A process for obtaining a substantially pure enantiomer of an aryl-substituted aliphatic carboxylic acid is described. The process utilizes first an enantiomerically enriched mixture the of aryl-substituted aliphatic carboxylic acid obtained from kinetic resolution, diastereomeric crystallization or asymmetric synthesis processes. This enriched mixture is reacted with a base producing a salt that has the following properties:. 1) has at least one eutectic point; PA1 2) a composition that is not at the eutectic point; and PA1 3) a eutectic composition that is closer to the racemic composition than is the eutectic composition of said aryl-substituted carboxylic acid.. Substantially pure, enantiomeric salt is separated, leaving a mother liquor comprising the solvent and aryl-substituted aliphatic carboxylic acid enriched in the other enantiomer.

The resolution of racemates constitutes the main method for industrial preparation of pure enantiomers. Methods for such resolution include: direct preferential crystallization; crystallization of the diastereomeric salts and kinetic resolution. Pure enantiomers may also be produced by asymmetric synthesis (reaction of a chiral auxiliary or catalyst with a prochiral substrate).
Also referred to as resolution by entrainment, preferential crystallization is widely used on an industrial scale; for example, in the manufacture of .alpha.-methyl-L-dopa and chloramphenicol. It is technically feasible only with racemates which are so-called conglomerates and consist of mechanical mixtures of crystals of the two enantiomers. Unfortunately, less than 20 percent of all racemates are conglomerates. The rest are true racemic compounds which cannot be separated by preferential crystallization (e.g., by seeding a saturated solution of the racemate with the crystals of one enantiomer). A conglomerate exhibits a minimum melting point for the racemic composition while a racemic compound does not. Further, a conglomerate is generally viewed as an equimolar mixture of two crystalline enantiomers that are, in principle, mechanically separable. Its phase diagram, i.e. a plot of the melting point versus the enantiomeric composition, displays one sharply defined minimum temperature at a mixture of 50% S and 50% R which is the eutectic point of the enantiomeric mixture. The success of preferential crystallization depends on the fact that the solubility of the pure enantiomer is less than the solubility of the racemic composition, i.e., the mixture having the lowest melting point is the racemic mixture which is most soluble. For a conglomerate, this is the racemic mixture.
If the racemate is a true racemic compound, a homogeneous solid phase of the two enantiomers co-exists in the same unit cell. These materials may be separated via diastereomer crystallization, which generally involves reaction of the racemate with an optically pure acid or base (the resolving agent) to form a mixture of diastereomeric salts which are then separated by crystallization. Ibuprofen, for example, is a true racemic compound.
Diastereomer crystallization is widely used for the industrial synthesis of pure enantiomers. A typical example is the Andeno process for the manufacture of (D)-(-)-phenylglycine, an antibiotic intermediate, using optically pure camphor sulfonic acid as the resolving agent. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,417 for a diastereomeric procedure for resolving certain phenylacetic acid derivatives and U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,745 for resolving 2-arylpropionic acids.
The theoretical once-through yield of a resolution via diastereomer crystallization is 50 percent. However, in practice, a single recrystallization produces a composition that is simply an enantiomerically enriched racemate.
Another method for the resolution of racemates is kinetic resolution, the success of which depends on the fact that the two enantiomers react at different rates with a chiral addend.
Kinetic resolution can also be effected using chiral metal complexes as chemocatalysts, e.g., the enantioselective rhodium-BINAP-catalyzed isomerization of chiral allylic alcohols to the analogous prostaglandin intermediates reported by Noyori.
The enantioselective conversion of a prochiral substrate to an optically active product, by reaction with a chiral addend, is referred to as an asymmetric synthesis. From an economic viewpoint, the chiral addend functions in catalytic quantities. This may involve a simple chemocatalyst or a bio-catalyst. An example of the former is the well-known Monsanto process for the manufacture of L-dopa by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation. See Knowles, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 97, 2567 (1975). An example of the latter is the Genex process for the synthesis of L-phenylalanine by the addition of ammonia to transcinnamic acid in the presence of L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). See Hamilton et al., Trends in Biotechnology, 3, 64-68, (1985). Also see Jacques et al., Enantiomers, Racemates and Resolutions, Chapter 3 (1981) incorporated herein by reference.
With the exception of the preferential crystallization process when applied to true conglomerates, the prior art processes typically produce a first mixture that is essentially an enantiomerically enriched racemic composition. A number of crystallizations are required to yield the substantially pure enantiomer.

Enantiomeric resolution of aryl-substituted aliphatic carboxylic acids


A content distribution system includes a content server and a distribution server. The distribution server distributes the content provided from the content server via a network. The distribution server includes a notice accept unit, an issuing unit, a content receiving unit and a distribution execution unit. The notice accept unit receives a notice of attribute information from the content server, the attribute information corresponding to a distribution timing of content. The issuing unit issues a permission notice according to the accepted attribute information and transmits the issued permission notice to the content server. The content receiving unit receives the content added with meta information containing the distribution timing from the content server after issuing the permission notice. The distribution execution unit distributes the content received by the content receiving unit to the terminal device according to the distribution timing contained in the meta information added to the content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content distribution system, a content distribution server, a content distribution method and a computer readable medium for distributing content to a smartphone or a wristwatch-type information terminal device etc., for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to reduce waste in a content distribution processing, there has been proposed a technique in which a conversion processing to be performed later is executed after analyzing video content and processing an image of a part corresponding to a non-display region, thereby eliminating a conversion processing of the non-display region (see JP-A-2012-129587, for example).
Further, in order to distribute content conforming to the reproducing environment of a client device, there has been proposed a technique in which content is processed so as to be adapted to the reproducing environment of the content based on selection information (request information) sent from the client device and then the content thus processed is distributed (see JP-A-2004-265263, for example).
As well as the techniques described in JP-A-2012-129587 and JP-A-2004-265263, many techniques have been proposed in which content data is processed on a server side for distributing content to terminal (client) devices. In general, a server for distributing content executes the distribution of content data after subjecting the content data, provided from various kinds of content holders via a network, to a filtering processing and a modification processing of a display layout according to the attrite of content and in accordance with a predetermined format.
In addition, in recent years, wide variety of devices such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal, different in the reproduction environment of content data such as an OS or a size of displaying capacity, have been provided as terminal devices as well as a mobile phone called a feature phone having been proposed conventionally. Thus, the load of the server for distributing content data tends to increase.

Content distribution system, content distribution server, content distribution method, and computer readable medium for distributing content easily viewable by terminal device having small display part


The present disclosure relates to user authentication using a contactless payment instrument. The contactless payment instrument includes a contactless chip and a gesture control module. The user makes one or more gestures at an access device during a card-present transaction scenario and the gestures are validated and the authentication status is determined by matching the gesture made by the user at the time of the transaction with one or more predefined gestures. If the authentication is successful, the payment instrument transmits the payment information required for conducting the transaction.

The recent rapid growth in contactless payments is shaping new behaviors in the way everyday purchases are made. Contactless payments make a transaction faster than a traditional card transaction or payment by cash. At a retailer, a contactless payment instrument owner simply holds the payment instrument within an operating field of an access device. When the payment instrument is in the operating field of the access device, the encrypted details of the payment instrument required for conducting the transaction is transmitted to the payment reader. In contactless payment, the payment instrument never leaves the owner's hand and does not require the payment instrument to be dipped in the access device. Therefore, contactless payments offer consumers a fast, secure and convenient way to pay, providing merchants with significant opportunities to reduce queuing and improve in-store payment experience.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
While each of the figures illustrates a particular embodiment for purposes of illustrating a clear example, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the elements shown in the figures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor with improved deformation qualities includes impregnating an electrolytic capacitor with a first electrolyte, aging the electrolytic capacitor after impregnating and reimpregnating the electrolytic capacitor with a second electrolyte. The water content of the second electrolyte is lower than the water content of the first electrolyte. The second electrolyte may also have a lower viscosity and a higher conductivity than the first electrolyte.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing electrolytic capacitors with improved deformation qualities wherein two different electrolytes are utilized in the manufacturing process.
2. Background Art
Compact, high voltage capacitors are utilized as energy storage reservoirs in many applications, including implantable medical devices. These capacitors are required to have a high energy density since it is desirable to minimize the overall size of the implanted device. This is particularly true of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), also referred to as an implantable defibrillator, since the high voltage capacitors used to deliver the defibrillation pulse can occupy as much as one third of the ICD volume.
An ICD is a medical device that is implanted in a patient to monitor electrical activity of the heart and to deliver appropriate electrical and/or drug therapy, as required. ICDs include, for example, pacemakers, cardioverters and defibrillators. The term "implantable cardioverter defibrillator" or simply "ICD" is used herein to refer to any implantable cardiac device.
An ICD may be programmed to sense a tachyarrhythmia and to deliver an escalating series of pulse therapies in an effort to correct this arrhythmia. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,619 to Olson shows a device that begins charging high voltage capacitors on detection of an arrhythmia. During the charging period, the device delivers a series of antitachycardia (ATC) pacing pulses. The number of pulses may be varied as a function of the voltage to which the capacitors are to be charged, so that more extended therapies may be available where allowed by longer charging times. After the ATC pulses, the device evaluates the heart rhythm to determine whether the tachyarrhythmia has terminated. If not, when the capacitor has charged, a high voltage cardioversion or defibrillation pulse is delivered.
ICDs, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,388, incorporated herein by reference, typically use two electrolytic capacitors in series to achieve the desired high voltage for shock delivery. For example, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may utilize two 350 to 400 volt electrolytic capacitors in series to achieve a voltage of 700 to 800 volts.
Electrolytic capacitors are used in ICDs because they have the most nearly ideal properties in terms of size, reliability and ability to withstand relatively high voltage. Conventionally, such electrolytic capacitors typically consist of a cathode electrode, an electrically conductive electrolyte and a porous anode with a dielectric oxide film formed thereon. While aluminum is the preferred metal for the anode plates, other metals such as tantalum, magnesium, titanium, niobium, zirconium and zinc may be used. A typical electrolyte may be a mixture of a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid, preferably a salt of the weak acid employed, in a polyhydroxy alcohol solvent. The electrolytic or ion-producing component of the electrolyte is the salt that is dissolved in the solvent. The entire laminate is rolled up into the form of a substantially cylindrical body, or wound roll, that is held together with adhesive tape and is encased, with the aid of suitable insulation, in an aluminum tube or canister. Connections to the anode and the cathode are made via tabs. Alternative flat constructions for aluminum electrolytic capacitors are also known, comprising a planar, layered, stack structure of electrode materials with separators interposed therebetween, such as those disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,388. Conventional capacitor cases using metallic cases are generally known, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,851 issued to Fayram.
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors tend to degrade with time. This is due, in part, to water in the electrolyte attacking the thin film of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) formed on the anode surface. Deformation of the aluminum oxide increases the leakage current of the capacitor, such that when one or more capacitors are used for shock delivery in an ICD, the first shock (after a hiatus) will have a significantly longer charge time. Unfortunately, one cannot remove all of the water from the electrolyte, as it is needed for conduction, as well as during the aging process for the formation of aluminum oxide on the cut edges of the aluminum anode foil after assembly. Therefore, what is needed in the art is a method of maximizing the water content in the electrolyte during the aging process while reducing the overall water content within the electrolyte of a finished electrolytic capacitor in order to reduce degradation and deformation of the capacitor over time.

Method for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor with improved deformation qualities


The present invention relates to an active targeted water-solubility macromolecule polymer, conjugate with interferon and pharmaceutical composition comprising the conjugate. The targeted agent includes, for example, glucose, galatose and the like, as well as their derivates. The conjugate of the present invention is well in water-solubility and have long physiological cycle half-life period, and have specific recognition to pathology organize, improved and increased medication effect of interferon to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C etc. infectivity sickness and cancer, infect complication etc.

Interferons are a group of natural proteins that occur in the cell division process and exhibit anti-viral, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. The recombinant human interferon α and interferon β have been used as drugs for treatment of viral infections, cancer and multiple sclerosis. In the treatment of both hepatitis C and hepatitis B, interferon ox is the only effective agent on the market, and has become the standard therapy. However, because of its short circulation half-life (4-8 hours), their anti-viral activity and long-term treatment effect are limited. Recently, Schering-Plough and Hoffmann-La Roche have independently developed long-lasting interferon a formulations by conjugating with a synthetic water-soluble polymer. In 2001, Schering's product, PEG-intron®, obtained approval from the US FDA for treatment of hepatitis C. Roche's product, Pegasys®, had finished clinical studies and is waiting for the US FDA's approval. In WO01/74399A1, a targeted system using galactose-PEG was disclosed. Although it can obtain the effect of targeting toward the suffered tissue for interferon, but the measures for applying it are very complicated and difficult to meet the industrial needs. In addition, the polymer cannot be conjugated with interferon in an aqueous phase, and the conjugation must be catalyzed with enzyme.
Polyethylene glycol has been widely used in the field of protein conjugation. The resulting conjugates will improve in vivo circulation half-lives, and reduce immunogenecity and toxicity for proteins, peptides and other therapeutics. In both PEG-intron® and Pegasys®, polyethylene glycol not only improves their anti-viral efficacy but also reduces their injection frequency from three times a week to once a week.
However, neither PEG-intron® nor Pegasys® can achieve greater than 60% patient sustained response rate. Especially for hepatitis C virus of genotype I, sustained response rate is lower than 42%. To further improve the efficacy of interferon, it is believed that targeted delivering more interferon to the virus infected tissues or organs could be very beneficial.
In the researches of glycobiology, many bio-macromolecules on the cell surface are glycosylated compounds, also referred to glycoconjugate. They can be further classified into three types: glycoproteins, protcoglycans and glycolipids. Glycosylated compounds with extending oligosaccharides are the typical components anchored on the surface of cell membrane, cell wall and organella. The extending sugar parts have functions of information coding, which play very important roles in cell-cell recognition. For example, the recognition between a sperm and an egg in reproduction process is modulated by the sugar-protein interactions.
Polysaccharides are not the direct products of gene transcription, but their biosynthesis is adjusted by post translation. When there is a defect in the cell adjusting mechanism (such as in auto-immune diseases, cancer or other gene-related diseases), sugar synthesis and degradation are altered, resulting in changes in the component and composition of the sugar on the cell surface, leading to the alternation of the whole immune system. Comparing to amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids, the structures of saccharides are more complicated. For example, two different amino acids can produce two kinds of dipeptides, while two monosaccharides can produce eleven kinds of disaccharides. Three amino acids can produce six kinds of tripeptides, while three monosaccharides can lead to 1,056 kinds of trisaccharides. It is due to the branching properties of saccharide structure, which differs polysaccharides from other bio-macromolecules (such as proteins and polynucleotides). Based on its inherent structural complication, polysaccharides have become the carriers of detailed biological information, playing an important role in cell recognition and signal transduction.
Liver cancer is one of the common malignant cancer. Very few patients can be treated with surgical removal, and at same time, chemical and radical therapies have very low response rate. In China, liver cancer results in 100,000 deaths every year, and becomes the leading death cause in some parts of China. The major aim of the present invention is to improve the efficacy and lasting effect of the medicines toward liver diseases.
The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is a trans-membrane glycoprotein only existing on the liver cells of mammals. ASGPR can specifically recognize and then binds with the glycoproteins having a galactose unit at the terminal. The formed ligand-receptor complex can then be internalized into lysosome, and the macromolecule can be release a ASGPR itself will not be degraded, but recycle back to the surface of the cell membrane to participate into next cycle of transportation. Because of its specific property, ASGPR is also called liver specific galactose (H-Gal) receptor.
It is believed that with the combination of targeting agent and hydrophilic polymer, the interferon level at the infected tissues and organs will be increased, which will improve the anti-virus effect and achieve an improved treatment efficacy. In the treatment of hepatitis C and B, the efficacy of interferon will be significantly increased by extending its circulation half-life with PEGs and redirecting its distribution in the body, especially in the liver by the targeting agents. As a result, it is expected that anti-viral efficacy for treatment of hepatitis C and hepatitis B will be increased.

Targeted hydrophilic polymer, binders with interferon and medical composite comprising above binders


Artificial eye lenses which are to be replaced against the muddy natural lenses during a cataract operation, obtain a more efficient and sensitive accommodation with a quick and sufficient pull back power, if the centralizing spring haptics show a z-similar shape with a large square stone bridge.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
To remove the gray star (muddy natural eye lenses) one replaces the natural eye lens by an artificial one. Such intraocular lenses show normally the shape of a paragraph sign, where the haptics stand-off s-shaped and centralize the lens within the capsular bag. These artificial lenses are very flexible in their wet stage and are therefore foldable to be better implanted through an advantageous small lateral slit of the eye, but they are not deformable any more to change their focus. Since such artificial lenses show an unchangeable focus, the sharpness of before or behind it lying picture points have therefore to be approximate by adjusting glasses. The resulting blurred sight in between causes a remarkable loss of vision comfort, which should be reduced by an optimally accommodating artificial lens, which offer the chance to renounce of any correcting glasses.
Even without diagnosed muddy natural lenses, such a well accommodating artificial lens is ready to be replaced in healthy eyes in the future, to avoid expensive laser corrections of the cornea in case of great short-sightedness and can prevent long-sightedness in old age.
Instead of changing the convexity of an artificial lens one can accommodate only by changing the lens distance from the retina caused by a contracting ciliary muscle, provided it remained undamaged after the removal of the natural lens and is still active.
Concepts of accommodating artificial IO-lenses are already known from the patent applications: Cumming (WO 99/29266 according to his application PCT US98/26171, A61F 2/16, priority Sep. 12, 1997) and of another application of Dr. Helmut Payer, Plantaweg 12 a, CH-7000 Chur/Schweiz (Datasheet: 4351 980414) and WO 9903427. It has to be doubt, if the claim of linkage arms in this last application of which all the following claims depend on is qualified enough for a patent, because such linkage arms are already known from earlier concepts.


The configurations of an output preset circuit for an output driver circuit and the controlling methods thereof are provided. The proposed output preset circuit includes a latch generating an latch output signal and a pull-up circuit receiving an preset enable signal and the latch output signal, in which the pull-up circuit increases an output voltage of the output driver circuit from a ground level to a first level when the preset enable signal is at a low level and the latch output signal is at the high level.

Using an output driver circuit such as an output buffer circuit having an output preset circuit in an integrated circuit for driving an output data is quite common nowadays. For example, please refer to FIG. 1, it shows a schematic circuit diagram of an output preset circuit for an output buffer circuit as disclosed by Ishibashi et al. in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,677. In FIG. 1, the output preset circuit includes two voltage references (VH and VL), two differential amplifiers (Op1 and OP2), two NMOS (M1 and M2) and a capacitor C (an output load), and a terminal of each of VH, VL, M2 and C is connected to a ground. VH, VL, OP1 and OP2 are used to detect the output level of a voltage of C, and M1 and M2 are employed to preset the voltage of C to VH or VL. M2 is turned on and M1 is turned off to pull low the voltage of C to VH when the voltage of C is higher than VH, and M1 is turned on and M2 is turned off to pull up the voltage of C to VL when a voltage of C is lower than VL.
The main drawbacks of the output preset circuit as shown in FIG. 1 are that the two differential amplifiers OP1 and OP2 are complex in their interior configurations and cause higher power consumptions, and also two extra voltage references VH and VL are generated. Although, this output preset circuit does have the advantages of having the high read out speed and the low switching noise.
Facing the challenges of the energy crisis and the global warming nowadays and coping with the trend of having higher density of electronic elements and lower power consumptions in an IC, the purpose of the present invention is to find an output preset circuit with the advantages of having high read out speed, low switching noise and lower power consumption.
Keeping the drawbacks of the prior arts in mind, the applicant proposes an output driver circuit with an output preset circuit and controlling method thereof having lower power consumption.

Output driver circuit with output preset circuit and controlling method thereof having lower power consumption


Gliding board equipment systems and individual components are disclosed herein. A gliding board equipment system of one embodiment includes a boot having an upper cuff and a lower boot. The upper cuff of the boot defines opposed slots, and a respective pin passes through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot. Means are included for selectively covering at least one portion of each slot to restrict movement of the upper cuff relative to the lower boot.

Prior art ski and snowboard boots are generally made of an upper cuff and a lower boot that are connected together to restrict a user's lateral movement. These boots can vary in forward flexibility and stiffness, and they have proven popular because lateral flexibility in a ski or snowboard boot would reduce the user's ability to quickly turn the ski or snowboard. When a user leans into a traditional boot, the whole boot and ski (or snowboard) move as a single unit; this may allow the user to easily turn at high speeds or in other circumstances where fast direction changes are needed.
People sliding (also referred to as "grinding") on rails and other objects with skis and snowboards is becoming increasingly popular.


Nonfluorinated surfactants selected from C7–C20 linear 1-alkanesulfonates, 2-alkanesulfones, and 1,2-alkanedisulfones are particularly effective for stabilizing emulsions in preparing non-elastomeric fluoropolymers containing at least 71 wt % vinylidene fluoride and having at least a 2% crystalline polyvinylidene fluoride content. Processes for making such fluoropolymers using these surfactants, particularly in combination with one or both of a nonionic polymerization initiator and the use of mechanical coagulation to isolate the product, are also provided, as are fluoropolymers made thereby.

Processes for making fluoropolymers by an emulsion process commonly uses perfluorinated or highly fluorinated surfactants to stabilize the emulsion during the reaction. For example, perfluorocarboxylate salts may be used to stabilize fluoropolymer emulsion polymerizations, with the most common example being ammonium perfluorooctanoate. The high degree of fluorination in the surfactant is thought to prevent or reduce atom transfer between a growing polymer chain and the surfactant during polymerization, which would result in lowered product molecular weight and likely inhibition of the polymerization. Such fluorosurfactants are expensive, specialized materials, however, and because of their high stability, they tend to persist in the environment. Thus nonfluorinated surfactants suitable for making fluoropolymers, and processes using these surfactants, would be beneficial.

Method of producing thermoplastic fluoropolymers using alkyl sulfonate surfactants


A construction system is described and which includes a construction element having at least one passageway extending therethrough; a fastener body telescopingly received in the passageway; and a locking member cooperating with the fastener body and which, in a first position, allows the fastener body to be received in the passageway, and in a second position, substantially impedes the removal of the fastener body from the passageway.

Children and hobbyists have long enjoyed creative toys which have allowed the individual to construct various items of interest such as boxes, small houses, bridges, airplanes, boats, and the like. Examples of such products have included the Erector™ Set, and various LEGO™ kits that are provided at various levels of complexity. In the so-called Erector™ products, these toys have included a series of plates and bars with holes in them which are subsequently joined together with nuts and a corresponding bolt. Other creative toys have included somewhat similar building units, but have further used wooden pegs to join the building units together.
The prior art is replete with numerous examples of similar creative toys. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,886, a toy construction system having reusable distensible joining members is shown. In this particular patent, a releasable fastener is useful in an Erector™ type toy and which further has a toy like device which appears as a riveting device and which utilizes a bullet-shaped, soft distensible rubber piece which may pass through adjoining members thereby fastening them together. This is best understood by reference to FIG. 3, of that patent. In addition to the foregoing, U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,691 to Bach relates to a toy building set with interconnecting means and which is of the form typical of the LEGO™ type toys. In this reference, block-shaped building elements are disclosed, and which at least have one passageway formed therein. Further, elements are provided that have a tenon that can be introduced into mating tubular openings in a snap-like effect thereby joining the box-like elements together.
While these various creative toys and toy construction systems have operated with a great deal of success, various shortcomings have detracted from their usefulness. For example, in the LEGO™ type building toys and/or systems, various kits are provided that will allow a hobbyist, or child to create various objects of interest such as helicopters, airplanes, boats and the like. However, many kits typically do not allow the child or hobbyist to make more than a limited number of designated objects from that provided for in the kit. Another additional shortcoming in these kits, which have been supplied heretofore, is the construction elements that are utilized with same are often releasably affixed, one relative to the others at predetermined fixed angles. Additionally, many of the construction elements are not readily rotatable, one relative to the other. Moreover, in these same toys or kits, the amount of mechanical functionality that can be imparted to same is often extremely limited. More specifically, many of these previous products fall apart when moderate force is applied to same. This might be occasioned when an individual plays with one of these kits.
While construction systems such as the Erector™ type sets allow for the positioning of construction elements in various angular orientations, they do not readily adapt themselves to allow of the construction elements supplied to freely rotate one about the other.
Therefore, a construction system which avoids the shortcomings attendant with the prior art devices and practices utilized heretofore is the subject matter of the present application.


A control system for continuous rubber molding apparatus comprising; a feed portion for feeding a rubber material previously removed of foreign substances or particles in the previous step; an extruder for kneading the fed rubber material and feeding forward the kneaded material; and a gear pump for delivering the rubber material, fed from the extruder, to a forming nozzle, the forming nozzle continuously extruding a rubber ribbon used for building a tire. The control system comprises: a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure in the gear pump; pressure comparator for comparing a sensed pressure and a set value; and motor controller for controlling the number of revolutions of a motor based on a comparison result given by the pressure comparator, the motor operative to drive a screw of the extruder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system for controlling a continuous rubber molding apparatus including: a feed portion for feeding a rubber material already removed of foreign substances or particles in the previous step: an extruder for kneading and feeding forward the rubber material fed thereto; and a gear pump for delivering the rubber material, fed from the extruder, to a forming nozzle.
2. Background Art
The continuous rubber molding apparatus generally takes the following procedure for rubber molding. The procedure includes the steps of: feeding a rubber material via a feed port; kneading and extruding the fed rubber material by means of a screw of the extruder; removing foreign substances or particles from the extruded rubber material by passing the material through a strainer; delivering a constant amount of rubber material, which is removed of the foreign substances or particles, to a forming nozzle by means of a gear pump; and continuously extruding a rubber ribbon of a predetermined sectional shape from the forming nozzle. The rubber ribbon is sequentially wound on an outer periphery face of a tire-building drum, thereby forming a rubber layer of a tire. Such a continuous rubber molding apparatus is known to the art, such as one disclosed in JP-2001-30338A, for example.
For size reduction of the continuous rubber molding apparatus, there may be contemplated an arrangement wherein the screw of the extruder is shortened. An advantage of downsizing the continuous rubber molding apparatus is that the rubber ribbon extruded from the continuous rubber molding apparatus can be directly supplied to a tire-building drum. In order to wind the rubber ribbon on the tire-building drum, the rubber ribbon must be moved along an axial direction of a shaft of the tire-building drum. If, in this case, the continuous rubber molding apparatus can be downsized, the continuous rubber molding apparatus itself may be moved in a manner that the rubber ribbon may be directly and sequentially wound on an outer periphery face of the tire-building drum. Hence, the screw may be shortened to downsize the continuous rubber molding apparatus, as described above, thereby accomplishing the size reduction of the continuous rubber molding apparatus.
However, the following problem is encountered where the screw is shortened. The shortened screw entails varied outputs of the rubber ribbon extruded from a forming nozzle so that the rubber ribbon cannot be formed in a desired shape. This is because the rubber material to be kneaded is varied in viscosity so as to cause variations of pressure in the gear pump.
In view of the foregoing, it is intended to provide a control system for continuous rubber molding apparatus; the system ensuring a consistent output of a rubber ribbon from the apparatus even if the apparatus is downsized by shortening a screw.

Control system for continuous rubber molding apparatus


A reduced calorie fat composition comprising: (a) from about 50% to about 100% of polyol fatty acid polyesters consisting of a combination of liquid and solid polyol fatty acid polyesters, and from 0% to about 50% triglycerides. The liquid polyol fatty acid polyester having at least 50% saturated fatty acid radicals with not more than 14 carbon atoms, provides faster moisture transport than prior polyol fatty acid polyester fat compositions. As a result, foods cooked in the present compositions have good texture, crispness, mouthfeel, color, and taste with reduced calories.

An essential part of any cooking process (e.g., frying or baking) is transport of moisture away from the food product at the same time that heat is being transferred into that food product. Transporting moisture out of the food is a critical factor governing texture (e.g. crispness), color (e.g. effect on browning reactions), internal starch structure (e.g. degree of gelatinization), and flavor generation during cooking. For example, frying foods such as french fries in oil blends with low moisture transport properties can lead to a non-crisp, limp textured cooked product which is considered unappealing to the consumer. Therefore, superior frying mediums have an optimum moisture transport rate that produces foods with good texture and taste.
Conventional cooking oils made from edible fats are known to produce fried foods which have desirable texture and flavor. These edible fats may comprise saturated and/or unsaturated triglycerides, as well as monoglycerides, diglycerides, or other emulsifiers. Although foods fried in these fats have desirable texture and taste, their ingestion at high levels is known to significantly contribute to obesity and health risks such as coronary heart disease. Therefore, a need exists for cooking oils which do not add calories and fats to the foods cooked in them.
Cooking oils comprising polyol fatty acid polyesters have been developed in order to reduce fat and calories of foods cooked in oils. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,186, Mattson et al., issued Aug. 17, 1971, discloses low calorie food compositions produced by replacing at least a portion of the fat content of a conventional food with a sugar fatty acid ester or sugar alcohol fatty acid ester. These esters have at least 4 fatty acid ester groups, with each fatty acid having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. These sugar or sugar alcohol fatty acid esters which contain unsaturated fatty acid ester groups and/or a preponderance of short chain, i.e. less than C.sub.14, fatty acid ester groups are generally liquid at room temperature. A plastic shortening is disclosed made with 50% sucrose octastearate. A deep fat frying oil is disclosed made from the erythritol tetraester of olive oil fatty acids (ETOFA). These compositions are found to reduce the fat and the calorie levels of the foods cooked in them. Pan frying and deep fat frying of various foods in ETOFA, such as potato pieces, eggs, beefsteaks, breaded shrimp and breaded codfish steaks, are disclosed therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,300 of Jandacek et al., issued Jan. 10, 1989, discloses a shortening composition comprising from about 75% to about 90% of an edible oil having a complete melting point below 37.degree. C. and from about 10% to about 25% of a solid polyester of sucrose wherein the ester groups consist essentially of a mixture of short chain saturated fatty acid radicals containing from C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 and long chain saturated fatty acid radicals containing from C.sub.20 to C.sub.24, in a molar ratio of short chain to long chain fatty acid radicals of from about 3:5 to about 5:3, and wherein the degree of esterification is from about 7 to about 8. The shortening is said to be useful in frying oils, and for cooking a variety of foods having reduced fat and calories. Example 1 discloses a sucrose polyester containing four caprylic acids and four behenic acids per sucrose molecule.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,195 of Jandacek, issued Jan. 25, 1977, discloses liquid polyol fatty acid polyesters and anti-anal leakage agents used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. In Example IV, a cooking fat is disclosed made with 50% liquid sucrose polyester and 50% cocoa butter. The sucrose polyester comprises about half the heptaester and about half the octaester (or an average 7.5 ester) of sucrose and oleic acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,196 of Jandacek et al., issued Jan. 25, 1977, discloses a combination of liquid polyol polyesters, anti-anal leakage agents, and fat-soluble vitamins. Example VI discloses a cooking fat made with 70% sucrose octaoleate and 30% sucrose octastearate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,083 of Mattson, issued Jul. 5, 1977, discloses polyol fatty acid polyesters fortified with fat-soluble vitamins and used in food or pharmaceutical compositions for treating and/or preventing hypercholesterolemia. Cooking oils and plastic shortenings are specifically mentioned. In Example V, Mattson discloses a plastic shortening, containing 40% xylitol pentaoleate, which is suitable for use in frying and other types of cooking. Ingestion of foods cooked in said oil can reduce the body's serum cholesterol level.
European Patent Application 0,236,288 of Bernhardt, published Sep. 9, 1987, discloses sucrose polyesters esterified with C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 fatty acids. The preferred fatty acid composition is said to be 9-12% palmitic, 42-53% stearic, 19-39% oleic, 2-17% linoleic, 0-2% linolenic, 0-2% arachidic, 0-10% behenic, and 0-2% erucic. The polyesters are disclosed as being useful in making frying oils, and foods fried in oils such as potato chips, corn chips, and other fried farinaceous snack foods.
Jandacek et al., Physical Properties of Pure Octaesters, 22 Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, 163-176 (1978), discloses sucrose octaesters of the following fatty acids: caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, elaidic and linoleic. Polymorphism, heat of fusion, melting of binary systems, refractive index, viscosity, density, and interfacial tension of sucrose octaesters is disclosed. Particular uses for the sucrose octaesters, however, are not disclosed.
Kester et al., Food Technology 40 (12), pp. 47-59, December 1986, generally discusses edible coatings which retard moisture and gas transmission into and out of foods. Lipids, due to their relative low polarity, are said to block moisture transmission when applied in a thin layer to the surface of food products such as crackers. It is stated that paraffin and beeswax are greatly resistant to water transmission because of their molecular compositions; paraffin wax consists of a mixture of long-chain, saturated hydrocarbons, while beeswax comprises 71% hydrophobic, long-chain ester compounds, 15% long-chain hydrocarbons, and 8% long-chain fatty acids. Kester states that the effectiveness of a particular surfactant film in reducing moisture evaporation was influenced by the structure of the surfactant; the 16- and 18-carbon fatty alcohols, as well as glycerol monopalmitate and glycerol monostearate, were most effective. FIG. 2 shows a correlation between hydrocarbon chain length and inhibition of water evaporation for a single layer of monoglyceride and fatty alcohol surfactants; the lower the chain length (down to C.sub.10), the less that evaporation was inhibited. U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,600, Kester et al.,issued Oct. 2, 1990, discloses the use of polyol fatty acid esters for reducing the rate of moisture transmission into and out of foods. The polyol fatty acid esters have at least 4 fatty acid ester groups, wherein at least 90% of the fatty acids contain not less than 16 carbon atoms. Said compositions are used as thin coatings for foods such as cereals and starch-based snack foods.
A problem associated with use of liquid nondigestible oils, i.e., those having a melting point below body temperature (about 37.degree. C.), is an undesired "passive oil loss effect", (hereinafter oil loss) which is manifested in leakage of the nondigested liquid oil through the gastrointestinal tract's anal sphincter. Regular ingestion of moderate to high levels of completely liquid forms of these polyol polyesters can produce this oil loss. Suitable oil loss control agents include higher melting fatty materials i.e. triglyceride hardstocks, solid sucrose polyesters, and mixtures thereof. These agents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,195, Jandacek, issued Jan. 25, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,300 to Jandacek et al, issued Jan. 10, 1989; and U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 514,800 to Young et al; 514,793, 514,794, and 514,903, all to Letton et al., and filed Apr. 26, 1990; all herein incorporated by reference.
It is therefore a further objective of this invention to provide reduced calorie cooking oils which have superior cooking properties, good oxidative stability, and passive oil loss control.
All parts, percentages and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Polyol fatty acid polyester cooking mediums


A system comprising a host device configured to request a haptic effect from a peripheral device, the peripheral device configured to perform operations including: receiving a request from the host device to generate a haptic effect at a specified intensity; determining an operating range of a motor configured to generate the haptic effect on the peripheral device, where the operating range defines a maximum force that the motor can generate in a linear region of operation, and the operating range changes based on a temperature of the motor; scaling the specified intensity of the haptic effect based on the determined operating range of the motor; and controlling the operation of the motor to generate the haptic effect at the scaled specified intensity, where the scaling is performed by the peripheral device.

Physical computer peripheral interface devices may include any auxiliary device that can be used to interface between a user (human) and a computing device, such as a computer. Some examples of peripheral devices that are typically physically manipulated by a human include keyboards, mice, joysticks, steering wheels, game controllers, presenters, remote controls, smart phones, smart wearables, and the like.
Users typically receive visual (e.g., monitors, displays) and aural feedback (e.g., speakers) in conventional computing systems. More contemporary systems may incorporate a haptic feedback for an enhanced user experience. Haptic feedback may simulate a physical response detectable by a user's sense of touch, which may include any suitable haptic effect not limited to force feedback (e.g., vibrations, pulses, etc.), vibro-tactile feedback, electro-tactile feedback, ultrasound tactile feedback, and thermal feedback to name some of the more common types. Systems incorporating haptic feedback continue to improve and further enhance the interface between human and machine. Despite these advances, more improvements are needed.
It should be noted that unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Thermal mitigation of a haptic element in a peripheral device


A multiple mode, personal, wireless communications system exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides additional services to a select group of customers. The system uses handsets (32) which automatically switch between a standard cellular radiotelephone mode of operation (1901) and an enhanced cordless mode (1420) when the handsets (32) are within range of pico cells (26) that are interconnected to the public switched telephone network (20). Each pico cell is controlled via a framework of overlay cells (10b) that operates independently of the radiotelephone network and uses a unique control protocol on a small number of reserved cellular channels. Each pico cell consists of a spectrally dynamic, non-capturing, frequency agile, multi-purpose base station (26) provided at customer-selected locations to cooperate with the overlay cell framework. Each pico cell is capable of supporting multiple handsets (32) and using low power operation that achieves limited coverage. Each pico cell reduces traffic on the standard cellular radiotelephone network by independently handling registered handsets (32). An alternate line option module (22) provides wireless local interconnect capability to selectively route call traffic between land lines (24) and the standard cellular radiotelephone network. Service control units (12) and host stations (17) facilitate wireless activation and control of each pico cell and handset (32) via the overlay cell framework.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an improved wireless communications system. More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the invention concerns a multiple mode communications system, including special handsets designed to operate with standard analog or digital protocols when within the coverage of a standard cellular radiotelephone network, and to automatically switch to an enhanced cordless mode that operates with unique protocols when within the coverage area provided by independent, low power "pico" cells that are connected to the wireline telephone network. The term "pico" is used herein to suggest a smaller size than conventional cellular radio telephone cells. Pico cells are provided at customer selected locations to cooperate with a framework of overlay cells that operate independently of the cells of the cellular network.
This overlay cell framework allows the service provider to exercise complete control over the operation of each special handset and the pico cell system by means of service control units and host stations. The standard cellular system can be further enhanced by the addition of zone identifier overhead messages which are ignored by standard handsets but interpreted by the special handsets to inform those customers continuously of the special handset's current operating mode.
2. Description of Related Art
There has long been a recognized need for ubiquitous telecommunications services wherein each customer is assigned a personal service number and provided with suitable equipment which will permit the customer to have two-way communication capability (i.e., the ability to make and receive calls) regardless of the customer's changing location.
Systems that extend beyond traditional wireline telephone service have been developed in order to more closely achieve this capability from a technical perspective. For example, recent innovations in paging, standard cordless within the home telephone service, cellular telephone service and personal communications systems are well known. The designs of such systems all comprise efforts to cost effectively satisfy the need for ultimate ubiquitous service. However, each system has well recognized technical and cost disadvantages which cause it to fall short of providing ubiquitous telecommunications service.
For example, conventional systems control the operation of remote equipment via remote programming. However, such conventional systems require original programming to establish a phone system identity, such as a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), which may be later used to engage in calls that provide remote programming. This is an undesirable remote programming technique because it prevents the original programming from occurring remotely. Consequently, an entire complex and expensive infrastructure is provided to deal with original programming for remote equipment through physical access to the equipment.
In addition, conventional cellular systems monitor power levels of transmitted signals to determine whether signal levels are sufficiently high to warrant the provision of communication services. Such conventional systems have a relatively low access threshold because they do not wish to deny communication services to any potential user and forego the revenues potentially achievable therefrom. However, conventional cellular systems may handoff or drop a call immediately after accepting access from a handset with a weak signal. This is an undesirable technique when applied to small cells that do not support handoffs or wish to minimize handoff overhead communications because it leads to dropping or handing-off calls immediately upon access.
Furthermore, conventional cellular systems are designed so that users are not aware when their calls are about to be dropped by a cell. When a call is dropped by one cell, hopefully another cell is available to accept the call through a handoff process. But, in conventional and other cellular systems, the availability of another cell is not assured. This is an undesirable operational technique because calls are dropped without warning users in situations where users may be able to take steps to prevent the call from being dropped.
Moreover, when conventional systems provide alerting signals, such as call waiting sounds and others, to users during a call, such alerting signals are often configured so that both parties to the call are aware of the alerting signal. This too is an undesirable operational technique. The party in the call who is not being alerted generally has no need to know of the alert. When this other party becomes aware of an alert which has no meaning to him or her, confusion often results and the flow of a conversation is often unnecessarily disrupted.
Still further, conventional systems are designed merely to provide services through handsets when they are able to do so. They generally fail to recognize that a variety of communication services may be available through a variety of different communication systems, such as multiple cellular systems and a land-line service. They further fail to integrate the variety of services in a common handset and to provide meaningful information to a user regarding the various communication service options which may be available through the handset from time to time.
Accordingly, a need still exists for an improved communications system that comes closer to providing ubiquitous communications service to customers than existing systems.

Multiple mode personal wireless communications system

GTE Mobile Communications Service Corporation


A vehicle immobilizing device includes a lock, user interface, memory configured to store an unlock code, and processor. The lock has a latch mechanism and the processor controls movement of the latch mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position so that the immobilizing device can be removed from a vehicle. A person installing the immobilizing device on a vehicle utilizes the user interface to enter and store an unlock code and an identification code in the device memory at the time of installation. Upon payment of an outstanding fine, a vehicle owner is provided with an unlock code. To remove the device from the vehicle, an unlock code is entered via the user interface and the processor causes the latch mechanism to move to the unlocked position upon determining that the unlock code input via the user interface matches an unlock code stored in the memory.

Vehicle parking laws are typically enforced by issuing a summons and placing the summons on a vehicle in violation. Typically, the vehicle owner is required to pay the fine or appear in court to contest the summons. Unfortunately, in many areas, some vehicle owners do not promptly pay fines that are due and allow summons and fines to accumulate.
One solution to insure payment of such fines is to place an immobilizing device, often referred to as a clamp or "boot", on the wheel of a vehicle currently in violation and/or on the wheel of a vehicle of a scofflaw with unpaid parking summons. A conventional wheel boot typically consists of a clamp that surrounds a vehicle wheel, and is designed to prevent removal of both itself and the wheel. A conventional vehicle wheel boot 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The illustrated wheel boot 10 includes a base 14 and a pair of clamping members 16, 18 extending from the base 14. Clamping member 18 includes a wheel engagement dome 20 that is configured to engage an outer portion of a wheel 12 (FIG. 2). The clamping members 16, 18 are movable relative to each other from an open position wherein a vehicle wheel 12 can be inserted between the clamping members 16, 18 to a closed position wherein the clamping members engage the vehicle wheel 12 to prevent the wheel boot 10 from being removed from the vehicle wheel 12. A latch mechanism (not illustrated) locks the clamping members in the closed position. When attached to a wheel of a vehicle, operation of the vehicle is virtually impossible since the wheel is no longer able to roll due to the presence of the wheel boot 10. Other conventional immobilizing devices are described in Japanese Patent No. JP 58076348, UK Patent Nos. 3008370 and 3007353, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,489,272; 1,530,622; 3,907,072; 4,768,359; 5,134,868; 5,315,848; 5,372,018; 5,829,285; and 5,673,574, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
The use of immobilizing devices, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, has become popular with law enforcement, parking attendants, municipal governments, and the like in the enforcement of parking and other violations. In use, an installer places an immobilizing device on a vehicle wheel, thereby immobilizing the vehicle. Upon returning to the vehicle, the offender is prompted by a notice placed on the vehicle (e.g., a sticker on the window, notice under a windshield wiper, etc.) to call the appropriate entity, e.g., the police, parking authority, or other third party, in order to learn how to have the immobilizing device removed. The offender is prompted during the call to make his/her way to the police station, parking authority, or other third party location. Typically, the offender is required to pay the fine for a current violation and any other outstanding fines. Once the offender has paid all outstanding amounts, the appropriate entity typically sends someone to remove the immobilizing device from the vehicle.
Some conventional immobilizing devices may have a combination lock as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,285, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As such, once the offender has paid all outstanding amounts, he/she may be given a code for unlocking the immobilizing device. Typically, the person is required to pay a deposit and then return the immobilizing device to a specified location in order to receive a refund of the deposit. Unfortunately, the process of contacting a responsible agency, paying a fine, and obtaining an unlocking code or combination can be time consuming and frustrating to vehicle owners.

Vehicle immobilizing devices, systems, and methods


A computer readable storage medium encoded with a project assessment program for assessing a project including a plurality of processes when executed by a computer computing forecasts of the project based on a set of information. At least one scheme by a user input is selected from a group of schemes including an estimation of mutual-correlation of estimated value pattern. Process planning information, up-to-date actual process information and forecast model information of each process included in the project is retrieved. The forecast model information of each process of the project is defined as probability distribution variations of a plurality of parameters of the processes, wherein the probability distribution variations are quantitative values of the project. Estimated values of variations in at least two parameters of the processes using the process planning information, the up-to-date actual process information and the forecast model information are computed.

In the conventional project assessment, the determination of the projected total cost and process parameters for completion have been estimated based on the assumption that the remaining jobs are carried out following the process efficiency calculated by the actual progress information up to the time of the assessment. Referring to the result of the assessment, the project leaders have been assessing the project based on their own experiences and senses. To more accurately estimate the total cost and the process parameters for completion, a computer estimation method has been provided including the updated information of the process planning and variations of the process parameters necessary to carry out each process of a project.
There are several known examples of the conventional method such as one estimating a task progress using an updated actual progress information (JP, 2002-007656, A) and one using a relative precedence/delay computed by a schedule and progress information of the manufacturing process (JP, 2000-237938, A), etc.

Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.


A shock detector for determining the existence of a voltage gradient in a body of water, which may be remote from a structure and providing an alarm when the voltage gradient is a hazardous electrical condition that could injure or kill a person coming into contact with the body of water.

One of the problems that occurs with an electrical fault in a body of water is that the current leakage into the body of water from the electrical fault can injure or kill a person through electrocution, which is often referred to as electric shock drowning. This invention relates generally to shock detectors and, more specifically, to shock detectors that can be used to prevent electric shock drowning by detecting the presence of an electric field and alerting a person that the body of water comprises a hazard to a swimmer or a person coming into contact with the body of water. Typically, the current leakage occurs from a faulty electrical connection on a boat or dock although other sources may create a hazardous water condition.
It is known that if a swimmer encounters a body of water with an electric field the swimmer can be electrocuted with a voltage gradient of as little as two volts per foot. The mere presence of the swimmer in the electric field causes the current flowing in the water to take a path of least electrical resistance through the swimmers body since the wet skin on a swimmer's body has a lower electrical resistance than the water surrounding the swimmer. If the voltage gradient is sufficiently high the current flowing through the swimmer's body can electrocute the swimmer. In still other cases a person may be electrocuted if he or she comes into incidental contact with a body of water, which has leakage from an electrical source.
In addition to the existence of a harmful voltage gradient in a body of water there is a need to safely locate the source of the harmful voltage gradient as well as to ensure those proximate the body of water that the water does or does not contain a hazardous electrical field.


The invention provides a method of transmitting a message from a first computer (1, 2, 3) to at least one second computer (3, 2, 1), the method comprising the step in the first computer of introducing transmission information into a message header, and further comprising the step, in the first computer, of introducing into the message header at least one management instruction for managing a filing space and suitable for execution by the second computer. The invention also provides a corresponding messaging system.

Message transmission methods of known type are generally implemented using a messaging computer program implanted in memories of computers connected to the network. By means of the messaging program, the user of the sending computer creates a message comprising both a header containing transmission information such as the address of the destination computer and the subject of the message, and also a body in which the user places the text constituting the information content of the message. The message is then sent after the sending computer has automatically filled out the transmission information, for example by adding the identity of the sending computer and time-and-date stamp data. Received messages are recorded in the destination computer so as to appear in an in-box of the messaging program. Unfortunately, when the number of received messages is large, the time required by the user in order to deal with them (i.e. to read them, to file them, to delete them, to reply to them, . . . ) is relatively long. In order to automate the filing work, the user can parameterize filters in the receiving messaging program enabling different received messages to be put into particular spaces as a function, for example, of the name of the sender of the message, of its subject, . . . . Nevertheless, when a large number of received messages all deal with the same subject or all come from the same person, the time required by the user of the receiving computer to deal with received messages remains long.
Furthermore, it can be advantageous, e.g. in the context of a work group, for the various users of computers connected to a network to use the same method of filing messages on the basis of the same classification. This is possible only providing the content of the computer of each of the users is verified periodically and the received messages are reorganized where necessary, which is not conceivable under most circumstances, in particular given the large number of computers connected to the network (several hundreds to several thousands in large businesses), the geographical distances between them, and the reticence of users.
Furthermore, when a group of users of a network, such as the employees of a business or individuals connected to the Internet, seek to share information interactively by structured interchanges, they need a dedicated server and they must form a so-called "community" thereon. To do this, the user originating the community must establish a list of members of the community and rules defining how members access the server and the information it contains. Setting up such a community also requires its members to install software on their own computers in order to interpret the protocol for communication with the server, to read and write information for sending thereto, for downloading information recorded thereon, . . . . The server to which each member can make a connection using the above-mentioned software serves to administer the community by managing member access, and it centralizes the information sent by members, filing it and storing it hierarchically. The server is also required to control the facilities allowed to members for acting on the information to which they have access. Setting up such a server is expensive, particularly because of the cost of the server if it needs to be purchased, the cost of the software using the protocol specific to the server used, costs involved with managing the server, costs accrued by members of the community connecting to the server, . . . . It is also time-consuming to set up a server and it is not very interactive in use since any modification relating to the members of the community, to their modes of access, or to the facilities they have for acting on the information requires action to be taken at the server, and this must be done by qualified personnel. Thus, the use of such servers is particularly rigid, and that goes against users' desire for flexibility in interactively sharing the information contained in the server. Furthermore, when the volume of information on the server becomes too large, the oldest information is removed. This removal is performed at the discretion of the management of the server without necessarily referring to the members of the community. This reduces the overall memory of the community.
Such interchanges of messages are regularly undertaken by work groups or by discussion forums or "news groups".

Method of transmitting messages between two computers connected to a network and corresponding messaging system


A device divides a sampled sound signal into a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal, individually encodes the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal, and generates error detection code pertinent to the high frequency ADPCM data and the low frequency ADPCM data. The device replaces data pertinent to some of a plurality of bits which configure the low frequency ADPCM data with the error detection code and transmits them. A receiver side receives the high frequency ADPCM data and the low frequency ADPCM data, and individually processes the high frequency ADPCM data and the low frequency ADPCM data in accordance with a value of the error detection code.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and a communication terminal that perform a communication by use of sound packets.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a user carries a wireless voice communication system in one's hand, such as a cellular phone and a cordless phone, or uses the system at a location where ambient circumstances change, variations occur in received signal strength indicator, a distance between devices, and an interference radio wave, which greatly affects communication quality. A known countermeasure against the problems is; for instance, a technique described in relation to a wireless telephone system as disclosed in JP-T-2002-509387.
The wireless telephone system of JP-T-2002-509387 is made up of a base unit that has a base transceiver and at least one wireless handset and that is connectable with one external phone line. The wireless handset and the base unit implement communication by means of fixed-size audio packets, each of which is composed of a plurality of audio data samples and error correction bits. Moreover, JP-T-2002-509387 includes descriptions about changing a relative number of bits assigned to an audio data sample and an error correction bit in connection with a packet configuration of a subsequent audio packet by means of monitoring the quality of a digital link set on a wireless channel and determining whether or not a change has occurred in error rate.
Specifically, when the error rate becomes worse, the wireless telephone system performs processing for decreasing an amount of data pertinent to an audio data sample contained in a packet and increasing an amount of data pertinent to error correction bits to thus assign a larger number of bits to error correction, thereby broadening a distance range and enhancing a tolerance to the interference radio wave.
JP-A-2010-154163 discloses a technique of reversing least significant bits in "n" bits in accordance with the number of "1s" in the "n" bits of n-bit ADPCM data, thereby letting the least significant bits act like a parity signal and enabling detection of an error without involvement of an increase in the number of bits. As a result, when a communication environment becomes worse, sound quality is somewhat distorted, but accuracy in error detection is increased. When an error occurs in ADPCM data, the ADPCM data themselves can be switched to a muted or attenuated state.
In addition, JP-A-7-143074 discloses a technique of converting an ADPCM code for which an error is detected into an ADPCM code which may cause a much smaller amplitude change in a decoded signal, thereby preventing occurrence of high-level unusual noise and avoiding a situation in which a level of a normal decoded sound will fall more than necessary to thus prevent a listener from feeling unpleasant sensation.

Wireless communication device and communication terminal

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


This invention relates to an improvement in a process for preparing tetrabromophthalic anhydride whereby there is a substantial recovery of reactants such as halogen and SO.sub.3 from a vent stream exiting the reaction vessel. The improvement comprises contacting the vent stream with a fluid having a first oleum concentration and recovering a halogen stream and a second stream, having a second oleum concentration wherein the second oleum concentration is greater than the first oleum concentration.

This invention relates to an improvement in a process for preparing tetrahalophthalic anhydride whereby there is a substantial recovery of reactants and by-products such as halogen, SO.sub.3, and SO.sub.2, from a vent stream exiting the reaction vessel.
Methods for the formation of tetrahalophthalic anhydride, particularly tetrabromophthalic anhydride and tetrachlorphthalic anhydride are well known. A widely used method for halogenating phthalic anhydride is disclosed by Jenkner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,254 wherein bromine is reacted with phthalic anhydride in a molar ratio of 2.01 to 2.1 at temperatures of 80.degree. to 110.degree. C. in the presence of a small quantity of halogenation catalyst and 4.4 to 4.8 moles of sulfur trioxide in the form of 50 to 80% oleum per mole of phthalic anhydride. After completion of the addition of bromine, the excess sulfur trioxide and bromine are distilled off from the reaction mixture by heating the reaction mixture to 130.degree. to 145.degree. C.
While a considerable amount of the sulfur trioxide and bromine distilled from the reaction vessel can be condensed and recycled to the reaction vessel, there remains a non-condensible stream containing a substantial amount of bromine and SO.sub.3 which cannot be economically recovered by conventional techniques. Since SO.sub.3 has such a high melting point, solid SO.sub.3 forms readily upon cooling the vent stream, thus making separation and handling of the vent stream more difficult. Until now, neutralization of this non-condensable reaction vent stream has been the only viable means for removing substantially all of the SO.sub.3 and bromine before discharging the vent stream to the atmosphere.
Thus an object of this invention is to provide a facile economic means for removing essentially all of the residual halogen and SO.sub.3 in the reactor vent stream before exhausting the vent stream to the atmosphere. Another object of this invention is to reduce the amount of purchased oleum by using the recovered SO.sub.3 from the reaction vent stream to increase the concentration of oleum in a dilute oleum solution. Other objects of this invention will be evident from the following description and appended claims.


A bracket assembly is provided for supporting and stabilizing valves or other accessories that are attached to chemical canisters. Such valves and related connectors are subject to damage and resulting leakage due to forces applied to them during shipment, handling, installation and use. In order to reduce such damage, a rigid baseplate is provided that can be attached to the port tube of a standard canister. Rigid angle brackets may be connected to the baseplate and to the valves to provide a strong, rigid support to hold the valves position relative to the canister. Such a bracket assembly removes stresses from conduits and sealed couplings between the valves and the canister, thus preventing damage to the couplings due to the application of external forces to the valves. The invention is also applicable to support other sorts of accessories mounted on canisters of various types and sizes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides an improvement to a chemical canister. In particular, a rigid bracket is provided that clamps to a sturdy element of the canister. Valves and other articles associated with the canister may be attached to the bracket for support and protection.
2. Background
Industrial chemicals are often shipped and stored in small canisters, for example, 2, 5 or 10 gallon canisters, such as so-called "1A1 " containers. In many instances, these canisters must be absolutely air-tight and leak-proof, either because the chemicals present health or environmental hazards or other dangers, or because the chemicals will become contaminated and unusable after even a slight exposure to air or other substances. Means are therefore provided in the art for filling, connecting, and using such canisters without exposing the chemicals contained therein to the environment.
Referring to FIG. 1, the top of a typical chemical canister is shown, as will be familiar to those having skill in the art. Canister top cap 12 is typically welded to canister body 14 to form an enclosed, sealed container. Top cap 12 may be provided with a port tube 16 which penetrates and is welded to top cap 12 (see FIG. 6). Port tube 16 cannot be seen in FIG. 1 because it is obscured by port tube nut 18, which sealably closes the external end of port tube 16. The external end of port tube 16 is typically threaded to engage nut 18 or other apparatus (such as a level sensor) that may be coupled thereto. Port tube 16 may typically be about 2 inches in diameter. The canister, port tube and other components of the canister assembly may be made of metal, typically stainless steel.
Top cap 12 is also typically fitted with several delivery tubes 20, which provide connections to the interior of the canister for filling and using the canister. Inside of the canister, a delivery tube may extend to near the bottom of the canister, forming a dip tube used for extracting fluid from the canister, or it may extend only a short distance into the canister. In a typical application, a dip tube is used to conduct the contents out of the canister, while a gas source is applied to another delivery tube to pressurize the canister and thereby force the fluid contained in the canister out through the dip tube. The outside of each delivery tube 20 is sealably connected to top cap 12, such as by welding. The end of each tube external to the canister is formed into a sealing gland for use in connecting the tube to other apparatus. In common applications the sealing gland is a "VCR" gland. A captive threaded nut or collar 22 is provided around each delivery tube 20 between the canister and the gland.
FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a typical VCR connection. As is well known in the art, this type of connection may be used to provide an ultra-pure seal but is subject to damage and leaking. Lower gland 24 is connected to tube 20. Upper gland 26 is connected to other apparatus to be attached to the canister, such as valve 28 (see FIG. 1). Each gland has a precisely machined sealing surface 30, 32 and a compression shoulder 34, 36. To form the VCR connection, a VCR washer 40 is positioned between sealing surfaces 30 and 32. Compression shoulder 34 is engaged by an internal shoulder on threaded collar 22 (see FIG. 1), and compression shoulder 36 is engaged by an internal shoulder on opposing collar 23. Collars 22, 23 and connector body 38 have corresponding threads, and as they are threaded together they apply opposing compression forces to shoulders 34 and 36, thus compressing VCR washer 40 between sealing surfaces 30 and 32, effecting the required ultra-pure coupling. A similar VCR connection may be provided between the top end of VCR body 38 and valve 28 or blank plug 42.
While this patent refers to embodiments employing VCR couplings, the present invention applies equally to embodiments employing other types or arrangements of connectors and couplings. The references to VCR couplings are therefore exemplary and not limiting of the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims that are appended hereto. Furthermore, references in this description to particular dimensions and canister configurations are also exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a VCR connection is fragile, and that if an unusual force is applied to such a connection it may be damaged and lose its seal. As can be seen in FIG. 1, additional VCR couplings 44 or other types of connectors may be provided on top of valves 28 in order to provide attachment points for process piping when the canisters are filled or used. When process piping (not shown) is connected to the top of valve 28, valve 28 should be firmly supported ("backed-up") to avoid applying torque or bending forces to the VCR seal that is formed between valve 28 and tubing 20. If such support is not provided, the seal may be damaged.
Canisters are typically shipped with valves 28 and actuators 46 attached. If a canister is dropped or if a valve 28 is bumped during shipment or handling, the VCR seals between valve 28 and canister top cap 12 are a likely place for damage to occur, resulting in leakage from the canister or spoilage of its contents. If the canister contains toxic or hazardous materials, the occurrence of a leak can result in substantial cost and inconvenience. It is therefore imperative that apparatus be provided for preventing leaks from occurring in these seals.
It is thus desirable to provide a canister/valve arrangement that is less vulnerable to damage and leaking during shipping and handling than is known in the prior art described above. It is also desirable to provide a canister that may be quickly and easily attached to process piping without excessive concern for supporting or backing-up the valves and couplings that are mounted on the canister. It is further desirable to achieve these objectives without having to modify or to compromise the integrity of existing chemical canisters.

Valve stabilizing bracket for chemical canister

Advanced Delivery & Chemical Systems, Ltd.


A dental color measurement tool disposed opposite an opening portion for capturing light from an artificial tooth to undergo color measurement with a color measurement device includes at least one pair of guide posts having an engaging portion corresponding to an engaging portion on the color measurement device side, and an abutment post disposed between the pair of guide posts and having a pointed convex shape to which the artificial tooth can be mounted. The abutment post has a color measurement reference surface in a color measurement light axis direction as the vicinity of a focus position of the color measurement device in a photographing state. When performing color measurement photographing, the artificial tooth is mounted to the abutment post to position the front thereof at the color measurement reference surface. Thus, the artificial tooth can be stably retained at a suitable position with respect to the color measurement device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dental color measurement tool in which an artificial tooth is mounted when measuring the color of the artificial tooth using a color measurement device, a dental color measurement tool system including the dental color measurement tool and a dark box, and a dental color measurement system including a color measurement device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there are cases in which photographing (color measurement photographing) is performed for color measurement using a dental color measurement device (color measuring camera) in order to check the color shade of an artificial tooth that is manufactured at a dental laboratory. In such cases, photographing is performed in a state in which the artificial tooth as the object of measurement is positioned in an opening portion of a photographing window of the color measurement device at the time of photographing.
For example, an artificial tooth mounting stand disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be applied as a device that positions the aforementioned artificial tooth at an opening portion of a photographing window of the aforementioned color measurement device at the time of photographing.
FIG. 38 is a view that illustrates a state in which color measurement (photographing) of an artificial tooth 203a is performed using an artificial tooth mounting stand 203 by a color measuring camera 201 according to a method for measuring the color of an artificial tooth that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,513. The artificial tooth mounting stand 203 on which the artificial tooth 203a is mounted is fixedly supported on a support pedestal 202 by a magnet 205, and the support pedestal 202 is adhered to a table 206 by a magnet 204. The color measuring camera 201 is held at a position to the front of the artificial tooth 203a by a photographer, and photographing is performed.

Dental color measurement tool, dental color measurement tool system, and dental color measurement system


A novel association between certain tumor necrosis factor microsatellite alleles and Crohn's disease has been discovered. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided methods for screening for Crohn's disease comprising detecting the presence or absence of nucleic acid of a subject encoding TNF microsatellite alleles associated with Crohn's disease, wherein the presence of nucleic acid encoding three or more of the alleles is indicative of Crohn's disease. Kits useful for screening for Crohn's disease are also provided which comprise nucleic acid encoding TNF microsatellite alleles associated with Crohn's disease.

A. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease ("IBD") is the collective term used to describe two chronic, idiopathic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: ulcerative colitis ("UC") and Crohn's disease ("CD"). UC and CD are considered together because of their overlapping clinical, etiologic, and pathogenetic features. From a therapeutic and prognostic standpoint, however, it is important to distinguish them from one another as well as from non-chronic inflammatory diseases of the bowel.
IBD occurs world-wide and is reported to afflict as many as two million people. Onset has been documented at all ages; however, IBD predominately begins in young adulthood. The three most common presenting symptoms of IBD are diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The diarrhea may range from mild to severe and is often accompanied by urgency and frequency. In UC, the diarrhea is usually bloody and may contain mucus and purulent matter as well. Anemia and weight loss are additional common signs of IBD. Reports of an increasing occurrence of psychological problems, including anxiety and depression, are perhaps not surprising secondary effects of what is often a debilitating disease that occurs in people in the prime of life.
B. The Cause(s) of IBD are Unknown
Although the cause(s) of UC and CD is not known, there is general agreement that genetics is important in a person's susceptibility to IBD and that the immune system is responsible for mediating the tissue damage in these diseases. Generally speaking, a failure to down regulate the normal self-limited inflammatory response of the bowel is characteristic of IBD. While a wide range of immunologic abnormalities have been reported in these disorders, none has yet been sufficiently reliable to be of diagnostic value. For example, the production of TNF-.alpha. by macrophages and T cells of IBD patients is a point of controversy. Although it has been suggested that patients with IBD, particularly CD, exhibit elevated TNF-.alpha. protein production and gene expression in the cells of the mucosa, others have not been able to document such a phenomena. Therefore, the diagnostic value of assaying for TNF-.alpha. protein production or gene expression is uncertain. Moreover, a suggestion that this immunologic abnormality has a genetic determinant which would be of value in the diagnosis of CD is necessarily speculative in nature.
C. Methods of Diagnosing IBD
A battery of laboratory, radiological, and endoscopic evaluations are combined to derive a diagnosis of IBD and to assess the extent and severity of the disease. Nevertheless, differentiating UC from CD, as well as other types of inflammatory conditions of the bowel, such as irritable bowel syndrome, infectious diarrhea, rectal bleeding, radiation colitis, and the like, is difficult, because the mucosa of the small and large intestines reacts in a similar way to a large number of different insults. Once infectious-types of bowel disorders have been ruled out, the final diagnosis of IBD is often made on the basis of the progression of the disease. In many patients, though, the diagnosis of IBD must still be regarded as indeterminate because of the overlapping features of UC and CD, particularly with CD of the colon.

Methods of screening for Crohn's disease using TNF microsatellite alleles


A centrifugal pump has impellers for pumping low flow, high viscous materials. The impellers have high exit angles greater than 30 degrees and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The impellers and diffusers have specific geometry that varies with viscosity. The pump has zones of impellers and diffusers with the exit angles and geometry in the zones differing from the other zones. The exit angles decrease and geometry varies in a downstream direction to account for a lower viscosity occurring due to heat being generated in the pump. One design employs small diameter impellers and high rotational speeds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to electric submersible well pumps. More specifically, this invention relates to submersible well pumps that have an impeller configuration designed for high viscosity fluids and operate at high rotative speeds.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditionally the use of electric submersible pumps (ESP's) in low flow viscous crude pumping applications has been limited because of low efficiencies inherent with low capacity centrifugal pumps handling viscous fluids. Low efficiencies result from disk friction losses caused by a layer of viscous fluid adhering to the walls of both rotating and stationary components within the pump impeller and diffuser. Viscous fluids are considered herein to be fluids with a viscosity greater than 500 centipoise.
Others have made and used ESP's to pump viscous materials. However, most of these attempts have involved either modifying the material to be pumped or controlling the output of the pump motors with additional equipment to assist in the low flow conditions typical of pumping high viscous materials from wells.
Others have attempted to pump high viscous materials by simply lowering the viscosity of the material, as opposed to trying to modify the pump or motor to accommodate the high viscous materials. U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,837 to Breit (hereinafter "Breit Patent"), U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,436 to Lepert (hereinafter "Lepert Patent"), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,127 to Thomas et al. (hereinafter "Thomas Patent") are three such examples of this type of invention.
In the Breit Patent, the viscous fluids that are being pumped are heated in order to lower the viscosity of the fluid being pumped. The Lepert Patent discloses a process for pumping viscous materials by mixing the high viscosity materials with low viscosity materials with the use of a turbine-machine that consists of a turbine and a pump, separating the mixture, and recirculating the low viscosity materials for reuse. The Thomas Patent discloses a process for pumping viscous materials by mixing the high viscosity oil with water to lower the viscosity and then pump the material by conventional methods once the viscosity is suitable for pumping. Each of these references alters the fluid being pumped, without trying to modify the pump or motor to accommodate the fluid being pumped.
A need exists for an ESP and method of pumping high viscosity materials while maintaining pumping efficiencies, without altering the material being pumped or trying to maintain torque or rpm levels in a pump motor without the use of additional equipment. Ideally, such a system should be capable of being adapted to the specific applications and also be able to be used on existing equipment with minimal modification.

Electric submersible pump with specialized geometry for pumping viscous crude oil


A transmission/reception apparatus capable of preventing degradation in system capacity, improving system throughput, and minimizing power consumption of an apparatus is disclosed. In this apparatus, a propagation path determining section (131) determines a propagation path state in all the regions in the used frequency band of a received multicarrier signal based on propagation path estimation information such as a channel estimation value and the like calculated in a propagation path estimating section (126), and specifies a frequency region having a good propagation path state from the used frequency band of OFDM. More specifically, the used frequency band is divided into a plurality of frequency bands (subbands), each comprised of smaller predetermined bandwidth, and by selecting a subband having a good propagation path state in the propagation path determining section (131), a frequency region having the good propagation path state is specified. A transmitting section (110) reports the subband information to a base station.

In recent years, OFDMA scheme communication systems have been attracting attention, in which, in order to increase communication system throughput, data is mapped on subcarrier signals (carriers) orthogonal to one another on the frequency axis, and the signals are multiplexed (as multicarrier) and transmitted. In particular, in order to enable more efficient communication, not only (temporal) scheduling assigning a transmission packet preferentially to a mobile station apparatus having a good propagation path state, but also, with attention to a frequency direction, frequency scheduling technique assigning a transmission packet preferentially to a subcarrier having a good propagation path state have been actively studied (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Non-patent Document 1).
In this frequency scheduling technique, upon scheduling, a base station needs to know in advance the propagation path state(frequency characteristics) between the base station and a mobile station apparatus in order to assign transmission packets. Therefore, in an OFDMA-FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) system, the mobile station apparatus measures a propagation path state in a used downlink frequency band and reports the measurement result to the base station on uplink, and based on the information, the base station performs transmission packet scheduling. Further, in an OFDMA-TDD (Time Division Duplex) system, not onlyamethod of reporting information regarding a downlink propagation path state from a mobile station apparatus like an FDD system, but also a method of performing downlink scheduling based on uplink propagation path state using uplink/downlink symmetric property have been studied.
In addition, as a similar technique to report downlink information to a base station by a mobile station apparatus, there is an HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) scheme. In this scheme, based on downlink reception quality information reported from a mobile station apparatus, a base station determines a modulation scheme of a signal tobe transmitted to this mobile station apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 2).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-252619 (p. 5-6)    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-199173 (p. 8, FIG. 5)    Non-patent Document 1: "MC-CDMA scheme using frequency scheduling", Technical Report of IEICE, RCS2002-129, July 2002, p. 61-66

Transmitting/receiving apparatus and transmitting/receiving method