A method for making window with a decorative polymer panel assembly. The method can include forming a polymer grille by cutting a design into a polymer with a low-moisture content. The polymer grille can have a frame portion and a design portion. A seal can be contiguously disposed about a perimeter of the frame portion. A grille assembly can be formed by disposing a translucent panel on each side of the seal, forming an air space with the polymer grille disposed within the air space. The grille assembly can be pressed, heated and cooled, forming the decorative polymer panel assembly. The decorative polymer panel assembly can be disposed within a frame which can be disposed within an opening of a structure.

A need exists for a method for making a window with a decorative security panel with translucent panels that can simultaneously provide light transmission and security with a low-moisture security grille that will not introduce condensation to the translucent panels.
A need exist for a method for making a window with a decorative security panel made from recycled and/or recyclable material, thereby reducing waste.
A need exists for a method for making a window with a decorative security panel at a competitive cost within the United States, thereby reducing the number of manufacturing jobs being outsourced to other nations and creating "green" jobs in the United States.
A need exists for a method for making a window with a decorative security panel having a wrought iron appearance, but with a lighter weight, thereby reducing transportation costs and retail prices.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

Method for making a window with a decorative security panel


When image information is received, a main controller investigates the blank memory capacity of a floppy disk, after which the main controller executes processing for storing the received image information in an image-information semiconductor memory while confirming that sufficient blank memory remains in the image-information memory. If, during execution of the processing for storing the image information, the blank memory area of the image-information memory runs out so that no further image information can be stored there, or the quantity of image information to be stored in the image-information memory becomes greater than the blank memory capacity of the floppy disk, an error warning is issued, the processing for storing the image information is suspended and processing for interrupting communication is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a facsimile apparatus in which received image information is temporarily stored in a storage medium having a high storage speed, and the image information that has been stored in the storage medium having the high storage speed is transferred to and stored in a storage medium having a low storage speed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional facsimile apparatus, it is known to use a semiconductor as a storage medium for storing image information. Recently, hard disks and floppy disks, which are non-volatile storage media, have come to be used as the storage media in facsimile apparatus.
A facsimile apparatus which uses a non-volatile storage medium having a low storage speed, such as a floppy disk, is constructed as follows so as not to lower the processing speed of the overall apparatus: Received image information is temporarily stored in a storage medium (hereinafter referred to as a "first storage medium") having a high storage speed, the image information that has been stored in the first storage medium is transferred to a storage medium (hereinafter referred to as a "second storage medium") having a low storage speed, and the transferred image information is stored in the second storage medium.
However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus described above, there are occasions where some or a major part of the image information received by a single communication is not stored in the second storage medium. The reason for this is that blank memory in the second storage medium is used up during the transfer of the image information from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, and therefore all of the image information stored in the first storage medium cannot be stored in the second storage medium.
Further, it is necessary for the first storage medium to store the received image information in succession. As a consequence, if blank memory in the first storage medium is used up, the image information that has already been stored in the first storage medium is successively deleted starting with the oldest information in order to produce blank memory, and newly received image information is stored in this blank memory. Consequently, image information that should be received not only is not stored in the second storage medium but also is not stored in the first storage medium.

Facsimile apparatus in which input to memory is controlled based upon capacity of external storage device


An apparatus for measuring electrochemical and viscoelastic properties of a liquid includes two sensing components, an electrochemical impediance spectroscopy component and a quartz crystal microbalance component positioned within a housing for receiving a liquid for monitoring and arranged so that each component shares a common electrode. Means are provided to simultaneously apply a sinusoidal waveform across the electrodes whereby information on the electrochemical and viscoelastic properties of a liquid being monitored is obtained.

It is well known that the efficacy of lubricating compositions deteriorates over time as a result of exposure to thermal, oxidative and other environmental stresses. In order to avoid decreased performance, excessive wear and possible component failure of mechanical equipment as a result of using a lubricant beyond its effective life it is necessary to conservatively schedule lubricant change intervals or to resort to frequent sampling and analysis of the lubricant.
In industrial environments oil analysis constitutes an important role in preventive maintenance programs. This analysis, however, typically is conducted off-site and results are not normally available as soon as desirable. Thus, there is a need for a liquid monitoring system that can be conducted continuously on-line.
One approach to a more continuous monitoring of a liquid's quality is to measure the properties of the liquid by an electrochemical impedance technique; and currently there are commercially available sensors for making such measurements. Unfortunately results can be problematic because a viscosity change in the fluid being measured could result in a change in the fluids conductivity.
Presently there are a number of different types of instruments and methods for liquid viscosity measurements, most of which are not suitable for on-line measurements. However, quartz crystal microbalances are commercially available for measuring the viscoelastic properties of a liquid and have been suggested for use in on-line situations.
At present there has yet to be devised a commercially acceptable sensor, or system that is capable of simultaneously monitoring the electrochemical and viscoelastic properties of a lubricant. Thus there remains a need for a method and device, or system, that can simultaneously monitor the electrochemical and viscoelastic properties of a lubricant, or other liquid hydrocarbons.
An object of the present invention is to provide a single sensor that can simultaneously measure the electrochemical impedance and viscosity of a lubricant.
Another object of the invention is to provide a single sensor that can discriminate between viscosity information and electrochemical measurements.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple data analysis method to separate the viscoelastic and electrochemical measurements.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a reading of the description which follows.

Apparatus and method for measuring electrochemical and viscoelastic properties of a liquid

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A composition comprising at least one indicator, at least one light stabilizer, and at least one antioxidant. The composition is useful as a cleanser that provides a usage timer based on color change to indicate to a user that sufficient time has elapsed for cleansing.

"Skin hygiene", particularly of the hands, is a primary mechanism for reducing contact and transmission of infectious agents. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), despite the public awareness of the need to wash hands, the recommended methods of washing hands are not followed. The public does not wash frequently enough nor for sufficient time. It should also be noted, however, that too much time washing (scrubbing) could damage the skin. The Association for Professionals in Infections Control and Epidemiology ("APIC") recommends washing hands by wetting hands with running water, applying hand-washing agent, thoroughly distributing it over hands, and vigorously rubbing hands for 10-15 seconds while covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. The APIC recommends an antimicrobial soap or detergent or alcohol-based rub wash for 10-15 seconds to remove or kill transient micro-organisms, for example, in nursing and food preparation applications. The APIC further recommends an antimicrobial soap or detergent with brushing for at least 120 seconds for surgical applications. It is noteworthy to distinguish the difference between "killing" and "removing" germs. Killing germs can be accomplished by the use of specific ingredients that have deadly effect on the life cycle of the germs. Examples of ingredients that kill germs are Triclosan, PCMX (p-chloro-m-xylenol), Quats, surfactants, etc. An example of a formulation designed to kill germs is a sanitizer gel, which is applied to the hands for the purpose of killing germs, but does not remove the germs. The use of a soap, however, leads to the removal of germs, combined with a mild killing action. In this case, the length of time spent washing the hands can have a great impact on eradication of microbes.
Getting the timing right, however, is an issue. For children it is recommended that they sing the alphabet song once or happy birthday twice in order to wash their hands for 15 seconds. For adults there is no good indicator of when the time is up for efficient hand washing. Thus, there remains a need for a cleaning formulation that will provide an indication to the user how long he has washed his hands to indicate that the cleansing is effective and/or to comply with the health protocols.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method provide for reducing a number of topology instances in a network portion implementing a multiple instance topology. Various embodiments further provide for determining if one or more of the topology instances are merge-able or conditionally merge-able to form a lesser number of representative topology instances, and if so, for causing merging of the topology instances.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of networking. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing multiple instances of a network topology.
2. Description of the Background Art
Computer interconnection and communication systems or "networks" have moved beyond traditional limitations to include more capable interconnection possibilities. A traditional local area network (LAN), for example, includes a shared, limited-bandwidth transmission medium that interconnects a limited number of devices (stations) over a small area. Each station has a fixed, globally unique address (unique identifier or UID), and communicates by sending and receiving data packets or groups of data packets. Data packets (packets) generally include a packet source address UID, a packet destination address UID and a payload, and the destination address typically includes a station address UID, a group address UID (multicast packet type) or a group address of all interconnected stations (broadcast packet type). More extensive network types, such as metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), and so on, can operate in a similar manner and can similarly comprise a linear, ring or multiple redundant (e.g., star, mesh, etc.) configuration.
LANs, however, provide useful high-speed communication services that facilitate data sharing, client-server or other interactions among its stations. LAN benefits have therefore been extended to enable two or more LANs to be physically interconnected via forwarding devices (bridges or other switches) to form LAN segments or "segments" of so-called extended LANs. An extended LAN can operate as with a single LAN and can typically include the combined number of stations, geographical extent and so on of each segment. Extended LANs can also now operate according to virtual interconnection topologies that define reconfigurable active and inactive interconnection paths to form so-called virtual LANs (VLANs). The same general mechanism can also be applied to network types other than LANs or some combination.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) standards 802.1, for example, provide physical constraints and spanning tree protocol (STP) topologies for implementing extended LANs, or other so-called inter-networks. STP (IEEE Std. 802.1D-1990, IEEE Standards for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks: Media Access Control (MAC) Bridges), for example, is a layer 2 link management protocol that automatically forces all participating bridges into an acyclic or loop free tree that spans the entire extended network. During initialization, or further upon automatic or user STP parameter change or fault-causing re-initialization, the distributed STP algorithm causes all participating bridges to exchange data messages called bridge protocol data units ("BPDUs"). This exchange determines a root bridge ("root") as the logical center of the network, a closest (designated) bridge for each segment, and a shortest path to the root from each of the remaining (branch) bridges. Implementing STP also, for all branch bridges, automatically enables an active or forwarding state for the port having the shortest distance to the root (root port) and an outward connecting port (designated port), and automatically forces the remaining branch bridge ports (alternate ports) to a standby or blocking state. IEEE standards 802.1 are available via http://shop.ieee.org/store/ or otherwise from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The IEEE 802.1s (draft) standard extends the single spanning tree (SST) of IEEE 802.1D to enable the use of a LAN segment-specific STP, and IEEE 802.1w provides a rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) for faster convergence in establishing an STP-based configuration. Such standards are further extended by respective proprietary architectures from Cisco Systems, California, including Multiple Instance Spanning Tree Protocol (MISTP), Per-VLAN-Spanning Tree Protocol (PVST) and Rapid-Per-VLAN-Spanning Tree Protocol (rapid PVST or RPVST+). Among other features, IEEE 802.1s enables a set of Virual LANs (VLANs) to implement a separate STP instances and to enable the use of selectable STP instances, instance groups or associated instances or instance groups within or among LAN segments. (IEEE standards 802.1s and 802.1w are available via http://shop.ieee.org/store/ or otherwise from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and are hereby incorporated herein by reference. MISTP, PVST and RPVST+ are discussed, for example, by papers including a paper entitled Catalyst 6500 Series Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide, 12.1E from Cisco Systems, which papers are hereby incorporated herein by reference.)
Using MSTP, each STP instance can have a topology independent of other spanning tree instances. Each participating bridge in a network portion including related STP instances (MST region) runs an internal spanning tree protocol and stores MSTP information for forming and selecting internal spanning tree (IST) instances. The MSTP information augments Common, Network-Wide STP information (CSTP) with the MSTP region information such that the resulting common and internal spanning tree instance set of the MSTP region operates as a CST subtree that appears to adjacent SST and MST regions as a single bridge. The STP, RSTP, and MSTP together elect a single bridge as the root of the CIST. Spanning tree information for each MSTP spanning tree instance (MSTI) is stored in an MSTP record (M-record) of an MSTP database and is encapsulated within MSTP BPDUs, the exchange of which is otherwise conducted in a similar manner as with STP information of SST implementations under IEEE 802.1d or per-LAN implementations under IEEE 802.1s.
Spanning trees computed by MSTP (M-trees) are active only within the MST region and merge with the IST at the boundary of the MST region to form the CST (e.g., see FIG. 1, a flow diagram illustrating a network implementing a conventional mixed STP and MSTP topology). MSTP otherwise operates in much the same way as SST, but on a per-instance basis. During initialization of each instance, or further upon automatic or user STP parameter change or fault causing re-initialization of an instance, a distributed STP algorithm causes participating bridges to exchange MST BPDUs, resulting in the determination of a root, backup or secondary root, per-region designated bridge and per-branch shortest path to the root; root and designated ports are also automatically enabled to a forwarding state and alternate ports are forced to a blocking state on a per-instance basis. Station addresses, however, are augmented with an extending instance identifier, e.g., 0, 1, 2 . . . , which identifier is stored as corresponding to the address and added to the MST BPDUs, and loops can be avoided using blocking states or by setting SST or MST region boundaries accordingly. Data packet transfer is also conducted in an otherwise consistent manner with IEEE 802.1d or IEEE 802.1s
It will be appreciated that IEEE 802.1s provides certain advantages over the SST of IEEE 802.1D, for example, in enabling the topology for each segment in an extended LAN to be separately determined according to segment-specific requisites. Cisco architectures including MISTP also provide even further benefits, such as by enabling selection of faster paths to particular stations, load balancing, backup or other applications, while PVST, rapid PVST and PVST+ enable more practically implemented fault tolerance and other features. However, the use of increasing numbers of MSTP or MISTP instances can become problematic, particularly with regard to computational requirements, station storage and potential delays resulting from switching among the instances. An increasing probability also exists that instances might be created that fail to provide any further benefit, among other problems. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that are capable of reducing processing or otherwise facilitating handling of multiple topology instances, such as MSTP and Cisco's MISTP.

System and method for determining the mergeability of spanning tree instances


The process of the present invention begins with a source of silicon and silicon carbide from wafer production. The silicon/silicon carbide waste material is dewatered as need be and passed to a mixer where the waste material is agglomerated. A binder is applied to the waste material either during agglomeration or during pelletizing. A variety of organic binders may be used such as polyvinyl alcohol, molasses, sodium silicate and polyethylene glycol; however, the preferred binder is a lignosulsulfonate. The amount of binder used will depend upon the particular binder and the feed material used. The silicon/silicon carbide-containing waste material is pelletized. The invention also provided silicon/silicon carbide-containing pellets that may be used as reduction material in smelting furnaces for the production of metals and alloys.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for agglomerating recycled fines of silicon/silicon carbide resulting from the cutting of silicon ingots. More particularly, the present invention relates to silicon/silicon carbide agglomerations for use in metallurgical processes.
2. Description of Related Art
Silicon wafers used in the production of photovoltaic solar cells and/or microelectronics are prepared from silicon ingots. When the silicon wafers are cut there is a major loss of silicon during the cutting process. As technology for cutting thinner wafers develops, there is more waste material produced. Reciprocating wire saws contact the silicon ingot being sliced while a liquid slurry containing abrasive grains, such as silicon carbide, is supplied to a contact area between the silicon ingot and the wire saw. Used slurries from the wire saws are liquid suspensions of abrasive particles-silicon carbide or diamond grit-and abrasion products of the sawing operation, i.e., steel residue from the saw wires and silicon kerf from the silicon ingot. The liquid phase of the slurry is an organic or aqueous medium fulfilling the dual function of keeping the abrasive material in suspension and cooling the cutting zone between the wire and the silicon ingot, usually polyethylene glycol.
The abrasive particles of the slurry are rubbed by the wire saw against the ingot surface as the ingot is sliced causing silicon particles from the ingot to be removed resulting in loss of silicon. In addition, the silicon carbide abrasive grains break down and the wire wears adding increased particles in the slurry. The removed silicon resulting from the sliced ingot is known as the "saw kerf." As the concentration of silicon and silicon carbide (SiSiC) fines in the slurry increases, the efficiency of the slicing operation decreases. At some point, the slurry becomes loaded with SiSiC fines and is rendered ineffective, or "exhausted." If any of the exhausted slurry is to be used further it needs to be recycled or reprocessed. Namely, the silicon carbide, silicon and iron (from the wire) fines need to be removed from the "good" silicon carbide and the polyethylene glycol (PEG). The removed fines are the starting material for the processes of this invention. Historically these fines have not been utilized.
Specifically, although wire saw technology has improved, each pass of the wire through the silicon ingot results in the loss of an amount of silicon equivalent to about a 250 micron thick slice of the ingot or less. As technology enables thinner and thinner wafers to be sliced from the ingot, more and more passes of the wire through the ingot occur, resulting in more and more loss of silicon.
The exhausted slurry may be treated by various technologies to separate the good silicon carbide and polyethylene glycol from silicon carbide fines, the wire fines and the silicon kerf. As noted, the exhausted slurry contains good silicon carbide, fine silicon carbide, silicon kerf, iron fines and PEG. The remaining solid particle fraction of fines cannot be reused for wiresawing. There have been efforts to recover the silicon fines for further use; however, this further recovery processing often proves too costly and the exhausted slurry waste product is then sent to a land fill. Of course, this method of disposal is unfavorable from an environmental point of view, as well as, the costs associated therewith. In addition to the environmental and economic concerns associated with the exhausted slurry, the loss of potentially useful silicon/silicon carbide material should also be considered.
SiSiC material is useful in steel making as it acts as a fuel providing energy to the steel making process and serves as an effective slag deoxidizer. However, the SiSiC found in the abrasion slurries cannot be used in that form and must be processed to place the SiSiC in a form that can be used to economically make steel. Therefore, there is a need for a method to utilize the SiSiC created by the cutting of silicon ingots into a form so that the recovered SiSiC can be used in various applications, such as iron and steel melting, and other metallurgical processes using SiSiC addition. Thus, the possibility of utilizing recovered SiSiC material produced during silicon wafer production versus only utilizing silicon via costly and difficult methods is a major advantage of the present invention.

Method of agglomerating silicon/silicon carbide from wiresawing waste


An indicating system in a device having a heat emitting member. The indicating system includes a thermoelectric generator and an indicating device. The thermoelectric generator is adapted to thermally couple to the heat emitting member and configured to convert heat from the heat emitting element to electrical energy. The indicating device is powered by the electrical energy and configured to provide indication of when a temperature level of the heat emitting member is above a temperature threshold.

Electrophotographic imaging devices, such as laser printers, fax machines, and photocopiers, are designed to produce an image on a print media, such as a sheet of copy paper. Electrostatic imaging devices generally include a photoconductive element that is selectively illuminated by a scanned laser beam or light emitting diode arrays in response to data representative of a desired image that is to be produced, wherein the incident light generates an electrostatic copy of the desired image on the photoconductive element. The electrostatic copy is then developed by first exposing the photoconductive element to toner powder that adheres to the charged portions of the photoconductive element and subsequently transferring the toner powder from the photoconductive element to the print media. The "loose" toner powder is then fused to the print media by a fuser unit.
Fuser units typically employ a combination of heat and pressure to fuse the toner powder to the print material. One common type of fusing unit comprises a pair of opposing rollers that form a fusing nip, with one roller serving as a fuser roller and the other roller serving as an idler pressure roller. By convention, the fuser roller is generally the roller that contacts the unfused toner and is the roller having the higher temperature if there is a temperature differential between the rollers, and the idler pressure roller applies pressure at the fusing nip to hold the print media in contact with the fuser roller. The fuser roller is generally heated while the idler pressure roller may or may not be heated.
To fuse the loose toner to print material, the print material is fed through the fusing nip at which point the fuser roller melts the loose toner and permanently affixes it to the print material. Fuser units are generally maintained at temperatures between 150° C. and 200° C. in order to properly fuse the loose toner to the print material. As a result, fusing units store a large amount of heat energy and can potentially continue to do so long after the associated imaging device is powered-off. In some instances, the heat energy stored in the fuser unit can be so large that some surfaces of the fuser unit can remain at very high temperatures for several tens of minutes, potentially even after the fuser unit is removed from the imaging device.
These high temperatures represent a potential burn hazard for individuals who may attempt to access the fuser unit. Presently, printed warning labels are placed at conspicuous locations on the fuser units to warn users of the potential burn hazard. However, such warnings are not indicative of whether the fuser unit is presently at a high temperature and are not always sufficient to prevent burns.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A wireless communications system is provided with reduced sideband noise and carrier leakage. In the system, at least one transmitter modulates at least one input signal with a first carrier to generate a modulated output signal, and at least one receiver receives the modulated output signal and demodulates the same with a second carrier to generate at least one demodulated output signal. The first and second carriers are at different frequencies, such that the sideband noise and carrier leakage generated by different sources can be distinguished.

A wireless communications system typically includes a transmitter and a receiver for sending signals over carrier waves. The transmitter modulates information, such as voice, text, image, audio, and video data, onto a carrier before sending it to the receiver. The receiver demodulates the received signals to recover the original information. One of the typically used modulation schemes is IQ modulation, where I and Q represent in-phase and quadrature parts of a modulated signal. The IQ modulation is an efficient way of sending information, particularly in digital formats.
There are various factors that can cause the transmitter to generate imperfect modulated output signals. For example, in a quadrature modulation scheme, IQ imbalance, which occurs when there are different amplitude and phase distortions in I and Q channels, is one of the widely-recognized factors causing imperfect signals. The IQ imbalance induces sideband noise, which is essentially an image frequency interference "aliasing" into a desired signal band. The sideband noise degrades signal reception in a wireless communications system. The IQ imbalance has become a crucial issue as higher-level modulations appear in communications standards and low-cost, direct-conversion transmitters and receivers are increasingly employed in wireless communications systems.
Another typical factor causing imperfect signals is the hardware-induced carrier leakage. The carrier leakage, which is at the same frequency as the carrier, is often induced by the limited isolation between the carrier and output ports of the transmitter. On an IQ plane, a modulated signal with carrier leakage appears with a fixed offset vector.
Conventional solutions to combat carrier leakage rely on implementation of additional circuitry. The solutions for IQ imbalance are usually based on cancellation of the sideband noise in the transmitter, which also require additional circuitry or manufacturing calibration. For example, one can detect the sideband noise and carrier leakage by sampling an output signal, and minimize the same through hardware calibration. The signal sampling can be performed by using a testing receiver to detect output signals from a device under a test (DUT) transmitter.
One drawback of the conventional solutions is that the carrier leakage and sideband noise generated by the DUT transmitter cannot be distinguished from those generated by the testing receiver. This prevents an accurate calibration of the sideband noise and carrier leakage for the DUT transmitter.
As such, what is needed is a detection scheme to identify the sideband noise and carrier leakage of the DUT transmitter apart from those of the testing receiver.

Wireless communications system with reduced sideband noise and carrier leakage


A programmable DC-DC converter controller with a high speed synchronous controller and a 5-bit programmable DAC provides an operating voltage to an external device (such as a microprocessor) in response to a 5 bit code programmed in the external device. The 5-bit programmable DAC outputs a signal which provides voltages to the external device in increments of e.g. 50 or 100 millivolts, in respectively two different voltage ranges.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to programmable power supplies and, more specifically, to a programmable step down DC-DC converter controller.
2. Related Art
The microprocessor has evolved from an integrated semiconductor chip that controls only simple functions to rival the computing power of a mainframe computer. That evolution has brought ever increasing numbers of transistors integrated onto a single chip. For example, the current Intel Pentium.RTM. microprocessor chip has well over 5 million transistors. To achieve this density, the size of each transistor has been reduced to the sub-micron level; with each successive design geometry reduction, the corresponding maximum voltage at which the transistor operates has been reduced as well. This changing maximum operating voltage for microprocessors has led to the need for a programmable power supply such that with each successive change in voltage requirement for the microprocessor, the computer system designer does not have to completely re-engineer the associated power supply system. The voltage requirements of the microprocessor has been trending downwards over approximately the past 5 years, from 5 volts for the 386 and 486microprocessors, to 3.3 volts for the Pentium, and now to down to 3.1 volts for the Pentium Pro.RTM.. Operating voltages for microprocessors in 1997 will likely be in the range of 2.5 volts.
Previous generations of DC-DC (direct current-direct current) converter controllers provide fixed output voltages or, in some cases, are adjustable by changing a set of external resistors. In the production environment for personal computers, the microprocessor circuit board (also known as a "motherboard") therefore has had to be redesigned each time the operating voltage has been changed by the microprocessor manufacturer. To address the problems caused by the changing voltage requirements, Intel has programmed a voltage identification code (VID) into the Pentium Pro which can be read by a motherboard that has the appropriate capability. The motherboard, if it has the function built-in, then supplies the voltage identified by the VID to the microprocessor. This eliminates the requirement of the system designer to redesign the motherboard each time the microprocessor voltage changes because the microprocessor signals its own required voltage and the controller then automatically supplies the required voltage.
What is needed is a DC-DC converter controller designed with the ability to be programmed to address the changing power supply voltage needs for future lower voltage microprocessors. The DC-DC converter controller must be able to read the VID code programmed into the microprocessor and then supply the voltage called for by the microprocessor VID code.

Programmable step down DC-DC converter controller


A receiving terminal includes a data acquiring unit which acquires from the content server information that is required for the export of the content and that includes information about a capability required for the receiving terminal and information about a capability required for the removable medium. A propriety judgment unit compares the information about the capability required for the receiving terminal with information about a capability the receiving terminal possesses, compares the information about the capability required for the removable medium with information about a capability the removable medium possesses, and judges whether or not the export processing of the content can be performed. A control unit makes a processing relevant to a purchase of the content or to the export of the content perform, according to a judgment result by the propriety judgment unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiving terminal, a content exporting method and the like, by which a video image content, a sound content or the like is downloaded from a distribution server to the receiving terminal through a communication network and the content is furthermore exported to a removable medium connected to the receiving terminal.
2. Related art of the Invention
In recent years, a video image distribution service which uses a communication network (communication line) has spread. In such a video image distribution system which includes a video image distribution server distributing a video image content or the like, a communication network consisting of a network outside a house, such as an Internet, and a network in the house, a video image receiving terminal apparatus connected to the network in the house (hereafter, expressed as a "video image receiving terminal"), and the like, a user can use a VOD (Video On Demand) service, IP (Internet Protocol) broadcasting, a video image download service and the like which are provided from a video image server of a communication enterprise or a video image distribution enterprise, by operating the video image receiving terminal used for viewing the video image.
FIG. 14(a) shows a diagram for describing processing details of the video image content, in a conventional video image download service.
In a conventional video image download service, as shown in FIG. 14(a), a video image receiving terminal 200 downloads a video image content from a video image distribution server 210 and stores the content in the built-in HDD 201.
The video image receiving terminal 200 is permitted to play the video image content by a viewing license which is acquired when the video image content is purchased. Then the video image receiving terminal 200 can decrypt and output the video image content stored in the HDD 201. The video image receiving terminal 200 outputs the video image content to a display 202 connected or the like, and the video image content can be viewed. When to write the video image content into another medium is permitted, the video image receiving terminal 200, after decrypting the video image content stored in the HDD 201 and encrypting the decrypted content to export, can also write the video image content into a removable medium 203.
When the video image download service is used, the video image distribution server has to check whether the video image receiving terminal, which is connected to the video image distribution server, can use the download service. This is because a certain error naturally occurs and support to the user is needed, when a video image content is distributed to the video image receiving terminal which cannot use the download service.
As for the video image distribution server and the video image receiving terminal, in order to avoid such a problem, it is desirable to judge whether the download service can be used before the download service is executed. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-512689, a method of making an execution propriety judgment of such service is disclosed.
In the execution propriety judgment of service in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-512689, the video image receiving terminal analyzes data transmitted from the video image distribution server and checks an application program in the video image receiving terminal, which is required in order to use the service provided by the video image distribution server. When the application program exists in the video image receiving terminal and the video image receiving terminal can use the service, the video image receiving terminal continues the execution of the service. When the video image receiving terminal cannot use the service, the video image receiving terminal shows the user the information required in order to use the service such as a method of installing the application.
As described above, the execution propriety judgment of the service by the video image receiving terminal is realized before the service is executed.
In this way, the conventional download service prevents an error during download by checking the propriety of the download service of the video image receiving terminal before the download start.
The conventional download service also provides a video image content export service, in which the video image content, which has been downloaded and recorded in the built-in HDD held in the video image receiving terminal as described above, is written into a removable medium to be brought out and viewed with a portable terminal.
By the way, recently, a direct export service has been used, in which a video image receiving terminal with no HDD downloads a video image content from a video image distribution server, and exports the video image content to a removable medium directly without recording the content in the video image receiving terminal.
FIG. 14(b) shows a diagram for describing processing details of the video image content, in the direct export service.
In the direct export service, a video image receiving terminal 205 records the video image content, which has been downloaded from a video image distribution server 210, in a removable medium 203 directly without storing the content in a built-in HDD 201 or the like.
In the direct export service, as shown in FIG. 14(b), when the video image receiving terminal 205 acquires an export license, the video image receiving terminal 205 is permitted to write the video image content corresponding to the export license into the removable medium 203 directly. While the video image receiving terminal 205 downloads the video image content from the video image distribution server 210, the video image receiving terminal 205 decrypts the video image content through a buffer 206, encrypts the video image content to be exported and writes the video image content into the removable medium 203. The buffer 206 records temporarily a quantity of the data of the video image content required for decrypting and encrypting the content continuously during downloading the video image content. The buffer 206 differs from the HDD 201 of FIG. 14(a), and the video image content is not finally held in the buffer 206.
When the video image receiving terminal does not contain a mass storage HDD which can accumulate the video image content, the video image receiving terminal cannot use the conventional download service as shown in FIG. 14(a). On the other hand, in the direct export service, even a video image receiving terminal which does not contain a mass storage HDD can use the service when the video image receiving terminal can connect with the video image distribution server 210 through the Internet and can write the content into the removable medium 203.
However, the conventional service propriety judgment method for the download service cannot be used as a service propriety judgment method for the direct export service.
In the conventional download service, the capacity check before a start of the download service is not so important because the capacity of an HDD is large enough compared with the size of the video image content.
However, the capacity of a removable medium on which the video image content is recorded in the direct export service is smaller than the capacity of an HDD. Moreover, the copyright protection system has many kinds. Therefore, compared with the conventional download service, in the direct export service, there is a high possibility that an error at the time of download processing occurs.
As shown in FIG. 14(b), the propriety for the direct export service of the built-in HDD does not need to be judged. Because the video image content being downloaded is directly recorded into the removable medium 203, a judgment of the propriety of static capability of the terminal in using the export service is necessary in the first place, and a judgment of the propriety of dynamic capability is also necessary. The judgment of the propriety of dynamic capability is to check whether the direct export service can be used and, for example, it is necessary to check that there is enough space capacity in a current removable medium inserted in the video image receiving terminal, or that the video image receiving terminal can handle the copyright protection system.
Therefore, the conventional propriety judgment for the download service, which doesn't judge the propriety about the removable medium, cannot be used for the direct export service as it is.
In the conventional video image download service, it is enough that the propriety judgment for the download of the video image content is performed only once at the time of a purchase processing of the video image content because the purchase processing of the video image content and a download processing are performed continuously. On the other hand, in the direct export service, the purchase processing of the video image content and the export processing are not always performed continuously. This is because the export processing may be performed two or more times with respect to one purchase of the video image content. Therefore, in the direct export service, judgments of the propriety for the export processing are necessary at the time of the purchase processing of the video image content and at the time of the export processing, respectively.
Here, it is to be remarked that the standards of the propriety judgment for each processing do not necessarily agree with each other. For example, the case where the video image receiving terminal can use the direct export service and the removable medium cannot be used for the direct export service is described. When the direct export processing is performed, subsequent export processing must not be performed because the removable medium cannot be used for the direct export. On the other hand, when the video image content is purchased, if such a measure to exchange the removable medium before the subsequent export processing starts is taken, the execution of the direct export can be performed. In such a case, it is considered that, after displaying a warning message at the time of the purchase of the video image content, the purchase processing of the video image content is allowed to be performed.
In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a receiving terminal, a content exporting method and the like, which can judge the propriety of the receiving terminal and the propriety of the removable medium on which a content will be recorded, for the direct export for the content.

Receiving terminal, and content exporting method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) is partitioned into Line Cards, I/O Cards, and a midplane to provide enhanced Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability. Each I/O Card provides a cabling interface for coupling an assigned Line Card to other portions of a Hybrid-Fiber-Coax Network. A plurality of RF signals is coupled via connectors between each Line Card and a corresponding I/O Card, via the midplane. This permits a Line Card to be removed for servicing without requiring recabling of the corresponding I/O Card. Preferably, a rectangular-multi-pin collinear connector-cascade (Line Card jack, midplane double-plug, and I/O Card jack) is used to couple the plurality of RF signals. The connector-cascade is configured with protective RF ground pins adjacent and surrounding each of a plurality of RF signal pins. This approach permits each Line Card to be removed or inserted in a single action, without attention to individual RF interconnects, yet meets all system RF requirements while using relatively inexpensive connectors. The I/O Cards preferably include a distributed backup bus that permits one of the Line Cards in the CMTS to serve as a designated backup. The backup bus enables assignment of the designated backup Line Card to the I/O Card associated with a failing Line Card, without requiring recabling of any I/O Card. In conjunction with a signal processing architecture that permits dynamically programmable channel assignments, the backup bus facilitates rapid and fully automated failover. The Line Cards are preferably further partitioned into easily replaceable sections, including IF-to-RF and signal processing modules.

Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTSs) play important roles in cable networks, delivering integrated data, telephony and video to subscribers over regional and last mile Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) networks.
CMTS Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) is a concern for network vendors, as failure or performance degradation of key components can entail both downtime for network subscribers, as well as costly service time to make repairs. The large number of cables that connect to a typical Line Card—the CMTS component with primary processing functionality—to provide upstream and downstream channels makes for a lengthy recabling process when the card needs to be serviced. Disconnecting and reconnecting so many cables is also prone to error, further increasing the time associated with CMTS maintenance.
Another costly maintenance area is the adjustment of upstream and downstream channel assignments, such as done for noise abatement or when configuring a replacement or backup Line Card. Previously, this has been manually performed at the physical site of the CMTS, placing further demands on service technicians to make time-consuming and error-prone adjustments to a CMTS.

Enhanced CMTS for reliability, availability, and serviceability


In an ionizer of an exhaust gas ionization system for ionizing moisture-laden gases in a channel comprising a nozzle plate having circular nozzle openings through which the gases are conducted, a high voltage electrode support grid arranged downstream of the nozzle plate and having electrode pins extending toward the nozzle openings and carrying at their free ends star structures with a number of tips projecting radially toward the circumference of the nozzle openings and being electrically charged for ionizing the moisture laden gases flowing through the nozzle openings past the star structures, the nozzle openings are sufficiently large to cause the gas flow to be slow enough to permit water to flow down along the walls of the nozzle openings against the upward flow of the gases through the nozzle openings.

The invention relates to an ionizer and its use in an exhaust gas purification system for moisture-laden gases.
The ionizer is used for the charging of liquid and solid particles in process gases. In accordance therewith, reference is made in the specification to wet electric filters and dry electric filters.
DE 101 32 582 discloses an apparatus for the electrostatic cleaning of gases, specifically a wet electric filter apparatus. The apparatus is installed in the gas flow channel through which the gas to be cleaned is conducted into the apparatus. When the arrangement was reversed so that the gas flows from the bottom to the top it has been found that a water film is pushed from the bottom nozzle end to the upper nozzle end whereby the flow cross-section is narrowed. As a result, sparking occurs before the high voltage has reached such a value that sufficient ionization current can flow. This effect occurs particularly in connection with condensing and droplet-laden gases at speeds of 3 m/s of the gas flowing from the bottom upwardly through the nozzle. In addition, it has been observed that additionally the negatively charged center electrode pulls the water film floating at the edge practically weightlessly inwardly in the form of a torus which causes arcing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,159 discloses a conical cylinder nozzle, a so-called venturi nozzle which is oriented horizontally and into which an electrode pin is inserted deep into the throat thereof. The electrode pin carries an ionization disc at the circumference of which the corona current flows to the anode by way of the gas. The thicker electrode pin serves at the same time as a focusing electrode.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,307, the vertical spray wires of a wet tube electric filter are provided along the flow direction with serially arranged spray discs. The spray discs may have saw-tooth like structures at their circumference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,155 furthermore discloses a central spray tube arranged in a hexagonal tube and provided with 6-cornered rings whose ends point in the direction of the corners of the hexagonal tube.
JP 200 11 98488 discloses an arrangement wherein alternatively discs and 8-toothed stars are disposed on a central spray wire.
The horizontal venturi nozzle of U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,159 is not suitable for droplet laden moist gas, since a water film is always carried along into the nozzle or, at lower gas speeds, water drips in the throat from the top onto the ionization disc and causes arcing. For a uniform current distribution over the circumference the disc must be accurately adjusted. This is however almost impossible in the hostile operation of the apparatus. Since the electrode pins must be inserted into the nozzle, assembly is expensive. The spray discs of U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,307 are intended to increase the ionization at their circumference whereas the ionization along the wire becomes smaller. By discs arranged in a row along the wire in the flow direction, the particle deposition is to be improved. The discs in connection with the increased ionization in that area however lead to an increased turbulence and renewed transverse mixing which does not improve the fine droplet extraction. If the disc is provided at its circumference with a saw-tooth structure providing for a large number of ionization points, the additional ionization effect is not essential because the equally charged zones located at short distances from one another are mutually repulsive. Furthermore, with respect to the gas flow direction, a serial arrangement of ionization zones is not effective since particles which are already in the vicinity of the wall of the deposition electrode are again entrained by the turbulence and the electrical wind so that, in the end, the probability of particle deposition is not improved.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,155, in place of cylindrical tubes, hexagonal tubes are used together with six-corner rings arranged one after the other in the gas flow direction which cause the same problem.
For JP 200 11 98488, the same arguments apply—the subject matter differs only in that 8-corner stars are used alternatingly with discs.
Experiments have shown that the gas speed in the nozzle can be reduced to values below 3 m/s with a concurrent increase of the diameter and a reduction of the number of nozzles if, at the same time, the electrode is changed from a single point structure to a multi-point structure, for example, a seven point star electrode. If, for example, 1600 cubic meter per hour (Bm3/hr) of wet gas are conducted through 166 conical cylinder nozzles with a diameter of 24 mm an average nozzle gas speed of 5.9 m/sec and a maximum voltage at the electrode of 9 kV and about 30 μA ionization current per nozzle, corresponding to a total current of 5 mA are established. Per Bm3/h of gas only about 0.028 watts of ionizer power can be introduced in this way. Because of the effect of the raising water film as described above, arcing occurs from about 9 kV whereby the ionization is interrupted and the high-voltage power supply is highly strained.
It is the object of the present invention to prevent water films from raising along the nozzle walls.

Ionizer and use thereof in an exhaust gas purifying system for moisture-laden gases


A method is provided for monitoring the operating status of one or more pumps, particularly gear pumps, whereby system parameters are determined by a corresponding measuring device. The system parameters are subsequently processed in a local evaluation unit into characteristic numbers. Finally at least some of the characteristic numbers determined in the local evaluation unit are transmitted from the pump and/or the local evaluation unit to the central evaluation unit. Based on the characteristic numbers, the operating status of the pump is determined and if necessary, an appropriate action is triggered.

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the operating status of a pump, particularly a gear pump, and to a device for practicing the method, as well as an application of the method.
System units or components of a system such as pumps are, for example, being designed more simply for cost reasons or being designed for a significantly expanded operating range. This increases the potential for a failure, however.
One early warning signal of a failure may be that the operating range limits are being exceeded with increasing frequency or the operating range is changing very gradually. There are many possible causes for this, ranging, in pumps for example, from wear in general to the clogging of flow channels relevant to the pump's operation.
Hence the goal of the present invention is to provide a method whereby pumps can be monitored in simple fashion.
This goal is achieved by the method for monitoring the operating status of a pump, particularly a gear pump. The method determines system parameters with a measuring device and processes system parameters in a local and/or a central evaluation unit. At least some of the system parameters and/or at least some of the processing results determined in the local evaluation unit are transmitted from the pump and/or the local evaluation unit to the central evaluation unit. Based on the system parameters and/or the processing results determined in the local evaluation unit, information is obtained on the operating status of the pump and/or possible future events in the pump. Advantageous embodiments of the invention, a device for carrying out the method, and an application of the method are described herein.
The invention has the following advantages: by continuous or periodic detection of various operating parameters, hereinafter called system parameters, an operating failure of a pump is detected early. This is of much significance in large systems, but even in the event of a brief failure of one single pump, the total system has to be shut down. Consequently, not only are significant expenses incurred by the entire system being shut down, but there is a long run-in phase when it is started up again.
Central pump monitoring is, however, advantageous in small systems as well, particularly because for example, trained personnel are not available on the spot to monitor pump operation. In this case, a central evaluation unit may be provided by the manufacturer for example which can give appropriate recommendations to the operator.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and device for monitoring system units based on transmission of lumped characteristic numbers


A memory includes first signal lines divided into groups respectively including m (m is an integer equal to or larger than 2) lines, and second signal lines. A memory cell array includes memory cells. (m+2) or more global signal lines are configured to apply a selection voltage to any of the first signal lines. First transistors are provided to correspond to each of the first signal lines in one-to-one correspondence and are connected between the first signal lines and the global signal lines. First selection signal lines are provided to respectively correspond to the groups, and are each connected to gate electrodes of the first transistors included in a corresponding one of the groups in common. The first signal lines located at both ends of each of any two of the groups which are adjacent to each other are connected to mutually different ones of the global signal lines.

In recent years, the number of bit lines or word lines is significantly increasing along with increase of the capacity of a semiconductor storage device. The increase of the number of bit lines or word lines causes increase of the arrangement area of a decoder for selecting the bit lines or the word lines. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the arrangement area of a multiplexer for selecting the bit lines or the word lines in the decoder.
In order to reduce the arrangement area of the multiplexer, it is considered to omit a part of transistors included in the multiplexer, for example. However, when a transistor is simply omitted from the multiplexer, controllability and flexibility in application of a voltage to a bit line or a word line is reduced, for example. As a result, there is a possibility that a voltage of an unselected bit line or an unselected word line other than a selected bit line or a selected word line cannot be controlled appropriately.


The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPs, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP thermomechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a class of active materials that can be programmed to "fix" a temporary shape or a series of temporary shapes, and then later to recover to a "memorized" permanent shape established by a covalent or physical network by applying an environmental stimulus, for example, heat to the SMP. Unfortunately current SMPs are not suitable for all applications as they do not offer the desired level and combination of sustainable, high temperature mechanical properties needed for current applications.
Applicants recognized that the source of the aforementioned problems was that the current SMPs were not self-thermosetting. Applicants discovered that such problems could be effectively solved by adding the combination of tri-functional crosslinking and multiple non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties to certain SMPs. While not being bound by theory, Applicants believe that the tri-functional crosslinking adds shape memory and multiple non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties have a lower reactivity barrier when compared to SMPs comprising single non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties and do to the proximity effect of the multiple non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties the non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties can react with each other on the same polymer chain to form radicals that provide multiple crosslinking pathways for said polymer chain. Furthermore, when crosslinked, the SMP's modulus of elasticity is increased and due to the latent crosslinking that can be programmed into the SMP by the molecular designer sustainable, mechanical property enhancements can be realized. As a result, Applicants disclose herein, SMPs that are suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, responder applications and heat responsive packaging.

Method for fabricating multiphenylethynyl-containing and lightly crosslinked polyimides capable of memorizing shapes and augmenting thermomechanical stability

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


Reaction products of an optionally alkoxylated alcohol, a polyalkylene alcohol and a linker can be used in various applications such as defoamers. Methods of making the reaction products and defoamer compositions including the reaction products, and methods of using the reaction products to reduce or prevent foam in a composition are also disclosed. The reaction products can be used with an organic solvent or without an organic solvent to provide low VOC compositions.

Aqueous compositions such as polymer latexes and latex paints exhibit a tendency toward foaming because they contain surface active agents such as soaps and synthetic detergents. Organic silicon compounds in the form of oils, especially of dimethylpolysiloxanes of low to medium viscosity, have been used as an additive for defoaming aqueous solutions or dispersions. While these defoamer additives are suitable to suppress or reduce the propensity to foaming in polymer dispersions or aqueous coating compositions, it has been observed that paint systems to which polysiloxanes, polyoxyalkylene-polysiloxane copolymers have been added to suppress or reduce formation of foam have shown wetting defects, and also have reduced gloss when applied to surfaces. Wetting of the substrate is not uniform across the area covered which leads to the formation of coating films of varied thickness and defective zones in the coating film. There are also problems of interlayer adhesion associated with the use of defoamers based on organic silicon compounds, for example, craters appear in the coating films particularly if the coating compositions are applied by dipping the substrate into a tank filled with a coating composition.
In view of the foregoing defects of known defoaming agents for water-based paint, there remains a need for defoaming agents which exhibit sufficient defoaming effect upon addition to water-based paint, without impairing high quality coated appearance. The compositions and methods disclosed herein, addresses this need.

Reaction products and use of same in defoamer compositions and methods for defoaming


A transmission rate determining method that enables assignment of transmission rate (modulation scheme and coding rate) to be optimized with high accuracy in the AMC technique. In the method, in a base station, Doppler frequency detector 117 detects the Doppler frequency (moving speed) of each mobile station. MCS assignment section 125 corrects a relational expression of MCS (coding rate and modulation scheme) and CIR based on the Doppler frequency (moving speed) obtained in Doppler frequency detector 117, for example, corrects a threshold in CIR, and determines MCS optimal for CIR report value. Results of assignment in MCS assignment section 125 are output to coding section 101 and modulation section 103.

As a faster packet transmission system in IMT-2000, a system called HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) has been studied for purposes of fast downlink peak transmission rate, low transmission delay, and high throughput, for example. As techniques for supporting HSDPA, a transmission system called AMC (Adaptive Modulation and coding) is disclosed in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) TR25.848 "Physical layer aspects of UTRA High Speed Downlink Packet Access".
The AMC technique is to vary the modulation scheme and error correcting coding rate adaptively at high speed corresponding to variation in channel quality. In the AMC technique, as the channel quality is higher, a faster modulation scheme is used, thereby the error correcting coding rate is increased, and thus the transmission rate is increased. Specifically, a mobile station (or base station) measures downlink propagation conditions whenever necessary for each mobile station, and based on the measurement result, the base station determines a mobile station to transmit information and an optimal transmission rate to transmit the information. Regarding the transmission rate, considered are modulation schemes (for example, QPSK (Quaternary Phase Shift Keying) and 16QAM (Quaternary Amplitude Modulation)), coding rate (for example, turbo coding with a coding rate of ⅓ while performing puncture or repetition to vary the coding rate). Examples used as channel quality information include CIR (Carrier to Interference Ratio), SIR (Signal to Interference Ratio), TFRC (Transport Format and Resource Combination), and transmission power of a dedicated channel (for example, DPCH (Dedicated physical Channel)).
For example, in an application example in determining a transmission rate in the AMC technique, a base station determines a modulation scheme and coding rate (MCS: Modulation and Coding scheme), i.e., items associated with the transmission rate, based on CIR reported from a mobile station or the transmission rate of a dedicated channel.
However, in such determination of a transmission rate, there are following problems. That is, even when a transmission rate is determined based on information of instantaneous moment, the reliability of the information deteriorates due to effects of delay in assignment, moving speed of a mobile station, and/or accuracy in measuring channel quality in the mobile station or base station. For example, when the moving speed of a mobile station is low (the Doppler frequency is small), propagation environments do no vary greatly. However, when the moving speed is high (the Doppler frequency is large), propagation environments vary greatly, and the reliability of the information deteriorates. As a result, it is not possible to optimize the assignment of transmission rate, and there arise a possibility of having a significant effect on the throughput.
In addition, such an issue is not limited to HSDPA as described above, and arises widely in systems for controlling the transmission rate. In other words, although the spreading factor is fixed in HSDPA, since determination of the transmission rate is also related to the spreading factor and transmission power in addition to the modulation scheme and coding rate, it is not possible to optimize the determination of transmission rate when reliabilities of the above-mentioned pieces of information deteriorate, and there arises the possibility of having a significant effect on performance of the transmission system.

Radio communication apparatus and transfer rate decision method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


According to an embodiment, an analog-to-digital (AD) converter includes a first AD conversion unit, a selector and a second AD conversion unit. The first AD conversion unit performs AD conversion of an analog signal in a first period to generate an upper-bit digital signal. The selector selects not less than one reference voltage based on the upper-bit digital signal to obtain a selected reference voltage group in a voltage range narrower than a full scale. The second AD conversion unit performs AD conversion of the analog signal by using the selected reference voltage group. The first period starts before settling of the analog signal up to an accuracy corresponding to a total resolution of the first AD conversion unit and the second AD conversion unit.

In order to implement high-resolution analog-to-digital conversion with, for example, an effective resolution exceeding 14 bits, a multisampling ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) such as a ΔΣ modulator is used. A general ADC performs sampling once for one input signal. In contrast, a multisampling ADC performs sampling a plurality of times for one input signal and averages the analog-to-digital conversion results in a digital domain. Therefore, the multisampling ADC can achieve a high resolution in analog-to-digital conversion.
The number of times of sampling required for multisampling ADC, however, exponentially increases with respect to the resolution of the multisampling ADC. For example, in order to implement an effective resolution of 14 bits by singly using a ΔΣ modulator incorporating a 1-bit quantizer, it is necessary to perform sampling 1,000 times and 88 times in a primary modulator and a secondary modulator, respectively. An increase in the resolution of the multisampling ADC will lead to a decrease in the operating speed of the multisampling ADC. In addition, an incremental ΔΣ modulator as a kind of ΔΣ modulator incorporates an analog integrator such as a switched capacitor integrator. When performing high-resolution analog-to-digital conversion by using a full-scale reference voltage, since the voltage of an input signal to the analog integrator greatly fluctuates, a long period of time is required for the settling of the input signal.

Analog-to-digital converter and analog-to-digital conversion method


Non-linear control laws are disclosed and implemented with a controller and control system for maneuvering an underwater vehicle. The control laws change the phase of one Inferior-Olive (IO) neuron with respect to another IO. One control law is global, that is, the control law works (stable and convergent) for any initial condition. The remaining three control laws are local. The control laws are obtained by applying feedback linearization, while retaining non-linear characteristics. Each control law generates a profile (time history) of the control signal to produce a desired phase difference recognizable by a controller to respond to disturbances and to maneuver an underwater vehicle.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller and control system for an underwater vehicle; specifically, a controller and control system which utilize non-linear dynamics supported by underlying mathematics to control the propulsors of an underwater vehicle.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Future underwater platforms are expected to have numerous sensors and performance capabilities that will mimic the capabilities of aquatic animals. A key component of such platforms would be their controller. Because such platforms, and an existing U.S. Navy Biorobotic Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (BAUV) is an example, keep station in highly disturbed fields near submarines or in the littoral areas, it is essential for the platforms (vehicles) to have quick-responding controllers for their propulsor systems.
Hydrodynamic models based on conventional engineering controllers have not been able to produce the desired levels of control. Thus, a biology-inspired controller is a realistic alternative. Because the brains of animals perform complex tasks which rely on nonlinear dynamics, the underlying mathematics provide a foundation for the controller and control system of the present disclosure.
Traditional control systems are designed using linear models obtained by Jacobian linearization. This linearization allows design using frequency domain techniques (such as lag-lead compensation, PID feedback, etc.) and a state-space approach (linear optimal control, pole assignment, servo-regulation, adaptive control, etc.). However, any controller designed using linearized models of the system will fail to stabilize unless the perturbations are small.
One must use nonlinear design techniques if the control system is to operate in a larger region. For underwater vehicles, linear and nonlinear control systems based on pole placement, feedback linearization, sliding mode control, and adaptive control, etc. have been designed. However, in these designs, it is assumed that the vehicle is equipped with traditional control surfaces. As such, these vehicles have limited maneuvering capability.
For large and agile maneuvers, traditional control surfaces are inadequate and new control surfaces must be developed. Observations of marine animals provide the potential of fish-like oscillating fins for the propulsion and maneuvering of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). AUVs exist with multiple oscillating fins which impart high lift and thrust. The oscillatory motion of the fins or propulsors is obtained by inferior olives which provide robust command signals to controllers and servomotors of the fins.
Inferior olives have complex nonlinear dynamics and have robust and unique self-oscillation [(Limit Cycle Oscillation (LCO)] characteristics. Efforts have been made to model the inferior olives (IO). Limited results on phase control of IOs in an open-loop sense are available using a pulse type stimulus. However, the required pulse height of the input signal which depends on the state of the IOs at the switching instant as well as the target relative phase between the IOs has not been derived. For the application of the IOs to the AUV, closed-loop control systems must be developed for the synchronization and phase control of the IOs.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The present invention relates to an injection molded preform comprising an open ended mouth forming portion, an intermediate body forming portion, and a closed base forming portion, wherein said preform comprises (1) a blend of (i) PEN copolymer and (ii) PET homopolymer or PET copolymer, such that when said PET and PEN components are physically mixed into a blend, said blend has about 5-70 wt %. PEN copolymer and 30 to 95 wt % PET homopolymer of copolymer therein, (2) a PEN copolymer, or (3) PEN homopolymer, and said preform having a stretch ratio in the range of 18:1 to 25:1 in order form a bottle having a volume in the range of 250 ml to 850 ml, wherein the stretch index is below 130 cm. Alternatively, said preform has a stretch ratio in the range of 18:1 to 20:1 in order to form a bottle having a volume in the range of 250 ml to 1000 ml. The invention further relates to an injection mold defining a cavity corresponding to an injection molded preform of the invention. In addition, the invention relates to a blow-molded container produced from the injection molded plastic preform described above.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in manufacturing preforms for containers, such as plastic bottles, and to preforms and containers per se. More particularly, the invention relates to a preform used to produce a plastic bottle which is recyclable, but preferably non-refillable.
A conventional PET (polyethylene terephthalate) preform (e.g. 12 ounces) is injection molded from PET homopolymer or PET copolymer such that the resulting preform has a center sidewall thickness in the range of 3 to 4 mm and a thickness in the base forming portion in the range of 3 to 4 mm. The length of such a conventional PET preform for a 12 ounce bottle is in the range of 90 to 95 mm, and the injection molded preform has a stretch ratio in the range of at least 9:1, and preferably 9:1 to 12:1.
Conventional containers made of PET resins are often deficient in that such materials may have both insufficient barrier properties and insufficient thermal stability. Reduced barrier properties of a container may adversely affect shelf life of a product provided within the container. In order to improve the barrier properties of a container, multilayer coatings are often provided within the container.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for containers having improved barrier properties in order to provide for longer shelf life of the product within the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,705 to Yammoto et al. discloses a bottle made of polyethylene naphthalate resin and formed by stretching a preform so that the stretch index defined as follows is 130 cm or more: ##EQU1##
In contrast to the express teachings of the Yammoto et al. patent, the present invention operates only in the region corresponding to a stretch index of below 130 cm. Thus, the present invention does not have a stretch index of 130 cm or above.

Preform and bottle using pet/pen blends and copolymers


A low force release mechanism suitable for use in applications including but not limited to pinatas and dispersion devices comprising an interactive distribution of the load force to the main structure and the structure of a trap employed in the mechanism, the use of an internal spring activation element used to eliminate ordinal setup requirement; and the use of the internal geometry of the trap to lock and hold its position.

Low force release mechanisms are often used for closure devices such as door latches, valves, etc., especially in those applications where they effectively substitute for brute force required to release or remove a weight bearing load. However, in many such applications, for the level of force to be subtantially reduced, complicated mechanisms are required with multiple moving parts rendering such devices costly. In addition, the additional moving parts increase wear and tear, with concomitant safety risks. There is a need for an effective low force release mechanism that allows for the movement or handling of heavy loads. Furthermore, there is a need for a low force release mechanism in commercial applications where safety is a paramount issue, and which may be effectively used by users ranging from children to seniors.

Low force release mechanism and applications for using the same


A cellulosic food casing formed by extruding a nonderivatized cellulose solution composed of cellulose pulp and an amine solvent into a seamless tube, contacting the inner and outer surfaces of the seamless tube with a nonsolvent liquid to precipitate a tube of nonderivatized cellulose and thereafter contacting the same with a water soluble softener. Apparatus for forming the food casing and a food casing of nonderivatized cellulose also are disclosed.

Cellulose food casings are well known in the art and are widely used in the production of stuffed food products such as sausages and the like. Cellulose food casings generally are seamless tubes formed of a regenerated cellulose and contain a plasticizer such as water and/or a polyol such as glycerine. Plasticization is necessary because otherwise the cellulose tube is too brittle for handling and commercial use.
Cellulose food casings generally are used in one of two forms. In one form the casing consists of a tubular film of pure regenerated cellulose having a wall thickness ranging from about 0.025 mm to about 0.076 mm and made in tube diameters of about 14.5 mm to 203.2 mm. The second form is a reinforced casing wherein the tubular wall of the casing consists of a regenerated cellulose bonded to a paper web. Such reinforced casings are commonly called "fibrous" casings to distinguish them from the nonreinforced cellulose casings. Fibrous casings have a wall in the range of 0.050 mm to 0.102 mm thick and are made in diameters of about 40.6 mm to 193 mm or greater.
The cellulose for making both types of casings is most commonly produced by the so called "viscose process" wherein viscose, a soluble cellulose derivative, is extruded as a tubular film through an annular die into coagulating and regenerating baths to produce a tube of regenerated cellulose. This tube is subsequently washed, plasticized with glycerine or other polyol, and dried. Drying usually is accomplished while the tube is inflated with air at a pressure sufficient both to maintain a constant tube diameter and to orient the film.
The viscose process for making cellulose is well known in the art. Briefly, in the viscose process a natural cellulose such as wood pulp or cotton linters first is treated with a caustic solution to activate the cellulose to permit derivatization and extract certain alkali soluble fractions from the natural cellulose. The resulting alkali cellulose is shredded, aged and treated with carbon disulfide to form cellulose xanthate which is a cellulose derivative. The cellulose xanthate is dissolved in a weak caustic solution. The resulting solution or "viscose" is ripened, filtered, deaerated and extruded. The pulp source and time of aging the alkali cellulose are selected depending upon whether the viscose will be used to make fibrous casing or nonreinforced cellulose casing. For fibrous casing the selection is such that a less viscous solution is used. The lower viscosity solution wicks into the paper web allowing complete penetration of the viscose for establishing strong intercellulose bonding. For extrusion of a nonreinforced cellulose casing, the selection is such that a more viscous, solution is used.
The viscose is extruded as a tube through an annular die and about a self centering mandrel into coagulation and regenerating baths containing salts and sulfuric acid. In the acidic baths the cellulose xanthate, e.g. viscose, is converted back to cellulose. In this respect, the acid bath decomposes the cellulose xanthate with the result that a pure form of cellulose is coagulated and regenerated. Initially, the coagulated and regenerated cellulose is in a gel state. In this gel state the cellulose tube first is run through a series of rinse water dip tanks to remove by-products formed during regeneration. The gel tube then is treated with a glycerine humectant and dried to about 10% moisture based on total casing weight. As noted above, the gel tube is inflated during the drying process to a pressure sufficient to provide a degree of orientation to the dried cellulose tube.
Both nonreinforced cellulose casings and fibrous casings are produced in this fashion except in the case of fibrous casings the viscose is extruded onto a tube of paper prior to entering the coagulation and regenerating baths.
During regeneration of the cellulose from the xanthate solution, sulfur products are liberated and gases such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide and carbon dioxide are released through both the inner and outer surfaces of the gel tube. It should be appreciated that the gases produced as by products during regeneration are noxious and toxic so their containment and recovery imposes a considerable burden on the manufacturing process. Moreover, gases generated at the internal surface of the extruded tube can accumulate within the tubular casing and consequently present special problems. The tubular casing while in its gel state is expansible and the pressure build up of gases accumulating within the gel casing causes undesirable diameter variations. To prevent this, the gel casing is punctured periodically to vent the accumulated gases. This puncturing process, involving procedures to puncture, vent, and then seal the punctured gel tube, results in an undesirable interruption of the manufacturing process. Also, gases which evolve within the casing wall may become entrapped causing bubbles which weaken the casing and detract from its stuffability.
Also, the casing in its gel state to some extent retains low residual levels of the sulfur compounds produced during regeneration. While care is taken to remove all residual sulfur compounds by washing the gel tube prior to drying, the dried casing may still contain trace amounts of these compounds.
Despite the problems inherent with the viscose process as described above, it nevertheless remains today as the most commonly used process for the production of cellulose casing for the food processing industry.
An alternate cellulose production method involves forming a cellulose solution by means of a simple dissolution rather than requiring prior derivatization to form a soluble substance (as in the viscose process). A cellulose dissolution process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,179,181. This patent discloses the dissolution of natural cellulose by a tertiary amine oxide to produce solutions of relatively low solids content, for example 7 to 10% by weight cellulose dissolved in 93 to 90% by weight of the tertiary amine oxide. The cellulose in the resulting solution is nonderivatized prior to dissolution. U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,939 discloses use of N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) as the cyclic amine oxide solvent wherein the resulting solutions, while having a low solids content, nevertheless can be used in chemical reactions involving the dissolved compound, or to precipitate the cellulose to form a film or filament.
More recent patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,145,532 and 4,426,288 improve upon the teachings of the '939 Patent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,532 discloses a process for making a solution of cellulose in a tertiary amine oxide such as NMMO which contains 10-35% by weight of cellulose. This higher solids content, achieved in part by including an amount of water (from 1.4% to about 29% by weight) in the tertiary amine oxide solvent, provides a solution adapted for shaping into a cellulosic article such as by extrusion or spinning. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,288 the NMMO-cellulose solution contains an additive which reduces decomposition of the cellulose polymer chain so that molding or spinning substances are obtained with only slight discoloration and which will yield molded shapes distinguished by improved strengths upon precipitation in a nonsolvent such as water.
Using NMMO as a solvent for cellulose eliminates the need for derivatizing the cellulose, as in the viscose process. Consequently it eliminates the disadvantages attendant to the viscose process such as the problems associated with the generation of toxic and noxious gases and sulfur compounds.
However, while nonderivatized cellulose resulting from the process of dissolving cellulose in NMMO eliminates certain problems associated with the viscose process, to applicant's knowledge, NMMO-cellulose solutions heretofore have not been used in the manufacture of cellulose food casings. This perhaps is due in part to the fact that the nonderivatized cellulose solution is thermoplastic with a melting point of about 65.degree. C. so it is normally solid at the temperature heretofore used in the extrusion of viscose (e.g. cellulose xanthate) for producing cellulose food casings. Also, the nonderivatized cellulose solution at 65.degree. C. has a viscosity significantly higher than the viscosity of the derivatized cellulose heretofore used in the production of cellulose food casings. In particular, nonderivatized cellulose in solution may have a molecular weight of about 80,000 to 150,000 and a viscosity in the range of about 60,000 to 100,000 centipoises. The high molecular weight and viscosity is because the dissolution of the cellulose does not affect the degree of polymerization. Viscose for casing manufacture (wherein the degree of polymerization is affected by derivatization) has a molecular weight in the range of about 80,000 to 100,000 for fibrous casing and about 95,000 to 115,000 for nonfibrous casing and a viscosity of 5,000 to 30,000 centipoises.
Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a cellulosic food casing article and method which eliminates the need to derivatize the cellulose used in forming the food casing.

Method of making a cellulose food casing


The present invention relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for diagnosing the cardiovascular risk of a patient who is a candidate for administration of a cox-2-inhibiting compound, in particular an NSAID, selective cox-2 inhibitor, or steroid. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for diagnosing the cardiovascular risk of a patient who is a candidate for administration of a selective cox-2 inhibitor and further provides methods for diagnosing the risk of a patient to suffer from a cardiovascular complication as a consequence of administration of a cox-2 inhibiting compound.

An aim of modern medicine is to provide personalized or individualized treatment regimens. Those are treatment regimens which take into account a patient's individual needs or risks. Of particular importance is the cardiovascular risk or complication, particularly an unrecognized cardiovascular risk or complication.
Selective cox-2 inhibitors are widely used potent anti-inflammatory drugs. Compared to many other anti-inflammatory drugs, they appear to cause less gastrointestinal side-effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeds or ulcers. Therefore, for many patients treatment with selective cox-2 inhibitors is the treatment of choice.
However, it has been noted recently, that selective cox-2 inhibitors can lead to cardiovascular complications, possibly followed by cardiac decompensation and even death. Rofecoxib (VIOXX™), a selective cox-2 inhibitor, was only recently removed from the market voluntarily by the manufacturing company, Merck, after a 3.9 times rise in the rate of serious thromboembolic incidents had led to premature discontinuation of the APPROVE study (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention On Vioxx). Only patients without any recognisable cardiovascular risk were included in that study for the secondary prevention of colon adenomas. Even in the early post-observation phase higher blood pressure levels had been noticed with 25 mg rofecoxib than with a placebo. 16 additional cardiovascular incidents per 1,000 treated patients (myocardial infarction, stroke) with 25 mg rofecoxib compared with a placebo (Topol E J. Failing the public health—rofecoxib, Merck, and the FDA. N Engl J Med 2004; 351: 1707-9) were noticed after 18 months of follow-up. An increased cardiovascular risk has also been suspected in other studies (VIGOR) and has been supported by data from a recent meta-analysis (Bombardier C, Laine L, Reicin A, Shapiro D, Burgos-Vargas R, Davis B, Day R, Ferraz M B, Hawkey C J, Hochberg M C, Kvien T K, Schnitzer T J; VIGOR Study Group. Comparison of upper gastrointestinal toxicity of rofecoxib and naproxen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. VIGOR Study Group. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1520-8; Jüni P, Nartey L, Reichenbach S, Sterchi R, Dieppe P A, Egger M. Risk of cardiovascular events and rofecoxib: cumulative meta-analysis. Lancet 2004; online ahead).
Similar cardiovascular side-effects are suspected within the scope of a class effect for other selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex™, Pfizer), lumiracoxib (Prexige™, Novartis) and parecoxib, a pro-drug of valdecoxib, although at a lower incidence rate (Fitzgerald G A. Coxibs and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 2004; 351: 1709-1711. Mukherjee D, Nissen S E, Topol E J. Risk of cardiovascular events associated with selective COX-2 Inhibitors. JAMA 2001; 286: 954-959.).
Cardiovascular complications, such as acute myocardial infarction or stroke, may lead to serious health problems and even death. Therefore, many patients who would strongly benefit from treatment with selective cox-2 inhibitors are not treated as it is unknown whether treatment may result in a cardiovascular complication.
Cardiovascular problems or risks can remain asymptomatic for long periods of time. Therefore, reliable diagnosis of the presence of a cardiovascular risk is more difficult and error-prone than generally believed. In particular, general practitioners and non-cardiologists often are not able to identify a previously unrecognized cardiovascular problem.
According to the state of the art, it is only possible to exclude patients with cardiovascular symptoms or a known history of heart disease or hypertension from treatment with selective cox-2 inhibitors.
This risk management is insufficient, as also asymptomatic patients may develop a cardiovascular complication due to an unrecognized predisposition, e.g. the presence of an arterial plaque. As mentioned earlier, only patients without any recognisable cardiovascular risk were included in the APPROVE study, yet treatment led to cardiovascular complications in several patients.
In the prior art, no hint is given how the risk of a cardiovascular complication associated with treatment with an anti-inflammatory drug, in particular a selective cox-2 inhibitor can be diagnosed. Particularly, no reference has been made how such diagnosis can be made in patients that have no known history of cardiovascular complications.
This does not only apply with respect to selective cox-2 inhibitors, but also with respect to other classes of anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. being inhibitors of cox-2 and other target (e.g. Cox-1), and which may cause cardiovascular complications. Examples for these other classes of anti-inflammatory drugs include non-selective cox-2 inhibitors (compounds inhibiting Cox-1 and cox-2). Even though the risk of leading to cardiovascular complications is not as high as for selective cox-2 inhibitors, there may be cases where a possible cardiovascular complication has to be taken into account.
For example, cardiovascular side-effects are also suspected for other anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular other NSAIDs or steroids.
Therefore, there is a need to for a method or means to identify risk patients before they receive treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly NSAIDs or steroids, more particularly selective cox-2 inhibitors. Particularly, there is a need to provide a suitable diagnostic means. Particularly, there is a need for a diagnostic means that allows to identify risk patients that have no history or no known history of a cardiovascular risk or complication. In particular, the diagnostic means should be reliable and suited for use by general practitioners and non-cardiologists.

Cardiac hormones for assessing cardiovascular risk


The inventive retractor includes two half-moon shaped trays at each side located on the sides of the mouth covering the lips and opening the mouth to reveal the teeth from the front. The trays are interconnected by a strap-like member spacing the upper and lower teeth from one another by a slight amount. The angulation between the trays and the strap-like member is devised to improve the patient's comfort level and to better facilitate alignment of the retractor with typical human oral anatomy. Each of the inventive trays has a handle so that the retractor may easily be gripped for insertion into the mouth and removal therefrom.

The present invention relates to a dental retractor for use in teeth whitening. The teeth whitening industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. One preferred method of whitening teeth involves the use of a mouthpiece inserted in the mouth and enclosing a teeth whitening substance such as a concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Often, in practicing teeth whitening using a mouthpiece, it is advantageous to first coat the teeth with a teeth whitening composition and then insert the mouthpiece to seal the teeth whitening substance in place on the tooth surfaces.
It is known that some teeth whitening substances can be irritating to the gums and lips of a patient if the substances coat the surfaces of those body parts. As such, it is also advantageous to find a way to best preclude the teeth whitening substance from inadvertently coating the lips and gums of the patient or user. A retractor which acts to space the lips from the teeth and renders the gums clearly visible to allow the patient, user or their dentist to "paint" the teeth whitening substance onto tooth surfaces without the substance coating the lips and gums would be an advantageous device to employ in this context. It is with this thought in mind that the present invention was developed.

Dental retractor for use in teeth whitening