A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine including a body, a stator member, an armature, an electromagnetic coil, and a diamagnetic member. The body includes a passage extending along a longitudinal axis between inlet and outlet ends. The armature member is movable with respect to the stator member between a first configuration and a second configuration, and includes a closure member proximate the outlet end and contiguous to a seat in the first configuration, and spaced from the seat in the second configuration. The electromagnetic coil surrounds the passage, is disposed in a housing, and is energizable to provide magnetic flux that moves the armature between the first and second configuration to permit fuel flow through the passage. The diamagnetic member is proximate the electromagnetic coil so that when the electromagnetic coil is energized the magnetic flux flows around the diamagnetic member.

A known electromagnetic actuator for an electromagnetic fuel injector includes a stator member, an armature member and an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil is energizable to flow magnetic flux through a designed magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit includes the stator member and the armature member, and creates a magnetic force to move the armature member relative to the stator member. Some magnetic flux may short-circuit off of the designed magnetic circuit, for example through the coil, rather than through the armature member, resulting in magnetic flux leakage. It is believed that known electromagnetic actuators are designed to reduce magnetic flux leakage by using air gaps or non-magnetic materials to direct the magnetic flux through the designed magnetic circuit.
In the design of known actuators, the air gaps or non-magnetic materials have a minimum magnetic permeability, μ, assumed to be that of free space, μo, or 4π×10−7 Webers/amp-meter in SI units, which in Centimeter-Gram-Second units is the unity relative permeability value, μr=1. The maximum relative permeability in known designs is usually defined by the ferromagnetic components in the magnetic circuit, the value often being in the thousands. However, in known designs, a significant amount of useful magnetic flux is lost as magnetic flux leakage. It is believed that there is a need to reduce or eliminate this magnetic flux leakage.

Magnetic circuit using negative magnetic susceptibility


A nondestructive method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the thickness and composition of a zinc phosphate layer applied to a metal surface, such as sheet metal on an automotive assembly line. The phosphate layer is irradiated with infrared light which is at least partially transmitted through the phosphate layer. Reflections from the upper and lower surfaces of the phosphate layer return a total reflected intensity which is a function of the optical parameters of the phosphate components and the ratio of the components corresponding to the optical parameters. In the event, for example, that a phosphate layer includes two zinc phosphate components, the measure of reflected intensity at two separate wavelengths will be different inasmuch as the optical properties of the zinc phosphate components is also a function of frequency. The measured reflected intensity and its functional dependence upon the ratio of the components within the phosphate layer can be taken together with the known values of the optical parameters of each component to compute the fraction of each component within the phosphate layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of nondestructive analysis of phosphate coated surfaces and in particular to the nondestructive determination of the thickness and composition of the phosphate layer of an automotive surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years the cathodic electro-coating of paint primers onto phosphated steel has become increasingly important. This is particularly true in the automotive industry where the process is used as a precursor to undercoating and topcoating with acrylic base paints. In many instances the performance of the total corrosion resistance thus produced has been remarkably good, though particular care is required in selecting the correct phosphate system and application process. A particular example of such a phosphate coating for use in automotive paints is described in Richardson et al., "The Influence of Zinc Phosphate Crystalline Morphology on the Corrosion Resistance of Electro-Painted Steel", Transactions of the Institute of Metal Finishing, Volume 61, page 155 (1983).
Prior art methods for providing quality control of a phosphated steel surface comprised the steps of removing small chips of the phosphate coated surface from the automobile on the production line, transporting the chips to a laboratory, sometimes distantly separated from the assembly line, and then separating the phosphate layer from the substrate. The examination of the depth and composition of the layer was then made under a microscope with results reported back to the production line.
Clearly, with such prior art methods, even when the laboratory is located on site and at the immediate disposal of the quality control personnel on the manufacturing line, a substantial delay exists between the time when the sample is taken from the coated surface and when the results are reported. The cost and delay not only makes quality checking of each coated surface of an automobile impractical, but it tends to cause practical quality control by sampling techniques to be at best an after-the-fact determination. Depending upon the circumstances of manufacture, a corrective response cannot be made, (if one is indicated) on items being installed within assembled products. Correction can only be made to subsequently finished components. In the meantime, process variables may have changed and subsequent finished components may or may not continue to have the same defect or be defective to the same extent as the previously sampled product.
Therefore, what is needed is an on-line real-time nondestructive means for determining the thickness and composition of the phosphate layer on a steel surface.

Noncontact, on-line determination of phosphate layer thickness and composition of a phosphate coated surface


In a method of calibrating a flow rate control device in which a flow rate is calibrated based on comparison with a flow rate measured by a flow rate reference gauge, a predetermined permissible error range is set for a plurality of flow rate settings, and the permissible error range of at least one specific flow rate setting among the plurality of flow rate settings is set to be smaller than the predetermined permissible error range.

Gas supply systems provided in semiconductor manufacturing equipment or other such equipment are generally configured such that many types of gas are supplied by a flow rate control device provided for each type of supply gas while switching the gas depending on the target that uses the gas such as a process chamber.
Pressure-type pressure flow rate control devices and thermal mass flow rate control devices (MFC) that are calibrated to a predetermined accuracy are used as flow rate control devices, and control the flow rate of gas.
Here, the accuracy of the flow rate control devices is determined to be, for example, a certain percent of setpoint (% SP) (flow rate is controllable with error within plus/minus of that certain percent relative to a flow rate setting) or a certain percent of full scale (% FS) (flow rate is controllable with error within plus/minus of that certain percent of the maximum flow rate relative to a flow rate setting) with respect to a reference flow rate prescribed for each manufacturer.
In the case of applying the above-described flow rate control devices, it is desirable to check the accuracy of flow rates and calibrate the flow rates whenever necessary, and as the method of measuring flow rates, the Rate of Rise (ROR) method may be used to check the accuracy of flow rates and calibrate the flow rates.
In the ROR method, a flow rate Q is computed from, for example, Q=(ΔP/Δt)×V/RT, where R is the gas constant, by passing gas to a predetermined reference volume (V) that is provided downstream of a flow rate control device and measuring the rate of pressure rise (ΔP/Δt) and the temperature (T) at that time.
Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses one example of a flow rate measuring method using the ROR method. In the gas supply device disclosed in PTL 1, a flow passage from an on-off valve on the downstream side of a flow rate control device connected to each gas supply line to an on-off valve provided in a common gas supply line is used as a reference volume, and flow rates are measured on the basis of the rate of pressure rise in this flow passage.

Flow rate control device, method of calibrating flow rate of flow rate control device, flow rate measuring device, and method of measuring flow rate using flow rate measuring device


An improved method of burning a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion system includes burning the fuel in a main burner under fuel-lean conditions to produce a main flame and burning a low heating value fuel in a pilot burner to stabilize the main flame and limit the amount of NO.sub.x produced in the pilot burner. The pilot fuel can inherently have a low heating value, can be a diluted high heating value fuel, or can be made by partially oxidizing a high heating value fuel. An improved combustion system for burning a hydrocarbon fuel with limited NO.sub.x emissions has a main burner, a pilot burner, and a partial oxidation stage capable of converting a high heating value fuel to a low heating value fuel in a partial oxidation reaction. The system also has means for burning the low heating value fuel in the pilot burner. The system can include means for removing heat from the partial oxidation stage or low heating value fuel to lower the temperature of the pilot flame.

Hydrocarbon fuels have long been known to produce atmospheric pollutants when burned. The pollutants typically include nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2), frequently grouped together as nitrogen oxides or NO.sub.x, unburned hydrocarbons (UHC), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulates, primarily carbon soot. NO.sub.x is of particular concern because of its role in forming ground level smog and acid rain and in depleting stratospheric ozone.
Hydrocarbon combustion forms NO.sub.x by several mechanisms. The high temperature reaction between atmospheric oxygen and atmospheric nitrogen, particularly at flame temperatures above about 1540.degree. C. (2800.degree. F.), forms NO.sub.x through the thermal or the Zeldovich mechanism ("thermal NO.sub.x "). The reaction between atmospheric nitrogen and hydrocarbon fuel fragments (CH.sub.i ), particularly under fuel-rich conditions, forms NO.sub.x through the prompt mechanism ("prompt NO.sub.x "). The reaction between nitrogen released from a nitrogen-containing fuel and atmospheric oxygen, particularly under fuel-lean conditions, forms NO.sub.x through the fuel-bound mechanism ("fuel-bound NO.sub.x "). Typically, atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen are readily available for the NO.sub.x -forming reactions in combustion air that is mixed with the fuel.
To limit NO.sub.x formation, many modern combustors burn fuel that has little or no nitrogen and operate at uniformly fuel-lean conditions. Burning low nitrogen fuel reduces or eliminates the formation of fuel-bound NO.sub.x. Operating under uniformly fuel-lean conditions, for example, by using a lean premixed/prevaporized system, reduces the formation of NO.sub.x by the thermal and prompt mechanisms. The excess air used to achieve fuel-lean conditions reduces thermal NO.sub.x formation by acting as a diluent to decrease flame temperatures. The excess air also decreases the concentration of CH.sub.i available to react with atmospheric nitrogen, thereby reducing the formation of prompt NO.sub.x. The amount of excess air needed to reduce thermal and prompt NO.sub.x formation can, however, cause the combustor to operate near its lean combustion limit, resulting in flame instability. Flame stability can be improved by supplementing the main flame with a pilot flame to ensure that the main flame remains lit, even at very lean conditions.
While fuel-lean combustion can successfully reduce NO.sub.x formation, there is a need to find ways of further reducing NO.sub.x production to meet increasingly stringent emission regulations. Therefore, what is needed in the industry is an improved fuel-lean, low NO.sub.x combustion system.

Low NO.sub.x combustion piloted by low NO.sub.x pilots


The present disclosure provides a method and a system for optimizing Hidden Markov Model based land change prediction. Firstly, remotely sensed data is pre-processed and classified into a plurality of land use land cover classes (LULC). Then socio-economic driver variables data for a pre-defined interval of time are provided from a database. A Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is defined with LULC as hidden states and socio-economic driver variables data as observations and trained for generating a MINI state transition probability matrix. Again the defined MINI is trained by taking input data from scenario based temporal variables to generate another set of HMM state transition probability matrix. The generated MINI state transition probability matrix is then integrated with a spatio-temporal model to obtain an integrated model for predicting LULC changes to generate at least one prediction image.

With ever increasing urbanization along with the rise of world population, predicting land changes or land use land cover (LULC) changes has emerged as an important tool for modelling urban growth. Urban growth modelling is of prime importance in the contemporary context due to complex interactions between urban growth, economic development, and human society at large. Unplanned urban growth has resulted in several dire consequences such as environmental degradation; loss of biodiversity; natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides; etc. These effects are compounded, especially in developing countries, where urban modeling, planning and decision making have not made to the forefront of the development agenda for various reasons. Due to the predominantly irreversible nature of these effects sustainable and holistic urban development is the need of the time. A key aspect of urban growth modeling is the prediction of LULC changes.
Urban growth can be considered as an active process. Urban growth models typically model this process taking into account the underlying driving factors on which the process depends, to predict changes in urban growth. These factors are generally classified as either temporal, or spatial, or spatio-temporal. Temporal factors are dynamic with respect to time but generally spatially static for a given area under study. Spatial factors, for example Digital Elevation Model (DEM), are spatially varying but relatively static with respect to time. Spatio-temporal factors, for example proximity to primary roads, are dynamic with respect to both time and space.
In literatures, Markov Chain (MC) has been extensively used to model rate of land use land cover changes. MC is a stochastic model. MC model is completely specified by a set of states and a transition probability matrix. The set of states correspond to different land use land cover types. These states are directly observable. The transition probability matrix represents probability of transitioning from one state to another over discrete time steps. As MC is a temporal model it cannot predict spatial co-ordinates of change. Hence, MC has been integrated with other spatio-temporal models to model both spatial and temporal patterns of LULC changes. The integrated models are more effective than standalone models due to complementary nature of the underlying models.
On the flip side, MC model is severely constrained as it does not model underlying temporal factors. Prediction of future growth rate is inaccurate with MC. Since the MC model is built purely from cross tabulation of transition frequencies from existing land cover images, future transition probabilities have to be estimated only from the existing data. Many ad hoc approaches have been suggested to model future transition probabilities. These approaches although based on mathematics are far away from reality. For example, in one approach some elements of the transition probability matrix for the future time period are derived based on the simple power law.
Furthermore, the MC model does not allow modeling of underlying temporal variables or factors such as macro-economic factors, socio-economic factors, etc. Generally, these factors do not vary spatially for typical urban regions for which growth predictions are undertaken. The net effect of this shortcoming of MC is that temporal factors remain outside the purview of the modeling process. This shortcoming naturally propagates to MC based integrated models such as MC-Cellular Automata that can only model spatial or spatio-temporal factors. This translates to lesser accurate prediction results. Hence it is a challenge to be able to incorporate all possible factors such as spatial, spatio-temporal along with temporal factors for an optimized and richer land change prediction model.

Methods and systems for optimizing hidden Markov Model based land change prediction


Systems, methods, and computer programmable products are described herein for generating a robotic process automation bot script from a handwritten sketch. A digitally encoded image having a handwritten diagram with objects is received. The handwritten diagram is converted into a digital flowchart having a plurality of nodes. A confidence score is determined for the nodes based on (i) a textual similarity of contents of the node and a plurality of executable bot activities or (ii) a contextual similarity between a set of activities which measures how often they coappear in a plurality of reference bots. A robotic process automation bot script is generated by mapping the plurality of nodes to an executable bot activity of the plurality of executable bot activities based on the confidence score. The robotic process automation bot is then provided to a robotic process automation system for further modeling.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a form of workflow automation technology that enables the automation of tasks that can be performed in graphical user interface (GUI) applications in an operating system, such as opening an invoice document and entering the relevant information into a graphical enterprise resource planning (ERP) application. Workflows to be automated can be discovered during customer workshops, where the steps involved in the workflow are sketched as a flowchart on whiteboards or paper. Commercial RPA software suites can offer a bot design application, where users can design bots with step-by-step execution sequences and dependencies, similar to flowchart modeling. The rectangular process node within the bot flowchart represents an activity that will later be executed by the bot, such as opening or interacting with a graphical ERP application. To lower the cost of creating and maintaining bots, RPA software suites also feature a bot and activity repository, which allows the reusage of activities that have already been implemented in other scenarios. Converting a flowchart sketch to a bot within the bot design application is very time consuming and error prone, since the user has to recreate a digital flowchart-like representation of the sketch. This involves recreating the steps within the workflow, creating step interconnections, and retyping the textual description of the steps. Moreover, the steps have to be verified to determine whether a matching activity already exists within a potentially large repository. Overall, the recreation of a digital bot workflow from a handwritten workflow is a tedious manual process that could be automated. An automation tool would make these workshops more interactive and collaborative, since it allows a smooth transition between haptic modeling tools such as whiteboard and software-based tools such as an RPA bot design application.

Converting handwritten diagrams to robotic process automation bots


Tooth-imparting whiteness to fluids comprising a particulate whiteness-imparting particles such as hydroxyapatite and an organosiloxane polymer are disclosed. Methods of use of the fluids are also disclosed.

Consumers wishing to whiten their teeth have a limited variety of products from which to choose. Successful application of some products, such as veneers, crowns and caps, involves destruction of tooth enamel, and requires the services of a dental professional such as a dentist. Thus, there is an ongoing need for new compositions and methods for imparting whiteness teeth, in particular compositions and methods for whitening teeth that do not necessitate the destruction of tooth enamel.

Tooth-whitening compositions comprising silicone polymer and methods therefor


This system for assisting regeneration of a storage/release NOx trap integrated into an exhaust system (5) of a motor vehicle diesel engine (4) is characterized in that it includes means (11) for injecting fuel into the cylinders of the engine (4) in the form of pilot injections and main injections and means (12) for controlling the injection means (11) to switch the engine (4) periodically from a standard mode of operation using a lean mixture and pilot injection and main injection, in which NOx are stored in the trap (6), to a regeneration mode of operation using a rich mixture, with at least two pilot or main injections depending on the engine load, in which NOx, are released from the trap (6) and the trap is regenerated.

The present invention relates to a system for reducing pollutant emissions associated with the operation of a motor vehicle diesel engine. It relates more particularly to a system for assisting the regeneration of a storage/release NOx trap integrated into a diesel engine exhaust system.
As is known in the art of direct injection motor vehicle diesel engines, reducing NOx emissions by DeNOx catalytic conversion of the storage/release type is one of the technical solutions envisaged for complying with the standards relating to this type of pollution and in particular the EURO IV standards.
To this end, it has been envisaged to use a NOx trap consisting of barium sulfate, for example, and adapted to absorb NOx during operation of the engine under standard conditions.
When the trap is saturated, a transient release phase is triggered by temporarily switching the engine from its standard mode of operation using a lean mixture to a regeneration mode of operation using a rich mixture, to produce reducing agents, such as HC and CO, for example; this reduces the NOx, which are then desorbed from the trap, as in a traditional catalytic converter.

System for assisting regeneration of a storage/releasing No


A method and system for connecting a client to a database managed by a network of computer systems having a plurality of database management system (DBMS) members includes providing a shared network address for the plurality of DBMS members, which is used by the client to connect to an active DBMS member of the plurality of DBMS members.

In today's information technology industry, customers desire systems that have better performance and cost improvements over their current systems, while permitting continued use of their existing applications. High availability is also important given today's rising mobile workforce and ability for global connectivity through the Internet. Current processing system designs for information technology applications must be scalable, and provide granular growth and continuous application availability. Clustering technology, such as IBM Corporation's S/390 Parallel Sysplex, has been developed to achieve these design needs.
A cluster links individual data processing systems in a manner that creates a single, powerful system, which can support numerous users simultaneously. A cluster offers high availability and excellent scalability. If one system/node in the cluster fails, the other systems in the cluster continue to run.
Cluster technology provides many advantages in a parallel database management system. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a sysplex environment 100 of three computers 101–103 sharing disk space such as a pool 110 of storage devices, e.g., disk drives, 111–113 where a database resides. Each computer 101–103 includes a database management system (DBMS) member 121–123 and an associated log dataset 151–153 for managing a commit or roll back of a unit of work. Each log dataset 151–153 can only be accessed by the DBMS member that owns it. Each DBMS member 121–123 knows how to communicate with other DBMS members, and each knows how to manage the pool of data 110 that is common to them. A coupling facility 120 links the computers 101–103 to one another and to the pool 110 of storage devices 111–113. The coupling facility 120 also includes a Work Load Manager (WLM) 124 that manages, monitors and balances the workload of each DBMS member 121–123.
The sysplex 100 is accessible to a plurality of client systems 140 via a network connection 145, typically a TCP/IP network. For clarity, only one client 140 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The client 140 could be another parallel sysplex or a workstation or other personal computer. The client 140 views the sysplex 100 as one image, i.e., the client 140 views the sysplex as a single remote database, and not as a plurality of discrete DBMS members 121–123. When the client 140 wishes to submit a request or command to the database, the client 140 need only initiate communication with one DBMS member, e.g. 121, of the sysplex 100. In order to gain access to the one member 121, the client 140 sends a message to a domain name server (DNS)130 asking for a network address, e.g. IP address, of a computer 101–103 in the sysplex 100 containing an active DBMS member 121–123.
The DNS 130 is tightly coupled to, i.e., integrated with, the Work Load Manager (WLM) 124, and keeps a directory of all of the different groups of computers, i.e. sysplexes, on the network, and their respective IP addresses. Each group of computers is given a domain name, such as "system1.vnet.ibm.com," and each computer in the group has a separate IP address. The client 140 registers with the DNS 130 that its databases are part of the system called "system1.vnet.ibm.com." Because the DNS 130 maintains the IP addresses, the client 140 is not required to hard code the IP addresses of the individual computers. Thus, when the client 140 submits its request to connect to a database to the DNS 130, the client 140 identifies the domain name of the database location and the DNS 130 resolves the domain name to a given group of IP addresses.
In further response to the client's 140 request, the DNS 130 checks with the WLM 124 to determine which DBMS members 121–123 are active and on which computers 101–103 they reside. The DNS 130 will then send a message back to the client 140 containing the IP address of a computer 101, 102, 103 that contains an active DBMS member for that named group. In a sysplex environment supporting workload balancing, the IP address returned by the DNS 130 to the client 140 is that of the computer having the least loaded DBMS member. In order to determine the least loaded member, the DNS 130 communicates with the WLM 124, which also monitors the workload of each DBMS member 121–123. The client 140 then utilizes that IP address to establish an initial connection with the corresponding computer containing the DBMS member in the sysplex.
Once the initial connection is made between the client 140 and the one DBMS member, e.g., 121, the DBMS member 121 returns to the client 140 a list (not shown) of active DBMS members and their respective workloads, i.e., a weighted list. The list allows the client to distribute work evenly across the active members of the database sysplex.
This configuration provides data sharing and workload balancing for a plurality of clients. However, the tight coupling of the DNS 130 to the WLM 124 presents several problems. First, DNSs have not been installed on many sysplex systems and customers are reluctant to integrate a DNS into their existing TCP/IP networks. Without the DNS 130, the client 140 cannot establish contact with the database and the distributed sysplex strategy fails. Second, even if a WLM enabled DNS is installed, a latency is associated with the exchange of information between the WLM and the DNS. Thus, if the client 140 is a gateway sending multiple requests to the DNS 130, the delay due to the latency can impair performance. Third, because the DNS is typically a UNIX based application and the WLM is a database application, integration between the WLM and the DNS is complicated and difficult.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and system that supports workload balancing in a sysplex system and improves the performance of such a system. The method and system should be easily implemented and should not require extensive modifications of existing systems. The present invention addresses such a need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for workload balancing in a network of computer systems

Abstract: Through the aspects of the present invention, the shared network address allows the client to connect, via a network router, to any one of the plurality of DBMS members so long as one member is active. Once the client is connected to one member, the member sends to the client a list of all active members and their respective workloads. The list also includes member-specific network addresses corresponding to each member so that the client can distribute work evenly across the active members and also perform a resynchronization process with a DBMS member after a first connection with the DBMS member has been interrupted.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides method of double-side polishing a wafer, including: simultaneously polishing both surfaces of the wafer by holding the wafer in a holding hole of a carrier, interposing the held wafer between upper and lower turn tables to which polishing pads are attached, rotating the carrier about an axis of the carrier and revolving the carrier; and repeating the polishing in a batch manner, wherein a direction in which the carrier is revolved is reversed every polishing batch while repeating the polishing in a batch manner. The method enables wafers with high flatness to be stably obtained while inhibiting reduction in productivity due to dressing.

In manufacture of wafers, such as silicon wafers, conventionally, an ingot is sliced into wafers, the wafers are subjected to, in sequence, lapping, etching, and other processes, and at least a main surface of the wafers is then mirror-polished. This polishing process employs a single-side polishing apparatus for polishing one surface of wafers and a double-side polishing apparatus for simultaneously polishing both surfaces of wafers.
A double-side polishing apparatus includes an upper turn table and a lower turn table, and polishing pads, which are typically made of a nonwoven fabric, are attached to the respective turn tables. FIG. 5 illustrates a four-ways type of a double-side polishing apparatus that has a planetary gear structure in which a sun gear 107 is disposed at the center and an internal gear 108 is disposed at the outer circumference. With such a double-side polishing apparatus, wafers are inserted into the respective wafer holding holes 103 formed in a carrier 102 and held therein, a polishing agent is supplied to the wafers from above the wafers, front and back surfaces of the wafers are pressed by the respective polishing pads while the upper and lower turn tables are rotated and the carrier 102 is rotated about its axis and revolved between the sun gear 107 and the internal gear 108. The both surfaces of the wafers are thereby simultaneously polished.
There is a problem in that while a polishing batch is repeated with a double-side polishing apparatus without replacing a polishing pad with a new one, variation in wafer shape among polished wafers gradually increases. This problem is attributed mainly to the lifetime of the polishing pad. As duration of use of the polishing pad increases, excessive polishing at the outer circumference of wafers, which is referred to as an outer circumference sag, easily occurs due to influence of compressibility variation of and clogging of the polishing pad. It is accordingly necessary to dress the surface of the polishing pad in order to eliminate this problem.
A polishing pad for use in a double-side polishing apparatus is typically dressed as follows: Dressing plates are inserted into the respective holding holes of a normal carrier used in polishing of wafers or a carrier dedicated to dressing; this carrier is interposed between the upper and lower turn tables; and the apparatus is operated in the same way as normal polishing.
It is important to dress a polishing pad such that the surface of the polishing pad is carded to stabilize and improve polishing capability. A dressing plate having diamond pellets etc., attached to both its surfaces may be used to achieve such dressing.
When double-side polishing of wafers, such as silicon wafers, is repeated in a batch manner, dressing for the carding of a polishing pad is performed to ensure polishing stability at the beginning of use (the starting up) of a new one and at intervals of prescribed batches. As a polishing batch is repeated, a polishing pad surface roughened by such dressing is gradually smoothed and the outer circumference sag of wafers thereby occurs more frequently, so the dressing performed at the intervals is appropriately needed.
The direction (a dressing direction) of a dressing condition of a polishing pad may be represented by a grain direction and a direction opposite the grain direction, and is determined depending on the direction in which a dress plate is revolved during dressing. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of polishing a wafer with a carrier revolved in a direction opposite the direction in which a dress plate is revolved during dressing in order to obtain a highly flat wafer.


An alarm system that indicates to an operator the status of locking pins of a vehicle sliding axle assembly. The alarm system includes an alarm valve coupled to the locking pins and in fluid communication with an alarm. When the pins are unlocked from a vehicle component, the alarm valve is configured in an alarm mode to indicate the unsecured condition of the assembly. In this mode, air is diverted from the vehicle brakes to sound the alarm, thereby informing an operator that the pins are improperly engaged. In one embodiment, the alarm valve is in communication with or includes a pressure relief valve, which diverts a sufficient amount of air from the vehicle brakes so that the brakes cannot be released. When the pins are properly locked to secure the slider axle assembly, the alarm valve does not divert air from the brakes to sound the alarm.

The present invention relates to trailers equipped with sliding axles, and more particularly to an alarm for indicating the status of a sliding axle system.
Many trailers are equipped with a system that enables the axles of the trailers to be moved relative to a load-bearing frame of the trailer. Such a system is often referred to as a "sliding axle" system. With this system, an operator can adjust the position of the axles relative to the trailer frame, and thereby alter the trailer's cornering ability, or redistribute a trailer load relative to the trailer axles and/or a truck to which the trailer is secured.
A sliding axle system typically includes an assembly secured to the suspension units, which are further secured to the axles of the trailer. The assembly slidingly engages the frame of the trailer or a track welded to the frame. Specifically, the assembly includes a set of pins, actuated by a handle, that retract from and extend into holes defined in the frame or track to lock the assembly in fixed position relative to the frame. In operation, an operator actuates the brakes of the sliding axle assembly, pulls the handle to extract the pins from the holes, thereby enabling the sliding axle assembly to slide relative to the frame and/or track. With the pins pulled, the operator drives the trailer forward or rearward using the tractor until the sliding axle assembly is in a desired position. After the assembly is moved, the handle is re-actuated to lock the pins in the holes and thereby secure the suspension unit in fixed relation to the trailer.
Some problems with sliding axle systems is that the pins may vibrate loose, or after adjustment, an operator may fail to properly lock the pins in the frame holes. Accordingly, as the trailer travels, the sliding axle assembly is free to move forward and rearward relative to the frame. This presents a dangerous situation if the trailer brakes are applied or if the trailer is pulled at excessive speeds.
One attempt to solve these problems is embodied in an electrical system which detects when the pins are not locked in the frame holes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,069 to Schueman discloses such a system, wherein an electrical microswitch illuminates a light when the locking pins are fully retracted and the air brakes are applied. Although this system provides a way to inform an operator that the sliding axle pins are not locked, it suffers a number of shortcomings. First, the electrical system must be coupled to the power supply or electrical system of the truck. This requirement takes a significant amount of time and care to ensure that the proper voltage is provided to the system. Second, the electrical switches of such an electrical system can easily short if not properly protected from the environment. Third, it is difficult for an operator to detect if the system is properly operating unless the operator inspects the pins.


An electric immersion heater (10) is provided for heating fluids, such as water in a livestock watering tank. The electric heater includes a heater subassembly (26), a protective cover (39), and a power cord (21) having a power plug (24). The heater subassembly (26) includes a heating element (14) having first and second ends (16A and 16B) and a molded metallic case (12 or 12A) enclosing the heating element (14). The protective cover (39) encloses and hermetically seals the operative connection of a thermostatic switch (18), the first and second ends (16A and 16B) of the heating element (14), and first, second, and third conductors (22A-22C) of the power cord (21). The thermostatic switch (18) is bonded in heat-receiving proximity to the molded case (12 or 12A). Potting compound (38) disposed intermediate of the thermostatic switch (18) and the fluid to be heated is provided as a thermal barrier for restricting the heat flow from the fluid to the thermostatic switch (18). An elongated slot, recess, opening, or passageway (82) disposed in the molded case (12 or 12A) intermediate of the heating element (14) and the thermostatic switch (18), is provided as a barrier for reducing the rate of heat transferred to the thermostatic switch (18) from the heating element (14). In addition, the elongated slot, recess, opening, of passageway (82) provides means for transmitting heat to the fluid causing a cooling effect on the thermostatic switch (18).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electric heaters for fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and method for heating water in livestock watering tanks and in other containers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric heaters for livestocks watering tanks have been of several general types. One type has been the submerged heater that rests on the bottom of the watering tank. Another type has been the floating water heater. Other designs have been fastened or otherwise physically located with respect to the bottom of the tank.
Limitations of the prior art have included exposed heating elements that are subject to physical damage, inadequate thermal protection, and/or large geometric features. Such characteristics pose a threat of fire hazard, a threat of injury to livestock, a threat of unit damage, or tank size limitations.
Typical of the floating type are the units which are described by Landgraf in U.S. Pat. No. 2,561,932, issued Jul. 24, 1951; Brodie in U.S. Pat. No. 2,430,272, issued Nov. 4, 1947; Reitz in U.S. Pat. No. 2,454,091, issued Nov. 16, 1948; and Temple in U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,178, issued Jun. 7, 1949.
McKinstry, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,116, issued Jan. 10, 1978, greatly reduced the fire hazard by using a metallic strip to provide a heat flow path from the heating element to the thermostat. When submerged in water, because of water cooling the metallic strip, the metallic strip was relatively ineffective in transmitting heat from the heating element to the thermostat so that the thermostat was largely controlled by water temperature. However, upon occasions wherein an animal tossed the electric heater out of the water tank and into a pile of hay or straw, the metallic strip conducted the heat of the heating element to the thermostat rapidly, thereby avoiding overheating of the heating element and a fire hazard. Owen et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,366, issued May 30, 1989, improved on the electric heater of McKinstry by extending an end of the metallic strip of McKinstry, thereby providing additional cooling of the thermostat when the heating element is submerged in water.
Ward, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,973, issued Jul, 15, 1986, provided both floating and submerged electric heaters with the safety of McKinstry but with superior durability, reduced watt density, and more accurate sensing of the temperature of the heating element.
Accuracy, as it pertains to thermostatic control of electric heaters of the type discussed herein, does not mean that the thermostat turns off the electric heater at the temperature at which the temperature of the heating element equals the temperature setting of the thermostatic switch. Instead, accuracy refers to repeatability, the ability to accurately sense a temperature relationship, between the heating element and the thermostatic switch, under given conditions of immersion and/or non-immersion.
In spite of the advances made heretofore, none of the prior art has provided an electric heater which includes accuracy of sensing of the temperature of the heating element, durability of construction with the resultant freedom from accidental damage, and ultracompact design for use in small containers.

Electric immersion heater with restricted heat-flow paths to the thermostatic control thereof


A processor receives a rule containing a first set of code statements. The processor compares the first set of code statements of the rule to a second set of code statements of a plurality of code statements of source code. The processor responds to a match of the first set of code statements of the rule and the second set of code statements of the plurality of code statements of the source code, by applying a weight modifier to the rule, which adds a weighted value to the rule, and the processor, in response to a second matching of the first set of code statements of the rule to the second set of code statements of the plurality of code statements of the source code, applies the weight modifier to the rule, which includes a weighted value, and the weight modifier adjusts the weighted value of the rule.

Software testing is performed to ensure that a software product has been developed and implemented correctly and performs as expected. Testing of software product code elements is continuous throughout the development cycle, but the complexity of testing increases as code elements are integrated into modules and larger portions of the full software product in which higher levels of code interaction occur.
Exhaustive testing can be very time consuming and corrections of defects found may require extensive retesting due to interconnection of code elements.
Approaches to software testing use measurement of test coverage of the source code to indicate a thoroughness of testing. In some cases of highly complex software, testing may selectively cover specific areas of code, functions, or conditions, rather than performing a full coverage of testing. The portions of source code perceived to be complex may be given priority over more common and straight-forward portions of code, which may see only minimal testing. This is done to control the time requirements of testing.
Code coverage indicates the degree to which the source code has been tested and is often expressed in comparison or percentage of "lines of code" tested, of a total number of lines of code in the source code. Coverage criteria can add to the approach and strategy of software testing. Common coverage criteria can include calling each function in the code, executing nodes and edges of the program, and performing control structure evaluations.
Code coverage tools are available for use in software testing. Some calculate the percentage of code accessed by tests, while others promote testing of conditional code statements through possible options. Still other tools determine a complexity level of source code portions based on the presence, number, and amount of nesting, and attempt to prioritize testing based on this perceived complexity.

Risk-based test coverage and prioritization


A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first device, a second device and a switch arranged and adapted: (i) to direct ions at a first time T1 to the first device and to substantially prevent ions from entering the second device; and (ii) to direct ions at a second later time T2 to the second device and to substantially prevent ions from entering the first device. At the first time T1 the second device may not be in an operational state to potentially optimally fragment, react, mass filter or otherwise process ions since the second device may be in a process of equilibration, changing state, re-filling, recharging, transition, replenishing, switching voltage or altering an operational parameter. Likewise, at the second time T2 the first device may not be in an operational state to potentially optimally fragment, react, mass filter or otherwise process ions since the first device may be in a process of equilibration, changing state, re-filling, recharging, transition, replenishing, switching voltage or altering an operational parameter.

Conventional mass spectrometers are typically arranged so as to have a linear ion path which is bounded at one end by an ion source and at the other end by an ion detector. Ions must pass through all of the intermediate ion guides, filters, fragmentation cells and reaction devices in order to reach the ion detector.
The types of devices that can be located along the ion path are therefore limited to those devices that can transmit all ions of interest without causing unwanted attenuation, reaction or fragmentation in any required operating mode. Where a device is required to be operated in several different modes of operation within a single experiment, the duty cycle of the instrument will be limited by the time taken to change the state of the device, allowing for any settling time, flushing time and refill time.
It is known to introduce a switch to allow ions to be diverted along a second path, for example to an intermediate ion detector or alternatively to by-pass a fragmentation cell completely and to re-join the original ion path downstream of the fragmentation device. This allows rapid switching between fragmenting and non-fragmenting modes. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,851,751 (Micromass) discloses an arrangement wherein parent ions are alternately caused to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device.
GB-2392005 (Micromass) discloses an ion guide comprising a plurality of horizontal plates wherein ions may be switched between different channels formed within the ion guide.
WO 2013/092923 (Makarov) discloses a collision cell for tandem mass spectrometry wherein precursor ions are assigned to their own particular channel of a multi compartment collision cell for parallel simultaneous fragmentation.
It is desired to provide an improved mass spectrometer.

Multipath duty cycle enhancement for mass spectrometry


A method, apparatus and computer product for modeling and analyzing performance of a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) configuration, composed of a plurality of components, is disclosed. The method comprises the step of representing selected ones of the plurality of components and relationships among the selected components, wherein said component representations are selected from the group of configuration non-specific representations consisting of: VoIP-DHCP Service, VoIP-CallOperation Service, VoIP_Signaling Service, VoIP_MediaGateway Service and VoIP_SIP Service, and wherein the representations of relationships are selected from the group of configuration non-specification representations consisting of: Hostedby/HostsServices and Integrates/IntegratedIn, providing a mapping between a plurality of first events and a plurality of second events occurring in the selected components, the mapping representing the relationships along which the first events propagate among the selected components, and determining at least one first event based on at least one of the plurality of second events by determining a measure between each of a plurality of relationship values associated with the plurality of first events and the plurality of second events.

Voice over IP (VoIP) is an emerging technology to package analog audio signal, such as those transmitted over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), as information packets and transmit the packets over one or more networks.
FIG. 1 illustrates a VoIP configuration or network 100 wherein conventional packet-switched network 110, e.g., the Internet, provides service link between telephone 140.1 and 140.2. In this illustrated example, a user, at telephone 140.1 enters the telephone number of telephone 140.2 and the information is provided through router 135.1 to gateway 120.1. Gateway 120.1 provides signals, through router 130 to gateway 120.2 to establish the connection, i.e., pathways within network 110. After the connection is established, telephone 140.1 communicates with telephone 140.2 through the established transport connection 138.
With the increasing development of, and dependency upon, networks to provide services, such as VoIP, to businesses and their customers, the need for proper management and operation of the network is increasing more important. Not only does the VoIP service provide a less costly means of providing voice services, it is inherently more reliable in that the voice packets may be dynamically routed in case of fails occurring in the network.
The above referred-to patent application Ser. No. 11/325,109 discloses a method for managing aspects of a VoIP network by modeling components within the VoIP network and determining a physical status of the network by analyzing detected or observed events and correlating these events with most-likely causes of the detected or observed events. Such an analysis is referred-to as a root-cause analysis and, more specifically, an availability root cause analysis. VoIP availability root-cause analysis and other similar analysis are presented in detail in the referred-to patent application and need not be discussed in detail herein.
However, while an availability analysis will determine whether a component, device or element within the VoIP network is not performing correctly, and, thus, impacting overall performance, conditions within the VoIP network may arise wherein the network elements are performing within their desired operational ranges but some degradation in the performance may be experienced because of other conditions occurring within the network.
Hence, there is a need in the industry for a method and system for representing, analyzing and determining root cause of errors in the performance of the VoIP network and the impact of such errors.

Method and apparatus for analysis of VoIP network performance


A fastening element for positive, materially integral and/or non-positive arrangement on or in a fiber composite component includes a sleeve-like portion, on the first end of which there is formed a tapering conical or cone-shaped portion in which a plurality of slots are made which are aligned in the direction of a longitudinal extent of the fastening element and in this way subdivide the conical or cone-shaped portion into individual segments. On the second end of the sleeve-like portion, there is arranged a holding portion which is angled at a right angle from the sleeve-like portion and in this way enlarges an outer diameter of the sleeve-like portion and forms planar bearing surfaces. A method is also described for mounting a fastening element.

In the prior art, connection elements are fitted to composite fiber components by means of screwing, riveting and/or adhesive bonding. Such composite fiber components are, for example, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic plates.
EP 1 158 186 A1 describes a securing element which is constructed as a hollow rivet and which has an inner thread and a polygonal cross-section. The securing element has a sleeve-like portion at one end of which there is arranged a retention portion which is bent away from the sleeve-like portion and consequently increases an outer diameter of the sleeve-like portion and forms planar abutment faces.
DE 1 781 630 U discloses a rivet which comprises two portions. The first portion is formed by a hollow cylinder having an upper end and an end which is intended to be flanged. The second portion comprises a cylindrical rod whose outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the rivet. The rod has at one end a conical expansion whose largest diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the rivet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,419 A discloses a two-part securing element which comprises a pin and a sleeve which is intended to be arranged in a workpiece. The pin is retained in the sleeve in a non-positive-locking manner.

Fastening element and method for mounting same


A liquid discharge apparatus for aligning needle-like structures. The apparatus includes a tapered nozzle having an entrance and a discharge opening. The nozzle is tapered in such a manner that its diameter decreases towards the discharge opening. The diameter of the nozzle at the entrance is larger than the length of the needle-like structures, and the diameter of the discharge opening is larger than the diameter of the needle-like structures and smaller than the length of the needle-like structures. By passing through the nozzle, the needle-like structures are aligned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus which discharges a disperse liquid containing dispersed needle-like structures to a substrate or the like, thereby aligning the needle-like structures, and to a method for aligning the needle-like structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent attention-getting carbon nanotubes, which represent needle-like structures, have structures in which sp2 carbons, which constitute a graphitic structure, bonded in a plane are rolled into a cylinder on the order of nanometers. The carbon nanotubes have many superior characteristics, and accordingly have been used in various applications. In particular, the carbon nanotubes are often used in electrical materials because of their electrical characteristic in which they can be well conductive or semiconductive. One application of the carbon nanotubes is to use them in MOS transistors.
FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a known MOS transistor. For fabrication of the MOS transistor, a plurality of carbon nanotubes 204 are aligned in the same direction on a SiO2 film 211 over a silicon substrate 210, and a source electrode 212, a drain electrode 213, and a gate electrode 214 are formed by photolithography. Then, a high voltage is applied between the source electrode 212 and the drain electrode 213 to break well-conductive carbon nanotubes and allow semiconductive carbon nanotubes to remain. Thus, the MOS transistor is made.
Another application of the carbon nanotubes is to use them as electron sources of field emission displays (FEDs). Carbon nanotubes emit electrons when voltage is applied to them. Many carbon nanotubes are bundled together in the same direction to form an electron emitter, and such electron emitters are two-dimensionally arranged into an FED electron source. Carbon nanotubes have been used in various other applications, and are, in most of the applications, required to be aligned in one direction.
For the alignment of carbon nanotubes, some methods have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-208026, 2001-93404, 2001-195972, and 2003-197131, and all of which are involved in FED electron sources. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-208026, a material containing carbon nanotubes is encapsulated in a cylinder, and the cylinder is elongated to align the carbon nanotubes in the elongated direction. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-93404 (corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,017), a conductive paste containing dispersed carbon nanotubes is pressed into many through-holes formed in a ceramic sheet, so that the carbon nanotubes are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-195972, a paste containing dispersed carbon nanotubes is applied to a serrated feature or other physical shapes provided at the surface of a substrate, by screen printing or spin coating. Thus, the carbon nanotubes are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-197131 (corresponding U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/117065), carbon nanotubes are placed in many small recesses formed in the surface of a metal film to align them in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the metal film.
These methods, however, have disadvantages as follows. The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-208026 requires complicated production steps for alignment. Furthermore, in order to use the aligned carbon nanotubes for an FED electron source, the method requires additional steps to array the aligned carbon nanotubes in a matrix, thus increasing the number of production steps. The methods of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-93404 and 2001-195972 have difficulty in readily aligning carbon nanotubes. Also, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-197131 has a disadvantage in precision of alignment because in the method carbon nanotubes pointing to random directions are simply placed in recesses.

Liquid discharge apparatus and method for aligning needle-like substances


A plateable toner which can be effectively employed in plateable toner technology comprises a shell and core arrangement where the core is a toner particle and the shell is an effective amount of at least one catalyzing and/or activating compound for electroless plating and at least one binding and/or sensitizing compound. The toner core can comprise a commercially available OEM toner powder, a toner core having properties selected for PTT produced by techniques employed in OEM toner production or a spray dried toner core.

The present invention relates to a toner for use in plateable toner processes and in particular electroless metal plating as well as a method for producing the toner.
Plateable toner technology (PTT) relates to a localized metallization of a surface and in particular a polymeric surface by, e.g., xerographic or laser printing of a pattern followed by plating the pattern to the desired conductivity. See for example, Sorensen et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,529 which is incorporated herein by reference.
PTT employs the use of a "plateable" toner which has been formed by a single stage, spray drying process in which the particles have been imparted with the desired sensitizing and catalytic/activating properties. Suitable toners are discussed, for example, in Sorensen et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,495,216, Sorensen et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,738, and European Patent 0087135 to Sorensen et al, which patents are also incorporated by reference.
Despite the effectiveness of these toners in PTT processes, they also suffers from certain drawbacks. For example, it is desirable that the sensitizing compound be a tin salt. However, because these tin salts are heat sensitive, a spray drying process is employed in making these toners.
Furthermore, the use of spray drying in the production of toners produces a substantially spherical particle as compared to the generally "jagged" or irregular shape of toners produced by more conventional methods. These spherical shapes are not easily transferred in current electrophotographic equipment, e.g., printers, which are in fact optimized for the more traditional "jagged" shapes, and thus are not preferred in such environments.
The use of spray drying also limited the number of polymers which may be employed. For example, although an organic solution of a polymer is capable of being employed in a spray drying process, the environmental problems associated with the use of such organic solutions makes such processes impractical and uneconomical. Thus, the polymers which may be practically employed in spray drying processes are those which may be employed as a water-based latex.
Thus, the need clearly exists for a toner which is capable of overcoming these limitations of existing toners.

Plateable toner and method for producing the same


An apparatus for controlling an electrohydraulic system of a work machine having an engine that drives a variable displacement pump is disclosed. A pump displacement setting device produces a pump command signal indicative of a desired displacement of the variable displacement pump. An engine speed setting device produces an engine command signal indicative of a desired rotational speed of the engine. A power manager receives the pump and engine command signals, determines an efficient engine speed and pump displacement, and produces an engine control signal that decreases the engine speed to the efficient engine speed and a pump control signal that increases the pump displacement to an efficient pump displacement, while maintaining a substantially constant pump flow rate.

In the field of hydraulic work machines, for example, hydraulic excavators, variable displacement hydraulic pumps are typically driven by an engine to provide hydraulic power to a plurality of work elements which includes the drive system. Excavators, being extremely versatile machines, are useful in performing a large number of different and varied tasks, e.g., pipelaying, mass excavation, trenching, logging, etc., each task having its own unique hydraulic flow and pressure requirements. For example, during mass excavation, hydraulic power requirements are quite high with brief periods of reduced need, but in pipelaying, sustained periods of low power during waiting are common with sessions of moderate to high power.
Rudimentary control schemes have been utilized to control the engine speed of an excavator. For example, these control schemes have shown that the engine speed may be reduced to low idle during sustained periods of waiting to conserve fuel. However, these types of control schemes do not recognize controlling the engine speed during active times where less than maximum engine speed and pump flow would be required.
More sophisticated control schemes have shown that the engine speed and hydraulic pump displacement can be controlled in response to loads subjected on the work vehicle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,892 issued to Mitchell et al. on Jun. 18, 1985, discloses an electronic control system for a hydraulic excavator which controls the engine speed and pump displacement. The control system reduces pump displacement in response to the operating speed of the engine lugging below a desired operating speed. Further, the control system reduces the engine speed in response to the operating speed of the engine rising above the desired operating speed. In this manner, the electronic control adjusts for engine lag but the electronic control does not correct the inefficiencies of the system. Thus, the electronic control improves, but does not minimize fuel consumption nor eliminate undesirable engine lag.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Power management control system for a hydraulic work machine


A concentrated and ligand-coated gold colloid and a method of preparing it. Also disclosed is a rapid biomolecule quantification assay involving the use of the concentrated gold colloid and an apparatus for performing the assay.

Many processes have been developed to produce biomolecules, particularly proteins, for various uses. The amount of a biomolecule produced in such a process is an essential parameter for monitoring the progress of that process and assessing its efficiency. Conventional quantification methods, e.g., ELISA and HPLC, normally take several hours to several days. Thus, it is highly desirable to develop a new method for rapid quantification of a target biomolecule.

Rapid quantification assay involving concentrated and ligand-coated gold colloid


A system includes a client management component, a monitor component, and a hardware resource component, each of which is implemented in hardware. The client management component chooses a selected client from one or more clients for which a given task is to be fulfilled by a selected hardware resource of one or more hardware resources. The monitor component receives the given task and an identifier of the selected client from the client management component and monitors completion of the given task for the selected client by the selected hardware resource. The hardware resource management receives the given task from the monitor component, chooses the selected hardware resource that is to fulfill the given task, and launches the given task on the selected hardware resource.

Hardware devices frequently include hardware resources and clients, the latter which may be software clients or hardware clients. Hardware resources can be conceptualized as those parts of a hardware device that are to perform processing, and thus which may be considered as "producers." By comparison, clients can be conceptualized as generating tasks that are to be performed, and which may be considered as "consumers." A client may thus generate a task that a hardware resource is to fulfill or complete.

Task launching on hardware resource for client

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A polyester resin composition comprises (A) about 100 parts by weight of polyester resin with a melting point greater than about 200° C. and including repeat units of Formula 1; (B) about 0.1 to about 80 parts by weight of white pigment; and (C) about 0.01 to about 80 parts by weight of filler.

Various polyester resins and blends thereof can be useful as engineering resins. Different polyester resins have useful properties and various performance characteristics, and there is an on-going demand for polyester.
The mechanical properties and heat resistance of polyester resin can be improved by adding inorganic reinforcing material such as glass fiber. Glass fiber reinforced polyester resin has been used in structural materials and interior and exterior parts of an automobile.
Recently, polyester resin has received interest as a material for use in LEDs (light emitting diodes) and EL (electro luminescence) devices, because polyester has excellent energy efficiency and energy lifespan.
For example, modified polyester resin reinforced by glass fiber and including benzene rings in the main chains of the polyester has been used in LED components requiring excellent energy efficiency and energy lifespan, such as reflectors, reflector cups, scramblers and LED housings. Polyester resin used in LEDs should exhibit high heat resistance during the manufacture of a light emitting diode, excellent reflectance with an initial high whiteness index, minimal deterioration of whiteness resulting from yellowing, and the ability to block the flow of electricity.
LEDs generally include a semiconductor emitting a light, a lead wire, a reflector as a housing, and a transparent sealing product sealing a semiconductor. Among these, the reflector can be made by various materials such as ceramic or heat resistant plastics. Productivity, however, of ceramics can be problematic, and heat resistant plastic can have decreased optical reflectance resulting from a change in color during the injection molding process.

Abstract: The polyester resin composition of the present invention does not exhibit deteriorated reflectance and impact strength and also has good heat resistance, non-yellowing property and humidity resistance and can be used in a light emitting diode (LED) reflector.


A removable surface positioning guide for a rotary hand-held tool provides one or more adjustable features for selective positioning of a surface engaging bit driven by the rotary hand-held tool. The surface positioning guide may include a pivot joint between a guide base and a mounting adapter. The guide base pivots relative to the mounting adapter about the pivot joint between operable positions. The surface positioning guide may include at least one spring supported by the mounting adapter either directly or indirectly that biases a guide base axially away from the mounting adapter. The guide base is movable toward the mounting adapter against the biasing of the at least one spring to effect a plunging movement. The surface positioning guide may include a reversible or interchangeable base flange with differently configured faces that are adapted to be placed against a working surface.

Rotary hand-held tools are common tools that are frequently used for a variety of work tasks around the house and workplace. There are literally hundreds of different attachable and detachable surface engaging bits for these rotary hand-held tools, including, for example bits configured for such tasks as carving, engraving, routing, grinding, sanding, sawing, sharpening, cutting, polishing, cleaning, drilling and other work tasks. The versatility of such rotary hand-held tools and interchangeability of bits has made these tools very popular in the marketplace. The small size of these tools are also advantageous and provide for easy manipulation. One of the more popular rotary hand held tools include the Dremel® brand rotary tools.
These rotary hand-held tools include a housing having a size and contour that provides a gripping surface and a rotary output that is driven by a motor contained within the housing (e.g. an output shaft, chuck and/or collet). Different types of bits can be readily attached and detached to the rotary output to be driven thereby about an axis of rotation. In addition, the housings of these devices conventionally provide a screw thread for attachment of a surface positioning guide. Such positioning guides are sometimes referred to as "cutting guides". The guides may be used in such applications as dry wall cutting to cut holes for electrical switches, outlets and the like. A surface positioning guide is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,796 to Schuebel et al. The '796 patent generally discloses a surface positioning guide that is angled and includes groove tabs to facilitate use of the rotary tool for such applications as grout removal.
While rotary hand-held tools are very versatile, it will be readily appreciated that the large number of bits and different guides and other housing attachments can quickly run up the costs and expense for someone who wishes to have all of the available options and features for their tool. Further, the more different bits and attachments a person has, the more difficult it is to organize the attachments in an orderly and compact manner. Further, there is always a desire to increase the functions and versatility of such rotary tools. Heretofore, there have been significant drawbacks in some existing products, which will readily be appreciated once the present invention is appreciated.

Adjustable surface positioning guide for a rotary hand-held tool


A method and apparatus for determining whether a fluid, such as a refrigerant, is a liquid or a gas. To determine whether the fluid at a predetermined level (14) of a storage container (20) is a liquid or a gas, fluid is withdrawn from the container at the predetermined level, depressurized under conditions that would cause it to become a gas if it is a liquid before such depressurization, then the temperature of the fluid after depressurization is measured and compared to a reference temperature that is or is related to the temperature of the fluid in the container. If the temperature of the fluid after depressurization and the reference temperature are approximately equal, one can conclude that the fluid withdrawn from the predetermined level is a gas. If the temperature of the fluid after depressurization is considerably lower than the reference temperature, one can conclude that the fluid withdrawn from the predetermined level is a liquid. Such a determination can be used, for example, in order to shut down an apparatus (3) for transferring a refrigerant into a receiving container when the liquid level in the container reaches a predetermined maximum level.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the phase (i.e. liquid or gas) of a fluid at a certain level of a container, as well as a method and apparatus for transferring a fluid from a source container into a receiving container using such a method and apparatus.
It is often necessary to determine the level of fill in a fluid container, for example during the process of filling the container, in order not to exceed a predetermined maximum fill level, in order to avoid excessive pressure in the container or, when the fluid in the container is used, in order to determine that the fill level of the container has dropped below a minimum predetermined level, i.e., to detect the imminence of the container becoming empty.
For this purpose, the level at which the transition between the liquid and the gaseous phase of the fluid is located can be detected, but currently such detection can only be done visually through the walls of the container when these walls are transparent, which is only feasible for low-volume containers, such as cigarette lighters.
When the walls of the container are opaque, which is the most frequent case, particularly when the container has a large volume, for example, on the order of one or more liters, visual detection is not possible and then usually the container is weighed with its contents. However, this method is relatively inaccurate, while, when filling a pressurized gas cylinder, a certain safety margin must be provided regarding the fill level of the said enclosure as detected by weighing, in order to avoid excessive filling. Furthermore, this method has the disadvantage of requiring the use of weighing means.

Method and apparatus for determining the phase of a fluid


A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) having a gateway configured to output signals on over data tunnels for transfer over a cable network to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). Each data tunnel is preferably characterized as a one-way data stream of out-of-band (OOB) messaging signals.

A cable modem termination system (CMTS) is generally a system located at a headend or other location of a cable service provider for transporting data packets from one location to another, such as between an internet service provider (ISP) and a subscriber station. In particular, the CMTS may be configured for downstream communication such that it is configured to receive IP packets from the ISP, to convert the IP packets to digital cable packets, and to deliver the digital cable packets to the subscriber station. In addition, the CMTS may be configured for upstream communication such that it is configured to receive digital cable packets from the subscriber station, to convert the digital cable packets to IP packets, and to deliver the IP packets to the ISP.
A need exists for a CMTS to include capabilities for transporting OOB messaging signals.

Gateway for transporting out-of-band messaging signals


A toy for a pet comprising a housing with at least one rotatable component and at least one cavity for accommodating a treat for a pet is disclosed. In order to access the treat, the pet must rotate the housing member to the open position.

Household pets enjoy playing with toys. Most toys are designed to allow the pet to chew on the toy, or to provide entertainment while batting the toy around.
As pets spend more time confined in relatively small spaces, such as within houses or residential yards, their need for intellectual stimulation increases. However, few toys are designed to be intellectually challenging for the pet.
The present development addresses this issue by providing a pet toy design that challenges the pet to determine how to access a treat hidden within the toy housing.


A permission management method for an electronic device capable of installing at least one application is illustrated. The electronic device comprises a plurality of accessible operational functions. The method prepares a management table for recording corresponding operational functions that the application needs to access while performing the application, and a permission management program for controlling the management table. The permission management program may be performed to change the permission state of each operational function corresponding to the installed application. When the application installed in the device is performed and one of the operational functions is requested, the records in the management table are referred to determine whether the application is allowed to access the requested operational function.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a management method for applications and an electronic device thereof; in particular, to a permission management method for applications and an electronic device thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently the popularization rate of the smart electronic device increases fast. Users can upload and download all kinds of applications via the Internet and install them in the electronic device for different service provision. Before different applications are installed in the electronic device, users will be reminded that there may be some system functional authority needed to be performed if they want to install applications in their electronic devices in order to perform authorized system functions for acquiring needed information or messages and further to provide the function or service of applications.
Among all kinds of system functions requested by the application, there may be partial functions the user doesn't want to make accessible; however, currently users can't by themselves decide whether or not to allow or reject when it comes to which function the application can access. Thus, if users install an application, and then they need to completely accept the authority the application requests or they can't do nothing but give up the installed application.
The present situation may cause that users can't adjust the operation of the application according to their needs when an application is operated in an electronic device, and that the information unrelated to the use of the application may be accessed with permission, which produces the risk of losing the security of user information.

Permission management method for applications, electronic device thereof, and computer readable medium


An assembly and method of assembling a connector is described. The connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of signal contacts projecting therefrom. A shell is removably connected to the housing, the shell member including a pair of shell tabs for connecting the shell member to the housing member. A flexible circuit is soldered to the plurality of signal contacts of the housing member. The flexible circuit is wrapped against the housing and bent at a portion thereof for insertion into a gap formed between the housing and the shell. A protective material is positioned between the flexible circuit and the shell member, and the connector is secured by bending shell tabs of the shell around the housing member. Assembly of the connector includes applying the flexible circuit to the plurality of signal contacts of the housing member, folding a portion of the flexible circuit under the housing member into a gap formed by the separation of the housing from the shell, positioning a protective material between the remaining ends of the flexible circuit and the shell, and compressing the flexible circuit and the protective material between the housing and the shell by bending the shell tabs around the housing.

In the art of ESD protected connectors, there are known assemblies in which the connectors use a polymer based protective material which provides ESD protection, such as a POLYCLAMP material (POLYCLAMP is a trademark of AMP Incorporated), between traces on a printed circuit board and a ground plate of the connector. The current manufacturing process includes placing the POLYCLAMP material in an uncured state between traces on the printed circuit board and the ground plate. These components are fixtured as the POLYCLAMP material is compressed between the ground plate and the printed circuit board during an oven cure process. This creates a bond between the POLYCLAMP material and the traces on the printed circuit board. Next, the fixturing is removed and the printed circuit board/POLYCLAMP material/ground subassembly is soldered to pins and a shell of a connector subassembly. Disadvantageously, the cost of manufacturing is high, the required components include use of the printed circuit board, and an oven cure process is used. Accordingly, a need in the art exists for an improved connector and an assembly therefore which is low in cost and easy to manufacture.

Method of applying ESD protection to a shielded electrical


A movable pedestal or kingpost type luffing crane that includes an upperworks, having a crane boom, rotatably mounted on a crane support. The crane support extends below the upperworks. The movable crane is constructed to be selectively maintained in or removed from a receiving socket. Movement prevention means prevents the radial and vertical movement of the crane support in the receiving socket. Anti-rotation means prevents the rotation of the crane support in the receiving socket. A centering means is also provided which facilitates the centering of the crane support means within the receiving socket. Providing a plurality of receiving sockets located at predetermined locations provides a system wherein the movable crane may be moved from socket to socket and from location to location.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a movable crane. More specifically, it is directed to a pedestal or kingpost type luffing crane having a support that removably mates with a stationary receiving socket and, thereby, permits the movement of the crane from one receiving socket to another.
Presently, a number of applications need a high capacity crane that may be moved from location to location. For example, in construction that requires the use of very large capacity cranes, the cranes are transported to and temporarily mounted at the worksite. Typical of such cranes are platform ringer cranes. The platform ringer cranes include a platform rotatably mounted on a large diameter ring that has a bearing therein. The platform supports the upperworks of the crane that consists of a crane boom, the power and control devices, and the counterweights. The large diameter ring typically mounts on an above ground foundation and, thus, is gravity supported. Therefore, the platform ringer crane must include sufficient counterweight to counterbalance any weight supported at the end of the boom such that the center of gravity remains within the ring. As a result, the platform ringer cranes are extremely large and require dozens of trucks to transport.
Often, after the platform ringer crane has performed its function, the foundation remains in place for future work requiring the crane. As mentioned, the cranes, as well as the associated foundations, are extremely large. Thus, the foundation occupies substantial space making that space unusable. Therefore, providing a high capacity crane that is easier to move and permits the use of the space previously occupied by the crane eliminates these problems.
A second example of an application that needs a removable crane is in Naval transport ships. To increase its preparedness, the Navy instituted a program of fitting civilian ships with cranes. In times of war, the ships could transport goods for the war effort and load and unload the goods at any place designated by the Navy. Fitting the substantial number of ships required to supply a war effort is extremely costly due to the cost of the cranes as well as the amount of supplies required for an effective campaign. In addition, the ships, with the cranes affixed thereto, travel the world in times of peace subjecting the cranes to the harsh open sea environment. Consequently, the crane supplies of the Navy become worn and fall into disrepair because they are stored in this harsh environment.
However, the expense of providing and maintaining the cranes could be reduced by providing movable cranes. The pertinent ships could be fitted to receive the movable cranes; and the cranes could be stored in warehouses until needed. Then in times of need, the cranes could be quickly affixed to the ships for use.
A third example of an application needing a movable crane is in a merchant ship application. Many merchant ships include large capacity cranes thereon to provide for loading and unloading in ports that are not equipped with cranes. However, like in the Navy ships described above, these cranes are not needed at all times and are subjected to harsh environments. Thus, a fleet of merchant ships could share a supply of movable cranes. Additionally, the movable cranes could be stored protecting them from the elements when not needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,067 that issued to applicant herein, describes the development of kingpost cranes. As described, cranes with vertically separated bearing assemblies, such as kingpost cranes, are considered an alternative to mobile cranes. The advantages and need for the higher load capacity, safety, and stability of kingpost cranes is also described in the '067 patent. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,606 shows a pedestal crane. Like the kingpost in a kingpost crane, the pedestal of a pedestal crane mounts in a large fixed foundation and support such as the ground, the deck of a ship, or the deck of a loading dock. Thus, the kingpost and pedestal cranes are embedded in the foundation and not transportable.
Frequently, kingpost and pedestal cranes operate in maritime shipping, offshore, and other environments where space utilization efficiency is often crucial. The cranes require substantial space and are limited in both maximum and minimum operating distance from the kingpost or pedestal. A mobile kingpost or pedestal crane would not only provide the advantages of an embedded crane; but the kingpost or pedestal crane's mobility would additionally provide the advantage of increasing the operating distance of the embedded crane and would make available the space generally occupied by the embedded crane. Thereby, a mobile embedded crane would increase the space utilization efficiency.
Typically, due to the limited operating distance of an embedded crane, a number of cranes are often required to operatively service a given area. However, because the embedded cranes are relatively expensive, providing sufficient crane service area is often costly. Thus, a mobile embedded crane would reduce the number of embedded cranes required for a given area and, thereby, reduce the cost of providing cranes for a specified area.
2. Related Art
Although mobile cranes are commonly known to the prior art, the prior art does not disclose a luffing crane, of the kingpost or pedestal type, which is attachable to a socket in the ground, may be readily moved from one socket location to other socket locations without the need to disassemble the crane or its components, and retains the capacity and stability to support a relatively large load. Illustrative of prior art cranes are U.K. Patent Number 10,730 that issued to Purdy in May, 1894, U.K. Patent Number 2,177,374A that issued to Fluemer in January, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,875 that issued to Stratton in January, 1955, U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,284 that issued to Moore in December, 1964, U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,606 that issued to Morrow et al. in December, 1977, U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,230 that issued to Goss et al. in December, 1977, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,067 that issued to Morrow in May, 1994.
Though the above mentioned cranes may be helpful for their intended purpose, they can be improved to provide mobility while maintaining the advantages of an embedded crane and, thereby, provide greater space utilization and lower cost.


A process for manufacturing a forged connecting rod of the type including a big end, a shank and a small end. A connecting rod rough forging, free of lateral flash and including at least one bore initiator on the big end and on the small end, is manufactured by forging. The connecting rod rough forging is sized, content-wise, by plating the connecting rod rough forging between two inserts inside a die in order to obtain a sized connecting rod rough forging.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the manufacture of a forged connecting rod, and especially of a forged connecting rod for an internal combustion engine.
2. Discussion of the Background
Forged connecting rods, in particular forged connecting rods for an internal combustion engine, especially when they are made of steel, are manufactured by a process which comprises hot forging of a connecting rod rough forging, a heat treatment and a machining operation.
The forging includes several steps which are, in general, the manufacture of a slug by the shaping rolling of a billet treated beforehand to a suitable temperature, the drop forging or closed-die forging of the slug, the cutting-off of the forging flash or its trimming, and a punching step.
The heat treatment, which may be carried out at a later stage or while the rough forging is still hot, depends especially on the grade of steel used and on the desired mechanical properties.
When it is carried out at a later stage, the heat treatment may be a normalization intended to obtain a pearlitic or ferrito-pearlitic structure. This is, in particular, the case when separable connecting rods are manufactured, that is to say when connecting rods are manufactured whose big end may be separated into two parts by brittle fracture. The heat treatment at a later stage may also be a hardening step followed by an annealing step, the hardening being intended to obtain a mainly martensitic structure whose mechanical properties are very high.
When the heat treatment is carried out while the forging is still hot, which assumes that the temperature at the end of the forging operation is high enough, it always includes a controlled cooling operation, either cooling sufficiently slowly to obtain a pearlitic or ferrito-pearlitic structure or sufficiently rapidly to obtain a mainly bainitic structure. When the desired structure is mainly bainitic, the controlled cooling may include a temperature hold intended to cause a substantially isothermal transformation. It may also include reheating to a temperature below approximately 600.degree. C. in order to produce an annealing effect. The annealing may also be carried out at a later stage.
The machining operation mainly includes the trueing of the side faces and the machining of the bores in the big end and in the small end of the connecting rod, the separation of the big end into two parts and the drilling of holes intended to receive the fixing bolts for the two parts of the big end. The big end is separated into two parts either by machining or, when the big end is separable, by brittle fracture under an impact.
In order for the machining operation to be carried out under the proper precision conditions, it is necessary to premachine the reference surfaces at the periphery of the rough forging so as to suitably position it on the machining machines, and this operation is tricky.
Apart from the machining difficulties, this technique also has a drawback, in the case of mass production, of leading to too great a variation in the dimensions and in the weight of the connecting rods to be able to fit them into engines indiscriminately. When the weights of the connecting rods in the same engine vary too much, the engine is poorly balanced. Therefore, before fitting into engines, the connecting rods are sorted in order to group them into narrow weight classifications. These grouping operations require accurate weighing and complicate the manufacture.
In order to improve the geometrical precision of the connecting rod rough forgings, it has been proposed, in German Utility Model DE 43 29 371, to replace the closed-die forging of the slug with forging of the slug in a closed die, by plating between two inserts provided with impressions. The rough forging obtained includes a shank, a big end and a small end; the big end and the small end each include two bore initiators separated by a web. At the end of forging, the relative movement of the two inserts is stopped when the volume of the space delimited by the two inserts and by the die is equal to the volume of metal of the slug. The geometrical precision and the precision in the weight of the rough forging are then directly determined by the precision in the weight of the slug. In order to obtain a precision rough forging, it is necessary to use a precision slug which can only be obtained by machining, which operation is very expensive for the manufacture of a slug. In addition, the forging of the slug is carried out with large deformations of the metal, the deformation ratios are several tens of %, which lead to rapid wear of the inserts unfavorable to mass production.

Process for the manufacture of a forged connecting rod


Wavefront measuring systems and methods are disclosed which may be employed, for example, in detecting phase aberrations in a spectacle lens and in an eye. Various embodiments include disposing a modulation pattern in the path of a return beam from the spectacle lens or the eye, and imaging a diffraction pattern at a self-imaging plane relative to the modulation pattern with a detector. The diffraction pattern is analyzed and the results are used to produce a representation of the wavefront phase characteristics that describe aberrations in the lens or eye being measured. Illumination and processing techniques for improving the measurement results are disclosed. Various embodiments comprise systems adaptable to both measure aberrations in lenses in spectacles as well as in a patient's eyes.

Traditional lensometers comprise an instrument used to determine the power and astigmatism (sphere and cylinder) of a spectacle lens. In particular, traditional lensometers comprise a centered telescopic optical system that includes a reticule and neutralizing lenses that can be employed to measure sphere and cylinder power as well as axis. A dial called the power drum is used in conjunction with an axis dial for introducing test correction such that lines in the reticule appear straight and in focus to the operator. Newer lensometer systems are automatic, however, these instruments still rely on the principle of neutralizing sphere and cylinder utilizing movable lenses.
Such conventional systems and techniques work adequately for lenses measuring sphere and cylinder. The measurement of sphere and cylinder of the spectacle lenses enables optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide conjugate correction for a near-sighted or a far-sighted patient who possibly has astigmatism as well. However, corrective optics provided on the basis of these sphere and cylinder measurements are often not suitable for correcting a person's vision. What is needed are improved systems and methods for measuring refraction of patients and for providing appropriate vision correction.

Lensometers and wavefront sensors and methods of measuring aberration