In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods for producing printing plates comprising rapid, efficient drying of solvent-containing resin compositions of the printing plates and apparatus useful therefor. Printing plates processed employing invention methods and apparatus are ready for use in printing applications in a relatively short period of time, especially compared to the time required for conventional convection drying. Moreover, printing plates processed according to the present invention method and apparatus are not subjected to excessive levels of heat, as is frequently the case with conventional convection drying. Excessive heating tends to be detrimental to the performance properties of the polymeric resin. In a particular aspect of the present invention, there are provided novel compositions which, upon drying according to the methods described herein, undergo a color change, thereby indicating when the drying process is substantially complete. When used for the production of printing plates, invention compositions provide finished printing plates which display a readily observed contrast between the floor and image portions thereof.

Photosensitive resin plates used in the manufacture of relief printing plates are developed by washing with water and/or organic solvents. Once development of exposed plates (i.e., washing to remove unexposed resin therefrom) is complete, it is desirable to remove residual solvent from the exposed resin prior to further processing of the resin plate. Failure to do so will compromise the integrity of the plate upon final curing, for example by cracking, fracturing, shrinking, warping, etc., and lead to poor print quality if the plate is not sufficiently dried.
Currently, thermal convection ovens are employed in the art for such purpose. There are, however, numerous drawbacks to the present methods employed for drying solvent-containing resins. For example, present methods are highly energy inefficient, since the entire resin plate is heated in efforts to drive off solvent (instead of selectively heating only that portion of the resin which is targeted for solvent removal), convection ovens have long heat-up and cool-down cycles, ovens must be maintained at an elevated temperature for extended periods of time if rapid drying on demand is desired, very large ovens (with the associated space and utility requirements) are necessary when continuous drying processes are contemplated, and the like. In addition, there is a substantial potential for exposing the resin to excessive levels of heat in efforts to achieve an acceptable level of drying. Such exposure can have a variety of detrimental effects on resin performance, e.g., degradation of the polymeric resin, cracking of the resin, curling of the resin plate, and the like.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art are more energy efficient methods than are currently available for removing diluent from polymeric resin materials. Especially useful would be methods for removing diluent from polymeric resin materials without compromising the chemical and physical properties of said resin.


An ultrasonic particle measuring system having an ultrasonic transducer with at least one ultrasonic transducer element and at least one coupling element, wherein, during operation, acoustic signals are transmittable and receivable by the ultrasonic transducer element via the coupling element, wherein the coupling element is embodied as an acoustic lens, and the ultrasonic, particle measuring system has an evaluation unit suitable for amplitude analysis of reflection signals of acoustic signals reflected from particles to the ultrasonic transducer, and wherein, with the evaluation unit, amplitudes of reflection signals in a predetermined time interval are countable, which are greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Ultrasonic transducers are composed, normally, of an electromechanical transducer element, e.g. a piezoelectric element, also called a piezo for short, and a coupling layer, also called a coupling wedge or, not so frequently, a lead-in element. The coupling layer is, in such case, most often manufactured of synthetic material, while the piezoelectric element is composed in industrial process measurement technology usually of a piezoceramic. The ultrasonic waves are produced in the piezoelectric element and led via the coupling layer to the tube wall and from there into the liquid.
Arranged between the piezoelectric element and the coupling layer can be another coupling layer, a so called adapting, or matching, layer. The adapting, or matching, layer, in such case, performs the function of transmission of the ultrasonic signal and simultaneously the reduction of a reflection at interfaces between two materials caused by different acoustic impedances.
Known are also ultrasonic methods and measuring devices for ascertaining concentration and/or size of particles in a fluid as measured medium. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,268 shows such a measuring device having at least one ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer is reflected by particles in the measured medium back to the transducer and there registered as an echo. One embodiment shows two ultrasonic transducers arranged opposite one another on a measuring tube. These transmit and/or receive the ultrasonic signals essentially perpendicularly to the measuring tube axis. Another embodiment shows an individual ultrasonic transducer with a coupling element, which is embodied as a lens, in order to focus the ultrasonic signal into the measuring tube. A measuring of flow is not provided in this document.
In an additional patent of the state of the art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,490, an ultrasonic flow measuring device is shown, which ascertains flow through a measuring tube with the Doppler measuring principle. Ultrasonic signals are transmitted in the form of waves, focused by an acoustic lens and reflected on particles in the measured medium. The reflections are greatest in the direct vicinity of the focus. The flow velocity of the liquid is determined from the frequency shift between the in-coupled and reflected waves.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,408 discloses an ultrasonic flow measuring device using a combination of the travel-time difference principle and the Doppler principle. In this regard, however, each case has its own sensor. Switching between the sensors of the two measuring principles happens upon the exceeding, or subceeding, of a predetermined measured value.
WO 03/102512 A1 proposes a method for travel-time difference measurement of a flowing fluid, wherein, supplementally, the reflections of the ultrasonic signal on particles in the fluid are ascertained, in order to learn therefrom the concentration of the particles. In this regard, two ultrasonic transducers are usually provided for a travel-time difference measurement, wherein at least one of these ultrasonic transducers is switchable so rapidly from a transmitting state to a receiving state that it can receive the reflections of its transmitted signal on the particles in the fluid, or additional ultrasonic transducers are provided, which are so arranged that they can receive the reflections. For ascertaining the concentration and the size of the particles in the measured medium, the Doppler shift of the moving particles is evaluated. Measurement in motionless measured medium is, thus, not possible.


A computing device (102) includes multiple antennas, one antenna for wireless communication and another antenna for wireless charging. Each antenna is one of multiple coils that are co-located at a particular area of a housing of the computing device. These multiple coils can be configured in various different manners, and are configured such that a first of the multiple coils has an outer periphery and an inner boundary. A second of the multiple coils includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion of the second coil is positioned about the outer periphery of the first coil, the second portion of the second coil is positioned within the inner boundary of the first coil, and the third portion of the second coil traverses the first coil and interconnects the first and second portions of the second coil.

As technology has advanced, the functionality provided by computing devices has increased. This functionality includes different types of wireless functionality, such as allowing computing devices to communicate with other devices wirelessly, allowing computing devices to wirelessly charge their batteries, and so forth. To support this wireless functionality, a computing device typically includes a different antenna for each different type of wireless functionality. Users oftentimes desire to associate the same location of their computing device, such as the central area of a back of the computing device, with different wireless functionality. However, it can be difficult to include two different antennas in the same location of a computing device.

Computing device having multiple co-located antennas


A planter for living plants, composed substantially of a wall-facing layer (16), one or more drainage layers (14) and a front comprised of one or more plant-root retaining panels (12), held together in close proximity in a laminar, vertically oriented, array. The planter allows plants to be planted in, and grow from, the front vertical surface of the planter.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to vertically-mounted planters. More particularly, this invention relates to planters in which living plants are grown from a vertical surface of the planter.
2. Description of Prior Art
Wall-mounted planters are in common usage, reflecting a widespread interest in growing plants in greater abundance and in novel locations. Less common, but reflecting the same interest, are wall-mounted planters in which plants are grown from the vertical surfaces of the planter. The prior art record also contains numerous examples of planters providing a vertical planting arrangement, which are not wall-mounted.
The use of wall-mounted planters allows the plant hobbyist to grow plants in more locations, both within the home and on walls and fences in the garden. The use of wall-mounted planters is also advantageous in that they are less likely to be disturbed or upset by pets and small children. Growing plants in a vertical arrangement offers further advantages in that foliage and flowers may be more easily viewed and appreciated.
Growing in a vertical arrangement is of particular advantage with certain orchid species which are less susceptible to crown rot when they are grown from a vertical surface, as a result of the decreased likelihood that water will collect in the crown.
There are several key areas in which improvements are needed in advancing the art of wall-mounted and vertical planters. Among these are:                assuring appropriate provision of moisture to, and drainage from, the root zone;        maintaining the porosity of the growing media; and        preventing spillage of growing media, especially at the aperture from which the plant grows.
Advances in wall-mounted and vertical planters are also sought to increase the decorative quality of planters.
Provision of moisture is a critical requirement for any planter that is to be used to maintain living plants. A vertically-oriented planter presents additional challenges related to providing adequate, and relatively uniform, distribution of moisture within the root zone of the planter.
A variety of mechanisms have been developed by inventors for providing moisture in vertical planters. Commonly used are reservoirs that release water into the root zone of the planter by gravity, or through the use of wicks, tubing, pipes or some combination of these. Such designs will also typically provide for an overflow trough to catch water as it drains from the root zone. Some planters provide recirculating watering systems in which a pump is used to move water from the overflow trough back into a reservoir or water distribution system.
Several problems arise in using planters incorporating these features. Water distribution systems, such as wicks and tubing, tend to distribute water unevenly, often resulting in some areas of the root zone being over-saturated, while other areas receive inadequate moisture. To compensate for this uneven distribution, planters have been developed which continuously saturate the entire root zone, essentially overwhelming any tendency to uneven distribution. This may be acceptable for certain types of plants, but will damage plants that require some drying between waterings. Planters with reservoirs and overflow troughs are likely to spill water, and possibly suffer breakage, if the planter is upset. The overflow trough may itself overflow if too much water is introduced, resulting in wetting and potential damage to nearby furnishings. Planters incorporating tubing and pumps involve added complexity and the potential of mechanical failure, as well as increasing the cost of manufacture.
A different approach to providing moisture in a decorative planter is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,546 to Baranova (2000) which describes a planter in which moisture is retained and distributed using a water-absorbing gel. Baranova describes a pouch that is filled with water-absorbing gel, making up the entirety of the planter root zone. Baronova's planter is not suited to plants that resent a continuously saturated root zone or require some amount of drying between waterings. The planter disclosed by Baranova is not, however, suited to growing plants on a vertical surface, because the mouth of the planter must be maintained in an upright orientation. In addition, Baranova's planter is not able to accept larger plants or those that have significant root systems at the time they are planted.
A common concern in developing a new planter is the tendency of soil or planting media to settle, resulting in a compacted condition in the root zone, characterized by loss of porosity and diminished capacity for free drainage of water, possibly leading to anoxic conditions detrimental to the health of the plant. The problem of settling may be especially compounded in a vertically configured planter due to the increased relative height of the column of growing media compared to its breadth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,994 to Urai (1981) presents one approach to the problems of settling and media compaction in a wall mounted vertical planter. In Urai's planter, planting media is interspersed with filler material in an attempt to maintain the shape of the cultivation body and prevent settling of media.
In practice, the layering of materials described by Urai is not sufficient to prevent settling of growing media without the application of adhesive compounds to consolidate all elements of the cultivation body. This is suggested by the use of adhesives described in a dependent claim of Urai's invention. Urai's planter uses a water reservoir, overflow collection trough and moisture distribution based on wicks, pipes and pumps which present the problems attendant to these features outlined above. In addition, Urai's planter cannot accommodate introduction of larger plants or those with developed root systems at the time of planting. Urai's planter is instead intended for planting seeds, seedlings or cuttings.
A different approach to the problem of media settling in vertical planters is taken by Patrick Blanc of France whose methods are partially described in a variety of publications. Blanc substantially eliminates the use of loose growing media in his planting system. Blanc instead plants directly into a synthetic felt material that is affixed to a water-impervious vertical surface. In Blanc's method, water and nutrients are supplied to the plants through a recirculating drip irrigation system. While Blanc's method is well adapted to permanent installations covering large vertical surfaces, it is not suited to smaller movable planters. Blanc's system offers minimal reserves of moisture within the root zone, leaving plants vulnerable to desiccation if the drip irrigation system fails to operate.
Another focus of concern in the advancement of vertically-oriented planters is to prevent spillage of growing media from the planter, especially at the aperture where the foliage of the plant emerges from the planter.
Some vertically-oriented planters provide restricted planting spaces where a portion of the growing media is presented with a small horizontal surface where the plant is grown. Exemplary of this form is French patent FR2680626 to Lassale (1993) in which small flexible pockets are affixed in a vertical array, with each pocket holding a small amount of growing media. A similar approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,843 to Johnson, Sr. (1983) in which multiple small horizontal planting areas are arranged to provide an overall vertical array. A somewhat different approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,676 to Lund (1996) in which ports are arrayed in a vertical planter which afford a small horizontal surface of growing media within an aperture on the vertical wall of the planter. All of these ways of containing growing media at the plant aperture depend on gravity to hold growing media in place. If the planter were tipped or overturned, planting media, and possibly plants, would spill out.
In some planters a vertical wall of the planter is a fabric material having holes or slits cut in its surface. A method of this kind is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,284 to Williams (1990). This simple method may be effective in preventing spillage of growing media, but does not offer a way to insert larger plant material or plants which have significant root systems at the time of planting. A variation on this approach is described in U.S. patent application 20070227066 from Crawford (2007). Crawford provides pre-cut holes in a flexible liner to allow insertion of the root ball of a developed plant. Crawford's method does not allow for the pre-cut hole to be adjusted to accommodate variations in the size and shape of the root-ball of the plant. Crawford's method is also a less secure system for preventing spillage of growing media in that it depends on the integrity of the plant root ball at the time of planting. In addition, Crawford's method requires access to the interior of the planter through an open top during the process of planting.
Some inventors have described vertical planters in which small planting apertures are arrayed on a vertical face of the planter as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,594 to Davis (1994). In some cases, apertures in the vertical surface may be fitted with removable closures, or alternately open-or-dosed ports. Exemplars of this approach may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,359 to Moffett, Jr. (1991) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,695 to Garden (1990). Mechanisms of this kind do prevent spillage of media from unused planting apertures, but offer no protection against spillage from apertures where a plant is inserted. In addition, these mechanisms cannot readily be adjusted to accommodate larger plant material or plants with developed root systems.
A more refined approach to preventing loss of growing media from the planting aperture is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,600 to Feldman (2001). Feldman discloses a planter with a down-facing plant aperture. To retain growing media from falling from the aperture, Feldman describes pliable perforated plates used as a medium retention device which substantially seals the space between the stem of the plant and the edge of the aperture. A similar mechanism, applied in a vertical planter, is described in Japanese patent JP8289669 to Murayama (1996). Murayama describes a sheet member fitted to a planting aperture for the purpose of preventing loss of soil from the planter. While both Feldman and Marayama provide a more reliable means of preventing spillage of growing media, neither of these inventions is suited to the planting of larger plant material or plants with developed root systems. Feldman's invention also requires access to the interior of the planter through an open top during the process of planting.
With regard to the advancement of the decorative quality of vertical-oriented planters it must be acknowledged that esthetics are subjective. However, it may be fairly noted that many of the vertical planters referenced here were intended for outdoor use in growing vegetable crops or seasonal flowers. Most of these would not be appropriate for indoor use. Many would also not be suitable, because of their construction, for mounting on a wall.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:                a) to provide a vertical-mounted planter in which plants grow from the facing surface;        b) to provide a planter which will eliminate excessive liquid water retention in the plant root-zone, thereby reducing plant disease and death associated with overwatering;        c) to provide a planter with an improved environment for the effective use of water-absorbing gel for the purpose of moisture retention and disbursement;        d) to provide a planter which can be displayed and maintained on a vertical surface;        e) to provide a planter which serves to maintain the shape and porosity of planting media in the planter root zone,        f) to provide a planter which minimizes the potential for spills and mess;        g) to provide a vertical-mounted planter which can accommodate planting of larger plants and plants with developed root systems;        h) to provide a vertical-mounted planter which can be easily planted through the facing surface of the planter; and        i) to provide a planter with enhanced decorative qualities.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.


An information processing apparatus including: a processor configured to: receive halted virtual machine information that identifies a first virtual machine to be halted in a plurality of virtual machines that execute requests each being distributed to one of the plurality of virtual machines, receive, from a second virtual machine, specified session identification that identifies a specified session associated with a second request to be executed by the second virtual machine when the second virtual machine does not hold, specified session information taken over from a first request to the second request, the first request being associated with the specified session and having been executed specified one of the plurality of virtual machines other than the second virtual machine, request, when detecting the specified one of the plurality of the virtual machines is the first virtual machine, transmission of the specified session information held in the first virtual machine.

Session management methods of systems including multiple server apparatuses have been disclosed. For example, if an arrival time when session information is transferred from a first server apparatus to a second server apparatus is later than a time point when the first server apparatus receives a request from a client and a time point when the first server apparatus has returned a response to the client, the following technique disclosed herein is performed. In the disclosed technique, the first server apparatus assigns a newly received request to the second server apparatus in accordance with transfer destination information indicating a transfer destination of the session information.
Reference is made to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-103879 for related art technique.

Information processing system, session management method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamic allocation of upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node. Each remote node is coupled to at least one logical entity, which corresponds to a device or a user, that transmits upstream data to the central node and receives downstream data from the central node. The central node is coupled to an external network outside of the passive optical network through a shared out-going uplink.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the design of passive optical networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamically allocating upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network.
2. Related Art
In order to keep pace with increasing Internet traffic, optical fibers and associated optical transmission equipment have been widely deployed to substantially increase the capacity of backbone networks. However, this increase in the capacity of backbone networks has not been matched by a corresponding increase in the capacity of access networks. Even with broadband solutions, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modem (CM), the limited bandwidth offered by current access networks creates a severe bottleneck in delivering high bandwidth to end users.
Among different technologies, Ethernet passive optical networks (EPONs) appear to be the best candidate for next-generation access networks. EPONs combine the ubiquitous Ethernet technology with inexpensive passive optics. Therefore, they offer the simplicity and scalability of Ethernet, and the cost-efficiency and high capacity of passive optics. In particular, due to the high bandwidth of optical fibers, EPONs are capable of accommodating broadband voice, data, and video traffic simultaneously. Such integrated service is difficult to provide with DSL or CM technology. Furthermore, EPONs are more suitable for Internet Protocol (IP) traffic, since Ethernet frames can directly encapsulate native IP packets with different sizes, whereas ATM passive optical networks (APONs) use fixed-size ATM cells and consequently require packet fragmentation and reassembly.
Typically, EPONs are used in the "first mile" of the network, which provides connectivity between the service provider's central offices and business or residential subscribers. Logically, the first mile is a point-to-multipoint network, with a central office servicing a number of subscribers. A tree topology can be used in an EPON, wherein one fiber couples the central office to a passive optical splitter, which divides and distributes downstream optical signals to subscribers and combines upstream optical signals from subscribers (see FIG. 1).
Transmissions within an EPON are typically performed between an optical line terminal (OLT) and optical networks units (ONUs) (see FIG. 2). The OLT generally resides in the central office and couples the optical access network to the metro backbone, which is typically an external network belonging to an ISP or a local exchange carrier. The ONU can be located either at the curb or at an end-user location, and can provide broadband voice, data, and video services.
Communications within an EPON can be divided into upstream traffic (from ONUs to OLT) and downstream traffic (from OLT to ONUs). Because of the broadcast nature of Ethernet, the downstream traffic can be delivered with considerable simplicity in an EPON: packets are broadcast by the OLT and extracted by their destination ONU based on their media access control (MAC) addresses. However, in the upstream direction, the ONUs need to share the channel capacity and resources. Moreover, the burstiness of network traffic and the requirement of different service level agreements (SLAs) make the upstream bandwidth allocation a challenging problem.
Hence, what is needed is a method and apparatus for dynamically allocating upstream bandwidth in an EPON, which is fair, efficient, and responsive, and which accommodates bursty traffic while satisfying SLAs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating upstream bandwidth in passive optical networks


A method for fabricating leadless packages with mold locking characteristics is disclosed. A provided leadless leadframe has a plurality of units in a matrix, each unit includes an improved die pad with a plurality of indentations, such as semi-vias in the sidewall thereof and a plurality of leads around the die pad. After chip attachment and electrical connection, a plurality of package bodies for semiconductor packages are individually formed on the corresponding units and covered the indentations in order to enhance the horizontal mold locking capability of the die pad. Using punching, connecting bars of the leadless leadframe are removed to isolate the leadless packages.

A leadless leadframe can be implemented in semiconductor package with lower costs and smaller dimensions. A well-know leadless semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip, a leadless metal leadframe for carrying a chip and a package body for encapsulating the chip. A plurality of leads of the leadless leadframe have the lower surfaces exposed out of the bottom of the package body for external mounting onto an PCB. Normally, no outer leads extending from sides of the package body are needed. The leadless semiconductor package has the benefits of smaller footprints, shorter electrical paths, and lower manufacturing costs.
A leadless semiconductor package is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,981. As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor package comprises a leadless leadframe 10, a semiconductor chip 20, a plurality of bonding wires 30, and a package body 40. The leadless leadframe 10 comprises a die pad 11 and a plurality of leads 12. The semiconductor chip 20 is attached to an upper surface 11a of the die pad 11. The bonding wires 30 connect bonding pads 21 of the semiconductor chip 20 to the leads 12. The package body 40 encapsulates the semiconductor chip 20. As shown in FIG. 2, it is obvious that when the lower surface 11b of the die pad 11 and the lower surfaces of the leads 12 are exposed out of the bottom surface of the package body 40 for heat dissipation and SMT connection, poor mold locking capability of the die pad 11 and the leads 12 to the package body 40 is expected. As shown in FIG. 1, a reentrant portion 13 is formed in the sidewalls of the die pad 11 and the leads 12 and is encapsulated by the package body 40 for preventing the die pad 11 peeling off from the package body 40 in the vertical direction. However, the reentrant portion 13 is annular design in the horizontal direction, therefore, it's unable to enhance the horizontal mold locking of the die pad 11 against the package body 40. Moreover, the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the die pad 11 and the package body 40 do not match with each other. Therefore, during the thermal test of the leadless semiconductor package, a horizontal stress is generated between the package body 40 and the die pad 11. The sidewall of the die pad 11 can be delaminated from the package body 40 and slide horizontally. Especially, when the temperature of the leadless semiconductor package is reached up to 260° C. for surface mounting, the sidewalls of the die pad 11 will encounter extremely high thermal stress in the horizontal direction and cause delamination from the package body 40.

Method for fabricating leadless packages with mold locking characteristics

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


An apparatus for opening a folding knife is provided. The apparatus may include a plate having an arcuate slot and a substantially linear slot. A cam slide may be provided comprised of an extension which extends into the substantially linear slot, and an opening into which a post connected to a blade device can be inserted. The extension of the cam slide typically can be moved in a substantially linear manner in the substantially linear slot. The substantially linear movement of the extension in the substantially linear slot causes a sharp edge of the blade device to come out of or go into a housing.

Typically in the prior art one has to open a folding knife by grabbing the outer surface of a blade of the knife and pulling and/or rotating the blade out of a housing. There are also switchblade knives which are known which allow one to press a single button, and in response a blade immediately springs out from a fully closed position within a housing to a fully opened position outside of the particular housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,323 to Cassady discloses a folding knife which can be opened by applying finger pressure to a stem portion 30. (Cassady, FIGS. 10–15; col. 5, Ins. 65-col. 8, In. 3). The stem portion 30 is attached to a control plate 28 which can move within a cavity 52 of an engagement plate 50. The control plate 28 is attached to a crankpin 24 which can move within an arcuate crankpin slot 48. The crankpin 24 is attached to a knife 20. (Cassady, FIG. 3, col. 4, Ins. 55–65).
In Cassady, in order to move the knife 20 from a fully closed position (Cassady, FIG. 10) to a fully opened position (Cassady, FIG. 14 or 15), finger pressure is applied to the stem portion 30 first in an easterly and southerly direction, until the heal 38 and toe 34 of the plate 28 are in a bypass slot 56 (FIG. 13, partially opened position) and thereafter in a westerly and northerly direction until the heal 38 and toe 34 of the plate 28 are outside the slot 56. (Cassady, FIG. 14 or FIG. 15; col. 5, Ins. 65-col. 8, In. 3) The requirement that an operator move the plate 28 in multiple and opposing directions in order to operate the Cassady device, makes the device cumbersome to operate.

Folding knife with device to aid in opening


A display substrate, a method of driving the same, a method of manufacturing the same and a display device are provided. The display substrate includes a plurality of non-foldable display regions and a plurality of foldable display regions. The display substrate further includes a first signal line connected to a first electrode and a second signal line connected to a second electrode. The first signal line includes a plurality of secondary signal lines independent of each other. Each secondary signal line corresponds to one of the non-foldable display regions and is configured to control whether to supply power to the corresponding non-foldable display region.

Along with the development of the flexible display technology, foldable display substrates have been used gradually. In use, for a display device with the foldable display substrate, when the foldable display substrate is in a folded state, a portion of the display substrate forms a display region, and the other portion forms a non-display region. When the foldable display substrate is in an unfolded state, the entire display substrate forms the display area. Usually, when the display substrate is in the folded state, the non-display region is achieved through displaying a zero grayscale, i.e., displaying a fixed color, resulting in relatively large power consumption.

Foldable display device having plurality of signal lines connected to non-foldable display regions


An RFID transponder programming device uses a strip transmission line to generate a constrained electromagnetic field for programming RFID transponders is featured. The programmer minimizes electromagnetic fields outside of the programming device, and keeps other blank transponders from being wrongly programmed or erased. The transmission line may either be terminated or unterminated. The characteristic impedance of the strip transmission line may be 50 ohms or any other impedance. Since the strip transmission line is terminated in its own characteristic impedance, the programmer is inherently wideband and able to work with frequencies from 433 MHz to 869 MHz, 902 to 928 MHz, and 2400 to 2485 MHz, all in the same unit.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is fast becoming a part of our daily lives. These diverse devices and systems such as car immobilizers, access control systems, toll collection systems, global item tracking systems, and supply chain management rely more and more on RFID technology. RFID technology has been widely lauded for its potential to provide an unprecedented level of product traceability across the supply chain. RFID-enabled systems have the capability to greatly reduce human error from the data collection process. This error reduction, in turn, helps reduce inventories, improve product availability, identify and reduce loss and waste, and help ensure safety and security. All of these factors contribute to lower product cost and greater availability to consumers.
RFID transponders are typically manufactured and supplied in large quantities, often packaged in rolls ranging from 3 to 9 inches in diameter. Regardless of an RFID transponder's ultimate use or application, each must be converted from a blank transponder to one that carries an electronic ID code (i.e., is programmed). In the case of read-only transponders, a link between the transponder's internal ID code and the identity of the item that it is attached must recorded. Typically, this information is entered at the moment the transponder is peeled from the roll and attached to an item. This process is called data linking. Programming or data linking is typically performed before applying the transponders to items or shipping containers, etc. In the case of shipping labels, a shipper's address, the destination, and a routing number are often printed on a 4×6 inch label attached to an item (e.g., a package) over the transponders.
To work with the existing infrastructure of bar code scanners, the top side of each RFID-enabled shipping label must also be printed with both a bar code and human readable text to ensure compatibility with non-RFID enabled environments. Therefore, each of the many read-write or read-only transponders must be individually printed with a bar code representing a description of content, a shipping destination, etc. and then dispensed for attachment.
Typically, the blank transponders are supplied in either rolls or fan-fold stacks ready for printing. Since many blank transponders are packed in a limited space, an RFID reader/programmer must use a programming device that creates and projects a well-defined RF field. A well-defined field ensures that only a designated transponder is read and/or programmed while adjacent blank transponders are ignored. It is of particular importance that a neighboring transponder, which has already been programmed, not be erased or otherwise altered.
RFID transponders, especially those used at UHF frequencies, are specifically designed for a particular mounting surface. A transponder antenna designed for such UHF transponders must therefore be adjusted or tuned to ensure optimum performance when the transponder is mounted on its intended surface. A transponder that is designed or tuned for mounting on paper, for example, will have drastically reduced performance in free space conditions.
Depending on the specific design, when a transponder designed for paper mounting is unrolled and placed in free space and in preparation for reading/programming/printing, it can lose as much as 70% of its designed read range. The adjacent transponder(s) still on the paper roll, however, may retain full sensitivity. This degradation in read range between free space and paper, along with difficulty in controlling a programmer's antenna's read zone, accounts for some of the known reading/programming problems that must be reliably resolved.
When programming a transponder designed for paper mounting in free space, as is the case with most label printers, the programmer's field strength must be strong enough to compensate for the 70% degradation from paper to free space. Potential problems exist because other transponders still on the roll will typically have full sensitivity and may be within inches of the programming device. If the field strength outside the programming device is not controlled properly, the transponders still on the roll may receive sufficient signal strength to respond to a programming command that is intended for a free space transponder.
All programming commands are typically followed by a lock command. There is a need, therefore, for a transponder reading/programming device that is able to generate sufficient signal strength within a predefined space and maintain at least 20 to 30 dB of signal attenuation outside of that space. Such a device should ensure that only the designated tag receives a write command with sufficient strength for the transponder to act upon the command. When a programming device is properly designed, the chances for false programming can be minimized.
Tagging items with bar code labels and affixing boxes or containers with bar code shipping labels are standard business practices. Many companies who regularly use parcel service typically install a dedicated shipping software package, typically provided by the shipping carrier, and a bar code printer that prints on industry standard 4×6 inch stick-on thermal printing labels. While different carriers usually require different data formats or details, they universally require the originator's ID, a ship-to address, routing information, billing information, and tracking numbers. Bar codes alone may be adequate if one is willing to physically scan each and every package.
When the label becomes smeared with dirt, is damaged, faces the wrong direction, or is blocked by another piece of paper, the bar code alone becomes inadequate. When searching for a specific label within a pile of packages, the shortcomings of a bar code only system become blatantly obvious. In such situations, an RFID-based system provides a better solution than a bar code only system. For example, it is known that a package moving through the UPS™ system is scanned by a bar code scanner an average of 47 times between package acceptance and final package delivery. This means that a stationary or a handheld scanner must get close to the package and scan the package 47 times. On the other hand, an RFID-enabled system has the capability to greatly reduce human error in data collection, reduce inventory errors, improve product availability, identify and reduce loss and waste, and help ensure safety and security.
An industry trend is to migrate from a bar code only system to a system combining bar coded labels and RFID transponders. These systems retain the bar coded labels for circumstances when a human must visually inspect a shipping label to read the routing information, tracking numbers, and shipping destination. Therefore, the best migration path seems to be to laminate a thin RFID label behind the bar code label, and equip a standard bar code printer to simultaneously print the label and program the RFID label.
When installing an RFID reader/programmer capability in a standard bar code printer, one approach is to place a low gain antenna just before the bar code printing head. There are a few problems typically encountered when using this approach. First, there are usually many metal parts within the printer, which cause undesirable reflections and severe impedance mismatches—peaks and nulls in electromagnetic fields within the printer chassis. Because the RFID transponder programming device must utilize frequency hopping, peaks and nulls occur as the programmer hops from one frequency channel to another frequency channel. These peaks and nulls in the electromagnetic field are generally unpredictable. A second problem is that the antenna may read transponders that are placed far from the intended transponders when the antenna's field of surveillance becomes unpredictable.
A further complication is the fact that the industry's leading protocol is designed without any transponder personal identification numbers (PINs). This means in the blank mode, all transponders are identical. The programming device, therefore, loses its ability to confine its command to any specific set of transponders. The lack of a PIN means that when writing information to the transponder, any transponder exposed to minimum field strength will automatically respond to that programming command. There is no selection command to command that only a designated transponder will respond.
Since all commands will be received by all available transponders, it is the programmer's duty to ensure that only the designated transponder can receive an intended command and only the designated transponder should respond to such a command. In cases where two transponders are simultaneously within the reader's field of view, a write command may cause both transponders to accept the same write command, the same data, and the same lock command. Therefore, the possibility of having multiple transponders accept the same command and lock the same command is a real danger in a label printer designed to provide RFID transponder programmer.

Apparatus and method for programming an RFID transponder using a constrained field

Applied Wireless Identifications Group, Inc.


An apparatus for and method of performing a most informative feature extraction (MIFE) method in which a facial image is separated into sub-regions, and each sub-region makes individual contribution for performing facial recognition. Specifically, each sub-region is subjected to a sub-region based adaptive gamma (SadaGamma) correction or sub-region based histogram equalization (SHE) in order to account for different illuminations and expressions. A set of reference images is also divided into sub-regions and subjected to the SadaGamma correction or SHE. A comparison is made between the each corrected sub-region and each corresponding sub-region of the reference images. Based upon the comparisons made individually for the sub-regions of the facial image, one of the stored reference images having the greatest correspondence is chosen. While usable individually, using the MIFE and/or SadaGamma correction or SHE together achieves a lower error ratio in face recognition under different expressions, illuminations and occlusions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to image recognition through a comparison of stored images as compared to an image to be matched, and more specifically, to facial recognition whereby sub-regions of images are compared and/or normalized to account for lighting, expressions, and/or other conditions so as to improve the accuracy of the comparison.
2. Description of the Related Art
Facial recognition is a popular topic in biometric applications. Specifically, face recognition, and especially automatic facial recognition, is of interest as compared with iris or fingerprint recognition technologies. Such face recognition technology is of particular interest for security purposes. For instance, automatic facial recognition has been selected as an essential part of new versions of passports by many countries for implementation in one or two years. Additionally, facial recognition technology is also generally recognized as useful in, among other areas, crime prevention, national security, and private security purposes. Furthermore, face recognition is a worthy research topic and has promoted the development of pattern recognition and computer vision.
A problem with conventional automatic facial recognition technologies is that there is a greater need for an ordinary inspector (i.e., a user) to assist in the facial recognition since the existing technologies often fail. Specifically, in order to perform face recognition, the technology needs to account for the facial texture of the face, the 3D geometry of the face, the fact that the face is non-rigid and is thus capable of various expressions, any occlusions or blocking of features such as occurs with glasses or hair, and a complex illumination environment. These factors make face recognition a difficult problem.
Several studies have been reported in recent years that compare and evaluate the conventional face recognition algorithms and technology. Two such studies are published in D. Blackburn, M. Bone, and P. Phillips. Facial Recognition Vendor Test 2000: Evaluation Report, 2000, and in P. J. Phillips, H. Moon, S. Rizvi, and P. Rauss, The FERET Evaluation Methodology for Face Recognition Algorithms: IEEE Trans. On PAMI, 22(10): 1090-1103, (2000). These studies show that current algorithms are not robust against changes in facial expression, illumination, pose and occlusion.
Additionally, in performing face recognition, it is important that the feature selection be properly performed. If a good feature is selected, the classification would be a relatively easy task. For instance, with good feature selection, even simple classification techniques such as K-mean clustering or KNN processes based on Euclidian distance will work well. However, this method is dependent on an assumption that in the suitable feature subspace, the samples in the same class are Gaussian distributed and there is less overlap between different classes. However, while there has been a great deal of work to try and apply this method for face recognition, a suitable feature subspace needed to perform this method has not been found. For instance, no suitable feature subspace has been found in using Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), or Locality Preserving Projections (LPP) for face representation and feature selection. Generally, the PCA analysis seeks a projection that best represents the data in the least square sense, the LDA analysis seeks a projection that best separates the data in a least square sense, and LPP finds an embedding that preserves the local information, and obtains a face space that best detects the essential manifold structure.
Descriptions of the PCA, LDA, and LPP methods are described in M. Turk and Pentland, Face Recognition Using Eigenfaces (IEEE 1991), P. N. Belhumeur, J. P. Hespanda and D. J. Kriegman, Eigenfaces vs. Fisherfaces: Recognition Using Class Specific Projection, IEEE Trans PAMI, vol.19, No. 7, pp.711-720 (1997), and Xiaofei He, Shuicheng Yan, Yuxiao Hu, Hong-Jiang Zhang, Learning a Locality Preserving Subspace for Visual Recognition, Proceedings of the Ninth IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision, Pages 385-392 (ICCV 2003), the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.
One of the reasons for the difficulty of face recognition feature selection is that face images reside on a nonlinear manifold (i.e., in a surface or space which is nonlinear). Due to the complex face manifold, the traditional Euclidian distance (i.e., a straight line distance between two points) used to determine a correspondence between images will not work for a face recognition task. To solve this problem a Geodesic distance (i.e., a shortest distance between two points, linear or non-linear) using ISOMAP was introduced to solve this problem. A more detailed description is found in Joshua B Tenenbaum, Vin de Silva, and John C. Langford, A Global Geometric Framework for Nonlinear Dimensional Reduction, Science, vol 290 (Dec. 22, 2000). However, some researchers have found that, in order to make ISOMAP work in practical usage, the parameter space needs to be decomposed into a series of overlapping convex pieces. As such, the difficulty of the manifold approach is that practical usage cannot provide abundant samples to describe a personal specific manifold such that the manifold approach still has a long way to go before practical usage is achieved.

Apparatus for and method of feature extraction for image recognition


A boot read only memory (ROM) chip unit can perform a secure boot routine based on various operations. A processor device comprises a boot ROM chip with processing circuitry on a system board configured to perform a system board power up according to a read operation in a one-time-programmable OTP memory/non-volatile memory (NVM). The OTP memory/NVM includes a spare area in a portion of the OTP/NVM that can receive a first sequence pattern. The processor determines whether a secure boot indication indicates a secure boot routine, and differentiates one or more read return content of the OTP memory/NVM between a wrongly read return content and a trusted read return content, in response to, or concurrent with, the secure boot indication indicating the secure boot routine.

Some one-time-programmable (OTP) memory values could be used by software as a flag to perform certain functions. For example, setting a specific bit in OTP enables bootrom (or Boot ROM) to perform a secure boot operation. During the system board power up sequence test, an unexpected power-up sequence can cause the OTP read to return all zeros, even though the secure boot indication bit was already set. Because the bootrom code cannot necessarily differentiate whether this zero is a true zero (real zero in OTP) or a false returned zero, it can enable boot up with an unsecure image, which can effectively cause an unsecure image booting up on a secure boot chip. Hackers can exploit this vulnerability to bypass the secure boot flow, hence achieving a "privilege abuse" attack. The root cause of this problem is the weakness of the OTP surrounding circuit or associated processor unit component.

Non-volatile-memory (NVM) contents read return validation


A sorting system using multiple sorters operating as part of a single, multi-sorting machine unified system. The system according to the invention includes a plurality of input sections capable of operating in parallel, each including a feeder that takes in mail pieces one at a time and a scanner that scans each mail piece for destination indicia, a plurality of stackers each comprising at least one row of pockets, a control system that determines a destination pocket in the stacker for each mail piece based on a predetermined sort scheme and the destination indicia, and a routing system effective to route mail in accordance with the sort scheme from any input section to any pocket of a stacker.

Barnum et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,577, Dec. 30, 2003, describes a system and method for directly connecting an ISS advanced facer canceler system (IAFCS) to a DBCS/OSS. As noted in that patent, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, conventional mail systems now in use by the USPS process stamped mail through a plurality of separate machines, including an advanced facer canceler system/input subsystem (IAFCS), an optical character reader (OCR) machine, and a delivery bar code sorter/output subsystem (DBCS/OSS). IAFCS places incoming mail into a single file line in a pinch belt, checks for appropriate postage on mail, cancels the postage, and stacks the mail in bins. IAFCS positions the mail upright between a pair of pinch belts with either the stamp leading and the address on the front side or the stamp trailing and the address on the back side. IAFCS obtains a picture image of the stamped side of each piece of mail and prints a mail identifier (ID tag) on each mail piece on the side opposite the stamped side that is stored along with the image. The image is used to determine mail type such as printed address and script address. After canceling the postage, IAFCS sorts the mail into bins based on mail type. Each mail type has two bins, one for mail with the stamp leading and one for mail with the stamp trailing The machines that next process the mail, such as DBCS/OSS, require that all the mail be positioned with the stamp leading. An operator takes the stamp trailing mail from a bin of the IAFCS and places it in a stamp leading position to combine with the stamp leading mail before feeding into the DBCS/OSS. Based on the mail type, the operator then moves the mail to the next processing point. Mail that has been imprinted by the IAFCS with a UV bar code, ID tag, is taken directly to the DBCS/OSS. DBCS/OSS prints a bar code onto the mail by querying the IPSS system for the result of computer OCR or operator video coding associated with the ID tag of the mail. DBCS/OSS sorts the mail into a plurality of stackers based on the bar code data which reflects the mail destination.
A processing method according to the '577 patent processes mail through a postage verifier having an optical character reader, mail interface system, and a mail sorter. The mail interface system includes an upward module carrying mail up to an overhead transport positioned at a height above an output of the postage verifier, and a downward module carrying mail down from the overhead transport to the mail sorter. The method includes verifying and canceling postage, positioning mail pieces in a same configuration in a single file line, directing mail pieces up the upward module, directing mail pieces through the overhead transport, directing mail pieces down the downward module to a mail sorter, and sorting the mail based on destination. The interface module referred to directly connects the IAFCS machine to the DBCS/OSS sorter, eliminating the need for manual transfer of mail between these machines.
Difficulties remain notwithstanding the potential improvement such a Direct Connect between the IAFCS machine and the sorter could provide. One such problem arises in connection with FIM (facing identification mark) mail. Facing identification marks are ⅝ inch tall vertical bars beginning at the top of the envelope near the stamp. There are 4 types of FIM:
FIM A: Courtesy reply and metered reply, Postnet bar code required
FIM B: Business reply mail, Postnet bar code not required
FIM C: Business reply mail, Postnet bar code required
FIM D: Non fluorescent IBI and PC postage, Postnet bar code not required
The most common usage is for "remittance" mail, FIM A and C that consists of bills being paid by customers of a utility company, for example.
Currently, FIM A and C are detected on the IAFCS and sorted out for special handling to reserved bins on the IAFCS. FIM A and C mail from multiple AFCS machines within a processing and distribution center, P&DC, is collected and funneled to a single DBCS machine for sorting due to the time critical nature of remittance mail. If Direct Connect is implemented and the FIM mail is passed on to the DBCS/OSS and not intercepted at the IAFCS, an additional processing step is added with respect to the existing method and a corresponding undesirable delay in processing of the FIM mail is incurred. If the FIM is pulled out at the IAFCS, this causes a loss of as much as 25% of the mail from the IAFCS machines. If the Direct Connect of the '577 patent is implemented under these circumstances, the DBCS/OSS sorting machine linked to the IAFCS machine becomes "starved", that is, does not receive enough mail from the IAFCS machine to operate efficiently The present invention addresses this problem and opens up new sorting possibilities by providing a sorting machine that is in effect several sorting machines with the capability of passing mail to be sorted between them automatically. Consolidation of inputs from multiple front ends eliminates the need for secondary sorting operations to alleviate partial trays of mail.
Edmonds U.S. Patent Publication 20030208298, Nov. 6, 2003, describes a method and system for single pass letter and flat processing. As part of the process, the '298 publication notes that use of two interconnected OCR sorting machines expands the capacity of such machines over the two machines used separately. However, this publication provides no specific guidance as to how such capability should be implemented.


An apparatus automatically dispenses measured amounts of hay on a selected schedule to livestock. A flake spool incorporates flake holders mounted radially in side-by-side pairs about a single central shaft, where each pair of flake holders is angularly spaced by 45 degrees. The flake holders are sized to each hold a single flake of hay, and have an open end farthest from the shaft. The flake spool is contained within a cylindrical outer wall and rotates on the shaft. A control circuit and a drive motor enable flake rotation. The control circuit is programmable for a desired schedule for rotation of the device for dropping the hay flakes through a dispensing door at the bottom of the outer wall whereupon they slide down on a chute for access by the farm animals.

Devices for automatically dispensing of a measured amount of feed on a timed schedule are needed to feed farm or ranch animals in many situations such as when those normally involved in feeding activities are not available for extended periods of time, or when it is desired to tend to animals in remote locations. In the case of farm animals it is desired to dispense feed at regular intervals and in between these intervals, to hold or store the feed in such a manner as to prevent the feed from being eaten by wild creatures. In particular and specifically in relation to the present invention, it should be noted that a feeder for hay flakes is desirable. Hay flakes are small bales of hay formed into a rectangular shape and providing an amount of feed necessary for sustaining cattle and horses during one feeding period. The need for timed or regulated feed devices has been confirmed by the many devices that have appeared on the market or are described in the literature and other publications.
Several prior art devices that are most pertinent to the present invention have been built to provide pre-measured amounts of food to animals automatically on a timed schedule. One such device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,036 to Caracappa, has multiple compartments arranged radially about a vertical axis, each compartment having its own trap door on hinges. This device also has a holding finger for each compartment to hold the trap door closed until a rotating disc is aligned so as to release the finger and permit the door to drop and release the food from that compartment. The hinged trap doors and holding fingers for all of the compartments, however, comprise many moving parts thus making the device overly complicated, expensive to manufacture, and subject to mechanical failure and excessive maintenance.
Another device which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,221 to Arvizu shows a hopper where granulated food is stored in bulk form and from which it is gravity fed through a rotating food dispenser which is sized to measure the desired amount of food. While this invention has fewer moving parts than the preceding one, it would not be suitable for dispensing hay flakes because the hay flakes are too large.
A third device for automatically feeding animals is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,106 to Nagatomo. This is a battery-powered device that can dispense measured quantities of grain or other finely divided dry feed material on a set schedule. However it is basically only useful for small domestic pets such as fish or birds, because the design would not scale up to a size needed to feed adequate portions to hay eating farm animals.
Various other devices also exist for satisfying the feeding of specific animals such as hogs or fish. However, none of these satisfies the need for a means to automatically feed adequate measured quantities of hay to farm animals on a timed schedule. Clearly there is a need for a device that is designed to automatically dispense a measured amount of feed for farm or ranch animals such as horses and cattle on a selected schedule, and to have a large enough capacity for several days' worth of food. Such a device would be of a simple enough design that it would be relatively easy to manufacture and it would not be subject to frequent breakdowns, jamming or excessive preventive maintenance. Such a device would be rugged enough to be used for the feeding of large, active animals that could damage a more fragile design. The device would be versatile enough to be capable of automatic feeding of from 1 to 4 days without the need to reload the apparatus. Such a device would also have the advantages of being easily loaded, easily set as to time schedule, not easily damaged or affected by rain or snow, i.e., just as applicable for indoors as well as out of doors applications, and would prevent wild animals from attacking the stored feed. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides related advantages.


The use of a single physical server in which there are multiple virtual nodes operating different components of a distributed application under test. Each virtual node emulates an actual physical node in a prospective distributed environment. The virtual nodes might be, for example, virtual machines or emulated services, and may operate their own operating system within the context of the virtual node. The distributed environment is emulated on the physical server by having the virtual nodes communicate with each other using the protocols that they would normally use in a deployed distributed environment. A configuration data source may be used to setup and perhaps upgrade the virtual nodes so as to emulate the distributed environment. Accordingly, the distributed application may be tested without actually setting up a distributed environment.

Computers and computing systems have affected nearly every aspect of modern living. Computing systems are providing ever more complex and sophisticated functionality. Such functionality is often primarily driven by underlying software, which itself is becoming ever more complex. Some of the more sophisticated functionality involves computing systems communicating one with another using a network. For instance, the Internet is a world-wide consortium of constituent computing networks that allow computing systems to complete a communication world-wide.
Such improved capability in communication has allowed applications to be widely distributed across multiple computing systems, each computing system playing a certain role in the overall accomplishment of the application functionality. The various computing systems may have different operating systems, and collaborate via network communications in accordance with established communication protocols.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Emulating test distributed application on server


In one aspect, a method for manufacturing a part for a centrifugal slurry pump is provided, comprising: forming a skeleton of the part having an outer dimension smaller than the part; placing the skeleton of the part in a metal enclosure having an interior dimension larger than the outer dimension of the skeleton of the part and thereby forming a space; adding a metal matrix composite powder into the metal enclosure to fill the space; and subjecting the metal enclosure to hot isostatic pressing, thereby allowing bonding of the metal matrix composite to the skeleton of the part to form the part.

A conventional centrifugal slurry pump generally includes an impeller having multiple vanes and which is mounted for rotation within a volute casing. The slurry pump imparts energy to the slurry through the centrifugal force produced by rotation of the impeller. The slurry enters into the impeller through an intake conduit positioned in line with the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into the volute casing and subsequently exiting through a discharge conduit. A suction sideliner is positioned a predetermined short distance away from the impeller suction side, the distance being so small as to substantially preclude slurry flow between the impeller and the suction sideliner.
Slurries are two-phase mixtures of solid particles and fluids in which the two phases do not chemically react with each other and can be separated by mechanical means. Slurries are typically characterized as either non-settling or settling in accordance with the size of the solid particles suspended within the fluid. Non-settling slurries include fine particles (less than 50 μm) which form stable homogeneous mixtures. Settling slurries include coarse particles (greater than 50 μm) which form an unstable heterogeneous mixture. Examples of slurries include oil/water; tailings/water; and coke/water slurries. Such slurries can cause abrasion, erosion, and corrosion, resulting in significant wear to pump parts.
Attempts have been made to reduce wear of the pump parts, particularly, the impeller, volute casing, and suction sideliner. A slurry pump operating at low speeds outlasts a faster running pump. Slower running pumps generally have heavier, larger diameter impellers to spread the energy which causes the wear over a larger area. Various modifications related to the configuration, thickness, number, and arrangement of impeller vanes have been described. For example, thicker impeller vanes are capable of handling an abrasive slurry and minimizing wear, but necessitate a reduction in vane number to avoid narrowing the passageways through which the slurry flows.
Pump parts have been formed of various hard metals, elastomeric, or metal-reinforced elastomeric materials to suit the material being pumped. Rubber-lined pumps are often used for pumping non-settling slurries since the resilience of the rubber can absorb and return the energy generated by the impact of the particles to the slurry; however, rubber-lined pumps can be damaged by sharp, large particles or degraded by hydrocarbons. Metal slurry pumps are suitable for pumping abrasive, settling slurries, with 28% chrome iron being the most common material and stainless steel being used for corrosive slurries. The performance of a chrome impeller may be enhanced by laser cladding which deposits an alloy coating to the surfaces of the impeller.
Among all pump parts, the impeller greatly influences the flow patterns of the slurry and the rate of wear. The average lifespan of an impeller is about 1,500 to 2,000 hours, which approximates only half the lifespan of the slurry pump itself. Thus, increasing the lifespan of the impeller would be greatly beneficial in maintaining pump performance and meeting production targets. During manufacture, an impeller is typically cast as one piece, for example, as a high chrome white iron casting. However, chrome white iron (CWI) has only moderately high wear resistance and there is a limited ability to incorporate more wear resisting materials.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved parts such as suction liners and impeller for a centrifugal slurry pump.

Wear resistant slurry pump parts produced using hot isostatic pressing

SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the Syncrude Project as such owners exist now and in the future


The training apparatus includes a training machine, a detection means, and an arithmetic means. The training machine has a displacement unit displaced according to a training action and a load generation unit that imparts a load to a trainee. The detection means detects displacement of the displacement unit. The arithmetic means acquires at least one characteristic value possessed by a waveform corresponding to one unit of a training action which waveform is included in the displacement detected in the detection unit on a time axis, for each waveform, and to evaluate the acquired characteristic values for at least one of variation, transition tendency, and deviation from a predetermined value. The arithmetic means executes, based on the evaluation, at least one of control of the load generation unit, calculation of a load value set in the load generation unit, and notification of a result of the evaluation.

There has conventionally been known an apparatus having a function to evaluate exercise of a trainee so as to assist a training which is performed for accomplishment of a specific purpose such as enhancing physical abilities as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-143266. More specifically, the gazette discloses a somatic sense exercise integrated evaluation training system, which is an apparatus having a function to evaluate particularly a motion sense among physical abilities.


A circuit is described herein which effectively multiplies the value of a capacitor. The circuit draws current from an input node, where this current being drawn is related to the gain of an amplifier and the value of a capacitor, thus effectively amplifying the capacitance value of a capacitor as seen at the input node.

Relatively high value capacitors (e.g., 100 pF or more) generally require a relatively large plate area and are more expensive to fabricate than lower value capacitors. Due to the large physical size of high value capacitors, such high value capacitors cannot be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit and thus must be connected external to an integrated circuit.
Capacitance is calculated using the equation: EQU C=AK.epsilon..sub.O /t,
where
C is the capacitance PA1 .epsilon..sub.O is the permittivity of empty space (8.85.times.10.sup.-2 coul.sup.2 /newton.sup.2 -m.sup.2) PA1 K is the dielectric constant (3.9 for SiO.sub.2) PA1 A is the plate area, and PA1 t is the dielectric thickness.
As seen from the above equation, capacitance can only be significantly increased by either increasing the plate area or decreasing the thickness of the dielectric between the plates. The dielectric thickness is limited by the process used, the operating voltage, and the difficulty in achieving a consistent thin dielectric thickness over a large area.
High value capacitors may be required in circuits for achieving a desired operating bandwidth of an AC coupled amplifier, for filtering, and for other uses well known to those skilled in the art.
Thus, what is needed is a circuit and method for achieving a high capacitance value in a circuit which does not require a capacitor having a large area.

Circuit for multiplying the value of a capacitor


An automatic dispenser for ice cream cakes having a taking unit mounted in a shop window on a movable structure with respect to the product being dispensed. The unit includes a shovel on a structure movable in three orthogonal directions.

The present invention refers to an automatic dispenser for ice-cream cakes and like.
At present the sale of ice-cream cakes foresees the preservation of the ice-cream cakes in a packet corresponding to the single portion and the sale of such a packet to the customer requiring it.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,791 describes an automatic dispenser of spherical-shaped prepackaged ice-creams, inserted into a package inside which the scooped ice-creams are aligned. The packages are supported on an endless belt conveyor which disposes each package in front of an ejecting mechanism which gets out from it one-by-one the scooped ice-cream and discharges outwardly.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,750 describes an automatic dispenser for ice-cream comprising a scoop mechanism supported on a structure which is solely vertically movable with respect to an underlying turntable. A plurality of mechanisms is provided to take ice-cream from a bulk ice-cream supply disposed on the turntable and to transport the scoped ice-cream to an empty cone placed on a cone support.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,110 describes an automatic machine for dispensing ice-cream cones and comprising a plurality of storage tanks and extrusion tanks from which the ice-cream is discharged and cut off with wire loops and placed on a cone to be transferred outwardly.
An aim of the invention is to realize an automatic dispenser for predivided ice-cream cakes and the like.
This and further aims which will be apparent from the following description are attained according to the invention through an automatic dispenser for ice-cream cakes and the like as disclosed in claim 1.

Automatic dispenser for ice cream cake and the like