The present invention relates to the development of tracer fluids, more generally, that of aqueous liquids, intended to be injected under pressure in an oil reservoir, for example from an injection well up to a production well.

It is well-known in the exploitation of an oil reservoir that, most of the time, no more than half of the oil initially present in the reservoir is extracted, or even less. The recovery by the primary means, that is, the use of extraction energy utilized from gases or liquids present in the subsoil and currently, initially, a certain pressure in the reservoir, allows for only extracting low percentages of the total oil present in the reservoir. To complete this primary recovery, one proceeds with a secondary recovery consisting in implementing what is called a "water drive" or "water flooding" production, that is, by injecting water in a well (injection well) at a location of the reservoir, so as to push the oil of the reservoir out of the subsoil, by at least one other called a "production well".
To improve the secondary recovery by water drive, it is known to add surfactants to the injection water. This technique for optimizing the oil recovery by pushing injected water, to which surfactants may or may not have been added, also involves tracers that can be easily detected in the liquid, namely the injection water and push water at the exit of production wells. These tracers allow for measuring the arrival time, that is, the time which passes between the injection of the injection and push waters in the injection well(s) and the moment when these injection water and push water charged in tracers come out at the exit of one of several isolated production wells. From this arrival time, one can determine the volume of the reservoir that constitutes the oil reservoir. This is one of the most important parameters which can be determined by the use of tracer fluids, since it allows, on the one hand, adjusting the quantity of surfactant introduced in the injection and push waters, and on the other hand, evaluating the additional quantity of oil that can be expected following the implementation of this optimized method for recovering oil. As long as the fluid containing the tracer has been detected at the production well(s), the method of study for analyzing, monitoring, and optimally recovering oil requires the concentration of tracers in the fluid produced at the exit to be measured, continuously or not, so as to be able to plot the curves of tracer concentration as a function of the time or as a function of the volume of fluid produced.
Tracers in the injection water and push waters for oil reservoirs also enable detecting aberrations in the flow rates caused by pressure differentials in the reservoir, which are caused by factors other than the injection of injection and push waters and which hinder the performances.
The specifications of the tracers, usable in these injection and push waters for optimizing oil recovery comprise the following characteristics:                economical;        compatible with the fluids which are naturally present in the reservoir and with the oil-reservoir rock itself as well as with the fluids injected in the reservoir, namely, the injection and push liquids (waters);        easy qualitative and quantitative detection of the tracer no matter the materials present in the fluid at the exit of the production well. For example, an aqueous solution of sodium chloride cannot be used as tracer since most of the oilfields contain sea water, and thus a substantial quantity of sodium chloride, which makes detecting NaCl chloride used as tracer particularly difficult;        furtive tracer, that is, not easily absorbed in the solid medium traversed or eliminated from the tracing fluid, since with the analytical technique used, the tracer concentration in the fluids produced at the exit is determined and compared with that of the fluids injected in the injection well(s);        the tracer resists bacterial contamination, high temperatures and high pressures present in oil reservoirs;        the tracer has the ability to interact or not interact with the medium of the reservoir, namely, the geological media, oil-bearing or not;        access to a great number of tracers and different codings for possible simultaneous detections (several injection wells) or tracing test which are successive over time.
Regarding the state of the art relating to such tracers for injection and push waters (tracing fluid) making it possible to probe oil reservoirs by diffusion between an injection well and a production well, one can cite the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,231,426-B1 and 4,299,709-B1, which disclose aqueous tracer fluids comprising from 0.01 to 10% in weight of a nitrate salt associated with a bactericidal agent chosen among aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, xylene).
The Canadian patent application CA 2 674 127-A1 relates to a method consisting in using a natural isotope of carbon 13 for identifying premature drilling of injection waters in oil wells.
In addition, there are a dozen families of molecules adapted and currently identified as tracers for injection waters in oil reservoirs. These molecule families are, for example, fluorinated benzoic acids or naphtalenesulfonic acids.
The tracer molecules which are known and used have a specific chemical/radioactive signature. These known tracers can be detected with great sensitivity. However, they have three major drawbacks:    their quantification requires a rather complex and expensive process and can be carried out only in a specialized center, often far away from productions sites;    these molecules, which are not numerous, do not allow for multi-labeling or repeated labelings;    some of these known tracers are caused to disappear due to their negative impact on the medium.
Furthermore, the site "Institute for Energy Technology" (IFE) has put online to date a PowerPoint presentation entitled SIP 2007-2009 "New functional tracers based on nanotechnology and radiotracer generators Department for Reservoir and Exploration Technology". In particular, this document discloses the use of surface-modified nanoparticles as tracers for flow monitoring in oil reservoirs, oil wells and in process systems. More precisely yet, this presentation describes functionalized tracer nanoparticles comprising a Gd2O3-based core and a siloxane-based surface coating which is functionalized with additional molecules. The rare earth core and/or the additional molecules can emit light signals by fluorescence or radioactive signals.
However, to date, no study has shown the feasibility of the detection of particles for oil tracing. It seems to be even generally accepted that particles, due to the volume of space they fill, are filtered and strongly retained in the soil, thus preventing any reasonable use of their detection as tracing. It is actually based on this hypothesis that the above-mentioned PowerPoint presentation from IFE is based. In fact, this document does not make any reference to the detection of particles, but rather to the detection of a by-product or a residue related to the degradation of these particles.
In a completely different field, the French patent application FR 2 867 180-A1 describes hybrid nanoparticles comprising, on the one hand, a core made of rare earth oxides, optionally doped with rare earth or actinide or a mixture of rare earths or a mixture of rare earths and actinide, and, on the other hand, a coating around this core, said coating chiefly consisting of polysiloxane functionalized by at least one biological ligand grafted by covalent bonding. The core can be made of Gd2O3 doped with an amount of Tb3+ or by uranium and the polysiloxane coating can be achieved by making an aminopropyltriethoxysilane, a tetraethylsilicate, and a triethylamine react. These nanoparticles are used as probes for the detection, the monitoring, and the quantification of biological systems.
The French patent application FR 2 922 106-A1 relates to the same technical field and targets the use of these nanoparticles as radiosensitizing agents for making the radiotherapy more efficient. The size of these nanoparticles is comprised between 10 and 50 nanometers.

Use of nanoparticles for labelling oil field injection waters

Abstract: The object of the invention is to propose a new method of study of a solid medium, i.e. an oil reservoir, by diffusion of a liquid (i.e. injection waters) containing tracers, through said solid medium, which is simple to implement and economical and which remedies the drawbacks of the known tracers for injection waters of oil reservoirs.

Abstract: This method essentially consisting of injecting, in this solid medium, an injection liquid comprising a nanoparticle-based tracer having average dimensions comprised between 20 and 200 nm, detectable by means of one or several S signals at dilutions of less than or equal to 10−7, adapted to form a stable colloidal suspension in a saline medium, at least a portion of which is constituted of a core and a coating provided with an adjustable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and comprising at least one organic and/or organosilicon component; recovering the liquid having diffused; and analyzing this liquid having diffused to measure the quantity of tracer by detection of the signal or signals S.


An auto-play musical instrument which has external and internal data storages for auto-play data is disclosed. The auto-play data contain a plurality of music piece data for demonstration tones or background tones. A demonstration button is provided to set a mode for playing back one of music pieces with designating a play number of the auto-play data. A play controller is provided to automatically start a chain-play of the music pieces stored in the external and internal storages when a fixed time interval has passed without any designation of the play number after the set of the demonstration mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auto-play apparatus and, more particularly, to an auto-play apparatus capable of performing a continuous auto-play of music pieces.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic piano, an electronic keyboard, or the like is placed in an electronic musical instrument exhibition floor, various showrooms, shops, or the like, and is set to perform an auto-play so as to appeal the performance of the electronic musical instrument or so as to provide a background music.
In such a use, a user operates an operation member of an auto-play apparatus built in the electronic musical instrument to select a music piece to be played, and also operates another operation member to repetitively and continuously automatically play the selected music piece, thereby instructing a continuous auto-play of the music piece.
However, since the above-mentioned conventional auto-play apparatus only repetitively plays a selected music piece, this results in poor variation, and the selected music piece cannot be used as a background music for a long period of time. The user must also operate the operation member for selecting a music piece, and the operation member for instructing a continuous auto-play of the selected music piece, resulting in cumbersome operations. It is difficult for a clerk who is not accustomed with the operation of the electronic musical instrument to perform such operations, and the operations of the operation members require much time. Thus, the play cannot be started at a good timing upon arrival of a customer.

Auto-play musical instrument with a chain-play mode for a plurality of demonstration tones


A method and a device for obtaining a data of tape thinness, in which a calculation is carried out by using information of the changing pulse period based on rotational speed of a tape reel in a take-up side or a supply side, and the number of revolutions of the tape reel and tape velocity. The tape thinness d is obtained by a formula, d=A.times.v.sub.0 (T.sub.T -T.sub.T0)/2.pi..times.n.sub.T, in which, in case of the tape reel in the take-up side, the pulse period of the tape reel is represented as T.sub.T, the initial pulse period of the tape reel is T.sub.T0, the counted number of revolutions of the tape reel from initial setting time is n.sub.T, tape velocity is v.sub.0, and a pole number of the tape reel is A.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for obtaining a data of tape thinness and/or hub radius of a tape reel. The obtained data is used for the purpose of calculation so as to obtain an amount of running time of a tape and residual playing or recording time of a tape such as a tape recorder, digital audio tape recorder and video tape recorder and the like.
In this kind of a device for detecting an amount of running time of a tape and an amount remaining on a tape and for the purpose of displaying elapsed time and residual time of a tape, it is conventionally known that a period of a pulse string (hereinafter referred to as reel pulse) obtained corresponding to the rotation of a tape reel in a take-up side or a supply side is measured, then the measured period is converted to a residual amount of tape by calculation (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 58-19777, 57-143772, 63-214988, 63-214989 and 63-214990).
In a conventional calculating method, calculation is performed by substituting a constant value for the tape thinness or the hub radius without taken into consideration the tape thinness and the difference of the hub radius of a tape reel in a device. However, the value of tape thinness or hub radius is actually different from the other in response to the different kinds of tapes or manufacturing companies. Further, when a tape capable of long time recording is required in the future, it is necessary to make the hub radius smaller. In this case, erroneous data is output when tapes having different radius of hubs are used, thus an erroneous data of residual time of the tape is displayed. Further, a precise control of the tape velocity not for injuring the tape at the end part of the tape cannot be attained.
It is known that hardware is set to deal with the above problem corresponding to the difference of tape thinness. For example, in a digital audio tape recorder, there is provided a detecting sensor for detecting what kind of tape is used through a hole provided on a tape case. Based on the detected result, the value used for calculation is changed. Further, it is known that a changeover switch operated by a user corresponding to the kind of tapes is provided in a video tape recorder.
However, it may be difficult to correspond practically to many kinds of tapes having different thinness. Further, in the above video tape recorder providing the changeover switch, when the user sets the switch at the erroneous position, erroneous data is displayed.

Method and device for obtaining data of tape thinness and/or hub radius of a tape reel

Funai Electric Engineering Company Limited


A wide pick-up for a baler includes a crop feed rotor and auger arrangement located at an elevated position rearward of a tined pick-up reel arrangement. Positioned for receiving crop delivered by the reel arrangement, and extending beneath the crop feed rotor and auger arrangement is a crop guide plate arrangement including a central movable crop guide plate portion mounted to be moved vertically between a raised feed position, wherein it is relatively close to a circular path traced by the outer peripheries of the crop feed rotor and the converging augers, and a lowered, crop unplugging position, wherein it is spaced to create a gap between the crop guide plate portion and the crop feed rotor and auger arrangement. Right and left, primary crop stripper plates are respectively mounted to right and left front end regions of the moveable crop feed plate portion, with the primary stripper plates each having an edge located close to the associated auger for preventing crop from being wrapped about the augers when the movable crop guide plate portion is in its normal raised operating position. Right and left secondary crop stripper plates are respectively mounted to right and left fixed walls extending upwardly about the augers from right and left fixed guide plate portions, these secondary stripper plates remaining in place to strip crop from the augers when the central movable crop guide plate portion is lowered.

Agricultural machines such as balers, for example, are sometimes equipped with a crop pick-up that is wider than the baling chamber or other mobile container to which the picked up crop is being conveyed. EP 08 15 720 discloses a large round baler having such a pick-up and it is equipped with a rotary, tined pick-up reel having a width greater than that of the baling chamber and operable for elevating a windrow of crop material from the ground and delivering the crop material rearward onto a crop guide plate arrangement which extends to the inlet of the baling chamber. To aid this rearward movement of the crop material, right and left converging augers are provided at opposite ends of a centrally located tined rotor. The guide plate arrangement includes a region located closely adjacent the circular path traced by the peripheries of the augers and rotor. In order to provide relief for avoiding plugging, designers have mounted a central portion of the crop guide plate arrangement for moving downwardly, against a spring force, away from the tined rotor. The aforementioned EP publication has a floor constructed in this manner. Other baler pick-up crop guide plate arrangements that are movable relative to a tined rotor for avoiding plugging are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,819,517 and 7,252,587, noting that neither of these discloses a wide pick-up having converging augers.
A problem associated with the device of the EP publication is that with such devices it is known to provide right and left stripper plates on the front of the crop guide plate arrangement at respective locations in front of the right and left converging augers. When loads acting on the guide plate arrangement cause it to move downwardly from its normal working position in order to avoid a plugging situation, these stripper plates move with the guide plate arrangement and lose their effectiveness in preventing crop material from wrapping around the augers.
The problem to be solved by the present invention is that of providing a wide pick-up with a so-called drop crop guide plate arrangement while retaining an auger stripping function.

Wide crop pick-up having primary and secondary stripper plates for converging augers respectively mounted to movable crop guide plate portion and to fixed walls behind the augers


A bridge and adapter system for a bag-in-box packaging filler is shown to include an adapter providing a quick connection between the supply line and the dispensing member of the bag-in-box packaging. A bridge is adapted to sit longitudinally across the box of the bag-in-box packaging and is adapted to engage with both the adapter and the dispensing member of the bag-in-box packaging in order to provide support of the adapter and dispensing member, therein. The adapter includes air vents which facilitate the escape of air in the bag-in-box while it is being displaced with other contents from the supply line. The upper end portion of the adapter includes a cam lock connector for connecting the supply line.

The present invention generally relates to a bag-in-box packaging filler, and more specifically, to a bridge and adapter system for filling bag-in-box packaging, wherein said adapter provides means for quickly connecting the supply line to the dispensing member of the bag-in-box while concurrently allowing air to vent from the bag-in-box as it is being filled, and said bridge provides means for supporting the dispensing member of the bag-in-box and the adapter.
Conventional bag-in-box packaging is generally characterized as being a lightweight, durable and low cost means for shipping liquids, powders, semi-solids and the like. Bag-in-box packaging generally comprises a container constructed of a stiff, durable, yet inexpensive material such as paperboard or corrugated board. This container includes a flexible liner or bag therein for holding liquids, powders, semi-solids and the like. Integrally attached to the flexible liner or bag is a closable dispensing member. This dispensing member is typically placed within the container during shipping in order to prevent any accidental spillage and is later expressed therefrom during the dispensing of its contents.
During packaging and before shipping, it is therefore desirable to quickly fill the bag-in-box without losing any of its contents. In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to develop an efficient means for filling bag-in-box packaging.
It is further desirable to develop an adapter for a bag-in-box filler which provides means for quickly connecting the supply line to the dispensing member of the bag-in-box.
It is further desirable to develop an adapter for a bag-in-box filler which provides means for venting air from the bag-in-box as it is being filled.
It is further desirable to develop an adapter for a bag-in-box filler constructed of a durable material such as food grade stainless steel, plastic, or aluminum.
It is further desirable to develop a bridge for a bag-in-box filler which provides means for supporting the dispensing member of the bag-in-box and the adapter.
It is further desirable to develop a bridge for a bag-in-box filler constructed of a durable material such as food grade stainless steel, plastic, or aluminum.
These and other desired benefits of the preferred forms, including combinations of features thereof, of the invention will become apparent from the following description. It will be understood, however, that a device could still appropriate the claimed invention without accomplishing each and every one of these desired benefits, including those gleaned from the following description. The appended claims, not these desired benefits, define the subject matter of the invention. Any and all benefits are derived from the preferred forms of the invention, not necessarily the invention in general.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bridge and adapter for bag-in-box filler


A sealing device has a waterproofing layer, a functional layer, and an adhesive layer coated on and at least partially covering the first major surface of the waterproofing layer opposite the side of the functional layer. Also, a method produces a sealing device, a method waterproofs a substrate, and the use of the sealing device seals lapped joints formed between overlapping portions of waterproofing membranes and patches breaches in waterproofing membranes.

In the field of construction, polymeric sheets, which are often referred to as membranes or panels, are used for sealing of underground and above ground constructions, such as basements, tunnels, and flat and low-sloped roofs, against penetration water. Such waterproofing membranes can be provided as single-ply or multi-ply systems. A single-ply waterproofing membrane is composed of single waterproofing layer, which can be reinforced with a reinforcement layer such as a scrim, mesh or fabric layer to improve the dimensional stability of the membrane. A multi-ply waterproofing membrane is composed of multiple waterproofing layers of different or similar materials. The membranes are typically delivered to a construction site in rolls, transferred to the place of installation, unrolled, and adhered on the surface of the substrate to be waterproofed.
Commonly used materials for the waterproofing membranes include thermoplastics such as plasticized polyvinylchloride (p-PVC), thermoplastic olefins (TPE-O, TPO), and elastomers such as ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM). One of the drawbacks of polymer-based membranes is their poor bonding properties; they typically show low bonding strength to adhesives that are commonly used in the construction industry, such as epoxy adhesives, polyurethane adhesives, and cementitious compositions. Therefore, a contact layer, for example, a fleece backing, is typically used to provide sufficient bonding of the polymer-based waterproofing membrane and the structure to be waterproofed.
In post-applied waterproofing applications, the membrane is bonded via its contact layer to the surface of the concrete substrate to be waterproofed whereas in pre-applied waterproofing applications the membrane is laid out before the concrete structure to be waterproofed is built. A post-applied waterproofing membrane is adhered on the substrate to be waterproofed with an adhesive or by using a sealing tape. A pre-applied waterproofing membrane is placed with its waterproofing layer against an underlying structure or formwork and fresh concrete is cast against the surface of the contact layer, thereby fully and permanently bonding the membrane to the surface of the hardening concrete. An adhesive is typically used between the waterproofing layer and the contact layer to improve bonding on the fresh concrete cast against the contact layer. The adhesive should, therefore, enable the fresh concrete to penetrate deeply into to contact layer before hardening in order to provide high resistance to penetrating water.
In order to create a continuous waterproofing seal, the edges of adjacent waterproofing membranes are overlapped to form sealable joints. These joints can then be sealed by bonding the bottom surface of an overlapping edge to the top surface of another overlapping edge or by using sealing tapes to bridge the joint between the overlapping edges. The basic construction of a sealing tape is typically similar to that of the waterproofing membrane. Consequently, sealing tapes used for sealing joints between pre-applied waterproofing membranes comprise a thermoplastic waterproofing layer and a contact layer, for example, a fleece backing, which adhesively bonded on one side of the membrane. Depending on the material of the waterproofing membranes, the waterproofing layer of the sealing tape can be bonded to the membranes by heat-welding or by using an adhesive. These types of sealing tapes can also be used for detailing applications, in which the joints formed between two adjacent below or above ground constructions have to be sealed against penetration of water.
A significant disadvantage of the State-of-the-Art sealing tapes is the relatively complex built-up of the tape, which increases the production costs of such tapes. There thus remains a need for a sealing tape, which can be produced at lower cost than the State-of-the-Art sealing tapes and which is particularly suitable for use in sealing joints and patching breaches in pre-applied waterproofing systems.


Described herein is the production of two products which are distinct species of human anti-malignin antibody, and the production of a cell line which has the distinguishing characteristic of manufacturing both species of anti-malignin antibody at different times. These anti-malignin products are useful to detect the presence of cancerous or malignant tumor cells. Additionally, these anti-malignin products preferentially attach to cancerous or malignant tumor cells in cell collections in vitro or in vivo and thus can be detected by any visible or other signal emitter attached to said anti-malignin product. This preferential attachment to malignant tumor cells also makes these products useful for metabolic and therapeutic purposes with or without an attached cytotoxic agent.

The process of cell fusion to produce hybrids is now a routinely used and accepted procedure (Monoclonal Antibodies, Cesar Milstein, Scientific American, May 1980, pp. 66-74). The production of antibodies by the injection of tumor cells into animals has also been a common procedure in the art for many years. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,124 issued to Hillary Koprowski and Carlo M. Croce discloses a method of producing antibodies to whole tumor cells. The critical first tumors step of the Koprowski et al. method is to inject whole cells from various tumors into an animal. The present invention does not utilize an injection of whole cells into an animal. Nor does the present invention require the use of an injection of a specific polypeptide composition, malignin, the subject of my U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,195,017 and 4,196,186, into an animal to produce the specific species of a specific antibody, anti-malignin antibody as taught in my U.S. Pat. 4,486,538. Whereas these patents describe the production of polyclonal anti-malignin antibody in mammals and monoclonal anti-malignin antibody in hybridomas, the anti-malignin antibodies of the present invention are genetically human and monoclonal, but are not the products of hybridomas. In addition to a different mode of production, as will be set forth herein, the present monoclonal antibodies have unique properties, and should therefore be uniquely referred to in order to distinguish them from the anti-malignin antibody which is either polyclonal and produced in vivo in mammals, or monoclonal, but produced by hybridomas, and has different properties: i.e., the present antibodies are free of non-human antigenic determinates or epitopes.


A drain cover assembly includes a face plate having at least one hole to allow water to flow from a drainage pipe located in a retaining wall. The face plate includes a first pair of flanges and a second pair of flanges, both of which extend substantially perpendicular to the face plate. The first pair of flanges has a receiving means for receiving a fastener adapted to secure the drain cover assembly to the retaining wall. The second pair of flanges has a plurality of deformable tabs adapted to create an interference fit with the retaining wall. The drain cover assembly may also include a decorative face plate.

Retaining walls used to retain soil and the like must have drainage aggregate, and a perforated drain pipe that leads to daylight for the sole purpose of draining water out from behind the wall. Water that is not drained from behind retaining walls can cause mass slope failure, and heaving of the wall if it were to freeze.
In architectural walls and other similar types of retaining walls which are made from a plurality of stackable block-like elements, drainage holes are often provided in the wall to facilitate the evacuation of water from the soil behind the wall. Commonly, such holes are provided with drainage pipes that further facilitate the evacuation of water. In the above-described installations, the hole is typically cut in a square shape while the pipe is round, leaving unsightly empty spaces or void areas between the pipe and the surrounding wall. These spaces or void areas often collect garbage and other debris, and rodents tend to nest in the drainage holes, making these drain pipes even more of an eyesore, as well as a nuisance.


The present invention is in the field of laminated glass panels comprising multiple layers of polymer sheets with patterned light transmission qualities and methods of producing and using the same. More specifically, the present invention is in the field of laminated glass panels featuring novel patterns formed by two printed patterns supported on one or more layers of polymeric sheet material, such as polyethylene terephthalate.

Poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) is commonly used in the manufacture of polymer sheets that can be used as interlayers in light-transmitting laminates such as safety glass or polymeric laminates. Safety glass typically refers to a transparent laminate comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) sheet disposed between two sheets of glass. Safety glass often is used to provide a transparent barrier in architectural and automotive openings. Its main function is to absorb energy, such as that caused by a blow from an object, without allowing penetration through the opening or the dispersion of shards of glass, thus minimizing damage or injury to the objects or persons within an enclosed area. Safety glass also can be used to provide other beneficial effects, such as to attenuate acoustic noise, reduce UV and/or IR light transmission, and/or enhance the appearance and aesthetic appeal of window openings.
Laminated safety glass can also include a layer of a polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which can be used to impart various optical qualities to the final laminated glass product. For example, a polyethylene terephthalate layer can be used to support a printed image or can be treated with agents that selectively absorb certain wavelengths of light, thereby altering the visual appearance or final light transmission characteristics of the finished glass panel.
In many architectural applications it is desirable to use safety glass that not only has the proper physical performance characteristics for the chosen application, but also has light transmission characteristic that are unique, decorative, and/or particularly suitable to the end use of the product. For example, it will often be desirable to limit visible light transmission through laminated safety glass in order to provide a degree of visual separation between two adjacent areas or to modify the visual appearance of a laminated glass panel so as to create a desirable appearance. It may be desirable, for example, to utilize a laminated glass panel featuring patterns, colors, or visual effects that are different or the same when viewed from either side of the panel and that can provide varying levels of light transmission.
There is significant commercial interest in the fabrication of glass laminates with encapsulated printed images having novel patterns, colors, and light transmission qualities for use in architectural and automotive applications. A current state-of-the-art glass laminate product consists of an interlayer composite disposed between two glass sheets, wherein the interlayer composite comprises three layers. In this construct, a layer of polyethylene terephthalate that is printed on one side with a pattern is disposed between two layers of poly(vinyl butyral). Such interlayer composites effectively can be utilized to achieve glass laminates having a single pattern of light transmission, and, with the use of at least one layer of colored poly(vinyl butyral), can appear different in color from one side of the laminate to the other.
Further improved compositions and methods are needed to enhance the characteristics of laminated glass panels, and specifically laminated glass panels comprising poly(vinyl butyral) layers and polyethylene terephthalate layers, so as to impart desirable optical patterns and light transmission and reflectance qualities on the finished glass panel.

Multiple layer glass panels with patterned light transmission


In a high-voltage generator with an X-ray tube having a metallic middle part, unfavorable effects due to a part of the current flowing off via the grounded metallic middle part is avoided by the overall voltage across the X-ray tube being produced by one inverter and the cathode voltage of the X-ray tube is generated by another inverter, each having a high-voltage rectifier connected thereto. The respective voltages are regulated by controlling the respective inverters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a high-frequency voltage generator for supplying an X-ray tube, the X-ray tube being of the type having a metallic, centrally disposed part.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A high-frequency voltage generator for an X-ray tube is known that supplies an X-ray tube of the type having metallic, or centrally disposed part. The cathode current is thereby unequal to the anode current since a part of the current flows off via the grounded metal middle part. Since the positive side of the high-voltage supply then is less loaded than the negative side, an asymmetrical voltage division with a higher anode voltage occurs. Due to the asymmetrical voltage division, thus, a shift of the center point of the high-voltage occurs.

High-frequency voltage generator for an X-ray tube


A fluid analyzer having a concentrator and separator for concentrating and separating fluid samples at pressures up to about 10,000 psi (˜700 bar). The concentrator and separator may consist of a solid-state thin-film heater-adsorber and a channel supported by a solid substrate. The concentrator may have numerous heated interactive elements for adsorbing and desorbing constituents of a sample fluid. The interactive elements may be heated in a time phased sequential manner by heaters. The separator may separate the sample fluid by compound. There may be thermal conductivity detectors, a flow sensor and electrical conductivity detectors proximate to the channels. This system of concentrator, separator, heaters and sensor may provide information about the sample fluid composition. A pump may be connected to the channel to move the sample fluid through it.

The present invention pertains to detection of fluids. Particularly, the invention pertains to a phased heater array structure, and more particularly to application of the structure as a sensor for the identification and quantification of fluid components. The term "fluid" may be used as a generic term that includes gases and liquids as species. For instance, air, gas, water and oil are fluids.
Aspects of structures and processes related to fluid analyzers may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,894 B1, issued May 28, 2002, to Ulrich Bonne et al., and entitled "Gas Sensor with Phased Heaters for Increased Sensitivity," which is incorporated herein by reference; U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,553 B1, issued Oct. 30, 2001, to Ulrich Bonne et al., and entitled "Self-Normalizing Flow Sensor and Method for the Same," which is incorporated herein by reference; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,035, issued Jul. 24, 1990, to Roger L. Aagard et al., and entitled "Measurement of Thermal Conductivity and Specific Heat," which is incorporated herein by reference.
Presently available gas composition analyzers may be selective and sensitive but lack the capability to identify the component(s) of a sample gas mixture with unknown components, besides being generally bulky and costly. The state-of-the-art combination analyzers GC-GC and GC-MS (gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer) approach the desirable combination of selectivity, sensitivity and smartness, yet are bulky, costly, slow and unsuitable for battery-powered applications. In GC-AED (gas chromatograph-atomic emission detector), the AED alone uses more than 100 watts, uses water cooling, has greater than 10 MHz microwave discharges and are costly.
The phased heater array sensor may have separate chips for the concentrator, the separator, as well as for an off-chip flow sensor. However, these may be integrated onto one chip and provide improvements in the structural integrity and temperature control while reducing power consumption. The next phased heater array sensor involved an addition of integratable, micro-discharge devices for detection, identification and quantification of analyte. However, short of the full integration of the FET switches and shift register(s) onto the chip, there still was a need to wire-bond, route, connect and route about 110 wires from a daughter-board to mother-board with its micro-processor-controlled FET switches, which caused bulk and labor cost. In addition, the phased heater array sensor analyzers and conventional GCs seem to lack flexibility to change preconcentration and separation capabilities on-line.
Detection, identification and analysis of very small amounts of fluids in a less costly and more efficient manner are desired. Liquid chromatography analyzers of the related art are not portable, consume much power, and are slow and rather costly. However, eighty percent of the samples that need analyzing are liquid (e.g., medical, pharma, food and water quality, drug testing and industrial), for which related-art analyzers would not be well suited, especially if the differential pressures get into the 50 pounds per square inch (psi) to 10,000 psi (˜3.5 to 700 bar) range.


Methods and arrangements to launch trusted, distinct, co-existing environments are disclosed. Embodiments may launch trusted, distinct, co-existing environments in pre-OS space with high assurance. A hardware-enforced isolation scheme may isolate the partitions to facilitate storage and execution of code and data. In many embodiments, the system may launch a partition manager to establish embedded and main partitions. Embedded partitions may not be visible to the main OS and may host critical operations. A main partition may host a general-purpose OS and user applications, and may manage resources that are not assigned to the embedded partitions. Trustworthiness in the launch of the embedded partition is established by comparing integrity metrics for the runtime environment against integrity measurements of a trusted runtime environment for the embedded partition, e.g., by sealing a cryptographic key with the integrity metrics in a trusted platform module. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Data stored on computers may have high value in monetary terms and/or in relation to an ability to compete or do business. The data may include trade secrets such as decryption codes and secret processes as well as other confidential business data or personal information such as social security numbers and credit card numbers. With the aim of enhancing the security of such data in disparate processing systems, the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), a not-for-profit industry-standards organization, has formed and adopted specifications for more secure computing environments. TCG specifications include, for instance, TCG trusted platform module (TPM) Specification Version 1.2 Revision 94, Part I Design Principles, dated Mar. 29, 2006, and TCG Main Specification Version 1.1b, dated TCG Main Specification Version 1.1b.
TCG specifications define trusted processing systems, or platforms, generally as processing systems that will behave in a particular manner for a specific purpose. A trusted processing system may provide data security functions such as data encryption, decryption and storage. A key component of a trusted processing system is the TPM, a module which may perform cryptographic hashings to detect loss of integrity, public and secret key encryption to prevent unauthorized disclosure of data, and digital signing to authenticate transmitted information. The TCG Protected Storage mechanisms, which may be rooted in hardware, may protect keys, secrets and hash values.
Integrity metrics for a trusted processing system facilitate a determination regarding whether a processing system operates in a safe, or "trusted", configuration of hardware and software when it has access to sensitive data. Integrity metrics may be established by measuring the runtime configuration of the processing system at a point at which the configuration can be trusted, such as at the time of manufacture, and sealing the sensitive data to that configuration. Furthermore, measurements and demonstrations for trustworthiness are implemented in hardware with authenticated or trusted code. The hardware such as processor(s), chipsets, and TPMs may include functionality to assure that certain transactions may only be initiated by the authenticated code and may verify that the code is not tampered with or compromised via measurement of integrity metrics. Trustworthiness is typically established upon boot or reset of the processing system by establishing a protected core of data and code prior to booting the OS. Each time the processing system is powered down or reset, the protected core is reinitialized and authenticated minimize an attacker's ability to compromise protected data by changing the code when the processing system is powered down or reset. Establishing the protected core prior to booting the OS is also a security measure to minimize an attacker's ability to tamper with the security protocols.
In a typical processing system, firmware provides the machine instructions that control the pre-OS, or pre-boot, operations of the system between powering-up/resetting the processing system and booting of an operating system (OS) on the processing system. The OS then takes over primary functionality of the processing system. For instance, in some systems a virtual machine monitor (VMM) or hypervisor code may assume control of over the system's resources such as central processing units (CPUs), memory, hard drives, and other components. The VMM can launch and manage virtual environments and launch a higher-level OS, such as Microsoft™ Windows, Linux™, Unix™, etc., in each of the virtual environments.
Firmware may also control certain operations after the OS has been loaded, referred to as post-boot operations, such as operations for handling certain hardware events and/or system interrupts. More specifically, firmware may handle pre-boot and post-boot operations through a set of routines referred to collectively as a basic input/output system (BIOS). The BIOS thus provides the interface between the hardware components of the system and software components such as the OS. A couple of newer alternatives for BIOS include version 1.10 of the extensible firmware interface (EFI) Specification, dated Dec. 1, 2002, and version 2.0 of the Unified EFI (UEFI) Specification, dated Jan. 31, 2006.
After establishing a protected core, firmware such as BIOS, EFI, or UEFI can measure the current runtime configuration of the processing system and compare the current runtime configuration against the runtime of the trusted configuration in the TPM. If the integrity of the current runtime configuration is compromised or otherwise changed, access to the sensitive data can be denied or ignored. Furthermore, a trusted processing system may allow access to the sensitive data if the runtime configuration at the time of the access is sufficiently similar to the runtime of the trusted configuration to be trustworthy.
While the protected core offers hardware-based security for data and code, more is needed. The proliferation of services offered via networks and the Internet continues to increase the needs for protection and execution of processes not only from a rogue user or software virus but also from one another. In other words, a single protected core or partition on a processing system is insufficient. Furthermore, while the current trend is moving toward larger numbers of processor cores in processing systems, current OS software cannot readily scale beyond eight processor cores.
A current solution is to launch a protected core managed by the firmware and then launch and secure additional partitions via the VMM. The VMM is a low-level OS that offers control of platform partitioning at a logical level. The VMM can leverage many OS runtimes across a number of processor cores, offering several runtime environments in different partitions. However, the VMM can only handle up to eight cores and the security for the additional partitions is dependent upon the VMM, which is a low-level OS not firmware. The VMM controls software loads for the additional partitions rather than firmware and, e.g., the TPM. Thus, sensitive data may be compromised if an attacker takes the hard disk and hacks the VMM.

Methods and arrangements to launch trusted, coexisting environments


A container including a receptacle with a closed bottom, an interior space, and an open top encircled by a top receptacle edge, a lid for closing the top of the receptacle where the lid is pivotably attached at a portion of the top receptacle edge and includes a portion extending beyond the edge, and a pillow portion attached to the lid and dimensioned to rest within the interior space of the receptacle when the lid is closed.

This invention relates generally to hinged lid containers and, more particularly, to a hinged lid container which can be easily opened and closed using one hand. The container is particularly well suited for storing candy or gum pieces which a user might desire to store in a pocket, purse, or briefcase and then, dispense from time to time using one hand.
There are many types of containers that are suitable for storing products like candy and gum pieces which must be available to be dispensed quickly and conveniently, and that can be readily stored in the user's pocket, purse, etc. Present containers suffer a number of drawbacks, however, including covers that are easily separated and lost, covers that cannot be held and opened using one hand, containers with inconvenient hinged covers, and containers that are subject to unintended opening resulting in wasteful and annoying spillage of the container contents. Also, many of the prior designs are unduly complex or expensive to manufacture.
The present invention solves these problems and others inherent in prior art container designs. It is well suited to storing products like candy and gum pieces which must be available to be dispensed quickly and conveniently. The container of the present invention can be readily stored in the user's pocket, purse, briefcase, etc. The lid of the container is of a convenient and reliable hinged design which can be easily and securely closed, and which can be opened without difficulty. The container of the invention is, nevertheless, of a simple and straightforward design and it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Finally, the container is well-suited to be held and opened/closed using one hand.


A method for storage virtualization in user space. The method includes providing a first emulation module running in the OS kernel and providing a second emulation module in the user space of the computer, which may emulate a media changer or other SCSI or other storage device. The method continues with a kernel-resident driver receiving a packet of data at a port of the computer that is linked to a data communications network (such as a SAN). The packet of data may include command data for a particular data storage device (e.g., a SCSI command for a SCSI device). The method includes operating the first emulation module to communicate with the driver and to then pass through the packet of data to the second emulation module, allowing the second emulation module to run in user space but efficiently receive data from the kernel-resident driver via the first emulation module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to methods and systems for storage virtualization including emulating SCSI devices, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing high performance SCSI device emulation with virtualization code or modules that run at least partially in the user space of a computer device or system rather than wholly within the kernel.
2. Relevant Background
Recently there has been a strong demand for storage virtualization, and studies show that the trend toward virtualizing or emulating storage devices will only increase in coming years. Virtualization of data storage devices or "storage virtualization" generally refers to the process of abstracting logical storage from physical storage. Often storage virtualization involves pooling or aggregating a variety of heterogeneous devices such as tape drives, tape libraries, and disk arrays but presenting a portion to a client device for its use based on its needs or demands (e.g., presenting a tape drive to a client device requesting data storage but physically utilizing disk storage device or portions of two or more tape drives). Virtualization of storage helps achieve location independence by abstracting the physical location of the stored data. The virtualization system presents to the user or client a logical space for data storage, and the virtualization system handles the process of mapping the logical space to the actual physical location.
Storage virtualization is often achieved in part through emulation or virtualization of storage devices to clients linked to a communications network such as a storage area network (SAN). Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a bus that allows computers or client devices to communicate with peripheral devices such as storage devices using a well-defined communication protocol, and tape drives, disk drives, tape libraries may be considered SCSI devices. SCSI device emulation is utilized in many products that provide storage virtialization. For example, a storage server may be adapted for storage virtualization by functioning to present on a SAN what appear to host applications or other storage clients to be SCSI devices such as tape or disk drives while, in fact, the presented device is virtual or emulated. Such storage device emulation allows product vendors to insert value adding solutions or logic behind the virtual SCSI devices. One example may be a virtual tape in which a host application believes it is writing to a tape drive where, instead, the storage server product is actually using a disk drive to store the host's data. There are many types of virtualization products with virtualization making up a large segment of the overall storage market.
One common feature of most virtualization products is the emulation of SCSI devices, which presents a number of challenges and complexities. Device emulation is typically achieved with a software program or module that rums inside the operating system (OS) space or kernel. The emulation module runs in the kernel such that it can talk or communicate with a host bus adapter (HBA) or other interface to the SAN or with a driver in the kernel that drives HBA input/output (I/O). As a result, SCSI emulation requires a significant amount of difficult and/or tedious coding as the kernel-based emulation module is written in a low level language (such as the C Programming Language) to support running inside the kernel. As such, the downsides and difficulties associated with developing kernel-resident code apply.
There remains a need for methods and systems for achieving high performance SCSI device emulation to facilitate data storage virtualization. Preferably, such methods and systems would provide improved interfacing between emulation products or modules and with business logic or storage products/modules running or present in the user space of storage server products.

SCSI device emulation in user space facilitating storage virtualization


An exerciser a board disposed on a base. The board includes a front end and a rear end each being moved in a circular and reciprocating action and moved in an anti-symmetric way for allowing the board to move along a lateral 8-shaped moving path and for allowing the user to conduct surfing exercise at home. The board includes a front end pivotally coupled to a front shaft and includes a rear end pivotally coupled to a rear axle for allowing the front end and the rear end of the board each to move in the circular and reciprocating action.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser for surfing exercise.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Surfing exercisers have become more and more popular. However, people may not conduct surfing exercises at home.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers.


An expandable array and methods of maintaining a biological sample within an expandable array are provided. The expandable array includes a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a biological sample and a plurality of beams comprising a programmable material. Each beam of the plurality of beams is located between and connects at least two receptacles. The programmable material can be a shape-memory polymer or a magnetoactive material that transitions the plurality of beams from an extended state to a contracted state upon application of a stimulus.

3D printing (3DP) is a class of processes where successive layers of material are aggregated incrementally to directly form a three-dimensional (3D) object [1]. Several 3DP techniques have been introduced over the past several decades [1,2]. While individual processes differ depending on the material and machine technology used, the 3DP processes that use a lithographic technique using a digital light processing (DLP) technology have made great progress in the past several years [3-5].
Projection micro-stereolithography (PμSL) is a micro additive manufacturing technique based on DLP that has been developed and that can provide for high-resolution, rapid, and scalable printing of 3D objects. PμSL uses a spatial light modulator, typically a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), as a dynamically reconfigurable digital photomask. PμSL is capable of fabricating complex 3D micro-structures in a bottom-up, layer-by-layer fashion.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY


Wave power plant consisting of frame carrying at least two paddles unit, capable of moving successively in series, when driven by progressive waves and returning by the gravitation power and the backward wave's force. The plant has an appropriate means with at least one crankshaft mechanism for transferring the successive motion of paddle units in two ways into electric energy. Each of the paddles units have a rod, to be submerged into the sea and which is secured on the frame with possibility for pivoting with respect thereof, the lower extremity of the rod is terminated by a paddle plate and the paddles units are arranged around the frame in series. The energy consumed successfully by each paddle unit is equal to the energy of the paddle's movement forward from the forward wave's force plus the energy of the paddle's movement backward from the backward wave's force and the paddle's gravity. The plant's energy is consumed, in at least one hydraulic engine, which rotate generators.

There are different solutions for the production of energy from sea waves, for example, solutions based on wave height, wave movement, etc. The present invention utilizes both the wave length and the wave width by the forward wave motion, the backward wave motion and the force of gravity in the most efficient way, something that other proposed solutions do not.
The following are examples of the innovation inherent in the present invention as compared with the patents enumerated below, both from the point of view of the operating principle and structure, and from the point of view of energy considerations—allowing greater energy to be attained and produced.    1. (i) U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,630 utilizes only the width of the wave and not the length thereof.            In this patent there is disclosed a system consisting of number of units provided with paddles for each section of wave width. At the bottom of each paddle there are plates. The plates are spaced laterally one from another relative to the direction of wave movement (FIG. 1, the patent top view, shows it). Each paddle activates a pump. In this way, the wave power is not sufficiently utilized because after the wave strikes the paddle and leaves it, it continues to advance and is not longer in contact with the paddle, In FIG. 1, part of the 30 hits the plate 44, leaves the paddle and the wave's part continues to move without utilized its power any more. Other parts of the wave 30 hit the plates 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56, each one wave's part hits only one plate and continue to move without utilizing its power any more. Hence, the wave's power is not fully utilized. The system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,630 utilizes variations in sea level. For this purpose it is provided with a dedicated subsystem, including a set of separates pumps. Due to this provision the whole system is complicated, as it requires additional control means for coordination of the paddle disposition with the variation in sea level. Furthermore, as the disposition of the paddle is continuously changed and the paddle is not submerged deeply enough to maximally utilize available energy, it is not possible to utilize the energy of those wave's components that move under the wave.
The present invention utilizes:                most efficiently both the length and the width of the wave in the following way:        The lower extremities of the paddles are parallel to the wave width. They are arranged one after other in such a way that from a top view, they are arranged in series. Then, when the wave's part strikes the lower extremity of the first paddle it continues to move, and also strikes the other paddles, until the wave's part is flattened. In this way, the power of the wave is consumed more efficiently so as to get maximum energy from the wave. The energy of the next wave coming after the first wave will be utilized in a similar way.
(ii) U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,630 utilizes:                Only the energy in one direction of each paddle. When a paddle, 66+68+70+82+84 as it is shown in FIGS. 3-7, moves pivotal forward, the piston 124+128 as it is shown in FIG. 8, pushes oil within hydraulic cylinder 130 to give the energy to the generator 196, through 188, 146 and accumulartor 140. The oil comes from hydraulic tank 208 through pipe 210. When the paddle returns backward after the wave leaves the paddle, the piston 124+128 returns back and presses some air and/or oil, if desired back to the tank 208 through inlet pipe 212. The accumulator 140 does not get oil and the generator 196 does not get energy. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,630 has a one direction piston. The patent uses the paddle energy in one direction, the patent does not utilize the paddle's energy.
The present invention utilizes:                The whole paddle energy. The invention has for each paddle, a bi-directional piston. When a paddle move forward with the wave, the piston inside the hydraulic cylinder, pushes oil to the first accumulator, after the wave leave the paddle, it returns backward and the same piston pushes oil to the second accumulator. The two accumulators send the oil throgh pipes to an hydraulic engine that rotates a generator. The present invention receive energy from both paddle pivotal forward motion and paddle pivotal backward motion.            2. (i) PCT/IL99/00258 or AU PP8932 or GB9800394.0 patent requests (they are the same requests), (hereinafter: "PCT/IL99/00258 patent requests") show in the application—page 5 paragraphs 4,6, and 7, that the invention has one rod with two pistons with two hydraulic cylinders, both of them send the oil to one accumulator. It is theoretical, in reality the only way that an accumulator can be filled by hydraulic cylinders is, one by one. The hydraulic cylinders above the paddle rod operate one by one and the hydraulic cylinders below the paddle rod operate one by one also, but all the hydraulic cylinders, above and below paddle rod, don't operate one by one. In this way the accumulator can't be filled and work properly. The PCT/IL99/00258 patent requests can be used only to produce energy up to the accumulator. The accumulator should send oil to hydraulic engine that operates the generator. The PCT/IL99/00258 patent requests can't make progress from the accumulator to the generator, because the accumulator does not work. The PCT/IL99/00258 patent requests not can work and produce energy because it uses one accumulator.
In the present invention, there are two accumulators (it is shown below in FIG. 4). All pistons oil exit in the first direction, fill the first accumulator with oil one by one, when the paddles move forward, and all pistons oil exit in the second direction, fill the second accumulator with oil one by one when the paddles move backward. This invention can be used to produce electric energy with two accumulators that send the oil to hydraulic engine that rotates the generator.
(ii) PCT/IL99/00258 patent request claims don't say that in backward paddle unit motion the energy is utilized, i.e. after a wave leave the paddle's plate and the paddle falls pivoting with its gravitation and the backward wave's power, this paddle energy is not utilized. The only energy that is utilized is the energy of a wave that hits the paddle's plates. The gravitation energy of each paddle and the backward wave's energy aren't utilized.
The present invention shows in claim 1, that either, in forward paddle unit motion, the paddle's energy is accepted and consumed and, in backward paddle unit motion, the paddle's energy is accepted and consumed.
The present invention utilizes:                The whole paddle energy. The invention has a bi-directional piston for each paddle. When a paddle move forward with the wave, the piston inside the hydraulic cylinder, pushes oil to the first accumulator, after the wave leaves the paddle, it returns backward and the same piston pushes oil to the second accumulator. The two accumulators send the oil through pipes to an hydraulic engine that rotates a generator. The present invention receives energy from both motions: paddle pivotal forward motion and paddle pivotal backward motion.
The present invention produces energy in the most efficient way, and the invention's technology is better than PCT/IL99/00258.    3 (i) PCT/IL01/00271 patent request shows in their application different method and different drawings than the present invention, as explained in the PCT/IL01/00271 International Preliminary Examination Report patent request, Item I, in which the FIG. 1-FIG. 6 are the present invention.
The following is Item I in the above PCT/IL01/00271 report:                "The present examination authority considers that the amendments files with the letter dated Jun. 17, 2002 (received on Oct. 21, 2002) introduce subject-matter which extends beyond the content of the application as originally filed, contrary to Article 34(2)(b) PCT. The amendments concerned are the following:
With the above-mentioned letter the application has amended the drawing FIGS. 1 and 2 on drawings page 1/6, and has introduced the drawings FIG. 5 on drawings page 4/6 and drawing FIG. 6 on drawing page 5/6. The amended "connections" in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well the two additional drawings FIGS. 5 and 6 where not contained in the drawings pages 1/5-5/5 as originally filed.
It is not apparent how the amended "connections" in FIGS. 1 and 2, or the additional FIGS. 5 and 6 are directly and unambiguously derivable from the content of the application as originally filed. Although the respective structural arrangement shown in said FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6 may indeed not be excluded from the original subject-matter, it remains that it is not explicitly indicated in the application as originally filed that said respective structural arrangement of FIGS. 5 and 6 necessarily has to be realized in order to perform the claimed invention, or how/why the original "side-to-side connection" of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be superseded by a "bottom-to-bottom connection".
Hence, the amendments in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as the additional FIGS. 5 and 6 implicitly introduce subject-matter which extends beyond the content of the application as originally filed, contrary to the requirements of Article 34(2)(b) PCT.
As foreseen by rule 70.2(c) PCT, this international preliminary examination report is being established as if the above mentioned amendments and additional had not been made. Hence, it is theoretically assumed for the rest of this report that the drawings figures on files are those shown on drawing page 1/5-5/5 as originally filed. Similarly, the description parts related to the amendments and additions in the drawings are considers not to have made.
Form PCT/Separate Sheet/409 (Sheet 1) (EPO-April 1997)"
While the connection of the rod 3 is to the side of 14 as in PCT/IL01/00271 patent request and a wave arrives and hits there is an energy loss that comes from the momentum of the 14 side distance multiply by the paddle's weight. When the plant is large each of the paddles have a big weight, which bring to a high momentum with high energy loss.
Following the PCT/IL01/00271 International Preliminary Examination Report, I was forces to ask the PCT patent request for the present invention with the new FIGS. 1 and 2 that I sent to the PCT/IL01/00271. The figures were not published because the PCT/IL01/00271 International Preliminary Examination Report was not published. In addition: please note to the 3rd paragraph above this paragraph, from the words: "As foreseen by rule 70.2(c) PCT" till the words: "the drawings are considers not to have made."
This invention bottom-to-bottom connection brings an essential change with high advantage, that the plant energy production is higher than PCT/IL01/00271 patent request.
(ii) The PCT/IL01/00271 patent request uses, in each one of the paddle unit, as it is written in its claim 1, only one crankshaft mechanism and it can be applied only to very small waves. It can be applied for high waves. When a high wave, (e.g. 5 meters wave height, etc. ) arrives, it hits the paddle plates with high force and one crankshaft mechanism, which is the piston 1 in the present invention drawings, should be very large and the piston size is not realistic piston to be operated.
The piston's area is calculated according to the following formula:                The piston area=(The wave's force)/(The pressure in the hydraulic system). Since the piston size is so large and not realistic, the plant must have at least two piston to that each one of the two (for example two) pistons' area is half size of the original one piston and only by splitting the one piston to at least two pistons, the plant can work. The present invention using at least two crankshaft mechanisms, as it is written in the present invention claim 1, which can be applied for high waves that bring high power for high plant electric energy production.
Each one of the above two alterations in respect of PCT/IL01/00271 patent request is an essential alteration. According the above 1st alteration the, the present invention plant energy production is much more than in PCT/IL01/00271 patent request, and according to the 2nd alteration, the present invention can work and produce energy with high and low waves, while PCT/IL01/00271 patent request can work only with low waves.
The present invention produces energy in the most efficient way, and the invention's technology is better than PCT/IL011/00271 patent request.    4. (i) Patent GB 384603A and Patent JP 57081168 have one crankshaft mechanism for the whole paddles.
The energy consideration is:                The power of each wave is known on the basis of the wave's height and width. The wave strikes the first paddle, the second paddle, the third paddle and so forth, until the wave completely flattens, and then the next wave comes along. Just like an accumulator that is depleted, so the system takes all the power minus losses.
In General:
  Power  =            Energy      Time        =                  The                                                            plant          '                        s                                                  power            =                                                                  The                                                                                total                                                                                energies                                                                                of                                                                                all                                                                                paddles                                                                                situated                                                                                in                                                                                series                                                                                between                                                                                two                                                                                waves                                                              Time                                                              between                                                              two                                                              waves
The mathematical principle of calculating the wattage:
P—The power as calculated according to its height and breadth.
μ—Paddle efficiency.
Number ofWave power before the NthPaddles - NPaddlePaddle Power1PP * μ2P − P * μ(P − P * μ) * μ3(P − P * μ) − (P − P * μ) * μ =P(1 − μ)2 * μP(1 − μ)2.........P - The power as calculated according to its height and breadth.μ - Paddle efficiency.
Thus, the series continues, so that the greater the number of paddles, the greater the system power, up to the maximum P.
The rod that links the last paddle to the crankshaft mechanism in Patent GB 384603A and Patent JP 57081168 is extremely big and long because of the long distance between two waves.
In order to obtain maximum power, it is necessary to provide at least 15 paddles. When the waves are 2 meters to 5 meters height, the distance between two waves is 50-100 meters, so that said rod must also be 50-100 meters!
Because such a great rod length is required, the profile of the rod proposed in GB 384603A or in Patent JP 57081168 is extremely thick and large, so that it should not bend under the force of the waves, and quite impractical.
Because of the weight of the rod proposed in GB 384603A or in Patent JP 57081168, and the slow wave speed prevailing under said conditions, it is not possible to attain the minimum speed of 500 rpm required to rotate the flywheel of the oil pump (linked to the accumulator that drives an oil engine, which in turn drives a generator and produces the electric energy).
Thus, it should be emphasized, that the arrangements proposed in GB 384603A or in Patent JP 57081168 are completely impractical where waves higher than 2 meters are concerned.
Thus, Patent GB 384603A and Patent JP 57081168 are only applicable when Waves are small and the distance between two waves is short. Where higher waves are concerned, the entire plant proposed by GB 384603 A or by Patent JP 57081168 become dysfunctional and cannot be used.
The present invention has a crankshaft mechanism for each paddle unit, without used a rod to link among the paddles. Each paddle unit is operated independently.
The present invention is equally practicable for both small and large waves and can be used to obtain high power capacities under both sea conditions, and this is the technological innovation of my patent application over the patents: GB 384603A and JP 57081168.
The present invention shows below in claim 1 (the main claim ), that it incorporates the features referring to crankshaft mechanism and a piston and also to providing each of the paddle units with a dedicated crankshaft mechanism to show the difference in patents GB 384603A and JP 57081168 in which the whole plate has one crankshaft mechanism.
(ii) Patent GB 384603A and Patent JP 57081168 don't utilize the energy of backward paddle unit motion, after a wave leaves the paddle's plate and the paddle falls pivoting with its gravitation and the backward wave's power, this paddle energy is not utilized. The only energy that is utilized is the energy of a wave that hits the paddle's plates. The gravitation energy of each paddle and the backward wave's power, aren't utilized.
The present invention utilizes the whole paddle energy.                The invention has a Two-Direction piston for each paddle. When a paddle moves forward with the wave, the piston inside the hydraulic cylinder pushes oil to the first accumulator, after the wave leaves the paddle, it returns backward and the same piston pushes oil to the second accumulator. The two accumulators send the oil through pipes to an hydraulic engine that rotates a generator. The present invention receives energy from both motions: paddle pivotal forward motion and paddle pivotal backward motion.
The present invention shows in claim 1 that either, in forward paddle unit motion, the paddle's energy is accepted and consumed and, in backward paddle unit motion, the paddle's energy is accepted and consumed. This is the second technological innovation of my patent application over patents: GB 384603A and JP 57081168.    5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,359 describes a marine energy converter system based on utilization of differences in sea level which it converts into linear movement only of piston 21 which moves within its casing 17. The casing 17 is rigidly connected with pole 3 which is anchored at the bottom of the sea. The above converter can only exploit linear monement, and does not make it possible to exploit the dynamic energy of the sea waves. The above converter is equipped with a floating system piston. The piston is connected to a float 41 and this enables the linear movement of the piston within the piston casing. As a result the piston, within its casing, by virtue of the rising level of water, requires very little force to rise. However, since energy is always a product of force multiplied by distance, the resultant energy is very small as a consequence of the small amount of force exerted.
The present invention, however, is based on a different principle, i.e., the exploitation of the dynamic energy of sea waves, which give rise to pivotal movement of the paddles rather than their elevation. The pivotal movement is subsequently converted into linear movement of the piston by means of a crankshaft mechanism 32,40. The piston rises within the casing with relatively great force and the energy produced is thus greater.
Thanks to the structure of the system according to the present invention, it is possible to utilize waves regardless of the height of the wave itself.
Both from the point of view of the present invention's operating principle and from the point of view of its particular structure, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,359 energy converter is not similar to the present invention.    6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,249 describes a hydroelectric system, which utilizes the movement of the waves and converts them into circular movement. Said system includes a turbine 22 whose vanes are moved by the moving wave. The turbine wheel is connected to equipment for the generation of electrical energy.
The present invention, by comparison, does not convey circular energy, but rather utilizes the axial movement of the paddles to move the piston in a linear motion.
As in the previous case, the above U.S. patent does not void the innovation or the innovation of the present invention, neither in principle nor from the point of view of the structure of the above-described patent.
It may also be noted, that the utilization of wave energy in order to create circular energy along, is inferior to the creation of linear motion, on the following counts:
In order to achieve better that 90% utilization, for example, a pump activated through circular energy must rotate as speeds of 500-5000 rpm. Below 500 rpm, the efficiency rate is abruptly reduced to about 40%. In order to attain such high speeds, when the wave movement is relatively low, it is necessary to provide additional transmission by means of a few pairs of cog-wheels, thus creating losses in the system. Moreover, if we introduce a number of pairs of cog-wheels, then the total efficiency of the system is reduced, and the energy produced is thus far lower. The cost of the system too, is increased through the provision of may pairs of additional cogwheels.
However, when the piston moves in a linear motion, the immediate efficiency of the system is at least 90% and a linear pump is not limited by any constraints.    7. U.S. Pat. No. 53,311,064 describes a system for generating energy from the movement of sea waves, based on a similar principle to that of the above described hydro-electric system, i.e., the use of a turbine which is rotated by the flow of water. The circular movement is conveyed to the energy generating mechanism by means of a transmission mechanism.
All the above given explanations regarding the hydro-electric system according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,249, are also valid in this case, both as regards circular motion versus linear motion and the differing structure.    8. Fr Patent 501795 described a system for generating energy from the movement of sea waves.
(i) The system has one paddle. The low extremity of the paddle's plate is a buoy that moves vertically up and down when the wave reaches the plate. The paddle receives only the height energy from the wave.
When a wave hits a paddle, the paddle goes up in pivotal movement. In this way, each paddle receives energies from: a. the wave height energy which is, potential energy plus b. the wave movement energy, which is kinetic energy. The present invention receives from each paddle much more energy in comparison to the above Fr Patent 501795.
(ii) The present invention has at least two paddles. The Fr Patent 501795 has one paddle. The advantage of the present invention from this reason is the same as explained in 2(i) above as regards towards U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,630.    9. JP patent 006750 converters can only exploit linear movement, and does not make it possible to exploit the dynamic energy of the sea waves. The hydraulic cylinders 2 and 2a, are pistons connected to a float 1 and this enables the linear movement of the pistons within the piston casing. As a result the pistons within the casing, by virtue of the rising level of water, require very little force to rice. However, since energy is always a product of force multiplied by distance, the resultant energy is very small as a consequence of the small amount of force exerted.
The present invention, however, is based on a different principle, i.e., the exploitation of the dynamic energy of sea waves, which give rise to pivotal movement of the paddles rather than their elevation. The pivotal movement is subsequently converted into linear movement of the bi-directional piston by means of a crankshaft mechanism 32, 40. The piston rises within the casing with relatively great force and while the energy produced is a product of force multiplied by distance, the resultant energy is higher as a consequence of the high amount of force exerted. Thus the energy produced according to this system is greater then JP patent 006750.    10. U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,621 described a system for generating energy with two hydraulic motors, one hydraulic motor 121a, for low waves and one hydraulic motor 121b for high waves with very complicated system. When the oil pressure PLa>PLb then first hydraulic motor 121a works and when the oil pressure PLa<PLb, the second hydraulic motor works. The present invention works with all kinds of oil pressure with the same hydraulic motor. If for example, the present invention works with a system of three hydraulic motors, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,621 requires 6 hydraulic motors: three for law waves plus three for high waves, which is very expensive and with very complicated system. The present invention is more economical and much simpler than U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,621.    11. U.S. Pat. No. 1,960,622 generate energy does not establish optimum distance of the paddle heights, to make plan maximum energy production, since the rod 20 and the plate 25 move upwards or downwards synchronously, automatically, but not supervised as described in the present invention, with the movement of the sea level at tide time.            The paddles' system according to the present invention stays in the optimum fixed position even when the sea water continues to move upwards and downwards with the tide to create the plant maximum energy production, while in the U.S. Pat. No. 1,960,622, the rod 20 and the plate 25, move upwards or downwards all the time with the sea water at the tide time.


The present invention has been achieved by a material for a sintering appliance which comprises a base material comprising alumina.times.silica containing from 65 to 95% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having formed on the surface thereof a flame-coated film comprising ZrO.sub.2 and CaO as main components, wherein the content of CaO is from 23 to 30% by weight based on the weight of the ZrO.sub.2 and CaO, the mineral composition of the main components of the coated film is calcium zirconate. Preferably the difference of thermal expansion between the base material and the flame-coated film is 0.3 or more at 1,200.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a material for a sintering appliance which is used for sintering a functional ceramic and a ceramic powder.
2. Description of the Related Art
For maintaining the prescribed characteristics of sintered products, it is required that the components of the material for a sintering appliance which is used for sintering a functional ceramic, e.g., electrical parts, should not react with the member of the substance to be sintered, or the components of the substance to be sintered should not be absorbed in the material for a sintering appliance during sintering. For that sake, in many cases, a dense or low reactive film layer is formed on the surface of the material for a sintering appliance.
For forming such a film layer on the surface of the base material, various methods are adopted, e.g., a method comprising casting or spraying slurried film components on the surface of the molded, or molded and further sintered, base material, then sintering; a method comprising fixing a film layer on the surface of the molded, or molded and further sintered, base material by means of an adhesive material, e.g., a vitreous material; and a method comprising forming a film layer by flame-coating and at the same time baking it on the surface of the base material previously sintered.
Of these, a method by flame-coating is particularly preferred because a dense coated film can be obtained on the surface of the base material and abrasion resistance of the coated film per se is high. Therefore, when the film layer of the material is formed by flame-coating, the component of the substance to be sintered (e.g., Pb, Bi, Na, K, etc.) hardly penetrate the base material through the film layer to deteriorate the base material and generate cracks or warps.
Alumina and zirconia are used in general as the material of the film in a flame-coating method taking the cost, the reactivity with the substance to be sintered, and the use life of the coated film into consideration. In particular, when the reactivity resistance is important, zirconia is used.
Further, for preventing peeling-off attributable to difference of thermal expansion between the base material and the flame-coated zirconia film from occurring, zirconia is often used as stabilized zirconia or partially stabilized zirconia in a zirconia flame-coated film. In view of reactivity resistance and cost saving, yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2 O.sub.3) and calcium oxide (CaO) are generally used as a stabilizer. However, in recent years, higher quality of sintered functional ceramic and ceramic powder has been further demanded. Therefore, in the sintering of a certain soft ferrite and dielectric ceramic and a special ceramic powder, the content of CaO in a zirconia film must be increased to ensure the characteristics of a sintered product, as a result, a part of components of the substance to be sintered happens to react with the base material.
However, if the content of CaO in a zirconia film is further increased, base materials for use are limited correspondingly while such base materials have a drawback on use life such that cracks are generated due to properties of base materials per se.
With respect to this problem, JP-B-3-77652 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication") discloses a technique comprising flame-coating stabilized zirconia containing from 4 to 31% by weight of CaO on an alumina-silica base material containing 85% by weight or more of alumina. However, JP-B-3-77652 discloses that if thermal expansion of the base material and the flame-coated film are not approximated, the coated film is liable to peel off, for example, if the difference of thermal expansion between both at 1,200.degree. C. is 0.06% or more, the coated film peels off.
Further according to this technique, as the more the content of the stabilizer (CaO), the more increases the thermal expansion of the stabilized zirconia, it is necessary to use the alumina-silica base material having a large alumina content and this technique limits the content of alumina to 85% by weight or more.
Accordingly, if a flame-coated film having a large content of CaO is used, the alumina content of the base material has to be increased correspondingly. In such a case, however, the base material itself is liable to crack and the use life of the material of the appliance itself becomes low, although the characteristics of the flame-coated film can be obtained. Further, there is a problem such that the coated film of the stabilized zirconia in some cases lets CaO free with the destabilization by thermal hysteresis and the free CaO reacts with sintered products.
JP-B-4-568 discloses a technique comprising flame-coating stabilized zirconia having a CaO content of from 4 to 15% by weight on the surface of an alumina base material so as to gradually decrease the content of CaO. However, the thus-obtained material of the appliance has less content of CaO of the surface side, which cannot be effectively used for sintering dielectric ceramic and a special ceramic powder unless the content of CaO in zirconia film is increased.
Further, JP-B-4-21330 discloses a technique in which a flame-coated alumina layer or a sintered alumina layer intervenes between an alumina base material and a zirconia flame-coated layer to improve adhesion of the base material with the zirconia layer by lessening difference of thermal expansion between the base material and the zirconia film layer. However, this technique requires two or more steps of flame-coating, which is expensive. Moreover, also in this case, stabilized zirconia or partially stabilized zirconia containing 8% by weight or less of CaO is used for coating, which cannot be used for sintering a special powder, etc, as above.


Subscribing to channels and playing content, including: selecting an available subscription channel with an application on a second device; modifying a user's, subscription list based on the selected subscription-channel; and executing commands on any of the subscription channels of the user's subscription list. Keywords include: media, internet content, BIVL subscription and device infrastructure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to internet video services, and more specifically, to subscribing to media content over multiple devices.
2. Background
Internet video services such as Bravia Internet Video Link (BIVL) enable users to browse and search content on the Internet. The browsing and searching can be done using Internet Protocol television (IPTV) which uses the architecture and networking methods of the Internet Protocol Suite over a packet-switched network infrastructure.
Many times media content via BIVL must be browsed, searched, or played oh a single device, usually an IPTV client, making the viewing experience for the user disruptive or inconvenient. Often the content being played on the main device, must be interrupted in order to browse content, which detracts from the viewing experience. Also, some devices that lack GUI capabilities (e.g. a home audio or video device that only displays text) may not be able to browse BIVL services with an IPTV simply because they lack the ability to display a GUI or graphics to a user.

Internet content subscription service via multiple devices

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