A folds-as-you-eat multi-purpose food-serving apparatus (‘MPFSA’) that is supportable from one end by one hand during eating, and has optional exhibiting means for providing multi-minute close-proximity exposures promoting observer-discernible content and/or user-discernible content, and optionally providing recreational, or display, functionality. The MPFSA is comprised of one or more materials having a pliability which accommodates the bending and unbending of the apparatus a plurality of times in a manner that will not significantly alter the presentation of served food. The MPFSA is also comprised of material(s) having sufficient rigidity to support one or more items of food, having a food-supporting surface which is stiffened by at least one adjacent food-retaining portion which extends upward from an edge thereof, or can be so positioned by a user, to increase the rigidity of, and facilitate the retention of served food on, the apparatus. The food-supporting surface of the apparatus is predisposed to be selectively bent and unbent, by a user, adjacent to an end of a reduced cross-section of at least one food-retaining portion. The food retaining portion(s) has at least one reduced cross-section predisposed to be bent and unbent by a user adjacent to the food-supporting surface reduced cross-section(s). Upper surfaces of the MPFSA provide close proximity viewing as a user is taking, or about to take, a bite out of the served food. MPFSA surfaces are easily viewed by observers proximate to the user, when the user is holding the apparatus or when it is in a resting position.

In the food service industry, including restaurants, cafeterias, cafes, pizzerias, convenience stores, 'Drive Thru', 'Take-Out', or 'Quick-Stop' markets, and the like, it is customary to provide customers with certain food-items served on some kind of plate or tray. Typically, such plates or trays are made out of a paper or plastic material that is preferably rigid enough to support the item(s) of food being served. With certain types of foods it would be advantageous to have plates or trays that, in addition to being rigid enough to support the weight of served food, could also be selectively bent by the customer to improve the ease of eating the served food. To some degree, efforts along these lines have been attempted, but the results have been unsatisfactory.
For the purpose of describing the present invention, the food serving apparatus will be illustrated as a pizza slice plate or tray, however it is to be noted that the utility of the proposed invention is applicable to numerous types of foods, each of which, can be served on trays or plates having similar features and functionality.
Conventionally, a slice of pizza is typically served on a disposable plate or tray. During the eating of the pizza, it is picked up and returned to the same plate, a number of times. If the food is too hot, a customer can easily burn his or her mouth on the food, or the hot pizza ingredients can easily slide off of the pizza slice. Additionally, the repeated handling of such foods can quickly make one's hands or fingers very greasy. If there is an abundance of cheese, sauce, or other ingredients, the pizza can bend from its own weight and tend to come apart, making the eating process a much messier one than is necessary. Many establishments serving pizza provide customers with a stack of napkins to compensate for such problems.
To address such concerns, several food-serving products have been tried. For example, pizza slice-shaped plates and trays have been used. One approach has provided a type of flat pizza tray which is sized approximately to the length, width and shape of a pizza slice intended to be served on the tray. The planar tray is made out of a corrugated cardboard having corrugated flutes that run perpendicular to the length of a pizza slice resting on the tray. At various points along the length of the tray, a reduced cross-section, or score, aligned with the flutes, is formed into the tray to allow the customer to bend a tray in segments. Beginning nearest to the tip of the pizza, the customer bends each segment downward and away from the pizza slice as the pizza is being eaten. While the bending aspect of this approach offers a folding feature, the planar-tray approach has several shortcomings. First, several types of pizza are heavy for their size and the weight of such pizza can easily cause the tray to inadvertently collapse along its length which, either spills the pizza from the tray, or causes pizza ingredients to spill off of the pizza slice. To counter the lack of sufficient rigidity, trays can be made thicker, but the added material (e.g. thicker paper, plastic or corrugated material) adds to the cost of the tray. Another problem with the flat tray approach is that the trays, in order to minimize the amount of paper used, are typically so closely sized to a pizza slice being served on them that it is quite easy for the pizza slice to become misaligned on the flat tray and when the tray is set down. When misalignment occurs, the pizza slice can easily contact surfaces, such as public surfaces, that are unsanitary. Such trays can also be set down on furniture, for example in a customer's home, or on a car seat, and the misaligned pizza can contact such surfaces causing unnecessary stains, or messes. These types of trays, once bent, do not readily regain an unbent, or previously supportive condition, and are therefore not suitable for re-use, for example, in serving a second or third slice of pizza. Also, the planar pizza slice tray approach does not lend itself to a convenient self-containment of pizza slices, for example to fold into the shape of a box suitable for transporting a pizza slice from a pizzeria to another location.
Some food serving trays and plates being offered, have a flat food-supporting member and one or more side rails that extend upward relative to a food-supporting member. Although the design of such trays and plates are effective in keeping one or more food item from sliding off, or from becoming misaligned, none of them offer the means to bend the trays or plates, or segments thereof, away from the served food while eating, unless they substantially alter the appearance and presentation of the served food (for example, folding the food in half on itself). With the latter exception, such trays and plates don't provide a way to maintain tray or plate rigidity until such time when a bending of the food-serving apparatus is desired; or to provide a way to unbend such plates after they've been bent, in a way that returns them to, or near to, their original food-supporting condition; or, cannot readily regain an unbent shape to accommodate re-use of the tray or plate for second or subsequent servings. In other words, once such trays or plates are bent by a user, they either significantly and irreversibly alter the appearance of the food (collapsing it upon itself), or lose their original rigidity and thus the ability to support the served food properly thereafter.
More typically, a slice of pizza is served on a plate that is not optimized for the size and shape, or weight of the pizza, or plates that are too thin tend to collapse under the weight and size of the pizza, and many napkins are used along with such plate as a user tries to control the pizza slice and eat the pizza in a two-handed operation. In such cases, much more paper will be used than is necessary. Similarly, more paper use is required when plates that are too flimsy need to be stacked on one another to provide enough rigidity to support the food being served.
None of the status quo approaches offer the means to selectively bend the trays or plates, or segments thereof, away from the served food while eating in a manner that preserves the presentation of the served food and maintains tray or plate rigidity until such time when a bending of the food-serving apparatus is desired. Such plates or trays still require a user to lift the pizza out of the food serving apparatus a number of times in order to eat the food.
A apparatus similar in appearance to the present invention is comprised of a plurality of materials and requires a user to physically collapse the pizza upon itself, along its length, such that the pizza is fully enclosed within the food serving apparatus and the pizza is revealed as segments of the plate are torn away from the encased folded food, to expose portions thereof that can be bitten. This approach completely alters the normal appearance and presentation of the food and leaves the user, when the slice of pizza has been consumed, with a plate that has literally been torn to pieces, making cleanup more difficult and forfeiting any convenient option to re-use the plate. The numerous plate pieces are quite likely to be coated with pizza sauce and/or other pizza ingredients and each will need to be picked up by the user in order to not pose a litter problem. If the user eats several slices of pizza, then the problems of the remaining plate pieces multiplies.
Consequently, there is a need for improved food-serving apparatus that address the shortcomings of the status quo, that provide a means to eat certain foods: with a one-handed ease of use; with a portability or transportability, or drive-as-you-eat convenience; similar to that offered with hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, tacos, and the like.
Furthermore, food-serving apparatus to date, have not proved optimal in their application as, or conversion into, one or more types of recreational apparatus, or one or more types of exhibiting or display means. Typically such paper or plastic goods are simply thrown away. Food-serving goods that do have printed content or indicia, are not placed on the goods in a manner where they are easily read or discerned as a user is eating, or about to eat, a food item. While the lid of a beverage can or cup may have some type of user readable or discernable content, there are other limitations to the type of exposure that can occur with a beverage serving apparatus. Firstly, a beverage is typically imbibed very intermittently and for very short periods at a time. Secondly, the brief exposure to a lid or can top can be so close to one's eyes that it is often, or can easily be, completely out of focus.
Coffee cup sleeves have become a popular advertising food-service medium, nonetheless, their ad content is not in a user's field of view when the user is drinking, and only a fraction of the sleeve's circumference is viewable to the user at any given time, including limited portions thereof that in themselves, may not make any sense to the user. By contrast, the present invention, offers an improved food-service advertising medium offering increased discernible-content exposure times relative to those offered by;                a.) status quo food-serving apparatus,        b.) status quo beverage-serving apparatus, and        c.) advertising sleeves which slideably fit on beverage-serving apparatus such as sleeves for beverage cans and cups or coffee cups.
In the latter two cases ("b" and "c"), increases in discernible-content exposure times; increases in sustained, close-proximity exposure times; and, increases in content exposure times during hand-to-mouth movements; are achieved by MPFSA relative to beverage-serving apparatus and the advertising sleeves, and unlike the needs pertaining to sleeve ad-use accounting, the MPFSA has no requirement for a substantial number of personnel needed to constantly travel among thousands of food-service venues to verify and ensure that the paid-for ads on the sleeves are actually being used, i.e. slid onto the cups serving beverages. It is noted herein, that the discernible-content of the MPFSA is an integral part of the apparatus and therefore requires no ensuring or verification of use (a food-service apparatus supplier simply verifies that the number of MPFSA ordered and/or shipped for a given time and given venue, or chain of venues, is proportionate to a number units typically needed for such a period and number of venues). It is also noted that during the process of eating one or more MPFSA-served food-items, much of the discernible content appearing on a MPFSA can easily remain in the field of view of the user, and can be inclusive enough in content and context to have coherence and make sense to the user. In contrast, a coffee sleeve rarely has a message that is completely coherent from all surrounding viewpoints.
In contrast to "status quo food-serving apparatus" ("a" above), the present invention, offers a means for food-service apparatus/paper suppliers to substantially increase, what has historically been low, commodity types of profit margins for food-service paper goods and the like, by supplementing food-serving apparatus sales with significant advertising revenues.
By contrast, eating one or more items of food is a much slower process than drinking, especially if the food is fairly lightweight and can easily be held by one of the user's hands, and therefore an opportunity to offer a new type of food-serving apparatus having optional exhibiting means on one or more visible surface of the apparatus is practicable for displaying user readable or user-discernable content thereon which is easily seen before, during and after the user eats the served food. For example, one slice of pizza, depending on the size, takes approximately five to ten minutes to eat. If the user has a comfortable, light-weight, compact apparatus to support the pizza slice, it is very likely that the apparatus will be held in close proximity to the user's field of view during much of the time needed to eat the slice. Furthermore, such sustained exposure(s) to the content(s) can be amplified when a user eats food which uncovers more viewable content(s) on the apparatus food-supporting surface and/or bends segments of that surface in a manner that such content, or content on the bottom of such segments, become easily viewed by those in close proximity to the user.
Thus there is a need for improved food-serving apparatus that address the deficiencies of the status quo. The purpose of the present invention is to provide improved food-serving apparatus which eliminate the shortcomings detailed above and that offer a number of distinct advantages. Therefore several objects of the present invention can be put into practice, which will provide:
a view-as-you-eat and/or folds-as-you-eat multi-purpose food-serving apparatus ('MPFSA') that provides a cleaner way of eating food, more specifically, one not requiring a user to pick up one or more food-items from a plate or tray during an eating process, or requiring the user to arrange and/or re-arrange the food-item(s) with his or her fingers during the eating process. Thus a primary of object of the invention is to provide a food-serving apparatus that minimizes, or eliminates, the contacting of a user's fingers with food-item(s), particularly food items such as a pizza slice which normally requires numerous cycles of lifting and setting down the pizza in a plate or tray during the process of eating one or more slices of pizza, which can be very hazardous if one is attempting to do this while driving a vehicle.
MPFSA that provide a similar one-handed ease-of-handling, method of eating, portability, transportability and drive-as-you-eat convenience usually associated with foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, tacos, and the like; to served food-items which historically have not been associated with such advantages, and typically require two-handed eating, such as pizza slices and an assortment of other food-items described in this specification.
MPFSA that provide a means for paper suppliers to substantially increase what has historically been commodity types of margins by combining or supplementing food-serving apparatus sales with advertising revenues.
MPFSA that are employable as, or convertible into, one or more type of: recreational apparatus; toy; exhibiting means; or display means.
MPFSA that increase food sanitation particularly in public places.
MPFSA that improve the customer experience and customer service of those using food-serving apparatus.
MPFSA that reduce the likelihood of stains.
MPFSA providing an improved food-service advertising medium providing increases in sustained discernible-content exposure time and a closer proximity to such exposures, relative to status quo food-serving apparatus, beverage-serving apparatus, and beverage cup or can sleeve advertising media. And in the latter case, no requirement of substantial personnel to constantly travel among thousands of food-service venues in order to ensure that paid ads on the sleeves are actually being slid onto cups.
MPFSA that are employable as, or convertible into, one or more type of recreational apparatus and indicia/viewable content exhibiting means.
MPFSA that provides a one-handed eating, portability, or transportability, or drive-as-you-eat, experience and convenience similar to that of a sandwich, or hamburger, or hot dog, or taco, and the like, and formerly not available to food-items generally eaten with two hands such as a pizza slice, and making practicable the serving of food-items of the latter type to motorists from take-out, or 'Drive-Thru', windows, or from other establishments such as convenience stores, gas station markets, 'Quick-Stop' stores, and the like, designed to serve the needs of motorists on the go.
MPFSA providing improved food-serving apparatus shaping to facilitate rapid shaping of MPFSA as needed to quickly set them down in an unbent condition, or quickly resume an eating process by returning the apparatus to a former bent condition. An apparatus rigidity and selective pliability provides for repeated bendings and for returning the apparatus to a near original unbent condition by recreasing the apparatus such that at least one food-retaining portion(s) is substantially returned to its original upward extending position.
multi-purpose serving trays or plates having sufficient rigidity to serve and support food items such as pizza and the like, such that a user can readily hold the apparatus in one hand while eating or in between bites, and/or while holding a drink, or napkin, or phone, or other object in the other hand, including doing so while seated, driving a vehicle, or while walking.
multi-purpose serving trays or plates having sufficient rigidity to serve and support one or more items of food until a time when a user can selectively bend one or more segment(s) of a food-serving apparatus away from the served food to facilitate the eating of the food and an apparatus that conveniently and easily regains its shape when placed in a resting position on a flat surface, and can regain its original serving shape with sufficient rigidity to support the served food or subsequent serving of additional food item(s).
multi-purpose serving trays or plates having sufficient rigidity to serve and support one or more items of food until a user selectively bends the combination of one or more tray or plate bendable cross-sections and one or more tray or plate foldable joints to bend segment(s) of a food-serving apparatus away from the served food to facilitate the eating of the food.
multi-purpose serving trays or plates having sufficient rigidity to serve as a self-standing display or self-supporting display.
multi-purpose food-serving trays or plates offering improved protection from unsanitary public or domestic surfaces when the trays or plates are set down on such surfaces.
multi-purpose food-serving trays or plates that can be easily boxed, or enclosed within a lid and subsequently used, when the lid is opened or separated, as a tray or plate.
multi-purpose economical food serving apparatus having a price similar to other apparatus designed to serve the same food but requiring substantially less material due to the shaping of the tray to the shape of the food item expected, or designed, to be served thereon.
multi-purpose economical food serving apparatus having a locking lid, or clamshell configuration wherein one or more napkins are also included with the apparatus package, or wherein a multi-purpose food-serving apparatus is easily stacked for food-service operations.
These and other objects will be elaborated upon in the detailed descriptions below.


A network management system for a network, in which server object operates on a server realizing function of network management and client object corresponding to the server object operates on a client, has a lock obtaining portion which locks corresponding server object when a condition of one of the server objects corresponding to one client object is varied associating with operation for the one client object, locks other server objects associated with the one of server objects; and notifies locked condition to all of client objects corresponding to locked server object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a network management system and a network management method. More particularly, the invention relates to a network management system and a network management method which can realize multi-operator without making process complicate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional network management system, in order to realize multi-operator for performing management operation of the network simultaneously and with maintaining matching ability of data, transaction processing is employed. When some object is operated and used by a transaction process, the object is operated after locking the object.
Namely, when the locked object is associated with other object, all of the associated objects have to be locked from a client side to make the process complicate. On the other hand, whether the object can be locked or not can be judged only after attempting of locking.
Here, the transaction processing is a technology for guarantee matching of the transaction in distributed computing environment and is basically consisted of two phases.
At first, preparation for updating (normally, locking of resource to be an object for updating in a first phase, and updating process is actually performed for the object locked at the first phase in a second phase. By these two phases, matching of data included in the transaction under distributed computing environment can be maintained.
In the conventional network management system set forth above, it becomes necessary to directly perform locking for the object to be operated from the client. For example, a certain object xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d is to be operated by locking the object xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d, if the object xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d is in relationship with other object xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d to influence with each other, the object xe2x80x9cB xe2x80x9d has to be locked. Otherwise, other operator may operate the object xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d to cause unmatching of data.
In order to avoid this, the client has to preliminarily recognize relationship of all of the objects or, in the alternative, the client has to directly lock all of the related objects based on judgment upon operating the object. Thus, process becomes complicate.
On the other hand, in the transaction process, locking condition of the object cannot be detected preliminarily and can be detected only after initiation of the process. Therefore, the operator is forced to perform useless operation.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a network management system which can realize multi-operator without causing useless operation of the operator and making the process complicate.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a network management system which will not cause discrepancy or unmatching of data without requiring a plurality of operators to pay attention for relationship of objects to be managed on a display screen.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a network management system which can make judgement whether the operator may operate the object on the display screen before actual operation.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a network management system which does not cause deadlock even when timeout is caused in a condition where the object to be managed is locked.
According to the first aspect of the invention, a network management system for a network, in which server object operates on a server realizing function of network management and client object corresponding to the server object operates on a client, wherein the server comprises
means for locking corresponding server object when a condition of one of the server objects corresponding to one client object is varied associating with operation for the one client object,
means for locking other server objects associated with he one of server objects, and
means for notifying locked condition to all of client objects corresponding to locked server object.
In the preferred construction, the client comprises means for varying displacement condition of a display screen of the client object to show locked condition on the basis of notice of locked condition to the client object.
In another preferred construction, the client comprises means for restricting external operation for the client object when display condition of the client object is varied.
In another preferred construction, the server comprises storage means for preliminarily storing information of other server objects associated with one of server objects with correspondence to the one of server objects.
In another preferred construction, the server comprises means for generating key information specifying the server object upon locking of the server object, and storage means for storing the key information with correspondence to the server object, management of locking condition for the server object and management of variation of display condition of the client object being managed on the basis of the content of storage means.
In another preferred construction, the server comprises timer means for detecting whether a given period is elapsed after locking of the server object, and means for releasing locked condition of all of the server object upon detection of elapsing of the given period by the timer means.
In another preferred construction, the client comprises timer means for measuring a lock continuation period of the server object, and means for calling updating process of lock condition when a lock continuation period of the timer elapses the given period, and
the server comprises means for updating lock condition of the server object depending upon call from the client.
In another preferred construction, the server comprises means for generating a key information specifying the server object upon locking of the server object, storage means for storing the key information corresponding to the server object, and means for updating lock condition of the server object depending upon call from the client, and
the client comprises key storage means for storing key information from the server, timer means for measuring a lock continuing period of the server object, and means for calling updating process of lock condition by reading out the key information from the key storage means when the lock continuing period of the timer elapses the given period,
the lock updating means of the server updating locking of the server object corresponding to the key information by calling from the client.
In another preferred construction, the server comprises means for generating a key information specifying the server object upon locking of the server object, storage means for storing the key information corresponding to the server object, and means for updating lock condition of the server object depending upon call from the client, and
the client comprises key storage means for storing key information from the server, timer means for measuring a lock continuing period of the server object, and means for calling updating process of lock condition by reading out the key information from the key storage means when the lock continuing period of the timer elapses the given period,
the lock releasing means of the server performs lock releasing of the server object in the case where key information from the client is proper, and erases the key information.
According to the second aspect of the invention, a network management system for a network, in which server object operates on a server realizing function of network management and client object corresponding to the server object operates on a client, wherein the server comprises
means for excluding access from other client by locking the server object on the server corresponding to the client object to be operated on the client, and
means for reflecting exclusive condition of the server object in real-time.
According to the third aspect of the invention, a management method in a network management system for a network, in which server object operates on a server realizing function of network management and client object corresponding to the server object operates on a client, comprising the steps of:
the server locking corresponding server object when a condition of one of the server objects corresponding to one client object is varied associating with operation for the one client object;
locking other server objects associated with the one of server objects; and
notifying locked condition to all of client objects corresponding to locked server object.
In the preferred construction, the client varies displacement condition of a display screen of the client object to show locked condition on the basis of notice of locked condition to the client object.
In another preferred construction, the client restricts external operation for the client object when display condition of the client object is varied.
In another preferred construction, the server generates a key information specifying the server object upon locking of the server object, stores the key information corresponding to the server object, and management of locking condition for the server object and management of variation of display condition of the client object are managed on the basis of the content of storage means.
In another preferred construction, the server detects whether a given period is elapsed after locking of the server object, and releases locked condition of all of the server object upon detection of elapsing of the given period by the timer means.
In another preferred construction, the client measures a lock continuation period of the server object, and calls updating process of lock condition when a lock continuation period of the timer elapses the given period, and
the server updates lock condition of the server object depending upon call from the client.
In another preferred construction, the server generates a key information specifying the server object upon locking of the server object, stores the key information corresponding to the server object, and updates lock condition of the server object depending upon call from the client, and
the client stores key information from the server, measures a lock continuing period of the server object, and calls updating process of lock condition by reading out the key information from the key storage means when the lock continuing period of the timer elapses the given period.
In another preferred construction, the server generates a key information specifying the server object upon locking of the server object, stores the key information corresponding to the server object, and updates lock condition of the server object depending upon call from the client, and
the client stores key information from the server, calls lock releasing process of the server by identifying the server object by the key information, and erases the key information,
when the key information from the client is proper, lock releasing of the server object is performed and the key information is erased.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a management method in a network management system for a network, in which server object operators on a server realizing function of network management and client object corresponding to the server object operates on a client, comprising the steps of
establishing a manager as server/client server,
excluding access from other client by locking the server object on the server corresponding to the client object to be operated on the client, and
reflecting exclusive condition of the server object in real-time.
According to another aspect of the invention, a computer readable memory storing a management program active in a network management system for a network, in which server object operates on a server realizing function of network management and client object corresponding to the server object operates on a client, the management program comprising the steps of
in the server locking corresponding server object when a condition of one of the server objects corresponding to one client object is varied associating with operation for the one client object,
locking other server objects associated with the one of server objects, and
notifying locked condition to all of client objects corresponding to locked server object.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description given herebelow.

Multi-operator network management system and method using transaction processing


Active or functional additives are embedded into surfaces of host materials for use as components in a variety of electronic or optoelectronic devices, including solar devices, smart windows, displays, and so forth. Resulting surface-embedded device components provide improved performance, as well as cost benefits arising from their compositions and manufacturing processes.

Functionalizing structures by incorporation of active or functional particles is an area of interest to a number of fields. One conventional technique involves bulk incorporation, resulting in particles being dispersed throughout a hulk of a base material. Bulk incorporation suffers from various deficiencies, including non-uniform mixing and agglomeration of particles within a base material and adverse impact on the processability of the base material. Bulk incorporation is also inefficient if the goal is to expose particles at the surface, since a number of particles remain dispersed within an interior of the base material. Another conventional technique involves coating processes. Coating processes also suffer from various deficiencies, including non-uniform mixing and agglomeration of particles within a coating material, poor adhesion, delamination, and high roughness.
It is against this background that a need arose to develop the surface-embedded device components and related manufacturing methods described herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device components with surface-embedded additives and related manufacturing methods


A releasably coupleable electrical connector assembly generally comprising first and second, mating, tubular connectors. The first tubular connector includes a generally square, elongated, tubular body portion and a locking tab catch portion. An inner surface of the body portion of the first tubular connector includes a protruding shoulder portion which is operable to engage with a shoulder portion of an elongated, electrical terminal pin to thereby hold the terminal pin captively and securely within the body portion after the terminal pin has been inserted therein. The second tubular connector includes a generally square, elongated tubular body portion and a planar, elongated tongue-like element having a tab element protruding therefrom. The body portion of the second tubular connector further includes an internal locking shoulder portion for lockably engaging with a mating electrical terminal after the terminal pin is inserted within the body portion of the second tubular connector, to thereby captively and securely hold the mating electrical terminal therewithin. The tubular connectors are coupled together by slidably inserting the body portion of the second tubular connector within the body portion of the first tubular connector. This causes the electrical terminal pin to be inserted within the mating electrical terminal, and the tab element of the planar, elongated tongue portion to be releasably, lockably engaged with the locking tab catch portion of the first tubular connector. Uncoupling is accomplished by simply lifting up on the locking tab catch portion and slidably removing the second tubular connector from the first tubular connector.

Technical Field
This invention relates to electrical connector assemblies, and more particularly to a releasably coupled electrical connector assembly having first and second independent electrical connectors and locking tab and catch portions to enable the two independent connectors to be releasably, securely coupled together in mating electrical and mechanical engagement.


Integrated circuit memory devices having improved burst mode operation include an array of memory cells arranged as a plurality of normal rows of memory cells electrically coupled to respective normal section word lines (SWL) and a plurality of redundant rows of memory cells electrically coupled to respective redundant section word lines (RSWL). A first normal section row decoder is also provided. The first normal section row decoder has first inputs electrically coupled to a plurality of burst address selection lines (Ci, Cj, Ck and Cl), a second input electrically coupled to a normal main word line (MWL) and outputs electrically coupled to a plurality of the normal section word lines (SWL1-4). A first redundancy section row decoder is also preferably provided. The first redundancy section row decoder has first inputs electrically coupled to the plurality of burst address selection lines, a second input electrically coupled to a redundant main word line (RMWL) and outputs electrically coupled to a plurality of the redundant section word lines (RSWL1-4). Normal main row decoder circuitry is also provided and is responsive to a most significant portion of a row address. When the appropriate portion of a predetermined row address is provided, the main row decoder circuitry drives the corresponding normal main word line. Moreover, redundant main row decoder circuitry is provided and is responsive to the most significant portion of the row address. When the appropriate portion of a predetermined row address is provided, the redundant main row decoder circuitry drives the corresponding redundant main word line.

Semiconductor memory devices, such as static random access memory (RAM) devices, commonly use burst mode operation to raise the efficiency of data access. During burst mode operation, internal addresses are sequentially generated upon receipt of an external address. During data reading or writing operations, rows of memory cells are then selected by the internal addresses. Thus, when selecting different rows of memory cells, a controller, such as a microprocessor, does not need to supply all the addresses in sequence. Instead, the controller may supply specific addresses for burst mode operation only once as the external addresses. To provide burst mode operation, a counter internal to the memory device sequentially generates a plurality of internal addresses based on a received external address. For example, static RAMs may receive 2 specific addresses and then generate 4 internal addresses using the counter.
Typically, the external addresses applied to a volatile semiconductor memory device having a typical redundancy scheme are provided to an address buffer and then to a normal decoder for normal operation and to a redundancy decoder for redundancy operation. The addresses generated by the address buffer are commonly controlled by an internal clock synchronized with an external clock.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional semiconductor memory device. If external addresses are applied to an address buffer 10, the external addresses may be separated into an address signal for normal operation and an address signal for redundancy operation by an address control clock which is the internal clock. The separated signals are respectively supplied to a normal decoder 14 and a redundancy decoder 12. The normal decoder 14 enables one selected word line among a plurality of normal word lines 16 within a memory cell array 18. The redundancy decoder 12 further receives a burst address and enables one selected word line among a plurality of redundancy word lines 20 within the memory cell array 18.
FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of the redundancy decoder 12 shown in FIG. 1. The redundancy decoder 12 includes master fuses MF, a plurality of internal fuses F, driving transistors N1-N3, N5, P1 and P2, decoding transistors N6 and N7, an output inverter INV and a decoding output NAND gate NAN1. To replace a normal word line connected to a defective cell with a redundancy word line, the redundancy decoder 12 receives external addresses A1-A5 and burst addresses C1 and C2 from a redundancy repair circuit therein (not shown). A redundancy word line enable signal RWL is generated at an output terminal of the NAND gate NAN1 (depending on whether the internal fuses F are cut to match the applied address {A1-A5, C1-C2}). This redundancy word line enable signal RWL enables a respective redundancy word line. Based on the decoding circuits of FIGS. 1-2, the address control clock K2 cannot be used in an internal circuit of the redundancy decoder 12, but is applied directly to the address buffer 10 situated at the front of the redundancy decoder 12. This is because there are two kinds of addresses applied to the redundancy decoder of FIG. 2. One address is the external address A1-A5 which is a normal address, and the other address is the burst address C1 and C2. However, when applying these separate addresses to the decoder 12 of FIG. 2, a normal address control clock may not be used together with a burst address control clock because the normal address control clock and the burst address control clock have opposite transitions. To address this limitation, the burst address control circuit of FIG. 3 is installed at the front of the redundancy decoder 12.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a burst address control circuit for receiving address control clocks K1 and K2 and input burst signals RN1, RN2, RC1 and RC2 and generating a controlled burst address C1, C2. The burst address control circuit includes pass gates NA1-NA4 (containing inverters IN1-IN4) and inverters I10, I11, I20 and I21. If the semiconductor memory device is set in a normal mode of operation, an address controlled by the address control clock K2 is generated. Here, the least significant address bits C1 and C2 are set to RN1 and RN2 during the normal mode of operation. In a burst mode, a burst address controlled by the address control clock K1 is generated. Thus, during burst mode, C1 and C2 are set to RC1 and RC2. Here, the clocks K1 and K2 are active during alternating time intervals.
Therefore, in the conventional redundancy decoding scheme, the address control clock cannot be used in the interior of the redundancy decoder and so the burst address control circuit is additionally installed. Further, the burst address is generated by the burst address control circuit before being applied to the redundancy decoder. Therefore, the speed at which the redundancy word line can be enabled may be reduced.

Integrated circuit memory devices having main and section row decoders for providing improved burst mode operation


The invention provides improved methods of synthesizing oltipraz, which result in higher overall yield and better purity of the desired product.

Oltipraz, 4-methyl-5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, depicted in Formula I, below, was originally developed as an anti-schistosomal drug that eliminates parasitic worms. Later, it was discovered that oltipraz is a chemopreventive agent. The drug also has other known and unknown uses in the medical field.

Various syntheses of oltipraz are known in the art. However, each suffers from various disadvantages, such as low overall yield, long reaction times, risk of explosion due to the use of hydride anion, and severe environmental contamination from required large excesses of P2S5.
There exists a need for a fast, safe method of synthesizing oltipraz in high overall yield without using large excesses of P2S5.


A display banner having connectable pole sections, some of which are flexible, insertable into a sleeve on a sheet shaped like a half-heart such that, when the assembled pole sections are so inserted, the pole sections form a J-shape or fish-hook shape and retain the sheet taut to the assembled pole. An anchor assembly receives the assembled display banner into a rotatable stem thereby permitting the display banner to rotate freely.

This present invention relates to an improvement in display flags and display banners, and more particularly to such flags and banners so configured to retain a specific one-half heart shape or "fish-hook" shape, be easily secured to an external ground surface, and rotate or swivel while secured to the external ground surface to clearly display the message of the flag/banner a full 360°.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A broadcasting device and a receiver excellent in responsiveness are obtainable through transmitting program information, organized by condition and including a program satisfying a search condition, from a broadcasting station.

The digital broadcasting provides clients with a commercial service which allows a broadcasting device to transmit the information about editing programs to be on-aired as EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data multiplexed on the broadcast wave, and the service also allows a receiver to receive the EPG data to be used in the receiver. Use of this EPG data allows displaying programs scheduled on-air on a TV screen as a program timetable, or searching through a number of programs for ones that meet specific conditions before displaying the ones hit by the search. For instance, "display only movie programs" is established as a specific condition, then movie programs are extracted and displayed on a TV screen.
The EPG data is formed of an identifier and an attribute of respective programs. The program identifier is the information for identifying a program, and is assigned uniquely to each program. The program attribute is the information indicating characteristics and content of the program, and includes a title, an on-air start time, a genre, the cast, or a detailed description of the program.
The program search function is this: viewer's designation of a program attribute as a search key prompts the program search function to search through the organized programs for ones satisfying the search key, and then to show the satisfying programs to the viewer. For instance, this function allows searching through the weekly programs for movie programs only, or for the programs where the president of the US appears.
FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating structures of a conventional broadcasting device and its receiver. In FIG. 7, broadcasting device 14 includes program material memory 10 storing numerous materials of the programs scheduled on-air, and program information memory 11 storing numerous program information. Each one of the program information is formed of a program identifier and a program attribute. The program attribute includes a title, an on-air start time, a genre and so on. Multiplexer 13 multiplexes the data stored in memories 10 and 11 on the broadcast wave to be transmitted.
Receiver 29 includes decoder 21 which extracts the data multiplexed on the broadcast wave, and program data storage 23 stores program data extracted from the broadcast wave. Input section 24 receives input operation done by a user. Using a search condition entered through input section 24 as a search key, search section 25 searches storage 23 for a program satisfying the search key, and then extracts and outputs the satisfying program. Search result memory 26 stores the searched (satisfying) program output from search section 25. Output section 28 outputs the searched program and displays it to the viewer.
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating operation of the conventional receiver. Every program sent from the broadcasting device undergoes the search one by one (S801). To be more specific, parameter "i" is incremented sequentially, thereby searching program "i". Then only the program satisfying the specific conditions is extracted (S802). The data of the program is stored in search result memory 26 (S803). The search ends after every program has undergone the search (S804). This related art is disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H09-83888.
Conventionally, the program search has been implemented by a processor placed in the receiver. In general, the memory and the processor in the receiver are not so sophisticated, so that several minutes are needed sometime for searching through all the programs for the program satisfying a specific condition. It is slow enough for a user to get a search result.

Broadcasting device selecting program information based on search conditions


In an apparatus and a method for reproducing recorded signal related to this invention, a dynamic tracking head having two gaps, which deviate from each other traces a single track. Optimum dynamic tracking control is performed using track ID and a differential between envelope signals, which is a signal reproduced from the two gaps, and DC wobbling error. Thus, it controls the position of a reproducing head to a target track position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reproducing recorded signal. More specifically, it relates to an apparatus and a method for reproducing recorded signal applicable to a video tape recorder that is capable of reproducing a signal recorded in a magnetic tape.
2. Description of Related Art
A narrow track system has been developed as a means for improving recording density in an apparatus for reproducing recorded signal, for example, a video tape recorder capable of reproducing a signal recorded in a magnetic tape. If this narrow track system has been developed, tracking for tracing a recorded track with the reproducing head accurately needs to be carried out rapidly at a high precision. For this purpose, there are provided a pair of reproducing heads for reproducing two tracks recorded at the same time simultaneously, a wobbling means for wobbling the reproducing head at a predetermined amplitude, a reproduction reference envelope signal extracting means for extracting an envelope signal of a reproduction reference signal outputted from the reproduction head and a wobbling component extracting means for extracting a wobbling component from the reproduction reference envelope signal. Consequently, an amount of off-track (quantity of deviation of a traced position from a target track) of a reproducing head can be detected rapidly at a high precision without using the deviation amount of the reproducing head.
If the amount of off track and wobbling component turn into the characteristic indicated in FIG. 1 when tracing a target track with the reproducing head by extracting the wobbling component and performing a control to eliminate a wobbling error, the target track cannot be traced properly even if the trace position of the reproducing head is controlled so as to eliminate the wobbling error. For example, unless the amount of off track is within a region TEW as shown in FIG. 1, the reproducing head is controlled to be located at an off-track amount PD1 or off-track amount PD2 so that a pseudo lock is generated. Consequently, the reproducing head cannot be controlled to the target track position in which the amount of off track is "0".
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for reproducing recorded signal wherein controlling the position of the reproducing head to a target track position is allowed without generating the pseudo lock.

Apparatus and method for reproducing recorded signal


The present invention provides a device and a method for cylinder sensing in an internal combustion engine. The device according to the invention has a crankshaft sensor device for detecting a crank angle and a predetermined crankshaft position, and outputting corresponding crankshaft signals; an ignition device for igniting the respective cylinder of the internal combustion engine by generating corresponding high-voltage pulses for corresponding control signals, and a control device for receiving the crankshaft signals and outputting the control signals to the ignition device as a function of at least the crankshaft signals, with the control device being so designed that in a cylinder sensing phase, while receiving a crankshaft signal corresponding to a predetermined crankshaft position, it outputs a control signal to generate a high-voltage pulse with a predetermined amplitude that can be reached in at least one specific cylinder; an ignition detection device for determining whether and/or at what ignition voltage the specific cylinder was ignited by the high-voltage pulse and outputting a corresponding ignition detection signal; and a cylinder sensing device for determining whether the specific cylinder is in the predetermined crankshaft position in its power stroke, based on at least the ignition acquisition signal.

The present invention relates to a device and a method for cylinder sensing in an internal combustion engine (also referred to hereinafter as a motor).
In modern motor vehicles, motor management, i.e. control and sensing as well as monitoring of the essential features of the motor, is usually performed by using a control device with a computer.
In particular, ignition and fuel injection must be controlled jointly and adjusted to one another, with the respective operating state of the motor being determined precisely and taken into account in calculating the ignition timing and fuel metering.
An important item of information required by the computer to control ignition and fuel injection involves the position of the crankshaft. Usually a crankshaft sensor is provided to detect the crankshaft position. This crankshaft sensor is for example an inductive sensor that outputs a signal representing the rpm as well as a signal representing at least one selected crankshaft position. As a rule, the selected crankshaft position is top dead center (TDC) for one or more cylinders.
In ignition systems equipped with static high voltage distribution that use individual ignition coils, the computer requires additional information about the position of the camshaft, so that the ignition coil of the cylinder which is at or in the vicinity of TDC in the power stroke can be controlled. Otherwise the ignition coil of the cylinder that is in or in the vicinity of TDC in the exhaust stroke may be undesirably controlled, and caused to fire.
The position of the camshaft is usually detected using a camshaft sensor that delivers a signal when the camshaft is in a position in which a certain cylinder is at TDC in its power stroke for example. This known method is also termed cylinder 1 detection.
By linking the signals from the crankshaft sensor and the camshaft sensor, the ignition times and injection times of all the cylinders can be calculated unambiguously by the computer.
The method according to the prior art mentioned above has the disadvantage that two expensive sensors and correspondingly expensive wiring are required.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for cylinder sensing in an internal combustion engine without requiring an additional camshaft sensor.
This object is achieved by a device for cylinder sensing in an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft sensor device to detect a crank angle and a predetermined crankshaft position and to output corresponding crankshaft signals; an ignition device for igniting the respective cylinders of the internal combustion engine by generating corresponding high voltage pulses in response to appropriate control signals; and a control device for receiving the crankshaft signals and outputting the control signals to the ignition device as a function of at least the crankshaft signals. The control device is designed such that, while receiving a crankshaft signal corresponding to a predetermined crankshaft position during a cylinder sensing phase, it outputs a control signal to generate a high-voltage pulse with a predetermined amplitude that can be reached in at least one specific cylinder; an ignition detection device to detect whether and/or at which ignition voltage the specific cylinder has been ignited by the high-voltage pulse, and output a corresponding ignition detection signal; and a cylinder sensing device to determine whether the specific cylinder in the predetermined crankshaft position is in its power stroke, based on at least the ignition detection signal.
This object as achieved by a method for cylinder sensing in an internal combustion engine with the following steps: detecting the crank angle and a predetermined crankshaft position and outputing corresponding crankshaft signals; generate a high-voltage pulse with a predetermined amplitude that can be reached in at least one specific cylinder when a predetermined crankshaft position is detected during a cylinder sensing phase; detecting whether and/or at what ignition voltage the specific cylinder has been ignited by the high-voltage pulse and output a corresponding ignition detection signal; and determining whether the specific cylinder is in the predetermined crankshaft position in its power stroke, based on at least the ignition detection signal.
The principle of the present invention is based on the fact that the ignition voltage at a predetermined crankshaft position, which is at or in the vicinity of TDC in the cylinder in question, depends on, among other things, the pressure prevailing in the cylinder. Thus the ignition voltage at 1 bar is typically 5 kV, while at approximately 5-7 bar it is typically about 13-20 kV. These pressures and ignition voltages can become established in two different cylinders of a motor when one cylinder is at or in the vicinity of TDC in its exhaust stroke (valves open) and the other cylinder is at or in the vicinity of TDC in its power stroke (valves closed).
In addition, by detecting the different ignition voltages, a determination can be made as to which of the cylinders is in the power stroke, so that the ignition sequence can be determined without requiring a conventional camshaft sensor.
For purposes of detection, in particular there is the first possibility that the high-voltage pulse supplied during the cylinder sensing phase is a normal high-voltage pulse, in other words, a high-voltage pulse whose amplitude can reach a typical value of approximately 13 kV required for ignition during the power stroke. In this case, the actual ignition voltage is detected and the result evaluated for cylinder sensing.
Secondly, the high-voltage pulse supplied during the cylinder sensing phase can be a reduced high-voltage pulse, i.e. a high-voltage pulse whose amplitude cannot reach the value of typically about 13 kV required for ignition during the power stroke, but only a value that is typically 7 kV and is sufficient for ignition during the exhaust stroke. In this case a determination is made as to whether a spark has actually occurred and the result is evaluated for cylinder sensing.
Once the initial sequence of the cylinders has been determined, all the subsequent ignition times until the motor next stops can be determined by sensing the crankshaft position using the crankshaft sensor. In other words, the cylinder sensing process needs only be performed during the starting phase of the motor. Therefore the fact that the usual camshaft sensor can be eliminated is an especially advantageous feature of the present invention.
According to a preferred embodiment, the predetermined crankshaft position is top dead center for the specific cylinder. This offers the advantage that the pressure differential between the power stroke and the exhaust stroke and hence the reliability of the measurement is greatest in this crankshaft position.
According to an additional preferred improvement according to claim 4, the predetermined amplitude is smaller than the amplitude required for ignition during the power stroke. This offers the advantage that no additional control expense for setting the value of the amplitude of the high-voltage pulse is required. In this case the ignition detection device is preferably so designed that it detects the ignition voltage of a specific cylinder. The ignition detection signal is then either the detected ignition voltage itself or a signal that can be derived from it unambiguously.
According to another preferred embodiment, the cylinder sensing device has a storage device for storing at least one ignition reference signal and a comparison device for comparing the ignition detection signal with the ignition reference signal. The ignition reference signal is preferably a reference voltage value chosen so that it is smaller than the voltage amplitude required for ignition when the cylinder in question is in the power stroke, but higher than the voltage amplitude required for ignition when this cylinder is in the exhaust stroke. The ignition reference signal for example can be 9 kV. This improvement is easy to implement but assumes that the voltage required for ignition is sufficiently different in the compressed and noncompressed states in order to permit reliable cylinder sensing.
According to still another preferred embodiment, a plurality of ignition reference signals from correspondingly different operating states of the internal combustion engine is stored in the storage device and the comparison device is so designed that it uses an ignition reference signal corresponding to the current operating state of the internal combustion engine for comparison. With such a design, consideration can be given to the fact that the ignition reference signal depends on the operating state of the motor. The term "operating state" therefore also subsumes internal parameters such as compression pressure as well as external parameters including the external temperature or air pressure.
In a further preferred embodiment, the cylinder detection device is so designed that it detects the ignition voltage of the specific cylinder during two successive periods of the AC ignition voltage. In this case the cylinder sensing device preferably has a storage device for storing the first ignition detection signal and a comparison device for comparing the first ignition detection signal with the second ignition detection signal. If the first ignition detection signal represents a higher ignition voltage, the specific cylinder is in the power stroke during the first revolution, otherwise during the second revolution.
In a further preferred embodiment, the ignition detection device is so designed that it detects the ignition voltage of at least two specific cylinders corresponding to one another during the same period of the AC ignition voltage. In this case the cylinder sensing device preferably has a comparison device for comparing the ignition detection signals corresponding to two specific cylinders. The simultaneous application of the ignition voltage to the two specific cylinders and the subsequent comparison of the detection signals has the advantage that the other influential parameters that affect ignition voltage, such as electrode spacing, gas composition, and gas dynamics for example, are as a rule the same in both cylinders and therefore compensate one another.
In another preferred embodiment, the predetermined amplitude, in other words the ignition reference signal, is smaller than the amplitude required for ignition during the power stroke.
Such a reduced amplitude can be achieved for example by reducing the energy supplied on the primary side to the ignition coil, specifically the primary current, or by reducing the steepness of the shutoff flank of the primary current.
In this case, the predetermined amplitude, in other words the ignition reference signal, is preferably higher than the amplitude required for ignition during the exhaust stroke.
In another preferred embodiment, the ignition detection device is preferably designed to determine whether the specific cylinder has been ignited, in other words it performs a YES/NO determination.
Preferably, the ignition device is designed to generate bipolar high-voltage pulses. In addition to the improvements listed above which are preferably made in a unipolar ignition device, there are additional advantageous possibilities for cylinder sensing with such a bipolar ignition device.
In another preferred embodiment the control device is designed to output a control signal for generating a bipolar high-voltage pulse with a different first and second predetermined amplitude as a function of the respective half-waves. In other words, in this improvement, the positive and negative half-waves of the ignition voltage have different values.
Preferably in this case the second predetermined amplitude is the amplitude required for ignition during the power stroke, and the first predetermined amplitude is smaller than the second predetermined amplitude and higher than the amplitude required for ignition during the exhaust stroke. In this case it is likewise possible to design the control device so that it increases the first predetermined amplitude during subsequent periods of the AC voltage to ignite a spark until the predetermined amplitude is higher than the amplitude required for ignition during the exhaust stroke.
According to another preferred embodiment, the ignition detection device is designed to determine whether the specific cylinder has been ignited during the first and/or second half-wave. If the specific cylinder has already been ignited in the first half-wave, it is in the exhaust stroke; otherwise it is in the power stroke.
Preferably the ignition detection device is located on the primary winding of the respective ignition coil. The advantage of this design is that it is readily possible to detect the time of appearance of an ignition spark in the primary igntion coil and to obtain from this the desired information about the pressure ratios in specific cylinders or their current cycles.
Advantageously, a start-signal generating device for generating a start signal when starting the internal combustion engine and outputting the start signal to the control device to determine the cylinder sensing phase is provided. This is advantageous since, as already mentioned above, cylinder sensing is required only at the beginning of operation of the motor. For example, the starting signal can be output with the ignition key in the starting position.
In the following the present invention will be explained in greater detail in conjunction with preferred embodiments and referring to the accompanying drawings.

Method and device for cylinder recognition in an internal combustion engine


Disclosed is a system and method for the recycling of waste composite feed materials such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), batteries, catalysts, plastic, plastic composites such as food packaging materials, for example Tetra Pak®, mattresses, compact disks (CDs, DVDs), automobile shredder residue (ASR), electric cable wastes, liquid display panels, mobile phones of various sizes or combinations of the above using a new pyrolysis system and method.

In 2009, about 5 billion portable batteries (excluding lead-acid batteries) were sold in Europe. Of these, alkaline batteries had a market share of some 70%, followed by zinc-chlorine batteries with a market share of about 20% and the remainder being other types of batteries including rechargeable batteries. These batteries are typically the AAA, AA, C, D and 9V sizes. However, other batteries for devices such as mobile phones, hearing aids, MP3 players, watches, power tools and laptops are often prismatic, button cell or polymer batteries or other i.e. custom design batteries. These batteries including the custom design batteries are more difficult to treat as they are odd sizes. About 8% of all batteries sold in Europe are rechargeable. However, as with all batteries, rechargeable batteries also have a limited lifespan and are added to the waste stream at some point.
Due to the large number of batteries produced each year, waste batteries are a possible resource for metals such as rare earths, zinc and other chemicals.
Moreover environmental concerns of leaking waste batteries, the move to recycle, increased cost of raw materials and legislation, for example the European Battery Directive, are all drivers towards increased levels of battery recycling.
A recycling rate of over 95% for lead-acid batteries has been achieved in Europe. Therefore, lead-acid batteries are no longer discussed.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways. PCBs are present in almost all electric and electronic equipment such as televisions, computers, mobile phones, electrical tools and medical equipment.
The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive stipulates that EU member states re-use, recycle, and recover components from electrical and electronic equipment rather than landfilling it. But despite the legislation the recycling rate is still small. For instance in 2002 only 15% of the 50,000 tonnes of PCBs produced in the UK were recycled. In Europe alone about 400,000 tons of waste PCBs are discarded every year, presenting a large amount of waste and a potential loss of valuable resources.
PCBs contain metals, such as gold, palladium, silver, nickel, copper, iron, zinc, tin and others from the electrical components and the solder used to attach the electrical components to the PCBs. Often the concentrations of gold, palladium and other precious metals in PCBs exceed the concentration in natural ores, making waste PCBs a rich resource. In addition PCBs may contain glass fibre, paper and resin.
A number of different processes for the recycling of waste batteries are described in the literature. Recent reviews of the current state of the art of battery recycling processes are provided by: (1) Review of the Literature Regarding Disposal of Household Batteries, prepared for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752, Rosslyn, Va. 22209 USA, December 2007; (2) A. M. Bernardes, D. C. R. Espinosa, J. A. S. Tenório, Recycling of batteries: a review of current processes and technologies, Journal of Power Sources 130 (2004) 291-298. More detailed information on single or multiple use batteries is provided by D. Linden, T. B. Reddy (Eds.), Handbook of Batteries, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,832 discloses a pyrolysis process for reclamation of batteries. Preferably the batteries are sorted to type to ensure the solid pyrolysis product is composed of one type of metal or metal mixture making recovery of the individual components by other processes easier. The batteries are fed by an auger into a crusher, which reduces the batteries to about ½″ mesh. The crushed material is transferred by another auger into a pyrolysis chamber, which is maintained at a pressure below atmospheric. In the pyrolysis chamber the battery material is pyrolised at temperatures between 350 and 650° F. The pyrolysis vapours are condensed to a liquid for further processing and the non-condensables are sent to further treatment. The solid materials remaining are discharged by another auger into a bin as product to be sent to other processes. Drawbacks of this process include the large number of augers moving the material, as they may be prone to mechanical failure and the inability of this process to segregate the various solid components during the pyrolysis step. In addition, the batteries must be crushed to a fine powder and should be sorted according to type to improve the quality of the products.
WO 2009/028795 A3 discloses a process for the recycling of zinc-carbon and alkaline batteries. It involves firstly crushing the waste batteries, secondly separating the metals with a metal separator, and thirdly pulverising the remaining material before entering it into a pyrolysis furnace to recover materials such as manganese dioxide. Potential drawbacks of this process include that only alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries can be treated and the high energy requirements of the pulverisation processes. In addition this process requires a large number of unit operations.
US Patent Publication number US2012/0227589 A1 discloses a process in which the waste batteries are first shredded into a feedstock. This feedstock is dried at elevated temperatures in a rotatable tunnel oven equipped with a spiral vane to ensure proper mixing and drying. The dried material is sieved. The finer section composed of zinc oxide, manganese oxide and other materials are recovered as a finished product to be fed to other processes. The coarser fraction, also known as fluff, is composed of shredded steel casings, brass, paper, plastic and other materials. The steel is separated by a magnetic separator and sold off. The remainder of the fluff composed of plastics and paper may be burned to generate heat. Potential drawbacks of this process include the high energy requirements of pulverisation. In addition, this process requires a large number of unit operations. Hence from an economic point of view it would be best to minimise the number of unit operations and avoid pulverisation.
A Canadian patent 2 793 142 discloses a pyrometallurgical battery recycling method. The waste batteries are first sorted to type and the button-cell batteries are removed, second the batteries are chopped or crushed into pieces approximately one quarter inch or less, to produce a fine particulate matter. In a third step the iron is removed by magnetic separators and lastly reusable materials are recovered by a refining or smelting process. A potential problem with this process is that the waste batteries must be sorted to type; generally requiring human intervention. In addition a smelting operation is expensive as high operating temperatures are required. EP 2 450 991 A1 discloses a hydrometallurgical process to treat waste lithium and nickel metal hydride batteries. As this process is a hydrometallurgical process it is specifically designed for the above mentioned types of batteries, it cannot treat alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. Therefore, the latter batteries must be removed from the incoming waste batteries stream. But sorting of batteries to type is labour intensive. Moreover alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries represent the bulk of all batteries; hence from an economic point of view it would be best to include such batteries in a recycling process.
Two general problems are associated with treating batteries by chemical or hydrometallurgical methods. First the chemicals recovered are of low value and second a wastewater stream must be dealt with.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,463 discloses another hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of lithium in the form of various lithium salts. First the batteries containing lithium are cryogenically cooled in liquid nitrogen to reduce the reactivity of lithium, second the cooled batteries are shredded, and third the mass is reacted with water containing LiOH to reduce lithium metal still contained in the batteries to lithium salts. The salts are precipitated by adding sodium carbonate and by oversaturation. The resulting slurry can be pumped off to be treated further. As this process is a hydrometallurgical process it is specifically designed for lithium containing batteries, it cannot treat, for example, alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. Moreover, alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries represent the bulk of all batteries; hence from an economic point of view it may be best to include such batteries in a recycling process. In addition cryogenic cooling of batteries is energy expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,820,317 B2 discloses another hydrometallurgical process for treating waste lithium anode batteries. First the batteries are shredded in an inert atmosphere to prevent lithium reacting with air. Second the metal casing, paper, plastics and copper are removed by physical treatment i.e. magnetic separation and densification and third the lithium and cobalt is precipitated via various chemical and electrolytic treatments. These treatments are followed by hydrolysis to recover lithium and electrolysis to recover cobalt. As this process is a hydrometallurgical process it is specifically designed for lithium batteries, it cannot treat, for example, alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. Moreover alkaline or zinc-carbon batteries are most common; hence from an economic point of view it may be best to include such batteries in a recycling process.
EP 1454376 B1 discloses another hydrometallurgical process which is aimed at recovering zinc and manganese from alkaline batteries. Again the batteries are first shredded, second the metal casing is removed by a magnetic separator. Third the resulting mass is sieved to remove paper and plastic materials and the fine fraction is washed with sulphuric acid aided by ultrasound. The solution is treated to separate zinc and manganese. This process has disadvantages similar to the other hydrometallurgical processes described above.
While shredding overcomes some process difficulties for handling a bulky material of varying size, it greatly increases the capital and energy requirements of these processes. Hence it would be desirable from an economic point of view if the batteries would only need to be cut rather than shredded or powdered. It would also be desirable to avoid sorting the batteries to type and reducing the number of unit operations before a product(s) is obtained.
Therefore, a cost effective process capable of dealing with all types and shapes of household batteries capable of recovering valuable chemical compounds appears to be lacking.
A number of different processes for the recycling of printed circuit boards (PCBs) based on mechanical, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes or combinations thereof are described in the literature. Recent reviews of the current state of the art of PCBs recycling processes and other general information are provided by: (1) I. de Marco, B. M. Caballero, M. J. Chomón, M. F. Laresgoiti, A. Torres, G. Fernández, S. Arnaiz, Pyrolysis of electrical and electronic wastes, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 82 (2008) 179-183; (2) Goosey M, Kellner R., A scoping study: end-of-life printed circuit boards, UK: Intellect and the Department of Trade and Industry, 2002; (3) Hugo Marcelo Veit, Andréa Moura Bernardes, Jane Zoppas Ferreira, Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório, Célia de Fraga Malfatti; Recovery of copper from printed circuit boards scraps by mechanical processing and electrometallurgy; Journal of Hazardous Materials B137 (2006) 1704-1709; (4) J. Molto, R. Font, A. Gálvez, J. A. Conesa, Pyrolysis and combustion of electronic wastes, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 84 (2009) 68-78; (5) Jirang Cui, Eric Forssberg, Mechanical recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment: a review, Journal of Hazardous Materials B99 (2003) 243-263; (6) F. O. Ongondo, I. D. Williams, T. J. Cherrett, How are WEEE doing? A global review of the management of electrical and electronic wastes, Waste Management 31 (2011) 714-730; (7) Nuria Ortuño, Julia Moltó, Silvia Egea, Rafael Font, Juan A. Conesa, Thermogravimetric study of the decomposition of printed circuit boards from mobile phones, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 103 (2013) 189-200; (8) J. Li, P. Shrivastava, Z. Gao, H-C Zhang, Printed Circuit Board Recycling: A State-of-the-Art Survey, IEEE Transactions on Electronics Packaging Manufacturing, Vol. 27, No. 1 January 2004; (9) L. Flandinet, F. Tedjar, V. Ghetta, J. Fouletier, Metals recovering from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) using molten salts, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 213-214, (2012) 485-490 and (9) William J. Hall, Paul T. Williams, Separation and recovery of materials from scrap printed circuit boards, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 51 (2007) 691-709. More information on PCBs, its design, fabrication, solder material and so forth may be found in: Clyde Coombs (editor), Printed Circuits Handbook, McGraw Hill, 6th edition, 2007.
Because of their composite nature (metals, resin, paper, plastics, electronic parts etc.) waste PCBs are difficult to recycle.
A promising technology of recycling PCBs is pyrolysis. This involves the use of heat in the absence of oxygen to break the PCBs down into pyrolysis gas, pyrolysis liquid, glass and metals. The chemistry of waste PCBs pyrolysis is well established. On average pyrolysis products of PCBs are composed of ˜70 wt % residue (metals, glass, etc.), ˜23 wt % pyrolysis oil, and ˜6 wt % gas. This gas may be burned to self-sustain the PCB recycling process.
PCBs are graded into three categories depending on their precious metal i.e. gold, platinum, palladium content:                Low grade material comprises television, printer, pocket calculator boards and power supply units and laminate offcuts. Such PCBs contain less than 100 ppm gold.        Medium grade scrap PCB is typically from PCs, laptops etc.        High grade material such as mobile phones, PCs etc. comprises PCBs with gold, platinum and palladium concentrations higher than natural ore making recycling of these metals from PCBs economically interesting by traditional methods. Such PCBs contain more than 200 ppm gold.
Because of the low precious metal content of low or medium value PCBs it is generally uneconomical to recycle such PCBs.
Current industrial recycling methods focus on the recovery of the valuable metals, whereas the remainder is landfilled. Valuable metals to be recoverable from waste PCBs are the various metals especially the precious metals. On average PCB contains among others the following metals: copper 11-35%; silver 1,000-3,000 ppm; lead 1.5-4.5%; gold 200-1,000 ppm; tin 0.8-2.0%; palladium 300-1,000 ppm. Furthermore platinum, antimony, cobalt, indium, zinc and tin may be contained in PCBs. High grade PCBs may contain a higher gold and palladium concentration than natural ore making recycling of these metals from PCBs economically interesting. In addition, the copper concentration with 11-35% is high.
Pyrometallurgy is a traditional technology to recover non-ferrous metals from waste PCBs. Pyrometallurgy includes incineration, smelting, melting and reactions in a gas phase at high temperatures (typically >1,000° C.). However, such processes are expensive due to the high operating temperatures and are only economic for high grade PCBs.
Hydrometallurgy is another traditional technology for the recovery of precious metals from waste PCBs. The main steps in hydrometallurgy consist of firstly a series of acid or caustic leaches, secondly separation and purification procedures such as precipitation of impurities, solvent extraction, adsorption and ion-exchange to isolate and concentrate the metals of interest and thirdly electro-refining process, chemical reduction, or crystallization for metal recovery.
Disadvantages of hydrometallurgical processes include that they produce waste liquids and sludges, which must be disposed of. Moreover, hydrometallurgical processes tend to be time consuming and complicated. Therefore, the overall cost of these processes may be large. Hence from an economic point of view a simpler process would be desirable.
US 2004/01779985 A1 discloses a hydrometallurgical process to recover valuable metals from PCBs by contacting the PCBs with a leaching phase based on cupric acid and an alkaline chloride to dissolve the metals in about 1 to 3 hours. This process recovers copper, silver, nickel, tin etc. from a solution and gold by filtration. Disadvantages of this process include long processing times and the general disadvantages of hydrometallurgical processes.
DE 197 153 319 A1 discloses a process whereby the metals present in PCBs are recovered by three consecutive hydrometallurgical unit operations. Prior to treatment the PCBs are shredded to make the metals available to the chemicals of the hydrometallurgical processes. Disadvantages of this process include the number of unit operations, the shredding of the PCBs adding to operating costs and the general disadvantages of hydrometallurgical processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,040 discloses a process requiring first removal of the batteries, mercury switches and some capacitors before the PCBs are mechanically broken down into smaller pieces. The pieces are then cryogenically embrittled with liquid nitrogen and comminuted in a hammer mill. Iron particles can subsequently be removed magnetically whereas other metals can be removed by corona-roller separators. Disadvantages of this process include the cryogenic cooling of the PCBs as it is energy intensive. Furthermore the use of a hammer mill and various metal separation unit operations increase capital and operational costs.
WO 00/43574 discloses another hydrometallurgical process for the selective dissolution of tin and/or lead- or tin-containing alloys from PCBs with an acid solution to form various metal salts. After dissolution an electrolytic reduction step regenerates and recovers the metals. Disadvantages of this process include long dissolution times, the handling of chemicals and the number of unit operations.
US 2009/0288956 A1 discloses a process in which the waste PCBs are first pyrolysed to form an ash. The metals are separated from the ash by density separation. The metals are formed into a slurry electrode and placed into an electrolyte bath to electro-refine the metals into bars. Disadvantages of this process include the large number of unit operations increasing capital costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,486 discloses a waste PCBs pyrolysis recycling process, which is followed by a wet electrolysis process i.e. a hydrometallurgical process. The pyrolysis is executed at temperatures between 450 and 650° C. The resulting pyrolysis slag is subsequently subjected to wet electrolysis. After that step the electrolysis products are crystallised and separated. Disadvantages of this process include the number of unit operations, long processing times increasing capital and operational costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,322 discloses a process which recovers valuable metals from scrap containing metals. The metal containing scrap, which may be PCBs, are introduced into a furnace containing a molten salt to pyrolytically decompose the scrap and form recoverable metal. Disadvantages include that the scrap PCBs must be cut into small pieces to allow feeding by a screw type feeder. Furthermore the operating temperatures are very high (for example 1,000 to 1,100° C. for the recovery of silver) as the target metals are recovered in molten form increasing capital and operating costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,479 discloses a process for the treatment of waste PCBs with a molten salt. The PCBs are crushed within the furnace and are carbonized i.e. pyrolysed. It is intended that the glass resin and the carbonized resin parts separate to the top of the molten salt, whereas the copper separates to the bottom of the salt. The scraped off plastic residues and the glass is scrapped off the surface of the salt, whereas the copper is removed from the bottom by a removing device located at the bottom. Disadvantages of the process include that the crusher is exposed to high operating temperatures as are the bottom and top separators making them expensive and possibly susceptible to mechanical failure. Moreover there may be a process problem: the density of most molten salts (for example LiCl—KCl at 450° C.: ρ=1,600 kg/m3) is such that the glass (ρ=2,400-2,800 kg/m3) will separate to the bottom and not to the top of the molten salt as claimed. Higher density salts are available but these may be expensive, environmentally not benign, toxic, unstable at higher temperatures or combinations thereof. Hence this process may not work as intended or may not be economic. The physical properties of various salts are provided by G. J. Janz, C. B. Allen, N. P. Bansal, R. M. Murphy and R. P. T. Tomkins, Physical Properties Data Compilations Relevant to Energy Storage. II Molten Salts: Data on Single and Multi-Component Salt Systems, Tech. Rep. NSRDS-NBS61-II, US Department of Commerce, 1979.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,843 B2 discloses a process in which scrap PCBs are pyrolysed in a reactor filled with molten salt. This reactor operates in batch mode. Air is removed from the reactor by water injection. Disadvantages of this process include that it is a batch rather than a continuous operation, the required number of moving parts i.e. the lid and sealing arrangement of the reactor and the removal of the air (oxygen) by water vapour which may not be sufficient at all times. In addition water is expensive to evaporate, may result in corrosion problems, will contaminate the pyrolysis oil from which it may have to be removed and may result in a wastewater stream. In summary safety, operational and economic concerns may be put forward against this process.
Swiss patent CH 705 803 A1 discloses a process with the primary aim of recovering the electronic parts from scrap PCBs. The process utilises a liquid, for instance organic oil or molten salts, capable of operating at temperatures between 100-350° C. This operating temperature is below the pyrolysis or destruction temperature of the resin of the PCBs. Hence, this process only melts the PCBs. If a molten salt is used the electrical components of the PCBs collect at the bottom, whereas the treated, unpopulated PCBs segregate to the top of the molten salt as are the molten plastics. Disadvantages of this process include that the process is not self-sustaining. Instead additional heat is required to melt the electrical components off the PCBs and keep the salt molten. Moreover, the electrical parts recovered by this process are contaminated with salt and were exposed to high temperatures which may reduce their resale value due to possible quality issues. In addition, the electrical parts will have to be manually sorted, which may also be expensive. Moreover, a screw is used to remove the electrical components from the molten salt. This screw may be prone to mechanical failure and corrosion especially as the molten metal (solder) collects at the bottom.
WO2013/094879 and WO2013/094878 disclose a process for the destruction of various materials utilising molten metal. In this process the molten metal is circulated by a pump and sprayed onto the feed stock. The molten metal re-circulating line may contain a filter to separate some materials from the molten metal. Disadvantages of these processes include the highly corrosive nature of moving (re-circulated and sprayed) molten metal requiring special materials of construction, which hence may result in an uneconomic process for the recycling of batteries and PCBs.
A general problem with currently employed mechanical, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes for the treatment of PCBs and waste batteries is that the concentration of valuable metals such as gold, palladium, silver or mischmetal is low. Hence, generally speaking, only PCBs and batteries with high concentrations of the target elements are recycled. As a result a process capable of increasing the concentration of the target elements (metals) would be desirable.
It is therefore an object to provide a system and method for the recycling of batteries, PCBs and other waste streams or materials that overcomes at least one of the above mentioned problems.

Process for the recycling of waste batteries and waste printed circuit boards in molten salts or molten metals


A wearable device such as a watch with a counterfeit detection function that include a display panel configured to display information (e.g., time); a UV LED unit arranged at an edge part of the display panel and configured to provide UV light which reacts with a fluorescent material; and a transparent cover positioned over the display panel so as to focus the UV light.

The disclosure of this patent document relates to a watch or a wearable device with a counterfeit detection function.
Recently, the demand for technology related to an anti-counterfeit function for determining authenticity of paper currency bills has increased. Conventionally, a technique for adding a specific fluorescent pattern to a paper currency bill as a way of determining the authenticity of the bill has been applied to a process of manufacturing a bill, in order to distinguish between a counterfeit bill and a real or authentic bill based on presence or absence of such a fluorescent pattern. When ultraviolet (UV) light is irradiated onto the real bill, the real bill reacts with the irradiated UV light such that the fluorescent pattern emits light. However, a counterfeit bill that does not have such a fluorescent pattern would not react with the irradiated UV light in the way an authentic or genuine bill would.
As an example of a conventional counterfeit detector, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2000-0043258, which was published under KR20020010163 (A), has disclosed a handy or portable detector for detecting forged notes or counterfeit bills. The disclosed counterfeit detector in the above Korean document includes a main body; a naked-eye identification unit for identifying a character or pattern with the naked eye; an electronic detection unit for irradiating UV light and detecting the UV light reflected or transmitted from a bill so as to determine whether the bill is counterfeit; and a magnetic detection unit for detecting magnetic ink of the bill passing through a bill passing groove formed in the main body.
Recently, there is an increasing need for more people to determine whether a bill is counterfeit or genuine. In particular, with the increase of overseas travel, people need to check whether a bill is counterfeit or genuine when they stay in a foreign country in which counterfeit bills are likely to be distributed. Thus, although handy or portable counterfeit detectors have emerged, there is a continuous demand for a convenient and portable counterfeit detector.

Watch with counterfeit detection function


Embodiments of distributed coordination of a clear channel assessment threshold are presented herein.

The prevalence of wireless communication is ever increasing. For example, users may use a wireless local area network (WLAN) to communicate using a wide range of devices, such as desktop personal computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless phones, wireless routers, wireless access points (WAPs), and so on.
Additionally, the range of locations, in which, users may employ these devices is also ever increasing. For example, a user may set-up a wireless access point in his apartment to obtain wireless access to the Internet. In another example, a corporation may provide devices (e.g., wireless routers and computers) that incorporate wireless techniques such that employees of the corporation may communicate, one with another, using the devices. In further examples, hotels, airports, coffee shops, and so on may also provide wireless access to the Internet to users for a fee.
However, because such a large and diverse range of wireless devices may be used in a wide range of locations, interference may be encountered which adversely affects the ability to communicate using wireless techniques at the locations. For example, a collection of closely-grouped wireless devices may "crowd" wireless networks which are used by the devices, which may thereby limit each device's ability to communicate as desired.
The same reference numbers are utilized in instances in the discussion to reference like structures and components.

Distributed coordination of a clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold