative. To protect such displays, protective films or coatings can be employed.
Hard coats have been used to protect the face of optical displays. These hard coats typically contain inorganic oxide particles, e.g., silica, of nanometer dimensions dispersed in a binder precursor resin matrix, and sometimes are referred to as "ceramers". These hard coats can have a thickness in a range of 1 to 15 μm. Current hard coat films produce optical interference fringes attributable at least in part to non-uniform thickness of the hard coat layer.
When light enters a hard coated display, the reflectivity of the light undergoes a period change according to the wavelength of the incident light. The reflection spectrum with the aforementioned specific repeating period is referred to as an interference fringe. Attempts have been made to reduce or eliminate these interference fringes. The amplitude of the fringe may depend on the difference in the index of refraction between the substrate and the hard coat layer. The greater the difference in the index of refraction between the substrate and the hard coat layer, the greater the amplitude and contrast of the interference pattern.
In the past, in order to eliminate the aforementioned interference pattern, several methods described below have been used. The first method is to increase the hard coat film thickness significantly. When a thick hard coat layer is used, the frequency of the fringes becomes smaller and the color change becomes insignificant even when the thickness of the hardcoat layer varies from area to area. However, a thick hard coat presents new problems. First, in order to cover the interference pattern, it is necessary to coat a hard coat layer a thickness of at least 20 μm to 30 μm. As a consequence, shrinkage of the hard coat layer at the time of curing is increased significantly and coating is difficult and the cost is increased significantly. Furthermore, cracks are likely to form in the hard coat layer as well.
A second method is to match the index of refraction of the substrate with the index of refraction of the hard coat layer. For example, in general, the index of refraction of the hard coat layer is in the range of approximately 1.49 to 1.55; thus, when a TAC film with an index of refraction of 1.49 is used for the substrate, the amplitude of the fringes becomes very low since the index of refraction of the substrate and that of the hard coat layer are essentially the same and contrast of the interference pattern is reduced. However, in comparison to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, the cost of TAC film is considerably higher, and furthermore the film itself is soft and rupturing occurs easily. Because of the soft material used for the substrate itself, craters are likely to form at the time of coating and surface flaws are likely to occur. In addition, the TAC film underneath the hard coat layer is soft, thus, the pencil hardness is reduced even with the hard coat layer.
A third method is to match the index of refraction of the hard coat layer with the index of refraction of the substrate, since the substrate may be limited by the particular application. For example, an appropriate amount of one or more metal oxide super-fine particles with high index of refraction selected from the group consisting of ZnO, TiO2, CeO2, Sb2O5, ITO, In2O3, Y2O3, La2O3, Al2O3, HfO2 and ZrO2 are mixed with a binder made of a thermosetting resin and/or an ionizing radiation curable type resin to form a hard coat layer, and the index of refraction of the aforementioned hard coat layer is brought closer to the index of refraction of the PET film (in general, approximately 1.65). However, this technique may cause many problems. First, in general, the metal oxide super-fine particles are materials with color and when the hard coat layer is coated with a film thickness of at least 3 μm to satisfy the performance of the hard coat, in many cases, the coating is colored. When toning is done to eliminate the color (to achieve specific transmittance at each wavelength) overall transmittance is reduced. Furthermore, when super-fine particles other than silica are included, hardness is reduced in comparison to the case where a hard coat layer alone is used. When the index of refraction of the hard coat layer of the outermost layer is increased, reflectivity is increased. As a result, the transmittance required for transparent optical material cannot be achieved.
As described above, the greater the difference in the index of refraction between the substrate and hard coat layer, the greater the amplitude and contrast of the interference pattern. When the contrast of the aforementioned interference pattern is high, the viewer can experience significant discomfort.


A seam jump connector provides connectivity over an irregular area, such as seam, in a textile. The textile is part of a textile base structure that includes one or more electrically conductive interconnects formed either directly on the textile or on intermediate substrates that are attached to the textile. The intermediate substrates can be TPU sheets having conductive interconnects printed on a surface. The conductive interconnects of the textile base structure are discontinuous at an irregular area on the textile, and the seam jump connector includes a flexible and/or stretchable substrate with conductive interconnects. The seam jump connector is aligned with and stacked onto the conductive interconnects so as to provide electrical connectivity across the irregular area. The seam jump connectors can be configured to be permanently or removably attached to the textile base structure.

Electronic devices are increasingly being developed that are able to bend, flex and twist, such as in wearable electronics. These mechanical requirements present reliability challenges on mechanical components, circuit boards and interconnects, as well as electronic components. In order to limit the stress and strain to these components while still maintaining flexibility, mechanical provisions must be put in place.
Flexible printed circuits (FPC) provide circuit board structures that are less rigid than earlier generation printed circuit boards, and enable varying degrees of flexing, bending and twisting. Flexible interconnects between conductive wires and FPCs are needed for applications where durability and flexibility are a concern.
Electronics, especially flexible electronics, are being incorporated with textiles to form electronic textiles having various electronic textile architectures designed to support and enhance electronic systems. Exemplary types of electronics incorporated into electronic textiles include, but are not limited to, sensors, actuators, smart materials, and flexible electronics such as FPCs, as well as the electrically conductive interconnects that interconnect the electronics to each other and/or interconnect the electronics to external connectivity points for off-textile interconnection. In many applications, the textile is formed by attaching multiple smaller textiles together, such as multiple different fabric pieces sewn together to form a garment. The interface between joined textile pieces forms a seam in the surface of the textile. Other types of irregularities on the textile surface may also be formed other than by joining together two separate textile pieces, such as an irregularity formed at a point where a textile is sewn to an underlying substrate. Providing interconnection across a seam or other type of irregularity in the textile is often problematic.

Electronic conductive interconnection for bridging across irregular areas in a textile product


A conveyor feeding system for reliably and continuously supplying particulate matter as feedstock, such as rubber tire chips, to a reactor or distillation unit. The feeding system includes a pair of inclined spiral augers having their lower ends submerged in oil or other liquid to provide a liquid seal, thereby preventing undesirable back flow of distillation gases through the feeding system. The push auger acts to push lightweight feedstock downward, submerging it through the liquid seal. The material thereafter is taken up by the partially submerged feed auger, for withdrawal up out of the liquid seal for delivery to further processing, such as a pyrolytic reactor. Buoyant material, which otherwise might float upon the liquid of the seal reservoir, accordingly may be effectively processed through the system. An inlet valve, through which feedstock is introduced into the push auger, can be opened and closed in coordination with the rotation of the push auger, so that material is fed smoothly into the liquid seal reservoir. The inlet valve also may be of a type which prevents back-flow of gas from the push auger to material inlet valve.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding bulk carbonaceous material, such as chips of used automobile tires, to a destructive distillation unit while sealing against exchange of ambient air and distillation gases through the feeding system. More especially, the present invention relates to a feeding apparatus which permits the feeding of comparatively low-density feedstock material through the liquid seal.
2. Background Art
One of the inherent problems in the art of destructive distillation of carbonaceous solids, such as bulk chips of automobile tires, is to accomplish effective feeding or charging of the distillation unit. The problem is compounded when one attempts to feed bulk solid materials to a continuously operating still while maintaining a seal between the atmosphere and the still such that flammable gases from the destructive distillation process do not mix with oxygen-containing gases, such as atmospheric air, which results in damaging explosions and fires in the still and feeding system.
The present disclosure is related to the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,043 to Finley et al. The '043 patent was co-invented by the present Applicant, and solved many of the afore-mentioned problems associated with supplying feedstock into a distillation system while reliably isolating the pyrolytic chamber from the ambient atmosphere.
A significant potential drawback to the device of the '043 patent, however, is its inability to reliably feed low-density material into the distillation system. The device of the '043 patent to Finley et al. employs a liquid seal to isolate the pyrolysis chamber. The '043 device relies nearly exclusively on gravitational forces to move the feedstock through the liquid seal. Thus, only feedstock having a density exceeding the bulk density of the liquid in the seal reliably sinks through the seal to then be mechanically conveyed toward the pyrolytic camber(s). This circumstance may pose difficulty when the liquid is heavy (e.g. oil) and the feedstock is comparatively lightweight waste (such as chipped computer circuit boards, for example).
Also, it has been determined that the device of the '043 patent may not adequately regulate the introduction of feedstock, resulting in the binding of the auger and other problems. The use of a simple continuous feeding mechanism, such as the horizontal screw conveyor of the '043 patent, permits irregular, marginally controlled, "lump" insertion of feedstock. It is desirable better to coordinate the timing of the feed with the operation of the feed auger that moves the stock through the liquid seal.
The present invention marks a significant improvement to the system seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,043 to Finley et al. According to the present disclosure, feedstock materials can be reliably and safely fed through the liquid seal of the apparatus, regardless of their density.

Liquid seal bulk feeder for destructive distillation of lightweight materials


A thermal printer and a printing method are provided. The thermal printer includes a thermal printhead for applying a predetermined amount of heat to a thermal recording paper to develop a print layer provided on the thermal recording paper; a feeding roller for feeding the thermal recording paper, a platen roller for facing the thermal printhead to support the thermal recording paper, wherein the thermal recording paper passes between the thermal printhead and the platen roller, a first encoder sensor for detecting a rotation of the platen roller, a second encoder sensor for detecting rotation of the feeding roller; a counting unit for counting first and second pulse signals generated from the first and second encoder sensors, respectively, and a switching unit of the first and second pulse signals as a variable to control the feeding of the thermal recording paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal printer and printing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a thermal printer and printing method capable of printing a thermal recording paper with compensation of slip thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Thermal printers use a special type of paper, (hereinafter, referred to as "thermal recording paper") which reacts to the application of heat to display a predetermined color, and ink ribbons, which react to the application of heat to transfer a predetermined color to a regular sheet of paper to print thereon. In the case where ink ribbons are used, a driving device is required, so that the construction of the printer is more complicated and the cost is higher. In addition, the ink ribbons need to be replaced regularly. Thus, a printing cost per sheet of paper is high.
Referring to FIG. 1, a thermal recording paper 10 includes a base sheet 11, and predetermined colors of ink layers provided at both surfaces, such as the first and second surfaces 10a and 10b of the base sheet 11. The ink layers are typically layers of different colors. For example, yellow Y and magenta M layers are provided on the first surface 10a one after another, while a cyan C layer is provided on the second surface 10b. Preferably, the base sheet 11 is a transparent material. Reference number 13 indicates a transparent layer or a reflective layer. An example of the thermal recording paper 10 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,233.
In a conventional thermal printer that uses the thermal recording paper 10, a thermal printhead (TPH), which is used to generate the image on the thermal recording paper 10, has thermal transfer elements that are arranged at a predetermined resolution in a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the thermal recording paper.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a conventional thermal printer.
The thermal printer includes a feed roller 2 for feeding the thermal recording paper 10, a platen 3 for supporting one surface of the thermal recording paper 10, and a TPH 4 for forming an image over the thermal recording paper 10 supported by the platen 3. An idle roller 5 causes the thermal recording paper 10 to pass between the idle roller 5 and the feeding roller 2 to be closely adhered to the feeding roller 2.
Further, in the thermal printer, a paper fed by a thermal or mechanical load may slip. In particular, the amount of slip may be different for each side or surface of the thermal recording paper, so that image misalignment between each surface may occur, which will degrade image quality.


A game kit includes a set of cards placeable on a magnetically attracting playing surface and a set of point markers. The game is expandable and can include multiple players. The players randomly select a playing surface and decide the order of playing the game. The game has a set of restrictions that guides the progress of the game. The game concludes when one player runs out point markers, there are no more cards to pick, or no more playing surface available.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of game playing among people. Two factors help the comeback of game playing—the preference of consumers to get entertainment in less expensive ways, and the desire of people to spend more time with family and friends. For example, parents like to have time together with children. Besides or instead of taking a long expensive trip to a remote place, parents are more likely to play games together with their children now and then. Games are thus a family affair. Board games, such as card games, have the appeal of great entertainment for a small price. They also have the element of human interaction that enables family and friends to mingle.
According to research data, the most popular board games are card games. As shown in FIG. 1A, a conventional card game 104 usually consists of cards that are marked with figures, numbers, or symbols. The corresponding game playing usually is about coordinating these figures, numbers, or symbols to reach a winning outcome. Image creation generally is not part of a card game. As a result, the game playing process generally does not involve artistic creation of images.
Puzzles 106 enjoy wide popularity as well. See FIG. 1B. Word puzzles are common scenes in newspapers and magazines. Jigsaw puzzles and 3-D puzzles mostly are about image making and shape formation. However, both the jigsaw puzzles and the 3-D puzzles usually focus on putting pieces together to recreate predetermined images and shapes. NO emphasis has been placed on the dynamic creation of random, artistic images. The processes are generally mechanical, hence weak on creativity and strategy as well.
Further, both the conventional card games 104 and puzzles 106 are generally restrictive. They put limits on where the games can be played and how many people may participate. In physical form, cards and puzzle pieces are generally made of paper, cardboard, or plastics. These materials cannot sustain good game play in adverse outdoor conditions that may include rain and wind. Hence, players usually need to move themselves indoors if they want to continue the game in inclement weather. Further, the playing surfaces generally have to be flat and horizontal.
Even more, both the conventional card games 104 and the puzzles 106 tend to separate the game playing experience from a player's immediate environment. For example, conventional card games or puzzles may require playing surfaces that have a certain size. Further, both the conventional card games and the conventional puzzles tend to predetermine the numbers of players per game. These restrictions put limits on how the consumers may entertain and socialize by playing a game.
Thus, there exists a need for a card game that avoid or reduce the problems discussed above.


Disclosed are an in home display apparatus and methodology for displaying utility consumption and other related information to a consumer. The display device monitors transmissions from a utility consumption endpoint on a meter for user readable display. Messages relevant to the consumer may be sent to the endpoint to be relayed along with bubbled-up data from the endpoint on the meter to the in home display device. Flags related to certain of the messages may be set by the endpoint and cleared by the in home display device as a mechanism for acknowledging receipt of messages. Network readers see that set flags have been cleared and thus confirm message delivery to the network.

In general, wireless automatic meter reading systems are known. Frequently, each utility meter is provided with a battery-powered encoder that collects meter readings and periodically transmits such readings over a wireless network such as to a central station. The power limitations imposed by the need for the encoder to be battery powered and by regulations governing radio transmissions effectively prevent direct radio transmissions to the central station. Instead, wireless meter reading systems typically utilize a layered network of overlapping intermediate receiving stations that receive transmissions from a group of meter encoders and forward those messages on to the next higher layer in the network as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,107. Such types of layered wireless transmission networks allow for the use of lower power, unlicensed wireless transmitters in the many thousands of endpoint encoder transmitters that may be deployed as part of a utility meter reading system for a large metropolitan area.
A challenge faced both by utilities and consumers in attempting to reduce energy consumption (gas and/or electric) as well as water consumption, is the lack of access to real-time data on the part of the actual consumer of the amount of actual energy still being used once the consumer has attempted to conserve energy or preserve (i.e., limit) water consumption. For instance, it would be of value to the consumer to know the immediate economic impact of reduced water or energy consumption (gas and/or electric) once a thermostat is turned down in the winter for a few hours, or once the lights are turned off in the basement when not in use, or to know the specific impact on water conservation by foregoing watering one's lawn for one day.
The provision of In Home Displays (IHD) is becoming more common place in the effort to conserve energy. IHD's typically receive energy usage information via the Internet and display the information so that an end user may see how much electricity, gas, or water they are using. In some cases, the IHD will receive rate information via the internet and usage information directly from the endpoint attached to the meter. Such an approach works adequately for most purposes if the customer has access to the Internet. Other systems eventually provide consumption and other information back to the consumer, but not on command by the consumer and/or not in real-time.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system for collecting and displaying data from metering units located close to the point of use or consumption. An approach that addresses the aforementioned problems, as well as other related problems, is therefore desirable.
The complete disclosures of the herein referenced patent related publication documents are fully incorporated herein for all purposes.
While various implementations of utility metering display systems have been developed, no design has emerged that generally encompasses all of the desired characteristics as hereafter presented in accordance with the subject technology.

Home display updatable via utility endpoint


The invention relates to a can end for a can, such as an easy opening can, comprising: a central panel; a can end radius for connection to a body of the can; and a countersink connected via a transition wall to the can end radius and via a panel wall to the panel; wherein a panel wall angle is 2°-45°; a panel radius is larger than 0.5 mm; a panel depth is 1 mm-7 mm; and a countersink radius is less than 5 mm; and to cans provided with at least one such a can end.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a can end for a can, such as an easy opening can, and to such a can provided with at least one such a can end.
Such cans are intended for use as a beverage can and as a food can.
2) Description of Related Art
Generally, beverage cans are thin walled (0.04-0.15 mm). Such a beverage can obtains its strength (after filling and closure) by an internally build up pressure. To that extent the can is filled and provided with gas generating material. After closure, gas formation results in the internal build up of pressure.
Generally, food cans are provided with food which may have to be subjected to a pasteurization or sterilization procedure. Accordingly, pressure build up may be temporary during such procedure. However, due to undesired circumstances bacterial growth might result in internal pressure build up after the food can was filled and closed.
In relation to both food cans and beverage cans improper processing filling and handling of such cans may result in temporary or continuous pressure build up which may result in a deformation of in particular the can closure at the top end and/or the bottom end. Accordingly, overfilling the can with the content material, too high processing temperatures, unsatisfactory cooling operations, insufficient vacuum drawing in the can, pre-process spoilage of content, gas formation due to an undesired reaction between can metal and the content resulting in gas formation such as hydrogen gas, and incorrect handling resulting in impacting on the can may result in continuous or temporary pressure build up. These pressure build ups may result in a deformation of the can ends to an extent dependent on the pressure build up.
One form of localized distortion of the can end is buckling or pleating resulting in a local distortion which could extent into the counter sink and seaming region. The bulked portion may even locally extent beyond the perimeter of the can. Higher pressure build up may result in bulging or even the formation of a so called springer. Such bulges may be forced back into the normal can end position. A hard blow will result in a severe and permanent outbulging of one or both ends of the can.
In this respect it is noted that can ends may be designed such that due to pressure build up the concave can end flips out into a convex form (see for instance EP 0 906 222).


A digital media drive failure prediction system comprises a prediction module configured to analyze a current draw associated with a digital media drive measured at least two different operating times of the digital media drive to automatically determine whether a different between the measured current draws indicates an impending failure of the digital media drive.

The sudden failure of a digital media drive (DMD), such as a hard disk drive (HDD), presents a significant inconvenience. For example, sudden power interruptions, contaminants, over-heating, spindle motor failure, etc., can cause failure of the DMD, resulting in an unexpected loss of data, corruption of data and/or inoperability of the DMD.

Digital media drive failure prediction system and method

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present disclosure provides a method performed at UE, including: receiving system information from a base station, the system information including indication information for indicating that or whether the base station supports an extended DPR; and determining, according to capability information for indicating that the UE supports an extended DPR and the received indication information for indicating that the base station supports an extended DPR, to transmit an extended DPR to the base station in Message 3. The present disclosure further provides a method performed at UE for reporting a capability as to that or whether an extended DPR is supported, a method performed at a base station for receiving an extended DPR, a method performed at a base station for requesting UE to report a capability as to that or whether an extended DPR is supported, corresponding UE and base stations, and a computer-readable medium.

A new work project on further narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) enhancements (see RP-170852: New WID on Further NB-IoT enhancements) was approved at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) RAN #75 plenary meeting held in March 2017. One of the objectives of the research project is to enhance user feedback, for example, to improve the feedback precision and the feedback value range of uplink power headroom of a user in new NB-IoT scenarios.
In view of the aforementioned needs and research objectives, the present disclosure focuses on and solves the problem of how to enhance power headroom feedback of a user in Release 15 and subsequent releases.

Method related to power headroom report of user, user equipment, base station, and computer-readable medium


Clock capturing synchronization circuitry first generates a synchronized clock signal from a reference clock signal, then captures the synchronized clock signal, and continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the reference clock signal is removed. The clock capturing synchronization circuitry also reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.

This invention relates to the "capture" of a synchronized clock signal in clock synchronization circuitry. More particularly, this invention relates to clock synchronization circuitry that temporarily provides a synchronized clock output signal without a reference clock input signal. This invention also relates to clock synchronization circuitry that provides a synchronized clock output signal with little or no jitter caused by the reference clock input signal.
Clock synchronization circuitry is used to generate a synchronized clock signal based on a reference clock signal. The synchronized clock signal is ideally in phase with the reference clock signal. One type of clock synchronization circuit is a delay-locked loop (DLL). A DLL uses a variable delay circuit to add phase delay to the input reference clock signal before it is output from the DLL. The DLL uses a phase detector to measure the phase difference between the output of the DLL and the reference clock and to adjust the variable delay to minimize the phase difference.
Another type of clock synchronization circuit is a synchronous mirror delay (SMD). The SMD uses a matched pair of delay arrays, a forward delay array and a backward delay array, to output a delayed clock signal synchronized to the input reference clock signal. The reference clock signal is input into the forward delay array. After a set number of clock cycles, a mirror control circuit is triggered to transfer the clock signal from the forward delay array to the same delay stage of the backward delay array. The clock signal spends the same amount of time in the backward delay array as it does in the forward delay array before being output by the SMD. The total delay through both delay arrays synchronizes the output clock signal to the reference clock signal.
Yet another type of clock synchronization circuit is a measure-controlled delay (MCD). In an MCD, the input reference clock signal is provided to two delay arrays, a measure delay array and a forward delay array. After a set number of clock cycles, a measure circuit is triggered to (1) measure the progress of the clock signal propagating through the measure delay array and (2) output the clock signal from the forward delay array at the same delay point as measured in the measure delay array.
In high speed memory devices, these types of clock synchronization circuits may be used to control the precise timing of memory access. Each of these circuits requires an input reference signal in order to generate the synchronized clock signal. During a power-down state, turning off as much circuitry as possible reduces power consumption. However, the reference signal, its associated clock distribution circuitry, and the clock synchronization circuitry are not typically turned off during a power-down state. This is so because many clock cycles are needed to output a valid synchronized clock signal after exiting a power-down state, and high speed memory devices require the presence of synchronized clock signals immediately upon exiting the power-down state.
In view of the forgoing, it would be desirable to be able to provide clock synchronization circuitry that continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the input reference clock signal is removed. Thus, for example, during a power-down state, the reference clock signal distribution circuitry may be powered-down.
The output of synchronization circuitry may also be susceptible to the jitter of the input signal. Jitter is short-term random variations in the timing of a periodic signal. In a clocked system, these random variations in the timing of a clock signal may cause timing errors.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to be able to provide clock synchronization circuitry that reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Clock capture in clock synchronization circuitry


A sound system is disclosed which, in common with earlier phase-amplitude multichannel "matrix" encode-decode systems, conveys or stores audio programs having multidirectional sound-source localization in a pair of audio-bandwidth channels, whether analog or digital. In the present invention, representation of a vertical, height dimension is added by mapping the "phase-amplitude sphere" representing signal separation onto a spatial hemisphere and by introducing to the parameters of phase difference and amplitude ratio a third parameter, decorrelation. Non-complementary matrices are used for encoding and decoding to provide improved separation between decoded signals. A radius-scaling function facilitates encoding of sound source locations outside, as well as within, the boundaries of the audience space defined by the peripheral and overhead loudspeaker locations.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art mathematical model for channel separation in "matrix" multichannel encode-decode systems as first described by the present inventor in "Analyzing Phase-Amplitude Matrices", Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 19, No. 10, p. 835 (November 1971). This model is referred to as "Scheiber's Sphere" in "The Subjective Performance of Various Quadraphonic Matrix Systems", Report RD 1974/29 (1974, British Broadcasting Corporation, Research Department). In this model, two times the arc tangent of the amplitude ratio with which a signal is applied to/recovered from a pair of transmission or storage channels (respective "A" and "B" or "L.sub.T " and "R.sub.T ") determines the apparent angular position, .alpha., of a sound source in a horizontal "amplitude plane." The phase difference with which the signal is applied to/recovered from the pair of channels comprises the apparent angular position, .beta., of the sound source in a vertical "phase plane." Decoded separation between encoded/decoded signals, or "channel separation," is a function of spherical angular separation between the spherical .alpha.,.beta. coordinates of decoding and those of encoding, becoming infinite for any encode/decode pair of signals having 180.degree. spherical angular separation (decoding coordinates diametrically opposed to encoding coordinates). The above-referenced article "Analyzing Phase-Amplitude Matrices" sets forth this theory more fully, and is incorporated herein by reference.