A microprocessor that handles invalid opcodes via an event-signaling micro-operation is disclosed. The microprocessor comprises a decoder that decodes macroinstructions, including an opcode, into a single microprocessor cycle micro-operation. The decoder detects invalid opcodes and replaces the invalid opcodes with an event-signaling micro-operation that triggers an invalid opcode assist. The invalid opcode assist triggers an invalid opcode exception handler that processes the invalid opcode.

One way to improve the performance of a computer system is the implementation of a Reduced Instruction Set (RISC) microprocessor. RISC microprocessors use a smaller instruction set than Complex Instruction Set (CISC) microprocessors. Because less hardware is required to implement a smaller instruction set, RISC instructions tend to be executed more quickly than CISC instructions.
However, because of an established base of CISC software, it is desirable to provide RISC microprocessors that are capable of executing CISC instructions to maintain compatibility with existing software. In order to execute CISC instructions, RISC microprocessors typically have one or more decoders that translate CISC macroinstructions into one or more RISC micro-operations prior to execution.
In order to more efficiently use microprocessor resources, some of the decoders may not be fully functional decoders capable of decoding any instruction in the CISC instruction set. For example, one or more of the decoders may be limited to decoding instructions that can be executed by a single-cycle RISC micro-operation. Alternatively, a decoder may only translate a subset of the CISC instructions that is used most often.
Because any decoder may receive an invalid opcode, each decoder must be capable of invoking an invalid opcode exception handler, whether or not the decoder is fully functional. However, if a decoder is limited to producing only one single-cycle micro-operation, a fault handler cannot be invoked directly because a fault handler typically requires more information than can be provided by a single-cycle micro-operation. Invocation of an exception handler typically requires the type of exception that was caused and the exception handler to be invoked.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for triggering invalid opcode exceptions with a single-cycle micro-operation, such as an event-signaling micro-operation.

Method and apparatus for handling invalid opcode faults via execution of an event-signaling micro-operation


A piezoelectric device includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a piezoelectric resonator element, a part of the piezoelectric resonator element being disposed so as to overlap with a part of the IC chip when viewed in plan. The IC chip includes: an inner pad disposed on an active face and in an area where is overlapped with the piezoelectric resonator when viewed in plan; an insulating layer formed on the active face; a relocation pad disposed on the insulating layer and in an area other than a part where is overlapped with the piezoelectric resonator element, the relocation pad being coupled to an end part of a first wire; and a second wire electrically coupling the inner pad and the relocation pad, the second wire having a relocation wire and a connector that penetrates the insulating layer, the relocation wire being disposed between the insulating layer and the active face.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric device and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly relates to a piezoelectric device that has a piezoelectric resonator element and a circuit which oscillates the piezoelectric resonator element, and to an electronic apparatus having such piezoelectric device.
2. Related Art
There is a piezoelectric device having a piezoelectric resonator element and a circuit (an oscillation circuit) that is conductively coupled with the piezoelectric resonator element and oscillates the element in a package. JP-A-2004-15441 is a first example of related art. The oscillation circuit is an integrated circuit (IC) chip having an active face where a pad to which a wire is coupled is provided. According to the first example, the package includes a package base that has a concave portion whose opening faces upward and a lid that is placed onto an upper face of the package base and seals the concave portion. The concave portion has a lateral face which is formed in a stair-like shape and two step portions are provided there. The IC chip whose active face is directed upward is fixed onto a bottom face of the concave portion. A wire couples the pad that is provided on the active face with a pad electrode that is disposed on a lower step portion. The piezoelectric resonator element is bonded and fixed onto a package-side mount electrode (mount electrode) which is provided on an upper step portion by using a conductive adhesive. As described above, in the piezoelectric device, the IC chip and the piezoelectric resonator element are arranged in a vertical direction such that a principal plane of the piezoelectric resonator element faces the active face of the IC chip and the wire is provided between the principal plane and the active face.
JP-A-2006-20140 is a second example of related art. The second example discloses a piezoelectric oscillator in which a piezoelectric resonator element and an IC chip are disposed in a vertical direction, and a longer side of the IC chip and a longer side of the piezoelectric resonator element cross each other when they are viewed in plan. In this case, a shorter side of the IC chip does not cross over the piezoelectric resonator element when viewed in plan therefore it is possible to dispose a pad in an area where the IC chip and the piezoelectric resonator element do not overlap each other. In this way, a wire is not arranged between the principal plane of the piezoelectric resonator element and the active face of the IC chip.
In case of the piezoelectric device in which a wire is disposed between the principal plane of the piezoelectric resonator element and the active face of the IC chip as described in the first example, a gap for avoiding the piezoelectric resonator element from contacting with the wire should be provided because an oscillation defect and the like can occur when the piezoelectric resonator element and the wire contact each other. However, when the gap between the piezoelectric resonator element and the wire is wide, it is impossible to make the piezoelectric device thin.
In case of the piezoelectric device in which the longer side of the piezoelectric resonator element is arranged so as to cross over the longer side of the IC chip when viewed in plan and the pad is disposed laterally to the piezoelectric resonator element as described in the second example, there is a disadvantage of a large planar size of the piezoelectric device. Moreover, the IC chip has to be made in a rectangular shape when viewed in plan and the pad should be disposed along the shorter side of the IC chip. This particular arrangement of the pad limits the versatility of the IC chip use such that it cannot be used for some different arrangements in the package even with a piezoelectric device having the same function.

Piezoelectric device and electronic apparatus


A trim assembly may include a starter strip having a first fastener hem configured to receive a fastener, a starter flange extending from the first fastener hem, and a first rib extending from the starter flange. A fastener flange having a second fastener hem may be configured to receive a second fastener. The fastener flange can include a second rib extending from the second fastener hem. A trim having a first slot may be configured to receive the first rib and be mounted to the starter strip, and a second slot configured to receive the second rib and be mounted to the fastener flange.

Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates in general to building products and, in particular, to a system, method and apparatus for trim for building products, such as trim for siding on the sides of a building.
Description of the Related Art
Conventional trim products are typically installed with fasteners through the face of the product. This can be done with nails or screws, the heads of which must be concealed so they are not visible from an exterior of the building. Manufacturers usually recommend several alternatives to hide the fasteners after they have been installed. Each solution requires additional labor, and the remaining aesthetics of concealing the fasteners may not match the color of the trim. Accordingly, continued improvements in trim designs are desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System, method and apparatus for trim for building products


A system and method for constructively providing a set of complex-valued indices that measures the proximity of an electrical power distribution system to voltage collapse, and providing insights on general static stability issues in power networks. These indices, termed “sigmas”, are designed through a mathematical osculation of the actual load flow solution with an equivalent two-bus system at every node. The procedure for obtaining these sigmas is based on the Holomorphic Embedded Load flow Method (HELM), and the indices are, in fact, proper analytical functions of the embedding parameter, which endows them with powerful diagnostic capabilities. These indices are then used graphically on a two-dimensional chart, in order to appreciate visually the overall distance of the system to voltage collapse, while at the same time spotting the weak nodes out of the whole grid, providing new situational awareness and diagnosis tools.

Systems and methods herein generally relate to the problem of voltage collapse in the context of static stability of power networks in electric utilities, and more particularly to methods for both off-line analysis and real-time monitoring of the proximity of the system to voltage collapse.
Such methods provide measures of the distance to voltage collapse, either qualitatively or quantitatively, through numerical indicators or graphical tools, in order to enable a quick diagnostic on the static stability of the network. Some methods, such as the ones disclosed herein, also provide ways to identify the particular nodes in the network that are more directly involved in the stability problems, which is of great importance when managing very large networks.
The present disclosure is framed under the general field of static stability in Electrical Power Distribution Systems. This field includes, but is not limited to, static voltage stability. The Holomorphic Embedding Load-flow Method (HELM) described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,519,506 and 7,979,239 provides a solution under the form of an algebraic curve enabling the study of these general static stability aspects. The most thoroughly studied problem in this field is that of voltage stability.
The problems related to voltage stability in power systems are one of the major concerns in planning and operation of large electrical power network grids. As defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE), voltage stability refers to the ability of a power system to maintain steady voltages at all buses in the system after being subjected to a disturbance from a given initial operating condition. Although voltage instability may be originated by local phenomena, its consequences may have widespread impact. A typical outcome of voltage instability is loss of load in an area, or tripping of transmission lines and other elements by their protections leading to cascading outages that in turn may lead to loss of synchronism of some generators. The term "voltage collapse" is also often used: voltage collapse is the process by which the sequence of events accompanying voltage instability leads to a partial or extensive blackout in the network. Due to economical and environmental constraints, power networks have become more complex and heavily loaded. Voltage instability is then an increasingly serious problem, as utilities are pushed to operate the system closer to its limits.
According to the time frame characterizing the phenomenon of voltage stability, the IEEE/CIGRE considers short-term and long-term problems. While short-term voltage stability studies need dynamic modeling of loads (it is similar in this respect to rotor angle stability), long-term voltage stability can be assessed through several static analysis techniques. The methods disclosed herein fall within this second class of methods. In general, these techniques are based on the steady state of the system, the so-called load flow equations. The pragmatic goal is to estimate stability margins (distance to collapse), as well as identify weak nodes (those whose voltage variations are highly sensitive to further variations of load or generation in the system) in the system or other factors influencing stability.
Many static techniques have been developed to provide an estimation of the proximity to collapse. The classical technique is the use of P-V/Q-V curves, which provide a measure of the load margins. Other methods take into account the structure of the load flow problem and attempt to measure the distance to the closest bifurcation, since voltage collapse takes place when the stable load flow solution merges with an unstable one. The V/V0 index system relies on comparing the original load flow case with one in which all the loads are set to zero, in order to spot the weaker nodes. Most other systems rely on approximating the power system via the use of a local model, normally a two-bus system that can be solved exactly in closed form.

Sigma algebraic approximants as a diagnostic tool in power networks


A system including an edge router which collects data from a mesh network by receiving on multiple simultaneous frequencies. Using N simultaneous frequencies increases the throughput of a system by up to N-times, reducing the bottleneck that otherwise occurs at the take-out-point of a mesh communications system. Furthermore, nodes in direct communication with the edge router can send each data packet multiple times on multiple frequencies, increasing the probability that the packet is delivered correctly, eliminating the necessity to acknowledge (ACK) each packet. This further enhances system throughput.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to routing data, and more specifically, to routing data using a mesh router.
Some communication networks, such as smart grid metering networks, (e.g., relating to an electrical power grid) may include mesh networks where each mesh network node may be used in routing the data of neighboring nodes. Different routing techniques may be used. For example, the nodes may route packets through the network using forwarding tables that are stored in the nodes. The forwarding tables generally identify a next-hop node based on the packet's destination. The next-hop node is generally the same for all packets having the same destination regardless of the packet's originating node. The forwarding tables are conventionally generated by selecting paths through the network in a hop-by-hop fashion based on next-hops with the lowest cost. Other non-table based routing techniques may also be used. It would be useful to improve on the routing techniques.


An information processing system is provided that includes a device and an information processing apparatus that is connected to the device via a network. The device is configured to scan image data from a paper document, generate reduced data from image data of a part of pages of the paper document each time the image data of the part of the pages of the paper document is scanned, transmit the reduced data to the information processing apparatus each time the reduced data is generated, perform a second process, which differs from a first process performed by the information processing apparatus, with respect to the image data scanned from the paper document to generate second data, receive via the network, first data generated by the first process that is performed by the information processing apparatus with respect to the reduced data, and synthesize the first data and the second data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals (MFP) are known that are capable of implementing various advanced image processing functions with respect to image data in addition to traditional functions such as copying, printing, scanning, etc. For example, image forming apparatuses are known that are capable of performing an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) process with respect to image data scanned from a document (see e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2014-32659).
However, restrictions are imposed on hardware resources of devices such as image forming apparatuses, and as a result, when performing image processes requiring a high processing load, their processing speed may be inferior to that of general-purpose computers.
Accordingly, in the case of performing an image process requiring a high processing load, the image forming apparatus may send a process request via a network to an external apparatus such as a computer having a relatively higher processing performance, for example.
However, in the case of sending a process request via a network, depending on the network communication speed, the transmission time for transmitting the image data to be processed to the external apparatus may take up a significant part of the overall processing time. As a result, there may be situations where the overall processing time would be shorter if all processes were performed within the image forming apparatus.

Information processing system and information processing method


The invention relates to a process for the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons with molecular oxygen using a cobalt-containing molecular sieve material having the cobalt ions substantially incorporated in the crystal lattice of the molecular sieve. Preferably, the oxidation is carried out with a molecular sieve containing from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of cobalt and wherein the cobalt ions are substantially trivalent when the reaction starts. Preferably, the catalyst is a cobalt containing phosphate based molecular sieve material of the structure type 5, 31, 36, 37, 40, 50 and mixtures thereof and the hydrocarbons oxidized are from the group consisting of straight chain alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes and cycloalkenes which contain from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chemical process for the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons with molecular oxygen utilizing a cobalt-containing catalyst.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydrocarbon oxidation products in large quantities are valuable products for chemically processing polyamides, polyesters or fuel enhancers. Processes for the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons with molecular oxygen using a cobalt-containing catalyst are known in the art. DE-A-3 733 782 (Zakladi -0 Azotowe lip.) discloses a process for oxidizing cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone with molecular oxygen under pressure at a temperature between 150.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. using cobalt naphthenate as a catalyst. JP-A-01 294 646 (Mitsubishi Kasei Corp.) discloses a process for the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone with molecular oxygen in the presence of, among other things, a magnesium double oxide containing cobalt such as Mg-Al-hydrotalcite, MGO-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or a zeolite ion exchanged with Mg.sup.2+ and optionally cobalt ions at a reaction temperature and pressure of from 110.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. and below 100 kg/cm.sup.2 respectively. In a similar oxidation reaction, JP-A-3 303 936 discloses tile use of a certain phyllosilicate catalysts in which cations have been exchanged with cobalt ions.
There are numerous disadvantages associated with the prior art processes. After the oxidation reaction, the cobalt ions must be recovered from the reaction liquid. Cobalt ions introduced into a molecular sieve by cation exchange are present on the surface of the ion exchange material where they are loosely attached, mainly by electrostatic forces. These ions are easily leached out during the oxidation reaction thereby contaminating the reaction product. In addition, the catalytic activity of the molecular sieve is decreased. The actual catalysis may in fact be due to the cobalt ions in solution.
Reaction temperatures in the range of from 150.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. are also considered a disadvantage since they are relatively high and tend to produce reaction products of a darker color. In addition, these reaction temperatures induce chain length degradation in the reaction products.
Because of these disadvantages, there currently exists a need for an economically attractive industrial bulk manufacturing process utilizing cheap hydrocarbon starting materials and operating under attractive, safe, economical and environmental conditions.


Circuit data for a digital/analog hybrid circuit is classified as those for types of data such as a net, a circuit symbol, a symbol pin, and an outside terminal. A conversion rule for each type of classified circuit data is specified by a conversion rule collator. Classified circuit data is converted by a circuit model builder according to the specified conversion rule to convert the digital/analog hybrid circuit to a circuit suited for digital simulation.

In association with the progress in the field of LSI toward larger scale and more sophisticated functions, the demands for a digital/analog hybrid circuit, in which a digital circuit and an analog circuit coexist in one piece of LSI, have been increasing. When simulating the digital/analog hybrid circuit as described above with a logic simulator, it is necessary to rewrite the digital/analog hybrid circuit to a circuit corresponding to characteristics of the logic simulator used for that purpose. Namely, it is necessary to rewrite the digital/analog hybrid circuit to a circuit for digital simulation in a case of a digital simulator, and to a circuit for analog simulation in a case of an analog simulator respectively.
FIG. 48 shows a digital/analog hybrid circuit (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 4-71072) comprising a feedback loop for fetching an analog signal at a signal level in response to a 2-bit digital input value consisting of the output from an AND circuit 41 and that from a flip-flop (FF) 42 from a D/A converter (DAC) 43, inputting the analog signal via a circuit section comprising a resistor 44, an amplifier 44, resistors 46, 47, and a capacitor 48 to an A/D converter (ADC) 49, fetching a 2-bit digital output corresponding to an input signal level from the A/D converter (ADC) 49, outputting one bit thereof via an inverter 50 to the outside, and loading the other one bit thereof into the flip-flop (FF) 42.
In a case where the digital/analog hybrid circuit, in which a digital circuit portion and an analog circuit portion coexist as shown in FIG. 48, is simulated as it is with a digital simulator, the analog circuit portion comprising the D/A converter (DAC) 43, resistors 44, 46, 47, amplifier 45, capacitor 48, and A/D converter (ADC) 49 becomes a load to the simulation, and it becomes difficult to accurately simulate all functions within a short period of time. As a result, execution of high-speed simulation is impeded. This phenomenon is caused because the analog circuit portion comprises exponential information, which is different from simple binary information and is not suited to the processing for simulation. In other words, the reason is that bidirectionality of an analog element can not precisely be treated by the digital simulator.
As a result, if, for instance, data concerning a digital/analog hybrid circuit is inputted into a digital simulator, the analog circuit portion can not be verified and may be outputted as an error, which makes it difficult to execute high-speed simulation accurately. Especially, in a large-scale digital/analog hybrid circuit, the impedance as described above becomes considerable.
It should be noted that, also in a case where a logic gate circuit is subjected to circuit simulation at an analog transistor level with an analog simulator, efficiency is extremely low and the entire circuit can not be efficiently simulated.
For the reasons described above, conventionally high-speed simulation for a digital circuit portion and an analog circuit portion is efficiently realized by simulating the digital circuit portion with a dedicated digital simulator and also simulating the analog circuit portion with a dedicated analog simulator, respectively.
In a case of simulation with a digital simulator, it is necessary to rewrite a digital/analog hybrid circuit to a circuit for digital simulation.
For instance, in a case of the digital/analog hybrid circuit shown in FIG. 48, the digital circuit portion comprising the AND circuit 41, flip-flop (FF) 42, and inverter 20 must be rewritten to the circuit for digital simulation as shown in FIG. 49. Concretely, as shown in the figure, rewriting work is carried out to describe the D/A converter (DAC) 43 with a dummy circuit consisting of the AND circuits 51 and 52 and also to describe the A/D converter (ADC) 49 with a dummy circuit consisting of inverters 53 and 56.
It should be noted that the analog circuit portion comprising the D/C converter (DAC) 43, resistors 44, 46, 47, amplifier 45, capacitor 48, and A/D converter (ADC) 49 is rewritten to the circuit for analog simulation as shown in FIG. 50. Practically, however, the amplifier 45 is described with a circuit comprising transistors and resistors.
Also conventionally, in a case where a digital/analog hybrid circuit is simulated with a digital simulator as described above, all the work for rewriting the digital/analog hybrid circuit to a circuit for digital simulation has been carried out manually. In conventional technology, a scale of a digital/analog hybrid circuit itself is not so large, so that the work required for rewriting a digital/analog circuit to a circuit for digital simulation can be fully carried out manually, and in addition, the product development cycle is not so short. For this reason, the work can easily be carried out manually within a period of time allowance for a plurality of simulations until a required circuit is fixed.
In the conventional technology, in a case where a digital/analog hybrid circuit is simulated with a digital simulator, the digital/analog hybrid circuit is written to a circuit corresponding to characteristics of a logic simulator to be used completely through manual work, so that a large number of steps are required each time circuit conversion is to be executed.
The work for circuit conversion becomes more complicated as scale of a digital/analog hybrid circuitry becomes larger, and in manual work, such mistakes as transcription mistakes easily occur.
Further, at present, product development cycle is extremely short, while an extremely long period of time is required for circuit conversion work by executed simulation processing several times until a required circuit is fixed, if all the necessary work is executed manually.

Method and apparatus for circuit conversion for simulation, simulator using the same, and computer-readable medium with a program therefor stored thereon


In a method and system for generating document templates for print jobs, in which a document template is generated in a generation unit using static resource data that are combined into addressable data sets. The document template is registered in a resource administration unit. The resource administration unit generates a resource list in which the resource data sets used by the document template are listed. Using the resource list, the resource administration unit controls a transfer of the used resource data sets to a data processing device in which the document template is supplemented with variable data, whereby the resource administration unit in turn can be controlled via a superordinate program.

The present invention concerns a method to generate document templates for print jobs in which a document template is generated in a generation unit using static resource data that are combined into addressable data sets, in particular files. Furthermore, it concerns a system to generate print jobs with a generation unit in which the document template is generated using static resource data.
Document templates for print jobs are, for example, known from serial printing. The document template establishes the general layout of each document of the series to be printed and is combined with individual data, what are known as variable data, in order to generate the individual print documents of the series.
A typical example for a serial printing is the printing of account statements of a bank. The layout of the account statements would typically be predetermined in a document template: for example specific fields of the sheet would be predetermined in which variable data, such as the name of the customer, his account number, etc., as well as the font that should be used for this, are to be inserted.
When the account statement of a specific customer group should be printed out, the document template and the variable data are merged in a data processing device, and from this a print job is generated. The print job thus comprises variable data, such as for example the cited customer names and account numbers, and unchanging elements, such as for example fonts or standard texts. Such unchanging elements are typically called static resource data.
When the print job is transmitted from the cited data processing device to a printer, each resource data set only has to be transmitted to the printer once, and must otherwise only be cited in a specially prepared print data stream. Via the division of the print job into variable data and static resource data, the amount of data that must be transmitted to the printer is thus kept smaller, which is essential given the enormous processing speed of modern high-capacity printers.
DE 100 17 785 shows a method and a system to process a print data stream in which the detailed print data stream is sorted in a manner that is adapted to the further processing of the printed good (for example, binding or shipment). The print data stream is divided per document into variable data and static resource data. What are known as "inline resources", that are already comprised in the detailed print data stream, are thereby differentiated from what are known as "external resources" that are themselves not present in the detailed print data stream, but however which can be incorporated into the print data stream via referencing.
In addition to fonts and standard texts, typical resource data are forms, tables, graphic elements such as images or logos, however also layout templates for print pages and templates for the positioning of the printer pages of the recording medium. A more detailed specification of the printer with static resource data is found, for example, in the publication "Das Druckerbuch", Dr. Gerd Goldmann, 6th edition, May 2001, ISBN 3-00-001019-X in chapter 13, the content of which is hereby included by reference in the present specification.
In chapter 13 of this publication, a generation unit for document templates for print jobs is also specified that is formed via a combination of the programs "Smart Layout Editor", "Forms Generation Language" and "Océ Font Manager". With such programs, addressable resource data sets that can be accessed in a document template can be generated and processed.
The addressable resource data sets are typically files. All resource files that are used in a document template must be transferred to the data processing device in which the static resource data of the document template and the variable data are combined in order to complete the print job. When one of the resource files used by the document template is missing on the data processing device, the print job can not be executed, but rather the printer delays until the missing resource file is added.

Method and system to generate document templates with resource administration


A composite material is formed by combining an expandable polymer having a charge with another polymer having an opposite charge to produce. In particular, the composite material can be prepared by combining the polymers with a medium such as and water, and expanding the mixture using a treatment that expands the mixture to produce, for example, insoluble porous foam-like composites.

Insoluble low density, porous materials such as foams are needed for a wide variety of commercial applications including insulation materials, packaging materials, absorbent materials for applications ranging from personal hygiene to liquid hazardous waste remediation or removal, porous materials for biomedical applications including wound care and tissue regeneration, and, if edible, materials for food production such as 'puffed' food products or diet food products. Furthermore, materials which are compostable offer improved sustainability as they can be disposed safely in land fills or even used as an energy source through processes such as anaerobic digestion.
Starch, a natural biopolymer found in plants such as corn or potato, has been extensively utilized to develop expandable or so-called 'puffed' materials with other ingredients. Glenn et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,589, 1995) developed a starch-based microcellular foam using a novel solvent exchange method, and they claimed that such a material had superior properties such as improved mechanical strength, high pore volume, and low density. A starch-lignin foam was prepared by Stevens et al. (Stevens, E. S., Klamczynski, A., and Glenn, G. M. 2010. Starch-lignin Foams. Express Polymer Letters 4 (5): 311-320), which showed that a 20% replacement of starch with lignin had no adverse effect on foam density and morphology. More recently, Dougherty et al. (U.S. patent application #2010/0189843, 2010) described a hydroxypropylated starch to improve the extrusion process of a food composite whereby the hydroxypropylated starch aids in the retention of dietary fiber contained in the composite. Also, other biopolymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthum gum have been applied to expand with starch, which is said to improve the shape, texture and structure of starch-based composite. See Gimeno, E., Moraru, C. I., and Kokini, J. L. 2004. Effect of Xanthan Gum and CMC on the Structure and Texture of Corn Flour Pellets Expanded by Microwave Heating. Cereal Chemistry 81 (1): 100-107. Starch has also been used as an adhesive for the production of corrugated cardboard. See Onusseit, H. 1992. Starch in industrial adhesives: new developments. Industrial Crops and Products. 1(2-4):141-146. Starch composites which consist of principally biologically derived polymers, however, are typically soluble in polar solutions, limiting their use in many applications. Thus, a need exists to create insoluble composites such as insoluble starch composite with high liquid absorbing capability.


A predictive tuning system is disclosed in order to reduce the tuning channel delay time in a cable TV architecture. The system comprises a set-top box (STB) configured to instantiate a given number of video decoding pipelines allowing for start broadcasting a particular set of channels which include a sub-set of pre-define channels, such as the antecessor and predecessor channels which are normally pre-tuned, and other sub-set of channels chosen using a predictive algorithm. This algorithm runs locally at the user interface level of the STB suggesting the more likely channels to be watched by the user according to his past behavior according to a specific time slot of a day.

The action of changing channels is called zapping and the time since the user clicks on a button until he starts to watch the new channel is called zapping time or zapping delay. Channel zapping time is a Quality of Experience key factor.
From the state of the art, we know about the use of three primers available in the same set-top box (STB) where two of them are reserved for the up and down channel's successor and predecessor. This technical solution allows to have a better experience when the user is making zapping through all the channels list in a sequential way.
However, if the user make zapping through the channels list in a non-sequential way, the zapping delay is still highly perceived, especially in cable TV architectures.
In the document US 2007/0146551 A1, the channel is predicted based on a subset of digits input by a user. While a current channel is tuned by one tuner, the predicted channel is tuned by the other tuner. If the prediction is correct, the channel to be tuned is available for presentation immediately after a time out period. Thus, delay between tuning channels is reduced. The users click in an alphanumeric button, inserting the first digit of the channel that want to watch. The correspondent channel is tuned by the free tuner. A predetermined time-out starts to count: if the time-out is elapsed the STB just have to tune the other tuner, otherwise, a second digit was input and that two digit channel is tuned to the free tuner. The process is repeated until a max of three digits channel is input. The proposed algorithm is executed in a two tuners STB architectures, and despite the objective of trying to reduce the zapping time be the same, the overall concept of this solution is not equivalent to the one proposed by the predictive tuning system because the prediction of the channel only starts before the first click on a button. On the other hand, the predictive tuning system herein proposed disclosed a new STB architecture with three tuners and capable of instantiate a pre-define number of video pipelines in order to starts decoding the most likely channels watched by the user prior to its direct intervention with the system.
In the document US 2002/0067438 A1, the channel is predicted based on the past user's behavior. If the predicted channel is equal to the channel that is being watch, another prediction is made, until a channel with a different frequency is found. The data can be stored, locally, in a hard drive. This solution protects the possibilities of having more than one tuner and multiple profiles, but the algorithm does not take into account the period of the day in its predictions. Besides that the algorithm has a periodically memory limitation control, modelling the passage of time. In respect with the predictive tuning system proposed the memory limitation control has a more efficient behaviour since it's not periodic allowing to record the transition channel flow in a continuous way, like a moving window. The prediction is also more accurate since the algorithm considers the different behaviours of a user during the day, by dividing it in a predefined number of time slots.


An object is to provide a technique for reducing process steps, and a stress generated at the peripheral portion of the joint portion between an electrode of a semiconductor element and a lead frame. A semiconductor device includes the following: a semiconductor element disposed on a heat spreader; a lead frame joined to an emitter electrode of the semiconductor element via solder, which is a joining material; a metal film disposed on a surface of the emitter electrode; and an anti-oxidation film disposed on a surface of the metal film. The metal film has a peripheral portion that is entirely exposed from the anti-oxidation film.

A semiconductor device under repeated thermal stress exhibits stress concentration at the peripheral portion of the joint portion between an emitter electrode of a semiconductor element disposed on the semiconductor device, and a lead frame, Such stress concentration damages the emitter electrode. To reduce the stress at the peripheral portion of the joint portion, a coating film has been conventionally formed over the joint portion.
Patent Document 1 discloses a thin-film circuit substrate that includes a first metal coating film disposed on a substrate and being highly oxidative, a second metal coating film selectively disposed on the first metal coating film and being highly resistant to oxidation, and an oxidized coating film formed by oxidizing the exposed portions of the first metal coating film.

Semiconductor device, power converter, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


An active HUD boresight alignment system for correcting a boresight of a HUD in an aircraft relative to an aircraft boresight is described. The system has an aircraft IRU, a HUD angular orientation detector and a detector. The aircraft IRU is rigidly coupled with the aircraft and configured to define an aircraft boresight indicative of a three axis angular orientation of the aircraft. The HUD angular orientation detector is rigidly arranged relative to at least one component of the HUD in the aircraft, and configured to determine a HUD boresight indicative of a three axis angular orientation of the HUD. The processor is coupled with the aircraft IRU and the HUD angular orientation detector and configured to determine a boresight angular offset of the HUD boresight to the aircraft boresight for at least one axis of the three axis angular orientation, and to correct for the boresight angular offset based on the determined boresight angular offset.

The inventive concepts disclosed herein relate generally to the field of alignment of a heads up display (HUD) in an aircraft.
A HUD may be used by an operator in an aircraft to allow the operator to have a view of the outside world with superimposed information, such as symbols indicating nose direction of the aircraft, altitude, and touch down zone location where the aircraft is intended to land. It is important that the HUD be sufficiently aligned with the aircraft's three angular components, yaw, pitch, and roll, so that the superimposed information, such as the touch down zone location, is displayed in an accurate location on the HUD. Such alignment is called boresighting. A typical requirement for HUD accuracy is 3 mRad with respect to the outside world.
The alignment of the HUD is affected by the aircraft boresight itself, HUD hardpoint installation accuracy, HUD electronic boresighting, rigidity of the aircraft structure, and the location of an inertial reference unit (IRU) attached to the aircraft. The aircraft boresight itself is defined by the IRU attached to the aircraft, where the IRU provides the aircraft's three angular components, yaw, pitch, and roll.
Typical HUD hardpoint installation is performed using a target board and alignment tool while the aircraft is on the ground. The alignment tool is arranged in the aircraft cockpit, where the HUD is also arranged, while the target board is located outside of the cockpit. The alignment tool is then adjusted to align with the target board. Due to the stringent HUD accuracy requirements of about 3 mRad, the hardpoint installation requires complicated tooling to characterize the hardpoint installation, and is a time consuming process that takes up manufacturing floor space and increases cost.
HUD electronic boresighting provides for deviations from the hardpoint installation for a HUD in the cockpit. The deviations are stored in a personality module, which electronically corrects for the deviations from hard point installation for a particular HUD.
Rigidity of the aircraft and the location of the aircraft IRU on the aircraft must also be taken into account when boresighting the HUD. Typically, the aircraft IRU is disposed in a location near the wings of the aircraft in the wing box. The structure of the aircraft, however, is subject to distortion during flight, which must be compensated for in order to have accurate HUD boresighting. For example, during flight the aircraft may be subject to "nose droop," where the nose of the aircraft sags downward. In this case, the boresight of the aircraft as defined by the aircraft IRU in the wing box becomes misaligned with the HUD boresight, which is in the region near the nose of the plane, which suffers from nose droop.
The HUD boresighting may have a predetermined passive nose droop compensation. Such predetermined nose droop compensation, however, corrects for nose droop for one flight condition, and may cause the HUD to become misaligned in other conditions.


There is disclosed a vibratory screening apparatus comprising a frame having a pair of opposed screen frame sides, a multi-deck screen mounted on the frame sides, and a shaft-driven vibratory mechanism coupled with the screen in order to impart vibration energy thereto so as to assist the screening operation. The vibratory mechanism comprises a pair of stubshafts associated one with each of the frame sides. A respective pair of bearing housings support each stubshaft on each frame side. The bearing housings of each respective pair are spaced apart from each other, and a respective counterweight is mounted on each stubshaft in the space between the housings. The counterweights are rotatable with the stubshaft so as to apply vibration energy to the stubshaft, and therefrom to the screen via the bearing housings and the frame sides. Drive motors are coupled with each stubshaft and are arranged to be driven in synchronism in order to apply synchronous rotary motion to each stubshaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a screening apparatus for separating portions of a mixture of materials having different sizes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vibratory screening apparatus wherein vibration energy is used to assist the screening action.
2. Background of the Invention
Vibratory screening apparatus are known in the prior art. In one known design of a vibratory screening apparatus, a shaft-driven vibrating mechanism comprises a single shaft which extends horizontally through a screen frame between opposed frame sides in the space between two screen decks. Each end region of the shaft is mounted on the respective screen side through a bearing housing which is secured to the frame side, and a counterweight is mounted on each free end of the shaft which projects outwardly of the respective bearing housing.
Each counterweight comprises an offset mass. Rotation of the shaft results in application of centrifugal force to the shaft through the counterweights which imparts required vibration energy to the screens of the apparatus.
In this known apparatus, substantial bending moments are applied to the shaft by the counterweights, both by reason of the counterweights being mounted on the outwardly projecting ends of the shafts, and also because of the considerable overall length of the shaft which is required to extend throughout the width of the apparatus between the opposed screen frame sides. This causes the mid-region of the shaft to undergo substantial undesirable deflection. The shaft diameter will have to be of a sufficient size to withstand this applied bending load. Also, there will be feedback to the mountings of the bearing housings on the frame sides which will also have to be suitably robust to bear these loads.


The present disclosure provides engineered proline hydroxylase polypeptides for the production of hydroxylated compounds, polynucleotides encoding the engineered proline hydroxylases, host cells capable of expressing the engineered proline hydroxylases, and methods of using the engineered proline hydroxylases to prepare compounds useful in the production of active pharmaceutical agents.

Proline derivatives with functional groups on the ring carbons are useful building blocks for synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds because of the constrained conformation of proline. One such derivative, hydroxylated proline, is a starting material for the synthesis of various therapeutic compounds, including carbapenem antibiotics (see, e.g., Altamura et al., 1995, J Med Chem. 38(21):4244-56), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, protease inhibitors (see, e.g., Chen et al., 2002, J Org Chem. 67(8):2730-3; Chen et al., 2006, J Med Chem. 49(3):995-1005), nucleic acid analogs (Efimov et al., 2006, Nucleic Acids Res. 34(8):2247-2257), isoprenyltransferase inhibitors (O'Connell et al., 2000, Chem Pharm Bull. 48(5):740-742), and drug library construction (Vergnon et al., 2004, J Comb Chem. 6(1):91-8; Remuzon P., 1996, Tetrahedron 52:13803-13835). Similarly, hydroxylated derivatives of a proline homolog, L-pipecolic acid, also known as homoproline, also serve as building blocks for pharmaceutical compounds. For example, hydroxypipecolic acid is an intermediate in the synthesis of β-lactamase inhibitors (see, e.g., WO2009091856, WO2010126820 and US20110046102) and TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors (Levatic et al., 2002, Bioorg Medicinal Chem Lett. 12(10):1387-1390).
Hydroxyproline can be obtained from natural sources, such as plant materials and hydrolyzates of collagen. Hydroxyproline can also be chemically synthesized, such as from starting materials allyl bromide and diethylacetamidomalonic acid (Kyun Lee et al., 1973, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 46:2924), D-glutamic acid (Eguchi et al., 1974, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 47:1704-08), glyoxal and oxaloacetic acid (Ramaswamy et al., 1977, J. Org. Chem. 42(21):3440-3443), and β-alanine (Sinha et al., 2000, Proc. ECSOC-4, The Fourth International Electronic Conference on Synthetic Organic Chemistry, ISBN 3-906980-05-7).
Hydroxypipecolic acid can also be obtained from plants and other natural sources (see, e.g., Romeo et al., 1983, Phytochemistry 22(7):1615-1617; Fowden, L., 1958, Biochem J. 70(4):629-33; Clark-Lewis and Mortimer, 1959, Nature 184(Suppl 16):1234-5). Chemical synthesis of hydroxypipecolic acid is described in Callens et al., 2010, Bulletin des Sociétés Bulletin des Sociétés Chimiques Beiges 91(8):713-723; Adams et al., 1996, Chem. Commun. 3:349-350; Botman et al., 2004, Organic Letters 6(26):4941-4944; Cohen et al., 1956, Science 123(3202):842-843; Beyerman et al., 1959, Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas, 78(9):648-658; Marin et al., 2004, J Org Chem. 69(1):130-41; Kumar et al., 2005, J Org Chem. 70(1):360-3; Liang et al., 2005, J Org Chem. 70(24):10182-5; Kalamkar et al., 2008, J Org Chem. 73(9):3619-22; Chiou et al., 2010, J Org Chem. 75(5):1748-51; Lemire et al., 2010, J Org Chem. 75(6):2077-80; and Angelique et al., 2000, Tetrahedron Lett. 41(36):7033-7036.
Isolation from natural sources is limited by the availability of raw materials, requires purification from a significant amount of background contaminants, and lacks certain desired diastereomers. Chemical synthetic methods can require complex steps, be difficult to scale up to industrial scale levels, and require additional purification steps due to formation of multiple hydroxylated products.
Another approach for preparing hydroxylated proline uses proline hydroxylases, which are 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases, utilizing 2-oxoglutarate (α-ketoglutarate) and O2 as co-substrates and ferrous ion as a cofactor (see, e.g., Klein et al., 2011, Adv Synth. Catal. 353:1375-1383; U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,775; and Shibasaki et al., 1999, Appl Environ Microbiol. 65(9):4028-4031). Unlike prolyl hydroxylases that specifically recognize peptidyl proline in procollagen and related peptides, proline hydroxylases are capable of converting free proline to hydroxyproline. Several microbial enzymes that produce cis-3-, cis-4- or trans-4-hydroxyproline are known (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,962,292; 5,963,254; 5,854,040; WO2009139365; and EP2290065) and an enzyme that produces trans-3-hydroxyproline have been identified in extracts of the fungus Glarea lozoyensis. Many of the proline hydroxylases are found in bacteria, where they are associated with the biosynthesis of peptide antibiotics. The cis-4-proline hydroxylase enzyme also shows activity in converting L-pipecolic acid (i.e., (2S)-piperidine-2-carboxylic acid) to cis-5-hydroxypipecolic acid (i.e., (2S,5S)-5-hydroxypiperidine-2-carboxylic acid; Klein et al. supra). In vitro conversions for preparing 5-hydroxypipecolic acid using these enzymes have been demonstrated, but isolated proline hydroxylases are found to denature under reaction conditions and have relatively low specific activity, rendering in vitro uses impracticable for commercial applications (Klein et al., supra). While recombinant whole cells expressing cloned proline hydroxylases are better suited for large scale industrial processes, the use of whole cells limits variations in reaction conditions, such as high substrate concentrations; restricts the types of substrates that can be used with whole cells to those that are permeable to the cells; and results in undesirable by-products that must be separated from the final product. In addition, in vivo systems may require defined growth media not optimal or cost effective because the use of rich growth media prepared from protein hydrolyzates contain free proline, which can be a competitive inhibitor when substrates other than proline are being targeted. Desirable are alternative methods for synthesizing hydroxylated forms of proline and proline analogs, as well as other chemical compounds, that can be readily scaled up and result in substantially pure stereomeric product.

Engineered proline hydroxylase polypeptides and methods


The present invention is directed to an attenuated Salmonella comprising a eukaryotic expression vector for delivery of the eukaryotic expression vector to a eukaryotic cell. Delivery may be to eukaryotic cells cultured in vitro or to cells in vivo, such as by oral administration of the attenuated Salmonella comprising the eukaryotic expression vector.

The design of efficient vaccines against infectious diseases remains a major challenge in medical science. Low cost, non-invasive administration, life-long protection by single doses combined with ease of preparation, storage and transport are desirable goals to be achieved. In this respect, live attenuated bacterial carriers that express heterologous antigens are attractive vehicles for the oral delivery of vaccines. This type of delivery should result in a broad spectrum of both mucosal and systemic immune responses. Use of vaccine vectors overcomes some of the limitation of oral delivery of proteins, which usually need to be co-administered with adjuvant proteins such as cholera toxin to evoke an immune response (Brown et al., 1987; Flynn et al, 1990). In addition, administration of live replicating vectors might be advantageous over other forms of administration such as microencapsulation because of the immunomodulatory properties of cell wall components of bacteria. Finally, the natural route of entry could prove to be of benefit since many bacteria like Salmonella egress from the gut lumen via M cells into Peyer's Patches (Jones et al, 1994; Neutra et al, 1996; Siebers and Finley, 1996) and migrate eventually into lymph nodes and spleen, thus allowing targeting of vaccines to inductive sites of the immune system.
Genetic immunization has recently provided a promising new approach to the vaccination problem (for review see Donnelly et al., 1997). Isolated plasmid DNA—introduced into muscle or skin of the host—leads to expression of antigen in the host cells when transcription is driven by eukaryotic control elements. This has led to B and T cell stimulation and to protective responses. How these responses are generated remains still unclear. Muscle cells apparently express low levels of MHC class I but lack MHC class II and costimulatory molecules. Although, it is not known which cells function as antigen presenting cells (APC) under these circumstances, it is likely that resident dendritic cells or macrophages capture the antigen and migrate to lymph nodes and spleen to stimulate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Indeed antigen expressing dendritic cells have been observed after genetic immunization into the skin using a gene gun (Condon et al., 1996). It is not known whether DNA is also transferred directly into dendritic cells when plasmids are applied into muscles.
Several advantages have been observed with genetic immunization over conventional vaccination. The DNA can be detected for a considerable period of time thus acting like a depot of antigen (Ning et al, 1993). Sequence motifs in some plasmids are immunostimulatory and can function as adjuvant (Krieg et al., 1995; Messina et al., 1991; Yamamoto et al., 1992). Co-expression of cytokines enhance the response and offer the possibility of modulating the induction of an immune response into a desired direction (Zhignan et al, 1995; Geissler et al, 1997; Kim et al, 1997). However, several obstacles need to be overcome before general applicability can be achieved.
If it would be possible to deliver plasmids for genetic immunization with an attenuated bacterial carrier, the advantages and versatilities of both systems would be combined. In addition, the natural route of administration would deliver DNA to cell types which have specifically evolved to induce immune responses. Salmonella spp. are particularly suited for this purpose because of the extensive knowledge on the genetics and physiology of many strains. A large body of documentation exists on their utility as heterologous antigen carriers that are capable of inducing protective immune responses (Fairwether et al., 1990; Molina et al., 1990; Newton et al., 1989; reviewed Chatfield et al, 1994; Roberts et al, 1994). Also, safe attenuated strains of Salmonella are available and are already in use as vaccines in animal husbandry and man (Hassan, 1996; Steinbach, 1996; Fox, 1997; Germanier and Fürer, 1975). Finally, recombinant plasmids constructed in laboratory strains of E. coli can be directly introduced into Salmonellae without further manipulations.

Gesellschaft fuer Biotechnologische Forschung mbH (GBF)


Described is a system, method and apparatus for measuring a vibrational response in an eye for determination of ocular parameters such as intraocular pressure, corneal elasticity and scleral pressure. The method comprises positioning an air jet nozzle to direct an excitation stimulus at a single frequency to the apex of the eye along the optical axis of the eye; positioning a sensor to direct incident light at a fixed position of the eye distinct from the apex of the eye; exciting vibration in the eye with the excitation stimulus; directing incident light from the sensor to the fixed position of the eye; and detecting backscatter light from the eye with the sensor, to measure the vibrational response. Algorithms are used to calculate the ocular pressure from the vibrational response of the cornea or sclera. The method does not require contact with the eye, and is reliable and accurate.

Measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye is a measurement of the pressure of the fluid inside the front part of the eyeball. It is advantageous to monitor IOP as it is an indicator of the health of the eye. Excessively high IOP can be associated with retinal and optic nerve damage, such as in the case of glaucoma. Other diseases like uveitis can cause dangerously low pressure in the eyeball.
An eyeball may be deemed analogous to an elastic vessel filled with a fluid of a substantially incompressible nature. One can compare such an elastic vessel to a balloon having extensible walls wherein an increase in volume in the fluid produces a change in the internal pressure balanced by an expansion of the vessel wall. Fluids inside the eye circulate in a substantially continuous fashion and an increase in the influx of fluids normally accompanies a similar increase in the outflow of fluid. In cases where the outflow does not keep up with inflow, an increase in internal pressure and an expansion of the eye will occur. In situations where the rigidity of the eye's wall is increased, two effects are observed: increases in the internal pressure are greater per increase in fluid inflow; and a smaller overall expansion of the volume of the eye occurs.
The change in the expansion of the eye depends on the extensibility of the walls of the eyeball. The more extensible the wall, the greater the ability for the eye's volume to increase in response to a fluid volume change. The less extensible the wall, the less capable the eyeball is of coping with fluid volume change and consequently the more the fluid pressure will increase.
Typically, in medicine, pressure such as IOP is not measured directly because of the invasive nature and risks associated with placing a pressure sensor in the fluid of the eyeball. Therefore, determination of pressure is typically attempted using alternate, less invasive methods, some of which are used daily in clinic settings to indirectly measure eye pressure. Consequently, while the measurement of intraocular pressure directly, frequently or continuously, and non-invasively is desired, it is difficult to achieve.
Moderately invasive methods for measuring IOP are known. Devices known as "Contacting Tonometers" have been used extensively by the medical community for many years. Most common is the Goldmann applanation tonometer, which measures the force necessary to applanate a 3.06 mm diameter area of the cornea using a probe, and calculation of the IOP from such force. However, the popularity and attractiveness of contacting tonometers is offset by the need to have direct mechanical contact with the eye requiring anesthesia, and the measurements are both lengthy and cumbersome and involve risks of trauma, infection, allergy and discomfort. Further, the requirement for contact and the resulting deformation of the eye can introduce errors in the determination of IOP due to formation of tears, subjects with thin or thick corneas and changes in eye volume due to compression, and as a result the variance of the physical properties of the cornea. Such prior art devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,519,681; 3,049,001; 3,070,087 and 3,192,765.
Various other attempts have been made to measure IOP discreetly or continuously by means of more indirect methods. Indirect methods have the advantage of being non-invasive, or at least less invasive than indentation and applanation tonometry.
Applanation tonometry has also been attempted using an air puff to avoid contact. As set forth in U.S. Pat No. 3,181,351, one such method introduces a sharp pulse of air onto the eye, while measuring the resulting deformation of the cornea at the site of air impact. Such indirect methodology usually suffers from several limitations: lack of accuracy and repeatability and a lack of absolute value in resulting measurements. This technique is not optimally precise or reproducible and also is dependent on central corneal thickness (CCT) as is well known to those in the art.
All applanation tonometers are based on applying a force on the apex of the cornea, which is near the optical axis of the eye, and measuring the resultant displacement of the cornea at this same apex.
Chromatic confocal sensors are used in a wide array of technologies to measure distance, displacement, velocity and surface roughness. Chromatic confocal sensors split white light into monochromatic stages (colors) by using a set of precisely aberrant lenses and focus these colors on a target. The essence of chromatic confocal imaging is the accurate detection of colors from light that is reflected back from target surfaces. A specific distance to the target is assigned to each color's wavelength, in a factory calibration. The phase shift induced by the aberrations on the different wavelengths going to, and reflected from, the target is used to perform an interferometric measurement of distance. Light reflected from the target surface is transmitted through a confocal aperture and onto a spectrometer which detects and processes the spectral changes and calculates distances.
Laser vibrometry or interferometry is a well-established technique for the non-contacting measurement of vibration within a solid object. The measurement is generally based upon the interference of coherent waves used to measure dimensions and vibrations. A typical Michelson interferometer configuration used in traditional Laser Doppler Vibrometers/Velocimeters (LDV's) requires a complex arrangement of various lenses, beam splitters and photodiodes.
As reported by Guiliani et al, in Measurement Science and Technology, Vol 14, 2003, p 24-32, self-mixing laser vibrometers based on a compact laser diode (LD) are known and are simple and versatile compared to conventional laser vibrometers. Such vibrometers rely upon a self-mixing interferometric configuration and on active phase-nulling accomplished through LD wavelength modulation. Light from the LD is focused on a remote reflective or diffusive target and a small fraction of the backscatter light is allowed to re-enter the LD cavity. The re-entered or re-injected light is coherently detected by the lasing field through a sort of mixing that generates a modulation of both the amplitude and the frequency of the lasing field. No optical interferometer is required external to the source resulting in a simple compact set-up. No external photodiode is required because the signal is provided by a monitor photodiode contained in the LD package. Operation on targets with rough diffusive surfaces is possible because the noise equivalent vibration of the scheme is very high, being a sort of coherent detection that easily attains the quantum detection regimen. Self-mixing interferometry is feasible with virtually all specimens of single-mode LD's. Furthermore, self-mixing laser interferometry is a versatile approach that has been deployed to measure displacement, distance, velocity and surface roughness.
Self-mixing laser vibrometry and chromatic confocal sensing have conventionally been applied to the measurement of vibrations in a variety of solid objects which typically have a reflective or diffuse surface capable of providing significant backscatter to the laser. The eye is not a "solid" object and reacts in a very complex way to an excitation stimulus.
In applying self-mixing laser vibrometry or chromatic confocal sensing to such non-solid objects as a human eyeball, one is faced with the problems associated with a substantially smooth, non-reflective surface which may only be capable of a limited backscatter of about 2-4%. Further, one is faced with the problems of transforming such vibration measurements to meaningful measures of pressure within the eye after filtering out spontaneous eye movements.
There is a need for better methods of measuring IOP using non-contact techniques. There is great interest in the development of non-contacting tonometers which utilize very sensitive vibration measurement technologies.

Measurement of ocular parameters using vibrations induced in the eye


A heat dissipating sheet having an antenna function, and a portable terminal including the same are provided. The heat dissipating sheet, having an antenna function, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: an antenna part formed into an antenna pattern having a predetermined line width; and a heat dissipating part disposed on the same plane as the antenna part, and dissipating heat transferred from a heat source or distributing locally concentrated heat, wherein the antenna part and the heat dissipating part are directly attached to an inner surface of a rear case or a back cover of a portable terminal body through a medium of an adhesive member.

Among the wireless communication technologies, NFC is a non-contact type short-range wireless communication module using 13.56 MHz frequency band as one of the RFID tags, and it refers to a technology of transmitting data at a distance of 10 cm between terminals. NFC is widely used as a file transfer method such as transmission of goods information in supermarkets or in general shops or travel information for visitor, transportations, access control lock or the like, as well as a mobile payment.
This NFC technology is applied to portable terminals including mobile phone and tablet PC and the like as short distance information transmitting and receiving function based on a near field communication (NFC), and provides not only mobile payment but also the function of transmitting pictures, business cards, files, maps, websites, or the like, between portable terminals.
Such an NFC technology is usually performed by forming an NFC antenna through a pattern printed on one surface of a circuit board in a predetermined pattern. More specifically, the NFC antenna is manufactured by a method of forming an antenna pattern by etching a relatively expensive flexible copper clad laminated (FCCL) film, so there is a limit to the unit price reduction.
On the other hand, portable electronic devices such as smart phones, tablet PCs, laptops and the like have high performance, but the thickness of them becomes slimmer, thereby it is necessary to rapidly dissipate heat generated from various circuit components (for example, an AP chip) in the devices to prevent the electronic devices from being damaged by heat.
For this, a heat dissipating sheet is provided to dissipate heat energy generated inside the system to the outside. For example, the heat dissipating sheet is installed inside the portable electronic device so as to dissipate heat generated from the heat source.
Specifically, when the NFC antenna is applied to the portable terminal, the NFC antenna may be embedded in a battery pack, attached to a battery pack side, or attached to a battery cover side.
At this time, the heat dissipating sheet is disposed in the region excluding the region that the NFC antenna is disposed so as not to affect the NFC performance. Accordingly, the heat dissipating sheet must be disposed in a region excluding the region corresponding to the battery size so as not to overlap with the battery pack in which the NFC antenna is embedded. As a result, the heat-dissipating sheet can't secure a sufficient area due to restriction of the space by the NFC antenna, and there is a problem that heat dissipation performance is deteriorated.
Also, in an electronic device using an existing NFC antenna, because the NFC antenna and the heat dissipating sheet are stacked in the vertical direction, they are act as a factor that hinders the thinning of electronic devices. As a result, it is difficult to increase the thickness of the heat dissipating sheet to a predetermined thickness or more, and thus there is a limit to improving heat dissipation performance.

Heat dissipating sheet having antenna function, and portable terminal including the same


A method for calculating a mass flow rate of a cryogenic fluid within a flow tube includes positioning a sensor within a stream of cryogenic fluid flowing through the flow tube. The sensor is operatively coupled to a strain gauge. A difference between a dynamic pressure in the fluid stream and a static pressure in the fluid stream is measured and the mass flow rate of the cryogenic fluid within the flow tube is calculated.

This invention relates generally to cryogenic fluids and, more specifically, to measuring a mass flow rate of a cryogenic fluid.
A cryogenic fluid is a liquefied gas, such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, methane, helium and/or acetylene, which has a temperature below about −150° F. Measuring a mass flow rate of a cryogenic fluid in a cryogenic fluid stream is difficult due to certain system requirements and/or limitations. For example, when measuring the mass flow rate of the cryogenic fluid, it is necessary to prevent or limit thermal leakage from the relatively warmer environment or surroundings, typically at "room temperature," to the relatively colder cryogenic fluid stream. Further, it is desirable to limit an exposure of the measuring device to the flow of the cryogenic fluid stream to facilitate preventing or limiting interference with and/or disruption of the flow due to the dimensional configuration of the measuring device.

Method and apparatus for measuring cryogenic flow


Diffuser device for cosmetic liquids for hair dryers, characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical barrel, which can be associated with the blowing part of a hair dryer; said cylindrical barrel housing a diaphragm comprising a transverse septum which has a central expansion and lateral lobes; said lateral lobes defining respective lateral passages; said lateral passages and said transverse septum causing the air produced by said blowing part to pass in the form of two flows channeled to the exit of said device with laminar motion. The device makes passage of the air that passes through it more uniform in pressure and temperature, and at the same time enables cosmetic products to be dispensed for hair treatment.

The present invention relates to a diffuser device for cosmetic liquids for hair dryers.
As is known, the professional hairdresser uses the hair dryer with devices that try to maximize the result on the hair, with an air flow that is uniform, both in aerodynamic and thermal terms.
It is known that hair dryers are associated with a device suitable for diffusing cosmetic liquids to further improve the result on the hairstyle.
Hair dryers intended for hairdressers generally have a concentrator nozzle, the shape of which, being thin at the end, makes it possible to alter the set of the hair by means of air and temperature.
This nozzle shape derives from decades of improvements, while the use of reservoirs or means for adding on cosmetic products is relatively recent.
WO2008015704A1 describes a device comprising a support material, soaked with a substance for hair. The device is provided as a concentrator accessory which is to be fitted to the outlet of a hair dryer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,800 describes a fragrance dispenser which can be connected to the mouth of a hair dryer and comprises a replaceable fragrance emission element.
GB2308062 describes a hair dryer comprising a cylindrical support mounted inside its front tubular portion carrying a heating resistance, an air injection nozzle, a fan to inject air through the resistance support and the nozzle, and a support for a water container mounted in the tubular portion and communicating with the resistance support through a drip distribution outlet so as to humidify the flow of air passing through the resistance support and the nozzle.
EP1685775, which originates from Japanese patent application JP20050021418, describes a hair dryer with an atomizing device that generates a mist of electrostatically charged microparticles through a pair of atomizing electrodes. The system has a separate reservoir for storing water.
As early as 1960, in its catalogs this Applicant presented a hair dryer that emitted perfumes and balsamic essences through suction, by means of a felt intercepting the air introduced by the fan inside the hair dryer.
The liquid and cosmetic hair conditioner diffusion systems described above do not however offer adequate performance for reasons that will be described below, in relation to the fluid dynamics of hair dryers.
A real fluid with laminar motion in the x direction, whether in liquid or even gaseous phase, inside a circular duct, has a flow whose velocity "v" generally varies parabolically with a maximum in the center and a minimum at the circumference of the duct. This behavior is due to many physical and chemical factors, among which the viscosity and resistance provided by intimate contact with the walls (boundary layer) are prominent.
If the fluid encounters variations in cross-section with regular increases or decreases along its path, the behavior of the velocity is affected by some characteristic phenomena summarized by the Bernoulli equation, as far as macroscopic effects are concerned. In particular, if the piezometric heads between inlet and outlet are fixed, pressure and velocity are linked in an inversely proportional way. That is, for a reduction in cross-section, for the same flow rate and piezometric head there is thus an increase in velocity and a drop in pressure, and vice versa.
If the barrel is constricted along its length with the cross-section changing from circular to rectangular with rounded edges in a non-abrupt way, this particular geometry gives rise to a further physical phenomenon, which is much less known but still characterizing, which results in double vorticity, with the vortices located at the ends and rotating in two opposite directions.
This phenomenon takes its name from the physicists Dean and Nekrassov who first identified and studied it. In practice, Dean vortices (or Nekrassov vortices) are formed when in addition to being subject to the parabolic trend, the fluid threads are forced to increase in velocity due to the decrease in cross-section, which moreover changes from circular to flattened elliptical. The forced change in direction causes changes in velocity and therefore in acceleration.
In particular, two lateral vortices are formed while the central portion remains in laminar motion.
In the case of a hair dryer, the typically circular outlet barrel is normally throttled by a concentrator designed to allow styling and drying operations, which would otherwise not be possible.
The outlet, typically with a flattened elliptical cross-section or with a rectangular cross-section, specifically enables the air flow to be concentrated, with a corresponding increase in velocity and also in heat.
It is these two factors, and in particular the temperature that must be uniform, that enables the hairdresser to give the desired set to a hairstyle.
Precisely because of the particular shape of the conduit comprising the barrel of the hair dryer and the concentrator inserted upon it, the aforementioned two vortices are formed and, in addition to preventing a uniform outflow of hot air, distribute the heat mainly around the vortices, so there are areas with different temperatures in the air flow.
The hairdresser's work is therefore more difficult and time-consuming because he/she has to go over a lock several times in order to obtain greater uniformity.
The result can be seen directly on the hair, where shine of the hair is not uniform when the various areas have been treated at different temperatures.


A microprocessor configured to detect subroutine call instructions having a target address indicative of a DSP function is provided. The detection of such instructions may be performed, for example, in an instruction decode unit within the microprocessor. Subroutine call instructions detected in this manner are routed to a digital signal processor coupled near the microprocessor or possibly integrated into the microprocessor. The microprocessor may be configured to store an indication that the DSP is enabled. If the DSP is not enabled, then the microprocessor executes the original routines stored at the target address of the instruction. Although the routines may not be as efficient in performing the DSP function, the program employing the function may still operate properly in the absence of the DSP. In this manner, a computer system may initially operate without the DSP included. If a user later decides to upgrade the computer system with a DSP, then the microprocessor may dispatch DSP functions to the DSP. Until the upgrade occurs, the microprocessor may execute the functions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of computer systems and microprocessors and, more particularly, to efficient hardware for executing DSP functions within such computer systems and microprocessors.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Computer systems employ one or more microprocessors, and often employ digital signal processors (DSPs). The DSPs are typically included within multimedia devices such as sound cards, speech recognition cards, video capture cards, etc. The DSPs function as coprocessors, performing complex and repetitive mathematical computations demanded by multimedia devices and other signal processing applications more efficiently than general purpose microprocessors. Microprocessors are typically optimized for performing integer operations upon values stored within a main memory of a computer system. While DSPs perform many of the multimedia functions, the microprocessor manages the operation of the computer system.
Digital signal processors include execution units which comprise one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs) coupled to hardware multipliers which implement complex mathematical algorithms in a pipelined manner. The instruction set primarily comprises DSP-type instructions (i.e. instructions optimized for the performance of complex mathematical operations) and also includes a small number of non-DSP instructions. The non-DSP instructions are in many ways similar to instructions executed by microprocessors, and are necessary for allowing the DSP to function independent of the microprocessor.
The DSP is typically optimized for mathematical algorithms such as correlation, convolution, finite impulse response (FIR) filters, infinite impulse response (IIR) filters, Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), matrix computations, and inner products, among other operations. Implementations of these mathematical algorithms generally comprise long sequences of systematic arithmetic/multiplicative operations. These operations are interrupted on various occasions by decision-type commands. In general, the DSP sequences are a repetition of a very small set of instructions that are executed 70% to 90% of the time. The remaining 10% to 30% of the instructions are primarily boolean/decision operations. An exemplary DSP is the ADSP 2171 available from Analog Devices, Inc. of Norwood, Mass.
Unfortunately, many instruction sequences (or "routines") which perform complex mathematical operations are coded in the x86 instruction set. Such mathematical routines often may be more efficiently performed by a DSP. Microprocessors often execute instructions from the x86 instruction set, due to its widespread acceptance in the computer industry. Conversely, DSPs develop instruction sets which are optimized for mathematical operations common to signal processing. Because the DSP instruction set is optimized for performing mathematical routines, it is desirable to determine that a routine may be more efficiently executed in a DSP and to route such a routine to a DSP for execution. It is further desirable to perform such a detection in a manner that allows for the original x86 routine to be executed if a DSP is not included in the computer system.

Microprocessor configured to detect a branch to a DSP routine and to direct a DSP to execute said routine


An oven for bonding adhesives to the back surface of a textile article includes a housing with a transport frame for passing the textile article through a curing chamber within the housing. The oven also has an air source and a duct system that delivers an airflow into a cool zone on the opposite, pile surface side of the textile article. The airflow has a lower temperature than the elevated temperature of the curing chamber and is supplied to the cool zone in sufficient amounts such that the pressure in the cool zone exceeds the ambient pressure in the curing chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the manufacture of textile articles, such as carpet and synthetic turf products. More specifically, the invention relates to an oven used to cure adhesives to the back of textile articles.
2. Related Art
It is well known to prepare textile articles having a pile surface, such the tufted side of a carpet and synthetic turf, by binding natural or synthetic fibers to a primary backing material by the means of a thermosetting adhesive. Secondary, tertiary and further backing materials may also be utilized and may be similarly bound to prior backing materials, to the fibers, or to both by means of a thermosetting adhesive. To bind the backing material to fibers, to other layers of backing material, or to both, the back surface of article is coated with a layer of thermosetting adhesive. The thermosetting adhesive is then heated to a sufficiently high temperature so that it achieves a liquid or plastic state and penetrates the interstices of the fibers, the respective layer(s) of backing material, or both. An effective method for heating the thermosetting adhesive is to pass the textile article, coated with the thermosetting adhesive, through an oven. However, the thermoplastic fibers and backing materials have softening temperatures in the same general range as the temperatures required to heat the thermosetting adhesives. Typically, the softening point of thermosetting adhesives used to anneal fibers to the primary backing is between approximately 180° F. and 250° F. The softening point of thermoplastic fibers used for artificial turfs is typically less than 176° F. (80° C.). For example, Thiolon™ polyethylene fiber, a preferred fiber used in artificial turfs, softens at temperatures greater than 150° F. (65.5° C.) and fiber shrinkage is 1.2% at 158° F. (70° C.). Thus, the manufacturer recommends that that coatings be applied at the lowest possible temperature and Thiolon™ fibers not be exposed to temperatures in excess of 194° F. (90° C.).
Tunnel ovens, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,944,968, 6,121,166 6,180,166, 5,045,375, and 4,390,585, are particularly suitable for bonding a thermosetting adhesive to a textile article, and such ovens are commercially available from various manufacturers such as Schott & Meissner, FECO and Glenro. Transport assemblies for transporting articles through a tunnel oven are well known in the art and commercially available, preferably having continuous loop flexible chain linkage means for rotational movement of parallel, laterally extending rollers, such as a conveyor assembly. The transport assemblies also include well known devices to support and secure the textile. The support means preferably comprise stenter or tenter frames, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,756, or other similar support means movably connected to the transport assembly.
Multi-pass tunnel ovens that have transport and support assemblies and allow an article to pass through the oven more than once, in a loop fashion, are also well known in the art and are commercially available. Such multiple-pass tunnel ovens permit extended heating times without requiring longer oven housings. Due to the benefits of a relatively shorter length and an extended heating time, a multi-pass tunnel oven having upper and lower transport means and support means disposed to permit an article to pass through the oven twice in a loop fashion, is preferable over other oven configurations.
Various means may be used to provide heat in such ovens, including microwave energy, radiant heat (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,024), convection heat (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,491), hot air impingement, heated platens (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,991), ultrasound energy (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,058), and heated drums or rollers (as described in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. 2006/001389 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,652,322, 3,673,034 and 2,891,279). Heat may be generated by gas burner, steam, hot water, electrical heating elements, infrared heat lamps, ultrasound generators, microwave generators, infrared radiation generators or various other heat generating means that will be apparent to those possessing ordinary skill in the art. Air impingement tunnel ovens that are heated by gas burners are particularly suitable for purposes of the present invention.
It is often desirable to use combinations of fibers and thermosetting adhesives, where the temperature necessary to effect a sufficiently liquid or plastic state of the thermosetting adhesive is higher than the temperature at which the fibers will burn, soften, shrink or otherwise be damaged. It is particularly common in the manufacture of artificial turf for fibers to shrink or curl, resulting in a product that is lower in quality and may be less functional, less aesthetic, or both. Furthermore, to compensate for anticipated shrinkage, fibers that are longer than the desired post-heated length must be used in the pre-heated article, thereby increasing the cost and the weight of the product.
To minimize the effects of heating the fibers, prior art ovens and heating systems have employed split heat zones within the oven. In certain heating systems, the article passes sequentially through one or more heated zones and then sequentially passes through one or more separate cooled zones. However, such systems do not permit simultaneous heating of the thermosetting adhesive on the back surface with the cooling of heat-sensitive fibers on the pile surface and subsequent cooling is not generally effective to prevent or reverse the shrinkage, curling and other undesired effects on the fibers that occur in the heated zones.
Some prior art split zone ovens allow for separate heating of a top zone and a bottom zone within the oven, such as in the CTS/Gyson True Zone oven, so that the thermosetting adhesive covered back surface of the textile article may be heated to a higher temperature than the more temperature sensitive pile surface of the article. However, prior art ovens merely recirculate the air in both of the respective zones so there is no active cooling with a positive pressure differential from the cooler zone to the hotter zone nor are there exhaust ports for directly venting the cooling air without recirculation. In yet another form of a prior art split zone oven, the article passes through the oven with only the back surface exposed directly to the heat source, such as with a single air impingement oven. In such prior art split zone ovens, the heat from the higher temperature zone may leak or flow into the less heated or unheated zone at various locations along the transport frame, thereby raising the localized temperature of the pile surface at these locations and causing shrinkage and warping of the fibers.
Physical barriers have been developed in an attempt to substantially separate the heated and lesser heated or unheated zones, and to deter hot air leakage or flow into areas in which the tufted surface passes. Current barriers include metal plates or heat-resistance cloths that run the length of the oven in the same plane as the transport assembly, and are positioned between the oven walls and the support or transport system. However, physical barriers alone do not sufficiently prevent hot air from leaking into less heated or unheated zones, and this leakage can damage the pile side of the textile, particularly along the edges as well as other localized heating regions that may also damage the pile surface. Additionally, heat-resistant cloths may become worn and develop tears further diminishing the barrier function. Thus, known means to separate heated from less heated or unheated zones within ovens are not completely effective in maintaining the tufted surface at a sufficiently low temperature and eliminating shrinkage, curling, and other undesired effects on heat-sensitive fibers.
To date, there is no known oven that permits active cooling of the pile surface of a textile article while simultaneously heating the thermosetting adhesive covered back surface of such article. Without the present invention, current ovens can shrink polyethylene fibers by approximately ¼″ for a pile that is about 2¼″, resulting in more than 5% shrinkage. Thus, there is a need for an oven that has the capability to heat the thermosetting adhesive to a sufficiently high temperature so that the adhesive softens or melts and flows into the interstices of the fibers, layer(s) of backing material, or both, while simultaneously protecting the pile surface of the textile article so as to reduce or eliminate warping, shrinkage and any other undesired alteration of the fibers.


Provided is an optical film which is resistant to repelling, bright dots, irregularity, and the use of such an optical film in a liquid crystal display leads to high front contrast, reduced grayscale inversion, and a reduced difference between a front image and an oblique image in grayscale reproducibility and color. The optical film including a first optically anisotropic layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer on the first optically anisotropic layer, wherein the first optically anisotropic layer is a layer of liquid crystal compounds aligned and fixed by polymerization, and the surface tilt angle of molecules of the liquid crystal compound is in a range of 5° to 80° at a site in contact with the second optically anisotropic layer.

A Known liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal cell, a polarizing film, and an optical film for optical compensation (also referred to as an optically-compensatory film or retardation film).
A transparent liquid crystal display includes two polarizing films on both surfaces of a liquid crystal cell, and one or more optically-compensatory films between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizing films. A reflective liquid crystal display has, in sequence, a reflector, a liquid crystal cell, an optically-compensatory film, and a polarizing film. A liquid crystal cell consists of rod-like liquid crystal molecules, two substrates encapsulating the molecules, and electrode layers for applying voltage to the molecules. Liquid crystal cells are categorized into various display modes by the alignment states of their rod-like liquid crystal molecules. For instance, transparent displays are present in various display modes, such as twisted nematic (TN), in-plane switching (IPS), ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC), optically compensatory bend (OCB), super twisted nematic (STN), vertically aligned (VA), and electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) modes. Reflective displays are present in TN cells, hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) and guest-host (GH) modes.
Optically-compensatory films are used in various liquid crystal displays to avoid coloring of images or increase the viewing angles. Traditional optically-compensatory films include stretched birefringent polymer films. As an alternative for an optical compensatory film composed of a stretched birefringent film, optically-compensatory films are currently proposed which include an optically anisotropic layer consisting of a support coated with an aligned liquid crystal compound. Liquid crystal compounds have a variety of alignment states and thus can provide optical properties that cannot be accomplished by traditional stretched birefringent polymer films.
The optical properties of an optically-compensatory film depend on the optical properties or display mode of the liquid crystal cell. The use of a liquid crystal compound allows for the manufacture of an optically-compensatory film having different optical properties suitable for various display modes of the liquid crystal cell. Examples of such an optically-compensatory film include a laminate of two optically anisotropic layers, which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-304930.
In particular, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-304930 discloses an optically-compensatory film in FIG. 6 including, in sequence, a support 1′, a rubbed first alignment film 2′, a first optically anisotropic layer 3′, a rubbed second alignment film 2′, and a second optically anisotropic layer 4′, the second alignment film 2′ being on the first optically anisotropic layer 3′ and aligning liquid crystal compounds in the second optically anisotropic layer 4′.

Optical film, polarizing plate, liquid crystal display, and method of manufacturing optical film


A turbo machine including a heat exchanger flowpath is generally provided. The turbo machine includes an outer casing extended along an axial direction, a prediffuser defining an inlet passage into a combustion section of the turbo machine, an inner casing extended from the prediffuser, in which a diffuser cavity is defined between the outer casing and the inner casing, a first plenum wall extended outward along a radial direction from the prediffuser, and a second plenum wall extended outward along a radial direction from the prediffuser. The second plenum wall is separated along the axial direction from the first plenum wall. A plenum is defined between the first plenum wall and the second plenum wall. The turbo machine includes a heat exchanger including a first conduit in fluid communication with the diffuser cavity. The first conduit is in fluid communication with a passage, and a second conduit in fluid communication with the passage and the plenum. A flow of working fluid is admitted from the diffuser cavity through the heat exchanger to the plenum via the first conduit, the passage, and the second conduit.

As heat engines, such as gas turbine engines, increase in efficiency and overall pressure ratio (OPR), maximum air temperatures at the compressor exit into the combustion section are generally increasing as well. In some instances, the temperature of air within a cavity between the rotor assembly and an inner casing at the combustion section may be significantly higher than air at a diffuser cavity into which most compressor exit air enters. Seals at the combustion section and rotor assembly, such as compressor discharge pressure (CDP) seals generally sealing the compressor and turbine rotors from one another, may experience significant degradation and undesired changes in clearance due to these higher temperatures. These undesired changes in clearance may result in deterioration in heat engine operability, such as to cause stalls, surges, or other operability and performance malfunctions. As such, there is a need for a heat exchanger system that provides cooled air to the CDP seal.