One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of monitoring impulse noise. In the method, clusters of corrupted symbols in a stream of symbols are characterized in accordance with a cluster parameter associated with the clusters. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Impulse noise consists of short powerful bursts that may adversely affect communication systems by disrupting communication signals exchanged is between the network devices of the system. The impulse noise bursts can either appear at random time intervals or at periodic time intervals. One particular type of impulse noise may be referred to as repetitive impulse noise (REIN).
In communication systems that communicate over a multi-carrier communication channel via symbols, impulse noise usually results in clusters of corrupted symbols. These clusters may be either consecutive symbols or randomly distributed symbols. In order to combat impulse noise and prevent corrupted symbols, the network devices of a communication system may utilize an impulse noise protection (INP) parameter. This INP parameter may dictate the extent to which the network devices need to adapt their transmissions to limit the effect of impulse noise on any communications.
However, existing solutions do not sufficiently address how to characterize impulse noise or determine this INP parameter. Therefore, improved methods and systems are needed.

Monitoring and adjusting noise parameters


The present invention provides equipment for processing discharging exhaust gas. The equipment comprises an adsorption system, an incinerator, an exhaust connected to the incinerator, a first heat heat exchanger connected between the adsorption system and the incinerator, a windmill that has a first piping in the inlet and a second piping in the outlet, and a pipe connected between the adsorption system and the first piping. The equipment for processing discharging exhaust gas can effectively save energy and decrease costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to equipment for processing discharging exhaust gas, and more particularly, to enhance the desorbed effect of a volatile organic compounds (VOC) abatement system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As high-tech products trend to higher quality, trace particles or impurities influence the yield and reliability of the products as well as the health of the laborer. Therefore, whether protecting the environment, the laborer safety issues, or product competitiveness is to be regarded, it is important that air-pollution and exhaust gas cannot neglected.
Most exhaust gases in semiconductor processing are volatile organic gases, or inorganic acid or alkali gases having large volume (>50,000 m3/hr) and low concentration (<500 ppm CH4). Therefore, now most industries use a VOC abatement system. For example, Taiwan Patent 00493056 discloses a discharging exhaust gas equipment system for dealing with large volume and low concentration VOCs. This discharging exhaust gas equipment applies two technologies: one is adsorption concentration by utilizing Zeolite or active carbon to absorb VOC gases, and another is oxidization combustion for burning the high concentration pernicious gases produced from desorbing the saturated Zeolite and active carbon having high concentration VOC gases. However, while utilizing a desorbed and oxidization combustion process, the system needs a high temperature to be effective. For example, the needed temperature is at least 150˜180° C. in the desorbed process, and the required combustion temperature needs to be at least 760° C. in the oxidization combustion process. Therefore, in the interest of saving energy and cost, some heat exchangers are added into abatement systems to enhance the temperature of desorbed and oxidization combustion processes.
However, the size and the efficiency of the heat exchanger will influence the exchanged temperature. If the exchanged temperature is not high enough, in the long-term the Zeolite and active carbon cannot obtain the desorbed temperature resulting in the efficiency of the VOC abatement system and the burned exhaust gases being decreased. Therefore, the heat exchangers should be renovated to enhance the efficiency, or temperature of the incinerator should be increased. However, needed methods incur too high of a cost and building the equipment is too difficult, so that the goal of saving cost and energy cannot be attained.

Device for processing discharging exhaust gas


A job-based accounting system for image processing includes receiving an image processing job at a multifunction image processing apparatus from a walk-up user or a computer workstation operably connected to the image processing apparatus. The image processing job is classified as one of: (i) a print job submitted from a computer workstation operably connected to the image processing apparatus; (ii) a copy job submitted by a walk-up user of the image processing apparatus; (iii) a scan job submitted by a walk-up user of the image processing apparatus; and (iv) a facsimile job submitted or received by a user of the image processing apparatus. One of a plurality of different accounting modes is selected to be used by the multifunction device when the multifunction device carries out the image processing job based upon the classification of the image processing job. The image processing job is completed and accounting data are developed in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of different accounting modes.

The present invention relates generally to image processing methods and apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus including job-based accounting capabilities, whereby an administrator of the image processing apparatus can select one of several available accounting modes depending upon the particular accounting required for an image processing installation.
In legal, educational, and other environments, it is common to equip xerographic copiers with internal or external means adapted for preventing unauthorized machine use while also accounting for authorized machine use. In one common application, an external keypad/display unit is connected to the copier, and a user must input a code against which copier use, in terms of number of copies only, is tracked. The code and associated sheet count value are stored in the external device as accounting data for later downloading into an associated accounting software program.
This conventional approach to controlling and tracking use of an image processing apparatus has been found to be sub-optimal in many respects. For example, it does not allow an administrator to track use of and/or charge different amounts for particular types of image recording media, e.g., plain stock, bond, transparencies, drill, etc. Furthermore, with this conventional system, the administrator is not able to track use of and/or charge different amounts when the user takes advantage of specialized features of the copier, e.g., color copies, stapling, two-sided copies, and the like.
The foregoing deficiencies are compounded when an administrator attempts to use a conventional accounting system to control access to and track use of a multifunction image processing device (MFD) connected to a computer network. MFD""s are adapted to perform multiple image processing operations, e.g., copying documents, printing original computer-generated documents, scanning documents to convert same to digital data, and faxing documents. With MFD""s, an administrator may wish to prevent unauthorized walk-up use, e.g., for making copies, but may also desire that networked workstation users not be encumbered with entering additional usernames/passwords for print jobs when these users are known to be authorized due to the fact that they have already logged in to the network. Furthermore, the administrator may desire to track exactly which features or resources of the MFD have been utilized by an authorized user in order to charge the user or his/her department or client accordingly. An accounting system that simply allows or prevents access and that simply counts sheets printed/scanned/faxed is deficient for these operations.
In light of the foregoing specifically noted deficiencies and others associated with conventional accounting methods/apparatus for image processing applications, it has been deemed desirable to develop a novel and nonobvious job-based accounting method and apparatus for image processing.
In accordance with the present invention, a job-based accounting method for image processing includes receiving an image processing job at a multifunction image processing apparatus from one of a walk-up user and a computer workstation operably connected to said image processing apparatus. The image processing job is classified as one of: (i) a print job submitted from said computer workstation operably connected to said image processing apparatus; (ii) a copy job submitted by said walk-up user of said image processing apparatus; (iii) a scan job submitted by said walk-up user of said image processing apparatus; and (iv) a facsimile job one of submitted and received by said user of said image processing apparatus. One of a plurality of different accounting modes is selected to be used by said multifunction device when said multifunction device implements said image processing job based upon said classification of said image processing job. The image processing job is completed and accounting data are developed in accordance with said selected one of said plurality of different accounting modes.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an image processing system includes a computer network and a multifunction image processing apparatus (MFD) connected to said computer network. The MFD is adapted for performing a plurality of different image processing tasks including copying documents, scanning documents, faxing documents, and printing documents. The MFD comprises an accounting system adapted to track image processing jobs performed by the multifunction image processing apparatus according to a plurality of different accounting modes. The apparatus also includes a user interface operably connected to said multifunction image processing apparatus. The user interface is adapted for receiving an accounting identifier input by a user and transmitting the received accounting identifier to the multifunction image processing apparatus. At least one user workstation is connected to the computer network. The user workstation is adapted for submitting at least print jobs to the multifunction image processing apparatus. An external accounting system is also connected to the computer network and is adapted to receive accounting data, including the accounting identifier, from the multifunction image processing apparatus for each image processing job performed by the multifunction image processing apparatus and to save said received accounting data.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an accounting method for image processing comprises receiving, into an image processing apparatus, input from an administrator that specifies a plurality of different accounting modes for a respective plurality of image processing functions performable by said image processing apparatus. A request for an image processing function is received from a user of the image processing apparatus. Based upon the administrator input, one of said plurality of different accounting modes is selected and associated with said request. The image processing function is performed, and the image processing function is accounted for according to said selected one of said plurality of accounting modes.
One advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel and nonobvious job-based accounting method and apparatus for image processing.
Another advantage of the present invention is found in a job-based accounting system specifically adapted for use in connection with networked MFD""s.
Still another advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a job-based accounting system that includes multiple pre-defined accounting modes, and where an administrator is able to select the mode, on a machine-by-machine basis, that is most appropriate for the administrator""s accounting goals.
A further advantage of the present invention is found in the provision of a job-based accounting system for image processing wherein at least five different pre-defined modesxe2x80x94a secure accounting mode, a resource accounting mode, an authentication disabled accounting mode, a custom accounting mode, and a disabled accounting modexe2x80x94are provided and available for selection by an administrator as deemed necessary and appropriate.
Yet another advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a job-based accounting system for image processing in a multifunction device wherein one of several different pre-defined accounting modes are employed depending upon the particular type of image processing job to be carried out.
Still other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those possessed of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains upon reading and understanding the following specification.

Job-based accounting method and apparatus for image processing


The present invention provides methods and kits for detecting RNA-interacting regions in genomic DNA.

RNA interaction with genomic DNA is able to influence and regulate the transcription of DNA. Non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to regulate transcription by mediating DNA modification and by changing chromatin structure, such as by changing chromatin from an active state to an inactive state, although in many cases, the mechanisms by which RNA regulate DNA transcription are unknown.

Detection of RNA-interacting regions in DNA


A soybean variety designated 91B01, the plants and seeds of soybean variety 91B01, methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the variety 91B01 with itself or with another soybean plant, and hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 91B01 with another soybean line or plant.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive soybean variety, designated 91B01 which has been the result of years of careful breeding and selection. There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits may include higher seed yield, resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to drought and heat, and better agronomic qualities.
Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of the plant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower on a different plant. Soybean plants (i.e. Glycine Max) are recognized to be naturally self-pollinated plants which, while capable of undergoing cross-pollination, rarely do so in nature. Insects are reported by some researchers to carry pollen from one soybean plant to another and it generally is estimated that less than one percent of soybean seed formed in an open planting can be traced to cross-pollination, i.e. less than one percent of soybean seed formed in an open planting is capable of producing F.sub.1 hybrid soybean plants, See Jaycox, "Ecological Relationships between Honey Bees and Soybeans," appearing in the American Bee Journal Vol. 110(8):306-307 (August 1970). Thus intervention for control of pollination is critical to establishment of superior varieties.
A cross between two different homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that may be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and will not be uniform. Regardless of parentage, plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny.
Soybeans (Glycine max.), can be bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and the type of variety used commercially (e.g., F.sub.1 hybrid variety, pureline variety, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superior individual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective, whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based on mean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of related plants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection, modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.
The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop varieties from breeding populations. Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each of which may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking in the other or which complements the other. If the two original parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In the succeeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F.sub.1 .fwdarw.F.sub.2 ; F.sub.2 .fwdarw.F.sub.3 ; F.sub.3 .fwdarw.F.sub.4 ; F.sub.4 .fwdarw.F.sub.5, etc.
Pedigree breeding is commonly used for the improvement of self-pollinating crops. Two parents that possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed to produce an F.sub.1. An F.sub.2 population is produced by selfing one or several F.sub.1 's or by intercrossing two F.sub.1 's (sib mating). Selection of the best individuals may begin in the F.sub.2 population; then, beginning in the F.sub.3, the best individuals in the best families are selected. Replicated testing of families can begin in the F.sub.4 generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F.sub.6 and F.sub.7), the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potential release as new varieties.
Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for simply inherited, highly heritable traits into a desirable homozygous variety or inbred line that is utilized as the recurrent parent. The source of the traits to be transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., variety) and the desirable traits transferred from the donor parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the desired traits of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., variety) and the desirable traits transferred from the donor parent. This approach has been used extensively for breeding disease resistant varieties.
Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successful varieties produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.).
Various recurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitatively inherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrent selection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination, the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and the number of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.
Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared to appropriate standards in environments representative of the commercial target area(s) for three or more years. The best lines are candidates for new commercial varieties; those still deficient in a few traits may be used as parents to produce new populations for further selection.
These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution, can take from eight to twelve years from the time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new varieties is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.
A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standard variety. Generally a single observation is inconclusive, so replicated observations are required to provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.
In addition to the preceding problem, it is not known how the genotype will react with the environment. This genotype by environment interaction is an important, yet unpredictable, factor in plant breeding. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the genotype, how that genotype will interact with various environments or the resulting phenotypes of the developing lines, except perhaps in a very broad and general fashion. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art would also be unable to recreate the same line twice from the very same original parents, as the breeder is unable to direct how the genomes combine or how they will interact with the environmental conditions. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large amounts of research resources in the development of a superior new soybean inbred line.
The goal of soybean breeding is to develop new, unique and superior soybean varieties. In practical application of a chosen breeding program, the breeder initially selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection, producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoretically generate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing, selfing and mutations. The breeder has no direct control at the cellular level. Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line, or even very similar lines, having the same soybean traits.
Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to the next generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and different geographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections are then made during and at the end of the growing season. The varieties which are developed are unpredictable for the reasons already mentioned.
Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations of either self- or cross-pollinated crops. A genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is either identified or created by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selected based on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in which further cycles of selection are continued.
The single-seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to planting a segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed per plant, and using the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. When the population has been advanced from the F.sub.2 to the desired level of inbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace to different F.sub.2 individuals. The number of plants in a population declines each generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plants to produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F.sub.2 plants originally sampled in the population will be represented by a progeny when generation advance is completed.
In a multiple-seed procedure, soybean breeders commonly harvest one or more pods from each plant in a population and thresh them together to form a bulk. Part of the bulk is used to plant the next generation and part is put in reserve. The procedure has been referred to as modified single-seed descent or the pod-bulk technique.
The multiple-seed procedure has been used to save labor at harvest. It is considerably faster to thresh pods with a machine than to remove one seed from each by hand for the single-seed procedure. The multiple-seed procedure also makes it possible to plant the same number of seeds of a population each generation of inbreeding. Enough seeds are harvested to make up for those plants that did not germinate or produce seed.
Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr, 1987).
Proper testing should detect major faults and establish the level of superiority or improvement over current varieties. In addition to showing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new variety. The new variety must be compatible with industry standards, or must create a new market. The introduction of a new variety may incur additional costs to the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer, for special advertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial production practices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release of a new variety should take into consideration research and development costs as well as technical superiority of the final variety. For seed-propagated varieties, it must be feasible to produce seed easily and economically.
Soybean, Glycine max (L), is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of soybean breeders is to develop stable, high yielding soybean varieties that are agronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are obviously to maximize the amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food for both animals and humans. To accomplish this goal, the soybean breeder must select and develop soybean plants that have the traits that result in superior varieties.
Pioneer soybean research staff create over 500,000 new inbreds each year. Of those new inbreds, less than 50 and more commonly less than 25 are actually selected for commercial use.


A cutting insert for a rotary cutting tool comprises a body of tungsten carbide, with layers of polycrystalline diamond on opposite sides of the body. The diamond layers overlap across the centre-line of the insert. The cutting insert is shaped for retention at the end of the rotary cutting tool so that the first and second sides of the cutting insert are substantially parallel to the axis of the cutting tool, and the diamond layers are offset from one another across the width of the body so that they define the lips or major cutting edges of the cutting tool.

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a cutting insert for a rotary cutting tool, to a rotary cutting tool including the insert, and to the cutting insert itself.
Rotary cutting tools such as boring heads are known which comprise a cylindrical body defining a pair of arms, one on either side of a line passing diametrally through the body. On each arm is mounted a cutting insert comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material, such as a PCD compact comprising a PCD layer on a tungsten carbide backing. Other cutting tools such as twist drills are known which have an approximately chisel-type bit, with a pair of cutting inserts mounted in seats oriented more or less diametrally in the end of a twist drill body.

Cutting insert for a rotary cutting tool


A plow assembly for vehicles such as pickup trucks and tractors for moving snow or other materials has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is extendable on one end of a main plow by sliding movement along the front of the plow between a retracted and an extended position in which the plow wing is generally aligned with the plow front surface. The plow wing is also pivotally mounted on a hinge for movement between the extended position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. A pair of fluid power cylinders are connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended and forwardly angled positions. In the preferred embodiment, an extendable plow wing is included on each end of the main plow with a pair of fluid cylinders connected to each of the respective plow wings. The fluid cylinders in each respective pair are operable independently of one another to move the plow wings independently between their respective retracted, extended and forwardly angled positions. When both plow wings are pivoted to their forwardly angled positions, the plow assembly has a general U-shape which facilitates pushing snow or other material without the snow slipping off the plow blade ends. The main plow may include a section formed from polymeric sheet material for weight reduction.

A wide variety of snow plows for pickup trucks and other utility vehicles are available and in use. These include straight bladed plows of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,026, and center-hinged, V-plows of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,448 and 4,658,519. Other straight bladed plows have been devised with one or both ends being slidably extendable as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,218,512; U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,064; and Swedish 323,974. Yet other plows have included straight blades with pivotable, non-extendable ends as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,825 and 3,477,151. At least one plow is shown in EPO 140,139 having permanently forwardly angled plow ends, which forwardly angled plow ends include slidable extensions wherein the entire plow swings from side to side so as to angle the entire plow left or right.
While each of the above types of prior known plows is useful in one or more situations, the overall flexibility for use of these plows has been limited. For example, for pickup truck mounted snow plows which must be transported from one snow clearing site to another, it is necessary that the plow be short enough to allow transport on public highways which have limited lane width. However, when actually engaged in plowing, it is very helpful to have a greater length for the plow so that larger areas of the parking lot or other site can be cleared of snow more quickly. Yet another problem encountered is when large amounts of snow must be pushed or carried with the plow from one area of a clearing site to another such as the side of a parking lot. Many of the above mentioned plows allow snow or other material being cleared to slip off the ends of the plow thereby requiring additional time and work to completely clear the site.
Existing, prior known plows have, therefore, failed to provide a plow with sufficient flexibility to handle the varying needs encountered in plowing using pickup trucks or other vehicles, especially when such vehicles must be driven on public highways. Such needs include a short enough plow length to allow transportation on public highways, a long enough length for fast, efficient clearing of a job site, and the carrying or pushing of snow from one area to another without allowing snow or other material to slip off the plow ends. In addition, plows should be as light in weight as possible while sufficiently strong to withstand the various forces imposed thereon during plowing of snow and other materials, should allow for proper visibility during use as well as when moved to a non-use position on the vehicle, and should allow ease in repair or replacement of those parts subject to high wear during plowing use. All of these results should be accomplished while minimizing the size and space required for the plow in each of its arrangements.


An ultrasonic treatment system and method for utilizing ultrasound to treat intravascular conditions, such as stenotic and occluded regions of blood vessels, are provided. The ultrasonic treatment system includes an ultrasonic probe, having a proximal and distal end. A guide catheter and guidewire may also be provided and the probe can be slidably disposed within the guide catheter's inner lumen. The probe can include a horn at the proximal end, a transmission member with a proximal and a distal end connected to the horn at the transmission member proximal end, and a distal tip connected at the transmission member's distal end. The transmission member may include one or more transmission wires, having proximal and distal ends, connected serially or in parallel.

The invention relates generally to medical devices and, more particularly, to an improved ultrasound probe and a method of using the improved ultrasound probe for treating conditions such as stenotic or occlusive vascular disorders.
At present, stenotic or occluded arteries are commonly treated by using one or several methods, which include, balloon or laser angioplasty, atherectomy and bypass surgery. While these types of treatments have had some success, they each have undesirable side effects. For example, following a balloon angioplasty procedure, the stenosis often rebounds to again obstruct the vessel; laser angioplasty and atherectomy procedures carry the risk of damaging the arterial structure; and bypass surgery is traumatic and requires a prolonged recovery period.
In recent years, a number of devices that use ultrasonic energy to ablate obstructive material from blood vessels have been described in U.S. patents, such as Pat. Nos. 4,870,953 (Don Michael), 4,920,954 (Alliger et al.), and 5,269,287 (Weng et al.), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In general, ultrasound transmitting devices have been reasonably successful when used to ablate obstructions located in peripheral blood vessels, such as the femoral artery. However, conventional ultrasound devices have been shown not to be fully satisfactory. For example, in applications within smaller blood vessels, such as the distal sections of coronary arteries, successful applications have been harder to achieve in practice due in part to the more tortuous paths and smaller vessel diameters involved.
While a number of devices that use ultrasonic energy to ablate obstructive material from blood vessels have been described in recent years, very little has been written about methods of using such devices. One method of ablating material from blood vessels by using heat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,413 (Hussein et al.), which is hereby incorporated by reference. A second U.S. patent, Pat. No. 5,324,255 (Passafaro et al.), describes a method of using ultrasound to treat vasospasm, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, little has been written on a method of using ultrasound devices, apparently due to a general lack of success in providing a safe, effective ultrasonic device capable of ablating clots.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved device and method for the treatment of stenotic or occluded arteries and the like which overcomes shortcomings of the prior art.

Ultrasound transmission apparatus and method of using same


A machine for stuffing a food product in a casing, comprising a clipping unit which is adapted to apply two clips with an intermediate cut at the trailing end of a product introduced in a casing and comprising a device for inserting ties which are supported by a ribbon which moves stepwise, moving progressively the ties, one after the other, to a clipping standby position, in which the tie is available for being engaged by a clip in its motion from the magazine to the closure position, a bar being provided which is adapted to be associated with the tie in its movement from the clipping standby position.

It is known that there are machines for stuffing food products, such as for example salamis or bacons, in a casing commonly constituted by a net or intestine-derived casing.
Such machines comprise a clipping unit, which is adapted to apply two clips with an intermediate cut at the trailing end of a product which has been introduced in the casing and also comprise a device for inserting ties formed by a piece of string which is closed in a loop and can have different constructive embodiments.
In the commonly adopted form, such ties are supported by a ribbon which moves stepwise in contact with a fixed guide which has one end proximate to the clipping unit and in this way one tie after the other is arranged, thanks to the motion of the ribbon which proceeds in contact with the lower face of the guide, turns back at the end and comes into contact with the upper face of said guide, in a standby position with a forward portion separated from the ribbon which protrudes from the end of the guide, while a retracted portion is still in contact with the ribbon.
The tie in the standby position is thus made available for being taken by a clip, which at the appropriate time exits from the magazine of the clipping unit and is closed on the casing at the trailing end of the product with the tie inserted therein, and in this way each product is provided with a tie which allows to hang the product from bars provided in storage rooms.
As mentioned, the same result can be achieved by devices for inserting ties having a different configuration with respect to the one described.
Currently, the operation of hanging each individual product on the bars is performed manually, with an easily imaginable expenditure of labor, and therefore the aim of the present invention is to provide a stuffing machine which arranges the products in output so that the corresponding ties are all aligned, thereby allowing insertion in means which are adapted to automate the operation.

Machine for stuffing a food product in a casing


A methodology is provided for encoding mobile process calculi in XML. Mobile process calculi (e.g., Π-calculus, Join Calculus, Blue Calculus) are often employed in modeling business processes. The present method provides for encoding a mobile process algebra in XML by providing a mobile process algebra, reducing the process algebra to infix notation, transforming the mobile process algebra from infix notation to prefix notation, and then transforming the prefix notation to a set of tags via structural induction. Annotating tags can then be provided around the basic process algebra constructors. The set of tags represent an XML schema. The XML schema can then be reduced to a programming language. An example of reducing a specific algebra (combinators—a derivative of Π-calculus) to an XML schema is provided. The XML schema is reduced to a programming language ideal for business workflow processes.

Transaction processing systems have led the way for many ideas in distributed computing and fault-tolerant computing. For example, transaction processing systems have introduced distributed data for reliability, availability, and performance, and fault tolerant storage and processes, in addition to contributing to the client-server model and remote procedure call for distributed computation. Importantly, transaction processing introduced the concept of transaction ACID properties—atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability that has emerged as the unifying concept for distributed computations. Atomicity refers to a transaction's change to the state of the overall system happening all at once or not at all. Consistency refers to a transaction being a correct transformation of the system state and essentially means that the transaction is a correct program. Although transactions execute concurrently, isolation ensures that transactions appear to execute before or after another transaction because intermediate states of transactions are not visible to other transactions (e.g., locked during execution). Durability refers to once a transaction completes successfully (commits) its activities or its changes to the state become permanent and survive failures.
Many applications for workflow tools are internal to a business or organization. With the advent of networked computers and modems, computer systems at remote locations can now easily communicate with one another. This allows computer system workflow applications to be used between remote facilities within a company. Workflow applications can also be of particular utility in processing business transactions between different companies. Automating such processes can result in significant efficiency improvements, not otherwise possible. However, this inter-company application of workflow technology requires co-operation of the companies and proper interfacing of the individual company's existing computer systems.
Many attempts at description languages for business workflow process have been made. These languages target specifications of distributed and concurrent systems for the purpose of systems integration. The extensible markup language (XML) has been designed for system integration. XML is a meta-markup language that provides a format for describing structured data. An XML element can declare its associated data to be a retail price, a sales tax, a book title, or any desired data element. XML provides a structural representation of data that has proved broadly implementable and easy to deploy. A piece of information marked by the presence of tags is called an element. Elements can be further described by attaching name value pairs called attributes. Once the data is received by the client, the data can be manipulated edited and presented in multiple ways without being sent back to the server. The XML syntax uses matching start and end tags to mark up information. Presently, XML has been applied to the representations of applications data (e.g., business documents, EDI messages). Efforts have been made by the Workflow Management Consortium to describe business processes with XML. However, none of these descriptions have provided a compelling and theoretically sound framework for description of system behavior.
Accordingly, there is a strong need in the art for a method for providing a sound framework for business workflow process applications in addition to providing a sound framework in the broad domain of distributed and parallel computing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

XML-based representation of mobile process calculi


A fire safety fluid flow device for engagement with a Schrader valve including a sliding valve a housing having a fluid path therethrough and a pressing member. The pressing member presses against the sliding valve of the Schrader valve when engaged therewith to allow fluid flow through the Schrader valve. The pressing member continues to maintain the sliding valve in an open position when the device is below a predetermined temperature and connected to the Schrader valve. The pressing member is configured to no longer press against the sliding valve of the Schrader valve at and above the predetermined temperature to allow the sliding valve of the Schrader valve to thereby stop fluid flow through the Schrader valve.

Some outdoor cooking appliances and space heaters are connected to a source of propane to cook the food and heat a space, respectively. Typically, the cooking appliances and the space heaters are connected to a cylinder holding liquefied petroleum in liquid and/or vapor form. If the cooking appliance and the space heater are small and portable, they are typically connected to a disposable propane cylinder. A problem with prior art cooking appliances and space heaters is that neither have a mechanism to extinguish the flow of gas from the fuel supply in the event of a fire. Heretofore, if the small cooking appliances and space heaters are in a fire, they will continue to supply propane as the supply of propane from the cylinder would not be shut off.
Accordingly, an apparatus which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and has the aforementioned desired features has long been desired.

Fire safety device for propane cylinders


A first process in which a fiber reinforced base is placed in a cavity of a molding die and then resin is injected into the cavity of the molding die in a state where the molding die is opened by a sum of a distance X1 and a distance at the time of completion of molding; a second process in which the molding die is closed to a state where the molding die is opened by a sum of a distance X2 and the distance at the time of completion of molding while resin in the cavity is being drained; and a third process in which the drain of the resin from the cavity is stopped and then the molding die is closed to the distance at the time of completion of molding while a die clamping pressure is maintained at a predetermined value to cure the resin, are carried out sequentially.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fiber reinforced resin, a manufacturing method for the fiber reinforced resin, and a manufacturing system for the fiber reinforced resin.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fiber reinforced resin may be manufactured by molding and curing resin containing a fiber reinforced base. In order to manufacture a high-quality fiber reinforced resin, it is necessary to uniformly impregnate resin into a fiber reinforced base. For example, in a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-271551 (JP-A-2005-271551), a gap is provided in a cavity of a molding die between a cavity inner surface and a fiber reinforced base, and an amount of resin equivalent to a molded product is injected into the gap. After that, the molding die is closed to narrow the cavity to thereby spread the resin over the fiber reinforced base. In addition, in a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-286306 (JP-A-63-286306), an amount of resin that exceeds an amount of resin required for a product itself is impregnated into a fiber reinforced base in advance, and the resin-impregnated fiber reinforced base is placed in a cavity of upper and lower molding dies. Then, the molding dies are closed to introduce resin into a resin drain hole. Thus, the product is brought into close contact with the molding dies to mold the product.
In order to manufacture a fiber reinforced resin having high strength and dimensional accuracy, an appropriate amount of resin needs to be uniformly spread in the cavity and uniformly cured. In the technique described in JP-A-2005-271551, only an amount of resin equivalent to a product is injected, so the injected amount of resin tends to be excessive or insufficient. This tends to cause unevenness in quality of fiber reinforced resin. In the technique described in JP-A-63-286306, the molding dies are completely closed in the process of draining redundant resin, so sunk spots (recesses formed due to molding shrinkage of resin) appear during curing of resin thereafter. This deteriorates the strength and dimensional accuracy of the product.

Fiber reinforced resin, manufacturing method for fiber reinforced resin, and manufacturing system for fiber reinforced resin


A blood pressure cuff (10), for determining the blood pressure in newborns, includes a chamber section (20) with an air chamber (22) and a handling section (30) for placing and fastening the chamber section (20) around an arm (100) of a newborn. The air chamber (22) has a chamber wall (24), which has, along a circumferential direction (U) of the air chamber (22), a longitudinal sealing seam (40). Two longitudinal edges (26a, 26b) of the chamber wall (24) are connected to one another overlappingly opposite each other in an airtight manner by the longitudinal sealing seam (40).

It is known, in principle, that the blood pressure is measured in persons by means of so-called blood pressure cuffs. For such a measurement, the blood pressure cuffs have an air chamber, which is placed around the arm of the person in question. The air chamber is subsequently filled with air, so that a radially inwardly acting compressive force is applied by the overpressure to the patient's arm. The upper value and the lower value of the blood pressure can be determined by specifically releasing air and monitoring the pulse in the area of the blood pressure cuff.
Blood pressure cuffs are also used for newborns. Neonates, children who are born in the hospital are also called newborns. This term pertains in the sense of the present invention to both premature babies and full-term or post-term babies. The prior-art blood pressure cuffs have the drawback that they may exert a relatively great adverse mechanical effect on the child's arm. This can be attributed, in particular, to the circumstance that the prior-art blood pressure cuffs have two-layer chamber walls, which are welded together along the circumference of a corresponding chamber section. Similarly to an arm float for children, sharp-edged sealing seams are formed, which may lead to an undesired adverse effect on the skin and tissue especially if the blood pressure cuff slips in the bend of the elbow or in the armpit. It should be borne in mind, in particular, that such blood pressure cuffs may be placed on newborns not only for a short time but also over a longer time, at times even over several weeks.


A combining housing has first, second and third connectors. A music player has a first line adapted to be coupled to the first connector. A special effects box has a second line adapted to be coupled to the second connector. Earphones have a third line adapted to be coupled to the third connector. A musical instrument has a supplemental line adapted to be coupled to the special effects box. Positive, negative and ground wires are within each of the lines and continue within the combining housing. An electrical assembly includes the positive, negative and ground wires. The positive lines are coupled together within the combining housing forming a first junction. The negative wires are coupled together within the combining housing forming a second junction. The ground wires are coupled together within the housing forming a third junction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a musical instrument system and more particularly pertains to allowing a learner to practice a musical instrument while concurrently listening to background music and practicing music while using earphone, the music not being heard by third persons. The practicing and listening is done in a convenient, reliable and economical manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of musical instrument practice systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, musical instrument practice systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of allowing learners to practice a musical instrument are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While the prior art devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe a musical instrument system that allows a learner to practice a musical instrument while concurrently listening to background music and practicing music while using earphone, the music not being heard by third persons.
In this respect, the musical instrument system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a learner to practice a musical instrument while concurrently listening to background music and practicing music while using earphone, the music not being heard by third persons.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved musical instrument system which can be used for allowing a learner to practice a musical instrument while concurrently listening to background music and practicing music while using earphone, the music not being heard by third persons. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present invention improves the quality of the TFT structure by avoiding photo-induced current, and lowers manufacturing costs by decreasing the number of masks required in the process, wherein the former is achieved by the stacked structure including a gate layer, an insulation layer, an amorphous silicon layer and an ohmic contact layer, and the latter is achieved by using the stacked structure as a mask and by exposing the substrate from the back surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure and the method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a TFT structure with higher quality and a manufacturing method thereof with less photolithographic steps.
2. Description of the Related Art
The thin film transistor (TFT) has been widely used in liquid crystal displays (LCD), wherein a conventional manufacturing method thereof is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.
FIG. 1 illustrates the formation of a gate on a substrate. First, a substrate 100 is provided, and a metal layer is deposited on the substrate 100. Then, a gate electrode 110 is formed by photolithography and etching the metal layer.
FIG. 2 illustrates the formation of a gate insulation layer, an amorphous silicon layer, and an ohmic contact layer. A gate insulation layer 120 is deposited on the substrate 100, covering the gate electrode 110. Then, an amorphous silicon layer and an ohmic contact layer are formed sequentially on the gate insulation layer 120, and are etched using a patterned photoresist (not shown) as a mask. The patterned photoresist is then removed and therefore a patterned amorphous silicon layer 130 and an ohmic contact layer 140 are formed as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 illustrates the formation of a source electrode and a drain electrode. A metal layer is formed on the substrate 100 and is patterned by a lithography and etching step. An opening 162 is formed in the metal layer, to open through the patterned ohmic contact layer 140 and to expose portion of the amorphous silicon layer 130. A source electrode 165 and a drain electrode 160 are consequently formed while forming the opening 162.
FIG. 4 illustrates the formation of a passivation layer on the substrate 100. A passivation layer 170 is deposited on the substrate 100. Then, an opening 172 is formed by a photolithography and etching process to expose the drain electrode 160.
FIG. 5 illustrates the formation of a transparent electrode. A transparent conductive layer is deposited on the passivation layer 170 and fills the opening 172 of the passivation layer 170. The transparent conductive layer is patterned by lithography and etching methods; a transparent electrode 180 is formed, consequently. Five masks are required in the TFT manufacturing processes described above, which are respectively shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.
A manufacturing method using four masks to fabricate a thin film transistor has been developed by combining the steps of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. However, the light incident from the rear side of the substrate directly illuminates the amorphous silicon layer, and a photo-induced current is undesirably produced. Therefore, the OFF characteristic of the TFT becomes worsen, and result in deterioration of the quality of the TFT is deteriorated.

Thin film transistor structure and method of manufacturing the same


The configuration control system is implemented in an environment of multiple hardware platforms and operating systems and can be used to control hardware, software, data and system abstractions. The configuration control system gives the appearance of a unified maintenance environment even though it is controlling hardware and software from many vendors with multiple maintenance environments. It is designed to control the configuration of any system where there are dependencies among subsystems and loss of a subsystem has the potential to interrupt service. The maintenance configuration control protocol unifies Configuration Control to allow any subsystem to communicate with any other subsystem and to the user interface using a common messaging interface. It creates a common state model, relationship model, behavior model and request/response messaging interface for all subsystems whether they are hardware, software, or an abstraction. Furthermore, the maintenance configuration control protocol permits distributed maintenance which is data-driven. That is, it does not depend on a central intelligence to make Configuration Control decisions. Each subsystem is empowered to approve/disapprove a maintenance request and execute it autonomously based on its own data. That data includes its state and its relationships to other subsystems. Because each subsystem is autonomous, it is possible to have many concurrent configuration control requests executing in parallel. Race conditions and conflicts are handled by the common software representing the subsystem.

This invention relates to the configuration control of highly reliable distributed systems and, in particular, to a system for providing asynchronous configuration control of highly reliable, distributed systems, using an object oriented paradigm.
It is a problem in the field of highly reliable, distributed systems to provide a consistent and easily managed maintenance environment. As the world of highly reliable computing continues to expand with many vendors providing products, it is desirable to combine a number of these highly reliable computing products to implement a more complex system to obtain increased computing power, broader functional scope and physical distribution. The problem with combining off-the-shelf hardware and software into a highly reliable distributed computing system is that none of these products are designed to be combined into a large/complex highly reliable system with other vendor products. Each vendor""s product has its own maintenance environment and all of them assume they are under the intelligent control of xe2x80x9csomeone elsexe2x80x9d. That is, in a system environment, each subsystem has no way of knowing what other system elements are dependent upon that subsystem. Thus, even if a single subsystem is reliable, it is easy to make a mistake during routine maintenance or fault recovery and remove, restore or switch the wrong subsystem bringing the entire system down. The larger and more complex systems become, the more critical this issue of subsystem interaction becomes.
Coordination of maintenance activities (e.g., removal or restoral of units) is typically the job of the Configuration Control component of the system. Configuration Control assures that inter-subsystem dependencies are taken into account when reconfiguring the system to perform maintenance or recover a faulty unit. Typically, even in systems which are wholly developed by a single vendor, the Configuration Control is fractured along some functional boundaries. When this is done, inevitably each function has its own notion of subsystem states, request interfaces, behavior and control hierarchy. Furthermore, systems are almost always centrally controlled. So, if the central control is lost, maintenance operations in the individual subsystems must be halted.
Making these disparate subsystems in a complex system communicate with each other to coordinate activities and communicate with a user interface is exceedingly challenging and expensive. Since each subsystem has its own view of state, behavior, relationships, and request interfaces, there is no standard protocol for one subsystem to establish a relationship and request services of another subsystem. Each interface is a custom development and therefore, any change affecting these interfaces causes major coordination headaches. The software which controls these subsystems is typically developed with an assumed configuration and behavior. That is, the subsystem configuration and its response to a maintenance stimulus is hard-coded. Changing a system comprising a plurality of individual subsystems is very costly and usually entails years of work. Consequently, technological evolution is impeded because it is expensive and takes a long time.
The prior art solution to these problems is to write custom Configuration Control software for every subsystem in the system. It is common to have multiple notions of state, dissimilar request interfaces and hardcoded relationships and behavior. Every piece of configuration control code is custom made. Consequently, the same algorithms which are common to all Configuration Control are implemented and reimplemented over and over, each time with changes introduced by the present developer. Control is centralized with, typically, only one maintenance request allowed to execute at any one time.
Typical high-reliability systems such as a telecommunications switch have about 80% of their cost sunk into maintenance software, of which Configuration Control is a major and key part. In the typical system where infrastructure is already in place, Configuration Control software may account for as much as 30%-50% of the cost of adding a new subsystem element. It has been estimated that from 50%-80% of the cost of writing Configuration Control software can be eliminated and development intervals reduced by using a standardized approach. This provides the potential commercial benefits of reduced product development cost and reduced product development intervals. The standardized Configuration Control protocol could be integrated into network management products to produce very intelligent network element behavior. In addition, a commercial version of the standardized Configuration Control protocol could be packaged and sold to vendors of highly reliable products and network management products. However, to date there is no standardized Configuration Control protocol.
The above described problems are solved and a technical advance achieved by the system for providing asynchronous configuration control of highly reliable distributed systems using an object oriented paradigm (termed xe2x80x9cconfiguration control systemxe2x80x9d herein). In this configuration control system, the maintenance configuration control protocol is implemented in an environment of multiple hardware platforms and operating systems and can be used to control hardware, software, data and system abstractions. The configuration control system gives the appearance of a unified maintenance environment even though it is controlling hardware and software from many vendors with multiple maintenance environments. The configuration control system works equally well for an embedded subsystem, a distributed switching system or a network of processors. It is designed to control the configuration of any system where there are dependencies among subsystems and loss of a subsystem has the potential to interrupt service.
The maintenance configuration control protocol developed unifies Configuration Control to allow any subsystem to communicate with any other subsystem and to the user interface using a common messaging interface. It creates a common state model, relationship model, behavior model and request/response messaging interface for all subsystems whether they are hardware, software, or an abstraction. Furthermore, the maintenance configuration control protocol permits distributed maintenance which is data-driven. That is, it does not depend on a central intelligence to make Configuration Control decisions. Each subsystem is empowered to approve/disapprove a maintenance request and execute it autonomously based on its own data. That data includes its state and its relationships to other subsystems. Because each subsystem is autonomous, it is possible to have many concurrent configuration control requests executing in parallel. Race conditions and conflicts are handled by the common software representing the subsystem. A coordinating entity (a Maintenance Request Administrator) is not a requirement.
The maintenance configuration control protocol standardizes the state, communication interfaces, relationships and behavior. Further, the relationships are captured in data which can be changed in a running system. Thus, Configuration Control behavior can be changed on-the-fly. Configuration Control is distributed so there is no dependency on a central processing elements and multiple maintenance requests may execute simultaneously.
The problems which this configuration control system solves are:
Coordination of dissimilar (different vendors, multiple platforms and maintenance systems) subsystem configuration changes during a maintenance request (remove, restore, switch) to assure service continuity.
Dependency on one system coordinating entity which creates a bottleneck and restricts concurrency.
Creating interfaces and dependencies between subsystems which have different notions of state, relationships, behavior and request interfaces.
Complex hard-coded Configuration Control logic which is expensive to change/evolve, impeding technological evolution.
Thus, the configuration control system provides asynchronous configuration control of highly reliable distributed systems using an object oriented paradigm. The configuration control system gives the appearance of a unified maintenance environment even though it is controlling hardware and software from many vendors with multiple maintenance environments.

Asynchronous object oriented configuration control system for highly reliable distributed systems


A process is provided for preparing polyhydroxycarboxylic acids by the selective oxidation of di-, tri-, oligo- and polysaccharides in an alkaline medium using an oxygenous gas in the presence of palladium on a carrier as catalyst and bismuth as promoter at a palladium concentration in the reaction mixture of at least about 40 mg/l and a molar ratio of bismuth to palladium in the range of from about 1:5 to about 1:40, in which process towards the end of the reaction, as soon as a strong increase is observed in the oxygen concentration in the liquid phase, the oxygen supply is reduced until it is not more than about 20 ppm. In this manner, virtually all of the polysaccharide added beforehand is converted into the desired end product without an unacceptably high concentration of bismuth in the end product.

The invention relates to the preparation of polyhydroxycarboxylic acids by the selective oxidation of di-, tri-, oligo- and polysaccharides in an alkaline medium using an oxygenous gas in the presence of palladium on a carrier as catalyst and bismuth as promoter.
Such a process is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,553, and a further working-out of the oxidation of lactose can be found in an article by H. Hendriks et al. in Carbohydrate Research 204 (1990), 121-129.
A drawback to the process described in said publications is that although the percentage of polysaccharides which can be converted in this manner is over 90%, notably in the oxidation of lactose it fails to advance beyond 95%. In Example V of the aforementioned patent publication a conversion rate of 91% is listed for the oxidation of lactose. Such a mixture of polysaccharide or aldose and salt of the corresponding carboxylic acid is hard to purify on a commercial scale. Moreover, the product was found to be too badly contaminated with residual catalyst. A further drawback.sup.to the process claimed in the U.S. patent is the laborious catalyst preparation. It involves mixing a solution of a bismuth compound, with vigorous stirring, with an aqueous suspension of the palladium deposited onto a carrier. The whole is made alkaline by adding a base, followed by reduction of the bismuth compound with formalin, sodium formate, sodium boron hydride, hypophosphorous acid, hydrazine, glucose, or other reducing sugars. The catalyst thus reduced is filtered, washed, and dried.

Process for the oxidation of di-, tri-, oligo- and polysaccharides into polyhydroxycarboxylic acids


In an automatic analyzer of samples, the liquid specimen and the reagent are mixed in a reaction container to react. If, however, there is a bubble in the reagent container, a accurate amount of a reagent may not be dispensed. Accordingly, a liquid surface detecting circuit for detecting the liquid surface on the basis of the impedance change between a pipet and a ground is disposed, and the height of the liquid surface before and after suction of the reagent is compared on the basis of the liquid surface detecting information, and the bubble is detected when the difference is more than a specified value, and accordingly the driving circuit of the driving source is controlled by the control circuit. Thus, when dispensing the reagent in the reagent container by a pipet, the bubble can be detected securely and accurately, and this apparatus may be used in a slender reagent container.

The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting air bubbles formed at the time of pipetting reagents in an apparatus for analyzing liquid specimens automatically, or more particularly to an apparatus for detecting bubbles, formed also in a slender reagent container, by securely detecting bubbles when dispensing reagent in a reagent container by means of a pipet (pipette).
In an automatic analyzer, various reagents are used. The reagent in the reagent container is dispensed by a specific amount from the pipet connected to a measuring device such as a syringe, and is discharged into the reaction container. In the reaction container, the specimen and reagent are mixed, and they react with each other.
Bubbles may be formed in the reagent, and if bubbles are formed in the reagent container, a correct amount of reagent may not be obtained. For example, when the reagent container is turned upside down and agitating to thaw the frozen reagent, or when conveying or transporting of a reagent, bubbles are formed. In the case of a reagent containing a component that easily forms bubbles, the bubbles do not break and remain floating on the liquid surface.
On the other hand, in order to avoid deposit of reagent on the outer wall of the pipet, a pipet having a liquid level detecting function is used. When detecting the liquid level, if bubbles are present, the bubble surface may be mistaken for the liquid surface, and accurate dispensing is not possible.
The Japanese examined Patent Hei. 1-45870, (the Japanese Laid-open Patent Sho. 58-154664) discloses a liquid weighing amount confirmation control device for confirming the liquid sampling amount by the pipet by comparing the liquid level height in the container and lower extent of the pipet. In this device, when the difference of the two is more than .+-.10 to 20%, it is regarded to be clogging.
The Japanese Laid-open Patent Hei. 2-40562 discloses a liquid dispensing device for detecting the liquid surface before and after dispensing and for monitoring improper dispensing. It is also proposed to regard the liquid surface detecting position after dispensing in the previous step as the liquid surface detecting position before dispensing of the succeeding step.
In both the device of 1-45870 and the device of 2-40562, the liquid surface detecting means (or level sensor) is installed near the pipet, but separately from the pipet, and is inserted into the container together with the pipet so as to detect the liquid surface.
Accordingly, such structure cannot be applied in a reagent container. This is a serious problem because the trend toward downsizing is particularly accelerated recently. When the reagent container is not so slender, but if the reaction container is slender, the result is the same, that is, a slender suction part is needed.
Besides, since the liquid surface detecting position and liquid sucking (aspirating) position are different, it is difficult to detect bubbles. This point will be explained with the aid of FIG. 1. When the pipet 40 and liquid surface detecting means 41 descend and there is a bubble 42 just beneath the liquid surface detecting means 41, the liquid surface detecting means 41 detects the bubble 42 as the liquid surface 44, thereby stopping the descending motion of the pipet 40 and liquid surface detecting means 41. Since the pipet 40 does not reach the liquid surface, the reagent cannot be sucked correctly. If, for example, the reagent container diameter is 12 mm and the reagent dispensing amount is 10 .mu.l, the liquid surface moving amount is not more than 0.1 mm, and the difference in such a small movement cannot be detected easily.

Apparatus for detecting bubbles in reagent pipetting apparatus


A system to delete a data volume may include storage of a plurality of data pages of the data volume of a data area into a cache, prevention of writing of data pages to the data volume, and designation of each of the plurality of data pages in the cache as modified. The system may also include writing of all data pages in the cache that are designated as modified to a respective location in one or more other data volumes of the data area, and updating, for each of the written data pages, a converter page of the cache to associate the written data page with its respective location in the one or more other data volumes.

A database system may store data across several data volumes of a data area. During operation of the database system, it may occasionally become desirable to delete a data volume from the data area in order to reduce a size of the data area and/or to otherwise reconfigure the data area. Conventional techniques necessitate the database system to enter an offline mode prior to deleting a data volume. Since the database system cannot be read or written in an offline mode, conventional techniques for deleting a data volume are unsuitable for some applications.
Conventional techniques for deleting a data volume pose additional problems if the data volume stores a restart page for the database system. A restart page may include information used to start the database system and reconstruct its underlying structures. Upon start-up, the database system looks for the restart page at a particular location of a particular data volume. The database system will therefore fail to start properly if the data volume including the restart page has been previously deleted.
Systems are therefore desired for deleting a data volume of a database system while the database system remains in an online operational mode. Systems to perform such deletion and to efficiently move and access a restart page of the deleted data volume are further desired.


The invention provides spirally wound easy-open containers which comprise a spirally wound body wall having overlapped edges and which have capabilities and benefits associated with conventional butt jointed containers. The overlapped edges of the body wall define an easy-open seam extending helically between the ends of the container. A temporary adhesive between the overlapped edges of the body wall releasably adheres the overlapped edges of the body wall together and allows for opening of the container along the helical, easy-open seam. The easy-open containers provided according to the invention can be readily manufactured with only slight modifications to the conventional manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the easy-open containers of the invention can provide for material savings in container label construction and can allow for vacuum packaging of food products such as dough.

Composite containers for packaging products under pressure, particularly, refrigerated dough products, constitute a significant commercial consumer product. Typically, the containers are formed of a spirally wound paperboard or boardstock layer; an interior liner which is a laminate including kraft paper, foil and/or polymer layers; and an exterior label. The spirally wound boardstock layer includes an unglued butt joint extending helically from end to end of the can. The exterior label surrounds the boardstock and covers the butt joint thereby preventing the premature opening of the butt joint.
Commercially significant containers of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,433 to Thornhill et al. which is directed to one step easy-open containers including an inner liner having a helical fold positioned opposite the unbonded helical butt joint. When the outer wrapper is removed, the dough and the liner expand outwardly together as the liner fold or pleat begins to unfold. The resultant pressure on the can body causes the butt joint to open. This in turn automatically allows the inner liner to expand further. The liner is automatically opened by the rapidly expanding dough to thereby allow access to the dough in the interior of the container.
The outer label surrounding the butt joint in containers of this type is an important structural component of the container because the outer label bridges the butt joint and maintains it in the closed position. Accordingly, the label must be strong in order to prevent premature opening of the container. Such structural requirements for the label prevent the use of more economical low strength sheet materials for construction of the label.
It is generally recognized that vacuum packaging with easy-open containers of the butt joint type can only be accomplished with difficulty, if at all. Because of the structural design of the composite container, the application of vacuum to the interior of the container often results in partial or complete inward collapsing of the container walls along the butt joint seam. This can result in an unacceptable appearance for the composite container or in unacceptable sealing of the product within the container.
The manufacture of butt jointed easy-open containers is accomplished by a process including the step of spirally winding boardstock about a mandrel. The winding operation must be carried out in a highly precise manner so that edges of the boardstock are in continuous contact, but not overlapped, along the entire length of the mandrel. Boardstock width must also be uniform or there will be gaps between adjacent edges of the boardstock wrapped around the mandrel.
Numerous modifications have been proposed for easy-open spirally wound composite containers. For example, an easy-open container having a spirally wound lap joint is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,975 to Zoeller et al. The overlapping edge of the joint is permanently glued to the underlying ply. A plurality of discontinuous perforations are provided in the overlapping seam so that the overlapping seam, itself, forms a tear strip for opening of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,341 to Martin et al. proposed a spirally wound container having a thin paper base stock wrapped with an inner ply of film adhering to the surface of the base stock to add strength to the composite container. The container was said to include a spiral seam which could be perforated if desired but which was said to be in most cases an overlapped glued seam which would burst when the outer ply was removed and the container was twisted open or banged against a hard edge. The inner ply surrounding the base stock was said to tear with the body ply along the spiral seam when the container was twisted or banged against a hard surface.
Numerous other proposals have been made for modifying and improving easy-open spirally wound containers particularly in view of the consumer preference for these containers and the convenience associated with them. Nevertheless, no substitute easy-open container for dough and similar products has been commercialized having the benefits and capabilities associated with spirally wound butt jointed easy-open containers while overcoming deficiencies associated therewith.

Easy-open container for refrigerated dough products and the like


A dental treatment tray used to provide a desired treatment is injection molded from a composition that includes at least one thermoplastic resin and at least plasticizer. The plasticized thermoplastic resin permits the dental treatment tray to be injection molded even while having a wall thickness less than about 0.015 inch. The plasticizer increases the melt flow index of the thermoplastic resin while in a molten state, which facilitates complete filling of the mold cavity by the thermoplastic resin. The plasticizer also softens the thermoplastic polymer while in a solidified state in order to yield a dental tray that is even more flexible and comfortable for the user to wear.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of shaped, flexible dental trays used to deliver a dental treatment composition to a person's teeth. More particularly, the invention relates to flexible dental trays that can be injection molded from a thermoplastic polymer mixed with a plasticizer.
2. The Relevant Technology
Virtually all people desire white or whiter teeth. To achieve this goal, people have veneers placed over their teeth or have their teeth chemically bleached. A common bleaching method involves the use of a dental tray that is custom-fitted to a person's teeth and that is therefore comfortable to wear. One type of customized tray is made from a stone cast of a person's teeth. Another is customized directly using a person's teeth as a template (e.g., "boil-and-bite" trays). Non-customized trays that approximate the shapes and sizes of a variety of users' dental arches have also been used. A dental bleaching composition is placed into the tray and the tray placed over the person's teeth for a desired period of time.
Another bleaching method involves painting a bleaching composition directly onto a person's teeth. A perceived advantage of paint-on bleaching is that it eliminates the need for a dental tray. The main disadvantage of a paint-on bleaching composition is that it remains directly exposed to the person's saliva and disruptive forces found in a person's mouth. As a result, a significant portion of the bleaching composition does not remain on the teeth where bleaching is desired. Some or all of the composition can dissolve away into the person's saliva and/or be transferred to adjacent oral tissues, potentially irritating soft oral tissues.
Another tooth bleaching method involves placing a flexible bleaching strip over a user's tooth surfaces. Conventional bleaching strips comprise a flexible plastic strip coated with a dental bleaching gel of moderate viscosity and relatively low stickiness on the side of the strip facing the user's teeth. To install the bleaching strip, a portion of the bleaching strip is placed over the front surfaces of the user's teeth, and the remainder is folded around the occlusal edges of the teeth and against a portion of the lingual surfaces. Like paint-on bleaching compositions, this procedure does not require the use of dental trays. Unlike paint-on bleaching compositions, bleaching strips include a plastic barrier that, at least in theory, keeps the dental bleaching gel from diffusing into the user's mouth.
In reality, because of the generally poor adhesion of bleaching strips to the user's teeth, coupled with their generally flimsy nature, it is often difficult for the user to maintain the bleaching strip in its proper position for the recommended time. Even if a user successfully maintains a conventional bleaching strip in its proper position during the recommended bleaching period, the bleaching gel often diffuses into the person's saliva, potentially causing a poor taste in the user's mouth and possibly discomfort to soft oral and throat tissues. The tendency of the bleaching gel to diffuse into the user's mouth can be accelerated through even minimal shifts of the bleaching strip over the user's teeth, with each shift potentially causing bleaching gel that remains adhered to the user's teeth, but not covered by the plastic strip, to be exposed to saliva in the user's mouth. In some cases, the bleaching strip can become so dislodged or mangled that it must be removed by the user and replaced with a fresh bleaching strip to complete the recommended bleaching time. This multiplies the cost and hassle of using conventional bleaching strips.
Ultimately, the main impediment to successful bleaching is the failure of users to complete the prescribed bleaching regimen. If the bleaching apparatus is difficult to install over a person's teeth, requires numerous repetitions to achieve observable results, or is uncomfortable to wear, the user may simply give up and prematurely abort the prescribed bleaching regimen. Thus, even if dental bleaching is possible using a particular bleaching apparatus or method, it is less likely to occur if the inadequacies of the bleaching apparatus or method cause a user to become discouraged before desired results are attained.
The thickness of a dental tray is often an important characteristic in determining the resulting comfort of the tray. Thinner trays provide increased flexibility and conformability. The manufacture of thin-walled trays by vacuum forming a polymer sheet is more expensive and time consuming than injection molding. Whereas injection molding is a viable process for manufacturing thicker-walled trays and mouth guards, it has heretofore not been possible to injection mold trays thinner than about 0.015 inch. As a result, trays having a thickness less than 0.015 inch must still be vacuum formed from an initially flat sheet.
It would be an improvement in the art to provide improved thermoplastic  compositions that permit dental trays having thicknesses less than about 0.015 to be injection molded while having sufficient flexural strength to resist collapse after being demolded. Such an improvement would provide a low cost, high quality dental tray with increased flexibility and conformability, which would be expected to improve or encourage compliance to a treatment regimen by the user.

Dental treatment tray comprising a plasticized resin for improved moldability and conformability


An electrical connector assembly for soldering with a PCB and connecting to a plug includes an insulating housing containing a terminal module and a LED module. The terminal module includes a base containing a plurality of terminals. Each terminal has a body, a contacting portion extended upwardly from one end of the body for mating with the plug, a soldering portion bent rearwards from the other end of the body for soldering with the PCB. The LED module includes a pair of conduction terminals. Each conduction terminal has a post, a contacting portion extended frontward from one end of the post for connecting to a LED element, a soldering portion bent rearwards from the other end of the post for soldering with the PCB. Additionally, the soldering portions of the terminals and the conduction terminals are arranged at same plane for soldering with the PCB by surface mount technology.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particularly to an electrical connector assembly capable of soldering with a print circuit board by surface mount technology.
2. The Related Art
Considering cost and throughput, manual facture is not adopted by conventional manufacturing industries. With rapid development of manufacturing technology, manufacturing factures are adopted by the manufacturing industries. One kind of the manufacturing factures is surface mount technology capable of high precision, high throughput and automatic manufacturing procedure, which is adopted by the manufacturing industries.
A conventional electrical connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,611. The electrical connector includes an insulating body containing a terminal module, a pair of light-emitting diode (LED) modules and a metal shell containing the insulating body. The insulating body has a pair of channels in both sides and a pair of holes under the channels. Each the LED module includes a fixing device and a LED element respectively received in the channels and the holes. Soldering portions of the terminal module and soldering portions of the LED module are perpendicular to a printed circuit board, which are manually inserted into corresponding through holes formed in the printed circuit board. However, the electrical connector engaging with the printed circuit board by manually inserting has low throughput and high human cost.


Computer keyboard systems and methods of determining excessive keystroke force or overpressure are described. A computer keyboard system 10 is illustrated having a keyboard array of keys 14. Individual keys 14 are capable of being reciprocated through a keystroke range which comprises an undepressed position and an actuation position. The keystroke range may also include an overtravel subrange. Individual keys 14 are operatively connected with individual keyswitches 32 which are activated thereby for providing informational signals to a keyboard microprocessor 54, 56. The microprocessor is configured to determine a keyswitch closure duration value and compare that value with a predetermined threshold duration value. If the closure duration value is greater than the predetermined threshold duration value, then an overpressure signal is produced which enables a sensory warning device 50, 52 to warn the keyboard operator that excessive force has been applied.

There is evidence to suggest computer keyboard operators, particularly those that do extensive word processing, who apply key actuation forces far in excess of that required to actuate the keyswitches, are more likely to become fatigued and acquire symptoms of Repetitive Stress Syndrome.
Consequently one of the objectives and advantages of this invention is to provide a low cost computer keyboard system for monitoring actuation forces being applied to the keyboard keys and for notifying the operator when excessive force or "overforce" is being used.
These and other objectives and advantages will become apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description of a preferred embodiments of this invention in conjunction with the drawings.

Computer keyboard systems and methods for determining excessive key stroke force


A visually-distinguishable fiber pair in a shared coating, a method for making uncoated visually-distinguishable fiber, and a fiber-optic system using a visually-distinguishable fiber and a dark fiber in a shared coating are disclosed. To form the visually-distinguishable fiber, a marker is incorporated onto or into uncoated optical fiber. The marker can be applied to the cladding of the fiber, to a buffer layer disposed on the cladding layer, or integrated in a boule from which an optical fiber is drawn. In a further aspect, a marked fiber is paired with an unmarked fiber or a differently-marked fiber creating a visually-distinguishable fiber pair. The distinguishable paired fibers are then coated with plastic.

Conventional optical fiber cables have a multi-layer construction. At the center of an optical fiber cable is a transparent core. Typically made of glass, a single mode optical core has a diameter in the range of about 5-10 microns (.mu.m). Multimode mode cores can be substantially larger. The optical core is surrounded by a concentric cladding, usually glass, that has an outer diameter that is typically about 125 .mu.m. The cladding has a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the core. As a result, light energy is confined to the core region. The cladding, and encompassed optical core, are often referred to as "optical fiber," or "bare optical fiber."
For telecommunication applications, the bare optical fiber is covered by a protective coating. More specifically, the bare optical fiber is typically coated with a relatively soft inner layer, which is then overcoated with a hard external shell. Both of the layers are typically methacrylates characterized by different values of Young's Modulus. Such a dual coating provides a measure of strain relief and reduces the incidence of fiber breakage. The inner layer acts as a soft buffer to minimize microbending, while the outer layer functions as a protective shell. For a 125 micron diameter bare optical fiber, the inner coating layer is typically about 30 to 40 microns radial thickness. The outside diameter of the outer coating layer is about 250 microns.
In unprotected environments, one or more bare optical fibers are carried within a protective cable. The strength, complexity and cost of the cable depends on the environment. For example, an office environment "break out" cable consists of a plastic outer jacket, a layer of loose kevlar fiber for strain relief and padding, and a 900 micron diameter tight polyester buffer in contact with the bare fiber. In simplex cable, which carries a single optical fiber, the optical fiber itself represents only a small fraction of the total cost. Normal duplex cable, which consists of two simplex cables joined by a thin plastic bridge, is double the volume and costs about 75 percent more than simplex cable.
The cost of installing optical fiber can be large compared to the cost of the fiber itself. Therefore, when optical fiber is installed, such as within a building or between buildings, it is common to layer more fiber than is actually required for the intended application. This additional fiber is called dark fiber, because it does not initially carry an optical signal. The dark fiber might never be used. If, however, more lines are required at a later date, the dark fiber can be connected and used. Such an approach is cost effective because it avoids repeating the large expense of fiber installation.
Simplex fiber optic links are made with one fiber for both transmitted and received signals. Duplex fiber optic links, which use a separate fiber for the transmitted and received signals, offer advantages in signal intensity and noise levels. A network installation originally intended for simplex links could later be converted into a duplex network provided sufficient dark fiber is included during the initial installation. An optical fiber installation with more than double the initial fiber link requirements is therefore amenable to such an upgrade. Doubling the fiber count in an installation would, however, represent a significant increase in total cost.
As such, it would be desirable to provide a duplex optical fiber that lowers the cost of a duplex fiber link and reduces the cost associated with providing sufficient dark fiber for upgrading a simplex link to a duplex link.


A gift redemption system may include a gift processing server configured to accept a gift value for a gift product for a gift recipient, and permit selection of a retailer from among retailers for the gift product. The gift processing server may also be configured to associate a gift recipient identifier with the gift recipient, and permit selection of a redeemable gift value from the gift value. The system may also include a retailer server associated with the selected retailer. The system may also include a gift redemption server configured to obtain the redeemable gift value and the gift recipient identifier, and cooperate with retailer server to generate a gift discount identifier for use by the gift recipient at a point-of-sale (POS) of the gift product based upon the redeemable gift value and the gift recipient identifier.

Crowdfunding is the raising of money or funds, typically smaller amounts, from a large number of people, and typically for a common cause or venture. One way of crowdfunding includes the use of the Internet whereby funders may provide funding through a web interface, for example.
A gift registry is a form of list whereby a person lists or provides desired items for others to purchase. The gift registry, which is typically in electronic form, permits others to view the items on the list as well as mark off items that are purchased, and see what others have already purchased.
A form of marketing is a coupon, typically in paper form, and provides a discount toward a product or service. Some coupons may be retailer specific, for example, only redeemable for the discount at a particular retailer, while other coupons may be product specific from a manufacturer and redeemable at any retailer.
A coupon, while typically in paper form, may be in digital form and may be referred to as a digital promotion. A typical coupon is applicable to a given product and has a redeemable value that may vary based upon the quantity of a given item, size of the product in terms of packaging, and/or the price point of the given item, for example. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0073369 to Begum discloses products of a particular brand using a redemption bank, which can be used by the consumer as a credit toward the purchase of one or more products of the particular brand.

System for redeeming a gift value for a gift product at a point-of-sale and related methods