A method for manufacturing slide fastener elements from a metal strip by press working, each element comprising a head portion and a pair of spaced leg portions extending rearwardly from the head portion is disclosed. The head portion includes on each side of the top and bottom surfaces thereof a first projection extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the leg portions and a pair of second projections each extending from near one end of the first projection to rearward. The method comprises the steps of preparing a metal strip having two parallel ridges provided on each side of the top and bottom surfaces thereof and extending the length of the strip, deforming the ridges on each side of the strip at predetermined spaces so as to intimately contact two ridges to each other at predetermined spaces to thereby form a series of first semi-worked projections and leaving a series of second remained projections between the first semi-worked projections, deforming the first semi-worked projections and second remained projections to make the first projections and second projections respectively and simultaneously reducing the thickness of the inside and outside portions defined by the first semiworked projections and the second remained projections to less than that of the leg portions so that the excess material of the reduced portions flow to contribute to the formation of the first and second projections, forming the external shape of the leg portions by punching the strip, and separating the strip into individual fastener elements by punching the same.

This invention relates to an improved method for manufacturing individual slide fastener elements from a metal strip by press working.
Heretofore, various methods for manufacturing individual slide fastener elements by press working have been suggested, the slide fastener elements made by each of these methods include interlocking projections and a pocket on each side of the top and bottom surfaces of a head portion thereof and a pair of spaced leg portions adapted to be clamped on the beaded edge of the fastener tape. In a typical method of such methods, the interlocking projections are directly formed by embossing portions of the flat top and bottom surfaces of a metal strip. By this embossing method, however, it is impossible to provide projections of sufficient height even though the thickness of the metal strip is increased and the fastener chain thus obtained does not have sufficient interlocking force. Also, in this method, if the thickness of the strip is increased, the pitch for attaching the fastener elements on the fastener tape is correspondingly increased, because the thickness of the leg portions of the fastener element corresponds to the increase of the strip and this increases the resistance to the sliding movement of the slider over the fastener chain, the flexibility of the fastener chain is greatly diminished and further more material is required for producing the fastener elements. On the other hand, if the thickness of the strip is decreased, the height of the embossed projections is correspondingly decreased, and thus, the interlocking force of the fastener chain is decreased. In another method, the metal strip from which the fastener elements are formed includes a medial ridge on each side of the top and bottom surfaces thereof and the interlocking projections and pockets are formed by deforming such ridges. One example of such method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,136,046. In this method, however, as the interlocking projections are regularly spaced on the strip, the portions of the ridges which do not contribute to the formation of the projections must be depressed to the level of the strip. When the portions of the ridges are depressed, the web portion of the strip is concurrently pressed and the width of the strip is correspondingly increased. To prevent this, the ridges must be limited to a relatively low height, and, therefore, the projections are limited to a relatively low height. In another method, the fastener elements are formed step-by-step by press working from a round metal wire. One example of such method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,622,295. However, this method includes many working steps and is very disadvantageous from a manufacturing cost standpoint. Also, in this method, the metal strip in which a series of the fastener elements are formed must be separated into the individual fastener elements by once removing the strip from the press machine and then advancing it in reverse direction in the separating machine. Thus the operation is very inefficient.

Method for manufacturing slide fastener elements


A lid assembly (10) for a washing machine having a frame (2, 3) and top section (1) made of a glass material attached to the frame. The lid assembly has at least one elastic member provided between the underside of the top section and the upper side of the frame in a central area of the top section. The lid assembly reduces the risk for damaging the glass top section, such that there will be a reduced risk of breaking the glass if the lid suffers from a heavy impact. Also there is a reduced risk of scratching the glass material from underneath since the glass top section is cushioned against the supporting frame underneath at a central area of the glass top section.

Washing machines are provided with lids. The lids can have a transparent section. For top loaded washing machines the lid can be formed, at least partly by a glass material. For example WO2014/120739 describes a lid for a washing machine with glass.
There is a constant desire to improve the design of a washing machine. Hence, there is a need for a washing machine having an improved lid.


A data output circuit includes: a data generating circuit configured to generate output data; and a serial output circuit configured to receive an address corresponding to the data generating circuit, hold a parallel data input during a time period over which the address is being received, and serially output the output data generated by the data generating circuit and the held parallel data in accordance with an output direction signal for directing output of the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data output circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic device such as a car stereo having a liquid crystal display panel is equipped with a data processing system for processing data or signals from an operation unit such as a key pad, an infrared remote control, and a rotary encoder switch. Since the data processing at the data processing system is mainly carried out by a microcomputer, it is necessary to input the data from the operating unit into the microcomputer.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a block diagram of a data processing system at a liquid crystal display unit of a car stereo. Infrared data from the infrared remote control, a rotary encoder switch signal A and a rotary encoder switch signal B from a rotary encoder switch (hereinafter, a rotary encoder switch signal will be referred to as a switch signal) are each input directly into a microcomputer 600. On the other hand, a key input resulting from the operation of a key pad 601 is input into the microcomputer 600 via a key data output circuit 610 in a liquid crystal display driver IC (Integrated Circuit) 602 (see, for example, Japanese patent application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-146806). The microcomputer 600, based on a signal input thereinto, outputs a DI signal into the liquid crystal display driver IC 602. Then, the liquid crystal display driver IC 602 receives the DI signal to output an electrode drive signal for driving an electrode of the liquid crystal display panel. Here, with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 6, the key data corresponding to the key input from the key pad 601 will be further described. The key data obtained by operating the key pad 601 is stored in the key data output circuit 610 in the liquid crystal display driver IC 602. When the DI signal as the address of the liquid crystal display driver IC 602 and a high level (H level) CE signal indicating the output of the key data stored in the key data output circuit 610 are input from the microcomputer 600 into the liquid crystal display driver IC 602, the key data is output into the microcomputer 600 as output data DO on the basis of a clock signal CL, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 6.
In the case of the liquid crystal display unit of a car stereo as mentioned above, it is necessary to input into the liquid crystal display driver IC 602 infrared data or switch signals that were input directly into the microcomputer 600, and to serially output the infrared data or switch signals by using an output signal line 700 that the key data is output into, for the purpose of reducing the number of signal lines leading into the microcomputer.
Moreover, due to the issues of the data processing on the microcomputer side, even if infrared data or switch signals are input into the liquid crystal display driver IC 602, it is required that the timing for starting the output of data coincides with the timing for starting the output of the key data shown in FIG. 6. In the case where the liquid crystal display driver IC 602 serially outputs newly added infrared data or switch signals, however, there is needed a time period for parallel-to-serial converting, which disadvantageously results in the problem that the output of data cannot be started at the same timing as that for the output of the key data to be started shown in FIG. 6.

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


Disclosed is a 3D static RAM core cell having a vertically stacked structure, including six thin-film transistors each having a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, the static RAM core cell including two switching thin-film transistors, each connected to a bit line and a word line to select recording and reading of data, and four data-storage thin-film transistors connected to a power supply voltage (Vdd) or a ground voltage (Vss) to record and read data, the static RAM core cell including a first transistor layer including two thin-film transistors selected from among the six thin-film transistors, a second transistor layer disposed on the first transistor layer and including two thin-film transistors selected from among the remaining four thin-film transistors, and a third transistor layer disposed on the second transistor layer and including the remaining two thin-film transistors, at least one electrode of the first transistor layer and at least one electrode of the second transistor layer being electrically connected to each other, and at least one electrode of the second transistor layer and at least one electrode of the third transistor layer being electrically connected to each other. Thereby, the static RAM core cell is configured such that organic transistors of the same type are arranged in the same plane and are vertically stacked, thus omitting a complicated patterning process for forming organic transistors of different types upon fabrication of a memory element, and also reducing the area occupied by the memory element to thereby increase the degree of integration of semiconductor circuits.

Static RAM or SRAM, which is a kind of semiconductor memory, is able to preserve data therein only as long as power is supplied to a memory, unlike DRAM (dynamic RAM), in which data is periodically renewed. Since SRAM is a kind of random-access memory, the time required to input and output data is constant regardless of the addresses at which data is written and read. SRAM is a memory element that is completely different from SDRAM, which is a kind of DRAM, and thus these should be distinguished from each other. In SRAM, each bit is stored in two pairs of inverters comprising four transistors. Two pairs of inverters keep the values of 0 and 1 stable and two access transistors perform reading and writing functions. Thus, six transistors are typically required to store one bit.
Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel, elucidated Moore's Law in 1965, which states that the degree of integration of semiconductor transistors doubles every 18 months. In the decades that followed, the degree of integration of semiconductors has increased in accordance with Moore's Law, but recently, Moore's Law has become inapplicable due to the physical limitations of atomic-scale processing. Therefore, progressively intensive research is ongoing into increasing the degree of integration of semiconductors by vertically stacking semiconductors, rather than merely increasing the degree of integration in a plane.
Meanwhile, a thin-film transistor (TFT) is provided in the form of a thin film, which is a kind of a field-effect transistor (FET). Basically, it is a three-terminal element (no back gate B is present), and is mainly applied to liquid crystal displays.
Also, an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) is a field-effect transistor in which an organic semiconductor technique is used in the transistor channel. The organic field-effect transistor may be manufactured using a vacuum evaporation process on a small molecule or a solution-casting process on a polymer. The organic field-effect transistor has been developed to manufacture large-area electronic products at low cost, and the organic field-effect transistor is manufactured with various device geometries.
Recently developed flexible thin-film transistors based on soft materials have significantly lower electron mobility than silicon semiconductors. For this reason, in order to achieve similar levels of performance to existing silicon-based semiconductor devices, the channels of individual semiconductor devices must be hundreds to tens of thousands of times larger. Moreover, in order to manufacture a memory element, semiconductors of two different types, namely a p-type and an n-type, have to be formed on a single surface and connected to each other, and thus a p-type semiconductor material, an n-type semiconductor material, electrodes and insulating materials suitable for respective types are patterned, which thus complicates processing.
As described above, the related art is problematic in that it is difficult to apply soft materials and processes to memory elements because the number of elements integrated per unit area is very small and the processes are complicated.

3D static RAM core cell having vertically stacked structure, and static RAM core cell assembly comprising same


A quick-release connector for connecting a handle to a mop head or the like comprises a first section for attachment to the handle and a second section for attachment to the mop head. The first section has a plurality of receptacles which mate with a similar plurality of bayonet projections in the second section. At least one of the bayonet projections is resiliently flexible and flexes outward when the first and second sections are pushed together so as to mate with and be securely gripped by an indentation in the first section providing a positive interlock between the sections. Another of the bayonet projections is a rigid, longer bayonet which acts as a guide when the two sections are connected together. The first section also has a polygon-shaped, shallow recess which mates with a similar polygon-shaped protrusion in the second section when the two sections are pushed together to provide resistance to torsional stress. The connector can be attached to a mop head or fitted with a male threaded rod for attachment to a broom handle, paint roller, or the like.

The invention relates to a quick-connect and release connector for attaching, for example, a mop handle to a mop head or the like.
Mops, brooms, paint rollers, etc. conventionally incorporate handles which are removable from the operating head of the implement. It is conventional with brooms and paint rollers at least, to use a threaded connector between the handle and the implement head. Mops, on the other hand, due to the fact that the mop head wears out long before the handle, have long used various types of connection mechanisms to connect the mop head with the handle. Quite often these connection mechanisms have employed rivets, bolts, screws, etc. which must be removed and reinstalled when the head is removed from the handle. This tends to be a time-consuming operation and may be beyond the skill level of the typical relatively unskilled worker who uses the mop.
Also the prior connectors between handle and implement have been difficult to align and assemble and prone to excessive wear from the repeated removal and reinstallation of the rivets, bolts, etc. Furthermore, these designs have been unable to withstand the considerable tensile, shear and torsional forces constantly imposed upon, for example a mop head, during typical use.
It is not unusual for an institutional user, such as a hospital, fast food restaurant or the like, to wear out a mop head in as little as a few days. The prior art connection designs have tended to be rather complex, expensive, and have greatly added to the cost, bulk and weight of the typical mop head.
It is clear then, that a simple, reliable, and inexpensive quick-release connector for connecting handles to mop heads, broom heads, paint rollers and the like is needed. It is also clear that such a connector should be simple to operate, able to withstand the considerable stresses placed upon it during mopping, sweeping, etc, and should be economically discardable with the mop head.

Quick-release connector for mop handles and the like


Anti-binding structure for jacks is provided which eliminates load-induced binding between an extended jack lift post and the guide structure therefor, so as to facilitate smooth jack operation. The jack of the invention preferably includes a rectangular or sqaure cross section lift post and a plurality of elongated, transversely U-shaped bearing channels respectively disposed between the planar post faces and the upper guide plate of the jack; the channels are each mounted for limited rocking movement about respective axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the jack post so that any load-induced canting or deflection of the post can be safely accommodated without binding or galling thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with article lifting or moving devices which include elongated, axially reciprocal lift posts having circumscribing guide means therearound. More particularly, it is concerned with devices of this type (such as so-called bottle jacks) which are improved by provision of anti-binding structure for preventing load-induced binding of the jack components, especially between the lift post and guide means of the jack.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of jacks or article-lifting apparatus have been proposed in the past. Generally speaking, such units include an elongated, tubular axially reciprocal lifting post, along with means operatively coupled to the lift post for elevating and lowering the same as desired. Additionally, plate-type means for guiding the reciprocal travel of the lift post is a conventional feature.
One particular type of jack in use today is an air stand which is also known as a bottle jack. In such devices an air chamber having a shiftable piston therein is provided, with the lift post of the jack being secured to the piston. The upper end of the chamber is defined by an apertured guide plate through which the lift post passes. Means is also provided for filling the chamber beneath the piston with pressurized air to extend the lift post, and for release of air from the chamber to lower the lift post. The concepts of this invention may also be used with equal facility in hydraulically actuated lifting or moving devices.
A problem heretofore encountered with certain types of jacks, and particularly the so-called bottle jacks, involve load-induced binding of the jack components. For example, the lift post or ram can bind against the guide plate structure when the post is in an extended position, or the piston can bind against the chamber wall. This sort of binding most commonly occurs when an unevenly distributed load cants or deflects the jack post transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof, with the result that the post and/or piston bind against adjacent structure. This problem has been known to be so severe as to lead to rough operation, or freeze the jack and prevent post or ram movement. Furthermore, the galling of the metallic jack components incident to load-induced binding is an objectionable result.
There is therefore a need in the art for an improved jack which includes an anti-binding structure or mechanism which eliminate the problems described above.
Prior jacks and lifting apparatus are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,360,735, 2,961,837, 3,087,626, 3,250,503, 3,286,970, 3,567,183 and 3,866,899.

Bottle jack anti-bind structure for rectangular lift post


An apparatus and method for producing mail pieces. The apparatus includes a first printer for printing documents and a second printer for printing envelopes and a mail finishing unit for receiving the printed documents from the first printer and the envelopes printed with corresponding addresses from the second printer and inserting the documents into the envelope to form a mail piece. The apparatus operates under the control of a single stream of job data from a host computer, where the job data includes a job header defining default mail piece attributes and mail piece records which include document data and address data, and which may include specific mail piece attribute data for each corresponding mail piece. The apparatus control mechanism partitions the data stream and controls the first printer to print the documents while controlling the second printer to separately print the envelopes which are moved along a separate path to an insert station where the mail piece is formed. Preferably the second printer is an ink jet printer and the apparatus includes a drying buffer to allow time for the printed addresses to dry, and accordingly the apparatus prints several envelopes to load the drying buffer before beginning to print the documents.

The subject invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing a mail piece. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus and method for producing mail pieces which apparatus and method are suitable for use with microcomputers and standard word processing software in an office environment.
Many systems for directly producing mail pieces directly from the printed output of a data processing system have been proposed in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,752; to Gombault et al.; issued Feb. 1st, 1994 discloses a mail preparation system wherein a data processing system controls a linear mail preparation apparatus. The data processing system controls a printer to print documents which, after printing, pass, under the control of the data processing system, through a succession of stations such as a burster, an insert feed station, an address printer, a postage meter and the like. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,505; to: Axelrod et al.; issued Jan. 24, 1989, discloses a system wherein a data processing system prints documents and marks them with an identification code, and simultaneously downloads parameters for controlling the operation of a mail preparation line to a database. As the documents are fed into the mail preparation line, the identification code is scanned and used to access the database to determine the parameters for each mail piece to be produced from the corresponding documents. Other systems for inserting documents into windowed envelopes so that an address printed on the document is visible, or system for printing self-mailer forms which are then folded and sealed to form mail pieces are also known. A system where an envelope form is printed in sequence with documents and later accumulated with the documents, then wrapped around the documents and sealed to form the mail piece is described in U.S. Pat. No.: 5,067,305; issued Nov. 26, 1991; to Baker et al.
While such systems are perhaps suitable for their intended purpose heretofore no system has been available to mailers of moderate size (i.e. who mail on the order of a few thousand pieces a month), who wish to produce high quality mail runs. Systems such as that taught by Gombault et al. and Axelrod et al. are intended for large scale mailers using main frame computers and high capacity inserter systems, while windowed envelopes and self-mailers have an unfortunate "junk mail" aspect.
Where systems for producing mail pieces have printed conventional envelopes they have heretofore printed the envelopes only after the documents are inserted into the envelope; resulting in degradation of print quality from printing on a full envelope, which may vary in thickness, and an increased footprint for the mail production apparatus.
Accordingly, it is an object of the subject invention to provide an apparatus and method for producing moderately sized mail runs of a high quality, and which is suitable for use in an office environment with standard microcomputers and word processing programs.

Apparatus and method for preparing a mail piece


The combination of a passive dosing dispenser, of the type having a reservoir containing a cake of active ingredients which are depleted as water is routed through the dispenser, and an improved hypochlorite cake for use therein. The improved hypochlorite cake provides water-soluble hypochlorites, and additionally contains materials capable of forming a water-insoluble matrix from which hypochlorite salts may be leached out by the water in the reservoir. The size of the cake desirably increases somewhat while the dispenser is in use so that the mass of aqueous hypochlorite which may be poured from the reservoir of the dispenser remains constant or slightly decreases as the active ingredients are used up. This improvement levels the delivery of hypochlorite over a long period of time, and additionally minimizes the amount of chlorine gas which may be released if the hypochlorite containing solution within the dispenser of the present invention is inadvertently brought into contact with organic matter such as waste paper.

Dispensers which are adapted to deliver disinfecting or aesthetic ingredients to a toilet tank to condition water in the toilet tank and bowl are well known in the prior art, as are dispensers which are described hereinafter as "passive" in that they require no moving parts but deliver a disinfecting or aesthetic solution responsive to the flushing of a toilet at the usual intervals.
A patent application owned by the owners of the present application, Ser. No. 897,477, filed by Dirksing, on Apr. 18, 1978, (especially FIGS. 12-19 and the accompanying text) discloses an especially desirable toilet tank dispenser which receives water from a toilet tank in which it is immersed as the tank water rises after a previous flush, transmits this water to an internal receiver which is isolated by an air lock from the tank water when the toilet is full, contacts the water in the reservoir with a cake containing active ingredients such as hypochlorite to form a hydrochlorite solution, stores this hypochlorite solution in the reservoir, and releases this hypochlorite solution to the toilet tank water responsive to the lowering of the level of water in the toilet tank when the toilet is flushed. This hypochlorite dispensing system is well adapted to a consumer product which may be used to condition toilet tank and bowl water. The absence of any moving parts in the dispenser makes it possible to produce a dispenser very inexpensively, as by thermoforming two halves and sealing them together. Such a dispenser may be made so cheaply that it is well adapted for use as a disposable dispenser which may be discarded after the active ingredients sealed therein are depleted.
Two problems have been noted with prior art hypochlorite cakes which are adapted to be placed inside the reservoir of a toilet tank dispenser for the purpose described above. The first of these problems is that a compressed solid cake of material containing soluble hypochlorites tend to deliver a high level of available chlorine initially, so that much of the available chlorine is released in a relatively short time. The remaining available chlorine in then released much more slowly. Thus, prior art dispensers do not deliver a relatively consistent amount of available chlorine over a long period of time. The following references contain discussions of this problem in other arts: U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,495, issued to Robson et al. on Oct. 27, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,013, issued to Jaszka et al., on May 22, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,141, issued to Robson on Feb. 8, 1966; U.S. Pat. No. 2,023,459, issued to Bachman on Dec. 10, 1935. (It will be noted that none of the above references deals with hypochlorite containing compositions for use in a toilet tank.)
A second problem which has been noted for hypochlorite cakes used in connection with prior art passive dosing dispensers is the tendency for the pourable fluid capacity (as defined hereinafter) of the dispenser reservoir to increase as active ingredients in the solid cake are successively dissolved and removed from the dispenser during the life cycle of the product. As a result of this increase in pourable fluid capacity, a dispenser which has been in use for some time contains a relatively large mass of hypochlorite solution, compared to the quantity contained in the reservoir during the early part of the usage life of the dispenser. When the dispenser is subsequently placed in contact with organic material, such as by storing it in a wastepaper basket for future disposal, this mass of hypochlorite solution may escape from the dispenser, come into contact with the organic matter in the wastepaper basket and oxidize this organic matter while releasing chlorine gas to the atmosphere surrounding the wastepaper basket. This problem usually occurs when a dispenser is discarded prematurely, before its active ingredients have been depleted.
The instability of hypochlorite containing compositions, particularly those containing calcium hypochlorite, is generally known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,216, issued to Dychdala on Feb. 19, 1974, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,396, issued to Robson on Feb. 2, 1971. The chlorine releasing reaction is believed to take place in three steps as follows: ##STR1##
It has been found that, when hypochlorite solutions from the preferred toilet tank dispensers are brought into contact with organic matter such as paper toweling, an appreciable quantity of chlorine gas is released and the reacting mass may heat up to nearly the boiling temperature of water. (An example of the reaction of hypochlorite solutions with paper toweling is given in one of the examples below.) The problem of reducing the release of chlorine and evolution of heat when a toilet tank dispenser is thrown away and brought into contact with organic matter is not dealt with in the prior art. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce this problem by providing a hypochlorite cake composition which is adapted to act in conjunction with the dispenser to limit the quantity of available chlorine which the dispenser can release when it is discarded, and as a result placed in contact with organic matter.
Other objects of the present invention, although not limited by their enumeration, are to provide an alkaline composition in solution and to level the delivery of available chlorine over a long period of time, throughout a life cycle of many flushes.

Passive dosing dispenser with improved hypochlorite cake


A method for secret sharing utilizing multiple features of an input includes: receiving a registration input; obtaining features from the registration input; generating a secret key and a plurality of shared keys according to a shared secret scheme; associating each of the plurality of shared keys with a respective feature of the registration input; generating a plurality of additional features associated with additional keys having a similar format as a shared key associated with a respective feature; storing the plurality of shared keys associated with respective features together with the plurality of additional keys associated with additional features; and encrypting an element to be protected by the secret key using the secret key.

Conventional authentication systems, such as biometric authentication systems, typically depend on matching a pre-registered template with a current input, such as matching an input biometric image to a stored biometric template. Oftentimes, the matching is based on deriving features from the current input, such as deriving features of an input image of a person's face, and comparing the derived features to pre-registered features corresponding to the same person.
Since the matching operation is typically a Boolean operation (i.e., outputting either a result of successful matching or a result of unsuccessful matching), it may be possible for an unauthorized user to generate a successful authentication result, which corresponds to successful matching, without providing a valid input, through a relatively simple bypass of the matching operation.
Additionally, if an unauthorized user gains access to the stored pre-registered template or features, the unauthorized user may be able to use that information to illegitimately generate a successful authentication result.


A CD label applicator kit including a case, a support device and an applicator tool. The case includes a base and cover that provides a label plate. The label forms an opening. The support device includes an alignment post, a hub and a spring. The alignment post is affixed to an outer wall of the cover and extends outwardly through the opening. The hub is slidably disposed about the alignment post and defines a disk-receiving surface. The spring biases the hub to a raised position in which the disk-receiving surface is above the label plate. Finally, the applicator tool forms a central passage sized for selective placement about the alignment post. In one preferred embodiment, the kit includes a label sheet pack and a software disk stored within the base, and a writing utensil secured to the cover.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for affixing an adhesive-backed label onto a compact disk (CD). In particular, it relates to a kit conveniently maintaining all necessary CD label applicator components, along with a method of use thereof.
A CD is a highly popular medium used to record and store data for a variety of different applications, including documents, spreadsheets, music, programs, etc. When CD technology was first introduced, only source manufacturers could program individual CDs, and typically did so on a mass production basis. Once formatted with the desired data, the CDs were provided to consumers with some form of printed identification information on an outer surface thereof. Because the CDs were mass produced, it was economically feasible, and from a marketing standpoint highly desirable, to imprint highly stylized identification information into the CD""s surface. While this practice is still followed today, more recently consumers have been afforded the ability to xe2x80x9cburnxe2x80x9d their own CDs. That is to say, it is now possible for a consumer to record desired data onto an otherwise xe2x80x9cblankxe2x80x9d CD. Once programmed, the user will almost certainly desire to provide some form of identification information at an outer surface of the CD. Unlike mass produced, programmed CDs, a consumer cannot readily imprint identification information into the CD""s outer surface.
The most readily accepted technique for providing reference information on a user-formatted CD is via application of an appropriately sized label. In general terms, these labels are adhesive-backed, and are pre-cut to a size corresponding with an outer surface area of a xe2x80x9cstandardxe2x80x9d CD. Thus, the label is cut in the shape of a ring, providing a central hole corresponding in size with the CD center hole.
As might be expected, proper alignment of the label onto the CD is highly important. A misregistered label may lead to improper operation of the CD within a disk drive, for example, due to the CD being unbalanced. As a result, efforts have been made to provide a CD labeling device for properly aligning and subsequently applying the label. These devices are typically relatively large, and thus are not conducive to convenient transport and storage by the user. In addition, some CD label applicator devices include multiple components, one or more of which can easily be misplaced. Additionally, prior art CD label applicators, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,543,001 and 5,951,819, operate on the principle of maintaining the label and the CD in a planar relationship during a label application operation. While viable, these techniques fail to account for the fact that air may become entrapped between the label and the CD surface, possibly leading to formation of a crease or other defect in the so-applied label. This crease or other defect may lead to operation concerns when using the CD within a disk drive.
An additional concern relates to the fact the CD label application device and the unprinted labels are typically sold and maintained separate from one another. As a point of reference, prior to actual application to the CD, consumers desire the ability to print descriptive information onto the label, via an appropriate printer, such as an inkjet or laser printer. To satisfy this demand, unprinted CD labels are typically provided to consumers on 8xc2xdxc3x9711 inch sheets. Each sheet includes an adhesive-backed label layer and a release liner layer. Due to the size of the sheet, two labels are pattern-cut into the label layer. A software package accompanies the label sheets, and allows the user, via interface with a personal computer otherwise controlling printer operation, to prepare the desired label displays/identification information. The label(s) is then printed, and then peeled off of the release liner. Finally, the so-prepared label is then applied to the CD.
Due to the large size of xe2x80x9cstandardxe2x80x9d CD label sheets, it is virtually impossible to conveniently package unprinted label sheets in combination with an appropriate label applicator. As such, users are required to separately purchase and store the label sheets, related software, and label application device. Unfortunately, a user may not have one or more of these components with them immediately following programming of a new CD. At some later point in time, the user may then forget exactly what data has been stored on the CD, rendering proper identification more difficult. Further, users often desire to handwrite additional identification information onto the applied label. In this regard, only certain types of inks will not readily smudge when applied to the label material. Unfortunately, an appropriate pen/marker may not be available to the user at the time of label application. Notably, currently available label applicators do not allow for convenient mounting or packaging of an appropriate writing utensil to the device.
The recording of data onto blank CDs by individual users is a highly prevalent activity. In this regard, these users almost always desire to apply an identification label to the prepared CD. Unfortunately, existing CD label applicators cannot be conveniently transported, and do not include blank labels, due in large part to the standard label sheet size. Therefore, a need exists for a conveniently sized, CD label applicator kit that promotes consistent label application, maintains all applicator tools in a single enclosure, as well as other auxiliary components such as blank labels and an appropriate writing utensil.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a CD label applicator kit including a case, a support device, and an applicator tool. The case includes a base and an associated cover. The cover includes an outer wall and a label plate. The label plate is positioned opposite the outer wall in a spaced relationship, and forms an opening. The support device includes an alignment post, a hub, and a spring. The alignment post is affixed to the outer wall and extends outwardly through the opening beyond the label plate. In this regard, the alignment post is configured to be receivable within a center hole of a CD. The hub is slidably disposed about the alignment post and defines a disk-receiving surface. The spring biases the hub to a raised position in which the disk-receiving surface is above the label plate. Finally, the applicator tool forms a central passage sized for selective placement about the alignment post. With this configuration, the kit provides an initial label application state and a final label application state. In the initial label application state, the hub is in the raised position and the applicator tool is assembled over the disk-receiving surface such that the central passage otherwise formed by the applicator tool is positioned about the alignment post. The kit is transitioned from the initial label application state to the final label application state by applying a force on the applicator tool. The applicator tool, in turn, directs the hub downwardly such that the disk-receiving surface is substantially level with the label plate.
During use, then, the applicator tool is disassembled from the alignment post, and a label is coaxially placed over the alignment post and onto the label plate. In this regard, an adhesive side of the label is faced opposite the label plate. A CD is then coaxially positioned about the alignment post, with the side of the CD to receive the label resting against the disk-receiving surface of the hub. Finally, the applicator tool is assembled over the disk-receiving surface to the initial label application state. Subsequently, a downward force is placed on the applicator tool, thereby directing the hub, and thus the CD, downwardly, such that the disk-receiving surface is substantially level with the label plate. In this final label application state, the CD contacts the adhesive side of the label, thereby applying the label to the CD. In one preferred embodiment, the kit further includes a pack of label sheets stored within the base. In another preferred embodiment, the kit further includes a writing utensil selectively secured to the cover.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of applying a label to a CD. The method includes providing an applicator kit including a cover and a support device. The cover includes an outer wall and a label plate opposite the outer wall and forming an opening. The support device includes an alignment post extending from the outer wall through the opening, a hub slidably disposed about the alignment post, and a spring biasing the hub to a raised position. In this regard, the label plate deflects upwardly away from the outer wall at the opening. A label is placed about the hub and onto the label plate. A CD is then placed about the alignment post and onto the hub. Finally, the CD and the hub are forced toward the label plate. Due to the deflected nature of the label plate, initial contact between the CD and the label occurs at respective inner diameters thereof. With further forced movement of the CD and hub toward the label plate, the surface area interface between the CD and the label increased laterally outwardly until the label is entirely adhered to the CD. In this way, any air otherwise existing between the label and the CD is forced outwardly, such that upon final application, no air bubbles or creases are formed in the label.


A method and apparatus dynamically pair a user's communication devices with a personal survivability gateway. The gateway can support the establishment of communication services in case of a network failure between a site where the user's communication devices are located and the site that provides the user's communication services. Preferably, the survivability gateway is configured so that if a network failure occurs, the user does not experience service degradation, or at least significant service degradation. For instance, the user's inbound and outbound communications during such an outage may be routed through his personal survivability gateway and a survivability proxy to limit, if not eliminate such service degradation.

Survivability services may be provided to communication devices that experience a network service outage. Such an outage may occur due to a node failure or damage to a transmission line over which communication messages sent by communication devices travel.
Survivability services often require hardware elements that need to be maintained and serviced. Such services therefore often incur costs in terms of the hardware and maintenance. Further, such services may only provide a limited number of mobility options or not provide for device mobility. For example, typically infrastructure must be employed such as analog, Session Initiation Protocol ("SIP") gateways or Time-division multiplexing ("TDM") gateways at a survivability site that must undergo administration and maintenance to remain able to provide the service. Additionally, usually statically provisioned circuits must be provided for permitting communications to travel between the different terminal devices receiving the survivability service and the survivability gateways. Such circuits also need to be maintained and incur a cost in terms of a capital cost for installation as well as operating costs associated with maintaining those circuits.
In addition to costs, such survivability services may be rendered at a reduced level of service. For instance, the transmission quality or transmission capacity of the survivability gateways may be limited as compared to typical network service.
A new survivability service is needed that permits survivability services to be provided more efficiently. Preferably such a service also does not result in degradation or at least a significant degradation in services during a network outage.

Method, device, and system for providing a survivability gateway service


A system includes a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through a drill string, out a drill bit and into an annular, and a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, including a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank. The system further includes a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank. The first choke receives the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate, the first choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a second flow rate less than the first flow rate, and the second choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a third flow rate.

This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
The exploration and production of hydrocarbons from subsurface formations requires methods to reach and extract the hydrocarbons from the formation. This is typically done with a drilling rig. In its simplest form, this constitutes a drilling rig that is used to support a drill bit mounted on the end of drill string, comprised of a series of drill tubulars. A fluid including a base fluid, typically water or oil, and various additives, is pumped down the drill string by one or more mud pumps, and exits through the rotating drill bit. The fluid then circulates back up the annulus formed between the borehole wall and the drill bit, carrying with it the cuttings from the drill bit and clearing the borehole. In some cases, the fluid is also selected such that the hydrostatic pressure applied by the fluid is greater than surrounding formation pressure, thereby preventing formation fluids from entering into the borehole. It also causes the fluid to enter into the formation pores, or "invade" the formation. Further, some of the additives from the pressurized fluid adhere to the formation walls forming a "mud cake" on the formation walls. This mud cake helps to preserve and protect the formation prior to the setting of casing in the drilling process, as will be discussed further below.
The selection of fluid pressure in excess of formation pressure is commonly referred to as over balanced drilling, while in other cases, fluid pressure is lower than formation pressure in so called underbalanced drilling. The fluid then returns to the surface, where it is bled off into a mud system, generally comprised of a shaker table, to remove solids, a mud pit and a manual or automatic means for addition of various chemicals or additives to the returned fluid. The clean, returned fluid flow is measured to determine fluid losses to the formation as a result of fluid invasion. The returned solids and fluid (prior to treatment) may be studied to determine various formation characteristics used in drilling operations. Once the fluid has been treated in the mud pit, it is then pumped out of the mud pit and re-injected into the top of the drill string again.
Often, in some drilling operations, the mechanical pumps used to pump drilling mud to the drill string are mechanical pumps which operate at high minimum output force, which delivers too high of drill mud flow rate. This can cause issues when a heavier mud is required in order to balance the well, or achieve target drill mud pressure in the borehole. If the borehole has a narrow window between pore and fracture gradients, then minimum stroke rate of a pump may not provide the necessary resolution for the lower flow that is required. If the hydrostatic pressure is already near the fracture gradient then the minimum stroke rate may be too high for the formation to withstand, and the formation may be otherwise fractured or borehole damaged. In such scenarios, using a mechanical pumps with these limitations, may result in the drill rig not effectively drilling a borehole with optimum integrity. Thus, there exists a need for systems and methods for drilling a borehole with optimum integrity using existing drill rig apparatus and techniques, the need met at least in part, by embodiments according to the following disclosure.

Proportional control of rig drilling mud flow


A cane harvester including sugar cane lifting, gathering and severing structure operative to engage, lift and sever the tops and bottoms of cane oriented in a row along which the harvester is advanced with the cut cane subsequently being conveyed in an upright position and then discharged rearwardly and downwardly, in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position, into a forwardly and upwardly opening cutter assembly operative to simultaneously sever the cane into billet lengths at points spaced predetermined distances therealong with leaf portions of the cane being simultaneously severed at the same points spaced along the cane to thereby provide cleanly cut cane billets having had a majority of the leaf portions severed therefrom and thus substantially ready for processing in the manufacture of cane sugar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a green sugar cane billeting combine and more specifically to a combine or harvester for lifting (righting) recumbent sugar cane, gathering, two upright sugar cane and chopping or shredding the immature top portions of the sugar cane, cutting the lower ends from the sugar cane and thereafter simultaneously cutting successive sugar cane stalks into short length billets along cutting zones spaced therealong in which zones leaf portions of the cut cane stalks are also cut to thereby cut majority portions of the leaves from the cane. A conveyor is provided for receiving the cane billets and conveying the cane billets to a discharge point, cut leaf portion separating structure being provided closely upstream from the discharge point of the conveyor for separating cut leaf portions from the cane billets.
2. Description of Related Art
Various different forms of combines and harvesting apparatus including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention heretofore have been provided. Examples of these previously known structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 857,451, 3,434,271, 3,601,957, 3,670,481, 4,924,662, 5,092,110 and my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,174.
However, these previously known combines and harvesters do not include structure specifically adapted to harvest green sugar cane in a manner cutting the tops and bottoms therefrom effecting removal of a large majority of the leaves from the cane and also cleanly cutting the cane into billets, all without dirt contamination of the cane from the ground.


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a foundation layer, a stacked body provided on the foundation layer, the stacked body including a plurality of electrode layers stacked with an insulator interposed, a semiconductor body extending through the stacked body in a stacking direction of the stacked body, and a charge storage portion provided between the semiconductor body and the electrode layers. The semiconductor body includes a first semiconductor film, and a second semiconductor film provided between the first semiconductor film and the charge storage portion. An average grain size of a crystal of the second semiconductor film is larger than an average grain size of a crystal of the first semiconductor film.

A three-dimensional memory device that includes multiple electrode layers stacked on a substrate, and a semiconductor body piercing the multiple electrode layers in the stacking direction of the multiple electrode layers to reach the substrate has been proposed. The semiconductor body is formed inside a hole formed in a stacked body including the multiple electrode layers or multiple sacrificial layers.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A storage drive riser may include a riser board. The riser board may include an edge connector, a storage drive connector to operably engage with a storage drive, and a retention aperture. The retention aperture may be longitudinally aligned with the storage drive connector. The storage drive riser may also include a storage drive retainer to insertably engage with the retention aperture and to retain the storage drive to the riser board with a retention protrusion.

Storage drives can be used to store data from computer systems, including server systems. Further, storage drives can be used to transfer data between multiple computer systems. Storage drives may be easily installed or removed from computer systems, or storage drives may also be installed in the computer system internally.
Storage drives and other expansion cards can be engaged with an expansion slot of the computer system to enhance the performance and capabilities of the computer system. The expansion card may be engaged with the expansion slot through the use of a riser card. A riser card may engage with both the expansion slot and the expansion card and raise the expansion card above the system board of the computer system. A riser card thereby may allow the expansion card to be engaged with the computer system in a more compact configuration.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


In a color cathode ray tube comprising a panel with a substantially rectangular effective portion whose outside face is almost flat or slightly curved and whose inside face has a curvature in the direction of minor axis near the short sides of the portion, and a fluorescent substance screen having a substantially rectangular effective region formed on the inside face of the effective portion of the panel, the short sides in the outer circumference of the effective region of the fluorescent substance screen are projected toward the center of the effective region. This improves the flatness of images appearing on the fluorescent substance screen provided on the inside face of the effective portion in the color cathode ray tube with the outside face of the effective portion of the substantially rectangular panel being almost flat and the inside face having a curvature in the direction of minor axis at least near the short sides.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a color cathode ray tube, and more particularly to a color cathode ray tube which includes a panel with a substantially rectangular effective portion whose outside face is almost flat or slightly curved and whose inside face has a curvature in the direction of minor axis near the short sides of the portion and which thereby improves the flatness of images appearing on the effective portion.
2. Discussion of the Background
Generally, a color cathode ray tube includes a vacuum enclosure made of a glass panel and a glass funnel. The effective portion of the glass panel on which images are displayed is substantially rectangular. On the inside face of the effective portion of the panel, a fluorescent substance screen composed of a three-color fluorescent substance layer is provided. On the inside, a substantially rectangular shadow mask is provided so as to face the fluorescent substance screen. The shadow mask is composed of a mask body and a mask frame provided on the periphery of the mask body. The mask body is such that a large number of electron beam passing holes have been made in a substantially rectangular effective surface.
In the color cathode ray tube with such a configuration, three electron beams emitted from an electron gun provided in the neck of the funnel are deflected by a deflection unit on the outside of the funnel toward the fluorescent substance screen through the shadow mask. The electron beams scan the fluorescent substance screen horizontally and vertically, thereby producing a color image on the fluorescent substance screen.
In recent years, effort has been directed toward flattening the image display section of the color cathode ray tube to improve the visibility of images. Specifically, in the color cathode ray tube, the inside and outside faces of the effective portion of the panel are generally fattened. Since the clearance (q value) between the inside face of the panel's effective portion and the effective surface of the shadow mask facing the fluorescent substance screen provided on the inside face of the effective portion must be maintained within specific permitted limits, the effective surface of the shadow mask is also required to be flattened. Flattening the effective surface of the shadow mask introduces the danger of decreasing the strength with which the curved surface of the shadow mask is retained. Therefore, even when the outside face of the effective portion of the panel has been flattened, its inside face has been often left curved.
One example of such a color cathode ray tube has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-49030 (Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H9-245685). In the application, the following panel of a color cathode ray tube has been proposed. In the panel, the outside face of its effective portion is made almost flat. The inside face of its effective portion is formed into a cylindrical curved surface, with the radius of curvature in the direction of major axis of the inside face being almost infinite and the radius of curvature in the direction of minor axis being almost constant. In the color cathode ray tube where the inside face of the effective portion of the panel has a cylindrical curved surface, the effective surface of the shadow mask located inside is also formed into a cylindrical curved surface having a curvature in the direction of minor axis so as to correspond to the inside face of the effective portion of the panel.
In a color cathode ray tube the effective surface of whose shadow mask is a cylindrical curved surface having a curvature in the direction of minor axis and which has a black stripe fluorescent substance screen composed of a striped black light absorption layer, each stripe long and narrow in the direction of minor axis of the panel, and a striped three-color fluorescent substance layer provided so as to fill up the spacing of the light absorption layer, making the curvature in the direction of minor axis larger than that in the direction of major axis helps improve the curved-surface retaining strength. Specifically, in the black stripe color cathode ray tube, electron beam passing holes in the effective surface of the shadow mask are arranged in the direction of minor axis. The slit-like electron beam passing holes are arranged in a line via a narrow bridge. Lines of electron beam passing holes extending in the direction of minor axis are arranged with a specific arrangement pitch in the direction of major axis. Therefore, when the flatness of the shadow mask is almost the same, making the curvature in the direction of minor axis than that in the direction of major axis helps improve the strength with which the curved surface is retained. Such a structure is particularly effective for a wide tube with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
Furthermore, the following configuration has been proposed for a panel and a shadow mask suited to flatten the image display section. For the inside face of the effective portion of the panel, the radius of curvature in the direction of major axis is made almost infinite near the center of the panel and almost constant on the periphery of the panel. The radius of curvature in the direction of minor axis is made larger near the center of the panel than on the periphery of the panel. When the effective surface 2 of the shadow mask 1 is formed into a curved surface that corresponds to the inside face of the panel as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to improve the strength with which the curved surface of the shadow mask is retained.
Since an image appears on the fluorescent substance screen provided on the inside face of the effective portion of the panel, the effect of the thickness difference on an image viewed through the effective portion is small in a color cathode ray tube with a small difference in thickness between the center of the effective portion and its periphery. In the case of a panel flattened as described above, the thickness difference between the center of the effective portion and its periphery is greater, increasing the effect of the thickness difference on an image viewed through the effective portion. For an image to appear on a truly flat rectangular plane, the inside and outside faces of the effective portion need to be flat.
Specifically, the flatness of an image appearing on the effective portion of the panel is influenced by not only the shape of the outside face of the effective portion but also the shape of its inside face. In the case of a panel whose image display section has been flattened, a rectangular screen drawn on the fluorescent substance screen formed on the inside face of the effective portion looks like a barrel with the short sides projecting outward from the center of the effective portion, when viewed from the front of the effective portion on the central axis. The tendency is more prominent when the screen is viewed form the side. As a result, the screen does not take the form of a truly rectangular plane and looks round. This prevents flat images from being produced as expected, making no sense to flatten the image display section.
As described above, the image display sections of color cathode ray tubes have recently been flattened to improve the visibility of images. In this connection, the following panel has been proposed. In the panel, the outside face of the effective portion of a panel on which a fluorescent screen is provided is made almost flat. Its inside face is formed into a cylindrical curved surface, with the radius of curvature in the direction of major axis of the inside face being made almost infinite and the radius of curvature in the direction of minor axis being made almost constant. Alternatively, the inside face is formed into a curved surface with the radius of curvature in the direction of major axis being made almost infinite near the center and almost constant on the periphery and the radius of curvature in the direction of minor axis being made larger near the center than on the periphery. In such a panel, even when the outside face of the effective portion is almost flat, the inside face has a curvature in the direction of minor axis at least near the short sides. When a screen drawn on the rectangular fluorescent substance screen formed on the inside face of the effective portion is viewed from the front of the effective portion on the central axis, the short sides looks as if they projected outward from the center of the effective portion. The tendency is more prominent, when the image is viewed from the side. As a result, the screen does not take the form of a truly rectangular plane and looks round. This prevents flat images from being produced as expected, which makes no sense to flatten the image display section.


A system and method for collecting a set of kinematic data streams from an activity tracking system with at least one activity monitoring system that is attached to a user; segmenting at least a subset of the kinematic data streams into a set of segments according to actions of the user; generating a set of biomechanical signals from the kinematic data streams wherein a biomechanical signal characterize a biomechanical property during a segment and includes generating a first integration data set through data integration and baseline error correction across the set of segments of the normalized kinematic data stream and determining at least a first biomechanical signal that is at least partially based on the first integration data set; and applying the set of biomechanical signals.

In recent years, numerous fitness monitoring apps and devices have been introduced to the public. Many of these devices function as basic pedometers, or step counters. Other devices characterize activity in a generic manner to quantify activity in an abstract manner. Such tools, however, fail to provide insight into particular performance metrics for a participant. Biomechanical tools, such as motion capture, can be used to provide detailed information on the involved mechanics of a participant. However, such tools often require complicated setups and may be restricted to a laboratory or other controlled environment, and detailed biomechanical analysis is limited to individuals with access to such research setups. Thus, there is a need in the biomechanical field to create a new and useful system and method for characterizing biomechanical activity. This invention provides such a new and useful system and method.

System and method for characterizing biomechanical activity


In a display data RAM, a group of memory cells for storing grayscale data for two lines are disposed within an output pad pitch L of a display driver circuit, and at least two groups of the memory cells are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the output pads are arranged. The grayscale data for two lines is read at a time from the display data RAM. Latch circuits latch the grayscale data for four lines based on first and second clock signals. A selector circuit selectively outputs the grayscale data for consecutive three lines from among the grayscale data latched in the latch circuit. An MLS signal conversion circuit performs MLS operation in which three lines are simultaneously selected, based on the selectively output grayscale data for three lines. A signal electrode driver circuit outputs a drive voltage to the output pads based on the MLS operation results.

The present invention relates to a display driver circuit, an electro-optical device, and a display drive method.
In a simple matrix liquid crystal panel, the response time is improved by multi-line selection (MLS) in which a plurality of scan electrodes are simultaneously selected, whereby an increase in contrast and a decrease in power consumption are realized.
MLS operations are performed by using a scan pattern of a plurality of simultaneously selected scan electrodes and grayscale data for a plurality of lines corresponding to the scan pattern. The results for the MLS operations are supplied to the signal electrodes over a plurality of fields. This allows the response time of the simple matrix liquid crystal panel to be improved and power consumption to be decreased. Therefore, it is necessary to perform operations by using the grayscale data for a plurality of lines per signal electrode.

Display driver circuit, electro-optical device, and display drive method


A patient garment having enhanced accessibility for easy accessibility to a patient by health care workers. The patient garment having enhanced accessibility includes a body covering. The body covering comprises a torso portion and two sleeve portions fixedly coupled thereto. The body covering has a front side and a back side. The torso portion has a neck opening therein. A plurality of elongate openings is in the body covering. A plurality of closure means selectively open and close the elongate openings. Each of the closure means is fixedly coupled to one of the elongate openings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to garments and more particularly pertains to a new patient garment having enhanced accessibility for easy accessibility to a patient by health care workers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of garments is known in the prior art. More specifically, garments heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,123; U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,064; U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,323; U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,611; U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,535; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 369,339.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new patient garment having enhanced accessibility. The inventive device includes a body covering. The body covering comprises a torso portion and two sleeve portions fixedly coupled thereto. The body covering has a front side and a back side. The torso portion has a neck opening therein. A plurality of elongate openings is in the body covering. A plurality of closure means selectively open and close the elongate openings. Each of the closure means is fixedly coupled to one of the elongate openings.
In these respects, the patient garment having enhanced accessibility according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of easy accessibility to a patient by health care workers.

Patient garment having enhanced accessibility


The hooking device of a drawer to a longitudinal guide, comprises a support body fixable to a front and/or a bottom of the drawer and is provided with an oscillating command lever of a hooking organ of the support body to the guide, the support body exhibiting a first part of body fixable to the drawer and at least one second part of body slidably connected with the first part of body and adjustably positioned at least in the longitudinal direction of the guide, the lever and the hooking organ being solidly constrained to said second part of body in displacement thereof in the longitudinal direction of the guide, at least first adjustment means being further provided for varying a position of said second part of body with respect to the first part of body in the longitudinal direction of the guide for adjusting the position of the drawer with respect to the guide in the longitudinal direction of the guide.

In the furniture, the use of hooking devices is generally known, for making a connection of the front and/or bottom of drawers to the front end of a removable part of longitudinal guides which can be fixed to the internal sides of a furniture, which devices traditionally comprise a support body which can be fixed to the front and/or the bottom of the drawer, a movable hooking means protruding from the body itself in order to engage in a hole or lateral cavity of the removable part of the guide, and suitable manual control means operatively connected with the hooking means in order to permit disengaging the drawer from the guide.
The traditionally known hooking devices can be provided with suitable regulating means able to permit a displacement in a lateral direction and/or in height of the front portion of the drawer, in order to regulate the mutual position of the frontal parts of the drawers, permitting an appreciable aesthetic result.
In the years however the need arose to place also a front adjustment of the drawer in a longitudinal direction; in particular, such need has mainly arisen with reference to the ergonomic developed for closing the drawers, which lead have an ever more diffused use of longitudinal guides having automatic reclosing systems of the drawer, commonly named of the "self-closing" type.
Such closing systems in fact provide a stop means which defines the end closing position of the front of the drawer; therefore, should the longitudinal guides be fixed in a non precise way, the possibility exists that the front stops in a position detached from the furniture, with a consequent poor aesthetic result.
Similar problems arose also with reference to the use of longitudinal guides having disengaging and pressure expulsion systems of the drawer, commonly named of the "push" type, developed within the well-established design trend, aiming to eliminate any handle or manual gripping means.
In fact, for the actuation of the release mechanism of such systems of the push type, it is essential that the front of the drawer stops at a well defined distance from the furniture; therefore in the case of an imprecise fixing of the longitudinal guides, the front of the drawer could become too close to the furniture, with a consequent lack of the space necessary for the actuation of the release and pull-out mechanism, or it could become too detached from the furniture, with consequent drawbacks of aesthetic nature.
In order to eliminate the problems and drawbacks cited before, separate regulating devices are traditionally provided, applied between the frontal part and the lateral walls of the drawer, in order to be able to adjust the position of the front part itself in a longitudinal direction.
However such solution entails a greater constructive complexity of the drawer and greater costs due to the need of providing for the additional adjustment devices as cited before.

Hooking device of a drawer to a longitudinal guide


A ceramic composition comprising a polycrystalline alumina matrix having titanium carbide whiskers distributed therein. The composition comprises 50 to 90 volume percent high purity alumina, 10 to 50 volume percent single crystal titanium carbide whiskers, and up to 3 volume percent being the residue of sintering aids.

Materials for cutting tool inserts fall into several well-known categories. These include high speed steels, cast alloys of cobalt and chromium, sintered carbides and ceramic materials such as alumina with the corundum crystal structure, and even diamonds. Each material has an advantage depending upon the particular application. Some are much more expensive than others. High speed steel has the greatest resistance to shock of all the materials. For this and other reasons, it is the preferred cutting material for many applications. Because of their resistance to wear, cast alloys and sintered carbides often cost less per piece machined than the steels.
Ceramic materials are used in especially difficult applications. They have high hardness, chemical inertness and wear resistance even at elevated temperatures. This makes them useful, for example, for cutting cast iron and hardened steel at high cutting speeds. The inertness prevents welding of the tool insert to the metal being machined at the temperatures created by machining. Generally, however, ceramic tool inserts cannot be used in heavy interrupted cuts. Also, at slower machining speeds, tool loads are markedly higher and ceramic tools are likely to chip or fracture because of their lower tensile strength and toughness.
Tougher ceramic tools have been developed. These may comprise the addition of a second ceramic phase. Each phase is comprised of equiaxed grains as a result of combining equiaxed powders prior to hot pressing to form the tool insert. The addition of a second equiaxed phase increases toughness to some extent and provides a wear resistant tool insert.
Ceramic cutting tools made of alumina-titanium carbide composites have been successful in machining ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,708. These ceramic composites possess excellent high temperature mechanical strength and chemical wear resistance which are needed for superior performance in metal cutting. The utility of the material may be limited by its low fracture toughness in applications where tools tend to fail by fracture, say, in milling or high speed roughing.
Toughness of equiaxed ceramic composites is known to increase with increasing volume of the second phase up to a maximum that depends upon the particular phases and generally reaching a maximum between 30 and 40 volume percent of the second phase. Fracture toughness of ceramic composites may be further increased by altering the morphology or shape of the second phase. It has been shown by Faber and Evans, in "Crack Deflection Processes--I. Theory," Acta Metall., Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 565-576 (1983) that the fracture toughness of certain ceramic composites can be increased by as much as four times by using rod-shaped second phases. The shape of the Second phase is characterized by its aspect ratio (length to diameter ratio).
A composition disclosed in Wei U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,345 comprises the addition of silicon carbide whiskers to an alumina matrix to increase fracture toughness. It is explained in the Wei patent that the improved fracture toughness, and resistance to slow crack growth is the result of energy spent in pulling whiskers out of the matrix. It is also pointed out in the Wei patent that not all matrix compositions are toughened by the .addition of silicon carbide whiskers. Selected compositions disclosed in the Wei patent are finding use as materials for tool inserts. The tool inserts made with silicon carbide whiskers have limited use. They are very useful for Inconel and other superalloys but have poor service life with steel or cast iron.


An image pickup apparatus includes a light source apparatus emitting a first or a second illumination light to an object, an image pickup device acquiring an image of the object, and a CPU switching between a first mode where the image is picked up with the first illumination light and a second mode where the image is picked up with the second illumination light, being able to set at least one of a processing parameter for processing an image and a brightness control parameter before switching the illumination light to the illumination light corresponding to the mode or after switching to the corresponding illumination light is completed, and controlling whether the processing parameter is set before switching of the illumination light is started or after switching is completed according to the mode switching from the first to the second mode or from the second to the first mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus whose mode can transition among a plurality of modes with different light emission amounts of an illumination light, and an operation method of the image pickup apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image pickup apparatus such as an endoscope is known, which has a plurality of observation modes with different light amounts of an illumination light to be emitted to an object, and which observes an object while switching these observation modes.
The plurality of observation modes with different light amounts of an illumination light in the endoscope can specifically include a white light observation (white light imaging: WLI) mode in which a white light is emitted to an object, a narrow band observation (narrow band imaging: NBI) mode in which a narrow band light is emitted. Here, while, in the white light observation mode, almost all the light amount which can be emitted by a light source can be employed as an illumination light, in the narrow band observation mode, because only part of the light amount which can be emitted by a light source can be employed, the light amount of an illumination light which can be emitted in the narrow band light observation mode is relatively smaller than the light amount of the illumination light which can be emitted in the white light observation mode. These observation modes are modes for performing observation according to purpose by not only having different absolute light emission amounts, but also making wavelength bands of the illumination light different.
Specifically, in such an image pickup apparatus, a wavelength changing unit such as a filter is provided at a light source apparatus, so that illumination lights with different light amounts and different wavelength bands are radiated.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-148487 discloses a technique of, in a light source apparatus in which a plurality of filters for changing a wavelength of a light emitted from a xenon lamp can be disposed on an optical path of the emission light, and an endoscope apparatus, improving response at switching of an observation mode by stopping control of a light amount during operation for changing the wavelength.
According to such a technique, it is possible to reduce brightness disorder of an image during switching of the observation mode. By the way, when the observation mode is switched among a plurality of observation modes, it is necessary to switch setting of an image processing parameter for processing the obtained image, in addition to simply inserting or removing a filter on an optical path of the illumination light. When the image processing parameter is switched, color tone of the image changes.

Image pickup apparatus, and operation method of image pickup apparatus


Ferric iron is removed from chlorinated hydrocarbons having less than 6 carbon atoms per molecule by intimately contacting the latter with an oil that comprises one or more hydrocarbons having at least 6 carbon atoms per molecule. The hydrocarbon oil is present in an amount sufficient to interact with a major portion of the ferric iron. The resulting mixture of the chlorinated hydrocarbon stream and the hydrocarbon oil is heated simultaneously with the intimate contacting, and a precipitate is allowed to form. The chlorinated hydrocarbon stream is then separated from the hydrocarbon oil and from the precipitate, and the precipitate is subsequently separated from the hydrocarbon oil.

1. Field of the Invention
Valuable chlorinated hydrocarbons such as ethyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, methylchloroform, and analogous chlorinated derivatives of higher hydrocarbons such as propane or butane are commonly made by liquid phase catalytic hydrochlorination of the corresponding unsaturated precursor such as ethylene, vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride. Ferric chloride is usually used as the catalyst in such processes. However, the separation of ferric iron from chlorinated hydrocarbons has been a long-standing problem. The presence of ferric iron, particularly in the form of ferric chloride catalyst, during the flashing and recovery of the desired chlorinated hydrocarbons causes dehydrochlorination of the chlorinated hydrocarbons such as methylchloroform and subsequent polymerization of the resulting unsaturated product. Many methods have been tried for removal, deactivation and/or disposal of ferric chloride, but all have serious deficiencies.
2. State of the Art
The most obvious method of removing ferric chloride from chlorinated hydrocarbon streams is the extraction of the ferric chloride with aqueous acid solutions. The ferric chloride is unexpectedly difficult to remove in this manner. Part of the ferric chloride apparently retains some solubility in the organic layer by forming complexes with polymeric material. Furthermore, the resulting chlorinated hydrocarbon product must be dried, which is an expensive procedure on an industrial scale.
Ferric chloride has also been separated from methylchloroform by using almost anhydrous bases, such as the hydroxides of sodium, potassium, and calcium, to absorb the ferric chloride. These materials are relatively inefficient and allow easy pluggage of absorption equipment by the ferric hydroxide produced. The spent bases would constitute a difficult disposal problem. Such a separation process is described in Japanese Pat. No. 71 16,491.
German Pat. No. 1,235,878 discloses a process in which ammonia is used to precipitate ferric chloride. The ammonia is thereafter separated from the chlorinated hydrocarbon product by distillation. Ammonia has also been used in conjunction with steam to precipitate the ferric chloride while removing the chlorinated hydrocarbons by steam distillation (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,528). However, the use of these ammonia methods can introduce small amounts of amines as contaminants into the product. Amines or excess ammonia would be at least as undesirable as water. Moreover, steam distillation can aggravate the hydrolysis of a chlorocarbon such as methylchloroform, which is known to occur with great facility in the presence of ferric chloride and moisture.
Ferric chloride has also been removed from chlorinated hydrocarbons by sequestration of the ferric iron by a lower alkanol solution of a partial amide of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Such a process is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,005. However, this process was intended primarily for the deactivation of small amounts of iron during distillation and thus would not be economical or practical for removal of the relatively large amounts of hydrochlorination catalyst.
Ferric chloride has also been removed from chlorinated hydrocarbons by contacting the chlorinated hydrocarbon streams with activated charcoal and with other porous adsorbents such as silica gel, alumina, or molecular sieves. See, for example, British Pat. No. 1,380,497 and Japanese Pat. No. 72 16,801. The adsorbents, particularly activated carbon, work well in removing the iron chloride but contain water which is released to the chlorinated hydrocarbon with the concomitant undesirable effects. Moreover, regeneration of these adsorbents presents problems in corrosion and disposal, since the adsorbed iron has to be removed with an aqueous acid.
The removal of ferric chloride from chlorinated solvents has also been attempted by reduction of the ferric chloride to ferrous chloride through treatment with reducing agents such as stannous chloride, cuprous chloride, or iron, followed by distillation of the solvent, as described in U.S.S.R. Pat. No. 530,877. The use of stannous chloride or cuprous chloride presents an increased expense, and the use of iron creates an increase in the amount of ferrous chloride requiring disposal.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,345 the use of quaternary ammonium salts has been proposed to inhibit the catalytic effects of ferric chloride on methylchloroform during distillation. However, because quaternary ammonium compounds are expensive, the operational cost of such a process would be high. In addition, decomposition of the quaternary ammonium salts to amines may take place.
Experience has shown that the disposal of ferric chloride-containing material from hydrochlorination processes poses a constant series of problems in commercial practice. A considerable amount of chlorinated hydrocarbon remains with the ferric chloride-containing material after conventional separation, making it highly corrosive. In addition, flasher fouling has caused a considerable amount of shut-down time. Moreover, increasingly stringent regulations for the disposal of hazardous landfill material have caused an increased impetus to find a more acceptable method for removing and disposing of ferric iron in hydrochlorination processes.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for the removal of ferric iron from hydrochlorination processes whereby the removal of ferric iron is accomplished without substantial decomposition of the chlorinated hydrocarbon product.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process for the removal of ferric iron from hydrochlorination processes in which fouling of the hydrochlorination apparatus is substantially reduced.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process for the removal of ferric iron from chlorinated hydrocarbons wherein no moisture is introduced into the system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a low-cost process for the removal of ferric iron from chlorinated hydrocarbons, using a relatively high-boiling hydrocarbon oil as a medium in which dissolved ferric chloride is converted into a filtrable, granular precipitate.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a process for the removal of ferric iron from hydrochlorination processes whereby the handling properties of the residues are improved.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process for the removal of ferric iron from hydrochlorination processes whereby the iron-containing residues are rendered non-hazardous in order to allow ordinary landfill disposal in compliance with environmental protection laws and regulations.
These and other objects, as well as the use of the invention in attaining them, will become more fully apparent from the description which follows.

Process for separating ferric iron from chlorinated hydrocarbons


A pneumatic tire for a two-wheeled vehicle having high lateral stiffness and exhibiting improved steering stability has a tread pattern defined in a tread portion by numerous sets of combination lug groove patterns. In this tread portion, one set of the left and right sides of the lug groove patterns is reverse W-shaped as a whole in the tire rolling direction, each of mid bending points P on both sides of the reverse W-shape is arranged at the region of 20-80% of a tire tread half width TW from a tire central circumferential line EC, an angle of the lug groove component to a tire shoulder portion from the mid bending point P is 20-70.degree. with respect to a tire equatorial plane E, and an angle of the lug groove component to the tire central circumferential line EC from the bending point P is 20-70.degree. with respect to the tire equatorial plane E.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire for a two-wheeled vehicle, particularly relates to a pneumatic tire for a two-wheeled vehicle capable of obtaining high lateral stiffness without requiring any tire structural change, material change and the like, and of exhibiting improved steering stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional pneumatic tire for a two-wheeled vehicle, it is general to employ a measure for improving steering stability as possible under a specified tire size, and it is also general to improve the lateral stiffness of a tire as an advantageous standard of the measure.
As an effective means for improving the lateral stiffness of a tire, hitherto, it has been mainly conducted for each kind of members for constructing a tire, i. e., carcass ply, cord layers such as belt or breaker, and the like, further bead filler effective for bead portion reinforcement and the like, to improve the material and the structure of these members, and to arrange additional reinforcing members.
The aforesaid means certainly contributes to improvement of the lateral stiffness of a tire, but simultaneously encounters a problem that the lateral stiffness improvement by the change of material and structure increases the vertical spring constant of a tire with the result that the confort against vibration is reversely affected. Moreover, the lateral stiffness improvement contingent to the addition of members is undesirable for not only an increase of the material cost but also an increase of the processing cost.


An interactive television system has a set-top box adapted for use with a television and a remote control handset. The set-top box is connected to receive a television broadcast that is filmed using multiple cameras situated at various camera viewpoints. The television broadcast has a primary channel, with which the viewer is familiar as carrying the desired television program, and multiple virtual channels associated with the primary channel. The virtual channels carry video signals from the multiple different cameras covering the event. The remote control handset has dedicated camera control buttons for selecting corresponding virtual channels to allow the viewer to choose a desired camera viewpoint. The dedicated camera control buttons are arranged in an intuitive pattern that correlates to the camera viewpoints.

Conventional broadcast programming has traditionally been limited to a single video stream broadcast from the television or cable company to a viewer's television. Although multiple cameras may have been used to cover the event, the program's producer selects which camera to use at which point in the program so that only one video stream is broadcast to the viewer. For example, when broadcasting sporting events, such as baseball games or tennis matches, the sports network typically employs multiple cameras to adequately cover the action. The multiple cameras enable ready replay of key plays, such as a runner sliding into home plate or a diving backhand volley, from many different angles. The producer relies on his or her creativity and experience to timely select the appropriate camera viewpoint which best conveys the sporting event.
The viewer, on the other hand, has no control over what he/she is viewing. Conventional broadcast systems are not interactive and thus, the viewer is forced to watch the single video stream compiled by the program's producer. As a result, the viewer cannot independently choose to watch the action from the home plate camera in anticipation of a close call at home plate.
With the advances made in fiber optics, digital communications, and other broadcast-related technologies, the number of available channels to end viewers is ever increasing. Today, there are approximately 40-70 channels. By the year 2000, the number of channels is expected to reach 500.
As the number of available channels increases, it has become possible to make available multiple camera signals for control by the viewer. In such systems, a channel is reserved for each camera video signal. For example, suppose a musical concert event required three camera viewpoints: one camera facing center stage, a second camera facing at an angle toward the stage, and a third camera portably roving near the stage for close-ups on the musicians. The three cameras would be assigned to channels, say, 150-152. If the viewer wanted to watch a close-up of the lead singer, the viewer changes to channel 152 using the television control panel or a conventional remote control handset having a number keypad and a channel up/channel down key. If the viewer wanted a full view of the stage, the viewer would change to channel 150, and so forth.
This method for viewer interaction is not, however, very convenient for the viewer. The viewer must consciously remember which channels show which camera viewpoints. Three viewpoints for a concert might be manageable. But, six or more viewpoints in a fast paced basketball game or tennis match might leave the viewer frustrated and seemingly behind the action of every play.
The present invention provides an interactive system and method which is intuitive to operate so that the viewer can expertly manipulate the camera viewpoints as desired.

Interactive television system and method for viewer control of multiple camera viewpoints in broadcast programming