The present invention consists of an apparatus comprising signal sending lines, each of which has a folded-back shape and serves to send a current for generating a magnetic field, and signal receiving lines, each of which has a folded-back shape, and which are arranged at a position permitting them to be electromagnetically coupled with the signal sending lines thus serving to detect a magnetic flux change caused by the approach of metal. The plurality of signal sending lines are arranged coplanarly, while the plurality of signal receiving lines are arranged coplanarly. The signal sending lines and the signal receiving lines are arranged with their planes held in parallel and in directions intersecting to each other, thereby constructing a sensing matrix. This sensing matrix is arranged in opposition to a panel along which a metal body to be detected moves, while holding there-between a space which is, at least, large enough to pass the metal body. The signal sending means and signal receiving means are connected to the sensing matrix so as to detect the location of the metal body.

Apparatuses which need to have the function of detecting the location of a metal body are, for example, metal detectors and game machines. By way of example, some of the game machines are such that a metal body, e.g., a metal ball is moved within a specified space which has been set in the game machine, and whether or not a prize is won is determined in accordance with the movement of the ball. A typical example of such a game machine is, for example, a "pachinko" (Japanese upright pinball) game machine with which a game player causes a metal "pachinko" ball to move down within a space held between parallel planes and provided with a large number of obstacles.
The "pachinko" game machine has a panel which defines the space for moving the "pachinko" ball, a glass plate which covers the panel at a fixed interval therefrom, and a projectile mechanism which functions to project the "pachinko" ball to the upper part of the panel. The "pachinko" game machine is so installed that the panel extends substantially in the vertical direction. The panel is formed with a plurality of safe, holes each of which serves to make a hit when the "pachinko" ball has been led thereinto and driven out of the panel, and a single out hole into which the "pachinko" balls having failed to enter the safe holes are finally gathered to be driven out of the panel. Besides, a large number of pins (or nails) are planted on the panel substantially perpendicularly thereto in the state in which they protrude from the panel to a distance corresponding to the diameter of each "pachinko" ball, in order that the "pachinko" ball falling along the panel may frequently collide against the pins to have its moving direction altered. The pins are arranged on the panel in a predetermined distribution in which, while altering the moving direction of the colliding "pachinko" ball, they lead this ball so as to proceed toward the safe hole in some cases and to miss the safe hole in other cases.
Owing to the construction as stated above, the "pachinko" game machines come to have individualities, such as a machine in which it is easy to register hits and a machine in which it is difficult to resister hits, depending upon the slight differences of the respective machines in the arrangement and inclinations of the pins. Even identical machines involve such differences as having safe holes with a high hit rate and safe holes with a low hit rate. Moreover, the differences are among the machines are considerable.
In a game center or the like where the game machines of this type are installed in large numbers, knowledge of the individualities of the respective game machines is important for management regarding the profit administration and customer administration of the game center. By way of example, when many of the machines resister hits excessively, the game center side suffers a loss, whereas when all the machines are difficult to resister hits on, customers come disinterested, which is unfavorable to business. Accordingly, it is necessary to know the individualities of the respective game machines which are installed in the center.
For such a purpose, it is practised to detect the moving courses of the "pachinko" balls in the "pachinko" game machine. In the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3560/1989, for example, there is disclosed an apparatus equipped with an upper sheet and a lower sheet which have a pair of contacts. This technique senses the existence of the "pachinko" ball in such a way that the "pachinko" ball gets on the upper sheet and depresses it, whereby the pair of contacts come into touch.
With the prior-art apparatus, however, since the sheets have the pairs of contacts, they are restricted in arrangement, and they can be arranged only along the passages of the "pachinko" balls. It is therefore impossible to detect the motions of the balls from the perspective of the whole panel. This results in a difficult problem of detecting, for example, how the balls enter the safe holes and the out hole.
In addition, since the detection is based on the physical touch of the pair of contacts, it can take place in some moving states of the ball that the depression of the sheet becomes too weak to bring the pair of contacts into touch, so the motion of the ball is not detected. Besides, inferior touches can occur due to the wear, corrosion etc. of the pair of contacts. Further, the erroneous touch of the pair of contacts can be incurred by a vibration or the like or by chattering. For these reasons, the apparatus lacks reliability.
Another problem is that, since pressure applied by the ball is utilized, the motion of the ball is easily affected.
Such problems can be encountered, not only in the "pachinko" game machine, but also in different machines. It is accordingly desired to overcome these problems.

Apparatus with function of detecting position of existence of metal body


The invention concerns a mobile crane with a drivable undercarriage and a rotatable superstructure mounted thereon, where on the one side there is pivoted a swiveling jib, and on the other side a counterweight arrangement is mounted which is movable relative to the superstructure. According to the invention, the counterweight arrangement has a counterweight base plate, on which at least two stacks of counterweights are arranged and able to swivel about a vertical axis.

Mobile cranes are already known in which the counterweight arrangement is disposed movably to the superstructure in order to increase or decrease the counter-torque. Thus, for example, a mobile crane is specified in DE 10 2012 006 494 B4, in which the counterweight arrangement can be shifted in linear fashion along the lengthwise axis of the superstructure in order to increase or decrease the counter-torque. The position of the counterweight arrangement can be adapted mechanically to the tilt angle of the jib by a coupling mechanism, which can also be optionally decoupled once again.
A counterweight arrangement which is arranged movably on the superstructure is known from CN 102229415 B, which can be moved in linear manner along the superstructure via corresponding piston and cylinder arrangements to increase or decrease the counter-torque.
If, now, the counterweight arrangement is shifted backward by the corresponding piston and cylinder arrangement of the coupling rod to increase the counter-torque, the swivel radius of the superstructure automatically increases. At construction sites with narrow space available, this can cause problems with interfering edges, such as those of building walls or other interfering structures.
The problem which the present invention proposes to solve is to modify a mobile crane of the mentioned kind so that the ballast radius can be adjusted in easy manner over the largest possible adjustment path, while at the same time the swivel radius of the superstructure is minimized as much as possible.
According to the invention, this problem is solved by a mobile crane with a drivable undercarriage and a rotatable superstructure mounted thereon, where on the one side there is pivoted a swiveling jib, and on the other side a counterweight arrangement is mounted which is movable relative to the superstructure. According to the invention, the counterweight arrangement has a counterweight base plate, on which at least two stacks of counterweights are arranged and able to swivel about a vertical axis. Thanks to the new concept of swiveling capability of the stack of counterweights, an easy adjustment of the ballast radius is possible by rotary movement, thereby achieving a large adjustment path.
Advantageous configurations of the invention will appear from the subsidiary claims connected to the main claim.
Accordingly, the counterweight base plate can be joined by a counterweight frame to the superstructure. This makes it possible to separate the entire counterweight arrangement when needed in easy fashion from the superstructure, for example, in order to be driven on its own transport vehicle during road traffic in order to decrease the base weight of the mobile crane.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stacks of counterweights can be placed on swivel arms pivoting on the counterweight base plate, which can swivel continuously from a maximum retracted to a maximum extended position via swivel drive units, for example in the form of hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangements or electrically operated adjusting means. Such a swivel drive unit is necessary, since the bearing forces in the vertical swivel bearing are very large.
Especially advantageously, the counterweight plates which can be formed into the stacks of counterweights can have an essentially triangular shape. This makes it possible for the center of gravity of the movable parts of the counterweight arrangement to move further away from the axis of rotation of the superstructure about the undercarriage than the outermost point of the counterweight arrangement. Thus, the outermost point of the counterweight arrangement, forming the swivel radius of the superstructure and determining the space needed at the construction site, is increased less than the outwardly moved swivel point of the movable parts of the counterweight arrangement to generate the larger counter-torque.
Advantageously, the swivel angle of the swivel arms can be detected by sensors. Thus, the position of the swivel arms can be provided to the control unit. This is therefore able to take into account intermediate positions as well in the crane monitoring.
The adjustable ballast radius means in particular that the superstructure can rotate by 360° within the support base for a small ballast radius. It is of special benefit when the corresponding sensor signals can be fed to a corresponding crane controller which can carry out a method for the monitoring of crane safety in accordance with DE 10 2012 011 871 A1. Since the mobile crane can be set up with any desired support base, it can be operated close to interference edges at narrow construction sites, such as the walls of houses. Thanks to the swivel mechanism according to the invention, the counterweight base plates of the counterweight arrangement can be adjusted in very easy manner, so that the radius of turning of the superstructure can be adapted in easy manner to the interference edges.
If a very large counter-torque is needed, so that the stacks of counterweights would become too high, according to an especially advantageous configuration in the context of the invention one can also provide four stacks of counterweights, which are arranged to swivel about four vertical axes. In this way, the bearing forces on the vertical bearings can be lowered. Preferably, the two stacks of counterweights arranged alongside each other can be pivoted and coupled together, resulting in a kind of parallelogram guidance.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterweight arrangement consisting of the counterweight frame, the counterweight base plate, the swivel arms pivoting on the latter and optionally winch with cable and reeved pulley case laid down on the counterweight frame can be removed as a whole from the superstructure as a self-standing transport unit. This transport unit can then be loaded onto a semi truck provided especially for this for its transport. Especially advantageously, at least one counterweight plate is already placed on the counterweight arrangement for the transport. This then facilitates the assembly of the mobile crane, since the counterweight arrangement is already assembled with counterweight plate placed on the superstructure.
According to one alternative advantageous embodiment, in the case when the counterweight arrangement remains on the superstructure during the road transport, a base plate arranged on the swivel arms to receive the counterweight plates can be taken off and fastened on the mobile crane. This alternative embodiment is designed for mobile cranes which can travel with substantially greater axle loads in public road traffic than is the case in Germany. The counterweight arrangement can remain on the superstructure here. Now, in order to distribute the axle load as evenly as possible during the road trip, the base plates are designed to be separated from the counterweight arrangement. They are taken up accordingly by transport receptacles provided on the mobile crane. Advantageously, these transport receptacles are provided in the region of the heavily dimensioned areas of the sliding beam box on the undercarriage of the mobile crane.
Advantageously, the stacks of counterweights can be adjusted at different counterweight radius, i.e., one tower stands at 7 m outer radius, for example, the other at 5 m outer radius. Since each stack of counterweights has its own swivel arm, this independent adjustment is possible.
Other features, details and benefits of the invention will be explained more closely with the help of the sample embodiments represented in the Figs.


A container for sprouting seeds hydroponically without water build-up causing root rot. The container includes a bottom portion joined to side walls, a bendable seed-holding tray and a conventional cover. The bottom portion has ribs for supporting the tray for limited free angulation to different nonhorizontal positions, and the side walls have channels to allow water run-off.

Growing sprouts from seeds, such as alfalfa, hydroponically (without the use of soil) has become very popular. Various sprouts are grown commercially and sold to food markets.
The growing of sprouts is generally accomplished by placing seeds in large trays and watering them. The trays may be covered with plastic wrap to retain humidity and promote germination. A concern in growing sprouts in the above-described manner is that excessive water accumulation in a tray causes root rot and deterioration to the sprouting plant. Another concern is that growing sprouts in large trays necessitates repackaging the sprouts for resale. This obviously takes time, is costly, and reduces sprout shelf life.
A general object of this invention, is to provide a container for sprouting seeds hydroponically without the danger of water accumulation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container having a size suitable for growing as well as retailing sprouts.
More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a container with a bottom portion having drain openings, and a series of parallel upward facing ribs, and side portions, joined to the bottom portion, having a plurality of indentations forming vertically disposed channels.
A further object of the invention is to provide a seed-holding tray removably placeable upon the above-mentioned ribs, with the edges of the tray abutting the channels in the side portions. With the tray in place, the sloping ridges of the ribs cause the tray to assume a nonhorizontal, rocked or bent disposition which facilitates water run-off to edges of the tray, and thence out of the container by way of the vertical channels and the drain openings.


A grate assembly consisting of a pair of tubular U-shaped grates with turned-down, front positioned ends coupled to receptacles in a base plate, which base plate extends across the front and inside of a fireplace. Two of these receptacles, one coupled to each grate, are connected to a blower positioned in a frontal cavity of a hearth in front of and below the fireplace. The other two of the receptacles, one connected to each grate, are connected to pipes which extend down through and to the front of the hearth. They exhaust heated air.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fireplace heating systems, and particularly to tubular grate systems where air is circulated through a grate.
2. General Description of the Prior Art
Since the era of fuel shortage commenced a few years ago, a great emphasis has been placed upon the use of wood as a source of heat. It followed that instead of fireplaces being used largely for decoration and aesthetic warmth, they should provide a significant amount of heat. Perhaps the first approach to the improvement of fireplace efficiency was to employ double walled fireplace liners and thus to, in effect, make something of a stove of a fireplace by circulating air through the double walls. Thousands of these have been made and used with considerable success. Considering that such units are fairly costly and somewhat difficult to install, other approaches and configurations of fireplace type heaters have evolved. Perhaps the most prominent of these has been to employ some form of tubular grate. The most common type of these employs a series of side-by-side pipe loops, each lying in a vertical plane and wherein cool air enters lower ends of the loops and heated air exits at higher positioned ends of the loops.
For effectiveness, it is pretty much required that a glass screen be employed over a fireplace opening if much heat is to be obtained from a fireplace. This then meant that with tubular grates, pipes would have to extend through the glass screen. As a further adjunct, room air is typically forced through tubular grates by a blower which, for lack of any other place to put it, typically rests on a hearth in front of the fireplace. This is both unsightly and noisy.
Considering the foregoing, it is the object of this invention to provide an improved fireplace heater which may be used with any fireplace screen, where there are no air pipes passing through the fireplace opening, and while employing a blower, the blower is located so as to be unobtrusive and to cause little room noise.


Provided is a toner that achieves low-temperature fixability, storability and charging performance all at a high level, in which a toner containing a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin, wherein a standard deviation of hydrogen nuclear relaxation times (HT1ρ-C) of the toner as measured by solid-state 13C-NMR is from 0.0 to 5.0, and a hydrogen nuclear relaxation time (HT1ρ-C1) of a 13C peak with the longest relaxation time out of the hydrogen nuclear relaxation times (HT1ρ-C) and a hydrogen nuclear relaxation time (HT1ρ-A1) of a 13C peak with the shortest relaxation time out of the hydrogen nuclear relaxation times (HT1ρ-A) satisfy 3.0≦{(HT1ρ-C1)/(HT1ρ-A1)}≦6.0.

In response to recent demands for energy savings in image formation, efforts are being made to reduce toner fixation temperatures. One proposal has been to reduce fixation temperatures still further by using a polyester with a low softening temperature. Because the softening temperature is low, however, the toner particles may fuse together and blocking may occur when the toner is left standing during storage or transportation.
As a means of achieving both blocking resistance and low-temperature fixability, a technique has been proposed using a crystalline resin with a sharp melt property, meaning that its viscosity decreases sharply when its melting temperature is exceeded (Patent Literatures 1 to 3).


A tensioning device (10) for a conventional drive system, which includes pulleys (not shown) interconnected by a flexible drive element (12), includes a frame assembly (20), upper left and right contact rollers (22) and (24), and lower left and right contact rollers (26) and (28). The frame assembly (20) includes proximal and distal frame sidewalls (38) and (40) which are rectangular in shape. Each contact roller (22), (24), (26), and (28) engages the flexible drive element (12) and forms a U-shaped channel (30) with a bottom circumferential surface (22) and vertical sidewalls (34). The contact rollers (22), (24), (26), and (28) rotatably attach to bearing axles (72), (74), (76), and (78) which connect the contact rollers to the frame sidewalls through their respective positional locating apertures (42), (44), (46), and (48). The bearing axles of the contact rollers can also be selectively secured to the frame sidewalls through horizontal adjustment apertures (52), (54), (56), and (58) to adjustably secure the upper contact rollers (22) and (24) a selected distance from one another, and adjustably secure the lower contact rollers (26) and (28) a selected distance from one another, thereby optimizing the locations in which the tensioning device (10) applies biasing force to the drive belt (12). The bearing axles (72), (74), (76), and (78) of the contact rollers (22), (24), (26), and (28) can also be connected to the frame sidewalls (38) and (40) through the vertical adjustment apertures (62), (64), (66), and (68) to adjustably secure the upper contact rollers (22) and (24) a selected distance from the lower rollers (26) and (28), thereby adjusting the tensioning device (10) so as to apply a suitable tensioning force to the drive belt (12).

The present invention is adapted for use with a conventional drive system in which a driven pulley and a drive pulley are connected by a flexible drive element such as a drive belt. In such an arrangement, it is well known that the proper functioning of the drive system and the operating life of the drive belt can be significantly enhanced by maintaining the two drive belt runs between the pulleys in tension such that significant slack does not occur in either run. One method of providing such tension is to resiliently bias the pulleys away from one another. However, a more convenient arrangement is provided by a tensioning device that biases one or both drive belt runs inwardly towards the other run at a point intermediate the pulleys. This arrangement provides the added advantage of keeping a greater surface area of the drive belt in contact with the outer surface of the pulleys at any given period of time. A number of examples of this latter type of tensioning device are disclosed in the prior art. However, in the great majority of prior tensioning devices, the tensioning device is adapted to operate in a particular drive system, e.g., to operate with a given arrangement of pulleys and drive belt.
One result of the fact that prior tensioning devices have been adapted for specific applications is that most such devices have been mounted or secured to a support that is fixed with respect to the pulley axles. Through use of such a support arrangement, the position of the tensioning device between the pulleys cannot be controlled, to maintain the tensioning device at the optimum position. The use of fixed supports has conventionally been viewed as especially important for tensioning devices adapted to operate with pulleys that are or may be horizontally positioned with respect to one another. In such a horizontal arrangement, the weight of the tensioning device does not affect its position, i.e., the position of the tensioning device between the pulleys is not in any way controlled by gravity acting on the tensioning device.
A further feature of the majority of prior art tensioning devices is that in such devices, the surfaces contacting the two runs of the drive belt and urging them inward are either fixed in position with respect to one another, or resiliently biased towards one another by springs or similar means. A disadvantage of the resilient biasing technique is that it adds complexity to the tensioning device, and the spring or other resilient means are themselves subject to wear over time. Tensioning devices having fixed distances between their contact surfaces cannot be adjusted as the belt experiences increased wear. Thus, the tensioning force provided by the device decreases over time, at least in those arrangements where the pulleys are horizontally positioned with respect to one another. A further disadvantage of a fixed distance between the contact surfaces is that the tensioning device cannot be used with different sized pulleys.
One attempt to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art has been provided by the belt tensioner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,535 to Sheets. This device utilizes upper and lower idler assemblies, each of which carries significantly longitudinally spaced rollers, which are adjustably connected by threaded rods. However, this device is not easily adjusted, due to the need to undo locking washers and nuts, and is not compact, due to the widely spaced rollers. Thus, this device is not well suited for use on drive belts which operate in closely confined spaces.
Additional partial solutions for tensioning drive mechanism tensioners are provided by the chain tensioners disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,862 to Matson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,562 to Matson et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,934 to Gibson Jr. et al. These devices provide upper and lower low friction drive chain contact members that glide on chain surfaces, and which are incremented by adjustable straps. The straps are readily adjusted to change the spacing of the contact members, particularly in a disclosed ratcheting strap version. However, these devices, while well suited for use on chains, are not as well suited for use on belts due to the increased friction associated with belt contact on the contact members.
Further drawbacks of prior art tensioning devices stem from their lack of adjustability. As has been previously mentioned, it is advantageous to be able to adjust a tensioning device such that the surfaces of the tensioning device, which contact the two runs of a flexible drive element, can be positioned closer to one another. Additionally, in tensioning devices that contain more than one contact surface for each run of a flexible drive element, it is also advantageous to be able to position the contact surfaces on each side of the flexible drive element closer or further away from one another. It is a further benefit for a tensioning device to be of a configuration that adequately supports the contact surfaces in a stable arrangement. It is of still further benefit for a tensioning device to be able to manage multiple drive elements and relatively long drive elements, both of which have their own specific problems, such as the tendency for the runs to tangle with one another and/or to flip an associated tensioning device.


An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels disposed on an insulation substrate. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of thin-film transistors, a conversion element disposed above the TFTs, and a plurality of insulating layers disposed between the conversion element and the plurality of TFTs. The plurality of TFTs includes a reading TFT having a gate electrode electrically connected to the conversion element and a first selecting TFT electrically connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the reading TFT. At least one of a signal wiring, to which a signal corresponding to an electric charge obtained by conversion of incident light or radiation performed by the conversion element is transferred, and a gate wiring that supplies a driving signal to a gate electrode of the first selecting thin-film transistor, is disposed between the plurality of insulating layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) and a conversion element, a method for manufacturing the imaging apparatus, and a radiation imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel that employs a TFT is utilized in an area sensor that includes a conversion element that converts light (e.g., visible light) or radiation (e.g., an X ray) into an electric signal.
U.S. Patent No. 2003-0010922 describes an apparatus that includes a first protecting insulation layer on a TFT array, storage capacity electrodes connected to a ground wire on the first protecting insulation layer, a second protecting insulation layer that covers the storage capacity electrodes formed on the first protecting insulation layer, and a pixel electrode connected to a drain electrode of the TFT on the second protecting insulation layer, with at least one portion of the storage capacity electrodes shielding the TFT region. U.S. Patent No. 2002-0056810 describes an apparatus that includes a reading field-effect transistor having a gate for receiving a signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element and a source and a drain for reading a signal corresponding to the signal charge accumulated in the gate.
However, in known apparatuses, when a plurality of TFTs is arranged, the number of wirings that cross a signal wiring via a gate insulation layer is increased, thus increasing a parasitic capacitance. This reduces a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio.

Imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system


A method and apparatus for use in a room for circulating the air, for substantially balancing the temperature of the air distributed in the room, and for treating the air. The apparatus comprises a body having an interior cavity. The cavity is provided with an air-circulating fan assembly and air treating component. The air treating component may be hollow and may include filtering, deodorizing, and scenting material. Strategic placement of the apparatus within a room allows for substantially balanced room temperatures.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air temperature and air quality control in buildings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for circulating air in a room, for substantially equalizing the air temperature of a room, and for treating the air of a room.
II. Description on the Relevant Art
Modern office buildings and even many new homes are designed to be more or less sealed boxes, not allowing outside air to enter or exit but through the occasionally opened door. The modern "hermetically-sealed" construction is thought to minimize heating and cooling costs by prohibiting the random opening and closing of windows by office workers. The modern construction also reduces building costs because sealed windows are less costly to make and install than are windows that can be selectively opened and closed.
While proving to save money, the modern design also produces undesirable results, in that the interior air never changes to any significant degree. Workers often complain of what has become known as "sick building syndrome", allegedly caused by dirty office air.
A problem also related to the static nature of air in modern buildings (as well as in older buildings with windows that are openable) is that warm air tends to linger below the ceiling while cooler air remains in the lower half of the room. The floor-to-ceiling temperature difference can vary by a considerable amount and a variance of between 15 and 30 degrees is common. The result is that the warm air is not generally in the area occupied by people, thus requiring the need for higher amounts of heat energy to be used to warm the lower half of the room.
Known approaches to overcoming these problems have failed.

Method and apparatus for room temperature equalizing and air treatment


An arm rest assembly for a motorcycle is provided having a housing that receives a shaft of the arm rest. A user-operated button is movable between a first position to prevent vertical movement of the support relative to the housing, and a second position to permit vertical movement of the support. A locking mechanism is operable to secure a second sleeve of the assembly to a first sleeve of the assembly to prevent relative movement between the first sleeve and the second sleeve.

Passenger arm rest assemblies may be mounted on a back seat of a motorcycle. Generally, arm rest assemblies are coupled to a frame of the passenger seat and extend outward toward a front of the motorcycle. The arm rest may be designed to rotate about an axis to provide comfort to the passenger. Additionally, the arm rest may be designed to raise or lower vertically to provide additional comfort to the passenger. Typically, the arm rest should be secured in such a manner as to prevent unwanted rotation or vertical movement; as such movement may be dangerous, particularly when the motorcycle is in operation.

Arm rest assembly for a motorcycle and methods therefor


A portable computing device may comprise a display, a frame, and a communication circuit. The frame may support the display. At least a portion of the frame may be electrically conductive, and the electrically conductive portion of the frame may define a slot. The communication circuit may be coupled to the slot. The communication circuit may be configured to generate a fringing field. The fringing field may include electromagnetic waves with a wavelength at least eight times a width of the slot in a widest direction of the slot.

Electronic devices can communicate with each other via wireless interfaces. For example, an electronic keyboard may wirelessly communicate with portable computing devices. The wireless communications between a pair of devices may interfere with wireless communications between other pairs of devices. In addition to interference with other devices, self-interference or desense (radio de-sensitization) can also occur with a wireless communication link.

Generating fringing field for wireless communication


A method of reducing the toxicity of a 3D-printed part is provided. The method includes exposing the part to ultraviolet light sufficient to reduce the toxicity of the part. The toxicity of the ultraviolet light-treated part can be based on a comparison with the toxicity of a similarly prepared part not exposed to ultraviolet light.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to reducing toxicity of 3D-printed articles.
Related Art
Even though additive manufacturing or "3D printing" was first introduced in 1983,1 the technology has become widespread only in the last few years. The value of the 3D printing market grew from $288 million in 2012 to $2.5 billion in 2013 and is projected to grow to $16.2 billion by 2018.2 Much of this growth has occurred in the life sciences, where 3D printing has found applications in dentistry,3,4 prosthetics and implantable devices,5,6 surgical instruments,7 and even tissue and organ replacement.8 By providing businesses, researchers, physicians, and hobbyists with custom objects and tools quickly and inexpensively, 3D printers are revolutionizing manufacturing, accelerating research, and changing how medicine is practiced.
In spite of the growing popularity of 3D printers, relatively little is known about the toxicity of 3D-printed parts. Previous work has found that 3D-printed parts can be toxic to cancer cells9 and may cause allergic or inflammatory responses5,10 and infections11 in patients. Additionally, some 3D printers release potentially-hazardous particles into the air during operation.12 However, the whole-organism health effects of exposure to 3D-printed parts remain largely unexplored. As 3D-printed parts find increasing use in the medical and life science fields, the effects of exposure to these parts need to be understood. Additionally, as consumer-grade 3D printers become more widespread, the amount of 3D-printed parts and printer waste being released into the environment will also grow, and the toxicity of these materials in the environment remains largely unexplored.
With little known about the toxicity of 3D-printed parts, there are consequently few techniques for reducing the toxicity of these parts. Researchers have found that heating a 3D-printed part can reduce its toxicity to cancer cells, but heating also adversely affects the appearance of the part.9 Treating 3D-printed parts with supercritical carbon dioxide can reduce the inflammation caused when the parts are implanted in the body,5 but this technique requires a specialized instrument that is more expensive than many 3D printers. There is an unmet need for simple and accessible techniques for reducing the toxicity of 3D-printed parts in research, healthcare, and commercial applications.

Treatment for reducing the toxicity of 3D-printed parts

The Regents of the University of California


A data processing apparatus includes an input unit to read out data of a first area of image data from an external memory, sequentially interpret commands included in a command list, and transmit the data of the first area to an image processing unit according to the command, and an output unit to receive data obtained by performing a image processing on the data of the first area and write the received data in the external memory, whereon, based on a control signal, the input unit controls readout of a following command to a command indicating suspension from the external memory and continuation, etc., of transmission of the data of a second area, and based on a control signal, the output unit controls, in a case that the command indicating suspension is received, continuation, etc., of writing of the data of the second area to the external memory.

Field of the Invention
One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to a data processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a program for transferring image data before and after image processing.
Description of the Related Art
Generally, when image data formed by image forming processing is output, local (neighborhood) image processing such as spatial filtering is performed. In the local image processing, a predetermined calculation is performed on a spatial filter area including a pixel as a processing target (hereinbelow, referred to as a processing object pixel) using all or most of pixels in the spatial filter area.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-139606 describes a technique for performing such local image processing as parallel distributed processing. According to the technique, an image is subjected to region segmentation (one-dimensional segmentation) with respect to a sub-scanning direction, and image processing is performed on the segmented area sequentially or in a parallel distributed manner. A method for processing an image for each one-dimensional segmented area as described above is referred to as band processing.
Generally, in the band processing, each band area is designed to partially overlap with each other at a boundary with an adjacent area so that the local image processing is performed between the band areas without a gap. According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-139606, when the local image processing is performed on a band area, a pixel is scanned one by one in a height direction of the band area, so that a delay memory capacity for storing pixels necessary for the local image processing is defined by a height size of the band area. Accordingly, reduction of the delay memory is realized in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-139606.
In addition, there is tile processing for processing an image by performing two-dimensional region segmentation and others, and methods for segmenting an image into partial images and performing processing sequentially or in a parallel distributed manner are collectively referred to as region segmentation methods.
As described above, the region segmentation processing for performing the sequential processing or the parallel distributed processing by segmenting an image into partial images has various advantages, such as speeding up by the parallel distributed processing and reduction of the delay memory.
One of the above-described local image processing is resolution conversion processing for converting an input image into an image of a desired size by enlarging or reducing the image. According to the resolution conversion processing, the number of input pixels is largely different from the number of output pixels after processing, therefore it is difficult to implement the processing as hardware compared to other local image processing in which the number of pixels is not changed in input and output. As described above, using the region segmentation processing has various advantages, however, when the image processing such as the resolution conversion is realized by the region segmentation processing, it becomes more difficult to implement the processing as hardware.
For example, assuming that image data on a sheet surface or the like is segmented into areas (for example, bands), and the resolution conversion (arbitrary scaling) is performed on each of the segmented image areas. When a magnification (variable magnification) of the resolution conversion is an integer, a converted image area is also an integer multiple, and it is not necessary to consider a pixel of which a size is less than one pixel and below a decimal point, in other words, a phase shift by the resolution conversion. On the other hand, when the magnification (variable magnification) is not an integer, a pixel of which a size is below a decimal point may be generated in an image area after the resolution conversion depending on a size of an input image area. However, when the processed image area data is written into an external storage device (a global buffer), a pixel less than one pixel cannot be written. Needless to say, it is necessary to "round" the pixel less than one pixel using a method for writing the relevant pixel as one pixel, a method for not writing by ignoring it, or the like so that the number of pixels becomes an integer.
As described above, when a pixel less than one pixel generated by the image processing is rounded, a setting value of a direct memory access (DMA) function used for transfer of image data is varied in each segmented area. Thus, the same setting value cannot be continuously used. For example, setting values such as a "top address" and a "repeat count" necessary when image data is transferred using the DMA function are required to be calculated in consideration of a series of image processing contents for each segmented area. Conventionally, in such a case, setting values of the DMA function corresponding to a series of image processing contents for each segmented area are first calculated by firmware operating on a central processing unit (CPU). Subsequently, the CPU sequentially sets the setting values calculated for each segmented area and sequentially operates an image processing unit.
For example, when the image processing on front and rear surfaces of a sheet is realized by time division multiplex processing by a single image processing apparatus as in the case of simultaneous two-sided scanning, image data pieces of the front and rear surfaces are necessary to be segmented into areas (for example, bands) and processed alternately. In such usage, for the setting value of the above-described DMA function, it is necessary to calculate a setting value of a front area and a setting value of a rear area alternately.
Generally, an image processing apparatus is constituted of various units such as a CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, an external storage device for storing a pixel as a processing target, a direct memory access controller (DMAC) for transferring an image in a unit of processing, and an image processing unit for executing image processing. These units operate simultaneously and/or in cooperation with each other and thus realize desired image processing at desired speed. When image data of an image processing target is input to the image processing apparatus, the image data of a part of the processing target is sequentially read from the external storage device and temporarily stored in an input local buffer in the image processing unit, and the image processing is executed. Further, when processed image data is output, a part of the image data after the image processing is temporarily stored in an output local buffer in the image processing unit and sequentially written into the external storage device. As described above, the image processing apparatus transfers image data to each other between the external storage device via the input/output local buffers and realizes simultaneous operations of the units and linkage operations between the units in the apparatus.
The CPU needs to control the DMAC in a unit of a partial image while cooperating (synchronizing) with another device and input the partial image to the image processing unit. For example, when a scanner device performs image segmentation on an A4 size sheet with a resolution of 600 dpi (6600 pixels in a vertical direction) at a band area having a height of 16 pixels, a number of the band areas will be 412. In other words, the CPU needs to perform the DMAC control for 412 times per page. In addition, similar control is necessary for the output from the image processing unit, and the control time by the CPU will be 824 times. As the number of segmenting times becomes larger, a control load on the CPU becomes heavier, and overhead such as a delay in communication for cooperating (synchronizing) with another device and a delay in an interrupt becomes larger. Accordingly, it becomes difficult to realize speeding up (real-time characteristic) of the image processing apparatus.
In order to address such issues, it is necessary to reduce overhead caused by cooperation (synchronization) with another device conventionally performed by the CPU and a processing load of the control on the DMAC. For example, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-282429, the image processing unit reads out a command list from an external memory and realizes autonomous DMAC control using the command list without intervention of the CPU. On the other hand, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-101093, a command list for starting the image processing unit while cooperating (synchronizing) with another device is introduced, and reduction of overhead for cooperation (synchronization) is realized by starting the DMAC.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-101093 is also similar, the DMAC and the image processing unit are separated in the general image processing apparatus. Further, synchronization between the image processing unit (an image input output unit and an image processing execution unit) and external devices (the CPU, the scanner, and the video input device) is realized via the DMAC with completion of DMA transfer as a starting point. Thus, it is necessary to start the DMAC for each control point (a synchronization point) with the external devices (the CPU, the scanner, and the video input device). Needless to say, the control point (the synchronization point) is located according to a transfer amount (a unit of transfer) of the DMAC.
On the other hand, the image processing unit (the image input output unit and the image processing execution unit) is operated according to an image processing data flow. In this regard, the control points (the synchronization points) of task switching, barrier synchronization, and the like by the image processing execution unit according to the image processing data flow do not always coincide with the control point (the synchronization point) of the above-described transfer completion of the DMAC. Thus, in order to appropriately perform synchronization between the external devices (the CPU and scanner) and the image processing unit (the image input output unit and the image processing execution unit), the transfer amount of the DMAC is segmented into a smaller size. Further, it is necessary to make it easily to adjust the control point (the synchronization point) of the DMA transfer completion to the control point (the synchronization point) of the task switching and the barrier synchronization of the image processing However, when a unit of DMA transfer is made smaller, DMA transfer efficiency is decreased. In addition, the external device (the CPU) controls the DMAC for each control point (the synchronization point) of the DMA transfer completion. Accordingly, an issue arises such that a control load on the external device (the CPU) is increased because the number of the above-described control points (the synchronization points) is increased.
Especially, in the usage like the simultaneous two-sided scanning, an installation position of a scanner sensor with respect to a sheet surface is different between the front and rear surfaces of the sheet, and a reading start position of the image processing is different between the front and rear surfaces. The same manner is applied when designation of a reading range is different between the front and rear surfaces of the sheet. Further, if an image format (a dot sequential system, a frame sequential system, or the number of colors) for performing the image processing is different between the front and rear surfaces of the sheet, it is to be understood that the image processing needs to be executed on the front and rear surfaces of the sheet using respectively appropriate setting values. In order to realize the image processing on the front and rear surfaces in a time division multiplexed manner by a single image processing apparatus with respect to these purposes, it is necessary to alternately switch the image processing for each segmented area on the front and rear surfaces. On the other hand, as in the case of the above-described arbitrary scaling, the setting value of the DMA function used for transfer of the image data is varied in each segmented area, and the same setting value cannot be continuously used. Therefore, it is further difficult to solve the two issues at the same time.
The image processing unit operates a series of image processing for each band while synchronizing with external devices (the CPU, the scanner device, a print device, and the like) every time performing the image processing on one band area. At that time, the image processing unit is in a wait state from when an external synchronization signal is input from the external device until when the image processing on a next band area is started. However, during the wait state, a clock is input to the image processing execution unit, and the image processing execution unit consumes needless electricity. When the external device is a hardware device such as a scanner, a wait time between the bands is too short for the firmware to intervene. Therefore, when a clock is stopped by intervention of the firmware, control overhead is generated, and a processing time of the image processing (in whole) is delayed. On the other hand, if the band areas are processed 412 times in one page of an A4 size sheet and, an automatic document feeder (ADF) scanner is continuously operated for 50 pages, the wait states are generated more than 20000 times, and needless power consumption thereof is large in total.
The above-described conventional techniques have no descriptions of clock control in the wait state which is too short for the firmware to intervene between the band area subjected to the image processing and a next band area.
As described above, when the setting value of the DMA function for each segmented area is calculated by the firmware, processing by the CPU is required for each segmented area, so that a plurality of segmented areas cannot be continuously processed in the image processing unit.
In addition, when operations of a plurality of units are controlled by controlling data transfer to a global buffer via a local buffer, and if the number of pixels of input and output images varies for each segmented area as in the case of the resolution conversion processing, the data transfer cannot be uniformly defined. Therefore, for example, the number of output pixels is calculated by the firmware for each segmented area, and the image processing unit is started by changing the setting of the DMAC for each band by the firmware. Further, when the image processing for one band is completed, the image processing unit needs to notify the CPU of completion of the processing using an interrupt and the like to synchronize with the CPU. The CPU takes time for, for example, a few millisecond to receive the interrupt, search for an interrupt factor, and return to a next operation. Accordingly, the CPU is in a state in which a certain load is always applied thereon for controlling and synchronizing (meeting) with the image processing unit and is not released during the image processing. Therefore, there are issues such as a delay is required for a simultaneous operation of each unit in the apparatus, and a linkage operation between the units cannot be continuously executed.

Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium


A gear train includes a housing, a shaft arranged in the housing, a gear wheel arranged on a first shaft shoulder, and first and second axial locks arranged on opposite sides of the gear wheel to axially secure the gear wheel. The second axial lock is attached to a second shaft shoulder having a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of the first shaft shoulder. A radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit mounts the shaft in the housing and is attached to a third shaft shoulder disposed adjacent to the second shaft shoulder and defined by a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the second shaft shoulder. A component attached to the shaft has a sliding surface for an axial sliding-contact bearing of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit, with the second axial lock defining a running surface for the axial sliding-contact bearing of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit.

The present invention relates to a gear train.
The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.
A gear train of a type involved here includes a housing and a shaft mounted therein. A gear wheel is attached to a first shaft shoulder, for example in the form of a spur gear, via a press fit, a groove-spring connection or the like. A first axial lock and a second axial lock are provided on the shaft to axially secure the gear wheel and accommodate the gear wheel between them. The first axial lock can, for example be formed, by a second shaft shoulder, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the first shaft shoulder receiving the gear wheel. A so-called groove nut is mostly used as the second axial lock, and is screwed onto the second shaft shoulder and presses against the gear wheel. German Industrial Standard DIN 981 distinguishes different designs of such groove nuts. A radial-axial slide-contact bearing unit is attached to a third shaft shoulder adjacent to but spaced apart from the second axial lock to radially and axially mount the shaft. The axial sliding-contact bearing of this radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit requires running surfaces on both sides.
FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a conventional gear train 1, which has a housing 2 and a shaft 3 arranged in the housing 2. Attached by a press fit to a shaft shoulder 4, which has a diameter D1, is a gear wheel 5, which in this case is a spur gear. Two axial locks 6, 8 are provided for axially securing the gear wheel 5. The first axial lock 6 forms a shaft shoulder 7 with a diameter D4 which is greater than the diameter D1 of the shaft shoulder 4. The second axial lock 8 is a standard commercially available groove nut 9 which is screwed to a shaft shoulder 10 arranged adjacent to the shaft shoulder 4. The gear train 1 includes a radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 which mounts the shaft 3 in the housing 2 and is attached to a shaft shoulder 12 provided adjacent to the shaft shoulder 10. The shaft shoulder 12 has a diameter D3 which is smaller than the diameter D2 of the shaft shoulder 10. The radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 has an annular recess 13 that extends originating from its internal diameter, which enables the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 to be slid over the groove nut 9 such that the end surface of the gear wheel 5 facing the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 forms a running surface 14 for the axial sliding-contact bearing of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11. The other running surface 15 is formed by an axial bearing support disk 16 which is attached to the end of the shaft 3. The axial bearing support disk 16 has an annular and axially projecting shoulder 17 which abuts the end face of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 facing away from the gear wheel 5 and forms the running surface 15. The housing 2 has a housing cover 18 attached thereto, which positions the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 against a housing shoulder 19 in a direction of the gear wheel 5. The housing cover 18 is provided with an annular, axially projecting protrusion 20 which positions against the radially outer region of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11.
The design of the gear train 1 has shortcomings because the manufacture of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 is expensive as a consequence of the need for the annular recess 13. Furthermore, the annular recess 13 also entails larger dimensions than comparable radial-axial sliding-contact bearing units without such a recess. This is in many cases not desirable.
FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of another conventional gear train 10 which differs from the gear train 1 according to FIG. 1 by the absence of an annular recess in the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 and by the presence of a further support disk 21 which is slid onto the shaft shoulder 12. The support disk 21 abuts the confronting end face of the shaft shoulder 10 and forms the running surface 14 for the axial slide-contact bearing of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11 on the end face of the radial-axial sliding-contact bearing unit 11. The remaining structure corresponds to that of gear train 1.
The design of the gear train 10 has also shortcomings because of the need for the support disk 21 as an additional element that has to be manufactured and fitted. This renders the design complex and increases costs.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved drive train to obviate prior art shortcomings.


Organopolysiloxanes having polyether and ester groups linked to a common spacer group, wherein the spacer group is linked through an SiC bond to the siloxane backbone and a method for the synthesis thereof are disclosed. These compounds are useful as additives for plastics, lacquers and binders for reducing the coefficient of sliding friction, for improving scratch resistance and increasing abhesiveness. If the compounds are esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, they can be used as radiation-curable lacquers and coating compositions.

This invention relates to organopolysiloxanes with polyether and ester groups linked to a common spacer group, wherein the spacer group is linked through an SiC bond to the siloxane backbone.
It is well known that polysiloxanes which contain polyether groups that are linked to the polysiloxane backbone by an SiC bond are synthesized by the addition reaction between allyl polyethers and hydrogensiloxanes. Reference is made only to the German Patent 31 33 869 as being representative of the patent literature which deals with this synthesis.
However, it has proven to be disconcerting that, under the conditions of the hydrosilylation, a rearrangement of the allyl polyether to the corresponding propylene polyether takes place in competition with the addition reaction: EQU CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --O--[C.sub.n H.sub.2n O--].sub.m .fwdarw.Ch.sub.3 --CH.dbd.CH--O[C.sub.n H.sub.2n O--].sub.m
These propylene ethers do not participate in the hydrosilylation reaction and, because they cannot be separated economically from the polyethersiloxane obtained, for example, by distillation, they remain in considerable amounts in the hydrosilylation product. When the polyether siloxanes are used, the propenyl ethers can interfere and lead to detrimental effects. However, a method which can prevent this rearrangement or, at least, largely suppress it is not yet known.
The use of polysiloxanes with (meth)acrylate ester groups linked over SiC groups as radiation curable coating agents is known from the German Patent 38 10 140.
These compounds can be obtained by reacting polysiloxanes of the general average formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 groups are the same or different and in each case represent low molecular weight alkyl groups with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or phenyl groups,
R.sup.2 groups partly can have the meaning of the R.sup.1 groups and PA0 R.sup.2 groups remaining, to the extent of 70 to 100%, are hydroxy-functional groups of the formula --CH.sub.2 (CR.sup.3.sub.2).sub.n --(OCH.sub.2 CHR.sup.4).sub.m --OH, --CH.dbd.CH--CR.sup.3.sub.2 --OH or ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 groups are the same or different and in each case represent an H group or an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, PA0 with the proviso that at least 1.8 hydroxy-functional groups are contained in the average molecule, PA0 a has a value of 1 to 1000 and PA0 b has a value of 0 to 10, PA0 R.sup.2 groups partially have the meaning of the R.sup.1 groups and the PA0 R.sup.2 groups remaining to the extent of 70 to 100% are conventional epoxy-functional groups and to the extent of PA0 with the proviso that at least 1.8 epoxy groups are contained in the average molecule PA0 a has a value of 1 to 1,000 and PA0 b has a value of 0 to 10, PA0 R.sup.2 groups partially can have the meaning of the R1.sup.1 groups, PA0 R.sup.2 groups remaining to the extent of PA0 a has a value of 1 to 1,000 and PA0 b has a value of 0 to 10, PA0 70 to 100% of the R.sup.2 groups which do not have the meaning of the R.sup.1 group are R.sup.3 --R.sup.4 groups and PA0 0 to 30% of the R.sup.2 groups which do not have the meaning of the R.sup.1 group are alkyl groups with 2 to 12 carbon atoms or hydrogen groups. PA0 R.sup.9 groups partly can have the meaning of the R.sup.1 groups and PA0 R.sup.9 groups remaining to the extent of 70 to 100% are groups of the formula R.sup.3 --R.sup.10, in which
R.sup.4 groups are the same or different and in each case represent an H group of an alkyl group with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the subscripts PA1 n=0 to 10 and PA1 m=0 to 40, and to the extent of 30 to 0%, are optionally substituted alkyl groups with 2 to 20 carbon atoms and/or hydrogen groups, PA1 30 to 0% are alkyl groups with 2 to 10 carbon atoms or hydrogen groups, PA1 70 to 100% are groups of the formula R.sup.3 --R.sup.4, in which
with 0.4 to 0.9 molar amount of (meth)acrylic acid and up to 0.6 molar amount of a monocarboxylic acid which is free of double bonds capable of polymerizing based on the hydroxyl groups, with the proviso that the sum of the molar amount of acid does not exceed 1.0, under the usual esterification conditions.
Also with this method, there is risk that the double bond of the .alpha.-unsaturated, .omega.-OH component will isomerize in the course of the platinum-catalyzed addition reaction to the hydrogen siloxane. While thus formed propenyl alcohol which rearranges to the propionaldehyde can be distilled off from the addition reaction product, the propenyl polyether remains in the product. Since the propenyl polyether is not silicone-modified, it can adversely affect the abhesiveness of the product.
German patent 38 20 294 is an example of the state of the art for polysiloxanes which have ester groups at a spacer group linked by an SiC bond. This patent relates to polysiloxanes with (meth)acrylate ester groups linked through SiC groups. They can be obtained by reacting polysiloxanes of the general, average formula ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 groups are the same or different and in each case represent low molecular weight alkyl groups with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or phenyl groups
with 0.4 to 0.9 molar amount of (meth)acrylic acid based on the epoxy groups, and reacting remaining epoxide groups with a monocarboxylic acid with 2 to 12 carbon atoms which is free of double bonds that are capable of polymerizing.

Organopolysiloxanes with polyether and ester groups linked to a common spacer group


The present invention is directed to a server system for supplying differing amounts of data into a database, wherein the system comprises the database and a data tracker device, wherein the data tracker receives data sent by a plurality of functional entities, preferably office machines and in particular devices with a printer, wherein the data tracker device is prepared to transmit data asynchronously to an intermediate buffer storage device with a queue structure, the intermediate buffer storage device storing the data sequentially and transmitting the data sequentially to the database to be stored.

In the prior art it is usual to use a maintenance system for several hundred up to two thousand functional entities to control the status of the different functional entities, to provide reports about the function and other kinds of statuses including error messages, number of prints messages, accountable message and the like.
In office systems, a plurality of office machines can be spread in a building or can also be spread all over a whole country and it is usually a problem to provide the maintenance and the supplies for a big number of office machines, like printers, multifunction printers, copiers and the like.
The present disclosure is particularly directed to the maintenance of office machines or function units including a printer. The functional unit can be accessed by the maintenance system regularly or the functional unit can access to the maintenance system in case of a malfunction or another error.
The company or a customer which uses several hundreds or thousands of office machines wishes to know about the function of each of the different office machines, whether an office machine has a malfunction, whether an office machine needs supplies for the further function, for instance toner or ink or paper or the like. In such a case the different office machines are communicating with the system and the maintenance system can regularly request the different office machines to transmit their current status to the system or in case of a malfunction, the particular office machine can send a request to the system or the server of the system to initiate a communication to report the current status including the information about the error which occurred in the particular office machine.
It is particularly time consuming and processing time consuming to communicate with a big number of office machines and to manage the data achieved through the communication.
In the prior art it is usual to receive the data from the different office machines without checking whether the data is relevant or not. The data is written in a database and the data is then transmitted to the maintenance provider who processes the data for statistical purposes, maintenance purposes and accounting purposes.
However, most of the data will be repeated since not only malfunction status data or run out data are stored and transmitted, but also data concerning proper functions and proper conditions are transmitted, stored, and will have to be processed to find out the relevant data. The very big amount of data to be exchanged and transmitted in this connection limits the capacity of such systems to about two thousand office machines, like printers or multifunctional printers, including copiers, facsimile devices and the like.
To be able to communicate with more than two thousand office machines would need several servers and their inter-server communication generates another problem. The management of the server operation would slow down system and in case more and more servers would be necessary to operate a more complicated system of a big number of office machines for instance about 15000 office machines, the processor operation time and the capacity of the processors would again be the bottleneck for the whole system since the processors would have always to import and export the data to be processed, which in existing maintenance systems needs a lot of time also because the data have to be imported from the database which needs a lot of time.
Corresponding problems could occur on other technical fields. For instance, it could be that a mobile phone network provider wishes to provide additional maintenance features. In case the accumulator of a mobile phone undergoes a certain power level, this kind of functional entity could communicate corresponding information to the maintenance system for statistical purposes, alert signal purposes or the like.
The same can be interesting on the future field of electronic households, cars with a self-diagnosis of fault communication system, were malfunctions or shortage conditions, for instance a motor or gear oil shortage condition in a motor vehicle can occur, or on other fields, were corresponding functional entities may have to be provided with services like maintenance services, alert signal services, spare part order services, account services and the like.

System and method for processing data from functional entities using an intermediate storage


A motor vehicle antenna system is disclosed for receiving electromagnetically radiated signals in the FM radio broadcast frequency range. The antenna system includes a magnetic current receiving, conformal, substantially rectangular truncated slot antenna. The slot antenna is defined in part by a substantially horizontal portion of a conductive periphery of a window opening of the motor vehicle. The slot antenna is further defined in part by a conductive trace integral with a glazing panel mounted in the window opening. The conductive trace extends horizontally a distance equal to one-half a wavelength in the FM broadcast frequency band. The ends of the trace are effectively connected to the conductive periphery of the window opening. An electrical lead is provided for carrying signals from the slot antenna to a radio receiver, having a first conductor connected to the conductive window periphery and a second conductor coupled to the slot antenna, such as by a network feed structure integral with the windshield, optionally forming an electrical junction with the trace. The side points of the trace are effectively connected to the conductive periphery, e.g., by direct physical connection using an electrical lead, or by providing vertically-extending end traces parallel and proximate to opposite vertical portions of the electrically conductive periphery of the window opening.

Automobile FM radio receivers typically employ mast or whip antennas. Conformal antennas also are known, which are advantageously formed, for example, by incorporation into a glazing panel of the motor vehicle. Conformal antennas are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,180 to Kunert et al, of the "T" antenna type. The Kunert et al teaching is directed toward an electric current receiving element formed by electrically conductive wires embedded in a vehicle windshield. The "T" element of Kunert et al is essentially a top loaded monopole in the windshield. Disadvantageously, the "T" element includes vertically extending wires in the vehicle operator's line of sight.
It is an object of the present invention to provide novel conformal antenna motor vehicle antenna systems. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide such antenna systems which are suitable for use in motor vehicle windshields and other glazing panels of a motor vehicle body.


A method is provided, including the following method operations: rendering, by a client device, game title icons in a gaming platform interface to a display device, the game title icons identifying video games that are accessible through the gaming platform interface using the client device; receiving, by the client device, user selection data indicating selection of a game title icon and identifying a corresponding video game for exploration of related Internet content; generating a search query based on the identified video game, transmitting the search query over the network to a search engine, and receiving results of the search query over the network from the search engine, the results identifying Internet content items related to the video game; generating preview images of at least some of the Internet content items; rendering the preview images in association with the identified video game via the gaming platform interface.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for exploring web content through a gaming platform interface.
Description of the Related Art
A current area of rapidly growing technology is the field of cloud gaming. Users are able to access a number of games on a cloud gaming site over a network, such as the Internet, and begin interaction/playing the game. In order to select a game for game play, a user accesses his/her account on the cloud gaming site. The user is provided with a list of games that are available for the user account for game play.
It is within this context that embodiments of the disclosure arise.

Web explorer for gaming platform interface

Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC


A syringe and a syringe set are provided. The syringe can be readily distinguished from other syringes only by viewing a tip of the syringe. The syringe includes a tip provided at an end of a barrel body to be filled with a medicine and having an outer diameter of 4.315 mm to 6 mm, a peripheral wall provided around the tip concentrically with the tip, and a helical rib formed on an inner the of the peripheral wall or an outer face of the tip.

Patent Document 1 discloses a syringe including a nozzle provided on a tip of a barrel body. The nozzle of the syringe includes an outer tube and an inner tube, and a tip of the inner tube protrudes further than a tip of the outer tube.
However, in the syringe disclosed in Patent Document 1, the tip of the inner tube protrudes further than the tip of the outer tube by 1.5 mm at maximum. Thus, such syringe cannot be easily distinguished from other syringes each including an inner tube and an outer tube that are flush with each other merely by viewing the tip of the syringe.
In the syringe disclosed in Patent Document 1, a helical rib having three or more threads is formed on an inner face of the outer tube, and a tip of the helical rib is a flat face. Thus, an object other than a dedicated needle, for example, a general catheter cannot be inserted between the outer tube and the inner tube, and connected thereto.


An injector for injecting a reagent includes an electromagnet and an axially translatable valve member positioned within a housing. The valve member is moveable from a seated position to an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet. The valve member includes a hollow tube including a curled end having a reduced diameter sized to allow a ball to partially extend beyond the tube end but not pass through the tube. The tube includes an inwardly extending detent restricting the ball from movement within the tube. A pintle head is fixed to the tube and positioned proximate the electromagnet.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. Lean burn engines provide improved fuel efficiency by operating with an excess of oxygen, that is, a quantity of oxygen that is greater than the amount necessary for complete combustion of the available fuel. Such engines are said to run "lean" or on a "lean mixture." However, this improved or increase in fuel economy, as opposed to non-lean burn combustion, is offset by undesired pollution emissions, specifically in the form of oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
One method used to reduce NOx emissions from lean burn internal combustion engines is known as selective catalytic reduction (SCR). SCR, when used, for example, to reduce NOx emissions from a diesel engine, involves injecting an atomized reagent into the exhaust stream of the engine in relation to one or more selected engine operational parameters, such as exhaust gas temperature, engine rpm or engine load as measured by engine fuel flow, turbo boost pressure or exhaust NOx mass flow. The reagent/exhaust gas mixture is passed through a reactor containing a catalyst, such as, for example, activated carbon, or metals, such as platinum, vanadium or tungsten, which are capable of reducing the NOx concentration in the presence of the reagent.
An aqueous urea solution is known to be an effective reagent in SCR systems for diesel engines. However, use of such an aqueous urea solution may involve disadvantages. Urea is highly corrosive and may adversely affect mechanical components of the SCR system, such as the injectors used to inject the urea mixture into the exhaust gas stream. Urea also may solidify upon prolonged exposure to high temperatures, such as temperatures encountered in diesel exhaust systems. Solidified urea may accumulate in the narrow passageways and exit orifice openings typically found in injectors. Solidified urea may also cause fouling of moving parts of the injector and clog any openings or urea flow passageways, thereby rendering the injector unusable.
Some reagent injection systems are configured to include a pump, a supply line and a return line such that aqueous urea is continuously pumped to minimize solidification and also transfer heat from the injector to the aqueous urea stored at a remote location. Some injectors are equipped with moveable members including a hollow tube to provide a return flow path for reagent that has not been injected. The hollow tubes may be welded to valve bodies having conically-shaped ends engaging a valve seat. The valve bodies are typically complex components constructed from high alloy metals. Relatively expensive electron beam or laser welding may be required to fix the tube to the valve body. While relatively complex injector valve members have functioned properly in the past, these components may be relatively costly, complex and sizeable. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide an improved injector system including a reagent injector having an improved pintle assembly.

Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.


A combustion system for direct injection diesel engines, having a fuel injection nozzle provided with upper and lower rows of nozzle holes and disposed so as to be opposed to a deep dish combustion chamber of a small opening ratio. The directions of the upper nozzle holes (1) in the upper row and those of the lower nozzle holes (2) in the lower row are set so that fuel injected from the upper nozzle holes (1) reaches a side wall of the combustion chamber and fuel injected from the lower nozzle holes (2) impinges upon a bottom surface (4) of the combustion chamber. A ratio of a fuel spray travel from the upper nozzle holes (1) to a diameter of each of the upper nozzle holes is set to 150-250. The number of said upper nozzle holes (1) is set twice as large as that of said lower nozzle holes (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combustion system for direct fuel injection diesel engines, and more particularly, wherein a combustion chamber bored into a head of a piston is shaped like a deep dish of a small opening ratio and a fuel injection nozzle is provided with upper and lower rows of nozzle holes, thereby synthetically and simultaneously attaining both reduction of NOx and black smoke in exhaust gas and reduction of fuel expenses.
2. Background Art
Conventional direct fuel injection diesel engines generally have shallow dish combustion chambers formed in the heads of pistons. Such a combustion chamber has a great opening ratio because its peripheral edge is considerably close to the outer periphery end of the piston. Therefore, the travel of fuel from nozzle holes of a fuel nozzle facing the combustion chamber to the side wall of the combustion chamber becomes large so that the injected fuel is completely sprayed with almost no air stream, thereby increasing the coefficient of air-utilization, then burnt.
Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Sho. 61-29940, for example, discloses a fuel injection nozzle provided with upper and lower nozzle holes in zigzags arranged radially around the axis of the fuel injection nozzle. In this art, the combustion chamber is vertically stepped so that fuel is injected from the upper nozzle holes toward the wall of the upper combustion chamber, and from the lower nozzle holes toward the wall of the lower combustion chamber, respectively.
However, the above art is only intended to increase the coefficient of air-utilization for improvement in fuel efficiency. The fuel spray travel from the upper nozzle holes to the wall of the upper combustion chamber is substantially as large as that the lower nozzle holes to the wall of the lower combustion chamber for an attempt of even combustion.
Japanese Utility Model Sho. 43-20403 discloses the lower nozzle holes are reduced in the diameters thereof and the number thereof. This document of the conventional art does not disclose a combustion chamber of a piston. However, the angle of the lower nozzle hole with the axis of the fuel injection nozzle (the nozzle hole angle xcex2 in the document) is comparatively large. Also, there is an account that the complete fuel combustion, which cannot be compensated only by improvement of air stream, is attained by distribution of fuel injection in consideration of the shape of combustion chamber at a final period of compression. Thus, presumably, the target of fuel sprayed from at least the lower nozzle holes is the edge of outer wall of the combustion chamber so as to supply the fuel spray into the piston combustion chamber even at the final period of compression. Perhaps, the unshown bottom central portion of the combustion chamber projects upwardly so as not to be provided for combustion. However, if the bottom of the combustion chamber is flat, it may be to say that air is insufficiently utilized around the central portion of the chamber bottom.
A deep dish combustion chamber is disadvantageous in that the air in the peripheral portion of the piston is not efficiently utilized. Even if the conventional fuel injection nozzle having upper and lower rows of nozzle holes is used, the air about the center portion of the combustion chamber is not effectively utilized because the lower nozzle holes to the side wall of the combustion chamber for fuel injection. If the air in such portions is sufficiently utilized, the combustion efficiency may be improved to reduce fuel expenses.
In a direct injection diesel engine according to the present invention, for the purpose of simultaneous attainment of the two antinomic requirements, that is, reduction of fuel expenses and reduction of NOx, black smoke and the like in exhaust gas (exhaust emission), a piston is formed at its head with a deep dish combustion chamber of a small opening ratio. A fuel injection nozzle is provided with a pair of zigzagged upper and lower rows of nozzle holes. The direction of the nozzle holes in the upper row is set so that fuel injected therefrom reaches a side wall of the combustion chamber. A ratio of a fuel spray travel therefrom to a diameter of each of the nozzle holes in the upper row is set to 150-250. The direction of the nozzle holes in the lower row is set so that fuel injected therefrom impinges upon a bottom surface of the combustion chamber. A ratio of a fuel spray travel therefrom to a diameter of each of the nozzle holes in the lower row is set to 100-180. A ratio of a total area of all the nozzle holes in the lower row to that of all the nozzle holes in both the upper and lower rows is set to 0.25-0.35. The number of the nozzle holes in the upper row is set twice as large as that of the nozzle holes in the lower row.
Since fuel is injected from the fuel injection nozzle formed with such nozzle holes to the above-mentioned deep dish combustion chamber, 65-75% of fuel injected from the total area of all the nozzle holes is burnt in the vicinity of the vertical wall of the combustion chamber with a slight swirl, spurt and reverse spurt. The remaining 25-35% injected fuel directly impinges upon the wall (bottom surface) to be spread into minute particles and burnt. The fuel from the nozzle holes in the upper row is spread while moving up the vertical wall so as to be burnt with the air along the periphery of the piston. On the other hand, the fuel from the nozzle holes in the lower row is also spread to the vicinity of the central portion of the combustion chamber because of its impingement against the bottom surface. Therefore, the air in the whole combustion chamber is effectively used so as to improve efficiency of combustion and reduce fuel expenses.
Thus, according to the combustion system for direct injection diesel engines of the present invention, two kinds of combustion are simultaneously performed in one combustion chamber, thereby synthetically and simultaneously attaining both reduction of exhaust emission and reduction of fuel expenses.
The above-mentioned fuel injection nozzle is further constructed such that both extension lines of axes of any adjacent two of the nozzle holes in the upper row form the same angle on the axis of the fuel injection nozzle, and both extension lines of axes of any adjacent two of the nozzle holes in the lower row form the same angle on the axis of the fuel injection nozzle. Therefore, when viewed in plan, fuel is equally injected from all the nozzle holes in the upper row and from all the nozzle holes in the lower row respectively. The combustions by sprays from all the nozzle holes in the respective upper and lower rows are equalized, thereby improving efficiency of combustion and reducing fuel expenses.

Combustion system for direct injection diesel engines


The present invention relates to production of oligonucleotides using rolling circle replication, wherein synthesised multimeric oligonucleotides are reduced to mononucleotides using a nicking cassette. Thus, the invention provides a method for the production of oligonucleotides, enabling efficient amplification of oligonucleotides at lengths up to at least 1000 nucleotides and in high amounts contained within a nicking cassette.

In combination with sequencing of genomes, automated DNA synthesizers have given researchers the possibility to acquire almost any genetic element as an oligonucleotide and, at least for short oligonucleotides, at a fairly low cost. Two current limitations relate to: I) The production of large amounts of high quality oligonucleotides and II) The synthesis of very long oligonucleotides (200-1000 nucleotides). Concerning the former issue, the quality of the oligonucleotides can be affected by factors related to the chemical synthesis method, including depurination and dG to dA transitions. The maximum length of the synthesized oligonucleotides is currently around 150 nucleotides, with the yield and quality dropping as the length increases.
The main current uses of oligonucleotides are as primers for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for reverse transcription PCR (rtPCR), for sequencing, and as substrates for different enzymatic reactions. In recent years, new techniques have appeared which demand high quality, 5′ phosphorylated oligonucleotides of 70-100 nucleotides in length (e.g. padlock probes). Such probes may well cost 100-200$, taking the extra cost for 5′ phosphorylations (25-35$) and HPLC purifications (25-35$) into account.
These oligonucleotides can to some extent be amplified enzymatically by known methods, e.g. cloning, PCR, rolling circle amplification or Circle-to-circle amplification (C2CA). However, all of these techniques have limitations.
Cloning
Cloning is a time consuming technique where a double stranded DNA sequence is inserted into a plasmid, transformed into an appropriate host organism e.g. bacteria or yeast, the organism grown, and the DNA purified. This is then followed by isolation of the DNA fragment of interest by restriction endonucleases. The technique is laborious, is more suitable for the production of double stranded DNA and at the same time a lot of non-useful DNA is co-amplified and, in particular for the production of shorter DNA segments, the production of non-useful (vector)-DNA will be dominant. Furthermore a laboratory classified for gene modified organisms is required.
PCR
PCR is based on the amplification of a double stranded DNA fragment by the use of a thermostable DNA polymerase and primers complementary to the DNA fragment. Amplification of the DNA fragment takes place by alternating heating and cooling. This technique is more suitable for the production of double stranded DNA and requires a primer for each amplified DNA strand. Furthermore, since the product created is used as template for the next rounds of amplification, mis-incorporation of a nucleotide early in the process will be amplified exponentially along with the desired product.
Rolling Circle Replication
In vitro rolling circle replication traditionally uses a circular single stranded DNA oligonucleotide as a rolling-circle-template and a short oligonucleotide as a primer. The addition of a DNA polymerase and dNTPs starts the polymerization. As the rolling-circle-template is endless, the product will be a long single stranded DNA molecule composed of tandem repeats complementary to the rolling-circle-template. In contrast to the PCR reaction, a falsely incorporated nucleotide will not be further amplified as the circular oligonucleotide is template for each round of amplification.
US 2003/0087241 describes the method of "Rolling circle amplification" in which a rolling circle product can be designed in a way, that allows it to fold into distinct hairpin structures containing a binding site for a restriction endonuclease. The rolling circle product can therefore, by a restriction endonuclease, be turned into monomers. Limitations to this technique include that it does not amplify the circular oligonucleotide, but rather replicate the complementary sequence, and that it only provides one round of amplification.
Circle-to-Circle Amplification
Circle-to-circle amplification (C2CA) is a method for the amplification of a single stranded DNA sequence, based on successive rounds of rolling circle DNA synthesis. The DNA sequence is circularized using an external template for ligation. Following rolling circle DNA synthesis, a long tandem repeat complementary to the start DNA sequence is synthesized. By hybridization of an oligonucleotide to the rolling circle product, at a position containing a restriction site, the single stranded tandem repeat can be turned into monomers by addition of a restriction endonuclease. Following a second circularization, rolling circle DNA synthesis, hybridization of a new oligonucleotide (complementary to the first one) and cutting with a restriction endonuclease, an amplification of the start DNA sequence has taken place through two rounds of rolling circle DNA synthesis (Dahl F et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 101(13), 4548-53 (2004)).
This technique requires the additional production of oligonucleotides for cleavage of the rolling circle product, and, even more importantly, it does not provide free design of the ends of the DNA sequence to be amplified as they are defined by the presence of a binding/cleavage site for a restriction endonuclease.
Taken together, there is a need for improved techniques for the production of large quantities of high-quality oligonucleotides to eliminate the limitations associated with the existing techniques as outlined above. The invention disclosed here represents just that, providing large quantities of phosphorylated high quality oligonucleotides, e.g. exhibiting superior performance for circle formation.

Methods for production of oligonucleotides


A system and method provide information in response to at least one current event related to a treatment performed by a dialysis system. A first number is displayed at a treatment display in communication with the dialysis system. The first number corresponds to a set of current notifications. Each current notification is generated in response to at least one current event related to the treatment. A new event is detected that is related to the treatment. The first number is increased to a second number in response to detecting the new event. The second number corresponds to a new notification generated in response to the new event and corresponds to the set of current notifications. A highest priority event is determined between the new event and the at least one current event. The treatment display displays at least one notification corresponding to the highest priority event.

Hemodialysis machines are commonly used to treat medical conditions related to renal failure, where a person's kidneys inadequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood. During a hemodialysis procedure, blood is removed from the patient and output to a dialyzer. The patient's blood circulates along one side of a semipermeable membrane in the dialyzer, and a dialysate flows along the opposite side of the membrane to remove waste, toxins, and other undesirable products from the blood. In a regenerative dialysis system, the used dialysate is pumped through a sorbent cartridge, which purifies the dialysate by removing the waste so that a constant stream of fresh dialysate is provided to the dialyzer. In a non-regenerative dialysis system, the used dialysate is discarded.
It is important that hemodialysis machines and other regenerative dialysis systems provide a comprehensive monitoring system that detects abnormal events that may pose a threat to patient safety during a dialysis procedure and that generates clear and unambiguous notifications when such events occur.

Systems and methods for providing notifications in dialysis systems