A synchronized node control system, which provides an interface between user processors, which originate and receive messages, and a packet switching network that uses a multi-level communications protocol. Clusters of user processors are each associated with a node controller that communicates with a gateway of the switching network. Each node controller is programmed to handle level two protocols for communicating messages between node controllers, and level three protocols for communicating messages between said user processors. Each node controller is further programmed to perform processes associated with these protocols such that all node controllers perform the same schedule of processes during a node control frame period. Each node controller is further programmed to synchronize its internal level two and level three operations within the node controller frame period, and to synchronize its level two processes, such that an originating and a destination node controller transfer a particular packet during a packet frame period.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,739, entitled "Interprocessor Switching Network", assigned to the present assignee, describes a digital switching network for handling data transfers among a number of processors. The system is designed to accommodate a large number of simultaneous connections at fast connection rates. Connections are via a switching matrix, and the data transmission uses packet switching techniques. The switching network is used to make connections for communicating messages within a distributed system of data stations, such as systems of computers or telephones with related supervisory and peripheral equipment. At each data station, clusters of processor-based user equipment originate and receive messages.
The switching network described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,739 is characterized by several hardware features, including node controllers for handling nodes of cluster processors, gateways for providing an interface for the node controllers into the switching matrix, an interchange control system, and an interchange that includes the switching matrix. It is also characterized by the use of a multi-level communications protocol, having at least three levels. A first level handles communications between a gateway and the switching system. A second level handles communications between node controllers. A third level handles communications between cluster processors.
Typically, the node controllers in switching networks such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,739 are interrupt driven. Interrupt signals trigger processes that set up a communications path and send and receive the data. Although this technique works well in practice, as the number of data stations increases, so does the complexity of the switching process. The generation and communication of the various control and data messages requires increased processing overhead.
To meet the demands of increased message volume, existing systems attempt to accomplish real time processing with a high interrupt rate. An interrupt occurs once for every processing event. Thus, during the time between the sending of a message from an originating cluster processor and the receipt of the message at a destination cluster processor, a number of interrupts may occur. Faster message processing rates are attempted by increasing the interrupt rate. However, a problem with faster interrupt rates is that fewer events can be processed during each interrupt period. Unprocessed events must be queued for processing at a later time. Dequeueing occurs during "catchup periods" when the rate of originating messages slows. Thus, waiting times and overall throughput become a function of probability and statistics.
A need exists for an improved method of using a switching network to handle a large number of messages in a given time.

Synchronous node controllers for switching network


A method and device for controlling a robot, and a robot. The device detects whether there is an article being put into or taken out from a storage container of a robot, and if it is detected that an article is put into or taken out from the storage container, an information list is updated according to the article being put into or taken out, the information list recording relevant information about articles in the storage container.

At present, Most shopping carts in the supermarkets are used to store products that users want to purchase. At the end of shopping, users need to push shopping carts to a checkout and take the products out from the carts to the cashier for scanning, in order to collect information about the products purchased by the users for payment.

Method and device for controlling a robot, and robot

BEIJING JINGDONG SHANGKE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

BEIJING JINGDONG CENTURY TRADING CO., LTD.


The invention relates to a method for producing an extract containing at least 40% (m/m) of polyphenols from Cistus creticus L., said method comprising the following steps: plant parts are extracted from Cistus creticus L. using an extraction agent selected from the group comprising water, alcohols and mixtures thereof; the extraction residues are removed; the extraction agent is at least partially removed; redissolution is carried out in an aqueous solvent and the undissolved constituents are removed; and selective enriching is carried out by means of either a) a two-phase extraction, and b) a membrane filtration.

Within the family of Cistaceae, Cistus forms a genus of 18 to 20 species. The evergreen subgenus Cistus creticus L. ssp. eriocephalus reaches a height of up to 1 m and smells aromatic. Its egg-shaped lanceolate leaves show an alternate pattern, while its flowers have five petals and a radial symmetry, which is characteristic for the whole family. The light pink, pink, or light purple colors are typical for the subtype. Preferred habitat is the eastern Mediterranean region.
Folk medicinal usages have been versatile and ranged from being used as adjuvant for topical, allergy-related itching, as well as for preventing and managing wounds caused by bacterial infections and mycosis. Traditionally, aqueous decoctions from the aerial plant parts from spring have been used for this. Similarly have recent publications reported about the successful usage of Cistus solutions for the treatment of neurodermititis (AD), acne vulgaris, as well as for treating inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat. Cistus is also well-known for its usage as tea (e.g. Cystus® Bio Teekraut). Recommended dose here is 2.5 g of Cistus incanus for 1 liter of hot water. According to our analysis, up to 1 g of dissolved extractives with ca. 16% polyphenols can thus be ingested. Other providers of Cistus, who give no detailed information on the species, obtain their raw material from wild collectings, which in consequence lead to unsteady results in both, extractives (0.7-1.5 g), as well as polyphenol contents (11-21%). Such, not-standardized mixtures represent the natural polymorphism of the plant and offer no basis for the manufacturing of a standardized plant extract.
A detailed specification of the varieties and/or subspecies has only recently become urgently necessary and relevant because of a legal distinction in the plant varieties' rights (PVR) between Cistus incanus L. ssp. Pandalis®, or the brand name Cystus®, and Cistus creticus L. ssp. eriocephalus (also known as Cistus incanus L. ssp. tauricus). It is very difficult to distinguish between the different types, especially for persons lacking expert knowledge.


The present invention relates to an optical pick-up head apparatus capable of recording, reproducing, or erasing optical information, and provides an optical pick-up head apparatus which can detect signals in a stable and good condition. A Faraday rotator 20 is disposed on an optical path between a polarized beamsplitter 55 and a polarized beamsplitter 53 so as to rotate polarization directions of a beam 6 emitted from a semiconductor laser source 2 and a beam 6 reflected back at a magneto-optical recording medium 4. A beam passing through the polarized beamsplitter 53 is received by a photodetector unit 83 to detect information signals and a reflected beam from the polarized beamsplitter 53 is received by a photodetector unit 84 to detect focusing- and tracking-error signals. Accordingly, it becomes possible that light quantity supplied to the photodetector unit 83 is adjusted to the optimum amount capable of adequately detecting the information signal and further all the remaining light quantity is supplied to the photodetector unit 84. Therefore, there is no uselessness in the detection of light. That is, both the focusing (or tracking)-error signal and the information signal can be respectively detected with high intensity and excellent S/N ratio. Consequently, it becomes possible to provide an optical pick-up head apparatus assuring very high reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pick-up head apparatus capable of recording, reproducing, or erasing optical information memorized on a magneto-optical recording medium such as an optical disk or an optical card.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, a magneto-optical disk system for recording information on the magneto-optical recording medium has become popular and has been practiced in various ways. Furthermore, many kinds of optical systems have been proposed as an optical pick-up head apparatus which can correctly read and write information from and into the magneto-optical recording medium.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a constitution of one example of a conventional optical pick-up head apparatus. A spherical beam 7 emitted from a semiconductor laser source 1 enters a collimating lens 30 and, then, is converted into a parallel beam through this collimating lens 30. This parallel beam is further entered into a holographic optical element 52 and, then, a plurality of diffraction beams are generated.
On the forward optical path leading to a magneto-optical recording medium 4 from the semiconductor laser source 1, the 0-order diffraction beam 70 passing through the holographic optical element 52 is utilized for reading or writing signals. The 0-order diffraction beam 70 from the holographic optical element 52 is reflected at a polarized beamsplitter 50 and subsequently is focused on the magneto-optical recording medium 4 by an objective lens 31. Then, the polarization direction of the beam 70 is slightly rotated by virtue of Kerr effect of the magneto-optical recording medium 4.
The beam 70 reflected back and diffracted at the magneto-optical recording medium 4 again passes the objective lens 31 and, in turn, is split into two beams 701 and 702 by means of the polarized beamsplitter 50. The beam 701 having passed through the polarized beamsplitter 50 is further split by a Wollaston prism 51 into two beams 701a and 701b on the basis of the polarization direction of the beam 701.
The beams 701a and 701b are respectively converted by a converging lens 32 into converging beams, which are received by a photodetector unit 81 having two photodetectors 811 and 812. Information recorded on the magneto-optical recording medium 4 is obtained through a differential operation which performs mathematical functions on the difference between two output signals generated from photodetectors 811 and 812.
On the other hand, the beam 702 being reflected at the polarized beamsplitter 50 is entered into the holographic optical element 52 and, then, 1-order diffraction beams 702a and 702b are generated. These 1-order diffraction beams 702a and 702b are converted by a lens 30 into converging beams, which are received by a photodetector unit 82.
FIG. 8 shows photodetectors 821.about.824 of the photodetector unit 82 and their receiving images of the 1-order diffraction beams 702a and 702b supplied from the holographic optical element 52. FIG. 8(b) shows a focusing condition wherein the beam 7 emitted from the semiconductor laser source 1 accurately focuses on the magneto-optical recording medium 4. To the contrary, FIGS. 8(a) and 8(c) show defocusing conditions wherein the images are defocussed in opposite directions.
The focusing-error signal can be obtained by carrying out the differential operation based on the summation of output signals from the photodetectors 821 and 824 and the summation of output signals from the photodetectors 822 and 823. The tracking-error signal can be obtained by carrying out the differential operation based on the summation of output signals from the photodetectors 821 and 822 and the summation of output signals from the photodetectors 823 and 824. These methods are well-known as "double-knife edge method" or "push-pull method", respectively, and disclosed in detail, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,310.
FIG. 9 shows one example of intensities of the information signal detected by the photodetector unit 81 and the focusing (or tracking)-error signal detected by the photodetector unit 82 relative to the diffraction efficiency of the 0-order diffraction beam from the holographic optical element 52. The focusing (or tracking)-error signal becomes maximum when the diffraction efficiency of the 0-order diffraction beam from the holographic optical element 52 is 50%. On the other hand, the information signal becomes maximum when the diffraction efficiency of the 0-order diffraction beam from the holographic optical element 52 is 100%.
Namely, it is impossible to realize the signal detection capable of optimizing both the focusing (or tracking)-error signal and the information signal. In other words, it is inevitable that either of these signals is deteriorated.

Optical pick-up head apparatus with optical means having polarization anisotropy

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A dispensing system delivers a precise amount of fluid for biological or chemical processing and/or analysis. Dispensing means moves the fluid. The dispensing means is operated by a pneumatic force. Connection means delivers the fluid to the desired location. An actuator means provides the pneumatic force to the dispensing means. Valving means transmits the pneumatic force from the actuator means to the dispensing means.

1. Field of Endeavor
The present invention relates to dispensing systems and more particularly to a dispensing system for delivering a precise amount of fluid.
2. State of Technology
U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,076 to Philip A. Snyder and James Steven Fullerman issued Jul. 10, 2001 provides the following state of the technology information, "The contributions of the medical, environmental and life sciences to humanity have been facilitated by advances in chemical analysis. Many analytical techniques provide for the division of a complex sample into its components."
U.S. patent application No. 2002/0190202 by Dong C. Liang for a microsample analysis system using dispensing pump and injection port published Dec. 19, 2002 provides the following state of the technology information, "a fully automated chemical analysis system and is particularly well suited for pharmaceutical drug discovery and biomedical research applications (for example, ion channel assays), compromised in part by an electronically controlled microsyringe pump, an injection port, a nebulizer and a FAAS instrument. The different components of the system are connected by tubing, allowing solutions to be exchanged between the various components of the system. The chemical analysis system further includes an autosampler, such as the XYZ autosampler available from Aurora Instruments, an array of sample microplates, and an array of solution containers (for standards, modifiers, buffers, suppressors, etc.)."

System for dispensing a precise amount of fluid

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A card vending machine comprising a cabinet having a plurality of card holding and dispensing modules individually removably positioned therein with each of the modules including a card holding portion and card dispensing portion. Each of the modules includes a gauge cam to enable the card dispensing portions of the modules to be adjusted to compensate for cards having various thicknesses.

This invention relates to a card vending machine and more particularly to a machine which may dispense pull tab cards, breakopens, (pickle cards) or lottery tickets.
Pull tab cards, breakopens or pickle cards have become extremely popular the last few years. The pull tabs are normally dispensed by an attendant, waitress, bartender, etc. and are usually pulled from a stack of the pull tabs. The primary problem associated with the commonly employed method of dispensing the pull tabs is that it is difficult to control the money being handled by the dispensing person.
In an effort to avoid the necessity of the need for manually dispensing the pull tabs, some card dispensing machines have been previously provided but they do have several shortcomings. One shortcoming of the prior art machines is that they are unable to dispense various priced pull tabs. Further, a disadvantage of the prior art machines is that the dispensing means within the dispenser is less than reliable. To overcome the problems associated with the prior art machines, two of the named applicants herein previously devised a card vending machine and received U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,473 for their improved card vending machine. Although the card vending machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,473 has met with considerable success, it has been found that it is desirable to be able to replace entire card holding and dispensing modules in the machine for ease of maintenance. Further, it has been found that the thickness of the cards may vary which can cause dispensing problems. This is especially true if the machine is going to handle not only pull tabs but may also handle lottery cards or tickets.
Therefore, it is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved card dispensing machine.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved card dispensing machine including a plurality of individual card holding and dispensing modules which may be individually replaced thereby enhancing the maintenance of the machine.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved card dispensing machine having means thereon to adjust the dispensing mechanism to compensate for cards having various thicknesses.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved card or ticket dispensing machine which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.


The invention relates to an active matrix liquid crystal display device based on voltage control (non-zero driving voltage) of the birefringence (negative or positive) of the liquid crystal cell. In the device a ground (earth) plate comprises a piece of glass with a transparent conductive coating, such as indium tin oxide. A silicon wafer with integrated circuits on it has a coating of polymer for aligning liquid crystal molecules. The coated glass also has a coating for aligning the liquid crystal molecules.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a reflective display device, particularly to such a device based on active matrix control or display of an electro-optic material such as a liquid crystal. The display can be fabricated on integrated circuits based on single crystalline silicon wafers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Commercial active matrix displays are usually based on light transmission They are matrix devices where the transmission of light of each individual pixel is controlled by an electrical voltage. These active matrix liquid crystal displays are commonly based on the twisted nematic (TN) effect of liquid crystal for controlling light transmission, and semiconductor thin film transistors (TFT) for controlling the individual pixel's transmission state. The TFT can be made of materials such as polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon or cadmium selenide.
The principle of these active matrix display devices is as follows: incoming light is first polarized by passing through a polarizer, and then sent into the liquid crystal cell, which comprises many pixels. When no voltage is applied on the pixel, the polarization vector of the incoming light will be rotated by the liquid crystal molecules through the TN effect. A polarizer placed at the output side of the liquid crystal cell can be used to transmit either the light (normally on) or reject the light (normally off). When a proper voltage is applied to the pixel, the TN effect disappears and the polarization of the light is unchanged. The light will therefore be rejected (off) or transmitted (on) by the output polarizer, depending on whether the device is normally on or off respectively. Each pixel can be turned on or off independently by the active control of the voltage across it. Gray scale can also be achieved by supplying intermediate voltages. All of such active matrix displays are invariably based on glass substrates and function in the transmission mode. Polarizers are placed in the front and back of the liquid crystal panel. Some displays are viewed in reflection by placing a mirror in the back of the liquid crystal panel. But the operation is, however, transmission, not reflection.
The active control of the display matrix is achieved by controlling the electrical signals on the transistors on each pixel. Additionally, driver electronic circuits are required to control the timing and scanning of the electrical pulses to each pixel. While TFTS are adequate for controlling the transmission state of the pixels, they are undesirable for the driver part of the active matrix display. The most important reason is that they are based on thin semiconductor films grown on glass substrates, and require special processing techniques to provide good yield in manufacturing. TFT integrated circuits are also not easily designed using standard very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design tools in the sense that the current-voltage characteristics of TFTS are different from those transistors fabricated on single crystalline silicon.
There have been many attempts to replace TFT on glass by high quality transistors and circuits fabricated on single crystalline silicon wafers. Lipton et al described an active matrix liquid crystal display based on crystalline silicon in 1978. Dynamic light scattering from the liquid crystal was used as the display mechanism. When there is no voltage on the pixel, the light is transmitted. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal becomes turbid and scatters the incoming light. Unfortunately, this device has poor contrast and light transmission efficiency. Yamasaki et al described a singular crystalline silicon based device where the display is based on the guest-host effect in dye doped liquid crystals. In this display, the absorption coefficient of the dye is dependent on the orientation of the dye molecules. These guest molecules tend to align themselves with the host liquid crystal molecules. Hence the absorption of the guest/host combination can be controlled by an applied voltage.
The concept of dynamic scattering for display was revived recently due to the invention of polymer dispersed liquid crystals. The liquid crystal droplets dispersed in a polymer film can have very high scattering efficiency, and a high contrast ratio between the on (no scattering) and off (scattering) states. It is therefore a potentially important technology for providing active matrix displays on crystalline silicon. In 1990 Drzaic et al described a reflective active matrix liquid crystal display based on such polymer dispersed liquid crystals. However, there are drawbacks for this technology such as the stability of the liquid crystal polymer and the need to use higher voltages to operate such a display. The reason for the latter requirement is simply that the polymer films cannot be made to be the same thickness (a few microns) as the liquid crystal film in an active matrix liquid crystal display. It is the electric field (voltage divided by thickness) that is important in aligning the liquid crystals.

Electro-Optic display providing a grey scale by utilizing voltage dependent birefringence


Disclosed is a process for making closed-cell, alkenyl aromatic polymer foam packing bodies. An alkenyl aromatic polymer material is heated to form a melt polymer material. The melt polymer material comprises greater than 50 percent by weight alkenyl aromatic monomeric units. A blowing agent is incorporated into the melt polymer material at an elevated pressure to form a foamable gel. The blowing agent has about 20 weight percent or more based upon the total weight of the first blowing agent selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide and ethane. The foamable gel is extruded through a die to form a foam strand. The foam strand is pelletized to form a plurality of foam bodies. The bodies are further expanded by exposing them one or more times to heated air or steam. Preferably, the bodies are allowed to age for a preselected period of time after pelletizing and between subsequent expansions. The use of carbon dioxide and/or ethane as blowing agents allows the reduction or elimination of certain blowing agents classified as volatile organic contaminants, which are currently being employed commercially.. Further disclosed is a process for making an article formed from the foam packing bodies. Further disclosed is a process for making discrete foam strands.

This invention relates to a process for making foam packing bodies with environmentally-acceptable blowing agent systems.
Lightweight low density materials have commonly been used as packing materials. Such materials commonly include foamed plastics, wood, and paperboard. The materials are commonly utilized in the form of small, discrete bodies for reasons of handling, convenience, even distribution, and enhanced cushioning. Discrete bodies of foamed materials are commonly referred to as foam packing peanuts or loose-fill.
For environmental reasons, it is desirable to reduce or eliminate in processes for making foam packing bodies certain blowing agents which may accelerate formation of smog or depletion of ozone. Such smog-forming blowing agents include n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, and isopentane. These blowing agents are commonly referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in governmental regulations. Accordingly, it would be desirable to reduce or eliminate the use of VOCs in making foam packing bodies.

Process for making alkenyl aromatic foam packing bodies with carbon dioxide and/or ethane blowing agent systems


A control handle for a steerable stylet or guidewire which is specifically adapted to facilitate one-hand operation by providing a rear gripping portion adapted to be held in the palm of the operator's hand and gripped by the last three fingers, and having a rotatable control sleeve for actuation by the thumb and forefinger of the operator's hand, the control sleeve having internal actuating threads meshing with the threads of a slide which is fixed to the proximal end of a stylet control wire for permitting adjustment of the curvature of the distal tip portion of the stylet. The stylet, control wire and slide are removable from the rest of the handle assembly, to allow for replacement or interchange of stylets.

The present invention relates generally to medical lead and catheters and more particularly to a deflectable stylet assembly for use therewith.
A number of different devices have been provided for performing the controlled deflection of the curved distal portion of a stylet or guidewire. Such devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents: Buchbinder, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,827; Bonello and Jeanmonod, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,467; Bonello and Jeanmonod, No. 4,732,163; Willson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,703; Stevens, U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,385; Cook, U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,103; Muller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,740; and, Edwards, No. 3,416,531. While these devices have worked reasonably well, many of the prior art devices require the use of both hands of the operator, and the control mechanism in each of the prior art units is permanently attached to the proximal end of the stylet or guidewire and cannot be readily detached for use with another stylet or guidewire. Also, the prior art devices are all limited to a fixed degree of deflection for a given movement of the deflection control element.


A manufacturing method of a viscoelastic bandage, having a nonwoven fabric, an elastane yarn, base cloth, and natural latex or synthetic latex as main raw materials. A viscoelastic bandage suitable for such trades as medical bandaging, industrial operation protection, field operation and sports protection can be manufactured after going through the following steps, manufacturing of the elastic base cloth→surface treatment→anti-seizing treatment→adhesive coating process. Provides high production efficiency and low cost, suitable for an industrialized mass production, with outstanding comprehensive processing economy and very powerful market competitiveness. Besides, the product has the following properties and characteristics: (1) Breaking tenacity up to 180-220 KN/m; (2) tensile ratio up to 80-120%; (3) good air permeability; (4) perfect stripping uniformity; (5) stable product property and longer storage life; and (6) attractive appearance; there is no rough fiber on the exterior surface of the nonwoven fabric any more.

As a medical or protective article, elastic bandages have been widely used in medical bandaging, industrial operation protection, field operation, sports protection, etc. In sports, for example, muscles can become relaxed during prolonged exercise due to hemangiectasis and oxygen supply shortage. Elasticity can be appropriately regulated with an elastic bandage. Muscle relaxation can be deferred through active advance physical vein compression, making muscle exercise persist longer. Meanwhile, stronger reactive bracing can be provided through bandaging, making muscle produce more intensive explosive power.
Prior elastic bandages can be classified into two kinds, viscoelastic bandages and self-viscoelastic bandages. The self-viscoelastic bandage refers to a bandage that has mutual viscosity between adhesive layers themselves of the bandage, which generally has no bonding characteristic with other objects or human body; while the viscoelastic bandage refers to a bandage whose adhesive layer has both self-viscosity and else-viscosity. Therefore, in usage, the self-viscoelastic bandage may glide on an object or human body applied with the bandage, while the viscoelastic bandage will not. On the other hand, in aspects of usage environment and scope, the self-viscoelastic bandage is narrow in usage scope, while the viscoelastic bandage use is wider in scope. For example, fracture bandaging requires stronger bandaging protection, so as to prevent further movement. Here it would be better to adopt the viscoelastic bandage. Again for example, the self-viscoelastic bandage is poor at heat resistance and low temperature resistance, and not suitable to be used near the equator, while the viscoelastic bandage is better in this aspect.
It can be known from the above introduction that for a viscoelastic bandage with a wide usage scope, it is more important to possess comprehensive processing economy and production efficiency of industrialized mass production in addition to satisfying usage property and quality requirements (i.e., suitable elasticity, strength, air permeability and viscosity). However, as far as the applicant knows, a manufacturing process of elastic base cloth of the traditional typical viscoelastic bandage is implemented via weaving. To be specific, the process includes aligning inelastic fibers and elastic fibers according to a certain spacing proportion along a warp thread direction, and by weaving a weft thread using a shuttle loom or a shuttleless loom, etc. Therefore, it is impossible to improve the processing efficiency due to restrictions from the two physical actions of longitudinal warp thread pulling and transverse weft thread weaving. The production efficiency will be still lower if an old-style shuttle loom is adopted (about 4 meters/minute); besides, it is easy for a shuttle with reciprocating motion to interrupt the warp thread, resulting in a great number of rejects and defectives and poor economic efficiency. As for prior advanced, looms, such as rapier looms and ball looms, although the production efficiency has somewhat been improved, the comprehensive processing economy is not ideal either due to high manufacturing cost of the equipment.

Method of manufacturing a viscoelastic bandage


A portable renewable energy microgeneration system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of first holding tanks that are configured to perform at least one of pasteurization and thermophilic anaerobic digestion on waste, a second holding tank that has a volume greater than each of the plurality of small holding tanks individually and that is configured to perform mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the waste after at least one of pasteurization and thermophilic anaerobic digestion is performed, and a controller configured to automatically control the flow of the waste between the plurality of small holding tanks and the second holding tank as required to facilitate mesophilic anaerobic digestion in the second holding tank. The plurality of first holding tanks and the second holding tank are configured to be transported to a site assembled and placed in fluid communication with each other at the site.

There is a need in the art for a renewable energy microgeneration system in a single, modular, portable configuration that will allow users to convert organic waste into sustainable energy onsite. There is also a need in the art for a renewable energy microgeneration system with a reduced footprint, with separate containers for its different components, with modular interconnectivity between those containers, and with increased throughput.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Portable renewable energy microgeneration system


In one embodiment of the present invention, to time-divide one frame of an input image signal into a first-half sub frame and a second-half sub frame, the grayscale of the signal in the second-half sub frame is set at a grayscale for dark display and the grayscale of the display signal of the first-half sub frame is adjusted, when the input image signal indicates low brightness. When an image with high brightness is displayed, the grayscale of the display signal of the first-half sub frame is set at a second predetermined value smaller than the maximum value and the grayscale of the display signal of the second-half sub frame is adjusted. Thereafter, in accordance with a combination of the input image signals of the (N-1)-th frame and the N-th frame, overshoot is performed with respect to the display signal of the first-half sub frame.

In various technical fields, CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) have gradually been replaced by hold-type display apparatuses including a liquid crystal display module or an EL display module.
It is considered, however, that hold-type display apparatuses are inferior in moving image qualities to impulse-type display apparatuses such as CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) in which a turn-on time during which an image is displayed and a turn-off time during which an image is not displayed are alternated.
That is to say, in a typical hold-type display apparatus, a whole one frame period is an image turn-on time. On this account, once a frame image is updated, an object is being displayed until the image is updated in the next frame, and the image displayed in this way appears as motion blur for the viewer.
To achieve improvement in the moving image quality as one of the objectives, various methods have been proposed to perform the driving in such a way as to time-divide a single frame for displaying one image into plural sub frames. An example of such methods is disclosed by Patent Document 1. It is noted that image display apparatuses adopting organic LED panels have been arranged so that vertical scanning is multiplexed.
In addition to the motion blur, liquid crystal display apparatuses have a typical problem of low response speed of liquid crystal elements. Because of this problem of response speed, liquid crystal display apparatuses have the following disadvantage: when input grayscales greatly change between successive frames, the brightness response level in the later frame may not reach a desired brightness level, i.e. may not reach the brightness level when input grayscales do not change between successive frames.
To compensate the low response speed, there is a known technology termed overshoot driving. Overshoot driving is arranged such that, in accordance with a change (increase or decrease) in input grayscales between successive frames, a voltage which is higher or lower than a voltage by which a desired grayscale level is achieved when input grayscales do not change between successive frames is supplied to liquid crystal elements, so that the liquid crystal elements are forcibly driven at a high speed. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology to perform overshoot driving in a liquid crystal display apparatus in which a single frame is divided into plural sub frames (fields) for image display.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-173573 (published on Jun. 30, 2005)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-343956 (published on Dec. 14, 2001)

Driving control apparatus of display apparatus, display method, display apparatus, display monitor, and television receiver


A method capable of setting the receiving condition of a mobile communication terminal for an incoming call, Short Message Service (SMS) or Multi-media Message Service (MMS) in advance, is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a user of the mobile communication terminal can set the receiving condition for the incoming call, SMS or MMS differently in each CID and each time zone, so that the incoming call, SMS or MMS transmitted from a CID is processed to be received or reception-rejected by user's set conditions. According to the present invention, the user may conduct effective service reception management under a special user environment for terminals such as while asleep or at a meeting, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the reception and processing of incoming calls and messaging services in a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a method for the reception and processing of incoming calls and messaging services in a mobile communication terminal based on relevant conditions, according to which the priority and the time condition are specified for each caller identification (CID) according to the relevant individual and specific circumstances so that incoming calls, Short Message Services (SMSs) or Multi-media Message Service (MMSs) may be processed to be accepted or rejected based upon the relevant conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the recent development of mobile communication technology, mobile communication terminals gradually have been equipped with various intelligent functions other than the simple call services. For example, mobile communication terminals these days may provide the caller ID (CID) function displaying the caller information (e.g., caller name, phone number, etc.) on the liquid crystal display (LCD) window so that the recipient or receiver may appropriately deal with unwanted calls, prank calls or indecent calls.
However, even though the CID function of these mobile communication terminals is widely used, in the related art, the only measure that a recipient can take upon receiving an unwanted call has been not answering the call. Accordingly, such caller inconveniently had to listen to the incoming bell sound for some time which is generated regardless of the recipient's intent to answer the call.
Further, there may be cases where a person wants to selectively accept calls, SMSs or MMSs from certain specific parties only depending on said person's current circumstances. However, in the relevant art, mobile communication terminals could provide only such services that merely restrict reception of calls or messages from certain group or enable the recipient to reject calls or messages generally upon checking CID information. Mobile communication terminals in the relevant could not provide services that could enable recipients to efficiently respond to calls or messages in the given individual and specific circumstances.
For example, a person in the middle of a meeting or a person who is sleeping may want to selectively accept only calls, SMSs or MMSs from certain specific callers or senders in order to avoid unnecessary disturbance. However, mobile communication terminals in the relevant art could not accommodate the demand of such person. Thus, it is necessary to provide a function through which recipients or receivers can selectively accept only certain calls, SMSs or MMSs according to the relevant individual and specific circumstances by using the CID information.

Method for reception and processing of incoming calls and messaging services in a mobile communication terminal based on relevant conditions


A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array having a plurality of memory cells grouped into a plurality of cell blocks and arranged in a matrix form, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, bit line sense amplifiers (S/A), a cell block selection circuit,a plurality of data I/O lines, row decoders, a plurality of column selection signal lines, column decoders and a data buffer circuit. The data buffer circuit includes a first precharge circuit, connected to the data I/O lines, for precharging the data I/O lines to the same potential as a precharge potential of the bit lines, a second precharge circuit, connected to the data I/O lines, for precharging the data I/O lines to a potential different from the precharge potential of the bit lines, and selective drive circuit for generating control signals to be supplied to the first and second precharge circuit, and selectively driving the first and second precharge circuits to sense the data read out to the data I/O lines on the basis of the control signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device such as a high integrated DRAM having a cell array divided into a plurality of cell blocks, wherein cell block selection is performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to form a highly integrated DRAM, micro-patterning of elements and lines must be realized, and a cell array and a cell array drive circuit must be efficiently laid out within a predetermined chip area. In addition, the reading rate of cell data must be increased by decreasing a ratio C.sub.B /C.sub.S of the capacity C.sub.S of a memory cell to a capacity C.sub.B of bit lines. Furthermore, in order to reduce the power consumption due to charge/discharge of bit lines, the cell array must be divided into a plurality of cell blocks in the bit line direction. A highly integrated DRAM using a divided bit line and common Y-decoder method is inevitably required to satisfy these demands.
In order to realize this method, for example, a cell array is divided into four or eight cell blocks in the bit line direction. Bit lines in the respective cell blocks are independent of each other. A data I/O line shared by two cell blocks is arranged between two adjacent cell blocks. The bit lines in a selected one of the two adjacent cell blocks are connected to a data I/O line through a block selection gate and a column selection gate. A column selection signal line for controlling a column selection gate is continuously formed by a metal wire on the cell array constituted by the plurality of divided cell blocks, and a column selection signal as an output from a Y-decoder (i.e., column decoder) is supplied to the column selection signal line. A method of sharing at least part of a sense amplifier for bit line between adjacent cell blocks, i.e., a common sense amplifier method, is normally employed.
In a bit line precharge system of such a DRAM, it is known that an effective measure to reduce the power consumption and increase the speed of a bit line sense operation is to precharge bit lines at (1/2)Vcc.
A data I/O line, however, is preferably precharged to Vcc for the following reasons. First, assuming that the I/O line is precharged to the same potential as that of the bit lines, i.e., (1/2)Vcc, when a memory cell of a selected cell block is re-stored, an electric potential on bit line tends to be pulled up to an I/O line potential. A bit line sense amplifier is normally constituted by an NMOS sense amplifier and a PMOS sense amplifier. The NMOS sense amplifier is used to amplify a small signal. The PMOS sense amplifier is used to raise the potential of an "H"-level bit line to Vcc.
For this reason, the drive power of the PMOS sense amplifier is not originally set to be large. Therefore, when a bit line is electrically connected to an I/O line potential, since the electric potential on bit line is pulled up to the I/O line, the PMOS sense amplifier cannot satisfactorily raise the "H"-level bit line potential to Vcc. This phenomenon becomes conspicuous especially when an I/O line has a large capacity, and abnormal operations may be caused. Second, if an I/O line can be precharged to Vcc, the initial sensing time of the I/O line of circuit of a bit line sense amplifier can be shortened.
The conventional DRAM of the divided bit line and common Y-decoder method, however, does not employ the precharge method, in which bit lines are precharged to (1/2)Vcc and an I/O lines are precharged to Vcc, for the following reason. Each column selection signal line is continuously arranged across a plurality of cell blocks and is connected to the column selection gates of the respective cell blocks. With this arrangement, when a given column selection signal is selected, the column selection gates of non-selected cell blocks which data should be not read out are opened. Subsequently, bit line sense amplifiers located outside the selection gates of the non-selected cell blocks and precharged to (1/2)Vcc are connected to I/O lines precharged to Vcc. As a result, the precharge potentials of the bit line sense amplifier is subjected to breakdown. The precharge method has not been employed for the abovedescribed reason.
As described above, in the conventional DRAM of the divided bit line and common Y-decoder method, the precharge potential of each bit line cannot be set to be (1/2)Vcc and the precharge potential of each I/O line cannot be set to be Vcc. This interferes with realization of a further reduction in power consumption and an increase in operation speed.

Semiconductor memory device having cell array divided into a plurality of cell blocks


The present invention relates to an IP address lookup method and hardware architecture. There is provided an IP address lookup method using a hashing table, the hashing table being constructed with an SRAM, the hashing table including main tables and sub-tables corresponding to prefix lengths of the IP address, entries being stored in the main tables and the sub-tables, the method comprising steps of: (a) performing a hashing process on an incoming IP address based on the prefix lengths of the IP address by using a hashing hardware unit, wherein the hashing hardware unit is constructed based on the prefix lengths of the IP address; (b) comparing prefixes, each of which is stored at a location in the main table pointed by a hashing value with the prefix of the IP address, searching entries of the main table having the prefix matched with the prefix of the IP address, and forwarding information on prefix-matched entries; (c) if there is no prefix-matched entry as a result of Step (b), searching entries of the sub-table having the prefix matched with the prefix of the IP address starting from a location in the sub-table pointed by a pointer of the main table, and forwarding information on prefix-matched entries; and (d) searching an entry having the longest-matched-prefix among the prefix-matched entries by using the information forwarded in Steps (b) and (c). Accordingly, it is possible to perform an IP address lookup process on all the prefixes in parallel by classifying prefixes based on the prefix lengths and constructing separate tables corresponding to the classified prefix lengths of the IP address. As a result, it is possible to easily apply a hashing process to the IP address and to reduce searching time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an IP address lookup method and hardware architecture using hashing, and more particularly to an IP address lookup method and hardware architecture for classifying prefixes based on the prefix lengths, constructing separate tables corresponding to the classified prefix lengths of the IP address, performing an IP address lookup process on the tables by applying hash functions in parallel, and selecting entries having the longest-matched-prefix among the prefix-matched entries.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the most challenging tasks that should be performed in the Internet routers widely used in the world is to accurately forward a received packet to its destination. In order to implement the task, every router comprises a forwarding table. Information on next hop addresses and output ports used to access the destination are obtained by using the forwarding table. When the packet is received, the router performs a process for referring to the forwarding table by using the Network Part of the destination IP addresses of the received packet as a key. This is called an address lookup process. The Network Part used for the address lookup process is called a prefix.
Conventionally, there is a classful addressing scheme for the IP address lookup process. In the scheme, the lengths of the prefixes of the IP address are fixed in 8, 16, or 24 bits. Since the lengths of the prefixes are fixed, the class-ful addressing scheme has a problem in that some of the IP addresses are wasted. In addition, the scheme has another problem in that, as the kinds of the networks are increasing, the size of the forwarding table has to exponentially increase.
In order to solve the problems of the classful addressing scheme, there is proposed a classless inter-domain routing (CIDR) scheme. In the CIDR scheme, since the lengths of the prefixes are not fixed, it is possible to prevent the IP addresses from wasting. In addition, since IP addresses can be aggregated, it is possible to prevent the size of the forwarding table from rapidly increasing. However, the CIDR scheme has a problem in that the so-called longest prefix matching process has to be performed. Since an incoming packet does not carry information on the prefix length of its own final network, a process has to be performed to search an entry having the longest prefix among the entries of the forwarding table having prefixes matched with the prefix of the address of the incoming packet. In other words, various IP address lookup processes conventionally used for the exact matching cannot be adapted to the longest prefix matching scheme. As a result, there are generated bottlenecks at the router.
There are several criteria used to estimate performance of an IP address lookup architecture. The first criterion is the number of memory accesses. Since the rapid IP address lookup is required in order to cope with the increase in the link speed, it is important to reduce the number of memory accesses, which may result in the most principal factor of overhead. The second criterion is the memory size. For example, in case of a backbone router, as the number of networks connected to the backbone router is exponentially increasing, the number of entries that should be stored in the forwarding table is also rapidly increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively store the increasing entries in the memory, so that the IP address lookup process can be efficiently performed. As a result, the memory size becomes one of the principal factors in the IP address lookup process. The other criteria include table updatability for adding new prefixes or removing unused prefixes in the forwarding and an expandability to the IPv6 having a 128-bit address system.
Recently, various approaches for IP address lookup in the Internet router have been developed. The various approaches for IP address lookup may be classified as follows.
A first approach is an IP address lookup process using a content addressable memory (CAM). This approach has been used for an actual switch or router. The input IP address is directly compared with all the prefixes stored in the content addressable memory, so that the speed of the IP address lookup process is very high. However, there is a problem in that the technique associated with the content addressable memory has not coped with the rapidly increasing number of prefixes used for the router. In other words, in comparison with a RAM having the same memory size, the content addressable memory stores a very small number of prefixes. In addition, the cost of the content addressable memory is too high. Therefore, it is difficult to implement the content addressable memory for storing several ten-thousands of prefixes. In addition, it is difficult to embed the even implemented content addressable memory in a chip designed for the IP address lookup process. Therefore, it is difficult to apply the technique associated with the content addressable memory to the forwarding tables of a backbone router having several ten-thousands of entries and the IPv6 having addresses of 128-bit length.
A second approach is an IP address lookup process based on a Trie structure. The Trie structure is the most well-known data structure based on a tree which represents relationship between prefixes very well. In the Trie structure, every prefixes is located at a single node in the tree, which defines a path from a root node. Many researches have been made on architectures of storing the Trie structure in a memory and the associated IP address lookup schemes. However, the second approach has a problem in that the memory is wasted since prefix-unassigned internal nodes are stored. In addition, there is a problem in that W times of memory accesses are performed assuming that W is the height of the tree. In addition, it is difficult to perform an updating process to add new prefixes and remove unused prefixes.
There is proposed a Trie structure capable of reducing the number of memory accesses by using prefix expansion. In the Trie structure, a set of D prefix lengths is expanded into another set of L prefix lengths (D>L), so that some portion of prefix lengths can be expanded to reduce the number of different sets of the prefix lengths. In addition, there is proposed another Trie structure capable of performing a primary searching process in a memory having 224 entries obtained by expanding the shorter-than-24 prefix lengths to 24 prefix lengths. In the Trie structure, when the incoming address has a longer-than-24 prefix length, the searching process is performed on another table storing the remaining longer-than-24 prefix lengths. Even though the maximum number of memory accesses is advantageously only 2, the Trie structure has a problem in that a large-sized memory of 33 Mbytes is used to store 224 entries.
On the other hand, there is proposed another Trie structure where a forwarding table is constructed with a memory having 216 entries obtained by expanding the shorter-than-16 prefix lengths to 16 prefix lengths. In the Trie structure, when the incoming address has longer-than-16 prefix lengths, a process for searching the longer-than-16 prefixes lengths is performed along sub-trees. Although it has an advantage in the smaller memory can be used compared with the aforementioned architectures, the IP address lookup architecture using the Trie structure has a problem in that the amount of pre-processing increases and the updating process is difficult.
A third approach is an IP address lookup process using a binary search combined with a hashing applied to prefixes of the same length. The hashing has been popularly used for Layer-2 address lookup which requires exact matching. However, the binary searching combined hashing scheme has a problem in that a pure binary searching process can not apply. In other words, even in a case where the entry searched by the hashing does not include a prefix, a large number of markers indicating that a longer prefix exists have to be stored due to the longest prefix matching characteristics of the IP address. Therefore, there is a problem in that overhead is induced to calculate the large number of markers in advance. In addition, since it is based on an assumption that a perfect hash function can be rapidly obtained with respect to a given prefix distribution, the binary searching combined hashing scheme is not practical.
In order to solve the problem that it takes too long time to search the perfect hash function, there is still another scheme for searching multiple hash functions in accordance with the data distribution instead of the perfect hash function. Recently, some research has been made to implement a semi-perfect hashing scheme by using the multiple hash functions and generating tables for the corresponding hash functions.

IP address lookup using either a hashing table or multiple hash functions

EWHA University Industry Collaboration Foundation


A piping system includes a flare machining mechanism and a screw machining mechanism that machines the ends of pipes by cold-pressed formation. The flare machining mechanism flares the ends of pipes outward and the screw machining mechanism machines the outside of the pipe end into a convex screw and the inside of the pipe end into a concave screw are provided on the same rotor mechanism and the same chuck. The piping system is configured to execute flare machining and screw machining of the end of the pipe by exchanging the flare machining head and the screw machining head.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a piping system, and more particularly to a piping system that provides on the same assembly a flare machining mechanism that expands and flares outward pipe ends and a screw machining mechanism that causes cold-pressed transformation of the inner and outer circumferential ends of pipes, with the flare machining head and the screw machining head disposed on the same chuck to enable flare machining and screw machining by changing the machining heads or shifting their positions.
Background Art
Conventionally, pipes are joined together by a variety of methods and widely used as foundation piles for buildings as well as piping to transport fluids and air.
Of the pipes used as foundation piles for buildings, large-diameter pipes are sunk into holes dug in the ground and concrete is poured into them whereas small-diameter pipes are driven straight into the ground with a pile driver or the like.
The small-diameter foundation piles are sunk by rotating the pipes without removing earth. However, depending on the soil there is a limit to how far they can be sunk into the ground, and so they are processed by cutting or joining the ends.
Long pipes are cut into small lengths and brought to the construction site and joined together and buried in the ground as described below, although these methods of joining have until now been complicated and labor-intensive.
For example, the end of a pipe sunk into the ground is left exposed at the surface and a new pipe is connected to that portion by welding, fixed in place, and sunk further into the ground. Alternatively, a cylindrical spacer is inserted to and made to project from the top end of the foundation pile and welded thereto, after which the pipe is sunk into the ground with this portion exposed at the surface, and a further connecting pipe is inserted at the correct position using this projecting spacer as a guide, and the pipes are fixed in place by welding and then sunk into the ground. Yet alternatively, one end of the spacer is sealed, multiple projections are mounted thereon, and a spacer with multiple holes therein sealing an end that fits this end is inserted into the pipe ends and forcibly joined together using a hydraulic cylinder. Yet further alternatively, pipes are joined together by a spacer and the two pipe ends are fixed in place with a transverse pin or the like without welding.
For piping used to transport fluids or air, in a case in which the pipes are cut to a predetermined length and joined to form a predetermined piping path, the methods used to join the pipes together include: welding the outer circumferences of the joints of the pipes; welding flanges to the ends of the pipes and fastening the flanges together with nuts and bolts; joining using a sleeve-type coupling in which female screw threads are cut into the inner surface thereof; and further, flaring and machining the ends of each pipe and fixing and joining free flanges using nuts and bolts.
Pipes that become foundation piles for buildings are sunk into the ground and used for earthquake proofing, earthquake protection, and earthquake resistance. However, the depth to which the foundation piles are sunk differs depends on the condition of the ground. For this reason, when constructing buildings in densely populated residential areas, the foundation piles are cut to transportable lengths and then joined in arbitrary lengths and sunk into the ground.
In this case, the pipes are electrically welded, which means that work cannot be carried out at the construction site when it is raining.
The pipes are sometimes joined together using a specialized member such as a spacer that does not require welding bores of the pipes. However, such operations are time-consuming in that the locations where the pins or other members are to be inserted into the pipes when joining must be aligned, or a thick, expensive spacer member must be used to maintain the same strength at the pipe and the member.
Joining foundation piles by fitting a spacer with multiple projections with a spacer with multiple holes that fits this spacer and which do not require welding, in which the ends of the pipes are slightly enlarged, involves a complicated process of setting a plurality of small-scale hydraulic cylinders at the joints, and moreover the pipes to be joined must be kept perfectly vertically.
In addition, pipes are often laid in high places, requiring that welding of joints be done on scaffolding. In order to weld the entire circumference of the end of the pipe it is often necessary to assume uncomfortable positions, leading to uneven or misaligned welds and emitting sparks and sludge that pose hazards to health and surroundings.
Moreover, when pipes are changed or rearranged, it is necessary to cut the pipes and then weld them together again, which are not easy operations.
Flanged pipes can be fixed in place using nuts and bolts, and for this reason can be handled in high places comparatively easily. But it is necessary to weld the flanges to the pipes in the first place, and if this work is not done accurately fluid or gas leaks might occur once the pipes are mounted in place, or the pipes cannot be laid along a predetermined path.
It is possible to use loose flanges that are not welded to the pipes but which can be slid outward along the outer circumference of the pipe and, after the flange is fitted to the pipe, the ends of the pipe are bent outward in a flaring process. At the construction site, packing is inserted between the flared portions that are to be joined together and the flared portions are sandwiched by the loose flanges and fixed in place with nuts and bolts. This method is adopted as one capable of executing piping work with only machining and does not require welding, and can utilize the piping system of the present invention.
There is a specialized flaring machine consisting of conical machining heads of a single type that are disposed horizontal to the mouth of the pipe. The base on which the conical machining heads are disposed is spun around axles on both sides and slid along the inner circumference of the pipe until the conical machining heads are vertical to the mouth of the pipe about the axial center.
Further, there is a specialized flaring machine that is equipped with a first machining roller that flares the end of the pipe by spreading the end of the pipe to an intermediate point and a second machining roller that causes cold-pressed deformation up to a predetermined spread point.
However, although at present there are several types of flaring machines that can handle pipes from size 40 A to 500 A, these are all machines that can accommodate only a certain range of pipe sizes and are dedicated for flaring fabrication, and thus are not all-purpose machines.
In addition, there are small, specialized cold-pressed forging screw machining machines that only form the outer circumferential surface of the pipe into a projecting screw. However, to join these types of pipes together it is necessary to use a special-purpose socket and a large step is formed at the joint. For these reasons, such machines are unsuitable for machining foundation piles and are not generally used.
In addition, although there are small, specialized cold-pressed forging screw machining machines that machine the outer circumferential surfaces of pipes into male screw threads, because joining requires using a special socket above-described a large step is created at the joint, such machines are unsuitable for machining foundation piles and are not generally used.
Further, although there are cases in which the inside of the pipe is machined into concave screw threads while the outside is processed into convex screw threads, such machining shaves the ends of the pipe and thus weakens them compared to the rest of the pipe.
Moreover, because the shape of the shaved thread is an angle or even an acute angle the fitting is not easy in the event that earth and sand get into the threads. Furthermore, the shaving removes the plating and rust appears quickly, making these pipes unsuitable for use as foundation piles.
As described above, whether for building foundation piles that are sunk into the ground or for transporting fluids or air, there is a limit to how long the pipes can be at the construction site, and therefore the pipes must be cut and joined as necessary. Cutting long pipes into small sections, transporting them to the construction site, and then connecting them at the construction site is extremely laborious and time-consuming


The present invention discloses a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process where nickel or alloys thereof, such as, Ni/Cu, Ni/Co, are deposited on metal surfaces which are capable of receiving nickel or alloys thereof, using an Iodide source, preferably an Iodide salt, such as, Copper Iodide.

In the electronics industry it is often desirable to cover or coat an existing refractory metal surface with a brazable or solderable surface. Applications for such a procedure, include but are not limited to, I/O pads, wire bond pads, C4's (Controlled Collapse Chip Connection) and, seal bands, to name a few.
Many methods are available and practiced in the industry to cover or coat an existing refractory metal surface with a brazable or solderable surface. The most commonly used approach for treating refractory metal surfaces in the microelectronic packaging business is to employ electroplating or electroless-plating of pure or substantially pure Ni (nickel) film.
Nickel is generally the metal of choice for plating refractory metals because it can be made to bond well with any of the refractory metals. In addition, Ni possesses good wetting characteristics for subsequent bonding processes, such as brazing or soldering, and it has excellent corrosion characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,942 (Park), is one prior art process for covering surface areas of tungsten or molybdenum with nickel to make the surface brazable or solderable. Park teaches the process of nickel metallization of a ceramic device pre-metallized with Mo or W. In a nickel workboat having a nickel cover, an alumina crucible having Ni/NH.sub.4 I/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 particulate mixture is placed. Within this nickel workboat a ceramic device premetallized with molybdenum or tungsten is placed along with a nickel screen. This assembly is then exposed to high temperature to complete the nickel metallization of the premetallized ceramic device.
However, this invention teaches a new process for electroless deposition of a Ni or Ni alloys on a refractory metal surface. It is a CVD process which is performed in a dry environment and at a high temperature using an iodide, preferably an iodide salt, such as, for example, CuI, as the active reagent.

CVD of metals capable of receiving nickel or alloys thereof using iodide

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and methods for establishing secure communications between two network elements through a trusted intermediary when no direct communication path is available. Separate secure communication links are established between the network elements and the trusted intermediary to facilitate secure end to end communication.

1. Field
The present application relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to systems and methods for establishing secure connections between devices through a mutually trusted intermediary.
2. Background
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication (e.g., voice, data, multimedia services, etc.) to multiple users. As the demand for high-rate and multimedia data services rapidly grows, there lies a challenge to implement efficient and robust communication systems with enhanced performance
In addition to mobile phone networks currently in place, a new class of small base stations has emerged, which may be installed in a user's home and provide indoor wireless coverage to mobile units using existing broadband Internet connections. Such personal miniature base stations are generally known as access point base stations, or, alternatively, Home Node B (HNB), femto access points, or femto nodes. Typically, such miniature base stations are connected to the Internet and the mobile operator's network via a DSL router or a cable modem. Multiple femto nodes may be deployed by individual users in the coverage area of a traditional macro node. Femto nodes may form part of local networks and may be connected to various devices. A user may wish to interact with those devices on the local networks even when located remotely from the femto node. Thus, it may be desirable to enable a secure connection with the femto node and its local network even when the user cannot directly communicate with the femto node.

Method and apparatus to establish trust and secure connection via a mutually trusted intermediary


An image forming apparatus has a charge removing unit (31) between a transfer roller (11) for transferring a toner image from a surface of a photosensitive drum (4) to a transfer member and a charging unit (3) for electrostatically charging the surface of the photosensitive drum (4) approximately uniformly, with respect to a rotation direction of the photosensitive drum (4). The charge removing unit (31) includes LEDs (311) to irradiate the surface of the photosensitive drum (4) with charge-removing light. A support (312) supports the LEDs (311) approximately in a line along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum (4). A position setting mechanism (313) allows a position of the support (312) to be changed selectively in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the photosensitive drum (4). Thus, the image forming apparatus can suppress uneven charge-distribution in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum (4).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, a device for electrostatically charging a drum-type electrophotographic photoconductor or photosensitive body (hereinafter referred to as "photosensitive drum" for brevity) has been composed of a corona charging device designed to expose a surface of a photosensitive drum to corona discharge so as to electrostatically charge the surface. Late years, from the aspect of advantages in lower-level ozone formation and lower power consumption as compared with the corona charging device, a contact charging device designed to bring a charging member in a voltage-applied state into contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum so as to electrostatically charge the surface has come into practical use.
Further, in place of selenium or OPC (Organic Photo Conductor) conventionally used as a material for a surface layer of a photosensitive drum, amorphous silicon is recently beginning to be used in view of environmental concerns, longer life duration, etc.
While amorphous silicon has excellent properties, it has difficulty in being formed as a homogeneous or uniform film due to its production process. Thus, a surface layer of a photosensitive drum formed of such a film is likely to have a locally uneven charge storage capacity which causes an uneven electrostatically-charged state in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as "axially uneven charge-distribution"), for example, a phenomenon that one end of the photosensitive drum is easily charged and the other end is hardly charged.
As one of measures for suppressing the axially uneven charge-distribution, there has been proposed a technique of providing on an upstream side of a contact charging device a charge removing device for exposing a surface of a photosensitive drum to light to perform a charge removal operation, and adjusting a width of a light path between a light source of the charge removing device and the surface of the photosensitive drum, in an width direction of the photosensitive drum, so as to control the distribution of charge-removing light intensity in the width direction of the photosensitive drum (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 08-272270).
The above technique will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, wherein FIG. 8A is a top plan view of the charge removing device 30, viewing from the side of the photosensitive drum 4, and FIG. 8B is a side view of the charge removing device 30 and the photosensitive drum 4. The charge removing device 30 comprises a plurality of point light sources 301 each consisting of a LED (Light Emitting Diode), a support member 302 supporting the point light sources 301 in a line arrangement, and a pair of plate-shaped members 303 disposed in a gap between the point light sources 301 and the photosensitive drum 4 and adapted to adjust a width of a light path extending from the point light sources 301 to the photosensitive drum 4. In this technique based on adjustment of the light-path width, even a slight change of the light-path width has great impact on the distribution of charge-removing light intensity, and it is practically difficult to adequately adjust the light-path width in such a manner as to obtain a desired distribution of charge-removing light intensity. Consequently, it is likely that the photosensitive drum 4 is not electrostatically charged with sufficient uniformity (or axially uneven charge-distribution occurs).

Image forming apparatus that permits adjustment of a distance between a light source and a photoconductor


This invention absorbs available heat from the flue gas of an existing building's heating system and heat from the sun. The heat is absorbed and stored in a heat-collecting sphere of special design. The absorbed heat collected in the sphere is transferred, by the conventional refrigeration cycle, to the heat exchanger located at the air inlet to the building heating system. The refrigerant liquid is sprayed into the collecting sphere, as it absorbs heat, it evaporates and changes into a gas. The refrigerant compressor transfers the gas from the heat-collector to the heat exchanger. The existing heater fan draws air across the heat exchanger finned coil removing heat from the refrigerant. The refrigerant gas gives up heat and is condensed. The heated air combines with the existing furnace air to heat the existing building. The refrigerant liquid from the heat exchanger is transferred to the heat-collecting sphere spray nozzles.

The rising energy costs and the inefficiency of the present home heating system, inspired this invention. The flue gas escaping up thru the chimney from an existing heating system, contains much heat which is discharged into the atmosphere and wasted. The sun's rays contain available heat energy. This invention captures the available flue gas and sun heat and transfers it to the existing heating system, improving heater efficiency and reducing consumer utility costs.

Combination heat recovery—solar collector


A method for manufacturing a superconducting wire material in which the superconducting current is not saturated even when a superconducting layer is made into a thick film, and a superconducting wire material. In the method a superconducting layer is formed on a metal substrate interposed by an intermediate layer, the method including heating the metal substrate up to the film-formation temperature of a superconducting film for forming the superconducting layer, forming a superconducting film having a film thickness of at least 10 nm and no more than 200 nm on the intermediate layer, and reducing the metal substrate temperature to a level below the film-formation temperature of the superconducting film, and the superconducting film-formation, including the heating, the film-formation, and the cooling, are performed a plurality of times.

Conventionally, an RE-based superconductor (RE: rare earth element) is known as a type of high temperature superconductor showing superconductivity at a liquid nitrogen temperature (77K) or higher. Specifically, a typical one is an yttrium-based superconductor (hereinafter referred to as "Y-based superconductor" or "YBCO") represented by a chemical formula YBa2CU3O7-y.
Superconducting wire using a Y-based superconductor (hereinafter referred to as "Y-based superconducting wire") usually includes a layered structure with the following layers formed in order, a tape shaped metallic substrate, an intermediate layer, a Y-based superconductor layer, and a stabilizing layer. For example, this Y-based superconducting wire is manufactured by deposition of biaxially oriented intermediate layer by a IBAD (Ion Beam Assisted Deposition) on a low magnetic non-oriented metallic substrate (for example, Hastelloy (registered trademark)) and deposition of a Y-based superconducting layer on the intermediate layer by a Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), a Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) or the like (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Method for manufacturing superconducting wire, and superconducting wire

CHUBU ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INCORPORATED


A sheet post-processing device includes: an alignment member which aligns a sheet bundle on a stacking tray; and a stapler which performs binding processing on a rear end of the sheet bundle. The stapler includes: a first stapler which moves along the rear end of a first sheet bundle and performs the binding processing on a plurality of positions at the rear end of the first sheet bundle; and a second stapler which performs, at one part of an end portion of the rear end on one side, binding processing different from the first stapler. The alignment member includes: a first alignment member and a second alignment member which align the sheet bundle in a first stacking position; and a third alignment member which is fixed to a position corresponding to the second stapler and which aligns the sheet bundle in a second stacking position with the first alignment member.

The present disclosure relates to a sheet post-processing device that stacks, on a stacking tray, sheets such as a paper sheet on which images are formed with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer so as to perform binding processing, and to an image forming system that includes such a sheet post-processing device.
Conventionally, a sheet post-processing device is proposed that performs post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed with an image forming apparatus. Examples of the post-processing described above include punch-hole formation processing which punches punch holes (perforations) in a sheet after image formation and binding processing which stacks a plurality of sheets described above and which binds the sheets with a stapler.
Incidentally, in recent years, a sheet post-processing device has been proposed in which a first stapler for using needles to perform binding processing and a second stapler for performing binding processing without use of needles are provided together. In the sheet post-processing device as described above, the first stapler and the second stapler for performing different types of binding processing differ from each other in the width (height) in an up/down direction of an entrance through which a sheet bundle is inserted and in the maximum number of sheets bound (the maximum thickness of the sheet bundle) which allows the binding processing to be performed. For example, the entrance of the second stapler is narrower in the up/down direction than that of the first stapler. The maximum thickness of the sheet bundle (hereinafter also referred to as the second sheet bundle) which can be bound with the second stapler is smaller than the maximum thickness of the sheet bundle (hereinafter also referred to as the first sheet bundle) which can be bound with the first stapler.
Hence, in a case where the first sheet bundle is bound with the first stapler, when the second stapler is present in a position close to the first sheet bundle, the first sheet bundle interferes with the second stapler. Consequently, the first sheet bundle cannot be arranged in the position of the binding processing using the first stapler. Hence, the second stapler is generally arranged in such a position (position outside the first sheet bundle) that the second stapler does not interfere with the first sheet bundle when the first sheet bundle is bound with the first stapler. Therefore, when the second sheet bundle is bound with the second stapler, the second sheet bundle needs to be moved from the position of the first sheet bundle which is bound with the first stapler to the position for the entrance of the second stapler.
In this respect, the following technology is known. Specifically, on a stacking tray, a sheet bundle is sandwiched between a first alignment member and a second alignment member, and thus the sheet bundle is located. Depending on when a first sheet bundle is bound with a first stapler which is moved to a plurality of parts in a sheet width direction (direction along a sheet rear end) or when one part of a second sheet bundle is bound with a second stapler which is not moved, the two alignment members (the first alignment member and the second alignment member) for locating the sheet bundle are individually moved in the sheet width direction, and thus the position of the first sheet bundle and the position of the second sheet bundle are changed in the sheet width direction.

Sheet post-processing device and image forming system including same


A sprue apparatus for use in a molding apparatus for connecting the melt duct of a molding machine nozzle with a runner system of a molding apparatus. The sprue apparatus includes a plurality of thermal regulators that regulate a plurality of thermal zones that segment the length of the sprue apparatus for the purpose of localized temperature control in support of a molding process. The plurality of zones may be thermally regulated such as to enable a substantially leak-free junction between the machine nozzle and the molding apparatus. The sprue apparatus may include an isolating coupler that substantially isolates a heated sprue bushing from carriage force. The invention has been found particularly useful when injecting metal alloys such as magnesium based alloys when in the thixotropic state.

Sprue bushings for molding apparatus are well known in the art. For example, the book entitled "Understanding Injection Molding Technology" by Herbert Rees, copyright 1994, ISBN 1-56990-130-9, describes Hot Sprues on page 61. Essentially, sprue bushings provide a connection between the machine nozzle and the runner system of a mold for injecting at least partially molten molding material into the cavity of a mold. The at least partially molten material, sometimes called the melt, travels from the machine nozzle into a duct located within the sprue bushing and into a cavity of a mold. A carriage force is typically directed longitudinally through the sprue bushing for sealing the connection between the machine nozzle and the sprue bushing during the molding process. Generally, there are two. categories of sprues, cold and hot.
Cold sprues are not heated. Any arrested flow of molten material in a cold sprue will solidify within a portion of the duct in the sprue bushing. The solidified material must be removed from the sprue bushing before a subsequent injection cycle. The solidified material is wasteful and increases the cost of the part as a result of the scrap material.
Hot sprues, generally, are electrically heated. The heat may be applied either internally or externally to the sprue. Generally, the hot sprue keeps the material molten within the duct of the sprue bushing through a single heat zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,687 issued on Mar. 23, 1999 to Hotset teaches a hot sprue with a heated chamber for a die casting machine. A feed sleeve includes a central passage for receiving a melt of material. A heater providing a single heat zone surrounds the feed sleeve. One end of the feed sleeve engages a supply of liquid metal and a carriage force is directed through a portion of the sprue bushing. A plug of solid material forms near a gate and is pushed out during the molding process through the application of injection pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,789 issued on Aug. 1, 2000 to Polyshot Corporation teaches an adjustable hot sprue bushing.
Resistive heaters are shown surrounding the body of the bushing. The number of turns of wire is increased at the distant ends of the bushing to provide more heat energy at the distant ends to compensate for the high heat transfer, or heating losses, at the distant ends. This is an attempt to provide a constant temperature along the entire length of the bushing in a single uniform thermal zone.
PCT application WO 01/19552 to Hotflo Die Casting teaches a sprue tip insert in combination with a separate transition channel. The temperature along the entire length of the sprue appears to be controlled as a single uniform thermal zone. The material in the entire length of the sprue is at a temperature high enough to ensure flow. A separate mating die includes the transition channel downstream from the sprue. The transition channel is controlled independently of the sprue to freeze the material in the transition channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,511 issued on Mar. 19, 2002 to the assignee of the present invention teaches a spigot junction that provides an improved connection interface between melt channel components of an injection molding machine, and in particular between a machine nozzle and an otherwise typical sprue bushing for thixotropic molding of a metallic material. The spigot junction includes an annular cylindrical portion of a first component received in a cylindrical bore of a second component. The fit of a spigot junction is characterized as having a close diametric fit between an outer surface of the annular cylindrical portion and a corresponding inner surface of the cylindrical bore, the close fit may include a small annular gap to support an initial melt seepage, and a longitudinal engagement of sufficient length to permit limited relative axial movement without a loss of sealing. The spigot junction provides a seal against melt leakage by virtue of the fit, that may be augmented by a seal of solidified molding material seepage that forms in the small gap.
European patent publication 0 444 748 to Boekel et al., published on Sep. 4, 1991, describes a mold sprue bushing that includes a number of thermal control zones configured therealong.
Japanese patent publication 2002-059456 to Atsuki et al. describes a machine nozzle for use with a metal molding system that includes a structure for controlling the formation of a cold plug therein.
There are a number of problems with known sprue apparatus that result from poor thermal regulation along the length of the sprue bushing, with only a single thermal zone dedicated to maintaining the conditions of the molding material flowing through the sprue bushing. For example, with the single thermal control zone dedicated to the thermal regulation of molding material in support of the molding process, it is not possible to independently thermally regulate the junction between mating melt channel components; as is required with a spigot junction, to ensure a reliable seal against molding material leakage. The leakage of molding material is of particular concern when processing light-alloys, such as magnesium in a thixomolding process, due to the possibility of rapid and uncontrolled oxidation at elevated processing temperatures. Further, it would be desirable to provide localized temperature control along the length of the sprue apparatus to counter problems such as undesirable molding temperature variances, control sprue plug formation, or provide general processing flexibility. Another problem relates to the susceptibility of known sprue apparatus to permanent deformation due to longitudinally applied carriage force, required for the purpose of maintaining a seal between the machine nozzle and the sprue apparatus, especially when the sprue apparatus is weakened at the high operating temperatures required for thixomolding magnesium. In particular, the sprue apparatus, in use, is constrained along its length between the machine nozzle and the molding apparatus and is therefore compressed under the applied carriage force directed though the machine nozzle. The sprue apparatus is susceptible to permanent deformation from the compression due to its slender construction; the slender construction of the sprue apparatus provides a short heat conduction path, and therefore a fast thermal response, between heaters provided along the length of the sprue apparatus and the molding material within its melt duct. Yet another problem relates to undesirable process fluctuations that result from the formation and ejection of sprue plugs of inconsistent length, the variations in sprue plugs may be attributed to inadequate thermal regulation and melt channel configuration.


There is provided a highly reliable transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency apparatus which can achieve a high communication quality in a cable modem. A reception RF signal is input to a reception system block via an input/output terminal, converted to an intermediate-frequency signal, and output from a terminal. An output terminal of a transmission processing section of a transmission system block is connected to the input/output terminal via an overvoltage protection circuit, a high-pass filter functioning as a countermeasure to overvoltage, and a low-pass filter for suppressing harmonics produced from the high-pass filter.

The present invention relates to a transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency (RF) apparatus used on a terminal side connected to, e.g. a two-way cable television (CATV) network.
With recent development in multi-media technology and digital technology in the fields of broadcasting and communications, amalgamation of broadcasting and communications technologies will shortly be realized. For example, a CATV line, which has a higher data transmission capacity than a telephone line, may be utilized to constitute a network, over which data communication services can be provided. In this case, a communication device (e.g. a personal computer), serving as a subscriber terminal, is connected to the CATV network. The personal computer, for instance, accesses a server via the CATV network and the Internet.
In this system, a unit called a cable modem, which functions as an interface with the CATV line, is disposed in the subscriber's house, and the user connects the cable modem to his/her PC. Thereby, the user can access an external network, such as the Internet, via a CATV broadcasting center. An example of a tuner of the cable modem described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-103427, published Apr. 13, 1999.
In the CATV broadcasting, the center station sends broadcasting signals to each subscriber's house, using RF signals (downstream signals) of normally 90 MHz to 860 MHz. The receiving terminal, on the other hand, frequency-converts the RF signals once to three times to intermediate frequencies by means of a tuner in the cable modem, following which the intermediate frequencies are digitally demodulated. In addition, the receiving terminal can send information digitally demodulated by QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) or 16 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) from the individual terminal side to the center station, using RF signals (upstream signals) of normally 5 MHz to 65 MHz.
The level of the downstream signal is weak, and normally −15 to +15 dBmV, at the input terminal of the cable modem, while the level of the upstream signal is normally +8 to +58 dBmV at the output terminal of the cable modem.
The upstream signal output terminal of the cable modem is connected to an outdoor line via a coaxial cable. If overvoltage is applied due to indirect lightning stroke, semiconductor devices in the cable modem may be destroyed. As a method for preventing destruction due to overvoltage at the RF signal line, it is known to provide a protection circuit using a high-pass filter or a diode. However, the output level of the signal transmission circuit is high, and +58 dBmv at maximum. Consequently, a harmonic component (a second or third harmonic) may be produced by the protection circuit.
The upstream signal is controlled so as not to temporally overlap an upstream signal from some other user. For this purpose, a transmission time zone is assigned to the upstream signal transmission circuit, and the upstream signal transmission circuit is controlled and set in the non-operative state at time zones other than the assigned transmission time zone. If the upstream transmission circuit continues to send noise at a time zone other than the assigned one, the noise will be superimposed on the other user's upstream signal to which this time zone is assigned, and the center station cannot receive a correct signal.
An upstream signal and a downstream signal share a single coaxial cable. The upstream signal and downstream signal are thus frequency-separated by a diplexer built in the tuner of the cable modem. In the diplexer, it is needed isolation, to be ensured to prevent interference, between the upstream signal and downstream signal.
In addition, if the components of the cable modem are further reduced in size and the integration density of the IC is enhanced, it is also necessary to ensure isolation between the intermediate frequency of the downstream signal and the upstream signal.
Moreover, the cable modem simultaneously transmits the upstream signal and receives the downstream signal. Thus, the cable modem needs to be designed to stably receive the downstream signal both at the time of outputting and at the time of not outputting the upstream signal.
In the design of the cable modem, as described above, attention should be paid to the following problems.
(1) Since the level of the upstream signal is high, a harmonic component produced by the overvoltage protection circuit may interfere with the weak downstream signal. For example, when an upstream signal of 40 MHz is being transmitted, a third harmonic (120 MHz) of 40 MHz may interfere with a downstream signal of 0.120 MHz.
(2) If a certain user's cable modem continues to be in the active state over the assigned transmission time zone, noise may be sent to the cable and the center station may fail to exactly receive an upstream signal from some other user's cable modem.
(3) Where a circuit for transmitting an upstream signal (transmission signal) and a circuit for processing a downstream intermediate-frequency signal are integrated in an LSI for the purpose of reduction in size of circuit components, the upstream transmission signal may interfere with the downstream intermediate-frequency signal on a connection line between each circuit and an RF processing section.
(4) The upstream signal transmission circuit is activated/deactivated between the transmission time zone and the non-transmission time zone. With the activation/deactivation, a circuit current in the upstream signal transmission circuit may vary and a ripple may occur in the power supply voltage of a local oscillator which frequency-converts the downstream signal. If a ripple occurs in the power supply voltage of the local oscillator, side-band spuriousness may be caused and the quality of reception of the downstream signal may deteriorate.

Transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency apparatus