The present invention relates to a combined carrier and stripper for a 40 MM grenade cartridge allowing transportation and ready access to a number of cartridges while permitting manual removal of a single cartridge also maintaining the remainder for further use. The carrier/stripper consists of a pair of spaced inwardly facing structural channels, each having a closed end, held together with a connecting plate member with release members retaining a number of cartridges providing securement with easy access for manual removal. The device provides attachment to a person achieved with either a spring loaded clasp, a belt clip or hook and loop tape with straps removeably attached on a mat.

Previously, many types of cadies, shell holders, strippers and carriers have been used in endeavoring to provide an effective means to store and wear on a person's body to provide rapid and speedy access when necessary for use.
The prior art listed below did not disclose patents that possess any of the novelty of the instant invention; however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
Pat. No.InventorIssue Date4,498,612Geekie, Jr.Feb. 12, 19854,502,612MorrisonMar. 5, 19854,843,649Jewell deceased et al.Jul. 4, 19895,755,055Thompson et al.May 26, 19986,898,888B2GreenhutMay 31, 20057,533,598B1MurphyMay 19, 20098,261,666B2GargSep. 11, 2012
Geekie, Jr. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,612 teaches a belt buckle adapted for use as a cartridge or shotgun shell holder. The buckle has attached to its front side three parallel rows of spring clips arranged to hold up to three conventional cartridges or shotgun shells horizontally across the buckle. The buckle also has a shield to protect the ammunition while providing a brace and pivot point for removal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,612 issued to Morrison is for a dispensing container for providing articles one at a time. A delivery throat forming a continuous extension of the body, which has a cross section proximate to the cross section of the articles disposed Therein. to serially align the article passing through. The throat is formed with an upturned end defining a lower trap portion adjacent to the end which permits only one article at a time to be moved to the end of the throat.
Jewell et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,649 disclose a shotgun shell holder and dispenser mounted on a hunting vest having a plurality of upright loops for accommodating shotgun shells in an end-to-end relation. A dispenser comprises a tube located in the bottom of each loop. Flexible retaining structure on the bottom of each tube releaseably holds the shells in the tubes and loops.
Thompson et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,055 teaches a holder foe a gun having an elongated cylindrical side wall, a bottom wall and an open top end and a cap having a cylinerrial side wall which is ensleeved over the side wall of the body. The holder has the shape and size of a shot gun shell and is stored in a chamber in the stock of a gun.
Murphy in U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,598 B1 discloses a shell stripper assembly which includes a stripper guide, a stripper guide plate and a magazine insert. The shell stripper strips the top round from the firearm magazine enabling it to be picked up by the firearm breech bolt. The shell stripper slides between guide rails of the stripper guide and is position controlled by the stripper guide plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,666 B2 issued to Garg is for a non-lethal projectile storage and charging mechanism. An ammunition cartridge includes a propulsion mechanism and an non-lethal projectile. The non-lethal projectile is configured to detach from a launching device when propelled from the launching device and includes a set of electrodes coupled to an electrical power source which may be a capacitor, a battery or a combination thereof. The cartridge may be shaped and sized for firing from a weapon designed to fire comparably shaped and sized conventional ammunition.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related reference may be made to the remaining cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,888 B2 issued to Greenhut.

40 mm grenade cartridge carrier/stripper


A power management method and mechanism for dynamically determining which of a plurality of blocks of an electrical device may be powered on or off. A device is contemplated which includes one or more power manageable groups. A power management unit associated with the apparatus is configured to detect instructions which are scheduled for execution, identify particular power group(s) which may be required for execution of the instruction, and convey an indication which prevents the particular power group(s) from entering a powered off state, in response to detecting said instruction. If the power management unit does not detect an incoming or pending instructions, for a predetermined period of time, which requires a particular power group(s) for execution, the power management unit may convey an indication which causes or permits the corresponding power group(s) to enter a powered off state. A power group may automatically decay to a powered off state in the absence of a detected instruction requiring the power group. Instructions may be encoded to identify required power groups.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of processors and computer systems and, more particularly, to power management in processors and other devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
While processing performance in computing and other devices has garnered much attention, the topic of power dissipation has become increasingly important. Generally speaking, the public has come to expect their computing devices to be smaller and more mobile. Whether the device is a portable computer, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or otherwise, portable power sources such as batteries are becoming commonplace. Given that such power supplies are limited in nature, it is extremely important that the power which is available be used in an efficient manner. Consequently, power management techniques in such devices are becoming more widespread. Further, as gate sizes in processors and other computing devices become smaller and smaller, it is projected that static power dissipation may soon equal dynamic power dissipation. Hence static power dissipation is increasingly becoming a crucial design consideration in processor and device architectures.
In view of the importance of managing power in these devices, effective power management methods and mechanisms are desired.

Dynamically self-decaying device architecture


A rotation angle detecting apparatus includes: a first permanent magnet; a second permanent magnet disposed so as to face the first permanent magnet, the second permanent magnet rotating together with a shaft; an arc-shaped first magnetic member and second magnetic member fixed to the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet; and a magnetic resistor disposed in an air gap formed between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member so as to be axially aligned with the shaft, the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member each including: a projecting portion pointed at the magnetic resistor; and a wall portion surrounding the magnetic resistor so as to prevent influence from external magnetic fields.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotation angle detecting apparatus for detecting a rotation angle of a detected body using a magnetic resistor and a permanent magnet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, known examples of rotation angle detecting apparatuses include those in which permanent magnets are mounted to an end portion of a rotating shaft, a magnetoresistive sensor is disposed so as to be axially aligned with the rotating shaft and so as to be separated from the permanent magnets and perpendicular to the rotating shaft, and a rotation angle of the rotating shaft is detected by the magnetoresistive sensor responding to magnetic flux originating from the permanent magnets in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft (See Patent Literature 1, for example).
Patent Literature 1
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 11-94512 (Gazette)
In the above rotation angle detecting apparatus, one problem has been that much of the magnetic flux originating from the permanent magnets leaks outside a region to which the magnetoresistive sensor responds, requiring larger permanent magnets and increasing costs.


A method includes detecting an incoming request from a first application to a second application. The method further includes performing an authentication that involves sending a challenge message to a first application. The challenge message may request an account of information associated with processed transactions between the first application and the second application during a particular period preceding the incoming request, a solution to a high-cost calculation associated with a high level of resource use, or a concatenated sequence of characters located at specific positions of a shared value. The authentication further involves receiving a challenge response to the challenge message from the first application, determining a verified response based on the challenge message, and determining whether the challenge response matches the verified response. The method includes authorizing the second application to process the incoming request in response to determining that the challenge response matches the verified response.

The present disclosure relates to security and, more specifically, to authentication techniques for API-based endpoints.
Effective authentication methods are necessary to protect against fraudulent transactions. When a human user initiates a transaction, existing systems have methods for authenticating the user. For example, existing systems may require the user to provide (i) information only the user knows (e.g., password), (ii) information only the user has (e.g., ATM card), or (iii) information only the user is (e.g., a fingerprint). Such systems then may verify the identity of the user by comparing the user's provided information against verified information.
Problems, however, may arise when a transaction is initiated by an application instead of a human user. Many if not all user authentication methods, although effective against human imposters, are ineffective against API-based endpoints such as applications. Thus, if an imposter impersonates a requesting application or injects a third-party application into a transaction, then the imposter may be able to steer clear of existing authentication methods. Accordingly, new methods must be developed to protect against malicious activity that comes from an API-based endpoint.


An automatic lifting mechanism for motorcycle saddle mainly includes a first and a second supporting arm respectively fixed to a saddle and a body of a motorcycle, at least one spiral spring having two sideward extended terminal ends separately pressed against the two supporting arms, and a damping device located in the at least one spiral spring to rotatably engage at two ends with the two supporting arms. While a spring force of each spiral spring quickly elastically stretches open the first and the second supporting arm when the saddle is unlocked, the damping device limits a rotating speed of the two supporting arms, so that the saddle could be automatically lifted or moved downward at a buffered speed without the risk of injuring a user.

A motorcycle does not require a big parking area and could move at a speed satisfying general users, and is therefore widely accepted by people living in crowded cities. The currently available motorcycles usually include a storage space below a saddle for holding miscellaneous things, such as a helmet and other personal articles. The saddle is pivotally connected at an end to one side of a top opening of the storage space, and at an opposite end to a hook controlled through a key, so that the saddle could be pivotally turned to a closed position and locked.
However, when the saddle is unlocked, a user has to lift the saddle with one hand to expose the storage space for removing things therefrom or positioning things thereinto. This is, of course, very inconvenient to the user. In the event the motorcycle is improperly parked and tends to incline or vibrate, the saddle is subject to unexpected closing from the lifted position to even injure the user or damage things positioned below the saddle.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an automatic lifting mechanism for motorcycle saddle to overcome the above-mentioned problems with the conventional saddle.

Automatic lifting mechanism for motorcycle saddle


In a toothed belt including a toothed belt body and a reinforcing cloth, the toothed belt body includes a rubber composition and has a base part formed into a flat band shape and a plurality of rubber tooth parts, which are arranged integrally with one face of the base part and spaced apart from each other in a belt lengthwise direction. The reinforcing cloth is attached to the toothed belt body to cover a face, of the toothed belt body, with the rubber tooth parts. Each of the rubber tooth parts is covered with the reinforcing cloth in a corresponding one of cloth-covered tooth parts where a rate of a volume of the reinforcing cloth with respect to a volume of the cloth-covered tooth part is 60% or more.

Toothed belts are used for power transmission in general industrial applications, electric power steering, and the like. For the purposes of enhancement of durability of tooth parts of the toothed belt and the like, the tooth parts are covered with canvas.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-299836 discloses a toothed belt in which tooth parts are covered with a tooth cloth. In addition, the above document discloses that dimensions of respective parts of the toothed belt are defined and in particular, when a diameter of a cord is D mm and a thickness of the tooth cloth is T mm, 0. 65≤D/2+T≤0.85 is satisfied.


A wrench includes a body having two ends and a handle between the ends of the body. At least one of the ends of the body can be used for driving an object. A plurality of character units are provided on each holding face and form an anti-slipping section. At least one of the holding faces includes at least one indication area located in the anti-slipping section. The indication area includes an indication marking.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wrench with character units that form an anti-slipping section.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical wrenches include a smooth handle with anti-rusting treatment. However, these wrenches cannot provide an anti-slipping effect at the handles. Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 530724 discloses a wrench having a handle with an indentation section with embossed or debossed characters. However, no anti-slipping effect is provided, for the characters are located in a central area of the handle. As a result, the user's hand is liable to slip while using the wrench, as it is not uncommon that the user's hand has oil and dust.
Taiwan Utility Model No. M294392 discloses wrenches including handles with various pressed patterns. The pressed pattern of each handle is located around a trademark on the handle. However, the pressed pattern providing a background of the trademark is too complicated and, thus, obscures the trademark, failing to obtain the desired advertising effect.


The present invention relates to methods of preparing purified cyclopropylene (1-methylcyclopropylene) gas employing one or more non-reactive purification processes to purify substances including, without limitation, cyclopropene (1-methylcyclopropylene) gas and/or lithio-cyclopropene.

Current understanding based on more recent investigations into cyclopropene compounds have revealed various applications and uses of these compounds in the chemical industry. In particular, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and its related analogs, are understood as highly effective in controlling and/or inhibiting the adverse effects of ethylene in plants thereby promoting delayed ripening and senescence (see Blankenship & Dole, 2003) (see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,988). As such, commercially (cost) efficient and effective generation, storage and use of these compounds, such as 1-MCP, have become significantly important considerations in the industry.
Synthesis of cyclopropene compounds usually involves reaction between an allylic halide such as methallyl chloride or 3-chloro-2-methylpropene (3-CMP), and a strong base such as lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), phenyllithium and/or sodium amide (Fisher & Applequist, 1965; Magid, Clarke, & Duncan, 1971). In this synthesis reaction, the halogen group in the allylic halide undergoes an elimination reaction and the remaining group forms a ring structure of metallo-cyclopropene and its simple derivatives.
LDA and Sodium amide are the two most commonly used bases for the synthesis (generation) of 1-MCP (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,849). In the case of a sodium amide based reaction with allylic halide an elimination reaction is induced and forms sodio-cyclopropene, which is not stable and results in a quick release of 1-MCP gas (see F. Fisher and D. Applequist, J. Org. Chem., 30, 2089 20 (1965)). In the case of LDA as reactant, a stabilized lithiation precursor of 1-MCP, lithio-cyclopropene, can be formed. This 25 precursor requires addition of water to neutralize lithio-cyclopropene to generate 1-MCP. Both reaction processes can be relatively expensive and time consuming. Though LDA, as a reactant is relatively expensive and the storage of precursor requires controlled environment, which can further increase cost, the ability to store the precursor for an extended period, provides LDA based reactions an advantage over sodium amide.
Further, additional costs and significant safety concerns are raised due to 1-MCP and its analogs being relatively unstable. This instability is due to their reactive nature, particularly the potential for undergoing reactions, such as "ene" and/or oxidation. Due to the inherent volatility and reactivity of cyclopropene 2) compounds, they cannot be stored in the gaseous state for an extended period of time. Additionally, cyclopropene compounds, such as 1-MCP, is a gas under room temperature and is flammable, and thus poses a risk of explosion when compressed. Therefore, 1-MCP is often synthesized and then trapped into selective solid matrices for storage, handling, and application. The instability and the safety concerns for the 1-MCP gas can be addressed in various ways and have been addressed through various means, such as the encapsulating techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,849.
Both LDA and sodium amide based reactions for 1-MCP synthesis can result in the formation of and/or contamination with various impurities. Impurities refer to chemical substances that differ in composition and reduces the purity of the active ingredient, 1-MCP. Generally, the impurities are volatile or gaseous compounds that are formed from the reactants and the reaction, thus the impurities can include, without limitation, methylenecyclopropene, other cyclopropenes, butenes, and butanes. Unreacted reactants and various stabilizers also have potential to contaminate the 1-MCP gas. Generally, the contaminant impurities can include, without limitation, unreacted reactants such as 3-choro-2-methylpropene and stabilizers for lithium diisopropylamide such as heptane, ethylbenzene, hexane, and tetrahydrofuran. The impurities mix with the generated 1-MCP gas and travel with the gas stream through the process.
A synthesis reaction of 1-MCP can therefore be understood to have an impurity profile, comprising one or more impurities depending on the reactants used and reactions performed to synthesize 1-MCP. The impurity profiles for any specific synthesis reaction can be similar or significantly vary and be quite different. For instance, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,540, if sodium amide is used to react with 3-CMP, the impurity profile can include unreacted 3-CMP, its isomer 1-chloro-2-methylpropene (1-CMP) and ammonia. Alternatively, if LDA is used to react with 3-CMP, the impurity profile can include unreacted 3-CMP, its isomer 1-CMP and volatile solvents used to stabilize LDA such as heptane, ethylbenzene, hexane, and tetrahydrofuran.
There are existing patents and methods to minimize the impurity level in 1-MCP. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,540 discloses a scrubbing system consisting of water to remove ammonia, and a reactive mixture comprising of a thiol, an alcohol, and an amine, to remove the unreacted 3-CMP. To reduce the level of unreacted 3-CMP, Chinese Patent No. 102167706 (CN 102167706) discloses a method of using vacuum distillation after forming lithio-cyclopropene. Similarly, Noeh et al. (2007) reported a method of using vacuum distillation to remove volatiles after synthesizing the lithio-cyclopropene.
All the aforementioned methods are effective for removing cyclopropene impurities, but have significant limitations that impact negatively on various synthesis and commercial factors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,540 disclosure is focused on sodium amide-based reactions and reactive methods for removing impurities. In the approaches disclosed by CN 102167706 and Noeh et al (2007), although vacuum distillation is effective to remove some impurities (volatiles), it may fail to meet EPA requirements, resulting in failed commercial outcomes, and may also not be efficient and cost-effective at an industrial level, thereby requiring significant capital investment and long processing time.
LDA based reactions result in a different impurity profile from the sodium amide reactions and therefore requires a different approach to minimize impurities. Controlling the impurity profile by eliminating, reducing and/or minimizing impurities evolved from the method of 1-MCP synthesis employed can significantly impact on various commercial factors and is critical in ensuring high purity and optimal loading of the pure 1-MCP gas into solid matrices for application and use. Thus, the methods (reactive or non-reactive processes) of removing impurities can also significantly impact upon the purification capabilities, purity of resulting compounds synthesized, reaction processes and costs involved. Further, controlling the impurity levels of the end product is a regulatory compliance matter enforced by the United States of America Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Impurity levels are strictly regulated by the US EPA, which requires 1-MCP impurity profiles to be below 0.1% of the total 1-MCP loading and the levels of chlorinated compounds 1-CMP and 3-CMP below 0.05% of total 1-MCP loading. Thus, significant commercial advantage and regulatory compliance can be realized through careful control over the impurity profile for any 1-MCP synthesis reaction and purification processes being employed.
It is therefore desirable to provide simple, physical (non-reactive) means and inert substances to purify 1-MCP gas generated from synthesis reactions, such as LDA based synthesis reactions, to ensure impurity profiles with eliminated, reduced and/or minimized impurity levels that satisfy certain regulatory compliance requirements and support commercial advantage.

Methods for generating purified cyclopropenes


The present invention is a device to provide a lab consistent accelerated wear test on an agriculture or industrial ground working tool. The circular media bin is filled to a proper level with an abrasive media. The sample tool is moved in a circular path though the abrasive media. A library of consistent accelerated wear test data is accumulated with the device. This library is correlated with industrial ground working tool usage in field conditions. This provides a math model that predicts tool wear and facilitates virtual tool design optimization.

Agriculture and industrial ground working tools include sweeps, rippers, harrows, disks, drills, injectors and planters. These tools are attached to an implement and pulled behind a motorized tractor.
Agriculture crop yield is directly related to soil compaction. Ground working tools are being used at greater depths to reduce sub-surface compaction. Use of a ground working tool at a greater depth can substantially impact tool life.
The life of these tools is limited by abrasive wear caused by contact with the soil and objects within the soil such as rocks. Tool design to improve abrasive wear includes steel alloy materials, heat treatment, thickness, shape and coatings. An example coating is outlined in US2013/0252023, Caden Edge Welding Process, published on Sep. 26, 2013.
To provide an increase in the speed and accuracy of tool development, it is desirable to have an accelerated wear testing device that provides consistent results. Field testing of a tool takes too much time, is inconsistent due to soil variations, can be interrupted due to weather conditions, and requires substantial acreage of untilled ground.

Ground engagement accelerated wear testing device and method


A wireless signal strength monitoring system employs a wireless signal strength driver model to monitor and maintain wireless signal strengths for mobile devices on a wireless communication network. The monitoring system parses activity logs of network entities including the mobile devices on the wireless communication network to generate a plurality of multilevel token sets. A selected one of the plurality of multilevel token sets is used to generate a wireless signal strength driver model along with topics from clusters of homogenous logs of the activity logs. The drivers of the wireless signal strength are identified from the wireless signal strength driver model. The drivers are used to monitor and improve the wireless signal strengths for the mobile devices on the wireless communication network.

The key to a good wireless deployment is proper planning which includes a set of goals and requirements to be met. Determining minimum signal strength requirements in a coverage area is a part of the network requirements list. Desired signal strength for optimal performance can vary based on many factors such as background noise in the environment, the number of clients on the network, the desired data rates, the applications to be used, etc. For example, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or a Voice over Wireless Fidelity (VoWiFi) may require better coverage than a barcode scanner system in a warehouse. Generally, the strength of a wireless signal can be gauged either by analyzing the wireless signal captured by a mobile device from a site antenna or vice versa. The captured signal strength is then equated to the original signal strength thereby providing an estimate of the effective signal strength along with the signal loss during the course of the signal path.


A support disc for supporting high frequency (HF) components, in particular in HF coaxial cables or coaxial plug-in connections, having a support body with a longitudinal bore, additionally having at least one cross-sectional bore.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a support disc for supporting high frequency (HF) components, in particular in HF coaxial cables or coaxial plug connectors.
2. Description of Related Art
Increasingly demanding requirements in terms of the technical parameters of HF and microwave components, in particular for precision measuring technology, require a high quality of the individual assemblies and therefore also of the support discs. In particular, the reflection and transmission properties of terminating resistors, adapters, attenuators or similar depend greatly on the coaxial supporting elements, the so-called support discs.
Different types of support discs are known in practice. One of these support discs has eight longitudinal bores completely penetrating the support body of the support disc. The manufacture of such a support disc requires numerous manufacturing steps, so that the manufacturing costs of such a disc are relatively high. Another support disc known in practice is manufactured as an injection-molded part with relatively complicated geometry, wherein the support body is pressed into an outer retaining ring. This support body has cross-shaped ribs which are roughly V- or U-shaped in cross-section and is therefore structured in a similar way to a fan. This support disc too is relatively complex to manufacture and consequently expensive. It possesses good electrical properties, but displays disadvantageous temperature behavior, since it can only be used up to a maximum temperature of around 85° C.

Support disc for supporting high frequency (HF) components

Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG


A support for a suction or ventilation hose extending upwardly through an open manhole and in a horizontal disposition from the manhole to a water pump intake or air pump including a lower horizontal support surface, a pair of laterally spaced side walls extending upwardly from the lower horizontal support surface and a generally U-shaped hose support surface extending along a curvilinear path between the side walls from a lower rear portion of the support to an elevated forward portion thereof. A depending stop is disposed rearwardly adjacent to the lower support surface. The stop defines a curvilinear abutment surface adapted to extend into an open manhole and abut a perimeter portion thereof upon the lower support surface being positioned adjacent to the manhole. A strap securement is provided for securing a portion of a hose against the hose support surface on said hose support.

The present invention is directed to a support for a suction hose extending through an open manhole and communicating a sewer or storm drain with a water pump or a flexible air conducting ventilation hose with an air pump. A common problem associated with suction hoses and ventilation hoses in such applications is the tendency of the hose to crimp where it exits the manhole which can damage the hose, reducing the hose's ability to withstand negative pressures, leading to collapse and failure. The present invention is self-supporting adjacent to the open manhole and provides a U-shaped curvilinear support surface for the hose as it transitions between a vertical orientation within the manhole to an elevated horizontal disposition exteriorly of the manhole. While straps are preferably used with the hose support to anchor the hose to the support during use, the U-shaped support track vertically and laterally supports the hose as it extends thereover and negotiates a ninety degree turn upon exiting the manhole. By virtue of this support, kinking in the hose is prevented, facilitating the use of the hose in a safe manner and extending its useful life.


A vitamin K adduct, particularly suitable as vitamin supplement for feeds, constitued by menadione bisulfite bonded with an appropriate ion-exchange resin and exceptionally stabilized thereby. The adduct can be used as an antihemorrhagic additive for farm animal feeds. The high thermal stability of the vitamin adduct allows to use it in modern technologies for producing feeds in extruded form.

The present invention relates to a vitamin K adduct, particularly suitable as a vitamin supplement for feeds.
In particular, the present invention relates to a highly stable form of vitamin K, to its production process and to its use as vitamin supplement for feeds for farm animals.
Menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a vitamin derivative (K3) in the form of a yellow crystalline powder which is poorly soluble in water and has a high antihemorrhagic activity.
This substance intervenes in the biosynthesis of several factors involved in coagulation processes and therefore has long had specific applications both in the medical field and in the veterinary field.
However, use of this substance has been limited due to the discovery of application drawbacks, mainly linked to its limited stability to light, humidity, heat and pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,367,302 also discloses another vitamin K adduct, menadione sodium bisulfite, known as MSB, which also has a high antihemorrhagic activity.
This adduct in salt form, having high solubility in water, has found specific use as vitamin additive for farm animal feeds.
Menadione sodium bisulfite also has limited stability to light, heat, humidity and pressure, particularly at ambient pH values above neutrality. Moreover, it has been found that in the presence of mineral salts and of some additives, such as choline chloride, commonly used in the formulas of feeds, it tends to decompose into an inactive form.
This phenomenon is even more evident at pH values below neutrality, in which the molecule isomerizes into a product which is poorly effective from the point of view of antihemorrhagic activity. This isomerization reaction becomes more conspicuous as the pH of the medium increases, until it becomes complete for a value of approximately 8.5.
In order to obviate these drawbacks, other forms of vitamin K have been synthesized, such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,169 (menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite MPB) and in Italian patent 1,097,391.
In particular, the latter patent, in the name of this same Applicant, discloses a menadione bisulfite salt with nicotinamide having low solubility in water and higher stability than MSB.
Though constituting an evolution in the formulation of vitamin compounds having an antihemorrhagic action, the stability characteristics of these last derivatives of vitamin K are not sufficiently adequate to allow their effective use in extrusion processes for feed production. In fact it has been found that these compounds tend to become inactive in the high temperature and humidity conditions typical of modern processes for the production of feeds in pellet form.
Moreover, their high rate of solubilization in water prevents their effective use as vitamin additives for fish feed formulas.
In the current situation, therefore, the need is felt to have new formulas of vitamin K available whose intrinsic characteristics allow to use them in modern extrusion plants for feed production.
A general aim of the present invention is to eliminate or lessen the drawbacks suffered in the above described known art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vitamin K adduct having high thermal and pressure stability characteristics which allow its use in feed production processes which use modern extrusion technologies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vitamin K adduct which is substantially insoluble in water and in organic solvents commonly used in processes for the production of farm animal feeds.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a menadione bisulfite derivative which can be produced easily with low production costs and with reduced environmental impact.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vitamin K adduct with slow release of the active principle and whose elective use is as fish feed additive.
Within this aim, these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a vitamin K adduct is provided which is particularly suitable as vitamin supplement for feeds and is characterized in that it comprises menadione bisulfite supported and stabilized on an ion-exchange resin.
The stabilization of said vitamin K adduct is particularly and surprisingly effective, since it can be partly ascribed to the formation of a chemical bond of menadione with the functional group of the resin and is partly determined by the inclusion of the menadione in the cavities of the polymeric matrix of said resin.
Within the scope of the present invention, the term xe2x80x9cion-exchange resinxe2x80x9d designates a polymer with high relative molecular mass, preferably above 106, which is substantially insoluble in water.
In particular, this definition includes strong basic anion exchange resins containing quaternary ammonium groups, weak basic resins containing primary, secondary, tertiary amine groups or mixtures thereof, and resins containing heterocyclic groups with one or more atoms of N, such as for example polyvinylpyridine and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Particularly suitable ion-exchange resins are of the type with a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix containing quaternary ammonium groups, or resins of the type with an acrylic matrix containing ammonium groups.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, said vitamin K adduct has the following structural formula:
where n is a whole number greater than 1 and m is a whole number, preferably less than n; said adduct being defined as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-methyl-1,4-dioxo-naphthalene sulfonate of trimethyl benzyl ammonium polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer.
The vitamin K adduct according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is further characterized by the following parameters:
It has been found that the vitamin K adduct according to the present invention has a high stability, which is determined by the presence of the polymeric structure of the resin as well as by the chemical bond with the functional group.
The polymeric matrix in fact embeds the menadione bisulfite molecule, fixing it firmly so as to make it difficult to split the ion bond of the polymer (resin) with the anion of vitamin K3.
The presence of the resin thus gives it very high molecular stability to heat, pressure and humidity, further determining extremely low solubility in water.
These characteristics make the vitamin K formula according to the present invention suitable for applications which could not be hypothesized earlier.
The high stability characteristics of the adduct according to the invention allow its use, substantially without drawbacks, in processes for the production of feeds which use extrusion technologies.
It has also been found that the adduct according to the invention allows a gradual or delayed release of the active vitamin principle with antihemorrhagic activity, allowing its use as additive for fish feeds.
In general, the vitamin K adduct according to the invention is produced by ion-exchange reaction between a water-soluble derivative of menadione bisulfite and a strong or weak basic resin.
Suitable reagents are salts of menadione bisulfite, such as sodium, potassium or ammonium salts, strong basic resins, in the form of chloride or other anion, containing quaternary ammonium groups derived from trimethylamine, dimethylethanolamine or basic resins of the weak type containing primary, secondary, tertiary amine groups or mixtures thereof.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a process for preparing a vitamin K adduct is therefore provided which comprises the steps of:
placing a menadione bisulfite solution in contact with an ion exchange resin in order to reach a high degree of saturation of the cation equivalents that are present;
washing with distilled water;
drying; and
grinding in order to obtain a final product in the form of granules or powder.
The initial step of the process according to the invention can be provided by percolation of a solution of alkaline menadione bisulfite on a resin bed, up to saturation of the cationic equivalents that are present, or by immersion of the resin in a solution of alkaline menadione bisulfite, preferably in rising concentrations, in countercurrent, up to saturation of the cationic equivalents that are present.
An alternative method comprises the treatment of menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) with a saturated solution of sodium metabisulfite until complete dissolution of the menadione is achieved, consequently forming menadione sodium bisulfite, followed by treatment with the resin according to the above described procedures.
The drying step is advantageously performed in a temperature range comprised from 40xc2x0 to 120xc2x0 C. and continues until a constant weight of the final product is achieved.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the resin used is of the styrene-divinylbenzene type which contains quaternary ammonium groups with a high content of meq per gram of dry substance (4-4.5 meq per g of dry substance).
Some comparative tests between the adduct according to the invention and the compound of the known art, menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB), are listed hereinafter.

Vitamin K adduct, particularly suitable as vitamin supplement for feeds


It is provided ultrafine particles of a rutile titanium oxide obtained by maintaining the pH of an aqueous solution of a titanium compound having a Ti concentration of from 0.07 to 5 mol/L in the range of −1 to 3 in the presence of a chelating agent. Such ultrafine particles of a rutile titanium oxide are useful for photocatalysts, high refractive index materials, ultraviolet absorbing materials and the like.

Titanium oxide has been known as a typical photo-oxidation catalyst, and hitherto applied to an antibacterial agent, an antifogging agent that utilizes their super hydrophilicity, or the like. There have been known three types of crystal structures for titanium oxide; anatase, rutile and brookite. Of these types, anatase is considered to have the highest photocatalytic activity. In recent years, however, it has been known that the photocatalytic activity is further enhanced by bringing a rutile-type component partially into contact with an anatase-type component and mixing them. For that reason, there has been proposed that ultrafine particles of a rutile-type titanium oxide are mixed with an anatase-type titanium oxide. It has also been expected that high activity is exhibited by using ultrafine particles of a rutile-type titanium oxide alone. However, since in the conventional vapor phase method, a rutile-type titanium oxide is treated at a high temperature, its particle diameter becomes large due to sintering. Thus, there has been a drawback such that the photocatalytic activity is consequently reduced due to the decrease in the surface area.
On the other hand, there has been reported a method for synthesizing a rutile-type titanium oxide using the low temperature wet prosess by H. D. Nam et al. (Non-patent Document 1). However, in this method, there is also the problem of decrease in the photocatalytic activity because there is formed an aggregate having a particle diameter of 200 to 400 nm in which a long-fibrous rutile-type titanium oxide is gathered. In order to overcome these drawbacks, it is also provided highly dispersive rutile ultrafine particles useful for high refractive index materials or ultraviolet absorbing materials requiring transparency.
Non-patent Document 1: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 37, p. 4603 (1998)

Ultrafine particle of rutile-type titanium oxide


Provided are an apparatus and method for correcting sensing of a surrounding obstacle on a curved road. The apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire curvature information of a curved road on which a vehicle is traveling using a steering angle value indicating a degree of rotation of a steering wheel of the vehicle, a sensing unit configured to sense another vehicle traveling behind the vehicle, and a correction unit configured to correct sensing information of the other vehicle sensed by the sensing unit using the curvature information acquired by the acquisition unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for detecting a rear obstacle of a vehicle, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for correcting sensing of a surrounding obstacle on a curved road.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, when a vehicle changes driving lanes, a rear radar sensor installed in the vehicle detects another vehicle that comes close from an adjacent lane behind the vehicle, and prevents an accident through an alarm or control. At this time, angle information, distance information, and speed information is obtained by detecting the other vehicle, and using the information, it is possible to determine whether or not the other vehicle is in the adjacent lane. Also, it is possible to know the distance from and the driving speed of the detected vehicle. Using such information, the rear radar sensor helps a driver in changing lanes safely.
When a vehicle travels on a straight road, information obtained by detecting another vehicle as mentioned above can be used as it is. However, there is a problem when a vehicle travels on a curved road.
For example, when a vehicle travels on a curved road as exemplified in FIG. 1, the vehicle and another vehicle in an adjacent lane behind the vehicle are not on a straight line, but deviate from each other by an angle ∠A based on the central axes of tire rotation in proportion to the curvature of the curved road. In this situation, when a rear radar sensor installed in the vehicle detects the other vehicle behind the running vehicle, the other vehicle that actually comes close from the immediately adjacent lane may be wrongly determined as being two or more lanes away from the vehicle due to angle information among pieces of information on the detected obstacle. Due to such a misjudgment, a driver may think that there is no vehicle in the lane immediately adjacent to the vehicle, and cause an accident while attempting to change lanes.
As described above, on a curved road, a running vehicle deviates from another vehicle based on the central axes of tire rotation in proportion to the curvature of the curved road, and thus it is not possible to use information obtained by detecting the other vehicle in an adjacent lane behind the vehicle as it is, unlike in a straight line. Therefore, there is a need for a method of correctly detecting another vehicle behind a vehicle during a travel on a curved road.

Apparatus and method for correcting sensing of surrounding obstacle on curved road

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A controller for a hydraulic excavator includes a first speed computation section that calculates a first speed of an arm cylinder from a value detected by an operation amount sensor; a second speed computation section that calculates a second speed from a value detected by a posture sensor and a third speed computation section calculates a third speed that is used as the speed of the arm cylinder in an actuator control section adapted to execute MC (machine control). The third speed computation section calculates the first speed as the third speed during the period between the detection of an input of operation for an arm by the operation amount sensor and predetermined time to, the third speed as a speed calculated from the first speed and the second speed during the period between t0 and time t1, and the second speed as the third speed at and after time t1.

Machine control (MC) is a technology that improves the work efficiency of a work machine (e.g., a hydraulic excavator) having a work device (e.g., a front work device) driven by a hydraulic actuator. The MC is a technology that provides operational assistance to an operator by executing semi-automatic control for operating the work device under predetermined conditions when an operation device is operated by the operator.
A technology disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 5865510 provides MC of the front work device in such a manner as to move the blade edge of a bucket along a reference plane. According to this patent document, when the operation amount of an arm operation lever is small, the actual arm cylinder speed may be higher than an estimated arm cylinder speed calculated based on the operation amount of the arm operation lever due to the free fall of the bucket depending on the posture of the front work device. If MC is executed based on the estimated arm cylinder speed under such circumstances, the blade edge of the bucket may become unstable to cause hunting. When the operation amount of the arm operation lever is smaller than a predetermined amount, the technology described in this patent document performs calculations to determine a speed higher than the speed calculated based on the operation amount of the arm operation lever as the estimated arm cylinder speed that takes into account the free fall of the bucket, and executes MC based on such an estimated arm cylinder speed in order to solve the above-mentioned problem.

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.


A concrete crack control system is provided. The system comprises a vane or angle projecting from a wall, such as a pedestal or column or other wall surfaces against which a concrete floor or slab is poured. After the concrete has set to firm consistency, a saw cut is provided of a substantial depth in line with the projecting vane. The exposed saw cut may be filled with conventional filler, such as grout or the like. Any tendency of the floor to crack upon aging will be along the line of the vane and saw cut, thereby preventing crack damage to the floor.

Generally, concrete shrinks as it sets. The shrinkage is small and like concrete strength it is about 80% complete in 30 days.
This is generally understood in the construction industry and several methods have been employed to deal with it. The most common method is to saw cut the concrete slab as soon as it can support a worker. The long accepted method, is to saw to 1/4 of the slab thickness at intervals of about ten to twelve feet. This does not stop the cracking but keeps the cracks in straight lines. If floor coverings are required, the saw joints can be filled at a later date. This is generally successful with pavements but less successful inside buildings.
The most common problem in buildings is the columns supporting upper floors and/or roof. Cracks frequently form off of the corners of rectangular columns. Designers want the joint pattern on column lines, parallel to the walls and the sides of the columns parallel to the walls.
Experience has shown that unless concrete slabs are sawn to any included inside corners, such as column pedestals, stairways, pits etc., cracks will generally start at the corners and proceed randomly across the slab. Even sawing very near these locations, is still frequently unsuccessful at controlling these cracks.
Industry practice is to form diamonds around rectangular columns. This practice rotates the column corners 90 degrees to put them in alignment with column center lines while isolating the floor from the foundation. Joints are then sawn on column lines. This practice requires separate forming and concrete pouring operations for the diamonds. The final result usually controls cracking, but leaves an extra joint around each column and some minor elevation differences between diamonds and floor. These areas require an additional leveling operation before installing floor coverings and then slight movement in these joints results in cracks or bumps in the floor coverings.
Another practice, frequently utilized around large floor openings, is to add a couple of short pieces of reinforcing steel diagonally across the corners. This practice is less effective in eliminating corner cracks. However, it does tend to minimize excessive movement in the crack.
There has continued to be a problem for satisfactory crack control in concrete slabs or floors and particularly around columns.


There is provided a method of manufacturing a refractive index distribution structure having a plurality of microparticles, suppressing density unevenness between the plurality of microparticles, capable of obtaining uniform in-plane characteristics, and capable of maintaining stability and high reproducibility. The method of manufacturing a refractive index distribution structure includes manufacturing a plurality of core-shell microparticles including a shell and a core microparticle contained in the shell, the core microparticle being made of a material having a refractive index higher than the material forming the shell and having the same core diameter, and the shell having a different shell thickness; and forming a refractive index distribution structure by arranging the plurality of core-shell microparticles on a substrate.

Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a refractive index distribution structure and a manufacturing method of the same, and an image display apparatus having the refractive index distribution structure. In particular, the present invention relates to a refractive index distribution structure for use in a light diffusion plate and a manufacturing method of the same.
Description of the Related Art
The refractive index distribution structure including a background medium and a plurality of elements, having a refractive index different from that of the background medium, which is contained in the background medium, is used as various optical functional devices such as a photonic crystal and a light diffusion plate.
When light is incident on the refractive index distribution structure, the angular characteristics of the scattered light transmitted or reflected therein are as follows. When the elements are arranged periodically, the angular characteristics are such that the scattered light intensity in a specific direction corresponding to each diffraction order is strong due to interference of lights diffracted by the elements. Meanwhile, when the elements are arranged in a completely random manner, the angular characteristics of light-scattering are uniform. In some cases, e.g. when the structure is used for screen, the angular characteristics of light-scattering need to be appropriately controlled. In this case, if the angular characteristics of the light-scattering are to be controlled, the element shapes should be made uniform, the elements should be randomly arranged, and the average value of each inter-element distance (distance between elements) and the variation from the average value should be appropriately managed.
As a method of manufacturing an appropriately controlled random refractive index distribution structure, there has been known a method of forming a microsphere-dispersed refractive index distribution structure (H. W. Deckman et al. "Natural Lithography," Appl. Phys. Lett. vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 377, (Aug. 15, 1982)). Such a refractive index distribution structure is configured to manage the average distance between microspheres such that the number of microspheres dispersed per unit area is made smaller than the number of microspheres required for closest packing.

Refractive index distribution structure and manufacturing method of the same, and image display apparatus having the refractive index distribution structure


Provided is a photo-curable nanoimprint composition that has excellent properties in terms of etching resistance, dispersibility, and productivity. In addition, the photo-curable nanoimprint composition enables easy transcription of patterns even when a mold is pressed with a relatively low pressure. The photo-curable nanoimprint composition includes: (A) partial hydrolysate obtained by hydrolyzing a mixture of an organic silicon compound and a silicon compound containing (meth)acrylic groups with water in the molar amount of not less than 0.1 times but less than 1.0 times with respect to the number of moles of all alkoxy groups present in the mixture; (B) polymerizable monomer containing (meth)aclyic groups; and (C) pothopolymerization initiator. In addition, the mixture of partial hydrolysate (A) may include further partial hydrolysate of fluorinated silicone compound and/or metal oxide.

Recently, there are demands for reduction in feature size and for high precision on semiconductor integrated circuit and the fine and high-precision semiconductor integrated circuit has generally been prepared by imprint technology.
The imprint technology is a technology for transcribing a desirable pattern to surface of a substrate by pressing a mold having concavity or convexity which corresponds to a desirable pattern to be formed on the substrate against a coating film which is formed on the surface of substrate. Utilizing this technology, it is possible to form a nano-scale fine pattern. Among the imprint technologies, the technology for forming an ultrafine pattern having size of from several hundreds to several nanometer (nm) is especially referred to as nanoimprint technology.
On the nanoimprint technology, a process for forming pattern is classified roughly into two types depending on type of material used in formation of coating film on surface of substrate. One type is a process for transcribing a pattern to coating film, which comprises steps of heating a coating film formed on surface of a substrate to plasticize, of pressing a mold against the coating film, and of cooling the coating film to solidify. Another type is a process in which at least one of used mold and substrate is made of light-permeable material and a pattern is transcribed by steps of applying a photo-curable composition in the form of liquid to a substrate to form a coating film, of pressing the mold against the coating film, and of irradiating the coating film with light through the mold or the substrate to cure the coating film. Among them, the photo-imprint process in which the pattern is transcribed through light-irradiation has widely been used as the nanoimprint technology, because it is possible to form a high-precision pattern. A development of photo-curable composition which can suitably be used in the photo-imprint process has been advanced.
In the nanoimprint technology, adhesion between surface of substrate and pattern obtained by curing coating film and release property between pattern and mold are important factors. In relation to release property, several techniques such as a process comprising a step of treating surface of mold with fluorine-containing surface preparation agent to invest the mold with release property, a process comprising a step of carrying out the imprint with intervention of flourine-containing gas such as pentafluoropropane gas, etc. at interface between photo-curable composition and mold have generally been known. On the other hand, the improvement of adhesion to substrate has been tried through the surface preparation of substrate or the modification of composition of the photo-curable composition.
Though the adhesion to substrate and the release property from mold are conflict properties, in order to increase productivity, further improvement is required. In order to invest a material for forming coating film with these conflict properties, an addition of fluorochemical surfactant or silicone compound to the material for forming coating film has been proposed (see Patent Literature 1). However, there is still room for improvement in coexistence of the adhesion to substrate and the release property from mold.
The nanoimprint technology is a process for forming a pattern on a substrate which has, on its surface, a cured coating film to which a pattern has been transcribed with a mold (hereinafter, it is referred to also as cured film), the pattern on the substrate being formed on the basis of the pattern of the cured film. In order to form the pattern on the substrate, the substrate is subjected to dry etching with oxygen gas, fluorine-containing gas, etc. at the lean part of the cured film and the part of substrate contacting with the lean part. Since, in the dry etching, the thick part of the cured film which protects the substrate is also etched, the etching speed ratio between substrate and the cured film is important. For that reason, various photo-curable compositions which is hardly etched by said etching gas have been developed (hereinafter, this property is also called "etching resistance").
In order to improve the etching resistance, the photo-curable composition comprising hydrolysable organic silicon compound has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literatures 2-5). More particularly, the photo-curable composition comprising inorganic oxide particle or hydrolysable organic silicon compound has bee proposed (see Patent Literature 2). The photo-curable compositions comprising hydrolysate which is obtained by hydrolyzing hydrolysable silicon compound with water in the amount that is equal to or more than the number of moles of hydrolysable group have also been proposed (see Patent Literature 3, 4). Moreover, the photo-curable composition which comprises a compound produced by reaction between a compound having hydroxyl group and polymerizable group and a hydrolysable silicon compound has been proposed (see Patent Literature 5). Using these photo-curable compositions, it is possible to form a cured film having improved etching resistance.
However, the studies of inventors revel that even in the photo-curable compositions whose etching resistance is improved, there are rooms for improvement in the following points.
For example, since the inorganic oxide particles are used in the photo-curable composition disclosed in the Patent Literature 2, when insoluble impurities present in the photo-curable composition are removed, it is difficult to remove them by a filtration and subsequently there is a room for improvement in point of lowering productivity. There are easily left traces such as poor dispersion in the cured coating film (cured film) because of, probably, using the inorganic oxide particles, there is a room for improvement in case of forming finer pattern.
In the photo-curable compositions disclosed in the Patent Literatures 3 and 4, though it is presumed that it is caused by using plenty of water, there is a case that it is necessary to press the mold against the coating film with comparatively high pressure. In case that the mold is pressed against coating film with high pressure, the mold itself is easy to break and consequently is unsuitable for large-seized nanoimprint. Accordingly, in said photo-curable compositions, there is a room for improvement in the above-said point.
The photo-curable composition disclosed in the Patent Literature 5 has the composition in which the amount of water is reduced. Though, as being mentioned above, the photo-curable composition disclosed in the Patent Literature 5 comprises the organic silicon compound having polymerizable group, which is synthesized by an equilibrium reaction between hydroxyl group and alkoxy group, it is presumed that the reaction portion between hydroxyl group and alkoxy group is ease to be hydrolyzed again. For that reason, though it is presumed that it is caused by a fact that the dispersion state of hydrolysate of organic silicon compound (mainly inorganic component) in polymer of polymerizable monomer (mainly organic component) is deteriorated, there is a case that the filterability is lowered. There is also a case that the transcription property of pattern is poor and accordingly there is a room for improvement.

Photo-curable nanoimprint composition, method for formatting pattern using the composition, and nanoimprint replica mold comprising cured product of the composition


An imaging lens system is provided. The imaging lens system includes a first lens that includes a convex object side surface and has a positive refractive power; a second lens that includes a concave image plane side surface and has a negative refractive power; a third lens that has a positive or negative refractive power; a fourth lens that includes a convex image plane side surface and has a positive or negative refractive power; a fifth lens that includes a convex image plane side surface and has a negative refractive power; and a sixth lens that has a negative refractive power, wherein the first through sixth lenses are arranged in order from an object side to an image plane side.

1. Field
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a bright and large aperture imaging lens system and an electronic apparatus employing the same.
2. Related Art
Recently, digital cameras or video cameras that have solid-state imaging devices such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device have been widely distributed.
Since imaging apparatuses using the solid-state imaging devices are appropriate for miniaturization, in recent years, the imaging apparatuses have been applied to small information terminals such as cellular phones. Also, as consumer professionalism with respect to cameras has been continuously increasing, there is increasing demand for a design that provides optical performance suitable for various uses together with miniaturization.
Recently, a high pixel camera module of 10.3 million pixels, which is equipped with an imaging lens formed as a five piece lens and a CMOS sensor having a size of ⅓″ has been developed and produced as a mobile phone camera. The camera module using this small sensor generally has a short focal length and a high F-number, and thus, a depth of field is great so that an effect whereby a background is blurred, such as out-focusing, is not performed well. However, consumer demand for a function like out-focusing has been increasing in a field of the mobile phone cameras. For this, a comparatively large image sensor having a diagonal length which is within a range of 1/1.83″ to 1,″ may be used, and thus, a configuration of an optical system that is appropriate for this large image sensor is required.

Imaging lens system and electronic apparatus employing the same


An assembly comprising first and second parts made of composite material held one against the other by at least one fastener system comprising a bolt having a flat head from which there extends a threaded portion, and a nut having a flat head from which there extends a shank including tapping suitable for co-operating with the threaded portion of the bolt. The head of the bolt bears against a countersink formed in the first part. The head of the nut bears against a countersink formed in the second part. The fastener system is suitable, during axial expansion of the fastener system, for causing each head to tilt towards the countersink in which it is housed.

The invention relates to using a mechanical connection to assemble together parts made of thermostructural composite material, such as a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material or a carbon/carbon (C/C) material, where such a material is typically constituted by a porous substrate, such as a porous fiber substrate, that is densified by a ceramic matrix. The fibers of the substrate may in particular be made of carbon or of ceramic. The matrix is made of a refractory ceramic such as, by way of example: a refractory carbide, nitride, boride, or oxide. Thermostructural composite materials are remarkable because of their mechanical properties that make them suitable for constituting structural elements, and because of their ability to conserve these properties at high temperatures.
The invention relates more particularly to the aerodynamic and thermal behavior of mechanical connections used for assembling together parts made of thermostructural composite material when the parts are to be immersed in a high-temperature stream, for example as when fabricating all or part of afterbody assemblies for aeroengines such as exhaust cones (also known as "exhaust plugs"), or flaps for a variable-section nozzle.
In these applications, the parts for assembling together are generally relatively fine (thickness of a few millimeters), and they need to satisfy aerodynamic requirements, which means that it is preferred to use rivets for making the mechanical connections between the parts. With assemblies used for making aeroengine afterbody parts, it is general practice to use rivets that present on one side of the assembly a flat head (i.e. a head of frustoconical shape with an end that is flat) that is received in a countersink formed in one of the parts to be assembled together, and on the other side, a column or a washer serving to take up differential expansion between rivets, which expand considerably, and the parts made of thermostructural composite material, which expand little. By incorporating the head of the rivet in a countersink present on one side of the assembly, it is possible to obtain good aerodynamic performance, but only on that side of the assembly, since the presence of the column and of a portion of the body of the rivet on the other side of the assembly gives rise to considerable drag.
Another solution, which is used in making flaps for a variable section nozzle, consists in connecting the parts made of thermostructural composite material together with rivets, such as those sold under the trademark Fybrfast®, which rivets have at one end a head and at the other end an end portion that is pressed and flattened in order to fasten the parts together. Nevertheless, with that type of rivet, the head and the flattened portion of the body of the rivet project from either side of the assembly and consequently they project beyond the streamlining of the assembly.

Assembly providing a connection that is self tightening with temperature


An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device having multi domains comprises a plurality of pixels defined by a plurality of gate and data lines on a first substrate each pixel including a first region and a second region, a switching member in each pixel, and at least one pair of electrodes disposed substantially parallel in each respective pixel to form a parallel electric field, the electrodes being bent and symmetric to each other in at least one region of the first and second regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display (LCD) device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device in which a pixel is divided into at least three domains to improve the viewing angle and compensate a color shift problem of the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the introduction of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and notebook computers, flat panel display devices such as a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), Field Emission Display (FED), Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD), and liquid crystal display (LCD) devices have been actively developed. Among the flat panel display devices, the liquid crystal display device is primarily used because of mass production, high definition and effective driving method.
The liquid crystal display device can be divided into various display modes according to the alignment of liquid crystal molecules. The TN (twisted nematic) mode liquid crystal display device is mainly used because of its effective black mode, fast response time and low driving voltage. In the TN mode liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned perpendicular to the substrate when an electric field is applied. Accordingly, there is a problem of a narrow viewing angle when the driving voltage is applied.
In order to overcome this problem, liquid crystal display devices having a wide viewing angle characteristics, such as an in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display device, have been introduced. In the IPS mode liquid crystal display device, the electric field applied to the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the surface of the substrate. Thus, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned parallel to the surface of the substrate which results in an improved viewing angle.
FIG. 1 illustrates an IPS mode liquid crystal display device.
As shown in the related art IPS mode liquid crystal display device in FIG. 1, the alignment direction is formed in a predetermined angle to an elongated direction of the gate line to align liquid crystal molecules 32 of the liquid crystal layer 30. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when an electric field is not applied (the field-off state), the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the alignment direction.
In this IPS mode liquid crystal display device, however, there is problem that the color is shifted along the viewing angles. As shown in FIG. 1C, the liquid crystal molecules near the first substrate 10 are aligned parallel to the elongate direction of the gate line by the electric field and the liquid crystal molecules near the second substrate 20 are aligned in the angle of 90° to 180° with respect to the gate line, so that the liquid crystal molecules are twisted from the first substrate 10 to the second substrate 20. Thus, in the viewing angle directions X and Y, the color is shifted to blue and yellow along the viewing direction. As a result, the image quality is deteriorated. In order to overcome this problem, an IPS mode liquid crystal display device has been introduced as shown in FIG. 2 and disclosed in Korea Patent Application No. 1996-23115. In this IPS mode liquid crystal display device, a pixel, defined by the gate line 1 and data line 3, is divided into two domains. That is, the pixel is divided into two domains I,II by a common line 6 and a pixel electrode line 8 that are respectively connected to the common electrode 5 and the pixel electrode 7.
In the pixel, the thin film transistor 15 including a gate electrode 16, a semiconductor layer 17, a source electrode 18 and a drain electrode 19 is disposed at the crossing of the gate line 1 and the data line 3. The signal from an outer driver is supplied to the pixel electrode 7 through the thin film transistor, and thus an electric field parallel to the surface of the substrate is applied in the liquid crystal layer.
The alignment direction (i.e., a rubbing direction) is formed in the elongated direction of the data line 3. Further, the elongated direction of the common electrode 5 and the pixel electrode 7 in the first domain I is different from that of the common electrode 5 and the pixel electrode 7 in the second domain II. Specifically, the common electrode 5 and the pixel electrode 7 are arranged in a slanted direction with reference to the gate line 1, and the common electrodes 5 and the pixel electrodes 7 disposed respectively in the first domain I and the second domain II are symmetric and centered on the common line 6. Accordingly, the color shifts in the first domain I and the second domain II compensate each other to prevent color shift in the pixel.
In this IPS mode liquid crystal display device having two domains, however, improvement of the viewing angle characteristic may be limited. When comparing the IPS mode liquid crystal display device having two domains with a cathode ray tube, for example, there are problems that the viewing angle characteristic is low and the color is shifted.

In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device having multi-domains


A golf instructional device is provided for designating proper setup positioning for swinging a golf club and for monitoring the location of a user's eyes while swinging the club, such a mat being customized for an individual golfer. The device comprises a mat for providing a playing surface upon which foot positioning markers, a club positioning marker and a mirror are placed. The markers and mirror are designed to be removably attached to the mat surface to allow a golf instructor to indicate proper location and angle for the user to position themselves and the club which they are swinging. The mirror is of a chosen size such that when attached to the mat at the proper location, the user can observe their eyes while swinging the golf club. A wedge is also provided to be positioned underneath a portion of the user's rearward foot to train the user to maintain a near stationary rear leg during the backswing. The user stands on top of the mat surface and aligns their feet with the foot positioning markers, aligns a golf club with the club positioning marker, and positions their body such that essentially only their eyes are viewable in the mirror. When the user makes practice swings the golf club, excessive lateral and vertical motion can be observed in the mirror.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to methods of teaching and devices for improving a golfer's skill and ability, and more specifically, for designating proper setup position for swinging a golf club and for monitoring the position of a user's head during swinging of the club.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf is a sport that has become exceedingly popular all over the world. It is estimated that about two million people in the United States alone take up the game of golf every year. However, about as many people leave the game each year, largely because they are disappointed and frustrated over their inability to improve their golf technique. It is generally believed by leading golf instructors that it is difficult to improve at golf because (a) the essential fundamentals of a good golf swing feel unnatural to our bodies, (b) all natural instincts of students are absolutely wrong, (c) correct habits must be practiced over and over again to develop new and correct habits ("muscle-memory") and (d) while practicing to develop new muscle-memory, students must not be practicing bad habits that result in bad muscle-memory that will eventually have to be unlearned. As generally believed by leading instructors, bad muscle-memory is harder to unlearn than it is to learn good muscle-memory from the start.
To improve their abilities, many golfers take lessons from professional golf instructors. Although such lessons can teach an individual the fundamental skills needed to play the game, these golfers are most often not able to improve their golf club swing as much as desired because of a lack of guidance when practicing outside of the instructional setting. Most often students practicing without an instructor revert to, and practice, what feels natural but is in reality bad technique, thereby developing bad muscle-memory. As an alternative to lessons, self-instruction devices have been developed to allow golfers to improve their game by themselves. This approach has a downside in that such devices must be used in the proper fashion to create positive results, which is often difficult for a beginning or high handicap golfer who may have already developed bad habits. Further, even if used properly, these devices are often not proven to aid in proper development of a golfer's club swing technique because, as believed by leading instructors, golf is not a sport that can be self-taught; only with good coaching can the naturally wrong instincts be replaced with the correct fundamentals that initially feel instinctively wrong.
Finally, a deficiency with both professional lessons and self-instruction devices is a lack of a reliable means for monitoring correct "setup position" and monitoring correct balance during the entire swing. Without a way to monitor correct "setup" and "balance", most students fail to practice them correctly to develop the correct and necessary muscle-memory. Instead they develop bad muscle-memory.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,617 of Bergman describes a practice mat for golfers that indicates the suggested placement of the feet of a golfer and a golf ball to be hit, the proper alignment of a golf club in relation to the feet of the golfer and the golf ball, and the suggested direction of travel of the head of the golf club. The mat has a plurality of outlines in the shape of a foot to indicate the suggested foot placement based on the chosen golf club. Also, numerous rectangles are indicated on the mat for placement of the golf ball based on the chosen golf club. However, the practice mat of Bergman does not provide a means for the user to monitor and isolate any position of their body during swinging of a golf club, nor does it aid in prohibiting a golfer from introducing excessive motion sideways, up or down into their technique.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,617 of Light shows a sports training device having a full length mirror to reflect the image of a user and a combined television monitor and video cassette player to depict the optimal positioning and technique of a participant in the selected sports activity. Thus, a golfer could view their image in the mirror while watching a monitor below the mirror show the proper way to swing a golf club. This device does not teach proper foot positioning or proper club alignment for swinging a club, nor does it provide a means for a golf instructor to designate as such. It is also doubtful that a user of the device could view a monitor showing an ideal golf swing while observing their own swing in a full length mirror. Further, the large mirror size and lack of proper indicia would not allow the device to properly isolate a golfer's excessive motion sideways, up or down to enable correction of a flawed golf club swing. This device also lacks convenient portability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,307 of Krene describes a golf training device comprising a platform on which a golfer stands, a platform upon which a golf ball placement indicating means is located, and a mirror located between the two platforms to enable the user to see their golf club swing as they hit the golf ball located on the adjacent platform. The device comprises three units that are hinged together along longitudinal edges and the mirror is swivably mounted in a frame such that the angle of tilt of the mirror can be adjusted. However, Krene does not teach a device that can be used in conjunction with golf instruction having indicating means capable of being adjusted to tailor such a device to the needs of a specific golfer. Not only are the foot placement and ball placement means not adjustable in position or angle depending on the needs of a particular user, only the angle, and not the position of the mirror can be adjusted. Thus, depending on the user's physical size, skills, or other factors, the mirror would have no way of being properly positioned such that the user could observe the proper features of their swing to identify excessive lateral and/or vertical motion. Such a mirror in the Krene invention is also excessively large and has longitudinal lines that would be ineffective at isolating a small portion of a user's swing, again preventing the user from pinpointing excessive lateral and/or vertical motion in their swing. Further, a user of the Krene device could not accurately view a small portion of their image while focusing on a golf ball to be hit off of a platform adjacent to the mirror.
As an improvement over these methods and devices of instruction, it would be desirable to have a device and instruction kit that would ideally be used along with proper professional golf lessons. The device would have indicating means that can be adjusted by a instructor to ensure each individual user observed proper positioning form when preparing to swing a golf club. Such a device should also allow the user to monitor and isolate a specific component of their swing, namely excessive motion sideways, up or down, (i.e. lateral and vertical motion) whether in the company of an instructor or not, to ensure that proper technique is being used. A further benefit of such a device would be portability such that the device can be used in either the location where instruction is taking place or wherever the user desires to practice their golf swing. Further, an instruction manual can be provided with the device to enable a golfer to successfully practice their golf club swing frequently at any location to correctly muscle-memorize what a golf instructor taught during each of a series of lessons. Although the concept of a prescribed program of at-home practice in slow motion without a ball is almost totally unused today, new research shows that it was frequently prescribed by the most respected instructors of previous generations. Thus, a combination device and instruction manual would be an addition to the at-home practice prescribed in earlier generations. Making it easy for students to practice and develop muscle-memory "at-home" or away from the formal instructional setting is of great importance because so few students find it possible to take lessons or go to a practice range away from home as often as is necessary to develop accurate and long lasting muscle-memory.
Thus, what is needed is a device that can be used in conjunction with an overall golf instructional program to aid a golfer in developing a proper golf swing. The device would ideally designate proper setup positioning and alignment for a user's feet, hands, head, center of the body and golf club handle position (distance from the body) and the angle of the shaft. A golf ball can be included with the device, and is placed off of the mat in a position that helps the student practice the shaft angle recommended by the instructor. A mirror would also be included with the device to allow the golfers to isolate and monitor the position of their heads, specifically their eyes, while swinging a practice golf club to ensure that head movement does not exceed the instructor's recommendations. Also vitally important to the design of the device is the ability of a golf instructor to adjust the position indicators, the mirror and the golf ball based upon the individual needs of the user, as the muscle flexibility of the golfer increases with practice. Further, an instructional manual can be used in conjunction with the device such that the user is able to properly replicate the skills learned during each lesson taught by the golf instructor and shown in the manual.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for golf instruction


A method and system for generating an optimized suite of test cases includes deriving a set of use case constraints and generating a test suite based upon the set of use case constraints.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a software design and development system for software testing. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for generating an optimized suite of test cases.
2. Description of the Related Art
When testing software systems, developing an effective and efficient test suite is a complex problem. A suite is effective if it thoroughly covers combinations of inputs, actions, and sequences of actions, enhancing the likeliness it will encounter defects in the software. A suite is efficient if it provides such coverage without unnecessary redundancy, which would unduly increase the testing effort.
Typically, when a tester tests a software system, the tester or test program takes an action against the system being tested and receives a result or response back from the tested system. The received result is compared against an expected result to determine if the system is working correctly. The tester then takes another action gets some other response and the tester performs a series of these action/response sequences. Sometime, the order of this sequence depends upon the responses which were received earlier in the sequence. The number of ways that the sequences may be combined is very large.
Also, for most actions where the tester stimulates the system in a step in the sequence, the number of potential inputs to that particular action is very large. So, there are at least two places where one runs into a large number of combinations which leads to a combinatorial explosion problem.
Test generation is an area in which significant research has been performed. Most of the prior research has focused on finite-state based testing, which uses a finite state representation of the system being tested to generate sequences of actions which may be used to test the system. The actions are determined by seeking to cover states, transitions between states, or some combination thereof. These methods suffer from problems dealing with combinatorial explosion. Also, these techniques are very hard to optimize from an internal state-based viewpoint.
Briand and Labiche explore system testing using Unified Modeling Language (UML) use cases (see L. Briand and Y. Labiche, A UML-based approach to system testing. Technical Report SCE-01-01, Carleton University, June 2001). However, their published work to date focuses on use case dependency sequences, requirements derivation from sequence diagrams, and variant sequence derivation. That work does not address optimization or test generation problems.
Other applications of UML to testing include developing a UML-based representation for automating test generation for distributed systems, protocol conformance testing (L. Du Bousquet, H. Martin, and J.-M. Jezequel, Conformance testing from UML specifications experience report. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Practical UML-based Rigorous Development Methods, Toronto, CA, 2001, 43–55), component testing (S. Pickin, C. Jard, T. Heuillard, J.-M. Jezequel, and P. Desfray. A UML-integrated test description language for component testing. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Practical UML-based Rigorous Development Methods, Toronto, CA, 2001, 208–223), and the development of a standard representation in UML for describing conformance test cases (UML testing profile: Request for proposal, 2001, OMG document: AD/01-07-08. This work also does not address optimization of generation problems.
An additional difficulty in finite-state based test generation is model representation. Because the coverage focus of the test generation method is on system state, models often require a very high degree of detail and can be difficult to construct. The method described herein is based on the possible actions a system provides. This yields a much simpler model than many finite state-based methods.

Method and system for generating an optimized suite of test cases

International Business Machines Corporation


A method detects components of a non-stationary signal. The non-stationary signal is acquired and a non-negative matrix of the non-stationary signal is constructed. The matrix includes columns representing features of the non-stationary signal at different instances in time. The non-negative matrix is factored into characteristic profiles and temporal profiles.

Detecting components of signals is a fundamental objective of signal processing. Detected components of acoustic signals can be used for myriad purposes, including speech detection and recognition, background noise subtraction, and music transcription, to name a few. Most prior art acoustic signal representation methods have focused on human speech and music where detected component is usually a phoneme or a musical note. Many computer vision applications detect components of videos. Detected components can be used for object detection, recognition and tracking.
There are two major types of approaches to detecting components in signals, namely knowledge based, and unsupervised or data driven. Knowledge-based approaches can be rule-based. Rule-based approaches require a set of human-determined rules by which decisions are made. Rule-based component detection is therefore subjective, and decisions on occurrences of components are not based on actual data to be analyzed. Knowledge based system have serious disadvantages. First, the rules need to be coded manually. Therefore, the system is only as good as the 'expert'. Second, the interpretation of inferences between the rules often behaves erratically, particularly when there is no applicable rule for some specific situation, or when the rules are 'fuzzy'. This can cause the system to operate in an unintended and erratic manner.
The other major types of approach to detecting components in signals are data driven. In data driven approaches, the components are detected directly from the signal itself, without any a priori understanding of what the signal is, or could be in the future. Since input data is often very complex, various types of transformations and decompositions are known to simplify the data for the purpose of analysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,200, "Method for extracting features from a mixture of signals," issued to Casey on Nov. 20, 2001 describes a system that extracts low level features from an acoustic signal that has been band-pass filtered and simplified by a singular value decomposition. However, some features cannot be detected after dimensionality reduction because the matrix elements lead to cancellations, and obfuscate the results.
Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is an alternative technique for dimensionality reduction, see, Lee, et al, "Learning the parts of objects by non-negative matrix factorization," Nature, Volume 401, pp. 788-791, 1999.
There, non-negativity constraints are enforced during matrix construction in order to determine parts of faces from a single image. Furthermore, that system is restricted within the spatial confines of a single image, that is, the signal is stationary.

Method and system for detecting and temporally relating components in non-stationary signals

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A butterfly mop including a scrub strip which is mounted to an actuation yoke for the mop. The scrub strip is formed as a clip-on structure mounted to the actuation yoke adjacent to an end of the yoke. The scrub strip is movable from a non-use position to an operable position when the actuation yoke is actuated to wring the mop. In addition, a mechanism is provided for locking the scrub strip in its operable position to facilitate use of the scrub strip.

The present invention generally relates to a butterfly mop and, more particularly, to a butterfly mop including a clip-on scrub strip.
Butterfly mops are well known and generally include a mop handle supporting a mop head including two flapper or presser plates. The presser plates support a mop pad, such as a sponge, and are mounted for pivotal movement downwardly and toward each other in order to wring fluids from the mop pad. In a typical construction, a yoke actuator is supported adjacent a rearward portion of the presser plates and includes portions for engaging and causing the downward movement of the plates. Such prior art butterfly mop structures are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,675 issued to Jones and U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,750 issued to Vosbikian et al.
In addition, the patent to Vosbikian shows that a scrub strip may be attached to a sponge support member for a mop in order to provide an abrasive material for facilitating cleaning of the floor. Further, it is also known to provide mop pads for mops with scrub strips mounted directly to the edge of the pads wherein the edge of the pad carrying the scrub strip may be directed to the floor surface for a scrubbing operation. Thus, prior art butterfly mops generally required that an appropriate scrub strip be carried by the mop pad and/or that the mop be rotated or otherwise reoriented to use the scrub strip.
Accordingly, there is a need for a scrub strip for use with butterfly mops which avoids the necessity of manipulating the handle, such as by rotating it, to orient the scrub strip toward the floor surface. There is a further need for a butterfly mop incorporating a scrub strip wherein the scrub strip may be positioned out of the way when the scrub strip is not in use, and which conveniently positions the scrub strip adjacent to a floor surface for a scrubbing operation.


An image forming apparatus converts image data into a video signal, updates a value of a counter without loading the image data onto a video memory, if a print request is a single-sided print request and the image data corresponding to a page information included in the print request is stored on the video memory, and loads the image data corresponding to the page information in the print request onto the video memory, if the print request is a double-sided print request, or if the print request is the single-sided print request and the image data corresponding to the page information included in the print request is not stored on the video memory.

In a first typical image forming apparatus including a double-sided print function, high-speed printing is performed as follows. After an image is transferred onto a sheet (for example, a paper sheet) by a print engine, the sheet is conveyed and reversed to return to the print engine, while a succeeding sheet is then conveyed to the print engine to have an image transferred thereonto. In typical high-speed printing image forming apparatuses, a video memory of the print engine has a storage capacity that is capable of storing the data corresponding to a certain number of pages.
In a second typical image forming apparatus including an electronic sorting function used during the printing of a plurality of copies, a video memory of a print engine has a storage capacity that is capable of storing the data corresponding to a certain number of pages. In an example operation, image data on a subsequent page is to be transferred from a printing control unit to the video memory for an engine controller. When the image data on the page that has already been transferred at the previous time and remains on the video memory, the transfer of the image data on the subsequent page is omitted, and as a result, the image data on the page on the video memory is reused, thereby reducing the processing time.

Image forming apparatus and method for improved utilization of video memory