A display position control device for projection image which controls a display position of a projection image displayed on a projection surface includes: a display position adjustment control unit which divides display position shift amount from a display target position of the projection image on the projection surface into a value an integer number times larger than a pixel pitch of the projection image and a value smaller than the pixel pitch; a display position control processing unit which performs display position control through image processing based on the value the integer number times larger than the pixel pitch; and a display position control mechanism which performs optical display position control based on the value smaller than the pixel pitch.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a projection image display position control device, a projection image display position control method, and a projection system.
2. Related Art
A method for performing stack projection of identical images on one screen (projection surface) by using a plurality of projectors is known. When pixels on the projection image from one of the plural (two in this case) projectors are matched with the corresponding pixels on the projection image from the other projector in the stack projection, the luminance of the projection images on the screen is substantially doubled, and thus high-luminance image display can be achieved. Moreover, when the corresponding pixels are shifted by ½ pixel in the vertical and horizontal directions, highly minute image display can be produced.
In case of the stack projection described above, however, it is not easy to accurately display the projection images from the two projectors at target display positions (display target positions) specified for each of the projection image on the screen. When the projection images from the plural projectors are not displayed at the display target positions, the image quality of the projection image deteriorates. For example, when the projection images from the two projectors are shifted by ½ pixel for highly minute projection, the advantage of highly minute projection cannot be achieved without accurate display position control for accurately shifting the respective pixels on the projection images from the projectors by ½ pixel. In this case, there is also a possibility that noise such as moiré is caused on the image which is originally free from such noise.
Various types of methods for accurately setting the display positions of the projection images from the plural projectors have been proposed (for example, see JP-A-8-168039). According to the technology disclosed in JP-A-8-168039 (hereinafter referred to as related art), the display position shift amount between the two projectors is calculated, and the display position shift amount is mechanically controlled by using a display position control mechanism. In the related art, a display position control mechanism capable of controlling the clearance between wedge-shaped transparent substrates, a display position control mechanism capable of controlling rotation angle of a flat-plate transparent substrate, a display position control mechanism capable of shifting an actuator-attached optical stage in a parallel direction, and other mechanisms are shown as examples of the display position control mechanism.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a display position control mechanism shown in the related art as an example. FIG. 4A shows an example of the display position control mechanism for clearance control between wedge-shaped transparent substrates, and FIG. 4B shows an example of the display position control mechanism for rotation angle control of a flat-plate transparent substrate.
As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the display position control mechanism for clearance control of the wedge-shaped transparent substrates can displace the optical axis of the projection image from the projector by a predetermined amount by increasing or decreasing a distance d between wedge-shaped transparent substrates 1a and 1b. In this structure, a displacement amount s of the optical axis can be arbitrarily set within a predetermined range by controlling the distance d.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the display position control mechanism for rotation angle control of the flat-plate transparent substrate changes a rotation angle θ of the flat-plate transparent substrate 2 to displace the optical axis of the projection image from the projector by a predetermined amount. Thus, the displacement amount s of the optical axis can be arbitrarily set within a predetermined range by controlling the rotation angle θ.
According to the display position control mechanism capable of shifting the actuator-attached optical stage in the horizontal direction which is not shown in the figure, the displacement amount of lights can be arbitrarily set within a predetermined range by shifting the actuator-attached optical stage in the horizontal direction by a predetermined amount.
According to any of the display position control mechanisms discussed above, the display position of the projection image can be controlled both in the horizontal and vertical directions.
Any types of the display position control mechanisms used in the related art described above can vary a displacement amount s of the optical axis. Thus, the display position shift amount from the display target position is not limited to an integer number times larger than the pixel pitch, i.e., the unit of 1 pixel, but may be values containing decimals such as "0.3 pixel" and "1.2 pixel". In any display position control mechanisms discussed above, however the movable range of the display position control mechanism needs to be sufficiently wide when a large shift of the display position is controlled. In this case, the size of the projector increases.
More specifically, in case of the display position control mechanism for controlling the distance between the wedge-shaped transparent substrates 1a and 1b, the distance d similarly needs to be long so as to increase the displacement amount s. For satisfying this requirement, at least the movable range of one of the two wedge-shaped transparent substrates 1a and 1b needs to be sufficiently wide. In addition, for increasing the distance d, a width L of the wedge-shaped transparent substrates 1a and 1b needs to be large.
According to the display position control mechanism for controlling the rotation angle of the flat-shaped transparent substrate 2, the rotation angle θ needs to be large so as to increase the displacement amount s. In this case, the movable range of the flat-plate transparent substrate 2 needs to be wide. In addition, an expected width L0 in the projection direction decreases as the rotation angle θ increases. Thus, a length L1 of the flat-plate transparent substrate needs to be long.
According to the display position control mechanism for shifting the actuator-attached optical stage which is not shown in the figure, the movable range of the actuator-attached optical stage needs to be sufficiently wide so as to increase the displacement amount.
Alternatively, display position control may be performed through image processing. According to the display position control method by the image processing, the necessity for the display position control mechanism is eliminated, and increase in the size of the projector is prevented. However, there is a possibility of deterioration of image quality caused by image processing.
More specifically, the display position control through image processing shifts pixels when the display position is adjusted by the unit of 1 pixel, that is, by an integer number times larger than 1 pixel. Thus, the display position control can be easily and highly accurately performed. However, the display position control through image processing is generally controlled by interpolation when the display position is adjusted by a value smaller than 1 pixel. In this case, image quality deteriorates.
For example, when a linear image A (see FIG. 5A) having a width of 1 pixel is shifted to the left in the figure by ½ pixel as illustrated in FIG. 5A, a process for displaying a linear image shifted by ½ pixel is performed by using adjoining two pixels. Thus, the linear image A originally having the width of 1 pixel is represented as a linear image A′ (see FIG. 5B) having the width of two pixels, and the image quality thus deteriorates. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, each of small squares corresponds to one pixel of the optical modulation element of the projector.

Projection image display position control device, projection image display position control method, and projection system


The invention makes it possible to realize controlling of the density-gradation characteristics that is superior in that gray balance of tertiary color is taken into account as compared to conventional control of the density-gradation characteristics that uses only density sensor, in an individual color image forming apparatus. The density of an unfixed patch is detected before a fixing operation. The color of a fixed patch formed on a transferring material is also detected. Calibration tables for cyan, magenta, yellow and black for converting gradients in given image information into gradients matched with density-gradation characteristics of the color image forming apparatus are corrected based on results of the above-mentioned detections, thereby controlling density-gradation characteristics.

Recently, in the field of color image forming apparatus utilizing an electrophotography scheme or an ink jet scheme, such as color printers and color copying machines or the like, enhancement in quality of output images has been demanded. Especially, density gradation and its stability are crucial factors that greatly affect how image quality is judged.
However, in the color image forming apparatus, changes in conditions of some portions in the apparatus caused by changes in environmental conditions or by long time use of the apparatus bring about changes in density of output images. Especially, in the case of the color image forming apparatus utilizing an electrophotography scheme, even slight changes in environmental conditions cause a change in density so as to deteriorate color balance. So it is necessary to provide some means for maintaining constant density-tone characteristics. Therefore, such apparatus are generally provided with tone correcting means, such as processing conditions including a plurality of exposure quantities and developing biases and a look up table (LUT), and processing conditions or values for gradation correction that would be optimum at that time are to be selected. In addition, in order that constant density-tone characteristics can be obtained even if changes in conditions occur in some portions of the apparatus, toner patches for density detection are formed on an intermediate transferring member or a drum etc. with toners of respective colors. The density of these toner patches (which have not fixed yet) is detected by a density detection sensor for unfixed toner (hereinafter referred to as a density sensor), and the result of the detection is used as feedback to a processing condition such as an exposure value or a developing bias etc so as to control the density so that stable images would be obtained.
However, in the above-mentioned density control method using the density sensor, since the patches are formed on an intermediate transferring member or a drum so as to be detected, changes in the color balance of an image caused by subsequent processing such as transferring to a transferring material or fixing are not controlled. Actually, changes in the color balance are caused also by application of heat and pressure during fixing or depending on transferring efficiency in the transfer of a toner image onto a transferring material. Such changes cannot be controlled by the above-mentioned density control using the density sensor.
In view of the above situation, such an color image forming apparatus having a sensor (which will be referred to as a color sensor hereinafter) for detecting the color of a patch formed on a transferring material is conceived in which a gray patch formed by black (K) and a process gray patch formed by mixing cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y) are produced, and after fixing them, the colors of those two patches are compared relatively, so that a mixing ratio of cyan, magenta and yellow with which the process gray patch would become achromatic can be determined.
In this color image forming apparatus, the result of the detection may be used as feedback to an exposure value or a processing condition of an image forming section, a color matching table for converting an RGB signal in the image processing section into a color reproduction gamut (area) of the color image forming apparatus, a color separation table for converting an RGB signal to a CMYK signal, or a calibration table for correcting density-gradation characteristics. Thus, the color image forming apparatus can control the density or chromaticity of a final output image that has been formed on a transferring material.
A control process similar to the above can also be performed by detecting an image output from the color image forming apparatus using an external image reading apparatus or color meter and densitometer. However the above-described control process using the color sensor is more advantageous in that the control is completed in the printer itself. The color sensor is arranged to include as light emitting elements, for example, three or more light sources that have light emission spectrums different from each other (e.g. red (R), green (G), and blue (B) etc.). Alternatively, the light emitting elements of the color sensor may be comprised of a light source(s) emitting white (W) light that is provide with three or more filters that have spectral transmittances different from each other (e.g. red (R), green (G), and blue (B) etc.) formed thereon. With the above arrangements, three or more different outputs, such as R, G and B outputs, can be obtained from the color sensor.
In the control process using the color sensor as described above, it is necessary to form patches on a transferring material, whereby the transfer material and toners are consumed. Therefore that control process cannot be performed frequently. So there exists a need in the art to perform effective controlling of density or chromaticity with a reduced frequency of the control process.
On the other hand, in order to enable the above-mentioned correction for realizing an achromatic process gray, means for obtaining a ratio of cyan, magenta and yellow with which the process gray becomes achromatic is required.

Color image forming apparatus and method for controlling color image forming apparatus


A pneumatic tire includes a pair of circumferential main grooves, a plurality of center lug grooves, and center blocks. The pair of circumferential main grooves are disposed on both sides of a tire equatorial plane in a tire lateral direction. The tire equatorial plane is interposed between the pair of circumferential main grooves. The pair of circumferential main grooves extend in a tire circumferential direction and oscillate in the tire lateral direction. The plurality of center lug grooves have both ends connected to the pair of circumferential main grooves. The center blocks are defined by the center lug grooves and the pair of circumferential main grooves. The center lug grooves have bent portions at two or more positions. The center blocks include center narrow grooves having both ends connected to the pair of circumferential main grooves. The center narrow groove has bent portions at two or more positions.

While pneumatic tires have grooves on tread surfaces to mainly ensure drainage properties, some known pneumatic tires improve traveling performance using these grooves. For example, a pneumatic tire described in Japan Patent No. 4149219 includes bent portions in center lateral grooves, which connect between two circumferential grooves extending in a zigzag manner along an equator of the tire, thus increasing edge components and achieving a tread pattern resistant to sideslip.
Since the grooves on the tread surface cause noise generated while the pneumatic tire is in rolling under load, some known pneumatic tires achieve a reduction in noise generated during the rolling under load. For example, a pneumatic tire described in Japan Patent No. 5425802 includes blocks defined by a plurality of grooves in block rows. The block is formed into a polygonal planar contour shape of a hexagon or a polygon of more sides. A minimum length of the block in a tread width direction is situated in an end portion in a tread circumferential direction, and a middle portion of the block in the tread circumferential direction has a width wider than a width of the end portion in the circumferential direction. Leading edges of the blocks while the tire is rolling under load are spaced from one another in the tread circumferential direction. The pneumatic tire described in Japan Patent No. 5425802 configures the blocks in the block rows in this manner to suppress large collision noise caused by the simultaneous collision of the plurality of blocks with a road surface.
Here, grounding characteristics of the pneumatic tire change depending on the weight of a vehicle during traveling. In particular, in a truck or a bus generating a large difference between a weight without goods loaded and a weight with goods fully loaded, the change in grounding characteristics associated with the change in the weight of the vehicle becomes significant. For example, when the truck or the bus is in an empty vehicle state where no goods are loaded, a ground contact area of the pneumatic tire with the road surface decreases compared with that in a loading state where the goods are loaded. In this case, grooves positioned in the ground contact area also decrease, and this possibly results in the deterioration of drainage properties and deterioration of wet performance.
On the other hand, the grooves formed in the tread surface contribute to the rigidity of the blocks defined by the grooves. A decrease in the size of the blocks by increasing the groove area in the tread surface deteriorates the rigidity of the blocks. The tread surface is likely to wear at a position with the low rigidity of the blocks compared with that at a position with the high rigidity of the blocks. Accordingly, in a case where the groove area is increased to improve wet property and consequently a portion with the low rigidity of the block occurs, wear is likely to occur in the portion, and an uneven wear is likely to occur. In this manner, although the wet performance—traveling performance in the traveling on a wet road surface—can be improved by increasing the groove area, increasing the groove area makes the uneven wear likely to occur, and thus improving both trade-off performances was extremely difficult.


A system is provided for measuring flow in a pipeline which, in use, carries a stratified flow of a first liquid and a second, denser liquid. The system comprises: a section of the pipeline in which the stratified flow is uphill; a section of the pipeline in which the stratified flow is downhill; and a holdup meter on each of said pipeline sections for measuring the holdup in each section. The flow rates of the first and second liquids can be calculated from the measured holdups.

Oil pipelines, particularly those extending from wellheads, typically carry a mixture of oil and water, and often significant amounts of gas.
Typically it is desired to know the flow rates of the oil and water.
A large number of devices are known to the skilled person for performing flow rate measurements. It is generally accepted that no single instrument can perform all the necessary measurements for fully characterising multiphase flow, and so many known flowmeters are composed of a number of devices grouped together. Measuring pressure drop to estimate flowrates, for example, necessitates homogenization of the flow field to alleviate the problem of phase slippage, which requires either changing flow direction abruptly or thorough mixing by a highly intrusive device. In addition to measuring pressure drop, it is often necessary to determine the fraction (by volume, area or cord) that each phase occupies in the measurement pipe. Measurements made by devices used to perform this determination can be susceptible to significant errors as the determinations are either highly dependent on phase properties (e.g. in a microwave water cut meter), or on the presence of one phase with another (e.g. in a Coriolis mass meter). Also, many of these devices intrude on the flow and involve relatively expensive and/or complicated apparatus.
Furthermore, many of them only measure total liquid/fluid flow rates, further measurements and analysis being needed to derive separate oil and water flow rates.
In horizontal or near horizontal pipelines at relatively low flow rates, buoyancy forces tend to separate out the oil and water, and the flow can become stratified. The flow velocities of the oil and water can then differ with slip occurring at the interface between the oil and the water. Stratified Flow Model and Interpretation in Horizontal Wells, by B. E. Théron and T. Unwin, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) paper 36560 presents a model of stratified oil-water flows in horizontal wells. A further problem with many known flow rate measuring devices is that they are incompatible with stratified liquid flows where slip occurs at the oil/water boundary.
There is a need for a relatively simple system for measuring liquid flow rates, particularly in stratified liquid flows.

System and method for measuring flow in a pipeline


A gradient pulse generator generates reference current signals for a plurality of gradient coils of a gradient coil system of a magnetic resonance system and supplies each of the reference current signals to a controller assigned to one of the gradient coils. Also supplied to the respective controller is an actual current signal that is characteristic of the current flowing in the respective gradient coil. Each of the controllers generates a control signal and accordingly drives a gradient power amplifier assigned to the respective gradient coil. The gradient power amplifiers apply a current to the gradient coils assigned to the gradient power amplifiers in accordance with the generated control signals. Each of the controllers is also supplied with the reference current signal or the actual current signal of at least one other gradient coil or the time derivative of the reference current signal or the actual current signal.

The present embodiments relate to a control method for driving a plurality of gradient coils of a gradient coil system of a magnetic resonance system.
The gradient coils of a gradient coil system of a magnetic resonance system may be inductively coupled to one another. This applies in the case where the gradient coil system has a plurality of gradient coils for three orthogonal axes of a Cartesian coordinate system. On account of the inductive coupling, a dependence in relation to a specific gradient coil of the voltage required for generating a specific current on the activation state of the other gradient coils results.
Controllers may be tuned to the state, in which the same current is applied to all coils of a specific gradient axis. Methods for identifying and setting good controller parameters for a mode of operation of the type are well known.
The prior art approach delivers good results only when the currents of the gradient coils, insofar as gradient coils generate a gradient of the magnetic field in the same direction, are the same in relation to one another. If the currents are different from one another, the regulating function operates only at a suboptimal level. This may lead to artifacts during the image reconstruction. The problem arises when the current conditions are time-variable.

Controlling gradient coils taking the inductive coupling into account


Disclosed are various examples of transmitting management commands to a device using a short message service (SMS) message or voice call. A device may lack network connectivity with a management service. Network capabilities of the device may be disabled or impaired. The management service can generate a SMS message or voice call that includes the management command. The SMS message or voice call can be transmitted to the client device over a cellular network. The SMS message or voice call can include an authentication string with which the authenticity of the SMS message or voice call can be verified. The device can then execute the management command.

In an enterprise setting, users of mobile devices may install and use various enterprise applications in a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environment. The use of these applications can result in storage of enterprise data on the mobile devices. Security of the data on mobile devices of users is an ongoing concern in a BYOD environment. A user's mobile device may become lost or otherwise removed from service. In these scenarios, it may be desired to remove or erase enterprise data from the user's mobile device.
In some cases, the mobile device can receive a command instructing the device to erase data from the device or perform a factory reset that results in the device being returned to its factory condition. The device typically receives the command over a data connection to a network through which the command is sent. However, mobile devices may not always have a data connection or the ability to receive a command to erase data from the mobile device over a data connection.

Transmitting management commands to a client device


An explosive charge (3) can be equipped with two liners (4, 5) that can be attached to one another. The primary liner (4) is so devised that when choosing a first choice (11) of being able to work independently and by employing a symmetrical form achieving a forward-aimed Shaped Charge Warhead (SCW) effect upon explosive charge initiation by means of the material (7, 8) indicated for the primary liner. A secondary liner (5) is devised with a second choice (12) to be able to work together with the primary liner and together cause an asymmetric form that distributes the material (18, 19) from the liners at different velocities to thereby cause a forward-directed fragmentation effect. The ammunition unit (1) can, thus, be designed or prepared for two different combat cases in a technologically simple and unambiguous manner.

It is priorly known to arrange ammunition units/projectiles to accomplish different combat situations, e.g., in a first case to effect a Shaped Charge Warhead (SCW) function against hard targets and in a second case to effect fragmentation function against soft targets. It is also known how to arrange the explosive charge with two or more liners and how to arrange these such that a dispersed warhead effect is achieved, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,797 B1. It is also known to use liners with varied thickness, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,319 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,861. There are also general reference to and due notice of EP 1 164 348 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,663.

Device adjacent to an explosive charge with at least two liners


A combination door and window channel seal for sealing between a motor vehicle door frame and movable window glass panel and a method for forming the same are described. The channel seal is formed from thermoplastic elastomers of at least two different durometer values and has an elastic joint in a window run channel portion of the seal.

This invention relates generally to motor vehicle door and window channel seals and more particularly to a thermoplastic elastomer seal having an elastic joint in a window run channel portion of the seal for sealing between a motor vehicle door frame and movable window glass panel, and to a method of forming the seal.
The motor vehicle industry, particularly the passenger car and van portions of the industry, are increasingly relying on flush glass window mounting for improving the appearance of motor vehicles and reducing the aerodynamic drag of the vehicles to make them more fuel efficient. A number of conflicting requirements for such seals makes them difficult and expensive to produce and install. The increasingly complex shape of motor vehicle bodies requires seals that are not simply bent in a plane to surround the top edge of a flat glass window. The seals are formed not only at the radii (corners of the glass) but are also arched vertically to coincide with the curved top surface of the glass and rounded sides of the automobile.
Heretofore, thermosetting materials such as ethylene-propylenediene-monomer rubber (EPDM) have been used extensively for vehicle window seals. Some complex seals have included portions formed from other materials such as thermoplastic materials, but EPDM has usually been a major portion of the seal. To improve the appearance of motor vehicles, the industry demands window seals that are colored to enhance the appearance of the vehicle, usually by matching the body color. Obtaining a color on EPDM has been less than satisfactory in the past, whereas thermoplastics are readily colored.
Although EPDM is cost effective (inexpensive) as a material, the total cost of making and installing an EPDM seal on a motor vehicle is high. The seal must not only be formed at the radii of the glass by cutting, mitering or welding molded pieces, but it must also be arched in the vertical direction to coincide with the curved glass and rounded sides of the vehicle. To accomplish this with EPDM, a metal support internal to the EPDM is added, usually as the EPDM seal is extruded. Massive and expensive roll forming machinery and tooling and stretch bending equipment and tooling are required to form the extruded seal to the desired configuration in three dimensions. Thus, the total cost, that is the cost of the seal and the capital cost of equipment needed to form it, is high.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved vehicle door and window channel seal that overcomes the disadvantages of known seals by providing a semi-rigid seal which readily conforms to the desired configuration and allows for a closing action on the window glass. The seal of the invention comprises a channel seal, which is a substantially rigid but flexible channel seal and is thermally formed from at least two different polymers, coming together into one profile. The channel seal is preferably used in conjunction with a sealing insert.
More particularly, it is an object of the invention to improve the sealing action against the glass by incorporating an elastic joint of TPE of lower durometer in the base of the channel seal to provide a winking action when a window engages the sealing insert and causes the legs of the window run channel to pivot inwards and compress the sealing insert against the window glass.
It is an object of the invention to provide a door and window channel seal in which the channel seal comprises a combination of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials of different durometers which attaches to a vehicle body and can be color matched to an automobile and which can be thermally formed to match the general contour of the vehicle, thus eliminating the need for the expensive, massive, roll forming machinery and tooling and stretch bending equipment and tooling mentioned before.
The channel seal can be thermally formed by extrusion or molding in one piece and conformed to the general contour of the vehicle opening. Thus molded joint lines and the need for cutting, mitering or welding of the carrier member to fit the corners are avoided. The sealing insert can be formed by extrusion of a one-piece, relatively flat resilient rubber member which can be readily provided with a sliding surface, such as a slip coating or flocking.
Briefly stated and in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention a combination door and window channel seal comprising, an inverted U-shaped window channel defined by a first base having first and second ends, a first leg attached to one end of the base, an elastic joint strip attached to the second end of the base, and a second leg attached to the elastic joint; and a U-shaped flange engaging channel for securing the seal to a door flange defined by a second base, said second leg and a third leg.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention the channel seal comprises a pivot projection attached to the first end of the base, opposite the first leg.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the channel seal comprises at least two thermoplastic elastomers of different durometer values.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the channel seal is formed by coextruding the at least two thermoplastic elastomers.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the channel seal is formed by molding the at least two thermoplastic elastomers.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention the channel seal comprises a thermoplastic elastomer selected from styrenic block copolymers, rubber-polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic alloys, thermoplastic elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic ionomers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyvinyl chlorides and blends thereof.
The novel aspects of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be more fully comprehended by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for forming a combination door and window channel seal


The instant invention provides a homologation process for making a zincate homoenolate from a carbon bound enolate zincate, by treating the carbon bound enolate zincate with an alkoxy lithium reagent. The homologation step can be coupled with a homoaldol reaction, as well as with other transmetallation reactions, in a one pot process. The zincate homoenolate is a useful intermediate in the preparation of a variety of different end-products, such as HIV protease inhibitors and renin inhibitors.

The preparation of organic compounds of high optical purity is becoming an increasingly important objective. To this end, numerous examples of methods involving chiral catalysts (both natural and unnatural) and covalently-bonded chiral auxiliaries can be cited. See for example, Noyori, R., Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis; (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York) 1994; and Wong, C.-H., Whitesides, G. M., Enzymes in Synthetic Organic Chemistry; Tetrahedron Organic Chemistry Series, (Pergamon Press, Tarrytown, N.Y.) 1994; Vol. 12. Although often highly stereoselective, these methods typically embrace a single event in which bond-forming or bond-breaking takes place on a given substrate. For molecules with multiple stereocenters it would be desirable to couple several distinct asymmetric transformations in a single-vessel reaction sequence.
The reaction of the titanium homoenolate derived from 3 with N-tert-Boc-phenylalaninal 6 is known to yield the homoaldol product 4a as a single isomer as shown in Scheme 1. See, for example, (a) Armstrong III, J. D.; Hartner, Jr., F. W.; DeCamp, A. E.; Volante, R. P.; Shinkai, I. Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33, 6599; (b) DeCamp, A. E.; Kawaguchi, A. T.; Volante, R. P.; Shinkai, I. Tetrahedron Lett. 1991, 32, 1867; (c) Reetz, M. R.; Karin, R.; Griebenow, N. Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35, 1969; (d) Reetz, T. R.; Fox, D.N.A.; Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 1119; (e) Reetz, M. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1991, 30, 1531; and (f) Kano, S.; Yokomatsu, T.; Shibuya, S. Tetrahedron Lett. 1991, 32, 233. The overall conversion of 1 to 4a by the known route requires four individual steps, including two stereodefining steps. The known route could likewise be used to produce 5a from 2. ##STR1##
Streamlining of the overall transformation of 1 to 4a would be desirable for improved time and cost efficiency. The success of such a process would require two distinct asymmetric transformations, an asymmetric homologation and an asymmetric homoaldol. The present invention addresses this problem by providing just such a tandem asymmetric process, which couples a 1,2-migration with a homoaldol reaction in a single-vessel reaction sequence. The process and intermediates described herein can be used in a wide variety of synthetic applications, and particularly this process can be used to make HIV protease inhibitors and endothelian antagonists.

Tandem asymmetric transformation process


Orthopedic compositions are provided that include a homogeneous mixture of a biocompatible polymer and a bioactive particulate ceramic wherein the ceramic has an average particle size of not more than 500 nm are provided. The compositions may be used to form bone cement or various spinal implants, including spinal spacers, interbody fusion cages, bone plates and bone screws. Methods for stabilizing a spine, for correcting a bone defect, and for promoting fusion of adjacent vertebrae are also provided.

The present invention relates to composite materials that may be shaped to form a wide variety of prostheses for orthopedic applications. Specifically, compositions that are composites of a biocompatible polymer and a particulate ceramic are provided, wherein the particulate ceramic has an average particle size of not more than about 500 nm.
The intervertebral disc functions to stabilize the spine and to distribute forces between vertebral bodies. A normal disc includes a gelatinous nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosis and two vertebral end plates. The nucleus pulposus is surrounded and confined by the annulus fibrosis.
Intervertebral discs may be displaced or damaged due to trauma or disease. Disruption of the annulus fibrosis allows the nucleus pulposus to protrude into the spinal canal, a condition commonly referred to as a herniated or ruptured disc. The extruded nucleus pulposus may press on the spinal nerve, which may result in nerve damage, pain, numbness, muscle weakness and paralysis. Intervertebral discs may also deteriorate due to the normal aging process. As a disc dehydrates and hardens, the disc space height will be reduced, leading to instability of the spine, decreased mobility and pain.
One way to relieve the symptoms of these conditions is by surgical removal of a portion or all of the intervertebral disc. The removal of the damaged or unhealthy disc may allow the disc space to collapse, which could lead to instability of the spine, abnormal joint mechanics, nerve damage, as well as severe pain. Therefore, after removal of the disc, adjacent vertebrae are typically fused to preserve the disc space.
Several devices exist to fill an intervertebral space following removal of all or part of the intervertebral disc in order to prevent disc space collapse and to promote fusion of adjacent vertebrae surrounding the disc space. Many of the implants, including intervertebral disc spacers, as well as cervical plates along with bone screws utilized to hold the plates in place, have been made of metal. Due to the stiffness of the material, some metal implants, such as intervertebral disc spacers, may stress shield the bone, thereby increasing the time required for fusion. Subsidence, or sinking of the device into bone, may also occur when metal implants are implanted between vertebrae if fusion is delayed.
In order to solve the problems associated with metal implants, a wide variety of bone grafts and substitutes thereof have been used. Autograft is often preferred because it is osteoinductive, although allograft may also be used. However, such sources of grafts provide several disadvantages. Autograft is available in only limited supply. Moreover, the additional surgery increases the risk of infection and blood loss and may reduce structural integrity at the donor site. Additionally, some patients complain that the graft harvesting surgery causes more short-term and long-term pain than the fusion surgery.
Allograft material, which is obtained from donors of the same species, is more readily obtained. However, allogeneic bone does not have the osteoinductive potential of autogenous bone and may thus provide only temporary support. The slow rate of fusion using allografted bone can lead to collapse of the disc space before fusion is accomplished.
Several attempts have been made to develop a material that may be used to form an implant, such as an intervertebral disc implant or other load bearing structure, which avoids the disadvantages of metal implants and bone implants. Calcium phosphate-based implants are known, but are brittle in many cases and may thus not have sufficient load bearing capacity for a desired application. Synthetic polymers are also known, but have several drawbacks, including their small load bearing capacity and their minimal or non-existent bone bonding capacity. Although compositions of synthetic polymers and hydroxapatite, typically sized in the micrometer range, have been made in order to combine the advantages of the polymers and the calcium phosphate-based ceramics, and have obtained a certain degree of success, a need for improved compositions for orthopedic use still exists. The present invention addresses this need.

Bioactive nanocomposites and methods for their use


‘K140’ is a new Pongamia tree distinguished by having consistent and abundant production of exceptionally large seed pods, coupled with a very high oil content of the seeds.

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Pongamia tree (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre) named 'K140'. 'K140' was discovered by the inventors growing in an urban cultivated area in southeastern Queensland, Australia, wherein it and neighboring trees are grown for shade and other landscape amenities. The parentage of this tree is unknown, as is typical for trees cultivated in landscape plantings of this type.
'K140' has been reproduced asexually through vegetative cuttings.
'K140' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes supporting member and a moving member whose position is adjustable relative to the supporting member while a posture of the moving member is in a predetermined posture comprising a link member rotatably connected to the supporting member and the moving member respectively, a first gear secured to the moving member, a second gear secured to the supporting member and a transmitting gear rotatably supported to the link member. The transmitting gear includes a first partial gear meshing with the first gear and a second partial gear meshing with the second gear.

As an example of a device for sufficiently changing a position of a predetermined part of the seat, a known seat apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,610. The disclosed seat apparatus includes a link mechanism for changing a position of a footrest relative to the seat cushion. Such link mechanism basically includes a known four joint linkage having four links provided in a rectangle and rotation shafts for connecting the links. The four joint linkage applied to the part which is sufficiently changed also includes plural auxiliary links for securing the strength of the link mechanism enough to support a load applied to the footrest even if an angle between the links becomes equal to or more than a predetermined angle.
A structure of the link mechanism having aforementioned configuration is complicated because many links and rotation shafts connecting the links are provided thereto. In addition, relatively large and heavy links and rotation shafts need to be provided to such link mechanism applied to a vehicle seat apparatus to secure enough strength for supporting excessive load applied to the seat.
A need exists for a seat apparatus to include a link mechanism being light in weight and having few links.


The present invention may be used for anchoring a watercraft. A mooring device may have a ground penetrating device attached at a first end of an elongated rod and a slide hammer attached at a second end of the elongated rod. A mooring line may be attached at a first end of the ground penetrating device and may be attachable at a second end to a boat and fixed in length by a rope lock.

This invention relates to systems for anchoring a watercraft, for example, a boat, in shallow waters, such as near a shore line. The new anchor system has a ground penetrating element attached to an elongated rod for positioning the penetrating element in the bottom or underwater surface structure at a desired anchoring location.
Generally anchor systems for watercraft include a rope or chain with a metal anchor having arms, grapnel elements or mushroom disks that may be dropped in the water to sink to the bottom of a body of water. The anchor may be designed to catch on objects on the bottom or to resist dragging on the underwater ground material, for example a mud bottom of a lake or river. While easy to deploy, this type of anchor system may generally be unreliable in maintaining an anchoring in a desired location due to the bottom conditions. The anchor may therefore move due to wave wash against an anchored boat or for other reasons such as wind.
For permanent moorings often found in small boat harbors, a buoy tethered on a cable or chain may have a bottom embedded device that resists movement. Installing such generally permanent buoys may be a complicated operation and not be generally useful for a temporary mooring system for boat users who only wish to moor a boat for a short period of time at random locations such as adjacent a river or lake bank.


A luminescent pressure sensitive composition for determining an air pressure pattern includes a binder, preferably a polymer binder, with a luminophore, of which the intensity of luminescence depends on air pressure. The luminophore of which the intensity of luminesence depends on air pressure (active luminophore) is mixed together with an additional luminophore of which the intensity of luminescence has a different dependence on air pressure than the active or reference luminophore.

The present invention relates to a luminescent pressure sensitive composition for the determination of air pressure patterns on the surface of a body. This invention can be used in various fields of science and technology. It is particularly suitable in determining the air pressure field in aerodynamic investigations.
The most important problem in aerodynamics concerns with the determination of distributed forces acting on a body.
The basic component of these forces originates from the distributed air pressure on a surface of the body. The problem in defining the distributed forces involves the determination of the pressure pattern on the surface of the body. Thus, an appropriate method should be provided to measure air pressure at each point of a surface in experimental researches.
The method uses a surface coating which contains probe molecules (luminophores) that emit luminescence when excited by an appropriate light source. Oxygen molecules in the air interfere with the process of the luminescence and decrease ("quench") the amount of luminescence. As a result, the luminescence of the paint varies as functions of the partial pressure of oxygen. Therefore, the parameters of luminescence (intensity and lifetime) can be related to the static pressure of the air at the coated surface.
A luminescent pressure sensitive composition for the determination of pressure patterns on models in a wind tunnel has been employed. See, for example, J. Kavandi, J. Callis, M. Gouterman, G. Khalil, D. Wright, E. Green, D. Burns, B. McLachian "Luminescent barometry in wind tunnels". Rev. Sci. Instrum., 61, 11, November 1990).
Their composition includes platinum octaethylpoiphyrin (PtOEP) which is dissolved in Genesee Polymers GP-197 dimethylsiloxane polymer solution. The solution is applied on the surface of interest. The 1,1,1-trichloroethane solvent evaporates, and leaves a smooth film. The luminescence of luminophore-PtOEP was excited by an UV lamp with a filter that only allowed light with wavelength above 400 nm to pass through.
Other studies for determining air pressure pattern on a surface have also been conducted. See, for example, (M. J. Morris, J. F. Donovan, J. T. Kegelman, S. D. Schwab, R. L. Levy, R. C. Crites. "Aerodynamic Applications of Pressure-Sensitive Paint". 30th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Jan. 6-9, 1992/Reno, Nev.
The specific formulation of the composition was not specified. The luminescence of the composition was excited by visible blue light and was detected by a video camera.
The determination of air pressure pattern was carried out by using images of the model taken at wind-off and at wind-on conditions.
The approximation of the luminescence intensity of the composition was modeled by the Stern-Volmer relation: EQU l.sub.o /l=1+K.sub.2 P.sub.02
where l is the intensity of luminescence, l.sub.o is the intensity of luminescence in the absence of oxygen, P.sub.02 is the partial pressure of oxygen, K.sub.q is the Stern-Volmer constant, or EQU l.sub.o /l=1+KP,
where P is the pressure of air.
In the various experiments carried out in a wind tunnel, the results were influenced by model movement and dust contamination during the flow.
The emitted light from a specific point of a surface covered by the composition depended on the amount of excitation light from the light source, but the amount of light received depended on the distance from a specific point to the light source and on the angle of the surface. Furthermore, the intensity of emitted light received by the camera depended on the distance from the camera and on the angle of the surface. Since the model generally has a complex surface, both the distance and the angle to the light source and the camera varies at each point over the surface of the model. Therefore l.sub.o varies at each point over the model. Usually in real experiments l.sub.o is not used as the reference intensity. To determine the pressure at a specific point, the intensity at each point l, at atmospheric pressure P (wind-off condition) is divided by its intensity of the air-flow (wind-on condition). EQU l.sub.i /l=(1+KP)/(1+KP.sub.r)
K- is determined in a calibration pressure chamber.
If the camera and light source are fixed to the tunnel's walls the optical data is recorded at atmospheric pressure at each angle-of-attack.
However, since during the flow the model is subject to movements due to the action of aerodynamic forces and the surface of the model is contaminated by dust particles during a test, the accuracy of the pressure measurements was low.

Luminescent pressure sensitive composition


In an image reading method which executes a prescan to obtain optimum reading parameters for a main scan prior to a main scan for reading a document image, a document image is read by illuminating the document image by a specific exposure amount for the prescan and reading the document thereby, detecting the density of the document, and determining the exposure amount for illuminating said document in a main scan in accordance with the detected document density, and determining a wait time to delay the start of the main scan in accordance with the determined exposure amount of the main scan, then starting the reading of the document in a main scan after waiting the determined wait period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image reading method, in particular, a device and a method for breaking down image information on a document into minute areas and reading said image information as electrical signals for use in microfilm scanners and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microfilm reader/scanners, for example, are image reading devices which read document images such as image frames photographed on microfilm. Typically, in such microfilm reader/scanners, prescanning is executed to obtain optimum reading parameters (e.g., amount of exposure, variable magnification, and the like) prior to a main scan to read a document image. The main scan starts after a predetermined time has elapsed following the completion of the prescan.
That is, first a prescan is executed to determine whether the film image is a dark image or a bright image. If the film image is a dark image, the amount of light exposure (hereinafter referred to simply as "exposure amount") is set higher during the main scan, whereas if the film image is a bright image, the exposure amount is set lower during the main scan. The film image is then read (main scan), and the main scan is started after waiting for stabilization of the set exposure amount. If there is a large difference between the exposure amount during the prescan and the exposure amount during the main scan, much time is required for the main scan exposure amount to become stabilized, i.e., the time required to attain the main scan exposure amount. Therefore, conventionally, the greatest amount of exposure change is estimated between the prescan exposure amount and the main scan exposure amount to uniformly delay the start of the main scan. In this method, however, even when the amount of change in the exposure amount is small between the prescan and the main scan such that only a short time is required to attain the exposure amount of the main scan, the start of the main scan is delayed for the same amount of time as when the difference in the exposure amount is quite large, thereby unnecessarily delaying the start of the main scan.
Japanese Patent publication No. HEI 2-15146 (i.e., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. SHO 60-145763) discloses a means for measuring the rate of change of the exposure amount of a light source (exposure change measuring means) to detect whether or not the exposure quantity is stabilized, so as to start the main scan after the exposure amount is stable. This device, however, is disadvantageous inasmuch as the requirement of providing an additional exposure change measuring means increases the number of components and increases the cost of the device.


Disclosed are solvent cement formulations having beneficial stability and performance characteristics that include a thermoplastic resin, one or more organic solvents, an inhibitor of an oxidation-reduction reaction, and a heat stabilizer.

Adhesives containing organic solvents have been used for many years for joining objects made from thermoplastic materials, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). In use, one or more of the present organic solvents partially dissolves or at least softens the surfaces to be joined, thereby achieving an intimate bond between these surfaces when the organic solvent evaporates. Normally, a small amount of thermoplastic resin, the same as or similar to the thermoplastic to be joined, is dissolved in the solvent, thereby producing what is referred to as a "solvent cement."
Solvent cements are conventionally used for joining PVC (polyvinylchloride) and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinylchloride) plastic pipe and fittings. The amount of such plastic pipe used for conveying a variety of liquids is enormous. The major uses are drain, waste, vent sewer and potable water conveyance. Plastic pipe has increasingly displaced the traditional materials used for the same purpose such as copper, steel, galvanized metal, cast iron, lead and concrete asbestos pipe. Plastic pipe has become the material of choice in the home, municipal, and manufacturing industries.
The ASTM standard for PVC solvent cements is ASTM D-2564. According to this standard, such solvent cements contain a minimum of 10% PVC resin, inert fillers, and the remainder is one or more solvents from the group of tetrahydrofuran (THF), cyclohexanone (CYH), MEK, and acetone.
ASTM F-493 sets forth the requirements for CPVC solvent cements as containing a minimum of 10% CPVC resin, inert fillers, and the remainder is one or more solvents including THF, CYH, MEK and/or acetone.
Solvent cements are subject to degradative influences during storage, for example, high temperature storage conditions, prior to use. For example, in addition to the resulting changes in the CPVC itself, due to the inevitable presence of moisture in the solvent cement (for example, as a result of exposure to atmospheric moisture or present as an impurity in the solvent), loss of chlorine can lead to container corrosion through the formation of hydrogen chloride. In order to store solvent cements containing CPVC for prolonged periods without any risk of corrosion, the adhesives may be stored in containers made of materials which withstand the chemical attack of hydrogen chloride. However, such containers as glass or polyolefin are unsuitable for other reasons.
The shelf-life of solvent cements containing CPVC resin is very short, particularly in warm environments in which the solvent cement is exposed to prolonged temperatures above about 120° F. As the CPVC-containing solvent cements are exposed to these high temperatures, the shelf-life can be reduced to as low as about six months. Shipping of product to locations across the world significantly reduces the amount of time the product can remain on shelves or be sold to end-consumers before the product must be scrapped. Scrapping old product increases costs required to manufacture the CPVC-containing solvent cement. As such, a need therefore exists for solvent cements containing CPVC resin that have increased shelf-life, particularly when exposed to prolonged high temperature environments.
Thus, solvent cements for both PVC and CPVC continue to require stabilization, such as against the effects of heat. In order to mitigate such problems, heat stabilizers, acid stabilizer, and radical stabilizers have been added to CPVC solvent cement formulations. U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,926 discloses CPVC solvent cement formulations containing a stabilizer comprising (i) at least one organophosphite compound, at and (ii) at least one metal-containing carbonate salt. U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0020828 discloses stabilizing agents for CPVC formulations that include alkyltin compounds, such as methyltin, butyltin and octyltin, dialkyltin dicarboxylates, methyltin mercaptides and butyltin mercaptides; dialkyltin bis(alkylmercaptocarboxylate) including di-n-octyltin-S, S′-bis(isooctylmercaptoacetate), butylthiostaunoic acid, and others.
A need persists for additional measures for ensuring the stability of solvent cements during storage.
Various organic solvents have been used for making organic solvent-based adhesives. Examples include ketones, ethers, esters, amides, carbonates, organic sulfoxides, organic sulfones, and organic sulfides. Mixtures of different solvents are common. See, for example, the following patent documents: U.S. 2006/0030689, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,372,821, 6,087,421, 5,495,040, 5,470,894, 5,422,388, 5,416,142, 5,376,717 and 5,252,634.
Modern environmental and health guidelines recommend or require that the content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in consumer products be minimized and, where possible, eliminated. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) represents a common VOC in adhesive products, including solvent cements, in which that compound functions to dissolve thermoplastics and enhance the viscosity of the adhesive formulation. In view of the status of THF as a volatile organic compound, previous efforts have been made to reduce or exclude THF from adhesive formulations, including solvent cements. A need remains, however, for adhesive formulations in which the concentration of THF is reduced relative to traditional adhesives, or is eliminated entirely, but that have the characteristics, such as viscosity, that are necessary for effective use in regular-, medium-, and heavy-duty pipe joining applications.

Solvent cement formulations having extended shelf life


A guide apparatus of an intervertebral implant which is adapted to firmly fix an implant between adjacent corpus vertebrae includes a grip portion. A hollow inner tube is connected to the grip portion, in which an implant insertion tool can be removably inserted. A first guide projection is provided at the front end of the inner tube to protrude forward therefrom. A movable outer tube is rotatably fitted onto the inner tube. A second guide projection is provided at the front end of the movable outer tube to protrude forward therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a guide apparatus (guide tool) which is adapted to insert and screw-engage an implant between adjacent corpus vertebrae to cure a degenerative disease of a corpus vertebra such as a cervical vertebra.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to cure the degenerative disease called cervical vertebra, in a known operation, a screw (implant) is screw-engaged in a subluxation portion between an atlas (first cervical vertebra) and a second cervical vertebra. However, in this operation, there is a possibility that the spinal cord or nerve root which exists very close to the screw-engaging portion may be injured during the operation. To avoid this, the operation requires a long time, thus resulting in a heavy burden on a doctor as well as a patient.

Guide apparatus of intervertebral implant


Apparatus and method for producing a composite clock signal with optimized stability characteristics from individual clocks which have different stabilities or variances. The composite clock signal includes weighted individual clock signals. In a first (PPN) case, an optimum composite clock is a scale-factor-weighted linear combination of clock signals. In another (non-PPN) case, the optimum stable composite clock is the output of a linear filter of the input clocks signals. Both the phases and frequencies of the individual clocks over time are estimated.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become very valuable for communication, navigation, and for geolocation. The GPS system includes about twenty-four spacecraft in 12-hour orbits at about 11000 nautical miles above the Earth. Each spacecraft includes a precision clock and a signal transmitter. A GPS receiver receives signals from several GPS spacecraft and measures the time of emission of the signal from each spacecraft. It then uses this information, together with knowledge of the location of the GPS satellites derived from the GPS signal, to calculate its own geolocation and time. Navigation systems exploit this knowledge to control vehicles and to target weapons. The GPS system also supports the synchronization of network systems such as communication systems.
One important aspect of GPS performance is the ability to predict the GPS SV (space vehicle) position and clock state, as the broadcast message is based upon prediction. Currently the prediction interval is about 24 hours. The dominant error in the range prediction error is the instability of the SV's clock. By enhancing the stability of the SV clock, range prediction errors are reduced and the accuracy of the GPS system is improved.
A clock includes a periodic process and a counter. A simple clock produces a number in a register, which number corresponds to how many counts or how many periodic events have taken place since the clock was initialized. Most physical processes are not perfectly regular in time due to small physical noise processes that vary over time. Hence, clocks will deviate from "perfect" time, and the difference between absolute time and time measured by a clock will behave as a random process and the variation of the error will grow with time.
Clock stabilities have been characterized classically by Allan variances. To measure the Allan variances at specific time samples (Δt), a sequence of phase errors (xk) are measured (the difference between phase readings between two clocks, one being a more stable clock standard). This is used to compute a sequence of double differences of phase errors (ak=xk+2−2xk+1+xk). Then the Allan variance, avar, is computed using the following formula:
                              a                                                                          var                                      (                              Δ                                                                                t                            )                                      =                              1                          2                            Δ                                                                                t                2                                          n                                                                    ∑                              k                =                1                            n                                                  a              k              2                                                          (        1        )
To compute the Allan variance curve, the value of the Allan variance is computed for a whole range of values of (Δt). Typical Allan variance curves for three clocks are given in FIG. 2, plotted in log-log space. One should notice there are three regions of the curve with different characteristics. For shorter sample times the curve has a negative 1 slope; for long sample times the curve has a +1 slope. For intermediate sample times, the curve is flat. Each of these regions is due to a different noise source: phase random walk, flicker, and frequency random walk, respectively. The stability characteristics are related to the ability to predict clock states. The following relationship holds between prediction errors due to these error sources and the Allan variance curve:P(Δt)=a var(Δt)Δt2  (2)
Thus it can be seen the ability to have low clock prediction errors is related to low stability characteristics.
To exploit clocks in an application, such as GPS, it is necessary to generate state space representation of clocks. The minimal state space includes two states: phase and frequency. In certain clocks the center frequency changes linearly with time. For those clocks, a third state, drift (the derivative of frequency) may be modeled. As part of the modeling process, statistics of process noise are modeled to match the stability characteristics. For example, the model:
                              [                                                                      x                  .                                                                                y                  .                                                              ]                =                                            [                                                                    0                                                        1                                                                                0                                                        0                                                              ]                                                  [                                                                    x                                                                                y                                                              ]                                +                      [                                                            u                                                                              v                                                      ]                                              (        3        )            Represents a clock with phase random walk u and frequency random walk v (x is the phase error; y is the frequency error). By choosing the covariances of u and v properly, the model will match the Allan deviation curves for those noise sources. There is no simple model that will generate flicker noise; such models have developed and usually involve more states (e.g. Van Dierendonck developed a model with a third state). The most general two state model is given by process noise with the covariance:
                    Q        =                  [                                                                      q                  11                                                                              q                  12                                                                                q                  21                                                                              q                  22                                                              ]                                    (        4        )            Q is a positive definite 2×2 matrix. Using the empirical definition of "Allan variance," the Allan deviation is given bya var(Δt)=q11/Δt+q22Δt  (5)
Notice there is no term corresponding to flicker noise. If the relationship between prediction errors and Allan variances is used, thena var(Δt)=q11/Δt+q12+q22Δt  (6)This does include a term that looks like flicker noise. This term is not true flicker, as it is not an additional noise source but is due to a correlation between phase and frequency random walks. It can be used to help compensate for flicker noise but is limited by the constraint|q12|≦√{square root over (q11q22)}  (7)due to the positive definiteness of Q.
Prior to 1990, the GPS Master Control Station (GPS MCS) employed the "master clock" for time keeping. In the master clock implementation, a single clock is used to define time, and all other clocks are synchronized to the master clock through tracking these clocks from ground stations. Due to random variations and anomalies in the master clock, the master clock concept had its vulnerabilities. One source of these vulnerabilities of the GPS system is the necessity to keep GPS time close to coordinated universal time (UTC) time, which is Greenwich Mean Time updated with leap seconds. When the difference between the master clock and UTC became too large, then it was necessary to switch the master clock function from one clock to another. Changing the master clock introduced a discontinuity into the GPS service, disrupting the service to those receivers that were in operation at the time of the discontinuity.
In the implementation of the master-clock concept for the GPS, each clock is modeled using parameters in the above models. Since time relative to the master clock is solved for, the relative clock model is solved for. This requires for every clock adding its process noise covariance and the master noise process noise covariance in order to provide the process noise of a single clock. Since all clocks have the same reference, it is necessary to also represent the correlation between the clocks. Thus for example, let Q1 and Q2 represent the process noise for clocks 1 and 2. Let QM represent the process noise for the master clock. The process noise matrix for clocks 1 and 2 relative to the master clock will be given by
                    Q        =                  [                                                                                Q                    1                                    +                                      Q                    M                                                                                Q                  M                                                                                Q                  M                                                                                Q                    2                                    +                                      Q                    M                                                                                ]                                    (        8        )
In the GPS filter, clocks are only a subset of physical systems that must be estimated. States must be included to model the positions of the GPS orbits, etc. In the standard Kalman filter, two steps are included: a time update and a measurement update. The time update equation is given by: Pk+1=ΦkPkΦkT+Qk  (9)
                                                        x              ->                        _                                k            +            1                          =                              Φ            k                                                        x              ->                        k                                              (        10        )            P's represent covariance of that state estimates (x) . Phik (Φk) represents the global transition matrix (Φ for a single clock is given by Equation 37); and Q represents global process noise covariance. These matrices are formed from the individual clocks by forming block diagonal matrices by concatenating the matrices belonging to individual clocks. Equations for these quantities for individual clocks, which constitute a subset of the global quantities, have been presented. Other equations are needed for other states to fill out the global matrices. To complete equations for the GPS Kalman filter specification it is necessary to also specify the measurement processing. Measurements are of time delays between signals being emitted from one source and being received at a receiver. The states of clocks of the source and the emitter appear as states in the observation equation, which have the standard linearized form as:Δzk+1=Hk+1Δxk+1+wk+1  (11)    Δzk+1=Δzk+1−h(xk+1)=predicted residuals    Δxk+1=state space correction (to be computed by the filter)    wk+1=measurement noise.
      H          k      +      1        =                              ∂                      h                                      (              x              )                                                ∂          x                                  ❘                  x          =                      x                          k              +              1                                            =          measurement                                      Jacobian
In the filter, it is assumed that measurement errors are zero-mean white noise with a covariance matrix given by Rk+1. In terms of these quantities, the Kalman filter update is given byΔxk+1=Kk+1Δzk+1  (12)whereKk+1= Pk+1Hk+1T[Hk+1 Pk+1Hk+1T+Rk+1]−1  (13)This correction is added to the predicted state to provide an updated estimate state:
                                          x            ->                                k            +            1                          =                                                            x                ->                            _                                      k              +              1                                +                      Δ                                                                                x                              k                +                1                                                                        (        14        )            The filter covariance is updated according to the equationsPk+1= Pk+1−Kk+1Hk+1 Pk+1  (15)
The above equations are prior art known as "Kalman filter". Various versions have been implemented in order to provide improved numerical stability. Bierman has discussed such methods at length (see "Factorization Methods for Discrete Sequential Estimation" (Academic Press, 1977)). It is well known that for the Kalman filter (or factorized methods) to work, it is usually required that all states be observable. In the GPS application (or other clock operations), since all measurements are time differences, there is no way to observe all clocks as independent states. This leads to the introduction of the "master clock" discussed above. In the master clock implementation, corrections to the master clock are not solved for. Clock states for the other clocks are corrections to master clock time.
Since 1990, a composite clock, known as the Implicit Ensemble Mean (IEM), has replaced the master clock arrangement for GPS operations. The IEM composite clock uses a weighted linear combination of clocks, located both in space and on the ground to define "GPS time". The IEM composite clock decreases the sensitivity of GPS time to the behavior of single clocks. The IEM composite clock applies weights associated with space and frequency estimates provided by a Kalman filter that solves for positions and velocities of the GPS satellites in addition to the clock states of the individual clocks. By changing the weights or contributions of the various clocks to GPS time, the GPS time can be gradually steered to UTC time without significant discontinuities. K. Brown, the developer of the IEM concept of "composite clock", also points out that composite clocks provide better timing and geolocation accuracy than a master clock. Thus, by using a composite clock, the accuracy with which users determine their locations has improved. The argument for improved timing accuracy is that, if each clock is off by a random error, then averaging a group of clocks produces a more accurate estimation of time. If the covariance matrix of errors in all the clock states (phase and frequency) is available, then the IEM composite clock approach uses maximum likelihood estimation with knowledge of the statistical errors of the estimates of phase and frequency of the individual clocks making up the composite to develop the "best" estimate of time by combining time estimates derived from different sources. This covariance is usually not known, as measurements of clocks with respect to absolute time are not available. Since the covariance is unknown, weights are usually chosen arbitrarily, with larger weights assigned to more stable clocks. In addition to Brown, others have used the notation of averaging a set of clocks to produce a more accurate clock.
In the IEM clock it is assumed that a priori clock estimates {right arrow over (x)}0 and covariance P0 are given. This information is then used to generate maximum likelihood estimates of "composite clock" states as follows. Define the following set of observations{right arrow over (x)}0=Hc{right arrow over (x)}0c  (16)where Hc is a matrix comprised of 1's and 0's, e.g. for a two clock example
                              H          c                =                  [                                                    1                                            0                                            0                                            0                                                                    0                                            0                                            1                                            0                                                                    1                                            0                                            0                                            0                                                                    0                                            0                                            1                                            0                                              ]                                    (        17        )            The maximum likelihood estimate of the composite clock is given by{right arrow over (x)}0c=[HcP0−1HcT]−1P0−1HcT{right arrow over (x)}0  (18)The linear function permits mixing phase states and frequency states, which would occur if there were correlations in the covariance matrix P0. Although these equations, as we indicated above, are applied to the initialization of the filter, it appears new linear combinations could emerge if the composite clock was resolved for at some future time. Brown showed that the linear combination would remain invariant in time under the assumption that the process noise of each clock was proportional to a stability reference standard, a condition that he denoted as "PPN" for proportional process noise. Brown also observed that since all measurements are in time differences, there is now new information that would contribute to an improved estimate of the composite clock. In other words, the composite clock will be driven by a fixed linear combination of outputs of constituent clocks based upon a prior information available when the clocks were initialized
FIG. 1a is a simplified block diagram of a prior art Implicit Composite Mean clock, including individual clocks. In FIG. 1a, composite clock 10 includes first (1), kth (k), and nth (n) clocks illustrated as blocks 12, 14, and 16, respectively, which produce individual clock signals {right arrow over (x)}1, {right arrow over (x)}k, and {right arrow over (x)}n, respectively. Blocks 32, 34, and 36 indicate the weights K1, Kk, and Kn respectively, by which these clock signals are multiplied, and 22, 34, and 26 designate the corresponding multipliers. Multiplier 22 multiplies the output {right arrow over (x)}−1 from first clock 12 by gain K1 from block 32. Multiplier 34 multiplies the output {right arrow over (x)}k from kth clock 14 by gain Kk from block 34. Multiplier 26 multiplies the output {right arrow over (x)}n from the nth clock 16 by gain Kn from block 36. Summing (Σ) Block 38 sums the outputs of these signals to produce the composite clock output {right arrow over (x)}c. In FIG. 1a, the multiplication constants Kl, Kk, and Kn from blocks 32, 34, and 36 are scalar values, selected to provide a minimum variance estimate of the initial clock states, based on extrinsic knowledge. The initial setting of the weights, however, does not explicitly address the issue of the stability of the composite clock.
An alternative embodiment of the composite clock is through the use of a master clock and the weighted sum of phase-lock-loops. The use of phase-lock-loops is a prior art practice in order to provide more accurate phase measurements. A phase-lock loop is a standard circuit that is used in communication and signal tracking to measure the frequency and phase offsets between two periodic signals with nearly the same frequency. FIG. 8 is a high-level diagram of a phase-lock loop 600. Two signals, namely S1 and S2, are multiplied in a multiplier 610, and the product signal is filtered by a low pass filter (LPF) 612. The resulting signal is integrated 614 to provide the phase output of the difference of two input signals.
In the arrangement of FIG. 1b, a master clock 52 controls the electronic sampling or reading of the outputs of the other clocks 52′, 52″. Clock 52′ includes blocks 54 and 58, and clock 52″ includes blocks 56 and 60. In FIG. 1b, the output signal {right arrow over (x)}1 of the master clock 52 is applied directly to the summing (Σ) circuit 38, and is also applied to relative phase counter (RPC) circuits, illustrated as relative phase counter blocks 58 and 60, which control clocks 54 and 56. The output of RPC 58 represents a second clock signal Δ{right arrow over (x)}k, which is applied to a weighting or multiplying circuit 22 for weighting by a factor or coefficient Kk from block 34. The output Δ{right arrow over (x)}n of RPC 60 is applied to a weighting circuit 26 for weighting by a factor Kn from a block 36. The weighted outputs of multipliers 22 and 26 are applied to summing circuit 38 to produce a composite clock signal {right arrow over (x)}c. The master clock 52 measures differences between its time (and/or frequency) and the other clocks 52′, 52″ in the constellation of FIG. 1b through relative phase counters 58 and 60, and produces composite time by adjusting its own time through a correction provided to summing circuit 38 from master clock 52.
In the arrangement of FIG. 1b, the weightings are applied to the relative measurements between the reference clock 52 and the individual clocks 52′, 52″, and the weighted differences are summed with the reference clock signal to produce the composite clock signal. The gains Kk and Kn are chosen generally as described in conjunction with FIG. 1a. If the sum of the weights equals 1, the composite clock time will not be sensitive to the stability of the master clock.
The IEM clock embedded within a filter as described by Brown assumes proportional process noise covariances (PPN). In the PPN case, clocks have similarly shaped stability curves as a function of sample time. FIG. 2 illustrates Allan variances σ2 202, 204, and 206 as a function of sample interval for three individual clocks, such as the clocks of FIG. 1a or 1b. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the values of Allan variance σ2 for plots 202, 204, and 206 include a generally flat portion extending between sample intervals Δt1 and Δt2, together with rising values of σ2 below sample interval Δt1 and above sample interval Δt2. The Allan variance plots 202, 204, and 206 of the three clocks have the same general shape, in that the falling portions, flat portions, and rising portions are generally parallel. Consequently, stability characteristics of every clock can be expressed as a scale factor (λ) times a nominal clock, which serves as a reference stability standard. For example, plot 204 of FIG. 2 can be taken as being the standard (λ=1), in which case the scale factor for plot 202 may be, for example, λ=2 and the scale factor for plot 206 may be, for example, λ=3. In other cases, the PPN assumption does not hold. In particular, PPN does not hold when combining crystal clocks and atomic clocks. Crystal clock and atomic have entirely different stability profiles, e.g. the crystal clock can be more stable for short times, while the atomic clocks are more stable for longer times. Thus, the different portions of the variance curves for non-PPN situations are not necessarily parallel, so proportional scaling cannot be accomplished.
A single clock does not provide an estimate of frequency i.e. time between increments, so that the frequency cannot be known other than through some calibration knowledge of the duration of the clock's "second." The frequency of a clock is inferred from prior or calibrated knowledge of the clock count. However, if more than one clock is present, the combination of outputs can be combined to update an estimate of relative frequency, based upon relative phase measurements. By using a relative measurement of frequency between two clocks obtained by a phase lock loop process, a better estimate of frequency can be obtained by using the measurements of the relative outputs of the clocks. If the clocks are equally stable, an average of the clock readings will provide a more accurate estimate of frequency than that of a single clock.
When plural clocks are available in a composite clock arrangement, the time determination is achieved by adjusting center frequencies and phases to a common standard through the use of cross polling of the clocks by use of a central clock for reference timing; the reference timing is not necessarily used as part of the composite clock output. With distributed systems, like GPS, a master clock can be used in place of a central polling clock. The difference between the use of a master clock and the cross-polling clock is that the master clock defines "time" whereas the cross-polling clock is used to keep a nominal reference or intermediate time, which is updated by corrections. The reference time is corrected by adding the weighted outputs of the differences between reference time and the other clocks of the composite implicit means. In the GPS system, cross polling is achieved through relative clock measurements between spacecraft clocks and clocks on the ground or by relative clock measurements between space vehicles.
Improved clock weighting for implicit ensemble mean composite clocks is desired that explicitly addresses the need to optimize the stability of the composite clock.


The present invention is directed to a method for providing granules from cheese. In the method, cheese is first shredded into elongated pieces. The shredded pieces of cheese are then frozen. The frozen shredded pieces are placed in a vacuum chamber and a vacuum is drawn in the chamber. The vacuum chamber is then heated to remove moisture from the frozen shredded pieces. Finally, the shredded pieces are subjected to grinding to provide cheese granules.

"Natural" cheese is made directly from milk by coagulating or curdling milk, stirring and heating the curd, draining off the whey, and collecting or pressing the curd. Desirable flavor and texture are obtained in many cheeses by curing the cheese, that is, holding it for a specified time, at a specific temperature and humidity. This basic method is used to produce a very large number of different types of cheese by altering time, temperature, pH, curd handling and other variables. More than 400 types of cheese are described in the bulletin "Cheese Varieties," U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook, No. 54, 1953, revised 1969.
It is difficult to classify the different cheeses satisfactorily in groups. Cheeses have been classified, however, as (1) very hard (grating), (2) hard, (3) semi-soft, and (4) soft; and as ripened by bacteria, mold, surface microorganisms, or a combination of these, or as unripened. The following are examples of the cheeses in these classifications:
1. Very hard (grating): PA1 2. Hard: PA1 3. Semisoft: PA1 4. Soft:
(a) ripened by bacteria: Asiago (old), Parmesan, Romano, Sapsago, Spalen. PA2 (a) ripened by bacteria, without eyes: Cheddar, Granular or Stirred-curd and Caciocavallo; and PA2 (b) ripened by bacteria, with eyes: Swiss, Emmentaler, and Gruyere. PA2 (a) ripened principally by bacteria: Brick and Muenster; PA2 (b) ripened by bacteria and surface microorganisms: Limburger, Port du Salut and Trappist; and PA2 (c) ripened principally by blue mold in the interior: Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Blue, Stilton and Wensleydale. PA2 (a) ripened: Bel Paese, Brie, Camembert, Cooked, Hand and Neufchatel (as made in France); and PA2 (b) unripened: Cottage, Pot, Bakers', Cream, Neufchatel (as made in the U.S.), Mysost, Primost and fresh Ricotta.
It is well known to provide grated very hard cheese. The term "grated" means that small granules of the cheese are produced. The term "grated" does not mean that elongated shreds of the cheese are produced. Grated parmesan is a staple commodity in the market. Grated parmesan cheese is easily provided by simple grating of the cheese on a cheese grater. In the commercial distribution of grated parmesan cheese and other very hard cheeses, the grated particles are usually dried to about 20 percent moisture to improve the shelf life at ambient temperature of the grated cheese.
While there have been attempts to produce granulated cheese from hard cheese, no granulated hard cheese is at this time commercially available. U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,231 to Izzo describes a method for preparing shelf-stable finely divided cheese products. In the method, chunks of cheese and liquified cryogenic gas are introduced into a comminution chamber and are processed so that the cheese is frozen and ground. The resulting comminuted cheese particles are dried from the frozen state in a fluidized bed while maintaining a temperature below about 21.degree. C. The Izzo, et al. patent specifically indicates that vacuum drying of frozen particles is unsatisfactory for dehydration of cheese since the separated cheese products of both hard and soft cheeses are noticeably inferior in color, aroma and flavor, as compared with the natural cheese starting material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,107 to Linse-Loefgren describes a method for preparing finely divided pieces of cheese. In the method, fresh cheese is milled, the milled cheese is cooled to a temperature of from below 0.degree. C. to -50.degree. C., starch is added to and mixed with the chilled cheese and the chilled mixture is disintegrated into finely divided pieces. The finely divided pieces may be incorporated into a dry batter mix.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,368 to McCoy describes a general method for pulverizing normally soft substances which contain water. In the method, the substance which may be coarse particles of a food containing natural water, such as potatoes, spinach or apples, are first frozen to a solid and the pieces are thereafter pulverized at low temperature.
Grated cheese, such as cheddar cheese, has not been possible to produce because of oiling off of the fat during the grating or disintegration process. It is known to provide shredded cheese, such as cheddar cheese, and recently very fine shreds of grated cheddar cheese have been produced and marketed. Such very fine shreds are usually about 1/16th to 1/8th inch in width and have a length of from about 3/4 to about 11/4 inches.
It would be desirable to provide grated cheese, such as cheddar cheese, which has a particle size similar to that of grated very hard cheese, such as parmesan cheese. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a method for producing grated cheese or granules of cheese. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for producing grated cheese which does not result in oiling off during the grating process.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying claims.


The magnetic recording medium of the present invention comprises: a non-magnetic substrate; a non-magnetic layer formed on one of principal surfaces of the non-magnetic substrate; and a magnetic layer formed on a principal surface of the non-magnetic layer opposite to the non-magnetic substrate. Mr and t satisfy 0.0020 μT·m≦Mr·t≦0.0150 μT·m, where Mr is the residual magnetic flux density of the magnetic layer, and t is the average thickness of the magnetic layer, L1 satisfies 2 nm≦L1≦6 nm, where L1 is the average thickness of a first mixed layer that is formed on the surface of the magnetic layer opposite to the non-magnetic layer, and L2 satisfies 0.1≦L2/t≦0.45, where L2 is the average thickness of a second mixed layer that is formed on the surface of the magnetic layer facing the non-magnetic layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to large-capacity magnetic recording media, and in particular to a magnetic recording medium having superior magnetic recording properties and transport characteristics.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic tape, which is one type of magnetic recording media, has a variety of applications such as audiotape, videotape and computer tape. Especially, in the field of computer data backup tape, tapes having a recording capacity of several hundred gigabytes per reel have been commercially available as the capacity of hard disks to be backed up has increased. In the future, it will be essential to increase the capacity of such data backup tape in order to support further increases in the capacity of hard disks.
With regard to a magnetic tape for use as the data backup tape mentioned above, the recording wavelength has been shortened with the further increase in the recording capacity, and in order to reduce thickness loss during recording/reproduction, an effort has been made to reduce the thickness of the magnetic layer of the tape. To achieve the reduction in the thickness of the magnetic layer, a magnetic recording medium having a multilayered structure has been adopted. In the multilayered magnetic recording medium, a non-magnetic layer is provided on a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer is further provided on the non-magnetic layer.
For such a multilayered magnetic recording medium, studies have been conducted to reduce noise by reducing variations in the interface between the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer (see JP 2001-256633 A, for example). Further, there has been proposed a magnetic recording medium in which the average thickness of the magnetic layer and σd as the standard deviation of the magnetic substance distribution in the thickness direction of the magnetic layer, in particular in the interface between the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer are specified (see JP 2007-294083 A, for example).
JP 2001-256633 A discloses a multilayered magnetic recording medium in which d as the average thickness of the magnetic layer is 0.01 to 0.3 μm, and the ratio of σ as the standard deviation of the thickness of the magnetic layer to d as the average thickness of the magnetic layer (σ/d) is ≦0.5.
Further, JP 2007-294083 A discloses a magnetic recording medium in which 6 as the average thickness of the magnetic layer is 10 to 100 nm, and σd as the standard deviation is 5 to 50 nm in terms of coating layer in the magnetic recording medium, where σd is obtained by measuring by TOF-SIMS a depth profile of an element present only in the magnetic layer among elements constituting the ferromagnetic powder and subjecting a differential curve of the depth profile to a normal distribution curve fitting.
In JP 2001-256633 A, a picture of the cross section of the magnetic layer is taken under a transmission electron microscope (TEM), the surface of the magnetic layer and the interface between the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer are each traced to determine the thickness of the magnetic layer at each point, and the standard deviation is determined relative to the variations in the thickness. On the other hand, in JP 2007-294083 A, attention is focused upon the element present only in the magnetic layer. The depth profile of the element in the interface between the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer is measured, and the standard deviation relative to the variations in the interface is determined from the depth profile curve. For a standardization purpose, when σd as the standard deviation of the variations in the interface is divided by δ as the average thickness of the magnetic layer in JP 2007-294083 A, σd/δ is ≦0.5. This indicates that JP 2007-294083 A has the same technical principles as those of JP 2001-256633 A.
By such techniques, improved magnetic conversion characteristics can be expected. However, such techniques may be not sufficient for obtaining a magnetic recording medium having not only improved magnetic conversion characteristics but also superior transport characteristics and durability.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium having not only superior magnetic conversion characteristics but also superior transport characteristics.