A nozzle for continuously generating a foam is used for the purpose of bathing, cleaning, fire extinguishing, sterilizing or the like. The nozzle includes as essential components a chemical agent liquid mixture preparing unit, a cylindrical holder to be held in by a user's hand, an injection nozzle attached to the foremost end of the holder for ejecting a chemical agent liquid mixture as a spray, a cylindrical sleeve secured to the holder with a diameter larger than that of the holder, air intake ports formed through the cylindrical sleeve, and a screen fixedly secured to the foremost end of the cylindrical sleeve for allowing a mixture of the ejected spray and the introduced air to collide therewith and thereby generate a foam. The distance between the injection nozzle and the screen can be adjusted, and moreover, the flow rate of air to be introduced into the cylindrical sleeve through the intake air ports can be adjusted. To this end, the cylindrical sleeve is displaceably threadably engaged with the holder and an annular adjustment cover is displaceably fitted around the cylindrical sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a foam generating nozzle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a nozzle for continuously generating foam wherein the nozzle can be employed for the purpose of bathing, cleaning, fire extinguishing, sterilizing or the like by continuously ejecting from the nozzle a spray of a chemical agent liquid mixture and then generating an air filled foam.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known that when a chemical agent properly selected for its intended application such as cleaning, fire extinguishing or the like is ejected in the form of foam, cleaning, fire extinguishing or the like can be achieved at a high efficiency with the chemical agent consumed in a small quantity, since the chemical agent remains at a predetermined location or in a predetermined region for a long time.
In view of the above, in recent years, can-shaped containers each having a comparatively small volume while containing chemical agents and high pressure gas or compressed air are practically used as fire extinguishers or as cleaners for a bath tub, a kitchen or other household articles by ejection of the chemical agents in the form of a foam. However, since each of the conventional can-shaped containers contains chemical agents and high pressure gas in only a limited small quantity, their practical application is unavoidably restricted within a narrow range. In other words, they can be used only in a case where chemical agents and high pressure gas, in the form of a foam are required in a small quantity. Another problem is that the so-called flon gas has been usually used in the can-shaped containers of the aforementioned type.
When a large quantity of chemical agents is used in the form of a foam, the chemical agents and high pressure gas are filled at an increased cost. For this reason, it is necessary to develop improved technical means for easily filling each can shaped container with a large quantity of chemical agents and high pressure gas.
An example of a foam generating nozzle serving as means for generating a large amount of chemical foam is the foam type fire extinguisher disclosed Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-259874. According to this prior art, an injector type nozzle tip is disposed in a sleeve for the nozzle so that foam generating liquid is introduced into the fire extinguisher by the action of negative pressure induced by a jet stream of pressurized water to mix the foregoing liquid with the pressurized water. The resultant liquid mixture is ejected through the nozzle tip toward a deflector disposed in front of the nozzle tip so that it collides with the deflector to thereby form a foam serving as a fire extinguishing chemical agent. In addition, a movable sleeve is displaceably received in the nozzle sleeve so as to allow the distance between the foremost end of the movable sleeve and the deflector to be properly adjusted in order to eject or spray the fire extinguishing agent directly toward an item to be extinguished.
The fire extinguisher constructed according to the foregoing prior art is intended to generate a large amount of foam serving as a fire extinguishing agent, using a large quantity of high pressure water. Thus, when this fire extinguisher is employed for an individual dwelling house, use with low pressure tap water causes a number of problems noted below. Specifically, with mixing means having an injector type nozzle tip, a small magnitude of aspirating force is generated by the stream of low pressure water, resulting in a failure in the introduction of the foamable chemical agent into the fire extinguisher. In addition, since the liquid mixture has a comparatively low pressure, only a small quantity of foam is generated when it collides with the plate-shaped deflector. Additionally, due to the fact that the foam generating means, including the deflector, does not include any adjusting means, when pressure of the pressurized water or the kind of chemical agent is changed, the fire extinguisher can not cope with the change, and moreover, can not adjust the physical properties of the foam.
As is apparent from the above description, the conventional fire extinguisher for generating a foam of a chemical agent liquid mixture can not be employed for all of various kinds of applications such as cleaning, fire extinguishing and others. Thus, there arises the need to provide a plurality of foam generating nozzles corresponding to all the foregoing applications.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to acquiring information from the worldwide web, organizing information acquired from the worldwide web, and using the acquired and organized information to facilitate web-page searching, web-page browsing, and other worldwide-web-based activities. In one embodiment of the present invention, a database of concept objects is created from an initial set of semantic objects and from hyperlink information obtained from web pages by one or more web crawlers. The initial set of semantic objects is processed using hyperlink based objects created by the web crawler. The processed semantic objects are then associated with additional hyperlink-based objects to create a concept-object database. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the concept-object database can be further refined and supplemented in an automated fashion by additional web crawling, subsequent association of hyperlink-based objects with concept objects, and creation of new concept objects as well as by user input to, and editing of, the concept-object database. The concept-object database may be employed, in various embodiments of the present invention, to facilitate web browsing, web-page searching, and other worldwide-web-base activities.

Development of the Internet, during the past 30 years, development and widespread adoption of personal computers during the past 25 years, and development of the HyperText Markup Language ("HTML") and web browsers, during the 1990's, has led to rapid development of the worldwide web. The worldwide web is a distributed repository of information encoded in HTML documents and various types of audio, video, graphical, application-specific, and other files, data, and executables referenced from HTML documents. HTML documents are accessed by users from hundreds of thousands of web-page servers distributed throughout the world and are rendered for graphical display as web pages by web browsers running on the users' computers. Development of the worldwide web has, in turn, spawned enormous commercial activity through on-line stores and trading communities and through development of powerful and enormously commercially successful information-acquisition tools, such as the Yahoo and Google search engines. Few technical advances have had greater and more immediate social and commercial impact.
The stunning success and rapid adoption of the worldwide web has also also spawned a number of technological problems. Although the worldwide web is now a vast repository of millions of documents related to almost every possible topic, the information contained within the millions of HTML documents, and media files referenced from the HTML documents, is largely unstructured. Current search tools, including the Yahoo and Google search engines, provide keyword and key-symbol searches made possible by vast indexes of compiled word-and-symbol occurrences within web pages. These indexes are created and continuously supplemented by constant, automated access of web pages, parsing of the accessed web pages to extract words and symbols contained within the web pages, and creation of, and addition of data to, large, electronic databases that index the web pages by word and symbol occurrence. While keyword searches are powerful tools for finding information within the millions of HTML documents that reside within the worldwide web, keyword and key-symbol searching is typically imprecise. A keyword search often returns hundreds, thousands, or even greater numbers of undesired HTML documents and, at the same time, often fails to find large numbers of HTML documents that pertain to subject matter to which the keyword search is directed. Keyword searching may also be difficult to incorporate within other web-page browsing activities related to information acquisition from web pages.
These well-recognized and increasingly user-perceptible deficiencies in keyword searching have led to many different proposals for reorganizing the worldwide web and/or accessing information stored within the worldwide web. Certain of the proposals would require massive and fundamental changes to the current structure of, and information-encoding used in, the worldwide web. Others involve sophisticated machine-learning and semantic-knowledge-acquisition tools, practical implementations of which are not yet available. However, with the number of documents contained within the worldwide web increasing at an exponential rate, information-organization and information-access tools that lead to more immediate improvements in organizing and accessing information stored within the worldwide web are currently needed by worldwide web users, web-browser developers, and developers and vendors of myriad application programs, commercial electronic marketplaces, and other applications and venues that rely on information stored within the within the worldwide web.

Method and system for creating a concept-object database


Disclosed is an electronic device. The An electronic device including a storage, and a processor configured to perform convolution processing on target data and kernel data based on stride information that indicates an interval at which the kernel data is applied to the target data stored in the storage, in which the processor is further configured to divide the target data into a plurality of pieces of sub-data based on first stride information, perform the convolution processing on the plurality of pieces of sub-data and a plurality of pieces of sub-kernel data respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of sub-data based on second stride information that is different from the first stride information, and combine a plurality of processing results, the plurality of pieces of sub-kernel data are obtained by dividing the kernel data based on the first stride information, and the second stride information indicates that the interval at which the kernel data is applied to the target data is 1.

Machine learning is a field of artificial intelligence and means a technology of generating new knowledge by training a computer by inputting data thereto. Particularly, machine learning has been significantly developed in a field of artificial neural network which is one of the machine learning technologies and this has brought deep learning.
Deep learning is a type of machine learning technologies based on artificial neural network and may improve learning efficiency by preprocessing data for learning using unsupervised learning or collectively transmitting data over a plurality of layers, although the artificial neural network is designed with a multilayer structure. Particularly, the deep learning has been rapidly developed recently along with big data by the development of the Internet and the improvement of computing performance for processing this.
In the technology, a convolutional neural network (CNN) has a structure suitable for the learning of two-dimensional data and enables training through a backpropagation algorithm. The CNN has been broadly used in various applications such as object classification or object detection in images.
Most of processing performed in the CNN is convolution processing which causes necessity of efficiently executing the convolution processing, but the efficiency may deteriorate in specific cases.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are drawings for describing a problem of the convolution processing according to a conventional technology. First, FIG. 1A shows that a stride is 1 and FIG. 1B shows that a stride is 2. The stride means an interval at which kernel data is applied to target data (e.g., an image).
As shown in FIG. 1A, kernel data is processed with a first region 101 of target data in a first cycle and a piece of pixel data of Accumulation having the following value may be calculated.a1+b2+c3+d4+e5+f6+g7+h8+i9
The kernel data is processed with a second region 102 of the target data in a second cycle by the same method and a result obtained by executing such a process over the entire target data is Accumulation on the right side of the drawing.
The convolution processing is executed by moving the kernel data on the target data by one pixel. Meanwhile, when the stride is 2 as shown in FIG. 1B, the convolution processing is executed by moving the kernel data on the target data by two pixels.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the kernel data is processed with a third region 103 of the target data in the first cycle and a piece of pixel data of Accumulation may be calculated.
The kernel data is processed with a fourth region 104 of the target data in the second cycle by the same method and the fourth region herein may be a region having an interval from the third region by two pixels. A result obtained by executing such a process over the entire target data is shaded parts in Accumulation on the right side of the drawing. That is, a data size of Accumulation in which the stride is 2 is merely ¼ of a data size of Accumulation in which the stride is 1.
However, the operations in terms of hardware are not significantly different in both cases of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Specifically, even in the case of FIG. 1B, the convolution processing is executed by moving the kernel data on the target data by one pixel in the same manner as in FIG. 1A and Accumulation same as that in FIG. 1A is calculated. After that, only the shaded parts of FIG. 1B are obtained from the calculated Accumulation and a result when the stride is 2 is obtained.
That is, in terms of hardware, the processing is executed for the unshaded parts of FIG. 1B and this is a result value unnecessary in the convolution processing when the stride is 2. When the stride is greater than 2, the utilization of hardware further decreases.
Therefore, there has been needs for development of a convolution processing method not decreasing utilization of hardware, even when the stride is 2 or greater.

Electronic device and control method thereof


In a miniature keyboard, keybuttons may shift their relative positions from a relatively smaller array when stored to deployment which results in a relatively larger array for active keyboard use. An application for this positional adjustment is the use of the keyboard for inputting data with fingertips when used with portable miniature electronic devices, e.g., small cellphones.

Reference is made to: U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,864 to Yoshitake, U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,163 to Hatcher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,051 to Hoff, U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,076 to Thorp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,189 to Thorp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,613 to Seager, U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,934 to Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,841 to Spanyar, U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,835 to Hoeksma, U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,369 to Cooper et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,860 to Remmers and U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,421 to Hess et al.
Advances in miniaturization technology may permit wristwatch-sized cellphones. These miniature cellphones may be detachably worn on the wrist, serving as timepieces between cellphone calls, or alternately carried in the pocket as separate instruments. They may even be worn on the surface of clothing, pendant style. As a generic label for these ultra small "postage stamp size" communication devices, they will be termed "micro cellphones" in the following text.
When the entire micro cellphone is the size of a wrist watch, or slightly smaller (postage stamp size), the design of the data input keyboard is challenging. A very small keyboard may be operated by the tip of a stylus, but this is not a convenient operation for the user. In this regard, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,421 to Hess et al., in which a specialized stylus is believed to be described for data input.
Data processing and network link requirements make voice recognition operation in such miniature cellphones largely impractical for the near term, so that some type of "keyboard" data input is required.
Fingertip key button operation is considered the most convenient data entry system. Thus, for user ergonomics and ease of use, providing keycaps of a size that is more visible and that makes fingertip depression of the desired keycap easy is a perceived benefit. It may also be beneficial to space the keycaps sufficiently so that accidental operation of an adjacent keybutton is infrequent.
A response to the need for a keyboard for use with a very small cellphone is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,841 to Spanyar in which a film-layer based keyboard is described for sewn attachment to a nearby jacket sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,835 to Hoeksma is believed to describe a touch screen in which the displayed keybutton label and size is controlled by internal device electronics. Thus, the user may be provided with an optimized touch display customized on the forecast of "next keystroke needed."
There is believed to be a need to provide physical separation of cellphone microphone and earphone locations which approximates the several inch separation between mouth and ear of the user. Certain patents are believed to have proposed solutions which unfold a wrist band to provide a separation between earpiece and microphone. Among these patents are believed to be U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,964 to Yoshitake, U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,613 to Seager and U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,189 to Thorp. Alternately, a RF wireless link to a separate headphone unit may be provided, such as is believed to be described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,051 to Hoff.
For general purpose use of the cellphone, continually wearing a separate, linked headphone may not always be convenient. It may also be inconvenient if the user must wait to answer or initiate a cellphone call until the separate headphone unit is withdrawn from a storage location, power turned on, and then placed on the side of the head. As described below, deployment of the keyboard in an example embodiment of the present invention from storage compaction may provide the desired separation of microphone and earphone locations.
There exists at least two types, or instances, of constraints on keycap size when designing a micro cellphone keyboard. In the first instance, if the keycaps remain the same size between storage and use, then it may be favorable to make the size of the keycap as large as possible within the storage space available and then to create space between these fixed size keycaps as the device transitions between storage and use conditions. This may allow the user to easily differentiate between keycaps and may reduce mistaken keybutton depressions, since a fingertip may be about the same size as the top surface of the keycap. It may also permit a larger keycap "real estate" on which to put legends.
Letters that may be translated into dialing numbers are used when it is desirable for a person to quickly remember a number from a letter and number sequence than with a number sequence alone.
Thus, one may see plumbing trucks with signs that read, for example, "Call 1-800-TRYHARRY" since the owner feels that this may be a more memorable sequence when you want a plumber than "Call 1-800-879-4277" would be. A consequence of this is that one may need to be able to easily read the alphabetic legends near each number key on the micro cellphone in order to dial the number correctly.
Thus, keycaps may need to bear dual legends, such as a number plus groups of letters (1 and "ABC"; 2 and "DEF"; 3 and "GHI"; etc.). It may thus be favorable to make the letter groups written on the keycap tops, along with the numbers, as large as possible so that the user does not need a magnifying glass to visually select the desired character or number on a keycap.
It is also possible to "semi-stack" the keycap top plates during storage, much in the manner of roof tiles. The amount of tiled stacking available may be limited by the keybutton's switch actuator size compared to the overall keybutton top size. Note that this tiling arrangement may also add some extra height to the keyboard when in a storage position, and for really small micro cellphones, this may be an impractical tradeoff.
The second instance of micro cellphone keyboard design may utilize keybutton tops that change actual size between storage and use positions. Various arrangements of accomplishing keycap size change are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,774 to Lahr, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto, and those arrangements of keycap expansion may be used herein. Note that if the keybutton physically expands, the presented legend on the keytop may also be caused to expand during the transition between storage size and final use size of the micro cellphone's keycap.
While this discussion has its principal focus on number dialing keyboards for micro cellphones, the same deployable keyboard technology may be used for somewhat larger keyboards, as on Personal Data Assistant devices (PDA's) or on "Smart Phones," which may have larger alphanumeric data entry keyboards.
Note that while single direction expansion (X-axis only), e.g., essentially in a single plane, may be used to provide more active keyboard area when the keyboard is deployed for use, it may be more favorable to employ both X- and Y-direction planar expansion.
While expanding a "surface mount" keyboard may be practical, for very tiny keyboard designs, it may be favorable to consider "drawer" type deployment for these very small devices. One or more "drawers" may be used to house the keyboard in its storage mode. When the drawers are extended, the keyboard is brought forth, and the keyboard may expand in at least the X- (width) dimension. Alternately, the deployed keyboard may expand in both the X- (width) and Y- (length) dimensions.
Certain aspects of the use of a pull-out drawer associated with wrist-carried communication devices or computer equipment are believed to be described in a number of U.S. patents.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,076 to Thorp is believed to show a small telescoping "drawer like" section telescoping out from a wrist carried radio telephone (an earlier terminology), but the device's keyboard is not carried on the extending drawer sections. Rather, the extending drawer sections provide a physical distance between the microphone on the end of the drawer and the earphone unit mounted on the other side of the radio telephone, and the keyboard is mounted just beneath the display area and does not move or change size.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,163 to Hatcher is believed to describe a single drawer which slides out, as from under an existing computer table. A completely separate keyboard (standard layout) is placed upon this surface. Thus, when not in use, the drawer slides back under the computer table surface, but may be slid out when the computer was in use, so as to save computer desk top space. The action of the sliding parts is discussed therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,934 to Wilson is believed to describe a similar sliding "pull out" drawer, mounted under a computer table surface, but adds structure to the drawer that retracts and raises, as for instance, when the drawer is pulled out. A section of the drawer may remain flat to serve as a base for a mouse pad. The moving segment of the drawer may be used as a portion of the computer housing (or casing), if desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,369 to Cooper et al. is believed to describe a pullout drawer for mounting under a computer table. Cooper et al. add a front edge palm rest area near the zone where a keyboard will be placed, and facilitates the placement and movement of a cable (e.g., the usual keyboard to computer cable and presumably the mouse to computer cable as well).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,860 to Remmers is believed to describe a pullout drawer. But instead of a flat surface for mounting a keyboard (or mouse), the system houses a wire basket. The basket may be used for mounting other things, or, e.g., for storing or filing materials. The action of the sliding parts is discussed, with adaptations particularized for use with a wire basket "tray."
While it may be common to provide a slide out drawer for utility uses, as just below a computer table surface, micro cellphone pull out drawers hereof may utilize multiple extension drawers, where, for example, for a two drawer configuration, each "drawer" provides one half of desired keyboard keys. The whole keyboard may be presented only when both keyboard drawers are extended, one below the other.
In the case of the micro cellphone, the bottom of the main electronic chassis becomes the "computer table" beneath which telescoping slides are mounted, and the sliding thus takes place beneath the electronic chassis of the micro cellphone, e.g., one drawer beneath the other.
All keybuttons may be incorporated on the individual "drawers." "Legend space" may be provided adjacent to the keybutton mounting area for additional information labels referring to an individual keybutton.
In addition, in the last four patents discussed above, the drawer trays are provided for the latter placement of objects, such as complete keyboards or computer mice.
And, while some of these drawer device patents may have presented facilitating cable placement for keyboard-to-desktop computer or mouse-to-computer wires, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, wiring may be completely integral to the drawer assembly and may be arranged to never be handled by the user. Herein, flexible polyamide strips with etched copper circuitry may be fixedly mounted between keybutton switch area and a logic board of an associated micro cellphone. The flexible polyamide strips may fold and/or loop and be arranged to allow slide-in or slide-out of the drawers without breaking the circuit connection between the keybutton switches and the micro cellphone logic board.

Deployable keyboard device including displaceable keybutton positions for portable miniature electronic devices


A laser device includes a plurality of laser diodes that generate laser light beams having different wavelengths from each other, a partial reflective mirror constituting a resonator along with the laser diodes, a wavelength dispersive element set in the resonator, which combines parts of the laser light beams outputted by the laser diodes to each other, emits the combined parts of the laser light beams as a first laser light beam toward the partial reflective mirror, and emits other parts of the laser light beams as second laser light beams in directions different from the direction toward the partial reflective mirror, and an output detecting unit detecting intensities of the second laser light beams.

In a field of a laser processing device that performs processing using a laser beam, in recent years, there has been developed a laser processing device that uses a laser oscillator using two or more laser diodes as a laser light source. Patent Literature 1 discloses a laser processing device that oscillates light having a plurality of wavelengths using a plurality of laser diodes. Since the intensity of a laser beam outputted may decrease due to deterioration of a laser diode and the like, the laser processing device has a function of detecting the intensity of laser beam.


A mobile communication terminal is provided whose operability is improved by enabling a user to promptly use a function that the user requires, upon suspension of execution of an application program. A mobile communication terminal (mobile phone) 20 includes an output unit 216 having a liquid crystal display (LCD) 27 that displays an image; a main control unit 215 that controls the output unit 216; and an application program executing and managing unit 214 that executes an application program registered by a user. The application program executing and managing unit 214 sends a function transition request instruction (screen transition request instruction) to make a transition to a function specified by the application program, to the main control unit 215, upon suspension of execution of the application program. Based on the function transition request instruction (screen transition request instruction), the main control unit 215 controls the output unit 216 to display an initial screen of the function or a menu screen for selecting the function.

Conventionally, as this type of a mobile communication terminal, a mobile phone is known that is capable of executing an application program written in a platform-independent, object-oriented programming language (see Patent Document 1, for example). For example, a mobile phone is known that is provided with JAVA (registered trademark) virtual machine functionality so as to be able to execute an application program written in JAVA (registered trademark). In such a mobile phone, a user downloads his/her desired application program from a server in a mobile communication network and registers the application program on the mobile phone. Then, by the user starting the registered application program, the user can allow a standby screen composed of a three-dimensional moving image to be displayed on a display of the mobile phone, or can play a game, perform fortune-telling, or play music on the mobile phone.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-347867


An application and system are capable of taking file formatted data and using that data as an onboarding process to go live with a system to system business document exchange process. Using certain applications and systems, suppliers can automatically validate their data files using a certification tool and can request production of their various products. Certain systems can be operated without human intervention and can accommodate users in a variety of time zones. Certain systems may accommodate parallel validation by a human technician.

Receiving, verifying, and completing transactions between two businesses can be complicated and prone to numerous errors. Miscommunication when scheduling production and inventory requests from a plurality of different suppliers, vendors, and service providers can result in costly over and under production at improper times and locations. Some of this difficulty has been mitigated with electronic communication systems and formalized standards for exchanging business information.

Supplier analysis and verification system and method


The present invention relates to a single pot process for the preparation of metal picolinates useful as dietary supplement from alpha picoline, said process comprising hydrosulphonation of alpha picoline with sulphuric acid; heating the reaction mixture thus obtained between the range of 150xc2x0 to 210xc2x0 C. followed by oxidation with any suitable oxidizing agent to obtain alpha picolinic acid sulphate, and treating the thus obtained alpha picolinic acid sulphate with a metal salt solution to obtain corresponding metal picolinate.

The present invention relates to a single-pot process for the preparation of metal picolinates useful as a dietary supplement from alpha picoline source.
Metal picolinates are finding important place in dietary supplement as the source of physiologically important heavy metals, essential to both humans and animals. Body can not ingest or produce these necessary metals as such and it""s deficiency leads to a variety of diseases such as Anemia correlated to iron deficiency, loss of taste and neurophysychiatric symptoms related to zinc deficiency etc. Organometallic compound esp. metallic picolinates are treated to be one of the important sources for metal supplement.
Earlier, metal picolinates were employed for the treatment of metal deficiencies, U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,158 employs metal picolinates as a food supplement in which hydrolyzed protein products were chelated with metal ions under carefully controlled reaction conditions. N.L. Jenson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,564 used hydrolyzed proteins as metal complexes or chelates for administering essential metals in animals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,569 uses zinc methionate complex for zinc supplementation.
The metal compounds with protein derivatives are more effectively assimilated than the elemental or inorganic salt forms. However, the metal co-ordination complexes with picolinic acid are directly available for absorption into the system without competition from other metals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,927 outlines processes for manufacturing metal picolinates viz. Iron, copper, Zinc etc. using metal salt and picolinic acid.
The anionic picolinate moiety acts as a strong chelating agent or ligand capable of binding to a cation. The cation may be a bivalent or trivalent metallic trace element essential to the nutritional value of human or other mammalian species and should exhibit binding capability with picolinic acid. These complexes are intended mainly for oral ingestion where they are generally incorporated in the food material or drinking water. Alternatively, they may be manufactured into tablets or pills with a suitable diluent or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier using any known technique.
In the prior art of preparing metal picolinates esp. chromium and zinc picolinates, a suitable metal salt namely chromium trichloride and zinc sulphate (U.S. Pat. No. 431,597) is added to a solution of picolinic acid. After the reaction is complete, the precipitated metal complex is filtered and washed with appropriate solvent and dried. U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,461 gives a modified method for producing chromium picolinate from picolinic acid at a relatively lower temperature and appropriate adjustments of pH range than mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,927. However both the patents use chromium trichloride and picolinic acid as the starting material for manufacturing chromium picolinate. The starting material i.e. picolinic acid is not easily available. Moreover, the use of chromium trichloride generates chloride ions, which have to be removed by several washings by water or any other suitable solvent. Hence, the process of isolation of the metal picolinate from the reaction mass is cumbersome.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,099 details out a process for oxidizing N- heterocycle compounds containing a pyridine nucleus and an oxidizable organic group attached to the nitrogen containing aromatic nucleus by at least one carbon to carbon linkage. The process involves oxidation by reacting nitric acid with a solution containing the N- heterocycle compound and a mixture of mercury and copper compounds dissolved in sulfuric acid. This process of oxidation may normally lead to the contamination of undesired metals with the required metal picolinates. There is scanty literature available on the oxidation and recovery of the picolinic acid as such.
Thus there is a need to develop a method for producing metal picolinates from cheap raw materials and by a simpler process.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel single-pot process for the preparation of metal picolinates from alpha picoline source.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel process for oxidation of alpha picoline to picolinic acid with high purity and without any metallic contamination.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a single-pot process for the preparation of metal picolinates with high purity from alpha picoline, a cheaper raw material.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a single pot process for the preparation of metal picolinates useful as dietary supplement from alpha picoline, said process comprising hydrosulphonation of alpha picoline with sulphuric acid; heating the reaction mixture thus obtained between the range of 150xc2x0 to 210xc2x0 C. followed by oxidation with any suitable oxidizing agent to obtain alpha picolinic acid sulphate, and treating the thus obtained alpha picolinic acid sulphate with a metal salt solution to obtain corresponding metal picolinate.
More particularly, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of metal picolinates, said process comprising: reacting alpha picoline with sulphuric acid at temperature ranging between 35xc2x0 to 100xc2x0 C.; heating the reaction mass to 150xc2x0 to 210xc2x0 C.; adding 40 to 70% concentrated Nitric acid to obtain alpha picolinic acid sulphate; adjusting the pH of the solution so as to maintain the pH in the range of 3 to 5; treating the alpha picolinic acid sulphate with a metal salt solution to obtain the corresponding metal picolinate, and purifying the resulting mass to obtain metal picolinates of high purity.
In an embodiment of the present invention, alpha picoline is alpha picoline (2-methyl pyridine).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the reaction of alpha picoline with sulphuric acid is carried out at 50xc2x0 to 90xc2x0 C.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the reaction of alpha picoline with sulphuric acid is carried out at 60xc2x0 to 80xc2x0 C.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the reaction mass is heated up to a temperature of 180xc2x0 to 210xc2x0 C.
In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the reaction mass is heated up to a temperature of 190xc2x0 to 205xc2x0 C.
In yet still another embodiment of the present invention, proper ventilation has to be provided for removal of nitric oxide fumes produced during oxidation.
In one more embodiment of the present invention, oxidation is carried out for 18 to 22 hours.
In one another embodiment of the present invention, oxidation is carried out for 20 hours.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the reaction mixture is cooled to an ambient temperature before adjusting the pH value of the reaction.
In another embodiment of the present invention, water is added before adjusting the pH value.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the pH value is adjusted with the help of standard alkali solutions.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the metal salt used for the preparation of zinc picolinate is selected from the group comprising of zinc sulphate, zinc chloride, zinc acetate and zinc carbonate.
In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, zinc picolinate having 19 to 22% Zinc content is obtained.
In yet still another embodiment of the present invention, zinc picolinate having 21% Zinc content is obtained.
In one more embodiment of the present invention, the metal salt used for the preparation of chromium picolinate is selected from the group comprising of chromium nitrate, chromium chloride, chromium acetate, chromium formate, chromium carbonate and chromium sulphate.
In one another embodiment of the present invention, chromium picolinate having 12 to 12.6% Chromium content is obtained.
In an embodiment of the present invention, chromium picolinate having 12.3% Chromium content is obtained.
In another embodiment of the present invention, pure metal picolinate is obtained by filtering, washing and drying the reaction product.
In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a scope of utilizing cheaper raw material and an economical single pot synthesis with high purity product. The starting material to prepare the picolinates is alpha picoline (2-methyl pyridine), instead of picolinic acid which has been normally used in the prior arts of the synthesis and which is also much costlier than alpha picoline. Inventors have identified many other chromium salts, which can be used in place of chromium trichloride.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, alpha picoline is reacted with sulphuric acid at temperatures ranging from 35xc2x0 C. to 100xc2x0 C., preferably between 50xc2x0 to 90xc2x0 C. and most preferably between 60xc2x0 C. to 80xc2x0 C. Once the addition is over, the reaction mass temperature is increased to 150xc2x0 C. to 210xc2x0 C., preferably between 180xc2x0 to 210xc2x0 C. and most preferably between 190xc2x0 C. to 205xc2x0 C. Nitric acid having 40 to 70% concentration is added slowly. Addition of Nitric acid leads to the evolution of Nitric oxide fume, which has to be properly vented or scrubbed. Reaction mass is then cooled to an ambient temperature and water is added followed by pH adjustment. pH is maintained between 3-5 with the help of suitable alkali solution. To the above reaction mass required metal salt solution is added to get the desired metal: picolinate. Resulting mass is then filtered washed and dried to get the pure metal picolinate.
Any one out of the following metal salts can be used for the reaction with alpha picolinic acid sulphate to get the corresponding zinc or chromium picolinates: 1. When zinc sulphate, zinc chloride, zinc acetate, zinc carbonates etc. are used the product obtained is zinc picolinate: 2. When chromium nitrate, chromium chloride, chromium acetate, chromium formate, chromium carbonate and chromium sulphate etc. are used then the product obtained is chromium picolinate.

Single pot process for preparing metal picolinates from alpha picoline


2,3-Dihalogeno-6-trifluoromethylbenzaldehydes of general formula (I) useful as intermediates for the preparation of fungicides for agricultural and horticultural use;a process for the preparation of the same; and process for preparing 2,3-dihalogeno-6-trifluoromethylbenzamidoximes of general formula (IV) from the above compounds, wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently fluoro, chloro or bromo. ##STR1##

Known conventional methods to introduce a formyl group into an aromatic ring are to react alkyl lithium, such as n-butyl lithium, with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or N-phenyl-N-methylformamide, to react alkyl lithium with formate, such as methyl formate, and the like.
For example, European Patent Laid-open specifications Nos. 125803 and 174131 describe a method to react 2,5-difluorobenzotrifluoride with n-butyl lithium and N-phenyl-N-methylformamide. However, this formylation reaction usually gives two reaction products, not being selective.
In the case of the reaction of 3,4-dichlorobenzotrifluoride with n-butyl lithium and DMF, 2,3-dichloro-5-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde is the main product, as described later.
In the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 3-5436 Gazette, compounds represented by the general formula (Ia), which contain the compounds of this invention, are described. ##STR2##
Conventionally 2,3-dihalogeno-6-trifluoromethylbenzamidoximes have been produced via 2,3-dihalogeno-6-trifluoromethylbenzonitrile (refer to WO/19442 Gazette). However, this method had problems of low yield and long reaction processes.

2,3-Dihalogeno-6-trifluoromethylbenzene derivatives and processes for the preparation thereof


Disclosed are a method and a system for Bluetooth communication. In the Bluetooth system, a Bluetooth device includes: a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader for reading out RFID information from the RFID Tag within an effective transmission and receiving range and outputting the RFID information; a control unit for activating the RFID reader when a request for Bluetooth connection using the RFID is inputted by a user in a Bluetooth communication mode, extracting the bonding information from the RFID information inputted from the RFID reader, and outputting the bonding information; and a Bluetooth module for receiving the bonding information outputted from the control unit, pairing the first Bluetooth device using the bonding information, and performing Bluetooth communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to Bluetooth® (hereinafter "Bluetooth") communication, and in particular to a method and system for easily performing a bonding (or pairing) process for Bluetooth communication.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bluetooth is a standard for wireless connection between portable devices, such as a portable PC and a mobile phone, for short-range wireless communication at a low cost. Bluetooth-enabled digital devices can communicate and exchange voice and data between each other using a radio frequency of license-free Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio bandwidth at 2.45 GHz. For example, Bluetooth technology implemented in a mobile phone and a laptop computer can wirelessly connect the two devices, eliminating the need for any physical cable connection. Actually all digital devices such as PDAs, desktops, facsimile machines, keyboards and joysticks can be part of a Bluetooth system.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating devices connected for typical Bluetooth communication Bluetooth devices refer to digital devices having a built-in Bluetooth module and capable of Bluetooth communication. A user terminal 100 with a built-in Bluetooth module establishes a wireless connection with peripheral Bluetooth devices 110 to 150 and supports point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections. After inquiring about Bluetooth devices in range, the user terminal 100 displays information on the detected Bluetooth devices 110 to 150. The user terminal 100 can request a connection to at least one of the detected Bluetooth devices. The user terminal 100 that has requested the connection acts as a master and the other connected devices as slaves for the duration of connection. The user terminal 100 will become a slave if any of the connected Bluetooth devices requests a connection to the user terminal 100.
However, such a connection between Bluetooth devices can have a security problem because the user terminal can establish a connection to other devices and transmit data whenever the user desires. In order to solve the security problem, a Bluetooth service generally has three security modes. Each Bluetooth device operates in one mode for a single duration of connection. The user can set the mode.
Mode 1 is a non-secure mode, which allows all connections by any device without any security procedures (e.g. authentication and encryption). Mode 1 is used in communication which does not require security protection. Mode 2 provides service-level enforced security, usually controlling access to the Bluetooth services and devices. Various security policies and trust levels can be defined on simultaneously operating applications to limit access to some services. Mode 3 provides link-level enforced security and requires security procedures, (i.e. authentication and encryption) based on a link key shared between the Bluetooth devices.
In order to exchange data between Bluetooth-enabled devices (for example, Bluetooth mobile phones) or make a call in walkie-talkie mode, a connection channel between the two devices should be established. For this connection, an authentication procedure, i.e. pairing between the two devices, is implemented. Simply, a master device requesting the connection should be in one of an inquiry scans state and a page scan state to inquire about nearby Bluetooth devices. When a desired device is displayed on a display screen, the master device can select and page the device for connection setup.
During the pairing procedure, the master device generates a Personal Identification Number (PIN) Code (window. When the user enters a PIN Code of the device desired to be connected, the master device attempts to establish a connection with the desired slave device. At this time, the same window requesting the input of the PIN Code is generated on the display screen of the slave device. When the user of the slave device enters the same PIN Code as entered into the master device, the two Bluetooth devices can exchange a link key using the entered PIN Code, Bluetooth device address ("BD_ADDR") and random number ("RAND").
The link key is offered to the two Bluetooth devices for use in the authentication procedure. The link key, however, should be unique to the connection between the two Bluetooth devices.
Upon establishing a connection channel between the two devices, a common link key allocated by the PIN Code is used for authentication. If no common link key is not available, a link manager automatically implements an initialization procedure to exchange a link key.
This procedure consists of the following steps:
1. Creation of an initialization key;
2. Generation of a link key;
3. Link key exchange;
4. Authentication; and
5. Generation of an encryption key in each device (optional).
The two Bluetooth devices can initiate a Bluetooth communication immediately after the initialization procedure. In certain cases, the connection between the two devices can be disconnected due to an error in any of the above steps. If encryption is requested for the Bluetooth communication, a Secure And Fast Encryption Routine (E0 SAFER)+ algorithm is implemented using a proper encryption key allocated by the link key. The E0 SAFER+ algorithm produces a 128-bit link key following the input of a PIN Code in Bluetooth devices.
As explained herein, multiple preparative steps including authentication for security are implemented for pairing before establishing the connection between the Bluetooth devices. Users of the Bluetooth devices have to wait until a successful connection setup without recognizing those steps. Also, messages transmitted wirelessly during the pairing procedure can often be lost. Consequently, the same messages should be resent repeatedly.

Bluetooth® system and Bluetooth® bonding process


An interlocking device includes two opposed racks having intermeshable teeth, respectively, a guide surface disposed on one of the opposed racks, a guide, and a resilient retainer holding the guide against the guide surface for sliding movement of the guide relative to the guide surface. The guide and the guide surface cooperate with each other to provide an arrangement wherein when the one rack is pressed against the other rack, the guide comes into engagement with the other rack and the guide surface slides on the guide, causing meshing engagement of the teeth of the one rack with the teeth of the other rack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock device for locking one of opposed racks against the other of the opposed racks, and more specifically to an interlocking device for assuring meshing engagement of teeth of the one of the opposed racks with teeth of the other thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known to provide a device adapted for locking one of opposed racks against the other thereof.
Japanese Utility Model Application Second Publication No. 4-35259 discloses a device for locking a distance bracket secured to an adjustable steering column against a mount bracket secured to a vehicle body. The distance bracket is coupled to the mount bracket through a collar. The mount bracket has one rack and the collar has the other rack opposed to and engageable with the one rack. The distance bracket is securable to the mount bracket when the racks are engaged with each other, while the distance bracket is moveable relative to the mount bracket when the racks are disengaged from each other.
Generally, in the locking device including mutually engageable opposed racks, if, when one of the racks is pressed against the other of the racks, teeth of the one of the racks are out of alignment with teeth of the other thereof in such a way that tooth crests of the one of the racks are in contact with tooth crests of the other thereof, meshing engagement between the teeth of the racks will not be assured. This leads to undesirable reduction of operating performance of the locking device.
The present invention contemplates providing an interlocking device for assuring meshing engagement of teeth of the opposed racks without improper alignment of the teeth of one of the racks with the teeth of the other of the racks.
In a technical field of motor vehicles, the device of the present invention serves for facilitating adjustment of an adjustable steering column relative to a stationary bracket secured to the vehicle body.


The present invention relates to compounds that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and are useful for the prevention or treatment of diabetes, especially type II diabetes, as well as hyperglycemia, Syndrome X, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, atherosclerosis, and various immunomodulatory diseases.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV, CD26, EC 220.127.116.11) is a serine protease with specificity for cleaving Xaa-Pro and, to a lesser extent, Xaa-Ala dipeptides from the N-termini of polypeptides and proteins. DPP-IV is a non-classical serine protease in that the catalytic triad of Ser-Asp-His, found in the C-terminal region of the enzyme, is in reverse order to that found in classical serine proteases. DPP-IV is widely expressed in mammalian tissue as a type II integral membrane protein. DPP-IV is expressed on the surface of differentiated epithelial cells of the intestine, liver, kidney proximal tubules, prostate, corpus luteum, and on leukocyte subsets such as lymphocytes and macrophages. A soluble form of the enzyme is found in serum that has structure and function identical to the membrane-bound form of the enzyme but lacks the hydrophobic transmembrane domain.
DPP-IV has many physiologically relevant substrates including chemokines such as, RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted), eotaxin, and macrophage-derived chemokine, neuropeptides such as NPY (neuropeptide Y) and substance P, vasoactive peptides, and incretins such as GLP-1 (lucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (gastric inhibitory peptide/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). GLP-1 is a 30 amino acid peptide hormone produced in the L cells of the distal small intestine in response to ingested nutrients. GLP-1 binding to its receptor on various tissues stimulates insulin gene expression, biosynthesis and glucose-dependent insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, promotes satiety, slows gastric emptying and promotes growth of pancreatic beta cells. Based on this profile, GLP-1-based therapies are expected to be beneficial in the treatment of type II diabetes and obesity. Studies in which type II diabetic patients have been infused with GLP-1 have demonstrated efficacy in normalizing both fasted and prandial glycemia. However, active GLP-1 (7-36) amide is rapidly converted by DPP-IV to GLP-1 (9-36), which is inactive or is a receptor antagonist. The short half-life of GLP-1 in the circulation (1-1.5 minutes) is a major obstacle to its use as a therapeutic agent. To circumvent the drawback of the short half-life of GLP-1, inhibitors of DPP-IV, the primary degradative enzyme of GLP-1, increase the level of active circulating GLP-1 (7-36) amide. It has been shown that DPP-IV inhibitors may improve glucose tolerance in type II diabetes.
Therefore, the inhibition of DPP-IV can provide therapeutic treatment for type II diabetes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pharmaceutical compositions as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV)


A new safety glove for allowing a user, such as a police officer or a road worker, to direct traffic more easily. The inventive device includes a hand cover having an interior hand space, a front, a back, a palm portion, and a wrist opening into the interior hand space. Also provided are front and back reflective panels. The front reflective panel is coupled to the front of the hand cover and the back reflective panel is coupled to the back of the hand cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to glove devices and more particularly pertains to a new safety glove for allowing a user, such as a police officer or a road worker, to direct traffic more easily.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of glove devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, glove devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art glove devices include U.S. Pat. No. Des. 369,309; U.S. Pat. No. 1,966,822; U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,228; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 282,981; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 372,112; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 293,850.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new safety glove. The inventive device includes a hand cover having an interior hand space, a front, a back, a palm portion, and a wrist opening into the interior hand space. Also provided are front and back reflective panels. The front reflective panel is coupled to the front of the hand cover and the back reflective panel is coupled to the back of the hand cover.
In these respects, the safety glove according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user, such as a police officer or a road worker, to direct traffic more easily.


Embodiments relate to an image forming apparatus including a print job input unit; an image data storing unit that stores the image data by dividing the image data into a band basis; a job managing unit that outputs a primary sheet supply numerical order of the band and an image data delivery numerical order of the band; an image data output control unit that acquires the image data on the band basis from the image data storing unit, outputs primary sheet supply permission information and delivery permission information to a print engine control unit, and outputs the image data to the printing engine; and the printing engine control unit that outputs the primary sheet supply permission information and the delivery permission information to the printing engine, and controls the primary sheet supply and the delivery of the image data.

Hitherto, as shown in FIG. 4, conventional copying or printing processes were performed in a copying machine, a multifunction machine, or the like. The control sequence described below was performed: A data receiving unit receives a printing job transmitted from a host computer and the associated printing data. The data receiving unit then requests an image forming unit to form an image. The image forming unit then forms an image in response to the request, and also requests a printing engine to start supplying sheets. The printing engine first supplies a sheet from a sheet storage portion so as to deliver the sheet to a resist roller. Then the printing engine secondarily supplies a sheet so as to transfer and fix the image to the sheet. The sheet is delivered on a tray.
However, in order to accelerate the copying or printing process in the copying machine, multifunction machine, or the like, it is necessary to supply sheets in advance by requesting the start of a primary supply of sheets during the receipt or reading of a print job, or accelerate the transportation speed of the primary supply of sheets. However, the print job capacity varies from a small to a large capacity. Therefore, a special device is necessary as to when the primary supply of sheets should be started to accelerate the copying or printing process.
For example, there is the following given technology: simultaneously with the receipt of a print job from the host computer by a printing job receiving unit, the printing engine (which secondarily supplies a sheet supplied primarily from the sheet storage portion, transfers, and fixes a printing image to the sheet) is requested to start supplying a sheet primarily. The image forming unit forms a printing image from the print job received by the printing job receiving unit and outputs the sheet with the printing image formed thereon to the printing engine. Also simultaneously, the secondary supply of sheets starts whereby a printing time in a printer function performing the print job received from the host computer is shortened.
In the above technology, the start of the analysis of image data in the received print job and the start of the primary sheet supply are performed simultaneously. In this case, a request for the secondary sheet supply is made after the completion of image drawing processing of the image data. Therefore, for example, in the case of the print job in which coded image data described in a page description language (PDL) is decoded and the image data is formed, an image processing time becomes uncertain. The image processing time is the time in which the coded image data is decoded to form image data, and each image data is developed into image data on a page basis. Furthermore in this case, the image processing time takes a long time (for example, one or more hours), which makes it necessary to keep the sheet primarily supplied on a transportation path without supplying it secondarily.

Image forming apparatus and method in which printing time is shortened and printing engine is not driven unnecessarily, and recording medium storing program for same


A method of manufacturing a component for a gas turbine engine includes applying a thermoplastic polymer sheet over a composite body for the component; applying a shield over part of the composite body, the shield terminating at an end which overlies the thermoplastic polymer sheet and defines an interface between shielded and unshielded regions of the component; and pressing the shield into the thermoplastic polymer sheet so that the thermoplastic polymer sheet deforms around the end of the shield, such that the exterior profile of the component at the interface between the shielded and unshielded regions is flush.

Modern gas turbine engines may include components made of composite materials such as fibre-reinforced polymers. Examples of composite components found in gas turbine engines include composite fan blades, composite guide vanes and composite nose cones. Depending on the composite material used, such composite components can meet the strength, stiffness and weight requirements of aerospace applications. However, exposed composite components can be vulnerable to foreign object impact damage and surface erosion.
In order to mitigate surface erosion, composite components have previously been provided with wear-resistant thermosetting polymer coatings. Regions of composite components vulnerable to impact damage have also been protected using shields (such as metal or rubber shields). However, it can be difficult to achieve a flush interface between a shield and the remainder of the composite component or wear-resistant coating which does not reduce aerodynamic performance. Current methods of manufacturing shielded composite components can also be complex and time-consuming.


A plasma spray apparatus in the form of a gun is utilized to apply an antifoulant coating to marine vessels. The apparatus includes a plasma generator, an electrophoresis element, a heating element, a shield gas element, a liquid cooling system, a forced air system, and a vacuum system. The plasma generator ionizes gas to create a plasma stream, which is utilized in part to supply energy to the heating element that heats a powder material. The heated powder material is exposed to the electrophoresis element to create a covalently bonded coating material. The coating material is injected into the plasma stream and is applied to a target surface. The shield gas element injects a gas flow to surround and protect the plasma and coating material stream as the stream is in flight to the target surface. The liquid cooling system cools portions of the plasma generator and heating element. The forced air system cools a portion of the target surface as the coating material is being applied. The vacuum system removes fumes and stray particles during the application process.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and methods for applying coatings to a target surface. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for applying an antifoulant coating to a marine vessel by utilizing a plasma spray apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Marine vessels accumulate biological growth, known as foulants, over time on surfaces that are in contact with water. Diverse species of hard and soft fouling organisms, such as barnacles, zebra mussels, algae, and slime, form colonies—particularly when a ship is docked—on underwater surfaces because each requires a permanent anchorage in order to mature and reproduce. Marine growth fouling adds weight to a ship, increases the amount of fuel consumed, and reduces its speed.
Historically, to combat the growth of marine foulants, the underwater surfaces of ships have been coated with antifoulant paints, which often include toxic materials to inhibit biological growth. Conventional antifoulant paint is applied by brush or roller. These methods create a hazard because they release toxic materials at the time of application. The antifoulant paints also create an environmental problem because they degrade over time releasing toxic materials into the water through which the ship travels. Furthermore, as a result of the breakdown of the antifoulant paint, the lifetime of the coating is severely diminished.
Recently, new marine antifoulant coatings have been developed that are non-toxic and have an increased lifetime. They are formed from powder-based covalently-bonded material and thus, have an extremely low rate of degradation, which also leads to greatly reduced toxic emissions. However, these coatings cannot be applied with traditional painting techniques of brushing or rolling.

Apparatus and method for applying antifoulants to marine vessels

Reintjes Marine Surface Technologies, LLC


A display device for information signals which performs highly efficient image display of a standard television signal, a high definition television signal, a progressive scanning television signal or a stereoscopic television signal on the same screen has a first signal input unit applied with the standard television signal, a second signal input unit applied with the high definition television signal, progressive scanning television signal or stereoscopic television signal, a mode designation unit for designating a mode for display of one of the signals, a signal conversion unit including a write unit for writing the first signal, at a frequency thereof, to memories and a read unit for reading the memories at a frequency which is nearly twice that of the first signal, a signal switching unit, a signal processing unit and a deflection switching unit, whereby a first display signal from the signal conversion unit or a second display signal from the second input terminal is selected and image-displayed on the same display unit through a deflection system. Through this, the cost of the device can be reduced, the standard television signal having less scanning lines can be displayed with substantially the same number of scanning lines as that of the high definition television signal, various kinds of disturbances can be eliminated to improve the image quality and a stereoscopic image can also be displayed.

The present invention relates to a display device for information signals which is suitable for highly efficient image display of a standard television signal of, for example, NTSC system, a high definition television signal of, for example, high definition system, a television signal of progressive scanning system or a stereoscopic television signal based on television signals of a plurality of channels.
Available as the conventional television system is the standard television system including the NTSC system (or ED system or ED 2 system), PAL system (or PAL plus system) and SECAM system. In the case of the NTSC system, the number of scanning lines per frame is set to N1=525, the field frequency to fV1=59.94 Hz (equivalent to the frame frequency being fV1/2=29.97 Hz), the horizontal scanning frequency to fH1=15.73 kHz and the aspect ratio to 4:3.
On the other hand, with recent improvements in the television system, high definition of image has been promoted and a high definition television (HDTV) system such as high definition system and ATV system in which the number of scanning lines is nearly twice that of the standard television system to drastically improve the image quality has been contrived and is about to be broadcast. In the case of the high definition system, the number of scanning lines per frame is set to N2=1125, the field frequency to fV2=60 Hz (equivalent to the frame frequency being fV2/2=30 Hz), the horizontal scanning frequency to fH2=33.75 kHz and the aspect ratio to 16:9. In high definition image display for use in personal computers, a television signal of progressive scanning type is used and for example, the number of scanning lines per frame is set to N2=1050, the field frequency to fV2=60 Hz (equivalent to the frame frequency being fV2/2=30 Hz), the horizontal scanning frequency to fH2=31.5 kHz and the aspect ratio to 4:3.
In a recent example as reported in, for example, a literature "Conditions Providing for Field-sequence Stereoscopic Vision" (Isono et al, J. Inst. TV Engrs. of Japan, Vol. 41, No.6, pp.549-555, 1987), a study of stereoscopic television in which a stereoscopic image is time-division displayed by using video information signals of two channels based on the aforementioned standard television system has been proceeded with. In this case, of two video information signals of first and second channels, one video information signal of the first channel is assigned with image information (L) for left eye and the other video information signal of the second channel is assigned with image information (R) for right eye. In case the above NTSC system is applied to this stereoscopic television, the number of scanning lines per frame is set to N1=525, the field frequency to fV1=59.94 Hz (equivalent to the frame frequency being fV1/2=29.97 Hz), the horizontal scanning frequency to fH1=15.73 kHz and the aspect ratio to 4:3.
Therefore, a future television system is expected to take a coexistent form of the existing standard television system with the stereoscopic television system using a plurality of channels and the high definition television system and progressive scanning television system of quite different types, and it is preferable that a future display device for television signals be a single device which can selectively display all of the television signals pursuant to the plurality of systems.
In a recent example to meet the above needs, a device has been practiced which can selectively display the standard television signal and the high definition television signal in a high definition receiver set and an example of this type of display device is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-225269.
In the aforementioned conventional display device for television signals which selectively displays the standard television signal and high definition television signal, however, the standard television signal and the high definition television signal which are different from each other in signal format (especially, horizontal scanning frequency) are switched for display and therefore, deflection systems which are greatly different for the two modes must be operated independently, having difficulties with reduction of the cost of the device.
For an increase in cost of the device, the existing standard television signal is displayed with the conventional image quality at the most, facing disadvantages that on a large-sized display (such as a Braun tube) of high brightness and high definition, various kinds of disturbances including a flicker disturbance and a line structure become conspicuous and the image quality is adversely deteriorated to degrade the performance meeting the cost.
The aforementioned JP-A-6-225269 discloses the display device for television signals adapted to selectively display the standard television signal and high definition television signal but neither considers at all stereo display of the stereoscopic television signal nor discloses at all measures for improving the monaural display image quality of the standard television signal.
In the above literature by Isono et al, an example of a stereo display device for stereoscopic television signals is disclosed but neither monaural display of the high definition television signal and standard television signal nor image quality improvements of the monaural display are disclosed at all; and a stereoscopic television conformable to the standard television system is disclosed but any stereoscopic television conformable to other television systems is not disclosed.
Therefore, in the light of the fact that conditions of putting images of various media in service will come up, realization of a device has been desired strongly which can be a single device capable of performing image display of not only the standard television signal but also the stereoscopic television signal, high definition television signal and progressive scanning television signal and at the same time attaining high image quality.


In accordance with an embodiment, a method of forming a pattern includes forming a first layer on a fabrication target film, making a mold and the first layer push each other to form a protrusion on the fabrication target film, and forming first and second regions, forming a block copolymer layer including first and second blocks in the first and second regions, phase-separating the block copolymer layer, forming second and third layers in the first region, and forming fourth and fifth layers in the second region; and removing the third and fifth layers. The first region is surrounded by the first layer and the protrusion. The second region is surrounded by the first layer and contacts the first region via the protrusion. The third layer is surrounded by the second layer. The fifth layer is surrounded by the fourth layer.

Nanometer level fabrication sizes are required in the manufacture of semiconductor devices that are increasingly miniaturized. New techniques that replace photolithography are needed to meet the requirement.
Self-assembly lithography is drawing attention as one such technique. The self-assembly lithography is a method of forming a micropattern as follows: A fabrication target film is coated with a block copolymer that constitutes a nano-order rule structure, and the block copolymer is then phase-separated. One block is removed, and the other block is used as a mask to fabricate the fabrication target film.
A directed self-assembly (DSA) technique has been developed as a method of controlling the directionality of a natural regular pattern. According to this technique, a guide pattern is formed on a fabrication target film by photolithography. The guide pattern is coated with a block copolymer, and an artificial order is thereby given to the natural phenomenon pattern.
However, it has been difficult to accurately form micro hole patterns even by the use of the DSA technique.

Method of forming pattern, manufacturing method of semiconductor device and template


A single crystal silicon carbide substrate includes a substrate of a single crystal silicon carbide; a first wiring film and a second wiring film disposed on one side of the substrate and having therebetween an interstice which is formed continuously without being broken from a first end of the one side to a second end of the one side; and an insulating portion disposed in the interstice between the first wiring film and the second wiring film and including a surface texture of the one side exposed by removing using dry etching a surface contaminated layer which is contaminated by at least one of iron, aluminum, chromium, or nickel adhered thereto.

The present invention relates to a single crystal silicon carbide substrate, a method for manufacturing the single crystal silicon carbide substrate, and a semiconductor laser.
In recent years, there is an extremely strong demand for high speed, miniaturization and light weight (high density), high output, and high reliability of electronic equipment. A semiconductor element rapidly advances toward a direction of high integration, large size, multi-chip, and high output. An electronic circuit advances toward a direction of miniaturization, reduced length of wiring, and low resistance. Among such advancement, an important issue is how to efficiently remove (heat dissipation) heat generated by the element.
In addition to heat generation, there are also problems such as a dielectric breakdown of a substrate caused by an increased wiring density or high power in the electronic circuit. A material for the substrate is required to be good in thermal conductivity, excellent in electrical insulation property, good in high frequency characteristic, close to Si or GaAs in thermal expansion coefficient, stable in chemical property, high in mechanical strength, easy in circuit formation, and airtight sealable. In addition, from the aspect of manufacture, it is required to be inexpensive, high in technical completeness, easy to obtain a raw material, applicable to a simple and inexpensive manufacturing process, and contain no toxic substance such as pollutants.
Polycrystalline alumina (thermal conductivity: about 23 W/m·K), polycrystalline aluminum nitride (thermal conductivity: about 170 W/m·K), polycrystalline silicon carbide (thermal conductivity: about 300 W/m·K) and the like are generally used as a ceramic substrate material.
However, in recent years, a semiconductor laser having an insufficient heat dissipation characteristic is increasing even when polycrystalline silicon carbide with a thermal conductivity of 300 W/m·K is used as the substrate material. Therefore, single crystal silicon carbide with a thermal conductivity of about 490 W/m·K is mainly used as the substrate material.
PTL 1 (JP-A-2008-290888) discloses an invention relating to a surface treatment method of silicon carbide capable of micro-processing a surface of the silicon carbide to any shape and in high definition, and particularly capable of micro-processing the surface of the silicon carbide by a dimensional tolerance of a nanometer level when the surface of the silicon carbide is micro-processed by reactive ion etching.

Single crystal silicon carbide substrate, method of manufacturing single crystal silicon carbide substrate, and semiconductor laser


An apparatus and method for monitoring the output of an ionizing blower. A measuring channel captures a portion of the air ion stream, and measures balance plus air ion current. Since the measurement channel is isolated from extraneous electrostatic fields, measurements contain less analytical noise. Air flow through the measurement chamber is created by the inherent pressure difference between the high pressure and low pressure sides of an air mover. Two electrodes inside the measurement chamber are combined with a power supply, a low current amplifier, and a controller. The controller also makes adjustments to the ionizing blower.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to static charge neutralizers, which are designed to remove or minimize static charge accumulation. Static charge neutralizers remove static charge by generating air ions and delivering those ions to a charged target.
One specific category of static charge neutralizer is the ionizing blower. An ionizing blower normally generates air ions with a corona electrode, and uses a fan (or fans) to direct air ions toward the target of interest.
Monitoring or controlling the performance of a blower utilizes two measurements.
The first measurement is balance. Ideal balance occurs when the number of positive air ions equals the number of negative air ions. On a charge plate monitor, the ideal reading is zero. In practice, the static neutralizer is controlled within a small range around zero. For example, a static neutralizer's balance might be specified as 0±2 volts.
The second measurement is air ion current. Higher air ion currents are useful because static charges can be discharged in a shorter time period. Higher air ion currents correlate with low discharge times that are measured with a charge plate monitor.
In practice, charge plate monitors are not used for continuous monitoring or feedback control. The expense would be prohibitive.
This instant invention describes a practical method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling ionizing blowers.
2. Description of Related Art
There are many sensors suggested to monitor and control ionizing blowers. The two most common sensors are: (1) a conductive grid connected to a low current amplifier, and (2) a three electrode combination.
The conductive grid sensor measures air ion current, and uses this information to assess ion balance. The conductive grid works, but it possesses disadvantages.
One disadvantage of the conductive grid sensor is that the conductive grid consumes a large fraction (as much as 30%) of the blower's air ion output. Hence, the blower operates at a low efficiency.
A second disadvantage of the conductive grid sensor is its response to environmental interference. The grid sensor is exposed to external electric fields, which induce unwanted currents that contribute noise to the measurement. Fans, heaters, lights, and motors are examples of devices which generate electric fields. In the presence of environmental interference, both accuracy and sensitivity are compromised.
Any attempt to shield the grid sensor from external electric fields creates an obstacle to air flow. It also makes the blower larger. Moving the grid away from electric field generators limits installation options.
A third disadvantage of the conductive grid sensor is that it can only measure net current. And net current contains no information concerning total ion output. For example, 110 nanoamps of positive air ion flow and 100 nanoamps of negative air ion flow would read 10 nanoamps of positive air ion flow. And 15 nanoamps of positive air ion flow and 5 nanoamps of negative air ion flow would also read 10 nanoamps of positive air ion flow.
A three electrode sensor can measure balance and air ion current. This sensor comprises of two reference electrodes and one voltage or current sensitive electrode. However, it has the same disadvantages as the grid sensor, such as high sensitivity to electrical noise.
A new type of sensor is needed for monitoring and controlling ionizing blowers. The new sensor should measure balance and air ion current. And it should be insensitive to environmental interference.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling ionizing blowers


A vehicle drive apparatus (10) for dividing torque between primary and secondary drive axles (16, 18) of a motor vehicle and including a hydraulically actuated clutch pack (26) that transfers torque to a secondary drive axle (18) of an automotive vehicle. A hydraulic channel (30) extends and provides hydraulic fluid communication between a hydraulic pressure source (22) and the clutch pack (26). The source of hydraulic system power is shared with a hydraulically-actuated wheel braking system (14).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an all-wheel-drive coupling for dividing torque between primary and secondary drive axles of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
It is known for vehicle drive systems to include a vehicle drive apparatus that divides torque between primary and secondary drive axles of a motor vehicle. Generally, such a coupling apparatus will include a transfer case that houses a hydraulically actuated clutch pack for transferring a desired amount of torque to a secondary drive axle of an automotive vehicle. A hydraulic oil pump provides hydraulic pressure to actuate the clutch pack.
In designing an all-wheel-drive apparatus for passenger vehicles and trucks it's beneficial to reduce the cost of the apparatus until the cost is low enough compared to the cost of two-wheel-drive architectures, that the all-wheel-drive apparatus is able to achieve an acceptable degree of market penetration. One of the ways to reduce the cost of an all-wheel-drive apparatus is through systems integration, i.e., by integrating functions that the all-wheel-drive apparatus has in common with other systems in an automotive vehicle. If functions that an all-wheel-drive apparatus has in common with other systems can be integrated in such a way as to support those functions with common hardware instead of duplicate, independent hardware, a lower system cost can be achieved.
For example, the drive system in at least one year model of the Audi A8 includes a vehicle drive apparatus having a hydraulically actuated all-wheel-drive clutch pack that uses an automatic transmission as a source of hydraulic pressure. The automatic transmission has a hydraulic pump for actuating its own hydro-mechanical components, and this source of hydraulic pressure is tapped for use in actuating the all-wheel-drive clutch pack. A hydraulic line extends and provides hydraulic fluid communication between the all-wheel-drive clutch pack and the hydraulic pump of the automatic transmission.
However, there are compatibility problems associated with the use of an automatic transmission hydraulic pump as a pressure source for an all-wheel-drive clutch pack. These compatibility problems must be overcome before the hydraulic pump of an automatic transmission can be used to actuate an all-wheel-drive clutch pack. For example, all-wheel-drive clutch packs typically require a greater magnitude of hydraulic pressure to operate properly. While hydraulic power supplies for actuating all-wheel-drive clutch packs generally output hydraulic pressure in the range of 1000–2000 psi, hydraulic power supplies for automatic transmissions only provide about 50–200 psi of hydraulic pressure.
What is needed is an automotive drive system that integrates a vehicle drive apparatus into a vehicle drive system by allowing the vehicle drive apparatus to share a compatible hydraulic power supply with another drive system component. What is also needed is such a vehicle drive apparatus that is adapted to use such an existing hydraulic power supply to actuate the clutch pack of the apparatus.


A system and method comprises simulating a multiple lot auction using a sequencing rule until bidding on all lots is closed, simulating the multiple lot auction using a different sequencing rule until bidding on all lots is closed, and comparing results of the simulated auctions with both sequencing rules.

In multiple lot auctions, the purchase or sale of multiple lots of items (goods or services) are auctioned. Such auctions may be conducted with various sequencing and/or closing rules. Closing rules specify (1) an initial closing time (a time after which bids are not accepted) for each lot and (2) how these times were modified during the auction based on bidding activity. Sequencing rules determine how the closing times are ordered among the various lots. For example, the bidding on all of the lots may begin simultaneously, but the closing time for the lots may be staggered. For example, lot 1 may close bidding after 30 minutes, lot 2 may close bidding 15 minutes after that, and so on. Alternatively, the lots may be auctioned sequentially, one lot after another. In general, bidding behavior is influenced by the sequencing of the closing times and order of the various lots. The entity conducting the auction naturally desires an optimal strategy for implementing an auction.

System and method for comparing results of multiple lot auctions using different sequencing rules

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Systems and methods are described for automatically driving portions of a video production workflow according specifications governed by a data-rich storyboard. Embodiments operate in context of a novel video production workflow in which much or all of the production expertise of a traditional production workflow collaborates at a storyboard phase of the workflow to architect a single, data-rich storyboard according to concepts and rules. The rich storyboard is generated and stored in a data framework that drives specifications over the workflow in such a way that portions of the workflow can be automated and consistently repeated. For example, the rich storyboard drives generation of automated coaches for acquisition and pre-auditing of individualized story assets from storymakers. The rich storyboard can then drive automated rendering of the assets into multiple, individualized storyvine video products that each conforms to the rich storyboard concepts, rules, and specifications.

Professional video production can traditionally be costly and time-consuming. In a traditional environment, a concept is provided to one or more front-end experts (e.g., pre-production experts, like writers and directors), who decide how to convey the concept and what video and/or other content to gather and include. The content is then acquired, including shooting any desired video, by acquisition experts (e.g., directors, set designers, camera operators, lighting designers, sound designers, etc.). Once acquired, the content is passed to back-end experts (e.g., post-production experts, like directors, video editors, and renderers) to generate the final video production output. At each stage of production, corresponding experts attempt to mold the inputs they receive into desired outputs. For example, the director tries to shoot lots of footage in an attempt to acquire at least what will be needed to cut a good final product to satisfy the concept; then the footage is cut edited in post-production in an attempt to satisfy the director's vision. With these approaches, many experts tend to be used throughout the various stages of the process, each trying to produce desired outputs from provided inputs without further complicating the production with additional iterations, re-shoots of footage, re-edits, etc.
These traditional approaches can be limited in a number of contexts. One such limitation is that traditional approaches can be time- and/or cost-prohibitive for many, if not most, uses. As video production becomes more commonplace, more contexts arise in which video productions are desired, but it is impractical or impossible to spend adequate time and/or funds on traditional professional video production workflows and associated experts. Another such limitation is that the final output of traditional approaches is typically a single video production that hopefully satisfies a provided concept. Increasing numbers of contexts are arising in which there is a desire for many, individualized video productions that conform to a singular concept. Traditional workflows do not tend to be conducive to outputting multiple video productions from shared expert resources, and doing so tends to be expensive and time-consuming. Further, traditional approaches do not tend to lend themselves to creating multiple productions according to a similar concept, particularly where the video assets are gathered by different people, in different places and/or at different times, with different skills, etc.

Storyboard-directed video production from shared and individualized assets


A washing machine having an outer, stationary, liquid impervious container, having a plurality of adjacent, peripheral walls, preferably in the form of an octagon. An inner drum has perforate walls, is preferably in the form of a hexagon and is mounted within the outer container for rotation about a horizontal axis. The inner drum is driven in rotation, causing variations in the adjacent liquid volume between each drum wall and the outer container as the drum walls pass through the liquid. Because the wall is contoured to have a distance from the axis of rotation which varies as a function of peripheral, angular position to form a plurality of relatively protruding, liquid pushing perforate lobes, the movement of these lobes through the washing liquid causes an inflow of washing liquid into the drum through the leading perforate surface of each lobe and out of the drum through each trailing perforate surface.

The efficient cleaning of clothes requires that the cleaning agents, such as soap or detergent, commonly in a liquid mixture, be brought into contact with all areas of the garments in order to break the soil fiber bond. Cleaning also requires that some scrubbing or mechanical working of the garments occur in order to open up the weave and to mechanically rub or knock off the soil. It is further desirable that the washing action maintain liquid circulation and turbulence throughout all liquid-containing regions in order to mix the cleaning agents into the liquid and maintain a homogeneous mixture of the cleaning agents throughout the liquid.
The conventional, modern clothes washing machine has a central agitator which pivotally reciprocates about a vertical axis to accomplish mechanical working of the clothing and stirring of the cleaning liquid. However, agitator-type washing machines suffer from some disadvantages. Their vanes rub the clothing relatively harshly as a result of the rapid, periodic reversing of direction of the agitator. Also, cleaning compounds tend to collect in relatively high concentration in the region below the inner perforate drum and above the bottom of the outer, impervious container because there is relatively little turbulence in this relatively calm region and little circulation between this lower region and the main cleaning volume in the perforate drum.
Prior to the predominance of the modern agitator-type washing machines, front loading washing machines which rotated about a horizontal axis, were popular. These horizontal axis machines accomplished the mechanical working and scrubbing of the clothing by a tumbling action in which the garments are repetitively lifted by a combination of centrifugal force and vanes, which extend inwardly from the interior surface of the inner drum walls, and then dropped back into the cleaning liquid. Mechanical action of this type is more gentle and accomplishes more uniform cleaning because this repetitive lifting, rotating, and dropping of the garments tends to continuously move the clothing into various configurations as the operation progresses, rather than simply rolling the clothing and abrading the exterior of the roll.
The front loading machines, however, are relatively complicated because their rotating drum is cantilever supported at the back of the machine. In addition, the use of a front door requires a liquid seal which can easily leak upon deterioration of its gasket. For these reasons and the fact that the door cannot be opened to add additional clothing once the front loader is filled with liquid, the manufacture of such machines in the United States has essentially been discontinued. However, because of the more severe water shortage in Europe, front and top loading machines which rotate about a horizontal axis are common.
One advantage of horizontally rotating machines is that they inherently require less liquid and therefore additionally inherently require less soap. The reason is that horizontally rotating washing machines do not require full immersion of the entirety of the batch of clothing as is required by agitator machines because the horizontal rotating machine relies upon picking the clothes up from the liquid and dropping them back, rather than full immersion and toroidal circulation as in the agitator machines. Since the horizontal machines utilize considerably less water, they also require considerably less detergent to obtain the same detergent concentration.
It is an object and purpose of the present invention to obtain the advantages of a top loading machine, which rotates about a horizontal axis, while simultaneously further improving both the liquid and soap consumption efficiency and the cleaning effectiveness. This is accomplished in the present invention by creating additional fluid flow action within the cleaning liquid, which in turn produces additional mechanical working of the clothing and improved stirring and mixing of the cleaning liquid and any softening agents being used.