A computer software program for replacing drop-out pixels and erroneous re values in the range channel of a laser detection and ranging system with a median pixel value in a moving square window centered about a pixel being processed whenever a co-registered intensity pixel value in the intensity channel falls below an intensity threshold. During the processing of each range pixel of the target, the computer software program will not alter the range value of the pixel if its corresponding intensity pixel has an intensity value above the intensity threshold. When the intensity value of the corresponding intensity pixel is below the threshold, the intensity guided filter replaces the range value with the median value of all the "good" pixels within a moving window the size of a kernel having X and Y dimensions. This results in the intensity guided filter smoothing out noisy pixels in the range channel of while retaining edge pixel values for the image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to laser detection and ranging system which are commonly referred to as LADAR systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method, implemented with a computer software program, for improving direct detection solid state laser (LADAR) imaging.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, methods and apparatus have been developed for identifying targets, whether such targets have been stationary or moving. For example, in World War II the British developed and utilized radar for identifying the incoming aircraft of the German Luftwaffe. Radar uses radio waves (instead of the light waves that human eye uses to see) to locate objects at great distances even in bad weather or in total darkness. Currently, radar is employed in a wide variety of areas, including air traffic control, early warning systems for national defense, law enforcement of speed limits on highways, and weather forecasting, along with the more traditional use of radars which is target identification.
While ground-based and airborne radar are used to identify enemy ships, land based vehicles such as tanks and aircraft, radar is also used to aim and fire guns and missiles. In addition, radar has also been used to map terrain. While radar has proven quite effective in many areas over the years, radar is inherently limited because of its use of radio frequency signals and the size of the resultant antennas used to transmit and receive such radio frequency signals.
In an effort to overcome some of the limitations of radar systems, lasers have been employed in detection and ranging systems. Like radar, which takes its name from the phrase "radio detection and ranging," laser detection and ranging systems are referred to as LADAR systems. Like radar systems, which transmit radio waves and receive waves reflected from objects, often referred to as targets, LADAR systems transmit laser beams and receive the beams reflections from targets.
Because of the short wavelengths associated with laser beam transmissions, LADAR imaging exhibits a much greater resolution than radar imaging. In other words, LADAR is capable of accurately pinpointing a target when compared with the ability of radar to pinpoint a target.
The LADAR systems currently in use form two different types of images. However, before describing these images, it should be understood how these images are formed. A scan pattern is generated by scanning a pulsed laser beam in a pattern throughout a particular field. The generation of this scan pattern is somewhat similar to the manner in which an electron gun in a television set is rastered many times a second over the entire screen to generate a television image. In fact, LADAR images are frames of pixels having x rows and y columns to form a pixel array. The pixel array may be any of a variety of sizes, a common array size is 256 pixels per row and 256 pixels per column. One of the images generated in this manner is referred to as the "range" image. The range image is generated by determining the time between the departure of a laser pulse and the corresponding return laser pulse that has been reflected from an object in the pattern field. For display purposes, each range image is divided into range bands. A repeating color spectrum is assigned to each range band in the range image so that relative distances of objects in the range image can be perceived. For example, objects in a particular range image may be from 1,000 to 2,000 meters away from the LADAR, and the color bands may each be 100 meters. In this example, the range image would show ten repeating color bands. Each color band might use, for instance, five different colors to illustrate the relative range of an object within the color band. Blue might be used to represent the range of each object in the first 20 meters of a color band, with the colors green, yellow, red, and purple used to represent the range of objects in successive 20 meter bands of each color band.
The other type of image generated by a LADAR system is referred to as an "intensity" image. The intensity image is generated by determining the magnitude of each reflected laser pulse received by the LADAR system. Highly reflective objects in the field, such as light colored objects, appear lighter in the intensity image because the laser pulse reflected from these materials will have a relatively high magnitude. Poorly reflective materials, such as dark colored objects, appear darker in the intensity image because these materials absorb much of the transmitted laser pulse and, thus, the reflected pulse received by the LADAR system is relatively weak.
While the range and intensity images are useful for a variety of purposes, the intensity image has at least two unique uses. First, it provides an image that is typically easier for a person to interpret than the range image, because the intensity image looks very much like a black and white picture. The range and intensity images are typically viewed together, so that a person can identify features in the intensity image and then look to the range image to gain some understanding of the three dimensional aspects of the identified features. Second, the intensity image can be processed using automatic target recognition systems that use edge detection to identify and locate fixed, high value targets, such as buildings. For instance, a LADAR system can be mounted into the nose of a missile, and the data provided by the LADAR system can be used to guide the missile to the target. If the mission target is a fixed, high value target, an automatic target recognition system might be used to detect the target by detecting edges of the target appearing in the intensity image provided by the LADAR system.
For direct detection LADAR systems such as the Lockheed Martin Corporation Vought solid state LADAR, the amplitude or intensity of the return pulse from a target is a measure of the quality of the signal. A high intensity image corresponds to a high degree of confidence in the accuracy of a range measurement to a target. On the other hand a low intensity image corresponds to a weak signal and the very good probability of noise contamination.
Thus, there is a need for a means to generate sharper intensity images to facilitate and improve the operation of direct detection LADAR systems since it would be easier for such systems to locate targets if such targets were better defined by a sharper intensity image. Of course, sharper intensity images would also enhance the use of LADAR systems in other areas, such as terrain mapping.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A lock mechanism holds a moving member on a main body immovably in a locked state and allows movement in an unlocked state. The lock mechanism includes a circulating cam groove formed on the main body or the moving member, and a trace member having an angle bracket shape with one and the other trace parts to sway on the main body or moving member. The one trace part circulates along the circulating cam groove in each approaching and moving away operation of the moving member, and locks the moving member in a state having coupled with the coupling part. A wall surface is formed on the main body or moving member to be disposed in a different position from the circulating cam groove so that the other trace part of the trace member is operable to contact the wall surface only in the locked state of the moving member.

The present invention relates to a lock mechanism, and a latch device, which has a moving member that is capable of approaching and moving away from a main body, and holds said moving member to be immovable in the locked position and enables movement in the unlocked state.
In vehicle compartment internal accessories such as cup holders and ashtrays, and audio devices., and the like, some have latch devices in order to close an opening-and-closing lid. For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3126992, a pair of circulating cam grooves having mutually different shapes is formed on both sides of a latch body 16. Also, the base part of a trace member is fixed on a housing, and a pair of trace parts formed on a trace part of the trace member is made capable of tracing respectively following the pair of circulating cam grooves.
These trace parts are pushed by the groove wall surface of the circulating cam groove in each pushing-in operation of the latch body, but because the shapes of the circulating cam grooves differ between the front side and the back side of the latch body, twisting is caused in the trace member. The trace parts are made to circulate in a fixed direction by the recoil force of the trace member against this twisting force.
Also, the latch body becomes in a state being locked to the housing in a state in which the trace parts are coupled respectively in recessed parts formed respectively on the circulating cam grooves. By this, the lock strength can be made higher compared with the case of one trace part.
However, in Japanese Patent No. 3126992, because the trace parts are made to circulate by twisting force on the trace member, the durability of the trace member is not good.
The present invention, in consideration of the above circumstances, aims to provide a lock mechanism, and a latch device, in which the trace member can be made to circulate following the circulating cam groove without utilizing twisting force on the trace member.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the-following description of the invention.


A data sonde for use in horizontal drilling is provided, the data sonde comprising an antenna for emitting a first modulated signal from the data sonde, the first signal comprising zero and non-zero emission components in different periods, and a receiver for receiving an intermittent second data signal during first signal zero emission periods. A method of operation of the same is also provided.

Sondes are widely used in horizontal drilling applications such as pipe laying, and utility cable installation applications. In such situations, sondes are used to provide information on the location of the head of the drill. This is generally achieved by emission of an electromagnetic signal from the sonde and detection of the signal on the surface. Additionally, the sonde may provide other information to the surface, such as the azimuthal angle, yaw and pitch etc.
Sondes are generally powered using a wireline from a power supply on the surface to the sonde, while the sonde is in the ground or "down-hole". Such sondes are generally also controlled from the surface by using a dedicated line within the wireline from the surface, along the pipe, to the sonde. The dedicated line may then also be used for the sonde to communicate back to the surface with details of azimuthal angle etc. Such wireline sondes have a disadvantage that the range is limited by the length of the wireline from the surface to the sonde, and operational time is increased, along with inconvenience and cost, by the need to insert sections of communication and power cable within the rods used to push the drill head and sonde underground during drilling.
Battery powered sondes may be used in order to overcome this range problem. However, removal of the wireline also removes the dedicated control and communication channel meaning that the surface control can no longer directly communicate with the sonde, and the sonde can no longer directly communicate with the surface. In order to overcome this, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/504,833, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, allows control of the sonde by a series of coded rotations of the head containing the sonde, which the sonde detects and decodes into instructions. However, while such a control system is practical and reliable, such rotations are slow to transmit control instructions.
As discussed above, both wireline and battery powered have advantages and disadvantages in communications to the sonde. However, a user of sondes is required to buy both a battery powered sonde and a wireline sonde for the different requirements. This is because, generally, it is not possible to combine a battery powered sonde with a wireline sonde in a single apparatus because the circuitry for each is mutually exclusive and a different communication method is used for each, resulting in a size requirement too large to be placed in an industry standard sonde casing. Therefore there is a need to produce an improved sonde.

Communicating with an underground object


A fiber blowing and filling machine comprising a hopper, a dispensing assembly located below the hopper, a drive assembly and a blower. The dispensing assembly comprises a housing having two longitudinally opposite apertures, namely, an air inlet aperture connected to the output of the blower and an exit aperture. The housing is equipped with a paddle mounted to a shaft that is above the apertures. The paddle is assembled from individual components, forming a plurality of vanes having flexible edges that contact the surfaces of the housing to create a pocket when the apertures are between a pair of the vanes. The fiber from the hopper flows into the housing and gets collected between a pair of the vanes, which rotate further to form the pocket. The fiber in the pocket is then blown out through the exit aperture by the air from the blower output.

The present invention relates in general to machines for stuffing loose material such as fiber, and more particularly to a fiber filling machine for creating stuffed products such as soft toys, pillows, and the like without using compressors.
Fiber filling systems use compressors and blowers along with other devices to manipulate and guide fiber material into products. Manipulating or processing raw fiber may involve breaking down or fluffing the fiber, requiring custom devices to meet quality standards and achieve the desired feel and texture of the stuffed products. Fiber filling systems also typically comprise hoppers, fiber passageways and housings for various components. In these systems, processed fiber is guided or blown through hoppers and passageways.
Several fiber filling systems have been developed in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,092 to Collida discloses a fiber stuffing and fluffing machine for fiber stuffing toys, pillows, and the like. The machine has a venturi vacuum system, an agitation cavity and blade arrangement, and various mechanical and electrical features. The machine is integrated into a single stand alone unit and performs fluffing and stuffing operations without external pneumatic sources. The machine utilizes a blast gate that is highly resistant to clogging and fiber buildup. The machine also utilizes scroll compressors or turbine compressors and provides means for separating foreign objects from the ingested stuffing fibers. This machine is different from the present invention, which does not employ any compressors and comprises different components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,160 to Rothstein discloses a fiber filling system for feeding and stuffing a quantity of fiber material. The system comprises a picking device for separating clumped fiber that feeds to an air and fiber circulation chamber. The circulation chamber aerates and fluffs the separated fiber into a fibrous billow, which is then discharged to a stuffing chute. A stuffable article, such as a toy, pillow, or furniture cushion casing is attached to the chute and is filled with the fibrous billow. The circulation chamber creates a cyclonic flow to provide sufficient fluffing and aerating of the fiber materials, such that fibers in a wide range of densities and fiber lengths can be processed. However, the picking device and circulation chamber along with their functional aspects differ from the present invention.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,649 to Horton discloses a machine for conditioning and dispensing loose fill insulation material, such as cellulose insulation, fiber glass insulation and rock wool insulation. The machine includes a hopper, a conditioning chamber, an air lock chamber and a blower for pneumatically dispensing the material. The conditioning chamber is equipped with three rotating shafts with helically arranged spikes which serve as conveyors as well as dispersers. A lower conveyor shaft moves the material toward the opening into the air lock, while the two uppermost conveyor shafts move the material in the opposite direction. The air lock chamber comprises a cylinder, a shaft mounted longitudinally in the cylinder and a plurality of blades or vanes extending from the shaft. The edges of the vanes contact the inner wall of the cylinder to create pockets. A single motor drives the rotation of the conveyor shafts and the rotation of the vanes.
The Horton's apparatus as a whole, especially the conditioning chamber and its components, is different from the present invention. Although the air lock chamber of the Horton's apparatus appears similar, the present invention is different in that it includes specially designed vanes and housing enclosing the vanes for achieving substantially isolated pockets. Moreover, in the present invention, the vanes are designed to allow air flow and fiber to blow back into the hopper to prevent clogging.
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an improved fiber filling machine that comprises different fiber handling and filling procedures and uses specially designed components.
A further object is to provide an improved fiber filling machine for stuffing toys, pillows and the like without the use of compressors.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fiber filling machine that includes a dispensing assembly with specially designed paddle assembly having a plurality of vanes for creating substantially isolated pockets. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.


The present invention relates to a microporous polyolefin film suitable as a separator for batteries and thermal properties thereof. A microporous polyolefin film according to the present invention has a film thickness of 5-40 μm, a porosity of 30%-60%, a permeability of 2.0×10−5-8.0×10−5 Darcy, a maximum pore size determined by the bubble point method of not more than 0.1 μm, a puncture strength of 0.20 N/μm or more at room temperature and 0.05 N/μm or more at 120° C., and a maximum shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction (TD) when subjected to a thickness-normalized external force in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis) of not more than 0%. With excellent thermal stability at high temperature as well as superior puncture strength and gas permeability, the microporous polyolefin film according to the present invention is suitable for high-capacity, and high-power batteries.

1. Technical Field
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a microporous polyolefin film suitable as a separator for batteries and thermal properties thereof. A microporous polyolefin film according to the present invention has a film thickness of 5-40 μm, a porosity of 30%-60%, a permeability of 2.0×10−5-8.0×10−5 Darcy, a maximum pore size determined by the bubble point method of not more than 0.1 μm, a puncture strength of 0.20 N/μm or more at room temperature and 0.05 N/μm or more at 120° C., and a maximum shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction (TD) when subjected to a thickness-normalized external force in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis) of not more than 0%.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microporous polyolefin film is in wide use for separators for batteries, separation filters, membranes for microfiltration, and the like due to its superior chemical stability and physical properties. Of these, separators for secondary batteries require the highest quality along with the battery safety requirement. Recently, as capacity and output of secondary batteries are improved, requirements for separators with respect to thermal stability of separators and electrical safety of secondary batteries during charge and discharge are becoming stricter. In the case of lithium secondary batteries, poor thermal stability of separators may lead to damage of the separators caused by temperature increase inside the batteries or short circuit between electrodes resulting therefrom. As a result, there is a risk of overheating of the batteries or fire. Further, as the application of the secondary batteries is extended to hybrid cars and other fields, safety of the batteries against overcharge has become an important requirement. Therefore, separators are required to endure the electric voltage caused by overcharge.
The factors affecting the thermal stability of a battery include shut down temperature, melt down temperature and melting shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction (i.e., a direction perpendicular to the winding of electrode/separator) of the separator, strength of the separator at high temperature, and the like.
Shutdown temperature is the temperature at which the micropores of the separator are closed to shut the electric current when the inside of the battery is abnormally overheated. Melt down temperature is the temperature at which the separator is subjected to melting and the electric current flows again (i.e., the temperature at which short circuit occurs between electrodes) when the battery temperature increases beyond the shutdown temperature. To ensure thermal stability of a battery, it is preferred that the shutdown temperature is low and the melt fracture temperature is high.
Melting shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction refers to the degree of shrinkage occurring when the separator is melted. If the melting shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction is large, the edge of the electrodes is exposed as the separator of the battery shrinks at high temperature, resulting in short circuit between electrodes and overheating, fire, explosion, or the like. Even if the separator has a high melt down temperature, a high melting shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction may lead to short circuit between electrodes as the edge of the electrodes is exposed while the separator is melted.
A high strength of the separator at high temperature is required to prevent damage of the separator at high temperature which may result from dendrites produced at the electrodes during charge and discharge of the battery and to, thereby, prevent short circuit between electrodes. A weak strength of the separator at high temperature may lead to short circuit caused by the fracture of the separator. In this case, overheating, fire, explosion, or the like may occur due to short circuit between electrodes.
Therefore, among the above-mentioned requirements of the separator for thermal stability of the battery, the melting shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction and the strength of the separator at high temperature are the most important because they prevent short circuit between electrodes fundamentally.
The approaches of improving thermal stability of a battery by increasing the melt down temperature of the separator includes crosslinking the separator, adding an inorganic material, using a heat-resistant resin, or the like.
The method of crosslinking the separator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,127,438 and 6,562,519. According to these patents, crosslinking of film is carried out using electron beam irradiation or chemically. However, crosslinking using electron beam irradiation is disadvantageous in that an electron beam irradiation apparatus is required, production rate is limited, and quality unevenness may occur due to nonuniform crosslinking. And, chemical crosslinking is disadvantageous in that the process of extruding and mixing is complicated, it is highly probable that film gelation may occur due to nonuniform crosslinking, and a long time of high-temperature aging is necessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,315 discloses a method blending UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) polyethylene with 5-15 weight % of an inorganic material such as titanium oxide to improve thermal stability of the separator. However, this method is disadvantageous in that the use of UHMW polyolefin increases load of extrusion reduces mixing performance, and reduces productivity due to insufficient stretching. Further, the addition of inorganic material may lead to poor mixing and nonuniform quality and generating pinholes resulting therefrom, or poor film properties because of lack of compatibility at the interface between the inorganic material and the polymer resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,565 discloses a method of blending a resin having superior heat resistance. This method requires UHMW polyethylene having a molecular weight of 1,000,000 or higher in order to prevent deterioration of physical properties caused by the addition of the different resins like polypropylene and inorganic material. Further, the overall process is complicated because additional processes are required for extraction and removal of the inorganic material.
In addition to the above-described problems, the aforesaid methods only aim at improving the melt down temperature of the separator, and do not consider the melting shrinkage in the transverse direction or the strength of the separator at high temperature at all. As a consequence, they are limited in improving the thermal stability of batteries and are not widely utilized for commercial purposes.
A method of reducing shrinkage of the separator in the transverse direction is presented in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1999-322989. In this method, the film is stretched only in the longitudinal direction or the total stretch ratio is reduced to reduce the thermal shrinkage in the transverse direction. Accordingly, superior physical properties cannot be attained because the improvement of physical properties achieved through stretching cannot be expected. The products described in the examples have a very low puncture strength at room temperature at about 0.06-0.11 N/μm. Although physical properties at high temperature are not mentioned, improvement of thermal stability of battery at high temperature may not be expected considering that puncture strength tends to decrease as temperature increases.
Although Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-119306 discloses a separator having a shrinkage ratio less than 1%, separator strength was not measured at all and, in particular, strength at high temperature is not considered at all. Therefore, maximizing battery safety at high temperature may be difficult to be expected.
Another important factor with respect to the safety of a secondary battery is the battery overcharge characteristics. Overcharge characteristics refer to safety against leakage of electrolyte, explosion, fire, or the like when the battery is overcharged. In the current situation where the utilization of high-capacity and high-power batteries is in the increase, for example, in hybrid cars, they are one of important requirements for the batteries. With respect to the improvement of overcharge characteristics of a secondary battery, the presence of excessively large pores in the separator is undesired. In general a large pore is advantageous with respect to the improvement of battery life time and output. However, when the pore size is above a predetermined value, battery safety such as overcharge characteristics may be impaired without further improvement of battery life time or output. The pores inevitably have a size distribution during their formation. If excessively large pores are formed in the separator, they may impair overcharge characteristics of the battery because they provide weak resistance to the electric voltage applied during charging of the battery.
Korean Patent Publication No. 2006-0103932 discloses a separator with a narrow pore size distribution for high voltage resistance and superior shut down performance. However, this patent does not consider the battery safety problem such as overcharge characteristics that may occur when the pore size is excessively large. The reason why the ratio of average pore size to maximum pore size (i.e., pore size distribution) is important is because, as mentioned in the patent, the maximum pore size is an important factor with respect to battery safety such as voltage resistance.
As described above, a separator having low melting shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction as well as high puncture strength at high temperature, which are essential factors required for thermal stability of high-capacity, and high-power secondary batteries, and having an adequate pore size for safety during charge and discharge has not been developed in the related art.
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.

Microporous polyolefin film possessing good mechanical properties and thermal stability


An externally heated deep fat fryer includes a tank defined by a plurality of side walls and at least one bottom wall for receiving and holding a volume of cooking oil. Heating elements are positioned adjacent to a substantial portion of the external surfaces of the walls of the tank for providing substantially uniform heating through the walls and to the cooking oil, while insulation material surrounding the heating elements minimizes heat losses.

This invention relates to cooking apparatus and methods, and, more particularly, to a deep fat fryer for the frying of foods through the uniform transfer of heat over a large area to a cooking medium in which the food is immersed.
The cooking apparatus that are employed to fry foods are legion in number and vary in complexity from the simple, as typified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,498 issued on Mar. 27, 1973 to Kimbrough, to the more complex, as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,041 issued on Apr. 3, 1990 to Taber et al. The object of all prior art deep fat fryers is to constantly transfer heat to the cooking medium, such as oil or shortening (and generally referred to as "cooking oil" or "oil" in the discussion that follows), so as to raise and maintain the temperature of the cooking oil at a level sufficient to fry the selected food and to cook the food to the desired consistency and texture. However, the nature of the cooking oil is such that, over a period of time, it ultimately degrades and deteriorates. This deterioration is partly due to chemical changes that occur in the fats and oils through hydrolization, oxidation and new carbon—carbon linkages. Such deterioration in the cooking oil itself ultimately requires replacement with fresh oil.
Additionally, food particles carbonize due to the high cooking heat in proximity to the heating elements, resulting in a collection of fine debris within the oil itself over a period of use. For example, many foods are encased in batters containing both free and bound sugars and amino acids. During the browning process, the free-floating batter particles, often referred to as "cracklings," become increasingly dark, and a bitterness can be detected through tasting. Furthermore, the cooking oil itself becomes dark in color. Ultimately, the flavor of the food is detrimentally affected. One common way to reduce the amount of food particles in the cooking oil is to periodically filter the oil. While filtering may help address the problem, it clearly represents both capital and labor expenses. Operators frequently find it more economical to replace a portion of the used oil with fresh oil and dispose of the used oil. However, it still remains a goal of those skilled in the art to reduce the turnover in oil usage by increasing the longevity of use of the oil.
As alluded to above, the degradation and deterioration of the cooking oil over a period of time is primarily related to the high heat needed to heat the cooking oil to the desired operating temperature. That is, the cooking oil is generally heated by elements immersed within the oil itself. Because the cooking oil is an inefficient medium for transferring heat, i.e., has a low transfer of heat coefficient, it is necessary that the heating elements operate at temperatures significantly higher than the average operating temperature of the oil. Thus, the oil directly adjacent the elements is at a much higher temperature than oil a short distance away. More often than not, the temperature of the heating elements exceeds the "smoke point" of the cooking oil itself. To minimize degradation and deterioration, prior art deep fat fryers generally provide for structural designs and volume capacities that promote the natural circulation within the frying tank. Natural circulation, i.e., circulation without pumps and the like, requires that the body of the cooking oil be sufficiently large to allow oil circulation from changes in relative densities due to heating and cooling. Thus, in most prior art deep fat fryers, the body of oil used at any one time is considerably larger than is actually required to cook the food. This clearly requires tank volumes to be sufficiently large to accommodate the quantity of oil appropriate to minimize rapid oil degradation. Unfortunately, space in most cooking facilities is at a premium.
Still another problem associated with prior art deep fat fryers is the significant heat loss of the cooking oil through the external walls. Heating inefficiencies require longer sustained heating by the elements themselves and results in greater oil degradation. Thus, some of the prior art fryers attempt to address heat loss inefficiencies.
Additionally, many improvements in the state of the art have occurred as a direct result of attempts to allay handling and cleaning problems associated with deep fat fryers. Handling of the fryer at the high operating temperatures is awkward as a consequence of the ever present danger of burn injuries to personnel. Reducing the frequency of handling clearly would lower the probability of injury. Cleaning of the fryer also poses problems due to the collection of carbonized particles at the bottom of the fryer tank and on the heating elements themselves. In many fryers, the heating elements are removable or pivotable to allow personnel to scour all internal wall surfaces. Drain valves are often located at the bottoms of the tanks to permit drainage of the used and dirty oil. Too frequently, however, the drains themselves become plugged with debris.
An example of a deep fat fryer developed to reduce the localized heating effect often found in fryers and to increase the efficiency of heat transfer is U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,127 issued on Sep. 1, 1987 to Sank. This patent describes the use of a catalytic heater having an elongated hollow oval structure adapted to immersed in the cooking oil. Aside from the clear fact that the heat transfer within the oil is largely unaffected, the volume occupied by the catalytic heater is significant.
The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,041 represents still another attempt to increase the efficiency of heat transfer by eliminating some of the heat loss through the external walls of the fryer tank and to facilitate the cleaning of the fryer. The fryer tank itself is provided with a plurality of wells extending from the bottom of the tank. Oil within the wells is heated by the passage of hot gas along horizontal passageways, thus providing a larger surface area for heat transfer to the oil as compared to tubular heating elements immersed in the oil.
Other attempts at improvements in heat transfer efficiency have been the use of gas infrared burners (porous ceramic plates) butted to the walls of the fry tank or suspended in cylinders at the bottom of the fry tank. Additionally, convection fryers have been developed in which hot oil is pumped continuously through the fry tank.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a deep fat fryer that improves the efficiency of transfer of heat from the heating elements to the cooking oil.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved deep fat fryer that facilitates cleaning and handling of the fryer.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved deep fat fryer that reduces the amount of oil needed for cooking.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved deep fat fryer apparatus that lowers the rate of cooking oil degradation and deterioration during use.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following description.


A surface polishing method in which a workpiece having at least one surface for polishing is set into rotation and has said surface pressed against a polishing element that is driven with motion in rotation or in translation, wherein said surface of the workpiece presents points that are situated outside a circumference of center coinciding with the center of rotation of the workpiece and traveling, during one revolution of said workpiece, along a path comprising first and second portions, with the rate of polishing over said second portion being smaller than over said first portion, in such a manner as to compensate for an over-polishing effect that occurs on the edge of said workpiece over said first portion of the path.

Chemical mechanical polishing is a technique that is well known, used both in optics and in microelectronics. Its principle consists in pressing the surface to be polished with force against a polishing element that is in motion relative thereto and that is soaked in a suspension of abrasive particles known as slurry. The polishing element is typically a pad of polyurethane foam or a felt of textile fibers bonded together by a polyurethane matrix. By way of example, the slurry may be colloidal silica, a suspension of cerium oxide, etc.
More detailed information on this technique is to be found in the PhD thesis of Jiun-Yu Lai "Mechanics, mechanisms, and modeling of the chemical mechanical polishing process", Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Feb. 2001.
In its most common form (rotary CMP) the polishing element is circular in shape and performs rotary motion; a "workpiece-carrier" keeps the workpiece that is to be machined rotating with one of its surfaces in contact with the polishing element. There are also exist linear CMP machines in which the polishing element is carried by a looped belt driven with linear motion, like a conveyor belt. Only rotary CMP is considered in detail below, but the invention is equally applicable to linear CMP.
When it is necessary to polish both faces of a workpiece, such as a lithographic mask, it is advantageous to use a dual-face CMP method in which the workpiece is sandwiched between two polishing elements that apply a compression force. The workpiece-carrier must be designed to allow both faces to make contact simultaneously with the polishing elements.
Experience shows that the edge of the workpiece presents over-polishing that can be very considerable. This is due to the polishing element being flattened, giving rise to extra pressure in the vicinity of said edge, and also to abrasive particles accumulating. This results in a non-planar zone in the polished surface that can extend over a significant fraction of the diameter of the workpiece, for example over about 15 mm for a workpiece that is 150 mm in diameter (10%). The effect is even more marked for non-circular workpieces presenting sharp angles. A more thorough discussion about the effect of over-polishing is to be found in the article by Jianfeng Luo "Wafer-scale CMP modeling of within wafer non-uniformity", Laboratory for Manufacturing Automation, University of California, Berkeley.
A first solution to this problem consists in providing workpieces with a peripheral zone that is to be cut off after polishing. Apart from the fact that that technique is very expensive and involves wasting material, the cutting operation itself induces mechanical defects that degrade the surface state of the workpiece. It is therefore not adapted to lithographic masks, and more generally to ultraviolet optics, since the maximum size of defects that can be accepted is no greater than a few tens of nanometers.
A second solution, e.g. as described in the above-mentioned article by Jianfeng Luo, consists in surrounding the workpiece with a guard ring, and it is the guard ring that is subjected to over-polishing instead of the workpiece. That technique is also expensive since the guard ring needs to be produced with tolerances that are very strict and it needs to be replaced after a small number of uses. This drawback is particularly marked with dual-face polishing since the ring must have exactly the same thickness as the workpiece and a single use can thin it to such an extent as to make its replacement necessary.

Method and an element for surface polishing


The present invention relates to the processing of E-mail messages over a telecommunications network. More particularly, the present invention relates to the detection and monitoring of file formats which can be processed and displayed at an E-mail client. Specific embodiments include, sending an E-mail message to the E-mail client, determining at the E-mail client a file format that the E-mail client can process and display, and indicating to the E-mail sensor server the file format that the E-mail client can process and display. Once the file format is determined, subsequent E-mail messages maybe of the same file format. The file format could be hyper text mark up language (HTML) statements or dynamic HTML(DHTML) statements or Java applets. The method may also include monitoring the status of the E-mail message received at the E-mail client.

The present invention relates to the processing of E-mail messages over a telecommunications network. More particularly, the present invention relates to the detection and monitoring of file formats which can be processed and displayed at an E-mail client.
E-mail has become a major method of communicating information over telecommunication networks; this includes the "Internet" and intranets. There are estimates that about 30–55 million American homes are wired for E-mail communication today, and this number is rapidly growing. This provides a large audience for E-mail advertisers. Thus, through E-mail, vendors can make millions of customers aware of their products. One method is to reach the largest audience possible. However, blanket advertising is akin to junk mail and is ineffective in terms of actual sales.
Targeting advertising to customer profiles has been a method to improve E-mail sales. The challenge has been to identify the audience and tailor the advertising to that audience. Vendor lists of prior customers provide a basis to identify the target audience. Once the customer base is determined, the format of the advertisement is another important factor in increasing sales. Certain sections of the population respond favorably to visual media, e.g., graphics over pure text. This "visual media" group is several times more likely to respond when they receive visual images, then when they receive only pure text. As this "visual media" group represents a significant portion of the E-mail consumers, it is one group to focus on.
Blanket advertising using visual images instead of only text is still ineffective. As the sender, chooses the file format, what the receiver, i.e., user, can process and display may be incompatible. Thus many users, to include members of the "visual media" group, may display the visual images as illegible characters. Thus there is a need to insure the user gets the file format that he/she can display.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for remotely sensing the file formats processed by an e-mail client


The invention provides a tightly wrapped photographic element comprising a support bearing at least one photographic silver halide emulsion having associated therewith at least one high dye-yield coupler that releases a dye having an electrically neutral dye chromophore, said element having a radius of curvature of less than 6,000 micrometers. The tightly wrapped photographic element exhibits less pressure sensitivity than conventional elements while maintaining satisfactory photographic response.. This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/565,122, filed Nov. 30, 1995, now abandoned, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/250,199, file May 27, 1994, now abandoned.

This invention involves the use of an image dye-forming coupler which releases a dye or dye precursor as the coupling off group. These are called "High Dye-Yield" (HDY) couplers because they form two molecules of dye for each molecule of coupler which is consumed.
Useful high dye-yield couplers have been disclosed by Mooberry and Singer in U.S. Pat. 4,840,884. (The '884 patent) Such couplers react with oxidized color developer to form one dye and in doing so release a precursor of a second dye having a neutral dye chromophore. In accordance with the patent, the new couplers described therein enable lower concentrations of silver halide in the photographic element without lowering image quality.
Large, high speed silver halide emulsions coated on a support, particularly those with a tabular morphology, are sensitive to fog formation caused by pressure events. These pressure events can arise from the film being tightly wound around a spindle in a film cartridge, or from contact with rollers and other surfaces during its manufacture and use, or from any bending of a flexible support bearing such an emulsion through a severe radius of curvature.
Various ways are known in the art by which the film structure may be modified or by which the sensitive emulsion may be modified to reduce the pressure sensitivity. For instance, the incorporation of pressure absorbing layers in the top of the film pack is well known. The inclusion of hydroquinones in such layers is taught in DD293207, EP476,521 and 482,599. Polymeric inclusions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,791. While these methods offer good reduction in pressure fog etc, they add material to the upper layers of the film material. This means that those layers are thicker and so there is a concomitant reduction in the sharpness and developability of underlying layers. Modifications to the structure of the silver halide emulsions to reduce pressure sensitivity are also known. For example, EP 295,439 and EP 299,719 describe the preparation of emulsions with low pressure sensitivity, and EP 517,901 describes an emulsion surface treatment to reduce pressure sensitivity. It is also possible to release antifoggants in the layer to reduce sensitivity (eg. EP 468,104). These methods lead to changes in the structure, speed, or developability of the emulsion and so they can adversely affect its performance.
Current trends are toward the miniaturization of cameras and the film employed to record the image. These trends may be served through the utilization of film which is smaller in format and/or is more tightly wrapped than is the case with conventional cameras and film. Thus, the desired miniaturization is dependent on a photographic element which can withstand a tight wrapping about the film spool without undue increase in pressure fog.
It is a problem to be solved to provide a tightly wrapped photographic element which exhibits less pressure sensitivity than conventional elements while maintaining satisfactory photographic response.

Tight wrapped photographic element containing a high dye-yield coupler


A network-based lighting equipment remote monitoring and management system is proposed, which is designed for use with a network system to allow the user to carry out monitoring and management tasks on one or more remotely-located lighting equipment systems in a real-time manner via the network system. The proposed system is characterized by the provision of a user-operated network-based real-time monitoring and management function for remotely-located lighting equipment, the capability to provide efficient and cost-effective management in the utilization of lighting equipment for saving energy and cost, and the capability to provide real-time warning of abnormal operating conditions of the lighting equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to network-based remote monitoring technology, and more particularly, to a network-based lighting equipments remote monitoring and management system which allows the user to remotely monitor and perform management tasks on one or more sets of remotely-located lighting equipment systems in a real-time manner via a network system.
2. Description of Related Art
Lighting apparatuses are electricity-consuming devices that are widely installed in nearly all kinds of buildings, including office buildings, factories, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, supermarkets, warehouses, department stores, to name just a few. Types of commonly used lighting apparatuses include fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, halide lamps, to name a few. Fundamentally, lighting apparatuses are used to provide a light source that can illuminate a darkened space within a confined room so as to allow people staying in the room to have a bright environment to live or work therewithin.
In the management of a system of lighting apparatuses installed in a building, the management personnel usually need to monitor the operating status of the lighting equipment system during operation. For example, the management personnel need to inspect the ON/OFF state, electricity utilization conditions (load voltage, load current, and power consumption in watts), and whether the produced luminosity is adequate to provide good visibility. Moreover, the management personnel need to constantly check whether all the individual lighting units (bulbs, fluorescent tubes, etc.) in the lighting equipment system operate normally. If any lighting unit is flashing or burned out, the management personnel need to repair or replace the bad lighting unit. In addition, for energy saving purposes, the management personnel need to learn the total power consumption by the lighting equipment system during a certain period, so that it can be used as a reference for efficient and cost-effective management in the utilization of the lighting equipment system.
Traditionally, the above-mentioned lighting equipment management tasks are carried out by human labor, i.e., the inspection of the operating status of the lighting equipment is carried out through visual inspection by the management personnel, and the recording of operating characteristics data (i.e., load voltage, load current, and power consumption in watts) is carried out by visually inspecting electronic instruments and then handwriting on papers. When it is required to analyze these operating characteristics data to learn the energy consumption of the lighting equipment, the management personnel then need to perform calculations and analysis through handwork and paperwork.
One apparent drawback to the above-mentioned practice is that the paperwork and handwork is highly tedious, laborious, and time-consuming and therefore highly inefficient for the management personnel to implement. In addition, in the event of an abnormal operating condition of the lighting equipment, the management personnel usually cannot be informed of this condition promptly in real time, thus causing a delay to the maintenance/repair work.

Network-based lighting equipment remote monitoring and management system


A filter apparatus for separating particles from a liquid having a tank with a feed inlet, a gravitational settling zone and a filtration zone arranged downstream of the settling zone. Inside the tank are two transversely spaced-apart endless chains with transversely extending drivers fixed between the chains, the drivers and chains together forming a conveying apparatus driven by gear wheels and a drive motor. The filtration zone includes a vacuum chamber, which is formed partly by the tank and is arranged underneath the solid particle filtration apparatus. Between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region is a filter media strip, which is pulled through the tank along a path which changes direction by the chains and drivers. Each chain has flexible metal strips that extend along the chain and over a plurality of chain links. The metal strips are fixed at one end and partially overlap. These metal strips exert a force directed toward the filter media strip, which ensures that a seal is formed between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region in the area where the moving filter media strip changes direction.

The present invention relates to a filter apparatus for separating particles from a liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,729 discloses a filter apparatus for separating particles, dirt or chips from a liquid. This apparatus comprises a tank with a feed inlet, a gravitational settling zone and a filtration zone disposed downstream thereof. Two transversely spaced-apart, driven, endless chains extend within the tank and entrain a nonwoven filter web or a filter media strip. This nonwoven filter web or filter media strip completely covers a filtered liquid region of the device. The chains prevent the nonwoven filter web or media strip from lifting off the filtered liquid region and thereby prevent dirt from getting into the filtered liquid region. A drawback of these chains is that they cannot be designed as flat tracks but that the chain links are individual elements with a waisted shape that may have the result that dirt can pass into the filtered liquid region through the chain links.
To prevent the penetration of dirt around the filter media, the prior art proposes to dispose an inflatable tube seal in the critical sealing region to provide an additional lateral seal between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region. If the filter media strip must be moved, this seal must be deflated, i.e., at least partly evacuated, so that the filter media strip can slide along underneath the seal. Especially when the filter media strip is moved, however, strong turbulence occurs in the region of the unfiltered liquid and with the result that dirt can be carried into the filtered liquid region. Thus, this prior art has the disadvantage that the lateral seal is only intermittently effective.

Filter apparatus for separating particles from a liquid


Provided is a magnetic recording head including a return pole, a writing pole spaced by a predetermined distance from the return pole, an induction writing coil for inducing a magnetic field to be formed across the writing pole, and a plurality of shield layers formed on the writing pole. Accordingly, magnetic fields generated inside and outside the magnetic recording head are prevented from concentrating on the return pole, and information is effectively written on and erased from an information recording media.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-65223, filed on Sep. 19, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording head, and more particularly, to a magnetic recording head, which includes a plurality of shield layers formed on a writing pole to prevent magnetic fields generated inside and outside the magnetic recording head from concentrating on a return pole and to effectively write and erase information on an information recording media.
2. Description of the Related Art
Studies of a perpendicular magnetic recording method are actively performed all over the world to increase a recording density in a magnetic information recording field. In the perpendicular magnetic recording method, magnetization is oriented perpendicular to a disk surface to increase a recording density, unlike a general longitudinal magnetic recording method. The perpendicular magnetic recording method writes information using a writing pole.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional magnetic read/write head in an apparatus for writing and reading a magnetic signal on a predetermined recording media, such as a hard disk drive (HDD). As shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic head 10 is installed on a slide 12 disposed on one end of a swing arm 11, and is moved to a desired position over a recording media by pivoting of the swing arm 11 to perform write and read operations.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the magnetic head 20 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic head 20 includes a magneto-resistive head 21 for a read operation and a magnetic recording head for a write operation. The magneto-resistive head 21 detects and reads a magnetic signal recorded on the recording media. The magnetic recording head includes a writing pole 22 for forming leakage magnetic flux to the recording medium, a return pole 23, and a writing coil 24 acting as a current supply route, and records a magnetic signal of a desired content on the recording media.
In particular, the magnetic recording head determines the quality of a signal input to the recording media. If the signal input via the magnetic recording head is not clean, the magneto-resistive head cannot perform satisfactory reproduction although it has an excellent performance. The magnetic recording head is very sensitive to an external magnetic field. For example, a magnetic field from a voice coil motor (VCM) that drives the swing arm 11 is introduced to the magnetic recording head, an undesired external magnetic field concentrates on the magnetic recording head. This phenomenon is referred to as an antenna effect. The external magnetic field concentrating on the magnetic recording head causes wrong information to be written on the recording media or information on the recording media to be erased.
FIG. 3A illustrates the flow of a magnetic field when information is written on an information recording media, such as a HDD, using a magnetic recording head.
A conventional magnetic recording head 30 includes a return pole 32, a writing pole 33 spaced by a predetermined distance from the return pole 32, an induction writing coil 34 for forming a magnetic field across the writing pole 33, and a shield layer 35 formed on the writing pole 33. The writing pole 33 writes information on an information recording media 31 that is generally formed by depositing a writing layer on a soft magnetic layer. As shown in FIG. 3A, a magnetic field that moves from the writing pole 33 and passes through the return pole 32 and the shield layer 35 forms an oval shape. If a magnetic field passing through the return pole 32 in a magnetic recording head without the shield layer 35 becomes larger, the magnetic field causes a noise to the recording media. To prevent the noise, the shield layer 35 is formed on the writing pole 33 so that part of the magnetic field flowing toward the return pole 32 can be distributed to the shield layer 35, and thus, the strength of the magnetic field directed toward the return pole 32 can be reduced.
When magnetic writing is performed, magnetic flux from the writing pole 33 separately flows to the return pole 32 and the shield layer 35. Here, since the return pole 32 is not magnetically connected to the writing pole 33, the magnetic flux flowing toward the return pole 32 decreases relatively, and the magnetic flux flowing toward the shield layer 35 increases. If a large amount of magnetic flux flows to the shield layer 35, the large amount of magnetic flux causes a noise that obstructs writing, thereby reducing the effect of the shield layer 35.
FIG. 3B illustrates the flow of a magnetic field generated by an external magnetic field source, such as the swing arm or the VCM for driving the swing arm, other than the magnetic recording head 30. The magnetic flux concentrates on an end of the writing pole 33 due to structural characteristics of the writing pole 33 and a large amount of magnetic flux flows through the writing pole 33. The large amount of magnetic flux causes a noise when the information recording media 31 performs writing. The shield layer 35 is employed to reduce the influence of the external magnetic field.
However, the shield layer 35 formed on the writing pole 33 has a limitation in reducing the adverse effects of the magnetic fields generated inside and outside the magnetic recording head 30 as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, respectively. That is, the shield layer 35 hardly reduces the influence of the external magnetic field on the writing pole 33, such that the external magnetic field affects and still obstructs the writing function of the writing pole 33. Although the external magnetic field generated outside the magnetic recording head 30 is small, the external magnetic field at the writing pole 33 becomes larger sharply due to a bottleneck.

Magnetic recording head having a plurality of shield layers

Institute for Information Technology Advancement


Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more optical amplifiers of a C+L band photonic line system of a telecommunications network in which C-band signals and L-band signals may be transmitted. In one implementation, a control device may include a processing device and a memory device configured to store a traffic managing module for controlling C-band and the L-band traffic in the photonic line system. The traffic managing module, when executed, may be configured to cause the processing device to calculate a gain correction profile based on a difference between a saved baseline transmission profile and a measured transmission profile of a surviving band of a photonic line system when another band of the photonic line system is missing or impacted. The traffic managing module is configured to apply the gain correction profile to a respective optical amplifier of the photonic line system to compensate for the difference.

In a telecommunications network, optical signals may be transmitted over optical fiber spans between nodes. Although optical fibers are configured to enable the optical signals to be transmitted over great distances, the optical fibers are only able to transmit the optical signals up to a certain distance. Therefore, it is often necessary to include optical amplifiers between two adjacent nodes if the distance between the nodes is greater than a certain threshold.
Many optical systems include transmission of signals in the C-band, which includes wavelengths in the range from about 1530 nm to 1565 nm. In order to increase the capacity of optical fibers, telecommunications network have been developed to enable communication in a range that extend beyond the C-band. For example, some optical systems may be configured to operate in the C+L band, which includes wavelengths in both the C-band (i.e., wavelengths from about 1530 nm to 1565 nm) and the L-band (i.e., wavelengths from about 1565 nm to 1625 nm). Many C+L band photonic systems handle the processing of different bands using different equipment. For instance, a photonic line system may include optical amplifiers having a C-band amplifying device for handling C-band signals and a separate L-band amplifying device of handling L-band signals.
If problems arise in one set of components for transmitting one band (e.g., either the C-band or the L-band), typically the signals in the other band will be negatively influenced such that these signals cannot carry traffic or experience transient traffic impacts. Therefore, there is a need in the field of optical systems to allow an optical system to continue operating in a remaining band, even if one of the bands is missing, impacted, failed, etc.

Handling band spectrum failures in a C+L band photonic line system


The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine having at least a first cylinder group (B1) and a second cylinder group (B2). A first throttle valve (S1) is arranged in an intake passage (31) of the first cylinder group and a second throttle valve (S2) is arranged in an intake passage (32) of the second cylinder group. The throttle valve control apparatus includes a controller that, when there is a demand to switch a combustion air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine without changing engine output, first changes an opening amount of the first throttle valve, and then changes an opening amount of the second throttle valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-18303, for example, proposes technology for controlling a throttle valve opening amount, when switching a combustion air-fuel ratio without changing engine output, to realize a target intake air amount with respect to the combustion air-fuel ratio after the switch.
Typically when the throttle valve opening amount is changed, there is a response delay of the intake air, during which time the engine output tends to fluctuate. As a result, when the throttle valve opening amount is changed in order to switch the combustion air-fuel ratio, the engine output is not able to remain constant so the driver may feel torque shock.

Throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for identifying unauthorized users. User actions are monitored in an audit for an indication an unauthorized user logged into the data processing system with a valid user identifier and a valid password. An action is initiated in response to an indication of an unauthorized user.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for processing data. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring actions taken in a network data processing system.
2. Description of Related Art
With the proliferation of computers and ever-increasing computing power available to nearly every person in developed countries, computers have changed the lives of countless millions of people. With this increased access to computers worldwide, hacking and unauthorized access to networks has become an increasingly serious problem. Hackers or other persons attempt to gain access to networks and computers to secure information and/or perform some prank or mischief. A person may try to gain unauthorized access to a network to obtain information, such as credit card numbers, confidential technology, or business information. A person also may try to cripple a network or deface a Web site as a prank.
Currently, some security measures include limiting access to a network or computer by most users to normal business hours, limiting access to key files in the root, and requiring new passwords to be used at regular intervals. These measures and other currently available measures, are good for minimizing illegal break-ins, but have limits.
For example, if the person trying to gain access to the network has the user ID and password for an administrator with root access, this person can gain access to all of the system resources. A hacker failing to gain access to one resource is able to browse and attempt to access other resources. Also, if the hacker performs tasks allowed to be performed by the user, nothing can be done about those actions. For example, if the stolen user ID and password is for a user that has access to credit card numbers on a network, then the hacker may access those numbers.
Therefore, the present invention provides an improved method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for preventing unauthorized access to a network or computer system.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a network data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrical connector (100) for electrically mating with two different mating interfaces includes an insulative housing (1) defining a first and a second mating spaces (114, 124) located at opposite ends, a plurality of contact terminals (2) received in the insulative housing (1) each of which integrally defines an upper beam (2a), a lower beam (2b), and a fulcrum portion (21) connecting the beams at middle thereof, an actuator (4) pivotally assembled on the housing (1) and capable of rotating between an opened position in which one of the mating spaces (124) is accessible, and a closed position in which the actuator (4) is substantially covering said mating space (124). Each contact terminal (2) forms a first contact portion (221, 231) extending toward a first mating space (114) from the fulcrum portion (21), a second contact portion (251) extending toward a second mating space (124) from the fulcrum portion (21), and a soldered portion (252) solderable onto a PCB (400) which the electrical connector (100) located thereon or therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptor, and more particularly, to a connector having an FPC interface at one end, and a mating interface at the other end.
2. Description of the Related Art
FPC is a medium used for data transmission between computers and the peripherals connected thereto. U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,682 issued to Kunishi et al. on Jun. 29, 2004, discloses a conventional FPC connector which includes an insulative housing forming a receiving recess for receiving an inserted FPC, a plurality of terminals which are arranged across a width thereof and with a contacting portion protruding into the receiving recess. An actuator is pivotally movable relative to the housing and can be operated between an opened position at which the FPC is permitted to insert into the receiving recess and a closed position at which said FPC is pressed against with the contacting portion of the terminal. This typical FPC connector is normally soldered onto a printed circuit board, and with its mating interface to receive an FPC therein. However, when we need mate an FPC and another mating connector, we would use additional numbers of connectors that would occupy more area on the PCB.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,545 issued to Igarashi et al. on Apr. 14, 1998, discloses a conventional connection device or interconnecting with an FPC and a mating connector mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). More particularly, the connection device is used for an electrical adapter between of the FPC and the mating connector. However, the connection device could only be interconnected between the FPC and the mating connector which is not easily modified to apply in another field application, for example another connection device which could create an interconnection between the PCB and at least one of the different interfaces.
Therefore, an improved electrical connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related arts.

Connector having three-way interconnection


A filter module for sterile filtration and virus filtration of fluid media. The filter module includes a filter membrane with a porous edge structure arranged thereon and at least one anchoring element. The filter membrane with the porous edge structure is embedded in the anchoring element and serves as edge reinforcement to improve the connection of the filter membrane to the anchoring element. The texturing or surface roughness of the edge reinforcement provides an interlocking effect between the filter membrane and the anchoring element. The embedding of the filter membrane in the anchoring element provides a fluid-tight connection of the membrane to the anchoring element which prevents the occurrence of leaks in the end region of the filter module. A method for producing the filter module is also described.

Filter modules for use in sterile-filtration and virus filtration have been described that have anchoring elements in which the two ends of a tubular, optionally pleated, filter membrane are embedded. The embedding is usually achieved by immersion of the edge regions of the membrane into the softened anchoring elements, which are also referred to as end caps. Sealing of the membrane with the end caps in this fashion is intended to ensure the sterility of the filter module.
The above-described filter modules, however, experience problems in that, during the embedding process, the connection of the filter membrane to the anchoring element proves to be inadequate. One reason for this stems from the use of different materials for constructing the membrane and the end caps used for sealing. For example, in the case of air filters, the filter membranes commonly are made of polytetrafluoroethylene, which has super-repellent properties, whereas the end caps commonly are formed from polyolefins such as, for instance, polypropylene. The different surface energies of these materials leads to a poor connection between the materials. Generally, only the end caps, and not the filter membranes, are partially melted during embedding. This results in an adverse effect on the connection of the membrane to the anchoring element.
If the membrane and the anchoring element are not sufficiently connected to one another this can lead to the occurrence of leaks in the filter module, and this, in turn, results in a lack of sterility. However, it is in particular in sterile-filtration and virus filtration that a virtually complete absence of bacteria and viruses is essential.

Filter module having an edge-reinforced membrane, method for producing the filter module and use thereof


Various disclosed embodiments relate to structures and methods for printing systems. In some embodiments, a device, e.g., a festoon, may be used to accumulate excess material. The festoon may be located between a print head and a finishing component to eliminate misalignment/mis-registration difficulties between printed images and finishing options. In some embodiments, registration images and other procedures may be used alone or in conjunction with the festoon placement to further reduce errors and waste.

Printing systems often handle large orders requiring the production of many thousands of articles in a short period. Accordingly, if the system produces even a slight error or minor wasteful addition with each printing, the cumulative effect may significantly increase the cost and time required to achieve the desired result. Human operators may themselves introduce errors or be incapable of recognizing the finely tuned adjustments required to efficiently produce a product.
Accordingly, there exists a need for printer systems which minimize waste and which take as full advantage of the provided resources as possible. Additionally, there is a need for software and methods which economize the production of printed items.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the logic illustrated in each of the flow and sequence diagrams discussed herein may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order of the logic may be rearranged, sub-blocks may be performed in parallel, illustrated logic may be omitted, other logic may be included, etc. The depicted examples are provided in the depicted manner merely for purposes of explanation and for the convenience of the reader.

Coupling of digital printer and finishing


A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE. By using a combination of bandwidth allocation techniques, the present invention advantageously makes use of the efficiency benefits associated with each technique.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for efficiently allocating bandwidth between base stations and customer premises equipment in a broadband wireless communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,311, by Gilbert et al., issued Jan. 18, 2000, entitled "Adaptive Time Division Duplexing Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation within a Wireless Communication System," hereby incorporated by reference, a wireless communication system facilitates two-way communication between a plurality of subscriber radio stations or subscriber units (fixed and portable) and a fixed network infrastructure. Exemplary communication systems include mobile cellular telephone systems, personal communication systems (PCS), and cordless telephones. The key objective of these wireless communication systems is to provide communication channels on demand between the plurality of subscriber units and their respective base stations in order to connect a subscriber unit user with the fixed network infrastructure (usually a wire-line system). In the wireless systems having multiple access schemes a time "frame" is used as the basic information transmission unit. Each frame is sub-divided into a plurality of time slots. Some time slots are used for control purposes and some for information transfer. Subscriber units typically communicate with the base station using a "duplexing" scheme thus allowing the exchange of information in both directions of connection.
Transmissions from the base station to the subscriber unit are commonly referred to as "downlink" transmissions. Transmissions from the subscriber unit to the base station are commonly referred to as "uplink" transmissions. Depending upon the design criteria of a given system, the prior art wireless communication systems have typically used either time division duplexing (TDD) or frequency division duplexing (FDD) methods to facilitate the exchange of information between the base station and the subscriber units. Both the TDD and FDD duplexing schemes are well known in the art.
Recently, wideband or "broadband" wireless communications networks have been proposed for providing delivery of enhanced broadband services such as voice, data and video services. The broadband wireless communication system facilitates two-way communication between a plurality of base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations or Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). One exemplary broadband wireless communication system is described in the co-pending application and is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary broadband wireless communication system 100 includes a plurality of cells 102. Each cell 102 contains an associated cell site 104 that primarily includes a base station 106 and an active antenna array 108. Each cell 102 provides wireless connectivity between the cell's base station 106 and a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) 110 positioned at fixed customer sites 112 throughout the coverage area of the cell 102. The users of the system 100 may include both residential and business customers. Consequently, the users of the system have different and varying usage and bandwidth requirement needs. Each cell may service several hundred or more residential and business CPEs.
The broadband wireless communication system 100 of FIG. 1 provides true "bandwidth-on-demand" to the plurality of CPEs 110. CPEs 110 request bandwidth allocations from their respective base stations 106 based upon the type and quality of services requested by the customers served by the CPEs. Different broadband services have different bandwidth and latency requirements. The type and quality of services available to the customers are variable and selectable. The amount of bandwidth dedicated to a given service is determined by the information rate and the quality of service required by that service (and also taking into account bandwidth availability and other system parameters). For example, T1-type continuous data services typically require a great deal of bandwidth having well-controlled delivery latency. Until terminated, these services require constant bandwidth allocation on each frame. In contrast, certain types of data services such as Internet protocol data services (TCP/IP) are bursty, often idle (which at any one instant requires zero bandwidth), and are relatively insensitive to delay variations when active.
Due to the wide variety of CPE service requirements, and due to the large number of CPEs serviced by any one base station, the bandwidth allocation process in a broadband wireless communication system such as that shown in FIG. 1 can become burdensome and complex. This is especially true with regard to the allocation of uplink bandwidth. Base stations do not have a priori information regarding the bandwidth or quality of services that a selected CPE will require at any given time. Consequently, requests for changes to the uplink bandwidth allocation are necessarily frequent and varying. Due to this volatility in the uplink bandwidth requirements, the many CPEs serviced by a selected base station will need to frequently initiate bandwidth allocation requests. If uncontrolled, the bandwidth allocation requests will detrimentally affect system performance. If left unchecked, the bandwidth required to accommodate CPE bandwidth allocation requests will become disproportionately high in comparison with the bandwidth allocated for the transmission of substantive traffic data. Thus, the communication system bandwidth available to provide broadband services will be disadvantageously reduced.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus that can dynamically and efficiently allocate bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus should be responsive to the needs of a particular communication link. The bandwidth needs may vary due to several factors, including the type of service provided over the link and the user type. The bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should be efficient in terms of the amount of system bandwidth consumed by the actual bandwidth request and allocation process. That is, the plurality of bandwidth requests generated by the CPE should consume a minimum percentage of available uplink bandwidth. In addition, the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should respond to bandwidth requests in a timely manner. Bandwidth should be allocated to high priority services in a sufficiently short time frame to maintain the quality of service specified by the CPE. Further, the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should be capable of processing an arbitrarily large number of bandwidth allocation requests from a relatively large number of CPEs. For example, in the system shown in FIG. 1, as many as one hundred CPEs may be allowed to be simultaneously active, coordinating their transmissions on the uplink. Furthermore, the system can accommodate approximately one thousand CPEs on the physical channel. Therefore, the need exists for a bandwidth allocation method and apparatus that can process and respond to the bandwidth allocation requests generated by a large number of CPEs.
Some prior art systems have attempted to solve bandwidth allocation requirements in a system having a shared system resource by maintaining logical queues associated with the various data sources requiring access to the shared system resource. Such a prior art system is taught by Karol et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,573, that issued on Oct. 7, 1997. More specifically, Karol et al. teach a bandwidth allocation system that allows packets or cells within traffic flows from different sources that are contending for access to a shared processing fabric to get access to that fabric in an order that is determined primarily on individual guaranteed bandwidth requirements associated with each traffic flow. In addition, the system taught by Karol et al. allow the different sources to gain access to the shared processing fabric in an order determined secondarily on overall system criteria, such as a time of arrival, or due date of packets or cells within the traffic flows. Packets or cells of data from each data source (such as a bandwidth requesting device) are queued in separate logical buffers while they await access to the processing fabric.
A need exits for a bandwidth allocation method and apparatus for efficiently processing and responding to bandwidth allocation requests. The bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should accommodate an arbitrarily large number of CPEs generating frequent and varying bandwidth allocation requests on the uplink of a wireless communication system. Such a bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should be efficient in terms of the amount of bandwidth consumed by the bandwidth request control messages exchanged between the plurality of base stations and the plurality of CPEs. In addition, the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should respond to the bandwidth allocation requests in a timely and accurate manner. The bandwidth allocation method and apparatus should also be able to process an arbitrarily large number of bandwidth allocation requests generated by a relatively large number of CPEs. The present invention provides such a bandwidth allocation method and apparatus.

Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks


The present invention refers to a battery system (300) which comprises a cell stack (20), wherein at least two battery cells (10) of the cell stack (20) are electrically interconnected via a battery cell connector (90). The battery system (30) comprises a printed circuit board, PCB (150), and a cell connecting unit, CCU (140). The battery cell connector (90) is accommodated in the CCU (140), the CCU (140) being fixed onto the cell stack (20) and comprising one first flexible bracket (145) that is inserted into a corresponding mounting hole (151) of the PCB (150). According to the invention, the first flexible bracket (145) of the CCU (140) comprises a member (146) configured to fix the PCB (150) to the CCU (140) after the member (146) has been molten in a state in which the first flexible bracket (145) was inserted into the corresponding mounting hole (151).

A rechargeable or secondary battery system differs from a primary battery system in that it can be repeatedly charged and discharged, while the latter provides only an irreversible conversion of chemical to electrical energy. Low-capacity rechargeable battery systems are used as power supply for small electronic devices, such as cellular phones, notebook computers and camcorders, while high-capacity rechargeable battery systems are used as the power supply for hybrid vehicles and the like.
In general, rechargeable battery systems, as e.g. battery modules, include a plurality of battery cells which are often stacked to form a so called cell stack or battery cell stack. The battery cells of such cell stacks include an electrode assembly respectively, each electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a case receiving the electrode assembly, and an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly. An electrolyte solution is injected into the case in order to enable charging and discharging of the battery via an electrochemical reaction of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. The shape of the case, e.g. cylindrical or rectangular, depends on the battery's intended purpose. The single battery cells of the battery cell stack are electrically interconnected via battery cell connectors respectively, wherein—also depending on the battery's intended purpose—the battery cells can be connected in series and/or in parallel with each other via the battery cell connectors.
Furthermore, most battery systems comprise a battery management system, BMS, which is positioned next to or at least close to the battery cell stack and adapted to perform various functions with regard to the battery cells, as e.g. cell voltage measurements or a balancing of the state of charge, SOC, of the different battery cells of the battery cell stack. In order to be able to perform these functions, most battery management systems comprise a plurality of chipsets, sensors and/or other components which are often at least in part realized on a printed circuit board, PCB. Especially for the aforementioned cell voltage measurement and cell balancing, the BMS needs to be connected to the battery cell connectors.
As battery cells of the state of the art deform, especially swell, when charged and/or discharged, the PCB of the BMS cannot be directly mounted to the battery cell stack, because the fixation means chosen to fix the PCB to the battery cell stack would burst or rupture upon a deformation of the battery cell stack beyond a certain limit. For this reason, a wiring harness is necessary to connect the PCB of the BMS to the battery cell connectors. However, such a wiring harness increases the total costs and complexity of a battery system, is impractical to mount and requires the battery system to be larger than necessary. Expressed in other words, the battery management system, BMS, is positioned next to the battery cell stack. Among others for a cell voltage measuring and for a cell balancing, each battery cell connector needs to be connected to the BMS through a wiring harness. The wiring harness is necessary, as it is not possible to mount the PCB directly at the cell stack because of the swelling of the battery cell stack during its use.

Battery system with a cell connecting unit


The present invention is to provide a toner which has an excellent balance between heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability and which is excellent in printing durability even under a wide range of temperature and humidity environments from a low temperature and low humidity environment to a high temperature and high humidity environment. Disclosed is a toner for developing electrostatic images, containing colored resin particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, a softening agent and a retention aid, and an external additive, wherein the retention aid is a copolymer of at least one of acrylic acid ester and methacrylic acid ester and at least one of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and wherein the copolymer has an acid value of 0.5 to 7 mgKOH/g, a weight average molecular weight Mw of 6,000 to 50,000, and a glass transition temperature of 60 to 85° C.

In recent years, with the rapid development of high-speed electrophotographic laser printers and copy machines, there is an increasing demand for toners with better developability, transferability and low-temperature fixability. In the recent toner development, out of environmental considerations, low-temperature fixability is especially an essential factor since it can lead to decrease in power consumption.
Along with the expansion of the market, the environment of usage has increasingly diversified, and toners have been demanded to deliver stable performance in a wide range of environments, from a low temperature and low humidity environment to a high temperature and high humidity environment. Accordingly, the development of toners that can provide excellent durability in different environments and low-temperature fixability, has been studied.
For example, a polymerized toner is disclosed in Patent Literature 1, which is obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable composition that contains a polymerizable monomer, a colorant and a liquid polymer having a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less. It is also disclosed that the toner is excellent in low-temperature fixability, environmental stability and printing durability and ensures good image reproducibility. In Patent Literature 2, it is disclosed that a toner manufactured from a toner composition in an aqueous medium, the toner composition containing a polymerizable monomer, a colorant, a polar resin and a fine powder material insoluble with styrene and the toner containing the polar resin in a specific amount and satisfying a specific relational expression between the acid value of the binder resin, the acid value of the polar resin and the acid value of an organic compound treating the surface of the fine powder material, is excellent in environmental stability and charging characteristics and is also capable of achieving a high-quality image, without causing image density irregularity, etc.
A yellow toner is disclosed in Patent Literature 3, which has toner particles obtained by polymerization of a polymerizable monomer composition containing a polymerizable monomer, a yellow pigment, a wax and two kinds of carboxyl group-containing resins, wherein the carboxyl group-containing resins are contained in specific amounts and the interfacial tension of styrene, the interfacial tension of the yellow pigment and the interfacial tensions of the carboxyl group-containing resins satisfy specific relational expressions. It is also disclosed that the yellow toner is excellent in low-temperature fixability, high in glossiness and tinting strength, and excellent in transparency. In Patent Literature 4, a toner containing toner particles obtained by granulation of a binder resin, an ester wax and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl resin in an aqueous medium is disclosed, wherein the SP value of the binder resin and the SP value of the carboxyl group-containing vinyl resin are in given ranges; the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of the carboxyl group-containing vinyl resin are in given ranges; and the content of the ester wax and the content of the carboxyl group-containing vinyl resin are in given ranges. It is also disclosed that the toner is able to prevent decrease in durability and contamination in fixing devices, as well as it is able to provide both low-temperature fixability and storage stability at high temperature.
However, the toners obtained by the methods disclosed in these patent literatures are difficult to satisfy, in response to the recent demand for high speed printing, both low fixing temperature and storage stability at high temperature concurrently and sufficiently. In addition, they are sometimes insufficient in printing durability under different environments.

Toner for developing electrostatic images