A process for upgrading whole crude oil utilizing a recovery fluid, depressurizing an extracted whole crude oil/recovery fluid mixture in a step-wise fashion, and subsequently contacting at least a portion of the whole crude oil with supercritical water fluid to produce high value crude oil having low sulfur, low nitrogen, and low metallic impurities for use as hydrocarbon feedstock.

World-wide demand for petroleum products has increased dramatically in recent years, depleting much of the known, high value, light crude oil reservoirs. Consequently, production companies have turned their interest towards using low value, heavy crude oil in order to meet the ever increasing demands of the future. However, because current refining methods using heavy crude oil are less efficient than those using light crude oils, refineries producing petroleum products from heavier crude oils must refine larger volumes of heavier crude oil in order to get the same volume of final product. Unfortunately though, this does not account for the expected increase in future demand. Further exacerbating the problem, many countries have implemented or plan to implement more strict regulations on the specifications of the petroleum-based transportation fuel. Consequently, the petroleum industry is seeking to find new methods for treating heavy crude oil prior to refining in an effort to meet the ever-increasing demand for petroleum feedstocks and to improve the quality of available crude oils used in refinery processes.
Whole crude oil, or raw crude oil, is the general term for crude oil produced from a production well prior to any refining processes. Depending upon the geographic characteristics of the production well, whole crude oil can vary greatly in composition from well to well. Unfortunately, many newly discovered wells tend to produce whole crude oil that contains increased amounts of heavy fractions and impurities other than carbon and hydrogen. Therefore, as more of the established, more valuable oil wells become depleted, the majority of our future supply will consist of inferior crude oil.
In general, high density crude oil provides lower amounts of the more valuable light and middle distillates. Additionally, high density crude oil generally contains increased amounts of impurities, such as sulfur, nitrogen and metals, all of which require increased amounts of hydrogen and energy for hydroprocessing in order to meet strict regulations on impurity content in the final product.
Generally speaking, heavy crude oils have a low API gravity, high asphaltene content, low middle distillate yield, high sulfur content, high nitrogen content, and high metal content. These properties make it difficult to refine heavy crude oil by conventional refining processes to produce end petroleum products with specifications that meet strict government regulations.
Traditional Cracking Methods
Low value heavy crude oil can be transformed into high value light crude oil by cracking the heavy fraction using various methods known in the art. Conventionally, cracking and cleaning have been conducted using a catalyst at elevated temperatures in the presence of hydrogen. However, this type of hydroprocessing has a definite limitation in processing heavy and sour crude oil when not using of large amounts of hydrogen and/or catalysts.
Additionally, distillation and/or hydroprocessing of heavy crude feedstock produce large amounts of asphaltene and heavy hydrocarbons, which must be further cracked and hydrotreated to be utilized. Conventional hydrocracking and hydrotreating processes for asphaltenic and heavy fractions also require high capital investments and substantial processing.
Many petroleum refineries perform conventional hydroprocessing after distilling crude oil into various fractions, with each fraction being hydroprocessed separately. Therefore, refineries must utilize the complex unit operations for each fraction. Further, significant amounts of hydrogen and expensive catalysts are utilized in conventional hydrocracking and hydrotreating processes. The processes are carried out under severe reaction conditions to increase the yield from the heavy crude oil towards more valuable middle distillates and to remove impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals.
Currently, large amounts of hydrogen are used to adjust the properties of fractions produced from conventional refining processes in order to meet required low molecular weight specifications for the end products; to remove impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metal; and to increase the hydrogen-to-carbon ratio of the matrix. Hydrocracking and hydrotreating of asphaltenic and heavy fractions are examples of processes requiring large amounts of hydrogen, both of which result in the catalyst having a reduced life cycle.
Consequently, it would be beneficial to crack only the heavy portion of the whole crude oil using an efficient and low cost method, so that the entire whole crude stream would consist of the more valuable light fraction, resulting in reduced downstream refining costs.
Hydrothermal Cracking—Supercritical Water
Supercritical water has been utilized as a reaction medium for cracking of hydrocarbons with the addition of an external source of hydrogen. Water has a critical point at about 705° F. (374° C.) and about 22.1 MPa. Above these conditions, the phase boundary between liquid and gas for water disappears, with the resulting supercritical water exhibiting high solubility toward organic compounds and high miscibility with gases.
However, utilizing supercritical water to upgrade whole crude oil can have serious drawbacks if the whole crude oil contains increased quantities of heavy hydrocarbon molecules. Heavy hydrocarbon molecules dissolute into supercritical water much slower than their lighter counterparts. Furthermore, asphaltenic molecules, which have tangled structures, do not untangle easily with supercritical water. Consequently, the portions of the heavy hydrocarbon molecules that do not make contact with the supercritical water thermally decompose by themselves, resulting in large amounts of coke. Therefore, if the whole crude oil contains increased quantities of heavy hydrocarbons, reacting the whole crude oil with supercritical water using current methods leads to accumulation of coke inside the reactor.
When coke accumulates inside a reactor, the coke acts as an insulator and effectively blocks the heat from radiating throughout the reactor, leading to increased energy costs, since the operator must increase the operating temperature to offset for the build-up. Furthermore, accumulated coke can also increase the pressure drop throughout the process line, causing additional increases in energy costs.
One possible solution to prevent coke build-up is to increase the residence time of the whole crude oil within the reactor for dissolving whole parts of crude oil and decrease the temperature of the reactor; however, the overall economy and upgrading performance of the process would be reduced. Additionally, improvements in reactor design could be helpful; however, this would require large expenditures in design costs and might ultimately not prove beneficial. Therefore, there is a need for a process to facilitate the efficient contacting of heavy oil with supercritical water, which does not result in large amounts of coke or substantial increases in operating costs.
Enhanced Oil Recovery
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is a generic term for techniques for increasing the amount of oil that can be extracted from an oil field. Using EOR, approximately 30-60%, or more, of the reservoir's original oil can be extracted compared with 20-40% using primary and secondary recovery. Typical fluids used for EOR include gases, liquids, steam or other chemicals, with gas injection being the most commonly used EOR technique.
In a gas type EOR, gas such as carbon dioxide (CO2), natural gas, or nitrogen is injected into the reservoir, whereupon it expands and thereby pushes additional crude oil to a production wellbore. Moreover, the gas dissolves in the crude oil, which lowers the crude oil's viscosity and improves the flow rate of the crude oil through a transferring line.
When CO2 is pumped into an oil reservoir at a pressure sufficient to make it as dense as the oil in the reservoir, the CO2 may become miscible with the oil. The pressure at which miscibility is first achieved is called the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP). At or above its MMP, CO2 becomes an ideal solvent for oil, and because of this, it displaces oil from the reservoir much more efficiently than water. It picks up lighter hydrocarbon components, swells the total volume of oil, and reduces its viscosity so that it flows more easily.
CO2 is currently one of the most promising crude oil recovery fluids because the dissolved CO2 can be easily separated from the recovered crude oil after production by depressurization. Of course, the solubility of CO2 in crude oil depends heavily on pressure, temperature, gas to oil ratio and composition of the crude oil. However, the simplest way to control the phase behavior of CO2 and crude oil is to vary the pressure. At low pressures, CO2 shows very low solubility toward crude oil, in particular, the heavy fraction. Additionally, the dissolving of CO2 in the crude oil causes the crude oil to swell, resulting in increased solubility of asphaltenic species that may be in the crude oil.
As stated earlier, one of the shortcomings of contacting a high density whole crude oil with supercritical water was the production of large quantities of low value coke. This coke production was caused by the inability of the supercritical water to effectively penetrate throughout the high density whole crude oil, particularly the heavy fraction of the whole crude oil. However, since CO2 dissolved in crude oil causes the crude oil to swell, and thus become less dense, combining a CO2 EOR method with supercritical water allows for upgrading the whole crude oil without the production of considerable amounts of coke by facilitating dissolution of the heavy fraction into the supercritical water.
Processing an entire stream of whole crude oil is economically unfeasible as the throughputs are too high. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a simple and economical process to combine a CO2 EOR method of recovery with a supercritical water cracking method, while contacting only the heavy portion of the whole crude oil in order to limit coke conversion, increase overall well production, and produce a final crude oil that is mostly higher value, light fraction.
Furthermore, it would be desirable to have an improved process for upgrading whole crude oils with supercritical water fluid that requires neither an external supply of hydrogen nor the presence of an externally supplied catalyst. It would be advantageous to create a process and apparatus that allows for the upgrade of the whole crude oil, rather than the individual fractions, to reach the desired qualities such that the refining process and various supporting facilities can be simplified.
Additionally, it would be beneficial to have an improved process that did not require complex equipment or facilities associated with other processes that require hydrogen supply or coke removal systems so that they may be implemented at the production site.

Process to upgrade whole crude oil by hot pressurized water and recovery fluid


A device for measuring the surface of a print product, has a measuring head including a measuring light source and measuring light detector. The measuring light source and the measuring light detector each have a directional characteristic, the axes of which are set at different angles relative to the surface of the print product so that if the surface of the print product is ideally level and smooth, no measuring light reaches the measuring light detector. The axes of the measuring light source directional characteristic and the measuring light detector directional characteristic coincide adjacent to the print product, and both form an angle of less than 90 degrees with the surface of the print product.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a device for measuring the surface of a print product.
Such devices are used to determine the optical density of the different printing inks applied and generally have a measuring head which can be moved over the finished print product and determines the optical density of the different colour separations.
2. Disclosure of Relevant Art
Although, in modern printing machines, the ink films of the print products are dried by exposure to heat or light radiation so that the print products do not have to be dried in racks, even after such irradiation the printing inks are still somewhat tacky, so that print products stacked on top of each other can stick together. To prevent this, the upper surface of the print product is frequently dusted over with a fine powder, which may, for example, be finely ground mineral material or finely ground starch. The quantity of the powder mass applied is set on the dusting device according to empirical values and with continuous monitoring of the dusted products. However, with a more precise knowledge of the quantity of the powder mass actually obtained on the print product, it would be possible in many cases to reduce the powder delivery on the dusting device, i.e., to work with a smaller surplus. This would be advantageous not only in terms of a saving in powder, but it would also be possible in this way to prevent powder deposits in the printing machine which can result from the delivery of excessive powder.

Device for measuring the surface of a print product


A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 20 includes a scan executing unit that executes scan to generate sensitivity map data of an RF coil 24, a region reduction unit 44b that applies region reduction to a signal region near a no-signal region of image data obtained by the scan, a sensitivity map data generating unit 44 that generates sensitivity map data using image data after the region reduction, and a smoothing processing unit 44i that applies three-dimensional smoothing filter to the sensitivity map data.

Conventionally, as a monitoring apparatus in medical spots, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 24 has been used (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3135592).
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms gradient magnetic fields in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions in an imaging region of a patient P, who is set inside a cylindrical magnet for static magnetic field 2 forming a static magnetic field, using respective gradient magnetic field coils 3x, 3y, and 3z of a gradient magnetic field coil unit 3 and transmits a radiofrequency (RF) signal of the Larmor frequency from a radio frequency (RF) coil 4 to thereby cause a nuclear spin in the patient P to magnetically resonate and uses a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal caused by excitation to reconstruct an image of the patient.
A static magnetic field is formed inside the magnet for static magnetic field 2 by a static magnetic field power supply 5 in advance. A sequence controller control unit 7a gives a sequence, which is control information for a signal, to a sequence controller 8 according to a command from an input device 6. The sequence controller 8 controls a gradient magnetic field power supply 9, which is connected to the respective gradient magnetic field coils 3x, 3y, and 3z, and a transmitter 10, which gives a radiofrequency signal to the RF coil 4, in accordance with the sequence. Therefore, a gradient magnetic field is formed in the imaging region and the radiofrequency signal is transmitted to the patient P.
In this case, the X-axis gradient magnetic field, the Y-axis gradient magnetic field, and the Z-axis gradient magnetic field formed by the gradient magnetic field coils 3x, 3y, and 3z are mainly used as a phase encoding (PE) gradient magnetic field, a readout (RO) gradient magnetic field, and a slice encoding (SE) gradient magnetic field. Consequently, an X coordinate, a Y coordinate, and a Z coordinate, which are position information of an atomic nucleus, are transformed into a phase and a frequency of a nuclear spin and a position of a slice. The sequence is executed repeatedly while a phase encode amount is changed.
The NMR signal, which is generated according to the excitation of the nuclear spin in the patient P, is received by the RF coil 4 and given to a receiver 11 to be converted into digital raw data. The raw data is taken into the sequence controller control unit 7a via the sequence controller 8. The sequence controller control unit 7a arranges the raw data in a K space (a Fourier space) formed in a raw data database 7b. Then, an image reconstructing unit 7c executes the Fourier transformation on the raw data arranged in the K space, whereby reconstructed image data of the patient P is obtained and stored in the image data database 7d. Moreover, image data is given to a display device 7f and displayed by a display processing unit 7e according to circumstances.
In such a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1, for speedup of imaging, the RF coil 4 includes a whole-body (WB) coil for transmission and a phased-array coil (PAC) serving as a main coil for reception (see, for example, Roemer P B, et al. The NMR Phased-array, MRM 16, 192-225 (1990)). The phased-array coil includes plural surface coils. Thus, the phased-array coil can reduce imaging time by receiving NMR signals using the respective surface coils simultaneously and collecting a large number of raw data in a short time.
Here, in image diagnosis by the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1, it is desired that luminance unevenness (signal intensity unevenness) does not occur in image data that is obtained finally. However, when the RF coil 4 is constituted by the phased-array coil including the plural surface coils, because of non-uniformity of sensitivities of the respective surface coils constituting the RF coil 4, non-uniformity occurs not only in signal intensities of the NMR signals but also in signal intensities of the image data simply obtained by the reconstruction processing according to the Fourier transformation of the raw data. Thus, luminance unevenness occurs in the image data.
Thus, conventionally, a sensitivity pre-scan is executed prior to a main scan to generate an image of the patient P. Then, image data are acquired from the phased-array coil and the WB coil by the sensitivity pre-scan. A sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil is estimated as three-dimensional sensitivity map data on the basis of a signal intensity ratio (SPAC/SWB), which is a division value of signal intensities SPAC and SWB of the respective image data, by a procedure of a flowchart shown in FIG. 25. Luminance of the image data is corrected by the obtained three-dimensional sensitivity map data.
First, a sequence for sensitivity estimation is given to the sequence controller control unit 7a by the sensitivity pre-scan execution unit 7g and sensitivity pre-scan is executed. A WB reconstructed image obtained by the WB coil and a PAC reconstructed image obtained by the phased-array coil are stored in a WB reconstructed image database 7h and a PAC reconstructed image database 7i, respectively.
An estimated value of a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil is calculated by a sensitivity distribution estimating unit 7j on the basis of the WB reconstructed image and the PAC reconstructed image.
In step S1, threshold value processing is executed on the WB reconstructed image and the PAC reconstructed image by a threshold value processing unit 7k. In other words, regions, where signal intensities of the WB reconstructed image and the PAC reconstructed image are equal to or lower than a threshold value, are masked and WB absolute value image data and PAC absolute value image data are generated.
Next, in step S2, a region reduction unit 71 reduces regions after the threshold value processing of the PAC reconstructed image and the WB reconstructed image according to region reduction processing and excludes sections with small signal intensities near the mask regions from data for three-dimensional sensitivity map generation.
Next, in step S3, a division processing unit 7m divides a PAC absolute value image (a signal absolute value of the PAC reconstructed image) in each slice after the threshold value processing and the region reduction processing by a WB absolute value image (a signal absolute value of the WB reconstructed image) to thereby calculate a signal intensity ratio of the PAC absolute value image and the WB absolute value image as three-dimensional sensitivity map data.
Next, in step S4, normalization processing for the three-dimensional sensitivity map data, which is calculated as the signal intensity ratio of the PAC absolute value image and the WB absolute value image, is carried out by a normalizing unit 7n for each slice.
Next, in step 5, a patient inner region interpolating unit 7o applies linear interpolation processing to a no-signal region in the patient P of the three-dimensional sensitivity map data after the normalization processing.
Next, in step S6, in order to estimate a sensitivity distribution in a no-signal region outside the patient, region growing processing is carried out by a patient outer region interpolating unit 7p and a sensitivity distribution of the no-signal region outside the patient is interpolated.
Next, in step S7, a slice direction weighting unit 7q corrects the three-dimensional sensitivity map data by weighting the three-dimensional sensitivity map data in a slice direction such that a sensitivity distribution in the slice direction is made uniform.
Next, in step S8, various kinds of processing such as fitting processing and smoothing processing are carried out by a smoothing processing unit 7r. A sensitivity map is created as volume data in an entire three-dimensional region and stored in a sensitivity map database 7s.
Further, an image acquiring sequence is given to the sequence controller control unit 7a by a main scan execution unit 7t and a main scan is executed. Then, image data is obtained by image reconstruction processing of the image reconstructing unit 7c and stored in the image data database 7d. Moreover, an image data correcting unit 7u corrects luminance of the image data stored in the image data database 7d using the sensitivity map stored in the sensitivity map database 7s. Image data after the luminance correction is given to the display device 7f and displayed by the display processing unit 7e.
In general, a no-signal region is included in image data obtained by the sensitivity pre-scan and the main scan. This is because regions such as lungs are present in a patient forming an imaging region and a no-signal region, where an NMR signal is not generated, is present. Here, in general, a phenomenon in which a signal intensity decreases occurs in a signal region near a boundary of a no-signal region and a signal region in a patient. This affects an estimated value of a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil.
However, in the conventional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1, in the method of interpolating a no-signal region in creating a sensitivity map of the phased-array coil, the region growing processing is only carried out for the no-signal region regardless of the inside and the outside of the patient.
Moreover, the sensitivity pre-scan using the phased-array coil and the sensitivity pre-scan using the WB coil are carried out separately. Thus, it is likely that a gap occurs between a shape of the patient P in the image data acquired by using the phased-array coil and a shape of the patient P in the image data acquired by using the WB coil.
In addition, non-uniformity occurs in signal intensities in a Z-axis direction of a device coordinate system because of not only a sensitivity distribution but also an arrangement characteristic of the respective surface coils of the phased-array coil.
However, in the conventional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1, non-uniformity of signal intensities due to the misregistration of image data in the sensitivity pre-scan and the arrangement characteristic of the surface coils is not taken into account. A sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil is estimated on the basis of a signal intensity ratio of the PAC absolute value image data and the WB absolute value image data, which are obtained simply by applying the threshold value processing to the respective signal intensities of the WB reconstructed image data and the PAC reconstructed image data, respectively, and a sensitivity map is generated.
As a result, in the conventional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1, a problem occurs in that accuracy of the sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil estimated by the sensitivity pre-scan is not obtained sufficiently and luminance of the reconstructed image obtained by the main scan cannot be corrected at sufficient accuracy.
In addition, conventionally, as a monitoring apparatus in medical spots, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 26 is also used (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3135592).
As described above, when the RF coil 4 is constituted by the phased-array coil and the WB coil, because of non-uniformity in sensitivities of the phased-array coil and the WB coil, non-uniformity occurs not only in signal intensities of NMR signals but also in signal intensities of image data obtained by the reconstruction processing. In general, non-uniformity in sensitivities of the WB coil is so small as to be negligible. However, in particular, non-uniformity in sensitivities of the surface coils in the phased-array coil serving as coils adapted to respective purposes is large, which affects image data.
Therefore, it is necessary to correct the non-uniformity in signal intensities in image data due to the non-uniformity in sensitivities of the phased-array coil.
Thus, in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 26, as shown in a flowchart in FIG. 27, in step S1, a sequence for sensitivity estimation is given to the sequence controller control unit 7a by a sensitivity pre-scan executing unit 7g and sensitivity pre-scan is executed using the phased-array coil and the WB coil as reception coils. Then, WB coil image data obtained by the WB coil and main coil image data obtained by the phased-array coil are acquired as image data for estimating a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil and stored in a WB coil image database 7h and a main coil image database 7v, respectively. Therefore, imaging of volume data, which is three-dimensional image data, is carried out twice.
Next, in step S2, an estimated value of a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil is calculated by a sensitivity distribution estimating unit 7j. A signal intensity SPAC of main coil image data shown in (a) in FIG. 28 is divided by a signal intensity SWB of WB coil image data shown in (b) in FIG. 28 by a division processing unit 7w, whereby a signal intensity ratio (SPAC/SWB) of the main coil image data and the WB coil image data shown in (c) in FIG. 28 is calculated as an estimated value of a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil.
In this case, in order to prevent division processing from being applied to regions where the signal intensities SPAC and SWB of the main coil image data and the WB coil image data are less than a threshold value, for example, less than 10% of a maximum value, threshold value processing for the respective signal intensities SPAC and SWB is carried out by a threshold value processing unit 7x as pre-processing of the division processing as required. The respective signal intensities SPAC and SWB in the regions, where the signal intensities SPAC and SWB of the main coil image data and the WB coil image data are less than the threshold value, are masked.
Influence of image data on signal intensities, which is caused by factors other than non-uniformity in a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil such as an image contrast, is cancelled by the division processing having this threshold value processing as pre-processing. Thus, it is possible to estimate a sensitivity distribution at satisfactory accuracy.
Next, interpolation or extrapolation is applied to a no-signal region, which is a data absence section caused by the threshold value processing because of presence of the lung fields or the like, by an interpolation unit 7y to estimate a sensitivity distribution. Further, fitting processing and smoothing processing are carried out over an entire two-dimensional region by a smoothing processing unit 7z to obtain an estimated value curve of the sensitivity distribution shown in (d) in FIG. 28.
Then, the same processing for image data is carried out over respective sections of an entire three-dimensional region to obtain an estimated value of the sensitivity distribution as volume data.
Next, in step S3, the estimated value of the sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil is stored in the sensitivity map database 7s as three-dimensional sensitivity map data.
Next, in step S4, a sequence for image acquisition is given to the sequence controller control unit 7a by the main scan executing unit 7t and main scan is executed using the phased-array coil as a reception coil. Then, row data is collected and image data is obtained by image reconstruction processing of the image reconstructing unit 7c.
Next, in step S5, according to conditions such as an imaging condition including an imaging sectional direction and spatial resolution, a data collection condition, and an image reconstruction condition in the main scan, an image data correcting unit 7u slices corresponding three-dimensional sensitivity map data from the sensitivity map database 7s.
Then, in step S6, the image data correcting unit 7u corrects the image data using the sliced three-dimensional sensitivity map data. Consequently, non-uniformity in signal intensities of the image data is corrected.
On the other hand, a method of estimating a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil as sensitivity map data from image data itself, which is obtained from NMR signals received by the phased-array coil, according to post-processing and correcting signal intensity unevenness of the image data using the obtained sensitivity map data of the phased-array coil is also used. For example, there is a method of generating image data of an extremely low frequency component by executing smoothing processing on the image data obtained by the phased-array coil and substituting the image data for a sensitivity distribution.
In addition, there have been proposed a technique for correcting signal intensity unevenness of image data, which is obtained from NMR signals received by a phased-array coil, with reference to a signal intensity of a radiofrequency signal transmitted from a WB coil (see, for example, JP-A-63-132645) and a technique for correcting signal intensity unevenness of image data using a sensitivity distribution of a phased-array coil stored in advance and position information of the phased-array coil obtained by estimation from image data (see, for example, JP-A-7-59750).
However, in the conventional method of estimating a sensitivity distribution of a phased-array coil on the basis of a division value (SigPAC/SigWB) of signal intensity values SigPAC and SigWB of image data obtained from a phased-array coil and a WB coil by sensitivity pre-scan and correcting signal intensities of the image data, there is a problem in that the time required for the sensitivity pre-scan is long. Therefore, for example, when an abdomen of a patient P is imaged, breath-holding time is extended according to execution time of the sensitivity pre-scan.
In addition, it is likely that misregistration in the patient P occurs between collection of image data using the phased-array coil and collection of image data using the WB coil because of a cause such as movement of the patient P or the like. Moreover, in order to acquire image data from both the phased-array coil and the WB coil, decoupling between the phased-array coil and the WB coil is required to be complete.
On the other hand, in the method of correcting signal intensity unevenness of image data using a sensitivity distribution of a phased-array coil estimated by post-processing from the image data itself obtained by the phased-array coil, correction of signal intensities of the image data is insufficient because accuracy of estimation of a sensitivity distribution of the phased-array coil is low. Thus, it is impossible to obtain uniformity of image data after correction, which is obtained finally, sufficiently.
There is also a problem in that it is difficult to always apply correction to various image types at sufficient accuracy. For example, when image data is image data having a desired contrast like T1 weighted image data and T2 weighted image data, even if the smoothing processing is applied to the image data to estimate a sensitivity distribution, image data showing the sensitivity distribution also has a contrast. Thus, it is impossible to use image data after the smoothing processing as a sensitivity distribution.
Moreover, it is difficult to consistently perform correction of image data in all slices in imaging by multi-slice.
The invention has been devised in order to cope with such conventional circumstances and it is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that is capable of estimating a sensitivity distribution of an RF coil accurately on the basis of image data obtained by implementation of sensitivity pre-scan and correcting luminance of image data obtained by implementation of main scan satisfactorily on the basis of the obtained sensitivity distribution of the RF coil and a data processing method for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.
It is another object of the invention to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that is capable of correcting signal intensity unevenness of image data due to non-uniformity in a sensitivity distribution of a reception coil in a shorter time and at satisfactory accuracy regardless of an imaging condition such as image types and a data processing method for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

Magnetic resonance imaging device and data processing method for magnetic resonance imaging device


A method and system for estimating noise variance. A method for noise variance estimation comprises receiving a first multi-sample symbol and receiving a second multi-sample symbol. The first multi-sample symbol is subtracted from the second multi-sample symbol to produce a set of noise samples. The set of noise samples is used to produce a noise variance estimate. The noise variance estimate is applied in various tasks (e.g. channel estimation, log-likelihood ratio computation, and/or minimum mean squared error equalization) to process data provided to a user.

Wireless communications systems have become a ubiquitous feature of modern society. Wireless system performance is affected by various conditions that distort or interfere with the wireless signals. Additive noise, which may be induced by the system components themselves or by external noise sources, is one factor affecting the quality of received signals in a wireless system. Noise variance is a measure of the statistical dispersion of the noise magnitude of a received signal. In communication systems, the receiver processing may require an estimation of the noise variance for a variety of reasons. For example, minimum mean-squared error ("MMSE") equalization and log-likelihood ratio ("LLR") computation use the noise variance. Channel estimation may also be improved if the noise variance is known prior to computation of the channel estimate. Accordingly, estimation of the noise variance of a received signal without knowledge of the channel is desirable.


An apparatus and method for notifying a user if a mobile terminal is located in an area where its power consumption is high is provided. The voltage level of a battery provided to the mobile terminal is detected. If the detected battery voltage level is reduced by at least a predetermined reference value or more for a predetermined period of time, the mobile terminal determines that the mobile terminal is located in an area where power consumption is high, and then informs the user thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for checking battery power consumption, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for informing a mobile terminal user that he/she entered a location where power consumption of the mobile terminal is high.
2. Description of the Related Art
Saving battery power is very important to mobile terminal users. An important development in mobile terminal technology was to provide an indicator or icon to display the remaining battery level of a battery of a mobile terminal. A general method for displaying the remaining battery level of a mobile terminal is to schematically display battery voltage level on a display of the terminal and alert the user of a low battery level with a beeping or buzzing sound if the remaining battery level is reduced below a predetermined level. However, the conventional battery level display method simply displays the remaining battery level, and cannot inform the user of an amount current battery power being consumed by the terminal during the use of certain functions of the mobile terminal.
A description will now be given of how the conventional terminal displays battery power level with reference to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart showing a conventional method for informing a user of battery power consumption of a mobile terminal. First, if a mobile terminal is powered on at step 200, the procedure moves to step 202 to detect the battery voltage level of the terminal. Then, at step 204, it is determined if the battery voltage level has been detected a predetermined number of times. If the battery voltage level has been detected the predetermined number of times, the procedure moves to step 206 to calculate an average of the detected battery voltage levels. If not, the procedure returns to step 202. At step 208, the procedure compares the average voltage level calculated at step 206 with a previously stored average voltage level. If the average voltage level calculated at step 206 is equal to the previously stored average voltage level, the procedure moves to step 202 to redetect the battery voltage level. On the other hand, if the average voltage level calculated at step 206 is lower than the previously stored average voltage level, the calculated average voltage level is displayed at step 210.
As described above, in the conventional method, the mobile terminal cannot inform the user if it is located in an area where its power consumption is high, but simply displays the remaining battery voltage level. The conventional mobile terminal has high power consumption if it is located in a dead zone or a weak signal strength area where it is difficult to receive radio signals. However, if the user uses the terminal without knowing that it is located in such a high power consumption area, the battery time is reduced, compared to when the terminal is located in an area where it receives normal radio signals. For this reason, the user needs to be informed of whether the mobile terminal is currently located in a high power consumption area.
As described above, in the prior art, even when the mobile terminal is located in an area where the battery power consumption is rapidly varying, the terminal cannot provide the user with any information as to whether it is located in such an area. The user may continue to use the terminal without being aware of such a situation, with the result that battery power is rapidly consumed.

Apparatus and method for alerting a user of increased battery power consumption in mobile terminal


A discharge apparatus for media comprises two functional units, each including a medium reservoir, a discharge unit operatively connected to the medium reservoir, and a depressible discharge actuator operatively connected to the discharge unit. A mechanism is further provided for simultaneously depressing the discharge actuators. At least one of the functional units is movable with its associated discharge actuator over part of the depression of the discharge actuator, so that the media are not discharged from the medium reservoirs during movement of the functional units.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a discharge apparatus with which at least one flowable medium can be manually discharged. The flowable medium can have a random aggregate state, but is preferably a pasty, liquid and/or pulverulent material. Such discharge apparatuses appropriately have at least one medium reservoir and at least one discharge unit, which can be formed by a manually driveable pump, an aerosol valve, etc. there is also a discharge actuator, which is mainly formed by a pushbutton and which is actuated over an actuation stroke, whereof at least part of the actuation stroke can simultaneously comprise a discharge stroke by means of which the medium is discharged from the discharge apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For numerous reasons in the case of discharge apparatuses of this type, there can be a need over part of the actuation stroke for discharge not to take place or only to take place at a delivery speed, which is much lower than the maximum delivery speed. If, e.g, two discharge units are simultaneously operated by means of a common discharge actuator, it can be appropriate to modify and/or start the discharge strokes of the two discharge units in a slaggered manner. If this is brought about by delaying the pressure buildup in the pressure chamber by using discharge pumps as the discharge units, a very complicated and not very reliable device results. An at least partial separation of the discharge stroke from the actuating strokes can also be advantageous for other reasons, for example to prevent unauthorized use of the device by allowing, an actuation, but not a discharge of the apparatus in a predetermined functional position.
The problem addressed by the invention is to provide a discharge apparatus of the aforementioned type, which avoids the disadvantages of known constructions. In particular, it must be possible in a simple manner to separate the discharge stroke from at least part of the actuating stroke, without any special requirements having to be made on the working characteristics of the discharge unit.

Media discharge apparatus for housing a movable reservoir


The microswitch 6 is turned on when the foldable Y arm 1 is in the operative position for embroidery stitching and is turned off when the Y arm 1 is not in the operative position, and the X-Y motor drive prohibition device 87 is responsive to the on-signal of the microswitch 6 to withdraw the prohibition of driving and to drive the X-and Y-drive motors 15, 46.

The present invention relates to an embroidery sewing machine.
Generally the embroidery sewing machine includes an embroidering frame which holds a cloth to be stitched and is moved in the X-Y directions relative to the machine needle so that an embroidery pattern may be stitched on the cloth. In this connection, it is known that there are some types of embroidery sewing machines. In one type of the machines, the X-Y direction drive mechanism is formed separately from the machine body and is connected to the machine body at the outside thereof when the embroidery stitching operation is performed. This type may be called a machine of exterior mechanism. In the other type of the machines, the X-Y direction drive mechanism is formed within the machine body. This type may be called a machine of built-in mechanism.
Further, there is proposed a machine of the third type wherein the Y-direction drive mechanism part may be turned and folded up as shown in US Patent application publication No. US 2002/0083872 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,365 and US Patent application publication No. US 2006/0278147 A1 filed by the applicant of the present application.
In case of the third type of the machine wherein the Y-direction drive mechanism may be folded up, the machine mechanism can be driven when the Y-direction drive mechanism is in folded up position or in inoperative position. Such movement of the machine when the Y-direction drive mechanism is in the folding position or in the inoperative position may cause damage of the machine and derive dangerous situation.
It is not easy for the users of the sewing machine to know whether the Y-direction drive mechanism is in an operative position or not, and it is likely to start to drive the machine when the Y-direction drive mechanism is in inoperative position. Further the Y-direction drive mechanism easily moves from the operative position when operating, which may cause a dangerous situation and damage the machine.
It is the object to resolve such problem of the prior art of the sewing machine having the foldable Y-direction drive mechanism.


A frequency-locked loop circuit has a digital control oscillator that generates a clock, and an FLL controller that generates a frequency control code to control an oscillation frequency of the clock. The FLL controller has a frequency comparison unit and a delay code control unit. The frequency comparison unit compares a frequency of a clock generated by the digital control oscillator with a frequency of a multiplied reference clock. The delay code control unit generates, based on a comparison result of the frequency comparison unit, the frequency control code so that the frequency of the clock generated by the digital control oscillator matches the frequency of the multiplied reference clock. The frequency comparison unit determines the frequency of the clock by using first and second thresholds. The delay code control unit generates the frequency control code according to a determination of the frequency comparison unit.

The present invention relates to a frequency-locked loop circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit incorporating the frequency-locked loop circuit.
Heretofore, low-power-consumption microcomputers (a microcomputer, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, and the like are hereinafter collectively called "a microcomputer") incorporate a real time clock (RTC) function in many cases. In addition, it is necessary to improve the battery life of mobile devices, such as a smartphone and a digital still camera (DSC), which operate on a battery. Furthermore, white goods, such as a refrigerator and a washing machine, are required to be environmentally and economically friendly (eco-friendly) and to have an improved energy-saving performance. Under such circumstances, a microcomputer having a low voltage, low power consumption, and high performance tends to incorporate therein a clock dedicated chip RTC, which is an external component, and needs to be provided with an external crystal oscillator having a frequency of 32.768 KHz.
In an LSI (Large Scale Integration) of a microcomputer, a high-frequency clock is generated from a low-frequency clock of 32.768 KHz. A PLL (Phase Locked Loop: phase-locked loop circuit) is known as a typical technique for supplying the high-frequency clock to the inside of the LSI.
The PLL is a clock generator that multiplies an externally-supplied reference clock and supplies a high-frequency clock to the inside of the LSI. The PLL is conventionally designed with an LPF characteristic to be equal to 1/10 (min ¼) of that of the reference clock so as to realize a stable operation against noise and fluctuation of the reference clock (see Sung Tae Moon, Ari Yakov Valero-L'opez, and Edgar S'anchez-Sinencio "FULLY INTEGRATED FREQUENCY SYNTHESIZERS: A TUTORIAL", International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems @ World Scientific Publishing Company). Accordingly, in many cases, the PLL is not used in the LSI that is supplied with only a low-frequency reference clock.
This is because when the PLL is used in the LSI that is supplied with only a low-frequency reference clock, the LPF characteristic thereof has a cut-off frequency of several KHz, and when the PLL is realized using monolithic capacitive elements and resistive elements, a large area is required, which is impractical in terms of cost. For example, when the input frequency is 32.768 KHz, a capacitance value of about 1 [nF] is required at about 3.2 KHz.
Thus, in place of the PLL, an FLL (Frequency Locked Loop) is widely applied as a clock generator capable of generating, as with the PLL, a high-frequency clock in an LSI with a small area.
While the FLL has an advantage of being capable of generating a high-frequency clock from a low-frequency clock with a small area, the FLL has a technical problem that a time for acquiring a frequency lock (a lock time or a set ring time) (hereinafter referred to as "lock time") is long because a low-frequency clock is used as a reference.
For example, the Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication for Patent Application, No. 2004-520779 discloses a frequency locked-loop circuit that restores a clock from a signal transmitted through an optical fiber. This frequency locked-loop circuit includes a loop for locking a frequency and a loop for locking a phase, and has an object to simplify a dual-loop clock recovery circuit.
The FLL circuit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-188699 achieves a reduction in lock time, which is a conventional problem to be solved. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a digital control oscillator of related art. As shown in FIG. 19, a digital control oscillator 510 includes a 2-input NAND gate 511 with one input terminal supplied with a reset signal Reset, and a digital control variable delay circuit 512 including N−1 delay cells each having a unit delay amount td. The number of delay stages N−1 of the digital control variable delay circuit 512 is set at a given value in the range from a minimum value "0" to a maximum value "31" according to the control by the digital control unit 520. Since the 2-input NAND gate 511 also has the unit delay amount td, a total delay time N·td of the 2-input NAND gate 511 and the digital control variable delay circuit 512 of the circuit type of a delay ring oscillation unit can be set within the range from a minimum delay time 1·td to a maximum delay time 32·td. This digital control oscillator can control frequencies by switching the number of delay stages.
In the FLL circuit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-188699, a memory circuit is provided to the inside of an IP, or to an LSI that incorporates the IP, and a plurality of bits of design information or evaluation result information on the oscillation frequency of the digital control oscillator of the FLL circuit are stored into the memory circuit, thereby making it possible to significantly reduce the lock time.

Frequency-locked loop circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit


To prevent a flap of an envelope from sticking to an envelope main body, an image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion forming a toner image on the envelope; a fixing device fixing the toner image onto the envelope by heating the envelope while conveying the envelope on which the toner image is formed by the image forming portion; and a conveying roller pair that rotates while nipping the envelope, onto which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device, to convey the envelope. A driven roller of the conveying roller pair includes driven runners divided in a rotary shaft center direction, and one driven runner located at one end is inclined in a direction separating from another driven runner so that an outer peripheral surface of the one driven runner is brought into contact with a corner portion of a rubber roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which is configured to fix a toner image on an envelope.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system, such as a copying machine and a printer, has been configured to fix a toner image on an envelope, onto which the toner image is formed by an image forming portion, by conveying and heating the envelope with use of a fixing device. After that, in the image forming apparatus, the envelope is nipped by a pair of rotary members, and is conveyed by the rotation thereof. When the envelope is heated by the fixing device, the moisture in the envelope often evaporates.
A water-soluble adhesive is often applied to the flap (flap part) of the envelope. Therefore, when the envelope is heated by the fixing device, the moisture of the envelope may evaporate, and the adhesive applied to the flap may dissolve by the evaporated moisture. When the envelope is nipped thereafter by a conveying roller or the like, the flap may stick to the envelope main body.
There is known an image forming apparatus including a flap releasing mechanism for forcibly separating the flap from the envelope main body in order to prevent the flap from sticking to the envelope main body (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-94067).
The flap releasing mechanism of the conventional image forming apparatus has a certain size, and is provided at a position at a distance from the fixing device. Therefore, the flap releasing mechanism often peels off the flap after the flap is stuck to the envelope main body, and thus the envelope is damaged in some cases.


A method for selecting conifer trees is disclosed. This method relates to the early measurement of tree characteristics for selecting trees most likely to exhibit certain traits as they mature. This method can be used for implementing silvicultural treatments, thinning or further breeding.

The growth attributes and physical characteristics of a conifer tree contribute to the value assessed that tree after a commercial harvest. Such value may be measured by the stem quality, volume of wood and wood quality measures such as strength and stiffness. The earlier these characteristics can be accurately assessed, the more a given site can be planted with trees that provide larger volume and more desirable wood characteristics per acre.


A data mapping architecture for mapping between two or more data sources without modifying the metadata or structure of the data sources themselves. Data mapping also supports updates. The architecture also supports at least the case where data sources that are being mapped, are given, their schemas predefined, and cannot be changed. The architecture includes a mapping component that receives respective metadata from at least two arbitrary data models, and maps expressions between the data models.

The free flow of information prevalent today in wired and wireless regimes demands that the source and destination be compatible insofar as storing and interpreting the data for use. The world is populated with information sources where in many cases the data is represented differently from source to source. A major problem facing companies and individuals today is that data existing in one format may be needed in a different format for another purpose. However, such processes are being hampered by a largely disparate and ever-changing set of datasets. Such an example can be found in data warehousing where data is received from many different sources for storage and quick access from other sources. Converting from one data representation to another is not only time-consuming and resource intensive, but can be fraught with conversion problems, and in some cases, totally impracticable due to the complexity.

Mapping architecture for arbitrary data models


A method, and corresponding computer program product and system, defines and uses marker points within a modeled manufacturing process routing that includes multiple sequenced operations. The method includes receiving user input that defines one or more marker points within the modeled manufacturing process routing and between sequential ones of the operations. The marker points define a user-defined point within a manufacturing process and include one of multiple defined types that each define a different use to be made by the marker point. The method also includes detecting if any marker points of a specified one of the defined types have been defined in the manufacturing process routing. If a marker point having the specified one of the defined types is detected, a predefined computing function is executed that uses the detected marker point.

A manufacturing planning and execution computing system may be used in a manufacturing environment that produces products according to a demand for those products. Such a system is able to control and track the operation of the manufacturing process, and uses predefined manufacturing process master data that typically is made up of many defined execution operations. Each of the separate execution operation definitions may include, for example, what the inputs to the operation are, what machinery (or resource) must, or may, be used in the operation, and what the output of the operation is. This predefined master data also typically defines a process flow, or linkage, between each of the individual manufacturing operations. During execution of the system, the system controls and tracks each of the operations in the overall process.
The manufacturing process master data and routing definitions are, in a typical case, defined by a process designer or engineer. The master data and routing definitions typically define each of the operations of the manufacturing process in detail, and how each of the operations relates to other operations. The manufacturing master data and routing definitions are generally defined up front, before the manufacturing process is ever run, and are generally not changed very frequently. In other words, the master data and routing definitions are not intended to be changed on a day-to-day basis, but rather are set up at the beginning to achieve an efficiently operating manufacturing entity.

Modeling manufacturing processes to include defined markers


Method for manufacturing floor panels, where the floor panels include a carrier on the basis of thermoplastic material and a top layer provided on the carrier; and where the method further includes at least the steps of strewing the thermoplastic material and consolidating the strewn thermoplastic material; where the thermoplastic material is strewn as a dry-blend.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing floor panels, wherein the floor panels comprise a carrier on the basis of thermoplastic material and a top layer provided on the carrier. It is noted that by the term "thermoplastic material", a material has to be understood which comprises at least a thermoplastic synthetic material. Apart from the thermoplastic synthetic material, the thermoplastic material may also comprise fillers, such as chalk or lime, and/or additives, such as plasticizers, impact modifiers and stabilizers. It is also noted that by "a carrier on the basis of thermoplastic material" a carrier has to be understood which indeed comprises thermoplastic material, however, which does not have to consist thereof entirely or substantially. Floor panels with a carrier on the basis of thermoplastic material have the advantage that they can be made waterproof. It is also noted that by the term "carrier", the portion of the floor panels is indicated except the top layer. Thus, the carrier has a supporting function for the top layer provided thereon. The top layer which is applied on top of the carrier preferably is of a decorative nature.
Still more particularly, the invention relates to a method as described herein above, wherein the floor panels are suitable for being applied in a so-called floating floor covering. For forming such floating floor covering, the floor panels can be provided with mechanical coupling means or coupling parts on one or more of their edges. These coupling means allow coupling the floor panels to each other, and preferably they effect a horizontal as well as a vertical locking among the coupled floor panels. The coupling parts preferably are at least partially manufactured from the material of the carrier, and they may or may not make use of a separate locking element or an insert, as described as such in, amongst others, the documents WO 2006/043893 A1, WO 2008/068245 A1 and WO 2009/066153 A2.
From the state of the art, various methods such as described herein above are known, wherein below a non-exhaustive list of such known methods will be given.
Documents U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,009 B1 and WO 2011/141849 A2 describe the application of an extrusion process for forming the thermoplastic carrier described therein. Such extrusion process, however, mostly is slow. Moreover, extruded boards or panels tend to warp. Apart therefrom, when extruding rigid thermoplastic material, there is a risk of degradation of the material. Such rigid material indeed mostly is characterized by a high melt viscosity, which during extruding may lead to a disadvantageously high friction heat. The presence of fillers, such as chalk or lime, does not help here, in view of the fact that they will further increase the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic material. The extrusion process also offers only limited possibilities for varying the composition of the carrier material across the thickness thereof. A possibility is providing empty chambers in the carrier, such as described in US '009. Although this may lead to a certain weight reduction, the thermoplastic carrier still remains quite expensive. WO '849 further describes the foaming of the thermoplastic carrier. This may result in a certain weight reduction.
From document EP 2 481 848 A1, a floor product is known which comprises two synthetic material-based semi-finished products laminated together, namely a first and a second semi-finished product. For forming the second semi-finished product, calendering and laminating techniques are applied. However, such calendering techniques mostly are expensive. Moreover, the calendering process results in floor panels with very high density. Apart therefrom, with rigid thermoplastic material, the speed of the calendering process is limited due to the mostly high melt viscosity of such material.
Document WO 2013/179261 A1 discloses the strewing of thermoplastic granulates, after which said strewn granulates are consolidated between the belts of a continuous press device. More specifically, according to WO '261 successively two layers of granulate are strewn, wherein a reinforcement layer is enclosed between these two layers. Such strewing process allows a smooth production. Such process also offers the possibility of variation in the composition of the substrate. For example, various granulates can be strewn in the successive layers. The strewing technique, such as described in WO '261, however also results in floor panels with high density.
The present invention relates in particular to a method for manufacturing floor panels, wherein the floor panels comprise a carrier on the basis of thermoplastic material and a top layer provided on the carrier; and wherein the method comprises at least the steps of strewing the thermoplastic material, for example, on an underlying transport conveyor, and consolidating the strewn thermoplastic material.
Such method is known as such from the already herein above-mentioned document WO '261, as well as, amongst others, from the documents WO 2008/122668 A1, WO 2013/179260 A1, which is related to WO '261, WO 2014/117887 A1 and WO 2015/011049 A1.
WO '668 describes a method for manufacturing laminated floor panels with a core of Wood Plastic Composite or WPC. The method comprises, amongst others, the strewing of WPC material on an underlying transport belt, after which the strewn WPC material, under the influence of pressure and temperature, is treated further and is consolidated. The WPC material is strewn in the form of granulates.
From WO '887, a method is known for manufacturing a carrier for decorative floor panels. The method comprises the strewing of a granulated thermoplastic basic material. Apart from the thermoplastic, the basic material also comprises a filler and a pore-forming agent. As an example of a pore-forming agent, an expandable microsphere is mentioned. The strewn basic material is consolidated. To this aim, as described, a double-belt press can be applied.
WO '049 discloses a method for manufacturing floor panels, which comprises the step of strewing a thermoplastic material in the form of a granulate. Thereafter, the strewn material is processed and consolidated by means of a press device.
In each of the herein above-mentioned documents WO '668. WO '260, WO '261, WO '887 and WO '049, the thermoplastic material described therein is strewn as a granulate. Such granulate is obtained by granulating an extrudate on the basis of a heated or molten dry-blend. By a dry-blend, as known as such from the state of the art, a dry, freely flowing powder has to be understood, which apart from the synthetic material also comprises additives, such as plasticizers and stabilizers, and/or fillers, such as chalk or lime. For forming the dry-blend, the synthetic material is mixed with the additives and/or the fillers, wherein the applied temperature will remain below the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the synthetic material.
When manufacturing a carrier on the basis of strewn and consolidated synthetic material granulate, obtaining a homogeneous carrier is difficult. In fact, the original synthetic material granulates rarely are completely molten again during consolidating. Moreover, the dimension of the granulate limits the minimally obtainable layer thickness. WO '260 provides the strewing of so-called micro-granulate, whereby the limit of the minimally obtainable layer thickness is lowered further. Preparing micro-granulate, however, requires special techniques. Moreover, the granulating process can alter the features of a component of the dry-blend such that the function of the component will be lost entirely or partially. Such loss of function may be, for example, the consequence of a heating of the dry-blend up into the region of or above the glass transition temperature of the respective synthetic material.

Method for manufacturing floor panels and floor panel for forming a floor covering


A contents recording and reproducing apparatus performs a record and a reproduce of a recording medium, in which the recording medium records a title key file registering therein at least one title key which encrypts each of plural title contents corresponding to a program video or sound, and title contents encrypted by the title key. The contents recording and reproducing apparatus includes an TKF initializing unit 141 which generates a title key file and records it in the recording medium, a random number generating unit 111 which generates a random number corresponding to each of the plural title key files, and a recording unit 113 which records a plurality of title key files in a DVD medium 140. The TKF initializing unit 141 registers the random number, the TKF random number corresponding to the title key file, and an encryption title key.

As disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, in order to prevent unauthorized copy of contents recorded in the recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), conventionally there is known a technique in which an encryption process is performed to each of the plural title contents which are of contents of the program video or sound using the different title key, and the encrypted title contents are recorded in the DVD medium.
In the technique disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, each of the plural title key is encrypted using a device key and a random number, and the encrypted title key and the random number are registered in the title key file and recorded in the DVD medium. The device key is imparted in each recording and reproducing apparatus such as a DVD recorder which rightly records and reproduces the contents. The random number is randomly generated. In the case where the title contents are reproduced, the encrypted title key registered in the title key file is decrypted using the random number and the device key of the recording and reproducing apparatus used for the reproduction, and the title contents are decrypted using the decrypted title key to reproduce the title contents.
In the case where a part of the title contents is deleted in a rewritable DVD medium, the title key file is updated. Specifically, the title key file is decrypted once, a random number is newly generated, the title key file in which the title key corresponding to the title contents deleted from the DVD medium is deleted using the device key is encrypted again using the new random number and the device key, and the title key file is recorded in the DVD medium. Therefore, it is possible to prevent attack in which the title key corresponding to the deleted title contents is previously copied and the deleted title contents are improperly reproduced using the copied title key.
Like this contents protection using the title key is effective technique for preventing unauthorized use of the contents in the DVD medium. However, in the case where the title key file cannot be read because a part of an area cannot be read by stains and flaws in the DVD medium, or in the case where a user deletes the title key file by mistake, the title contents cannot be decrypted, and the reproduction cannot be performed. Therefore, a copy of the title key file is recorded as a backup file in the DVD medium, and the backup file is used as the title key file when the title key file cannot be read due to breakage of the title key file or the like.    [Non-Patent Document 1: Advanced Access Content System (AACS) Recordable Video Book Revision 0.90

Apparatus, method, and program product for recording and reproducing contents


A method for testing for multiple organ failure in SIRS, which comprises determining cytochrome C in body fluid and using the determined result as an index of the multiple organ failure, and a reagent for testing for multiple organ failure in SIRS, which comprises a reagent for determination of cytochrome C in body fluid.

The present invention relates to a method and a reagent for testing multiple organ failure in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
SIRS is a syndrome in which the immune system is nonspecifically activated without a specific target in response to invasion to a living body and thus control of cytokine production becomes impossible to cause severe multiple organ failure, in contrast to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) in which cytokine levels increase in response to a specific antigen (an autoantigen such as double strand DNA in SLE and an alloantigen in GVHD) to cause inflammation (Bone RC, Crit Care Med 24: 1125–1128, 1996; Davies M G. Et al., Br J Surgery 84: 920–935, 1997).
SIRS includes hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), septicemia, severe pancreatitis such as acute pancreatitis, postoperative organ disorder, is observed in ICU patients in most cases, and is a syndrome of which prognosis is difficult.
As for an index of multiple organ failure, judgment has been made by scoring physical signs such as body temperature, respiratory frequence, blood gas and heart rate. However, the judgment is considered to be poor in objectivity.

Method and reagent for testing for multiple organ failure in SIRS by cytochrome C measurement


The subject invention provides a viscoelastic polyurethane foam being flame retardant and having a density of greater than two and a half pounds per cubic foot that comprises a reaction product of an isocyanate component, an isocyanate-reactive blend, and a chain extender. The isocyanate-reactive blend includes a first isocyanate-reactive component and a second isocyanate-reactive component. The first isocyanate-reactive component includes at least 60 parts by weight of ethylene oxide (EO) based on 100 parts by weight of the first isocyanate-reactive component and the second isocyanate-reactive component includes at most 30 parts by weight of EO based on 100 parts by weight of the second isocyanate-reactive component. The chain extender is reactive with the isocyanate component and has a backbone chain with from two to eight carbon atoms and is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the foam. A composition useful in making the viscoelastic polyurethane foam is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a viscoelastic polyurethane foam having a density of greater than two and a half pounds per cubic foot. More specifically, the viscoelastic polyurethane foam is flame retardant yet is formed of a composition that is substantially free of flame retardant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various related art viscoelastic foams are a reaction product of an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive blend. The blends typically include a first isocyanate-reactive component and a second isocyanate-reactive component. Examples of these related art foams are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,300; European Patent Application No. 1,178,061; and PCT Publication WO 01/32736.
Viscoelastic polyurethane foam is currently a niche application in the United States. It is used mainly in home and office furnishings, although a considerable amount of work has been conducted for automotive applications. The market for viscoelastic foam in home furnishings applications is currently estimated at about 25 million lbs/yr. in the United States. While the market size is now relatively small, it is growing at an estimated rate of about 20% to 30% per year.
Viscoelastic foam exhibits slow recovery, and thus high hysteresis, during a compression cycle. They also typically have low ball rebound values. These properties may result from either low airflow, as the recovery is limited by the rate of air re-entering the foam, or by the inherent properties of the foamed polymer. Polymer viscoelasticity is usually temperature-sensitive, and is maximized when the polymer undergoes a glass transition. For the viscoelastic foams currently studied, this glass transition results from vitrification of the polyether soft segment phase. By manipulating the structure and composition of the soft segment phase so that the glass transition temperature approximately coincides with the use temperature of the material, the viscoelastic nature of the material is maximized. When this material is used in a mattress or as a seat cushion, body heat from the user warms a portion of the material, thus softening it. The result is that the cushion molds to the shape of the body part in contact with it, creating a more uniform pressure distribution, which increases comfort. In addition, the remainder of the material remains hard, providing support. Thus, the temperature sensitivity increases the effective support factor of the material, allowing the construction of a mattress without metal springs.
The type of isocyanate component and the functionality and hydroxyl value of isocyanate-reactive component can be selected and formulated such that the glass transition occurs at a temperature at which the foam is used. Viscoelastic foams can also result from low airflow, or porosity. While most of the physical properties of viscoelastic foams resemble those of conventional foams, the resilience of viscoelastic foams is much lower, generally less than about 15%. Suitable applications for viscoelastic foam take advantage of its shape conforming, energy attenuating, and sound damping characteristics. One way to achieve these characteristics is to modify the amount and type of isocyanate-reactive components, isocyanate components, surfactants, catalysts, fillers as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,259, or other components, to arrive at foams having low resilience, good softness, and the right processing characteristics. Too often, however, the window for processing these formulations is undesirably narrow.
It is another aspect of these related art patents to produce flexible foam that is flame retardant. Typically, this has been accomplished by adding flame retardant to the compositions, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,170. The '170 patent discloses a viscoelastic foam formed from an isocyanate-reactive blend. However, the '170 patent discloses adding flame retardant to make the resulting foam flame resistant. The flame retardant may compromise the integrity of the viscoelasticity, generates toxic chemicals if burned, and adds additional costs to production. However, others have attempted to produce the flame-retardant foam without employing any flame retardant in the composition. These approaches modify the amount of the isocyanate-reactive blend as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,611. The '611 patent discloses an isocyanate-reactive blend formed from hydrophilic compounds and hydrophobic compounds. The '611 patent also discloses utilizing flame retardant to increase the flame resistance, but it does not disclose the foam formed from the isocyanate-reactive blend as having any viscoelastic properties. Other related art foams are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,334,031; 4,374,935; and 4,568,702; PCT Publication WO 01/25305; European Patent No. 0934962; and European Patent Application Nos. 1125958 and 0778301. However, none of these related art patents discloses or suggests the unique and novel viscoelastic polyurethane foam of the subject invention.
Other approaches to making viscoelastic foam hinge on finding the right mixture of polyether polyols and other components. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,156 arrives at a soft, low-resilience foam with a mixture of high and low molecular weight polyols, each of which has a hydroxyl functionality of at least 2, and a plasticizer having a solidification point less than −20 degrees C. However, the '156 patent does not disclose a viscoelastic foam. U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,170 teaches use of a mixture that includes one polyol having a hydroxyl functionality of 2.3–2.8, and another polyol having functionality 2–3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,395 takes a similar approach with a polyol mixture that contains a 2500 to 6500 molecular weight polyol having a functionality of 2.5 to 6 and a rigid polyol having molecular weight 300 to 1000 and a functionality of 2.5 to 6. Neither the '170 patent nor the '395 patent disclose adding a chain extender to the composition to modify the glass transition temperature of the foams.
Another related art composition is disclosed in a paper titled "Novel MDI-Based Slabstock Foam Technology" by Lutter and Mente. The composition disclosed produces a viscoelastic foam from a isocyanate prepolymer, a flexible polyol, and an ethylene-oxide rich polyol. However, the paper does not disclose a chain extender present in significant amounts to produce the viscoelastic foam having the improved properties.
Monols, such as monofunctional alcohols, have also been included in flexible polyurethane foams for various reasons, but they have rarely been used in a viscoelastic foam such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,935. The '935 patent discloses a TDI based viscoelastic foam and it does not disclose a foam substantially free of TDI. The '935 patent also does not disclose using a chain extender to modify the glass transition temperature of the foam. Most references that include a monol teach compositions that form foams having high resilience, such as, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,880; 3,875,086; and 3,405,077. However, none of these references disclose using a composition being substantially free of flame retardant and that includes chain extenders to produce the viscoelastic foam. Other references teach the use of low molecular weight monofunctional materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,319 teaches use of a C1–C25 monoalcohol combined with a hydroxyketone in non-viscoelastic foam. U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,593 discloses a naphthol or other "bulky" monohydroxy compound to make an energy-absorbing foam. Both the '319 patent and the '593 do not disclose a viscoelastic foam according to the subject invention. Including low-molecular-weight (<1000), high hydroxyl number (>60 mg KOH/g) monols in viscoelastic foams adversely impacts important foam properties, particularly compression sets. In addition, any monol can remain largely unreacted, especially in a low-index formulation, resulting in a foam that is oily to the touch and provide poor "hand feel".
European Patent Application No. 0913414 teaches viscoelastic polyurethane foams that may contain a polyether monol. The monol, which has a molecular weight less than 1500, is used with a polyol that has a molecular weight greater than 1800. All of the examples produce a foam formed with a low isocyanate index of less than 90. U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,695 teaches use of a monofunctional alcohol or polyether to soften flexible polyurethane foams. The formulations also include a 2000 to 6500 molecular weight triol. The '695 patent does not disclose a viscoelastic foam that is flame retardant without additional flame retardant being added.
These foams are characterized by one or more inadequacies. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a viscoelastic polyurethane foam that overcomes these inadequacies. Moreover, it would be advantageous to provide a viscoelastic foam that has a density from greater than two and a half pounds per cubic foot formed from a composition that is substantially free of flame retardant and that is a reaction product of an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive blend, such that the foam is flame retardant.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator is formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic thin strips each having a plurality of teeth parts. The magnetic thin strip includes an elliptical-shaped inner diameter part formed along tip end portions of the plural teeth parts. At least one magnetic thin strip in the laminated magnetic thin strips is shifted by a given angle with respect to other magnetic thin strips in a horizontal direction, and positions of all teeth parts of the laminated magnetic thin strips correspond to one another to reduce cogging torque.

In a stator (also called a stator core) of a motor, pure iron, an electromagnetic steel sheet, an amorphous magnetic material, or a magnetic material with nanocrystal grains is used as a laminating member. As the amorphous magnetic material or the magnetic material with nanocrystal grains has a fraction of iron loss as compared with the electromagnetic steel sheet, such magnetic material is used for the purpose of increasing efficiency of the motor.
Here, a stator disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3678102 (Patent Literature 1) will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a top view of a stator 33 according to Patent Literature 1.
The stator 33 shown in FIG. 6 is formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets 31 as a soft magnetic material. The electromagnetic steel sheets 31 are closely connected to one another by caulking. A plurality of teeth parts 32 are provided inside the stator 33 (electromagnetic steel sheets 31). Coils wound around the teeth parts 32 are not shown in FIG. 6.
Moreover, tip end parts of adjacent teeth parts 32 are arranged in a circumferential shape to thereby form an inner diameter part 34 of the stator. Roundness of the inner diameter part 34 of the stator is set to 0.03 mm or less for securing a highly accurate shape over the entire lamination direction of the electromagnetic steel sheets 31. Note that roundness of the inner diameter part of the stator with approximately ϕ40 mm to ϕ100 mm is normally set to approximately 0.1 mm in many cases as described in Patent Literature 1.
The reason that roundness of the inner diameter 34 of the stator is set to approximately 0.1 mm is as follows. For example, when the dimension accuracy of the inner diameter part 34 of the stator is not good and roundness thereof is larger than 0.1 mm, variation occurs in an air gap 36 (a distance between a side surface part of a rotor 35 arranged inside the stator 33 and the tip end part of the teeth part 32). Accordingly, pulsation of torque such as cogging torque is increased and operation of the motor becomes unstable.
The cogging torque is the torque generated in positive/negative direction with rotation of the rotor in a non-conductive state, which causes noise or vibration when the motor is operated. Therefore, it is required to reduce the cogging torque to a smaller value in a precision motor for the purpose of improving controllability and efficiency of the motor.
However, in a case where the stator 33 shown in FIG. 6 is formed by using thin strips made of the amorphous magnetic material or the magnetic material with nanocrystal grains (hereinafter referred to as magnetic thin strips) instead of using the electromagnetic steel sheets 31, the inner diameter part of the stator has an elliptical shape due to a reason on physical properties peculiar to the magnetic thin strips. As a result, the following problems occur.
The problems will be explained with reference to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. FIG. 7A is a top view of a stator 33a formed by laminating the magnetic thin strips 1. FIG. 7B is a schematic view showing the air gaps 36 formed by an inner diameter part 34a of the stator 33a and the rotor 35.
As shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the inner diameter part 34 of the stator has the elliptical shape when the magnetic thin strips 1 are laminated. Accordingly, the variation of the air gaps 36 formed by the inner diameter part 34a of the stator 33a and the rotor 35 is increased as shown in FIG. 7B. As a result, the cogging torque is increased.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a payment server and from a messaging application executing on a first mobile device operated by a first user, a request to initiate a payment transaction using a payment application. The request includes a payment amount and an identifier associated with the first user. The method includes facilitating a first adjustment to a balance associated with the financial account of the first user in the data store identified based on the identifier. The method includes generating a link associated with the first adjustment and transmitting the link to the first mobile device. The method includes, upon receiving from a second user operating a messaging application, an indication that the second user has interacted with the link within the messaging application, facilitating a second adjustment of a balance of a financial account of the second user according to the payment amount.

Users can send money through variety of online services, such as online checking accounts or online payment methods. Using these online payment methods may be a complex and time-consuming process that often involves inputting various financial information (e.g., bank account numbers or a routing number), identification verifications (e.g., social security or a home address), and information to identify the recipient at the time of the payment (e.g., an address or account number). In many instances, the payor's knowledge regarding a recipient may be limited to a mobile number, therefore providing financial information or other identification verifications may be impossible. Additionally, while a payor is communicating with a recipient using a messaging or social networking application on a computing device (e.g., mobile phone), the payor may be required to execute a new application on the computing device in order to send a payment to a recipient. Using conventional systems, it can be challenging to transfer funds between individuals through non-conventional data transfer platforms.


An electronic functional member according to the present embodiment includes a substrate; a fiber mesh comprising a fibrous resin composition that extends onto and is connected to the substrate; and a patterned conductive coating portion that coats one surface of a portion of the fiber mesh and that also extends onto the substrate.

In recent years, flexible electronics, which have various applications due to the softness of the materials, have been the focus of much attention. In particular, with the ageing of society worldwide, the level of interest is rising in the healthcare field. For example, flexible electronics have attracted attention as means for directly obtaining biometric information from cells and tissues by being worn on the surface of or inside the human body.
In general, flexible electronics are prepared by forming electronic devices on flexible substrates, but the pliability thereof cannot be considered to be sufficient. For this reason, the surface conformability cannot be considered to be adequate, and it is not possible to obtain information with high precision or to adequately reduce the sense of discomfort when worn or the like.
In order to solve this problem, biometric electrodes in which a holding unit having elasticity is enclosed in a detection unit have been disclosed (e.g., Patent Document 1). In these biometric electrodes, the detection unit encloses the holding unit having elasticity when the detection unit is brought into contact with a living body. For this reason, the holding unit deforms in response to pressure, thereby increasing the surface conformability of the detection unit.
Additionally, an arm cover for a myoelectric prosthetic arm into which wiring is woven (e.g., Patent Document 2) and a contact-wire working electrode (e.g., Patent Document 3) having metal-plated conductive fibers woven at regular intervals into a cloth-type fabric have been disclosed. In Patent Document 2, by weaving the wires with each other, the rigidity of each wire is reduced, thereby raising the surface conformability. Additionally, in Patent Document 3, the surface conformability is raised by weaving the metallic fibers into the cloth-type fabric.
Aside therefrom, biometric thin electrodes formed by bonding a pliable insulating synthetic resin film onto a hydroentangled non-woven fabric have been disclosed (e.g., Patent Document 4). This method raises the surface conformability by making use of the high deformability of hydroentangled non-woven fabrics.
Furthermore, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose electrodes that have high surface conformability, formed by coating substrates with metallic nanowires.

Electronic functional member, electronic component, and wearable device


A reciprocating shaver including an inner cutter upwardly pushing spring for pressing the inner cutter against the inner surface of the outer cutter; slide members held on the outer cutter frame so as to be able to slide; outer cutter elastically supporting members which are for elastically supporting the outer cutter and mounted in the outer cutter frame with one end of each one of them engaging one of the slide members, and another end thereof engaging the outer cutter; and float setting members which are provided in the shaver main body and respectively engage the slide members, in linkage with the mounting motion of the outer cutter frame relative to the shaver main body, so as to determine the position of the slide members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reciprocating electric shaver for shaving face whiskers ("hair") by causing an inner cutter to move reciprocally while being pressed against the inner surface of an outer cutter that is substantially inverted-U-shaped when viewed from the side.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reciprocating electric shavers are commonly known. Generally, reciprocating electric shavers are made so that an inner cutter is caused to move reciprocally while it is being pressed against the inner surface of an outer cutter that is substantially inverted-U-shaped when seen from the side, and hair coming through the slits provided in the outer cutter is cut by the reciprocating inner cutter.
In the reciprocating electric shaver disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-340838 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2006-149445), an outer cutter is held so that it can slide freely up and down in an outer cutter frame secured to a shaver main body that contains a motor, and an inner cutter, which is urged upward by an inner cutter upwardly pushing spring, is caused to move reciprocally while being pressed against the inner surface of the outer cutter. More specifically, in this shaver, an oscillator is employed, and this oscillator is vibrated by the motor housed in the shaver main body; in addition, the inner cutter is provided on this oscillator so that it is capable of swinging and is urged upward by an inner cutter upwardly pushing spring. The inner cutter is moved reciprocally while being pressed against the inner surface of the outer cutter by a prescribed spring force.
In this conventional shaver, the contact pressure of the outer cutter against the skin (hereinafter called the outer cutter float pressure) is set by the upward pushing force of the inner cutter, that is, by the spring force of the inner cutter upwardly pushing spring. Accordingly, the outer cutter, when contact is made against the skin with a force stronger than the spring force of the inner cutter upwardly pushing spring, will sink in (or descend) while compressing the inner cutter upwardly pushing spring.
The ideal pressure (float pressure) when the outer cutter sinks in varies depending on the condition of the hair or skin of the user or on the preference of the user. In the above-described conventional shaver, it becomes necessary to change the spring force of the inner cutter upwardly pushing spring in order to change that float pressure. In order to weaken the outer cutter float pressure, for example, the inner cutter upwardly pushing spring may be made weaker. When that is done, however, the contact pressure between the inner cutter and the outer cutter will become weaker, and there will be a danger that the sharpness of the shave will deteriorate. In order to strengthen the outer cutter float pressure, conversely, the inner cutter upwardly pushing spring may be made stronger. When that is done, however, the contact pressure between the inner cutter and the outer cutter tends to become excessive, leading to such problems as the noise caused by sliding sounds becoming greater, or the temperature of the outer cutter surface rising due to the heat of friction.
In view of the above situations, the inventor of the present application studied a structure of elastically supporting the outer cutter in the up and down direction relative to the outer cutter frame, for the purpose of being able to set the float pressure while optimally maintaining the contact pressure between the outer cutter and the inner cutter. It was found preferable that the outer cutter float pressure be adjustable from the shaver main body side. When, however, in such an adjustable structure, an outer cutter frame and shaver main body linking mechanism, that is, a mechanism for transmitting the movement of a manipulator on the shaver main body side to the float pressure adjustment mechanism on the outer cutter frame side, becomes necessary, and the structure as a result becomes complex.


An intelligent bed monitoring device and method are provided in this disclosure. The device is applied to a bed frame, and the bed frame includes a first bed board and a second bed board. The intelligent bed monitoring device includes a plurality of audio sensors, a processor and a controlling module. The processor is electrically connected to the audio sensors and the controlling module. The audio sensors are configured to detect a plurality of audio signals. The processor is configured to receive the audio signals, and calculate an audio source direction according to the audio signals. The controlling module is configured to control one of the first bed board and the second bed board according to the audio source direction to adjust one of the first bed board and the second bed board into a plurality of modes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitoring device and method. More particularly, the present application relates to an intelligent bed monitoring device and method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, everyone needs adequate sleep, however, partial of people may suffer from sleep apnea syndrome, which causes them to have insomnia, daytime naps, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmia. Therefore, an intelligent bed monitoring device and monitoring device method for improving the user's sleep quality is required.

Intelligent bed monitoring device and method thereof