In a shell-and-tube heat exchanger with the tubes disposed within the shell for conducting the flow of a fluid to be in heat transfer interaction with a refrigerant contained in the volume formed by the heat exchanger shell and the external surfaces of the tube bundle, the tubes are elongated in their cross-section, with the elongation axis being oriented in the vertical direction to thereby enhance the heat transfer process and potentially reduce the heat exchanger size or tube count. The design features can be applied to both flooded and falling film heat exchangers and are equally applicable to both evaporators and condensers.

This invention relates generally to heat exchangers for air conditioning and refrigeration systems and, more particularly, to shell-and-tube heat exchangers with refrigerant contained inside in the volume confined between the shell and outside surfaces of the tubes.
Vapor compression systems for cooling water, or other secondary media such as glycol, commonly referred to as "chillers", are widely used in the air conditioning and refrigeration applications. Normally, such systems have relatively large cooling capacities, such as around 350 kW (100 ton) or higher and are used to cool large structures such as office buildings, large stores and ships. In a typical application applying a chiller, the system includes a closed chilled water flow loop that circulates water from the evaporator of the chiller to a number of auxiliary air-to-water heat exchangers located in the space or spaces to be conditioned.
A shell-and-tube type heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes contained within a shell. The tubes are usually arranged to provide multiple parallel flow paths for one of two fluids between which it is desired to exchange heat. In a flooded evaporator, the tubes are immersed in a second fluid. Heat passes from one fluid to the other fluid through the walls of the tubes.
Many air conditioning and refrigeration systems contain shell-and-tube heat exchangers. In air conditioning applications, a fluid, commonly water, flows through the tubes, and refrigerant is contained in the volume confined between the heat exchanger shell and outside surfaces of the tubes. In evaporator applications, the refrigerant cools the fluid by heat transfer from the fluid to the walls of the tubes and then to the refrigerant. Transferred heat vaporizes the refrigerant in contact with exterior surface of the tubes. In a condenser application, refrigerant is cooled and condensed through heat transfer to the fluid through the walls of the tubes. The heat transfer capability of such a heat exchanger is largely determined by the heat transfer characteristics of the individual tubes and their position in the tube bundle.
There are generally two types of evaporator applications: flooded evaporators and falling film evaporators. In a flooded evaporator, liquid refrigerant is introduced in the lower part of the evaporator shell, and the level of liquid refrigerant in the evaporator shell is maintained sufficiently high so that all the tubes are positioned below the level of liquid refrigerant in the majority of operating conditions. As the heat is transferred from the water flowing inside the tubes to the refrigerant, the refrigerant is caused to boil, with the vapor passing to the surface where it is than drawn out of the evaporator by the compressor. In a falling film evaporator, the liquid refrigerant is distributed horizontally to a sprayer, located at the top of the evaporator and spayed so that as its falls, it contacts the outside surfaces of the tube bundle, the heat transfer with which causes it to evaporate. The refrigerant then flows by gravity from the top horizontal tubes to the bottom horizontal tubes while cooling the liquid flowing within the tubes.
There are a number of generally known methods of improving the heat transfer of a heat exchanger tube in the bundle by reducing an internal and external thermal resistance for the tube. One way is to increase the heat transfer area of the tube by way of placing a plurality of extended surface elements such as fins on the outer surface thereof. This can be accomplished by making the fins separately and attaching them to the outer surface of the tube, or by forming fins directly on the outer tube surface. Another approach is to roughen the outer surface of the tube so that the nucleation sites that are formed can improve the heat transfer characteristics of the tube surface. Obviously, the two approaches can be combined or superimposed in a single manufacturing process. Similarly, internal tube heat transfer characteristics can be improved. Also, as mentioned above, the tube spacing in the bundle becomes critical and has to be optimized.
It is desirable to have heat transfer tubes with external heat transfer surfaces that have good heat transfer performance in condensing and evaporating applications as well as for the flooded and falling film evaporator applications.

Tubes with elongated cross-section for flooded evaporators and condensers


The present invention broadly applies to any fluid valve made up of a plurality of body components that create sealing lands where the body components are clamped together. The invention is further applicable to any such valves in which pressure differentials within the valve can cause fluid leakage in the region of these sealing lands. Fluid leakage is reduced by locating at least some of these sealing lands within a hollow clamp that holds the valve body components together. This clamping strategy that locates the clamping load where it is needed most is applicable to a wide variety of valves, but is particularly applicable to pressure control valves used in fuel injection systems that experience extremely high pressure differentials during their usage.

Electro-hydraulic actuators, such as those used in conjunction with fuel injectors having a direct control needle valve, rely upon relatively small and fast valves in order to control fuel injection characteristics. In one class of fuel injection systems, a direct control needle valve opens and closes the nozzle outlet of the fuel injector. The direct control needle valve is controlled hydraulically via a relatively high speed needle control valve that has the ability to apply either low pressure or high pressure to a closing hydraulic surface associated with the direct control needle valve. One such direct control needle valve and accompanying needle control valve is disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,355 to Gibson et al. That reference teaches a fuel injector that includes a needle control valve with the ability to apply high pressure or low pressure oil to a closing hydraulic surface of a direct control needle valve. When high pressure is applied to the closing hydraulic surface, the needle valve stays in, or moves toward, its closed position to end the spray of fuel. When low pressure is applied to the closing hydraulic surface, and the fuel is at injection pressure levels, the needle valve will stay in, or move toward, its open position to allow fuel to spray out of the nozzle outlets of the fuel injector. In order to accomplish various goals, such as reducing undesirable emissions from an engine, engineers are constantly seeking ways of improving performance of direct control needle valves, especially by addressing problems associated with needle control valves.
One of the problems that could be addressed in improving a needle control valve is to reduce response time. This problem can then be broken down into seeking ways to reduce the valve member's travel distance, increasing the travel speed and/or acceleration of the valve member, decreasing the influence of fluid flow forces on valve member movement, and other issues known in the art. In addition, it is desirable to employ strategies that hasten the rate at which pressure changes can occur within the needle control chamber that applies the hydraulic force to the closing hydraulic surface of the needle valve member. These problems are further compounded by issues relating to an available space envelope for the valve, and maybe more importantly the ability to address all of these problems with a structure that allows for the valve to be mass produced with consistent behavior from one valve to another.
Still another problem that could be addressed relates to efficiency. For instance, reducing leakage through the valve can make a difference in the overall viability of a given valve. Leakage is potentially a problem since many valve assemblies include a valve body made up of several components that are attached or otherwise clamped together. For instance, a typical three way valve might include an upper seat component separated from a lower seat component by a valve lift spacer. These three components can be held together with four bolts distributed around the periphery of the valve body. While such a strategy can be successful, the areas needing the highest clamping loads are often located toward the center and well away from the periphery of the valve body. For instance, the valve assembly might have a centrally located valve member adjacent an annual sealing land defined by the contact area between the valve body components. Because these sealing lands can be subjected to relatively extremely high pressure differentials during an injection event, leakage through these sealing lands can be a concern. Therefore, the region around these sealing lands are in need of relatively high clamping forces in order to avoid leakage. Unfortunately, spacial constraints attributable to plumbing and other factors known in the art prevent, or at least inhibit, placement of clamping bolts closer to the areas where they are needed.
The present invention is directed to one or more of the problems set forth above.

Valve assembly and fuel injector using same


A kit for detecting HIV-2 strains in a test sample is disclosed. In addition a method is described for the real-time detection of HIV-2 strains in a test sample using the kit. According to method of detection, the results of the detection can be rapidly identified with a reduced number of copies of a sample in real-time.

Although not as recognized as human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), human immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2) also causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from the same infection route as HIV-1. Compared to HIV-1, HIV-2 more slowly weakens the human immune system. Moreover, AIDS caused by HIV-2 is less contagious at an early stage, but is more highly contagious at an advanced stage than AIDS caused by HIV-1.
A viral load test of HIV-2 has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since HIV, a pathogen that causes AIDS, was first isolated in the early 1980s, diverse research has been conducted into treating AIDS around the world. However, researchers have not succeeded in developing an effective vaccine capable of preventing and treating AIDS.
Since the late 1990s, various types of diagnostic kits to detect HIV have been developed. An immunological method using an antibody that recognizes a specific protein of HIV is one of the most widely used techniques for the diagnosis of HIV infection. Although the diagnostic accuracy of the immunological method using an antibody is high, it requires a large amount of a sample and it is essential to produce unique viral proteins or peptides in each disease in order to produce an antibody required for each diagnosis so that the manufacturing costs for preparing the antibody is increased. Furthermore, it is not easy to preserve and use proteins, and one or a limited number of types of diseases can be diagnosed at once. A method of diagnosing diseases by cultivating cells and using DNA probes can also be used. However, this method requires highly skilled professionals and a great deal of time. In order to overcome these drawbacks, research into various diagnostic kits using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been conducted. Demands for diagnostic kits using PCR are increasing due to their high accuracy, simplicity, and rapidity.
In particular, real-time PCR is one of the most widely used methods. Real-time PCR is a method of measuring the accumulation of PCR products in each cycle of PCR in real-time. Using the real-time PCR, fluorescent substances involved in reactions with the PCR products can be detected and the PCR products can be quantitatively calculated. While PCR products are identified using gel electrophoresis after a final stage of PCR is completed according to conventional PCR, real-time PCR does not require post-PCR gel electrophoresis, has high accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility, can be automated, can quantify the results, is quick, simple, and biologically safe against dyes such as ethidium bromide (EtBr) and UV irradiation, and can automatically identify amplification of specific genes. Thus, while only qualitative results are obtained using PCR or antigen/antibody methods, quantitative results with high specificity can be obtained using real-time PCR. In addition, since probes labeled with a fluorescence marker are used in real-time PCR, the amount of a sample can be reduced compared to that used in DNA chip and antigen/antibody reactions.
Therefore, there remains an unmet need in the art to both rapidly and accurately detect HIV infection and HIV genotype, and there is an unmet need in the art to develop a method of detecting HIV and a kit for detecting HIV using real-time PCR.

Kit for detecting HIV-2 and method for detecting HIV-2 using the same


A method, system and computer program product for detecting the dissemination of malicious programs. The degree of randomness in the Internet Protocol (IP) destination addresses of received IP packets to be forwarded to an external network may be detected by performing a hash function on the IP destination addresses thereby generating one or more different hash values. If a high number of different hash values were generated for a small number of IP packets examined, then random IP destination addresses may be detected. By detecting random destination IP addresses, the dissemination of a malicious program, e.g., virus, worm program, may be detected.

Network security management is becoming a more difficult problem as networks grow in size and become a more integral part of organizational operations. Attacks on networks are growing both due to the intellectual challenge such attacks represent for hackers and due to the increasing payoff for the serious attacker. Furthermore, the attacks are growing beyond the current capability of security management tools to identify and quickly respond to those attacks. As various attack methods are tried and ultimately repulsed, the attackers will attempt new approaches with more subtle attack features. Thus, maintaining network security is on-going, ever changing and an increasingly complex problem.
One example of a network attack on a network device, e.g., server, may commonly be referred to as a denial-of-service attack. In a denial-of-service attack, the network device is flooded with so many additional requests that regular traffic is either slowed or completely interrupted. Typically, the denial-of-service attack uses multiple computers throughout the network. A denial-of-service attack that uses multiple computers may commonly be referred to as a distributed denial-of-service attack.
Such attacks may involve the dissemination through the network, such as the Internet, of a malicious program, e.g., virus, worm program. The malicious program typically contains both the code for sourcing a variety of attacks, e.g., distributed denial-of-service attack, and some basic communication infrastructure to allow for remote control. For example, a user commonly referred to as an attacker may disseminate a malicious program by transmitting the malicious program over the Internet with random Internet Protocol (IP) destination addresses. If one of the random destination addresses is an address of a "vulnerable" computer system, e.g., server, then the malicious program may be installed on that computer system. A computer system may be said to be "vulnerable" if the computer system cannot detect and hence prevent the malicious program from being installed. Hence, an attacker may be able to install malicious programs on other computer systems thereby producing a group of "zombie" computers to carry out the attack.
Computer systems may store security management tools configured to detect known patterns of known malicious programs. For example, security management tools may examine each received IP packet and determine if it matches a known pattern. If so, then the dissemination of a malicious program may be detected. However, if the security management tools do not detect a known pattern, then the security management tools may determine that a malicious program is not being disseminated on the computer system. Hence, a newly created malicious program whose pattern is unknown may not be detected by the security management tools.
As stated above, the dissemination of malicious programs by an attacker typically involves the attacker transmitting the malicious program over the network, e.g., Internet, with random IP destination addresses. By detecting the randomness in IP destination addresses, the dissemination of newly created malicious programs may be detected.
It would therefore be desirable to detect the randomness in Internet Protocol (IP) destination addresses in order to detect the dissemination of malicious programs.

Detecting dissemination of malicious programs

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is a method for mounting a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The method includes providing a solder cream on a predetermined region of a bottom surface of the PCB except for a region requiring insulation, mounting the PCB on a mounting region of a housing on which the PCB is to be mounted, and fixedly coupling the PCB to the housing by melting and hardening the solder cream provided on the bottom surface of the PCB.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for processing a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which various electrical or electronic parts are mounted, and more particularly, to a method for mounting a PCB on an inner surface of a housing of an electrical or electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is a thin board on which chips or other electrical or electronic parts are installed. The PCB is made of tempered fiberglass or plastic, and parts mounted on the PCB are electrically connected through a circuit pattern, which is printed on the PCB by using copper, tin, gold, etc. Various parts mounted on the PCB may include a Surface Mounting Device (SMD) and a lead part, and a land portion for mounting an SMD part thereon and a lead hole for inserting a lead of a lead part thereinto are formed in the PCB.
Some types of parts mounted on the PCB may generate much heat during operation. In this case, an efficient heat radiation scheme is required. For example, in a transmission system for mobile communication and broadcast communication, a high-power and high-output amplifier is used, a core part of which, i.e., a high-output power amplifying element (that is, a transistor) generates a significant amount of heat. The generated heat may cause performance degradation, malfunction, and parts damage.
A typical heat radiation scheme is adopting a plurality of heat-radiation fins on an outer portion of a device requiring heat radiation. With this heat-radiation fin structure only, however, there is a limitation in heat-radiation performance, and efficient heat radiation cannot be expected.
Conventionally, a puck or a pallet has been positioned on a heat-radiation plate to attach an amplifying element onto the puck or the pallet. However, since the amplifying element is not attached directly onto the heat-radiation plate, the efficiency of heat radiation is deteriorated.


Methods, systems, and schema are provided for enforcing security on an attribute of an object. An instance of an object is created or modified using the schema where a number of the attributes for the object include descriptors. The attributes of the created or modified object are checked to ensure that the modifier has access rights to the attributes. If the modifier does not have the access rights, then values are not assigned to the attributes requested by the modifier. When the modifier provides values for an attribute having the corresponding descriptor, the values are also checked to determine if they are references to a second object. In which case, a check is made to ensure the modifier has an access right to the second object. If no such access right exists, then the values are not assigned to the attribute as originally requested by the modifier.

Ensuring security in a distributed computing environment is becoming increasingly complex. As soon as a security hole is detected and patched, another vulnerability is detected. Traditionally, security is enforced at various levels of abstraction within a distributed environment. For example, the Operating System (OS) is layered and includes a File System (FS) or Directory System (DS). Both the OS and the DS employ security techniques to prevent unintentional or malicious damage to the resources (e.g., hardware and/or software) of the distributed environment.
In order to decrease the coding complexity of conventional DSs, the DSs are modularized at various levels of abstraction similar to the design of OSs. Accordingly, some DSs use Object Oriented (OO) design and programming methodologies. In an OO approach, resources (physical and logical), organizations, applications, users, geographic locations, and the like are encapsulated as object entities within a software module. The objects include publicly available access methods and privately available access methods. The private methods are used, in part, to enforce some security since only internal or authorized users, objects, and/or applications are permitted to process the private methods. The private methods also permit the objects to hide lower levels of coding abstraction that are associated with the objects. The public methods are published and accessible to other users, objects, and/or applications and are used to communicate with the object.
Objects also include attributes or properties that can be set or accessed through a number of the public methods associated with the objects. For example, a DS object representing a user can include an attribute called GroupMembership, where one or more values assigned to the GroupMembership attribute represent other objects and/or object groups to which the user belongs. The user object can also include an attribute that identifies the directory in which the user is to be placed upon login. Moreover, as is readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, a single object can be a superset of aggregation of a multitude of other objects.
Although the OO approach for DSs implementations can enforce security attributes for accesses to the objects a security hole is readily detected. For instance, a modifier (e.g., user, application, or another object) can generate an instance of an object. The modifier has access to generate the instance of the object. While defining the instance, the modifier can provide a value for an attribute of the instance. The value can be a hard coded string constant to a different object. Moreover, the different object can be a destructive operation, such as a format hard drive operation. Furthermore, the attribute of the instance can include a forced execution value, such that the modifier can assign the format hard drive operation and force its execution upon login of a user. Conventionally, the values provided for attributes are not validated to ensure that the values are not references to other objects that the modifier is not permitted to access.
The security hole is particularly noticeable when two or more systems are interfaced with one another and have access to the same object. For example, a first system, such as a calendaring system, may permit a user with proper access rights to a conference room to freely invite other users to attend a meeting in the conference room. The conference room is represented as an object within the first system, and the conference room can include a plurality of attributes such as direction information, time-of-day limitations, date limitations, invited attendees, and the like. The calendar object can also be interfaced to other systems, such as email systems, word processing systems, and/or systems that permit values of attributes defined within the calendar object to trigger the automatic execution of an external application. With conventional designs and approaches it would be perfectly permissible for a user to invite attendees to a meeting in the conference room, since on the surface this appears to be an innocuous operation (e.g., not actually modifying an attendee's calendar). But, if values provided as attributes of the conference room are also linked with other systems, such that external applications can be automatically launched, then the user could achieve something typically not permissible. For example, the user could forcibly place an entry on an attendee's calendar, or the user could do something more destructive, such as using a second system to launch a destructive application that could do damage to resources of an attendee.
As is now apparent, there exists a need for improved techniques that enforce security on attributes of objects. This is particularly useful when objects are used by two or more different systems. Furthermore, the techniques should be flexible, practical, easy to manage, integrate, and implement.

Enforcing security on an attribute of an object


Exemplary methods for improving cache utilization include in response to receiving a request to store data, storing the data in one of a plurality of cache slots of a cache. In one embodiment, the methods further include after storing the data, setting a status of the cache slot as write pending to indicate that the cache slot contains data which needs to be written to a corresponding destination storage device. The methods include determining an eviction type of the cached data based on whether the destination storage device is a local storage device or a remote storage device. In one embodiment, after copying data from the cache slot to the corresponding destination storage device, marking the cache slot with the determined eviction type. In response to receiving another request to store data, evicting at least one of the cache slots based on the eviction type.

A typical data storage system includes a cache (i.e., a block of memory) that stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere. If the requested data is contained in the cache (herein referred to as a cache hit), this request can be served by simply reading the cache, which is comparatively faster. On the other hand, if the requested data is not contained in the cache (herein referred to as a cache miss), the data has to be recomputed or fetched from its original storage location, which is comparatively slower. Hence, the greater the number of requests that can be served from the cache, the faster the overall system performance becomes.
To be cost efficient and to enable an efficient use of data, caches are relatively small. Nevertheless, due to access patterns in typical computer applications, caches have proven themselves in data storage systems to have temporal locality, which refers to the reuse of specific data in the cache within a relatively small time duration. Conventional storage systems fail to leverage off this phenomenon, resulting in inefficient cache utilization.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional system wherein client 101 (e.g., a laptop) is connected to storage system 102, which in turn is connected to storage system 103. Storage system 102 includes a cache which is made up of cache slots 110-111. Storage system 102 also includes storage device 120. In the illustrated example, at operation 150, client 101 stores a first data to storage system 102. The first data is initially buffered in cache slot 110. At operation 151, the first data is fetched from cache slot 110 and written to storage device 120.
Subsequently, storage system 102 performs a backup of a second data from storage device 120 to storage system 103. As part of this backup, at operation 152, storage system 102 writes the second data to cache slot 111, and then at operation 153, the second data is read from cache slot 111 and written to its backup storage system 103. A conventional storage system evicts cache slots based on an aging algorithm wherein the "oldest" cache slot is freed for reuse. In this example, cache slot 110 is older than cache slot 111 because cache slot 110 was populated with data earlier in time. Thus, cache slot 110 is freed for reuse before cache slot 111, even though cache slot 110 contains "live" data (which is likely to be re-accessed soon) while cache slot 111 contains backup data (which is less likely to be re-accessed any time soon).

Cache eviction based on types of data stored in storage systems


An aluminum head drum for use in a video cassette recorder is coated with a protective layer comprising diamond-like carbon. The protective layer of diamond-like carbon is obtained using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method and has a thickness ranging from 0.3 .mu.m to 2.0 .mu.m. The protective layer has a varying mechanical hardness, wherein the mechanical hardness has a maximum value at a region of the protective layer coming in contact with the aluminum head drum, decreases smoothly and continuously and reaches an minimum value at a region of the protective layer coming in contact with atmosphere. Micro-Vicker's hardness of the region of the protective layers coming in contact with a video tape is 1.5-2.0 times that of the magnetic substance constituting the video tape.

As is well known, one of the primary roles of a head drum in a VCR is to provide stability to the magnetic tape travelling along a defined path within the VCR without damaging or adversely affecting the tape. In order to fulfill this role, the surface of the head drum which is in contact with the moving tape is designed in such a way that it has macroscopic smoothness and yet, microscopically, is provided on its surface with a plurality of undulations running along the direction normal to the rotational axis thereof in order to reduce the friction therebetween. Inasmuch as another design requirement thereof lies in the protection of the information recorded on the tape, the head drum is usually made of a non-magnetic material .
The head drum has been hitherto made primarily by die casting an aluminum alloy such as Al--Si, Al--Cu or a variation thereof. Above the surface of the head drum made by die casting such an aluminum alloy, there is formed a layer of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) in the thickness of a few nm, said layer being in physical contact and interacting with the lubricating and magnetic layer of the tape.
Since the layer of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 formed on the head drum surface is of an insufficient thickness, i.e., too thin, the mechanical properties of the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer will be largely influenced by the mechanical properties of the aluminum alloy constituting the aluminum head drum. In other words, the effect of the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer can be virtually ignored and the overall mechanical properties of the aluminum head drum surface can simply be regarded as those of the surface made of the aluminum alloy alone. The mechanical hardness, and hence the resistance to wear, of the aluminum head drum is further affected adversely by the presence of voids or pores therein during the die casting thereof.
During a normal operation of the VCR, since such magnetic powders having a needle-like shape in the magnetic layer as .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe and the like are mechanically harder than the aluminum alloy as shown in Table 2 hereof, the magnetic powders will, in addition to scratching and wearing down the aluminum head drum surface, become embedded on the aluminum head drum surface. Those embedded magnetic powders, in addition to scratching the tape surface, when accumulated in enough quantities, will form a layer on the surface of the aluminum head drum, which will in turn affect magnetically the information stored on the tape itself, thereby harming the quality of the picture.
Furthermore, since the aluminum head drum is designed by taking into consideration such factors as aerodynamic and adhesion properties between the aluminum head drum surface and the tape in order to provide stability to the traveling tape, even a slight wearing down of the aluminum head drum surface, for example in the neighborhood of 0.3 .mu.m, may hamper the aluminum head drum from fulfilling the above-mentioned primary objective.
Furthermore, wearing down of the tips of the undulations provided on the head drum surface will increase the contact area between the tape and the aluminum head drum, which may further aggravate the wearing down process. If this process is allowed to continue, it will affect the performance of the VCR, causing sudden shaking of picture or stoppage thereof.
One of the methods that can be used in overcoming such a problem is to form a protective layer made of a material which is mechanically harder than the magnetic powders in the magnetic layer of the tape on the surface of the aluminum head drum coming in contact with the tape, as suggested by Shibano et al. in the Japanese Public Disclosure No. 209353/1992, entitled "Magnetic Recording/Reproducing Device" and by Takahashi in the Japanese Public Disclosure No. 126459/1992, entitled "Magnetic Recording Reproducing Drum". According to Shibano et al., it is possible to protect the surface of the aluminum head drum coming in contact with the tape by forming a first protective layer made of titanium(Ti) having a thickness of 0.1-0.3 .mu.m followed by forming a second protective layer made of titanium nitride(TiN) having a thickness of 0.5-0.7 .mu.m. On the other hand, Takahashi indicated that it is possible to solve the problem by forming a protective layer made of diamond-like carbon(DLC) on the surface of the aluminum head drum coming in contact with the tape. However, both approaches are burdened with a number of major shortcomings, one of the major shortcomings being that even though it is possible to protect the surface of the aluminum head drum using the approaches suggested by Shibano et al. and Takahashi, the protective layer made of Ti and TiN or DLC fails miserably in its ability to protect the tape itself. Since the material making up the protective layer is much harder mechanically than the magnetic material on the tape, the protective layer will adversely affect the physical integrity of the tape when it comes in contact with the tape, thereby harming the quality of the picture.

Aluminum head drum with a protective layer which smoothly and continuously varies in hardness for use in a videocassette recorder


A combination range optical scanner includes a short distance laser and a long distance laser. A scan mirror is oscillated by a motor and scans a beam from one of the two lasers across a field of view. A controller turns the two lasers on and off such that both a short distance scan and a long distance scan are automatically performed. The rate at which the controller turns the lasers on and off may be synchronized with the oscillation rate of the scan mirror. A collection mirror may include two facets, integrally formed therewith, where the two lasers are respectively directed toward the two facets.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to optical scanners having more than one scanning range. More particularly, the invention relates to combination range scanners which automatically switch between respective scanning ranges.
2. Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,597, issued Apr. 6, 1993 to Eastman et al., herein incorporated by reference, shows a portable scanner unit which utilizes a single laser diode assembly.

Combination range laser scanner utilizing periodic range switching


A disc cartridge reduced in size and thickness and yet exhibiting sufficient strength. The disc cartridge includes a main body unit of the cartridge including upper and lower halves in which is housed an optical disc. A tubular section is formed in one of two areas delimited by an upstanding peripheral wall section and a housing forming wall section formed on a lateral side of the lower half with the tubular section being in continuation to the upstanding peripheral wall section and the housing forming wall section. The upper half includes a tubular abutment support abutted against the tubular section with the tubular abutment support connecting to the upstanding peripheral wall section and the housing forming wall section of the upper half. The upper and lower halves are unified together to form the main body unit of the cartridge.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disc cartridge having housed therein a disc-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disc.
This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-013603, filed on Jan. 21, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Description of Related Art
Up to now, a disc cartridge, housing a disc-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disc, and loaded on a recording and/or reproducing apparatus with the disc-shaped recording medium rotatably housed therein, is in widespread use. With such disc cartridge, the disc-shaped recording medium is housed in a main body unit of the cartridge to protect the disc-shaped recording medium to assure facilitated lading/unloading of the disc for the recording and/or reproducing apparatus.
With this disc cartridge, in which the disc-shaped recording medium, housed in the main body unit of the cartridge, needs to be loadable on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the main body unit of the cartridge is provided with a driving opening for facing a turntable of a disc rotating driving mechanism for rotationally driving the disc-shaped recording medium, and with a recording and/or reproducing aperture for exposing a portion of the signal recording area of the disc-shaped recording medium to outside across the inner and outer rims thereof.
The disc cartridge is provided with a shutter member for opening/closing at least the recording and/or reproducing aperture for protecting the disc-shaped recording medium housed in the main body unit of the cartridge.
With this disc cartridge, the main body unit of the cartridge, housing the disc-shaped recording medium therein, is made up by upper and lower halves, molded from synthetic resin, and unified together by abutting and connecting the upper and lower halves together.
The disc cartridge, used as a recording medium for the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, is loaded on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, with the lower surface of the main body unit of the cartridge as the loading reference surface. Thus, the lower half, defining the lower surface of the main body unit of the cartridge, is provided with a driving opening, a recording and/or reproducing aperture and a positioning hole engaged by a positioning pin provided to the recording and/or reproducing apparatus for setting the loading position. The outer rims of the upper and lower halves 3, 4 are provided with upstanding peripheral wall sections abutted to each other to form an outer peripheral wall section of the main body unit of the cartridge, and housing forming wall sections on the radially inner parts of the upstanding peripheral wall sections which, when abutted together, delimit a disc housing. These housing forming wall sections are formed in continuation or in non-continuation to the inner rim of the upstanding peripheral wall sections.
Meanwhile, with the disc-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disc, the tendency is to increase the recording density and to reduce the disc diameter in keeping up with the increased recording density. As the disc-shaped recording medium is reduced in size, the disc cartridge, housing the disc-shaped recording medium, also is to be reduced in size.
As the size of the disc cartridge is reduced, the disc cartridge is also reduced in thickness. Since the disc cartridge has to be reduced in size as the inner space for housing the disc-shaped recording medium is increased, attempts are being made to reduce the thickness of the upper and lower halves making up the main body unit of the cartridge.
The positioning holes, formed in the lower half, are formed in left-hand and right-hand areas, delimited between the housing forming wall sections and the upstanding peripheral wall sections, forming the outer peripheral wall. These areas are also reduced in thickness as is the planar surface of the lower half forming the bottom surface of the disc housing.
With the disc cartridge, reduced in size, the area delimited by the housing forming wall sections and the upstanding peripheral wall sections, is also small, such that the positioning holes are formed in proximity to the housing forming wall sections and the upstanding peripheral wall sections.
These positioning holes are engaged by positioning pins provided to the cartridge loading section of the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The positioning holes are engaged by positioning pins by the disc cartridge being lowered from an elevated position onto the cartridge loading section. The disc cartridge is not lowered at this time in a horizontal position with respect to the cartridge loading section but is mostly lowered towards the cartridge loading section as the disc cartridge is inclined relative to the positioning pins. If the disc cartridge is lowered as it is inclined relative to the positioning pins, the risk is high that, as the positioning pins are engaged in the positioning holes, the distal ends of the positioning pins compress against and damage the housing forming wall sections or the upstanding peripheral wall sections. In particular, the distal ends of the positioning pins are tapered to provide for facilitated engagement thereof in the positioning holes. The housing forming wall sections or the upstanding peripheral wall sections may readily be damaged by contact with such positioning pins. With the disc cartridge, reduced in size, in which the housing forming wall sections or the upstanding peripheral wall sections are reduced in thickness as are other portions, these wall sections may readily be damaged by abutment against the positioning pins. In case the housing forming wall sections are damaged, the disc-shaped recording medium, housed in the disc housing, may not be protected properly.
In addition, as the distal ends of the positioning pins are engaged in the positioning holes, the risk is high that the thin-walled portions, carrying the positioning holes, tend to be deformed, with the result that the loading position cannot be set accurately.
The risk is also high that, in the course of the engagement of the positioning pins in the positioning holes, the positioning pins act strongly on the rim of the positioning holes, with the result that the main body unit of the cartridge may be subjected to damages, such as cracks.
With this in mind, the Patent Publication 1 discloses a solution in which a thick-walled portion is provided on the rim of the positioning holes. In the solution of the Patent Publication 1, only the rim of the positioning holes is provided with the thick-walled portion, so that it is not possible to assure sufficient strength of the vicinity of the positioning holes. In particular, it is difficult with this solution to assure sufficient strength of the main body unit of the cartridge, reduced in size and thickness, and to enable the disc cartridge to be loaded in position on the carridge loading section.
[Patent Publication 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication H-11-144424


A system for election document processing is disclosed. Image data representative of a scanned election document is matched with a template for processing and consideration of a new elections record. The template defines areas of interest and rules for processing the image data. Data associated with picture elements defining the areas of interest is applied to predetermined validation functions to validate whether the image data includes sufficient information for populating predefined fields and accepting the scanned election document. Additional functions are applied to the image data to compare the image data with information of a voter registration database in order to verify a voter associated with the election document. The scanned election document is further processed for validation sampling.

Processing of documents during elections is paramount to reducing errors and maintaining efficiency. For example, during elections, candidates for office may qualify for a ballot in generally one of two ways: by collecting voter signatures on a petition, or winning support through a party caucus. In recent years, the number of candidates seeking qualification for elections via petition has increased due to a corresponding increase in available political seats and unpredictability of qualifying for elections by support of a party caucus. Yet, forged signatures on petitions has plagued elections and reduced confidence in elections systems and petitions procedures. Ballot validation and ballot initiatives are plagued by similar issues.
Accordingly, systems capable of processing elections-related documents, such as ballots or petitions, are of increasing demand across the United States and other parts of the world. However, current systems are generally limited to ballot production, lack sufficient validation functions, and are generally inadequate with respect to automation, flexibility, and coverage of the overall voting and petition process.
It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures do not limit the scope of the claims.

Computer-implemented system for image processing of documents associated with elections and methods thereof


A battery pack apparatus has a plurality of battery cell units that are stacked together in generally parallel relation. The battery cell units are configured to define converging air flow spaces therebetween. An air inlet header provides a converging air inlet plenum that is situated adjacent one side of the battery cell units and an air outlet header provides a diverging air outlet plenum that is situated adjacent an opposite side of the battery cell units. A blower or fan forces air into the air inlet plenum. The air flows through the air flow spaces between the battery cell units to cool the battery cell units. The speed of the air increases as it advances through the air inlet plenum and the plurality of air flow spaces.

The present disclosure relates to battery packs for automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to battery cooling apparatus using air to cool battery packs having at least one stacked array of rechargeable battery cells.
Electric vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles, have electric motors for propelling the vehicles along roadways, for example, and these electric motors typically rely upon onboard rechargeable batteries as their energy source. Battery packs having a fairly large number of individual rechargeable battery cells are frequently used with such vehicles. An example of a battery cell that is used in electric vehicles is a lithium ion battery cell. When recharging and when discharging to provide power to the electric motors of electric vehicles, the battery cells generate heat that needs to be removed in order to maintain the battery cells below their maximum allowable temperatures so that the battery cells are not damaged or destroyed by the heat. When removing heat from battery packs, it is desirable but not necessary to have the faces of each of the battery cells maintained at a fairly uniform temperature.
Some electric vehicles may use liquid cooling systems to cool their battery packs. For example, liquid cooling systems using approximately 50% ethylene glycol or other similar cooling fluids in water have been developed. The cooling fluid is pumped or otherwise moved passed the battery cells to remove the heat from the cells. The benefit of liquid cooling systems is that the volumetric heat capacity of the liquid allows tight control of temperature uniformity. However, liquid cooling systems are heavy, costly, take up a lot of space, and are prone to developing fluid leaks, especially if they employ numerous fluid connections.
Using air to cool battery packs, rather than liquid, introduces a host of other concerns. Any cooling media possesses a finite thermal heat capacity per unit of mass and will increase in temperature as it passes by the surface of the heat-generating item to be cooled, such as a battery cell. Air is a low-density cooling medium and can experience high temperature gradients as it passes along a surface to be cooled if there is a poor ratio of air flow to heat absorption. In typical battery pack cooling systems in which air is used as the cooling media, near the inlet, the temperature of the battery cell face is approximately equal to the inlet air temperature and near the outlet, the temperature of the battery cell face is approximately equal to the outlet air temperature. An example of a known air cooling system for a battery pack is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,545. Often with these conventional air cooling designs, the air temperature increases across the face of the battery cell by more than the preferred 3° Celsius for a lithium ion battery, for example. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved air cooled battery pack apparatus.

Battery cooling apparatus for electric vehicle


A bearing includes an inner race having a rotational axis and an outer race sharing the rotational axis of the inner race. Rolling bearing members are constrained between the inner race and the outer race. A retention lip is provided which is adapted to maintain a peripheral opening of a constant gauge distance between and prevent relative axial movement of the inner race and the outer race. The gauge distance of the peripheral opening is adapted to allow free passage of the rolling bearing members, upon wear on the rolling bearing members reaches a predetermined level. The bearing provides a pass or fail indication, by falling apart when the rolling bearing members have exceeded the predetermined level of wear.

In the field of oil well drilling, bearings from drilling tools are reused. A decision as to whether to reuse or replace a bearing is made by service personnel based upon a visual inspection. On occasion, drilling tools experience premature failure, after servicing. Such premature failure is an indication of an error in judgement on the part of service personnel.


A press for producing a pellet from powdered material comprises a press frame and a pressing unit arranged therein, at least one upper press punch and/or at least one lower press punch, as well as at least one receptacle for powdered material. At least one upper drive unit has at least one upper drive motor for moving the upper press punch and/or at least one lower drive unit having at least one lower drive motor for moving the lower press punch and/or the receptacle. The at least one upper drive unit acts laterally offset on the at least one upper press punch via an upper force transmission element and/or the at least one lower drive unit acts laterally offset on the at least one lower press punch and/or the receptacle via a lower force transmission element. At least one upper spring element is arranged between the upper force transmission element and the at least one upper drive unit and/or at least one lower spring element is arranged between the lower force transmission element and the at least one lower drive unit.

A press is known from International Patent Publication No. WO 2008/104969 A1. That press has a frame-formed press frame with which an upper and a lower frame plate are connected with each other using a plurality of bars at the edge, which are oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the press frame. A die plate, in which a receptacle is located for a powdered material to be pressed, is arranged securely connected to the press frame, and is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between the upper and the lower frame plate. A pair of guide rods, oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which are arranged spaced from each other respectively in the upper and lower region of the press frame and securely fixed thereto, penetrate the die plate and a press arrangement. The press arrangement is provided for receiving and moving a press punch and is arranged respectively above and below the die plate, which is slidable on the guide rods. Two threaded pins, securely anchored at a distance from each other in the die plate, respectively engage in an assigned threaded nut, which are mounted rotatably in the upper and lower press arrangement. The two upper and the two lower pins are respectively driven by a drive motor supported by the assigned press arrangement. The upper and the lower press arrangement are movable in the vertical direction using the spindle drives, fastened to the die plate, which are driven pairwise synchronized by the respective drive motor. The drive motors for actuating the spindle drives are therefore correspondingly moved along with each vertical movement of the press arrangement. The pressing force, acting as an action force to be applied during the pressing of the powdered material respectively at the upper and lower press punch, generates in each case a reaction force, which must be absorbed via threaded pins, arranged securely pairwise above and below the die plate, and must be dissipated in the die plate. This design requires a significant dimensioning of the die plate and also the respective press arrangement in order to be able to absorb the forces and torque occurring in the course of the pressing and in the course of the movement occurring herewith of the upper and lower press arrangement.
A further press is known from European Patent Publication No. EP 2 311 587 A1. That press has a press frame having a press upper part and a press lower part and vertical support columns that connect the press upper part and the press lower part with each other. With such presses, an alignment as precise as possible of all components located in the force flow during the pressing procedure is of crucial importance for the pressing result and the wear of the press. There is a plurality of components, which are generally manufactured individually, and component levels in the force flow. Hereby, the manufacturing tolerances add up and can lead to a deformation of the components of the press due to the high pressing forces. In particular, it is possible that the axles of the upper and lower drives units for driving the upper and lower punch are not precisely flush with each other. This can lead to flawed pressing results. Additionally, this leads to increased wear of the individual components during pressing, for example, seals and guide belts of cylinders with hydraulic presses, spindles/spindle nut units with spindle presses, or guides with tool guide frames.


This invention relates to a method of immobilizing biocatalysts including protein and cells by co-precipitation with silicate or organosilicate matrices through the action of an organic template molecule. The organic template molecule is in general a polyamine such as polyethylenimine (PEI), or polypeptide compound bearing at least two or three basic residues selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, histidine, proline, hydroxyproline, N-methylhistidine, ornithine, taurine, δ-hydroxylysine, and δ-hydroxy-ω-N,N,N trimethyllysine. The invention is also directed to a silica biocomposite comprising co-precipitates of active biocatalysts, silica or organosilicates, and an N-containing organic template molecule. Such silica biocomposites are useful in biocatalysis, and other applications requiring an immobilized biocatalyst. Preferred biocatalysts for this invention are enzymes and whole cells.

Immobilized biocatalysts have found wide application in diverse areas including food processing, fine chemical production, biosensors, fuel cells and bioremediation. Immobilization of a biocatalyst, such as an enzyme, can confer a number of advantages relative to the free catalyst, including the ability to operate in organic solvents, recyclability and ease of removal from the process stream. Additional advantages include improvements in stability, favorable alterations in kinetic parameters and suitability for continuous production (Kennedy, "Principles of immobilization of enzymes" in Handbook of Enzyme Biotechnology, Ed. A. Wiseman, Ch 4, P.147 (1985)).
An immobilized biocatalyst refers to the combination of a biocatalyst and an insoluble support material. The nature of the association between the biocatalyst and the support material can be either covalent or non-covalent interaction. The biocatalyst can be attached to the surface of the support material, or distributed throughout the material in a homogenous fashion. The biocatalyst can also be physically entrapped within a porous gel matrix. The insoluble, or solid support may take the form of particles, powders, monoliths, gels, films, coatings and other materials. The solid support in general has a high surface area to maximize the contact of the immobilized biocatalyst with the reaction medium. Highly porous solid supports are preferred as they maximize surface area to volume of the immobilized biocatalyst.
Current methods for producing immobilized biocatalysts can be divided into 4 subcategories:(a) adsorption to a matrix such as carbon, chitin, celite and synthetic polymers, (b) crosslinking enzyme crystals and whole cells with gluteraldehyde and other agents, (c) gel entrapment in silica sol-gels, alginate and protein matrices, and (d) covalent attachment to resins and other carriers.
By immobilization, the performance of a biocatalyst is in general improved enough so as to offset the costs associated with the process or facilitate reaction conditions not possible without an immobilized biocatalyst, such as continuous processes. However, inexpensive immobilization methods often suffer from a number of drawbacks including lack of enzymatic and mechanical stability, leaching of the biocatalyst, fouling and limited catalytic efficiency. Other immobilization methods, such as silica sol-gel based procedures, require curing and drying steps that greatly increase production times (Gill, I. (2001) Chem, Mater. 13: 3404-3421).
There remains a need for a method to produce immobilized biocatalysts economically and to avoid many of the drawbacks associated with the current methods. The invention described herein provides for such methods and demonstrates the performance of the materials made thereby.

Biocomposite comprising co-precipitate of enzyme, silicate and polyamine


A method and system of encoding and decoding digital video content. The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures which can each be intra, predicted, or bi-predicted pictures. Each of the pictures comprises macroblocks that can be further divided into smaller blocks. The method entails encoding and decoding each picture in said stream of pictures in either frame mode or in field mode.

Video compression is used in many current and emerging products. It is at the heart of digital television set-top boxes (STBs), digital satellite systems (DSSs), high definition television (HDTV) decoders, digital versatile disk (DVD) players, video conferencing, Internet video and multimedia content, and other digital video applications. Without video compression, digital video content can be extremely large, making it difficult or even impossible for the digital video content to be efficiently stored, transmitted, or viewed.
The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures that can be displayed as an image on a television receiver, computer monitor, or some other electronic device capable of displaying digital video content. A picture that is displayed in time before a particular picture is in the "forward direction" in relation to the particular picture. Likewise, a picture that is displayed in time after a particular picture is in the "backward direction" in relation to the particular picture.
Video compression is accomplished in a video encoding, or coding, process in which each picture is encoded as either a frame or as two fields. Each frame comprises a number of lines of spatial information. For example, a typical frame contains 480 horizontal lines. Each field contains half the number of lines in the frame. For example, if the frame comprises 480 horizontal lines, each field comprises 240 horizontal lines. In a typical configuration, one of the fields comprises the odd numbered lines in the frame and the other field comprises the even numbered lines in the frame. The field that comprises the odd numbered lines will be referred to as the "top" field hereafter and in the appended claims, unless otherwise specifically denoted. Likewise, the field that comprises the even numbered lines will be referred to as the "bottom" field hereafter and in the appended claims, unless otherwise specifically denoted. The two fields can be interlaced together to form an interlaced frame.
The general idea behind video coding is to remove data from the digital video content that is "non-essential." The decreased amount of data then requires less bandwidth for broadcast or transmission. After the compressed video data has been transmitted, it must be decoded, or decompressed. In this process, the transmitted video data is processed to generate approximation data that is substituted into the video data to replace the "non-essential" data that was removed in the coding process.
Video coding transforms the digital video content into a compressed form that can be stored using less space and transmitted using less bandwidth than uncompressed digital video content. It does so by taking advantage of temporal and spatial redundancies in the pictures of the video content. The digital video content can be stored in a storage medium such as a hard drive, DVD, or some other non-volatile storage unit.
There are numerous video coding methods that compress the digital video content. Consequently, video coding standards have been developed to standardize the various video coding methods so that the compressed digital video content is rendered in formats that a majority of video encoders and decoders can recognize. For example, the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) have developed video coding standards that are in wide use. Examples of these standards include the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ITU-T H261, and ITU-T H263 standards.
Most modern video coding standards, such as those developed by MPEG and ITU-T, are based in part on a temporal prediction with motion compensation (MC) algorithm. Temporal prediction with motion compensation is used to remove temporal redundancy between successive pictures in a digital video broadcast.
The temporal prediction with motion compensation algorithm typically utilizes one or two reference pictures to encode a particular picture. A reference picture is a picture that has already been encoded. By comparing the particular picture that is to be encoded with one of the reference pictures, the temporal prediction with motion compensation algorithm can take advantage of the temporal redundancy that exists between the reference picture and the particular picture that is to be encoded and encode the picture with a higher amount of compression than if the picture were encoded without using the temporal prediction with motion compensation algorithm. One of the reference pictures may be in the backward direction in relation to the particular picture that is to be encoded. The other reference picture is in the forward direction in relation to the particular picture that is to be encoded.
However, as the demand for higher resolutions, more complex graphical content, and faster transmission time increases, so does the need for better video compression methods. To this end, a new video coding standard is currently being developed. This new video coding standard is called the MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC/H.264 standard. The new MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC/H.264 standard calls for a number of new methods in video compression. For example, one of the features of the new MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC/H.264 standard is that it allows multiple reference pictures, instead of just two reference pictures. The use of multiple reference pictures improves the performance of the temporal prediction with motion compensation algorithm by allowing the encoder to find the reference picture that most closely matches the picture that is to be encoded. By using the reference picture in the coding process that most closely matches the picture that is to be encoded, the greatest amount of compression is possible in the encoding of the picture. The reference pictures are stored in frame and/or field buffers.
As previously stated, the encoder can encode a picture as a frame or as two fields. A greater degree of compression could be accomplished if, in a sequence of pictures that is to be encoded, some of the pictures are encoded as frames and some of the pictures are encoded as fields.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Picture level adaptive frame/field coding for digital video content


A filter cartridge for a filter for filtering of fluid is provided with an inflow surface, an outflow surface, and a main flow direction extending from the inflow surface to the outflow surface. A filter body is provided. A filter cartridge frame supports the filter body. A seal is disposed on the filter cartridge frame in the area of the outflow surface and separates a filter interior of a filter into a clean side and a raw side. Another configuration of the filter cartridge is provided that has an edge protection extending externally circumferentially about the filter cartridge frame in the area of the inflow surface. The edge protection connects the filter body and the filter cartridge frame with each other.

The present invention concerns a filter, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, as well as a filter cartridge, in particular for such a filter.
In particular in construction and agricultural machines, engine air filtration is becoming more and more important. On the one hand, more and more efficient air filters are used because higher engine performances and stricter emissions standards require an increased air throughput through the engine. On the other hand, the number of component groups that are installed by default, such as air-conditioning devices, increases. This reduces the available installation space in the vehicle. Finally, there is the desire to design vehicles smaller and more lightweight which also is done at the expense of the available installation space.
When used in construction or agricultural machines, vibrations are transmitted onto the filter in different operating states. It is therefore a primary goal to arrange the main filter cartridge in the filter so as to be vibration-resistant. But also for a secondary filter cartridge arranged downstream a secure seat is important during operation.
It is an object of the invention to provide a filter, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, that even under extreme operating conditions exhibits high reliability.
In the aforementioned application situations, it is necessary to design the overall construction of a filter cartridge as robust as possible. Protection of the filter medium in operation is a primary concern. In the configuration of such filter cartridges, also possible handling preferences upon change of the filter cartridge or for servicing are be taken into consideration.
It is thus a further object of the invention to provide a filter cartridge that even for extreme operating conditions and handling preferences ensures a reliable filtering function.
For use in vehicles that have only little installation space for filtration purposes, in general so-called compact air filters are used that can be flowed through inline. This means that the inflow direction and the outflow direction extend parallel and are substantially aligned with each other. Often, the air which is exiting from the air filter, depending on the application situation, must be deflected after having passed the filter. For this purpose, for example, a pipe elbow can be arranged downstream of the filter housing. However, such downstream components increase again the required installation space of the entire arrangement.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a filter, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, which requires less installation space for a comparable filter performance.
The aforementioned objects are solved respectively by different aspects of the embodiments of a filter described in the following, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, as well as a filter cartridge, in particular for such a filter. As can be seen in the embodiments, the different aspects can be provided advantageously individually or combined in embodiments wherein, in case of combination, individual aspects enhance the advantages of other aspects and a synergistic interaction leads to an advantageous product.


A photosensitive composition is disclosed particularly for making printed circuit boards. It contains: (a) a polymer binder; (b) a photoinitiator; and (c) an unsaturated photomonomer. The polymer binder is prepared from a reaction among the following reactants: (i) a styrene-maleic anhydride resin containing repeating units of styrene and anhydride groups, (ii) an unsaturated compound containing at least one hydroxy group and at least three acrylic groups, and (iii) a saturated alcohol. The styrene-maleic anhydride resin is prepared from a polymerization reaction of styrene and maleic anhydride in a molar ratio ranging from 3:1 to 1:1, and preferably has a molecular weight between 800 and 100,000.

Photosensitive composition plays an important role in the fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Photosensitive compositions can be classified, based on their intended applications, into two main categories: photoresists for etching and solder resists. The former are used in the laying out of the copper circuit pattern using photolithographic techniques and will be removed after the copper circuit pattern is completed. The latter are used after the copper circuit pattern is laid out to protect certain portions of the copper circuit from being contacted by the soldering material during the soldering process. Both types of photosensitive compositions can be applied using either a liquid-type or a film-type technique. With the liquid-type technique, the photosensitive composition is applied onto the substrate using screen printing, roller coating, curtain coating, dip coating, etc. With the film-type technique, on the other hand, the photosensitive composition is first coated onto a transparent film, typically a transparent polyester film, which is then overlaid on the substrate and the photosensitive composition is then applied onto the substrate surface by hot-laminating or other suitable techniques.
Photosensitive materials, or photoresists in general, can also be categorized according to how they are developed. At the present time, there are two most common types of developments for photoresists: the solvent-development type and the alkaline-development type. The former uses a solvent, typically an organic solvent, to remove (for a negative type photoresist) the exposed portion of the photoresist. On comparison, if the photosensitive composition contains carboxyl groups, the exposed portions can be removed, and thus developed, using an alkaline solution such as sodium carbonate. Because the solvent-type development process can cause solvent exhaust and waste disposal problems which can cause significant increase in the overall manufacturing cost, the current industrial trend is to use the alkaline-development type processes. During the alkaline-development process, the carboxyl-containing polymer molecules will be neutralized by sodium carbonate to form a polymer salt. The unexposed portion of the photosensitive composition, which was not cross-linked, will be emulsified and caused to be dispersed in water. This thus completes the development process utilizing a negative-type photoresist.
The photosensitivity of a photosensitive composition is related to the degree of crosslinking after being exposed to UV light. Typically, a greater number of unsaturated double bonds (typically provided by the so-called photomonomers) in the photosensitive composition will result in a higher degree of cross-linking. However, excessive amounts of photomonomers would result in the photosensitive layer being too tacky, thus adversely affecting the image transfer process. With a dry film type photosensitive material, the photosensitive composition is protected by the transparent polyester film from being contaminated and the oxygen-induced polymerization-inhibition, and the requirement for the unsaturated double bonds can be entirely supplied by the photomonomers. Under these conditions, a alkaline-developable photoresist can be prepared by introducing only the carboxyl groups into the polymer binder, there is no need to add double bonds into the polymer binder.
On the other hand, when a solution-type photosensitive material is used, because no such protective polyester film is provided, the film thickness and the reactivity of the photosensitive film becomes important, and, as a result, the photosensitive composition can only contain a limited amount of photomonomers. In order to compensate for the decreased photosensitivity due to the reduction in the amount of photomonomers, unsaturated double bonds must be incorporated into the polymer binder so as to increase its post- UV exposure degree of cross-linking. This method has been disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,378, which disclosed a photosensitive composition containing a polymer binder formed from the reaction of an epoxy resin with an carboxyl-containing unsaturated compound so as to impart unsaturated double bonds to the polymer binder. However, the polymer binder disclosed in the '378 patent does not contain carboxyl groups. As a result, it must be developed using a solvent and cannot be developed using an alkaline solution.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,100,767, 5,009,982 and 4,943,516, and Japan Patents 61-243869 and 1-54390 disclosed various photosensitive compositions whose polymer binders are imparted with carboxyl groups by reacting the polymer binder disclosed in the '378 patent with anhydrides. Such an additional step not only allowed the photosensitive composition to become alkaline-developable, it also improved the photosensitivity of the polymer binder by introducing unsaturated double bonds into the polymer binder. However, because the formation of such alkaline-developable photosensitive polymer binder requires excess (about 10 to 20%) amounts of unsaturated carboxyl group containing compounds (such as acrylic acid or methylacrylic acid), which are typically volatile and can cause health concerns, the final finished products can cause health hazards to human bodies, especially after long term exposure to these products. This is one of the main disadvantages of the photosensitive compositions disclosed in the above-mentioned patents.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,764,452 and 5,364,736 and Japanese patents 4-239070 and 2-47657 disclose photosensitive compositions containing polymer binders based on modified styrene-maleic anhydride resins, or the SMA resins. In these photosensitive compositions, partially-esterized SMA resins were reacted with saturated low-molecular weight alcohols in a ring-opening reaction by which carboxyl groups are introduced into the side chains of the SMA resins to form a carboxyl group containing polymer binder which consequently becomes base-developable. Because the reaction to prepare the base-developable polymer binder does not involve unsaturated carboxyl group containing molecules, it does not raise the health hazard problem mentioned above. However, these photosensitive compositions exhibited another type of shortcoming in that, because the polymer binder does not contain unsaturated double bonds, the developed, or hardened, final product does not provide adequate chemical resistance and hardness due to inadequate degree of crosslinking. In order to increase the degree of crosslinking for the post-exposure polymer binder, it has been proposed to add a mono-functional unsaturated alcohol, such as hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, in the ring-open reaction of the SMA resin. This method was disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,087,552, 5,114,830 and 5,296,334. The use of mono-functional unsaturated alcohols not only imparts the carboxyl group into the SMA resin, it also imparts double bonds so as to increase the degree of cross-linking. However, while this action increases the photosensitivity of the polymer binder, it also returns the old problem of leaving low-molecular weight volatile, smelly and potentially health-hazard molecules in the polymer binder.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An integrated circuit includes a processor that upsamples a vibration signal. The processor determines a correlation value. The correlation value may be based on a microphone signal, the upsampled vibration signal, or both. The processor determines filter coefficients. The filter coefficients may be determined based on the correlation value being above a threshold. The filter coefficient may be based on the upsampled vibration signal. The processor filters the vibration signal based on the filter coefficients to remove a noise portion and obtain a processed microphone signal. The processor outputs the processed microphone signal.

Microphones in electronic devices are prone to detect unwanted structural vibration noise in addition to detecting desirable acoustic vibrations. Typical solutions to reduce unwanted structural vibration noise include the use of mechanical isolation devices such as dampeners. Mechanical isolation devices can add to the weight of the electronic devices. In addition, mechanical isolation devices can limit the design of the electronic devices due to size constraints. It would be desirable to have a method and apparatus to reduce unwanted structural vibration noise in microphone signals using sensor data.

Method and apparatus for active reduction of mechanically coupled vibration in microphone signals


A digital print system for generating and printing selectably shaped shaped optical security devices onto the surface of a substrate, wherein the selected shapes may incorporate a pre-printed pattern. The system includes a digital print engine for generating selectable shapes, a foil assembly that includes a supply of thermal foil optionally carrying a pre-printed optical security pattern, a pressure mechanism for applying pressure between the digital print engine and a surface of the substrate, and an advancing mechanism for co-operatively advancing a substrate, either simultaneously with or independently from the foil, each of which may be operatively controlled by a microprocessor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical security devices, especially those designed for security printing and brand authentication, and more particularly to personalized or serialized optical security devices and the on-demand digital printing and application thereof.
2. Background Information
Optical security devices are useful authentication tools that help to protect against the fraudulent reproduction of the objects or documents to which they are applied. The normally high cost and difficulty in reproducing certain optical security devices makes them well suited for this purpose. For example, images may be designed such that they are nearly impossible to copy, even when using an advanced color photocopying techniques. Additionally, optical security devices can be incorporated in or affixed to a document or object such that their removal will sufficiently alter the image, rendering it unusable. Several types of optical security devices currently exist. Typically, these include holographic images, kinegrams, stereograms, optical variable devices (xe2x80x9cOVD""sxe2x80x9d), images produced from metallic or pigmented foils, and the like.
One type of optical security device used for authentication purposes is the transmission hologram. Typically, transmission holograms are transparent and allow light to pass through from behind to reconstruct the holographic image. Often, however, when a transmission hologram is mounted to the surface of an opaque object a specular metal layer is used as a backing material. Reflected light then bounces off the metal layer and effectively lights the hologram from behind. These embossed or xe2x80x9cshinyxe2x80x9d holograms are a specific type of transmission hologram, and are the type of hologram typically used for security printing and brand authentication on items such as credit cards and software packaging. An embossed hologram is popular because it may be reproduced relatively quickly and inexpensively in large quantities. This type of hologram is typically provided, in quantity, as part of holographic foil.
A holographic foil commonly carries a series of identical embossed holographic image. The process of creating a holographic foil is fairly standardized. First, a laser light source and optical components are used to create a diffraction light pattern. This pattern is used to expose a film, which creates a photosensitive master. Base shim stock comprised of zinc and or other metals, coated with a photosensitive acid resist like a photo-polymer emulsion, is exposed to a light source through the master. The unactivated resist is then removed through a wash step. Next, the prepared shim is placed in an electroplating bath to add the materials that create the holographic image. Alternatively, the shim may also be created with etching (by removing material) using a photonegative master. Finally, the shim is used to emboss a topcoat (lacquer layer) and/or an aluminum layer prior to applying a sizing coat. The resulting holographic foil is normally used as a hot-stamping foil for foil blocking, where a run of several million copies is not uncommon.
Hot-stamping is a well-established method of transferring premade embossed holographic images to a substrate. Hot-stamping involves using a heated, image-shaped die under pressure to thermally transfer an image from a foil web. The heat and pressure from the die cause a pigment or a metal film to be released from a carrier and the holographic image to be transferred to the substrate. To transfer an image, the die is first heated, typically to between 250xc2x0-275xc2x0 F., and the die is then pressed against the holographic foil, typically with several hundred pounds of pressure, for a dwell time of approximately xc2xd second. Hot-stamping is adequate for repeatedly transferring the same shaped image to a series of substrates. However, a significant drawback with hot-stamping is that the fabricating of the die is time consuming and relatively expensive. Therefore, creating large quantities of unique or personalized holograms using this method is impractical.
Other types of foils, such as pigmented foils, metallic foils and foils with a high reflective index (xe2x80x9cHRIxe2x80x9d) coating, produce images that are difficult or impossible to photocopy and are thus particularly suited for generating optical security devices. Like the above-described holographic foils, these foils are also traditionally applied using hot-stamping or other similar means, and are therefore not particularly suited for producing on-demand personalized or serialized optical security images.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for producing and applying individual optical security devices for security printing, brand authentication and other purposes. It is a further object to provide a method and apparatus for producing optical security devices that bear indicia that are uniquely associated with the owner of the item upon which the hologram is placed.
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention I have provided a digitally-controlled thermal printing system that uses a digital print engine to transfer an optical security image from a thermal foil onto a substrate. Digital technology allows each applied image to be personalized or serialized and printed on demand.
The invention makes use of unique thermal foils designed for application by a digital print engine. Particularly, the thermal foils include a film carrier that resists distortion when subjected to the relatively high temperatures and pressures associated with the digital thermal printing process. More specifically, the thermal foils include a back-coating that comes into contact with the print head. The backcoating includes a lubricant that reduces the drag of a thermal print head, thus preventing the thermal foils from sticking to the thermal print head during printing.
The thermal foils used by the inventive system further include a top coat that resists distortion when subjected to the elevated temperatures (approaching 400 degrees F.) associated with the digital transfer process. The thermal foil preferably also includes a fast-acting yet aggressive thermally activated adhesive (size coat) that facilitates image transfer from the foil to a substrate.
Another feature of the inventive system is that the gauge of the film carriers employed by the thermal foils may be significantly thinner than typical hot-stamping foils. Thinner carriers are available because the employed foils do not need the strength or sturdiness required of hot-stamping foils. Thinner carriers allow for better heat transfer and thus quicker dwell times. Thinner carriers also allow for cooler print head temperatures, which helps to protect the foils from crazing. Additionally, thinner carriers allow for increased print speed.


A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a display unit including a touch sensor and a fingerprint recognition sensor overlapped with the touch sensor; and a controller configured to deactivate the fingerprint recognition sensor, receive a finger touch input on the display unit, extract, from the touch sensor, touch information related to a touch region where the finger touch input has been applied on the display unit, activate the fingerprint recognition sensor when the extracted touch information indicates a sufficient finger touch input has been received, sense fingerprint information of the finger using the activated fingerprint recognition sensor, and perform fingerprint authentication with respect to the sensed fingerprint information based on the extracted touch information.

1. Field of the Invention
This specification relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, a mobile terminal capable of recognizing a user's fingerprint and a method for controlling the same.
2. Background of the Invention
Terminals may be generally classified as mobile/portable terminals or stationary terminals. Mobile terminals may also be classified as handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminals. Mobile terminals have become increasingly more functional. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some mobile terminals include additional functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of content such as videos and television programs.
Recently, various user interfaces (UIs) and user experiences (UXs) using a fingerprint are being developed. For instance, the related art mobile terminal includes a fingerprint recognition function, and security may be enhanced through a fingerprint recognized by the fingerprint recognition function.

Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same


Plasma channels in a PALC display have a minimal width, which implies that substantially all light passes via optically planar surfaces so that depolarization is prevented. The small width also enhances the extinction rate of the plasma so that less critical gas mixtures may be used. In a specific embodiment, the microsheet may be dispensed with.

The invention relates to a display device having a first substrate comprising channels which contain an ionizable gas, in which a wall of a channel is provided with at least one electrode for generating, in operation, a plasma discharge of the ionizable gas, a second substrate provided with column electrodes, and a layer of electro-optical material between the two substrates.
Display devices for displaying monochromatic or color images comprise, inter alia, plasma-addressed liquid crystal display devices referred to as PALC displays. The PALC displays are used as television and computer monitor displays and are preferably of the flat-panel type.
A display device of the type described in the opening paragraph is known from PCT patent application WO-A-99/04408 (PHN 16.485). The flat-panel display device described in this application comprises a display screen having a pattern of (identical) data storage or display elements and a multitude of channels. The channels are filled with an ionizable gas and provided with electrodes for (selectively) ionizing the ionizable gas in operation. In the known display device, the channels have the shape of parallel, elongate channels (formed in a channel plate), which function as selection means for the display device (the plasma-addressed row electrodes). By applying a DC voltage difference across the electrodes in one of the channels of the channel plate, electrons are emitted (from the cathode) and ionize the ionizable gas, forming a plasma (plasma discharge). When the voltage across the electrodes in the one channel is switched off, and the gas is de-ionized, a subsequent channel is switched on. The channels are sealed by a (thin) dielectric layer (xe2x80x9cmicrosheetxe2x80x9d) on the display screen side of the display device. The display device further comprises a layer of an electro-optical material provided between the channel plate and a substrate provided with further electrodes which function as the data electrodes or column electrodes of the display device. The display device is formed by the assembly of the channel plate with the electrodes and the ionizable gas, the dielectric layer, the layer of the electro-optical material and the substrate with the further electrodes. The display elements are defined by the overlapping portions of the column electrodes and the channels of the channel plate.
Usually, a liquid crystal material is used as an electro-optical medium, in which the direction of polarization of incoming light changes in dependence upon the voltage across the liquid crystal layer. The light source is placed behind the channel plate. In a transmissive display, polarized light then passes the channel plate. This channel plate may be manufactured in different ways.
A first possibility is to start from an optically planar glass on which rib structures are made by means of powder blasting in a frit provided on the glass or by means of silk screen printing. Both technologies are costly, while, moreover, the upper sides of the ribs must be polished at a later stage so as to obtain a uniform thickness as well as prevent depolarization. Depolarization occurs also on the walls of the channels.
A second possibility is to provide the channels by means of powder blasting or by sawing in a glass plate. An optically planar and straight bottom is difficult to obtain with this method, so that depolarization also occurs in this case.
The rate at which the device can be driven, both as regards transmissive and as regards reflective display devices, is also dependent on the size (the width) of the channels because this influences the switch-off (extinction) of the plasma in the channels and notably defines the period of time in which plasma particles can reach the walls where they are to be de-ionized or neutralized. It is true that this period of time can be decreased by making use of, for example, a helium-hydrogen gas mixture instead of the conventional helium or helium-xenon gas mixtures, but this solution requires a hydrogen buffer.
Also the use of a microsheet presents problems because strict requirements are to be imposed on the (mechanical) flatness in this case. Moreover, the greater part of the applied voltage will be present across this microsheet so that high drive voltages, in this case column voltages, are necessary. Possible corrections of column voltages for compensating crosstalk or temperature variations will then increase accordingly, which usually leads to unacceptably high column voltages.
It is, inter alia, an object of the present invention to obviate one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks as much as possible. To this end, a display device according to the invention is characterized in that the first substrate is provided at the area of crossings of the channels and the column electrodes with picture electrodes whose surface extends in the direction of the column electrodes through at least twice the width of a channel. The surface preferably extends in the direction of the column electrodes through at least 4 times the width of a channel.
Since the channels are now much narrower than the dimensions of the picture electrodes, the polarized light is not depolarized or hardly depolarized at the location of the picture electrodes. Locations where possible depolarization may occur, notably the (walls of the) channels may be covered with a black mask, if necessary.
Besides, the dimensions of the channels may be considerably smaller so that the plasma extinguishes at a faster rate. Instead of a helium-hydrogen gas mixture, use can now be made of helium or of the conventional helium or helium-xenon gas mixtures. This applies to both transmissive and reflective display devices.
A first embodiment of a display device according to the invention is characterized in that the picture electrodes are present on the side of a transparent dielectric layer remote from the layer of electro-optical material and extend across the channels. The picture electrodes are now realized as separate image faces on the dielectric layer (xe2x80x9cmicrosheetxe2x80x9d). This provides the possibility of compensating column crosstalk because the potential on the picture electrodes is unambiguous.
A preferred embodiment of a display device according to the invention is characterized in that, viewed in a cross-section, at least a part of the first substrate substantially completely surrounds the channels, and the picture electrodes are connected in an electrically conducting manner to at least a part of the walls of the channels via electrically conducting connections.
In this case, the dielectric layer (xe2x80x9cmicrosheetxe2x80x9d) is completely superfluous so that a more robust construction is obtained which is even cheaper. The channels may be manufactured by means of powder blasting, sawing or etching in glass, which is cheaper than powder blasting in frit or silk screening. Moreover, the voltages used are much lower than in the conventional PALC display devices. Due to these lower voltages, cheaper drive electronics are possible because the column crosstalk can also be compensated in a simpler way.
A further display device according to the invention is characterized in that the first substrate comprises a first sub-substrate in which parts of the walls of the channels are present on the side remote from the layer of electro-optical material, and a second sub-substrate provided with at least one electrode for generating, in operation, a plasma discharge of the ionizable gas.
These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.