A process for transforming sludge into NPK type granulated fertilizer in which the energy consume is reduced a 90% thanks to the addition of a special filtration step in which the water content is reduced a 50% and the remaining water is evaporated by the exothermic reaction occurring in the process. Additionally, the process of the present invention includes mechanisms that allow some of the by products generated by some of the reactions, to adsorb crystallization water and reduce the humidity of the mass without using external energy.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to processes for the treatment of sludge coming from waste water treatment plants, and more particularly to a process in which the sludge produced by waste water treatment plant thickeners containing an average 2% solid content are immediately disinfected using as bioicides: heat and mineral acids which are subsequently neutralized by adding a calcium hydroxide slurry enriched with magnesium.
B. Description of the Related Art
The disposal of organic waste such as sludge produced by municipal waste water treatment plants on arable lands and aquiferous layers, is subject to strict sanitary regulations, not only due to its high content of pathogen microorganisms and germs which represent a serious health risk, but for its high organic and nutrient content that propitiates disorganized biological growths which consume high amounts of oxygen and causes the death of most living beings existing in the medium in which the organic waste was discharged.
There are several well defined processes for treating sludge produced by waste water treatment plants that accomplishes all ecological rules and governmental regulations. All these processes have a common centrifugation or filtration step before the sterilization step is carried out, which raises the sludge solid content from 2.0% to an average 20%.
The disposal of the sludge is actually carried out using the following processes:
a) Land Fill.
This process consists on confining a filtered sludge having a solid content of 20% in a field having the following characteristics: a low permeability, absence of geological faults, very low volumes of rainfall, and located far away from towns and cities in order to avoid the pollution of auriferous layers with possible leaks of polluted liquid from the land fill. In US it is not allowed to dispose liquid sludge having a solid content of 2.0% without carrying out sterilization with lime or chloride.
Obviously, before the disposal of the sludge in the field, the surface of the field must be sealed with a waterproof and flexible plastic film, and after the deposit of each sludge layer, it has to be applied a very thick soil layer.
Among some of the disadvantages of the above referred process are: its high investment cost, its high operation cost and its null economic profit.
b) Sludge Drying Beds.
Drying beds are the most widely. used method of sludge dewatering in the United States. Sludge drying beds are typically used to dewater filtered sludge having a solid content of 20%. After drying, the sludge is removed and either disposed of in a land fill. The most commonly used type of dry bed is the sand drying beds, which are generally used for servicing small and medium-sized communities. In a typical sand drying bed, the sludge must be placed on the bed at a depth no greater than 60 cm in order to guarantee the evaporation of the water. Although the principal advantage of the drying bed is its low cost, it is highly pollutant to the environment and the dry product cannot be used due to its high content of polluting agents such as bacteria and viruses.
c) Compost
This process comprises the steps of mixing a filtered sludge having a solid content of 20% with pasture and exposing the mix to solar heat in order to provoke a biologic decomposition or fermentation of organic matter, by which the temperature of the mass is raised to between about 70 to 75.degree. C., thus destroying pathogen microorganisms and obtaining a product whose use is restricted to improve the quality of soil with organic matter due to its very low content (near 2.5% in dry basis) of major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Furthermore, when the compost is added to the soil, it is necessary to add chemical fertilizers in order to avoid affecting the quality of the soil.
This process has the disadvantage of using high volumes of pasture and having high transportation costs derived form transporting and distributing a very humid product and of a very low nutrient content.
d) Pasteurization.
This process comprises the steps of mixing a filtered sludge having a solid content of 20% with pasture; heating the resultant mix with steam and fast cooling the heated mix in order to eliminate all the pathogen microorganisms contained in the sludge and obtain a fertilizer called Compost free of any bacteriological polluting agent.
However, this process is recommended for using in low capacity wastewater treatment plants, in order to apply the produced Compost to arable lands in the proximity of the treatment plant, due to the high transportation costs and low selling price of the Compost, which make unprofitable the transportation of the Compost to places very far away from the plant.
c) Rotary Dryers or Fluidizing Bed Drying.
These processes palletize and reduce the water content of the sludge from 80 to less of 5% by using large amounts of external energy and using high priced fuels such as natural gas or fuel oil.
These processes have the advantage of offering the farmer a dry and non perishable product having a low water content and thus low transportation costs.
However, these processes have the disadvantage of increasing the production costs due to the high consume of energy, because if for each lb of dry sludge, there are consumed 8,000 BTU, then, for example, if the process starts with a filtered sludge having a solid content of 20%, then 4 tons of water must be evaporated for producing 1 ton of dry sludge, which consume 445 liters of fuel oil, equal to 500 m.sup.3 of natural gas.
It is important to note that if the price of natural gas is $4.00 USD/MBTU, then 1 ton of dry sludge would cost $71.68 USD including only the primary energy expenses, and if the costs of other elements are included such as electricity, work force, materials, maintenance parts and other direct and indirect costs, the total product cost would be as much as $126.50 USD/ton, which is higher than the price of a chemical fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate, priced at $85.00 USD/ton granulated and having a nitrogen content of 21% compared with the major nutrient content of the dry sludge of 6.0% maximum.
d) Lime Stabilization.
In the lime stabilization process, lime is added to sludge having a solid content of 20% in sufficient quantity to raise the pH to 12 or higher. The pH creates an environment that is not adequate for the survival of microorganisms. Consequently, the sludge will not putrefy or create odors so long the pH is maintained at this level.
This process is becoming popular in US due to its low inversion cost, but for this process to operate economically, it has to be subsided, because generally, the sludge producer—the municipality—pays the treatment company near $160.00 USD by each ton of dry sludge in order to cover the expenses of the treatment company.
In this process, the treatment company receives the sludge as received from the water treatment plant thickeners, that is, with a solid content of 2.0%, therefore, the treatment company must invoice the treatment plant for the sludge pumping, filtering etc. and at the same time it must generate some profit so that it allows the treatment company to recover the inversion costs during the time it serves to the municipality.
Finally, lime stabilization does not destroy the organics necessary for bacterial growth. Therefore the sludge can not be used and must be treated with an excess of lime or disposed of before the pH drops significantly.
e) Sludge Incineration.
The sludge incineration process, has some advantages when compared with the sludge drying process, due to the fact that during the incineration it is used the combustion heat of the organic matter contained in the sludge, thus decreasing the energy consumption and furthermore, the air volumes to be heated and moved are significantly smaller which constitute an additional energy consumption decrease.
The main disadvantages of the sludge incineration process are related with the drying of the sludge, mainly because of the following problems: the investment, operation and maintenance costs of the incineration step are higher than the costs of the drying step, furthermore, the incineration process is highly pollutant to the environment, because the gaseous effluents produced by the incinerator are very acidic, and contain very toxic metallic compounds such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury (normally present in the urban wastewater), which are considered as very dangerous for the environment and for the health of humans and animals. Additionally, the disposal of the ashes generated by the incinerator and recollected in the ash separator, have the same polluting agents as the gaseous effluents and therefore the use of said ashes for the production of cement for example, is very restrained.
f) Other Processes.
There are other processes for the treatment of sludge and animal dry excrement which add NPK major nutrients and uses the same raw materials as the fertilizer industry, and sometimes, the reaction heat for heating the mass and evaporating the water contained in the sludge, specifically the process of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,263, in which the untreated sludge having a solid content of 20% are diluted with 30% of water, and when liquefied, are pumped to a tubular reactor working at 75 p.s.i in which are feed phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and ammonia, which react and generate sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the mass to 150.degree. C.
The mass exiting the tubular reactor is discharged to a rotary granulator working at atmospheric pressure, by which part of the water is evaporated by flashing when the pressure is reduced.
Subsequently the mass is dried using external energy, requiring the equivalent of 15 million BTU by each ton of dry sludge, therefore, this process consume the 85% of the energy that a common sludge drying process would consume.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,586 discloses a process in which hen drop is granulated with the aid of formaldehyde-urea diluted resins and finally drying the produced granules using external energy. This process has a high energy consume and therefore it does not have any advantage compared with the above referred processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,180 discloses a process in which the filtered sludge having a solid content of 20%, is mixed with acids or mineral anhydrides such as phosphoric or sulfuric, and the acid mix is feed to a fertilizer granulation plant, in which the acids are neutralized with ammonia and based on the neutralization heat, it is evaporated an 85% of the water contained in the sludge.
This process has serious corrosion issues and problems controlling granulation, because there are not included the mechanisms needed for the generation of intermediate acid ammonium sulfate required before the final ammoniating and before its transformation into neutralized ammonium sulfate.
All ammonium sulfate granulation processes known such as TVA in US, INCITEC in Australia, Cominco and ESSO Chemicals in Alberta, Canada, use metallic additives derived from zinc and aluminum, and have the common inconvenient of having high fixed investment costs, due to high recycle volumes and to the specialized materials needed for avoiding corrosion, because the high working temperatures cause the plastics to corrode in presence of the diluted acids and the hot acid ammonium sulfate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,366 discloses a process in which a formaldehyde-urea polymer is added in order to co-polymerize and separate organic matter contained in the sludge by filtration, when an olygomer having a high nitrogen content (21% dry basis) is formed, comprised by 50% of UREAFROM and 50% of sludge organic matter. The filtrated solids have a water content of approximately 80%, and consequently this process is very costly.
As it can be seen, there have been many attempts for achieving the best use of the sludge produced by water treatment plants, mainly due to the great importance of the resource.
Only in U.S. there were produced seven and a half million tons of dry sludge in 1998, product of processing more than 35,000 million wastewater gallons by day and 60% of the 7.5 million tons of dry sludge were recycled to arable lands for improving the quality of the soil. The EPA estimates that in the year 2010 there will be generated 8.2 million tons of dry sludge, 70% of which will be applied to arable lands, considering its high nutrient content.
Applicant developed a process in which the energy consume is reduced a 90% thanks to the addition of a special filtration step in which the water content is reduced a 50% and the remaining water is evaporated by the exothermic reaction occurring in the process.
Additionally, applicant's process include mechanisms that allow some of the by products generated by some of the reactions, to adsorb crystallization water and reduce the humidity of the mass without using external energy.

Process for transforming sludge into NPK type granulated fertilizer


A method and apparatus for aligning an electronic component with a base member where a pattern of contacts on the component are to be bonded to an identical pattern of contacts on the base member. Templates having indentations along one edge shaped to align with the contact pattern on the component and base member can be positioned in alignment with the base member contact pattern along two sides of the pattern and releasably secured in place, such as by tape. The component is placed over the base member with its contacts aligned with the template. This assures precise alignment of the two contact patterns. The assembly can be heated to the melting point of the solder and cooled to bond all of the contacts together. The templates are removed for reuse. With ball grid array components, the template indentations are preferably partially-circular to align with the edge row of round solder contact pads. With linear arrays of short elongated solder pads, preferably the template has plural spaced fingers configured to fit between the solder pads.

Originally, printed circuit boards included plated holes into which leads of electronic components were inserted and soldered. Currently, circuit boards tend to have closely spaced surface pads with the component simply placed on the board with leads in contact with the pads, to which the leads are then soldered. Typically of these are ball grid array and quad flat pack contact systems or any other arrangement in which a plurality of leads along one or more sides of a component are to be soldered to a mounting board.
The pattern of closely spaced contact pads for connection to component leads are usually formed on the printed circuit board base by silkscreening techniques. The pattern is typically in the form of a rectangular row or multi-row pattern, conforming to the leads along the peripheral edge or underside of an electronic component. After board fabrication and during assembly operations, a thin stencil having holes conforming to the pad pattern is placed over the pad array and precisely aligned therewith. A solder paste made up of very small solder balls in a slurry of flux and other ingredients is wiped over the stencil with a squeegee, forcing small amounts of paste through the holes onto the pads. The stencil is lifted away leaving a coating of the paste on the pads. The components must then be very precisely placed on the board with the component leads aligned with the pads. Accuracies on the order of 0.0005 inch are often required. Once the component is placed, the solder is melted, generally in an infrared or convection oven, and solder bonds are formed between the pad and lead.
In reworking a printed circuit board, a component is heated to melt the solder bonds and the component is lifted away. Solder "icicles" may extend from the printed circuit solder pads and some pads may be left with excessive or insufficient solder. The pads are repaired by such techniques as locally heating pads and wicking away excessive solder or adding additional solder with a solder pen.
Very large, very expensive, robotic machines have been developed for accurately placing components on such surface mount boards with leads precisely aligned and soldering the leads to the pads in very high volume manufacturing operations. These machines make use of extremely expensive vision alignment equipment and other optical devices to precisely locate the components. These large and complex machines require considerable operator training and the component and board designs cannot be rapidly and easily changed. Exemplary of such machines is that described by Takahashi et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,116. Such large devices are not economically feasible, or well adapted to, low to medium volume operations where only a few fine pitch parts are placed on relatively few boards or for rework of components removed from such boards.
Many integrated circuit components have a row of very closely spaced contacts around the component periphery. Other components have an array of copper pads across the underside of the components in rows and columns at various pitch locations in a grid array. Bumps or balls of solder are provided on the copper pads to make interconnect points (a ball grid array) for attachment of the component to a corresponding pattern on a circuit board.
The component can be fastened to a printed circuit board by normal surface mount processes. Very precise alignment of the component contacts with the board contacts is essential because of the small size and close spacing of the contacts.
Sometimes ball grid array components must be removed from a printed circuit board for rework of the overall board. Because of the density of the component connections, the components are usually quite expensive, so that the ability to repair and re-use them is important. Desoldering tools and heat profiles have been developed for removing components from a printed circuit board that will retain most, but generally not all, high temperature solder balls on the component pads. With low temperature solder balls that melted during mounting the entire component must be reballed. In some cases, solder bridges will form between pads so that solder will have to be completely wiped or wicked off of the pads.
Reballing is often done with small tools used in a manner that essentially mimics the original manufacturing method of balling parts. A first screen is positioned over the contact pad array, a flux paste or solder paste is wiped over the screen to add flux to the pad array, then the screen is removed. A second screen with larger holes is placed over the part and pre-formed solder balls are gravity loaded through the stencil with any excess solder balls shaken off. The second screen is removed and part is reflowed upside down in an oven. This is a very time consuming process and requires considerable skill.
Thus, there is a continuing need for improved methods and apparatus for aligning an electronic component having a ball grid array of contacts or rows of edge contacts with a corresponding array of solder pads on a printed circuit board which will provide for accurate, rapid and convenient replacement of components during assembly rework or low rate manufacturing.

Alignment method and apparatus for mounting electronic components


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating a database search result. The creation of the search result is achieved by representing the subdocument lists of an inverted database with encoded bit strings. The encoded bit strings are space efficient methods of storing the occurrence correspondence between terms in the database and their occurrence in subdocuments. Logical combinations of these bit strings are then obtained by identifying the intersection, union, and/or inversion of a plurality of the bit strings. Since keywords for a database search can be identified by selecting the terms of the inverted database, the logical combinations of bit strings represent search results over the database. This technique for method for generating a search result is computationally efficient because computers combine bit strings very efficiently. Also, the search elements of the present invention are not just limited to keywords. The search elements also include types of fields (e.g., date or integer fields) or other extracted entities.

Information is increasingly being represented as digital bits of data and stored within electronic databases. These databases often include extremely large numbers of records containing data fields reflecting an endless variety of objects. Some databases, for example, contain the full text of judicial opinions issued by every court in the United States for the past one hundred and fifty years. Other databases may be filled with data fields containing particularized information about vast numbers of individuals (e.g., names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.). As more information is stored in these databases, the larger these data compilations become.
Among the many advantages associated with electronic storage is the fact that any given database can be searched for the purpose of retrieving individual data records (e.g., documents) that may be of particular interest to the user. One of the ways to perform this search is to simply determine which data records, if any, contain a certain keyword. This determination is accomplished by comparing the keyword with each record in the database and assessing whether the keyword is present or absent. In addition, database users can search for data records that contain a variety of keyword combinations (e.g., "cats" and "dogs", etc.). This operation, known as a Boolean search, uses the conjunctions "AND", "OR", and "NOT" (among others) to join keywords in an effort to more precisely define and/or simplify the database search. For example, if a user joins the keywords "cats" and "dogs" with the conjunction "AND" and inputs the query "cats AND dogs", only those records that contain both the term "cats" and the term "dogs" will be retrieved.
The problem with this Boolean search however, is that a computer typically makes use of substantial memory space and computing time to perform logical combinations of sets of documents corresponding to the keyword search results. It is therefore desireable to create a system that performs logical combinations on set elements that is space and computation time efficient.

Method and apparatus using run length encoding to evaluate a database


An optics system module for use in an optical communications module is provided that can be more easily aligned with the module during the mounting process, that reduces the possibility of the fiber ends being damaged when they are connected to the respective optical ports of the optics system, and that eliminates or reduces the occurrence of Fresnel losses at the interfaces between the fiber end faces and the optical ports. The optical ports have non-round shapes that are symmetrical to the shapes of the fibers in the transverse direction, i.e., in the direction that is transverse to the optical axes of the fibers. The non-round, symmetrical shape of the optical ports reduces the amount of force that the optical ports exert on the respective optical fibers.

A variety of optical communications modules are used in optical networks for transmitting and receiving optical data signals over the networks. An optical communications module may be (1) an optical receiver module that has optical receiving capability, but not optical transmitting capability, (2) an optical transmitter module that has optical transmitting capability, but not optical receiving capability, or (3) an optical transceiver module that has both optical transmitting and optical receiving capability.
A typical optical transmitter module has a transmitter module housing, an electrical subassembly (ESA) disposed within the housing, and an optics system module secured to the transmitter module housing or to the ESA. The ESA of the transmitter module typically includes a module printed circuit board (PCB), a laser driver circuit mounted on the module PCB, at least one laser diode mounted on the module PCB, and various other electrical components mounted on the module PCB. The laser driver circuit outputs an electrical drive signal to each respective laser diode to cause the respective laser diode to be modulated. When the laser diode is modulated, it outputs optical signals that have power levels corresponding to logic 1s and logic 0s. The optics system module performs the function of directing the optical signals produced by each respective laser diode into the end of a respective transmit optical fiber. The ends of the transmit optical fibers are mechanically and optically coupled to the optics system module by some type of securing mechanism. The module PCB is often mounted on a higher-level system PCB and electrical interconnections are made between the two PCBs.
A typical optical receiver module has a receiver module housing, an ESA disposed within the housing, and an optics system module secured to the receiver module housing or to the ESA. The ESA includes a module PCB, at least one receive photodiode mounted on the module PCB, and various other electrical components mounted on the module PCB. The optics system of the optical receiver module directs an optical data signal that is output from the end of an optical fiber onto one of the respective photodiodes. The photodiode converts the incoming optical data signal into an electrical signal. An electrical detection circuit, such as a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), receives the electrical signal produced by the photodiode and outputs a corresponding amplified electrical signal, which is processed by other circuitry of the ESA to recover the data. The module PCB is often mounted on a higher-level system PCB and electrical interconnections are made between the two PCBs.
In optical transceiver modules, the receiver and transmitter ESAs are typically consolidated into a single ESA having a single module PCB on which the laser diodes, photodiodes and other electrical components of the receiver and transmitter are mounted. All of these components are housed within a transceiver module housing. A single optics system module is typically used in the optical transceiver module for coupling optical signals between the ends of the optical fibers and the respective photodiodes and laser diodes.
During the process of assembling a transmitter, receiver or transceiver module of the type described above, surface mount components of the ESA are first mounted on the module PCB with a standard surface mount technology (SMT) process. Typical surface mount components include resistors, capacitors, inductors, and clock and data recovery (CDR) circuitry. The ESA is then cleaned. After the SMT process has been performed and the ESA has been cleaned, a die attach process is performed to attach the laser diode driver circuit, the laser diode, the TIA, and the photodiode to the module PCB. During the die attach process, a machine vision system captures images of the components and of the PCB. Based on these images, the robotics system makes adjustments to the positions and orientations of the components to bring them into their proper positions and orientations on the PCB.
After the die attach process has been performed, wire bonding processes are performed to make all of the necessary electrical connections. After the die attach process has been performed, the ESA cannot be subjected to any additional solder reflow processes because solder reflow processes typically leave behind residue or debris such as solder flux and solder balls on the PCB and/or on the other components of the ESA. If not removed, the residue can result in performance problems. For example, solder flux can come into contact with bond wires resulting in electrical performance problems, or it can interfere with the optical pathways resulting in optical performance problems. Cleaning also is not possible at this stage because it can damage the wire bonds. In addition, it is difficult to wash out flux and debris in the tightly-spaced optical pathways. For these reasons, the optical communications module typically is not soldered to the system PCB, but rather, is typically configured to mechanically couple with a non-solder interface, such as a mechanical connector that is soldered to the system PCB. This non-solder interface adds to the cost of the system.
After the die attach and wire bonding processes have been performed, the optics system module is mounted onto the ESA. The optics system module is typically a molded plastic part having one or more optical coupling elements formed therein for coupling optical signals between the ends of the optical fibers and the respective optoelectronic components (i.e., the laser diodes and photodiodes). The optical coupling elements are typically refractive, diffractive or reflective optical elements (e.g., lenses, reflectors, diffractive gratings). The ends of the optical fibers are mechanically coupled to the optics system module via a direct coupling arrangement (e.g., butt coupling) or via an optical connector device that holds the ends of the optical fibers and mates with the module housing.
During the process of mounting the optics system module on the ESA, a precision pick and place system with a camera and a computer running pattern recognition software is used to recognize the positions of the optoelectronic component and the optics system module. After a few modules are made, they are often taken off line for measurement of alignment accuracy with a microscope system. Adjustments are made to the pick and place system according to the microscope measurement to ensure that the optical elements of the optics system module are in accurate alignment with the respective optoelectronic components of the ESA. These off line measurements and adjustments are performed periodically for tight process control.
One of the difficulties associated with the alignment process described above is that it is difficult to measure alignment accurately with a conventional optics system module. The optical axis defined by the line of the optoelectronic element, the center of the lens, and the image of the optoelectronic element needs to be in perfect alignment with the optical axis of the measurement microscope. The mechanical structure used to hold the fiber needs to constrain the fiber end face at exactly the same point at which the image of the optoelectronic element is focused.
In arrangements where the fiber ends are secured directly to the optical ports, the optical ports are typically round and have slightly larger diameters than the diameters of the fibers to ensure that the fiber can be inserted into the port and later fixedly secured to the port by epoxy. In such a design, there is an uncertainty, or error, due to the fiber being able to move around in the port. Alternatively, the optical port can have a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the fiber. In the latter case, the ends of the optical fibers, which are also round, are pressed into the respective ports until the end faces of the optical fibers are in abutment with stops disposed inside of the respective ports. In such arrangements, the fiber is said to be press fit into the port. The interference between the fiber and the material of which the port is made holds the fiber in place.
In order for this round/round interface between the fiber ends and the respective optical ports to be effective, a relatively large force needs to be exerted on the fiber to push the fiber into the port, which can damage the fiber. Also, because of the tight fit at this interface, it is possible that an air gap will exist between the fiber end face and the stop disposed inside of the port, which can lead to the occurrence of Fresnel losses at the interface. Refractive index matching (RIM) epoxy cannot be used at this interface to prevent such Fresnel losses from occurring. Typically, there is surface roughness at the end face of the fiber, both in the case of cleaved glass fiber and in the case of cut and polished plastic fiber. If RIM epoxy could be used in such arrangements, it would help to minimize optical loss by filling in the roughness. Hence, the lack of RIM epoxy at this interface introduces an extra loss due to the imperfection of the fiber end face.
A need exists for an optical communications module that can withstand solder reflow process so that it can be mounted via an SMT process to a system PCB. A need also exists for an optics system module that is more easily aligned with the optical communications module during the process of mounting the optics system module on the optical communications module, and that can eliminate or reduce the occurrence of Fresnel losses and losses due to imperfect fiber end faces at the interfaces between the fiber end faces and the optical ports of the optics system module.

Optics system module for use in an optical communications module, an optical communications system, and a method

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A controller reference trajectory design technique to enable high-performing automatic grade change performed by a model predictive control (MPC). Techniques include: (1) automatic determination of appropriate process output reference trajectory delays to enable optimum coordination of process input movements; (2) providing the entire planning process output reference trajectory ramp at the start of the grade change instead of just incrementally as the grade change progresses, again enabling movement of the process inputs to drive process outputs along the planned future path instead of just towards the current target; and (3) use of the process input forced ramping to allow linear ramping of process inputs with optimal coordination of other process input movements to keep all process outputs following the desired trajectories. The technical benefits are faster and higher performing grade changes. In addition, the use of this technology allows easier setup and maintenance of the automatic grade change package.

In the papermaking process, it is desired that production transition from one paper grade to another take place rapidly and with a minimum of off-specification production. These events, known as grade changes may be automatically controlled by a specialized software package. These packages allow a combination of process input variables ramped in open-loop, ramping of process output (quality) variable setpoints, and other features to coordinate process input movements to achieve the desired quality variable ramping rapidly and without significant deviations from specification. Despite years of effort, numerous approaches, and a number of tools available for the task, control configuration and operation to optimally coordinate process input movements is challenging.

Application of model predictive control (MPC)-based forced ramping of process input variables and process output reference trajectory design over a prediction horizon for MPC-based paper machine grade change control


A computer-controlled device for determining relative yarn hairiness. Yarn is moved past a light source to create a yarn shadow, and an imaging device captures the yarn shadow. The imaging device includes a number of separate, closely-spaced light sensing elements, each with an output level related to the amount of light shining on the element. A selected sensing element output level is established as indicative that an element is blocked by the yarn. The width of a number of closely-spaced portions of the yarn is determined, at two different selected sensing elements output levels, to distinguish the yarn hairs from the yarn core.

Many yarns, particularly spun yarns, consist of a central core of relatively tightly-intermeshed fibers, surrounded by a region of progressively less-dense fibers protruding from the core. The protruding fibers are termed yarn hairiness. The amount of hairiness is important to both textile operations as well as fabric appearance. In operations such as air jet weaving, the aerodynamics of the yarn influence the amount of energy necessary to move the yarn. The amount of hairiness also contributes to the quality of the yarn, and the final appearance of fabric made from the yarn. Thus, knowledge of yarn hairiness is important.
One of the current methods used to measure yarn hairiness is embodied in the Zweigle hairiness tester. The Zweigle tester has a lamp which shines a light only on yarn fibers which protrude above the yarn core. The fiber images are projected onto twelve photo transistors, each of which is a different height from the bottom of the yarn core. The number of fibers projecting to each of the twelve heights is counted. A problem with this approach is that the device does not account for or measure the yarn core. Also, the actual length of fibers must be measured outward from the periphery of the yarn core. However, since Zweigle tester does not determine the core thickness, the actual fiber lengths are not measured.
The second basic method of yarn testing is embodied in the Uster Tester 3. This device shines light on the yarn. The device has an aperture in front of the detector whose purpose is to block any light that would move directly from the light source to the receiver. The optical receiver, then, picks up only light that is scattered by the yarn. The detector transforms the light received into proportional electrical signals for evaluation. This system, however, directly measures only the light-scattering properties of yarn--there is no direct measurement of hairiness. Any factors which could affect the light scattering capability of the yarn, including the density of the core, the thickness of the fibers, and the fiber reflectivity, would all contribute to the measured value, despite the fact that these factors do not contribute to hairiness. Accordingly, this test is qualitative. Clearly, the test does not result in the actual determination of hairiness, the length of the hairs, or the diameter of the yarn core.

System and method for determining yarn hairiness

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Paraformaldehyde of high formaldehyde content is produced by cooling and solidifying a 78-83 wt. % aqueous formaldehyde solution, and drying the resulting paraformaldehyde by means of microwave heating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing paraformaldehyde of high formaldehyde content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there has been commercially available paraformaldehyde containing about 80% by weight of formaldehyde (hereinafter, "% by weight" is simply called "%"). However, paraformaldehyde of high formaldehyde content has been recently demanded as a starting material for phenolic resins, urea resins, melamine resin, polyacetal and the like. Paraformaldehyde containing 90-94% of formaldehyde is now produced and moreover, paraformaldehyde containing 95% or more of formaldehyde can be produced.
When paraformaldehyde is used as a starting material for the above mentioned products, the paraformaldehyde is used in the form of a highly concentrated formaldehyde by dissolving it in warm water, hot water or various solvents, and therefore, paraformaldehyde is required to be highly soluble in warm water, hot water and the like.
As a method for producing a paraformaldehyde of a high formaldehyde content (hereinafter referred to as "high concentration paraformaldehyde"), the following is known. That is, formalin containing about 37-50% of formaldehyde is subjected to a concentration treatment such as vacuum concentration to produce a highly concentrated aqueous solution of formaldehyde containing about 80% of formaldehyde, and the resulting highly concentrated aqueous solution of formaldehyde is cooled and solidified by means of a cooling apparatus and a pelletizing column to form paraformaldehyde containing about 78-83% of formaldehyde in the form of particles or flakes (hereinafter referred to as "conventional paraformaldehyde"). Then the resulting conventional paraformaldehyde is dried at a temperature not higher than the softening point of the conventional paraformaldehyde by means of hot air drying or far infrared ray drying [Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 2-167244 (1990)].
However, when conventional paraformaldehyde is dried by means of far infrared ray drying to produce a high concentration paraformaldehyde, the solubility of the high concentration paraformaldehyde in warm water or hot water becomes gradually lower with the lapse of time. That is, a high concentration paraformaldehyde immediately after the production and that stored for a long period of time, e.g. 30 days or more, after the production exhibit a big difference in solubility in warm water or hot water (hereinafter called "warm water-solubility").
Such difference in warm water-solubility is problematic when a high concentration paraformaldehyde is practically used.
In the case where only far infrared ray drying is employed, it is difficult to uniformly dry a somewhat thick material or superposed materials since far infrared ray can not inherently penetrate into a deep portion of materials, i.e. the penetration depth is usually 1 mm or less.
As a result, the degrees of drying states at the surface and the inside of a layer are different from each other, and therefore, there are produced materials of high degree of polymerization and, in a manner similar to hot air drying, the solubility in warm water or hot water becomes poor.
Furthermore, the degree of absorption of far infrared rays by paraformaldehyde is so high that the of paraformaldehyde in the form of particles or flakes is partly melted, and the particles or flakes become attached to each other to become a mass and it is not possible to dry uniformly the inside of the mass resulting in fluctuations in the degree of polymerization.
When such high concentration paraformaldehyde having poor solubility in warm water or hot water and fluctuation in the degree of polymerization is used for producing phenolic resins, such drawbacks adversely affect the condensation reaction with phenols resulting in a lower quality of the phenolic resins thus produced.
A standard for determining the degree of solubility of paraformaldehyde in warm water and hot water is "warm water-solubility". The warm water-solubility is determined by adding paraformaldehyde to a deionized water adjusted to 80.degree. C. in such an amount that the content of formaldehyde in water is 20%, stirring the resulting mixture until the paraformaldehyde is completely dissolved, and measuring the time required to be completely dissolved. This time is the warm water-solubility. This time is correlated with the degree of polymerization of the paraformaldehyde, and the longer this time, the higher the degree of polymerization.
When the turbidity of the resulting solution containing paraformaldehyde is 50 or less in terms of standard turbidity, the paraformaldehyde is deemed to be completely dissolved in water.
Depending on the use of the paraformaldehyde, the solubility may be determined by using butanol or the like in place of warm water.
Warm water-solubility of paraformaldehyde becomes gradually poor with the lapse of time after the production of the paraformaldehyde, and the higher the concentration of formaldehyde in paraformaldehyde, the poorer the warm water-solubility becomes.
Warm water-solubility of conventional paraformaldehyde (containing about 80% formaldehyde) is about 1-5 min. immediately after the production thereof by cooling and solidifying procedures, but 5-15 min. after 24 hours from the production, 20-40 min. after 10 days from the production, and 30-60 min. after 30 days from the production, and when longer than 30 days, the time of warm water-solubility increases gradually.
When conventional paraformaldehyde is dried by using a far infrared ray heating apparatus, warm water-solubility of the resulting high concentration paraformaldehyde is about 1-5 min. immediately after drying, 5-15 min. after 24 hours from drying, about 10-20 min. after 10 days from drying, undesirably as long as about 40-100 min. after 30 days from drying, and after longer than 30 days from drying, the time increases gradually.

Process for producing paraformaldehyde of high formaldehyde content


In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of fully integrating CNTs and the surrounding polymer matrix in CNT/polymer composites. In some such embodiments, such integration comprises interfacial covalent bonding between the CNTs and the polymer matrix. In some such embodiments, such interfacial covalent bonding is provided by a free radical reaction initiated during processing. In some such embodiments, such free radical initiation can be provided by benzoyl peroxide. In some or other embodiments, the present invention is directed to CNT/polymer composite systems, wherein the CNTs within such systems are covalently integrated with the polymer. In some or other embodiments, the present invention is directed to articles of manufacture made from such CNT/polymer composite systems.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), comprising multiple concentric shells and termed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), were discovered by Iijima in 1991 (Iijima, Nature, 1991, 354, 56). Subsequent to this discovery, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), comprising a single graphene sheet rolled up on itself, were synthesized in an arc-discharge process using carbon electrodes doped with transition metals (Iijima et al., Nature, 1993, 363, 603; and Bethune et al., Nature, 1993, 363, 605).
SWNTs have highly anisotropic mechanical properties, however, by processing fully integrated single-walled carbon nanotube composites into nanotube continuous fibers (NCFs), their highly directional properties can be more effectively exploited (Barrera, J. of Mater. 2000, 52, 38). Manipulating these nanoscopic materials into an aligned configuration can be accomplished more easily by processing the composites into fibers, allowing for better macroscopic handling of these nano-sized materials. In some cases, the SWNTs are used as nanoscale reinforcements in a polymer matrix in order to take advantage of their high elastic modulus (approaching 1 TPa) and tensile strengths (in the range 20-200 GPa for individual nanotubes) (Krishnan et al., Phys. Rev. B. 1998, 58, 14013). SWNTs are, however, more likely to be incorporated in the matrix as ropes or bundles of nanotubes, as a result of van der Waals forces that hold many entangled ropes together. These ropes or bundles are reported as having tensile strengths in the range of 15-52 GPa (Shenderova et al., Critical Revs Solid State Mater. Sci. 2002, 27, 227; Treacy et al., Nature 1996, 381, 678; Lourie et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 1998, 81, 1638).
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic material that has excellent chemical resistance, and good mechanical properties with tensile strengths in the range of 30-38 MPa and tensile modulii ranging from 1.1-1.6 GPa for the bulk material (Hertzberg, R. W. Deformation and Fracture Mechanics of Engineering Materials. 4th Ed. Publ. John Wiley and Sons, 1996). A number of researchers, such as Kearns and Shambaugh (Kearns et al., J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2002, 86, 2079), and Moore et al. (Moore et al., J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2004, 93, 2926), have incorporated SWNTs into polypropylene matrices. Kearns and Shambaugh reported a 40% increase in fiber tensile strength for composites containing a 1 wt. % loading of SWNTs, while Moore et al. did not find any significant improvements in mechanical properties. These studies seem to indicate that efficient load transfer between the polymer matrix and the stronger, reinforcing SWNTs was not necessarily achieved.
In processing carbon nanotubes and a thermoplastic matrix into a fully integrated composite system, the chemically inert nature of each of these materials must be overcome in order to facilitate good interfacial adhesion, which in turn allows for better load transfer when a tensile load is applied to the system. Ineffective interfacial bonding, and sliding of individual nanotubes within nanotube ropes, will hamper load transfer from the matrix to the fiber, thereby limiting the amount of mechanical reinforcement that can be achieved in the composite (Ajayan et al., Adv. Mater. 2000, 12, 750).
As a result of the foregoing, a method for enhancing interfacial adhesion between the carbon nanotubes and the surrounding polymer matrix in such above-described composites, would be quite beneficial.

Methods for preparing carbon nanotube/polymer composites using free radical precursors


Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that processes an inference workload in a first subset of layers of a neural network that prevents or inhibits data dependent branch operations, conducts an exit determination as to whether an output of the first subset of layers satisfies one or more exit criteria, and selectively bypasses processing of the output in a second subset of layers of the neural network based on the exit determination. The technology may also speculatively initiate the processing of the output in the second subset of layers while the exit determination is pending. Additionally, when the inference workloads include a plurality of batches, the technology may mask one or more of the plurality of batches from processing in the second subset of layers.

In machine learning, hardware accelerators (e.g., field programmable gate arrays/FPGAs, application specific integrated circuits/ASICs) may be used to implement deep neural networks (DNNs) that classify unknown input data (e.g., images, natural language) based on real-time inferences. Deep neural networks typically contain several intermediate layers positioned between an input layer and an output layer. Any ability to exit the DNN early may be limited in accelerator-based solutions because the hardware prevents or inhibits data dependent branch operations. Accordingly, processing may traverse all of the layers of the accelerator-based DNN in every instance, which increases latency, reduces performance and/or increases power consumption.

Deep learning inference efficiency technology with early exit and speculative execution


A chemical processing apparatus that utilizes a ceramic media sintered at a lower temperature than the apparatus' maximum exposure temperature is described. The media's physical and chemical properties may contribute to its thermal stability when exposed to temperatures that exceed the media's sintering temperature by at least 50° C.

This invention generally relates to ceramic media for use in environments wherein the media is exposed to an ambient temperature that is greater than the temperature at which the media was sintered. More particularly, this invention is concerned with ceramic media that are sintered at 1250° C. or less and then used in a chemical processing apparatus, such as a reactor, having an internal temperature greater than 1300° C.

Thermally stable ceramic media for use in high temperature environments


Universal rolling mill stand (10) which comprises a pair of upper (30) and lower (31) rolls having a horizontal axis and defining a rolling plane (13), the rolls (30-31) being complete with their relative chocks (28-29), and comprises also at least one roll (42) having a vertical axis and cooperating with the rolling plane (13), the roll (42) with the vertical axis including its own positioning and guiding chock (38) cooperating with a means (41) that adjusts said chock (38) and includes a pressure screw (63), the rolling mill stand (10) comprising two standards (11) to position and guide the horizontal chocks (28-29), the standards (11) cooperating with a base plate (49), each of the standards (11) including also two housings (14a-14b) with guides (39) for the chocks (38) of the vertical rolls (42) and also an upper support (24) and lower support (25 ) as well as two adjustment stay bolts (12), each of said housings (14) having a vertical development with intermediate extensions (55) which define guides (39) and delimit upper and lower first guide surfaces (27), the intermediate extensions (55) constituting means for the positioning and support of the relative adjustment stay bolts (12), the adjustment stay bolts (12) cooperating with the upper (24) and lower (25) supports for their reciprocal positioning, the upper and lower supports (24-25) comprising second guide surfaces (127) cooperating with the first guide surfaces (27), the intermediate extensions (55) cooperating with an intermediate stiffening and positioning housing (43).

This invention concerns a universal rolling mill stand.
Universal rolling mill stands have the main purpose of producing rolled stock with bent edges and to produce H-beams, I-beams, HIPE sections, etc.
Universal rolling mill stands comprise not only rolls with a horizontal axis but also one or two rolls with a vertical axis positioned respectively either on only one side or on both sides of the rolls with a horizontal axis.
Universal rolling mill stands of the state of the art consist of two monobloc standards connected together at their upper and lower ends by means parallel to the rolls having a horizontal axis.
The chocks which hold the rolls having a horizontal axis and bear the supporting bearings for the rotation of the rolls are positioned between the standards.
The rolls having a vertical axis are installed, instead, on special chocks located between the columns of the standards in an intermediate position between the chocks of the rolls having a horizontal axis.
The rolling mill stands formed in this way are strong, very big and very expensive, entail very long times for changing the rolls and in fact make it impossible to replace the stands themselves quickly. Maintenance work too is complex and takes very long times with considerable plant downtimes.
Rolling mill stands which comprise two pairs of housings anchored to the base plate and acting directly also as vertical guides for the chocks have been proposed to speed up the operations of changing the rolls and of maintenance and to enable the stands to be replaced quickly.
Each pair of housings is associated at its upper and lower ends, by means of two suitable stay bolts, with two cross-heads, a lower cross-head and upper cross-head. These cross-heads can be adjusted towards each other by means of the stay bolts and serve only as a support and abutment for the relative chocks of the rolls having a horizontal axis.
Rolling mill stands of this type entail the drawback that the discharge of the rolling stresses onto the housings causes strains, which may change the trim of the housings and may alter at least the trim of the chocks of the rolls having a horizontal axis owing to the loss of parallelism and alignment that takes place between the guides on which the chocks slide.
These strains are generated by the configuration of the housings and by the type of cooperation obtained between the stay bolts, the housings and the cross-heads.
On the basis of the above, the chocks during working or overloading rest only on one housing and unload thereon all the rolling thrust, while the other housing remains in fact unloaded.
Moreover, the strain generated by the housing under load is translated into a different positioning of the cross-heads, so that the distance between centers of the rolls and, in particular, of the rolls having a horizontal axis is altered and exceeds the tolerance permitted for such processes.
In fact, these strains lead to an alteration of the distance between centers of the upper roll having a horizontal axis and of the lower roll having a horizontal axis.
Furthermore, the rolls having a vertical axis undergo displacements, which are undesirable in themselves and also in relation to the rolls having a horizontal axis and take the processed section out of the permitted tolerance.
Moreover, in the rolling mill stands of the state of the art no devices are included which permit mechanical rough adjustment of the rolls having a vertical axis in combination with a hydraulic system for the continuous adjustment and control of the position of those rolls during the rolling step.


An actuator for opening and closing grille shutters includes a drive unit, a wheel driven by the drive unit, and a pair of shafts attached to the wheel and configured for driving the grille shutters to open or close. At least one of the shafts is pivotally coupled to the wheel so that an angle formed between the shafts and the wheel is adjustable.

A grille shutter actuator is used to open and close louvers of a shutter to control airflow to a heat exchanger or other cooling module. Grille shutters are increasingly being used in vehicles to control the airflow to the various heat exchangers of the vehicle, such as the radiator and the condenser of an air-conditioner. The grille shutters save fuel and thus money by improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle by closing the grille or air intakes when the vehicle is traveling at high speed and engine cooling is not required. Also, by closing the air intakes when the engine is cold, the engine reaches operating temperature faster, where it runs more economically and with less pollution. A dual drive grille shutter actuator has two symmetrical output shafts for driving two sets of shutter louvers located on opposite sides of the actuator. The angle formed between the two output shafts determines the angle of the two sets of shutter louvers. In current dual drive grille shutter actuators, the two output shafts are generally parallel to each other. Thus, the two sets of shutter louvers driven by the current dual drive grille shutter actuators must be parallel to each other. Such dual drive grille shutter actuators are suitable only for a limited range of grille shutters. Currently, grille shutters with sets of louvers that are not co-planar, require the use of individual actuators, increasing the weight and cost of the grille shutter assembly.
Thus, there is a desire for a dual drive actuator for a grille shutter that is suitable for use with a variety of grille shutters.


A method of formimg barrier ribs for a plasma display panel including the steps of: roughening a barrier rib formation surface of a substrate; forming a barrier rib material layer on the roughened barrier rib formation surface; and forming, on the barrier rib material layer, a mask having a pattern corresponding to the barrier ribs to be formed. In addition, forming the ribs includes partially removing the barrier rib material layer by blasting an abrasive against the barrier rib material layer to form the barrier ribs below the mask. Removing the mask reveals barrier ribs for partitioning a discharge space formed on the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method of forming barrier ribs for the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method of forming barrier ribs for the same, which can prevent the separation of the barrier ribs.
2. Related Art
Recently, there have been increasingly demanded display devices having a reduced thickness and a larger display area. Among a variety of display devices, plasma display panels (hereinafter referred to as "PDPs") have a reduced thickness and are readily adapted for color display and for a larger display area. In addition, the PDPs are self-luminant and have excellent visibility. Therefore, the PDPs are promising, for example, as wall-mount large-screen TVs (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No.3-179630(1991), No.5-299019(1993) and 7-161298(1995).
The PDP is a display device which has a discharge space defined between a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a minute spacing and are peripherally sealed.
The PDP typically has barrier ribs formed on one of the substrates for partitioning the discharge space. In the case of a PDP adapted for color display, for example, elongated barrier ribs are formed on a substrate in an equidistantly spaced relation, and fluorescent layers are provided between the barrier ribs.
The formation of the barrier ribs are typically achieved by applying a glass paste onto the substrate by way of screen printing and then baking the resulting substrate. However, this method presents difficulties associated with reduction in the barrier rib width and arrangement pitch, so that a high-precision display cannot be realized. In an attempt to increase the size of the display area, contraction of a screen mask makes it impossible to maintain a uniform positional relationship between electrodes and the barrier ribs over the entire display area. Overprinting is required to be performed ten times or so for the formation of the barrier ribs having a predetermined height. This leads to deformation of the barrier ribs at the printing and at the baking, which may cause a discharge failure.
As an alternative to the screen printing method, a sandblast method has been proposed for practical applications. In accordance with this method, a barrier rib material layer is formed on a barrier rib formation surface of a substrate, and then a mask having a predetermined barrier rib pattern is formed thereon by photolithography. Thereafter, the barrier rib material layer is selectively removed for formation of barrier ribs below the mask by blasting an abrasive perpendicularly to the barrier rib material layer, and then the mask is removed.
Where barrier ribs having a smaller width are formed by the sandblast method, the barrier ribs are liable to separate from the substrate when the mask is removed or due to an external force such as vibration applied when the substrate is combined with a counter substrate for assembly of a display panel.

Plasma display panel and method of forming barrier ribs for the same


A drug-impregnated ceramic to be embedded in a living body is disclosed, and includes a porous ceramic having pores with a pore size of 10 to 300 .mu.m, a drug impregnating the porous ceramic via the pores, and a surface layer for controlling the release of the drug. The surface layer is formed to cover at least a portion of the outer surface of the porous ceramic and has a porosity lower than that of the porous ceramic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drug-impregnated ceramic to be embedded in an affected region of a living body in order to treat myelitis, a malignant tumor, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to a conventional method of treating myelitis, an antibiotic is administered through a vinyl tube inserted into an affected region. Using this method, however, makes it difficult to administer the antibiotic throughout all of the affected region over an extended time period, and patient is obliged to suffer from large stress or invasion.
With the aim of solving this problem, Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 59-101145 discloses a drug-impregnated porous ceramic having in its surface layer 10- to 500-.mu.m diameter pores the ceramic itself being composed of one or more members selected from a group consisting of calcium phosphate, alumina, zirconia and silicon nitride.
When such a drug-impregnated porous substance is embedded in an affected region, the drug exudes into the region over an extended time period, resulting in the drug being continuously administered to achieve the desired treatment. In addition, since the above ceramic is not harmful to a living body, no serious adverse effects will occur even is the ceramic remains within the body.
Nevertheless, the above conventional drug-impregnated ceramic does have the following drawbacks.
The release period and concentration of a drug impregnated in the porous ceramic into a living body are controlled by adjusting a pore size. Since the pores communicate with the outer surface of the ceramic, however, the release concentration of the drug is inevitably high immediately after the ceramic is embedded in an affected part. For this reason, since a large amount of the drug is released immediately after the ceramic is embedded, it is difficult to maintain a constant release concentration throughout an release period from immediately after the ceramic is embedded. Also, the drug release period itself is shortened.
In addition, since the above porous ceramic is not decomposed in a living body, drug components impregnated deep in the pores often remains therein unreleased. The unreleased drug is not available for treatment.
Furthermore, although the porous ceramic is harmless to a living body, it is not decomposed in a living body but remains therein as an alien substance, thereby producing a lump in an affected part. Therefore, in the case that bone formation need not be performed in the affected part, the part must be cut open to remove the ceramic after a drug is released. As a result, the patient may suffer physically, mentally, and even economically.


Blended polymer compositions are described which comprise. (I) from about 1% to about 98% by weight of at least one olefin polymer; PA0 (II) from about 1% to about 98% by weight of at least one polyamide; PA0 (III) an effective amount of a compatibilizing agent which comprises at least one terpolymer of an alpha-olefin, at least one acrylic ester, and an alpha,beta-olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid reagent, or a glycidyl acrylate; and PA0 (IV) from 0 to about 25% by weight of at least one auxiliary compatibilizing agent selected from the group consisting of. (IVa) at least one selectively hydrogenated block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene to which has been grafted, an alpha,beta-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid reagent; PA1 (IVb) at least one polymer which is the product of the reaction of an alpha-olefin polymer and an alpha,beta-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid reagent; and PA1 (IVc) a mixture of (III) and (IVa) and/or (IVb) reacted in the presence of a radical initiator. provided that when the blended polymer contains one or more of the auxiliary compatibilizing agents (IVa) or (IVb), the blended polymer is free of other polymers of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons.

Thermoplastic polyamides such as nylon 6,6, have been widely used in the formation of mechanical parts and electrical parts for which excellent mechanical characteristics, high heat resistance and good durability are required. Although polyamides have good heat resistance and high mechanical strength, they are deficient in that the notched impact resistance and moisture resistance are poor. The impact resistance of the polyamides can be improved by blending them with another polymer. However, in general, physical blending of polymers does not provide a complete solution to the impact properties of polyamides because the polymers which improve the impact resistance of the thermoplastic polyamides are generally immiscible with the polyamides which results in poor adhesion between the polymers of the blend. As a result, interfaces between blend component domains are areas of weaknesses resulting in mechanical failure.
It is difficult, for example, to obtain a good dispersion of a combination of a polar polymer such as a thermoplastic polyamide with a non-polar polymer such as a polyolefin. It is known that the addition of a graft or block copolymer of similar chemical structure to the blend components can improve the quality of the dispersion. These copolymer additives, generally referred to as compatibilizers, are often added as a third component to the blend. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene has been suggested as a compatibilizer for polypropylene/nylon blends by Ide and Hasegawa, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 18, 963 (1974). The compatibilization of polyethylene/polyamide blends with maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene has been reported by Chen et al in Prym. Engng. Sci., 28, 69 (1988). These and similar blends have been studied, and the results reported by Park et al in Eur. Polym. J., Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 131-136, 1990.
It has been previously proposed to increase the impact strength of polyamides by the addition of modified block copolymers. For example, Hergenrother in U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,828, discloses blends of thermoplastic polyamide with a modified block copolymer.
Another deficiency of the polyamides is their tendency to absorb water which results in the degradation of its desirable properties. The blending of polyolefins with polyamides has been suggested as a method for decreasing the water absorption for such a blend since a portion of the polyamide which absorbs water would be replaced by a polyolefin which is generally hydrophobic. However, attempts to improve the impact strength of polyamides with polyolefins have generally been unsuccessful because the polyamides were incompatible with the polyolefins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,782 (Lutz et al) describes a polymer blend reported to exhibit improved impact resistance, and this polymer composition comprises a polyamide, a functionalized polyolefin and a functionalized elastomer. The functionalized polyolefins are obtained by reacting a polyolefin with an unsaturated mono- or polycarboxylic acid or derivative thereof. Suitable unsaturated mono- or polycarboxylic acids include maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, etc. The functionalized elastomers described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,782 are generally functionalized selectively hydrogenated block copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic compounds. The block copolymers are functionalized by grafting the copolymers with a mono- or polycarboxylic acid compound such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, etc. Other monomers which are utilized for introducing the functionality include vinyl monomers such as acrylamide, acrylonitrile, monovinyl aromatic compounds (i.e., styrene), vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,970 (Shiraki et al) describes polymer compositions comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer including polyamides, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic polyurethanes, vinyl alcohol polymers, etc., and at least one modified block copolymer of a monovinyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block A and at least one olefin compound polymer block B, to which has been grafted at least one molecular unit containing at least one member selected from a carboxylic acid group and groups derived therefrom. The modified copolymers and compositions described by Shiraki are reported to have excellent impact resistance, adhesion, paint adhesion, weatherability, resistance to aging, transparency, etc.
It is known that incompatibility problems may be overcome through the use of a compatibilizing agent. A compatibilizing agent is a material which, on a molecular scale, has particular regions which are compatible with each of the incompatible constituent polymers. Such compatibilizing agents typically surround one polymeric phase providing a chemical and/or physical bridge to the other polymeric phase. Insomuch as portions of the compatibilizing agent are compatible with each of the constituent polymers, the bonding between the two incompatible polymeric phases is effectively enhanced through this intermediate compatibilizing phase. Such a system of incompatible polymers coupled by a compatibilizing agent results in a material which advantageously combines the more desirable properties of the constituent polymers. Lindsey et al, J. Appl. Polymer Sci., Vol. 26, 1-8 (1981) describe a method of reclaiming mixed immiscible polymers by employing a compatibilizing agent. The system studied was a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene (PS) and a styrene-ethylene-butene-1-styrene (SEBS) copolymer (a linear triblock copolymer) as the compatibilizing agent. These ternary blends exhibited a considerable improvement in the balance of mechanical properties over a binary blend of high density polyethylene and polystyrene.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,509 discloses a multilayer thermoformable packaging material comprising a first layer of (a) a vinylidene chloride polymer, (b) an incompatible polymer, e.g., polyesters and nylons, and (c) a compatibilizing agent, and a second layer of (a) a blend of an olefin polymer, a styrenic polymer, and a compatibilizing polymer, and (b) scrap material produced from the first and second layers. The compatibilizing polymers for the second layer are preferably block copolymers of olefins and styrene such as copolymers of styrene-butadiene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene, etc.

Impact-resistant polymer blends of olefin polymers, polyamides, and terpolymer compatibilizers


A process for configuring a computing device to operate with a peripheral device having a configuration control and that is coupled to the computing device via a network, including: detecting activation of the configuration control at the peripheral device; receiving information associated with a user of the computing device at the peripheral device; outputting information from the peripheral device dependent on the received information; and configuring the computing device to operate with the peripheral device using the outputted information.

Non-limiting examples of peripheral devices are printers, scanners and other sources of digital data. Another example of a peripheral device suitable for use with computing devices is a multi-function peripheral device (MFP), such as an "all-in-one" device. A typical "all in one" device is a printer/scanner/copier, that has the capability to perform the multiple functions of printing documents, scanning hardcopy documents and copying hardcopy documents. Such a device may include facsimile functionality, as well. Another example of an MFP is a network ready digital copier—that scans in hard copy documents, does high volume copying, and can bind, collate, fold, stack, staple, stitch, edge-trim, paginate, and/or print on substrates of varied composition, for example. The present invention will be further discussed as it relates to MFPs, for non-limiting purposes of explanation only.
An MFP may typically be connected to computer devices over an interconnecting network. In such a configuration, the MFP must be configured for use with both the network and computing devices. There are several methods of configuring an MFP. One method is to use a web browser at a computing device also connected to the interconnecting network, to manually configure the MFP. In such a case, the MFP is typically executing an embedded web server application. Another configuration method for particular network types is known as Active Directory, which is a service that allows one to configure the MFP with information as to other resources that are in communication with the interconnecting network. A still further configuration method is operating a software program that searches the interconnecting network to discover MFP devices on the interconnecting network, and then presents an administrator with a variety of preset configuration options.
In each of these configuration methods, a network administrator is typically needed. Administrator intervention can prove inconvenient or costly to the network owner when additional users, MFPs, and/or MFP functionalities are to be added. Alternative methods and devices that can reduce network administrator implemented tasks, and facilitate end users operating MFPs, are desirable.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A cable or wire (information bus, power supply, etc.) retention method and apparatus for modular computer cabinets and the like in which the cabinet frame end walls have notch-like voids. The preferred embodiment for a cable retainer has a frame member with two cantilever portions, which frame member is spot-welded to several struts at other (non-cantilever) portions. The top and bottom struts protrude the frame member, and are longer than the distance between the cabinet end walls. The cable retainer is connected to the cabinet by inserting one pivoting strut tip into a receiving hole and causing the cantilever portion nearest the receiving hole to deform (causing deeper penetration of the inserted tip) so that a clearance is obtained between the other pivot end and its corresponding receiving hole, prior to releasing the cable retainer. Insertion is completed by pivoting the cable retainer to an upright position to latch the latching ends in cabinet end wall grooves.

The present invention generally relates to cable and wire retention. More particularly, the present invention relates to cable and wire retention for modular computer systems and the like.
A modular computer system is one in which more than one cabinet contains the elements of the system. Numerous interconnect cables and wires representing information and power supply buses electrically connect the cabinets (or modules). The sheer size and number of the interconnect cables often lead to protrusions which are unsightly and pose safety problems to passers-by.
One prior art solution to the above problems is to locate the computer system on top of a raised floor area so that the interconnect cables do not rest upon or extend into commonly used walkways. While this may eliminate the safety hazard for passers-by, it often does not improve the appearance of the system (the numerous unsightly cables still protrude from the cabinets and are in view). Additionally, the cables in prior computer systems frequently become tangled.
U.S Pat. No. 4,957,333, which is assigned to NCR Corporation--the assignee of the present letters patent--describes a solution to the above-mentioned problem by constructing the modular cabinet frame end walls with notch-like voids. The notches, preferably on the rear side of the cabinets are nearly fully enclosed, save a small opening (to preserve structural integrity) through which the cables may enter. The openings are covered by closure members and decorative trims once the cable is in place. The result is a modular computer system without unsightly wires, and in which the modules may be easily and quickly inserted or removed without the need for dismantling the cable attached to the backs of the other modules.
It is desireable to have decorative trims or cable retainers in such a system, in which the cable retainers are easily insertable and removeable.

Cable retention method and apparatus for modular computer cabinets and the like


The invention relates to wayfinding devices including an integral changeable space for advertisements which enable the municipality to provide pedestrian wayfinding and reduce or eliminate the cost of such wayfinding system. The wayfinding device includes a stylized compass and a message element. The stylized compass defines an inner space and is intended to be embedded in a concrete panel and installed in a sidewalk, building façade, kiosk bus stop shelter and/or planter among other possibilities. The advertising element is positioned within the inner space defined by the stylized compass and includes an inner element and a centerpiece removable from the inner element. The centerpiece has a surface having a message portion.

It is a common problem among pedestrians navigating an unfamiliar urban area to become disoriented when exiting a mass transit terminal, bus or light rail stop and/or station; a tourist Point of Interest; or other building. Various solutions have been designed to assist people in finding their way around unfamiliar urban areas, such as a map on a sign mounted on a pole or kiosk indicating where the pedestrian is located by using a large star symbol with other points of interest being drawn into the map. These maps can be helpful but often require the pedestrian to quickly locate the map and remember a number of road names and turns. These signs also are not very helpful in orienting an individual, as so often the individual must first determine which direction they are facing in order to proceed to where they wish to go. Also, these types of signs must be made rather large and can be unsightly, tending to block the urban viewscape, contribute to visual clutter and block the view of junctions, street signs and important landmarks.
Nearby businesses, such as coffee shops, drug stores or restaurants may also be shown on these maps, but tend to get lost in a plethora of other information, their locations relative to the pedestrian's orientation still being just as difficult to determine as with other landmarks marked on the map.
As a result of the inadequacies of the prior art, a pedestrian wayfinding device has been developed by the inventor to orient and provide wayfinding information to pedestrians in a relatively permanent, easily accessible, straightforward and, unobtrusive manner while also providing an interchangeable message display panel providing alternatively, a paid advertisement, additional wayfinding information for a neighborhood generally, and/or wayfinding directions to a (tourist) Point of Interest. An advantage of the wayfinding devices disclosed herein is the ability of a municipality to install a wayfinding system with little or no cost to the city, town or village. Because the wayfinding devices of the invention may provide an integral advertising feature, the municipality may generate revenue from the devices and/or have the devices installed for free by a vendor of such devices.


A method and system for detecting manipulation when control data are transmitted from a first control unit to a second control unit via a network, which includes generating integrity check information data for the control data transmitted by the first control unit via an integrity check generating unit on the transmitter side, calculating a cryptographic checksum for the integrity check information data generated on the transmitter side via the integrity check generating unit, transmitting the integrity check information data and the cryptographic checksum to an integrity check verifying unit that verifies the cryptographic checksum on the receiver side, generating integrity check information data on the receiver side for the control data received by the second control unit using the integrity check verifying unit, and comparing the integrity check information data and the integrity check information data with the cryptographic checksum to detect the manipulation of the transmitted control data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a system for transmitting control data between control units of a network in a manner that is secured against manipulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a representation of a conventional network, where control data are transmitted or exchanged between control units. In the example shown in FIG. 1, two control networks are connected to one another via a transmission network. The two control networks each have a gateway for connection to the transmission network. The two control networks each contain a plurality of control units SE that are connected, for example, via a bus to the gateway of the control network. The two control networks exchange control data SD1, SD2, SD3 . . . via the transmission network. The control units SE can be different devices, such as control computers, memory-programmable control systems, robot arms, sensors or actuators. It is also possible that a control network communicates with a control center via the transmission network, such as a SCADA system.
A transmission network can involve, for example, an Ethernet-based or an IP-based production network that connects control networks of different production cells to one another. A transmission network can also be a train network that connects networks of different train wagons to one another. Trains have, for example, data networks for performing the train control or vehicle control or other operating functions. Furthermore, the transmission network can be a network of an energy automation network.
The need for correct execution of the control monitoring functions makes it necessary for the control network and the control components or control units connected by the network to function properly. However, if the control network is manipulated, this is not assured. As a result, proper operation and possibly also the reliability of the controlled system can be impaired.
In an environment arranged spatially compact, the control network can be protected against manipulation using physical protective measures so that the control network is not accessible to a hacker. However, in the case of distributed networks that are installed, for example, in a production plant or a vehicle, for example, in a train, this is not possible. In distributed control networks of this type, control data are typically transmitted via a transmission network between separate network regions. Thus, for example, data transmission can occur between train parts (wagons). Furthermore, data transmission can occur between spatially separate regions within a train, for example, between a switchgear cabinet and a control component that are installed in a roof container or in the floor of a train wagon. Furthermore, control data are transmitted, for example, from a signal box to a trackside signaling unit or a set of points. A further example is the transmission of data between production cells that have different control networks. Furthermore, data transmission can be performed between a sensor/actuator and a control unit of a process automation system of, for example, a refinery, via a transmission network. A further example is the transmission of data between a substation controller of an energy automation system and a control center.
Control networks are therefore often physically protected against access, such as in special cable ducts, so as not to be accessible to third parties, hindering manipulation as much as possible. However, this is typically expensive and, due to the complex installation and the necessity for enabling servicing activities to be performed, not generally applicable.
It is also known to protect data during transmission by means of a checksum, for example, with a CRC checksum. This checksum is suitable only for recognizing random transmission errors. Therefore, conventionally, cryptographic checksums are employed or utilized, for example, a Message Authentication Code or a digital signature. The control data transmitted are herein enhanced with a cryptographic checksum. The cryptographic checksum is checked on receipt. Only control data for which the cryptographic checksum has been successfully checked are further processed on the side of the receiving control device. The transmitted control data are therefore protected by the cryptographic checksum. However, cryptographic protection of this type can only be integrated into existing components with difficulty because a particular computational effort, a particular memory space and a particular retrofitting effort is required. The provision of a separate upstream encryption component that encrypts the data before the transmission or provides the data with a cryptographic checksum can also only be realized with a substantial technical effort. A further disadvantage lies therein that the cryptographic computation operations performed lead to delays, which is undesirable, particularly during real-time-critical control and regulation tasks or can even impair security. Furthermore, the provision of an upstream encryption component of this type is not without effects on the relevant control system.

Method and system for transmitting control data in a manner that is secured against manipulation


A communication monitor includes a path change determining unit that generates path change information including a path change at the time of the path change in a network and an alarm at the time of the path change, and a collecting unit that collects traffic information of each path in the network. The communication monitor further includes an evaluating unit that calculates a degree of coincidence of traffic information representing a degree by which traffic information at the time of the current path change coincides with previous traffic information in the path change information immediately before the path change. The communication monitor further includes a predicting unit that predicts an alarm of the path change information related to the previous traffic information as an alarm at the time of the current path change when the degree of coincidence of the traffic information exceeds an alarm threshold value.

In a network operation management system, a communication monitor that predicts an alarm occurring in a network has been known. The communication monitor records an occurrence time of an alarm, a type of an alarm, and the like which are detected by a network device in a network as a change history, and predicts an alarm that will occur next using the change history.
For example, it is assumed that the communication monitor has a record representing that the frequency of occurrence of a pattern A in which an alarm 2 occurs after an alarm 1 occurs is 5 times and that the frequency of occurrence of a pattern B in which an alarm 3 occurs after the alarm 1 occurs is 4 times as the change history. When the occurrence of the alarm 1 is detected, the communication monitor searches the change history for a pattern using the alarm 1, and then determines the pattern A which is high in the frequency of occurrence as a search result. As a result, when the pattern A is determined, the communication monitor predicts the alarm 2 as an alarm that will occur after the alarm 1 occurs. Then, the communication monitor notifies the user of prediction of the occurrence of the alarm 2.
The communication monitor predicts an alarm of a "congestion failure" occurring as a traffic volume dynamically varies as well. However, in the congestion failure, for example, there are cases in which as a path is switched immediately after a congestion failure 1 occurs, a traffic volume of a path used after switching varies, and so another congestion failure 2 occurs. In this case, switching to another path is performed after the congestion failure 2 occurs. Then, for example, the communication monitor keeps a record representing that the frequency of occurrence of the pattern A in which the congestion failure 2 occurs after the congestion failure 1 occurs is 5 times and the frequency of occurrence of the pattern B in which the congestion failure 3 occurs after the congestion failure 1 occurs is 4 times as the change history.
Then, when the congestion failure 1 occurs, the communication monitor predicts the occurrence of the congestion failure 2 according to the pattern A which is high in the frequency of occurrence based on the change history such as the frequency of occurrence.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-10438    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-285040
Since a congestion failure is a failure that occurs according to a traffic volume of data flowing through a path in a network, for example, there are cases in which the congestion failure 2 does not occur in practical even when the congestion failure 1 occurs. However, for example, when the congestion failure 1 occurs, the communication monitor simply predicts an alarm of the occurrence of the congestion failure 2 based on the change history such as the frequency of occurrence in the same way.

Communication monitor, occurrence prediction method, and recording medium


A monitoring unit monitors a client terminal used by a user, and when there is a predetermined access operation to a resource from the client terminal, acquires identification information from the client terminal. A verifying unit verifies whether the identification information matches stored identification information. When it is verified that the identification information matches the stored identification information, a referring unit refers to an access management system to check an entry status of the user to a facility. A determining unit determines whether to allow the access operation based on a check result from the referring unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an authentication apparatus, an authentication method, and a computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer systems using personal computers (PC), workstations (WS), and servers are widely used by various users in various places. For example, computer systems are used in companies, research institutes, schools, public institutions, governments and public offices, and the like. The computer systems used in the above places generally handle various data containing confidential data such as personal information of employees and customers, new product information, technical information, and management information. Because such information is confidential, it is necessary to prevent leakage of information.
Meanwhile, communication environments using broadband has been widely enhanced, so that people can access resources used in their work environments even they are out of offices. Such environments enhance conveniences of use of communication terminals; however, risk of leakage of information increases at the same time. For example, information may be easily leaked from PCs in public places such as air ports, trains, and coffee shops. More specifically, even when eavesdropping is prevented with communication encryption techniques, if a user displays a design diagram of a new product on a screen of a PC, information on the new product may be leaked to other people only by taking a glance at the screen. With conventional techniques, it is difficult to assuredly prevent leakage of information, and prevention of the leakage of information is attempt by reminding users to be careful of handling of data.
Furthermore, wireless communication such as a wireless LAN has been widely used, so that convenient communication environments are realized. However, wireless communication is disadvantageous in that a large number of users including unknown users and fraudulent users can access resources within a service area of the wireless communication. High-secure encryption methods and authentication methods are developed for counteracting the above situation; however, they are not yet used in common.
A conventional access authentication method for authenticating a user to access predetermined contents data in a client terminal is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-242042. Specifically, user authentication is performed such that identification information unique to a client is acquired in an environment where contents data is downloaded, the identification information is encrypted and then written to a password file, password information is extracted from the downloaded contents data, the password information is encrypted and then written to the password file, and determination is performed whether the acquired identification information and the extracted password information are identical to those pre-registered on the password file.
The above authentication method uses information on an environment (client) of the user upon performing authentication of users who accesses contents data on a client terminal. Therefore, the user is not required to perform operations for the authentication. However, it is still difficult to prevent leakage of information caused by accesses to resources from places out of permitted places and network connection by unknown users and fraudulent users.

Authentication apparatus, authentication method, and computer program product


A control unit (4) generates a control signal. A switching device (2) performs switching according to the control signal and generates a primary side input voltage from a supply voltage. A transformer (1) converts the primary side input voltage to a secondary side output voltage. A drive circuit (7) drives a power device (8) according to the secondary side output voltage. The control unit (4) includes a table listing a correspondence relationship between supply voltages and set values of control signals for obtaining a desired secondary side output voltage, refers to the table and generates the control signal having a set value corresponding to the supply voltage.

Higher functionality, higher accuracy and higher density are required for power devices. Even in an IPM in which a power device and a control substrate are integrated, further densification of the control substrate is required along with densification of the power device. Examples of means for densifying the control substrate include integration that incorporates discrete parts into an ASIC or a microcontroller. There is means for incorporating a dedicated power supply IC into the microcontroller, integrating them into a digital power supply to thereby achieve higher integration and higher functionality of the power supply apparatus (e.g., see PTL 1).

Power device drive apparatus and method for manufacturing the same