An optical near-field probe (1) includes a carrier component (10), which carries a tip (40), and has only one membrane (11, 20), transparent at least in the area of the tip (40), which is mounted on the light emission surface (9) of an optical waveguide (2) that is made of a rigid material such as glass or plastic. The dimensions of the membrane (11, 20), at least in one direction in the membrane plane, are less than or equal to the diameter of the optical waveguide (2). To position the tip (40) over the core (3) of the optical waveguide (2), optical methods can be used or the membrane and optical waveguide can be provided with locating elements.

The invention involves an optical near-field probe with an optical (light) waveguide and a tip manufactured by micro-engineering that is attached to a carrier component. The invention also includes a process for manufacture of an optical near-field probe.
Optical near-field probes are used in scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM), as is described for example in "Near-field Optics: Light for the World of NANO" in J. Vac.Sci. Technol., B (12) 3, pages 1441-1446 (1994).
Optical near-field microscopy is based on the scanning of a surface using an optical aperture in order to reach resolutions better than the Abbe-limit. From App. Optics, vol. 34, no. 7, pages 1215-1228 it is known, for example, to use pointed glass fiber ends, which obtain a small aperture by vapor deposition of a metal layer. Optical signal detection alone has the disadvantage, however, that no separation of topographical and optical effects is possible. For the separation of these two effects it is necessary to adjust the glass fiber tip during scanning to a constant distance of several nanometers from the sample surface, which is possible only at a considerable adjustment expense in known near-field probes because of their method of construction. Furthermore, there is the risk without distance control that during scanning the glass fiber tip or the sample surface will become damaged.
In order to improve both of these aspects, shear force detection was developed, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,854, for example. Shear force detection functions as a distance control, in order to adjust the distance between fiber tip and sample surface to a constant value. To do this, the glass fiber end is generally shifted by forced oscillations of a piezo ceramic element in constant oscillations parallel to the sample surface. The oscillation of the glass fiber end is damped in proximity to the sample surface, such that this damping becomes larger the closer the glass fiber tip is to the sample surface. In order to measure the damping of the oscillation, the glass fiber end is generally illuminated using a laser diode mounted orthogonally to the plane of oscillation, such that the changing shadow of the glass fiber modulates the intensity on a photodetector. This intensity modulation corresponds to the mechanical oscillation amplitude and functions electrically rectified as an input signal for a control circuit. Using a signal of the control circuit, another piezo ceramic element is controlled which shifts the distance of the sample surface to the glass fiber end to such an extent that an externally prescribed target value is obtained. In this way, the sample surface can be scanned by the tip, and the distance between tip and sample can always be followed or adjusted to a constant value.
For this it is necessary, among other things, that the near-field probe have a suitably large angular freedom on the one hand, i.e. that it can be brought to the sample without a large adjustment expense, and on the other hand, that it be constructed to be as thin as possible because the material thickness determines the damping and thus the resolution. Furthermore, it is desirable to construct the near-field probe in a way such that it can be manufactured as a mass-produced product.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,790 to manufacture the optical near-field probe from two components, namely glass fibers and tips. The disadvantage of the device described there consists in that the glass fiber is arranged at a distance to the membrane and thus to the near-field tip, so that an intermediate space is present which entails light losses that can only be avoided if the intermediate space is filled with a lens or an immersion liquid. Furthermore, the mounting of the near-field tip of this type is so voluminous that it cannot be used for shear force detection. In particular, it is not possible without a considerable adjustment expense to approach the tip to the sample surface, because a probe slope of only .+-.1.degree., relative to the normal line to the sample plane is allowed. With a larger probe slope edge areas of the probe would sit on the sample surface. Furthermore, the oscillation behavior for shear force detection is poor because of the large mass of the mounting structure on the fiber end, i.e., the probe has a small oscillation quality.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,520 a near-field probe is known which is not, however, suitable for optical application purposes, but instead is used specially for conductivity measurements. To manufacture probes suitable for this, a glass pipette is taken as a start, on the end of which a membrane with a hollow tip is mounted. In the hollow tip an electrolyte is introduced for example, which is connected to a detection device via a suitable electric connection. This near-field probe is set directly onto the sample surface, so that the conductive material in the tip of the probe contacts the sample. In order to prevent damage, the membrane must be mounted in such a way that it is also flexible after being attached to the pipette and can be oscillated. For the membrane and the tip non-transparent materials are used. Near-field probes of this type cannot be used either for scanning near-field optical microscopy or for shear force detection, because on the one hand, the pipette is too rigid for this, and on the other hand, the membrane is fixed in its oscillation. Damage to the membrane is easily possible.

Optical near-field probe and process for its manufacture


A releasable clamp for the interior of an elongated tube, for use in telescopic tube arrangements and the like. The clamp comprises an outwardly expandable split ring having open ends and sides of cylindrical configuration, the sides of the split ring expanding outwardly to frictionally engage the interior surfaces of the tube when in expanded position, the split ring slidably movable longitudinally within the tube when the sides of the split ring are in unexpanded position. Wedges are provided, co-operating with the open ends of the split ring to bear against the ends of the split ring to force the sides of the split ring outwardly to expand it, tube engaging position. This releasable clamp may be used, for example, in an adjustable length handle for an appliance such as a floor polisher.

The present invention relates to a releasable clamp for the interior of a cylindrical tube. One particular application of such a clamp is in an adjustable length handle for an appliance such as a floor polisher.
Commercial floor polishers are conventionally heavy and bulky machines. A lower housing supports a motor and floor polisher brush or pad. A handle, which is adjustably pivotable at varying angles with respect to the housing and floor surface is secured to the rear of the housing. Transport wheels are mounted on the housing, towards the rear, to support the floor polisher and facilitate its movement during operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,798 of Genovese issued Jul. 11, 1989 describes and illustrates a conventional floor polisher having a handle with a brace pivotally secured to the housing and to a collar which is slidably mounted about a portion of the handle. The lower end of the handle is pivotally secured to an upper part of the housing. In this manner limited pivotal movement of the handle with respect to the floor polisher housing is achieved.
Canadian Patent No. 1,087,356 of Fink et al issued Oct. 14, 1990 describes and illustrates an adjustable handle for a floor maintenance appliance such as a polisher in which the handle is longitudinally adjustable. The longitudinal adjustment of the handle is achieved through telescopic tubes within which are positioned a longitudinally movable rod on which is positioned a wedge construction or a cam-in-guide arrangement which, on movement of the rod, moves plungers in and out of locking apertures through overlapping portions of the telescopic tubes. Such prior art constructions of handles have not permitted ready disassociation of the handle from the housing of the floor polisher. This would be a desirable feature for example for transporting such floor polishers in condition where space is limited, or for storage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative construction of clamp mechanism for adjusting the length of appliance handles and other constructions of a telescopic tubular nature. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an appliance handle which is readily detachable from the rest of the appliance.

Adjustable, removable, locking handle for floor polishers and the like

Dustbane Products Limited/Les Produits Dustbane Limitee


A process for converting distillation residues obtained from polymerization processes to useful maleated products is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for converting distillation resides obtained from polymerization processes to useful products. More specifically, the process is directed to the maleation of distillation residues to produce maleated products characterized by having viscosities which are shear dependent.
2. Description of the Prior Art
High density polyethylene (HDPE) resins are widely utilized for film applications such as for grocery sacks, merchandise bags, can liners and the like. HDPEs are typically produced by copolymerizing ethylene with a minor amount of a C3-8 α-olefin comonomer using either Ziegler-Natta catalysts or the so-called Phillips catalysts. The latter are chromium oxide catalysts and generally produce HDPE resins having broad molecular weight distributions (MWDs) whereas Ziegler-Natta catalysts, which are based on transition metal technology, produce narrower MWD HDPEs.
While most HDPEs exhibit good tensile and stiffness properties, certain improvements, such as increased tear properties and increased impact strength, can be achieved by increasing the molecular weight of the resin. High molecular weight resins are, however, more difficult to process for film production and require the use of higher processing temperatures and/or pressures. To ameliorate this effect, high molecular weight high density polyethylene (HMW HDPE) film grade resins preferably have broad MWDs.
Multiple-stage polymerization technologies wherein polymers of different molecular weights are produced in separate reactors and blended to produce a final resin product are a known means of producing resins having broadened MWDs (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,998)
U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,448 discloses a process wherein ethylene or a mixture of ethylene and a small amount of another α-olefin are polymerized in two successive steps under different hydrogen partial pressures using high activity Ziegler-type catalysts to produce HDPE resins having broad MWDs. A similar procedure for the production of high molecular weight medium density polyethylene resins is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,715.
In one mode of operation for the production of HMW HDPEs where successive polymerization steps are employed, ethylene is homopolymerized in a first reactor in a hydrocarbon diluent, such as hexane or heptane, and the amount of molecular weight regulator, i.e., hydrogen, is maintained at low levels to maximize molecular weight of the homopolymer formed. The high molecular weight homopolymer produced in the first reaction zone is then fed along with the solvent and catalyst to a second reaction zone where ethylene and a C3-8 α-olefin comonomer are copolymerized in the presence of the homopolymer. The ratio of homopolymer produced in the first reactor to copolymer produced in the second reactor (which typically has a lower molecular weight) is selected to provide the desired average molecular weight and MWD in the final resin product for optimal physical properties and processing characteristics.
While such processes are an effective and versatile means for producing a broad array of HMW HDPE resins of varying densities and melt indexes (MIs), substantial amounts of low molecular weight polymers (LMWPs) are also formed. The LMWPs have number average molecular weights (Mn) from several hundred up to about 30000 and, more typically, up to about 20000. These low molecular weight by-product polymers have a waxy character and they remain in the hydrocarbon diluent after separation and recovery of the HMW HDPE by centrifugation or other suitable means.
In a typical HMW HDPE operation, the hydrocarbon diluent containing the LMWP, any unrecovered HMW HDPE and catalyst residue is subjected to one or more distillations to recover the hydrocarbon which is recycled for reuse in the polymerization process. The still "bottoms" obtained from the distillation, also referred to herein as the polymerizer/polymerization residue or by-product, generally contain about 60 to 90 weight percent (wt. %) LMWP, 5 to 20 wt. % HMW HDPE, 4 to 10 wt. % hydrocarbon diluent and 0.2 to 1 wt. % catalyst residue and catalyst deactivating agents, e.g., alcohols.
Even though the low molecular weight ethylene polymer waxes are the major constituents, these polymerizer residues cannot be used as such for most wax applications due to the presence of significant levels of the high molecular species (which increase the viscosity to a level outside the useful range for most wax applications) and their high metals content due to the presence of catalyst residues (which form undesirable color bodies).
Since separation of the low and high molecular weight species and removal of catalyst residues is difficult and not economically feasible, it would be highly desirable if a process were available whereby the polymerization residues recovered from such processes could be effectively treated and converted into useful products. These and other advantages are achieved with the process of the present invention which is described in detail to follow.

Process for maleating polymerization residues and products


Provided are a leakage inspection apparatus and a leakage inspection method for inspecting the flow rate of leakage from a tested body disposed in a tested-body chamber 21. The leakage inspection apparatus includes liquid supplying and pressurizing means 11 for supplying a probe liquid to the inside of the tested-body chamber 21 and pressurizing the probe liquid to a high pressure 0.1 MPa or more, vacuum evacuation means 22-b, 23-b and a quadrupole mass spectrometer 34. The tested body 21 is evacuated, the probe liquid is supplied to the inside of the tested body and pressurized to 0.1 MPa or more and the concentration of a probe medium leaked from the tested body and evaporated in a vacuum is measured by the quadrupole mass spectrometer 34, thereby measuring the flow rate of leakage from the tested body. This makes it possible to determine the flow rate of leakage using a liquid as a probe medium and simultaneously possible to perform a pressure tightness inspection at an atmospheric pressure of 0.1 MPa or more, especially at a high pressure ranging from 1 MPa to 1 GPa.

For various pants of automobiles and airplanes, various parts structuring gas facilities or water facilities and packages for foods, medical products, etc., it is necessary to inspect leakage caused in the structures, per se, of these items and defects of joint portions and seal portions formed by welding, etc., thereof. Leakage inspection methods have been used, which are illustrated in Table 1, that is, "pressurization foaming method", "in-water foaming method", "color check method", "ultrasonic method", "differential pressure method", "gas leak test method", and the like.
TABLE 1Detection Principle and Quantitativityof Leakage Inspection MethodQuanti-NameDetection principletativityPressurizationSoap water is applied on the outside ofxfoaming methoda specimen and the inside is pressurizedwith gas (air). Bubbles generated froma leak portion are detected.In-waterA specimen is soaked in water and thexfoaming methodinside of the specimen is pressurizedwith gas (air). Bubbles generated froma leak portion are detected.Color checkA color solvent is applied on a specimen.xmethodThe solvent is absorbed at a leak portionand appeared as a maculation and themaculation is detected.UltrasonicWhen there is leakage continuously,xmethodultrasonic waves are generated. Theultrasonic waves are detected with anultrasonic sensor.DifferentialA specimen and a standard body (master)∘pressureare pressurized with air in order tomethoddetect a differential pressure betweenthe specimen exhibiting leakage and themaster exhibiting no leakage.Gas leak testA specimen is entered into a vacuum∘methodchamber and the inside of the specimenis pressurized with a probe gas. Probegas having leaked is detected. Heliumgas is often used as the probe gas.
Oil production sites for various parts and packages, a leakage inspection by taking products that exhibit a flow rate of leakage below a permitted rate as acceptable products has been a mainstream method. On this background, methods as represented by "differential pressure method" and "gas leak test method", which enable determination of a flow rate of leakage, have been employed widely.
For example, a leakage inspection apparatus of a differential pressure method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-296871 (Patent Document 1) and a helium gas leak detection apparatus of a gas leak test method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-140504 (Patent Document 2).
FIG. 3 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a leakage inspection according to a differential pressure method, which is a conventional technique. In the differential pressure method, a tested body and a master from which no leakage occurs are pressurized with a gas, a valve of a pressurization line is closed and thereafter the pressure difference ΔP (Pa) between the tested body and the master is measured after a constant time Δt (s). Supposing the volume inside the tested body is V (m3), the flow rate Q (Pam3s−1) of leakage can be estimated, by Q=V(ΔP/Δt). Since the detection resolution (detection lower limit) of the leakage inspection apparatus using the differential pressure method is about 10−4 Pam3s−1, the method has been mainly used for inspection for parts whose allowable flow rate of leakage is 10−3 Pam3s−1 or more.
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a gas leak test method, which is another conventional technique. A high pressure probe gas of about 0.5 MPa is filled in a tested body. The tested body is disposed in a vacuum chamber and, when there is a leakage, the probe gas leaking into the vacuum chamber is detected with a gas detector. Herein, a calibration leak providing a known flow rate of leakage is equipped in the gas detector, allowing the flow rate of leakage (Pam3s−1) to be measured.
Helium gas is mainly used for the probe gas and, since the detection resolution of the helium detector (helium leak detector) is about 10−10 Pam3s−1, the gas leak test method has been mainly used for inspecting parts whose minute allowable flow rate of leakage is 10−3 Pam3s−1 or less. Note that the gas leak test method in which helium gas is used as a probe gas is called helium leak test method.

Leakage inspection apparatus and leakage inspection method


Some embodiments of the present invention provide a snow plow blade gate apparatus and method in which the gate is pivotably attached to an end of a snow plow blade. The gate can be pivotable between a deployed position in which the gate blocks snow from exiting the snow plow blade to a stowed position in which at least part of the gate is moved to a location behind the snow plow blade. In some embodiments, the gate pivots about an axis skewed with respect to a substantially vertical plane. Also, some embodiments of the present invention have an actuator that can be actuated to secure the gate in a deployed position.

Snow plow blades are often provided with attachments intended to increase plowing efficiency and performance. For example, some attachments are gates attached to the snow plow blade and movable to control the movement of snow along the snow plow blade. Such gates can be used to block movement of snow past an end of the snow plow blade as the snow plow blade moves over a surface to be cleared.
Demand continues to increase for snow plow blades and blade attachments that are operable at higher speeds, can clear snow without multiple passes, can be adapted to different plowing environments, and are relatively easy to control. New snow plow blades and blade attachments offering any of these features would therefore be welcome in the art.

Gate assembly and method for a snow plow blade


An apparatus and method for two-dimensional search for a model image within atest image that exploits edge-based matching of edge maps, followed by area-based matching of at least coarse resolution edge maps of respective multi-resolution edge-maps, to efficiently and accurately provide the position of at least one instance of the model image. The invention can find a location of the model image within each test image of a sequence of test images, even when there are non-uniform brightness changes in the test image due to process steps or lighting changes. The postion of each verified instance of the model image within the test image can be provided to an alignment device, a measurement device, or any other device that can use such position information.

Many electronic and optical devices are currently produced using planar fabrication processes wherein one or more devices are fabricated on a planar substrate. Planar fabrication processes typically include a sequence of process steps. Such process steps can include thin-film or thick-film deposition, chemical and/or mechanical polishing, diffusion of dopants, and metalization, for example. Commonly, it is necessary to perform an alignment step after a process step. For example, an alignment step is required to return to the same location on a substrate to perform a measurement after a process step, as in a wafer prober, or a film thickness measurement system, or a flatness probe station. Another example is the alignment step required to register a lithography mask with respect to a previously fabricated pattern on the surface of the substrate, as in a wafer stepper.
However, a process step can cause a change in the appearance of the nascent device and/or the substrate upon which the device is being fabricated. Such changes can result in, for example, a non-uniform change in brightness over the area of an image of the device and/or substrate. That is to say, there is no single linear transformation of the brightness of each pixel in the pre-process-step image that will provide the post-process-step image. Instead, two or more different transformations are applied over respective sub-areas of the image to provide the post-process-step image. When confronted with images exhibiting non-uniform changes in pixel brightness between process steps, alignment based on such images can become problematic using known automated vision-based alignment methods, such as normalized correlation search.
Note that non-uniform changes in pixel brightness across a sequence of images of an object could also result from a change in lighting conditions over the sequence of images.
FIG. 1 illustrates a sample reference feature both before and after 10' a hypothetical process step that causes a non-uniform change in image brightness (gray value). The gray values G0, G1, and G2 of the three regions 12, 14, and 16, respectively, of the image 10 are shown, and the corresponding magnitude of the first difference (rate of change of gray value with position) plot 18 across the image is indicated immediately below.
For comparison, after a hypothetical substrate processing step, such as a semiconductor wafer process step or thin film process step, the gray values G1, G0, and G2 of each of three regions 12', 14' and 16' (where the prime (') indicates a post-process image) of the image 10' are shown, and the corresponding magnitude of the first difference 18' taken across the image is indicated immediately below. Thus, each process step can introduce a change in image polarity over the area of an image, or other non-uniform change in gray value over the image area, which is manifest as a non-uniform transformation over the first difference of the image. The change in the first difference image is non-uniform in that no single linear transformation over the entire pre-process first difference image can be found that can provide the post-process version of the first difference image. It is possible, however, to find a piece-wise linear or non-uniform linear transformation.
Such non-uniform changes in the first difference of the image can introduce further difficulty for some known search techniques, and particularly for search methods that employ edge thresholding, wherein only strong edges that exceed a threshold are deemed valid. This is because some substrate processing steps can reduce the strength of otherwise valid edges, and such edge information is not available to facilitate image searching.
Further, substrate processing steps can cause non-uniform changes in image gray values over the area of an image of the substrate that can introduce further difficulty for known search techniques, and particularly for techniques that employ normalized correlation search based solely on correlation of areas of image gray values.
In an attempt to overcome this difficulty, the SEARCH TOOL, an application of normalized correlation search sold by Cognex Corporation, Natick, Mass., requires that a different search model of the reference feature be trained for use after each process step, whenever each process step can change the appearance of the reference feature on the wafer in a non-uniform manner. However, this approach is impractical, because each processing step can have an unpredictable effect on the brightness, contrast, location, orientation, and/or scale of the reference feature, making it difficult to train a suitable sequence of search models. Moreover, even if a stable sequence of search models could be found for finding an image feature throughout a sequence of process steps, such an approach is time consuming and costly.
It is also known to compute a Sobel magnitude image of the reference feature on the wafer after each step of a sequence of process steps, and search the Sobel magnitude image using a Sobel magnitude image of the model image. However, in this case, the Sobel magnitude image changes in a non-uniform or non-linear manner after each process step. Further, the Sobel magnitude image may not work well in conjunction with some implementations of normalized correlation search. To overcome this problem, custom application-specific image pre-processing must be employed. The result is not necessarily adequate for many applications.

Robust search for image features across image sequences exhibiting non-uniform changes in brightness


A method and system of formatting and transferring image data allows a user to easily select image data format settings and format received image data in accordance with the user selected format settings. The user can save the image data to a second location in the format that the user so chooses. Manipulation of image data within the same application usable to transfer that data eliminates the need to rely on multiple applications.

Currently, there are many different devices on the market that have the ability to display images. Most of these devices serve other purposes as well. Commercial products for displaying images include digital picture frames (such as the SMART PICTURE FRAME by KODAK, that cooperates with the STORYBOX network, and digital picture frames by DIGI-FRAME), pocket/hand-held computers, cell phones, and personal computers (PCs). Certain devices, such as FOTOSHOW digital image center by IOMEGA, have the ability to render images via a television screen.
Complicating the user experience, these various image display devices have a spectrum of display characteristics and image data format requirements. Different devices generally render images at different resolutions utilizing different formatting options. For example, a digital picture frame may be able to display an image at a resolution of 640×480 pixels in 24-bit color, while a hand-held computer may at best be able to render an image at a resolution of 320×240 pixels in 8-bit color. Support for many other options also varies from one device to another. For example, some, but not all, devices provide support for embedded thumbnails (thumbnail images inside the image file) for a more efficient user experience. The varying image processing and rendering capabilities are often tied to the memory capacity and processing characteristics of a device, but may also be the result of other design choices and compromises.
In addition to the various format options and special features, all of which may be referred to using the umbrella term "format settings", that may be supported, most devices also support image transfer to or from one or more devices. Thus, there are generally different devices and locations to which an image file may be saved from a particular device such as a PC. Parameters associated with image files such as size, resolution, compression, embedded meta-data (such as thumbnails), bit depth, etc., can affect this image data file size and the overall quality of the rendered image.
Because different devices support varying format options and special features, the currently available general methods for manipulating and transferring image data require the execution of many steps in a number of application programs. For example, to first manipulate image data, a user can choose from among a plethora of image manipulation software, such as PICTURE IT! by MICROSOFT and ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. These and other graphic manipulation programs allow editing and manipulation of images, but require a user to separately specify format information each and every time that the user saves an image, even when the user saves the same image multiple times for use on multiple devices. There currently does not exist an image editing and manipulation application that allows a user to easily and automatically apply format settings to an image at save time. There are programs (such as DEBABELIZER) that allow batch image processing operations to be performed through scripting, and there are ways with the standard programs mentioned above that one can create "Macros" of manipulation functions to perform image processing. However, both of these techniques require deep knowledge of the applications being used to perform the manipulation and as such are out of the reach of most casual users.
In addition, existing graphic editing and manipulation applications do not provide a mechanism for transferring an image from a device or location to a new device or location while applying formatting rules that a user had previously specified. Thus, even applications that allow data manipulation, such as cropping, resizing, padding, adding borders, etc., force a user to set pertinent rules each and every time that the user wishes to save the image. They also force the user to "save" the image to the hard disk and ultimately use some other means to transfer the image to the target device.
One example of such a graphical manipulation program is PHOTOSHOP. In PHOTOSHOP a user can graphically manipulate and edit image files. However, the user must choose from palettes, brush options, cropping options, etc., after the image is selected. For example, the user might choose a background first. Then the user can go to a different menu to choose brush options, and still a different menu for cropping options. Then the user must, for example, save the image to a disk specifying image compression settings. The user then ultimately must use a different application to transfer the image data to another display device such as another PC. Finally, if the user wants to save another image with the same formatting, they must repeat the above steps even when the target device, such as a pocket PC, is the same. When using PHOTOSHOP, an advanced user might create a "macro" to repeat these image processing operations, but this is both difficult to learn and cumbersome to set up.
DEBABELIZER is very similar to PHOTOSHOP. However, unlike PHOTOSHOP, it does not require a graphical program to manipulate an image, but rather requires scripting on the part of the user. DEBABELIZER is a program that allows a user to perform a range of script-based image-processing operations through batch processing. It has image manipulation tools for canvas resizing and scaling, as well as commands to flip, rotate, and crop images. In addition, a user can set specific settings for intensity, contrast, gamma, hue, saturation, and brightness controls for later use. However, DEBABELIZER does not allow a user to save manipulation settings without the use of a script. DEBABELIZER, a program designed for business level automated digital media processing, does not provide the ease of use necessary to allow an unsophisticated user to quickly and simply execute image manipulation and transfer.
There are similar shortcomings in graphical "photo album" and thumbnail manipulation applications. THUMBSPLUS by CERIOUS SOFTWARE executes various types of thumbnail manipulation. For example, THUMBSPLUS can create thumbnails corresponding to files, either automatically or manually, allowing a user to: (1) specify a thumbnail view from customizable views; (2) customize these views; and (3) create galleries of thumbnails. These galleries in THUMBSPLUS can be displayed together in files as a graphical photo album. Manipulation programs such as THUMBSPLUS generally allow images to be defined by file name. In addition, they allow basic image formatting, such as adjusting color, rotating, resizing, overlaying images or text, filtering, cropping, and adding backgrounds, for different sizes and resolutions through a save dialog. However, such applications are normally limited to processing image files with certain size and resolution characteristics. In addition, to the extent that THUMBSPLUS allows thumbnail graphical manipulation, it is not generally applicable in that it only allows manipulation of thumbnails. These applications are also tailored to viewing images on computers in browser applications, and are inapplicable to a wider variety of devices.
As described briefly above, after a user has spent the time necessary to edit and manipulate an image in a first program, the user generally must then use a second program to transfer the image data to another display device. Sometimes specific display devices such as the DIGI-FRAME are shipped with applications that facilitate integration of image data onto the specific device. However, these applications are normally crude, rarely contain formatting rules, and are greatly limited because they are device specific.
The STORYBOX NETWORK, which supports KODAK's SMART PICTURE FRAME, does allow a user to schedule delivery of photographs though a modem to the display frame. The SMART PICTURE FRAME is set by default to download images from a user's account on the Internet (into which the user previously uploaded images) in the STORYBOX NETWORK at 6:30 A.M. daily. A user can change this setting, and may have the Frame connect to the network up to four times per day. However, there is only very limited user control available in this system. In fact, the only control exercised by the user is over whose images are in his account on the network and the schedule on which images are downloaded. In addition, the user must go to a separate web site to exercise the limited control that he has over the pictures that are received. Further, while this application will size the image before downloading it to the frame, it is very limited because images first must be loaded to a specific site, a user does not have substantial control over which images are sent at each scheduled time or at the end of each scheduled interval, and it only works with this device in this limited capacity.

Method and system for transferring and sharing images between devices and locations


An engine air intake device comprises a collector divided by a partition wall into first and second volume chambers, first and second upstream intake pipe portions, a plurality of first and second downstream branch pipes, and a first communication valve. The first and second upstream intake pipe portions are connected to an upstream side of the first and second volume chambers, respectively. The first and second downstream branch pipes extend from the first and second volume chambers, respectively, to respective intake ports of first and second banks of first and second cylinders, respectively. The first communication valve is mounted to the partition wall in a position that does not interfere with a path of a main flow of intake air inside the collector and configured and arranged to allow communication between the first volume chamber and the second volume chamber when the first communication valve is open.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an engine air intake device configured to execute variable resonance supercharging with respect to the intake air delivered to an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to an engine air intake device provided with two independent volume chambers (collector sections), each of which corresponds to one of two banks for two cylinder groups, two upstream intake pipe portions that connect to the upstream sides of each of the volume chambers, and at least one communication valve configured to allow communication between the two volume chambers. Moreover, the present invention relates to a seal structure for the engine intake device.
2. Background Information
Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H10-37750A discloses a conventional engine air intake device in which the inside of the collector (surge tank) and an upstream portion thereof are divided into two volume chambers by a partition wall and a separation wall is provided inside each of the two volume chambers so as to form an intake passage inside each of the volume chambers. Each of the two cylinder groups is connected to the separate intake passage. A communication valve is provided in the partition wall and a selector valve is provided in each of the separation walls. By opening and closing the communication valve and the selector valves in different combinations, an output increasing effect resulting from resonance supercharging can be achieved in operating regions ranging from low engine speed regions to high engine speed regions.
Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H06-2625 also discloses the torque Characteristic of an internal combustion engine can be improved by using a variable air intake device that is provided with a pair of intake air intake collectors, a communication passage that joins the two intake air intake collectors together such that intake air can flow therebetween, and a control valve arranged and configured to open and close the communication passage in accordance with the engine operating conditions, thereby enabling both resonance supercharging and inertia supercharging to be utilized effectively.
The conventional variable air intake device described in the above mentioned publication is provided with a pair of intake collectors to which branch pipes communicating with groups of cylinders having non-consecutive firing orders are connected. The intake collectors communicate with each other through a communication passage that is made of an aluminum alloy or other cast material and divided into a plurality of communication passages by a partition wall. A control valve is provided in a central portion of each communication passage. When the internal combustion engine is operating in a region of low rotational speed, the control valves are closed so that the two intake collectors are not allowed to communicate with each other and a resonance supercharging effect is obtained due to pulsation of the intake air. When the internal combustion engine is operating in a region of high rotational speed, the control valves are opened so that the two intake collectors can communicate with each other and an inertia supercharging effect is obtained due to the inertia of the intake air column. Each control valve comprises a valve stem and a rectangular valve element coupled to the valve stem. The valve stems of the control valves are supported in bearing holes formed in a partition wall and a side wall at a central portion of each communication passage and the bearing holes are configured to rotatably support the valve stems of the control valves.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved engine air intake device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A resource management system is provided for tracking the location and status of, and managing, trucks going to and from batch plants and jobsites. Vehicle-mounted sensors communicate delivery status information via a wireless network. Status and performance data can be reviewed in real time to allow a dispatcher to efficiently manage the truck fleet. Electronic tickets and exception reports are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a resource management system, and more particularly, to a method and system for integrating order management and mapping with real-time tracking and status of concrete ready mix trucks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ready mix concrete delivery has been historically difficult to efficiently manage. Traditionally, dispatch orders have been transmitted via telephone and radio to the ready mix truck drivers. This method yielded significant human error and did not enable the dispatcher to: monitor unbudgeted overtime; track breakdowns; account for lost tickets; correct errors in transcribing orders; know exact location and status of the truck, and the like.
Operators and dispatchers of fleet vehicle businesses such as ready mix concrete delivery need to know where each vehicle in the fleet is located, need an accurate accounting of the vehicle's activities, and need to be able to make adjustments during the course of the operation in order to efficiently utilize the resources. Historically, radio communication and telephone communication dominated the ready mix delivery environment. More recently, vehicle-locating systems incorporating Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers have been used for tracking fleet vehicles. These systems provided effective tracking systems, but did not enable the operator or dispatcher to manage the fleet. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,496,775 and 6,611,755 illustrate systems that had attempted to provide tracking systems to both monitor and manage the vehicles, but both systems include data transmission limitations that do not allow real-time management and tracking on-board the vehicle without additional communication with a base server.

Resource management system, for example, tracking and management system for trucks


The present invention provides an interface circuit for using a low voltage logic tester to test a high voltage IC. The interface circuit is between the high voltage IC and the low voltage logic tester, and is used for converting each output of the high voltage IC to a voltage level that the low voltage logic tester can accept, so as to reduce the cost of the testing.

In accordance with the trend of thin monitor and TV, the demand for high voltage IC of plasma/LCD panel is increasing rapidly. In order to maintain the quality and yield of the high voltage IC, testing the high voltage IC after mass production is necessary. However, the high voltage IC has outputs up to 80V˜100V and even higher, but a conventional low voltage logic tester is equipped with a power supply below 40V, and provides an output comparator level lower than 12V. If a special designed high voltage logic tester is employed to test the high voltage IC, it is apparent that the testing cost will increase dramatically.

Interface circuit for using a low voltage logic tester to test a high voltage IC


A system and method for selectable area laser treatment of a substrate, such as thin film transistors, the system including a holder holding a substrate in proximity to reactant, and laser beams each addressing independently selectable mutually set apart locations on the substrate to induce a reaction between the substrate and the reactant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods applicable to selectable area laser assisted processing of substrates, such as Thin Film Transistor (TFT) layers on glass substrates, and more particularly to systems and methods suitable for use in the production of thin film transistor arrays and other electronic components found in electronic devices, such as flat panel displays.
2. Description of Related Arts
The formation of semiconductor electronic components typically entails numerous processing steps, one of which is doping whereby an impurity is introduced into the crystalline structure of a semiconductor substrate such as silicon. Lasers have been found to be an effective tool in doping processes. They also appear to be useful in other processes requiring the inducement of a reaction between two materials. Conventional methodologies using lasers in doping processes require photo-masks, which tend to be expensive and unwieldy.

Selectable area laser assisted processing of substrates


A system and method for transforming a software application comprising binary code and optionally associated data, from an original form to a more secure form. The method includes performing a combination of binary transmutations to the application, and interlocking the transmutations by generating and placing interdependencies between the transmutations, wherein a transmutation is an irreversible change to the application. Different types of the transmutations are applied at varied granularities of the application. The transmutations are applied to the application code and the implanted code as well. The result is a transformed software application which is semantically equivalent to the original software application but is resistant to static and/or dynamic attacks.

In the information technology era, more and more applications will be deployed on billions of devices that are widely open for direct attacks. Stopping and preventing attacks have emerged among software designers as a major concern. Today's software is being cracked using increasingly more sophisticated tools, allowing average users to access sensitive information with little or no prior knowledge. Previous security models which assume an output is secure if a protected process operates in a black box (i.e., an attacker can not view the process which operates within the black box) is no longer effective. According to the attack's nature, security vulnerabilities are exploited by attackers, resulting in violation of one or more security properties.
Typically, debug-like activity represents the most common source of attack allowing hackers to understand the overall or detailed operations of an application. Once hackers obtain access to vital data and code, it is only a matter of time to figure out attack-points to focus their further attacks. Subsequently, attackers compromise system security either through the execution of clone programs, through the corruption of program binaries or simply by granting access to sensitive or copyrighted information (copying critical code partially or entirely).
Moreover, modern operating systems contain features that provide a good arsenal for other attacks such as memory lifting attacks. Attackers can take advantage of task management application program interfaces (APIs) offered by an operating system. For instance, the API that suspends processes characteristic to every multiprocessing operating system, allows attackers to access vital information while the process is frozen in memory.
While software security needs to address all these attacks, current security engines ignore many security factors and deliver security engines that concentrate exclusively on specific security concerns while completely ignoring other security threats.
For instance, anti-debug technology detects the presence of a debugger, but cannot protect applications against memory lifting attacks. Cryptography hides critical information, but does not, in and of itself, protect against debugging activity. Another instructive example is the integrity verification that protects applications against tampering attacks, but cannot prevent static or dynamic analysis attacks. As a general paradigm, each security technology addresses one or several attacks, but not the entire range of attacking domains.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a security system that provides protection against a variety of attack domains. Furthermore, software obfuscation and transformation techniques have been proposed to transform the source code of an application. However, the present invention proposes enhanced security measures which include applying transformations at the binary level, including after the source code has been compiled.

Interlocked binary protection using whitebox cryptography


Characteristics can be stored in a computer databank for various plants, animals, and items. When a user wants to identify a particular plant, animal, or item, the user supplies the characteristics that are readily ascertained. After the user has entered the characteristics, the standardized reverse logic databank of the invention will cull out the items that have non-compatible characteristics and identify the item or provide a list of the possible identity matches for the unknown.

Sometimes, a person sees a plant, animal, or item that the person would like to identify. Also, it is the business of some scientific investigators to identify specific items. For example, it is the work of a herpetologist to identify snakes.
A problem can occur when an individual encounters a snake, and although the individual can determine that the snake has eyes with vertical pupils and that the snake has a rattle on its tail, the individual cannot identify the snake. So, an efficient system or method that assists an individual to identify items is required.
Currently, an individual may have a guidebook, and in the guidebook there may be a key to identify the items studied. If an individual sees a snake and wants to identify the snake, the individual can look at a snake guidebook. In the book, a dichotomy key can require answers to specific questions, such as, "What is the shape of snake's pupil?", "Is there a rattle on the end of the tail?", "Does the snake have stripes?" When the user answers each question in the dichotomy key, the answer to each question is linked to an additional question until the snake is identified.
For example, a user may examine a snake, and then look in the appropriate dichotomy key. The first question (A) in FIG. 1 may be related to the ventrals (belly scales). In this example, the user chooses ventrals that are considerably enlarged etc. The key then directs the user to go to question (B). Question (B) requests information about the loreal region. This example shows the snake has a deep pit in the loreal region. The next question (C) is about the tail. Since this example has a rattle, the genus is identified—Crotalus.
After answering questions and moving from question to question through the dichotomy key, the user should end up with a specific name for the snake. The procedure that was described is the typical format used by a dichotomy key and is how an individual would probably identify a snake, plant, bird, or other item.
Unfortunately, the dichotomy key has many drawbacks. One serious defect is that if a user applies the key, the user must be able to answer each question. For example, if a user is required to select the shape of the ventrals and the user cannot provide the information, then the user cannot continue with the key and cannot identify the snake. The user is at a great disadvantage because the dichotomy key is essentially useless.
Dichotomy keys assume that the user is able to identify specific characteristics of the animal, plant, or item. In real-life situations, the user cannot always ascertain the specific characteristics that the key requires. A user may want to identify a snake that was run over by a car (dead on road—DOR), and the tail of the snake destroyed. If the user uses a dichotomy key, and if one of the queries in the train of logic is to determine if the tail has a rattle, then the user cannot continue with the key and cannot identify the snake.
Another example is in bird watching. If an individual is watching a bird, the user may not be able to recognize the identifying characteristics that a dichotomy key requires. For example, a question in the dichotomy key may be "What is the color of the bird's bill?" If the user is looking at the bird from the back, the user may not be able to determine the color of the bill. Since the answer to the quire cannot be determined, the user cannot continue in the dichotomy logic sequence. The user will not know which question to answer next and cannot determine the identity of the bird.
There is a strong need for a method or system that assists an individual to identify an animal, plant, or item with numerous characteristics that are readily identifiable and can be applied in any order. There should be an ample supply of the alternate characteristics.

Characteristic based classification system


An antiseptic composition comprises a cidal agent and at least one nonionic surfactant selected from the group comprising alkyl phenyl macrogol ethers.

Chlorhexidine, [1,6-di (4-chloro-phenyl-diguanido) hexane], is a widely used antiseptic or anti-infective in human medical and veterinary practice. Typically, it is used as a topical skin cleansing agent or antiseptic in cosmetic preparations, pharmaceutical and surgical scrubbing and shaving compositions and deodorants.
Currently on the market is a chlorhexidine digluconate-containing surgical scrub (Hibitane) which comprises a detergent base of polyoxyethylene-polyoxyproplyene block polymer (a nonionic surfactant) and dimethyllauryl amine oxide, an amphoteric surfactant. Although this preparation has generally been considered acceptable, an allergic reaction to the formulation has been found in some users.
U.S. Defensive Publication T943,010, which was published on Feb. 3, 1976 describes an aqueous foamable system comprising chlorhexidine and a nonionic surfactant. The surfactants disclosed are selected from combinations of polyoxyethylene ethers or partial hexitan esters of fatty acids having 12-24 carbon atoms, fatty alcohols, and polyoxyethylene derivatives of fatty alcohols having 10-18 carbon atoms, polyhydric materials such as sorbitol and carboxy-vinyl polymers. This publication is intended to provide a highly foamable chlorhexidine solution and accordingly, the surfactant is selected to provide this desired characteristic.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,567 to Burton Parsons & Company describes a method of rendering freeze-stable chlorhexidine-containing mediciments, in particular, ophthalmic solutions, by adding thereto a surfactant selected from polyoxyethylene derivatives of long chain fatty acid partial esters of hexitol anhydride.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,821 to Mediline A. G. describes an aerosol spray deodorant for use in feminine hygiene comprising an aerosol propellant, a bactericide such as chlorhexidine, a surfactant and an emollient. This patent is concerned only with an aerosol formulation suitable for use as a deodorant spray and the unique selection of ingredients and amounts are adapted therefor.


Minimum arc interpolation is performed on velocity information distributed in three dimensions. By using complex representations of the velocity information, the interpolation may more accurately represent the angle or velocity for spatial conversion. Tri-linearly interpolating velocity information converts the information representing a three-dimensional volume to a reconstruction grid. The interpolation is performed with a graphics processing unit. Complex representations of the velocity are loaded as texture data. The graphics processing unit interpolates the data as texture fields. Look-up tables are used to determine an angle from the interpolated complex representation and/or a color value for displaying velocities associated with different spatial locations.

The present embodiments relate to interpolation for ultrasound imaging. In particular, velocity information is interpolated for multi-dimensional ultrasound imaging.
In diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging, velocities are estimated for spatial locations within a scan region. The region may be scanned using a polar coordinate format. The display format is frequently different than the scan format. To convert the scan data to data for display, the estimated velocities in the scan format are interpolated to provide estimated velocities in a display format.
Estimated velocities are typically provided as angular measurements. The angle is the phase of the first sample or first order coefficient of an autocorrelation function of echoes returned from a spatial location. The phase angle takes a value between π and −π in a unit circle. Any interpolation of a phase value accounts for the angular nature of the measurement or introduces undesired artifacts or errors. For example, a linear interpolation may result in an incorrect angle or phase determination. Angular position around the unit circle may be more accurately determined using a minimum arc interpolation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,137, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by references, uses a minimum arc interpolation for two-dimensional scan conversion.
For display, velocity information is mapped to different colors. The hue of a color represents the direction and brightness or shade represents the magnitude of velocity. RGB or other color representations may be interpolated. However, interpolation of colors may produce colors outside of the velocity color map, resulting in user confusion.

Minimum arc velocity interpolation for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging


A framework arranged to permit spacing of a blanket above an associated mattress includes spaced U-shaped clips arranged for mounting upon side rails of the associated bed frame, with each of the clip members having a base tube receiving a U-shaped frame adjustably therethrough to permit selective positioning and spacing of the U-shaped frame above an uppermost mattress to receive the blanket thereon to permit spacing of the blanket relative to the mattress.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to bedding support apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved blanket elevator apparatus arranged to adjustably position a blanket relative to an associated mattress arrangement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various bedding support structure has been indicated in the prior art such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,570,275; 4,190,915; 3,680,158; 4,493,121; and 4,975,997.
The instant invention is arranged to address deficiencies in the prior art by providing for a support framework arranged to permit ease of positioning in an adjustable relationship of an associated blanket relative to an adjacent mattress and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


This invention relates to measuring shot peening coverage by impact dent characterization. Such methods of this type employ a non-destructive, automated computer analysis by analyzing dent characteristics to determine shot coverage of a particular surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to measuring shot peening coverage by impact dent characterization. Such methods of this type, generally, employ a non-destructive, automated computer analysis by analyzing dent characteristics to determine shot coverage of a particular shot peened surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Under normal shot peening conditions, it is desirable to expose the substrate or work surface to the shot stream for a sufficient time to achieve 100% surface coverage, i.e. sufficient exposure to fully cover the surface with impact dimples. Insufficient coverage has obvious adverse consequences. If the local compressive zones due to individual shot strikes do not merge into a continuum that fully covers the surface with a compressive layer, locally unprotected regions will exist where surface flaws can grow into cracks.
On the other hand, shot peening related damage is not necessarily caused only by broken or deformed shot, but rather excessive cold work may play a significant part in the damage process. The cold work sustained by the material is a function of both coverage and intensity, as well as, shot size. To minimize damage due to excessive cold work, or prevent overly worked parts from entering service, it is desirable to measure the coverage. Furthermore, for uniform flat surfaces it is relatively easy to set and control the exposure time needed to maintain the desired coverage condition. However, on surfaces with features, such as inside corners where reflections cause multiple strikes, it may be difficult to avoid excessive coverage, in some cases to the point where surface distress may occur.
Therefore it is apparent that two key drivers govern the shot peening process. They are intensity, or the impact energy of individual shot particles and coverage, or the way individual strikes add to fully cover the surface with a compressive residual stress layer. What makes coverage so important is that inadequate coverage can lead to gaps in the surface compressive layer, while excessive coverage or repeated beating can cause surface distress and cracking.
It is known, in prior non-destructive evaluation techniques (NDE), that a ratio of the total area of shot impact dents to the area of the peened surface can be used to detect coverage. Exemplary of such prior art is entitled "Effect of Partial-Coverage Upon the Fatigue Fracture Behavior of Peened Components" to S. A. Meguid, Fatigue Fract. Engng. Mater. Struct., Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 515-530, 1991. By its very nature, this method is limited to measuring only up to 100% coverage or the time when 100% of the surface has been impacted. Therefore, a more advantageous system, then, would be presented if the system were based on the total number of strikes which would be valid for overlapping dimples and consequently sensitive to coverage percentages well above 100%, say to 1000%.
It is apparent from the above that there is a need in the art for a shot peening coverage system which detects the amount of coverage of the shot peening operation and which detects the amount of shot peening coverage in a non-destructive manner, but which at the same time is capable of detecting the amount of shot peening coverage well above 100% coverage. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.

Measurment of shot peening coverage by impact dent characterization


A method, an apparatus and a system for obtaining a Media Independent Handover (MIH) service information. The method including: receiving an MIH service information request message from a mobile node; obtaining the MIH service information requested by the mobile node; and sending a response message to the mobile node, with the obtained MIH service information carried in the response message.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
With the development of wireless communication technologies, networks of different architectures exist at the same time, for example, Wireless LAN (WLAN), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and the third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). To ensure the service continuity when a User Equipment (UE) hands over or roams between heterogeneous networks, the UE usually supports multiple types of wireless interfaces. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of assisting and optimizing the handover service between heterogeneous networks. In FIG. 1, the MIH protocol, for example, Mobile IP (MIP), Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) is located between layer 2 (L2) and layer 3 (L3), and provides the link layer information and other relevant network information to the upper layer for optimizing handover. In this way, the mobile node (UE) can select the best connection network type and the best access point automatically during roaming between networks, and implement seamless handover.
The internal architecture of the MIH service is shown in FIG. 2, and can be split into two layers. The upper layer is an MIH service layer, which provides three types of services: MIH Event Service (MIH ES), MIH Command Service (MIH CS) and MIH Information Service (MIH IS). The MIH ES provides instant transmission for the events below the link layer or below the remote link layer; the MIH CS provides transmission for the commands of changing the underlying layer link state or connection point; and the MIH IS provides transmission for the information related to network topologies and location. The lower layer is a common transport layer of the MIH service, and provides the transmission function for the upper layer. It is set up on the IP layer, now there is no implementation mode of the HIH layer. Instead, the MIH service is discovered.
The MIH service can be used between a mobile node and a network infrastructure, or between different network infrastructures. The network infrastructure may be an MIH server. Before use of the MIH service, it is necessary to get the MIH service-related information (for example, MIH ES, MIH CS, and MIH IS). In the prior art, the MIH service-related information is statically configured inside the mobile node, and may be the MIH service information of the home network of the user or the MIH service information of a third-party network.
Based on research and practices, the disadvantages of the prior art lie in:
the MIH service-related information is statically configured inside the mobile node, and can't be changed randomly. When a mobile node roams to a visited network, the configured MIH service-related information (including MIH ES, MIH CS, and MIH IS) will be provided to the upper layer by the mobile node. The configured MIH service-related information may be different from the MIH service information of the network visited by the mobile node, and the configured MIH service-related information is unchangeable and little extensible. Therefore, it is difficult to implement seamless handover of a mobile node between networks of the same or different types; and
the MIH service-related information is statically configured inside a mobile node. With the development of the wireless communication technology and the increase of mobile nodes, it is a heavy workload to configure MIH service-related information for every mobile node.

Method, apparatus and system for obtaining MIH service information


A data synchronization system includes a database, a management device, and a synchronization device. The database includes user folders, and the management device includes an authentication module and a data storage module. The authentication module authenticates the identification of the user who uses a client terminal device to log in the authentication module and output an authentication signal based on the result of the identification. The data storage module receives the authentication signal and output an index signal based on the authentication signal. The client terminal device is configured to connect to a corresponding user folder based on the index signal, and the corresponding user folder is used as a major user folder. The synchronization device logs in one of the accounts of a commercial database and synchronizes the data of the account to the major user folder. Furthermore, a method for synchronizing data is also disclosed herein.

1. Field of Invention
The embodiment of the present invention relates generally to a synchronization system and method thereof and, more particularly, to a data synchronization system and a method for synchronizing data.
2. Description of Related Art
The idea of cloud computation progresses with the development of science and technology. Under the application of cloud computation, users are allowed to store their data in a remote storage device and use the communication between an electronic device and the storage device to access the data.
Generally, if a user intends to compute the data stored in the remote device using the electronic device, the user must synchronize the data to the electronic device, before the computation starts. In this scenario, the data synchronization process or the download of data from the cloud storage device to the electronic device would cost substantial time for data transfer.
Further, if multiple users use the same virtual machines, when one of the multiple users logs in, said user would not necessarily be designated the same virtual machine that he/she used during his/her previous log-in. In this case, the user would not immediately have access to his/her data during the current log-in.
Many efforts have been devoted trying to find a solution of the aforementioned problems. Nonetheless, there still a need to improve the existing apparatus and techniques in the art.

Data synchronization system and method for synchronizing data


A cylinder bore liner for an internal combustion engine is formed of a sheet of material in the shape of a non-rectangular parallelogram having oblique edges is formed into a cylindrical liner with the abutting edges vertically offset to form a cylinder of smaller diameter than the diameter of a cylinder bore. The liner is then inserted into the cylinder bore of the engine with the leading edge resting on a ledge in the bore, and the trailing edge protruding from the top of the bore. A force is applied to the protruding edge of the liner to force a sliding motion along the oblique abutting edges which necessarily increases the diameter of the liner until a tight fit is achieved.

It is common practice to manufacture cylinder blocks for internal combustion engines out of aluminum because of the weight reduction benefits gained. However, the material properties of aluminum require that a liner of a different material, usually cast iron or steel, be inserted into the cylinder bores in order to withstand the heat and forces generated within the cylinder. There are several methods of inserting the liner, dependent on the material used for the liner and the thickness of the liner, among other factors.
For example, it is beneficial to have a thin walled liner to improve thermal conductivity and reduce weight. The commonly used methods to insert thin walled liners involve either heating of the cylinder block to cause expansion while simultaneously cooling the liner to cause shrinkage, and then inserting the liner into the cylinder to produce a shrink fit, or forming a sheet of material into a cylindrical liner and inserting the liner into the bore using a interference press fit over the entire distance of the cylinder bore, as described in British Patent Specification 1395220.
The inventor of the present invention has found certain disadvantages with these prior art insertion methods. Primarily, high energy levels are required to accomplish insertion and the types of materials that can be used are limited. With respect to the interference press fit method described, application of high load is required to force the interference fit over the entire height of the cylinder liner resulting in high energy expenditure requirements. This method also requires that either an internal support be provided, or that the thickness and material of the liner be sufficient such that the liner does not buckle on insertion.

Cylinder bore liner for an internal combustion engine


In optical wireless networks, light beams are transmitted over-the-air and maximum performance is achieved when light beams are aligned with corresponding light detectors. A feedback control system is created between transmitting and receiving units, wherein the receiving unit provides positional data about the light beam from the transmitting unit. The transmitting unit uses the data provided to make adjustments to its light beam. However, in order to use the positional data, the units must be operating with a common coordinate basis. A method is provided for determining the basis and generating the transformation needed to modify positional data from one unit into information that is useful for the other unit. Additionally, a method is presented for using the positional data to maintain proper alignment of the light beam.

Modern data communications technologies have greatly expanded the ability to communicate large amounts of data over many types of communications facilities. This explosion in communications capability not only permits the communications of large databases, but has also enabled the real-time (and beyond) digital communications of audio and video content. This high bandwidth communication is now carried out over a variety of facilities, including telephone lines (fiber optic as well as twisted-pair), coaxial cable such as supported by cable television service providers, dedicated network cabling within an office or home location, satellite links, and wireless telephony.
Each of these conventional communications facilities involves certain limitations in their deployment. In the case of communications over the telephone network, high-speed data transmission, such as that provided by digital subscriber line (DSL) services, must be carried out at a specific frequency range so as to not interfere with voice traffic, and is currently limited in the distance that such high-frequency communications can travel. Of course, communications over "wired" networks, including the telephone network, cable network, or a dedicated network, requires the running of the physical wires among the locations to be served. This physical installation and maintenance is costly, as well as limiting to the user of the communications network.
Wireless communication facilities overcome the limitation of physical wires and cabling, and provide great flexibility to the user. Conventional wireless technologies involve their own limitations, however. For example, in the case of wireless telephony, the frequencies at which communications may be carried out are regulated and controlled. Furthermore, current wireless telephone communication of large data blocks, such as video, is prohibitively expensive, considering the per-unit-time charges for wireless services. Additionally, since it is common to have multiple users within a certain frequency range, wireless telephone communications are subject to interference among the various users within the nearby area. Radio frequency data communication must also be carried out within specified frequencies, and is also vulnerable to interference from other transmissions and sources of noise. Satellite transmission is also currently expensive, particularly for bi-directional communications (i.e., beyond the passive reception of television programming).
A relatively new technology that has been proposed for data communications is the optical wireless network. According to this approach, data is transmitted by way of modulation of a light beam, in much the same manner as in the case of fiber optic telephone communications. A photoreceiver receives the modulated light, and demodulates the signal to retrieve the data. As opposed to fiber optic-based optical communications, however, this approach does not use a physical wire for transmission of the light signal. In the case of directed optical communications, a line-of-sight relationship between the transmitter and the receiver permits a modulated light beam, such as that produced by a laser, to travel without the use of an optical fiber as a waveguide. Optical wireless communications is inherently secure because in order to snoop on the transmission, the transmission would need to be broken. A broken transmission link is readily detected.
It is contemplated that the optical wireless network according to this approach will provide numerous important advantages. First, high frequency light can provide high bandwidth, for example ranging from on the order of 100 mega-bits-per-second (Mbps) to several giga-bits-per-second (Gbps), when using conventional technology. Additionally, this high bandwidth need not be shared among users, when carried out over line-of-sight optical communications between transmitters and receivers. Without other users on the link, of course, the bandwidth is not limited by interference from other users, as in the case of wireless telephony. Modulation can also be quite simple, as compared with multiple-user communications that require time or code multiplexing to permit multiple simultaneous communications. Bi-directional communication can also be readily carried out according to this technology. Finally, optical frequencies are currently not regulated, and as such no licensing is required for the deployment of such networks.
These attributes of optical wireless networks make this technology attractive both for local networks within a building, and also for external networks between buildings. Indeed, it is contemplated that optical wireless communications may be useful in data communication within a room, such as for communicating video signals from a computer to a display device, such as a video projector.
The communications between two optical wireless links involves the light beams from one optical wireless link impinging upon a photodetector on the other optical wireless link. To successfully align the light beams, the optical wireless links undergo an alignment procedure that results in the nominal alignment of the light beams. Following the alignment procedure, a more fine scale procedure is used to fine-tune the alignment of the light beams. To finely position the light beams, a feedback control system is created using positional data (and/or positional commands) transmitted over the light beams. The data and/or commands issued by one optical wireless link are used to make adjustments to the position of the light beam originating at the other optical wireless link. The feedback control system may remain in use during normal operation to ensure optimal performance.
It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art of the present invention that the precise alignment of the light beam between the optical wireless links is a critical factor in the proper operation of the optical wireless network. To facilitate the precise alignment of the light beam using the feedback control system when the two optical wireless links can be arbitrarily installed, a common basis needs to be established. If a common basis is not established between the communicating optical wireless networks, one optical wireless link may respond in a manner that is inconsistent with the intended directions of the other wireless link. For example, if the optical wireless links were installed such that they were 180 degrees out of alignment with each other, a very real possibility if one is installed on a wall and the other is installed on an opposite facing wall, then one optical wireless link's command to move the light beam in an upward direction would actually result in the other optical wireless link moving the light beam in a downward direction because it's upward direction is truly the first optical wireless link's downward direction.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a way to generate a common basis to permit the exchange of information for use in accurate station orientation determination.

Calibration method for station orientation


An apparatus for use with a door adapted to lift and slide. The apparatus includes a base connected to the door and a lever hingedly connected to the base for maneuvering the door. The lever is positioned within the base such that the lever is fully recessed in the base. In use, the lever may be extended away from the base and folded into an operating position for moving the door.

Generally, swinging patio doors and conventional two-panel sliding doors have been used to open homes up to the outdoors to create an indoor/outdoor connection. However, these traditional sliding doors are being replaced by lift and slide doors which offer a number of benefits ranging from appearance to functionality. A lift and slide door operates similar to a standard sliding door except it utilizes a roller system that allows the door panels to be lifted vertically above the track, so that the panels roll smoothly and quietly for opening and closing. As a result, a lift and slide door can efficiently divide and/or unify interior spaces of a house with exterior spaces of the house.
Unlike traditional patio and sliding doors, lift and slide doors are more aesthetically pleasing as they may be completely hidden from view. For example, lift and slide doors allow the homeowner to open up an entire wall of the house to the outside such that the view is unobstructed as the door panels are hidden (i.e., the panels can either nest behind one another and stored to one side or disappear completely from view by being positioned inside an exterior wall cavity). Lift and slide doors are commonly being used in warm climates and coastal areas to integrate the interior of the house with a sun room or rooms with an ocean view or the like. Not only do lift and slide doors allow for spectacular views of the surroundings, but they are being used to easily integrate a garden, balcony or surrounding areas with the interior of the house in order to provide the benefits of natural light into the home.
Advantageously, lift and slide doors maximize valuable living space while providing superior weather resistance properties. Namely, lift and slide doors provide superior sealing, which increases energy efficiency and, in turn, decreases heating and cooling costs. Finally, lift and slide doors are versatile as they may come in a variety of sizes, styles, panel configurations, materials, colors and other options to accommodate a particular homeowner's desires.
A common type of lift and slide door system includes a plurality of door panels, which may be stored to one side or "pocketed" inside an exterior wall cavity when desired. The system uses an interlocking mechanism to couple the panels together so that the entire system opens and closes on stainless steel rollers or a track system. Specifically, the lift and slide door sits on grooved rollers that carry the door along a track in the floor. When locked, the rollers retract and the lift and slide door eases down, compressing a sill gasket on each side of the track. Simultaneously, wedge-shaped locking pins pull the door to one side, compressing the gaskets on each side. Further, the pins engage in the jamb at multiple points along the leading edge of the locking panel for providing a secure connection. Once open, the door may be lowered at any position and locked and sealed by moving the handle up.
Generally, a handle is used with a lift and slide door in order to unlock the door, move the door into a desired position and then lock the door once it is in the desired position. The handle typically protrudes from the door so an operator can grasp the handle in order to move and lock the door. One significant limitation associated with this type of handle is its protruding nature, which creates certain disadvantages. For example, the handle is not hidden from view, so it creates aesthetic issues. As the handle is not flush with door, it can be bumped into by persons or the handle may catch on clothing items or articles of furniture being moved into the room.
In addition, when multiple panels in a lift and slide door system roll parallel to another, the protruding handle on the door's stile prohibits the same doors to bypass one another. This limitation of not being able to bypass one another requires a deeper wall cavity for storage when the panels are nested in a wall cavity. Since the door panels are stopped by the protruding nature of the handles on opposite door, a deeper wall cavity is required because the doors have to be staggered in the wall cavity. Consequently, the deeper wall cavity takes up valuable living space in this arrangement.
In order to address these limitations associated with the handle not being flush with the lift and slide door, the handle may be removable from the door. However, this creates other problems, such as requiring an additional step to remove the handle and then reattach the handle when the door is to be moved. Furthermore, the inconvenience associated with attaching and removing the handle may be further complicated if the handle is misplaced or lost, which is not only time-consuming but expensive if the handle must be replaced.
Accordingly, a need is identified for a handle for a lift and slide door, which may be stored substantially flush with the door such that it is out of the way while still being connected to the door while maximizing living space.


The present invention relates to the use of xenon in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of neonatal asphyxia in a neonatal subject, wherein said medicament is for use in combination with hypothermia.

Neonatal (or perinatal) asphyxia, also known as hypoxia-ischemia (HI), is a condition arising from the inadequate intake of oxygen in an infant during labour, delivery, or the immediate postnatal period. Neonatal asphyxia remains a major cause of chronic neurological morbidity and acute mortality in the newborn (Balduini et al, 2000; Vannucci et al, 1997) and commonly leads to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Studies have shown that neonatal asphyxia (hypoxia) for as short a time as six minutes can lead to permanent neurological damage. Loss of brain tissue has been demonstrated in asphyxiated newborn primates and correlated with memory dysfunction and spastic paralysis (Windle, WF, 1969).
About 14.6% of all deaths at birth are caused by neonatal asphyxia. In the western world about 0.9% (i.e. 100-130,000) of newborns suffer from neonatal asphyxia. About 15-20% die, and of the survivors, 25% are severely handicapped due to long-term complications such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, spasticity, learning difficulties and/or epilepsy (Law et al, 1993; Perlman et al. 1999). Furthermore, it is increasingly recognized that children with rather mild asphyxia, who seem initially to recover without complications, have behavioral problems in childhood, which can be traced back to this neonatal insult. Neonatal asphyxia meets the criteria for an orphan drug indication since it affects less then 5 patients in 10,000 inhabitants, and is a life-threatening, serious debilitating disease without an established therapy.
It has been demonstrated in neonatal animal models of HI that the mechanisms of cell death involved in this type of brain injury, involve a combination of excitotoxic damage (or necrosis), caused by excessive activation of glutamate receptors, particularly N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, as they are most sensitive to neurotoxicity during periods of synaptogenesis (Jevtovic-Todorovic and Olney, 2003), and by apoptotic neurodegeneration (Ikonomidou et al, 1989; Pohl et al, 1999). The type of damage is related to the severity of the hypoxic insult (Jevtovic-Todorovic and Olney, 2003) and also to the variation in vulnerability of the different brain regions (Northington et al, 2001). Currently, no effective therapy exists to combat the acute neuronal cell death caused by HI, although a variety of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are under experimental investigation (Vannucci and Perlman, 1997).
The present invention seeks to provide a method of treating neonatal asphyxia.

Use of xenon with hypothermia for treating neonatal asphyxia


A tooling assembly (10) having complementary die sections. Die section (12) includes a face portion (14) having a tooling insert (16) mounted therein. Insert (16) includes an impression configuration (20) formed therein. Flow device assemblies (40) are in communication with impression configuration (20). Flow device assemblies (40) are variably rotatably mounted in die section (12) and are operatively connected to respective flow device actuation assemblies (60). Activation of flow device assemblies (60) can be performed manually, or automatically by, for example, respective conventional motors (90). Motors (90) may be electrical motors each with a driving mechanism attached to a respective flow control device (60). Activation of a flow device actuation assembly (60) causes a respective flow device assembly (40) to rotate and to thereby change its posture of communication with respect to impression configuration (20).

Articles of manufacture can be formed of a virtually infinite number of product materials, for example: polymers, metals, ceramics, pulp, foodstuffs, or other natural or synthetic materials. Solidifiable product materials which are susceptible of being transported in a manufacturing process in a liquid, molten, or semi-solid form are conventionally shaped in injection molding or die casting operations. Such shaped articles comprise polymer, metal, ceramic, pulp, and food products for consumer, commercial, or industrial needs. To meet these product needs, manufacturers have developed injection molding molds and die casting dies which commonly contain multiple product cavities, i.e. multi-impression or family molds. Multi-impression tooling is used to produce a plurality of essentially the same products in a single shot. On the other hand, family mold tooling is used to produce different products in the same shot. Both multi-impression and family systems are formed in tooling whereby a product material flowing into the tool in a liquid, molten, or semi-solid state can be directed through a series of channels into many cavities at once, rather than only one cavity at a time. Multi-impression and family tools, therefore, allow for many products to be made in a single shot, which lowers the cost to produce the products. Moreover, the use of such tools lowers the cost of the tools themselves because less tools are needed overall to produce a given amount of product in a fixed amount of time. Where the cost of producing products is thereby lowered, consumers and industry may see a benefit in the form of lower market prices of such products.
There is, however, a problem with multi-impression and family mold tools regarding the mold filling. All cavities in a given tooling may not be made equal, i.e. there may be volumetric or geometric differences between cavities which will affect the rate at which a cavity can be filled. During the filling process, the volumetric flow rate of the product material entering an easier-to-fill cavity will be higher because the product material will naturally take the path of least resistance. Thus the easier-to-fill cavity can experience over-packing, i.e. too much product material. On the other hand, a harder-to-fill cavity may experience short shots, i.e. the product cavity was not fully filled. When these problems occur, the multi-impression or family tooling may be said to be out of balance. This means that the product material is not flowing in a balanced way to each cavity in the multi-impression or family tooling. A balanced tooling is one where each cavity in the multi-impression or family tooling is conditioned to receive a sufficient mass of product material so that both short shots and over-packing are avoided.
Conventional tooling provides channel shut-off flow valves located in the channels where the product material must flow. Channel shut-off flow valves have two modes of operation, namely, non-variable "on" and "off" modes. Channel shut-off flow valves do not otherwise modulate the material flow or vary product material conditions such as pressure, mass flow rate, or volumetric flow rate. Such channel shut-off flow valves, when in the off mode, block any and all flow to a product cavity. When in the on mode, such shut-off flow valves are fixed in a non-variable, open position. Such a shut-off flow valve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,725.
Tooling has been developed to attempt to control product material flow to cavities for the purpose of balancing a family mold tool. An article appearing on pages 68-70 of the December, 1995, issue of INJECTION TOOLING magazine entitled: "Balanced Runners in a Family Mold" describes such tooling. The tooling described therein uses gate openings and "channels", i.e. runners, to define a specialized runner/gate system. The runner/gate system comprises runners and gates of various sizes or shapes for the purpose of controlling the filling of a product cavity. Theoretically, smaller gate openings and runners will increase resistance to the flow of the product material to a product cavity at the end of the runner. The relatively smaller gate openings and runners are formed in the family mold tooling such that they lead to a relatively easier-to-fill cavity. In this way, during a shot of product material, the mass or volumetric flow rate is relatively slowed to the easier-to-fill cavity. Consequently, during the same shot, the product material is forced to go toward the harder-to-fill cavity so that it fills up. According to the foregoing, filling of cavities may be controlled, and the family mold tooling may thereby be balanced, by fixing the sizes and shapes of the runner/gate system.
However, in order for the gate openings and runners to be properly sized and shaped, engineers must utilize a computer program so that mathematical calculations can be performed which will define the parameters of the runner/gate system. Once the calculations are believed to be correct, engineering drawings are prepared, and the drawings are used by machinists to make tooling in a tooling shop. At the shop, the runners and gates are permanently cut into the steel of the tooling to define the runner/gate system. The tooling is then put through a start-up conditioning cycle for a given product material, i.e. the tooling is fine tuned, and is then put to the test in the factory. If the runner/gate system, when in actual use in the factory, does not result in acceptable product quality, the tooling must be scrapped or sent back to the shop for further work. Moreover, if a different product material is used in the family mold tooling, the material may have physical characteristics which require another conditioning cycle. This is a time consuming and expensive procedure which may result in lost manufacturing time and higher tooling costs. Consequently, the manufacturer's product costs may rise and consumers may pay higher market prices for the products they need.
In light of the foregoing, what is needed is tooling having a means of controlling the filling of a product cavity, which is suitable for use in either a multi-impression or family tooling application, but which keeps production and tooling costs to a minimum.

Apparatuses and methods for controlling the fill of tooling cavities


A method for translating a stock keeping unit (SKU) hierarchy in a customer order to a type-model-feature (TMF) structure in a vendor's order fulfillment system. A translation table relating the SKU hierarchy and TMF structure is defined. The SKU hierarchy includes SKU numbers that identify a configurable part and configurable options that specify a product. An initial order for the product includes the SKU hierarchy. Using the translation table, the SKU numbers are translated into an instance of the TMF structure. A multi-value characteristic is populated with values that include the SKU numbers and subline identifiers. A second order for the product is created that includes the instance of the TMF structure and subline values associated with the SKU number that identifies the configurable part.

Conventional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems allow a customer information record to be used in inbound order processing and/or standard order creation to present a one-to-one relationship between a non-configurable customer-defined part number and a vendor-defined part number. This conventional technique, however, is not viable if the products are configurable because configurable objects in the customer's variant configuration structure are not associated with configurable objects in the vendor's type-model-feature structure in a one-to-one correspondence. Further, special manufacturing instructions in a customer order can be addressed by known ERP solutions only by inflexible techniques that are cumbersome to develop and maintain. Thus, there exists a need to overcome at least one of the preceding deficiencies and limitations of the related art.

Translating an order's stock keeping unit hierarchy to an order fulfillment structure

International Business Machines Corporation