The quick connect electrical box comprises a first member having side walls and a back wall defining an interior and an exterior. The back wall has an opening configured to receive an electrical wire and a slot configured to receive a removing device. The first member has ports configured to receive electrical cables containing a plurality of the electrical wires. The quick connect electrical box also comprises a second member matingly attached to the back wall of the first member. The second member has side walls and a back wall defining an interior and an exterior. The back wall has an electrical clip including a body, an attachment flange, and a connection platform. The connection platform has a support wall and a branch having a fin with a notch configured to receive and retain the electrical wire.

Electrical (or junction) boxes, used for making electrical connections between various devices are well established in the art of electrical wiring. Conventional electrical boxes are generally plastic or metal and have several ports for receiving electrical cables and service cables. Electrical cables are fed into the electrical box and connected with the service cable. An electrical cable wire is connected to the corresponding service cable wire by twisting the wires together and securing them with a screw-type twist connector (or wire nut).
The connection of the wires with the twist connector is labor intensive. Unfortunately, using conventional methods it is easy for a user to make a wrong connection, which can be dangerous.
Additionally, conventional boxes are not large enough to support all of the wires and twist connectors utilized. Therefore, after all of the appropriate connections are made, the user will have to press all the wires and twist connectors back inside the box. This leaves the box in a disheveled state making it difficult to make an easy, quick repair, in the future.
What is needed in the art is an electrical box that is easy to use by safely coupling wires together, can be used for connecting all standard electrical connections, and results in the interior wires being neat and organized for future use.


The present disclosure describes an improved system and method for treating wastewater or other liquid. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a control program for operating the system and method. In one embodiment, the treatment process utilizes a biological nutrient removal activated sludge process utilizing a continuously sequencing reactor (CSR).

The prior art is aware of sequencing batch reactors as well as continuous flow reactor systems. Consistently high quality wastewater treatment has been a challenge throughout the years due to significantly varying influent characteristics coupled with stringent and demanding effluent regulations. Influent flows to a system can exhibit rapidly changing chemical and physical characteristics, as well as, considerable fluctuations in the quantity of the incoming volume. Treatment systems using activated sludge have been able to handle some of these difficulties. Given the lack of on-line computer controls, continuous flow systems have been mostly used for these purposes versus sequencing batch processes. The availability of artificial intelligence has now made possible the development of a system encompassing the benefits of both processes thus providing better controls and improved results in wastewater treatment. This optimization is enhanced by the flexibility of the system in the treatment of variable flows, minimum operator interaction required, good oxygen contact with microorganisms and substrate, and good removal efficiency.
However, the art is lacking an integrated system for addressing the optimal treatment of wastewater. The present disclosure provides a novel continuously sequencing reactor and provides an inventive control system operating in concert with a continuous flow reactor system to yield an optimization termed a continuously sequencing reactor. Such improvements were not previously known in the art.

Biological nutrient removal process and process control system for same


A method of managing oilfield activity with a control system is provided having a plurality of virtual sensors and integrating the virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network. The method includes determining interdependencies among the virtual sensors, obtaining operational information from the virtual sensors, and providing virtual sensor output to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information.

In the field of oil and gas exploration, development, and production the ability to oversee and manage the various aspects of hydrocarbon producing fields as a single holistic system has been difficult to achieve. For any asset, there are typically multiple applications, multiple data sets, multiple operational variables and multiple stakeholders involved, some or all of which may be sharing common data across the asset. Numerous oilfield activities, such as drilling, evaluating, completing, monitoring, producing, simulating, reporting, etc., may be performed. Typically, each oilfield activity is performed and controlled separately using separate oilfield applications that are each written for a single purpose. Thus, many such activities are often performed using separate oilfield applications. In some cases, it may be necessary to develop special applications, or modify existing applications to provide the necessary functionality. Interoperability among these programs, persons, and structures as a single system, while desired, has been frustrated by the lack of an underlying framework for handling the necessary transformations, translations, and definitions required between and among the various system components.
Attempts to provide subsurface understanding as well as efficient operation have previously focused on providing data replication, where each stakeholder group develops or receives its own version of the logical network and data model that includes all of its requirements. In these attempts, the act of transforming the data model by correlating changes between the data model representations has not been done or has been done crudely. Although some level of interoperability has been achieved by point-to-point integration, it is largely limited to supporting single workflows. Moreover, changes to the data model representations cannot be effectively controlled when each stakeholder can decide whether such changes should be applied (accepted) and communicated to the other stakeholders. Previous approaches thus, have been unable to account for reconciliation and data integrity issues in a systematic and/or system-wide way.
Physical sensors are widely used in the field of oil and gas exploration, development and production, to measure and monitor physical phenomena, such as temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and on/off status of pumps, motors, etc. Physical sensors often take direct measurements of the physical phenomena and convert these measurements into measurement data to be further processed by control systems. Although physical sensors take direct measurements of the physical phenomena, physical sensors and associated hardware are often costly and, sometimes, unreliable. Further, when control systems rely on physical sensors to operate properly, a failure of a physical sensor may render such control systems inoperable. For example, the failure of a pressure sensor in a compressor station may result in a complete shutdown of the compressor station, even if the actual operating conditions are within acceptable ranges. Physical sensors can be coupled with an actuator, for example a physical sensor can be coupled with, or be a part of an actuator that controls a device, such as a valve.
Actuators are devices that control either directly or indirectly machinery commonly used in hydrocarbon exploration, development, and production operations. Actuators respond to commands and in an ideal situation, the devices work as designed. However, failure might happen to one or more of the actuators. In this case, the outcome is that despite the obvious problem the system protects others and itself as much as possible. For example, a valve may be told to close but for whatever reason it does not close all the way. Valves further downstream then should be instructed to close.
There is therefore, a need for systems and methods that provide fail-safe interoperability among the various data sets, applications, and stakeholders sharing data across a production asset. There is also a need for systems and methods that provide reliable sensing data to a control system.


Apparatus and methods are provided for treating low quality forage with a treating agent and water. In certain cases, the treating agent is calcium oxide.

Farmers harvest plants every year to feed animals. Plants generally include fodder and forage. Fodder is the parts of the plant that is digestible and high in energy and is typically directly fed to the animals. On the other hand, forage is the parts of the plant that remain after the fodder is harvested and is not as digestible or as high in energy. In many plants, after farmers remove the grain and chaff and other fodder parts, approximately one half of the plant remains as forage. For example, farmers commonly harvest corn to feed cattle. However, once the kernels and other digestible parts are harvested, approximately one half of the dry weight of a standing corn plant is the forage which is comprised of the stalk, leaf, husk and the cob. Some forage is of better quality than others. Farmers generally do not use low quality forage to feed animals, other than as part of the roughage component of a diet, because of its low digestibility.
Some farmers have used alkali treatments on low quality forage to enhance its digestibility and nutritional value. For example, some farmers have treated low quality forage with anhydrous ammonia, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or other strong alkalis to loosen the chemical bonds between the less digestible lignins and the more digestible components, thereby increasing the availability of the cell wall carbohydrates for digestion. This is because the natural enzymes found in the front stomach of cattle can effectively digest the treated forage which now has relaxed bonds.
Unfortunately, the costs and inefficiencies that are associated with such alkali treatments have limited their implementation. Currently, farmers simply gather low quality forage and place it inside of a feed truck. The farmers then add calcium oxide and water to the forage in the truck and mix all of the components together. The farmers then dispense the mixed components into a plastic agricultural bag and allow the components to sit for at least 7 days. After 7 days, the treated forage is ready to be fed to animals on the farm. This process is highly inefficient and is only capable of treating about 5 to 6 tons of forage per hour. As a result, farmers do not widely use this process.
Farmers have considered transporting forage off of the farm to a different site for treatment. However, forage generally has a high weight-to-value ratio, so it does not make economic sense to transport the forage off of the farm. In addition, the treating process involves the addition of water, which results in the treated forage being even heavier than the untreated forage. Thus, even if an off-farm site could more efficiently treat the forage, the treated forage would be even more expensive to transport back to the farm for feeding animals. Thus, it would be desirable to provide apparatuses and methods for more efficient on-farm treatment of low quality forage.

Method and apparatus for treating low quality forage


In one aspect, an example method to be performed by a vehicle-based media system includes (a) receiving audio content; (b) causing one or more speakers to output the received audio content; (c) using a microphone of the vehicle-based media system to capture the output audio content; (d) identifying reference audio content that has at least a threshold extent of similarity with the captured audio content; (e) identifying visual content based at least on the identified reference audio content; and (f) outputting, via a user interface of the vehicle-based media system, the identified visual content.

Vehicle-based media systems can receive media content to be presented to an occupant of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle-based media system can include an antenna configured to receive a radio signal, such as a satellite radio signal or a terrestrial radio signal, that is carrying audio content, and the vehicle-based media system can output the audio content through one or more speakers located within the vehicle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Vehicle-based media system with audio ad and visual content synchronization feature


A radio telecommunication apparatus stores one or more system identification numbers. When the apparatus receives a system identification number transmitted over a radio channel, the received system identification number is compared with each of one or more stored system identification numbers. When the received system identification number coincides with one of the stored system identification numbers, the apparatus is enabled to communicate with a base unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of radio telecommunication apparatuses used in a radio telecommunication system such as a motor vehicle radio telephone system and a portable radio telephone system and, more particularly, to a radio telecommunication apparatus able to display whether the apparatus is located in its service area.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cellular radio communication system will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The system comprises control station CS connected with wire telephone network NW, a plurality of base stations BS1-BSn, which are respectively connected with control station CS via landlines CL1-CLn, and a plurality of mobile radio apparatuses MS1-MSn. Each of these base stations BS1-Bsn has its own radio zone E1-En, respectively. The mobile radio apparatuses MS1-Msn may be in communication with the base stations BS1-Bsn via radio links in the radio zones E1-En. If an apparatus user travels out of zone E1 and enters another zone E2, a radio link is established between the apparatus and base station BS2 instead of between the apparatus and base station BS1.
A plurality of zones (E1-En) provides a service area. Furthermore, a plurality of service areas are provided in a cellular radio system. Each of the service areas is controlled by its respective control station. If an identification number of the apparatus is registered in a control station, the service area is called a home area. Otherwise, the area is called a roam area.
User fees for calls from the cellular radio telephone apparatus in a roam area are higher than the fees in a home area. When a calling party is located in a roam area and originates a call, a high fee is usually charged for the communication.
Further, when a party is called and receives an incoming signal while located in a roam area, a high fee is charged for the communication.
Still further, each of the roam areas are serviced by different service companies. Therefore, user fees for calls from an apparatus in one roam area are different from those in another roam area.
In order to reduce user fees, users normally do not wish to communicate with a "high charge" service area. However, when the calling party is located in the "high charge" service area and originates a call, the conventional radio telecommunication apparatus is obliged to be connected with that system. Further, when the called party is located in the "high charge" service area and receives an incoming signal, the conventional apparatus is obliged to be connected with that system.

Radio telecommunication apparatus and method having stored system identification numbers


A servo adjustable gripper device for gripping and transporting at least two objects such as boxes includes a frame and at least two gripper assemblies connected with carriages slidably connected with the frame. The gripper device further includes a robotic arm which controls further movement and placement of the boxes on a pallet. The position of the gripper assemblies on the frame is adjustable to provide equal lifting force for a variety of differently sized boxes or for different numbers of boxes.

In a manufacturing facility, items are packaged into boxes which are grouped in a linear configuration and positioned or aligned, such as on a conveyor with an end stop and reference clamp to pre-position the boxes. The aligned boxes are then lifted from the conveyor and placed onto pallets for shipment. Recent advances use fixed vacuum suction devices to lift the boxes from the conveyor and a robotic arm to transfer the vacuum suction devices and the associated boxes to a pallet.
The present invention was developed in order to provide an adjustable gripping assembly in which the gripping devices may be adjusted depending on the size and number of boxes to quickly and efficiently transfer aligned boxes to a pallet.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a photoluminescent article comprising at least one host material and at least one color tunable photoluminescent dye. In certain embodiments, the emission spectrum of the at least one tunable photoluminescent dye may be dependent on the supramolecular architecture of the material. The photoluminescent emission spectrum of the dye is capable of being shifted by subjecting the article to an external stimuli such as, but not limited to, a mechanical deformation, a temperature change, aging of the article, a pressure change, exposure to a chemical compound. In specific embodiments, the color tunable photoluminescent dye is an oligo(phenylene vinylene) compound, such as, but not limited to, 1,4-Bis-(α-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-benzene, 1,4-bis-(α-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, and 1,4-bis-(α-cyano-4-(2-ethylhexyloxystyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene and 2,5-bis-(α-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-thiophene. A further embodiment of the invention is method of determining a degree of mechanical deformation, a temperature change, aging of the article, a pressure change, exposure to a chemical compound on an article.

The use of photoluminescent polymers has attracted significant interest. The potential use of π-conjugated semiconducting polymers in light emitting diodes holds a great potential. Semiconducting polymers combine the processability and outstanding mechanical properties of polymers with the exceptional, readily tailored electronic and optical properties of functional organic molecules.
Poly(phenylenevinylenes) ("PPV's") represent the most extensively studied class of π-conjugated semi-conducting polymers. Research on these polymers has shown that the molecular and supramolecular architectures of the PPV's affect their electronic properties. Various examples have been shown that the properties may be tailored to many different applications.
A number of low molecular weight oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives ("OPVs") have also recently been investigated. The electronic properties of the OPV's have served as models for the corresponding PPV derivative. The substitution of OPV's has resulted in a bathochromatic shift of their emission spectra.
The emission characteristics of the OPV's strongly depend on the state of the matter. Bathochromatic shifts of up to 100 nm have been reported between the emission of the crystalline solid with the emission of a low viscosity molecular solution of the OPV. It has been suggested that the strong π-π overlap encounter in the lattice of the crystalline solid results in the bathochromatic shift. The pronounced π-π interactions cause multiple conjugated molecules to adopt a 'sandwich structure' and arrange under cofacial π-π stacking with distances between the planes of the conjugated systems in the order of 3-4′. This supramolecular architecture leads to the formation of excimers that may exhibit strongly red shifted fluorescence bands and long fluorescence lifetimes.


A polymer dispersion having a minimum film-forming temperature in the range from 0 to 40.degree. C., which is useful in coating compositions for substrates, in the form of varnishes or gloss paints, is obtained by stepwise emulsion polymerization, which includes polymerizing, onto a first stage having the monomer composition I comprising: from 50 to 68.5% by weight of soft monomers A whose homopolymers have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) below 0.degree. C.; from 30 to 50% by weight of hard monomers B whose homopolymers have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) above 65.degree. C.; from 0.5 to 5% by weight of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or carboxamides C which are copolymerizable with A and B; from 1 to 7.5% by weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers D containing keto groups; and from 0 to 10% by weight of other ethylenically unsaturated monomers E which do not contain a nitrogen atom, where the weight percentages in each case are based on the overall amount of the polymer of the first stage, a second stage having the monomer composition II comprising: from 5 to 45% by weight of soft monomers A whose homopolymers have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) below 0.degree. C.; from 65 to 95% by weight of hard monomers B whose homopolymers have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) above 65.degree. C.; from 0 to 4% by weight of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or carboxamides C which are copolymerizable with A and B; from 0 to 5% by weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers D containing keto groups; and from 0 to 10% by weight of other ethylenically unsaturated monomers E which do not contain a nitrogen atom, where the weight percentages in each case are based on the overall amount of the polymer of the second stage, in a weight ratio of the monomer composition I to the monomer composition II of from 50:50 to 75:25.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polymer dispersions which form elastic films of high blocking resistance and scratch resistance in the range of from 0 to 40.degree. C., to processes for their preparation, and to their use, for example, as binders for the coating of substrates.
2. Description of Related Art
To prepare aqueous coatings that are applied to substrates which are not dimensionally stable, (e.g., wood varnishes, stains and gloss paints), there is a need for binders with a level of elasticity sufficient to avoid cracking when the coating is exposed to weathering. In addition, however, these coatings are also required to have a certain hardness, so that the coating possesses good scratch resistance and blocking resistance. From an environmental perspective, it also is desired that the binder form a film within the range from 0 to 40.degree. C., so that little or no film consolidating agent is required.
From EP-B 0 184 091 and EP-B 0 015 644 it is known that it is possible, by multi-stage emulsion polymerization, to prepare aqueous auto-crosslinking polymer dispersions which have a low minimum film-forming temperature (MFT) and which form films with high blocking resistance. Owing to the use of a relatively high proportion of soft monomers in the first stage, however, the corresponding polymer films have deficiencies in the context of their scratch resistance. It generally was thought possible to compensate for this by using larger amounts of auto-crosslinking groups, but the result of such use would be a worsening in the elongation at break in addition to a higher price.
Multi-stage polymers as described in EP-B 0 332 011, possessing an MFT in the range from 65 to 110.degree. C., form highly scratch-resistant films but, when used as binders, require a large amount of film consolidating agent. Moreover, the elongation at break of the corresponding films made from these multi-stage polymers is not adequate for use on substrates which are not dimensionally stable.
Thus, there exists a need to provide polymers and polymer dispersions that can be made into films having sufficient elasticity and that have high blocking resistance and scratch resistance. There also exists a need to provide polymers and polymer dispersions that can be used as binders for coatings on substrates that are not dimensionally stable.

Aqueous polymer dispersions as binders for elastic, nonblocking and scratch-resistant coatings


The present invention provides a hot tap machine having independent speed drives for the center drill and the holesaw that can be remotely operated. The hot tap machine of the present invention also has improved vibratory damping and coupon stability and retention. During operation, the machine cartridge holding the machine internal assemblies of the hot tap machine of the present invention is, except for its controls and external support systems, entirely contained within its pressure containment housing which is sealingly attached to the hot tap fitting on the pipe. An advantage in the operation of the present invention is the independence of the center drilling operation and the pipe coupon cutting operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for cutting round holes into the walls of pipes under pressure. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for using independently operated cutting means to holesaw a round hole into a pipe wall and to retain the resulting coupon.
2. Description of the Related Art
The hot tapping of pipes is a very old, established art. However, the machines which are currently in use for this purpose are only marginally satisfactory for critical work, such as steam lines or high pressure lines. The primary problems are related to operator safety, retention of the pipe coupon cut from the pipe, dealing with high pressure conditions, and the accuracy of the cut. Additionally, the existing machines are not sufficiently capable in their operation for dealing with vibrations, flow forces, or jamming. Major improvements are needed for subsea use, particularly for cases where operations must be conducted robotically below diver depths.
Traditional hot tap machines have used a holesaw with an integral rigidly concentrically mounted twist drill as a pilot. Coupon retention has been with spring wires anchored and recessed in the flutes of the twist drill or with Hydrotech's selectably engagable rotary bar mounted in a shank pocket of the twist drill and operated by a coaxial rod within the drill stem. Both approaches fail to maintain adequate coupon retention and alignment in the presence of high flow forces in the pipe, and the flute-mounted spring wires are highly unreliable.
Traditional hot tap machines mount their motors externally and extend their drive shafts through glands in a pressure containing housing. The friction from the glands is so high for high pressure conditions that often the shaft cannot be rotated. Additionally, the feed rate and cutting speed are fixed, while the extended shaft is laterally unstable and lacks adequate stiffness for avoiding shaft windup, axial and lateral vibrations, and excessive lateral deflections. The lack of stiffness is exacerbated by the interrupted cutting environment for the holesaw.
Due to their manually controlled operation, one of the most critical problems for conventional hot tap machines is the necessity for close operator proximity during cutting. In the event that the hot tap fitting and machine housing which are clamped around the pipe for supporting the cut leak or rotationally shift around the pipe axis, the operator is imperiled. Leakages of flammable fluids or live steam pose particularly severe hazards to personnel adjacent the hot tapping operation.
There is a critical need to address these problems with significant improvements in operator safety, machine stiffness and accuracy, machining rates, coupon retention, high pressure capability, operator feedback and adaptability to varying operational conditions while cutting, and remote operability.
A continuing need exists for a hot tap machine which is suitable for high pressure pipes and can be remotely operated, in order to promote operator safety.
Furthermore there is a need to improve the reliability of coupon retention for the hot tapping holesawing operation and to provide a means of maintaining coupon positional stability during the holesawing operation, particularly when the holesaw is completing its cut into the pipe wall.
Yet another critical need is a hot tap machine that is more rigid and has increased vibratory damping, so the pipe can be cut faster and more accurately. In addition, a hot tap machine which has independent variable speed drives for the center drill and the holesaw is also needed.


A dumbbell structure arranged for compacted configuration for ease of storage and transport is provided, wherein each dumbbell of the dumbbell apparatus includes respective first and second cylindrical housings having accordion pleated flexible side walls interconnected by an intermediate tubular housing, wherein each dumbbell is arranged for expansion for filling with dense material such as sand or fluid in use through a fill conduit in the first cylindrical housing of each dumbbell. The structure is arranged to further include a support web having a resilient central core to afford rigidity to the tubular housing when mounted thereabout.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to dumbbell apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved portable dumbbell apparatus wherein the same is arranged for compaction and expansion relative to respective periods of storage and use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dumbbell apparatus of various types have been utilized throughout the prior art, wherein such structure is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,690 to Schook wherein a rigid dumbbell member includes threadedly securable members arranged for mounting to each end of the dumbbell for enhanced weighting of the dumbbell structure.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by employing a dumbbell structure arranged for compaction that may be expanded to accommodate various material to effect weighting of the dumbbell structure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge portion configured to discharge a sheet, a destaticizing brush coming into contact with the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge portion and destaticizing the sheet, and a guide member turning by being pushed by the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge portion and guiding the sheet to a stacking portion on which the discharged sheet is to be stacked. The guide member includes a guide portion guiding the discharged sheet to the stacking portion and a recede portion provided at a position facing the destaticizing brush and accepting the destaticizing brush deformed by being pushed by the sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet discharge device and an image forming apparatus including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a multi-function printer includes a sheet discharge device configured to discharge a sheet on which an image has been formed to a discharged sheet stacking portion provided outside of the image forming apparatus.
There is known such a sheet discharge device provided with a destaticizing brush at a sheet discharge port as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei. 11-171388 for example. The destaticizing brush makes it possible to stack the sheet stably on the discharged sheet stacking portion by removing static electricity accumulated in the sheet during conveyance thereof before discharging the sheet to the discharged sheet stacking portion. There is also known a sheet discharge device provided with a full-load detection lever configured to detect a full-load of sheets stacked on the discharged sheet stacking portion as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-238016. The full-load detection lever also functions as a guide member guiding a sheet being discharged to the discharged sheet stacking portion.
Here, if the sheet discharge device includes the destaticizing brush and the full-load detection lever for example, it is conceivable that the destaticizing brush may be damaged by being sandwiched by the full-load detection lever and the sheet in discharging the sheet. That is, if the discharge of the sheet is continued in the state in which the destaticizing brush is sandwiched by the sheet to be discharged and the full-load detection lever, there is a possibility that tips of the destaticizing brush may be curled and deformed. If the tips of the destaticizing brush are cured, there is a possibility that parts where the destaticizing brush cannot be in contact with the sheet are brought about and it becomes unable to assure stable destaticizing performance. Still further, if the tips of the destaticizing brush are curled and if the tips of the destaticizing brush are tilted by being pushed by a front end of the sheet, and if an edge of a curled tip comes in contact with a full-load detection lever prior to a sheet, a reaction force caused by own weight of the full-load detection lever acts on the destaticizing brush. If the reaction force from the full-load detection lever acts on the destaticizing brush, there is a possibility that marks made by contact with the destaticizing brush are generated at the front end of the sheet, thus dropping quality of the sheet.

Sheet discharge device and image forming apparatus


Systems and methods for configurable voltage regulator (VR) controllers. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include: a processor; and a voltage regulator (VR) coupled to the processor, the VR configured to: identify, via a VR controller, a number of phases coupled to the voltage regulator in response to detection of a power-on-reset event; and select, via the VR controller, one of a plurality of different configuration files to be applied to the voltage regulator in response to the identification.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. An option is an Information Handling System (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated.
Variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use, such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, global communications, etc. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information; and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and/or networking systems.
Inside enterprise servers, storage devices, and networking appliances, as well as many other types of IHSs, voltage regulators (VR) are deployed to provide low-voltage (e.g., 1.8 V, 1.2 V, etc.) power to the IHS's Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and other electronic loads. An example of a VR commonly used in IHSs is the multi-phase buck converter.
The inventors hereof have recognized, however, that IHS components with different power ratings may require that a different number of phases or power modules be present in a given VR. To address these, and other issues, the inventors hereof have developed various configurable VR controllers described herein.

Configurable voltage regulator controllers


To provide a method of efficiently affording olefin polymers having a high molecular weight and a high melting point even under industrially advantageous high-temperature conditions. A production method of an olefin polymer to solve the above problem includes polymerizing monomer(s) including at least one α-olefin having 3 or more carbon atoms at 50° C. to 200° C. in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst including; (A) a crosslinked metallocene compound represented by General Formula [I] below; and (B) at least one compound selected from (b-1) an organoaluminum oxy-compound, (b-2) a compound that forms an ion pair by reacting with the crosslinked metallocene compound (A), and (b-3) an organoalunimum compound.

In recent years, metallocene compounds have been known as homogeneous catalysts for olefin polymerization. With regard to polymerizing olefins (in particular, polymerizing α-olefins) by use of metallocene compounds, since isotactic polymerization has been reported by W. Kaminsky et al., many studies have been conducted for improvement of stereoregularity and polymerization activity (Non-Patent Document 1).
It is known, in α-olefin polymerization by use of metallocene compounds, that the stereoregularity and molecular weights of olefin polymers greatly vary by the introduction of substituents to the cyclopentadienyl ring ligands of the metallocene compounds or by the crosslinking the two cyclopendienyl rings.
For example, when metallocene compounds having a ligand in which a cyclopentadienyl ring and a fluorenyl ring are crosslinked is used as a polymerization catalyst, in terms of the stereoregularity of polymers, dimethylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride affords syndiotactic polypropylene (Non-Patent Document 2), dimethylmethylene(3-methylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride, which has a methyl group attached to the 3 position of a cyclopentadienyl ring, affords hemi-isotactic polyprolylene (Patent Document 1); and dimethylmethylene(3-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride, which has a tert-butyl group attached to the 3 position of a cyclopentadienyl ring, affords isotactic polyprolylene (Patent Document 2).
In modifying these metallocene compounds, it is possible to obtain high melting points, an indicator of the stereoregularity of a polymer, and to obtain high molecular weight. Also, it is possible to produce a polymer with a high melting point and a sufficiently high molecular weight.

Production method of olefin polymer and olefin polymerization catalyst


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for suggesting alternative query phrases based on query search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search result for a query, the search result comprising a link to a resource, the resource including text, analyzing the text of the resource to identify a suggested query phrase in the text of the resource using a computed similarity measure, the similarity measure being a measure of similarity between the query and the suggested query phrase, the suggested query phrase being a phrase in the resource determined to be similar to the query and not identical to the query, and providing the search result, the suggested query phrase, and a user interface object for presentation to a user, the suggested query phrase and the user interface object provided in context in a section of contiguous text from the resource.

This specification relates to suggesting alternative query phrases to users submitting queries to search engines.
Search engines—and, in particular, Internet search engines—aim to identify resources (e.g., web pages, images, text documents, multimedia context) that are relevant to a user's needs and to present information about the resources in a manner that is most useful to the user. Internet search engines return search results in response to a user submitted query. Unfortunately, the terms of a user submitted query may not align well with what the user has in mind, for example, if there is ambiguity in the meaning of the query terms. Even if the search results returned are relevant objectively to the user submitted query, the results may not be relevant to the user's actual subjective needs. If a user is dissatisfied with the search results returned for a query, the user can attempt to refine the query to better match the user's needs.
Some search engines provide to a user suggested alternative queries that the search engine identifies as being related to the user's query. Often, these suggested alternative queries are presented in proximity to the query search results, e.g., at the bottom of a web page of search results. However, due to limited availability of space on search results web pages, the number of suggested alternative queries which can be displayed may be limited. Moreover, the relationship between the query and the suggested alternative queries may not be apparent to a user, which may discourage the user from selecting any of the suggested alternative queries.

Suggesting alternative query phrases in query results


A non-volatile memory device (e.g., a split gate type device) and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The memory device includes an active region on a semiconductor substrate, a pair of floating gates above the active region, a charge storage insulation layer between each floating gate and the active region, a pair of wordlines over the active region and partially overlapping the floating gates, respectively, and a gate insulation film between each wordline and the active region. The method may prevent or reduce the incidence of conductive stringers on the active region between the floating gates, to thereby improve reliability of the memory devices and avoid the active region resistance from being increased due to the stringer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more specifically to a (split gate type) non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Background of the Related Art
Since some non-volatile memory devices are electrically erasable and programmable and do not require power to retain the programmed data, the scope of their application is being widened increasingly in various fields. Some such non-volatile memory devices (such as flash memory) can be categorized typically into a NAND type and a NOR type. The NAND and NOR memory cells have advantages of high-density integration and high-speed operation, respectively. The NAND or NOR memory devices tend to expand their applications to the fields where the respective advantages are of importance.
In the NOR type non-volatile memory device, a plurality of memory cells is arranged in parallel to a single bit line. Each memory cell is composed of a single transistor. The NOR type non-volatile memory is configured such that a single memory cell transistor is connected between a drain connected to a bit line and a source connected to a common source line. The NOR type memory has an advantage of having a high memory cell current and being capable of being operated at a high speed. However, one drawback thereto is that the bit line contact and the source line occupy a larger relative area of the device, which can present challenges for high-density integration.
A NOR type non-volatile memory device may be configured such that its memory cells are connected in parallel to a bit line. Thus, if a threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor is lower than a voltage (commonly 0V) applied to the wordline of an unselected memory cell, current may flow between the source and the drain regardless of 'on' or 'off' state of a selected memory cell. In such a case, the device may malfunction (i.e., the memory cell may be read as having an 'on' state). In order to solve this problem, a non-volatile memory device having a split gate architecture (or split gate type) has been proposed.
A non-volatile memory device such as a flash memory device may have a layered configuration such as a FLOTOX structure or a SONOS structure, having a multi-layered gate insulation film and a structure similar to a MOS transistor. In the case of SONOS devices, the gate insulation film comprises a multi-layered charge storage insulation layer, and charge is stored in a deep level (or oxide-nitride interface) trap. In some cases, the SONOS structure may provide better reliability, as compared with a flash memory device, and enable program and erase operations at a lower voltage.
A conventional method of manufacturing a split gate type non-volatile memory device is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
Referring to FIG. 1, a device isolation film (not shown) is formed in or on a semiconductor substrate 10 to define an active region 11, and then a charge storage layer, a first conductive film and a capping film are formed. In case of a SONOS device where an insulation film having a high trap density is between a tunnel insulation film and a blocking insulation film to form the charge storage layer, in general, a layered silicon oxide film-silicon nitride film-silicon oxide film (ONO film) structure is employed. Further, in the case of a FLOTOX device, which has a layered gate structure including a floating gate, the charge storage layer may be composed of a tunnel oxide film, a polysilicon floating gate and an ONO film. In addition, a buffer layer of silicon oxide and a hard mask layer of silicon nitride may be laminated to form the capping film.
The capping film, first conductive film and charge storage layer are patterned in sequence to form a first conductive film pattern 16 on the active region with a multi-layered charge storage layer 14 interposed in-between, and a capping film pattern where an oxide film pattern 18 and a nitride film pattern 20 are laminated on the first conductive film pattern 16.
Referring to FIG. 2, a lateral insulation film 22 is formed on the side wall of the first conductive film pattern 16, and a gate insulation film 24 is formed on the active region. A second conductive film 26 is formed on the gate insulation film 24 in a conformal manner. At this time, the second conductive film 26 forms a groove G between the first conductive patterns 16 such that it has a side wall. In addition, a photoresist pattern 28 is formed on the second conductive film 26.
As shown in FIG. 3, using the photoresist pattern 28 as an etching mask, the second conductive film 26 is patterned such that the active region between neighboring first conductive patterns 16 can be exposed. The second conductive film 26 is removed through an anisotropic etching process. When the anisotropic etching is being carried out, often polymers or other by-products form (e.g., are stacked) on the side wall portion of the second conductive film 26 between the neighboring first conductive patterns 16 (see FIG. 2) to thereby inhibit the etching process from being smoothly performed. As the result, when the gate insulation film 24 is exposed through etching of the second conductive film 26, a conductive stringer 30 may be formed on the substrate 10. If the over-etching time is extended to completely remove the conductive stringer 30, the substrate 10 may be damaged. In the case where the conductive stringer 30 remains on the substrate, formation of silicide on the surface of the substrate 10 is inhibited, thereby increasing the resistance of the active region 11. Also, the conductive stringer 30 may act as a barrier to formation of a contact pattern, which may increase the contact resistance. Furthermore, the conductive stringers 30 may act as a particle source in subsequent processes.

Split gate type non-volatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same


An image forming apparatus includes a development device, an airflow generating device which generates an airflow, and a support member which supports a lower surface of the development device. An inner door is openable and closable so as to detachably attach the development device, an outer door covers the inner door, and a first duct portion is formed by the inner door and a lateral surface of the development device. The first duct portion guides the airflow along the lateral surface in a vertical direction, and a second duct portion guides the airflow along a longitudinal direction of the development device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a cooling mechanism which cools a developing unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-170853 discloses that an imaging unit is disposed below an intermediate transfer belt and a writing unit is disposed below the imaging unit. Further, an airflow duct is formed between the imaging unit and the writing unit to pass cooling air. The cooling air is adapted to cool the imaging unit through a slit formed in the airflow duct.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-170853, however, since airflow is formed to cool a bottom surface of the imaging unit from a short-side direction of the imaging unit, the slit is required for exposure to the airflow duct. Thus, there is a risk that a toner scattered from a development device through the slit contaminates an exposure unit or other members inside the apparatus body.
It is desirable to provide an image forming apparatus having a cooling mechanism capable of cooling a bottom of a developing unit while suppressing the contamination of the inside of the apparatus body due to scattering of a developer.


A method of forming a contact for a semiconductor device by forming a storage node contact in a semiconductor substrate having a first pad and a second pad formed thereon. The storage node contact is connected to the second pad. A bit line electrically insulated from the storage node contact by a spacer and electrically connected to the first pad.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention generally relates to a method of forming a contact in a capacitor over bitline (COB) structured semiconductor device.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application No. 2004-1966, filed on Jan. 12, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Higher integration in semiconductor devices has resulted in a decrease in a memory cell area. Accordingly, the cell size for a DRAM has reduced to 1.5 μm2 or less. For example, the reduction has been accomplished by reducing the distance between conductive layers in the cell unit. In accordance with the design rules, the distance between gate electrodes is equal to or less than a minimum feature size. A contact between a bit line and a drain region (bit line contact or direct contact), and a contact between a storage electrode and a source region (storage node contact or buried contact) have also been reduced to the minimum feature size.
As such, with the higher integration of the semiconductor device, the distance between the contact and adjacent interconnection lines has been reduced, and an aspect ratio of the contact hole has increased. A contact hole connects a lower interconnection line and an upper interconnection line. However, manufacturing reproducibility using a photolithography process to form contact holes is difficult. In addition, there are process limitations. Therefore, a self-aligned contact (SAC) method using insulating layers with different etch selectivity have been studied.
In a capacitor over bitline (COB) structure, if a capacitor is formed after the formation of a bit line, it is necessary to form a storage node contact to connect a storage electrode of the capacitor between bit lines and an active region of a semiconductor substrate. If the design rule is 0.2 μm or smaller and the storage node contact is a contact plug, a short may occur between the storage node contact and the bit line.
A conventional SAC method to prevent shorts between the storage node contact and the bit line is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,986. A silicon nitride layer is deposited after the forming a bit line. The silicon nitride layer is patterned to form spacers on the upper surface and the sidewalls of a bit line to prevent shorts between the bit line and a storage node contact. A silicon oxide layer is buried between the bit line, and then a contact hole is formed.
However, this conventional method has several problems.
First, if the distance between the bit lines is reduced, the overall thickness of the silicon oxide layer formed between the bit lines increases and the aspect ratio increases. During the etching process, the silicon nitride layer formed on the sidewalls of the bit line may be overetched or damaged, therefore, causing a short between the bit line and the storage node contact.
Second, if the silicon nitride spacers on the sidewalls are too thick, a void may form when the oxide layer is buried or it may be difficult to form the contact hole. These problems causes contact failures.

Method of forming capacitor over bitline contact


An electrical box marking system for use when installing a sheet of drywall over a mounted electrical box or when masking the electrical box for texturing or painting the sheet of drywall features a structural wall having a stud with a stud face and a stud side. The system features an electrical box located on the stud side. A first projection is located on a box top lip and a second projection is located on a box bottom lip. The box top lip, the box bottom lip, a box first side lip, and a box second side lip project out and away from the stud face by a box projection distance. The system features a sheet of drywall having a front drywall surface, a rear drywall surface, and a drywall thickness.

Electrical boxes are used as a container for electrical connections in an electrical system. A small metal or plastic junction box may be used to mount electrical switches or electrical outlets in or on a building. When installing electrical boxes and drywall, the electrical box is mounted, then the drywall is mounted afterward. A spiral saw may be used to cut a hole in the drywall allowing the electrical box to protrude through the hole for use. Sometimes, however it can be difficult to locate the electrical box for cutting the hole when covered by the drywall.
During construction and wall finishing operations, care must be taken to keep debris, paint or texture material from entering the electrical box. Sometimes, the electrical box is masked using tape as a sealing material, however once the texturing or painting operation is complete, it can be difficult to locate the electrical boxes to remove the tape. The present invention features an electrical box marking system for use when masking an electrical box for texturing or painting drywall.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.


A display driver integrated circuit which includes a distributor configured to output display data; a plurality of first-in first-out (FIFO) memories configured to receive the display data from the distributor according to an external clock and output the display data in response to an internal clock; and a plurality of graphics memories configured to receive the display data from the FIFO memories.

1. Technical Field
The inventive concept relates to a display driver integrated circuit, a display system including the same, and a display data processing method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
With the advent of a smart phone which includes a high-definition television (HDTV) class of super resolution display module, a wide extended graphics array (WXGA) (800×1280) or full HD class (1080×1920) of super resolution mobile display driver integrated circuit (DDI) using organic light emitting display (OLED) and/or low temperature polysilicon liquid crystal display (LTPS-LCD) techniques may be needed. The DDI may necessitate a variety of solutions for low-power driving with a view to reducing current consumption, heat, and burden of an application processor (AP) when the super resolution mobile display is driven.
In addition, the amount of data transferred between the DDI and a CMOS image sensor (CIS) and a mobile AP through a high speed serial interface (HSSI) may increase to cope with a super resolution such as full HD. Accordingly, there may be a need for a DDI with high-speed driving capacity.

Display driver integrated circuit including first-in-first-out (FIFO) memories configured to receive display data from a distributor and output the display data to graphics memories a display system having the same, and a display data processing method thereof


A surgical suturing instrument has an elongated housing forming a stationary jaw and a movable jaw formed with a holder for a suture filament and pivotal on the housing between a closed position closely juxtaposed with the stationary jaw and an open position spaced therefrom. A first actuating member displaceable in the housing is coupled to the movable jaw for moving it between its positions. A needle is movable in the housing between a position recessed in the housing and an extended position projecting crosswise from the housing to the movable jaw in the open position thereof. A second actuating member displaceable in the housing independently of the first actuating member is coupled to the needle for moving it between its positions.

In various arthroscopic procedures, for instance reattachment of a rotator-cuff tendon, it is necessary to attach a suture to an internal body part and then to secure this suture to another part. For instance a suture is passed through a detached tendon and is then secured to a hole or anchor in a bone.
To minimize trauma, this surgery is conducted arthro-scopically or laparascopically, that is through a small hole in the patients skin. The tool that attaches the suture must therefore be of narrow dimensions so that it can be inserted through the access hole.
A typical device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,820 of Caspari has a pair of jaws, one of which is movable. A piercing needle with a hook end is fixed to one of the jaws and the other jaw is set up to hold a suture filament so that when the two jaws are moved together the needle pierces the body part between them and the suture is picked up by the hook end of the needle and pulled back through the part as the jaws are again separated In use the jaws are opened and then positioned to opposite sides of the tendon or other body part to be sutured, then they are pressed together so that the needle pierces this part. When the jaws are again opened, the needle pulls out of the hole it has made and draws the suture filament back through it.
The disadvantage of this system is that it is relatively thick, requiring a hole some 12 mm across to fit through In addition when open it is some 18 mm to 20 mm wide, so that it stretches out the body region where it is being employed and cannot be fit into tight locations. Furthermore it is relatively difficult to position it so that it pierces the body part just where desired, especially if, for instance, the part is a retracted tendon.
German patent document 2,447,719 of Schweizer describes another such system that basically operates like a pair of forceps that is closed on the part to be sutures so that it first clamps this part, then automatically pierces it and threads a suture through it. This device is relatively bulky and not suitable for arthroscopic work. Furthermore it must be perfectly positioned before being closed, as once it is closed on the part the needle is automatically advanced.


Power converter controllers, flyback converters and methods are provided which use a resonant tank current of the flyback converter as a measure for an output current of the flyback converter. A power converter controller includes a control logic circuit that is configured to use, as a measure of an output current of the flyback converter, the resonant tank current indicated by the signal at a time in a phase where there is no reflected current to the primary side of the flyback converter.

Flyback converters are a type of voltage converters which provide galvanic isolation between an input and any output. A specific type of flyback converter is an asymmetric pulse width modulation (PWM) half bridge flyback converter, referred to as APWM HB flyback converter herein. An APWM HB flyback converter is essentially a converter with an inductor of the converter being split to form a transformer, such that voltage ratios are multiplied based on a winding ratio of the transformer with an additional advantage of isolation.
In some implementations, a half bridge comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch is used to operate the converter.
Such switches are often implemented as transistors, for example metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) field effect transistors (FET).
Furthermore, flyback converters in many applications, for example power supplies, should maintain a regulated output voltage with a wide input voltage range (for example to adapt to mains voltages in different countries), for example from 90 V AC (alternating current) up to 264 V AC. In some applications, it may also be desirable to be able to provide different output voltages.
Besides monitoring and regulating an output voltage, in some applications, it is also desirable to monitor an output current of the flyback converter. However, such a monitoring of the output current should not break the galvanic isolation between output and input side of the converter.

Operating a flyback converter using a signal indicative of a resonant tank current of the flyback converter


The present invention is directed to novel compositions and their use in the treatment of inflammatory responses. Specifically, the invention is directed to novel synthetic oligosaccharide constructs, especially multiple sLe.sup.x decorated poly-N-acetyllactosamines and their use to block lymphocyte binding to correspondent oligosaccharides on the endothelial surface, and thus reduce or otherwise ameliorate an undesired inflammatory response and other disease states characterized by lymphocyte binding. Furthermore the invention is directed to the use of the novel saccharides to block bacterial adherence to endothelium and thus prevent and/or treat bacterial infections. A further use of the present invention lies in the field of cancer treatment where metastasis of sLe.sup.x -positive tumor cells is inhibited by these glycans.

Selectin Mediated Cell Adhesion
The migration of white blood cells from the blood to regions of pathogenic exposure in the body is called the inflammatory cascade. Cell adhesion events allow for specific binding of a leukocyte to the endothelium of the vessel that is adjacent to the inflammatory insult; such adhesion events counteract the high vascular shear forces and high blood flow rates that tend to keep the leukocyte circulating, and help guide the leukocyte to the required site.
Four families of vascular adhesion molecules are involved in the migration of leukocytes during the inflammatory response: (1) the integrin family, (2) the counterreceptors of the integrin family, the immunoglobulin superfamily, (3) the selectin family, and (4) the counterreceptors of the selectin family, specialized carbohydrates displayed by the sialomucin adhesion family.
Selectins are also known as "lectin cell adhesion molecules" (LEC-CAMs). Selectins are classified into three groups: L-selectin (LECAM-1, LAM-1, gp90.sup.MEL, Leu-8, TQ-1, CD62L and DREG) is expressed on various leukocytes, and is constitutively expressed on lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils. E-selectin (LECAM-2, CD62E and ELAM-1) is expressed on endothelium activated by inflammatory mediators. P-selectin (GMP-140, PADGEM, LECAM-3 and CD62P) is stored in alpha granules of platelets and Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells and is also expressed on endothelium activated by inflammatory stimuli. All members of the selectin family appear to mediate cell adhesion through the recognition of carbohydrates.
The current concept of leukocyte extravasation is based on the consecutive action of several adhesion molecules located on the surface of leukocytes and the endothelium. Lymphocyte extravasation is initiated by the interaction of members of the selectin family and their oligosaccharide-containing counterreceptors. For a review of the current knowledge on lymphocyte adhesion, see e.g., Springer, T. A., Annu. Rev. Physiol. 57: 827-872 (1995).
All selectins bind to sialyl Lewis x (NeuNAc.alpha.2-3Gal.beta.1-4(Fuc.alpha.1-3)GlcNAc) (sLe.sub.x or sLex) and sialyl Lewis a (NeuNAca2-3Gal.beta.1-3(Fuc.alpha.1-4)GlcNAc) (sLe.sup.a or sLea) as well as related carbohydrate sequences (Bertozzi, C., Chemistry and Biology 2:703-708 (1995)). L-selectin-dependent recognition precedes normal lymphocyte extravasation into peripheral lymph nodes (Gallatin, W. M. et al., Nature 303:30-34 (1983)) and into sites of inflammation (Ley, K. et al., Blood 77:2553-2555 (1991)), both of which are impaired in L-selectin deficient mice (Arbones, M. L. et al., Immunity 1:247-260 (1994)).
Three glycoprotein ligands for L-selectin are currently known: GlyCAM-1, CD34 and MAdCAM-1. The exact structures of the biological ligands of L-selectin are not yet known, but the principal carbohydrate epitopes share some structural features. They are O-glycosidically linked mucin type oligosaccharides with an N-acetyllactosamine backbone, which is 3N-sialylated or 3N-sulphated, 3-fucosylated and sometimes 6- or 6N-sulphated at the distal N-acetyllactosamine termini.
Multivalency of the saccharide ligands enhances selectin binding. Past studies have shown that the ability of an oligosaccharide to inhibit L-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium increases with increasing numbers of sialyl L.sup.x groups (Turunen, J. P. et al., J. Exp. Med. 182(4):1133-1141 (1995)), and multivalent sialyl Le.sup.x structures are particularly potent as E-selectin inhibitors (DeFrees, S. A. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115:7549-7550 (1993); Welply, J. K. et al., Glycobiology 4:259-265 (1994); DeFrees, S. A. et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117:66-79 (1995)). The polylactosamine backbone of P-selectin ligand PSGL-1 is branched and contains several fucoses (Wilkins, P. P. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:18732-18742 (1996)), and the presence of multiply fucosylated and multiply sulphated glycans in GlyCAM-1 (Hemmerich, S. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:12035-12047 (1995)) suggest that also the single natural carbohydrate ligands for selectins may be multivalent.
High endothelial cells in peripheral lymph nodes express sialyl Lewis a and sialyl Lewis x (sLe.sup.a and sLe.sup.x) epitopes (Paavonen and Renkonen, Am. J. Pathol. 141:1259-1264 (1992); Munro, J. M. et al., Am. J. Pathol. 141:1397-1408 (1992); Sawada, M. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 193:337-347 (1993)) which are parts of the L-selectin counterreceptor. The endothelial cells in several other locations are sLe.sup.a and sLe.sup.x negative, but inflammatory stimuli can induce previously negative endothelium to express these oligosaccharide structures de novo (Turunen, J. et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:1130-1136 (1994)). It has been shown that cultured endothelial cells possess the machinery to generate at least sLe.sup.x, since they have several functional .alpha.2,3 sialyl- and .alpha.1,3 fucosyltransferases, enzymes involved in generating sLe.sup.x from (poly)lactosamines (Majuri, M. et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:3205-3210 (1994)).
A number of studies have proposed that selectins are involved in a wide variety of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions in many tissues. It has been proposed that drugs might be designed to impede the deleterious migration of leukocytes that damage tissue in many abnormal inflammatory conditions. However, only very high concentrations (in the mM range) of monomeric charged sugars blocked the adhesion. It has been shown that a specific subset of polyvalent, anionic sugars, such as fucoidin (a polymer of fucose-4-sulfate) and yeast cell wall polyphosphomannan ester (PPME), blocked this adhesion at concentrations in the nM range (Stoolman, L. M. et al., J. Cell Biol. 99:1535-1540 (1984)). In addition, it has been reported that oligosaccharides derived from the sLe.sup.x structure have anti-inflammatory activities. Both the sialic acid-containing (sLe.sup.x) and the sulfate (sulfo-Le.sup.x) forms of this oligosaccharide have been reported to have anti-inflammatory activity in vivo (Lasky, L. A., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 64:113-139 (1995); Mulligan, M. S. et al., Nature 364:149-151 (1993); Mulligan, M. S. et al., J. Exp. Med. 178:623-631 (1993); Buerke, M. et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91:1140-1148 (1994); and Nelson, R. M. et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91:1157-1166 (1993)).
Since lymphocyte infiltration is essential for acute organ transplant rejection (Renkonen, R. et al., Cell. Immunol. 77:188-195 (1983)) analysis of the regulation of lymphocyte traffic into the graft is important. It has been shown that peritubular capillary endothelium (PTCE) in kidney transplants begin to express sLe.sup.x de novo and bind an increased number of lymphocytes during rejection (Turunen, J. et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:1130-1136 (1994)).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,670 to Venot et al. discloses a method for the enzymatic synthesis of an .alpha.-sialylated oligosaccharide glycoside using sialyltransferase, a CMP-sialic acid analogue as the sialic acid donor and an oligosaccharide glycoside acceptor molecule, having a .beta.Gal(1-3).beta.GlcNAc or .beta.Gal(1-4).beta.GlcNAc disaccharide on the nonreducing terminus.
International Patent Publication No. WO 95/03059 (Gaeta et al.) discloses a synthetic saccharide that contains two glycosidically linked sLe.sup.x moieties, that are useful in blocking cellular adhesion, especially by inhibiting E-selectin binding. These sLex containing oligosaccharides are synthesized on a galactose backbone.

Synthetic multivalent sLe.sup.x containing polylactosamines and methods for use


A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1139’, characterized by its uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early season flowering response; under natural season conditions, plants flower in about eight weeks in Southern California; large inflorescences with dark red-colored flower bracts; and good post-production longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., and hereinafter referred to by the name 'PER1139'.
The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Poinsettia plants having large inflorescences with red-colored flower bracts, early flowering habit and excellent post-production longevity.
The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in December, 2001 of a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. identified as code number X-29, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent, with Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. '490', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,825, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas. Calif. on Dec. 1, 2002.
Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since January, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


An energy supply device for an occupant protection system is described, including an ignition energy supply device and a back-up supply device, the ignition energy supply device including an ignition energy store, which is chargeable via a first charge circuit from a first system voltage to a reserve voltage, the ignition energy store being suitable for providing a high ignition energy in the range of 0.1 kW to 2.5 kW for at least one restraint means for a short time period of 0.5 ms to 2 ms. The back-up supply device includes a back-up energy store, which is chargeable via a second charge circuit from a system voltage to a back-up voltage, the back-up energy store having an energy density value higher than the ignition energy store by a factor of 10 to 50 and being suitable for providing the supply energy in the range of 1 W to 10 W for the passenger protection system in the event of a supply interruption for a predefined time period of at least 5 s.

Energy supply devices for occupant protection systems are known from the related art, which are designed as airbag systems, for example, and have an ignition energy supply device, which includes at least one ignition energy store preferably designed as an aluminum electrolyte capacitor. The at least one ignition energy store may be charged via a first charge circuit from a first system voltage to a reserve voltage. On the one hand, such an ignition energy store provides a high ignition power in the range of 0.1 kW to 1.5 kW for at least one restraint means for a short time period of 0.5 ms to 2 ms. On the other hand, these known ignition energy stores provide the supply power in the range of 1 W to 10 W in the event of a supply interruption for a short time period of 100 ms to 2500 ms. The ignition energy stores designed as aluminum electrolyte capacitors are only conditionally suitable for a longer provision time in the event of a supply interruption of 5 s to 60 s for the coverage of multiple crash events and for the storage of large data volumes and more comprehensive crash data in the form of driving data prior to, during and after a crash.

Energy supply device for an occupant protection system


A liquid crystal display device of a multiple-domain in-plane switching mode applies to mutually engaged comb-shaped electrodes for each pixel region. The comb-shaped electrode has bent portions each in a double V shape which is formed as a comb-tooth pattern by causing a bent tip being bent into a V shape to protrude further outward. This structure stabilizes turning directions of liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of a boundary between each two neighboring regions of multiple domains and suppresses display coloring attributable to a change in a view angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal driving electrode, and a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and a manufacturing method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to an active-matrix LCD (AM-LCD) applied to the in-plane switching (IPS) mode and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
LCDs are generally characterized by thin profile, light weight, and low power consumption. In particular, AM-LCDs, which drive individual pixels arranged in a horizontal and vertical matrix by use of active elements, are regarded as high-quality flat panel display devices. Among them, thin film transistor LCDs (TFT-LCDs) applying thin film transistors (TFTs) as the active elements for switching the individual pixels are widely used.
A conventional AM-LCD utilizes a twisted nematic (TN) type electro-optical effect. Moreover, liquid crystal molecules are sandwiched between two substrates and are activated by applying an electric field that is substantially perpendicular to substrate surfaces thereto. Meanwhile, a method applying comb-shaped electrodes as driving electrodes has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,831 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) as a technique for an IPS-LCD which activates liquid crystal molecules by an electric field being substantially parallel to substrate surfaces.
Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S56 (1981)-091277 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2) discloses another technique applying comb-shaped electrodes that are engaged with each other like the foregoing case. The object of this technique is to reduce parasitic capacitance between a common electrode and a drain bus line or between the common electrode and a gate bus line in an AM-LCD applying the TN type electro-optical effect.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07 (1995)-036058 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 3) disclosed a technique to apply the IPS mode to a TFT-LCD. Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10 (1998)-307295 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 4) disclosed a technique which bends an electrode generating a horizontal electric field. In Patent Document 4, when applying an electric field, a driving direction (a turning direction) of liquid crystal molecules is changed depending on the region by use of these bent portions, thereby reducing display coloring at an oblique view angle.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show an example of a configuration of the IPS-LCD disclosed in Patent Document 4. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining electric lines of force generated by driving electrodes shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A, this LCD includes each pixel region in a region surrounded by multiple gate bus lines 55 extending in a horizontal direction and multiple drain bus lines 56 extending substantially in a vertical direction in a bent manner. Such pixel regions are arranged in a horizontal and vertical matrix to form a display area as a whole. An active element 54 is a TFT made of amorphous silicon (hereinafter abbreviated as a-Si). Moreover, the each active element 54 is formed in the vicinity of the crossing of the gate bus line 55 and the drain bus line 56 for each pixel. Meanwhile, since the drain bus lines 56 extend in the vertical direction in the bent manner in FIG. 1A, the shape of the pixel constituting the horizontal and vertical matrix is bent into a V shape.
Pixel electrodes 71D and common electrodes 72D for generating an electric field are formed into a laterally-facing ladder shape (a comb shape) as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The pixel electrodes 71D and the common electrodes 72D are alternately located in the steps of the ladder. To be more precise, the respective steps of the ladder are bent into the V shape in the respective pixel regions to be aligned with the drain bus lines 56. At the bent position, the pixel region is divided into a sub region 1 on an upper side and a sub region 2 on a lower side in the drawing. The direction of inclination of the electrode caused by bending in the V shape is shifted clockwise in the vertical direction of the drawing in terms of the sub region 1. On the contrary, the direction of inclination of the electrode caused by bending in the V shape is shifted counterclockwise in the vertical direction of the drawing in terms of the sub region 2. Each of the pixel electrodes 71D and the common electrodes 72D partially overlap each other with an interlayer insulating film 57 disposed therebetween (see FIG. 1B). Such an overlapping portion constitutes an additional capacitance. To avoid disconnection of the common electrode 72D, it is formed to stride over the adjacent pixel in the direction of extension of the gate bus line 55 by using two lines of a B line and a C line located on the upper side and the lower side of FIG. 1A.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the common electrodes 72D, the pixel electrodes 71D, and the drain bus lines 56 are formed on a first substrate 11. The common electrodes 72D are insulated from the pixel electrodes 71D and the drain bus lines 56 by use of the interlayer insulating film 57. Although it is not illustrated in FIG. 1B, the gate bus lines 55, like the common electrodes 72D, are also insulated from the pixel electrodes 71D and the drain bus lines 56 by use of the interlayer insulating film 57. These structures formed on the substrate 11 are covered with a passivation film 59. An alignment film 31 made of an organic polymer film is formed on a surface of an active-matrix substrate including these constituents, and a surface thereof is subjected to an aligning treatment.
Meanwhile, color filters (not shown) including the three primary colors of red, green, and blue are provided on a second substrate 12 constituting a counter substrate to the active-matrix substrate to correspond to the respective pixel regions, and a light-shielding black matrix (not shown) is provided in the region other than the regions corresponding to the respective pixel regions. In addition, an alignment film 32 made of an organic polymer film is formed on a surface thereof, and a surface of the alignment film 32 is subjected to an aligning treatment.
The active-matrix substrate is put on the counter substrate to keep a certain interval while the surfaces having the alignment films 31 and 32 being set inside, and a liquid crystal layer 20 is inserted between the both substrates. Moreover, a pair of polarizing plates (not shown) are disposed outside the both substrates.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the surfaces of the alignment films 31 and 32 are uniformly subjected to the aligning treatment such that liquid crystal molecules 21 are aligned in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the drawing (the vertical direction in the drawing) when no electric field is applied. Directions of transmission axes of this pair of polarizing plates are set perpendicular to each other and the transmission axis of one of the polarizing plates coincides with the initial aligning direction (the aligning direction at the time of no electric field) of the liquid crystal which is uniformly subjected to the aligning treatment.
Next, a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 1A will be described. First, the gate bus lines 55 and the common electrodes 72D made of chromium (Cr) are formed on the first substrate 11 such as a glass substrate, and the interlayer insulating film 57 made of silicon nitride (SiNx) is formed to cover these constituents. Subsequently, a-Si film serving as an active layer of transistors is formed into island shapes on the gate bus lines 55 with the interlayer insulating film 57 interposed in therebetween. Further, the drain bus lines 56 and the pixel electrodes 71D made of Cr are formed thereon. Next, the passivation film 59 made of SiNx is formed to cover these structures. The color filters and the light-shielding black matrix are formed on the second substrate 12 such as a glass substrate.
As described above, alignment films made of polyimide are formed on the respective surfaces of the active-matrix substrate and the color filter substrate constructed. The alignment films are uniformly subjected to the aligning treatment. Thereafter, the both substrates are put together to keep an interval of 4.5 μm, for example. Then, for example, nematic liquid crystal having refractive index anisotropy of 0.067, is filled between the substrates within a vacuum chamber. Thereafter, the polarizing plates are attached to the outer surfaces of the both substrates.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1A, a liquid crystal driving electric field upon voltage application is generated in the direction slightly inclined clockwise relative to the lateral direction of the drawing in terms of the sub region 1 and is generated in the direction slightly inclined counterclockwise relative to the lateral direction of the drawing in terms of the sub region 2. Accordingly, at the time of no electric field, liquid crystal molecules 21 that are uniformly aligned along the longitudinal direction in the drawing (the vertical direction in the drawing) are turned counterclockwise in the sub region 1 and clockwise in the sub region 2, respectively.
As described above, the turning directions of the liquid crystal molecules are different between the two sub regions 1 and 2. In this way, it is possible to suppress display coloring attributable to a change in the view angle.
FIG. 3A is a plan view for explaining another example of the configuration of the IPS-LCD disclosed in Patent Document 4. Meanwhile, FIG. 3B is a view for explaining electric lines of force generated by electrodes in FIG. 3A. The configuration in FIG. 3A is common to the configuration in FIG. 1A in many aspects. However, pixel electrodes 71E and common electrodes 72E have protrusions extending along boundaries of sub regions at bent portions. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3A, it is possible to avoid reverse turns of the liquid crystal molecules relative to desired turning directions in the respective sub regions even in the vicinity of the regions where the electrodes are bent into the V shape. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve uniform and stable display.
FIG. 4A is a plan view for explaining still another example of the configuration of the IPS-LCD which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-305567 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 5) and FIG. 4B is a plan view showing driving electrodes thereof. In this LCD, pixel electrodes and common electrodes are adjacently provided on one of substrates. The intervals between these two electrodes are equal to 5 μm or more when the electrodes are viewed from a parallel direction to the surface of the substrate toward the direction of extension of signal lines. The configuration in FIG. 4A shows the example of this LCD. As shown in the drawing, mutually opposed surfaces of a pixel electrode 71F and a common electrode 72F have curved portions.
When there are the intervals of 5 μm or more between the pixel electrodes 71F and the common electrodes 72F, a rubbing cloth can enter groove portions between the pixel electrodes 71F and the common electrodes 72F favorably. Accordingly, spaces between the electrodes are uniformly subjected to a rubbing treatment whereby liquid crystal molecules 21 seem to be uniformly aligned in the direction of signal lines 3. Moreover, since the mutually opposed surfaces of the pixel electrodes 71F and the common electrodes 72F have the curved portions, the directions of the electric lines of force vary depending on the location of the curved portions. For this reason, the directions of the liquid crystal molecules 21 also vary upon application of an arbitrary voltage, and a view angle characteristic in an oblique direction is thereby improved.
Nevertheless, the above-described IPS-LCDs of the prior art still have unsolved problems. Specifically, disturbance in liquid crystal domains is apt to occur in the configuration shown in FIG. 1A due to the lack of a structure for stabilizing the boundary portions of the sub regions. In particular, if the size of each domain is minimized for the purpose of achieving higher definition of pixels, the disturbance in the liquid crystal domains is easy to be occurred as adjacent liquid crystal domains may be irregularly fused and necessary liquid domains may disappear. In such a case, the display may become rough or blocky. Such a problem may be notable particularly when a panel is pressed with a finger. When the disturbance in the liquid crystal domains is caused by finger pressing or the like, it is necessary to stop a device (cut off a power source) and leave the device for a while in order to recover the liquid crystal domains.
In the IPS-LCD in which the electrodes for generating the lateral electric field are bended into the V shape, the turning directions of the liquid crystal molecules in the respective sub regions are more clearly defined due to a relation between the direction of the electric field and the initial aligning direction of the liquid crystal as the bent angle becomes greater. Accordingly, the turning directions of the liquid crystal molecules at the boundary portions are stabilized. Meanwhile, in view of a voltage transmission rate characteristic, it is preferable to set the angle between the direction of extension of the electrodes and the initial aligning direction of the liquid crystal approximately in a range of 5 to 25 degrees. This is because it is necessary to turn the direction of liquid crystal alignment virtually in the amount of 45 degrees using the electric field for the purpose of switching between a dark (black) state and a bright (white) state. That is, according to the prior art, it is not easy to set an appropriate angle for achieving the favorable voltage transmission rate characteristic while stabilizing the boundaries of the sub regions.
Meanwhile, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3A, the protrusions are formed at the bent portions in order to stabilize the liquid crystal domains in the respective sub regions. In this configuration, it is possible to stabilize the liquid crystal domains since the direction of the electric field is regulated in the vicinity of the bent portions. However, a distance between the pixel electrode 71 and the common electrode 72 is reduced in the vicinity of the protrusions of the electrodes. Accordingly, a stronger electric field is generated in that region as compared to the region actually used for the display. When performing a dark (black) display, a voltage below a threshold voltage for causing a change in the alignment of the liquid crystal is usually applied (in the case of a normally black mode). However, the relatively strong electric field in the vicinity of the protrusion still leads to a change in the aligning direction of the liquid crystal molecules in that case, thereby causing light leakage (a black blur) that triggers deterioration in display contrast. In addition, this configuration also has a problem that a short circuit between electrodes is apt to occur in a region in the vicinity of the protrusion of the electrode where a distance between the liquid crystal driving electrodes is short.
Meanwhile, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4A, the mutually opposed surfaces of the pixel electrode 71F and the common electrode 72F have the curved portions so that the directions of the electric lines of force vary depending on the location of the curved portions of the electrodes. For this reason, this configuration bears such a problem that it is not possible to define a uniform angle between the direction of extension of the electrode and the initial aligning direction of the liquid crystal in terms of the voltage transmission rate characteristic in sub region for the purpose of optimization.

Liquid crystal driving electrode with protruded bent tip, liquid crystal display device, and manufacturing method thereof


Continuously variable transmission, for a motor vehicle, provided with a primary pulley with an input pulley shaft, a secondary pulley with an output pulley shaft, a drive belt positioned around the primary and secondary pulleys and a transmission mechanism which is constructed in combination with a direct/neutral/reverse group and is positioned after the secondary pulley and has at least two adjustable transmission ratios for forward drive. The primary pulley with input pulley shaft and the secondary pulley with output pulley shaft are each coupled via a gear group to, respectively, an input transmission shaft and an output transmission shaft. The two transmission shafts essentially lie in the extension of one another and the two pulleys are located on either side of the axis line of the two transmission shafts. A hydraulic control circuit is installed which has at least a primary and a secondary control valve for controlling the pressures for the primary and the secondary pulley respectively. The transmission mechanism has at least two clutches for the forward drive and a clutch for the reverse drive. The hydraulic control circuit furthermore has two control valves for adjusting the said forward clutches.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a continuously variable transmission, in particular for a motor vehicle, at least provided with a primary pulley with an input pulley shaft, a secondary pulley with an output pulley shaft, a drive belt positioned around the primary and secondary pulleys and a transmission mechanism which is constructed in combination with a direct/neutral/reverse group and is positioned after the secondary pulley and has at least two adjustable transmission ratios for forward drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transmission of this type is known and is used in particular for motor vehicles. With a transmission of this type the radial position of the drive belt between the primary and secondary pulleys can be varied, the relationship between the two radial positions of the drive belt in the pulleys determining the transmission ratio. With this arrangement the range of possible transmission ratios is determined by the radial dimension of the pulleys and by the strength and durability of the drive belt. In general as large as possible a range for the transmission ratios is desired when the transmission is used in motor vehicles. To this end a transmission of this type can also be provided with a separate transmission mechanism having at least two adjustable transmission ratios. In this way a transmission range of the drive belt/pulley combination, which in itself is limited because of the limited dimensions thereof, can be increased by combining this with the at least two adjustable transmission ratios of the transmission mechanism. In this way a continuously variable transmission with a relatively large transmission range is obtained in practice.
With this arrangement the transmission mechanism is mounted in the drive direction after the secondary pulley; the adjustable transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism (output revs:input revs) can advantageously be greater than one in order to prevent high drive belt revs, or can advantageously be less than one in order specifically to obtain high drive belt revs. A transmission mechanism of this type is provided with clutches which are adjustable, so that the desired transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism is adjustable.
In practice the said transmission mechanism is frequently constructed in combination with a DNR group (for adjustment of direct, neutral or reverse drive).
Nevertheless, in practice it has been found that, partly as a result of the installation of the requisite hydraulic control circuit, a combination of this type is relatively large, both in the radial and in the axial direction. In particular in the case of motor vehicles with rear wheel drive, this is a disadvantage because only a limited radial installation space is available in such vehicles.


Systems for analyzing and controlling cyber events are provided. In some examples, indicator or compromise (IOC) data may be received. The system may parse the data to identify one or more IOC parameters within the IOC data. In some examples, the IOC parameters may be compared to known IOC parameters to determine whether the IOC parameters are known. If not, the newly identified IOC parameters may be stored in a database. The identified IOC parameters may be evaluated to identify one or more linkages associated with the IOC parameters. For instance, each IOC parameters may be evaluated to identify one or more other parameters associated with each parameter. Those linkages may indicate a threat or potential threat. Based on the evaluation, the system may generate, update and/or execute one or more blocks. For instance, access to one or more domain name, email address, or the like, may be locked based on the identified IOC parameters, linkages, and the like.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to electrical computers, systems, and machine learning. In particular, one or more aspects of the disclosure relate to using machine learning to evaluate cyber events for potential threats and execute controls to reduce impact of potential threats.
Cyber events including cyber threats are important concerns for corporate and other entities. Companies are often trying to find ways to identify threats as quickly as possible and take action to mitigate any impact of a threat. Indicators of compromise, such as virus signatures, Internet protocol (IP) addresses, and the like, can provide an indication of a computer or system intrusion. However, identifying only the IOC can be insufficient to mitigate impact. Accordingly, in conventional systems, users may evaluate each IOC and associated parameters to attempt to identify other related items that may be a threat. However, this system is time consuming, inefficient and error prone. Further, conventional systems do not provide a fast enough response time to identify the threat quickly and possibly eliminate the risk. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to use machine learning to evaluate IOCs, identify all linkages related to an IOC or IOC parameter and predict future potential threats based on that information.

Dynamic cyber event analysis and control