The present invention includes a portable, damage resistant, palm-held, low cost, high sensitivity ergonomically dimensioned digital remote gauge assembly unit for the measurement of external parameters that include by way of example temperature, pressure, and vacuum; a kit having a digital remote gauge assembly unit, a variety of probes and adapters that provide for the communication signals to the unit in response to externally measured parameters, and a communication link between a respective probe and the digital remote gauge assembly unit; and, a method of utilizing the kit and device to facilitate the rapid measurement of a variety of external parameters. The digital pressure gauge includes a gauge body dimensioned to be held in the palm of a user's hand. The gauge body has microprocessor controlled circuitry therein, an altitude and temperature compensated pressure transducer in communication with the microprocessor, and keys for actuating the microprocessor. The body also includes a display for informing the user of readings taken in a mode of operation of the device, a probe assembly; and, a multi-conductor shielded cable connecting the gauge body and the probe assembly. The gauge also includes routines providing a plurality of the modes of operation of the gauge including a PSI mode, a KPA mode, a PEAK HOLD mode, a HI/LO resolution mode, and a temperature mode in which the display presents a temperature of a fluid being tested in either .degree.C. (Centigrade) or .degree.F. (Fahrenheit).

This invention generally relates to remote sensing gauges, and gauge assembly systems; and, more particularly, it relates to a digital remote gauge assembly, a kit used in the remote sensing of external parameters, and method of utilization thereof.
Various instruments are known including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,696,189, 5,377,128, 5,375,073, 5,365,462, 5,089,979, and 5,347,476. Traditional remote gauge assembly systems have problems associated with the manufacture and usage thereof that include, by way of example, high cost, bulkiness, and a lack of portability and maneuverability. It is an object of the present invention to solve these and other problems in the art.


A fractionation system for removing heavy hydrocarbons in a gas stream. A stripping section receives a predominantly liquid phase of a feed gas stream. First and second co-current contacting systems are located in-line within a pipe. The first co-current contacting system receives a predominantly vapor phase of the feed gas stream. Each co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor and a separation system. Each co-current contactor includes a droplet generator and a mass transfer section. The droplet generator generates droplets from a liquid and disperses the droplets into a gas stream. The mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase.

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which can be associated with exemplary examples of the present techniques. This description is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
Numerous applications within the upstream and downstream oil and gas industry use absorption and fractionation columns for a variety of processes including, for example, dehydration for water removal from hydrocarbon gas, amine treating for acid gas removal from hydrocarbon gas and fractionation of hydrocarbons. One application of hydrocarbons fractionation is the fractionation column—also known as a scrub column—in a typical LNG process. FIG. 1 illustrates a known scrub column 100 that may be used in such an LNG process. According to known LNG processes, gas fed to the scrub column is first pre-treated and cooled. The scrub column typically operates at high pressure. The main objective of the scrub column is to remove most of the heavy hydrocarbons, such as pentane, from the natural gas stream. The traditional scrub column 100 includes a bottom section, also known as a stripping section 102, and a top section, also known as a rectification section 104. A gas stream 108 enters the scrub column 100 at high pressure and at a position adjacent both the stripping section 102 and the rectification section 104. The vapor and liquid in the gas stream separate from each other, with the vapor moving upward into the rectification section 104 and the liquid moving downward into the stripping section 102. The stripping section 102 uses trays 110 to separate and direct liquid downward. Trays 110 are typically used instead of packing because of anticipated high liquid flux, which is defined as a volumetric flow per unit area.
A liquid stream 112 is extracted near the bottom of the scrub column 100 and is re-heated in a reboiler 114. The reheated stream 116 is returned to the stripping section 102, where vapors in the reheated stream can rise through the stripping section and enter the rectification section 104. Liquids in the reheated stream 116 combine with other liquids at the bottom of the scrub column 100. A scrub column liquid bottoms stream 117 may be taken from the bottom of the scrub column.
Vapors from the gas stream 108 combine with vapors rising from the stripping section 102 and pass into the rectification section 104, where they contact liquid descending the column. In the rectification section 104, packing 118 is typically used instead of trays because of the low liquid circulation rate. The rectification section 104 includes several theoretical separation stages (typically two to four) where, based on the different boiling points of the components in the stream going to that separation stage, the fractionation/separation of hydrocarbons takes place. The packing in each section promotes intimate contact and mass transfer between the liquid and vapor. A vapor stream 122 exits the top of the scrub column 100 and is cooled in a reflux cooler system 124, which may include one or more heat exchangers or other coolers. The cooled vapor stream 126 is sent to a reflux drum 128 where liquids and vapor are separated from each other. A reflux liquid stream 130 is returned to a top portion of the scrub column, while the reflux vapor stream 132 exiting the reflux drum 128 is sent for further processing, which may include the remainder of a natural gas liquefaction process. Vapor rising in the scrub column 100 gets richer in the lighter hydrocarbons components and the liquid descending the column gets richer in the heavier hydrocarbons components. Therefore, the scrub column liquid bottoms stream 117 is proportionally higher in heavier hydrocarbons components than in lighter hydrocarbons components, and the reflux vapor stream 132 is proportionally higher in lighter hydrocarbons components than in heavier hydrocarbons components.
Typically, the diameter of the rectification section 104 of the scrub column 100 is much larger than the diameter of the stripping section 102 because of the high gas flow rate through the rectification section. Therefore, due to its size, pressure, and material selection due to cold temperatures, the rectification section controls the cost and weight of the scrub column, which in some applications may be substantial. The size and weight of the fractionation column may limit its application in populated areas where height must be minimized for visual population reasons. Additionally, applications where size and weight are critical design factors, such as offshore LNG processing, can be limited by the size and weight of such a large fractionation column. What is needed is a method and apparatus for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream that eliminates the large, heavy, and costly rectification section of a fractionation column.
Besides height and weight considerations, the theory of operation of a typical fractionation column may itself be a limiting design factor. The fractionation process requires a certain amount of liquid to interact with the incoming gas stream, and in the process shown in FIG. 1 this liquid is designed to come from the fractionation process itself. This can pose difficulties for applications when relatively small amounts of heavy hydrocarbons are present in a natural gas stream to be liquefied. Additionally, it may not be economically feasible to install an additional fractionation column in a pre-existing facility, such as an LNG facility, for de-bottlenecking purposes. What is needed is a method and apparatus for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream that can be used in applications having low liquid circulation rates. What is also needed is a method and apparatus for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream that can be economically used in debottlenecking applications.

Fractionation system using compact co-current contacting systems


A storage apparatus comprises: a memory for storing a processing ratio/upper limit table, which stores an upper limit number per prescribed time for input/output processing in accordance with the processing of a processing type for each of a plurality of processing types executed by a host computer; and a processor which receives an input/output request from the host computer, and executes input/output processing corresponding to the input/output request, such that input/output processing corresponding to the processing of each processing type per prescribed time falls within the upper limit number. According to this constitution, the input/output processing count per prescribed time can be properly controlled in accordance with the processing type.

Conventionally, in a storage apparatus, data input/output (I/O) processing relative to a data I/O request from a host computer is carried out by a processor corresponding to the port connected to this host computer. For this reason, data I/O processing of high-priority jobs and low-priority jobs may be carried out by the same processor. In a situation like this, when the low-priority job load is great, the affects of this load can make it impossible to ensure bandwidth for high-priority jobs.
A method for solving this problem has been proposed (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-108567) whereby a user configures in a single storage apparatus either an upper limit or threshold for a data I/O process, which treats either a port, WWN (World Wide Name) or device as a unit, and suppresses data I/O for non-priority jobs, thereby ensuring bandwidth for the I/O of data for priority jobs.
However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-108567, only I/O of non-priority data is suppressed. Therefore, when there is a plurality of high-priority data, since the respective high-priority data will be handled uniformly, the input/output of one high-priority data will prevent the input/output of other high-priority data.
Further, since the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-108567 configures an upper limit, which treats a port, WWN or device as a unit, for example, when a port is treated as the unit and an upper limit is configured, it is not possible to adjust I/O processing among a plurality of jobs utilizing the same port. That is, when the same port is being used, it is not possible to give precedence to I/O processing of a high-priority job even when there are jobs with different priorities.

Storage apparatus, process controller, and storage system


Embodiments related to gaze-assisted touchscreen inputs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computing system may receive a gaze location signal indicative of a region of a user's gaze on a touchscreen, receive a touch signal indicative of a touch of the user on the touchscreen, and generate an input signal for the computing system based at least in part on the gaze location signal and the touch signal. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Users of touchscreen-based devices (such as tablets and smartphones) are often frustrated by the devices' limited ability to differentiate between different kinds of touches and to respond in unexpected ways to stray touches. Additionally, when users view these devices at unusual angles (e.g., from the extreme right or left of the device), touch accuracy is compromised by the parallax effect, in which the desired location of touch does not align with the actual location of touch. These performance limitations may significantly reduce a user's quality of experience with touchscreen devices.


Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining a first plurality of inputs that identify a plurality of geographical locations and a plurality of infrastructure located at the plurality of geographical locations, classifying each of the plurality of geographical locations in accordance with the first plurality of inputs to obtain a plurality of classes, obtaining a second plurality of inputs that identify costs, revenue, profits, or any combination thereof, associated with the plurality of infrastructure, processing the second plurality of inputs in conjunction with the plurality of classes to identify a first plurality of locations included in the plurality of geographical locations to decommission infrastructure included in the plurality of infrastructure, and presenting the first plurality of locations via a device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

As the world becomes increasingly connected over vast communication systems and networks, the costs associated with provisioning and maintaining the systems/networks continue to escalate. For example, network resources may need to be provisioned/allocated to ensure that a sufficient quality of service (QoS) is maintained when presented with increasing or dynamic loads represented by new users/subscribers.
In an effort to keep costs under control, a network operator or service provider may desire to decommission infrastructure (poles, wires/cables, transmitters/receivers, processing equipment, etc.). For example, the network operator/service provider may license or rent the use of such infrastructure as part of providing service. Depending on the nature of the user/subscriber footprint in a given area/region, it might not be economically viable/prudent to continue licensing/renting the use of such infrastructure in the given area/region. However, data regarding such infrastructure is frequently incomplete/faulty. For example, a service address associated with a user/subscriber may be different from a billing address associated with the user/subscriber (e.g., a third party located at the billing address may process a billing statement on behalf of the user/subscriber). If the network operator/service provider fails to account for this distinction in terms of service versus billing location, the network operator/service provider may falsely believe that the user/subscriber is located at the billing address. Still further, due to a variety of factors such as maintenance, the use of legacy databases, etc., data regarding a location of given infrastructure (as well as an identification of a type of infrastructure at a given location) may be incomplete or may become stale over time.
In view of the foregoing considerations, it is challenging to identify infrastructure to decommission/retire. For example, conventional techniques rely on a process whereby personnel visually inspect a given area/region using geographical information systems (GISs), such as mapping applications. Such a process is manual/laborious (and hence, time-consuming and expensive) and is susceptible to human error. In this regard, conventional techniques are inadequate/sub-optimal in terms of an identification of infrastructure to decommission.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatuses and methods for identifying infrastructure through machine learning


A buckle tongue combination having a dual release for unlocking the tongue from the buckle. In the preferred embodiment, a spring bias slide cover mounted to the housing extends over a push button depressible to force a locking pawl apart from the tongue unlocking the tongue from the buckle. In an alternate embodiment, a button lock extends partially over and beneath the push button and between the pawl and housing bottom wall. A spring normally urges the button lock against the push button limiting movement of the button but is yieldable to allow the button lock to be moved apart from the button.

Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of buckles, and particularly those buckles used in vehicle restraint systems for securing straps together.
Description of the Prior Art
A variety of buckles have been designed having movable pawls to releasably lock to a mating tongue thereby joining straps together attached to a buckle and tongue. For example, the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,933 discloses a buckle having a lower housing containing an upwardly biased pawl to lockingly engage a tongue inserted into the mouth of the buckle. A push button is slidable within an upper housing attached to the lower housing and is movable to force the pawl apart from the tongue releasing the buckle and tongue. Different embodiments of such a buckle and tongue are disclosed in the aforementioned patent and also in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,182,837, 5,142,748, 5,038,446, 5,023,981, and 4,692,970.
It is desirable to provide a buckle which requires two actions to disengage the tongue or tongues from the buckle. Disclosed herein is a buckle having a cover or a lock which extends over the push button thereby necessitating movement of the cover relative to the button prior to the button being depressed to disengage the tongue from the buckle. In one embodiment, the cover extends entirely over the button whereas in the second embodiment the cover extends partially over and beneath the button.


A saw includes a surface defining an opening therein, a plate structure configured to be attached to the saw below the surface, and an arm attached to the plate structure about a first shaft. A blade is configured to be engaged with the arm at a location spaced from the first shaft. The blade extends through the opening when the saw is in a normal operating position. The saw includes a firing mechanism including a barrel end portion having a bore defined therein and an extendable piston at least partially positioned within the bore. The barrel end portion is attached to the plate structure. The extendable piston engages the arm during its extension and causes the arm to pivot about the first shaft when the firing mechanism is activated by an activation signal. The pivoting of the arm causes the blade to be moved downwardly below the surface.

The present invention generally relates to power tools and to blade dropping systems for such power tools.
Systems have been developed and are described in a plurality of patent applications that are assigned to SD2, LLC which include various mechanisms that have a detection system for detecting contact between a human and a blade The detection system triggers a brake mechanism that typically includes a pawl structure that is urged into the blade by a biasing mechanism that is retained by a fusible member and is melted by a high energy electrical current. Severing the fusible member releases the pawl to stop the blade or to retract it below the work surface of a table saw, for example. The systems have disadvantages; for example they are expensive and inconvenient to use since they require the replacement of expensive modules after they have been fired, which is time-consuming and difficult. An additional disadvantage is the variability of the system based on the blade design.

Pyrotechnic drop mechanism for power tools


A buffer to be used with a disk drive, the buffer including a main body provided to the disk drive; one or more protrusions extending from an inner or outer surface of the main body; and one or more inner spaces corresponding to the respective protrusions; wherein the inner spaces are formed on an apposite surface of the main body to the protrusions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buffer, and, more particularly, to a buffer to be used in a disk drive, which may effectively protect a disk drive from impact by its excellent buffering ability, and also be manufactured in a minimal size, and a disk drive assembly including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disk drive is a type of auxiliary memory device. Typical disk drives may include a hard disk drive or an optical disk drive used to read and record data stored in a magnetic or optical disk by a magnetic or optical head. For stable input of data, it is important that vibration occurring inside or outside of a disk drive is prevented or controlled, and research regarding the prevention and/or control of this vibration is actively being pursued.
A disk drive generally includes a motor to rotate a disk, and an actuator having a head used to record data to the disk and read the data recorded on the disk. An internal vibration may occur due to the motor and/or the actuator included in the disk drive. A vibration blocking mount may be used to solve this problem, thereby minimizing the rotation vibration factor caused by inner spindle force, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,196. However, vibration introduced from an external source may still not be prevented.
As described above, a matter of greater concern than internal vibration is a vibration caused by an external impact. As disk drives become smaller and lighter so that they may be attached to portable devices, vibration caused by an external impact becomes a more serious matter. The external impact may cause damage to a disk drive, such as the dislocation of the rotation center of a disk, damage to the disk, interference to the normal operation of the motor, interference in reading recorded information, and magnetic or physical destruction of the recorded information.
Currently, an ultra slim disk drive is considered to be the optimal storage medium since it is cheaper than a general flash memory device with comparable capacity, and the power consumption is less than 1 W, which makes it possible to be installed in a portable device. Currently, an ultra slim disk drive is generally utilized by a portable device, and, more particularly, to a multi-media player such as an MP3 player and PMP. An ultra slim disk drive has been developed which has a thickness that has been reduced to less than 1 inch. A product whose thickness is approximately 1 inch could be, for example, an MP3 player or PMP, and a product whose thickness is less than approximately 1 inch may be applicable to, for example, a wireless AP, PDA, or navigational system.
As described above, the application range of an ultra slim disk drive is becoming extensive, but research regarding a method of protecting the disk drive from vibration due to an external impact has been thus far largely unsatisfactory. In a case in which a disk drive is installed in a portable device, since an external impact acceleration is generally not less than 5000 G, a method of protecting the disk drive from an external impact is essential. In the case in which a disk drive is installed in a portable device, vibration and impacts occur more frequently and with greater intensity than when installed in a personal computer. With a portable device, there is the problem of not installing an effective amount of buffer material, or the vibration blocking mount may not be properly installed due to the limitation of the size and weight of the disk drive.
In FIG. 1, a method of installing a vibration absorbing element different from a vibration blocking mount is illustrated. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vibration absorbing element disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,486 (hereinafter referred to as the '486 patent). As illustrated, a magnetic disk 11 having a magnetic head 12 and a head arm 13 is surrounded by an enclosure 14 and vibration absorbing elements 15a, 15b, and 15c are interposed between the enclosure 14 and a frame 16 installed at the outer wall of the enclosure 14. In the '486 patent, it is disclosed that a spindle center 17, a shaft center 19 of an actuator, a center of gravity 20 of the enclosure 14, and rigidity factors Kc and Ks for each direction of each of vibration absorbing elements 15a, 15b, and 15c are designed via a dynamical design by using distances L1 through L5. In FIG. 1, an identifier rpos that is not described is the distance from the rotation center of the actuator to the tip of the magnetic head 12.
The absorbing element described above may be possible to design, but also may be difficult to manufacture, and the manufacturing cost may increase in the case in which the absorbing element is manufactured in a small size to control the vibration of a disk drive. Also, since the installation space is not large in the case of an ultra slim disk drive, the use of the '486 patent design may be undesirable. In the case in which a buffer having a maximum compressibility of approximately 30%, such as a rubber, is used, if the design is in the preferably small size, a space of at least 1.5 mm is required. According to Hooke's law, the rigidity is in inverse proportion to the thickness.
Also, a method of controlling an undesirable vibration of a disk drive by using a sensor, a servo algorithm, and an inertia generator in order to protect the disk drive from an impact may be considered, but it is not suitable to install an additional device for controlling vibration in an ultra slim drive. Namely, since there are limitations regarding installation space, size, and weight as characteristics of a portable device, this is not a desirable solution.

Buffer for disk drive and disk drive assembly having the same


A sheet processing apparatus includes: a conveying roller that conveys a sheet; a lateral registration skew correcting unit that corrects a position in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, of the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller; and a sheet processing portion that performs processing on the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller. A plurality of types of sheet processing portions is replaceable, and the sheet processing apparatus includes a puncher controller that changes an operation of the lateral registration skew correcting unit according to the type of the sheet processing portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that processes a sheet and an image forming apparatus having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A sheet processing apparatus disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/051219 A1 includes an attitude correcting portion that corrects print skew and aligns a leading edge of a sheet by allowing the leading edge to bump against something and a punching portion having a punch that performs a punching process on the sheet. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a lateral registration adjustment portion which can adjust the position of the punch of the punching portion in relation to the sheet of which the attitude is corrected by the attitude correcting portion in a direction vertical to a moving direction of the sheet before the punching portion performs the punching process.
A sheet processing apparatus having such a configuration that a punching portion is detachably attached to a fixed support having a driving source of the lateral registration adjustment portion and the type of the punching portion can be recognized when the punching portion is attached. Due to this, the sheet processing apparatus can be easily replaced according to punching conditions such as a punch hole and the number of holes and can automatically recognize set conditions and alignment during replacement.
In a sheet processing apparatus in which a punching portion can be replaced, the punching portion may be replaced with a scoring portion to cut lines in a sheet or may be replaced with a perforating portion to make perforations.
However, since it is necessary to press a convex and concave mold with uniform force in a sheet width direction in order to cut lines uniformly in the sheet, large processing force is required as compared to punching which can decrease processing force by punching with a time difference.
Due to this, since it is necessary to decrease a rotating velocity of a motor which is a driving source to increase torque, the processing time increases. As a result, productivity decreases. The same problem occurs in the perforating portion since the perforating portion performs processing in the entire sheet width direction.
The present invention has been made in view of the problem and it is desirable to provide a sheet processing apparatus of which the productivity is not impaired by a sheet processing portion.

Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus


A method and apparatus for processing dropped calls. If, during an established call between two communication devices, a telecommunication network node determines that a communication link to one of the devices has been dropped, the node determines the cause of the dropped communication link and sends a status message to the non-dropped communication device. If a reconnection attempt is appropriate, the node attempts to reconnect to the dropped device. If a reconnection attempt is not appropriate, or if the reconnection attempt is unsuccessful, the non-dropped communication device is connected to a voice mail node. If the reconnection attempt is successful, the call between the two communication devices is re-established.

Although current telecommunication systems are generally highly reliable, there are occasions in which an established telephone call between two devices will be prematurely dropped. In a wired telecommunication system established calls are dropped very infrequently.
In a wireless telecommunication system, such as a cellular telephone system, established telephone calls are dropped somewhat more often than in the wired system. There are a number of reasons why a telephone call with a wireless telephone may be dropped. One reason for dropped calls is that the wireless telephone has left the coverage area of the wireless system. As is well known, cellular telephone systems are divided into cells, each of which is served by a base station which communicates with wireless telephones (i.e., mobile telephones) located within the cell. All the cells together make up the coverage area of the cellular system. If a mobile telephone travels outside the coverage area, the wireless communication channel between the mobile telephone and the wireless system will be lost and the call will be dropped. In some situations the mobile telephone may be entering the coverage area of another cellular service provider. In such a case, the call may continue only if the mobile telephone has roaming privileges in that other cellular system.
Another reason that an established call may be dropped in a cellular system is due to handoff. As is well known, when a mobile telephone travels from one cell to another cell, the call is handed off from the base station serving the one cell to the base station serving the other cell. In some situations the base station serving the other cell may not have any radio channels available for communication with the mobile telephone at the time of the handoff. In such a situation the established call with the mobile telephone will be dropped. Another reason for dropped calls in a cellular system is coverage holes, which are areas in the geographic serving area which do not receive signals from the system for some reason. Such coverage holes include both indoor and outdoor areas. If a mobile telephone enters a coverage hole where coverage is not available, radio communication with the serving base station will be lost and the call will be dropped. Calls in a cellular system may also be dropped due to RF interference and equipment failures.
Dropped calls are very inconvenient to callers. Re-establishment of the call is left to the parties to the call and neither party knows the intention of the other party. This may result in both parties attempting to call the other party, which may result in the connection being blocked. Alternatively, both parties may assume that the other party is going to initiate the call, resulting in no re-establishment of the call. The dropped call situation is worsened in that there is no indication to either party for the reason of the dropped call. These dropped calls often result in the parties not being able to fully communicate with each other.
Thus there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for processing dropped calls in telecommunication networks.

System and method for processing dropped calls


Ethylene and/or propylene are polymerized to form high molecular weight, linear polymers by contacting ethylene and/or propylene monomer, in the presence of an inert reaction medium, with a catalyst system which consists essentially of (1) an aluminum alkyl component, such as trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum and diethylaluminum hydride and (2) a Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative component, such as _B(C6F5)3, {(CH3)2N(H)(C6H5)}+{B(C6F5)4}xe2x88x92, {(C2H5) 3NH}+{B(C6F5)4}xe2x88x92, {(C6F5)3C}+{B(C6F5)4}xe2x88x92, {(C6F5)3C}+{B(C6F5)3(Cl)xe2x88x92}, (C2H5) 2Al(OCH3), (C2H5)2Al(2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenoxide), (C2H5)Al(2,6-di-t-butylphenoxide)2, (C2H5)2Al(2,6-di-t-butylphenoxide), 2,6-di-t butylphenol.methyl-aluminoxane or an alkylaluminoxane, and which may be completely free any transition metal component(s).

This invention relates to high molecular weight, highly linear polymers of ethylene and xcex1-olefins, e.g., propylene, which are prepared in the presence of an aluminum-based catalyst system. More specifically, the invention relates to the synthesis of ethylene and xcex1-olefin homopolymers and copolymers in an inert reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst system consisting essentially of an aluminum alkyl compound and a Lewis acid component. An advantage of the present invention is that it enables the synthesis of high molecular weight ethylene and xcex1-olefin polymers without the need for transition metal catalysts, thereby avoiding disposal problems associated with the use of such catalysts.
It is known that the xe2x80x9caufbauxe2x80x9d reaction, in which ethylene is reacted at high temperatures and high pressures to form higher olefins, occurs in two steps. In the first step, ethylene is exposed to a trialkyl aluminum compound at temperatures on the order of 90-120xc2x0 C. and pressures of about 100 psi to form higher aluminum alkyls. In the second step, the temperature is raised to 150xc2x0 C. to displace the higher alkyl groups and to form an xcex1-olefin. While studying this reaction in the early 1950""s, it was discovered that the addition to the reaction mass of earlier transition metal compounds, specifically titanium halides, resulted in the formation of high molecular polymers. Since that discovery, a variety of catalyst systems have been reported. using a variety of transisiton metals, including chromium (IV) oxides (Hogan, J. P., et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,721), chromocenes (Karol, F. J., et al, J. Polym. Sci., Part A, 1972, 2621), and acetylacetonate complexes of vanadium (Doi, Y., et al, Makromol. Chem., 1979, 180, 1359). Beginning in about 1980, a great deal of study was conducted in connection with highly active metallocene/methylaluminoxane (MAO) olefin polymerization catalyst systems, and more recently olefin polymerization catalysts based on diimine complexes of nickel and palladium have been reported. See, e.g., Sinn, H. and Kaminski, W., Adv. Organomet. Chem., 1980, 18, 99; Johnson, L. K., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1995, 117, 6414; Johnson, L. K., et al, Int. Pat. Appl. W096/23010 (1996); and Small, B. L., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120,4049.
For each of the known transition metal-based catalyst systems, it was believed that the transition metal played a vital role in the formation of high molecular weight polymers; and that in the absence of any transition metal, only oligomers would be produced, as in the aufbau reaction. To date, there have been few reports detailing the preparation of high molecular polymers of ethylene via transition metal-free catalyst systems. In 1992, Heinz Martin (a former student of Karl Ziegler) reported the sysnthesis of high molecular weight polyethylene by exposing ethylene to an aluminum alkyl catalyst over a period of several days (Martin, H., Makromol. Chem., 1992, 193, 1283). More recently, the synthesis of cationic aluminum complexes bearing bulky imine type ligands, as well as their potential utility as ethylene polymerization catalysts, has been investigated. See, e.g., Coles, M. P., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1997, 119, 8125; Coles, M. P., et al. Int. Pat. Appl. W098/40421; Coles, M. P., et al, Organometallics, 1997, 16, 5183; Aielts, S. L., et al, Organometallics, 1998, 17, 3265; Coles, M. P., et al, Organometallics, 1998. 17. 4042; Ihara, E., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120, 8277; Bruce, M., et al, J. Chem. Commun., 1998, 2523; Cameron, P. A., et al, Chem. Commun., 1999, 1883; Kim, J. S., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2000, 122, 5668; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,120.
While great strides have been made in the search for new and improved ethylene and xcex1-olefin polymerization catalysts, there remains a need for catalyst systems that are free from transition metals, that comprise only commercially available components, that require no ligand substitution, and that, nonetheless, are capable of efficiently converting monomer to high molecular weight polymer under otherwise conventional polymerization reaction conditions.
In accordance with the present invention, the need for transition metal-free olefin polymerization catalysts has been met by providing a catalyst system that comprises two essential components, namely: (1) an aluminum alkyl component, and (2) a Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative component that is capable of activating the aluminum alkyl component.
The aluminum alkyl component may be illustrated by the formula AlRxH3xe2x88x92x, where R is an alkyl group, and 0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa63. Aluminum alkyl compounds that are suitable for use in this invention include, for example, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum and diethylaluminum hydride.
The Lewis acid component contemplated for use in this invention includes Lewis acids and Lewis acid derivatives having a relative Lewis acidity equal to or stronger than that of Tris-(pentafluorophenyl) boron (designated herein as xe2x80x9cFABxe2x80x9d and having the formula B(C6F5)3)), as determined from 1H NMR spectra of the Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative based on H3 chemical shift changes in crotonaldehyde when the latter is bound to the respective Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative. The determination of the relative strength of a given Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative is discussed more fully, for example, in Luo et al, Topics in Catalvsis, 1999, 7, 97, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Lewis acid derivatives contemplated for use in this invention are those derivatives that are formed when a hydrocarbyl or halide ion is added to a Lewis acid. For example, when C6F5xe2x88x92 or Clxe2x88x92 is added to B(C6F5)3, the anionic derivatives B(C6F5)4xe2x88x92 and B(C6F5)3(Cl)xe2x88x92, respectively, would be the Lewis acid derivatives.
Thus, the Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative component, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the xe2x80x9cLewis acid componentxe2x80x9d, contemplated for use in the present invention includes for example, tris-(pentafluorophenyl) boron (designated herein as xe2x80x9cFABxe2x80x9d and having the formula B(C6F5)3)), tri(phenyl)methyl tetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate (designated herein as xe2x80x9cTrityl FABxe2x80x9d and having the formula {(C6F5)3C}+{B(C6F5)4}xe2x88x92), N,N-dimethylanilinium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate (designated herein as xe2x80x9cAnilinium FABxe2x80x9d and having the formula {(CH3)2N(H)(C6H5)}+{B(C6F5)4}xe2x88x92), tri(phenyl)methyl tri (pentafluorophenyl)(chloro)borate (having the formula {(C6F5)3C}+{B(C6F5)3(Cl)xe2x88x92}) or a conventional alkylaluminoxane, such as methylaluminoxane (designated herein as xe2x80x9cMAOxe2x80x9d and having the formula xe2x80x94(Al(CH3)O)n)xe2x80x94.
MAO, which is the product of the hydrolysis of trimethylaluminum, contains as much as 30% unreacted aluminum trialkyl. Accordingly, it is within the scope of this invention to use MAO as both the aluminum alkyl component and as the Lewis acid component of the catalyst system. However, in such case, it is preferable to add an aluminum alkyl component and/or a Lewis acid component in addition to the MAO. Similarly, it is also within the scope of this invention to use an alkylaluminoxane in conjunction with an alcohol or phenol adduct of an alkylaluminoxane. For example, a suitable catalyst system in accordance with this invention would comprise MAO in combination with 2,6-di-t-butylphenol.MAO.
The catalyst system of this invention is indeed capable of polymerizing ethylene and xcex1-olefins, particularly propylene, under conventional reaction conditions, and results in the formation of high molecular weight, highly linear polymers having narrow polydispersities, indicative of a xe2x80x9csingle sitexe2x80x9d catalyst.
The polymerization typically is carried out by contacting the selected monomer (e.g., ethylene and/or propylene) in an inert polar solvent (e.g., chlorobenzene) or hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., toluene) at a temperature of about 20 to 150xc2x0 C., typically from about 50 to about 120xc2x0 C., e.g. 50xc2x0 C, and a pressure of from about 50 to about 1,500 psi, typically from about 400 to about 800 psi, e.g., 800 psi. The polymerization reaction typically would be allowed to proceed for a period of from about 1 hour to about 24 hours, after which the polymerization reaction would be terminated by conventional means, e.g., by adding methanol or another conventional polymerization stopper to the reaction mass.

Process for synthesizing linear polymers of ethylene and alpha-olefins


Provided is a communication apparatus having a human body contact sensing function and a method thereof. The communication apparatus includes: an electrode that comes in contact with the human body; a contact sensor that is connected to the electrode, and instructs the central processing unit to perform an initial operation if contact with the human body is sensed; and a data processing unit that receives a control signal from the central processing unit so as to select whether to transmit or receive data, and performs a transmitting or receiving operation according to the control signal. Accordingly, in order to reduce power consumption when in a stand-by state before human body contact is made in a communication apparatus using a human body as a communication medium, a human body contact sensor is included so as to minimize power consumption of a micro processing unit and a transmitter/receiver circuit until contact occurs. Therefore, since power consumption is minimized when in a stand-by mode by using a contact sensor having significantly low power consumption, there is an advantage in that a stand-by time of a portable device is extended.

A conventional system for human body communication, in which devices mounted on or placed near a human body communicate with one another through the human body as a communication medium, allows a communication channel to be formed when in contact with the human body. However, it is uncertain when a device embedded with a human body communication module will come in contact with the human body, and thus a signal needs to be periodically checked so as to find out whether a communication channel has been formed between corresponding devices. In this case, even if there is no contact with the human body, the device itself cannot recognize whether there is contact with the human body. Therefore, not only a receiving-end circuit that converts a weak signal received through the human body into a digital signal that can be processed by a micro-controller but also a micro-controller that performs a control operation has to be constantly or periodically in a wake-up state to reduce power consumption.
When a transmitter has data to be sent, even if a human body communication micro-controller initially operates after data is output to an external control signal or a designated memory area, a transmitter circuit that converts the digital signal received from the micro-controller into a signal to be output to the human body has to be operated in a normal state until contact with the human body has been made. That is, in order to check whether a channel is formed, the transmitter circuit has to operate even if there is no contact with the human body, which leads to unnecessary power consumption.
As described above, power is unnecessarily consumed because a transmitter/receiver circuit and a micro-controller for controlling the transmitter/receiver circuit have to constantly or periodically be in the normal state so as to determine whether a channel has been formed in transmitting and receiving processes even if there is no contact with the human body.

Communication apparatus having human body contact sensing function and method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A radiation image photographing system with high convenience, efficiency, reliability and expandability wherein when a part of components is broken down, another component can substitute. In the radiation image photographing system, a controller has an operation control information registering section for registering operation control information of the radiation image reading apparatus in the database section, a receiving section for receiving an image read out of the photostimulable phosphor sheet by and outputted from the radiation image reading apparatus, and a display section for displaying the image thereon, a database section has a storing section for storing the operation control information of the radiation image reading apparatus, and a radiation image reading apparatus has an obtaining section for obtaining the operation control information from the database section, and an output section for outputting the image read out of the photostimulable phosphor sheet based on the operation control information.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a radiation image photographing system comprising a radiation image reading apparatus for mainly outputting digital image data, a controller, a database section for mediating operation control information and status information between the radiation image reading apparatus and the controller, or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
These days, it is considered more necessary to make diagnosis efficient and expedite the diagnosis by converting radiation image data generated by photographing a patient into digital data, storing and electrically transmitting the digital data in a hospital. Therefore, also in a photographing field, instead of a conventional screen/film system, a radiation image photographing system for directly outputting digital data by using photostimulable phosphor becomes widely in use.
The radiation image photographing system using photostimulable phosphor is commonly known as CR (Computed Radiography). The radiation image photographing system forms a radiation image by temporarily accumulating radiation energy transmitted through an object in the photostimulable phosphor, obtaining stimulated light by exciting the accumulated radiation energy with a laser beam having predetermined wave length and taking out the stimulated light as an electrical signal by using a photoelectric transducer such as a multiplier or the like.
The radiation image photographing system using photostimulable phosphor is largely classified into two types, one is a stationary type incorporating photostimulable phosphor therein, and another is a movable cassette type using a portable cassette incorporating photostimulable phosphor therein.
Based on FIG. 7 showing a radiation image photographing system of the cassette type using photostimulable phosphor, the radiation image photographing system of the cassette type using photostimulable phosphor will be explained. A cassette 6 is a portable device incorporating a photostimulable phosphor sheet 8 accumulating a part of radiation energy therein. In a radiation photographing room, radiation is irradiated from an X-ray tube 9 toward an object M placed between the X-ray tube 9 and the cassette 6. Then, the photostimulable phosphor sheet 8 incorporated in the cassette 6 accumulates a part of the irradiated radiation energy. Then, when the cassette 6 is set in a radiation image reading apparatus 1, the radiation image reading apparatus 1 reads radiation image information accumulated in the photostimulable phosphor sheet 8 in the cassette 6. Further, a controller 2 comprises a monitor for inputting patient information, photographic part information or the like on an image accumulated in the cassette 6, and confirming the image read by the radiation image reading apparatus 1.
Then, in order to read the radiation image information accumulated in the photostimulable phosphor sheet 8 in the cassette 6, the radiation image reading apparatus 1 irradiates excitation light on the photostimulable phosphor sheet and photoelectrically converts stimulated light excited by excitation light according to the accumulated radiation image information. Then, after A/D conversion, the radiation image reading apparatus 1 outputs the converted data as digital image data. The radiation image reading apparatus 1 is required to perform with high accuracy and is quite expensive.
Further, since the radiation image reading apparatus is required to be able to have a plurality of cassettes for photographing a unit of inspection set therein simultaneously, the radiation image reading apparatus 1 needs to be large.
Further, conventionally, in the above-mentioned radiation image photographing system of the cassette type, the radiation image reading apparatus 1 is integral with its dedicated controller 2, or separately connected with the controller 2 one to one. Therefore, as is often the case, one set of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 and its dedicated controller 2 is provided per a plurality of radiation photographing rooms. However, it is inconvenient to perform radiation photographing operation in a radiation photographing room not having the set. Furthermore, since a time interval between radiation photographing and the input of patient information or photographing information is long, a radiologist sometimes makes a mistake on the input. Further, it takes the radiologist long time to move from the radiation photographing room to the radiation image reading apparatus 1, set the cassette and return to the radiation photographing room after confirming an image, there are problems that the radiologist cannot give a patient an instruction for next photographing during the period, the patient who has done his photographing and already left the radiation photographing room is required to come back because the radiologist finds out that another photographing is necessary for the patient after the radiologist confirms an image, or the like. Therefore, there is an idea that each radiation photographing room in a hospital should have at least one set of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 and its dedicated controller 2. However, this indicates that installation of the set is independent of photographing frequency in the radiation photographing room, and therefore it is uneconomic. Further, installation space is large, and therefore it causes high cost.
Further, in any case, when any one of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 and its dedicated controller 2 is broken down, neither of them can be used.
Given this factor, it is suggested that a system have a plurality of radiation image reading apparatuses 1 and a plurality of controllers 2 connected with the same network for operation.
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a system 200 comprising a plurality of radiation image reading apparatuses 1 and a plurality of controllers 2 connected through a network 3, sends an image read by one of the radiation image reading apparatuses 1 to one of the registered controllers 2. According to the system 200, although it becomes more convenient for a radiologist or the like, there is a concern of heavy network load and low process ability due to network busy explained hereafter.
In the system 200, when a cassette is set in a radiation image reading apparatus 1-1, the radiation image reading apparatus 1-1 determines whether to send an image to a controller 2-1 in order to determine which controller 2 to send the read image. If a result of the determination is NO, then the radiation image reading apparatus 1-1 proceeds to determine whether to send the image to a controller 2-2. If a result of the determination is YES, the radiation image reading apparatus 1-1 can determine to send the image to the controller 2-2. Therefore, between the radiation image reading apparatus 1-1 and the controller 2-1, communication in both directions is established.
Further, when the radiation image reading apparatuses 1-1 and 1-2 start reading the images simultaneously, since both start determining which controllers 2 to send the read images simultaneously, network becomes busy. Furthermore, when a radiation image reading apparatus 1-3 also starts the process, the network becomes even busier.
Under such a network circumstance, when the controller 2 tries to obtain new photographing order information from a Radiology Information System (RIS) or a Hospital Information System (HIS), due to inquiry from the radiation image reading apparatus 1 to the controller 2 or the like, the network is almost always busy. As a result, response delay may happen.
In order to avoid the above-mentioned circumstance, it is necessary to assume maximum network load and add extra communication capacity based on the assumed maximum network load in advance. However, in order to add the extra communication capacity of the network, capacity investment to the network would be extravagant. Especially, the more numbers of dispersed radiation image reading apparatuses 1 or controllers 2, the more the assumed maximum network load grows exponentially. On the other hand, for example, if only one radiation image reading apparatus 1 is in use, ability of these network facilities is not sufficiently used.


An optical fiber having a large mode area for high power applications and geometrically configured for single-mode operation. One example of an optical fiber system includes a mandrill and an optical fiber helically coiled about the mandrill with a preselected bend radius. The optical fiber includes a core having a high aspect ratio elongated cross-section, wherein the core is narrower in a fast-axis direction and wider in a slow-axis direction, the core including an annular protrusion that is Gaussian in transverse cross-section and has a width in the slow-axis direction and an annular extension in the fast-axis direction, and wherein a ratio of the width, the annular extension, and the bend radius is selected for single-mode operation of the optical fiber.

Optical fibers can be used to transmit a laser beam from a laser source to a desired location. The use of an optical fiber to transmit a laser beam from a laser source to a desired location is a significant enabler in a number of laser applications because the optical fiber offers a flexible transmission path that involves no free-space optics and which can be re-routed in real time. High power fiber lasers (e.g., having an output power in the range of about 1-10 kW or higher) are useful for a wide variety of applications, including military applications and in the industrial fields of welding, high-speed cutting, brazing, and drilling. However, the use of optical fibers for delivery of laser beams from high power fiber lasers has been limited by numerous challenges. For example, a significant limitation to the use of high-power fiber lasers in industrial applications is power loss due to non-linear effects, such as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) or stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), as the beam propagates through the delivery fiber from the fiber laser source to the work area.
To reduce degradation of the laser beam by these non-linear effects and accommodate high peak or average power, conventional optical fibers have a large core area, for example having core diameters as large as 0.5 to 1 mm, and large numerical aperture (NA), for example, in the range of 0.1-0.2. As a result, these conventional fibers are highly multi-mode. Due to the multimode aspect of these conventional optical fibers, bending of the optical fibers results in a strong mode coupling to the higher order transverse electromagnetic modes that are guided along with the fundamental and other lowest order transverse electromagnetic modes. If the lowest-order transverse electromagnetic mode is launched in these conventional optical fibers, the lowest-order mode will lose most of its power as it feeds higher-order transverse electromagnetic modes. As a result, even if the input beam is nearly diffraction-limited and the output beam suffers only minor power loss, the output beam quality is typically greater than 50-100 times diffraction limited (XDL). Therefore, these conventional optical fibers can meet power-delivery requirement, but not beam-quality delivery requirements.
To overcome the above deficiency with high beam quality transportation, a large mode area (LMA) optical fiber design can be implemented. LMA optical fibers can guide a few higher-order transverse electromagnetic modes while still maintaining beam quality at or better than approximately 1.3 times diffraction-limited (XDL). An LMA optical fiber differs from the standard large-core delivery fibers by having a relatively small core diameter, between about 20 μm and about 30 μm for signal wavelengths of about 1 μm, and a reduced NA of approximately 0.06. Generally, LMA fibers must be properly coiled to maintain good beam quality. In particular, for LMA fibers, a mode-dependent loss may be created by forming the fiber laser into a coil with a predetermined bend radius. Coiling imposes radiation losses that are highly dependent on mode order, with the loss rate increasing rapidly with increasing mode order. Hence, using a proper coiling radius the higher-order modes can be stripped out leaving only the lower-order modes, thereby "cleaning up" the laser beam. However, even though proper coiling can reduce the number of supported higher-order modes, LMA fibers cannot generally be made to operate only in a single mode operation (i.e., with the optical energy substantially in the fundamental fiber mode while having relatively small or negligible optical energy in higher fiber modes), as is desired in many applications, at least in part because the numerical aperture required for single-mode operation at large core sizes is lower than can be reliably achieved. For conventional LMA fibers having relatively large core diameter (e.g., exceeding 50 μm), as may be necessary for very high power applications, mode discrimination via coiling becomes inadequate between the increased number of competing modes and the diminishing separation in loss rates between neighboring modes to reliably select the lowest-order mode while operating at a low transmission loss.

Single mode large mode area optical fiber coil


The present invention relates to a medication delivery device comprising a reminder unit for reminding an individual having a medical diseases to take a medicament. The reminder unit comprises means for providing a reminder signal to the individual having the medical disease, the reminder signal being triggered by data associated with a previously occurred event, the associated data being stored in a storage means. Alternatively, the reminder signal may be triggered by a position signal generated by position determining means adapted to determine the position of the medication delivery device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,951 discloses an insulin pump having a reminder feature or forgotten bolus warning for an insulin pump user. The feature discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,951 in a manual feature in that the user must programme expected mealtimes and a delay period starting at the expected eating time. After the delay period a warning is generated if a bolus is not administered. Such warning may be audible sounds or mechanical vibrations. The expected mealtimes may vary from day to day and/or from week to week. Similarly, the day periods may be programmed independently.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,350 discloses a method of operating an insulin pump. The insulin pump is configured to selectively deliver a meal bolus. The method comprises entering into the pump a start time for an interval; entering into the pump an end time for the interval; and generating an alarm signal if a meal bolus is not delivered during the interval.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,350 also discloses a pump for delivering insulin to a user. The pump comprises a pump mechanism and a meal-bolus program module. The meal-bolus program module is programmed to control the pump mechanism to deliver a meal bolus. An alarm program module is in data communication with the alarm, a timer, and the meal-bolus program module. The alarm module is programmed to generate an alarm signal when the meal-bolus program module does not control the pump mechanism to deliver a meal bolus within a predetermined period of time.
Thus, the reminder systems provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,650,951 and 6,744,350 both require that the user programs the insulin pump to remind him/her to take the medicament at expected mealtimes. Delay periods may optionally be associated with the expected and pre-programmed mealtimes.
EP 1 008 946 is directed to a mobile user device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless telephone, a car phone, or any other programmable device. The device is equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and is programmable by the user to alert the user when he/she (along with the device) arrives at a predetermined location, as well as to disclose to the user whatever information or whatever action the user chose to associate with the location. Thus, for example, when the user arrives in the vicinity of the post office, the device automatically alerts him/her that he/she has a letter to post; when the user passes the local grocery store, the device alerts him/her and displays to him/her a shopping list; and when the user arrives at home, the device alerts him/her to check the furnace filters. Consequently, the user does not have to rely on his memory to be reminded of desired information or actions upon his arrival at a particular location.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a medication delivery device including a reminder unit that automatically reminds an individual having a medical disease to take his/hers medicine when a given event occurs. Such an event could be a time-related event, an activity generated event or a position generated event.

Medication delivery device with reminder unit


A self-service terminal (20) for displaying advertisements is described. The terminal comprises a display (52) and a network connection (32). The terminal further comprises means for accessing an advertisement database (18) to retrieve an advertisement associated with the terminal (20), and means for incorporating the retrieved advertisement in a screen (130) for displaying on the display (52). The terminal (20) may be an ATM. A method of supplying an advertisement for displaying on a self-service terminal, and a system for controlling presentation of advertisements on a self-service terminal are also described.

The present invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST), such as an automated teller machine (ATM), for displaying advertisements. In particular, the invention relates to an ATM for displaying authorized advertisements during a transaction.
Owners of ATMs sometimes attempt to offset the high cost of owning and maintaining an ATM by renting out screen space to a third party, such as a vendor, for displaying advertisements for the goods and/or services provided by the third party. Vendors lease screen space because it enables them to advertise their goods and/or services to ATM users without having the expense of owning and maintaining an ATM.
Typically, screen space is rented out during a "dead time" in a transaction. A "dead time" is a period during which a user is not required to enter any data or to view any data, but during which the ATM is occupied, for example, when a financial transaction is being authorized by an ATM host, when cash is being counted and staged, when a receipt is being printed, or such like.
One problem associated with renting out screen space to vendors is that the ATM application that controls the flow of screens presented to a user of the ATM is very complex. This makes it very difficult and time consuming to modify the ATM application to include an advertisement in a screen. As a result, owners of ATMs are reluctant to allow the vendors to change their advertisements too frequently. For some vendors, the goods or services that they advertise via the ATM may have limited availability, or the price of the goods and/or services may change frequently. This means that it may not be convenient to advertise the goods and/or services as part of a long term advertisement. Other vendors are small businesses who may not be able to afford the expense involved in incorporating an advertisement in the ATM application.
Another problem is that the same advertisement is used for every user of the ATM, regardless of the location of the ATM, the time at which the ATM is being used, and such like.


Respiratory assistance is provided to a subject in the form of a pressurized flow of breathable gas. The pressure of the gas is eased during expiration and increased during inspiration. Changes in pressure are triggered and/or cycled based on the monitoring of tidal volume. Volume thresholds that cause triggering and/or cycling are adjusted based on an observed or measured breath rate.

The invention relates to machine-assisted respiration of a patient.
Machine-assisted respiration of a patient, or subject, is known in the art. Common examples may include positive airway pressure devices, e.g. continuous or bi-level positive airway pressure (CPAP/BiPAP), and/or other devices. A respiratory device may assist a subject to breath in, breath out, or both. A subject may experience discomfort when a respiratory device initiates an inspiration or expiration that fails to coincide with the subject's natural breathing rhythm. Improved comfort may aid improved therapeutic compliance regarding the use of a respiratory device.
The disclosure relates to a method for controlling respiratory assistance of a subject, the subject having an airway. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject at an inspiratory pressure level during a breath by the subject, wherein the breath has inspiratory volume during an inspiratory phase and expiratory volume during an expiratory phase; determining a breathing rate of the subject; adjusting a first volume threshold based on the determined breathing rate; monitoring the inspiratory volume of the breath by the subject; comparing the inspiratory volume to the first volume threshold to determine when the inspiratory volume of the breath breaches the first volume threshold; and responsive to the inspiratory volume of the breath breaching the first volume threshold, temporarily decreasing the pressure of the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the inspiratory pressure level for expiration by the subject.
Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a system for controlling respiratory assistance of a subject. In one embodiment, the system comprises a pressure generator and one or more processors. The pressure generator is configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of the subject during breaths of the subject, wherein a breath has inspiratory volume during an inspiratory phase and expiratory volume during an expiratory phase. The one or more processors are configured to execute computer program modules including a breathing rate module, an adjustment module, a monitoring module, a comparison module, and a control module. The breathing rate module is configured to determine a breathing rate of the subject. The adjustment module is configured to adjust a first volume threshold based on the determined breathing rate. The monitoring module is configured to monitor inspiratory volumes of individual breaths by the subject. The comparison module is configured to compare the inspiratory volumes of the individual breaths by the subject to the first volume threshold to determine when the inspiratory volumes of the individual breaths have breached the first volume threshold. The control module is configured to control the pressure generator to adjust a pressure level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas, wherein the control module is further configured such that responsive to the inspiratory volume of a given breath breaching the first volume threshold the control module controls the pressure generator to temporarily decrease the pressure level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas for expiration by the subject.
Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a system configured to control volume based respiratory assistance of a subject. In one embodiment, the system comprises means for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject at an inspiratory pressure level during a breath by the subject, wherein the breath has inspiratory volume during an inspiratory phase and expiratory volume during an expiratory phase; means for determining a breathing rate of the subject; means for adjusting a first volume threshold based on the determined breathing rate; means for monitoring the inspiratory volume of the breath by the subject; means for comparing the inspiratory volume to the first volume threshold to determine when the inspiratory volume of the breath breaches the first volume threshold; and means for temporarily decreasing the pressure level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the inspiratory pressure level for expiration by the subject, responsive to the inspiratory volume of the breath breaching the first volume threshold.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present disclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment, the structural components illustrated herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not a limitation. In addition, it should be appreciated that structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein can be used in other embodiments as well. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of limits. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Respiration-rate dependent respiratory assistance


A fluid safe to plants and the environment for maintenance facilitation of hand or power garden shear and saw tools. When the said fluid with a pleasant odor is sprayed onto the blades of said tools it will clean, lubricate, disinfect and inhibit rust in one step on said tools while repelling some types of flying insect pests.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the safe maintenance of tools, specifically hand or power garden shears and saws, while repelling some types of flying insect pests.
2. Prior Art
Hand or power garden shear and saw tools require maintenance in order to work properly and disinfection of said tools is required in order to prevent plant cross contamination from infected tools. Existing methods for tool maintenance include cleaners, lubricants, disinfectants and corrosion/rust inhibitors, which can be corrosive, flammable and/or have an unpleasant odor. Prior art usually involves several time consuming maintenance steps in order to clean, lubricate, disinfect and inhibit rust on said tools. This invention, safe to plants and the environment, reduces four maintenance steps to one step and provides a pleasant odor, which will repel some types of flying insect pests. Dirt build-up on said tools is generally water soluble and must be removed for good tool cutting service. Prior art is usually an oil soluble petroleum distillate, which won't loosen water soluble dirt unless abrasion is implemented during the cleaning process. Said abrasion can damage tool cutting edges if care effort isn't used. Some water soluble prior art will promote rust on tools with carbon steel blades.


Each optical fiber terminus (20) of a connector has an indexing device (32) that indicates and fixes the rotational position of the terminus in its housing passage (14), the indexing device being in the form of a sleeve that is easily applied when an optimum position is determined. The indexing sleeve is fixed directly to the stripped optic fiber cable (30) at a location immediately rearward of the terminus body (24), so a rear end of the indexing sleeve lies at the rear end of the housing. The indexing sleeve rear end has a radial projection (82) that projects into a slot (84) formed in the rear surface (86) of the connector.

Optical fibers are commonly coupled to one another by attaching a terminus to the stripped end of each optic fiber cable, with the tip of each optical fiber flush with the tip of a ferrule of the terminus. The tips of the ferrules and fibers are aligned within a precision alignment sleeve so the tips of the two fibers abut one another. In practice, the tips of the fibers are slightly eccentric to the axis of their ferrules, and the tips lie in planes that are not exactly perpendicular to the ferrule axes. In one example, for a single mode fiber having a mode field diameter of 9 microns (0.009 mm), the eccentricity might be 3 microns. This results in an insertion loss, which is the loss of light intensity due to the light having to pass between the tips of two abutting fibers.
The insertion loss can be reduced by rotating one terminus and its corresponding optical fiber, to different positions about the terminus axis and measuring the insertion loss at each position. It is found that the insertion loss does not change much for a rotation within about ±30° of the ideal position. Accordingly, the terminus can be rotated in steps of perhaps 60° until the optimum one of six positions is reached, and the terminus then can be fixed at that position. Since a terminus occasionally has to be removed from its housing, as to clean its tip, it is desirable that any means for fixing the orientation of the terminus enable removal of the terminus and facilitate or assure that the reinstalled terminus lies at its optimum position.


A method of recording a temporary defect list on a write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing the temporary defect list, an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing the temporary defect list, and the write-once recording medium. The method of recording a temporary defect list for defect management on a write-once recording medium includes recording the temporary defect list, which is created while data is recorded on the write-once recording medium, in at least one cluster of the write-once recording medium, and verifying if a defect is generated in the at least one cluster. Then, the method includes re-recording data originally recorded in a defective cluster in another cluster, and recording pointer information, which indicates a location of the at least one cluster where the temporary defect list is recorded, on the write-once recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a write-once recording medium, and more particularly, to a method of recording a temporary defect list on a write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing the temporary defect list, an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing the temporary defect list, and the write-once recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Defect management involves recording data, which has been recorded at a location of a recording medium where a defect is generated, at another location of the recording medium when the data cannot be reproduced normally, thereby preventing data loss caused by the generation of the defect.
Conventionally, defect management is classified into defect management using a linear replacement method and that using a slipping replacement method. The linear replacement method is the replacement of a data area where a defect is generated with a spare area of the data area where a defect is not generated. The slipping replacement method is not using the data area where the defect is generated, and skipping to and using a next data area where no defect is generated.
The linear replacement and slipping replacement methods have been mainly applied to discs, such as DVD-RAM/RW (digital versatile disk-random access memory/rewritable), on which data can be re-recorded and which allow recording by random access.
Recently, several solutions have been considered to perform defect management using a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus in a write-once recording medium in which data cannot be eliminated or erased once the data is written.
Defect management for write-once recording media using linear replacement will now be described in detail. A data recording and/or reproducing apparatus that receives a user data recording command and user data from a host records the user data in cluster units, which are data recording units. After the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus performs a verify-after-write operation, if a defect is generated in a cluster of a user data area where the user data is recorded, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the user data in a spare area included in a data area.
During a predetermined time interval when data is being recorded, or after completion of single data recording, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus creates a temporary defect list (hereinafter referred to as a TDFL) containing location information of clusters of the user data area where defects are generated and location information of replacement clusters of the spare area where the user data recorded in the defective clusters is rewritten. Then, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the created TDFL in a temporary disc management area (hereinafter referred to as a TDMA). Also, after the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the created TDFL in the TDMA, it records pointer information indicating the location where the TDFL is recorded.
When the write-once recording medium is re-loaded into the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus reads out the TDFL from the write-once recording medium and stores the read TDFL in a memory. When additional data is recorded on the write-once recording medium, if new defective clusters are generated, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus rewrites data recorded in the defective clusters in the replacement clusters of the spare area. Thereafter, in addition to the TDFL stored in the memory, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus creates an updated TDFL containing location information of the newly-generated defective clusters and location information of replacement clusters corresponding to the newly-generated defective clusters, records the updated TDMA, and records pointer information indicating the location where the updated TDFL is recorded.
When the write-once recording medium is loaded into the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus for the purpose of reproducing the user data, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus first accesses the TDMA, obtains the pointer information indicating the location where the updated TDFL is recorded, and obtains the updated TDFL. The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus can then reproduce the user data without error by referring to the updated TDFL.
As described above, since the TDFL is critical information for user data reproduction, the TDFL should be recorded with high reliability. Thus, during the recording of the TDFL, the verify-after-write operation is performed in the same way as during the recording of user data. Therefore, if a defective cluster is generated, data recorded in the defective cluster is rewritten in another cluster of the TDMA.
According to the related art, if the size of a TDFL corresponds to at least two clusters and the TDFL is recorded in at least two clusters, the verify-after-write operation is performed and the TDFL is rewritten in other clusters if a defective cluster is generated. However, the TDMA is smaller than the data area and the amount of data that can be stored in the TDMA is not large. Accordingly, when defect management is performed for the TDFL according to the related art, the TDMA is quickly used up.

Method of recording temporary defect list on write-once recording medium, method of reproducing the temporary defect list, recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and the write-once recording medium


A synthetic polymer having hydrogen bonding capability and containing a hydrophobic aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety can reduce lint and slough in soft tissue products while maintaining softness and strength.

In the manufacture of paper products, such as facial tissue, bath tissue, paper towels, dinner napkins and the like, a wide variety of product properties are imparted to the final product through the use of chemical additives applied in the wet end of the tissue making process. Two of the most important attributes imparted to tissue through the use of wet end chemical additives are strength and softness. Specifically for softness, a chemical debonding agent is normally used. Such debonding agents are typically quaternary ammonium compounds containing long chain alkyl groups. The cationic quaternary ammonium entity allows for the material to be retained on the cellulose via ionic bonding to anionic groups on the cellulose fibers. The long chain alkyl groups provide softness to the tissue sheet by disrupting fiber-to-fiber hydrogen bonds in the sheet. The use of such debonding agents is broadly taught in the art. Such disruption of fiber-to-fiber bonds provides a two-fold purpose in increasing the softness of the tissue. First, the reduction in hydrogen bonding produces a reduction in tensile strength thereby reducing the stiffness of the sheet. Secondly, the debonded fibers provide a surface nap to the tissue web enhancing the xe2x80x9cfuzzinessxe2x80x9d of the tissue sheet. This sheet fuzziness may also be created through use of creping as well, where sufficient interfiber bonds are broken at the outer tissue surface to provide a plethora of free fiber ends on the tissue surface. Both debonding and creping increase levels of lint and slough in the product. Indeed, while softness increases, it is at the expense of an increase in lint and slough in the tissue relative to an untreated control. It can also be shown that in a blended (non-layered) sheet that the level of lint and slough is inversely proportional to the tensile strength of the sheet. Lint and slough can generally be defined as the tendency of the fibers in the paper web to be rubbed from the web when handled.
It is also broadly known in the art to use a multi-layered tissue structure to enhance the softness of the tissue sheet. In this embodiment, a thin layer of strong softwood fibers is used in the center layer to provide the necessary tensile strength for the product. The outer layers of such structures are composed of the shorter hardwood fibers, which may or may not contain a chemical debonder. A disadvantage to using layered structures is that while softness is increased the mechanism for such increase is believed due to an increase in the surface nap of the debonded, shorter fibers. As a consequence, such structures, while showing enhanced softness, do so with a trade-off in the level of lint and slough.
It is also broadly known in the art to concurrently add a chemical strength agent in the wet-end to counteract the negative effects of the debonding agents. In a blended sheet, the addition of such agents reduces lint and slough levels. However, such reduction is done at the expense of surface feel and overall softness and becomes primarily a function of sheet tensile strength. In a layered sheet, strength chemicals are added preferentially to the center layer. While this perhaps helps to give a sheet with an improved surface feel at a given tensile strength, such structures actually exhibit higher slough and lint at a given tensile strength, with the level of debonder in the outer layer being directly proportional to the increase in lint and slough.
There are additional disadvantages with using separate strength and softness chemical additives. Particularly relevant to lint and slough generation is the manner in which the softness additives distribute themselves upon the fibers. Bleached Kraft fibers typically contain only about 2-3 milli-equivalents of anionic carboxyl groups per 100 grams of fiber. When the cationic debonder is added to the fibers, even in a perfectly mixed system where the debonder will distribute in a true normal distribution, some portion of the fibers will be completely debonded. These fibers have very little affinity for other fibers in the web and therefore are easily lost from the surface when the web is subjected to an abrading force.
Therefore there is a need for a means of reducing lint and slough in soft tissues while maintaining softness and strength.
It has now been discovered that the amount of lint and slough can be reduced for a given tensile strength or level of debonder chemical. This is accomplished by incorporating into the paper sheet a synthetic polymer having a portion of its structure derived from the polymerization of acrylamide and thereby containing pendant amide groups capable of increasing interfiber bonding. The synthetic polymer also contains an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the synthetic polymer eliminates the potential for formation of totally debonded fibers. The aliphatic hydrocarbon portion of the molecule enables a significant level of debonding to occur and insures that the product has good surface nap or xe2x80x9cfuzzyxe2x80x9d feel. Yet, these fibers retain a significant bonding potential due to the presence of the pendant bonding functionality and as such the fibers remain anchored to the web. As such, fibers treated with these synthetic polymers produce a tissue web having lower lint and slough at a given tensile strength than a web prepared with conventional softening agents or a combination of conventional softening agents and conventional strength agents.
Hence, in one aspect, the invention resides in a soft paper sheet, such as a tissue sheet, comprising a synthetic polymer having hydrogen bonding capability and containing a hydrophobic aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, said polymer having the following structure:
where:
w, x, y, zxe2x89xa71;
vxe2x89xa70;
R0, R0xe2x80x2, R0xe2x80x3, R1, R2, R2xe2x80x2, R2xe2x80x3 are independently H, C1-4 alkyl;
R3=a C4 or higher linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrophobic aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety;
Z1=a bridging radical whose purpose is to attach the R3 moiety to the polymer backbone. Suitable Z1 radicals include but are not limited to xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CONHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94NHCOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, aryl, xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94;
F=a salt of an ammonium cation. The purpose of the F group is to provide a cationic charge to the polymer. Alternatively F may contain a tertiary amine group capable of being protonated, such that in an acidic environment, the group will possess a cationic charge and thereby be capable of being retained on the cellulose.
R4=an aldehyde functional hydrocarbyl radical, including but not limited to xe2x80x94CHOHCHO or xe2x80x94CHOHCH2CH2CHO.
Diallyldimethylammonium chloride can be used for incorporating the cationic monomer into the synthetic polymer. When Diallyldimethylammonium chloride is used the synthetic polymer has the following structure:
where
R0, R0xe2x80x2, R0xe2x80x3, R1, R3 R4, Z1, v, w, x, y, z are as defined above.
In another aspect, the invention resides in a method of making a soft, low lint paper sheet, such as a tissue sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers; (b) depositing the aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto a forming fabric to form a web; and (c) dewatering and drying the web to form a paper sheet, wherein a synthetic polymeric additive is added to the aqueous suspension of fibers or to the web, said polymeric additive having the following structure:
where:
w, x, y, zxe2x89xa71;
vxe2x89xa70;
R0, R0xe2x80x2, R0xe2x80x3, R1, R2, R2xe2x80x2, R2xe2x80x3 are independently H, C1-4 alkyl;
R3=a C4 or higher linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety;
Z1=a bridging radical whose purpose is to attach the R3 moiety to the polymer backbone. Suitable Z1 radicals include but are not limited to xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CONHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94NHCOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, aryl;
F=a salt of an ammonium cation. The purpose of the F group is to provide a cationic charge to the polymer. Alternatively F may contain a tertiary amine group capable of being protonated, such that in an acidic environment, said group will possess a cationic charge and thereby be capable of being retained on the cellulose; and
R4=an aldehyde functional hydrocarbyl radical, including but not limited to xe2x80x94CHOHCHO or CHOHCH2CH2CHO.
Diallyldimethylammonium chloride can be used to incorporate the cationic monomer into the synthetic polymer. When Diallyldimethylammonium chloride is used, the synthetic polymer has the following structure:
where
R0, R0xe2x80x2, R0xe2x80x3, R1, R3 R4, Z1, v, w, x, y, z are as defined above.
As used herein, xe2x80x9caliphatic hydrocarbon moietiesxe2x80x9d are functional groups derived from a broad group of organic compounds, including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and cyclic aliphatic classifications. The aliphatic hydrocarbon moieties can be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or non-substituted.
The synthetic polymers as described herein may be water soluble, organic soluble or soluble in mixtures of water and water miscible organic compounds. Preferably they are water-soluble or water dispersible but this is not a necessity of the invention.
The amount of the synthetic polymeric additive added to the papermaking fibers or the paper or tissue web can be from about 0.02 to about 4 weight percent, on a dry fiber basis, more specifically from about 0.05 to about 3 weight percent, and still more specifically from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent. The synthetic polymer can be added to the fibers or web at any point in the process, but it can be particularly advantageous to add the synthetic polymer to the fibers while the fibers are suspended in water. This can include, for example, addition in the pulp mill or to the pulper, a machine chest, the headbox or to the web prior to being dried where the consistency is less than about 80 percent.

Soft tissue with improved lint and slough properties


A handle assembly for a container includes a baseplate and a handle portion. A post extends from an arm of the handle portion and is configured to allow the baseplate to be snapped onto the post. In turn, the baseplate may be fastened or otherwise attached to the container. When lifting the container, the handle is rotated from a stored position and mechanically halted in a lifting position with interlocking complementary stops coupled to the handle portion and baseplate, respectively. In one embodiment, the stops include complementarily angled surfaces that are placed in interlocking bearing contact when the handle portion is in the lifting position. A biasing member coupled to the handle portion and engaged with the baseplate biases the handle portion toward the stored position.

Various types of containers, which may take the form of transit containers, rack-mount containers, tote containers or another type of container, are often utilized to receive and support delicate cargo such as, but not limited to, electronic, computer, optical and other types of equipment. These containers are often used in military and commercial environments and may be handled by persons, loading equipment, or both during transit and at other times. At least some of these containers have been designed to be stackable, and thus they include stacking elements or features arranged in a desired pattern. However, many of these containers may be of different types, sizes, models and versions, and thus have different stacking patterns that either do not permit the containers to be stacked together or that reduce the effectiveness, stability and/or efficiency of the containers when they are stacked together. By way of example, one company that manufactures containers having different stacking patterns is ECS Composites, Inc. out of Grants Pass, Oreg.
A variety of containers with stackability patterns include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following containers described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,599 to Apps et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,758 to Hsu; U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,345 to Robertson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,467 to Packrall et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,230 to Koefelda; U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,494 to Blomfield; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,360 to Juhanson.