A duplexer interfacing a receiver and a transmitter with an antenna includes first and second filters. The first filter includes at least four first series resonators, four first shunt resonators respectively connected between the four first series resonators and ground voltage, and a mutual inductance commonly connected between two adjacent first shunt resonators. The second filter includes at least four second series resonators, four second shunt resonators respectively connected between the four second series resonators and the ground voltage, and a cross-coupling capacitor connected between a first capacitor node connected to at least one of the second series resonators and a second capacitor node connected to one of the second shunt resonators, and an inductor connected in series between second capacitor node and ground. Three of the second series resonators and the second shunt resonator to which the cross-coupling capacitor is connected are between the first and second capacitor nodes.

Portable communication devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic gaming devices, laptop computers and the like, are configured to communicate over wireless networks. Accordingly, each such portable communication device relies on a transmitter and receiver (or transceiver), typically connected to a single or common antenna, for sending and receiving data and control signals over the wireless network. In order to use the common antenna, a duplexer is included to interface between the common antenna and each of the transmitter and receiver, so that the transmitter is able to send signals on a transmit frequency and the receiver is able to receive signals on a different receive frequency. Generally, the duplexer includes two band-pass filters having different passbands for filtering the transmit and receive signals, respectively, thus preventing or reducing interference between the transmit and receive signals.
Various types of wireless network are implemented according to different communication standards, such as universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), global system for mobile communication (GSM), personal communications services (PCS), digital cellular system (DCS), international mobile telecommunication (IMT), and enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE). The communication standards identify separate bands for transmitting (uplink) and receiving (downlink) signals. For example, UMTS band 2 (PCS) provides an uplink frequency band of 1850 MHz-1910 MHz and a downlink frequency band of 1930 MHz-1990 MHz; UMTS band 3 (DCS) provides an uplink frequency band of 1710 MHz-1785 MHz and a downlink frequency band of 1805 MHz-1880 MHz; UMTS band 7 (IMT-E) provides an uplink frequency band of 2500 MHz-2570 MHz and a downlink frequency band of 2620 MHz-2690 MHz; and UMTS band 8 (GMS-900) provides an uplink frequency band of 880 MHz-915 MHz and a downlink frequency band of 925 MHz-960 MHz. Accordingly, a duplexer operating in compliance with a UMTS standard would include a transmit filter having a passband within the corresponding uplink frequency band, and a receive filter having a passband within the corresponding downlink frequency band.
Demand for smaller, less expensive and more efficient portable communication devices is significant. Therefore, reducing size and weight of portable communication devices, as well as reducing fabrication costs and increasing product yield, are priorities. For example, there is demand for the band-pass filters of duplexers in portable communication devices to be smaller, to consume less power, to have improved performance characteristics (such as lower insertion loss and higher out-of-band attenuation), and to operate at higher frequencies. Such duplexers may include resonators for filtering the transmit and receive signals, such as a thin film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs). However, design and fabrication are difficult, e.g., due to passband and stopband requirements of the corresponding receive and transmit band-pass filters, and matching circuit requirements between the band-pass filters and the antenna.

Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


An information navigation system for supporting browsing of data which are linked mutually includes an starting point determination supporter, a browsing supporter, and a positioning supporter. The starting point determination supporter supports detection of first data being a starting point for an information navigation. The browsing supporter displays the first data and second data linked to the first data as in a virtual space, to allow a user to select data to be browsed next. The positioning supporter displays a current browsing position on a map which indicates a relation between all data.

Following ways have been used for searching information from a data group like retrieval of office document in an industry, document retrieval from an electronic library, and Web page browsing in a WWW (World Wide Web) that is linked.
a. Use of Search Engine
By using a full-text search technology that is used for text information, attributes and outline of title of data that matches with a keyword that is input by a user are listed up in an order of degree of matching and is provided to the user. The user selects data from the list that matches with his requirement and browses contents of the data.
b. Use of Category
By some way, a data group is classified according to levels in categories and the user searches information by using the category levels.
c. Use of Link
Information that matches with the user's requirement is searched by tracing a link from data that is selected by some way.
However in 'a' mentioned above, sometimes the number of search results that are provided by a search engine is enormous and the order in which the search results are provided does not match with the user's requirement. In such case, it is difficult for the user to get the desired information. Sometimes, sufficient information cannot be obtained by browsing a single data. In such case, it is difficult to judge an order in which a plurality of data that is listed up is to be browsed. Sometimes, data that has to be browsed may not be even listed up.
In 'b' mentioned above, when the classification in categories does not match with the user's requirement, it is difficult for the user to get the desired information. Moreover, similarly as in 'a' mentioned above, when sufficient information cannot be obtained by browsing a single data, it causes a problem.
In 'c' mentioned above, when the link is not proper, there is a possibility of browsing unnecessary data. Moreover, while tracing the link, the search may go astray due to inability to return to an original data etc.
To obtain the desired information efficiently from the data group that is linked mutually, it is desirable to start from suitable data and go on browsing related data in a suitable order. When a wrong order is followed, it is desirable to return to the original data or to data that is browsed earlier. For this, it is necessary to solve the following issues (problems) (1) to (4).                (1) How to decide from which data to start?        (2) How to decide as to which data has to be browsed next?        (3) How to identify position of data that is browsed or data that is being browsed in the overall data that has to be browsed.        (4) How to visualize efficiently, a link relationship between data.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information navigation system in which these issues are solved.


A droplet ejection apparatus includes: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits treatment liquid aggregating ink onto a medium; an ink droplet ejection device which ejects droplets of ink onto the medium on which the treatment liquid has been deposited; and a droplet ejection correction device which corrects a droplet ejection volume of the ink droplet ejection device in accordance with distribution of the treatment liquid on the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a droplet ejection apparatus and a droplet ejection method whereby ink droplets are ejected onto a medium after depositing an ink aggregating treatment liquid onto the medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Technology is known in which droplets of ink are ejected after depositing an ink aggregating treatment liquid onto a medium. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-83180 discloses a small printer which applies a treatment liquid to a medium before the ejection of ink droplets, by using a round cylindrical application roller.
In a small printer, generally, a so-called shuttle type of ink droplet ejection head is used, which moves back and forth reciprocally in the direction (main scanning direction) that is perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction, and therefore intermittent conveyance is carried out by repeating conveyance and halting of the medium at the ink droplet ejection position. In a small printer of this kind, generally, in order to make the apparatus compact in size, the medium is also conveyed in an intermittent fashion at the position of the treatment liquid application roller, in accordance with the ejection of ink droplets, and therefore variation in the application of the treatment liquid arises due to variation in the conveyance speed. Furthermore, since the treatment liquid proceeds to permeate into the medium when the conveyance of the medium is halted, then there is a tendency for the amount of treatment liquid applied to increase. If there are variations in the application of the treatment liquid, then variations in aggregation occur when the ink aggregates, and ultimately, density non-uniformities arise in the image.
A countermeasure considered in order to prevent variations in the application of treatment liquid as described above involves providing a buffer which withdraws the medium (for example, a loop-shaped withdrawal path), between the treatment liquid application roller and the droplet ejection head. By this means, even if the medium is halted at the ink droplet ejection position, it is possible to apply treatment liquid by conveying the medium in a continuous fashion, at the treatment liquid application position, but on the other hand problems arise in that in order to provide space for the buffer, the apparatus becomes large in size and costs increase.
Furthermore, even if treatment liquid is deposited onto the medium by droplet ejection, in cases where the resolution of the droplet ejection of the treatment liquid is made lower than the resolution of the droplet ejection of ink or the treatment liquid droplets are ejected in a thinned out fashion with the objective of saving component costs for the ejection of treatment liquid droplets and saving running costs due to reduced consumption of the treatment liquid, variations in the aggregation of the ink arise due to variations in the amount of treatment liquid deposited onto the medium, similarly to cases where treatment liquid is deposited by application as described above, and hence there has been a problem of density non-uniformities in the image.

Droplet ejection apparatus and droplet ejection method


A controller for an optical disk drive includes a modulator configured to modulate a record data to be recorded on a optical disk based on a record clock that is a reference clock in recording, and to generate a modulation data and an address information of the modulation data. A prepit decoder is configured to generate a prepit clock from a prepit signal detected from the optical disk, and a decision circuit is configured to determine whether or not recording in accordance with a standard is performed, from phase characteristic based on the address information and the prepit clock, and to control a frequency of the record clock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk drive and, more particularly, to a controller for the optical disk drive and a semiconductor integrated circuit monolithically integrating the controller on a single semiconductor chip.
2. Description of the Related Art
A compact disk-recordable/rewritable (CD-R/RW) device is available as a recordable optical disk. Moreover, digital versatile disk-recordable/rewritable (DVD-RW) and digital versatile disk+recordable/rewritable (DVD+RW) devices are available as optical disks, which have a large-capacity compared to the CD-R/RW. In recording, "additional write", i.e., writing new data which includes previously recorded data on the optical disk is offer necessary. A standard has been established such that an end of the previously recorded data and an initial point of new data coincide with each other within an accuracy of ±1 byte.
In order to permit the additional write in accordance with the standard, a method of recording new data on the optical disk by use of an information signal as a reference has been proposed (hereinafter referred to as "first background art"). The information signal is obtained from the optical disk. Also, a method of recording new data on the optical disk based on a wobble clock obtained by multiplying a wobble signal has been proposed (hereinafter referred to as "second background art").
In the first background art, when the previously recorded data on the optical disk deviates from the standards, the new data deviates from the prepits and a wobble. Furthermore, in a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive and the like, a track pitch is narrower than the size of a beam spot. As a result, crosstalk often occurs between tracks. Under the influence of the wobble of adjacent tracks on the optical disk, the wobble signal is subjected to an amplitude modulation (AM) and a frequency modulation (FM). When the wobble signal undergoes the AM and the FM modulation, an error occurs in the wobble clock.
Therefore, according to the second background art, it is difficult to maintain phases of the record sync and prepits constantly, by use of the wobble clock as the reference. Furthermore, when the previously recorded data on the optical disk deviates from the standard, new data is recorded in accordance with prepits and the wobble, while ignoring the deviating data. If the new data is recorded while ignoring the previously recorded deviation data, there is a possibility that the previously recorded data will be destroyed.

Controller for an optical disk drive, semiconductor integrated circuit and optical disk drive


A system, system, and program for automatically inferring and updating an availability status of a user are provided. At least one current activity of a user is detected, where the current activity includes at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to the user. A current availability status for a particular communication request is inferred from the current activity of the user in view of multiple availability rules, where the multiple availability rules map current activity to multiple possible availability statuses. In addition, inference of the current availability status is determined based on the identity of the requester of communication with the user, where the multiple availability rules map the requester identity in combination with the current activity to multiple availability rules. Output of the current availability status is controlled, such that the requester of the particular communication request is notified of an availability of the user to respond to the particular communication request.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to improved communications and in particular to improved notification of an availability of a user to communicate via a particular communication medium. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to automatically inferring an availability status of a user with whom communication is requested based on current system level events indicating a user's activity within a computer environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
The number of mediums of communication continue to increase. Wireless telephones, for example, now enable voice, text, graphic, and picture communications. Computing systems connected to a network may provide communication via electronic mail (email), instant messaging (IM), and chat sessions, for example.
As the number of mediums of communication continue to increase, so too do the number of communication requests that can interrupt a person during the day. For example, a person may be interrupted by a ringing telephone, a flashing instant messaging window, and a beep indicating a new email.
While there may be a number of mediums of communication through which a person can be reached and interrupted, that person may not always be available or may only be available to a particular degree, to communicate via a particular medium. Some mediums of communication, such as an IM controller, allow a user to choose from an availability status, such as available, off-line, or do not disturb, that is broadcast to those seeking to communicate with the user. An IM controller may also detect when a user is off-line and automatically set the user's status to off-line or detect that a user has not interacted with a computer system for a particular period of time and automatically set a user's status to away.
While automatically setting a user's availability status based on whether the user is on-line or off-line or active or away provides some indication of a user's status, merely setting status based on network accessibility or general computer activity is limited. In particular, a user's actual availability to communicate may fluctuate based on what the user is actually doing while on-line, however current IM controllers do not automatically set a user's availability beyond an on-line status or active status.
In addition, a limitation of current communication mediums is that for a user to control communication request interruptions, the user must specifically select whether request interruptions can be received. For example, a user must select to block all IM requests or receive all IM requests. In reality, a user's actual availability to be interrupted with communication requests may fluctuate according to requester and according to what a user is currently actually doing.
In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a method, system, and program for automatically inferring an availability status and an interrupt status of a user receiving a communication request. In particular, it would be advantageous to infer an availability status and interrupt status for each particular request for communication with a user based on the identity of the requester of the information and what the user is actually doing. While pre-defined calendaring events may give some indication of what a user might be doing during a particular time, it would be advantageous to determine what a user is actually doing based on current user activity. In particular, it would be advantageous to infer what a user is actually doing based on a user's interactions within a computing environment as indicated by system level events.

Automatically infering and updating an availability status of a user

International Business Machines Corporation


Described herein is a computer implemented method for consistent distributed mirroring of data maintained by a primary cluster. The method comprises removing, by one mirror node of multiple mirror nodes, a change notification from a change queue shared between multiple mirror nodes; initiating an update process for the data corresponding to the change notification; and fetching one or more objects corresponding to the change notification from the primary cluster. Designated temporary slave mirror nodes notify a designated temporary master mirror node that fetching objects is complete, and the temporary master mirror node notifies the temporary slave mirror nodes that the update process is complete once a notification is received from each of the temporary slave mirror nodes.

The developments described in this section are known to the inventors. However, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the developments described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section, or that those developments are known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
In general terms, a mirror is a replica of one or more servers, such as a primary cluster of a source code repository. A mirror can act in place of the primary cluster such as for responding to certain requests from users without the requests being handled by the primary cluster at all. As a result, a mirror can enable a reduction in network traffic on the primary cluster, as many user requests can be handled independently by the mirror itself. A mirror may also result in wider availability of services and faster access to users.
A mirror may be one of multiple networked mirror nodes. That is a mirror node is a networked computer configured to operate as a mirror. Each of the mirror nodes, which together can be referred to as a cluster or mirror farm, hosts a copy of data or content that is maintained on a primary server or cluster and acts together to serve the copy of the content to users. A system architecture with a mirror farm can enable an improvement in access speed for users as the mirror nodes can act in parallel in response to user requests. A mirror farm may scale in size as the number of users/requests, and therefore usage of the mirror farm, increases.
A typical system architecture that utilizes a mirror farm would be appropriate where the multiple mirror nodes serve the same content, but the content doesn't change often (such as a mirror for a static website etc.). Where the content is changing relatively frequently, it is harder to maintain consistency between mirror nodes. This is the case with source code repositories, where the content (source code) is frequently changing. Therefore, there is a need for a mirroring system that operates to mirror content consistently and efficiently where the mirrored content is frequently changing.
Consistency of data is a significant problem in mirroring many types of data, but it is particularly a problem in mirroring source code because the content is changing frequently in many cases. As a result, most current solutions use a shared database or alternatively shards (fragments of the content) instead of mirroring. Each of those solutions generally require a master node of some kind which introduces a single point of failure and can be a bottleneck in terms of efficient usage of computational resources. Therefore, there is a need to provide a more distributed solution such that the single point of failure and the bottleneck problem is reduced.

System and method for consistent mirroring in a cluster


A system and method for receiving performance measurements for a communications network, generating alerts based on each performance measurement and a corresponding performance threshold, receiving network traps from network elements of the communications network, each network trap being generated by the network element based on a process measurement and a corresponding process threshold and correlating the alerts and the network traps to generate correlated alerts.

Although Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") technology has been in the market for several years, the Internet Protocol National Security and Emergency Preparedness (hereinafter "IP NSEP") special service management is relatively new in the network/service management arena. Because VoIP is being used for communication of information related to national security and may be used in emergency situations, it is critical that no IP NSEP calls are missed due to threats of national emergencies and disasters, and that information is provided in near real time when service degradation occurs.

VoIP network element performance detection for IP NSEP special service


A modified sorptive lignocellulosic fibre material with hydroxyl groups on the lignocellulosic fibres doubly modified by esterification with a combination of monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acid ester groups. A process for the preparation of the sorptive material. The sorptive fibre material is effective for the removal of oils and other contaminants including heavy metals from a fluid such as contaminated water by a combined sorption of hydrophobic contaminants and ion exchange.

There is considerable interest in developing and using materials capable of absorbing or adsorbing contaminants from contaminated fluid media. Such contaminants include organic materials as well as ionic materials including heavy metals. Examples of contaminated fluid media include but is not limited to aqueous media such as waste water, industrial waste water, potable water or natural water systems such as lakes, rivers, seas and the like which have become naturally or artificially contaminated. It is very important, for obvious reasons, that such materials are not prohibitively expensive and that they can be used in relatively simple, cost-effective ways.
A good illustrative example is the removal of contaminating oils from waste water, harbour water, water from road run-off etc. In such cases, much of the oil contaminant floats on the water surface and can be removed either centrifugally or even more simply in a standard separator device. Such devices are well-known to those familiar with the techniques involved in water-cleaning. However, it is difficult to remove the final few percent of the oil using such methodology, and some of the oil inevitably becomes emulsified into the water, and cannot be removed in such a straightforward physical manner. In order to remove the last part of contaminating oils from water, it is usually necessary to expose the water to some type of sorptive material, in the form of a filter, filter cartridge or other suitable device.
"Sorptive materials" or "sorbants" are materials having absorbing and/or adsorbing properties. Commonly used sorbants are inorganic powders with hydrophobic surfaces, glass and silica beads and "resins", activated carbons, and even simple hydrophobic materials such as polypropylene. The more effective sorptive materials such as activated carbons are expensive and difficult to handle.
A further example is the removal of dissolved heavy metal cations from waste water or other water streams. The most common methods of treatment are either via precipitation of the metals as insoluble salts, or by the use of an ion exchange resin or material that actively removes the ions from solution by chemical sorption. Ion-exchange resins are very expensive and the high price of such materials means that they have to be re-used or recycled many times to justify utilization. Additionally, if the aqueous medium to be treated contains other contaminants, particularly organic materials such as oils, then the performance of ion exchange resins can be impaired. In that case the efficiency of the ion exchange resin decreases, the necessary treatment time per liter water increases and the treatment becomes very expensive. Precipitation technologies are cheaper, but often require long treatment times and extensive use of settlement and sedimentation tanks.
The term "lignocellulose" means any of several closely related substances constituting the essential part of woody cell walls of plants and consisting of cellulose intimately associated with lignin and hemicellulose.
The terms "lignocellulose fibres" and "lignocellulosic fibres" are recognized by those skilled in the areas of natural product and plant sciences to mean fibres isolated from wood or other fibrous plant materials. Examples of plant materials having a great potential as a source of lignocellulosic fibres are wood, including soft and hard wood, flax, hemp, jute, coconut, cereal grasses and straws. As the name implies, lignocellulose fibres are natural fibres rich in the natural polymers cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses. These materials are characterized and known to be extremely rich in hydroxyl groups which are functional chemical groups which are extremely sorptive towards water and other polar solvents due to its inherently polar nature. The lignocellulosic fibres are therefore also very sorptive towards water and are notably hygroscopic. The natural structure of the fibres is in the form of an elaborate capillary network of tubes (the empty cell lumina) and micro tubules (cell-wall pores), which creates an excellent sorptive matrix. These factors, coupled with the low cost and renewable, biodegradable nature of lignocellulosic fibres, makes them attractive candidate materials for use in water clean-up applications.
The hydroxyl groups within the fibres, and especially those located on the fibre surface, are also chemically reactive and can be readily chemically modified via reaction with chemical species which are known to react with hydroxyl groups. For example, such groups are readily esterified using reagents such as organic acid anhydrides, organic acid chlorides, well known to chemists familiar with the esterification of alcohols and other materials containing hydroxyl groups. It is known that lignocellulosic fibres, especially wood derived fibres, can be reacted with acid anhydrides to produce fibres that are chemically modified by esterification with non-polar acid anhydrides such as acetic and propionic anhydrides, and this is used to produce fibres that are more water stable for utilization in water-resistant fibreboard type composite products.
The interesting factor is in the present context is that the fibres are of course rendered partially hydrophobic by such a modification, and what was previously a fibrous sorptive matrix with an affinity for water can be transformed, in a relatively straightforward manner, into a sorptive matrix with an increased affinity for hydrophobic liquids and a much reduced affinity for water.
An example of the above mentioned modified lignocellulosic fibre material is described in GB Patent Application 2 248 610 A disclosing a method of absorbing hydrophobic water-immiscible liquids by treating the liquid with a modified lignocellulosic plant material in which hydroxyl groups have been esterified with an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid with 1-4 carbon atoms to render it relatively more absorbent to hydrophobic water-immiscible liquids. The modified fibres are used to absorb oils and related hydrophobic liquids from natural waters and waterways including rivers, lakes, seas, harbours etc. The modified fibres are not able to effectively break emulsions and have therefore limited potential in that they only achieve little more than physical separators.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,384 (Rowell et al.) discloses reaction of lignocellulosic material with uncatalyzed acetic anhydride in the absence of any cosolvent. The purpose is to improve dimensional stability and resistance to biological attack of the lignocellulosic material. Thus use as a sorptive material for the removal of oils, metal ions and other contaminants from a fluid medium is not suggested by Rowell.
As appears, there is still a need for a non-expensive sorptive material with improved ability to remove oils and other hydrophobic contaminants from aqueous media and with the additional ability to remove other contaminants from the aqueous media such as ionic materials including heavy metals.

Preparation and use of sorptive lignocellulosic material for decontamination of fluid and aqueous media

Danish Plant Fibre Technologies Holding A/S


An image scaling processor includes a coefficient table storing interpolation coefficients, a multiplier that multiplies each of pieces of pixel data constituting input image data and each of the interpolation coefficients stored in the coefficient table, an adder that repeatedly adds pieces of multiplied data output from the multiplier and obtains a total sum of the pieces of multiplied data for a predetermined number of the pieces of pixel data, a selector that outputs a total sum of the pieces of multiplied data at a timing at which the total sum of the pieces of multiplied data is obtained for the predetermined number of the pieces of pixel data, and a shift circuit that shifts an output of the selector to adjust a bit count of the output image data to a bit count of the input image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for creating an interpolation coefficient table and to an image scaling operation device having a coefficient table created based on the method for creating a coefficient table.
2. Description of the Background Art
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-63826 (1998), typical image scaling processors follow the procedure of scaling up an original image to U times and then scaling down the image to 1/D times, to thereby perform a U/D-times arbitrary scaling process, U/D-times including integral multiple as well as a rational multiple. Unfortunately, this method requires the operation for scaling up an original image to U times as well as a memory for storing image data scaled up to U times, resulting in redundant operation and memory.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-165664 discloses the technology of directly obtaining a final image (U/D-times image) without obtaining an intermediate image (U-times image) from an original image, which solves the above-mentioned redundancy problem. However, this technology uses a conventional technique for an interpolation process, requiring a divider and a floating point unit.
As described above, the conventional image scaling process requires a divider and a floating point unit, and accordingly, the device configuration becomes complicated.

Method for creating coefficient table and image scaling processor


Disclosed are a multi-layer LSP control method and apparatus. The method comprises: acquiring a label switched path (LSP) addition request, wherein the LSP addition request carries identifier information for identifying a layer associated group that the LSP is to be added to; and in response to the LSP addition request, adding the LSP to the layer associated group, wherein the layer associated group comprises: an upper-layer LSP and several lower-layer LSPs.

A structure based on a path computation element (Path Computation Element, abbreviated as PCE) is described in the RFC4655. The structure is used for path computations of label switched paths (Label Switched Paths, abbreviated as LSP) of traffic engineer (Traffic Engineer, abbreviated as TE) of multi-protocol label switching (Multi-Protocol Label Switching, abbreviated as MPLS) and generalized multi-protocol label switching (Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching, abbreviated as GMPLS).
Specifically, the PCE is an entity, a component, an application or a network node capable of computing a network path or route based on a network map and applying constraints of computation. A path computation client (Path Computation Client, abbreviated as PCC) is a client application for requesting the PCE to perform path computation.
It is proposed in the RFC5440 that, the PCEP protocol is used as the communication protocol between the PCE and the PCC, and the PCC requests the PCE to perform path computation or route computation according to the PCEP protocol. In an MPLS network or a GMPLS network, when a user creates an LSP, the first node is generally used as the PCC to request the PCE to perform path computation, and a result of the computation is returned to the PCC, and then the PCC initiates establishment of the LSP signaling.
In recent years, the requirements and applications of a stateful PCE have been proposed. For the stateful PCE, the PCC can authorize the control of the LSP to the PCE. In the draft-ietf-pce-stateful-pce-16, it is proposed an extension of the PCEP protocol by the stateful PCE. In the ietf-pce-stateful-pce-app, it is proposed the requirements of control of LSPs at different layers and TE links in multi-layer networks (Multi-Layer Networks, abbreviated as MLN) in the stateful PCE.

Multi-layer LSP control method and apparatus


The present invention refers to an electronic cigarette atomizer, which comprises a heating wire component and a breather pipe, the heating wire component further comprises a heating body, one end of the breather pipe defines at least one U-shaped opening(s), the heating body is embedded in the U-shaped opening(s). In assembly of an electronic cigarette atomizer in the present invention, the heating wire component and the electrode part are formed integrally, the assembly of the electronic cigarette atomizer can be accomplished via the operation of aligning the U-shaped opening with the heating wire component and inserting the U-shaped opening into the heating wire component, there is no need to perform actions of insertion of the lead pins. The electronic cigarette atomizer is simple in assembly, the electronic cigarette atomizer avoids inaccurate alignments formed between the heating wire component and the electrode and improves the production efficiency.

Electronic cigarette is a kind of electronic products, which is configured for heating tobacco juice by a heating wire and making the tobacco juice be atomized. Nowadays, electronic cigarette are provided to smokers as substitutes of real cigarettes. In use of an electronic cigarette, the tobacco juice is transformed into aerial fog after being heated, and the aerial fog flows through a breather pipe and arrives at the exterior of the electronic cigarette via an opening of a suction nozzle cover. The core components of the electronic cigarette are the heating wire and the breather pipe. As shown in FIG. 1, in the prior art, an electronic cigarette atomizer comprises a hollow outer sleeve 180, a male screw bushing 110 engaging with one end of the outer sleeve 180, a dead ring 130 and a top electrode 120 inserted into the dead ring 130 and engaging with the male screw bushing 110. In assembly, a heating wire component 140 is inserted into a hollow breather pipe 150 firstly and is mounted inside the outer sleeve 180 subsequently. Two lead pins of the heating wire component 140 are in contact with the male screw bushing 110 and the top electrode 120 respectively. When the breather pipe 150 is assembled, a cavity is formed between the breather pipe 150 and the outer sleeve 180, and oil-absorbing cotton 160 is received in the cavity. Finally, a suction nozzle cover 170 is attached to an opening of the other end of the outer sleeve 180.
The breather pipe 150 defines at least one through-hole(s) passing through a pipe body thereof in a center portion of the pipe body. In assembly, one lead pin of the heating wire component 140 is configured to pass through the through-hole(s), which provides guidance for the main body of the heating wire component 140 to pass through the through-hole(s). However, the assembly method is seriously inconvenient. Furthermore, the lead pins of the heating wire component 140 are very long and may be bent during assembly, and it is difficult to accurately align and assemble the two lead pins of the heating component, which causes low production efficiency.

HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH


A method of synthesizing magnetic nanoparticles comprising soft magnetic phases is provided, wherein the method comprises degassing a first mixture at a temperature in a range from about 80° C. to 130° C. The first mixture comprises a solvent, a compound comprising iron, cobalt, or combinations thereof dissolved in the solvent, and an organic component comprising a fatty acid or an amine. Degassing the first mixture is followed by adding a capping ligand to the first mixture under inert atmosphere to form a second mixture; adding a reducing agent to the second mixture at a temperature in a processing temperature range from about 250° C. to about 350° C. to form a third mixture; and incubating the third mixture at a temperature within the processing temperature range to form nanoparticles comprising a soft magnetic phase.

Magnetic nanoparticles have drawn attention as essential materials for achieving a variety of next-generation nanotechnology devices, such as high-density magnetic recording media, nanoscale electronics, radio-frequency electromagnetic wave shields, nanocomposite permanent magnets or transformer core. In the biomedical field, the magnetic nanoparticle has potential applications as novel catalysts, biomolecule labeling agents or used as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The magnetic nanoparticle further used for hyperthermia, immunological test systems, drug targeting or gene delivery. A nanocomposite permanent magnet comprising a hard magnetic phase nanoparticles and soft magnetic phase nanoparticles may have immense significance to enhance intrinsic coercivity of the permanent magnets, which may demonstrate enhanced performance at high temperatures. Magnetically soft materials with low anisotropy are advantageous in the development of read heads and in magnetic shielding applications. A steady supply of magnetic nanoparticles comprising soft magnetic phases with desirable size and magnetic properties is necessary for various applications.
Methods have been developed with primary focus to prepare nanoparticles of desired size by controlling the particle growth, however the exact details of the magnetic properties of the resulting particles are unknown. Soft magnetic nanoparticles with a high magnetic saturation are primary requirement for making a nanocomposite magnet. Thus the ability to obtain soft magnetic nanoparticles with magnetic properties approaching maximum magnetic saturation in the bulk is a desirable quality. Unlike previously reported processes on the synthesis of soft magnetic nanoparticles using iron (II) compounds and with zero valent iron precursors, a process for producing small nanoparticles, such as 5 nm to 20 nm, with magnetic saturation values approaching maximum is a long felt need.
A secondary requirement for a nanocomposite magnet is to minimize the non-magnetic material in the protective shell of the soft magnetic nanoparticle, to allow optimal coupling between the soft magnetic phase and hard magnetic phase. Methods that have been established using long chain surfactants for stabilization of small particles exhibit lower magnetic saturation (emu/g) due to ligand effects. Various attempts of heat-treatment have resulted in uncontrolled growth of the nanoparticles.
Therefore, the development of a method for synthesizing uniform nanoparticles comprising soft magnetic phases comprised of a metal or an alloy having desired particle diameter, particle size distribution, improved crystallinity, phase structure or phase purity is desired. Moreover, an economically feasible method for making magnetic nanoparticles with improved magnetic properties compared to commercially available or conventionally made magnetic nanoparticles may provide a solution for the current requirement.

Soft magnetic phase nanoparticles preparations and associated methods thereof


A device for separating overlapping, flat items of mail in an upright position in a transport path has separating sections arranged in the transport path and having transport belts. A stationary retaining strip running over a length of all separating sections is attached on the transport path on a side opposite the transport belt and operates on the mail items with friction force. Pressure elements for pressing the retaining strip onto transported mail items are distributed over a length of the retaining strip. Each pressure element comprises a coupling lever, pressure rollers and an elastic belt loop. The belt loop is attached a back of the retaining strip, and guided via the pressure rollers on ends of the coupling lever running in longitudinal direction of the retaining strip. The coupling lever is displaceably supported on a pivot axis.

The invention relates to a device for separating overlapping, flat items of mail.
A separation device with a number of separating sections one behind the other for separating flat items of mail in an upright position is described in DE 103 50 352 B3 which has a fixed-position retaining strip over its entire length with retaining elements in the form of strips which are spaced in relation to each other, in relation to the extraction belts and are offset in height in relation to the extraction belts. In order to create the necessary pressure by the retaining elements of the retaining strip on the mail items, pressure elements are provided over the length of the strip which press with spring force from behind directly against the retaining strip. The pressure elements have pressure rollers at their ends with flanged wheels for keeping the retaining strip up. During the passage of a bulky item the retaining strip can be impermissibly displaced onto the pressure elements so that the retaining strip can be damaged. This then results in malfunctions and double extractions. If such a fault is caused by a number of mail items jamming, then the pressure on the mail items must be relieved and the operator then removes the jammed mail items. To this end the transport path must be opened by moving the retaining strip backwards out of its operating position. In such cases the danger arises of the retaining strip coming away from the pressure elements and thus no longer being guided in its position.
A separation device (U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,777 A) with retaining strip in a fixed location was also known, featuring strip-shaped retaining elements in which the necessary retaining pressure is generated by the belt tension. A separation device is described in DE 102 12 024 A1 which features a circulating belt for separating a number of contiguous goods items, where the direction of conveyance on the conveying channel is opposite to the direction of conveyance of the extraction belt. A number of elastically supported pressure roller devices are provided for guiding and supporting the separation belt.

Device for separating overlapping, flat items of mail


An electrode structure (10) is made by applying a base layer of doped LaCrO.sub.3 particles on a portion of an electrode (16) and then coating the particles with a top layer composition such as CaO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SrO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, or BaO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and then heating the composition for a time effective to melt the composition and allow it to fill any open porosity in the base layer of doped LaCrO.sub.3 to form an interconnection (26), after which solid oxide electrolyte (18) can be applied to the remaining portion of the electrode (16) and the electrolyte (18) can be covered with a cermet exterior electrode (20).

The present invention relates to a method of depositing an electronically conductive interconnection layer on an electrode of an electrochemical cell.
High temperature electrochemical cells are well known. In these types of cells, typified by fuel cells, a porous support tube of calcia stabilized zirconia, has an air electrode cathode deposited on it. The air electrode may be made of, for example, oxides of the perovskite family, such as doped lanthanum manganite. Surrounding the major portion of the outer periphery of the air electrode is a layer of gas-tight solid electrolyte, usually yttria stabilized zirconia. A selected radial segment of the air electrode is covered by an interconnection material. The interconnection material may be made of a doped lanthanum chromite film. The generally used dopant is Mg, although Ca and Sr have also been suggested.
Both the electrolyte and interconnect material are applied on top of the air electrode by a modified electro-chemical vapor deposition process, at temperatures of up to 1450.degree. C., with the suggested use of vaporized halides of zirconium and yttrium for the electrolyte, and vaporized halides of lanthanum, chromium, and magnesium, or calcium or strontium for the interconnection material.
It would be economically desirable to form at least the interconnect material by a simple sintering process which would employ less expensive equipment and use low cost oxides or chemicals to form the desired interconnection.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,238 (Ruka), a Co and/or Mg doped lanthanum chromite interconnection was described. Means of making the interconnection were generally described as including vapor deposition and traditional sintering techniques.
An improved method of bonding fuel cell interconnections was taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,345 (Bowker et al.), where particles of lanthanum chromite, doped with at least one of Sr, Mg, Ca, Ba and Co, and having on each particle surface a coating of CaO+Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, were placed on an air electrode surface and heated in air without any applied pressure. The Ca and Cr coated on the surfaces of the individual particles were incorporated into the structure of the lanthanum chromite. This system allowed formation of sintered interconnections without cracking the fragile air electrode by pressure techniques. A slurry of the particles in a Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 +Cr(NO.sub.3).sub.3 solution was applied to the air electrode by brushing or tape casting. Heating then formed the layer on the particles. Further heating caused the CaO+Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 to melt and flow into voids between the particles and ultimate reduction of void volume in the interconnection. This invention required particle coating, and resulted in a small, open porosity. Even a small open porosity is troublesome for fuel cell operation and life.
What is needed is a convenient method to make lanthanum chromite interconnections without open porosity on air electrodes. It is one of the objects of the invention to provide such a method and to provide such an interconnection on a fuel cell.

Electrode and method of interconnection sintering on an electrode of an electrochemical cell


A cell culture assembly and a method for culturing cells that provide mechanical stimulation to cells. The cell culture assembly can include a flow chamber positioned in a fluid path and a support comprising cells positioned within the flow chamber to expose the cells to the fluid path. The cell culture assembly can further include a means for producing a steady flow of fluid in the fluid path, and a means for producing an oscillatory flow of fluid in the fluid path simultaneously with producing the steady flow of fluid in the fluid path to mechanically stimulate the cells. The method can include transporting fluid in the fluid path at a substantially steady flow rate, and transporting fluid in the fluid path at a substantially oscillatory flow rate simultaneously with transporting fluid in the fluid path at a substantially steady flow rate.

The present invention generally relates to a cell culture method and apparatus for mechanically stimulating cells, including bone cells, ligament cells, tendon cells, cartilage cells, muscle cells, blood vessel cells, and nerve cells. Cell and tissue graft therapy have been used to treat defects for many clinical disorders, including trauma and cancer. Autografts and allografts have also been used as grafting treatments for tissue repair. However, there is a limited supply of tissue that is available for autograft transplantation. Autografting requires an additional surgery which can lead to donor site morbidity and pain. Allografts have the risks of disease transmission and transplant failure due to immune response, fracture, or non-union. Due to the limitations of grafting, alternative therapies such as tissue engineering can be used, including three-dimensional tissue engineering.

Cell culture method and apparatus for mechanically stimulating cells


An exemplary semiconductor device includes first spacers disposed along sidewalls of a first gate structure and second spacers disposed along sidewalls of a second gate structure. A source/drain region is disposed between the first gate structure and the second gate structure. A first ILD layer is disposed between the first spacers and the second spacers. A portion of the first ILD layer has a first recessed upper surface. A dielectric layer is disposed over the first spacers, the second spacers, and the first recessed upper surface of the first ILD layer. A portion of the dielectric layer has a second recessed upper surface that is disposed over the portion of the first ILD layer having the first recessed upper surface. A second ILD layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. A contact extends through the second ILD layer, the dielectric layer, and the first ILD layer to the source/drain region.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. However, these advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. In the course of integrated circuit evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased.
The ever-shrinking geometry size brings challenges to semiconductor fabrication. For example, misalignment between microelectronic components (such as misalignment between a source/drain and a conductive contact formed thereover) during fabrication may occur, which may damage the semiconductor device or degrade its performance. In addition, the smaller device sizes may lead to more significant parasitic capacitance, which could also negatively affect semiconductor device performance.
Therefore, while existing semiconductor devices and the fabrication thereof have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in every aspect.

Enlarging spacer thickness by forming a dielectric layer over a recessed interlayer dielectric

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A trap film assembly of a semiconductor memory device includes a tunnel oxide layer formed on a semiconductor substrate and plural multi-layer film layers laminated on the tunnel oxide film. A thickness of each multi-layer film layer is sequentially increased in a direction away from the semiconductor substrate and towards a gate electrode, thereby displacing the charge centroid of the assembly towards the semiconductor substrate.

The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile transistor memory having a gate insulating assembly for trapping charges which includes two or more types of alternately laminated insulating thin films and a tunnel oxide film located on a semiconductor substrate.
Some conventional semiconductor readable and writable memory transistors, which store information by the accumulation of electric charges, have a MNOS (metal-film nitride-oxide film-semiconductor) construction. The minimum thickness of a nitride film of the MNOS device is 190 .ANG.. An oxide film is formed on the upper surface of the nitride film to achieve a relatively thin gate insulating film structure to cope with lower voltages and to obtain higher speed memory elements. However, the injection of holes from the gate electrode can lead to element deterioration due to the thin gate insulating film structure.
In one proposed memory device, a tunnel oxide film is provided on a silicone substrate for trapping an electric charge thereon, and a gate electrode is provided on the trap film. By application of a voltage upon the gate electrode, an electric charge is trapped on the trap film from the channel portion of the transistor device. After the gate voltage has been removed, the channel is retained in an on or off state according to an electric field resulting from the trapped electric charge.
In one type of device, a nitride film or mixed film is used as a trap film. In another type of device, an oxide film is provided on the trap film so that erasing and writing operations can be effected using a low voltage. The oxide film prevents the injection of holes from the electrode and the thrusting of electrons into the electrode. However, since a relatively high voltage is applied to the oxide film, defects occur as the writing and erasing voltage increases, and detrap of electrons and injection of holes are caused thus reducing the injection efficiency of electrons.

Semiconductor memory trap film assembly having plural laminated gate insulating films


A plastic mailbox of modular construction includes a postal compartment and a newspaper compartment. The postal compartment includes a floor component which serves as a roof for a newspaper compartment positioned beneath the postal compartment. The postal compartment floor serves as an interconnecting member between the postal compartment and the newspaper compartment and is hidden from view by having its laterally opposite sides disposed in registering recesses formed in the side walls of the postal and newspaper compartments. A partial rear wall in the newspaper compartment serves as a stop for newspapers inserted into the open ended newspaper compartment.

Applicants have filed the following United States patent applications:
Ser. No. 11/024,265 filed Dec. 28, 2004 for a Ground Mount Post;
Ser. No. 11/032,964 filed Jan. 11, 2005 for a Mailbox and Support;
Ser. No. 11/042,280 filed Jan. 25, 2005 for a Mailbox Door with Rain Intercepting Structure;
Ser. No. 11/047,977 filed Feb. 1, 2005 for a Mailbox with Signal;
Ser. No. 11/052,648 filed Feb. 7, 2005 for a Two Piece Mailbox Support, and
Ser. No. 11/052,591 filed Feb. 7, 2005 for a Reinforced Plastic Mailbox.
Mail delivered by rural mail carriers is placed in a mailbox approved by the United States Postal Service. Although newspapers could be delivered through the postal system, the preferred delivery of a newspaper is by a hired newspaper delivery person. Since only postal items can legally be placed in the government approved mailbox, newspapers delivered by the newspaper delivery person are usually placed in a separate newspaper receiving receptacle. In recent years mailboxes having separate postal and newspaper compartments have been approved for postal use by the United States Postal Service.

Multiple component mailbox having postal and newspaper compartments


A switching power supply having at least one switch (S) controlled by a control circuit (AST), by means of which an input direct voltage (UV) is switched, whereby a thermal model (THM) is implemented in a control (STE), by means of which the temperature of at least one component (S; D3, D4, UET) can be calculated or estimated, and at least one current value that is load-dependent is made available as an electrical quantity to the thermal model, the control (STE) is directed at outputting at least one limiting signal (abs, ala) when a limiting value or a function of multiple limiting values depending on calculated or estimated temperature values is reached, which is usable in the sense of an action to reduce temperature, and which produces at least one limiting signal (abs) to the control circuit in the sense of a temperature reduction and thus a power reduction.

In dimensioning of switching power supplies, especially those for industrial controls, calculation of the power consumption is a substantial expense if it is possible at all. Usually, only an estimate is possible, because the peak power consumption depends primarily on the control program that is running. Because of that, power supplies are often massively over-dimensioned, resulting, certainly, in higher costs and greater requirement for space.
Switching power supplies generally have a maximum output power which is, for instance, set at a fixed level by a current limiter, whereby the maximum output power is available as a continuous rating. In so doing, one assumes a maximum ambient temperature. At the state of the art, power supplies are known which can produce output currents or powers greater than the nominal value for short times. For instance, they can produce 3 times the nominal current for 25 ms. It has also become known that power supplies can be built so that they can provide a higher output power, e.g., 10 to 30% higher, at low ambient temperature ("derating").
Transient overloads can also be supplied by batteries connected in parallel with the output; but that solution is quite disadvantageous because the lifetime and cost of the batteries must be considered, and a separate cutoff device to protect against deep discharge is also necessary, such as a special load circuit; and they have substantial volume and weight, aside from the cost.
The fundamental consideration of thermal capacities for fused supply of electrical loads is often recognized and is already accomplished in principle by fuses with slow response adapted to the load. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,708 A shows an electronic protection for an electrical motor connected to a three-phase line, which is to be protected against long-term load above the nominal load. In this system the current temperature of the motor can be calculated and applied for switching the motor off.
However, the problem on which the invention is based is not protection of a load and consideration of its characteristics, but provision of a switching power supply at a favorable price.
Then one objective of the invention is provision of a switching power supply with which unnecessarily high costs due to overdimensioning can be avoided and, in particular, intelligent adaptation to the existing situation, especially the load and temperature situation, is possible.
This problem is solved with a switching power supply of the type stated initially, in which, according to the invention, there is a control in which a thermal model is implemented, by means of which the temperature of at least one part can be calculated or estimated, whereby a load-dependent current value is made available to the thermal model as an electrical quantity, and the control is directed to producing at least one limiting signal when a limiting value that can be preset is reached, or a function of multiple limits, which limiting signal can be utilized in the sense of an interruption for temperature reduction, and at least one limiting signal can be sent to the control circuit, which acts on the control circuit in the sense of temperature reduction and thus power reduction.
Due to the invention, it is possible to provide a switching power supply which has only a relatively small structural size and lower costs than the usual power supplies, because it is dimensioned only for the average power consumption. In practice, one can actually reduce the dimensioning to about half the nominal power. The only added costs are those concerning the temperature monitoring.
In one practical variant it is provided that a limiting signal is used to cut off the power supply on the primary and secondary sides.
It is particularly convenient for a limiting signal to be used to control a cooling/ventilating device. In that way it is possible to prevent, or at least to delay, cutting off the power supply in the case of a transient overload.
In many cases it is desirable to use a limiting signal as an alarm signal because the user can take appropriate steps to avoid or reduce damage.
In preferred variants, it is provided that there is at least one temperature sensor to determine temperatures relevant to/for the power supply, whereby the signal from at least one temperature sensor can be used in the thermal model. In contrast to other operating parameter values, the temperature values are of direct and clear importance for an overload state of the power supply. It can be appropriate, if a temperature sensor is provided for the ambient temperature for the power supply or if a temperature sensor is provided to determine the temperature of a semiconductor component and/or its thermally relevant environment, or if a temperature sensor is provided to determine the temperature of a transformer and/or its thermally relevant environment.
On the other hand, it is appropriate in many cases if at least the output current from the power supply is provided to the thermal model as an electrical quantity, or if the primary current is provided to the thermal model as an electrical quantity. The thermal model can, from such current values, make an estimate of, for example, the chip temperature of power semiconductors.
In another variant, it can be provided for the thermal model to contain stored thermal time constants of individual parts which are taken into consideration in the calculation/estimation of component temperatures. In this way, the delay between an actual semiconductor (chip) temperature and, for instance, the housing or heat sink temperature, which is often substantial, can be taken into consideration. Here it is particularly effective if the thermal model is directed at continuously calculating the temperatures of components, considering the stored time constants.
Another variant, which can be accomplished simply, is characterized in that the thermal model contains a list of possible combinations of assignments of operating parameter values and limiting signals and the control circuit is aimed at selecting and outputting at least one limiting signal corresponding to measurements from this list.
Designs in which the control system contains at least one digital processor are particularly capable.
On the other hand, it is possible for the control system to be designed at least in part as an analog system. One can construct a thermal model, especially a simplified one, from operational amplifiers, resistances and capacitors.


A flexural vibration element includes: a plurality of vibrating arms provided in parallel with each other; a connecting part connecting the vibrating arms; and one central supporting arm extending between the vibrating arms from the connecting part in parallel with the vibrating arms at equal distance from the arms. In the flexural vibration element, the connecting part has a groove formed on each of front and rear surfaces thereof, and the groove is provided in an area of the connecting part in which compressive stress and tensile stress due to flexural vibration of the vibrating arms alternately occur at a vibrating arm side and an opposite side of the vibrating arm side, in a width direction of the vibrating arms.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a flexural vibration element which vibrates in a flexural vibration mode, and various electronic components including the flexural vibration element, such as a vibrator, a resonator, an oscillator gyro, and various sensors.
2. Related Art
As a piezoelectric vibration element in a flexural vibration mode, such a tuning fork type piezoelectric vibration element has been widely used that a pair of vibrating arms is extended in parallel from a base part and the vibrating arms vibrate closer to or away from each other in a horizontal direction. Vibration energy loss generated when the vibrating arms perform flexural vibration causes degradation of performance of a vibrator such as increase of a CI value and decrease of a Q value. Therefore, various ways for preventing or reducing the vibration energy loss has been contrived.
JP-A-2002-261575 as a first example and JP-A-2004-260718 as a second example disclose a tuning fork type quartz crystal vibration element in which cuts or cut-grooves having a predetermined depth are formed at both side parts of a base part from which vibrating arms extend. In the quartz crystal vibration element, even in a case where the vibrating arms generate vibration including a vertical component, vibration leak from the base part is suppressed by the cuts or the cut-grooves so as to improve a vibration energy trapping effect and prevent variation of CI values among vibration elements.
Not only such the mechanical loss but also vibration energy loss is generated by heat conduction due to temperature difference between a compressive part and a tensile part, which receives tensile stress, of the vibrating arms which perform flexural vibration. Decrease of the Q value caused by the heat conduction is called a thermoelastic loss. In order to prevent or suppress the decrease of the Q value due to the thermalelastic loss, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-110151 as a third example proposes a tuning fork type vibrator, in which a groove or a hole is formed on a centerline of a vibrating arm (vibrating beam) having a rectangular section.
The third example describes that the Q value becomes minimum when a relaxation frequency fm is expressed as fm=½πτ (here, π denotes circle ratio, and τ denotes relaxation time) in a vibrator in a flexural vibration mode. This is based on a relational equation, which is well known, of distortion and stress in a case of internal friction, which is generally caused by temperature difference, of a solid substance. A relationship between a Q value and a frequency is generally expressed as a curve F of FIG. 5 (refer to, for example, C. Zener et al., "Internal Friction in Solids III. Experimental Demonstration of Thermoelastic Internal Friction", Physical Review, Volume 53, pp. 100-101 (January 1938)). Referring to FIG. 5, the Q value becomes a minimum value Q0 at a relaxation frequency f0 (=½πτ).
Here, it is also known that the relaxation frequency f0 can be obtained from the following formula.f0=πk/(2ρCp a2)  (1)Here, π denotes circle ratio, k denotes a thermal capacity of a vibration part (flexural vibration part), and a denotes a width of the vibration part (flexural vibration part) in a vibrating direction (flexural vibrating direction).
On the other hand, as a flexural vibrator other than that of a tuning fork type, JP-A-2006-345519 as a fourth example discloses a resonator in which two parallel vibrating arms are coupled to each other by a connecting part and a central arm is extended between the vibrating arms from the connecting part. The resonator is composed of a single-component vibration element made of quartz crystal. In the resonator, at least one groove is formed on at least one of a front surface and a rear surface of the vibrating arms so as to make an excitation electric field even and regionally-strong, reducing energy consumption and limiting a CI value. Further, the groove of the vibrating arms is extended to the connecting part, at which mechanical stress is maximum, to extract an electric field in this region, increasing a vibration coupling effect of the vibrating arms.
Vibration elements vibrating in the flexural vibration mode include a vibration element of an electrostatic driving type using electrostatic force and a vibration element of a magnetic driving type using magnetism as well as the vibration element of the piezoelectric driving type described above. JP-A-5-312576 as a fifth example discloses an angular velocity sensor as a vibration element of the electrostatic driving type. In the angular velocity sensor, a first vibrating body composed of a square frame part is supported by a first supporting beam so as to be able to vibrate in X-axis direction, and a second vibrating body having a square plain plate shape is supported by a second supporting beam so as to be able to vibrate in Y-axis direction, on a substrate made of a silicon material. The first supporting beam bends due to electrostatic force which is generated between a fixed conductive part provided on an end part of the substrate and a movable conductive part provided on an end part of the first vibrating body. Thus the first vibrating body vibrates in the X-axis direction. JP-A-2001-183140 as a sixth example discloses another angular velocity sensor as another vibration element of the electrostatic driving type. This angular velocity sensor is composed of a sensor body made of a silicon wafer and a glass substrate opposed to the sensor body. The sensor body has plummets held in an inside of a vibration frame, which is supported in a fixed frame by a driving beam, by multiple beams. The sensor body and the plummets vibrate due to electrostatic force generated between parallel plain plate electrodes provided on the sensor body and the glass substrate.
Further, JP-B-43-1194 as a seventh example discloses a vibrating body structure as a vibration element of the magnetic driving type. In the vibrating body structure, a vibrating body made of a constant modulus material is fixed and supported on an external fixing pedestal at its supporting part at one end thereof. A spring part branched from a connecting part between the vibrating body and the pedestal is driven and vibrated by magnet fixed to a free end of the spring part and by an electromagnetic coil fixed to a base. JP-A-10-19577 as an eighth example discloses an angular velocity sensor as another vibration element of the magnetic driving type. In the angular velocity sensor, a thin film magnet is disposed on a thin film vibrating plate which is composed of a silicon substrate and is supported as a cantilever beam. The thin film vibrating plate is vibrated in a thickness direction by an effect of electromagnetic force generated by applying alternating current to a conductor or an electromagnetic coil provided outside the thin film vibrating plate.
However, as far as the inventor knows, almost only the third example studies an influence of the above-mentioned thermoelastic loss given to the piezoelectric vibration element in a flexural vibration mode, among related arts. The inventor studied an influence of thermoelastic loss, caused by flexural vibration of vibrating arms, on performances of the vibrating arms in a piezoelectric vibration element having such a structure that one central supporting arm was extended between the two vibrating arms from a connecting part as illustrated in the fourth example.
Referring to FIG. 6, this piezoelectric vibration element 1 includes two vibrating arms 3 and 4 extending from a connecting part 2 in parallel. Between the vibrating arms 3 and 4, one central supporting arm 5 extends in parallel with the arms 3 and 4 at equal distance from the arms 3 and 4. A linear groove 6 is formed on each of a front surface and a rear surface of the vibrating arm 3 and a linear groove 7 is formed on each of a front surface and a rear surface of the vibrating arm 4. The piezoelectric vibration element 1 is fixed and held on a package or the like, which is not shown, at an end of the central supporting arm 5, that is, at an end part opposite to the connecting part 2. When predetermined voltage is applied to an excitation electrode, which is not shown, in this state, the vibrating arms 3 and 4 perform flexural vibration in a direction closer to or away from each other as shown by imaginary lines and arrows in the drawing.
Because of this flexural vibration, mechanical distortion occurred in the connecting part 2 along a width direction of the vibrating arms 3 and 4, concretely, at a region 8 between a connecting portion of the connecting part 2 with the vibrating arm 3 and a connecting portion of the same with the central supporting arm 5, and at a region 9 between a connecting portion of the connecting part 2 with the vibrating arm 4 and the connecting portion of the same with the central supporting arm 5. This distortion was observed as relatively large temperature gradients between a part 10 at a vibrating arm side of the region 8 and a part 12 opposed to the part 10 and between a part 11 at the vibrating arm side of the region 9 and a part 13 opposed to the 11. When the vibrating arms 3 and 4 bent closer to each other, compressive stress acted on the parts 10 and 11 at the vibrating arm side respectively in the regions 8 and 9 so as to increase the temperatures of the parts 10 and 11, and tensile stress acted on the parts 12 and 13, which were respectively opposed to the parts 10 and 11, so as to decrease the temperatures of the parts 12 and 13. In an opposite manner, when the vibrating arms 3 and 4 bent away from each other, tensile stress acted on the parts 10 and 11 at the vibrating arm side respectively in the regions 8 and 9 so as to decrease the temperatures of the parts 10 and 11, and compressive stress acted on the parts 12 and 13, which were respectively opposed to the parts 10 and 11, so as to increase the temperatures of the parts 12 and 13.
Because of the temperature gradients, heat conduction occurs in the connecting part 2 between the part 10 at the vibrating arm side of the region 8 and the part 12 opposed to the part 10, and between the part 11 at the vibrating arm side of the region 9 and the part 13 opposed to the part 11. The temperature gradients in opposite directions to each other occur respectively at the vibrating arm side and at the opposite side of the vibrating arm side while corresponding to the flexural vibration of the vibrating arms, generating heat conductions in opposite directions to each other. Because of the heat conductions, part of vibration energy of the vibrating arms 3 and 4 is constantly lost during their vibration as the thermoelastic loss. As a result, a Q value of the vibration element is degraded, making hard to achieve desired high-performance of the vibration element.

Flexural vibration element and electronic component


Methods, systems and devices for locating a wireless identity transmitter with a central server connected with one or more proximity broadcast receivers, such as stationary receivers or mobile devices operating as wireless receivers. The wireless identity transmitter may be a compact device configured to broadcast messages, such as through Bluetooth® advertisements, including an identification code. When within proximity, a proximity broadcast receiver may receive broadcast messages from the wireless identity transmitter and relay location information along with the wireless identity transmitter's identification code to a central server as sighting messages. The proximity broadcast receiver's own location may provide an approximate location for the wireless identity transmitter. The central server may process sighting messages, which may include signal strength information, to accurately locate the wireless identity transmitter. The central server may transmit data to third-party devices and/or mobile devices of users in response to receiving sightings messages.

Cellular and wireless communication devices have seen explosive growth over the past several years. This growth has been fueled by better communications hardware, larger networks, and more reliable protocols. Today's smartphones include cameras, GPS receivers, Bluetooth® transceivers, and of course the cellular communication capabilities (e.g., LTE, 3G and/or 4G network access) to enable the devices to establish data communication links with the Internet. Smartphones are now very widely deployed in society. Additionally, the components and capabilities in smartphones are now very affordable, enabling the capabilities to be deployed in other types of devices.
Numerous solutions have been proposed to facilitate location of persons or assets leveraging cellular and wireless devices. Most of these systems involve the development of a wearable device that communicates the position of the wearer to a server. Others involve establishment of a radio connection between the wearer and a cellular device. Such systems suffer from issues of cost, effectiveness and practicality, which limit their viability. Further, schemes that transmit wireless information indicating user identities or other unique information may be tracked by unintended parties, causing security concerns. For example, nefarious parties may capture radio messages that include user identities, such as by using a packet sniffer, and may determine the origin of the messages by analyzing data transmitting in the clear.

Platform for wireless identity transmitter and system using short range wireless broadcast


The present disclosure concerns a perfuming ingredient of a compound of formula (I)

One of the key ingredients in the perfumery industry are the one imparting a floral impression and in particular a lily of the valley odor. Said note is very appreciated and used in a multitude of perfumed consumer products. Lilial® (2-methyl-3-[4-(2-methyl-2-propanyl)phenyl]propanal, trademark from Givaudan-Roure SA, Vernier, Suisse) and Lyral® (4/3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carbaldehyde; origin International Flavors & Fragrances, USA) are both common ingredients use in this goal. Lilial® possesses lily of the valley and watery connotation while Lyral® imparts floral, lily of the valley, hydroxycitronellal odor notes quite different from the notes of Lilial®. However, both ingredients have been limited due to various reasons
So, there is a need to develop novel perfuming ingredients imparting lily of valley which could be used as Lilial® or Lyral® replacers.
All hydroxyaldehyde Lyral® replacers developed have maintained the tertiary alcohol functional group present in Lyral®.
To the best of our knowledge, the present invention discloses for the first time a perfuming hydroxyaldehyde compound which could be used to substitute Lyral® while not comprising the typical tertiary alcohol functional group. Only one closely related structural analogue of compound of formula (I) has been reported in WO 2017009175 as perfuming ingredient characterizing by having a nice and well balanced floral, lily of the valley, hydroxycitronellal odor note, and an overall olfactive character reminding strongly of the one of the very well-known ingredient Lyral. Said analogues being 3-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanal possesses as Lyral® a tertiary alcohol, i.e. a totally different chemical structure from the present invention's compound.
The prior art document does not report or suggest any organoleptic properties of the compound of formula (I), or any use of said compounds in the field of perfumery.

Abstract: in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or a mixture thereof, and wherein X represents a CHO group when R1 represents a C1-2 alkyl group or X represents a CH(R6)CHO group when R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-2 alkyl group. Each of R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 represents, independently from each other, a hydrogen atom or a C1-2 alkyl group; or R3 and R4 represent, when taken together, a ethanediyl group; and —C(R3)(R4)—CH(R5)—OH group is, relative to position 1, an ortho, a meta, a para substituent of the aromatic ring or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed is the compound of formula (I) as part of a perfuming composition or of a perfumed consumer product.


An electronic mirror and a method for displaying an image using the electronic mirror are provided. The electronic mirror may include a display unit, a detecting unit and a control unit. The detecting unit may receive a signal transmitted from the outside. The control unit may control the detecting unit and the display unit to display the signal received at the detecting unit on the display unit as an image. The image displayed on the display unit may be output from the electronic mirror through the detecting unit. The electronic mirror may further include a reflecting unit. A light from the outside may pass through the detecting unit and the display unit and then be reflected on the reflecting unit. The reflected light may be output from the electronic mirror through the display unit and the detecting unit.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic mirror and a method for displaying an image using the electronic mirror.
2. Description of the Related Art
A human body emits electromagnetic waves in various wavelength bands. Analysis of electromagnetic waves emitted from a human body may give information of the physical condition of each part of the human body. For example, an object having a temperature emits an infrared (IR) ray with a wavelength corresponding to the temperature. Thus, IR rays emitted from a human body may be used to recognize the change of body temperature or the change in temperature of local skin, which may be used to find a health condition and to check a degree of fatigue.
A terahertz wave may pass through various kinds of dielectric substances such as paper and plastic since it has a relatively longer wavelength than IR. Thus, terahertz waves emitted from a human body may be used to diagnose diseases not identified by the naked eyes, for example a progression of tooth decay, skin cancer and breast cancer. Also, the terahertz waves may be used to analyze, for example, a dielectric constant or refractive index of cells.

Electronic mirror and method for displaying image using the same


A new cultivar of Pelargonium named ‘KLEPZ08231’ particularly characterized by shiny purple-pink inflorescences, a medium to strong and harmonic growth habit, and produces a large number of cuttings for propagation, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'KLEPZ08231'. 'KLEPZ08231' was discovered as a seedling resulting from a controlled cross in May 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Pelargonium parent, 'Z 21057' (unpatented) and the proprietary male Pelargonium parent, 'KLEP01012' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,743). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.
The new cultivar was created in 2004 and first propagated in August 2005 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany over a three and one-half year period. 'KLEPZ08231' has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Switzerland on Jun. 19, 2008 and in Canada on Mar. 28, 2008. 'KLEPZ08231' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for analyzing and extracting data related to a structured proceeding, and for identifying, based on the analysis, at least one outcome associated with the structured proceeding. Embodiments provide for receiving data associated with a structured proceeding involving at least one party, the data including at least one docket entry, and analyzing, by an outcome location detector, the data to identify one or more docket entries in the at least one docket entry that are likely to include evidence of an outcome. Embodiments further include analyzing, by an outcome detector, the one or more docket entries determined to be likely to include evidence of an outcome to determine outcomes. The outcomes include at least one of a final outcome and at least one party outcome. The final outcome is associated with the structured proceeding overall, and the at least one party outcome is associated with a party of the at least one party that may have been terminated early.

In any field, information about decisions, dispositions, and/or outcomes related to activities (e.g., cases and/or projects) is of great importance. This is especially true in docket research and management systems, such as systems for researching court dockets. Information about court cases is stored in court docket systems, and this information may include a large amount of data including documents, dispositions, motions, decisions, etc. The various docket entries in a court system, and the information within it, may be used to determine whether an outcome has occurred. The outcome may be a decision related to the case, such as a dismissal, settlement, summary judgement, decision, etc. However, because of the amount of data in the docket systems, and because these court systems do not necessarily index the information within the docket and the docket entries, identifying an outcome from the data and its taxonomy is very challenging. In addition, individual docket entries may not clearly and explicitly state that an outcome has occurred, and ascertaining that a particular docket entry is associated with an outcome may have to be done manually and may be difficult. Even when a docket outcome is known, identifying where in the docket, and/or in which docket entry, the outcome occurred is difficult. Some solutions have been proposed to address these challenges.
In some solutions, automated systems may use a rules-based approach to determine docket outcomes. However, such an approach is basic and formulaic, and may be limited by the constraints of the rules, which means it may not be very adaptable and may be difficult to scale. In these systems, the process is significantly manual, in order to identify and develop the rules that may be applied to determine docket outcomes. Additionally, these systems provide no granularity to the outcomes in relation to individual parties. For example, these systems do not provide any mechanisms to identify dispositions for individual parties, such as an early termination for a party that is dismissed from the case prior to the docket outcome.

Systems and methods for determining structured proceeding outcomes


A pellet-shaped article inspection unit is structured for use with a conveyer mechanism having a plurality of carrier bars, each carrier bar being structured to convey a plurality of pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The article inspection unit includes a first camera unit positioned adjacent a first side of the conveyer mechanism. The first camera unit is configured to sense a first predetermined characteristic, e.g., laser holes, of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles. A removal mechanism, downstream from the first camera unit, is structured to remove or maintain at least a selected one of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles from at least a selected one of the plurality of carrier bars depending on whether the first predetermined characteristic is sensed by the first camera unit. A laser unit may be provided to create unique holes in the pellet-shaped articles, e.g., those by a larger exposed surface to improve time-release characteristics of the pellet-shaped articles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention also relates to processing of pellet-shaped articles, for example, pharmaceuticals such as caplets and tablets. In particular, the present invention relates to drilling holes, e.g., using a laser system, into coated pharmaceutical tablets or caplets, the drilled holes providing for mechanical time-release of medicine within the articles once ingested into the digestive track, e.g. the stomach or intestines.
The present invention also relates to inspecting the laser drilled holes against a standard and actively accepting or rejecting selected ones of the pellet-shaped articles that are properly drilled.
2. Background of the Invention
Inspection units for pellet-shaped articles are known in the art. The inspection units are typically configured to inspect and remove pellet-shaped articles from a conveyer mechanism that have been improperly processed in a previous processing operation. Previous processing operations may include marking the pellet-shaped articles with indicia, coloring the pellet-shaped articles, laser drilling holes in the pellet-shaped articles, and coating the pellet-shaped articles. These processing operations are typically completed upstream from the inspection unit such that the inspection unit may inspect if these processes have been properly completed.
For example, a variety of known devices have been developed for applying a gel coating to pellet-shaped articles. Typically, the pellet-shaped articles, e.g., tablets, capsules, caplets and pills, are coated by having one side of the pellet-shaped article coated at a time. Often, due to a processing error, one or both sides of the pellet-shaped article are not coated at all; e.g., one side of the pellet-shaped article is coated twice. As a result, the pellet-shaped article has at least one side that is not properly coated with gel. It is important for the manufacturer to carefully inspect the pellet-shaped articles for defects, such as an improperly coated side of the article, before the pellet-shaped article is distributed to the consumer so as to ensure the quality of the product and hence protect the safety of the consumer.
An example of an inspection unit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,510 (the '510 patent). The '510 patent discloses an inspection unit for detecting laser drilled holes in tablets. As shown in FIG. 1, individual tablet carriers 6 are provided that transport individual tablets 2 in a vertical position past two sets of cameras 12. The cameras 12 are oriented horizontally and analyze opposing sides of the tablets 2 based on predetermined selection criteria. The cameras 12 signal a separation means 24 to divert preselected tablets 2. One significant limitation of the above unit is that only one tablet can be analyzed by a set of cameras at a time. As a result, more than one set of cameras must be utilized to maximize the inspection rate. Moreover, each tablet carrier 6 is only capable of transporting one tablet, which is inspected on both sides thereof. Thus, the '510 patent suffers in that the feed rate is severely limited because only one row of tablets is fed through the inspection unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,801 to Ackley, Jr., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a method and apparatus for conveying a plurality of pellet-shaped articles, such as pharmaceuticals. The conveyer conveys the pharmaceuticals past one or more article modifying devices, such as a laser that forms in the pharmaceuticals drilled or blind bore holes that act as a mechanical time-release mechanism. Lasers are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,771, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Known lasers create the time-release holes with a diameter in the range of about 400-800 micrometers, and a depth of about 450-500 micrometers. Depending on the medicine involved and the speed in which the medicine is to be time-released into the digestive track, the article may be provided with a plurality of holes. Typically, the holes are drilled through a coating of the article, which coating makes the article easier to swallow. The coating is encapsulates the medicine or drug until it is released through the laser hole. The coating typically will not dissolve or will dissolve more slowly than the drug or medicine. The holes are provided to allow the stomach and other fluids to penetrate the interior of the articles and thereby create a sort of pumping action to transport the medicinal portion of the article from the interior thereof into the digestive track, e.g., the stomach or intestines, etc.
The above hole dimensions, even if there are a plurality of holes, may not be suitable to allow a person's digestive fluids to penetrate the article and release the medicine in time for proper release of the medicine. Thus, the medicine may not be released along the appropriate portion of the person's digestive track, or it may not be released at all. This can result in diminished effectiveness of the medicine and dissatisfaction to the patient.
Moreover, systems such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,433,146, 5,768,996 and 5,836,243, all to Ackley, Jr. and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, are not suited for carrying out a coordinated series of drilling operations on a plurality of axially spaced rows of articles, because a typical drilling laser system is designed to be used with systems in which only one row of articles is provided.
Further, current inspection systems may require significant processing time to determine whether the processed articles are acceptable and to then separate acceptable articles from those that are unacceptable. For example, inspection of the drilled holes can slow down productivity and processing of the articles, especially if the inspection unit is to be integrated with other components, such as print stations, article handlers, etc. This is further complicated where the conveyer includes a plurality of axially spaced rows being simultaneously processed. The linear speed of systems with a single row of tablets makes it difficult if not impossible to reject only individual tablets. A single bad tablet or article typically causes several tablets, whether good or bad, to be rejected, thereby lowering the overall batch yield.
Accordingly, a need has developed in the art to provide one or more systems which address the concerns described above.
The present invention provides improvements over known inspection units such as the ones described above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.