The deodorized, polyether-modified polysiloxane composition not producing a substance giving off a foul odor, while being produced or stored, which results from hydrolysis, oxidation or the like of a by-product or unreacted material and temporarily stable, a method for producing the same, and a cosmetic containing the same, wherein a polyether-modified polysiloxane composition, synthesized by hydrosilylation in which a polyoxyalkylene having the carbon-carbon double bond at the terminal is reacted with an organohydrogen polysiloxane, is refined by treatment in the presence of a solid acid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deodorized, polyether-modified polysiloxane composition, method for producing the same and cosmetic containing the same, more particularly a deodorized, polyether-modified polysiloxane composition not producing a substance giving off a foul odor, while being produced or stored, which results from hydrolysis, oxidation or the like of a by-product or unreacted material and temporarily stable, and method for producing the same and cosmetic containing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A polyether-modified polysiloxane is traditionally synthesized by hydrosilylation in which a polysiloxane having hydrosilyl group is reacted with a polyoxyalkylene having an unsaturated bond.
The polyether-modified polysiloxane, however, involves a disadvantage of giving off a foul odor with the lapse of time, making itself difficult to be used for cosmetics, e.g., those for the hair or skin.
This disadvantage was considered to result from deterioration of the polyether-modified polysiloxane by oxidation which occurs with the lapse of time to form aldehyde. However, another cause is reported. For example, JP-A-2-302438 discusses that a foul odor results from an unreacted, propenyl-etherified polyoxyalkylene (refer to the claims or the like). More specifically, part of an allyl-etherified polyoxyalkylene is transformed into a propenyl-etherified polyoxyalkylene because of its double bond migrating inwards in the presence of a platinum catalyst while the polysiloxane composition modified with a polyether is being produced. As a result, it remains unreacted with an organohydrogen polysiloxane to be left in the polysiloxane composition modified with a polyether, and is decomposed with the lapse of time into a ketone or aldehyde to give off a foul odor. The patent document also discloses that the composition can be effectively deodorized by hydrolysis in the presence of an acid. This deodorizing approach will be effective for removal of the unsaturated group, when the allyl group in the residual polyoxyalkylene is totally transformed into propenyl group. In actuality, however, the allyl-etherified polyoxyalkylene undergoing no rearrangement remains to some extent to reduce the deodorizing effect, because the isomerization in the presence of a platinum catalyst reaches an equilibrium. In other words, the approach disclosed by the above patent document involves a problem of insufficient acid strength for hydrolysis of an allyl-etherified polyoxyalkylene.
Hydrolysis of an allyl-etherified polyoxyalkylene in the presence of a stronger acid is not adequate, because of the possible scission of the carbon-oxygen bond in the polyoxyalkylene or silicon-oxygen bond in the polysiloxane.
Moreover, the hydrolysis needs excessive quantities of water and acid in order to proceed quantitatively, which introduce greater complexity into the post-treatment. Therefore, the above deodorization approach is not ideal. Still more, the foul odor results not only from the carbon-carbon double bond but also from unstable oxides or the like difficult to identify. This is another problem involved in the above approach.
In consideration of the disadvantages involved in the deodorization based on the hydrolysis in the presence of an acid, varied solutions have been proposed to control formation of odorous substances by hydrolysis, oxidation or the like of polyether-modified polysiloxane. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,509 discloses a method for deodorizing a polyoxyalkylene polysiloxane by hydrogenation under the conditions of temperature: 20 to 200° C., pressure: 1 to 100 bars and reaction time: 0.5 to 10 hours in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst (refer to the claims or the like). JP-A-7-330907, 9-165315 and 9-165318 disclose that a polyether-modified polysiloxane composition, synthesized by hydrosilylation in which a polyoxyalkylene having the carbon-carbon double bond at the terminal is reacted with an organohydrogen polysiloxane, can be temporarily stable without giving off a foul odor, when hydrogenated (refer to the claims or the like).
However, the composition treated only by hydrogenation may still contain an aldehyde condensate, e.g., acetal, which can be transformed into the aldehyde in an aqueous solution to cause foul odor. This is because hydrogenation alone cannot sufficiently treat an aldehyde condensate, which lacks an unsaturated bond, to remove odorous substances.
In consideration of the above problems, WO-02/055588, for example, proposes a deodorized, modified silicone compound having a degree of unsaturation and aldehyde formed each controlled at a specific level or less, and cosmetic containing the same, where the modified silicone compound is refined by (A) hydrogenation of the residual unsaturated bond and subsequent decomposition of an aldehyde condensate in an acid-containing, aqueous solution kept at a pH of 7 or less, or (B) decomposition of a propenyl-etherified product in an acid-containing, aqueous solution kept at a pH of 7 or less and subsequent hydrogenation of the aldehyde formed and residual unsaturated bond (refer to claims or the like).
The above proposal, however, needs treatment in an acid-containing, aqueous solution kept at a pH of 7 or less as the essential step. Therefore, the acidic substance in the aqueous solution is dissolved and hence remains in the system. As a result, the acid treatment should be generally followed by a neutralization step, and the salt formed by the neutralization also partly remains in the system. Thus, the above proposal involves the problems that the acid substance and salt by the neutralization remain in the system. In particular, a polyether-modified polysiloxane is more hydrophilic than a dimethyl polysiloxane, and allows the acidic substance and salt by neutralization to remain in the system to a higher content. These residual substances cause another problem of retarding the hydrogenation step, when it follows the neutralization step.
Moreover, a polyether-modified polysiloxane containing trace quantities of the acidic substance and salt by neutralization also involves a problem of causing a foul smell of the system with the lapse of time, when it comprises water and a polyhydric alcohol, conceivably resulting from, e.g., the residual substances themselves or a decomposition product thereof, or a decomposition product of the polyether-modified polysiloxane.

Deodorized polyether-modified polysiloxane composition, method for producing the same, and cosmetic containing the same


This invention is related to compounds and use of N-Acyl-N′-benzyl-alkylendiamino derivatives of the following general formula (I), wherein A is a straight or branched C2-C8 alkyl chain; X is a methylene, oxygen, sulphur or a NR7 group; R1 is a straight or branched C1-C8 alkyl or C3-C8 alkenylene or C3-C8 alkynylene chain, optionally substituted with CF3, phenyl, phenoxy or naphthyl, the aromatic rings optionally substituted by one or more C1-C4 alkyl, halogens, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy or C1-C4 alkoxy groups; R2, R3 are independently hydrogen, a C1-C3 alkyl chain, halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy or C1-C4 alkoxy groups; R4, R5 are independently hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; R6 is a hydrogen or a straight or branched C1-C8 alkyl or linked to R5 can form a five to seven membered lactam; R7 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are active as sodium and/or calcium channel modulators and therefore useful in preventing, alleviating and curing a wide range of pathologies, including, but not limited to, neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, inflammatory, ophthalmic, urologic, metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases, where the above mechanisms have been described as playing a pathological role

1. Chemical Background
Malawska et al. described the synthesis of novel antiarrythmic and antihypertensive pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives (Eur. J. Med. Chem. 37, 2002, 183-195).
2. Biological Background
It is well known that sodium channels play an important role in the neuronal network by transmitting electrical impulses rapidly throughout cells and cell networks, thereby coordinating higher processes ranging from locomotion to cognition. These channels are large transmembrane proteins, which are able to switch between different states to enable selective permeability for sodium ions. For this process an action potential is needed to depolarize the membrane, and hence these channels are voltage-gated. In the past few years a much better understanding of sodium channels and drugs interacting with them has been developed.
It has become clear that a number of drugs having an unknown mechanism of action actually act by modulating sodium channel conductance, including local anesthetics, class I antiarrhythmics and anticonvulsants. Neuronal sodium channel blockers have found application with their use in the treatment of epilepsy (phenyloin and carbamazepine), bipolar disorder (lamotrigine), preventing neurodegeneration, and in reducing neuropathic pain. Various anti-epileptic drugs that stabilize neuronal excitability are effective in neuropathic pain (gabapentin).
In addition, an increase in sodium channel expression or activity has also been observed in several models of inflammatory pain, suggesting a role of sodium channels in inflammatory pain.
Calcium channels are membrane-spanning, multi-subunit proteins that allow controlled entry of calcium ions into cells from the extracellular fluid. Commonly, calcium channels are voltage dependent and are referred to as voltage sensitive calcium channels (VSCC). VSCCs are found throughout the mammalian nervous system, where they regulate such varied activities as cellular excitability, transmitter release, intracellular metabolism, neurosecretory activity and gene expression. All "excitable" cells in animals, such as neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nerve cells, and muscle cells, including those of skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles and venous and arterial smooth muscles, have voltage dependent calcium channels. Calcium channels have a central role in regulating intracellular calcium ions levels that are important for cell viability and function. Intracellular calcium ion concentrations are implicated in a number of vital processes in animals, such as neurotransmitter release, muscle contraction, pacemaker activity, and secretion of hormones. It is believed that calcium channels are relevant in certain disease states. A number of compounds useful in treating various cardiovascular diseases in mammals, including humans, are thought to exert their beneficial effects by modulating functions of voltage dependant calcium channels present in cardiac and/or vascular smooth muscle. Compounds with activity against calcium channels have also been implicated for the treatment of pain. In particular N-type calcium channels (Cav2.2), responsible for the regulation of neurotransmitters, are thought to play a significant role in nociceptive transmission, both due to their tissue distribution as well as from the results of several pharmacological studies. This hypothesis has been validated in the clinic by Zinocotide, a peptide derived from the venom of the marine snail, Conus Magus. A limitation in the therapeutic use of this peptide is that it has to be administered intrathecally in humans (Bowersox S. S. and Luther R. Toxicon, 1998, 36, 11, 1651-1658).
All together these findings indicate that compounds with sodium and/or calcium channel blockade have a high therapeutic potential in preventing, alleviating and curing a wide range of pathologies, including neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, urologic, metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases, where the above mechanisms have been described as playing a pathological role.
There are many papers and patents which describe sodium channel and/or calcium channel modulators or antagonists for the treatment or modulation of a plethora of disorders, such as their use as local anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, antiemetics, antimanic depressants, agents for the treatment of unipolar depression, cardiovascular diseases, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, inflammation, epilepsy, neurodegenerative conditions, nerve cell death, anticonvulsants, neuropathic pain, migraine, acute hyperalgesia and inflammation, renal disease, allergy, asthma, bronchospasm, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders, premature labour, obesity. A largely incomplete list is shown below.
An extensive and thorough prior art overview is reported in WO 03/057219 (and references therein); a further selection of prior art is reported in the following references: Alzheimer, C. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 2002, 513, 161-181; Vanegas, H.; Schaible, H. Pain 2000, 85, 9-18; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,051,403; 5,587,454; 5,863,952; 6,011,035; 6,117,841; 6,362,174; 6,380,198; 6,420,383; 6,458,781; 6,472,530; 6,518,288; 6,521,647; WO 97/10210; WO 03/018561.


Disclosed is a non-aqueous oral care composition comprising an organoclay, carrier humectant and a calcium source. The non-aqueous oral care composition of the present invention is stable, has rheological characteristics of a hydrous oral care composition, and does not require a manufacturing step of heating and cooling.

Oral care products, such as toothpaste, are usually formulated from an aqueous base containing a structuring agent. Such structuring agent is used to tune the rheological profile of the oral care product to have special characteristics. Thus, such rheological behaviour would bring benefits to the oral care product, for example, easy manufacture process, stable oral care formulation, and easiness of squeezing for consumer use.
However, there are many ingredients used in oral care product which are physically or chemically incompatible with water. One of the solutions to this problem is to provide such ingredient in a non-aqueous oral care product.
US patent with U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,175 (Enamelon Inc.) is said to disclose a stable, single part, non-aqueous product for remineralizing lesions in tooth comprising at least one water-soluble calcium salt, and at least one water-soluble phosphate salt.
We have found that when changing from aqueous base to non-aqueous base, one of the main challenges is how to tune the rheological behaviour of the oral care composition to make it behave rheologically like an aqueous oral care composition. Such rheology would have an important impact on the manufacture, stability and consumer perception of product.
International application with publication number WO 2011/160996 (Unilever) discloses a non-aqueous oral care composition with a liquid continuous phase comprising a thickening agent, a humectant, and one or more liquid polyethylene glycols having a melting point below 25° C., in which the liquid continuous phase is structured with crystals of one or more solid polyethylene glycols having a melting point of 25° C. or above. The invention also provides a process of preparing a non-aqueous oral care composition as defined above, comprising the steps of forming a mixture comprising the thickening agent, the humectant, the liquid polyethylene glycol(s) and the solid polyethylene glycol(s), heating the mixture to a temperature above the melting point of the solid polyethylene glycol(s), and cooling the mixture to form crystals of the solid polyethylene glycol(s).
We have recognized a need to develop a non-aqueous oral care composition which is easy to manufacture, stable and/or has good consumer perception, and the present invention, therefore, is directed to a non-aqueous oral care composition comprising an organoclay, carrier humectant, and a calcium source. It is unexpectedly found that the non-aqueous oral care composition is easy to be manufactured without heating and cooling steps. The composition is surprisingly stable, cost-effective, and has suitable viscosity characteristics in absence of water.


A data processing system is disclosed, which includes a system unit, a display device for displaying data generated by the system unit, data communication means for communicating display data between the display device and the system unit, a peripheral device, and peripheral communication means for communicating data between the peripheral device and the system unit. In accordance with the present invention, data is communicated between the system unit and the peripheral device via the display device. Data is transferred between the display device and the peripheral device utilizing a wireless communication link, thereby eliminating the problems associated with electrical cables. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wireless communication link includes a first transceiver means located in the display device and a second transceiver means located in a peripheral device. In a first embodiment, the first and second transceiver means comprise infrared transceivers. Utilizing infrared transceivers advantageously reduces undesirable radio frequency emissions. Alternatively, the first and second transceiver means may comprise a radio frequency transceiver.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data processing system, and in particular, to a system for wireless communication between a processor unit and one or more peripheral devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional data processing system, such as a personal computer system, for example, typically includes a system unit having a processor sub-system such as a microprocessor, a display device, such as a cathode ray tube display or a liquid crystal display for displaying data generated by the system unit, display communication means for communicating data between the display device and the system unit, a peripheral device, such as a pointing device, a keyboard or a printer, and peripheral communication means for communicating data between the peripheral device and the system unit.
The display communication means and the peripheral communication means are generally implemented by electrical cables each containing plural signal lines. One problem with this arrangement is that the cables tend to become tangled, thereby hampering maintenance of the system. Another problem with this arrangement, which is particularly noticeable in "desk-top" computer systems is that the cables tend to occupy a large amount of otherwise useful space. A further problem with this arrangement is that the cables create large ground loops which tend to increase undesirable radio frequency emissions from the computer system. The above problems are exasperated by the addition of more peripheral devices, which each require their own individual cable connection to the system unit.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a system for wireless communication between a data processing system and peripheral devices.

Data processing system having a wireless communication link for data communication with a peripheral device

International Business Machines Corporation


A cyclonic separating device includes: a first cyclonic separator defining a first longitudinal axis; a plurality of second cyclonic separators located downstream of the first cyclonic separator, arranged circumferentially around the first longitudinal axis in parallel, and integrally received in the first cyclonic separator; an inlet passage at least partially received in the first cyclonic separator; a guiding passage communicated with the inlet passage and the first cyclonic separator respectively, in which a fluid introduced through the inlet passage is tangentially guided into the first cyclonic separator by the guiding passage. In addition, a surface cleaning apparatus, a cleaner and a method for separating dust from a dust containing air using the cyclonic separating device are further provided.

Chinese patent ZL01807570.3 discloses an apparatus for separating particles from a fluid stream. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes one upstream cyclonic separating device 10′ and a plurality of downstream cyclonic separating devices 20′ arranged in parallel with each other, and each downstream cyclonic separating device 20′ is at least partially extended into an interior of the upstream cyclonic separating device 10′. The apparatus for separating particles from the fluid stream generally has a large height, a large volume, and a low separation efficiency.

Cyclonic separating device, cleaner, surface cleaning apparatus and cyclonic separating method

JIANGSU MIDEA CLEANING APPLIANCES CO., LTD.


An exhaust gas recirculation adapter for an air intake system of an engine is disclosed. The exhaust gas recirculation adapter includes a tube portion defining an interior space therein. The exhaust gas recirculation adapter also includes a protrusion projecting into the interior space of the tube portion. The protrusion is configured to provide a surface for impacting of exhaust gases thereon.

Engine systems generally include an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) loop associated therewith. The EGR loop is configured to reduce NOx generation and increase efficiency of the engine system by recirculating a part of the exhaust gases to an air intake system of an engine. The recirculated exhaust gases are generally introduced into an intake plenum of the air intake system and are mixed with the non-combusted intake air therewithin.
The recirculated exhaust gases generally have a very high velocity. In some situations, the high velocity exhaust gases tend to travel upstream from a junction point of the intake manifold and an exhaust line, in a direction opposite to that of an incoming air stream. The exhaust gases may continue to flow upstream towards other components of the engine system, for example, an aftercooler associated with the air intake system, or may enter boost lines of crankcase ventilation. Additionally, soot particles present in the exhaust gases may deposit on these engine components and affect an operational life of the engine components.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,430,083 describes a mixing apparatus adapted for mixing the flow of intake air and exhaust gas in a mixing chamber of a combustion engine including a housing having a bore formed therethrough extending between a first open end and a second open end. The housing includes a plurality of apertures formed in a side wall thereof adjacent the first open end. A retention member is formed in the side wall adjacent the second open end and is adapted to secure the mixing apparatus within the mixing chamber. The mixing apparatus includes a flow deflector disposed in the bore of the housing. The flow deflector includes a plurality of curved deflector surfaces formed therein which correspond in number to and are aligned with the plurality of apertures. An end cap is secured to the housing at the first open end thereof for closing the bore at the first open end.


According to one embodiment, a memory module which includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells with a plurality of pages and line-and-space word lines to which more than one of the memory cells are connected, and a controller which receives write data from a host device.

To realize a semiconductor memory device capable of high-density recording and the like, digital data error-correcting codes are being developed now. Error-correcting codes can be roughly classified into an algebraic error-correcting method and an error-correcting method using iterative calculations based on probability. It has been reported that low-density parity check (LDPC) codes belonging to the latter have a superior performance that approaches the Shannon limit.


A near field communication device included in a secure transaction card provides an addition and/or transitional communication link for communicating secure transaction information. The near field communication device may be selectively engaged or disengaged and, when engaged, either active or passive modes of operation of the near field communication device can be selected. in the active mode, secure transaction information is transmitted upon establishment of a communication link with a complementary near field communication device. In the passive mode, secure transaction information is transmitted upon interrogation from a complementary near field communication device. Secure transaction information is generated and stored for transmission in a memory and at least a portion of the memory is erased or nulled upon transmission or upon expiration of a selected period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to so-called smart cards and, more particularly to alternative uses of highly secure credit/identification cards and, more particularly, to providing such functions through a near field communications infrastructure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Proliferation of fraudulent activities such as identity theft, often facilitated by streamlining of electronic financial transactions and the proliferation of credit and debit cards often used in such transactions, has led to great interest in techniques for improving security and authentication of the identity of a user of such credit and debit cards. In particular, the streamlining of transactions has led to the proliferation of credit card readers which read information from a magnetic stripe formed on a surface of a credit card and which are often integrated with point-of-sale terminals such as cash registers and fuel pumps. In such cases, it is left to the customer to manipulate the card through the reader where the card is read and, in some cases, the read information is used to automatically print a memorandum of the transaction for signature by the customer to complete the transaction. In other cases, such as transactions at fuel pumps, no action is taken by sales personnel at all and the transaction is completed automatically based only on the information read from the credit card and with no verification of customer identity. In such streamlining of transactions the principal amount of time and effort saved is at the expense of the small and possibly unreliable but very important safeguard provided by the opportunity for sales personnel to at least compare the signature of a customer on a sales memorandum with the signature on the credit card to authenticate customer identity and possibly detect unauthorized use of the credit card. Nevertheless, loss of this important security feature is evidently considered by the public, merchants and financial institutions to be more than balanced by the capability for worldwide, near real-time tracking of credit card use and usage profiling provided by the reading of credit card data and immediate communication to financial institutions to accept or reject any individual transaction as well as the expediting of transactions and the continuity of possession of the credit card by the customer. On the other hand, the monitoring of credit card transactions and transaction profiling may also cause rejection of transactions which are, in fact, legitimate such as those of a person who may travel only infrequently, causing attempted transactions while traveling to be rejected since the identity of the credit card user cannot be authenticated based on magnetic stripe information and temporally proximate transactions at remote locations, as might occur due to transactions immediately before and after air travel, may lead to an inference of credit card theft.
Recent advances in semiconductor technology, particularly extremely thin substrates, has also allowed chips to be fabricated with substantial mechanical flexibility and robustness adequate for inclusion of electronic circuits of substantial complexity within conveniently carried cards physically similar to credit cards currently in use. Such technology has also allowed records of substantial information content to be similarly packaged and associated with various articles, living organisms or persons such as maintenance records for motor vehicles or medical records for humans or animals. In regard to increase of security for financial transactions however, various attempts to increase security through improved identity authentication or disablement in case of theft or other misuse, while large in number and frequently proposed have not, until recently, proven adequate for the purpose.
However, a highly secure credit or debit card design has been recently invented and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,050 B2, issued Nov. 4, 2003, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the entire disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference for details of implementation thereof. In summary, the secure credit/debit card disclosed therein includes a keyboard or other selective data entry device, a free-running oscillator, an array of electronic fuses (e-fuses) or other non-volatile memory, a processor, a pair of linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) and a transmitter/receiver to allow communication with an external card reader. The card is uniquely identified by a unique identification number and the programming of e-fuses which control feedback connections for each of the LFSRs, one of which is used as a reference and the other is used in the manner of a pseudo-random number generator, the card identification number and the feedback connections together forming a pre-initialized personality configuration of the card. The card is activated only for short periods of time sufficient to complete a transaction by entry of a personal identification number (PIN) that can also be permanently programmed into the card. When the card is activated and read by a card reader, the two sequences of numbers generated by the LFSRs are synchronously generated and a portion thereof is communicated to a reader which not only authenticates the number sequences against each other and the card identification number but also rejects the portion of the sequence if it is the same portion used in a previous transaction to guard against capture of the sequences by another device. This system provides combined authentication of the holder/user and the card, itself, together with encryption of transaction information unique to each card which renders the card useless if stolen while providing highly effective protection against simulation and/or duplication of the card or capture of information from it and has proven highly effective in use.
However, in its preferred form and to obtain the highest levels of security, a special reader including a complementary receiver and transmitter is required to, in effect, allow direct communication in real-time between the secure credit card and the authentication processor at the financial institution or other authorization facility. While such special readers may be manufactured in quantity and distributed at relatively low cost and do not require a change in the communication system for reporting authentication and transaction information to a financial institution, the number of communications may cause some noticeable delay in completion of transactions. Further, implementing the system of the above-incorporated patent may require an extended period of time and the special readers may be subject to some degree of wear or damage in use which may compromise the functionality thereof. Such a compromise of functionality may reduce the acceptability of the secure credit/identification card system and cause erroneous rejection of transactions, particularly when it is considered that number sequences of significant length must be communicated error-free in order to authorize a transaction. Provision of power to support even the relatively rudimentary communications involved with the above-incorporated secure credit/identification card has also presented relatively intractable problems compromising reliability when in use.
So-called near field communication (NFC) systems have recently become known and standards for NFC systems have recently been ratified. In accordance with that standard, NFC systems are limited to a range of only about 10 cm and are capable of a bit transfer rate of 424 kilobits per second using a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz. Similarly to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems (on which the new NFC standard is based), a principal function contemplated for NFC devices is the capacity to interrogate them in a passive mode in which they consume no power and to have a unique code previously stored therein rapidly and reliably returned in a manner which does not interfere with other wireless communications and which minimizes or avoids interference from such other wireless communications whenever such an interrogation is made. Accordingly, NFC systems transmit information by inductive electromagnetic coupling in the radio frequency portion of the spectrum. The NFC standard also provides for software which enables nearly instantaneous peer-to-peer network setup. NFC devices thus effectively seek each other and establish a communication link between themselves in sharp contrast to, for example, so-called Bluetooth enabled devices in which, while also intended for short range peer-to-peer communications, set up procedures are complex and extended, largely to establish device configuration which is unnecessary in NFC systems. This networking facility is in sharp contrast to RFID systems which are set up in a master/slave relationship in which usually passive chips or transponders are read by relatively expensive, powered reader devices having a range of about two to five meters. NFC systems also differ from other types of known wireless communication systems such as so-called "Wi-Fi systems which generally require an access hub. Further, NFC devices can be set to either an active or passive mode such that identification data can be sent even when the device is off and consuming no power. Even in an active mode, the range of NFC devices is so small that very little power is consumed, Accordingly, NFC devices have been implemented in single chips and chip sets for a wide variety of applications.

Secure credit card with near field communications

International Business Machines Corporation


A purge valve is provided for a vehicle. The purge valve 10 includes a body 12 to be coupled to an intake manifold 40 of the vehicle and to a canister 33. The body has an orifice 20 for communicating vapor from the canister 33 with airflow in the intake manifold 40. A valve 18 is movable between a first position closing the orifice 20 and a second position opening the orifice. A shape memory alloy (SMA) structure 31 is associated with the valve such that when electric current is provided to the SMA structure 31 to heat the SMA structure above a transformation temperature thereof, the SMA structure transforms from an original shape to a second shape, thereby causing the valve 18 to move from the first position to the second position, and when the current is removed from the SMA structure, the SMA structure returns to the original shape, thereby permitting the valve 18 to return to the first position.

Vehicle emission control typically involves an evaporative emission control system that traps fuel vapors emitted from the fuel tank in a carbon-filled (e.g., charcoal) canister. The evaporative emission control system is periodically purged by drawing fuel vapors from the canister into the engine intake system. In this manner, fuel vapors from the fuel tank are delivered to the engine for subsequent combustion. Thus, the charcoal canister absorbs gasoline vapors emitted by the fuel tank including the vapors generated during re-fueling. A purge valve allows continuous purging of the charcoal canister when the engine is running by controlling a flow of fresh ambient air through the canister and into the intake manifold.
Conventional purge valves regulate the flow rate of fuel vapors introduced into the intake system in response to the pressure difference between the intake manifold and atmosphere. Typical purge valves utilize a pulse width modulated (PWM) solenoid valve that responds to a duty cycle control signal from an engine controller unit (ECU) for selectively establishing and terminating communication between the canister and the intake system. However, the cost of a solenoid purge valve is significant in the overall cost of providing a vapor containment system.
Thus, there is a need to provide a low-cost vapor purge valve for a vapor containment system.

Automotive vapor purge valve using shape memory alloy wire


A new iterative hierarchical linear regression method for generating a set of linear transforms to adapt HMM speech models to a new environment for improved speech recognition is disclosed. The method determines a new set of linear transforms at an iterative step by Estimate-Maximize (EM) estimation, and then combines the new set of linear transforms with the prior set of linear transforms to form a new merged set of linear transforms. An iterative step may include realignment of adaptation speech data to the adapted HMM models to further improve speech recognition performance.

Hierarchical Linear Regression (HLR) (e.g. MLLR [See C. J. Leggetter and P. C. Woodland, "Maximum likelihood linear regression for speaker adaptation of continuous density HMMs," Computer, Speech and Language, 9(2):71–185, 1995]) is now a common technique to transform Hidden Markov Models(HMMs) for use in an acoustic environment different from the one in which the models are initially trained. The environments refer to speaker accent, speaker vocal tract, background noise, recording device, transmission channel, etc. HLR improves word error rate (WER) substantially by reducing the mismatch between training and testing environments [See C. J. Leggetter cited above].
Hierarchical Linear Regression (HLR) is a process that creates a set of transforms that can be used to adapt any subset of an initial set of Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to a new acoustic environment. We refer to the new environment as the "target environment", and the adapted subset of HMM models as the "target models". The HLR adaptation process requires that some adaptation speech data from the new environment be collected, and converted into sequences of frames of vectors of speech parameters using well-known techniques. For example, to create a set of transforms to adapt an initial set of speaker-independent HMMs to a particular speaker who is using a particular microphone, adaptation speech data must be collected from the speaker and microphone, and then converted into frames of parameter vectors, such as the well-known cepstral vectors.
There are two well known HLR methods for creating a set of transforms. In the first method, the adaptation speech data is aligned to states of the initial set of HMM models using well-known HMM Viterbi recognition alignment methods. A regression tree is formed which defines a hierarchical mapping from states of the initial HMM model set to linear transforms. Then the set of linear transforms is determined that adapts the initial HMM set so as to increase the likelihood of the adaptation speech data. While this method results in better speech recognition performance, further improvement is possible. The second method uses the fact that transforming the initial HMM model set by the first set of linear transforms yields a second set of HMMs. This second set of HMMs can be used to generate a new alignment of the adaptation speech data to the second set of HMMs. Then it is possible to repeat the process of determining a set of linear transforms that further adapts the second HMM set so as to increase the likelihood of the adaptation data. This process can be repeated iteratively to continue improving the likelihoods. However, this requires that after each iteration either a new complete set of HMMs is stored, or that each new set of linear transforms is stored so that the new HMM set can be iteratively derived from the initial HMM set. This can be prohibitive in terms of memory storage resources. The subject of this invention is a novel implementation of the second method such that only the initial HMM set and a single set of linear transforms must be stored, while maintaining exactly the performance improvement of the second method and reducing the processing required. This is important in applications where memory and processing time are critical and limited resources.

Accumulating transformations for hierarchical linear regression HMM adaptation


A user authentication information management method receives a meta-password from a user. A repository (34) lists network addresses (36) and associated handles (38), each handle having an associated encoded password. An authentication response from the user is intercepted. A modified authentication response is generated by identifying a network address to which the response is directed (208), searching for the identified network address (210) in the repository (34), identifying a handle (212) corresponding to the address based on the searching (210), decoding the password associated with the handle using the meta-password as a decoding key (214), and substituting the decoded password for the meta-password in the authentication response (216). The method also generates pseudo-random passwords (124) consistent with password rules (128). The repository (34) can reside on a client device (14), a proxy server, a local area network, or a security server having an Internet protocol (IP) address. The repository (34) can also be disposed at a database service.

The present invention relates to computer network security and passwords, and more particularly to the management of user authentication information. It particularly relates to the creation, storage, updating, and transmission of user identification tokens and passwords, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, the invention is not so limited, and will also find application in other areas of secure information management such as the management and electronic transmission of credit card numbers, personal identification numbers (PIN's), and the like.
Recently, there has been a rapid rise in the number and type of secure computer services offered through the Internet or over local area networks (LAN's), wireless communication systems, internal corporate computing resources, and the like. Web browser programs originally designed for navigating an open Internet are now typically additionally used to access secure websites, secure LAN's, and other restricted sites as well. The use of a web browser simplifies the access and navigation of the various secure computer services by providing a common user interface.
In order to establish and confirm authorization to access a secure service, a user is typically required to supply at least a user identification (user ID) token and a password to establish a secure connection to the service. Loss or theft of the authorization information, especially the password, is a potential serious security risk. For this reason, each user is strongly encouraged to follow certain guidelines in creating, storing, and transmitting user ID tokens and passwords.
First, it is strongly recommended or required that each user implement a different password for each service accessed. However, users often have difficulty remembering and keeping track of a large number of passwords for the various secure services typically accessed. As a result, many users ignore the rule of a different password for each service and instead use the same password for many different secure services. Alternatively, users often maintain a physical, e.g. handwritten or printed, list of passwords, or store the passwords in an unencrypted and insecure file, such as a spreadsheet or a word processing document. Of course, the existence of such a physical insecure list in and of itself creates a greatly increased risk of password theft.
Second, it is strongly recommended or required that each password selected is essentially a random character string and thus not easily associable with the user. The use of a spouse's name or birthday, a favorite color, or other password which might be easily guessed by hackers is strongly discouraged. This rule also is commonly ignored by users who prefer to use easily remembered, but correspondingly obvious, passwords.
Third, passwords should be fairly complex. Short and simple passwords, such as "12345", "abcde", "hello", and the like, are more easily guessed than longer passwords which contain both letters and digits. Once again, however, users typically prefer the simpler passwords. This tendency can be countered to some degree by having password format rules encoded into the security management system of the secure service. Typical password format rules include a minimum password length, a requirement for at least one numerical digit, a requirement for at least one alphabetical letter, or the like. Of course, such requirements again tend to induce users to create physical lists so that the forgotten passwords can be easily recalled.
Fourth, security experts recommend changing passwords frequently. By employing frequent password changes, the risks associated with a compromised password are limited to a short time period between password changes. Users are often resistant to frequent password changes, however, because they do not want to memorize the new passwords. Many secure services counter this resistance by requiring a password change at fixed intervals, e.g. on a monthly or yearly basis.
To summarize, an inherent tension exists between the characteristics of a secure user password portfolio which include a large number of different and essentially random passwords that are frequently changed, and the desire of computer users to have only a few, or ideally just one, password which is easily memorized and can be implemented over a long period of time. The majority of methods disclosed in the prior art for alleviating this conflict weigh heavily against ease of use. In the most extreme examples, some secure services now assign a random password and enforce password changes on a weekly or monthly basis. Of course, an unrecognizable computer generated password almost certainly will result in the user physically jotting the password down on a slip next to the computer. Thus, these enforced methods are not satisfactory, at least in isolation.
The prior art also discloses methods for helping computer users to cope with large numbers of complex passwords. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,006,333 and No. 6,182,229, both issued to Nielsen, disclose a client-side system for encoding, storing, and transmitting passwords based upon a master password. In this manner, the user need only remember the master password. The client-side system then recalls, decodes, and sends the actual password to each secure service requesting user authentication information.
There remains an unfulfilled need, however, for an improved comprehensive password management system which maintains high security while reducing the need for the user to remember a large number of frequently changing passwords. In view of the increasing availability of a variety of different types of devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptop computers, cellular telephones, personal data assistants, and the like) capable of accessing secure network services, the improved password management system should be device independent. Many secure service providers now have multiple login network addresses, and the user can supply the same authorization information at any of these addresses and thereby establish an authorized connection to the entire service. As a consequence, the password management system should preferably accommodate multiple login network addresses for the same secure service.
The increasingly rigorous password requirements imposed by secure service providers, which presently include complex password format rules and mandatory password changes on fixed time schedules, should also preferably be accommodated.
An improved password management system should also preferably be compatible with, and transparent to, legacy secure services, while simultaneously taking advantage of newer and better standardized network security protocols which are being developed and which are in some cases already available.
The present invention contemplates an improved system and method for the management of user authentication information which provides a solution to the above problems and others.

User authorization management system using a meta-password and method for same


Methods for making a branched polycarbonate are disclosed. An interfacial mixture comprising water, a substantially water-immiscible organic solvent, a dihydroxy compound, a polyhydric branching agent, an endcapping agent, a catalyst, and a base is formed. The base and the branching agent are dissolved in the mixture before the dihydroxy compound is added, and the interfacial mixture has a basic pH. The mixture is reacted by adding a carbonate precursor to the mixture while maintaining the pH between about 8 and about 10 to form the branched polycarbonate. The resulting branched polycarbonates may contain more than 1.5 mole % of the THPE; have residual chloride content of 20 ppm or less; and a weight average molecular weight of about 55,000 or less. They may also be highly transparent.

The present disclosure relates to processes and intermediates for preparing branched polycarbonates compositions. In this regard, the disclosure relates to the interfacial synthesis of branched polycarbonates and to compositions produced by such processes. Also included are articles, such as molded, extruded, thermoformed, etc. articles, formed from these compositions.
Polycarbonates (PC) are synthetic thermoplastic resins derived from bisphenols and phosgene, or their derivatives. They are linear polyesters of carbonic acid and can be formed interfacially from reaction of dihydroxy compounds with phosgene or via ester interchange by reaction of dihydroxy compounds with a carbonate diester.
The desired properties of polycarbonates include clarity or transparency (i.e. 90% light transmission or more), high impact strength and toughness, heat resistance, weather and ozone resistance, good ductility, being combustible but self-extinguishing, good electrical resistance, noncorrosive, nontoxic, etc. They are useful for forming a wide array of products, such as by molding, extrusion, and thermoforming processes. Branched polycarbonates, in some instances, can produce enhanced, or more desirable, characteristics over conventional linear polycarbonates.
In producing a polycarbonate, a homopolycarbonate is generally formed from the polymerization of a dihydroxy compound such as bisphenol-A. To form a branched polycarbonate, a branching agent which has at least three functional groups is added to the mixture. Exemplary branching agents include trimellitic trichloride and 1,1,1-tris(hydroxyphenyl)ethane (THPE). Typically, the branching agent is added during the reaction of the dihydroxy compound with phosgene. Because each functional group can react with a dihydroxy compound, branching occurs. However, one problem that arises from the use of a branching agent is high residual content of ionic groups, such as chlorides. High chloride content can adversely impact melt stability, hydrolytic stability, and possibly the color and/or transparency of articles molded from the polycarbonate.
It is desirable to generate new processes that allow the formation of branched polycarbonates without high residual ionic content. Included therein are processes for producing relatively transparent, flame-retardant polycarbonates capable of providing good flame retardance characteristics in thin wall constructions.

Branched polycarbonates and processes for producing the same


A method for building a gaming environment. The method includes accessing a base VR model of a real-world environment from a third party mapping data store, wherein the real-world environment includes a plurality of real-world objects. The method includes augmenting a first object in the base VR model that corresponds to a first real-world object in the real-world environment. The method includes stitching in the first object that is augmented into the base VR model to generate an augmented base VR model. The method includes storing the augmented base VR model to a library data store comprising a plurality of augmented base VR models for use as virtual environments of corresponding gaming applications storing the augmented base VR model to a library data store comprising a plurality of augmented base VR models. The method includes using one or more of the plurality of augmented base VR models to define a virtual environment of a gaming application.

Video gaming has increasingly become more popular with the advancement of video game technology. For example, high powered graphics processors provide an unbelievable viewing and interactive experience when playing a video game. In addition, displays are being designed with higher and higher resolutions. For example, present technology includes displays having 2K resolution (e.g., 2.2 megapixels over 2048×1080 pixels) with an aspect ratio of approximately 19:10. Other displays having 4K UHD (Ultra high definition) resolution (e.g., 8.2 megapixels over 3840×2160 pixels) with an aspect ratio of 16:9 are now pushing into the market and is expected to gain traction. Increased graphics processing capabilities along with high resolution displays provide for a heretofore unbelievable viewing experience for the user, especially when playing a video game executed on a gaming engine designed to take advantage of the higher resolution displays.
Because of the use of high powered graphics, game developers are creating 3D immersive and interactive gaming applications. The 3D content found in these gaming applications include 3D gaming environments that are built by adding increasing number of objects within a 3D space. To be realistic, these objects may follow the normal laws of physics that define object interaction. The creation of the 3D gaming environment involves multiple steps. For example, a 3D gaming environment may be composed of one or more scenes, wherein each scene includes one or more objects. Each of the objects in a particular scene is painstakingly built by a developer and placed into the 3D gaming environment to interact with other objects. This process of building the 3D gaming environment is time-consuming, but necessary for generating an immersive environment that is enjoyable by the end user.
However, because building the 3D gaming environment is so time consuming and because the developer may be on a time constraint, full development of the 3D gaming environment may be sacrificed, such that the 3D gaming environment may be smaller than intended. In addition, a 3D gaming environment may continually be reused by the same developer in an effort to maximize its use given the cost to develop the gaming environment. However, this leads to staleness in the 3D gaming environment and ultimately to new gaming applications based on the same 3D gaming environment.
It would be beneficial to streamline the generation of a 3D gaming environment to give developers more time to building the game logic rather than the background upon which the game logic operates.
It is in this context that embodiments of the disclosure arise.

Building virtual reality (VR) gaming environments using real-world virtual reality maps


A method and system are provided for transmitting data in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. A receiver sets the number of sub-streams of each column of a preceding matrix with respect to all precoding matrices of channels formed between the receiver and a transmitter and measures channel states with respect to sub-stream combinations whose number is equivalent to the number of set sub-streams. The receiver transmits data according to channel states to the transmitter after measuring the channel states with respect to the sub-stream combinations and antenna combinations representing sub-streams used upon data transmission of all the precoding matrices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a communication system, and more particularly to a method and system for transmitting data in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large amount of research is being conducted to provide users with services based on various Qualities of Service (QoS) at a high rate in next-generation communication systems. In the next-generation communication system, active research is being conducted to support a high-speed service for ensuring mobility and QoS in broadband wireless access (BWA) communication systems such as wireless local area network (LAN) and metropolitan area network (MAN) communication systems. The typical communication systems are Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16a/d and 802.16e communication systems.
The IEEE 802.16a/d and 802.16e communication systems apply an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing/Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDM/OFDMA) scheme to a physical channel of the wireless MAN system in order to support a broadband transmission network. The IEEE 802.16a/d communication system considers a state in which a subscriber station (SS) is fixed. That is, the IEEE 802.16a/d communication system does not consider SS mobility, and considers only a single cell structure. However, the IEEE 802.16e communication system is used to support SS mobility in the IEEE 802.16a communication system. An SS with mobility is referred to as a mobile station (MS).
However, data transmission error and loss of information may occur due to many factors such as multipath interference, shadowing, propagation attenuation, time variant noise, and interference fading in wireless channel environments of the next-generation communication systems, which are different from wired channel environments. Various error control techniques according to channel characteristics are used to reduce the information loss. Further, diversity schemes are used to eliminate communication instability due to the fading. The diversity schemes can be divided into time, frequency and antenna diversity schemes.
The antenna diversity schemes use multiple antennas and are divided into a receive antenna diversity scheme using multiple receive antennas, a transmit antenna diversity scheme using multiple transmit antennas, and a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scheme using multiple receive antennas and multiple transmit antennas.
The MIMO communication system can obtain high transmission gain using transmit antenna diversity or spatial multiplexing diversity. The transmit antenna diversity scheme and the spatial multiplexing diversity scheme have different transmission gains according to actually applied channel states. When a transmitter transmits signals through multiple transmit antennas, the transmission gain differs according to whether a transmission path of a transmit antenna weight is an open or closed loop.
A closed-loop MIMO communication system in a multiuser environment can obtain multiuser diversity gain according to Channel Quality Information (CQI), for example, Signal to Interference and Noise Ratios (SINRs), fed back from users or receivers according to data streams of precoding matrices thereof. That is, the receivers need a scheme for computing the SINRs on a data stream-by-data stream basis and feeding back the CQI mapped to the SINRs to the transmitter. That is, when the receivers feed back the CQI to the transmitter, the multiuser diversity gain can be sufficiently obtained. When the CQI is fed back, overhead can be reduced. In particular, a data transmission method is required which can ensure the above-described multiuser diversity and can prevent an increase in overhead even when the number of users or receivers increases.
In the above-described closed-loop MIMO communication system, data transmission and reception between a transmitter, i.e., a base station (BS), and a receiver, i.e., a mobile station (MS), are performed according to the channel environment formed between the MS and the BS. In other words, in the MIMO communication system, the MS measures a channel environment, i.e., a channel state, related to the BS and transmits CQI to the BS according to the measured result. The BS transmits data to and receives data from the MS according to CQI received the MS.
Therefore, the MIMO communication system needs a method for efficiently transmitting data when the number of users or MSs located within a cell covered by an arbitrary BS and states of channels formed by multiple antennas provided in a transceiver are variable. There is a problem in that data transmission/reception efficiency and system performance degrade when the number of MSs located within the cell of the MIMO communication system is variable, and a state of a channel formed by a particular antenna of the multiple antennas provided in the transceiver is worse in comparison with channel states of the other antennas, or a rank of a channel matrix formed by multiple transmit and receive antennas is bad.

Method and system for transmitting data in a communication system

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A process for welding stainless steel tubing in the presence of an inert gas comprising a silicon base gas, in particular silane SiH.sub.4. During the welding operation, a suitable quantity of silicon is deposited by chemical vapor deposition at the weld joint to significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the weld.

It is reasonably well known that welding significantly reduces the corrosion resistance of stainless steels. For example, in the text entitled "Corrosion and Corrosion Control--an Introduction to Corrosion Science and Engineering" Third Ed., H. H. Uhlig, et al., it is taught that when austenitic stainless steels have been welded and then subjected to corrosive environments, failure of the austenitic stainless steel weld (called weld decay) occurs in a zone slightly away from the weld rather than at the weld itself. It is taught that, under certain conditions, rapid quenching from high temperatures can aid in improving corrosion resistance.
The use of silicon as a protective coating is fairly well known. For example, in an article appearing in the Journal of Material Science, Vol. 26, at pp. 9445-52 (1991) entitled "Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silicon Onto Iron: Influence of Silicon Vapor Phase Source on the Composition and Nature of the Coating", it was taught that Armco iron could be treated with a gas mixture of argon, silane and hydrogen. It was taught that this gas mixture, when applied at a range of 750.degree. to 1100.degree. C., provided a non-porous and adherent solid solution with a maximum silicon content of 6% (by weight). It was hypothesized that such a mixture lead to the nucleation of Fe.sub.3 Si, the growth of which occurred from and around the open porosity of the coating.
It is known that stainless steel, and particularly 316 L stainless steel, is exceedingly corrosion resistant. In fact, tubing made of 316 L stainless is the conduit of choice in microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing facilities where such tubing is required for the delivery of corrosive gases. The stainless steel tubing is made even more corrosion resistant by conducting various well known surface treating operations such as electropolishing, oxygen passivating and bright annealing. Electropolished tubing is currently the preferred conduit in terms of impurity absorption and corrosion resistance.
It is also known from EP-A-512782 a method of surface passivating stainless steel by flushing the surface of stainless tube with argon and baking said tube at a temperature between 250.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. during at least four hours.
Stainless steel tubing is generally assembled by welding employing an orbital tungsten inert gas (TiG) or Metal Inert Gas (MiG) system. In such a process, an arc is established between a non-consumable electrode such as tungsten or a tungsten alloy and the L stainless steel based metal. Like all other welding processes, the necessary heat is supplied by an arc which is initiated and maintained by the electrical energies supplied by a power source. A constant current power source, either AC or DC or combined AC-DC is used with the process.
A torch of an appropriate design connected to hoses and cable holds the electrode, dispenses the inert gas, cools the torch head, if coolant is used, and supplies energy to the electrode. The arc is highly concentrated and can produce temperatures up to 19,425.degree. C.
The weld puddle and arc area are protected against contamination from oxygen and nitrogen contained in the atmosphere by a shield of inert gas. The inert gas is generally a member selected from the group consisting of Ar, He, H.sub.2 a mixture of Ar and He, a mixture of He and H.sub.2, and mixtures thereof. Other contaminants like moisture, dust, metallic particles in suspension, etc., are also prevented from contacting the metal in its liquid state or during the solidification process.
Despite the fact that stainless steel, and particularly 316 L stainless steel, is known to be extremely corrosion resistant, corrosion sensitivity increases dramatically in both the liquid and gas phases within a zone including and surrounding the welding bead. As a result, conduit failures have been commonplace despite the use of 316 L stainless having been surface treated. The weld joints fail long before the stainless steel tubing suffers any ill effects from its contact with liquid and gaseous corrosive fluids.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a process for rendering such weld joints resistant to attack by corrosive gases and liquids.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a process for rendering the weld joints of 316 L stainless steel resistant to attack by corrosive gases and liquids in a convenient manner without significantly adding to the cost or complexity now experienced in carrying out ordinary orbital tungsten inert gas welding.
These and further objects would be more readily apparent in considering the following specification and appended claims.

Corrosion resistant welding of stainless steel


The purpose is to provide an electric vehicle charging device capable of preventing arc discharge when disconnecting a power supply connector and a vehicle-side connector. An electric vehicle charging device provided with: a power supply connector (3) for supplying electrical energy from outside the vehicle; a vehicle-side connector (2) for connecting to the power supply connector (3) and positioned in the vehicle; a spring (34) for generating repulsive force in the direction in which the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) separate; and an engaging part (32) for detecting the disconnection of the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2); wherein the spring (34) generates repulsive force in the direction in which the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) separate when the engaging part (32) detects that the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) have disconnected.

With a view to realizing a low-carbon economy, there has been an interest in recent years in electric vehicles (EVs) that run solely by means of an electric motor, as well as in plug-in hybrid vehicles that are able to run by means of either of an engine and an electric motor.
Such electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are equipped with an electric motor for generating a drive force that is transmitted to the tires. The energy for driving this electric motor is supplied from a battery on-board the vehicle. This battery is chargeable from outside of the vehicle. The term "electric vehicle" is hereinafter described as a concept inclusive of plug-in hybrid vehicles as well.
The battery is charged from outside of the vehicle by connecting a feeder connector, which a feeding stand installed externally to the vehicle is equipped with, to a vehicle-side connector that the vehicle has.
As related electric vehicle charging apparatuses, there are those where the connection state between a vehicle-side connector and a feeder connector is detected with a sensor, and where, based on the connection state detected by the sensor and on information regarding the powertrain of the electric vehicle, a control section of the electric vehicle effects control in such a manner as to separate the feeder connector and the vehicle-side connector if the electric vehicle tries to start moving while the feeder connector is still connected (e.g., Patent Literature 1).

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The disclosure relates to PET imaging systems and methods. The systems may obtain a plurality of PET images of a subject and a CT image acquired by performing a spiral CT scan on the subject. Each gated PET image may include a plurality of sub-gated PET images. The CT image may include a plurality of sub-CT images each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of sub-gated PET images. The systems may determine a target motion vector field between a target physiological phase and a physiological phase of the CT image based on the plurality of sub-gated PET images and the plurality of sub-CT images. The systems may reconstruct an attenuation corrected PET image corresponding to the target physiological phase based on the target motion vector field, the CT image, and PET data used for the plurality of gated PET images reconstruction.

PET is a specialized radiology procedure that generates three-dimensional images of functional processes in a target organ or tissue of a subject. Specifically, in PET studies, biologically active molecules carrying radioactive tracer molecules are first introduced into the subject. The PET system then detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by the tracer and reconstructs an image of the tracer concentration within the subject by analyzing the detected signals. Because the biologically active molecules used in PET studies are natural substrates of metabolism at the target organ or tissue, PET can evaluate the physiology (functionality) of the target organ or tissue, as well as its biochemical properties. Changes in these properties of the target organ or tissue may provide information for the identification of the onset or progression of a disease before an anatomical change relating to the disease become detectable by other diagnostic tests, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Furthermore, the high sensitivity of PET—in the picomolar range—may allow the detection of small amounts of radio-labeled markers in vivo. PET may be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tests to achieve simultaneous acquisition of both structural and functional information of the subject. Examples include a PET/CT hybrid system, a PET/MR hybrid system.
PET and CT data of a subject may be obtained using a PET/CT hybrid system. The CT data may be applied in the attenuation correction of the PET data. During a scan in the PET/CT system, a subject may undergo respiratory motion. When the scanning is performed for chest or upper abdomen examinations, respiratory motion of the lungs and/or cardiac motion of the heart of the subject may lead to a mismatch between the PET data and the CT data. The mismatch may subsequently cause artifacts in the PET image, which in turn may affect an interpretation of the PET image, or a diagnosis performed on the basis of the PET image. Generally, a CT scan is quick and the CT data may correspond to the same or substantially the same respiratory phase. A PET scan is relatively slow and the PET data may correspond to a plurality of respiratory phases, which may lead to a mismatch between the CT data and the PET data. However, in some CT scans, such as a spiral CT scan, different portions (e.g., slices) of the subject are scanned at different times, and CT data of the different portions of the subject may correspond to different respiratory phases. Moreover, the CT data may be obtained when the subject is in a deep expiration/inspiration phase, which may further lead to a mismatch between the PET data and the CT data. Thus, it is desirable to develop methods and systems for matching the CT data and the PET data to reduce the effect of respiratory and/or cardiac motion of the subject and improve the quality of a PET image reconstructed accordingly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for correcting mismatch induced by respiratory motion in positron emission tomography image reconstruction

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.


Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate the evaluation of hosted computing devices in accordance with target patterns. A set of target patterns can be developed for elements common to a plurality of hosted computing networks. The set of target patterns can be defined utilizing a detailed pattern language to describe elements of a hosted computing device network and relationships between the elements. Thereafter, a hosted computing device network management component can utilize the set of target patterns to verify and validate a deployed hosted computing network or to process purposed modifications/configurations to a deployed hosted computing network.

Generally described, computing devices utilize a communication network, or a series of communication networks, to exchange data. Companies and organizations operate computer networks that interconnect a number of computing devices to support operations or provide services to third parties. The computing systems can be located in a single geographic location or located in multiple, distinct geographic locations (e.g., interconnected via private or public communication networks). Specifically, data centers or data processing centers, herein generally referred to as a "data center," may include a number of interconnected computing systems to provide computing resources to users of the data center. The data centers may be private data centers operated on behalf of an organization or public data centers operated on behalf, or for the benefit of, the general public.
To facilitate increased utilization of data center resources, virtualization technologies may allow a single physical computing device to host one or more instances of virtual machines that appear and operate as independent computing devices to users of a data center. With virtualization, the single physical computing device can create, maintain, delete, or otherwise manage virtual machines in a dynamic matter. In turn, users can request computer resources from a data center, including single computing devices or a configuration of networked computing devices, and be provided with varying numbers of virtual machine resources.
In some scenarios, virtual machine instances may be configured according to a number of virtual machine instance types to provide specific functionality. For example, a virtual machine instance may be associated with different combinations of operating systems or operating system configurations, virtualized hardware resources, and software applications or software application configurations to enable the virtual machine instance to provide different desired functionalities, or to provide similar functionalities more efficiently. For example, a data center may offer customers virtual machine instance types corresponding to database servers, web servers, networking devices, and the like. In more complex embodiments, data centers can further offer hosted virtual machine or hosted computing device networks including a number of interconnected computing devices (including physical computing devices or virtual machine instances).
In order to assist customer with the design and deployment of hosted networks, data centers can provide modeling tools that can describe aspects of a hosted network in accordance with the data center's best practices. For example, a customer may be presented with a graphical interface that allows the selection of various computing device components to be included in a hosted network and suggests appropriate configurations or interconnections for the selected computing device components. However, such design tools do not provide guidance in terms of modifications to a hosted network. Accordingly, performance of a hosted network may erode over time.


A detector (10) for detecting an object (42) in a media item (40), such as a check or banknote is described. The detector (10) comprises first electrically conducting means (14), such as a roller, disposed on one side of a media path (32); second electrically conducting means (16), such as another roller, disposed on an opposing side of the media path (32); insulating means (30a,b) for electrically insulating the first and second conducting means (14,16); and impedance measuring means (38) for measuring the impedance between the first and second electrically conducting means (14,16). By measuring the impedance between the conducting means (14,16) it is possible to determine if an electrically conducting object (42) is being carried by a media item (40).

The present invention relates to a detector for detecting an object carried by a media item. In particular, the invention relates to a detector for detecting electrically conducting objects, such as staples or clips, carried by laminar media items such as checks, banknotes, and such like. The invention also relates to a self-service terminal, such as an automated teller machine (ATM), including a detector for detecting objects carried by media items.
In addition to dispensing cash, it is common for ATMs to receive deposits from users. These deposits typically comprise one or more checks and/or one or more banknotes. To validate the authenticity of these media items, it is conventional to image the front and rear faces of each media item using an optical imager in close proximity to or in contact with the media item.
If a user deposits a media item carrying an object, such as a staple, a paperclip, or such like, then this object may scratch the optical imager, thereby degrading the performance of the imager. This may result in the imager becoming completely inoperative, requiring a technician to visit the ATM and replace the imager. This incurs the cost of:                the ATM being out of service, at least for deposit transactions,        the technician visiting the ATM, and        a replacement imager.
As many components within an ATM are electrically conducting, it is not feasible to use a metal detector to detect an object carried by a media item. Furthermore, as the object is generally small compared with the media item to which it is attached, it is difficult to detect the object as it is being transported within an ATM.


An antenna tube configured to accommodate a grounding clip and an antenna, the antenna tube having a cylindrical tube having an upper end and an inner end opposite the upper end; a circumferentially extending groove in the cylindrical tube located between the upper end and the inner end; and a tapered lip at the inner end of the cylindrical tube, wherein the grounding clip fits between the circumferentially extending groove and the tapered lip, and at least a portion of the antenna slidably fits into the upper end of the cylindrical tube.

In order to maximize signal reception and minimize noise, a good ground for an antenna is required. Unfortunately, in many mobile devices where the antenna is stored in a retracted state, proper grounding is not realized. This is generally the result of improper contact between the antenna contact block and a ground in the antenna tube assembly.
Further, even when an antenna does have a ground in a fully retracted position, in many cases this ground is ineffective when the antenna is not completely retracted. This can occur if a user fails to push the antenna completely into its mount, but rather leaves it partially extended.
Another problem with present grounding techniques occurs during assembly of the antenna, where the mounting tube can move axially. This axial movement shifts the fully retracted position of the antenna, resulting in ineffective grounding if the antenna requires a fully retracted position to be grounded properly.
A further problem with retractable antennae is that they can convey water into the antenna tube when they move from an extended state to a retracted state, especially when the mobile device is used in the rain.

Combination of tube assembly and clip for wireless antenna grounding


A method includes receiving an indication that a video mode is invoked, where the receiving causes the following operations to be automatically performed: obtaining a first frame and a second frame at a first frame rate; defining a first ROI in the first frame based on a user's selection; defining a second ROI in the second frame based on the first ROI; determining a first camera motion flow; determining a first ROI motion flow between the first ROI and a corresponding portion of the second ROI; determining a second frame rate based on a first comparative value determined using the first ROI motion flow and the first camera motion flow; and capturing a third frame at the second frame rate by an image sensor unit, or playing back a fourth frame at the second frame rate on a touch screen unit.

The present disclosure relates to the field of video capturing and playing back, and more particularly, to methods for automatically switching a video capturing and playing back frame rate.
Camera systems, such as mobile phones, digital still cameras (DSCs), digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs), camcorders, drones, and surveillance cameras capture fast motion scenes, such as sporting events, vehicles in motion, and a bird in flight, etc. When camera systems capture fast motion scenes at a normal frame rate, such as 30 frames per second (fps) or 60 fps, the fast motion in scenes may be reproduced as a blur or may be missed. Camera systems may be equipped to capture the scene with the fast motion at a higher frame rate, such as 120 fps, 240 fps, 480 fps or 960 fps, such that the fast motion in the scene may be played back in slow motion, such as at 30 fps or 60 fps, thereby showing the fast motion with more motion detail. In related art, a frame rate for capturing a scene with fast motion is selected by a user just before or while the fast motion takes place. However, the selection depends on human judgement and action and therefore may result in missing timing for desired capturing.

Methods for automatically switching video capturing and playing back frame rate

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A crash sensor system for a vehicle capable of operating in an autonomous mode includes an electronic control unit (ECU) having a processor circuit. The ECU triggers an occupant restraint system of the vehicle in the event of a severe impact event with the vehicle. Satellite sensors are electrically connected to the ECU and are mounted at the front end, the rear end, the right side and the left side of the vehicle near or on an outer surface thereof to detect low severity impact event with the vehicle that does not cause activation of the occupant restraint system. The processor circuit executes an algorithm to confirm, via data from the plurality of satellite sensors, whether the low severity impact event with the vehicle occurred and if so, the ECU triggers a brake controller and a steering controller to cause the vehicle, while in the autonomous mode, to pull over and stop.

Typically, state law requires that a vehicle be pulled over to the side of the road after an accident has occurred. This is generally a simple procedure when a driver, operating the vehicle, realizes that an accident or an impact to the vehicle has occurred.
Conventional crash sensors are typically used to determine if a severe crash has occurred and to activate an occupant restraint system such as airbags. However, when a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode and when a minor impact occurs to the vehicle that does not require activation of the occupant restraint system, the vehicle may not be instructed to pull over to the side of the road.
Thus, there is a need to provide a vehicle sensor system that confirms that a minor impact has occurred and if the vehicle is operated in an autonomous mode, the vehicle can be then be instructed to pull over and stop.

Low severity impact detection sensor system for a vehicle


In an image forming apparatus, a first duct connects a tank to a syringe. A second duct connects the syringe to a damper. A third duct connects the damper to the tank. A liquid surface sensor senses whether or not a liquid surface of the ink in the tank is located at or below a reference position. In a measurement mode, a controller performs injection of the ink into the damper after closing the first and third ducts. The controller opens the third duct after the damper is deformed. Then, the controller closes the second and third ducts. The controller opens the first duct and recognizes a suction amount of the ink sucked from the start of the suction until an output of the liquid surface sensor changes. The controller determines a variation amount based on the suction amount recognized.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus which performs printing by ejecting ink from a nozzle.
There are apparatuses that perform printing with ink. Such printing apparatuses are each provided with a head including a plurality of nozzles. Ink is ejected from the nozzles onto a sheet based on image data. When the ink is consumed, fresh ink is supplied to the head from an ink storage media (a tank). In some of such printing apparatuses, the ink flow path from the tank to the head is configured openable and closable. Regarding this configuration, there has been known the following technology.
Specifically, there is known an inkjet recording apparatus having an ink cartridge attachably and detachably attached in an ink supply path via which ink is supplied, and the ink cartridge has a region formed therein where a flow path is closable. The region of the ink cartridge is pressable, and ink is supplied to a recording head by pressing the region, and with the thereby supplied ink, the recording head performs printing. Then, the recording head is sealed, and a negative pressure is supplied to capping means.
There are cases where a damper is disposed in the middle of an ink flow path from an ink tank to a head. For example, the damper is connected to the head. For example, the damper moderates the variation of pressure applied to the ink inside a nozzle of the head. This helps reduce irregular ink ejection.
On the other hand, ink includes a vaporable component. If a nozzle is left unused (in other words, does not eject ink) for a long time, the ink in the nozzle becomes increasingly viscous (condensed) due to the evaporation of the vaporable component. The increasingly viscous (dried) ink sometimes causes poor ink ejection. Further, dust or fine particles adhered to a nozzle may prevent the nozzle from ejecting ink. To prevent such failures, there are cases where cleaning is performed to forcibly eject ink from nozzles. The cleaning helps prevent occurrence of such failures. Further, there are cases where even if a failure occurs, the failure can be cleared.
To perform forcible ink discharge, ink is sent out of an ink tank. For example, a pump is used to push the ink into a head with a strong force (a high pressure). The high pressure pushes the ink out of the nozzles of the head. Thereby, the highly viscous ink is pushed out of the nozzles. Dust and fine particles are washed away from the nozzles.
In a case where forcible ink discharge is performed, the pressure applied to the ink sometimes caused deformation of the damper. When the damper has a withstanding pressure lower than the pressure applied to the ink, the damper is deformed (expanded). The expanded damper has an increased capacity. As a result of the deformation of the damper, it sometimes happens that the amount of forcibly ejected ink is reduced. If the reduction of the amount is too great, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient effect of cleaning. On the other hand, there are individual differences in the deformation amount (the capacity variation amount) among different dampers. The capacity variation amount differs from damper to damper. To obtain a sufficient effect of cleaning, it is disadvantageously necessary to accurately measure the amount of variation in damper capacity (the amount of variation in damper ink capacity) caused by the deformation. Note that the above-described known technology is not related to damper deformation.

Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the same


An internal combustion engine is provided that basically comprises a combustion chamber, an electric discharge unit and a controller. The combustion chamber receives a mixture of fuel and air that is caused to undergo compression self ignition. The electric discharge unit is provided inside the combustion chamber to generate an electric discharge for conducting combustion inside the combustion chamber. The controller is configured to control a voltage applied to the electric discharge unit. The controller is configured to control the electric discharge unit such that a non-thermal plasma can be formed without incurring a transition to arc discharging, and to control the quantity and distribution of an activated air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber in accordance with an operating condition of the internal combustion engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine configured to ignite a premixed air-fuel mixture introduced into a cylinder by compression self ignition. The present invention also relates to a combustion control device for such an engine.
2. Background Information
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-71279 discloses an example of an internal combustion engine configured to ignite a premixed air-fuel mixture introduced into a cylinder by compression self ignition. An advantage of igniting a premixed air-fuel mixture by compression self ignition is that combustion reactions start substantially simultaneously in a plurality of places inside the cylinder, thus enabling a shorter combustion time and a more stable combustion performance than spark ignition to be accomplished even when the air-fuel ratio is lean. Thus, NOx emissions can be greatly reduced because the engine can be operated on a lean air-fuel mixture at a low combustion temperature. Meanwhile, a disadvantage of this combustion method is that the usable operating range, i.e., the load region and rotational speed (engine speed) region in which engine operation is possible, is very limited due to the knocking limit and the misfiring limit. More specifically, the flame propagation is different from that obtained with spark ignition in that the substantially simultaneous self ignitions of the fuel in the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber causes the combustion pressure to rise more rapidly than in the case of spark ignition. Consequently, operation of the compression self ignition engine becomes more difficult as the load increases. Thus, it is difficult to employ such an engine in applications requiring a wide operating region, such as in a vehicle.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-323829 (corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,213) discloses an internal combustion engine configured to vary the combustion start timing inside a combustion chamber using an ozone generating device provided in an intake port. More specifically, the combustion speed is controlled by changing an angle of the combustion start timing. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-020842 discloses another internal combustion engine in which the amount of radicals produced for radical reactions is controlled by setting the discharge start timing of a capacitive discharge or an inductive discharge of a spark plug or by providing two types of spark plugs having different capacitive discharge characteristics. By controlling the radical production amount, the combustion stability is controlled.

Internal combustion engine and combustion control method


A communications system and method for providing a cellular communications link between a user traveling on a mobile platform (or at a remote location) and a terrestrial based segment. The system and method uses a radio access segment located on board the mobile platform (or at the remote location) to interface with the user's personal communications device. The bearer terminal facilitates the transmission of information to and from the radio access segment, via an off-platform system, to the terrestrial segment. The terrestrial segment manages the communications link between one or more cellular service providers who are accessing the terrestrial segment and the mobile platform (or a remote site). The system does not limit access to the terrestrial segment to only one cellular service provider but instead allows virtually any number of cellular service providers to access the terrestrial segment and to participate in providing a cellular link to the mobile platform (or a remote site).

Providing cellular service to occupants traveling on mobile platforms such as buses, trains, ships or aircraft, or individuals located in remote areas not covered by classical cellular carriers, has proven to be a challenge. This is because cellular phone networks, while well known and ubiquitous, are still providing services in geographically fixed areas. Cell phone users enter cellular networks while physically located within regulatory assigned, geographical regions around the world. The user's personal profile information is then looked up in a carrier's database for access to the serving (local) carrier's network. If the network that the user is physically accessing is not the user's own cellular service provider, then the network is termed a "foreign" network.
When the user is attempting to access his/her cellular service provider through a foreign network, then roaming arrangements between the user's carrier (i.e., home location register (HLR)) and the network access provider (i.e., visitor location register (VLR)) are required in order to provide the user with cellular service in the geographic area covered by the foreign network. Roaming arrangements between all carriers is not ubiquitous and service is denied to the user in regions where these roaming arrangements have not been adopted. Thus, a cost effective, global, equal access method is needed to enable cellular phone use on mobile platforms that often move at high speeds (and particularly so for modern day jet aircraft) across multiple geographic cellular regions, and where no cellular coverage may exist, such as in remote locations, or where coverage is no longer obtainable. The classic cellular roaming arrangement does not provide the capability to connect subscribers where there is no specific cellular infrastructure in place to cover the subscriber's location (e.g., mobile platforms such as aircrafts, ships, trains or in remote locations). Furthermore, no single cellular carrier can justify the implementation of global service coverage due to specific geographic licensed operational constraints. As a result, mobile subscribers (i.e., subscribers traveling on busses, ships, trains and aircraft, etc.) are required to drop existing connections before roaming into a region covered by a foreign network, and then are required to reestablish connections via the new foreign network.
One attempt at alleviating the problem of enabling mobile users to maintain connections with their cellular service provider is to employ the use of "picocells". Picocells have been deployed in confined spaces such as within buildings, and even within specific rooms within a building, to allow occupants to communicate with mobile phones and wireless computing devices. With mobile platform (aircraft, ships, etc.) applications, the major technical problem is that there is no way to connect a mobile or remotely located picocell to the ground based cellular infrastructure at a sufficiently low cost, and with equal access being provided to all cellular service providers capable of serving the mobile or remotely located picocell. Simply connecting to a single cellular service provider would not be a viable solution, as it would exclude the portion of the population not subscribing to that particular cellular carrier's service or to those who have a roaming agreement with that particular cellular carrier. This would also be highly undesirable for the remaining cellular carriers that have been excluded. Furthermore, it is impractical to establish roaming relationships with all cellular carriers. Therefore, it is highly desirable to offer access to all cellular service providers based on what services they can provide to the end users traveling on a mobile platform or located at a remote location.
It therefore would be highly desirable to provide a system and method that allows an occupant on a mobile platform, or in a remote location, the opportunity to establish a wireless communications link with the user's terrestrial-based cellular service provider, and further when the user is outside a geographic coverage region of his/her service provider, and further with the assistance of a foreign network. Such an invention would make it unnecessary to rely on roaming agreements to establish voice and data communications between users on board a mobile platform or in a remote area and each user's own cellular service provider when the user is outside of his/her cellular service provider's geographic coverage region.

System and method for providing voice and data communications between persons onboard a mobile platform and a cellular base station