A cylindrical model eye comprises a plano-cylindrical portion having a plano surface and a first cylindrical surface opposite to the plano surface, a sphero-cylindrical portion having a convex spherical surface and a second cylindrical surface opposite to the convex spherical surface. The second cylindrical surface mates with the first cylindrical surface, and the first cylindrical surface has substantially the same radius curvature radius as the second cylindrical surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 200710176603.7, filed Oct. 31, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to the field of test methods for eye refractometers using an objective measuring principle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cylindrical model eye, a cylindrical test device and the manufacturing method thereof. The cylindrical test device is mainly used for testing the cylindrical vertex power and cylinder axis accuracy of eye refractometers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dioptre inspection, also called optometry, means examination of an eye's refractive errors for a patient by a series of inspections. The device used for optometry is called an eye refractometer. The eye refractometer primarily measures the spherical vertex power (myopia or hyperopia), the cylindrical vertex power (astigmatism) and cylinder axis (i.e. axis of astigmatism) etc. of the eye.
Corresponding test devices have to be used for testing eye refractometers, to check data therefrom for accuracy and reliability. The test device for testing the spherical vertex power of an eye refractometer is called as a spherical model eye, and the test device for testing the cylindrical vertex power and cylinder axis of the eye refractometer is called as a cylindrical test device.
The spherical model eye, recommended in ISO 10342 "Eye refractometers", is made of optical glass and is formed with a spherical front surface and a lightly frosted plano back surface. The spherical model eye is easy to be manufactured easily because that the processing technique for optical components with spherical surfaces is advanced.
As to the cylindrical test device, two solutions are recommended in ISO 10342 "Eye refractometers". One solution is a model eye with a front toric surface. Another is addition of a thin rigid toric lens with an 8 mm base curve to the spherical model eye.
A first solution is a modification of the spherical model eye. It uses a toric surface instead of the spherical surface as the front surface.
The toric surface is a surface for which two main principal curvatures are unequal a lens with a toric surface will bring paraxial parallel light to two separate line foci mutually at right angles, hence having different vertex powers in two meridian planes. The cylindrical vertex power is defined as the difference between the two vertex powers in the two meridian planes.
In order to meet the requirements in ISO 10342 "Eye refractometers", such a toric surface cylindrical model eye is made of optical glass. Furthermore, the curvature radii of the two main meridian planes are both nearly about 8 mm, and the manufacture thereof is difficult.
The second solution is advantageous because it is easy to manufacture the spherical model eye. However, it is difficult to manufacture a thin rigid toric lens with an 8 mm base curve. Experimentation with addition of well-known astigmatic contact lenses, to the spherical model eye has been done. The experiment shows the following disadvantages.
If a soft astigmatic contact lens is added to the spherical model eye, due to variable water content of the soft astigmatic contact lens, the shape and the dimensions thereof vary continuously, thus, the cylindrical vertex power and the cylinder axis of the combination of the soft astigmatic contact lens and the spherical model eye are unstable.
If a hard astigmatic contact lens is added to the spherical model eye, it is difficult to solve the coaxial and concentric problems after assembly due to the different design parameters and the limited manufacture capability of the hard astigmatic contact lens, and the testing results are influenced by the problems such as ghost image when the refractometer is detected.
Therefore, the practicability and reliability of the two conventional solutions is inadequate.

Cylindrical model eye, cylindrical test device and the manufacturing method thereof


A compound having the structure of the formula (genus of compound 1 excluding Tashironin or Debenzoyltashironin)

Neurotrophic factors, or neurotrophins, are agents that can prevent neuronal death (neurotrophism) or promote axonal growth (neurotropism). To date, all widely studied neurotrophins (c.f. NGF, BDNF, GDNF, NT4/5, NT6) are naturally occurring polypeptides or proteins (Bennett, et al., Auton. Neurosci. 2002, 95, 1; Lu, et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 2001, 436, 456; Kaneko, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 1863). Given their potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders, it is not surprising that neurotrophic factors have been the focus of considerable interdisciplinary research since the discovery of the first neurotrophin, NGF, by Montalcini and Hamburger (Levi-Montalcini, et al., J. Exp. Zool. 1951, 116, 321-362). Indeed, peptidyl neurotrophic factors have been extensively evaluated in animal models for their ability to treat neurodegenerative disease. However, due to unfavorable drug delivery and pharmacokinetic characteristics, in vivo evaluation of these neurotrophins requires direct microinjection into the brain (Kaneko, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 1863; Kirik, et al., Nature Neuroscience 2004, 7, 105; Dawbarn, et al., Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2003, 29, 211-30; Pollack, et al., Curr. Drug Target CNS Neurol. Disord. 2002, 1, 59; Gonzalez, et al., Brain Res. 2001, 920, 65; Fournier, J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1998, 50, 323). Clearly, drug availability problems associated with these polypeptidic structures are a serious impediment to their development in prospective human settings.
In 1995, Fukayama, Shida, and Kodama reported the isolation and structural characterization of the neurotrophically inactive sesquiterpenoid tashironin (2) from the wood of illicium tashiroi (Fukuyama, et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1995, 36, 583). More recently, Fukuyama and coworkers reported on the isolation and structure elucidation of 11-O-debenzoyltashironin (1), which promotes neurite growth at concentrations as low as 0.1 μmol. (Huang, et al., J. Nat. Prod. 2001, 64, 428).

Processes of making sesquiterpenoid tashironin, its analogs and their uses

Abstract: and methods of the same.

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A polarizing device which separates a beam (1) into polarized component beams (9) and (10) by transmitting both components through isotropic element/space (3) and birefringent elements (2) and (4).

Many polarizers and polarizing beam-splitters are known to the art, each having disadvantages.
The Glan-Thompson polarizer, which is a block of birefringent material cut into prisms and then cemented together acts by reflecting one polarization component at the cement interface and by transmitting the other. The device requires a considerable amount of birefringent material, generally calcite, which is scarce and expensive, and is unable to work with high powered lasers and ultraviolet light, since the light destroys or clouds cement.
The Glan-Thompson polarizing beam-splitter, which makes use of the reflected polarization component, suffers from the added disadvantage that polarized beams exit said device at inconvenient angles, for example 45 degrees, when it is often useful that beams are parallel, orthogonal or otherwise oriented.
The Glan-Taylor polarizer which is similar to the Glan-Thompson polarizer but uses an air space instead of cement to separate polarization components can work with many light sources but suffers from reflection loss and ghosting caused by the air gap.
The Wollaston, Rochon and Senarmont beam-splitters, which separate polarization components by transmitting said components through an interface, permit optical contacting for use with most light sources, but produce beams which also exit at inconvenient angles, with one or both polarization components suffering from chromatism and distortion.
The double refracting element (beam displacer), which produces accurately parallel polarized beams of light, achieves small beam separation and limited field. Also, since the beams may pass through a considerable amount of material before achieving useful separation, wavefront distortion can occur in the extraordinary beam, due to imperfections in the crystal's structure. (See, for example, "Birefringence of Quartz and Calcite," Journal of the Optical Society of America, volume 49, number 7, July 1959, pages 710-712). Beam separation can be further limited by the small size and high cost of suitable crystals.
Polarizing prisms and their various defects are described in detail by H. E. Bennett and J. M. Bennett, "Polarization," in Handbook of Optics, W. G. Driscoll and W. Vaughan, Editors, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1978.


The invention relates to antibacterial 3,5-diaminopiperidine-substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. This invention also relates to a method of using such compounds in the treatment of bacterial infections in mammals, especially humans.

An "antibiotic" is broadly defined as a chemical compound that inhibits the growth of microorganism. Antibiotics can act on organisms by inhibiting cell wall synthesis, increasing cell membrane permeability, interfering with protein synthesis, or interfering with nucleic acid metabolism. In general, bacterial pathogens may be classified as either Gram-positive or Gram-negative. Antibiotic compounds with activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens are generally regarded as having broad spectrum activity.
When the first therapeutic antibiotic, penicillin, was introduced in the early 1940's, many believed that the threat from infectious diseases was over. However, in the past 25 years, through the abuse and misuse of antibiotics, many bacteria have developed resistance to these antibiotics. The most frequent misuse is probably in the treatment of fevers that are not caused by bacterial infections. Other common misuses and errors include choosing an ineffective antibiotic, giving inadequate or excessive doses, treating non-bacterial infections such as uncomplicated viral disease, using an improper route of administration, continuing use after bacterial resistance has developed, continuing in the presence of a serious toxic or allergic reaction, prematurely stopping therapy, using improper combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs, and relying on chemotherapy or prophylaxis to the exclusion of surgical intervention (e.g., drainage of localized infection and removal of a foreign body).
Today, there are strains of virtually every major bacterial human pathogen that are resistant to some of the most effective antibiotics. These strains include pathogens that can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, otitis media, meningitis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, pneumonia, dysentery, wound infections, septicemia, bacteremia and surgical infections.
Whereas in the first decades of antibiotics discovery, development of novel antibacterial therapeutics has kept pace with the occurrence of drug-resistant bacterial strains, the widespread and sometimes indiscriminate use of antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of resistance, often against multiple drugs simultaneously and in pathogenic bacteria that cause life-threatening infections. Not only is antibiotic resistance escalating in agents of infectious diseases, but also normally nonpathogenic bacteria are acquiring resistance, and acting as opportunistic pathogens, increasingly threatening patients with weakened immune defense.
The problem of antibiotic resistance is particularly severe because examples of most antibacterial drug classes used today have been in the clinic for more than 30 years. The initial broad stream of novel antibiotics discovered from both natural and synthetic sources, has narrowed down to a trickle. Novel and potent antibiotics are required to replace the currently used drugs, which are increasingly compromised by development of resistance. Thus, there is a crucial need for novel antibacterial agents that work by novel mechanisms and effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Antibacterial 3,5-diaminopiperidine-substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds


A trolley assembly for mounting a movable bulkhead door within a rail car. The trolley assembly includes a plurality of frame members that are telescopically interconnected and longitudinally adjustable with respect to each other so that the frame members can be secured together to provide a trolley apparatus that spans pairs of overhead, internal rail car tracks having different lateral spacings. The ends of the trolley assembly each include a plurality of trolley wheels for rotation along the rail car tracks, for movement of the trolley assembly longitudinally within the rail car and to carry a bulkhead door over the length of the rail car interior.

Trolley assemblies, capable of longitudinal movement within a rail car, that carry a bulkhead door for confining and separating cargo within the rail car are known in the art. One of the problems associated with bulkhead door-carrying trolley assemblies used within rail road cars is that different rail road cars commonly include trolley-supporting, overhead, internal rail car tracks having different spacings between rails in a pair of rails and different rail cross-sectional configurations and, therefore, a number of different, distinct trolley assemblies having different lengths and different wheel configurations presently are needed to accommodate the different rail car tracks.
Accordingly, there has been a long-felt need in the rail road industry to provide a universal trolley assembly that is useful over a variety of differently spaced and differently configured, trolley-supporting, overhead, internal rail car tracks wherein the trolley assembly is readily adjustable to accommodate the different spacings and different track configurations so that the trolley assembly can be readily modified to take into account these different rail car tracks.

Universal telescoping bulkhead door trolley assembly


In an apparatus and method for optimizing the exhaust gas burnout in combustion plants having a solid bed combustion zone and an exhaust gas burnout zone wherein oxygen-containing gas is injected into the exhaust gas flow in the burnout zone by way of a plurality of secondary gas injection nozzles, wherein each injection nozzle is provided with a control valve, means are provided for determining the presence of incompletely burned exhaust gas components in the exhaust gas burn out zone and a control unit converts the signals into control signals by which the valves or group of valves are individually controlled so as to inject oxygen containing gas into the exhaust gas flow in order to concentrate the injection of the oxygen containing secondary gas into the areas in which incompletely burned exhaust gas components are present.

The invention relates to an apparatus for optimizing the exhaust gas burn out in combustion plants with a solid bed combustion zone and an exhaust gas burn-out zone, comprising several controllable nozzles for introducing oxygen containing secondary air into the exhaust gas burn-out zone, wherein an oxygen measuring device and/or combustion chamber temperature measuring devices for determining the total amount of secondary and primary air in the exhaust gas are provided.
As a result of the highly heterogeneous composition of certain combustion material such as waste materials or bio-masses, the heat value of the combustion material varies greatly. In combustion systems with grate combustion therefore complicated and expensive combustion controls including infrared detectors (IR cameras, infrared cameras) are used. The combustion conditions in combustion chambers with grate combustion can be determined on the basis of the infra red radiation of the combustion material bed using an IR camera. The wavelength (3.9 μm) is in a range in which combustion gases have no emissivity. Using this information, the various primary gas flows are controlled which flow through the bed of solids. In this way, an essentially complete burn-out of the slag or bed ash can be achieved.
The exhaust gas leaving the combustion chamber (solid bed combustion zone) of such a non-uniform combustion includes areas with high concentrations of incompletely burned compounds such as CO, hydrocarbons or soot. The gas flow leaving the combustion chamber includes flow streaks with largely varying local and time dependent variations. These streaks of unburned exhaust gas components extend through the exhaust gas burnout zone up to the first radiation structure.
The oxygen concentrations in the exhaust gas burnout zone are very low and additionally, unevenly distributed. There is insufficient time and insufficient turbulence for a complete burn-out of the exhaust gases. A complete burn out of the exhaust gases can therefore be realized only with a controlled local introduction of secondary air into the exhaust gas burnout zone, wherein the secondary air must be mixed with the exhaust gas as well as possible.
Because of the inhomogeneity of the combustion material and the variations in the primary gas admitted to the solid bed combustion zone but also because of the different charges the spatial distribution and absolute concentrations of the exhaust gas species are distributed very heterogeneously and, additionally subject to strong fluctuations. Measurements, taken in the burnout zone, show air streaks with very high concentration of incompletely burned compounds. This results in an incomplete gas burnout with for example high CO peaks. In addition, particularly the incomplete burn out of soot particles, results in a high carbon concentration in the wall deposits an increased formation rate of PCDD/F (de-novo synthesis).
Technical apparatus for optimizing the exhaust gas burnout in combustion plants are designed particularly to reduce the emissions using controlled injection of oxygen-containing secondary gases which results in a reduction of emissions in the exhaust gas burnout zone formed in the exhaust gas discharge duct. As secondary gases for example more or less oxygen-containing air, recycled exhaust gas or also steam (with over-stoichiometric air) may be used.
In order to ensure a complete combustion secondary gas is injected into the exhaust gas burnout zone with a high impulse, and, to ensure good penetrations of the exhaust gas flow, in large excess quantities. The intense mixing of unburned exhaust gas components with the oxygen-containing secondary air at high temperatures is required for an effective exhaust gas burn out.
In [1] various concepts and apparatus for the injection of secondary air which are independent of local- and time-based condition changes, are described. The injection is performed in a first concept with nozzles, which are arranged exclusively around the burnout chamber wall. A turbulent mixing of the injected secondary air with the exhaust gas flow is attempted to be achieved by an optimal arrangement and orientation of the injection nozzles in the burnout chamber wall. It is consequently tried to obtain certain two- or three-dimensional flow patterns such as rolling flows or flow turbulences only by the arrangement and orientation of the nozzles. In a second concept, a cross-tube with additional nozzles is disposed in the narrowest flow cross-section that is in the transition from the combustion chamber to the radiation passage. A first variant of this concept uses a rotating tube, type Temelli, whereas a second variant is based on a flow-optimized stationary crosstube, type Kümmel.
A reliable mixing of secondary gas via injection nozzles which are arranged exclusively in the burnout chamber wall requires that certain flow patterns are maintained in order to obtain a homogenizing mixing process. Such concepts are therefore only conditionally suitable for instationary combustion processes as they occur for example in connection with the treatment of thermal waste materials. An inhomogeneous consistency of the waste material, which serves as fuel, amplifies this influence factor particularly strongly. This limitation is even more apparent with an increasing cross-section of the burn-out zone since the distances to be bridged by the injected secondary gas during the mixing process become larger.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for optimizing the burn-out of exhaust gases such that even in instationary combustion processes a complete burn-out is achieved with a minimum of secondary gases.

Apparatus and method for optimizing exhaust gas burn out in combustion plants


A delineator post with a restoration function includes a base panel, a delineator body fixed to the base panel and a tubular elastic band connecting the base panel and the delineator body. The delineator body has a disposition space formed therein. The tubular elastic band extends from the base panel to the top of the delineator body through the disposition space. The delineator post further includes a restoration rod having an upper portion inserted into the disposition space of the delineator body and capable of restoring the delineator body. In this configuration, when the delineator post is tilted by an external force caused by a vehicle or laid down by being trampled by a tire of a vehicle, the delineator post may restore its original shape by the above configuration of the restoration rod.

Generally, delineator posts (including road studs) are frequently disposed at a center of a road, a lane of a dangerous pedestrian section, or the like. The delineator post helps a driver to secure a view at night when it rains, allows a driver to recognize that he drives over a centerline by mistake such as dozing, and also protects pedestrians in a pedestrian section.
An existing delineator post includes a bottom plate fixed to the ground surface by anchor bolts or the like, and a rod-shaped body protruding upwards from a center of an upper portion of the bottom plate to a predetermined height from the ground surface, and the bottom plate and the rod-shaped body have an integrated structure and are generally made of synthetic resin by injection molding.
In addition, the body has a circular or polygonal shape, and a reflecting body is installed at a side of the body. Also, the bottom plate has a plate shape with a gentle slope, which has a narrow top and a broad bottom, so that the delineator post may be stably supported on the ground surface.
However, if a vehicle is bumped against the body of the existing delineator post or the body is trampled by a tire of a vehicle, the body may be pulled out from the bottom plate and then separated or broken.

Delineator post having restoration function


The DVD player includes: a reproducing unit reproducing audio data and video data; a first transmission unit converting, into first data in accordance with a first standard, the audio data and video data reproduced by the reproducing unit, and transmitting the first data to the television; a second transmission unit converting, into second data in accordance with a second standard, the audio data and video data reproduced by the reproducing unit, and transmitting the second data to the television; a display determination unit determining whether or not to display an error message regarding an error occurring in the first transmission unit based on whether or not the video is displayed using the first data; and a display control unit causing the message display unit to display the error message according to a result of the determination by the display determination unit.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video and audio reproduction apparatus, and in particular, to a video and audio reproduction apparatus that is connectable to a video and audio reception apparatus.
(2) Description of the Related Art
The video and audio reproduction apparatuses, such as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a DVD recorder, a Blu-ray Disc (BD) recorder, and a BD player reproduce video and audio recorded on recording media, and provide the reproduced data to video and audio reception apparatuses, such as a television (TV) receiver and an AV amplifier. Such video and audio reproduction apparatuses are connected to video and audio reception apparatuses through cables, such as a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, a component cable, and a composite cable (RCA cable).
Furthermore, in the case where an error occurs when a video and audio reproduction apparatus is HDMI-connected to a video and audio reception apparatus, the video and audio reproduction apparatus displays that the error occurs in an HDMI, on a front panel or an On-Screen display (OSD) that are included in the video and audio reproduction apparatus. The errors here include, for example, an HDMI non-support error, a DDC communication error, and an authentication error in an HDMI-supporting apparatus.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 4020162 (hereinafter referred to as PTL 1) discloses a conventional video and audio reproduction apparatus that automatically determines an event corresponding to a current state and displays a favorable message corresponding to the corresponding event.

Video and audio reproduction apparatus, and video and audio reproduction method


A limited restriction quick disconnect valve preferably for mounting between a container, like that involved in medical instrument sterilization system, and a transfer line for passing a sterilization agent thereto. The valve is for mounting at a bulk head female connector section into the container wall and includes a stem with side ports formed therein that intersect a passage that is open to within the container, the stem for receiving, as a closure device, a resilient sleeve fitted, in sealing arrangement, thereover. A closure ring section, that is connected to the transfer line, is provided for fitting onto a retaining ring of the bulk head female connector. The closure ring section includes a cylindrical shaft that is arranged axially therein that includes a forward end for engaging and compressing the resilient sleeve when the coupling ring is fitted onto the retaining ring, the resilient sleeve when compressed to bow outward around its mid portion, lifting the sleeve interior surface off from and opening the side ports, providing a passage from the container to the transfer line. For cleaning after use, the resilient sleeve can be pulled off the stem and replaced with another resilient sleeve and the interiors of the bulk head female connector and coupling ring section are open, have no moving parts, for facilitating cleaning.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to valves and in particular to quick release valves that are suitable for use in medical instrument sterilization systems for releasably connecting sterilization agent inlet and exhaust lines to a removable primary sterilization chamber wherein medical instrument sterilization takes place.
2. Prior Art
Quick release valves utilized in pneumatic systems, as for example valves for connecting lines together to transfer compressed air to air driven tools, have long been known and are in common use. Such valves while well suited for providing for a compressed air or even liquid transfer have posed significant difficulties when they have been applied to medical systems, particularly medical instrument sterilization systems as the valve does not lend itself to reliable cleaning. In such systems, a sterilization agent is transferred into and from a primary sterilization chamber wherein medical instruments are sterilized and is then removable for carrying sterilized instruments to an operating room.
An example of such an medical instrument system sterilization system is shown in an earlier U.S. patent application of one of the present inventors entitled, "Ozone Sterilization System Primary Sterilization and Transport Container", U.S. patent Ser. No. 07/940,850. In which system conventional pneumatic valves are illustrated as having been utilized to provide a connection between sterilization agent lines and as quick release valves that allow for a release of the primary sterilization container for movement to an operating room. Such pneumatic valves with their arrangement of balls, seats and spring biased sleeve, however, present a number of crevices and recesses that are difficult to clean and sterilize after use. Accordingly, such pneumatic valves, though functionally satisfactory for transfer of a sterilization agent, are themselves potential sources of contamination and have not proven entirely satisfactory for inclusion with medical instrument sterilization systems.
The valve of the present invention employs a resilient sleeve as the valve closure component that is itself easily removable and replaceable. After which removal the valve body and connection components are easily broken apart and have inner cavities that are essentially smooth walled and therefor are conveniently and efficiently cleaned and sterilized, presenting a significant improvement over the pneumatic valves as have formerly been utilized. Medical instrument sterilization systems that employ sterilization agent transfer lines and valve are shown in patents to Masuda, U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,512 and to Karlson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,880. Also, a plurality of container and chamber arrangements for use in sterilization processes that utilize treated ozone as the effluent are shown in patents to Anderson, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,471; and to Lutz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,419. None of which systems, however, have utilized a quick release valve that is configured like that of the present invention.

Limited restriction quick disconnect valve


An over-the-wire electrophysiology catheter which has an emitting electrode on the distal tip electrically connected to a source of high frequency electrical energy. The intravascular device is configured to be advanced through a patient's cardiac veins or coronary arteries and preferably is also provided with sensing electrodes for detecting electrical activity of the patient's heart from within a blood vessel of the heart. The device forms large lesions in tissue adjacent to the blood vessel in which the device is located without significantly damaging the blood vessel to effectively terminate signals causing arrhythmia.

This invention generally relates to a system for detecting electrical activity or signals within a patient's heart and particularly for determining the source of signals causing arrhythmia from within a blood vessel of the patient's heart.
Prior methods for treating a patient's arrhythmia include the use of antiarrhythmic drugs such as sodium and calcium channel blockers or drugs which reduce the Beta-adrenergic activity. Other prior methods include surgically sectioning the origin of the signals causing the arrhythmia or the conducting pathway for such signals. More frequently, however, to terminate the arrhythmia the heart tissue which causes the arrhythmia is destroyed by heat, e.g. applying a laser beam or high frequency electrical energy, e.g. RF or microwave, to a desired location on the patient's endocardium
In the latter instance, the location of the tissue site causing or involved with the arrhythmia must be accurately known in order to be able to contact the desired location with a tissue destroying device. A major problem of ablating the site of the origin of the signals or a conductive pathway is to accurately determine the location of the site so that an excessive amount of good tissue is not damaged or destroyed along with the arrhythmogenic site, while at the same time ensuring that the arrhythmia does not return. For example, the average arrhythmogenic site consists of an area of about 1.4 cm.sup.2 of endocardial tissue, whereas a re-entrant site might be much larger. RF ablation techniques produce lesions about 0.5 cm.sup.2 in area, so several lesions may be necessary to completely ablate an area of interest. If the arrhythmogenic or re-entrant site is not accurately mapped, much good tissue surrounding the site will be unnecessarily damaged or destroyed.
A variety of prior methods have been used to detect electrical activity within a patient's heart to facilitate the mapping of electrical activity causing the arrhythmia. A number of these prior methods are disclosed in U.S. Patents which use elongated intravascular signal sensing devices with one or more electrodes on a distal portion of the device which are advanced through the patient's vasculature until the distal portions of the sensing devices are disposed within one or more of the patient's heart chambers with one or more electrodes in contact with the endocardial lining. While this procedure is widely used, it does not always allow the site of arrhythmogenic signals to be accurately determined.
In copending application Ser. No. 08/188,619, filed Jan. 27, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,411, reference is made to intravascular devices which are advanced through a patient's coronary arteries or cardiac veins to desired locations in the patient's epicardium where electrical activity is detected by means of electrodes on the distal ends of the devices to locate arrhythmogenic sites or conductive pathways causing or involved with arrhythmia. In copending application Ser. No. 08/207,918, filed Mar. 8, 1994, now abandoned, an intravascular device is described which uses RF energy to occlude a blood vessel in order to destroy tissue distal to the catheter by creating ischemic conditions therein.
What has been needed is a method and system for accurately detecting the source of signals which cause the arrhythmia and to create an lesion which effectively terminates the arrhythmia without detrimentally effecting tissue not involved with the arrhythmia.

Method of treating using an over-the-wire EP catheter


The ventilating window of tent according to the present invention comprises a double-side waterproof fabric 111, which is sewn and attached to the rim portion of the ventilating window 102 of the body fabric 101 together with the cover fabric 105, and in which the net yarn fabric 103 is sewn and attached through the outline fabric 104 to the rim portion of the ventilation hole 112 formed inside, and of which both sides are waterproof coated so as for a waterproof tape to be adhered; an inner waterproof tape 122, which is attached to the inlet of the portion that is closely contacted by the sewing line of the double-side waterproof fabric 111 and the cover fabric 105 to prevent rainwater from penetrating through the sewing line part of the double-side waterproof fabric 111 and the cover fabric 105; and an outer waterproof tape 121 that is attached to the sewing line of the body fabric 101 and the double-side waterproof fabric 111 and the border line of these to prevent rainwater from penetrating through the sewing line part of the body fabric 101 and the double-side waterproof fabric 111.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ventilating window of a tent, and more specifically to a waterproof structure of a ventilating window for a tent, in which an outer rim portion is sewn and attached to the ventilating window rim portion of a body fabric together with a cover fabric, and an outline fabric of net yarn fabric is sewn and attached to the ventilation hole portion formed inside, and an inner waterproof tape is attached to the inlet of the part that is closely contacted by a sewing line of a double-side waterproof-coated double-side waterproof fabric and the cover fabric to prevent rainwater from penetrating through the sewing line part of the double-side waterproof fabric and the cover fabric, and outer waterproof tapes are attached to the inner sewing line of the body fabric and the double-side waterproof fabric and the border line of these to prevent rainwater from penetrating though the sewing line part of the body fabric and the double-side waterproof fabric, so that rainwater is prevented from penetrating through the ventilating window part of tent.
2. Description of the Related Art
The construction of a conventional ventilating window for tent is as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.
The construction of this ventilating window comprises a ventilating window 2; a net yarn fabric 3 that is attached to the rim portion of the ventilating window 2 by sewing an outline fabric 4; a cover fabric 5 that is sewn and attached to the outside of a body fabric 1 enclosing the net yarn fabric 3 so that the bottom is opened while a space is formed outside the net yarn fabric 3; and a waterproof tape 6 that is attached to the sewing line part of the body fabric 1 for the waterproofing of the sewing line part of the cover fabric 5 and the body fabric 1.
Below is described the action of a conventional ventilating window for tent having such a construction.
First, the ventilating window 2 formed on the body fabric 1 makes the air inside the tent communicate with the outside so that the inside of the tent can be maintained pleasant.
And, the net yarn fabric 3 that is sewn and attached to the rim portion of the ventilating window 2 through the outline fabric 4 can prevent mosquitoes or flies from flying in through the ventilating window 2.
Also, the cover fabric 5 that is sewn and attached making a space outside the ventilating window 2 plays a role of intercepting rainwater or sunlight through the net yarn fabric 3.
Thus, in the prior art, to waterproof the sewing line part of the cover fabric 5 and the body fabric 1, a waterproof tape 6 is attached to the sewing line part formed on the inside of the body fabric 1.
However, although rainwater does not penetrate through the sewing line part attached with the waterproof tape 6, there is no waterproofing means equipped in the close contact part of the body fabric 1 and the cover fabric 5, so rainwater penetrates through the close contact part, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
So the rainwater that has penetrated through the close contact part of the body fabric 1 and the cover fabric 5 flows into the tent through the outline fabric 4 of the net yarn fabric 3 and the sewing line part of the body fabric 1, eventually making a problem of rainwater staying inside the tent.
Especially, only the inner surface of the body fabric 1 is waterproof coated, so it can be waterproofed by attaching the waterproof tape 6; but the outer surface of the body fabric 1 is not waterproof coated, so a waterproof tape cannot be attached.
For reference, in order to attach waterproof tapes to the fabrics making up a tent, the surface of the reverse of the fabric should be waterproof coated.
But waterproof coating both sides of all the fabrics causes increase in the cost and the number of work processes, so it is a general practice to coat the outer surface only, namely, one side of the fabric.
Thus, the conventional ventilating window of tent is not equipped with a proper waterproof system, so it has a problem of causing many inconveniences on rainy days.

Waterproof structure of ventilating window for tent


A reflection-mode waveplate for operation in the terahertz region by shifting the phase between two perpendicular polarization components of the light wave, comprising a ground plane; an array of polygonal unit cells; the polygonal unit cells comprising a polymer positioned between the ground plane and the exterior of the array of polygonal patches.

In recent years, it has been realized that the THz region of the electromagnetic spectrum is of considerable scientific and technological interest which has lead to advances that include THz imaging (see, B. B. Hu and M. C. Nuss, "Imaging with Terahertz Waves," Opt. Lett. 20, 1716-1718 (1995) hereby incorporated by reference), semiconductor characterization (see, D. M. Mittleman, J. Cunningham, M. C. Nuss and M. Geva, "Noncontact Semiconductor Wafer Characterization with the Terahertz Hall Effect," Appl. Phys. Lett. 71, 16-18 (1997), hereby incorporated by reference), and chemical (see, R. H. Jacobsen, D. M. Mittleman and M. C. Nuss, Chemical Recognition of Gases and Gas Mixtures with Terahertz Waves, Opt. Lett. 21, 2011-2013 (1996), (hereby incorporated by reference) and biological sensing (see T. W. Crowe, T. Globus, D. L. Woolard and J. L. Hesler, Terahertz Sources and Detectors and Their Application to Biological Sensing, Philosophical Transactions," Royal Society A 362, 365-377 (2004) hereby incorporated by reference. However, the THz spectrum still suffers from the often cited "THz gap," which refers to the lack of basic components available in this frequency range. See, P. H. Siegel, THz Technology, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and Techniques, 50(3), 910-928, (2002), hereby incorporated by reference. This deficiency has been reduced, in part, through the use of scalable artificial electromagnetic composites such as metamaterials and frequency selective surfaces. Multifunctional electromagnetic composites derive their response primarily from the geometry of unit cells arrayed in a periodic fashion. Through ingenious design, these materials have been used to create a negative index of refraction (see, V. G. Veselago, The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ∈ and μ," Sov. Phys. Usp. 10, 509-514 (1968) and D. R. Smith, W. J. Padilla, D. C. Vier, S. C. Nemat-Nasser, and S. Schultz, "Composite Medium with Simultaneously Negative Permeability and Permittivity, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4184-4187 (2000), both of which are incorporated by reference), perfect lens (see J. B. Pendry, Negative Refraction Makes a Perfect Lens, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3966 (2000), hereby incorporated by reference), electromagnetic cloak (see D. Schurig, J. J. Mock, B. J. Justice, S. A. Cummer, J. B. Pendry, A. F. Starr, and D. R. Smith, Metamaterial Electromagnetic Cloak at Microwave Frequencies, Science 314, 977-980 (2006), hereby incorporated by reference), perfect absorber (see N. I. Landy, et al., Perfect metamaterial absorber, Phys. Rev. Lett., 100, 207402 (2008), hereby incorporated by reference), high impedance surfaces (see D. F. Sievenpiper, L. Zhang, R. Broas, N. G. Alexopolous, E. Yablonovitch, "High-Impedance Electromagnetic Surfaces with a Forbidden Frequency Band, "IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and Techniques, 47(11), 2059-2074, (1999), hereby incorporated by reference), and magnetic conductors (see, O. Luukkonen, C. R. Simovski, and S. A. Tretyakov. Grounded uniaxial material slabs as magnetic conductors, Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, 15, 267-283 (2009), hereby incorporated by reference.
At THz frequencies, active electromagnetic composites have been developed including voltage controlled modulators and phase shifters, and reconfigurable materials as reported in H. T. Chen, et al., Active terahertz metamaterial devices, Nature, 444, 597 (2006), H. T. Chen, et al., Experimental demonstration of frequency-agile terahertz metamaterials, Nature Photonics, 2, 295 (2008), and H. Tao, et al., Reconfigurable Terahertz Metamaterials, Phys. Rev. Lett., 103, 147401 (2009). All of these devices were created through precise design of metallo-dielectric unit cells. The geometry of the metallic structure within the unit cell imbues the composite with macroscopic properties not found in its constituent components. As with atomic materials, the point group symmetry of the unit cell maps onto the macroscopic properties. A prime example are unit cells the lack fourfold rotational symmetry which manifests as birefringence in the material response. This lack of symmetry has been previously exploited to make transmissive waveplates as referenced in A. C. Strikwerda, Fan, Hu Tao, D. V. Pilon, X. Zhang, and R. D. Averitt, Comparison of birefringent electric split-ring resonator and meanderline structures as quarter-wave plates at terahertz frequencies, Opt. Express 17, 136-149 (2009), X. G. Peralta, E. I. Smirnova, A. K. Azad, H.-T. Chen, A. J. Taylor, I. Brener, and J. F. O'Hara, Metamaterials for THz polarimetric devices, Opt. Express 17, 773-783 (2009), and P. Weis, O. Paul, C. Imhof, R. Beigang, and M. Rahm, "Strongly birefringent metamaterials as negative index terahertz wave plates," Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171104 (2009). However these, and other typical THz components, suffer high insertion loss which arises from Fresnel losses which can be substantial as typical materials at THz frequencies have large refractive indices. This can be remedied through the use of anti-reflection (AR) coatings, but in foregoing references (A. C. Strikwerda, Fan, Hu Tao, D. V. Pilon, X. Zhang, and R. D. Averitt, "Comparison of birefringent electric split-ring resonator and meanderline structures as quarter-wave plates at terahertz frequencies," Opt. Express 17, 136-149 (2009), X. G. Peralta, E. I. Smirnova, A. K. Azad, H.-T. Chen, A. J. Taylor, I. Brener, and J. F. O'Hara, Metamaterials for THz polarimetric devices, Opt. Express 17, 773-783 (2009), and P. Weis, O. Paul, C. Imhof, R. Beigang, and M. Rahm, "Strongly birefringent metamaterials as negative index terahertz wave plates," Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171104 (2009)) the AR coatings would be thicker than the actual device, which may be disadvantageous in either fabrication or implementation.
In P. Weiss, et al., "Strongly birefringent metamaterials as negative index terahertz wave plates," Applied Physics Letters 95, 171104 (2009) (hereby incorporated by reference), there is reported an alternative approach for the design and fabrication of thin wave plates with high transmission in the terahertz regime. The wave plates are based on strongly birefringent cut-wire-pair metamaterials that exhibit refractive indices of opposite signs for orthogonal polarization components of an incident wave.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a half waveplate rotates linearly polarized light by 90 degrees. A quarter waveplate converts linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light.

Electromagnetic composite-based reflecting terahertz waveplate

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


An underwater nuclear material reconnaissance system includes an underwater vehicle propelled/steered by a plurality of propulsion pods distributed thereabout. The underwater vehicle includes nuclear material sensors for generating sensor data indicative of the presence of nuclear material, a tunnel thruster for providing vertical thrust for the underwater vehicle, and a bi-directional communications cable deployable from the underwater vehicle. A remotely-located communications base station coupled to the bi-directional communications cable transmits control commands to the underwater vehicle and receives sensor data transmitted from the underwater vehicle.

The invention relates generally to underwater reconnaissance, and more particularly to an unmanned underwater reconnaissance system capable of sensing the presence of nuclear materials in the water, on a vessel or in a harbor, and then relaying the sensed information back to a remote location.
The examination or reconnaissance of underwater sites for the purposes of determining the presence of nuclear materials is necessary in a variety of military and civilian situations. For example, military situations include intelligence gathering regarding underwater vessels or harbors. Civilian situations include examination of waters surrounding a damaged or sunken vessel that is powered by or carries nuclear material, and reconnaissance of, for example, the water near a nuclear power plant. Typically, such nuclear material underwater reconnaissance is carried out by divers equipped with various underwater sensors, lights, cameras, etc., to examine an area of interest. However, this approach places divers in jeopardy of detection in the case of covert operations, exposure to nuclear radiation, and the general perils associated with deep sea diving.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for performing underwater reconnaissance with the goal of detecting the presence of nuclear material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a nuclear material underwater reconnaissance system that is unmanned.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an unmanned nuclear material underwater reconnaissance system that can be operated from a safe stand off distance.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, an underwater nuclear material reconnaissance system utilizes a controllable underwater vehicle having a body and a plurality of propulsion pods distributed about and coupled to the body. Each propulsion pod has its own power source coupled to a propulsor. The underwater vehicle minimally incorporates nuclear material sensors for generating sensor data indicative of the presence of nuclear material, a tunnel thruster for providing vertical thrust for the underwater vehicle, and a bi-directional communications cable deployable from the underwater vehicle. A remotely-located communications base station coupled to the bi-directional communications cable transmits control commands to the underwater vehicle and receives sensor data transmitted from the underwater vehicle.

Underwater nuclear material reconnaissance system

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A process for dismantling equipment that is buried, unsheltered, at risk of contamination and possibly is irradiating, and a vessel for implementing this process. According to the invention, buried equipment at risk of contamination, for example, an off-line effluent pipe, is dismantled in sections under cover of a movable vessel (124) placed above the section to be dismantled (12, 14). The invention also concerns a vessel (124) that has a self-supporting structure built around a deck (126) equipped with an elongated central opening (148) giving access to the section to be dismantled (12, 14).

The invention concerns a process for dismantling buried unsheltered equipment at risk of radioactive contamination, particularly the kind that extends in a straight line, such as shut-down effluent pipes.
As part of a general radioactive-contamination risk protection policy, waste and equipment that may be contaminated must be eliminated when the equipment is taken off line and the areas it occupied must be made available for other uses. Indeed, even when pipes are buried in the ground, they may eventually deteriorate and spread contamination by infiltration and/or irrigation, which is very difficult to contain.
Generally, a state of noncontamination or decontamination means a state in which the radioactivity of a material is below a predetermined threshold, for example, one stipulated by law.

Process for dismantling buried unsheltered equipment which is at risk of contamination and possibly is irradiating, and a vessel for implementing this process

Cogema-Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires


A single sheet feed system for feeding sheets, such as sheets of paper into a printer or other device which use individual sheets, such as a telefax machine or copier, is mounted on a tray that has a spring loaded bottom wall to urge a stack of sheets upwardly toward feed rollers. Scissor catches are provided at the leading edge corners and include stop and lift guides which will induce buckling of the corners of a sheet as the sheet is fed. The sheet is also guided by feed blocks adjacent the scissor catches, so that as the sheet is moved toward the printer the corners of a top sheet are caused to buckle and separate from the rest of the stack of sheets without allowing a second sheet to release from the tray as the top sheet is feeding into the printer. The stop and lift guides of the scissor catches cause top sheet to first slide upwardly and then the corners are retained and held from upward movement, so that buckling occurs adjacent corner portions of the top sheet along a leading edge to move the top sheet upwardly away from the stack. The buckled corners of the top sheet then slide along a guide edge. The scissor catches will release the buckled corners as the top sheet is fed further, to insure that only a single sheet is fed each time.

The present invention relates to a single sheet feeder for use in a paper tray which will reliably feed single sheets each time the paper drive is activated. The corners of the top sheet in a stack are caused to buckle and separate from the rest of the sheets in the stack.
Various sheet feeders for printers and copiers have been advanced in the prior art. It is common to use a spring loaded plate in a tray that will urge a stack of sheets of papers up against catches in the corners. A drive roller will then cause the top sheet to be advanced while the corners are retained until the sheet is pulled out. The prior sheet feeders will generally work satisfactorily until there is an imperfect sheet, or a different type or stiffness of sheet is used and then misfeeds occur.
This is particularly troublesome in printers that use high quality, expensive paper or sheets of different materials of one kind or another.
Thus, the need exists for a single sheet feeder that works reliably regardless of imperfections and changes in the type of sheet being fed.


A process for the preparation of organoalkoxysilanes containing one or more organic functional groups derived from organic acids or hydrogen cyanates, by a continuous or batch process utilizing a solid guanidinium salt as a phase transfer catalyst for the reaction between a liquid phase haloalkylalkoxysilane and a solid phase alkali or alkaline earth metal salt or ammonium salt of an organic acid or a metal cyanate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of organoalkoxysilanes, which contain organic functional groups derived from organic acids or hydrogen cyanate. The process is based on the known reaction of alkali or alkaline earth metal salts or ammonium salts of organic acids or metal cyanates with haloalkylalkoxysilanes in the presence of phase transfer catalysts.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of guanidinium salt as a phase transfer catalyst for the preparation of organoalkoxysilanes from salts of organic acids and haloalkylalkoxysilanes is known. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,150 to Simonian et al. discloses this phase transfer catalyst and its use in certain reactions related to producing isocyanurate and carboxylate silanes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,150 discloses methods to minimize the increase in temperature from the evolution of heat from a batch reaction to produce organoalkoxysilanes from an alkali metal salt or ammonium salt of an organic acid or a metal cyanate, but does not disclose methods for practicing a continuous or batch reaction or methods to produce the organoalkoxysilane product from the base organic acids or hydrogen cyanate.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,150 does not disclose that the preferred embodiment of the phase transfer catalyst, hexaethylguanidinium chloride, is commercially available only as an aqueous solution or dissolved in chlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene solvent. Either the aqueous or solvent form of the catalyst present substantial hindrances to the successful practicing of the process. Water reacts with the haloalkylalkoxysilane reactant and/or the organoalkoxysilane product to form by-product siloxanes, which decrease product yield. Additionally, the alcohol formed by the water hydrolysis reaction deactivates the guanidinium catalyst, which stops the reaction to form the organoalkoxysilane product. Chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene are considered hazardous to humans since they are suspected carcinogens, moderately toxic, strong central nervous system depressants, and experimental teratogens. If introduced into a continuous or batch process with the phase transfer catalyst, chlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene would either enter into a distillation light ends recycle loop or become a waste stream. If the chlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene enters a continuous lights ends recycle loop, it will build to a high concentration and would have to be diverted to a waste stream. Either way, chlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene would become an undesired hazardous waste from the process.
The use of tetraalkylammonium and hexaalkylguanidinium salts as phase transfer catalysts in the preparation of various polymers is known. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,423 discloses the reaction of bisphenol salts with halo- or nitro-substituted phthalimides in an organic medium to produce bisimides which, upon conversion to dianhydrides and reaction with diamines, form polyetherimides. U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,482 discloses a similar phase transfer catalyst reaction of bisphenol salts with halo- or nitro-substituted bis(phthalimido) derivatives of aromatic diamines or with similar compounds, resulting in the direct formation of polyetherimides and other polyether polymers. The phase transfer catalysts employed according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,132,423 and 5,229,482 are guanidinium salts and especially hexaalkylguanidinium salts.
There are four general methods for the synthesis of an organoalkoxysilane compound:
1. Hydrosilylation of allyl- or vinyl-functional compound with trialkoxysilane.
2. Hydrosilylation of allyl- or vinyl-functional compound with trichlorosilane and subsequent alcoholysis.
3. Reaction of chloropropyltrimethoxysilane with a sodium or potassium salt of organic acid.
4. Reaction of an aminoalkysilane with a carbonate to form the product via the carbamate.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,001 discloses the first method and cites that isocyanurate-organosilanes have been prepared in the past by adding hydrosilanes to unsaturated isocyanates and more specifically allyl isocyanate in the presence of metal catalysts. This process is limited on a large scale because the hydrosilanes are expensive and the unsaturated isocyanates are typically highly toxic.
The first method suffers from many practical problems such as a slow hydrosilylation process, formation of by-products containing internal olefins, use of toxic and low flash point reagents such as trimethoxy- or triethoxysilane.
The second method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,145. It teaches that bis(3-trimethylsilylpropyl) fumarate can be made by the hydrosilylation of diallyl maleate with trichlorosilane and subsequent methoxylation of the trichlorosilyl compound to the desired product. Unfortunately, the handling of trichlorosilane is very dangerous due to the low boiling point, very high reactivity and toxicity of this material. Also the methanolysis process is difficult to control and produces large amounts of waste.
The third method is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,607,901; 3,821,218, and 3,598,852. These methods are for synthesizing 1,3,5-tris(trialkoxysilylpropyl) isocyanurates. This process involves the reaction of potassium cyanate with chloropropylmethoxysilane in a polar aprotic solvent such as N,N dimethylformamide (DMF) which is toxic and difficult to remove. The reaction time is about 3 to 8 hours. The resulting material has purity about 70% and is highly colored.
Patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,133 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,927 disclose the fourth method and disclose that aminoalkylsilanes can be reacted with carbonates such as dimethyl carbonate in basic conditions which will form the carbamate. The carbamate is then neutralized and converted to the isocyanurate by a lengthy, high temperature, subatmospheric pressure cracking reaction which necessitates the use of a cracking catalyst such as aluminum triethoxide and a base catalyst such as sodium acetate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,977 discloses the preparation of methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane by contacting potassium methacrylate with chloropropyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of tetraalkylammonium halides as phase transfer catalyst. The yield of the reaction is below 90% and the resulting product usually has a dark color due the thermal decomposition of the catalyst.
European patent application 483,480 describes the preparation of methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane with high yield by the contacting of potassium methacrylate with chloropropyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of 4-N,N-dialkylaminopyridine as a catalyst. 4-Dialkylaminopyridine is an effective catalyst in these processes but the use of dialkylaminopyridine is limited due to very high toxicity of these compounds.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to devise a continuous or batch process for performing the entire process for producing an organoalkoxysilane from an organic acid or a hydrogen cyanate and a haloalkylalkoxysilane. It is an object of this invention to provide a method for introducing commercial guanidinium salt as a phase transfer catalyst into the process without the generation of hazardous by-products. Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for producing sulfur and phosphorus containing silanes and amide silanes in addition to the isocyanurate and carboxylate silanes of the prior art.

Process for producing organoalkoxysilanes from organic acids or cyanates and haloalkylalkoxysilanes


A PWM signal generator comprises a pulse width indication signal generator outputting a pulse width indication signal, and a pulse width adjustment portion receiving the pulse width indication signal. The pulse width adjustment portion outputs an adjusted pulse width data which corresponds to the pulse width indication signal when the pulse width indicated by the pulse width indication signal is equal to or wider than a predetermined width. The pulse width adjustment portion accumulates the pulse width indicated by the pulse width indication signal when the pulse width indicated by the pulse width indication signal is narrower than the predetermined width. The pulse width adjustment portion outputs the adjusted pulse width data which corresponds to a sum data of the pulse width accumulated in the pulse width adjustment portion when the sum of the pulse width becomes equal to or wider than the predetermined width.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a PWM signal generator and, more particularly, to the PWM signal generator which is able to control a rotating speed of a motor to drive an optical disk.
2. Description of Related Art
A rotating speed of a motor is controlled in an optical disk apparatus such as a CD player or a DVD player. The rotating speed is controlled by using a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal.
An analog PWM signal generator and a digital PWM signal generator are known as a PWM signal generator. The analog PWM signal generator generates an analog PWM signal by comparing an analog modulating wave (signal wave) with a triangular wave (career wave). The digital PWM signal generator generates a digital PWM data signal using a triangular career wave which is generated based on a count value counted by an up-down counter. A general motor control circuit which has the analog PWM signal generator is described below.
FIG. 7 shows the motor control circuit 40 having the analog PWM signal generator. The motor control circuit 40 is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 05-49263. (Tagami) As shown in FIG. 7, the motor control circuit 40 has a plurality of PWM signal generators 41 and a plurality of motor drive signal generators (motor driver) 42. Each PWM signal generator 41 corresponds to a different modulating wave (sine waves A, B and C). The sine waves A, B and C have different phases respectively. The PWM signal generator 41 receives the sine modulating wave and a triangular career wave T, and generates a pair of PWM signals. As shown in FIG. 7, there are three PWM signal generators. Therefore three pairs of PWM signals (UP and UN, VP and VN, WP and WN) are generated. The motor driver 42 generates drive signals (BUP, BUN, BVP, BVN, BWP and BWN). These drive signals correspond to the PWM signals respectively.
The drive signals (BUP,BUN,BVP,BVN,BWP and BWN) generated by the motor control circuit 40 are input to switching transistors 51 of a motor drive circuit 50 which is shown in FIG. 8. The voltage of each line U, V and W is varied depending on the conductive states of the switching transistors 51. Thereby, the rotating speed of the motor 52 is controlled.
FIG. 9 shows the drive signals which are generated by the motor control circuit 40 and voltage wave forms between lines. The voltage wave forms shown in FIG. 9 are applied between lines U and V, V and W, W and U. Referring to FIG. 9, the PWM signal generator 41 compares the triangular career wave T with sine modulating waves A, B and C. The PWM signal generator 41 generates PWM signals UP, VP and WP which are H level while an instantaneous value of each sine wave is higher than an instantaneous value of the career wave. The PWM signal generator 41 also generates inversed PWM signals UN, VN and WN which are inversed signals of the PWM signals UP, VP and WP. Each drive signal BUP, BUN, BVP, BVN, BWP and BWN which are output from the motor control circuit 40 corresponds to the each PWM signal generated by the PWM signal generator 41.
The drive signals BUP, BUN, BVP, BVN, BWP and BWN are input to the motor drive circuit 50. The voltages between lines shown in FIG. 9 are applied to the motor 52. Therefore, an average voltage between lines which corresponds to the modulating wave is applied to the motor 52, and the motor rotates with a certain rotating speed which is directed by a frequency of the modulating wave.
The use of the digital PWM signal generator is getting popular instead of the use of the analog PWM signal generator in generating the PWM signals UP, VP and WP. A DSP (Digital Signal Processor) is used in generating a digital PWM data (pulse width data). The DSP generally controls not only PWM generators but also other portions of an apparatus. (The DSP is shared as a control portion of other portions of an apparatus)
An operating speed of the DSP is getting faster recently, and therefore a frequency of the career wave which is generated by the up-down counter inside of the DSP is getting higher. As a resolution of the PWM signal is improved, the minimum pulse width of the PWM signal is getting narrower.
However, in accordance with the narrowing of the minimum pulse width, there are some cases that the motor drive circuit is not able to respond to the narrow pulse width even in the maximum response speed of the motor drive circuit.
In these cases, pulses having a narrow width may be ignored by the motor drive circuit. If the pulses are ignored, the drive signal is not generated and the motor does not operate properly. Even if the pulses are not ignored, pulses are damped in the motor drive circuit and the PWM signals are distorted. Therefore, a linear drive of the motor is difficult.
It is desirable that the PWM signal generator is able to control the motor accurately even if the PWM data is generated by the DSP of fast operating speed.
Tagami discloses broadening the pulse width when the pulse width is narrower than a predetermined pulse width. The pulse width is broadened to have the predetermined width in Tagami; therefore, narrow width pulses are not ignored. The minimum width pulses or the narrow width pulses are broadened to have at least the predetermined width. A transformation of pulse width makes a linear speed control based on the PWM signal difficult.


A resource manager receives selection of a particular icon from an expandable tree of icons displayed in a first region of a display screen. The selected particular icon represents a corresponding group of resources associated with a storage area network. In response to receiving the selection, the resource manager displays a set of selectable view mode icons in a second region of the display screen. The set of selectable view mode icons enable a user to select different subsets of resources from the corresponding group of resources in the first region for viewing in a table. The table is also displayed in the second region of the display screen. After initially populating the table, the resource manager provides the selectable view mode icons in the second region of the display screen along with the table to enable further selection of different subsets of resources for viewing in the table.

The rapid expansion of information service and data processing industries has created a need to manage and store large amounts of data. As an example, financial service companies such as banks, mutual fund companies or the like often operate complex data processing systems that require access to many hundreds of gigabytes or even terabytes of data and files stored in remotely located, high capacity data storage systems. Typically, data processing systems retrieve the data and files from the data storage systems over a network.
Data storage system developers have responded to these increased capacity of data storage needs by integrating high capacity data storage systems, data communications devices and computer systems into networks referred to as "storage networks" or "storage area networks" (SANs.) In general, a storage area network is a collection of data storage systems that are networked with a number of host computer systems. The host computers of the storage area network operate as servers that access data stored in the data storage systems on behalf of client computers that request data from the servers.
Storage area networks are typically managed based on use of software management applications running on a corresponding network manager control station (e.g., a computer workstation) coupled to the storage area network. Conventional storage area network management applications (i.e., certain software applications) provide conventional Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) that enable network managers to graphically manage, control and configure various types of hardware and software resources associated with a corresponding managed storage area network. One conventional network management storage application generates a graphical user interface utilized by a network manager to graphically select, interact with, and manage local or remote devices and associated software processes associated with the storage area network.
Based on use of a graphical user interface in combination with an input device such as a hand operated mouse and corresponding pointer displayed on a viewing screen, a network manager is able to manage hardware and software entities such as file systems, databases, storage devices, peripherals, network data communications devices, etc., associated with the storage area network. Typically, in such network management applications, the network manager selects a displayed icon representing a corresponding managed resource in the network and applies management commands to carry out intended management functions such as viewing hardware and software settings associated with the corresponding selected managed resource.
As noted above, a storage area network may include a number of hardware devices such as host computers, servers, data communication devices (e.g., switches, routers, etc.), network attached storage devices, proxy devices, firewall devices, and so forth that are coupled amongst each other via physical cables, circuitry, etc. Certain conventional network management applications are designed to provide a network manager with information concerning how these network resources are interrelated. For example, in one application, a network manager may select one or more icons (e.g., folders of information identifying host computers, servers, volumes, storage devices, etc.) from a hierarchical tree to display managed resources associated with a particular storage system. Based on viewing information in the hierarchical tree and/or a table of information generated based on selection of an entry in the hierarchical tree of SAN resources, the network manager can view and modify configuration settings of a corresponding managed storage area network.

Methods and apparatus for displaying storage resources


Disclosed is a system and method for identifying a defect in a weld joint through an X-Ray image. An image capturing module captures the X-Ray image of the weld joint. The X-Ray image comprises dark areas and bright areas. An image processing module executes a gamma correction algorithm on the X-Ray image by using a standard power law transform in order to enhance contrast of the dark areas and the bright areas. The image processing module further passes the X-Ray image through one or more de-noising filters in order to remove noise from the X-Ray image. An analysis module identifies a fragment of the X-Ray image that comprises one or more dark area with respect to neighboring areas adjacent to the one or more dark area. The analysis module further segments the X-Ray image into one or more segments in order to identify the defect in the weld joint.

Aerospace, automotive and other industries have been utilizing several welding processes known in the art in order to join various parts, segments, assemblies and fuselage segments. The welding processes enable joining of two metals or materials by forming a joint between them. However, the welding processes may not always result in creating a strong weld at the interface of the two materials resulting in a defective weld. The defective weld may be due to formation of void or cavity at the junction of the weld joint. Considering the critical applications such as aerospace and defense, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the weld joints are of high weld strength, and there are no defects in the weld joints due to formation of void, cavity or distortions at the interface of the materials being welded. Therefore, the materials welded using the welding processes needs to be checked to verify whether or not the weld formed is defective.
Conventionally, an X-Ray image of the weld joint is obtained and provided to a person, who manually inspects the X-Ray image to locate and identify the defects in the weld joint. Specifically, the person has to visually scan the X-Ray image to identify any defect in form of void, cavity, crack or distortions with the help of naked eye. However, this method of manual inspection is onerous and cumbersome. Further, identifying defective welds in a plurality of X-Ray images is challenging and time consuming process. Also, there is always possibility of human errors while identifying the defects in the X-Ray images. Hence, there was a need to automate the process of identifying the defects in the weld joints, which would potentially lead to a reduction in expenses and errors.

System and method for identifying defects in welds by processing X-ray images


The present invention is for realizing the improvement of the cartridge storage efficiency and size reduction of a library apparatus by installing relative flags using cells of a storage rack to suppress the increase in the installation area or volume of a locker resulting from the installation of the relative flags, and further for shortening the time required for the initial operation of an accessor. For these purposes, a positional correction relative-flag structure of the cartridge storage rack is equipped with a body section which is inserted into the cell of the storage rack to be brought closely and fixedly into contact with the cell, and a relative flag to be read out by an sensor on the accessor side for the correction of the position of the storage rack is attached to an end surface of the body section. This invention is applicable to a large-capacity external storage memory storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a library apparatus which stores a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges, and which transfers the cartridges through an accessor to a deck for processing a storage medium accommodated within each of the cartridges, and more particularly to a relative flag structure for correcting the position of the storage rack with respect to the accessor, and further to a library apparatus including a relative flag.
2) Description of the Related Art
In general, a library apparatus functions as a large-capacity external storage memory, and a storage rack in its locker stores several thousands of cartridges each accommodating, for example, a magnetic tape as a storage medium, and access such as write/read of recording/recorded data is automatically done in relation to the storage medium within each of the cartridges.
Furthermore, the library apparatus is equipped with the aforesaid storage unit for storing the cartridges, a plurality of magnetic tape decks (which will be referred hereinafter to as decks) for conducting access such as write/read of recording/recorded data with respect to a storage medium (magnetic tape) within a cartridge, and an accessor (cartridge transferring robot) for performing the conveyance of the cartridges between the storage rack and the decks.
Commonly, this library apparatus is made up of a storage unit having a storage rack for storing a large number of cartridges, a drive unit incorporating decks, an accessor unit functioning as a garage for accessors, a unit including a controller or the like for controlling the accessors, and other units.
Each of these units is constructed as being one locker, and the arrangement of the whole library apparatus relies on the connections among a plurality of lockers (units). In addition, with the plurality of lockers being in connection, a traveling passage for the accessors is defined in these lockers to penetrate them.
In the library apparatus thus arranged, in response to an access request to one cartridge from a host unit or the like, the accessor travels within the passage to come to the storage rack to search a directing cartridge there, and subsequently, a hand mechanism grips that cartridge and transfers it to the deck for insertion into the deck.
With these operations, in that deck, given processing is done in relation to the storage medium (magnetic tape) within the inserted cartridge. After the completion of the processing, the cartridge discharged from the deck is again gripped by the hand mechanism and conveyed by the accessor up to the storage rack to be stored at a given position.
In a prior art, for allowing the accessor to accurately detect the position of each of cells of the storage rack storing a large number of cartridges, relative flags (for example, see reference numeral 72 in the upper section of FIG. 30) prepared separately from the storage rack have been placed at at least three portions on both sides of the storage rack in the storage unit.
At the initial operation, the accessor reads out the aforesaid relative flags to detect the position of the whole storage rack to recognize the compartments of all the cells as a plane, and establishes meshes, whose number is equal to the number of the cells, to retain the center coordinates of the compartments of the respective cells as a table. Thereafter, the accessor reads out the center coordinate of the compartment of a given cell, thereby carrying out the insertion/extraction operations of a cartridge in relation to that given cell.
However, as shown in the upper section of FIG. 30, when the relative flags 72 are located at both sides of the storage rack 13, the installation area, i.e., volume, of the locker (storage unit) increases to impair the cartridge storage efficiency in the library apparatus, which refuses the requirements for the size reduction of the library apparatus. In addition, at the initial operation, the distance that the accessor 7 travels among a plurality of relative flags increases, with the result that the initial operation takes a longer time.
In the prior library apparatus, a dedicated cartridge delivering and receiving mechanism is provided at every deck, and the insertion/extraction of the cartridge into/from the deck are done through the use of this cartridge delivering and receiving mechanism. That is, the accessor is not made to directly carry out the insertion/extraction of the cartridge into/from the deck.
Recently, for the purpose of the size and cost reduction of the library apparatus, requirements have arisen for enabling the accessor to directly conduct the insertion/extraction of the cartridge with respect to the deck without the interposition of the cartridge delivering and receiving mechanism. For meeting the requirements, in addition to enhancing the control accuracy of the hand mechanism of the accessor, the high-accuracy positioning relative to the deck is essential, and the error correction at the initial step (initial operation) becomes unavoidable, and even attention should be paid to the shortening of the time taken for the initial operation.

Positional correction relative-flag structure of cartridge storage rack in library apparatus, and library apparatus


The invention includes methods in which silicon is removed from titanium-containing container structures with an etching composition having a phosphorus-and-oxygen-containing compound therein. The etching composition can, for example, include one or both of ammonium hydroxide and tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide. The invention also includes methods in which titanium-containing whiskers are removed from between titanium-containing capacitor electrodes. Such removal can be, for example, accomplished with an etch utilizing one or more of hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Capacitors continue to have increasing aspect ratios in higher generation integrated circuitry fabrication. For example, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitors now have elevations of from 2 to 3 microns, and widths of about 0.1 micron. Further, it is a continuing goal to increase the density of semiconductor devices, with a corresponding goal to reduce the footprint associated with individual devices. As the packing density of capacitors becomes increasingly greater, the available surface area for capacitance decreases.
A common type of capacitor is a so-called container device, which is typically in cylindrical form. One of the electrodes of such device is shaped as a container, and subsequently dielectric material and another capacitor electrode are formed within the container. Typically, only the interior surfaces of the containers are being utilized for capacitance surface area. It would be desirable to utilize exterior surfaces of the containers for capacitance as well. Unfortunately, exposure of both the interior and exterior surfaces of a container having a high aspect ratio can render the container structurally weak, and subject to toppling or breaking from an underlying base. It would therefore be desirable to develop methods which enable exterior surfaces of high aspect ratio containers to be utilized as capacitive surfaces while avoiding toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the high aspect ratio containers.
Exemplary methodology being developed to avoiding toppling of high aspect ratio containers is so-called lattice methodology. In such methodology, a lattice is provided to hold container-shaped electrodes from toppling, while leaving outer surfaces of the container-shaped electrodes exposed for utilization as capacitive surfaces of capacitors. During lattice methodology, container-shaped electrodes are formed in openings in a supporting material (such as, for example, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG)), and then the supporting material is removed with an isotropic etch.
The supporting material is commonly over a memory array region and over a peripheral region adjacent the memory array region, and is only to be removed from the memory array region during the etch. A moat will typically be provided between the memory array region and the peripheral region, and one or more protective layers will be within the moat and over the peripheral region to protect the supporting material of the peripheral region during the isotropic etching of such material from the memory array region. As will be discussed in more detail later in this disclosure, it can be desired to provide sacrificial silicon-containing material within the container-shaped electrodes, and within the moat between the memory array region and the peripheral region, to protect various materials during the isotropic etch of the supporting material. Difficulties can occur during removal of the sacrificial silicon-containing material, and in some aspects the invention described herein addresses such difficulties.


An ionizer for treating swimming pool water including an enclosure and an electrode housing. The electrode housing is removably secured to a wall of the enclosure and integrally includes a mounting bracket, a hollow cylindrical body, a sensor well, and a projection. The projection sealingly receives a pair of ion-producing electrodes. A vibration sensor is attached to an interior surface of the housing, and is operable to sense when water is flowing through the electrode housing. A method for determining and indicating when the electrodes need replacement is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to water treatment devices and, more particularly, to swimming pool ionizers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Water ionizers for treating water, particularly swimming pool water, are known in the art. Typically, such ionizers have a pipe in which a pair of destructible electrodes are disposed. When a voltage is developed between the electrodes, ions are released from one electrode and attempt to jump to the other electrode. However, when water is flowing through the pipe, the ions are diverted by the water flow. Copper/silver electrodes are used since copper and silver are toxic to various types of viral, bacterial, and plant life. Therefore, using an ionizer in a swimming pool reduces the growth of algae and helps maintain hygienic water conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,170 discloses such an ionization system. The '170 system includes a T-shaped pipe having an input, an output, and a central opening. A pressure fitting is secured in the central opening, and includes an anode, a cathode, and a temperature sensor. First and second bar graphs are displayed by the ionizer. The first bar graph represents pool demand and is proportional to temperature. The user adjusts voltage through the anode via a potentiometer to alter the displayed second bar graph, which is proportional to ion output. The user adjusts the second bar graph display to match the first bar graph display and thereby match ion supply with pool demand.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,444 discloses an electrolytic pool purification system that includes an anode, a cathode, and a pump sensor. The pump sensor senses when the pump is operating and controls the supply of power to the anode/cathode so that ions are only produced when the pump is operating. The pump sensor senses pump current to determine whether the pump is in operation. The '444 patent suffers from the disadvantage that the pump sensor of the electrolytic pool purification system must be hard-wired to the pump, and therefore represents an increase in cost to the pool owner.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a water ionizer which is operable generally only when the pump is operating to move water through the pool, but wherein the water ionizer is not wired to the pump. There also exists a need in the art for a water ionizer which provides some indication to the user that the electrodes need to be replaced.

Water ionizer having vibration sensor to sense flow in electrode housing


Data relating to the status of a vehicle, an internal combustion engine powering the vehicle, and various filtration systems that provide filtered fluid to the vehicle and/or internal combustion engine is generated or gathered by an engine control module and a filtration monitoring system. The engine control module and the filtration monitoring system provide the data to a telematics system for transmitting the data to a remote data center (e.g., a cloud computing system, a remote diagnostics system, a maintenance system, etc.). Depending on an availability of a cellular data connection, the data is either sent directly to the remote data center via a network, or indirectly by first transmitting the data over a local connection to an operator device (e.g., a smartphone), which then sends the data to the remote data center once a connection to the network is available.

Internal combustion engines generally combust a mixture of fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, natural gas, etc.) and air. Prior to entering the engine, fluids such as fuel, oil, and air are typically passed through filtration systems having filter cartridges having filter media, which remove contaminants (e.g., particulates, dust, water, etc.) from the fluids prior to delivery to the internal combustion engine. The filter cartridges and some fluids require periodic replacement as the filter media of the filter cartridges captures and removes the contaminants from the fluids passing through the filter media or the fluid degrades. However, the lifespan and replacement times for each filter cartridge or fluid may be different. Additionally, the lifespan and replacement times for each filter cartridge or fluid may be affected by filter cartridge type, filter cartridge manufacturer, engine type, engine operating parameters, and environmental conditions. Accordingly, some internal combustion engines utilize a filtration monitoring system (FMS) that monitors various sensor feedback, environmental conditions, and engine operating parameters to determine when a given filtration system requires servicing (i.e., when a given filter element requires replacement or a fluid needs replacement).
The information from the FMS may be reported back to an external device (e.g., to a remote data center). However, many internal combustion engines are used to power vehicles that can move in and out of range of a communication network (e.g., when the vehicle is at a remote site, such as a mine, that is not covered by a cellular network). Accordingly, the data from the FMS may not be able to be transmitted if the vehicle is not in range of the communication network.

Filtration monitoring system data transmission


A load balancing method comprises the steps of: registering a business configuration definition of each business service including a schedule of the business service with a business configuration management repository; storing at least a service level objective of each business service; storing information on performance of each information processing module; acquiring the registered schedule and the stored service level objective of the designated business service; partitioning the schedule of the designated business service into a plurality of partial schedules according to the acquired service level objective; selecting one or more information processing modules whose performance information stored in the performance management table satisfies the service level objective in each partial schedule; and reserving the information processing modules selected for the partial schedules as information processing modules for executing the designated business service in the schedule. A partition fulfilling agreements on service quality can be constructed dynamically.

The present invention relates to a load balancing system for carrying out load balancing or load distribution by dynamic assignment of a plurality of information processors.
In a system built up by combining a plurality of information processors, if large numbers of process requests concentrate in a particular information processor, an upsurge of the load on the information processor might cause serious extension of response time or total loss of processing power of the whole system, and consequently, the service quality of the system is necessitated to be deteriorated. Here, the term "service" means the execution of a requested process by an information processor or a system including information processors. The "service quality" means measurable performance of an information processor or a system including information processors, such as response time, throughput (the number of requests processed in unit time), and so forth.
Some countermeasures against the above problem have been taken in conventional systems including a plurality of information processors. For example, an appropriate number of information processors are clustered into an apparently single information processor and requests from a requesting information processor (requesting the system to process the requests) are assigned and distributed by a load distribution device to the information processors of the apparently single information processor, enabling the system to process larger numbers of requests and improve its service quality.
However, even in the above method, when the system receives extremely large numbers of process requests in a particular time period, an extremely heavy load is put on every information processor of the system and consequently, the service quality deteriorates. The problem can be solved if a sufficient number of information processors (capable of coping with the maximum load) can be prepared; however, if the number of requests is not that large except in the particular time period, many of the information processors prepared for the maximum load become redundant and wasteful most of the time.
There has been proposed a method for resolving the above problem, in which extra information processors (standby information processors) for executing extra processes are added to the system when the load on the system exceeds the processing power of existing information processors. On the other hand, when the processing power of the existing information processors becomes too high, redundant information processors are removed from the system.
However, in the above method, which aims to automatically add the standby information processors to the system according to the change in the number of process requests without using manpower, the standby information processors are assumed to wait in readiness with programs (for the service) and information (to be used by the program) already loaded and stored therein. In short, the method is not capable of resolving the problem of having to reserve many standby information processors (which are unnecessary at ordinary times) only to cope with the maximum load.
Especially, in data centers as business for comprehensively providing customers with information processors, power sources, installation spaces, air conditioning, administrative work, etc., each customer is provided with a fixed partition (a set of information processors) so that contracts with the customer such as SLA (Service Level Agreements) will be fulfilled, and even in cases where the load changes depending on the time of day, a large-scale partition capable of coping with the maximum load has to be prepared for each customer. Such a situation is disadvantageous to the data center (having to manage large numbers of information processors) from the viewpoint of management cost, and is also disadvantageous to each user or customer in that an expensive fee has to be paid even if the information processors are used for only a short time.

System and method for load balancing based on service level objectives and information on the contents of start and finish processes of business services