A garment device convertible to one or more facemasks wherein the garment device has a plurality of detachable cup sections. Each of the cup sections has a filter device, an inner portion positionable adjacent to the inner area of the user's chest, and an outer portion positionable adjacent to the outer area of the user's chest. The garment device has at least one securing device detachably coupling the inner portions of the cup sections to one another, and the garment device has at least one other securing device attached to the outer portion of at least one of the cup sections. This other securing device is operable to: (a) detachably couple the outer portions of the cup regions to one another; and (b) for each one of the cup sections, attach the outer portion of said cup region to the inner portion of said cup region after said cup region is detached from the other cup region, thereby converting the garment device to a plurality of facemasks.

As a result of biological or chemical warfare, poison-based weaponry, pollution or other environmental circumstances, the air people breathe can become contaminated with harmful substances. Nuclear accidents can cause the release of radioactive aerosols, such as iodine aerosols. The air may become contaminated with other aerosols or suspended radioactive particles, such as in a radiological attack, through the release of a radiological dispersion device (RDD) or due to so-called "dirty bombs." These damaging substances may include radioactive particles, germs, poisons, chemicals, dust, fluids, soot, smoke or other harmful airborne particles.
Certain individuals, such as soldiers, military personnel, firefighters, physicians and painters, have a higher risk of inhaling contaminated air. These individuals typically use facemasks to help protect themselves.
If a country or a territory is facing an on-going threat of air contamination, there is a need for these individuals as well as regular civilians to have a higher degree of access to facemasks. However, it is often inconvenient, impractical or burdensome for people to carry masks wherever they go.
Therefore, there is a need to overcome these disadvantages to help protect the health of civilians and non-civilians in the wake of air contamination.

Garment device convertible to one or more facemasks


A multi-chamber instrument container for microbially deactivating medical, dental, veterinary and mortuary instruments and articles. A pressure differential between chambers causes fluid flow therebetween, thus flowing fluid through internal passages of instrument extending between the chambers.

Medical, dental, pharmaceutical, veterinary or mortuary instruments and devices, are routinely exposed to blood or other body fluids during medical procedures. Following such procedures, a thorough cleaning and anti-microbial deactivation of the instruments is required before subsequent use. Liquid microbial deactivation systems are now widely used to clean and deactivate instruments that cannot withstand the high temperature of a steam deactivation system. Liquid microbial deactivation systems typically operate by exposing the instruments to a liquid deactivation fluid, such as peracetic acid or some other strong oxidant. In such systems, the instruments to be cleaned are typically placed in a container that is put inside a decontamination chamber of the deactivation system. During a deactivation cycle, liquid microbial deactivation fluid is circulated through the decontamination chamber and the container therein. It should be understood that the term "instrument," as used herein, includes, but is not limited to, articles, such as medical, dental, pharmaceutical, veterinary and mortuary instruments and devices.
In many existing liquid microbial deactivation systems, one or more conduits having respective connectors are directly connected to ports of a lumened instrument (e.g., an endoscope) in order to flow liquid microbial deactivation fluid therethrough. In this regard, liquid microbial deactivation fluid is pumped through the conduits, thereby flowing through internal pathways/passages of the lumened instrument to effect microbial deactivation therein. One drawback to this approach is that the proper connectors must be identified and selected for connection with the ports of the lumened instrument. Another drawback to this approach is that it can be difficult to put liquid microbial deactivation fluid in contact with the external surfaces of the lumened instrument that are engaged with the connectors.
The present invention overcomes the foregoing drawbacks, and provides an instrument container having multiple chambers with flow pathways therebetween.

Instrument container having multiple chambers with flow pathways therebetween


A workstation is provided with a curved tool rail suspended above a work surface. The curved tool rail has a tool trolley slidably coupled thereto for movably supporting a tool or part above the work surface. In a preferred embodiment, the work surface is part of a work bench. Preferably, the curved tool rail is suspended above the work surface by an adjustable frame which provides four-way adjustability of the curved tool rail. The curved tool rail keeps the tool or part suspended therefrom in reach of the worker.

In many industries, workers periodically need to use one or more tools at their workstations. This need creates many special problems. For example, when the tool or tools are not being used by the worker, the tool or tools must be stored in a convenient location so that the worker can easily access the tool or tools when needed.
Moreover, often times, the tool can be quite heavy and/or difficult to handle. This can result in the worker becoming fatigued from handling the tool. Accordingly, many tools are supported by arms and/or cables such that the worker does not have to support the weight of the tool. However, these tool supports are often difficult to manipulate to a particular location.
Currently, workstations are known which have a bench with a straight tool rail attached thereto. An example of a bench with a straight tool rail is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,725,619 to Miller. While such a workstation performs certain operations satisfactorily, it does not support the part or tool in an optimized manner for the worker to reach the part or tool at any position along the rail. In particular, if the part or tool is located at one of the ends of the rail and the worker is located at the center of the bench, the worker may not be able to reach the part or tool without getting up or moving towards the part or tool.
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 workstation with a tool or part support which is ergonomically designed for the worker. This invention addresses this need in the art along with other needs which will become apparent to those skilled in the art once given this disclosure.

Curved rail with tool support trolley for workstation


The invention provides apparatus for separation of particles and methods for using the apparatus. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes three arms extending radially from a central reservoir, each arm being associated with a separation electrode. At least one on the arms includes a separation medium. Using a sequence of driving and mobility-changing voltages, target particles can be separated from closely related particles within a sample. For example, single point mutations can be resolved from a sample containing predominantly wild type nucleic acids.

One mechanism for purifying, separating, or concentrating molecules of interest is called Synchronous Coefficient Of Drag Alteration (or "SCODA") based purification. SCODA is an approach that may be applied for purifying, separating, or concentrating particles. SCODA may be applied, for example, to DNA, RNA and other molecules including proteins and polypeptides.
SCODA-based transport is used to produce net motion of a molecule of interest by synchronizing a time-varying driving force, which would otherwise impart zero net motion, with a time-varying drag (or mobility) altering field. If application of the driving force and periodic mobility alteration are appropriately coordinated, the result is net motion despite zero time-averaged driving force.
SCODA is described in the following publications:    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0139867 entitled "Scodaphoresis and methods and apparatus for moving and concentrating particles";    PCT Publication No. WO 2006/081691 entitled "Apparatus and methods for concentrating and separating particles such as molecules";    PCT Publication No. WO 2009/094772 entitled "Methods and apparatus for particle introduction and recovery";    PCT Publication No. WO 2010/051649 entitled "Systems and methods for enhanced SCODA";    PCT Publication No. WO 2010/121381 entitled "System and methods for detection of particles";    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/153,185 filed 3 Jun. 2011 entitled "Systems and methods for enhanced SCODA";    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/218,124 filed 25 Aug. 2011 entitled "Systems and methods for enrichment and detection of particles";    Marziali, A.; Pel, J.; Bizotto, D.; Whitehead, L. A., "Novel electrophoresis mechanism based on synchronous alternating drag perturbation", Electrophoresis 2005, 26, 82-89;    Broemeling, D.; Pel, J.; Gunn, D.; Mai, L.; Thompson, J.; Poon, H.; Marziali, A., "An Instrument for Automated Purification of Nucleic Acids from Contaminated Forensic Samples", JALA 2008, 13, 40-48;    Pel, J.; Broemeling, D.; Mai, L.; Poon, H.; Tropini, G.; Warren, R.; Holt, R.; Marziali, A., "Nonlinear electrophoretic response yields a unique parameter for separation of biomolecules", PNAS 2008, vol. 106, no. 35, 14796-14801; and    So, A.; Pel, J.; Rajan, S.; Marziali, A., "Efficient genomic DNA extraction from low target concentration bacterial cultures using SCODA DNA extraction technology", Cold Spring Harb. Protoc. 2010, 1150-1153,
each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Multiple arm apparatus and methods for separation of particles


An overhead accompanying feedback from a UE terminal is reduced.

Nowadays, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is performing standardization work for a fourth generation mobile communication system. "Long Term Evolution (LTE)" that is one of data communication specifications developed by the 3GPP is a long-term advanced system aimed at the fourth generation (4G) IMT-Advanced and is also referred to as "3.9G (super 3G)".
In LTE, it is possible to select two types of duplex scheme: Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). The FDD uses an uplink dedicated region and a downlink dedicated region. In each of an uplink and a downlink, a format of a radio frame which is configured with ten consecutive subframes is used. The uplink referred to herein is communication from a terminal station (UE terminal: User Equipment) to a base station (eNodeB: evolved NodeB) of LTE, and the downlink is communication from the eNodeB to the UE terminal. Also in the TDD, a format of a radio frame configured with ten consecutive subframes is used. However, the communication is performed using the same bandwidth in the uplink and the downlink in the TDD. Respective subframes constituting the radio frame are configured with Phy Downlink Control Channels (PDCCHs) used for control signals from the eNodeB and Phy Downlink Shared Channels (PDSCH) used for user data.
In specification developing work of Release 11 of LTE by the 3GPP, Coordinated Multi Point Transmission/Reception (CoMP) works as a key technology to improve a throughput of the UE terminal located in a cell edge. CoMP is a technology intended to increase power of a desired signal and to reduce interference from other cells, by a plurality of eNodeBs simultaneously transmitting and receiving data to and from a single UE terminal. In order to efficiently draw a micro diversity gain by CoMP, it is necessary to consider a pre-coding, a reference signal, and a measurement and feedback method. In Release 8 of LTE, a scheme of stratifying various sizes of cells such as Macro/Micro/Pico/Femto termed HetNet has been considered, but CoMP includes communication with such a femto cell. In addition, CoMP includes UpLink CoMP and DownLink CoMP and UpLink CoMP is an important technology similar to DownLink CoMP, but CoMP will be described as DownLink CoMP in the following description unless otherwise described.
A method of a cell for realizing CoMP includes a scheme in which a plurality of eNodeBs respectively perform autonomous distribution control, and a scheme in which one Macro eNodeB intensively controls a plurality of Pico eNodeBs. In the latter intensive control scheme, a plurality of base stations such as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) as a measure for non-sensing in cell edges and the like are disposed, and the Macro eNodeB which intensively controls the base stations are connected with the base stations by baseband signals using an optical fiber (described later). Then, the Macro eNodeB collectively performs inter-cell radio resource control which performs a baseband signal process and control of respective RRHs.
With Respect to Determination of CoMP Set
A combination of eNodeBs performing CoMP for a certain one UE terminal, that is, constituting a cooperative group is referred to as a Set of CoMP transmission points, or, in short, a CoMP set, hereinafter.
In order to determine the CoMP set, it is necessary to determine which eNodeBs are effective for use, with respect to the UE terminal. This is referred to as a CoMP set determination or a point selection.
As a method of the point selection, there is a method in which the UE terminal receives reference signals from respective base stations and measures Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) for the respective base stations so as to select eNodeBs with higher power as the CoMP set.
For example, a cooperative group setting method has been proposed in which a base station transmits a cooperative group setting signaling, to which Cell IDs of cells in a cooperative group selected for the user terminal are attached, to the user terminal, and the user terminal performs a cooperative group setting using the Cell IDs, which are attached to the cooperative group setting signaling, of the cells in the cooperative group selected for the terminal (for example, see PTL 1).
Further, a wireless communication method has been proposed in which the base station respectively assigns a portion of all frequency bandwidths to bandwidths respectively used in transmission by a single base station (first transmission scheme) and transmission by a plurality of base stations (second transmission scheme), and determines which transmission scheme is to be used based on feedback information indicating a reception quality which is received by either one, in other words, reduces a feedback information amount by limiting the feedback information to information indicating the reception quality of a portion of all frequency bandwidths (for example, see PTL 2).
Further, a wireless communication system has been proposed in which respective base station apparatuses receive quality information indicating communication qualities between a target terminal apparatus and base station apparatuses which can communicate with the target terminal apparatus from the target terminal apparatus and acquire schedule information indicating communication schedules between the base station apparatuses and terminal apparatuses present within cells of other base station apparatuses so as to select some base station apparatuses functioning as the base stations for the target terminal apparatus based on the quality information and the schedule information (for example, see PTL 3).
Request for Frequency of Point Selection
It is necessary to perform the point selection at each of regular time intervals (in other words, it is necessary to update the CoMP set at each of regular time intervals). In other words, there is a problem of updating semi-statically or dynamically the CoMP set of the UE terminals. In terms of the movement of the UE terminal, a dynamic point selection which dynamically updates the CoMP set is desirable.
Basic Matters to be Considered in Dynamic Point Selection
When the dynamic point selection is performed, it is necessary to consider a decrease in a throughput generated by the reference signal occupying a communication sequence within a system, in other words, an overhead of the downlink due to reference signals.
Further, it is necessary to consider an increase in power consumption of the UE terminal by the UE terminal frequently performing the measurement of the reference signals and the like.
Furthermore, it is necessary to consider an increase in the overhead of the uplink, due to the UE terminal feeding back the measurement results of the reference signals to the eNodeB.

Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and wireless communication system

Abstract: The UE terminal selects not only M subbands with high quality but also M subbands with poor quality. Alternatively, the UE terminal selects M subbands to be fed back by increasing a priority of a subband with a high degree to which the quality of the subband is to be improved by the feedback or a subband having a high possibility of unnecessary eNodeB being removed from the CoMP set by the feedback. In addition, the UE terminal performs measurement and feedback in units of subband groups which can be collectively handled.


A method and an apparatus are provided for opening value document packages in which value documents are packaged by a packaging material. A region of the packaging material is heated by hot air such that the packaging material opens along a cutting pattern. A system is also provided that includes such an apparatus and a value document package.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for opening value document packages in which value documents, in particular banknotes, are packaged with a packaging material, and a system for opening value document packages.
For the transport, value documents, such as, for example, banknotes, checks, coupons or vouchers, which are combined into bundles, are often packaged in foils, on the one hand, to simplify the handling and, on the other hand, to protect the value documents from environmental influences, such as, for example, moisture or dirt, during transport. Prior to further processing of the value documents after the transport, the foil package has to be removed again, for which purpose the latter is usually opened manually, for example by means of scissors or a knife. Manual opening of such a package by means of scissors or a knife is not only time-consuming, but also involves the risk of damage to the value documents located in the package.

Method, device and system for opening valuable document packages

GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH


The invention relates to molecules for controlling plant growth and development. Specifically, the invention relates to molecules comprising a gibberellin activator or a gibberellin inhibitor operably linked to a promoter specific to a lateral organ primordium. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having the transgenic molecules and methods for making such transgenic plants.

Synchronization of the developmental transitions that lead to reproductive competence is important for species survival. Plants form new lateral organs iteratively throughout their life from the flanks of the shoot apical meristem. The type of the lateral organ produced depends on the phase of the lifecycle. In Arabidopsis, rosette leaves are produced during the vegetative phase. During the reproductive phase, an inflorescence forms. Not all lateral organ primordia of the inflorescence are competent to become flowers. The biphasic transition to reproduction thus involves two events: first, the switch from vegetative development to the inflorescence and second, flower formation. The duration of the pre-floral inflorescence phase is critical for optimal seed set.
Accordingly, a need exists to understand the mechanisms of the regulation of the transition from inflorescence to floral fate, and thereby improve reproductive success and crop yield.

Compositions and methods for controlling plant growth and development

THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA


A reactive ink set including three mixtures of radically polymerizable monomers. A first mixture includes a peroxide, a second mixture includes a peroxide decomposition agent, and an optional third mixture that does not include a peroxide or a peroxide decomposition agent. The first mixture and the second mixture polymerize to form a solid ink on the substrate following jetting in the liquid state.

Current solid ink jet formulations, typically, provide prints that are vibrant and allow for printers that are reliable and affordable. However, prints formed with current solid ink jet formations that are wax based images tend not to be robust and are often scratched or marred by stress applied to the images. Piezoelectric ink jet (hereinafter "PIJ") printing processes that utilize ultraviolet (hereinafter "UV") inks to form extremely robust images. However, these UV inks require bulky, complex and expensive UV light curing stations or expensive photoinitiators to cure the images or to fix the images onto a surface of the substrate. The known reactive inks require exposure to e-beam radiation to be cured. E-beam curable inks are more expensive still, for example, about ten times as costly as a UV lamp system and require effective shielding.
A need, therefore, exists for a reactive ink system and methods for forming images using the same that provides images that are robust and do not scratch or mar when stress is applied thereon. Further, a need exists for a reactive ink system and methods for forming images using the same that provides robust images that are inexpensive and efficiently produce images.

Reactive ink components and methods for forming images using reactive inks


A method and apparatus for performing majority voting is presented. The method selects pairs of inputs, performs AND and NOR operations on each pair of inputs to determine that each pair of inputs is both high or both low, yielding a quantity of “both high” pairs and a quantity of “both low” pairs, and compares the quantity of “both high” pairs against the quantity of “both low” pairs to determine the majority. The apparatus includes AND gates configured to receive pairs of values and NOR gates configured to receive the same pairs of values, with a connections between all AND gates and connections between all NOR gates. A summation element sums all AND gate outputs and all NOR gate outputs to determine the majority.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of priority control, and more specifically to determining priority based on voting.
2. Description of the Related Art
In digital computations, multiple input values may be received at a circuit with the requirement to a single resultant value based on the inputs received. The resultant value may be determined in various ways, one such way being the majority of values received, a technique called "voting." For example, a series of 1s and 0s may be received as input, with the resultant value being either 1 or 0 depending on the quantity of each operand received. If more 0s are received than is, the result will be 0, and vice versa. The difficulty is quickly and efficiently determining the resultant value.
Circuits designed to employ majority voting have typically included a counting section and an operation section. The counting section determines the quantity of each available value received as input, such as two 0s, three is, seven 2s, and so forth, while the operation section adds and/or subtracts values received from the counting section. For eight distinct inputs, approximately seven separate circuit elements may be required to assess voting. If additional inputs are received, more circuit elements are typically required. If the number of input values or bits is N, the needed number of circuit elements or logic gates is proportional to N2.
Such circuitry may consume significant amounts of static power, and may require a reference voltage or threshold to form a baseline. The hardware required to generate a reference voltage is frequently complex and consumes significant power.
While voting circuitry is simple, straightforward, and relatively well known, it would be desirable to offer a simple, straightforward mechanism or method that offers reduced complexity and power consumption and may provide for fewer circuits or components than existing designs.


An electronic system includes: a storage unit configured to store a usage profile; a control unit, coupled to the storage unit, configured to retrieve the usage profile for a profile period, prepare an application during the profile period, and determine a power level from the usage profile for executing or offloading the application during the profile period.

Modern consumer and industrial electronics, especially devices such as graphical electronic systems, televisions, projectors, cellular phones, portable digital assistants, and combination devices, are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life including notebook computers, smartphones, and computer tablets.
Processing power, battery life, and memory can be limitations for some applications. Research and development in the existing technologies can take a myriad of different directions.
Thus, a need still remains for an electronic system with offloading mechanism to distribution execution of application to other devices. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Electronic system with offloading mechanism and method of operation thereof


Method and apparatus for processing a workpiece in a chemical bath liquid contained in a liquid container. The liquid container is fabricated from a material such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), poly-amide-imide (PAI) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). A vibration generator is positioned on each of one or more container walls to introduce vibrations with a selected frequency (20-750 kHz) through the container wall(s) and into the chemical bath liquid. Two or more vibration generators may introduce vibrations with different frequencies into the chemical bath liquid and at different angles. The chemical bath liquid may be an acid such as HCl, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, HNO.sub.3, H.sub.2 PO.sub.3 and HF, or may be an oxidizer or base such as NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2. The chemical bath may be used to process semiconductor wafers and circuits, printed circuit boards, optical components and similar workpieces.

Chemical baths used for cleaning surfaces of materials such as metals and semiconductors are necessarily low pH or high pH liquids that are often corrosive and highly reactive with many of the materials used to form the housing for the baths. Use of such chemical bath liquids usually requires that the bath housing be constructed of a material that is relatively inert to, or that resists chemical reaction with, a chemical bath liquid in a static bath and, preferably, in a changing environment in which vibrations or waves are introduced and maintained in the liquid. A material such as stainless steel or aluminum will promptly begin to react with and corrode in such a chemical bath liquid, and the life of such a solid material as part of the bath housing is therefore limited. Further, the ability of a conventional bath housing material to transmit or re-radiate vibrations that are intentionally introduced at the bath housing, for transmission into and through the chemical bath liquid, is often limited.
A method of electrically bonding electrical conductors to materials such as polyetheretherketone ("PEEK") is disclosed by Felix et at in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,412.
Processes for forming high temperature, solvent-resistant, creep-resistant and/or moisture-resistant articles from polymeric materials such as PEEK is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,600, issued to Beck et at, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,208, issued to Schick, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,530, issued to Waskdewicz, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,693, issued to Aubry et at, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,201, issued to Gotoh et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,408, issued to Coffy, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,372, issued to Stark, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,000, issued to Owens, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,276, issued to Pittman et al. Processing for a composite including polyphenylene sulfide ("PPS") is disclosed by Roberts et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,583.
The inventions disclosed in these patents take advantage of the relative inertness of articles made of materials such as PEEK, poly-amide-imide ("PAI") and PPS in relatively static environments in which exposure to chemicals, to high temperatures, to high stresses and to similar conditions is more-or-less unchanging and predictable. These predictable and unchanging conditions are not present in a semiconductor wafer chemical bath in which the wafers are exposed to a sequence of high pH and low pH chemicals and to intermittent radiation at frequencies of tens to hundreds of kilohertz.
What is needed is a chemical bath housing material that (1) resists chemical breakdown, such as corrosion or dissociation, by a low pH and/or high pH chemical bath liquid to which the housing material is exposed and (2) permits re-radiation into the chemical bath liquid of vibrations in a frequency band including at least the range 20-750 kHz that are introduced intermittently into the chemical bath without substantial degradation of the definition or other characteristics of the vibrations.


A robotic apparatus for traversing a selected area autonomously that senses orientation relative to the Earth's magnetic field or other “environmental” signals. The robotic apparatus is provided in two models, a master that can record directive and compass or “environmental signal” readings, or that can record received location information, to provide at least one command recorded on a machine-readable medium representing an instruction for traversing an area of interest, and a slave that lacks the recording capability. Both master and slave models can replay recorded commands, and compare the expected orientation from the command with an actual orientation sensed during autonomous operation. If an error exceeding a predetermined value is observed, a corrective action is taken. The robotic apparatus is able to utilize a tool to perform a task at one or more locations, such as cutting, shoveling and digging. In one embodiment, the robotic apparatus is a lawn mower.

Tasks such as mowing lawns are tedious and can be unpleasant, but are necessary. A common fantasy depicts a homeowner relaxing in a hammock with a cool drink on a warm summer day, possibly in the shade of a tree, while a robotic device mows the lawn.
The prior art includes a number of patents issued for robotic lawnmowers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,785, issued on Oct. 18, 1988 to Rafaels, describes a method of guiding a robotic lawnmower that relies on pairs of sensors, one of which emits and one of which detects electromagnetic radiation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,415, issued on Dec. 19, 1989 to Martin, describes a robotic lawnmower that relies on infrared obstacle detectors to provide guidance signals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,273, issued on Nov. 17, 1992 to Wojtkowski et al., describes a robotic lawnmower that relies on a buried wire to provide guidance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,347, issued on Oct. 26, 1999 to Nelson, describes a robotic lawnmower that relies on a plurality of radio transmitters to provide guidance signals. U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,358, issued on Dec. 28, 1999 to Angott et al., describes a robotic lawnmower that relies on a plurality of transceivers, one that transmits signals having different propagation velocities, and one that receives the signals. German Patent No. DE3918867, which was published on Oct. 19, 1989, also describes a robotic lawnmower that employs buried iron bars as a guidance system. Friendly Robotics is the assignee of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,255,793, 6,339,735, 6,417,641, 6,443,509, and 6,493,613, and U.S. Design Pat. No. D451,931, directed to robotic lawnmowers that use proximity sensors to detect predefined boundaries.
The manual cutting of an edge is a variation on the installation of boundaries, paths, buried wires, or transmitters. Some robotic lawn mowers rely on distinguishing the cut height of grass from the uncut, taller grass, and following the edge. One example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,404, issued Jan. 9, 1979 to Griffin. A manually cut edge or border is simply another predefined boundary or path, one that needs to be "reinstalled" before each occasion when the grass is to be cut.
One problem that is common to each of the robotic systems described above is the need to provide and to locate transmitters or other indicators of a desired path or boundary. The necessity to place such transmitters or other locators involves considerable expenditure of time, effort, and funds, and may require precise measurements over considerable distances. Alteration of the desired actions of the robotic apparatus may require further time, effort, and funds to change the configuration of the previously defined path or boundary. There is a need for a robotic apparatus such as a lawnmower that can operate autonomously without the necessity to define either a path or a boundary by the placement of transmitters or other indicators.


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may transmit a first downlink control information block over a group physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), wherein the first downlink control information block identifies a plurality of user equipment (UEs) for performing aperiodic channel state information (CSI) measurements and an indication of CSI reference signal resources for a CSI reference signal. The base station may transmit the CSI reference signal on the indicated CSI reference signal resources. The UE may perform, in response to receiving the group PDCCH, an aperiodic CSI measurement of the CSI reference signal on the indicated CSI reference signal resources.

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to aperiodic channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) sharing across user equipment (UEs).
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
Certain wireless communication systems may use reference signals (RSs) for channel performance measurement and reporting. The RSs may be transmitted by the base station and/or by the UE according to a periodic schedule or as needed, e.g., aperiodic. Some wireless communication systems may operate in a shared or unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band and utilize a listen-before-talk (LBT)-based channel access procedure. This environment, and others, may be suitable for the UEs to share aperiodic CSI-RS(s), e.g., it may be beneficial to support reuse of the aperiodic CSI-RS(s) across multiple UEs. However, existing CSI-RS techniques are not optimized for aperiodic CSI-RS reuse.

Aperiodic channel state information sharing across user equipment


The photosensitive volume of a pixel is extended beyond the photodiode region, which allows the pixel sensitivity to be relatively independent of the photodiode region. In an example embodiment, the photosensitive volume can be maximized by using a CMOS process to remove heavily doped material (e.g., as from in a P well) from the photodiode and to form a pn junction on lightly doped material (e.g., p-type epitaxial layer). The photosensitive volume is thus defined by the larger area of the lightly doped material rather than being merely restricted to the photodiode region. Based on the requirements of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and desired dynamic range (DR), a minimized size photodiode (with optimized area and perimeter) can be designed to maximize photo conversion gain, which maximizes sensitivity.

Electronic image sensors are widely used to produce video and photographic images. The electronic image sensors typically comprise pixel sensors that are arranged in an array of rows and columns. The photosensitive volume of conventional CMOS image sensor pixels is limited to a photodiode area such that the pixel photosensitivity is limited by either the photodiode region or the associated photo conversion gain. The pixel sensitivity reaches a saturation level as the photodiode area keeps increasing. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the sensitivity of conventional pixels.
An appreciation of the present invention and its improvements can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly summarized below, to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments of the invention, and to the appended claims.

High photosensitivity CMOS image sensor pixel architecture


A method of rolling a material in two more continuous passes is disclosed. The method includes rolling the material with a flattened-shaped caliber in a first pass, and subsequently rolling with a square-shaped caliber in a second pass. The rolling is performed with a first pass caliber having a flattened shape, wherein the ratio of the length (2A01) of minor axis of the first pass caliber to an initial width (2A0) is (A01/A0)≦0.75; and a second pass caliber, wherein the ratio of a diagonal dimension (2AS1) of the second pass caliber to the length (2B1) of the major axis of the material after the first pass is (AS1/B1)≦0.75 to introduce the large strain into the material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a large strain-introducing working method and a caliber rolling device for use in the working method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a steel bar manufacturing method, there has been generally known a caliber rolling method using rolls having caliber grooves. Caliber shapes can be generally categorized as either angular (e.g., square or diamond), oval, or round. By combining these calibers properly (in a "pass schedule"), the cross-sectional area of a work piece can be efficiently reduced, and the work piece can be finished into a wire rod of a predetermined size. At this time, it is important to find a way to reduce the cross-sectional area efficiently and, thereby, achieve a predetermined shape precisely.
In the caliber designs of the prior art, however, attention has only focused on the area reduction ratio and the cross-section shape. This is problematic because the metal structure is coarser at the center than on the surfaces. This is mainly caused by the fact that a strain equivalent to that on the surface is not introduced into the central portion of the metal structure. If, therefore, a large strain can be introduced into the entire metal structure with an area reduction ratio and a pass number similar to or smaller than those of the prior art, the structural homogeneity can be enhanced to industrially generate a metal structure having a fine grain structure.
Also, the above-mentioned caliber designs are intended for hot working. In hot working, the strain or stress introduced in one pass can be released by the recovery/recrystallization of the structure between the passes. This raises a problem that the influences of the strain distribution introduced after one pass upon the strain distribution and the cross-sectional shape after the following pass cannot be estimated.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art and to provide a novel technical means for clarifying the influences of the strain distribution introduced in the first pass upon the strain distribution and the cross-section shape after the next pass, thus enabling introduction of large strain into the entire cross-section of a material, particularly at the center of the material.

Large strain-introducing working method and caliber rolling device

National Institute for Materials Science


Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.

The industrial Kraft process takes wood and converts it into wood pulp for many uses. In general, the process involves cooking the wood chips in chemicals, mainly comprising a mix of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, known commonly as white liquor in the pulping industry. After the cooking process, the cooked wood is separated from the liquids, the resulting liquid is commonly called black liquor, with varying chemical composition depending upon the type of wood. The black liquor is converted back into white liquor in a process commonly known as a caustic-recovery process, or chemical recovery process.
The first step in the conventional caustic recovery process is concentration of black liquor from the pulping process. Concentrated black liquor is sent to a recovery boiler to (1) recover the key chemical compounds, such as sodium carbonate, sulfides etc.; (2) combust the organics material in the black liquor; and (3) to recover energy which may be used throughout the pulp and paper mill or exported out of the plant. The smelt from the recovery boiler is generally mixed with a solution commonly known as weak liquor from the caustic recovery process, the resulting mixture of the weak liquor and the boiler smelt is commonly referred to as green liquor and generally contains sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrosulfide and may contain other compounds such as sodium sulfite, sodium thiosulfate and other process or non-process impurities.
The green liquor and calcium oxide, CaO, solids (commonly known as quicklime or burnt lime) from the downstream calciner are fed into a stirred tank reactor, generally known as slaker or lime-slaker. Two reactions, reaction (1) and reaction (2), take place in the slaker. First CaO reacts with water in the green liquor to form calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2, commonly known as slaked lime, hydrated lime, builders' lime, pickling lime, or Chuna) via reaction (1).CaO(s)+H2O(aq)→Ca(OH)2 (s)  (1)
As soon as any calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 is formed it begins reacting with sodium carbonate in the green liquor to form solid calcium carbonate (CaCO3) through nucleation, via reaction (2).Ca(OH)2(s)+Na2CO3(aq)⇄CaCO3(s)+2NaOH(aq)  (2)
Reaction (1) and Reaction (2) are generally known as the slaking reaction and the causticization reaction, respectively; and both reactions occur simultaneously anytime water containing carbonate is mixed with quicklime.
The bulk of the causticization reaction takes place in the slaker. Generally, the contents from the slaker are fed into a series of stirred tanks, typically referred to as causticizers, where the reactions are allowed to proceed to near completion. The resulting solution is referred to as unclarified white liquor and contains, among other chemicals, suspended CaCO3 particles, called lime mud which are around 15 μm in diameter.
Thereafter, generally the lime mud is first removed from the white liquor via clarifying tanks or pressurized filters. Typical filtration equipment for this step includes pressurized tubular filters or pressurized disc filters. The resulting clarified white liquor is returned to the pulping process to cook more wood chips, and the lime mud is sent for further washing and filtration before being calcined. Calcination is the term for converting the lime mud (CaCO3) into quicklime (CaO):CaCO3(s)→CaO(s)+CO2(g)  (3)
The resulting off-gas is typically cleaned and discharged to atmosphere while the produced CaO is sent back to the slaker for reaction with the green liquor.
The lime mud in the conventional caustic recovery process fouls both the calciner and any downstream gas processing equipment. Rotary kilns have been shown to tolerate the fouling caused by the lime mud and operate continuously requiring only minor shutdowns for cleaning and maintenance. As a result, the rotary kiln is the most common type of calciner applied today to calcine lime mud and the hot off-gases from the kiln are commonly used to dry incoming lime mud as they will foul any other type of equipment. The rotary kiln is a large, expensive, difficult to operate piece of equipment and the off-gases are vented to the atmosphere still containing a large quantity of high grade heat resulting in an overall thermal efficiency of around 40%. Many of the challenges in the calcination section of the conventional caustic recovery process are a direct result of the fine particle size of lime mud and its tendency to foul high temperature solids processing equipment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Recovering a caustic solution via calcium carbonate crystal aggregates


A soundproof engine-driven operating machine has a small installation area, is easy to assemble and disassemble, and has superior cooling effects. The soundproof engine-driven operating machine includes an engine, an operating machine main body that is driven by the engine, a base frame that supports the engine and the operating machine main body in a vibration-proof structure, and a case fitted to the base frame and accommodating the engine and the operating machine main body. One part of the case includes a first-story chamber accommodating the engine and the operating machine main body, first and second heat exchangers, each having a cooling fan and being arranged above the first-story chamber, the first and second heat exchangers performing heat conversion relating to the operation of the engine by using the cooling fans, arranged separately in a ventilation path, and a second-story chamber accommodating a muffler for discharging engine air. The part of the case is formed from a structural frame that is provided on the base frame. A cover is secured to the base frame, and covers the entire structural frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine-driven operating machine that uses an engine to drive an electric generator, a compressor, a pump, and the like, and in particular, relates to an engine-driven operating machine that has been made soundproof.
2. Description of the Related Art
This type of engine-driven operating machine is installed on a base, forming a foundation, and is housed in a soundproof case. The soundproof engine-driven operating machine should preferably have a small installation area and a simple structure, while being easy to assemble and disassemble and having superior soundproofing characteristics.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show an example of this type of engine-driven operating machine. In this example, disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. 1996-261008, an air-cooled engine E and a generator G, that is connected to the engine E by a belt 214, are installed via rubber isolators 215 on a bearing plate 212, provided on a mounting board 206.
An inside case 202 is fitted on the mounting board 206 with rubber isolators 207 in between. Rubber isolators 208 are affixed to the top face of a ceiling plate 204 of the inside case 202, and an outside case 203 is fitted outside them. Bottom ends of the outside case 203 are secured to securing tools 216, that are secured to the mounting board 206 by tightening screws 217.
This obtains a double-layer case 201 having inside and outside cases, that shut off noise generated by internal devices. Sound transmission between the inside case 202 and the outside case 203 is thereby prevented.
FIG. 13 shows another conventional constitution. This constitution is disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-4857, and includes an assemble-type soundproof case. The framework of a soundproof case K includes a front frame 321, a rear frame 331, and an unillustrated center frame, that are assembled on a base.
The inside of the soundproof case K is partitioned into an engine chamber 301, a muffler chamber 302, and a radiator chamber 303. The engine chamber 301 contains an engine E and a operating machine main body G, the muffler chamber 302 contains a muffler, and the radiator chamber 303 contains an unillustrated radiator. A plurality of unillustrated wind outlet holes are provided in the side walls of the radiator chamber 303, a wind inlet hole is provided in the muffler chamber 302, and the muffler chamber 302 and the radiator chamber 303 are joined together.
In this constitution, cooling wind that cools the engine chamber 301 is sucked in from wind inlet holes 331a and 335a by an axle-driven engine fan. After cooling the inside of the engine chamber 301, the cooling wind passes through the engine fan and cools an unillustrated intercooler, passes via a ventilation duct 304 to the muffler chambers 302A and 302B, where it cools the muffler and is then discharged into the atmosphere.
An unillustrated wind inlet hole is formed in the front left side wall (as viewed in FIG. 8) of the radiator chamber 303 inside the front frame 321, the radiator being provided on a wall face opposite the wind inlet hole. An electrically powered fan faces the radiator between the wind inlet hole and the radiator, and fans the cooling wind into the muffler chamber 302B.
The electrically powered fan sends the cooling wind through a special spherical wind hole, formed in the radiator chamber 303. After cooling the radiator, the cooling wind is sent into the muffler chamber 302B and discharged into the atmosphere from a wind outlet hole, formed in the ceiling of the muffler chamber 302B.
The conventional example shown in FIG. 8 is disclosed as a soundproof case having a low-noise structure that increases cooling efficiency by arranging separate heat exchangers along the path of the cooling wind.
Although the conventional example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has superior soundproofing effects, the two cases must be removed in order to inspect the inside, which is troublesome. The structure becomes particularly complex and unsuitable for miniaturization in the case of large-scale device or the like, or a case where the apparatus required for operation is installed outside the engine or the operating machine main body.
The conventional example shown in FIG. 8 succeeds in providing a engine-driven operating machine that is quiet and has good cooling capability, but its length is difficult to shorten since the operating machine main body, the engine, the engine fan, the intercooler, and the cooling duct, are arranged in a straight line. Since the soundproof case is a collective body formed by joining primary members, its structure is complex and expensive, and it is time-consuming to assemble and disassemble.


A disk array apparatus has a plurality of the same type of disk array units. Each of the disk array units has a plurality of storage areas in each of which firmware for allowing the disk array unit to operate is stored. When the disk array apparatus recognizes that a first disk array unit has been disposed therein, it compares a version number of firmware stored in each storage area included in the first disk array unit with a version number of firmware stored in each storage area included in a second disk array unit that currently operates in the disk array apparatus. If these version numbers are the same, the disk array apparatus makes a storage area in which firmware executed by the first disk array unit is stored conform to a storage area in which firmware executed by the second disk array unit is stored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk array apparatus, and, more particularly, to a maintenance technique for use when a disk array unit in the disk array apparatus is replaced.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disk array apparatus has a plurality of disk array units. Each of the disk array units stores firmware for achieving the function of the disk array unit, and executes the stored firmware, whereby the disk array apparatus operates. If a failure occurs in one of the disk array units in the disk array apparatus, the entire disk array unit is required to be replaced.
A disk array apparatus has a plurality of redundant disk array units for achieving the same function, because it is required to maintain uninterrupted operation. In addition, the disk array apparatus is required to prevent degradation of its performance after a faulty disk array unit included therein is replaced. If one of the disk array units malfunctions, that is, does not fulfill its function, this causes degradation of performance of the disk array apparatus. In order to prevent the degradation, a replacement disk array unit is required to operate by executing its firmware whose version number is the same as that of disk array units that are operating in the disk array apparatus.
As a known method used when a replacement disk array unit is disposed in a disk array apparatus, there is a firmware download method of making the version number of firmware stored in the replacement disk array unit conform to that of firmware stored in disk array units that are operating in the disk array apparatus. For example, a first disk array unit storing firmware and disposed in the disk array apparatus is replaced with a second disk array unit in the following manner. First, the version number of firmware stored in the second disk array unit is compared with that of firmware stored in a third disk array unit that is operating in the disk array apparatus. If the version numbers of a plurality of pieces of firmware stored in the second and third disk array units are not the same, the firmware stored in the third disk array unit is downloaded into a firmware storage area in the second disk array unit. The second disk array unit performs a predetermined operation by executing the firmware downloaded into its firmware storage area (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-71042).
If a malfunction occurs while a disk array apparatus is operating, it is required to recreate a situation in which the malfunction occurred in the disk array apparatus so as to investigate the cause of the malfunction. However, firmware that is not executed by a disk array unit is not taken into consideration in a known technique. Accordingly, a situation in which a malfunction occurred cannot be accurately recreated.
In addition, if a disk array apparatus having disk array units each capable of storing a plurality of pieces of firmware in its firmware storage area is restarted, each of the disk array units may execute firmware different from firmware which it executed before the disk array apparatus was restarted.
In order to overcome the above-described difficulties, it is an object of the present invention to make the version numbers of a plurality of pieces of firmware stored in functional disk array units in a disk array apparatus conform tot each other and make the version numbers of a plurality of pieces of firmware executed by the functional disk array units in the disk array apparatus conform to each other.

Disk array apparatus, and control method and control program recording medium


A reporting server receives reports on content items being accessed by a plurality of UE devices through a first multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN). The reporting server determines, for each content item being accessed, which of the UE devices is accessing the content item. The UE devices are then grouped by the accessed content items such that at least one content item is accessed by a first group of UE devices and not accessed by a second group of UE devices. The reporting server then sends data representing the first and second groups to a broadcast video provisioning system (BVPS) with a recommendation to split the MBSFN into second and third MBSFNs. In another implementation, the reporting server receives reports from fourth and fifth MBSFNs and recommends joining the fourth and fifth MBSFNs to form a sixth MBSFN if broadcast bandwidth requirements are met.

Electronic programming may include multimedia content that is either unicast, multicast or broadcast to mobile devices in a particular geographic area, using one or more channels in a wireless network. A service venue may be, for example, a stadium, an arena, a golf course, a race track, an amusement park, a shopping mall or any other type of geographical area where multiple user equipment (UE) devices may want to access on-line content items concurrently. For example, in a sporting venue, many viewers may want to watch television coverage of the game being played to be able to see additional content, such as another camera angle or the game broadcast of a rival team, that is not available to those actually attending the event. This content may be broadcast or multicast to the viewers who want to watch it in a single channel, allowing the remaining bandwidth to be used for telephone calls or for unicast transmissions to individual attendees.

Grouped multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) splitting


A process is described for leaching gold and/or silver from ores or ore concentrates using an aqueous alkaline cyanide solution with addition of hydrogen peroxide. The addition of the aqueous H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution is regulated and controlled through the concentration of the oxygen dissolved in the leaching solution, the leaching solution containing from 2 to 20 mg O.sub.2 and preferably from 7 to 13 mg O.sub.2 per liter. 0.5 to 5% by weight H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solutions are preferably added. The process is applicable both to leaching by agitation and to heap leaching, the addition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 being regulated and controlled through measurement of the O.sub.2 concentration in the leaching solution and can also involve measurement in a measuring stream. Despite low consumptions of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and NaCN, the gold yield is even increased in some cases and the leaching time shortened.

This invention relates to a process for leaching noble metals, essentially gold and/or silver, from ores or ore concentrates using an aqueous, alkaline cyanide solution with addition of hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent.
It is known that noble metals can be leached with a cyanide-containing solution and, at the same time, converted into soluble cyano complexes. Since the gold in gold ores is mostly present in elemental form, an oxidizing agent is required for the dissolving process. The oxidizing agent used in gold mining is generally atmospheric oxygen. The following equation represents the known reaction: EQU 4 Au+8 CN.sup.- +O.sub.2 +2 H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.4 [Au(CN).sub.2 ].sup.- +4 OH.sup.-
To this end, the finely ground ore is suspended in water, a pH value of from 9 to 12 and preferably from 10 to 11 is adjusted by addition of lime and an aqueous cyanide solution is added. The ore pulp is then stirred for up to 48 hours in one or more cylindrical stirring vessels arranged in the form of a cascade and, at the same time, is gassed with air introduced through nozzles.
However, leaching by agitation, which has been practiced for almost 100 years now, is attended by certain disadvantages; namely:
The oxidation of the noble metal by dissolved oxygen is the speed-determining factor in the dissolution of the noble metal in cyanide-containing solutions. Due to the enormous dimensions of the leaching tanks in use today (up to 3000 m.sup.3) and to the viscosity of the ore pulp, adequate mixing is not often achieved, so that the maximum content of dissolved O.sub.2 determined by the O.sub.2 partial pressure of the air (8-9 ppm O.sub.2 is the saturation limit) is not reached (cf. Example 3a).
The gassing with air means that a more or less large quantity of HCN is always discharged from the ore pulp. As a result, not only is the cyanide demand increased, the safety of the person in charge and the environment are also affected.
The carbon dioxide in the air reduces the pH value of the pulp. As a result, the equilibrium EQU CN.sup.- +H.sub.2 O.revreaction.HCN+OH.sup.-
is displaced towards the free hydrocyanic acid. The result of this is that the lime consumption increases and more hydrocyanic acid is discharged with the air. In addition, calcium carbonate is formed, leading to unwanted deposits on the tank walls, pipes and, in particular, on the active carbon which is often used in the second stage of the process for separating gold. The consequences of such deposits on the carbon are operational disruptions and losses of noble metal.
As a result of the gassing with air, compressor oil can enter the leaching tanks, resulting in smearing of the surface of the active carbon which is used in the CIP process. Operational disruptions and losses of noble metal are again the outcome.
The operating costs of the compressors are a function of the tank height on account of the hydrostatic pressure. Accordingly, the leaching tanks used today, which are up to 20 meters in height, involve increased costs.
In addition to leaching by agitation, so-called heap leaching is used to leach noble metals with a cyanide-containing solution. To this end, large heaps of ore (generally 3 to 10 meters in height) are sprayed with an aqueous cyanide-containing leaching solution having a pH of from 8 to 13. The ore-free leaching solution issuing from the bottom of the heap is circulated, part of the leaching solution being continuously removed from the circuit for the separation of noble metal and replaced by fresh leaching solution.
A serious disadvantage of heap leaching is that the atmospheric oxygen required to oxidize the noble metal in the ore heap has to be introduced into the ore heap by the leaching solution. Since the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the leaching solution decreases to a considerable extent from the top to the bottom of the ore heap, leaching is never complete, above all in the lower regions. This fact is responsible for the generally very low gold yield (40 to 60% of the gold present in the ore) in heap leaching.
In view of these problems, various attempts have already been made to use other oxidizing agents instead of atmospheric oxygen in the leaching of gold, for example permanganates, persulfates, peroxides, ozone, chromates and dichromates, ferricyanides, cyanogen bromide and bromine chloride and also hydrogen peroxide. Although these oxidizing agents are capable of increasing the dissolving rate of the gold by comparison with atmospheric oxygen, they have not yet been able to replace atmospheric oxygen because economic use could not be guaranteed. In addition, some of the oxidizing agents mentioned and/or reaction products emanating therefrom are highly toxic, so that the use of these compounds could not be seriously considered on account of possible environmental pollution and the necessary measures to avoid such pollution.
In environmental terms, hydrogen peroxide, which has also been investigated as an oxygen donor or oxidizing agent, is the most suitable oxidizing agent for replacing atmospheric oxygen, because only water and oxygen and no toxic products are formed in the decomposition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2. However, the industrial use of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 has hitherto been prevented both by its inadequate effectiveness and by the economy factor. The economy factor can be adversely affected inter alia by the fact that, under certain conditions, H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is also capable of oxidizing the cyanide, resulting in an excessive consumption of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and of cyanide.
Another problem is that H.sub.2 O.sub.2 can inhibit the dissolving process through passivation of the gold surface.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,723, there is described a process for the cyanide leaching of gold and/or silver with addition of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is shown to be added in the form of stabilized H.sub.2 O.sub.2, preferably as a 50% solution, in a quantity corresponding to 0.3 to 15 g H.sub.2 O.sub.2 per liter leaching solution, as calculated from the data in lines 51 to 53, column 2, of the cited U.S. patent, and 1.2 g/ml for the density of the 50% by weight H.sub.2 O.sub.2. According to the only example, in this cited U.S. patent, gold was leached from an ore in a shorter time and in a higher yield, the leaching solution containing 60 g NaCN and 5 ml stabilized 50% H.sub.2 O.sub.2 per liter, than was possible in conventional leaching with atmospheric oxygen as the oxidizing agent. However, such high cyanide concentration (1 to 600 g NaCN/1 leaching solution according to the U.S. patent) completely jeopardize the economy of the process. This is so because, after leaching and separation of the gold, the leaching solution obtained, which is still rich in cyanide, has to be detoxified for example using H.sub.2 O.sub.2. Recycling of the leaching solution is not possible in practice because disruption of the leaching process through accumulations of other metals could no longer be ruled out.
Comparison tests were carried out in accordance with the process described in the said U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,723, a gold ore being leached and the leaching solution containing sodium cyanide in a concentration which had proved to be suitable in the standard process where air is used for gasing. Comparison Example 1 (hereinafter below) shows that the gold yield remains far below the value obtained in the standard process if at the beginning the leaching solution contains 0.033% by weight sodium cyanide and 0.023% by weight hydrogen peroxide added in the form of 35% by weight aqueous H.sub.2 O.sub.2. Under these conditions, therefore, economic leaching was not possible.
E. L. Day (Canadian Mining Journal, August 1967, pages 55-60) investigated a model system for dissolving a gold foil in leaching solutions containing NaCN and H.sub.2 O.sub.2. According to those investigations, the dissolving rate follows a non-uniform trend as a function of the NaCN and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 concentration of the leaching solution. The maximum dissolving rate was obtained with a leaching solution containing 0.025% NaCN and approximately 0.02% H.sub.2 O.sub.2. However, this model only takes into account the dissolving rate of a gold foil in the first 5 to 30 minutes and does not enable any conclusions to be drawn as to the gold yield, the demand for sodium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide and the dissolving rate of gold from gold ores. Although a leaching solution of which the cyanide and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 concentration was in the optimal range of the model system was used in the Comparison Example, as explained above, the process proved to be impracticable in economic terms.

Process for the leaching of gold and silver with cyanidic leaching solution and controlled addition of hydrogen peroxide


A state specifying system according to the present disclosure includes a cable (20) disposed in a utility pole (10), the cable (20) containing a communication optical fiber, a receiving unit (331) configured to receive an optical signal from at least one optical fiber contained in the cable (20), and a specifying unit (332) configured to specify a state of the utility pole (10) or an environmental state around the utility pole (10) corresponding to a pattern of the optical signal received by the receiving unit (331).

Conventionally, abnormalities of utility poles are often detected manually. For example, a worker determines an abnormality only by a visual observation, or taps on a utility pole and determines an abnormality based on reverberating sound or the like. However, when an abnormality of a utility pole is manually detected, it takes large amounts of time and cost, and thus in some cases, detecting an abnormality and coping therewith are delayed.
Therefore, recently, a system for monitoring a utility pole for detecting an abnormality thereof by using an optical fiber has been proposed (e.g., Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
In a technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, an optical fiber is linearly or spirally disposed in the vertical direction of a utility pole. When a utility pole is broken by a collision of an automobile with the utility pole, the optical fiber is severely bent, so that a loss occurs in an optical signal propagating through the inside of the optical fiber. In this way, it is detected that one of a plurality of utility poles has been broken by detecting the amount of a loss caused by the above-described loss through OTDR (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry) measurement.
Further, in a technique disclosed in Patent Literature 2, a nesting detection core line, which is composed of an optical fiber for detecting nesting in a utility pole, is disposed. When the nesting detection core line is warped due to nesting in the utility pole, the nesting detection core line is distorted, e.g., is bent or stretched, so that the strength of an optical signal propagating through the inside of the nesting detection core line is attenuated. As a result, it is detected that a nest has been made by detecting the amount of a loss caused by this attenuation through OTDR measurement.

State specifying system, state specifying apparatus, state specifying method, and non-transitory computer readable medium


A method for heat-treating a ring-shaped member includes the steps of: forming, by relatively rotating an coil along the circumferential direction of the formed body, an annular heated region in the formed body, the heated region having the steel austenitized therein; and simultaneously cooling a whole of the heated region to a temperature of not more than an Ms point. In the step of forming the heated region, the heating is performed to repeatedly change over for a plurality of times between a state in which each region of the rolling contact surface has a temperature exceeding a temperature of an A1 point and a state in which each region of the rolling contact surface has a temperature that is less than the temperature of the A1 point and that maintains a supercooled austenite state.

High-frequency quenching may be employed as quench hardening on a ring-shaped member of steel such as a bearing ring of a rolling bearing. This high-frequency quenching has such advantages that equipment can be simplified and heat treatment in a short time is enabled, as compared with general quench hardening of heating the ring-shaped member in a furnace and thereafter dipping the same in a cooling liquid such as oil.
In order to simultaneously heat an annular region, to be quench-hardened along the circumferential direction of the ring-shaped member in the high-frequency quenching, however, an induction heating member such as a coil for induction-heating the ring-shaped member must be arranged to face this region (for example, see Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 59-118812 (Patent Document 1)). In a case of quench-hardening a large-sized ring-shaped member, therefore, there are such problems that a large-sized coil therefore and a large-capacity power source for this coil are required and the production cost for a quenching apparatus increases.
As a method to avoid such a problem, the following method has been proposed. That is, a coil is arranged to thee part of a circumferential surface of a ring-shaped member and is relatively rotated along the circumferential direction of the ring-shaped member so as to form an annular heated region heated to a temperature of not less than an A1 point, and then the whole of the heated region is simultaneously cooled to a temperature of not more than Ms (for example, see Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2011-26633 (Patent Document 2)).

Method for heat-treating ring-shaped member and method for producing ring-shaped member


A method and system wherein a device remotely controls a user interface being executed in a remote device, using a remote user interface. The device discovers a server that supports a remote control interface. The device receives a list of remote devices that the device can control from the server. A selection input is received to select a remote device from the list of remote devices. A device selection request corresponding to the selection input is transmitted to the server. A remote control interface corresponding to the device selection request is received from the server. The selected remote device is controlled via the received remote control interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to technology for controlling devices, and more particularly, to a method and system that enable one device to control a user interface of another device (i.e., a remote device), using a remote user interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many industry standard groups, such as Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Home Audio-Video interoperability (HAVi), Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), etc., actively research and develop home network technology.
Remote User Interface (RUI) technology has been recently developed that enables one device to remotely control another remote device. RUI technology is achieved based on client-server architecture, where an RUI Client (RUI-C) fetches a UI from an RUI Server (RUI-S) so that a user at the RUI-C can control the RUI-S via the UI.
A Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) standard of RUI, CEA-2014, defines frameworks and protocols for an RUI over a UPnP network and the Internet. In CEA-2014, the UPnP device (i.e., RUI sever) provides user interfaces, via web pages in a Consumer Electronics HyperText Markup Language (CE-HTML) format, to a user (i.e., RUI client), and the user remotely controls the UPnP device via the web pages. The CE-HTML is a special version of HTML and based on eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML).
Because many services provided to conventional Personal Computer (PC) environments can also be provided to CE devices and mobile devices in similar formats, the UIs, which were previously established to meet the conventional PC requirements, need to be re-established to meet the requirements of CE and mobile devices. However, compared to the PC, it more difficult for CE and mobile devices to operate UIs on their generally smaller screens. Further, the PC enables the user to control the screen using input devices, such as a mouse, a keyboard, etc., while E and mobile devices generally limit interaction through a touchscreen or the existing input devices included therein.

Method and system for controlling other devices using a remote user interface


A method, system and computer program product for generating a review rating the performance of a pattern. The deployment of a pattern, the service history of the pattern and the operation of the pattern are monitored and information pertaining to the monitored pattern deployment, the monitored service history and the monitored pattern operation is collected, where a pattern is an abstract model of a topology and application environment that encapsulates installation, configuration and management of middleware and applications. The collected information is analyzed to automatically generate a review that contains a score and a comment rating the performance, such as the success or lack of success, in deploying, servicing and operating the pattern. In this manner, a review of a pattern, including a score and a suggested comment, may be automatically generated without requiring the user, such as a system administrator, to spend time writing the review.

In a cloud computing environment, computing is delivered as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network, such as the Internet. In such an environment, computation, software, data access and storage services are provided to users that do not require knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services.
In a virtualized computer environment, such as may be implemented in a physical cloud computing node of the cloud computing environment, the virtualized computer environment includes a virtual operating system. The virtual operating system includes a common base portion and separate user portions that all run on a physical computer. The physical computer is referred to as a host. The common base portion may be referred to as a hypervisor and each user portion may be called a guest. Each guest is a logical partition of the physical resources of the computer. A guest operating system runs on each guest, and the guest appears to the guest operating system as a real computer. Each guest operating system may host one or more virtual machines.
An administrator of the cloud computing environment may build a reusable pattern which defines the topology and application environment used to service the customer (i.e., the user receiving the services provided by the cloud computing environment) as well as satisfies the customer requirements, such as application and processing requirements. The pattern is an abstract model of the topology and application environment that encapsulates the installation, configuration and management of middleware and applications, such as the middleware and applications that run on the virtual machines in the physical cloud computing nodes. Such a pattern can be deployed repeatedly thereby avoiding the need to provision these environments individually and manually.
Currently, there exists a review system where users can write a review evaluating the performance of the pattern. Such reviews are useful as they provide information, such as usage of the pattern, that provides insights to others who may be interested in deploying such a pattern. However, such a review system requires the user to spend time in writing the review. Since time is limited, users may not have time to write such a review thereby reducing the number of reviews written for a pattern.
Hence, the current review system for evaluating the performance of a pattern is limiting since it requires users to spend time in writing the reviews.

Automatically generating a review rating the performance of a pattern based on pattern deployment, service history and operation of pattern

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a method for treating powdered coal in a solid-fuel injection installation. Such an installation comprises a powdered coal storage bunker, at least one lock connected to the circuit for pneumatically transporting the coal, at least one filtering screen connected between each lock and the bunker, a pressurized inert-gas source for pressurizing each lock and forming the pneumatically propelled flow of the coal and a circuit for pressure-equalizing and depressurizing each lock through a filter. According to the present invention, the major portion of the inert gas for depressurizing each lock is subjected to a filtering operation before being injected through the bottom of the storage bunker into the mass of coal and being discharged through a filter at the top of the bunker. The residual portion of the inert depressurizing gas is shunted directly towards the top of the storage bunker. The present invention also relates to a device for implementing the method.

The present invention relates to a method for treating powdered coal in an installation for injecting solid fuels, comprising a powdered coal storage bunker, at least one lock connected to the circuit for pneumatically transporting the coal, at least one filtering screen connected between each lock and the bunker, a pressurized inert-gas source for pressurizing each lock and forming the pneumatically propelled flow of the coal and a circuit for pressure-equalizing and depressurizing each lock through a filter. The invention also relates to a device for the implementation of this method.
An installation of this general kind is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,288, which is incorporated herein by reference. The coal used in this kind of installation is generally delivered loose and is broken up, ground and dried in place. The grinding is carried out, for example, in a vertical grinding mill in which the coal is crushed on a rotary milling track by milling rollers. The coal powder is entrained by drying gases into a separator, from which it is dumped into the storage bunker of the installation for injection into a furnace.
The relative humidity poses a certain number of problems in the storage bunker. In fact, because of the drying of the coal, the drying gas accumulates a large quantity of water vapor which, as the bunker cools, is condensed above the mass and is responsible for an agglomeration and for an encrustation of the coal powder.
Moreover, because of heat exchanges and thermal equilibria within the mass of the coal powder, the coal powder "transpires", which also creates a gaseous environment rich in water vapor within the interstices of the mass of coal. This water vapor within the mass of coal is entrained out of the bunker into the filter screen where, by condensing, it creates the risk of clogging up the screening elements.

Method and device for treating powder coal in a solid-fuel injection installation


Disclosed is a beam steering antenna structure, including two parallel metallic boards, an antenna perpendicularly disposed between the two metallic boards, a plurality of substrates perpendicularly disposed between the two metallic boards and radially disposed around the antenna, and a bias voltage circuit. Each of the substrates has a plurality of metal units cyclically aligned thereon, and each of the metal units includes two metallic regions oppositely disposed and in no contact with each other and a transistor disposed between the two metallic regions for coupling the two metallic regions. The transistors are electrically connected to the bias voltage circuit to thereby control the steering direction of beam radiation by switching the transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antenna structures, and, more particularly, to a beam steering antenna structure.
2. Description of Related Art
The transmission paths of electromagnetic waves often encounter the blockage of large building in cities and thus result in multi-path fading. As such, presently there exist many technical improving means and the so-called Smart Antenna has become mainstream that is designed to eliminate the transmission blockage mentioned above.
Smart antennas use the characteristic of Spatial Diversity to differentiate users and signals from different locations/positions for achieving the diversity gain. In other words, Smart antennas use narrower beams for receiving and transmitting signals to obtain greater power for communication, whereas the signals transmitted within the range of non-narrow beams are suppressed by narrower beams, thus reducing the intensity of noise signals in the ambient environment to obtain a greater signal gain. To change the direction of beam transmission, Smart antennas typically use active elements to alter the type of radiation fields of electromagnetic waves, thereby achieving the spatial diversity and realizing the Spacial Division Multiple Access mechanisms which have the impact of time delay spread and multipath fading to increase transmission efficiency and coverage and thus improve the quality and quantity of communication.
Typically, the means of altering antenna beams include using mechanical scanning or phased array antenna techniques to switch the direction of beam transmission. However, the former method has the disadvantage of low speed and the latter requires a complex feed-in structure and a phase shifter in order to control the phase of each of the antenna elements and thus is costly and inconvenient to apply. Furthermore, the current technologies propose an adaptive antenna which employs the digital signal processing and the concept of array antennas, in which the direction of signals is tuned up and the direction of noise signals is tuned down to intensify the beams in the direction of signals while reducing the impact of noise signals. However, the control of beam field type requires the digital signal processing in the basic frequency and thus has higher hardware and technology demands for practical applications.
Additionally, there has been an directional antenna structure 1 that employs the Cylindrical Electromagnetic bandgap proposed by H. Boutayeb et al. published in the Periodicals IEEE Transactions on Antennas Propagation in an article "Analysis and design of a cylindrical EBG-based directive antenna." As depicted in FIG. 1, the directional antenna structure 1 is composed of an antenna 12 and multiple coil metallic wires 14 winding around the core of the antenna 12, wherein two electrodes 13 are disposed between the ring upon rings of the metallic wires 14 for the control of two electrodes 13, to either form a conductive equivalent continuous metallic wire that prevents electromagnetic waves from transmission, or to form a non-bias voltage equivalent discontinuous metallic wire for transmission, thereby controlling directions of the beam radiation. Yet, not only the processing of metallic wire is complex and laborious but also greater power consumption will be required to effectively block electromagnetic waves from spreading out.
Therefore, it is desirable and highly beneficial to provide a more effective and ideal design of the antenna structure capable of overcoming the drawbacks as encountered in prior techniques.


A method of trimming a resist pattern, including forming a positive resist film on a substrate, the positive resist film is exposed and the positive resist film is subjected to an alkali development to form a first resist pattern having an alkali-insoluble region on the surface thereof; applying a resist trimming composition including an acid to the substrate on which the first resist pattern is formed; a heating the first resist pattern coated with the resist trimming composition, and the solubility of the first resist pattern in a developing solution is changed under action of the acid included in the resist trimming composition; and developing the first resist pattern after heating with an organic solvent to remove the alkali-insoluble region of the first resist pattern, the resist trimming composition including the acid and a solvent which does not dissolve the first resist pattern.

In lithography techniques, for example, a resist film composed of a resist material is formed on a substrate, and the resist film is subjected to selective exposure of radial rays such as light or electron beam through a mask having a predetermined pattern, followed by development, thereby forming a resist pattern having a predetermined shape on the resist film.
A resist material in which the exposed portions become soluble in a developing solution is called a positive-type, and a resist material in which the exposed portions become insoluble in a developing solution is called a negative-type.
In recent years, in the production of semiconductor elements and liquid crystal display elements, advances in lithography techniques have led to rapid progress in the field of pattern miniaturization.
Typically, these miniaturization techniques involve shortening the wavelength (increasing the energy) of the exposure light source. Conventionally, ultraviolet radiation typified by g-line and i-line radiation has been used, but nowadays KrF excimer lasers and ArF excimer lasers are starting to be introduced in mass production. Furthermore, research is also being conducted into lithography techniques that use an exposure light source having a wavelength shorter (energy higher) than these excimer lasers, such as electron beam, extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV), and X ray.
Resist materials for use with these types of exposure light sources require lithography properties such as a high resolution capable of reproducing patterns of minute dimensions, and a high level of sensitivity to these types of exposure light sources.
As a technique for providing a finer pattern, for example, in Patent Document 1, a method for trimming photoresist pattern by applying a resist trimming agent to a formed resist pattern is disclosed.


The present invention relates to a wheel controller (108) for a vehicle (100), comprising a wheel slip calculation module (212) arranged to calculate a longitudinal wheel slip value for a wheel slip between a surface of the wheel (102) and a road surface thereof; a wheel force estimation module (214) arranged to estimate a longitudinal wheel force value for a wheel force between the surface of the wheel (102) and the road surface; a tire model generator (216) arranged to receive longitudinal wheel slip values from the wheel slip calculation module (212) and longitudinal wheel force values from the wheel force estimation module (214); said tire model generator (216) being configured to generate a model (300, 400) representing a relationship between the calculated longitudinal wheel slip and the estimated longitudinal wheel force by using at least three longitudinal wheel force values and three corresponding longitudinal wheel slip values; and a vehicle wheel capability module (218) arranged in communication with the tire model generator (216), said vehicle wheel capability module (218) being configured to determine an absolute maximum wheel friction level between the surface of the wheel (102) and the road surface thereof by means of acquiring, for a calculated wheel slip value, a longitudinal wheel force value from the model (300, 400) of the tire model generator.

In the field of vehicle, in particularly low-, medium- and heavy duty vehicles commonly referred to as trucks, it is known to utilize an electronic braking system or an electronic propulsion system. In the latter case, the electronic propulsion system may be an individual propulsion system arranged in connection to the respective propelled wheels of the vehicle. These systems are often controlled by a centralized control system of the vehicle such that control signals relating to e.g. desired brake torque and/or desired propulsion is provided from the centralized control system to the respective brake/propulsion system. The centralized control system is arranged to receive and evaluate parameter values used when setting the desired brake torque and/or the desired electric propulsion for the wheels.
However, the state of the art has room for improvements when it comes to determining a torque level and/or propulsion level for the respective wheel brake and/or electric propulsion system. It is thus desirable to be able to more accurately determine the capability of the wheel brake and/or electric propulsion system, i.e. how much torque the wheel brake is able to absorb and/or how much propulsion the electric propulsion system is able to provide.


According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of decomposing and modifying a bitmap image before it is rendered by an output device. Segments of a print image are determined by an aptly programmed processor. In a bitmap driver process, dimensions and location of an area on each print image is processed so as to form objects that can be deleted, modified, or replaced. The process allows for the addition of objects such as tracking or security and the processing of objects to interpret the data found, remove it, and possibly replace it with data based on what was read. These modified objects are embedded in the output bitmap image without increasing its size by reusing dimensions and location of selected areas of the print image.

Disclosed herein are methods for digital document processing, and in particular to such methods that modifies on demand special information in a raster image, as well as corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium.
A raster image processor (RIP) provides output data in a format that is suitable for rendering by an output device such as a printer. One suitable format is raw, binary dot patterns forming a bitmap. Rendering by the output device may include printing by a printer, and displaying on a screen. The raster image processor receives input of one or more page descriptions. The page descriptions includes information about fonts, graphics, and the like that describe the appearance of each page. The page descriptions may be in a high level language or even another bitmap of higher or lower resolution than the output device. Some examples of high level page description languages are PostScript (PS), Portable Document Format (PDF) and Extensible Markup Language (XML) Paper Specification (XPS). The raster image processor may be implemented as software, firmware, and/or hardware. Typically, the raster image processor resides in a digital front end (DFE). The raster image processor performs raster image processing (RIPping). Raster image processing is the process of translating the page descriptions into a RIPped image or into a bitmap for output by the output device like desktop printer. Raster formats include: TIFF (Tagged-Image File Format),PSD (Photoshop Document),EPS (Encapsulated PostScript),JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group),PNG (Portable Network Graphics),GIF (Graphics Interchange Format),BMP (Windows Bitmap),EMF (Enhanced MetaFile), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript),PDF (Portable Document Format),PS (PostScript),PGM (Portable Gray Map), PPM (portable pixel map),PBM (portable bit map),EXIF (Exchangeable image file format),RAW (raw image format),SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile),XBM (X BitMap),ILBM (InterLeaved BitMap),WMP (Windows Media Photo),WBMP (Wireless Bit-Map or Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap Format),PNM (Portable Bitmap).
Printed documents often require additional information in the form of symbolic encodings or marks to provide additional data about the document that may or may not have anything to do with the content of the document. For example, the information can be tracking data, workflow information such as creator and device used for creating the document, and/or even security designations. This data might even be instructions for further processing such as finishing, packing, or routing that need to be read further down line in the process.
As the number of applications grows so do the number of additional marks that need to be added to the output image of the document to be printed. These marks can become distracting or even unattractive. Current attempts to solve this growing problem have included data compression in the symbols used or different toners for marking that may be harder to see by the normal eye. One major drawback that these approaches have is they don't have the capability to change the special information on demand. An example would be a document which is marked with printing tracking information that is subsequently changed. In the current print process it is difficult to alter the page content so such a document would have to be processed offline to accommodate the post marking changes.

Method and apparatus for reading and replacing control and/or identification data in a print image to support document tracking, flow control, and security