An apparatus for determining and encoding the position of a control handle on a control stand of a locomotive or other railway transit vehicle utilizing a rotational, absolute encoder rigidly mounted adjacent to the axle to which the control handle is attached for pivotal motion, wherein a drive transfer means interconnecting the control handle and/or axle with encoder has a driving ratio that will permit full partial rotation of the control handle, which is typically less than 90 degrees, to rotate the encoder axle through a significantly greater rotational angle not exceeding 360 degrees, for the purpose of making fuller use of the sensitivity and resolution range of the encoder.

In railroad locomotive operations, the throttle, dynamic brake and reverser actions of the locomotive, locomotives or other drive units, are controlled by the operator or engineer in the cab of the lead unit by manipulating three handles extending from the control stand, one handle each for throttle, dynamic brake, and reverser. The throttle handle, of course, controls the development of the tractive effort of the locomotive; i,e, the diesel engines or other power units. The dynamic brake handle controls the development of a retarding force known a dynamic brake, for example the electric motors driving the locomotive wheels, to place them in either motor mode where they will drive the wheels, or in generator mode, where they will function as a retarding force. The reverser handle controls the forward and reverse rotation of the electric motors to selectively drive the train forward or rearward, and includes a neutral position. Pursuant to current practice, the control stand is designed to be a man-to-machine interface and ideally is strictly an electronic/electric device having no direct mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic connections the devices controlled. Instead, encoding means are preferably provided within the control stand to read and interpret the positions of the three handles, and convey appropriate signals, indicative of such positions, to an associated microcomputer. The associated microcomputer is programmed to interpret the encoded signals regarding the positions of the throttle, dynamic brake and reverser handles, as positioned at the control stand, and then electronically issue corresponding commands to manipulate the devices intended within the locomotive or locomotives. When utilizing a microcomputer, the throttle, dynamic brake and reverser commands effected at the control stand, are dependent upon the given angular positions of the three control handles, which are normally sensed and monitored by rotary encoding devices, which are mechanically coupled to associated rotary axles to which the control handles are secured, utilizing cams to actuate microswitches or contacts to provide a signal to the microcomputer as noted above. Such mechanical devices leave a lot to be desired, in that they do not provide the exacting degree of handle position determination as desired, are prone to mechanical failure, are cumbersome, space consuming, and require frequent adjustment.
With regard to the throttle and dynamic brake controls in particular, there is a need for more accurate and absolute encoder determinations because these controls can be set over a rather wide range of setting. The reverser control, on the other hand, is positionable to only three positions, namely, a "neutral" position at the center, and "forward" and "reverse" positions at either end. Accordingly, with regard to the reverser control, there is no need for any costly and complicated encoder technique to determine an absolute and exacting control handle position or command, as all that is necessary to determine is in which of the three positions the handle is located, namely, "forward", "reverse" or "neutral". Nevertheless, the prior art mechanically linked encoding mechanisms leave much to be desired, particularly with regard to determining and encoding the positions of the throttle and dynamic brake control handles.
There has been considerable development effort in the recent past to improve the encoder technology, particularly with regard to obtaining a more absolute determination and reading of the control handle positions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,468, issued on Jul. 30, 1991 to the same assignee as this invention, for example, discloses a new encoder apparatus and technique which is electronic rather than mechanical, to encode the absolute position of a pair a brake handles, on a train brake controller, one handle for operating the locomotive brakes and the other for operating the brakes on cars of the train. In that patented process, encoder means, such as optical encoders, are employed to optically determine the positions of the two brake handles, and produce a binary signal representative of those positions. With regard to each brake handle, the binary signal is converted to an analog signal, and electronically compared to a stored signal representative of the initial brake release position, to ascertain the difference between the newly selected position and the initial brake release position. An enabling means permits passage of the difference between the two positions when the newly selected brake position is greater than the initial brake release position, with the enabling means converting the analog signal back to a binary signal which is conveyed to the brake control apparatus to signify the actual brake change necessary. While this patented system is a significant improvement over prior art mechanical encoding techniques, it is specifically designed for a train brake control stand, and not particularly adaptable to a throttle control stand, as its circuitry, with signal converters and summing circuits, is more complicated than desired for a throttle control stand.
While more simplified use of optical encoders have been suggested, specifically attaching a rotary optical encoder directly to the end of the rotatable axle, such a concept would not make full utilization of the encoder's capabilities. This is because most optical encoders have sensing capabilities throughout a full rotational movement thereof; i.e., through a full 360 degrees. On the other hand, the limited pivotal nature of the control handles on the control stand, permits only a partial rotation of the handle, or axle to which it is attached. Since such pivotal rotation is normally limited to pivotal angles of less than 90 degrees, the optical encoder would necessarily be limited to the same rotational movement; i.e., less than 90 degrees. Accordingly, less than one fourth of a encoder's rotational capacity would be utilized, so that the encoder's degree of sensitivity would also be reduced to a value of less than one fourth of its capability.

Apparatus for determining the absolute position of throttle dynamic brake and reverser handles on a locomotive control stand


A method and a system for converting a font of a Chinese character in an image, a computer device and a medium are disclosed. A specific implementation of the method includes: acquiring a stroke of a to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and spatial distribution information of the stroke; and generating a Chinese character in a target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image according to the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character, the spatial distribution information of the stroke and standard stroke information of the target font, to replace the to-be-converted Chinese character.

Characters are the cornerstone to the dissemination and accumulation of culture and knowledge. With the development of society, more and more personalized, individualized and customized fonts need to be designed, especially in such industry as graphic design and advertisement.
The present disclosure provides in a first aspect a method for converting a font of a Chinese character in an image. The method includes: acquiring a stroke of a to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and spatial distribution information of the stroke; and generating a Chinese character in a target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image according to the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character, the spatial distribution information of the stroke and standard stroke information of the target font to replace the to-be-converted Chinese character.
Optionally, prior to acquiring the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and the spatial distribution information of the stroke, the method further includes: converting the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image into a to-be-converted Chinese character in a standard font.
Optionally, the method further includes: generating an image including the standard stroke information of the target font by using a deep learning network to obtain the standard stroke information of the target font.
Optionally, the acquiring the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and the spatial distribution information of the stroke further includes: calculating a correlation degree between each region in the image and a standard stroke of the standard font sequentially in a descending order of a complexity of the standard stroke of the standard font, and matching and identifying the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and the spatial distribution information of the stroke according to the correlation degree, wherein when a stroke is being identified, a pixel value of a region corresponding to a previous identified stroke is set to zero.
Optionally, the calculating the correlation degree between each region in the image and the standard stroke of the standard font sequentially further includes: calculating the correlation degree between each region in the image and the standard stroke of the standard font sequentially according to image blocks of different rotation angles and different sizes.
Optionally, the matching and identifying the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and the spatial distribution information of the stroke according to the correlation degree includes: for any region in the image, determining that the region includes the standard stroke of the standard font in a case that the correlation degree between the region and the standard stroke of the standard font is greater than a preset threshold; and determining that the standard stroke of the standard font and the spatial distribution information of the standard stroke are the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character in the region and the spatial distribution information of the stroke.
Optionally, the generating the Chinese character in the target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image according to the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character, the spatial distribution information of the stroke, and the standard stroke information of the target font further includes: according to the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character and a quantity of strokes and a matching and identifying sequence of the strokes, selecting a corresponding stroke from the standard stroke information of the target font and generating the Chinese character in the target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image according to the spatial distribution information of the stroke.
Optionally, the generating the Chinese character in the target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image according to the spatial distribution information of the stroke includes: acquiring the standard stroke of the target font corresponding to the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character sequentially according to the matching and identifying sequence; and placing, according to the spatial distribution information of the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character, the corresponding standard stroke of the target font in the image, to obtain the Chinese character in the target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character.
Optionally, the spatial distribution information of the stroke includes: starting point coordinate information, size information and direction information of the stroke.
Optionally, subsequent to acquiring the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and the spatial distribution information of the stroke, the method further includes: representing the to-be-converted Chinese character as a two-dimensional vector, wherein the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character and the spatial distribution information of the stroke are used as a first-dimensional vector of the to-be-converted Chinese character, and the quantity and the matching and identifying sequence of the strokes of the to-be-converted Chinese character are used as a second-dimensional vector of the to-be-converted Chinese character.
Optionally, the generating the image including the standard stroke information of the target font by using the deep learning network further includes: acquiring the deep learning network by using a plurality of images including different Chinese characters in the target font as training samples; and inputting an image including a standard stroke of the standard font to the deep learning network to obtain the image including the standard stroke information of the target font.
Optionally, the deep learning network is a generative adversarial network.
The present disclosure provides in a second aspect a system for converting a font of a Chinese character in an image. The system implements the method provided in the first aspect of the present disclosure and includes: a character structure acquisition circuit, configured to acquire a stroke of a to-be-converted Chinese character in the image and spatial distribution information of the stroke; and a font conversion circuit, configured to generate a Chinese character in a target font that corresponds to the to-be-converted Chinese character in the image according to the stroke of the to-be-converted Chinese character, the spatial distribution information of the stroke and standard stroke information of the target font to replace the to-be-converted Chinese character.
The present disclosure provides in a third aspect a computer device. The computer device includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the method provided in the first aspect of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure provides in a fourth aspect a computer-readable storage medium storing therein a computer program, the computer program is configured to be executed by a processor to implement the method provided in the first aspect of the present disclosure.

Method and system for converting font of Chinese character in image, computer device and medium


By employing a "modulated-temperature" heating program composed of a series of heat-isotherm stages, it is possible to separate the change in dimensions of an oriented material during heating into two contributions: a thermally "reversing" component which is due to linear thermal expansion and a "non-reversing" part arising from relaxation to the disordered state on heating above T.sub.g. Some preliminary results for biaxially drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) film are presented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to thermomechanical analysis (TMA). TMA is a thermal analysis technique in which mechanical properties of a sample of a material are measured as a function of temperature.
2. Background of the Invention
Thermomechanical analysis can be performed using a variety of experimental configurations, including an extension configuration (shown in FIG. 1) and a compression configuration (shown in FIG. 2). Additional configurations for thermomechanical analyzers are well-known to those of skill in the art.
The present invention also relates to Modulated-Temperature DSC (MT-DSC). MT-DSC is a modification of differential scanning calorimetry, in which an oscillating heating rate is superimposed on a conventional linear temperature heating ramp. MT-DSC is described in an article by M. Reading, Trends in Polymer Science., vol. 1, page 248 (1993) and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,775 (the "'775 patent", which is incorporated herein by reference). In MT-DSC, the response of the differential heat flow signal (dQ/dt) to the heating rate (dT/dt) is given by: ##EQU1## where C.sub.p is the sample's heat capacity and f(t,T) represents heat flow associated with kinetically limited processes due to physical or chemical changes in the sample that occur both with time and temperature, as explained in Reading's Polymer Science article and disclosed in the '775 patent. The f(t,T) term represents the "non-reversing" heat flow. Thermal events such as crystallization, evaporation, degradation, cross-linking etc. are non-reversing events, that would contribute to the non-reversing term. In MT-DSC the heat capacity of the sample is calculated by deconvoluting the measured heat flow signal into component signals. A sinusoidal temperature modulation is the most commonly applied program, although both saw-tooth and stepwise isothermal programs have been employed.
At present, modulated-temperature programs have only been used in differential scanning calorimeters, although Chen and Dollimore have considered the theoretical implications of using a sinusoidal heating rate in simultaneous DSC-TG (D. Chen and D. Dollimore, Thermochim. Acta, vol. 272, p. 75 (1996)).

Method and apparatus for modulated-temperature thermomechanical analysis


A multi-layered pipe of arbitrary length and cross-section is produced by co-extrusion of a segmented thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (COPE) outer body over the exterior surface of an annular tubular core of CPVC/PVC having a wall thickness, measured in the radial direction, in the range from about 0.95 mm (38 mils) to about 1.375 mm (55 mils). The COPE is cohesively bonded to the annular core coextensively with essentially the entire length of the pipe. Though the COPE is easily degraded in contact with water, and CPVC and blends of CPVC with less than 25% by weight of PVC are typically rigid when extruded as pipe, a laminated pipe of COPE and CPVC/PVC with the specified wall thickness and overall dimensions which in the laminated pipe satisfy an applicable plumbing code (SDR-11 in the U.S.) has essentially the same performance characteristics as commercially available CPVC pipe which is a monolayer and not a laminate.

Polyolefin pipe, and PEX in particular, currently in wide use, is flexible but may degrade by reaction with oxidizing agents, and diffusion of oxygen through the polyolefin, a combination, which over time, causes oxidative degradation. CPVC and/or blends of CPVC with less than 25% by weight of PVC (reference to "CPVC/PVC" specifies either CPVC or a blend of CPVC with <25% PVC, conventionally compounded; reference to "CPVC" specifies CPVC as conventionally compounded), optionally blended with another miscible polymer (other than PVC) in an amount insufficient to substantially change the flexibility of pipe made with CPVC or the CPVC/PVC blend, are highly resistant to oxidative degradation, and to attack by other aggressive chemicals ("chemical attack"), but is rigid when extruded as pipe. Rigidity is why piping made from highly degradation-resistant synthetic resinous materials or "plastics" such as CPVC/PVC is typically not used in domestic water distribution systems which require bending the pipe, because the combination of forces required to bend the pipe is likely to crack the pipe. To provide greater flexibility, plasticizer may be added to the blend, but toxicity requirements and long term performance will be affected.
Though rigid, sections of CPVC/PVC pipe and the appropriate fittings may be economically cemented together because they are solvent-cementable. A piping system so constructed performs its function at a level far in excess of the performance requirements of domestic water systems since the temperature of the water is relatively low, typically less than 100° C., and the pressure of the water is no more than about 790 kPa (100 psig). In particular, CPVC/PVC piping is negligibly susceptible to diffusion of oxygen and reaction with oxidizing agents, either from within or from outside the pipe.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the advantages of a PEX piping system are not available in a CPVC/PVC piping system; and, vice versa. Accordingly, much effort has been devoted to producing plastic pipe which has the advantages of both systems and the drawbacks of neither. However, any attempt to bond either CPVC/PVC to a polyolefin surface has proven unsatisfactory; and so have attempts to provide an intermediate adhesive layer.
A large portion of the favorable economics of chlorinated vinyl chloride-based pipe, that is, CPVC/PVC, derives from its solvent-cementability. It is this property which is sought in flexible extruded pipe because the overall cost of installation of such pipe is greatly decreased. However, to date, the significance of the fact that not all installations require the extreme flexibility of PEX pipe, has not been exploited. There are numerous installations in which the pipe needs to be bent no more than 90°, or, returned over an arc having a diameter in the range from 30.5 cm (1 ft) to 1.83 m (6 ft), which arc may be a function of the diameter of the pipe. The combination of these two considerations dictates that, in a twin-layered pipe in which a thin inner annular core is to be CPVC/PVC so as to protect an outer thick tubular layer from oxidative degradation from within the pipe, the elastomer for that outer layer remains to be chosen.
It is known that certain segmented thermoplastic copolyester elastomers ("COPE") commercially available under the trademark Hytrel® are flexible at low temperatures, tough and resilient, with good impact strength and flex fatigue, high resistance to creep and good retention of these properties at elevated temperatures and resistance to deterioration from many industrial chemicals, oils and solvents (see brochure titled "DuPont Hytrel® polyester elastomer—Extrusion Guide"). The brochure states "Experience has shown that Hytrel® is extremely compatible with most rigid and flexible PVC compounds, and equipment normally used to coextrude rigid and flexible PVC has given good results with Hytrel®. The lower melting point grades of Hytrel® generally give best results". The brochure refers to both rigid and flexible PVC, apparently overlooking that flexible PVC is plasticized, and the plasticizer migrating to the boundary between the PVC and Hytrel®, could eventually cause delamination. Moreover, the brochure fails to identify those grades of Hytrel® which are extremely compatible. However, since measured melting points of Hytrel® resins range from about 150° C. to 300° C., it is reasonable to ascertain that lower melting point grades are those in the range from about 150° C., but lower than 200° C. Nor does the brochure suggest how hydrolytically stable any particular Hytrel® may be over many years subjected to hot potable water under pressure; nor what tensile stress would be required for pipe carrying that potable water; nor that any one or more particular Hytrel® elastomers might provide a pressure design basis of 1380 kPa (200 psi) @ 82° C. for pipe which meets SDR-11 (standard dimension ratio) pipe dimensions, when tested in accordance with ASTM D-2837.
Nor does the brochure suggest which Hytrel® might be weldable or fusible to CPVC/PVC without substantially sacrificing flexibility of the laminate, and whether the laminate would not delaminate under operating conditions. Since the term "flexible pipe" is relative, when the term is used herein to define pipe which is CPVC/PVC, the term defines and refers to the ability of a pipe having a nominal diameter of 1.9 cm (0.75″) to bend through an angle of at least 90° while meeting SDR-11 requirements, without damaging the integrity of the wall of the pipe.
Most of all, the brochure fails to suggest that even if one or more Hytrel® elastomers were found which met the requirement of minimum pressure design basis and tensile stress under the stated conditions, even those Hytrel® elastomers would be found to be susceptible to hydrolytic degradation. Such degradation is found to be exacerbated by oxidizing agents in potable water, after service for several thousand hours but less than the expected service life of 50 years.
A portion of the many "COPE" sold under the Hytrel® trademark are segmented copolyester elastomers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,023,192; 3,651,014; 3,763,109; 3,766,146; 3,784,520; 3,801,547; 4,264,761; inter alia. Useful COPE elastomers are also commercially available from producers other than E. I. duPont and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,774 to Ciba-Geigy; U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,469 to Eastman Kodak; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,355,155 and 4,405,749 to GAF.

Flexible laminated plastic pipe having a chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) hollow core


A start control apparatus of an internal combustion engine comprises an ignition device for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, a start demanding device for demanding a start of the internal combustion engine, a starting device for starting the internal combustion engine, a determining device for determining a possibility of a self-ignition of the internal combustion engine at a time when a start demand is issued from the start demanding device, and a start procedure control device for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber by the ignition device after the start demand from the start demanding device in the case where the determining device determines that the possibility of the self-ignition of the internal combustion engine is higher than a predetermined level, thereafter starting the internal combustion engine by the starting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a start control apparatus for inhibiting self-ignition at the time of starting an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known technique of improving exhaust emission by continuously executing an ignition control even after operating so as to stop an internal combustion engine, and stopping the ignition control after completely burning fuel in a cylinder (refer to JP 5-312083 A). In addition, JP 2002-4985 A, JP 2001-173488 A, and JP 10-227236 A exist as prior art documents relevant to the present invention.
In a so-called cylinder direct injection type engine in which fuel is directly injected into each cylinder, since a fuel injection having comparatively high penetration force is executed, the fuel tends to be attached to a wall surface in the cylinder. Further, when the attached fuel is vaporized during an engine stop, there is a possibility that an air-fuel mixture having a high concentration of combustible gas is generated in the cylinder. In particular, in the case where the engine is stopped after a high load operation, the engine is stopped with keeping a high temperature. Accordingly, the attached fuel tends to be vaporized, and there is a high possibility that the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder reaches a combustible concentration. In the case where the engine is restarted in a state in which the air-fuel mixture having the high concentration of the combustible gas exists in the cylinder as mentioned above, there is a possibility that self-ignition is caused in a compression stroke at the time of cranking. Further, in the case where the temperature of the engine is high, the self-ignition tends to be caused. The self-ignition causes a starting property of the engine to be deteriorated.
Further, the self-ignition is also caused by the matter that the fuel attached to an intake port is vaporized so as to flow into the cylinder. Therefore, there is a possibility that the self-ignition is caused in an engine in which the fuel is injected to the intake port as well as the cylinder direct injection type engine.
However, in the prior art, the unburned fuel is burned only at a time while the engine is being stopped. Accordingly, even in the case of controlling the concentration of the unburned fuel in the cylinder to be less than the combustible concentration at the time of stopping the engine, the concentration of the unburned fuel reaches the combustible concentration at the time of restarting due to the vaporization of the attached fuel during the engine stop, and there is a possibility that the self-ignition is caused.

Start control apparatus of internal combustion engine


A process for producing a hydrocarbon from biomass. A feed stream having free fatty acids, fatty acid esters or combinations thereof is provided. The feed stream is heated in the presence of a first catalyst to produce a partially hydrodeoxygenated stream. The partially hydrodeoxygenated stream is heated in the presence of a second catalyst to produce an effluent stream containing the hydrocarbon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a process which removes oxygen from biomass, and more particularly, not by way of limitation, to an improved hydrodeoxygenation process.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Biomass is a renewable alternative to fossil raw materials in production of liquid fuels and chemicals. Increase of biofuels production is part of the government's strategy to improve energy security and reduce green house gas emissions. However, most biomass has high oxygen content which lowers fuel quality and heat value. Upgrading biomass or biomass intermediates into high quality hydrocarbon fuels thus requires removal of oxygen. The biomass oxygen may be in the form of an ester, carboxylic acid or hydroxyl groups.
Removal of oxygen by catalytic reaction with hydrogen is referred to as hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). This reaction may be conducted with conventional fixed-bed bimetallic hydrotreating catalysts such as sulfided nickel-molybdenum (NiMo) or cobalt-molybdenum (CoMo) which are commonly used in refineries.
Unrefined vegetable oils and animal fats have several hundred ppm phosphorus in the form of phospholipids. In addition, animal fats may contain up to a thousand ppm metal chloride salts. The salts are soluble in the fat/grease feed, but come out of solution during the HDO reaction and plug the catalyst bed. The metals/salts can also deactivate the catalyst by reducing available pore surface. In the presence of free fatty acids, metal chlorides may form soluble soaps (e.g. calcium stearate). In such form, metals are difficult to remove using conventional cleanup technologies such as water washing.
Several prior art processes for producing fuels from starting materials such as plants and animals are known. Conversion of vegetable oils to n-paraffins has been reported in the prior art. Some prior art has shown that the process may be applied to other forms of biomass such as tall oil fatty acids, animal fats, and restaurant greases. Hydroisomerization of the bio-derived n-paraffins to isoparaffinic diesel has been taught in the prior art.
Other prior art describes use of feed treatment upstream of an HDO reactor. Overall cleanup efficiency of 75% is reported. However no attempt is made to improve the hydrocarbon yields by increasing HDO efficiency. In fact the CO+CO2 yields reported are as high as 15% (which is near theoretical maximum decarboxylation (DCO), suggesting very low HDO efficiency).
Still other prior art teaches use of feed dilution to achieve better catalyst life. Solvent dilution is used to lower average bed temperatures for the exothermic HDO reaction, which in turn reduces the heavy side products that are formed at high temperature and reduce catalyst activity. However the level of dilution reported for good results is between 3% and 20%. This level of feed dilution translates to a significant increase in reactor size and separation/recycle costs.
Use of pre-hydrogenation to saturate the double-bonds in the triglyceride is described in other prior art. However, this pre-hydrogenation describes the well-known vegetable oil hydrogenation process which does not remove any oxygen. As such, the hydrogenolysis load on the main HDO catalyst is not affected by such pre-hydrogenation.
To this end, although processes of the existing art utilize biomass to produce biofuels, further improvements are desirable to increase HDO efficiency, reduce water partial pressure in the reactor, achieve a low capital/low operating cost method of removing heat from the fixed-bed reactor system, or address the problems with high acid feeds (characteristic of fatty acid containing biomass), which impacts preheater/reactor metallurgy and catalyst attrition. It is to such a process that the present invention is directed.


This invention is directed to a process for producing methanol. The methanol product that is produced according to this invention is achieved with a high conversion of synthesis gas. The high conversion of synthesis gas is achieved by flowing a liquid layer across a plurality of catalyst beds countercurrent to the gas flow. The gas containing methanol product exiting each bed flows through the liquid layer. The liquid acts to extract methanol from the gas, as well as cool the gas.

In general, the methanol synthesis process predominantly relies on synthesis gas (syngas) as feed components. Syngas generally contains carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen can also be present. Methanol production using syngas basically involves the following reactions:CO+2H2→CH3OH  (1)CO2+3H2→CH3OH+H2O  (2)
An additional side reaction includes:CO+H2OCO2+H2  (3)
Methanol synthesis is a strongly exothermic and equilibrium-limited reaction. Increases in reaction temperature tend to disfavor methanol formation, and tend to deactivate some of the more commonly used copper based catalysts. Thus, control of equilibrium in this complex reaction scheme is important to maximize the amount of methanol formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,722 discloses that two types of reactors are typically used for methanol synthesis: adiabatic bed reactor and cooled (i.e., isothermal) reactors. Adiabatic bed reactors typically have several fixed catalyst beds in series, and the temperature is controlled with heat exchangers between beds or by introducing cold synthesis gas between beds. Isothermal reactors typically have a bundle of tubes filled with catalyst, and use water to cool the tubes as the reaction takes place.
In the '722 patent, a particular reaction system is detailed in which the system uses multiple reactors in series. After each reactor, an absorption vessel is used to absorb methanol from the reactor effluent. Examples of absorbents used include tetra ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), sulfolane, and 18-crown-6.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,891 discloses a fluidized bed reactor that is used to make methanol. The reactor has catalyst in a plurality of interconnected fluidized bed sections, and each section is cooled by a heat exchanger. The temperature in the highest section is reduced to below the highest temperature in a lower section.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,696 discloses a process for production of methanol that uses a simulated moving bed. In the process, the carbon monoxide and hydrogen are catalytically reacted to form methanol. The methanol is separated from unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen by concurrent adsorption, using the carbon monoxide and hydrogen as the desorbent.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,886 discloses a process for production of methanol in a catalytic distillation unit, or CDU. This patent discloses that a number of stages can be used to achieve a final conversion of CO approaching 100%. The heat of reaction may be removed by removing a portion of the methanol, cooling it, and returning it to the CDU. It is not disclosed how the unreacted reactants are returned to the catalyst zone by distillation, since the syngas components are essentially non-condensable at methanol synthesis conditions.
A variety of reaction processes have been disclosed in an effort to find efficient ways of controlling equilibrium and/or temperatures in the complex methanol reaction process. Additional process schemes are still desired in order to maximize the conversion of CO, CO2 and hydrogen to methanol in much simpler and more effective ways.


A method for laser processing arrays of optical fibers and high-fiber count splicing connectors and adapters are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a structure having optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows and placing a protection element adjacent to a first row of optical fibers and a second row of optical fibers. Thereafter, the first row of optical fibers can be processed using the laser. The protection element may also be used to move optical fibers. In one embodiment, the protection element has a first portion and a second portion that have relative movement therebetween. In other variations, an absorption element may be provided adjacent the first row of optical fibers for inhibiting incidental damage to the structure.

The disclosure is directed to methods for laser processing optical fibers and fiber optic connectors. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to methods for laser processing optical fibers arranged in arrays and splicing connectors having a dense array of optical fibers.
Optical fiber is increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to broadband voice, video, and data transmission. As bandwidth demands increase there is an unresolved need for high fiber count fiber optic connectors and methods for making the same. Moreover, the high fiber count fiber optic connectors become increasingly difficult to make as the fiber count increases since the number of fibers that must be aligned increases. In other words, the relatively small cores of the array of optical fibers must be aligned with suitable transmission loss levels for all the fibers of the array.

Methods for laser processing arrayed optical fibers along with splicing connectors


A method to reduce ocular chromatic aberrations using a lens or other spatial structure to selectively band-pass filter transmitted light of certain wavelengths. The ocular lens overcomes the negative effects of the wavelength band pass filter lenses while maintaining its ability to reduce the negative effects of chromatic aberration. The band-pass filter is applied in one or more concentric zones and or angular regions. The lens power is adjusted in concert with the band-pass filter wavelength to minimize aberrations. Variations include the application of the band-pass filter being applied to an angular region and no filter is applied to another. Alternatively the band-pass filter is not applied to one or more concentric ring regions and is applied to one or more angular regions. The band-pass filter can be applied to the surface of the lens or spatial structure, or applied to the lens material.

The human eye often suffers from aberrations such as defocus and astigmatism that must be corrected to provide acceptable vision to maintain a high quality of life.
Correction of these defocus and astigmatism aberrations can be accomplished using a lens. The lens can be located at the spectacle plane, at the cornea (a contact lens or corneal implant), or within the eye as a phakic (crystalline lens intact) or aphakic (crystalline lens removed) intraocular lens.
The correction of these basic aberrations of defocus and astigmatism is generally limited to a single wavelength of light, typically in the middle of the visible spectrum. But the eye must function in a polychromatic environment that contains a wide range of wavelengths. For a refractive element such as a lens, the refracting power of the lens varies with wavelength. This is because the index of refraction of the lens material varies with wavelength. Generally, as wavelength increases, the index of refraction decreases. This variation in aberrations with wavelength is referred to as chromatic aberration.
Two methods that have been employed to combat the effects of chromatic aberration are wavelength band pass filters and diffractive lenses. Wavelength band pass filters use a dye to pass a given wavelength or narrow band of wavelengths and absorb the other wavelengths. An example is the "blue blocker" lens which passes wavelengths around green/yellow and absorbs blue and red wavelengths. Assuming defocus and astigmatism are corrected, the resulting retinal image is noticeably sharper since the chromatic aberration for the blue and red rays are reduced or eliminated. A negative of this approach is that the color information in the environment is significantly reduced.
A second method to combat chromatic aberration is the use of diffractive lenses. These lenses use step discontinuities to cause phase changes that reduce chromatic aberrations. A negative is that the step discontinuities also reduce the quality of the retinal image.
Our goal is to describe an ocular lens that overcomes the negative effects of the wavelength band pass filter lenses while maintaining its ability to reduce the negative effects of chromatic aberration. We term our lens the progressive chromatic aberration corrected ocular lens.

Progressive chromatic aberration corrected ocular lens


A gemstone rating system is provided particularly for rating the cut of diamonds in which particular cuts and features are measured and the results compared with and provided with a predetermined score depending upon deviations from a theoretical perfect cut; and wherein the deviation scores are summed and then subtracted from an initially perfect score to provide a universally comparable indication of quality of cut.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems for assessing the quality of gemstones such as diamonds, and more particularly to a system and method for grading the cut of a diamond wherein a numerical score indicative of such overall cut quality is calculated for the stone.
2. Preliminary Discussion
Usually, layman diamond purchasers are informed that the cost and value of a diamond is based on the "4 C's"—Clarity, Colour, Cut (proportion), and Carat Weight. The higher grade a diamond receives in each of such categories, the better its overall quality and generally the more costly it will be. Layman diamond purchasers are usually not sufficiently skilled to effectively judge the quality of the cut a diamond. In addition, such quality may be judged differently by different persons despite their experience. Therefore, such purchasing decision is usually based largely upon the carat weight of the diamond, as well as on a visual inspection with the naked eye. Visual inspection is somewhat useful in judging the overall clarity and brilliance of a diamond, although less so to the untrained eye. However, while clarity affects the visual appearance of a diamond, the brilliance of a diamond is primarily but not entirely, influenced by the quality of the cut and proportions of the diamond.
Higher quality diamonds are usually accompanied by an independent grading report or certificate. Grading reports do not include appraisals indicative of the value or worth of a diamond, but rather give an independent expert opinion of the quality of a loose or unset stone. Independent grading reports are available from numerous organizations or labs, the most recognized of which are probably the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and American Gem Society (AGS), and European Gem Lab (EGL).
The American Gem Society (AGS) certifies professional jewelers as Registered Jewelers (RJ), Certified Gemologists (CG), and Certified Gemologist Appraisers (CGA). In addition, the Grading Reports issued by AGS assigns 0–10 grades to the cut of round diamonds, with 0 being an ideal cut, 1 an excellent cut, 2 a very good cut, 3–4 a good cut, 5–7 a fair cut, and 8–10 a poor cut. Colour and clarity are also rated in a similar manner. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) also has a scale for rating diamonds that is divided into two categories: colour and clarity. The GIA colour scale grades diamond from D (a total absence of colour) to Z (very deeply coloured). Clarity refers to the number of inclusions (internal marks) and blemishes (external marks) a diamond may have and how visible such marks are. Clarity is graded on a GIA clarity scale which ranges from Fl (flawless) to I-3 (very obvious and potentially damaging marks). GIA's proprietary grading system is well respected and generally considered on par with AGS's scale for color and clarity ratings. However, GIA does not grade cut, so merchants will send stones to AGS for cut scores, particularly if they are confident that the stone will get an AGS 0 or 1 cut score. One drawback of such grading systems is that they do not always consider the inter-relationships between the overall proportions of a diamond, which can significantly effect its appearance. For example, by varying the crown and pavilion angles and table percentage, brilliant diamonds not having "ideal" proportions may result. Research into the interrelationship of factors that contribute to the brilliance of a diamond is continuing.
Other gemological laboratories, such as Harold Weinstein Ltd. (HWL), have developed their own simple cut grading systems. In the HWL system, a stone having ideal proportions is considered an excellent cut and given an HW Grade of 1 to 1+, a good cut stone is given an HW Grade 2 to 3, an average cut is given an HW Grade 4, a commercial cut an HW Grade 5 to 6, and an irregular cut an HW Grade 7 to 8. Other laboratories such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI), Belgium High Diamond Council (HRD), Accredited Gem Appraiser (AGA) and European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) use either similar or individual systems for rating diamonds including the cut of such diamonds.
One drawback of having individual systems for all of such laboratories is that there is not an accepted industry wide standard for cut grading. This encourages dealers to "shop around" to get the most favorable grade or score for a diamond. Dealers are aware of which systems are more liberal with respect to some qualities than others, and therefore will send their stones to such companies depending upon what results they want or need to increase the perceived value of a stone. For example, some reports may have tight grading in the upper qualities but become more liberal as color falls. Another company is known for having well-graded high-grade stones, but for being quite liberal below F grade. Thus, borderline stones are usually sent to "softer" laboratories where dealers are reasonably sure they will receive a more favorable grade or score.
Thus, while there are various systems for individually judging the cut of a brilliant cut diamond, the fact that each laboratory has its own cut grading scale is confusing and leads to inexactness in the marketplace. In addition, none of such known scales is exact enough to be capable of distinguishing between minute differences between stones having closely similar cuts, so that stones having overall significantly different measurements and proportions may be accorded the same basic grade. It is also virtually impossible to accurately and objectively compare the quality of the cut of stones graded by different laboratories. In addition, lower quality stones currently are not typically provided with a grading report, so that many of such stones have less fungability and value than they would if they had a grading report.
3. Description of Related Art
Various devices and arrangements are found in the patented prior art for analyzing crystals and gemstones such as diamonds, although there is little prior art with respect to actual rating or scoring systems for the cut of a diamond. The following references are illustrative of such prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,799,604 issued to F. F. Read entitled "Method and Apparatus for Identifying Crystals" discloses a system wherein a light source is shown upon a diamond, which fragments the light into a plurality of secondary rays. The angles of deflection of the secondary rays are then measured to determine the surface angles of the diamond. Such invention helps identify and distinguish between diamonds that would be considered virtually identical using older identification techniques, but in comparison to today's electronic measurement machines provides only a limited amount of information about the diamonds. In addition, the angles measured are not applied to a grading scale similar to the present inventor's grading system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,770 issued to A. R. Lang entitled "Diamond Identification" teaches a technique for identifying gem quality diamonds in both a rough as well as a cut state wherein the topographical characteristics and internal defects of the stone that are not changed during cutting are analyzed using x-ray topography to measure x-ray diffraction at the "Bragg angle." Lang does not attempt to grade or score the quality of the cut of a diamond, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,011 issued to J. C. Crumm et al. entitled "Optical Gem Analyzer" discloses an optical gem analyzing machine wherein the gem is irradiated with wide spectrum light and measurements are taken of the reflection and refraction angles of the light passing through the gem. The resulting measurements are then compared with known reference readings, and the quality of the cut is estimated based on the amount of deviation from such reference readings. No system or method applying such measured results to an overall numerical scale as in the present inventor's system is shown, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,975 issued to P. M. Raccah entitled "Apparatus for Determining the Color Characteristics of a Gem" discloses a device for measuring the color characteristics of a gem whereby the spectral distribution of light passed through the stone is measured and then compared against and graded using the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color standard. Raccah teaches an apparatus for measuring gem color, rather than cut, and does not teach a new system for grading or rating either the color or cut quality of a diamond.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,245 issued to H. Makabe et al. entitled "Apparatus for Measuring the Color of a Brilliant-Cut Diamond," discloses another apparatus for measuring the color of a diamond using a monochromator to analyze the spectrum of light passed through the diamond. The color measurements are then compared with standard GIA or International Confederation of Jewelry, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls and Stones (C.I.B.J.O.) measurements to determine a color grade. Therefore, Makabke et al. does not teach a new grading system but rather another apparatus for analyzing a gem. Numerous other color measuring devices are known in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,771 issued to H. J. Bowley entitled "Method for Assessing Diamond Quality" discloses a method wherein a laser Raman spectrometer calibrated to known diamond characteristics is used to determine the qualities of a diamond. Essentially a laser beam is directed at the diamond, and the intensity of the resulting scattered Raman radiation spectrum is compared with standard intensities. U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,147 also issued to H. J. Bowley entitled "Diamond Mapping" discloses a similar method wherein the intensity of Raman radiation is used to map the crystalline structure of a diamond. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,875 also issued to H. J. Bowley et al. entitled "Diamond Separation Process," discloses a diamond color assessment apparatus which measures Raman radiation wavelengths. A simple color rating system based on measured Raman wavelengths is disclosed in this reference; however, none of the Bowley et al. references teaches a grading scale similar to that of the present inventor used to rate the quality of the cut of a brilliant cut diamond.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,803 issued to D. Andrechuk entitled "Method and Apparatus for Determining the Facet Angles of a Gemstone," discloses an apparatus that measures the angle of light reflected off of each facet of a gemstone when compared to a scale having angular measurement indicia thereon. Such information is indicative of the quality of a stone, particularly a diamond; however, Andrechuk does not teach a system for taking such information and using it to assign a quality grade or score to the stone, which is the basic method of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,005 issued to K. A. Valente et al. entitled "Gemstone Evaluation System," discloses an apparatus for evaluating primarily the color quality of gemstones using optical evaluation techniques. The gemstone is placed in a spherical analysis chamber and the wavelengths of light are passed through the gem and measured. Such information is digitized so that a computer program can compare the readings with standard readings for each pixel of data, and then for the gemstone as a whole. Images of such stones may also be taken and provided to prospective buyers, thereby decreasing the likelihood of return of the stone after actual inspection by such prospective buyer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,178 issued to S. Borgato entitled "Data Processing System and Method for Facilitating Transactions in Diamonds" discloses a system for bringing together buyers and sellers of diamonds and facilitating diamonds sales between such parties. To facilitate such transactions, information concerning the quality and characteristics of diamonds is input into a computer system and displayed to prospective buyers and sellers. The diamonds may be categorized by weight class, cut depending upon the shape, or other parameters. Borgato does not teach a system for grading the overall quality of the cut of a brilliant cut diamond, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,673 issued to P. T. Shannon, Sr. entitled "System and Method for Computerized Evaluation of Gemstones" discloses a system for grading the cut of a gemstone wherein a three-dimensional profile of the stone is generated, rather than a two-dimensional model as with the two-dimensional profile of the standard Tolkowsky cut. The basic steps in the Shannon, Sr. method are building a data model of the gemstone, illuminating the stone with an illumination model, tracing the propagation of light within and exiting the stone, determining the light exiting the stone, and grading the stone based on such exiting light. Shannon, Sr. is directly primarily directed to a new cut analysis and measuring technique and machine, rather than a new cut grading system. However, such reference states that the grade may be an average, weighted sum, or other expression, and is a composite cut grade.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,954 issued to L. K. Aggarwal entitled "Method and Associated Apparatus for the Standardized Grading of Gemstones" discloses a method wherein a comprehensive analysis of the color, cut, clarity and other qualities of a gemstone is provided via a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, thereby claiming to provide more consistency between grading measurements. While the Aggarwal measuring and grading apparatus is one of the more comprehensive systems for analyzing a gemstone in the prior art, it still does not disclose a new or different rating system for generating a comprehensive single numerical score that may be used to evaluate or compare the quality of such diamonds.
Significant advances in the tools used to measure the accuracy of the cut and proportions of a diamond have been made in recent years. Although diamonds used to be graded for cut mostly by visual estimation, today there are several electronic machines available that analyze and determine the angles and proportion of the cuts. The most popular of these machines are manufactured by Sarin Technologies, Ltd. of Israel and having a U.S. office in New York, N.Y. The Sarin DiaScan and DiaMension machines are capable of more precisely measuring the facet angles and proportions of a cut diamond. The American Gem Society (AGS) uses the Sarin DiaScan machine to measure the proportions of diamonds in producing a grading report as well as in establishing its ideal cut standard. The DiaScan machine essentially measures facet inclinations by plotting interceptions using computerized machine vision and advanced 3D image processing, and provides consistently repeatable proportion measurements of round and fancy gemstones based on proportion measurements of international laboratories to an accuracy of ±0.2 degrees. Reports with such measurements are then generated and available for analysis. With the advent of such electronic measuring devices, which have now become standard in the industry, there is a need for a standardized grading diamond cut grading system that is accurate and objective and which assigns an overall cut quality grade or score to a diamond that is indicative of the quality of cut of such diamond and which is capable of distinguishing between minute differences in the cut of two stones. The present inventor with his cut grading system and method fulfills such need.


A multi-access online game system and a game control method for use in the same are disclosed. The game control method is applied to a multi-access online game system which is connected to at least one user client and includes a first server and at least one second server. The method includes: receiving an event message associated with a game from a first user client, wherein the first server receives the game-associated event message when the game-associated event message is not the real-time message, and the at least one second server receive the game-associated event message when the game-associated event message is the real-time message; determining a second user client where the real-time message is to be received; and transmitting the real-time message to the second user client. The real-time message is processed by the second server, so that the load of the first server is reduced.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-access online game system and a method for controlling a game for use in the multi-access online game system, and more particularly to a system and method for effectively processing real-time messages generated during an online game with many messages to be processed in real time.
Description of the Related Art
Recently, with the increasing development of network technologies, data can be transmitted to a desired destination at high speed. As user terminals capable of accessing the network have rapidly come into widespread use throughout the world, content providers (CPs) capable of providing the user terminals with a variety of contents are rapidly increasing every year.
The content provider (CP) provides users with a variety of content services, for example, a searching service, a shopping service, a game service, and a chatting service, etc. Particularly, if the game service acting as the paying service is provided to the users, the content provider (CP) can guarantee a large number of consumers, so that the game service is generally considered to be the most important content service profitable to the content provider (CP).
Particularly, a multi-access online role-playing game from among many online games enables a plurality of gamers to use or modify environments provided from game developers, so that the gamers can create stories and structures of games. In this way, it should be noted that the above-mentioned multi-access online role-playing games are considered to be a representative specified game.
There are a variety of multi-access online role-playing games, for example, "Diablo" and "World of Warcraft" from Blizzard, "Lineage" from NCsoft, and "Ultima Online" from ORIGIN, etc.
Generally, the above-mentioned multi-access online role-playing game has provided users with a fantasy-based world (i.e., simulated environments). However, in recent times, the world of the multi-access online role-playing game has become more diverse in the real world, for example, general cities or schools.
The multi-access online role-playing game has been conducted by interaction between one player and other players, so that a game command message of any one of the users must be transmitted to other users. The transmission of the game command message greatly affects a load of the multi-access online role-playing game server.
With the extension of the multi-access online role-playing game area, a racing game is modified into the multi-access online role-playing game, and is then provided to users or players. Player characters (e.g., cars) for use in the above-mentioned racing role-playing game move very fast or frequently collide with each other. Therefore, if the fast-moving information or collision information of the player characters is transmitted to users other than a playing user, an amount of load of the game server may be rapidly increased, resulting in the occurrence of fatal errors.

Multi-access online game system and method for controlling game for use in the multi-access online game system


A headset adapted to transmitting an outgoing audio signal (Tx) and comprising a voice microphone and at least one ambient microphone. The headset comprises an ambient noise reduction block (ANR), which is adapted to reduce the level of ambient noise in the outgoing audio signal (Tx). The ambient noise reduction block (ANR) includes the measuring the levels of the voice microphone signal (X) and ambient microphone signal (Y) to estimate a characteristic constant level drop between the voice microphone signal (X) and the ambient microphone signal (Y), which is characteristic for the headset user talking. A time-varying filter passes the voice microphone signal (X), when the level difference is larger than characteristic constant level drop (CLD) and attenuates the voice microphone signal (X), if the level difference is below characteristic constant level drop.

A headset of type mentioned above can be provided with earphones or earbuds and used for listening to audio, such as music, and two-way communication. It can be corded and plugged into a smartphone or computer, or it can be wireless and be provided with a transceiver, such as a Bluetooth transceiver. Other types of headsets comprise two earphones, a headband connecting the earphones and a microphone arm, by means of which the microphone can be arranged close to the user's mouth during use. It is a great advantage to be able to arrange the microphone close to the mouth, as a better signal to ambient noise ratio can be obtained. This is why this type of headset is the most widely used headset for telecommunication in call centres and offices. When a user is using such a headset for two-way communication, ambient noise, such as speak from other office workers in the office can be problematic. Firstly, the noise can be transmitted to the other end together with the headset user's voice, which can be disturbing. Secondly, communication in the office, which may be confidential, may reach the party at other end of the communication line, which, off course, is undesirable. Thus, there is a need to provide an improved ambient noise reduction system for headsets.

Headset with ambient noise reduction system


Systems and methods for printing are disclosed. In one arrangement, the systems and methods pertain to receiving information with a printing device regarding the location of data to be printed by the printing device, obtaining the data to be printed via a network, and printing the data as a hard copy document.

Many different types of printing devices are available in today's market. These printing devices range from conventional printers to devices that are capable of multiple functionalities including multifunction peripherals (MFPs), all-in-one devices, etc.
Often, these printing devices are network-enabled and therefore can receive and/or transmit data over a network such as a local area network (LAN) as well as the Internet. Many of these printing devices include user interface devices, such as QWERTY keyboards, that allow the user to enter specific information into the printing device. Despite these capabilities, files stored on a network normally still can only be printed by the printing device if provided to the printing device by a suitable host device, such as a personal computer (PC). Accordingly, even though the user may know the address of a printable, network-accessible file and is able to enter information into the printing device with a given interface device, and despite the fact that the printing device is capable of network communication, the printing device cannot be used to print the file without the user first facilitating its delivery to the device using a host device. If the printing device were capable of receiving identification of the file location and retrieving the file, the printing device could be used as a stand-alone device, thereby permitting use of the printing device in many new applications.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A system and method for analyzing cardiac data acquired from a patient having an implant. The system can acquire non-implant cardiac data and implant cardiac data from the patient. The system can synchronize the non-implant cardiac data and the implant cardiac data and can correlate the non-implant cardiac data with the implant cardiac data to determine a cardiac condition of the patient.

A pacemaker's main purpose is to analyze the function of the heart's electrical system and to keep the electrical system operating properly. A pacemaker can prevent the cardiac problems associated with slow heart rhythms (e.g., congestive heart failure, fainting, death, etc.). Pacemakers are necessary because, while there are many medications that prevent the heart from operating too quickly, there are only a few medications that can make the heart operate more quickly. Pacemakers have become a reliable means of helping people live longer and improve their lifestyles despite having a slow heart rhythm.
An automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator ("AICD") is an electronic device that is implanted in a pocket formed in the chest wall that senses the heart's rhythm and can deliver a powerful shock to the heart. The AICD automatically detects certain arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, etc.) and delivers a shock to the heart to terminate the arrhythmia.
Both pacemakers and AICDs provide artificial stimulation for the management of rhythm and/or improved heart function. Both pacemakers and AICDs include electronic circuitry that stores information about the heart as it monitors the heart rhythm and delivers therapy. Caregivers can review this stored information by using a programmer or interrogator that communicates with the pacemaker or AICD through the skin. Caregivers are able to review the heart's rhythms, arrhythmia episodes, and device operation over a period of time with the programmer or interrogator.
Conventionally, caregivers review the implant data gathered by the programmer or interrogator independently of other cardiac data available for the patient.

System and method for correlating implant and non-implant data

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc.


Foreign materials in a chemical specimen are detected by irradiating the chemical specimen with ultrasonic waves and detecting and monitoring scattered sound from the foreign materials in the chemical specimen. Even if the foreign materials are photosensitive substances which cannot be exposed to light, they can be detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for detecting foreign materials and, more particularly, to an apparatus and process for detecting foreign materials for use in LSI manufacturing processes.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view illustrating a conventional apparatus for detecting foreign materials. In this figure, a chemical specimen 1 flows through a container in the form of a transparent pipe 2. An observation region 3 for the chemical specimen 1, as illustrated partially cutaway, is irradiated with a laser beam 4 such as an He-Ne laser beam through a projection optical system 5. The scattered light of this laser beam 4 is formed into an image at an image-formation region 7 through a receptor lens system 6.
In a conventional apparatus for detecting foreign materials of this type, the chemical specimen 1 enters the observation region 3 through the transparent pipe 2 and circulates through a return passage which is not illustrated. The observation region 3 is irradiated with the laser beam 4 through the projection optical system 5 and the laser beam 4 passes through the chemical specimen 1.
When foreign materials exist in the chemical specimen 1, the laser beam 4 is diffused to form scattered light. This scattered light is projected on image-formation region 7 through a receptor lens system 6. The foreign materials have been detected by monitoring the scattered light.
In the above apparatus for detecting foreign materials, since a laser beam is used, a transparent pipe 2 must be employed. Accordingly, it is difficult to employ this apparatus when the chemical specimen 1 is a photosensitive substance such as a photoresist.

Apparatus and method for ultrasonic detection of foreign materials in a specimen


The first smectic liquid crystal composition of the invention has a voltage gradation parameter L of less than 0.6, said parameter being defined by the equation L=S.sub.H /S.sub.O with the proviso that: a liquid crystal cell filled with a liquid crystal composition is placed between a pair of polarizing plates arranged in the crossed Nicols state; a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal cell to form a hysteresis curve showing a correlation between the voltage and a transmittance; and a tangent line I.sub.R of the hysteresis curve within a region wherein the transmittance steeply increases intersects a tangent line I.sub.F of the hysteresis curve within a region which is adjacent to the voltage-steep increase region and which is on the higher-voltage side at an intersection point P. In the above equation, S.sub.O is an area of a rectangular triangle having as an oblique side a straight line PQ which has, as both ends, the intersection point P and an intersection point Q of an axis of ordinate (V=0) and the hysteresis curve; and S.sub.H is an area of a region enclosed with the straight line PQ, the hysteresis curve and a constant-voltage straight line which passes the intersection point P. The second liquid crystal composition of the invention has a parameter G of 0 to 0.3, said parameter G being defined by the following equation with the proviso that when an absolute value .vertline.V.vertline. of a voltage V applied in the same manner as described above is increased to the predetermined value .vertline.V.vertline..sub.min, the light quantity T becomes a maximum value T.sub.max ; ##EQU1## In the above equation, S is an area of a region enclosed with the hysteresis curve, T.sub.min is a minimum value of the transmittance; and T.sub.0 is a transmittance given when no voltage is applied.

Attempts to use liquid crystal elements which utilize electrooptic effect of a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal phase (referred to as "TN liquid crystal elements" hereinafter) as display elements of display devices for transient images of moving objects (moving images) have been heretofore made.
The TN liquid crystal elements includes a liquid crystal cell wherein a liquid crystal material capable of exhibiting a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal phase (said cell being referred to as "TN liquid crystal cell" hereinafter) is filled in a cell gap.
Most of the recent TN liquid crystal cells used in full color display devices for moving images are driven on an active matrix driving system utilizing TFT (thin film transistor) or MIM (metal insulator metal).
The TN liquid crystal elements having such liquid crystal cells as mentioned above can display images of excellent gradation property, so that they are favorably used for displaying full color images. The term "gradation property" means such a property that brightness intensities between the maximum brightness (white) and the minimum brightness (black) can be stepwise discriminated. For example, by the term "16-gradation" is meant that the brightness of 16 steps can be discriminated from each other between the maximum brightness and the minimum brightness. As the number of the discriminating brightness steps increases, the gradation property becomes better.
The TN liquid crystal elements, however, have a long (slow) electrooptic response time of several tens seconds. Therefore, the display devices using the TN liquid crystal elements cannot follow images of quick motions. Further, the range of the angle at which an image displayed using the TN liquid crystal element is visible is narrow, and when the images displayed by the TN liquid crystal element is observed with an angle outside of a particular range of angle, a problem of the image with reversed gradation or a problem of change in hue of the image takes place.
When the display elements as mentioned above are driven on the active matrix system, the frame frequency in the image display can be set at, for example, not less than 60 Hz, but the electrooptic switching time generally becomes at least several tens msec and occasionally becomes about 200 msec. Therefore, it is difficult to smoothly display moving images by means of the display devices for moving images using the TN liquid crystal elements.
In contrast therewith, liquid crystal elements utilizing electrooptic effect of a ferroelectric liquid crystal phase (referred to as "ferroelectric liquid crystal elements" hereinafter) and liquid crystal elements utilizing electrooptic effect of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase (referred to as "antiferroelectric liquid crystal elements" hereinafter) have extremely shorter electrooptic response time than that of the TN liquid crystal elements, and these elements have an advantage in that the range of an angle at which an Image displayed by the elements is visible is wide.
The ferroelectric liquid crystal phase reveals layer structures shown in, for example, FIG. 47(a) to FIG. 47(c).
FIG. 47(a) schematically illustrates an orientation state of liquid crystal molecules 101 which form an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase between electrodes 102 and 102' provided on respective substrates 106 and 106' of a liquid crystal cell. In general, the electrode 102 and the electrode 102' are formed on one surface of the substrate 106 and one surface of the substrate 106', respectively. When the liquid crystal molecules 101 are orientated, the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules 101 are substantially parallel to the electrodes 102, 102', and the liquid crystal molecule major axes which are parallel to each other gather to form liquid crystal layers 103 perpendicular to the electrodes 102, 102'. When an orientation film (not shown) to control orientation directions of the liquid crystal molecules 101 is provided on the surface of one or both of the electrodes 102, 102', the liquid crystal layers 103 are in contact with the orientation film(s) with keeping a state as shown in FIG. 47(b) or FIG. 47(c). That is, the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules 101 which form the liquid crystal layers 103 have fixed tilt angles to a line which is perpendicular to the boundaries between the adjacent liquid crystal layers 103. The direction of spontaneous polarization of each liquid crystal molecule 101 is perpendicular to the surfaces of the electrodes 102, 102', however, the direction of the spontaneous polarization 104 shown in FIG. 47(b) and the direction of the spontaneous polarization 105 shown in FIG. 47(c) are opposite to each other. The orientation states of the liquid crystal molecules shown in FIG. 47(b) and FIG. 47(c) are both stable.
The ferroelectric liquid crystal element has two kinds of electrooptically stable states corresponding to the orientation states of the liquid crystal molecules shown in FIG. 47(b) and FIG. 47(c).
This has been reported by Clerk, et al., and they have proposed use of the ferroelectric liquid crystal elements as display devices.
As for the ferroelectric liquid crystal element, when a pulse voltage having a pulse width of several tens .mu.sec is applied between the electrodes 102, 102' of the liquid crystal cell, one of the bistable states shown in FIG. 47(b) and FIG. 47(c) is selected to modulate the light. The state thus selected is maintained even after application of voltage is stopped. Accordingly, the ferroelectric liquid crystal element has a capacity for memorizing use.
When a direct voltage is applied between the electrodes 102, 102' of the liquid crystal cell, the ferroelectric liquid crystal element does not show a clear threshold value in the voltage-light quantity correlation, but when a pulse voltage is applied, the ferroelectric liquid crystal element not only shows a clear threshold value in the voltage-light quantity correlation but also has a capacity for memorizing use. For this reason, driving of the liquid crystal cell of the ferroelectric liquid crystal element on a simple matrix system has been studied.
Differently from the ferroelectric liquid crystal element, the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element found by Chandany, et al. (Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 28, L1261, 1989) includes a liquid crystal cell wherein a liquid crystal material capable of exhibiting an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase (referred to as "antiferroelectric liquid crystal material" hereinafter) is filled in the cell gap.
As for the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element, the antiferroelectric liquid crystal material filled in the cell gap of the liquid crystal cell is in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase when the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element is electrooptically changed.
The antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase reveals layer structures shown in FIG. 48(a) to FIG. 48(d).
The orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules 201 shown in FIG. 48(a) is the same as that of the liquid crystal molecules 101 shown in FIG. 47(a); the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules 201 shown in FIG. 48(b) is the same as that of the liquid crystal molecules 101 shown in FIG. 47(b); and the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules 201 shown in FIG. 48(d) is the same as that of the liquid crystal molecules 101 shown in FIG. 47(c).
In the antiferroelectric liquid crystal state shown in FIG. 48(c), the directions of spontaneous polarization 104 of the liquid crystal molecules in one liquid crystal layer 103 and the directions of spontaneous polarization 105 of the liquid crystal molecules in the adjacent liquid crystal layer 103 are opposite to each other, and the intensity of the spontaneous polarization as a whole becomes zero.
If the electrodes 102, 102' of the liquid crystal cell are transparent electrodes and if a low-frequency triangular wave voltage of about 0.1 Hz is applied between the electrodes 102, 102', the quantity of the transmitted light released (output) from the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element forms a double hysteresis curve shown in FIG. 49. Besides, if a direct voltage is applied between the electrodes 102, 102', the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element shows a clear threshold value in the voltage-light quantity correlation. For these reasons, driving of the liquid crystal cell of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element on a simple matrix system has been studied.
Since the above-mentioned ferroelectric liquid crystal element and antiferroelectric liquid crystal element have quick electrooptic response time, it is feasible to drive the liquid crystal cells of these elements on a simple matrix system to display moving images. Moreover, the range of the angle at which the image thus displayed is visible is extremely wider than that of an image displayed by the TN-liquid crystal element, so that the image displayed using the ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal element hardly suffers lowering of contrast even if the image is observed obliquely, said lowering of contrast being a serious problem in the TN liquid crystal element.
The liquid crystal element utilizing electrooptic effect of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase (referred to as "antiferroelectric liquid crystal element" hereinafter) can electrooptically control brightness of the transmitted light and has an electrooptic switching time of several tens to several hundreds .mu.sec, as described by Jono, et al. in "Jpn. J. Appl. Phys." Vol. 29, L107 (1990), and therefore electrooptic switching can be made at a higher speed than the TN liquid crystal element.
At the International Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Conference (Tokyo) in 1993, Nippon Denso Co., Ltd. and Citizen Co., Ltd. exhibited trial manufactures of antiferroelectric liquid crystal elements which were able to be driven on a simple matrix system using the above-mentioned properties. The trial manufactures have proved that use of the hysteresis of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal makes it possible to drive a display element of multi-scanning line display system on a simple matrix system.
The liquid crystal cell of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element can be driven on a simple matrix system to display an image having gradation as described above, but in the existing circumstances, it is ditficult to obtain the gradation enough to form a good full color image.
That is, because the electrooptic response speed of the display device using the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element is insufficient, the frame frequency in the image display cannot be increased to 60 Hz or more, and therefore moving images of natural motion cannot be displayed. In case that the conventional antiferroelectric liquid crystal element is driven on an active matrix system, if a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the liquid crystal cell, the quantity of the light output from the liquid crystal element having the liquid crystal cell (e.g., quantity of the polarized light in the given polarization direction) steeply varies at the voltage of a particular intensity (threshold voltage). Therefore, it has been hitherto considered that in the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element the mere electrooptic discrimination of the output light between the brightness and the darkness is basically possible and that the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element outputs only a light having two kinds of light quantities corresponding to the brightness and the darkness.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 194626/1994 proposes an antiferroelectric liquid crystal element having such a property that, in case that the liquid crystal cell of the element is driven on an active matrix system, if a voltage is applied between the electrodes 102, 102' of the liquid crystal cell, the light quantity varies correspondingly to the applied voltage to form a double hysteresis curve with small hysteresis width as shown in FIG. 50.
In such circumstances as mentioned above, the present inventors have further studied the smectic liquid crystal compositions, and as a result, have found that, if a liquid crystal element is made using a liquid crystal cell wherein a specific smectic liquid crystal composition is filled between electrodes and if a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the liquid crystal cell, the quantity of the polarized light output from the liquid crystal element in the given polarization direction varies continuously over a wide voltage range. The present inventors have also found that when the liquid crystal element having the above properties is used as a display element, an image of excellent gradation can be obtained by merely controlling the intensity of the voltage applied between the electrodes of the liquid crystal cell, and therefore the liquid crystal element is advantageously used for displaying moving images. Further, the present inventors have found that, in order to display an image of high gradation by driving the liquid crystal cell of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element on an active matrix system, the small hysteresis is not necessarily sufficient, and additionally a specific parameter G defined below should be made as small as possible. The specific parameter G is defined by a maximum light quantity T.sub.max and a minimum light quantity T.sub.min of a light output from the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element, a light quantity T.sub.0 of a light output from the antiferroelectric liquid crystal element when no voltage is applied between the electrodes of the liquid crystal cell, an area S enclosed with the double hysteresis curve formed when a positive or negative voltage is applied between the electrodes of the liquid crystal cell, and a minimum voltage .vertline.V.vertline..sub.min at which the light quantity T.sub.max is obtained.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a smectic liquid crystal composition capable of imparting voltage gradation property to a liquid crystal element.
It is another object of the invention to provide a liquid crystal composition capable of imparting excellent voltage gradation property to a liquid crystal element.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a liquid crystal composition and a smectic liquid crystal composition by the use of which images of excellent gradation can be displayed when elements using the compositions are driven on an active matrix system.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a liquid crystal element comprising any of the above liquid crystal compositions and a method of driving the element.


A method includes driving a component in an electromagnetic actuator back and forth during one or more cycles of the actuator, where the actuator includes a voice coil. The method also includes identifying a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage of the voice coil during at least one of the one or more cycles. The method further includes determining whether a stroke of the component is substantially centered using the back EMF voltage of the voice coil. In addition, the method includes, based on the determination, adjusting one or more drive signals for the voice coil during one or more additional cycles of the actuator. Determining whether the stroke of the component is centered could include determining whether the back EMF voltage of the voice coil is substantially maximized or determining whether times between extremes in the back EMF voltage are substantially equal.

Cryocoolers are often used to cool various components to extremely low temperatures. For example, cryocoolers can be used to cool focal plane arrays in different space and airborne imaging systems. There are various types of cryocoolers having differing designs, such as pulse tube cryocoolers and Stirling cryocoolers.
Some cryocoolers include position sensors that detect the positions of moving components within the cryocoolers. Position sensing can allow various functions to be performed in the cryocoolers, such as precision motor control, cryocooler health monitoring, and active vibration cancellation. One conventional approach for position sensing in cryocoolers involves the use of linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs). However, position sensors that use LVDTs are often costly and occupy a large amount of space. Also, the packaging requirements for position sensors that use LVDTs can limit the available mechanical design space in undesirable ways. In addition, position sensors that use LVDTs may require that additional circuitry to be added to conventional cryocooler electronics.

Method and apparatus for back electromotive force (EMF) position sensing in a cryocooler or other system having electromagnetic actuators


This invention is a technique to presume colors of an image. A color extraction method according to this invention include a luminance calculation step of calculating a luminance in a color extraction region, which is included in an image and from which a color is to be extracted, and storing the calculated luminance into a storage device; a color name extraction of referring to a luminance database storing a color name and a luminance corresponding to the color name to extract a color name in the color extraction region by using, as a main judgment element, the luminance in the color extraction region, which is stored in the storage device. As a result, it is possible to presume a color even in a case of the monochromatic image or color image photographed in the night.

In a system that carries out movement observation of cars based on car images taken by a camera provided on a road, it has been carried out that a registration number of the car and a body color of the car are identified from the car images, and the cars to be searched is narrowed by comparing the registration number of the car and the body color of the car with a predetermined database. In addition, for example, JP-A-2000-222673 discloses a technique to identify the body color of the car from the color image in which the car is photographed, and narrow the cars to be searched based on the registration number of the car and the body color of the car.
However, when the car image is a color image, it is possible to identify the registration number of the car and the body color of the car as described above. However, when the car image is a monochromatic image or a color image photographed in the night (here, a color image photographed in a state where sufficient brightness cannot be secured), the registration number of the car can be identified, but the body color of the car cannot be identified. Therefore, in the night, it was impossible to narrow the cars to be searched by the body color of the car. Incidentally, in the aforementioned publication, by providing the light, which synchronizes with the shutter of the camera, the sufficient brightness is secured even in the night or in a dark place such as the underground to identify the body color of the car. However, only the brightness in a level that the body color of the car can be identified is secured, and this publication does not indicate any technique to presume the body color of the car from the monochromatic image or the color image photographed in the night.
In addition, for example, JP-A-2005-111852 discloses an image conversion technique from the monochromatic image to the color image. Specifically, a technique is disclosed that, in a copy machine, in a case where a print request of a color image is received even when a document is a monochromatic image, the monochromatic image is printed as a color image based on a small storage medium attached to the document. However, this is not a technique to presume the colors from the monochromatic image.


A microparticle composition for paper making includes finely divided particles of a water insoluble solid such as zeolite A, and having an anionic charge of at least 20 millivolts, and preferably from about 40 to 60 millivolts, and a particle size of less than about 0.1 microns. The microparticle composition also includes water and a dispersion agent, and is prepared by milling in an agitated media mill until the desired particle size is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to finely divided particles of water insoluble compounds that exhibit high negative zeta potentials at pH 7-8, small particle size, plus high adsorption of cationic material and compositions including such particles for use as drainage/retention aids in papermaking.
More particularly the present invention concerns sub-micron particles of metallic silicates such as crystalline sodium alumino silicates (zeolites) and amorphous sodium alumino silicates.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The use of a variety of microparticle-based retention aids and drainage aids in systems that employ combinations of colloidal particles along with polymers such as cationic starches and/or synthetic cationic polymers is well established.
The pioneering system was EKA-Nobel's Composil.TM., based on colloidal silica and cationic potato starch. This was soon followed by Nalco's "Positek".TM. System based on colloidal silica, cationic potato starch and an anionic polymer. Other systems employ variants of these ingredients, including DuPont's work on silica-based microgels and Allied Colloid's "Hydracol".TM., system based on bentonite. These technologies provide materials which are combined in a novel way to enhance the paper-making process.
While the concept of retention aids is well understood from an electro-chemical point of view, finding effective, low cost microparticles that emulate the performance of silica or bentonite has proven difficult.
Conceptually, the role of microparticles in these systems is to provide a large number of very small point sources of anionic charge around which cationic polymers, fine paper fibers and fillers form into flocs which aid in their retention. These fast forming, shear sensitive flocs also represent areas of high solids consistency and, therefore, act as dewatering mechanisms when they are "captured" by larger fibers. Because of their small size, they enhance paper formation. The high retention of polymers that they provide translates into strength advantages in the finished paper.
The desirable properties of ideal microparticles are: high numbers of low cost, non-toxic, small particles with stable (>20 millivolt) surface charges with a minimum impact on other paper making properties such as color, printability, porosity etc.
Presently, EKA-Nobel, Nalco and DuPont produce their own colloidal silicas in the United States and have provided retention aids systems for the paper industry based upon these silicas. Allied Colloids has a similar system which uses bentonite clay particles as a macroparticle in a competitive system.

Method of making paper using microparticles