A process for isoparaffin-olefin alkylation is provided that permits the use of solid acid catalysts which require frequent regeneration and high isoparaffin/olefin ratios. The process comprises circulating in a reactor a slurry comprising solid acid zeolite catalyst particles (20-2000 microns) and feed of liquid reactants comprising isoparaffins and olefins in an isoparaffin to olefin molar ratio of less than 100, recycling a first portion of said slurry to provide an isoparaffin to olefin molar ratio in the reactor of at least 500, passing a second portion of the slurry to a separating means to separate alkylate product from said solid catalyst particles, and regenerating the catalyst particles.

The present invention relates to an isoparaffin-olefin alkylation process carried out in a circulating slurry reactor containing a slurry comprising fluidizable solid acid zeolite catalyst of particles whose largest dimension ranges from 20-2000 microns and liquid reactants and products, wherein a portion of said slurry is recycled at very high rates to provide a very high isoparaffin to olefin molar ratio, while a second portion of the slurry is passed to a separating means to separate reactants and products from the catalyst, regenerating the catalyst, optionally recycling the separate reactants to the reactor, and collecting the alkylate product which is useful, inter alia, as an octane enhancer for gasoline.
As a result of the curtailment in the use of tetraethyl lead as an octane-improving additive for gasoline, not only has the production of unleaded gasoline increased but the octane number specification of all grades of gasoline have increased as well. Isoparaffin-olefin alkylation is a key route to the production of highly branched paraffin octane enhancers which are to be blended into gasolines.
Alkylation involves the addition of an alkyl group to an organic molecule. Thus, an isoparaffin can be reacted with an olefin to provide an isoparaffin of higher molecular weight. Industrially, alkylation often involves the reaction of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 olefins with isobutane in the presence of an acidic catalyst. Alkylates are valuable blending components for the manufacture of premium gasolines due to their high octane ratings.
In the past, alkylation processes have included the use of hydrofluoric acid or sulfuric acid as catalysts under controlled temperature conditions. Low temperatures are utilized in the sulfuric acid process to minimize the undesirable side reaction of olefin polymerization and the acid strength is generally maintained at 88-94 percent by the continuous addition of fresh acid and the continuous withdrawal of spent acid. The hydrofluoric acid process is less temperature-sensitive and the acid is easily recovered and purified.
The typical types of alkylation currently used to produce high octane gasoline blending component, that is, the hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid alkylation processes, have inherent drawbacks including environmental concerns, acid consumption and disposal of corrosive materials. With the increasing demands for octane and the increasing environmental concerns, it has been desirable to develop an alkylation process based on a solid catalyst system. The catalyst of the present invention offers a refiner a more environmentally acceptable alkylation process than the currently used hydrofluoric and sulfuric acid alkylation processes.
Crystalline metallosilicates, or zeolites, have been widely investigated for use in the catalysis of isoparaffin alkylation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,251,902 describes the use of a fixed bed of ion-exchanged crystalline aluminosilicate having a reduced number of available acid sites for the liquid phase alkylation of C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 branched-chain paraffins with C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 olefins in which the molar ratio of isoparaffin to olefin is generally greater than 3 to 1. The patent further discloses that the C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 branched-chain paraffin should be allowed to substantially saturate the crystalline aluminosilicate before the olefin is introduced to the alkylation reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,644 discloses a method for regenerating a zeolite catalyst used in hydrocarbon conversion processes involving carbonium ion intermediates.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,557 describes the alkylation of isobutane with C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 olefins using certain crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite catalysts, e.g., rare earth-exchanged zeolite Y, in a fixed, moving or fluidized bed system, the olefin being preferably injected at various points in the reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,565 discloses the alkylation of a paraffin with an olefin in the presence of a catalyst comprising a Group VIII noble metal present on a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, the catalyst having been pretreated with hydrogen to promote selectivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,916 describes an isoparaffin-olefin alkylation process featuring the use of an ion-exchanged crystalline aluminosilicate, isoparaffin/olefin mole ratios below 3:1 and regeneration of the catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,813 discloses a process for alkylating C.sub.4 -C.sub.5 isoparaffins with C.sub.3 -C.sub.9 olefins using a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite catalyst wherein a halide adjuvant is employed in the alkylation reactor. The isoparaffin and olefin are introduced into the alkylation reactor at specified concentrations and catalyst is continuously regenerated outside the alkylation reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,942 describes an isoparaffin alkylation process employing, as catalyst, a Group VIII metal-containing zeolite which is periodically hydrogenated with hydrogen in the gas phase to reactivate the catalyst when it has become partially deactivated.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,671 discloses the use, in alkylation, of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites having silica to alumina mole ratios above 3 and also discloses the use of various metals exchanged and/or impregnated on such zeolites.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,814 discloses another zeolite-catalyzed isoparaffin-olefin alkylation process and further provides for the addition of C.sub.5 + paraffins such as Udex raffinate or C.sub.5 + olefins to the alkylation reactor feed and the use of specific reactant proportions, halide adjuvants, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,624,173 discloses the use, in isoparaffin-olefin alkylation, of zeolite catalysts containing gadolinium.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,977 discloses alkylation of paraffins with ethylene employing a zeolite catalyst which possesses a Group VIII metal component, the catalyst having been pretreated with hydrogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,894 describes the alkylation of C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 isoparaffin with C.sub.3 -C.sub.9 monoolefin employing a substantially anhydrous acidic zeolite, for example acidic zeolite Y (zeolite HY), and a halide adjuvant.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,738 describes a process for alkylating an isoparaffin with an olefin using a solid, particulate catalyst capable of absorbing the olefin. The isoparaffin and the olefin are admixed to form a reactant stream in contact with catalyst particles at the upstream end of an adsorption zone after which the reactants are passed concurrently with the catalyst so that a controlled amount of olefin is adsorbed onto the catalyst before the combination of reactants and catalyst is introduced into an alkylation zone. This controlled olefin adsorption is said to prevent polymerization of the olefin during alkylation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,721 describes an isoparaffin-olefin alkylation process utilizing, as catalyst, ZSM-20, preferably HZSM-20 or rare earth cation-exchanged ZSM-20.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,381 describes a process utilizing a draft tube for hydrogen stripping of HF from an extract containing metal pentafluoride and HF resulting from hydrocarbon conversions using Friedel-Crafts catalysts, e.g., alkylation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,161 describes a process of alkylating isoparaffins with olefins to provide alkylate employing as catalyst a large pore zeolite capable of absorbing 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, e.g., ZSM-4, ZSM-20, ZSM-3, ZSM-18, zeolite Beta, faujasite, mordenite, zeolite Y and the rare earth metal-containing forms thereof, and a Lewis acid such as boron trifluoride, antimony pentafluoride or aluminum trichloride. The use of a large pore zeolite in combination with a Lewis acid in accordance with this patent is reported to greatly increase the activity and selectivity of the zeolite thereby effecting alkylation with high olefin space velocity and low isoparaffin/olefin ratio.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,167 describes a process and apparatus for alkylating isoparaffin with an olefin which decreases catalyst inventory required while improving alkylate quality by internally admixing unreacted isoparaffin and alkylate product with the reactant stream in the draft tube of a decantation reaction vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,615 describes a process for alkylating isoparaffins with olefins to provide alkylate using MCM-22 catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,255 describes a process for alkylating isoparaffin with olefin to provide a product having a high proportion of highly branched paraffins using a composite catalyst comprising a Lewis acid with large pore zeolite in the presence of a controlled amount of water. Suitable large pore zeolites include ZSM-3, ZSM-4, ZSM-12, ZSM-18, ZSM-20, zeolite Beta, zeolite L, mordenite, faujasite and Zeolite Y.
All of the above disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.
Processes employing solid catalysts suffer from problems in that the catalysts tend to age rapidly and are unable to perform effectively at high olefin space velocities unless they are promoted with a Lewis acid such as boron trifluoride, BF.sub.3, antimony pentafluoride, SbF.sub.5, and aluminum chloride, AlCl.sub.3. However, such promoted catalysts involve the use of corrosive and hazardous materials. Accordingly, although methods capable of using unpromoted solid acid catalysts would be desirable, such unpromoted catalysts are known to have a low selectivity for alkylation versus olefin polymerization and require frequent regeneration.


In an apparatus for performing work operations on a surface of one or more lenses, a frame and a mounting bracket adapted to releasably support at least one lens blank are provided. At least three pairs of articulated supports are also included with a first end of each of the supports being bendably coupled at a first end to a mounting bracket adjacent to the other articulated support in the pair. The articulated supports are each coupled at a second end to a point on the frame with the supports in each of the pairs diverging away from each other between the mounting block and the frame. A drive is associated with each of the articulated supports and moves each support, and thereby the mounting, individually between a raised and a lowered position in response to commands issued from a controller having data corresponding to a particular lens prescription stored therein. A machining surface is also provided and during operation, as the mounting bracket moves in response to the action of the articulated supports, the lens is engaged with and moves over the machining surface thereby performing a work operation on the lens.

Ophthalmic, and other types of lenses are typically produced from lens blanks of glass or plastic having two major surfaces, one of which is typically finished, and the other of which is unfinished. Cutting, polishing, and fining operations are performed on the unfinished surface of the lens blank by a machine responsive to data corresponding to a particular lens prescription. The cutting operations are usually accomplished by employing a ball mill for plastic lenses, or a grinder for glass lenses. These cutting operations generally create a lens surface closely approximating the shape of the finished lens. However, the cut surface of the lens blank is often rough and requires that subsequent polishing and fining operations be performed on the lens blank to achieve the requisite optical clarity.
The polishing and fining operations are ordinarily performed by engaging the cut surface of the lens blank with an abrasive surface having a shape that closely approximates the desired finished shape of the lens as defined by the lens prescription. This abrasive surface is referred to by those skilled in the pertinent art as a tool or "lap." During operation, the device to which the lens blank is mounted, moves the blank over the abrasive surface of the lap along a conforming contoured semi-spherical path, thereby polishing and/or fining the lens surface. Laps generally consist of two main components, a mounting surface or mandrel, and a removable abrasive pad that mounts on the mandrel and against which the lens blank is moved during polishing and fining operations. The shape of the mandrel must conform as closely as possible to the prescribed shape of the lens, therefore, different lens prescriptions require different laps to be used.
During polishing and fining operations, it is often necessary to lift the lens blank off of the lap and rinse the abrasive pad to remove lens material in the form of particulate that has built-up during the polishing and/or fining operations. To prevent the abrasive pad from separating from the mandrel during rinsing a releasable adhesive is used to bond the pad to the mandrel. A difficulty associated with adhesively attaching the abrasive pad to the mandrel is that after extended periods of use it is often necessary to change abrasive. The adhesive can make separating the abrasive pad from the mandrel difficult and time consuming. In high production situations where abrasive pads are regularly replaced, significant amounts of time can be lost separating the abrasive pad from the mandrel, thereby adding to the time and expense associated with preparing lenses.
Another difficulty associated with known lens surface generating machinery is that a significant amount of time consuming manual fixturing and set-up prior to beginning a polishing and/or fining operation is usually required. Moreover, the assembly to which the lens blank is mounted is generally comprised of a combination of different parts stacked in series, one-on-top-of-the-other with each part having a machining tolerance associated with it which usually results in the part deviating slightly from its ideal size and geometric configuration. This creates small dimensional differences between mating parts that are unpredictable and which must be compensated for when preparing the machine to generate a lens surface on a lens blank. In addition, the additive nature of these dimensional differences can result in a loss in the overall mechanical stiffness of the machine which translates into reduced machining accuracy. Furthermore, the number of stacked parts and the serial nature of their assembly, usually results in relatively large moving masses that have significant inertia, making precise movement of the lens blank relative to the cutting tool difficult.
Still another difficulty associated with known prior art lens surface generating machinery is that they are typically three axis machines, and as such are limited with respect to the patterns of motion that can be achieved when moving the lens over the abrasive surface of the lap. This limitation on movement often results in a less than ideal finished lens surface. Moreover, the pressure exerted on the lens blank by these known machines is generally not uniform across the surface of the lens, often causing distortions at the periphery of a finished lens.
Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a lens surface generating apparatus that overcomes the above-described drawbacks of prior art lens surface generating machines.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a lens surface generating apparatus that does not require extensive manual set-up operations.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lens surface generating apparatus whereby an eyeglass manufacturer does not have to maintain a large inventory of laps.

Method and apparatus for performing work operations on a surface of one or more lenses


An auxiliary valve assembly for improving the aspiration of an internal combustion engine. The auxiliary valve can be thread-mounted to a gas-air intake chamber. A spring-biased ball that seals an air inlet opens under sufficient vacuum pressure. Filtered air then passes through the auxiliary valve assembly into the gas-air intake chamber. The incoming air oxygenates the gas and thus improves fuel economy, extends value and spark plug life, reduces pollution, and improves oil viscosity.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a vehicle aspiration. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to an auxiliary value used during engine aspiration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Internal combustion engines have proven to be very useful propulsion devices in automobiles and trucks. Indeed, modern society depends on internal combustion engines powering such vehicles to provide transportation for people and for goods. However, internal combustion engines are not without serious problems. They cost money to operate, both in direct fuel costs and in required maintenance, and their operation pollutes the environment.
Because of the seriousness of the foregoing problems associated with internal combustion engines it is important to reduce those problems as much as practical. While there are many ways to address those problems, one widely accepted approach is to focus on providing good engine aspiration. Aspiration is important since internal combustion engines require oxygen to combust with fuel to produce power. A good aspiration system can reduce fuel costs, reduce maintenance requirements on engine valves and spark plugs, maintain good oil viscosity, and improve the environment.
Therefore, an apparatus that improves the aspiration of an internal combustion engine would be beneficial. Particularly beneficial would be a low cost, easily used apparatus that improves the aspiration of an internal combustion engine.


A digital history service presents a user's collected data in an historical format such as a timeline that includes various interactions with objects and people over the course of time wherein the digital history data was retrieved and correlated from the various data stores. An example of such a retrieval is to select a sequence of items from the data store based on an algorithm that determines the next item based on its relationship to the current item. The relationship could be a complex combination of the date, time of year, historical events in the past, the person(s) or objects involved in a given event, the location of an event, past or upcoming national holidays, calendar items, etc.

Many digital devices such as PDAs, Cell phones, MP3 players, Digital Cameras, and so on are available and gaining traction as essential digital devices. Other digital devices, such as personal computers, have already gained critical mass and are converging into key digital devices for homes and businesses. The result of the use of all of these various digital devices is that users are generating unprecedented amounts of digital data from various digital devices and computing applications. For example, digital picture data is captured by digital cameras and may be stored on a personal computer for access by a digital picture editing application; a calendar application provides a user with the ability to electronically control appointments and schedules. Many other applications that users interact with store data that is used by the application to track a user's activities such as INTERNET EXPLORER, which tracks a users history of visited web sites. There are many more such application examples that electronically track user activity and generate digital data.
Although users may access data and share data indirectly among various applications, the organization and harnessing of the data among the various applications would allow users to maximize the benefit from digitally recording activities. In particular, data that has an associated time reference could be cross-referenced to provide valuable information correlating a user's history or activity in time. No current technology provides storage and indexing for items making up a digitally recorded history consisting of various types of media and data. No current technology that is capable of making complex associations between data, especially non-textual data such as audio and video.

Methods and systems for providing a distributed database store with correlation service


An amusement facility having a frame with a passenger carrier movably mounted on the frame and a drive connected to the passenger carrier for moving the passenger carrier on the frame. The drive includes a cylinder and a piston with a tension member connecting the passenger carrier to the piston. The piston is movable in the cylinder between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. Also the cylinder preferably has ends which are closable, and a lateral fluid inlet and outlet for fluid, preferably air, to move the piston in the cylinder. The fluid outlet is positioned between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position of the piston.

Such an amusement facility has been known from EP 0 707 875A1. It has an upright or horizontal design, at which one passenger carrier or a plurality of passenger carriers is/are guided longitudinally movably. In addition, the amusement facility has a drive with a cable cylinder, which is operated by means of compressed air. The compressed air is guided via controllable inlets and outlets. The piston, which can be moved to and fro in the cylinder, is connected to the passenger carrier by a flexible cable. The cylinder is open on the underside in the prior-art arrangement, and the piston is also connected to the passenger carrier on one side only via the cable. As a result, the downward movements of the passenger carrier are brought about by its own weight or its mass inertia only. In addition, the compressed air outlet is located at the top end of the cylinder next to the inlet. The compressed air outlet is designed as a controllable valve. Because of the large volume of air, the valve has a correspondingly large diameter, which may lead to problems in terms of safety of operation during the operation. Complete closing of the outlet valve is not always guaranteed. The passenger carrier may fall in the case of failure of the valve.
An eddy current brake acting as a service brake for a fall frame has been known from WO 96/32172. In the case of this fall frame, the passenger carriers are pulled up by means of a winch, released at the top end of the tower and let fall by free fall. The passenger carriers are braked softly and vigorously at the foot of the fall frame by the eddy current brake. A simple plunge effect, which is caught by the eddy current brake only, is present in this fall frame. A bunjee effect is sought to be achieved by means of the cylinder arrangement and the compressed air in the state of the art described in the introduction. The passenger carrier shall swing up and down several times, as if on rubber cables, by means of the cylinder and the compressed air control.


A rear suspension system for a bicycle. The system directs the rear wheel along a predetermined, S-shaped path as the suspension is compressed. The path is configured to provide a chainstay lengthening effect only at those points where this is needed to counterbalance the pedal inputs of the rider; at those points in the wheel travel path where there is a chainstay lengthening effect, the chain tension which results from the pedal inputs exerts a downward force on the rear wheel, preventing unwanted compression of the suspension. The system employs a dual eccentric crank mechanism mounted adjacent the bottom bracket shell to provide the desired control characteristics.

The present invention relates generally to bicycles, and more particularly to a rear suspension system which provides efficient energy transmission but still provides compliant suspension action when the bicycle is ridden over rough terrain.
Shock absorbing rear suspensions for bicycles are known. In general, however, these have not proven entirely satisfactory in practice.
In most rear suspension assemblies, the rear axle pivots about a single point when subjected to bump forces, as when traversing rough terrain. In these designs, the pedaling forces which are exerted by the rider tend to either compress or extend the spring/damper assembly of the rear suspension. In this respect, the spring/damper assembly of the rear suspension is affected by the pedal force and some of the rider""s energy is needlessly wasted.
This effect manifests itself by the common tendency of rear suspension systems to either lock up or xe2x80x9csquatxe2x80x9d when the rider pedals. Since most of these systems have a single lever arm which pivots about a single axis, the lock up or squat generally occurs as a result of chain tension acting on the single lever arm. If the single pivot line is above the chain line, the suspension will typically lock up and/or xe2x80x9cjackxe2x80x9d, thereby providing compliance only when the shock or bump force exceeds the chain tension. Conversely, if the single pivot point of the suspension system is below the chain line, the system will typically squat, since the chain tension is acting to compress the spring/damper assembly of the rear suspension system, similar to a shock or bump force.
The present invention has solved the problems cited above. Broadly, this is a bicycle comprising: a chain drive, in which the distance from the axis of a drive sprocket to the axis of a rear wheel hub is represented by a variable value CSL; and a compressible rear suspension having a linkage for moving the hub along a controlled wheel travel path as the suspension is compressed, the controlled wheel travel path having an arc radius which is greater towards a lower end of the path and smaller towards an upper end of the path.
The wheel travel path may comprise (a) a preferred pedaling position at a predetermined position Dp which is located along the rear travel path; (b) a lower curve segment below the position Dp in which there is an increasing rate of chainstay lengthening with increasing compression of the suspension system, such that the first derivative relationship       ⅆ          [      CSL      ]            ⅆ          (      D      )
is a curve having a generally positive slope, so that the second derivative relationship             ⅆ      2                  [      CSL      ]                  (              ⅆ                  (          D          )                    )        2
is generally positive; and (c) an upper curve segment above the position Dp in which there is a decreasing rate of chainstay lengthening with increasing compression of the suspension system, such that the first derivative relationship       ⅆ          [      CSL      ]            ⅆ          (      D      )
is a curve having a generally negative slope, so that the second derivative relationship             ⅆ      2                  [      CSL      ]                  (              ⅆ                  (          D          )                    )        2
is generally negative.
The linkage may comprise upper and lower link members which connect a rear frame section to a forward frame section. The link members are pivotally mounted to the frame sections, with the upper link member extending in a downward and forward direction when the suspension is in an uncompressed position, and the lower link member extending in a downward and rearward direction in this position. The link members are mounted so as to rotate in opposite directions as the suspension is compressed.
A shock absorber may be mounted between the lower link member and the forward frame section so as to be compressed with compression of the rear suspension. The lower end of the shock absorber may be mounted to a second arm of the lower link member.

Bicycle wheel travel path for selectively applying chainstay lengthening effect and apparatus for providing same


Provided is an aqueous-dispersible, self-crosslinkable interpenetrating polymer network composition which comprises an aqueous-dispersible, isocyanate-based thermoplastic polymer containing urethane and/or urea linkage and an interpenetrating polymer containing latent reactive functionality, whereby the two polymers are at least partially entangled with each other on a molecular level. Also provided are aqueous dispersions of such self-crosslinkable interpenetrating polymer networks, methods of producing such aqueous dispersions, coating compositions therefrom and coated substrates and films obtained from it.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an interpenetrating polymer network ("IPN") composition, a method for making it, aqueous dispersions thereof, coating compositions therefrom and coated substrates and films obtained from it. More particularly, and in a preferred embodiment, this invention relates to an aqueous-dispersible, self-crosslinkable IPN composition which comprises an aqueous-dispersible, isocyanate-based thermoplastic polymer containing urethane and/or urea linkage and an interpenetrating addition polymer, whereby the two polymers are at least partially entangled with each other on a molecular level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, environmental concerns and regulations have forced reductions in the Volatile Organic Content ("VOC") of solvent-borne coatings (i.e., the amount of organic material volatilized during use of the coatings). In fact, coatings manufacturers have investigated the total replacement of organic solvents with water. For example, coatings manufacturers have been able to convert from organic solvent-borne systems to waterborne systems by employing polymers containing small amounts of ionic and/or non-ionic stabilizing groups located along the backbone of the polymer chain. As a common example may be mentioned thermoplastic urethanes obtained by reacting difunctional isocyanates with difunctional hydroxyl polymers in the presence of a dihydroxyalkanoic acid. Once ionized, the pendant carboxyl groups serve to render the urethane polymer dispersible in water, producing a product similar to a latex in many aspects. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,479,310, 3,905,929, 3,920,598, 4,092,286, 4,172,191 and 4,183,836, and the following articles:
D. Dieterich, "Recent Developments in Aqueous Polyurethanes," Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference in Organic Coatings Science and Technology, Vol. 4 (1982), pages 51-71; and PA1 R. Cody, "Unique Waterborne Systems Based on TMXDI.RTM. (meta) Aliphatic Isocyanate and TMI.RTM. (meta) Unsaturated Isocyanate," Progress in Organic Coatings, 22 (1993), pages 107-123. PA1 (1) an aqueous-dispersible, isocyanate-based thermoplastic polymer containing urethane and/or urea linkage, and PA1 (2) an interpenetrating addition polymer formed by copolymerizing an ethylenically-unsaturated monomer having latent reactive functionality optionally with one or more other addition-copolymerizable comonomers. PA1 BAYHYDROL.RTM. polyurethane dispersions of Mobay and Miles; PA1 SPENSOL.RTM. L water reducible urethane resins of NL Chemicals; PA1 NEOREZ.RTM. water-borne urethane polymers of Zeneca Inc.; PA1 WITCOBOND.RTM. aqueous urethane dispersions of Witco Corporation; and PA1 SANCURE.RTM. waterborne urethane polymers of Sanncor Industries Inc. PA1 (1) the latent reactive functionality on the interpenetrating polymer is capable of reacting with itself or a derivative thereof, for example, residual unsaturation (which can be addition polymerized), isocyanate groups (which react with water to form amine groups which in turn react with additional isocyanate groups) and epoxy groups (which can react with each other as well as the secondary hydroxyl groups produced thereby); PA1 (2) the latent reactive functionality on the interpenetrating polymer is capable of reacting with a second type of functionality present on the interpenetrating polymer including, but not limited to, various combinations of epoxy and/or isocyanate groups with active hydrogen containing groups, for example, combinations of epoxy groups and hydroxyl groups, combinations of epoxy groups and carboxyl groups, combinations of isocyanate groups and hydroxyl groups, combinations of isocyanate groups and epoxy groups, or other combinations thereof; and/or PA1 (3) the latent reactive functionality on the polymer is capable of reacting with functionality present on the thermoplastic polymer, for example, the interpenetrating polymer may contain epoxy and/or isocyanate groups, and the thermoplastic polymer may contain carboxyl, hydroxyl and/or amino groups. PA1 Tensile strength is determined by ASTM-882 on a sample of 2-6 mil thickness. PA1 Modulus, unless otherwise indicated, is expressed as 100% or secant modulus, as determined by ASTM-882. PA1 The rheology "crosslinking" factor, G', when measured, signifies the rubbery plateau of the material and is a relative measurement of the extent of total crosslinking. As G' increases, the rubbery plateau increases. PA1 The "toughness" value, when given, represents the area under the stress-strain curve. The higher the value, the tougher the material. PA1 The glass transition temperatures were measured by Rheovibron spectrometer.
Depending on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic polymer, some dispersions may require the use of small amounts of an organic cosolvent. The cosolvent plasticizes the polymer particles, softening them, by lowering the glass transition temperature (Tg) to a point where particle coalescence occurs at the temperature of application. If solvent resistance is desired, separate crosslinking agents such as carbodiimides can be added just prior to the application to convert the thermoplastic dispersion to a thermoset coating. Although organic cosolvents and crosslinking agents are generally a minimum VOC concern in these formulations, they still produce volatiles potentially hazardous to the environment.
Depending on the type of hydroxyl polymer component of the thermoplastic polymer, one can obtain coatings or films of high tensile strength, modulus and break strength, with low elongation. Using more flexible hydroxyl polymers one obtains lower tensile strength and modulus with higher elongations. Typically, however, thermoplastic urethanes of this type do not have both high strength and high elongation. In addition, coatings or films produced from these thermoplastic urethane dispersions may suffer from poor organic solvent resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,030 discloses a method of making a stable aqueous dispersion of a polymeric material which comprises: (a) producing an isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymer in the presence of inert liquid polymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated monomer material as a solvent or diluent; (b) dispersing the resulting product in water; (c) chain-extending the prepolymer in the resulting aqueous dispersion; and (d) subjecting the resulting aqueous dispersion to vinyl addition polymerization conditions to polymerize the monomer material in situ. The polymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated monomers must be inert to the prepolymer-forming reaction; that is, they must be devoid of groups interfering with or reactive with the primary isocyanate and active hydrogen-containing reactants. Thus, the monomers should be devoid of --NCO groups and active hydrogen-containing groups such as --OH. The isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymer may be rendered water-dispersible by the known expedient of including in its polymer chain an effective amount (about 0.5-10 weight %) of pendant carboxylic groups which may be neutralized to salt form with a suitable basic material during or after prepolymer formation. The chain extension, which produces a fully reacted polyurethane, is preferably conducted with an organic polyamine such as ethylenediamine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,526 discloses a process for making an aqueous polyurethane-vinyl polymer dispersion which comprises: (a) forming a carboxy-containing, water-dispersible, isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymer; (b) adding a vinyl monomer composition which includes a polyethylenically-unsaturated monomer to the prepolymer to form a prepolymer/monomer mixture; (c) adding a tertiary amine to the prepolymer/monomer mixture; (d) dispersing the prepolymer/monomer mixture in water; (e) adding an oil-soluble free radical initiator and a chain-extender to the aqueous dispersion; and (f) polymerizing the vinyl monomer and completing chain extension of the prepolymer by heating the aqueous dispersion. Suitable vinyl monomers include ethylenically-unsaturated hydrocarbons, esters and ethers, especially esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, ester of vinyl alcohol and styrene. (see column 4, lines 48-62).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,884 discloses a process for preparing a polymer emulsion containing an interpenetrating polymer network by forming a first polymer emulsion, mixing a second monomer emulsion with the first polymer emulsion, allowing the emulsion mixture to equilibrate, and polymerizing the emulsion mixture to provide a first polymer network which is intertwined on a molecular scale with the second polymer network. Examples of emulsified polymers include polyethylene emulsions, polyester emulsions, polyurethane emulsions and the like. The monomers are vinyl monomers, ethylenically-unsaturated compounds. Examples of suitable vinyl monomers include vinyl esters of alkanoic acids having 1-18 carbon atoms, alpha-olefins, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alcohol esters, alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, vinyl alkyl ethers, dienes, aromatic vinyl monomers, acrylonitrile, vinyl halide monomers and vinyl esters of aromatic acids. (see column 5, lines 8-42). According to this patent, dual Tg properties have been observed for the product.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,833 discloses water-reducible coating compositions based on a thermoplastic polymer prepared by polymerizing one or more ethylenically-unsaturated monomers in the presence of a water-soluble fully reacted polyurethane. The ethylenically-unsaturated monomers include hydrocarbons; substituted styrenes; alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl acrylates and methacrylates; acrylonitriles; vinyl esters and vinyl ethers; acrylic and methacrylic acids; and other water-soluble monomers such as hydroxyethyl acrylate or methacrylate. (see column 5, lines 15-41).
The disclosures of all of the aforementioned references are incorporated herein for all purposes as if fully set forth.
It has now been found that by imbuing reactive monomers having certain selected latent functionality into aqueous-dispersed particles of a thermoplastic isocyanate-based polymer and copolymerizing them in situ, a compatible interpenetrating polymer network of a normally incompatible polymer can be formed in the dispersed polymer. These modified dispersions can be applied to a substrate without the use of significant amounts of organic cosolvents, and can self-crosslink when exposed to appropriate cure conditions to give coatings with improved physical properties which are less affected by organic solvents. Specifically, it has been found that by polymerizing specific crosslinkable reactive monomers imbued into an aqueous-dispersed thermoplastic polymer, interpenetrating polymer networks can be formed which are clear with no visual incompatibility. When crosslinked, the polymers resulting from the present IPN's generally and preferably display a single glass transition temperature. Compared to coatings or films obtained from the unmodified thermoplastic polymer, coatings or films produced from the IPN compositions of this invention have significantly improved tensile strengths and moduli without significant loss of elongation. Additionally, improvement in solvent resistance is provided by the self-crosslinking the IPN compositions of this invention.

Interpenetrating polymer network compositions


Heat generation is inhibited in a polarized light generating optics system in a projector.

A liquid crystal projector modulates light by liquid crystal light valves and projects an image onto a screen. In order to effectively use irradiating light from a light source, a polarized light generator is typically included to unify the irradiating light into s-polarized light or p-polarized light and to enter the polarized light into the liquid crystal light valves, as disclosed in JP1996-304739A, for example. For example, a polarized light generator that generates s-polarized light includes: a plurality of polarization separating layers that separate irradiating light into s-polarized light and p-polarized light; a plurality of reflecting layers that reflect the separated s-polarized light or p-polarized light; and a phase plate layer that converts the separated p-polarized light into s-polarized light. In typical, the polarization separating layers and the reflecting layers are arranged alternately and parallel to one another, and the phase plate layer is disposed corresponding to the polarization separating layers or the reflecting layers. Furthermore, since no desired polarized light can be obtained if the light enters directly into the reflecting layers, the polarized light generator generally includes a light shielding plate that shields the light entering the reflecting layers, as disclosed in WO 97/50012, for example. The light shielding plate is disposed at a light incident side of the polarized light generator, and is a plate-like member that has light shielding portions corresponding to the reflecting layers and opening portions corresponding to the polarization separating layers.
The polarized light generator of such a structure is used in combination with a so-called integrator optical system that divides a light beam from the light source into a plurality of partial light beams and superposes them on the liquid crystal light valves. In this case, the light from the light source is divided into a plurality of partial light beams and the obtained partial light beams converge toward the polarization separating layers. In other words, the light enters the polarization separating portions in a state of being converged onto the opening portions of the light shielding plate. Accordingly, only approximately 5% of the light is shielded by the light shielding plate.
The light shielding member generates heat when it shields the light. The heat may possibly subject the polarized light generator and thus the phase plate layer disposed thereon to high temperatures. Since the phase plate layer is generally composed of organic matters, subjecting it to high temperatures may possibly cause a decrease in a useful life of the layer.

Liquid crystal projector comprising a plurality of light shielding members fixed between the lens array and the polarized light generator

Abstract: A liquid crystal projector includes: lens arrays 140, 150 that generate partial light beams from a light beam emitted from a light source; and a polarized light generating optics system 160 that generates polarized light, which is to be supplied to liquid crystal light valves, from the partial light beams. The polarized light generating optics system 160 separates s-polarized light and p-polarized light by polarization separating films 64a. The s-polarized light is reflected from reflecting films 64b and is emitted directly. The p-polarized light is converted into s-polarized light by a selective phase difference plate 66 and is emitted therefrom. The polarized light generating optics system 160 is equipped with light shielding surfaces 62b that shield light from entering into the reflecting films 64b. The lens arrays 140, 150 are also equipped with light shielding members 143, 153 that act similarly as the light shielding surfaces. Disposing the light shielding members 143, 153 can inhibit heat generation on the light shielding surfaces 62b.


A handling for components having a similar shape, particularly motor vehicle body parts, wherein a gripper on an arm of a robot can grip the component and its similarly-shaped other components with one and the same clamp device without re-tooling, is equipped with two gripper chucks on each clamp device. However, only one gripper chuck can be steered into the grab positions in each case, while the other gripper chuck is then located in the parking position outside a grab area on the component.

In motor vehicle body construction known handling systems (DE 202 19 713 U1) are used, wherein the component to be handled, for example a motor vehicle door, is gripped by means of a gripper on the arm of a robot and brought exactly to the place of the body structure, where it is to be assembled. So that the component is picked up securely and precisely, the gripper is equipped with several clamp devices, on their part each comprising a gripper chuck, which grip the component in several spatially staggered places with the contour pieces adapted to the component. A pre-condition for precise-position gripping requires that for each type of component the clamp devices on the gripper are positioned accordingly and equipped with suitable contour pieces. Such a device and change-over of the grippers are necessary even if components having a similar shape are to be handled. "Components having a similar shape" are understood to mean those, which although congruent in several places have a different height to each other. Alternatively a further suitably tooled handling system could also be used for another type of component, which however would be associated with a substantial increase in engineering costs.
For opening and closing gripper chucks of handling systems mechanical drives, which have a toothed push bar, are known (U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,071 B2). The driving toothed push bar is formed as part of a hydraulic cylinder piston arrangement and is coupled to the movable gripper jaws of the gripper chuck via a fixed pinion.

System for handling components having similar shapes by using two gripper jaws coupled to a common displacement drive


A solution for locating unprotected access points is provided. Particularly, a wireless network access point providing an access to a network over a wireless connection maintains a location structure comprising an indication of a geographical position of each one of a set of unprotected access points in proximity of the access point, each unprotected access point providing the access to the network at least partially unconditionally. A mobile station submits a request to access the network to the access point when the mobile station is within a transmission range thereof, receives the indication of the geographical position of at least part of the unprotected access points in response to a denial of the access from the access point, and outputs directions towards one of the unprotected access points according to the corresponding geographical position.

The solution according to one or more embodiments of the present invention relates to the network field. More specifically, this solution relates to wireless network access.
Networks are commonly used to interconnect remote data-processing systems, in order to share resources and information; a typical example is the Internet, which is formed by billions of data-processing systems being connected one to another through a global communication network.
The access to the networks is more and more often implemented with wireless techniques (i.e., without any physical connection). This is manly due to the widespread diffusion of mobile stations (MB), such as smart-phones and net-books, which are commonly used to access the networks, and especially the Internet, while around; particularly, the increasing need of relying on remote services leveraging the Internet may require the capability of connecting to the Internet almost from everywhere.
The most common solution for accessing the Internet with a mobile station is of using a mobile telephone infrastructure; indeed, the mobile telephone infrastructure, especially if based on the 3rd generation (3G) technology, provides a bandwidth comparable with the one commonly provided by wired connections. However, the access to the Internet with the mobile telephone infrastructure is still quite expensive; this is particularly true abroad when it is necessary to exploit a local mobile telephone operator applying very high rates. Moreover, the mobile telephone infrastructure may be not always available with the bandwidth required to provide an acceptable level of performance.
Alternatively, it is possible to connect to a wireless network Access Point (AP)—typically based on the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology; the access point relays information between each mobile station connected thereto and the Internet (which the access point is connected to in a wired way). The access point may be either unprotected or protected. An unprotected access point allows accessing the Internet to whatever mobile station within the unprotected access point's transmission range (for example, in public locations); conversely, a protected access point requires some sort of authentication/registration before granting the access to the Internet (for example, to restrict the protected access point's access or to collect a payment).
However, the unprotected access points are not available everywhere; therefore, it may happen that a user needing to access the Internet is not within the transmission range of any unprotected access point. In this condition, locating any unprotected access point nearby the user may be very difficult, if not impossible (especially when the user is in an unknown location, for example, abroad).
Some techniques have been proposed in the art in an attempt to alleviate this problem.
For example, US-A-2005/0143094 (the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference) discloses an access point locator service that may be offered by a mobile telephone operator; in this case, the mobile telephone operator determines the access point being closest to each mobile station (according to the mobile station's current position) and notifies the closest access point to the mobile station (either in a push mode or in a pull mode). However, this requires a connection with the mobile telephone operator (with the same drawbacks pointed out above).
US-A-20105159818 (the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference) discloses a method wherein the mobile stations continually collect information about the unprotected access points (comprising their position as determined via a GPS system) into a shared database, which is then used to select a specific unprotected access point that is nearby each mobile station. However, this involves high energy consumption by the mobile stations (since either their Wi-Fi or GPS functions have to be on), which strongly limits a lifetime of their batteries. Moreover, this requires a large memory space in the mobile stations to store this database and a corresponding logic to query the database; moreover, the database may be not up-to-date (with the databases' update that requires an access to the Internet that may be not available when an unprotected access point is found not to work any longer).
Likewise, in US-A-2007/0167174 (the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference) the mobile stations collect information about the unprotected access points into a shared database; in this case, each mobile station sends a request for nearby unprotected access points to a provider, which selects the nearby unprotected access points from the database and returns corresponding information to the mobile station. However, as above this involves high energy consumption by the mobile stations, which strongly limits a lifetime of their batteries; moreover, this requires an access to the Internet to contact the provider, so that is does not work when this is not possible or desirable in other ways as pointed out above, or when the information about the unprotected access points cannot be downloaded in advance.
In US-A-2007/0297355 as well (the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference), the mobile stations collect information about the unprotected access points; in this case, each mobile station retrieves information about nearby unprotected access points directly from other mobile stations via a local connection. A similar technique is also disclosed in "WI-FI ACCESS POINT DISCOVERY SYSTEM FOR MOBILE USERS, Nakai, Y.; Ohshima, K.; Tajima, K.; Terada, M., Computer Science and Software Engineering (JCSSE), 2011 Eighth International Joint Conference on 11-13 May 2011, ISBN: 978-1-4577-0686-8" (the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference). However, as above this involves high energy consumption by the mobile stations, which strongly limits a lifetime of their batteries. Moreover, this technique may not work when no other mobile stations are available nearby; in any case, the information provided by the other mobile stations may be of little use when the information was collected in an area that is not of interest.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Location of unprotected access points through protected access points

International Business Machines Corporation


A drilling apparatus has a chassis and a feed beam. The feed beam includes a rock drill hammer, a moveable drill string, a rock drill system coupled to the feed beam, a media pressure system coupled to the rock drill system, and a sensor system. The media pressure system includes a high pressure supply path, a low pressure return path, a control valve coupled to the high pressure supply path, at least one accumulator, and a sensor system. The sensor system includes a pressure transducer coupled to the high pressure supply path, the low pressure return path, or the accumulator to supply pressure data, a control unit configured to monitor and compare the pressure data to an acceptable pressure range stored in memory, and a warning apparatus configured to alert the operator of a pressure outside of the predetermined acceptable pressure range.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A hydraulic drilling apparatus has an internal, oscillating hammer that is accelerated and decelerated at high rates of speed by means of shifting media (e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.) pressure. The shifting media pressure acting on differential areas of the hammer and shuttle valve causes the movement required for oscillation. The movement of the hammer is typically driven by hydraulic or pneumatic flow in a system that has a high pressure media supply path and a low pressure return path for the shifting media entry and exit of the hammer. The media supply and return circuits typically have one or more accumulators in the supply and return paths, which are usually mounted directly onto the drilling apparatus. The accumulator is intended to dampen peak pressure surges that are inherent in media systems, as well as provide a boost of media flow to the system if the flow from the primary pump is not adequate at a given time in the hammer oscillation cycle. The accumulator typically includes a diaphragm that separates hydraulic or pneumatic fluid from the accumulator charging media (e.g., nitrogen gas).
However, certain challenges are presented in such systems. For example, nitrogen gas may leak from the accumulator to the outside environment, such as through an improperly seated charge valve. Also, most flexible diaphragms are permeable and gas can pass through them over time. Also, if the accumulator diaphragm is torn or has a hole in it, the nitrogen gas may leak into the fluid system. Further, the accumulators are charged to a specific pressure range based on a percentage of the supply and return circuit pressures. If the accumulators are over or under charged, shifting media flow may not be adequate for the proper operation of the drilling apparatus. Still further, the operator of the drill unit or service personnel can lower the media supply and return pressure of the drilling apparatus itself causing the accumulators to be out of specification in comparison to the accumulator settings.
If the charging media in the accumulators leaks into the driving media or into the outside environment, or if the accumulators are incorrectly charged, an insufficient pressure may be exerted by the accumulator. When the flow in such a system is insufficient to fill the changes in volumetric requirements, a negative pressure may occur (e.g., a vacuum) resulting in cavitation. Cavitation may cause undesirable hammer movement and speeds which may cause the hammer to over-stroke and impact other internal mechanical components ultimately resulting in overstressed parts which may lead to failures. Because the hammer is usually located at a distance away from the operator, the operator may not be aware if the accumulator(s) lose a charge or are otherwise over or under charged for providing the proper operational supply and return pressure for the hammer.

Media pressure cavitation protection system for rock drills


The invention relates to a reflector system for positioning a medical instrument or of body parts of a patient or for any determination of position, which is characterized by reflectors (3, 4, 5) that are configured as transparent retroreflective spheres and may consist of a material with a refractive index of preferably 1.9.

The invention concerns a reflector system for determining position, as set forth in the classifying portion of claim 1.
The optical navigational systems which are known per se from the state of the art use either active optical marks or passive marks, for determining position. Generally light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as the active marks. The passive marks are usually balls with a reflective coating or retroreflective foils.
DE 196 39 615 C2 discloses a so-called reflector referencing system for surgical and medical instruments, which is formed from a radiation source and a reflector assembly having at least two reflectors. That reflector system provides a marker system for effecting determination of the position of parts of the body or instruments. Surgical instruments for example can be fitted with a three-reflector adaptor which delivers a reflection image which is characteristic of that instrument. In determining the position of parts of the body to be treated each landmark delivers an image which is characteristic only in respect of itself, both in terms of diagnostic patient data acquisition and also in terms of subsequent treatment monitoring. The reflectors are in the form of balls and are provided with a reflective coating. Such balls produce a uniform reflection image, when considered from all directions in space.
The passive marks which are fitted to devices and instruments in medical engineering have to be frequently disinfected and sterilized. Sterilization of the medical instruments can be effected for example by means of gas sterilization or steam sterilization which can take up to a full working day, which means that with frequent use several sets of instruments have to be purchased. It is only in that way that it is possible to guarantee that sterilized instruments are available at any time.
Therefore, in order to achieve a reduction in complication and costs, DE 196 39 615 C2, proposed that the very expensive marks are interchangeably fitted to the medical devices and instruments. For that purpose the marks are fitted in the form of passive reflectors to an adaptor which in turn is releasably connected to the instrument. That now admittedly means that the marks are interchangeable. The fundamental problem however is not eliminated. For, the known passive marks withstand the cleaning procedures only a few times and have to replaced by fresh marks after just a relatively few uses.

Reflector system for determining position


A semiconductor memory device includes a variable resistance element including a first electrode, a current path forming region, and a second electrode. The current path forming region includes a first region made of a variable resistance material whose resistivity changes by applying voltage, and a second region formed by doping a metal element to the variable resistance material such that a resistivity of the second region is higher than that of the first region and is not changed by applying a voltage used to change the resistivity of the first region. The first region is in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, and extends from one electrode side to the other electrode side. The second region is provided outside the first region in at least part of the current path forming region in direction extending from one electrode side to the other electrode side.

The non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a SONOS memory, which has currently become the mainstream of the market, uses such a technique as electric charges accumulated in an insulating film provided above a channel portion cause threshold voltage of a semiconductor transistor to be changed. Microfabrication is required to provide larger capacity, but even a simple semiconductor transistor having no charge accumulation function has become difficult to microfabricate. With that in mind, a functional division has been considered such that the transistor serves only as a switching function of selecting a memory cell for reading and writing information and the information storage element is separated from the transistor like a DRAM; and each of the transistor and the information storage element undergoes microfabrication separately to provide larger capacity.
As a technique for implementing microfabrication of the information storage element, there has been actively developed a variable resistance element which is an electronic element allowing a value of the electrical resistance to be changed between two or more values by an electrical impulse. In an information storage device accumulating electrical charges in a capacitor, such as a DRAM, signal voltage is lowered with a reduction in the amount of accumulated electrical charges due to microfabrication. But, the variable resistance element is advantageous for microfabrication in that electrical resistance generally holds a finite value with microfabrication, provided that there are a principle of changing resistance and a material having the principle.
The operation of such a variable resistance element serves as a switch switching between the ON state and the OFF state. In principle, the variable resistance element can be applied to, for example, a switch (selector) in a wiring configuration in an LSI.
There have been several techniques for changing electrical resistance by an electrical impulse. The most studied techniques of them include a memory device using a fact that when a pulse current is applied to a chalcogenide semiconductor, the crystal phase states (amorphous state and crystalline state) are changed; the states differ from each other in electrical resistance by 2 or 3 orders of magnitude. Such a memory device is generally called a phase change memory.
On another front, regarding a metal/metal oxide/metal (hereinafter referred to as an MIM type) structure where electrodes sandwich a metal oxide, there has been known that the resistance of the structure can be changed by applying a large voltage or current. In the 1950s to 1960s, there have been studies on various materials exhibiting the phenomenon that resistance varies due to voltage or current. For example, a variable resistance element using nickel oxide (NiO) has been reported in Non-Patent Document 1 (Solid-State Electronics, 1964, vol. 7, pp. 785-797). In general, the phase change memory not only involves a large change in volume with a change in crystal phase but also needs to be heated locally to several 100° C. in a short time of several 10 nsec to change the crystal phase. On the other hand, the MIM type variable resistance element has recently been gaining attention again since the need to heat to a high temperature of several 100° C. has not been reported.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view for explaining a basic structure of an MIM type variable resistance element; and FIG. 2 shows a current voltage characteristic of the MIM type variable resistance element using a variable resistance material made of a nickel oxide.
The MIM type variable resistance element illustrated in FIG. 1 includes first upper electrode 1, second lower electrode 3, and variable resistance material 2 made of a metal oxide provided therebetween. This variable resistance element can non-volatilely maintain the characteristic of a high resistance OFF state or a low resistance ON state even when the power is turned off. Further, the resistance states thereof can be switched by applying a predetermined voltage/current impulse as needed. When voltage Vt1 or higher is applied to the element in a high resistance OFF state illustrated in FIG. 2(a), the state of the element is changed to a low resistance ON state illustrated in FIG. 2(b). Afterward, when voltage Vt2 or higher is applied to the element in the ON state illustrated in FIG. 2(b), the state of the element is changed to the high resistance OFF state, returning to the electrical characteristic of FIG. 2(a). The MIM type variable resistance element can repeat a switching operation between the state of FIG. 2(a) and the state of FIG. 2(b). This characteristic can be used as a non-volatile memory cell or a non-volatile switch for switching circuits.
Such an MIM type variable resistance element uses a transition metal oxide as a main variable resistance material, and the metal oxide material generally has a high resistivity. It is hence easy for the MIM type variable resistance element to maintain the high resistance state (OFF state as the switch), and therefore it is important to control the transitional process to the low resistance state (ON state as the switch).
The current path for maintaining the low resistance state of the MIM type variable resistance element is not formed over the entire electrode surface, but is formed locally to be approximately several nm, at most several 10 nm in diameter. This current path is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, tubular path 4 connecting first upper electrode 1 and second lower electrode 3 is formed in variable resistance material 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates an electrode area dependence of a resistance in a low resistance state of a parallel plate element configured such that NiO is used as the variable resistance material in the same manner as described in Non-Patent Document 1 described above and the material is sandwiched between the electrodes. FIG. 4 indicates that the resistance in the low resistance state practically does not depend on the electrode area, and clearly demonstrates that the low resistance state is maintained by the locally formed current path.
FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram in the ON state. RON denotes a resistance corresponding to current path 4 in the ON state. ROFF denotes a state in which current path 4 is not formed, namely, an OFF state resistance. In general, ROFF/RON can be considered to be maintained at about 102 or more.

Semiconductor memory device having variable resistance element and method for manufacturing the same


A subjective optometry apparatus includes a subjective measurement portion which subjectively measures optical characteristics of an subject eye, an objective measurement portion which objectively measures optical characteristics of the subject eye, a control portion which causes the objective measurement portion to objectively measure the optical characteristics during the measurement by the subjective measurement portion, and a display control portion which performs a control to display an eye diagram representing the subject eye and an imaging position of a target light flux incident on the subject eye. The display control portion performs a control to display the imaging position based on the objectively measured optical characteristics.

A subjective optometry apparatus which measures optical characteristics (refractive power or the like) of a subject eye by disposing an optical member, such as a spherical lens or a cylindrical surface lens, in front of the eyes of an examinee and by presenting an examination visual target to the subject eye via the optical member, is known (for example, refer to JP-A-H05-176893).
In a case where the subject eye is calibrated by subjective measurement, the optical characteristics of the subject eye changes according to the calibration state. When the examiner proceeds the subjective measurement while changing the calibration state according to the answer of the examinee, as a method of knowing the current calibration state, a method of determining the current calibration state from the answer of examinee is used. However, with this method, it is difficult to know objective optical characteristics of the subject eye. Therefore, it was difficult to determine whether or not the calibration state with respect to the subject eye was appropriate, and there was a case where it took time for the measurement or the measurement cannot be performed with high accuracy.

Subjective optometry apparatus and storage medium


A workflow or product navigation system includes a single top-level screen which allows access to all aspects of the product information through selection of a single entry. The top-level screen includes a menu bar, a plurality of selectable icon push buttons in an icon area for directing inquiry to all aspects of the product information, and a product listing area. A user may select from several orderings of the icons to most efficiently access the product data. In particular, the icons are arranged in a preselected order as determined according to a business unit default definition. The user may select an alternative user-defined selection and ordering of icons, or a list of all icons in a predefined, fixed order. The icons on the top-level screen convey many details regarding the status of the product information. An icon, on its face, designates the user-access status of the information as read-write or read-only access. If a user has no access to information underlying the icon, no icon is displayed. An icon, on its face, expresses the data-content status of the information as being unfilled, copied from another source, or saved.

1. Reservation of Copyright
A claim of copyright protection is made on portions of the description in this patent document. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other rights.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a graphical user interface (GUI) operative on a workstation or computer system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a GUI navigation system for navigating a list stored on a database in a network or computer system.
3. Description of the Related Art
Present-day computerized business systems typically include a number of computers or workstations connected in a network configuration and tied to a database. One of the tasks of the computerized business system is to supply information from the database to multiple system users so that the users can organize information from the database into a useful form. A substantial amount of planning is necessary to successfully market a product and information from the database supplies the foundation for this planning. Planning has become highly efficient through the usage of computerized systems for arranging database information in a useful format. Various procedures and techniques have continually improved the efficiency of planning. One system enhancement that has aided planning efficiency is the usage of database navigation systems for efficiently identifying and accessing useful information.
The production and marketing of a product typically requires skillful planning to achieve success in the marketplace. A useful planning tool is a product navigation system, which is typically called a workflow system. The product navigation system tracks all aspects of a product's introduction and sale including forecasting, design and development, production, marketing, sales and many others. Thus, product planning is highly complex and involves accessing the database to access highly diverse types of information.
One problem that arises in the usage of a product navigation system is the large amount and diversity of information that is to be arranged. What is needed is a technique for accessing a large number of very different types of information from a top-level viewpoint using an efficiently low number of selections or keystrokes.
Another problem that arises in the usage of a product navigation system is the large amount of information that must be entered to create a product record. What is needed is a method and system that reduces the work necessary to create a product record.


An imaging device comprises: a two-dimensional image sensor that includes a plurality of light receiving units capable of reading an output value individually according to a volume of received light thereof; a receiving unit that receives a control signal that specifies an operation mode of the two-dimensional image sensor that is predetermined according to a purpose of using the output value; and a sensor controller that sets, on the basis of the control signal received by the receiving unit, an imaging area representing an area of a light receiving unit that reads the output value from among the light receiving units of the two-dimensional image sensor and controls reading of the output value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging device, an image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling driving of a two-dimensional image sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional image forming apparatus with a function of printing a test pattern on a printing paper sheet and of color-measuring patches contained in the test pattern (see, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-63270). The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-63270 performs colorimetry on the patches by imaging each patch contained in the test pattern using a two-dimensional image sensor and then transforming the RGB values thus obtained to color values in a standard color space. Using the colorimetric values of the patches, color calibration on the image forming apparatus is performed. Color calibration on the image forming apparatus can be performed also by using the RGB values of the patches obtained by the imaging with the two-dimensional image sensor.
It is expected that two-dimensional image sensors are used for, in addition to imaging of patches, various uses that are required as functions of the image forming apparatus. For example, the two-dimensional image sensor can be used for, for example, a function of detecting image misalignment or a function of detecting the end of a paper sheet. However, in the conventional technology, because it takes time for the two-dimensional image sensor to read output values, efficient use of the two-dimensional image sensor is limited.
In view of the above-described circumstances, there is a need to provide an imaging device, an image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling driving of a two-dimensional image sensor that perform control such that a two-dimensional image sensor can be efficiently used for much more uses.

Imaging device, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling driving of two-dimensional image sensor


Disclosed herein are prosthesis, surgical tools, and methods to preserve one or more ligaments of the knee by cutting a least a portion of natural bone during joint surgery. The natural bone may be cut using various methods and associated cutting guides, and the natural bone is retained along with the natural attachment of an associated soft tissue structure. The bone block cutting guides may create a variety of standard natural block shapes or may create mechanical mating features (e.g., keystone or dovetail configuration) in the natural bone portion that may be inserted, wedged, press-fit, and/or mechanically attached to the tibia. The natural bone block with the associated soft tissue may be further secured by incorporating features in the tibial prosthesis, providing the surgeon with additional fixation components and/or fixation mechanisms.

When a patient's knee is severely damaged, such as by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis, it may be desirous to repair and/or replace portions or the entirety of the knee with a total or partial knee replacement implant. Knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty, can help relieve pain and restore function in injured and/or severely diseased knee joints, and is a well-tolerated and highly successful procedure. Where a total joint replacement is needed, it is often performed by a surgeon via an open procedure.
In an open procedure, the surgeon typically begins by making an incision through the various skin, fascia, and muscle layers to expose the knee joint and laterally dislocating the patella. The anterior cruciate ligament is often excised (if not already damaged or severed), and the surgeon will selectively sever or leave intact the posterior cruciate ligament—depending on the surgeon's preference and the condition of the PCL. Next, various surgical techniques are used to ablate, remove, shape or otherwise prepare the arthritic joint surfaces, and the tibia and femur are exposed for preparation and resection to accept various implant components.
It is well known in the art that knee arthroplasty involves the removal of one or more of the ligaments connecting the femur and the tibia. Often the normal function of one or more of the ligaments is severely compromised due to the deterioration or injury of the knee joint. One of the main purposes of a knee implant is to recreate the normal function of these removed ligaments. During this process, the ACL is almost always resected unless the surgeon chooses to use both a medial and lateral uni-compartment replacement. Meanwhile, the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is preserved in only about half of knee replacements performed.
Once the underlying bony anatomical support structures have been prepared, both the tibia and femur will typically receive an artificial joint component made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and/or polymers to replace native anatomy and desirably function as a new knee joint. In the case of tibial implant components, the artificial joint can include a metal receiver tray that is firmly fixed to the tibia. In many cases, the tibial implant further includes a medical grade plastic insert (i.e. it may also be known as a "spacer" or "liner") that can be attached to the tray and positioned between the femoral component(s) and the tibial tray to create a smooth gliding surface for articulation of the components. Such a system can also allow for inserts of multiple sizes and/or thicknesses, which facilitates in-situ balancing of the knee as well as allowing the placement of inserts of differing designs and/or shapes.
Various surgical procedures in the past have sought to retain connective knee tissues during joint repair and/or replacement, but such techniques and associated implant designs have not gained widespread clinical acceptance for a variety of reasons. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,627 to Cloutier, entitled "Knee Prosthesis" filed Jun. 17, 1980, and J. M. Cloutier, Results of Total Knee Arthroplasty With A Non-Constrained Prosthesis, 65 J. BONE JOINT SURG. AM. 906 (1983); J. M. Cloutier et al., Total Knee Arthroplasty with Retention of Both Cruciate Ligaments: A Nine to Eleven-Year Follow-Up Study, 81-A J. BONE JOINT SURG. AM. 697 (May 1999); Nowakowski A M, et al. Investigating the primary stability of the transversal support tibial plateau concept to retain both cruciate ligaments during total knee arthroplasty. J Appl Biomater Biomech. 2012 March 30:0; and Ries, M D, Effect of ACL sacrifice, retention, or substitution on kinematics after TKA. Orthopedics. 2007 Aug.; 30 (8 Suppl):74-6.
While the implantation of total knee implant components via open procedures is a well-accepted procedure that is well tolerated by patients and has a high success rate, surgeons often prefer to minimize the disruption and/or removal of hard and soft tissues except where absolutely necessary. For example, the use of minimally-invasive and/or less-invasive surgical procedures has become increasingly prevalent, as such procedures are often associated with faster patient healing times and less scarification of the patient's anatomy. Moreover, where portions of a patient's existing anatomy, such as an ACL or PCL, are substantially intact and/or functional in the damaged knee, many surgeons would prefer to maintain the integrity of these structures during the surgical implantation procedure, as such structures can greatly contribute to the ultimate stability and/or performance of the treated anatomy. Unfortunately, many current implant designs require the removal of such structures, even where such structures are fully functional, in order to accommodate the implant components.

Total knee arthroplasty system and method


In order to prevent a fixing terminal from being dislocated from regular-mounting-position on a connector main body when force is applied from outside before placed on a substrate, a surface-mounted connector including a connector main body to be placed on a substrate, a fixing terminal that is temporarily fixed to a side wall of the connector main body by being press-fitted, along the side wall, from a side opposite to that in which the connector main body is placed on the substrate, and that, in the temporarily fixed state, is soldered to the substrate, thereby allowing the connector main body to be mounted on the substrate, and shielding walls provided integrally with the connector main body alongside the fixing terminal in the temporarily fixed state so as to correspond to the fixing terminal, and preventing the fixing terminal in the temporarily fixed state from being interfered from outside, is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface-mounted connector in which terminals projecting from a connector main body is soldered to a substrate in a state of being placed on the substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
On a substrate of an electronic device or an electronic circuit, for example, a connector and the like are mounted as electronic components. When the connector is mounted on the substrate, for example, the connector is fixed to the substrate in such a manner as to be fastened to the substrate with screws.
Here, a surface-mounted connector that is one type of connector (which may occasionally be referred as an SMT connector) is provided with a connector main body formed into a substantially rectangular box, and a screw fastening flange portion formed so as to project from a side of the connector main body. With the screw fastening flange portion being fastened to the substrate by inserting screw(s) through the flange portion, the connector main body, that is to say, an SMT connector is fixed to the substrate.
However, the screw fastening flange portion of the SMT connector occupies a relatively large size (area) on the substrate, and therefore, the large occupying area becomes an obstacle in producing small-sized electronic devices or electronic circuits.
In this case, there exists a structure in which the SMT connector is mounted on the substrate by soldering fixing terminal, provided on the SMT connector, to the substrate instead of using the screw fastening. The fixing terminal is formed as, for example, a member that is bent so as to have a substantially L-shaped cross section. The fixing terminal is temporarily fixed to the connector main body in such a manner as to be press-fitted, along a side wall of the connector main body, from a side that is opposite to a side in which the connector main body is mounted on the substrate. In the temporarily fixed state, the bent portion is made to face the substrate when the SMT connector is mounted on the substrate (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (JP-U) No. 5-23429). With the fixing terminal being soldered to the substrate, the connector main body, that is to say, the SMT connector itself is mounted on the substrate. Here, even if the bent portion of the fixing terminal is made smaller than the above-described screw fastening flange portion, to some degree, in the area occupied on the substrate, a sufficient soldering strength is obtained. For this reason, an electronic device or electronic circuit can be made smaller.
However, if excessive force is applied to the fixing terminal for some reason (for example, when the SMT connector is placed on the substrate, the SMT connector is bumped against other electronic components mounted or placed on the substrate) during a time period from a time in which the fixing terminal is press-fitted into the connector main body and brought into a temporarily fixed state until a time in which the SMT connector is placed on the substrate, and further until a time in which the SMT connector is mounted on the substrate, the fixing terminal is dislocated from a regular mounting position on the connector main body. As a result, the fixing terminal is removed from the connector main body or is placed on the substrate in the state of being raised (separated) from the substrate, and there is a possibility that mounting failure of the connector main body may occur.


Besides the individual modules (1', 1'"), a compressed air maintenance device consisting of individual easily interchangeable modules (1), e.g. pressure regulators, oil atomisers (1'"), condensate separators (1'), in which the individual modules (1) may have emitters (8) for the actual operating status and/or predetermined limit values, also has an indicating and monitoring module (1") having optical and/or acoustic signalling devices (10) for the operational and/or fault status determined for the individual modules (1). Said signalling devices (10) can be easily coupled to the relevant emitters (8) of the modules (1). Any necessary maintenance work or operational breakdowns are thus easily recognizable.

The invention relates to a compressed air maintenance device consisting of individual easily interchangeable modules, such as pressure regulators, oil atomizers, and condensate separators, whereby the individual modules may include transmitters for current operating status and/or predetermined limit values.
This type of compressed air maintenance device has been described in DE 40 32 515 A1. Because of the varying placement of transmitter, it is difficult to monitor the operating status of individual modules. Consequently, operational breakdowns or required maintenance work are not easily detected, leading to the risk of necessary maintenance work not being completed. Because of the varying shapes of the individual modules, the overall appearance of this type of maintenance device is not particularly pleasant. Some countries require that openly arranged viewing windows be covered so as to prevent an environmental hazard in the event of damage to the device. In such cases, additional covers or casing components are required.
To eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages, the object of the invention is to modify the type of compressed air maintenance device described earlier in such a way as to ensure that necessary maintenance work or operational breakdowns can be easily recognized.

J. Lorch Ges. & Co. KG Gesellschaft fur Maschinen und Einrichtungen


A switched power circuit selectively connects an electrical load to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits. The switched power circuit includes a sensing circuit for sensing electrical loading on each of the branch circuits. A logic circuit is coupled to the sensing circuit for selecting one of the branch circuits to be connected to the load according to the sensed loading to provide balanced loading on each branch circuit.

Power distribution systems properly distribute and balance electrical power among plural loads. A typical distribution system often includes a single source of power providing power to plural electrical branch circuits. The branch circuits may provide power at equal levels, as required. For example, a typical power distribution system might include a polyphase power source in a wye configuration. The voltage across any pair of windings is 208 volts AC, while the voltage between any single terminal and a common or neutral point is 120 volts AC. The branch circuits may comprise any combination of the above.
In wiring a facility direct connections are often made between a load, such as an outlet receptacle, and one of the branch circuits. In such instances, the load demand or balance is, at best, estimated. It may turn out that load imbalances result owing to greater power requirements on some branch circuits than others.
The above problem is particularly acute in an office environment. With the advent of using modular furniture systems it is often desirable that lighting loads and outlet receptacles be provided as part of the modular furniture. However, such modular requirements often utilize modular wiring systems as part and parcel to the furniture components. Such systems are not conducive to hard wiring specific loads to specific branch circuits.
Co-pending application no. 714,487, assigned to the assignee hereof, discloses a power switching circuit for selectively connecting an electrical load to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits. This circuit uses a manually operated branch circuit selection switch.
The present invention is intended improve upon the power distribution systems discussed above, in a novel and simple manner.


Data blocks are cached in a persistent cache (“NV cache”) allocated from as non-volatile RAM (“NVRAM”). The data blocks may be accessed in place in the NV cache of a “source” computing element by another “remote” computing element over a network using remote direct memory access (“RMDA”). In order for a remote computing element to access the data block in NV cache on a source computing element, the remote computing element needs the memory address of the data block within the NV cache. For this purpose, a hash table is stored and maintained in RAM on the source computing element. The hash table identifies the data blocks in the NV cache and specifies a location of the cached data block within the NV cache.

Computing elements, such as work stations or server blades, may request data blocks from other "source" computing elements over a network. The source computing elements may use a persistent cache (e.g. cache in flash memory) to cache copies of the data blocks that are primarily stored in primary persistent storage (e.g. disk storage).
Persistent caches are generally faster and smaller than primary storage. If a copy of a data block is stored in the persistent cache when a request for that data block is received, the data block can be returned far more quickly from the persistent cache than from primary storage.
Even though a copy of the requested data block is stored in faster persistent cache, a copy of the data block may be first staged to volatile random access memory (volatile "RAM") before returning the data block over the network to the requesting computing element. From volatile RAM, the copy of the data block is transmitted over the network to the requesting computing element. The operation of writing a data block from a persistent storage (e.g. persistent cache, primary storage) to volatile RAM to stage the data block for transmission over a network to a computing element requesting the data block is referred to herein as read staging.
For example, a source computing element may be a networked enabled block mode storage device that uses a persistent cache. Another computing element, referred to herein as a storage device client of the storage device, is connected to the storage device via a network. To read a data block, a data block read operation is initiated by the storage device client. To initiate a data block read operation, the storage device client transmits a request for the data block to the storage device. When the request is received, there is no copy of the data block in the persistent cache. The storage device performs read staging so that the data block may be transmitted to the storage device client. The copy of the data block is transmitted from volatile RAM over the network to the storage device client. The storage device also adds the copy to the persistent cache so that subsequent requests for the data block received in the future may be satisfied by the copy in the persistent cache. While the data block is stored in the persistent cache, another request for the data block is received from a storage device client. Before transmitting the data block to the storage device client, read staging is performed by copying the data block in persistent storage to volatile RAM. Once the data block is staged in volatile RAM, the data block is transmitted to the storage device client.
As another example, a clustered database system may comprise database servers running on networked computing elements, each database server running on a respective computing element. The database servers service the same database and each uses a persistent cache to temporarily store copies of data blocks from the database. A copy of a data block may be stored in a persistent cache of a database server when another database server may request the data block from the database server. To transmit the data block from a persistent cache of the database server storing the copy, the database server performs read staging to volatile RAM, copying the data block from the persistent cache to volatile RAM. A copy of the data block is then transmitted from the volatile RAM to the other database server.
The performance of systems comprising computing elements that receive over a network data blocks from other computing elements that cache the data block in persistent caches depends on the efficiency and speed of transmitting the data blocks from persistent cache over a network to computing elements requesting the data blocks. Described herein are approaches for furnishing copies of data blocks from persistent cache over a network.


N,N′-disubstituted piperazine compounds, processes for the production thereof, and pharmaceutical preparations containing these compounds. The use of N,N′-disubstituted piperazine compounds for the production of pharmaceutical preparations and in related methods of treatment.

The treatment of pain is of great medical significance. There is a worldwide need for effective pain treatments. The urgency of the requirement for effective therapeutic methods for providing tailored and targeted treatment of chronic and non-chronic pain, this being taken to mean pain treatment which is effective and satisfactory from the patient's standpoint, is evident from the large number of scientific papers relating to applied analgesia and to basic nociception research which have appeared in recent times. The treatment of depression is also of great medical significance.

N, N'-disubstituted piperazine compounds and their use as analgesics