A lever driven bicycle with synchronous drive ratio control is disclosed. The lever driven bicycle may include a pair of drive levers pivotable around an axis. The lever driven bicycle may also include a force applicator connected to each drive lever, each force applicator configured to receive an application of a force to rotate a drive wheel. The lever driven bicycle may further include a control mechanism connected to the pair of drive levers, the control mechanism configured to synchronously adjust a drive ratio of each drive lever.

Typical bicycles are driven by crank systems, which utilize unidirectional rotational movement to propel the bicycle drive wheel. Such directional rotational movement results in a varying torque induced by a primarily downward foot pressure from near zero to a maximum and back again to zero for each half revolution. This motion is necessitated by the conventional crank design, which includes a continuous chain that is received around a crank and a sprocket. Conventional bicycles also include shifting mechanisms, which adjust the drive ratio between the crank and the sprocket by controllably locating the chain about selected sprockets of different diameters. These conventional crank driven bicycles, with their varying torque, are difficult or impossible to ride for those with certain physical disabilities such as a person with only one leg, a person having one leg weaker than the other, a person having limited range of motion, etc.
One possible solution to assist the physically disabled in riding bicycles includes the lever driven bicycle, which has been designed to replace the conventional drive with oscillating displacement of the lever. Such lever driven bicycles utilize a dual lever arrangement in which each lever oscillates individually as propelled by each leg of the rider. One example of a lever driven bicycle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,790 to Trott. Lever driven bicycles have also been designed with shifting mechanisms which allow for manual control of the drive ratio between the lever and the drive wheel. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,733 to Harris and U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,334 to Efros both disclose lever driven bicycles having shifter arrangements which allow the rider to manually adjust the drive ratio between the lever and the drive wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,662 to Staehlin also describes a lever driven bicycle configured for manual adjustment of a shifting mechanism.
The oscillating motion of a lever driven bicycle may be preferable to a physically disabled rider because of the substantially constant torque and less cumbersome linear movement required to propel the bicycle. However, lever driven bicycles to date still do not produce the efficient drive and ease of power application required by many people with physical disabilities. Further, previous lever driven bicycles may require that adjustments to a drive ratio of each lever be made separately and independently. The separate adjustment configuration, however, may render it difficult for a rider to balance the drive ratios of the levers without extensively monitoring the settings. Further, previous lever driven bicycles lack means to insure that drive ratio adjustments are made while the drive wheel is rotating, which has been found to be safer and more efficient than making adjustments while the drive wheel is stationary. In light of the foregoing there is a need for an improved lever driven bicycle that allows for easier adjustment of the drive ratios of the levers, as well as for addressing the needs of the physically disabled and the frail elderly.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.

Lever driven bicycle with synchronous drive ratio control


A method of making an AC induction motor includes: providing a rotor and a stator for the AC induction motor; determining, for different geometries of an end ring of the rotor, a location of a first centroid of current density in the end ring; determining, for end turns of the stator, a location of a second centroid of current density in the end turns; selecting a geometry for at least the endring of the rotor so that an axial distance between the first centroid of current density and the second centroid of current density is minimized; and assembling the AC induction motor, wherein the end turns and the end ring have the selected geometries.

Electric motors are used in a number of different contexts. Generally, an electric motor consists of a rotor and a stator inside a housing. Both the rotor and stator can include copper or another conductive material. For example, the stator can have copper end turns and the rotor can have a copper end ring. Both of these copper components generate excitation when the motor is operating. Some amount of magnetic flux from the copper parts is subject to leaking, meaning that the magnetic flux lines do not close inside the active part of the motor. Flux lines that close in non-active parts of the motor do not contribute to the torque of the motor. Particularly, when the motor is operating at high speed (i.e., a high frequency) the leakage can reduce the motor's power. From an electromagnetic perspective, the flux leakage is not necessarily considered a loss, but it makes the motor effectively smaller, which is undesirable.

Geometry of rotor end ring and stator end turns


A device detects a wake-up keyword from a received speech signal of a user by using a wake-up keyword model, and transmits a wake-up keyword detection/non-detection signal and the received speech signal of the user to a speech recognition server. The speech recognition server performs a recognition process on the speech signal of the user by setting a speech recognition model according to the detection or non-detection of the wake-up keyword.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to speech recognition, and more particularly, to speech recognition based on a wake-up keyword.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of the smart devices having speech recognition to enable the functions of the devices to be executed by using a user's speech signal has been steadily increasing.
In order to enable the speech recognition function of the device, the speech recognition function of the device needs to be activated. A related art speech recognition function is activated by using a fixed wake-up keyword. Accordingly, when a plurality of devices having the same speech recognition function are present in a proximity to each other, a speech recognition function of an unintended device may be activated by the user using the fixed wake-up keyword.
In addition, a related art speech recognition function separately processes a wake-up keyword and a voice command of a user. Thus, after inputting a wake-up keyword, a user needs to input a voice command after a speech recognition function of a device is activated. If a user continuously or substantially contemporaneously inputs a wake-up keyword and a voice command for the same device or different devices, the related art speech recognition function might not be activated or activated correctly, or a speech recognition error may occur with respect to the input voice command even though the speech recognition function is activated.
Therefore, there is a need for methods and apparatuses capable of accurately recognizing a user voice command while reliably initiating a speech recognition function of a device.

Speech recognition system and speech recognition method thereof


A fixing roll used for electrophotography in which a fluoro resin layer having a surface roughness Rz of not greater than 3.5 .mu.m, gloss of not greater than 50% and an angle of contact with water of not less than 115.degree. is coated on outer surface of the roll. The fixing roll is manufactured by a method which comprises coating a fluoro resin paint to the surface of a core thereby forming coating layer, applying smoothing fabrication to the surface of the coating layer and, subsequently, applying heat treatment to form a fused fluoro resin layer.

As a fixing roll for electrophotography, there has been used a roll comprising a cylindrical core made of aluminum, iron or stainless steel coated with an easily releasable material, for example, a fluoro resin such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as PTFE resin), a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl perfluorovinyl ether (hereinafter referred to as PFA resin).
Such a fixing roll is opposed under pressure to a press roll coated with a silicone rubber or fluoro rubber to constitute a fixing device. Copy paper is passed between the heated fixing roll and the press roll to fuse powdery toner images formed thereon by means of heat and pressure and fix them onto the copy paper. An image formed on the paper by toner particles is pressed under heat so as to be fused and fixed on the paper.
One method employed for manufacturing a fixing roll having a coating layer of the fluoro resin is a method of coating a fluoro resin powder or fluoro resin dispersed liquid onto the surface of the core and then sintering it at a temperature of 360.degree. to 400.degree. C. to effect fusion deposition thereof on the surface. However, the thickness of the coating layer is not always uniform because of unevenness left after the coating. Since the nonuniformity in the thickness of the fluoro resin layer changes the press-contact force upon toner fixation, deterioration of the quality of the fixed image results. Therefore, the fluoro resin layer after sintering has conventionally been ground into a predetermined thickness by using sandpaper or a grinding stone, also improving the smoothness of the surface.
However, such a surface grinding involves the problems of causing deep scratches and of taking many working steps. Accordingly, there has been proposed a method of smoothing the surface by a press roll instead of grinding it (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 57-43892).
The smoothing of the fixing roll surface by the above-described conventional method is effective for improving the quality of the fixed image. However, it is not always effective for the improvement of an offset phenomenon, that is, a phenomenon that toner particles fused upon fixing of the toner image are deposited onto the fixing roll and the deposited toner particles are transferred to the subsequent copy paper as contaminant.
The offset phenomenon is generally classified into a so-called high temperature offset and a so-called low temperature offset. The high temperature offset is caused by the deposition of the fused toner on the fixing roll, while the low temperature offset is caused by the deposition of unfused toner particles on the fixing roll, which are determined depending on the distribution of the surface temperature of the fixing roll, drop in temperature upon paper passage, toner characteristics, etc. Accordingly, it is required for the fixing roll that the temperature for causing the high temperature offset is higher and the temperature for causing the low temperature offset is lower. However, the fixing roll obtained by the above-mentioned conventional method involves a problem that the temperature ranges for causing the high temperature offset and for causing the low temperature offset are close to each other and thus, the non-offset temperature range is narrow.

Fixing roll for electrophotography having an outer fluoro-resin coating


A method and apparatus for detecting a change in the operational status of a first host computer and automatically configuring a second host computer to provide additional computing resources that replace or complement the first host computer. In one embodiment, a controller is provided that is capable of detecting a malfunction or failure of the first computer and automatically configuring a second host computer to replace the first host computer. In another embodiment, the controller is capable of detecting changes in the performance of the first host computer and automatically configuring a second host computer to provide additional computing resources for the first host computer. In a further embodiment, both of these techniques can be used to support an electronic commerce site and provide the electronic commerce site with failsafe operation and virtually unlimited computational resources.

The present invention is directed to information storage systems, and more particularly, to an information storage system that is capable of detecting a change in the operational status of a first host computer and changing the operation of a second host computer in response to the detected change.
Providing replacement computer resources for a failed computer resource is termed site failover. Site failover is but one conventional example of a renewable host resource. Site failover from one computer system to another has historically been an expensive and labor intensive procedure. For example, to provide site failover for a first or primary computer system, a complete secondary or failover computer system was traditionally required. In the event of a failure of the primary computer system, the failover computer system would be brought up for use as a temporary replacement of the primary computer system, while the primary computer system was repaired.
To ensure that the failover computer system was a viable replacement for the primary computer system, data on the primary computer system would be periodically copied or backed up to the failover computer system for use in the event of failure of the primary computer system. Typically this back up would be performed manually over a network, or by tape, CD, or diskette. To facilitate site failover, the primary and failover computer systems were typically required to be identical, in terms of both hardware and software. In addition, to ensure that the failover computer system would be ready when needed, the failover computer system was typically maintained in an off state, until needed for replacing the primary computer system upon the failure of the primary computer system.
Years ago, site failures were typically due to a failure of the storage system to which a host computer was attached, rather than a failure of the host computer itself. This is because the storage system was frequently one of the least reliable components of the computer system. With the advent or more reliable storage systems featuring more reliable disk drives and other storage devices, data mirroring, data striping, etc., site failures are now more frequently caused by a failure in the host computer, rather than the storage system to which it is attached.
The use of more reliable storage systems has reduced some of the labor associated with site failover. Even so, some amount of manual intervention is still required. For example, when a failure occurs in a primary host computer, a new failover host computer still needs to be manually brought up in its stead. This typically requires powering down the primary host computer and the storage system, re-configuring cables that were previously connected between the primary host computer and the storage system to re-connect them between the failover host computer and the storage system, powering on the failover host computer system and the storage system, and then bringing the failover host computer up on-line as a replacement for the primary host computer.
Although the use of more reliable storage systems can dispense with the need for a complete failover computer system (i.e., failover host computer and failover storage system), conventional methods of site failover are expensive. For example, because some amount of manual intervention is still involved, conventional methods of site failover require skilled personnel to be on hand while the primary host computer is operational to effect site failover, when necessary. In addition, most conventional methods of site failover still require that the primary host computer and the failover host computer be identically configured in terms of both hardware and software to facilitate site failover. This duplication of resources is expensive, both initially and in terms of upgrades. For example, when advances in computer technology render a primary host computer obsolete, the identically configured failover host computer is also rendered obsolete. Furthermore, because the failover host computer is typically maintained in a powered-off state until needed, a great deal of computing resources are wasted.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for automatically configuring additional resources for a host computer is described. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes acts of detecting a change in operation of a first host computer, and automatically configuring a second host computer to provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to the act of detecting.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a first host computer, a second host computer, and a controller that is operatively coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer. The controller automatically configures the second host computer to provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to a change in operation of the first host computer.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided that includes a first host computer, a second host computer, and configuration means, coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer, for automatically configuring the second host computer to provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to a change in operation of the first host computer.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a storage system for use with a first host computer and a second host computer is provided. The storage system includes a first storage device to store data of the first host computer, and a controller that is coupled to the first storage device. The controller, when operatively coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer, automatically configures the second host computer to use the data of the first host computer and provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to a change in operation of the first host computer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for performing load balancing is described. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes acts of detecting a decrease in performance of a first host computer, and automatically configuring a second host computer to provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to the act of detecting.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a first host computer, a second host computer, and a controller that is operatively coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer. The controller automatically configures the second host computer to provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to a decrease in performance of the first host computer.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided that includes a first host computer, a second host computer, and configuration means, coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer, for automatically configuring the second host computer to provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to a decrease in performance of the first host computer.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a storage system for use with a first host computer and a second host computer is provided. The storage system includes a first storage device to store data of the first host computer, and a controller that is coupled to the first storage device. The controller, when operatively coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer, automatically configures the second host computer to use the data of the first host computer and provide additional computational resources for the first host computer in response to a decrease in performance of the first host computer.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for performing electronic commerce is described. In one embodiment, a method of performing electronic commerce includes acts of hosting an electronic commerce site on a first host computer, detecting a change in operation of the electronic commerce site, and automatically configuring a second host computer to host at least a portion of the electronic commerce site on the second host computer in response to the act of detecting.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a first host computer that hosts an electronic commerce site, a second host computer, and a controller that is operatively coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer. The controller automatically configures the second host computer to host at least a portion of the electronic commerce site on the second host computer in response to a change in operation of the electronic commerce site.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a storage system for use with a first host computer and a second host computer is provided. The storage system includes at least one first storage device to store data of the first host computer corresponding to an electronic commerce site hosted by the first host computer, and a controller that is coupled to the at least one first storage device. The controller when operatively coupled to the first host computer and the second host computer, automatically configures the second host computer to use at least a portion of the data of the first host computer that corresponds to the electronic commerce site to host a portion of the electronic commerce site on the second host computer in response to a change in operation of the electronic commerce site.

Method and apparatus for performing site failover


Disclosed herein are methods for producing a polymer. One polymerizes monomers selected from alkene monomers and terminal alkyne monomers, in the presence of a catalyst which is a silylene. The catalyst can be a heterocyclic amido silylene which is at least partially unsaturated within the ring. Also disclosed are polymers produced by the above methods, and improved methods for producing the catalysts.

The present invention relates to divalent silicon compounds which are known as silylenes. More particularly, it relates to the use of these compounds to catalyze olefin polymerization reactions.
In recent years there have been efforts directed towards the isolation of compounds containing divalent silicon centers, particularly heterocyclic amido variants. See M. Haaf et al., 120 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 12714-12719 (1998) (synthesis of silylenes); J. Lehmann et al., 18 Organomet. 1862-1872 (1999) (study of silylenes); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,856 (synthesis of silylenes). The disclosures of these publications, and of all other publications referred to herein, are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
While several syntheses of these compounds have been proposed, these syntheses were often inefficient. A need still exists for ways to improve their efficiency, particularly with respect to the synthesis of heterocyclic silylenes.
In any event, these compounds were originally developed in order to provide a new class of reactive components that could be combined with other materials in varied synthesis reactions. It is now desired to find still other uses for them.
Synthesis of olefin polymers from monomers typically requires the use of a catalyst to assist in the polymerization reaction. These catalysts are often inefficient, complex, and expensive (e.g. a mixture of an organotitanium compound with an organoaluminum compound).
Other known techniques for polymerizing olefins involve a free radical process which typically results in highly branched polymers having soft properties. This can be a disadvantage when harder polymers are desired. Thus, a need still also exists for providing improved techniques for the production of olefin polymers.
In one aspect the invention provides methods for producing a polymer. One polymerizes monomers selected from the group consisting of terminal alkene monomers and terminal alkyne monomers in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of silylenes.
The catalyst is preferably a cyclic (preferably heterocyclic) silylene, such as where the catalyst contains a [Nxe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94N] moiety, with these three atoms being part of an at least partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring of at least five and no more than ten atoms.
In an especially preferred form, the catalyst is:
In another aspect the invention provides polymers produced by the above methods.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides an improved method for forming a compound having a structure selected from the group consisting of:
wherein M is Si and wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4, and if applicable R5 and R6, are individually selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl with less than 10 carbons. The method involves reacting a precursor (xe2x80x9cPrecursorxe2x80x9d) selected from the group consisting of:
with elemental potassium. With respect to the Precursor, M is also Si, and R1, R2, R3, and R4, and if applicable R5 and R6, are also individually selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl with less than 10 carbons. The elemental potassium is added to the reaction at above 2.1 and less than 3.0 (preferably between 2.2 and 2.4) molar equivalents of the Precursor present in the reaction.
The preferred compound formed by this improved synthesis is:
xe2x80x9cTerminal alkene monomerxe2x80x9d includes any polymerizable alkene monomers having a double bonded carbon at an end of the molecule, and mixtures thereof, including without limitation ethylene, propylene, 1-hexene, alkyl vinyl ethers such as ethyl vinyl ether, styrene, butadienes such as dimethyl butadiene, acrylonitrile, vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride, isobutene, and isoprene. As indicated by the inclusion of ethers, carbon and hydrogen need not be the only elements in the monomer.
xe2x80x9cTerminal alkyne monomerxe2x80x9d includes any polymerizable alkyne monomers with a triple bonded carbon at an end of the molecule, and mixtures thereof, including without limitation acetylene, phenyl acetylene, and other alkyl and aryl acetylenes. Again, carbon and hydrogen need not be the only elements in the monomer.
Preferred silylenes are compounds having a divalent silicon linked on each side to nitrogen such as: [(R1R2R3C)R7N]xe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94[NR8(CR4R5R6)], in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amido or heteroaryl residue, and R7 and R8 can also represent the residue xe2x80x94CR1R2R3 or xe2x80x94CR4R5R6, and R7 and R8 can jointly form with the respective adjacent nitrogen atoms and the central silicon atom in an unsaturated heterocyclic ring with at least five ring atoms.
Where the catalyst has a heterocyclic ringed structure, it is preferred that any carbons other than those in the ring which includes the Si not exceed twenty carbons, and preferably not exceed six carbons. For example, the nitrogens can both be linked to tertiary butyl groups.
It has surprisingly been learned that silylenes can be efficient olefin polymerization catalysts, even at relatively low concentrations. Further, these compounds hold out the possibility of creating variants which will provide more control over other polymer attributes such as stereochemistry and cross-linking.
These catalysts are particularly useful to create homopolymers. However, they should also be useful in creating copolymers.
It has also been surprisingly learned that too high levels of elemental potassium in the synthesis reaction (e.g. 3.0 molar equivalent or above) can cause significant ring degradation and purification problems. On the other hand, too low an elemental potassium level in the reaction (e.g. 2.1 molar equivalent or below) can lead to undesirably long required reaction times (e.g. sometimes days are required for the reaction). Thus, a narrow range of molar equivalency is highly preferred.
Advantages of the present invention include providing:
(a) methods of the above kind for catalyzing the production of polymers;
(b) polymers of the above kind which are produced by these methods; and
(c) methods of the above kind for more efficiently synthesizing such catalysts.
These and still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description which follows. The description is merely of the preferred embodiments. The claims should therefore be looked to in order to understand the full scope of the invention.
Most of the examples discussed below used the following xe2x80x9cCatalyst Ixe2x80x9d as the catalyst:
One possible means of synthesizing this catalyst is described in M. Denk et al., 116 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2691-2692 (1994).
However, we prefer to modify the last step of this synthesis (the reaction of the dihalide) as follows. In our experiment we provide a three-neck 1000 mL flask equipped with a stir bar, reflux condenser and two stoppers was charged with 19.36 g (72.4 mmol) of a precursor (where Mxe2x95x90Si, R1 and R2xe2x95x90H, and R3 and R4=t-butyl). 350 mL of THF was added to the dichloride precursor to dissolve the compound and yield an approximately 0.2 M solution. This was stirred vigorously, while 6.51 g of elemental potassium (166.60 mmol, 2.3 molar equivalents) was cut into small chunks.
The potassium was rinsed with hexane to remove mineral oil and then added to the dichloride solution all at once under a heavy flow of argon. Once the potassium had been added, the solution was set to reflux for three hours. The reaction was monitored by 1H NMR, and upon complete conversion to the silylene (3 hours), the reaction was stopped, cooled, and filtered through a medium-porosity frit to remove potassium chloride. Upon filtration the solvent was removed in vacuo to yield dark red solid. This solid was sublimed at 90xc2x0 C. and 30 mtorr to yield 9.95 g (70.0%) of the pale yellow silylene.

Silylene catalysis of olefin polymerization


A wafer cassette comprises a holding member having a depression corresponding to the shape of the substrate, and a cover having an opening smaller than the surface size of the substrate. The substrate is to be held in the depression by means of the holding member and the cover, and the substrate is to be covered at its one-side surface, side and all peripheral region of the other-side surface, with the holding member at its depression and with the cover at the edge of its opening. Also disclosed are a liquid-phase growth system and a liquid-phase growth process which make use of the wafer cassette.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wafer cassette and a liquid-phase growth system and a liquid-phase growth process which make use of the wafer cassette, and is particularly applicable to a liquid-phase growth process and a liquid-phase growth system which are of an immersion type in which wafer-size substrates are held with a jig and immersed in a solvent.
2. Related Background Art
Combustion of oil for thermal power generation, combustion of gasoline by automobile engines and other combustion have come to be the cause of pollution of the global environment. There is also an anxiety about the exhaustion of crude oil. Accordingly, an increasing interest is taken in solar-cell power generation as a clean energy source.
Thin-film crystal-silicon (Si) solar cells have so thin power-generating layers as to allow the use of silicon materials in a small quantity, and enable cost reduction. Also, since crystal silicon is used in the power-generating layers, a higher conversion efficiency and a lower deterioration can be expected, compared with amorphous-silicon solar cells. Moreover, such thin-film crystal-silicon solar cells can be bent to a certain extent, and hence can be attached to curved surfaces of automobile bodies, household electric appliances, roof tiles and so forth when used.
To materialize the thin-film crystal-silicon solar cell, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-213645 discloses that a thin-film single-crystal silicon is separated utilizing an epitaxial layer grown on a porous silicon layer by CVD (chemical vapor deposition). FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of forming a thin-film silicon solar cell in this Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-213645. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 101 denotes a silicon wafer; 102, a porous silicon layer; 103, a p+-type silicon layer; 104, a p−-type silicon layer; 105, an n+-type silicon layer; 106, a protective layer; 109 and 111, adhesives; and 110 and 112, jigs. In the method of producing a solar cell as shown in FIG. 18, the porous silicon layer 102 is formed on the surface of the silicon wafer 101 by anodizing. Thereafter, the p+-type silicon layer is epitaxially grown on the porous silicon layer 102, and the p−-type silicon layer 104 and n+-type silicon layer 105 are further epitaxially grown thereon. Then, the protective layer 106 is formed. Subsequently, the adhesives 109 and 111 are applied to the protective layer 106 and the silicon wafer 101 to make them adhere to the jigs 110 and 112, respectively. Thereafter, a tensile force P is caused to act on the jigs 110 and 112 to separate the silicon wafer 101 from the part of the epitaxial silicon layers 103, 104 and 105 at the part of the porous silicon layer 102. Then, a solar cell is formed in the epitaxial silicon layers 103, 104 and 105, and the silicon wafer 101 is again put into the like step so that a cost reduction can be achieved.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-283722 also discloses that an epitaxial silicon layer is grown on a porous silicon layer by a liquid-phase growth process. Sn (tin) is used as a solvent, where silicon is previously dissolved in the Sn before growth and is kept saturated therein. Next, annealing is started, and, at the time the Sn solution has become super-saturated to a certain extent, the porous surface of a wafer is immersed therein to allow an epitaxial silicon layer to grow on the porous surface.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-189924 still also discloses that a liquid-phase growth epitaxial layer is grown on a wafer whose surface is formed of a porous silicon layer, and the epitaxial layer is peeled to produce a solar cell.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-53488 further discloses a solvent injection type liquid-phase growth system in which a jig has such a shape that any deposited films are not formed on the back and side (lateral surface). Since, however, the liquid-phase growth system disclosed in this Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-53488 is of a solvent injection type, there is a disadvantage that the growth system must be set up on a large scale when the growth is performed on a large number of wafers. Also, in an attempt to deal with large-diameter wafers of 8 inches or larger, the growth system must be set up on a still larger scale, making this disadvantage more remarkable.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-17284 still further discloses a compound semiconductor immersion type liquid-phase growth system and a holding jig. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of this liquid-phase growth system. In FIG. 19, reference numeral 81 denotes a wafer holder; 82, a wafer; 83, a crucible; 84, a solvent; 85, a quartz reaction tube; 86, a gas feed pipe; 87, a gas discharge pipe; 88, a heater; and 89, a dummy wafer. In the liquid-phase growth system of this type, the wafer holder 81 having held the wafer 82 and the dummy wafer 89 is moved down (in the direction of "A") to immerse the wafer 82 into a solvent 84 in which a growth material has been dissolved. The solvent 84 is put in the crucible 83, and the crucible 83 is placed in the quartz reaction tube 85 that keeps the atmosphere of atmospheric gas (reducing gas or inert gas) by means of the gas feed pipe 86 and the gas discharge pipe 87. The heater 88 is provided for the temperature control of the system, where the temperature of the heater 88 is dropped to lower the temperature of the solvent 84 to allow the growth material to deposit from the solvent 84 onto the wafer to effect liquid-phase growth. Compared with slide boat type or solvent injection type liquid-phase growth systems, the immersion type liquid-phase growth system enables the growth system to have a small size as long as the liquid-phase growth is performed on wafers having the same size. Also, since a large number of wafers can be arranged on the holder, the system is convenient for its adaptation to mass production.
In the case where a deposited film should be grown only on the wafer surface as in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-213645, it is desired that any deposited film is not grown on the back and side of the wafer and on the peripheral region of its surface. However, where the wafer is immersed in the solvent to perform the growth using the liquid-phase growth system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-17284 like that shown in FIG. 19, the deposited film is necessarily grown not only on the whole surface of the wafer but also its back and side. Hence, where a deposited film on only the desired surface should be used, the deposited film on the back and side and on the peripheral region of the surface must be scraped off or etched away. This not only makes the number of steps larger, but also results in a low yield.
In the case of the wafer holder disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-53488, the liquid-phase growth can be prevented at some part of the back and side, but there is a problem that the growth takes place inevitably at some part of the side.
In the case where the liquid-phase grown epitaxial layer should be separated from the wafer as a thin-film single-crystal layer like that in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-189924, the layer may be too thick especially at the peripheral region of the surface, or, even if not thick, the layer is not successfully separated in some cases at the peripheral region because of unstableness of the porous silicon layer at the peripheral region.

Wafer cassette, and liquid phase growth system and liquid-phase growth process which make use of the same


An arrangement in a rotary milking system includes a rotating platform, an entry thereto and an exit therefrom. A selection gate arrangement at the exit of the rotating platform selectively guides animals, which have been milked in the rotary milking system and leave the rotating platform through the exit, back to the entry of the rotating platform or to a waiting area. A control device is provided for (i) determining whether an animal, which has been milked and leaves the rotating platform through the exit, has at least one udder compartment that was incompletely milked the last time the animal was milked, and (ii) controlling the selection gate arrangement to guide the animal back to the entry of the rotating platform or to the waiting area provided that the animal has at least one udder compartment that was incompletely milked the last time the animal was milked.

A rotary milking system comprises a rotating platform which animals enter and leave in a sequential order in order to be milked. The rotating platform comprises a plurality of milking stalls, each provided with milking equipment for milking of an animal present in the milking stall. The rotating platform rotates with the milking stalls and the animals which have entered the rotating platform, slowly while the animals are milked.
Sometimes the milking of an animal on the rotating platform is not complete, that is, it may happen that a cow that has been milked has an udder compartment that was incompletely milked. The incomplete milking may have been caused by a teat cup kick or fall off during milking. Incomplete milking may as well depend on a damaged or infected teat.
In a semi-automated or fully automated rotary milking system, teat cups of the milking equipments are automatically attached to the teats of the animals to be milked by a robot arm provided with a gripper. One single robot arm may serve all or at least several milking stalls of the rotary milking system. Incomplete milking in such rotary milking system may also be caused by a failed teat cup attachment, e.g. caused by a dirty camera lens or an unfavorable teat position.
FR 2 757 742 discloses a rotary milking system, wherein the problem of incomplete milking is discussed. If the milk quantity obtained is not proper, the animal is kept on the rotating platform for another revolution. When the animal passes the operator, he/she can verify that the milking claw is well in place. Should the milk quantity be too low also after a second revolution, the animal is evacuated and an alarm is sent to get the operator's attention.

Arrangement and method in a milking system, the milking system itself, and a computer program product for controlling the method


An eyeglass frame comprises a frame front, a pair of temple bars and a hinge for each temple bar to provide a pivotal connection. The hinge comprises a coil winding of a resilient wire integral with the temple bar and a body with a threaded groove integral with the other one of the frame front or temple bar. The body comprises friction material and the coil is adapted for cooperating and pretensioned engagement with the body in order to provide a pivotal connection with a controlled friction resistance to turning of the pivot. The invention a so provides a hinge, an eyeglass and a method of manufacturing a hinge.

The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame, a hinge for connecting a temple bar to an eyeglass frame, an eyeglass, and a method of manufacturing a hinge for linking a temple bar to an eyeglass frame. In particular the invention relates to eyeglass frames comprising hinges fitted with friction members.
As used herein the term eyeglass relates to the well known accessory which substantially comprises two lenses of glass or of other refractive or tinted, transparent material intended to be worn in front of the eyes of the user enabling him to obtain a corrected or a darkened view through the glasses, and a form of spectacle frame arranged to keep the lenses or glasses expediently fixed in the preferred position of use, where the user can look straight forward with both eyes and with parallel lines of sight through the respective lenses.
It is well known to provide such eyeglass frames with a frame front for holding the glasses and with a pair of temple bars for supporting the frame, which temple bars are connected to the frame front by means of hinges so as to allow the eyeglass to be folded up when not in use.
Even though a variety of eyeglasses are available, development is still taking place in order to find new solutions which might gain market shares, e.g. by offering particular features or cost benefits or through offering new aesthetic features.
U.S. Pat. No. Re 36 882 to Lindberg et al. discloses an eyeglass frame wherein the temple bar comprises a wire of which one end section has been wound into a coil for providing the exterior part of a hinge. The hinge pintle comprises a straight section of wire integral with the frame front. End sections of the pivot wire are angled laterally so as to provide double constraints for axial movement of the coil. This hinge design has proven successful, however, it is associated with some aestethical and functional limitations. Thus, in this hinge the laterally angled sections of pintle wire protrude beyond the coil which may be undesirable. Both hinge parts comprise metal and thus the hinge operation involves metal rubbing against metal, a combination which gives rise to wear. Thus, it is not practically possible to make this hinge with a predetermined level of friction.
Due to the pitch in the coil the turning of the hinge is bound to be linked with some axial displacement, thus giving rise to wear between the lateral end portions of the pintle wire and adjacent portions of the coil. This rubbing gives rise to friction, however, on reversing the direction of pivoting this frictions vanishes due to play between the lateral pintle wire sections followed by restablishment of some degree of friction against the opposite one of the lateral pintle wire sections. Most often friction to turning of the temples vanishes quickly leading to a not very attractive tactile feel of the parts tending to be loose.
WO 97/23803 discloses an eyeglass with hinge means comprising double concentric coils of wire. Thus, a wide coil basically integral with the frame provides a female thread engaged by the exterior of a narrower coil integral with temple bar. This solution relies on wire rubbing against wire and does not permit establishing and maintaining any predetermined level of friction in the hinge.
WO 00/29896 discloses a hinge comprising coils in respect of each of the temples and of the frame front, which coils have generally similar diameter and pitch in order that they may engage about a common pin with interengaging windings. In this solution metal rubs against metal on turning the pivot with the likely result that friction will vary over time.
WO 98/40778 discloses a hinge for an eyeglass with coils in respect of each of the temple bars and the frame front. The coils are mutually similar and engaged about a common pin, one coil on top of the other. The pin comprises an enlarged head to provide axial restraint. In this coil metal rubs on metal with the likely result that friction may vary over time. On turning of the temple bar, there is bound to be axial movement and separation among the parts according to the pitch of the coil. This implies that the head of the pin must allow axial play. This does not create an optimum tactile feel. Further, the head of the pin bears on the top most winding of one of the coils with the danger that the coil may work its way past the head by the screwing action.
WO 99/21046 discloses a hinge for an eyeglass comprising a strip of metal wrapped about pivot inserts of friction material. The resilient strap of metal applies a radially directed biasing force on the friction member so as to eliminate any play in the hinge and to establish a controlled level of friction. Only with respect to the axial constraint there is the danger of metal rubbing against metal, however, the axial forces are virtually nil due to the absence of coils or other factors that might create axial displacement. This hinge is not integrated with wire components.

Eyeglass frame, a hinge, an eyeglass and a method of manufacturing a hinge


The present disclosure describes luminescent solar concentrators that include photoluminescent nanoparticles. The photoluminescent nanoparticles include a semiconductor nanocrystal that sensitizes the luminescence of a defect. The defect can include, for example, an atom, a cluster of atoms, or a lattice vacancy. The defect can be incorporated into the semiconductor nanocrystal, adsorbed onto, or otherwise associated with the surface of the semiconductor nanocrystal.

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) collect and concentrate sunlight for use in solar power generation. LSCs are devices typically consisting of a planar waveguide coated or impregnated with a luminophore. Sunlight absorbed by the luminophore coated on or contained within the waveguide is re-emitted into the waveguide, where it is captured by total internal reflection, which causes it to travel to the edges to be concentrated for use by light conversion devices, such as photovoltaic cells (PVs). Unlike lens- and mirror-based concentrators, which require tracking systems to follow the sun's motion and can only concentrate direct, specular sunlight. LSCs are passive devices that work equally well with both diffuse and specular sunlight. They are therefore less costly to build, install, and maintain, more easily integrated into the built environment or portable solar energy systems, more damage tolerant, and can be used in climates where there is little direct sunlight. Furthermore, because LSCs can produce wavelength-to-bandgap matched photons by downshifting, there is reduced need for PV cooling, and multiple LSC waveguides each incorporating a different luminophore can be stacked to split the solar spectrum for tandem multi-cell conversion.
An exemplary LSC 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the planar waveguide 12 comprises a plurality of luminophores 15. The planar waveguide 12 is edge-coupled to PV cells 14 sensitive to the emission wavelength of luminophores 15. As shown in the detail of FIG. 1, luminophores 15 absorb light 16 of a first wavelength, and emit light 18 of a second, red-shifted, wavelength. The emitted light 18 is used to generate electrical current: in the PV cells 14.
In combination with bandgap-matched, high-efficiency PV cells, LSCs offer the potential for a reduction in the cost of solar electricity—by well over an order of magnitude. However, LSCs have thus far had little practical impact, primarily because the optical quantum efficiency (OQE) decreases rapidly with concentrator size (i.e., as an LSC increases in size, a smaller fraction of incident sunlight is concentrated at the edges). Several factors contribute to a decreasing OQE, two of which are usually dominant: (i) photon loss due to non-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (QY) of the luminophore and (ii) loss of photons from a top and bottom or the waveguide from emission at an angle inside the critical escape cone of the waveguide material, as defined by Snell's Law. For example, a typical organic luminophore-based LSC and a poly(methylmethacrylate) or glass waveguide can have a loss rate due to factor (i) that is near zero, but a loss rate due to factor (ii) that is about 25% per-emission. A decrease in OQE can also occur due to re-absorption and re-emission, as a captured photon traveling toward a waveguide edge may encounter other luminophores to be re-absorbed and re-emitted multiple times, and a fraction of photons can be lost with each successive re-absorption/re-emission event due to non-radiative relaxation processes. Repeating escape cone and QY losses thus compound with distance.
Previous efforts to address this problem have included the use of large-Stokes-shift luminophores that have a large energy difference between absorption and emission to reduce light re-absorption. Examples of such luminophores include certain organic dyes, quantum dots, lanthanide and transition metal-based molecules, and microcrystalline phosphors, and organic dyes whose emission is red-shifted by solid-state solvation. However, these luminophores tend to have low QY, narrow or weak spectral absorption bands that capture only a small portion of the solar spectrum, limited environmental lifetime, large scattering cross sections, or a combination of these shortcomings. Other methods for improving efficiency include the use of wavelength-selective mirrors and oriented luminophores for directing a larger portion of luminescence into waveguide modes and out of the escape cone. However, none of these approaches has proven successful in producing large area, high efficiency LSCs with long environmental lifetimes.
Accordingly, a large area, high efficiency LSC with a long environmental lifetime is needed. The present disclosure seeks to fulfill this need and provides further related advantages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Photoluminescent semiconductor nanocrystal-based luminescent solar concentrators

University of Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization


An example method includes executing a first executable application designed for execution using a first application programming interface (API). A first registration request is accessed from a second executable application designed for execution using a second API different from the first API, the first API and the second API executed within a same operating system environment. In response to validating of a digital certification of the second application, information from the first registration request is saved into a registration store. An event is raised having an event type and event information, and in response to determining that an event type of the raised event is saved in the registration store, the raised event is sent without requiring further authentication from the second executable application.

The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is a platform-homogeneous application architecture created by MICROSOFT® and first introduced in WINDOWS® 10. The purpose of the UWP software platform is to help develop universal applications that run on both WINDOWS 10® and WINDOWS® 10 Mobile operating systems, without the need to be re-written for each operating system. (MICROSOFT and WINDOWS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.) At the current time, Universal Windows Applications' ("UWP App") App Services, which are the standard mechanism of interprocess communication (IPC) in UWP, are not programmatically discoverable in Windows.
More particularly, there are no known solutions that address UWP discoverability in a secure and/or company-specific fashion. In other words, a UWP or a Win32 Desktop Application ("Win32 App") does not have a native Windows API to ask: "Give me all of the App Services I can access from Company X." UWP Apps would typically be designed to communicate with other UWP Apps that are not from the same vendor. The UWP App author would have to have pre-arranged the App Service identifier for a third party UWP App and embedded it into their UWP App for it to have been discovered.
Further, UWP App Services have no current Windows-native registration/discoverability paradigm. Typically, for UWP-to-UWP communication (for which App Services are typically used), it would be the attempted connection to a well-known App Service that would be the first point of discoverability. The calling App thus must know all callable Apps (and its Services' identities) from within its own App, which is more burdensome and cumbersome than identifying an App Service by its run-time availability.
What is needed is a system that allows UWP Apps (or other applications designed to run on a hybrid, i.e., cross-platform, operating system or universal development platform) to securely identify themselves, e.g., by their cross-platform App Services, to a Win32 App (or other applications designed to have a mechanism to establish trust with applications on different platforms). Once trust is established, the UWP Apps may opt-in for communication of certain Events from the Win32 App. In such a system, the Win32 App can be certain it is opening App Service connections only to UWP Apps that are trusted and that are interested in receiving a particular type of communication. Such a system may be particularly valuable for use with anti-virus/malware (AV) protection software applications because, currently, Win32 Apps serve as the primary source of AV applications, and, as such, are the primary Event source for AV-related Events.

Authenticated discoverability of universal windows applications to WIN32 desktop applications


A bistable solenoid valve with an armature in the form of a movable core disposed within a core guide tube. The armature is resettable by a spring force with one single electromagnetic winding surrounding the tube. The movable core is mechanically coupled with a locking mechanism which is alternately engageable and releasable. A second locking member is longitudinally displaceable against a first member and, in its lifted position, is rotatable through a preset angle. The two locking members, as well as the spring and the movable core, are supported within the core guide tube and surrounded by the fluid medium. The core guide tube is open at one end facing the valve chamber and closed at the other end.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bistable solenoid valve with a locking mechanism that alternates between two positions to open and close the valve.
2. The Prior Art
A bistable solenoid valve with an immersion core, which can be actuated by one single magnet winding and reset by spring force, is known from DE-OS 38 10 154, said immersion core being supported in a core guide tube connected with the controlled medium. The magnetic circuit contains a permanent magnet, the field of which is alternately intensified and weakened by successive dc-voltage switching pulses of different polarity. Such a solenoid valve, as opposed to a comparable monostable solenoid valve, has the advantage that it requires only short switching pulses in each case; that its energy consumption is low on account of said fact; and that accordingly, the amount of heat collected, which has to be taken into account for its design, is low as well, if not even negligible. On the other hand, the switching system of the aforementioned, known solenoid valve requires relatively great expenditure with respect to material and manufacture because it requires a balancing of forces and, therefore, relatively narrow tolerances to be complied with. Furthermore, the bipolar switching means required for its operation are relatively costly.
The invention is based on the problem of creating a solenoid valve that is simpler and can be manufactured at more favorable cost, accordingly, and which, furthermore, is extremely economical with respect to energy consumption.
A bistable electromagnetic switching system with one single magnet winding and an immersion core, the latter being resettable by spring force, is known already from DE-OS 1 464 419. Said system is to be preferably used for electric switches. For fixing the immersion core in the one of its two final positions, said switching system has an engageable and releasable locking mechanism with a first detent member guided lengthwise, and a second detent member displaceable lengthwise against the first detent member and rotatable in an overlift position around an angle graduation. A spiral pressure spring causes face-side cam gear rims of the two detent members to engage each other--in a way as similarly used in connection with some retractable pens.
The invention is based on the consideration that such a switching system according to aforementioned DE-OS 1 464 419 is, in connection with some additional measures, suitable for solving the above problem in a special way.


A method for software application optimization using natural language-based queries. The method includes obtaining a user-provided query. The user-provided query includes a constraint to be used for an identification of an application element that matches the constraint, from a set of application elements of a software application. The user-provided query is a string that includes a human language sentence. The method further includes deriving a formalized query from the user-provided query by translating the user-provided query into a syntactic construct of segmented sentence elements and obtaining the application element that matches the constraint. Obtaining the application element that matches the constraint includes deriving a pattern representation of the user-provided query from the formalized query and identifying the application element that matches the pattern representation of the user-provided query from the plurality of application elements.

A software application that executes on a computing device includes application elements such as, for example, data structures, documents, access control lists, user profiles, etc. The number of application elements may increase and interdependencies between application elements may become increasingly complex with increasing software application size. Once the software application reaches a certain size, it may be challenging to maintain and update the application elements of the software application.

Method and system for software application optimization using natural language-based queries


Stable emulsions based on unsaturated polyetherester resins are disclosed. The emulsions have high stability compared with conventional emulsions that are based on unsaturated polyester resins. The invention includes base-stabilized emulsions, as well as emulsions containing fillers or functional additives. The emulsions, which are storage stable for weeks or months, are useful for making water-extended polyetherester thermosets having excellent physical properties, even at high water contents.

Water-extended polyester emulsions are used to make cured thermoset castings that are actually microcellular water-filled foams. The thermosets are useful as plaster replacements because of their high impact and tensile strengths. Water-extended polyester emulsions are ideal for reproducing intricate pieces of art because the emulsion flows easily into complex molds and gives cured products that resist breakage. Because water acts as a heat sink, thick articles with complicated shapes can be easily cast quickly and cured without overheating problems.
A water-in-resin emulsion is typically formed by adding water slowly to a polyester resin with high-shear stirring to form a continuous phase of polyester that contains, emulsified within the continuous phase, small water droplets (average diameter about 2-6 microns). The low-viscosity emulsion is poured into a mold and is cured with a catalyst system comprising a free-radical initiator and a transition-metal catalyst to produce the thermoset product. The thermoset product consists of a solid plastic continuous phase with water-filled cells as the discontinuous phase.
Emulsion stability is an important concern in preparing water-extended polyester emulsions. Even a properly made water-extended polyester emulsion typically remains stable for only a few hours. Because emulsion stabilities are so low, fabricators of water-extended polyester thermoset products normally purchase polyester resins and make their own emulsions. Thus, purveyors of the thermosets must normally purchase expensive, sophisticated mixing equipment and acquire expertise in formulating the emulsions from the polyester resins.
One approach to formulating more stable polyester emulsions is to use polyester resins of relatively high molecular weight. Coupling agents, such as diisocyanates, are sometimes used to link polyester chains together to improve emulsion stability (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,931). Although polyesters with higher molecular weights can give stabler emulsions, they also generally have higher viscosities. High resin viscosity can be a disadvantage in making the thermosets because excess air entrapment can occur, resulting in products with unwanted voids.
Commercial water-extended polyesters give thermosets with tensile and flex properties that make them suitable for casting and decorative arts applications. Generally, formulators strike a balance between the level of properties needed and cost. Tensile and flex properties generally diminish steadily as the amount of water is increased. An improved emulsion would give thermosets having a high level of physical properties even at high water levels.
Improved water-extended polymer emulsions are needed. In particular, emulsions with improved stability relative to commercial polyester emulsions would offer substantial advantages. The availability of a stable emulsion would enable a manufacturer of water-extended thermoset products to eliminate the need to purchase expensive mixers and to acquire formulating expertise; instead, he or she could simply purchase the emulsion. Ideally, the emulsion could be stabilized without substantially increasing its viscosity.
Improved water-extended thermosets are also desirable. Preferred thermosets would have good physical properties over a wide range of water contents, particularly at high water levels.

Thermosets from water-extended polyetherester emulsions


A food products that can be reconstituted for consumption includes flavoring toppings and/or flavoring inclusions that closely simulate commercially available flavored table syrups and flavored toppings in appearance, flavor, and texture. By applying these flavorings, such as flavored syrups, flavored toppings, and/or flavored inclusions, to chemically leavened food products, yeast leavened food products, and unleavened food products, including waffles, pancakes, corn breads, wafers, pastries, cookies, and the like, prior to freezing, the reconstituted food product closely simulates food products comprising commercially available flavored syrups or flavored toppings.

This invention generally relates to food products that can be reconstituted for consumption and methods of making them. Flavorings, including syrups, flowable toppings, and/or fruits are added to pre-baked cereal-based products, such as waffles, pancakes, corn breads, or other food products, prior to commercial distribution or at the point of consumption. When heated, these ready-to-eat food products have a taste, appearance, and texture similar to cooked cereal-based products prepared by conventional methods. This invention improves the identity, convenience, and portability of the food product for consumers, allowing them to enjoy the sensory attributes of flavored syrups and flavored toppings and makes it easier for quick service restaurants to prepare and deliver the food products to the consumer.
Consumers have previously not been able to enjoy convenient and portable food products with flavored syrup or flavored flowable topping. With the rise in consumer need for convenience foods that simulate homemade, traditional meal selections, there is a significant need for frozen, refrigerated, or shelf-stable precooked foods that can be served from a variety of vendors, namely quick service restaurants, that allow consumers to xe2x80x9ceat-on-the-go.xe2x80x9d Consumers using xe2x80x9ceat-on-the-goxe2x80x9d products enjoy the portable convenience of consuming food products in their vehicles or during other activities.
Prior to the present invention, however, vendors have been limited to offering traditional favorite meals such as pancakes, waffles, corn breads, or other food products with flavored syrups as plated meals for a traditional, xe2x80x9csit-downxe2x80x9d consumption. Additionally, these food products have required the use of eating utensils including knives and forks. The prior art required the consumer to grapple with a separate packet or container of syrup or flavored topping and to apply this flavored syrup or flavored topping to the food product. Alternatively, consumers have been forced to endure flavored syrups or flavored toppings that possessed significantly thickened viscosities or unacceptable imitations such as gels, gums, icings, frostings, or glazes, thus destroying any identity as flavored syrups or flavored flowable toppings.
Manufacturers of food products thus face two major problems. First, the prior art has failed in providing an effective method for applying commercially available flavored table syrups and flavored toppings to food products in a manner such that these flavored syrups and flavored toppings do not significantly absorb into the crust and/or crumb either prior to or after reconstitution. This absorption destroyed the flavoring""s identity. Second, the prior art has failed to show an effective method for developing and applying a flavoring that delivers the visual, flavored, and textural identity of a flavored syrup or flavored topping after reconstitution without dripping or otherwise making a sticky mess that would hamper the portable convenience of the food product.
The present invention overcomes these shortcomings of the prior art. In one embodiment, a plurality of flavoring inclusions that closely resemble droplets of commercially available table syrup may be interspersed within an interior crumb of the food product. Additionally or alternatively, in another embodiment, a flavoring may be applied to an exteriormost surface of the food product. This flavoring is not absorbed into a crust or crumb of the food product before, during, or after reconstitution of the food product. Moreover, the flavoring simulates a flavored table syrup or flavored topping after reconstitution. After reconstitution, the flavoring does not run or drip if eaten cut, sliced, tilted, or inverted for short periods. The present invention thus offers consumers traditional meals including pancakes, waffles, corn breads, and other related food products, including chemically leavened, yeast leavened, and unleavened food products, with flavoring toppings and/or flavoring inclusions while not forcing the consumer to grapple with separate containers or cumbersome eating utensils. Therefore, the present invention offers a portable convenience while delivering an authentic, traditional meal experience that captures consumers"" desire for the appearance, flavor, and eating texture of flavored syrup while obviating the mess and inconvenience of having to add a flavored syrup or a flavored topping from a separate container. The present invention also includes methods of making the food product with either flavoring toppings or flavoring inclusions or with both. The concept and features of the present invention, however, are broad in scope in that the characteristic properties of both the flavoring toppings and the flavoring inclusions themselves can be applied, marketed, and sold separately for use in manufacturing or consumer preparation of food products.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and advantages of several embodiments of the present invention so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily used as a basis for modifying or designing other formulations or methods of manufacture for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do no depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Food product with flavoring and method for producing the same


A telephony controller for controlling a private automatic branch exchange (PABX) is disclosed that utilizes a single functionality command protocol to reduce the data traffic on a computer network or the like used to control a PABX. The telephony controller includes a functionality command converter, a communication layer for communicating with computer terminals on the computer network, and a PABX interface for communicating with the PABX. The single functionality command protocol uses a generic command format for a number of function commands that are converted by the functionality command converter into the PABX commands corresponding to the vendor specific PABX. The functionality converter generates the PABX commands to implement a function command and monitors the PABX to determine whether the command has been implemented. The functionality command converter generates data messages corresponding to the outcome of the functionality command execution which are transmitted to the command originating terminal. Additionally, the telephony controller is capable of controlling different vendor PABXs without requiring any change in the communication format between the controller and the computer terminals.

Private automatic branch exchanges are well known in the telephone communications industry. These devices interface incoming telephone lines from a public telephone utility service with multiple communication devices within a facility. These communication devices include telephones, facsimile transmission machines, and other telephone communication devices. The PABX uses digital information provided by the public telephone utility that is associated with the incoming call to route the call within the facility and to monitor the call as well as perform other control functions. The control functions performed by a PABX are generally considered to be primitive and not very extensive.
Prior PABXs have been provided with the capability of interfacing with a computer system. In a facility where there are numerous communication devices that couple to the telephone utility through the PABX, the telephone communications consumer could program a computer system to send data to the PABX to perform higher level telephony control of the telephone communications within the facility. To do so, the consumer had to expend considerable time and effort to develop a computer program that implemented the telephony control functions that the consumer envisioned. Additionally, the computer program would have to provide telephony control messages to the PABX in a protocol specific to the PABX being used. Such a computer system and program requires an extensive amount of resources to develop and to maintain. Also, if the facility decided to obtain a PABX that used a different protocol, the existing telephony control program would have to be scrapped. As a consequence, only large users of telephone communication services undertook such a task.
Recognizing that the higher level functions achieved by the custom programs were desirable in smaller installations, customized telephony servers were developed for providing a set of predetermined telephony functions for a particular vendor's PABX. In this system, the telephony server would be interposed between the PABX and computers or the like to utilize the digital information available from the PABX. The telephony server would communicate with the PABX in the manufacturer's protocol to glean information regarding telephone calls that could be used by the computer. The computer would use the information to access data needed by the recipient of the telephone call which was routed through the PABX. In this manner, data could be displayed on the computer screen as the telephone call was being answered.
Two disadvantages are present in the previously known telephony servers. First, the telephony servers were developed to communicate in a particular PABX protocol and to interface with a particular vendor's PABX. As a consequence, a facility that desired the functionality of a telephony server would also have to purchase a PABX that utilized the protocol for which the telephony server was designed. Second, previously known telephony servers required the computer to communicate with the telephony server in the PABX protocol. Thus, each computer station had to have the processing capability necessary to generate the appropriate telephony control commands required by the PABX. Further, to ensure that the status information generated by the PABX was sent to the correct computer station, the telephony server used the physical addresses of the computer stations. This caused the disadvantage that each computer could only receive status information related to its physical address which could not be easily altered.
Another problem associated with previously known telephony servers is the limitation that they arbitrate access to the PABX for a number of computers in a facility and do not generate the PABX commands for a telephony control event. Rather, each computer communicated with the PABX through the telephony server to cause the telephony control event. Because a high level telephony control event requires several PABX commands as well as monitoring communication device status through the PABX, the computer had to perform interactive processing with the PABX to achieve the desired higher level function through the telephony server. If the computer was on a token ring network or some other type of network arrangement that coupled many computers together and to the telephony server, the telephony data message traffic generated by the computers may increase to a point that interferes with other communication between the computers or that limits the number of devices that may be coupled to the network.
What is needed is a telephony server that does not require a computer to communicate with a PABX in a vendor specific protocol. What is needed is a telephony server that obtains status information or controls a PABX without extensive message traffic from a computer.

Telephony controller with functionality command converter


A method for synthesizing catalyst beads of bulk transmission metal carbides, nitrides and phosphides is provided. The method includes providing an aqueous suspension of transition metal oxide particles in a gel forming base, dropping the suspension into an aqueous solution to form a gel bead matrix, heating the bead to remove the binder, and carburizing, nitriding or phosphiding the bead to form a transition metal carbide, nitride, or phosphide catalyst bead. The method can be tuned for control of porosity, mechanical strength, and dopant content of the beads. The produced catalyst beads are catalytically active, mechanically robust, and suitable for packed-bed reactor applications. The produced catalyst beads are suitable for biomass conversion, petrochemistry, petroleum refining, electrocatalysis, and other applications.

The present invention relates to a method of synthesizing bulk transition metal catalysts.
Carbides of transition metals such as Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W, along with their nitride and phosphide counterparts, have been recognized as catalytically active materials which could replace or substitute for existing process catalysts due to either better economics or performance. Potential applications include petroleum refining and biomass conversion. For example, research has shown that transition metal carbides, nitrides and phosphides can exhibit precious-metal-like catalytic behavior in a range of hydrocarbon conversion reactions such as hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, and isomerization. Furthermore, under certain conditions, these materials compare favorably with CoMo or NiMo sulfides, which are a workhorse of the current petroleum refining as catalysts for hydrotreating processes which remove S, N, and O impurities from petroleum feedstock.
In most state-of-the-art catalysts used in petroleum refining and in the petrochemical industry, the active catalytic components or phases are finely dispersed on high surface area supports, for instance alumina and zeolites, to maximize the specific surface area (e.g., m2/g) of the active component. Supports are typically shaped as pellets or beads before deposition of catalytically active components. This shaping of powders into beads and pellets is necessary for practical catalytic processes which are generally implemented in large-scale fixed bed reactors. In fact, charging a large amount of catalyst powders in a reactor will lead to a densely packed bed, causing an excessive pressure drop and other technical issues.
In certain applications, deploying catalytic materials without supports (i.e., use as bulk catalysts) could be more advantageous. For example, having bulk catalysts could mitigate undesired reactions which involve support sites and/or interfaces between supports and active phases, thereby minimizing the formation of unwanted byproducts or deactivation species. The bulk catalysts could be particularly interesting in the emerging field of catalytic processing of biomass-derived liquids such as pyrolysis oils (also known as bio-oils), as conventional support materials and/or interfaces between supports and active phases are not structurally stable under the hot water-rich environments involved.
It has been recently shown that bulk transition metal carbides, nitrides and phosphides can be prepared with high surface areas via a temperature programmed reaction. In this procedure, by increasing the reaction temperature slowly and in a controlled manner in a flow of reducing gas mixture (e.g., CH4/H2 in the case of carburization), transition metal oxides are transformed to high surface area carbides, nitrides and phosphides. These materials are therefore an attractive candidate as bulk catalysts if they can be prepared in shapes adequate for practical applications (e.g., beads, pellets). Metal carbides are hard and refractory materials, which makes it difficult to shape carbides without losing attractive catalytic properties such as surface area (e.g., by high temperature sintering). There has been no known industrial application of shaped bulk carbide, nitride, or phosphide catalysts, but some methods have been proposed which involve activation of extruded metal oxide precursors (e.g., carburization or nitridation of Nb, Mo, W oxides). These prior art processes involve multiple steps to obtain bulk carbide and nitride pellets. First, acid forms of transition metals need to be prepared. The prepared metal acid powders are then mixed with celluloses, and the resulting mixture is peptized. The peptized product is extruded with an extruder. Following thermal treatments transform the transition metal acids to oxides, burn out cellulose, and increase mechanical strength of pellets. The temperature programmed carburization or nitridation of the pellets leads to high surface area bulk carbides and nitrides. So far the application of these prior-art processes has been limited to Mo, W, and Nb carbides and nitrides.

Method of synthesizing bulk transition metal carbide, nitride and phosphide catalysts


A thermoplastic hose is disclosed in which a reinforcement layer is made fom a combination of yarns and monofilaments to provide stereo interstices where mechanical bonds between the reinforcement and its adjacent element of the hose can be established.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high pressure reinforced flexible hose made from synthetic thermoplastic materials. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a thermoplastic hose in which bonding between the reinforcement and an adjacent element of the hose is obtained by using a mixture of yarn and monofilament for the reinforcement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacture of high performance hose it is important that the cover be bonded to the reinforcement and the reinforcement to the tube. This bonding contributes to the overall physical properties of the hose, improves the kink resistance, and prevents separation and draw back of the reinforcement when the hose is cut to length and fittings are attached. It is also important, to protect the reinforcement yarns from being torn or cut, that the protective cover be securely bonded to the reinforcement.
One of the more common methods that has been used to bond the reinforcement to an adjacent element of a hose is by solvating either the surface of the reinforcement or the surface of the adjacent element before they are brought into contacting relationship with each other. Solvent bonding works well in many circumstances but necessarily depends upon the availability of a solvent that is not too expensive, one that will solvate both contacting surfaces if they are made from different materials, and, from a manufacturing viewpoint, one that is not toxic and does not require special protection for production workers.
Adhesives are sometimes used as a bonding material but, in many applications, even when good initial adhesion is obtained, the bonds tend to weaken after the hose had been pressure pulsed a number of times.
Heat fusion techniques may provide good bonds, but they are seldom useful since heat softenable synthetic yarns may suffer a significant loss in tensile strength when exposed to temperatures at or near their melting points.
Another approach to the bonding problem is to make the reinforcement in the form of a comparatively open meshed braid that has open areas into which melted cover or tube material can be extruded and establish mechanical bonds when cooled. This technique may work well for locking the reinforcement in place, but an open braid markedly decreases the burst strength of a hose.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to improve the bond strength between the reinforcement and adjacent components of a high pressure hose.
A more specific object of this invention is to improve the bond strength between the cover and the braided reinforcement of a hose without loss of burst strength.
Breifly these and other objects of this invention are achieved by reinforcing hose with a combination of yarns and monofilaments to create stereo interstices into which molten tube or cover material may be flowed to establish mechanical bonds.
The reinforcement materials which with this invention are principally concerned, are those high tenacity yarns which are difficult to bond to the other elements of a thermoplastic hose using solvent bonding techniques. These materials include thermoplastics ranging from the polyesters which are difficult to solvate to polyaramides which are essentially insoluble. In addition to synthetic polymeric reinforcing materials, the invention contemplates the use of other kinds of high tenacity reinforcing materials including yarns and monofilaments made from metal, glass and carbon fibers.
Polyester yarns are particularly useful in making hose in accordance with this invention and, for convenience, the following description is restricted to polyester yarns and monofilaments although it is not intended that the invention should be so limited.
High tenacity polyester yarns are commonly prepared by the polymeric reaction of terephthalic acid (or dimethyl phthalate) and ethylene glycol and are sold, for example, by duPont under its trademark Dacron.RTM. and ICI under its trademark Terylene.RTM.. The polyester yarns have certain properties which make them particularly suitable for use as hose reinforcement. For example, as compared with nylon, also an excellent high tenacity fiber, the polyesters are somewhat less expensive, they have higher tensile strength, they have lower elongation, and they do not absorb as much moisture. The higher strength is advantageous in that less yarn is required to obtain a given burst strength and this not only saves money but the result is a lighter, more compact, and more kink resistant hose. The low moisture absorption reduces the change in electrical conductivity which is significant in designing a nonconductive hose. The lower elongation provided by the polyester reinforcement is desirable since the hose will have a lower volumetric expansion when pressurized. Also, since a lesser weight of reinforcement is needed, the reinforcement can be packed closer to the center of the hose, thus yielding slightly higher burst pressures.
As previously mentioned, it is difficult to use solvent bonding techniques with polyesters unless somewhat obnoxious or toxic solvents are used at elevated temperatures. In the practice of this invention, mechanical bonds are formed between the polyester reinforcement and other elements of the hose by preparing the reinforcement from a mixture of yarns and monofilaments which develop stereo interstices into which the tube or cover material may be flowed to develop mechanical bonds. The reason that these interstices are developed is due to the fact that when a yarn reinforcement is pulled down, the individual fibers of the yarn are flattened out over the surface to which they are being applied (i.e., either the surface of tube or a previously applied layer of reinforcement). On the other hand, monofilaments retain much of their round cross-sectional configuration and stand away from the surface to which they are applied. For example, when the reinforcement is being applied in the form of a braid, the geometry of the intersection of the substantially circular monofilaments result in the development of small areas or pockets into which the tube or cover material may be flowed. This result takes place even though a high coverage, compact braid is applied and it is to be distinguished from the open areas that result when a comparatively loose braid is applied over a tube. Similar stereo interstices are obtained at the points of intersection of monofilaments when the reinforcement is applied as a plurality of spiral wraps of opposite hand.
Since in the practice of this invention, the reinforcement is closely packed and there is very little, if any, measurable loss in the burst strength of the hose.


To provide an optical recording medium of which mechanical properties and storage stability will not be impaired, and which will show little deterioration in signal properties even after being left to stand at high temperature under high humidity.

As a specific example of use of a radiation-curable composition for a cover coat layer of an information recording layer in an optical recording medium, the present inventors have previously filed an application for a patent relating to an optical recording medium employing a radiation-curable composition comprising silica particles made of a hydrolyzate of an oligomer of an alkoxysilane and e.g. a monomer having a urethane bond such as urethane (meth)acrylate and/or its oligomer (see Patent Document 1).
Further, an optical disc is disclosed, which employs, as a radiation-curable composition, an active energy ray-curable composition containing no inorganic substance such as silica particles and containing an oligomer component which is at least one of urethane (meth)acrylate and epoxy (meth)acrylate, a dioxolanyl group-containing (meth)acrylate, and other ethylenic unsaturated compound (see Patent Document 2).
Further, the present inventors previously filed an application for a patent relating to an optical disc employing a radiation-curable composition having a water absorption of at most 2 wt % (see Patent Document 3).
Furthermore, as an adhesive composition for an optical recording medium (optical disc), technique employing a photo-curing method is disclosed (see Patent Document 4).
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2005-36184
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2003-231725
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2006-161030
Patent Document 4: JP-A-2004-359779

Optical recording medium and method of recording/reading it

Abstract: An optical recording medium to perform recording/reading by means of blue laser, which has a value of 10 or less as obtained by “error rate after its environmental resistance test/error rate before its environmental resistance test” in error rates obtained before and after its environmental resistance test carried out by leaving the medium to stand for 500 hours at a temperature of 80° C. under a relative humidity of 80%.


The present invention relates to hexylresorcinol/water concentrates that are high in clarity, easily handled, and readily blended with other ingredients to form skin care compositions.

4-Hexylresorcinol is a compound that has been described for topical use to lighten skin, for use in oral antiseptic lozenges, and other uses. However, 4-hexylresorcinol has been described and recognized as "water insoluble." As such, formulation of 4-hexylresorcinol in combination with water has been rather limited. Typically, formulation of 4-hexylresorcinol with water has involved, for example, premixing 4-hexylresorcinol in a glycol such as ethoxydiglycol, and diluting this mixture to low concentrations of 4-hexylresorcinol by adding various other ingredients, including water. The process may also involve heating as well.
It has now been discovered, however, that mixtures of 4-hexylresorcinol and water may be made, particularly mixtures having high concentrations of 4-hexylresorcinol. Such mixtures may, for example, be used to deliver 4-hexylresorcinol to formulations without the need for additional solvents, solubilizers, and the like. In particular, an aqueous concentrate comprising about 64% to about 80% by weight of 4-hexylresorcinol is easily handled and used to make a variety formulations and compositions. Advantageously, such an aqueous concentrate is surprisingly high in clarity.

High-clarity aqueous concentrates of 4-hexylresorcinol

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.


A method of forming a cyan dye image in an exposed silver halide color photographic material comprising a support and a photosensitive silver halide emulsion, said method comprising developing the exposed silver halide color photographic material with a color developing solution containing an aromatic primary amine color developing agent in the presence of a cyan coupler represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein EWG.sub.1 and EWG.sub.2 each represents an electron attractive group having a Hammett's substituent constant .sigma..sub.p value of at least 0.30 or;. R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; PA1 R.sub.2 represents a substituent; PA1 X represents a hydrogen atom or a group capable of splitting off by a coupling reaction with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent; PA1 R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; provided that R.sub.2 must not be a halogen atom; and a silver halide color photographic material containing the cyan dye forming coupler.

In processing a silver halide color photographic material containing yellow, magenta and cyan dye forming couplers, a system of forming a color image by a subtractive color process using a coupling reaction of the coupler with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine developing agent to form the corresponding dyes is most widely utilized.
Recently, studies for improvement of dye forming couplers have been effected actively in the technical field of preparing silver halide color photographic materials for the purpose of improving the color reproducibility and of improving the fastness of the images. However, it is hard to say that sufficient improvement has heretofore been attained because of the limitation of color developing agents. Regarding cyan couplers, phenol or naphthol couplers have been used essentially up to this time. However, the dyes to be formed from these couplers often have an unwanted absorption in the blue and green ranges, which is a great bar to improvement of the color reproducibility.
Recently, studies of new cyan dye forming couplers having a skeleton of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure have been carried out actively, and various heterocyclic compounds have been proposed. For instance, JP-A-63-226653 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,672) mentions diphenylimidazole couplers; and JP-A-63-199352, 63-250649 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,051), 63-250650 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,051), 64-554 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,183), 64-555 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,183), 1-105250 and 1-105251 mention pyrazoloazole couplers. (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application".) All of these couplers are said to have an improved color reproducibility, and they are characterized by an excellent absorption characteristic.
However, these couplers have a drawback that the dyes to be formed therefrom absorb short-wave lights and are hardly fast to heat and light. In addition, they have another serious problem for practical use in that the coupling activity of the couplers is small.
JP-A-62-278552 mentions pyrroloimidazole magenta couplers. However, the couplers from dyes which absorb short-wave lights, as they have no electron-attracting group at the 6- and 7-positions, and they could not be cyan couplers.

Method of forming cyan image with cyan dye forming coupler, and silver halide color photographic material containing the cyan dye forming coupler