A fixed angle rotor and method of manufacture of a fixed angle rotor has a frustum shaped rotor having rounded surfaces reinforced by filament tow windings against both vertical and horizontal forces generated during centrifugation. A so-called "high speed" rotor has a bottom composite disc, a top composite disc, and a frustum shaped hollow fiber reinforced molded insert between the respective discs having a stepped exterior surface. An "ultra speed" rotor has a bottom composite disc, a top composite disc, and composite discs therebetween defining a stepped exterior surface. In both cases, these exterior steps have surfaces which capture the windings to the exterior of the rotor. A first class of individual fiber windings about the rotor is applied having a vertical reinforcement component parallel to the spin axis and normal to the laminate layers. These windings include either vertically disposed loops in grooves on the stepped exterior of the rotor which tie the top and bottom discs together (with the remainder of the rotor securely sandwiched therebetween) or vertically disposed windings in exterior grooves which extend over both top and bottom discs of the rotor. A second class of windings includes circumferential windings on the step surfaces of the rotor. Such windings are applied to fill in the stepped surfaces as well as to resist centrifugal forces of centrifugation.

Centrifuges are now well known and widely used in biological sample separation. Centrifuges utilize an abundant, readily available and easily understood force, gravity (G-force) in a relatively simple device called a centrifuge to facilitate particle/fluid separation on the bases of mass and density.
Centrifugation in life sciences involves a smooth, uniform application of G-forces resulting in high yield separation expressed as percentage of recovered target compound from the initial mixture at the end of the separation process. In addition, the separation takes place in a natural fluid, providing a gentle, homogenous cushion during centrifugation. Centrifugation helps maintain bioactivity of the target compound by preserving its conformation or three-dimensional shape. Maintaining both molecular and conformational structure of complex biomaterials is a very important strategy since a large number of biologically important compounds exist in less than nanogram quantities in nature.
This application relates to so-called "fixed-angle" rotors. In a fixed-angle rotor, multiple counterbalanced cavities are used to hold the sample mixture. These cavities are oriented at an angle in fixed-angle rotors with respect to the spin axis of the rotor. Bottles or test tubes containing the starting mixture are placed in the rotor cavities, and rotor is secured over a spindle attached to the centrifuge drive system. Centrifugation occurs.
After spinning the rotor at a predetermined speed for a period of time, the bottles with separated particles are taken out of the rotor. Then, both the supernatant and the sediments are removed from the bottles for further processing and experimentation.
Separation of small biomolecules require fast spinning in order to generate the required g-forces. Today's ultra class centrifuges reach over 100,000 rpm speeds and generate gravitational forces in excess of 600,000.times.Gs.
Containment of such high levels of force requires construction of structurally strong centrifuge rotors. Today, for high speed class centrifuges (with up to 30,000 rpm top speed), rotors are typically subjected to forces less than 100,000.times.Gs. Relatively light-weight and inexpensive, aluminum is used to manufacture high speed rotors.
Although more expensive and heavier, titanium is preferred for ultra centrifuge rotors because of its higher strength and higher corrosion resistance.
In both cases, however, constructing centrifuge rotors from metals poses a serious safety risk associated with their failure mode. Operational or fatigue-related structural break up of metal rotors during spinning can inflict heavy damage to the centrifuge, to the lab or even hurt the operator. In addition, some popular large rotors weigh as much as 60 pounds, raising serious back and spinal injury potential during handling.
During centrifugation, forces generated in rotors are centrifugal. Specifically, major forces normal or perpendicular to the spin axis of the rotor are encountered. For this reason, certain types of rotors have in the past been constructed from composite materials.
Composite materials have the property of being so-called "anisotropic." Specifically, such materials are fabricated tape or fabric laminates containing high tensile strength fibers such as carbon or Kevlar.RTM., a registered trademark of the Du Pont Corporation of Wilmington, Del. The fibers in such materials can be uni-directional in a material commonly referred to as a composite "tape"--that is running in one direction only. In this case the material can be said to be "anisotropic" in its strength; the material has high tensile strength in the direction of the fibers but is otherwise weak normal to the fibers.
Additionally, the fibers in such materials can be multi-directional in a material typically referred to as composite "fabric"--that is running in more than one direction. In this case the material can be said to have bi-directional or multi-directional anisotropic properties in its strength; the material has high tensile strength in the direction of the fibers, which by definition runs in more than one direction.
In the case of centrifuge rotors, it is known to build multiple discrete layers of such material into discs or "billets" of such fabric or tape. Each successive billet layer is rotated with respect to the previously placed layers. The layers are typically fastened one to another. And when such fastening occurs, adjacent layers with anisotropic properties in one direction impart their resistance to adjoining layers with their anisotropic properties aligned in different directions. The discs or billets can in turn be assembled to form a finished article. The finished article can be said to be "quasi-isotropic."
The fabric or tape is built up of multiple discrete layers with the fibers of the fabric normal to the spin axis of the rotor. The fibers of different layers are aligned in different directions. When sufficient discs or billets are joined, they are configured with the requisite hub for spinning and sample tube apertures for containing samples to be centrifuged. A quasi-isotropic rotor structure results with strong properties normal to the spin axis.
Unfortunately, such rotors are relatively weak parallel to the spin axis; they can readily de-laminate at the individual layers when forces parallel to the spin axis are generated between the individual laminates of the rotor.
Composite materials have heretofore been generally unsuitable for use with so-called "fixed angle rotors." Specifically, in such fixed angle rotors the sample tubes are inserted from the top of the rotor into apertures that are angularly inclined at a "fixed angle" with respect to the spin axis. Such angular inclination usually tilts from a point of insertion of the sample tube at the top of the rotor parallel to but away from the spin axis of the rotor. Tilting is usually in the range of 5.degree. to 30.degree.. The bottom of the sample tube is further away from the spin axis of the rotor.
During centrifugation, the sample tube when subjected to centrifugal force exerts a force along the sample tube aperture within the rotor. This force has a component into the body of the rotor along the axis of the sample tube aperture in the rotor. In the case of a composite rotor, this force is the main cause of de-lamination.
For this reason, composite rotors have heretofore been restricted to rotors whose sample tubes are disposed parallel to the spin axis of the rotor where there is no such delaminating force generated. See for example, Piramoon et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,656 issued Apr. 19, 1988 entitled Composite Material Rotor; Piramoon U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,669 issued Nov. 1, 1988 entitled Composite Material Centrifuge Rotor; Piramoon U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,808 issued Dec. 13, 1988 entitled Composite Material Centrifuge Rotor; Piramoon U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,071 issued Oct. 15, 1991 entitled Hybrid Centrifuge Rotor; U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,988 issued May 4, 1993 entitled Hybrid Ultra-Centrifuge Rotor with Balancing Ring and Method of Manufacture. All of these particular rotors relate to so-called vertical tube rotors; where the tubes containing the sample are aligned parallel to the spin axis of the rotor.
In an International Application published under the Patent Cooperation Treaty on Dec. 23, 1993 entitled Fix-Angle Composite Centrifuge Rotor by Malekmadani et al., a fixed angle rotor of which I am the omitted inventor, is described. In that disclosure a fixed angle rotor with oblique windings on a conical exterior was provided. The purpose of the oblique windings is to provide a composite rotor with resistance to the forces of vertical separation generated by sample tubes in fixed angle rotors. Rotors having this configuration have been sold more than one year prior to the filing of this patent application; consequently the rotor described in this publication is prior art to this patent application.
There are two phases to fabrication of a centrifuge rotor from composite material. The first phase involves laminating a composite billet or disc as the main structural part. Lamination is done with composite tape or fabric which is laid-up and cut. Heretofore, such lamination and cutting in most cases has been done manually.
Reinforcement of rotors, either of composite construction or conventional construction, has included the winding of such rotors with tows of composite material fibers. Such windings contain as many of discrete filaments as required by the final product design.
To take full advantage of strength properties of unidirectional fiber, an appropriate amount of tension must be applied to filament tow during winding. During winding, tangential friction (similar to belt pulley type friction) causes the filament to adhere under tension to the surface about which winding occurs. This tension must be maintained after winding of the filament has occurred. Since tensioning a fiber filament over the round, angled frustum shaped surface of a fixed-angle rotor can lead to slippage of the filament, such windings have limitations.
In the International Application published under the Patent Cooperation Treaty on Dec. 23, 1993 entitled Fix-Angle Composite Centrifuge Rotor by Malekmadani et al., the disclosed choice is to compromise the tendency of such windings to slip on the frustum shaped or net shaped outer surface by utilizing oblique winding. Because of the requirement to apply fiber tension over the angled surface of the rotor to gain the required vertical reinforcement, an oblique winding was used. This required the use of complex four-axis winding machines. Unfortunately, usefulness of oblique winding in rotor fabrication is limited. Oblique winding over the angular, rounded surface of an angled rotor does not permit application of sufficient filament tow tension and reinforcement. Hence, obliquely wound rotors will not be structurally strong enough for high-load, high-G force applications. Vertical slippage of the wound fibers followed by loss of fiber tension will result in separation of the laminates of the rotor under moderate levels of load and forces. For this reason, this technique has limitations.
Other approaches of reinforcement against forces of vertical separation have been suggested. These approaches include braiding/molding and compression foam molding combinations. While these techniques may be suitable for lower speed, lower G-force centrifuge applications, their usefulness has distinct limitations. These limitations include difficulty of application and manufacture as well as failure under high G loads such as those encountered in ultra speed centrifuge rotors.

Fixed angle composite centrifuge rotor fabrication with filament windings on angled surfaces


A process for the production of monosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the reaction of organohalides with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process." The present process comprises forming a mixture comprising an organotrihalosilane and the high-boiling residue in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride. The present process results in consumption of the organotrihalosilane rather than a net increase which typically occurs in processes for hydrogenation of the high-boiling residue. At least a portion of the catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the high-boiling residue.

The present invention is a process for the production of monosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the reaction of organohalides with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process." The present process comprises forming a mixture comprising an organotrihalosilane and the high-boiling residue in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride. The present process results in consumption of the organotrihalosilane rather than a net increase which typically occurs in processes for hydrogenation of the high-boiling residue. At least a portion of the catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the high-boiling residue.
In the preparation of organohalosilanes by the direct process a complex mixture is formed which is typically distilled to separate monosilanes from other components present in the mixture. For example, in the "direct process," in addition to the monosilanes which in the case of the chloromonosilanes include dimethyldichlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, and trimethylchlorosilane there is obtained a residue which boils above the organohalosilanes, that is above about 70.degree. C. This residue is hereinafter referred to as "high-boiling residue."
The "direct process" is well described in the patent literature, for example, in Rochow, U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,995, issued Aug. 7, 1945, and Barry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,487, issued Nov. 15, 1949. The residue remaining after distillation overhead of the monosilanes is a complex mixture comprising higher boiling silicon containing compounds which have, for example, SiSi, SiOSi, and SiCSi linkages in the molecules. The residue may also contain silicon particulates and metals or compounds thereof. Typical high-boiling residues obtained from distillation of product from the direct process are described, for example, in Mohler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,435, issued May 27, 1952, and Barry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,355, issued Jun. 15, 1954.
In current commercial operations for performing the direct process, the high-boiling residue can constitute as much as five weight percent of the resultant product. Therefore, it is desirable to convert the high-boiling residue into commercially desirable products to both reduce waste disposal and to improve raw material utilization.
Wagner, U.S. Pat. No. 2,606,811, issued Aug. 12, 1952, teaches a hydrogenation process where a compound containing a halogen and the Si--Si bond is heated to a temperature of at least 300.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen. The resultant products are monosilanes.
Atwell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,105, issued Feb. 1, 1972, describe a process where hydrosilanes are produced by contacting a disilane with hydrogen gas under pressure and heating the mixture in the presence of a transition metal catalyst such as palladium on charcoal. Atwell et al. state that the disilane may be part of a mixture from the direct process. Atwell et al. further report that when the disilane was a methylchlorosilane, the resulting product contained about four to 28 weight percent of methyltrichlorosilane. Generally, organotrihalosilanes such as methyltrichlorosilane have limited commercial usefulness and for this reason limit the usefulness of the process described by Atwell et al.
Neale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,071, issued Mar. 14, 1978, describes a process for preparing high yields of hydrosilanes by reacting methylchloropolysilanes with hydrogen gas under pressure at a temperature of from 25.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a copper catalyst. Neale states that the methylchloropolysilanes can be those typically created as by-products of the direct process. Useful copper catalysts described by Neale include copper metal, copper salts, and complexes of copper salts with organic ligands. In some cases, Neale reports that up to 29 weight percent of methyltrichlorosilane was formed.
Ritzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,229, issued Jul. 12, 1983, describe a process for converting alkyl-rich disilanes in a residue obtained from the manufacture of alkylhalosilanes to halogen-rich polysilanes. The process comprises treating an alkyl-rich disilane-containing residue with an alkyltrihalosilane or silicon tetrahalide in the presence of a catalyst and a catalytic amount of a hydrosilane reaction promoter at an elevated temperature. Ritzer et al. teach aluminum trichloride as a useful catalyst in their process when used with a hydrosilane promoter. Ritzer et al. further teach that the resulting halogen-rich polysilanes can, in a separate step, be cleaved to form monosilanes.
Bokerman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,329, describe a process for the production of organosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the direct process that results in a net consumption of organotrichlorosilane. In the described process the high-boiling residue is contacted with an organotrichlorosilane and hydrogen gas in the presence of both a hydrogenation catalyst and a redistribution catalyst.
An object of the present invention is to provide a simple process where the high-boiling residue from a direct process for producing organohalosilanes can be converted into commercially useful monosilanes while resulting in a net consumption of organotrihalosilane. The present inventors have discovered that this objective can be met by contacting the high-boiling residue with an organotrihalosilane, hydrogen gas, and a catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride at a temperature within a range of about 150.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. Furthermore, at least a portion of the catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride can be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the resulting monosilanes.

Alumimum trichloride catalyzed hydrogenation of high-boiling residue from direct process


Techniques for hydrogen sensing and mitigation are provided. As one example, a device includes a chamber and a membrane that is permeable to a first gas and is impermeable to a second gas. The membrane separates the chamber from a gas mixture that contains the first gas, such that the first gas in the gas mixture can only enter the chamber via the membrane. The device also includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within the chamber.

In some applications, such as in parabolic trough power plants or others, thermal energy is collected in an organic heat transfer fluid (HTF) for conversion to electricity via a generator. The HTF may be a eutectic mixture of biphenyl (BP) and diphenylether (DPE). Such an HTF has a maximum operating temperature of about 393° C. Its vapor pressure at this temperature is about 10 atmospheres. At about 393° C., thermal degradation reactions generate hydrogen gas (H2).
Hydrogen gas may be undesirable. For instance, it may undesirably permeate through barriers. In addition, hydrogen gas with low partial pressure has significant thermal conductivity because of its low molecular weight and correspondingly high molecular velocity. The presence of low partial pressures of hydrogen gas in a power plant, specifically in the circulating HTF, may decrease thermal performance and corresponding electricity production.


Apparatus and methods for producing a novel fastener means of the type having a plurality of fastening means extending from bight portions 60 bonded to a backing material 48. Products fabricated with the novel fastener means. The apparatus generally comprises means for drawing an array of filaments 46, or other material, onto a forming wheel 14 having a plurality of grooves 28, and land zones 30 between the grooves, means for positioning a plurality of pins 42 against the filaments 46 and aligned with the grooves 28, means for urging the pins 42 into the grooves 28 and thereby forming loops 50 in the filaments 46, and means for placing a backing material 48 against the filaments 46 and bonding the backing material to the filaments at spaced locations. Pins 42 are trapped in spaces 53 between the filaments 46 and the backing material 48. The apparatus further includes means for releasing the pins from the spaces. A novel nip comprises the rotatable forming wheel 14, a backing means 16, and the pins 42 which are mounted for passing between the forming wheel and the backing means in alignment with the grooves 28. The nip also comprises means for advancing the pins through the nip, such that the pins are urged into the grooves during the advance through the nip. Also disclosed are methods for producing fastening elements, methods for processing filaments, methods for producing fastening components, methods for forming loops in material, including filaments, and methods for bonding loops of filaments to a backing material at spaced locations on the backing material; all using the apparatus of the invention. Further there are disclosed novel fastening materials and products produced by the apparatus and methods disclosed in the invention.

This invention relates to fasteners of the type wherein two articles, or two parts of an article, are joined together, at least one of the joined articles or parts including an array of a plurality of fastening projections adapted to releasably inter-engage with the other article or part. In one aspect, the invention relates to such fasteners in which both components to be fastened include arrays of headed projections which can be simultaneously engaged with each other. In another aspect, the invention relates to an array of projections which may terminate in loops, or hooks, in the projections.
Typically, the array of projections is formed using a plurality of filaments which are joined with a backing material at spaced locations.
The art contains descriptions of fasteners including two articles, at least one of which includes an array of projections for providing fastener means. One such article comprises a woven fabric backing from which extend a plurality of headed projections adapted to join with loops of fiber projecting from another article, to effect the fastening. Such articles are produced by weaving two backing layers in parallel, closely spaced, relationship, with the filaments being woven therebetween. The filaments are then severed midway between the backing layers to form two brush-like halves, and the newly severed projecting filaments are heated to form heads on their terminal ends. These articles, however, are expensive to make because of the weaving required, and the woven backing does not hold the filaments as tightly as may be desired. Also, the fasteners cover essentially an entire surface of the substrate onto which they are fabricated.
Other of the art teaches embedding the projections of a longitudinally oriented polymeric filament material in a resinous polymeric bonding layer such that bight portions of the filament are physically embedded in the backing material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,174 Kalleberg is descriptive and illustrative of embedding the bight portions of the filaments into the backing material. Such embedding is also taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,038 Billarant.
Illustrative of common methods of attaching filamentary material to a backing material is that shown in Kalleberg U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,174, wherein filaments are reciprocally pushed against the backing material at uniformly spaced intermittent locations, and wherein each locus of bonding a filament to the backing material requires a separate reciprocal pushing. Between each locus of bonding there is formed a loop in the material which becomes the structure from which the array of filament fasteners is eventually derived.
An alternate method of forming loops and subsequently providing for a backing material and bonding the loops to the backing material is disclosed in Billarant U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,038. The method of forming the loops is disclosed therein as comprising a complex arrangement of control members to push the filaments into grooves 94 in a forming wheel by means of bars 48 and counterbars 67. The filaments are then carried on bars 48 and counterbars 67 with subsequent extrusion of a polymeric backing material over the filaments to thereby bond a backing material to the filaments at the time that the backing material is formed into a sheet or film. Billarant teaches extensive camming apparatus, as well as a complex arrangement of filament feeding and forming apparatus which delivers the filaments to bars and counterbars in order to form the loops and hold their shape and position while the backing material is formed over the loops and subsequently solidified. Indeed counterbars 67 are retracted a distance from the filaments before extrusion of the backing material over the formed loops.
While there are a plurality of teachings in the art of methods for making the arrays of fasteners to which this invention relates, in each case the apparatus, or its method of use, is substantially complex, and in some cases requires large amounts of floor space and investment in equipment, as in the Billarant and Kalleberg patents.
It is an object of this invention to provide novel apparatus and improved methods for fabricating arrays of projecting fasteners. It is also an object of the invention to provide novel fastener combinations and novel articles of manufacture.
It is a specific object of the invention to provide a novel apparatus and novel methods of fabricating arrays of fasteners which function in a manner similar to arrays conventionally known.


Tubular packs, which contain a wound scale formation of flat products, particularly printed products, are conveyed over predeterminable conveying paths from at least one pack-producing apparatus (W.multidot.1, W.multidot.2) to at least one forwarding or intermediate storage station (A). For this purpose the packs are conveyed away from the pack-producing apparatus (W.multidot.1, W.multidot.2) with axes oriented in the conveying direction in a longitudinal conveying direction (FP.sub.1). Then in a distributing station (VU) or a deflecting station (U) for distributing the packs to different despatch units and/or for combining the packs into identical despatch units the conveying direction of at least part of the packs, for a constant axial position, is modified by substantially 90.degree. into a transverse conveying direction (FP.sub.q). Combined packs can be compressed in a combining station (ZU) and bound together to form double or multiple packs (PP) using a wrapping means. Single, double or multiple packs are so tilted in the forwarding or intermediate storage station (A), that they come to rest on one of their end faces.

According to the prior art, despatch units are formed from printed products, such as newspapers and magazines, by a process in which the printed products delivered in scale formation form are stacked, packed in packing paper or sheeting and then tied to form packs or bales. The apparatus used for this purpose are designed in such a way that the packs have a standardized, maximum size or smaller and that despatch units exceeding the maximum pack size comprise two or more independent packs (standard packs and small packs). If such despatch units comprising several packs are formed by parallel-working machines with optimum utilization, it is not simple to eject in directly succeeding or juxtaposed manner the individual packs which belong to a despatch unit, e.g. having the same address, so that they are usually accumulated and the packs with the same address are sorted out later.
According to a more recent development, flat products and in particular printed products are packed into tubular packs instead of into packs containing stacked products. One method and an apparatus for producing such tubular packs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,610, Honegger. A scale formation of printed products of a given length are wound onto a mandrel. During the same winding process the tubular roll can be provided with an address sheet, enveloped with a protective sleeve, e.g. formed from a plastics sheet or strong paper, and/or can be bound with string or plastic tape. The finished, tubular pack is then ejected from the winding mandrel in the axial direction.
During the production of tubular packs it is also advantageous to limit the pack size. Thus, when there are large despatch units, it is desirable to produce several tubular packs each having a diameter which is equal to or smaller than a standardized maximum value.

Method and apparatus for conveying tubular printed product packs and their grouping to form despatch units


A system is described for determining motion of an object that is acoustically positioned in a standing wave field in a chamber. Sonic energy in the chamber is sensed, and variation in the amplitude of the sonic energy is detected, which is caused by linear motion, rotational motion, or drop shape oscillation of the object. Apparatus for detecting object motion can include a microphone (24) coupled to the chamber and a low pass filter (40) connected to the output of the microphone, which passes only frequencies below the frequency of sound produced by a transducer (18) that maintains the acoustic standing wave field. Knowledge about object motion can be useful by itself, can be useful to determine surface tension, viscosity, and other information about the object, and can be useful to determine the pressure and other characteristics of the acoustic field.

The use of acoustic energy to levitate or position an object within a chamber has many uses, especially in satellites to hold objects under almost zero gravity without touching them with a solid support (containerless processing). In acoustic positioning, one or more transducers apply sonic energy to the chamber at one or more frequencies that are resonant to the chamber and that force the object towards a stable equilibrium position lying away from the walls of the chamber. A positioned object often undergoes translational motion, rotational motion, and/or drop shape oscillation (oscillation in shape) which may be accidental or which may be purposely caused. U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,266 by Barmatz et al describes techniques for inducing or damping motion and describes several useful types of information that can be gleaned from knowledge about motion of an acoustically positioned object. However, measurement of object motion can be difficult.
Where the object is positioned at room temperature in a chamber with transparent walls, object motion can be observed directly or detected by light beams directed across the path of the object onto photo cells. However, in many cases such as where the object is processed at high temperatures, it is very difficult to directly observe the object or measure its motion by light beams. A simple technique which allowed measurement of object motion in translation, rotation, and/or drop oscillation motion, would have many uses.

Motion measurement of acoustically levitated object

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet superior in stretch flange formability which comprises C (0.01-0.10 mass %), Si (no more than 1.0 mass %), Mn (no more than 2.5 mass %), P (no more than 0.08 mass %), S (no more than 0.005 mass %), Al (0.015-0.050 mass %), and Ti (0.10-0.30 mass %), with the remainder being substantially Fe, said hot-rolled steel sheet having a structure composed mainly of ferrite in which the unit grain is surrounded by grains such that adjacent grains differ in orientation more than 15xc2x0, the unit grain having an average particle diameter (d) no larger than 5 xcexcm. This steel sheet is produced by the steps of heating, rolling, cooling, and coiling under the following conditions. Heating temperature: 1150-1300xc2x0 C.; reduction in rolling at 900-840xc2x0 C.: no less than 70%; cooling rate: no less than 60xc2x0 C./s; and coiling temperature: 300-500xc2x0 C. or 600-750xc2x0 C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet superior in stretch flange formability and a method for production thereof, said steel sheet being suitable for use as a raw material for automotive parts such as chassis and suspension systems (including arms and members).
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent trend in the field of automobile and industrial machine is toward the reduction in weight of parts, which is achieved by using high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet. Such steel sheet often needs good stretch flange formability (local elongation) because it undergoes pressing for hole expansion as well as shaping.
It is known that Ti-containing hot-rolled steel sheets have high strength and good workability as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 88620/1978 and 106861/1999 and Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 4450/1987, 66367/1988, and 110418/1992. However, these disclosures are not concerned at all with the structure desirable for improved stretch flange formability.
Serious attempts are being made to obtain a steel sheet having an extremely fine grained structure in which the unit grain is smaller than several micrometers in size (each unit grain being surrounded by adjacent grains whose crystal orientation is larger than 15xc2x0), as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 246931/1999 and 246932/1999. Up to date, such attempts are unsuccessful in obtaining fine-grained steel sheets having good stretch flange formability.
The present invention was completed to address the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot-rolled steel sheet having high strength as well as good stretch flange formability. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for producing the hot-rolled steel sheet.
The present inventors found that a hot-rolled steel sheet exhibits good stretch flange formability without its high strength being impaired if it contains 0.10-0.30% of Ti and does not substantially contain the second phase (such as martensite and bainite resulting from transformation at low temperatures) except for ferrite and has a single-phase structure of ferrite with a controlled grain size and shape. The present invention is based on this finding. The gist of the present invention resides in a high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet superior in stretch flange formability which comprises C (0.01-0.10 mass %), Si (no more than 1.0 mass %), Mn (no more than 2.5 mass %), P (no more than 0.08 mass %), S (no more than 0.005 mass %), Al (0.015-0.050 mass %), and Ti (0.10-0.30 mass %), with the remainder being substantially Fe, said hot-rolled steel sheet having a structure composed mainly of ferrite wherein the unit grain has an average particle diameter (d) no larger than 5 xcexcm, said unit grain being defined such that adjacent grains which surround said unit grain differ from solid unit grain in orientation more than 15xc2x0.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet is characterized in that the unit grain adjoins its surrounding grains along a boundary whose average length (L) is such that L/d is no smaller than 4.0. This condition is necessary for improved stretch flange formability.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet further comprises at least one of Nb in an amount not more than 0.40 mass %, B in an amount not more than 0.0010 mass %, and Ca in an amount not more than 0.01 mass %.
The gist of the present invention resides also in a method of producing a high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet, said method comprising the steps of heating and hot-rolling a steel sheet having the above-mentioned composition and coiling the hot-rolled steel sheet in such a way that the reduction is no less than 70% at the rolling temperature of 900-840xc2x0 C. and the coiling temperature is 300-500xc2x0 C. or 600-750xc2x0 C. The requirement for L/d no smaller than 4.0 is met when the reduction is no less than 50%, and hence the resulting steel sheet has good stretch flange formability.
The hot-rolled steel sheet according to the present invention exhibits good stretch flange formability without its high strength being impaired owing to its specific composition in which ferrite accounts for a major portion, with a Ti content being 0.10-0.30%, and also owing to its specific structure in which the ferrite unit grain has a specific particle diameter or peripheral shape to prevent crack propagation. The method of the present invention permits easy production of said high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet.
The high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet of the present invention should have the above-mentioned specific chemical composition for the reasons given below. (xe2x80x9c%xe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cmass %xe2x80x9d.)
C: 0.01-0.10%
C is an essential element to improve strength. C in excess of 0.10% tends to form the second phase structure. Therefore, the lower limit of the C content should be 0.01%, preferably 0.02%, and the upper limit of the C content should be 0.10%, preferably 0.08%.
Si: no more than 1.0%
Si is an element to effectively increase the steel strength without deteriorating the steel ductility appreciably, although, if added in a large amount, it causes surface defects including scale defects and promotes generation of coarse ferrite grains which decreases L/d. The upper limit of the Si content should be 1.0%, preferably 0.8%.
Mn: no more than 2.5%
Mn is an element that contributes to solid-solution strengthening and in turn imparts strength to steel. It also promotes transformation, thereby forming granular bainitic ferrite and bainitic ferrite. It changes the shape of the grain boundary. It should preferably be added in an amount more than 0.5%; however, Mn added in an excess amount results in excessive hardenability, which leads to a large amount of transformation products detrimental to high stretch flange formability. Thus, the upper limit of the Mn content should be 2.5%, preferably 2.0%.
P: no more than 0.08%
P is an element that contributes to solid-solution strengthening without deteriorating ductility. However, P added in an excess amount raises the transition temperature after working. Therefore, the content of P should be no more than 0.08%.
S: no more than 0.005%
S forms sulfides (such as MnS) and inclusions detrimental to stretch flange formability. The content of S should be no more than 0.005%. The smaller, the better.
Al: 0.015-0.050%
Al is added as a deoxidizer. It produces little deoxdizing effect and promotes generation of non-metallic inclusions such as TiN by leaving much N, if its content is less than 0.015%. It forms non-metallic inclusions, such as Al2O3, detrimental to cleanliness if its content exceeds 0.050%. The content of Al should be 0.015-0.050%.
Ti: 0.10-0.30%
Ti improves hardenability and changes the particle diameter, thereby improving the stretch flange formability. The content of Ti should be no less than 0.10%, preferably no less than 0.20%, and should be no more than 0.30%, preferably no more than 0.25%. Excessive Ti is wasted without additional effects. In the hot-rolling of the steel sheet according to the present invention, Ti expands the unrecrystallized austenite region (as mentioned later) and accumulates the deformation strain energy which gives rise to fine grains and also to grains having zigzag grain boundaries both effective for stretch flange formability. This effect is produced most effectively when Ti is added. This effect is not produced when only Nb is added. If Ti content is too small, generation of ferrite is promoted and the zigzag boundaries are not obtained.
The high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet of the present invention is composed of the above-mentioned components, with the remainder being substantially Fe. It may contain, in addition to inevitable impurities, one or more of the following elements in an amount not harmful to the effect of the above-mentioned components.
Nb: no more than 0.40%
B: no more than 0.0010%
These elements, like Ti, improve hardenability and stretch flange formability due to grain size change. The content of Nb should be no more than 0.40%, preferably no more than 0.30%, and the content of B should be no more than 0.0010%, preferably no more than 0.0005%. Excessive Nb and B are wasted without additional effects.
Ca: no more than 0.01%
Ca reduces MnS detrimental to stretch flange formability and converts it into spherical sulfide (CaS) which is harmless to stretch flange formability. The content of Ca should be no more than 0.01%. Excessive Ca is wasted without additional effects.
The hot-rolled steel sheet of the present invention is characterized by its structure as explained below.
The steel sheet of the present invention is composed mainly of ferrite. It should not contain a second phase (such as martensite and bainite resulting from transformation at low temperatures), because ferrite differs in hardness from such a second phase and this difference gives rise to voids and cracks which deteriorate the stretch flange formability. The ferrite includes not only polygonal ferrite structure but also granular bainitic ferrite structure and bainitic ferrite structure. The typical form of these ferrites is known from xe2x80x9cCollection of photographs of steel bainite (part 1)xe2x80x9d issued by The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan, Fundamental Research Group. All the ferrite structure mentioned above should preferably be a single phase of ferrite. However, it may practically contain a second phase in an amount less than 5% (in terms of area ratio) with only little adverse effect on the stretch flange formability.
Ferrite seriously affects plastic deformation and hence stretch flange formability depending on its particle diameter and its grain boundary shape in the structure. The smaller the particle diameter becomes, the more crack propagation is hindered, because there are more grain boundaries through which cracking propagates. Irregular (or zigzag) grain boundaries provide greater boundary strength than straight or flat grain boundaries and hence effectively prevent boundary cracking at the time of deformation.
The foregoing is the reason why the present invention requires that the ferrite structure in the hot-rolled steel sheet be composed of unit grains having an average particle diameter (d) no larger than 5 xcexcm, wherein all adjacent grains which surround said unit grain differ from said solid unit grain in orientation more than 150. With an average particle diameter (d) larger than 5 xcexcm, ferrite grains do not effectively prevent crack propagation and hence do not contribute to stretch flange formability. For improved stretch flange formability, not only is it necessary that unit particles be fine but it is also necessary that each unit grain adjoins its surrounding grains along a boundary whose average length (L xcexcm) is such that L/d is no smaller than 4.0. If this ratio is smaller than 4.0, the grain boundary is flat and hence produces little effect in preventing cracking at grain boundaries and improving stretch flange formability. The foregoing requirement is established because any unit grain surrounded by grains such that all adjacent grains differ in orientation less than 15xc2x0 may be regarded substantially as a single grain from the standpoint of preventing crack propagation. Grain boundaries between grains which differ in orientation less than 15xc2x0 provide little effect on crack propagation.
The particle diameter and boundary length of the unit grain can be determined by EBSP (Electron Back Scattering Pattern) method for measuring the crystal orientation on an etched steel surface. (Measurements are carried out under the condition of 2000 magnifications and 100 steps for 10 xcexcm.) Measurements give a map showing a grain surrounded by grains all of which have an orientation difference larger than 15xc2x0. This map is finally examined by image analysis.
The term xe2x80x9caverage particle diameterxe2x80x9d means an average value of the diameters of imaginary circles each having an area equal to that of a unit grain surrounded by grains all of which have an orientation difference larger than 15xc2x0.
According to the present invention, the high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet is produced by preparing a steel containing the above-mentioned components, heating and hot-rolling the steel slab and coiling the hot-rolled steel sheet in such a way that the reduction is no less than 70% at the rolling temperature of 900-840xc2x0 C. and the coiling temperature is 300-500xc2x0 C. or 600-750xc2x0 C. Incidentally, the slab should be heated at about 1150-1300xc2x0 C. so that Ti is completely dissolved to form solid solution. In the period from hot rolling (finish rolling) at 900-840xc2x0 C. to coiling up, the hot-rolled steel sheet should be cooled to the specified temperature at a rate no smaller than 60xc2x0 C./s, preferably no smaller than 80xc2x0 C./s, so that ferrite is not generated.
In the case of a steel containing 0.10-0.30% of Ti, the rolling at 900xc2x0 C. or below, in finish rolling that follows rough rolling, is usually carried out in the unrecrystallized austenite region in which recrystallization does not take place in the austenite region (or gamma region). Rolling with a reduction no less than 70% in this temperature range imparts sufficient deformation strain to the unrecrystallized austenite. If the rolling temperature is no higher than 840xc2x0 C., the resulting steel sheet consists of two phases (ferrite and gamma regions) and hence is poor in stretch flange formability due to the presence of ferrite worked structure. For this reason, it is necessary that the reduction be no less than 70% at 900-840xc2x0 C. Incidentally, the reduction in finish rolling or rough rolling at temperatures exceeding 900xc2x0 C. is not specifically restricted because at such high temperatures the structure undergoes recrystallization which only imparts little deformation strain. In finish rolling at temperature exceeding 900xc2x0 C., due to rolling in recrystallization region, coarse ferrite grains occur and desired L/d can not be obtained.
The hot-rolled steel sheet composed of unrecrystallized austenite is coiled at a specific temperature (mentioned later) so that fine ferrite grains differing in crystal orientation occurs rapidly during coiling. Thus, after coiling, the ferrite unit grains in the hot-rolled steel sheet have an average particle diameter no larger than 5 xcexcm. With a reduction less than 70%, rolling does not cause the unrecrystallized austenite to accumulate sufficient strain energy, with the result that ferrite nucleating sites are limited in number, ferrite nucleation is slow, coarse ferrite grains occur, and ferrite unit grains are outside the prescribed size.
The reduction should preferably be no less than 80%. The steel sheet rolled with such a high reduction permits ferrite transformation to take place rapidly during coiling, with the resulting ferrite grains having an irregular grain boundary so that the value of L/d is no less than 4.0. The mechanism by which the crystal boundary becomes irregular is not yet elucidated; however, the present inventors observed that crystal grains became uneven and hence crystal boundaries became irregular when a steel incorporated with a certain an amount of Ti was rolled with a high reduction. This observation suggests the possibility of Ti playing an important role.
According to the present invention, the coiling temperature should be 300-500xc2x0 C. (preferably 320-480xc2x0 C.) or 600-750xc2x0 C. (preferably 620-720xc2x0 C.). Coiling at a temperature lower than 300xc2x0 C. permits the second phase (such as martensite) to occur easily. By contrast, coiling at a temperature higher than 750xc2x0 C. permits ferrite grains to grow to such an extent that the ferrite unit grain is larger than 5 xcexcm. Coiling at temperatures higher than 500xc2x0 C. and lower than 600xc2x0 C. should be avoided because it permits the coherent precipitation of TiC on the matrix, which deteriorates the elongation and the stretch flange formability. The lower the coiling temperature or the higher the reduction in the unrecrystallized austenite region, the more effectively the ferrite crystal grains become fine.

High-strength hot-rolled steel sheet superior in stretch flange formability and method for production thereof

Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)


A digital image system identifies defective pixels of a digital image sensor based on sensor values of pixels positioned in at least two dimensions on the digital image sensor. The exemplary imaging system includes a buffer for receiving sensor values that are each associated with a pixel in the digital image sensor and electronics for comparing the sensor value associated with a test pixel to the sensor values of pixels positioned in at least two dimensions on the digital image sensor. The electronics determines whether the test pixel is a defective pixel based on the comparison.

1. Field
The present invention relates to imaging systems and more particularly to processing sensor values in imaging systems.
2. Background
Electronic imaging systems such as digital cameras have an image sensor that contains an array of light sensors arranged in a pattern. For instance, an image sensor may include a two dimensional array of photo-detectors arranged in columns and rows. Each photo-detector is associated with a pixel in the image sensor. The photo-detectors each generate a signal indicating the intensity of light incident on the associated pixel.
A portion of the pixels in an image sensor are usually bad or defective. One method of correcting for these defective pixels determines the location of the defective pixels during the manufacturing process and stores these locations in a non-volatile memory. The pixels stored in the memory as defective pixels are then corrected at run time. However, this Bad Pixel Compensation (BPC) technique adds additional labor and production time to the manufacturing process. Additionally, this BPC technique does not compensate for the behavior of the pixels in response to imaging conditions such as sensor gain, exposure time, and operating condition.
As a result, there is a need for an effective method of detecting and correcting defective pixels.

Processing of sensor values in imaging systems


A device for winding up elongated flexible belts comprising a reel of generally square cross-section rotatably mounted on a frame member and extending laterally from one side thereof. A crank extends from the other side and a pair of guide rollers are aligned with the reel parallel to the axis thereof and spaced closely enough to prevent twisting of the belt and to re-orient lengths of the belt which were previously twisted. The frame member is secured onto a mounting bracket so that the crank can be operated from either the right or left hand side.

Elongated straps are commonly used in the trucking industry to secure loads to the truck bed or trailer. A large trailer may be equipped with several of these belts and considerable time is spent by the driver after the trailer is unloaded, winding up the belts to keep them from becoming intermingled and tangled, and to facilitate storage thereof between uses. Some devices for this purpose have been proposed but most are awkward to use and generally require at least partial disassembly in order to enable removal of the coiled belt. Moreover, most known devices still require that the driver separate the belts and lay them out flat and straight before winding them onto a reel.


A network device control unit and method are provided in which the same password is used for both starting up the network management software, and for acquiring information and making settings in the target network device, so that password entry for access to a network device can be omitted and the operability of network management software can be greatly improved. To implement the unit and method, the password entered by the user at start-up of NetSpot is detected, and when the network device to be controlled is selected, the password previously set to control access to this selected network device is acquired. Then this network device password is compared with the NetSpot password, and when the passwords match each other, the password entry for that network device is omitted and the detailed information for that network device is acquired and displayed.

This invention relates to a network control device and method including network control software.
In recent years local area networks (LAN) for connecting computers together have become widespread. These type of local area networks are capable of connecting computers in the same floor of a building or the entire building, a group of buildings, a district or even larger areas and can even connect to networks on a worldwide scale. Each of these mutually connected local area networks (LAN) may utilize diverse hardware connection technology or a plurality of network protocol.
Other isolated local area networks (LAN) of simple structure can be supervised by individual users. In other words, the user can replace equipment, install software and diagnose problems.
However, large-scale complex LAN and large, mutually interconnected LAN groups require management referred to here as "Management". This "Management" means both a person to act as the network administrator and the software used by the network administrator. In this document, the term "management" signifies control utilizing software to manage the entire system, and the term "user" signifies the person utilizing the network control software. The user usually acts as the system control administrator. The user can make use of the network control software to obtain control data on the network and change this data.
Large-scale network systems are usually required to be active systems that must constantly perform equipment expansion or removal, software updating and problem detection, etc. Generally, such systems are owned by various persons or exist as various systems supplied by various operators.
Hereafter, the handling of the password as well as the password set in the network device during start-up in the network management program of the conventional art will be described.
When for instance a network management program is started up on a personal computer (PC) connected to a network, and the user selects a desired printer from among a plurality of printers capable of information acquisition and settings by means of this network management program that was started up; the device password information stored in the network board (NB) connected to the selected printer is then acquired. Whether or not a device password was set is determined based on this acquired device password information and when a device password has in fact been set, this device password is input in order to allow acquisition and settings of printer and network board (NB) information from the network management program. In this way, whether or not the device password acquired from the printer, and the device password entered by the user match each other can be determined. When the two passwords match, detailed information acquisition and settings for this printer are performed. However, when the two passwords do not match, the program stands by for entry of the correct device password by the user.
When device password information for this selected printer has not been set, a decision is made from information instructions as to whether to set this password and password setting is then made if in fact determined that the password must be set.
The network management program of the conventional art as explained above, therefore sets a password during start-up of the management program in order to maintain security and the setting of a password for a network device to be controlled is the general practice in such cases.
However, in this network management program of the conventional art, the password needed at start-up of this network management program and the password for the network device to be controlled were separate entities so that when acquiring information and making settings for a network device that was selected for control, a password had to be entered which was identical to that set for the network device to be controlled. This process impeded improved operability of the network management program.
Also, in this network management program of the conventional art, due to the need for security a password had to be set for all network devices subject to control. For the user of the network management program control of numerous network devices therefore involved a big load in terms of password settings and their instructions.
Further, this network management program of the conventional art is configured when used with large-scale networks so that a user sets a controller mode (an administrator mode) for the device and the user is then connected to the network and these device settings are also capable of being changed. Accordingly, if for instance a plurality of users are connected on the network simultaneously to access one device, then a situation will likely occur where those device settings are changed. Under such circumstances, with a plurality of users mutually making diverse settings, setting conflicts are easily prone to occur resulting in problems or breakdowns in the operation of that device.

Network data base control device and method thereof


An apparatus and method that provides improved statistics collection for high bandwidth interfaces supporting multiple connections. Statistics are counted for a plurality of connections. A determination is made to determine if a count value for each of the connections is greater than or equal to a threshold. Statistics are collected for connections having a determined count value greater than or equal to the threshold before connections having a count value below the threshold. The apparatus and method can thus avoid data loss and reduce wasted processing time in maintaining reliable and accurate statistics for multiple connection supported by a network switch or interface.

A common type of network device is a network switch. A network switch forwards traffic or data units (e.g., cells or packets) from a source network component or components to a destination network component or components. Typically, network switch includes interfaces such as, for example, line cards, which are used to process network traffic and to pass selectively the traffic in and out of the switch. A line card is capable of supporting multiple high bandwidth channels or connections on bi-directional ports.
A common operation performed by a line card is accumulating and collecting statistics about a connection. Accumulating and collecting statistics about a connection has many useful applications. For example, if a connection is for a telephone call, determining the amount or types of cells or packets passing via the connection during a specific time period is important for billing purposes.
Thus, as traffic passes through a line card, statistics are counted and collected. Current line cards count statistics for each connection using counters. For example, a traffic cell passing through a line card may increment a traffic cell counter for a connection by one and the incremented count is stored in a memory.
Consequently, as line card speeds and number of connections per line cards increase, a limitation with current network interfaces is that a larger number of statistics have to be collected in shorter periods of time. A common method of collecting statistics for connections is polling for stored counted statistics in set time intervals for each connection regardless of the amount or type of traffic passing in each connection.
A disadvantage with the above polling method is data loss. That is, if a connection having high traffic must wait a certain time period before being polled, a counter for the high traffic connection may roll over thus providing unreliable and inaccurate statistical information. Furthermore, polling statistical information for a connection having a small amount or no traffic wastes processing time.
Therefore, avoiding data loss and reducing wasted processing time is critical in maintaining reliable and accurate statistical information for multiple connections supported by a network switch or interface.

Method and apparatus providing improved statistics collection for high bandwidth interfaces supporting multiple connections


A cell line transformed by EBV and infected with a virus, e.g., HIV, which cell line does not release extracellular virus, but which forms syncytia when 1) these cells are co-cultivated with lymphocytes permissive for HIV infection and 2) antibodies to HIV are not present (syncytia formation is specifically inhibited by antibodies by HIV).. Syncytial formation induced by cell lines not producing detectable HIV provides a unique and less hazardous test for the detection of non-productive HIV infection as well as for the determination of antibody response to HIV vaccines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention involves Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) transformed cells which have been superinfected with a second virus and which, while expressing components of exogenous virus on their surface, do not release extracellular virus of the superinfecting strain. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cell line transformed by EBV which contains the EBV genome in a latent state; these cells superinfected by the HTLVIII strain of the human immmunodeficiency virus (HIV) give rise to a population of cells which do not release extracellular HIV, but which form syncytia when cocultivated with lymphocytes permissive for HIV. These syncytia are inhibited by antibodies to HIV.
2. Background Information
The human immunodeficiency virus is an essential element in the causation of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Cell to cell transmission of HIV with syncytia formation is believed to play an important role in dissemination of this virus throughout the body.
With the ever increasing number of reported AIDS cases, there is great need to more accurately determine the severity of the disease. Furthermore, there is a need to measure functional antibodies in vaccine recipients, without the use of possible infectious antigens.
K. Dahl, K. Martin and G. Miller, "Differences Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Strains in Their Capacities To Induce Cytolysis or Persistent Infection of a Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines Immortalized by Epstein-Barr Virus", Journal of Virology, Vol. 61, No. 5, 1602-1608, May 1987 described the use of the X50-7 line of human umbilical cord lymphocytes immortalized by EBV and infected with HTLV-IIIB to form cell line LL58, which released extracellular HIV.

Epstein-barr virus transformed cell lines superinfected with a second virus


A centralized polling system is set forth for providing constant time select call functionality to a plurality of polling tasks in an operating system kernel. In one aspect, the CPS registers for and thereby captures events of interest on a continual basis. Polling tasks are supplied with active events thereby eliminating the need to repetitively poll large numbers of inactive sockets. An exemplary embodiment of the CPS includes a system interface to the operating system kernel, a data structure for maintaining a profile for each of the polling tasks, and an application programming interface for registering the polling tasks, receiving the active sockets and corresponding read/write event types via the system interface, updating the profile within the data structure for each of the polling tasks, and returning the current read and write ready sockets to respective ones of the polling tasks.

1. Field
The present specification relates generally to client-server systems, and more particularly to the problem of socket handling for VoIP and collaborative systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
VoIP and collaborative systems currently use standard commercial operating systems, such as VxWorks, in order to leverage economies of scale. VxWorks is a single-process operating system (derived from the general-purpose BSD 4.3 of UNIX systems), where all concurrent threads (or tasks) share a global memory space. Originally, each UNIX process is assumed to have a small number (e.g., 64) of file descriptors (also known as sockets) but VxWorks extends it to a larger set (e.g., 2048).
Standard commercial operating systems supply socket-handling facilities whose design is based on assumptions that are not valid for VoIP and collaborative systems. For example, VxWorks utilizes a polling system that reaches its maximum efficiency with extensive use of relatively few sockets, whereas VoIP systems typically have a large number of peripheral devices each of which needs to be supplied with socket services that, even under heavy load conditions, result in relatively light socket usage.
Typically, I/O multiplexing is performed over a large number of sockets using industry standard (i.e. BSD 4.3-compatible) socket services such as "select" or "poll". However, the use of standard socket services results in high computing overhead and poor scalability. Specifically, on each polling task, the operating system (OS) kernel must search across many sockets to find the relatively few ones with active events, and it must do so for each of several applications that are active at one time.
In general, there are three basic models or methods for socket I/O multiplexing. A first method is to spawn a task (i.e., a thread) for each TCP connection wherein each task handles one socket I/O. However, this method works only for small and simple systems. It cannot be applied to a system handling a large number of sockets because it results in a large number of tasks being created in the system, causing high memory cost and excessive system processing overhead.
A second method is to use a single task to control (i.e. multiplex) a group of sockets. This task continually makes a select call (i.e. select( )), with a predetermined non-zero timeout value, which allows the select( ) call to wait until an I/O event arrives at any given socket before the waiting time expires.
The third method, referred to herein as the "polling model", is similar to the second method except that it periodically polls the set of sockets, wherein each poll call (i.e. poll( )) returns immediately. By polling the sockets, the computational overhead is reduced when compared to the second method by making system calls less frequently and collecting more I/O ready socket events with each call. One problem, however, with the "polling model" method is that it introduces a response delay to the I/O events.
It should be noted that VxWorks does not support poll( ). However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a "select" call having zero timeout value is logically equivalent to poll( ). Both select and poll are theoretically of the same computational complexity (although poll may have a small factor of improvement over select in some operating systems). Since all such systems nonetheless require sequential checking of the list of N sockets, for the sake of convenience this specification occasionally uses the terms "select" and "poll" interchangeably.
Heuristic methods have been used to find the best value of polling interval, or polling window (PW), for a particular system. Usually, PW is related to a set of system attributes, such as: maximum number of IP phones supported; maximum traffic throughput (Calls-Per-Hour); minimum I/O delay, etc.
An increase in N results in an increase in PW. However, an increased N is also associated with an increased traffic requirement, which in turn requires a smaller PW. Reducing the PW value increases the traffic throughput (or reduces the I/O delay); but increases the CPU consumption. For a given system with limited CPU resources, the choice of PW ends up being a tradeoff of system attributes to control I/O multiplexing overhead within an acceptable range.
As an example of the foregoing, the MN3300 system manufactured by Mitel Networks Corporation is a distributed TCP/IP client-server system, where a single Integrated Communication Platform (ICP) controller (or a cluster of interconnected ICPs), plays a server role to support up to N=1400 IP phone clients. Each IP phone establishes a TCP socket connection with the ICP for signaling purposes. However, the ICP controller typically must perform I/O multiplexing over a very large number of TCP sockets to communicate with the IP phones. The computational cost of this I/O multiplexing is directly proportional to N (total number of sockets), causing high overhead of O(N) computational time as well as scalability problems when N is large. In an effort to address the scalability problem, in some commercial implementations of the MN3300 system the VxWorks kernel has been re-compiled for select service to support 2048, 4096, and 8192 file descriptors and thereby accommodate an increased number of IP phones.
In the prior art MN3300 system, one task is responsible for polling TCP sockets every PW=40 milliseconds. Thus, for an MN3300 system designed for N=1400 phones and about 8000 CPH traffic throughput under a saturated level of CPU usage, reducing PW from 40 milliseconds to 20 milliseconds can cause some iPBX service outage. To support a larger system, say N=3000, the MN3300 system needs to increase its CPU capacity.


A system for monitoring the condition of impulse lines to a differential pressure sensor. The lines may be connected at two locations of a pressure source, such as a pipe having a fluid flow. One line may direct a pressure of the source to one side of a piezoelectric diaphragm and another line may direct another pressure to the other side of the piezoelectric diaphragm. The diaphragm may provide an electrical indication of the differential pressure between both sides of the diaphragm. One of the lines may also be connected to a piezoelectric diaphragm of a static pressure sensor. The latter diaphragm may provide an electrical indication of static pressure. Detection and comparison of noise levels of the electrical indications of the pressures may indicate if one or both lines are plugged, and which one if not both.

The invention pertains to sensing devices and particularly to pressure sensing devices. More particularly, it pertains to diagnosis of pressure sensing devices.
In differential pressure sensors, one common field problem is the plugging of impulse lines. These lines are pipes or tubes that connect the sensor to the differential pressure producing element. In some cases, a blockage of the impulse line can create a pressure in the line that, when measured by the pressure differential reading of the sensor, will be on-scale thereby indicating normal operation while the process being monitored may have changed flow rates substantially. Despite the apparent normal operation, the sensor may actually be providing an erroneous output and reading. An illustrative example of such pressure sensor may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,659, issued Mar. 28, 2000, to Douglas W. Wilda et al., entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Sensing Differential and Gauge Static Pressure in a Fluid Line", which is hereby incorporated by reference in the present specification.

Differential pressure sensor impulse line monitor


A media defect compensation system and method may decouple effects of asymmetry from baseline error compensation computations. In some embodiments, a switching mechanism passes a baseline error signal into a baseline loop when a determination is made that a baseline error signal is not affected by asymmetry, and otherwise freezes the baseline loop when asymmetry may influence baseline error calculations.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate generally to identifying signal loss caused by defective areas in recording media, and more particularly to a media defect compensation system and method that decouple effects of asymmetry from baseline error compensation computations.
2. Description of Related Art
Recording media (e.g., those employed in conjunction with electronic devices) typically have one or more defects. "Defects" in this context may be caused by inefficiencies or inaccuracies associated with manufacturing processes, impact damage (e.g., scratches) or surface smudges caused by mishandling, particulate contamination, and asymmetry, among other factors. Irrespective of the source, such defects tend to cause variations in signals reproduced from the recording medium; for example, defects can result in weak signals, a baseline error or shift in the reproduced signal, or a total loss of signal when a reading device tries to read data from a defective location on a recording medium. Various conventional compensation strategies attempt to eliminate the errors such defects tend to cause in reading data from various media.
In optical storage media, asymmetry is a common distortion. When asymmetry occurs, pit length on a disc becomes longer than the nominal pit length and land length becomes shorter, or vise-versa. Asymmetry can cause the readback signal to become offset; direct current (DC) errors can be greater in some places in the data stream than in others. While attempts have been made to model asymmetry, traditional baseline error compensation techniques do not take into account its effects, and so are adversely affected by asymmetry.
Therefore, it may be desirable in some instances to provide a media defect compensation system and method that decouple effects of asymmetry from baseline error compensation computations.

System and method of decoupling asymmetry from baseline compensation


The present invention relates to an antenna radiator having heterogeneous antennas cross-linked with each other, and a manufacturing method therefor. More specifically, the present invention provides an antenna radiator having heterogeneous antennas cross-linked with each other, wherein the antenna radiator has an antenna pattern constituted with an in-mold antenna provided on an end of a frame, and a printed or plated antenna provided on an adjacent area to the in-mold antenna, the in-mold antenna having a protrusion on at least one area thereof, and the printed or plated antenna provided to overlap the protrusion such that the in-mold antenna and the printed or plated antenna are cross-linked with each other; and a manufacturing method for the antenna radiator.

In recent years, various antennas built in mobile device casings, namely, built-in antennas and electronic device casings including the same, have been widely studied. At present, there are various antenna technologies such as in-mold antennas (press type), plated antennas (laser type), press assembled antennas (press assembly), printed antennas (print type), etc. that respectively have their own advantages and disadvantages.
A conventional in-mold antenna is generally mounted on a frame of a mobile communication device. The space between a feeding portion (electricity feeding portion) formed on a frame and a position in which the antenna pattern is formed, is completely sealed. In addition, since the pattern is not formed on the outermost portion of the frame, it is easy to form a new antenna pattern on the frame. However, in comparison with a technology in which the antenna pattern is formed at the outermost portion of the frame, the antenna pattern that is not formed on the outermost portion of the frame is close to the ground because the antenna pattern is formed inside of the frame. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain superior performances such as good reception sensitivity, radiation performance, etc. In addition, it is difficult at the development stage to modify the antenna pattern formed inside of the frame. That is, a total amount of the antenna pattern may be limited depending on the structure of the frame. Consequently, antenna performances are degraded as much as the antenna pattern is limited.
In addition, in the conventional plated antenna (laser type) or the printed antenna, the antenna pattern may be formed at the semi-outermost portion of the mobile device, but it is difficult to form the antenna pattern at the outermost portion of the mobile device.
In addition, the plated or printed antenna is configured such that a connecting part between the feeding portion and a point at which the antenna pattern starts is formed by plating. Therefore, a hole may occur at the connecting part, and thus it is difficult to seal the connecting part.
In the conventional press assembled antenna (press assembly), the antenna pattern may be formed at the semi-outermost and outermost portions of the mobile device. However, the antenna pattern is only formed at an area in which the antenna radiator is not exposed to the outside of the battery cover of the mobile communication device. Therefore, transmitting and receiving sensitivities are limited due to the small coverage of the antenna radiator. That is, the antenna radiator is typically only formed on an upper surface of a FPCB, and is not formed on a side surface that is not covered by the battery cover. Thus, there is a limitation in extending the size of the antenna radiator.

Antenna radiator having heterogeneous antennas cross-linked with each other and manufacturing method therefor


Methods of treating vascular damage caused by a cerebral vascular accident in a subject are provided. The method includes the step of administering an effective amount of a human birth tissue material composition to a damaged site in a brain.

A cerebral vascular accident (e.g., stroke) involves sudden, focal interruption of cerebral blood flow that causes neurologic deficit. Strokes can be ischemic (e.g., resulting from thrombosis or embolism), or hemorrhagic (resulting from vascular rupture—subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage). Endovascular procedures may be used to treat certain hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. These procedures are less invasive than surgical treatment, and involve the use of a catheter introduced through a major artery in the leg or arm, then guided to the aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation where a mechanical device (e.g., coil) is deposited to prevent rupture. For strokes caused by a bleed within the brain (hemorrhagic stroke), or by an abnormal tangle of blood vessels, surgical treatment may be done to stop the bleeding. If the bleed is caused by a ruptured aneurysm, a metal clip may be placed surgically at the base of the aneurysm to secure the area. With the aforementioned procedures, however, there is always the risk of more bleeding and brain damage arising from blood vessel damage. Weakness or paralysis of the arm or leg, difficulty with speech or understanding, vision loss, confusion, loss of memory and/or seizures may result. Thus, there remains a need for measures to reduce such complications and encourage healing of the damaged areas of the brain arising from a cerebral vascular accident.

Human birth tissue material composition and methods for the treatment of damage associated with a cerebral vascular accident


A restaurant facility housed within an enclosure bounded by upright walls defining a perimeter for an enclosure of hexagonal outline. A kitchen and service station and table and seating structure within the enclosure are so organized that there is full visibility throughout the dining area. Waiters and patrons move in corridors providing access to tables and seats which are devoid of sharp corners.

This invention relates to the construction of a restaurant and more particularly to the construction of such a facility which permits waiters and/or waitresses handling the needs of patrons of the facility to operate with maximum efficiency. Another feature of the construction is that all areas in which patrons are being served are observable from a single station, which may be the cashier's station. This is important if proper supervision of employee personnel in the restaurant is to result, and in making sure that patron's needs are being taken care of.
In recent years, it has become increasingly the custom of Americans to "dine out", which has resulted in a considerable expansion in the number and types of restaurants which are available for dining purposes. Along with this expansion, competition between different restaurant has grown, with increasing interest being paid to the handling of restaurant patrons in a coordinated and efficient manner, whereby a patron may feel that he or she has been served with rapidity and due attention, and such service is obtainable with minimal waiter personnel.
Important factors in the conception of this invention were the observation that a waiter's efficiency is closely related to the ease with which he can move about the dining area assigned to him, the distance that must be traveled in obtaining food orders, and the access provided a waiter in moving throughout the area he serves. Waiter service stations should be conveniently available, and all areas served by a waiter should be open and visually within the sight of a waiter. A waiter should feel that he may move quickly throughout the area he serves, without fear of collision. With proper visibility, a waiter is constantly aware of the patrons that he is serving, and each patron therefore is assured of prompt service when a need arises.
This invention is more specifically based on the further observation that a major factor in waiter fatigue, the dropping of food servings, collisions, and other accidents which are the concerns of any restaurant, is the prevalence in most restaurants of right-angle corners in corridors provided for waiter and customer travel. If such corridors have substantial width, such problems tend to be minimal, but prudent use of space militates against the provision of wide corridors. It has been observed, for instance, that corridors of 3 to 31/2 feet in width are ample to provide customer and waiter access to an eating area, if the corridor does not include sharp corners and obstructed vision. In a facility, as contemplated by the present invention, movement by a waiter from a waiter station to restaurant patrons within his service area, when such involves a change in direction, is over a relatively wide angle and with full visibility provided of regions beyond the turn, enabling the provision of a corridor accomodating people movement of reduced width.
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved construction for a restaurant which promotes maximum efficiency in the use of space accompanied with maximum efficiency in people movement throughout the space.
Another object is to provide a restaurant construction organized so that employees working in the restaurant are readily observable by a supervisor. In fact, by locating a cashier station near the entrance to the facility, a person located at this station can readily observe all dining areas as well as kitchen personnel.
Yet another object is to provide such a restaurant facility which has an attractive and pleasing appearance, and is capable of being identified by a customer as associated with a particular food dispenser.
Yet another object is to provide a restaurant facility which, for a given size, is capable of efficiently handling a far greater number of patrons than is practicable with conventional constructions.


In a Karaoke apparatus, a sound synthesizer reproduces an instrumental accompaniment of a song requested by a singer during the course of a vocal performance of the song by the singer. A whole of the instrumental accompaniment is provisionally divided into a plurality of blocks each having a start address and an end address. A detector successively detects start and end addresses of each block with progression of the reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. A skip command is inputted by a skip switch when a certain block is being reproduced. A controller responds to the detector and the skip switch, and operates when an end address of said certain block is detected for controlling the sound synthesizer to skip an immediately succeeding block to thereby continue to a start address of a further succeeding block during the course of the reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. Further, a repeat command may be inputted by a repeat switch so as to effect repeat reproduction of a certain block.

The present invention relates to a Karaoke apparatus, and more particularly to those provided with a tone generator in the form of a musical sound synthesizer operative according to registered accompaniment information to automatically sound an instrumental or "empty orchestra" ("Karaoke" in Japanese) accompaniment during a physical vocal performance of a requested song by a singer.
Recently, the karaoke apparatus is widely popularized. The Karaoke apparatus is equipped with an audio medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical disc for recording an instrumental accompaniment part of a popular song except for a vocal performance part. The singer physically performs the vocal part, while the instrumental accompaniment part is being reproduced. A regular type of the Karaoke apparatus is installed with a mixer which mixes a physical singing voice picked up by a microphone with the Karaoke accompaniment together with a reverberation effect or else, thereby enjoying an interesting song performance. Further, an advanced type of the Karaoke apparatus utilizes a video medium such as an optical disc for displaying word information of the song as well as associated image information, in addition to the audio reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. Such a Karaoke apparatus is more and more sophisticated in various aspects such as structure of the installed tone generator, manner by which word information is provided, and arrangement of peripheral equipments under divergent environment in amusement of the Karaoke performance.
Recently, one of the most advanced Karaoke apparatus is installed with a sophisticated tone generator, i.e., a musical sound synthesizer which is generally adopted in an electronic musical instrument or a computer music box. While the tone generator is driven according to registered accompaniment information of the instrumental accompaniment, a display device is driven concurrently according to registered word information to visually indicate song words in the form of a sequence of characters in synchronization with the automatic instrumental accompaniment. In contrast to the regular Karaoke apparatus, the most advanced Karaoke apparatus utilizes simplified accompaniment information like a text data of a musical score rather than audio information based on sampled analog waves, thereby saving a data amount and facilitating transfer and copy of the registered accompaniment information.
Generally, the conventional Karaoke apparatus is constructed such that the orchestra accompaniment of the song is continuously reproduced in straight manner from a top to a last end of the song. Therefore, the singer can select only either of a complete mode where the orchestra accompaniment is continued to the last end once the same is started, or a break mode where the continuing orchestra accompaniment is forcibly stopped to terminate the same. The same is true with respect to the most, advanced Karaoke apparatus in which the musical sound synthesizer is driven according to the registered accompaniment information, while the display device is driven concurrently according to the registered word informal ion to visually indicate the song words in synchronization with the automatic accompaniment.
However, it will be desired for better enjoyment of the Karaoke performance to achieve irregular or unusual operation such as to skip a part of the Karaoke song during the course of the automatic accompaniment to thereby shorten the entire length of the song or such as to repeat, a part of the Karaoke song. Such a special operation may attract new users of the Karaoke apparatus. Compaction of the song performance by the skip operation is frequently adopted, for example, in a commercial television program for shortening a time schedule. Therefore, the user may desire such a compaction operation of the song performance even in the Karaoke apparatus for enhancing the amusement of the Karaoke play. Further, the repeat operation of the Karaoke accompaniment may be suitable for practicing a vocal performance of a hard song.

Karaoke apparatus with skip and repeat operation of orchestra accompaniment


An X-ray detector includes a plurality of bias connection lines that connect both ends, respectively, of a bias line for applying a bias voltage to a PIN diode. The bias line includes first and second bias lines.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray detection panel and an X-ray detector.
(b) Description of Related Art
In the field of radiography X-rays are typically detected using a separate film. In a method using separate films, X-rays should be radiated to a subject that does not move, and a new film should be used for each image. Accordingly, a cost is incurred whenever X-rays are radiated.
X-rays may also be detected using a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). Due to the small size of a detector that is formed with the CCD or the CMOS, after X-rays are detected, the image needs to be magnified.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

X-ray detection panel and X-ray detector


A header for an agricultural harvester has left side and right side endless belt conveyors and a central conveyor for carrying crop to a central aperture in the header and an extendible and retractable cutter bar assembly disposed immediately in front of the leading edges of the conveyors that can be extended and retracted in the direction of travel through an agricultural field.

Headers are devices that are mounted to and across the front of agricultural combines to cut crop plants and direct them toward a crop-receiving opening of the combine for threshing, separating and cleaning inside the combine.
Some headers use a reciprocating cutter bar or knife that is disposed across the leading edge of the header adjacent to the ground. The cutter bar severs the plant stalks close to the ground. A reel is also provided on these headers to control the tops of the plants. The reel pushes the top of the plant rearward, causing the plant to fall into a conveyor. The conveyor directs the plant laterally toward a central portion of the header where there is a crop-receiving aperture. Once the crop passes through this aperture it is received in a crop-receiving aperture of the combine, which further conveys the plant back rearward into the combine for further processing.
There are two common styles of headers. The first of these is called an "auger platform" or "auger header" because it has a long right circular cylindrical steel auger or screw that extends laterally across the width of the header. The auger is mounted for rotation at the rear of the header. This style of header provides a broad, generally flat metal floor or apron along the leading edge of the header that extends fore and aft between the cutter bar and the auger and extends laterally the entire width of the header.
The second of these is called a "draper platform" or "draper header". A draper header has no stationary apron or floor behind the cutter bar, nor does it have an auger located at the rear of the header. The floor is instead replaced with two generally flat endless loop conveyor belts to move the crop laterally to the middle of the header. The conveyor belts are located immediately behind the cutter bar and extending rearward to the back wall of the header, taking the place of the floor and the auger of the auger header. A central conveyor is located between these two conveyors to receive the cut crop material and covey it rearward into the crop-receiving aperture.
One problem for these headers is gathering the entire crop plant being harvested. Headers are constructed to harvest a wide array of plants, from small shrub-like soybeans plants that are less than 800 mm tall to thick shrub-like European canola plants that can approach 3 m in height. It is difficult to design a header that is capable of harvesting the full range of plant heights. A small header is economical to operate, but may not be able to harvest the largest of crop plants.
For this reason, auger-type headers have been configured to have an extendible cutter bar that can move forward and backward in the direction of travel. When the cutter bar is extended (i.e. when it is moved forward in the direction of travel with respect to the rest of the auger header), it is particularly suited to harvest harvesting tall bushy canola plants. When it is retracted it is particularly suited to harvest short, shrub-like plants or grasses.
To prevent crop material from falling into a gap between the cutter bar and the leading edge of the auger header, a metal sheet is attached to the cutter bar that extends rearward from the back edge of the cutter bar and covers substantially the entire width of the apron when the cutter bar is retracted. When the cutter bar moves to its extended position, however, the metal sheet moves forward with the cutter bar and uncovers the apron while still covering the gap between the apron and the cutter bar. In short, the metal sheet has a constant width, and moves front to back with the cutter bar itself, thereby covering and uncovering the sheet metal apron in front of the auger.
EP 0 726 025 A1 illustrates an example of this design, showing an auger header with an extendible cutter bar having a flat panel fixed to it that slides backward and forward on top of the flat metal floor of the header when the cutter bar extends and retracts. By automatically overlapping the floor of the header with the panel extending from the cutter bar, the cutter bar can be extended and retracted with little extra work.
The Claas Vario header has an extendible cutter bar using a different arrangement. In the Claas Vario header, the cutter bar is extended to create a gap between the cutter bar and the floor of the header. Once this gap is created by extending the cutter bar, the operator then manually inserts an elongate gap-filling metal panel (or panels) that fills the gap. When the cutter bar is retracted, the operator first unbolts the metal panel and removed it to create a gap, and the cutter bar is then retracted. This process requires several additional steps to complete.
Draper headers, however, cannot employ retractable cutter bars due to the location and orientation of their conveyor belts. In a draper header the conveyor belts are located immediately behind the cutter bar in order to permit the draper header to harvest small crops. There is no extended sheet floor of the header that extends between the cutter bar and the conveyor as there is in an auger header, and therefore there is no apron to be covered and uncovered as the cutter bar extends and retracts as there is in an auger header.
Any metal sheet that would cover the gap between the cutter bar and the front edge of the conveyor belt when the cutter bar is extended (such as the metal sheet in the auger header arrangement) would be pulled so far rearward when the cutter bar is retracted that it would partially or completely cover the conveyor belt of the draper header.
On the other hand, if no metal sheet is provided to cover the space between an extended cutter bar and the leading edge of the conveyor belts, then crop will fall into the gap between the cutter bar and the conveyor belts and so drop onto the ground.
For this reason, it has not been possible to provide a draper header with a retractable cutter bar.
The invention disclosed herein solves the technical problem of providing a draper header with an extendible cutter bar, the solution of which is provided by claim 1 by a first configuration and claim 11 by a second configuration. Other beneficial features are claimed in the claims depending therefrom.