The phone number used by a caller accessing a telecommunication service is derived. For example, this phone number may be used to look up in a first database the name of the user registered with the service, and in a second database the name of the subscriber assigned the phone number. If the two names correspond, the caller is provided with the telecommunication service. Otherwise, a fraud has been detected and various consequences may be visited upon the caller or the user. Some of these consequences include denying use of the service, charging the caller extra for use of the service, etc.

The invention relates generally to a communications system and method. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for detecting and rectifying fraudulent use of a telecommunication service.
In prior art, a subscriber to a telecommunication service may be able to access information assistance through the telecommunication service. However, the information assistance service traditionally is considered to be ancillary to the telecommunication service, and they are born out of two distinct service concepts (i.e., selling information vs. selling use of a network facility). In fact, a telecommunication service typically is provided by a carrier (e.g., AT&T Wireless Services Inc.) or branding partner (e.g., Virgin). On the other hand, the information assistance service accessible through the telecommunication service may be contracted by the carrier, especially a wireless telephone carrier, and is run by an independent contractor. That is, carriers may contract different independent providers to provide information assistance services for them. When a subscriber to the telecommunication service want to access information assistance, he/she may dial such typical access digits as "411," "*555," "555-1212,""00," etc. Because of the contractual relationship, the carrier would switch such an information assistance call to its contracted information assistance service provider to handle the call.
In accord with the prior art telecommunication service model, information assistance service charges are levied on a user, in addition to any telecommunication charges for use of the carrier's network facility to route the user's call to a destination party. That is, when a user is connected to a destination party through an information assistance service provider, the user not only is charged for searching for the destination party's telephone number and other information assistance, and also for using the carrier's network facility to complete the connection to the destination party. The telecommunication charges and information assistance service charges typically are priced on different bases, especially when the assistance service provider is independent from the carrier, although the two charges may be consolidated in the same carrier's bill to the user. Typically, the assistance service charges are billed on a per call basis whereas the telecommunication charges are billed based on the connection time.
Subscribers to a telecommunication service may sign up as business, residential, wireless, governmental customers, etc. The telecommunication service may provide differing pricing structures and different classes of service for each customer class. For example, a carrier may offer a lower telecommunication service rate to a business customer than a residential customer, in anticipation of a relatively large call volume, and thus large telecommunication charges, from the business customer.

Technique for controlling fraudulent use of a telecommunication service including information assistance


A method and system enables an assignment of a feature value from a set of preset feature values for a copy operation to be performed on a reprographic system The system displays a first screen on a user interface associated with the reprographic system, the first screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas corresponding to a subset of the set of preset feature values and an activatable area corresponding to a second screen associated with the set of preset reduction enlargement values. The system further determines if the activatable area corresponding to the second screen is engaged and displays the second screen on the user interface associated with the reprographic system the activatable area corresponding to the second screen is engaged, the second screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas such that each preset feature value within the set of preset feature values has an activatable area associated therewith.

A conventional reprographic system is the office copier. Traditionally, the copier, in the office equipment context, refers to a light lens xerographic copier in which paper originals are in fact photographed. The images are focused on an area of a photoreceptor, which is subsequently developed with toner. The developed image on the photoreceptor is then transferred to a copy sheet which in turn is used to create a permanent copy of the original.
In recent years, however, there has been made available what is known as digital copiers. In the most basic functions, a digital copier performs the same functions as a light lens copier, except that the original image to be copied is not directly focused on a photoreceptor. Instead, with a digital copier, the original image is scanned by a device generally known as a raster input scanner (RIS) which is typically in the form of the linear array of small photosensors.
The original image is focused on the photosensors in the RIS. The photosensors convert the various light and dark areas of the original image to a set of digital signals. These digital signals are temporarily retained in a memory and then eventually used to operate a digital printing apparatus when it is desired to print copies of the original. The digital signals may also be sent directly to the printing device without being stored in a memory.
The digital printing apparatus can be any known type of printing system responsive to digital data, such as a modulating scanning laser which discharges image wide portions of a photoreceptor, or an ink jet printhead.
Moreover, with the advent of the digitalization of the office copier, there has also been made available digital multi-function machines. The digital multi-function machine is a single machine which provides a user with more than one function. An example of a typical multi-function machine would include a digital facsimile function, a digital printing function, and a digital copy function.
More specifically, a user can utilize this digital multi-function machine to send a facsimile of an original document to a remote receiving device, to scan in an original image and print copies thereof, and/or to print documents from either a network source, locally connected source, or from a portable memory device which has been inserted into the multi-function machine.
An example of the basic architecture of a digital multi-function machine is illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the architecture of the digital multi-function machine includes a scanner 3 which converts an original image into a set of digital signals that can be either stored or reproduced. The scanner 3 is connected to a central bus system 1 which may be either a single bus or a plurality of buses which provide interconnections and intercommunications between the various modules and devices on a multi-function digital machine.
The digital multi-function machine, as illustrated in FIG. 2, further includes a digital printing device 23 which converts digital signals representing an image into a hardcopy of that image on a recording medium whether the recording medium be paper, transparency, or other type of markable medium. The digital multi-function machine also includes a memory 21 for storing a variety of types of digital information such as machine fault information, machine history information, digital images to be processed at a later time, instruction sets for the machine, job instruction sets, etc.
In addition to the memory 21, a typical digital multi-function machine includes an electronic pre-collation memory section 7 which may store the digital representation of the image being presently rendered by the digital printing device 23. In the electronic pre-collation memory 7, the digital image is already laid out in its page structure so that it can be readily rendered by the digital printing device 23.
The digital multi-function machine as illustrated in FIG. 2, further includes a user interface 5 which allows the user to select the various functions of the multi-function machine, program various job attributes for the particularly selected function, provide other input to the multi-function machine as well as display informational data from the digital multi-function machine.
If the digital multi-function machine is connected to a network, the digital multi-function machine would include a network interface 19 and an electronic subsystem (ESS) controller 9 which would control the interrelationship between the various modules or devices on the digital multi-function machine and the network.
To enable a facsimile function, the digital multi-function machine would include, typically, a voice/data modem 11 and a telephone circuit board 13. Moreover, the digital multi-function machine may include input/output drives 17 such as a floppy disc drive, a CD ROM drive, a tape drive, or other type of drive which can accept a portable memory device.
In some digital multi-function machines, the machine also includes a finisher 29 which can perform certain operations upon the printed output from the printing device 23. Lastly, the digital multi-function machine includes a controller 15 which controls all the functions within the multi-function device so as to coordinate all the interactions between the various modules and devices.
FIG. 1 illustrates an overall construction of a digital multi-function machine. The digital multi-function machine, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a scanning station 35, a printing station 55, and a user interface 50. The digital multi-function machine may also include a finisher device 45 which may be a sorter, tower mailbox, stapler, etc. The printing station 55 may include a plurality of paper trays 40 that store the paper used in the printing process. Lastly, the digital multi-function machine may include a high capacity feeder 30 which is capable of holding large amounts of paper stock to be used by the machine.
In a typical scanning function, the operator would utilize the scanning station 30 to scan in the images from the original documents. This scanning station 30 may be a platen type scanner or may include a constant velocity transport system which moves the original documents across a stationary scanning device. Moreover, the scanning station 30 may also include a document handling system which is capable of placing the original documents, automatically, on the glass platen for scanning.
With respect to the printing functions, the printing station 55 would retrieve the proper paper from one of the multiple paper trays or the high capacity feeder, render the desired image on the retrieved paper, and output the printed image to the finishing device 45 for further operations.
The user interface 50 allows the user to control the various functions of the digital multi-function machine by presenting various types of screens to the user which provides the user an opportunity to program certain job characteristics or function characteristics.
As with the migration of traditional light lens copiers to digital machines, the user-programmable features on a reprographic system have improved and increased. More specifically, the early reprographic systems included only a minimal number of user-programmable features, such as reduction, lighter/darker, and number of copies. As the reprographic machines evolved with technology, the user-programmable features became numerous. This increase in the population in the number of user-programmable features causes the user interfaces of the reprographic machine to increase in size, thereby creating new problems when trying to design a compact machine.
With the advent of reprographic systems having more and more features included for the user to program, different user interfaces have been developed in order to allow the user to program these various features. One such user interface is an interactive electronic display user interface which has multiple levels or multiple screens. The user of such an interface user can navigate through various screens to select the desired user-programmable features or attributes. More specifically, the user may encounter a main copying screen and navigational buttons to get to other screens or layered screens so as to program different features or attributes associated with those navigational buttons.
For example, a main copying screen may have a navigational button associated with the feature of reduction/enlargement. By activating this navigational button, the user interface would display a screen which has a plurality of reduction/enlargement activatable buttons as well as other programmable areas which allow the user to program a variety of reduction/enlargement values.
Although the utilization of such a multi-level or multi-screen system allows the user to program a multitude of features for the copying machine while maintaining a compact user interface, the utilization of multi-screens can also cause problems. For example, a typical scheme requires a user to navigate through various levels of the screens to program commonly used features or attributes into the reprographic system. Therefore, it is desirable to have a user interface which utilizes the multiple screens and multiple layers of an interactive electronic display user interface, but which has a main copying screen from which a user can readily program a few desired commonly used features without requiring a user to navigate through a plurality of screens.

Reprographic system for arranging presets locations in a multi-level user interface


A petunia cultivar particularly distinguished by very early flowering, large bright pink flowers and a compact plant habit is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Glow Hot Pink'. 'Glow Hot Pink' originated from a hybridization in May 2002 in Quedlinburg, Schsen-Anhalt, Germany. The female parent was a petunia with pink flowers while the male parent was a petunia with light lilac flowers.
The new cultivar was first propagated in summer of 2006 from mother stock and has been asexually reproduced through vegetative cuttings for five generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics.


A dry powder and liquid mixing apparatus provides a dry powder container integratable with a liquid container, and a lid engaging both the dry powder container and the liquid container to enable selectable storage and mixing of powder and liquid, such as mixing dry infant formula with water. Through simple manual twisting of the lid about the liquid container to a closed state, a user is able to selectively prevent mixing of stored dry powder and liquid. Likewise, through simple manual twisting of the lid about the liquid container to an opened state, a user is able to selectively enable mixing of the dry powder with the liquid, by shaking the apparatus while the lid is in an opened state, resulting in a consumable mixed formula.

Many compositions are initially provided in two independent components until ready for consumption. For instance, this is the case with powered beverages, dry formula such as baby formula powder, cereals, and a host of other consumable products. Typically, the final consumable product is initially provided as two distinct and independent components; namely, a dry or powdered mixture and a liquid. Oftentimes, as is the case with baby formula, it is desirable or necessary, to mix a dry (e.g., powdered) formula with a liquid base (e.g., water) immediately prior to consuming them. While the present disclosure is primarily described and shown with the mixing of baby formula in mind, it will be obvious and clearly apparent to anyone that has ever had the need to mix specific measured quantities of individual components, that the present invention has a virtually endless array of applications.
The vast majority of known products for preparing infant formula are comprised of large, bulky, and often non-portable mixing devices. Large devices dictate that the mixing process be accomplished at the location of the device well ahead of the actual time of consumption. This has the disadvantage of making it difficult for a caretaker to travel far from the location of the mixing equipment. Other known products may provide some degree of portability, but oftentimes require a variety of individual components for containment of quantities of water and formula, precisely measuring respective amounts of water and formula, mixing the water and formula, and finally pouring or otherwise transferring the mixed end product into a bottle just prior to feeding.
As almost any new parent can attest to—particularly new mothers—for many months after bringing a newborn baby home from the hospital, sleep deprivation is a serious issue that commonly causes a lack of concentration and reduced decision-making skills. Sleep deprivation can become a very serious issue in the middle of the night, or any time for that matter, while preparing formula for a hungry infant in a complete stupor. How many times has a mother asker herself: "Did I add two or three scoops of formula into the water?" There are only two likely negative outcomes in this situation. A mother may take a chance and wind up feeding her baby a mixture containing an improper ratio of dry formula to water, potentially causing discomfort and possibly harm to her child. A more responsible mother is likely to choose the safe alternative—pouring out the entire mixture and starting over. This results in serious waste of a very expensive food product, not to mention a longer waiting period for a hungry and irritable infant.
In view of the above drawbacks, disadvantage and limitations of existing formula mixing products and the growing need for new parents to travel with infant children in an increasingly mobile society, there has never been a greater demand for a highly portable, safe, efficient, easy-to-use, formula storage and mixing apparatus. It would be highly desirable to provide such an apparatus that integrates all of the necessary functions heretofore performed using a variety of discrete products, into a portable multi-functional ready on demand unit resulting in a final formula composition ready to be directly transferred into a baby bottle. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to provide such an apparatus that takes the guesswork out of the water and formula measurement process, enabling consistent/repeatable highly accurate mixing ratios, all but eliminating the occurrence of improper formula preparation, Preferably, the apparatus would be constructed in a cost-effective manner using safe materials that eliminate any seepage of harmful chemicals into the stored ingredients.

Dry formula mixing apparatus and method of use


A method and system for determining geometric imaging properties of a flat panel detector in an x-ray inspection system are described herein. The method can include arranging a calibration phantom between an x-ray source and the flat panel detector, the calibration phantom including at least one discrete geometric object. Additionally, the method can include recording at least one x-ray image of the calibration phantom with the flat panel detector. At least one discrete geometric shape is generated in the x-ray image by imaging the at least one discrete geometric object of the calibration phantom. Further, the method can include determining a location-dependent distortion error of the flat panel detector from the at least one x-ray image on the basis of at least one characteristic of the at least one discrete geometric shape. All characteristics of the at least one discrete geometric shape used for determining the location-dependent distortion error are independent of the dimensions of the calibration phantom.

The present invention relates to a method for determining geometric imaging properties of a flat panel detector in an x-ray inspection system for non-destructive material testing, including the steps arranging a calibration phantom between an x-ray source and the flat panel detector, the calibration phantom comprising at least one discrete geometric object; recording at least one x-ray image of the calibration phantom with the flat panel detector, with at least one discrete geometric shape being recorded by imaging the at least one discrete geometric object of the calibration phantom; and determining a location-dependent distortion error of the flat panel detector from the at least one x-ray image on the basis of at least one characteristic of the at least one discrete geometric shape. An embodiment of the present invention further relates to a correspondingly adapted x-ray inspection system and a corresponding calibration phantom.
The testing accuracy of an x-ray inspection system for non-destructive material testing with a flat panel detector inter alia depends on the geometric model of the detector taken as the basis in reconstruction and evaluation matching the dimensions of the real detector as exactly as possible. Contrary to former assumptions it has turned out that flat panel detectors within the bounds of the desired high testing accuracies are not flat but show a bend or curvature of the detector surface. It is also possible that for example the pixel size of flat panel detectors is not constant but is a function of the location, i.e. depends on the line number and column number. Distortion errors are thus caused, i.e. the coordinate of the real image of a characteristic, for example of one point, compared to the ideal image is dislocated due to the curvature or the non-constant pixel size.
For the correction of distortion errors of a flat panel detector, document WO 2012 062543 A2 proposes a method for operating a measurement arrangement for a computer tomograph, with a calibration phantom being arranged between the radiation source and the flat panel detector, and at least one x-ray image of the calibration phantom being recorded with the flat panel detector, and a distortion error of the flat panel detector being determined from known dimensions of the calibration phantom and from the at least one x-ray image as a function of the location. The calibration phantom comprises a plurality of separate structures, for example spheres, the dimensions of which, i.e. size and distances, must be known exactly. This usually requires a high-precision measurement of the calibration phantom, for example by use of a coordinate measuring instrument, thus involving a lot of time and high costs.

Method for determining geometric imaging properties of a flat panel detector, correspondingly adapted X-ray inspection system and calibration phantom

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH


An electric rehabilitation treatment machine. The machine includes a casing, a reduction mechanism and a transmission mechanism, a control motor to drive the reduction mechanism, left and right transmission mechanisms at both sides thereof to drag connecting rods to let a foot-pedal at a front end to move upwards and downwards, so that such movement enables a hand-plate to perform an interlaced movement with the feet pedal, so as to provide a rehabilitant with a complete exercise of the feet and hands.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a mechanism which can thoroughly rehabilitate the feet and hands of a human being.
2. Description of the Related Art
The structure of a conventional rehabilitation treatment machine is just aimed at a certain section of the body. For the example, in the case of a foot rehabilitation mechanism, a rehabilitant stands and treads on a pedal using his feet to apply a force. Relative to the rehabilitant, such a mechanism functions as a stairway provided for so treading upwards and downwards, so as to enable integral feet section including thighs cut and shanks to achieve the objective of receiving rehabilitation treatment. However, using such a mechanism, the rehabilitant must apply a force by himself to tread on the pedal. A rehabilitant having disabled or weaker feet may not be able to operate the mechanism by himself and consequently gets no benefit from such machine.
Further, there is another prior art device in the form of a treadmill which includes a movable footrest and handrails installed at both sides. A rehabilitant stands on such a moving footrest to perform a slow walking exercise, so as to achieve rehabilitation effect for his feet. Most prior art mechanisms permit the rehabilitant to take a standing posture so that he can stop for a rest after a period of treatment time. In terms of a product function, such devices fail to provide a complete rehabilitation effect. There is a need for another structure to overcome the foregoing shortcomings of conventional machines.
It is therefore a major object of the present invention to let the rehabilitant perform exercise treatment of his or her feet under a sitting posture.
Another object of the present invention is to let hands and feet perform an interlaced motion simultaneously so as to provide a complete rehabilitation treatment.

Electric rehabilitation treatment machine


A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A device includes processing circuitry that includes a processor and a memory, where the memory is configured to store a logical container including a plurality of encrypted data portions and a plurality of executable code portions. Each encrypted data portion and executable code portion is separately encrypted with a different encryption key and associated with a user. The processing circuitry receives, from a software application operating in another device, a first request associated with at least one encrypted data portion and one executable code portion of the logical container. The first request includes an encryption token associated with the software application. In response to the first request, the processing circuitry triggers a verification code portion to determine whether the first request is authorized and performs at least one operation to fulfill the first request in response to determining the request is authorized.

In today's electronic driven society, users may generate vast amounts of electronic user-specific data. A user may have various accounts such bank account(s), email account(s), shopping account(s), over-the-top (OTT)/video platform account(s), among other personal account(s), etc. which may be accessible and/or usable over the internet. For example, an online shopping account with a retailer may be associated with login/password data, payment (e.g., credit card, bank account, etc.) data, shopping history, email address, personal data (e.g., address information, etc.), content viewing history, advertisement viewing history, geographic information, browsing history, etc., which may all be stored by the retailer and/or accessible by retailer according to the terms of service between the retailer and user. That is, a software application associated with the retailer may be configured to collect vast amounts of data from the user while using the software application or even when the application is not in use, and transmit this data for storage at a remote site for use by both the user and retailer according to terms of service that are subject to change by the retailer.
This common situation is not without issues. First, users tend to have little to no control over how the vast amounts of user data are used. The retailer or entity that operates the software application may have access to this vast amount of information where the retailer can use highly personal data for numerous purposes such as advertisements, data analytics, etc., without having to inform the user when the data is being used. Also, the retailer may even be able to sell this highly personal data to other companies, such as data analytic companies that parse through and analyze the data in order to monetize the results. Further, even if the user deletes the software application and user data from the user's mobile phone, there is no way to confirm whether the user's data was also deleted from the remote database where the data is stored. Therefore, the lack of user control over the user's data is one issue facing users today.
Second, having a retailer or third party store vast amounts of user data that is available to the system is vulnerable to hacking or security breaches that may result in some or all of the user data being exposed. The user has little to no influence as to: how the user data is stored by the retailer and the extend of security procedures for securing the data. Third, existing solutions are not readily scalable as software application creators have to build the user and storage backends. Fourth, the retailer that has access to the user data is able to generate revenue from advertising using the user data but may be liable for misuse of user data.
Therefore, existing systems suffer from various issues with respect to management of data associated with a user.


Device for recovering a material to be measured comprising a reservoir filled with a sample holding material impregnated with a sample liquid in which a material to be measured is dissolved and an adsorbing column for adsorbing the material to be measured, wherein the reservoir and the adsorbing column are communicated by a straight pipe, and further communicated with a recovery vessel via a recovery pipe branched out the straight pipe. Accordingly, operations of opening/closing or switching a first valve provided on the in-flow side of the reservoir, a second valve provided on the out-flow side of the adsorbing column, and a third valve provided to a vent hole to the atmosphere in the recovery vessel, make it possible to recover the material to be measured without depositing the material on the valves.

Hazardous materials such as dioxin are included in exhaust gases generated by incinerating facilities, metal smelting facilities, and the like. Recently, it is urged to establish a simple and precise method for measuring an amount of dioxin included in the exhaust gas.
As a method for measuring the amount of dioxin included in the exhaust gas, it is possible to utilize 'JIS K 0311' regulated by Japanese Industrial Standards. In the method provided by 'JIS K 0311', both a solvent to dissolve the dioxin together with various materials included in the exhaust gas and an absorbing material to adsorb the dioxin together with the various materials are used to collect the dioxin, whereby the dioxin is extracted together with the other materials included in the exhausted gas. Therefore, in order to measure the amount of dioxin, it is necessary for recovering only the dioxin from the other dissolved material contained in the exhaust gas.
FIG. 16 shows a conventional recovery device.
The device includes a reservoir 601, and an adsorbing column 603 being communicated with a bottom of the reservoir 601. A filter material S2, such as silica gel, for collecting the materials contained in the solvent except the dioxin, and a sample holding material S1 for impregnating a solution thereto, the solution in which the materials included in the exhaust gas are dissolved, are packed sequentially into the reservoir 601 from the bottom thereof. The adsorbing column 603 is filled with an adsorbing material S3 for adsorbing the dioxin only, like activated carbon, alumina, etc.
In case of recovering the dioxin by using the device, a user impregnates the sample holding material S1 of the reservoir 601 with a specific volume of the sample liquid extracted as above, then, runs the solvent (hexane, in this case) therein from the top of the reservoir 601. The solvent elutes some materials including the dioxin through the filter material S2, and then runs down the adsorbing column 603. Since the adsorbing column 603 is filled with the adsorbing material S3, the adsorbing material S3 adsorbs the dioxin only, and the solvent is discharged from the bottom of the adsorbing column 603 to the outside.
After the solvent is drained out, as shown in FIG. 17, the user removes the adsorbing column 603 from the reservoir 601, turns the adsorbing column 603 upside down, and runs an eluant for dioxin therein from the top. The eluant is received by a recovery vessel 607. The eluant ran into the adsorbing column 603 is drained from the bottom of the adsorbing column 603 while dissolving the dioxin adsorbed on the adsorbing material S3.
The drained eluant is recovered by the recovery vessel as mentioned above, whereby it is possible to recover the eluant in which only the dioxin is dissolved.
Additionally, there is provided another device for recovering the material to be measured, by which the user can recover the eluant containing the dioxin only without the operations that the user turns the adsorbing column upside down and runs the solvent. The device is configured as shown in FIG. 18; the reservoir 601 and the adsorbing column 603 shown in FIG. 16 are connected by a tube 602 via two ports of a 3-way valve 606, and the other port of the 3-way valve is connected to a recovery pipe 605. Opening and closing the 3-way valve is controlled by a control unit as follows.
At pushing a start key of the device, the control unit controls the 3-way valve to communicate the reservoir 601 and the adsorbing column 603. Then the control unit runs the solvent into the reservoir 601 from the top. The injected solvent elutes plural kinds of materials containing the dioxin from the reservoir 601 through the filter material S2, like the solvent injected into the device shown in FIG. 16. When the solvent runs through the adsorbing column 603, the solvent allows the adsorbing material S3 filled in the adsorbing column 603 to adsorb the dioxin, and then drained out.
The control unit switches the 3-way valve 606 to communicate the adsorbing column 603 and the recovery pipe 605, and runs the eluant into the adsorbing column 603 from the bottom. The eluant elutes the dioxin collected by the adsorbing column 603, and runs into the recovery vessel 607 provided at an end of the recovery pipe 605 through the tube 602 to the recovery pipe 605.
Accordingly, the user can recover the eluant, in which only the dioxin is dissolved, by pushing the start key only.
However, in the dioxin recovery process made by the device shown in FIG. 18, when the solvent and the eluant in which dioxin is dissolved run through the 3-way valve 606, the dioxin is attached to the 3-way valve 606, and the 3-way valve 606 is contaminated with the dioxin. Therefore, whenever the recovery process is performed, the 3-way valve 606 needs to be cleaned.
The dioxin is adhered to and remains at the 3-way valve 606, with the result that this reduces the recovery percentage of the dioxin impregnated to the sample holding material S1. The contamination caused by the insufficient cleaning will reflect a bad influence on the next measurement.
Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a device for recovering a material to be measured, wherein the material to be measured, such as the dioxin, can be recovered at high recovery percentage, and the cleaning of the valve is not required.

Device for recovering material to be measured and method for recovering material to be measured

Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A radar device is provided, which includes a receiver for transmitting a pulse-shaped radio wave and receiving a corresponding reflection signal as a reception signal, a Doppler processor for generating Doppler processed signals that are signals obtained by separating the reception signal according to Doppler frequencies or signals obtained based on the signals separated, an improvement level calculator for calculating a signal improvement level by comparing an amplitude value of the reception signal with amplitude values of the Doppler processed signals, a signal synthesizer for synthesizing the reception signal and the Doppler processed signals based on the signal improvement levels, and a display processor for generating a radar image based on the synthesized signal.

Signals which a radar antenna receives (reception signals) include echoes from waves, echoes from rain or snow, besides echoes from target objects or land. For this reason, in order to suppress such unused echoes, processing for subtracting only a given amount of signal level from the reception signals (gain adjustment) has been conventionally carried out. JP2012-017995A and JP2012-017996A disclose radar devices which carry out such a kind of processing.
JP2012-017995A and JP2012-017996A disclose the radar devices which calculate and set a suitable threshold according to a distance from a ship concerned based on the reception signal.
JP07-159523A discloses a radar device for carrying out Doppler processing to the reception signal. The Doppler processing is to exactly detect target objects (e.g., other ships) with relative speeds by utilizing that frequencies of the reception signals differ according to the differences in speed (relative speeds) of the target objects with respect to the ship concerned.
Specifically, the radar device disclosed in JP07-159523A is provided with two circuits comprised of a plurality of filters which separate one reception signal from the other. Therefore, one of the circuits has a different center frequency of the filter from the other. As a result of the signal processing, the device only outputs either one of the circuits' outputs having larger amplitude.
However, like JP2012-017995A and JP2012-017996A, when only performing the threshold processing and not performing the Doppler processing (for example, when amplitudes of a clutter echo and a ship echo are about the same), a detection of the ship will be difficult.
On the other hand, in the Doppler processing, processing for suppressing signals which are continuous in a distance direction is performed to suppress clutters. Therefore, echoes from land may also be suppressed (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). In addition, in the Doppler processing, since removal processing is performed after separating the signals based on the relative speeds, echoes from clutters and target objects at the same speed may also be suppressed.

Radar device and method of processing reflection signal


There is provided a hydrophilizable wax composition which provides a wax coating layer having a hydrophilic surface and imparts a gloss and long-lasting stain-proofing property on a substrate. The hydrophilizable wax composition can form a hydrophilizable wax coating layer by applying the composition containing a hydrophilizing agent and wax component and wiping off the composition, in which the hydrophilizing agent has hydrolyzable groups which are converted into hydrophilic groups by hydrolysis in the presence of water and are condensed to enable the hydrophilizing agent to have a high molecular weight and is, for example, an organometallic compound having a releasable group by hydrolysis, its oligomer and/or a co-oligomer comprising two or more of the compounds.

It has been considered that by making surfaces of various substrates hydrophobic (water-repellency), adhesion of stain could be inhibited and good appearance could be maintained for a long period of time, and according to this way of thinking, surface treatment and coating as mentioned below have been carried out by using a fluorine-containing resin excellent in hydrophobic property (water-repellency).    (1) A method of adhering a fluorine-containing resin film to a substrate by thermal bonding (for example, JP8-132571A, JP6-155670A)    (2) A method of applying, on a substrate, a two-liquid curing type fluorine-containing resin composition containing an acrylic polymer as a stain-proofing coating agent (for example, JP3-275860A, JP2-299838A, JP2-299839A)    (3) A method of applying, on a substrate, a heat-meltable fluorine-containing resin composition containing vinylidene fluoride (for example, JP7-3220A, JP6-287334A, JP2-274534A)
In those surface treatments (1) to (3), highly hydrophobic fluorine-containing resins such as tetrafluoroethylene/ethylene copolymer and vinylidene fluoride polymer are used as a fluorine-containing resin to make a surface of a final product highly hydrophobic.
However, according to recent researches, it has been found that staining attributable to exhaust gases from cars and factories is caused by substances inherently having hydrophobic property (lipophilic property) and such lipophilic stain is easily adhered to a hydrophobic surface. Therefore, adhesion of lipophilic stain cannot be prevented by the above-mentioned surface treatments which only have a merit that the stain is easily removed by wiping with a cloth, etc.
There was a trial that a hydrophilic colloid was applied on one surface of a plastic film and another surface thereof was adhered to an outdoor article with an adhesive, thus making a surface of the article hydrophilic (for example, JP8-150681A). However, in this method, a formed hydrophilic surface layer is comparatively thin, and a long-lasting stain-proofing ability and stain-removable property cannot be obtained.
There are similar problems with respect to various products used in a damp site, for example, a sink of systemized kitchen unit, washstand, bath tub, drain pipe, etc. In those products used in a damp site, in many cases, stains are washed away with water by using a detergent or without using a detergent. If a surface thereof is hydrophobic, water-draining property is lowered and water remains in the form of water droplets and an organic substance in the droplets is adhered to the surface of the products as a fur in the form of line or spot. The fur not only lowers appearance of the product but also results in a slime due to propagation of bacteria. Those problems with draining around a damp site are also seen in various drain pipes.
Also there are many cases where fogging occurs on surfaces of various products due to moisture caused by a sudden change in temperature and humidity, and in some cases, prevention of such fogging is demanded strongly. For example, an acrylic resin board, polycarbonate resin board, hard vinyl chloride resin board, etc. which are excellent in transparency are used on a greenhouse, roof of carport, windows of building, etc. Also a film or sheet of soft vinyl chloride resin, polyolefin resin, polyester resin and fluorine-containing resin which are excellent in transparency is used on houses for agriculture in which sunlight has to be taken sufficiently. There is a case where fogging of various glasses, goggles, helmet shield and windows of airplane endangers a human life.
In order to prevent fogging of those board, film and sheet which require transparency, there have been proposed (1) a method of forming a resin mixture prepared by mixing a hydrophilic resin binder such as polymethyl methacrylate or polyvinyl pyrrolidone with an inorganic substance such as colloidal silica or alumina sol, into a board or a film, (2) a method of forming an anti-fogging surface layer by applying an anti-fogging agent comprising an unmodified polyvinyl alcohol and an inorganic substance such as colloidal silica or sodium silicate (for example, JP53-39347A, JP55-99987A, JP57-73059A) and (3) a method of forming an anti-fogging surface layer by applying an anti-fogging agent comprising a modified polyvinyl alcohol having a silyl group and ionic hydrophilic group in its molecule and an inorganic substance mainly on a glass plate or a polyester film (for example, JP59-179685A).
However in the method (1), anti-fogging property when fogging begins (initial anti-fogging property) is poor, and in the method (2), there are problems that wettability to water is insufficient and a surface hardness of a water-absorbed anti-fogging agent layer is lowered and therefore a flaw by scratching easily occurs. In the method (3), since an anti-fogging agent layer is adhered to a polyester substrate with an adhesive, there is a case where peeling of the anti-fogging agent layer arises depending on kind of an adhesive layer, and in addition, complicated production steps are required and cost is high.
Also there is a proposal of a method of forming, on at least one outermost layer of a plastic molded article, a coating film of a hydrophilizable coating composition containing an organometallic compound having a specific releasable group by hydrolysis (for example, JP2000-301054A), which indicates that adhesion of stain can be prevented by hydrophilizing a surface of the plastic article.
However those prior arts relate to a technology of imparting stain-proofing property for preventing adherence of stains by applying a coating composition to form, on a product surface, a coating film having a given strength or by adhering the film to the product surface.
Therefore for forming a coating film, after applying a coating composition, steps for vaporizing an organic solvent, drying and heating are necessary without fail.
On the other hand, there is known an easy method of applying and then wiping off a so-called wax composition to give a gloss on a surface of a substrate. A substantial difference between the wax composition and the coating composition is such that the coating composition is allowed to stand after coated to form a coating film (there is a case where forced drying is carried out but there is no case of touching the film) but in the case of the wax composition, a wiping-off step is necessary without fail after applying the wax composition and the wax component is rubbed on a surface of a substrate by a wiping-off force to adhere and form a wax layer.
In other words, a resin component for forming a film which dissolves in a solvent is essential for a coating composition, but in the case of the wax composition, such a film forming component is not necessary and rather obstructs steps for rubbing and wiping off the wax component. Adhesion of a formed wax layer to a substrate is obtained by wiping off the wax composition and the film of the wax composition itself is not formed into one continuous film unlike a coating film of coating composition. Even if the wax layer is a so-called continuous layer, it is not a film. Therefore though the coating film can be peeled in the form of film from the substrate, the wax layer cannot be peeled from the substrate as an independent film.
Since a wax composition has such characteristics as mentioned above, an effect of surface treatment with the wax composition does not continue long as compared with a coating film. The wax composition is used only as a glossing agent.
As a known wax composition, there is a glossing wax for cars. Some kinds of waxes for cars are endowed with stain-proofing property and wiping-off property in addition to glossing ability, and a component belonging to metal oxides is contained in some of wax compositions.
For example, JP7-196988A discloses a glossing agent comprising a silicone resin having hydroxyl or alkoxyl, wax component, organic or inorganic polishing material and further a solvent and silicone oil, and says that the glossing agent can provide a coating film surface having both of stain-proofing property and water repellency. This patent publication also says that a glossing agent having poor water repellency is relatively low in stain-proofing property.
JP11-21500A discloses a treating agent for a coating surface of car body which has good long-lasting water repellency and comprises a copolymer prepared by radical polymerization of an ethylenic monomer with a silicon compound having an unsaturated group and alkoxyl, organic solvent, wax component and silicone oil. This invention also says that water repellency of the coating film of the treating agent is essential. This patent publication explains that the same thing may be said with respect to many prior patent publications cited as prior arts in JP11-21500A (for example, JP62-132981A, JP4-363375A, JP61-246274A, JP50-157288A, JP1-163280A, JP7-41757A, JP7-109439A)
JP9-310046A discloses a glossing agent prepared by dissolving a wax component and silicone oil in an organic solvent by using a higher alcohol having alkoxyl as an emulsifying agent, optionally adding thereto a swellable layered compound for adjusting a viscosity and a resin component for fixing a coating film and then subjecting the mixture to emulsifying and dispersing in water. This glossing agent is also said to give water repellency and gloss and stain is said to be able to be eliminated when wiping off the glossing agent.
JP5-43840A and JP6-145600A disclose a surface treating agent for treating a coated surface which comprises a metal alkoxide or a polymer thereof, fluorine-containing silane compound, wax component, silicone oil and filler. In those patent publications, the surface treating agent is said to be able to maintain a long-lasting gloss and stain-proofing effect because the surface treating agent is chemically bonded to a coating surface. A coating film of this surface treating agent also has water repellency, and there was obtained a result that a stain-proofing effect is enhanced in the case of a high water repellency.
JP8-269401A and JP9-3408A disclose a glossing agent comprising a cured silicone rubber powder coated with hydrophobic inorganic powder, wax component, silicone oil and organic solvent, and say that adhesion of fur and dust can be prevented for a long period of time.
Any of those surface treating agents (glossing agents) containing a wax component make a treated surface hydrophilic and thereby enhance both of stain-proofing property and gloss.
Also JP8-60100A discloses that dispersions of aqueous solvents such as water and alcohols which contain a reaction product of colloidal silica with an organosilicate compound having 2 or 3 alkoxyl groups or a reaction product further reacted with melamine resin can impart a long-lasting gloss to surfaces of wood, synthetic leather, etc., can inhibit sliding property thereof and form the surfaces having excellent scrub resistance. This patent publication also discloses that a tetra-functional alkoxysilane such as tetraalkoxysilane may be added when preparing the reaction product and usual additives such as a wax component, silicone oil and metal powder may be added. However there is no teaching at all with respect to how to add water-repellent components such as wax component and silicone oil and what characteristics the obtained composition exhibits. What are disclosed therein are only aqueous glossing agents which are subjected to coating and impregnating without wiping off.
The present invention was completed as a result of unexpected finding that in a water-repellent surface-treating agent containing wax, when a specific hydrophilizing agent which can make a surface of substrate hydrophilic is added thereto, not only stain-proofing properties such as prevention of stain adhesion and stain removability are enhanced but also a glossing effect of the wax component is not lowered. Such a finding made a complete change in conventional way of thinking that water repellency is an essential point of a wax composition for exhibiting stain-proofing properties and glossing.
As mentioned above, it is known that a hydrolyzable organometallic compound is added to a coating composition comprising a resin as a binder to make an obtained coating film hydrophilic. In such a technology, a hydrophilizing effect can be exhibited when the coating composition is formed into a continuous coating film, and it has never been considered to apply such a technology to a treating agent not forming a coating film, particularly to a treating agent containing wax of which essential point has been considered to be water repellency.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrophilizable wax composition which can enhance and maintain stain-proofing properties without lowering gloss by adding a substance accelerating hydrophilization to a surface treating agent containing a wax.


There are provided a plating method for a roll and a grinding method before a cell is formed in which copper sulfate plating having a uniform thickness without any particles or pits can be applied to the roll for a gravure printing, both a middle finish grinding and a mirror surface finish grinding not depending on a grinding stone grinding can be carried out in a short period of time and a high quality roll can be provided. The grinding is carried out after applying the copper sulfate plating to the roll to attain a mirror surface finish state. The copper sulfate plating is carried out in such a way that non-soluble anode having a length more than the maximum roll length is ascended to the rotating process roll and approached to the lower surface of the roll, plating liquid having some avoidable impurities becoming a cause of particles or pits removed through a filter so as to perform a plating having no thickened portions at both ends of the roll.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a roll to be processed (hereinafter referred to "roll") before forming a cell and a grinding method for the roll in which a thickened copper sulfate plating with a uniform thickness having no nibs or pits can be applied to a roll for a gravure printing, a middle finish grinding and a mirror finish grinding not depending on a grinder stone grinding can be carried out within a short period of time and a high quality roll can be provided.
2. Description of Related Art
Two types of printing plate manufacturing method of a roll for a gravure printing will be described as follows.
(1) A laser printing plate manufacturing step for a direct printing plate type roll performs steps for performing a middle finish grinding, a final finish grinding and a mirror surface finish grinding with a grinder stone after performing an ultra precision cylinder machining through a roll loading and lathe, or performing a cell-image cutting and grinding to cut a specified thickness after performing a cylinder grinding to correct it into a true circle by peeling chromium with hydrochloric acid—degreasing—nickel plating—middle finish grinding, final finish grinding and a mirror surface finish grinding by plating with copper sulfate. Then, the subsequent steps are spraying and forming a photo—sensitive film—printing of image with a laser exposure device—development with alkali—forming of a cell with engraving—peeling of resist with strong alkali—chromium plating—grinding with a sand paper—unloading.
(2) A laser printed plate making step for a ballade plating type roll performs steps of loading of roll with used ballade copper plating being removed—degreasing—slight contacting surface treatment coated with photographic waste liquid—copper sulfate plating—middle finish grinding, final finish grinding and mirror surface finish grinding with a grinding stone. Then, subsequent steps are spraying and forming of a photo—sensitive film—printing of image with a laser exposure device—alkali development—forming of a cell with etching—peeling of resist with strong alkali—chromium plating—grinding with a sand paper—unloading.
In addition to the aforesaid steps, there is provided an engraving printed plate made by either an electronic engraving machine or a laser engraving machine and the like.
As the prior art documents related to the gravure printed plate making technology, there are Japanese Patent Application Nos. Hei 10-193551, 10-193552; Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-062342, 2000-062343, 2000-062344, 2001-179923, 2001-179924, 2001-187440, 2001-187441, 2001-191475, 2001-191476, 2001-260304, 2002-127369, 2002-187249, 2002-187250, 2002-200728, 2002-200729, 2002-307640 and 2002-307641 and the like.
In the prior art copper sulfate plating method and device for a process roll for a graver printing, it is well known that an anode including phosphorized copper is used as an anode for electrically plating copper, wherein as one of the anodes including phosphorized copper for this electrical plating, it is known to provide an anode including phosphorized copper having phosphor of 350 to 700 ppm, oxygen of 2 to 5 ppm; and the balance is composition including copper and unavoidable impurities.
The prior art copper sulfate plating method and device for a roll for a gravure printing were set such that a cassette type roll chuck rotary transferring unit was mounted on a main body frame of a plating device, the roll for a gravure printing chucked at its both ends by the cassette type roll chuck rotary transferring unit was connected to a cathode, immersed in plating liquid stored in a plating tank, rotated in it phosphorized copper, balls acting as plating metal immersed in the plating liquid were applied as an anode and a plating current was flowed between the anode and the roll. Then, the phosphorized copper balls including oxygen of 2 to 5 ppm and Phosphor of 350 to 700 ppm are fed into and supplemented to the anode cage of the plating tank to perform plating at a high current density of 10 to 15 A/dm2.
The phosphorized copper balls contain unavoidable impurities and black anode sludge adhere to the surfaces of the plating metallic copper balls. Then, the anode sludge were removed away from the plating metallic copper balls through agitation of liquid and dissolution of the plating metallic copper balls, the sludge floated in the plating liquid, adhered to the roll to become either some nibs (minute protrusions) or pits (pin-holes).
In addition, it was necessary to perform a maintenance work for discharging the plating liquid regularly, diluting the liquid to attain plating liquid having a suitable copper ion concentration so as to eliminate some disadvantages that too much amount of dissolution of the plating metallic copper balls and too high copper ion concentration in the plating liquid prevent an appropriate copper sulfate plating from being carried out.
Further, also in the case of performing an electrical copper plating method for a semiconductor wafer, there employs a method in which the phosphorized copper balls are applied as anode and a plating current is flowed.    [Patent Document 1] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-214586    [Patent Document 2] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-67932    [Patent Document 3] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-061488    [Patent Document 4] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-171797    [Patent Document 5] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-275698
In the prior art copper sulfate plating method and device for a process roll for use in a gravure printing, a plating method and a device employing non-soluble anode are not employed at all.
As the copper sulfate plating method using a non-soluble anode other than the method for dissolving the phosphorized copper balls, there are present some technical documents as follows.    [Patent Document 6] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-166100            [Copper power used in a copper plating method and a method for using copper powder]            [Patent Document 7] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-068743            [Method for manufacturing easy-dissolving copper oxide; easy-dissolving copper oxide, copper plating material; and copper plating method]            [Patent Document 8] Gazette of Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 2002-515549            [Electrical copper plating method for substrate]            [Patent Document 9] Gazette of Japanese Patent Disclosure No. Hei 08-501827            [Copper electrolytic plating method and device]
As apparent from the aforesaid printed plate manufacturing steps, there are present several processing steps performed by a grinding-stone type grinder, wherein it takes time more than 30 minutes for a grinding before performing the copper sulfate plating and another grinding after performing the copper sulfate plating. In addition, as the grinding-stone type grinder device, it is necessary to prepare four types of grinding stones, i.e. a rough finishing grinder stone for a cell-cutting, a middle finish grinder stone, a final finish grinder stone and a mirror surface finish grinder stone required up to a mirror surface state. Further, it is necessary to have a general characteristic capable of accommodating for a roll size from 100 mmφ×1,000 mm to 300 mmφ×2000 mm. It is necessary to install an automatic changer mechanism for a grinder stone and two-head grinding or four-head grinding to perform a concurrent grinding from both sides to shorten the required time. Due to this fact, the grinding stone type grinder device is a quite expensive facility. Further, since the grinding stone type grinder device is a wet-type device, this device is not friendly with moisture and cannot be installed in the same room for a photosensitive film coating device or laser exposure device. In turn, this is not constructed such that the roll while being chucked at the cassette type roll chuck rotary transferring unit transferred by a stacker crane installed at the plating line can be ground.
In the case of the prior art method and device for grinding a roll for a gravure printing operation, the electrolytic grinding particle grinding method and device therefore are not employed at all.
As the electrolytic grinder particle grinding method and apparatus therefore, following technical documents are present.    [Patent Document 10] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-156627            [Electrolysis mirror surface finish grinding method for tungsten]            [Patent Document 11] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-086020            [Electrolysis machining method and device for dynamic pressure groove in dynamic pressure bearing]            [Patent Document 12] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 09-192933            [Minute amount electrolytic machining method and device]            [Patent Document 13] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 09-192932            [Electrolysis minute groove machining method and device]            [Patent Document 14] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 07-241728            [Electrolysis grinder particle grinding method for stainless steel]            [Patent Document 15] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 07-185938            [High-speed electrolytic rough finishing method and device therefore]            [Patent Document 16] Gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-023663            [Ultra-smoothing non-contact grinding method and device therefor]
In accordance with the aforesaid prior art copper plating method in which the phosphorized copper balls are applied as anode, non-avoidable impurities are accumulated in the plating liquid, and the non-avoidable impurities adhere to the surface of the process roll to become a cause of forming small particles or pits. Employing the copper plating method with the phosphorized copper balls of high purity being applied as an anode may lead to an increased cost of plating work and so this cannot be employed.
In addition, in accordance with the copper plating method in which the prior art phosphorized copper balls are applied as an anode, a long distance between the anode and the roll caused a plating current to be concentrated at both ends of the roll and further a plating thickness was made high near both ends of the roll. Due to this fact, points near both ends were substantially ground when a grinding for a cylinder member was carried out with a grinder stone. The grinder stone type cylindrical member grinding device is large in size, expensive in its price, it takes much time for a machining work, so that studying of employing the electrolytic grinding device of small-size, less-expensive and requiring a short machining time showed that the electrolytic grinding device cannot perform a grinding operation so as to cause the non-uniform plating thickness to become uniform, resulting in that applying the electrolytic grinding device required a structure of a plating system capable of making a plating thickness uniform over an entire length of the phosphorized copper balls.

Method for roll to be processed before forming cell and method for grinding roll


A computing device, comprising: a computing module, comprising one or more computing units; and a control module, comprising a computing control unit, and used for controlling shutdown of the computing unit of the computing module according to a determining condition. Also provided is a computing method. The computing device and method have the advantages of low power consumption and high flexibility, and can be combined with the upgrading mode of software, thereby further increasing the computing speed, reducing the computing amount, and reducing the computing power consumption of an accelerator.

As the foundation of many current artificial intelligence applications, deep neural networks have been applied in various fields such as speech recognition, image processing, data analysis, advertisement recommendation system, and automated driving, which is considered as a breakthrough. Deep neural networks have thus gained a growing presence in many aspects of human life. However, the large quantity of operations performed by deep neural networks have always been a constraint for their development speed and further applications. When considering adopting an accelerator to improve the operation speed of a deep neural network, the numerous operations would inevitably cause great energy consumption and overhead, and similarly, constrain the further application of the accelerator.
Neural network operation can mainly be divided into two parts: forward inference and back training. However, most of the existing accelerators only support forward inference and do not support back training, which causes a problem that the accelerators can only accelerate forward inference and cannot accelerate back training. Thus, the existing accelerators have limitations as they fail to accelerate the whole training process of the neural network.

Apparatus and method for sparse training acceleration in neural networks

SHANGHAI CAMBRICON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Systems and methods for thermal radiation detection utilizing a thermal radiation detection system are provided. The thermal radiation detection system includes one or more mercury-cadmium-telluride (HgCdTe)-based photodiode infrared detectors or Indium Antimonide (InSb)-based photodiode infrared detectors and a temperature sensing circuit. The temperature sensing circuit is configured to generate signals correlated to the temperatures of one or more of the plurality of infrared sensor elements. The thermal radiation detection system also includes a signal processing circuit.

Along an assembly line, absorbent articles may be assembled by adding components to and otherwise modifying an advancing, continuous web of material. For example, in some processes, advancing webs of material are combined with other advancing webs of material. In other examples, individual components created from advancing webs of material are combined with advancing webs of material, which in turn, are then combined with other advancing webs of material. Webs of material and component parts used to manufacture absorbent articles, such as diapers, may include: backsheets, topsheets, absorbent cores, front and/or back ears, fastener components, and various types of elastic webs and components such as leg elastics, barrier leg cuff elastics, and waist elastics. Once the desired component parts are assembled, the advancing web(s) and component parts are subjected to a final knife cut to separate the web(s) into discrete diapers or other absorbent articles. The discrete diapers or other absorbent articles may also then be folded and packaged.
For quality control purposes, absorbent article converting lines, packaging lines, or industrial automation machinery or processes may utilize various types of sensor technology to inspect the webs and discrete components added, transformed, or manipulated within the process. Example sensor technology may include vision systems, photoelectric sensors, proximity sensors, laser or sonic distance detectors, and the like. Product inspection data from the sensors may be communicated to a controller in various ways. In turn, the controller may be programmed to receive product inspection data, and in turn, make adjustments to the manufacturing process. In some instances, the controller may reject defective absorbent articles based on the product inspection data after the final knife cut at the end of the converting line.
In addition, manufacturing processes may utilize various types of sensor technology to monitor the performance of various types of assembly equipment used in the industrial process. Example process sensor technology may include speed sensors, linear or radial position sensors, temperature, pressure or vacuum sensors, vision systems, proximity sensors, and the like. Process data from the process sensors may be communicated to a controller in various ways. In turn, the controller may be programmed to receive process data, and in turn, make adjustments to the manufacturing process and/or communicate potential problems associated with assembly equipment to technicians or operators. In some instances, based on the process data, the controller may automatically shutdown the process.
Some absorbent article converting lines, assembly processes, industrial processes, or equipment may utilize infrared sensors to monitor performance, or otherwise provide operational feedback regarding the webs, discrete components, or other equipment or processes. There are thermal type infrared sensors (e.g., pyroelectric elements or thermopiles) that employ temperature changes generated by the absorption of infrared energy, and quantum type infrared sensors that employ changes in conductivity, or in electromotive force, voltage, or current, that are generated by electrons excited by incident photons. The thermal type, however, which can be operated at room temperature, has disadvantages in that it requires broad-band wavelength exposure (typically more than 4 microns) and a low sensitivity and in that its response speed is slow. Due to the low sensitivity and slow response speed, these type of sensors are not typically adequate for use in monitoring higher speed manufacturing processes. On the other hand, the quantum type, although it must be cooled to extremely low temperatures, has characteristics such as requiring less broad-band wavelength exposure (typically less than 4 microns) and high sensitivity and high response speed. Many quantum type sensors must be cooled using liquid nitrogen or liquid helium or by using electronic cooling, such as using a Stirling cooler for example, in order to provide reduce nose and achieve the desired sensitivity. In some instances, these types of sensors must be cooled to about −200° Celsius. Cooling the entire sensor requires the overall form factor to be increased, and accordingly, makes it challenging, if not impractical, to incorporate such sensors into small spaces. In many cases, positioning such sensors proximate to a manufacturing system to verify a manufacturing process via an infrared signal is not feasible due to the confines of the surrounding machinery, in addition to other limitations. The cooling requirements require more energy in addition to space. The cooling components consume additional power, and in turn, generate additional thermal noise which must be directed, contained, or transported away. Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods for providing infrared sensing for manufacturing systems with the sensing have the desired response speed and form factor.
For some non-industrial applications, such as vehicle, pedestrian, or object collision avoidance, detection, tracking, or monitoring; some applications require sensors which are both fast and able to operate at ambient temperature. The cooling requirements for such applications prohibits practicality for many of the same reasons as industrial applications, namely cost, speed, size, and power consumption.


In the fin pass forming apparatus, the fin roller is split in two symmetrically with respect to the center line of the flow direction of a steel pipe to be formed, and a plurality of side rollers are arranged on a section perpendicular to the flow direction of the steel pipe. At least one fin roller stand is mixed in a group of roller stands including a cluster mill composed of a lower roller and a plurality of pairs of side rollers. The fin roller arranged in the cluster mill is split in two, one is a roller on the work side and the other is a roller on the drive side. The split fin rollers come into contact with a steel pipe to be formed at arbitrary positions in arbitrary directions in the circumferential direction of the steel pipe to be formed so as to conduct a fin pass formation. The plurality of fin pass forming rollers are arranged on a section different from the flow direction of the steel pipe to be formed.

In general, the roller stands of a seam welded steel pipe manufacturing line is arranged as follows. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the seam welded steel pipe manufacturing line includes: a breakdown section (BD section: 1) in which bending operation conducted on a strip is started; a fin pass forming section (FP section: 2) in which the strip edges are formed into predetermined shapes and the strip is guided into a welding section; a welding section (WA section: 3); and a shape straightening section (SZ section: 4). In the above arrangement, the fin pass forming section 2 is comprised of horizontal and vertical rollers arranged in 3 to 4 stages of roller stands at the end of forming before welding. By the action of a fin plate attached to the vertical roller, the fin roller moves between both edge portions of a strip to be formed and conducts angle-controlling, finish-forming and centering so that both edge portions can be stably formed into predetermined shapes.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), each fin pass forming stand includes: an upper roller 6 having a fin 7 at its center; a lower roller 8 having no fin; and/or side rollers (horizontal rollers) 9. Radiuses of curvature of these rollers and the width of the fin are determined by the outer diameter of the steel pipe 10 to be formed in this manufacturing process. Therefore, according to the conventional fin pass forming method, when the edge portions of a strip are pressed against the fin of the upper roller by the actions of two rollers including an upper and a lower roller, or by the actions of four rollers including an upper, a lower, a right and a left roller, a force for forming is given to the strip in the circumferential direction, so that the edge forming can be conducted while a relatively high reduction is being given to the strip. In the normal operation, the reduction is approximately 1 to 2% in total with respect to all fin pass stands. Usually, a caliber roller is used for the fin pass roller because reduction can be easily given to the strip by the caliber roller.
Therefore, in the case where seam welded steel pipes of a plurality of sizes are formed on one manufacturing line, it is necessary to provide a plurality of sets of rollers, the number of which corresponds to the number of sizes of seam welded steel pipes to be formed. Further, when the size of a seam welded steel pipe to be formed is changed, it takes time to replace the rollers. Furthermore, it is necessary to replace the rollers frequently.
In the field of manufacturing seam welded steel pipes, in accordance with the progress of development of peripheral technology such as technology of manufacturing materials and technology of processing, there are increasing demands for enhancing the accuracy of products, producing a small amount of products of a large number of grades, reducing the number of workers on the production line and automatizing the production line. In order to meet the above demands, it is desired to apply one roller device to seam welded steel pipes of a plurality of sizes. Also, it is desired to ensure a stable welding condition in the welding process by improving the forming method of seam welded steel pipes.
Concerning the fin pass forming, various techniques have been developed so as to satisfy the above demands, however, the development is limited to improvements in the shape of the fin. An example of improvements in the shape of the fin is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-277567, which will be described as follows. Instead of a shape of the conventional upper roller having a fin, a special shape of the roller, which is formed into a fin-plate shape, is adopted. There are arranged upper rollers so that they can be respectively tilted and rotated on both sides of this fin plate. In accordance with the state of the upper rollers which are tilted and rotated, only linear or curved caliber surfaces of the fin plate are contacted with both edge portions of the strip to be welded. Therefore, the shapes of both edge portions of the strip can be easily changed in the process of forming, and the welding condition can be changed in accordance with the shape of both edge portions of the strip.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-169432 discloses the following forming method. In order to bend the edge portions of a strip sufficiently so as to form the edge portions into predetermined shapes and increase the thickness of the edge portions while utilizing the strong drawing effect in the front stage of the fin pass rollers, fin pass forming is conducted by the front two fin pass roller stands, and the thus formed shape is maintained by the residual roller stands in the rear stage so as to weld and convey the edge portions. Due to the foregoing, all the residual roller stands in the rear stage are made to be available for forming seam welded steel pipes of a plurality of sizes.
However, all the above techniques have the following problems. According to the conventional fin pass rolling method, the number of roller stands is 3 to 4, and in each roller stand, the rollers are arranged at the upper and the lower position, or alternatively they are arranged at the upper, the lower, the right and the left position. On the upstream side of the fin pass rollers, there are provided side rollers so as to conduct an auxiliary fin pass rolling. Therefore, rollers in each roller stand must be set for each size of the steel pipe to be formed. Further, in the case of replacing the rollers, it is necessary to adopt a cassette system roller replacing method by which the rollers in each roller stand are replaced or the rollers in a plurality of roller stands are replaced simultaneously.
Further, the following problems may be encountered. According to the conventional steel pipe forming method, edge bending can not be controlled sufficiently in the breakdown pass of the front stage. Accordingly, it is necessary to give a large amount of reduction in the fin pass rolling process so as to make up for edge bending. Accordingly, it is impossible to avoid the deformation of a steel pipe to be formed in the process of fin pass forming, so that the roundness of the steel pipe to be formed can not be ensured.
From the viewpoint of recent tendency of the production system in which a small quantity of products of a large number of grades are produced and production is carried out without having stock, the roller replacing operation described above takes time and labor, so that the productivity is greatly deteriorated.
Conventionally, seam welded steel pipes are produced as follows. A strip to be formed is subjected to edge forming in the breakdown process. Then the strip is subjected to elliptical forming by the cluster mill. After that, in the fin pass rolling process, angles of the edge surfaces are controlled by the fin rollers, and finish rolling and centering are conducted. After an amount of upset necessary for welding is adjusted by the squeeze rollers, welding is conducted on the edge portions. In the sizing process, the thus formed steel pipe is straightened, and the pipe is finished to a final product. In the above producing process, the cluster process and the fin pass rolling process are usually conducted by different roller stands. The reason is described as follows. In the process of deformation in the thickness direction of a strip to be formed, on the external surface of the strip, tension/compression is given, and on the internal surface, compression is given. Accordingly, different roller stands must be provided in accordance with the states of deformation conducted on the strip. Therefore, rollers must be replaced for each product size, and further a plurality of roller stands must be prepared for replacing the roller stands. Furthermore, it takes time and labor to replace the roller stands. In addition to that, the equipment investment is doubled.
Calibers of the conventional cluster rollers available for forming seam welded steel pipes of a plurality of sizes are designed so that they can be applied to the seam welded steel pipes of large and small sizes. Therefore, the section of the cluster roller is formed from an involute based on a polygon capable of being applied to various pipe sizes, and when the cluster roller is turned, it can be applied to seam welded steel pipes of a plurality of sizes. Due to the foregoing, when the pipe size is changed, it is natural that a contact position of the strip with the roller caliber is changed, especially it is natural that a contact position of the edge with the roller is changed. For this reason, it has been considered that it is impossible to provide a shoulder stop of the edge portion of the strip to be formed, that is, it has been considered that it is impossible to provide a fin roller. Accordingly, from the recognition that the cluster rolling process and the fin pass rolling process must be provided being separate from each other, they are arranged as different apparatus. Therefore, the aforementioned problems have not been solved yet.

Finn pass forming device for forming seam welded steel pipes and roller device available for forming seam welded steel pipes of a plurality of sizes


Filmless photon imaging sensor plates and apparatus which are particularly effective in medical radiology and industrial applications including, but not limited to high resolution mammography. In combination, the sensor plates and apparatus provide rapid production of high resolution images which exhibit higher sensitivity and wider dynamic range than contemporary X-ray systems. Novel sensor plate structures provide images having attributes of increased sensitivity; dual plate design providing increased pixel read-out speed and differential dual energy image production; and electrically isolated segments by which a plurality of pixels are read concurrently to reduce overall image processing time. Generally, the plates employ a homogeneous photoconductive material such as amorphous selenium and are read by exposing each pixel sized area to a small diameter scanning light beam. Using light beam scanning, resulting plate design promises low cost manufacture of both sensor plates and associated apparatus. Novel application of electric fields during plate preparation, exposure and read-out provides improved sensor plate performance. A plurality of precisely-positioned light beams are scanned across the sensor through the use of a novel optical system employing an elongated light source disposed within a rotating drum, the drum being generally opaque with a helical transparent pattern which in combination with a series of lenses and a slit provides the plurality of precisely-positioned scanning light beams. By changing slit and beam widths, variable resolution operation is achieved.

X-ray imaging remains an important contemporary discipline in medical technology. Use of X-ray processes are in common practice in systems which range from real time images, usually of low resolution gastro-intestinal sections, taken by image intensifier-vidicon chains, to single shot images, examples of which are chest and mammography studies, normally captured and processed on film.
Although film based systems form the backbone of diagnostic radiology today, presently there is significant motivation to find and employ improved methods. That motivation comprises elimination of expensive and space-consuming photography development laboratories, of large film storage facilities, of levels of x-ray dosage required by film, of cost of silver halide film, of limited resolution in preferably low dose applications such as mammography, of finite and somewhat fixed sensitivity of film processes and of time and associated manpower required to process film itself and deleterious effect of film processing upon the environment.
Even so, at this time, the majority of chest and mammographic x-ray images are produced by film-based systems. A number of systems which produce images without film are currently being sold by FUJI Corporation of Japan, by Kodak and General Electric Corporations of the United States and by Siemans and Phillips Corporations of Germany. Generally, the majority of the above listed companies sell systems based upon FUJI technology which employs photo-stimulable luminescent methodologies. Somewhat differently, the Phillips system employs a selenium surface located on a rotating drum. Generally, these systems are used for chest x-ray imaging and other large body-area studies and have inherent resolution limitations. A first attempt to replace filmless mammographic x-ray processes, by Xerox Corporation, was abandoned due to high dosage requirements. Succeeding refinements reduced x-ray dosage but did not compete well against a rising tide of screen film mammography. This attempt was based upon an electrostatic latent image impressed upon a selenium plate and developed in a manner similar to early production of Xerox photocopying.
While each of the currently marketed filmless systems promises to fulfill an existing market niche, for replacing film based systems, there remains existing radiology requirements for imaging systems which have not been heretofore fulfilled. These requirements include an increase in resolution and a reduction in x-ray dosage for all applications, but foremost for mammography, rapid visual image production, low cost (especially for upgrading present film based systems) and wide dynamic range to void need for image retakes caused by over or under exposure are paramount for providing a commercially viable system. This instant invention provides innovative solutions to the above recited needs while providing a ready answer to other newly recited, but currently unreachable, objectives comprising filmless image subtraction to draw low contrast images out from high density image shadows and placing x-ray capability in heretofore unreachable environments, such as in emergency vehicles and the weightless environment of space.


A depression jig, having a depression chip and a holder for holding the depression chip, is provided which depresses against a wiring substrate a semiconductor chip placed on the wiring substrate. The holder has portions defining penetrations vertically running through the holder. Optical fibers are inserted into the penetrations. A light ray radiates from the optical fiber. The light ray is incident upon the top surface of the depression chip, enters the depression chip, is reflected from a side surface of the depression chip onto the undersurface of the depression chip, and is emitted from the undersurface of the depression chip as an outgoing light ray. A photo-curing resin supplied between the semiconductor chip and the wiring substrate is irradiated with such an outgoing light ray, so that the photo-curing resin hardens.

This invention generally relates to bonding apparatus for mounting semiconductor chips with many, low-pitch projecting electrodes (i.e., bumps) onto a wiring substrate at high density. More specifically, it pertains to a bonding apparatus for bonding such semiconductor chips onto an opaque wiring substrate formed of such materials as silicon or ceramic by means of what is known in the semiconductor industry as "facedown bonding".
In the art, there is a bonding method known as the MBB (micro bump bonding) method in which a semiconductor chip having on its undersurface many, low-pitch bumps is mounted onto a wiring substrate having on its top surface wires so that a batch wireless bonding can be accomplished by means of the facedown bonding.
FIG. 5 illustrates a bonding apparatus of the MBB method. This bonding apparatus includes a mounting stand 2, a depression jig 4, a pressurizer 5, and several optical fibers 6. Placed onto the mounting stand 2 is a wiring substrate 1 of such materials as silicon or ceramic, the wiring substrate 1 having wires on its top surface. The depression jig 4 is used to depress against the wiring substrate 1 a semiconductor chip 3 with bumps 3a on its undersurface, the semiconductor chip 3 being set in place on the wiring substrate 1 that is placed on the mounting stand 2. The pressurizer 5 is disposed above the depression jig 4 and is used to push down the depression jig 4. The optical fibers 6, disposed alongside the depression jig 4, send out respective light rays upon a photo-curing resin (i.e., the resin which hardens on application of light) supplied between the wiring substrate 1 and the semiconductor chip 3. The mounting stand 2 is mobile, which facilitates the alignment of the semiconductor chip 3 with the wiring substrate 1, in bonding these two elements together. The depression jig 4 has a holder 7 and a depression chip 8. The depression chip 8 is made of hard metal, ceramic, or the like materials, and is jointed to the undersurface of the holder 7. The top surface of the holder 7, indicated by the reference numeral 7a, is jointed to the pressurizer 5.
FIGS. 6(a)-(d) shows shows how such a bonding apparatus mounts the semiconductor chip 3 onto the wiring substrate 1.
As shown in FIG. 6a, the wiring substrate 1, with its top surface up, is placed onto the mounting stand 2. Then, the top surface of the wiring substrate 1 is coated with a photo-curing resin 9 having the property of insulation. The wire 1a is of such materials as Cr, Au, Al, Cu, or like materials. The bump 3a, on the other hand, is of such materials as Au, Al, Cu, or like materials. For the photo-curing resin 9, such materials as ultra violet ray-curing epoxy resin, silicon resin, acrylic resin, or the like materials may be employed.
As shown in FIG. 6b, the semiconductor chip 3 is set in place on the wiring substrate 1, with the bump 3a of the semiconductor chip 3 aligned with the wire 1a of the wiring substrate 1 as well as with the photo-curing resin 9 disposed between the semiconductor chip 3 and the wiring substrate 1.
As shown in FIG. 6c, the downward movement of the pressurizer 5 causes the depression jig 4 to press the semiconductor chip 3 downward, whereby the semiconductor chip 3 is pressed against the wiring substrate 1. The photo-curing resin 9 lying between the bump 3a and the wire 1a therefore extrudes from between the bump 3a and the wire 1a. As a result, the bump 3a is brought into electrical contact with the wire 1a.
Thereafter, the optical fibers 6 simultaneously send out respective ultra violet rays upon the photo-curing resin 9, with the semiconductor chip 3 pressed onto the wiring substrate 1, whereby the photo-curing resin 9 hardens on application of the ultra violet rays. In other words, while making reflection and scattering between the undersurface of the semiconductor chip 3 and the top surface of the wiring substrate 1, the ultra violet rays enter the photo-curing resin 9 to harden it.
The several optical fibers 6 are provided around the depression jig 4, the reason for which is that the photo-curing resist 9 around the semiconductor chip 3 cannot simultaneously be hardened by only one optical fiber. If the optical fiber 9 is to be disposed outside every side of the semiconductor chip 3, this requires four optical fibers. If the optical fiber 9 is to be disposed outside every side and corner of the semiconductor chip 3, this requires eight optical fibers.
As shown in FIG. 6d, the pressurizer 5 has moved away from over the semiconductor chip 3.
The semiconductor chip 3 is now firmly fixed to the wiring substrate 1, and the bump 3a of the semiconductor chip 3 is brought into electrical contact with the wire 1a of the wiring substrate 1 due to shrinkage force of the photo-curing resin 9.
As shown in FIG. 7a, if there is a great space (i.e., the width W1) between a semiconductor chip 3A being depressed with the depression jig 4 and its neighboring semiconductor chip 3B, the optical fiber 6 is able to send out ultra violet rays through such a great space upon the photo-curing resin 9. A tilt angle, .theta., formed between an ultra violet ray emitted from the optical fiber 6 and one side face of the semiconductor chip 3A, is determined based on the efficiency of the hardening of the photo-curing resin 9 (FIG. 7a).
As shown in FIG. 7b, if the semiconductor chip 3A and the neighboring semiconductor chip 3B are mounted in close proximity, that is, if there is a close space (the width W2) between these two semiconductor chips, some ultra violet rays, given off from the optical fiber 6, are interfered with due to the presence of the neighboring semiconductor chip 3B. This presents a problem in that the efficiency of the irradiation relative to the photo-curing resin 9 lying around the semiconductor chip 3A decreases.
As shown in FIG. 7c, a depression surface 8a (i.e., the undersurface of the depression chip 8) is generally given a slightly greater area compared to the semiconductor chip 3 so that even though the relative positions of the depression jig 4 and the semiconductor chip 3 deviate, the depression surface 8a of the depression chip 8 can manage to equally depress the semiconductor chip 3. This, however, presents another problem in that some ultra violet rays, given off from the optical fiber 6, are interfered with by the depression surface 8a the area of which is greater than that of the semiconductor chip 3. This results in the decrease of the efficiency of the irradiation relative to the photo-curing resin 9.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


To reduce latency during channel change, when a user changes the TV channel on a mobile TV device such as a wireless phone, the device leaves the power save mode and enters, for a limited timeout period, a fully energized mode in which the receiver and front end logic of the device remain energized during periods in which content from the old channel, content from the new channel, and content from a “next” channel are interleaved into the broadcast.

"Mobile TV" refers to over-the-air broadcast or multicast of TV content to handheld devices such as cell phones. Several technologies have been proposed for mobile TV, including DVB-H, DMB, 3G Based technologies, and the "MediaFlo" system.
As understood herein, in general mobile TV broadcast technologies improve upon non-Mobile TV broadcast technologies by improving Forward Error Correction (FEC) as well as receiver battery life, both of which advances are desired for mobile devices.
As further understood herein, however, in seeking to preserve battery power, a tradeoff is made that increases the latency (delay) of the broadcast content. In understanding why, several channels may be time-sliced onto one broadcast, i.e., the content of one channel might be broadcast at a high data rate for two seconds, followed by the content of another channel at a high data rate for two seconds, followed the content of yet a third channel at a high data rate for two seconds, and so on. Hence, a mobile receiver's radio and front end logic need only be energized for the two seconds in which the user-selected channel is broadcast out of every cycle, remaining off and thus saving power for the remaining time. To this end, the receiver is notified via system information packets and packet IDs when the contents of a particular program will be broadcast as well as the duration of the on and off periods.
But as recognized herein, the above power-saving protocol imposes a relatively lengthy delay if the user changes the channel, forcing the user to wait up to a complete cycle until the content for the new channel arrives. This delay is annoying particularly to users who lend to frequently "channel hop".

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mobile TV system and method with fast channel change