An adjustable heat sink shroud includes an insert that may be included within the interior of the heat sink shroud depending on the size of the heat sink enclosed within the shroud. The presence of the insert directs the flow of air through the heat sink.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses continually seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users of information is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems, including computer systems, typically include at least one microprocessor, memory, and various input and output devices. The power consumed by a microprocessor typically generates heat in the interior of the computer system. As computer systems grow in speed and shrink in size, issues of heat dissipation and component spacing in the interior of the computer system become more important. The heat generated by a microprocessor is especially problematic. Because a typical microprocessor does not have a physical structure to remove the heat generated by the microprocessor, many computer systems include a heat sink that is placed near the microprocessor to dissipate the heat generated by the microprocessor. Heat sinks are used to draw heat away from the microprocessor and the motherboard. In many configurations, the heat sink is placed on the surface of the microprocessor package and physically rests on the microprocessor.
As an aid in heat dissipation, a fan is sometimes positioned adjacent to the heat sink. The rotation of the fan produces an air flow that draws air through the fins of the heat sink, cooling the heat sink and aid the transfer of heat away from the microprocessor. Depending on the physical configuration of the heat sink itself, the placement of a fan adjacent the heat sink may be insufficient to draw air through the fins of the heat sink. As an example, if the fins of the heat sinks are spaced too closely together, the air pressure between adjacent fins may prevent directed air from flowing between the fins. In this configuration, the air flow path may travel around the heat sink. Because the air flow path is not through the fins of the heat sink, the effectiveness of the heat sink and its adjacent fan is limited.
One technique for limiting directed air flow around a heat sink involves the placement of a shroud or collar over both the heat sink and the fan. The use of a shroud is intended to limit the air flow path so that the directed air is forced through the fins of the heat sink. If the shroud is not sized correctly, however, the air flow may not be directed through the heat sink. A gap between the shroud and the heat sink may allow the directed air, depending on the pressure differentials existing within the shroud, to flow through the gap and around the heat sink.
Heat sinks vary in size, depending on the heat dissipation requirements of the heat sink, the space configuration of the computer system, and other factors. For a low power processor, a less expensive and smaller heat sink may produce adequate heat dissipation at a lower overall cost to the manufacturer and consumer. For a higher power processor, a more expensive and typically larger heat sink may be required to dissipate the heat produced by the processor. Providing a shroud that is sized to fit each possible microprocessor-heat sink combination for a given computer system design or chassis design will complicate the manufacturing process, as a variety of shroud sizes will be required, complicating the manufacturing and component procurement process.


A method of controlling a computer system having a computer to generate and to transmit a video signal, a display to display the video signal transmitted from the computer, and an interface through which the computer communicates with the display, the method including transmitting a control command to check a blank edge line from the computer to the display; receiving the control command and determining whether an edge line of an image display area of the display is blank according to the control command; transmitting blank checking data from the display to the computer; and adjusting resolution of the image signal and transmitting the image signal from the computer to the display based on the transmitted blank checking data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a computer system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a computer system to adjust over-scan, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As display technology has improved with high speed, resolution of a television (TV) is improved to a standard definition (SD) level and a high definition (HD) level, and accordingly, the TV can be changed to a display providing multi-functions rather than providing a broadcast program to be viewed. That is, a currently released TV has multi-functions so that the TV is connected with various image sources and displays the corresponding image.
However, in order to remove noise components in an edge portion of a screen, a TV manufacturer increases an input screen frame to be larger than a substantial image during a television manufacturing process. That is, the TV manufacturer produces a television with an over-scanned input screen frame. Accordingly, an image displayed on a TV screen may be partially lost in an edge portion of the TV when the TV displays an image not from a broadcasting signal but in connection with an external image source (e.g., a personal computer (PC)).
In general, a screen of a PC displays various menus, including a start menu, and icons in edge portions, particularly in a bottom edge portion of the screen, and therefore a user may experience inconvenience when important information is displayed on the edge portion of the screen.

Computer system and control method thereof


A gyroscope, in one embodiment a ring laser gyro, is used in an alignment measuring device for checking and adjusting alignment of a vehicle. The device includes an “x” and a “y” digital inclinometer working in concert with the gyroscope to measure various angle related to vehicle alignment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention has to do with alignment systems used for coordinated alignment relationships of independent support elements used for supporting a structure. In one embodiment, but not the only embodiment contemplated by the inventor, the structure is a vehicle having wheel and tire assemblies. Examples of wheeled structures include, but are not limited to, passenger cars, straight trucks, semi-tractor trailer rigs, motorcycles, airplane landing gear, train car axle sets, powered and un-powered carts, racing vehicles, and high performance bicycles.
A gyroscope and an integrated inclinometer arrangement is used to determine wheel angles relative to a vehicle centerline or other data plane or point. Based on data output from the gyroscope and the integrated inclinometers various initial alignment set up or realignment adjustments can be made to the target vehicle or structure.
2. Description of Related Technology
Known alignment systems run the technological gamut from string based systems, mechanical measurement systems, optical alignment systems, target alignment systems, laser-based systems and camera imaging (machine vision) systems. Today's devices for aligning a vehicle however are all systems that require significant setup time before actual alignment functions are performed on the vehicle. Production and dedicated alignment machines are cumbersome and are not designed to be transportable. Portability is one advantage of this invention.
Correct wheel/tire and chassis alignment is critical to a vehicle's handling performance, as it allows the tire contact patches to work effectively through all phases of suspension motion. Automotive research related to alignment is well developed but evolves with advances in vehicle suspension design and the improved handling of the contemporary vehicle as compared to vehicle of the late twentieth century. Production vehicles have a preferred alignment set-up depending on the application and conditions. Special purpose vehicle alignment is particularly important in high performance applications, such as racing vehicles, where small changes in alignment can have a dramatic handling impact effecting not only the handling of the vehicle but vehicle stability, rolling resistance, tire adhesion, tire wear management and high speed control, and fuel mileage considerations. However proper wheel alignment is important for all vehicles, such as racecars, trucks, cars, airplanes, trains, motorcycles, go-karts, mopeds. The present invention can also be used for aligning the treads on bulldozers, tanks, and snowmobiles and can be used for aligning a variety of other components. For instance, the system can be used in aligning structural components such as the bridge stanchions and supports, girders and beams in a building, the supports for cameras, just to mention a few diverse applications.
Vehicle manufacturers and vehicle dealerships as well as many commercial automobile and truck service facilities are equipped with sophisticated and expensive wheel and vehicle alignment systems based on the above noted technology rather than on the gyro based alignment system of this invention.
The inventor of the invention set forth herein has developed and patented several alignment systems that are laser based. Although these patents are laser based and don't rely on the use of a gyroscope as herein disclosed, they present information describing various alignment system aspects that apply to alignment systems in general. The patents referred to are U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,893 for a "Process and System for Measuring Alignment of Automotive Vehicle Suspension" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,011 for a "Laser Plane Vehicle Alignment System." Both of these patents are herein incorporated by reference.
Another laser alignment system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,196 to Woodruff In this device a laser and a sensor module are provided. They are both secured to their respective spindles of the vehicle's wheels by means of a magnet. The sensor module and the laser housing each have the ability to rotate. However, mounting and setting the sensor modules and laser housing can be time consuming, and can be difficult as well depending on the configuration of the wheel rim or tire spindle. In addition, if the laser sensor and laser housing is not secured properly or consistently, erroneous measurements can result. Lastly, because the laser housing and module are constructed as a single piece, the laser can only be used for the single purpose of vehicle wheel alignment, and cannot be easily adapted or removed for other purposes.


Provided is a production apparatus that can produce a distribution content that offers an even richer color tone expression during playback of video. The production apparatus for producing a distribution content including distribution video data is constituted by an original acquisition unit that acquires original video data; a distribution video acquisition unit that acquires the distribution video data, the distribution video data having been generated by conversion of the original video data to a lower gradation; a difference generation unit that generates difference data between the original video data and the distribution video data; and an output unit that outputs the difference data. A playback apparatus plays back the distribution content.

Recording media, such as optical discs, on which video, music, or other such content is recorded have become widespread, as have playback apparatuses that play back the content recorded on recording media, thus allowing for viewing of content in a home environment.
Patent Literature 1 discloses synchronous application technology that, when a plurality of digital streams recorded on separate recording media are played back, specifies synchronization of the digital streams, thereby causing the user to perceive the digital streams as though one movie were being played back. This technology allows for digital streams constituting a movie to be provided to the user on separate supply media, thus creating a variety of variations for playback.

Production apparatus and content distribution system

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


According to one embodiment, a method for improving heat transfer between a cold finger of a cryogenic cooler and a Dewar includes forming an annulus between the cold finger of the cryogenic cooler and the Dewar by inserting the cold finger into the Dewar. The cold finger has a first end and a second end. The method also includes inhibiting the formation of convective currents within the annulus in a direction between the first end and the second end. According to another embodiment of the invention, the cooling system includes a cryogenic cooler that includes a cooling section operable to generate cooling fluid and a cold finger operable to receive the cooling fluid. The cooling system also includes a Dewar formed with a void region coupled to an infrared detector. The cold finger is positioned within the void region of the Dewar creating an annulus. The cooling system also includes at least one obstruction disposed within the annulus and operable to inhibit the formation of convective currents in a direction along a length of the cold finger.

Cryogenic coolers are often used to remove heat from infrared detectors and associated electronic components in applications where space is limited. The cryogenic cooler is typically inserted into a Dewar (or housing) onto which one or more detector elements are mounted. Some applications often require that an infrared array of detector elements be cooled to liquid nitrogen temperatures, such as 70 degrees Kelvin. Joule-Thomson and Stirling Cycle coolers are the two cooling techniques most often used to provide controlled cooling at such extreme temperatures.
An important consideration in the operation of a cryogenic cooler is the time required to bring the cooled device down to appropriate temperatures such that it may be operated. Another consideration is the power requirements for maintaining a desired temperature after initial cool down.


Methods and compositions for cryopreserving somatic cells are provided. In one embodiment, a cell cryopreservation medium is provided which includes an effective amount of arabinogalactan to maintain the viability of cells upon freezing, storage and thawing. The cells may be cooled or frozen during storage to a temperature about or below 4.degree. C., for example, to about -196.degree. C. In one preferred embodiment, ultrarefined arabinogalactan is provided in the cryopreservation medium, optionally in combination with a second cryopreservation agent, such as dimethyl sulfoxide. The medium can be used for the cryopreservation of a wide variety of different cell types from different sources. For example, mammalian cells, including porcine, canine, human, equine, rodent and bovine cells can be cryopreserved in the medium. The presence of arabinogalactan in the medium protects the viability of cells in the medium during the process of freezing, storage and thawing.

The present invention is generally in the area of media containing arabinogalactan for use in the cryopreservation of somatic cells.
Long-term storage of somatic cells and tissues is of widespread critical importance to the research and biomedical fields. Cryopreservation of cells and tissues is useful, for example, for the storage of blood products for clinical use; the establishment of organ banks; the long-term storage of cell lines to provide an unchanging population of cells; and the storage of populations of cells for research or medical purposes.
Somatic cells can be stored indefinitely once they reach liquid nitrogen temperature (-196.degree. C.). It has been well-established, however, that the freezing process itself results in immediate and long-term damage to cells with the greatest damage occurring to cells as they traverse the intermediate zone of temperature (-15.degree. C. to -60.degree. C.) during cooling and thawing (Mazur, Am. J. Physiol., 247:C125-142, 1984). The primary damaging physical events which can occur to cells during the process of freezing include dehydration and intracellular ice crystal formation. During freezing, solute is rejected from the solid phase producing an abrupt change in concentration in the unfrozen portion of solution. A biological cell responds to this perturbation by dehydrating to reach a new equilibrium state between intracellular and extracellular solutions. At high cooling rates, equilibrium cannot be maintained because the rate at which the chemical potential in the extracellular solution is being lowered is much greater than the rate at which water can diffuse out of the cell. The end result of this imbalance is that intracellular ice formation (IIF) is observed which is lethal to the cell. Toner, J. of Applied Phys., 67:1582-1593 (1990). At low cooling rates, cells are exposed for long periods of time at high subzero temperatures to high extracellular concentrations resulting in potentially damaging high intracellular concentrations. Lovelock, Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 10: 414-446 (1953).
The clinical and commercial application of cryopreservation for certain cell types is limited by the ability to recover a significant number of total viable cells. Significant losses in cell viability are observed in certain primary cell types. Examples of freeze-thaw cellular trauma have been encountered with cryopreservation of hepatocytes (Borel-Rinkes et al., Cell Transplantation, 1:281-292, 1992) porcine corneas (Hagenah and Bohnke, 30:396-406, 1993), bone marrow (Charak et al., Bone Marrow Transplantation, 11:147-154,1993) and porcine aortic valves (Feng et al., Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., 6:251-255, 1992).
Cryopreservation protocols typically require the use of cryoprotective agents ("CPAs") to achieve clinically relevant survival rates for mammalian cells. A variety of substances have been used or investigated as potential additives to enhance survival of cells in the freezing process. The two most commonly used substances are glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide. Other substances used include sugars, polymers, alcohols and proteins. CPAs can be divided roughly into two different categories; substances which permeate the cell membrane; and impermeable substances. One mechanism of protection results from reduction in the net concentration of ionic solutes for a subzero temperature when a CPA is present. This colligative effect is true for all substances which act as a CPA (Fahy, Biophys. J. 32:837-850, 1980). The addition of a CPA, however, changes the ionicity of the solution. Both tissues and intact organs can exhibit reduced cellular viability when exposed to sufficiently large step changes in external osmolarity produced by introduction of a freezing solution. Pegg, Cryobiology, 9:411-419 (1972). In addition, long term exposure to even low concentrations of certain CPAs at room temperature is potentially damaging (Fahy, Cryobiology, 27:247-268, 1990). Two of the most widely used cryopreservative agents, dimethylsulfoxide ("DMSO") and glycerol, are damaging to thawed cells due to osmotic complications and must be removed from cells post-thaw via rinsing and centrifugation.
Another media component routinely added to freezing media to reduce cell damage and death during freezing and thawing is serum. This additive, however, is highly complex and may add a number of factors (known and unknown) which may interfere with or alter cell function. Other non-permeating protective agents such as ethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (Klebe and Mancuso, In Vitro, 19:167-170, 1983) sucrose, and culture medium (Shier and Olsen, In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol., 31:336-337, 1995), have been studied for their effectiveness as cryoprotective agents for cells with variable results.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,975 to Lionetti et al. discloses the cryopreservation of leukocytes from centrifuged blood in a solution of hydroxyethyl starch and dimethylsulfoxide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,741 to Brockbank and PCT WO 92/08347 to Cryolife, published May 29, 1992, disclose the use of algae-derived polysaccharides such as agarose and alginate in a cryoprotective cell medium. U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,742 to Taylor discloses a solution for use as a blood substitute and for preserving tissue which includes dextran.
PCT WO 95/06068 (Abstract) discloses the use of polysaccharides in to improve hematopoietic functions and serve as a radioprotective agent. The use of gum arabic, cherry resin and apricot resin in ewe semen freezing medium is disclosed in Platov et al., Ovtsevodstvo, 10:38-39 (1980) (Abstract). Holtz et al., Proc. Fourth Intern. Symp. Repr. Phys. Fish, (1991) discloses the use of saccharides such as glucose and sucrose in the cryopreservation of trout semen. Hill et al., J. Lab. Clin. Med., 111:73-83 (1988) discloses the use of arabinogalactan to obtain washed murine platelets by centrifugation. Maisse, Aquat. Living Resour., 7:217-219 (1994) discloses a study of the effect of carbohydrates such as glucose and maltose on the cryopreservation of trout sperm. Isotonic sucrose in combination with calf serum has been used in a medium for the cryopreservation of mammalian cells. Shier and Olsen, In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 31:336-337 (1995).
The preparation of derivatives of arabinogalactan and arabinogalactan degradation products is described in Prescott et al., Carbohydrate Research, 278:113-128 (1995); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,576 to Jung et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
There is a need for additives which can be added to cell freezing media which stabilize cells during freezing, and protect cells from damage, which are non-toxic, and are suitable for a wide range of cell types in a wide variety of cell culture and clinical applications.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide improved media for the preservation of somatic cells during freezing. It is a further object of the invention to provide media which can be used to preserve somatic cells and maintain the viability of the cells upon freezing and thawing. It is another object of the invention to provide media which can be used for the cryopreservation of a wide range of different somatic cell types.

Use of arabinogalactan in cell cryopreservation media

Advanced Reproduction Technologies, Inc.


In a monolithic inductor wherein a coil conductor section of at least one turn at a certain height is formed, and a plurality of coil conductor sections are electrically connected via a via-hole electrode, a structure that can increase the inductance obtaining efficiency is provided. The monolithic inductor comprising a coil conducting section of at least one turn at a certain height of the sintered ceramic body formed of magnetic ceramics, wherein a coil is formed by electrically connecting a plurality of coil conductor sections via a via-hole electrode, and the terminal end of the upper coil conductor section and the beginning end of the lower coil conductor section are bent inwardly of the coil when viewed from the top so that the inner connecting portion of the coil where the upper and lower coil conductor sections are electrically connected via a via-hole electrode is situated within the coil composed of the upper and lower coil conductor sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monolithic inductor used as, for example, an inductor or coil and, more specifically, the present invention relates to a monolithic inductor having a greatly improved connecting structure between coil conductors in a sintered ceramic body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various monolithic inductors having a coil conductor embedded in magnetic ceramics are known (See for example, Japanese Patent No. 2655657, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 62-189707, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-152605).
Such a conventional monolithic inductor is manufactured by printing a conductor pattern on a ceramic green sheet which is composed almost exclusively of magnetic ceramics, laminating a plurality of such ceramic green sheets, and sintering the ceramic green sheets as a unit to obtain a sintered ceramic body, whereby a plurality of conductor patterns printed on a plurality of ceramic green sheets are connected through via-hole electrodes so that a coil is constructed in a sintered ceramic body.
FIGS. 6 to 9 are explanatory schematic plan views of the above described conductor pattern in a conventional monolithic inductor. While there are shown only the coil conductor sections in FIGS. 6 to 9, a coil conductor section is printed on each ceramic green sheet by screen printing or other suitable process.
In a structure shown in FIG. 6, several xc2xe-turn coil conductor sections 51-53 are electrically connected via electrodes 54 and 55. Each coil conductor section 51 to 53 is printed on the respective ceramic green sheet and has a xc2xe-turn. In other words, when viewed from the top, it appears to be a coil having a rectangular shape, however the coil conductor sections 51-53 each constituting a xc2xe-turn of a rectangular coil are printed on the respective ceramic green sheets.
In a structure shown in FIG. 7, the coil conductor sections 56-58 are connected through via-hole electrodes 59 and 60. Each of the coil conductor sections 56-58 constitutes a turn of a rectangular coil.
In a structure shown in FIG. 8, the coil conductor sections 61 and 62 are electrically connected through a via-hole electrode 63. Each of the coil conductor sections 61 and 62 constitutes 2.25 turns of a coil composed of coil conductors.
In a structure shown in FIG. 9, the coil conductor sections 64, 65 are connected through a via-hole electrode 66. Each of the coil conductor sections 64 and 65 constitutes 2.25 turns of a coil composed of coil conductors.
In the coil conductor sections 64 and 65 shown in FIG. 9, by increasing the number of turns of a coil conductor section printed on a green sheet, miniaturization of a monolithic inductor may be realized.
As described above, by increasing the number of turns of each coil conductor section to be printed on each ceramic green sheet, miniaturization of a monolithic inductor may be achieved. However, there is a recognized disadvantage that if a coil conductor section of more than one turn is formed on a ceramic green sheet as in the structures shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, even if the number of turns is increased, a large inductance corresponding to the increased turns cannot be obtained. This will be explained referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.
FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a monolithic inductor having coil conductor sections 56-58 of FIG. 7 taken along the line Axe2x80x94A in FIG. 7. In the monolithic inductor 71, upper and lower coil conductor sections, that is, the coil conductor section 56 and the coil inductor section 57, for example, are arranged in such a manner that the upper and lower coil conductor sections 56 and 57 overlap one on another in the direction of thickness via a ceramic layer on the side opposed to the side where the via-hole electrodes are provided. However, in the vicinity of the portion where the via-hole 59 is provided, in other words, in the vicinity of the extremity 56a of the coil conductor section 56 and the extremity 57a of the coil conductor section 57, as will be apparent from FIG. 10A and FIG. 7, the upper and lower coil conductor sections 56 and 57 do not overlap one another in the direction of thickness.
Likewise, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a monolithic inductor having coil conductor sections 61 and 62 of FIG. 8 taken along the line Bxe2x80x94B of FIG. 8. In this case as well, in the vicinity of the extremity 61a of the coil conductor section 61 and in the vicinity of the extremity 62a of the coil conductor section 62, the upper and lower coil conductor sections 61 and 62 do not overlap one another in the direction of thickness and are not aligned.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views illustrating the monolithic inductor using the coil conductor sections 64 and 65 of FIG. 9 taken along the lines Cxe2x80x94C and Dxe2x80x94D of FIG. 9 respectively. When the coil conductor sections 64 and 65 of 2.25 turns are laminated alternately, non-alignment portions between the upper and lower coil conductor sections 64 and 65 are present in the vicinity of the extremity 64a of the coil conductor section 64 and in the vicinity of the beginning end 65a of the coil conductor section 65.
In other words, while the upper and lower coil conductor sections 51-53 can be overlapped precisely on one another in the case of coil conductor sections 51 to 53 of xc2xe-turn shown in FIG. 6, there is a portion where the upper and lower coil conductor do not align in the direction of thickness when the number of turns is increased. When the portion where the upper and lower coil conductor sections are not aligned via the ceramic layer in the direction of thickness is formed, the magnetic path in that portion is hindered, thus lowering the efficiency of inductance which is obtained by the inductor component. Since the coil conductor sections shown in FIG. 6 are xc2xe-turn sections, when these coil conductor sections are laminated, the distances between the coil conductor sections in the direction of lamination becomes wider in some portions. As a result, deterioration of the characteristics associated with the leakage of magnetic flux occurs.
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a monolithic inductor wherein the formation of portions where the upper and lower coil conductor sections do not overlap on one another is reduced even when the number of turns of a coil conductor section provided on a ceramic green sheet is selected to be 1 or more to achieve miniaturization, and thereby a large inductance is obtained.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a monolithic inductor includes a sintered ceramic body, and a plurality of coil conductor sections in which each coil conductor is wound by at least one turn, wherein the plurality of the coil conductor sections are located at vertical positions in the sintered ceramic body, and the upper and lower conductor sections are electrically connected through via-hole electrodes to define a coil, a terminal end of the upper coil conductor section and a beginning end of the lower coil conductor section are bent inwardly from the innermost portion of the coil such that a connecting portion of the coil where the upper and lower coil conductor sections are electrically connected through a via-hole electrode is located within the innermost portion of the coil defined by the upper and lower coil conductor sections.
According to at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a coil is preferably a substantially rectangular coil in a plan view, and the terminal end of the upper coil conductor section and the beginning end of the lower coil conductor sections are respectively bent in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the innermost substantially rectangular coil portion.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the outer connecting portion of the coil where the upper and lower coil conductor sections are electrically connected, a terminal end of another upper coil conductor section and a beginning end of another lower coil conductor section are electrically connected through a via-hole electrode in the outermost portion of the coil.
According to further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sintered ceramic is an integrally sintered ceramic body which is formed preferably by laminating and sintering a plurality of ceramic green sheets each having a coil conductor section of at least one turn printed thereon.
Other characteristics, features, elements and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings.


A liquid container is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus having a liquid introducing member. The liquid container includes a storage unit, a supply port assembly, and an elastic seal member. The storage unit is disposed in the liquid container to store a liquid usable for image formation. The supply port assembly is mounted in the storage unit and has a supply channel therein. The liquid introducing member of the image forming apparatus is inserted into the supply port assembly. The elastic seal member is disposed in the supply port assembly. When penetrated by the liquid introducing member, the elastic seal member moves together with the liquid introducing member relative to the supply port assembly to open and close the supply channel.

1. Technical Field
Illustrative embodiments of this disclosure relate to a liquid container and an image forming apparatus employing the liquid container.
2. Description of the Background
Image forming apparatuses are used as printers, facsimile machines, copiers, plotters, or multi-functional peripherals having two or more of the foregoing capabilities. As one type of image forming apparatus employing a liquid-ejection recording method, an inkjet recording apparatus is known that ejects liquid droplets from a recording head. Another type of image forming apparatus is also known that forms images using an electrophotographic method.
Image forming apparatuses employing the liquid-ejection recording method ejects ink droplets from the recording head onto a recording material to form an image on the recording material. Such liquid-ejection-type image forming apparatuses fall into two main types: a serial-type image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting droplets while moving a recording head in a main scan direction, and a line-head-type image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting droplets from a linear recording head fixedly disposed in the image forming apparatus.
In a liquid-ejection-type image forming apparatus, both the recording head and a sub tank (also known as a buffer tank or head tank) may be mounted on a carriage. In such a case, a main ink cartridge (main tank) is detachably mounted in the image forming apparatus to supply ink to the sub tank.
Such an ink cartridge may consist of a divisible cartridge case that houses an ink-containing pack in which a holder with ink supply and refill ports is fused to a pack body. An elastic member is disposed within the ink supply port. A hollow needle provided in the image forming apparatus is inserted through the elastic member, connecting a hole (ink inlet) in the tip of the needle to an ink channel to supply ink to the ink-containing pack.
A problem with the above-described conventional ink cartridge is that ink may leak when the hollow needle is inserted to or extracted from the elastic member in the ink supply port in the holder of the ink-containing pack.

Liquid container and image forming apparatus employing the liquid container


The present invention provides a quick startup device for a centrifugal pump. The device includes an upper self-priming chamber, a lower self-priming chamber, and an inlet pipe sequentially arranged from top to bottom. The upper self-priming chamber and the lower self-priming chamber are integrally mounted on the inlet pipe. A main shaft and a hexagonal partition member rotatably mounted on the main shaft are arranged on an axis of the upper self-priming chamber. A blade tip of each partition plate is closely attached to an inner wall surface of the upper self-priming chamber. Three identical accommodation grooves are provided on an inner side of the upper self-priming chamber. A spring and a separation baffle are arranged in each accommodation groove, an exhaust hole is provided on one side of each accommodation groove, and an air intake pipe is provided on the other side of each accommodation groove.

Centrifugal pumps are widely used in agricultural irrigation, fire rescue, and other fields. However, once a centrifugal pump is started, air needs to be expelled from the pump and pipes first. Since bearing assemblies and other components dissipate heat during idle operation of the pump, long-term idle operation will reduce the service life of the pump and damage the parts of the pump. Therefore, the centrifugal pump generally requires priming, which greatly prolongs the startup time and seriously affects the working efficiency of the pump. An external auxiliary vacuum pump not only produces a lot of noises, but also makes it difficult to transport the whole machine, thereby reducing the overall mobility, and at least two motors need to be equipped, which increases the energy consumption.

Quick startup device for centrifugal pump


A shower flow monitoring and display apparatus that is adapted to be installed inline between a shower arm and head. The apparatus provides different forms of feedback to the user to encourage water conservation.

As the demand for fresh water increases and the supplies of fresh water decrease, water conservation is becoming critically important in the United States, China and elsewhere in the world. Water shortages are more common, particularly in the Southwestern United States, due to a combination of rising temperatures, population growths, water waste and droughts, as well as a very large increase in water demand from commercial industries.
Personal showers are a major user of fresh water. An average shower lasts twelve minutes and uses 2.5 gallons of fresh water per minute. When that amount of water is multiplied by the number of people and the average number of showers per person per day, it is readily apparent that a tremendous quantity of fresh water is used every day for showering. Additionally, considerable energy is used in the pumping, heating and treatment of water in treatment facilities. Shortening the time spent showering dramatically reduces this energy. Thus, there is a continuing need to decrease the amount of shower water used, not only in personal households, but also in hotels, military bases, college campuses, apartment buildings, passenger ships and the like.


Hydrogen peroxide is vaporized (20) and mixed (30) with ammonia gas in a ratio between 1:1 and 1:0.0001. The peroxide and ammonia vapor mixture are conveyed to a treatment area (10) to neutralize V-type, H-type, or G-type chemical agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, prions, and the lip-,e. The ammonia provides the primary deactivating agent for G-type agents with the peroxide acting as an accelerator. The peroxide acts as the primary agent for deactivating V-type and H-type agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, and prions. The ammonia acts as an accelerator in at least some of these peroxide deactivation reactions.

The present application relates to the art of deactivating biological and chemical warfare agents. It finds particular application in conjunction with G-type, V-type, and H-type nerve agents, as well as biological agents.
Chemical warfare agents include G-type, V-type, and H-type agents. G-type agents are phosphor containing and are clear, colorless, and tasteless liquids that are miscible in water and most organic solvents. Examples include ethyl-N, N dimethyl phosphoramino cyanidate (Tabun or agent GA), phosphonofluoridate esters, such as isopropyl methyl phosphonofluoridate (Sarin or Agent GB), and methylphosphonofluoridic acid 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl ester (Soman or Agent GD). GB is odorless and is the most volatile nerve agent, evaporating at about the same rate as water. GA has a slightly fruity odor, and GD has a slight camphor-like odor. H-type agents include di(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (mustard gas or Agent HD) and dichloro(2-chlorovinyl)arsine (Lewisite).
V-type nerve agents contain a substituted amine group, and include methyl phosphonothiolates having an internal amino group. Examples include o-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropyl aminoethyl) methyl phosphono-thiolate (agent VX), O-isobutyl-S-(2-diethyl) ethyl methylphosphonothiolate, and O,S-diethyl methylphosphonothiolate. The phosphonothiolates form toxic hydrolysis products comprising phosphonothioic acids. VX is a clear, amber-colored, odorless, oily liquid. It is miscible with water and soluble in all solvents. It is the least volatile nerve agent.
Liquid oxidants have been developed which can deactivate biological warfare agents. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,957 to Wagner, et al. In Wagner, a strong oxidant solution is sprayed as a liquid onto equipment in the field which is or has potentially been contaminated with biological or chemical warfare agents. After treatment, the solution is rinsed from the equipment with water which can be permitted to flow onto the ground as non-toxic waste. Although effective, the liquid Wagner solution has drawbacks. First, it is difficult for liquids to penetrate crevices, fine cracks, ducts, and partially protected or overlapping parts. Second, in enclosed spaces such as the interior of airplanes, tanks, and buildings, cleanup and disposal of the liquid solution can be problematic. Third, liquids can damage some equipment, such as electronic or electrical equipment.
Blistering agents, such as HD (sulfur mustard) undergo oxidation to non-vesicating products (sulfide to sulfoxide). With the correct choice of agents, the further oxidation to the sulfone does not occur. This is preferable as both the sulfide and the sulfone have vesicant properties; whereas, the sulfoxide is non-vesicant.
Peroxide causes a perhydrolysis reaction neutralizing V-type nerve agents, such as VX nerve agent. In the perhydrolysis reaction, the peroxide moiety substitutes one of the groups around the phosphorous atom at the active site of the nerve agent molecule. Perhydrolysis is more effective against V-type nerve agents than base catalyzed hydrolysis by water. In the presence of water, such as a water and ammonia wash, the base catalyzed hydrolysis reaction can form EA2192 which is also highly toxic. EA2192 is a phosphonothioic acid which has the same basic structure as VX except that the terminal ethoxy group is replaced with OH.
On the other hand, G-agents, such as GD tend to be quite stable in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. GD does not undergo an autocatalytic perhydrolysis neutralizing reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Rather, G-type agents are typically deactivated with liquid hydrogen peroxide by base catalysis. Specifically, ammonia has been used to facilitate the base catalyzed hydrolysis of agents with liquid hydrogen peroxide, or perhydrolysis. Molybdate ions have also been used in combination with liquid hydrogen peroxide. The permolybdate ions formed have been found to deactivate G, V and H-agents.
The present application delivers a vapor phase deactivator which is effective against G, V, and H-type agents, as well as against biological agents.

Apparatus for deactivating a pathogenic chemical agent

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, APG


A downhole adjustable stabilizer and method are disclosed for use in a well bore and along a drill string having a bit at the lower end thereof. A plurality of stabilizer blades are radially movable with respect to the stabilizer body, with outward movement of each stabilizer blade being in response to a radially movable piston positioned inwardly of a corresponding blade and subject to the pressure differential between the interior of the stabilizer and the well bore. A locking member is axially movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, such that the stabilizer blades may be locked in either their retracted or expanded positions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stabilizer may be sequenced from a blade expanded position to a blade retracted position by turning on and off a mud pump at the surface. The stabilizer position may be detected by monitoring the back pressure of the mud at the surface, since the axial position of the locking sleeve preferably alters the flow restriction at the lower end of the stabilizer. High radially outward forces may be exerted on each stabilizer blade by one or more radially movable pistons responsive to the differential pressure across the stabilizer, and the stabilizer is highly reliable and has few force-transmitting components.

Those skilled in the art of drilling hydrocarbon recovery wells have long recognized the benefits of downhole stabilizers placed at strategic locations within the drill string. Numerous advances have been made to the design, material construction, and operation of stabilizers which have enhanced drilling operations, and thereby lowered hydrocarbon recovery costs. While drill string stabilizers have utility in borehole operations which are not related to hydrocarbon recovery, their primary purpose relates to use in hydrocarbon recovery wells, and accordingly that use is described herein.
One significant technological feature of downhole stabilizer relates to its ability to adjust the stabilizer diameter while the stabilizer is downhole by radially moving the stabilizer blades with respect to a fixed diameter stabilizer body. While blades in a stabilizer system have historically been "changed out" at the surface to increase or decrease the stabilizer diameter, this operation is time-consuming and thus expensive. The desirable downhole adjustment feature of a stabilizer has significant benefits with respect to selectively altering the drilling trajectory, particularly for stabilizers positioned close to the drill bit. By selectively increasing or decreasing the stabilizer diameter while downhole, drilling operators are better able to accommodate oversized holes or holes very close to gage. The drill string may be more easily tripped in and tripped out of a well bore by reducing the stabilizer diameter during this phase compared to the stabilizer's maximum diameter used in drilling operations, thereby saving substantial time and drilling costs. While wireline retrievable tools may be used for adjusting the stabilizer diameter while the stabilizer is downhole, the preferred technique for adjusting stabilizer diameter utilizes operations controlled at the surface, such as mud pump activation and weight-on-bit, to regulate this change in diameter.
One type of downhole stabilizer relies on alterations in weight-on-bit to adjust the stabilizer diameter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,305 to Swietlik discloses a stabilizer wherein its radial diameter is controlled by regulating the magnitude of force applied to the bit through the stabilizer. By increasing or decreasing the weight-on-bit, telescoping members affect the axial length of the stabilizer which causes cam followers to move along a cam surface to radially expand or retract stabilizer fins or blades. U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,821 discloses an improvement to this adjustable downhole stabilizer, wherein a locking device is employed to lock the stabilizer diameter, so that the axial force applied to the bit may be altered without changing the stabilizer diameter. A collar is moved to compress a spring and close a valve, which isolates hydraulic lines and locks the telescoping shafts into position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,490 to Anderson discloses a downhole adjustable stabilizer, wherein a mandrel telescopes within a stabilizer casing and has cam surfaces which engage radial spacers. The stabilizer diameter is controlled by adjusting the weight-on-bit, and this control is functionally independent of hydraulic forces due to the pumping of drilling mud. A mechanical detent mechanism releases the mandrel to change the stabilizer diameter only when mechanical force above a critical value is obtained. European Patent Application 90307273.4 discloses a locking device for an adjustable stabilizer. The tool actuator is moveable by a substantial change in the fluid flow rate from a locking position to an unlocking position. The effective diameter of a downhole orifice changes between the locked and unlocked positions, and consequently a position determination can be obtained by monitoring fluid pressure at the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,817 assigned to SMF International discloses a comparatively complicated actuator which utilizes drilling mud rather than weight-on-bit to control tool actuations. Fluid flow rate is used to regulate axial movement of a piston within the stabilizer. Stabilizer blades are moved radially in response to axial movement of a piston, with diameter changes occurring as a result of finger movement along successive inclined slopes arranged over the periphery of the piston. This toggle-type movement provides an indirect determination of the stabilizer diameter, since relative movement from any one finger level to another, which alters the cross-sectional flow passage through a port and thereby changes the head pressure at the surface, is ideally detected at the surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,178 discloses a similar technique for operating two spaced-apart stabilizers interconnected by a common shaft. U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,488 discloses two spaced-apart stabilizers, and different flow rates may be used for independently controlling each of the stabilizers. A still further improvement in this type of adjustable downhole stabilizer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,760.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,187 to Russell discloses an adjustable stabilizer wherein the alteration of drill string pressure are utilized to move a piston. A barrel cam mechanism is used to expand or retract the stabilizer blades. Fluid pressure within the stabilizer is equalized with fluid pressure in the well bore annulus in one embodiment, and the barrel cam mechanism is pressure balanced with internal fluid pressure in another embodiment. Pumping pressure may be reduced while the stabilizer blades are maintained in their outward position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,356 discloses a deflection tool for use in directional drilling of a well bore. An upper and lower housing are pivotably connected, and a lower housing is coupled to a downhole motor to rotate the drill bit. Drilling fluid drives a piston and lever mechanism in the upper housing for urging the lower housing to pivot relative to the upper housing. A retrievable limiting probe is lowered into the deflection tool via wireline for setting a plug which limits the extent of pivotable movement. The deflection tool achieves the benefits of an adjustable bent sub, and utilizes a pressure differential between the tool bore and the well annulus to cause the pivoting movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly.
The prior art adjustable downhole stabilizers have significant disadvantages which have limited their acceptance in the industry. Stabilizer adjustment techniques which require a change in weight-on-bit for activation are not preferred by drilling operators, in part because an actual weight-on-bit may be difficult to control, and since operator flexibility for altering weight-on-bit without regard to stabilizers activation is desired. Some prior art adjustable downhole stabilizers do not allow the radial position of the stabilizer blades to be reliably locked in place. Currently available downhole adjustable stabilizers have a large number of moving parts which frictionally engage, thereby reducing stabilizer reliability and increasing service and repair costs due to wear on these engaging components. Prior art stabilizers which utilize a pressure balanced system have additional complexities which further detract from their reliability and increase manufacturing and service costs. Some stabilizer adjustment techniques do not provide for monitoring the actual radial position of the stabilizer blades, but rather seek to accomplish this general goal in an indirect manner which lacks high reliability.
Improved methods and apparatus are required if the significant benefits of downhole adjustable stabilizers are to be realized in field operations. The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved downhole adjustable stabilizer and technique for adjusting a downhole stabilizer are hereinafter disclosed.


An internal combustion engine (101, 601, 901) alters an effective compression ratio from an effective compression ratio for a start-up operation to a larger effective compression ratio for a normal operation when an engine rotation speed (NE) increases beyond a resonance rotation speed region during cranking. A controller (104, 610, 910) determines whether or not the engine (101, 601, 901) has reached a combustion possible state on the basis of the engine rotation speed (NE) during cranking and an operating parameter (PA, TA, TW, P_Rail, V_Ang) other than the engine rotation speed (NE) (S1102, S1202, S1204). When the determination is negative, the controller (104, 610, 910) inhibits fuel supply to the engine (101, 601, 901) by a fuel supply device (207), even when the engine rotation speed has increased beyond the resonance rotation speed region (S406). In so doing, a combustion defect such as a misfire is prevented.

An internal combustion engine for a vehicle has a specific resonance rotation speed region that is dependent on an engine mount and a drive system damper.
JP2001-123857A, published by the Japan Patent Office in 2001, proposes a variable effective compression ratio internal combustion engine for a vehicle in which the variable compression ratio of the internal combustion engine is suppressed to be small in the resonance rotation speed region.
In this prior art, when the rotation speed is within the resonance rotation speed range during start-up of the internal combustion engine, torque variation is reduced by suppressing the effective compression ratio of the internal combustion engine to be small. By reducing torque variation during start-up, the amplitude of torsional vibration in a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and vibration in a main body of the internal combustion engine is reduced.
When the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine increases beyond the resonance rotation speed range in this prior art, the effective compression ratio is increased to an effective compression ratio for a normal operation and combustion is begun in the internal combustion engine.

Start-up control for internal combustion engine


A computer-implemented method includes identifying a primary computing platform, identifying one or more secondary computing platforms, and identifying a requesting virtual server. The requesting virtual server resides on the primary computing platform and is associated with one or more requesting clients. One or more donating virtual servers are identified. The donating virtual servers reside on the primary computing platform and are associated with one or more donating clients. One or more external virtual servers are identified. The external virtual servers reside on the secondary computing platforms. A resource donation scenario is determined. The resource donation scenario includes one or more resource exchanges between the requesting virtual server and the donating virtual servers. A resource adjustment scenario is determined. The resource adjustment scenario includes one or more resource exchanges between the external virtual servers. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to multi-platform and multi-tenant computing environments and more particularly to resource management in those environments.
In multi-platform and multi-tenant computing environments, resource management is important to efficient use of the computing resources provided by those environments. Developers and users of multi-platform and multi-tenant computing environments continue to incur costs arising out of managing resources associated with multiple clients and residing on multiple computing platforms.

Inter-platform management of computing resources

International Business Machines Corporation


An AC/DC power supply circuit is provided. In the AC/DC power supply circuit, output lines of a DC power supply unit including a multitap transformer are connected to output ends of a secondary winding of a multitap transformer in an AC power supply unit, or an output line of the DC power unit is connected to a leading end of a primary winding of the multitap transformer in the AC power supply unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply device, and in particular, to an AC (Alternating Current)/DC (Direct Current) power supply circuit for supplying both AC and DC voltages.
2. Description of the Related Art
A power supply device is provided for an electronic product such as, for example, a camcorder, a VCR (Video Cassette tape Recorder), or a TVCR which is a combined to product of a TV and a VCR.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional AC/DC power supply circuit in application to a TVCR product model TVCR9D1 of Funai Electric Co. Japan. Referring to FIG. 1, a voltage generated from an AC power source 2 is transformed in a transformer 4, rectified in a diode 6, and smoothed in a capacitor 8. Hence, the AC voltage is converted to an about 12V DC voltage. The 12V DC voltage is supplied to various ICs (Integrated Circuits), a tuner, a motor, a microcomputer, a flyback transformer (FBT) 16 serving as a high voltage generator in a TVCR. When the DC voltage is supplied to the microcomputer, it passes through a regulator 14. In FIG. 1, a DC power supply unit 10 for directly supplying the 12V DC voltage is included in the AC/DC power supply circuit to render a corresponding product portable. A 12V DC power source 11 in the DC power supply unit 10 is supplied to the ICs, tuner, motor, microcomputer, and the FBT 16 in the TVCR, via a diode 12.
The FBT 16, generally operated at 125V, is redesigned to operate at 12V in the AC/DC power supply circuit of FIG. 1.
The AC/DC power supply circuit of FIG. 1 requires a transformer of a very high capacity, and generates much heat due to transformation from a high voltage to a low voltage. Further, the FBT 16 requires redesign depending on the size of a TVCR monitor, and a VCR cannot operate with a TV turned off because a secondary power supply of the FBT 16 is used as a VCR power supply. Therefore, for programmed recording requiring no display on a TV monitor, the VCR operates with the TV monitor muted. Here, muting the TV monitor refers to turning off the TV monitor while an operational power voltage is still supplied to the TV. Thus, unnecessary power is supplied to the other circuits and drivers except for TV monitor-related circuits and drivers, thereby increasing power consumption.


A process for network collaboration using embedded annotations and rendering instructions allowing collaborators to generate, share, and render collaborative content over the internet without installing any applications other than a web browser is disclosed, which allows the recipients of such collaborative content to view the content without installing any application other than the web browser. The message containing collaborative content sent between collaborators is a URL and collaborative content elements, which not only contain the identity of the base document, but an encoded representation of the collaborative content itself. These URLs are self-contained, and can be distributed using synchronous or asynchronous messaging systems.

The ability of people to effectively and efficiently share ideas, i.e., collaborate, is at the core of team productivity. The advent of the computer and information networks facilitates collaboration over long distances and between large groups of people. Collaboration in a complex manufacturing process is particularly important, since large numbers of people are involved in the manufacture of an item or product assembly, and small errors in product specification development can result in financial loss to the manufacturer, time spent in rework, and possible harm to human life.
Because of the large costs associated with errors, the manufacturing industry has always used elaborate processes for the creation, revision, management, and deployment of manufacturing specifications. The construction of large, labor-intensive projects, and more recently, small, high volume manufacturing, typically consists of multiple cycles of review and approval. Once approved for production, a design must be kept current, and revision control must be maintained to ensure that the correct part, from the appropriate drawing, is manufactured every time. Even with the right system in place, effective communication is time critical. For example, delivering a new specification to the manufacturing plant a day late can cost millions of dollars in scrap and rework.
An important goal of any manufacturing process is to reduce and eliminate human error in design and production. There are many opportunities for error since the design specification passes through many hands during the design phase. Unfortunately, there have been few beneficial critical changes in connection with the approval and review process, apart from the technology used to convey the information from one party to another. Historically, paper and written documentation represented the first major step in conveying complex ideas among people. A review and approval bureaucracy introduced responsibility and accountability into the process. The next significant step was the introduction of configuration management, in which changes to specifications are recorded, saved, and each version of a document is given a new revision identifier.
The basic elements described above have remained the state-of-the-art for many years. Recently, improvements in technology have served three purposes in the area of collaboration: to reduce the time between communications over long distance, enable more people to participate in the communications, and improve the accuracy of the communications.
Most collaboration systems are self-contained within a network. In other words, the collaboration system is used to send email, pictures, voice, or other media over the network. Since the system is self-contained, it has broad use but can be difficult to incorporate into existing processes. One example is using email to discuss revisions to a document. The participants in the collaboration must reference the document (usually contained in a separate system or file), then refer to the email, reply to the email, and await a response from the other collaborators.
Certain advances have been made wherein the collaborative content (in this case, a document) could be "attached" to the email, enabling collaborators to refer to a modified document embedded in the collaboration message. However, even this arrangement involves two applications: one for messaging and one for editing and viewing the collaborative content. When using email attachments to send documents, the entire collaborative content is delivered with the message.
The Internet provides an approach (using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents and the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP)) for sharing documents among multiple recipients over long distances, facilitated by the use of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) which allow collaborators to reference a common document. Since the content of the Internet is not directly modifiable by a client, any changes need to be accomplished by directly modifying the content and re-posting the document on the server.
In order to effectively collaborate over long distances, a collaboration system must satisfy two objectives: first, a way must be found for collaborators to view the same collaborative content, regardless of their location; and second, a way must be provided to communicate opinions, changes, and illustrate points of interest in connection with the collaborative content. Ideally, this system should not require installation of custom software to accomplish these tasks because the installation of extra software introduces problems with licensing, portability, and availability to all collaboration participants.
A number of approaches have been developed to accomplish these objectives.
According to one collaborative approach, most modem documentation is generated, edited, and stored using electronic means. In a typical case, the document author creates a document using a generation tool, such as a computer-aided design (CAD) program or word processor. Once generated, the document is stored in the "native" format of the generation tool on persistent media (magnetic media, optical media, punched cards, or other). Changes to the document involve editing the native file using the generation tool. If someone other than the author intends to modify the document, that person will need a copy of the document file and software capable of modifying the file (usually the generation tool). Coordinating changes between copies of the document requires configuration management (CM) tools and procedures.
The overhead support involved in generating, editing, storing, and controlling large numbers of these documents is large. The software used for creating drawings (CAD systems) is very expensive and difficult to learn. The CM tools require constant supervision and strict processes to work correctly. The act of sending a document from one reviewer to another can involve long delays and loss of control of the original document.
The most popular collaboration solution, i.e., email and attachments, has several disadvantages. When sending collaborative content to another collaborator, the entire source of the content must be sent as well. This creates a much larger message size, and can impose a burden on collaborators with low-bandwidth connections. This solution also presents problems with security, since many holders of intellectual property do not want full copies of that property sent to collaborators outside their security perimeter, especially over a low-security medium, such as email. Lastly, in order to view and edit the collaborative content, all collaborators must have access to an application that views and edits that content. This is impractical for client workstations with small computing power (such as PDAs or Cell Phones), or for the collaborator that does not wish to purchase a license for potentially expensive software.
The use of internet hosting of files and an Internet Browser (free of plug-ins or other native code installations) solve the accessibility problems, but does not allow the collaborators to make annotations (collaborative elements) with respect to the collaborative content, or share these annotations with other collaborators. For example, even if hundreds of collaborators can view an HTML document referenced by a URL, none of these collaborators have the ability to mark up the page for the others to see. While it is possible to create an application that could accomplish this objective, an installable (and/or licensable) application presents some of the same problems as the email with attachments solution described above.
As described above, there is a need in the collaboration industry to allow collaboration between networked computer users without requiring a dedicated collaboration application on the user's computer system. There is a further need to allow the annotation of internet web pages without altering the original page or requiring a dedicated collaboration application on the user's computer system.
Further still, it would be useful to allow the rendering of the collaborative content without requiring a dedicated collaboration application on the user's computer system. Additionally, there is a need to allow the rendering of the collaborative content exactly as it appeared during annotation of the content, or at the very least, substantially as it appeared during annotation of the content.
A further need is to provide for the transmission of the collaborative content and the subject drawing by exchanging the URL of the content, and rendering instructions as part of that URL.

System and process for network collaboration through embedded annotation and rendering instructions


A product selection system for a vending machine is provided which is immune to human misbehavior or uncertainty. The system includes a main controller and a plurality of product selection panels connected to the main controller. Each product selection panel includes a plurality of keys, each of which is associated with a type of product stored in the vending machine. When a product selection panel detects a first key-down event, the main controller broadcasts a suspending command to the product selection panels so each product selection panel suspends the detection of any further key-down event in response to receiving the suspending command, until after a product-dispensing routine has been completed or the expiry of a predetermined period of time. A product selection method for a vending machine is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to vending machines, and particularly relates to product selection systems and methods for vending machines.
2. Description of Related Art
Vending machines have been in common use for dispensing items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, cologne, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customers insert currency or credit into the machines. These vending machines typically have a plurality of selector keys or switches to allow the customer to select a specific item. However, when multiple selector keys are pressed down simultaneously or consecutively in an extremely short span of time, the vending machines cannot determine a correct response and a conflict will occur accordingly.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Product selection system and method for vending machine

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD.


A stabilized window structure and method for stabilizing a window structure having a window frame entirely or substantially entirely devoid of glass includes a patch removably secured over the window frame to cover the opening in its entirety and a body of unifying material disposed over and bonded to the patch to form a cohesive mass therewith. Alternatively, a pre-formed, polymeric foam panel is removably secured over the window frame to cover the entirety of the opening. A method of removing a shattered window pane involves using pre-existing cracks in the pane to define the formation of separately removable, disconnected cohesive masses. A method of removing shards from a track of a window structure involves removing the shards as part of a single cohesive mass, as pieces of a single cohesive mass or as separate, disconnected cohesive masses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to stabilizing window structures having shattered or missing glass panes and to safely removing shattered glass from window structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to stabilizing a window structure in which all or substantially all of the glass is missing therefrom, to safely removing glass shards from a track of a window structure, and to safely removing a shattered window pane as a plurality of separate sections using cracks in the window pane to define the separate sections.
2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art
Window structures are found in many various types of fabrications or constructions including buildings and vehicles, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, planes, boats, ships and the like. Conventional window structures include one or more transparent window panes, typically made of glass or other breakable material, and a frame, which may be formed by a separate frame member or by a portion of the fabrication or construction itself, supporting the one or more panes. The panes of most window structures are susceptible to damage from many various sources; and, consequently, shattering, breaking or cracking of window panes is not uncommon. A window structure in which a pane is shattered, broken or cracked is unstable or destabilized since the damaged pane is prone to collapse or cave in, loose fragments or shards may fall or come loose from the pane, and the barrier or seal normally provided by the unbroken pane between the exterior and interior sides thereof is compromised. Fragments that actually fall or come loose from the pane present the risks of injury to individuals and damage to objects located exteriorly and/or interiorly of the window structure, particularly since the panes of window structures are most commonly made of glass. Where the shattered pane is in a window structure located at an elevated level or floor, pieces of the pane that fall exteriorly present a grave risk of harm to people and objects below, especially in urban areas. Compromise of the barrier or seal normally provided by the unbroken window pane presents the risk that the interior side will be undesirably exposed to environmental elements via cracks, fractures, fissures and/or holes in the pane. Accordingly, there is often a great sense of urgency to remove and replace shattered window panes immediately to eliminate the hazards presented when they are left in place for some time. In most cases, however, shattered window panes cannot be replaced immediately after they are broken; and, therefore, they must typically remain in place for some time while presenting an ongoing risk of harm until replacement can be accomplished. Although plywood is sometimes used to temporarily cover window structures in which the panes are damaged, plywood is heavy, typically fifty pounds for a single sheet, cumbersome, expensive, requires carpentry skill to install and is inconvenient to use. More specifically, plywood must typically be cut to fit the particular window and must be drilled and screwed into place so that the window frame and/or the fabrication or construction in which the window structure is installed may be damaged by the fasteners needed to secure the plywood in place. The drawbacks associated with the use of plywood are even greater when numerous damaged window structures are involved and/or when the damaged window structure is not easily accessible, such as when the damaged window structure is at an elevated level or floor.
The instability presented by a window structure having a shattered window pane makes safe removal of the pane difficult to accomplish. One common approach used by professional glass companies to remove shattered glass panes of window structures involves banging or smashing the panes with a hammer or other implement so that they fall to the exterior of the fabrications or constructions in which the window structures are installed. This "knock-out" approach tends to scatter glass fragments, and even tempered or laminated glass can produce many small fragments. When the glass fragments impact the ground or other objects, they may shatter even further and may damage the objects impacted thereby. Afterwards, significant additional labor is required for clean-up to collect and remove the glass fragments. Even when great care is exercised, however, potentially injurious glass fragments may be left behind due to the great difficulty associated with collecting small and/or widely scattered glass fragments. A further problem associated with the "knock-out" approach is that the glass usually splinters along the window frame such that shards are created along a track of the window structure, and these shards are dangerous and tedious to remove as described further below. Where the window structure is located at an elevated level or floor, the "knock-out" approach may be unacceptably dangerous. Another approach is to remove the shattered glass carefully by hand, piece by piece. The latter approach is dangerous, very time consuming, and messy, requiring the glass remover to work slowly and cautiously. Moreover, removing the glass pieces individually affords little control over preventing the shattered window pane from collapsing or caving in as the pieces are removed.
A further approach to dealing with shattered glass panes of window structures attempts to stabilize the window structures prior to removal of the panes. With this approach, the shattered glass panes are taped with adhesive tape to hold the panes together prior to removing them from the fabrications or constructions in which the window structures are installed. In order to keep a shattered glass pane intact, the adhesive tape must typically be applied to the entire or substantially the entire surface of the shattered glass pane. Applying the adhesive tape to the entire or substantially the entire surface of the shattered glass pane is laborious and time consuming, particularly where the glass pane is large. In addition, the tape must be pressed against the shattered pane in order to adhere the tape thereto, and such pressure or force can cause the pane to cave in or collapse and/or fragments to come loose therefrom. Even when the adhesive tape is carefully applied to the entire surface of the glass pane, fragments may still become detached from the tape and fall when the shattered pane is manipulated during removal.
A window structure is also unstable or destabilized where all or substantially all of the glass is missing therefrom. The barrier or seal normally provided by the unbroken glass is entirely lacking or is compromised, resulting in a great risk that the interior of the fabrication or construction and/or objects disposed therein will be damaged by environmental elements. In addition, the absence of all or substantially all of the glass from a window structure may present an opening large enough for a person, especially a child, to accidentally fall through. Plywood has been used on window structures to cover large holes until replacement panes can be installed, but has various drawbacks as noted above. A further instability arises in window structures in which an insubstantial amount of the window pane remains as shards disposed in a track formed in one or more mullions and/or the in the frame of the window structure. These shards protrude from the mullions and/or window frame and are potentially very injurious due to their exposed points and/or sharp edges. Moreover, the shards are difficult and time consuming to remove from the track, being typically removed individually by hand.
In vehicles, the panes of window structures, such as windshields, sliding windows, fixed windows and movable windows, are oftentimes shattered, cracked or broken due to impacts, such as those incurred during vehicular collisions or crashes. Plastic sheeting is sometimes taped over shattered vehicle windows to provide a barrier between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle; however, the use of tape is disadvantageous for requiring that pressure or force be applied to the window as discussed above. Shattered window panes in vehicles thusly present the same problems discussed above and also present additional problems in emergency situations where one or more passengers are trapped inside a vehicle. Where one or more passengers are trapped inside a vehicle, such as when the doors of the vehicle cannot be opened, it is often necessary to quickly remove a window pane to access the one or more passengers. In the case of automobiles, for example, it is often necessary to quickly remove a shattered front and/or rear windshield in order to access one or more passengers trapped inside. Where one or more trapped passengers are injured and require medical attention, reducing the time required to remove a vehicle window pane to access the one or more passengers is of the essence.
It is undesirable to remove broken window panes of vehicles by pushing the panes into the interior of the vehicles. The disadvantages of the latter approach are discussed above, and the latter approach is particularly undesirable where one or more passengers are trapped inside the vehicle, since the one or more passengers may be injured by fragments of the pane during and subsequent to entry of the fragments into the vehicle interior. An approach that has been used in emergency situations to remove shattered car windows involves applying adhesive tape to the exterior surface of a shattered window pane in order to enhance the integrity of the shattered window pane so that paramedics can pull it out of the car using handles created with the tape. As pointed out above, this procedure is usually time consuming and may cause the shattered window pane to cave in or collapse. The time that must be spent taping the shattered window pane represents time that an injured passenger goes untreated. In addition, caving or collapsing of the window pane into the vehicle interior may cause injury to the passengers therein.
The use of polymeric materials applied to glass for removal by peeling has been proposed, as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,865 to Bolt et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,918 to Motter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,543 to Helton, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,020,288 and 5,107,643 to Swenson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,949 to Grogan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,436 to Swidler, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,978, 5,302,413, 5,362,786, 5,411,760 and 5,523,117 to Woodhall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,760 to Benngston and U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,725 to Kluth et al are illustrative of one-component and two-component polyurethanes. None of the aforementioned patents contemplates the use of a cohesive or unifying material to stabilize a window structure in which all or substantially all of the glass is missing therefrom, to form a shattered pane into a cohesive mass allowing safe removal of the shattered pane as one or more relatively large pieces, to safely remove glass shards from a track of a window structure, or to safely remove a shattered window pane in a plurality of separate sections, corresponding to a plurality of separate cohesive masses, using cracks in the window pane to define the separate cohesive masses. Also, none of the aforementioned patents considers using a pre-formed panel of lightweight compressible material over a destabilized window structure to thereby impart stability to the window structure.
From the above, it should be appreciated that there is a great need for stabilized window structures and methods of stabilizing window structures in which all or substantially all of the glass is missing therefrom. There is also a need for methods of removing shattered glass from window structures wherein shattered window panes can be controllably removed as part of a single cohesive mass or as part of a plurality of relatively large, cohesive or integral masses, with the plurality of cohesive masses being formed by separating a single cohesive mass into separately removable pieces or by forming separately removable cohesive masses using pre-existing cracks of the shattered pane to define the separately removable cohesive masses. An additional need exists for lightweight, inexpensive, and easy-to-install pre-formed panels which may be used advantageously instead of plywood to impart stability to destabilized window structures. The need further exists for methods of removing glass shards from a track of a window structure wherein the shards are removed as part of one or more cohesive masses. Stabilized window structures and methods of stabilizing and removing shattered glass from window structures are needed which do not apply significant pressure or force to the glass and which are safe, efficient, easy to use, economical, and applicable to various types and sizes of windows installed in various diverse fabrications or constructions.


In order to provide a composite semipermeable membrane which combines strength and water permeability, the present invention provides a composite semipermeable membrane including: a supporting membrane including a substrate and a porous support; and a separation functional layer disposed on the porous support, in which the substrate has a weight A per unit area, a portion of the porous support which is located within the substrate has a weight B per unit area, and a sum of the weight A and the weight B, (A+B), is 30 to 100 g/m2, and a ratio between the weight A and the weight B, B/A, is 0.10 to 0.60.

With respect to separation of a mixture, there are various techniques for removing substances (e.g., salts) dissolved in a solvent (e.g., water). In recent years, use of membrane separation methods is expanding for the processes with less energy and resource consumption. The membranes for use in the membrane separation methods include microfiltration membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, nanofiltration membranes, composite semipermeable membranes, and the like, and these membranes are being used in the case of obtaining potable water, for example, from seawater, brackish water, or water containing a harmful substance, and in the production of industrial ultrapure water, wastewater treatment, recovery of valuables, etc.
Most of the nanofiltration membranes that are commercially available at present are composite semipermeable membranes, and there are two types of composite semipermeable membranes: one which includes a gel layer and an active layer obtained by crosslinking a polymer, the layers being disposed on a supporting membrane; and one which includes an active layer obtained by condensation-polymerizing monomers on a supporting membrane. Of these, a composite semipermeable membrane obtained by coating a supporting membrane with a separation functional layer constituted of a crosslinked polyamide obtained by the polycondensation reaction of a polyfunctional amine with a polyfunctional acid halide is in extensive use as a separation membrane having high permeability and separation selectivity (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
When a composite semipermeable membrane is used to conduct separation, mechanical strength is required of the membrane. For example, in the case where impurities contained in water have sedimented on a surface of the composite semipermeable membrane to cause clogging of the composite semipermeable membrane or reduce the efficiency of pure-water production, a method in which the composite semipermeable membrane is flushed with a high-pressure water stream is often employed. In case where this composite semipermeable membrane has poor strength, the membrane suffers peeling and damage, making it impossible to obtain a satisfactory salt removal ratio. Although the supporting membrane is generally composed of a substrate and a porous support, peeling is prone to occur at around the interface between the substrate and the porous support.
Patent Document 3 discloses a feature in which high water permeability in the permeation direction and an improved flow rate are attained and contamination resistance and resistance to chemicals are ensured by a polyamide layer.
Patent Document 4 discloses a support for semipermeable membranes which is constituted of a nonwoven fabric for performing membrane formation.
Patent Document 5 discloses examples in which poly(vinyl chloride) or a chlorinated vinyl chloride resin is used as the porous support of a composite semipermeable membrane.


Metal complexes of titanium and zirconium with N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine are provided, and more particularly to an improved process to prepare the titanium and zirconium complexes of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine. Such complexes are used in oil well fracturing and plugging applications.

The production of oil and natural gas from an underground well (subterranean formation) can be stimulated by a technique called hydraulic fracturing, in which a viscous fluid composition (fracturing fluid) containing a suspended proppant (e.g., sand, bauxite) is introduced into an oil or gas well at a flow rate and a pressure which create or extend a fracture into the oil- or gas-containing formation. The proppant is carried into the fracture by the fluid composition and prevents closure of the formation after pressure is released. Leak-off of the fluid composition into the formation is limited by the composition's fluid viscosity. Fluid viscosity also permits suspension of the proppant in the composition during the fracturing operation. Cross-linking agents, such as borates, titanates or zirconates are usually incorporated into the composition to control viscosity.
Putzig, et al., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,808,739 and 4,885,103, disclose N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine/metal chelates and their use in plugging permeable subterranean zones and leaks. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,336, Putzig, et al. disclose a process for preparing a metal chelate by reacting N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-glycine (BHET) with a titanium halide, titanium oxyhalide, zirconium halide, zirconium oxyhalide, tetraalkyl zirconate, or a certain tetraalkoxy (2-hydroxy-ethyl)glycine/metal chelate.
BHET may be produced by a number of routes, including the condensation of ethylene oxide with glycine, the condensation of chloroacetic acid with diethanolamine, the hydrolysis of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-acetonitrile, and the hydrolysis of 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-morpholinone. BHET has a number of small-volume uses in the biological and research fields, applications for which a high purity is generally required. It is available commercially, but generally at a high price.
The condensation of chloroacetic acid with diethanolamine to produce BHET is described in Kromov-Borisov and Remizov, in Zhur. Obshchei Khim., 1953, 23, 598. Monochloroacetic acid was dissolved in water and neutralized with sodium hydroxide. The resulting solution of sodium monochloroacetate was added to diethanolamine and the mixture boiled and refluxed 3 to 4 hours. Khromov-Borisov and Remizov teach an extensive process comprising several steps to purify and isolate the product from the process solution. These steps are time-intensive and expensive. However, impurities, including unreacted starting materials and impurities generated in the process can interfere with formation and performance of a zirconium cross-linking agent prepared from the product of the process. For example, glycolic acid can be formed as a byproduct in the reaction by hydrolysis of chloroacetic acid or sodium chloroacetate. In some cases, this can be as high as 10–15%. Not only is there yield loss but also performance of the metal complex is adversely affected and made variable, depending on the extent and amount of impurities present, rather than consistent across batches of product. It is known that glycolic acid-based cross-linking agents result in a faster cross-linking rate than those based on BHET.
Gump, et al., in J. Org. Chem., 1959, 24, 712–14, disclose preparation of BHET using the process as described by Khromov-Borisov and Remizov, but added that: "In order to obtain satisfactory yields, refluxing of the mixture should be carried out for 24 hr. instead of 3 to 4 hr."
There is a need for a process for making the zirconium or titanium salts of BHET without the above cumbersome, time-consuming and costly methods required for optimizing BHET yield, purification and isolation.

Process to prepare metal complex of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine