A paging receiver having two warning modes, i.e., an audible mode and a vibrating mode, is provided. A vibrating motor of the paging receiver receives a voltage for controlling the level or intensity of vibrations provided by the motor. Various vibration voltage levels are provided to a multiplexer, and the multiplexer is controlled to sequentially output the various vibration voltages applied thereto, wherein each succeeding vibration voltage output by the multiplexer has a voltage level higher than a preceding vibration voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paging receiver having a vibration mode, and more particularly to a paging receiver and a sequential vibrating method therefore wherein the vibration level of a motor is sequentially adjusted when a call is transmitted to a paging receiver operating in a vibration mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a paging receiver is used to store a message received to its address, when a call, transmitted from an external telephone source, is received. To alert a user of the paging receiver that call has been received, the paging receiver may provide an audible alarm or tactual alarm, and at the same time a received message is displayed. The received message is also stored in an internal memory which can be accessed by the user pressing a read key, if necessary. When the paging receiver is operating in the audible alarm mode, a warning sound informing a user that a call has been received, is generated. When the paging receiver is operating in the tactual alarm mode the body of the paging receiver vibrates, so that the user can be alerted to a received call by the sensing the vibrations.
A conventional paging receiver may include an eccentrically rotating motor which causes the body of the paging receiver to vibrate due to the motor's change of its center of gravity as it rotates. One such paging receiver is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,103 by Masahiro Fujii, entitled Motor For Providing A Vibrating Action For A Radio Pager. This patent discusses the how the change in mass of the of a rotor of the motor will increase the degree of vibration of the pager receiver.
Accordingly, other paging receivers provide a weak vibration level which may or may not be sensed by the user, either due to the user's sensitivity to the vibrations or due to how the paging receiver is carried. Additionally, a user may be easily startled by the sudden start of a vibration mode when a call is received by a paging receiver having a strong vibrational level.

Paging receiver and a sequential vibrating method therefor


Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of preparing a substrate and mounting light emitting chips on the substrate. An intermediate plate is positioned on the substrate. The intermediate plate has through-holes for receiving the light emitting chips and grooves for connecting the through-holes to one another on its upper surface. A transfer molding process is performed with a transparent molding material by using the grooves as runners to form first molding portions filling the through-holes. Thereafter, the intermediate plate is removed, and the substrate is separated into individual light emitting diodes. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a light emitting diode in which the first molding portion formed through a transfer molding process is positioned within a region encompassed by cut surfaces of the substrate. Since the first molding portion is positioned within the region encompassed by the cut surfaces of the substrate, second molding portions can be symmetrically formed on the side surfaces of the first molding portions in various manners.

In order to manufacture a light emitting diode for a light source of a backlight, a method has been used in which a light emitting chip is mounted on a printed circuit board or a lead frame and then a molding portion for enveloping the light emitting chip is formed by a transfer molding process. FIGS. 1 to 3 are views illustrating such a conventional manufacturing method of a chip-type light emitting diode, wherein FIGS. 1(a) and 2(a) are plan views, FIGS. 1(b) and 2(b) are sectional views, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the conventional chip-type light emitting diode.
Referring to FIG. 1, light emitting chips 12 are mounted on a substrate 11 such as a printed circuit board or a lead frame. The substrate 11 has lead electrodes (not shown), and the light emitting chips are electrically connected to the lead electrodes via wires 13.
Referring to FIG. 2, the substrate 11 on which the light emitting chips 12 are mounted is positioned within a mold die (not shown), and molding portions 14 are then formed by the transfer molding process. Conventionally, the mold die has runners through which a molding material can flow, and the light emitting chips are positioned within the runners. Accordingly, the molding portions 14 are formed along the rows of the light emitting chips as shown in the figure. Then, the substrate 11 is separated through a sawing process to obtain individual light emitting diodes as shown in FIG. 3.
According to the prior art, there are advantages in that the chip-type light emitting diodes can be mass-produced by forming the molding portions using the transfer molding process, and materials with large specific gravity such as inorganic phosphors can be uniformly dispersed in the molding portions 14 due to shorter molding time.
However, since the molding portions 14 for enveloping the light emitting chips 12 are transparent, light emitted from the light emitting chips 12 is emitted outwards through entire surfaces of the molding portions 14. Accordingly, there are disadvantages in that a range of directional angles of light is broader to cause reduction in light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles, and light which is not used for backlighting increases, which results in a higher loss of light. Further, since cut surfaces at both sides of the substrate are coextensive with those of the molding portions as shown in FIG. 3, there is a disadvantage in that second molding portions cannot be formed on the cut surfaces of the molding portions 14.
Meanwhile, in order to improve the light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles, a manufacturing method of a reflector-type light emitting diode has been used in which reflectors are attached to a substrate or formed by injection-molding an opaque synthetic resin, light emitting chips are mounted thereon, and then transparent molding portions are formed inside the reflectors.
The manufacturing method of such a reflector-type light emitting diode has an advantage in that light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles can be improved. However, since it is difficult to form the transparent molding portions through a transfer molding process, a process of potting a liquid phase resin inside the reflectors has been generally used. Since the liquid phase resin should be separately potted inside the respective reflectors in the process of potting the liquid phase resin, productivity is lowered. Further, since it takes a great deal of time to perform the molding process so that phosphors with large specific gravity go down, it is difficult to provide molding portions with the phosphors dispersed uniformly therein. Moreover, the technique of attaching the reflectors or forming the reflectors using injection molding has a limitation on reduction in the thickness of each of light emitting diodes.
An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode in which a first molding portion formed by a transfer molding process is positioned within a region encompassed by cut surfaces of a substrate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode, which has a symmetrical, second molding portion formed on side surfaces of the first molding portion.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode capable of improving light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode that has a reflector, the method being able to prevent the thickness of the light emitting diode from being increased.
To solve the technical problems, a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode according to an aspect of the present invention comprises the step of preparing a substrate. Light emitting chips are mounted on the substrate, and an intermediate plate is positioned on the substrate. The intermediate plate has through-holes for receiving the light emitting chips and grooves for connecting the through-holes to one another on an upper surface of the intermediate plate. Then, a transfer molding process is performed with a transparent molding material by using the grooves as runners so as to form first molding portions filling the through-holes. Thereafter, the intermediate plate is removed, and the substrate is separated into individual light emitting diodes. Accordingly, since the first molding portions are formed in the through-holes of the intermediate plate, it is possible to provide a light emitting diode in which the first molding portion is positioned within a region encompassed by cut surfaces of the substrate.
Meanwhile, the transparent molding material may contain phosphor powders. Accordingly, since the first molding portions are formed by performing the transfer molding process with the transparent molding material containing the phosphor powders, the phosphors can be prevented from going down in the first molding portions.
The intermediate plate may be positioned on the substrate before the light emitting chips are mounted. Thereafter, the light emitting chips may be mounted in the through-holes of the intermediate plate.
Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, after the intermediate plate is removed, second molding portions for surrounding at least side surfaces of the first molding portions may be formed.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the second molding portions may be formed by performing molding out of an opaque molding material to cover the first molding portions and by removing the opaque molding material until upper surfaces of the first molding portions are exposed. Alternatively, the second molding portions may be formed by performing molding out of an opaque molding material to fill spaces between the first molding portions while exposing the upper surfaces of the first molding portions. The second molding portions formed out of the opaque molding material may serve as reflectors to improve light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles. Since the second molding portions are formed to be flush with the first molding portions, it is possible to prevent an increase in the thickness of the light emitting diode.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the second molding portions may be molded out of a transparent molding material to have lens portions for covering the respective upper surfaces of the first molding portions. The lens portion is used to focus light emitted from the light emitting chip within a range of directional angles, thereby improving light emission intensity.
Meanwhile, the second molding portions for surrounding at least side surfaces of the first molding portions may be formed to be spaced apart from one another. Further, the second molding portions may cover upper surfaces of the first molding portions and contain phosphors. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a light emitting diode in which the second molding portion containing the phosphors is uniformly formed on the first molding portion. The second molding portions may be formed by using another intermediate plate that has through-holes for receiving the first molding portions.
A manufacturing method of a light emitting diode according to another aspect of the present invention comprises the step of preparing a substrate. Light emitting chips are mounted on the substrate, and first transparent molding portions for covering the respective light emitting chips are formed. Then, second opaque molding portions for covering side surfaces of the first molding portions are formed, and the substrate is separated into individual light emitting diodes. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a light emitting diode in which an increase in the thickness thereof can be prevented and light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles can be improved.
The second molding portions may be formed by performing molding out of an opaque molding material to cover the first molding portions, and by removing the opaque molding material until the upper surfaces of the first molding portions are exposed. Alternatively, the second molding portions may be formed by performing molding out of an opaque molding material to fill spaces between the first molding portions while exposing the upper surfaces of the first molding portions.
According to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a light emitting diode in which a first molding portion formed through a transfer molding process is positioned within a range encompassed by cut surfaces of a substrate so that a second molding portion can be symmetrically formed on side surfaces of the first molding portion. Accordingly, the second molding portion may be formed to serve as a reflector or to have a lens portion, thereby improving light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles. If the second molding portion with the function of the reflector is selected, it is possible to prevent an increase in the thickness of the light emitting diode contrary to a conventional chip-type light emitting diode, and to remarkably improve light emission intensity within a desired range of directional angles.

Manufacturing method of light emitting diode


A open air fire quencher comprises a vessel having a substantially airtight top and sides and at least a partially open bottom. The open bottom permits placement of the vessel vertically down over a flame source until the bottom rests on a grade surrounding the flame source. The vessel includes an inner quenching chamber and an outer chamber. The outer chamber may be filled with water to absorb the thermal energy from the flame source. The outer chamber includes a drain to allow water to be released downward. The released water assists in forming an airtight seal around the open bottom. The released water further assists in cooling the area surrounding the flame. In a further embodiment the inner chamber has a flame deflector and the vessel includes an extinguishing system for spraying the flame source with an extinguishing substance.

It has been well known that hydrocarbon producing wells, such as oil and gas wells, are ignitable. Upon ignition, and damage to the wellhead equipment, such wells become giant open air flames which may burn uncontrolled unless quenched or extinguished. The particular problems associated with this type of fire have been demonstrated in Kuwait with so many oil and gas wells being simultaneously on fire. Such fires create a vast amount of pollution and are a waste of a non-renewable energy source.
In the past, one preferred way of extinguishing an uncontrolled oil or gas well fire was to initiate an explosion adjacent to the flame. During the explosion, the explosive material uses up all free oxygen from the immediately surrounding vicinity which in conjunction with the explosive shock wave deprives the flame of oxygen thereby extinguishing it. However, such a technique requires that a precise amount of explosive be placed in a precise position relative to the flame. This can be difficult to do in a crowded area in which many fires are burning simultaneously. Further, this technique is slow and hazardous since it involves the use of explosive materials in a hot and dangerous environment.


A portfolio includes a rectangular piece of a canvas material having an outer peripheral edge, a rectangular peripheral piece of a vinyl material having an inner peripheral edge that slightly overlaps the outer peripheral edge of the canvas material, with an inner surface of the inner peripheral edge and an outer surface of the outer peripheral edge being heat sealed to each other with a predetermined stitching pattern, a first cardboard rigidifying member positioned to an inner surface of the canvas material corresponding to a top panel of the desk folder, a second cardboard rigidifying member positioned to an inner surface of the canvas material adjacent to the first rigidifying member, corresponding to a bottom panel of the desk folder, with a spacing between the first and second rigidifying members which defines a narrow binding edge which connects together side edges of the top and bottom panels, a vinyl backing member positioned over the first and second rigidifying members being heat sealed to the vinyl material so as to retain the rigidifying members between the backing member and the canvas material, and decorative stitching applied to an outer periphery of the portfolio.

Portfolios are conventionally constructed with first and second panels connected together at a common side edge and from a combination of materials in order to provide an enhanced appearance to the finished product. For example, it is known to produce a portfolio from a single duck cloth (or nylon) sheet (for an outer covering) and a complementary single vinyl sheet (for an inner covering). Portfolios also include a decorative vinyl-like or leather material sewn to the outer periphery of the duck cloth sheet and the complementary vinyl sheet to connect the two sheets of material and to enhance the appearance of the portfolio. Cardboard or other stiffening material is interposed between the inner surfaces of the duck cloth and vinyl sheets to provide rigidity to the portfolio.
As stated above, with such known portfolios, the outer decorative vinyl material is secured to the duck cloth and vinyl sheets by stitching. This is a very labor intensive operation which substantially adds to the time required to manufacture each portfolio and therefore increases the cost of production.


An electronic person-to-person double auction-like system that facilitates trade in many differs sorts of item via the World Wide Web or similar such interface. A plurality of sellers can post details of items for sale, including a minimum bid amount and buy price for each. A buyer can create a bid basket comprising bids in respect of a plurality of heterogeneous items available for sale, together with bid-withdrawal rules defining circumstances in which respective bid(s) are to be withdrawn. Bids are binding unless withdrawn. The auction for any item continues until a buyer posts the buy price therefor or the seller accepts a bid posted therefor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic commerce across a communications network such as the Internet and, more particularly, to the facilitation of transactions between buyers and sellers in a communications environment, such as the World Wide Web. Aspects of the invention relate to the conduct of an automated auction, market-making and person-to-person ("P2P") electronic commerce.
2. Background Information
A number of auction formats are well known in the fields of auction theory and internet commerce, as will be discussed in more detail below.
The simplest auction situation that is studied in the art consists of a single seller, with a single item for sale, who must design a mechanism optimally to sell that item to one of many ("n") bidders. Many different auction formats can be used in this situation, of which four are paradigmatic. The most well known and widely used is the "English", or ascending auction, in which the bidding level is progressively raised (either by the bidders themselves in the case of an "outcry" auction, or by an electronic clock in the "Japanese" English auction) until just one bidder remains, who then pays her bid for the item. In the "Dutch", or descending auction, the bidding level starts very high and is progressively lowered (typically by an electronic clock) until someone bids, and that bidder pays the current level for the item. In the first-price sealed-bid auction, prospective buyers have a single chance to bid, and the seller sells the item to the high bidder for the amount she bid. Finally, in the second-price sealed-bid, or "Vickrey" auction (Vickrey, 1961), the seller again sells the item to the high bidder, but for the amount of the second highest bid.
These formats each have strengths and weaknesses, and which is best typically depends on the nature of the item, the nature of bidders' information about the item, the seller's and buyers' risk preferences, and implementability issues, such as transaction costs, political pressures, ease of understanding, whether bidders might be able to collude or deter entry, and whether the seller can credibly commit to the rules of the game.
Sellers can often use reserve prices to set a minimum amount for which they will sell their item. Reserve prices can be revealed to buyers, or can be kept hidden from buyers (in which case they only find out ex post whether the reserve has been met) depending on the circumstances. The functional opposite of the reserve price is known as the "Buy Price". Buy prices are the auction formalization of notices like "$50 or best offer" which often appear in yardsales or classified advertisements. The winner is the first bidder to bid the buy price, or, if none, the otherwise highest bidder (assuming such bid is above the reserve price, if any).
Another auction situation studied in the art is the procurement auction, in which there is a single buyer of some item and many ("n") potential sellers (e.g. a B2B sourcing auction). This auction situation is theoretically analogous to the first, and many of the same formats and techniques are applied to its study and usage.
Another auction situation studied in the art is the case of a single seller, selling multiple items ("k") to many buyers ("n"). If the k items are identical ("homogeneous"), and buyers have unit demand (i.e. want just one item each), then the auction situation is theoretically quite similar to the first. More complicated is when the items are not identical ("heterogeneous"), and/or when they might be complements or substitutes for the buyers (who will not generally have unit demand). In such case, auctioning the items individually is potentially problematic, both in terms of revenue generation for the seller, and efficient allocation of resources for society. Instead, it is generally thought best to auction the items simultaneously.
A simultaneous ascending auction consists of k individual ascending auctions, but with the stipulation that all of the auctions end simultaneously, when in some round no bid is received in any auction.
Another possibility is the package auction, in which bidders bid on one or more "packages" of items, either in sealed-bids or in an ascending auction setting. This is an area of active research, because of its importance in a wide variety of high-stakes applications.
Another auction situation studied in the art is the case of many sellers ("m") selling one or more of a homogeneous item to many buyers ("n"). This situation typically calls for a double auction, in which both buyers and sellers submit bids, and trade occurs at a single market-clearing price. Determining this price is non-trivial: in the case where buyers and sellers each submit a bid si for the trade of a single unit of the good (buyers bid a maximum willing-to-pay, sellers a minimum willing-to-accept), then any price between the mth and m+1th highest bids (s(m) and s(m+1), respectively) inclusive will clear the market. A "k-double auction" specifies a parameter k between 0 and 1 inclusive that determines which market clearing price is selected (specifically, p=(1−k)s(m)+ks(m+1)). The choice of parameter impacts the strategies of the buyers and sellers. The k-double auction is a model of a "call market," e.g. the setting of the daily opening price of each stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
It should be noted that the opening trading of each stock in the NYSE constitutes a separate, homogeneous item, double auction. (Trading after the opening is more difficult to model because of arrival and timing issues, but is related to a homogeneous item double auction). A buyer who wants to buy shares, for example, in Microsoft or Intel, but not both (e.g. because of budget-restrictions or transaction-cost efficiency reasons), must solve a complex optimization problem across multiple auctions. One solution may be to bid at an aggressive level for both, and then, as soon as one bid is successful, withdraw the other. But this strategy exposes the bidder to risk that either no trade is consummated, or both (if the timing is coincident).
Double auctions for heterogeneous items have not thus far been studied in the art. Note that if the many sellers could collectively hire an intermediary, who would then auction their items simultaneously to the buyers, we would be in the single-seller-n-buyers framework discussed above, and a mechanism such as the simultaneous ascending auction would perform well in terms of both revenue generation for the sellers and allocative efficiency for the buyers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a double auction-like mechanism for heterogeneous items. Double auctions for heterogeneous items are of particular interest in situations whereby the above-mentioned intermediation is difficult or impossible. Person-to-person internet commerce is one such market where intermediation is difficult, and other examples are given later.

System and method for conducting electronic commerce


An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a first conveyance path, a sheet feeding unit, a sheet post-processing unit, and a controller. The image forming apparatus has a first feed portion, and an image forming portion. The sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet stacking portion, a second feed portion, a relay conveyance portion, and a remaining amount detecting portion. When, during continuous printing, the existing number of recording sheets present in a conveyance passage from a confluence portion to the first feed portion is more than the constituting number of recording sheets contained in one bundle of sheets and in addition the sensing result of the remaining amount sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the controller controls first feed portion such that the existing number of the recording sheets is less than the constituting number of recording sheets.

The present disclosure relates to a sheet feeding unit for inserting a cover sheet, a slip sheet, or the like among a plurality of sheets having images formed on them by an image forming apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, facsimile machine, or printer. The present disclosure also relates to an image forming system that employs such a sheet feeding unit.
A known image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet feeding unit connected downstream of the image forming apparatus, and a sheet post-processing unit connected downstream of the sheet feeding apparatus. In such an image forming system, among a plurality of recording sheets having images formed on them by the image forming apparatus, insertion sheets to become cover sheets or slip sheets are inserted from the sheet feeding apparatus to produce a bundle of sheets that contains recording sheets and insertion sheets, and the bundle of sheets is subjected to predetermined post-processing by the sheet post-processing apparatus to produce a booklet.


A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysocephalum plant named ‘Flochryel’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; inflorescences with dark yellow-colored disc florets; upright to pendulous flowering stems; and long flowering period.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysocephalum plant, botanically known as Chrysocephalum apiculatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Flochryel'.
The new Chrysocephalum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and long-flowering Chrysocephalum cultivars with numerous and attractive flowers.
The new Chrysocephalum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia in 2000, of a proprietary selection of Chrysocephalum apiculatum identified as code number 02-104, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysocephalum apiculatum identified as code number 02-083, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysocephalum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia in 2001.
Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysocephalum by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysocephalum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

Floreta Pty. Ltd. as Trustees for Chrysocephalum Trust


In a method for managing compensatory transactions between vehicles, a compensation engine determines relative priorities of the first and second vehicles. The compensation engine determines compensation between the first and second vehicles based on the relative priorities of the first and second vehicles. Following the determination of compensation, the compensation engine executes a transfer of compensation between the first and second vehicles.

Given the increase in driver-independent vehicle aids being implemented in vehicles and driverless vehicles being developed and used in real world circumstances, establishing communication between vehicles is vital in creating a robust system that can accommodate to changing variables. Importantly, establishing communication between vehicles such that the one or more vehicles in communication change their respective behaviors based on the vehicles around them greatly enhances, broadens, and deepens the utility of driverless vehicles. With enhanced inter-vehicle communication and corresponding flexibility in vehicle behavior, a robust compensation system allows for more flexibility in how vehicles interact with each other.
In conventional compensation systems associated with vehicles, vehicles simply react to their surroundings in static ways to provide compensation for travel privileges, including, for example, the payment of a toll to access a priority lane. Additionally, conventional systems contemplate the payment of a fee for prioritized travel without considering significantly more complex inter-vehicle transfers of compensation made possible by technologies associated with both driverless and non-driverless vehicles. In one example, conventional vehicle-based compensation systems can have a near field communications system that allows a sensor to detect a vehicle entering a prioritized lane. In other examples, vehicle-based compensation systems can track vehicles by using a camera with character recognition to identify a license plate number. These conventional compensation systems are limited to detecting the presence of vehicles within a limited environment to engage in a one-way financial transaction, including, for example, the payment of a toll to access a priority lane.
In contrast, the increasing connectivity of vehicles to larger systems and each other allows for more complex systems with less rigid boundaries. As a result, the state of art can be improved by providing a compensation system that is able to scale to the additional logistical requirements resulting from interconnected vehicles (e.g., network-connected cars, planes, and boats). Compensation systems that allow for vehicles to conduct multiple transactions with each other for any type of financial transaction can significantly enhance the capabilities of interconnected vehicles. For example, a compensation system that enables five cars to complete substantially simultaneous transactions guided by a set of parameters with each other can allow for the five cars to establish different tiers of cruising speeds on a highway regardless of the presence of a formal infrastructure (e.g., a conventional toll payment system).
U.S. Pat. No. 8,751,391 to Freund teaches a method and a process that allows consumers to make financial payments to a third party using RFID technology. Freund does not contemplate completing financial transaction between or among vehicles. Additionally, Freund contemplated only using RFID technology to execute financial transactions and other types of transactions. As such, Freund is limited in its application, and does not contemplate the allowing complex inter-vehicle compensation to occur based on changing compensation parameters associated with different vehicles.
US Patent Application Publication Number 20090289113 to Vilnai teaches management system of allowing a vehicle to communicate with a station relay unit to either complete a financial transaction or receive authorization. Similarly to Freund, Vilnai does not disclose a vehicle to vehicle compensation system and the inventive concept of Vilnai behaves similarly to conventional toll readers. As such, Vilnai is also limited in its application, and does not contemplate the allowing complex inter-vehicle compensation to occur based on changing compensation parameters associated with different vehicles.
Freund, Vilnai, and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual extrinsic material was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Thus, there is still a need for systems to allow network-connected vehicles to participate in a compensation system allowing wide flexibility in compensation options to enable sophisticated transactions.

Vehicle priority-based compensation system


A multi-workpiece chamber includes at least two processing stations, for exposing workpieces to a treatment process. A partition cooperates with the chamber such that the partition is disengagably removable from the chamber and re-engagable with the chamber for selectively dividing the processing stations. The partition is configured to provide for non-line-of-sight travel of certain ones of the process related products between the processing stations. An exhaust arrangement divides exhaust flow into at least two approximately equal exhaust flow portions that leave the multi-workpiece chamber in a way which enhances uniformity of the treatment process for the stations. A partition configuration is described including a partition portion between the stations and a baffle portion extending into an exhaust arrangement. A modified partition arrangement is provided for use in establishing a modified exchange characteristic of the process related products.

The present invention is related generally to the field of workpiece processing such as, for example, processing semiconductor wafers and, more particularly, to a multi-workpiece processing chamber and its method of use.
A number of processing systems, currently used in the production of semiconductor wafers, are capable of processing more than one wafer at a time for purposes of enhancing system throughput. It has been asserted in the prior art, however, that a single-wafer process chamber provides more uniform process results when compared to multi-wafer processing chamber configurations. Presumably, this degradation in "across-wafer" and "station-to-station" uniformity is thought to be directly attributable to communication between adjacent wafer processing stations within a shared process chamber and environment.
Process uniformity, however, is of increasing concern, particularly in view of an industry emphasis on ever-decreasing device feature sizes. One example, attempting to provide a compromise between the asserted contamination problem that is associated with batch processing in a shared process environment and limited throughput in the use of single-wafer process chamber, is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,681 (hereinafter the '681 patent). The latter adopts the use of "tandem" single wafer processing chambers, having processing regions that are described as being separate from one another (see col. 4, ln. 37-40). A single chamber body is used to define these separate processing regions. The processing region defined by each tandem chamber is deemed by the patent as isolatable from the processing region of the other tandem chamber by virtue of limiting communication between the adjacent processing regions only to that which selectively occurs through an exhaust system. Such selective communication would presumably be controlled based on the pumping status of the vacuum pumping system. Otherwise, the tandem chambers appear to function, from a process standpoint, in a way which is essentially the same as a pair of separate single-wafer processing chambers (see, for example, col. 2, ln. 54-56). In this regard, the system provides for multiple, isolated processes to be performed concurrently in at least two regions (see col. 4, ln. 44-51), which reasonably suggests that a first process can be performed in one processing region of a tandem chamber while a second, different process is performed in the other processing region of that same tandem chamber.
While there may be advantages associated with the asserted capabilities of the separate, tandem chambers of the '861 patent in providing for simultaneously executing different processes in each chamber, it is a concern that there are many circumstances in which such capability is not necessary. That is, there are many instances in which it is advantageous, at least from a throughput standpoint, to perform the same process at both processing stations, without a need for providing the additional capability to practice different processes. It is a further concern that certain aspects of the configuration for the tandem chamber of the '861 patent such as, for example, its exhaust configuration, are quite complex. This exhaust system is seen in FIG. 21 of the patent wherein a pair of individual exhaust conduits 621 merge into a common exhaust channel 619. It is considered that the use of this complex exhaust system adds considerable expense to the fabrication of the tandem chamber arrangement. Still further problems could be introduced if there is any tendency for contaminants to build up in exhaust channels 621, leading to different pressures in one chamber with respect to the other. Likewise, other features, which result in the capability to practice different processes, are considered to add expense to the cost of the system in order to achieve a level of region-to-region process isolation which may never be needed, in view of a particular end user's needs.
Referring to FIG. 1, one prior art process chamber configuration, that has been found to be useful and which avoids the aforedescribed concerns with respect to the '681 patent, is generally indicated by the reference number 10. Chamber 10 includes a first wafer pedestal 12 and a second wafer pedestal 14, each of which is configured for supporting a wafer (not shown) thereon.
Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, chamber 10 includes a chamber base 20 that is best seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 and is integrally formed with an arrangement of sidewalls 22. Chamber base 20 defines a single exhaust port 24 which serves the entire chamber interior. A single chamber lid (not shown) is hinged to chamber 10 along one of its peripheral edges and seals against an O-ring 28 (FIG. 1) that is supported by sidewall arrangement 22. A partition 30 is integrally formed with sidewalls 22 and with chamber base 20 so as to extend between a lengthwise pair of the sidewalls, across the entrance leading into exhaust port 24. A notch 32 is defined in partition 30 so as to provide for flow communication between opposing sides of the partition. A pump spool 34 is attached to chamber base 20 and defines an exhaust channel 36 that is aligned with exhaust port 24.
Referring to FIG. 2, partition 30 does not seal against chamber lid 26. In this regard, a gap (not shown) is formed between an upper edge of the partition and the chamber lid so that the upper edge confronts the chamber lid, but does not contact it. Such potential rubbing contact is undesirable at least for the reason that particle generation would occur in a way that can adversely affect a process that is being executed at either of the wafer pedestals in the chamber. Partition 30 has a thickness that is on the order of ¼ or less of the thickness of the chamber sidewalls. Accordingly, the partition is not intended to support a pressure differential from one side to the other, since continuous pressure equalization occurs very rapidly through notch 32. It should be appreciated that even slight pressure differences from one processing station to the other can produce significant differences in on-wafer process results.
Referring again to FIG. 1, chamber 10 is considered to comprise a batch processing system, since no capability is provided for performing a different process at wafer pedestal 12 than the process which is preformed at wafer pedestal 14. That is, either the same process should be performed at both pedestals or one of the pedestals should be inactive. This system will not accommodate performing different processes at the pedestals, since some degree of cross-contamination can occur. At the same time, however, it is recognized that this limited level of cross-contamination may be insignificant when the same process is performed at multiple stations that are within a common process chamber and environment.
Of course, some process constraints can be controlled individually for each wafer pedestal, as has long been practiced. For example, variations in gas mixtures intended to further enhance process uniformity can be provided using separate showerheads (not shown), one of which is provided for each wafer pedestal.
The chamber of FIGS. 1 and 2 has provided more than acceptable process results while avoiding the need to use completely isolated single wafer process environments, as is taught by the '228 patent. In this regard, the present invention provides more than acceptable process results in a multi-wafer chamber maintaining a limited communication between adjacent processing regions, which continues to overcome the aforementioned concerns associated with the '228 patent, while providing still further advantages over all prior art of which Applicant is aware, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An image fixing apparatus controls temperature of a rotating member for fixing with compensation for delay by using a Smith predictor with a controlled object model to reduce temperature ripple effectively. In one example, the image fixing apparatus includes a pair of rotating members to form a nip portion, a heater to heat the rotating member, a temperature sensor to detect temperature of the rotating member, a calculator to calculate a heat value to attain a target temperature of the rotating member, a controller to control the heater based on a calculation result of the heat value with compensation for delay using a model according to the calculation result, and a selector to select a control in which an output of the compensation is input into the calculator or a control in which the output of the compensation is not input into the calculator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus equipped with the fixing apparatus, and more particularly to an image fixing apparatus capable of fixing a toner image onto a recording medium by effectively controlling an image fixing temperature in an electrophotographic process.
2. Discussion of the Background
A background image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile using an electrophotographic method is generally provided with an image fixing apparatus that melts and fixes a toner image onto a recording medium with heat. This heating type image fixing apparatus commonly includes a heater, a fixing member, and a rotating member. The heater is energized with power to produce heat. The fixing member is heated up to a target temperature by the heater. The rotating member is arranged in contact with the fixing member to form a nip region therebetween. Since the heater keeps the nip region at the target temperature, a recording medium carrying a toner layer thereon undergoes an image fixing process as it passes through the nip region.
Stably maintaining the target temperature is a key element of good quality image formation. If the temperature is higher or lower than the target, a poor image, referred to as an offset image, may be formed or poor fixing may occur. Furthermore, reducing a warm-up period of the image fixing apparatus is also needed for shortening a waiting time.
One exemplary attempt to shorten the warm-up time is to reduce a heat capacity of the fixing member. This attempt produces a high heat nip between the fixing member, in a form of a thin film having a relatively low heat capacity, and the rotating member, while achieving a reduction of warm-up time. This attempt also achieves a successful use of a belt-shaped fixing member. In this case, the fixing belt is extended between two or more rollers including a first roller having a relatively low thermal conductivity and a second roller serving as a heat source. The first roller closely faces a third roller via the fixing belt to form a nip with the fixing belt.
In addition to these low heat capacity examples, the fixing member having a low heat capacity may be provided with an alternative heat source, that is, an induction heater for directly heating the fixing member.
The above techniques, however, require a high accuracy in controlling temperature of the fixing member due to its low heat capacity.
Controlling electric power to the heater controls temperature of the fixing member. For controlling electric power, temperature sensors are provided in the fixing apparatus such as a thermo pile and a thermo sensitive register to detect a temperature of the fixing member. When the detected temperature is lower than the target temperature, the heater is turned on. When the detected temperature is higher than the target temperature, the heater is turned off. This is called an ON-OFF controlling method.
Although the ON-OFF controlling is used in this method, carrying out precise temperature control may be difficult due to a temperature ripple.
A temperature ripple induces to use a compensation in which a calculator calculates an amount of operations and outputs the amount to a controlled object based on the desired temperature value and the amount of feedbacks. For example, the amount of proportional integral (PI) or proportional integral differential (PID) operations is calculated as the compensation.
Even if the control method with the compensation is used, an exothermic delay in the heater, a heat transmission delay from the heater to a fixing member surface, a detecting delay from a slow response of a temperature sensor, and a delay from a heater driver to the temperature sensor may occur. They may cause a temperature ripple. Furthermore, the temperature ripple may easily occur in a belt fixing apparatus, because the heat delay in the belt is greater.
For reducing the temperature ripple, two or more output patterns of a specific pulse corresponding to a detected temperature may be stored and one of the control patterns may be selected according to the detected temperature to carry out the temperature control. As another method, calculating the change rate of difference between the last control timing temperature and the present detected temperature is used for predicting the next control timing temperature to control the temperature. The number of the specific pulses or the width of the specific pulse is used for the control.

Image fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus capable of effectively controlling an image fixing temperature


A method that initiates call blocking responsive to a call-quality measurement of the forward link. The call-quality measurement is a measurement of how well a mobile terminal is able to receive the forward link. One call-quality measurement is a pilot fraction of the forward link, which is a ratio of the pilot""s power level to the power level of a set of forward-link signals of a base station. Call blocking is initiated when an average pilot fraction is below a pilot-fraction blocking threshold. The pilot""s power level is obtained for a time period, and the signal set""s power level is obtained for the same time period. The pilot fraction is determined for the time period, and then used to determine the average pilot fraction for the time period. The average pilot fraction for the current time period is based on a pilot fraction for the current time period, and an average pilot fraction for a previous time period. When the average pilot fraction is below the pilot-fraction blocking threshold, call blocking is initiated. The pilot-fraction blocking threshold is preferably based on: 1) the pilot fraction when the base station is at full load; 2) the size, shape, and terrain of the cell; and 3) the aggressiveness of the overload control. In the preferred embodiment, the signal set includes all of the signals generated by the base station, alternatively, the signal set can include fewer than all the signals generated by the base station. If the cell includes several sectors, the call blocking is initiated on a sector basis when the average pilot fraction of the sector is below the pilot-fraction blocking threshold. Other call-quality measurements, such as the forward link""s frame error rate, the number of dropped calls, or the Power Measurement Report Message (PMRM), can be used, alone or in combination, instead of or in addition to the pilot fraction of the forward link to determine whether call blocking should be initiated. Determining whether call blocking should be initiated using one of the other call-quality measurements is performed in a similar manner as for the pilot fraction. Initiating call blocking using several call-quality measurements involves initiating call blocking when any one of the call-quality measurements indicates that call blocking should be initiated. Alternatively, call blocking can be initiated when several of the call quality measurements indicate that call blocking should be initiated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and, in particular, to call admission control in wireless communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication systems employ Code Division Multiple Access (xe2x80x9cCDMAxe2x80x9d) modulation techniques to permit a large number of system users to communicate with one another. Such systems work because each signal is coded with spreading sequences, such as with pseudo-random noise (xe2x80x9cPNxe2x80x9d) sequences, and orthogonal spreading sequences, such as Walsh codes. This coding permits signal separation and signal reconstruction at the receiver. In typical CDMA systems, communication is achieved by using a different spreading sequence for each channel. This permits a plurality of transmitted signals to share the same bandwidth. Particular transmitted signals are retrieved from the communication channel by despreading a signal from all of the signals. Despreading is achieved by using a known user despreading sequence related to the spreading sequence implemented at the transmitter.
FIG. 1 illustrates CDMA system 10. The geographic area serviced by CDMA system 10 is divided into a plurality of spatially distinct areas called xe2x80x9ccells.xe2x80x9d Although cells 2, 4, 6 are illustrated as a hexagon in a honeycomb pattern, each cell is actually of an irregular shape that depends on the topography of the terrain surrounding the cell. Each cell 2, 4, 6 contains one base station 12, 14, and 16, respectively. Each base station 12, 14, and 16 includes equipment to communicate with Mobile Switching Center (xe2x80x9cMSCxe2x80x9d) 20, which is connected to local and/or long-distance transmission network 22, such as a public switch telephone network (PSTN). Each base station 12, 14, and 16 also includes radios and antennas that the base station uses to communicate with mobile terminals 24, 26.
When a call is set up in a CDMA system, a base station and mobile terminal communicate over a forward link and a reverse link. The forward link includes communication channels for transmitting signals from the base station to the mobile terminal, and the reverse link includes communication channels for transmitting signals from the mobile terminal to the base station. The base station transmits certain types of control information to the mobile terminal over a communication channel, referred to herein as a forward control channel, also known in the art as a forward overhead channel. Forward control channels include the pilot, paging, and synchronization channels. The base station transmits voice or data, and certain types of control information over a communication channel, referred to herein as a forward traffic channel. The signals on the communication channels are organized in time periods, referred to herein as frames. (Frames are typically 20-millisecond (ms) in length. The signals transmitted over the control channels are referred to herein as control signals, and the signals transmitted over the traffic channels are referred to herein as traffic signals.
Some base stations may implement overload control to ensure that the power transmitted by the base station does not exceed the power level at which the base station""s equipment is designed to operate over an extended time period. The base stations implement overload control by using one of several remedies. Typically, one of these remedies includes denying access to any new call requests, referred to herein as call blocking. Typically, call blocking is initiated when the total power level of all the signals transmitted by the base station reaches a certain percentage, for example, 80% to 100% of the maximum output power level at which the base station""s amplifier is designed to operate over an extended time period. This maximum output power is referred to herein as the amplifier""s maximum-continuous power level.
The inventors have discovered that problems can result from initiating call blocking based on only the total power level of the signals transmitted by the base station. Generally, when a call is added to a cell, the noise level in the cell and in the surrounding cells is increased. This makes it more difficult for a mobile terminal to clearly obtain the pilot, particularly if the mobile terminal is at the edge of a cell. In some base stations the pilot""s power level can vary. In the case where the pilot""s power level is reduced, it is even more difficult for a mobile terminal at the edge of a cell to obtain the pilot. When the mobile terminal cannot obtain a clear and continuous pilot, problems can result on the call between this mobile terminal and the base station. These problems can range from not being able to despread a frame, which results in an erred frame, to dropping a call, which results in an inconvenience to the customer and a loss of revenue. Therefore, although the total power level is still below the percentage at which calls are blocked, adding the call may cause calls already in the cell to have difficulties.
The invention solves the above problems by initiating call blocking responsive to a call-quality measurement of the forward link. A call-quality measurement is a measurement of how well a mobile terminal is able to receive the forward link.
One call-quality measurement is a pilot fraction of the forward link, which is a ratio of the pilot""s power level to the power level of a set of forward-link signals of a base station. Preferably, call blocking is initiated when an average pilot fraction is below a pilot-fraction blocking threshold. Alternatively, call blocking can be initiated when the pilot fraction is below the pilot-fraction blocking threshold.
The pilot""s power level is obtained for a time period, and the signal set""s power level is obtained for the same time period. The pilot fraction is determined for the time period. The pilot fraction is then used to determine the average pilot fraction for the current time period. The average pilot fraction for the current time period is based on the pilot fraction for the current time period and an average pilot fraction for a previous time period. Alternatively, the average pilot fraction for the current time period can be based on the pilot fraction for the current time period, and the pilot fractions of the previous plurality of time periods, averaged over the plurality of time periods.
When the average pilot fraction is below the pilot-fraction blocking threshold, call blocking is initiated. The pilot-fraction blocking threshold is preferably based on several factors. The first is the pilot fraction when the base station is at full load. The second is the size, shape, and terrain of the cell. The third is the aggressiveness of the overload control, which is the balance between the desire to increase the capacity of the system and the desire to ensure the signal is received at a particular quality. In the preferred embodiment, the signal set includes all of the signals generated by the base station, alternatively, the signal set can include fewer than all the signals generated by the base station. For example, the signal set can include a plurality of traffic signals, or a plurality of traffic signals and one or more of the control signal.
If the cell includes several sectors, the call blocking is initiated on a sector basis. Call blocking is initiated when the average pilot fraction of the sector is below the pilot-fraction blocking threshold.
Other call-quality measurements, such as the forward link""s frame error rate, the number of dropped calls, or the Power Measurement Report Message (PMRM), can be used, alone or in combination, instead of or in addition to the pilot fraction of the forward link to determine whether call blocking should be initiated. Determining whether call blocking should be initiated using one of the other call-quality measurements is performed in a similar manner as described above for the pilot fraction. Determining whether call blocking should be initiated using several call-quality measurements involves determining whether call blocking should be initiated based on any of the call quality measurements and initiating call blocking when any one of the call-quality measurements indicates that call blocking should be initiated. Alternatively, call blocking can be initiated when several of the call quality measurements indicate that call blocking should be initiated.

Method for initiating call blocking based upon pilot fraction


Systems and methods for face recognition are provided. In one example, a method for face recognition includes receiving a user image and detecting a user luminance of data representing the user's face. An adaptive low pass filter is selected that corresponds to the user luminance of the user's face. The filter is applied to the user image to create a filtered user image. The filtered user image is projected to create a filtered user image representation. A filtered reference image representation that has been filtered with the same low pass filter is selected from a reference image database. The method then determines whether the filtered reference image representation matches the filtered user image representation.

Face recognition technology may be utilized to identify a person in various applications and contexts. Such applications and contexts may include, for example, computing systems using natural user interfaces, security systems, identity authentication systems, and the like. When used in these different applications and/or contexts, a face recognition system may encounter varying illumination conditions that pose challenges to the accuracy and reliability of the system. In one example, imaging sensors that capture facial image data may generate increasing noise as the illumination of the subject face decreases. As a result, in low illumination conditions the sensors may produce a lower quality image that may cause inaccurate results and inconsistent performance of the face recognition system.
In some prior approaches, noise reduction filters have been employed to reduce the amount of noise in the image prior to applying the face recognition technology. These approaches, however, typically set the filter parameters without regard to illumination conditions present when the image was captured. As a result, depending upon the illumination conditions, the filter may "over-correct" the region of interest removing small details, or "under-correct" the region of interest leaving the undesirable noise.
In other approaches, the direction of illumination incident on the subject face and/or the pattern of illumination that is present when the image is captured may be estimated. Such data may be used to preprocess the image prior to applying a face recognition application. These approaches, however, involve gathering and processing a significant amount of information, and are therefore computationally demanding and expensive.


An implantable device comprising a nanochanneled membrane is described. The device uses nanofluidics to control the delivery of diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents intratumorally. The devices can be used for chemotherapy, radiosensitization, immunomodulation, and imaging contrast.

Conventional standard-of-care for most oncological interventions entails surgical resection followed by radiation and systemic chemotherapy. This approach has remained the clinical mainstay despite recognition of the toxicity typical of systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy that frequently limits treatment efficacy and reduces quality of life for many patients (Panchuk, et al., J Biomed Nanotech. 11, 1139-1152 (2015); G. B. Lesinski, et al., Biomed Microdevices. 7, 71-9 (2005); E. P. Goldberg, et al., J Pharmacy Pharmacol. 54, 159-180 (2002)). This is in addition to known drawbacks such as insufficient local concentration of chemotherapeutics that induce drug resistance within tumor cell populations (C. Holohan, et al., Nature Rev Cancer. 13, 714-726 (2013); M. Rebucci, et al., Biochemical Pharmacol. 85, 1219-1226 (2013)). These weaknesses have motivated development of local, intratumoral administration methods that have been demonstrated to require substantially reduced overall dosages of drug, lowering systemic toxicity while increasing intratumoral drug concentrations (D. T. Yapp, et al., Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 42, 413-20 (1998); A. Marabelle, et al., Clin Cancer Res. 20, 1747-56 (2014)). Several approaches to intratumoral delivery of chemo- and immunotherapy have been developed, including direct infusion (J. Dubrot, et al., Int J Cancer. 128, 105-18 (2011); D. Ansari, et al., World J Gastroenterol. 18, 1003-8 (2012); R. L. Hood, et al., Lasers Surg Med. 45, 418-26 (2013); H. L. Kaufman, et al., Human Gene Therapy. 17, 239-244 (2006)), biodegradable polymers (C. Guerin, et al., Invest New Drugs. 22, 27-37 (2004); Y. Dong, et al., Clin Cancer Res. 15, 131-9 (2009); B. D. Weinberg, et al., J Pharm Sci. 97, 1681-702 (2008)), and nanoparticle conjugation (E. Allard, et al., Pharm Res. 27, 56-64 (2010); O. Guo, et al., J Biomed Nanotechnol. 10, 227-37 (2014)). Apparent drawbacks to these approaches include rapid metabolism and clearance, burst release kinetics with a rapid peak followed by a trough, and reliance on materials that are unlikely to be approved by the FDA, respectively. What is thus needed is a bioinert platform that provides persistent intratumoral release over several days. The compositions and methods disclosed herein address this and other needs.

Implantable nanochannel delivery devices


Described is a device (16) for the selection and detection of at least two spectral regions in a beam of light (14), the device including a selection unit (25) and a detection unit (26). To ensure reliable simultaneous selection and detection of different spectral regions plus high yield and simplest possible construction, the device is designed such that the selection unit (25) comprises means (27) for splitting the light beam (14) up into its spectral components and means (28) for not only masking off a first spectral region (29) but also reflecting at least part (30) of the spectral region which is not masked off, and the detection unit (26) comprises a first detector (31) located in the path of the light in the masked-off first spectral region (29) and a second detector (32) located in the path of the light of the reflected spectral region (30).

The invention relates to a device for the selection and detection of at least two spectral regions in a beam of light, having a selection device and a detection device. In particular, the present invention relates to a device of the type under discussion which is suitable for use in confocal fluorescence microscopy.
"Proceedings of Scanning, Vol. 13, Supplement I, 1991, pages I-76 and I-77" to be found in the literature disclosed a confocal fluorescence microscope which can be used to detect the spectral region of a dye. A beam of light generated by a laser is guided with the aid of optical units to an object to be microscoped and reflected from the latter, or excites fluorescent materials there. The reflected or fluorescent beam of light is coupled out by means of a beam splitter and fed to a detector via an optical filter. The filter fulfills the task of cutting out the spectral region of the dye. If the relevant dye is contained in the object to be microscoped, it is detected by the detector due to the high intensity. Consequently, it is possible in this way in the case of a biomedical application, for example, to detect dyed cells or cell structures in an object.
It is also already known to use the previously described microscoping technique over a wider scope. Thus, for example, different cell constituents are dyed simultaneously with two or more dyes, in order to be able to determine or investigate the spatial correlation of the cell constituents. However, it is necessary in the framework of this application to cut out, or select the different spectral regions of the respective dyes from the total reflected beam of light. For this purpose, use has been made to date of beam splitters and optical filters which are exactly tuned to the respective spectral region. Each cut-out beam of light is then fed in a way known per se to a detector provided specially for the purpose.
The previously dressed device, from which the invention present here proceeds, which serves to select and detect at least two spectral regions in a beam of light has the very substantial disadvantage that a separate filter is required for each dye. With regard, in particular, to the possibility of detecting different dyes or dye combinations, the consequence of this is that a multiplicity of filters must be provided as dictated by the system. A further disadvantage of the known device is to be seen in that the intensity of the beam of light reflected from the object is reduced by the filters. The consequence of this, in turn, is that increased optical and, if appropriate, electronic demands have to be placed on the detectors for reliable selection and detection of spectral regions.

Device for the selection and detection of at least two spectral regions in a beam of light


An energy storage system has a pressure vessel that is exposed to ambient temperatures and that contains a working fluid which is condensable at ambient temperatures (CWF); a liquid reservoir in communication with one of the vessels and containing a liquid that is unvaporizable in the reservoir and in the vessel; and apparatus for delivering the liquid from the reservoir to the vessel. The CWF is compressible within the vessel upon direct contact with the liquid and is storable in a liquid state after being compressed to its saturation pressure. In a method, at least some of the liquid located in the vessel is propelled by the CWF towards a turbine to produce power. In one embodiment, a module has a first vessel having at least four ports, a second vessel at ambient temperatures, and a flow control component operatively connected to a corresponding conduit for selectively controlling fluid flow.

Energy collected from various sustainable energy sources such as wind, solar and wave energy sources is known to be stored in the form of compressed gas. During periods of power demand, the compressed gas is discharged from the storage vessel and electrical power is able to be generated. Alternatively, the stored compressed gas can be utilized in different industrial applications.
Many compressed air energy storage (CAES) systems are known in the prior art. Compressed air has traditionally been stored in large and costly underground caverns or in underwater elastic balloons. Although CAES plants have a large power rating and storage capacity, they have some major drawbacks. Firstly, air has a significantly great heat of compression, suffering from a heat loss of approximately 85% when compressed. Less compressed air is able to be stored as its temperature increases. Secondly, the pressure in the cavern within which the compressed air is stored becomes slowly reduced as additional air is released, thereby negatively influencing the amount of electricity that is able to be produced by a turbine driven by the released compressed air.
Attempts have been made to reduce the heat of compression by charging and discharging air isothermally; however, the need of employing heat exchangers to facilitate the isothermal compression unnecessarily adds costs to a storage facility.
In other CAES systems, diabatic (D-CAES), adiabatic (A-CAES), and liquid (LAES) air energy storage means have been employed. The air temperature for these prior art systems significantly deviates from ambient temperature, and therefore these prior art systems also require the use of expensive heat exchangers and rotating equipment, i.e. compressors and gas turbines.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compressed gas energy storage system with increased energy density relative to prior art systems.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a compressed gas energy storage system with increased system round trip efficiency relative to prior art systems.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a compressed gas energy storage system and method that have reduced capital and operating costs relative to the prior art.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.


A polyvinyl alcohol polymer capable of, in producing hydrolyzable cellulose using a cellulosic biomass as a basic material, readily disrupting the cellulosic biomass at a molecular level by imparting a suitable flow resistance to a solution containing the cellulosic biomass, or the like, thereby resulting in efficient production of hydrolyzable cellulose to be enabled; and a method for producing hydrolyzable cellulose using the polyvinyl alcohol polymer. Provided is a polyvinyl alcohol polymer for use in producing hydrolyzable cellulose using a cellulosic biomass as a basic material, the polyvinyl alcohol polymer having: an average degree of polymerization of no less than 200 and no greater than 5,000; a degree of saponification of no less than 70 mol % and no greater than 99.9 mol %; and a molecular weight distribution of no less than 2.2.

Biomasses as referred to mean biological renewable resources, and can be defined as "renewable and biological organic resources, except for fossil resources". Effective utilization of unutilized plant-derived biomasses among these biomasses such as: timbers, e.g., timbers from forest thinning; rice straws, wheat straws, rice hulls, stalks of starch-producing crops such as maize and sugarcane; empty fruit bunches (EFB) of Elaeis guineensis, etc., has been desired.
Among the components of such plant-derived biomasses, many polysaccharides such as starches are easily degraded by an enzyme or the like to monosaccharides, and utilized as energy sources, as well as foodstuffs, and the like. Accordingly, for the effective utilization of plant-derived biomasses, it is known that degradation of cellulose contained in plant cells at high proportions into methane and/or monosaccharides (glucose) to permit utilization as energy sources as well as foodstuffs and the like would be important. However, as is seen from the fact that cellulose constitutes the vast majority of cell walls, cellulose has a rigid structure and is resistant against degradation; therefore, effective utilization thereof has been hampered under current circumstances.
Specifically, cellulose has multiple structures in cell walls as shown below. The vast majority of cellulose that constitutes cell walls has a quasicrystal structure, which is referred to as "microfibril", formed by linearly cohesion. The cellulosic components (i.e., microfibrils) having such a quasicrystal structure are bonded with one another via noncellulosic components such as hemicellulose and lignin. These cellulosic components (i.e., microfibrils) and noncellulosic components are arranged to give a large structure which is generally referred to as "fibril". The fibrils construct cell walls by lamination into a sheet form, in general. In the cellulosic components (i.e., microfibrils) having the quasicrystal structure as described above, polymer chains of cellulose are strongly linked via hydrogen bonds. Due to the hydrogen bonds, plants can have strong cell walls.
A means for degrading cellulose having such a structure into methane may involve a method in which degradative digestion by an anaerobic microorganism is allowed, and the like. However, degradation of cellulose using a microorganism is unsatisfactory in terms of practical applicability on the reasons that controlling the reaction is complicated, and the like.
On the other hand, according to chemical approaches, it is also possible to hydrolyze cellulose into monosaccharides using a catalyst or an enzyme. The monosaccharides obtained by the chemical degradation of cellulose are, for example, converted into ethanol by fermentation, and can be used as energy sources for preexisting internal combustion engines and turbines. However, it is difficult to efficiently allow the cellulosic biomasses derived from plants to be directly hydrolyzed in the chemical approaches, due to the molecular structure of cellulose in cell walls as described above. Such a disadvantage is believed to result from the rigid structure of cellulose that prevents water, enzyme and the like from entry into the quasicrystal structure, thereby leading to significant retardation of the action of a cellulose-degrading enzyme. In other words, since the enzyme is not able to readily enter into the quasicrystal structure formed by strong linkage via hydrogen bonds, it is impossible to directly degrade glycoside bonds. Therefore, the enzyme can merely degrade the quasicrystal structure of cellulose gradually from the surface, and thus it is impossible to attain high efficiencies in direct hydrolysis of cellulosic biomasses by an enzyme.
Accordingly, a method in which a cellulosic biomass is finely disrupted prior to hydrolysis by an enzyme or the like to produce readily hydrolyzable cellulose was proposed. This method fundamentally uses: a chemical action including gradually hydrating cellulose having the quasicrystal structure, and thus weakening hydrogen bonds between polymer chains of adjacent cellulose by way of the hydration; and a physical action of mechanically imparting a force to the cellulosic biomass by beating, kneading or the like to disrupt the cellulose polymer chains. More specifically, with respect to such a method, for example (1) a technique including agitating cellulosic biomass particles in a vessel to prepare a suspension of the particles, and thereafter elevating the temperature of the suspension of the particles and gradually supplying water to allow for hydration while continuously agitating the particles, whereby fine powders are produced (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application (Translation of PCT Application), Publication No. 2004-526008); (2) a technique including mixing cellulosic biomass particles with an aqueous solution of a water soluble polymer having a flow resistance, followed by agitation, thereby disrupting cellulose polymer chains to separate from one another through efficiently transferring the mechanical force generated by the agitation to cellulose polymer chains (pamphlet of PCT International Publication No. 2009/124072); and the like were proposed.
However, according to the technique (1), an apparatus for providing fine particles of a cellulosic biomass as a suspension is complicating. In addition, since a large amount of energy is consumed during employing this technique; therefore, high productivity cannot be achieved. On the other hand, according to the technique (2), a certain level of improvement of hydrolyzability of the cellulosic biomass is found by using water soluble polymer for imparting a flow resistance to the aqueous solution. However, a further modification has been required for improvement of hydrolyzability for putting into practical applications.

Polyvinyl alcohol polymer, and method for producing hydrolyzable cellulose using the same


A heat exchanging device absorbs heat from a heat source, in the form of waste fluid, and exchanges the absorbed heat to an object which benefits from warming. The heat exchanging device is coupled to a first structure, the combination of the heat exchanging device and the first structure forming a passage for the waste fluid to flow. Within the passage, absorption fins absorb heat from the waste fluid. The device is also engaged with a second structure which contains the object which benefits from warming. The heat absorb by the fins and the remaining body of the heat exchanging device is exchanged to the second structure, which in turn exchanges the heat to the object contained within the second structure. The heat exchanging device exchanges the heat from the waste fluid to the object in a simple and cost effective manner.

Heat exchanging devices are well known. In general, heat exchanging devices can be categorized into active heat exchanging devices and passive heat exchanging devices. Active heat exchanging devices include heat pumps, which have as a characteristic the requirement for electricity to "pump" heat from one location to another. Examples of active heat exchanging devices are freezers, refrigerators, ice makers, etc.
A characteristic of a passive heat exchanging device is that no external input (e.g., electricity) is required to operate the device. The passive heat exchanging device is configured so that the device is able to absorb heat from a particular heat source, and "exchange" the absorbed heat to a separate object which itself requires warming. By utilizing the "free" heat of the heat source to warm the object, the amount of overall energy to heat the object to a desired temperature is reduced. This in turn leads to a significant cost savings over time.
In the majority of passive heat exchanging device implementations, the source of heat to be absorbed is from heat which is wasted from some other component within the implementation. For example, much of the heat which is "pumped" from refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, etc., mentioned above is utilized to warm a separate object. Many of these passive heat exchanging devices which utilize this wasted heat are quite complicated in their operation.
Heat is also wasted in implementations where waste fluid of a particular implementation is heated. As an example, the waste fluid (water) from a shower installation may act as a heat source for heat exchanging purposes. In a typical shower installation, the waste water which exits the shower is, on the average, approximately 2.5 degrees Celsius (.degree.C.) cooler than the water being output by the shower and used by the shower user. In other words, if a shower outputs water at 39.5.degree. C., the water exiting the shower through a drain is, on the average, 37.0.degree. C. Consequently, the amount of heat that could be generated by a shower drain (for example) may be quite considerable. However, no simple and cost effective means to absorb and exchange this heat is available.
Thus, a need exists for a passive heat exchanging device which absorbs heat from a waste fluid and exchanges the heat to a particular object in a simple and cost effective manner.


The invention relates to preparation of silica-rich rubber compositions by a sequence of sequential mixing steps conducted in internal rubber mixer(s) with individual maximum temperature limitations. The mixing steps are comprised of at least two non-productive mixing steps followed by a productive mixing step. The non-productive mixing steps themselves are comprised of at least one preliminary non-productive mixing step followed by a final non-productive mixing step. Elastomer, silica and coupling agent are added in at least one of said preliminary non-productive mixing steps to the exclusion of said final non-productive mixing step and said productive mixing step. Sulfur and sulfur vulcanization accelerator(s) are added in said productive mixing step to the exclusion of said non-productive mixing steps. The preliminary non-productive mixing step(s) are individually conducted to a maximum mixing temperature in a range of from about 150° C. to about 180° followed by the final non-productive mixing step to a reduced maximum mixing temperature in a range of from about 90° C. to about 130° C. The maximum mixing temperature of said final non-productive mixing step is at least 20° C. lower than the maximum temperature for said preliminary non-productive mixing stage(s). The productive mixing step is conducted to a maximum temperature in a range of from about 90° C. to about 120° C. The rubber composition is removed from its respective internal rubber mixer and cooled to below 40° C. between said mixing steps. The invention is further intended to relate to a rubber composition prepared by such mixing process and to a tire having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Tires are typically prepared of treads of elastomer based rubber compositions which may contain particulate synthetic amorphous silica reinforcement.
Coupling agents are often used with the silica to assist in its reinforcement of elastomers. Such coupling agents typically contain a moiety (e.g. alkoxysilane based moiety) which is reactive with hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) contained on the surface of the silica and another, different, moiety (e.g. polysulfide based moiety) which is interactive with diene-based elastomers. Utilization of such silica coupling agents for such purpose is well known to those skilled in such art.
In practice, the rubber compositions are prepared by a sequential series of individual mixing steps. Where an internal rubber mixer is used, such mixing steps are conventionally composed of at least one non-productive mixing step in which the elastomer(s) and compounding ingredients are mixed to the exclusion of sulfur and sulfur vulcanizing accelerator followed by a productive mixing step in an internal rubber mixer in which the sulfur and vulcanization accelerators are mixed.
Conventionally, the materials are mixed in the non-productive mixing steps to a maximum mixing temperature in a range of, for example, from about 150° C. to about 180° C.
Conventionally, the materials, including the sulfur and vulcanization accelerators, are mixed in the productive mixing step at a maximum temperature, for example, in a range of about 90° C. to about 120° C. Between mixing steps, the mixture is conventionally dumped from the internal rubber mixer, perhaps then sheeted out into rubber sheets from a roll mill, and allowed to cool to 40° C. or lower prior to introducing the mixture to the next internal rubber mixing step.
For the practice of this invention, it has been observed that a significant benefit may be obtained in a nature of reduction in the viscosity of the rubber composition at the conclusion of the final non-productive mixing step as compared to the conclusion of the preliminary non-productive mixing step(s). Such reduction in Mooney viscosity was observed to be obtained in which, for preliminary non-productive mixing steps, the materials are mixed to a maximum mixing temperature in a range of about 150° C. to about 180° C. followed by a final non-productive mixing step to a reduced, or stepped down, maximum temperature in a range of about 90° C. to about 130° C. For the final non-productive mixing step in the internal rubber mixer, the rubber composition is simply re-mixed without any appreciable addition of ingredients. Sometimes such mixing without addition of other compounding ingredients is referred to as a "re-mill" mixing step even though the mixing itself is conducted in an internal rubber mixer. Such beneficial reduction in rubber composition mixing viscosity is considered herein to be significant in order to meet a Mooney viscosity target of the rubber mixture exiting the final productive mixing step in which the overall rubber mixing time in the internal rubber mixer mixing steps can be reduced. The target Mooney viscosity of the final rubber mixture is important for the subsequent processing of the compounded rubber mixture in various rubber processing equipment such as, for example rubber extruders for producing shaped unvulcanized rubber components for a tire such as, for example, treads and apexes as well as calendered cord reinforced plies. It is to be appreciated that a specific target Mooney viscosity will vary depending upon the rubber processing equipment being used and the rubber component being produced. Such desired Mooney viscosity phenomena for the processing of a compounded rubber composition is well known to those having skill in such art.
The term "non-productive" mixing, as hereinbefore discussed, is conventionally used to relate to one or more sequential mixing steps for mixing one or more diene-based elastomers with one or more ingredients without addition of free sulfur and sulfur vulcanization accelerator(s). The term "productive" mixing, as hereinbefore discussed, is conventionally used to relate to a mixing step following said non-productive mixing step(s) in which free sulfur and one or more vulcanization accelerator(s) are mixed with the rubber composition from the non-productive mixing step(s). Such sequential non-productive and productive mixing steps are well known to those having skill in such art. The term "carbon black" is used herein to refer to rubber reinforcing carbon blacks and such type of carbon black is well known to those having skill in such art. The term "silica-rich" refers herein to a rubber composition in which, insofar as its carbon black and silica reinforcement, particularly precipitated silica, fillers are concerned, the silica is in the majority of such fillers.
In the description of this invention, the term "phr" where used herein, and according to conventional practice, refers to "parts of a respective material per 100 parts by weight of rubber, or elastomer".
In the description of this invention, the terms "rubber" and "elastomer" where used herein, are to be used interchangeably, unless otherwise prescribed. The terms "rubber composition", "compounded rubber" and "rubber compound", if used herein, are used interchangeably to refer to "rubber which has been blended or mixed with various ingredients and materials" and such terms are well known to those having skill in the rubber mixing or rubber compounding art. The terms "vulcanize" and "cure" where used therein are used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated.

Preparation of silica-rich rubber composition by sequential mixing with maximum mixing temperature limitations


An electro-optic device is disclosed which has a plurality of independently-gatable portions. One example is an image intensifier having a number of segmented photocathode areas (GP). The corresponding portions of the intensifier can be energized independently via contact strips (CS). Used in conjunction with an appropriate trigger signal generator, imaging device and beam splitter, the device may be used to capture a series of images at very high speed. An electrical device having a reflective tunnel for generating a plurality of input images is also disclosed.

Many applications require imaging at frame speeds in the range from approximately 2,000 frames/sec to 100,000,000 frames/sec. These include analysis of lightning, sparks resulting from electrical discharge, shock waves, fuel injection and fluid dynamics. Conventional film and video systems are convenient and usually reasonably priced but are only capable of frame rates of up to approximately 100,000 frames/sec (fps).
At ultra high speed (greater than 100,000 fps) a beam splitter or rotating mirror/prism is typically employed together with some shuttering arrangement to record the image at a succession of different physical locations at consecutive points in time. The actual recording can be performed, for example, using conventional film or charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras.
The drawback with film and video techniques is that the systems are usually very clumsy, film systems relying on rotating mirrors or prisms which give limited flexibility in exposure times and frame rate. The cost of developing film can also be very high. Moreover the frame rate must be set for, and cannot be varied during, each "run".
An electronic technique using a multiple camera approach is described in International patent application publication number WO 95/14951 in which a beam-splitter generates 8 images which are applied to eight different cameras. These cameras may be gated in sequence to capture images at extremely high rates indeed. A wide selection of exposure time and frame rate can usually be made with such an arrangement. A limited number of frames is admittedly provided but this is seldom a drawback in the applications to which such imaging systems are put. Apart from sheer size, the main drawback of such an arrangement is cost. Using 8 optical gates (intensifiers) and 8 CCD cameras, such an imaging system might cost £200,000.

Imaging arrangement method for high-speed imaging


A load-carrying truck has a fork lift mechanism mounted on a chassis, a pair of front wheels (24, 26) and a single rear wheel (30). At least one front wheel (26) and the rear wheel (30) are driven wheels whose speed is varied relative to one another differently depending on whether the truck is being driven in a forward reverse mode with the front wheels (24, 26) aligned generally parallel to the front-rear axis of the chassis and with steering controlled by steering the rear wheel (30), or a sideways mode with the rear wheel (30) aligned generally perpendicular to the front-rear axis of the chassis and with steering controlled by steering the at least one of the front wheels (26). When the truck is operated in forward/reverse mode and is steered towards the side on which the driven front wheel (26) is located, the relative speed (26) of that wheel is decreased progressively and comes to a stop when the axis of rotation of the rear wheel (30) intersects the front wheel position, and is driven in reverse at increasing speeds as the axis of the rear wheel (30) passes that point of intersection with further increasing steering angle. In the sideways mode of operation when the truck is steered in the direction towards the rear end of the chassis, the relative speed of the rear wheel (30) is decreased progressively and comes to a stop when the axis of rotation of the steered front wheel (26) intersects the rear wheel position, and the rear wheel (30) is driven in reverse at increasing speeds as the axis of the steered front wheel (26) passes said point of intersection with further increasing steering angle.

FIG. 1 shows an example of such a truck 10 carrying a load 12. The truck has a U-shaped chassis 14 having a pair of arms 16, 18 extending forwardly of a bridge portion 20 with a fork lift mechanism 22 disposed between the arms. A pair of front wheels 24, 26 are disposed towards a front end 28 of the arms, one on either arm. A single rear wheel 30 is disposed centrally at the rear end 32 of the truck 10. In FIG. 1 the truck is shown with neutral steering in sideways mode.
Traditionally such trucks only drive with a single rear wheel 30. This can cause some undesirable effects when accelerating and braking. With a load on the truck, accelerating can cause the truck to torque steer around the load shown in FIG. 1.
The turning effect and direction is opposite but exaggerated during braking when only the rear wheel brakes. During braking the truck turns around the rear wheel due to the momentum of the load on top of the idle front wheels which have no braking. Due to the small wheel size the front wheels are idle and without brakes, they are a smaller diameter to keep the load platform low to maximise storage space. In this embodiment the rear wheel is larger than the front platform wheels for load carrying capacity.
FIG. 2 shows a truck that has one driven front wheel 26 and one driven rear wheel 30 using electric drive motors and brakes. The front right wheel 26 is driven and the front left wheel 24 idle. The turning effect is eliminated while accelerating, decelerating and braking with this solution. However the truck suffers from a problem when steering because the motor speeds and motor torque vary when turning left or right in either forward-reverse mode or sideways mode.
There is therefore a need for a load-carrying truck which addresses at least some of the drawsback of the prior art.


An intelligent traffic redirection system performs global load balancing for Web sites located at mirrored data centers. The system relies on a network map that is generated continuously for the user-base of the entire Internet. Instead of probing each local name server (or other host) that is connectable to the mirrored data centers, the network map identifies connectivity with respect to a much smaller set of proxy points, called “core” (or “common”) points. A core point then becomes representative of a set of local name servers (or other hosts) that, from a data center's perspective, share the point. Once core points are identified, a systematic methodology is used to estimate predicted actual download times to a given core point from each of the mirrored data centers. Preferably, ICMP (or so-called “ping” packets) are used to measure roundtrip time (RTT) and latency between a data center and a core point. Using such data, an average latency is calculated, preferably using an exponentially time-weighted average of all previous measurements and the new measurement. A similar function is used to calculate average packet loss. Using the results, a score is generated for each path between one of the data centers and the core point, and the score is representative of a file download time. Preferably, the score is generated by modifying an average latency with a penalty factor dependent on the time-weighted average loss function. Whichever data center has the best score (representing the best-performing network connectivity for that time slice) is then associated with the core point.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to high-performance, fault-tolerant content delivery and, in particular, to systems and methods for balancing loads from mirrored data centers within a global computer network.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to store Web-based content in mirrored data centers and to load-balance such content requests to data centers based on network traffic conditions. Existing global load balancing products use several different approaches for building a map of Internet traffic conditions. One approach uses border gateway protocol (BGP) data. BGP-based routing, however, can be sub-optimal because the BGP data can be very coarse. Other approaches attempt to compute an optimal mapping in real-time and then cache the mapping information. This technique can lead to poor turnaround time during an initial "hit" and potentially stale mappings on successive requests. In addition, the quality of the measurement to the endpoint tends to be noisy. Because of the deficiencies of these mapping techniques, the resulting load balancing is less than effective.
Current load balancing devices are typically incapable of computing an optimal map for an entire computer network such as the entire Internet. Presently, the Internet has hundreds of millions of hosts and routers. Estimating the connectivity time of the entire Internet to a set of mirrored data centers, such as by evaluating the network path between a server and each and every host or router, would be incredibly time-consuming and would consume far too much bandwidth. Such techniques, of course, are impractical when real-time routing decisions are required.
Further, such measurements tend to be noisy and inaccurate, and they can annoy system administrators whose firewalls are contacted. Local name servers behind firewalls would not be reached and slow connectivity over the "last mile" (e.g., due to dial-up connections and the like) tend to confuse the connectivity picture. Consequently, there remains no efficient technique in the prior art for generating an optimal network connectivity map that can be used for providing intelligent traffic redirection in conjunction with load balancing across mirrored data centers located around the globe.

Method for predicting file download time from mirrored data centers in a global computer network