A system for aiding the selection of a golf shot by a golfer on a hole of a golf course, comprising means for retrieving statistics indicative of past performances by the golfer for each of a plurality of golf club types, means for retrieving data regarding the hole of the golf course, means for analyzing the retrieved statistics in concert with the data regarding the hole of the golf course, means for selecting one of the golf club types as the statistically preferred golf club type for the golf shot, and means for displaying the selected golf club type to the golfer.

A golfer will typically select a golf shot by selecting a golf club type and a line of aim. Most golfers will make such a selection based on their general ideas regarding how they perform with different golf club types, including how far they can hit a golf ball with those golf club types and what direction the golf ball's trajectory tends to follow when they aim in a particular direction with those golf club types. For example, a golfer may know that he can hit a golf ball using a given golf club type about 150 yards. The golfer may also apply rough heuristics to determine how far he can hit the golf ball using other golf club types—for example, by subtracting 10 yards for each consecutive iron golf club. However, golfers do not know their true, statistically-informed capabilities regarding how far the golfer can hit with each of the golf club types.
Similarly, golfers may have general ideas on the direction that a golf ball travels when the golfer uses a given golf club type. Rarely will a shot end up at its "visualized" location, e.g., 240 yards at the left-center of the fairway. However, golfers do not know the true, statistically-informed direction in which the golfer's golf shots typically travel.
Moreover, a golfer may not take into account the variance in the distance that he can achieve when hitting with different golf club types. While the golfer may believe he can hit a golf ball about 150 yards using a particular golf club type on average, this does not take into account whether the golfer consistently achieves about 150 yards on the one hand, or whether the golfer often undershoots and/or overshoots this distance by large amounts. Similarly, a golfer may not take into account the variance in the direction with which the golfer's shots typically travel.
Golfers sometimes rely on a caddie to analyze the course, the circumstances of the golfer's specific shot at hand, and the player's abilities with different golf club types in order to make a recommendation of a golf club type and line of aim for the player. The caddie may scout out the course before a tournament so that a course management plan can be developed for each of the holes, starting at the tee box at each hole. But even a caddie will generally not have precise and statistically-informed information about a golfer's capabilities.
Moreover, a decision for a particular shot should not just take into account the potential result of the current shot at hand, but should also consider subsequent shots such that the golfer selects a shot that will result in the lowest probable score for the entire hole. This is sometimes known as "Course Management," and is an important factor for a player to achieve the lowest possible score on any given course. This is why professional golfers sometimes select seemingly unconventional golf shots, such as using a fairway wood or an iron off the tee on long holes. But without the knowledge of probable outcomes of a golf shot with a given club and line of aim, the golfer may make sub-optimal decisions. These judgment errors will add strokes to the player's score in every round he plays.
There are numerous possible outcomes for a given shot at hand using a given golf club type, and each one of those possible outcomes gives rise to its own set of possible subsequent outcomes depending on how the golfer performs on subsequent shots. In order to identify a statistically-preferred golf shot, one should take into account these possible outcomes and their respective likelihoods. The number of possible outcomes and the computational complexity of identifying statistically-preferred golf shots based on their likelihoods is beyond the ability of most golfers, even if they had access to relevant statistics based upon which such computations could be performed.
Thus, to achieve the lowest statistically probable score for a hole, it is important for a golfer to know his statistical capabilities for each of his golf club types and to understand how a current golf shot selection can impact the score he can expect to achieve for the entire hole. Most golfers, however, do not have such information.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems, components, and methodologies to aid the selection of a golf shot by a golfer.

Combining statistically determined capabilities of a golfer with golf course data to aid shot selection


The invention provides a network automatic management method and a corresponding system for executing the method. The system according to the invention comprises a management server connected to a plurality of devices nodes, a management information database (MIB) connected to the management server system; an plurality of event tables stored in the MIB, each corresponding to an event that occurred in the network system and having a task leader selection base for selecting task leaders from at least one of the device nodes for performing a task. Work to be executed in a network is realized by a task which is a work package for indicating devices in the lower layers of the network system to execute work assigned by the management server. At least one task leader is assigned in the system for executing work performed by the management server in optimally reducing the burden thereof.

Generally, a network management system collects management information from each network equipment in a network and stores the collected management information for managing the network. Information required for network management including the collected management information is displayed by the network management system.
As the performance of personal computers and workstations is enhanced, a plurality of computers can be connected through a local area network (LAN) to construct a network system. Through a LAN, various types of operating systems are provided on computers functioning as clients or servers which are connected through the network to operate in a cooperative manner.
In such a network system, as the scale thereof expands, the number of computers functioning as clients and servers extends to several hundreds or even to several thousands. When the network manages and operates the respective computers as their numbers increase, the loads of the system operators and the cost accordingly increase. In order to solve such scalability problems, a management system has been proposed in which a manager tool is provided on at least one of the servers on the LAN. An agent for managing each computer is also provided in accordance with directions from the manager tool in each of the servers connected to the LAN. In this manner, central management is achieved by the manager tool through the network In particular, when a system performing an essential business function of an enterprise is to be constructed, a management system focused on fault management of the server is provided.
In general, a network system is divided into hierarchies such as those defined by geographical classification, management classification and detailed information being displayed in the form of a map having a plurality of hierarchical levels. These hierarchies are defined and implemented so that .the configuration of a large-scale complex network can readily be identified. However, a conventional network management system requires a human operator to command the system for executing the management operations. As most of the management operations are performed in the console of the system manager, thousands to tens of thousands of computers under the control of the network system. The system manager commands the computers by entering a series of instructions which are then sent to the device nodes necessary to perform the management operations under the control of the system console. As a result, the system manager is required to perform a tedious operation process with a burdensome load of plural instructions. Furthermore, since most of the management operations are performed in the console of the system manager, the calculation load is unbearably high, resulting in a long wait time before proceeding from one instruction to the next. The total operation time is consequently very long, where the system manager idles for a long time in waiting for the operation results.

Task-based automatic network management system with distributed control and management information base


Facilitating recording a trace file of code execution using a processor cache. A method includes identifying an operation by a processing unit on a line of the cache. Based on identifying the operation, index bits for the cache line are set. Setting the index bits includes one of: (i) setting the bits to a reserved value when the operation is a write operation and tracing is disabled, (i) setting the bits to an index of the processing unit when the operation is a write operation and the bits are already set to a value other than the index of the processing unit, or (iii) setting the bits to the index of the processing unit when the operation is a read operation that is consumed by the processing unit and the bits are already set to a value other than the index of the processing unit.

When writing code during the development of software applications, developers commonly spend a significant amount of time "debugging" the code to find runtime errors in the code. For example, developers may take several approaches to reproduce and localize a source code bug, such as observing behavior of a program based on different inputs, inserting debugging code (e.g., to print variable values, to track branches of execution, etc.), temporarily removing code portions, etc. Tracking down runtime errors to pinpoint code bugs can occupy a significant portion of application development time.
Many types of debugging applications ("debuggers") have been developed in order to assist developers with the code debugging process. Many such tools offer developers the ability to trace, visualize, and alter the execution of computer code. For example, debuggers may visualize the execution of code instructions, may present variable values at various times during code execution, may enable developers to alter code execution paths, and/or may enable developers to set "breakpoints" in code (which, when reached during execution, causes execution of the code to be suspended), among other things.
An emerging form of debugging applications enable "time travel," "reverse," or "historic" debugging, in which execution of a program is recorded by a trace application into one or more trace files, which can be then be used to replay execution of the program for forward and backward analysis. One factor that can limit a "time travel" debugger's utility is trace file size. For example, a large trace file can consume significant storage resources (which, in turn, can affect an amount of historical execution time that can be kept for a program), can affect performance of both a tracing application and a debugging application, can affect performance of the program being traced, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Facilitating recording a trace file of code execution using index bits in a processor cache


A filter retentate analysis system and method is disclosed, which provides information to diagnose the current and historical state of a system generating the retentate or through which the retentate has passed. The disclosure describes the analysis of retentate characteristics which may include the composition, amount, distribution, and physical or chemical properties of the retentate useful to monitor or diagnose the state, health, or operating history of a system or sub-system. The analysis is broadly applicable to wide range of systems and process ranging from engines and exhaust systems to production plants and equipment.

Removal and analysis of materials collected in filters provides important information useful to ascertain or diagnose the history or operating state of the system with which the filters are used.
Examples to illustrate the broad applicability of filter retentate analysis include filters used in commercial and industrial processes and applications. Analysis of the material collected on the filters and comparison with known standards or reference materials provides information on the state of the system generating the retentate. In this manner, information may be obtained to discern the operating history or changes in operation of the system generating the retentate during the period in which the filter is in service.
One particular example includes particulate filters, such as diesel particulate filters or gasoline particulate filters, but any filter or retentate collection media or system may be used. In the case of a particulate filter installed in the exhaust of an engine or other system (plant or process) generating retentate, the filter captures and collects retentate produced by the system. While effective at capturing retentate, the use of filters also has some disadvantages.
First, the filter may mask or hide signs of engine, plant, or process malfunctions or failures. For example, leaks of fluids, gases, or the generation of other emissions or effluent from the engine, plant, or process which otherwise may be directly visible to the operator may also be collected on the filter. In the case of an exhaust particulate filter, signs of engine malfunctions such as blue, black, or white smoke exiting the tailpipe may no longer be visible, as the smoke or vapors are captured on the filter.
Second, the accumulation of retentate generated as a result of a system malfunction, such as particles, liquids, or other components for which the filter was not intended, may also cause damage to the filter. In one example, an engine oil leak, coolant leak, or improper combustion may lead to the accumulation of coolant, oil, fuel, or high levels of soot on the exhaust particulate filter, which could adversely affect filter performance and service life, in addition to that of the engine, process, or plant.
In many cases, filters are periodically removed for cleaning or reconditioning so that they can be reused, rather then replaced. In many cases, the filter cleaning or reconditioning involves removal of the retentate from the filter. Common methods of filter cleaning involve the use of forced air to blow the retentate out of the filter, liquid-based cleaning or washing methods, thermal cleaning, the use of vibrations, and other related means. Most filter cleaning systems and processes further aggregate and collect the retentate removed form the filters in a bulk collection system, such as a liquid storage tank, dust collection system, and the like. The use of these conventional bulk cleaning processes has several drawbacks as well.
First, collection of the bulk retentate removed or cleaned from the filters in aggregate collection systems, such as a dust collection system or liquid storage tank, does not allow for the retentate to be uniquely identified or linked to the filter from which it was removed. Thus, any subsequent analysis of the retentate will not enable any useful diagnosis of the filter state or engine/equipment that generated the retentate, as all of the retentate is mixed together in the bulk collection system from various sources.
Second, cleaning methods which destroy, alter, or in any other way affect or modify the properties of the retentate, such as its characteristics, or physical or chemical properties, further preclude any meaningful analysis and diagnosis of the stat of the engine, equipment, plant, process, or filter from which the retentate originated.
Therefore, a retentate removal or collection system is desired, which would allow the retentate removed from a particular filter to be uniquely linked or identified by the filter from which it was removed. Note in some cases it may not be necessary to remove the retentate from the filter but rather to remove a small portion of the filter containing the retentate for analysis, or conduct the analysis of the retentate on the filter directly, without removing the retentate or altering the filter. In addition, it is highly desirable to avoid or minimize any changes to the retentate prior to the analysis.
Therefore, an improved process of collecting and analyzing retentate is needed, which will have considerable utility for a broad range of applications and fields of uses.

Filter retentate analysis and diagnostics


An improved apparatus and method for dyeing materials in a wet process dye extractor is shown in which the dyeing material is injected into a vessel containing a rotating perforated basket both through the center shaft of the rotating basket and also at a rear entry port in the vessel. The dual injection of dye material speeds up and improves the process of dyeing and allows dyeing from the "inside-out" as well as the "outside-in".

This invention relates to wet processing of goods and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for dyeing a wide variety of goods. Prior art dyeing apparatus and processes have generally included a perforated basket of some sort which is rotated within a bath of liquid containing the dye material to be imparted to goods placed in the basket. After the goods have been properly colored by the dye material, the dye is generally removed by centrifugal force as the perforated basket is rotated at high speed and the liquid is drawn off to a sump for reuse or disposal as the case may be. Traditionally, the dye materials have been introduced to the liquid in the liquid chamber through a port in the wall in the chamber or alternatively by pumping the liquid into a pipe positioned at the axis of the rotating basket. The pipe usually carries a series of orifices or spray nozzles for introducing the liquid into the various compartments of the rotated basket so as to spray liquid die material through the goods as they are tumbled in the rotating basket.


The invention relates to a method for high-resolution luminescence microscopy of a specimen marked with marker molecules, and to a luminescence microscope for performing the method, wherein the marker molecules can be excited to emit luminescence radiation. The method for luminescence microscopy comprises the excitation and imaging of marker molecules and the transmission of a trigger time and a position of the specimen. An optical recording device images the marker molecules in a capture area and transmits data from the imaging to an image capture circuit. The recording device transmits a time for the imaging to a signal former as a trigger time; the trigger time is then transmitted to a data recorder. The data recorder generates a position of the specimen at the trigger time and transmits said position to the image capture circuit, which links the position of the specimen in the depth direction to the data of the imaging of a frame such that a three-dimensional tomographic image of the specimen can be created.

In luminescence microscopy, certain dyes such as phosphors or fluorophors are used for the specific marking of samples such as cell parts in the investigation of biological specimens. The sample is illuminated with illumination radiation representing an excitation radiation and the luminescence radiation excited in this way is picked up with detectors. For example, a beam splitter and block filter are provided for this in the microscope, which split the luminescence radiation from the excitation radiation and enable a separate observation. Thanks to this method, it is possible to represent individual, differently colored cell parts in the microscope. In multiple luminescence, several parts of a specimen are colored at the same time with different dyestuffs which bind specifically to different structures of the specimen. Moreover, one can survey samples which luminesce without adding dyes. Luminescence is being used here as a term covering phosphorescence and fluorescence.
Thus, it is known how to use marking molecules or a marking substance which can be activated by means of optical radiation. These marking molecules can only be excited in the activated state to emit certain luminescence radiation. Non-activated marking molecules even after exposed to excitation radiation emit no or at least no noticeable luminescence radiation. The activation radiation thus places the marking substance in a state in which it can be excited to luminesce. Other activation is also possible, such as thermal activation. The activation radiation is applied so that at least a certain fraction of the activated marking molecules are at a distance from neighboring activated molecules. After recording of the luminescence radiation, one then determines the center of their resolution-limited radiation distribution and from this determines mathematically the position of the molecules with high precision.
In luminescence microscopy, a position determination is performed with optical recording devices, such as highly sensitive cameras with a precision in the nanometer range. Various image evaluation methods are known for a localization of the marking molecules. But a high localization accuracy is only achieved laterally, i.e., in a plane coordinated with the image plane of the recording device. Thus, in this respect, the methods are limited to a two-dimensional analysis of the sample, and the plane is called, for example, the xy-plane.
For the localization of luminescent marking molecules in the third dimension, in the depth direction with respect to the imaging of the sample, designated as z for example, there are techniques known in the prior art. After the image recording of a layer, also known as a frame, the sample or an objective of the recording device is shifted in the depth direction in order to record another image of the next layer. The image recordings are then combined into a layer image comprising all the layers. In order to produce a layer image, each image recording must be tied in with the position of the sample in the depth direction.
A distance in the depth direction from one image recording to another should not be greater than a depth focus of the objective, also known as the capture region, for otherwise there will be gaps in the layer image. Therefore, a certain number of images have to be taken on account of the localization of the marking molecules in order to obtain a high-quality layer image.
An additional problem arises when making use of marking molecules. The excitation radiation or activation radiation is not confined to the image region of an individual image, that is, marking molecules are also excited or activated above and below the image region. These marking molecules are therefore not available for a further image recording in a higher or lower layer. The sample is bleached by the excitation radiation or activation radiation.
In order to reduce this effect, it has been proposed by Mlodzianoski et al., Optics Express 19, 15009 (2011) to shift the sample in the depth direction during a measurement process of many individual image recordings, while the sample is exposed to excitation radiation or activation radiation during the measurement. In this way, the bleaching of the sample is distributed over all layers of the overall measurement process.
Determining the position of the sample in the depth direction for each individual image recording is a major problem, since an overall time for the measurement cannot be extended by the position determination, on account of the bleaching of the sample. Furthermore, it must be possible to use any given positions in any given sequence in order to obtain a particular signal form of the position in the depth direction. Therefore, the basic problem which the present invention proposes to solve is to provide a method wherein image recording of a position of the sample is possible with any given position variation in the depth direction and without any delay.


An electro-absorption modulator integrated with a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). An electro-absorption modulator (EAM) is integrated or grown on a VCSEL. The electro-absorption modulator may be separated from the VCSEL by a semi-insulating or nonconducting layer. Contacts on the EAM can bias the EAM such that light emitted by the VCSEL is selectively absorbed. Thus, the VCSEL can emit a constant wave light that is modulated by the integrated EAM.

1. The Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of semiconductor lasers. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a vertical cavity surface emitting laser integrated with an electro-absorption modulator.
2. The Relevant Technology
Computer and data communications networks continue to proliferate due to declining costs, increasing performance of computer and networking equipment, and increasing demand for communication bandwidth. Communications networks—including wide area networks ("WANs"), local area networks ("LANs"), metropolitan area networks ("MANs"), and storage area networks ("SANS")—allow increased productivity and use of distributed computers or stations through the sharing of resources, the transfer of voice and data, and the processing of voice, data and related information at the most efficient locations.
As the demand for networks has grown, network technology has developed to the point that many different physical configurations presently exist. Examples include Gigabit Ethernet ("GE"), 10 GE, Fiber Distributed Data Interface ("FDDI"), Fibre Channel ("FC"), Synchronous Optical Network ("SONET") and InfiniBand networks. These networks, and others, typically conform to one of a variety of established standards, or protocols, which set forth rules that govern network access as well as communications between and among the network resources.
In some optical networks, there are certain requirements related to transmission distance and data rate. When these requirements are relatively high, edge-emitting Distributed Feedback Lasers (sometimes with external modulators) are conventionally used because of the difficulties in using comparatively less costly VCSEL lasers. For example, as the data rate for an 850 nm VCSEL is increased to 10 Gbits/second and greater, the aperture size of the VCSEL is reduced to less than 10 micrometers to improve speed. Unfortunately, the small aperture size of such a VCSEL reduces the reproducibility and the reliability of the VCSEL.
In addition, a conventional VCSEL often has a high RC constant. The RC constant can limit the performance of the VCSEL to around 10 Gbit/second. High data rate applications would therefore require an array of VCSELs operated in parallel, which would significantly increase system cost. Further, conventional VCSELs at higher wavelengths such as 1.31 micrometers or 1.55 micrometers, are relatively expensive and often have reliability issues. As a result, applications associated with wavelengths such as 1.31 micrometers or 1.55 micrometers use edge-emitting FP (Fabry Perot) and DFB lasers. Links over very long distances typically require light sources operating at near 1.55 micrometers due to the low loss of the single mode fiber at this wavelength. Directly modulated-lasers including DFBs and VCSELs that operate at these wavelengths experience chirp problems that prevent their use at higher data rates and over longer distances. To reduce the chirp of the transmission, electro-absorption modulator edge emitting lasers (EMLs) are used where the optical power of the DFB laser section is maintained constant while the data signal is inserted through the electro-absorption modulator (EAM) section.

Electro-absorption modulator integrated with a vertical cavity surface emitting laser


A method of determining salinity of multi-phase fluids in a conduit includes exciting a sensing device to cause emission of electromagnetic waves of one or more frequencies into the multi-phase fluid. The method includes receiving transmitted or reflected electromagnetic waves from the multi-phase fluid. Furthermore, the method includes determining an intermediate parameter from the received electromagnetic waves. The method also includes obtaining estimated values of a plurality of parameters from the intermediate parameter. The estimated values comprise at least one of an estimated value of conductance, an estimated value of susceptance, an estimated value of differential conductance, an estimated value of differential susceptance, an estimated value of a real part of complex permittivity, and an estimated value of an imaginary part of complex permittivity. Salinity of the fluid is determined based, at least in part, on the estimated values of the plurality of parameters.

Embodiments of the present invention relates generally to the field of multi-phase flow metering and, more particularly, to a method and system for determining salinity in multi-phase fluids.
A multi-phase fluid refers to a composition that includes at least two phases of material. For example, multi-phase fluids may include some combination of oil, water, and gas. In process industries, oil and gas industries and other such areas, it is often necessary to accurately measure fractions and flow rate of phases of the multi-phase fluid flowing inside a pipeline. With smaller and deeper oil/gas wells with higher water content becoming more common around the globe, there is an enhanced need for multi-phase flow measurement techniques.
Commercially available sensors for measuring fractions in fluids in the petroleum industry are based on a variety of principles (either a single technique or a combination of several techniques). For example, impedance sensors, capacitive and/or inductive sensors, dual-energy gamma sensors, venturi meters, and microwave sensors (attenuation/phase/resonance) have all been used. Currently, there are numerous microwave-based flow metering sensors available offering varying degrees of sensitivity, complexity and costs.
Accuracy of current fraction measurement systems may be affected by the presence of saline content in the water phase of the multi-phase fluid. Presence of saline content leads to changes in the permittivity of the multi-phase fluid. If salinity is not determined accurately, changes in permittivity can be incorrectly attributed to changes in water fraction for instance. The measurements therefore need to be compensated for salinity for accurate fraction measurements.
Further, salinity determination helps users of the measurement facility to take control actions. Control actions pertaining to descaling of conduits are particularly dependent on measuring salinity in the multi-phase fluids flowing through the conduits. Metallic conduits may experience corrosion due to deposition of saline material on the inner surface of the conduits that is exposed to the multi-phase fluid. Hence, measuring saline content in the fluid flowing through the conduit is important.
Current salinity measurement systems include systems that are dependent on using phase differences observed in electromagnetic waves received at different sensing antennas. However, phase difference methodologies have been observed to provide accurate results in limited cases for multi-phase fluids with low dielectric losses (for example: oil-continuous fluids and wet gas streams).
Other existing systems and methods include determining reflection coefficients of reflected electromagnetic waves received from the multi-phase fluid, determining conductivity from the reflection coefficients and estimating salinity based on a conductive loss term in the permittivity associated with the fluid. Permittivity of water (∈rw) can be expressed as follows:
            ɛ      r                  (      w      )        =            ɛ      r      ′        -          j                    (                              ɛ            r            ″                    +                      σ                          ω                                                                                ɛ                0                                                    )
where, ∈′r corresponds to a real part of permittivity, ∈″r corresponds to the dielectric loss term,
  σ      ω                                ɛ      0      represents the conductive loss term, where σ is the conductivity, ω is the angular frequency and ∈0 is the permittivity of free space.
As can be seen from the equation the conductive loss term is inversely proportional to frequency and hence decreases with an increase in frequency and becomes an insignificant value at higher frequencies. On the other hand, the dielectric loss term increases with frequency until resonance is achieved and then decreases with frequency. The resonance frequency, depending on the composition of multi-phase fluids, may be in the range of tens of GHz. When the operating range are in the range where the dielectric loss term is significant, current methods that depend on determining only the conductive loss term and ignore the dielectric loss term may produce erroneous results.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for multi-phase flow metering systems and methods that determine saline content in multi-phase fluids across all frequency ranges and for multi-phase fluids that contain substantial amounts of lossy medium.

System and method to measure salinity of multi-phase fluids


An apparatus includes one or more sensors and a control unit. The one or more sensors may be configured to generate signals in response to movement of a vehicle. The control unit generally comprises (i) an interface configured to receive the signals from the sensors and (ii) a filter configured to reduce an effect that a mechanical transfer function of a housing of at least one of the sensors has on at least one of the signals. The filter may be configured to utilize a variable frequency band digital representation of the mechanical transfer function to negate the effect of the mechanical transfer function of the housing on the at least one of the signals.

A large amount of time is spent in developing sensor systems that minimize an effect that a mechanical housing has on the mechanical signal applied to the mechanical housing. A long development time increases time to market, as well as capital investment in a project. In addition, the increased time to market and capital costs can potentially lead to designs and material choices with non-ideal solutions. The marketplace is ever more critical of the accuracy that sensors provide. To achieve more accurate sensor systems a more analytical approach needs to be taken.
It would be desirable to implement mechanical transfer function cancellation.

Mechanical transfer function cancellation


Oxides on the surfaces of metal are reduced by directing reducing gases at them in a forceful and turbulent manner in an enclosure. The oxide-bearing surface is heated to at least 900 degrees F.

Newly formed metal strip, rod, and the like tends to develop oxides on its surface which must be removed before further processing. In the steel industry, this oxide layer is called mill scale. Mill scale is almost universally removed by acid pickling.
Hydrogen and other reducing gases such as carbon monoxide have been used for the reduction of oxides in ores, where they are substantially consumed within a reducing furnace or vessel. Hydrogen is readily burned and can cause explosions under certain circumstances, and carbon monoxide is poisonous and generally considered dangerous unless confined and reacted in a vessel of the type generally contemplated in ore reduction. Moreover, steel strip and many other metal products made continuously move at a rapid pace, increasing the difficulty of conducting the oxide removal process with gases within the time constraints normally imposed. Thus, while the elementary chemical principles of oxide removal and/or reduction by reducing gases are known, an acceptable continuous surface oxide reduction system employing reducing gases has not been forthcoming in the art.

Countercurrent reduction of oxides on moving metal


A collision detection circuit which indicates to a processing node, while the node is transmitting, that another transmission has, or is occurring, on the network comprises a means for directionally coupling a processing node to the network to discriminate between the outgoing power associated with a first message packet and the incoming power associated with a second message packet. A sensing means receives the incoming power from the directional coupling means during the transmission of the first message packet and indicates that a collision is occurring between the two transmissions. The directional coupling means comprises a cross-coupled voltage divider network configured such that a nulled voltage is generated at a pair of collision detection ports in response to the outgoing transmission, whereas a differential voltage is produced across the collision detection ports whenever an incoming colliding transmission appears.

Most data communications systems are configured to have a plurality of processing or communications nodes coupled to a common network media, such as a twisted pair cable. These processing nodes typically include cells which are responsible for controlling and/or communicating with other nodes or devices on the network. In any type of shared-access communication system, there is usually a requirement to have some sort of media access protocol which regulates communication along the network bus. There exists a number of well-known network communication protocols within the art.
In general, the alternative protocols for sharing a media among multiple communication processing nodes fall in four broad categories. One way involves utilizing pre-allocated time slots, with each processing node being assigned to a particular time slot. This technique is commonly referred to as time/division multiplexing. Basically, in a time/division multiplexed scheme when a processing nodes' allocated time slot arrives, that node is granted access to the network media. Even though this approach does benefit from a low hardware cost, its extremely poor response time and low bit rates make it a poor candidate whenever numerous processing nodes must be accommodated.
A token bus is another way that a media can be shared among multiple processing nodes. The token bus approach is deterministic in terms of how long it takes to acquire access to the common bus. However, the relatively high cost associated with the token bus hardware, and its relatively high power consumption, make this approach impractical in many cases. This is especially so in situations where each of the processing nodes is battery powered.
The token ring approach is also deterministic. However, this method requires the sort of media that allows message packets to be sent along the network in a "daisy-chain" fashion. That is, the media must be capable of accommodating communications between adjacent processing nodes only; wherein a transmission from one node can only be sent to an immediately neighboring node. This presents a strict limitation on the type of media that can be employed. Certain types of media are simply excluded. For example, when operating across a radio frequency (RF) media you cannot force a transceiver to send a message to only one receiver. This means that the token ring approach is incompatible for use with any sort of broadcast media.
A fourth class of commonly employed media protocols comprises the existing Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) family. This type of communication protocol has been established as a standard by Part 802 of the IEEE. Part 802.3 of the IEEE standards has also been adopted by ANSI, by the National Bureau of Standards, and by ISO (known by the name ISO 8802).
The existing CSMA family of protocols is well-known and widely-used within the art. The primary reason for its widespread adoption lies in its relatively low cost hardware. However, the main drawback of CSMA protocols is that collision rates tend to increase dramatically with the offered traffic. This usually leads to unpredictable delay at high loads. (Basically, a collision occurs when two processing nodes wish to send a message on the same network media at the same time. The signals collide or interfere, thereby destroying both message packets).
In an attempt to lessen the number of collisions as the communication traffic increases, various improvements have been made to the existing CSMA family of protocols. By way of example, in a co-pending U.S. patent application, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is entitled, "Network Communication Protocol"; U.S. Ser. No. 07/621,737; filed Dec. 3, 1990; an improvement for avoiding data collisions on a network connecting to a plurality of communication nodes is disclosed. As additional background to the present invention, this co-pending application is herein incorporated by reference.
Despite these improvements, there still remains the problem of the relatively high-cost associated with collisions in terms of processing speed. When a collision occurs, the data in the message packet is irretrievably lost. However, the transmitting node is unable to recognize that a collision has occurred until after it has "timed-out"; that is, after it has waited for an acknowledgement signal from the receiving node and failed to receive it after a certain predetermined time period. Once the transmitting node realizes that a collision has occurred, then a higher layer in the protocol initiates a sequence of steps aimed at re-transmitting the same message. The end result is that even employing an improved protocol, such as the one detailed in the above-referenced application, collisions still cause significant communication and processing delays.
What is needed then is a way of further improving shared-access communications systems so as to further lower the collision rate with the offered traffic. Optimally, such a system would include some way of sensing--during the actual transmission--that a collision is occurring.
As will be seen, the present invention discloses a collision detection circuit which indicates, during the time that a node is transmitting, whether another message packet is being simultaneously transmitted across the network. By detecting message collisions in this manner the communications protocol can correct the situation (i.e., re-transmit) without the need to wait for a time-out condition to occur. Consequently, the response time of the network is even further improved over prior art methods when the collision detection circuit of the present invention is employed.

Collision detection circuit for communications network


A check valve for bags containing goods such as rice or other grains or foods. The valve is used to discharge excessive air from the bag while preventing outside air from entering the bag. The check valve is constructed of plural plastic films joined together.

The present invention relates to a check valve as used for bags for containing therein goods which have to be stored under good conditions, for instance grains such as rice, and other foods or pulverulent or granular goods or materials liable to generate gases during storage in the bag, the check valve being used to discharge only fluid such as excessive air from the bag while preventing the outside air from entering into the bag. More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement of a check valve of a kind having a filter.
A check valve or fluid discharge tube of the kind having a filter is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 12891/89 (Utility Model Application Laying Open No. 105877/90) and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 68350/89 (Utility Model Application Laying Open No. 8105/91) which were filed by the same applicant as this application. Such prior known check valve comprises a filter formed by a plastic nonwoven fabric folded over onto itself and mounted around a mouth portion formed in a base end portion of a flat fluid flow tube, and the interior of the base end portion of the flat fluid flow tube communicates with the exterior of said base end portion only through said filter.
This prior known check valve or fluid discharge tube is practically effective to discharge only gas or liquid from a bag to which the check valve or fluid discharge tube is mounted and to prevent outside air from entering into the bag. On the other hand, such check valve or fluid discharge tube has a problem that it is difficult to discharge the gas or liquid smoothly from the bag since the mouth portion of the flat fluid flow tube is extremely narrow so that the mouth portion of the fluid flow tube is sometimes closed and necessary discharge of the fluid can not always be effected.

c/o Kabushikikaisha Kashiharaseitai, 1-13-5


A storage management application is provided to manage and monitor virtual storage servers in a hosting storage server. In addition, in order to facilitate virtual storage server management and monitoring, a virtual storage server administrator role is provided. The role is allowed to access details of the virtual storage server assigned to the role, but not the details of the hosting server and other virtual servers.

Various forms of network-based storage systems are known today. These forms include network attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SANs), and others. Network storage systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes, such as providing multiple users with access to shared data, backing up critical data (e.g., by data mirroring), etc.
A network-based storage system typically includes at least one storage server, which is a processing system configured to store and retrieve data on behalf of one or more client processing systems ("clients"). In the context of NAS, a storage server may be a file server, which is sometimes called a "filer". A filer operates on behalf of one or more clients to store and manage shared files. The files may be stored in a storage subsystem that includes one or more arrays of mass storage devices, such as magnetic or optical disks or tapes, by using RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks). Hence, the mass storage devices in each array may be organized into one or more separate RAID groups.
In a SAN context, a storage server provides clients with block-level access to stored data, rather than file-level access. Some storage servers are capable of providing clients with both file-level access and block-level access, such as certain Filers made by Network Appliance, Inc. (NetApp®) of Sunnyvale, Calif.
Multiple instances of virtual storage servers may be created on a physical storage server. A virtual storage server is a functional and logical partitioning of network and storage resources of the physical storage server. Each virtual storage server is maintained and executed independent of other virtual storage servers on the same physical storage server. Storage server resources, such as units of storage and network addresses of network interfaces, may be grouped, partitioned and/or assigned to virtual storage server or servers in the physical storage server. Yet common storage server resources, such as a storage operating system, may be shared among the virtual storage servers. From a client's perspective, a virtual storage server includes all essential aspects of a physical storage server such as a network front-end to communicate with the client, a back-end to access and manage stored data, etc. A physical storage server on which one or more virtual storage servers are created may also be called a hosting storage server or host storage server. For the purposes of illustration, a physical storage server may also simply be referred as a storage server.
In storage servers, data is stored in logical containers called volumes, which may be identical with, or subsets of, aggregates. An "aggregate" is a logical container for a pool of storage, combining one or more physical mass storage devices (e.g., disks) or parts thereof into a single logical storage object, which contains or provides storage for one or more other logical data sets at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., volumes). A "volume" is a set of stored data associated with a collection of mass storage devices, such as disks, which obtains its storage from (i.e., is contained within, and may be coextensive with) an aggregate, and which is managed as an independent administrative unit, such as a complete file system. A sub-volume is a subset of a volume, such as a directory and all files under the directory, a file, etc. A "file system" is an independently managed, self-contained, hierarchal set of data units (e.g., files, blocks or Logical Unit Numbers). Although a volume or file system (as those terms are used herein) may store data in the form of files, that is not necessarily the case. That is, a volume or file system may store data in the form of other units, such as blocks or Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs).
Each virtual storage server is allocated dedicated and distinct units of storage resources, such as volumes or sub-volumes, and network addresses, such as Internet protocol addresses. Each virtual storage server is also allowed shared access to the common file system on behalf of its client system.
A storage server may be managed by one or more network storage administrators (also called "administrative users" or simply "administrators"), who are responsible for configuring, provisioning and monitoring the storage server, scheduling backups, troubleshooting problems with the storage server, performing software upgrades, etc. These management tasks can be accomplished by the administrator using a separate management console on the network, which is a computer system that runs storage management software application specifically designed to manage a distributed storage infrastructure. An example of such storage management software is DataFabric® Manager (DFM), made by NetApp.
Prior art network storage management software manages/monitors only the physical level of a storage server. This limits the usefulness of the management software for architectures that employ virtual storage servers.

Method and system for managing and monitoring virtual storage servers of a hosting storage server


A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a backlight assembly which includes a device for driving the backlight including a light emitting diode (“LED”) used as a light source, which has a high efficiency and a high reliability for controlling brightness of each color light. The driving device drives a first, second and third LED unit emitting a first, second and third light, respectively. The driving device includes a first driving part emitting the first light in response to a brightness control signal and outputting a reference control signal in response to a first brightness of the first light, a second driving part driving the second LED units generating the second light of which second brightness is controlled in response to the reference control signal, and a third driving part driving the third LED units generating the third light of which third brightness is controlled in response to the reference control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for driving a backlight, a backlight assembly, a liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus having the backlight assembly and a method for driving a backlight. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for driving a backlight, which uses a light emitting diode ("LED") as a light source, having a high efficiency and a high reliability for controlling the brightness of each color light source, a backlight assembly, an LCD apparatus utilizing the backlight assembly and a method for driving a backlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
A flat panel type display device is becoming more widely used because of its relatively small size and light weight. Additionally, the flat panel type display device has an advantage in that it can realize high-resolution images.
Currently, a liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus is the most widely used flat panel display device. The LCD apparatus may be defined as a display device displaying images using liquid crystal in which light transmission is changed according to an electric field. The LCD apparatus is relatively thinner and lighter than other display devices. Additionally, the LCD apparatus has a relatively lower driving voltage and a relatively lower power consumption than other display devices so that the LCD apparatus is widely used in notebook computers, mobile terminals, etc. The typical LCD apparatus includes an LCD panel assembly and a backlight assembly.
The LCD panel assembly includes an LCD panel. The LCD panel includes a thin film transistor ("TFT") substrate, a color filter substrate facing the TFT substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate which changes the light transmissivity throughout the layer in response to applied electrical signals.
The backlight assembly includes a light source for generating light and optical members for improving brightness characteristics of light projected from the light source.
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL") is generally used as the light source. Alternatively, a light emitting diode ("LED") may be used as the light source. LEDs have the advantage of having superior color reproducibility compared to CCFLs.
An LED is a point light source which has a smaller light emitting area than a CCFL. Light projected from the LED light source is incident to a side portion of a light guide plate of the optical members which guides a path of the light. The light guide plate changes the path of the light exiting from the LED light source so that the light may be akin to light emitted from a surface light source, which is better suited to supply the light to the LCD panel.
Generally, in order to represent natural color, the LED light source uses a method of uniformly adjusting white chromaticity coordinates of the light emitted from the light source. It does so by controlling the brightness of three kinds of LEDs, e.g., a red LED, a green LED and a blue LED. In the above-mentioned method, the brightness of light projected from the backlight and the white chromaticity coordinates of the backlight have to be adjusted by controlling the brightness of each of the three separately colored LEDs, respectively. Generally, in order to control the brightness and therefore the white chromaticity of the LEDs, a voltage control method has been used in which a constant voltage is applied to each of the LEDs for a controlled time period.
However, the above-mentioned voltage control method applies the constant voltage to the LED via electric power supplied to the LED by modulating a pulse width of the constant voltage to control a time period for lightning the LED.
The LED in a LED light source is not constantly on. Rather, the LED blinks on and off at a rapid frequency which the human eye interprets as a constant light. Light sources utilizing LEDs may take advantage of this feature to create lights with the ability to dim or brighten. LED light sources may create the impression of dimming by increasing the time span between on and off periods and they may conversely create the appearance of brightening by decreasing the time span between on and off periods.
All LEDs have a limited lifetime, but rather than failing catastrophically as is the case in incandescent or fluorescent lighting, the LED gradually reduces the amount of light output for a given input voltage due to heating and degradation of the LED pn-junction. In order to compensate for this dimming, backlights using the voltage control method increase the pulse widths of the constant voltage supplied to the LED, thereby lighting the LED for longer periods of time and consuming more power. Essentially, to create the same brightness, the LED is turned off for shorter and shorter periods of time. The LED therefore has less time to cool between on cycles, which eventually causes the pn-junction of the LED to degrade further. The backlight using the voltage control method then must use even more power to generate even longer pulse widths and the problem compounds itself.
Another consequence of the LED light source consuming more power is that the associated heat generation effects elements of a driving board and decreases the efficiency of the driving board on which the elements are mounted. Accordingly, when the LED light source is driven by the voltage control method, a means for heat protection, such as a heat protection plate of graphite or aluminum is additionally required and thus manufacturing costs of the LCD apparatus increase.

Device for driving a backlight, backlight assembly, LCD apparatus having the same and method for driving a backlight


A circuit responsive to applied audio signals for amplifying the same and providing the amplified signals across differential output terminals. The circuit comprising an audio amplifying section which is responsive to the audio input signals for amplifying the same and a feedback circuit connected across the output terminals for providing a feedback signal to the amplifier section to reduce any direct current offset voltage errors appearing across the output terminals to a minimum value. Additionally, the amplifier section includes circuitry for setting the quiescent voltage bias levels of the output terminals to a predetermined level and for providing common-mode rejection of voltage supply line ripple.

Audio bridge circuits which are well known in the art comprise many different circuit configurations. In general, prior art audio bridge circuits consist of a pair of operational amplfiers having respective inputs so connected to receive an input signal which is then amplified and appears across a pair of floating differential output terminals. A load, such as a speaker is connected to the output terminals. The signal developed across the load is swung in both a positive and a negative direction in order that maximum output power is achieved. An example of a prior art audio bridge circuit is illustrated in volume 1 of the magazine "Electronic Design" published Jan. 4, 1978 at page 125.
Some contemporary monolithic integrated audio bridge circuits suffer from several disadvantages. For example, most bridge circuits require many external components, such as capacitors. Thus, not only are extra external pinouts required, but the number of external components is also increased, which in turn increases the cost of the circuits.
Another disadvantage of some contemporary audio bridge circuits is that, due to the high gain of the circuit, large offset voltages may appear across the output terminals. If a speaker is connected to the output terminal, as would be a typical application, the offset voltage will produce a large current through the speaker which causes unsymmetrical clipping of the input signal as well as large power consumption. Thus, it is important to reduce this offset voltage to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.
Still further, some contemporary prior art audio bridge circuits produce a noise "thump" at both turn on and turn off of the circuit.
Hence, a need exists for a monolithic audio bridge circuit that requires a minimum of external components wherein the offset voltage appearing across the output terminals thereof is severely reduced or eliminated.


Novel chain-extended cationic resinous products suitable for use in cationic electrodeposition are disclosed. The products are formed by chain extending polyepoxides with polymercapto compounds and reacting with amines to provide cationic groups.

The invention relates to resinous reaction products containing cationic groups and to the use of these products in cationic electrodeposition. More particularly, this invention relates to cationic resinous reaction products which are prepared from chain extended epoxide resins.
Cationic electrodepositable resins are known in the art. A preferred class of resins are those prepared from epoxy resins such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,147 to Marchetti, Jerabek and Zwack.
This patent discloses chain extension of polyepoxides with organic polyols such as polymeric polyols. The chain extended products can then be reacted with a secondary amine and solubilized with acid to form cationic electrodepositable compositions. The resins have excellent properties such as high rupture voltage, good film forming properties and deposit as films with good flexibility.
One problem associated with polymeric polyol chain extension is competing reactions. Under chain extension reaction conditions, which are usually in the presence of an amine catalyst, epoxy-epoxy reaction and epoxy-secondary hydroxyl reactions compete with the desired polymeric hydroxyl-epoxy reaction. The competing reactions may consume too much of the epoxy functionality resulting in the presence of excess amine in the reaction product which adversely affects the dispersion properties of the resin as well as its throw power and film-forming properties. Also, these competing reactions if not controlled can present manufacturing difficulties, for example, undesirably high resin viscosities which are believed to be due to polymer branching.
An indication of this can be seen in FIG. 2 which is a plot of the reduced Gardner-Holdt viscosity (50 percent resin solids in 2-ethoxyethanol) versus time in hours of the reaction mixture which involves chain extension of a polyglycidyl ether of a polyphenol with a poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol having a molecular weight of 650. As shown in FIG. 2, the viscosity increases rapidly with time. If the viscosity is not carefully monitored, the reaction mixture could easily go to gelation. This is a possibility in a commercial production situation where the operator in charge of the reaction may not be able to monitor carefully the viscosity of the reaction with time.
It has been found that these problems can be significantly minimized by chain extending with a polymercapto compound, particularly a polymeric polymercapto compound. It is believed that under chain extension reaction conditions, the mercapto-epoxy reaction goes in relatively high yield with a minimum amount of competing side reactions. This results in a resin which has better properties and which is easier to manufacture, particularly on a commercial scale.
Reference is made to FIG. 1 which is a plot of the reduced Gardner-Holdt viscosity versus time for Example I of the present invention. Example I involves chain extension of a polyglycidyl ether of a polyphenol with a dimercapto polymer obtained from reacting poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol having a molecular weight of 650 with mercapto propionic acid in a molar ratio of 1:2. As shown in FIG. 1, the viscosity increases relatively slowly over the period of about 11/2 hours. At this point, the viscosity remains essentially constant with time. In commercial production, this can be important because if the operator in charge of the reaction is distracted and loses track of the time of the reaction, the viscosity of the reaction mixture will level out and not proceed to gelation.

Novel mercapto chain extended products and their use in cationic electrodeposition


A repeater for enhancing performance of a TDMA mobile radio system in poor signal areas has a bank of frequency agile, single channel amplifiers (13), and controller (14). The controller (14) scans the channel of the band and, upon identifying a channel carrying traffic, enables one of the amplifier units (13) to operate on that channel. Each of the amplifier units (13) includes a time slot activity detector (35) for detecting which time slot of a channel is active. The output of the activity detector (35) is passed to a logic control module (36), which controls the amplification of an active time slot via a time slot gate and power unit (38).

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mobile radio system, and in particular to a radio repeater (cell enhancer) for a digital time-division-multiple-access (TDMA) mobile radio system.
II. Prior Art and other Considerations
In a mobile radio system, there often exist areas of poor coverage within the service area of a base station, where poor signal reception by the base station from a mobile (and vice versa) results in unacceptable voice quality, or even the total loss of a call. One solution to this problem is the provision of a wideband repeater or re-radiator. This however suffers from certain disadvantages, viz (i) it would re-radiate all signals within the frequency range covered-including unwanted signals, for example from other radio systems which may be using the band; (ii) intermodulation and wideband noise; and (iii) the power level of each channel within the band would be amplified by an equal amount regardless of the actual signal strength.
A radio repeater is known (see the specification of our co-pending EP patent application no. 0274857) which utilizes a plurality of frequency-agile single-channel amplifier units for amplifying only traffic-carrying channels. This repeater is an analogue frequency-division-multiple-access (FDMA) system, and so is not suitable for digital systems such as the proposed pan-European GSM (Groupe Speciale Mobile) mobile radio system.

British Telecommunications public limited company


Phthalocyanine compounds represented by the below-described formula are suitable for use in the fabrication of color filters. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.12, R.sup.13 and R.sup.16 represent a group represented by the below-described formula, H or a halogen atom, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.14 and R.sup.15 represent an alkyl, alkoxyl, alkylthio, alkylamino, dialkylamino or aryloxyl, arylthio group or --COOR.sup.17, R.sup.17 being a particular monovalent group, H or a halogen atom; and Met represents a metal atom. ##STR2## wherein X and Z represent O or S, R.sup.18, R.sup.19 and R.sup.20 represent H or an alkyl group, A, B and D represent a connecting group, n and l is an integer of 0-10, m, q, t, u, r and w are an integer of 0-2, and p is 0 or 1.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to green dyes, which can play an important role in color filters for display devices such as liquid crystal television sets or in color separation filters for image pickup tubes or color copying machines, and also to color filters. The present invention is also concerned with near infrared absorbers, which can play an important role in optoelectronics-related fields such as recording of information, image sensors and protective goggles, and also with optical recording media fabricated using the near infrared absorbers.
2) Description of the Related Art
Known conventional filters using a phthalocyanine compound include inter alia those disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 30509/1984, 249102/1985, 140902/1986, 254903/1986, 254904/1986, 6904/1989, 88505/1989 and 233401/1989.
Among such phthalocyanine compounds, water-soluble compounds containing one or more sulfonic groups are suited for coloring filters in which gelatin or casein is used as a base material, and have been employed in gelatin-base filters. These filters have, however, been used only to a limited extent due to the poor heat resistance and moisture resistance of the filters per se. The phthalocyanine compounds containing substituents at the .beta.-positions thereof, which are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 233401/1989, are excellent in durability but are not sufficient in transmission characteristics. On the other hand, phthalocyanine compounds containing substituents at the .alpha.-positions, which are disclosed in WO 88/06175 and GB 2168372A, are accompanied by the drawback that they have poor solubility in resins and, to obtain a color density useful as a green filter, the film thickness of the filter must be increased. Further, their transmittance characteristics as green dyes are not sufficient.
Usage of phthalocyanine compounds as near infrared absorbers is widely known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 209583/1985, 152769/1986, 154888/1986, 197280/1986, 246091/1986 and 39286/1987. The absorption ability of these phthalocyanine compounds was however not sufficient as they are prone to association. Optical recording media making use of one or more of such phthalocyanine compounds are, therefore, accompanied by drawbacks such as low reflectance at 780-830 nm and insufficient sensitivity and recording characteristics.

Phthalocyanine compounds and usage thereof


An improved article separator in which the particles are separated through the use of an vertical air-flow permitting heavier particles to fall while entraining the lighter particles and storing them in a hopper. The air flow is automatically controlled using a microprocessor or similar apparatus which checks the air-flow/speed within the vertical channel or tubing. Using this data, the controller adjusts a dampener at the end of the channel. The dampener, restricts the flow of air through it so that the overall air-flow within the channel is adjusted. Using a dust collector to create the air-flow, a plurality of vertical columns are used to separate varying sizes of particles. In this manner, the debris is simply swept or shoveled into a hopper and the particles are automatically separated.

This invention relates generally to particle cleaning and separating and more specifically, this invention relates to precision monitoring and control of particle cleaning and separating machines which separate particles based upon the relative densities or weights of the particles.
The separation of a useful product from an unusable item has plagued man almost from the dawn of time. In fact, the early form of threshing wheat, using the wind to blow away the chaff, is one such solution to the problem.
As the industrialization of the world took place, the separation of particles became a more intense problem since the materials sought were needed in higher concentrations than before.
Separating a fluid mixture has posed some very unique problems. With these problems, some unique solutions have been developed such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,103, entitled "Hydraulic Separating Method and Apparatus" issued Sep. 3, 1985, to Hollingworth; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,749, entitled "Materials Separation" issued Dec. 4, 1979, to Wallace et al. In both of these inventions, the material that is to be separated is suspended in a liquid which is utilized for the extraction of the material.
Unfortunately, the abilities and expertise of liquid separators are not easily ported over to a mixture of dry material.
In attempting to solve this problem, a wide variety of fluidized beds have been developed including: U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,971, entitled "Method of Sorting Fluidized Particulate Material and Apparatus Therefor" issued Mar. 25, 1980, to Beeckmans; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,552, entitled "Fluid Induced Transverse Flow Magnetically Stabilized Fluidized Bed" issued Oct. 15, 1985, to Cahn et al.
In all fluidized bed separation situations, the mixture to be separated is suspended on a grate or bed while air "bubbles" through the mixture at a rate sufficient to remove a targeted particle permitting the remaining material to be swept away or to fall through the grate. Balancing the inflow of contaminated mixture to the throughput is extremely difficult. Without this control though, the mechanism does not perform optimally.
The problem of control is of such a concern that a whole group of inventions address this problem alone. One such invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,702, entitled "Stratifier Discharge Control" issued Feb. 3, 1981, to Wallace et al.
Even though the fluidized bed concept is complex, it is far from optimal and a wide range of enhancements have been developed such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,644, entitled "Pulsating Sludge Bed with Inclined Plates" issued May 29, 1979, to Richard.
As the complexity of the devices have grown, so too has the down time and repair costs. To attempt to simplify the situation, some devices have attempted to revert to the simpler modes of operation, or have attempted to solve the problem in unique ways. This includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,981, entitled "Fluidized Bed Classifier" issued May 20, 1986, to Barari et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,303, entitled "Solids Separation in Self-Circulating magnetically Stabilized Fluidized Bed" issued Jun. 4, 1985, to Hicks et al.
In all of these apparatuses, the mechanism becomes more and more expensive to operate and acquire. This makes them less than ideal for many situations.
Perhaps the most illustrative of the techniques currently used are the ones developed to separate tobacco leaves and parts from sand. These include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,080, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Separating Sand from Botanical Fines" issued Aug. 5, 1980, to Summers et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,978 entitled "Process and Apparatus for Separating Sand from Botanical Materials" issued Oct. 22, 1974, to Summers.
In these inventions, the contaminated mixture (tobacco fines and sand) is dropped into a fluidized bed arrangement where it is supported by a grate. Air is drawn through the grate which causes the contaminated mixture to "bubble". The heavier sand falls through the grate. The bubbling action pulls a partially cleaned mixture of sand and fines up to a cyclone separator which performs a final cleaning of the mixture.
The final cleaning by the cyclone separator is necessary since it is this cyclone separator which provides the air draft to "suck" the partially cleaned mixture from the fluidized bed.
In these inventions, the use of the fluidized bed is required since the contaminated mixture must have a certain amount of dwell time within the separating mechanism. The dwell time within the bed is necessitated by the very nature of the cyclone separator which is extremely sensitive to many factors including the feed and exhaust tubing arrangement, physical damage to the input and exhaust ports, motor speed, variations in power source, etc.
A recent and more cost effective particle separation device is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,981 entitled "Particle Separator/Classification Mechanism" issued Apr. 14, 1992, to Abbott et al. This device separates particles using airflow to entrain and carry away lighter particles while heavier particles fall away. The entraining airflow is induced using an airflow amplifier powered by pressurized gas. While this separation device works well, it does not achieve complete separation of particles under all conditions.
It is clear from the foregoing that except for the expensive and delicate fluidized bed arrangements, an efficient inexpensive solution to the separation of particles which operates under all conditions does not exist.

Air-flow control for particle cleaning systems


To protect doctors and other personnel from stray radiation when using therapeutic or diagnostic X-ray or other radiation apparatus, a lead apron is suspended from a dolly or carriage rolling in a track system secured to the ceiling in which the radiation apparatus is located. The dolly or carriage can be similar to that of already existing rolling equipment. It has a centrally positioned hanger arrangement which has a turning hanger secured to the dolly to which a tension spring is attached which supports the lead apron hanger, by having attached thereto an element generally in the form of a clothes hanger from which the apron, itself, is suspended by means of an adjustable strap suspension. Preferably, an intermediate strap suspension is further interposed between the hanger and holding spring which, in turn, is supported from a swing arm attached to the dolly or carriage, the swing arm permitting lateral excursion matched preferably to the lateral swing of diagnostic apparatus, such as a fluoroscopy monitor. The spring should be sufficiently strong to support the weight of standard lead aprons with an elongation of, preferably, less than its normal, unstressed length.

It is known that doctors and other personnel involved in the health field should, and frequently are required, to wear lead aprons in order to protect themselves against stray radiation which is unavoidably emitted from apparatus, even when well screened. The patient who is only briefly exposed to radiation is not damaged thereby; doctors and other personnel involved in treatment and diagnosis are, however, subjected to stray radiation during the entire working time which, integrated over a long period of time, is dangerous to health. At least a portion of the stray radiation is due to the presence of the body of the patient itself within the beam of radiation so that, even if the radiation apparatus is completely shielded and screened, the doctor or other treating personnel is still exposed to stray remaining radiation. To protect themselves against stray radiation, it is customary that doctors and other personnel using radiation apparatus wear lead aprons. Such lead aprons are heavy and, if worn during an entire working day, may lead to back pain and vertebral damage. The average weight of lead aprons is between about 3 to 6 kilograms. One can readily see that wearing such a lead apron, which depends in front and in the back of the body in the form of a poncho, for a full working day is tiresome, inconvenient, and may itself lead to physical impairment.

Radiation protection device, particularly for medical X-ray, radiation therapy and diagnostic use


The invention is an improvement in a known cylindrical, annular fluid filter cartridge of the type having a lower end cap supporting spaced, concentric filter elements. The spaced elements define an effluent path therebetween. In known cartridges of the foregoing type, the inner and outer perimeters of the end cap (or either of them) have a significant circumferential "Perimeter of engagement" which seats into a pocket with friction fit. As a result, significant force is required to remove a cartridge, especially a large cartridge, from the housing. The improvement comprises a channel (either a tube-like riser or a manifold) and a discharge port for receiving effluent, e.g., filtered water, from the effluent path. The discharge port (with its relatively small perimeter of engagement) is configured and arranged for attachment to and detachment from an outlet vent located near the bottom of the cartridge housing. Because of the relatively small engagement perimeter of the discharge port (and the resulting reduced "frictional" forces), even large water-soaked cartridges are much more easily removed from the housing as when cleaning or replacing the cartridge.

Fluids, e.g., water, oil and the like, are often "conditioned" by passing them through filter cartridges to remove particulate matter. Such cartridges are typically confined within housings into which the fluid is introduced for filtering and later removed. Some installations use multiple filter cartridges within a single housing.
Example of a filter cartridge and housing are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,988,244 (Brooks) and 4,507,200 (Meissner). Such examples are of particular interest because unlike other filter cartridges mentioned below, the Brooks and Meissner cartridges use dual flow paths. That is, all fluid to be filtered is introduced through a central inlet. A portion of such fluid flows from the center area radially outward through an inner annular filter element. The remainder of the fluid flows to the outer perimeter of the cartridge and from there, radially inward through an outer annular filter element. Both flows join at an annular passage (a space between the filter elements) and pass downward through openings in the annular pocket and thence to a discharge port.
Both the Brooks and Meissner patents show the filter cartridge seated in an annular pocket having a width substantially less than that of the end cap, both dimensions being measured radially. However, the current practice used to "interface" a filter cartridge of the Brooks or Meissner type with the housing is to very snugly seat the end cap in an annular pocket of a width about equal to that of the end cap.
A snug end cap-to-pocket "fit" is used to prevent (or substantially prevent) fluid from "bypassing" the cartridge and flowing through the housing unfiltered. Of course, filtration of essentially all of the fluid passing through the filter housing is highly desirable and the known approach accomplishes that objective--but it is accompanied by a distinct disadvantage.
Such disadvantage arises from the fact that customers using filtration units with swimming pools and other high flow rate applications are demanding increased filtration capacity, i.e., filter element area, consistent with low pressure drop within a given housing. One way to provide such capacity and still maintain a relatively low pressure drop across the cartridges is to incorporate two or more filter cartridges in parallel in a common housing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,937 (Hoffmann et al.) shows an example of such an arrangement using concentric filters of varying size. This is a desirable arrangement since, unlike the arrangement of the Pett patent discussed below, it utilizes a relatively high percentage of the space available in the cylindrical housing.
When filters of the Brooks and Meissner type are arranged concentrically and seated in a wide annular pocket as described above, the outer cartridge is quite large if the filtration area of the unit is substantial. Therefore, the end cap-to-pocket fit requires a good deal of force to release the cartridge from the housing as when cleaning or replacing the cartridge. Filter cartridges forcibly dislodged from such pockets (as they must be) may be deformed or otherwise damaged in the process.
And the problem is often aggravated because such cartridge is soaked with fluid and is quite heavy. Lifting a large, sticking, waterlogged filter cartridge vertically upward from its housing can be a trying, rather rigorous chore. As further explained below, such cartridges may weigh 40-50 pounds when wet as compared to only 10-15 pounds when dry.
Examples of other types of filter cartridges and housings are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,319,997 (Pett) and 4,824,564 (Edwards et al.). The arrangement shown in the Pett patent includes a domed generally cylindrical housing having a lower compartmented region into which are threaded multiple filter cartridges. Fluid enters the housing through a central inlet. Filtered fluid passes into the compartment where it joins fluid from other filters and is exhausted through a radially-spaced tube.
The Pett arrangement anticipates fluid leakage around the filter neck and includes what is called a leakage control channel to receive and drain away leaking fluid. Such arrangement suggests that if one wishes to increase the filtration area within the housing, one simply adds additional cartridges, all of which are substantially identical to one another.
The filter shown in the Edwards et al. patent has a lower end cap including nipples extending into apertures in the housing base plate. O-ring seals between the nipples and apertures prevent fluid leakage. The single cartridge is captive in a generally cylindrical housing. Like that of the Pett patent, the Edwards et al. arrangement uses a radially-spaced outlet tube and a central inlet tube.
The housing shown in the Hoffmann et al. patent is domed and generally cylindrical. It appears the filter cartridges are simply positioned atop the connecting adapter which has one or more inlet and outlet tubes, depending upon the embodiment. The concentrically-arranged cartridges are of different diameters and appear to be individually replaceable. When doing so, the connecting adapter appears to be left in place. O-ring seals are provided between the connecting adapter and the housing base but none are apparent between the cartridges and the adapter.
An improved filter cartridge which provides substantially fluid tight sealing with its housing, which nevertheless requires relatively little effort to remove, which can be used in multiple-cartridge installations and which could be used in a "nested" or stacked arrangement would be an important advance in the art.


A virtual receiver having multiple communication ports for connecting a link to a plurality of local security systems. The virtual receiver is programmed with a virtual receiver number and a virtual line number for each physical communication port on the receiver. The virtual receiver has a master/slave operational mode such that the data received from the plurality of local security systems by each receiver is transmitted from at least one selected slave receiver to a selected master receiver. The virtual receiver number and virtual line number is used to create a part of a subscriber number. In master/slave operation mode, M number of receivers are linked together and the possible number of virtual receiver lines in a virtual receiver is M times the number in a normal mode of operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitoring receiver for monitoring a plurality of individual subscriber security systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a monitoring receiver which is configured to have a virtual receiver and a line number.
2. Discussion of the Art
Security systems are commonly used in home and business settings to protect against intruders and other dangers. A security system includes any life, safety, or property protection system. For example, a chain of retail stores may each have a security system that protects their premises. When an intruder or other alarm condition, such as a fire is detected, the local security system may report the alarm to a central monitoring facility or to any local emergency services via a telephone link or other communication link. Personnel at the central monitoring facility may then telephone the local police to report the alarm to have the incident investigated. The communication link connects the central station receiver to the local security system. Each individual subscriber has a number associated with its link. A subscriber number contains a receiver number, a line number and an account number. The receiver and line numbers represent the physical receiver and line that an individual subscriber is linked with.
Each central station receiver contains a plurality of physical lines into which a subscriber link is connected. The actual number of lines depends upon a model of the receiver.
Due to the fact that each receiver model contains a different number of physical lines, it is difficult to maintain the same physical receiver and line number when replacing an older model receiver with a newer model. However, there is a need for a central station operator to have the ability to replace an older model with a newer model such that the receiver number and line number configuration is maintained. This is done such that an individual's subscriber account number for the new receiver remains the same when the account information from the security system arrives into the central station automation system.

Monitoring receiver having virtual receiver and line numbers


Ticketing systems and methods are provided specifically relating to a player's ticket. A player's ticket references at least one player and allows the player's ticket holder to attend all sporting events played in by the at least one player referenced on the player's ticket. Information about a tournament, including the players, the tournament draw, and historical data, is acquired and used to determine the probabilities of players winning matches in the tournament. Different possible allocations of admissions (e.g., seats) for player's tickets to matches of the tournament are determined based on the tournament draw and how many player's tickets are provided for the matches. One of the allocations of seats of the possible allocations is chosen based on the probabilities of players winning matches in the tournament which aids in determining the likelihood of accommodating all player's ticket holders for each match.

The present invention relates to ticketing systems and methods and particularly to systems and methods for providing a player's ticket.
Currently, sports fans may only purchase tickets for specific games or matches of a sport. In exchange for the purchase, the sports fan (or ticket holder) receives an ordinary ticket (e.g., general admission ticket, reserved ticket, unreserved ticket, etc.) which entitles the ticket holder admission to a particular event (i.e., a game or match). Typically, the ticket specifies at least the day, time, and location of the game. The ticket may not specify the day, time, and location of the game if, for example, the ticket is for a playoff game in which the day, time, and location of the game may be dependent on the outcome of other games.
In a sport, such as tennis, a sports fan may only purchase tickets for a particular match or a group of matches occurring during a particular time period in a tournament. These tickets may be made available for purchase in advance of the tournament, at a time when the players in particular matches or a group of matches are unknown. For example, in order for a sports fan to purchase a ticket for the semi-final match for the U.S. Open tennis tournament, the sports fan may have to purchase the ticket before the tournament begins. Because the selection of players for this match, which occurs late in the tournament, is dependent upon which players win in the earlier matches of the tournament, the sports fan will not know at the time of purchase who will be playing in this later match. This approach to ticket sales results in sports fans buying tickets for matches between players in which the sports fan may have little interest. A sports fan may be faced with giving away or not using a ticket and forfeiting his investment, selling the ticket at a loss, or attending a match the sports fan does not desire attending.
Therefore, it would desirable to provide systems and methods that provide sports fans with an opportunity to purchase tickets for sporting events played by specific players or teams that interest the sports fan.

Systems and methods for providing a player's ticket


Aspects herein relate to an applicator wand that is configured to melt a solid marking material and apply the melted marking material onto a receiving medium. Aspects of the applicator wand include a heating and melting element enclosed within an external casing, a receiving compartment configured to receive one or more solid marking materials, and an applicator tip for applying the melted marking material onto a receiving medium to create a design, drawing, picture, sketch, and the like on the receiving medium.

Wax compositions have long been used for making solid marking materials of different colors. Such solid marking materials may include, for example, crayons, oil pastels, and the like that have a wax or similar pigmented medium for delivering a particular color or colors onto a receiving medium. These solid marking materials may come in a plethora of colors and compositions, which give people of all ages an avenue of unlimited creativity.
Because of their pigmented wax composition however, the colors of the solid marking materials may not transfer smoothly to a receiving medium made of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, ceramic, fabric, primed surfaces, gesso-treated surfaces, and the like. In other words, in their solid state, the colors from pigmented wax compositions may transfer partially, giving the colored image on the receiving medium a non-uniform or uneven look, especially when observing from up close. This effect may be caused by an uneven "sticking" of the solid marking material on the receiving medium.

Solid marking material melting applicator wand