An example apparatus to migrate a physical server host from a virtual standard switch to a virtual distributed switch includes: a user input interface to receive a user-selection of first physical network interface cards of a first physical server host to migrate from the virtual standard switch to the virtual distributed switch; a configurator to generate a first migration plan to configure the virtual distributed switch using network configuration settings of the virtual standard switch corresponding to the first physical network interface cards; and a virtual distributed switch creator to, based on a user-selection to proceed with the migration from the virtual standard switch to the virtual distributed switch, create the virtual distributed switch in the first physical server host and a second physical server host, the configurator to configure the network configuration settings of the virtual standard switch in the virtual distributed switch.

Virtualizing computer systems provides benefits such as the ability to execute multiple computer systems on a single hardware computer, replicating computer systems, moving computer systems among multiple hardware computers, and so forth. Virtual computing environments enable developers to build, deploy, and manage applications at a greater scale and at a faster pace than before. Virtual computing environments may be composed of many processing units (e.g., physical server hosts). The processing units may be installed in standardized frames, known as racks, which provide efficient use of floor space by allowing the processing units to be stacked vertically. The racks may additionally include other components of a virtual computing environment such as storage devices, networking devices (e.g., switches), etc. Physical server hosts are networked with one another to enable communications between virtual machines running on the physical server hosts and communications with other devices.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. Connecting lines or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements.

Methods and apparatus to migrate physical server hosts between virtual standard switches and virtual distributed switches in a network


A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting uplink signals including feedback for use in scheduling at different evolved Node Bs (eNBs) without intermodulation interference, especially in cases where the User Equipment (UE) is connected to an inter-duplex inter-eNB system in which the cooperation between eNBs is very slow or non-existent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an uplink transmission method and apparatus in an inter-evolved Node B (eNB) inter-duplex carrier aggregation system and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting uplink signals including feedback for use in scheduling at different eNBs without intermodulation especially when the User Equipment (UE) is connected to an inter-duplex inter-eNB system where the eNBs are cooperating very slowly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile communication systems have been developed in order to provide subscribers with voice communication services on the move. With the rapid advance of technology, mobile communication systems have evolved to support high speed data communication services as well as standard voice communication services. However, the limited resources and user requirements for higher speed services in current mobile communication systems have spurred the evolution to more advanced mobile communication systems.
In order to meet such requirements, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is standardizing Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) as one of the next generation mobile communication technologies. LTE-A is a high speed packet-based communication technology which offers up to 1 Gbps in downlink. In order to accomplish this, several schemes are being discussed: one increases the number of eNBs and another uses multiple frequency bands per UE.
When the UE connects to more than one eNB, if cooperation among the eNBs is delayed, it is necessary for the UE to transmit feedback for use in scheduling at each of the respective eNBs rather than one representative eNB. When two eNBs to which the UE has connected operate on different frequency bands in different duplex configurations, the UE has to perform uplink transmission to the different eNBs, and this may cause inter-modulation problems.
There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus for transmitting uplink signals to eNBs operating on different frequency bands without causing inter-modulation problems.

Uplink transmission method and apparatus in inter-eNB inter-duplex carrier aggregation system


A probe-forming electron microscopy system 1 (SEM) is proposed which comprises a position-sensitive detector 15. As a result, position-dependent secondary electron intensities in the object plane 7 or angle-dependent secondary electron intensities in the object plane 7 may be observed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electron microscopy system for electron-microscopically obtaining information about a structure of an object. The invention further relates to a method for obtaining such information.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Electron microscopes of the SEM type (scanning electron microscope) are known from the prior art.
In an electron microscope of the SEM type, a finely focused probe-forming primary electron beam is scanned across the object surface, and an integral secondary electron intensity is detected in dependence of a location of a beam spot formed by the finely focused primary electron beam in the object plane in order to obtain an electron-microscopic image of the object. In such an electron microscope, the achievable position resolution of the image is restricted substantially by a diameter of the beam spot of the primary electron beam in the plane of the object surface. The secondary electrons are detected integrally, i.e., position-independent. The detected secondary electron intensity is allocated to a location on the object to obtain a two-dimensionally position-resolving electron-microscopic image of the object. The position to which a detected secondary electron intensity is allocated in the image corresponds to the location on the object surface to which the primary electron beam is focused. The knowledge of this location and of changes of this location, respectively, is essential for the position resolution of the obtained image.
In the electron microscopy of the SEM-type there is usually provided a deflecting system in the beam path of the primary electrons in order to displace the primary electron beam away from an optical axis of an objective lens of the microscope. It is also possible to displace the sample relative to an objective lens of the electron microscope in a known or predetermined manner.
Since the secondary electron intensity is detected integrally and since the position information in the electron-microscopic image is obtained on account of the knowledge of the location of the primary electron beam spot in the object plane, the conventional electron microscope of the SEM type does not comprise a position-sensitive detector.
Applications of the electron microscope of the SEM-type are well known in the art. Two adjacent portions of the object differing in their efficiency to generate secondary electrons from incident primary electrons result in a contrast in the image, and the information which can be gained about an object by using the electron microscope of the SEM-type is limited to such structures which show differences in their secondary electron generation efficiencies.

Electron microscopy system and electron microscopy method


In a multi-carrier access terminal having a transmitter with a single power amplifier, maximum transmission power available for a multi-carrier signal transmitted by the terminal is apportioned among a plurality of carriers on a priority basis. Following apportionment, the carriers are combined into a multi-carrier signal, amplified by the power amplifier and transmitted.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more specifically, to multi-carrier communications.
2. Background
In wireless communication systems, dual-carrier or multi-carrier terminals are increasingly being used for simultaneously carrying voice traffic and non-voice data traffic. In this regard, a multi-carrier terminal is a terminal having the capability of transmitting information on more than one carrier simultaneously. Many such terminals might be employed in a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communication system. For example, in an application requiring high-speed data and voice traffic to be transmitted simultaneously, it would be possible to use a multi-carrier terminal with one carrier supporting the CDMA2000—1x standard for voice traffic and another carrier supporting the CDMA2000—1xEv-DO standard, which is optimized for transmission of data traffic. The transmitting terminal would use one carrier, designated the "DO" carrier, for transmission of data traffic, and would use another carrier, designated as the "1x" carrier for transmission of voice traffic. A description of these systems may be found in their corresponding "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2) standards. The CDMA2000—1x system is specified in "cdma2000 Introduction Release C," 3GPP2 C.S0001-C v1.0, May 2002. The CDMA2000—1xEv-DO system is specified in "cdma2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Specification," 3GPP2 C.S0024-0 v4.0, October 2002.
Effective transmitter design for a multi-carrier terminal could embrace multiple power amplification circuits, each dedicated to one carrier and each including a power amplifier. However, limitations on space, manufacturing cost, power consumption and other factors dictate the need to share resources among the carriers, including power amplification circuitry. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to utilize a single power amplifier for transmission of a plurality of carriers transmitted by a multi-carrier terminal.
A power amplifier is an RF element of a transmitter that amplifies a modulated carrier signal for transmission by an antenna. Although a power amplifier may be depicted and referred to as if it were a single element, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such a device may comprise one or more stages.
If a multi-carrier terminal has a single power amplifier for simultaneous transmission of different types of carrier signals, the power amplifier may be subject to power constraints imposed by spectral emission requirements, by on-board battery capacity, and also by any priority among the carriers. For example, in a combined CDMA2000—1x_/_CDMA2000—1xEV-DO wireless communication system, presume that the 1x carrier takes precedence in the allocation of transmitter power over the DO carrier in order to avoid degradation in the voice cell coverage. Because the 1x carrier has priority over the DO carrier, the only power limitations imposed on the 1x carrier other than the peak power of the power amplifier are battery capacity and spectrum emission control schemes to limit the transmit power of mobile stations. Therefore, if the DO carrier has lower priority than the 1x carrier, it would be desirable to allocate to the DO carrier only some portion of transmitter power not used by the 1x carrier.
Furthermore, when the 1x and DO carriers are simultaneously transmitted, it would be desirable that the power of the multi-carrier waveform transmitted by the multi-carrier terminal be limited to a level such that spectral emission goals are not compromised. It is further desirable to preserve these power constraints while requiring little modification to the equipment and operations of existing communication systems.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a scheme for allocating the transmit power of a carrier according to a priority in a multi-carrier terminal in which a single power amplifier is utilized for transmitting a plurality of carrier signals simultaneously.

Apparatus and method for prioritized apportionment of transmission power in a multi-carrier terminal


A crucible includes an outer element and an inner element. The outer element includes a first portion that is horizontal at a bottom end of the crucible and a second portion that ascends radially outwardly from the bottom end of the crucible to a top end of the crucible at a first acute angle to a vertical axis. The inner element includes a conus with a cylinder at a base of the conus. The conus descends radially outwardly from the top end of the crucible to the bottom end of the crucible at a second acute angle to the vertical axis. The inner element includes a base portion of the cylinder attached to the first portion of the outer element using a sealant to form a hollow mold between an inner portion of the outer element and an outer portion of the inner element.

The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Critical chambers parts of capital equipment for processing semiconductor wafers and manufacturing semiconductor devices are fabricated using multi-crystalline silicon material. Most chamber parts have the shape of rings and circular plates. Square quartz crucibles are used to cast multi-crystalline silicon (Mc-Si). Producing final chamber parts from squared Mc-Si ingots requires several additional processing steps. These standard methods used to make chamber parts are costly due to the multiple process steps, the time involved in processing, and the material wasted during shaping.

Crucible for casting near-net shape (NNS) silicon


An information processing system, such as a camera system, includes a radio communication system and an information appliance (such as a camera) communicable with the radio communication system within a predetermined distance. The information appliance includes an image pickup for obtaining image data by photographing a subject, a storing part for storing information peculiar to a user of the information appliance, a radio communication part for transmitting a predetermined radio signal and for reading information from the radio communication system, and an authorization part for authorizing the user by collating information from the radio communication system read at the radio communication part with stored information peculiar to the user. The radio communication system includes storage for storing predetermined information and a transmission part for receiving a radio signal generated at the information appliance and for transmitting the stored predetermined signal as a radio signal.

The present invention relates to an information processing system and a camera system, and more particularly to an information processing system comprising a radio (or wireless) communication terminal and an information appliance communicable with the radio communication terminal, for example, within a predetermined distance, such as about one meter, and a camera system comprising a radio (or wireless) communication medium and a camera communicable with the radio communication medium within a predetermined distance wherein each information processing system and camera system authorizes an information appliance user and a camera user, or a subject, or both of them.
Conventionally, as methods taking photographer information in an image photographed by means of a camera, the method in which a password is inputted at the time of camera photographing (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 08-315106) and the method in which biological information, such as fingerprint information, is utilized other than a password (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 05-127246) have been proposed.
However, in the conventional methods described above, the operation in which a password is actually inputted is not convenient to do by the reasons that the size of a camera equipment body is small and a user interface for inputting a password, such as a keyboard, operation buttons, or a display device, is insufficient as characteristics of a camera as a device.
Although the problem regarding a user interface can be cleared in the method in which biological information is employed, a problem exists in which an analysis means for authorizing a camera user and various kinds of data therefor have to be taken into a camera, thereby resulting in great difficulty in the realization in terms of mounting.
This type of problem is also derived in an information processing system comprising a radio communication terminal and an information appliance communicable with the radio communication terminal, for example, within a predetermined distance, such as about one meter, and a camera system comprising a radio communication medium and a camera communicable with the radio communication medium within a predetermined distance wherein each information processing system and camera system authorizes an information appliance user and a camera user, or a subject, or both of them.
Keeping the point mentioned above in mind, it is a problem of the present invention to propose a method in which a user can perform the process for authorizing an information appliance user and a camera user, or a subject, or both of them through a simple operation and by which mounting in a camera can be easily executed.

Camera system for communicating information related to user authorization and image data over a radio communication system


A valving gasket is disclosed for a squeeze bottle sprayer. The gasket includes upper and lower gaskets, each having a vent hole and a flap valve. The vent hole on the upper gasket cooperates with the flap valve on the lower gasket, and the vent hole on the lower gasket cooperates with the flap valve on the upper gasket. The result is that two valved vent paths are created--one for incoming air and one for outgoing air. The incoming air is used to fill the dispenser after squeezing, to equalize pressure in the bottle. The outgoing air is directed through a vent path to a spray chamber and is intermingled with outgoing liquid to create a fine mist spray pattern. The outgoing air vent is small enough to allow escaping air but to prevent exhausting of all pressure during squeezing. The outgoing air flap valve prevents leakage through the outgoing air hole when the bottle is inverted. The upper gasket may also have a flap valve for the outgoing liquid. There is also disclosed a key-keyway arrangement for assisting in assembly of the gaskets so that the valves and holes align.

The invention relates to venting arrangements for dispensing bottles, and specifically to a sealing gasket for a squeeze bottle dispenser which includes venting valves.
There are several different techniques for dispensing a fluid substance in a fine mist. One technique is to provide a resilient dispensing bottle with an outlet orifice such that as the bottle is squeezed by a user, pressure builds up within the container. The pressure in the container forces any liquid within the container out a dispensing orifice, which can be structured to produce a fine mist of liquid. Often, however, it is difficult to arrive at a particularly fine mist in such a dispenser solely through the use of a shaped orifice. Furthermore, the conventional means for providing an outlet valve--a ball valve--is generally expensive to manufacture, thus increasing the cost of the dispenser to the end user.
A technique used to eliminate some of the above disadvantages is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,186, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this invention, a squeeze bottle has a liquid flow path and an air flow path. When the bottle is squeezed, liquid is transmitted through the liquid flow path and pressurized air through the air flow path. These two flows meet in a mixing chamber which is located adjacent an outlet orifice. The air and liquid mix to form a fine spray. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that it requires the use of a relatively expensive ball valve for the liquid outlet, and liquid will leak out of the dispenser when the bottle is inverted, because the air path is completely open to fluid flow.

2500 S. Ocean Blvd. Building 3, Apt. 1-A


The invention relates to an electronic device comprising at least two organic transistors having different threshold voltages. The device comprises at least two transistors, each including a self-assembled layer of molecules having dipole moments that differ from one another by an absolute value of between 0.2 and 10 debye. The invention is particularly suitable for use in the field of electronic circuit production.

Organic transistor means, in the invention, any device comprising three electrodes (source, drain, gate), and a layer of a dielectric compound separating the gate from a layer of an organic semiconductor material. Organic semiconductor means, in the invention, a compound whose mass is at least 50% based on organic compounds.
A crucial point for making electronic circuits based on organic transistors is control of the threshold voltage of the transistors, i.e. the gate voltage to be applied for generating the transition between the blocked behavior of the transistor and its conducting behavior.
In fact, the threshold voltage of the organic transistor is a key element for making circuits on an industrial scale.
The deposition of layers of organic semiconductors on surfaces having different surface energies is in itself a significant problem. This is all the more true of the crystalline or semicrystalline organic semiconductor materials, for which crystallization is an essential factor for obtaining good performance. Kobayashi et al. in Nature Materials, Vol. 3, May 2004 p 317-322 and Wu et al. in APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 86, 142102 (2005) demonstrated that the use of molecular layers can make it possible to alter the threshold voltage of organic transistors based on amorphous, crystalline or semicrystalline semiconductors. This change in threshold voltage is mainly attributed to the existence of surface charges at the interface of the dielectric material/organic semiconductor material.
Nevertheless, for crystalline or semicrystalline materials, an appreciable change in transistor performance is observed, in addition to the change in threshold voltage. For example, the mobility of the charge carriers varies very significantly. This is attributed to the fact that crystallization takes place differently depending on the surface energies, which vary in relation to the monomolecular layers used. In fact the molecules making up the molecular layers comprise end units which vary, and which therefore induce a different initiation of crystallization.

Use of self-assembled layers for checking the threshold voltage of organic transistors

Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives


An enzyme preparation comprising a modified enzyme selected from the group consisting of an amylase, lipase, oxidorcductase, pectinace or hemicellulase, the modified enzyme having an improved performance due to an alkaline pI and/or increased surface activity obtained by chemical modification or amino acid substitution, is useful e.g., in detergents, in baking flour, in animal feed, in the manufacture of cellulosic fabrics and for the treatment of lignocellulosic fibers.

Enzymes have been used for a long time for a variety of industrial applications. For instance the use of enzymes in detergents, both laundry and dishwashing detergents, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Further important uses of enzymes are in papermaking pulp processing, in the baking industry for improving the properties of flour, in the wine and juice industries for the degradation of .beta.-glucans, in the textile industry for bio-polishing of cellulosic fabrics such as viscose, i.e. for obtaining a soft and smooth fabric by subjecting the cellulosic fabrics to treatment by hemicellulolytic enzymes during their manufacture, and in animal feed for improving the digestibility of vegetable protein sources.
It is, however, far from easy to obtain an optimal enzyme performance e.g. in a detergent system, as the detergent formulation and washing conditions (for instance high pH, high ionic strength, and the inclusion of certain surfactants and builders) may have a crucial impact on the stability and activity of the enzyme.
Since washing conditions are quite often alkaline, some enzymes at least might be expected to show an improved performance if the pI of the enzymes is shifted to a value approximating that of the pH during application.
Similar considerations may apply to the use of enzymatic processes in other industries, e.g. one or more of the industries mentioned above.
E.g. when processing papermaking pulps, the lignocellulosic fibers may be subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. Hydrolysing enzymes for fibre modification may be lipase for hydrolysis of triglycerides in pitch deposits, proteases for breakdown of structural proteins (e.g. extensin), and hemi-cellulase and pectinases for degradation of the carbohydrate material constituting the fibre wall.
It is well established that the effect e.g. of carbohydrases is limited due to electrostatic repulsion. So far no economical or technically feasible method for overcoming this limiting electrostatic repulsion has been suggested. In WO 93/11296 and WO 93/07332 it is described how the repulsion can be reduced by enzymatic removal of negatively charged glucoronic acid in the fibre matrix or by exchanging the counter ions on the acid groups in the fibre. These procedures are, however, very costly since bulk mass of lignocellulosic fibers must be treated with expensive specialty enzymes or metal salts. The latter may also cause problems in the internal water treatment of lignocellulosic fibre processing installations.
Furthermore, up till now it has been believed that the size of the enzyme molecules is another determining parameter for the effect of enzymes acting on lignocellulosic fibers. Average fibre pore sizes have been claimed to be of the same magnitude as the average diameter of the single enzyme molecules (Viikari, L., Kantelinen, A., Ratto, M. & Sundquist, J. (1991), Enzymes in Biomass Conversion, Chpt.2: Enzymes in Pulp and Paper Processing, p. 14, (Leatham, G. F. & Himmel, M. E., eds.). Thus, it is still an unsolved problem how to improve the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic fibers.

Enzyme preparation comprising a modified enzyme


The lateral pnp transistor encompasses a p-type semiconductor substrate, an n-type first buried region disposed on the semiconductor substrate, an n-type uniform base region disposed on the first buried region, an n-type first plug region disposed in the uniform base region, a p-type first emitter region and a first collector region disposed in and at the top surface of the uniform base region, a graded base region disposed in the uniform base region and a first base contact region disposed in the first plug region. The graded base region encloses the bottom and the side of the first main electrode region. The doping profile in the graded base region intervening between the first emitter region and the first collector region is such that the impurity concentration is gradually decreases towards the second main electrode region from the first main electrode region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, more particularly to a structure of a lateral transistor suitable for implementing a high-density monolithic integration on a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A structure merging a power transistor and its control circuit on the same semiconductor chip so as to form a semiconductor integrated circuit is known. In such a power IC, sometimes the power transistor is made by a vertical npn transistor and the control circuit by lateral pnp transistors, the lateral pnp transistor operating with relatively lower power than the vertical npn transistor. An example of the structure of the earlier lateral pnp transistor employed in these semiconductor integrated circuits (power ICs) is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. That is, the earlier lateral pnp transistor embraces a semiconductor substrate 1, an n-type first buried region 22 formed on the semiconductor substrate 1, an n-type first base region 33 formed over the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1, an n-type first plug region 4 so formed that the bottom of the first plug region 4 reaches to the first buried region 22, a p-type first emitter region 6 and a p-type first collector region 7 formed in and at the surface of the first base region 33, and an n-type first base contact region 9 formed in and at the surface of the first plug region. The lateral pnp transistor constructed in this manner encompasses further a field insulating film 86 on the top surface. And, a first emitter wiring 11, a connecting wiring 12, and a first base wiring 14 contact through contact holes in the field insulating film 86 with the first emitter region 6, the first collector region 7 and the first base contact region 9. The connecting wiring 12 serves as a first collector wiring and is connected to the base electrode of the vertical npn transistor having a high maximum operating voltage, though the illustration of the vertical npn transistor is omitted in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Method of fabricating semiconductor integrated circuit


A disposable absorbent article includes a pouch integral to or affixed to an outer layer of the absorbent article. Once soiled with exudates, the pouch is inverted over the absorbent article to conceal and contain the article. The pouch and waist band include integral handles for transporting the exudate soiled article for disposal. The absorbent article may be part of a disposable absorbent article assembly including an individually packaged disposable absorbent article and packaging system, wherein prior to use the absorbent article is sealed within the packaging. The packaging seal is broken to remove the absorbent article and the packaging may be stored for later use or discarded.

Disposable absorbent articles are known in the prior art and have many uses. Whether intended for infants, children, adults or the elderly, disposable pads, napkins, diapers, training pants, briefs, underwear, incontinence articles, hygienic articles and the like are intended to absorb and retain voids, exudate or other body discharges. As used herein, "absorbent article" will refer to all these examples.
Active adults appreciate the freedom afforded to them by incontinence absorbent articles. Such disposable articles can alleviate some of the emotional and physical discomfort of incontinence by absorbing and containing body discharges. Problems arise, however, when bathrooms and public restrooms may not have a readily available garbage can within a stall (for example, men's restroom stalls), or the receptacle (often found among women's restroom stalls) is not sized to receive a bulky, body discharge soiled adult incontinence article. There is a need for transporting used disposable undergarments to and from restrooms/restroom stalls until a suitable trash receptacle can be found. There is also a need for a system to transport absorbent articles soiled with body discharges so that the user's hands do not become contaminated by any biomatter contained therein.
While there are variations in the specific structural features of disposable absorbent articles, they are frequently presented to the consumer in the same manner. Essentially, the disposable absorbent article, irrespective of specific structural features, is packaged in a box, bag or carton with a plurality of disposable absorbent articles from which the consumer withdraws the ready-to-use article as needed. If the consumer needs only one article for later use, the consumer must take precautions to protect the article from becoming soiled or contaminated from the time it is removed from the retail packaging until such time as the article is used.
When traveling or attending to the activities of daily life, bulk packages as described above are indiscreet and impractical. For this reason, individually wrapped absorbent articles have been developed. Furthermore, individually wrapped or packaged absorbent articles are particularly desirable to active adults in the incontinence article retail market.
Individually packaged disposable absorbent articles of the prior art may include a wrapper which overlays only one major surface of the disposable absorbent article and by folding the article and the wrapper as a unit, the wrapper may be sealed thereby providing an individually packaged disposable absorbent article. In use, the wrapper is removed and discarded and is unintended for later use.
In other examples, an individual absorbent article is folded and placed into a sealed pouch to protect the article prior to use. Such pouches are inappropriate for use as a collection bag for a soiled article because disposable absorbent articles will change their shape and become wet and clumsy after having absorbed body discharges, making it difficult to impossible to tuck a used article down into the packaging and/or service bag of the prior art.
In other examples, an individual absorbent article is folded and vacuum sealed within a pouch, pocket, wrapper or bag to reduce the bulk of the unused article. In use, the vacuum seal is broken and the article is removed from the packaging. Again, because soiled articles change their shape after having absorbed body discharges, it is difficult to impossible to insert a soiled article into the packaging and/or service bag of the prior art.
Disposal systems for absorbent articles have been developed which teach disposable bags integrally formed with or applied to an outside surface of the article or placed within/adjacent to an absorbent layer of the article. In use, the disposal bag is either deployed or removed from the absorbent article. The bag is then opened and either inverted over the soiled article or the article is inserted into the bag.
In some examples, the absorbent article must be rolled in onto itself before insertion into the disposal bag. In other examples, the disposal bag may not include a closure system. In still other examples, the bag may include a closure mechanism such as ties, adhesives, hook and loop closures, tongue and groove "zip" closures or other mechanical closure systems. Such closure systems required dexterity to manipulate or may become soiled and thus are not sealable. Further, owing to the awkward shape of an absorbent article after it has become soiled by body discharges, it may be difficult to realign the closure system to completely enclose the soiled article within the disposal bag.
A disadvantage of known packaging, whether for bulk products or individually packaged/wrapped absorbent articles can be found among the packaging itself. Such packaging often includes indicia, logos, designs, bold colors, words and/or phrases which do not offer the user the opportunity to discreetly carry an unused article or transport a soiled article for disposal. That is, the packaging announces what is contained therein.
In other prior art examples, the packaging for an individual article is constructed from a material that produces noise when opening, which in a public restroom setting can cause embarrassment to a user. Where the prior art structure conceals a disposal bag, the disposable absorbent article may change its shape and become wet and clumsy after having absorbed body discharges. Owing to the awkward shape of body discharge soiled absorbent article, it may be difficult to insert and enclose the soiled article within the disposal bag.
Further drawbacks of the prior art include the need for the user to fold and/or roll the soiled article into a compact shape, the process may bring the biomatter contained within the absorbent article into direct contact with the hands of the person handling the article. This process can be both unpleasant and unsanitary.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to disposable absorbent articles including a pouch for containing a used absorbent article and handles integral to the absorbent article for transport of pouch assembly to an appropriate trash receptacle.
While embodiments of the invention are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention will cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Protective underwear including disposal assembly


The automated bin filling system provides an efficient means of placing a relatively fragile bulk product into a container (such as a bulk storage bin) without substantially damaging the product. Specifically, the bin filling system moves bulk products (preferably fruits or vegetables) from a feed conveyor into a product accumulation section where the product is arranged to be uniformly loaded into a mobile tray. Once the mobile tray is filled, the tray is lowered into the bin and gently deposited. The empty tray is then elevated and retracted to its initial position and the loading cycle is repeated. This process continues until the bin is filled.

Millions of pounds of agricultural products are harvested, packed, and shipped, yearly. Conventional packing devices are designed to move bulk products quickly and efficiently, many times at the cost of bruising and destroying significant quantities of the product. In addition to the products that are destroyed, those that are merely damaged (but not immediately destroyed) are vulnerable to insects, disease, and accelerated decay. These damaged products are mixed with previously undamaged products so that the damaged goods are difficult to remove and may spread rot and disease to otherwise healthy products that are stored in a common storage area.
Previous attempts to limit damage to agricultural products during the packing process have been expensive, complex, and in some cases counterproductive. One means of minimizing product damage is through the use of "water handling" devices. These devices use water to cushion and protect a product from the impacts associated with the harvesting and packing process as the product is moved from one container to the next.
However, these devices require a series of tanks, pumps, and filters that must be cleaned and maintained during the harvesting and packaging process. This equipment takes up additional space, is cumbersome for workers, and generally increases product handling costs and slows the overall packing process. Further, wet handling has the potential to facilitate the spread of post-harvest diseases.
The need exists for a product handling method that efficiently transfers bulk products from a conveyor-type feeder to a storage container without significantly damaging the products. The current invention comprises a compact, efficient, reliable means of transferring products from a conveyor-type feeder to a storage means while imparting little or no damage to the products.

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


A microphone holder includes: a holding member holding a microphone; and a mounting member fixed to a tension bolt for fixing a rim of a drum. The mounting member includes a first clamping portion having a first locking portion locking to a lower surface of the rim, a second clamping portion having a second locking portion locking the tension bolt, and a biasing member biasing in a direction allowing the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to approach, wherein the mounting member is attached to the tension bolt by clamping the rim and the tension bolt between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, in a state that the first locking portion of the first clamping portion is locked to the lower surface of the rim and the second locking portion of the second clamping portion is locked to the head of the tension bolt.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microphone holder, particularly to a microphone holder for a drum, a tom-tom or a snare drum, for example, on the rim of which a microphone is attached for collecting sound of a drum kit.
Description of the Related Art
When sound of a drum kit is collected in a recording studio or a live hall, for example, microphones are arranged to collect sound of each drum or other instrument. In this situation, a microphone is placed very close to the drum head, or the percussion surface, of the drum.
One of the methods of setting a microphone is use of a microphone stand. However, space for the microphone stand is limited because cables, amplifiers or lighting equipment are crowdedly placed around the drum kit. Therefore, conventionally a microphone is often held by a microphone holder provided on the rim of the drum. The rim made of metal having a ring shape is fitted over the edge of the drum.
A conventional microphone holder 40, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, often has a clip like structure having a microphone holding portion 41 or 42 which holds a microphone, and the holder pinches the rim 22 placed on the periphery of a tom-tom 20 from both upper and lower sides with biasing force of a spring provided in the holder. With the clip like structure of the holding portion 41 or 42, however, the holder easily comes off due to lowering of the gripping force caused by long-term degradation of the spring. For example, the holder comes off due to misalignment of the holding portion caused by vibration of the drum during its performance. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2009-94851 discloses a microphone holder including a base portion having a hook arm and a hook portion for clamping a rim from upper and lower sides. The hook portion that is at a lower portion and is freely slidable, is additionally fixed with a screw.
The rim holds and presses the periphery of the drumhead against the opening edge of a shell of the drum. By changing the pressing force to the rim, the tension of the drum head changes and tuning is achieved accordingly.
More specifically, the rim is screw-fixed against the shell with tension bolts configured at the plurality of positions on the circumference. As the bolts are tightened more strongly, the pressing force against the rim increases and the tension of the drum head becomes higher. Thus the rim is temporarily fixed in the state that it can be pressed further.
However, when a microphone holder is attached with a clip or a hook to the rim, the total weight of the microphone and the microphone holder is locally applied to the rim, i.e. the microphone and the microphone holder are hanging from the fixing point on the rim. Consequently a problem arises that tuning may be adversely affected by the local displacement of the rim in the loading direction.


The present invention relates to a method of obtaining an enriched population of a target polynucleotide using a synthetic single guide RNA (sgRNA) for an sgRNA-guided nucleic acid-binding protein, as well as to a method of obtaining a pool of target-irrelevant synthetic single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) for a sgRNA-guided nucleic acid-binding protein. Also provided is a target polynucleotide and sgRNAs obtainable by the methods of the invention. Further envisaged is a kit comprising a pool of sgRNAs obtainable by the method of the invention, and the use of a pool of sgRNAs obtainable by the methods of the invention.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a major driver in genetics and molecular research, including modern diagnostics inter alia in the field of cancer medicine. The technology provides a powerful way to study DNA or RNA samples. New and improved methods and protocols have been developed to support a diverse range of applications, including the analysis of genetic variations and sample specific differences. To improve this approach, methods have been developed that aim at a targeted enrichment of sequencing libraries by focusing on specific sequences, transcripts, genes or genome sub-regions, or by eliminating undesirable sequences.
Targeted enrichment can be useful in a number of situations where, for example, particular portions of a whole genome need to be analyzed. The efficient sequencing of a complete exome (all transcribed sequences) is a typical example for this approach. Further examples include the enrichment of specific transcripts, the enrichment of mutation hotspots or the exclusion of disturbing nucleic acid species.
Current techniques for targeted enrichment include (i) Hybrid capture, wherein nucleic acid strands derived from the input sample are hybridized specifically to pre-prepared DNA fragments complementary to the targeted regions of interest, either in solution or on a solid support, so that one can physically capture and isolate the sequences of interest; (ii) Selective circularization or molecular inversion probes (MIPs), wherein single-stranded DNA circles that include target region sequences are formed by gap-filling and ligation chemistries in a highly specific manner, creating structures with common DNA elements that are then used for selective amplification of the targeted regions of interest; and (iii) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification, wherein PCR is directed toward the targeted regions of interest by conducting multiple long-range PCRs in parallel, a limited number of standard multiplex PCRs or highly multiplexed PCR methods that amplify very large numbers of short fragments (Mertes et al., 2011, Briefings in functional Genomics, 10, 6, 374-386).
More recently, the CRISPR/Cas-technology was used for targeted enrichment purposes, in particular in order to remove unwanted sequences from a sequencing library.
The CRISPR/Cas-technology is a new and very versatile genome- and epigenome-editing tool based on repurposing the CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats/Cas) bacterial immune system (Cong et al, 2013, Science, 339, 819-824). The Cas nuclease, when complexed with a short RNA oligonucleotide known as a single guide RNA (sgRNA), can induce double-stranded breaks (DSBs) at specific sgRNA complementary locations.
The CRISPR/Cas system has further been repurposed as a programmable restriction enzyme to direct cleavage in a very precise and customized manner (Lee et al., 2015, Nucleic Acids Res., 43, 1-9).
Accordingly, methods using CRISPR/Cas have been developed which selectively deplete overabundant sequences in a process termed Depletion of Abundant Sequences by Hybridization (DASH). DASH was used to remove targets such as ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from mRNA-seq and wild-type KRAS background sequence from cancer samples by directing their targeted cleavage and preventing their further amplification and sequencing (Gu et al., 2016. Genome Biol., 17, 41). According to Gu et al., employing DASH after transposon-mediated fragmentation but prior to the following amplification step (which relies on the presence of adaptor sequences on both ends of the fragment) is capable of preventing amplification of the targeted sequences (mitochondrial rRNA), thereby ensuring they are not represented in the final sequencing library.
However, this enrichment approach is suitable to remove only a specific species from the sequencing library, while all other sequences remain in the library. There is hence a need for a streamlined, cost- and resource-sensitive enrichment and sequencing approach, which allows for an efficient reduction of the complexity of the sequencing library and thereby implicates a decreased sequencing depth and a manageable amount of data to be processed.


Back ends of guide bars that guide lens frames holding lenses are fixed to a base, and front ends of the guide bars are inserted into front end supporters provided on a middle frame. All the ends of the guide bars are supported, and thus the guide bars can stably move the lens frames.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lens device, and more particularly to a lens device for an electronic still camera.
2. Description of Related Art
A lens frame holding a lens is provided in a lens barrel. There are two methods of supporting the lens along an optical axis in the lens barrel.
In the first method, three projections are arranged on the outer periphery of the lens frame at regular intervals, and three grooves are formed along the optical axis on the inner periphery of a fixed barrel. The projections are coupled to the grooves so that the lens frame is guided along the optical axis. In the second method, guide bars are provided along the optical axis in the lens barrel, and guide blocks are provided on the lens frame. The guide bars are coupled with the guide blocks to guide the lens frame along the optical axis.
In the former method, though the lens frame is stably supported, the operating space for the lens frame is larger than that in the latter method, and this makes the lens barrel large.
In the latter method, all the ends of the guide bars are supported in case of a fixed focus lens or a relatively simple zoom lens, but only one end of each bar is supported in case of a recent zoom lens which becomes smaller in size. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 6-324392, the back ends of the guide bars are fixed to the back surface of the lens barrel, and the front ends of them are not supported.
However, the guide bars shake when the lens is guided, and the lens can not be stably moved. If both ends of each guide bar are supported to stably move the lens, the lens barrel is large.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a small lens device that permits stable movement of a lens.
The above object can be achieved by providing a lens device, comprising: a lens barrel including a movable barrel and a fixed barrel, wherein said movable barrel moves along an optical axis with respect to said fixed barrel; a support mechanism provided within the movable barrel, said support mechanism including a cylindrical middle frame and a presser ring, wherein said middle frame is slidable within the movable barrel; a lens frame holding a lens; and a guide bar that is arranged in the lens barrel to support said lens frame holding said lens so that the lens frame slides along the optical axis, wherein one end of the guide bar is fixed to a back end of the fixed barrel, and the other end of the guide bar is supported by the support mechanism provided within the movable barrel.
The supporter may be arranged in a supporting member that moves along the optical axis in the movable barrel.
According to the present invention, the back end of the guide bar is fixed to the back end of the fixed barrel, and the other end of the guide bar is supported by the supporter provided on the movable barrel. Both ends of the guide bar are supported, and the guide bar can stably move the lens. If the supporting member can move, it does not come into contact with other members in the lens barrel.


An LED assembly includes a plurality of LED modules, a plurality of individual lenses and a pressing plate. Each LED module has a printed circuit board and a plurality of LEDs attached to the printed circuit board. Each lens covers a corresponding LED. Each lens includes a supporting base and a light adjusting portion disposed on the supporting portion. The pressing plate defines a plurality of through holes corresponding to the light adjusting portions of the lenses. The lenses cooperates with the LEDs. The light adjusting portions of the lenses extend through the through holes of the pressing plate. The pressing plate presses peripheral portions of the supporting bases towards the printed circuit boards of the LED modules.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an illuminating device and, more particularly, to an LED (light emitting diode) assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
LEDs (light emitting diodes), available since the early 1960's, have been increasingly used in a variety of application fields and are intended to be a high quality replacement for conventional light sources due to high light-emitting efficiency, environmental friendliness, and low power consumption.
A typical LED lamp includes a housing and a plurality of LEDs disposed in the housing. Each of the LEDs includes an LED die and a transparent encapsulant enveloping the LED die for adjusting light emitted from the LED die. However, due to the size limitation of the encapsulant, the encapsulant cannot effectively adjust light generated by the LED die whereby a light pattern of the LEDs cannot satisfy some illumination requirements. Therefore, light-adjusting devices are utilized for further adjustment of the light emitted from the LED die. A typical light-adjusting device includes a main body having a plurality of lenses integrally formed thereon. The main body of the light-adjusting device is mounted over the LEDs. Each LED is corresponding to one of the lenses so that the light emitted from each LED is further adjusted by a corresponding lens.
However, in assembly of the light-adjusting device, the main body of the light-adjusting device must be accurately mounted over these LEDs of the LED lamp to make sure that each lens is accurately corresponding to one of the LEDs. By doing this, the light-adjusting device adjusts light emitted from the LEDs to form a perfect light pattern. Once assembly errors of the light-adjusting device exist, it is unavoidable that the lenses can not be in alignment with corresponding LEDs, which results in that the adjusted light pattern cannot satisfy the demands of illumination.
What is needed, therefore, is an LED assembly which can overcome the above-mentioned problem.

Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


A pressure medium supply arrangement for operating a pneumatic apparatus, comprises a pressure medium supply, a pressure medium connection, a vent connection and at least one pressure medium charging connection to the pneumatic apparatus, together with a suction line, a compressor line, a vent line and at least one pressure medium charging line. A charging apparatus is configured to simultaneously direct the pressurized pressure medium applied to the pressure medium charging connection, and the further pressure medium made available in the charging apparatus by the first compressor stage of a two-stage or multistage compressor, to the second compressor stage of the compressor.

A pressure medium of a pressure medium supply arrangement is generally understood to mean compressed air, but is not restricted thereto. For example, a compressed air supply arrangement is used in vehicles of all types, especially to supply an air spring of a vehicle with compressed air. Air suspension systems may also include level control devices with which the distance between vehicle axle and vehicle body can be adjusted. With increasing distance between vehicle axle and vehicle body, or ground clearance, spring travel is lengthened and even relatively large road surface irregularities can be surmounted without contact with the vehicle body. It is also desirable to implement a change of ground clearance as quickly as possible, increasing the demands with regard to speed, flexibility and reliability placed on a compressed air supply arrangement. For example, a compressed air supply arrangement is operated at a pressure level from 5 to 20 bar, and in some cases more. In particular, pressure medium can be stored in a pressure medium storage container at substantially higher pressure. The pressure medium, in particular compressed air, is made available using a compressor to a charging apparatus of the pressure medium supply. In order to supply a pneumatic apparatus, the pressure medium supply is pneumatically connected to a pressure medium connection and, in order to vent to an environment, is pneumatically connected to a vent connection, a pneumatic connection being switched by means of a vent valve.
In order to increase speed and flexibility of the pressure medium supply arrangement, a charging apparatus may be designed to operate the pressure medium supply arrangement in an open, partly closed or closed mode. Such a pressure medium supply arrangement is known from DE 10 2008 034 240 A1. This arrangement makes it possible both to convey the pressure medium from a pressure medium storage container into one or more pressure medium chambers of the pneumatic apparatus by means of the second compression stage of the compressor, and to convey the pressure medium from the atmosphere to the pressure medium storage container and/or to one or more pressure medium chambers by means of the first and second compression stages of the compressor. Automatically opening non-return valves as the outlet valve to the first compression chamber and inlet valve to the second compression chamber are arranged in the flow direction of a compressor line leading from a first compressor stage to a second compressor stage. A directional control valve in the compressor line provides that the two-stage compressor delivers practically in a circle in order to save the power of the first compression stage or to reduce the power in a predetermined manner. The pressure medium from the first compression chamber can be transferred either back to the suction chamber of the first compression stage or to atmosphere.
What is needed is an efficient operating mode of a pressure medium supply arrangement that goes beyond the foregoing and that is as fast, flexible and reliable as possible. This should apply, in particular, to an operating mode of a charging apparatus in the pressure medium supply arrangement.


I/Q imbalance correction is performed directly in the frequency domain by exploiting the symmetry properties of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of a real signal, taking the in-phase component as the real part and the quadrature component as the imaginary part. Amplitudes of ordered real and imaginary spectral components are respectively summed with reverse-ordered real and imaginary spectral components, the sums complex multiplied with correction values derived through calibration and selected in accordance with a maximum magnitude spectral component and the results of the complex multiplication summed with the real and imaginary spectral components. Simplified processing architecture and improved performance for a given level of processing power is thus provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electromagnetic (e.g. radio) signal detection and processing and, more particularly, to correction for unavoidable differences between electronic components in separate analog channels for processing in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) portions of the detected signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous applications, including passive ranging and radar applications as well as radio communications in which it is desirable to detect a signal of a frequency which is not initially known but which lies within a given frequency band. For such detection, analog filtering in accordance with the given frequency band is, of course, well-known. However, at the present state of the art, digital signal processing for filtering is also well-known and generally preferred, where feasible, in view of the relative flexibility of modification of the processing by suitable programming of a digital data processor and the precision with which digitized signals can be processed.
Unfortunately, for digital signal detection over a frequency band by digital processing, a wide frequency band for detection requires a correspondingly high sampling frequency. A high sampling frequency increases the amount of data which must be digitally processed and increases hardware overhead, cost, size and weight while potentially compromising response time, depending on available data processor capacity or power. Therefore, as a practical matter, analog signal processing for signal detection and filtering may remain the technique of choice for a given application or device design, particularly when the device must monitor a broad frequency band. It should also be appreciated that even when analog signal processing is utilized for detection, filtering and/or any other desired processing, conversion of the data to digital form for additional processing may be done at any point at which digital processing becomes relatively more desirable or convenient.
In many of the applications alluded to above, the received signal is often converted into an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component which are simultaneously processed in parallel in respective signal channels. When analog signal processing circuits are employed to generate the I and Q signals, unavoidable variations between individual electrical components in the respective channels, in the aggregate, cause variations in response between the channels (thus referred to as I/Q imbalances) which are frequency dependent and largely unpredictable.
As is known, such imbalances may take the form of amplitude imbalance, phase imbalance and/or DC offset. DC offset is manifested in the production of an image signal at the center of the band of interest and can thus be corrected or compensated with relative ease since the band of interest will define the center frequency. However, combinations of amplitude and phase imbalance are manifested as an image frequency reflected about the center frequency of the frequency band from the received signal, the frequency of which is not necessarily known.
The amplitude of the image signal is a function of the magnitude of the amplitude and phase imbalances and, although it will be less than the amplitude of the received signal, may be significant. Both amplitude and phase imbalance are frequency dependent and, while correction values for correcting such imbalances can be determined by careful calibration of the detector, receiver or other circuit including the parallel, analog I and Q channels, the proper correction values cannot be chosen and applied without knowledge of the frequency of the received signal. If the I and Q data is digitized and subsequently processed without correction or compensation for the image signal, the image signal data will be included in the digitized representation thereof and thereafter will be inseparable from the received signal. The image signal can thus degrade the performance of algorithms used to estimate the parameters of the received signal, appear as an additional signal which requires separate processing and/or mask the existence of a weaker signal which may also be of interest.
Techniques are known for correction of I/Q imbalances using digital signal processing techniques applied to digitized versions of the I and Q signals such as that described in "The Correction of I and Q Errors in a Coherent Processor" By Churchill et al., IEEE Trans. Aerospace and Electronics, January, 1981, pp. 131-137 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,750. An improved implementation of the technique disclosed by Churchill et al. is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,195 to Conrad in which a known test signal is periodically applied for calibration and computation of correction factors which are fed back to a compensation circuit.
However, these techniques are applied in the time domain and, since the correction to be applied is frequency dependent, some additional technique of determining the frequency of the received signal is needed but may not be readily available, as in the applications alluded to above where the frequency of the received signal is initially unknown. In addition, the implementation of Conrad does not provide the ability to compensate at a plurality of frequencies, as is essential in many application areas.
To obtain frequency information concerning the detected signal, it is possible to compute the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of the signal by performing a fast Fourier transform (FFT), determining the frequency of the dominant signal and then applying the appropriate frequency-dependent corrections to the time-domain signal. However, if further frequency domain processing is to be done on the corrected signal, as is often desirable, a further FFT must be performed on the corrected time domain signal to obtain a representation of the signal in the frequency domain for such further processing. Thus, two FFTs are required to achieve frequency-dependent correction for I/Q imbalance by the known techniques described above and, thereafter, to allow further frequency domain processing of the signal to be accomplished.
For example, the detection of multiple continuous wave (CW) signals and correlation processing for frequency and phase estimation which is often encountered in position locating or ranging systems requires additional frequency domain processing and possibly further I/Q imbalance correction for additional detected frequencies. Such further I/Q imbalance correction by the above-described techniques would require further pairs of FFTs to be performed which may be beyond the capacity of special purpose FFT processors which are otherwise feasible for use in a particular application, particularly if a high sampling rate must be provided by the design.
An early attempt to provide frequency domain I/Q imbalance correction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,054 to Goldstone. However, the approach disclosed therein requires the application of a plurality of linear chirp signals, each covering a different frequency band to compute a set of frequency-dependent correction factors equally spaced across the frequency band of interest. As with the time domain correction of Conrad, the requirement for a particular calibration signal to be applied does not provide a generalized system for correction. Linear chirp signals, in particular, while used in modern radar systems, are not available in many applications for which I/Q imbalance correction may be desired.
Further, Goldstone applies all of the correction factors to the FFT of a received signal which can be computationally intensive when processing using large FFT sizes and does not assure that the frequencies for which correction factors are available closely coincide with the frequency of the received signal of interest. That is, the development of equally spaced correction factors across the frequency band of interest is a constraint which limits optimization of performance in regard to an arbitrary frequency of a signal for a given implementation complexity. In addition, when the signal is, for example, a narrowband CW signal concentrated in a very small region of the entire frequency band being processed, applying correction factors over the entire frequency band (as is done in Goldstone) can degrade the performance of subsequent processing.
Accordingly, there is a need for a technique of I/Q imbalance correction employing simplified calibration signals which can be carried out in the frequency domain when the frequency of the received signal is not initially known, and is well-suited to processing narrowband CW signals.

Frequency domain correction of I/Q imbalance


A winding apparatus for winding a mechanical watch while the watch is being stored or displayed, preferably comprises a housing, a wrist-sized mandrel whereupon the watch is placed and held in the housing. A grasping assembly of multiple claws grasps the crown of the watch and is driven by an electric motor. The claws rotate the crown of the watch to automatically wind the watch a predetermined amount and at a periodic interval. A control circuit adjusts the frequency at which the watch is wound as well as the length of time the claws are driven by the motor each time the watch is wound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to winding of mechanical watches while the watches are stored or displayed. This invention more particularly pertains to automated winding of watches by engaging the crown of the watch and periodically turning the crown a predetermined amount.
2. Description of Related Art
At present, there are numerous types of watches which do not require manual winding. The most commonly available watches which do not require any winding are battery operated digital watches which run for the life of the battery. Typically, these digital watches may run continuously for years without maintenance by the wearer even while not being worn. These battery operated watches do not need rewinding and, therefore, are not the subject of the present invention.
However, there are also numerous types of watches which are mechanical and do require winding to operate. Most of these mechanical wrist watches may primarily be distinguished by whether they are self-winding or require manual winding by hand to operate. Self-winding mechanical watches operate as long as their is sufficient physical movement to actuate the internal winding mechanisms contained within the watch. The wearer's own natural arm movements actuate the internal winding mechanism of the watch thereby allowing the watch to run without manual rewinding. But while the self-winding watch is not being worn or during periods of inactivity, the watch runs down and will eventually stop. These self-winding watches are then manually rewound by hand to start the watch running again. Additionally, the correct time, moon phases, day of the week and month will also have to be reset though an elaborate sequence which the wearer may find cumbersome to perform each time he wants to wear a fancy watch. However, the present invention eliminates this need.
Mechanical watches which are incapable of self-winding are periodically rewound prior to stopping so that the watch continues to operate. Most high grade watches are hand wound and not automatic. Also, most high grade watches are made of precious metal and are extremely thin for esthetic reasons. In most such watches, there is no room for a self winding rotor. In addition, other complications such as a calendar further increase the thickness of the watch to the degree that the addition of a winding rotor may seriously compromise the esthetic appearance of the watch. Also, high grade precious and expensive watches are seldom worn on a daily basis. An expensive dress watch may only be worn on weekends where the owner may find rewinding and resetting day, month and calendar excessively cumbersome. As a result, he may choose not to wear the watch, therefore, making the investment in a fancy watch impractical.
However, like most other mechanical watches, these manually wound watches also run down if allowed to operate without repeated rewinding. Once the watch stops, it must be rewound in order to begin operating again and the time must also be reset. Also, the fine lubrication in mechanical watches has a tendency to harden and even cease movement if the internal components are not exercised regularly.
As a result of the desire to keep a mechanical watch running while not being used, attempts have been made at providing devices which will rewind a watch and keep it from stopping. Some known devices merely facilitate easy rewinding of the watch while the watch is still being used while others rewind the watch while the watch is being stored and/or displayed. For example, U.S. Pat No. 3,774,389 to Wilken teaches a manual watch stem winder. The watch stem winder may be part of a handle such as a pen or pencil. The winder has a concave shaped end with a series of ribs for receiving the head of a watch stem. Manually rotating the winder with the head of the watch stem in the concave end of the winder will rewind the watch. However, the patent to Wilken does not teach automatic winding of mechanical watches when not in use as does the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,958 to Wuntch teaches an apparatus for winding mechanical self-winding watches when not being worn. The watch is placed over a wrist-sized mandrel such that a revolving shaft driven by a motor rotates the mandrel and the wrist watch together. The rotation of the watch on the mandrel provides sufficient physical movement to actuate the internal winding mechanism contained within the watch. The apparatus disclosed in the patent to Wuntch requires that the watch itself be rotated thereby preventing uninterrupted viewing of the watch. Moreover, the Wuntch invention does not allow for rewinding mechanical watches which are not self-winding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,693 to Richards teaches a nonlinear vibration device for providing vibration to a self-winding mechanical wrist watch when not worn on the wrist. The watch is mounted on a holder which is in turn mounted on springs and driven by a motor. The holder thereby vibrates to mimic human arm movement. The patent to Richards also does not disclose an apparatus for rewinding mechanical watches which are not self-winding.
For the foregoing reasons, what is needed is a winding apparatus which intermittently winds mechanical watches while not being worn such as when being stored and/or displayed. This mechanical watch winder must provide intermittent winding for self-winding watches as well as other types of mechanical watches which are only capable of manual winding by hand. This winding apparatus must also allow the watch to remain stationary so that it may be continuously viewed even while being wound.

Automated watch winder and method of using the same


A display system and structure is disclosed generally comprising a vertical post assembly and a horizontal beam assembly coupled thereto, wherein the beam assembly includes a beam, a housing, and a plate assembly extractable from the housing, which plate assembly has at least two plates, which, when separated, secure the beam assembly to the post assembly. In some embodiments, the plates have ridges that fit into a channel in the post assembly. In some embodiments, the post assembly includes a spline with a slot, and the plates have tongues which fit into the slot.

Systems similar to the present invention, known as display systems, construction systems, exhibition systems, or shop systems, provide an efficient manner of constructing temporary exhibits, showcases, booths, graphical displays, demonstration spaces, decks, and rooms that are quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. Such systems are commonly used for trade shows, symposiums, conventions, corporate centers, and museum exhibits.
It is known to use an arrangement of individual frame members as vertical posts and horizontal beams that connect together in order to create a skeletal framework. Such frameworks are often assembled for their own aesthetic qualities, which are often enhanced with various colors, coverings, lighting, and accessories. Additionally, such frameworks are often assembled to provide the support structure for temporary walls, decks, ceilings, and graphic surfaces and screens.
These systems often utilize beams having attachment elements protruding from their ends. These attachment elements typically correspond to a mating channel or hole in the vertical post. Thus, when one desires to connect a beam to a vertical post, one typically either laterally inserts the attachment member into the hole or inserts the attachment member into the channel at the top of the post and slides the beam down.
However, one disadvantage of these systems is that, because the beam has the added length of the attachment member, a horizontal beam that has not yet been connected to a pair of vertical posts already connected by a different horizontal beam is longer than the space between the two vertical posts. Accordingly, if a framework is already assembled, one desiring to add an additional beam must first disassemble the framework before the beam can be added. This disadvantage is exacerbated by the fact that the business of assembling such display systems is labor intensive, and the price of such labor is often high. Therefore, time wasted disassembling and reassembling proves to be very costly.
Another disadvantage of these systems is that the attachment members tend to be small, have little or no support once connected to the vertical post, and have minimal surface contact with the post, and thus, these frameworks are not capable of bearing great weight.


An alarm control apparatus which collects alarms from a plant and handles the alarms includes: a defining section for defining a conditioning process which is executed when performing a filtering process on the alarms; and a filtering section for performing the filtering process on the collected alarms in accordance with the conditioning process defined by the defining section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alarm control apparatus which collects alarms from a plant and handles the alarms.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of the spread of a distributed control system (hereinafter, abbreviated as DCS) and advancement of a field bus network, recently, self-diagnostic information (a message or an alarm) notified from a field equipment of a plant can be handled on the DCS.
Therefore, alarm control, such as early detection and early response to an abnormality in a field equipment, and integrated management of detailed statuses, is available by using an alarm control apparatus which is typified by a RPM (Plant Resource Manager) connected to the DCS for communication.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a DCS to which a related alarm control apparatus is connected. The reference numeral 1 denotes a higher-level apparatus which executes operating and monitoring processes in the DCS, and which is connected to a control bus 2.
The reference numeral 3 denotes a control station which is connected to the control bus 2 to communicate with the higher-level apparatus 1, and also with field equipments (not shown) placed in a plant 4 to execute a control based on an application program.
The reference numeral 5 denotes a gateway which relays communication between the control bus 2 and a field bus 6 that operates on a different standard. The reference numeral 7 denotes a control station which forms a sub system, and which communicates with the higher-level apparatus 1 via the field bus 6 and the control bus 2, and also with field equipments (not shown) placed in the plant 4 to execute a control based on an application program.
The reference numeral AL1 denotes an alarm which is sent from the plant 4 to the control bus 2 via the control station 3, and AL2 denotes an alarm which is sent from the plant 4 to the control bus 2 via the control station 7 and the gateway 5.
The reference numeral 8 denotes an OPC (OLE for Process Control) server which is connected to the control bus 2, which collects the alarms AL1, AL2, and which passes data according to the OPC standard to the alarm control apparatus 9. The reference numeral 10 denotes an operator of the alarm control apparatus 9.
The reference numeral 11 denotes a general-purpose communication bus which is typified by Ethernet (registered trademark), and which is connected to the alarm control apparatus 9 and the higher-level apparatus 1, and 12 denotes a client PC which obtains delivery information from the alarm control apparatus via the general-purpose communication bus 11.
As required, also the higher-level apparatus 1 obtains the delivery information from the alarm control apparatus 9 via the general-purpose communication bus 11. The reference numeral 13 denotes a maintenance staff who patrols and maintains the plant 4, and who obtains the delivery information from the alarm control apparatus 9 via a mobile terminal 14, and 15 denotes an operating staff who operates and monitors the higher-level apparatus 1.
In the alarm control apparatus 9, 91 denotes data collecting and processing section for collecting the alarms AL1, AL2 which are sent from the OPC server 8, for performing required data processing on the alarms, and for storing the alarms into a database 92.
The reference numeral 93 denotes an application program which reads out alarm information of a predetermined time period that is stored in the database 92, which executes a process of analyzing the cause of a fault or the like, and which shows a result of the process to the operator 10 through a display device 94.
The reference numeral 95 denotes a delivering section for reading out the alarm information stored in the database 92 on the basis of a predetermined delivery period or a delivery request, and for delivering the alarm information to the client PC 12, the mobile terminal 14 of the maintenance staff 13, and the higher-level apparatus 1.
JP-A-2005-84774 discloses an alarm control system which collects message data of alarms generated in a process, and which analyzes behaviors of the alarms.
The related alarm control apparatus have the following problems.
(1) All alarms which are generated in the plant, and each of which is indicative of an abnormal status of an equipment are to be collected. Important alarms which require immediate response are mixed with alarms of a negligible level. The operator and maintenance staffs must conduct troublesome checking operations, and hence there is a risk of overlooking an important alarm.(2) The apparatus is not provided with customizing section for enabling the user to arbitrarily add information to alarm information generated by an equipment of the plant. Therefore, a fine-tuned delivery service is not available.(3) It is impossible to apply a process of stopping delivery on an alarm which is not required to be delivered.


A sectional electrical connector for flat cables includes separable lower and upper horizontal sections formed from a relatively hard synthetic plastic material, at least one electrical contact having a horizontal bus bar portion mounted in the lower section, and a vertical portion extending upwardly toward the upper section, and seal strips integral with and arranged between the sections to seal the space between the sections surrounding the contact vertical portion, the seal strips being formed from a relatively soft synthetic plastic material. In one embodiment, the contact vertical portion comprises an insulation piercing contact for engaging the conductor of an insulated conductor contained in the flat cable. In a second embodiment, the vertical contact portion comprises a pin for connection with one or more components of a printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
A plug and socket electrical connector arrangement for flat cables includes separable lower and upper horizontal connector sections formed from a relatively hard synthetic plastic material, at least one electrical contact having a horizontal bus bar portion mounted in the lower section, and a vertical portion extending upwardly toward the upper section, and seal means arranged between the sections for sealing the space around the upper extremities of the contact vertical portion, said seal being integral with the connector sections and being formed from a relatively soft synthetic plastic material.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the patented prior art to provide electrical connectors with insulation piercing contacts carried by a bus bar mounted in the connector body, thereby to pierce the insulation layer of an insulated conductor that is part of a cable. It is also known to provide connectors with electrical components, such as a resistor, whereby the connector serves as a termination element for a cable.
In the case of a sectional connector, one problem that has occurred is that of sealing the contacts within the connector against deleterious environmental conditions, such as rain, ice, gaseous conditions and the like. Accordingly, the present invention was developed to provide a simple, inexpensive sectional plug and socket-type connector that is sealed against the elements.

Electrical connector for flat cables and contact element therefor


A multifunctional molding name plate removal tool includes a blade attached to a blade retainer having a drive arm and a threaded handle attached thereto. The threaded handle may be removed in order to enable a pneumatic tool to drive the tool.

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool useful for the removal of molding and/or name plates from various items such as motor vehicles in order to effect repair and/or replacement.
When repairing the body of a damaged motor vehicle, it is often necessary to remove the name plates or the molding which is attached to the body sheet metal typically by means of some adhesive. The methodology for removal of such items has been dependent upon the use of chisel-type devices. Such devices are exemplified by a tool offered by Steck Manufacturing Co., Product No. 59890 and 3M Company, Product No. 051135-08978. These tools typically include a rod with one end configured to receive a pneumatic drive tool and the opposite end attached to a blade. In use, the tool is driven by the pneumatic driving tool and the blade is caused to undercut the molding or name plate from a vehicle body. These devices may include a blade which is permanently affixed to a rod, such as with the 3M tool, or a blade which may be removable from the tool. U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,429 for a Tool for Removing Moldings and the Like also discloses a tool of this general type.
Such devices have been found to be useful and accepted somewhat in the relevant trades. However, certain aspects of the use of such tools are undesirable. For example, it may not be desirable to use a pneumatic driving mechanism for such a tool, particularly where the name plate or decorative item to be removed is small or requires a delicate hand operation to effect removal. On the other hand, to provide a separate tool which may be hand operated and another tool which may be pneumatically operated calls for extra tools. Thus, there has developed the need for an improved, multifunctional molding and name plate removal tool.


A process for removing color from a pulp and paper wastewater which comprises the following steps: (a) treating the wastewater with a reducing agent which is capable of inactivating color producing functional groups of the wastewater; and (b) treating the wastewater subsequent to step (a) with a polymer which is capable of removing color from the wastewater.

Color removal from the effluent streams of paper mills continues to be a problem within the pulp and paper industry. It is necessary that these downstream wastewaters be treated for color removal prior to discharge into public waterways.
The U.S. wood pulp production capacity is approximately 60 million tons per year. Since the average cellulose content of wood is about 40%, 150 million tons of wood are needed to produce this 60 million tons of pulp. The difference between these two numbers represents the lining and hemicellulose which must be removed or separated in the pulping process in order to free the cellulose fibers.
The pulping process, however, does not remove 100% of the lining present in the wood, with approximately 5% remaining after either kraft or sulfite pulping (for mechanical pulping the amount is considerably higher). If a high grade paper is the desired end product, this 5% residual lining must be removed, and is accomplished by bleaching the pulp.
Since over 35% of the pulp produced in the United States is bleached, there are about one million tons of lining removed each year at the bleach plant, and most of this in the caustic extraction stage. This number is significant because in the removal process (i.e., bleaching), most of this residual lining is solubilized. This solubilized lining is a strong absorber of visible radiation resulting from the conjugation of unsaturated and quinoidal moleties formed during the oxidation step in the bleach plant. Consequently, the bleach plant effluent is highly colored. Although there are other sources of color in paper mill waste effluent, it is readily apparent that where bleaching is performed its effluent can be expected to be the major contributor of waste color. Indeed, at kraft, bleach mills the effluent from the first caustic extraction stage accounts for at least 70% of the waste color.
The goal of the pulping and bleaching operations is the removal of lining and hemicellulose from the cellulose fiber in the wood. The 95% that is removed by pulping is often burned as fuel in the process of recovering the inorganic chemicals present in the black liquor. In the bleaching operation, the 5% residual lining is separated from the fibers by degradation and solubilization and ends up in the wastewater. Chemical removal can, therefore, only be accomplished by reducing this solubility, which has proved to be a difficult task.
The process of color removal from the effluent stream is further complicated by the presence of lime, solid particulate matter like pulp, clay, dispersants/surface active materials and polymers used during various stages in the papermaking process. The solid particulate matter is commonly referred to as anionic trash.
Most governmental regulations pertaining to color removal from the effluent stream of a papermaking process are directed to true color, i.e., defined by the EPA/NCASI test as the absorbance of 465 nm of light by a sample adjusted to a pH of 7.6 and filtered through a 0.8 micrometer filter paper. Color is reported in standard color units (scu) which represents the concentration of a color standard solution producing an equivalent degree of absorbance (1 scu=1 mg/l platinum as chloroplatinate). Nevertheless, there is increasing pressure on pulp and paper mills to lower the apparent color of the effluent water because that is the color visible to the naked eye as the effluent flows into public waterways. Apparent color is unfiltered and not pH adjusted, and results in part from particles that scatter light. There are occasions when the true color of a system that has undergone treatment is low, but the corresponding apparent color is high. This problem is commonly caused by the presence of suspended particulate matter that causes an increase in the turbidity of the system. Therefore, it is important that any new treatment for color removal should not only remove the true color of the effluent, but should also lower the apparent color as well.
The pressure to remove color comes primarily from state environmental agencies. Previously, it was thought that the discharge of colored waste affected only the aesthetic value of the receiving body of water; however, biologists are becoming increasingly concerned about possible toxic effects, the effect of reduced light transmittance through the water causing reduced levels of photosynthetic activity, and of course, the resultant drop in dissolved oxygen concentration because of this drop in activity. Furthermore, although these colored, waste products are fairly refractory towards biological oxidation and as such the majority of these colored materials are not removed by biological waste treatment plants.
It has been shown that by-products are water soluble, and that a significant amount is produced. This puts severe demands on chemicals to be used for color removal. There are techniques already available, however, that can remove greater than 90% of the color before, within or after biological waste treatment and from isolated waste streams, such as from the alkaline extraction stage of the bleach plant. These techniques include chemical (e.g., alum, ferric, lime or polyelectrolytes), biological (e.g., white rot fungus) and physical processes (e.g., ultrafiltration, ion exchange and carbon absorption). None enjoys widespread use because of unfavorable economics.
The demands on a product used in a color removal application are quite severe, i.e., the product must be capable of reacting with the color bodies in a manner which results in their becoming insoluble and, because of the extremely large amounts of wastewater produced that contains color bodies, the color removal product must work at very low dosages or its use will be precluded by prohibitive costs.
A common problem associated with conventional chemical treatment methods, such as polymers made from epichlorohydrin-dimethylamine (Epi-DMA), is the fact that those polymers cannot lower the color of a system below a certain value beyond which they tend to re-disperse the color. This problem is commonly referred to as "overdosage."
As an example, at one Southeastern United States paper mill Epi-DMA is used to remove color from 1000 color units to about 350 color units. However, the government is getting ready to reduce the acceptable color level of pulp and paper wastewater to about 100 color units.
Currently very little is known about the origin or the chemical structure of the color materials in paper effluents. It is commonly believed that the effluent color is largely due to lining degradation products or a series of leucochromophoric (colorless) compounds which could then undergo auto oxidation or dehydrogenation forming conjugated chromophores.
It has been suggested that some of the chromophoric structures are keto-enol products derived from carbohydrates.
The present inventors believe that keto-enol products derived from carbohydrates are too small to be treated with Epi-DMA effectively. They have developed a two step treatment program wherein the wastewater is pre-treated with a reducing agent to form more favorable compounds for subsequent Epi/DMA treatment.
As such, the present inventors have found that the addition of reducing agents such as sodium bisulfite to paper mill effluent wastewater followed by polymer (e.g., polyamine) treatment effectively removes wastewater effluent color to a much lower level than either reducing agent or polymer alone can achieve.
The present invention also provides many additional advantages which shall become apparent as described below.

Treatment of pulp and paper wastewater with reducing agent and a polymer for color removal


A rollover system is provided to facilitate transitioning of client devices in a shared account network environment, from an old password to a new replacement password. The switching of passwords may take place gradually during a rollout period for client devices without required downtime and reducing a risk of lockouts. During the rollover period, a prior salt is temporarily carried over to a new verifier for the replacement password. Two new verifiers are generated: a temporary new verifier using the old salt for verification during the rollover period and another new verifier using a different new salt for verification after the rollover period had expired. During the rollover period, authentication involves the use of the temporary new verifier with the old salt or by the old verifier and old salt of the prior password. After the rollover period, authentication is based on the new verifier with a new salt.

In some computing environments, multiple clients may use a same account and same credentials to connect to a server. Authentication by entering of passwords is used to establish the identity of the users of an account. The passwords are secret strings of characters known only to the users of a system and by the system. Passwords may be salted before it is hashed by adding a unique, random string of characters known only to the system.
Security best practices include periodic changing of user passwords and salts to safeguard against cyberattacks, e.g. using rainbow tables, of the password and salt. Rotating a shared user password often involves a period of time in which clients are unable to access the account, such as a scheduled application downtime or a pre-scheduled maintenance window.
Any client failure in entering passwords can cause all clients of an account to be locked out. Typically, as soon as a user password is changed, all clients that connect to the server using the account must immediately start using the new password for any new connections. Continued use of old passwords by even a single client installation can often lock the application user account after a small number of failed connections. Once locked, all client installations (applications, scripts, etc.) that use the account are unable to make any new connections. This can cause an application outage and require a system administrator to intervene for corrective action.