A method and system for hybrid automated manual transmission and non-hybrid automated manual transmission shift methodologies for tanker trucks are disclosed. A request is received to change a transmission gear ratio of a vehicle transporting a liquid. The request is rejected if a condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and the gear ratio is changed from a current gear ratio to a target gear ratio if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected. A trigger may enable the detection of liquid sloshing. A transmission controller selects a current gear ratio of the transmission, detects a condition indicative of sloshing of the liquid transported by the vehicle, disables a selection of a select a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and selects a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected.

Trucks utilizing automated mechanical transmissions (also referred to as automated manual transmissions) depend on gear shifting logic or algorithms to determine the appropriate gear for a wide variety of conditions. Each shift decision may be based on a balance between fuel efficiency and performance to provide a desired driving experience. One of the significant parameters impacting this balance is the total mass or weight of the vehicle. For example, a truck carrying no payload may shift to a higher gear by skipping one or more gears to improve fuel efficiency and yet still maintain an adequate level of performance. However, a truck carrying a heavy payload may upshift through each gear and engage each gear for a longer period of time to improve performance by transmitting an increased amount of power from the engine.
Some systems rely on the equation for Newton's second law of motion, force=mass*acceleration, to calculate a vehicle's mass or weight for use in a shifting algorithm. For example, the engine torque is related to the force that propels the vehicle. When the engine torque is known, the vehicle mass may be derived through a calculation based on the vehicle's acceleration. A system may repeat the calculation several times to provide a more accurate mass or weight value.
The vehicle must be in motion for this mass determination method to work because it requires measurement of a useful acceleration value. Also, this method typically uses an average of several calculations, and a single inaccurate calculation may adversely impact the mass or weight value. Furthermore, collecting and averaging several calculations takes time during which shifting performance may be negatively affected.
Gear shifting logic or algorithms for automated mechanical transmissions used in tanker trucks that transport various liquids present additional challenges. For example, a tanker truck may refer to a truck with a tank affixed to the truck chassis, or a truck tractor pulling a trailer with a tank. Liquid in a tank responds to acceleration or deceleration by displacing, keeping its surface perpendicular to the combined gravity and acceleration or deceleration forces. The kinetic energy of the liquid in the tank is increased or decreased through its interaction with the tank surfaces. A tank that is filled to less than full capacity allows the liquid to move from front to back or back to front during acceleration or deceleration. This movement of liquid is referred to as sloshing. If the sloshing results in a significant and sudden transfer of kinetic energy to or from the liquid in the tank, the transfer effectively imparts a force against the front or back ends of the tank which may affect the vehicle acceleration or deceleration.
The force of the sloshing liquid imparted to the vehicle may result in inaccurate mass-estimations because the force may cause a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. Further, if a sloshing force is imparted during a transmission gear shift, the intended gear ratio may not be engaged in a manner that ensures a comfortable, safe ride, or the intended gear may not be engageable at all, which may create an unstable and sometimes hazardous driving situation.

Automated manual transmission shift methodology for tanker trucks


The present invention relates to a power train of an automatic transmission that outputs twelve forward speeds and three reverse speeds by operations of first and second input units, first and second output units, and a plurality of friction members that connect operating members of the first and second input units and the first and second output units to an input shaft, other operating members of the first and second input units, and the first and second output units, or a case.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple speed automatic transmission for a vehicle and more particularly, to a gear train enabling twelve forward speeds and three reverse speeds.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A typical shift mechanism of an automatic transmission utilizes a combination of a plurality of planetary gear sets. A power train of such an automatic transmission that includes the plurality of planetary gear sets changes rotating speed and torque received from a torque converter of the automatic transmission, and accordingly changes and transmits the changed torque to an output shaft.
It is well known that when a transmission realizes a greater number of shift speeds, speed ratios of the transmission can be more optimally designed and therefore a vehicle can have better fuel mileage and better performance. For that reason, an automatic transmission that enables more shift speeds is under constant investigation.
In addition, with the same number of speeds, features of a power train such as durability, efficiency in power transmission, and size depend a lot on the layout of combined planetary gear sets. Therefore, designs for a combining structure of a power train are also under constant investigation.
For a manual transmission, too many speeds cause a driver the inconvenience of excessive manual shifting. However, for an automatic transmission, a transmission control unit automatically executes shifting by controlling the operation of the power train, and therefore more speeds usually implies more merits.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus of compiling and providing business data in a distributed computer system, preferably the Internet or any other type of computer linked network system. The present invention also provides a computer program product that contains business data compiled from files containing business data located in a distributed computer system. The present invention to provide a cost-effective method for automatically compiling a business data as well as an automated method for refreshing business data so as to keep it current. The advantage of the present invention is that it enables one to compile business data from files in a distributed computer system in a cost effective and time effective manner taking advantage of the large number of data that is available in a distributed computer system. Another advantage is that the present invention enables one to quickly update business data to stay current.

According to the Direct Marketing Association, around $100 billion was spent on US business-to-business direct marketing at the beginning of the new millennium. Of this total, telemarketing accounts for about 40%, and direct mail expenditures total about 16%. Business marketers typically target prospects within a business based on their ability to recommend, influence or approve a purchase. Commonly, the marketer obtains, for example, a list of the name, title, postal address, and/or telephone numbers of these prospective buyers so that direct marketing programs can be initiated.
Further elaborating on this example, typically, a prospect must have the ability, willingness, and readiness to buy before a direct sate can be consummated. One method is to identify individuals with certain titles (e.g. CEO, VP Marketing) that are likely to correlate with purchasing authority. Vendors, such as Dun & Bradstreet, Murray 011, NJ and InfoUSA, Omaha, Nebr., gather business data through a variety of means. For example, the sources for InfoBase Business List (Acxiom Corporation, Little Rock, Ark. www.acxiom.com) include:                Annual reports, 10Ks, and other SEC information. These sources provide accurate, in-depth information about publicly traded companies including the name of executives and directors, employment figures, sales volume, and more.        Federal, state and municipal government filings. These sources provide current directories, reports, and Chamber of Commerce information.        Business magazines, newsletters and newspapers. These sources provide news about business merger, acquisitions, executive changes and financial results.        Outbound telemarketing. These sources provide information about small businesses and their owners obtained from firms who frequently market to these businesses.        Professional directories. These sources provide invaluable information about professionals, their clinics and partnerships, and their specialties.
Leveraging these sources, the InfoBase business list provides over 14 million business names and addresses representing over 12.9 million separate businesses.
There are several limitations in utilizing these sources for compiling, for instance, a list of senior managers. The limitations include:                Recency. American society has been characterized by shorter tenures of employment and greater job mobility. But many of the sources used to compile lists of senior managers are updated infrequently. In some instances, data is refreshed only once every 1–2 years. This means that changes in senior management, such as new hires and terminations, go unreported for a significant time.        Cost. Because it is so labor intensive, it is often prohibitively expensive to conduct telephone or face-to-face interviews, or verify contact information 'on demand'.        Comprehensiveness. Often, only a small number of contacts are gathered at each business. For example, Acxiom's list contains an average of 1.17 contacts per company (14 million contact names at 12 million US businesses). What's more, contact data for non-US companies is even scarcer.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a more useful and efficient approach to compile business data that overcomes the limitations in the prior art solutions.

Method and apparatus for compiling business data


An optical transceiving apparatus includes an optical transmitting device performing polarization multiplexing on and transmitting as polarization multiplexed signal light, a first signal light of a predetermined polarization direction and a second signal light of a polarization direction different from the predetermined polarization direction; an optical receiving device receiving the signal light transmitted from the optical transmitting device through an optical transmission path; an acquiring unit acquiring information indicative of magnitude relation of intensity between the first signal light and the second signal light included in the signal light received by the optical receiving device; and a control unit controlling the magnitude relation of intensity between the first signal light and the second signal light included in the signal light output from the optical transmitting device, to be opposite to the magnitude relation indicated by the information acquired by the acquiring unit.

Demand for high-speed optical transceiving apparatuses is increasing. For example, an optical phase modulation mode is known as a mode for increasing the multiplicity of a single signal. For example, Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) using four-valued phase modulation is conventionally applied to an optical transceiving apparatus.
For faster transmission of transmission signals, an optical polarization multiplexing technique is being developed. The optical polarization multiplex is a mode utilizing two polarized waves having the same wavelengths and orthogonal to each other, for example. A technique is known that reduces an intensity deviation between polarized waves of signal light transmitted from an optical transmitting device of a polarization multiplexed optical transceiving apparatus (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2011-44906 and 2011-28087).
However, the conventional techniques have a problem of deterioration in transmission characteristics due to deviation of optical signal-noise ratio (OSNR) between polarized waves even when intensity deviation between polarized waves is reduced.

Optical transceiving apparatus, optical transmitting method, and optical transmitting device


A motor vehicle seat lift assembly includes a seat pan and a seat frame positioned beneath the seat pan. Each of a pair of first linking members has a first end pivotally secured to the seat pan and a second end pivotally secured to the seat frame. Each of a pair of second linking members has a first end pivotally secured to the seat pan and a second end pivotally secured to the seat frame. A pinion gear is rotatable with respect to the seat pan. An actuator is operably connected to the pinion gear. A rack member has a plurality of teeth, with the pinion gear meshing with the teeth of the rack member. A first end of the rack member is pivotally secured to the first end of one of the first linking members and a second end of the rack member is slidably connected to the seat pan.

Seat lift assemblies for motor vehicles are well known for providing a user with the ability to raise and lower their seat to a desired height. Such seat lift assemblies can be manually driven, for example, with a handle and accompanying ratchet mechanism. Other seat lift assemblies are actuated by an electric motor.
It would be desirable to provide a motor vehicle seat lift assembly that reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain embodiments.


A fluid level sensing system comprises a sensor float assembly, a sensor control module comprising a sensor processor, and a sensor cable. An accelerometer arranged within the float chamber in a fixed orientation relative to a float axis. The accelerometer is capable of determining movement in at least first and second reference axes. The sensor cable is operatively connected between the float processor and the sensor processor. Movement of the float enclosure relative to the reference point is limited. The accelerometer generates and transfers to the float processor first and second sets of data representative of movement along the first and second reference axes. The float processor generates and transfers to the sensor processor pitch data associated with the float enclosure based on the first and second sets of data. The sensor processor generates a status signal and/or a control signal based on the pitch data.

The sensing of fluid levels to facilitate the monitoring and controlling fluid levels is well-known. Fluid level sensing systems and methods are commonly employed as part of systems configured to transfer fluids to where they are desired and to remove fluids from where they are unwanted. A fluid storage reservoir, pump(s) or valve(s), and fluid level sensor(s) are commonly configured to form a system for transferring fluids.
Fluid level sensing devices can generally be divided into one of two categories: stationary fluid level sensors and floating fluid level sensors. Stationary fluid level sensors are secured in or upon the reservoir and employ sensing technologies such as pressure, capacitance, conductance, ultrasonic, microwave, thermal, mass, optical, and the like to measure fluid level. Floating sensors are typically suspended by a weight, or otherwise supported or tethered, relative to a fixed point in the reservoir. The position and/or orientation of the floating sensor are used to measure fluid level. When tethered, a length of the tether cable from the weight or tethered point to the distal sensing element affect the float sensing range. The present invention is of particular significance when applied to floating fluid level sensors, and that application of the present invention will be described herein in detail.
Numerous methods have been implemented for signaling the movement of the float suspended in the medium and thus indicating the fluid level. Potentiometers in operational contact with a float may be used when multiple level readings are required such as with a gauge. Switches employing mercury, rolling ball, or other methods that provide an electrical contact closure are also common and generally provide a discrete indication of the float being above or below a predetermined trip point.
Many level control implementations are as simple as a single float conducting or interrupting the current flow to a pump or valve. More complex implementations utilize a plurality of floats to indicate various levels in the reservoir such as low, stop, start, boost, and high levels. When multiple fluid levels are sensed, a controller may be used to implement logic based on the multiple fluid levels and/or other related parameters.
Fluid level sensing systems and methods typically represent tradeoffs with maintenance, initial cost, ease of installation, troubleshooting, and reliability. Stationary sensors can be costly or require frequent maintenance, while floating sensors can be difficult to properly install and set. Wiring required for multiple floats presents additional installation and maintenance costs and increases troubleshooting complexities. Further, floating sensors often fail because fluid wicks down the wiring and fouls the connections and/or because the wiring becomes entangled with other floats.
Consequently, the need exists for fluid level sensing systems and methods that are reliable, inexpensive, and low maintenance, provide a plurality of signaling measurements, and/or are simple to install, operate, and troubleshoot.

Fluid level sensing systems, method, and apparatus


To provide a connector that enables change in the arrangement of signal connections ‘S’ and grounding connections ‘G’, merely by putting short-circuit pins in the housing of the connector, but without needing any change made in the circuit pattern on printed circuit boards that are stacked one on another to be electrically connected one to another.

One of the prior art multi-polar connectors 61 for interconnecting printed circuit boards is shown in FIGS. 22 to 24. It comprises a depressed connector housing 62 of a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A number of vertical holes 67 pierced in and extending between the top 65 and bottom 66 of the connector housing are for insertion of terminal pins (not shown). A front wall 63 and a rear wall 64 respectively have horizontal slots 68 pierced therein. Each of those slots 68 arranged to form an upper row and a lower row does extend to intersect the corresponding one of vertical holes 67 at a right angle. Upper contacts 71 are inserted in the upper row of slots 68, with lower contacts 72 being for insertion into the lower row of these slots. Each contact 71 and 72 has a pin receiving portion (not shown) that engages with the pin inserted in the slot. Each contact further has a body portion extending rearwards from the pin receiving portion. A rear end region of the body portion is bent down and then rearwards to form a lead portion 73. One of the printed boards 75 has a circuit pattern 76 that is to be soldered to such lead portions 73 of the contacts. The other printed circuit boards not shown but mating with the one printed board does have terminal pins that are surface mounted to fit in the vertical holes 67. Said pins from the mating printed board thus engage with pin receiving portions and establish electric connection to the upper or lower contacts 71 and 72.
In the connector 61 described above, its upper and lower contacts 71 and 72 correspond to the respective vertical holes 67 and electrically engage with the circuit pattern 76 of printed board 75. Thus, a number of signal connections as well as and a number of grounding connections are provided for this circuit board. In FIG. 23, such signal connections are indicated by the symbol 'S', with grounding connections being indicated by 'G'. Each signal connection 'S' is surrounded by several grounding connections 'G' so that noise is eliminated from or diminished in signal transmission.
In a case of using such a connector 61 to construct the electric circuit for a hard disc drive or the like device, it has to match any elevated speeds of signal transmission. In detail, for the purpose of eliminating noise, arrangement of the signal connections 'S' and grounding connections 'G' will often be changed in the circuit pattern on the printed board 75.
The contacts 71 and 72 in the prior art connector 61 are all discrete members operating independently of each other. Therefore, another printed board 77 of a different circuit pattern 78 should be employed as shown in FIGS. 25 to 27. Such an alternative circuit board is indispensable to change the relative positional relationship between those signal and grounding connections 'S' and 'G'.

Connector for printed circuit boards stacked one on another

Abstract: The connector has a housing (2) and a number of vertical holes (7) pierced in and extending between a top and a bottom of the housing so as to penetrate it, the holes being for insertion of terminal pins (57). A front and rear walls (3, 4) of the housing respectively have horizontal slots (8a, 8b) arranged to form an upper row and a lower row to receive contacts (20, 21, 22), with each slot extending to intersect the corresponding vertical hole (7) at a right angle. One of the printed boards (40) is connected to the contacts held in the slots, and the terminal pins (57) surface mounted on the other printed circuit board are fitted in the vertical holes (7) so as to be electrically connected to the contacts (20, 21, 22). The connector further has short-circuit pins (30) and canalled apertures (9) that are formed in the front and rear walls (3, 4) each in communication with the two adjacent slots (8a, 8b), such that each short-circuit pin (30) fitted in the chosen one of the canalled apertures (9) is kept in touch with the two contacts (21, 22) held in the two adjacent slots, thereby establishing electrical engagement of the one contact (21) with the other (22), thus changing arrangement of signal connections ‘S’ and grounding connections ‘G’ on the printed circuit board (40).


A method of reducing the travelling speed of a vehicle which has a multi-cylinder, piston-type internal-combustion engine, a variably controllable valve drive and a collision avoidance system includes the following steps: continuously determining, by the collision avoidance system, an actual distance between the vehicle and a vehicle ahead and comparing the actual distance with a speed-dependent minimum safe distance; and braking the vehicle by switching over at least one of the engine cylinders to a compressor operation when the actual distance falls below a minimum safe distance.

For increasing the safety in motor vehicle traffic, collision avoidance systems have been developed which have a transmitter/receiver system that continuously scans the space in front of the vehicle as viewed in the driving direction for detecting vehicles ahead. If another vehicle is located within a predetermined distance range in front of the vehicle, then the distance between the two vehicles is detected and, as a function of the following vehicle, a minimum distance is determined that must be maintained. If the actual distance falls below the predetermined minimum distance, the collision avoidance system triggers a signal which acts upon the brake system and causes a braking operation independently from the driver.
It is a disadvantage of the above-outlined system that in case the system makes an erroneous decision, the driver is not able to intervene and make corrections, thus resulting in a high safety risk. Another disadvantage lies in the considerably higher costs for the braking system itself, for example an ABS system, because provisions must be made to apply a driver-independent force in addition to the regular brake actuation.

Method of reducing the speed of a vehicle having a collision avoidance system


Provided is a radiation-curable optical glass fiber coating composition adapted to provide the combination of properties of:. (i) enhanced resistance to thermal degradation when suitably cured; and PA1 (ii) a viscosity sufficient to provide a surface substantially free-of pitting. PA1 (A) at least one epoxy silicone monomer or oligomer which is crosslinkable via actinic radiation, or mixture thereof; PA1 (B) at least one thermoplastic resin which is substantially unreactive to actinic radiation and which is soluble or dispersible in component (A), said thermoplastic resin being present in an amount to provide said composition with a viscosity suitable for application to an optical glass fiber; and PA1 (C) a catalytically effective amount of a photoinitiator for catalyzing the crosslinking reaction of component (A) and which is soluble or dispersible in component (A) or a mixture of said component (A) and said thermoplastic resin. Also provided is a method of making the radiation-curable coating composition and a coated optical glass fiber.. The composition is formulated from components including:

In the construction of glass optical fibers, a coating or coating layers are usually applied to the glass optical fibers immediately after drawing to protect the glass surface from the detrimental effects of chemical and/or mechanical attack which would otherwise occur. These coating layers are generally formed from organic UV curable oligomers, reactive diluents, photoinitiators, stabilizers, and a silane coupling agent.
Typically, UV coatings used in telecommunications are based on acrylated urethane oligomers. Coatings made from acrylated urethane oligomers can withstand a maximum continuous temperature of about 125.degree. C.
Other applications, such as medical, aerospace, and industrial applications require a higher temperature resistance, such as up to 200.degree. C. of continuous service.
Coatings based on polyimide are currently used for many high temperature applications, examples of which are disclosed in "Characterization of Polyimide Coated Optical Fibers", Optical Engineering, Jun. 1991, Vol. 30, No. 6, P. 772. However, polyimide coatings have the following disadvantages. The liquid coating composition only has a very limited shelf life, the curing must be conducted thermally which is very slow, and there is a solvent emission during curing.
Optical glass fiber coatings containing epoxy silicones are known. However, their use in high temperature environments has not been reported.
Examples of glass optical fiber coating compositions based on epoxy silicones are disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 1256821, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,977,198, 4,990,546, 5,057,358, 5,075,154, 5,187,251, 5,204,433, 5,260,349 and 5,381,504.
In addition to the epoxy silicone monomers, these conventional coating compositions typically contain a reactive polymer having epoxy or vinyl functional groups which can crosslink via actinic radiation. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,971 discloses the addition of a linear polyether block having vinyl ether functional groups at both ends which polymerize with the polyorganosiloxane to produce epoxysilicone-polyether linear block copolymers. The addition of the polyether block makes the composition more miscible with polar molecules, and the coatings produced therefrom are more flexible and elastic than coatings derived from UV-cured, linear epoxy-silicones without polyether blocks (column 10, lines 46-59).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,989 discloses at column 3, lines 60-65 that the coating composition can further contain adherence modulators which are linear resins bearing vinyl, epoxy, vinyl ether, alcohol and the like functional groups. This patent teaches that the adherence modulator prevents adhesion of metal sheets, glass, plastics or paper to other materials they would otherwise adhere to. See column 4, lines 5-12.
A disadvantage of the above conventional coating compositions based on epoxy silicones is that specific oligomers must be synthesized to provide appropriate liquid properties, curing properties, and cured coating properties.
Furthermore, conventional coating compositions containing epoxy silicone monomers have many problems with long term stability of the composition and a viscosity which is too low. A low viscosity makes it very difficult to coat a glass optical fiber. Moreover, these conventional coating compositions exhibit problems with surface defects, such as pitting, when applied to glass optical fibers.
There is a need for a high temperature coating composition which avoids these problems.

High temperature coating composition for glass optical fibers, a method of making a coating composition and a coated optical glass fiber


An analyzer useful in determining the presence of an analyte using a diffraction based sensing device and methods and systems using this device. The present invention may be used with a variety of different diffraction-based diagnostic methods and systems. The analyzer enhances the accuracy and/or usefulness of these devices in detecting analytes, while providing more ease-of-use and convenience to the user. The analyzer may include a light source, a photodiode, a microprocessor and a display system for informing the user of the result. Other features include mirrors, lenses, a sample holder, and a mask for blocking out some light. The analyzer and related method and system may be used in a large number of environments, including commercial, professional, and individual.

There are many systems and devices available for detecting a wide variety of analytes in various media. Most of these systems and devices are relatively expensive and require a trained technician to perform the test. There are many cases where it would be advantageous to be able to rapidly and inexpensively determine if an analyte were present. What is needed is a system that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and is capable of reliable and sensitive detection of analytes.
Sandstrom et al., 24 Applied Optics 472, 1985, describe use of an optical substrate of silicon with a layer of silicon monoxide and a layer of silicon formed as dielectric films. They indicate that a change in film thickness changes the properties of the optical substrate to produce different colors related to the thickness of the film. The thickness of the film is related to the color observed and a film provided on top of an optical substrate may produce a visible color change. The authors indicate that a mathematical model can be used to quantitate the color change, and that "calculations performed using the computer model show that very little can be gained in optical performance from using a multilayer structure . . . but a biolayer on the surface changes the reflection of such structures very little since the optical properties are determined mainly by the interfaces inside the multilayer structure. The most sensitive system for detection of biolayers is a single layer coating, while in most other applications performance can be improved by additional dielectric layers."
Sandstrom et al., go on to indicate that slides formed from metal oxides on metal have certain drawbacks, and that the presence of metal ions can also be harmful in many biochemical applications. They indicate that the ideal top dielectric film is a 2–3 nm thickness of silicon dioxide which is formed spontaneously when silicon monoxide layer is deposited in ambient atmosphere, and that a 70–95 nm layer silicon dioxide on a 40–60 nm layer of silicon monoxide can be used on a glass or plastic substrate. They also describe formation of a wedge of silicon monoxide by selective etching of the silicon monoxide, treatment of the silicon dioxide surface with dichlorodimethylsilane, and application of a biolayer of antigen and antibody. From this wedge construction they were able to determine film thickness with an ellipsometer, and note that the "maximum contrast was found in the region about 65 nm where the interference color changed from purple to blue."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,131 issued to Kumar et al. describes a device that includes a polymer substrate having a metal coating. An analyte-specific receptor layer is stamped on the coated substrate. The device is used in a process for stamping or as a switch. A diffraction image is generated when an analyte binds to the device. A visualization device, such as a spectrometer, is then used to determine the presence of the diffraction image.
However, the device described by Kumar et al. has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that a complex visualization apparatus is needed to view any diffraction image.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,830 to Bogart, et al., describes a device that includes a substrate which has an optically active surface exhibiting a first color in response to light impinging thereon. This first color is defined as a spectral distribution of the emanating light. The substrate also exhibits a second color which is different from the first color (by having a combination of wavelengths of light which differ from that combination present in the first color, or having a different spectral distribution). The second color is exhibited in response to the same light when the analyte is present on the surface. The change from one color to another can be measured either by use of an instrument, or by eye. Such sensitive detection is an advance over the devices described by Sandstrom and Nygren, supra, and allow use of the devices in commercially viable and competitive manner.
However, the method and device described in the Bogart, et al. patent has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is the high cost of the device. Another problem with the device is the difficulty in controlling the various layers that are placed on the wafer so that one obtains a reliable reading.
Patent WO 94/13835, issued to Bogdanski et al., describes a method and system for detecting macromolecules. The system includes a probe that is a former of predetermined dimensions such that it diffracts light in a known pattern. Upon binding by a macromolecule (e.g., analyte), the position of the diffraction peaks will change due to this binding.
Thus, the system must include a more complex detector and analyzer to detect changes in a diffraction pattern. In comparison, the current diffraction-based system described is detecting the formation of a diffraction pattern or image, so that only the appearance of diffracted light must be detected. Therefore, one disadvantage of the method and system described by Bogdanski et al. is that a more complex apparatus is needed to detect changes in the diffraction pattern. Another disadvantage is the more complex methods required to prepare the probe, which involve multiple steps with photoresist and/or etching steps conducted on a brittle, silicon dioxide surface; these methods are not amenable for a full-scale manufacturing process due to high scale capital costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,350 to Backman, et al., describes an optical detection method that uses an immunoassay device along with a mask that produces a diffraction pattern. The immunoassay device is placed between the mask and light source, so that binding by the analyte causes a change in the diffraction or interference pattern caused by the mask. Thus, this patent has similar disadvantages as the Bogdanski patent since it uses a method based on detecting changes in a diffraction pattern, rather than formation of one, due to binding. This makes analysis more complex, since these changes are more subtle than a simple yes/no of a diffraction image being formed in the presence of an analyte.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,385 to Godfrey, et al., describes a method to prepare a diffraction grating with a thin polymer film, for subsequent use as a sensing device. The sensing device then requires the use of a spectrophotometric technique during the assay to detect changes in its optical properties due to analyte binding. Thus, as with the previous two patents, this patent also involves a more complex detection method since it must detect changes in a diffraction pattern, rather than simple formation of a pattern due to the analyte.
Some commercial lateral flow technologies have been used which employ latex bead technology. These technologies are currently employed in many of the commercially-available home diagnostic kits (e.g. pregnancy and ovulation kits). These kits use colored beads which accumulate in a defined "capture zone" until the amount of beads becomes visible to the unaided eye. However, these systems lack the requisite sensitivity to test for many analytes, since a much larger number of latex beads must bind in the capture zone to be visible to the naked eye than that required to cause diffraction in the same size zone. Theoretically, the number of beads needed is about 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than the number of beads required by the sensors of the present invention.
There have been several novel inventions directed to the use of biosensing devices to detect analytes. Some of these biosensors have a self-assembling monolayer and have been used to detect analytes. These types of devices are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,922,550 and 6,060,256. Other devices having a self-assembling monolayer and using microparticle technology have been used to detect smaller analytes and are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,579 B1. Finally, some sensing devices have been provided that incorporate non-self-assembling materials and again provide a diffraction image that can be seen with an unaided eye. This type of device is set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/213,713. However, the present invention enhances the ease-of-use and/or accuracy of these biosensing devices by generally providing a faster, more accurate interpretation of the results of these devices.
Accordingly, what is needed is an analyzer that may be used with various diffraction-based diagnostic systems to help determine the presence of an analyte in a quick and accurate manner. Also what is needed is a method of using this analyzer to quickly and accurately determine the presence of an analyte in a given sample.

Methods to view and analyze the results from diffraction-based diagnostics


Method and apparatus for printing label information in the form of graphics and/or characters on a disc-shaped information carrier (such as a CD). The label information is prepared by a data-processing system and transferred to a printer for processing. The printer then prints the label information directly on the information carrier.

The invention relates to a printing method for providing disc-shaped information carriers with printed label information in the form of graphics and/or characters, printing being effected on at least a part of the surface area of at least one side of the information carrier.
Disc-shaped information carriers are generally provided with label information, for example, relating to the information content of the information carrier. In general, the label information comprises both characters and graphics. In the case of optically readable disc-shaped information carriers, for example Compact Discs, the label information is provided on one side of the information carrier in a broad annular area which is concentric with the center hole. In prior-art methods this label information is applied by a screen-printing or a tampon printing process. For both processes, it is necessary to produce a film and subsequently a printing block, which takes time and is expensive. Moreover, the known printing methods are not flexible. In the case of a high production rate, a rapid change-over to print different label information on different information carriers is not possible. It is substantially impossible to provide each information carrier with an individual identification.

Printing method for disc-shaped information carriers


A wearable wireless electronic device includes a watch dial and a hand module. The hand module includes a first hand and a second hand that are rotatably coupled to the watch dial. The first and second hands are configured to indicate current time and send/receive wireless signals. When the first and second hands rotate relative to the watch dial, the first and second hands are configured to display current time. When the first hand is positioned at a predetermined position substantially perpendicular to the second hand, the first and second hands are configured to send/receive wireless signals.

As wireless communication technology develops, most portable electronic devices have wireless communication function. The wireless communication needs a physical antenna to be the medium for transmitting or receiving signals. The antenna will cause an increase in volume, when the volume of the electronic device such as an electronic device worn on a wrist is small, it is difficult to keep the device with small and exquisite appearance.


An electronic apparatus which detects when a battery having a different characteristic is mixed in a plurality of batteries accommodated therein. An average voltage V1 per battery of plural batteries connected in series and an average voltage V2 per battery at a connecting point halfway of those connected batteries are detected. A difference in voltage |V1−V2| between the average voltage V1 and average voltage V2 is compared with a tolerable voltage difference ΔV. If it is determined that a battery having a different characteristic is mixed, the operation of the apparatus is interrupted and an alarm is displayed or the supply of power is shut down.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an electronic apparatus which is powered by a plurality of batteries connected in series and more particularly to an electronic apparatus which prevents different types of batteries from being mixed by determining the characteristic of each battery to ensure safe usage thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI11-260425 (see pp. 3, 4 and FIGS. 2, 3) discloses an apparatus for detecting an inverse battery connection to insure a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each battery is mounted in a proper direction. In the apparatus, a plurality of batteries accommodated in an accommodating container are divided into a plurality of blocks for connection in series. A synthetic voltage of each block is detected to compare voltages in order to detect whether any battery is connected inversely. If an inversely connected battery is found, the supply of electric power is stopped to avoid overheating caused by the inverse connection of the battery, leakage of chemical fluid, or other related problems.

Electronic apparatus that determines a characteristic of a battery


A lithium ion battery that incorporates an anode formed from a Group IV semiconductor material such as porous silicon is disclosed. The battery includes a cathode, and an anode comprising porous silicon. In some embodiments, the anode is present in the form of a nanowire, a film, or a powder, the porous silicon having a pore diameters within the range between 2 nm and 100 nm and an average wall thickness of within the range between 1 nm and 100 nm. The lithium ion battery further includes, in some embodiments, a non-aqueous lithium containing electrolyte. Lithium ion batteries incorporating a porous silicon anode demonstrate have high, stable lithium alloying capacity over many cycles.

Lithium-ion (Li+) secondary or rechargeable batteries are now the most widely used secondary battery systems for portable electronic devices. However, the growth in power and energy densities for lithium ion battery technology has stagnated in recent years as materials that exhibit both high capacities and safe, stable cycling have been slow to be developed. Much of the current research effort for the next generation of higher energy capacity materials has revolved around using small or nanoparticulate active material bound together with conductive agents and carbonaceous binders. These additives, though, dilute high capacity materials with a much lower or non-active material and limit the ultimate charge storage capacity of any battery incorporating such materials.
There is a current and growing need for higher power and energy density battery systems. The power requirements for small scale devices such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), small dimensional sensor systems, and integrated on-chip microelectronics exceed the power densities of current Li+ based energy storage systems. Power densities of at least 1 J/mm2 are desired for effective function for such systems, and current energy densities for Li+ thin film battery systems are about 0.02 J/mm2. Three dimensional architectures for battery design can improve the areal power density of Li+ secondary batteries by packing more active material per unit area without employing thicker films that are subject to excessive cycling fatigue. Three dimensional Lithium-ion battery architectures also increase lithium ion diffusion by maximizing the surface area to volume ratio and by reducing diffusion lengths.
The current state-of-the-art for anode electrodes in lithium ion batteries includes the use of high surface area carbon materials such as mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB). However, the capacity of any graphitic carbon, carbon black, or other carbonaceous material is limited to a theoretical maximum of 372 mAh/g and about 300 mAh/g in practice because carbon electrodes are usually formed of carbon particles mixed with a polymeric binder pressed together to form a bulk electrode. To store charge, Li+ intercalates between the planes of sp2 carbon atoms and this C—Li+—C moiety is reduced. In addition, the maximum number of Li+ that can be stored is one per every six carbon atoms—LiC6. While the capacity of graphitic carbon is not terribly high, the intercalation process preserves the crystal structure of the graphitic carbon, and so cycle life can be very good.
A more recent and promising option for anode materials is silicon (Si). In contrast to the intercalative charge storage observed in graphite, Si forms an alloy with lithium. Silicon-based negative electrodes are attractive because their high theoretical specific capacity of ˜4200 mAh/g, which far exceeds than that of carbon, and is second only to pure Li metal. This high capacity comes from the conversion of the Si electrode to a lithium silicide which at its maximum capacity has a formula of Li22Si6, storing over 25 times more Li per atom than carbon. The large influx of atoms upon alloying, however, causes volumetric expansion of the Si electrode by over 400%. This expansion causes strain in the electrode, and this strain is released by formation of fractures and eventual electrode failure. Repeated cycling between LixSiy and Si thus causes crumbling of the electrode and loss of interconnectivity of the material. For example, 1 zμm thick Si film anodes have short cyclability windows, with a precipitously capacity drop after only 20 cycles.
This strain from volumetric expansion has been mitigated, to some extent, by nanostructuring the anode material, providing room for material expansion. Nanostructuring Si films to reduce stress from lithium alloying has improved reversible capacity, though declines are still observed after 50 cycles. Going from a 2D Si electrode to 1D structures such as wires or an ensemble of 0D nanoparticles has been shown to further extend the cycle life of Si electrodes. Nanostructured materials for Li+ charge storage have demonstrated improved cycling lifetimes, larger specific capacities, and higher sustainable charge rates compared to bulk or thin film versions of the same materials. These improvements arise because nanoscale materials have free space to accommodate volume expansion and shorter diffusion lengths.
Thin Si films (400-500 nm) have also shown more stable charge storage capacity because fracturing of the film upon cycling can in some cases result in interconnected nanostructures with many of the desirable properties described above. Silicon electrodes have further been made by dispersing Si nanowires or nanoparticles in a carbon binder or matrix. These types of electrodes have shown good stability out to 50 cycles, but relatively poor specific capacity of 600 mAh/g due to the inert mass of matrix. For example, Maqasinski et al. have disclosed a Si-based lithium ion anode that uses annealed carbon-black dendritic particles that are coated with Si nanoparticles. Maqasinski et al., Nature Materials 9, 353-358 (March 2010). These nanoparticles are then assembled into larger rigid spheres with open internal channels. While such structures have shown some improved reversible capacities, the inclusion of carbon adversely affects batter performance.

Lithium ion batteries based on nanoporous silicon

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


A grid array socket pin field is protected during manufacture of an information handling system with a dust cap having first and second attachment devices. The first attachment device secures the cap to the socket during assembly of the socket in the computer. The second attachment device secures the cap to a load mechanism assemble proximate the socket. Engagement of the second attachment device to the cap automatically releases the cap from the socket to allow removal of the cap from the socket by actuation of the load mechanism to an open position. The second attachment device secures the cap to the load mechanism until a processor is placed in the socket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system assembly, and more particularly to a system and method for assembly of a processor and socket on an information handling system printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Improvements in the processing capabilities of information handling systems have resulted from greater processing capability of components used to build information handling systems, such as central processing units (CPUs). Improved processing capabilities have depended on improved information transfer speeds to communicate information between information handling system components, such as the use of serial links like those compliant with the PCI Express standard. One improvement that has helped increase information transfer speeds is the use of land grid array (LGA) sockets to interface a processing component, such as a CPU, with a printed circuit board (PCB), such as a motherboard. LGA sockets include a socket having a pin field disposed to align with pins exposed on the underside of a processing component, thus providing an increased surface area for pin connections compared with conventional sockets that have pins disposed around the periphery of the processing component. The socket pin field is an array of spring contacts that are deflected and provide a contact normal force between the CPU substrate via gold pads on the substrate and the gold plated spring contacts. Deflection with springs provides a minimum contact pressure for good contact to CPU circuitry with minimal resistance. The pin fields have an appearance of an array of slightly cantilevered lever springs. A load mechanism is secured to the printed circuit board over the top of the socket so that a load plate of the load mechanism closes down on an inserted processing component to maintain an interface between the socket pin field and the processing component pins.
One difficulty with the use of grid array sockets, such as LGA sockets, is that the pin field of the socket can suffer damage by even minimal contact with a foreign object or contaminant. During manufacture of an information handling system, manufacturers must exercise care to avoid damage to socket pin fields, especially between the time of attachment of the socket to the printed circuit board and securing of the processor in the socket by a load plate of a load mechanism. To help avoid inadvertent damage to the grid array pin field, the socket is typically covered with a dust cap that is engaged over the grid array pin field immediately after manufacture of the socket. One recently proposed LGA socket presents a challenge since the socket and grid array pin field are assembled to the printed circuit board followed by the load mechanism, which is assembled around the periphery of the socket. After the load mechanism is assembled around the socket, the socket dust cap is removed, the processor is put into place, and the load mechanism is activated so that the load plate holds the processor in place. Inadvertent damage can occur to the socket pin field during removal of the dust cap, such as by dropping the dust cap on the pin field or dragging the dust cap across the pin field.

System and method for assembly of a processor and socket on an information handling system printed circuit board


A multiple protocol address register method between a communication terminal and the register server includes transmitting a first register request for requesting to register a first protocol address from the communication terminal to the register server; storing the first protocol address and the identification to the register server; transmitting a response to the first register request from the register server to the communication terminal together with a first communication rule; transmitting the second register request from the communication terminal to the register server on the basis of the first communication rule; storing, when the second register request is created based on the first communication rule, the second protocol address in the register server; and transmitting a response to the second register request from the register server to the communication terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple protocol address register method, a multiple protocol address register system, a multiple protocol address register server, and a multiple protocol address communication terminal.
2. Related Art
Recently, there is widely used Internet Protocol such as IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) and the like which permits one communication terminal having a plurality of protocol addresses to carry out a communication to other communication terminal by appropriately using the protocol addresses. Conventionally, each communication terminal, which has a plurality of the protocol addresses, registers each of the protocol addresses owned by the communication terminal independently to a register server such as a proxy sever that manages the protocol addresses of the communication terminals.
However, when each of the plurality of protocol addresses of a communication terminal is registered independently as described above, a problem arises in that even if the protocol addresses are owned by a plurality of different communication terminals at the same time, it is possible to assume at the register server that the protocol addresses that are owned by a plurality of different communication terminals are in fact owned by the same communication terminal.
That is, there will be examined a case in which the protocol addresses of two communication terminals are independently registered to a register server in, for example, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol: refer to, for example, RFC 3329 Security Mechanism Agreement for the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) January 2003 which is called a non-patent document 1 hereinafter) as if they are the protocol addresses owned by one communication terminal using one identification ID permitted to a user to access the register server. In this case, since the register server registers the protocol addresses of the two different communication terminals by relating them to a single identification ID given to the user, the user can access the register server from the two communication terminals using the same identification ID. When such an access is possible, the protocol addresses of the two different communication terminals can be registered by being related to the one identification ID, even if the protocol addresses are owned by different communication terminals at the same time. Therefore, even if the register server is actually accessed by the two different communication servers simultaneously, a manager of the register server cannot know this fact regardless that he or she intends to manage the accesses to the register server in, for example, a unit of each communication terminal (for the purpose of for example, accounting).
Further, when, for example, a user communicates with the register server using only one protocol address, it is also possible for a vicious third-person to steal the identification ID of the user and to register the protocol address of an additional communication terminal using the identification ID as if it is the protocol address of the communication terminal of the user who communicates with the register server, from which a problem of security arises.
As described above, conventionally, when a communication terminal having a plurality of protocol addresses registers the protocol addresses to the register server, the communication terminal registers each of the protocol addresses owned by the communication terminal independently. As a result, it is possible to assume to the register server as if the protocol addresses owned by a different communication terminal are owned by the same communication terminal, from which a problem may be arisen in the management of access and in the security of communication.
An object of the present invention, which was made to solve the conventional problems described above, is to provide a multiple protocol address register method, a multiple protocol address register system, a multiple protocol address register server, and a multiple protocol address register server that can prevent to assume to a register server as if the protocol addresses of a plurality of different communication terminals belong to the same one communication terminal.

Multiple protocol address register method, multiple protocol address register system, multiple protocol address register server, and multiple protocol address communication terminal


An image processing apparatus has a generation section that generates color component of each pixel forming an image by of a usual method or a generation for black edge; a black edge determination section that determines whether or not each pixel is a black edge pixel forming the black edge based on peripheral pixels of the pixel; a dot detection section that detects dot information of each pixel based on peripheral pixels of the pixel; and a method instruction section that instructs the generation section on what method is to be used for generating color component based on results provided by the black edge determination section and the dot detection section, wherein the method instruction section instructs the generation section to generate color component of a pixel, which is not determined as the black edge pixel or whose detection result is a specific detection result, by the usual method.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs image processing for image data, and an image processing method and an image processing program that can be used in the image processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
To record original image data made up of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) components provided by reading an original image through a scanner in a printer in a scanner, etc., it is a common practice to convert the original image data into C (Cyan), M (Magenta), and Ye (Yellow) components in accordance with color components of ink used for recording and then generate a K (Black) component from the C, M, and Ye components and subtract the K component from the C, M, and Ye components to execute under color removal (UCR), thereby generating a record image made up of the C, M, Ye, and K components.
In the area represented in black in the original image, color spreading occurs in the edge portion (boundary between black and any other color than black) if the record positions of C, M, and Ye components shift slightly in the record image.
Thus, in recent years, the color component generation method using under color removal has been changed between the edge portion and any other portion so as to decrease the C, M, and Ye components in the edge portion more than those in any other portion. Accordingly, the percentage of the C, M, and Ye components in the edge portion becomes lower than that in any other portion, so that occurrence of color spreading caused as the record positions of the C, M, and Ye components shift can be suppressed.
To execute such under color removal, it is necessary to determine whether or not each of the pixels making up an image is a pixel forming a part of an edge portion in a black area. However, it is generally difficult to accurately determine whether or not the pixel is a pixel in the edge portion, and the pixel not to be determined a pixel in the edge portion may be erroneously determined a pixel in the black area.
For example, as for pixels making up a dot area, the pixel indicating each dot in the dot area is easily determined erroneously a pixel in an edge portion.
If the pixels making up a dot area are thus erroneously determined pixels in an edge portion, the percentage of the K component in the pixels increases and therefore the record image has the area corresponding to the dot area recorded in improper dark color, and the original image is not faithfully reproduced.
To prevent such an erroneous determination, for example, if no edge pixels exist in the pixel periphery determined an edge portion, it is possible to enhance the accuracy of the determination according to an art wherein the corresponding pixels are determined pixels making up an area represented in halftone rather than the edge portion (JP-A-H3-213057), an art wherein whether or not pixels detected to be pixels making up a character based on the edge density using continuity of a line forming a character are correct is determined from the peripheral pixels (surrounding pixel information) (JP-B-3100383), or the like.
JP-A-H3-213057 and JP-B-3100383 are referred to as related art.
The above-described arts can enhance the accuracy of the determination, but are not sufficient to prevent the original image from being unfaithfully reproduced because an erroneous determination can occur.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program for distinguishing pixels of an edge portion


The invention relates to a method to apply a material which assists in the maintenance of a crease (4) or other formation in a garment (2), such as a crease line in the leg of a pair of trousers. The material (15) which is applied is of a form which minimizes the opportunity for the material (15) to be visible at the time of application and/or during subsequent use of the garment (2). The material (15) is applied using a method and apparatus (100) in which the spacing of the apparatus nib (14) from which the material (15) is applied, from the garment (2) and/or contact of the nib (14) with the garment (2) is controlled by support members (112, 114) such that the material (15) is applied onto the garment (2) and adheres thereto in a manner in which the desired effect of the material (15) is achieved without the material subsequently causing discolouration and/or passing through the garment (2).

The invention relates to the application of a liquid material solution to garments and in particular applying the material along a crease line formed in the garment. The purpose of applying liquid material along the crease line is to allow the ribbon of the material which is applied to retain the form of the crease in the garment, such as in a pair of trousers. Once the material has cured the crease in the garment will be retained for a longer period of time than would normally be the case.
The use of certain types of material to increase the duration of the existence of a crease in a garment is well known. The material is typically applied to the interior side of the garment by the garment manufacturer prior to the garment being made available for purchase and/or can be applied by garment handling operators after the garment has been purchased, such as, for example by a dry cleaning provider with the application of the material being provided as an optional extra service. In either case it is known that the application of the ribbon or elongate line of the liquid material along the crease does increase the longevity of the crease in the garment and therefore provides the garment with a relatively smart appearance for a longer period of time.
The liquid material is typically provided in a cartridge with a piston therein which causes the required quantity of the material to exit through a cartridge opening as the cartridge is moved along the crease in the garment and hence the liquid material is applied as required along the crease.
A problem which has been experienced is that once the conventional liquid material has been applied, and typically at, a period of time after application, a colouration of the previously transparent material occurs, or a discolouration of previously coloured material can occur. Typically the colouration is a substantially white colouration which is visible on the opposing side from which the material has been applied, i.e. visible on the external surface of the garment. This white line effect shows up or is increased after wear, dry cleaning and/or washing of the garment.
Conventionally it has been believed that the white line effect was caused by a silicon filler material provided as part of the liquid material and the fact that the liquid material shows through the holes between the weave on an open weave/plain weave fabric garment, or, on a more lightweight fabric garment, the liquid material permeates the ultra fine yarns and wets out the yarn on the visible surface on the outside of the crease line so that when it becomes relatively worn, is dry cleaned and/or washed the liquid material is exposed and shows as a white line. This effect is most apparent on darker fabrics with the white line being viewable externally of the garment and hence visible through the garment, and from the opposing side of the garment to that on which the material was applied. Examples of this are provided in FIGS. 1a-f to which the conventional liquid material has been applied along a crease line. Control samples are shown in FIGS. 1g-h and to which none of the conventional liquid material has been applied. The crease line has been subjected to 5000 cycles of linear rubbing along the crease with FIGS. 1a-c, illustrating the back crease of a trouser garment and the FIGS. 1d-f illustrating the front crease of the trouser garment.
This problem of the visible white line has been a problem for many years and the problem has increased and/or become more apparent as the use of lighter and super lightweight fabrics has become increasingly prevalent for suits and trousers in warmer climate countries. This problem has limited the range and type of garment to which the conventional liquid material can be applied to retain the crease and, as a result, the clear advantages of the retention of the crease in the garment cannot be obtained. For example, in warmer climates where the use of lighter clothing is more prevalent the use of the apparatus and method is less popular due to the visible white line effect.
The conventional liquid material which has been used is typically a silicon based material and includes a filler which can be referred to as fume silica or fumed silica, hereinafter referred to as fumed silica. The filler is added as a bulking agent and/or to aid the flowability and/or affects the viscosity of the products. Attempts to reduce the white line effect have been made over a number of years, including the addition of quantities of carbon black to try and colour the liquid material and reduce the white line effect, but no significant advantage has been obtained.
The aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus, a method and/or a liquid material which can be used to reduce or avoid the occurrence of an adverse visual effect, such as a white line effect, caused by the line of liquid material which has been applied to the garment.
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of applying a liquid material substance to a garment to aid retention of a crease formed in the garment, said method including the steps of applying a ribbon or elongate line of the liquid material along or adjacent to the crease line from a material dispenser, during relative movement between the dispenser and garment, said liquid material subsequently cured to substantially retain the crease form and wherein the dispenser for the liquid material includes a nib from which the liquid material is emitted with the rub held with respect to the crease line so as be out of contact or in substantially non pressure contact with the garment so as to prevent the pressure of application of the material causing the same to be forced through the garment.
Typically if the nib is not in contact with the garment the material is emitted so as to bridge the gap between the nib and the garment and attach to the garment.
In one embodiment the material is held in a dispensing cartridge which includes the nib with an aperture through which the material can be dispensed onto or adjacent to the garment crease. Typically the garment is held in a fixed position and the cartridge is moved along the length of the crease line with the material being dispensed therefrom in a controlled manner. In one embodiment the cartridge is provided with guides which pass along or in line with the crease and guide the movement of the cartridge when the cartridge is being moved along the garment.
Typically the nib is placed into position on the dispensing aperture and can be provided at an angle offset and spaced from the garment. Typically the relationship between the end of the nib and the base of the guide members is important in controlling the position of the nib, and hence application, of the material at the required depth into the garment. In one embodiment, the relationship can be altered to suit the particular material which is being applied and/or the weight of the fabric from which the garment has been made. For example, a selection of the distance of the nib end from the garment can be made to prevent the material from completely passing through the fabric whilst ensuring that the retention of the crease is maintained. This is found to reduce the creation of the white line discolouration. The control of the wetting out of the material and/or the type of material applied with regard to the type of fabric may also be used to advantage.
In one embodiment the spacing of the nib from the garment crease to which the material is applied extends from no pressure contact such that the nib "kisses" the garment to a spacing up to 0.07 mm.
In one embodiment the nib of the cartridge is provided at the first end of the cartridge and, at the opposing end, there is provided means to allow connection to a pressurised fluid source such as compressed air which acts on a piston located in the cartridge.
Typically the pressurised air is introduced into the cartridge in a controlled manner, typically by manual control, and at a selected pressure so as to move a piston located in the cartridge along the interior of the cartridge and, as it does so, moves the material within the cartridge towards and out of the dispensing aperture in a controlled manner.
In a preferred embodiment the cartridge is provided with a non return member so as to prevent the piston from returning to its starting position and hence prevent refilling of the cartridge.
Typically the viscosity of the material is selected such that the material will contact with and adhere to the garment whilst not penetrating through the garment fabric to thereby avoid the creation of the discolouration or "strike through".
In one embodiment the material is introduced into the crease to a sufficient extent such that it effectively locks the fibres and/or yarns of the fabric of the garment or garment piece at and/or adjacent to the crease in the position at which the same are located when the material is applied.
In one embodiment the material is applied to the inside of a preformed crease in a garment to a sufficient extent to permeate into the weave and, once cured, retain the structure of the weave to act to retain the preformed crease in that position. Thus the folded pressed crease line yarns cannot move in relation to each other and hence the crease is retained for a longer period of time than it would if the material was not applied.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a material for use to be applied to a garment crease when the material is in a liquid state in order to retain the crease for a period of time and wherein said material is a polyurethane hybrid compound.
In one embodiment the material cures on exposure to atmospheric humidity and forms an elastomer along the line of application of the material on the garment.
In one embodiment the material is formed as a non-sag elastic 1-c sealant material.
Preferably the material is a compound with high abrasion resistance and in one embodiment is silicone and PVC free.
Typically the material can be coloured or provided in a substantially transparent form.
It is found that the liquid material in accordance with the invention retains the crease form and eliminates or reduces the creation of the white line visual effect during subsequent use of the garment.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for applying a material along a crease line in a garment, said apparatus including a cartridge with a cavity in which a quantity of the material is retained, said cartridge having a nib with a dispensing aperture through which the material can be selectively dispensed and wherein the nib is maintained in substantially non pressure contact with, or at a spaced distance from, the garment to which the material is to be applied, by one or more support members provided on the cartridge and which contact with the garment to maintain the nib at the required location with regard to the garment.
In one embodiment the nib is manufactured from a material of a type such that if the same contacts with the garment material, the material dispensed from the nib is not forced by the nib through the garment.
In one embodiment the nib is formed from a material which is capable of deformation when force is applied to the cartridge to move the nib into contact with the garment so as to reduce the force applied by the nib to the dispensed material and hence resist the dispensed material from being forced from one side of the garment to which the material is applied, to the opposing face.
In one embodiment the cartridge includes a piston head movable along said cartridge cavity under the influence of a pressurised fluid introduced into the cartridge cavity via a connection provided on the cartridge to a pressurised fluid source.
In one embodiment the contact face of the nib is provided to be located at an angle in the range of 2 to 10 degrees with respect to the garment surface. Preferably the angle is substantially 5 degrees so as to allow the liquid material to flow through the aperture in the nib onto the garment.
In one embodiment the material is moved through the cartridge towards the nib at a pressure substantially in the region of 15 psi.
In one embodiment said garment to which the material is to be applied is positioned on a support surface with the crease in the garment or garment piece along which the material is to be applied located to lie along an elongate valley formation in the support surface.
In one embodiment the valley formation is substantially V or U shaped.
In one embodiment at least two spaced support members are located in line with the nib and are moved along the crease line in advance of the nib with regard to the direction of movement of the cartridge.
In one embodiment the support members are provided in the form of wheels.
In one embodiment the wheels are provided as part of a carriage on which the cartridge is located and the cartridge and carriage move with respect to the garment as the material is applied.
In one embodiment the wheels are located on or with the cartridge and in line with the nib and contact with the garment so as to be moved along the crease line.
In one embodiment the garment is placed on a surface of a stand, said surface including an elongate groove and the crease line of the garment to which the material is to be applied is positioned to lie in and along the said groove and along which the nib of the cartridge is then moved to apply the material along the crease line.
In one embodiment the groove is U or V-shaped in cross section and the garment crease line is V shaped in cross section and the garment is positioned with respect to the groove such that the base point of the V lies in the base of the U or V shaped groove and the material is applied into the V of the garment crease line.
Referring firstly to FIGS. 4a-d there is illustrated a cartridge 100 which includes a body portion in which is provided a cavity 102 (shown in broken lines in FIG. 4c). The cavity contains a quantity of material which is moved for dispensation via a piston towards the dispensing end 104. The dispensing end has a nib 106 in fluid communication with the cavity so that material can flow through a channel 108 provided in the nib and which leads to an opening at the free end 116 of the nib so that material can flow out of the nib and onto the garment crease 110, also referred to as the strike line.
The cartridge also includes first and second support members 112,114 which contact with the garment crease line (also referred to as the strike line) as shown. In accordance with the invention, the arrangement of the size or depth of the support members 112, 114 define the distance of the cartridge body 102 from the garment and, more importantly, they, in conjunction with the length of the nib 106 which is fitted to the cartridge, allow the position of the free end 116 of the nib with respect to the garment to be set and maintained as the cartridge is moved along the garment to apply the rein thereto, in accordance with the invention, the free end of the nib is positioned such that there is a non-pressure, contact between the nib and the garment or, a gap is maintained between the free end of the nib and the garment so that there is no contact between the same. This ensures that the material reaches and attaches to the fabric of the garment crease line in a manner so that the material is effectively laid onto the aliment crease line rather than being pressed into and through the fabric of the garment.
As an alternative to the use of support member "skids" as shown, the support members may be provided as wheels mounted on the cartridge or on a carriage to which the cartridge is attached and the wheels are again aligned with the nib to allow the material to be applied therefrom along the crease line. In one embodiment this means that the wheels are rolled along the crease line.
The cartridge can be provided in one embodiment with a non return member within the cavity which allows the movement of the material towards the dispensing aperture and prevents refilling of the cartridge respectively. The piston is moved by the pressurised air which is introduced to the rear of the same. The supply of the fluid and movement of the cartridge with respect to the garment can be controlled by the operator of the apparatus.
FIGS. 2a and b illustrate one embodiment of apparatus for use in applying the material of this application. The apparatus comprises a stand with a support surface 8 in which a V shaped channel 10 is provided. The garment 2 is located with respect to the channel 10 such that the crease line 4 formed therein lies long the channel. The cartridge nib 14 is provided in the cartridge that is located to be moved along the channel and through which material 15 is dispensed along the crease line 4 as the cartridge is moved along the garment crease line with the support member guides or fins on the underside of the cartridge contacting with the garment in the crease and the support surface in the channel 10 and hence guiding the movement and also supporting the end of the nib at the required distance and angular orientation from the garment so as to control the depth of absorption of the material into the garment.
Referring now to FIG. 3a there is illustrated part of a garment 2 with a crease line 4 formed therein. The retention of the crease line 4 in FIG. 3a and FIGS. 1a-f has been achieved in a conventional manner and using a conventional material which typically will include 15% fumed silica with the remainder of the contents being silicone or modified silicone based components. The material is typically applied to the inner face of the garment with the nib of the cartridge in contact with and pressing into the garment to force the material applied therefrom into and through the fabric of the garment. In FIG. 3a the external face of the garments is shown and it is found that after wear, ironing and/or washing or dry cleaning that a white line 6 becomes viewable externally of the garment with the white being created along the area where the material has been applied as shown in FIG. 3a and FIGS. 1a-f. This is a particular problem with lighter fabrics and/or more open weave fabrics where the material colour can be more easily viewed through the fabric and hence be exposed on the external surface thereof.
The same type of garment is illustrated in FIG. 3b and in this case the material is in accordance with the present invention and which has been applied along the crease line using a nib with it's free end spaced from the garment as described with reference to FIGS. 4a-d. It will be seen that in this case no white line is present or viewable along the crease 4. The applicant has therefore found that the use of the material in accordance with the present invention and particularly when applied using this non pressure contact or gap between the nib and garment and with the nib outlet at an angle of 5 degrees with respect to the garment means that the visible white line does not occur on the crease and so the appearance of the garment is unaffected. This also extends the potential scope of use of the application apparatus and method by which the material can be applied to garments where this previously may not have been possible and also for use in countries where lighter weight clothing is predominantly worn especially when the material used is that provided in accordance with this invention. This is illustrated with reference to the test results shown in FIGS. 5a-f and 6a-f.
FIGS. 5a-f and 6a-f illustrate test results obtained using a material in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and in each case there is illustrated the garment with the original crease line 202 in FIGS. 5a and 6a and then the crease line condition thereafter after 1000 rub cycles (FIGS. 5b and 6b); 2000 cycles (FIGS. 5c and 6c; 3000 cycles (FIGS. 5d and 6d); 4000 cycles (FIGS. 5e and 6e) and 5000 cycles (FIGS. 5f and 6f). It will be seen that in each case there is no white line effect after the rubs which is in contrast to the results obtained using the conventional material illustrated in FIGS. 1a-f. The material is required to have sufficient viscosity to allow the same to be laid onto the surface of the garment to provide the desired effect without soaking through the fabric of the garment while at the same time being able to leave the aperture in the nib, creating flow across any gap between the nib and the fabric to make contact with, and remain in contact with, the said fabric. The spacing of the nib from the garment means that the material leaves the nib and pressure and/or gravity cause the material to be applied onto the garment and adhere thereto in a manner in which the effect of the material on the crease is achieved without the material subsequently causing discolouration.

Apparatus, material and method of applying the same to garments in order to maintain a crease


A display apparatus includes: an interface unit which connects a device; a device control unit which, when a communication device is connected to the interface unit, executes communication via the communication device; and a display unit which displays an image based on image data received via the communication device; wherein the device control unit acquires communication information about the communication using the communication device when detachment of the communication device from the interface unit is detected, and detects that a storage device capable of storing data is connected to the interface unit, and stores the communication information into the storage device.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display apparatus, a display system, and a control method for a display apparatus.
2. Related Art
According to a related art, a display apparatus which receives and displays image data from an image supply apparatus such as a personal computer is known. Such a display apparatus is usually connected to the image supply apparatus via a communication network.
In order to enable communication between the display apparatus and the image supply apparatus, network connection information such as IP address or SSID, ESSID or the like of a wireless LAN needs to be set. However, the operation to input and set such information is complicated. Therefore, a related-art system is proposed in which an information storage medium storing network connection information is connected to a display apparatus, thus enabling the network connection information to be set in the display apparatus (see, for example, JP-A-2005-202754).
Meanwhile, a communication device used by the display apparatus can be fixed to the display apparatus or can be attachable to and removable from the display apparatus. However, when an information storage medium is used in order to facilitate input of network connection information as described above, a state where both the communication device and the information storage medium are connected to the display apparatus needs to take place and connectors need to be provided in a number corresponding to the state.

Display apparatus, display system, and control method for display apparatus


A distal perfusion sheath (DPS) is provided for cases where blood perfusion is needed for downstream arteries (distal) to the insertion point of the DPS within the target artery. The ability to provide distal perfusion with the DPS allows the DPS to be positioned in the target artery for long periods without causing lack of blood flow (ischemia) to an extremity that the target artery supplies. In embodiments, the DPS can still be used for surgical arterial access while allowing blood flow downstream.

As endovascular procedures become more complicated, the procedures often take longer to perform and often require larger sheaths to be in a patient's arteries for extended periods of time. However, larger surgical sheaths impair blood flow to a distal extremity and can cause injury to the nerves and muscles. In addition, after prolonged lack of blood flow (ischemia) the extremity is at risk for re-perfusion injury once the sheath is removed that can increase muscle compartment pressures (compartment syndrome), which can result in muscle necrosis and amputation.
Thus, there exists a need for a vascular surgical sheath that allows continued blood flow past the insertion point of the sheath, while the sheath is in place, to an extremity downstream to the sheath. There further exists a need for a process for usage of such a sheath to inhibit compartment syndrome.


A point response function (PRF) is estimated in SPECT. A 3D PRF is based on measured emissions from a point source at different distances from the detector. Rather than sampling every location in space, the 2D PRFs at a sub-set of distances are sampled. The 3D PRF is then modeled with a representative 2D PRF and a scale as a function of distance. For a given distance from the detector, the 2D PRF to be applied is formed by scaling the representative 2D PRF using the scale for that distance.

The present embodiments relate to characterizing a point response function (PRF) in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A PRF is the image formed on a detector by a point source in the absence of appreciable attenuation and scatter between the source and the detector. The PRF is used in reconstruction. For reconstructing emissions from a patient, the PRF as a function of location is used. When imaging a finite source (e.g., a patient), the image of function of the patient is generated as a convolution of the PRF with the emissivity (e.g., detected emissions) of the finite source as a function of position.
A three-dimensional (3D) PRF is used to characterize the SPECT imaging systems since the source is close to the detector. The 3D PRF is typically modeled. One simple example is a Gaussian function. The model may be based on emission measurements from a point source, but is an approximation limited in transverse extension and may not properly account for a tail of the PRF. For example, the PRF of the LEHR collimator with Tc-99m used by the Flash3D reconstruction misses ˜20% of the total PRF. Even an effective-aperture model may still miss ˜10% of the PRF in the tail.
The desired accuracy of a 3D PRF depends on the application. For quantitative imaging, which aims to measure an amount of uptake or other characteristic in a volume of interest, the accuracy is desired to be better than 10%, such as aiming for a goal ˜1%. Since the 3D PRF used in reconstruction contributes to the accuracy, the 3D PRF should have the same or similar accuracy demanded of the image. However, the models for PRF, even when based on measurements, do not achieve such accuracy. The 3D PRF may be measured instead such that the response at each location in 3D is provided in tabular form. However, extensive effort is needed to measure a 3D tabular PRF, and the resulting large number of samples (one for each location in 3D) may be difficult to handle in practical image reconstruction.

Self-similar, transversely shift-invariant point response function in single photon emission computed tomography


A static random access memory (SRAM) with high efficiency. The SRAM has a first bistable cell, a first bit line, a first complementary bit line, a first word line, and a second word line. The first bistable cell has a first access terminal, a second access terminal, a first access switch and a second access switch. The first access switch is controlled by the first word line to couple the first access terminal to the first bit line. The second access switch is controlled by the second word line to couple the second access terminal to the first complementary bit line.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a static random access memory (SRAM), especially relates to storage cells of SRAM.
Description of the Related Art
Static random access memory (SRAM) is a type of semiconductor memory that uses bistable latching circuitry (e.g., cross-coupled CMOS inverters) to store each bit. How to efficiently access an SRAM is an important topic in the field.

Multi-ported static random access memory


The present invention relates to a method to manufacture a composite ceramic material having a high strength combined with bioactive properties, when the material is used as a dental or orthopedic implant, which includes preparing a powder mixture, mainly comprising partly a first powder, which in its used chemical state will constitute a bioinert matrix in the finished material , and partly a second powder, mainly comprising a calcium phosphate-based material. The invention is characterized in that said first powder comprises at least one of the oxides belonging to the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2), zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2) and aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), in that said second powder mainly comprises at least one of the compounds hydroxylapatite and tricalcium phosphate, in that a raw compact is made of said powder mixture and in that said raw compact is densified through an isostatic pressing in a hot condition (HIP) at a pressure higher than 50 MPa, a composite material being obtained, in which said matrix comprises one or several metal oxides of said first powder, in which matrix said compound hydroxylapatite and/or tricalcium phosphate is evenly dispersed.. The invention also relates to a composite ceramic material as well as a body, completely or partially made of this material.

Ceramic materials and particularly structural ceramic materials generally have a high resistance to corrosion and erosion. This is true of e.g. several oxides, nitrides, carbides and borides. Also, said materials have no toxic properties. When used as implant materials said materials are completely inactive, i.e. neither positive nor negative reactions with surrounding tissues take place, and consequently it is possible to attain a biological integration to bone tissue without any intermediate connective tissue. Such materials are termed inert when used as implant materials. These properties make several oxides, nitrides, carbides and borides potentially very valuable as inert dental and orthopedic implant materials.
However, it is desirable that materials having a favorable biocompatibility are not only inert, i.e. able to fasten mechanically to a bone tissue, but also bioactive, i.e. the implant can be bonded chemically to a bone tissue. Oxides, nitrides, carbides and borides do not have this property. On the other hand it is known that phosphate-based materials, having a chemical composition similar to the "inorganic" or "ceramic" matter in bone tissue, can display bioactive properties. Such a phosphate-based material is e.g. hydroxylapatite, Ca(PO.sub.4).sub.3. However, a synthetic hydroxylapatite has a low tensile toughness and hence a low strength and also a tendency to gradually develop a continuous crack growth. Another example of a bioactive material having a calcium phosphate-base is tricalcium phosphate Ca.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2, but this compound has an unsatisfactory strength. Also, it has a not negligible water solubility and consequently may be dissolved before the bond to the bone tissue has developed. Thus, in this respect, hydroxylapatite is preferred as compared to tricalcium phosphate.

Composite ceramic material and method to manufacture the material

Stiftelsen Centrum for Dentalteknik och Biomaterial i Huddinge