The fixed blades of a flow-straightener in a turbomachine each includes a metallic structure having a smooth surface on one side defining one face of the blade and a grid having a plurality of cells on its opposite side which are filled with a composite material such as polyurethane, the filled cellular side of the metallic structure defining an opposite face of the blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flow-straighteners for turbomachines, especially flow-straighteners of the type having large-sized blades and intended for the fans of bypass turbojet engines, and particularly relates to the construction of the blades of the flow-straightener.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
In order to achieve mass reductions and to meet operational conditions demanding good mechanical characteristics, anti-vibration properties and impact resistance, it is known to make hollow blades of large chord for the fan rotor of bypass turbojet engines, particularly in the high thrust engine class. Similar aims, particularly that of mass reduction, have also led to the use of hollow fixed blades in the construction of the fan flow-straightener. The techniques normally adopted for the manufacture of fan flow-straighteners involve the standard foundry practice of using cores for the hollow parts, particularly ceramic cores or soluble cores.
However, the application of these techniques to large hollow flow-straightener blades gives rise to numerous manufacturing difficulties and drawbacks, as well as to an increase in costs. For example, the use of soluble cores requires openings which have to be replugged by welding, which leads to deformations.

Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "SNECMA"


In a vibrating rotation sensor of the hemispherical resonator gyro type (HRG), operating in the whole angle mode wherein the standing-wave components are measured to provide a measure of the pattern angle, the digital signal processor functions to control the digital to analog converter output signal in order to keep the highly amplified analog to digital input signal, the difference between the pattern angle and excitation angle, within the analog to digital converter window. The analog to digital converter window is set at n times the discrete level of the digital to analog converter. A digital feedback loop in the digital signal processor continually corrects the tracking angle to control the excitation voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a class of vibratory rotation sensors in which the vibrating members are thin-walled axisymmetric hemispherical shells, and more specifically pertains to the control electronics for such a sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
A prior art vibratory rotation sensor 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, as having an outer member 12, a hemispherical resonator 14, and an inner member 16, all of which are made of fused quartz and are joined together with indium. This particular type of vibratory rotation sensor which has a vibrating member 14 that is a thin-walled axisymmetric hemispherical shell is known as a hemispherical resonator gyro (HRG).
The inertially sensitive element in the HRG is the hemispherical resonator 14, usually a thin-walled 5.8 cm diameter bell-shaped object positioned between the outer member 12 and the inner member 16 and supported between the inner and outer members by a stem 26.
The thin-walled axisymmetric hemispherical shell 14 oscillates in one of its lower flexing modes which takes the form of a standing wave. The standing wave which exists around the rim of the shell resonator 14, is shown in the two extremes 26 and 28 of its oscillatory deformation in FIGS. 2 and 3.
The elliptical standing wave contains four antinodes and four nodes. The antinodes and nodes are separated from one another by 45.degree.. The rotation sensitivity of the standing wave results from the fact that each mass element of the shell undergoing oscillation acts much like a Foucault pendulum attempting to keep the direction of its linear momentum fixed in inertial space when the shell rotates about its axis. The resulting Coriolis forces, the product of the shell's vibratory motion and the inertial input rate causes the standing wave to precess with respect to the shell. The ratio of the standing wave precession angle to the inertial input rotation angle is known as the angular gain of the gyro.
In operation, forces are required to control the standing wave on the shell resonator 14. These forces are quasi-electrostatic in nature. In the case of the HRG in FIG. 1, a number of electrodes 22 are metalized on the inside surface 20 of the outer housing 12 which is concentric with the hemispherical shell resonator 14. The outer surface of the shell resonator 14 is metalized so that when the device is assembled, the electrodes in the outer housing 12 together with the surface of the resonator they face form a series of forcing electrostatic capacitors. Voltage is applied to the appropriate combinations of these electrodes to control the amplitude of the standing wave and to suppress unwanted quadrature effects.
Rotation of the HRG 10 about an axis normal to the plane of the rim 34 of shell resonator 14 causes the standing wave to rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the HRG by an angle proportional to the angle of rotation of the HRG 10. Thus, by measuring the angle of rotation of the standing wave with respect to the HRG 10, one can determine the angle of rotation of the HRG 10.
The vibrational mode of the shell resonator 14 is excited by placing a DC bias voltage on the resonator and an AC voltage on the forcing electrodes 20. The frequency of the AC voltage is usually twice the resonant frequency of the hemispherical shell resonator 14.
Readout signals from the HRG containing information about the amplitude and location of the standing wave on the shell resonator 14 are also obtained capacitively. Capacitor readout electrodes 24 are formed by metalized interior surface 30 of the shell resonator 14 and a plurality of electrodes 24 which are located on an inner concentric housing held in close proximity to the inner metalized shell resonator 14. Because of the shell's oscillating deformation the capacitance of each of the electrodes 24 is modulated at the resonator flexing frequency. Electronic readout circuits measure these capacitance changes and hence the location and amplitude of the standing wave is determined.
Additional and more specific details of vibratory rotation sensors can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,508 issued to Loper, Jr., et al. on Aug. 28, 1990, the entire disclosure thereof being incorporated herein.
Eight electrodes 24 (FIG. 1) are usually metalized on the surface of the pick-off assembly. These eight electrodes schematically illustrated as 30 and 32 in FIGS. 2 and 3 are connected together to form two sets of four. Each group 30 and 32 of four electrodes measures the amplitude of the standing wave pattern over the electrodes. Output from the group one electrodes 30, pick-off axis No. 1 is: EQU PO1 (pick-off axis No. 1)=A cos. (2 PA)
Output from the group 2 electrodes 32, pick-off axis No. 2 is: EQU PO2 (pick-off axis No. 2)=A Sin (2 PA)
The pattern angle (PA) is computed from EQU .sup.PO2 /.sub.PO1 =Tan. (2 PA).
There are two methods of operating the HRG. The force to rebalance method (FTR) and the whole angle method (WA). In the force to rebalance method, an electrostatic force is applied to the resonator to lock the pattern angle around zero. When the pattern angle is close to zero the output of the pick-off axis EQU PO1=A cos. (2 PA)=A and PO2=A sin. (2 PA)=A (2 PA).
Because PO2 is a small signal, a large gain may be applied to the signal to increase resolution and sensitivity of the HRG.
In the whole angle method of operation applied inertial rate causes the pattern 26 to move relative to the pickoff axis 34 to a new position 36 (FIG. 2). This difference 38 is the pattern angle PA. The output signals PO1 and PO2 from the two groups of electrodes must be scaled to handle larger signals. Measuring the standing wave components along the pickoffs and then taking the arc tangent of the ratio of their amplitudes provides a measure of the pattern angle PA 38.
In the whole angle tracking mode of operation shown in FIG. 4, the digital signal processing control 52 controls the AC excitation voltages 50 so that the readout signals from the resonator 41 are proportional to the motion at the standing wave nodes and antinodes.
Further detail about whole angle tracking mode of operation can be obtained by reference to co-pending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 802,009 titled Vibratory Rotation Sensor With Whole-Angle Tracking by Matthews, Varty, Li and Lynch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,310, granted Sep. 1, 1998.
A circuit for accomplishing this operation is illustrated in FIG. 4 as having the HRG 40 with its resonator 41 and Group 1 and Group 2 electrodes 43. The standing wave components in this case are measured from the resonator 41 by way of an AC buffer 42. The standing way components are processed by an axis 1 processor 44 and an axis 2 processor 46. The resulting signals are supplied to an analog to digital converter (ADC) 48. The digital form of a resultant signal is supplied to digital signal processing control 52 which provides the pattern angle output on line 54 and a feedback excitation signal 50 to the excitation electrodes 43. A computer-generated excitation angle is servoed to the pattern angle. As a result, the signal can be amplified with very high gain to obtain a low-noise high accuracy readout signal without sacrificing excellent scale factor performance over a wide dynamic field.
When operated in the whole angle mode, the HRG possesses a high dynamic rate capability. However, many precision pointing and tracking control applications require low noise. The digitization of the whole angle mode readout introduces significant angle quantization noise; for example, approximately four arc seconds for a 16-bit ADC. In precision pointing applications, the quantization noise present must be reduced by a factor of greater than 1,000. This requires an analog to digital converter greater than 26 bits. Such analog to digital converters are presently not practical.
The whole angle tracking mode of operation as discussed above reduces the analog to digital converter bit requirement by forming a small error signal that is quantizable by a 12 to 16 bit analog to digital converter. In the whole angle tracking mode, high dynamic rate, low noise angle readout is achieved by slewing a set of electrically computed readout excitation signals. These signals, however, require a digital to analog converter (DAC) which again produces large angle quantization noise which must be corrected.

Low quantization method and apparatus for vibratory rotation sensors


Presented herein is a transportable, distributed, edge-based, cloud-centered broadband command, control and communications infrastructure with built-in resilience that can be employed in data collection and integration, intelligence processing, mission planning, cognitive decision support and operational command, control and communications system. Specifically, a Modular Mission Systems (MIMS), composed of Modular Load Units (MLU), and tactical communications gateways integrated onto air platforms of opportunity in podded configurations (PODS) that can bring cloud-based, broadband communications and processing architectures to the tactical edge.

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has established global military dominance over the last three decades through many facets of military power, but perhaps the most compelling is its ability to centrally plan and direct military operations and communicate globally to its operational forces for execution. The fundamental challenge for the U.S. military now is that emerging adversaries have watched this capability and are taking dramatic and far-reaching steps to disrupt and destroy this unique capability, which would completely imperil our country's global standing and even our way of life.
U.S. airpower has been unmatched for the last several decades largely due to Centralized Command and Control (CCC) that employs industrial-era air power planning processes within a small number of Air and Space Operations Centers (AOC) located around the globe. Similarly, the Navy uses fixed Maritime Operating Centers (MOC) and two remaining C2 Ships. AOCs and MOCs, collectively in this application referred to as CCC Centers, are typically remote from the battlespace to enhance their survivability. CCC Centers are usually staffed by hundreds, if not thousands of officers, analysts, technicians, and support personnel, typically commanded by a four-star general or flag officer. The planning processes employed are referred to as industrial because they have reduced air power employment practically to a carefully honed mechanism with precise timing, massive numbers, global logistics and carefully calculated damage assessments. This level of planning, like operating a global airline or running a massive factory, requires rigid scheduling, strict obedience to orders and avoidance of change. For example, in the First Gulf War, thousands of American attack sorties devastated Iraq night after night without any mishaps. But the process is slow, so an adversary that attempts to disrupt it will have devastating impact on these carefully laid plans.
CCC Centers receive battlefield information from a variety of sensors in air, in space, on the ground and on the seas. In the Air Force's case, key contributors are E-3 Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) and the E-8 Joint Surveillance and Target Attack System (JSTARS). NATO and other allies depend upon the same or similar airborne sensors for their operations. While these aircraft have proven their meddle in finding and targeting numerous enemy planes, tanks, ships and soldiers, they are losing their effectiveness because they are ever more vulnerable to enemy attack and they are simply getting old. To be effective as sensors, they have to get close to the enemy but when they do, advanced ground and airborne threats can easily defeat them. Since survivability has become such an issue, the Air Force has abandoned plans to replace them with similar airplane systems.
Modern naval combatants, particularly large deck aircraft carriers, have significant centralized command and control capabilities and well-seasoned staffs to support mission planning and execution. Again, over the last few decades, these have been able to become integral parts of the U.S. global command and control systems by performing large scale planning, targeting and execution functions. However, again the emerging adversaries have developed weapons and sensors that can rapidly target and destroy these ships if they dare to radiate sensor or communications systems, which effectively takes them out of the CCC capabilities.
CCC Centers are connected to their in-theater sensors and operating air, ground and maritime forces via satellite communications and undersea cables that then connect to localized tactical networks. Against the adversaries of the past several decades, these command, control and communications capabilities were secure and reliable, but now are woefully vulnerable to assault by emerging adversaries. If CCC is physically destroyed or isolated from their sensors and/or their air, ground and maritime forces, these operating forces will become paralyzed resulting in a catastrophic defeat.
The DoD certainly is not standing still regarding modern technology. For example, the commercial world has moved much of its information storage and processing application capabilities into "the Cloud", which DoD is now following. The Cloud is actually a significant number of large, centralized data centers located around the world connected with robust data communications that can reach to any appropriately equipped user. Many U.S. and foreign companies have created these global clouds that are connecting more and more people. Many governmental organizations have migrated their data storage and processing capabilities to the cloud, with the Intelligence Community and DoD doing so at essentially all classification levels. These are very powerful tools in peacetime but ones that have unique vulnerabilities during times of conflict.
Many of the commercial data centers for the cloud are located within national borders of potential adversaries. If a conflict arises with such a nation, these centers could be coopted, disrupted, or destroyed, which would suddenly degrade the cloud. Similarly, the connectivity could be disrupted as will be discussed in paragraphs 0011 through 0013.
FIG. 1 illustrates a depicts, in a stylized way, how CCC interacts with in-theater and space sensors and commands operational forces today. In this diagram, the larger of the two surfaces represent the forward battle area and the smaller the rear area that CCC Center is located, which is far distant from the battle area. In FIG. 2, this arrangement is disrupted by enemy action that physically attacks the CCC Center, kinetically attacks communications satellites and jams global communications links. The effect is that anticipated direction from senior leaders to forward forces is stopped. Space-based sensors may still operate but their information can no longer reach CCC to be processed and there are no forward processing capabilities that could perform this function for the operational forces. Without ongoing direction from CCC and lacking real time intelligence, the cohesion of the operating forces crumbles, and the carefully orchestrated coordination of attack and defense operations disintegrates, spelling disaster. Against the emerging adversaries, a drastic change to our CCC doctrine is required, one that distributes command and control and enables it to directly connect with operational forces near the forward combat theater. This patent covers such a solution, but first the mechanisms for this CCC disruptions are illuminated.
Physical attacks on CCC Centers can be in the form of long range conventional or nuclear missile attack or special operations that assault the centers themselves or the personnel that support them. In either case, this would likely result in the complete elimination of planning, processing and execution control for an extended, if not indefinite period.
Space-based assets, either communications satellites or sensors, can be physically attacked by space-based, air launched or ground launched interceptors. By the nature of orbital mechanics, satellite positions can be readily predicted far in advance and can easily be targeted. Destruction mechanisms can impact a single satellite or a wide swath of orbital ranges with all satellites in those ranges likely impacted or destroyed. This latter point is particularly germane for those that anticipate highly populated satellite constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) would be impervious to attack because of sheer numbers.
Another attack mechanism against satellite communications is electromagnetic jamming. Currently, the primary location of communications satellites is in Geo-synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), which enables satellites to appear fixed in the sky. This means they are very predictable and susceptible to jamming from a wide variety of hostile platforms.
While Satellite Communications is generally thought to carry most of the global data, undersea fiber optics cables actually are the true global communications highways carrying 99% of international data. The DoD employs commercial undersea cables to move data into forward operational theaters where it then routes that data over secure military circuits to operational forces. This implies two vulnerabilities that adversaries will exploit, the undersea cables themselves and the junction points where the information is routed, each highly vulnerable to enemy disruption and exploitation.
As reliance on computer processing has grown within nearly all societies on Earth, the threat of using cyber warfare techniques has grown exponentially in just about every aspect of life. The internet and the Cloud have made cyber attacks available to nearly anyone anywhere. Emerging adversaries have in particular been active in this area, with a major focus of using these weapons to attack CCC. While many tools and techniques have been developed to counter this threat, the ability to isolate computational systems is a key method to prevent or mitigate such attacks. Of course, complete isolation would severely impair CCC so some method that maintains desired connectivity while preventing unwanted connectivity is needed.
Finally, an overarching imperative is to fight future wars with a coalition of allied nations to strengthen our side and further isolate the adversary. However, military operations, whether in peacetime or war, require segregating information so only cleared personnel with need-to-know gains access. Within the current CCC construct, this is primarily handled by physically separating the other national command centers from U.S. CCC Centers. That said, some coalition members become assigned to U.S. CCC Centers so they generally are physically segregated to spaces that have access only to information for which they are cleared. But when an adversary attacks CCC Centers and disrupts communications, the ability to command and control coalition forces ends.
What is needed, therefore, is a new command and control doctrine that distributes the functionality of the CCC Centers, moves these capabilities much closer to the operational forces, and makes command and control communication fully resilient and survivable. Such a Distributed Command and Control (DCC) approach needs new equipment and methodologies that are summarized herein. Of particular usefulness would be a dispersed, redundant communications web that is not subject to the same threats from which the current vulnerable infrastructure suffers. Further, it would be useful to have a rapidly configurable system that is highly adaptable, fluid, and easily upgraded for planning operations, processing intelligence and directing mission execution.

Distributed communications platform theater control system


The present invention discloses novel hangers for hanging shooting targets such as clay targets in place for shooting practice. In addition it relates to a target system which includes hangers of the invention in combination with a horizontal support and optional support stands designed to hang one or more targets during target practice.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to target holders and target systems for target practice. In particular the present invention relates to a hanger for suspending a stationary target from a horizontal support and a horizontal target support system for hanging the hangers and targets on.
2. Description of Related Art
Gun and rifle target practice is not only a fun activity, it sharpens the aiming and shooting skills of the shooter. Targets come in all forms from sheets of paper with bulls-eye patterns to clay targets, balloons, "tin cans" and the like. Typically, the targets are nailed to walls, set on fences, clamped, taped, velcroed or even tossed up in the air. Practice with these forms of targets greatly improves skills for real life situations in addition to the general fun of target practice.
Current target mounting systems are not that good at retaining the targets and often times require that a particular location be used, for example, when sitting a target on a particular rock or post. These systems further suffer from the fact that repeated shooting can loosen or move stationary targets that are not fixed, thus requiring repeated rearranging of the targets to a proper position.
Accordingly, target holding systems that allow a broader range of uses in differing locations would be of great value to the target shooting community.


A citrus fruit press with at least one pressing unit with a feed device having two hollow receptacle carriers, which can be moved symmetrically with respect to one another from a mutually facing receiving position, via a cutting position, into a pressing position and each has at least one fruit-half-receiving hollow receptacle, and with two pressing tools, which rotate about in each case one of two parallel spindles and are mounted on a carriage which can advance and return the pressing tools, in the pressing position, into and from the hollow receptacles by a thrusting device, wherein the thrusting device acts on the carriage via a compressive device on the advancement side.

The invention relates to a citrus fruit press.
Citrus fruit presses are used extensively, in particular in the catering sector, for example, in hotel restaurants, where guests often like to be served freshly squeezed orange juice. In other cases too, it is of interest to have fresh lemon juice or grapefruit juice rather than the bottled variety.


A soft sided container that, when filled, is substantially cuboid in shape and has two flaps extending from upper edges of the front and rear panels. The flaps have fold lines such that, the flaps fold together. Holes cut in upper regions of the flaps form handles. Lengthwise across a top panel of the container is an elongated closure device that opens for accessing of the materials stored within and closes to seal the container. The elongated fastener continues at least partially across two triangular side flaps such that, when open, one of the triangular side flaps serves as a pouring spout. In some embodiments, a side flap retainer is connected between the side flaps to removably hold the side flaps in place against the top of the container.

Granular or powdered materials, like cat litter, pet food and grain are typically manufactured, transported, and dispensed from a variety of containers, including paper and biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) bags, boxes, bag-in-boxes (BIB), pails and buckets. For larger quantities up to 40 to 50 pounds, the containers are typically paper and BOPP bags, BIB's and pails/buckets (four to five gallons).
Paper and BOPP bags are sealed at each end by stitching through crepe tape (one to two inch paper or BOPP strips). The ends of the bags are typically v-shaped, which makes the package difficult to display or store in a vertical position. Additionally, once the package is opened, the contents often spill due to the v-shaped bottom of the bag. Since paper and BOPP bags are not self-supporting, they are usually palletized, transported, shelved and advertised in a horizontal position. The horizontal position allows visibility of only a small portion of the container from the end, reducing visibility of advertisements and product claims and requiring greater storage area (shelf space). Paper and BOPP bags that are in excess of 20 pounds and are difficult to carry and typically do not have a handle.
Another typical package for such products is pails and buckets, which are generally constructed from high density polyethylene (HDPE). Buckets and pails typically have a snap on/off lid comprised of HDPE and a handle made of either HDPE or metal. Both types of handles often have a HDPE cover or grip to provide comfort while carrying the package. Buckets and pails are often difficult to carry due to their diameter, requiring the individual to attempt to carry the container at a position away from their leg at an awkward position. Oftentimes the bucket will hit the individual's leg during transport interfering with walking. The snap on/off lids are often difficult to open and/or close to re-seal. While it is easy to access the material via the snap on/off lid, the product cannot be easily dispensed from the container due to the bulk and weight of the container. Buckets and pails can be recycled due to the fact that they are constructed from HDPE. If the container has a metal handle, it must be separated from the container and the HDPE handle cover must be removed from the handle. During recycling, the bucket/pail is rigid, does not compress and consumes excessive space during transportation and at the recycling facility. Storage and palletizing efficiency is reduced, due to the fact that empty space exists between buckets and pails. Some buckets and pails are square or rectangular shaped to reduce the empty space, but do not completely eliminate the space.
BIB's and boxes for granular and powdered material are constructed of corrugated paper. Boxes or BIB's typically have a top handle made of HDPE or two handles cut into the corrugated paper at the top of each side of the container. Boxes are sealed to prevent the material from leaking from the container, while the BIB utilizes a polyethylene bag to contain the product. Boxes and BIB's are typically sealed at the top by tape. While this type of container provide easy access to the material within, it is difficult to dispense the material from the bulky container. The boxes are also difficult to carry as described above due to the bulky nature container and the location of the handles on the package. The HDPE handle is uncomfortable while carrying the container and the side handles often tear while being carried. Boxes and BIB's are either square or rectangular shaped and eliminate wasted space during transportation. Additionally, boxes and BIB's eliminate wasted space on shelves and the front panel can be utilized for advertising and product claims. While these containers are constructed from recyclable corrugated paper, they are rigid and must be deconstructed prior to recycling. The BIB's and boxes with HDPE handles must be removed prior to recycling. The polypropylene bag in the BIB must be disposed of separately.
What is needed is a container for granular or powdered material that is ergonomic (easy to carry, provides easy access to and allows the product to be dispensed easily), economic (costs less than HDPE containers or corrugated paper), ecologic (uses less material than HDPE or corrugated paper containers, can be re-used and recycled) and efficient (no space between packages during transport, better utilization of shelf space and conformable to the product in the container).


The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to imaging members useful in electrostatography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved development systems for electrophotographic imaging and printing apparatuses and machines in which ghosting print defects are reduced, and more particularly, is directed to a method for reducing positive ghosting in such systems.

The present embodiments relate generally to development systems for electrophotographic imaging and printing apparatuses and machines in which ghosting print defects are reduced, and more particularly, is directed to a method for reducing positive ghosting in such systems.
Electrophotographic imaging members, e.g., photoreceptors, photoconductors, and the like, typically include a photoconductive layer formed on an electrically conductive substrate. The photoconductive layer is an insulator in the substantial absence of light so that electric charges are retained on its surface. Upon exposure to light, charge is generated by the photoactive pigment, and under applied field charge moves through the photoreceptor and the charge is dissipated.
These photoreceptors have a target voltage which is the voltage that the photoreceptor surface becomes uniformly electrostatically charged. It is the optimum voltage for a xerographic system found through testing, and its determination depends on various systemic and environmental parameters. For example, the target voltage may be dependent on characteristics of the photoreceptor, such as the photoreceptor thickness, or characteristics of the development system, such as the type of toner and carrier. The target photoreceptor surface voltage also depends on the desired image quality, such as solid area density, line width, and avoidance of defects (such as background). The target P/R surface voltage is one of many variables that are optimized to achieve best overall performance.
Photoreceptors also have a maximum voltage, which is defined as the safe upper limit. Exceeding this value may cause damage to the photoreceptor due to dielectric breakdown and resulting holes that may form. The holes will cause spots in the reproduction prints. Likewise, the maximum photoreceptor surface voltage depends on the photoreceptor material and thickness. The target value is generally much lower then the maximum P/R surface voltage.
In electrophotography, also known as xerography, electrophotographic imaging or electrostatographic imaging, the surface of an electrophotographic plate, drum, belt or the like (imaging member or photoreceptor) containing a photoconductive insulating layer on a conductive layer is first uniformly electrostatically charged at the target surface voltage. The imaging member is then exposed to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation, such as light. Charge generated by the photoactive pigment moves under the force of the applied field. The movement of the charge through the photoreceptor selectively dissipates the charge on the illuminated areas of the photoconductive insulating layer while leaving behind an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image may then be developed to form a visible image by depositing oppositely charged particles on the surface of the photoconductive insulating layer. The resulting visible image may then be transferred from the imaging member directly or indirectly (such as by a transfer or other member) to a print substrate, such as transparency or paper. The imaging process may be repeated many times with reusable imaging members.
An electrophotographic imaging member may be provided in a number of forms. For example, the imaging member may be a homogeneous layer of a single material such as vitreous selenium or it may be a composite layer containing a photoconductor and another material. In addition, the imaging member may be layered. These layers can be in any order, and sometimes can be combined in a single or mixed layer.
Typical multilayered photoreceptors or imaging members have at least two layers, and may include a substrate, a conductive layer, an optional charge blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a photogenerating layer (sometimes referred to as a "charge generation layer," "charge generating layer," or "charge generator layer"), a charge transport layer, an optional overcoating layer, an optional undercoat layer, and, in some belt embodiments, an anticurl backing layer. In the multilayer configuration, the active layers of the photoreceptor are the charge generation layer (CGL) and the charge transport layer (CTL). Enhancement of charge transport across these layers provides better photoreceptor performance.
Conventional imaging members, however, have exhibited drawbacks when implementing image forming methods. One common problem is that in that electrons tend to remain in the charge generating layer after holes are first inject into the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the electrons act as a kind of memory causing variations in potential. This problem, associated with charge accumulation, is known as "ghosting." Consequently, when a sequential image is printed, the accumulated charge results in image density changes in the current printed image that reveals the previously printed image. It is assumed that the electrons remaining in the charge generating layer advance for some reason to the boundary between the charge generating layer and the charge transporting layer, thereby reducing a barrier height for injecting holes in a vicinity of the boundary.
Ghosting can be described as developed image-forming patterns on a latent image-retaining member which are electrostatically transferred to a transfer material such as paper. These images become visual and the image formed can either be lighter than the background formed by toner deposition or darker than the background formed by toner deposition. In a situation where the ghost image is lighter than the background, the phenomenon is known as "negative ghosting." In a situation where the ghost image is darker than the background, the phenomenon is known as "positive ghosting."
Thus, as the demand for improved print quality in xerographic reproduction is increasing, there is a continued need for achieving improved performance, such as finding a way to minimize or eliminate charge accumulation in photoreceptors.

System and methods for reducing ghosting


The On-Chip Clock (OCC) circuit is for testing an integrated circuit having logic blocks connected in scan chains. An OCC controller is configured to receive a plurality of clock signals and output a plurality of shift/capture clock signals for use by the scan chains of logic blocks, the plurality of shift/capture clock signals including at least two consecutive at-speed capture clock pulses. An OCC monitor is configured to provide a verification of OCC operation based upon the at least two consecutive at-speed capture clock pulses. The OCC monitor may include a plurality of registers configured to provide delayed pulses based upon the at least two consecutive at-speed capture clock pulses, a counter configured to count differences between the delayed pulses, and an output register coupled to the counter and configured to provide a static data verification (e.g. output on an integrated circuit pad) for the test engineer.

Automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) is used to identify test sequences which can be applied to circuits to determine whether they operate correctly. In ATPG, test patterns are generated and used to test semiconductor devices after manufacture. Test patterns may also be used to assist in the determination of the causes of defects.
Effective testing of integrated circuits significantly enhances the ability of integrated circuit developers and manufacturers to provide reliable devices. Various techniques have been employed to test integrated circuits during the manufacturing process. One such technique that is commonly known, and has been used within the industry for over twenty years is scan testing.
Scan testing provides an efficient approach to testing the structural integrity of devices, such as flip-flops, within a complex integrated circuit. Scan testing does not test integrated circuit-level functionality. Rather, test personnel use scan testing to confirm that individual flip-flops within an integrated circuit function properly. The number of flip-flops within an integrated circuit, which is often greater than a million, presents a challenge for testing. Scan testing addresses this challenge through the use of automated test units that provide test vectors to scan paths including thousands of flip-flops within integrated circuits that have been designed to support scan testing.
Typically, complex integrated circuits are designed and implemented as a series of interconnected functional blocks, each of which can be tested independently. Devices, such as flip-flops, within these functional blocks can be designed, such that they can be connected together in a scan path to support scan testing. Flip-flops and other elements within a scan path include, in addition to inputs and outputs used for normal operation, two inputs associated with the scan testing capability. These include a scan input (SI) and a scan enable (SE) input. Flip-flops within a scan path have their output connected to the SI input of a subsequent flip-flop. The first flip-flop within a scan path receives its input from an automated test unit through a test access port on the chip. The last flip-flop within a scan path provides its output to the automated test unit through a test access port. Many scan paths can exist within a single integrated circuit.
While scan testing provides significant benefits, challenges exist related to how to efficiently debug a scan testing failure to identify the source or sources of the failure. Identifying the source of a scan path failure can be quite difficult. A typical integrated circuit can include many scan paths with each scan path including as many as 10,000 flip-flops. Additionally, when doing scan testing tens of external clock sources can exist. These external clock sources are in turn coupled through multiplexers, logic gates and buffers to form complicated clock trees, such that a single scan path can be effected by multiple clock sources with thousands of clock tree elements.
The clock pulses needed during the test mode are different than clock pulses needed during operation mode. The tests are relying on the PLL operating correctly, the OCC operating correctly, and the test logic operating correctly. At-speed transition patterns may use the OCC to generate at-speed capture pulses from the PLL. The OCC is a complex sequential MUX. When transition patterns fail during testing (e.g. at silicon), it is difficult to isolate the cause. The PLL may not be operating correctly, but observing the PLL clock at the input/output pads of the IC, after dividing the clock frequency, may not be possible. If patterns fail with at-speed capture pulses, the slow shift clock can be used for capture, and to verify the OCC operation. If the OCC is not working properly, there is currently no approach to verify this issue.

Monitoring on-chip clock control during integrated circuit testing


An apparatus for closing fluid passages of engines is disclosed. Preferred apparatus of the invention are able to automatically recognize inlets of several fluid passages, which exist in each engine at different positions depending on the engine model, and rapidly and precisely perform operation of closing the inlets at the recognized positions using a caulking device and a robot, thus enhancing manufacturing productivity of the engine.

Generally, fluid passages, through which fluid passes for lubrication or cooling, or to operate a variable valve timing device, are formed in the cylinder block and the cylinder head of an engine. Most fluid passages having the above-mentioned functions are formed through a separate drilling process after the cylinder block and the cylinder head have been made through casting.
Therefore, to ensure watertightness of the fluid passages formed in the cylinder block and the cylinder head through the drilling process, a passage closing operation must be performed after the drilling process. The closing operation is implemented by press-fitting a closing member, such as a tapered plug or a steel ball, into the inlet of each of the fluid passages formed in the cylinder block and the cylinder head.
The operation of closing the inlet of the fluid passage through the press-fitting process must be implemented several times even in one cylinder block or cylinder head. Thus, in consideration of productivity, an automated rather than manual process is preferred. In particular, an automatic press-fitting apparatus using a robot can be preferred.
An automatic press-fitting apparatus can be required to accommodate to a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) which is in use and in which a variety of vehicle models is manufactured in a single assembly line.
The information set forth in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known to a person skilled in the art.

Apparatus for closing fluid passages of engines


An array substrate is provided, including: a base substrate including a display area; a racetrack hole portion in the display area, including: a long axis; a short axis; a first hole and a second hole; a frame area surrounding the first hole and the second hole; and multiple lines in the frame area. The frame area includes a first wiring area and a second wiring area, the first wiring area includes a first conductive layer, and the multiple lines located in the first wiring area are arranged in the first conductive layer; and the second wiring area includes a second conductive layer and a third conductive layer arranged in different layers, and some of the multiple lines located in the second wiring area are arranged in the second conductive layer, and other lines of the multiple lines located in the second wiring area are arranged in the third conductive layer.

With the increasing demand for beautiful appearance of display terminals, a mobile phone display screen tends to frameless direction. However, a front camera hole and a sensor hole may occupy a part of the space. One method is to use a bang screen or a water drop screen, the other method is to open a hole in the display area, that is, to place the camera hole and the sensor hole in the display area. Generally, the camera hole and the sensor hole are separated round holes or square holes. In order to ensure the yield and display effect of the display product, a frame area around the round hole and a frame area around the square hole are set to have the same safe distance.

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A silica glass has a structure determination temperature of 1200K or lower and a hydrogen molecule concentration of 1.times.10.sup.17 molecules/cm.sup.3 or more. The silica glass is used together with light in a wavelength region of 400 nm or shorter. The silica glass is produced by heating a silica glass ingot having a hydrogen molecule concentration of 1.times.10.sup.17 molecules/cm.sup.3 or more to a temperature of 1200-1350K, retaining the ingot at that temperature for a given period of time, and then, cooling the ingot to a temperature of 1000K or lower at a temperature-lowering rate of 50K/hr or less to anneal the ingot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silica glass, optical members including the glass, and a method for producing the glass More particularly, it relates to a silica glass used for optical systems which use ultraviolet light of 400 nm or shorter and light of vacuum ultraviolet wavelength region, such as excimer laser lithography, optical members and a method for producing the silica glass.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, exposure apparatuss called stepper are used in photolithographic techniques according to which fine patterns of integrated circuits are exposed and transferred onto wafers such as of silicon. With recent increase in integration of LSI, wavelength of light sources in the stepper becomes gradually shorter such as g-line (436 nm), i-line (365 nm), KrF excimer laser beam (248 nm) and ArF excimer laser beam (193 nm). In general, synthetic silica glasses are used as optical glasses for lenses of illumination optical systems or projection optical systems of steppers because high transmittance for light of wavelength region shorter than i-line and ultraviolet light resistance are required.
However, even in the case of the synthetic silica glasses, when they are irradiated with ultraviolet light of high output or excimer laser beam for a long time, there appear an absorption region of 215 nm produced by structural defect called E' center (having a structure of .tbd.Si where .tbd. does not mean a triple bond, but means that Si bonds to three oxygen atoms and "." indicates an unpaired electron) and an absorption region of 260 nm produced by structural defect called NBOHC (Non-Bridging Oxygen Hole Center; having a structure of .tbd.Si--O.) which cause considerable decrease of transmittance for light of ultraviolet region. These silica glasses inferior in ultraviolet light resistance are not suitable as optical members such as optical lenses for ultraviolet light mentioned above.
For improving the ultraviolet light resistance of such silica glasses, it is known to subject silica glasses to a heat treatment in a hydrogen atmosphere (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette (Kokai) No. 1-201664). Furthermore, it is proposed to improve excimer resistance by doping silica glasses with hydrogen molecules (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette (Kokai) No. 3-109233).


A process for converting pyrolysis effluent stream into hydrocarbon products. Waste plastics are pyrolyzed at high temperature in a pyrolysis reactor to obtain a plastic pyrolysis effluent stream. The plastic pyrolysis effluent stream is further sent to a steam cracking unit for the separation of plastic pyrolysis effluent stream into a C5+ hydrocarbon stream and a C4 hydrocarbon stream. The pyrolysis reactor is operated at a to obtain hydrocarbon products of high value.

The recovery and recycle of waste plastics is held with deep interest by the public which has been participating in the front end of the process for decades. Past plastic recycling paradigms can be described as mechanical recycling. Mechanical recycling entails sorting, washing, and melting recyclable plastic articles to molten plastic materials to be remolded into a new clean article. The melt and remolding paradigm have encountered several limitations, including economic and qualitative. Collection of recyclable plastic articles at materials recovery facilities inevitably includes non-plastic articles that had to be separated from the recyclable plastic articles. Similarly, collected articles of different plastics must be separated from each other before undergoing melting because the articles molded of different plastics would not typically have the quality of an article molded of the same plastic. Separation of collected plastic articles from non-plastic articles and then into the same plastics adds expense to the process that makes it less economical. Additionally, recyclable plastic articles must be properly cleaned to remove non-plastic residues before melting and remolding which also adds to the expense of the process. The recovered plastic also does not possess the quality of virgin grade resins. The burdensome economics of the plastic recycling process and the lower quality of recycled plastic have prevented widespread renewal of this renewable resource.
A paradigm shift has enabled the chemical industry to rapidly respond with new chemical recycling processes for recycling waste plastics. The new paradigm is to chemically convert the recyclable plastics in a pyrolysis process operated at about 350° C. (662° F.) to about 600° C. (1112° F.) to liquids. The liquids can be refined in a refinery to fuels, petrochemicals and even monomers that can be re-polymerized to make virgin plastic resins. The pyrolysis process still requires separation of collected non-plastic materials from plastic materials fed to the process, but cleaning and perhaps sorting of plastic materials may not be as critical in chemical recycling.
Higher temperature pyrolysis is under investigation and is viewed as a route to convert plastics directly to monomers without further refining. Conversion of plastics back to monomers presents a circular way of recycling a renewable resource that yet has not been fully economically developed. What is needed is a viable process to convert plastic articles directly back to monomers.

Integrated process for pyrolysis and steam cracking


A toner evaluation method that enables accurate evaluation of fixation performance of toner such as low temperature fixability and offset resistance, and a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus adopting the toner positively evaluated by the evaluation method are provided. Toner is formed into a disc-shaped pellet. After preserved at a predetermined temperature, the pellet is compressed by a predetermined amount at a constant speed. If the maximum load (compression resistance) measured during the compression is a predetermined value or below, the minimum fixing temperature of the toner is relatively low.

This invention relates to a toner evaluation method that evaluates fixation performance of toner used in electrophotography. This invention also relates to a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus that use the toner positively evaluated by the above evaluation method.
Heretofore, a so-called pressing/heating fixation system has been adopted to fix toner transferred onto a recording material, like recording paper, in an image forming apparatus for electrophotography. In the pressing/heating fixation system, for example, the recording paper after the toner is transferred is held between a heating roller and a pressing roller both provided in a fixing unit. The toner is then pressed onto the surface of the paper and heated to be melted so as to be settled and solidified onto the recording paper.
However, the fixing unit adopting such a pressing/heating fixation system requires a great amount of power. There are cases in which 70% of the total power consumption is spent for fixation in recent image forming apparatus. Therefore, development of various toners has been undertaken, which are excellent in low temperature fixability and offset resistance.
For example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-278657 discloses a method for obtaining a toner by using two types of waxes having specific properties. Also, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-222138 discloses a method for producing a toner by mixing an amorphous polyester and a crystalline polyester at a predetermined ratio.

Toner evaluation method, toner cartridge, and image forming apparatus


A wireless communication method including: transmitting, from a base station, a signal in a second control channel that is used for transmitting information indicating a resource of first resource information indicating a resource of a first control channel, and receiving, by a wireless terminal, second resource information that indicates the resource of the first control channel and that is transmitted from the wireless base station before a transmission of the second control channel from the wireless base station to the wireless terminal.

In recent years, in wireless communication systems such as mobile phone systems (cellular systems), in order to further increase the speed, capacity, and so forth of wireless communication, a next-generation wireless communication technology has been discussed. For example, in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) serving as a standardization body, a communication standard called LTE (Long Term Evolution) and a communication standard based on the wireless communication technology of LTE and called LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) have been proposed.
The latest communication standard completed in 3GPP is Release 10 compatible with LTE-A, and this is obtained by substantially expanding the functions of Release 8 and Release 9 compatible with LTE. Currently, discussion is advanced to the completion of Release 11 to which Release 10 is further expanded. Hereafter, unless otherwise noted, it is assumed that "LTE" includes other wireless communication systems to which LTE is expanded, in addition to LTE and LTE-A.
In Release 11 of 3GPP, various technologies have been discussed. Thereamong, problem has been raised for a control signal of a downlink wireless frame, and vigorous discussions have been conducted thereon. Here, the outline thereof will be described. In addition, hereinafter, a wireless link in a direction headed from a wireless terminal to a wireless base station will be called an uplink (UL: UpLink), and a wireless link in a direction headed from the wireless base station to the wireless terminal will be called a downlink (DL: DownLink).
First, in FIG. 1, the format of a DL subframe ranging to Release 10 of 3GPP is illustrated. Basically, in a time region, transmission of a data signal aimed at a wireless terminal is performed in units of subframes. The wireless link of DL is constructed on an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) signal. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described later, a lateral direction (right-hand direction) indicates a frequency axis, and a longitudinal direction (downward direction) indicates a temporal axis. The DL subframe is divided into two slots slot (a first slot and a second slot) in a temporal axis direction. For example, the length of the DL subframe is 1 millisecond, and the length of one slot is 0.5 milliseconds.
In addition, the DL subframe is divided into a control signal region of a specific length (n OFDM symbols: n={1, 2, 3}) ranging from the frontend thereof in the temporal axis direction and a data signal region of a remaining region. The control signal region is a region in which a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH: Physical Downlink Control CHannel) corresponding to a DL control signal is arranged. In FIG. 1, as an example, two PDCCHs are arranged in the control signal region. In contrast, a data signal region 14 is a region in which a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH: Physical Downlink Shared CHannel) corresponding to a DL data signal is arranged. In FIG. 1, as an example, two PDSCHs are arranged in the data signal region.
The PDCCHs (DL control signals) are arranged in the control signal region by a predetermined rule. In addition, the PDSCHs (DL data signals) are each arranged so as to occupy a frequency region (frequency width) within the data signal region. The PDSCHs each occupy a given frequency region within the subframe while not divided into a plurality of pieces in the temporal axis direction within the wireless subframe.
Pieces of DL data (PDSCHs) within the data signal region are associated with the PDCCHs within the control signal region. In FIG. 1, as an example, the two PDCCHs are associated with the respective two pieces of DL data (PDSCHs).
The association of the PDCCH with the DL data (PDSCH) will be described. For the PDCCH, DCI (Data Control Information) that is DL control information is transmitted after coded and modulated. This DCI includes RB allocation (Resource Block Allocation) that is a parameter indicating a frequency region occupied by the PDSCH on the subframe (a wireless resource occupied by the PDSCH). Accordingly, a wireless terminal can recognize a wireless resource occupied by a piece of DL data (PDSCH) addressed to itself by searching within the control signal region and detecting one of the PDCCHs addressed to itself. Therefore, the wireless terminal can extract the piece of DL data (PDSCH) addressed to itself.
Next, search processing within the control signal region, performed by the wireless terminal in order to detect one of the PDCCHs addressed to itself, will be described. CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check: cyclic redundancy check) is added to the DCI, and this CRC is masked by using RNTI (C-RNTI, SPS-CRNTI, or the like) that is the identifier of a wireless terminal or RNTI (SI-RNTI, P-RNTI, or the like) for notifying common control information. Specifically, by performing logical sum between CRC parity bits of 16 bits and the RNTI or the like of 16 bits, the CRC is masked by the RNTI. In addition, the masking is called scrambling in some cases. If the wireless terminal can decode this masking of the CRC using the RNTI, the wireless terminal determines that one of the PDCCHs is addressed to itself. Specifically, using the RNTI, the wireless terminal performs decoding of masking of the CRC for an entire portion in which one of the PDCCHs may be arranged within the control signal region. In addition, in a case where the decoding of masking of the CRC succeeds, the wireless terminal determines that one of the PDCCHs to which the relevant CRC is added is addressed to itself. On the other hand, in a case where the decoding of masking of the CRC fails, the wireless terminal determines that one of the PDCCHs to which the relevant CRC is added is not addressed to itself. In a case where one of the PDCCHs addressed to itself is detected, it is possible to recognize, based on the value of the RB allocation included in the relevant PDCCH, a wireless resource in which a piece of DL data (PDSCH) is arranged.
Incidentally, in 3GPP, it is decided that the control signal region corresponds to up to three symbols ranging from the frontend. If the control signal region is further increased, it is difficult to maintain compatibility with legacy wireless terminals (wireless terminals and so forth only compatible with up to Release 8). Therefore, it is not realistic to change the limitation of up to the three symbols. However, it is considered that a deficiency of the control signal region is caused by this limitation. Specifically, in a case where, for example, the number of pieces of DL data (PDSCHs) is large and the number of corresponding PDCCHs is large, it is considered that there is a deficiency of the control signal region.
Therefore, in Release 11 of 3GPP, a new DL subframe has been proposed. FIG. 2 illustrates the format of the DL subframe proposed by Release 11.
In the DL subframe in FIG. 2, within the data signal region of the related art, it is possible to set a control signal region other than the control signal region of the related art. The other control signal region is called an enhanced control signal region. In the enhanced control signal region, it is possible to arrange an enhanced-physical downlink control channel (E-PDCCH: Enhanced-Physical Downlink Control CHannel) corresponding to an enhanced DL control signal.
It is possible to use the enhanced control signal region in the same manner as the control signal region of the related art. In addition, in the E-PDCCH, it is possible to transmit the DCI in the same way as in the PDCCH. Therefore, it is possible to associate one of the E-PDCCHs with a piece of DL data (PDSCH) in the same way as the PDCCH. In FIG. 2, as an example, the two E-PDCCHs and one PDCCH are associated with respective three pieces of DL data (PDSCHs). By the introduction of the E-PDCCH, it is possible to increase, as appropriate, a region in which the DL control information (DCI) may be stored while maintaining the compatibility with the legacy wireless terminals. Therefore, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned problem.

Wireless communication method, wireless communication system, wireless terminal, and wireless base station for enhanced physical downlink control channel


An extension-type holder comprising a cover, a movable base, a tube and an extensible rod assembly, the cover has an eccentric rod, the movable base has an eccentric pipe, a rotating joint is disposed between the extensible rod assembly and the tube, wherein the eccentric pipe can contain the eccentric rod, the tube can contain the movable base, a holding space can be formed between a cover and a movable base when the eccentric rod and the movable base is in an extending state.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an extension-type holder and more particularly to an extension-type holder uses an eccentric rod to form a holding space between a cover and a movable base, the eccentric rod can be contained in the internal part of the movable base, and the movable base can be contained in the internal part of a tube.
2. Description of Related Art
TW Patent No. M494340 entitled "Self-timer device" disclosed a self-timer device has a self-timer body and a joint assembly of electronic device. It is inconvenient to carry the self-timer device, because of the joint assembly has larger volume, and the joint assembly should influence the artistry of the self-timer device. Thus the self-timer device requires improvement. Moreover, US Patent publication No. 20130293731 entitled "Remote controller device for self-photography using a mobile phone camera" disclosed a remote controller device for self-photography has a mobile phone mounting part. The mounting part may partly cover a display of the mobile phone, because of the mounting part holds one side of the mobile phone from the front of the mobile phone. More particularly, the present mobile phone has a trend of narrower and narrower frame. Thus the way of mobile phone holding from the front still requires improvement.


A selection device includes: a storage part in which connection path information indicating a connection path of a device is stored; and a selection part configured to select the device for executing a process from among the plurality of devices. The selection part is configured to select, as the devices for executing a process, the devices whose paths from a place to store data used in the process to the devices are at least partly common on the basis of the connection path information.

Cloud computing, which executes various processes in accordance with requests from users connected via a network such as the Internet, is known.
In the system as described above, a device for executing a process is selected from among devices belonging to the system. A technique used in selection of a device for executing a process as described above is disclosed by, for example, Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing device including a service acceptance unit, a service selection policy acquisition unit, a candidate device selection unit, and a service device determination unit. For example, the candidate device selection unit determines service providing devices each of which can provide a service accepted by the service acceptance unit on the basis of service type information. The service device determination unit determines one or more service providing devices from among the service providing devices determined by the candidate device selection unit in accordance with a selection policy acquired by the service selection policy acquisition unit. According to Patent Document 1, such a configuration allows dynamic selection of a cloud service according to a user's object.
Further, a related technique is disclosed by, for example, Patent Document 2. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for shortening a time for establishing a connection between an originating node and a destination node.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. JP-A 2012-053853    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. JP-A 10-070571
According to the technique disclosed by Patent Document 1, a device for executing a process is selected on the basis of the type of a service accepted from a user, and the status of a requested device is not considered. Therefore, for example, there is a case where a plurality of processes using the same data are executed by different devices whose network paths do not overlap. As a result, for example, it is required to transmit duplicate data to each of the devices whose network paths are different, which may lead to increase of traffic. In other words, the technique disclosed by Patent Document 1 has caused a problem that network resources cannot be efficiently utilized.
Further, Patent Document 2 does not disclose any method for efficiently using network resources. Therefore, in the same way as the technique disclosed by Patent Document 1, the technique disclosed by Patent Document 2 has caused the problem that network resources cannot be efficiently utilized.
Thus, there has been a problem that, in selection of a device for executing a process, it is difficult to select a device which can efficiently utilize network resources.

Selection device, device selection method, and program


A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a compression fixation between a first and further component. The apparatus comprises an elongate body having a head end and a tip end and comprising a screw thread including a first region in which the screw thread has a corresponding first pitch and a further region, extending from the tip end, in which the screw thread is tapered and has a corresponding further pitch that continually decreases away from the tip end.

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for providing a compression fixation between various components. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a fixation device such as an interference screw having an elongate body which includes a screw thread that has a varying pitch at a tip end and a constant pitch along another region of the body. The varying pitch enables easy and accurate starting of the screw in use whilst the constant pitch region of the screw thread provides good fixation.
Various methods and fixation devices are known for fixing various components with respect to each other in the medical field. For example methods and apparatus are known for attaching tissue and/or bone into bone for the purpose of ligament reconstructions and/or repair. An example is a fixation device. Some conventional fixation devices have commonly been referred to as interference screws. Some interference screws are cannulated. In conventional techniques cannulation of a fixation device allows a device to be positioned and inserted into bone over a guide wire which increases accuracy and reduces divergence. Commonly the interference screw is inserted using an orthopaedic screwdriver.
A purpose of a fixation device is to provide compression fixation, commonly known as an interference fit, between two components in order to hold those components in place with respect to each other. This can, for example, be used to hold ligaments in place that connect two bones across a joint. It is known that the majority of use of such devices tends to be in respect of the knee joint of humans or other animals. Conventionally interference screws have been used in the tibia, femur or fibula or a combination of these and can be used with a combination of components of either soft tissue graft or bone blocks attached to soft tissue grafts.
Grafts may take the form of allograft tissue (deceased donor sourced replacement ligaments), autograft (a replacement ligament sourced from the same individual body), artificial replacement ligaments and/or augmentation of ligaments in situ or the like. Depending upon the form these grafts take bone may need to be fixed to bone, ligament fixed to bone or artificial manmade fibres or fibre fixed to bone.
It is common practice when providing such compression fixation that a tunnel is drilled in a bone and a graft of a selected type may be inserted into the tunnel and held in place with a fixation device. The fixation device, such as an interference screw, is commonly placed alongside the graft at the interface between the graft and bone or bone and bone in order to compress the parts of the graft and/or bone together and thereby provide compression fixation. It is also known that such fixation devices can be inserted into the middle of a graft if using four hamstring grafts, for example, in order to provide 360° graft-to-bone contact. Conventionally the fixation device is placed in a linear not perpendicular fashion with respect to a pre-prepared tunnel and pre-located graft.
US2006/0100627 illustrates an interference screw which can be used as a fixation device for securing tissue to a bone.
Whilst many conventional interference screws and other fixation devices work well in practice there are a number of key problems associated with their use. For example during a surgical operation a surgeon must attempt to locate the fixation device at a desired location and at a desired orientation so that as the fixation device is driven into bone and/or tissue the interference screw does not cause undue damage to soft tissue present at the fixation site. This may compromise fixation. Likewise surgeons carrying out operations with conventional screws must exert considerable urging force to begin a screwing process. As some surgeons may carry out multiple operations on any single day this can result in tiredness and exhaustion of the human surgeons carrying out the operations and this can lead to errors.


This invention is directed toward a garment that is comfortable to wear and can safely, with easy accessibility, securely store a cell phone and other important items. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a pair of shorts, with an elasticized waistband that can be tightened by a non-elasticized drawstring cord. There is a seamless, knitted inner layer similar to “boy short” style underwear. This seamless, knitted “boy short” style underwear inner layer provides comfort to the user. Two vertical side hip interior pockets are sewn to the inner layer at the outside of the seamless, knitted “boy short” underwear at the hips of the user, making it comfortable for a user to carry a cell phone and/or other items. The shorts have a thin line of reflective fabric on the seams and hem of the shorts, providing safety for the user.

Field of the invention: This invention relates to the general field of clothing, and more specifically, to pair of pants, shorts or Capris with a specific design and the ability to comfortably, safely, and with easy accessibility carry a cell phone and other items, such as, but not limited to, a medical device, small wallet, keys, ID, energy bars, cash, and/or credit card. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a pair of shorts, Capris or pants with enhanced comfort and cell phone carrying abilities is described in this application, but the materials and methods laid out in this application could just as easily apply to other items of clothing worn by women, men, or children.
Brief Description of Invention: As discussed above, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention are the utilitarian features of a comfortable, stylish and yet functional short, pant or Capri. To provide comfort, the shorts, pants or Capri have an elasticized waistband with an interior, non-elasticized drawstring cord, so users can comfortably slip on the shorts, pants or Capris, and them more securely, if and when needed, by tightening the non-elasticized drawstring cord. Inside of the shorts, pants or Capris is what is commonly known as, built-in seamless "boy short" style underwear, which is comprised of a snug fitting piece of fabric that extends from the waist to the intersection between the legs and the body of the wearer. This seamless "boy short" style underwear provides an inner layer of privacy and comfort, and yet because it ends at the top of the legs of the wearer, it does not bunch up, stretch out or cause chafing, as can be the case with inner garments that extend down the legs of the user. The inner layer is knitted on a machine that creates a seamless inner layer, which adds to the comfort of the user.
Since it is anticipated that this short, pant or Capri will be used by exercisers, walkers, joggers, golfers, hikers, travelers, sportspeople, athletes and runners who often will be in close proximity to roads, an attractive yet effective strip of reflective fabric is sewn onto the seams along the sides of the shorts, pants or Capris and around the hem, which can be straight or scalloped. There are two interior vertical side hip pockets for a cell phone and/or the aforementioned items that are sewn just below the waistband of the inner short, pant or Capri. Both pockets will accommodate a cell phone and the aforementioned items. These pockets keep the cell phone and the other aforementioned items securely retained within the pockets. The pockets are located at the sides of the shorts, pants or Capri of the user's hips, so that the cell phone and/or the aforementioned items can be carried inconspicuously, securely and comfortably. The cell phone and/or the aforementioned items will be kept stable and safely secured while maintaining accessibility to the items in the interior vertical side hip pockets.
Making comfortable, functional shorts, pants or Capris has always been a challenge. With the profusion of cell phones, and the transition of cell phones from a convenience to a necessity that have to be taken along during all activities, the additional challenge of how to effectively secure a cell phone inside shorts, pants or Capris has presented itself.
The prior art presents a number of attempts to solve this problem, but none that so effectively combine an effective container for a cell phone and/or the aforementioned items in an ideal location on the inner liner that is inside the shorts, pants or Capris. This particular combination has proven to result in an extremely comfortable and useful pair of shorts, pants or Capris that prevents the exerciser, hiker, golfer, traveler, athlete, sports enthusiast, runner, walker, or jogger from having the phone slap his/her thigh when the cell phone and/or the aforementioned items are contained in a pocket located on the individual's thigh; having to shove the cell phone into a woman's or girls' sports bra, which is potentially unhealthy; having to hold the cell phone in his/her hand, which can cause cramping or being strapped to a bicep, which is inconvenient and difficult, when trying to access the cell phone or music device, and can potentially reduce blood flow, create an unwanted rash, and could limit muscle contraction.
There are shorts, pants or Capris with reflective details, but these are mostly reflective patches that are glued or heat-affixed to the exterior of the shorts, pants or Capris. These tend to get damaged by washing and lose both their effectiveness and looks with every washing. These details are customarily the logo of the company and do not create visibility during low-visibility times for the exerciser, runner, sports enthusiast, athlete, golfer, traveler, hiker, walker or jogger.
There are also shorts, pants or Capris with cell phone pockets, but these are usually too small, have inadequate closure methods, or are located on a part of the shorts, pants or Capris where they are inaccessible and uncomfortable. The existing cell phone pockets are also not well secured, such that there is a danger of the entire pocket "flipping over" the waistband or out of other pocket locations, thus potentially causing the cell phone and/or the other aforementioned items to fall out, be sat on, banged, folded, or knocked.
Shorts, pants or Capris with elastic waistbands are well known, but the current invention combines an elastic waistband with a non-elasticized drawstring cord, such that the user can benefit from the comfort of an elastic waistband, but when he/she really needs to make sure the shorts, pants or Capris stay on, he/she can do by tightening them with the non-elasticized drawstring cord.
Shorts, pants or Capris with inner liners are also known in the art, but this invention has the built-in seamless "boy short" style underwear knitted without seams to enhance comfort, and serving a secondary function by anchoring the cell phone pocket to the shorts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An easy-open beverage container and an opening system for the beverage container are provided which include a container barrier wall having a straw hole. An easy-open tamper-evident membrane seal is located inside of the container and sealingly covers the straw hole. This membrane seal includes an outer portion which is sealed to an inside surface of the barrier wall about the straw hole and which terminates at a distance from the straw hole. This outer portion includes fingers which extend toward the straw hole. The membrane seal also includes an inner portion integral with the outer portion which is not sealed to the inside surface and which covers the straw hole so that in use the straw pierces the inner portion after being inserted into the straw hole. Preferably, the fingers form a sinusoidal intersection of the inner and outer portions, and the inner and outer portions as well as the straw hole are concentric. In addition, the membrane seal is formed of a laminate of LLDPE-EVOH-LLDPE suitably laminated together, as by tie layers, with the EVOH less than 40% of the thickness of the laminate and each LLDPE is at least 30% of the thickness of the laminate. The distance is greater than about 1/3 the diameter of the straw and less than about 1 2/3 the diameter of the straw, and the inner portion has a minimum edge to edge spacing of at least three times the diameter of the straw.

In pouch or bag-shaped beverage containers having a membrane seal which is to be pierced by a pointed straw, there is a problem making the seal sufficiently easy for the consumer to pierce with a straw. The piercing of the membrane seal may be an especial problem for small children who frequently utilize such containers and who lack the dexterity of adults.
In one prior art opening system a simple membrane seal has been used on an inside surface of one barrier wall of a bag-shaped container. The membrane seal is sealed up to the edges of the straw hole in the barrier wall near a top of the container. The membrane is flush with the inner surface of the barrier wall and the membrane area covering the straw hole is essentially unyielding. Such a membrane seal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,583 (Wild). While such a membrane seal is an improvement of present commercial opening systems it is often difficult for young children (ages 4-9) to use since the membrane must be struck with the straw only in the hole in the barrier wall and at the same time with somewhat of a downward angle so that the straw does not pierce as well the back barrier wall of the container. In addition, once (and as) the membrane is pierced, the membrane is torn and squeezing of the bag-shaped container may result in the beverage being pushed up around the outside of the straw and out of the straw hole causing undesired spillage.
Another opening system using two distinct membrane seals for a bag-shaped container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,693 (Terajima et al.). A first membrane seal is attached on the inside surface of the barrier wall about the straw hole and to a tamper-evident, pealable tab attached to an outer surface of the barrier wall. Covering the first membrane and attached to the inside surface about the first membrane is a second membrane which is at least partially pierced. When the tab is peeled from the barrier wall, the part of the first membrane covering the straw hole is also pealed away therewith. This exposes the second membrane which is easily pierced by the straw, as it is already at least partially pierced. However, such opening systems are complex and expensive.

Straw-access system for flexible beverage pouch


An image forming system for forming an image by supplying a sheet of paper from a sheet supply section to an image forming section through a transfer path. In a first print mode, the sheet of paper is placed on standby in a sync transfer section provided on the transfer path, and image data transferred thereafter is printed in the image forming section, and in a second print mode, the sheet of paper is transferred to the sync transfer section without stopping the sheet of paper at the sync transfer section, transfer of image data is requested, and the image data transferred is printed in the image forming section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system, such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer, and more particularly to an image forming system operable in dual modes, a normal print mode and a copy print mode.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A conventional laser beam printer includes a plurality of sheet trays, for example, three sheet trays 1 to 3, as shown in FIG. 2. A sheet of paper 4 to be recorded thereon is selectively picked up from one of those trays 1 to 3 by means of a pick-up roller 5 when the roller receives a control signal from a host computer (not shown). The sheet 4 picked up by the pick-up roller 5 is transferred to paired registration rollers 8a and 8b as a sync transfer section by pairs of transfer rollers 6a and 6b and 7a and 7b. The paired regist rollers 8a and 8b are driven at a print start timing, that is, after a predetermined time elapses from the start of exposure of a photoreceptor drum 10 to light from an image forming section 9. The paired regist rollers 8a and 8b, when driven, brings the sheet 4 forward in time registration with the developed image on the photoreceptor 10. The image forming section 9 forms a latent electrostatic image on the photoreceptor 10. The latent image is developed by a developing section 11. The developed image is transferred to the sheet 4 by a transfer section 12. Thereafter, the image is thermally fused to the sheet 4 by means of paired fusing rollers 13a and 13b. The sheet 4 emanating from the fixing roller pair is transferred by paired transfer rollers 14a and 14b and paired exit rollers 15a and 15b, and is discharged to an output tray 16. However, in the laser beam printer, the angles of the sheets from the trays 1 to 3 to the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b are different from one another. The leading edges of the sheet 4, that are picked up from the trays 1 to 3 and transferred, reach the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b at different times. That is, the time taken for the sheet 4 to travel from the tray 2 to the regist roller pair is longer than that from the tray 1 to the roller pair; and the time taken for the sheet 4 to travel from the tray 3 to the roller pair is longer than that from the tray 2 to the roller pair. As a result, the through-put of the print processing (the amount of processing per unit time) is different for different trays. To cope with this, a timing chart as shown in FIGS. 11(a) through 11(g) has been used for the control of the operation from the sheet supply stage to the printing stage in the conventional printing system.
In this printing system, in response to a print command from the host computer, the base machine applies a transfer signal to the pick-up roller 5, which picks up and transfers the sheet 4. When a regist sensor 17 detects the arrival of the sheet 4, the base machine places the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b in an standby state and sends a vertical sync signal request signal to the host computer. Upon receipt of the request signal, the host computer sends a vertical sync signal and image data signal. In response to those signals, the base machine drives the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b to set up the time registration of the image on the photoreceptor 10 with the position of the sheet 4.
Thus, at instant that the sheet 4 from any one of the trays 1 to 3 arrives at the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b and that the base machine is ready for print operation, the base machine sends a vertical sync signal request signal to the host computer. At this time, if the image data to be printed has been prepared in the host computer, that is, the image data processing, such as conversion of the received character codes into image data and conversion of the coordinates of image data into portrait or land scape, has been completed, the host computer sends a vertical sync signal and the image data to the base machine.
In a normal print mode where image data is different for each print, the sheet 4 cannot be moved from the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b till the host computer produces a vertical sync signal, when the host computer produces a print command to the base machine, the sheet 4 arrives at the paired regist rollers 8a and 8b, and the base machine sends a vertical sync signal request signal to the host computer, but the image data processing, such as conversion of the received character codes into image data and conversion of the coordinates of image data into portrait and landscape, is not completed in the host computer.
In other words, the base machine can only enter the print operation if the host computer sends a vertical sync signal to the base machine when the host computer completes the above-described data processing. Therefore, in the conventional printing system thus constructed, it is unnecessary for the host computer to determine the timing of the print command depending on the amount of image data and the processing time. Particularly, in the case where the sheet 4 is picked up from the tray 3, transferred, and printed, the task of the host computer for processing the data to control the base machine, which is other than image data, is reduced, leading to improvement of the through-put.
In a copy print mode to print the same image data plural times, the conventional printing system needs, every print, the transfer of the vertical sync signal request signal and the vertical sync signal between the base machine and the host computer. The signal transfer operation is complicated and the processing task of the host computer is large.

Image forming system having first and second print modes which control sheet at transfer registration rollers


A modular backwash assembly and method for using the same is disclosed, the modular backwash assembly comprises a filter brick body, an ultrasonic generator and an ultrasonic connecting component, the filter brick body is provided at an upper portion with a square trench and a cover, the square trench is provided with a plurality of stiffeners and fillers, and a conductive channel is provided on the periphery of the square trench and is provided with an ultrasonic conductive medium therein. The invention has the advantages of firm structure and durable, the gas distribution uniformity may be increased up to 96% and the turbidity average is below the specification 10 NTU.

In the actual project for water treatment, the filter layer needs to be periodically backwashed after a filter pool is used for a period of time. The main purpose is to remove the impurities and contaminants in the filter layer so as to regenerate the filter layer. In addition, the backwash operation can also reduce the resistance of filtration operation during water treatment. In general, backwash is suitably conducted by the air-water joint backwash, which is sequentially air washing, air and water joint washing, and water washing. Air washing time is suitably 3-5 min; air-water joint washing time is suitably 10-15 min; and separate water washing time is suitably 5-10 min. The intensity for air washing is suitably 90-110 m3/(m2·h); and the intensity for water washing is suitably 14-16 m3/(m2·h). Accordingly, a backwash assembly with the function of high-efficient air-water distribution plays a crucial role in the backwash effect.
Currently, long-handled filter heads and filter bricks are essentially adopted in project as the core assembly for filter pool backwash. In practical application, the long-handled filter heads essentially have such problems as large area of dead zone for air-water distribution, short service life and difficulty of routine maintenance. Compared to the long-handled filter heads, the other assembly filter brick has the advantages of high uniformity of air-water distribution, long service life and low cost, however, it is inadequate in the overall structural stability of the filter brick and its performance of air-water distribution.

Modular backwash assembly and method for using the same


According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving biometric information about a living body of a user wearing an eyeglasses-type wearable terminal and working in a predetermined range, from the eyeglasses-type wearable terminal, and estimating that the user is concentrating, based on the received biometric information.

Recently, for example, a wearable terminal worn and used by a user has been put into practice. As the wearable terminal, for example, an eyeglasses-type wearable terminal, a wristband-type wearable terminal, etc. are known.
Since this wearable terminal can be used in a hands-free state, for example, attachment of a user (hereinafter called a worker) working in a predetermined range such as a factory has been reviewed.
Incidentally, a manager who manages workers is positioned in the factory where the workers work. The manager gives workers instructions for assignment of works, confirmation and change of works, etc., but, for example, if the factory area is large and the number of workers is great, the instructions are often given by call (speech communication).
For example, however, if a worker receives an incoming call (call arrival) from the manager while concentrating on the work, etc., the worker needs to suspend the work in order to respond to the incoming call. This matter deteriorates the worker's concentration and consequently lowers the work efficiency. A system of recognizing the worker's status as to whether the worker concentrates or not is therefore desired.

Information processing apparatus for determining user attention levels using biometric analysis


An energy storage apparatus for engine start-up includes: an energy storage device, a first switch provided in a first energizing path to the energy storage device, a step-down circuit provided in a second energizing path to the energy storage device, and a controller. The controller turns the first switch on to discharge through the first energizing path at engine start-up, and turns the first switch off to select the second energizing path if an output voltage of a vehicle generator is higher than a predetermined voltage to cause the output voltage of the vehicle generator to be stepped down with the step-down circuit to charge the energy storage device.

Since an energy storage apparatus for engine start-up needs to momentarily pass a large cranking current at engine start-up, the response of power needs to be high so that a large current can be momentarily supplied. In addition, the energy storage apparatus for engine start-up is configured to be charged by an alternator while a vehicle is traveling. It should be noted that the document related to the energy storage apparatus for engine start-up includes, for example, JP 2013-201888 A.
When charged with a voltage higher than an appropriate charge voltage, the energy storage apparatus is overcharged. In order to prevent the overcharge of the energy storage apparatus, it is conceivable to provide a step-down circuit inside the energy storage apparatus to adjust the charge voltage to an appropriate value. However, since the energy storage apparatus for engine start-up needs to have high response of power so that a large current can be momentarily supplied, it has been required that the energy storage apparatus is prevented from becoming overvoltage while the response at engine start-up is secured.

Energy storage apparatus for engine start-up, method for controlling the same, and vehicle


In a relational database management system (RDBMS), a method of processing related records can include receiving a plurality of related records and inserting the plurality of related records into a single table of an RDBMS. The plurality of related records can be associated as a set within the single table using a published function of the RDBMS. Responsive to a triggering condition, particular related records of the set can be selectively purged from the single table.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to relational database management systems, and more particularly, to extending the functionality of a relational database management system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A relational database management system (RDBMS) is a computer system which stores related information in a manner that facilitates the searching and modifying of that information. In a sense, an RDBMS is a high level programming language that specializes in data manipulation. An RDBMS accomplishes these modifications through a series of commands, functions, and rules. Application programmers can utilize these functions from within application code when constructing programs for end users. Using an RDBMS to manage data, application programmers can write more stable and efficient code.
Applications which interoperate with RDBMS systems often incorporate a customized "front end" and a standardized "back end." The "front end" can include a graphical user interface (GUI), tailored reports, and application specific code. The "back end" can include the RDBMS. A database "back end" grants an application substantial, standardized functionality. Database "back ends" allow multiple users to simultaneously access and modify common data without corruption of the data. Additionally, database "back ends" can implement various security-related privilege schemes for different application users. Database "back ends" also allow efficient searches through large amounts of records located with different database tables.
An RDBMS requires significant structure and form to carry out its intended functions. An RDBMS structures information as a collection of tables having inter-related columns and rows. To access information stored in a relational database, an RDBMS provides a query methodology that allows database administrators and application programmers to access and manipulate stored information. One such query methodology is the Structured Query Language (SQL) interface, which is specified by standards adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO) following original development work by International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation of Armonk, N.Y. The SQL interface permits users to perform operations on data tables. Operations can be performed interactively through batch file processing, or through SQL functions embedded in code of host languages such as C, COBOL, Pascal, and the like.
Certain database applications temporarily append nearly identical records knowing only one such record will be ultimately stored in the database. An airline passenger reservation system is an example of such an application. In an airline passenger reservation system, a passenger can make multiple reservations for different flights originating in a departure city and arriving at a destination city. Notwithstanding, the passenger likely plans on confirming and traveling on one of the reserved flights. Still, at the time the passenger reserves the multiple flights, there is uncertainty as to which reservation will be confirmed. Each of these reservations, however, can be stored as a temporary record in a row of a database table.
Presently, the front-end systems or application programs which interact with RDBMSs facilitate and track the grouping of related rows within a single database table. Hence, the application programs must contain code that maintains relationships among records within a single database table when such relationships are needed. Generating code within every database application that needs this commonly occurring functionality can be inefficient and wasteful.

Method and system for intra-table referential integrity for relational database systems

International Business Machines Corporation