The solar, water desalination system includes a desalination chamber where fine water droplets are injected upward by an air atomizer towards an air-cooled condenser. Hot saline water is ejected vertically upward to double the contact time between the droplets and the surrounding air. The air is preheated by solar energy in parallel with an auxiliary heater to prevent lowering of the droplet temperature. Pumped air functions as a condensation media and to pull the salt water into the atomizer. This arrangement improves the heat and mass transfer inside the desalination chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to saline water processing systems, and particularly to a desalination system utilizing forced air for improved evaporation and condensation performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various methods are used for desalination of seawater. One of them is the evaporation/condensation (HD) process. In this method the salt water is evaporated and simultaneously condensed to produce desalinated water. The HD process is based on the fact that air can be mixed with significant quantities of vapor. The amount of vapor able to be carried by air increases with temperature. For example, 1 kg of dry air can carry about 0.5 kg of vapor and about 670 kcal when its temperature increases from 30° C. to 80° C. When the hot, dry air flows in contact with salt water, the air extracts a certain quantity of vapor, which simultaneously cools the hot air via heat transfer so that the air becomes humid. The desalinated water is recovered by maintaining humid air in contact with a cooling surface, causing condensation to occur with some of the vapor mixed with air. Generally, the condensation is carried out in another exchanger, where salt water is preheated by latent heat recovery. An external heat contribution is, thus, necessary to compensate for any heat loss.
Four parameters affect the evaporation process: (a) air pressure, (b) water temperature, (c) water-air contact surface area, and (d) contact time of water with the surrounding air. Evacuation of the desalination unit can improve the evaporation rate, but it is difficult to implement, requiring much consideration of the limitations.
Of course, high salt water temperature increases the water evaporation performance. However, salt scaling problems can limit the allowable temperatures used. Additionally, the temperatures at which a solar system can efficiently perform and the available waste heat must be taken into consideration.
Flashing-water contact surface area can be increased by either increasing flow rate or flashing the water into fine droplets. A limited decrease of the droplets' diameter improves evaporation through improved convective heat transfer at their surface. Moreover, use of forced air convection inside the desalination chamber may improve the evaporation rate. However, studies have shown that natural convection is more preferable, since forced-air convection does not show significant gain in the evaporation rate.
The contact time between the flashed water droplets and the surrounding air is based on the design of the desalination chamber. Heat convection can be improved if the contact time of droplets with the surrounding air is increased. This can be accomplished by increasing the length of the flashing path inside the desalination chamber. For example, conventional systems inject hot salt water vertically downward from the chamber roof. Therefore, the contact time depends on the chamber height, in this case.
For systems that use solar energy as a heat source, the solar collectors are used to heat the salt water. In most instances, the salt water can be directly heated inside the collector. Unfortunately, problems were found due to salt scaling inside the solar collectors. This is exemplary of an open-loop system. In a closed-loop system, the salt water is heated indirectly along a heat exchanger between the collector and desalination loops. One example of a closed-loop system includes a forced solar water heater. Another example utilizes vacuum pressure inside the chamber, which has been shown to greatly improve performance. Additionally, the cost of water production can be reduced using different materials, flow rates and temperatures.
In light of the above, there is still a need in the art of desalination systems to provide a more efficient and improved system and method of extracting desalinated water in current plants. Thus, a solar, water desalination system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A metal filling apparatus fills molten metal into a minute space formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus has a processor body with a chamber in which the wafer is held, a molten metal supply, and a molten metal recovery mechanism. The supply includes a tank in which molten metal is stored, a supply pipe connected between the chamber and the tank, a supplier interposed in the supply pipe to supply molten metal from the tank to the processing chamber, and the recovery mechanism recovers molten metal from the processing chamber.

In recent years, in the through silicon via technology, there has been desired a technique of filling a metal into a minute space provided on a semiconductor wafer. Because the through silicon via technology makes it possible to develop a chip stacking technology using through hole electrode, it is expected that a high-performance and high-speed semiconductor system is achieved by a three-dimensional stacked integrated circuit. In order to secure stable conduction in a through silicon via, it is required to perform metal filling with high yield without any defects such as a crack and a void.
Conventionally, as a technique of filling a metal into a minute space on a semiconductor wafer, besides copper plating methods and dipping methods in which a semiconductor wafer is immersed in a molten metal tank, there is suggested, as shown in the Patent documents 1 and 2, a melting and vacuum-sucking method in which, in a pressure-reduced chamber, a metal body for filling is arranged on a surface of a sample, where a minute space to be filled with a metal is formed, so that the metal body for filling covers the minute space, and the metal body for filling is heated and melted, and then the inside of the vacuum chamber is pressurized to a pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure by an inert gas, thereby causing the molten metal to be vacuum-sucked into the minute space.


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an autonomous mobile attenuator system for mitigating vehicular collisions. The system includes one or more mobile attenuators that receive data indicating a need for deployment from one or more sensors. The one or more mobile attenuators perform a collision risk assessment on the received data to determine a probability of a potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators determine the probability of the potential vehicle collision exceeds a predetermined risk threshold value. The one or more mobile attenuators determine a predicted location for the potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators proceed to the predicted location to mitigate the potential vehicle collision.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of vehicle collision safety mechanisms, and more specifically, to an autonomous mobile attenuator system for reducing the risk of injury during an automobile accident.
Automobile accidents involving a vehicle striking another object are a frequent occurrence on highways and roads. In many instances, an automobile accident occurring at high speed results in serious injury or even death to the occupants of the vehicle. To reduce injury occurring from automobile accidents, specifically those involving collisions with barriers, stationary construction vehicles, and the like, vehicle impact attenuators are typically used. Vehicle impact attenuators, also known as fitch barriers, often consist of sand filled barrels placed in a linear or triangular arrangement at the end of a guard rail between a highway and an exit lane along the most probable line of impact. The impact attenuators in the front of the arrangement typically contain the least amount of sand, with each successive barrel containing more, so that when a vehicle collides with the barrels they shatter, the kinetic energy of the vehicle is dissipated by scattering the sand, and the vehicle decelerates smoothly instead of violently striking a solid obstruction. This method of dissipating the kinetic energy of the vehicle using impact attenuators significantly reduces risk of injury to the occupants.

International Business Machines Corporation


In a manufacturing apparatus of a wire harness in which pallet P, on which a plurality of connectors C are juxtaposed, is moved by a pallet feeding section 1 and a pressure-contact terminal of connector C is automatically positioned at a pressure-contact position under a pressure-contact head section 4, an electric wire xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is automatically set at a pressure-contact terminal of connector C by an electric wire supply section 2 and an electric wire setting section 3, and cover L is automatically set on connector C by a cover mounting section 5. A type and position of the electric wire xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to be arranged and the height of press-fitting of the electric wire into the pressure-contact terminal are controlled by a program, and the operation and state are checked by a sensor.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus of a wire harness for automobile use.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a wire harness for automobile use in which connectors are attached to both end portions of wires arranged in parallel to each other. At one end of this wire harness, which will be referred to as end A hereinafter, eight pieces of electric wires xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d are connected to one connector C. At the other end of this wire harness, which will be referred to as end B hereinafter, four pieces of electric wires xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d are respectively connected to two connectors C.
In order to enhance the working efficiency of connection, insulation displacement connection(pressure-contact connection) is applied to the means for connecting electric wire xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to connector C as shown in FIG. 8. This insulation displacement connection is conducted as follows. Electric wire xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is pushed downward by pressure-contact blade S and press-fitted into a groove 60 of pressure-contact terminal T provided in each connector C. When electric wire xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is press-fitted into the groove 60, a insulation cover 62 covering a conductor bundle 61 of electric wires xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is cut off at an end edge of the groove 60, so that the conductor bundle 61 is exposed outside. This conductor bundle 61 is contacted with pressure-contact terminal T. and at the same time, electric wires xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d are held in the groove 60 by the spring-back action of pressure-contact terminal T. After electric wires xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d have been press-fitted into pressure-contact terminal T, connector C is covered with terminal cover L as shown in FIG. 9, so that electric wires xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d can be prevented from coming off.
In this connection, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 10-241473 discloses an apparatus used for the above pressure-contact connection in which the pressure-contact terminals of the connector are positioned at pressing positions of the contact-pressure apparatus when the pallets, on which predetermined connectors are juxtaposed, are moved. In this apparatus, electric wires are manually supplied to the pressure-contact terminals and also the terminal cover is manually attached to the connector.
However, when the above apparatus is used, there is a possibility that the electric wires are mistakenly supplied and erroneous wiring is made. Further, it takes time to select the electric wires and attach the terminal cover. Therefore, it is impossible to improve the productivity.
The present invention is accomplished to solve the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to prevent the occurrence of erroneous electric wiring and enhance the productivity when the wire harness is manufactured.
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of a wire harness in that: a pallet in which a plurality of connectors are juxtaposed is automatically positioned at a pressure-contact position; wiring of an electric wire in the pressure-contact terminal of the connector is automatically conducted; and a cover is automatically attached to a connector.
When a type, position and height of press-fitting of an electric wire into the pressure-contact terminal are controlled according to a program, and the operation and state are checked by sensors.


A cooking appliance includes a heating unit (10) for cooking food. The unit has a heating element (34) to which electrical current is supplied for generating heat used to cook food such as chocolate and sauces set upon the heating unit. A programmable controller (16) controls the application of current to the heating element to control the heating element temperature as a function of a time and temperature profile established for cooking the food in a particular manner. A temperature sensor (38) senses the heating element temperature and supplies a signal (St) to the controller. The characteristics of this signal are a function of the sensed cooking temperature. The controller is responsive to this signal, and other inputs (24,26) such as desired cooking time, and the amount and quantity of food, to vary the amount of current supplied to the heating element. The appliance is particularly useful in being able to heat chocolate, sauces, and the like without scorching them.

This invention relates to appliances for cooking foods, and more particularly, to a control and control methodology for the appliance and heating units installed in the appliance to control operation of the heating units at turn-on and at other stages in a cooking cycle.
Electrical heating units, as is well-known in the art, comprise an electrical heating element such as a coil heating element, or a ribbon heating element. Heating units are available in different wattages and it is common for a cook top to have heating units of more than one wattage rating. The heating element is mounted on, or secured to, a cake of insulation material which, in turn, is fitted in a pan. The ends of the heating element connect through a thermal switch to an electrical circuit by which current is supplied to the heating element. The unit is installed beneath a heating surface upon which utensils are placed. Heat generated by the heating element is transferred to the heating surface by radiation, and from the heating surface to the utensil by conduction. The thermal switch includes a temperature sensing element which, if it senses the heating unit temperature exceeding a preset temperature, opens the switch and cuts-off current flow to the heating element. Besides this open loop arrangement employing the thermal switch, other heating unit controls employing temperature sensing have been tried. In coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,873, an electrical heating apparatus is described employing a temperature sensor installed in direct contact with a cooking surface. The apparatus is responsive to temperature changes at the cooking area to facilitate cooking food. However, heretofore, cooking appliances have not employed a closed loop temperature control system that can maintain the cooking temperature of food within a narrow range of temperatures about a user selected cooking temperature.
There are a number of problems with existing heating units. For example, it is now desirable that when current is first applied to the heating element that the heating element rapidly warm to a temperature at which the element starts to glow. The time for this to happen is approximately 3-5 seconds. While rapid heating is a desirable product feature, the current methods by which this is accomplished also shortens the life of the heating element.
In addition to rapid heating, another useful feature is the ability of the heating unit to simmer foods. The current test for simmering is to place a utensil with chocolate or a sauce on a heating unit and set the unit temperature to predetermined simmering temperature. It is a problem with current heating units that regardless of the temperature control scheme employed, the chocolate or sauce usually scorches. Better control of simmering so there is no scorching is therefore a desirable feature.
As noted, current heating units employ a temperature responsive limit switch which acts to cut-off power to a heating unit when a predetermined temperature is exceeded. The limit switch assembly is expensive, representing approximately 20-30% of the total cost of the heating unit. The limit switch assembly also is a primary source of heating unit failure. Elimination of the switch would not only be a substantial cost savings, but would also impact the service life of a heating unit; provided, that proper temperature control of the heating unit is still maintained.


A method for determining the number of nucleic acid molecules (NAMs) in a group of NAMs, comprising                i) obtaining an amplified and mutagenized group of NAMs that was produced by                    a. subjecting the group of NAMs to a chemical mutagenesis which mutates only select nucleic acid bases in the group of NAMs at a rate of 10% to 90% thus forming a group of mutagenized NAMs (mNAMs), and            b. amplifying the group of mNAMs;                        ii) obtaining sequences of the mNAMs in the group of amplified mNAMs; and        iii) counting the number of different sequences obtained in step (ii) to determine the number of unique mNAMs in the group of mNAMS,thereby determining the number of NAMs in the group of NAMs.

Despite improvements in DNA sequencing, many problems of interpretation arise when trying to count or assemble molecules (templates) that are largely identical. Some problems in genomic analysis have remained difficult despite the development of high throughput sequencing methods. Many of these problems arise from the inability to distinguish identical and nearly identical template sequences. Counting molecules of identical composition in an RNA sequencing assay or the copy number of identical stretches of DNA currently depend on quantitative methods that adjust imperfectly for the distortions of data caused by sample processing.
Moreover, when read lengths are short, determining the physical connection of distinguishable elements separated by long identical stretches is difficult to impossible and limits the ability to phase single nucleotide variants (SNVs), identify transcript isoforms, and assemble through repetitive genomic regions.
There are several protocols in which a sequence of random nucleotides is appended to the template molecules before amplification and sequencing. This methodology has been applied under a variety of names to identify PCR duplicates (McCloskey et al., 2007; Miner et al., 2004), improve counting of DNA (Casbon et al., 2011; Fu et al., 2011) and RNA (Islam et al., 2014; Jabara et al., 2011; Kivioja et al., 2012) templates, and reduce sequence error (Hiatt et al., 2013; Kinde et al., 2011; Schmitt et al., 2012). Each implementation has its own name for the random nucleotide sequences, which can be referred to as varietal tags (Schmitt et al., 2012). Each implementation also has its own shortcoming.

Random nucleotide mutation for nucleotide template counting and assembly


An underwater housing includes a housing body for containing an electronic device, a seal cap for sealing a rear end opening of the housing body, and a spacer member for dividing a space between the housing body and the seal cap into a cable chamber and an accommodating chamber. The seal cap includes an annular front cap element connected fixedly and sealingly to the housing body, and a rear cap element disposed fixedly and fittingly within the rear end of the front cap element. The rear cap element has a hole permitting an electrical cable to sealingly extend therethrough. The spacer member includes a spacer body disposed sealingly in said seal cap, and a plurality of conductive terminals extending sealingly through the spacer body and interconnecting electrically the electronic device and the electrical cable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an underwater container, and more particularly to an underwater housing for containing an electronic device, such as a photographic camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional underwater housing is adapted for containing a photographic camera (not shown), and includes a housing body 1, a seal cap 2, and an annular water seal 3. The photographic camera is contained within the housing body 1. An externally threaded rear end of the housing body 1 engages a threaded hole in a front end of the seal cap 2. An O-ring 10 is clamped between the housing body 1 and the seal cap 2 so as to establish a watertight seal therebetween. An electrical cable 31 extends through a hole 21 in the seal cap 2, and is coupled electrically to the photographic camera. The water seal 3 is disposed between the electrical cable 31 and the seal cap 2 so as to establish a watertight seal therebetween. However, an outer surface of the electrical cable 31 undergoes erosion after a long period of use, such that a gap is formed between the electrical cable 31 and the seal cap 2. The gap allows water to enter the housing and thereby come into contact with the electronic device. As such, an assembly of the underwater housing and the photographic camera cannot be used for a long period.

Underwater housing for electronic device

National Applied Research Laboratories National Center for High Center for High-Performance Computing


A pull tab of the zipper head is composed of a pull piece and an elastic piece. The pull piece has a beam, a hook, and an insertion slot located between a fastening end of the hook and the beam. The hook has an open end. The elastic piece has an inner body, an outer body, a curved portion, and two urging portions. The elastic piece is engaged with the pull piece such that the inner body is located in the insertion slot, and that the open end of the hook is sealed off by the outer body, and further that the curved portion is located across the beam, and still further that the two urging portions urge the beam. The elastic piece is thus securely engaged with the pull piece.

As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art zipper head 10 has a head 12, a pull tab 13 fastened with the head 12, and a pulling member 14 fastened with the pull tab 13 to facilitate the pulling of the pull tab 13. Located between pull tab 13 and the pulling member 14 is a retaining ring 15 which is engaged with a hook 16 of the pull tab 13. Such a prior art zipper head 10 as described above is defective in design in that the hook 16 must be made by molding, and that the hook 16 is not cost-effective, and further that the rejection rate of the hook 16 is relatively high.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, another prior art zipper head 20 has a pull tab 23 with a hooked portion 24. Located between the hooked portion 24 and a beam 25 of the pull tab 23 is an insertion slot 26 in which a body 271 of a U-shaped elastic piece 27 is lodged such that the curved portion 273 is connected with the beam 25, and that an opening of the hooked portion 24 is sealed off by the body 272. This prior art zipper head 20 is defective in design in that the elastic piece 27 is poorly located, and that the elastic piece 27 is thus prone to become disengaged with the insertion slot 26. The improved version of the zipper head 20 is provided with two protruded portions 28, which are fastened with the curved portion 273 of the elastic piece 27 by rivets. Such an improved version of the zipper head 20 is not cost-effective, and that the protruded portions 28 are too small to fasten securely with the elastic piece 27.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the prior art zipper head 30 has an elastic piece 35. The elastic piece 35 has a body 351, which is provided with an elastic urging portion 36. As the elastic piece 35 is inserted into the beam 33 and the insertion slot 34 of the pull tab 31, the urging portion 36 urges the beam 33 so as to bring about the locating effect. The elastic piece is capable of bringing about a better locating effect and can be easily assembled. However, the zipper head of the present invention is defective in design in that the front end of the ring portion 38 of the pull member 37 is extended into a place located between the two piece bodies 351 and 352 at the time when the pull member 37 is in use, and that the front end of the ring portion 38 puts a pressure on the urging portion 36, thereby causing the free end of the urging portion 36 to be pushed. The urging portion 36 is no longer urging the beam 33. As a result, the elastic piece 35 is prone to become disengaged with the pull tab 31.


A system for continuously processing PTFE by irradiation and grinding includes a processing vessel having first and second horizontally adjacent agitators in first and second transversely adjacent vessel portions. The bottom of the vessel has a step between the portions whereat heated air is injected for agitating and grinding the PTFE.

This invention relates to processes for irradiating and grinding PTFE to reduce the molecular weight and render the material grindable to a fine particle powder, which can be used as a dry lubricant in paint and ink.
An early description of irradiation of PTFE is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,031 to Dillon. According to this patent material was placed in trays and subjected to irradiation.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,748,005 and 4,777,192, which are owned by the assignee of the present invention, discloses commercial batch processing of PTFE wherein, the material is placed in a ribbon blender and wherein electron beam radiation is directed into a portion of the blender while the material is agitated by the blender. The blender is provided with cooling either by a water jacket or by direct injection of water into the vessel. The ribbon blender is operated to continuously move the material into and out of the irradiation zone, thereby to achieve uniform irradiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,727 discloses a processing vessel which includes two vessel portions, each having a paddle blender agitator. Air is injected into the process material to promote cooling, coupled with simultaneous irradiation and grinding. An air classifier is used to draw airborne fine particle PTFE from the vessel for recovery. U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,113 discloses a similar system wherein the agitation is provided by use of injected high pressure air, and wherein material in continuously fed to the processing vessel and extracted by an air classifier to achieve a continuous process.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for processing PTFE.

Continuous process for irradiating of polytetrafluorineethylene (PTFE)


A motor stator of a scroll compressor is formed of a plurality of force fit uncoated plates. As the outer periphery of the uncoated plates is slightly greater than the inner periphery of the housing, the plates are secured to the housing without the need of a coating. After force fitting the plates into the housing, a tool positioned above and below the plates presses the uncoated plates together to eliminate any space between the plates, forming a solid motor stator.

The present invention relates generally to a stator for use with a sealed compressor.
Sealed compressors are utilized in many refrigerant compression applications. In a typical sealed compressor, a pump unit is incorporated within a hermetically sealed housing. A refrigerant is introduced into a suction chamber in the housing through a suction tube. Typically, an electric motor drives a shaft which powers the pump unit. The refrigerant passes over and cools the motor.
One type of sealed compressor is a scroll compressor. A scroll compressor includes two opposed interfit scroll members each having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from the base. One of the two scroll members is driven to orbit relative to the other. As the wraps orbit, compression chambers defined between the wraps are reduced in volume. After being compressed, the refrigerant is passed to a discharge chamber.
The motor of a scroll compressor includes a motor rotor positioned within a stator. Stator windings carry electricity through the stator, driving the rotor and causing the shaft to rotate. In prior compressors the stator is bolted or glued into the housing.
Typically, a stator is formed of a plurality of plates. In prior sealed compressors, the plates are typically coated to secure the plates together. Recently, the stators with coated plates have also been force fit into the housing.
The present invention relates to a stator for use with a sealed compressor.
Although preferably useful in a scroll compressor, the invention could also be used in other types of sealed compressors.
The motor stator of the present invention is formed of a plurality of uncoated plates force fit into a housing of a scroll compressor. As the diameter of the outer periphery of the plates is slightly greater than the diameter of the inner periphery of the housing, the force fitting process secures the plate in the housing. As the uncoated plates are force fit into the housing, a tool presses the uncoated plates together to eliminate any looseness which exists between the plates at the outer periphery. By this process, a substantially solid motor stator is formed. Once the stator is inserted, a motor rotor is positioned within the aperture formed by the inner peripheries of the plates. Since the plates are force fit in the housing of the scroll compressor, a coating is not required to secure the plates together.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a lese expensive stator motor for use with a sealed compressor.
These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings.


An absorbance detector measures absorbance alternately at first and second wavelengths. When a measurement is made at one wavelength, a projection is made, based on past measurement, of the value of absorbance at the other wavelength. A ratio is taken of the measured value at one wavelength with the projected absorbance at the other wavelength. Linear and non-linear projections are disclosed.

The present invention relates to absorbance detectors for high-performance liquid chromatography and, more particularly, to an absorbance detector for analyzing qualitatively a peak purity of a chromatogram by scanning two wavelengths alternately to calculate a ratio of absorption constants measured at these two wavelengths.
An absorbance detector using a spectroscope scanning at two wavelengths is well known. This type of detector drives a spectroscope scan at two wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2 to measure absorption constants at these wavelengths. In one prior-art technique, the absorption constant newly measured at one wavelength is combined with the most recently measured absorption constant at the other wavelength to form a ratio. With data measured alternately at wavelength .lambda..sub.1 at times (n-2) and (n) and at wavelength .lambda..sub.2 at times (n-1) and (n), two succeeding chromatograph ratios A.lambda..sub.1 (n-2)/A.lambda..sub.2 (n-1), A.lambda..sub.1 (n)/A.lambda..sub.2 (n+1) are formed. It will be noted that the calculated chromatography ratios use absorption constants measured at different points in time. That is, the first chromatograph ratio above uses absorption data taken at wavelength .lambda..sub.1 at time (n-2) while the absorption data taken at wavelength .lambda..sub.2 is taken at time (n-1), one time period removed. The second chromatograph ratio similarly uses data taken at times that are offset by one time unit. The lack of simultaneity in the measurements at the two wavelengths produces an error when the concentration of material being measured is changing. This follows from the fact that a chromatography ratio, for a single component, is constant if it is calculated for a single peak. However, if the data forming the ratio of absorption constants are not taken simultaneously, the chromotography ratio is not constant, even when measuring a single component, and therefore it is not possible to measure peak purity accurately.
Another absorbance detector of the prior art uses the ratio of moving averages of absorption constants measured at wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2. The chromatography ratio using a moving average is given by: EQU (A.lambda..sub.1 (n-2)+A.lambda..sub.1 (n)+. . . )/(A.lambda..sub.2 (n-1)+A.lambda..sub.2 (n+1)+. . . ).
Calculating a moving average uses the ratio of past data. This causes a time delay in determining the peak purity and therefore is not preferably in a minute-to-minute measurement system.


A method for managing a plurality of commercial website accounts maintained by a supplier of goods or services includes receiving a structure via a first computer screen, where the structure specifies a relationship between a first one of the plurality of commercial website accounts and a second one of the plurality of commercial website accounts, so that the first one of the plurality of website accounts is configured to be a parent account of the second of the plurality of website accounts defining a child account; linking the child account and the parent account in accordance with the received structure in response to a command received via the first computer screen; receiving a rule that regulates a purchase of goods or services by a user of the child account via a second computer screen, where the received rule specifies an action associated with a user of the parent account; automatically detecting that the user of the child account has placed an order at the commercial website; and processing the order in accordance with the rule and the structure.

The present invention relates to a method to facilitate monitoring the use of a website posted on the Internet by an organization having multiple users accessing the website, and particularly to a method for linking a plurality of website user accounts directly or indirectly related to said organization to facilitate monitoring by authorized personnel of the organization.
Typically, a business enterprise, governmental entity or other organization may have multiple personnel who access the commercial website of a supplier or other entity for the acquisition of goods and/or services. These personnel access the website on behalf of their own organization which, for example, might be a division or subsidiary of a parent company or organization. As a result, the commercial website will have separate accounts for each of the divisions or subsidiaries of the parent. In some cases, the supplier may well have a number of commercial websites offering their goods and services. For example, the supplier may have separate websites in different countries. Because of the number of separate accounts that may be involved it is difficult for an organization to monitor all of the activities of the personnel of its various related organizations in accessing its suppliers' websites.
It is known to provide access on a commercial website to various accounts of an organization that have the same billing address. Presently, however, the data for each account is made available only on an individual basis. In other words the data for the various accounts is not made available in aggregate form. There is therefore a need for a method of aggregating the data of various accounts of related organizations to make such data available for monitoring by authorized personnel of those organizations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A device for detecting and monitoring an assembled counterweight on a crane includes a turntable steelwork construction comprising a counterweight cylinder; a sensor which is arranged in the region of a connection between the counterweight cylinder and the turntable steelwork construction; and a computational unit (8), wherein the sensor is connected to the computational unit, and the computational unit comprises a logic which determines a weight of a counterweight which can be connected to the turntable steelwork construction from data which are captured by the sensor and transmitted to the computational unit.

The invention relates to a device and method for ascertaining and monitoring an assembled counterweight on a crane.
In order to be able to operate a crane as economically as possible, it is advantageous if a counterweight of the crane is optimally adapted to a maximum bearing capacity and/or outreach of the crane for a particular task. This results in a relatively frequent change in the necessary weight of the counterweight, for example receiving additional counterweight parts or discharging superfluous counterweight parts, depending on the crane's task. Avoiding excessive counterweights, which are entrained in a rotational movement of the crane, helps to save fuel and reduce harmful emissions. Given the frequent changes, it can occur that the counterweights are not connected to the crane symmetrically, which at threshold exposures in particular can cause the crane to tip earlier than the user has calculated on the basis of the counterweight.
There is therefore a need for a device and/or method using which a permitted bearing load and outreach for a crane is ascertained in an optimised way for different assembly states.

Device and method for ascertaining and monitoring an assembled counterweight on a crane


A method for identity synchronization across multiple domains includes obtaining identity data from a source channel, wherein the identity data is associated with a source channel protocol, decoupling the identity data from the source channel protocol to obtain decoupled identity data, creating a normalized event object using the decoupled identity data, placing the normalized event object into an event bus, coupling the normalized event object with a target channel protocol to create a target-specific change object for a target channel, and forwarding the target-specific change object to the target channel.

Modern enterprise applications employ a multitude of Information Technology (IT) systems, including network operating systems, a range of servers, user directories, human resources, payroll and management systems, line-of-business applications, customer relationship management systems, and electronic commerce applications. In addition, a variety of users access these systems, such as administrators, employees, contractors, partners, vendors, and customers. Almost every system must track valid users and control their access privileges to various parts of the enterprise application. For example, an administrator may have access to all levels of the enterprise system, including databases containing sensitive information about other users, but a customer may only have permission to access a few systems, such as customer relationship management and e-Commerce.
Because enterprise applications have become increasingly distributed and complex, organizations often use identity management systems to facilitate services such as user authentication, access rights, access restrictions, account profiles, and passwords. Identity management systems consolidate and streamline the management of user identity information across the life cycle of an identity profile, which includes initial setup, change and maintenance, and tear down. Initial setup occurs when a new user joins an organization and requires timely and accurate entry of data across multiple systems. Change and maintenance are performed during the lifetime of the identity profile and may involve routine password changes, name and profile changes, adding and removing individual login accounts, and changing privileges on existing accounts. Tear down is performed when a user leaves the organization and typically involves flagging the identity profile and disabling the identity profile's access to systems.
Challenges in identity management include consistency, efficiency, usability, and reliability. To achieve consistency, an identity management system must synchronize identity data reliably amongst multiple systems. Efficiency is hindered because access to multiple systems by a single profile must be enabled with the tools provided at each system instead of a single interface. Usability is diminished when access to multiple systems requires multiple login IDs, multiple passwords, and multiple sign-on screens. Reliability refers to the complete, timely, and accurate production of identity data on every system and is especially important when the identity data is used to control access to sensitive information or resources.
Several technologies currently exist for identity management in enterprise applications. Directories, which may be stored on one or more directory servers and accessed by protocols such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and X.500, consolidate the management of data about users as well as other objects in the enterprise application, including user groups, servers, printers, etc. Web access management (WAM) tools allow users to be authenticated once and maintain the authentication state as the users navigate between applications. WAM systems may also define user groups and assign access privileges to users on the managed systems. Legacy single sign-on, or SSO, systems give users a client-side master system to sign onto while storing users' logins and passwords to every supported application. When a user launches an application through the SSO software, the SSO software opens the appropriate program and sends the appropriate login and password to that program for the user. SSO access requests are authenticated by an SSOToken validation process. If a user cannot provide a valid SSOToken, the access request is denied and the user is prompted for login credentials before opening any SSO applications.

Identity synchronization across multiple domains


Wavefront aberration-measuring apparatus are disclosed that can easily and accurately correct interference-fringe distortions arising from aberrations of an optical system in an interferometer and that can reduce wavefront aberration-measurement errors arising from such distortion. The apparatus comprise an interferometer that forms an interference fringe from a synthesis of a wavefront of light reflecting from a reference surface and a wavefront of light from a test object (such as a reflective surface or lens). The apparatus also comprises an image-pickup element for detecting the interference fringe, and an arithmetical calculator that calculates the wavefront aberration between the test object and the reference surface based on an output from the image-pickup element. Between the test object and the image-pickup element is an optical system (e.g., converging lens) that transmits a wavefront that is perpendicularly incident to a surface of the test object. An interference-fringe distortion corrector corrects the interference-fringe distortion based on a distortion aberration calculated in advance.

Apparatus for measuring wavefront aberrations, especially wavefront aberrations of lenses or the surface precision of spherical surfaces using interference fringes have been known for some time. Such apparatus are indispensable in the examination of high-precision lenses.
Many different types of schemes have been proposed for improving the measuring precision of such apparatus when measuring wavefront aberrations from the geometric strength of the interference fringes. Examples of such proposals are disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent documents Sho 62-127601 and Hei 7-16730.
With the aforementioned conventional technologies, it is assumed that aberrations in the optical system within the interferometer (specifically, interference-fringe distortions arising from any aberrations of a converging lens or lens system located between the measured object and an image pick-up element) is negligible. Such an assumption leads to problems of a loss of measuring precision when measuring spherical surfaces.
For example, the Japanese laid-open patent document Sho 62-127601 cited above discloses methods for removing measurement errors whenever the curvature enters of the reference surface and the measured surface become defocused (due to shifts in the direction of the optical axis); however, the converging lens in the interferometer is assumed to satisfy the sine condition. I.e., it is assumed that the optical system does not impart any interference-fringe distortion. Hence, with the conventional technologies, whether or not interference-fringe distortion can be corrected has had a significant effect on measurement precision.
With the conventional technology summarized above, there are problems in providing a converging lens that satisfies the sine condition. This problem is especially acute when using a Fizeau-type interferometer where, because the last lens surface of the Fizeau assembly is used as a reference surface ("Fizeau surface"), there are more optical design restrictions and the amount of interference-fringe distortion arising from converging-lens aberration increases. Such distortion is extremely difficult to correct.

Apparatus and methods for detecting and correcting distortion of interference fringes


A merchandise simulator device which allows a user to operate a desired piece of merchandise on a user's terminal as if the user was using the piece actually at hand. In the merchandise simulator device, when a workstation executes merchandise simulation software received from an HTTP server, a merchandise simulation control section is activated on the workstation to thereby display the basic image of a selected piece of merchandise in a display section. If a drag operation is carried out by a mouse of an input section, then the piece of merchandise displayed on the display section is rotated on the basis of two or more pieces of image data received from the HTTP server and also, if a mouse input is given to a button or the like of the image data displayed on the display section, then the function of the piece of merchandise displayed in the display section is simulated in whatever display state the present piece is.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a merchandise simulator system and a merchandise simulator device which are able to provide merchandise information on the outer appearance, function and the like of a selected piece of merchandise without actually touching the piece of merchandise and, in particular, to a merchandise simulator system and device in which a user can display a selected piece of merchandise on the display section of a user's terminal with a plurality of view points by operating the user's terminal, and, by executing a simulation input with respect to the operation part of the thus displayed piece of merchandise, the user terminal can carry out a simulation operation on the various functions of the displayed piece of merchandise, thereby allowing the user to perform an operation to confirm the outer appearance, function and the like of the present piece.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in order to obtain merchandise information on the outer appearance, function and the like of a certain piece of merchandise, a user sees the piece of merchandise actually to thereby know the outer appearance thereof and operates the operation part of the piece practically to thereby know the function thereof.
However, to see and operate the piece actually, the user must go to a place where the piece is exhibited, which is inconvenient for the user. Especially, under the recent market circumstances in which various kinds of merchandise have been widely developed and supplied, it is difficult for the user to obtain accurate merchandise information on a desired piece of merchandise efficiently and positively.
There exists a conventional device which allows the user to know the outer appearance of a desired piece of merchandise without actually touching it, for example, there is known a videotex terminal device which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 63-6986 (which will be hereinafter referred to as "first prior art"). According to the first prior art, the videotex terminal device is structured such that a plurality of images obtained by viewing the same object from different directions are stored therein, and the image of the present object viewed from a specified direction is displayed on a display unit.
Also, as another conventional technology, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 5-225354 (which will be hereinafter referred to as "second prior art"), there is known a three-dimensional graphic display device which is structured such that, when a three-dimensional figure displayed by shaded representation on a display is rotated, moved, enlarged or reduced, the shaded figure is temporarily switched over to a wire frame representation, in which the shape of the figure is represented only by lines, and is rotated, and, after rotation, the wire frame representation is returned back to the shaded representation.
That is, if these prior art technologies are used, then the outer appearance of the piece of merchandise can be exhibited to users from various angles, which makes it possible for the users to understand the outer appearance of the piece from diversified angles.
However, the additional value of the piece of merchandise depends not only on the outer appearance thereof but also on the essential function thereof and, therefore, even if the outer appearance of the piece is exhibited in a diversified manner using the above-mentioned prior art technologies, such exhibition is not sufficient for the users.
In view of this, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Bei. 6-41805 (which will be hereinafter referred to as "third prior art"), there is disclosed a coordinate device which is structured such that the personal data of a user and the merchandise information specified by the user are transmitted to a sales agent, while the sales agent makes up the image and pressure data of the merchandise corresponding to the personal data of the user and the specified merchandise information and then sends them to the user.
That is, according to the third prior art, not only the outer appearance of the piece of merchandise such as a dress or the like is displayed, but also an image representing the appearance of the user when the user wears the dress is displayed on a display and, in accordance with the pressure data indicating the wearing feeling of the user, a pressure is applied to a pressure device which is attached to the user.
Further, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 5-274326 (which will be hereinafter referred to as "fourth prior art"), there are disclosed merchandise presentation method and device in which various pieces of merchandise catalog information are stored in the form of electronic multi-media information such as texts, graphics, still images, moving images, voices and the like, and, in response to a retrieval request from a user, the merchandise information can be supplied on an interactive basis.
That is, according to the fourth prior art, by supplying the user with the multi-media information on the merchandise on an interactive basis, visual support can be given to the user in customizing the merchandise.
As represented by the above-mentioned third and fourth prior art technologies, in recent years, it has been important that not only the information on the outer appearance of a piece of merchandise is exhibited but also the information on the function of the piece is supplied as if the user was actually using the piece.
However, according to the above-mentioned third prior art, there is required hardware such as a pressure device and the like and, therefore, the application range of the third prior art is limited to a specific field such as clothes or the like, which makes it difficult for the third prior art to be applied to various kinds of merchandise.
Further, the fourth prior art is truly suitable to customize the color of the merchandise or the combination of different pieces of merchandise, but it does not allow the user to simulate the function of the merchandise itself.
Therefore, it is now important how to provide the user with the information on the functions of various kinds of merchandise as if the user was actually using the present one.
Especially, in recent years, the WWW (World Wide Web) is in the limelight as an information supply tool on the INTERNET which is a worldwide scale network and, therefore, it is important to simulate the functions of the merchandise to be publicized in the WWW.
That is, in the WWW, if various member terminals request information on selected one or more pieces of merchandise through the INTERNET from an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) server which makes public various kinds of information on merchandise, then the terminals are able to obtain various kinds of public data such as texts, images, voices and the like and, in view of this, various kinds of information on new products developed by various enterprises have been recently registered in the HTTP server.
Thus, if there can be introduced a system which allows the merchandise to be simulated as if a user was actually using the merchandise through the WWW, then the value of use of the WWW with respect to the merchandise can be enhanced further.

Merchandise simulator system and devices


A UV-emitting phosphor and lamp containing same are described. The phosphor is a praseodymium-activated pyrophosphate-based phosphor which may be represented by the general formula (Ca2-x,Srx)P2O7:Pr where 0≦x≦2. The phosphor is excitable by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation and in particular it may be excited by Xe-excimer discharges and thereby provide a Hg-free UV-emitting lamp. The phosphor exhibits a broad emission in the UVC region in the wavelength range from about 220 nm to about 280 nm with the peak emission occurring in the wavelength range from about 230 nm to about 240 nm. The emission characteristics of the phosphor may be varied depending on the ratio of Sr/Ca.

The ultraviolet spectrum generally is divided into three regions: UVA (400 nm-320 nm), UVB (320 nm-290 nm) and UVC (290 nm-200 nm). The UVA and UVB regions are important for suntan lamps and medical phototherapy applications and the UVC is important for germicidal lamp applications.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in germicidal lamps because of concerns about supplying potable drinking water, especially during natural disasters. In addition, there is a concurrent interest worldwide in reducing the widespread use of mercury because of its environmental impact. These two factors taken together have led to the development of mercury-free (Hg-free) germicidal lamps. One such water disinfecting device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,970 is a Xe-plasma based vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excited lamp which is coated with phosphors emitting in the germicidal range of about 220-280 nm.
In addition to water purification, UVC-emitting phosphors may be used in other germicidal applications such as the purification of surfaces and air and the medical sterilization of open wounds. Other potential uses beyond germicidal applications include medical phototherapy and photo-curing of UV-sensitive polymers and resins. Also, the use of UVC-emitting phosphors in low-pressure mercury fluorescent lighting has been reported to improve light output and reduce degradation due to 185 nm radiation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,631.


An information selection method and an information selection apparatus are provided. The information selection method includes continuously selecting arbitrary program information out of a plurality of program information, extracting selection candidate program information to be selected after predetermined program information based on a previous selection order of the plurality of program information, and determining one of the extracted selection candidate program information as program information to be selected after the predetermined program information.

Large capacity of recent recording mediums such as hard discs (HD) and recent development of data compression technique such as MPEG Audio Layer (MP3) and Adaptive Transform Coding (ATRAC 3) make it possible for a user to record and reproduce various song (music) data recorded on, for example, Compact Disc (CD), Mini Disc (MD), and Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) onto one HD or the like in use of for example audiovisual apparatus or personal computer. Further, it becomes possible to download song data from a distribution server on internet, record these on HD or the like, and reproduce these.
In selecting song to be reproduced out of many songs thus recorded, an information reproduction apparatus which has random reproduction function of selecting and reproducing one song of a track number corresponding to a random number generated with a random number generator or a shuffle reproduction function.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information reproduction method of searching number of songs contained in a disc selected and selecting one of the songs using a random number to thereby reproduce it.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Shou 62-46480.

Information selecting method, information selecting device and so on


Systems and methods for detecting and preventing spam content attempted to be sent from a sender account may be provided. In an embodiment, a system can determine if a user's electronic service has been compromised based on analyzing electronic messages attempted to be sent by the electronic service. For example, the system can calculate a score for the electronic messages utilizing a spam detection algorithm where the score represents the probability that the message contains spam content. The system can prevent the communication of electronic messages upon a determination that the electronic service has been compromised. The system can request authentication information from the user before further communication is allowed from the compromised electronic service.

Today, communicating with individuals all over the world has never been easier. Networking technology has allowed people to communicate with one another through email, instant messaging, or various social networking sites. However, despite the many advantages this technology has granted to individuals, security and other concerns remain. With the current free flow of electronic information, people are more likely to divulge and share their personal information including bank account information or social security information. Malicious programs or outside parties may utilize a variety of methods to attempt to gain access to an individual's information that is stored or communicated electronically. Once an individual's information has been compromised, the potential security threat can harm the individual and/or others by proliferating messages or content which are unwanted or harmful. Spam content can not only be annoying to the recipients but can also be cause for concern, as the recipients may be anxious about their own information security status.

Client-side spam detection and prevention


Apparatus for securing a stent upon a balloon catheter. The apparatus has a tubular housing that is open at each end for containing a balloon catheter in a deflated state upon which is mounted a stent. An inflatable cylindrical membrane is mounted inside the housing and sealed at both ends to provide a fluid tight chamber between the membrane and the housing. A pressurized fluid is introduced into the chamber to inflate the membrane into pressure contact with the stent to urge the stent into gripping engagement with the balloon.

This invention relates to stents, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for securely mounting a stent on a balloon catheter.
It is well known that a balloon catheter is well suited for use as a delivery and implantation system for an expandable stent. Typically, the stent is mounted over a balloon at the distal end of the catheter and is carried into a treatment zone through a blood vessel. Once properly positioned in the treatment zone, the balloon is inflated to expand the stent radially to open an occlude passage in the vessel caused by plaque or an aneurism. The catheter, during insertion, must oftentimes travel a rather tortuous path before reaching the treatment zone. If the stent is not securely mounted upon the balloon it can become dislodged or misaligned thus rendering the procedure ineffective. In severe cases, the stent may become entirely dislodged from the catheter while it is inside the patient, thus requiring its recovery through surgical procedures.
In an effort to more securely mount a stent upon a balloon catheter, it is common practice to compress the stent inwardly using special crimping tools similar to pliers. Because the crimping forces are applied repeatedly in different localized regions about the stent, the holding force around the stent tends to be non-uniform which can adversely effect the way the stent expands as the balloon inflates, thus leading to less than satisfactory implantation. More importantly, because the amount of force applied during the crimping operation is generally unregulated, the stent can penetrate the balloon rendering it uninflatable. The fact the balloon has been punctured by the stent generally is not discovered until such time as the stent has been positioned in the body. As a result, the catheter and stent must be retrieved from inside the patient and the procedure repeated.
Cylindrical crimping devices have also been devised wherein the balloon with a stent mounted thereupon are drawn into a cylinder having a predetermined inside diameter. The inside diameter of the cylinder is selected so that ideally the stent is collapsed just enough to apply a non-damaging, yet secure gripping force upon the balloon. This ideal relationship unfortunately is difficult to achieve in practice and puncturing of the balloon by the stent is not uncommon. Accurately guiding the stent bearing balloon into the cylinder can also be difficult and the stent may become misaligned or dislodged during this procedure.

Method of securing a stent on a balloon catheter


Method 300 facilitates the authentication of images, for example on a web-site (380). The method includes encoding images (310). In one embodiment, a search request is received (330) from a terminal (340) and the Internet is searched (350) in accordance with the search request and one or more web-sites identified (if any). An image associated with the identified web-site is checked (360) to see if the image is authentic. This can be achieved by decoding the image to obtain embedded identification information. If the image is authenticated, the image is transmitted (390) as part of a search results list. If the image is not authenticated, the image is not transmitted (395) or a warning that the image has not been authenticated can be provided. A method which facilitates the authentication of an email or other type of electronic document is also disclosed.

Disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/AU01/01185 (Publication No. WO 02/29623), filed by the present inventor and applicant, is an invention which provides a web-page (or web-site) search results list which includes either related or unrelated images from the actual web-pages or web-sites identified in a user's search, or images associated with the actual organisation operating a web-site. This assists a user to locate web-pages of interest or relevance to the user by providing images to assess the relevance of web-pages identified in a search, prior to the user having to hyperlink to the actual web-page itself. The present invention provides significant improvements and advantages over this prior invention. The disclosures in document WO 02/29623 are incorporated herein by cross-reference.
A search engine is a program that returns a list of web-pages that match some user selected criteria or search request. Generally, a user connects to a search engine web-site and progressively narrows the scope of the search by selecting category items with mouse-clicks, and/or enters a search term to be matched against a database. Both of these methods are hereinafter referred to as a search request.
Many images are used on web-sites but little attention has been given to-date on perhaps the most potentially damaging aspect of Internet e-commerce. The unauthorised use or application of icons, visual images or visual content has the potential to subtly direct Internet users to web-sites or web-pages which may deceive users into thinking they are genuine.
The term "image", as used herein should be understood as a reference to any type or form of image, visual content, video, animation, icon, logo, trade mark, advertisement, textual information, or the like.
Despite the extensive use of visual images on the Internet, relatively little attention has been given to being able to authenticate and/or prove ownership of material, for example visual or distinctive text such as copyright material or other proprietary types highlighted by ™, ®, © and the like. People may either ignore, alter slightly or cut and paste sections so as to create the impression of their own self creation or ownership. For example, a web-site, web-page or certain sections thereof can be copied without the owner's knowledge and used for alternate or unauthorised purposes. The continuing use of these practices emphasises a problem inherent in the prior art.
The advent of Internet and video telephones provides a further example of the need for a secure environment when doing on-line business so as to authenticate a visual image which could be of commercial importance, such as indicating an organisation's name. When a user employs the aid of a video telephone and images are used, there is a need to properly identify and establish that the provider of goods or services is bona fide.
For example, a fraudulent web-site which has the appearance of belonging to Ebay™ may show images of a particular item which is for sale significantly below the regular price. A potential buyer perceives a bargain and enters into a transaction thinking that the purchase money is going to a legitimate entity, whereas in reality the money may be diverted to an unauthorised account and the funds paid by the unsuspecting party are lost.
Similar deceptions may target banks, retail stores, ticket agencies for sports or musical events, in fact almost any entity which is engaged in Internet commerce or the like. URL, or equivalently domain name, owners and consumers seek the comfort of conducting genuine searches and conducting business on-line, but are suspicious of providing confidential information.
A hacker or scammer does not need to break into a bank's computer system to steal account numbers and access codes. A fake web-site can be set-up using images, logos, trade marks, slogans, etc., which are either the same or deceptively similar to images on an authentic web-site. It is known that consumers have given financial information to web-sites thinking they were authentic.
Authenticating visual content, for example images, where an organisation has spent considerable money in brand building is an important area, commercially and for consumer security.
Once an URL (Universal Resource Locator) of interest is located the user can mouse-click on an associated hyperlink and be transferred to the actual web-page, which is typically part of a web-site. Once a web-site or web-page of interest is located other options are often available.
In a related problem, it is difficult for a recipient of an email, or other type of electronic document, to authenticate the true origin of the email, or document, and whether or not the email, or document, actually originates from its purported source. A fraudulent email may solicit personal details from a recipient which could then be illegally used, for example to garner information for identity fraud. A fraudulent email, or electronic document, may include one or more fake images, for example a corporate logo etc., designed to deceive a recipient as to the origin or authority of the email or electronic document.
To assist with Internet security a "plugin" or "patch" to a web browser may be employed, and in some cases encryption scrambling functions using secure certificates, eg. using SSL (Secure Sockets Layers), are a further option. A patch or a plug-in is a self contained software component (sub or inner application) which normally adds a new or updated feature to a specific stand alone program, for example RealPlayer™ or Shockwave™. SSL is a RSA (Rivest, Shamir, Adlermin) public key encryption system which provides both encryption, authentication and message integrity. SSL is normally layered beneath application protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, Telnet, Gopher and NNTP. SSL is layered above the connection protocol TCP/IP. When SSL is implemented, Internet communications are transmitted in encrypted form. The encrypted link between a web-server and a browser remains private and integral, essential for the protection of credit card and Internet banking transactions. To obtain a SSL certificate a URL owner is required to provide specific security information and other identification details able to be authenticated.
Public/Private key encryption involves two passwords. One password is private and is used when deciphering a message, the other is public and is used for encryption, often included in a user's on-line signature or plan file. This makes the encryption more flexible, the public key is used to send an encrypted message, then the private key is used to decipher the message. Public key encryption can also be used to authenticate a message where a user encrypts the message with a private key and sends the message, as the public key is able to decipher the message. The recipient is thus guaranteed that the message has come from a genuine source. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and RSA are examples of public key encryptions codes.
In a networked information or data communications system, a user has access to one or more terminals which are capable of requesting and/or receiving information or data from local or remote information sources. In such a communications system, a terminal may be a type of processing system, computer or computerised device, personal computer (PC), mobile, cellular or satellite telephone, mobile data terminal, portable computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), pager, video telephone, thin client, or any other similar type of digital electronic device. The capability of such a terminal to request and/or receive information or data can be provided by software, hardware and/or firmware. A terminal may include or be associated with other devices, for example a local data storage device such as a hard disk drive or solid state drive.
An information source can include a server, or any type of terminal, that may be associated with one or more storage devices that are able to store information or data, for example in one or more databases residing on a storage device. The exchange of information (i.e., the request and/or receipt of information or data) between a terminal and an information source, or other terminal(s), is facilitated by a communication means. The communication means can be realised by physical cables, for example a metallic cable such as a telephone line, semi-conducting cables, electromagnetic signals, for example radio-frequency signals or infra-red signals, optical fibre cables, satellite links or any other such medium or combination thereof connected to a network infrastructure.
The network infrastructure can include devices such as a telephone switch, base station, bridge, router, or any other such specialised network component, which facilitates the connection between a terminal and an information source. Collectively, an interconnected group of terminals, communication means, infrastructure and information sources is referred to as a network. The network itself may take a variety of forms. For example, it may be a computer network, telecommunications network, data communications network, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), wireless network, Internetwork, Intranetwork, the Internet and developments thereof, transient or temporary networks, combinations of the above or any other type of network providing for communication between computerised, electronic or digital devices. More than one distinct network can be provided, for example a private and a public network. A network as referenced in this specification should be taken to include any type of terminal or other similar type of electronic device, or part thereof, which is rendered such that it is capable of communicating with at least one other terminal.
The Hyper-Text Mark-Up Language (HTML) and Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and developments thereof, have made the Internet or World Wide Web (WWW) very accessible. The exchange of information on the Internet is further facilitated through hyper-text documents. Hyper-Text documents are unique in that they use tags to define links which, when selected, retrieve the related information from within the same document or from a new document altogether. The links are defined using HTML which provides a document formatting method which adapts in a consistent manner to any computer on which it is displayed. HTML tags are used to define various components of text, visual or audio which make up a hyper-text document, including such things as formatting and linking to other documents. HTML tags which link documents on one Internet information source to those on another do so by associating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with the referenced information.
This identifies a need for a method, system and/or computer readable medium of instructions for facilitating the authentication of a web-site, or at least of images or the like contained therein, which overcomes or at least ameliorates problems inherent in the prior art.
This also identifies a need for a method, system and/or computer readable medium of instructions for facilitating the authentication of an email, or other type of electronic document, or at least of images or the like contained therein, which overcomes or at least ameliorates problems inherent in the prior art.
The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Authenticating images identified by a software application


The present invention relates to a neural device comprising wires transmitting and receiving electric signals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure of the neural device comprising wires which effectively obtain electric signals developed in nerve fibers and transmit electric stimuli to the nerve fibers.

Conventional devices are described as follows, which detect electric signals developed in human body.
First, a device detecting electric signals of nerves, based on MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), was conventionally proposed. This prior art is a technique monitoring change of membrane capacitance depending on exterior stimuli by using gatings of MOSFET device, moreover a technique simultaneously monitoring various neural responses. This prior art has been applied to a method of detecting nerve signals by fixing positions of snail neurons around P-MOSPET with picket fences made of polyimide and culturing them with limiting mobility (Zeck et. al., Noninvasive neuroelectronic interfacing with synaptically connected snail neurons immobilized on a semiconductor chip, Proc Nat Acad Sci 2001; 98). FIG. 1 is represents intra-cellular signals and extra-cellular signals detected according to such first prior art.
Second, a technique for detecting electric stimuli of brain stems or nerve fibers was proposed. Normann group of University of Utah (USA) and Cyberkinetics have been proceeding a research to measure electric signals and stimulate nerves by directly inserting multi-electrodes in nerves and brains since 2000 (Normann et. al., Long-Term Stimulation and Recording With a Penetrating Microelectrode Array in Cat Sciatic Nerve, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, VOL. 51, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004). FIG. 2 represents multi-electrodes according to the second prior art and a shape that these electrodes are inserted in cat sciatic nerve.
Third, a technique inserting sieve electrodes in nerve fibers was proposed. Through joint researches of Fraunhofer-IBMT (Germany), IMTEK (Germany) and the like, regeneration of nerve has been studied and recording of nerve signals is attempted, by inserting sieve electrodes to be curved, in nerve fibers and transmitting electric stimuli thereto (Anup et. al., Design, in vitro and in vivo assessment of a multi-channel sieve electrode with integrated multiplexer, J. Neural Eng. 3 (2006) 114-24). FIG. 3 represents the sieve electrodes based on the third prior art as described above. Total diameter of the sieve is the same as that of rat sciatic nerve (1.5 mm), and 571 holes having a diameter of 40 μm are disposed therein at 70 μm intervals. In addition, electrodes of ring shape cover 27 holes and their area is 2200 μm2.

Neural device using at least one nano-wire

Abstract: The neural device according to the present invention is connected to a processing module processing electric signals detected from nerve fibers, and the neural device is inserted in nerve fibers via nanowires to obtain electric signals from the nerve fibers, or inserted in the nerve fibers to transmit electric stimuli. The neural device may further provide with at least one through-hole and support.

Abstract: The neural device according to the present invention has an advantage that may obtain electric signals without killing nerve fibers or provide them with electric stimuli.

Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University


A circular sterilization path (CD) is divided into a front sterilization path (Pd) having a preform sterilization section formed and a rear sterilization path (Bd) having a molded-container sterilization section formed. A single electron beam sterilization device simultaneously sterilizes a preform (P) and a molded container (B), achieving effective sterilization and a size reduction of equipment.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-56943 discloses a device that performs preliminary sterilization on a preform before blow molding with a gaseous medium containing heat-treated oxygenated water or electron beams, performs main sterilization on a molded container, which is formed by blow molding, with the gaseous medium or electron beams, and then fills the molded container.
The device can effectively sterilize a durable preform, only requiring slight main sterilization for a short time.
The invention described in Patent Literature 1, however, requires the installation of sterilization devices at the entrance and exit of a blow molding machine, disadvantageously increasing the overall size of equipment.
The present invention has been devised to solve the problem. An advantage of the present invention is an electron beam sterilization device that can reduce the overall size of equipment and satisfactorily sterilize a container, and sterile filling equipment.

Electron beam sterilization device and sterile filling equipment


A power control system has a controller housing, a power switch disposed within the controller housing for selectively providing power from a power supply to a power load, a limiter disposed within the controller housing configured for providing a limit switching function in response to a threshold limit, and a controller disposed within the controller housing and configured for controlling one or more operations of the control system.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Generally, typical power control installations require selection of the discrete components, customized mounting and wiring for each component and feature, and numerous connections. Additionally, any changes, additions, modifications, and replacements require disconnection and reconnection of various wire leads, yet again increasing the opportunity for wiring mistakes. As such, existing power control installations are often complex and costly to install. Such complexity and costs also limits their application or often limits the functionality included in a particular user application. For example, a limit control, over-voltage, or power monitoring component or functionality may not be included in some user applications when not required by a regulation due to the incremental complexity and cost.
One example of such a power control installation is a control system application for controlling the power provided to a power-receiving load where the power receiving load is a heater supplying heat to a temperature controlled manufacturing process. Incumbent installed process heaters can include a thermal fuse that opens the power connection to the heater under excessive temperature operating conditions, thereby protecting the heater system and the process it heats. However, it is known that a thermal fuse can fail prematurely due to environmental degradation of the fuse material over time and thermal fuse exposure to high temperature process transients (e.g., high temperature exhaust gases in a semiconductor manufacturing process) temporarily exposing the fuse to temperatures above the device's ratings causing the fuse to open, rendering the heater useless. Additionally, the premature failure of relay contacts, used as power switching devices, can also occur.
In such instances, the production system is halted and the affected heater components must be replaced by operating system maintenance personnel or the heater system vendor. Costly downtime and loss in process yields can result from such premature component failures. It is desirable to eliminate components that can succumb to premature environmental failures.
Incumbent heating systems may also be characterized by a requirement to shut them down to replace or recalibrate sensor components specific to a given process. For example, if a production process is capable of producing multiple products, with each process environment having a different range of operating temperature limits (e.g., differing mixes of constituent process gases), it may be necessary to shut down the system operation to reset the heater sensor parameters or replace standard sensor parts within the heater system to accommodate the change in production requirements. Existing systems do not provide any flexibility associated with production changes to thermal heating control systems without disabling heater and production system operation.
Existing systems often also have limited in-operation re-programmability and do not provide for convenient user changing of a set point temperature in a thermal application during operation and conveniently for the user. These systems must be built from a variety of discrete components and mounted at various positions within a cabinet or operational environment, some of which offer low circulation, high heat and other hostile environmental conditions.
The aforementioned limitations of the existing power and thermal control systems are recognized by the inventors hereof and some or all of these limitations have been addressed by various embodiments of the current invention.

Compact limiter and controller assembly and method


A door penetrating connector assembly for providing electrical connectivity through a perforated equipment rack door includes a first connector that includes first electrical contacts configured and disposed to fit through corresponding holes in the equipment rack door, and a second connector that includes second electrical contacts configured and disposed to receive and make electrical contact with the first electrical contacts, where the connectors are configured to inhibit electrical connection through the holes provided by the door, of the first and second electrical contacts if the connectors are disposed with an undesirable alignment relative to each other.

Communications and information technology (IT) equipment is commonly designed for mounting to and housed within equipment enclosures often referred to as "racks". Equipment racks are used to contain and to arrange communications and information technology equipment, such as network servers, computers, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS's). To address lifecycle cost, serviceability, and maintenance concerns of IT installations there is a strong preference in the industry to utilize an industry "standard" rack that benefits from economies of scale for cost and gives compatibility with a wide variety of IT equipment.
In order to reduce downtime and labor costs, there is also a desire to accelerate the speed of deployment of IT equipment installations. Thus, pre-engineered time saving solutions that simplify planning and installation of IT equipment, are often used when available.
Within the telecommunications and information technology industry it is often beneficial or necessary to gain wiring access to components within equipment racks for data and control interfaces. For example, graphical user interfaces and displays may be mounted on the outside of an equipment rack to monitor and/or communicate with various pieces of equipment in the rack.
Existing information technology equipment rack door mount products, such as a mini terminal display, use a special cavity and bezel that is integral to the door, or a special door that can be provided on customized installations. As equipment racks and their associated doors are quite large, shipping and replacing a new door for an existing rack is expensive. Also, having a technician cut a hole in an equipment rack door and custom install an access device is costly and time consuming.

Equipment door perforation penetrating connector


A beam homogenizer at least includes a first optical lens for dividing a light beam into N(n'-1) beams in a vertical direction, a second optical lens for dividing the light beam into (2n+1) beams in a horizontal direction, a third optical lens for recombining the beams that are divided in the vertical and horizontal directions into (n'-1) beams while superimposing the (n'-1) beams so that they are deviated from each other in the horizontal direction, and a fourth optical lens for recombining the beams that are divided in the vertical direction.

In recent years, extensive studies have been made of techniques of crystallizing an amorphous semiconductor film or improving the crystallinity of a crystalline semiconductor film (i.e., a non-single-crystal semiconductor film that is polycrystalline, microcrystalline or of like crystallinity) formed on an insulating substrate such as a glass substrate by subjecting it to laser annealing. A typical example of such a semiconductor film is a silicon film.
Glass substrates are advantageous over quartz substrates that have widely been used conventionally in that they are nexpensive and high in workability and can easily provide a large-area substrate. This is the reason why the above studied have been made. The reason why lasers are used favorably in crystallization is that glass substrates have low melting points. Lasers can apply high energy to only a non-single-crystal film without changing the temperature of a substrate to a large extent.
Having high mobility, crystalline silicon films that are formed by laser annealing are widely used in monolithic liquid crystal electro-optical devices and the like in which pixel-driving TFTs (thin-film transistors) and driver circuit TFTs, for instance, are formed on a single glass substrate by using such a crystalline silicon film. Since a crystalline silicon film formed by laser annealing is constituted of a number of crystal grains, it is called a polysilicon film or a polycrystalline semiconductor film.
A laser annealing method in which a pulse laser beam emitted from a large output power excimer laser or the like is processed by an optical system so as to be shaped into a several centimeters square spot or a linear beam of several millimeters in width and tens of centimeters in length and scanning is made with the processed laser beam (i.e., a laser beam illumination position is moved relative to an illumination surface) is favorably used because it provides high mass-productivity and is superior from the industrial point of view.
In particular, in contrast to the case of using a spot-like laser beam that requires scanning in two orthogonal directions, the use of a linear laser beam can provide high mass-productivity because the entire illumination subject surface can be illuminated with laser light by scanning it with the linear laser beam only in the direction perpendicular to its length direction. The scanning is made in the direction perpendicular to the length direction because the scanning in such a direction is most efficient. Because of the high mass-productivity, the use of a linear laser beam is now becoming the mainstream in the laser annealing.
There are several problems in the case of performing laser annealing on a non-single crystal semiconductor film by scanning it with a pulse laser beam that has been processed into a linear shape. Among those problems, one of the particularly serious problems is that laser annealing is not performed uniformly over the entire film surface. When linear laser beams started to be used, there occurred a marked phenomenon that stripes were formed at beam overlapping portions. A film showed much different electrical characteristics from one stripe to another.
FIG. 1A shows how such stripes are formed. Stripes appear depending on the manner of light reflection when the surface of a laser-annealed silicon film is observed.
FIG. 1A is of a case where a linear laser beam extending in the right-left direction in the paper surface that is emitted from a XeCl excimer laser is applied while scanning is made in the top-to-bottom direction in the paper surface. It is understood that the stripes of FIG. 1A originate from the manner of overlapping of shots of pulse laser beams.
Where an active matrix liquid crystal display was manufactured by using a silicon film that exhibits stripes as shown in FIG. 1A, there occurred a problem that similar stripes appeared on the screen. This problem is now being solved by improving a non-single crystal semiconductor film as a subject of laser beam illumination and making the linear laser beam scanning pitch (interval between adjacent linear laser beams) finer.
As the above type of stripes become less conspicuous, non-uniformity in the energy profile of a beam itself comes to appear.
In general, in forming a linear laser beam, an original rectangular beam is processed into a linear shape by inputting it to a proper optical system. A rectangular beam having an aspect ratio of 2 to 5 is modified into a linear beam having an aspect ratio of 100 or more by an optical system of FIG. 2, for instance. This optical system is so designed that the intrabeam energy profile is uniformized at the same time.
The apparatus of FIG. 2 has a function of converting a laser beam emitted from an oscillator 201 (approximately rectangular at this stage) into a linear beam with an optical system denoted by reference numerals 202-204, 206, and 208 and applying the linear beam. Reference numerals 205 and 207 denote a slit and a mirror, respectively.
A cylindrical lens group (also called a multiple cylindrical lens) 202 has a function of dividing a beam into many beams. The many divided beams are combined by a cylindricaL lens 206.
The above components are needed to improve the intrabeam intensity profile. A combination of a cylindrical lens group 203 and a cylindrical lens 204 has the same function as the combination of the cylindrical lens group 202 and the cylindrical lens 206.
That is, the combination of the cylindrical lens group 202 and the cylindrical lens 206 has a function of improving the intensity profile of a linear laser beam in the longitudinal direction and the combination of the cylindrical lens group 203 and the cylindrical lens 204 has a function of improving the intensity profile of a linear laser beam in the width direction.
An optical system having a role of uniformizing the intrabeam energy profile is called a beam homogenizer. The optical system of FIG. 2 is also a beam homogenizer. One method of uniformizing the energy profile is to divide an original rectangular beam, enlarging the divided beams, and then combining the enlarged beams.
It appears that a beam that has been reconstructed after dividing an original beam in the above manner would have a higher degree of uniformity in energy profile as the beam division is made finer. However, when a beam obtained in the above manner was actually applied to a semiconductor film, stripes as shown in FIG. 1B occurred in the film in spite of fine beam division.
Like the case of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B is of a case where a linear laser beam extending in the right-left direction in the paper surface that was emitted from a XeCl excimer laser was applied to a silicon film while scanning was made in the top-to-bottom direction in the paper surface. However, in the case of FIG. 1B, the scanning conditions were set properly so that no marked stripes as shown in FIG. 1A appear.
As shown in FIG. 1B, innumerable stripes are formed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of a linear laser beam. Stripes of this type should be formed due to a striped energy profile of an original rectangular beam or the optical system.
To investigate whether stripes were caused by a striped energy profile of an original rectangular beam or the optical system, the inventors conducted a simple experiment. In the experiment, it was studied how stripes varied as a rectangular laser beam was rotated before entering the optical system.
No variation was observed at all. Therefore, it was confirmed that the optical system caused stripes rather than an original rectangular beam. It is concluded that stripes are an interference fringe of light because the optical system uniformizes the energy profile of a single-wavelength, phase-equalized beam (a laser beam is phase-equalized because a laser produces high-intensity light by equalizing the phase) by dividing it and combining the divided beams.
FIG. 3 illustrates a light interference fringe 302 in a linear laser beam 301 that is formed by the optical system of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, symbol I represents the laser light intensity. The interference fringe 302 is produced in such a manner that when beams obtained by dividing an original beam by the cylindrical lens groups 202 and 203 of the optical system of FIG. 2 are combined by the cylindrical lenses 204 and 206, the divided beams interfere with each other and a stationary wave is thereby formed in the beam.
That is, the reason why sharp, periodic interference peaks are generated is that divided beams are superimposed one on another in the same region on an illumination surface.
As shown in FIG. 3, the amplitude of waves varies periodically. In the case of the optical system of FIG. 2, three waves are formed per one period in the longitudinal direction of a linear beam.
The number n of waves (i.e., the number of interference peaks) per pitch and the number s of lenses of the cylindrical lens group 202 satisfy the following relationship:
n=(s-1)/2 (s: odd number) PA1 n=s/2 (s: even number)
In the optical system of FIG. 2, the number n is equal to 3 because the number s of lenses of the cylindrical lens group 202 is 7 (odd number).
In this case, an interference state shown in FIG. 4A is obtained. FIG. 4A, which was obtained by a computer calculation, shows an interference state in a linear laser beam at a certain time point. The horizontal axis of FIG. 4A corresponds to the position in the longitudinal direction of a linear laser beam, and the square of a value on the vertical axis of FIG. 4A corresponds to the light intensity in an actual interference state. For example, the interference state of FIG. 4A is actually observed as the light intensity profile shown in FIG. 3.
Where the number s of lenses of the cylindrical lens group 202 is equal to 8, an interference pattern as shown in FIG. 4B is obtained.
In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the square of the amplitude represents the strength of interference (i.e., the degree of an action that beams having the same phase intensify each other) and parameter d is defined as the pitch of interference peaks.
The curves of FIGS. 4A and 4B were obtained by a computer simulation and actual interference fringes of laser beams do not exhibit so clear strong and weak portions. This is considered due to dispersion, refraction, and loss of light that are caused by slight deviations in the optical system, the materials of the components of the optical system, and processing errors of the optical system, energy dispersion in a semiconductor film that is caused by heat conduction, and other factors.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.