The deployment of application revisions and performing of application rollbacks across multiple application servers is streamlined by reducing the number of files that are communicated to the application servers to perform updates and rollbacks. An application service is provided by multiple application servers each executing a plurality of compiled code files associated with the application service. Each application server receives a compiled code file corresponding to an update for one of the plurality of compiled code files associated with the application service. The one compiled code file is replaced with the received compiled code file corresponding to the update. The application servers then provide an updated version of the application service by executing the plurality of compiled code files including the replacement compiled code file corresponding to the update. Application rollback is performed using compiled code files stored in a local repository of each application server.

Web-based application services are provided to users via application servers. The application servers execute compiled code files, such as enterprise archive (EAR) and web application archive (WAR) files, to provide the application services. A single application server typically relies on and executes multiple EAR/WAR files as part of providing a single application service. Additionally, a single application service may be provided by multiple separate application servers. The use of multiple application servers may provide additional computing power to enable the application service to be provided more quickly and/or to larger numbers of concurrent users. The use of multiple application servers may further provide high availability to the application service since the application service can continue to be provided seamlessly even if one application server crashes or otherwise becomes unavailable.
Web-based applications are updated on a regular basis in order to add new features to the applications, and to correct coding or functional errors. Each update includes revisions or additions to one or more source code files storing source code for the application. In order to deploy an update, the source code files generally need to be compiled to produce the multiple new EAR/WAR files required to provide the application service, and the multiple EAR/WAR files then need to be sent to all of the application servers providing the application service. Alternatively, the source code files can be sent to all application servers providing the application service, and compiled on each application server to produce the EAR/WAR files locally. In both instances, the update requires a large amount of communication bandwidth in order to transmit the updated code files to each of the application servers. For example, this process can involve transmitting 200-300 MB of code files to 10 different application servers, resulting in 2-3 GB of data being communicated across a network. Each update may therefore use significant network bandwidth and thereby negatively impact other services provided across the network. Additionally, the deployment of the update may be delayed because of the time required to transmit such large amounts of data across the network. Moreover, in situations in which the source code is compiled on each application server, the computing power used to perform the multiple compilations is significant.
Further, after updating a web-based application, the web-based application sometimes needs to be rolled-back to a previous/earlier version of the application, for example in a situation in which an update is not functioning properly or is interfering with other functions of the application. In such a situation, performing the roll-back can necessitate re-compiling of the source code of a previous/earlier version of the application, and transmitting the compiled code of the previous/earlier version of the application to each of the application servers. The roll-back may thus require significant computing power, communication resources, and time to be completed across multiple application servers.

Efficient deployment of application revisions and implementation of application rollbacks across multiple application servers


A sheet dryer includes sprockets and a delivery chain, at least one heat-resistant glass plate, at least one lower-surface drying lamp, a guide plate, a plurality of first discharge holes, and a plurality of second discharge holes. The sprockets and delivery chain convey a paper sheet along a convey path. The heat-resistant glass plate is arranged under the sheet convey path. The lower-surface drying lamp is arranged under the heat-resistant glass plate and dries the lower surface of the printed/coated paper sheet. The guide plate is arranged adjacent to the heat-resistant glass plate in a sheet convey direction. The first discharge holes are formed in the heat-resistant glass plate. Air is discharged upward through the first discharge holes. The second discharge holes are formed in the guide plate. Air is discharged through the second discharge holes in the widthwise direction of the paper sheet.

The present invention relates to a sheet dryer for drying a sheet which is printed or coated with varnish on its lower surface (reverse surface) and upper surface (obverse surface) or only on its lower surface.
In a conventional sheet dryer, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,074, a pair of dryers which dry the two surfaces of a paper sheet are provided, between a printing unit and delivery unit, above and under a paper sheet conveyance path to sandwich it.
In the conventional sheet dryer described above, when a paper sheet coated with varnish or a printed paper sheet is to be conveyed, if the trailing edge of the paper sheet hangs to come into contact with the lower dryer, the vanish or ink applied to the lower surface of the paper sheet may be removed, or the lower surface of the paper sheet may be damaged.


A network processing device calculates variable link metrics and then prioritizes selection of network links for sending packets according to the calculated variable link metrics. The variable link metrics can include a link capacity index that represents a combination of platform and interface capabilities for nodes on opposite ends of the network links. The link metrics can also include an expected retransmission value that indicates the percentage of packets that may have to be transmitted over different links.

Mesh networks provide continuous connections and reconfiguration around broken or blocked paths by "hopping" from node to node until the destination is reached. Mobile Ad-Hoc NETworking (MANET) is featured in many devices and is a subsection of mesh networking. Mesh ad-hoc networks are self-healing and very reliable since the mesh network can still operate even when a node breaks down or a connection goes bad.
The mesh concept is applicable to wireless networks, wired networks, and software interaction. Mesh networks use inexpensive peer network nodes to supply back haul services to other nodes in the same network. The network is extended by sharing access to higher cost network infrastructure through generally mobile nodes that are dynamically reconfigurable to connect to each other via multiple hops.
Ad-hoc routing protocols are used in these mobile wireless networks. Traditionally, each link is assigned a unit metric, which is a reasonable approximation in wired networks. However, in wireless mesh networks, link capacity, delay, bit error rate, and so forth can vary widely and dynamically. For example, a particular wireless link between two nodes may currently provide a fast reliable path for forwarding packets. However, a short time later the same wireless link may no longer provide the optimal path. For example, the wireless connection could be jammed by another signal, one of the nodes for the link could move into a location where transmitting or receiving wireless signals is difficult, or other devices may start exchanging information with one of the nodes, slowing down transmit rates.
Thus, using a unit metric and choosing routing paths based on minimum hop counts may not necessarily provide the best way for transporting packets over a mesh network. The present embodiments address this and other problems.

Ad-hoc network routing metric optimization


The present invention allows the light beam of an optical disc storage device to radially move between different information tracks of an optical disc while the storage device tracking servo loop remains in a continuous closed loop mode of operation. The invention operates to radially move a light beam from one information track to another during a closed loop mode of operation by activating two control signals introduced into the closed tracking servo loop to create a phantom track center that radially moves across the optical disc. Because the tracking servo loop is in a closed loop mode of operation, the tracking servo operates to keep the light beam centered on the point that the tracking servo considers to be the center of an information track; in this case the phantom track center. Therefore, the tracking servo causes the light beam to radially move across the disc in a closed loop mode of operation by keeping the light beam centered on the moving phantom track center.

An optical disc storage device can be either a device or system that is capable of retrieving information stored by an optical disc, or a device or system that is capable of both recording information to and retrieving information from an optical disc. Examples of optical disc storage devices that are capable of retrieving information from an optical disc include compact disc (CD) players, video laser disc (L) players and compact disc read-only-memory (CD-Rom) drives. Examples of optical disc storage devices that are capable of both recording information to an optical disc and retrieving information from an optical disc include recordable mini-disc (MD) players, magneto-optical (MO) disc drives and compact disc recordable (CD-R) drives.
Information is generally stored by an optical disc in the form of concentric or spiral tracks sometimes referred to as information tracks. In the case where information is already stored by an optical disc, the information tracks contain regions of optical contrast that represent the stored information. In the case of an unrecorded or blank optical disc containing per-formatted tracks for recording information, a track that will become an information track may or may not have regions of optical contrast. The area located between two information tracks on an optical disc is sometimes referred to as a non-information track.
When an optical storage device is in its normal mode of operation, i.e. retrieving information from or recording information to an optical disc, the storage device rotates the disc while using a light beam to retrieve information from or record information to the disc. As the optical disc rotates, the light beam radially traverses the disc. While the light beam traverses the optical disc, a tracking servo loop in the optical disc storage device keeps the beam of light centered on the information track, or the track that will become the information track in the case of recording information to a disc.
An optical disc tracking servo is a closed loop system that allows a light beam to remain centered on an optical disc information track during normal operation of an optical disc storage device. The tracking servo readjusts the radial position of the light beam by sensing when the light beam drifts off the center of the information track. The tracking servo senses when the light beam is not centered on an information track by measuring the intensity of light reflected by the surface of the optical disc.
Generally, the intensity of light reflected by the surface of an optical disc is the least when it is reflected by the center of an information track. Using this principle, a tracking servo generally senses the intensity of light reflected at one or both edges of an information track to detect when a light beam is drifting off center and to determine in which direction the light beam is drifting. Therefore, a tracking servo system that is in a closed loop mode of operation senses when the light beam floats off the center of the information track by detecting changes in the intensity of light reflected at one or both edges of an information track and moves the beam back into a position where the intensity of reflected light is optimal for center tracking.
In the case where a tracking servo measures the intensity of light reflected at both edges of an information track, the intensity of reflected light that is optimal for center tracking occurs when the intensity of light reflected at both edges of an information track is the same. The same principle holds true for both one and three beam optical disc storage devices. In the case where a tracking servo measures the intensity of light reflected at one edge of an information track, the intensity of reflected light that is optimal for center tracking is based on some calibrated value. The latter method is less favored due to difficulties associated with calibrating an appropriate centering value.
Optical disc storage devices are generally capable of performing various special operations to assist in positioning the light beam on the optical disc. These special functions are generally outside of the normal mode of operation of the storage device and include such operations as PAUSE, or still mode, and SEARCH, or seek mode. A PAUSE operation causes the light beam of a storage device to jump to an adjacent information track on the optical disc so that the most recently processed information is processed again by the storage device. A PAUSE operation gives the appearance of suspending normal operation of the storage device. The duration that operation of the storage device appears to be suspended depends on how many successive PAUSE operations are initiated such that the same information is repeatedly processed.
During a SEARCH operation, the optical storage device typically searches for a specific target track address on an optical disc. Achieving a search operation may require the light beam to radially cross several information tracks before the target address is found. Once the target address is found, the optical disc storage device can return to its normal mode of retrieving or recording information.
An optical disc storage devices typically performs a PAUSE or SEARCH operation, by disengaging the tracking servo loop for some period of time during the PAUSE or SEARCH operation. When the tracking servo loop is disengaged it is no longer closed and is referred to as being in an open loop mode, or simply that the loop is open. The tracking servo loop is disengaged (or open) during a PAUSE or SEARCH operation to allow the beam to freely move between information tracks. Keeping the tracking servo loop engaged (or closed) while attempting to move the beam between information tracks during a PAUSE or SEARCH operation would frustrate such attempted operations, because the tracking servo system would attempt to keep the beam centered on the information track. Therefore, optical storage devices generally keep the tracking servo loop open during some portion of a PAUSE or SEARCH operation.
As alluded to above, sending an overriding signal to a tracking servo to radially move a light beam across an optical disc while the tracking servo loop is closed would result in an inefficient or frustrated PAUSE or SEARCH operation. While more efficient than the latter, opening and closing a tracking servo loop while performing a PAUSE or SEARCH operation has a disadvantage of using up time that could otherwise be used by the optical disc storage device during its normal operating mode of retrieving or recording information.
One attempt to improve the efficiency of a seek operation proposes moving an optical head radially across a disc according to the characteristics of a seek profile signal that is supplied to the track positioning component of a tracking servo system independently from data read off the disc. Periodically sampled differences between the actual head position and the independently supplied seek profile signal are used to drive the track positioning component of the tracking servo system to adjust the head position so that the desired seek profile is maintained. Examples of seek operations that propose using an independently supplied seek profile signal and sampling can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,980,876 and 5,210,726.
A disadvantage of the above proposed seek method, however, is that time is still expended sampling and adjusting differences between the actual head position and the independently supplied seek profile signal. Another disadvantage is that the above proposed seek method is susceptible to unpredicted noise and transients between sampling.

Technique for closed loop servo operation in optical disc tracking control


An apparatus including a piezoelectric substrate configured to propagate a surface acoustic wave; and a transducer, coupled to the piezoelectric substrate, including at least one graphene electrode configured to transduce a propagating surface acoustic wave to an electrical signal.

Although apparatus for transducing a surface acoustic wave to an electrical signal are known they typically produce as an output an alternating electrical signal that varies with the surface acoustic waves amplitude.
If the surface acoustic wave has a high frequency then the output electrical signal will alternate with a high frequency. This can make utilization of the output signal difficult as conventional silicon based semiconductor devices are not responsive enough for high frequency operation.

Apparatus for transducing a surface acoustic wave


A package for holding a plurality of LED modules interconnected by wire. The package comprises a plurality of cradles each of which is sized to hold a respective one of the interconnected LED modules. Each of the cradles comprises first and second opposing side vertical surfaces partially defining a space for holding its respective one of the LED modules, each of the LED modules arranged in a respective one of the cradles. A plurality of holding tabs is included at least one of which is on one of the first and second opposing side vertical surfaces of each of the cradles and protruding into the module holding space. Each of the tabs is arranged to hold its respective one of the modules in its cradle, wherein the cradles are arranged adjacent to one another with the interconnecting wire running between adjacent cradles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to a packaging device for lighting modules such as those used for illuminating channel letters.
2. Background of the Invention
Light emitting diodes (LED or LEDs) are solid state devices that convert electric energy to light, and generally comprise one or more active layers of semiconductor material sandwiched between oppositely doped layers. When a bias is applied across the doped layers, holes and electrons are injected into the active layer where they recombine to generate light. Light is emitted from the active layer and from all surfaces of the LED.
Developments in LED technology have resulted in devices that are brighter, more efficient and more reliable. LEDs are now being used in many applications that were previously the realm of incandescent fluorescent or neon bulbs; some of these include displays, automobile taillights and traffic signals. LEDs are also now being used to illuminate channel letter signs. These lighting systems typically comprise a plurality of LED modules each of which has at least one LED. These modules are interconnected by wires that transmit an electrical signal between the modules such that an electrical signal applied to the input end of the modules is transmitted to all the interconnected modules. One example of these interconnected LED modules is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,495 to Sloan et al. (assigned to the assignee as the present application) entitled "Channel letter lighting using light emitting diodes." The desired length of interconnected LED modules can typically be cut from the remainder, with the LED modules in both the cut portion and remainder capable of emitting light by applying an electrical signal.
Interconnected LED modules are typically provided to the consumer in various packages which can be disorganized and inconvenient. Two examples of these include bags and boxes with the LED modules and wires loosely arranged therein. These packages can lead to tangling and related difficulties in removing the LED modules in an orderly way. It is also difficult to determine what length of LED module is provided in or remains in the packaging, and it is also difficult to determine the appropriate location to cut the interconnected modules when a shorter length is desired. It can also be difficult to see all of the modules during visual inspection and illumination testing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,093 to Swaris et al. discloses another package for interconnected LED modules with the package comprising a dispensing roll having pre-wired LED modules wound upon a roller. In use the desired length of the modules are pulled from the dispenser to progressively install the pre-wired LED modules. When the appropriate number of LED modules are installed, the worker simply snips the wires disconnecting the installed LED modules from the LED modules that are still on the dispensing roll. With this arrangement, however, it is difficult to determine the length of modules on the role and a significant number of modules can be hidden below other modules on the roll making it difficult to visually and electrically test the modules. Further, the desired length of modules must first be unwound from the roll before being cut. There is no mechanism for determining the proper cutting location while the modules are still on the roll.


A table for use in a motor vehicle having a cargo room includes a top plate for use as a lid for the cargo room and legs pivotally mounted on the reverse side of the top plate. When the table is removed from the cargo room and the legs are projected from the top plate, the table is used as a table per se. The top plate can be closed with respect to the cargo room by a lock. A flexible tubular member is mounted on the reverse side of the top plate and extends away from the lock along the top plate. A string extends through the flexible tubular member and out of an opposite end thereof, and has an intermediate portion engaged by a holder on the reverse side of the top plate. The string has a distal end connected to a hook which is normally inserted and stored between the flexible tubular member and the top plate. The string is also stored on the reverse side of the top plate without being entangled by the lock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a table for use as a lid for the cargo room of a motor vehicle, an attachment structure for such a table, and a structure of a holding assembly for holding the lid open.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a growing trend in recent years toward recreational activities using motor vehicles in suburban areas. Attention has been directed to recreational vehicles (RV) for use in such recreational activities.
Some recreational vehicles have a space positioned between rear seats and a rear window for placing a cargo therein. As shown in FIG. 17 of the accompanying drawings, a cargo room 2 is provided below such a space for storing a spare tire or other small articles, and a lid 4 is mounted over the cargo room 2.
Heretofore, a variety of different structures have been available for the lid 4. For example, one lid structure comprises a lid member molded of a synthetic resin by blow molding and iron pipes or the like inserted in a hollow space in the lid member. According to another lid construction, a plate-like lid is molded of a synthetic resin, and a reinforcing member is bonded to the peripheral edge of the lid member on its reverse side. Still another lid comprises a veneer with a reinforcing member bonded thereto. A further lid comprises a shaped iron sheet which is reinforced with a reinforcing frame.
The lid member molded of a synthetic resin by blow molding is disadvantageous because any region thereof for attachment of another component thereto needs to be pressed or otherwise processed and hence has a reduced mechanical strength. The lid member molded by blow molding has a relatively poor appearance and is not aesthetically appealing. The lid member molded of a synthetic resin or made of a veneer with a reinforcing member bonded thereto requires a tedious and time-consuming finishing process and a bonding process, and hence is relatively costly. The lid in the form of a shaped iron sheet is heavy and inconvenient to handle.
For removing a stored cargo from the cargo room 2 (see FIG. 17), the user opens the lid 4, holds the opened lid 4 with one hand, and then takes out the cargo with the other hand. Such a process is laborious and tiresome as both hands are occupied.
FIG. 18 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an improved lid structure in a recreational vehicle. As shown in FIG. 18, a string 6 with a hook 8 on one end thereof is connected to a lid 4 which is hinged to open and close a cargo room 2. When the lid 4 is opened, the hook 8 is engaged by an edge of the roof of the recreational vehicle. Since the lid 4 does not need to be kept open by hand, the user can use two hands to take a cargo into or out of the cargo room 2.
In order to keep the lid 4 in balance when it is opened, it is necessary that the string 6 be connected to the lid 4 in the vicinity of a lock 9 that is positioned centrally on a rear edge of the lid 4. Therefore, the string 6 tends to be entangled by the lock 9, preventing the lock 9 from locking or releasing the lid 4.
Another lid structure has a takeup mechanism for winding the string 6 to keep the string 6 from being entangled by the lock 9. However, the takeup mechanism adds to the cost of the lid structure.
According to another solution, the string 6 may be wound around a rod and then stored when the lid 4 is closed. It would, however, be tedious for the user to wind the string 6 around the rod, and the user might even forget to wind the string 6 around the rod when the lid 4 is closed. After the lid 4 is closed, the string 6 and the hook 8 may be removed and stored in a place spaced from the hook 8, so that the string 6 may not be entangled by the hook 8. This may pose another problem in that the user may forget about the stored hook 8 when the lid 4 is opened.

Table for use in motor vehicle attachment structure therefor and structure of a holding assembly for holding a lid open


Motion of a user is approximated by obtaining a three-dimensional model to represent the user, tracking the motion of the user, positioning the three-dimensional model to approximate the motion of the user, and rendering a two-dimensional image from the positioned three-dimensional model. The three-dimensional model includes one or more bones. Positioning the three-dimensional model includes adjusting a position of at least one of the bones.

A 3D model includes a virtual skeleton, comprised of bones arranged in a hierarchical tree structure. Surrounding the bones are polygons, such as triangles, which represent the skin of the 3D model. Movement of the polygons is tied to the movement of the bones so that the 3D model approximates real-life movement when the bones are re-positioned.

Approximating motion using a three-dimensional model


A filter element for filtering a fluid stream, comprising a cylindrical support body, which is provided with openings and is sealed at one axial end, and a filter medium arranged on the support body. The filter medium is a strip material, which extends over approximately the entire length of the support body, and is wrapped around the circumference of the support body, and the start and the end of the strip material are welded together.

The invention relates to a filter element for filtering a fluid stream, comprising a cylindrical support body, which is provided with openings and is closed at one axial end, and a filter medium, which is arranged on the support body.
German Patent Application no. DE 37 23 807 discloses a tubular filter element that is formed by a rigid, radially perforated support tube, a filter medium and end disks. The exterior of the support tube is covered with the filter medium. The end disks are made of plastic and are subsequently injected onto the support tube. The end disks terminate the filter medium to form a seal, whereby the filter medium is simultaneously fixed on the support tube. It is conventional in the art to cover support tubes with a prefabricated tubular filter medium. The filter medium can, for instance, be sewn together by a longitudinal seam to form the tubular filter medium. This prefabricated tubular filter medium is pulled over the support tube in an assembly step. However, separate tubular filter media must be produced for each support tube diameter, which causes not only significant logistical but also assembly and storage costs. Furthermore, many filter media, particularly coated filter media, cannot be pulled over the support tube in their prefabricated state because they cannot slide on the support tube.

Filter element for filtering a fluid stream


An inkjet printing head is disclosed. The inkjet printing head comprises a nozzle unit having a length in the main scanning direction corresponds to a paper width, the nozzle unit comprising a plurality of nozzle sections split in a main scanning direction, one or more of the plurality of nozzle sections are arranged forward in a secondary direction, and a first depression depressed behind the one or more forward-arranged nozzle sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet printing head and an inkjet printer using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inkjet printing head and an inkjet printer using the same including a nozzle unit having a length corresponding to the print medium, which can be various types of paper, transparencies, or other suitable medium for printing hard copies of data.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, an inkjet printer refers to an image forming device in which an ink is sprayed from an inkjet printing head, which is separated from an upper surface of a sheet of paper, and reciprocating in a paper moving direction and a direction perpendicular thereto. Recently, instead of the inkjet printing head reciprocating in a direction of the paper width, an inkjet printing head (also called, a line printing head) including a nozzle unit with a main scanning direction length corresponding to the paper width is used to achieve high-speed printing. In the above inkjet printer, the inkjet printing head is fixed so that only the paper is moved. Thus, a driving device for the inkjet printer is simple and can be used to implement high-speed printing. In the above inkjet printer, the length of the nozzle unit is, for example, about 210 mm to correspond to A4 size paper, when a printing margin in the width direction is not considered. Commonly-assigned Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2003-64835 and 2004-10731 disclose an example of the inkjet printing head described above, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The paper is moved while maintaining an interval with the nozzle unit of about 1 to 2 mm. To get a high quality printing image, the interval should be constant. Four nozzle columns ejecting cyan, magenta, yellow and blue colored inks in a subscanning direction, respectively, may be arranged in the line printing head, in particular, the nozzle unit for the line printing head available for color-printing. Therefore, the length of nozzle in the sub direction is several tens of millimeters, typically, about 50 mm or more. Accordingly, as the length of the nozzle unit in the subscanning direction becomes larger, it is more difficult to maintain the constant interval between the paper and the nozzle unit when the paper passes under the nozzle unit. In addition, the paper may contact the nozzle unit. Thus, the paper may be smudged, and furthermore, the nozzle unit may be contaminated due to paper debris.

Inkjet printing head and inkjet printer using the same


An assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale by the use of a band. The band can be conducted to a baling chamber by an advance assembly driven by a motor, where the band can be wrapped around a cylindrical bale in the region of the loose yarn end. The advance assembly is connected to the motor by an overrunning clutch that establishes a drive connection between the motor and the advance assembly only in a first motion transmission direction. The drive connection is established when the motor rotates in a first direction and the advance assembly conveys the band in the direction of the baling chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to an assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale.
2. Related Technology
Typically, rotobalers include a yarn wrapping assembly and an assembly for securing the end of the yarn lying upon the circumferential surface of the cylindrical bale. The end of the yarn is secured by means of a band that may be configured as an adherent or pressure sensitive tape in itself and is conducted to an inlet slot for the harvested crop by means of two supply pulleys, at least one of which is driven, and a sheet metal guide. There, the band is grasped by the rotating bale and wrapped around it. The band is cut off from the supply pulley by stopping the drive of the supply pulleys, which leads to a tearing of the band. Here it is seen as a disadvantage that the speed of the supply pulleys must be synchronized with the speed of the bale, which may be relatively costly, particularly in the case of bales of variable sizes. The cutting of the band by means of stopping the supply pulleys may be problematical, particularly in the case of bands of elastic material.
In another assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale, a loose end of the band is pressed against a driven conveying element, in particular a belt, by means of a guide surface moved by a motor, and is carried along by the belt and wrapped around the circumference of the bale. A separate cutting assembly is used to cut the band from its supply pulley and is composed of a molding and pointed pins arranged on the molding. The movable guide surface brings the band into contact with the cutting assembly as soon as the bale has been wrapped sufficiently, so that the section of the band wrapped around the bale is cut from the remaining supply. Here, the advance of the band is performed only by the conveying element. Therefore, there is no possibility of advancing the band any further in the event the conveying element does not accept it, for example, in the case of dirt.
In another baler, a supply assembly for a tape for wrapping a bale, is driven by a free-wheeling assembly. Here, there is no provision for securing the free ends of the yarn.
The problem underlying the invention is seen in the need to define an assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale that is improved as against the state of the art.

Assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale


Techniques and solutions for providing a cloud browse service are described. For example, a client can request a web page. In response to the request, the client can receive a processed layer tree representing the web page. The processed layer tree can be created by a server environment (e.g., by creating an original DOM from obtained HTML and associated web page resources for the web page and creating the processed layers from the original DOM). The client can create a simplified DOM from the received processed layers and display the web page using the simplified DOM. Techniques and solutions for providing a browser as a service are described. For example, a web browser component can receive a processed layer tree representing a web page, create a simplified DOM, and display the web page.

Generally described, computing devices and communication networks can be utilized to exchange information. In a common application, a computing device can request content from another computing device via the communication network. For example, a user at a personal computing device can utilize a software browser application, typically referred to as a browser software application, to request a Web page from a server computing device via the Internet. In such embodiments, the user computing device can be referred to as a client computing device and the server computing device can be referred to as a content provider.
With reference to an illustrative example, a requested Web page, or original content, may be associated with a number of additional resources, such as images or videos, that are to be displayed with the Web page. In one specific embodiment, the additional resources of the Web page are identified by a number of embedded resource identifiers, such as uniform resource locators ("URLs"). In turn, software on the client computing devices, such as a browser software application, typically processes embedded resource identifiers to generate requests for the content. Accordingly, in order to satisfy a content request, one or more content providers will generally provide client computing devices data associated with the Web page as well as the data associated with the embedded resources.
From the perspective of a user utilizing a client computing device, a user experience can be defined in terms of the performance and latencies associated with obtaining network content over a communication network, such as obtaining a Web page, processing embedded resource identifiers, generating requests to obtain embedded resources, rendering content on the client computing device, and interacting with the rendered content on the client computing device. Latencies and performance limitations of any of the above processes may diminish the user experience. Additionally, latencies and inefficiencies may be especially apparent on computing devices with limited resources, such as processing power, memory or network connectivity such as netbooks, tablets, smartphones, and the like.


In a packaging for filler materials, in particular a bag or pouch made of a plastic film, with a packaging wall enclosing the filler material, which is formed by means of at least one front and rear wall (2, 3, 22, 23), wherein the front and rear wall are joined to one another in the base region (5, 25) via a stand base (4, 24), which is formed from at least two inner layers of an in-fold of a tubular web section folded at least on one side in the longitudinal direction; the front and rear walls (2, 3, 22, 23) each have a fold-over (7, 8, 27, 28) in the header region (6, 26) of the packaging (1, 21), wherein the upper wall section of one of the walls (2, 23) is folded over upon itself so as to form a multi-layer region (16, 40), and wherein the upper wall section of the other wall (3, 22) is folded over with its inner face onto the multi-layer region (16, 40) so as to form an overlap region (17, 41), and in the overlap region (17, 41) at least one joining seam (9, 29) is provided, by means of which certain layers of the walls (2, 3, 22, 23) of the packaging (1, 21) are at least partially joined together to form a closure.

The invention relates to a packaging for filler materials, in particular a bag or pouch made of a plastic film, with a packaging wall enclosing the filler material, which is formed by means of at least one front wall and one rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls are joined together in the base region by means of a stand base that is formed from at least two inner layers of an in-fold of a tubular web section folded at least on one face in the longitudinal direction.
Packagings of the genus described above, which, for example, are produced from a flexible material, are deployed so as to enclose in particular loosely-filled or free-flowing filler materials, such as, for example, foodstuffs, fertilisers, or similar products. Such filler materials are manufactured in the food industry, or the chemicals industry, amongst others, or are also used for further processing. With the aid of the packagings, such as for example bags or pouches made of a plastic film, it is possible to transport and store temporarily the thereby accommodated filler materials before they are, for example, supplied for further processing, or, in the case of a finished end product, to bring them directly to market.
From DE 19 18 528 U1, for example, a pouch with a packaging wall made of a plastic film enclosing the filler material is of known art. The pouch has a front wall and a rear wall formed from a tube; in the base region the walls are joined together via a stand base, and in the side regions via side seams. The stand base is thereby formed from at least two inner layers of an in-fold, which is present in the form of an otherwise conventional side fold inserted between the front and rear walls of a tubular web section folded on at least one side in the longitudinal direction. In a similar manner to the base region, In the header region of the pouch the upper, but separated from one another, wall sections of the front and rear walls are turned inwards, wherein a filling opening is created. After filling the front and rear walls together with the inwardly turned over wall sections are joined so as to close the header region of the pouch by means of a joining seam running at the height of the ends of the turned wall sections. With the aid of the joining seam the pouch is both sealed closed and at the same time the layers in the header region lying one upon another are fixed together. In order to ensure a secure connection of the layers together at all times a relatively accurate folding of the upper wall sections of the front and rear walls must be undertaken. In particular the inwardly turned over sections must be arranged relative to one another in a congruent manner, as a result of which the manufacture of such a packaging is associated with increased constructive effort.
The object underlying the invention is therefore to create a packaging that can be manufactured in a simplified manner.
The object is inventively achieved by means of a packaging with the features of the protective Claim 1. Advantageous further developments and configurations of the invention are specified in Claims 2 to 11.
In a packaging for filler materials, in particular a bag or pouch made of a plastic film, with a packaging wall enclosing the filler material, which is formed by means of at least one front and rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls are joined together in the base region via a stand base, which is formed out of the at least two inner layers of an in-fold of a tubular web section folded on at least one side in the longitudinal direction, provision is made in accordance with the invention that the front and rear walls in the header region of the packaging in each case have a fold-over, wherein the upper wall section of one of the walls is folded upon itself so as to form a multi-layer region, and wherein the upper wall section of the other wall is folded over so as to form an overlap region with its wall inner face on the multi-layer region, and that provision is made for at least one joining seam in the overlap region, by means of which certain layers of the walls are joined together, at least partially closing the packaging.
With the aid of such an inventively designed header region a simplified and at the same time more secure closure of the packaging is ensured. In particular by means of the overlap region between the surface area sections of the wall section of the one wall folded one upon another, and the wall inner face of the wall section of the other wall of the packaging turned over the multi-layer region an advantageously large surface area contact region is created. Moreover with just a single joining seam a permanently secure joint is possible between the wall sections of the front and rear walls, and thus a secure closure of the packaging. With the folding one upon another of the upper wall section of the front wall in particular a two layer region arises, for example, which, after the turning of the rear wall onto the multi-layer region of the front wall and thus the overlap of predetermined surface area sections, is then formed from four layers. As a result of the four layers the header region has a relatively high strength. With the aid of the joining seam, which, for example, runs above and parallel to the end of the wall section of the rear wall turned onto the multi-layer region, at least one secure material bond is produced between the inner face of the rear wall and the adjacent layer of the multi-layer region of the front wall. It is likewise conceivable to join together more than two of the layers lying one upon another in the overlap region by means of the one joining seam.
In accordance with a first further development of the invention, provision is made for the multi-layer region to be formed by the laying one upon another of surface area sections of the inner face of the corresponding wall. The transfer of the upper wall section inward represents an advantageous opportunity for the formation of the multi-layer region of the one wall, on which the upper wall section of the other wall can then advantageously simply turn itself over. It is then possible, for example, for the outer face in particular of the front wall forming the multi-layer region and the inner face of the rear wall to overlap one another, so that the four-layer header region is thereby formed. The multi-layer header region and the multi-layer base region formed by means of an in-folding between front and rear walls, in each case can have both equal width and also different width multi-layer regions, independently of the type of folding in the header region.
Alternatively provision is made for the multi-layer region to be formed by the laying one upon another of surface area sections of the outer face of the corresponding wall. This type of folding represents an advantageously simple option for the simultaneous formation of the fold-overs on the upper wall sections of the front and rear walls aligned with one another. Here the multi-layer region and overlap region are created, in that the upper wall sections of the front and rear walls of the packaging, in particular, for example, congruently arranged relative to one another, are folded over together. Here in each case the inner faces of the front and rear walls always lie directly one upon another; these are then joined together via the joining seam. In this form of embodiment it is of advantage if in addition to the secure closure of the folded-over wall sections, the fold-overs with one of their outer faces are additionally fixed to one of the layers of the four-layer header region.
By means of the joining seam a header region is preferably formed that is separated from the fill space of the packaging. To this end the heat input in the region of the packaging provided for the joining seam, based in particular on a material bond is selected to be sufficiently high such that all layers lying one upon another in the header region are joined together. By the separation of the header region from the fill space of the packaging it is possible to avoid in an advantageously simple manner that any parts of the filler material remain trapped in the relatively narrow layers lying one upon another in the header region of the packaging during the emptying of the packaging. By this means a complete evacuation is supported. In this context the joining seam can be formed over the whole width in the header region of the packaging.
Alternatively the possibility exists of providing an additional joining seam, by means of which at least one sub-region of the multi-layer header region is separated from the fill space of the packaging. Such an inventive joining seam thereby joins in particular the wall sections of the packaging wall directly adjacent to the fill space. In particular in the embodiment whose multi-layer region is created by the laying one upon another of surface area sections of the inner face, the outer face of the folded-over wall section of the rear wall can, for example, be at least partially joined in a material bond with the inner face of the wall section of the front wall turned over the multi-layer region.
In accordance with a further development of the invention, provision is made for at least one carrying aid to be provided in the header region separated from the fill space: the carrying aid is formed as a perforation penetrating predetermined layers in the header region. With the aid of the carrying aid an advantageously simple handling of the packaging for transport using only one hand is enabled. The design of the carrying aid, in particular as a perforation in the multi-layer header region, has the advantage that in particular as a result of the advantageous strength of the four layers lying one upon another any tearing of material is avoided. Thus filler materials with a relatively high density can also be transported without any problems. The perforation in the multi-layer header region can in particular be formed as a punched-through oval, or as a material incision in the form of a letter "C" lying on its side. It is likewise conceivable, instead of a perforation completely penetrating the four-layer header region, to design the carrying aid as, for example, a grip penetrating only two of the four layers in the header region.
In particular at least one of the walls has a predetermined separation line weakening the wall material so as to form a removal region. By means of the predetermined separation line in the front wall or the rear wall of the packaging a simplified opening of the packaging is effected and thus a simplified access to the filler material in the fill space of the packaging is achieved. The deployment of separate aids for the purpose of opening the packaging can thus advantageously be avoided. Moreover a simplified removal of the filler material contained in the packaging is possible via the opening created by means of the predetermined separation line formed in the front and/or rear walls. In particular in the case of filler materials that are used for purposes of further processing, the predetermined separation line can preferably be formed over the whole length or width on one of the walls, or also on both walls of the packaging. If the predetermined separation line is provided on both packaging walls, it is possible if necessary to remove at least one part of the packaging completely.
The predetermined separation line in particular extends over at least one section underneath the multi-layer header region. The predetermined separation line is preferably formed in the two-layer region of the packaging, so that by the separation of the corresponding material regions a direct access into the fill space is always ensured. The predetermined separation line can extend in particular from a side seam underneath the header region parallel to the joining seam possibly closing completely the header region over a predetermined section. In particular the predetermined separation line has a minimum length of between about a sixth and a third of the width of the packaging; this is in order to ensure as a function of the packaging width a sufficiently large removal opening and linked with that an advantageously simple removal of the filler material. The configuration of the predetermined separation line is thereby fully independent of the shape or form of the inventive header region, or the configuration or the number of joining seams connecting the plurality of layers in the header region.
In the region of the predetermined separation line at least one reclosable device is arranged, by means of which the removal region is designed with advantage such that it can be reclosed. In particular in the case in which filler materials are only extracted in portions from the packaging, there exists as a result of the reclosable device the possibility of closing the removal region in a sealed manner, in order to keep the effects of possible environmental influences, such as, for example, moisture or dirt particles on the filler material remaining in the packaging as low as possible. The reclosable device is also with advantage arranged in the two-layer region of the packaging, as a result of which in conjunction with a strip of pouches created during the manufacture of the packaging an advantageously even winding of the strip of pouches into a roll is possible.
Here predetermined regions of the reclosable device are connected with at least one inner side of the front and/or rear wall by means of at least one closing seam, by means of which the removal region is separated from the fill space. With the aid of the closing seam on the one hand parts of the reclosable device are fixed on predetermined surface area regions of the inner faces of front and rear walls, and on the other hand it is ensured that the filler material cannot inadvertently escape from the fill space. In particular the closing seam likewise runs in the region of the reclosable device parallel to the multi-layer header region of the packaging and is angled behind the reclosable device by, for example, 90° in the direction of the header region, and runs out, for example, at the joining seam that is possibly fixing all layers in the header region one upon another. Here the closing parts can be attached in each case to the inner faces of the front and rear walls. It is also conceivable to join the closing parts with the inner face of only one of the walls, so that the removal opening is then formed either on the front or the rear wall. As is the case for the predetermined separation line formed on the packaging the reclosable device can also be varied in conjunction with each possible example of embodiment of the inventive header region.
Another further development of the invention envisages that corner welds are provided in the base region, by means of which surface area regions of the inner faces of outer and inner layers, lying one upon another, are connected together. With the formation of corner welds in the base region of the packaging an improved stability of the stand base is advantageously ensured. Thus the inventive packaging can be transported or presented relatively securely while standing on its stand base. In particular a corner weld is formed by means of a joining seam running at an angle of about 45° to the side seam and the base edge, wherein each joining seam runs out at about the height of the inner layers ending between the outer layers in an appropriate side seam of the packaging. In order to avoid any weakening of the packaging wall in the base region as a result of the weld, the weld seam of each corner weld preferably runs out flatter relative to the fold edge bounding the stand base of the packaging.


Noise reduction apparatus comprising, encoder, having a memory for storing picture data of a different picture that was formed from a current picture and a reference picture and a motion detector for detecting the motion between the current picture and the reference picture on block by block basis, for encoding the current picture data or for predictive-encoding the inter-pixel difference between blocks of the current picture data and the reference picture data blocked based on the results of the motion detection, a correlation calculator for calculating at least an additional correlation between a first correlation and a second correlation. The first correlation is between a block-of-interest in the current picture used for the predictive encoding and the reference picture block. The second correlation is between blocks on the periphery of the block-of-interest and the reference picture block, a coefficient calculator for generating a noise coefficient for reducing the noise based on at least the second correlation between the first and second correlations, a noise extractor for extracting the noise component based on the inter-pixel difference between the current picture data and the reference picture data, and the noise coefficient, and subtractor for subtracting the noise component from the input picture data so as to cancel the noise.

Conventionally there have been various systems for reducing the noise contained in the video signal. For instance, one system extracts the noise components from the input video signal and subtracts the noise components extracted from the current video signal so as to be able to reduce the noise. The noise components can be extracted from for example non-correlation component between adjacent horizontal scan lines of the video signal, a field non-correlation component or a frame non-correlation component. The noise reduction apparatus of this nature may be configured in a recursive type or a non-recursive type.
Recently, a digital processing of the picture information has been researched in the aspect of requirement of high picture quality. When the picture is digitized, the data amount of the picture becomes huge. Thus, it is necessary to compress the data for recording and transmitting the data. As the compression method is a high efficiency encoding system that adapts a transform encoding such as a DCT (discrete cosine transform) encoding which has a high compression efficiency and a low main current is currently the compression technique. In the high efficiency encoding system, an input picture signal is divided into blocks each comprised of 8.times.8 pixels, so as to implement a DCT processing on the DCT blocks on such block by block basis.
This system adapts not only an intra-frame compression which carries out compressions within each frame by the DCT processing but also an inter-frame compression for reducing the redundancy in a time-axis direction using the inter-frame correlation. The inter-frame compression is used to calculate a frame difference between the two successive frames and implement DCT processing for the differential value using the nature that the general motion pictures of two successive frames are similar. Particularly, a motion compensated inter-frame predictive encoding for reducing the prediction error by predicting the picture motion and calculating the inter-frame difference is available.
In such a compression apparatus noises caused by a quantization (quantization noise) are also generated. As a solution, Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Hei 4-88795 proposes an apparatus for reducing noises by specifying noise reduction characteristics suitable for a luminance signal and a chrominance signal respectively. Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Hei 5-227431 proposes methods for detecting and reducing a mosquito noise which occurs in decoding of the encoded data using DCT. Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Hei 4-88795 proposes a decoder in which noise reduction parameters are compared to each other for the chrominance signal and the luminance signal.
Further, Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Sho 61-288678 proposes a method for reducing the quantization noise by a suitable prediction vector information at the predictive encoding. Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Hei 6-224773 proposes a method for generating noise reduction coefficients responding to quantized outputs and the results of the picture motion detection.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the conventional noise reduction apparatus which is suitable for the encoder and the decoder of the motion picture. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a detailed arrangement of an encoder/decoder 39 shown in FIG. 15. An encoder/decoder 4 shown in FIG. 16 is a combination of the devices which are proposed in Japanese Patent Applications; Tokkai-Sho 61-288678 and Tokkai-Hei 6-224773.
A picture signal input through an input terminal 1 is applied to a memory 2 so as to be memorized. From the memory 2, a block of picture data, for example, comprised of 8 pixels along a horizontal scan line.times.8 lines along in the vertical direction read-out and applied to the encoder/decoder 4 via a subtracter 3. The encoder/decoder 4 encodes the input picture data by the DCT processing, quantization processing and the variable length encode processing and outputs the encoded data through an output terminal 11. Further, the encoder/decoder 4 restores the original picture by decoding the encoded data and outputs the decoded data to the adder 5.
The picture data from the memory 2 is also applied to a motion detector 9. As mentioned above, the motion detection is implemented in the predictive encoding. To the motion detector 9, a picture data of the former frame is applied for example, from a memory 8. The motion detector 9 detects the motion of the picture on a block by block basis by controlling the reading-out of memories 2 and 8 in cooperation with a memory controller 10, so as to provide a motion vector to a memory controller 11 and the encoder/decoder 4. In the inter-frame compression mode, the memory controller 11 controls the reading-out of the memories 2 and 8 based on the motion vector.
It is assumed that the intra-frame compression mode is designated. In this case, a switch 6 selects terminal b and applies "0" to the subtracter 3. Thus, the picture data of the current frame (current signal) is applied to the encoder/decoder 4. The current signal is encoded in the encoder/decoder 4 and then outputted from an output terminal 7. And, the encoder/decoder 4 decodes the encoded data and applies it to an adder 5. To the adder 5, "0" is applied from the switch 6, and the adder applies the decoded picture data to the memory 8 as it is.
It is assumed that the inter-frame compression mode is designated. In this case, the switch 6 selects a terminal a and provides the contents of the memory 8 to the subtracter 3. The memory 8 wherein the decoded picture data of the former picture is memorized provides the stored block picture data at the blocking position based on the motion vector as the motion compensated reference picture data. The subtracter 3 carries out a subtraction between the current signal and the motion compensated reference data so as to calculate the prediction error. The encoder/decoder 4 encodes the prediction error from the subtracter 3 so as to output the encoded data via the output terminal 7.
The encoder/decoder 4 decodes the encoded data so as to apply the decoded data to the adder 5. In this case, the reconstituted data of the prediction error is applied to the adder 5. The adder 5 adds the motion compensated reference picture data from the memory 8 to the prediction error from the encoder/decoder 4 so as to restore the original picture and provides the restored original picture to the memory 8. Thus, the reference picture data to be used in the next encoding operation is stored in the memory 8.
Hereinafter, the encoding of the intra-frame compression mode and the inter-frame compression mode is implemented by the same operation repeatedly.
The operation of the encoder/decoder 4 will be explained in reference to the FIG. 16.
The current signal from the subtracter 3 is applied to a DCT unit 15 of the encoder/decoder 4. The DCT unit 15 converts the input signal from the spatial coordinate axis elements to a frequency component by a two-dimensional DCT processing for a 8.times.8 pixel block. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the spatial correlation component. That is, the conversion coefficient output from the DCT unit 15 is applied to a quantizer 16, where the conversion coefficient is quantized with a predetermined quantization range. As a result, the redundancy degree of one block signal is reduced. Here, the quantization range of the quantizer 16 is controlled by a rate controller 21.
The quantized data from the quantizer 16 is applied to a noise reduction (hereinafter referred to NR) unit 17 by a zigzag scan from the horizontal low and vertical lower area toward a higher area in each block. The NR unit 17, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Hei 6-224773, reduces the noise of the quantized output based on the inter-frame non-correlation component. The inter-frame non-correlation component is containing the original non-correlation component of the signal and the noise component. For instance, the non-correlation component is none (zero) in the freeze-frame picture, and the inter-frame non-correlation component is the noise component. The NR unit 17 determines the original non-correlation component of the signal by the motion vector, and enlarges the NR coefficient as the noise component is large. The NR unit 17 multiplies the inter-frame correlation component by the NR coefficient and subtracts the result of the multiplication from the quantized output so as to reduce the noise.
The output from the NR unit 17 is applied to a variable length coder (hereinafter referred as VLC) 18. The VLC 18 outputs the encoded data by the Huffman encode for the quantized output based on the predetermined variable length code table such as a Huffman code table for instance. Here, in the Huffman encoding, a combination data of the number of "0" succession in the quantized output last (zero run-length) and the bit number of the non-zero coefficient is encoded. Thus, the short bit is assigned to the data which have a high appearance probability, and the long bit is assigned to the data having the low appearance probability. As a result, the transmission data amount will be reduced further more.
The encoded output from the VLC 18 is applied to a buffer 19. The buffer 19 which is constructed by a first-in first-out memory, outputs the input encoded data to the output terminal 7 with a predetermined rate. The generating rate of the encoded output from the VLC 18 is the variable rate. The buffer 19 accommodates the difference between the generating rate of the encoded data and the transmission rate of the transmission channel. Here, the output from the VLC 18 is applied to a rate controller 21 also. The rate controller 21 controls the quantization range of the quantizer 18 based on the amount of the codes generated from the VLC 18 so as to control the generating rate of the encoded data.
The output from the NR unit 17 is also applied to an inverse-quantizer 22 to make the reference picture. The quantized output from the NR unit 17 is inverse-quantized in the inverse-quantizer 22, and implemented the inverse-DCT processing in an inverse-DCT unit 23, so as to restore the original picture data. Here, as mentioned above, the output from the inverse-DCT unit 23 is also the prediction error in case of that the output of the subtracter 13 is the prediction error. The output of the inverse-DCT unit 23 is applied to a non-linear circuit (hereinafter referred to NL) unit 24.
The NL unit 24 , as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application; Tokkai-Sho 61-288678, eliminates the quantization distortion (quantization noise) caused by the quantization processing. The NL unit 24 improves the S/N by controlling its output when the level of the inter-frame non-correlation component is small, and reduces the over-shoot on the edge portion by controlling its output when the level is large. The NL unit 24 determines the level of the inter-frame non-correlation component by the motion vector, and controls the non-linear characteristics based on the motion vector, so as to reduce the noise by corresponding with various kinds of pictures. For example, it is possible to reduce the noise clinging on a flat part and that of the freeze part inside of the block containing the movable edge part appropriately. The output of the NL unit 24 is applied to the adder 5.
As mentioned above, in the encoder/decoder 4 as shown in FIG. 16, the noise caused mainly by the current signal is reduced in the NR unit 17 and the noise caused mainly by the quantization, it means the prediction error is reduced in the NL unit 24. As a result, the encoded data which is reduced the noise is obtained.
However, the NR unit 17 and the NL unit 24 determines the levels of the inter-frame correlation components by the motion vectors, and the parameters for deciding its characteristics are controlled on the motion vector on detection by detection basis. That is, the parameter for reducing the noise is changed on block by block basis. As a result, though the noise caused by the predicted distortion and the current signal is reduced, there will be differences of the noise reduction effect on block by block basis. So, there was a drawback that a flickering caused by the differences of the noise reduction effect appears on the picture.
As described above, in the conventional noise reduction apparatus mentioned above had a problem that the noise reduction parameter is controlled by the motion detecting on block by block basis, and the noise reduction effects of every block are different. As a result, the flickering in block appears on the picture.


A pneumatic or manual impact operated nailer requires fasteners in a clip, typically of about 100 fasteners. The invention provides uniform well-bonded fasteners in a clip for use in a pneumatic or manual nailer, the clips being adhesive-free. In addition, this invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing such adhesive-free clips by press-forming the fasteners, placing them in proper orientation in a fixture on a rotatable turret rotating the turret to a welding location, spot welding or seam welding the fasteners, and rotating the turret to a clip unloading station. The clip product is also disclosed.

A known method of forming clips or assemblies of nails for pneumatic or manual nailers is as follows. Nails are stamped out of approximately 2.2-inch wide by 0.061-inch thick C1008 steel which is provided in 800 to 900-pound coils. This size coil provides sufficient material for about 200,000 nails. Other coil dimensions and other materials may be used. The nails are formed in a 30-ton press or equivalent using 10 progression dies or equivalent. The nails are formed head to toe. For instance, the head of the first nail is on the right-hand edge of the strip, while the head of the second nail is on the left-hand edge. Although the strip is nominally 0.061-inches thick, it can still be within thickness specification if it is slightly wedge-shaped, with the thickness of the right-hand edge differing from that of the left-hand edge by as much as 0.0005-inches. The nail is approximately symmetric in two ways about its longitudinal axis. This axis is a line of symmetry or the center line of the material. Facing this center line from the side of the nail, the nail appears substantially rectangular with 0.0305-inches of material, nominally on either side of the center line. Facing the center line from the broad face of the nail, the nail has a press-formed head above a tapering body. The body of the nail is trapezoidal with the side of the trapezoid remote from the head almost forming a point. There is a region of serration over a portion of the nail to enhance the fastening function. The serration is directionally shaped to impede the extraction of a nail after being driven. The nails are approximately 2-inches long with approximately a 0.25-inch head.
After forming, the first nail moves down through a bolster and enters a carrier on the right, the second nail moves through a corresponding bolster and enters a carrier on the left. The motion is not smooth. The nails move in 0.061-inch increments, driven by the pressure of the press at more than 500 increments per minute. The objective of the operation is to form and ship a clip having approximately 100 nails ready for insertion into an impact-fired pneumatic or manual nailer. To form the clip, adhesive is applied by wiping along both sides of the nails as they are moved in the 0.061-inch increments. Ideally, the clip is continuous. However, the currently used method is far from ideal. The vibration, tolerances and the variable properties of the adhesive combine to cause quality control problems. Due to vibration, sometimes a clip will break, leaving a smaller clips containing fewer nails. The viscosity of the adhesive varies with atmospheric conditions causing the amount of adhesive material applied to vary unacceptably. If excessive adhesive is applied, clips sometimes stick together in the shipping carton. Worse, a clip with excessive adhesive can jam the user's nailer. If insufficient adhesive is used, clips will break into pieces resulting in scrap. In the presently used method, the manufacturing operators are required to visually inspect work-in-process. If the adhesive is too heavy, the operator reports the condition to the upstream facility and an adjustment is made. The clip is not guaranteed to be robustly formed. To meet specification, the bow (curve) in the clip must be less than about 0.015-inches. The packing operators are required to gage the clips for bow and to square them before packing. This is labor intensive and, therefore, expensive. If the operator judges that a clip is not sufficiently square, the operator places that clip in an air-driven press to square it. Due to tolerances, right and left-hand nails are sufficiently different in the process that they must be kept segregated through the formation of clips. In addition, the curing adhesive results in toxic fumes requiring ventilation. The adhesive used is flammable and presents a fire hazard. Due to these problems, the known method currently in use is unsatisfactory in both yield and expense. Moreover, the method creates environmental hazards and safety problems for the production workers.

Method and apparatus for laser welding of flat stamped fasteners and resulting clip


A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing a lifecycle of an object are disclosed. In an embodiment, this comprises analyzing the content of the object and associating the object to an information lifecycle management policy based on the content analysis and metadata. Metadata may be generated based on the content analysis, and used in setting the information lifecycle management policy. A date of disposition may be associated with the object, and actions in the ILM policy taken on the date of disposition.

Businesses and other enterprises generate large amounts of information, which must be stored in a cost-effective manner while ensuring acceptable levels of availability, security, and accessibility. Different types of data have different storage requirements. Stored information is currently managed through a set of manual, automatic, or semi-automatic policies, procedures, and practices. These methods are applied in a variety of ways to a variety of data and data storage systems. For example, the methods can be applied to a specific volume, storage array, object, file, folder, database, or file/data types. When an ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) managed system sets the retention period, storage prioritization, deletion date, etc. of a specific file or object, it typically does so based on one or more criteria, such as date of the file's creation, type of file, location of the file, date of the file's last use, etc.
However, such criteria are generally quite coarse and fail to give enough information to accurately characterize the proper treatment of the file or object. Thus, the ability of a system to automatically or autonomously determine ILM settings for specific data is limited. As a result, some files or objects are not handled efficiently or in the desired manner. For example, some files may be discarded or moved to off-line storage when it is desirable to retain them, while other files are retained when it is desirable to discard them or move them to off-line storage.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing the lifecycle of files and other objects in a storage system.

Content-driven information lifecycle management


A precision analog metal-metal capacitor is fabricated by forming a first capacitor plate in an insulation layer by forming a trench therein, depositing metal within the trench and planarizing the device. A thin dielectric layer is then deposited and patterned over the first capacitor plate. A second insulator is then deposited over the device and discrete openings etched therein to expose the insulation layer and first metal plate. Metal is deposited within the openings and planarized, thereby forming a contact to the first metal plate and the second metal plate of the capacitor.

It is well known that capacitors are critical components in today's integrated circuits. For example, capacitors play an important role in devices having analog circuits constructed on the integrated circuit chips, often being placed adjacent the device circuitry to carry out de-coupling functions. However, achieving the desired capacitance characteristics is often difficult due to several trends in the industry, namely increasing device density (e.g. VLSI designs) and increasing frequency of operating signals. First, since increased device densities has been achieved largely by the miniaturization of individual devices, it requires a similar miniaturization in capacitor structure, thereby placing a much greater importance on a high capacitance value per unit area. Second, higher operating frequencies have also increased the level of parasitic capacitance and cross-talk experienced between adjacent signal lines or metallization levels thereby increasing the demand upon many capacitors. However, fabrication of capacitance devices within or immediately adjacent the integrated circuit is often limited by VLSI design patterning rules. This is particularly true for capacitors intended for use in analog circuitry placed in immediate proximity to the metallization levels.
In light of the aforesaid requirements and limitations, present capacitor structures suffer from severe non-linearities (in capacitance value) caused by large voltage coefficient ratios (VCR), parasitic capacitances, resistances or combinations of the same. The existence of such non-linearities significantly limits the application and usefulness of the capacitor in analog circuits. However, solutions directed at improving the characteristics of such capacitors must comply with VLSI design patterning limitations, BEOL (back-end of the line) techniques, and spacial limitations. In addition, solutions complying with these requirements should not unduly increase the complexity of the device processing nor the cost of the resulting device. Thus, designs directed at addressing this problem have largely attempted to solve the problem using numerous masking and etching steps in the formation of the dielectric layers and multiple capacitor plates. Moreover, in order to comply with VLSI design patterning rules, commonly one of the capacitor plates will comprise doped polysilicon. In this regard such methods themselves suffer considerable drawbacks. Polysilicon materials offer significant resistances which become particularly problematic in devices having high frequency operating signals. Moreover, standard BEOL etches may often create structural irregularities that detract from the ability to repeatably and reliably fabricate a capacitor of a given capacitance value.
Therefore, there exists a need for a capacitive structure having high capacitance values per surface area that may be employed within integrated circuits, such as within the metallization levels of microelectronic devices. There further exists a need for a capacitive structure having a low VCR, in particular a VCR below 10 ppm/V. There further exists a need for a capacitive structure in which the capacitive value varies less than 1%. There further exists a need for a method of fabricating such capacitive structures that are compatible with VLSI design patterning rules, such as those using standard BEOL processing techniques. There further exists a need for such methods that allow reliable and repeatable fabrication of capacitive structures of a precise capacitance value.

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and method are provided in which docking stations provide power to an Information Handling System (IHS) that is coupled to the docking station and provide the IHS with access to I/O (Input/Output) devices coupled to the docking station. Docking stations include a power circuit receiving a supply of DC power from an external power source. Docking stations also include a docking port used by the docking station to supply DC power to the docked IHS. Docking stations also include an I/O port the receives a connection from an external display, where a DC power input is received via the I/O port from the coupled external display. A controller of the docking station apportions the DC power input received from the coupled external display between operations of the docking station and the DC power supplied to the IHS via the docking port.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, global communications, etc. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
A docking station may be used to support the use of a portable IHS, such as a laptop computer or a tablet, while at a workstation that is available for use at a fixed location. The docking station may support use of the portable IHS via external displays and other I/O devices such as speakers, external keyboards and a mouse. In addition, a docking station may be a source of electrical power for a portable IHS while the portable IHS is docked. A portable IHS may utilize the power provided by a docking station for powering its operations and for recharging the internal batteries of the portable IHS. In some scenarios, such as at a public workstation, a docking station may support multiple different types of portable IHSs.

Docking station supporting power inputs from a display


A cuff (200) is put around an upper arm and a blood flow shutting bag (220) thereof shuts the blood flow at the upper arm. A forward detection bag (210) is disposed upstream and a rear detection bag (230) is disposed downstream of the blood flow shutting bag. A forward sensor (110) and a rear sensor (120) are provided to detect pressures in these bags. The sensors respectively detect a forward pulse wave (Wf) and a rear pulse wave (Wb). A reference internal pressure of the cuff is controlled by an air pump (140) and a leak valve (150) controlled by a CPU (130). The pulse waves are monitored to retain the reference internal pressure at a systolic pressure SP and a diastolic pressure DP. A propagation velocity of a pulse wave clearing the cuff retained at the systolic pressure SP can be given based on a delay time SPdt of the rear pulse wave with respect to the forward pulse wave. This propagation velocity is approximate to a blood flow velocity VH of the aorta in a high pressure period. A blood flow velocity VL in a low pressure period is given by dividing the blood flow velocity VH by a set coefficient R. A pulse wave obtained when the reference internal pressure is retained at the diastolic pressure DP is an approximate aortic wave. Based on this approximate aortic wave, blood flow effective sectional areas SH, SL are given.

For the diagnosis of circulation diseases it is effective to measure the blood flow velocity of an aorta and the blood flow volume thereof in addition to electrocardiogram measurement, blood flow measurement, pulse wave analyses, so on. A method which has been conventionally used for measuring blood flow velocity and blood flow volume of aortas is blood vessel catheter measuring method in which a catheter is inserted into an aorta. In this method, a pair of pressure sensors are attached at a set interval to the leading end of the catheter. The catheter is inserted until its leading end reaches an aorta under X-ray inspection to detect pulse waves as a pressure change by both pressure sensors, whereby a blood flow velocity of the aorta is obtained based on a phase difference of the detected pulse waves. A blood flow volume is given by multiplying a blood flow effective sectional area of the aorta by the blood flow velocity. In a different practiced method, a reagent is poured from the leading end of the catheter to measure a lung circulation time of the reagent, whereby an averaged stroke volume per minute is given.
But these invasive blood vessel catheter measuring methods are large scaled by inserting a catheter into an aorta, which unpreferably much burdens patients physically and mentally. An additional problem is that the measuring apparatus is accordingly expensive and is not easily operable for the measurement and requires special skill. Further another problem of the method in which a reagent is poured is that the poured reagent burdens patients.

Apparatus for measuring blood flow velocity and blood flow volume in aortas

407 Yamanote Villa Porte, 109 Yamanote-Cho


A device is provided to detect whether a power cable having two four-pin connectors in a computer is malfunctioned or not without using a meter. In one embodiment, the device comprises a pair of positive and negative apertures and a LED. In a coupled state of the detection device and one connector of the power cable, the positive aperture is put on the first positive pin and the negative aperture is put on the first negative pin so as to electrically couple the device to the power cable for causing the LED to emit light if the electrical connection of a 5V power cable portion of the power cable is not broken. In another embodiment, electrical connections of both 5V and 12V power cable portions of the power cable can be detected.

Conventionally, a user may use a meter or ask a technician to check malfunctioned power cables in a computer for removing the problem. For the former case, a meter is required. For the latter case, the charge of consulting a technician for help is not cheap. Further, an experienced technician may not come to help immediately when the computer problem occurs. Thus, the need for providing a simple, cheap device for detecting a malfunctioned power cable at its connector in a computer without using a meter exists.

Device for detecting malfunctioned power cable in computer without using meter


An optical beam splitting device which selectively disables a faulty output port to stop further emission of the optical beam therefrom. When an optical fiber cable is broken or a cable plug is disconnected, some part of the optical beam is reflected at the fiber end face that is left open. An optical sensing device, such as a photodiode, equipped in the beam splitting device receives this reflected light and transduces it into an electrical signal. A reflection detection controller examines this electrical signal and recognizes the presence of the back reflection if the electrical signal exceeds a predetermined reference level. The reflection detection controller then sends a beam control signal to an external modulator disposed at that faulty output port. With the beam control signal, the external modulator varies the intensity of the light beam so that only a limited power will be delivered to the faulty port where the back reflection is observed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical beam splitting device and a method of controlling optical beam outputs. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical beam splitting device that divides an optical beam into a plurality of beams and provides them to a plurality of output ports. The present invention further relates to a method of controlling a plurality of optical beam outputs of an optical beam splitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical communications technologies have been rapidly brought into the fields of local area networks (LANs) and subscriber telecommunication systems these days. To integrate a highly organized network by using fiber optics, there are increasing demands for optical branching devices that provide connection, division, combination, and other functions to distribute optical beams.
Beam splitters, among the optical branching devices, are optical devices that divide an input light signal into a plurality of separate beams and output them through their respective output ports. Besides being designed to provide this basic feature, some beam splitters are equipped with such a control function that shuts off the output or reduces the output power for safety purposes, when one of the output ports gets open-ended. More specifically, when a fiber optic cable is broken or a cable plug has happened to be removed from optical communication equipment, the network connection is interrupted and a maintenance engineer will be called to solve the problem. During the service, he/she is potentially exposed to a hazardous environment where a light beam is emitted from the open end of the broken cable or from the unplugged receptacle on the equipment, and if the direct beam impinged on his/her eye, it could cause an injury to the retina. The above safety function protects his/her eyes from such a hazard.
FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a beam splitter 100 equipped with a conventional beam output control function. This beam splitter 100 divides a single input light beam amplified by an optical amplifier 120 into eight beams to distribute them through their respective output ports A-H. In the case of cable breaks or plug disconnection, some part of the light beam is reflected at a fiber end face that is left open.
Suppose that such a back reflection has happened to the output port A, for instance. A photodiode PD1 receives the reflected light and transduces it to an electrical signal. A detector 101 examines the voltage level of the electrical signal sent from the photodiode PD1, and if the voltage level exceeds a predetermined reference level, the detector 101 will generate a detection signal indicating the presence of a meaningful back reflection. Upon receipt of this detection signal, an optical amplifier controller 111 sends a control signal to the optical amplifier 120 to stop the emission of the amplified beam or reduce its output power level. Note the above operation will be performed by other components shown in FIG. 18, i.e., photodiodes PD2-PD4, detectors 102-104, and optical amplifier controllers 112-114, if they encountered the same problem.
In the conventional beam splitter 100 outlined above, however, the reflected light detected in one port will affect the beam outputs of all the ports. This disrupts all communication services having been provided to the subscribers involved and thus leads to an extensive degradation in the quality of optical communication services.

Optical beam splitting device and method of controlling optical beam outputs


An automatically adjustable abrasive recycling system is provided. The abrasive recycling system includes one or more sensors configured to sense at least one characteristic of the abrasive recycling system, and slurry supply mechanism that operates, at least in part, based upon the sensed characteristic to control the operation of the abrasive recycling system. Methodology corresponding to the automatic operation of the abrasive recycling system is also provided.

Abrasive jet cutting, such as waterjet cutting, is often used during fabrication of a work piece, such as a machine part, and is especially useful when the materials being cut are sensitive to the high temperatures generated by other cutting methods. It is desirable to recycle the abrasive material used by abrasive jet cutting machines. When using an abrasive recycling system, a trained operator may need to closely observe the recycling system in order to determine what changes may be required to achieve a desired outcome. Furthermore, the operator often relies on visual inspection methods to gauge the effectiveness of the recycling system. Generally, the operator would then make adjustments to the recycling system in an attempt to increase the recycling system's efficiency. The visual method of inspection is useful, but can lead to errors and inefficiencies. Thus, a need exists for a more efficient abrasive recycling system that is easier to use with little to no input from an operator.

Control loop for abrasive recycling system


A surveillance system connectable to a network, comprising a communication module and a management module; said system being configured to, during an initialization phase: a. intercept a first message being sent to a first device; b. intercept a second message said second message being a response from the first device to the first message; c. calculate a time interval between the interception of the first message and the second message; d. repeat the steps a. to c. to determine further time intervals; e. determine a distribution of said time intervals; f. store the distribution and during a surveillance phase, intercept a third message said message being sent to the first device; intercept a fourth message said fourth message being a response to the third message; calculate a new time interval between the interception of the third and fourth messages; and verify that the new time interval is within the distribution.

Protection against software attacks is a main concern in the industry and in particular in the case of a network of devices controlling or supervising a plant, a factory or a manufacture. In these cases, we have numerous devices collecting data and giving commands under the supervision of one or more servers.
The protocol used for the communication with these devices is usually basic without protection since it was not intended to by accessible outside the premises. The response for the security threat was made on the server, in particular to the connection of the server with the outside world.
New threat models have been demonstrated since, for example, the server/controller of a nuclear plant, communicating to the devices spread in the plant, is also connected to other networks having access to servers or computers outside the plant. Even if particular care has been taken to protect the inside network, a risk has been detected that a third party can access to the final devices and influence the tasks for which these devices have been designed. One can imagine if the device in charge of acquiring the temperature inside the kernel of a nuclear plant can be altered, the consequence could be huge.
One major problem to improve the security of these devices is the difficulty to upgrade the internal software (generally embedded software) and/or upgrade the communication protocol, designed sometimes more than 20 years ago.

Method and system to detect abnormal message transactions on a network


This invention provides the two types of Discretely Controlled Micromirror (DCM), which can overcome disadvantages of the conventional electrostatic micromirrors. The first type micromirror is a Variable Supporter Discretely Controlled Micromirror (VSDCM), which has a larger displacement range than the conventional electrostatic micromirror. The displacement accuracy of the VSDCM is better than that of the conventional electrostatic micromirror and the low driving voltage is compatible with IC components. The second type of DCM, the Segmented Electrode Discretely Controlled Micromirror (SEDCM) has same disadvantages with the conventional electrostatic micromirror. But the SEDCM is compatible with known microelectronics technologies.

Micromirror devices have been developed because it can substitute for conventional optoelectronic devices. A phase-only piston-style micromirror was used for phase adaptive optics applications and a rotational micromirror was used to deflect a light. Most of these micromirrors have been controlled to have continuous displacements, which are determined at the equilibrium between electrostatic force and elastic force. The analog control is more complex than the digital or discrete control, and is not compatible with known semiconductor electronics technologies such as MOS, CMOS, etc. In addition, the micromirrors with continuous displacement actuated by electrostatic force undergo the classical snap-down phenomenon when the electric force exceeds the elastic force of mechanical structure. The snap-down phenomenon limits the translational and rotational ranges of a micromirror.
The high driving voltage is also another acute disadvantage in practical use of the micromirrors with continuous displacement actuated by electrostatic force. To be compatible with IC components, it is desired that micromirrors are operated at low voltage which is compatible with the circuit operation or control voltage.
In the prior art of micromirror array like Digital Micromirror Device in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,566,939, 5,083,857, and 6,232,936, each micromirror is actuated by digital control of a voltage. It has large rotation, has a low driving voltage, and is compatible with known semiconductor electronics technologies. But, it has only single degree of freedom; rotation about an axis and two level positions. So, the micromirror array is merely the array of optical switches.
To be applied more widely, a micromirror is needed to have multi-level position control and large displacements, multi degrees of freedom motions, low driving voltage, and compatibility with known semiconductor electronics technologies.

Discretely controlled micromirror with multi-level positions