Classifying apparatus and methods are disclosed for the classification of extremely small solid particles of 18 mesh or less in which low frequency, high amplitude vibrations are imparted to a screen simultaneously with high frequency, low amplitude vibrations. The screen may be inclined at an angle of about 20.degree. from the horizontal and the screen mesh may be about 18 mesh or smaller and have openings which are approximately square in shape.

The present invention relates to classifying apparatus and method and, more particularly, to a vibrating screening deck and method of classifying and separating solid particulate materials of larger and smaller sizes from each other.
Vibrating screening decks have been widely used in the past in the classification and separation of particulate solids of varying particle sizes and compositions, such as limestone, coal and ores. Such screening decks have typically comprised a generally rectangular frame which is suspended in operation and which has a screen cloth in the frame upon which the materials to be classified are deposited. The frame and screen in such decks are suspended at an angle inclined from the horizontal, and at least the screen is vibrated to cause the solid particulates to move down the screen. As the materials move down the vibrating screen solids of smaller mesh size pass through the screen as "unders", and solids of larger particle size are discharged from the lower end of the screen as "overs".
One advanced form of such prior screening deck is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,656. That screening deck comprises a rigid frame in which the screens of the deck are mounted in the frame on resilient mountings. The screens are vibrated directly and independently of the frame by vibrating tappets which bear against the underside of the screens to impart high frequency, low amplitude vibrations directly to the screen. The advantages of the apparatus and method disclosed in the patent are that a substantial reduction in power consumption, apparatus weight and frequency of maintenance are realized over the screening apparatus and methods known previously.
Screening decks and methods as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,656 function quite well in the separation of particulate solids where the "unders" are larger than about 18 mesh. Where the "unders" exceed a size of 18 mesh, the screening deck is typically inclined at approximately 38.degree..+-.5.degree.. This is the angle of repose of most materials and at this angle the particulate materials slide down the vibrating screens by gravity. The .+-.5.degree. is adjusted to control the bed depth of the solid particulates on the screen which in turn controls to a degree the gradation of the materials that is to be separated.
At the foregoing 38.degree. angle of incline, screens are typically employed in which the mesh is formed with slotted rectangular openings to compensate for the relatively steep angle of incline of the screens. If a mesh having square openings was used, the gradation of the material would be effected to produce more fines because the particulate solids sliding across the surface of the screen do not actually meet the opening perpendicular to the screen at such incline. However, when screening "unders" below an 18 mesh opening, the rectangular slotted weave is no longer practical because wire cloth manufacturers either cannot weave such screens or, if they can, the cost becomes prohibitively high in such slotted configurations at such small mesh sizes. The present invention was developed to overcome the foregoing disadvantages.
In the present invention much finer gradations of smaller sized particles of "unders" are possible, and a square opening mesh which is readily and relatively inexpensively available in sizes as small as or smaller than 40 mesh may be utilized in place of the rectangular opening screens. Moreover, the likelihood of pegging or plugging of the screens having these small mesh sizes is substantially reduced by the apparatus and method of the present invention as will be described in more detail to follow.
In one principal aspect of the present invention classifying apparatus for separating particulate solids of larger and smaller sizes from each other includes a frame, at least one screen having openings therein to permit the passage of the smaller particulate solids therethrough, and mounting means for mounting the screen in the frame. First vibration means imparts high frequency, low amplitude vibrations to the screen and second vibration means imparts low frequency, high amplitude vibrations to the screen simultaneously with the high frequency, low amplitude vibrations.
In another principal aspect of the present invention a method of separating particulate solids of smaller and larger sizes from each other comprises introducing the solids to be separated to the inlet end of an inclined screen having openings therethrough and which is mounted in a frame, imparting high frequency, low amplitude vibrations to the screen while simultaneously imparting low frequency, high amplitude vibrations to the screen, and removing the smaller size particulate solids which pass through the vibrating screen and the larger size particulate solids which do not pass through the vibrating screen.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the foregoing first vibration means imparts the high frequency, low amplitude vibrations directly to the screen to vibrate the screen independently of the frame.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, mounting means mounts the second vibration means to the frame to impart the low frequency, high amplitude vibrations to the frame and the screen.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the particulate solids to be separated are sequentially passed across a pair of screens, and each of the screens are vibrated with high frequency, low amplitude vibrations by the first vibration means independently of each other.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the high frequency, low amplitude vibrations have a frequency of between about 1,000-7,000 vpm and an amplitude of between 600-1,350 cfp and the low frequency, high amplitude vibrations have a frequency of between 900-3,600 vpm and an amplitude of between about 0-7850 cfp, and the frequency and amplitude of the high frequency, low amplitude vibrations are higher and lower respectively than the frequency and amplitude of the low frequency, high amplitude vibrations.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned screen is inclined at an angle of about 20.degree. from the horizontal.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the openings in the screen are about 18 mesh or smaller in size, and the openings are approximately square in shape.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.


Alignment method and procedure for accurately determining the off-normal angle of incidence of an optical beam with a sample, for example, in ellipsometry. A diffraction grating is fabricated with a grating period chosen such that, when a laser beam irradiates the grating placed at the sample area, a beam is diffracted generally along the incoming laser beam. The laser is then angularly moved with respect to the grating until the two beams are auto-collimated, i.e., made coincident. The angle of incidence is then accurately determined from the laser wavelength and the grating period through well known equations.

Aspnes and the present inventor disclosed an ellipsometer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,320, and incorporated herein by reference. This highly sensitive ellipsometer allows the characterization of the composition of a semiconductive thin film as it is being grown in a closed deposition chamber. As illustrated in the schematic illustration of FIG. 1, the thin film is grown on a substrate 10, usually a semiconductor wafer, held on a substrate holder 12 located inside the enclosed growth chamber. If the growth process is molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) or organo-metallic molecular beam epitaxy (OMMBE), the growth chamber is a vacuum chamber 14 held at fractions of a torr. Two viewing ports 16 and 18 are disposed at about 70.degree. on either side of the surface normal 20 of the substrate holder 12. Low-strain optical windows 22 in the viewing ports 16 and 18 provide optical access to the growing thin film. A viewing port 24 with its own window is usually located on the surface normal 20. The ellipsometer of Aspnes and Quinn includes a light source 26 outputting a beam along an incident axis 28, an entrance iris 30, a rotatable input polarizer 32, a rotatable output polarizer 34 and an exit iris 35 disposed on a reflection axis 36, and an optical detector 38. A computer 40 receives the measured optical intensities and controls the polarizers 32 and 34. They chose to use a wide band Xe arc lamp as the light source 26 and include a monochromator just before the optical detector 38. More details may be found in their patent. The ellipsometer provides an incident beam of a predetermined polarization state extending through the window of the input port 22 and striking the substrate 10 at an oblique angle .phi..sub.i away from the surface normal. The incident radiation interacts with the top micrometer or so of material on the substrate 10 (i.e., the growing thin film) and is reflected in a changed polarization state along the reflection axis 36 extending through the output port 18. The reflection axis 36 is angularly displaced from the normal 20 by .phi..sub.0. For specular reflection, EQU .phi..sub.i =.phi..sub.0. (1)
The ellipsometer of Aspnes and Quinn has been used to control the growth of thin films of ternary semiconductors, e.g. Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As. It is highly precise, capable of controlling variations of the alloying percentage x to less than 0.1%
However, its accuracy has been substantially less. Accuracy depends on the absolute value of the alloying percentage x, not just its variation. The accuracy has been limited by the lack an exact numerical value of the incident angle .phi..sub.i, which is used in reducing the experimentally derived ellipsometric data to the complex refractive indices or dielectric functions of the material being probed by the ellipsometer. In the past, the incident angle .phi..sub.i was determined by triangulation. However, the sample holder 12 is within the vacuum chamber 14 having very limited optical access, and its angular position cannot usually be moved. As a result, triangulation becomes difficult. Another commonly used technique involves auto-collimation in which the sample is replaced by a mirror mounted on a precision rotatable stage. The stage or light source is then moved until the reflected beam coincides with the incident beam. Thereafter, the stage is rotated through a precisely measured angle to its operational position. Reflective auto-collimation is not useful with growth chambers because the substrate holder is designed for considerations inconsistent with a precision rotatable stage. Another indirect technique involves mounting a reference sample of known refractive indices and performing ellipsometry upon it. The value of .phi..sub.i which best reduces the ellipsometric data to the known (or assumed) dielectric function of the sample is taken as the incident angle. However, this technique requires that the actual surface composition of the reference sample be precisely known and be constant. Therefore, the accuracy of the indirect approach depends on the unknown reproducibility of the reference sample.

Alignment of an ellipsometer or other optical instrument using a diffraction grating


A display device includes: a pixel section provided between a pair of substrates and including plural pixels; one or plural active components disposed in a frame region around the pixel section on one substrate of the pair of substrates; an insulating film provided in the frame region on the one substrate to cover the one or plural active components; and a sealing layer provided to seal the pixel section and cover an end edge portion of the insulating film in the frame region.

In a liquid crystal display device or a video display device such as an organic electro luminescence (hereinafter referred to as EL) display device, when moisture intrudes into a display panel, characteristics of a liquid crystal layer and an organic EL layer are deteriorated or corrosion occurs in wiring layers and the like. Therefore, the display device includes a structure in which the periphery of the display panel is bonded and sealed by a seal material or the like. Various proposals have been made concerning such a sealing structure for the display panel (JP-A-2005-78946 and JP-A-1-239528).
For example, JP-A-2005-78946 and JP-A-1-239528 propose a method of sealing, with the seal material, the periphery of a display panel including a structure in which electrodes, a light emitting layer, and the like are laminated on a substrate on which thin film transistors (TFTs) for driving peripheral circuits and pixels are provided.


A period when the combustion of an engine is not performed is detected at two points before and after the top dead center of the cylinder in the expansion stroke. Engine speeds in both the periods are detected and the speed difference between the detected periods is calculated. Mean speed difference is calculated. The mean speed difference is compared with a predetermined limit value, thereby estimating combustion condition of the cylinder.

The present invention relates to a system for detecting a combustion condition which is available for controlling the ignition timing of an engine.
It is desirable to control the idling speed of the engine to a low speed in accordance with requirements for fuel economy and reduction of engine noise. However, a low idling speed causes fluctuation of the engine speed and hence reduction of starting characteristics of a motor vehicle driven by the engine. It is generally deemed that the differences between the combustion conditions of respective cylinders of the engine cause the fluctuation of the idling speed. The fluctuation of the combustion conditions are caused by the following differences.
1) The difference in distribution rate of intake air caused by a complicated configuration of an intake manifold and by interference between the intake-air distributed to respective cylinders;
2) The difference between combustion temperatures in respective cylinders, which is caused by a disposition of a coolant passage;
3) The differences in capacity of a combustion chamber, shape of a piston, etc., which are caused by the manufacturing tolerance;
4) The difference in air-fuel ratio in respective cylinders which is caused by the difference of the injected fuel amount.
It will be understood that the idling speed becomes constant by rendering the above described combustion conditions uniform.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 62-55461 discloses a system for detecting combustion conditions in respective cylinders. The system has pressure sensors provided at every cylinder for detecting pressure in the cylinder. The combustion condition of each cylinder is estimated from the peak pressure of the detected pressures by each pressure sensor.
However, the system is costly because the pressure sensor is comparatively expensive. In addition, a cylinder head of the engine must be drilled for attaching the pressure sensor. Consequently, it is difficult to apply the system to conventional engines.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 59-82534, Japanese Utility Model Applications Laid-Open 63-196448, 63-198473, and 63-202771 discloses systems for idling speed control systems. The systems detect instantaneous engine speeds before and after combustion in each cylinder, and the speed difference .DELTA.Ni between both engine speeds is obtained from every cylinder. The systems control engine parameters so that the speed difference .DELTA. Ni becomes zero, thereby causing the engine speed to be constant.
The systems calculate a deviation of the speed difference .DELTA. Ni from a standard value which is an average value of speed differences at all cylinders. However, the average value is subject to fluctuate in accordance with engine combustion conditions. As a result, combustion condition factors other than the detecting cylinder are included in the combustion conditions for the cylinder, so that the combustion conditions can not be accurately detected. Therefore, the idling speed is not controlled to a predetermined value, because ignition timing and the quantity of injected fuel for each cylinder are determined on the basis of the estimated combustion conditions.

System for detecting combustion condition of an internal combustion engine


The present process is designed for removing elemental iodine and iodide ions from an aqueous solution containing iodine and iodide ions. This process employees a strong-base anion exchange resin. The resin comprises trialkyl amine groups each preferably comprising from alkyl groups containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The aqueous solution containing elemental iodine and iodide ions is passed through the resin and thereby treats the aqueous solution by removing elemental iodine and iodide ions therefrom. The volume of the aqueous solution passing through the resin until reaching the Breakthrough Point is at least about 8 liters per cubic centimeter.

This invention is directed to a process for removing iodine and iodide from an aqueous feed stream, and more particularly, to a process for more effectively and efficiently removing iodine and iodide from an aqueous solution using anion exchange resins.
Iodine has been used as a disinfectant for many years. It's use as a disinfectant for potable water has been restricted to short term or emergency use due to concerns of excess iodine in the human diet, especially for people with thyroid conditions.
Strong base anion exchange materials have been used for the recovery of iodine from mixed brines as well as in a process to remove both forms of iodine in water treatment processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,776 uses a quaternary ammonium anion exchange material in an organic solvent, in a liquid/liquid extraction, to remove iodides from strongly alkaline brines.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,157,508 relates to the recovery of iodine and iodide using a metasilicate capable of selectively removing iodide ion from salt solutions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,611 comprises a process for recovering iodine from a composition containing elemental iodine. The process requires iodine to be reduced to iodide before sorption on an anion exchange resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,636 uses a chelating resin to hold silver ions which react with iodide ions in water forming insoluble silver iodide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,523 relates to a process for removing anions in a solution at a high temperature by having the anions adsorbed on an anion exchange resin. The strong base anion resin can operate at a much higher than conventional temperature because of an alkyl link between the quaternary amine group and the benzene ring of the structural resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,746 relates to a process for recovering iodides from aqueous solutions of salt brine with ion exchange resins. The anionic exchange resins are eluted with an acidified salt solution containing traces of SO.sub.2.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,021 relates to the sorption of free elemental iodine from aqueous solutions using a resin made by the condensation of metaphenylene diamine and formaldehyde.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,369 relates to a process for recovering iodine from aqueous iodide solutions, by contacting an aqueous iodide solution with a trimethyl amine anion exchange resin, such as Dowex.RTM. 1, 2, 11 or 21A, in a polyhalide form.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,050 describes a fluidized ion exchange bed including an anion exchange resin for recovering iodine from an aqueous solution. The resin employed is a commercial, strongly basic, quaternary ammonium anion exchange resin. A particular resin employed is a trimethyl quaternary ammonium anion exchange resin.
Strong-base anion resins have also been used to separate nitrate from waters containing a significant amount of sulfate ion. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,877, for example, nitrate removal is accomplished by passing the water to be treated through a bed of a strong-base anion exchange resin which is a tributyl amine derivative of a copolymer exemplified by styrene-divinyl benzene.

Process for removing iodine/iodide from aqueous solutions


Methods and systems are disclosed, including a method for confining an annihilation range of a positron, from a plurality of positrons emitted from an object being imaged in a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system. Confining the annihilation includes applying a stochastic multidimensional time varying magnetic field on the positron. Optionally, the stochastic multidimensional time varying magnetic field includes components in each of three dimensions.

Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) is a technique for direct measurement of sub-nanometer sized molecular free volumes. General operations in the PALS technique includes emitting positrons from an inspection region in a material being tested and then measuring the length of time until it annihilates with one of the material's electrons, producing gamma rays
Positrons are antiparticles of electrons. A positron collision with an electron results in the annihilation of both particles and an emission of two characteristic 511 keV gamma rays. The lifetime of positrons is a measure of the local electron density at the point of annihilation. The annihilation can be detected by virtue of the gamma rays emitted. Positron lifetime techniques are among the few methods that are sensitive to voids on the mono-atomic scale.
Spatial resolution of the PET tomograms is limited by positron range. Traveling of the positrons in human tissue before undergoing annihilation may lead to a positional inaccuracy, which reduce a PET image quality. One technique directed to the positron range issue applies a static axial magnetic field on the positrons. When positrons are in the axial magnetic field, they experience a Lorentz force. Since the Lorentz force is perpendicular to the applied magnetic field direction, the positrons may freely fly along the magnetic field direction while being constrained in all planes whose normal vector is in the applied magnetic field direction.
One shortcoming of the axial magnetic field technique is that the positron range may be confined only in the transaxial plane, i.e., plane(s) transverse to the direction of the magnetic field. Costs of the axial magnetic field technique therefore include a loss in the axial resolution (along the magnetic field direction). The loss of axial resolution can produce a shine-through artifact, which degrades image quality. One additional shortcoming of the axial magnetic field technique is that a high strength (up to 10 T) is required for the applied magnetic field to effectively confine the positron range in the transaxial plane.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for a method to confine the annihilation rage of positrons in all three dimensions in PET imaging systems. There is also a need in the art for a confining of the positron annihilation range, without requiring high-strength magnetic fields.

Positron range reduction in positron emission tomography imaging


A static code analysis unit specifies an implementation portion of a Java code in a cooperation mechanism that sends and receives data between an Android application implemented by the Java code and Web content implemented by a JavaScript code and specifies a method in which a return value that can be called by the JavaScript code is set in the cooperation mechanism; a code converting unit inserts, into the Java code, a call code of a simulation function in which the return value of the specified method is inserted into an argument; and a data flow analysis unit analyzes a data flow by observing, by using the argument and the return value of the simulation function and the specified method, the data that is sent and received between the Android application implemented by the Java code and the Web content implemented by the JavaScript code.

In general, an example of information leakage includes threats targeted for portable information terminals having mounted thereon Android (registered trademark) or the like. An attacker allows a malicious Android application (hereinafter, referred to as Android malware) to be installed into a terminal of a user by using various methods. The installed Android malware sends important information, such as personal information on the user and a unique ID of a device, stored in the terminal to the source of the attacker.
The technology that analyzes such Android malware is broadly divided into two types, i.e., a dynamic analysis technology that allows Android malware to be operated in an isolated environment and observes behaviors at the time of execution and a static analysis technology that deciphers execution codes by using a reverse engineering technology.
There is a static taint analysis technology as one of static analysis technologies that detect Android malware that leaks information. The static taint analysis technology detects whether data acquired by a function (hereinafter, referred to as Source) that acquires information targeted for leakage is input to a function (hereinafter, referred to as Sink) that leaks information outside the terminal, i.e., detects whether a data flow from the Source to the Sink is present. If the data flow from the Source to the Sink is detected, this means that an execution path for performing information leakage is present in an execution code of the analysis target application (see Non-Patent Document 1).
The static taint analysis technology is based on the technology of data flow analysis that collects sets of values that can be obtained by data at various places in the execution code. If the technology of data flow analysis is used, it is possible to analyze whether the value of a variable A at a certain point in, for example, a program reaches a variable B at another point, i.e., whether both the variables A and B take the same value (see Non-Patent Document 2).
In this way, conventionally, the static taint analysis technology targeted for the Android application uses the execution code of the Android application (hereinafter, also referred to as an application code) developed in Java (registered trademark) as an analysis target.

Analysis device, analysis method, and analysis program

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


A functional device (and a functional device manufacturing method) includes a first substrate in which a groove is formed in one surface, a second substrate which is integrally disposed by bonding one surface of the second substrate to the one surface of the first substrate, and forms a flow path together with the groove of the first substrate, at least one modification object of a capture body which captures a target substance supplied into the flow path, an electrode which imparts an electrical or a chemical action to the target substance, and a catalyst, in which the modification object is disposed by being modified on a part of an inner surface of the flow path, a bonding portion between the one surface of the first substrate and the one surface of the second substrate is formed by bonding fluorine to silica.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a functional device and a functional device manufacturing method.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-216267, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Description of Related Art
In the related art, it is expected to use a micro scale fine space in the field of diagnosis and analysis or the like in order to realize a reduction in a mix and reaction time, a significant reduction in an amount of a sample and reagent, a reduction in the size of a device, and the like (for example, refer to PTL 1). For example, a micro-channel (a microflow path) including a groove having a depth less than or equal to a few hundred μm is formed on a glass substrate (a microchip) of a few square centimeters, and is bonded to the other substrate, and thus a liquid is able to flow through the micro-channel without leakage. In addition, a technology has been proposed and commercialized in which a functional material such as a biological substance or a catalyst, and an electrode is partially modified on an inner surface of the channel, and thus a desired function is imparted, and various chemical systems are integrated. As a substrate material configuring the micro-channel, a glass material having high strength, solvent resistance, and optical transparency for detection is desirable. However, as described later, in a case of glass, a high temperature (in a case of quartz glass, higher than or equal to 1000° C.) is required for bonding the substrates, and thus not only are the modified biological substance or catalyst, and electrode for imparting a function thermally damaged but also the entirety burns off. For this reason, as the one substrate of the related art, other substrates such as an elastomer which is easily bonded are used, and thus it is difficult to configure a channel only in the glass substrate.
In addition, recently, a nanoscale fine space exhibits unique physical properties of a solution compared to the microscale fine space, and thus a technology has attracted great attention in which a nano-channel (a nanoflow path, and an expansion nanoflow path) of a few dozen nm to a few hundred nm is formed on the glass substrate, an innovative functional device is realized by using unique chemical and physical properties of the nano-channel. For example, a protein or the like in one cell having a size of a few dozen m is analyzed by an expansion nano space which is a predominantly smaller space than the protein, and thus it is possible to analyze a function intrinsic to each cell which has not been found by an average of a plurality of cells so far, and it is expected to perform cancer diagnosis or the like by using one cancer cell which is initially generated. In addition, it is possible to perform measurement by one molecule using the fact that the nanoscale fine space is an extremely fine space which easily handles a few molecules, and thus it is expected to use the fine space as a super high sensitive analysis tool. Similar to the micro-channel, glass is preferable as a substrate material configuring the nanoscale fine space, but as described above, a bonding temperature is high, and thus it has been difficult to modify the biological substance or the catalyst, the electrode, and the like. In addition, a nanoscale channel is extremely small, and the channel can be easily closed due to deformation of a soft material, and thus it is not possible to use soft materials such as an elastomer which has been used for micro-channels.
As described above, when a functional device A including the microscale or nanoscale fine space (a fine flow path 1) is manufactured, as illustrated in FIG. 10, it is necessary that, for example, a capture body (an antibody, biological molecules, and the like) 3 for manipulating, capturing, or analyzing a target substance of a micro/nanoscale such as DNA or a biological sample, an electrode 4 and a catalyst 5 (a modification object) for electrically and chemically manipulating a target substance, and the like are patterned into a micro/nano-channel 1 formed on a glass substrate 2.
Then, the capture body 3 or the like is patterned onto an inner surface of the micro/nano-channel 1 formed on one glass substrate 2 by using photolithography, contact printing, an ink jet method, and the like, and the other glass substrate 6 is superposed on the one glass substrate 2, and thus the micro/nano-channel 1 is formed. After that, the functional device A including the micro/nano-channel 1 in which the capture body 3 or the like is patterned onto the inner surface is manufactured by being bonded. Accordingly, for example, when a sample solution including a target molecule of the target substance flows through the micro/nano-channel 1 of a closed flow path which is formed by bonding a pair of glass substrates 2 and 6, it is possible to capture the target molecule by the capture body 3, and thus it is expected that the target molecule is able to be analyzed by a single molecule using this functional device A.

Functional device and method of manufacturing the same


A supercalender has a top roll, a bottom roll, and a plurality of intermediate rolls. The intermediate rolls are mounted to support frames by pivot arms. The pivot radius defined by the arms is at least about 2xc2xd times the diameter of the largest intermediate roll. Hydraulic load support cylinders are arranged between the intermediate roll bearings and anchor points which are spaced away from the intermediate rolls, to allow greater movement without mechanical interference between hydraulic load support cylinders. The greater length of the pivot arms combined with a greater stroke of the load support cylinders allows the supercalender to accommodate filled rolls which change diameter substantially over their life, as the surface of the rolls is repeatedly turned down to refurbish the roll surface. The calender may be based on an existing calender of the closed A-frame type. One half of each A-frame in the machine direction is removed and a weldment is bolted to the track of each remaining frame along which the bearing housings of the calender rolls formally rode.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to calenders in general, and to supercalenders in particular.
A calender, particularly a supercalender, can increase the value of the paper manufactured on a papermaking machine without increasing the cost of fiber, and with only a small increase in energy cost. By improving the surface finish or other attributes of the paper web, the value of the paper is increased without otherwise modifying the papermaking machinery or process. Because of the large fixed costs and high production rates typically involved in paper manufacture, increasing the value of the paper produced can be a particularly advantageous way to increase revenue produced by a papermaking machine.
A supercalender is comprised of a stack of rolls, sometimes as many as ten, eleven, or more, which form a plurality of nips through which the paper web is directed. Pressure and often heat are applied to the web as it passes through the nips of the supercalender. A supercalender can impart an improved, or more valuable surface finish, can correct curl, and can improve paper caliper variations.
Improving the supercalender has involved controlling the nip force between adjacent rolls by supporting each roll independently of the other rolls in the stack of rolls; the use of crown control rolls, and the use of higher roll temperatures. The use of higher roll temperatures requires an ability to rapidly open a calender stack so that the high-temperature rolls do not overheat opposed compliant rolls when a paper break occurs.
Where a plurality of intermediate rolls are mounted between a fixedly mounted, variable-crown upper roll and a movable variable-crown lower roll, one known technique for controlling inter roll nip loading is to mount the intermediate roll bearings on pivot arms. The pivot arms can be supported by support cylinders as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,637 to Hagel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,920 to Koivukunnas et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,415 to Lipponen et al.; and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/303,587 (PCT/FI98/00392), filed May 7, 1998, claiming priority from U.S. provisional application 60/045,871 to Maenpaa et al., which are each incorporated herein by reference. The support cylinders allow control of the nip loading between each of the supercalender rolls.
A supercalender may employ rolls of varying diameters and of different types. One type of roll has a polymer roll cover. The resilient roll cover provides a wider nip due to compression of the roll at the nip between rolls. Polymer covered rolls have a relatively long life and require only relatively small reductions in diameter due to refinishing the roll surface during the life of the roll. Smooth metal rolls provide a hard smooth surface against which the paper is compressed. Although metal rolls may be refinished, relatively little material is removed over time. Metal rolls may be heated, typically by hot water, steam or induction heating. Another type of known roll is a filled roll which is comprised of a large number of disks of a material like cotton, flax, or paper. Each disk has a central hole and thousands of individual disks or sheets are stacked up on a metal core and compressed axially at very high pressures. The resulting roll is finished by turning the surface of the roll formed by the compressed disks of fabric or paper. The surface of a filled roll has a relatively short service life requiring frequent machining so that a filled roll decreases substantially in diameter over the life of the roll.
Many existing calenders are of the closed frame, or A-frame type, which means the roll bearings at the ends of the individual calender rolls making up the supercalender are held between pairs of vertical frames, which are joined at the top. In these existing calenders, the rolls have bearings which slide on rails between the vertical frames. Nip loading between rolls making up the calender can be controlled only by loading the uppermost roll, which means each successively lower nip has an increased nip loading as the weight of each successive roll adds to the total nip load.
A conventional closed calender cannot rapidly open the nips. Rapid nip opening protects polymer and fiber rolls from damage caused by wads of paper passing through the calender nips. Typically photoeye and web tension sensors detect a paper break and instigate rapid nip opening so that wads of paper formed during a break can pass between calender rolls without damaging them. Existing solutions to rebuilding calenders do allow support of individual rolls by hydraulic pistons which extend between a support frame and the roll bearings. Existing systems, however, do not provide sufficient vertical movement of the roll bearings to accommodate a variety of roll diameters, particularly the ability to accommodate the diameter change of filled rolls over time.
A calender or calender rebuild design is needed which can accommodate a wide variety of calender rolls, and facilitate the use of filled rolls by accommodating the substantial change in roll diameter overtime.
The calender of this invention may be based on an existing calender of the closed A-frame type. One half of each A-frame in the machine direction is removed and a weldment is bolted to the track of each remaining frame along which the bearing housings of the calender rolls formally rode. Each weldment rests on the calender foundation and consists of two parallel plates which extend in the machine direction 72 inches away from the remaining frames. The lower portion of each weldment has a vertical rail along which the bearing housings of a bottom roll rides. The bottom roll mounted to the bottom bearing is supported by a bottom cylinder which controls the bottom roll""s vertical movement and the opening and closing of the calender roll stack.
A top calender roll is fixedly mounted between the weldments. A plurality of intermediate calender rolls are mounted by pivot arms to the weldments, so that each intermediate calender roll is supported on each end by two pivoting arms. Each arm has two plates which extend between the roll end bearing, and extend along either side of the weldment to bearing pins located adjacent to the upstream side of the weldment where the weldment is bolted to the track of the existing frames.
The bearing housings of each roll connect the two plates of each arm to form a single integrated pivot arm. The bearing housings incorporate a stop so that each bearing housing on each pair of pivot arms, when pivoting downwardly comes to rest on resilient pads mounted to weldment stops which extend like teeth from the sides of the weldments. The weldment is substantially open ended, opposite the calender rolls.
Positioned within the sides of the weldments are pairs of load supporting cylinders which extend between cylinder brackets which span the sides of the weldments and piston mounting brackets which extend from the calender roll bearing housings. The piston mounting brackets are narrower than the weldment and fit within the sides of the weldment and between the weldment stops on which rubber pads are mounted, thus accommodating the stroke of the load supporting cylinders without interference of the supporting weldment.
The greater length of the pivot arms combined with the greater stroke of the load support cylinders allows the supercalender to accommodate filled rolls which change diameter substantially over their life, as the surface of the rolls is repeatedly turned down to refurbish the roll surface.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a supercalender which can accommodate calender rolls of varying diameter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a supercalender in which greater vertical motion of individual calender rolls is provided for.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a supercalender which can control the nip load on intermediate calender rolls.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a supercalender in which intermediate rolls are mounted on pivot arms which minimize lateral displacement of the rolls when they are pivoted on the arms.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A plurality of aspirating ejector nozzles are fed with primary fluid which is admitted successively past a modulating valve and throttling orifice to the inlet ports of the nozzles with a portion of the primary fluid being arranged for bypassing the nozzle past a bypass valve controlled by pressure responsive means subject to the pressure of the primary fluid upstream of the throttling orifice.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to fluid flow apparatus for aspirating and mixing two fluids, and is more particularly directed to apparatus of the type for obtaining a desired condition of the fluid mix with varying mix condition requirements, or varying conditions of the primary and secondary component fluids, or either of them. Still more particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus for supplying the ventilating air for an aircraft from a hot bleed source (the engine of the aircraft) and a cold air source with the cold air aspirated by the hot pressurized air, in the novel apparatus of the invention, and wherein the temperatures of the source airs may vary and the temperature selection of the ventilating air may vary.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
An approach to solutions for the problems associated with flow controls of the type is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,884 on an invention by T. J. Lord of a "System of Mixed Air Flows".
In that patent there is disclosed a spring biased sleeve valve which controls the relative amounts of primary and secondary air, supplied by a primary hot air pressurized source and secondary ambient air, respectively, that are admitted into a mixing duct for transport to the point of use.
The design of the patented valve of Lord is subject to several limitations and undesirable features: (1) the Lord valve uses a variable ejector to provide control of the ratio between primary and secondary airs; (2) the variable, single port ejector primary nozzle requires a relatively long downstream mixing duct for ambient air induction, characteristically a duct length of the order of about 50 times the effective valve diameter; (3) the Lord valve modulates ambient secondary air flow as well as primary bleed flow; (4) for a fixed bleed pressure, the patented device is a highly varying total mixed flow as the sleeve valve strokes, unless both the primary area vs. stroke and ambient secondary area vs. stroke characteristics are controlled; (5) for a given valve position, the Lord device will give different total flows as (primary) bleed pressure varies; (6) for most operating conditions, the Lord device drops full bleed pressure down to ambient across the variable ejector, generating a very high level of noise which is transmitted into the downstream duct.


Embodiments disclose an energy generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) array having a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power, a plurality of Opti-battery packs coupled to the PV array, where each Opti-battery pack is coupled to a respective PV module and configured to receive DC power from the respective PV module, and an inverter configured to receive DC power from the plurality of Opti-battery packs and to convert the DC power to alternating current (AC) power.

Decreasing costs, state and federal tax incentives, the availability of solar financing, solar leases, power purchase agreements, and increased awareness of the correlation between greenhouse gasses (e.g., carbon dioxide emissions) and climate change, among other factors, have increased the popularity of photovoltaic (PV) or "solar" energy generation systems with consumers, businesses and utility companies.
A conventional solar energy generation system includes an array of PV modules connected together on one or more strings and a combination of individual component systems, such as a combiner for combining direct current (DC) outputs of the one or more strings, one or more string inverters for converting the combined DC output from the strings to alternating current (AC), and a physical interface to AC grid power—typically on the load side of the utility meter, between the meter and the customer's main electrical panel. In jurisdictions that allow for net energy metering, the solar energy generation system provides excess AC power back to the AC grid, resulting in cost benefits to the customer and/or owner of the system.
The numerous component systems in conventional solar energy generation systems and storage systems are complex to operate and relatively expensive to install. The numerous individual component systems also induce inefficiencies in power flow, often requiring several conversions of power between a power source and a load where each power conversion induces a degree of power loss. Additionally, each conventional solar energy generation system needs to be individually designed for the installation site at which it is to be installed, thereby rendering these energy generation systems inflexible in design and use. Moreover, conventional solar energy generation systems require all or some of the component systems to be positioned at ground level, resulting in unpleasing aesthetics. In light of these shortcomings of conventional solar energy generation systems, improved energy generation systems are desired.

Optimizer battery PV energy generation systems


A facile process for converting polyketones containing pendant functional groups to polyesters is provided. The process involves reacting the polyketone with an organic peroxyacid oxidizing agent in an inert liquid medium at a temperature from -20.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. to convert substantially all or only a portion of the keto functionality to ester moieties. The polyketones are obtained by copolymerizing carbon monoxide and a vinyl or vinylidene monomer having at least one functional group containing one or more oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or halogen atoms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for converting polyketones to polyesters. More particularly, the invention involves a process whereby carbonyl (keto) groups in the polymer chain are oxidatively converted to oxycarbonyl (ester) moieties.
2. Background of the Invention
Polyketones, i.e., polymers having carbonyl groups incorporated in the polymer chain, are known and are most commonly produced by polymerizing carbon monoxide with one or more .alpha.-olefins. Polyketones of this type derived from ethylene and carbon monoxide were disclosed by Brubaker in U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,286. Numerous other liquid and gas phase procedures utilizing Ziegler and radical catalysts have been described in the prior art for polymerizing carbon monoxide with ethylene and other olefinically unsaturated monomers. A general review of the properties, preparations, reactions and uses of olefin-carbon monoxide copolymers can be found in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, Vol. 9, p. 397-402, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1968).
Carbon monoxide is also known to be copolymerizable with a variety of functionalized vinyl monomers to produce polyketones having pendant functional groups. For example, copolymers of carbon monoxide with vinyl halides, most commonly vinyl chloride, are reported by Wescott et al in Macromolecules 17, 2501 (1984), Kawai et al in J. Polym. Sci., A-1 10, 1709 (1972) Weintraub et al in Chem. Ind. 1976 (1965) and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,460. The copolymerization of carbon monoxide with styrene and vinyl chloride is disclosed by Kawai et al in J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed. 12, 1041 (1974). Methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and styrene have also been copolymerized with carbon monoxide using azobisisobutyronitrile catalyst by Otsuka et al in Die Makromolekulare Chemie 103, 291 (1967). Terpolymers of carbon monoxide, ethylene and vinyl acetate are similarly disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,172,939, 4,137,382 and 3,780,140. Additionally in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,140, the terpolymerization of ethylene and carbon monoxide with methyl methacrylate, vinyl propionate, methyl vinyl ether and isobutyl acrylate is disclosed. European Patent Application EP No. 281139A2 discloses terpolymers of ethylene, carbon monoxide and maleic anhydride.
Various procedures are known for the chemical modification of polyketones. U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,271 discloses a method for modifying monoolefin-carbon monoxide copolymers to increase the degree of unsaturation by heating the copolymer in a solution of an organic solvent with a minor amount of an alkali metal hydroxide. The copolymer is reacted until the oxygen content is decreased by at least 5% or the iodine number increased to at least 25. Modification of polyketones (monoolefin-carbon monoxide copolymers) by reaction with hydrazine hydrate and related nitrogen-containing compounds is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,279. A process for reacting polyketones with hydrogen cyanide to prepare polycyanohydrin resins is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,284.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,292 discloses the catalytic hydrogenation of monoolefin-carbon monoxide polymers in the presence of a nickel catalyst to reduce the carbonyl groups to secondary alcohol groups and obtain high molecular weight polyhydric alcohols. U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,406 relates to a process for reacting monoolefin-carbon monoxide copolymers with formaldehyde and specific ammonium or amine salts to produce polyamines of relatively high molecular weight. Another process for modifying monoolefin-carbon monoxide copolymers by reaction with hydrazoic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,201.
Processes for producing thermoplastic polymers from polyketones are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,979,373 and 3,979,374. The products of U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,373 are polymeric furan derivatives obtained by reacting an equimolar alternate copolymer of ethylene and carbon monoxide with a strong acid, e.g. sulfuric, phosphoric, p-toluene sulfonic, etc., at 40.degree.-200.degree. C. The polymeric pyrrollic polymers of U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,374 are obtained by reacting an equimolar alternate copolymer of ethylene and carbon monoxide with a primary monoamine in the presence of strong acid and a solvent at a temperature from 40.degree.-100.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,616,072 and 4,687,805 disclose halogenating ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymers by contacting said copolymers in a liquid medium and in the presence of an anionic halogenation catalyst selected from Lewis acids and Lewis bases.
The oxidation and chain cleavage of ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymers to produce mixtures of .alpha.,.omega.-dicarboxylic acids ranging from succinic acid through dodecanedioic acid and possibly higher and their corresponding esters is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,269. The oxidation is typically accomplished utilizing nitric acid and a vanadium oxidation catalyst, e.g. vanadium pentoxide or ammonium vanadate. Other oxidizing agents which are disclosed include the higher oxides of nitrogen, chromic acid, permanganates, molecular oxygen or air, or mixtures of these.
It would be highly advantageous if a process were available whereby carbonyl groups incorporated in a polymer chain, such as in the above-described polyketones, could be readily oxidized to ester groups. It would be even more advantageous if this conversion could be accomplished without significant cleavage of the polymer chain, i.e., without substantially altering the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer, and without affecting other functionality present in the polymer. It would be still more advantageous if the degree of oxidation could be easily controlled so that substantially all or only a portion of the carbonyl groups could be converted to oxycarbonyl moieties. These and other advantages are realized by the process of the present invention and will be described in more detail to follow.

Process for converting polyketones containing pendant functional groups to polyesters


A method for designing an aircraft includes defining an initial catalog of requirements for at least one aircraft design. An optimization of the at least one aircraft design is carried out based on the catalog of requirements in terms of anticipated operating costs. A predefined total flight network is simulated with the at least one aircraft design and a total flight network efficiency is determined. It is then checked as to whether the determined total flight network efficiency constitutes an optimum. The catalog of requirements is adapted and an iteration is performed upon a determination that the determined total flight network efficiency does not constitute the optimum.

The design and construction of a new aircraft are very complex and extremely costly processes. Therefore an aircraft manufacturer who plans a new aircraft model, attempts to determine—before the actual design and development phase starts—in particular what technical operational and economic characteristics the envisaged new aircraft model should have in order to be successful commercially and therefore justify the high development costs.
Up until now it has been customary to do this by inviting representatives of airlines, and therefore representatives of potential customers, to what are referred to as customer focus group or airline advisory board events. At these events, the representatives of the airlines are asked to express requests regarding the configuration parameters of a new aircraft model. The configuration parameters enquired about include, for example, the desired payload (this relates essentially to the size of the fuselage with respect to the maximum number of passengers plus freight to be carried, for example), the range requirement, take off and landing requirements, the desired cruising altitude and, if appropriate, further configuration parameters such as, for example, the desired cruising speed, maximum values for the wing span, fuselage length and/or surface pressure per wheel of the landing gear.
The estimates regarding the configuration parameters which are issued by the representatives of the airlines are subsequently compiled and evaluated statistically. The aircraft manufacturer will then define configuration parameters determined on the basis of the statistical evaluation and according to further questioning of experts, as a configuration point for the new aircraft model.
On the basis of the configuration point determined in this way, a synthesis method is then applied which permits an aircraft design which satisfies the configuration point to be iteratively optimized in terms of the costs. The corresponding synthesis method according to the prior art is, inter alia, described in "Synthesis of Subsonic Airplane design: An introduction to the preliminary design of subsonic general aviation and transport aircraft, with emphasis on layout, aerodynamic design, propulsion and performance" by Egbert Torenbeek, published 1982 by Delft University Press, 9th Reprint 1999, and in "Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Technology and Optimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes" by Egbert Torenbeek, published 2013 by John Wiley & Sons.
In the synthesis method, firstly dimensioning of the propulsion system, wings and empennage, mass estimation resulting therefrom together with the parameters of the configuration point and preliminary estimation of flight performance are optimized iteratively in such a way that the maximum takeoff weight converges and the range requirements and take off and landing requirements are satisfied according to the configuration point. Subsequently, a cost estimation is made for a correspondingly optimized design, wherein, in particular, the later operating costs are estimated. It is then checked whether the design is that which is optimum in terms of costs. If this is not the case, the iteration described above is frequently repeated with other output variables (for example the dimensioning of the propulsion system) until cost optimum is achieved.
The method described gives rise to an aircraft design which is optimized in terms of the predefined configuration point. However, in the methods known from the prior art it is not ensured that the configuration point to which the aircraft design is optimized is also selected in an optimum way. For example, in the prior art the ultimate configuration point is defined on the basis of customer consultations and subjective expert opinions, which undeniably entails the risk of selecting an "incorrect configuration point". As a result, an aircraft can be dimensioned "beyond market requirements" and will then only find few customers, if any at all. The consequences can be "fatal" owing to the high development costs for the aircraft manufacturer.

Method and system for designing an aircraft


A fibrous insulation batt having a length and a width and including a first and second section, where each section is approximately one half the length of the batt, is folded so that the first section is generally parallel to and contacting the second section. The batt has two folds across its width and located between the first and second sections. The two folds are spaced apart from each other a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the uncompressed insulation batt. The two sections of the batt remain generally parallel to and contact each other when the batt is laid horizontal and in an unrestrained condition.

Fibrous insulation material is typically manufactured in common lengths and widths, called insulation batts, to accommodate typical building frame structure dimensions. Fibrous insulation batts are commonly made of mineral fibers, such as glass fibers, and usually have a density within the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0 pounds per cubic foot (3.2 to 16 kg/m.sup.3). Typical batt sizes are 16 or 24 inches (40.6 cm or 61.0 cm) wide by 8 feet (2.44 m) long. These batts can be packaged in various ways. The batts can be staggered and rolled together along their lengths so that a roll would contain about 10 batts. Alternatively, the batts can be stacked on top of each other, compressed and then packaged in plastic bags. Because of size constraints it is desirable to fold the batts in half along their lengths and stack them together, thereby forming a stack which is about 4 feet (1.22 m) long. The invention as described herein pertains to the packaging of the folded batts.
Presently, the insulation batts are simply folded in half and deposited horizontally in a stacker which collects the folded batts and packages them. The batts can be folded either manually or by a folding machine which uses a ram to push on the center of the batt and insert the batt into a gap between two conveyors to fold the batt, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,374 to Yawberg. The folded batts are stacked vertically in the stacker until a certain desired number of batts is accumulated. After a sufficient number of batts has been accumulated in the stacker, the accumulated batts are then compressed and packaged into a plastic bag.
One of the problems with a conventional batt folding and packaging system is that the folded batts have a tendency to unfold by themselves unless they are constrained. The folded batts do not stack well because the batts do not stay folded in an even flat shape. Because ale fibrous insulation at the folded end of the batt is under compression, the top section or half of the insulation batt lifts above the bottom section at the unfolded end due to the natural springiness of the insulation. The partially unfolded batt resembles a wedge-shaped figure where the top folded section or half is at an angle to the bottom half. This results in the open end of the folded batt having a greater thickness than the folded end of the batt.
When the wedge-shaped folded batts are stacked on top of each other in the stacker, the accumulation of the increased side thickness causes the stack to lean. This uneven stacking can cause the folded batts to unfold or tip over, thereby jamming the stacker. To prevent batts from unfolding, compressed air is used to force down the top section of the folded batts. The use of the compressed air is only partially effective and has the undesirable qualities of being very noisy, spreading loose insulation fibers and dust into the air, and being very costly.
It would be desirable to have a way of folding lengths of fibrous insulation batts so that they remain folded and are not wedge-shaped when in an unrestrained condition.


Resource visualization, evaluation, and selection is often a difficult, complex, technically challenging endeavor. This is particularly true when there the resource set is extensive, the resources have widely varying attributes and capabilities, and the resources are also widely disbursed geographically. A multi-dimensional resource evaluation and visualization system implements technical solutions to these technical challenges.

Resource visualization, evaluation, and selection is often a difficult, complex, technically challenging endeavor. This is particularly true when there the resource set is extensive, the resources have widely varying attributes and capabilities, and the resources are also widely disbursed geographically. Improvements in multi-dimensional resource evaluation and visualization will help meet the technical challenges noted above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-dimensional visualization and resource evaluation system


A method and system allows multiple and simultaneous use of a pre-paid calling card. A call management system allows for the completion of multiple calls under one pre-paid calling card account number. Depending on the number of concurrent users, a billing system assigns a portion of the total number of available service units to individualized user accounts. The individualized accounts are debited according to the rate charges for each of the calls and are initially assigned an account balance that allows all concurrent users with the same amount of talk time.

Commercial transactions in the form of electronic payments are becoming the standard and preferred means of purchase, and it is becoming increasingly rare to see a business operate on a cash only basis. Consumers are relying more and more on a variety of payment options to pay for a wide range of consumer goods and services. In particular, consumers are now relying on various forms of credit, debit and prepaid cards.
The use of credit cards has been available for more than fifty years and has long been thought of as the reasonable alternative to cash purchases. Large retail stores such as Sears® were initially responsible for their increased popularity and for their first wave of mass distribution. However, early versions of these credit cards were "use" restricted and were accepted only in issuing stores or in affiliated chain of retail stores. Under the early versions of the credit card programs, a retail store would first establish a credit account and determine a credit limit for each credit card applicant. Under a credit card transaction, the cost of the purchase would be debited against the store established credit limit. In effect, the store would honor a promise to pay the purchase amount at the end of a billing cycle.
Since those early days, consumer demand for credit cards has mushroomed to a level necessitating the creation of international processing networks and services such as VISA® and MASTERCARD®. These universal credit card programs allow consumers to make use of credit cards internationally and most importantly allow them to use credit cards at various retail stores, regardless of the merchant selling the product or service. These universal credit cards are primarily issued by sponsoring banks that extend credit to credit card holders. When a consumer makes use of a credit card from a participating bank, the credit card number, the cost of the purchase, and the expiration date as well as other transaction identifying and validating information are transmitted to the credit card program's processing center. During the purchase process, the validity of the credit card number is first established, and then a determination is made whether to allow the transaction to proceed based on a number of account based queries, such as the current balance on the account, and whether the card has been reported lost or stolen. Once approved, the purchase amount is debited against the credit holder's account and a decrement is made to the available credit balance. In return, the credit card holder promises to pay the entire account balance and if unable to pay the entire amount in full, to pay at least a minimum payment amount every month. In return, the issuing bank is the beneficiary of accrued interest charges assessed for non-payment of the entire balance, and of a percentage of the sale price. Moreover, the bank is also the beneficiary of an annual membership fee assessed each card holder for the privilege of having a credit card.
Most recently, and perhaps due to rising concerns over the U.S. economy and the fears about increasing debt load, debit cards have become increasingly more popular. Like credit cards, they are generally associated with an issuing bank. However, debit cards are generally associated with a card holder's existing checking account or savings account and for the most part operate electronically in much the same way that credit cards do. The major distinction between credit cards and debit cards is however that debit cards, as a general rule do not extend a line of credit. Rather, debit cards operate with an actual and tangible balance of funds provided by the debit card holder. Under a debit card transaction, the purchase amounts are deducted from an existing balance at the time the transaction is confirmed and a small fee is paid to the issuing bank for each use. The result being that instead of creating an amount of debt through the use of credit cards, the debit card account decrements the balance of the checking or savings account by the amount of the purchase. Logistically, the processing of the debit against the available balance is done in much the same fashion as credit card transactions. In fact, credit cards currently available in the marketplace may be used in one of two ways. More specifically, these cards may serve as either a credit card or a debit card. At a point of purchase, for example, card holders are often asked to select whether the purchase will be conducted as either a credit or debit transaction.
Alternatively and as a variation to debit cards, prepaid cards are also gaining significant acceptance by the consumer marketplace. A prepaid card operates by first having a pre-established value assigned to it and by then having the prepaid card activated at the merchant's retail store or other point of purchase. The account balance of these prepaid cards is stored in most cases on the prepaid card itself through the use of resident memory. In other cases, however, a remote server dedicated to keeping track of the prepaid account balance is accessed and notified of the transaction. As currently available, prepaid cards, for the most part, are merchant sponsored and are primarily associated with one merchant. Merchant sponsored prepaid cards are normally, only available for use at a merchant's retail point of purchase and are limited in its purchasing power by a pre-established balance. Prepaid cards are typically assigned preset denominations of $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 cash value. Merchants such as HomeDepot® and Blockbuster® are just two the merchants that have been very successful at distributing prepaid cards for use at their retail stores. The obvious advantage to the use of these cards is that it obligates a consumer into spending the assigned cash values at the issuing merchant. Moreover, prepaid cards provide a means for offering these prepaid cards as gifts to someone without the need for establishing an actual account with the merchant and without the risk of overspending beyond the established limits.
Prepaid cards have not been limited to the purchase of durable goods, but rather have also been used for the purchase of services. In the telecommunications marketplace, for example, prepaid calling cards have during the last ten years also shown significant acceptance by the consumer. At first, telephone companies issued "calling cards" which were best categorized as credit cards for telephone services. These calling cards are typically assigned a calling card number composed of the card holder's ten digit telephone number followed by a four digit pass-code. When a consumer wants to make a call, the caller either dials an "8YY" number to access the telecommunications network or enters "0" followed by the telephone number and the four digit pass-code number of the calling card, and upon hearing a prompt, the calling party enters the number of the called party.
Prepaid calling cards in a debit card mode of operation have also been applied to telecom services. Typically, telephone prepaid calling cards are issued by telephone companies ("TELCOs") or other retail organizations that buy and resell telephone services to the marketplace. Like other prepaid cards, telephone prepaid calling cards have an assigned and pre-set spending limit in dollars, minutes or other service unit denominations and like other prepaid cards the telephone service available is only associated with one TELCO. As a call progresses in length, these pre-set balances are decremented during the call.
Telephone prepaid calling cards are normally assigned a ten, twelve or longer digit card number and a four digit personal identification number ("Pin") by the prepaid calling card issuer. Prior to using the prepaid calling card for the first time, a caller is required to call a toll-free "800" number to activate the card and in some cases permit the caller to personalize and change the previously assigned Pin.
To make a call, the caller typically calls the calling card issuer's access number and is prompted to enter the calling card number and the associated Pin, followed by the called party's telephone number. During the call set up process, the calling card issuer's processing network or an outsourced account balance services provider monitors the call. Based on the length of the call and location of the originating and terminating telephone numbers, the billing system decrements the pre-set balance by pre-set number of minutes, preset cash value or other service unit denominations. When the calling charges equal the minutes, cash value or service units remaining on the calling card, the call is terminated.
The drawback to such prepaid calling cards is that they are generally rendered useless after the calling card balance has been exhausted. More importantly, though, such calling cards work in a very restricted mode of operation. Such calling cards permit only one call per card at any given time. In fact, a simultaneous attempt to use the calling card by a second caller having rightfully obtained the correct account code and Pin will be denied access. For the most part, the blockage of the second caller is a response to possible theft of the calling card or unauthorized access to the prepaid calling card service. Simultaneous usage of prepaid calling cards and concurrent management of multiple account balances are features that are absent from today's market place and that are necessary for sharing pre-set spending limits.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a method and system for managing simultaneous use of prepaid calling card services in a real-time or nearly real-time environment and for simultaneous management of preset spending limits so as to make available funds to all users of the service while maintaining control of account usage by the calling card services provider.

Method and system for allowing simultaneous usage of prepaid services


A fiber-reinforced and starch-based composition can be prepared by combining two fractions. The first fraction can include a gelatinized starch, water, and fibers, wherein the fibers are substantially homogenously mixed with the starch in an amount sufficient to structurally reinforce the mechanical characteristics of the starch-based composition. The second fraction is then combined with the first fraction, wherein the second fraction can include non-gelatinized starch, non-volatile plasticizer, and a water-resistant polymer. The composition is mixed so as to form a thermoplastic composition being capable of expanding when rapidly heated to above the boiling point of water and the softening point of the plasticized starch. Additionally, fiber-reinforced articles can be prepared from a method of processing the starch-based compositions. Such a method includes introducing the fiber-reinforced starch-based composition into a mold, and molding the composition into a fiber-reinforced article.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to expandable starch-based compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to expandable fiber-reinforced starch-based compositions used to manufacture molded articles, methods of manufacturing such compositions, and methods of making fiber-reinforced articles therefrom.
2. The Relevant Technology
Many articles in commerce are designed and produced to be disposable after a single use. The most common materials in single-use articles are exemplified by paper, paperboard, plastics, polystyrenes, and metals. In part, the disposability of an item after a single use results from busy lifestyles that require instant or ready-made food and beverage containers. For example, one visit to a fast-food restaurant or convenience store can result in a single person using and discarding multiple disposable containers, some of which were only in use for less than five minutes or the time it takes to transport food from a grill to a serving tray. While these articles are typically disposed of after a single use, or after the primary product has been removed from the article in the form of a container, more often than not the articles are not biodegradable. Due to the overwhelming magnitude of the non-biodegradable, single-use articles being produced and distributed, the final destinations of such articles (e.g., landfills) are quickly becoming oversaturated, incapable, and/or insufficient for properly dealing with and/or destroying these articles.
As stated, one highly used material for the production of single-use items is polystyrene or polystyrene foams. Polystyrene foams and the articles manufactured therefrom are produced from expandable polystyrene (EPS), which are molded into the desired articles or shapes. More particularly, EPS compositions containing a gas or volatile solvent are prepared and expanded by heating so that it increases in volume and decreases in density. EPS compositions expand at ambient pressure until they fill the voids in the mold.
In response to the environmental problems associated with single-use and disposable articles, research has been conducted to find substitute materials that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Heretofore, the materials presented as substitutes for paper, paperboard, plastics, polystyrenes, and metals have heretofore exhibited inadequate mechanical properties. As such, a reasonable biodegradable material with sufficient strength characteristics has yet to be produced for being substituted for EPS materials. Thus, there remains a need for a strong biodegradable substitute for EPS compositions and EPS-based products.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a strong biodegradable material that can be substituted for environmentally unfriendly materials. More particularly, it would be advantageous to mechanically reinforce a biodegradable material so as to provide a suitable replacement for EPS beads, sheets, and products.

Fiber-reinforced starch-based compositions and methods of manufacture and use

The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture


A modeling apparatus calculates, with respect to edges in a three-dimensional mesh model, an evaluation value of each edge on the basis of the length of the edge, and selects the edges one by one as a first edge in ascending order of their evaluation value. In this connection, a lower evaluation value is calculated for a shorter edge. Then, if there is a specific node placement position where a value of a calculation formula using distances between the node placement position and each first face having either one of first nodes at both ends of the selected first edge as a vertex is lower than or equal to a threshold, the modeling apparatus removes the first edge, first nodes, and first faces from the three-dimensional mesh model, and adds a second node at the specific node placement position in the three-dimensional mesh model.

Various studies have been conducted for simulating biomechanical phenomena, bioelectric phenomena, and others using numerical simulation analysis. For example, what is important for a heart to beat normally is that blood containing sufficient oxygen and substances that turn into energy is supplied to myocardium. Numerical simulation analysis enables predicting hemodynamics as to how much of blood ejected from the left ventricle each coronary artery surrounding a heart supplies to the myocardium. Such predictions support diagnosis to confirm whether sufficient blood is supplied to the myocardium of a patient suffering from stenosis of a blood vessel. At present, a blood flow in a blood vessel is measured by inserting a catheter into a body. Therefore, an alternative based on non-invasive simulation is expected.
A coronary artery model, which is one of inputs for a patient-specific coronary artery simulation, is represented by triangular faces (hereinafter, referred to as meshes), which form the shapes of aorta and coronary arteries, and tetrahedral volume elements. Elements of each part are given a different material number. A computer that creates a coronary artery model first extracts a cardiovascular area from a medical image. The computer then creates the shape of a heart and boundary surfaces with meshes, which are triangular faces, by reference to the extracted cardiovascular area, and generates volume elements on the basis of these.
Each individual has a different cardiovascular shape. Therefore, for example, a computer that creates a coronary artery model extracts the cardiovascular shape of a patient from medical images captured with a computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or another. Then, the computer creates a coronary artery model using triangular meshes by reference to the extracted area. In this connection, if meshes are large for a shape to be modeled, the coronary artery model may have a rough shape even though it actually has a smooth shape. In addition, two parts that are actually disconnected from each other may happen to connect to each other in the coronary artery model. To deal with these, the following technique is often employed: Sufficiently small meshes are first used to create a coronary artery model, and then the number of meshes is reduced according to the shape of the coronary artery model.
For example, a method for reducing the number of meshes is to sequentially select, on the basis of data on an isosurface of created triangles, the triangular meshes in ascending order of size, and then according to a preset reduction rate, remove the selected triangular mesh while confirming using the original three-dimensional data if the removal of the selected triangular mesh does not cause a big problem. In addition, there is another method that is to make two adjacent nodes overlap each other to merge them into one node. This method is called edge collapse (or edge contraction) since the new node is generated by collapsing one edge and combining its both end nodes.
See, for example, the following documents:
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-323637; and
M. Garland and P. S. Heckbert, "Surface Simplification Using Quadric Error Metrics," SIGGRAPH '97 Proceedings of the 24th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques, ACM Press, New York, 3-8 Aug. 1997, pp. 209-216.
In reducing the number of meshes with the edge collapse, a method of determining coordinates for a new node to be generated by collapsing an edge takes an important role. For example, consider the case where the coordinates of a middle point between two nodes connected by an edge is set as new coordinates. In this case, as the mesh reduction progresses, the coordinates of a point that more deviate from the original shape are set as the new coordinates, which results in losing the original shape. The above document, "Surface Simplification Using Quadric Error Metrics" by M. Garland and P. S. Heckbert, employs a technique of minimizing, with respect to each node, the sum of squares of distances (quadric error metric (QEM)) between the node and its adjacent planes including the node, in order to keep the original shape as much as possible. However, this technique collapses edges in ascending order of change in QEM to be caused by collapse, and therefore long narrow meshes are likely to be generated for a long thin shape like a coronary artery. Thus, large meshes (that are long on one side) are generated at an early stage. If the mesh reduction is further performed on such long narrow meshes, the shape becomes greatly different from the original shape. This problem occurs not only in the case of reducing the number of meshes in a coronary artery model to be used in a heart simulation but also in the case of reducing the number of meshes in a three-dimensional mesh model.


Analog timepiece movement adapted for a large diameter, thin energy cell, the movement comprising a molded frame of insulating material having a top central wall, and having depending peripheral side wall portions. A flat bridge of insulating material divides the movement into an inner cavity. A stepping motor and gear train are disposed in the inner cavity and a quartz crystal is disposed outside of the cavity. One of the wheel assemblies is of non-magnetic material and extends through a hole in by the stepping motor stator. The peripheral wall portions and the bridge together define a circular envelope in the outer cavity adapted to locate and contain said energy cell. The movement is substantially elliptical in shape, the ellipse having a minor axis slightly greater than that of the energy cell, and the quartz crystal is disposed on one end of the elliptical frame alongside the energy cell.

This invention relates generally to analog timepiece movements, especially for wristwatches, intended to use thin large diameter energy cells. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved analog timepiece movement with a stepping motor designed to use a long life lithium energy cell.
Prior art quartz analog timepieces are designed to accommodate a button energy cell of relatively small diameter inside the movement, the diameter of the cell being less than half the diameter of the movement. An example of such a movement is seen in Reissue Patent Number 29,403, reissued Sep. 20, 1977 to Yamazaki. Since the life of the energy cell is related to its physical size, a longer life button cell must either be made in a larger diameter, or it must be made thicker. Thick wristwatches are undesirable. Various ingenious arrangements have been suggested in order to accommodate larger energy cells without increasing the size of the watch movement. In one such case, as illustrated in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,066 issued May 10, 1988 and assigned to the present assignee, a relatively large diameter energy cell was accommodated by arranging an intermediate wheel assembly so that its axis extended through the circumferential air gap between the stepping motor rotor and the stator.
Another arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,199 issued to Sakuma, et al on Mar. 7, 1978, in which the battery diameter extends beyond the center line of the timepiece, i.e., beyond the axis of rotation of the timepiece hands. Other efforts to increase the battery size include proposals of unusual energy cell configurations in shapes other than circular, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,498 issued Jun. 9, 1976 to P. Wuthrich and assigned to the present assignee.
While suggestions have been offered in the prior art for "layering" or stacking up a large diameter energy cell with an integrated circuit, frame and electro-optic display in a sandwich construction, these layer constructions have been proposed for timepieces having no moving parts. It would be desirable to enjoy the advantages offered by thin large diameter lithium energy cells available today in a long life quartz analog watch.
In quartz analog watches, it may also be desirable to provide movements for new sizes of energy cells. This may involve redesign of the movement using a new arrangement of the stepping motor, gears, setting mechanism, and other internal parts. It would be desirable to increase the size of the energy cell for a particular movement without redesign of the movement.
Accordingly one object of the present invention is to provide an improved analog timepiece movement adapted to be operated by a large diameter energy cell.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved quartz analog timepiece movement adapted to operate with a large diameter thin lithium energy cell.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved quartz analog timepiece movement adapted for various capacity energy cells without substantial redesign of the movement.

Analog timepiece movement for large diameter energy cell


An R-C relaxation oscillator having two comparators and a silicon controlled rectifier dissipates very low average power without resulting in frequency instabilities due to circuit propagation delays. A timing capacitor C.sub.T is charged through a timing resistor R.sub.T. The first comparator compares the voltage across the timing capacitor with an upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH. When the voltage across the timing capacitor crosses the upper threshold voltage, the comparator turns on the silicon controlled rectifier, which causes the capacitor to discharge the voltage that it has stored. The second comparator turns off the silicon controlled rectifier when the voltage across the timing capacitor falls below a lower threshold voltage V.sub.TL. The silicon controlled rectifier also provides boosted comparator bias current during the discharge phase, enabling the second comparator to respond quickly to the lower threshold voltage crossing and allowing fast capacitor discharge (therefore narrow clock pulses) and increasing frequency stability.

The block diagram of a basic dual-comparator R-C relaxation oscillator is shown in FIG. 1. The circuit consists of three functional sub-blocks: (i) the comparators X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 for detecting the threshold voltages V.sub.TH and V.sub.TL, set by the resistive divider network including the resistors R.sub.A, R.sub.B and R.sub.C ; (ii) the timing components including the resistor R.sub.T, the capacitor C.sub.T and the resistor R.sub.D ; and (iii) an R-S latch X.sub.3 for controlling the discharge of the capacitor C.sub.T through the npn transistor Q.sub.D and the resistor R.sub.D.
Assuming that the output Q of the R-S latch X.sub.3 is at a logical low and the transistor Q.sub.D is turned off initially, the resistor R.sub.T will charge the capacitor C.sub.T towards the upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH. The upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH is set by the resistive divider as ##EQU1##
The output of the comparator X.sub.1 rises from a logical low to a logical high when the voltage across the capacitor C.sub.T crosses the upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH and the positive input of the comparator X.sub.1 becomes greater than its negative input. Once the output of the comparator X.sub.1 switches to a logical high, the input S of the R-S latch X.sub.3 will also be raised to a logical high and the output Q of the R-S latch X.sub.3 will rise from a logical low to a logical high. The transistor Q.sub.D will then turn on and saturate. If the value of the resistor R.sub.D is properly chosen, the transistor Q.sub.D and the resistor R.sub.D will discharge the voltage across the capacitor C.sub.T towards the lower threshold voltage V.sub.TL set again by the resistive divider network as ##EQU2##
As the voltage across the capacitor C.sub.T is discharged below the upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH and the positive input of the comparator X.sub.1 becomes less than the negative input, the output of the comparator X.sub.1 will drop from a logical high to a logical low. When the voltage across the timing capacitor C.sub.T falls below the lower threshold voltage V.sub.TL so that the negative input of the comparator X.sub.2 is less than the positive input, the output of the comparator X.sub.2 will rise to a logical high and the R-S latch X.sub.3 will reset. When the R-S latch X.sub.3 is reset the output Q of the R-S latch will drop to a logical low turning the transistor Q.sub.D off and ending the discharge cycle. The resistor R.sub.T will then charge the timing capacitor C.sub.T and the cycle will repeat. The timing diagram of the oscillator of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. It can be shown that the charging time T.sub.C and the discharging time T.sub.D of the timing capacitor C.sub.T are equal to ##EQU3## respectively.
Equations (3) and (4) represent the ideal charging and discharging times of the timing capacitor C.sub.T in the absence of a propagation delay time. The effect of circuit propagation delays on the oscillator waveform is illustrated in FIG. 2. The time taken to turn on the transistor Q.sub.D and discharge the capacitor C.sub.T from the instant that the voltage across the capacitor C.sub.T rises above the upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH is represented by the time period t.sub.pd1. Likewise the time period t.sub.pd2 represents the propagation delay time for the comparator X.sub.2 and the R-S latch X.sub.3 to turn off the transistor Q.sub.D from the time that the voltage of the capacitor C.sub.T crosses the lower threshold voltage V.sub.TL. The propagation time delays t.sub.pd1 and t.sub.pd2 will cause the oscillator period to deviate from its ideal value of the charging time period T.sub.C plus the discharging time period T.sub.D. Good oscillator frequency stability requires that the time periods t.sub.pd1 and t.sub.pd2 be kept to a small fraction of the total time period. Usually the comparators X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 and the R-S latch X.sub.3 are designed for fast responses and are biased with sufficient quiescent current to shorten the propagation delay time.
If the value of the resistor R.sub.D is chosen to be much lower than the value of the resistor R.sub.T, the discharging time period T.sub.D will be much shorter than the charging time period T.sub.C. Due to the higher rate of change in the timing capacitor C.sub.T voltage during discharge, the propagation delay time t.sub.pd2 of the comparator X.sub.2 causes a larger capacitor C.sub.T voltage undershoot V.sub.US than the capacitor C.sub.T voltage overshoot V.sub.OS (FIG. 2). The voltage undershoot can be defined as the difference between the voltage at the point that the capacitor C.sub.T begins charging and the lower threshold voltage V.sub.TL. Correspondingly, the voltage overshoot can be defined as the difference between the voltage at the point that the capacitor C.sub.T begins discharging and the upper threshold voltage V.sub.TH. The time t.sub.RCV2 taken for the capacitor C.sub.T voltage to recover from its undershoot is much longer than the propagation delay time t.sub.pd2 for the comparator X.sub.2 because the capacitor C.sub.T charging rate is much lower than its discharging rate. It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that the overshoot recovery time period t.sub.RCV1 is less than the propagation delay time periods t.sub.pd1 and t.sub.pd2, which are much less than the undershoot recovery time period t.sub.RCV2. Since the propagation delay time t.sub.pd2 of the comparator X.sub.2 varies with temperature and the integrated circuit fabrication process, the undershoot recovery time period t.sub.RCV2 causes by far the highest frequency instability in the type of relaxation oscillator shown in FIG. 1. In micro power circuit design, comparator quiescent current is usually kept low. However, this approach has the consequence of prolonging the propagation delay time periods t.sub.pd1 and t.sub.pd2.
What is needed is a relaxation oscillator which minimizes the undershoot recovery time period t.sub.RCV2 and therefore also minimizes the frequency instability of the circuit. What is also needed is a relaxation oscillator which minimizes the propagation delay times and consumes low power.