The present invention comprises a process for catalytic oxidative ammination of aromatic hydrocarbons which comprising contacting aromatic feedstock with oxidant, such as molecular oxygen, under suitable reaction conditions, in the presence of a catalyst comprising three essential components: a support; transition metal; and a mono- or binucleating ligand. In one embodiment of the invention the ligand comprises at least one nitro or nitroso group. In another embodiment, the ligand comprises a multidentate, chelating binuclear compound. The process is particularly suited, for example, to the one-step conversion of benzene to aniline.

Almost 80% of aniline consumption in the U.S. is used to produce MDI, an intermediate chemical which in turn is used to produce polyurethanes. Aniline is also used to produce rubber processing chemicals, dyes and pigments, specialty fibers, pesticides, and a variety of other materials including pharmaceuticals and photochemicals.
Direct combination of ammonia and benzene to form aniline and hydrogen is disfavored thermodynamically at reasonable temperatures and pressures leading to low equilibrium conversions for the reaction. This constraint can be overcome by conducting the process oxidatively according to equation 1, the method of our invention which we call oxidative ammination: ##STR1##
All current manufacturing processes to make aniline use either nitrobenzene or phenol as the immediate precursor. Nitrobenzene is the most common feedstock for aniline; it is prepared, in turn, by a mixed acid nitration of benzene. Nitrobenzene may then be hydrogenated to aniline in high yield either in liquid or vapor phase over catalysts containing Cu, Ni, or Pt. The use of corrosive acids and environmental concerns over the acid sludges generated are major deficiencies of the process to make aniline starting from benzene.
Only one U.S. manufacturer, Aristech, used the Halcon/Scientific Design process of ammonolysis of phenol, phenol being manufactured from cumene precursor. The gas phase ammonolysis of phenol may be carried out using oxide mixtures of Mg, B, and Ti on alumina or zeolitic supports combined with cocatalysts such as V or W salts. At large excesses of ammonia, phenol conversions of up to 98% can be obtained with a selectivity to aniline about 95%.
Equations (2) and (3) describe these processes: ##STR2##
As described above, an alternative to the present invention is the production of aniline from benzene by first forming phenol, and then using known technology to convert phenol to aniline in a second step. This route is not cost competitive, in most cases, with routes through nitrobenzene intermediate to aniline from benzene, because of the high cost of phenol. However, we have found that the catalysts disclosed herein are also useful in the direct formation of phenol from benzene in one step, thereby avoiding the using cumene intermediate and facilitating a potentially cheap route to phenol. With the availability of inexpensive phenol, a cheaper route to aniline, in turn, also could be realized that might compete more effectively with the usual nitrobenzene route to aniline. An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative route through a one-step process from benzene to aniline without the need to isolate phenol as an intermediate. That process is the focus of this invention.
Competitive direct synthesis of aniline from benzene and ammonia was patented by T. W. Del Pesco of the DuPont Company T. W. DelPesco, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,106 (1977)!. The DuPont technology uses a Ni/NiO/ZrO.sub.2 "cataloreactant" which is reduced during each run, but which can be regenerated by a separate reoxidation. Although 12% yield of aniline is realized from benzene and ammonia with this technology, 7000 psi pressure is required to conduct the synthesis. This high pressure presents a formidable barrier to commercialization.
Mitsui Toatsu researchers have reported F. Matsuda and K. Kato, Japan Kokai J02115138-A (1990)! that by using an NH.sub.3 /H.sub.3 O mixture, it is possible to convert benzene to a mixture of phenol and aniline (1.9% yield of aniline) over a Cu.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2 /Ca.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2 catalyst at 300.degree.-500.degree. C. It is not clear how much oxygen is used in this work, but the reaction appears to be equilibrium limited without oxygen addition.
A. Heumann, K. J. Jens, and M. Reglier, "Palladium Complex Catalyzed Oxidation Reactions", K. D. Karlin, ed., Progress in Inorganic Chemistry, 42, New York, 1994, pp. 539-541, have described Pd nitro catalysts for alkene oxidation, but not for aromatic oxidation or ammination.
An advantage of the present invention is to provide a method for the oxidative ammination of aromatic compounds which does not require the added reagent and engineering costs and operational risks associated with the use of coreductants such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide.

Oxidative ammination of benzene to aniline using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant


Described herein is a polymerizable composition substantially free of an organic emulsifier, methods of making, and articles thereof. The polymerizable composition comprises: a continuous phase; a polymerizable monomer; an initiator; and inorganic nanoparticles, wherein the inorganic nanoparticles are substantially free of groups that will copolymerize with the polymerizable monomer.

Suspension and emulsion polymerization are two common techniques for polymerizing polymers. Both of these techniques comprise a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. During polymerization, emulsifiers may be used to prevent coalescing of the discontinuous phase. After forming the polymer particles, an emulsifier may be used to stabilize the dispersion, preventing the particles from agglomerating and settling.
Traditional emulsifiers are organic-based emulsifiers that may be fluorinated (e.g., partially or fully fluorinated). For example, monomers comprising groups, which generate ions in water, may be incorporated into a polymer. These ions create a charge, which repels the charges on other monomers and polymeric particles, preventing coalescing of the discontinuous phase and agglomeration of the polymeric particles. In another example, a non-ionic surfactant having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments can be used as an emulsifier. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments orient in water to form a steric barrier that prevents phase coalescence and particle agglomeration. Further, an ionic surfactant comprising the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments as well as an ionic charge may be used to prevent coalescence and agglomeration via orientation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments as well as through charge repulsion.
In some instances these emulsifiers may have a negative impact on the final product. In these instances, the organic-based emulsifiers are preferably removed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,184 (Noorduyn et al.) teaches the removal of residual emulsifier from polyvinyl chloride, while U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,128,517 (Kydonieus); U.S. Pat. No. 6,833,403 (Bladel et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 7,671,112 (Hintzer et al.) disclose removal of emulsifiers from fluoropolymer dispersions.

Polymerizable compositions free of organic emulsifier and polymers and methods of making thereof


A method of fabricating an instrument panel includes providing a skin which forms a surface of the instrument panel and has side face portions extending rearwardly from a front face portion and providing a panel core having a recess for defining a molding space between the panel core and the skin. The front face portion and the side face portions define a bend angle. The recess of the panel core has peripheral walls for engaging the side face portions and the peripheral walls and a surface of the recess define a regular angle which is less than the bend angle. The bend angle, for instance, is larger than the regular angle by 2.degree. to 8.degree., and preferably by 3.degree. to 5.degree.. The panel core is placed in a first die and the skin is place in a second die such that the side face portions are deflected to fit into the recess of the panel core during mold closing. The dies are closed and a foaming material is injected between the panel core and the skin to integrate the panel core and the skin. The side face portions resiliently engage the peripheral walls to prevent leakage of the foaming material. In an embodiment of the method, a skin holding member is movably provided in the second die for holding the side face portions in position during mold closing. The skin holding member is withdrawn to permit engagement of the side face portions with the peripheral walls after mold closing.

The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an instrument panel, particularly to a method of fabricating an instrument panel where previously and separately formed panel core material and skin are arranged and held in a pair of dies of a mold and a foaming material of polyurethane or the like, injected between the panel core material and the skin, is foamed whereby the panel core material, the skin and a foamed layer are integrated.
Conventionally, a skin of this kind of instrument panel is formed using a thin flexible material of a plastic sheet or the like. Therefore, when an end edge portion of the skin is simply bent to the rear side a side face portion thereof is formed projecting, the projected side face portion is deficient of self standing performance and falls toward the inside by its own weight. When such a skin having the projected side face portion is used, if the skin is arranged inside of a die of a mold, falling of the projected side face portion produces a gap between the projected side face portion and a peripheral wall of a recess of the panel core material arranged and held in the other die and the sealing performance therebetween is much deteriorated. Therefore, the foaming material leaks or wrinkles or the like is caused at the end edge portion of the skin whereby the product yield is reduced due to deterioration of appearance or the like.
As a measure for preventing leakage of foaming material or deterioration of outlook caused by falling such a projected side face portion, conventionally, as disclosed in JP-A-07314469, a recess groove is formed by folding back outwardly a projected front end of a side face portion formed by bending an end edge of a skin rearwardly, and a member for holding the edge portion of the skin projected from one die is fitted to the recess groove. Thus, the skin is positioned by holding the projected side face portion of the skin and preventing the projected side face portion from falling inwardly (hereinafter, referred to as prior art).
However, according to the prior art, the front end of the side face portion projected by bending the end edge portion of the skin rearwardly, must be folded back outwardly to form the recess groove and accordingly, the shape of the skin per se is complicated and an increase in molding cost is inevitable.
Further, it is very difficult to set a timing for drawing out the member, holding the edge portion of the skin fitted to the recess groove at the front end of the projected side face portion, from the recess groove, and pulling and incorporating the member into one die of the mold. That is, basically, when the member for holding the edge portion of the skin is pulled and withdrawn into one die in the midst of foaming a foaming material injected between the recess portion of the panel core material and the skin, thereafter, the projected side face portion is pressed toward the inner face side of the peripheral wall portion of the recess of the panel core material by a foaming pressure and accordingly, the projected side face portion can be prevented from falling inwardly. However, a timing of generating the foaming pressure sufficient for preventing the projected side face portion from falling is dispersed depending on kind of foaming material, magnitude of a cavity or the like. Therefore, the member for holding the edge portion of the skin may be pulled and withdrawn into the die before generating the foaming pressure sufficient for preventing the projected side face portion from falling. As a result, a portion of the projected side face portion may fall inwardly by which the sealing performance may be deteriorated. Or, the member for holding the edge portion of the skin may be forcibly pulled and withdrawn into the die at a stage where the foaming pressure is intensified excessively. As a result, during the pulling operation, the projected side face portion, particularly, its base end portion may be impaired or wrinkled or the like by which the appearance may be deteriorated.
Further, in the above-described prior art, the recess groove is formed by folding back outwardly the front edge of the side face portion. Therefore, the side face portion of the skin is provided with inner and outer double folding structure and a slight gap may be caused at a boundary between the inner face of the peripheral wall portion of the recess of the panel core material and the side face portion of the skin. After finishing, dust and dirt or the like may enter between the gap during use which is not preferable for appearances.


The present invention relates to a method of applying a fastener portion 10 to an absorbent article 1, said method comprising in a first alternative (A) the steps of: (i) providing a top sheet 2, (ii) placing one or more fastener portions 10 onto an inner surface 2a of the top sheet 2 so that a fastener user's end 12 is essentially supported by the top sheet 2 and a fastener manufacture's end 11 is essentially adjacent to one of the lateral edges 2c,2d of the top sheet 2 whereby the fastening means 15 is facing towards the inner surface 2a of the top sheet 2, (iii) folding around the manufacturer's end 11 so that it is essentially opposite to the user's end 12, and (iv) applying an absorbent core 4 and a back sheet 3 onto the top sheet 2, whereby the sequence of steps (iii) and (iv) may be exchanged, or in a second alternative (B) (i) providing a back sheet 3, (ii) placing one or more fastener portions 10 onto the outer surface 3b of the back sheet 3 so that a fastener user's end 12 is essentially supported by the back sheet 3 and a fastener manufacturer's end 12 is essentially adjacent to one of the lateral edges 3c, 3d of the back sheet 3 whereby the fastening means 15 is facing away from the outer surface 3b of the back sheet 3, (iii) folding over the manufacturer's end 11 so that it is essentially opposite to the user's end 12, and (iv) applying an absorbent core and a top sheet 2 onto the back sheet 3, whereby the sequence of steps (iii) and (iv) may be exchanged.

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers are provided with fastener portions which are adhered to the body of the absorbent article through one of its end portions, the so-called manufacturer's end, by means of, for example, an adhesive layer. The opposite end portion of the fastener portion which is usually referred to as user's end, comprises a fastening means such as an adhesive fastening means or a mechanical fastening means to close the absorbent article around the wearer's body and fasten the absorbent article on the body. FIGS. 1a and b show a disposable diaper of the state of the art having an hour-glass shape in an open (FIG. 1a) and in a closed form (FIG. 1b), respectively. It can be seen from FIG. 1b that the diaper comprises an absorbent core 4 between a back sheet 3 and a top sheet 2. The manufacturer's end 11 of the fastener portion 10 is adhered to the side panel 6 of the diaper and the user's end 12 is fastened to the landing zone 5 on the front. waistband portion 7b on the back sheet 3 of the diaper.
EP 0,379,850 discloses a method for manufacturing fastener portions having rounded grip-ends or fingerlifts in order to avoid that the wearer of the diaper is hurt or even cut by sharp-edged fingerlifts. A pair of fastener portions is die-cut continuously from a web of fastener portions, and the fastener portions obtained are applied continuously to the edge portions of two different diapers conveyed side-by-side on a conveyor belt. Other methods for forming a plurality of fastener portions, which can be integrated into continuous manufacturing lines for diapers, are disclosed, for example, in WO 98/03,140, U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,219 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,531.
WO 84/04,242 discloses another diaper shape wherein the side panels 6 of the diaper are not integrated into the body portion of the diaper so that such body portion is essentially rectangular. A similar construction is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,302. In these constructions, the dimensions of the fastener portions 10 are typically larger than the dimensions of fastener portions used in conjunction with diapers comprising side panels 6 integrated into the body portion of the diaper like those shown in FIGS. 1a and b. The larger dimension of the fastener portions 10 is required in order to provide a reliable and stress-free fit of the diaper comprising no integrated side panels 6, on the wearer. Strip-type fastener portions used in conjunction with integrated side panels 6 like those shown by referral number 10 in FIGS. 1a and b, are often referred to as fastener tapes whereas fastener portions like those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,302 are often referred to as big ear fastener portions.
Fastener portions often comprise in addition to the fastening means an elastic means in order to impart stretchability to the fastener portions. Stretchable fastener portions are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,302 and in WO 99/03,347.
While fastener portions comprising an elastic means are generally advantageous and tend to improve the fit of the diaper to the wearer, they may exhibit a reduced stiffness in comparison to fastener portions comprising no elastic means. This may adversely affect the handleability of fastener portions comprising an elastic means and render the attachment of such fastener portions to the body portion of a diaper difficult, in particular, under high speed manufacturing operations.
It has also been difficult in prior art to provide a method for applying a fastener portion to a diaper so that the fastener portion is easy to open and is also resistant to undesired, premature opening. EP 0,321,232 discloses, for example, a fastener portion comprising both an adhesive and a mechanical fastening means. The fastener portion is attached to the diaper through its manufacturer's end and then folded over onto the inner surface of the top sheet of the diaper where the adhesive means adheres to the inner surface of the top sheet thereby preventing premature "pop open" ("flagging") of the fastener portion while the absorbent article is still being processed on the diaper line, for example. Flagging of fastener portions may result in disrupturing fastener portions in subsequent processing steps and/or adversely affect the folding of the diaper into a packagable state.
It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of applying a fastener portion to absorbent articles which can be effectively applied under high speed manufacturing conditions and/or which does not exhibit the shortcomings of the prior art or exhibit them to a lower degree only.
It was another object of the present invention to provide a fastener portion which when applied to an absorbent article, does not "pop open" prematurely.
Other object of the present invention can be taken from the following detailed description of the invention.

Method of applying a fastener portion to a diaper


A musical sound generating system which generates musical sounds having desired tone regardless of the variation of volume setting. In the musical sound generating system, the standard tone control touch curve TCstd, the maximum tone control touch curve Tcmax, and the minimum tone control touch curve TCmin when the amplification factor V is standard (a standard amplification factor Vstd), maximum, and minimum respectively are stored. If the amplification factor is higher than the standard amplification factor Vstd, an interpolation between the standard tone control touch curve TCstd and the maximum tone control touch curve TCmax is performed, and the tone control touch curve TC according to the amplification factor V is obtained. Based on the tone control touch curve, the cut-off frequency F corresponding to the velocity value Tv is determined, and then the tone of the musical sound is controlled by the low pass filter with the cut-off frequency F.

In a conventional musical sound generating system used for electronic musical instruments such as an electronic piano, when a key is pressed, a musical sound signal is produced based on the pre-stored waveform data corresponding to the pressed key which is then amplified and converted to a musical sound by a loudspeaker. At the same time, the amplitude of the higher frequencies and the tone of the musical sound to be generated are changed in accordance with the key pressing speed. Specifically, as the key pressing speed is increased, a musical sound with a higher amplitude of high-frequency components, i.e. a musical sound in brighter tone, is generated.
A typical example of an electronic musical instrument of this type is one in which a musical sound signal, based on waveform data, is passed through a low pass filter, the cut-off frequency of which is controlled according to the key press intensity, thereby high-frequency components of the musical sound signal are attenuated. In this electronic musical instrument, when a key is pressed with a strong touch, a higher cut-off frequency is set such that the output is performed with an increased amplitude of high-frequency components, while a lower cut-off frequency is set such that the output is performed with a decreased amplitude of high-frequency components when a key is pressed with a weak touch.
Another example is an electronic musical instrument in which a plurality of musical sound signals having different distributions of the amplitude of frequency components and a plurality of envelope waveforms corresponding to the musical sound signals respectively, are prepared for generating a musical sound by the press of one key. When a key is pressed, a plurality of signals are produced by multiplying each musical sound signal and the corresponding envelope waveform, and by combining the signals with each other a musical sound in a desired tone is generated.
The aforementioned envelope waveform represents variation of the amplitude of a musical sound generated by a musical sound signal with time. In this electronic musical instrument, the tone of the musical sound to be generated can be changed by controlling the amplitude of the plurality of envelope waveforms according to the key press intensity. Specifically, in an electronic musical instrument of this type, when a key is pressed with a strong touch, a musical sound in a bright tone is generated by increasing the amplitude of the envelope waveform corresponding to the musical sound signal having a frequency distribution with a high amplitude of high-frequency components (or by decreasing the amplitude of the envelope waveform corresponding to the musical sound signal having a frequency distribution with a small amplitude of high-frequency components). When a key is pressed with a weak touch, oppositely, a musical sound in a dull tone is generated by decreasing the amplitude of the envelope waveform corresponding to the musical sound signal having a frequency distribution with a high amplitude of high-frequency components (or by increasing the amplitude of the envelope waveform corresponding to the musical sound signal having a frequency distribution with a small amplitude of high-frequency components).
Generally, the volume of musical sounds generated from a loudspeaker is controlled in accordance with the amplification factor of an amplifier, which a user can set. When a user sets the amplification factor low, the user unconsciously tends to press the keys with a strong touch (i.e., rapidly) because the output volume of the loudspeaker is small. As a result, the generated musical sounds include a larger amplitude of high-frequency components, which results in a bright tone thereof. When the user sets the amplification factor high, the user unconsciously tends to press the keys with a weak touch (i.e. slowly), which results in the generated musical sounds with a small amplitude of high-frequency components and thus in a dull tone. Thus, there is a problem that the setting of the amplification factor produces a psychological effect on the user such that the tone of the generated musical sound is different from that which the user desires.

Musical sound generating system with controlled tone


Techniques are provided for moving data between partitions. Such a process may be performed without requiring any locks that block transactions that target a partition from being executed. Instead, such transactions may proceed while a move operation is being performed. The move operation involves copying data from the targeted partition to another partition that is hidden from (or “invisible” to) those transactions that attempt to read from or write to the partition. During the move operation, changes that are made to the partition are also reflected in a journal. Eventually, the changes reflected in the journal are drained and applied to the hidden partition. Once the partition and the hidden partition are synchronized, the identities of the partitions are swapped so that future transactions will target the previously-hidden partition instead of the previously-viewable partition.

In database systems, many resources (such as data blocks, tables, indexes) are shared among multiple processes. Even though resources may be shared, many resources may not be used by more than one process at a given time. For example, sometimes, tables stored on a storage medium may be concurrently accessed in some ways (e.g., read) by multiple processes, but accessed in other ways (e.g., written to) by only one process at a time. As a result, mechanisms have been developed to control access to resources.
One such mechanism uses locks. A lock is a data structure that indicates that a particular process has been granted certain rights with respect to a resource. There are many types of locks, some of which may be shared by many processes, while other types prevent any other locks from being granted on the same resource.


A vehicle may include an engine, a traction battery, an electric motor, an electric cooling system, and a controller. The electric motor selectively converts torque from the engine to electric power and converts electric power from the traction battery to drive torque for the vehicle. The electric cooling system, responsive to a temperature of the traction battery exceeding a first threshold, cools the traction battery using the electric power. The controller, responsive to the temperature exceeding a second threshold less than the first threshold and accessory loads exceeding a third threshold, operates one or both of the engine and traction battery to maintain the temperature below the first threshold.

Certain vehicles may include a traction battery and one or more electric motors for propulsion. The traction battery is the source of power for the one or more electric motors. Operation of the traction battery may generate heat. Temperature control systems may be arranged to cool (or heat) the traction battery as necessary.

Powertrain control to preclude thermal-related reduced operation


A vehicle collision state detecting device is configured to provide an extremely effective collision protection by identifying a wide range of collision states. The vehicle collision state detecting device basically comprises a front vehicle structural section, a tension member, left and right tensile force sensors and a collision state identifying section. The front vehicle structural section has a predetermined collision collapsing characteristic. The tension member has a prescribed initial tensile force extending in a width-wise direction of the front vehicle structural section. The tensile force sensors measure left and right tensile forces of the tension member. The tension member and the tensile force sensors form a collision sensing device in one possible embodiment. The collision state identifying section identifies a collision state of the vehicle. At least one passenger restraining device is activated differently depending on the detected collision state identified by the collision state identifying section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle collision state detecting device that detects the collision state of a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle collision state detecting device that identifies the type of collision to a front section of a vehicle.
2. Background Information
Technologies for anticipating a vehicle collision in advance have already been developed. Specific examples of such technologies are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-330401 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-342821, which are identified below.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-330401 discloses a collision detection sensor that effectively detects a vehicle collision, particularly a collision at a lateral side of the vehicle. The collision detection sensor of this publication is basically provided with an elongated substrate, a displacement converting mechanism and a detecting device. The elongated substrate is arranged along a side vehicle panel with the displacement converting mechanism and the detecting device provided on the substrate. The displacement converting mechanism functions to convert the amount of deformation displacement of the side vehicle panel in the thickness direction of the substrate into an amount of displacement in the lengthwise direction of the substrate. The detecting device operates in response to the displacement in the lengthwise direction of the substrate so as to emit a collision detection signal. Thus, with this collision detection sensor, a detecting device provided in one location on the elongated substrate can detect collision-related deformation of the vehicle panel over a wide range along the lengthwise direction of the substrate. Furthermore, assembly is simple and inexpensive with this collision detection sensor as well as the operation of this collision detection sensor is reliable.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-342821 discloses a vehicle-use passenger restricting device for restricting passengers. The vehicle-use passenger restricting device is provided with a sensor for predicting or detecting a rear collision and a control device configured to deploy an airbag in the vicinity of the passenger's neck area when the sensor detects a rear collision or predicts that a rear collision will occur. More specifically, this vehicle-use passenger restricting device is provided with a passenger state detecting device and an airbag deployment state changing device configured to change the deployment state of the airbag in accordance with the passenger state detected by the passenger state detecting device. Thus, with this vehicle-use passenger restricting device, the sensor detects rear collisions or predicts if one will occur and, when a rear collision is detected or it is predicted that one will occur, the control device deploys an airbag in the vicinity of the passenger's neck area. Additionally, the airbag deployment state changing device changes the deployment state of the airbag in accordance with the passenger state detected by the passenger state detecting device. As a result, an airbag deployment state that is well adapted to the state of the passenger can be ensured and the occurrence of a load on the cervical vertebrae can be sufficiently prevented in advance.
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 vehicle collision state detecting 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.

Vehicle collision state detecting device


The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of organomonosilanes, in particular, bearing both hydrogen and chlorine substituents at the silicon atom by subjecting a silane substrate comprising one or more organomonosilanes, with the proviso that at least one of these silanes has at least one chlorine substituent at the silicon atom, to the reaction with one or more metal hydrides selected from the group of an alkali metal hydride and an alkaline earth metal hydride in the presence of one or more compounds (C) acting as a redistribution catalyst.

Organohydridosilanes are highly useful starting materials in synthetic organosilicon chemistry, and therefore constitute an industrially valuable class of compounds. Such organosilanes bearing both chloro- and hydrido substituents constitute attractive starting materials in synthesis due to their bifunctional nature, which means they have functional groups of different reactivities. The chloride substituent is a better leaving group than the hydride group and allows, for instance, the controlled addition of further monomeric or oligomeric siloxane units with retention of the Si—H bond under mild conditions, thereby rendering said chlorohydridosilanes useful as blocking and coupling agents in the synthesis of defined oligo- and polysiloxanes.
Such compounds generally find a wide range of applications, for instance for the manufacture of adhesives, sealants, mouldings, composites and resins for example in the fields of electronics, automotive, construction and many more.
The Si—H moieties present in hydridochlorosilanes can be utilized for post-synthesis modifications and functionalizations, for instance for the introduction of organic residues to polyorganosiloxanes or for cross-linking by hydrosilylation reactions, which is desirable in various kinds of compositions containing polyorganosiloxanes.
Synthesis of functionalized polysiloxanes starting with transformations via the Si—H bond(s) followed by hydrolysis or alcoholysis of the Si—Cl bond(s) and optionally condensation for the formation of polysiloxanes is also viable.
Although there is a high demand for such bifunctional silanes having both Si—H and Si—Cl bonds, there is no practical, economically reasonable or sustainable industrial process for the synthesis of such building blocks disclosed yet. In particular for the chlorohydridosilanes MeSiHCl2 and Me2SiHCl, there is a strong need for such a production process.
Many procedures for the production of chlorosilanes containing both Si—H and Si—Cl bonds are based on organohydridosilanes serving as starting materials. The preparation of organosilicon hydrides and organosilicon compounds containing both Si—H and Si—Cl bonds from organosilicon halides, in particular, organosilicon chlorides, is also known in the art:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,367 discloses a method for the synthesis of hydrido organosilanes by the reduction of organosilicon chlorides with MgH2 in an ether solvent and the parallel use of ultrasound or mechanical energy (e. g. ball milling) to remove the magnesium halide from the MgH2 particles. Synthesis of dimethylsilane is illustrated in Example 1 of the document.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,548 discloses a process for preparation of Me2SiHCl via partial reduction of Me2SiCl2 in a reaction system comprising MgH2 and AlCl3 in a non-polar organic solvent while milling continuously.
A method for the preparation of Me2SiHCl by monoreduction of Me2SiCl2 using NaBH4 or a mixture of NaBH4 and NaH in dimethylimidazolidine or hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,426 A (Hiiro, Sakurai, Kondo, 1978).
The mono-, di- and trihydrogenation of organochlorosilanes with LiH in ethers, e.g. tetrahydrofurane (THF), dimethoxyethane (DME) and bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme), in high yields was reported by Kornev and Semenov (Metallorg. Khim 4 (1991) 4, 860-863).
The reduction of the Si—Cl to Si—H moieties of Me3SiCl, Me2SiHCl, Me2SiCl2, MeSiHCl2, and Et3SiCl by LiH in THF at temperatures of 25-67° C. is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,657 (Jadhav, 1989). Therein, the LiH is first heated in THF before the compounds containing Si—Cl moieties are added.
RU 2 436 788 C1 discloses the reaction of trimethylchlorosilane with lithium hydride in the presence of tetrakis(diethylamido phosphonium bromide) in toluene at 65-74° C. whereby trimethylsilane is formed. Tetrakis(diethylamido phosphonium bromide):

acts as an activator for LiH not as redistribution catalyst. It also does not have organyl substitution, which requires a bond via carbon atom (see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organyl_group, or https://goldbook.iupac.org/html/O/O04329.html), but has amido substitution via nitrogen atom. RU 2 436 788 C1 yields solely organohydridosilanes but no mixed chlorohydridosilanes, which may be well due to the absence of a redistribution catalyst.

Process for the production of organohydridochlorosilanes


An abnormal message detecting and processing apparatus comprises an example message storing part (30) for storing examples of normal messages, a variable field information storing part (32) for storing information of a location of variable fields in the example messages, and an abnormal message detecting part (34). The abnormal message detecting part (34) compares input messages (36) with the example messages, except for variable fields specified by the information stored in the variable field information storing part (32), determines that an input message is abnormal if none of the example messages coincide with the input message in the comparison, and outputs the message so that the abnormal message is easily distinguishable from normal messages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of automatically detecting and processing abnormal messages from among system messages output from a computer system, and a detecting and processing apparatus for realizing this method.
2. Description of the Related Art
To recognize an operation state of a computer system, an operator observes system messages displayed on a main console, etc. of the computer system.
For example, during an initial program loading (IPL) operation after power is first supplied to the computer system, system messages showing the results of successive initializing steps are displayed on the main console, and the operator confirms a normal progress of the operation by observing the system messages, and must recognize an abnormal state when messages showing an abnormal state are displayed, to take the action necessary for coping with the abnormal states.
In larger scale computer systems, however, since the number of messages for an operation becomes large, and in general, the messages showing the abnormal states rarely appear among a series of messages, observing the console to find an abnormal message is tedious, and further, it is easy for an abnormal message to pass unobserved.

Method of detecting and processing abnormal message output from computer system and detecting and processing apparatus therefor


A lower unit for a marine propulsion system has a flow disrupter positioned along the side wall of the vertical strut above the torpedo gearcase. The strut has a high pressure side and low pressure side which results from the strut being positioned at an angle with respect to the direction of boat travel in order to compensate for steering torque. The flow disrupter is positioned on the low pressure side of the strut, and promotes the separation of water passing over the vertical strut in a controlled manner, thereby reducing steering jerks during acceleration due to dramatic hydrodynamic flow changes. The flow disrupter consists of a series of steps or textured areas positioned along the aft section of the vertical strut. In a preferred embodiment, each of the steps contains a vent passage permitting exhaust to exit the strut through the steps to further promote controlled separation of water passing over the strut.

Marine propulsion systems, particularly those having a lower gearcase and a submerged propeller, are subject to steering torque. Steering torque results from the rotating propeller creating a torque that tends to force the boat into a turn when the strut is aligned parallel to the desired direction of boat travel. For example, with a right hand rotating propeller, the steering torque tends to direct the boat into a turn toward port. To counteract steering torque, the strut must be directed toward port to create a slight starboard turn which compensates for the steering torque and keeps the boat traveling along the desired path. Therefore, when the boat is traveling along a straight path, the submerged strut is positioned at a slight angle, called the "crab angle", with respect to the boat direction.
When the strut is no longer positioned parallel to the direction of the boat, a pressure differential develops between one side of the strut and the other side of the strut. On the low pressure side of the strut, which is the side turned to face downstream, the flow of the water over the relatively smooth side surface is generally laminar at low speeds. As the speed of the boat increases, the flow of the water over the low pressure side surface of the strut makes a dramatic and essentially instantaneous change from a laminar flow to a turbulent flow. The instantaneous change from laminar to turbulent flow further reduces the pressure on the low pressure side of the strut, which results in the driver of the boat feeling a sudden jerk or shock. The physical location on the strut at which the water separates from laminar flow to turbulent flow is located slightly above the torpedo gearcase on the aft end of the strut.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that a strut in a marine propulsion system having a device to control the separation of water from laminar flow to turbulent flow along the strut would be desirable. Specifically, a device which enables a gradual shift from laminar flow to turbulent flow would be particularly desirable.

Texture gearcase for a marine propulsion system


A high voltage noise filter for use in magnetron devices comprises a coil of a conductive wire coated with an insulating layer and another coil of the conductive wire with a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer, the two coils connected to each other in series A joint portion of the two coils has a triple-layered structure wherein a high withstand voltage layer either of a semiconductive or insulative member is formed in the vicinity of an end portion of the conductive layer, as interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating layer and the conductive layer.

The present invention relates to a high voltage noise filter for use in microwave devices and a magnetron device incorporating such a high voltage noise filter.
FIG. 10 is a bottom end view illustrating a relevant portion of a magnetron incorporating a conventional high voltage noise filter 1. In the figure, stem terminals 5a and 5b are connected with conductive wires 2a and 2b partially wound into coils, respectively, for prevention of leakage of fundamental wave noise and higher harmonic noise from the respective stem terminals 5a and 5b of the magnetron. The conductive wires 2a and 2b are coated with an insulating material along the overall length thereof except for end portions 30a and 30b connected with the respective stem terminals 5a and 5b. At coil portions defining choke coils 4a and 4b, and the conductive wires 2a and 2b are coated with insulating layers 1a and 1b. At the other coil portions 3a and 3b of the respective conductive wires 2a and 2b, conductive layers 34a and 34b, shown by diagonal hatching, are formed on the aforesaid insulating layers 1a and 1b. The conductive wires 2a and 2b have only the insulating layers 1a and 1b at end portions 31a and 31b of the coil portions 3a and 3b, and terminals thereof are connected to respective fastening tabs (terminals) 7a and 7b to be connected to a microwave source 6. The coil portions 3a and 3b are accommodated in cylindrical conductive members 8a and 8b, respectively. The conductive layers 34a and 34b electrically contact the interior walls of the respective cylindrical conductive members 8a and 8b and the coil portions 3a and 3b are mechanically secured in the respective cylindrical conductive members 8a and 8b. FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of the cylindrical conductive members 8a and 8b for illustration of the coil portions 3a and 3b. The cylindrical conductive members 8a and 8b are accommodated in resin casings 16a and 16b. Within the resin casings 16a and 16b, the conductive members 8a and 8b accommodating the coil portions 3a and 3b, the terminal portions 31a and 31b and joints between the fastening tabs 7a and 7b and the terminal portions 31a and 31b are filled with an insulating resin material 11. The conductive members 8a and 8b are electrically connected with a filter casing 10 by way of grounding plates 9.
In the high voltage noise filter of such a construction, the insulating layers 1a and 1b formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the conductive wires 2a and 2b exert a significant influence on the withstand voltage characteristics of the high voltage noise filter. Particularly, terminal regions 1e and 1f of the coil portions 3a and 3b may sometimes suffer an abnormal increase in the electric field strength in the vicinity of the end portions of the conductive layers 34a and 34b, which increase in the electric field strength tends to cause insulation breakdown near the end portions of the conductive layers. The prevention of the insulation breakdown requires an increase in the withstand voltage characteristics of the insulating layers 1a and 1b of the conductive materials 2a and 2b. Unfortunately, an increase in the withstand voltage characteristics requires the insulating layers 1a and 1b to have an extreme thickness. An increased thickness of the insulating layers 1a and 1b leads to an increased size of the coil portions 3a and 3b. This results in not only a larger size of the high voltage noise filter but also decrease in the capacitance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the coil portions 3a and 3b and the conductive wires 2a and 2b. Consequently, the noise filter suffers a serious deterioration of the characteristics thereof.

High voltage noise filter and magnetron device using it


Heavy goods vehicle tire, having a crown portion covered radially on the outside by a tread, this tread having at least two cut-outs, the central portion of the tread having a width Lc of between 35% and 70%, the crown portion comprising a reinforcement having at least two working layers having reinforcing elements, these reinforcing elements consisting of UHT-grade threads, having a mechanical breaking strength R satisfying the following relation: R≥(4180−2130×D), where D is the diameter of the thread expressed in millimetres, this tread being formed of at least two layers of superimposed material, the material forming the first layer with a breaking elongation of more than 600% at a temperature of 60° C., this tread being such that, in the central portion, the cavity ratio per unit volume is not more than 10% and the surface cavity ratio as new is not more than 10%.

A heavy goods vehicle tire usually comprises beads designed to make contact with a mounting rim, these beads being prolonged radially outwards by sidewalls which are themselves joined to either side of a crown portion, this crown portion being covered by a tread having the function of providing contact with the road during running.
A tire also comprises a carcass reinforcement anchored in the beads, this carcass reinforcement extending in the sidewalls to the crown of the tire. This carcass reinforcement, formed of one or more reinforced layers, is surmounted radially towards the outside in the crown portion of the tire by a crown reinforcement which is itself formed of a plurality of reinforced layers.
Among the reinforced layers of the crown reinforcement there are at least two layers known as working layers, each of these working layers comprising a plurality of reinforcing elements such as low-extensibility metal threads or cords, these reinforcing elements being arranged parallel to one another in each working layer and crossed over from one working layer to the next, lying at an angle chosen to be between 10° and 45° to the circumferential direction of the tire.
Cords or reinforcing elements are described as low-extensibility or even inextensible in the present description where said cords have a relative elongation of not more than 0.2% when subjected to a tensile force of 10% of their breaking strength.
Forming part of the crown reinforcement, at least one additional layer, called the protective layer, is provided and is positioned radially outside the working layers, this protective layer being formed of reinforcing elements which are advantageously "elastic", that is to say reinforcing elements having a much greater extensibility than that of the reinforcing elements of the working layers.
Cords or reinforcing elements are called elastic or are said to have high extensibility in the present description where said cords have a relative elongation of at least 3% when subjected to a tensile force equal to the breaking load, and have a maximum tangent modulus of less than 150 GPa.
The production of a cord consisting of a plurality of elementary metal threads so as to be elastic or low-elastic depends on the way in which the threads are assembled together to form said cord (this is what is known as the cord structure).
The crown reinforcement may also comprise a triangulation layer comprising a plurality of low-extensibility metal threads or cords lying at an angle chosen to be between 45° and 90° to the circumferential direction of the tire, this triangulation layer most commonly being located radially between the carcass reinforcement and the first working layer. Other layers may also be integrated with the crown reinforcement, for example hooping layers comprising reinforcements which may or may not be inextensible and which are orientated at a zero angle or a very small angle (that is to say, less than 10 degrees) to the circumferential direction of the tire.
A tread is placed radially on the outside of the crown reinforcement, the tread usually consisting of polymer materials (or rubber materials), this tread being designed to provide contact with a roadway in a contact area between said roadway and the tire.
To meet the requirements of the heavy goods vehicle tire market, one of the aims of those skilled in the art is to reduce the total weight of the tire. One feasible method is that of reducing the weight of the reinforcing elements and notably those of the crown reinforcement.
The reinforcing elements of the working layers may be lightened, for example, by using smaller-diameter reinforcing elements, as described for example in the document U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,249. It should be noted that this reduction in the diameter of the reinforcing elements is very commonly accompanied by an increase in the tenacity of the steel. Thus it is known to use smaller reinforcing elements to lighten tires, the weight being reduced, on the one hand, by a smaller amount of metal, and on the other hand by a decrease in the volume of elastomer mixtures forming the liners of the working layers.
For the purposes of the present invention, a "thread of at least UHT grade", where the abbreviation UHT signifies "Ultra High Tenacity" in English, is a metal thread having a mechanical breaking strength denoted R and expressed in MPa, such that R≥4180−2130×D, where D is the diameter of the thread expressed in millimetres, and x indicates the operation of multiplication.
However, a reduction of the amount of metal in the working layers of the crown reinforcement may lead to a reduction in the endurance of the crown reinforcement of the tire that may affect the possibility of renewing its tread by retreading.
Notably, if the tire accidentally runs over a point obstacle of relatively large size with respect to the tire and its tread, the crown reinforcement is abruptly subjected to an impact generating a very high degree of deformation that may cause partial or even total breakage of reinforcing elements. This type of accidental damage is conventionally described as a "road hazard" (as it is known in English).
It has been observed that the resistance to these high-energy running stresses of a tire whose working layers have been lightened may prove to be very significantly affected. This reduction in performance may modify the capacity of the tire to be retreaded when this is required.

Heavy goods vehicle tire with improved endurance

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN


The read circuit presents a current mirror circuit including a first and second load transistor interposed between the supply line and a respective first and second output node. The first output node is connected to a cell to be read, the second output node is connected to a generating stage generating a reference current having a predetermined characteristic, and the size of the second load transistor is N times greater than the first load transistor. To permit rapid cell reading even in the presence of low supply voltage and with no initial uncertainty, an equalizing circuit presents a current balancing branch connected between the first output node and ground for generating an equalizing current presenting a ratio of 1/N with the reference current to balance the circuit before commencing the reading.

As is known, to read the cells of nonvolatile, particularly flash, memories, the row and column to which the cell to be read is connected are appropriately biased and the current flow through the cell is detected. If the cell is written, its threshold voltage is higher than the read voltage and the cell conducts no current. If the cell is erased, its threshold voltage is lower than the read voltage, and the cell conducts current. Written and erased cells are discriminated by comparing the current flow in the cell with a reference current generated by a reference cell. The comparison is made by a read circuit comprising a current/voltage converter for converting the current of the cell to be read and the reference cell into corresponding voltages, and comprising a sense amplifier for comparing the two voltages and generating a logic output signal, the state of which depends on the outcome of the comparison.
To ensure correct read operation and reliable cycling (multiple cycle operation) of the memory array, certain limits must be posed on the distribution of the threshold voltages of the cells. More specifically, currently used technologies require that the threshold voltage of the most erased cells be above zero, and the threshold voltage of the worst erased cells be about 2.5 V. The lower limit substantially arises from the need to ensure against read errors caused by depleted cells (cells with a threshold voltage below zero), while the upper limit is due to the intrinsic distribution of the cell threshold voltages according to the fabrication technology used.
Since the read voltage normally coincides with the supply voltage, read problems arise in the case of a low supply voltage (about 2.5 V), due to the poorly erased cells, which conduct a very low current, being considered written and so resulting in read errors.
In view of the current demand for memories capable of operating within a wide range in relation to the supply voltage (typically, with supply voltages of 2.5 to 4 V) and with fast access times (<100 ns), a sense amplifier is required, which is capable of fast, correct reading within the fall range of supply voltages involved.
To solve the problem of achieving a reasonable read time of poorly erased cells, a co-pending patent application, entitled "Method and circuit for reading low-supply-voltage memory array cells" (Attorney Docket No. 854063.453), filed Jun. 18, 1997, relates to a solution in which the current/voltage converter operates in the opposite way as compared with standard converters, to enable even poorly erased array cells to be read rapidly in the presence of low supply voltage (when the memory cells conduct a low current).
For the written cells to be determined correctly, however, the above solution poses limits as regards the maximum permissible supply voltage.
To give a clearer idea of the problem, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the solution proposed in the above co-pending patent application.
In FIG. 1, the read circuit is indicated by 1, and comprises an array branch 2 and a reference branch 3. Array branch 2 comprises an array cell 4 to be read, forming part of a memory array 5 and connected to an array bit line 6 and reference branch 3 comprises a reference cell 7 connected to a reference bit line 8. Array bit line 6 (together with other array bit lines not shown and forming part of memory array 5) and reference bit line 8 are connected to a current/voltage converter 9 via a conventional decoding, biasing and equalizing circuit 10 not essential to the description and therefore not shown in detail. Circuit 10 provides for selecting the array bit line 6 of the cell 4 to be read, appropriately biasing it (and reference bit line 8) to prevent spurious read phenomena such as soft writing, and possibly also equalizing lines 6 and 8 before the cell is actually read.
Converter 9 comprises an array load 12 and reference load 13 forming a current mirror circuit and connected to array and reference bit lines 6 and 8 via circuit 10. More specifically, and according to the teachings of the above co-pending patent application, array load 12 comprises a diode-connected PMOS transistor, and reference load 13 a PMOS transistor. Array load transistor 12 has the source terminal connected to a supply line 15 at V.sub.CC, the drain terminal connected to circuit 10 at a node 16, the gate terminal connected to the gate terminal of reference load transistor 13, and a width/length ratio W/L=K. And reference load transistor 13 has the source terminal connected to supply line 15, the drain terminal connected to circuit 10 at a node 17, and a width/length ratio W/L=N*K, where N is a multiplication constant.
Nodes 16, 17 are connected to the inputs of sense amplifier 18.
In the FIG. 1 circuit, since the diode (low-impedance) element is connected to array bit line 6 instead of to reference bit line 8, and in view of the width/length ratio of transistors 12 and 13, the current in I/V converter 9 is imposed by memory cell 4, and is supplied, amplified by N, to reference branch 3 where it is compared with the current flowing in reference cell 7. This therefore provides for rapidly reading the array cell, even when it is poorly erased and conducts only a small amount of current due to the low supply voltage.
FIG. 2 shows the current/voltage characteristics obtainable from the FIG. 1 circuit by biasing the drain terminal of the cells (both array and reference cells) at about 1 V (linear operating region) and assuming a boost voltage V.sub.B is used to increase the voltage V.sub.GS between the gate and source terminals of cell 4 with respect to supply voltage V.sub.CC.
In FIG. 2, I.sub.R indicates the I/V characteristic of the reference cell with a fixed, known threshold voltage V.sub.TR. I.sub.TC indicates the characteristic of the worst erased array cell with the maximum permissible threshold voltage V.sub.TC (2.5 V with the above specifications); I.sub.TCN indicates characteristic I.sub.TC amplified by the FIG. 1 configuration. I.sub.TCNB indicates characteristic I.sub.TCN in the presence of bootstrap voltage V.sub.B --by which it is shifted by V.sub.B towards the origin--and therefore presenting a threshold voltage of (V.sub.TC -V.sub.B). I.sub.TW indicates the characteristic of the worst written array cell with the minimum permissible threshold voltage V.sub.TW. I.sub.TWN indicates characteristic I.sub.TW amplified by the FIG. 1 configuration. And I.sub.TWNB indicates characteristic I.sub.TWN in the presence of bootstrap voltage and with a threshold voltage of (V.sub.TW -V.sub.B).
As shown clearly in FIG. 2, the intersection of characteristics I.sub.R and I.sub.TCNB determines the minimum supply voltage V.sub.1, and that of characteristics I.sub.R and I.sub.TWNB the maximum supply voltage V.sub.2, i.e., the voltages below and above which reading (recognition of erased and written cells respectively) is not possible.
Voltages V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 may be determined analytically, bearing in mind that: EQU I.sub.R =G*(V-V.sub.TR) (1) EQU I.sub.TC =G*(V-V.sub.TC) EQU I.sub.TCN =N*I.sub.TC =N*G*(V-V.sub.TC) EQU I.sub.TW =G*(V-V.sub.TW) EQU I.sub.TWN =N*I.sub.TW =N*G*(V-V.sub.TW) EQU I.sub.TCNB =N*G*(V-V.sub.TC +V.sub.B) (2) EQU I.sub.TWNB =N*G*(V-.sub.VTW +V.sub.B) (3)
where G is the slope of the nonamplified characteristics.
By equaling relation (1) to (2) and relation (1) to (3), the following voltages are obtained: EQU V.sub.1 =(N*V.sub.TC -N*V.sub.B -V.sub.TR)/(N-1) EQU V.sub.2 =(N*V.sub.TW -N*V.sub.B -V.sub.TR)/(N-1)
For example, if V.sub.TC =2.5 V, V.sub.TW =4.5 V, V.sub.TR =1.25 V, V.sub.B =0.8 V and N=8, then V.sub.1 =1.76 V and V.sub.2 =4 V.
As such, though the above solution provides for reading memory cells even when the minimum supply voltage is low, the maximum permissible supply voltage is also low.
For also reading memory cells with a high maximum supply voltage, but without at the same time increasing the minimum supply voltage, according to a further co-pending patent application entitled "Method and circuit for generating a read reference signal for nonvolatile memory cells" (Attorney Docket No. 854063.455), filed Jun. 18, 1997 and incorporated herein by way of reference, the reference characteristic comprises two segments with different slopes.
In read circuits of the type considered, to speed up reading in the presence of a low supply voltage, an equalizing network is used to connect nodes 16 and 17 and bring them to the same voltage before they are read. Since it depends, however, on various parameters, and in view of the unbalanced loads involved, the actual voltage level reached by nodes 16 and 17 cannot be established accurately beforehand, and, in the event of an unbalanced voltage level, reading may be commenced erroneously before eventually reaching the correct value, thus resulting in such a time loss as to at least partly reduce the theoretic advantage of the equalizing function.

Read circuit and method for nonvolatile memory cells with an equalizing structure


The present clay target is inverted cup-shaped with a central dome and depending annular rim. The central portion of the dome may be horizontal and preferably bears a plurality of plant seeds and plant fertilizer pellets embedded therein to improve the environment. The target is of clay containing up to about 2 weight % of biodegradable binder which is sodium silicate with or without dextrin. The target is a greenware body which is dried to a low water content of less than about 2 weight % but is unfired. It is thin enough to be frangible and fragments into small pieces when hit by a shotgun pellet. For this purpose, a preferred embodiment includes spaced radiating grooves in the upper and lower surfaces of the dome, preferably offset from one another, and a number of moon-shaped depressions in the inner surface of the rim. The outer surface of the dome may also include spaced concentric grooves in the dome which intersect the radiating grooves and further facilitate target fragmenting when hit by a shotgun pellet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the shooting sports and more particularly to an improved readily frangible biodegradable clay target for the same.
2. Prior Art
Conventional clay targets which are thrown into the air from hand launchers or machine launchers in skeet shooting, in trap shooting and in practicing for field shooting of birds include non-biodegradable components, for example, pitches, tars and other petroleum products generally used as binders for limestone-containing targets. Such binders are noxious and dangerous but are needed to strengthen the targets sufficiently so they can be stored, shipped and launched without prematurely breaking. Such noxious substances may penetrate the soil and adversely affect wildlife, plant life, underground water supplies and the like. Certain of such clay targets are fired into ceramic in order to increase their strength, but such ceramic targets are in and of themselves a hazard to the environment, since they do not readily biodegrade but lie on the ground, preventing plant growth and remaining an unsightly mess.
Because clay target shooting sports are very popular, many thousands of the targets are exploded over the landscape during the course of a season of shooting at numerous shooting grounds. Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved form of clay target which is biodegradable and, preferably bio-improveable, and which is inexpensive and aerodynamically sound.
Moreover, it should be sufficiently frangible so that it readily breaks into small fragments when hit by a shotgun pellet, in contrast to certain conventional clay and other targets which tend to deflect but not to explode or minutely fragment when hit during shooting. It is important to the shooter to be able to register a hit by the exploding target, rather than guess at a hit by a deflected but unexploded target.


In an embodiment, an apparatus for reducing the mechanical load on the electrical terminals of a capacitor includes a plate having a planar body and one or more deflectable tabs connected to the planar body, one or more capacitors respectively mounted to the plate via the one or more deflectable tabs, and a busbar electrically connected to the one or more capacitors such that the one or more capacitors are arranged intermediate the plate and the busbar. The deflectable tabs are configured to support the capacitors, and to move towards and away from the planar body for accommodating size variances in the capacitors relative to a fixed spacing between the busbar and an enclosure.

A capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy electrostatically in an electric field. The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at least two electrical conductors (plates) separated by a dielectric (i.e., insulator). The conductors can be thin films of metal, aluminum foil or disks, etc. The 'nonconducting' dielectric acts to increase the capacitor's charge capacity. A dielectric can be glass, ceramic, plastic film, air, paper, mica, etc. Capacitors are widely used as parts of electrical circuits in many common electrical devices and function to store energy in the form of an electrostatic field between its plates.
A capacitor has two sets of connection features: electrical and mechanical. The mechanical set is intended to be a rigid connection to some structure to support the mechanical load due to the mass of the capacitor. The electrical set is intended to be a strictly electrical connection that supports no mechanical load other than that due to the clamping of electrical terminals of the capacitor to an electrically conductive structure. This type of coupled connection is practical when the conductor attached to the capacitor's electrical terminals is mechanically compliant or readily deformable, such as wires or cables or a thin layer of copper.
Complex systems can require numerous capacitors and other components to which the capacitors are connected in the circuit of the system and to which cables must be run to and from the capacitors. In systems with high electrical currents, the size of cables can be large which makes assembly of the wires difficult, time consuming, and inefficient in its use of available packaging space. The same concerns apply to layers of copper, which can also require separate electrical insulation layers to be installed in the assembly.
A laminated busbar can be used to make efficient use of the available space and improve upon the assembly time required for cables or individual layers of copper and insulation. It also offers an improvement in inductance when compared with equivalent cabling. However, a laminated busbar with multiple layers is stiff in comparison to the previous conductors. This stiffness introduces a rigid connection in two different planes for the capacitors. Any variation from the nominal dimensions of the capacitor geometry may introduce added assembly stresses to both the electrical and mechanical connections. An electrical joint that is both free of mechanical stress and is a rigid non-compliant connection between the capacitor and busbar is therefore desirable to maximize reliability and durability of the system over time.
For example, with reference to FIG. 1, a typical capacitor assembly 10 consists of a plurality of capacitors 12, 14, 16, each having a mounting foot 18 and a pair of electrical terminals 20 operatively attached to a laminated busbar 22 in a mounting plane 24 necessary for electrical contact. As will be readily appreciated, capacitors are designed to a nominal height, however, normal manufacturing variations and accepted manufacturing tolerances result in the production of capacitors that are both taller and shorter than this nominal value. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, first capacitor 12 may have the desired, nominal height. A second capacitor 14, however, may have a larger height and a third capacitor 16 may have a smaller height, but still within manufacturing tolerances. As noted above, it is desirable that the electrical terminals 20 of each of the capacitors 12, 14, 16 connect to the laminated busbar 22 with minimal mechanical stress, while the mass of the capacitors 12, 14, 16 is supported by attaching the mounting feet 18 to some support structure via fastening means known in the art. As will be readily appreciated, the variation in height either requires each capacitor to connect to the busbar 22 in a separate plane, or to the support structure in a separate plane, while maintaining electrical contact with the laminated busbar 22 with minimal mechanical stress and with the mass of the capacitors being supported at each mounting foot 16.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, if the distance between the laminated busbar 22 and support structure 26 is rigid and is designed to match the nominal height of the busbar 22, mechanical stress is introduced as the busbar 22 and/or support 26 deflects to accommodate the height variation. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, mechanical stress may be introduced into the support structure 26 at 28 due to the height variation of the tallest capacitor 14, and at 30 due to the height variation of the shortest capacitor 16. As shown in FIG. 3, mechanical stress may also, or alternately, be introduced into the busbar 22 at 32 due to the height variation of the tallest capacitor 14, and at 34 due to the height variation of the shortest capacitor 16. Undesirably, this mechanical stress introduced in the support structure 26 and/or busbar 22 can translate to undesirable stress on the electrical terminals 18 of the capacitors.

Method and apparatus for mechanical load reduction on the electrical terminals of a capacitor


Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for processing medical data. The method includes the steps of identifying text strings in medical data, associating the text strings with standardized identifiers from a library, and outputting the standardized identifiers associated with the text strings. In an embodiment, a report and/or an order including the standardized identifiers associated with the text strings may be printed and/or stored. In an embodiment, the library may be modified to accommodate the text strings. A user and/or software program may be used to review the text strings to associate the standardized identifiers with the text strings, for example. In an embodiment, the text strings may be deconstructed into a plurality of sub-strings. A standardized identifier is then associated with each sub-string. The standardized identifiers may be numeric values, for example.

The present invention generally relates to parsing medical data. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for parsing medication instructions.
Hospitals typically utilize computer systems to manage the various departments within a hospital and data about each patient is collected by a variety of computer systems. For example, a patient may be admitted to the hospital for a Transthoracic Echo (TTE). Information about the patient (e.g., demographics and insurance) could be obtained by the hospital information system (HIS) and stored on a patient record. This information could then be passed to the cardiology department system (commonly known as the cardio vascular information system, or CVIS). Typically the CVIS is a product of one company, while the HIS is the product of another company. As a result, the database between the two may be different. Further, information systems may capture/retain and send different levels of granularity in the data. Once the patient information has been received by the CVIS, the patient may be scheduled for a TTE in the echo lab. Next, the TTE is performed by the sonographer. Images and measurements are taken and sent to the CVIS server. The reading physician (e.g., an echocardiographer) sits down at a review station and pulls the patient's TTE study. The echocardiographer then begins to review the images and measurements and creates a complete medical report on the study. When the echocardiographer completes the medical report, the report is sent to the CVIS server where it is stored and associated with the patient through patient identification data. This completed medical report is an example of the kind of report that could be sent to a data repository for public data mining. Medication instructions, such as documentation and/or prescription, may also be generated electronically and saved in a data repository.
Today, medical device manufacturers and drug companies face an ever-growing challenge in collecting clinical data on the real-life utilization of their products. As patient medical reports are becoming computerized, the ability to obtain real-life utilization data becomes easier. Further, the data is easier to combine and analyze (e.g., mine) for greater amounts of useful information.
As medical technology becomes more sophisticated, clinical analysis may also become more sophisticated. Increasing amounts of data are generated and archived electronically. With the advent of clinical information systems, a patient's history may be available at a touch of a button. While accessibility of information is advantageous, time is a scarce commodity in a clinical setting. To realize a full benefit of medical technological growth, it would be highly desirable for clinical information to be organized and standardized.
Even if clinical or image-related information is organized, current systems often organize data in a format determined by developers that is unusable by one or more medical practitioners in the field. Additionally, information may be stored in a format that does not lend itself to data retrieval and usage in other contexts. Thus, a need exists to structure data and instructions in a way that is easier to comprehend and utilize.
Prescriptions written by a physician include information such as medication, formulation (e.g., liquid, tablet, capsule), dosage (e.g., how many formulations), route (e.g., oral), duration, frequency/interval, and/or qualifiers (e.g., as needed or as directed). An electronic medical record system, such as Logician®, may standardize and/or process information such as medication, form, and quantity (e.g., Ibuprofen 100 mg tablets), but the remainder of the prescription is typically free form (e.g., a free form text string). If some information is known, other prescription information may be determined (e.g., a number of pills and how many pills to take per day provides duration). Thus, a system for processing free form prescription information would be highly desirable.
Medical technicians and clinical systems work with physicians ordering prescriptions and documenting medications in electronic medical records, for example. Third party knowledge bases have complete lists of medications that patients may purchase, including dosage, form, and route. However, it is not enough to only know dosage, form, and route information. It is important to know how often the medication should be taken and how much of the medication should be taken. This and other information may be found in significant instructions or "sigs" entered by a prescribing physician.
Sigs are not currently standardized and vary from physician to physician. However, information such as dosage, form, and route is typically standardized. Thus, a clean, clear and complete instruction for administration of a medicine would be highly desirable. Additionally, a reliable system for reading and interpreting sigs would be highly desirable. Improved reliability in sig interpretation is important for patient safety. Reliable reading and storing of sigs would also improve quality of patient care. Reduced error in sig translation also saves money for healthcare providers, pharmacies, and insurers. Structured data capture of a sig interpretation may facilitate data mining and decision support, for example.
In an electronic medical record or report, clear information is desirable, but many physicians will not use a system that requires them to be too neat and structured in inputting data and instructions. Many physicians prefer free form instruction drafting. Thus, a system that balances between natural and structured language would be highly desirable. Additionally, it would be desirable to accommodate abbreviations and medical jargon (e.g., "1 po qd"="one tablet by mouth once a day"), as well as multiple variants of commonly used instructions. Thus, a system for efficient and effective translation of varied commands, notes, and instructions into finite, discrete, quantitative information would be highly desirable.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for processing medication instructions.

System and method for parsing medical data


Methods and systems are provided for establishing calls to wireless directory numbers (DNs) in a telecommunications network. When a call is directed to a wireless DN, a first node in the network identifies a signaling node associated with the wireless DN and sends the identified signaling node a request for a route to the wireless DN. If the wireless device associated with wireless DN is outside of its home area and is served by a visited node in the network, the signaling node determines a route that excludes the home node associated with the wireless DN and returns a temporary location directory number (TLDN) to the first node. Using the TLDN, the first node then establishes a connection to the visited node.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telecommunication networks and, more particularly, to a method and system for routing calls directed to wireless directory numbers in a telecommunications network.
2. Background of the Art
In the present telecommunications networks, a wireline telephone number or directory number (DN) is associated with a fixed geographic location and is served by a single wireline switch. A wireless DN, however, is associated with multiple geographic locations and is served by any one of a number of wireless switches depending on the specific geographic location of the associated wireless device at the time a call is made. This portability of a wireless DN is one of the basic attributes of wireless telephony.
A pair of home location register and visited location register in a telecommunications network provide seamless roaming when a call is placed to or from a wireless DN. A home location register is associated with a home wireless switch where a wireless DN resides (i.e., the wireless switch to which all incoming calls to the wireless DN are directed). A wireless device is located within its home area when the wireless device can directly communicate with its associated home wireless switch (i.e., located in the area covered by the home wireless switch).
A visitor location register is associated with a wireless switch currently serving a wireless device that is outside of its home area. A wireless device is outside of its home area (or roams) when the wireless device cannot directly communicate with the home wireless switch and instead communicates with another wireless switch, which is referred to as a visited wireless switch.
One problem with the present telecommunication networks is that two connections must be established when a call is placed to a wireless DN whose associated wireless device is outside of its home area. In such instances, the telecommunications network first establishes a connection to the home wireless switch associated with the wireless DN. The home wireless switch then establishes a second connection to a visited wireless switch that currently serves the wireless DN.
As an illustration, FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional telecommunications network 100. Telecommunications network 100 comprises a wireline switch 110, a home wireless switch 120, a home location register 130, a signal transfer point (STP) 135, a visitor location register 140, a visited wireless switch 150, a wireline telephone 155, antenna 170, and a wireless device 175.
Typically, a wireline subscriber using telephone 155 initiates a call request 180a by dialing the wireless DN associated with wireless device 175. When wireline switch 110 receives call request 180a, wireline switch 110 establishes a first connection 180b via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 160 to home wireless switch 120, which is the home switch associated with the dialed DN.
Home wireless switch 120 sends an xe2x80x9cInterim Standard 41xe2x80x9d (IS-41) route_request message 180c to its associated home location register 130, requesting the current location of wireless device. The IS-41 standard is described in xe2x80x9cRadio Telecommunications Intersystem Operations,xe2x80x9d ANSI/TIA/EIA/41-D-1997, which is incorporated herein by reference. The IS-41 standard describes the communication protocol between home wireless switch 120, home location register 130, visitor location register 140, and visited wireless switch in telecommunications network 100.
If wireless device is outside of its home area as shown in FIG. 1, home location register 130 then identifies the visitor location register with which wireless device 175 last registered, for example visitor location register 140, and sends an IS-41 route_request message 180d via STP 135 to visitor location register 140.
Visitor location register 140 forwards route_request message 180d to its associated visited wireless switch 150, requesting a route to wireless device 175. Visited wireless switch 150 computes a temporary local directory number (TLDN), which can be used in establishing incoming calls to wireless device 175. Visited wireless switch 150 then returns the TLDN to visitor location register 140 in an IS-41 message 180e. Visitor location register 150 then sends via STP 135 to home location register 130 an IS-41 route_request_response message 180f that includes the TLDN.
Home location register 130 forwards route_request_response message 180f to home wireless switch 120. Using the TLDN in route_request_response message 180f, home wireless switch 130 then establishes a second connection 180g to visited wireless switch 150, which sends a ring signal to wireless device 175. Thus, to establish a call between telephone 155 and wireless device 175 when wireless device 175 is outside of its home area, telecommunications network 100 must establish two separate connections 180b and 180g.
It is therefore desirable to have a method and system for reducing the number of connections that must be established in a telecommunications network when connecting a call to a wireless device that is located outside of its home area.
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention establish a call to a wireless DN in a telecommunications network by identifying a signaling node associated with the wireless DN, determining, at the signaling node, a route that excludes the home node associated with the wireless DN when the associated wireless device is outside of its home area, and establishing a connection via the determined route to a visited node in the network that currently serves the wireless DN.
In one embodiment, a first node receives a call request directed to a wireless DN when the wireless device associated with the wireless DN is outside of its home area. The first node invokes a trigger that identifies a signaling node associated with the wireless DN and requests from the signaling node a route for establishing the call to the wireless DN. The signaling node then determines a route that does not include the home node associated with the wireless DN. The first node then establishes via the determined route a single connection to a visited node serving the wireless DN. Accordingly, the telecommunications network establishes the call to the wireless DN without establishing a connection to the home node.
This summary and the following description of the invention should not restrict the scope of the claimed invention. Both provide examples and explanations to enable others to practice the invention.

Method and system for routing calls to wireless directory numbers in a network


A video editing system uses simple heuristics and parameters on video footage to provide a condensed version of the footage. The editing system automatically provides either a finished condensed version of the footage or selects a plurality of clips based on the heuristics and parameters. The clips are optionally further edited by a user to produce a condensed version. The condensed version is transferable to any desired media suitable for storing video. A user interface enables the user to select heuristics to identify video clips from the footage. Parameters are also be set to automatically edit the clips in a desired manner. Temporal combinations of heuristics and parameters form templates, which are used to assemble desired clips for selected types of events.

Information overload is occurring in many different aspects of our lives. Many people have significant amounts of video footage of family events such as anniversaries, holidays and birthday parties. There is little time to sort through all the video footage accumulated over the years. There is a desire to share the footage with other family members, but no time to watch all of the footage. It would be desirable to be able to easily produce a condensed version of the footage for personal viewing and sharing.
One video editing system allows the editing of video footage. The system creates video editing lists that essentially are encoded editing decisions made by a user that can be applied against the video footage to create an editing video. Using such a system, a user can create a shorter version of the footage, retaining the best footage for viewing by other users. However, it can be very time consuming to edit several hours of video to provide a short highlight video to share with others.
There is a need for systems that can quickly and conveniently edit video footage to provide a highlight video or other short video that contains footage of interest. There is a further need for such a system that selects footage of interest, and does not exceed a user specified time limit or total byte size for the highlight video. There is yet a further need for a system that can allow a user to specify the type of footage desired to be included in the highlight video.

Automated video editing system and method


In an antenna system for transmitting and receiving, in association with a radio device, electromagnetic radiation has an E-field component and an H-field component. The electromagnetic radiation corresponds to a radio frequency power signal having a current and a voltage at a radio frequency. The antenna system includes a first radiating element and a second radiating element, each comprising a conductive material. The second radiating element is spaced apart from, and in alignment with, the first radiating element. A phasing and matching network is in electrical communication with the first radiating element, the second radiating element and the radio device. The phasing and matching network aligns the relative phase between the current and the voltage of the radio frequency power signal so that the H-field component of the corresponding electromagnetic signal is nominally in time phase with the E-field component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radio frequency communications and, more specifically, to an antenna system employed in radio frequency communications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Radio signals usually start with electrical signals that have been modulated onto a radio frequency carrier wave. The resulting radio signal is transmitted using an antenna. The antenna is a resonant system that generates an electrical field (E field) and a magnetic field (H field) that vary in correspondence with the radio signal, thereby forming radio frequency radiation. At a distance from the antenna, as a result of transmission effects of the medium through which the radio frequency radiation is being transmitted, the E field and the H field fall into phase with each other, thereby generating a Poynting vector, which is given by S=Exc3x97H, where S is the Poynting vector, E is the E field vector and H is the H field vector.
Most conventional antenna systems are resonant systems that take the form of wire dipoles that run electrically in parallel to the output circuitry of radio frequency transmitters and receivers. Such antenna systems require that the length of the wires of the dipoles be at least one fourth of the wavelength of the radiation being transmitted or received. For example, if the wavelength of the radiation is 1000 ft., the length of the wire must be 250 ft. Thus, the typical wire antenna requires a substantial amount of space as a function of the wavelength being transmitted and received.
A crossed field antenna, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,813, employs two separate sections which independently develop the E and H fields and are configured to allow combining the E and H fields to generate radio frequency radiation. The result is that the antenna is not a resonant structure, thus a single structure may be used over a wide frequency range. The crossed field antenna is small, relative to wavelength (typically 1% to 3% of wavelength) and provides high efficiency. The crossed field antenna has the disadvantage of requiring a complicated physical structure to develop the E and H fields in separate sections of the antenna.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple and compact antenna.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is an antenna system for transmitting and receiving, in association with a radio device, electromagnetic radiation having an E-field component and an H-field component. The electromagnetic radiation corresponds to a radio frequency power signal having a current and a voltage at a radio frequency. The antenna system includes a first radiating element and a second radiating element, each comprising a conductive material. The second radiating element is spaced apart from, and in alignment with, the first radiating element. A phasing and matching network is in electrical communication with the first radiating element, the second radiating element and the radio device. The phasing and matching network aligns the relative phase between the current and the voltage of the radio frequency power signal so that the H-field component of the corresponding electromagnetic signal is nominally in time phase with the E-field component.
In another aspect, the invention is a method of transmitting and receiving, in association with a radio device, electromagnetic radiation having an E-field component and an H-field component, wherein the electromagnetic radiation corresponds to a radio frequency power signal having a current and a voltage at a radio frequency. In the method, the relative phase between the current and the voltage of the radio frequency power signal is aligned so that the H-field component of the corresponding electromagnetic signal is nominally in time phase with the E-field component.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.