The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for comparison of network systems using live traffic in real-time. The inventive technique presents real-world workload in real-time with no external impact (i.e. no impact on the system under test), and it enables comparison against a production system for correctness verification. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a testing tool for the pseudo-live testing of CDN content staging servers, According to the invention, traffic between clients and the live production CDN servers is monitored by a simulator device, which then replicates this workload onto a system under test (SUT). The simulator detects divergences between the outputs from the SUT and live production servers, allowing detection of erroneous behavior. To the extent possible, the SUT is completely isolated from the outside world so that errors or crashes by this system do not affect either the CDN customers or the end users. Thus, the SUT does not interact with end users (i.e., their web browsers). Consequently, the simulator serves as a proxy for the clients. By basing its behavior off the packet stream sent between client and the live production system, the simulator can simulate most of the oddities of real-world client behavior, including malformed packets, timeouts, dropped traffic and reset connections, among others.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to testing a request-response service using live connection traffic. One such request-response service involves high-performance, fault-tolerant HTTP, streaming media and applications delivery over a content delivery network (CDN).
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well-known to deliver HTTP and streaming media using a content delivery network (CDN). A CDN is a self-organizing network of geographically distributed content delivery nodes that are arranged for efficient delivery of digital content (e.g., Web content, streaming media and applications) on behalf of third party content providers. A request from a requesting end user for given content is directed to a "best" replica, where "best" usually means that the item is served to the client quickly compared to the time it would take to fetch it from the content provider origin server. An entity that provides a CDN is sometimes referred to as a content delivery network service provider or CDNSP.
Typically, a CDN is implemented as a combination of a content delivery infrastructure, a request-routing mechanism, and a distribution infrastructure. The content delivery infrastructure usually comprises a set of "surrogate" origin servers that are located at strategic locations (e.g., Internet network access points, Internet Points of Presence, and the like) for delivering copies of content to requesting end users. The request-routing mechanism allocates servers in the content delivery infrastructure to requesting clients in a way that, for web content delivery, minimizes a given client's response time and, for streaming media delivery, provides for the highest quality. The distribution infrastructure consists of on-demand or push-based mechanisms that move content from the origin server to the surrogates. An effective CDN serves frequently-accessed content from a surrogate that is optimal for a given requesting client. In a typical CDN, a single service provider operates the request-routers, the surrogates, and the content distributors. In addition, that service provider establishes business relationships with content publishers and acts on behalf of their origin server sites to provide a distributed delivery system. A well-known commercial CDN service that provides web content and media streaming is provided by Akamai Technologies, Inc. of Cambridge, Mass.
CDNSPs may use content modification to tag content provider content for delivery. Content modification enables a content provider to take direct control over request-routing without the need for specific switching devices or directory services between the requesting clients and the origin server. Typically, content objects are made up of a basic structure that includes references to additional, embedded content objects. Most web pages, for example, consist of an HTML document that contains plain text together with some embedded objects, such as .gif or .jpg images. The embedded objects are referenced using embedded HTML directives. A similar scheme is used for some types of streaming content which, for example, may be embedded within an SMIL document. Embedded HTML or SMIL directives tell the client to fetch embedded objects from the origin server. Using a CDN content modification scheme, a content provider can modify references to embedded objects so that the client is told to fetch an embedded object from the best surrogate (instead of from the origin server).
In operation, when a client makes a request for an object that is being served from the CDN, an optimal or "best" edge-based content server is identified. The client browser then makes a request for the content from that server. When the requested object is not available from the identified server, the object may be retrieved from another CDN content server or, failing that, from the origin server.
A well-managed content delivery network implements frequent upgrades to its production software, e.g., the software used to provide HTTP content delivery from its edge-based content servers. Thus, for example, as new content or "edge" server functionalities are added to the network, they need to be tested, debugged, rewritten and, ultimately, deployed into production across the network as a whole. An ongoing challenge is testing such new software is the inability to reproduce real-world workload on new versions of the software short of deploying them in the field. While testing a CDN server with real-world traffic (a "live load test") would be desirable, it has not been possible to do so without having the CDN server interact with the outside world. This interaction may cause significant problems if the version under live test has bugs or otherwise interferes with conventional server functions. Additionally, when field-deployment is used, there is no convenient mechanism for checking if a new version of the software under test produces equivalent output to the old version, namely, the production version.
Generally, there are a number of known approaches to testing software. Regression testing refers to the technique of constructing test cases and executing the software against those cases. Regression testing, while effective in avoiding repeat of bugs, is labor-intensive and thus costly. Stress or "load" testing refers to the technique of simulating the working environment of the software using a testbed or equivalent architecture. While stress/load testing is useful in evaluating system limits, finding representative workloads to use for the test is always difficult. Trace-based testing refers to the technique of playing back to the software under test a trace of activity obtained from a production version. This technique, although generally useful, may lead to inaccurate conclusions as, in some applications (like a CDN caching server), traces go stale very quickly and/or do not include information that might be needed to evaluate the new version effectively. Field-deployment testing, as its name suggests, refers to the technique of testing a version of the software with a real-world workload. As noted above, when field-deployment is used, there is no convenient way of isolating the software under test from interacting with real users and customers, and there is no mechanism for checking if a new version of the software under test produces equivalent output to the old version, namely, the production version. Error detection is hard, and debugging is difficult because there is limited information capture and the developer is often unable to deploy instrumented code. In addition, during live field-testing, the developer is not able to destructively test the code, i.e., to make the software less robust (e.g., letting it crash) in the face of problems instead of patching over them, in order to assist in tracking down problems.
It would be desirable to be able to provide a way to test IP-networking-based servers (either software, hardware, or some combination thereof) with live traffic and to compare the results of these tests with currently running CDN traffic. Such a method also could be used to test network-based servers before their actual deployment. The present invention addresses this need in the art.

Method and apparatus for testing request-response service using live connection traffic


A process for eradicating moss and liverwort which includes applying sodium percarbonate; and irrigating the moss. In some cases the process includes applying lime to control the pH of the moss and thereby constrain development of additional moss and said sodium percarbonate is a solid material.

This invention relates to pesticides for agricultural, horticultural including aquaculture and particularly to products that directly kill or impact the life cycle of simple celled organisms such as microscopic insect larvae, algae, fungi, bacteria, mosses, and bryophytes such as liverworts. Pesticides, also known as biocides, are used to control these pests. The pests are commonly found in commercial and agricultural greenhouse, landscapes, nursery fields, storage areas, and aquaculture sites. The invention has applications in all aspects of horticulture and agriculture. Formulation variations can be applied directly to all types of plant, flower and turf tissue without any danger of phytotoxicity when used in accordance with prescribed directions.
Pesticides are an important component of agricultural production throughout the world. Pest control pertains to a wide range of environmental interventions that have their objective to kill or reduce to acceptable levels moss and algae pests, plant pathogens and weed populations. Specific control techniques include chemical, physical and biological control mechanisms. It has been estimated that pests annually destroy about 35% of all food crops before they are harvested and another 10-20% after the food is harvested.
Chemical controls include chemical agent pesticides that include herbicides, for the control of weeds, moss and algaecides for the control of moss and algae pests and fungicides for the control of soil and plant pathogens that include bacteria, fungi and viruses. Herbicides that destroy or inhibit plant growth account for over half of the pesticides that are uses world wide, with 30-35% of pesticide production in the form of moss and algaecides and the balance and the form of fungicides.
All living organisms are composed of cells. The result of biosynthesis is cell growth. Microorganisms live in natural habitats in which their growth is affected by interactions with populations of other microbes, as well as by the physical and chemical characteristics of their environment. Some microbial species can have devastating effects on human beings by causing infectious diseases. A great success of the science of microbiology has been the control of fatal infectious diseases in developed countries. However, these diseases are still important causes of death in less developed parts of the world. Microbes are also important in agriculture and food spoilage.
The growth of bacteria such as E. coli depends upon not only the provision of nutrients, but also the existence of appropriate environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, water activity, and aeration. Species differ in the range of these factors within which they will grow.
In general, organisms can grow over a temperature range of 30 to 40 C. However, species differ in range, and four categories have been delineated on this basis. Mesophiles have optimal growth temperatures in the range 20-50 degrees C.; that is, the temperatures most common on the earth's surface or in animals. Psychrophiles have optimal temperatures below 15 C. These organisms are killed by exposure to room temperature. They function at low temperature by having high contents of unsaturated fatty acids in their membranes. These molecules remain fluid at temperatures where membranes containing saturated fatty acids are nonfunctional.
Psychrotrophs can cause spoilage of refrigerated products, such as food or blood. They grow fastest at temperatures above 20 C, and therefore are likely to contaminate these products, but are capable of slow growth at refrigerator temperatures.
Most microbes grow somewhere within the pH range of 5 to 9; most natural environments fall within this range. However, species do exist which grow at pH extremes. Fungi tend to grow at lower pH values than do bacteria.
It is important to control populations of simple celled organisms that affect ornamental and agricultural crops due to the ability of the organisms to inflict major damage to the crops that directly and indirectly cause crop loss. Moss and algae can directly affect crop loss due to the ability of both algae and moss to grow quickly over soil surfaces and prevent the plant from growing. In addition moss and algae also directly affect the aesthetics of the plant, which in the case of ornamental crops such as cut flowers and house plants make the crop unmarketable.
Moss and algae pose indirect problems to the production of plants due to their developing a parasitic relationship with the plant material. Both algae and moss tend to grow on the soil surface thereby denying the plant of nutrients and creating a sometimes-impermeable cap that prevents the plant's root system from getting water.
Most modern day moss control products (mosscides) and algaecides are comprised of long lasting, synthetic compounds that affect the cell structure of simple celled organisms on contact. While these pesticides have proven to be very effective at controlling moss and algae they have also contributed to an unacceptable environmental cycle that directly affects human health and welfare as well as direct and indirect environmental damage. Modern day moss and algaecides primarily work by placing a poison or toxin residue on the surface of plant tissue or by directly spraying the moss and algae pest with the poison compound.
There are several problems that arise from using chemical moss and algaecides and they are as follows:
Resistance: Since traditional moss controls and algaecides work on the principal of chemical toxicity, the moss and algae is capable through genetic mutation of developing a resistance to the toxins that affect it. In the moss and algae world, where generations are produced in the pans of weeks, the problem of genetic resistance is common. Within a very short amount of time, many mosses and algae that were formally susceptible to certain chemical compounds, find that sometimes within the span of a few years, the chemical either does not produce a kill or the dosage must be increased to produce a kill.
This is why moss and algaecide applicators must cycle their applications of different chemical compounds so as not to allow moss and algae they are trying to control to become accustom to any one chemical compound and ultimately to become immune to the chemical. This practice of chemical rotation is both times consuming and expensive, since the applicators must have at minimum three different chemical compounds for various types of moss and algae pests.
Human Toxicity: Most chemical moss controls and algaecides must be used and applied with extreme caution. The applicator must at all times wear special protective personal protection clothing. This includes the use of respirator and eye protection, as well as chemical impervious coveralls and gloves. Since the moss and algaecides produce a toxic residue and are by nature long lasting and complex compounds, over a period of time, direct exposure to moss and algaecides can lead to human health concerns and in some cases direct exposure to certain moss and algaecides can lead to toxic shock and death.
Environmental Damage: Due to the very nature of the moss controls and algaecide that is designed to leave behind a toxic residue on either plant surfaces or in the soil, environmental damage is a direct concern. With the increasing concern over the impact of groundwater by complex pesticide compounds that do not break down into innocuous substances. It has been documented that pesticide compounds have directly impacted groundwater aquifers across the country and become a direct threat to environmental security.
In addition to concerns about groundwater impacts, treatments for moss, algae and other simple cell microorganisms have the capacity to impact non-target organisms within the environment that come into contact with the chemical compounds. These organisms include fish, birds, other non-pest moss and algae, and all forms of animal life. The impact of the insecticide DDT and other chemical treatments ostensibly intended to benefit society while in fact entering the food chain and impacting birds such as the American bald eagle, storks, rainbow trout and others has been well-documented.

Process for controlling moss and liverwort


A preheat ring (126) for use in a chemical vapor deposition system includes a first portion and a second portion selectively coupled to the first portion such that the first and second portions combine to form an opening configured to receive a susceptor therein. Each of the first and second portions is independently moveable with respect to each other.

In a single-wafer thermal process chamber, a semiconductor wafer is supported by a susceptor. The wafer edge includes a transition region between the susceptor and the wafer. The emissivity of the wafer and the susceptor rim can be different relative to one another, especially when one or more films are present on the wafer. The difference in emissivity can induce a substantial temperature gradient between the wafer edge and the susceptor rim. As a result, crystalline defects such as slip lines may form at the wafer edge. Additionally, the temperature gradient can cause nonuniformity in deposition thickness, chemical concentration, or etch rate depending on the type of the thermal processes.
To obtain uniform film material properties across the wafer, the edge effect needs to be well controlled. In practice, there are several parameters that are used to tune the edge thermal and chemical environment, such as arrangements of heating elements and lower chamber purge gas flows. However, certain parameters may help to control the edge effect, but have undesired effects elsewhere on the wafer.
The gap between the susceptor and the preheat ring is an important parameter that influences both the gas flow and the thermal coupling between the ring and the susceptor. In at least some known systems, the gap (known as the ring gap) between the susceptor and ring is fixed and thus not tunable.
Accordingly, a need exists for a preheat ring capable of controlling the size of the ring gap at multiple locations around the susceptor to enable tuning of the thermal gradient between the susceptor and the preheat ring.
This Background section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.


A laser scanner determines the direction and distance of one or more targets by emitting two substantially parallel beams and receiving respective return beams. Components for handling the received beams are affixed to a monolithic block to ensure fixed relative placement. The direction of the target is determined using an optical encoder to reduce the timing window for interpolation to a fraction of the time it takes for the scanner to make a full revolution. A PLL trained by recent segment timing further improves accuracy and precision. A detection algorithm adapts detection thresholds for the different signatures of return signals depending on the distance to the target. Distance calculations are also adjusted for thermal expansion of the scanner components by including a temperature-variant thermometer output signal in the distance calculation algorithm.

Many vehicles have a frame that acts as a structural foundation. As the structural foundation, a vehicle frame may support various vehicle components such as the engine, the body, and the powertrain. Vehicle frames may be formed out of metals, such as steel, and are typically designed to withstand large amounts of stress. However, some frames are also designed with intentional crumple zones to help protect passengers. Crumple zones may operate to deform during a collision to absorb a portion of an impact. Additionally, there are a wide variety of vehicle frames available, having different shapes, sizes, components, etc.
In some instances, such as a collision, a frame of a vehicle may deform from its intended shape. Deformation of a vehicle frame may have adverse consequences, such as misalignment of vehicle components, increased wear on vehicle components, or reduced structural integrity. Sometimes when a vehicle frame is deformed, it may be bent back into its intended shape. However, it may be difficult to determine whether a deformed vehicle frame is properly bent back into its intended shape.
Currently, some frame measuring systems are used which may attach to selected portions of a vehicle frame in order to map the selected portions of the vehicle frame relative to each other. An operator may use the mapped selected portions in order to determine whether a vehicle frame is properly aligned within specified tolerances of its intended shape. However, measuring errors may develop while mapping selected portions of the vehicle frame due to various factors. Measuring errors may prevent an accurate mapping of the selected portions of the vehicle frame and may be so great that the scanning system may indicate a frame is properly aligned when it is still deformed. Measuring errors may be so great that the scanning system may indicate a frame in not properly aligned when the frame is properly aligned.
While various kinds of frame measuring systems, methods, and associated components have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used the invention described in the appended claims.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the technology may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present technology, and together with the description explain the principles of the technology; it being understood, however, that this technology is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.

High-precision, high-accuracy, single-hub laser scanner


It is intended to solve the problem that, when an operator performs an operation using two-dimensional input means while seeing a picture frame seen from a viewpoint of the operator, an input operation is difficult to perform when the direction of the line of sight of the operator is unstable, since a designated direction greatly deviates in a world coordinate system. For that purpose, viewpoint information is detected, and an instruction of the operator for operating a position of a pointer image is input. A designated direction in a pointer coordinate system is obtained in accordance with the operator's instruction, and the pointer image is generated based on the designated direction. The pointer coordinate system is changed from the detected viewpoint information in accordance with a specific instruction of the operator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing method and apparatus for displaying an image in which a pointer image operated by an operator is synthesized.
2. Description of the Related Art
In virtual reality (VR), it is possible to see a three-dimensional virtual space from a viewpoint of an operator using a display, such as an HMD (head mounted display) or the like, and perform an operation in such an environment. In mixed reality (MR), an operator can see a real space and three-dimensional virtual space in a superposed state using a see-through HMD.
In a telepresence system, an operator can perform an operation as if he is actually present at a remote location, by operating a camera provided at the remote location and performing the operation while seeing an image taken by the camera.
In such VR, MR or a telepresence system, an operator sometimes performs an operation for a real or virtual three-dimensional space. For example, the operator moves a virtual object within a three-dimensional virtual space, or designates an object in a real thee-dimensional space and displays information relating to the object on a display. Conventionally, such an operation is performed using a three-dimensional input device, such as a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor or the like, that can perform three-dimensional designation.
In contract to methods for inputting an operation for a three-dimensional space using a three-dimensional input device, methods for performing an operation in a three-dimensional space using a two-dimensional input device, such as a mouse or the like, have been known. As an example of such methods, a method for performing input to a three-dimensional space by obtaining a z-coordinate value in the direction of the depth from a designated position on screen coordinates (x, y) obtained by perspective transformation of a three-dimensional space from a previously prepared table, using an input device, such as a mouse or the like.
In any of such methods using a two-dimensional input device, an input operation is performed by operating a pointer by a two-dimensional input device in an image obtained by perspective transformation of a thee-dimensional space. An example of VR application software for inputting an operation from a two-dimensional input device for a three-dimensional space in such a conventional input method will now be described.
The operator mounts an HMD 201 shown in FIG. 1. The HMD 201 provides the operator with a three-dimensional virtual space. The HMD 201 includes a head-position/posture sensor 202 that outputs the position and the posture of the HMD 201. The operator has a two-dimensional input device 101 shown in FIG. 2 in his hand. The operator can input two-dimensional values using a two-dimensional pointing stick 102. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator can input values (x, y)=(0, 0)–(100, 100) depending on the direction and the angle of inclination of the pointing stick 102. The two-dimensional input device 101 also includes a first button 103 and a second button 104.
FIG. 3 illustrates an outline of a three-dimensional virtual space presented to the operator using such application software. A three-dimensional virtual space 300 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped 301. Within the rectangular parallelepiped 301, virtual spheres A 302, B 303 and C 304 are floating. The operator is also present within the rectangular parallelepiped 301. Reference numeral 306 represents a world coordinate system whose origin is at a corner of the rectangular parallelepiped 301. FIG. 4 illustrates how the virtual space 300 is seen from the operator's viewpoint.
FIG. 5 represents a picture frame 500 displayed in the operator's HMD 201. The picture frame 500 has a width comprising 640 pixels and a height comprising 480 pixels. A coordinate position on the picture frame 500 is represented, for example, as (x, y)=(640, 480) making the upper left corner of the picture frame 500 the origin. A pointer 501 is displayed on the picture frame 500, and moves by the user's operation of the two-dimensional pointing stick 102. The pointer 501 moves on the picture frame 500 in accordance with the amount of operation of the pointing stick 102. In FIG. 5, the pointer 501 assumes a position of (x, y)=(490, 80).
When the operator depresses the first button 103, an object present under the pointer 501 is designated. For example, in FIG. 5, the pointer 501 is displayed in a state of being superposed with the virtual sphere A 302. Hence, when the operator depresses the first button 103, the virtual sphere A 302 is designated. At that time, determination whether or not the pointer 501 is present on the virtual sphere A 302 can be performed, for example, by acquiring the z buffer value of the coordinates (490, 80).
The above-described three-dimensional input device using a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor is generally expensive. Furthermore, since the number of objects to be measured at a time is sometimes limited depending on the sensor being used, it is sometimes impossible to measure the input device using a sensor. In addition, for example, in a three-dimensional input device using an optical sensor, measurement cannot be performed if a body or an object is present between a measuring apparatus and an object to be measured.
The above-described problem is solved by using a two-dimensional input device, such as a mouse or the like. However, in the conventional method of moving a pointer using a two-dimensional input device in an image obtained by performing perspective transformation of a three-dimensional space, if the direction of the operator's line of sight is unstable, the designated direction of the pointer greatly changes in the three-dimensional space. In other words, since the designated direction is defined by a field-of-view coordinate system, the designated direction greatly changes in a world coordinate system when the field-of-view coordinate system is not fixed.
For example, when the operator mounts an HMD, the designated direction greatly changes even if the position coordinates of the pointer do not change on the picture frame, if the operator's head fluctuates due to the weight of the HMD. Accordingly, in order to exactly designate an object in a three-dimensional space, the operator must fix his head, resulting in pain for the operator. This problem will now be described with reference to drawings.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between a world coordinate system 306 and a field-of-view coordinate system 601. The position and the posture of the field-of-view coordinate system 601 in the world coordinate system 306 are obtained from the head position/posture sensor 202. An image plane 602 is arranged relative to the field-of-view coordinate system 601. A designated direction 603 of the operator is represented by an arrow connecting the origin of the field-of-view coordinate system 601 and the pointer 501.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how the operator's designated direction 603 changes when the direction of the operator's line of sight changes due to fluctuation of the operator's head. As shown in FIG. 7, when the operator's line of sight changes, the relationship between the world coordinate system 306 and the line-of-sight coordinate system 601 changes, to change the positions of the image plane 602 and the pointer 501, thereby greatly changing the designated direction 603 in the world coordinate system 306.
FIG. 8 illustrates a picture frame 801 displayed in the operator's HMD 201. A frame 802 indicated by broken lines indicates the position of the picture frame before the line of sight changes, i.e., at the time of the state shown in FIG. 6. As can be understood from FIG. 8, before the line of sight changes, the pointer 501 is displayed in a state of being superposed with the virtual sphere A 302. The position of the pointer 501 changes due to a change in the direction of the line of sight, and is displayed in a state of being separated from the virtual sphere A 302. Accordingly, in order to designate the virtual sphere A 302, it is necessary to again move the pointer 501. The same operation must be performed if the direction of the line of sight changes due to fluctuation of the head after the movement. That is, in order to perform a stable operation, it is necessary to fix the operator's head mounting the HMD 201, resulting in a pain for the operator.
Although the above-described example represents a case of VR application software using an HMD, similar problems will arise in MR application software or telepresence application software. For example, in a telepresence system, when a camera is placed at a remote location, the photographing direction of the camera sometimes fluctuates due to mechanical factors or a change in the external environment caused by wind or the like. The above-described conventional approach cannot deal with such a problem because it presumes a state in which the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight are fixed.

Information processing method and apparatus


An interface means between a network switch and a CTI server means is adapted to communicate between a service switching function device having a service switching functionality within said network switch and said CTI server means. Such an interface means is as well part of an apparatus for providing a service to at least one customer. This apparatus includes a network switch, of which a service switching function device is coupled via an interface means of the present invention to a CTI server means, which is further coupled via an application programming interface to executable means for executing the service.

The present invention relates to an interface means between a network switch and a Computer Telephony Integration, hereafter abbreviated with CTI, server means, as mentioned by the preamble of claim 1, and to an apparatus for providing a service to at least one customer as is further described in the preamble of claim 26
Such an apparatus, wherein a network switch as well as a CTI server means are coupled via a particular interface, is already known in the art, e.g. from the PCT application WO 98/01987 "Method and apparatus for implementing a network call center". Therein a network provider call center is described, offering automated call distribution services to customers outside it. This network provider call center includes a network switch and a computer-telephony integration, abbreviated as CTI, system. This CTI system includes a CTI server corresponding to the CTI server means of the first and of the 26th claim, a stat-server and a routing server. The latter two devices are needed for offering the automated call distribution service of the prior art system, and as such correspond to the executable means for executing the service as described in the preamble of claims 1 and 26 of this document. The CTI server, as is described on page 8 of the prior art document, thereby acts as a bridge between the network switch on one hand, and an application programming interface to the executable means comprising the prior art stat-server and routing server on the other hand.
Within the prior art system, the network switch is directly coupled to the CTI-server, via a CTI link of this network switch, as is stated in line 15 of page 8 of the prior art document. The interface means of the prior art system thus consists of such a specific CTI-link. Such a CTI-link may for instance consist of a standardised CSTA interface, whereby CSTA is the abbreviation of Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications. At the time of the invention, however, most of these public switching network switches do not contain such a CTI link, and consequently need to be especially equipped with this. Furthermore, as is explicitly mentioned in lines 12 to 14 of page 8 of the prior art document, in case a network operator who is possessing various types of such network switches manufactured by different companies, wants to offer call center services throughout its network, different versions of such CTI servers have to be implemented and installed, in order to match with the variety of switches made by the different manufacturers. Together with the fact that these different versions of the CTI server can only interface with the various network switches on the condition that these network switches have such a CTI-link, the prior art solution is very complicated and expensive for public switching network operators, since each network switch has to be specially equipped with a CTI-link and per type of switch a dedicated CTI server is to be used.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Interface means between a network switch and a CTI server means and apparatus for providing a service to a customer including such an interface means


Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller that manages multiple managed forwarding elements (MFEs) that implement multiple logical networks. The method stores (i) a first data structure including an entry for each logical entity in a desired state of the multiple logical networks and (ii) a second data structure including an entry for each logical entity referred to by an update for at least one MFE. Upon receiving updates specifying modifications to the logical entities, the method adds separate updates to separate queues for the MFEs that require the update. The separate updates reference the logical entity entries in the second data structure. When the second data structure reaches a threshold size in comparison to the first data structure, the method compacts the updates in at least one of the queues so that each queue has no more than one update referencing a particular logical entity entry.

Software-defined networking (SDN) often uses network controllers to configure virtual (logical) networks throughout a datacenter. As SDN becomes more prevalent and datacenters cater to more and more tenants, controllers are expected to perform more operations. Key to this architecture is that the controllers do not become bottlenecks in the configuration process, and that these controllers be able to handle when other elements downstream in the configuration process are bottlenecked (i.e., making sure that if one switch is a bottleneck this does not slow the configuration of other switches). As such, techniques to improve the use of processing resources by network controllers are needed.

Management of update queues for network controller


The present invention, in one form, is a system for generating a high resolution image of an object from projection data acquired during a computed tomography scan. The system includes a gantry having an x-ray source which rotates around the object. The x-ray source emits an x-ray beam which is collimated with a collimator having a collimator aperture to define an x-ray beam width, or slice thickness. The projection data is reconstructed to generate image data for adjacent image slices. A deconvolution algorithm is applied to the image data to generate a deconvolved image having a finer, i.e., smaller, resolution than the collimator aperture.

In at least one known CT system configuration, an x-ray source projects a fan-shaped beam which is collimated to lie within an X-Y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system and generally referred to as the "imaging plane". The x-ray beam passes through the object being imaged, such as a patient. The beam, after being attenuated by the object, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The detectors are generally rectangular. The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the object. Each detector element of the array produces a separate electrical signal that is a measurement of the beam attenuation at the detector location. The attenuation measurements from all the detectors are acquired separately to produce a transmission profile.
In known third generation CT systems, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated with a gantry within the imaging plane and around the object to be imaged so that the angle at which the x-ray beam intersects the object constantly changes. A group of x-ray attenuation measurements, i.e., projection data, from the detector array at one gantry angle is referred to as a "view". A "scan" of the object comprises a set of views made at different gantry angles during one revolution of the x-ray source and detector. In an axial scan, the projection data is processed to construct an image that corresponds to a two dimensional slice taken through the object. Typically, the configuration of a slice may be varied. One method for reconstructing an image from a set of projection data is referred to in the art as the filtered back projection technique. This process converts that attenuation measurements from a scan into integers called "CT numbers" or "Hounsfield units", which are used to control the brightness of a corresponding pixel on a cathode ray tube display.
To reduce the total scan time required for multiple slices, a "helical" scan may be performed. To perform a "helical" scan, the patient is moved in the z-axis synchronously with the rotation of the gantry, while the data for the prescribed number of slices is acquired. Such a system generates a single helix from a fan beam helical scan. The helix mapped out by the fan beam yields projection data from which images in each prescribed slice may be reconstructed. In addition to reduced scanning time, helical scanning provides other advantages such as better use of injected contrast, improved image reconstruction at arbitrary locations, and better three-dimensional images.
In known CT systems, the x-ray beam from the x-ray source is projected through a pre-patient collimating device, or collimator, that defines the x-ray beam profile in the patient axis, or z-axis. The collimator typically includes x-ray absorbing material with an aperture therein for restricting the x-ray beam. Known apertures are typically linear, or rectangular, and the aperture width controls the slice thickness as measured along the z-axis. For example, by passing an x-ray beam through a collimator with a 1 mm aperture, the beam output from the collimator will have a 1 mm thickness.
Known CT systems typically provide adequate image resolution. However, such resolution is limited, for example, by the collimator size, the slice thickness and the filter kernel. With respect to 3D and multi-planar reformat (MRP) images, it would be desirable to improve image resolution for all collimator sizes.
Image resolution is related to slice thickness. Particularly, by reducing the slice thickness, the image resolution is improved. In some applications, a slice thickness as thin as 0.5 mm is desired. Known CT systems, however, typically are configured to provide the smallest slice thickness of 1 mm. Until now, it was believed that in order to reduce the slice thickness to 0.5 mm, significant hardware and software changes were necessary.
Image resolution also is related to the reconstruction filter kernel. Particularly, increasing the cut-off frequency of the filter kernel causes an improvement in image resolution in the x-y plane. However, increasing the filter kernel cut-off frequency also increases the high frequency contents contributing to an image, and causes significant aliasing artifacts. Accordingly, the reconstruction filter kernel in a known CT system typically must be limited. Until now, it was believed that in order to further increase the reconstruction filter kernel cut-off frequency, significant hardware and software changes were necessary.
It would be desirable to improve image resolution in a CT system by providing a slice thickness as thin as 0.5 mm. It also would be desirable to improve image resolution by facilitating the use of even higher reconstruction filter cut-off frequencies. It also would be desirable to provide such image resolution without degrading overall image quality, and without requiring significant hardware and software changes in known CT system.

Methods and apparatus for scanning an object in a computed tomography system


A two-stage high-pressure pump includes a reduction gearbox disposed in front of a motor, a-crank shaft connected to an output shaft of the reduction gearbox, a connecting rod having one side connected to the crank shaft and the other side connected to a primary piston, a primary one-way valve disposed at one end of the primary piston, and a gas storage chamber provided at the middle of the primary piston. The other end of the primary piston is connected to a secondary piston rod in a highly sealed manner. The secondary piston rod is provided with a vent in the middle, and the other end of the secondary piston is connected to a high-pressure piston. A secondary one-way valve is disposed in the secondary high-pressure piston. A noise attenuating filter and a one-way valve block are disposed at an air inlet of the primary cylinder cover.

An existing plunger air pump basically consists of a pump body and a motor mounted outside the pump body to drive the pump body. As increasingly more small household appliances use air pumps, the air pumps are applied in an increasingly wider range, and the output air pressure needs to meet higher requirements. However, ordinary air pumps currently on the market obviously cannot meet the requirements, and it is often the case that the pressure is insufficient and the sealing performance is poor.

Two-stage high-pressure pump with high sealing performance

NANTONG GUANGXING PNEUMATIC EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.


A pole storage caddy system includes a pole storage caddy for storing a set of service poles, a pole assembly work station, a motorized monorail pole hoist and a detachable auxiliary personnel work platform, all mounted on a rail truck-mounted rigid frame. The hoist is used to convey the pole sections between the storage caddy and work station during assembly and to support the weight of the pole assembly for in-vessel work. The pole assembly work station includes a two-position slotted keyway plate, the first position providing lateral restraint during torquing operations and the second position providing vertical support during pole assembly.

During disassembly and servicing of a boiling water reactor, some activities must be performed underwater at depths of 40 to 60 feet. These activities are typically performed from the refueling bridge which spans the reactor cavity. Hollow, thin-walled poles are frequently used to reach the reactor components. These poles (each about 10 feet long and 2 to 4 inches in diameter) are usually stored on the refueling bridge. In order to reach the desired depth underwater, a number of poles are connected in series until the total length of the assembly is sufficient to allow one end of the assembly to be manipulated while the other end supports the tool at the desired depth. These poles are conventionally assembled on the bridge. Different diameter poles are used, with the larger-diameter poles being for high-torque activities. This system for storing, assembling and manipulating service poles on a refueling bridge suffers from a number of disadvantages.
First, in order to reach the desired depth underwater, a number of poles need to be available to be coupled. The poles are usually stored by laying them down on the refueling bridge walkway prior to assembly and after disassembly. Poles stored in this way can obstruct other activities, present a hazard to personnel walking on the bridge, become tangled with ropes and lines, and spread contamination on the refueling bridge.
Second, small-diameter, lightweight poles, which are typically used for underwater work, are very flexible and difficult to position when connected in long assemblies. Also, they cannot transmit the significant amount of torque which is required for some tools and operations. The poles also become very contaminated on the inside and are difficult to clean.
Third, assembly and disassembly of a multiple-pole assembly requires much handling and holding of the pole sections. Holding and handling the weight of the pole assembly is tiring for operating personnel. During assembly or disassembly of the poles, it is possible for a pole to slip out of the operator's hands and into the cavity.
Fourth, when using poles for a torquing operation, either a T-bar or a second person is required to hold the pole steady.
Lastly, some underwater servicing operations require three or more people working along side each other in close proximity on the refueling bridge walkway. The close proximity of the workers causes congested working conditions and reduces individual visual observation of the underwater work.


A computer is adapted for use in different operating modes by configuring an output controller, such as a graphics processing unit, to screen output signals prior to presenting them to the output device. A secure environment in the output controller verifies a digital signature or a hash of the output signal to determine whether the output signal is compatible with the current mode of operation. Thus only authorized output signals are presented when the computer is operating in a limited function mode, such as when metered usage time is expired. The apparatus and method also disclose similar output signal screening for determining whether the computer should be returned from a standby, or no-metering, mode to an active, or metered mode.

A pay-as-you-go or pay-per-use business model for the distribution of personal computers is built on the notion of collecting funds on an on-going basis in exchange for beneficial use of the computer or some component thereof. When the pay-per-use funding or pre-paid time period is about to expire, the user is given a chance to "recharge" the account to assure uninterrupted use of the computer. However, a situation arises when the funding or usage time period expires before the account is recharged. Completely disabling the computer may prevent the user from adding value and restoring operation. On the other hand, sanctions that allow the user limited use of the computer, in theory to allow recharging, may encourage non-payment when the limited use allows enough functionality to satisfy the user.
Additionally, when the system is deactivated, in addition to allowing reactivation it should also allow for maintenance, for example, defragmenting a disk drive, and troubleshooting, e.g. network subsystem. Therefore there is a need to block beneficial use of the computer after subscribed usage has expired, while allowing processes used for maintenance or reactivation of the computer when the subscription terms are satisfied.

System and method for trustworthy metering and deactivation


A battery pack has a secondary battery connected to a plus side terminal. A protective circuit protects the secondary battery from overcharge and over-discharge. A calculation circuit operates with a minus side terminal as a reference for calculating a remaining capacity of the secondary battery. An N-channel MOS transistor is connected between the secondary battery and the minus terminal for controlling charge and discharge of the secondary battery in accordance with a signal from the protective circuit. A level shifter circuit is connected between the calculation circuit and a communication terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery pack with a remaining battery power calculating function (hereinafter referred to as smart battery pack) which is reduced in cost and improved in performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Smart battery packs of prior art use P-channel MOS transistors on the Hi side (see JP 2002-151163 A, pages 3 through 6, FIG. 1, for example). This can be seen in a circuit diagram of FIG. 5, which illustrates a conventional smart battery pack. The circuit in FIG. 5 has a plus side terminal 11, a minus side terminal 12, and terminals 13 and 14 for communicating with an electronic device. Although the battery pack in FIG. 5 has two communication terminals, only one communication terminal may be provided instead. The terminals 11 through 14 are connected to the electronic device or a charger. The smart battery pack contains a secondary battery 10, a protective circuit 1 for protecting the secondary battery 10, a circuit 2 for calculating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery 10, a resistor 3 for current detection, P-channel MOS transistors 4 and 5, and others.
The protective circuit 1 controls ON/OFF of the P-channel MOS transistors 4 and 5 in accordance with the state of the secondary battery 10. For instance, when the secondary battery 10 is in an over-discharged state, the protective circuit 1 turns the P-channel MOS transistor 4 off to prohibit discharge whereas the protective circuit 1 turns the P-channel MOS transistor 5 off to stop charging when the secondary battery 10 is in an overcharged state. In the case of lithium ion secondary batteries, a protective circuit is generally incorporated in a battery pack as a measure to enhance the safety level.
The circuit 2 for calculating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery 10 monitors the voltage of the secondary battery 10 as well as the electric potential on each end of the current detection resistor 3 to measure a charge current, a discharge current, and the like. The measurement results are transmitted to the electronic device through the communication terminals 13 and 14 (upon request of the electronic device).
The battery pack communicates with the electronic device in accordance with the GND reference, in other words, with the electric potential of the terminal 12 as the reference (hereinafter the GND reference means using the electric potential of the terminal 12 as the reference).
For the purpose of discussion, if an N-channel MOS transistor is used on the Lo side, the lower side electric potential of the secondary battery serves as the reference electric potential of the circuit for calculating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery of the battery pack, and does not match the GND reference electric potential of the electronic device. Accordingly, the battery pack and the electronic device cannot communicate with each other.
When the conventional smart battery pack communicates with the electronic device using the lower electric potential of the electronic device as the reference, a Hi side transistor of the battery pack has to be a P-channel MOS transistor. This is a problem since P-channel transistors in general have poorer mobility and characteristics compared to N-channel MOS transistors.

Battery pack with a remaining battery power calculating function


A system for the measurement of high bandwidth peak power pulses from laser sources. A laser pulse from a laser is directed onto the surface of a diffuser that replicates the pulse. A linear array of fiber optics of varying fiber length transmits the replicated pulses to a detector. The detector produces n pulses having a pulse width .lambda., each separated in time by a given time delay .DELTA.t which is directly proportioned to the length of each fiber. The output of the detector is fed to a digitizing oscilloscope to produce of digitized average pulse phase output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems for measuring radiometric peak power, and more particularly to a system employing fiber optics for measuring high bandwidth peak power pulses from laser sources.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,318 issued Nov. 9, 1976 to Duguay entitled OPTICAL DETECTION SYSTEMS UTILIZING ORGAN ARRAYS OF OPTICAL FIBERS discloses an organ array that comprises a plurality of optical fibers each cut to a different length with the differences between functionally adjacent fibers being uniform. The fibers are arranged in a bundle so that one set of ends of the fibers is terminated in an input plane and the opposite set of ends is terminated in an output plane. Described are several embodiments utilizing the organ array including a passive spatial scanner, optical memory systems, an image converter, an optical sampling oscilloscope, and an x-y coordinate locator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,199 issued Sep. 20, 1983 to Ogle et al. entitled METHOD FOR ENHANCING SIGNALS TRANSMITTED OVER OPTICAL FIBERS describes a method for spectral equalization of high frequency spectrally broadband signals transmitted through an optical fiber. The broadband signal input is first dispersed by a grating. Narrow spectral components are collected into an array of equalizing fibers. The fibers serve as optical delay lines compensating for material dispersion of each spectral component during transmission. The relative lengths of the individual equalizing fibers are selected to compensate for such prior dispersion. The output of the equalizing fibers couple the spectrally equalized light onto a suitable detector for subsequent electronic processing of the enhanced broadband signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,663, issued Oct. 11, 1988 to Charlton entitled DATA RATE LIMITER FOR OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM discloses a dispersion transformer for limiting the data rate of an optical fiber transmission system. A transmission optical fiber, which connects a transmitter and a receiver, may have a bandwidth much greater than that necessary to transmit a desired predetermined maximum data rate. The transmitted signal is connected to wavelength disperser means which spatially separates the different wavelength components of the transmitted signal.
Each wavelength component is then propagated with a different delay by optical fiber delay means. The wavelength component which propagates with the least delay through the transmission optical fiber is subjected to the least induced delay in the optical fiber delay means and that which propagates with the greatest delay through the transmission optical fiber is subjected to the greatest induced delay in optical fiber delay means, the remaining components being subjected to intermediate delays. The delayed wavelength components are combined to form a series of broadened optical pulses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,148 issued Jan. 18, 1991 to Poisel et al. entitled LASER WARNING SENSOR WITH FREQUENCY-CODED POSITION INFORMATION discloses a laser warning sensor having a directional resolution capability based on a pulse frequency encoding of the directions at which laser light beams are received. The sensor is equipped with a plurality of light signal delay units. The directional or angular information is encoded by closed loop fiberglass light conductors, one of which is part of each light signal delay unit, each closed loop has a different length so that the respective signal delay signifies the respective directional information. The closed loop light conductors transform received light pulse signals into pulse sequences or pulse trains each having a given frequency. The respective frequencies are separated by filters in an electronic evaluating circuit which receives its input signals from a photodiode which receives the output light signals from all delay units.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,154 issued Aug. 18, 1992 to Yurek et al. entitled INLINE FIBER OPTIC SENSOR ARRAYS WITH DELAY ELEMENTS COUPLED BETWEEN SENSOR UNITS discloses an improved inline fiber optic sensor array that is achieved by packaging a plurality of fiber optic sensor units such that each fiber optic sensor unit incorporates a complete functional sensor and adjacent fiber optic sensor units are separated by a delay element connected in series between each pair of fiber optic sensor units. Delay elements temporally separate measured signals received from the individual fiber optic sensor units and permit decoupling of signals produced in response to environmental stress on the non-sensor unit portions of the array.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,857 issued Jul. 13, 1993 to Kersey entitled SYSTEM FOR CANCELLING PHASE NOISE IN AN INTERFEROMETRIC FIBER OPTIC SENSOR ARRANGEMENT discloses a fiber optic sensor system for canceling phase noise while it senses a measureand field. The system includes circuitry for developing a light beam that is frequency modulated at a fundamental frequency. First and second unbalanced interferometers, having equal path imbalances, are responsive to the frequency modulated light beam for producing respective first and second optical outputs. Detection circuitry is responsive to the fundamental frequency, the second harmonic of the fundamental frequency, and the first and second optical outputs for producing a plurality of sine and cosine signals containing phase difference and phase noise components. A signal processor is responsive to the plurality of sine and cosine signals for canceling the phase noise components and only producing output sine and cosine components of the difference in the phase shift between the first and second unbalanced interferometers. The system can further include a demodulator for demodulating the sine and cosine components to produce an output signal proportional to the phase shift difference between the first and second unbalanced interferometers.


A method and apparatus for identifying each of the members of a set of physical mass storage devices acting as one logical mass storage device are provided. Each physical mass storage device is assigned a membership signature identifying it as a valid member of the set. Whenever a member of a set undergoes a change in membership status, the membership signatures of all other devices in the set are changed, so that the member with the changed membership state no longer has a valid signature. When the member is reinstalled, it can be given a new valid signature after it is updated or regenerated.

This invention relates to sets (or arrays) of physical mass storage devices that perform as a single logical mass storage device. More particularly, this invention relates to methods and apparatus for keeping track of when a particular member of the set (or array) is a valid member. As used herein, the terms "set" and "array" are synonymous.
Mass storage devices--i.e., tape and disk drives, and more commonly disk drives--are the primary storage devices for permanent data in electronic digital computer systems. It has been known to use a set of physical mass storage devices to function as one larger logical mass storage device. This might be done for several reasons. First, if one member of the set fails, the entire set need not be disabled, and a majority of the data on the logical device remains available, while new data can still be stored. Second, the access time for data may be reduced because any one read/write head--in the case of the disk drives--or tape reel--in the case of tape drives--need not move as far to find the particular data it is seeking if the physical devices are small compared to a single physical device of the same storage capacity as the set. This last factor has become more important recently in the case of disk drives in particular as the cost, speed and reliability of small disk drives have improved faster than those of larger drives. Therefore, although the present invention is applicable to any mass storage technology--i.e., disk, tape or any other technology, the discussion below will refer only to disk drives, it being understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to disk drives.
When a set of physical disk drives is used as a single logical drive, care must be taken to maintain the integrity of data that is spread over several drives. For example, it has been known to use checksums and other error correction techniques with sets of drives to allow the reconstruction, from the active drives in a set, of data stored on a drive that is disabled or removed for other reasons.
If a set of drives can operate with one or more drives removed, data may be written to the set while the drive is removed. Depending on how data is stored across the set, the data on the removed drive may not be valid when the drive is reinstalled until it is updated or regenerated. Therefore, it is important to know, when a drive is reinstalled, whether or not it is a valid member of the set. In one known system, the computer system maintains a table or list of physical serial numbers for the members of the set and can read the serial numbers of each member, determining from the list whether the drives are valid members. However, the table of physical serial numbers in such a system is maintained in volatile memory, and is not protected in the event of a power failure. If interrupted, the system would fail, and the membership set information would be lost. Moreover, in such a system, the table or list in the computer system must be created manually and must be updated to reflect the removal of a drive and its reconnection. While such updating of the table or list might be done automatically, it has generally been done manually, by an operator. Even when the update is automatic, it requires the involvement of the central processor. Also, if the membership information is not stored in the set of drives, the information may be lost if control over the set is transferred from the device in which the table or list has been maintained to another device (e.g., if the first device fails).
It would be desirable to be able to provide a "signature" system for a set of physical disk drives functioning as one logical drive which would automatically reflect the current membership status of any drive in the set and which would automatically be updated and remain valid if an update was interrupted by a power failure.
It would also be desirable to be able to provide such a system that did not require manual intervention by an operator and did not require the involvement of the central processor.
It would also be desirable to be able to provide such a system that stored membership information on the drive or drives.

Method and apparatus for assigning signatures to identify members of a set of mass of storage devices


The present invention provides apparatus and a method for use in weaving elongate members together and most typically elongate members in the form of hair attached to the head of a person or a toy doll. The elongate members are provided in groups and the groups pass through passages in a weaving mechanism and along guide tubes which are located to the opposing side of the weaving mechanism from the item to which at least some of the elongate members are attached. Typically, relative movement of the weaving mechanism along the elongate members and the operation of the weaving mechanism cause the weave, such as in the form of plaiting, braiding or cornrowing to be formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention to which this application relates is apparatus for the weaving or interweaving of elongate members and examples of the weaving types are plaiting, braiding or cornrowing. Reference herein to weaving should be interpreted as relating to these examples and other possible forms.
2. Description of the Related Art
The elongate members to which the invention relates is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to lengths of hair, whether the hair is real or false and provided in attachment to the persons head, provided as extensions or provided as hair for a toy character. However, reference hereonin to hair should not be interpreted as excluding any other form of elongate member with which the apparatus and method may be used, such as ribbons, strands or the like.
The provision of the weaving of hair is a well-known form of decoration and/or cultural effect which has been practiced for many years and indeed centuries.
The conventional approach has been for a person's hair to be woven manually and, due to the difficulties in the person whose hair is being woven physically achieving this themselves, the weaving is most typically performed by a second person due to the better access, and hence better quality, of the weaving effect which can be achieved. However, this process is time consuming which means that often the weaving of the hair is not done at all due to time constraints, or, if the weaving is to be done on a commercial basis by the second person, the time required to be taken makes the cost of performing the weaving to be prohibitive.
More recently, attempts have been made by third parties to provide apparatus which allows the automated weaving to be achieved, which therefore reduces the time required to achieve the weaving whilst attempting to maintain the quality of the weave. In certain instances, the apparatus is designed to allow a person to use the apparatus to weave their own hair.
However, in practice, it is found that the quality of the weave which is achieved is quite often of inferior quality to that which can be achieved manually. Also, with certain of the apparatus, the same is relatively large and appears to be complicated to use, which can dissuade persons from purchasing and using the apparatus. For example, the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,237 shows a weaving mechanism which receives lengths of hair which are stored in an overlapping manner in feed tubes which extend between the weaving mechanism and the persons head from which the hair extends. This means that the hair which is to be woven extends between the weaving mechanism and the head and the feed tubes in which the hair is located are driven along respective rotating paths to cause the weave to be formed. However, the provision of the feed tubes in this manner and the need for the same to be able to receive considerable lengths of hair makes the apparatus cumbersome to use and there is a risk of entanglement of the feed tubes and/or hair. It is also believed that the distance of the weaving mechanism from the head means that the weave which is created is relatively imprecise and therefore may not be acceptable to many potential users of the apparatus.
Other known forms of weaving apparatus include relatively complex multigear or multi motor apparatus and the synchronisation of the same is found to be problematic and/or expensive to achieve.
An aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus which allows the weaving of elongate members, such as hair, to be achieved in an efficient manner and with a quality which at least matches that which can be achieved manually. A further aim is to provide apparatus which minimises the possibility of the hair being entangled or damaged. A yet further aim is to provide the apparatus in a form which allows the same to be used to achieve the weaving effect by a person using the apparatus on their own hair.

Apparatus and method for the weaving or interweaving of elongate members to form braids or plaits


A spliced fiber tow (40) having a uniform density along its entire length is provided. The spliced fiber tow is manufactured by rarefying the ends (22, 32) of the two fiber tow segments to be joined, aligning the rarefied regions (26, 36) and then applying pressurized gas to entangle the filaments in the rarefied regions. An apparatus (50) for forming the spliced fiber tow includes a pair of rarefying blades (86, 92) and an entanglement element (58).

Carbon fibers are long, thin filaments of material about 0.005 to 0.010 mm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. Carbon fibers are typically produced as tows or yarns consisting of several thousands of carbon fibers. The carbon fiber tow may be used by itself or woven into a fabric. The tow or fabric is combined with epoxy or other polymer and wound or molded into shape to form various composite materials. Carbon fiber reinforced composite materials are used in many applications where light weight and high strength are needed.
In order to provide continuous lengths of carbon fiber tow, it is necessary to splice the ends. Conventional methods of splicing fiber ends include applying a coating composition onto the fiber ends, placing the coated ends in contact and drying or curing the coating to form a bonded splice. However, during subsequent manufacturing operations, the bonded area may not be compatible with the resin used to impregnate the fibers, which could also cause a local potential failure or premature failure.
Joining the ends of fibers from lengths of tow or yarn by air entanglement methods is known. In this method, the ends of the tow or yarn are overlapped with each other and an air stream is applied to the overlapped portions to cause the fibers therein to become entangled with each other. However, the fiber density at the joined portion becomes much greater than the fiber density in the main portions of the tow. In other words, the fiber density is double in the splice area. This increased bulk can damage part of the tow and may cause problems in subsequent operations. For example, in pultrusion processes, the increased bulk may have difficulty passing through the die and/or cause the resin impregnated therein not to fully penetrate the tow or not to cure completely.

Spliced carbon fiber tow and splicing method


Organopolysiloxanes which contain a fragrance alcohol Y—OH bonded via a betaine ester group having the structure —N+R1R2—CH2—C(O)OY, cleave off the fragrance alcohol under acid conditions and are resistant to hydrolysis in the neutral and weakly basic range. The organopolysiloxanes adhere to textile fibres, skin or hair and are suitable as perfume components for textile treatment agents and personal care products.

For textile treatment agents and personal care products, perfume components are needed which for an extended period adhere to textile fibres, hair or skin, where they release the fragrance substances of the perfume over an extended period and under controlled conditions. Particularly desirable here are perfume components which do not release their fragrance substances until the user of the personal care product or of the item of clothing treated with the textile treatment agent perspires and unpleasant body odours form due to perspiration. Unpleasant body odours are generally formed through bacteria, which break down the constituents of the sweat. In addition to the formation of unpleasantly smelling compounds, this bacterial degradation also leads to acid degradation products. There is therefore a need for perfume components for textile treatment agents and personal care products which contain fragrance substances in bound form and which release them only under acid conditions, such that an intensified perfume effect can be obtained under these conditions to conceal developing body odours.
Betaine esters of fragrance alcohols are known from WO 6/38528 which can be used in detergents, fabric softeners or cleaning agents and adhere to surfaces such as textile fibres. The fragrance alcohol is released from these betaine esters by hydrolysis, the release of the fragrance alcohol taking place only very slowly under acid conditions. The fragrance alcohol is released from the betaine esters only at pH values of 7 or more.
It is also known from WO 97/36978 that betaine esters of fragrance alcohols are resistant to hydrolysis in the acid range and that the fragrance alcohol is released by hydrolysis only at pH values of over 7.
The betaine esters of fragrance alcohols disclosed in EP-A 1 099 689 are also stable in the acid range.
The same pH-dependence of the stability of betaine esters is also known from DE 35 27 974 for betaine esters used as constituents of hair care products.
Alkoxysilanes are known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,018 which contain a fragrance alcohol ROH bonded in the form of an Si—O—R group. The fragrance alcohol is slowly released from these compounds. The document contains no disclosure with regard to the pH-dependence of the release of the fragrance alcohols from the alkoxysilanes and the disclosed alkoxysilanes do not remain adhering to textile fibres, skin or hair because they do not display or cannot develop a positive charge.
EP-A 0 982 023 describes polysiloxanes which contain a fragrance alcohol bonded by means of an Si—O—R group and their use as a constituent of cosmetic preparations. The fragrance alcohol is slowly released from the polysiloxanes in the presence of acetic acid. However, the disclosed polysiloxanes do not display adequate adhesion to surfaces having a negative surface charge, such as textile fibres, skin or hair, since they do not display or cannot develop a positive charge.


A lens holder for holding a plurality of lenses is provided. The lens holder is assembled from a plurality of subunits divided on a plane that is parallel to an optical axis. A subunit includes a substantially cylindrical outer shell and front side rear side portions that extend from an inner surface of the outer shell toward the optical axis to support at least one lens from in front and behind respectively. When the at least one lens is attached between the portions, one of the portions is harder to deform than the other of portions.

The present invention relates to a holder for a lens system that is suited to an image displaying apparatus that magnifies and projects, onto a screen, an image from an image generating apparatus (for example, a light modulator such as a liquid crystal display device, a DMD, or the like), to a lens unit comprising such lens system, and to an image displaying apparatus comprising such lens unit.
A lens unit used in apparatus (for example, a camera, projector, or the like) is produced by holding a plurality of lenses in a cylindrical holder or lens holding unit, and is incorporated in the apparatus. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-40308 discloses an apparatus where contact surfaces are formed interior of cylindrical lens holding members, lenses are inserted into the lens holding members and the lenses are fixed using pressing rings in a state where the edges of the lenses contact the contact surfaces respectively. According to this construction, a plurality of lenses are assembled in one unit in a state where the distances between the lenses in the direction of the optical axis are fixedly adjusted.
When constructing an optical system (lens unit) from a plurality of lenses, tolerances for the thicknesses of the lenses affect the image forming performance and aberration correction. The effect on the performance of the lens unit is unequal for the front and rear (i.e., front and rear surfaces) of each lens included in the lens unit. Due to factors such as a difference in curvature between the front and rear surfaces of a lens and/or the relationship with adjacent lenses or lens groups, there is a difference between the effect of the tolerance for one surface of a lens and the effect of the tolerance for the other surface of the lens.
In the lens apparatus disclosed by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-40308, the positions of the one side of the lens surfaces that contacts the contact surface of a lens holding member is precisely determined. If the lenses had different diameters and were inserted into the lens holding member by a favorable order, for all of the lenses, the front or rear surface of each lens that has a large effect is placed in contact with the contact surface of the lens holding member to control the position of such surface.
However, for the lens apparatus that includes lenses of a similar diameter, it is difficult for precisely maintaining the distance between the facing surfaces of such lenses. When holding a plurality of lenses of a similar diameter, even if the order in which the lenses are inserted into the lens holding member is adjusted, it becomes difficult to support face to face surfaces that have a large effect using the contact surfaces.
There are known projectors that generate an image by modulating light from a light source using a light modulator (for example, light valve) such as a liquid crystal display or a DMD and magnify and project the image onto a screen using a lens unit. Rear projectors are one example of such projectors. Rear projectors project images from behind the screen, and show promise as slim image displaying apparatuses that display sharp images on a large screen. In a projector disclosed by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-222060, a projection unit that includes a projection lens and its incident side is fixed, using a supporting means, in a cantilever state to an optical unit that includes a light source and a liquid crystal display unit.
In a "front-type" projector where the screen is separated from the projector main unit and images are projecting onto the screen from the front, the position of some of the lenses in the lens unit, normally the lens closest to the screen, can be slightly adjusted to focus the image projecting onto the screen and produce a sharp image.
In a rear projector where images are projecting from behind the screen, the lens unit is housed inside a housing of the rear projector. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to make focus adjustments. So, projectors are shipped after the focus has been adjusted.
In a rear projector, the lens unit is housed in the housing together with the light source that becomes a source of heat. Therefore the temperature of the lens unit is susceptible to rising. Accordingly, for the lens unit of a rear projector, to attain sharper images and fairer optical performance such as focusing, more precise setting of the lens positions and less fluctuate to temperature fluctuations are required.


The present invention relates to polyureas which contain anionic N-cyanaminocarbonyl urea groups corresponding to formula (I) ##STR1## incorporated in the polymer chain and, optionally, terminal anionic cyanourea groups corresponding to formula (II) ##STR2## wherein the ratio of incorporated groups (I) to terminal groups (II) is more than 1:1, preferably more than 2:1.. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these polyureas.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to new polyureas modified by neutralized N-cyanaminocarbonyl urea groups and to a process for their production.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aqueous solutions or dispersions of anionically modified polyisocyanate addition products, more particularly aqueous dispersions of anionically modified polyurethanes or polyurethane ureas, and their use for the production of coatings are known [cf. for example DE-PS 1 184 946, DE-PS 1 178 586, DE-AS 1 237 306, DE-OS 1 495 745, DE-OS 1 595 602, DE-OS 1 770 068, DE-OS 2 019 324, DE-OS 2 314 512 and also Angew. Chem 82, 53 (1970)].
The dispersibility of the polyisocyanate polyaddition products present in these dispersions is based on the presence of incorporated ionic centers, especially incorporated sulfonate or carboxylate groups. In the production of coatings from these dispersions, the ionic centers generally remain in the resulting coatings, which causes a reduction in the water resistance of the coating.
Water-dispersible polyisocyanate addition products modified by anionic cyanourea groups are also known (cf. DE-0S 3 441 934; 3 600 595; 3 735 198 and 3 813 840). Coatings obtained from dispersions such as these are considerably more water-resistant than coatings obtained from standard PUR dispersions because, after losing the counterion, the hydrophilicizing cyanourea anions acquire a self-crosslinking character and thus lose their hydrophilic properties after crosslinking. In addition, dispersions of the type in question can also be crosslinked with other crosslinking agents, for example polyepoxides.
A disadvantage is that the incorporation of the hydrophilicizing cyanourea groups in accordance with the previously described German references is a chain-terminating reaction. As a result, the molecular weight which the polyurethanes are capable of reaching is limited by the number of cyanourea groups required for dispersion. In extreme cases, the effect of this can be that the molecular weight capable of being reached in the case of very fine particle dispersions requiring a high content of hydrophilicizing groups is so low that the products are no "longer film-forming. However, fine particle PUR dispersions are advantageous in terms of processing because they have good flow and, with the proper molecular weight, are characterized by excellent film formation.
By contrast, synthesis components for incorporating lateral, hydrophilic carboxylate and/or sulfonate groups into the polyurethanes or polyurethane-ureas are strictly difunctional in the context of polyurethane chemistry. Therefore, the amount of hydrophilic groups incorporated does not affect the molecular weight buildup of the polymer. The direct consequence of this is that virtually any desired molecular weight can be obtained. The hydrophilicizing groups are laterally incorporated into the polyurethanes of the type in question.
An object of the present invention is to provide anionically modified polyureas which combine the advantages of the two types of hydrophilic polyurethanes and polyurethaneureas previously described, i.e., 1) the use of hydrophilic components which crosslink spontaneously after drying to avoid the problems caused by the presence of hydrophilic groups in the resulting coating and 2) the use of hydrophilic components which may be incorporated without affecting molecular weight buildup to avoid the difficulties associated therewith.
This object may be achieved in accordance with the present invention as described hereinafter.

Modified polyureas containing N-cyanaminocarbonyl urea groups and a process for their preparation


This invention pertains to an aqueous based magenta inkjet ink with good hue, chroma, optical density, fade resistance, and long latency, comprising a certain specified combination of soluble magenta colorants.

The present invention pertains to a magenta inkjet ink and in particular to an aqueous based magenta inkjet ink comprising a mixture of certain soluble magenta colorants. The invention also pertains to an ink set comprising this magenta ink.
Inkjet printing is a non-impact printing process in which droplets of ink are deposited on a substrate, such as paper, to form the desired image. The droplets are ejected from a printhead in response to electrical signals generated by a microprocessor. Inkjet printers offer low cost, high quality printing and have become a popular alternative to other types of printers.
Inkjet printers are equipped with an ink set which, for full color printing, typically comprises a cyan, magenta and yellow ink (CMY). An ink set will also commonly comprise a black ink (CMYK). Colorants for the inks can be soluble in the ink vehicle (dyes) or insoluble (pigments).
The ink set should provide printed images having good color characteristics, such as correct hue and high chroma. Preferably, the ink set will achieve these favorable characteristics on a range of media including plain paper as well as specialty media such as transparency film and coated paper. Also, preferably, the hard copy output is reasonably lightfast.
Individual inks should generally exhibit good crusting resistance, good stability, proper viscosity, proper surface tension, good color-to-color bleed alleviation, rapid dry time, consumer-safety, and low strike-through.
Various magenta, yellow and cyan dyes, and CYM dye sets, have been disclosed for plain paper and photo paper printing. Most of the attention though is directed to selection of the magenta colorant.
Probably the most commonly mentioned magenta dye is Reactive Red 180 which can be used alone or in combination with Acid Red 52 to achieve a more violet shade. The combination of dyes is adjusted to give the desired balance of hue, chroma and lightfastness. Reactive dyes such as RR180 are known to hydrolyze in the aqueous ink vehicle causing the pH to drift and producing sulfate ions which cause problems with ink reliability. The reactive dyes can be hydrolyzed and purified before use but this adds an additional expensive processing step to the ink production.
As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,257, magenta is typically the colorant most vulnerable to light. It is desirable for a dye to have the best possible fade resistance. The '257 reference provides lightfastness evaluation of a number of magenta dyes of which Acid Red 37, Acid Red 289, Direct Red 75, Direct Red 212, Reactive Red 141, Reactive Red 23, Reactive Red 195 are rated highest, and more lightfast than Reactive Red 180.
A magenta ink with excellent lighffastness comprising a mixture of Magenta 377 and Acid 52 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,742. Hydrolyzed Reactive Red 23 magenta colorant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,195 and described as having high lightfastness.
Other known magenta colorants include Direct Red 227 as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,547 as part of a CYM ink set. A mixture of magenta anthrapyridone dye and Reactive Red 23, Reactive Red 24, Reactive Red 31, Reactive Red 120, Reactive Red 180, Reactive Red 241, Acid Red 35, Acid Red 52, Acid Red 249, Acid Red 289, Acid Red 388, Direct Red 227 or CAS No. 153204-88-7 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,102. A mixture of Acid Red 92 and Reactive Red 180, Direct Red 75, or Reactive Red 159 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,722.
As inkjet printheads deliver smaller and smaller drops for improved printing resolution, colorant loadings must increase to compensate for the lower amounts of ink applied. However, increasing dye concentration in an ink can cause problems with reliability. For example, oftentimes "latency" or "decap", one aspect of reliability, is negatively impacted (reduced) by increased dye concentrations. The decap (latency) time refers to the amount of time inkjet nozzles can remain uncapped and idle, and still fire without missing or misdirected drops. Preferably, to avoid printing defects, an ink will preferably exhibit favorable (long) decap times even at high dye loadings.
There is still a need for improved colorants and/or colorant selection for magenta dye-based inks and in particular for dyes that can be used reliability at high loadings and provide good hue, chroma, optical density and fade resistance.


A waveform knock signal detected by a knock sensor is filtered through a band-pass filter. The detected wave form signal is compared with an ideal reference knock waveform to determine an engine knock. The ideal reference knock waveform is derived on the basis of a factor depending on a crank angle, a factor depending on a real time and a factor depending on an engine construction. The factor depending on the real time is calculated based on an energy loss in a combustion chamber and a time constant of the band-pass filter. The factor depending on the engine construction is calculated based on a knock vibration which is generated in a cylinder, transferred to a cylinder block and detected by the knock sensor.

A knock detecting apparatus, as shown in JP-6-60621B, has a knock sensor disposed on a cylinder block of an engine. The knock sensor detects a knock vibration and outputs a knock signal. Knock frequency components corresponding to the engine knock are derived from the knock signal by a band-pass filter. A peak value of the knock frequency components is detected by a peak-hold circuit, and then the peak value is compared with a knock determining level to determine a presence or absence of the engine knock. Alternately, the knock frequency components in a predetermined range are integrated, and the integrated value is compared with the knock determining level.
However, the frequency band generated by the engine knock is not always the same. The frequency band having a high vibration intensity is different every engine knock. Thus, when the only one of frequency band is determined and when the determined frequency band has a lower vibration intensity than the other frequency band, the engine knock can not be detected.
When an electric and/or mechanical noise occurs in the frequency band near the knock frequency components and when the knock determination is performed only from the peak value or integrated value of a knock frequency components, then an electric and/or mechanical noise may be superposed on the derived knock frequency components, and then the noise is determined mistakenly as the engine knock.
On the other hand, JP-2001-227400A shows that the knock determination is executed on the basis of the relation between the peak value in the knock frequency components and the vibration period. However, in such a knock determination, when multiple noises are superposed on the knock frequency components, it is hardly distinguish the engine knock from the noises in order to detect the engine knock correctly.

Knock detecting apparatus for internal combustion engine


In accordance with the invention, a variable optical delay line with a large continuous tuning range comprises an incremental variable delay line to provide delay selected from a sequence of incrementally differing delays and a continuous variable delay line to provide a continuously variable delay over a range encompassing a delay increment in the first variable delay line. In a preferred embodiment, the first variable delay line comprises an array of delay paths where each path is curved differently from the others to provide an incrementally different delay. The second variable delay line is a tunable delay path continuously tunable over the delay increment of the first.

One of the major advances in communications in recent years has been the increased use of optical fiber systems for carrying large quantities of information with low distortion and low cost over great distances.
Optical delay lines are important components in such optical fiber communication systems. They are critical components in switching streams of optical signals from one path to another. They are used in packet switching for Internet applications, and they are building blocks in the correlation filters used to recognize packet addresses for the Internet. Delay lines are also used in the buffers that control the timing of signal routing. And they are used for synchronizing data bits, for compensating dispersion between different optical paths, and for compensating differential delay between paths.
Variable delay lines are needed because different delays may be required at different times. In addition to variation required by the dynamics of optical network components, variation of delays in the optical network may be required to compensate differences in RF transmission paths due, for example, to changes in a satellite orbit, to spaced apart multiple ground antennas, or to atmospheric scintillation.
Conventional variable optical delay lines are incremental rather than continuously variable. A typical conventional variable delay line comprises a plurality of optical fibers, each cut to a slightly different length, and an optical switch to select the fiber path, thereby selecting the delay time. Since the differences in length are incremental, the delay line is incremental rather than continuous. Thus the variable delay line can only approximate the precise delay being sought.
Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide an improved variable optical delay line that provides continuous resolution over a large dynamic range.

Variable optical delay line with a large continuous tuning range


A knee pad for cushioning a human knee. The knee pad includes a cushion section having varied consistencies. The knee pad is held on the knee by two fastening straps. Each fastening strap is attached to the cushion section with buckles or similar fastening devices. A lower fastening strap has at least two closure devices, a first being a hook and eye fastening system and a second being a buckle fastening system.

The present invention relates generally to knee pads and more particularly to a knee pad having a secure fastening system.
Knee pads are well known for protecting the knees while working or while playing sports. One common type of knee pad for construction work includes a cushion section which fits over the knee. The knee pad allows the user to move around easily on his/her knees by swiveling and sliding on the knees while providing protection against injury. The buckles on the straps and other fastening devices are used to fasten the knee pad around the knee.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,792,048 to Swenson discloses a knee protector having two bands of elastic material stitched to a rubber cushioning pad. The length of each band is adjustable by a three-bar fitting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,448 to Johnston, Jr. discloses a knee brace that functions to support and stabilize the patella of the knee. An inflatable U-shaped air cell extends to either side of the patella. The air cell may be inflated by mouth pressure through a tube and valve. The straps are secured around the leg and the air cell by hook and loop fasteners. A backing member of open cell polyurethane foam is located between the knee and the air cell, and has a perforation to permit the crown of the patella to extend through.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,843 to Watson et al. discloses an air pressure knee brace apparatus having valve means to allow the user to adjust the desired amount of support pressure. The pneumatic chamber has an aperture located directly over the kneecap. The adjustment straps include buckles to control the tension around the knee. The front of the apparatus is composed of neoprene, while the pneumatic chamber is made of latex rubber.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,955 to Gongea discloses a knee pad for athletes which includes a stretchable elastic region connecting the various cushion regions. The fastening strips also attach to the elastic region.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,292 to Hargens discloses a knee pad unit having a hard outer plastic shell. Inflatable pneumatic tubes are attached to the shell by VELCRO® fasteners. The tubes are inflated by a hand held air pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,267 to McKewin discloses a knee pad holder including simple loops or keepers secured to the trousers leg. The loops are provided for use only with an upper strap to hold the knee pad against downward movement.
There exists a continuing need in the art for a knee pad that provides protection to the knee while allowing for mobility and flexibility. There is also a need for a knee pad having a double closing system that remains secure during repeated kneeling and standing motions and while walking on the knees. There is a further need for a knee pad provides a tighter fit around the knee.