To start up an ink jet recording device in a short period of time, an AC heater section is energized to melt hot melt ink so that a solid state ink becomes a molten state ink, and a DC heater section is used to maintain hot melt ink in a molten state. The AC heater section is connected a socket that is provided in a recording head movable in a main scanning direction. A plug connected to an AC power source is provided in the lower cover. The socket engages the plug when the recording head is in a home position where the recording head is disposed when the device is powered. The DC heater section is connected to a DC power source at all times when the device is in use. High thermal output generated by the AC heater section melts the ink and heats up to the temperature suitable for printing in a short period of time. The DC heater section maintains the ink at the temperature suitable for printing.

The present invention relates to an ink jet recording device for printing by ejecting hot melt ink on recording paper.
Communications devices, such as facsimile machines, and information processing devices, such as personal computers, usually have a recording device capable of recording data on recording paper in order to record text and image data as visual information. A variety of recording devices, such as impact type, thermal sensitive type, and ink jet type recording devices, are used. Recently, ink jet recording devices using hot melt ink have drawn more attention because of capability of printing clear images on various quality recording paper quietly.
Conventionally, a recording head of the above-described ink jet recording device is provided with a DC heater for heating hot melt ink which is solid at room temperature. The hot melt ink becomes a molten state when heated by the DC heater. The molten-state ink is ejected from nozzles in the recording head onto the recording paper while moving the head in a main scanning direction. The ink cools down rapidly and solidifies after ejected on the recording paper, so that the ink does not run into the paper and thus is not blurred unlike liquid inks. A high quality image can therefore be obtained with the hot melt ink.
In the conventional recording head described above, the thermal output of the DC heater is set to maintain the ink in a molten state but not set to melt the solid-state ink. For example, a DC 40V is applied to the DC heater. Such a low-voltage DC power source cannot generate large thermal output. Therefore, it requires a long period of time (for example, 20 minutes) for the DC heater to melt the solid-state ink after the recording device is powered. A DC heater generating a high thermal output can shorten the waiting time t the time of startup. However, such a DC heater requires an enhanced DC power source capable of supplying a high level DC voltage. The use of the enhanced DC power source increases the cost of component, resulting in an increase of the entire cost of a recording device.
The use of an AC heater requiring no power source does not invite an increase of cost. However, to do so, a reinforced wiring of a dual insulation structure needs to be used in a power supply path in order to satisfy various safety standards, e.g., UL standard. When the AC heater is moved in a main scanning direction together with the recording head, scanning is likely destabilized because of the reinforced wiring. Also, because the wiring is directly connected to a commercial power supply, malfunction due to external noise more likely occurs during scanning. More seriously, when a 100V AC power source is used, the thermal output generated by the AC heater is too high to achieve fine control of the ink temperature.

Ink jet recording device with AC and DC heaters selectively used for hot melt ink


Disclosed is an event display method and apparatus for a mobile terminal, which displays events occurring in a mobile terminal on a multi time graphic (divided into a plurality of time graphics), thereby enabling easy checking and management of various types of events. For this, the event display method includes detecting at least one or more events in a mobile terminal, displaying a multi time graphic divided into a plurality of time graphics on a display screen, and locating the detected events on the multi time graphic.

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to an event display method and apparatus for a mobile terminal.
A mobile terminal is a device which may be configured to perform various functions. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some terminals include additional functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of content such as videos and television programs.
Efforts are ongoing to support and increase the functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements, as well as changes and improvements in the structural components which form the mobile terminal.
Related art mobile terminals (e.g., a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.) record events such as phone calls or missed calls into a call list, and record events such as sent and received messages into a message storage file. In addition, the related art mobile terminals record schedule events in a scheduler, and record events such as an alarm and a wake-up call in a menu storage file.
However, since the related art mobile terminals record each of such various events in a dispersed (scattered) manner, thereby presenting difficulty for a user desiring to conveniently check and manage information about various events.

Event display method and apparatus for mobile terminal


A method of removing a false nail from a person's natural fingernail including the steps of pushing the cuticle away from the base of the false nail to expose the base of the false nail; placing a taut string to engage the base of the false nail to be removed; applying pressure to the base of the false nail using the taut string to break part of the adhesive bond between the false nail and the person's natural fingernail; and manipulating the taut string between the false nail and the natural fingernail by moving the taut string from the base of the false nail toward the tip of the false nail in order to continue to break the adhesive bond between the false nail and the natural fingernail in order to remove the false nail.

For the past 25 years, the removal of false fingernails by manicurists or by consumers have used chemical solvents such as acetone, alcohol, DSMO and the like or have used cleaning detergents such as liquid soaps and the like. These previous methods are typically time consuming and dangerous, as the users are exposed to harmful fumes from the solvents.
There remains a need for a false nail removal method and device that permits the user to remove a false nail from a user's natural fingernail without the use of chemical solvents.


A fuel cell includes at least one individual cell with an electrolyte/electrode unit, as well as at least one conducting end or intermediate plate, via which a gaseous reactant can be supplied to an electrode at least in one inlet region. In order to lower power losses, as well as the need for gas circulation, the end or intermediate plate is designed so that in terms of flow, a heat exchange region is incorporated before an inlet region, and heat is removed from an anode side of the individual cell in the heat exchanger.

It is a known fact for fuel cells, especially high temperature fuel cells (such as SOFC fuel cells), that the cathode-side gaseous reactant (e.g., the reaction air) should be pre-warmed to bring it to the required reaction temperature. This is conventionally performed in a separate high temperature heat exchanger. Such a heat exchanger, however, is bulky, heavy and expensive. Moreover, such a heat exchanger necessitates complex tubing as well as a cost-intensive regulating and control system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell which effects the necessary warming of the cathode-side gaseous reactant without the aforementioned disadvantages.
Accordingly, an end or intermediate plate, which is arranged on or between the various electrolyte/electrode units (individual cell), is designed so that, in terms of flow before an inlet region, particularly a cathode-side inlet region, a heat exchange region is incorporated, in which heat is removed from an anode side and thus the gaseous reactant (e.g., air) is heated to the required reaction temperature.
A core idea of the present invention thus is to integrate a heat exchanger, for example, in a bipolar plate, and to conduct the gaseous reactant that must be heated (e.g., the air) along the hot anode side. The gaseous reactant is not supplied to the appropriate electrode (e.g., cathode) for generating power until it has flowed through this area acting as a heat exchanger.
The end or intermediate plate can be designed so that, for example, a reversal of the flow direction of the gaseous reactant is accomplished. In this way, the gaseous reactant can be conducted through the heat exchanger in a serpentine fashion in order to enable even better heat transfer in the heat exchanger.
The end or intermediate plate (e.g., bipolar plate) preferably contains three flow regions, specifically an anode flow section between the end or intermediate plate and an adjacent anode of an individual cell, a return current heat exchange section adjacent to the anode flow section, and a cathode flow section between the end or intermediate plate and a cathode of another individual cell.
Pursuant to a particularly preferred design, the end or intermediate plate is composed of at least two separate partial elements that can be joined together. At least part of the heat exchange section is included between the two partial elements, and the heat exchange section is connected in terms of flow with the region that later forms the cathode section. If a baffle is arranged between the two partial elements, a serpentine-conducted flow is easy to produce, so that the direction of flow of the gaseous reactants in both partial sections is in the opposite direction.
For a design of the individual flow regions, spacer elements, e.g., in the shape of nubs, can be provided on the individual sides of the end or intermediate plates, as well as between the partial elements, so that the spacer elements rest either against each other or against the individual cells. The nubs can be produced through an embossing or deposition method and shaped as required.
A simple design of the present invention is described in the following in more detail while referencing the attached FIGURE.

Fuel cell with integrated heat exchanger

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A blender jar defines a geometry to impart vertical movement to material being processed in the blender jar, and, alternatively or in combination, improves the horizontal movement to the blended material. By configuring one or more agitators on the floor of a jar, laminar flow or symmetric flow of material around the jar is disrupted. The material is forced in an upward direction in the jar and, therefore, into more frequent contact with the cutter blades rotating in the jar.

Blender performance is the subject of considerable engineering by blender manufacturers. Efforts to improve blend consistency and efficiency have been directed to areas including blender cutter speed, blender cutter shape, and blender jar sidewall geometry. While each is effective in improving performance in certain instances, these efforts also have their limitations.
Blender cutter speed and speed variation has often been used to improve blending processes by speeding up or making variable the cutting and blending action of the cutter assembly. However, if the blades move too fast, then the rapid rotation may cause cavitation. If a user must manually vary the speed of operation of the blender, then such manual work requires user attention during some or all of the blending process.
Blender cutter assemblies have also been engineered to help move material being processed as well as improve the processing of the material. The pitching of the blade may promote some vertical movement of material being processed. Angling of the blade will change the blade path. If blade shape (including pitch and angle) is too aggressive, however, then the design may put extra strain on the blender motor. If the blade shape is relatively flat, then it may be more prone to cavitation at high speeds of operation. In any event, the cutter assembly cannot alone be used to overcome dead zones that are created in the material in a jar as a result of the processing inside a particular jar geometry.
Jar sidewall geometry has also been used to try to improve blender performance. In the early 1980's, for instance, a Nutone® blender (manufactured by Scovill) included a generally triangular-shaped jar. Two of the walls of the Nutone blender jar included bumps. The third wall had no bump. Further, the triangular cross-section of the blender was not symmetrical as the third wall was longer than the first two walls. The cutter assembly was set closer to the third wall (no bump) than the other two walls. In operation, presumably as a result of the asymmetric sidewall geometry, the blender formed a vortex in the material being processed with the vortex centered away from the axis defined by the shaft carrying the cutter. This movement of the vortex is expected to help the efficiency of that blender.
Another recent attempt to improve blender operation through sidewall modification is described in published United States Patent Application No. US2003/0213373 owned by K-Tec. As with the Nutone blender, this blender manufactured by K-Tec claims to improve the performance of the blender by making the sidewalls asymmetrically configured around the central axis of the cutter assembly. In the K-Tec blender, a fifth wall is truncated so that it is closer to the blade path of the cutter assembly. As explained in that patent application, this geometry moves the vortex of blended material in the blender away from the central axis and therefore improves performance of the blender.
As seen in both the Nutone and K-Tec blender jar configurations, the manipulation of sidewall geometry to an asymmetric configuration affects the horizontal flow of material within the blender jar. However, the sidewall geometry only primarily affects the horizontal flow of material. That is, the movement of material in the cross-sectional planes perpendicular to the vertical axis of the blender jar is affected. Therefore, the sidewall geometry is limited to essentially affecting only two dimensional change in material flow, i.e., in a single plane.


A tolerance compensated quick coupling comprises a projecting or bulging portion of a male coupling, which can be axially driven in a valve body, the coupling projecting or bulging portion ending with a flange inside the valve body, said flange in said valve body being followed by an axially movable annular body which, through a spring bearing on the bottom of the valve body, is pressed against the flange, the movable annular body having, on a side thereof facing the flange, a circumferential slot housing a sealing ring element contacting an inner surface of the flange, the movable annular body being moreover provided, on an outer circumferential side thereof, with a slot in which is engaged a circumferential sealing ring contacting an inner wall of the valve body.

The present invention relates to a coupling-tolerance compensated quick coupling.
It is already known in the prior art to provide a plurality of quick couplings which are assembled, for example, to multi-connection plates, thereby providing a plurality of connections between a plurality of quick couplings.
The above mentioned prior solutions are used, for example, in complex machine tools or other working apparatus, including several driving motors and units to be controllably supplied with a pressurized fluid.
Because of position tolerances, existing between the quick couplings mounted on the multi-connection plates, in order to provide a perfect connection of the male portions mounted on a multifunctional plates and the female couplings mounted on another multiconnection plates, are conventionally provided radial compensating means, allowing to provide a precise connection, together with a perfect compensation of coupling offsets due to tolerances existing between the quick coupling components to be connected.
To that end, the prior art also discloses a male coupling, which can be driven through small radial displacements with respect to a middle line of the male coupling supporting body.
The provision of a male coupling, to be radially driven for compensating for, in the connection step, possible offsets due to position tolerances of a plurality of couplings, has the drawback of causing undesired fluid leakages during the connection and disconnection operations, because of an insufficient sealed arrangement.

Quick coupling with a compensation of the coupling tolerances


A single serving paraffin treatment system and method of application is disclosed which includes the steps of heating a small quantity of paraffin above its melting temperature, applying the paraffin to the hand or foot with a brush. The paraffin is contained in individualized disposable containers which are receivable in a heating unit. The heating unit preferably has at least two temperature settings.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to paraffin treatments as used in the beauty industry, and in particular to a new method and apparatus for application of a single serving of paraffin in manicure and pedicure treatments.
2. Background Information
Paraffin application to the skin is well known as a therapeutic treatment with results including moisturizing, smoothing, hydrating, and lightening. It is also well known to treat hands and feet by dipping them in a bath of melted paraffin.
Prior paraffin treatment systems were designed for multiple salon use. Most salons use a unit that has, a large enough container to hold six pounds of paraffin, and a heating unit for melting the paraffin. The units are large because the container must be large enough to accommodate a person with large hands, or feet, and must include allowance for displacement of the paraffin by the person""s extremity, without overflowing the container. To start these units, they must be turned on and placed at a melt setting. Paraffin generally melts between approximately 52xc2x0 and 63xc2x0 Centigrade (126xc2x0 and 145xc2x0 Fahrenheit). Purified topical paraffin mixtures typically melt between approximately 48xc2x0 and 51xc2x0 Centigrade (118xc2x0 and 123xc2x0 Fahrenheit). Topical paraffin products may contain other components such as mineral oil, coconut oil, lanolin, clay, coloring, and other ingredients. The presence of various ingredients in various ratios will affect the melting temperature of the product. At the melt setting, the blocks of paraffin will commonly take four to five hours to melt to a usable state. The slow melt is a result of the large quantity of paraffin used, the large container volume, the need to avoid vaporization and burning of the paraffin, and safety considerations that prohibit high temperature melting that could burn a consumer. The paraffin must be completely melted. At the melt temperature setting, the paraffin is too hot to use, so the unit is then set at an operational setting which allows the paraffin to cool to a useable temperature that is still in the liquid state. The long start up time requires the unit to be left on continuously, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in a commercial use setting. Once in use, the same paraffin supply will be used to treat the hands of numerous clients. The paraffin for use in hand and foot treatments is typically shipped in a six-pound block or in six one-pound blocks. The blocks or bags of paraffin are subjected to high temperatures inside common carrier vehicles, which can cause the paraffin to melt. Truck containers can reach summer time temperatures in excess of 120xc2x0 Fahrenheit. To prevent the paraffin from leaching or running outside of their shipping containers, paraffin products are normally packaged in barrier bags. Barrier bags are, made of a thick and durable plastic. The bags are flexible and typically heat-sealed.
Non-paraffin manicure warmers are well known. These units are smaller, and are designed to warm manicure lotions for dipping the ends of the fingers in. One such product is the Model 8574 Professional Manicure Warmer distributed by Belson Products, located in Miami Lakes, Fla. These products may include the use of disposable lotion cups.
One disadvantage of the prior art is that the units used are too large to be practical for small salon, kidsk, booth, or home use. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the units used are too expensive to be practical for small salon, kiosk, booth, or home use. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that the units require a long start-up time to melt the paraffin. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the units must be left on at all times for commercially practical use. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that they require the use of a large quantity of paraffin, regardless of how many hand treatments are desired. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that multiple users are exposed to residual skin debris and body fluids of the previous users. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that it wastes paraffin and electricity. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that they are difficult to clean.
Thus, it is seen that there is a need for an improved system for paraffin treatments as applied to the hands and feet that addresses the issues identified above.
A primary advantage of the present invention is that it incorporates the use of a compact heating unit that is small enough to be practical for small salon, kiosk, booth, or home use. Another advantage of the present invention is that it incorporates the use of inexpensive heating units and smaller material quantities such that the economics of operation are practical for small salon, kiosk, booth, or home use. Another advantage of the present invention is that the heating units and material quantities require a dramatically reduced start-up time to melt the paraffin. Another advantage of the present invention is that the heating units can be shut off, even under conditions of commercial use. Another advantage of the present invention is that it uses a smaller quantity of paraffin, and a smaller quantity of paraffin for each application, and only enough for the number of applications required. Another advantage of the present invention is that multiple users are not exposed to residual skin debris and body fluids of previous users. Another advantage of the present invention is that it conserves raw materials (paraffin) and electricity. Another advantage of the present invention is that the system is easy to clean. Another advantage of the present invention is that a paraffin mass sufficient for a treatment can be shipped in the container for which it will actually be used, making up a single-serving xe2x80x9cparaffin charge.xe2x80x9d
Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a single-serving paraffin treatment method is disclosed comprising the steps of:
1. melting the paraffin in a container;
2. inserting a brush into the melted paraffin;
3. brushing the paraffin onto a person""s hands or feet.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a single-serving paraffin treatment system is disclosed, having a heating unit with a reservoir, a container insertable into the reservoir, a paraffin mass located in the container, and a brush for application of the paraffin. In another embodiment, the brush is made of goat hair. In another embodiment, the brush is made of pony hair. In another embodiment, the container has an upper edge extending above the reservoir of the heating unit to facilitate handling.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a single-serving paraffin charge is disclosed for use in a single-serving paraffin treatment system having a heating unit with a reservoir. The single-serving paraffin charge has a disposable container insertable into the reservoir, a paraffin mass located in the container, and a sealed, removable lid. In another embodiment, the container has a double-wall construction. In another embodiment, the lid is threadedly connected to the container, forming a pressure-sensitive seal between the lid and the container. In another embodiment, a heat-sensitive adhesive seals the lid to the container. In another embodiment, the paraffin mass weighs less than approximately six ounces.

Single serving paraffin treatment system and method


The present disclosure relates to software development and, more specifically, to continuous integration (CI) based software development systems, methods, and computer program products in which a system-under-test (SUT) is populated with production data that has been filtered or transformed, or both. In accordance with this approach, the filtered or transformed production test data can be automatically generated and seamlessly integrated into a continuous integration process. In some examples, the resulting filtered or transformed test data closely reflects real production data while, at the same time, consuming less data storage space and protecting an individual's sensitive information.

The present disclosure relates to software development and, more specifically, to continuous integration software development systems, methods, and computer program products in which an application is developed iteratively. After one or several changes are made to the application code, a developer may commit the application code. After a commit of application code has been submitted, a continuous integration system performs one or more tests on the commit. Oftentimes, validating a commit of an application code involves executing a number of static or simulated tests with unchanging input data, which may be inconsistent with current real-world configurations of the systems under test.

Production data in continuous integration flows


A method for dynamically creating a reference identifier in an electronic document formatted as a data structure is provided. Hierarchy in the data structure is followed to reach the root of the data structure, and the data structure is traversed from the root until a target object is encountered. A reference identifier is generated from a location of the target object. As the data structure is traversed, a counter is incremented when a specified branch of the data structure is encountered, and the counter is cleared when a specified branch of the data structure is closed. The reference identifier may be updated to reflect changes in the data structure. Such changes are reflected on a browser upon reloading the browser page. Accordingly, the reference identifier reflects a location of a target object within the structure of the hierarchy of the document.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to information retrieval in a computer network. More particularly, it relates to an improved method of locating information in a structured information environment
2. Description Of The Prior Art
It is well known in the computer field to couple a plurality of computer systems into a network of computer systems. By creating a network of computer systems, collective resources available within the network may be shared among users of the network. With the growth of computerized distributed information resources, such as the Internet and private Intranets, sharing of computer resources is now commonly available. Both the Internet and Intranets have become a source for sharing information on medium and larger scale systems and allow users to retrieve vast amounts of electronic information previously unavailable in an electronic medium.
Networked systems utilizing hypertext conventions typically follow a client-server architecture. A client is usually a computer that requests a service provided by another computer known as a server. The server is typically a remote computer system accessible over a communications medium. Based upon requests by the user at the client, the server presents information to the user as responses to the client. The client typically contains a program called a browser that communicates the requests to the server and formats the responses for viewing at the client. The server is typically a remote computer system accessible over a communications medium. The server scans and searches for unprocessed information sources based upon requests by the user. The server presents filtered electronic information to the user as server responses to the client. The client may be active in a first computer system and the server process may be active in a second computer system. This allows the client and server to communicate with one another over a communications medium thereby allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server. Accordingly, a server is a network computer that executes administrative software that controls access to all or part of the network and its resources, and makes resources available to remote users on the network.
One common use of the Internet and private Intranets is providing access to files within the system. A standard page description language known as the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) provides basic document formatting and allows the developer to specify links to servers and specific files stored on the servers and their associated media. Retrieval of information is generally achieved through the use of a browser at a client machine. A network path to a server is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) having a syntax for defining a network connection. When the user of the browser specifies a link via a URL, the client issues a request to a naming service to map a hostname in the URL to a particular network Internet Protocol (IP) address at which the server is located. The naming service returns a list of one or more IP addresses that can respond to the request. Using one of the IP addresses, the browser establishes a connection to a server identified with the IP address. If the server is available, it returns a document or other object formatted according to HTML. Accordingly, browsers have become a primary interface for access to many network and server services.
One problem with retrieving information on the Internet is the amount of time required to sift through the enormous amount of information available to find the files that are of interest for the specific search request. A substantial amount of user time is required to refine search strategies and compile and discard results. Most prior art electronic document delivery systems use HTML formatted documents for search and delivery to the user. In these systems the entire documentation set is often batch processed and contextual information may be incorporated into the documentation directly or by reference. Every time content in the documentation is amended, such as inserted, removed, and/or reorganized, the entire documentation must be reindexed. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method for efficiently generating reference identifiers in electronic documentation that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

Method for dynamically generating reference identifiers in structured information

International Business Machines Corporation


In an ink-jet recording apparatus, insoluble materials originating from rubber members employed in an ink passage are prevented from precipitating into a preservation solution or a water-based ink filled into the ink passage. The ink-jet recording apparatus in which the preservation solution or a water-based ink is filled into the ink passage, is configured such that a rubber member employed in the ink passage is formed of a rubber not containing a lubricant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus in which insoluble materials originating from rubber members employed in an ink passage are prevented from precipitating into a preservation solution or a water-based ink filled into the ink passage.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink-jet recording apparatus is an apparatus for performing recording by causing ink to adhere to a recording material such as recording paper by means of an ink ejection method such as a bubble method or a piezo method. In the bubble method, ink is rapidly heated to generate bubbles, and fine droplets of the ink are ejected from fine nozzles by utilizing the pressure generated by the rapid heating. In the piezo method, fine droplets of ink are ejected by use of a piezoelectric element.
In an ink-jet recording apparatus, rubber members are employed in an ink passage comprised of e.g., an ink tank and an ink-jet head. These rubber members include a cap which covers nozzles of the ink-jet head, a wiper which cleans the end face of the nozzles of the ink-jet head, a seal packing which is placed at the joint portion between components, and the like. In addition, if the ink tank is provided separately from the ink-jet head, the rubber members also include a tube which supplies ink from the ink tank to the ink-jet head, and the like.
However, when the rubber members come in contact with a preservation solution filled into an ink passage at the time of shipping or during long-term storage or with a water-based ink employed in ink-jet recording, the additives contained in the rubber members are dissolved in the preservation solution or the water-based ink. The dissolved additives then precipitate as an insoluble material, thereby causing a problem such as clogging of nozzles of an ink-jet head.
In view of the above, a method has been proposed in US-A1-20050116984. In this method, rubber materials to be employed in an ink passage are immersed in water at 60° C. for a predetermined time in a sealed container for determining the amount of dissolved materials to thereby select suitable rubber materials.
However, the amounts and kinds of the insoluble materials precipitating into a preservation solution or an ink depend on the composition of the preservation solution or the ink. Therefore, even when the rubber materials selected by means of the method of US-A1-20050116984 are employed in the rubber members forming the ink passage, the problem of the precipitation of the insoluble materials occasionally arises. Specifically, the problem may arise when the composition of the preservation solution is adjusted such that the preservation solution has a dynamic surface tension preferable for replaceability with the ink and wettability and when the composition of the ink is adjusted such that the ink has a dynamic surface tension preferable for ejection stability.


The performance of a serial data transceiver in a programmable logic device may be determined by applying a stress sequence of sequential data to a receiver of the transceiver, comparing the received data to reference data and determining the number of errors.

As communication technologies evolve, data transfer speeds increase along with the amount of data being transferred. These parameters continually push the data communication industry and the communication devices for providing circuits of ever increasing data handling capability.
At the same time, the semiconductor industry strives for producing integrated circuits of greater density and smaller size. These two considerations—i.e., the demand for increased data handling capability and the push for greater levels of integration—together may be understood to increase the premium for signal interfacing within the limited pin counts available across a given area of a semiconductor device.
To assist some of these demands, some manufacturers of high-speed data communication devices have developed transceivers with parallel-to-serial and serial-to-parallel data multiplexing/de-multiplexing circuit designs. By using these multiplexing circuits, the high-pin count, parallel data interfaces may be replaced with lower pin count, high-speed serial data interfaces. On a receiver side of a transceiver, for example, a high-speed serial data sequence may be received from an I/O link and then converted into parallel data of a slower clock rate. Conversely, on the transmission side of the transceiver, parallel data of a low-clock rate may be converted from the parallel format into a higher-speed, serial format.
Thus, transceivers with parallel-to-serial and serial-to-parallel multiplexing/de-multiplexing circuits may be integrated into data communication devices to enhance their data handling capability. Accordingly, these transceiver designs have found their way into various high-density, integrated circuits such as circuits for data communication devices, data processors, network modules, switchers, relays, gateways, modems, and in particular highly integrated programmable circuits, e.g., a programmable logic device (PLD) such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).
To assist with the sampling and detection of data from a serial data input signal, a clock recovery circuit of the transceiver may determine transitions of the input data signal and control a frequency/phase of a recovered internal clock in accordance with the frequency/phase placements relative to those of the received data signal. It may be understood, however, that in order to keep the frequency/phase of the internally recovered clock in synchronous relationship to that associated with the incoming data signal, the data signal received may need to employ an encoding/decoding protocol that can assure a sufficient number of transitions over a given interval or duration for enabling appropriate closed-loop control via the transitions of the serial data signal.
Some of these encoding/decoding protocols (e.g., Ethernet, Sonet, Infiniband, Fibre Channel, etc.) may be described as a form of "non-return to zero" encoding. In a particular example, an 8 bit/10 bit (non-return to zero) protocol may encode data to assure that only a limited number (5 bits) of same-state data bits may occur consecutively within the data stream. In other words, it may assure that, e.g., only five data bits of same state (one or zero) may occur consecutively within the serial data stream. Else, absent a sufficient frequency of state transitions within the serial data signal, the clock generator of a clock recovery circuit might begin to drift or wander relative to the frequency/phase inherent within the input data signal.
Further, it may be understood that the reliability of data recovery may be dependent upon the amount of drift/wandering, or "jitter," attributable to transceivers and their associated clock recovery circuits. Stated alternatively, the greater the performance of a given transceiver, the less wandering or drift inherent to the device, and the greater its performance and jitter tolerance thereby enabling more reliable and higher speed transfer of data. Conversely, the lower the performance and jitter tolerance of the transceiver, the lower the reliability and speed of its associated serial data transfer. Therefore, it may be understood that both the speed and reliability of a serial data communication link will depend on the jitter tolerance or performance level of the data transceivers.
Accordingly, when producing integrated circuits including programmable logic semiconductor devices, e.g., FPGA, that may comprise transceiver circuits embedded therein, which may be employed with high-speed data communication applications, it may be helpful to rate their level of performance. Further, it may be helpful to enable such rating capability in a production environment for benefit of providing classification of the components that may be produced for given data communication applications, and capable of yielding results in a short period of time.

Method of measuring the performance of a transceiver in a programmable logic device


An improvement to a customizable scuba-diving mouthpiece having a passageway-forming front member extending from a proximal in-mouth end to a distal outside end, and a U-shaped thermoformable back member having a forward middle portion, flanges and bite portions configured to provide moldability at substantially all points of contact between mouthpiece and teeth. The improvement includes the forming of a concave inner and outer surface on the leg portion in order to reduce jaw fatigue, the rearward termination of the inner upstanding flange substantially lateral to the diver's first molar and the tapering of the rear portions of the leg members so as to provide a more comfortable fit.

Scuba-diving mouthpieces of various kinds have been known and used for many years. The great majority of such mouthpieces are not customizable for individual divers, but some customizable scuba-diving mouthpieces have been known or used. Examples of customized or customizable scuba-diving mouthpieces are those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,107,667 (Moore), 3,844,281 (Shamlian), 3,929,548 (Shamlian), 4,136,689 (Shamlian), 5,031,611 (Moles) and 5,305,741 (Moles).
Despite advances in recent years, there are many problems and shortcomings with scuba-diving mouthpieces of the prior art, including those of the above-listed patents. One fairly common problem relates to mouth fatigue experienced by scuba divers including those of the above labeled patents.
The Moles patents identified above brought about significant improvements that helped to overcome many of the problems related to mouth fatigue and the production of a customized fit. Despite such significant improvements, problems still remain particularly in regard to the lack of a tight seal between the mouthpiece and the diver's gums and the gag reflex that results when an object is inserted in the rear portions of the mouth.
Regarding the formation of a tight seal, mouthpieces of the prior art are unable to form as strong a seal between the diver's gums and the mouthpiece itself as may be desired. Known mouthpieces are shaped such that the top and bottom of their front portion are substantially aligned with the diver's gum line. Such alignment prevents the formation of a strong seal between the diver's gums and the mouthpiece thereby allowing for water to seep into the diver's mouth. A mouthpiece that would more comfortably allow for the formation of a seal between itself and the diver's gums would be an improvement in the art.
Another major problem associated with scuba-diving mouthpieces is the gag-reflex that is activated by the extension of the bite portion further back into the diver's mouth. While moving the contact location between the diver's teeth and the mouthpiece further back in the mouth decreases jaw fatigue, such extension increases the likelihood that the diver will "gag" on rear portions of the mouthpiece. There is a need for improvements which will serve to decreasing jaw fatigue while reducing the propensity for gag-reflexes.
Finally, the outer surfaces of known scuba-diving mouth-pieces are such that the diver's lips and cheeks are forced to stretch in order to completely surround the device. An improvement in the shape of the outer surface such that it would allow the diver's mouth to close more naturally around the mouthpiece would be an important improvement in the art.
Mouthpieces are typically held in place by means of the diver's bite on retaining members which project inwardly from a lip-engaging portion to positions between the upper and lower teeth. This not only places significant pressures on small portions of the diver's teeth, that is, the portions engaging the retaining members, but the constant muscle pressure needed for secure retention of such mouthpieces can cause significant muscle strain and aching.
The problems of jaw fatigue and joint strain during long use are accompanied by a related problem--a tendency toward an inability by the diver to easily maintain the mouthpiece in the proper orientation, particularly when pressures are applied to the mouthpiece from outside the diver's mouth. Unwanted pressures on the mouthpiece grip come from water currents (relative to the diver), contacts made with diving apparatus, and a variety of other causes. It is essential, of course, that the diver's mouthpiece, which is the sole source of air, remain in place. Thus, the concern about pressure interfering with the grip of the diver on his or her mouthpiece is more than a casual concern.
Some problems with current scuba-diver mouthpieces can be understood better by reference to the mouth, the jaw, and the teeth of a typical person. The jawbone is a lengthy angled member which pivots with respect to the skull and about the jaw joint well back from the mouth. Such joint is typically positioned considerably above the level of the teeth and well behind the position of the teeth. From such joint, the jaw has a generally downwardly and slightly forwardly extending portion which extends generally to a position rearwardly spaced from the teeth, and a more forwardly, but still downwardly, extending portion which carries the teeth of the lower jaw and extends forwardly beneath the upper jaw. The angle between the two positions of the lower jaw is referred to herein as the "jaw angle."
Opening and closing muscle tissue masses are secured to the jaw at positions forward of the jaw joint, but well rearward of the teeth. The muscles secured to the lower jaw create a lever arm which extends from the jaw joint all the way to the point of contact pressure of the lower jaw with the upper jaw or with whatever is being bitten.
When using a typical diving mouthpiece, or a customized diving mouthpiece such as those shown in the aforementioned Shamlian patents, the lever arm of the lower jaw extends from the jaw joint all the way forward to the position of the eye teeth where the mouthpieces are gripped between the diver's teeth.
Two separate problems are created when the mouthpiece contact occurs in this manner at such forward position in the mouth: First, since the distance from the center of muscle effort is long, a significant increase in muscle force is necessary to stabilize and retain the mouthpiece. This is what causes the muscles to quickly fatigue and often to become painful, which leads to jaw aches and headaches. A second and related problem of such long lever arm is created when standard mouthpieces, or customized mouthpieces of the Shamlian type are used, in that there is a severe increase in pressure within the jaw joint, well back in the head.
If the contact location is extended to the back of the mouth, the lever arm is shortened and advantages are achieved, including a reduction in the muscle force necessary to hold the mouthpiece and a reduction in the corresponding jaw pressure. Lengthening the mouthpiece retention piece to allow contact at a more rearward position in the mouth creates a shorter, and thus more favorable, lever arm. This resists torque from movement of the diver's regulator. That is, a better grip can be maintained with less exertion.
However, extension of the posterior bite pieces has been difficult or unworkable in the prior art due to variability in the jaw alignment of different people. Only a completely customized bite portion would allow for this. The variability in the angle between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws is a major problem. Such variability is caused by variations in the aforementioned lower jaw angle and also by the angle of the upper jaw with respect to the lower jaw. The upper jaw may be tipped up or down in the front or back.
Furthermore, the extension of the bite pieces result in an increase of the gag-reflex. Therefore, in order to take advantage of the reduction in jaw fatigue that results from a reduction in the length of the lever arm, alterations must be made to the bite portions in order to reduce the possibility of gagging.
While there have been a number of efforts to make improved customizable scuba-diving mouthpieces, there has remained a clear need for significant improvements in the field of customizable scuba-diving mouthpieces.

Customizable mouthpiece for scuba-divers


A backlight module is provided, which includes a first coil, a first driving circuit, a second coil, a rectifying circuit and a light emitting unit. The first driving circuit is electrically connected to the first coil for controlling the first coil to produce a first magnetic field. The second coil is disposed on a transmission direction of the first magnetic field corresponding to the first coil for receiving the first magnetic field and providing a first induction voltage according to the first magnetic field. The rectifying circuit is electrically connected to the second coil for converting the first induction voltage into a first driving voltage. The light emitting unit is electrically connected to the rectifying circuit to provide a backlight according to the first driving voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a backlight module, and more particularly, to a backlight module able to transmit electricity through the magnetic field induction.
2. Description of Related Art
The liquid crystal display (LCD), due to low-voltage operation, no radiation scattering, light weight and small size, has significant advantages which the traditional display based on cathode ray tube (CRT) can not achieve, so that the LCD has become the major project for display development in recent years and continues to progress towards the colorization. The LCD is a non-self-luminous display and requires a backlight module to provide appropriate light for displaying. In recent years, with the enhancement of environmental awareness, the light emitting element used in the backlight module has been gradually converted from the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) into the more environment-friendly light emitting diode (LED).
However, due to the factors of the connector of LED light bars, driving circuit and power line layout and others, the backlight module encounters a design problem for further compacting the volume itself

Backlight module transmitting electricity through magnetic field induction


The present invention relates to a medicated chewing gum comprising a pharmaceutically active agent incorporated therein. The medicated gum is used as a means for administering the active agent to a subject. The invention also relates to a method of preparing the medicated chewing gum. The process involves the formation of a cyclodextrin-active agent inclusion complex, which is dried and mixed with a granulated gum base without adding water or other solvents. The process is carried out under controlled temperature and humidity and the blended components are cold-pressed to produce a final gum product.

Attempts have long been made to incorporate pharmaceutically active agents into chewing gum as a means of administering the active agent to the subject. Traditionally, these efforts have employed common chewing gum production techniques wherein a gum base is heated until it becomes a viscous or fluid mass. Additional components (such as flavors or active ingredients) then blended into the gum base. Finally, the mixture is cooled, pressed and cut to produce the final product.
Alternatively, the various components are blended in a gum slurry that is coagulated before pressing into the final product form.
However, many pharmaceutically active agents possess unpleasant taste or odor characteristics which were all too apparent when mixing with gum by the above method, resulting in undesirable chewing gum products. Many active agents also tend to irritate the mucosas. Still other pharmaceutically active agents degrade rapidly, making it impractical to include them in chewing gum.
Another problem with known methods is that the gum base is heated to a fluid mass to facilitate mixing of other ingredients. Such elevated temperatures can cause degradation of heat-sensitive compounds, including active agents and flavors.
Prior art attempts to overcome these difficulties included the following: to avoid the degradation of the active agents, chewing gum was cold-produced by direct compression of the ingredients; to obtain the ability to retard or control the release rate of active agents, the active agents were formulated into microcapsules. However, microencapsulation technology is complex and costly often resulting in retarded release products. It is therefore not well-adapted for drugs for which rapid absorption through the oral mucosas is necessary or desirable.
In addition, known processes for medicated gum preparations often utilize organic solvents to dissolve the active agents. It is well known that these organic solvents are difficult to eliminate from the final product and may present certain health risks if even trace amounts remain in the final dosage form. Additionally, use of organic solvents in connection with industrial processes is becoming increasingly unpopular due to health and environmental considerations (e.g., risks attendant to exposure of personnel and problems in effecting proper disposal of waste solvents).
Water has also been utilized in gum preparations, but it is difficult to eliminate, especially at the relatively low temperatures that are desirable for production of chewing gum. Heating the gum mass to eliminate water is not advisable, because the gum will then become more sticky which makes handling difficult and interferes with large-scale, semi- or totally automated production.
Thus, the problems of realizing a medicated chewing gum produced by direct compression, with immediate or rapid release of the active agent and efficient masking of unpleasant organoleptic characteristics of active agents, remained unsolved.
The properties of cyclodextrin in forming inclusion complexes have been recognized and some of the difficulties recounted above were solved by applying these techniques. It was found that certain compounds could be included within cyclodextrins and then blended into a gum base under traditional chewing gum production methods. The compounds were then released upon chewing. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,943 to Patel et al.
Although these methods helped to mask the unpleasant taste of certain compounds and reduce degradation, there were still significant shortcomings. Water and stickiness are still problems, and the methods known in the art do not address the temperature sensitivity of certain active agents.

Medicated chewing gum and a process for preparation thereof

Avant-Garde Technologies & Products S.A.


A memory system, memory, and memory system command protocol are disclosed. Within the memory system, a memory controller communicates a command to the memory, the command being selected from a set of commands including a write command and a plurality of non-write commands. A Hamming distance value calculated between a digital value indicating the write command and a digital value indicating any one of the plurality of non-write commands is greater than 1.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to memory systems, memories, and command protocols for memory systems.
2. Description of Related Art
The concept of a "memory system" now encompasses a great variety of circuits and related control methods and protocols enabling the transfer, storage and retrieval of digital data. Once memory systems were associated with only computers systems and similar computational logic platforms. Now, a great host of consumer products ranging from cell phones to automobiles to refrigerators include memory systems of varying degrees of complexity.
A generic memory system is conceptually illustrated in Figure (FIG.) 1, wherein a memory 2 stores data received from a memory controller 1 via a channel 3.
As defined by its application, memory 2 may be volatile or nonvolatile in its operating nature. A volatile memory retains stored data only so long as power is applied to the memory. Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAMs) and Static Random Access Memories (SRAMs) are well known examples of volatile memories. In contrast, nonvolatile memories have the ability to retain stored data in the absence of applied power. NAND and NOR type flash memories are examples of nonvolatile memories.
Regardless of memory type and related storage capabilities, a memory must typically be associated with some kind of memory controller. Memory controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 may take many different forms including a generic processor or controller, a dedicated memory controller, a direct memory address (DMA) controller, a host central processor unit (CPU), a dedicated data switch, or similar transfer element, etc. In each of its varied forms and regardless of additional functionality, the basic functionality ascribed to a memory controller 1 is one of controlling the transfer of data to and/or from memory 2.
Data transfer between memory controller 1 and memory 2 is accomplished via a channel 3. Channel 3 may be hardwired or wireless in its implementation. For example, data may be wirelessly transferred between memory controller 1 and memory 2 via radio frequency (RF) channel(s), infrared channel(s) and/or electromagnetic channel(s). More typically, memory controller 1 and memory 2 are connected via a hardwired channel formed by one or more buses and/or various signal lines. In this context, a "bus" is merely a collection (physical or operational) of signal lines commonly operated in relation to a block of data and/or a data transfer period.
The examples shown in FIG. 2 are but several of numerous types of hardwire channels 3 that might be used to connect memory 2 and memory controller 1. In the first illustrated example, memory 2 and memory controller 1 are connected by a plurality of unidirectional control signal lines (C/S), a unidirectional address bus (ADDR), and a bidirectional data bus (DQ). Assuming for purposes of illustration that memory 2 is a DRAM, the control signal lines may be used to communicate commonly used control signals such as chip select (CS), row address strobe (RAS), column address strobe (CAS), write enable (WE), etc. With this configuration, the address bus may be used to communicate multiple address bits identifying unique location(s) in memory 2 to/from which data is to be written/read, respectively. Data written to memory 2 will hereafter be referred to a "write data" and data retrieved from memory 2 will be referred to as "read data."
In the second illustrated example of FIG. 2, the unidirectional collection of control signal lines and the address bus are effectively combined into a single control/address (C/A) bus. This bus configuration is commonly associated with memory systems transferring packetized data. That is, certain memory system architectures utilize the flexibility and efficiency afforded by configuring data into packets prior to communication. The definition and use of data packets are well understood by those skilled in the art and are the subject of many conventional protocols and standards.
In the third illustrated example of FIG. 2, the common unidirectional C/A bus illustrated in the second example is also used to communicate write data from memory controller 1 to memory 2. Here again, the write data may be grouped into one or more data packet(s) along with related control data and/or address data.
Finally, in the fourth illustrated example of FIG. 2, a common bidirectional bus is used to communicate not only control data, address data and write data from memory controller 2 to memory 1, but also read data from memory 2 to memory controller 1. Only certain dedicated control signal lines are otherwise defined between memory controller 1 and memory 2 outside the common bidirectional bus. In this example, read data may be packetized before being communicated it from memory 2 to memory controller 1.
Regardless of the specific nature of channel 3, the transfer of data between memory controller 1 and memory 2 is made in relation to a defined protocol. A "protocol" is a system of rules that defines how something is to be accomplished. Thus, is the context of a memory system, a protocol is an agreed-upon or standardized "language" for communicating data and/or establishing a communications connection between a memory and some other device, such as a memory controller. Many memory system protocols are implemented, in whole or it part, according to industry standards. Other protocols are custom in their definition and use. In some instances, one protocol may be used to call (or invoke) another protocol.
One notable characteristic of conventional and emerging memory systems is an increasing demand for greater data bandwidth (available data per unit operation) and/or data throughput (available data per unit of time). Data bandwidth may be increased by increasing the number of data bits communicated to/from a memory per unit memory system operation (e.g., read and write operations). Data throughput may be increased by increasing the number of data bits communicated per unit memory system operation, and/or by increasing the speed with which each memory system operation is performed.
Given the concurrent commercial motivations of reducing memory system size and power consumption while maximizing available data bandwidth and data throughput, it is not surprising that certain practical limitations and resource conflicts have been identified. For example, the number of signal lines connecting a memory controller with a memory may be limited by the size of the memory or memory controller, and/or the corresponding number of available connection (input/output) pads. Given such physical limitations, all or some of the signal lines forming a channel in a memory system may be multiplexed in their use.
Regardless of the physical connections between a memory and memory controller and the controlling communications protocol, almost all contemporary memory systems are being run at increasingly fast clock speeds. Increasingly fast clock speeds facilitate greater data throughput, and enhanced data throughput is a highly desirable characteristic in many commercial applications.
Unfortunately, increasingly fast clock speeds also increase the likelihood of data communication (transmission and/or reception) errors. Indeed, system complexity has become so great and data transfer speeds so fast, that many contemporary memory systems now incorporate error detection and/or error correction (hereafter, singularly or collectively indicated as "EDC") capabilities designed to mitigate the inevitable consequences of data communication errors.
EDC capabilities were once used primarily for long-haul (or bulk) data traffic such as telephone networks and satellite communication systems. Now, however, the advantages of incorporating EDC capabilities within a memory system are well appreciated. There are many different types of EDC protocols, techniques, schemes, and related circuits and software. One class of relatively simple error detection techniques are conventionally used to implement a functionality referred to as a cyclic redundancy checker (CRC). More sophisticated EDC techniques are capable of not only detecting the presence of one or more error(s) in communicated data, but also of correcting the detected error(s).
Nearly all EDC techniques are implemented by adding additional ("overhead") data bits to a block of data being communicated. That is, the data block is first run through a mathematical or logical calculation in order to produce corresponding EDC data. The EDC data is then transferred along with the data block. At the receiving end, the data block is again run through a similar mathematical/logical calculation and the resulting data compared to the received EDC data. A successful comparison indicates an error free block of data. A failed comparison indicates one or more errors in the data block. When more sophisticated EDC techniques are used, these error(s) may be corrected by further resort to the EDC data.
EDC capabilities are particularly beneficial in the context of memory systems transferring data in packet form. That is, individual data packets may be defined to include corresponding EDC data along with other types of data (e.g., control data, address data, write data, etc.). The EDC data may be associated with (e.g., derived from and used to detect and/or correct errors in) any one or more of these other data types contained in the data packet.
While EDC capabilities offer great benefits in the verification of data being communicated between a memory controller and a memory, such capabilities come at a price. The greatest price is typically imposed on the overall operating speed of the memory system. EDC operations run in the memory controller, and more particularly, EDC operations run in the memory potentially generate a data throughput bottleneck in the memory system. Thus, the contemporary memory system designer faces the competing demands of (1) increasing data bandwidth/throughput which require the streamlining, simplifying, and expediting of memory system operations, and (2) assuring data integrity which requires sophisticated and relatively slow EDC operations.

Memory system, memory device and command protocol


A fluid ejection device, a method of cleaning the device, and a method of operating the device are provided. The device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate and has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Traditionally, digitally controlled color printing capability is accomplished by one of two technologies. In each technology, ink is fed through channels formed in a printhead. Each channel includes a nozzle from which drops of ink are selectively extruded and deposited upon a medium. When color printing is desired, each technology typically requires independent ink supplies and separate ink delivery systems for each ink color used during printing.
The first technology, commonly referred to as "drop-on-demand" ink jet printing, provides ink drops for impact upon a recording surface using a pressurization actuator (thermal, piezoelectric, etc.). Selective activation of the actuator causes the formation and ejection of a flying ink drop that crosses the space between the printhead and the print media and strikes the print media. The formation of printed images is achieved by controlling the individual formation of ink drops, as is required to create the desired image. Typically, a slight negative pressure within each channel keeps the ink from inadvertently escaping through the nozzle, and also forms a slightly concave meniscus at the nozzle, thus helping to keep the nozzle clean.
Conventional "drop-on-demand" ink jet printers utilize a pressurization actuator to produce the ink jet drop at orifices of a print head. Typically, one of two types of actuators are used including heat actuators and piezoelectric actuators. With heat actuators, a heater, placed at a convenient location, heats the ink causing a quantity of ink to phase change into a gaseous steam bubble that raises the internal ink pressure sufficiently for an ink drop to be expelled. With piezoelectric actuators, an electric field is applied to a piezoelectric material possessing properties that create a mechanical stress in the material causing an ink drop to be expelled. The most commonly produced piezoelectric materials are ceramics, such as lead zirconate titanate, barium titanate, lead titanate, and lead metaniobate.
The second technology, commonly referred to as "continuous stream" or "continuous" ink jet printing, uses a pressurized ink source which produces a continuous stream of ink drops. Conventional continuous ink jet printers utilize electrostatic charging devices that are placed close to the point where a filament of working fluid breaks into individual ink drops. The ink drops are electrically charged and then directed to an appropriate location by deflection electrodes having a large potential difference. When no print is desired, the ink drops are deflected into an ink capturing mechanism (catcher, interceptor, gutter, etc.) and either recycled or disposed of. When print is desired, the ink drops are not deflected and allowed to strike a print media. Alternatively, deflected ink drops may be allowed to strike the print media, while non-deflected ink drops are collected in the ink capturing mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,519, issued to Eaton, on Apr. 15, 1975, discloses a method and apparatus for synchronizing drop formation in a liquid stream using electrostatic deflection by a charging tunnel and deflection plates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,387, issued to Hertz, on Aug. 24, 1982, discloses a method and apparatus for controlling the electric charge on drops formed by the breaking up of a pressurized liquid stream at a drop formation point located within the electric field having an electric potential gradient. Drop formation is effected at a point in the field corresponding to the desired predetermined charge to be placed on the drops at the point of their formation. In addition to charging tunnels, deflection plates are used to actually deflect drops.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,382, issued to Drake et al., on Jan. 20, 1987, discloses a continuous ink jet printhead that utilizes constant thermal pulses to agitate ink streams admitted through a plurality of nozzles in order to break up the ink streams into drops at a fixed distance from the nozzles. At this point, the drops are individually charged by a charging electrode and then deflected using deflection plates positioned the drop path.
As conventional continuous ink jet printers utilize electrostatic charging devices and deflector plates, they require many components and large spatial volumes in which to operate. This results in continuous ink jet printheads and printers that are complicated, have high energy requirements, are difficult to manufacture, and are difficult to control.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,821, issued to Chwalek et al., on Jun. 27, 2000, discloses a continuous ink jet printer that uses actuation of asymmetric heaters to create individual ink drops from a filament of working fluid and deflect those ink drops. A printhead includes a pressurized ink source and an asymmetric heater operable to form printed ink drops and non-printed ink drops. Printed ink drops flow along a printed ink drop path ultimately striking a print media, while non-printed ink drops flow along a non-printed ink drop path ultimately striking a catcher surface. Non-printed ink drops are recycled or disposed of through an ink removal channel formed in the catcher.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,510, issued to Delametter et al., on Dec. 24, 2002, discloses a geometry of printhead employing asymmetrically applied heat for continuous ink jet printer systems in which the improvement is an enhanced lateral flow in the ink channel near the entrance to the nozzle bore. This enhanced lateral flow within the printhead serves to lessen the amount of heat needed per degree of angle of deflection of drops which have been ejected from the printhead.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,619, issued to Anagnostopoulos et al., on Sep. 17, 2002, discloses a continuous ink jet printhead incorporating nozzle bores, heater elements, and associated electronics which may be made at lower cost by forming the heater elements and nozzle bores during the processing steps used to fabricate the associated electronics, for example, by CMOS processing. More expensive MEMS type processing steps are thereby kept to a minimum. Structures are provided to increase the lateral flow near the entrance to the nozzle bore.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,213,595 and 6,217,163, issued to Anagnostopoulos et al., on Apr. 10 and Apr. 17, 2001 respectively, disclose a continuous ink jet printhead incorporating a heater having a plurality of selectively independently actuated sections which are positioned along respectively different portions of the nozzle bore's perimeter. By selecting which segments are to be actuated (and optionally adjusting the power level to different segments), the drop placement may be more accurately controlled.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,921, issued to Chwalek et al., on Jan. 14, 2003, discloses an embodiment of a continuous ink jet printing system incorporating a heater near the nozzle bore, the volume of each ink drop broken from the ink stream being determined by the frequency of activation of the heater; and further incorporating a gas flow which deflects droplets of one size into a nonprinting path, while droplets of another size are allowed to strike the recording medium.
It may be appreciated that low cost, excellent image quality, high printing throughput, and high reliability are important advantages for a continuous ink jet printing system. Further improvements are desired in printhead fabrication simplicity and cost, especially those improvements which are compatible with the integration of driving and control electronics required for precise droplet control of a large number of nozzles at high resolution. In addition, to prevent image quality from degrading due to obstructions in the ink flow path in the printhead, it is desirable to provide a printhead geometry and a method for cleaning the printhead which facilitate removal of such obstructions.

Continuous fluid jet ejector with anisotropically etched fluid chambers


A load valve apparatus having a control valve which can be connected to a pump and an accumulator and which in a first position connects the pump to the accumulator and in a second position isolates the pump from the accumulator, and the pump and the accumulator are isolated from one another when the accumulator pressure exceeds a certain value, and a connected consuming device is isolated from the accumulator in such a way that the load pressure of the consuming device does not affect the accumulator. The pressure of the pump and/or of the accumulator is used to regulate the pump.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of a conventional valve apparatus used as a load valve for loading an accumulator. The reference character S indicates the hydraulic accumulator, which is supplied with hydraulic fluid via a restrictor D and a check valve RV. Reference character N indicates a consuming unit which can be supplied with hydraulic fluid via a control valve SV. In addition, hydraulic pressure is applied to the control line SL via the restrictor D and the regulating valve REV. The regulating valve REV is "tensioned" by the hydraulic pressure in the control line SL. The regulating valve REV has three positions, A, B, and C. In FIG. 5, the regulating valve REV is shown in position A. In position A, the hydraulic pressure is applied from pump P to control line SL via the restrictor D. In position B, all ports of the regulating valve REV are closed off, and in position C the control line is discharged into tank T.
As indicated in FIG. 5, the regulating valve is tensioned on both sides by the hydraulic pressure in the control line SL; plunger K1 (on the right side in FIG. 5), which tries to force the regulating valve REV into discharge position C, has a smaller area than the opposing plunger K2. A further plunger K3, to which the pressure of the accumulator S is applied, acts on the right side of the regulating valve REV. Plunger K3 also tries to force the regulating valve into discharge position C. A spring F on the left side of the regulating valve opposes plunger K3 and plunger K1, and spring F is assisted by plunger K2. The pressure line SiV on the left of the selector valve serves as the signal pressure line of the consuming device V.
The loading procedure for the accumulator S is described below. The control valve SV is only used to control hydraulic flow to the consuming device N and has no effect on the loading procedure. The control valve SV is closed during the loading procedure and therefore has no function with respect to the loading procedure.
During the loading procedure, plunger K2 balances out the load applied by plunger K3. Thus only plunger K1 opposes spring F. At the end of the loading procedure, plungers K1 and K2 are released; and plunger K3 then suddenly acts on spring F, leading to an abrupt control movement (load, deflection or hysteresis). If the accumulator S is empty or mostly empty, the regulating valve REV is in position A as shown. The accumulator V is loaded "slowly" in this position via the restrictor D and the check valve RV. If the accumulator S reaches a given pressure, plunger K1 forces the regulating valve REV into position B. As already explained, plungers K2 and K3 balance out each other's load during the loading procedure, such that the regulating valve REV is forced into position B. As a result, the dynamics of the system create an intermediate position A/B. When the pressure line is discharged into tank T, the pressure in plungers K1 and K2 drops to the level in the tank. As a result, only plunger K3 continues to have an effect. The abrupt change in load on the plunger results in an abrupt change in the deflection of the plunger, with approximately 18% hysteresis.
The pressure level at which the regulating valve is moved can be set via spring F. In position B, the pressure which has already built up in the control line SL is held, and the pump supplies further hydraulic fluid. If the pressure in accumulator S increases further, the regulating valve REV is forced into position C. In this position, the pressure from the control line is released into the tank. When the pressure in the control line drops abruptly, pump P receives a signal to go to idle if the loading pressure is the highest pressure in the load valve apparatus.
If the pressure in accumulator S drops, the reverse takes place. The regulating valve is forced back into position C by spring F. In this position, pressure can once again build up in the control line SL, since the pump is operating at idle. Once the pressure reaches a certain level, a signal is sent to the pump to increase its pumping rate to full. A short circuit at the regulating valve causes deactivation of the pump; otherwise, the pressure rises until the delta P of the regulating valve for a pumping rate greater than zero is reached. This loading apparatus has certain disadvantages, however. The accumulator S continues to be loaded until the pump P is deactivated. If consuming devices in V are loaded to a pressure that is higher than the deactivation pressure of the load valve apparatus, the accumulators will be loaded up to that pressure. If the load pressure exceeds the maximum permitted accumulator pressure, the accumulator S or the valve will be overloaded.
The object of the invention is to produce a load valve apparatus which keeps the accumulator S and the valve (whose housing is generally made of grade GG 30 gray cast iron) from overloading.

Charging valve arrangement to charge a store


A printing method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying a medium and ejecting ink from a print head to print, on the medium, a mark that can be filled in by a user; detecting, with a sensor, whether or not the mark has been filled in; and performing a process in accordance with a result of the detection by the sensor. With this printing method, operations with respect to a printing apparatus can be performed with ease.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing methods and printing apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
The spread of digital cameras in recent years has resulted in a heightened demand for printing apparatuses with which captured images can be freely printed at home. Conversely, when printing images that have been captured with a digital camera using a printing apparatus, it is necessary to specify the image(s) to be printed and to set the type of print paper, the size, and the picture quality, etc.
However, this task of setting is a burden for users not accustomed to apparatus controls, and it can be arduous even for users who are familiar with the controls.
Accordingly, the inventors of the present application have already proposed an invention for printing, on a print paper, a group of images that are candidates for printing as index images and then referencing these index images when carrying out printing (see JP 2002-283643A (abstract)).
In the above invention, the user operates an input device of a computer that is connected to the printing apparatus or a control panel furnished on the printing apparatus while referencing the index images. However, there is the problem that operations made through the control panel of the printing apparatus are burdensome, and operation mistakes occur easily.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A laminated baking mold material includes a food contact layer and an exterior layer. The food contact layer serves as a functional layer, and may include an aluminum foil. The exterior layer may include a paper layer, and may be printed. The laminated baking mold may be formed into self-supporting baking molds or pan-supported baking liners. The functional barrier prevents migration of ink from an exterior surface of the baking mold or liner into a baked product or the permeation of grease or moisture from the baked product to the exterior layer preventing a degradation of a printing thereon and allowing for deep, opaque, and vibrant colors and patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminated baking mold, and more particularly to a laminated baking mold material usable to form self-supported baking molds and pan-supported baking liners.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the production of individual-size baked products requires the use of specialized baking molds. For example, specialized baking pans are used for baking cupcakes. These cupcake pans are often made of metal and generally define six or twelve depressions or "cups" therein. The cups are filled with a batter and baked to produce cupcakes. Oven-proof baking pans may also be made of stoneware, silicone rubber, or other ovenable materials.
When baking pans are used, baking liners may be disposed in the baking pan to receive the batter and facilitate removal of the product once baked. Additionally, the liners allow for easier handling of the baked product and facilitates cleaning of the baking pan. Another advantage of a baking liner is that the liner may, typically, be easily peeled away from the finished baked product.
The baking liners are usually made of a thin sheet of paper or aluminum pressed into a round, fluted cup shape, which require the support of the baking pan to hold the batter during baking. However, when two or three liners are nested together, or when liners are made from thicker paper or aluminum sheets, the liners may become sufficiently rigid to support the batter during the cooking process without the use of a baking pan. These self-supporting baking liners can then be used as individual self-supporting baking molds.
Whether the baking liners are used as self-supporting baking molds or as pan-supported baking liners, the liners are usually decorated or printed to improve an aesthetic appeal of the finished baked product. However, because these liners are used to handle food products, a type and an amount of ink used to print an exterior surface of the baking liner may be restricted. That is, food safety regulations may require extraction testing to determine a possible amount of ink that may transfer from the exterior surface of the baking mold or liner to the baked product during the baking process. The possibility of ink contamination not only limits the types of ink that can be used, but also pushes manufacturers to use small amounts of ink for printing. In the case of pan-supported liners made of thin paper, this leads to liners which are lightly printed, without deep, opaque, colors or vibrant patterns.
In addition, during the baking process, grease and moisture from the batter permeates through conventional liners to degrade an appearance of the liner. For example, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a plurality of conventional baking liners [10] before a baking process [11] and the same baking liners [10] after the baking process [12]. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, during the baking process moisture and/or grease from the baking product batter permeates through the baking liners [12]. Accordingly, the baking liners [12] become somewhat translucent, and the original color of the conventional liners [10] indicated as [11] are instead affected by the color of the batter showing through the now translucent liners [12]. Furthermore, a color and/or design printed on the conventional baking liners [10] is similarly degraded during the baking process or obscured by the baking product showing through the baking liners [12].
Self-supporting baking molds can be made of aluminum. However, because ink printed on aluminum may have a tendency to "flake" off during baking or handling, these are also lightly printed, without deep, opaque colors or vibrant patterns.
Accordingly, there is a need for an inexpensive baking mold or liner material which can be printed with deep, vibrant, and opaque patterns. Further, there is a need for a baking mold or liner material which can provide a functional barrier to prevent ink from migrating from a printed surface of the baking mold or liner into the baked product. There is a further need for a method of manufacturing such self-supporting baking molds or pan-supported baking liners that is both inexpensive and easy to perform.


A filter for treating CO2 from a CO2-emitting industrial plant, takes advantage of the fact that peridotite igneous rocks (or material of similar chemical content: basalt, gabbro, dunite, amphibolites, artificially produced Ca, Mg oxides) which are abundant on and close to the Earth's surface, can absorb and contain CO2 gases resultant from industrial activity. This chemical process occurs naturally, but has not been utilized to capture high concentrations of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Calcium and magnesium oxides of the peridotite react with CO2 to form stable carbonate minerals. The invention enhances and expedites this natural process for the remediation of industrial pollutants such as CO2 from the oil, gas, coal, cement/concrete and like CO2-emitting industries, and provides a resource for materials in construction (concrete), steel, aviation and agricultural and other industries.

Carbon sequestration, or the capture of carbon dioxide gases resultant from an industrial process, has long been known, whereby the gas reacts with available calcium and magnesium oxides to form minerals that are relatively stable, such as in the reaction below1:CaO+CO2→CaCO3(calcite)MgO+CO2→MgCO3(magnesite)
There is an abundance of peridotite ophiolite rocks in certain regions of the world, which are mafic rocks that contain high amounts of such Ca and Mg metal oxides, on and near the surface of the Earth. The surface mineralogy has been known to change when in contact with pollutants such as large amounts of CO2 from oil and gas refineries.
There are numerous propositions to inject CO2 into subterranean saline bedrock (brines), abandoned oil wells, and igneous rock formations in situ, however, the present inventors contend that, short of sending the CO2 deep into the Earth's mantle, about 5 miles (8 km) below the oceanic crust and 20 miles (32 km) below the continental crust, no one can guarantee against leakage due to the very act of injection fracturing of rock with intention to store, allowing for unforeseeable conduits back to the surface. Also, due to natural causes such as infiltration by groundwater (evident in many regions by the dissolution of bedrock carbonates and precipitation as stalagtites and stalagmites in caves), shifting of bedrock by earthquake or human induced "secondary drilling intrusion" (deliberate or unintended release of buried materials/gases by further drilling into bedrock originally intended for perpetual storage), or simple escape of the CO2 by upward permeation trough cracks or porous rock under high pressure due simply to the depth at which such rocks exist. The costs of injection can be expected to be high if there is no return by further oil and gas recovery, and higher electric bills for power sources involved in the recovery would be absorbed by the customer.
It is contended that artificial heating and pressurization would not be enough to speed the reaction of CO2 with peridotite in-situ. However, although there is research under way by various institutions, there is no conclusive experimental evidence that the speed of the reaction cannot be enhanced. There is also no guarantee that the reaction of conversion of CO2 to carbonates would go to completion as required at great depths below the Earth's surface, nor that thereafter, the rocks would be undisturbed by natural or human induced events. Detailed plans exist for the burial of nuclear wastes, but for the same reasons mentioned above, no responsible nation/organization has yet attempted such burial.
Of the billions of tons of CO2 necessary to be sequestered for any significant impact on emissions reduction (25 billion metric tons emitted worldwide in 2003)2, it is claimed by Kelemen et al3, that peridotite fields are naturally absorbing between 10,000 and 100,000 tons of CO2 per year. The researchers calculate that 2 tons of CO2 can be absorbed per cubic kilometer (2 tons/km3) of peridotite, and say that this can be enhanced by a factor of 100,000. In order to avoid the costs of mining and transporting the peridotite to industrial centers, they explain that in situ injection of CO2 could enhance the process, to absorb about 4 billion tons of CO2 annually, roughly 13 percent of the total sent into the atmosphere3.

Utilization of a peridotite-type rock for the treatment of CO2 from a CO2-emitting industrial plant


A nail care set of nail enamel remover and nail cream and a container kit having a main container body for keeping the nail enamel remover, an auxiliary cap container for keeping the nail cream, and a hollow lid to fit in the auxiliary cap container.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a set of nail enamel remover/nail cream and a container kit for storing the set.
A manicure or nail enameling has been quite popular and is done repeatedly as a part of daily makeup.
However, nail enameling may or may not be good for health, while a manicure is not a permanent cosmotology similarly as most of the cosmetics. This is the reason why an enamel painted on nails is removed within rather a short period of time by means of a nail enamel remover.
Preferably, a nail care treatment is applied soon after the enamel is removed and, as a matter of fact, a special nail cream (a kind of protective cream) is commercially available.
Nevertheless, such a nail care is often neglected because of a troublesome treatment thereof or a relatively late appearance of adverse effects caused by enameling. As a result, undesirable injury of nail surface or nail itself as an adverse effect becomes remarkable gradually.
The nail enamel remover and the nail cream are conventionally kept in separate containers independently, which also causes negligence of nail care treatment. Here again, only an enamel removal is done without the nail care treatment.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nail care set of nail enamel remover/nail nail cream stored in a single container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a container kit for storing a nail care set comprising a main container body for keeping a nail enamel remover, an auxiliary cap container of the main body, which comprises a cap portion and a nail cream keeping space, and a peaked cap-like hollow lid for sealing up an opening of the nail cream keeping space, which has an air vent formed on the side facing to the opening of the space and is attached to the auxiliary cap container so as to easily open and close thereof.

Container having cap container with hollow lid


Ultra-capacitor structures and electronic systems and assemblies are provided. In one aspect, the ultra-capacitor structure is configured to selectively power and at least partially house electronic component(s) therein. In one embodiment, the ultra-capacitor structure includes a thermally conductive material facilitating dissipation of heat generated. In another embodiment, the ultra-capacitor structure includes an electrically conductive sheet facilitating electromagnetic shielding. In another aspect, an electronic system includes: an electronic device including electronic component(s); and a support structure physically receiving and electrically coupling to the electronic device, and including an ultra-capacitor structure configured to selectively power the electronic component(s) of the electronic device when electrically coupled to the support structure. In another aspect, an electronic assembly has a first region including electronic component(s), and a second region including an ultra-capacitor structure configured to selectively power the electronic component(s) of the electronic assembly, where the first region is spaced apart from the second region.

One of the key goals of the electronics industry is to reduce the size and weight of electronic devices, such as smart phones, media devices, and portable medical devices, even as functionality requirements, such as power-on time, are increased. A significant portion of the size and weight of electronic devices derives from the use of single purpose materials in the construction of the electronic devices.

Ultra-capacitor structures and electronic systems with ultra-capacitor structures


A carbon baking furnace having spaced-apart, hollow flue walls defining a soaking pit therebetween. Each of the flue walls is formed of refractory bricks and has a pit face facing the pit and a flue face facing an inner flue gas passage. A coating is provided on the pit face of the flue walls. The coating increases the emissivity value of the pit face, wherein the emissivity value of the pit face is greater than the emissivity value of the flue face.

One step in the production of aluminum is the smelting of alumina into aluminum metal. The smelting takes place in large, steel, carbon-lined furnaces known as reduction cells. The carbon lining is called a cathode. Alumina is fed into the cells where it is dissolved into molten cryolite (a liquid that can dissolve alumina and conduct electricity at about 970° C.). Carbon block anodes are electrically conductive and are used to introduce electricity into each cell.
The carbon anodes are made in a three-step process. First, petroleum coke and recycled carbon from used anodes are mixed with liquid pitch. This mixture is heated to form a hot paste. The paste is then cooled, and hydraulically pressed or vibrated into a mold to form an anode block. In the second step of the process, the carbon anodes are then "baked" in a carbon baking furnace. This "baking" process helps rid the anodes of impurities and improves their strength and electrical conductivity. Lastly, the carbon anode is then bonded to a metal rod using molten cast iron. This rod allows the anode to be suspended from the reduction cell's super structure during the smelting process.
Perhaps the most important step in forming the carbon anode is the baking process. Precise, uniform heating is necessary to produce a uniform chemical conversion of the raw material to the finished anode block with the desired electrical and physical properties that are required for aluminum smelting. In this respect, the center temperature of the anode is critical and it is important that such temperature be maintained during the heating portion of the "baking" process.
The present invention provides an improved flue wall structure for use in baking carbon anodes in a carbon baking furnace.

Wall structure for carbon baking furnace