Techniques for identifying relevant, natural language documents within a data repository. An electronic document specifying natural language text describing an issue with a complex system is received. One or more portions are removed from the electronic document, where the portions are determined to satisfy one or more predefined filtering rules. A first set of terms are determined using a data dictionary structure, and a second set of terms are determined, where at least one term in the second set of terms satisfies at least one predefined pattern matching rule. A third set of terms are determined by processing the electronic document as an input to a machine learning model trained to recognize relevant terms within the electronic document. A synthesized electronic document is generated from the first, second and third sets of terms, and the synthesized electronic document is used to identify a set of relevant documents within the data repository.

Complex machinery, such as commercial aircraft, occasionally experience equipment faults. Some commercial aircraft and other complex machinery can transmit fault data to one or more computer systems, such as computer systems used by maintenance centers and computer systems operated by the aircraft manufacturer. In many instances, issues with a complex system are documented in natural language data, e.g., written by an engineer that is working to address the issue. Generally, information can be gathered on complex system faults and their corresponding solutions through data mining. Data mining broadly seeks to expose patterns and trends in data, and most data mining techniques are sophisticated methods for analyzing relationships among highly formatted data, such as numerical data or data with a relatively small fixed number of possible values. However, a vast amount of information consists of textually-expressed information, including many database fields, reports, memos, e-mail, web sites, and external news articles of interest to managers, market analysts, and researchers. As the amount of textually-expressed information continues to grow at a rapid rate, the technical fault of identifying a set of relevant information for a given natural language report of an issue with a complex system becomes increasingly difficult.
Text mining is an extension of the general notion of data mining in the area of free or semi-structured text. In comparison to data mining, text data analysis (also referred to as "text mining," or simply "text analysis") refers to the analysis of text, and may involve such functions as text summarization, information visualization, document classification, document clustering, document summarization, and document cross-referencing. Thus, text data analysis may help a knowledge worker find relationships between individual unstructured or semi-structured text documents and semantic patterns across large collections of such documents.

Predictive query processing for complex system lifecycle management


This invention discloses novel compositions of matter, in particulate forms, which function as heat transfer agents for heating or cooling applications. The particulates comprise solid carriers containing microwave responsive substances which are liquid at a predetermined elevated operating temperature. These particulate agents, preheated by microwave energy, serve as sources of dry heat or moist heat, depending on their composition. They also serve as sources of cold, when prechilled in a freezer.

1. Technical Field
This invention concerns materials which can serve as intermediate agents for transfer of heat from an energy source to a load object. More specifically, it relates to particulate compositions of matter which can be used effectively for heating or cooling applications.
In a typical heating application, agent B receives heat from source A and delivers its heat to load object C. The same applies, in principle, to a cooling application. In that case, agent B receives cold (gives up its heat to) source A and gives up its cold (receives heat from) load object C. Putting it in another way, one may consider the load object of cold as a source of heat and the source of cold as the load object of heat. Thus, intermediate agents play a similar role in heating and cooling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Examples of common heating and cooling applications come to mind quite readily. Electric corn poppers or hairdryers use air as the intermediate heating agent. Pressing irons or frying pans use metal as the intermediate heating agents. Hot oil is used as an intermediate heating agent in deep frying and water is used as the primary intermediate heating agent in most cooking applications. Turning to a common example of cooling, air is the primary cooling intermediate in a refrigerator. All of the above are instances of dynamic, steady-state heat transfer, where the intermediate agents receive and discharge heat concurrently, either intermittently or continuously. Under these conditions, the agents' ability to transfer heat is of primary importance.
In other situations, the process of heat transfer is sequential rather than concurrent. In such cases, an intermediate heating (cooling) agent receives heat (cold) from a source, stores the heat (cold) for later use and then delivers it to a load object, likely at another location away from the original source. Sequential heating is exemplified by preheated water in a jacketed baby feeding dish or in a hot water bottle. A freezer pack is an example of stored cold. It is clear that in sequential heating/cooling applications the intermediate agents' ability to store heat is an important attribute. Measures of capacity to store heat for materials which do not undergo a change of state relate to specific heat per unit weight and, in combination with density, specific heat per unit volume. Changes of state will be considered later.
One other attribute worthy of mention is fluidity; i.e. the agents' ability to flow readily and surround the load object, thereby delivering heat to more than one surface. It can, and often does, play an important role in concurrent as well as sequential schemes of heat transfer, as will become more evident in the discussion which follows.
Against this background, one can assess the ability of various materials, in their respective physical states, to act as intermediate heat transfer agents.


An automated placement of flat valves on a balloon strip. Included is a vacuum platen which receives the free end of a row of valve films. A cutting blade severs a single valve from the film, which is held in place by the vacuum platen. The vacuum platen is then moved through a series of motions for positioning above a heating element which is raised to bond the valve to the balloon strip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the manufacture of toy balloons, especially toy balloons having self-sealing valves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toy balloons of the non-latex type are currently produced with valves of the so-called "self-sealing" or "flat", type. Examples of such valves are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,850,912; 4,708,167 and 4,674,532. These types of valves may also be employed in pillows, dunnage or other inflatable articles, in addition to toy balloons. In its simplest form, the valve comprises a flattened hollow tube of readily flexible plastic film. The valve is positioned in the interior of the inflatable article, with the inlet end located adjacent an outer periphery of the article, for easy filling. When filling of the article is desired, gas pressure is introduced into the interior of the article, through the hollow tubular passageway of the valve. As the article approaches its final, inflated state, internal pressure developed within the article compresses the valve. During filling, pressure of the inflating gas easily overcomes the compression pressures within the article. However, when the inflating pressure is removed, internal pressure within the article causes the flat valve to quickly collapse, thus preventing gas from within the article from escaping.

Placement apparatus for thin flexible members


Users are allowed to download information from a cellular network, but are charged for the download. A part of the charge for the download goes to the creator of the information and download. A device determines how many downloads each user-created item has received. Also, a list is provided which displays to other users which are the most commonly downloaded elements.

Cellular phones are now used for purposes well beyond their original intended purpose of simple communication. Mobile phones are often used in place of digital cameras to obtain photos. Many believe that more photos are taken with mobile phones than with digital cameras.
Gaming over a cellular network is also possible, for example social gaming over a cell phone network. Gaming over the cell phone network may increase the demand for cellular telecommunications services, and may also create an entirely new market, for example, for cellular gaming devices that operate over cellular networks.
At present, cellular phones often come equipped with simplistic games that can be played over the cellular telephone. However, improved hardware such as improved processes and display capabilities, as well as improved software, may make playing the games over cellular networks more interesting.
The cellular carriers typically are very interested in anything done over the cellular network that increases their revenue.

Value added transaction gateway for video clips


A downhole drilling apparatus, passing through a subterranean borehole, may mark an inner wall of the borehole with a marking element. A sensor, spaced axially from the marking element on the drilling apparatus, may subsequently sense the marking as it passes. A rate of penetration of the drilling apparatus may be calculated by dividing an axial distance, between the marking element and the sensor, by a time interval, between when the marking element marks the inner wall and when the marking is sensed by the sensor. Alternately, a second sensor, spaced axially from the first, may also sense the marking. A rate of penetration may then be calculated by dividing an axial distance, between the two sensors, by a time interval, between when the two sensors sense the marking.

When exploring for or extracting subterranean resources, such as oil, gas, or geothermal energy, and in similar endeavors, it is common to form boreholes in the earth. Such boreholes may be formed by engaging the earth with a rotating drill bit capable of degrading tough materials. As rotation continues the borehole may elongate and the drill bit may be fed into it on the end of a drill string.
It is often desirable to measure the rate at which the drill bit is penetrating the various earthen formations that it encounters. This rate of penetration (ROP), as it is called, affects how long it may take to form a borehole and thus its cost. Optimizing rate of penetration to reduce time and cost is thus a concern for many drillers. ROP may also be used to calculate dogleg severity (DLS) of a borehole, e.g., while steering a bit. The DLS is a measure of the change in direction of a borehole over a defined length, e.g., degrees per 100 feet.
Measuring rate of penetration has traditionally been accomplished by monitoring how quickly the drill string is fed into the borehole at its opening. As the borehole elongates, however, the reliability and accuracy of this surface-based method may decrease. This could be due to the increased bending, twisting, stretching, or buckling a drill string may experience at greater lengths. Such distortion may cause the rate of penetration of the drill bit to vary materially from the feed rate of the drill string into the borehole at the surface.


A pulp making process in which fibrous cellulosic material is pulped to form an aqueous suspension of cellulosic material, the suspension is drained through a screen to form a pulp sheet and that the pulp sheet is dried to form a dry market pulp, in which a water soluble cationic polymer is added to the suspension as the sole drainage aid wherein the water-soluble cationic polymer is either,                i) a copolymer comprising (a) between 1 and 70 mole % (meth) acrylamide and (b) between 30 and 99 mole % (meth) acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride with an intrinsic viscosity between 5 and 9 dl/g; or        ii) a hydrolysed homopolymer of vinylformamide comprising between 1 and 100 mole % vinyl amine units and having a K value of between 45 and 240.

Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of cellulosic pulp sheets.
Description Of The Background
Cellulosic pulp is generally manufactured in pulp mills or integrated mills that serve as both pulp and paper mills. Normally wood and/or other fibrous cellulosic feed-stock is broken up to form a cellulosic pulp, which is usually subjected to various washing and filtering stages. Additionally the pulp may also be bleached. In an integrated mill it is unnecessary to dry the pulp at any stage and instead may be diluted directly to form a thin stock for the papermaking process.
Pulp mills that are not integrated into paper mills also manufacture the pulp from wood or fibrous cellulosic material which is then converted to a dry product generally known as "dry market pulp". This dry pulp may then be used as a feedstock at a paper mill to make the aqueous cellulosic suspension used in a papermaking process.
The pulping stages in a pulp mill can generally be similar to the pulping stages in an integrated mill except that at the end of the washing stages it is necessary to drain the pulp and then thermally dry it. This drainage may often be conducted on a machine known as a "lap pulp machine".
Japanese patent publication 59-087097 describes the vacuum dehydration of sludge containing crushed matter of pulp containing cellulosic material using generally a cationic macromolecular coagulant, for instance cationically modified polyacrylamide, chitosan, and polyvinyl imidazoline.
EP 335576 sets out to improve the drain- age in a process for making dry market pulp. It is indicated that previously the addition of sophisticated dewatering and retention systems in pulp mills had been found unsuccessful due to reductions in drainage and the increase in the amount of thermal drying would be required produce the dried pulp sheets. The inventors of that disclosure describe a pulp making process in which a water-soluble cationic polymer is added to the suspension of cellulosic material before one or more shear stages and then after that shear stage the addition of an inorganic material such as bentonite. The document exemplifies the use of a copolymer of 70% by weight acrylamide and 30% by weight (13.6 mole %) dimethyl amino ethyl acrylate quaternised with methyl chloride of intrinsic viscosity 10 dl/g in conjunction with bentonite. Also exemplified are polymers with the same monomer units and cationicity but with intrinsic viscosities of 8 to 10 dl/g and 6 to 8 dl/g respectively and the test work indicates improved dewatering time when these two polymers are used in conjunction with bentonite by comparison to the use of the polymers alone.
More recently WO 02/088468 describes a method for the production of shock resistant fibrous moulded bodies. The process involves the addition of a modified starch to an aqueous mass of fibrous material before it is placed into a mould. The modified starch is prepared by digesting starch in the presence of at least one cationic polymer.
WO 2008/036031 relates to a method for preparing pulp sheets involving treating an aqueous suspension of bleached pulp derived from an alkaline pulping process involving dewatering and drying the suspension, in which the pH of the suspension is between 6.5 and 12. The use of cationic starch or cationic polyacrylamide is described for the dewatering.
However, there is a desire to further improve the drainage rate and dryness of the resulting dewatered pulp sheets.

Abstract: The process of the invention provides improved drainage time and solids content of the dewatered pulp.


This invention relates to N-hydroxy-N-[3-[2-(4'-halophenylthio)phenyl]prop-2-enyl]ureas, formulations containing those compounds and methods of using such compounds as 5-lipoxygenase inhibiting agents.

This invention relates to certain N-hydroxy-N-[3-[2-(halophenylthio)phenyl]prop-2-enyl]ureas, compositions containing those compounds and methods of their use.
The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyzes the first step of a biochemical synthesis pathway by which arachidonic acid is converted into leukotrienes. Numerous and extremely potent biological activities have been associated with leukotrienes. Leukotrienes have been implicated as important mediators in a variety of disease states such as asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, ischemia, allergy, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Considerable efforts have been directed toward the control of leukotriene biosynthesis. Generally research efforts directed toward the control of leukotriene biosynthesis have been directed toward the discovery of inhibitors of the 5-LO pathway and, in particular, 5-LO specific inhibitors.
In U.K. Patent Application GB 2,196,629 certain ring substituted-N-hydroxy-N-substituted benzamide and cinnamamide compounds are disclosed as antileukotriene agents. The ring substituent may be a group having the Formula (Ra) (Rb) C.dbd.CH-- where (Ra) (Rb)C.dbd. is an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbylene group containing 3 to 19 carbon atoms, a group having the Formula R.sub.3 --C.tbd.C-- where R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a group having the formula R.sub.4 --S-- where R.sub.4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The N-substituent may be a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.
In European Patent Application 0196184 certain aryl compounds are disclosed which include, among many others, certain cinnamohydroxamic acid analogs and certain N-hydroxyureas in Examples 81-91. Certain urea based or urea containing compounds that are said to inhibit lipoxygenase are disclosed in EPO 0292699; EPO 0279281; and EPO 0279263. These references contain no recognition of the importance of a 3-[2-(halophenylthio)phenyl]prop-2-enyl substituted on a urea skeleton.
In WO 90/12008 certain unsubstituted and substituted phenyl, naphthyl and thienyl N-hydroxy ureas are disclosed as inhibitors of 5- and 12-lipoxgenase. The preparation and biological activity for a number of such derivatives is disclosed. The present invention is directed to the discovery that a select group of N-hydroxy-N-[3-[2-[4-halophenylthio)phenyl]-prop-2-enyl]ureas are extremely potent 5-LO inhibitors. The compounds of the present invention, as defined herein, are surprisingly advantageous inhibitors of 5-LO and have useful medical prophylactic and therapeutic properties. The compounds of the present invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts possess surprisingly high potency.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide surprisingly potent selective 5-LO inhibitors useful in the treatment of asthma and allergic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, shock, ischemia, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and arthritis.
A further object of the present invention is to provide therapeutic compositions for treating said diseases and disorders.
Still another object is to provide methods for treating said diseases and disorders.
Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims.

N-hydroxy-N-[3-[2-(halophenylthio)phenyl]prop-2-enyl]ureas as lipoxygenase inhibitors


An apparatus is disclosed for automatic optical inspection of a wafer boat having a plurality of parallel slotted side rods and bottom rods. A cradle holds the wafer boat in a stationary position. A separate optical sensor is mounted upon a carriage for each of the rods to be measured. Each of these sensors projects an optical beam toward the corresponding rod where, when longitudinally aligned within an individual slot, the beam is parallel to and substantially near the bottom of the slot. As the carriage is scanned from one end of the rods of the wafer boat to the other, the optical beam will be alternately obstructed by the rod or transmitted through a slot, thereby determining the slot edge locations of each of the slots in each of the rods in accordance with the position of the carriage. The slot widths and slot locations can then be determined from the slot edge locations. Additionally, the length of each of the bottom rods can be measured by reflecting an optical beam off of a flat surface of a clamp block positioned against the end of each of the bottom rods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the inspection of wafer boats utilized in a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility, and more specifically to an automatic apparatus for determining, in a non-contact fashion using optical sensors, whether certain mechanical dimensions of a wafer boat are within specification.
2. Description of Related Art
Slotted mass transfer wafer boats are used in semiconductor manufacturing for holding wafers during high temperature operations, such as an anneal operation performed in a furnace tube. These wafer boats are commonly constructed of a high-temperature quartz glass (hence the name "quartzware"), although polysilicon and silicon carbide materials are sometimes also used.
FIG. 1 shows a typical quartz wafer boat 100 which includes two bottom rods 104 and 106, and two side rods 102 and 108, each with a plurality of slots 110 on the inward side of each of the rods. The locations and size of the slots are such that a group of wafers may be positioned vertically in a horizontally positioned wafer boat and supported by their edges in the respective slots of the side and bottom rods.
To support a wafer, four slots are aligned in the same vertical plane. That is, a single slot from each of the two side rods and each of the two bottom rods define a single plane. The width of each slot is large enough to allow for clearance to easily insert a wafer into the slot, but should not be so large as to allow unnecessary lateral movement of the wafer once inserted. Excessive lateral movement of wafers dislodges contaminant particles that reduce the yields of wafers processed in the wafer boat. Furthermore, the slot-to-slot spacing along a given rod of the wafer boat is constant to permit the use of robotic loaders and unloaders which are programmed to adhere to a given wafer spacing. Wafer chipping and breakage can result if wafer boats are used that do not meet these specifications.
Even if a wafer boat is initially within specification, repetitive use can result in the wafer boat becoming out of specification. Repetitive heat cycling received by the wafer boat can cause sagging or warping of the horizontal rods. Additionally, cleaning operations typically remove a certain portion of the quartz material, resulting in slot enlargement over time.
Non-contact measurement systems do exist which are capable of measuring the slot width and slot locations in each of the rods. However, while very precise, most are general purpose optical measurement systems not well suited to inexpensively inspecting a wafer boat. Specifically, the measurement is slow and may involve many different equipment setups and a skilled operator, and the equipment itself is very expensive. Such equipment is more suitable for measuring calibration units, or so-called "golden units" due to the length of time needed to perform a measurement, as well as the cost. An example of this kind of measurement system is the Series 3000 Non-Contact Measurement System from Pacific Precision Laboratories, Inc.
Hence, the need remains in wafer fabrication facilities for an inexpensive apparatus that automatically and quickly determines whether wafer boats remain in specification after use, with a minimum of specialized operator training.

In-line non-contact wafer boat inspection apparatus


A current detecting device and method that detects a variation in a current being supplied to a load in supplying variable DC power to the load via an inductor from a synchronous rectification DC-DC converter in which a high-side switch is connected to one electrode of a DC input voltage source and a low-side switch connected to the other electrode. The switches are turned on and off alternately during a prescribed switching period. A low-pass filter is connected to a signal line that leads from a connecting point of the inductor and the switches. An operation circuit detects an output current of the DC-DC converter by performing an operation on the difference between an output voltage of the low-pass filter and an output voltage of the DC-DC converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a current detecting method and device for a DC-DC converter. In particular, the invention relates to such a method and device for detecting a variation in a DC current being supplied to a load in supplying variable DC power to the load via an inductor from a synchronous rectification DC-DC converter in which a first switching element connected to one electrode of a DC input power source and a second switching element connected to the other electrode are turned on and off alternately in a prescribed period.
2. Background Art
In step-down-type synchronous rectification switching converters etc. overcurrent protection may be performed for a load, or a function may be implemented where the occurrence of switching to a light load (the output current is small) is judged and a transition automatically is made to a light load mode. In such instances it is necessary to detect, in a prescribed switching period, an average current being actually supplied to the load.
Conventional current detecting methods for a DC-DC converter commonly employ a technique wherein a resistor is inserted in an output current path and a potential difference between opposite ends of the resistor is detected and converted into a current value. However, this technique has a problem that the insertion of the resistor lowers the power conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter. In view of this, in recent years, a technique has become common wherein a current variation is detected by detecting a variation in the voltage across a switching element, such as by utilizing the on-resistance of the switching element to detect that a transistor is in an on state.
However, the on-resistance of a transistor tends to be influenced by process variations, variation in environment temperature, etc. Further, where importance is attached to power conversion efficiency converters use transistors having a small on-resistance. This makes detection of a very small voltage variation necessary, and results in a problem of insufficient measurement accuracy.
In view of the above, a technique has been proposed that an on-resistance and a detection resistor are connected to each other serially to increase the accuracy of measurement of a voltage variation. However, in JP-A-2002-10627 (paragraphs [0011]–[0026] and FIGS. 1 and 2), power loss occurs in the detection resistor and hence the power conversion efficiency of the converter is lowered. Further, a measuring circuit is required to perform a measurement only when the transistor is on. This makes it difficult to realize a detection circuit for securing high measurement accuracy, particularly in a case that the switching frequency is high.

Current detecting method and device for a DC-DC converter


A fifth wheel cover comprises a shell arranged to span over the fifth wheel plate of a tractor trailer chassis. The shell has a continuous, circular, peripheral edge to which a continuous band of elastomeric material is integrally joined about the full periphery for retaining the shell on the fifth wheel plate.

Heavy duty vehicles such as tractor trailers and large towing vehicles include a fifth wheel, which is a plate on the truck chassis to which a trailer kingpin is secured. When the trailer is detached from the chassis, the fifth wheel is exposed subjecting the lubricant thereon to contamination by road debris and thus potential damage. Accordingly, there is currently a need for a method of protecting an exposed fifth wheel plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,914 belonging to Murcheson discloses a fifth wheel slipcover for a bearing plate of a fifth wheel of a tractor. The cover includes a pair of formed sleeves at one end thereof for slidably receiving the spaced apart ramp portions of the bearing plate therein. A drawstring is provided at the opposing end of the cover for retaining the opposing end secured beneath the edge of the bearing plate. The structure of the sleeves requires awkward alignment of the cover with the ramp portions of the bearing plate which can interfere with proper fit of the cover on the bearing plate. The cover may also be poorly secured due to the draw cord which only extends partway about the periphery at the opposing end of the cover.


A method of identifying the operation of an electrical appliance comprising an induction motor is described. The method comprises identifying the operation of an electrical appliance including an induction motor when a path traced by real power values against corresponding reactive power values over a time period of interest comprises one or more substantially circular arcs. The real power values are related to the total real power supplied to one or more electrical appliances as a function of time, and the reactive power values are related to the total reactive power supplied to the one or more electrical appliances as a function of time. There is also described a related method of identifying the operation of a specified type of appliance, in which the operation of said specified type of appliance is dependent on a supply of at least one utility such as electricity, natural gas or water.

There is an increasing concern to reduce the consumption of resources, both at a domestic level in residential buildings, and at a commercial level in offices, shops, factories and so forth. The reasons for this are both to save costs and also because of concerns for the environment, such as to reduce CO2 emissions, and to conserve finite resources such as coal, gas and oil.
Conventionally, consumers receive bills from utility companies which may indicate the quantity of the utility used since the last bill, for example monthly or quarterly, based on periodic meter readings or even based on estimates of consumption since the last meter reading. For example, in the case of electricity supply, the information is presented to the consumer in terms of the number of kilowatt hours of electrical energy that has been used, which is meaningless to many people, and gives very little idea about how they are actually using the energy and where they can cut back. Studies have shown that the effect of providing consumers with real-time detailed information about the energy they are using is that their consumption reduces by up to 20%. In order to provide this information, it is necessary to identify where the energy drawn from this supply is ending up, i.e. which appliances are being used, how much and when. It is a problem to provide this information.
Devices are known which can be plugged into a conventional electricity outlet socket which can monitor the energy consumption by a particular appliance plugged into that socket. However, this information is inconvenient to obtain, and for fully monitoring the consumption at a particular site, such as a house, a separate metering device would have to be plugged into every socket to monitor every appliance, and it is generally not possible to connect such metering devices to permanently-wired appliances, such as cookers, which are typically some of the largest consumers of energy.
As an alternative to attaching a metering device to each appliance, Non-Intrusive Load Monitors (NILMs) have been developed. Many NILM implementations work by tracking the steady state power drawn by the load and measuring significant changes which correspond to appliances turning on and off. For example, following the turn on of a 100 W incandescent light, one would observe a change in power of around 100 W. A NILM would register this change and search through its database to see whether this appliance 'signature' matched those of a previously observed appliance. If so, then it would infer that the appliance had turned on. If not, then it would infer that a previously unknown appliance had turned on for the first time. An overview of NILM technology is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,141 (Hart et al.).
The approach of measuring steady state powers generally works well, but it does have problems associated with it. Such problems include (1) certain appliances do not have a repeatable steady state power (e.g. the power consumed by a motor varies with the loading on that motor); (2) some appliances do not settle to a steady state power (e.g. the constant movement of the clothes inside a tumble dryer cause a time varying load on the motor and thus an oscillating power consumption); and (3) it is hard to differentiate between different load types (e.g. a motor and a fluorescent light) using only the steady state information.
In an attempt to overcome this third problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,153 (Leeb and Kirtley) make use of additional information contained in the transient signature of the load. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,153 discloses a 'transient event detector' which detects significant variations (so-called 'v-sections') in the power supply and attempts to match the shape of the observed v-section with previously observed v-sections by using transversal filters. Induction motors may be distinguished from fluorescent lamps in this way. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,153 identifies that certain load types (e.g. induction motors) have similarly shaped v-sections and thus builds into the system an ability to scale the reference v-section in both time and amplitude to attempt to match a load to a previously unidentified load. However, the method of U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,153 requires that the transient turn-on profiles are repeatable, whereas the torque of an induction motor is not constant with speed and so a non linear stretching in time of the transient can occur for the same motor with different loads. Furthermore, the v-section solution of U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,153 does not deal with problems (1) and (2) identified above.
The present invention aims to alleviate, at least partially, one or more of the above problems.

Identifying the operation of a specified type of appliance


A detachable saddle and a pad-replaceable saddle set are provided. The detachable saddle comprises a base, a pad and a fastening device, wherein the base has a top surface, the pad has a bottom surface, and the fastening device, disposed between the top surface of the base and the bottom surface of the pad, is adapted to detachably assemble and substantially form a cushion space between the base and the pad. The pad-replaceable saddle set comprises said base, said fastening device and a plurality of pads, wherein each pad is assembled with the base to form a complete detachable saddle. Thereby, cyclists may conveniently and readily detach and replace the pads of the pad-replaceable saddle set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a saddle, and more particularly, relates to a detachable saddle and a pad-replaceable saddle set thereof.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
In modern society, bicycle riding is not only used as a means of transportation but also for recreation and exercise. As a result, the requirements of the various parts of a bicycle have become more stringent. In particular, the saddle is of utmost importance to a rider. This is because the saddle provides the largest contact area between the rider and the bicycle and accommodates for a relatively high stress. Thus, the comfort, profile and weight of the saddle have become important factors that influence the purchase decision of users.
Different riders have different saddle preferences depending on the various riding environments, e.g., different road conditions, riding purposes or locations. For example, a rider that participates in road racing may prefer a light weight saddle with lower wind resistance and better air permeability for heat dissipation. In the case, the pad of the saddle that comes directly into contact with the rider's crotch should preferably be made of a carbon fiber composite with a plurality of ventilation holes formed thereon. On the other hand, the saddle of a bicycle used for general leisure purposes preferably features appropriate softness, cushioning capability and appropriate air permeability, so that the rider can sit comfortably on the saddle for a long period of time. For off-road riding, the rider will prefer a saddle with high air permeability and better cushioning capability. In addition, because there are different physiological structures of riders, saddles of different widths will be needed to accommodate each rider.
As previously described, the saddles have to be replaced according to various riding situations anywhere and anytime. On the other hand, because the top cover of the pad bears the greatest stress and frictional force, the saddle must be replaced as a whole once the top cover is worn. However, because of the lack of necessary skills and associated tools for replacing and adjusting the saddle, most riders go to the bicycle shop for repair, which can be costly and inconvenient.
Thus, a single saddle is not capable of meeting the diversified needs of a rider, and it is complex in procedure and uneconomical to replace the entire saddles to cater for the diversified needs. In view of this, it is highly desirable in the art to provide a detachable saddle that allows an easy and rapid detachment and replacement, and a pad-replaceable saddle set including a plurality of pads with different designs, widths, and styles.

Detachable saddle and pad-replaceable saddle set

International Bicycle Products Corporation


A master portion may introduce input data thereinto in a low level period of a clock and then hold and output the input data therefrom in a high level period of the clock. A slave portion may introduce input data thereinto in the high level period of the clock and then hold and output the input data therefrom in the low level period of the clock. Two exclusive NOR circuits may compare present logic values of the input data with logic values in a preceding half period of the clock to determine coincidences therebetween respectively, and then control output states of the input data held in the master portion and the slave portion based on results of their comparisons.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a logic storing circuit composed of an edge-triggered-latch capable of latching input data when it is triggered by edges of a driving clock, and a logic circuit including means for supplying the driving clock to the logic storing circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, as the edge-triggered-latch (abbreviated as an "FF" (Flip-Flop) hereinafter) of this type, two kinds of circuits have been known commonly, i.e., one is such a circuit that data can be latched when the circuit is triggered by only one of leading and trailing edges of the clock (referred to as a "single FF circuit" hereinafter) and the other is such a circuit that data can be latched when the circuit is triggered by both the leading and trailing edges of the clock (referred to as a "double FF circuit" hereinafter).
As shown in FIG. 1, the single FF circuit, which is indispensable for constituting a sequential logic circuit, is composed of a master latch portion 101 which is turned into a through state in an "L" level phase of a clock CK and a slave latch portion 102 which is turned into the through state in an "H" level phase of the clock CK, both being connected in series with each other. More particularly, the master latch portion 101 is made up of a transfer gate 103 which may transfer input data IN in the "L" level phase (Ma in FIG. 2) of the clock CK, and a latch 104 which consists of two inverters 104a, 104b. Similarly, the slave latch portion 102 is made up of a transfer gate 105 which may transfer an output of the latch 104 in the "H" level phase (Sa in FIG. 2) of the clock CK, and a latch 106 which consists of two inverters 106a, 106b.
In the single FF circuit constituted as above, as illustrated in a timing chart in FIG. 2, input data IN are latched and output data OUT are output when the single FF circuit is triggered only by such edges that the clock CK rises up from the "L" level to the "H" level, i.e., leading edges of the clock CK. The input data IN are not latched when the single FF circuit is triggered by such edges that the clock CK falls down from the "H" level to the "L" level.
FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a configuration of a clock tree portion for driving the single FF circuit shown in FIG. 1.
The clock tree portion consists of a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit 201 for generating an LSI internal clock (oscillation frequency f) to synchronize with an external clock CLK, and a clock buffer circuit 202 for driving the internal clock output from the PLL circuit 201. An output CK of the clock buffer circuit 202 is fed back to an input side of the PLL circuit 201 as a reference clock. This feed-back is to adjust the internal clock CK output from the clock buffer circuit 202 in phase so as to achieve coincidence of respective leading edges of the external clock CLK and the internal clock CK.
At the same time when the internal clock CK which is output from the clock buffer circuit 202 is supplied to the single FF circuit 301 via a signal line 203, an inverted signal CKB of the internal clock CK is also supplied to the single FF circuit 301 via an inverter 204.
In this manner, in the single FF circuit constructed as above, because of the circuit configuration, data can be latched only when the single FF circuit is triggered by one of edges of the clock. Hence, if the single FF circuit is applied to the high speed logic circuit, a frequency of the supplied clock has to be set higher. As a result, power consumption caused by switching operations in the clock tree portion would be increased. In addition, the single FF circuit is subjected conspicuously to the influence of parasitic inductance component when the high frequency clock is transferred therethrough. Hence, in order to adjust skew between local clocks distributed in respective regions of the chip and to suppress "rounding" of waveform of the clock, there is necessity of improvements in circuit design.
In order to overcome the problems of the supplied clock in the above single FF circuit, a double FF circuit shown in FIG. 4 has already been proposed wherein data can be latched to synchronize with both the leading and trailing edges of the clock.
In this double FF circuit, circuits in which output transfer gates 405, 408 are provided respectively to output stages of the master and slave latches 401, 402 are connected in parallel between clocks CK2 whose frequency is 1/2 of clock CK. The output transfer gates 405, 408 are opened and closed in an opposite phase of the clock to input transfer gates 403, 406. In FIG. 4, a reference 401 denotes a master latch portion; 402, a slave latch portion; 403, an input transfer gate of the master latch portion 401; 404, a latch circuit of the master latch portion 401; 405, an output transfer gate of the master latch portion 401; 406, an input transfer gate of the slave latch portion 402; 407, a latch circuit of the slave latch portion 402; and 408, an output transfer gate of the slave latch portion 402.
As would be evident from a timing chart illustrated in FIG. 5, in the double FF circuit having the above configuration, input data IN can be latched and output data OUT can be output when the double FF circuit is triggered by both the leading and trailing edges of the clock CK2.
FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a configuration of a clock tree portion for driving the double FF circuit shown in FIG. 4.
In the clock tree portion in FIG. 6, a PLL circuit 501 having a 1/2 oscillation frequency and a clock buffer circuit 502 having a twice driving force are provided in place of the PLL circuit 201 and the clock buffer circuit 202 in the configuration shown in FIG. 3. The internal clock CK2 output from the clock buffer circuit 502 is supplied to the double FF circuit 601 via a signal line 503 and at the same time an inverted signal CK2B of the internal clock CK2 is supplied to the double FF circuit 601 via an inverter 504.
With the above configuration, even if the clock CK2 having a frequency which is half of the clock CK being supplied to the single FF circuit is employed, the double FF circuit becomes equivalent in circuit function to the single FF circuit. Not only the influence of parasitic inductance component can be lessened because of reduction by half in the clock frequency to thus improve skew between the local clocks and "rounding" of the clock waveform, but also the switching frequency per unit time in the clock tree portion can be reduced to half in contrast to the single FF circuit. Therefore, reduction in power consumption can be expected by the above double FF circuit.
In the meanwhile, the single FF circuit and the double FF circuit as described above have been constructed to hold statically the logic value between the input and output transfer gates. On the contrary, a double FF circuit composed of a so-called dynamic latch has been known in the art (see Patent Application Publication Laid-open No. 6-237152).
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing another double FF circuit disclosed in the above Patent Application Publication in the prior art.
In this double FF circuit in FIG. 7, data of the master and slave latches can be held dynamically as charges accumulated respectively on nodes between clocked inverters 701, 702 and between clocked inverters 801,802. Taking account of the fact that to introduce newly the input logical value into either the master latch or the slave latch is not needed in the case that the input logical value and the output logical value are equal to each other, a new logical value can be latched by supplying a clock signal .phi. to the input side clocked inverters 701, 801 with the use of a circuit consisting of an EX-OR gate 901, an AND gate 902, and an OR gate 903 only in the case that the input logical value and the output logical value are not equal to each other.
However, in the double FF circuit shown in FIG. 4, the circuits provided on the output stages of the master and slave latches 401, 402 which are connected in parallel with each other are composed of the transfer gates 405, 408 which are controlled by the clock CK2. For this reason, gate capacitance load connected to the clock nodes becomes doubled in comparison with the single FF circuit shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, an advantage of reducing power consumption in the clock tree portion due to reduction in the clock frequency mentioned above has been canceled.
Then, in the double FF circuit disclosed in the Patent Application Publication and shown in FIG. 7, the clock signal .phi. used to control the overall circuit is supplied via the AND gate 902 and the OR gate 903 to the upper and lower clocked inverters 701, 801 which are provided in the vicinity of the input D, nevertheless the clock signal .phi. is supplied directly to the upper and lower clocked inverters 702, 802 which are provided in the vicinity of the output Q. In other words, as in the double FF circuit shown in FIG. 4, the number of logical devices connected to the clock nodes is four and therefore, like the above, the advantage of reducing power consumption in the clock tree portion has been canceled.


A method for dealing with the problem of simultaneous continuous readout of large number of data channels from the set of multiple sensors in instances where the use of multiple amplitude-to-digital converters is not practical or causes undesirable extra noise and distortion in the data. The new method uses sensor front-end s and subsequent electronics to transform the analog input signals and encode them into a series of short pulses that can be transmitted to a long distance via a high frequency transmission line without information loss. Upon arrival at a destination data decoder and analyzer device, the series of short pulses can be decoded and transformed back, to obtain, store, and utilize the sensor information with the required accuracy.

The problems associated with simultaneous and continuous data readout from a large number of data channels is common in modern industrial, engineering, or scientific installations, test setups, or continuous monitoring systems requiring prompt readout and collection of a large number of analog data readings from various detectors, monitors, and probes of different types (sensors). Many of such sensors provide, via their corresponding front-end electronics devices, electrical current (or Voltage) outputs, that need to be directed to current (or Voltage) meters, or current-, or Voltage-Amplitude-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), etc., in which the input signal levels are digitized and stored in the on-board memory of the ADC. A system capable of reading all the data acquisition systems into an on-line computer system for analyzing and utilizing of the measured data, and storing it in the archives is then used. In any case where the number of channels is large, the intermediate computer stations may need to specifically handle the ADC operation, and to provide the data flow to the main data acquisition system computer.
In many circumstances, due to radiation, temperature, humidity, or other environmental conditions, or due to limited access requirements, it is desirable to have the ADC stations and the control computers distant from the sensors. In such arrangements, there is a need for a large number of separate electric cables, or other means, to connect multiple sensors with the ADC inputs. Often such long cables become the source of undesirable extra noise and distortion in the data. Sometimes space limitations create difficulties in the use of such cables.
There thus remains a need for systems for the conversion and acquisition of signals from multiple sensors in systems using multiple amplitude to digital converters without the need for the installation of extended cabling that can introduce undesirable noise or distortion into transmitted data signals.

Method of multi-channel data readout and acquisition


A social networking system detects spam in comments posted by users of the social networking system. A spam prevention module of the social networking system retrieves content signals associated with a posted comment and analyzes the content signals to determine whether the posted comment contains spam content. The spam prevention module augments the content signal analysis by analyzing social signals of the posted comment. Based on the content signal analysis and the social signal analysis, the spam prevention module determines whether the posted comment is spam and takes remedial actions on detected spam, including blocking the comment and educating the user who posted the comment.

This invention relates to social networking systems and in particular to spam detection and prevention in a social networking system.
Social networking systems have become increasingly popular for users to create connections with friends and interact with each other in social networking sites. Social networking systems store social information provided by users including (but not limited to) hometown, current city, education history, employment history, photos, and events in which the user participated in the user's profile. Users use social networking systems to view other users' profiles, organize events, and invite friends to participate in those events. Social networking sites also commonly include newsfeeds and walls or profile pages on which users can post comments and communicate with other users.
Users within a social networking system are presumably connected based on trust and shared values/interests. However, the benefits of bringing people together by social networking systems are occasionally accompanied by inappropriate or unacceptable conduct by spammers, who post advertisements or random comments on a social networking user's wall associated with his networking site. For example, a spammer might post a hyperlink on a social networking user's wall that points to the spammer's website with the goal of artificially increasing the search engine ranking of that site so that it is listed above other sites in certain searches. In some cases, where a user on a social networking website clicks on the spammer's hyperlink, the spammer actually posts to the walls of that user's friends using the user's account or identity. Those friends see the hyperlink that appears to have come from a user they recognize, so they click on it and thus continue the propagation of the spam.
Another form of inappropriate or unacceptable conduct in a social networking system is when users post a large amount of useless and/or bad comments on a subscribed page. A subscribed page refers to a page of a public person (e.g., Lady Gaga), business, product, or other page to which a social networking user can subscribe or which a social networking user can "like" in order to form a connection with that page in the social networking system. Users who subscribe to a page will then be able to see posts that occur on that page and will be able to comment on those posts. Other users subscribing to the page will also be able see the comments. For example, posts by Lady Gaga on her page will be visible to all users who have subscribed to her page (i.e., the posts may appear in the newsfeed of users who have subscribed to or "liked" her page or the users can review Lady Gaga's posts by going to Lady Gaga's page). These users can also comment on her posts, including offensive and nonsense comments, and the users' comments will also be visible on her page or provided in a newsfeed to other users subscribing to her page.
The amount and types of information that can be shared in these social networking environments is vast, and a given user's network can grow over time as the user connects to more and more other users. Detecting spam in a social networking environment with a large variety of possible and fast changing social activities and behaviors is challenging. Conventional spam detection methods, e.g., spam detection based on voluntary user spam reports, or signature-based anti-spamming supported by extensive offline model building, are not suitable for spam detection in a social networking system. For example, the feature space in the social networking environment is too large to efficiently build effective spam fingerprints, and when a remedial action is taken based on user spam reports, users are already annoyed and harmed. To provide better services in a social networking system, it is helpful to detect and prevent spam in an online social networking environment in a scalable and efficient way.

Spam detection and prevention in a social networking system


A method and apparatus for a downstream router to inform an upstream router by use of packets of a new router command protocol that the upstream router is to forward multicast packets of a specified group to the downstream router. First the downstream router transmits a HELLO packet to upstream router to inform the upstream router that the downstream router is a multicast router implementing the invention. Then, in the event that the downstream router receives a packet from an end station requesting multicast packets of a particular group, in response the downstream router sends a JOIN packet to the upstream router. The JOIN packet requests that the upstream router forward the requested group multicast packets to the downstream router. When a multicast group packet arrives at the upstream router, the upstream router forwards the packet to those downstream routers requesting that group.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to multicast groups in a computer network, and more particularly to transmission of multicast groups from a router through a layer 2 switch to another router, which then distributes the packets to further downstream routers or to end stations.
2. Background Information
A network exchange point is often designed with a Layer 2 switch interconnecting a plurality of fast routers. The Layer 2 switch has a plurality of ports, and usually one router is connected to one port of the Layer 2 switch. Also, an end station may be directly connected to the Layer 2 switch.
An end node is spoken of as "desiring" to receive multicast packets of a particular multicast group, for example, in response to a user (person) executing a command to begin receiving the multicast group packets. An end node desiring to receive multicast group packets sends a relatively simple packet, referred to as an Internet Group Management Packet (IGMP) packet, to the first upstream router in order to execute a relatively simple multicast group join procedure. A router, in response to receiving an IGMP join packet, sends a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) join packet to other routers in order to execute a relatively complex multicast join procedure referred to as a "PIM join". The PIM join packet informs other routers that the new router requests multicast group traffic from a particular group. The IGMP protocol is described in RFC 1112 and RFC 2236, and the PIM protocol is described in RFC 2117 and RFC 2362, where an RFC is a Request for Comments published by the Internet Engineering Task Force, and all disclosures of these RFCs are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of an RFC may be downloaded from the IETF Web Site located at URL www.ietf.org.
In the event that a layer 2 switch interconnects the routers, a PIM join packet transmitted by a router and reaching the layer 2 switch is forwarded to each of the ports of the layer 2 switch connected to a multicast router. The PIM join packet is then ordinarily transmitted by the port to the multicast router. Routers receiving the PIM join packet respond in accordance with the PIM protocol to set up the multicast group distribution tree. A layer 2 switch forwards all multicast packets to all ports connected to a router, except it does not forward the multicast packet through the port from which the multicast packet arrived.
Multicast data traffic may arrive at the Layer 2 switch from any one of the multicast routers connected to it. The Layer 2 switch then transmits all multicast data packets through each port connected to a multicast router. That is, the Layer 2 switch does not discriminate between different multicast groups and the routers which need to receive packets of a particular group. The Layer 2 switch simply transmits all multicast group packets to all multicast routers by transmitting multicast packets through the ports connected to the multicast routers.
Accordingly, each of the routers receives multicast group packets which it does not need. This redundant traffic is unwanted.
In the event that an end station is connected to a layer 2 switch, the IGMP packet which the end station sends to a router passes through the layer 2 switch. The layer 2 switch, if enabled, may use "IGMP snooping" to examine the contents of an IGMP packet. In examining the contents of an IGMP packet, the layer 2 switch reads the group address, and in response, forwards only multicast traffic of the group requested to the end station.
There is needed a method to have a Layer 2 switch transmit multicast group traffic to only those routers which need packets of a particular multicast group.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multicast system for forwarding desired multicast packets in a computer network


The tank/canister volume's integrity against unacceptable leakage is either confirmed or denied by a diagnostic test performed by an on-board diagnostic system which includes an electrically operated air pump and tank-mounted analog pressure transducer. At the beginning of a test, the engine management computer closes the canister purge solenoid valve and operates the pump to begin pressurization of the tank/canister volume. The pumped air is introduced via the canister's atmospheric vent port so that the pressurizing air is entrained with fuel vapors previously collected in, but not yet purged from, the canister. Failure to build to a predetermined pressure within a predetermined time indicates a gross leak. Upon attainment of the predetermined pressure, the pump is shut off. If the pressure drops by more than a certain amount during the test, integrity is denied. If not, integrity is confirmed.

A typical evaporative emission control system in a modern automotive vehicle comprises a vapor collection canister that collects volatile fuel vapors generated in the fuel tank. During conditions conducive to purging, the canister is purged to the engine intake manifold by means of a canister purge system that comprises a canister purge solenoid valve that is operated by an engine management computer. The canister purge valve is opened in an amount determined by the computer to allow the intake manifold vacuum to draw vapors from the canister through the valve into the engine.
U.S. governmental regulations require that certain future automobiles that are powered by volatile fuel such as gasoline have their evaporative emission control systems equipped with on-board diagnostic capability for determining if a leak is present in a portion of the system which includes the fuel tank and the canister. One proposed response to that requirement is to connect a normally open solenoid valve in the canister vent, and to energize the solenoid when a diagnostic test is to be conducted. A certain vacuum is drawn in a portion of the system which includes the tank headspace and the canister, and with the canister and the tank headspace not being vented due to the closing of the canister vent, a certain loss of vacuum over a certain time will be deemed due to a leak. Loss of vacuum is detected by a transducer mounted on the fuel tank. Because of the nature of the construction of typical fuel tanks, a limit is imposed on the magnitude of vacuum that can be drawn. Too large a vacuum will result in deformation and render the measurement meaningless. In order to avoid this problem, a relatively costly vacuum transducer is required. Since typical automotive vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines which draw intake manifold vacuum, such vacuum may be used for performance of the diagnostic test, but typically this requires that the engine be running in order to perform the test.
The invention disclosed in commonly assigned allowed application Ser. No.: 07/770,009, filed Oct. 2, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,870 issued Mar. 9, 1993, provides a solution to the leak detection problem which is significantly less costly. The key to that solution is a new and unique vacuum regulator/sensor which is disposed in the conduit between the canister purge solenoid and the canister. The vacuum regulator/sensor is like a vacuum regulator but with the inclusion of a switch that is used to provide a signal indicating the presence or the absence of a leak. A diagnostic test is performed by closing the tank vent and using the engine manifold vacuum to draw, via the canister purge solenoid valve and the vacuum regulator/sensor, a specified vacuum in the tank headspace and canister. Upon the requisite vacuum having been drawn, the vacuum regulator/sensor closes to trap the drawn vacuum. If unacceptable leakage is present, a certain amount of vacuum will be lost within a certain amount of time, and that occurrence causes the switch of the vacuum regulator/sensor to give a signal indicating that condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,902 discloses a diagnostic system and method for evaluating the integrity of a portion of the canister purge system that includes the tank and canister by means of positive pressurization rather than negative pressurization (i.e., rather than by drawing vacuum). In certain canister purge systems, such a diagnostic system and method may afford certain advantages over the system and method described in the aforementioned commonly assigned allowed patent application.
For example, certain types of leaks, for example cracked hoses and faulty gas caps, may be more susceptible to successful detection. Moreover, the evaporative emission control system may be diagnosed either with or without the automobile's engine running. One means to perform positive pressurization of the fuel tank's headspace and the canister is a devoted electric-operated air pump, which can be of quite simple construction, and therefore relatively inexpensive. If the vehicle already contains a source of suitably pressurized air, that could constitute another means, thereby eliminating the need for a separate devoted pump. Another means for performing positive pressurization of the tank's headspace is a vacuum-actuated, electrically controlled pump. If such a pump is actuated by engine intake manifold vacuum, then the engine must be run to perform the test.
A further benefit of positive pressurization over negative pressurization is that the increased pressure suppresses the rate of fuel vapor generation in the tank, and such attenuation of fuel vapor generation during a diagnostic test reduces the likelihood that the test will give, under hot weather conditions which promote fuel vapor generation, a false signal that would erroneously confirm the integrity of the canister and tank whereas the same test during cold weather would indicate a leak.
According to the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,902, atmospheric air is pumped directly into the fuel tank's headspace where it is entrained with fuel vapor that is already present. Concern has been expressed about pumping air directly into the fuel tank particularly if for some reason the pump continued to pump beyond the time when it should have shut off. Overpressurization of the tank headspace and vapor collection canister may create atypical pressures and/or air-fuel ratios in the canister/tank headspace. One possible consequence of overpressurization is that some fuel vapor may be forced out the atmospheric vent of the canister.
The present invention relates to a means for introducing the pumped air into the evaporative emission system that can alleviate the tendency toward such consequences; specifically it relates to introducing the pumped air into the evaporative emission system through an atmospheric vent port of the canister after that port has been closed to atmosphere by the closing of a canister vent solenoid (CVS) valve through which the canister is otherwise vented to atmosphere during non-test times.
Should the air pump continue to run for any reason after a diagnostic test has concluded, the pumped air will not be forced into the tank headspace. The pumped air will not even enter the canister, but rather will be returned to atmosphere through the CVS valve which re-opens at test conclusion to relieve the tank test pressure.
The canister contains an internal medium that collects fuel vapors so that the vapors do not pass to the atmospheric vent port. During a diagnostic test, air pumped into the canister vent port must pass through that medium before it can enter the tank headspace, and consequently it is fuel vapor laden air, rather than merely air alone, that pressurizes the tank headspace.
Further specific details of the construction and arrangement of the inventive system, and of the method of operation thereof, along with additional features and benefits, will be presented in the ensuing description.
Drawings accompany this disclosure and portray a presently preferred embodiment of the invention according to the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

Positive pressure canister purge system integrity confirmation


A first computer receives a first message that includes an electronic attachment from a second computer over a communications network. The first computer saves the electronic attachment in a storage device. The first computer removes the electronic attachment from the first message. The first computer adds a link to the first message; wherein the link permits access to download the saved electronic attachment. The first computer sends to a third computer the first message including the link that permits access to download the saved electronic attachment.

One of the reasons for the proliferation of email as a means of communication has been the ability to attach documents. In general, any document in any format can be sent to nearly any part of the world. As email is increasingly utilized as a medium for collaboration and document exchange, the underlying cost associated with sending an email has proportionately increased as administration, bandwidth, and storage costs rise. A major cause of this cost is email attachments, which can make up more than 85% of all email data. It has been estimated that approximately 20% of all emails contain attachments, while as much as 92% of email resources are consumed by attachments.
Test results have demonstrated that as emails with attachments pass through email servers the average processing loads on the email servers are substantially higher for emails with attachments when compared to emails without attachments. As more emails with attachments are sent out, the server load levels may proportionately increase. In many cases, out of the total number of email attachments, many of documents are not original documents, but rather revisions or duplicates. Often, it can be challenging to collate numerous versions of an attachment together to form a final version. In addition, at any given time, none of the recipients are guaranteed to have the latest version of the attachment.
In a world of heightened security, email attachments can represent a point of vulnerability for many document security plans. Once shared, an attachment can become a type of public property where the recipients are able to do whatever they want with the attachment. In general, the sender of an attachment has little control over the access rights to the attachment, neither can the sender control what the recipients can do with the attachment.

Minimizing the effects of email attachments on communication networks

International Business Machines Corporation


The shifting and recharging of an emotional state with word sequencing is disclosed. A selection of a first word sequence set is received from the user. The word sequence set is defined by a mood recharging characteristic value, and includes a plurality of words each with at least one corresponding definition. A first one of the plurality of words in the selected first word sequence set is displayed. Then, a first one of the at least one corresponding definition of the first one of the plurality of words in the first word sequence set is displayed while the first one of the plurality of words remains displayed. The definition remains displayed for a time duration corresponding to a predefined cadence rate value. The user is prompted with a question related to the mood recharging characteristic value and associated with the first word sequence set.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to mood improvement techniques, and more particularly, to personalized word sequencing methods and systems in accessible devices for shifting and recharging emotional states.
2. Related Art
Contemporary life in all but the most secluded places far from civilization tends to be a chaotic and turbulent experience that places a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety on the individual. Although the harm to emotional well-being that results from major calamities and stressors such as natural disasters, recessions, terrorism, crime, and the like cannot be marginalized, daily demands of the workplace and of the home are significant sources of emotional unrest. For instance, workers are universally under pressure to handle increasing workloads with fewer resources, with ever-decreasing time away from the job to adequately decompress and recharge one's emotions. The problem of occupational stress can be exacerbated by toxic work environments, bullying and harassment, and other inter-personal conflicts with colleagues at various levels. Further, upon leaving work at the end of the day, there may be additional stressors such as family care obligations and tedious household tasks. What should otherwise be a relaxing experience in watching television programs or consuming media such as newspapers and magazines may be agitating and demoralizing at the same time because of all of the negativity expressed therein. Hurtful and egregious comments are not limited to the media, and can come from anyone within an individual's sphere of influence including family, friends, and acquaintances.
What the foregoing amounts to, is a constant, never-ending accumulation of emotional turmoil leading to confusion, disappointment, fear, and unhappiness, the likes of which have a debilitating effect on the homeostasis of humankind. Well understood and documented in the medical literature, emotional unrest induced by acute stressors activates neuronal communications between the heart and the brain. The heart is now considered by many scientists and neurocardiologists to be the primary receptive organ of incoming stressors. The biochemical reactions that follow as a result of incoming stressors may result in the classic "fight or flight" systemic reaction experienced by the body. This reaction causes significant changes in heart rate variability, blood pressure, breathing patterns, hormonal secretions, and sleep patterns affecting every organ system in the body. Acute and chronic emotional unrest suppresses the immune system, rendering an individual more susceptible to common diseases. Examples of unhealthy states associated with emotional unrest are gastrointestinal problems, headache syndromes and assorted back pain syndromes. Significant suppression of the immune system will hinder repair of mutated DNA, which has been linked to the development of cancer.
Aside from the aforementioned somatic effects, emotional unrest is known to be the cause of depression, alcoholism and other substance abuse, and suicide, among many others. It is also known to trigger the onset of schizophrenia, manic episodes, and various psychotic disorders.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of time, energy, and escalating healthcare costs, many individuals suffering under the burdens of emotional unrest neglect to seek assistance. In many cases, the individual is too embarrassed or ashamed due to the instilled belief that one is not mentally strong or resilient enough to deal with the stress, and continues to suffer in silence. To the extent professional help is sought, psychiatry and its related disciplines are increasingly relying upon psychopharmacology to manage emotional unrest. The mechanism-of-action of these drugs is not well understood and is currently being challenged. Problematically, the ineffectiveness of these drugs as reported by researchers, coupled with the serious warnings of possible suicidal and homicidal ideation, raises questions of sustainability.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an affordable, mobile, non-drug, rapid delivery modality to impact emotional turmoil. There is a need in the art for systems and methods that target emotional conditions, and are readily accessible for individuals engaged in busy lifestyles.

Shifting and recharging of emotional states with word sequencing


Hose belt conveyor (1), comprising an elongated belt 2) which can be folded to a closed hose. At the edges it is provided with thickened parts (3) which are placed resting against each other during the formation of the hose. These thickened parts bound a V-shaped part which widens in the direction away from the hose which has been formed by the belt (2). The V-shaped part is placed between two drive rollers (12). By selecting the angle of the V-shaped part between 30 and 90.degree., it has been found that it is possible to provide for the hose belt conveyor (1) to be driven like a V-belt. The invention also relates to a drive unit (7) for the above-described hose belt conveyor.

Such a hose belt conveyor is known from the German Offenlegungsschrift 4,036,731. To drive the adjacent thickened parts the abutting sides are provided with opposed recesses to accommodate a wire structure comprising two interconnected wires. These wires have to transmit driving forces.
This structure is relatively complicated but necessary to guarantee sufficient drive for the thickened parts.
From the British patent application 2,007,178 a hose belt conveyor is known wherein the thickened parts are trapezium-shaped. When these thickened parts lie against each other, a V is formed with an angle greater than 120.degree.. The two parts of the V may be supported on rollers, as shown in FIG. 3 of this British Patent Specification. It is necessary here for the thickened parts to be pressed against each other, and this is achieved by making the rollers stepped. The first part acts upon the above-described V-forming part, while the second part of the rollers connects to the top side of the trapezium of each of the thickened parts. This means that the rollers have to be of relatively complex design and that a considerable measurement tolerance is necessary. If the distance between the parallel outsides of the thickened parts is reduced through wear, it will be necessary to adapt the spacing of the raised sides of the rollers. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide for the rollers to move relative to one another. In the case of the design according to this British Patent Specification, the drive is by means of a pair of rollers which enclose the trapezium-shaped thickened part on all sides. Such a drive is relatively complex and, as in the case of conventional conveyor belts, is generally provided at only one place. This makes it necessary for the belt to be provided with longitudinal reinforcements for absorbing the driving forces produced by the single drive motor and extending over the length of the belt. Such a drive also means that the length of such belts is limited, because the driving forces would otherwise become too great for the longitudinal reinforcement, or because otherwise the belt becomes expensive.
From the PCT-application 93/08107 a hose belt conveyor is known wherein the sides abutting each other are perpendicular to the extension of the hose belt. It is not possible to clamp the thickened parts between two V-shaped driving or guiding members.
The invention aims to provide a more simplified design for hose belt conveyors.

Hose belt conveyor, and drive assembly therefor


A brakeshoe having a backing plate formed with a seat recess opening at a face, is provided with a brakeshoe wear sensor held in place by a U-shaped spring clip. The clip is formed with a pair of legs extending generally parallel to each other and spaced so as to fit around the sensor and a front end extending between the legs and joining same together. The legs and front end fit wholly in the seat recess between the sensor and the backing plate and bear on the sensor and backing plate. A bent-out tab projects transversely from each of the legs and bears outside the recess on the face of the backing plate.

Brakeshoe wear sensors mounted on a brakeshoe backing plate, detecting wear of a brakeshoe of a disk brake of a motor vehicle, and generating an output signal are known, for example, from DE 34 25 870, DE 32 30 266, DE 31 32 054, DE 43 40 452, DE 39 04 673, DE 70 47 480, or DE 695 07 820.
A generic holder for a brakeshoe wear sensor in a brakeshoe backing plate of a disk brake of a vehicle is known from DE 10 2006 016 851. In this holder a spring clip is also used in which each spring clip leg is designed at least in sections in a corrugated manner such that it has at least four contact points, of which adjacent ones are spaced at least slightly from each other on the brakeshoe backing plate and/or on the sensor housing so that the wear sensor is held substantially without play in the seat on account of the spring action generated by the several contact points. This basically satisfactory spring-clip holder brings ensures that the wear sensor is held under spring force in the seat of the brakeshoe backing plate. As a result of this design of the spring clip noise problems occurring under adverse circumstances are partially but not completely eliminated because it was found in the operation of disk brakes in vehicles that in spite of this known design of the spring clip noise problems still occur.

Spring clip for mounting a sensor on a disk-brake brakeshoe backing plate


The sample introduction device includes a nebulizer that atomizes a sample liquid; a spray chamber that has one end into which a spray port part of the nebulizer is inserted and the other end from which at least a part of liquid droplets of the sample liquid sprayed from the spray port part is discharged to an outside; and a heating electromagnetic wave radiation unit that is arranged outside the spray chamber, wherein the heating electromagnetic wave radiation unit performs radiation of heating electromagnetic waves from the outside of the spray chamber toward at least a part of the spray chamber other than a part into which the spray port part of the nebulizer is inserted.

In order to atomize a sample liquid and introduce the atomized sample liquid into an analyzing unit as liquid droplets, a sample introduction device including a nebulizer (atomizer) and a spray chamber is provided in various analyzing devices (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-157895, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Sample introduction device, inductively coupled plasma analyzing device and analyzing method

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


The invention comprises a scalable, configurable “propulsor” system. A propulsor system is an assembly of individual propulsors that act in concert to form a substantially continuous control surface that undulates in a working fluid. Each propulsor is driven and configured by computer-controlled actuators so that the control surface undulates in various wave forms. Optional actuators that may refine the surface shape include an “orientation” actuator that drives rotation about the propulsor's longitudinal axis, and a “geometry” actuator that controls each propulsor's geometric configuration.

Within the last hundred years, autonomous machines that perform useful tasks have emerged slowly from the realm of science fiction into a field of infinite practical application. More commonly known as "robots," such machines have been used for industrial automation, space exploration, and even cleaning house. Advances in robotics and miniaturization technology in recent years also have brought the possibility of micro-scale robots to the brink of reality. Combined with parallel advances in biotechnology, including the potential for DNA and other bio-molecules to provide power and control to artificial systems, see IBM Uncovers New Biomechanical Phenomenon, at http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/news.20000414_fingers.html?Open&printable (Apr. 14, 2000) (last visited Dec. 14, 2004) [hereinafter Biomechanical Phenomenon], such "micro-robots" could hold the key to new medical treatments. As noted by J. E. Avron et al. in Swimming microbots: Dissipation, optimal stroke and scaling, at http://physics.technion.ac.il/˜avron/files/pdf/optimal-swim-12.pdf (Mar. 25, 2004) (last visited Dec. 9, 2004) [hereinafter Swimming Microbots], "The micron scale is sufficiently large to accommodate complex internal structures—a prerequisite to an autonomous smart device—and at the same time, is small enough to interface with functional microscopic biological systems." According to researchers at International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), micro-robots "could make it possible to determine on the spot if chest pain is caused by a heart attack or a more benign problem, saving time and potentially lowering treatment costs substantially." Biomechanical Phenomenon, supra. The researchers also envision a system for attacking cancerous growth: "the release of just the proper doses of chemicals in the appropriate location of the body could be achieved using tiny microcapsules equipped with nano-valves . . . . They could be programmed chemically to open only when they get biochemical signals from a targeted tumor type. This would enable the right therapy at the right place at the right time, with minimized side effects and no invasive surgery." Id. Others have proposed surgical micro-robots that "provide a novel and minimally invasive method of kidney stone destruction." See Jon Edd et al., Biomimetic Propulsion for a Swimming Surgical Micro-Robot, at http://www.me.cmu.edu/faculty1/sitti/nano/publications/_iros03_last.PDF (last visited Dec. 8, 2004) [hereinafter Biomimetic Propulsion].
But developing micro-robots for biological applications is replete with novel challenges, not the least of which is developing a biologically safe propulsion system that can operate while submersed in unusual fluid media—such as blood, saliva, or even spinal fluid—at the micron scale. Edd et al. propose a propulsion system for their swimming surgical micro-robot that mimics the natural propulsion systems of bacteria and spermatozoa. Biomimetic Propulsion, supra. Bacteria locomotion is, of course, particularly adapted to the viscous fluids in found in biological systems. Id. For these systems, which rely on flagella and cilia to swim, propulsion is achieved through "effective use of the viscous drag produced from the spinning tail . . . . Whereas typical motors exhibit undesirable effects due to the increased influence of viscosity, flagella and cilia depend completely on this to function." Id. Thus, Edd et al. proposes to use carbon nanotubes to create synthetic flagella, which propel the micro-robot. Id. Carbon nanotubes, according to Edd et al., are an ideal choice inasmuch as they are "sufficiently elastic to allow easy conformation into a helical shape when revolved in a viscous medium" and have "relatively non-reactive surfaces with strong covalent bonds to minimize any degradation caused by the biological surroundings." Id. Carbon nanotubes also can be fabricated at the micron scale in relatively short time. Id. But as the authors confess, "This system contains components of many different scales, significantly increasing the difficulty of fabrication." Id. Moreover, while theoretically provocative and ostensibly safe to biological systems, the system proposed by Edd et al. is unproven and, thus, potentially unreliable.
Of course, marine propulsion systems have been developing for centuries—from oars and sails to jet devices and nuclear drives. On large marine vessels, the screw propeller is probably the most common propulsion device, but centrifugal pumps also are frequently used to move a vessel through water. Lesser known alternatives to propellers and pumps, though, have been inspired by the naturally efficient propulsion systems of fish and other marine life. In 1964, for instance, the United States Patent & Trademark Office issued a patent for a "Hydrodynamic Traveling Wave Propulsion Apparatus," which purports to simulate "the undulating motion made by the body of a swimming fish." U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,043 (issued Oct. 27, 1964). Other notable devices include an "Undulating Surface Driving System," U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,702 (issued Dec. 7, 1965), a "Mechanism for Generating Wave Motion," U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,294 (issued Feb. 29, 2000), and a "Fluid Forcing Device," U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,666 (issued Mar. 18, 1997); see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,342 (issued Oct. 13, 1998) (a "Fluid Forcing Device with a Fluted Roller Drive"). These propulsion systems are described in more detail below, but in general, each of these systems includes an undulating control surface that interacts with the surrounding fluid (water) to produce reactionary forces that propel a vessel through the fluid.
The '043 patent, issued to Charles Momsen, Jr. discloses a traveling wave propulsion system mounted on a submarine. Momsen's propulsion system comprises a variable-speed motor that drives a plurality of valves, which, in turn, control the expansion or contraction of a plurality of expandable "members or cells" mounted on the hull and enclosed in flexible elastic membranes. Each valve causes a cell to expand and contract in "timed relation" to other cells, thus expanding and contracting a portion of a membrane during each revolution of the valve so that the membrane "is manipulated substantially in the shape of a traveling sine wave, the wave traveling along the length of the membrane in continuous repetition as long as the mechanism is operated." The undulating membranes react with the surrounding water to provide propulsive forces to the vessel. For a single vessel, Momsen indicates that a plurality of such propulsion devices "are mounted equidistantly around the circumference of the submarine." Generally, each propulsion device is oriented lengthwise along the hull. Momsen further discloses a basic control system, in which the "traveling sine wave" travels from bow to stem for forward motion, and from stem to bow for reverse motion. Lateral control is provided by operating membranes on only one side of the vessel. Similarly, vertical control is provided by operating membranes on either the top or bottom of the vessel.
The '702 patent, issued to Chester A. Clark, describes a similar device for propelling torpedoes, submarines, or other cylindrical-shaped vessel. The inner surface of the cylindrical body is provided with "a plurality of axially aligned tubular openings that serve as bearing surfaces for elongated rotary valves inserted into the tubular openings." The cylindrical body also comprises "equally spaced axially aligned apertures through the surface thereof meeting with the elongated tubular openings to permit fluid flow through the valves and through the aperture in the body." Alternating valves permit expansion and contraction of an expansible material in timed relationship. Contraction of the expansible material is produced by the pressure of the surrounding water, which acts against the fluid pressure within the expansible covering. Thus, the expansible covering under the influence of the pressure pump and the surrounding pressure takes the shape of a sine-like wave that travels along the length of the body. The motion provides propulsion to the vessel or device. Unlike Momsen's device, though, Clark's device comprises a single flexible membrane that encompasses the entire vessel.
The '294 patent, issued to John H. Saringer, describes another apparatus for generating wave motion that "can be adapted for numerous applications including . . . propulsion systems." Like Momsen and Clark, Saringer discloses an apparatus having a "flexible" member driven by mechanical means to create a traveling wave form. Saringer describes the mechanical means for driving the flexible member as an apparatus comprising a crank assembly mounted on a frame, with the crank assembly having an axis of rotation and being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The apparatus includes at least two beams, each beam having "at least one crank attachment position radially offset from the axis of rotation and being attached to the crank assembly at the crank attachment position." The crank attachment positions are offset from each other by "a pre-selected angular displacement." Thus, each beam oscillates in a plane when the crank assembly is rotated, and produces a traveling wave in the flexible member.
The '666 patent, issued to Ching Y. Au, discloses yet another recent embodiment traveling wave systems. Au's "fluid forcing device," though, departs from the "flexible membrane" approach. Instead, Au's device comprises a "multiplicity of elements rotating around a central axle," arranged in such a way that the ends of the elements form a pre-determined wave. Each element has a solid composite type of anti-friction bearing that also serves to maintain a small clearance between adjacent elements. The clearance between elements is just big enough to prevent rubbing between elements, but small enough to act as a "dynamic seal" between elements (thus obviating the need for a flexible membrane).
The conventional propulsion systems described above typically are powered with a variety of motors, including steam turbines, gas turbines, combustion engines, or electric motors. But converting such devices into micro- or nano-scale devices for biological applications is problematic. Propellers and pumps, for instance, generally require bearings and seals that are difficult to manufacture or assemble at such small scales. Propellers and pumps also are a potential hazard to delicate biological systems, and additional care must be taken when designing systems for biological applications. Pumps, in particular, are susceptible to taking in and destroying objects from surrounding fluid. And while propellers are vulnerable to damage from foreign objects in a fluid, the more significant concern in a biological application is the potential damage that a propeller could cause to objects in or bounding the fluid. The alternative undulating surface systems described above, though, pose no such risks in biological applications. Thus, what is needed is such a system that can be assembled and can operate on the micron scale.


Techniques for testing a wireless communications device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system and method for testing a wireless communications device. The method may comprise generating an audio test signal. The audio test signal may be transmitted to a wireless communication device through a wireless base station simulator via a VoIP application. The method may also comprise receiving an output signal, where the output signal may be generated by the wireless communication device and transmitted to a telecoil probe. The method may further comprise processing the output signal by comparing the output signal with the audio test signal.

Modern hearing aids are capable of receiving an audio signal directly from an audio source, such as a wireless communication device. For example, a hearing aid may contain an integrated T-coil component to receive the audio signal from the wireless communication device over a magnetic field. Due to the nature of wireless communication, T-coil technology is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"), which requires wireless communication devices implementing T-coil functionality to be thoroughly tested to ensure compatibility and compliance with FCC regulations. However, no method currently exists to provide testing of T-coil compatibility associated with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal. In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may be significant problems and shortcomings associated with current testing technologies.

Techniques for testing compatibility of a wireless communication device


Provided is an organic light emitting display including a pixel circuit unit prepared over a substrate and comprising a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs), and an organic light emitting device or diode (OLED) electrically connected to the pixel circuit unit. The pixel circuit unit and the OLED are connected through a repair unit comprising a semiconductor material, in order to facilitate easy repair.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an organic light emitting device display and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Technology
A flat panel display such as an organic light emitting display or a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a pixel circuit unit including a thin film transistor (TFT) and a capacitor, and each pixel circuit unit is connected to an organic light emitting device or diode (OLED).
As the resolution of a flat panel display becomes higher, the number of pixels becomes larger and their integrity is enhanced. Also, as the size of a flat panel display becomes larger, defective pixels are more likely to occur. In particular, for a large-sized flat panel display, since the number of panels formed on a mother substrate becomes smaller, the production yield of a flat panel display is significantly affected because the entire mother substrate including a defective panel needs to be discarded. Accordingly, a repairable pixel structure and a method of repairing the same, which are suitable for a high resolution and large-sized flat panel display, are required.

Organic light emitting device display and manufacturing method thereof