A prosthetic cushion liner and cushion locking liner for use as a standalone interface between an amputee's residual limb and the interior of a prosthetic socket. The liners include a fabric covering having an open end for introduction of a residual limb and a closed end opposite said open end, and a cushioning block copolymer and plasticizing oil gel composition residing on only an interior surface of the fabric covering. The gel composition includes some amount of a Septon J-Series thermoplastic elastomer material, and/or some amount of a Septon V-Series thermoplastic elastomer material, and/or some amount of a Septon Q-Series thermoplastic elastomer material. The cushion locking liner further includes a distally-located connecting element for coupling the liner to the socket of a prosthesis.

Polymeric prosthetic liners (or "liners") have become the interface of choice among amputees due to various beneficial characteristics thereof. These characteristics include, for example, comfort, security of suspension, protection of the residual limb, and ease of use. Modern liner technology allows amputees to employ a liner as the sole (stand-alone) interface between their residual limb (which is also commonly referred to as a residuum or amputation stump) and the interior of a prosthetic socket—in contrast to known wool or knit socks and cushioned socks or sheaths that must be worn in multiple layers and/or various combinations to provide sufficient cushioning and protection to a residual limb.
Prosthetic liners may be non-suspensory in nature. Non-suspensory liners are commonly referred to as "cushion liners." Prosthetic liners may optionally be suspensory in nature and may, therefore, include a docking element that facilitates suspension by mechanical attachment of the liner to the socket of a prosthesis. Suspensory liners are commonly referred to as "locking liners" or "cushion locking liner." Liners can be of standard "off-the-shelf" design, meaning the liner is of generic shape and will fit a range of residual limb shapes and sizes. Alternatively, liners may be custom designed for a particular amputee.
Liners may be comprised of various polymeric materials, including silicone, urethane, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) gels. Liners are now commonly made using various block copolymer and mineral oil gel compositions. Such polymeric materials, particularly block copolymer and mineral oil gel compositions, have proven themselves to provide an optimal level of comfort for most users.
It is also known to construct such liners with an outer layer of fabric. For example, the present assignee produces patented fabric-covered liners having an interior of exposed polymeric gel for contacting and cushioning an amputee's residual limb, and an integrated outer layer of fabric for, among other things, increasing the wear resistance of the liner, and facilitating donning/doffing and insertion of the liner-covered residual limb into a prosthetic socket.
As would be understood by one of skill in the art, liners as described above are frequently used by lower limb amputees. Lower limb amputees generally fall into one of two categories: above knee (AK) amputees and below knee (BK) amputees. In the case of a BK amputee, the knee joint is still present and, thus, a bending of the residual limb at the knee joint will still occur during ambulation. While the prosthetic hard socket of a BK prosthesis is generally recessed to accommodate the knee joint, BK amputees typically wear a liner that extends over the knee joint to some point along the thigh of the residual limb. Consequently, bending of the knee joint occurs under cover of the liner.
In a typical below-knee (BK) prosthesis an amputee's stump tends to "piston" in the socket: during ambulation the stump will come up in the socket of the prosthesis until the attaching means holding the prosthesis to the wearer causes the prosthesis to lift with the stump. On the way down, air may be trapped between the residuum and stump sock, or between the prosthesis socket and sock, or between a socket liner and a sock.
With wool and cotton socks which tend to breathe and which are not airtight, this pistoning effect is not a major problem with regard to the generation of sound effects. Since wool and cotton tend not to tightly form fit a residuum, the amputee typically packs a material around the residuum once it is placed into the prosthetic device or adds additional socks to increase thickness or puts on thicker socks in order to provide necessary fit. However, for socks which do not breathe and which are made from, e.g., polymeric material, a problem occurs when the residuum pistons in the prosthetic device: sound effects such as sucking and gurgling noises are generated which are obtrusive and inappropriate, often embarrassing the wearer. In addition, such air pockets produce non-uniform pressures and loading discontinuities on the skin, irritating it.
Finally, many amputees experience a swelling of the stump. When the residuum is in a prosthetic socket the stump tends to contract significantly, and when taken out of the socket the stump tends to expand within minutes of removal. This expansion and contraction of the residuum contributes to the development of air pockets and the generation of obtrusive noises since a sock which may have provided a comfortable fit on the expanded stump becomes a loose fit with air pocket opportunities when the residuum is placed inside the prosthetic socket. In addition, and over time, an amputee's residuum tends to adjust in size, usually shrinking. As these changes occur they increase the tendency for the pistoning effect, described above, to occur. In addition to the embarrassment caused by the sound effects generated by pistoning, cushioned socks which allow or promote air pocket formation quickly wear out and, if not replaced often, lead to lesions, etc. on the residuum.
Known cushioned residuum sheaths and socks are frequently purely tubular in shape, but may also be conical in shape. In either case, these devices often do not provide a form fit on an amputee's residuum. Further, regardless of whether such sheaths/socks are provided with internal and/or external cushioning material they frequently fail to avoid air pockets. While a stump may generally have a roughly conical or cubical shape there are invariably recessed areas on, e.g., the medial side of the prominent tibia bone. Generally, on the left side of a below knee residual limb, the recessed area will be predominantly on the right side of the tibia bone. There is also typically a smaller recessed area on the left side. For right side residual limbs the predominant recessed area is on the left side of the bone, with smaller recessed areas on the right side. Usually the greatest recess occurs immediately below the patella, on either side. In addition, left side amputees typically have a right side bias to the bony prominence of the below knee stump, and right side amputees have a similar bias to the left side. Conventional tubular or conical elastic socks simply cannot account for these several variable conditions without using extremely high levels of elastic tension which compress the outer-most points along the stump's circumference, causing discomfort and a non-uniform fit.
Amputees typically attach a prosthetic limb to their residual limb by means of a rigid socket, liner, and a suspension means. The rigid socket is often custom fabricated to match the shape of the intended users residual limb and may be made of thermoplastic or fiber-reinforced thermoset materials, but can also be made from wood, metal, etc. Since such hard materials are generally uncomfortable when in intimate contact with the skin over long periods of time, especially under load bearing conditions, liners and/or prosthetic socks are often used as interface members between the hard socket and the residual limb to increase comfort. Early liners were commonly made of an open cell foam, such as Pelite or Kemblo, but were also made of silicone, urethane, etc., type of materials. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,037 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,132, both incorporated herein by reference. Prosthetic socks, as mentioned above, may be made of wool, cotton, synthetic materials, etc., and amputees tend to prefer liners and socks which are easily changed to facilitate cleaning, to accommodate volume changes in the residual limb, or to accommodate different user activities.
Suspension systems which help to hold a prosthetic limb in place may or may not be an integral part of the rigid socket and/or liner. Examples of suspension systems include supracondylar or waist belt, joint and corset systems, neoprene or latex sleeves, socket ears which grip the condyles, suction or pin and lock systems such as those where the pin is attached to a liner and the lock is attached to a hard socket, etc. Examples of various suspension systems may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,474, U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,475, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,937, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,456, U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,773, U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,774, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,464, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,923, U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,497, U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,245, U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,131 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,405, all incorporated herein by reference.
As block copolymer based prosthetic liners have become increasingly popular, it can be understood that further development of prosthetic liners using such materials would be desirable. The present invention is directed to such a further development.

Fabric covered polymeric prosthetic liner


A battery charger is disposed above an exhaust pipe, and a junction box is disposed above the charger. The charger includes a cooler having a forced cooling function.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electrical part fixing structure for hybrid vehicles, and particularly, to an electrical part fixing structure for hybrid vehicles including electrical parts disposed under a floor panel.
2. Background Art
Engine-mounted vehicles generally have a fuel tank and an exhaust pipe arranged under a floor panel. Hybrid vehicles have a traction motor mounted besides an engine, and associated electrical parts including a battery and an inverter. Such hybrid vehicles have power cable sets for electrical connections along a course between the battery and the inverter and a course between the inverter and the traction motor (refer to the PTL 1 below). In practical applications, such a power cable set has its constituent power cables divided in mid-course, as necessary, for the convenience in the fixing to a chassis. Such divided power cables are interconnected at a junction box being an electrical connection box. Hybrid vehicles are adapted to recharge the battery from an external power source. Such hybrid vehicles have a battery charger as an additional electrical part.
There are electrical part fixing structures for hybrid vehicles including such electrical parts disposed under a floor panel having arranged a fuel tank and an exhaust pipe. They pursue efficiencies in the spatial arrangement and the heat balance of their constituent parts.

Electrical part fixing structure for hybrid vehicles


A recessed lighting trim comprises a reflector, a circular frame connected to the reflector, and a circular translucent plate mounted in the frame. The translucent plate is retained in the plate by tabs of the frame which are bent onto the translucent plate. The frame includes hooks adapted to be received in slots formed in the reflector to enable the frame to be installed and removed by being rotated relative to the reflector. A chain connects the frame to the reflector to prevent the frame from falling after being removed from the reflector.

The present invention relates to a recessed lighting fixture and, in particular, to a connecting arrangement between a reflector and a frame for carrying a translucent body.
Recessed lighting fixtures are conventional which comprise a metal reflector mounted in a ceiling recess so as to form a chamber in which a lamp is received. The chamber has a circular opening at its lower end, and a translucent plate extends across the opening. The plate is carried by a frame which is removably mounted to the reflector. When the lamp requires replacement, it is often necessary to pull the entire reflector from the ceiling which involves an undesirable amount of effort and involves a risk of damage to the translucent plate.
It would be desirable to provide a recessed ceiling fixture which facilitates the replacement of a lamp in a rapid manner with minimal risk of damage to the translucent plate.


An improved punch retainer is disclosed in which a backing plate extends over a relatively large surface area to dissipate force from a punch. A punch retainer body and the tacking plate are permanently connected to each other and include passages which are finally ground after the two have been permanently connected. With this arrangement, it is ensured that passages within the backing plate and retainer body are all properly aligned during formation of the punch retainer. Since the backing plate dissipates force over a relatively large surface area, the punch retainer may be used in heavier applications than prior art punch retainers. A spring passage may be closed off by a seal received in the backing plate, allowing the use of standard springs. In a method according to the present invention, a dowel passage in the backing plate is finally ground such that it is centered on the center line of the punch within the retainer. The punch is of a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the punch retainer passage and has a center line which is slightly offset from the center line of the punch retainer passage. Thus, by ensuring that the dowel passage in the backing plate is finally ground such that its center line is coaxial with the center line of the punch, it is ensured that the punch is more accurately positioned on a punch die shoe. Parts formed by the inventive punch retainer are more accurate than those formed by prior art punch retainers.

The present invention relates to an improvement in punch retainers for use in a punch and die assembly.
Punch retainers are used in the prior art to retain a punch in a die shoe when the punch is moved to form an aperture in a sheet of metal. Typically, ball lock punch retainers spring-bias a ball into a notch in the punch. In many prior art retainers a backing plate is attached, suing screws or other non-permanent methods, to a retainer body to dissipate reactive forces from the punch when it is forced into a piece of metal, to form an aperture in the metal. These prior art retainers include a number of passages through which dowels extend to properly align the punch retainer with an upper die shoe of a punch and die assembly. Problems are encountered with this type of prior art retainer since the retainer body is connected to the backing plate after formation of the individual parts. The various passages that extend through the retainer body and the backing plate are often improperly aligned and require close attention by an operator to assemble the punch retainer to a die shoe, which is inefficient. There is often waste since a particular backing plate may not be utilized with a particular punch retainer if the passages in the two can not be properly aligned.
Other problems encountered with the use of backing plates include the fact that the punch is normally slightly smaller in diameter than the punch passage. The passages in the backing plate which are aligned with the punch passage are typically formed in an attempt to center them on the punch passage. As stated above, the prior art cannot always achieve this goal. Even if it did achieve the goal, however, the punch itself is smaller than the punch passage and its center is typically not aligned with the center of the punch passage. Thus, forming the center of the dowel passage in the backing plate such that it is centered with the punch passage does not ensure that the dowel passage is centered on the punch. In fact, it ensures the punch passage is not centered on the punch if the punch retainer is a ball lock type wherein the punch is biased. This creates problems with positioning of the punch, since the dowel passage in the backing plate is used to position the punch retainer on the upper die shoe. In use, a ball biased by a spring typically forces the punch against an outer face of the punch passage such that its center is off-center from the center of the punch passage. Thus, the center line of the dowel passage in the backing plate is typically off-center from the center line of the punch, and the punch is thus not precisely positioned on the upper die shoe.
Further, since the position of the punch on the upper die shoe is determined by the position of the dowel pin extending through the dowel passage, it is important that the dowel passage be accurately positioned relative to the punch. This goal is further made difficult due to the fact that the manufacturing tolerances in forming the punch retainer passage, the dowel passage, the outer diameter of the punch itself, and in securing the backing plate to the retainer body, in combination with the above-discussed problem, all build up to result in a composite inaccuracy that may result in the punch being out of position relative to the upper die shoe by an undesirably large amount. This could result in the parts that are formed by the punch having apertures formed at locations away from a desired location.
Some prior art punch retainers attempt to solve some of these problems by eliminating the backing plate. An example of such a prior art retainer is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,124. In this patent, a plug is utilized in place of a backing plate to dissipate the force received from the punch. The force-dissipating plug must be aligned with the rear of the punch retainer passage so that the reactive force transmitted into the punch will be transmitted into the plug. This patent addressed the alignment problem inherent in the previously discussed prior art by having a dowel aligned with the punch retainer passage extend through the plug and into the die shoe. By eliminating the backing plate, the problem of achieving a number of properly aligned passages through both a retainer body and a backing plate is reduced. A similar device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,226.
Problems are still encountered with this type of punch retainer. The forces that must be dissipated from the punch are often of relatively large magnitude, and the plugs disclosed in the above-mentioned patents extend for a relatively small surface area. These plugs sometimes may not adequately dissipate a force, since they do not extend over an adequate surface area.
In addition, prior art punch retainers are also impractical since it is difficult to secure the spring which biases the ball into a spring passage. Special springs are often required which are more expensive than standard springs.
It is an object of the present invention to disclose a punch retainer which utilizes a backing plate such that an adequate surface area is achieved for force-dissipating means; at the same time not requiring alignment of passage within a retainer body and a backing plate when attaching the punch retainer to a die shoe. In addition, the present invention discloses a punch retainer that doe snot require special springs to bias the ball into the punch.


A measuring device for measuring a response of a device under test to a carrier aggregation signal is provided. The measuring device comprises a signal generator configured to generate the carrier aggregation signal, which comprises a first carrier signal and/or a second carrier signal. The measuring device comprises a control unit configured to control the signal generator to user-selectably, individually and dynamically, activate and deactivate the carrier signals within the carrier aggregation signal.

Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-Advanced) (3GPPP LTE Release 10 & beyond) is a 4th Generation (4G) mobile communication system enhancing the basic LTE technology specified in 3GPP Release 8. Carrier Aggregation (CA) is among the multiple features introduced with LTE-Advanced. In order to increase bandwidth and thereby bitrate, an LTE-Advanced capable terminal or user equipment (UE) can be allocated downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) aggregated resources comprising two or more carriers, wherein aggregated carriers are referred to as Component Carriers (CC).
Three different modes of CA are defined within LTE-Advanced: (1) intra-band contiguous CA; (2) intra-band non-contiguous CA; and (3) inter-band CA. Intra-band CA relates to carrier aggregation wherein the component carriers belong to the same operating frequency band. For contiguous CA, contiguous component carriers are allocated while for non-contiguous CA carriers are allocated with one or more gaps between them. In case of inter-band CA, the component carriers belong to different operating frequency bands.
A component carrier can have a bandwidth of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20 Megahertz (MHz) and it is envisaged that a maximum of five component carriers can be aggregated, resulting in a maximum aggregated bandwidth of 100 MHz instead of at most 20 MHz without CA. However, according to Release 11 the maximum number of carriers in DL is 2, i.e. 2DL CA and therefore maximum aggregated bandwidth is 40 MHz. As an example, 3GPP TS 36.101 version 11.6.0 Release 11 may be consulted for further details on required UE transmission and reception characteristics.
It is envisaged that more than two, i.e. three downlink carrier aggregation (3DL CA), four downlink carrier aggregation (4DL CA), or five downlink carrier aggregation (5DL CA) will be introduced in the next releases to come. Current implementations are also restricted to one UL carrier, i.e. no CA on UL, while 2UL CA systems can be contemplated for future releases.
UEs can be said to support a specific functionality in case they have been tested accordingly to verify proper functioning. 3GPP TS 36.508 version 11.2.0, for example, defines a common test environment for UE conformance testing in Release 11 and 3GPP TS 36.521-1 version 11.2.0, Release 11 defines UE conformance specifications for radio transmission and reception for conformance testing including measurement procedures for the conformance tests. Test cases are defined for testing UE capabilities such as reference sensitivity level, maximum input level, adjacent channel selectivity, blocking characteristics, etc., wherein test cases are defined without taking the CA feature into account, i.e. a single carrier is established only, while other test cases measure the UE capabilities when CA is active, i.e. for 2DL CA in case of Release 11.
When performing state of the art carrier aggregation tests, so far, the entire test case had to be prepared beforehand. This means that the number of carriers, the protocols state of the individual carriers, the frequency bandwidth, etc. of the carriers all had to be set in advance, before the actual measurement could begin. This resulted in a low flexibility, since an operator of the measuring device could not on the fly change any of these settings without stopping the measurement and initiating a new measurement afterwards.
For example, the US-Patent Publication US 2014/0029440 A1 shows a state of the art carrier aggregation testing method and apparatus. This method and apparatus shows the above-mentioned disadvantages.
There is a need, therefore, for an approach that provides a measuring device and method, which allow for a very flexible measurement of the response of a device under test to carrier aggregation signals.

Measuring device and measuring method for dynamically measuring carrier aggregation signals


A device for use in training a golfer when the golfer is repeating a golf swing, as in a confined space, without a golf club, comprising, a central tube fabricated of plastic polyvinylchloride with a wall diameter and thickness to allow limited resilience and flexibility, the central tube having a pair of apertures therethrough radially aligned at each end; a first end tube fabricated of plastic having a pair of apertures at its axial interior end aligned with the apertures at the first end of the central tube and with an interior wall diameter to fit over the end of the central tube, and a single weight at the end thereof; a second end tube fabricated of plastic and having a pair of apertures at its axially exterior end aligned with the apertures at the second end of the central tube and with an exterior diameter to fit within the first end of the central tube and a plurality of weights at the axially exterior end thereof, the second elongated tube having greater flexibility than that of the first end tube; and fastener means positionable through the aligned holes of the three tubes for releasably coupling them along a common axis. The central tube may also contain a tubular member in which a marble is located for movement within the interior space upon the tipping of the device in one direction or another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an end weighted golf trainer and more particularly pertains to a device for being supported by a golfer when practicing a golf swing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of golf trainers are well known in the prior art. More specifically, golf trainers heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of training a golfer in a repeatable swing are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,244 Trifaro discloses a training aid for a golfer which is positionable across the small of the back and held into position by the crook of the arms at the elbows of the player. U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,781 to Kane as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,391 to Saenz both relate to exercise devices not necessarily pertinent to golf which involves symmetrically oriented devices positioned across the back of the neck of the user. Such devices appear to be equally weighted and are not suitable for use as a golf training aid.
In this respect, the golf trainer according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of practicing a repeatable swing.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved trainers which can be used by golfers' away from the golf course. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An absorbent article can include, in an immobilized form:                a) microcapsules formed, in a proportion of at least 25% by weight relative to the total weight of polymer(s) forming the microcapsules, of a material derived from at least one natural polymer, a protein analog thereof, or a derivative thereof, and charged with at least one active agent, and        b) at least one release agent that is capable of stimulating the dissolution of the microcapsules during the placing of the absorbent article in contact with an aqueous medium, and chosen from enzymes, surfactants that are water-soluble at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and mixtures thereof,        the microcapsules a) and the release agent b) being present in the said article in a form isolated from each other.

Absorbent personal hygiene articles are well known. Typical examples of such absorbent articles that may especially be mentioned include sanitary towels, pantiliners, tampons, articles for incontinent adults, baby nappies, etc.
These articles are commonly used for absorbing and retaining bodily fluids and other exudates excreted by the human body, such as urine and menstruations.
These absorbent personal hygiene articles may, however, lead to the appearance of irritation and/or allergy, especially in the case of people with sensitive skin, and/or on account of the presence of the bodily fluids and/or exudates, they may be perceived as being malodorous.
Consequently, many methods and materials for controlling and reducing these problems of irritation, allergy and/or unpleasant odours in absorbent articles have been developed.
With regard in particular to the problem of unpleasant odours, fragranced materials are widely used for this purpose, as are ingredients such as silica or zeolites which are capable of trapping some of the molecules that generate unpleasant odours.
A drawback commonly observed is the permanent manifestation of the odour of fragrance on the absorbent article and thus, before use of the said article, which, for obvious reasons, may not be acceptable to certain consumers.
In addition, owing to the continuous contact of the absorbent article with the external medium, another drawback encountered is impairment of the olfactory power, or even a change in the fragranced materials over time.
Techniques for controlling unpleasant odours which do not give a perceptible odour to the absorbent article before its use have already been proposed.
In this respect, mention may especially be made of documents WO 94/22500, WO 94/22501, WO 2005/120 412, U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,290, U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,272, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,628 or WO 2012/087 891.
Finally, another drawback is the rate of release of the fragranced materials, which may occasionally be insufficient, to the point that a malodorous emission is nevertheless perceived.
Although absorbent personal hygiene articles on the market to date may be judged as being satisfactory with regard to the aspects mentioned above, the use of absorbent personal hygiene articles having further improved characteristics regarding these aspects, in particular in terms of rate of release of the active agent under consideration, remains a constant objective.


According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for processing queries analyzes statistical information of input data records in relation to a first operation for a query. The system applies the first operation to a plurality of groups of input data records to produce corresponding groups of output data records, and coalesces the sets of output data records to form larger sets of data records for input to a subsequent second operation for the query based on the analysis. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for processing queries in substantially the same manners described above.

1. Technical Field
Present invention embodiments relate to processing queries, and more specifically, to introducing operations for coalescing subsets of intermediate results into a query plan.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In a relational database management system (RDBMS), data is conceptually organized into tables consisting of a set of rows (records) and columns (attributes). Most RDBMSs use a row-oriented scheme, in which attributes of a record are stored together contiguously. However, in a column-oriented relational database management system (RDBMS) the values of individual columns are stored contiguously. At the storage level, the data may be divided into so-called "chunks" having a predefined, system-wide, size (e.g., containing hundreds or thousands of complete rows in a row-oriented scheme or single-column values in a column-oriented scheme).
When an RDBMS receives a query, typically in the form of a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement, a planner and optimizer component of the RDBMS determines a series of steps or operations for retrieving the requested information from the database. This series of steps is referred to as a query execution plan or query plan. In one architecture for executing a query plan, dedicated threads or processes (referred to as worker units) are used to carry out the steps. Each worker unit operates (e.g., adds values of two columns together, determines whether values of two columns are equal to each other, etc.) on one input chunk at a time to produce an output chunk for input to the next worker unit.
The planner and optimizer component may generate an optimized plan for query processing based on statistics for the data and the logic of the SQL statement. However, this procedure does not take into account the data organization and processing architecture.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Coalescing operation for query processing

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Methods of using and making and apparatuses utilizing a filtered actuator port for hydraulically actuated down hole tools. The filtered port prevents sand or other debris from entering the actuator workings of a tool. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, hydraulic tools utilizing filtered actuator ports are disclosed. In a second aspect, the filtered port comprises fine slots disposed through a wall of a mandrel spaced around the circumference of the mandrel. In a third aspect, the inlet port is formed by laser cutting or electrical discharge machining. In a fourth aspect, the filtered port is disposed in various components of a fracture pack-off system. Methods of using the fracture pack-off system utilizing the filtered port are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to downhole tools for a hydrocarbon wellbore. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus useful in conducting a fracturing or other wellbore treating operation. More particularly still, this invention relates to a filtered inlet port through which a wellbore treating fluid such as a "frac" fluid may be pumped without obstructing the workings of a hydraulic tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the drilling of oil and gas wells, a wellbore is formed using a drill bit that is urged downwardly at a lower end of a drill string. When the well is drilled to a first designated depth, a first string of casing is run into the wellbore. The first string of casing is hung from the surface, and then cement is circulated into the annulus behind the casing. Typically, the well is drilled to a second designated depth after the first string of casing is set in the wellbore. A second string of casing, or liner, is run into the wellbore to the second designated depth. This process may be repeated with additional liner strings until the well has been drilled to total depth. In this manner, wells are typically formed with two or more strings of casing having an ever-decreasing diameter.
After a well has been drilled, it is desirable to provide a flow path for hydrocarbons from the surrounding formation into the newly formed wellbore. Therefore, after all casing has been set, perforations are shot through the liner string at a depth which equates to the anticipated depth of hydrocarbons. Alternatively, a liner having pre-formed slots may be run into the hole as casing. Alternatively still, a lower portion of the wellbore may remain uncased so that the formation and fluids residing therein remain exposed to the wellbore.
In many instances, either before or after production has begun, it is desirable to inject a treating fluid into the surrounding formation at particular depths. Such a depth is sometimes referred to as "an area of interest" in a formation. Various treating fluids are known, such as acids, polymers, and fracturing fluids.
In order to treat an area of interest, it is desirable to "straddle" the area of interest within the wellbore. This is typically done by "packing off" the wellbore above and below the area of interest. To accomplish this, a first packer having a packing element is set above the area of interest, and a second packer also having a packing element is set below the area of interest. Treating fluids can then be injected under pressure into the formation between the two set packers.
A variety of pack-off tools are available which include two selectively-settable and spaced-apart packing elements. Several such prior art tools use a piston or pistons movable in response to hydraulic pressure in order to actuate the setting apparatus for the packing elements. However, debris or other material can block or clog the piston apparatus, inhibiting or preventing setting of the packing elements. Such debris can also prevent the un-setting or release of the packing elements. This is particularly true during fracturing operations, or "frac jobs," which utilize sand or granular aggregate as part of the formation treatment fluid.
Prior solutions to the debris problem have included running in a filter or screen above the down-hole tool. This has several disadvantages. First, once the screen is run above the down-hole tool, full pressure can no longer be transmitted to the piston. Second, emergency release mechanisms and other devices actuated by a ball cannot be used.
There is, therefore, a need for a hydraulic down-hole tool which does not require a piston susceptible to becoming clogged by sand or other debris.

Filtered actuator port for hydraulically actuated downhole tools


The present invention relates to a system and method for providing additional information using image matching. The present invention provides a system for providing additional information using image matching, including: a image input unit configured to receive a video or an image input from a user terminal; a query image determination unit configured to determine a query image, i.e., a query target, from the video or image received from the image input unit; a feature point extraction unit configured to extract feature points of the query image determined by the query image determination unit, and to generate feature point information of the extracted feature points; a reference meta-information database configured to store a structure image identifier (ID) of a structure image of a structure on which an original image has been installed, structure image feature point information of the structure image, and additional information to be provided to the user terminal in association with the structure image ID; an image matching unit configured to determine a matching structure image ID by comparing the feature point information of the query image generated by the feature point extraction unit with the structure image feature point information stored in the reference meta-information database; and an additional information provision unit configured to provide the additional information stored in association with the structure image ID determined by the image matching unit to the user terminal, and a method using the same.

In a daily life environment, there are an enormous number of images everywhere you look around. The majority of these images are intended to transfer specific messages to viewers. For example, with respect to a method of performing advertisement using an image, although an advertisement has been provided via an outdoor billboard to which an output very-large image has been attached in its early stage, this method is recently being changed to a method of transferring a digitized image or video to the public present in a specific time span and in a specific space via a large-sized monitor. However, most current methods of transferring a message via an image still remain in a unilateral form in which a message is transferred from an image from a user.
In this respect, there is a need for the development of technology for enabling a provider who provides a specific image or video, such as an advertisement, to automatically determine whether a user has observed the corresponding image or video and then provide appropriate additional information to the user accordingly.
Meanwhile, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2013-0008109 (published on Jan. 22, 2013) relates to "a mobile terminal, a news provision apparatus, and a location-based news provision method," and discloses a method of receiving location information from a mobile terminal and transmitting related news information based on the received location information to the corresponding terminal. However, the method requires that location information is accurately received from the terminal first, and thus the terminal itself should acquire location information. Accordingly, the method has a limitation in that news information cannot be provided to a terminal that cannot acquire location information because the terminal has no location information acquisition means or a terminal that does not transmit location information.

System and method for providing additional information using image matching


A photographic element including a support bearing at least one photographic silver halide emulsion layer and bearing on the opposite side of the support a layer containing at least one blocked developing agent or precursor thereof provides automatic developing agent replenishment of the developing bath upon processing.

This invention pertains to photographic elements, and in particular to photographic elements incorporating blocked photographic developers in a novel arrangement of layers.
It is well known in the art that the introduction of conventional color developers, such as p-aminophenols, into sensitized photographic elements containing silver halide salts, leads to desensitization of the silver halide emulsion and enhanced fog in such layers. Much effort has therefore been directed at trying to produce effective blocked developers, which can be introduced in silver halide emulsion elements without deleterious desensitization or fog effects and which unblock chemically under conditions of development so that developer is free to produce a normal silver image and/or participate in color forming (dye forming) reactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,599, to Reeves, discloses the use of Schiff base developer precursors. Schleigh and Faul, in a Research Disclosure (129 (1975) pp. 27-30), described the quaternary blocking of color developer and the acetamido blocking of p-phenylenediamines. Subsequently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,915, to Hamaoka et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,418, to Waxman and Mourning, describe the preparation and use of carbamat blocked p-phenylenediamines.
All of these approaches and inventions have failed in practical product applications because of one or more of the following problems desensitization of sensitized silver halide; unacceptably slow unblocking kinetics; instability of blocked developer yielding increased fog and/or decreased Dmax after storage.
Recent developments in blocking and switching chemistry have led to blocked p-phenylenediamines that perform well. In particular, compounds having ".beta.-ketoester" type blocking groups (strictly, .beta.-ketoacyl blocking groups) are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,492. With the advent of the .beta.-ketoester blocking chemistry, it has become possible to incorporate developers in film systems in a form from which they only become active when required for development.
The incorporation of these blocked developers in photographic elements is carried out using colloidal gelatin dispersions of the blocked developers. These dispersions can be prepared using any means well known in the art. For example, in one such method, the developer precursor is dissolved in a high vapor pressure organic solvent (for example, ethyl acetate), along with, in some cases, a low vapor pressure organic solvent (such as dibutylphthalate), and then emulsified with an aqueous surfactant and gelatin solution. After emulsification, usually done with a colloid mill, the high vapor pressure organic solvent is removed by evaporation or by washing, as is well known in the art. The .beta.-ketoacyl blocked developers are released from the film layers in which they are incorporated by an alkaline developing solution containing a dinucleophile, for example hydroxylamine.
It has been known to the photographic art to coat a developer on the backs of plates, films and papers. In an early British Patent Specification (No. 1,201), Backelandt in 1888 disclosed the preparation of photographic plates, whereby the backs of the plates were entirely covered with a mixture comprising gallic acid or other reducing substance, salicylic acid, gum arabic, dextran, gelatin or other binder, alcohol, and water. After exposure, said plates were developed by dipping them into an aqueous ammonia solution or into a plain water solution (when half of the back of the plate had been coated with alkali in a suitable binder and when the other half of the back of the plate had been coated with the developing agents as described above). This reference showed how to incorporate sufficient developer in order to eliminate developer from the processing solution. The use of such plates, however, occasioned numerous difficulties arising from contact between the back side of one plate and the emulsion-bearing, light sensitive side of an adjacent plate in, for example, a magazine. These difficulties include mechanical scratching of one or both of the contacting layers, the desensitization of the contacted emulsion-bearing light sensitive layer by reducing agent diffusing from the adjacent incorporated developer layer, as well as difficulties from the thermal instability of the incorporated developer.
Thornton and Rothwell, in British Patent Specification No. 17,292 (April 1900), disclosed that fixing agents may in addition and in combination with developing agents be affixed to the back sides of photographic plates so that development and fixing may be done by placing the plate in a single water solution, after which the plate may be removed in daylight and subsequently washed free of residual chemicals.
In U.S. Pat. No. 786,535 (1905), Thornton and Rothwell disclosed preparation of similar back-coated plates and films, with the application of a further protective layer to the back side so as to overcome the foregoing deleterious effects of mechanical abrasion between adjacent plates, and further, to prevent oxygen from reaching the incorporated developer. Thornton and Rothwell, in U.S. Pat. No. 786,536 (1905), disclose a similar system applied to photographic paper used for producing prints from negatives.
Kelly, in British Patent Specification No. 13,835 (1907), and Bentham and Kelly, in British Patent Specification No. 26,066 (1905), disclosed the coating of a developing mixture comprised of metol (N-methyl-4aminophenol sulfate) and hydroquinone, in association with suitable borate-related compounds for pH control, to the back sides of plates, films, and printing-out papers. Development of the disclosed plates, films, and papers was obtained by placing them into a plain water solution, the required developer being acquired from that coated on the reverse sides.
Bolas, in British Patent Specification No. 24,667 (May 1907), disclosed the interposition of a neutral or inert or slightly acid preparation or sheet between the alkaline accelerator and the reducing agent.
Various automatic film processors adapted to develop, fix, wash, and dry sheets of light-sensitive material are known to those skilled in the art. Many forms of developer replenishment systems, manual and automatic, are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,472 describes the maintenance of a developer solution at a predetermined level of activity by delivering replenishment solution under the control of an electromechanical system.
Street et al., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,554,109 and 3,559,555, disclosed an image monitoring and control system for feeding replenishment chemicals to the film processor. The Street system is designed for use with sheets of image-bearing photosensitive materials.
Takita, in British Patent Specification No. 1,469,004 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,088, respectively, disclosed a method for stabilizing developer activity in an automatic film processor. The disclosed method is designed to keep developer activity within certain prescribed control limits, and represents an improvement over the control process described by Street et al.
Matsugo, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,151, disclosed a developer replenishment system for developing photographic films. The system comprises means for automatically pumping developer replenishment solution from a reservoir to the development tank, in proportion to the width and length of film processed in the tank.
Mertz, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,571, disclosed a replenisher for use with a photographic developer bath. Said replenisher comprises a mixture of a 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone and a hydroquinone (or derivative thereof), bromide, speed restrainer, and buffer to provide a pH of 10 at 25.degree. C.
Wernicke and Meckl, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,475, disclosed a process based on the regenerability of the developer.
Despite the technical sophistication of automatic developer solution replenishment systems, such systems continue to be susceptible to inaccuracy in development. For example, the known systems can exhibit a tendency to over-develop images for a short time immediately after addition of replenishment solution. Such systems also show gradual loss of activity during the time in which the developer solution is sitting idle and subject to aerial oxidation.
In conventional processors, replenishing developer solution is supplied directly to the developing tank, resulting in an instantaneous surge in developing activity, followed thereafter by a decrease in activity. This cyclical variation can result in uneven developed densities.
Whatever automated replenishment system is employed, extant processors require operators to mix and load developer solutions manually into replenisher tanks, thereby exposing the operators to the possibility of physically contacting the developer solutions. Such contact, in general, should be avoided.
When developers, developer precursors, and blocked developers are incorporated in emulsion layers containing silver halide or in layers in reactive association with silver halide, said developers can cause deleterious desensitization effects and unwanted incubation fog formation upon storage, prior to development.
Elements and processes involving the coating of unblocked developers, such as hydroquinone, on the back sides of films, plates, and papers suffer in that such developers are not stable with respect to oxidation during storage.
There has been a need for a photographic element incorporating a blocked developer which is stable until development. Then the element can be developed rapidly and easily. There has also been a need for a process for developing an image in a photographic element which employs a developing solution having a simplified composition.
There has also been a need for a process for developing an image in photographic elements by means of an automated apparatus whereby the activity of the developer in the developer bath is maintained constant by automated replenishment means. There has further been a need for a process which obviates the deleterious desensitization effects and unwanted incubation fog formation upon storage of the known systems. In addition, there has been a need for a process which avoids exposure of operators to potentially harmful developer solutions.

Element and process for photographic developer replenishment


The water-based ink set for ink-jet recording includes a cyan ink and a blue ink, or a cyan ink and a green ink. The cyan ink is a light cyan ink having a lightness (L*) of about 60 or more in the L*a*b* colorimetric system. A normal cyan ink having a lightness (L*) of about 60 or less in the L*a*b* calorimetric system is not included in the ink set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water-based ink set for ink-jet recording suitable for reducing graininess in a low density printed part and for extending a color reproduction range. The present invention also relates to an ink-jet recording method using this water-based ink set for ink-jet recording.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a color image is expressed by an ink-jet recording method, a three-color ink set has been generally used, composed of a yellow ink (Y), a magenta ink (M) and a cyan ink (C). Moreover, a four-color ink set has also been used in which a black ink (K) is further added to the standard three-color ink set.
Generally, in an ink-jet recording method, the gradation of an image is controlled by adjusting the density of dots formed by ejecting ink onto a recording material. However, when the gradation is controlled by such a method, the dot density decreases in a low density printed part. Relative to this, the individual dots become easily discernable to the eye, thereby causing the image to be grainy.
In view of the above, a method has been proposed in which two or more inks are employed as a cyan ink (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 1-95093). In this method, these inks have different dye concentrations and are composed of different kinds of dyes. In addition, a dye which is excellent in vividness but inferior in light fastness is employed as a dark color ink, and a dye which is excellent in light fastness but inferior in vividness is employed as a light color ink. Moreover, a similar method has been proposed for a magenta ink (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-127482). According to these methods, graininess can be improved, but a color reproduction range cannot be extended.
Generally, in a three-color ink set composed of yellow, magenta and cyan inks, and also in a four-color ink set in which a black ink is added to the three-color ink set, blue color is expressed by use of the cyan ink and the magenta ink, and green color is expressed by use of the cyan ink and the yellow ink. When these two inks are used to express blue color or green color as above, sharp printing quality and good color developing properties are difficult to achieve due to a landing error of superposition.
The present invention has been made to solve the abovementioned problems. Objects of the present invention are, in an ink-jet recording method:
(i) to reduce graininess in a low density printed part containing cyan color without reducing a color reproduction range in a blue direction and/or a green direction, and a cyan direction in a high density printed part, and with minimizing the number of inks composing an ink set; and
(ii) to extend the color reproduction range in the blue direction and/or the green direction to improve vividness.
The present inventors have conducted extensive studies on a water-based ink set for ink-jet recording. The studies are based on the hypothesis that the lightness (L*), the hue angle (h) and the chroma (C*) of the inks constituting the ink set are closely related to reducing graininess in a low density printed part of a color image and to extending the color reproduction range. Here, the lightness (L*), the hue angle (h) and the chroma (C*) are based on L*a*b* colorimetric system. Consequently, the present inventors have found that, in a water-based ink set for ink-jet recording having a cyan ink, the abovementioned objects (i) and (ii) can be achieved by employing a light cyan ink as the cyan ink and also employing a blue ink and/or a green ink. This light cyan ink has a lightness (L*) of a specific value or more and is employed in place of a normal cyan ink employed in a conventional ink set. Thus, the present invention has been completed.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a water-based ink set for ink-jet recording comprising a cyan ink and a blue ink. The ink set is characterized in that the cyan ink is a light cyan ink having a lightness (L*) of about 60 or more in the L*a*b* calorimetric system.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a water-based ink set for ink-jet recording comprising a cyan ink and a green ink. The ink set is characterized in that the cyan ink is a light cyan ink having a lightness (L*) of about 60 or more in the L*a*b* calorimetric system.
In addition, the present invention provides an ink-jet recording method employing any of the above-mentioned water-based ink sets for ink-jet recording.
The water-based ink set for ink-jet recording of the present invention comprises a light cyan ink having a low coloring agent concentration as a cyan ink. Therefore, when ink-jet recording is performed using this ink set, graininess can be reduced in a low density printed part containing cyan color.
Further, in another aspect, the ink set of the present invention comprises a blue ink in addition to the light cyan ink. Therefore, a color reproduction range in a cyan direction is not reduced in a high density printed part, and the color reproduction range in a blue direction is significantly extended, and the vividness of blue color is improved. The improvement of the vividness of blue color is achieved since blue color is not expressed by color mixing of a cyan ink and a magenta ink but can be expressed by the blue ink alone.
Further, according to the ink set of the present invention, the following effects can be achieved by use of the two inks, i.e., the light cyan ink and the blue ink: the reduction of graininess in a low density printed part containing cyan color; the prevention of the reduction of the color reproduction range of cyan color in a high density printed part; the significant extension of the color reproduction range in the blue direction; and the improvement of the vividness of blue color.
The ink set of the present invention in one aspect comprises a green ink in addition to the abovementioned light cyan ink. In this aspect, the color reproduction range in a cyan direction is not reduced in a high density printed part. In this case, the color reproduction range in a green direction is significantly extended, thereby improving the vividness of the green color. Incidentally, the improvement of the vividness of green color is not expressed by color mixing of a cyan ink and a yellow ink but can be expressed by the green ink alone.
Further, according to the ink set of the present invention, the following effects can be achieved by use of the two inks, i.e., the light cyan ink and the green ink: the reduction of graininess in a low density printed part containing cyan color; the prevention of the reduction of the color reproduction range of cyan color in a high density printed part; the significant extension of the color reproduction range in the green direction; and the improvement of the vividness of green color.
The ink set of the present invention in one aspect comprises a light cyan ink, a blue ink and a green ink. In this aspect, the color reproduction range in a blue direction as well as in a green direction is significantly extended, thereby improving the vividness of the blue color printed by use of the blue ink alone as well as the vividness of the green color printed by use of the green ink alone.
Therefore, according to the ink set of the present invention, the color reproducibility and the print quality of a color image formed by an ink-jet recording method can be improved.
Generally, blue color is the third most frequently used color in text printing next to black color and red color. Green color is also generally used in text printing. According to the present invention, the text in blue or green color is not printed by superposing two inks but can be printed by use of the blue ink alone or green ink alone. Therefore, sharp print quality can be achieved in which feathering is suppressed, and good color developing properties can also be obtained.

Water-based ink set for ink-jet recording and ink-jet recording method


An encapsulation for an organic light emitting diode (OLED) (201) device is disclosed. The encapsulation includes a sealing dam (280) surrounding the cell region of the OLED device to support a cap. The sealing dam provides a sealing region between the edge of the cap and dam in which an adhesive is applied to seal the OLED device. The use of the sealing dam advantageously enables devices to be formed with narrower sealing widths.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional OLED device 100. OLED devices can be used as displays in various consumer electronic products, including cellular phones, cellular smart phones, personal organizers, pagers, advertising panel, touch screen displays, teleconferencing equipment, multimedia equipment, virtual reality products, and display kiosks.
The OLED device comprises a functional stack of one or more organic functional layers 110 between a transparent conductive layer 105 and a conductive layer 115. The functional stack is formed on a transparent substrate 101. The conductive layers can be patterned to form one or more cells or pixels on the substrate. Bond pads 150 are coupled to the cathodes and anodes to control the OLED pixels. In operation, charge carriers are injected through the cathodes and anodes for recombination in the functional layers. The recombination of the charge carriers causes the functional layer to emit visible radiation.
A cap 160, which forms a cavity 145 between it and the pixels, is mounted on the substrate. A sealant 187 is applied around the edges of the cap where it contacts the substrate. No pressure is applied on the cap, thus allowing the sealant to creep in between the cap and the substrate by capillary force and hermetically sealing the device. However, due to the gap G that exists between the cap and substrate, the sealing width W needs to be sufficiently wide to prevent oxygen and moisture from permeating through the sealant. Typically, the sealing width is about 1-2 mm with a gap of about 0.01-0.1 mm. Such a large sealing width results in inefficient use of chip area, limiting miniaturization of OLED devices.
As evidenced from the above discussion, it is desirable to provide improved encapsulation of OLED devices which reduces the sealing width, control the sealing gap G and provide a cavity to prevent mechanical damage of the active device layers.

Institute of Materials Research and Engineering


A method of operation of a data programming control system includes: providing a secure data management host server coupled to a network; encrypting a contract manufacturer job by the secure data management host server, including: providing a memory image file, creating a programmer encrypted file from the memory image file, and encrypting permissions and the programmer encrypted file to form the contract manufacturer job; decrypting the contract manufacturer job transmitted through the network by a secure data management local server; transmitting the programmer encrypted file by the secure data management local server to a device programmer; and programming a device with the memory image file decrypted by the device programmer.

The consumer electronic devices that are so popular today, such as cellular telephones, personal data assistants, personal video players, global positioning systems, and hand held video games, utilize programmed memory devices in order to operate. When these devices are assembled, the information that will reside in the memory must be programmed by a device programmer. Typically many such device programmers may be used by contract manufacturers that may perform the assembly of the consumer electronic devices under the direction of the original equipment manufacturer.
The original equipment manufacturers of electronic products are increasingly concerned about how they can protect their intellectual property (IP) from unauthorized disclosure or other use. While data security and encryption techniques have been available for various data communication applications, data protection has heretofore not been applied to the programmable content of integrated circuit devices.
Today, most of an original equipment manufacturer's IP may take the form of data stored in non-volatile semiconductor memories and controllers residing inside the firm's products. Device programming, or "flashing" as it is often called, is a manufacturing process whereby the original equipment manufacturer's IP is encoded into the semiconductor device inside the final product.
The programming process has largely been uncontrolled and therefore subject to human error resulting in frequent rework due to the use of the wrong data file, mistakes in setting up the process, and mistakes in handling failed devices. The process often lacks integrity in that there is no closed-loop method to ensure configuration control or demonstrate traceability.
Further, the original equipment manufacturers do not have a known-secure means to protect their IP as it is transferred from their location to the remote manufacturing locations and to the final destination inside the programmable devices of the firm's products. The inappropriate use or disclosure of the IP may represent a loss of millions of dollars to the original equipment manufacturers.
Pirated versions of the IP may be used to produce unauthorized models of popular electronic devices. For example, a Computer Crime and Security Survey by the Computer Security Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that the most serious financial losses occurred through the theft of proprietary data with losses of over $100 million reported.
Protection of proprietary data refers to design code, device memory image files, public and private keys, serial numbers, or other unique information that is ultimately transferred into a programmable device either before or after the integrated circuit device is mounted on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board will ultimately reside inside the electronic product that is assembled by the contract manufacturing company.
In order to be programmed, the proprietary data must usually be rendered into a format that can be used by the device programming equipment and somehow transferred to the programming site. This format is typically in the form of a device memory image file and transport mechanisms can be anything from physical transport of data media, such as removable disks or solid state memory sticks, containing the device memory image file or electronic transfer via email or other mechanism over data networks.
Once delivered to the programming site, the proprietary data is often stored for use until the programming job is run. Since production may take place over many days, often interrupted by production for other products, the proprietary data must often be stored at the programming site in between production runs leaving it exposed for unauthorized use or mishandling.
These processes of transporting and storing the proprietary data present many opportunities where it can be intercepted and copied or modified by unauthorized parties. Once the proprietary data have arrived at the programming site, there is an additional problem in that the data and programming equipment may be used for unauthorized production of devices and products that use the proprietary data.
Despite all of the efforts taken to control the dissemination and usage of proprietary data, it is still possible for programming equipment or the programmable device to malfunction resulting in non-operational integrated circuit devices that must be discarded as scrap. Falsified reports of scrap or lost devices provide one possible way to conceal unauthorized use of the proprietary data.
The IP owner requires the capability to remotely monitor production activity and received post-production audits to confirm the appropriate use of the proprietary data. It is difficult to monitor that only authorized copies of the proprietary data were used and production quantities of the integrated circuit devices programmed with the IP were produced as established by the IP owner.
Local and multi-national companies and contract manufacturers dispersed around the globe routinely share the IP owner's proprietary data as a matter of routine production flow. IP owners historically have not had a means to secure and maintain full control of their intellectual property that is transferred into programmable integrated circuit devices.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit programming system with secure data management. In view of the increasing concern about unlicensed products and inappropriate use of proprietary data, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems.
In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is critical that answers be found for these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Data programming control system with secure data management and method of operation thereof


A hand-held torch includes a housing. A fuel flow path is defined within the housing. A plunger is movable within the housing to control fuel flow through the fuel flow path. An engagement portion is coupled to the plunger. A latching mechanism having at least one claw is movable to engage the engagement portion when the plunger is positioned to allow fuel flow through the fuel flow path. An actuator is coupled to the latching mechanism and exposed for manipulation by a user to move the latching mechanism into engagement with the engagement portion.

Known torches include hand-held, flame producing products that operate on fuel, incorporate an ignition mechanism and are used by consumers to ignite a variety of items. Some torches include a continuous-flame operating mode.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,833, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a fuel burner that has a trigger, a safety switch, a protrusion rod extended through the safety switch and a positioning pin that can be pressed to keep the burner in a flame-spouting state. To initially establish a flame, the safety switch and the protrusion rod are manipulated and the trigger is pulled. Once a flame has been established, the positioning pin can be pressed to engage the trigger and thereby keep the burner in a flame-spouting state.
Improvements are desirable in the field of torches having a continuous-flame operating mode.


These transforming machines which process cardboard plates or the like for fabricating packages are comprised of two rollers defined as the die and the anvil, the die carrying the cutting and slitting knives. The plate of cardboard or the like passes between the two cylinder in such a rotary cutting die system. According to the invention, the anvil is defined by a tubular part (20) comprised of a rigid core (21) and a cut-resistant material which is cured on said core (21). The anvil (20) is divided into two complementary parts (23 and 24), one of them having a development which is slightly higher than the other one. There is incorporated a fast hooking system for connecting the two parts (23 and 24) forming the tubular part (20). The hooking system comprises an undulated tubular part (20). The hooking system comprises an undulated profile (25) in the front joining portions of both parts (23 and 24), one of them having lugs (26) which can be nested into complementary housings (27) of the other part. The lugs have a side protuberance configured like a spear (29) which are introduced into an enlargement (30) sideways of the housing (27).

At the beginning of the rotary dies, the flat die technique was used, as regards height of the die knives, profiles of said knives, etc., and the cylinder of the anvil or counterdie, was also constructed in steel. This theory was correct and work with the first machines in said conditions was tried, though the first difficulties soon appeared: the knives, coincident with the generatrix of the cylinder, required more pressure for cutting than the circular knives and other disadvantages, which forced the designing of a rotary die which, due to its characteristics made it very costly and unfeasible.
The next step in the evolution of said technique during the last years, consisted in developing a counterdie or anvil of soft and elastic material (elastomers) which permitted the knife to penetrate and to have the sufficient consistency to conduct the cutting of the cardboard.
This phase coincides with the commencement of the development in the industry of polymers and the suppliers are few and the quality low. Under said conditions, this form of cutting evolved and extended rapidly. The anvils, first with the steel base and after with aluminium, was coated with the soft material (elastomer). The soft material used, also improved its characteristics in time, and in parallel, the machines were more rapid each time; the greater rhythm of work made it necessary to change the counterdies a greater number of times, and those anvils, with metallic cores, started to result heavy for an operation which became more frequent each time. Also, the requirements demanded that said changes be conducted in shorter periods of time, thus preventing dead, non productive times of the machine. Another great disadvantage was that once the metallic cores were removed from the machine, they were sent to the elastomer manufacturers to be vulcanized. This process was long, expensive and forced a high number of stored stocks to be available, in provision of long delivery times.
Faced with this new situation, a more versatile practical system was developed in the United States, which consisted in the use of bands. These had two advantages (a more rapid assembly and after use, they are disposable), due to which as from then, and after solving the present problems, the started to have a masive use. This good result, was also due to the improvement of the quality of the raw material used, which continued and currently continues to evolve. The described improvements, compensated in excess the only aspect in which said bands lost efficiency as regards the vulcanization; on becoming a lighter piece and with only one thin steel foil as support, which makes it very manageable, after a time of working in the machine, it losses the initial consistency and the clearance it acquires makes it less reliable than the the same vulcanized material on a more consistent core, this effect having repercussions on the quality of the cutting of the cardboard, and in consequence, on the finished product.
As has been indicated, said bands are discarded after use and in their place a new assembly is placed. Then, both for the manufacturer of the product and for the distributor and user, said formula was perfect. The two latter could maintain an adequate and cost acceptable stock at that moment, indifferent to the disadvantages supposed by the shipments and reshipments of cores for its recovery.
Since approximately eight years ago, other manufacturers of polyurethane anvils (elastomers) after acquiring the technology for the handling of polymers, have introduced innovations in said bands, such as the use of the glass fibre base/support and new hook system which facilitates the interchange of the parts.
Another improvement carried out during the last years, is the use of bushes which rotate freely over the anvil carrier axis. An improvement is thus achieved as regards the wear of the bands and an improved finish of the cut box. The bands are assembled on said bushes, in the same manner as when conducted directly on the cylinder, which gives rise to the previously indicated disadvantages.
These changes were very positive and permitted the increase of the cuota in the Market in a rapid and constant manner. Besides the commented modifications of the bands, it also includes the constant changes in the Market: the most suitable distribution systems, requirements for the use as regards reduction of stocks, needs of obtaining boxes cut with a greater degree of quality, tendency on behalf of the client to attain better prices in purchases, producing margins, at the same time turning more frequently to the Service Companies, so that the same solves the global problems and leaving the responsibility of supplies in their hands, among which the bands of the die-carrier anvil bands are to be found.

Anvil for rotary slotting and cutting machines


A surface treating device includes a tubular blasting case member having a main open face and a sub-open face. A suction-adhering seal engages the blasting case to seal a space defined between the blasting case and the surface of the object being treated. Sand, water, or other abrasive material is ejected through a nozzle and the blasting case, toward the surface being treated. A flat belt or plate, which includes a nozzle opening, engages the sub-open face of the blasting case and covers the blasting case opening. A surface of the flat belt member is brought into sealing contact with a surface of the sub-open face due to a difference in pressure between an inside and an outside of a pressure reduction space such that the blasting case opening is completely covered and sealed while the flat belt member reciprocatingly moves along with the nozzle.

So far, ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment and sand blasting equipment have been put to practical use as surface treating devices which eject a high pressure fluid such as water or a high pressure fluid mixed with abrasives, toward the surface of an object such as an oil storage tank or a ship hull, thereby removing foreign matter such as an old coating or rust, stuck onto the surface of the object, or roughening the surface of the object with the abrasives ejected, to make the surface ready for coating; or a device for cleaning the surface of the object to carry out non-destructive testing.
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 26752/1985 and the specification and drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,378, there is disclosed devices which can be exemplified as a surface treating device which ejects a high pressure fluid such as water or a high pressure fluid mixed with abrasives, toward the surface of an object while suction-adhering to the surface of the object by the pressure of an ambient fluid such as air or water and moving along the surface, thereby removing foreign matter, such as an old coating or rust, stuck onto the surface of the object, or roughening the surface of the object with the abrasives ejected, to make the surface ready for coating; or a device for cleaning the surface of the object to carry out non-destructive testing.
Such a device comprises a blasting case, wheels as moving means mounted on the blasting case, a suction-adhering seal connected to the blast case and having its free end portion adapted to make contact with a surface of the object, and a pressure reduction means for discharging a fluid from a pressure reduction space defined by the blasting case, the surface of the object and the suction-adhering seal.
When the pressure reduction means is energized in this device, the fluid within the pressure reduction space is discharged outside, and the pressure of the fluid acting on the blasting case of the device owing to the difference in fluid pressure between the inside and the outside of the pressure reduction space is transmitted to the surface of the object via the wheels, and the fluid pressure causes the device to suction-adhere to the surface.
When, in this suction-adhering state, the wheels are rotated by driving means such as an electric motor, the device moves along the surface of the device by the action of the wheels.
Further, such a device is provided with a working unit of an abrasives-blasting means such as a nozzle which ejects abrasives to the surface of the object.
In conventional abrasives-blasting equipment using compressed air, a mixed fluid which is composed of about 13 m.sup.3 /min. of compressed air pressurized to about 6 kg/cm.sup.2 and about 35 kg/min. of non-steel abrasives is ejected from a nozzle with a diameter of about 15 mm, the nozzle is swung at a swing angle of from about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees to treat by abrasives about 400 mm in width on the surface of the object, and further, the swung nozzle is gradually moved in the direction which intersects at right angles with the swing direction along the surface of the object at a rate of about 1.8 m/min. Thus, the surface is treated continuously.
The conventional device described above, however, involves the following problems to be solved.
That is, in conventional abrasives air-blasting equipment using compressed air, the treated surface has unevenness in treatment that is caused by change of distance between the surface of the object and the tip of the nozzle depending on a swing angle of the nozzle. Further, it is difficult for the device to maintain a low height from the surface of the object because unevenness in treatment becomes greater when the swing angle is set to above 90 degrees for the purpose of obtaining a device with the lower height from the surface of the object.
Incidentally, a device whose height from the surface of the object is high is difficult to use in a narrow space.
Whereas, in conventional ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment, about 20 liters/min. of water pressurized to an ultrahigh pressure of about 2,000 to about 2,500 kg/cm.sup.2 is ejected from a nozzle with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 mm, and a nozzle with a revolution diameter of about 400 mm is revolved at a speed of about 1,000 rpm on a plane parallel to the surface apart from the surface of the object by 20 to 30 mm, the revolving nozzle being gradually moved along the surface of the object at a speed of about 3 m/min. Thus, the surface of the object is treated continuously.
Such a device has a swivel joint for connecting the nozzle and an ultrahigh pressure water hose which supplies the ultrahigh pressure water to the nozzle.
In conventional ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment, a mixing nozzle in which abrasives are mixed into ultrahigh pressure water on the downstream side of the nozzle is provided as a means for mixing the abrasives into an ultrahigh pressure water stream because it is difficult to mix abrasives having a larger size than the diameter of the nozzle into the ultrahigh pressure water stream prior to ejecting the abrasives from the nozzle for the reason that the diameter of the orifice of the nozzle is too small for ejecting of the abrasives.
The conventional device described above, however, has the following problems to be solved.
That is, in conventional ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment, it is difficult to mix abrasives into an ultrahigh pressure water stream to be ejected from a revolving nozzle. The reason is because it is difficult to produce such a swivel joint having two-phase flow for supplying separately the ultrahigh pressure water and the abrasives to the revolving nozzle.
Furthermore, the conventional device described above, however, has the following problems to be solved.
That is, in a conventional ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment, because of the difficulty in mixing abrasives into an ultrahigh pressure water stream ejected from the revolving nozzle it is difficult to remove hard rust although soft coatings are easily peeled off.
Further, an anchor pattern, i.e., roughness, can not be formed on the surface of the object in the conventional ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment because its formation absolutely requires that abrasives must be ejected toward and impinged on the surface of the object.
A main object of the present invention to overcome the technical problems is, therefore, to provide, in abrasives air-blasting equipment using compressed air or ultrahigh pressure water jetting equipment, a surface treating device which is capable of effectively treating the surface of the object without generating unevenness in treatment by allowing a nozzle to move, in parallel, along the surface of the object without using swivel joint as means for feeding a high pressure fluid or a high pressure fluid mixed with abrasives to the nozzle and which can be used in a narrow space owing to its reduced height.
Another object of the present invention is to provide, in a surface treating device capable of being suction-adhered to the surface of an object such as an oil storage tank or ship hull owing to the pressure of the ambient fluid such as the air or water and moving therealong, a surface treating device which is capable of effectively treating the surface of the object without generating unevenness in treatment by allowing a nozzle to move, in parallel, along the surface of the object without using a swivel joint as means for feeding a high pressure fluid or a high pressure fluid mixed with abrasives to the nozzle and can be used in a narrow space owing to its reduced height, and further in which old coatings or abrasive grains peeled off from the surface of the object are prevented from scattering to the outside of the device thereby to not contaminate the environment and which is safe because it can be operated by a remote-control mode.

608 Maruyoshi Bldg., 4-17-24, Konandai, Konan-ku


The invention provides a novel adrenomedullin derivative sustainable for a long period which is capable of substantially suppressing unwanted side effects while maintaining pharmacological effects of adrenomedullin. An aspect of the invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I): [wherein A is an Fc region of an immunoglobulin, B is a peptide moiety derived from adrenomedullin or a modified form thereof with adrenomedullin activity, and L is a linking group comprising a peptide having any given amino acid sequence] or a salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing the compound represented by formula (I), and a medicament comprising the compound as an active ingredient.A-L-B  (I).

Adrenomedullin (hereinafter, also described as "AM") is a bioactive peptide which was isolated and identified from pheochromocytoma in 1993 (Non Patent Literature 1). At the beginning of the discovery, AM was found to exert a strong vasodilatory hypotensive effect. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a peptide having a blood pressure-lowering effect that comprises the amino acid sequence of human AM.
Subsequent studies revealed that AM exerts diverse pharmacological effects such as a cardiovascular protective effect, an anti-inflammatory effect, an angiogenic effect, and a tissue repair promoting effect. In an effort to apply the pharmacological effects of AM to treatment of disease, administration of AM to patients with different diseases has been attempted. AM is expected to be useful as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases, pulmonary hypertension, peripheral vascular diseases, or acute myocardial infarction, among others.
For example, Patent Literature 2 describes an agent for preventing or treating nonbacterial inflammatory bowel diseases, wherein the agent comprises, as an active ingredient, adrenomedullin or a derivative thereof that has an activity to suppress nonbacterial inflammation, or a salt thereof that has an activity to suppress nonbacterial inflammation.
Patent Literature 3 describes a method for preventing or treating an inflammatory bowel disease for which the use of a steroid preparation, an immunosuppressant, or a biological product is difficult or insufficiently effective in a patient in need of prevention or treatment of the inflammatory bowel disease, the method comprising administering an effective amount of adrenomedullin, a modified form thereof having an activity of suppressing inflammation, or a salt of the adrenomedullin or the modified form having an activity of suppressing inflammation, to the patient.
Structure-activity relationship studies of AM have advanced identification of essential sequences that can contribute bioactivity of AM (Non Patent Literatures 2 to 9).
Peptides are generally known to have a short half-life due to a metabolism in a living body (such as in blood). Therefore, in the case of using peptides as active ingredients in medicaments, forms of peptide derivatives in which other groups are linked to the peptides can prolong half-life in a living body and improve pharmacokinetics, in some cases.
For example, Patent Literature 4 describes a biologically active intermedin peptide or adrenomedullin peptide characterized by having a serum half-life exceeding 1.5 hours. The literature states that an alkyl group and a peptide moiety are linked via an amide bond.
Patent Literature 5 describes an AM derivative linked to a polyethylene glycol (hereinafter, also described as "PEG") group via the phenolic hydroxy group of Tyr′ of AM.
Patent Literature 6 describes a method comprising reacting PEG-aldehyde with a free amino group of a peptide to produce a peptide derivative having the PEG group linked to the free amino group of the peptide. The literature describes AM as the peptide.
Non Patent Literature 10 describes an AM derivative in which a PEG group is linked to the N-terminal α-amino group of AM via an amide bond. The literature states that blood half-life of the AM derivative having the linked PEG group was prolonged.
Patent Literature 7 describes a fusion protein comprising: a first segment containing a sequence of a first bioactive peptide or protein, the first segment being positioned at the amino terminus of the fusion protein; and a second segment containing a sequence of a second bioactive protein or peptide, the second segment being positioned at the carboxyl terminus of the fusion protein, wherein the first and second segments are covalently bound to each other so as to function. The literature states that the fusion protein may further comprise a linker segment, such as an Fc fragment of an immunoglobulin or a functional equivalent thereof, binding to the first segment and the second segment. The literature makes no mention about adrenomedullin.
Patent Literature 8 describes an engineered polypeptide comprising an albumin binding domain polypeptide (ABD) and a first peptide hormone domain (HD1) selected from leptin, a leptin analog, or an active fragment thereof. The literature describes an Fc protein as a water-soluble polymer moiety contained in HD1. The literature states that the engineered polypeptide has a favorable duration of action. The literature lists amylin such as adrenomedullin, or an analog thereof as an example of a drug that may be administered in combination with the engineered polypeptide.
Patent Literature 9 describes an Fc-interferon-β fusion protein that improves folding and decreases aggregation, comprising: (i) an immunoglobulin Fc region; and (ii) an interferon-β protein linked to the carboxy terminus of the immunoglobulin Fc region through a peptide bond or a peptide linker sequence. The literature states that the fusion protein is capable of improving blood half-life of interferon-β. The literature makes no mention about adrenomedullin.

Long-acting adrenomedullin derivative conjugated with Fc region of immunoglobulin


A dispenser with a cover whose overall size can be kept compact and which is provided with a cover to protect the applicator tip when not in use is to be provided. The dispenser with a cover is provided with a body, an applicator tip protruding through a tip aperture in the forward part of the body, and a cover for protecting the applicator tip when not in use. The cover is fitted to be rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body, and can turn between a position in which it overlaps at least part of the body from outside and surrounds the applicator tip and another position in which it extends backward from the body in a direction away from the aperture at the tip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser with a cover for transferring or painting a transfer tape or the like having a coat for correcting, adhering or marking (highlighting) use onto the surface to be transferred, the applicator tip of the dispenser being provided with a protective cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among known conventional dispensers having a cover of such a type, there is a coating applicator described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-78381 for instance.
In the coating applicator described in the above publication, a slide cover is slidably disposed at an opening of the coating applicator container for exposing the transfer head of the applicator so that the transfer head can be exposed or concealed as desired. A pair of engaging pieces are provided at the rear end of the slide cover. A slidable engaging projection at the tip of each engaging piece is guided along a sliding groove provided on the inner wall of the coating applicator container, and an auxiliary projection positioned at and protruding from the root of each engaging piece on its rear end edge is pressed against and engaged with the inner wall of the coating applicator container.
When the applicator tip portion is not to be used, the slide cover can be drawn out from within the coating applicator container to slide the slidable engaging projection toward the front end of the sliding groove and thereby to enable the slide cover to protect the applicator tip portion.


A method of making a release coating includes the following steps: forming a mixture that includes (a) solid components comprising (i) 20-99% silicon by weight and (ii) 1-80% silicon nitride by weight and (b) a solvent; applying the mixture to an inner portion of a crucible or graphite board adapted to form an ingot or wafer comprising silicon; and annealing the mixture in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature ranging from 1000 to 2000° C. The invention may also relate to release coatings and methods of making a silicon ingot or wafer including the use of a release coating.

The present invention may relate to a release coating comprising a mixture of silicon nitride and silicon powder. In certain embodiments, the release coating may inhibit or prevent the formation of a silicon carbide (SiC) alloy that can act as a bond or adhering agent between a silicon part and a graphite part.
Graphite has many properties that may make it a useful material on which to grow silicon parts. But in some instances, silicon can bond to the graphite, forming a SiC alloy.
The semiconductor industry may use quartz crucibles to line graphite parts. In some instances, this works well, such as where the interface between the quartz and the silicon may be discarded. Where silicon parts need to be released—for example, in ingot casting or other wafer casting processes—mixtures of Si3N4 or SiO2 may be used as release coatings. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,418.

Silicon release coating, method of making same, and method of using same