A detector system that contains two inlet port coupled to a photoionization chamber. One inlet port allows for the introduction of a test sample. The test sample may contain contaminants, drugs, explosive, etc. that are to be detected. The other port allows for the simultaneous introduction of a standard sample. The standard sample can be used to calibrate and/or diagnose the detector system. Simultaneous introduction of the standard sample provides for real time calibration/diagnostics of the detector during detection of trace molecules in the test sample. The photoizonizer ionizes the samples which are then directed into a mass detector for detection of trace molecules. The detector system may also include inlet embodiments that allow for vaporization of liquid samples introduced to a low pressure photoionizer.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject matter disclosed generally relates to a detector that can detect trace molecules.
2. Background Information
There are detectors that are capable of detecting a trace molecule from a sample. The sample may be a gas or liquid sample taken from a room or a fluid source, respectively. It may be desirable to detect certain trace molecules to determine whether the sample contains contaminants, drugs, explosives, etc.
The detector may include an ionization stage and a mass detector stage. The ionization stage ionizes molecules within the sample and then projects the ionized molecules through the mass detector. The mass detector may be a time of flight device that determines mass based on the time at which the molecules strike a detector plate. The ionization chamber may include a light source that ionizes the sample through a photoionization process.
The sample is introduced into the ionization chamber through a single inlet port. To obtain accurate readings it is desirable to calibrate the detector before each sample is run through the device. The detector is calibrated by introducing a standard sample that may contain the molecules under investigation. Obtaining accurate readings therefore requires sequentially loading a standard sample, calibrating the detector and then introducing a test sample into the ionization chamber. This sequence can be time consuming particularly when large batches of samples are to be tested. Additionally, there may be some degradation in the detector between the time the detector is calibrated and when the test sample is actually loaded into the chamber. It would be desirable to decrease the run time and increase the accuracy of a detector.
Liquid test samples typically include water or drug samples stored in organic solvents. It is desirable to vaporize the solvent before the sample is ionized. One way to vaporize the solvent is to break the sample into aerosol droplets with a nebulizer. A nebulizer includes a co-flow of inert gas that breaks the liquid sample into an aerosol. The detector may contain a heating element that vaporizes the solvent within the aerosol.
Most nebulizers operate at atmospheric pressure because higher pressure causes more molecular collisions and assist in the vaporization process. It is sometimes desirable to operate the ionization chamber at low pressure, particularly for photoionizers. It would be desirable to provide an inlet port for liquid samples that can introduce the sample to a low pressure ionization chamber.

Interfaces for a photoionization mass spectrometer


An electrical sub-assembly comprises a stator having a plurality of coils and a cooling means attached to the stator. The electrical sub-assembly further comprises a plurality of pairs of diodes attached to the cooling means, each pair of diodes being in antiparallel configuration and having three electrical terminals. One of the three electrical terminals is a common terminal shared by both diodes in each pair of diodes. A plurality of busbars electrically connect each of the diodes to at least one of the plurality of coils via one or more of the electrical terminals. In use, the cooling means is configured to simultaneously cool the stator and the plurality of diodes. The electrical sub-assembly may have particular application as a part of a switched reluctance machine.

Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) are becoming increasingly popular as variable speed drives. Principally, this is because SRMs are simple to build and inexpensive, at least when compared to more commonly used motors. However, SRMs are underutilised for commercial applications, as they typically exhibit high torque ripple and require non-standard asymmetric half bridge converters. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a recently proposed drive configuration 110 which allows an SRM having six phases A, B, C, D, E, F to be driven by an standard three-phase AC inverter 120. A plurality of diodes 114 having electrical connections 116 are arranged alternatively between the output phases of the power converter 120 to convert the bipolar current waveform output from each phase of the three-phase converter into two unipolar half waveforms, relating to the positive and negative regions of the waveform, respectively. This enables the three-phase inverter 120 to operate as it would for a three-phase electric machine, while supplying a six-phase SRM and having only three power connections 122 between the inverter 120 and the motor. The increased number of phases permits low torque ripple and the diode arrangement allows use of standard full bridge converters. However, further improvements to the proposed drive configuration are required to improve the suitably of SRMs for commercial applications, particularly hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicle (EVs).
It is an object of embodiments of the invention to at least mitigate one or more of the problems of the prior art.


Provided is a steel welding component having a steel welding blank with an aluminum or aluminum alloy coating. The welding blank is composed of a steel substrate and coatings comprising an intermetallic compound alloy layer contacting the substrate, and a metal alloy layer on the intermetallic compound alloy layer. On at least one of the coating surfaces of the welding blank, the coating within an area to be welded has been totally removed, and an end face of the coating on the side of the coating within the area to be welded removed has an angle of β being 0-80° with a plane vertical to a surface of the substrate which is parallel to the welding seam. Also provided are welding methods for the steel welding component. The steel welding blank provided ensures the tensile strength, elongation, and corrosion resistance of a hot-stamped welded joint.

In recent years, the thinning of thickness while maintaining high strength, energy saving and emission reduction has been the main development trend of the automotive industry. Hot press is a common way to achieve high product reinforcement, which combines heat treatment and high temperature forming to achieve high strength of the product. Hot press of laser tailor-welded blanks can reduce the number of parts of car body and improve manufacturing precision while reducing weight.
Common laser tailor-welded hot press products include: A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, middle channels and other safety structural parts. These hot-press products have the characteristics of high strength, complex shape, good formability, high size accuracy, small rebound, dissimilar strength, and dissimilar thickness. The surface state of the steel for hot press is divided into bare boards and coated steel sheets depending on the service conditions of the parts. The hot-stamped steel sheet with coating is getting more and more attention because it can eliminate the shot peening after hot press with respect to the bare board. The most commonly used hot forming steels are hot-stamped steel with aluminum or aluminum alloy coating and hot-stamped steel with zinc-based coating. Since zinc-based coatings can cause cracks that extend to the substrate, hot-stamped steel with aluminum or aluminum alloy coating is commonly used so far. However, when steel with aluminum or aluminum alloy coating is welded, the coating is melted into the molten pool by welding heat to form brittle and hard intermetallic compounds (Fe3Al, Fe2Al5, FeAl3). During the heat treatment after welding, the intermetallic compounds further grow, resulting in significant decreases in the strength and ductility of the welded joint.
The Chinese patent CN101426612A disclosed a method for manufacturing a welding blank which is made of an aluminum-silicon coating as a raw material and only contains intermetallic compounds as a pre-coating. Specifically, the aluminum alloy layer in the coating is removed to prevent excessive aluminum from melting into the molten pool, and the intermetallic compound layer in the coating is retained; then the welded blank is welded and hot stamped. Although the patent removed the alloy layer of the coating, since the intermetallic compound layer is retained (retained thickness is 3˜10 μm), elements from coating will still be introduced into the welding seam, resulting in a decrease in welding performance when improperly controlled. In addition, retaining a few micrometers of coating is also very difficult to implement stably, which increases the risk in production.

Steel welding component with aluminum or aluminum alloy coating, and preparation method therefor


Described is a back-side coating formulation for a heat-sensitive recording material. The coating formulation comprises, in a liquid medium, a reaction product obtained by reacting (a) a polysiloxane compound containing at least one functional group reactive with an isocyanate group, (b) a silane coupling agent containing at least one functional group selected from a functional group reactive with an isocyanate group or an isocyanate group, and (c) a polyisocyanate. The reaction product has been obtained by conducting the reaction under the condition of R>1 or R.ltoreq.1, R being an equivalent ratio of isocyanate group(s) to group(s) reactive with isocyanate group(s) (isocyanate group(s)/group(s) reactive with isocyanate group(s)) and in the case of R.ltoreq.1, the silane coupling agent contains at least one hydrolyzable group in addition to the reactive group.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coating formulations useful for the formation of a back layer on heat-sensitive recording materials such as wax-type thermal transfer materials or sublimation-type thermal transfer materials.
The present invention is also concerned with heat-sensitive recording materials having a back layer coated therewith.
2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally-known transfer processes include thermal ink-transfer processes and sublimation-type thermal transfer processes. According to the former processes, a heat-resistant recording layer is formed on a base sheet such as a polyester film by having a dye or pigment carried together with a binder resin on one side of base sheet. The base sheet is heated in a pattern from the back side thereof so that the dye or pigment is transferred onto a material to be transferred. According to the latter processes, a heat sub-limation dye is employed and the dye alone is caused to sublimate so that it is transferred onto a material to be transferred.
In each of these processes, thermal energy is applied from the back side of a base sheet. The back side of the base sheet of a heat-sensitive transfer material to be employed is therefore required to have sufficient lubricity, releasability, non-stickiness and the like so that a thermal head does not stick on the back side, in other words, does not develop any sticking problem.
It has therefore been the conventional practice to form a layer of a silicone resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, polyimide resin, epoxy resin or modified cellulose resin or a mixture thereof on the back side of the base sheet of a heat-sensitive recording material (see Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO 58-13359).
Most of these resins are, however, thermosetting resins making use of various curing agents. A heating step is therefore required for curing upon formation of a back layer on a heat-sensitive recording material, leading to the problem that the production process is cumbersome. Moreover, so-formed back layer itself is weak and is inferior in adhesion in spite of its high melting point, leading to the problem that the film layer may peel off as dust particles upon printing and may give a trouble to a thermal head.
With a view toward overcoming the problems described above, it has been proposed to add an isocyanate or the like to a thermoplastic resin such as an acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, polyester resin or polybutadiene resin and then to cure the resulting resin to provide a back layer and, further, to incorporate a lubricant or the like in the resulting resin to allow a thermal head to smoothly slide thereon (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. SHO 59-225994).
According to the above patent publication, the curing of the isocyanate is said to proceed at room temperature. In practice, however, the above proposal has the problems that the pot life is insufficient and the resulting resin may not be cured sufficiently due to reactions of the isocyanate with water and other impurities.
In addition, the lubricant added to provide the back layer with smooth sliding property is accompanied by the potential problems that it may bleed out on the surface of the back layer if used for a long time, or may produce dusts on a head during printing.
The present inventors have already proposed that the use of a silicone copolymer resin in stead of the above-mentioned resins for the formation of a back layer can provide a heat-sensitive recording material excellent in various properties such as heat resistance, lubricity and non-stickiness (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. SHO 61-227087 and 62-202786).

Back-side coating formulations for heat-sensitive recording materials and heat-sensitive recording materials having a back layer coated therewith

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.


A closet partition system includes a simplified arrangement that reduces the number of steps required for installation and eliminates difficult manipulations, whereby an individual may easily install a closet partition system without requiring assistance. The mounting rail and bracket provide stable support that prevents the possibility of accidental dislodgement of the bracket from the mounting rail. The mounting rail includes a vertical back for attachment to a wall, a horizontal ledge projecting from the back, and a hook having a first section extending horizontally from the back and a second section extending downwardly toward the ledge. The bracket includes an elongate notch extending downwardly from an upper edge of the bracket for receiving the second section of the hook. This arrangement provides a closet partition system that is easy to use, capable of providing very high load bearing capability, and facilitates repeated disassembly and reassembly without degradation of the components.

It is now well recognized that the typical closet having one or more hanging rods and one or more shelves supported above the rod or rods does not usually facilitate the most efficient use of the available storage space in the closet. In order to more effectively utilize closet space, various modular-type storage unit systems and closet partition systems have been developed. The preferred modular systems typically are comprised of a few basic components, such as mounting rails, vertical panels, horizontal shelves, hanging rods, and various mounting brackets, which allow the components to be assembled in a variety of different manners to facilitate rearrangement as the users needs change. It is desirable that the mounting brackets and other hardware used for assembling the components provide a strong, stable final assembly of the components, and are relatively simple to use to facilitate assembly and disassembly when reconfiguration of the system is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,830 to Phelps discloses a shelf support system comprising a bracket member that is snapped into a channel having two inwardly-directed jaw portions at the free ends of U-arms. Each of the brackets comprises a generally triangular portion and a generally planar portion. The brackets also include attachment means which comprises a head portion, side recesses, and flanges. To mount the bracket on the channel member, one of the side recesses of the attachment means is placed over the lower jaw portion of the channel. The jaw portion is then used as a pivot for rotation of the bracket member. As the bracket member is rotated, the head portion of the attachment means is squeezed past the upper jaw portion of the channel to snap the bracket member into position on the channel member. During this operation, the jaw portions are forced apart and move together again as the upper jaw portion of the channel member enters one of the side recesses of the bracket member. Separation of the recesses of the attachment means is slightly greater than the unstressed separation of the jaw portions of the channel member, whereby the jaws are stressed and exert a tight frictional grip on the attachment means. A deficiency with the support system disclosed in the Phelps patent relates to the snap-together features of the system. While snap-together connections facilitate rapid assembly, typically without tools, and may also facilitate disassembly, resiliently deformable materials must be utilized for one or both of the connectors on the two components that are being connected together. As a practical matter, inexpensive, resiliently deformable materials may not provide adequate strength for closet partition systems bearing heavy loads.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,832 to Lee et al. discloses an adjustable mounting system for removably supporting modular storage units on a vertical wall. The system is comprised of at least two substantially identical C-shaped brackets and a wall channel. Each C-shaped bracket includes an outboard flange with a slot, and a screw hole which facilitates adjustable mounting of the bracket to a modular storage unit. The arrangement shown in the Lee et al. patent appears to utilize rigid steel brackets that may be designed to achieve high strength and support high loads. Further, because connection of the brackets to the wall channel does not involve a snap type connection, the brackets can be repeatedly attached and removed from the wall channel without becoming permanently deformed and without any loss of functional integrity. However, the brackets and supported cabinetry or the like may be easily moved upwardly by an inadvertently applied upward force to the cabinetry or other supported units, and could under certain circumstances become inadvertently dislodged. Thus, it would be desirable to achieve comparable ease of installation and disassembly, and load-bearing strength, while reducing the possibility of inadvertently dislodging the bracket from the wall channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,611 to Wood et al. discloses a wall-unit hanging system that includes a mounting rail and a bracket for securing and attaching a vertical panel. Inadvertent dislodgement of the bracket from the mounting rail is prevented by utilizing fasteners (e.g., threaded screws) to attach the bracket to both the vertical panel and the wall channel. However, this arrangement has the disadvantage of adding steps to the assembly process, as well as the disassembly process, and could prevent multiple reconfigurations due to damage to the mounting rail caused by repeatedly attaching the bracket to the mounting rail using fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,438 to Camilleri discloses a wall-mounted storage unit that includes a wall panel and a reversible mounting bracket attached to the vertical panel. The
Camilleri system is similar to the Wood et al. wall unit hanging system, and suffers from the same disadvantages as the Wood et al. system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,436 to Kelly discloses a J-shaped wall rail support system. This system requires use of a standoff attached to the lower backside of a modular unit supported by the bracket, and therefore is not particularly well suited for supporting vertical panels or partitions, and still exhibits a substantial potential for undesired dislodgement if an inadvertent upward force of sufficient magnitude is applied to a supported partition.


In a process for recycling of gas-containing synthetic plastics material, this material at first is comminuted, molten, degased and filtered. The degased synthetic plastics material is supplied in the same plant before its solidification for gas introduction, and in order to homogenize the gas content, the gas amount introduced into the synthetic plastics material per time unit is controlled in dependence from the synthetic plastics material amount supplied per time unit to the gas introduction, and preferably the pressure of the synthetic plastics material to which gas is to be added, is kept almost constant. The apparatus suitable for performing this process comprises an extruder (12,13) for plasticizing and degasing the synthetic plastics material, the outlet (15) thereof is connected by means of at least one line (16) to a mixer (25), to which also a device (29) for supplying gas is connected. A melt pump (23) for the synthetic plastics material is inserted into the line (16) and the amount of melt delivered by this pump is used as a command variable for the gas supply, for which a device (29) is provided that is controlled by a control unit (22) proportional to the speed of the melt pump (23) (FIG. 1).

The invention relates to a process for recycling of synthetic plastics material containing gas, for example foamed polystyrene, in a plant in which synthetic plastics material is molten, filtered, degased, granulated and mixed with gas again, this gas re-introduction being performed in the same plant as the granulation. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for performing such a process.
The usual process steps when re-introducing gas into foamed synthetic plastics material, in particular polystyrene, consist in that the synthetic plastics material is comminuted in a tearing and densifying apparatus and is then plasticized in an extruder and de-gased. The so produced plasticized, de-gased synthetic plastics material is worked up to granules in a granulating apparatus and is solidified thereby. The granulate forms a pourable homogeneous, de-gased mass which then is introduced again into an extruder and is molten therein. During the extrusion which can be performed by means of extruders comprising one or more extruder screw, a gas is fed in a controlled manner to the extruder wherein gas is introduced within the extruder into the synthetic plastics melt and is homogenized therewith, considering the necessary holding time in the extruder. When doing this, the use of a pourable homogeneous granulate is compulsory necessary because only in such a manner a continuous flow of the melt in the extruder and therefore a continuous filling degree of the foaming gas in the melt can be ensured.
A similar process has become known from the document "Plastver-arbeiter", volume 42, 1991, number 6, pages 124, 125. This document suggests to mill packages of polystyrene and subsequently to heat this material in a roller extruder so that the material is de-gased and plasticized. The thus obtained solidified final product, namely cristallized polystyrene, is then foamed again in an oxtruder.
These known processes have the disadvantage that two melting steps are necessary which, as a rule, have to be carried out at different places, because the homogeneous introduction of the gas is a critical thing and, therefore, cannot be made everywhere. Therefore, as a rule, the synthetic plastics material to be recycled is granulated there where an apparatus for comminuting and densifying the material is at disposal. The granulate is then sent to a plant where the material is provided with a gas content again. This involves costs for transport and transformation which lead to a high price of the recycled and gas-containing material so that the thus obtained recycling product can hardly be sold. The consequence is an environmental load by foamed synthetic plastics material scrap or by improper processed synthetic plastics material. In this connection it is of detrimental influence that in the past frequently such gases have been used as foaming gases (for example fluorocarbons) which are critical for environmental reasons and, therefore, should not get into the atmosphere.
It is also known to melt and degas scraps of foamed thermoplastic synthetic plastics material in an extruder comprising several worms. In parallel to this extruder a further extruder is provided in which thermoplastic particles, hence new material, are molten and mixed with gas. The outlets of the two extruders are combined to a mixing and cooling station to which a further extruder as well as a mould are connected, in which the material is foamed. Finally, the foamed material is cut to the desired shape or is granulated. For performing this process, a considerable effort in apparatus and space is required and the above described disadvantages can not fully be avoided by this process, because the granulate of new material must at first be produced and then be stored so that the enthalpy is lost which was in the new material until its granulation.
The invention has as its object to improve a process of the last described kind so that the recycling process of the gas-containing synthetic plastics material can be effected quicker, simplier and requiring considerably less effort in apparatus and space and without environmental load and without the use of new material. The invention solves this task in that the gas is fed to that synthetic plastics material which was de-gased and this before its granulation in such plasticized condition of the synthetic plastics material which originates from the melting process and the degasing step, and that for homogenisation of the gas content the gas volume introduced per time unit into the synthetic plastics material and the mixture volume processed per time unit by the mixer are controlled proportionally to the synthetic plastics material volume supplied per time unit to the gas-introduction step. For performing the inventive process, therefore, only one single plant is required and comminuting, plasticising, filtering, re-gasing and solidifying of the processed synthetic plastics material can be effected at the same place and, therefore, avoiding transport costs. Within this, the known tearing and comminuting apparatus can be used, which must only be provided with a device for the introduction of the gas and with a device for the subsequent mixing and solidifying, in order to be able to perform the inventive process. The plant expenses required for this are comparatively low and amortize already within a short time by the saved transport costs and charge fees for the extraneous device for re-introduction of the gas. The quality of the obtained final product is good, also with respect to homogenity of the foaming gas content, what is obtained by the inventive control of the gas introduction in dependence from the amount of flow of the synthetic plastics material supplied to the gas introduction step. A further advantage of the inventive process consists in that the processed synthetic plastics material must be molten one single time only so that the second melting process required hereuntofore can be saved. This means also, that the synthetic plastics material is treated more gently because each melting process is combined with the danger of a reduction of the molecule chain length of the synthetic plastics material. Further, when performing the inventive process, the synthetic plastics material must be solidified one single time only, and this--in contradiction to the initially described known processes--after introduction of the gas only.
In contradiction to the last described known process, within the inventive process only such synthetic plastics material is processed which was subjected to the recycling process. Therefore, the use of new material and therefore the expenses for material, transport, storage and melting connected therewith can be saved. Further, the inventive process requires substantially less effort in apparatus, when compared with the known processes.
The invention considers also that the synthetic plastics material subjected to the recycling process is not always of the same quality, in particular with respect to the specific weight or, respectively, to the foaming degree. The invention considers that, when material of lower weight (higher foaming degree) is processed, the output of the apparatus used for the melting process will decrease. As a consequence thereof, the synthetic plastics material amount supplied per time unit to the gas introduction step, decreases. If this volume measured per time unit is used in the sense of the invention as the command variable for the gas amount used per time unit for being added to the synthetic plastics material, the gas content for the final recycling product remains at least substantially constant with what is desired with respect to the further processing of this final product. The homogenity of this final product is also enhanced by the proportional readjustment of the mixture amount worked up per time unit by the mixer, in dependence from the mentioned command variable, because undermixing as well as overmixing are avoided and thus the cell structure of the regenerate obtained as the final product is kept at least substantially constant.
Since as a rule it is desired to operate the plant with an output as high as possible or, respectively, as far as possible to fully utilize the capacity of the present plant, according to a preferred embodiment of the inventive process, the volume of the synthetic plastics material supplied per time unit to the gas introduction step is kept within a predetermined interval, preferably near the maximum capacity of the plant used. This can easily be obtained by operating the plant elements used for plasticizing and de-gasing of the supplied synthetic plastics material quicker or, respectively, with an increased output.
As a rule, a pump for the synthetic plastics material flow supplied to the gas introduction step is inserted between those plant elements that serve for plasticizing the supplied synthetic plastics material, and those plant elements that serve for the re-introduction of the gas. According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive process, the supplied synthetic plastics material is comminuted and then is plasticized and de-gased by means of a screw, that the so obtained de-gased melt is supplied by means of a melt pump, preferably a gear pump, to a mixer to which also the gas used is supplied, and that the synthetic plastics material amount delivered per time unit by the melt pump is measured and is used as the command variable for the gas supply, and that the pressure of the synthetic plastics material on the suction side of the melt pump is measured and is kept by varying the speed of the melt pump and/or the speed of the worm within a predetermined interval, preferably at a value that is as constant as possible. Therefore, the melt pressure before the melt pump is kept almost constant by adjusting the delivery of the plasticizing screw or the melt pump, and by proportional readjustment of the gas supply in dependence on the delivery per time unit of the melt pump used as the command variable, the desired constant gas content in the final product produced by the mixer is obtained. Keeping the pressure of the material supplied to the melt pump within a predetermined interval ensures that the melt pump does not make idle strokes, and that therefore the volume delivered is exactly proportional to the run of the melt pump, in particular to the speed of the gear pump. Further, in such a manner the plant can easily be operated near its maximum capacity.
Within the spirit of the invention, it is particularly favourable to add the gas to the flow of the synthetic plastics material already before its introduction into the mixer, in order to obtain a certain mixture between the synthetic plastics material and the foaming gas already before the synthetic plastics material or, respectively, the gas enters the mixer.
For a uniform absorption of the gas, the melt pressure behind the melt pump is of importance. According to a further embodiment of the invention, therefore, the process is conducted so that when the pressure of the synthetic plastics material melt supplied by the melt pump deviates from a predetermined desired value, the viscosity of the mixture prepared by the mixer is correspondingly changed by cooling and/or heating, preferably until the desired value is reached.
As a rule, pentane is used for the gas that is again introduced. In order to avoid an explosion in the plant section behind the degasing step, within the spirit of the invention the vacuum is controlled that is used for degasing the synthetic plastics material.
The inventive apparatus for performing the inventive process starts from a plant having a comminuting means for the synthetic plastics material to be processed, to which means a motor-driven screw for plasticizing this material is connected, a de-gasing means for the synthetic plastics material being related to that screw. Starting therefrom, the inventive apparatus is characterized in that the outlet of the screw is connected by means of at least one line to a mixer to which also a device for supplying gas is connected, and that to at least one of these lines a device for measuring the synthetic plastics material amount flowing per time unit in this line is connected, which device is connected to a control unit for the gas supply to the mixer and for the speed of the motor of the screw. In such a manner the inventive process can be performed with low constructional effort. Since, however, the pressure in the outlet of the screw and, therefore, in the line leading to the mixer alone will frequently not be sufficiently high in order to reliably supply the plasticized synthetic plastics material into the mixer, according to a preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus, a melt pump, in particular a gear pump, for supplying the synthetic plastics material melt is inserted into the line leading from the screw to the mixer, a measuring device for the speed of this melt pump being provided, noting that to this line a pressure sensor for the pressure at the suction side of this melt pump is connected, which pressure sensor, as well as the measuring device, are connected to the control unit. The, suitably electronic, control unit calculates the measuring results obtained from the pressure sensor and from the measuring device and controls in correspondence to these measuring results the gas supply to the synthetic plastics material melt in such a manner that the gas content thereof is kept at least substantially constant so that a homogeneous final product is obtained.

Process and apparatus for recycling of synthetic plastics material containing gas


An overbased calcium sulfonate grease composition comprising a reduced amount of overbased calcium sulfonate, added calcium carbonate, base oil, one or more converting agents, and one or more complexing acids if a complex grease is desired. The calcium sulfonate grease composition improves thickener yield and expected high temperature utility as demonstrated by dropping point. The calcium carbonate may be used to react with complexing acids when making a complex grease, such that the addition of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide is not required. A method of making the composition comprising the steps of mixing the overbased calcium sulfonate and base oil, adding the calcium carbonate, adding one or more converting agents, and adding one or more complexing acids. All or a portion of one or more of the complexing acids may be added with or prior to the one or more converting agents.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to overbased calcium sulfonate greases made with added calcium carbonate as the base source and the method for manufacturing such greases to provide improvements in both thickener yield and expected high temperature utility as demonstrated by dropping point.
2. Description of Related Art
Overbased calcium sulfonate greases have been an established grease category for many years. One known process for making such greases is a two-step process involving the steps of "promotion" and "conversion." Typically the first step ("promotion") is to react a stoichiometric excess amount of calcium oxide (CO) or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) as the base source with an alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, carbon dioxide (CO2), and with other components to produce an oil-soluble overbased calcium sulfonate with amorphous calcium carbonate dispersed therein. These overbased oil-soluble calcium sulfonates are typically clear and bright and have Newtonian rheology. In some cases, they may be slightly turbid, but such variations do not prevent their use in preparing overbased calcium sulfonate greases. For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms "overbased oil-soluble calcium sulfonate" and "oil-soluble overbased calcium sulfonate" and "overbased calcium sulfonate" refer to any overbased calcium sulfonate suitable for making calcium sulfonate greases. Typically the second step ("conversion") is to add a converting agent or agents, such as propylene glycol, iso-propyl alcohol, water, formic acid or acetic acid, to the product of the promotion step, along with a suitable base oil (such as mineral oil), to convert the amorphous calcium carbonate to a very finely divided dispersion of crystalline calcium carbonate. Because an excess of calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide is used to achieve overbasing, a small amount of residual calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide may also be present and will be dispersed. The crystalline form of the calcium carbonate is preferably calcite. This extremely finely divided calcium carbonate, also known as a colloidal dispersion, interacts with the calcium sulfonate to form a grease-like consistency. Such overbased calcium sulfonate greases produced through the two-step process have come to be known as "simple calcium sulfonate greases" and are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,242,079; 3,372,115; 3,376,222, 3,377,283; and 3,492,231.
It is also known in the prior art to combine these two steps, by carefully controlling the reaction, into a single step. In this one-step process, the simple calcium sulfonate grease is prepared by reaction of an appropriate sulfonic acid with either calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide in the presence of carbon dioxide and a system of reagents that simultaneously act as both promoter (creating the amorphous calcium carbonate overbasing by reaction of carbon dioxide with an excess amount of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) and converting agents (converting the amorphous calcium carbonate to very finely divided crystalline calcium carbonate). Thus, the grease-like consistency is formed in a single step wherein the overbased, oil-soluble calcium sulfonate (the product of the first step in the two-step process) is never actually formed and isolated as a separate product. This one-step process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,661,622; 3,671,012; 3,746,643; and 3,816,310.
In addition to simple calcium sulfonate greases, calcium sulfonate complex grease compounds are also known in the prior art. These complex greases are typically produced by adding a strong calcium-containing base, such as calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide, to the simple calcium sulfonate grease produced by either the two-step or one-step process and reacting with stoichiometrically equivalent amounts of complexing acids, such as 12-hydroxystearic acid, boric acid, acetic acid, or phosphoric acid. The claimed advantages of the calcium sulfonate complex grease over the simple grease include reduced tackiness, improved pumpability, and improved high temperature utility. Calcium sulfonate complex greases are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,560,489; 5,126,062; 5,308,514; and 5,338,467.
All of the known prior art teaches the use of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide as the sources of basic calcium for production of calcium sulfonate greases or as a required component for reacting with complexing acids to form calcium sulfonate complex greases. The known prior art generally teaches that the presence of calcium carbonate (as a separate ingredient or as an "impurity" in the calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide, other than that presence of the amorphous calcium carbonate dispersed in the calcium sulfonate after carbonation), should be avoided for at least two reasons. The first being that calcium carbonate is generally considered to be a weak base, unsuitable for reacting with complexing acids. The second being that the presence of unreacted solid calcium compounds (including calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide) interferes with the conversion process, resulting in inferior grease compounds if the unreacted solids are not removed prior to conversion or before conversion is completed.
Additionally, the prior art does not provide a calcium sulfonate complex grease with both improved thickener yield and dropping point. The known prior art requires an amount of overbased calcium sulfonate of least 36% (by weight of the final grease product) to achieve a suitable grease in the NGLI No. 2 category with a demonstrated dropping point of at least 575 F. The overbased oil-soluble calcium sulfonate is one of the most expensive ingredients in making calcium sulfonate grease, therefore it is desirable to reduce the amount of this ingredient while still maintaining a desirable level of firmness in the final grease (thereby improving thickener yield). Specifically, it is desirable to have an overbased calcium sulfonate grease wherein the percentage of overbased oil-soluble calcium sulfonate is less than 36% and the dropping point is consistently 575 F or higher when the consistency is within an NLGI No. 2 grade (or the worked 60 stroke penetration of the grease is between 265 and 295). Higher dropping points are considered desirable since the dropping point is the first and most easily determined guide as to the high temperature utility limitations of a lubricating grease

Calcium carbonate based sulfonate grease compositions and method of manufacture


In an operation microscope, when an observation velocity of an observation field of a main microscope body is set to a desired velocity and then an observation magnification of the observation field of the main microscope body is changed and the focal point thereof is moved, each encoder detects changing of the observation magnification and moving of the focal point and then outputs a detection result to an arithmetic-logic unit. The arithmetic-logic unit calculates the drive condition that a moving velocity of the observation field of the main microscope body after the observation magnification is changed and the focal point is moved is a desired velocity, based on the detection result of each encoder. By using a Y-axis actuator, an X-axis actuator, a vertical direction moving unit and a horizontal direction moving unit, the main microscope body is moved under the control of a CPU in accordance with the drive condition obtained by the arithmetic-logic unit. Thus, the moving velocity of the observation field is automatically kept constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operation microscope having a moveable main body unit of the microscope to permit movement of the observation (viewing) field or to change the observation direction.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, operation microscopes are used to observe the affected part in an enlarged manner during medical operations. Also, operation microscopes may function as eyes of operators during operations, and thus are desirably allow the observation fields or observation directions of the operation microscopes to be moved or changed like human eyes. In particular, moving of observation fields and changing of observation directions of these operation microscopes are frequently performed in brain neurosurgical operations.
In general-purpose microscopes used in the brain neurosurgical operations, gravity moments are canceled with each other, and positioning of the observation fields and the observation directions are manually performed. In other words, operators must take their hands off from the affected part every time the observation fields are moved and the observation directions are changed. As a result, the operation time would be prolonged, resulting in overload for not only the operators, but also the patients. To relieve this problem, a mechanism for automatically moving the observation fields and for automatically changing the observation direction is used.
In this case, the mechanism for automatically moving the observation field corresponds to a mechanism for moving an observation field in a fine mode. By this mechanism, moving of the observation field can be performed by using a foot switch without removing a hand of an operator from the affected part. Also, in this observation field moving mechanism, actuators are provided with respect to two mutually perpendicular rotation axes. A main microscope body can be swung by the actuators around the rotation axes. Thus, the focal point of the main microscope body is moved on a spherical surface where the cross point of the rotation axes is at the center of rotation. As a consequence, the observation field can be moved.
In a similar manner, the observation direction can be changed without removing the hand of the operator from the affected part. In this observation direction changing mechanism, the observation direction is changed by swinging the main microscope body, with the focal point of the main microscope body at the center of rotation.
While the medical operation is carried out by using the operation microscope, the focusing is frequently achieved by moving of the main microscope body. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, focusing is carried out by moving the main microscope body 70 along the direction of the observation axis OZ. In this case, the distances between the focal point P of the main microscope body 70 and the moving rotation axes OX and OY are different before and after the main microscope body 70 is moved. As a consequence, even if the rotational velocity (angular velocity) of the main microscope body 70 is constant, the velocity of the focal point P is changed, so that the apparent velocity of the observation field is changed.
Also, when the observation magnification of the observation field is changed from low magnification to high magnification, the observation field appears to be closer to the operator. Thus, the apparent velocity of the observation field is different at different magnifications even if the actual velocity of the focal point P is constant.
Moreover, when the main microscope body unit 70 is rotated about rotation axis OY, perpendicular to the observation axis OZ, so as to move the focal point P, the distance between the focal point P and the moving rotation axis OX perpendicular to the rotation axis OY is changed. As a consequence, after the focal point P is moved by rotation about rotation axis OY perpendicular to the observation axis OZ, if the main microscope body 70 is thereafter rotated, the apparent velocity of the observation field in the case wherein the body 70 is rotated about rotation axis OY is different from that of the observation field in the case wherein the body 70 is rotated about rotation axis OX.
As to the changing velocity of the observation direction, a similar phenomenon to that for the apparent velocity of the observation field will occur.
As described above, the conventional operation microscope has the following problems. When the observation conditions such as the focal position, the focal distance, the observation magnification and the like are changed and the observation states such as the inclination of the main microscope body are changed, either the apparent velocity of the movement of the observation field or the apparent velocity of the change in observation direction depends on before and after these conditions and states are changed. Thus, to maintain a consistent display, the operator must readjust the actual velocity of the main microscope body every time the observation condition or state is changed. This may interfere with a medical operation which needs great urgency.


A device which is designed to simultaneously store and sterilize the head of a stethoscope within the pocket of a user during periods of non-usage. The small sterilizer is a box-shaped unit constructed of glass and plastic which fits into a shirt or jacket pocket, and which has a U-shaped lip which leads into an opening for receiving the head of the stethoscope. Beneath the lip is a switch that operates on contact with the stethoscope head to activate the unit, and the unit is powered by a small pen light batteries. An ultraviolet light is located proximate the U-shaped lip and delivers ultraviolet light rays through a circular transparent window aligned with the stethoscope head, and a clip on the back of the unit enables it to be easily attached to a user's pocket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to ultraviolet light sterilizers, and more particularly pertains to a sterilizer which is particularly adapted for use with a stethoscope.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of ultraviolet light sterilizers is well known in the prior art. This is evidenced by the granting of a number of patents relating to various functional and structural aspects of such sterilizers. Examples of patented ultraviolet light sterilizers are to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,542 which issued to Sizer et al. on Jul. 5, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,532 which issued to Zabsky et al. on Feb. 9, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,851 which issued to Beasley et al. on Mar. 6, 1990; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,933 which issued to Kao et al. on Apr. 16, 1991.
While each of these prior art patents disclose ultraviolet light sterilizers which fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, and are most likely quite functional for their intended purposes, it will be noticed that none of them disclose sterilizers which are particularly adapted for use with stethoscopes and which are portable to the extent that they can be carried in the pocket of a user. As such, there apparently still exists the need for ultraviolet light sterilizers which would be designed for use with stethoscopes, and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A method, system and program product comprise communicating to a server system. The server system is at least configured to receive video/audio uploads from users, to maintain the uploads in a database of collaborations comprising video files where each of the video files comprises a same video file format, and to send to a user a collaboration. A collaboration from the server system is received for presentation to a user. A contribution to the received collaboration is recorded. The contribution is uploaded to the server system. The server system is further configured to process the contribution into the received collaboration to have the same video file format and to at least layer audio.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Many musicians in the world want to be heard, and more than that, many may want to be seen and heard in harmony with other musicians. Musicians also want a simple way to collaborate with other musicians from anywhere, without any compatibility issues.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. One such aspect of the prior art teaches of a system that provides a virtual music studio on the internet. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of discloses a system that may be configures to obtain payment from an artist before performance data such as audio and/or video data is uploaded to the community. Another such aspect of the prior art teaches of a system in which musical notes may be added, deleted, or moved, and section of notes may be transposed, quantized, etc. However, these solutions may be suitable for providing a platform for users to collaborate musical pieces and other works. A solution which did so would be desirable.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Method, system and program product for collaboration of video files


In an analog multiplier of the present invention, in an input portion for feeding a differential current to the common emitter of each of a first and a second differential pair, the differential current is turned back by a current mirror circuit. This allows transistors limiting an input range to operate over a broad range in the forward active region of the collector potential. As a result, the multiplier achieves a broad input range. Further, the base potentials of transistors limiting an output range are lowered by emitter followers. Therefore, such transistors can operate over a broad range in the forward active region of the collector potential, increasing an output range.

The present invention relates to an analog multiplier and, more particularly, to an analog multiplier capable of broadening an input range and an output range.
An analog multiplier of the type producing an output proportional to the product of two analog inputs is disclosed in, e.g., "Analog IC Design Techniques" written by P. R. Gray and R. G. Mayor and published by Baifukan in 1994, Vol. 2, pp. 169-183. The problem with conventional analog multipliers including one taught in the above book is that they cannot increase an input range when the power source voltage is low, and cannot increase an output range.


In a sanitary outlet unit (1), it is provided that a contact surface (6) is formed on a valve element (4) which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position in a flow path (2), which contact surface (6), in the open position, covers a corresponding, stationary counterpart surface (7) and, in the closed position, frees said counterpart surface (7), such that the valve element (4) is automatically held in the open position by the pressure in the flow path and returns to the closed position in the event of a pressure drop (cf. FIG. 1).

The invention relates to a sanitary outlet unit in which a valve element arranged in a flow path in a housing is switchable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position is arranged below the open position in the use position.
The invention further relates to a method for actuating a valve, wherein a valve element arranged in a flow path in a housing is transferred from a closed position to an open position lying above the closed position.
In sanitary outlet units of this kind, which can basically have an outer contour permitting insertion into an outlet opening of a sanitary fitting, an aim is to provide different flow rates. In this connection, national legislation often stipulates that a flow rate for standard operation be limited to a prescribed level. However, there is a wish on the part of users to be able briefly to override such limitations on the flow rate.
WO 2011/147496 A1 discloses a sanitary outlet insert in which a flow cross section of a flow rate regulator or flow limiter can be preselected or varied by an axial change of a relative position of an adjusting element and of a counterpart element, wherein a handle is provided for this purpose at an outlet end of the outlet insert, said handle being configured as a pushbutton, and wherein an adjusting movement at the handle can be converted into an axial relative movement of adjusting element and counterpart element by a pushbutton mechanism. Such pushbutton mechanisms are generally bistable, such that there is generally no automatic return to a preferred starting position.
DE 20 12015 000 855 U1 discloses a sanitary insert unit which can be mounted on a water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting and has a flow-restricting or control device with a flow-restricting or control element, wherein the flow-restricting or control device or at least the flow-restricting or control element thereof is guided displaceably under the pressure of the inflowing water from a starting position counter to a restoring force into a flow-restricting or control position.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,936 A discloses a jet aerator which can be secured to an outlet of a fitting by means of a connection element.
EP 1 443 151 A1 discloses a sanitary insert part with which it is possible to switch between an aerated jet and a shower jet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,818 A discloses an outlet piece of a sanitary outlet fitting, having an adjustable element by means of which a cross section of a through-flow opening can be limited.


A container of a pet transporter defines an interior space for a pet. An interior space of the container is defined by a rigid chassis including a platform bounding a bottom of said interior space, a rear panel attached to said chassis and bounding a rear of said interior space, side panels respectively attached to opposite lateral sides of said chassis and bounding sides of said interior space, and a flexible top covering that is releasably fastened, directly or indirectly, to said chassis and which, when fastened thereto, extends in a closed covering position from the rear panel to a front of said chassis thereby bounding a top of said interior space. The chassis further includes a rear support frame and two pairs of side support frames. The platform, rear support frame, and two pair of side support frames comprise a single, inseparable structure.

The present invention relates generally to a device for transportation of animals, and, in particular, to a carrier for a pet to be transported by both pedestrian movement and at least one of automobiles, boats and airplanes.
Large lines of stroller products are available for use with children, but are not compatible for animal use for reasons such as body shape and size. Animal transportation devices, to be most versatile, must be adaptable to land, sea and air travel, while additionally being suitable for pedestrian walks. It is difficult to create one mobile animal carrier to adapt to all variations of these transportation types.
Several approaches have been taken to create suitable devices for animal transportation. One such approach is disclosed in concurrently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/936,300, filed Sep. 8, 2004, which published as U.S. patent application publication no. 2006/0048716 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
While several approaches have been taken, it is believed that a need continues to exist for yet another convenient device for transportation of animals, and, in particular, to a mobile carrier for a pet to be transported by pedestrian movement as well as by at least one of automobiles, boats and airplanes.

Pet transporter construction defining interior space for pet


The present embodiments obtain chroma components representative of the chroma components of an output image from color components representative of an input image, and if a value of a pixel in at least one of said chroma components exceeds a given value, modify the value of said pixel in at least one of said color components in such a way that the value of said pixel in said at least one of said chroma components is lower than or equals to said given value.

The present section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present embodiments that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In the following, image data refer to one or several arrays of samples (pixel values) in a specific image/video format which specifies all information relative to the pixel values of an image (or a video) and all information which may be used by a display and/or any other apparatus to visualize and/or decode an image (or video) for example. An image comprises a first component, in the shape of a first array of samples, usually representative of luminance (or luma) of the image, and a second and third component, in the shape of other arrays of samples, usually representative of the chrominance (or chroma) of the image. Or, equivalently, the same information may also be represented by a set of arrays of color samples, such as the traditional tri-chromatic RGB representation.
A pixel value is represented by a vector of C values, where C is the number of components. Each value of a vector is represented with a number of bits which defines a dynamic range of the pixel values.
Standard Dynamic Range images (SDR images) are images whose luminance values are represented with a limited number of bits (typically 8). This limited representation does not allow correct rendering of small signal variations, in particular in dark and bright luminance ranges. In High Dynamic Range images (HDR images), the signal representation is extended to maintain a high accuracy of the signal over its entire range. In HDR images, pixel values are usually represented in floating-point format (typically at least 10 bits per component, namely float or half-float), the most popular format being openEXR half-float format (16-bit per RGB component, i.e. 48 bits per pixel) or in integers with a long representation, typically at least 16 bits.
The advent of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard (ITU-T H.265 Telecommunication standardization sector of ITU (February 2018), series H: audiovisual and multimedia systems, infrastructure of audiovisual services—coding of moving video, High efficiency video coding, Recommendation ITU-T H.265) enables the deployment of new video services with enhanced viewing experience, such as Ultra HD services. In addition to an increased spatial resolution, Ultra HD format can bring a wider color gamut (WCG) and a higher dynamic range (HDR) than respectively the Standard Color Gamut (SCG) and the Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) of High Definition format currently deployed. Different solutions for the representation and coding of HDR/WCG video have been proposed such as the perceptual transfer function Perceptual Quantizer (PQ) (SMPTE ST 2084, "High Dynamic Range Electro-Optical Transfer Function of Mastering Reference Displays, or Diaz, R., Blinstein, S. and Qu, S. "Integrating HEVC Video Compression with a High Dynamic Range Video Pipeline", SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal, Vol. 125, Issue 1. February, 2016, pp 14-21). Typically, SMPTE ST 2084 allows to represent HDR video signal of up to 10 000 cd/m2 peak luminance with only 10 or 12 bits.
SDR backward compatibility with decoding and rendering apparatus is an important feature in some video distribution systems, such as broadcasting or multicasting systems. A solution based on a single layer coding/decoding process may be backward compatible, e.g. SDR compatible, and may leverage legacy distribution networks and services already in place.
Such a single layer based distribution solution enables both high quality HDR rendering on HDR-enabled Consumer Electronic (CE) devices, while also offering high quality SDR rendering on SDR-enabled CE devices. Such a solution is based on an encoded signal, e.g. SDR signal, and associated metadata (few bytes per video frame or scene) that can be used to reconstruct another signal, e.g. either SDR or HDR signal, from a decoded signal.
An example of a single layer based distribution solution may be found in the ETSI technical specification TS 103 433-1 V1.2.1 (August 2017). Such a single layer based distribution solution is denoted SL-HDR1 in the following.
Additionally, HDR distribution systems (workflows but also decoding and rendering apparatus) may be already deployed. Indeed, there are a number of global video services providers which include HDR content. However, distributed HDR material may be represented in a format or with characteristics which do not match consumer end-device characteristics. Usually, the consumer end-device adapts the decoded material to its own characteristics. However, the versatility of technologies employed in the HDR TV begets important differences in terms of rendition because of the differences between the consumer end-device characteristics compared to the mastering display used in the production environment to grade the original content. For content producer, artistic intent fidelity and its rendition to the consumer are of utmost importance. Thus, "display adaptation" metadata generated either at the production stage during grading process or under the control of a quality check operator before emission enable the conveyance of the artistic intent to the consumer when the decoded signal is to be adapted to end-device characteristics.
An example of a single layer based distribution solution combined with display adaptation may be found in ETSI technical specification TS 103 433-2 V1.1.1 (January 2018). Such a single layer based distribution solution is denoted SL-HDR2 in the following.
Such single layer based distribution solution, SL-HDR1 or SL-HDR2, generates metadata as parameters used for the reconstruction of the signal. Metadata may be either static or dynamic.
Static metadata means parameters representative of the video content or its format that remain the same for a video (set of images) and/or a program.
Static metadata are valid for the whole video content (scene, movie, clip . . . ) and may depend on the image content per se or the representation format of the image content. They may define, for example, image format or color space, color gamut. For instance, SMPTE ST 2086:2014, "Mastering Display Color Volume Metadata Supporting High Luminance and Wide Color Gamut Images" is such a kind of static metadata which describe the mastering display used to grade the material in a production environment. The Mastering Display Colour Volume (MDCV) SEI (Supplemental Enhanced Information) message is the distribution flavor of ST 2086 for both H.264/AVC ("Advanced video coding for generic audiovisual Services", SERIES H: AUDIOVISUAL AND MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS, Recommendation ITU-T H.264, Telecommunication Standardization Sector of ITU, April 2017) and HEVC video codecs.
Dynamic metadata is content-dependent information, so that metadata could change with the image/video content, e.g. for each image or for each group of images. As an example, SMPTE ST 2094:2016 standards families, "Dynamic Metadata for Color Volume Transform" are dynamic metadata typically generated in a production environment. SMPTE ST 2094-30 can be distributed along HEVC and AVC coded video stream thanks to the Colour Remapping Information (CRI) SEI message.
Basically, a single layer based distribution solution comprises a format adaptation step to adapt the format of an input image (video) to the input of a pre-processing step intended to generate an output image (video) associated with metadata, an encoding step of said output image (video) and metadata, decoding steps of said output image (video) and metadata and a post-processing step intended to reconstruct an image (video) from said decoded output image (video) and, optionally, from said decoded metadata.
The post-processing step is usually implemented using integer rather than floating point values. Such integer implementation involve limitations of values of internal variables used in said post-processing step to maximal values that define precisions of these internal variables. However, it may happen that values of internal variables are clipped when the values of these internal variables exceeds said maximal values introducing losses of precision of these internal variables that introduce visual artifacts in the output image of said post-processing. Typically, in some SL-HDR1 or SL-HDR2 implementations, the internal chroma components precision has to be clipped to 9 bits (+ sign bit). When this clipping occurs, it introduces visual artifacts especially for very saturated red and blue colors.

Method and apparatus for encoding an image


Systems and methods of request and response characteristics based adaptation of distributed caching in a mobile network are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of collecting information about a request or information about the response received for the request, the request being initiated at the mobile device, using the information about the request or the response, determining cacheability of the response, caching the response by storing the response a cache entry in a cache on the mobile device in response to determining the cacheability of the response, and/or serving the response from the cache to satisfy a subsequent request. The response in the cache entry can be verified by an entity physically separate from the mobile device to determine whether the response stored in the local cache still matches a current response at a source which sent the response.

As more and more data hungry Smart phones and tablets consume network resources such as bandwidth and signaling, carriers or operators are faced with additional challenges that go beyond network upgrades and offloading. With the explosion of mobile media and as end-users turn to their portable devices to view and share videos, music, and applications, the pressure for bigger, faster networks has grown. With total spending now exceeding $50B on network improvements alone, operators are working hard to make the networks faster, smarter and more efficient.
Existing solutions on the market to improve network performance deal with only one aspect of the problem—increasing the size and scope of the networks. Although this addresses the need for 'bigger pipes' to transport more data, it does not take into account the type of data being shared. While bandwidth may address mobile video applications, it fails to take into account the vast array of other mobile applications and end-user behavior. Many factors contribute to the massive growth in data including more sophisticated devices, end-user behavior, and advanced mobile applications-all contributing to an enormous amount of data traffic.
Not only have network operators experienced significant challenges, but device manufacturers have as well. With increasingly sophisticated devices, device makers face challenges with limited battery life. Such challenges are also driven by end-users accessing multiple applications simultaneously and applications/clients constantly accessing the network. For example, Smart phones and their 'always on', chatty mobile applications, receive frequent updates from the application host and also regularly poll the network. These constant requests cause the device battery to drain rapidly. Some have attempted to address this issue by rapidly disconnecting from the network once updates are sent or received. While battery life may be improved to some extent, this approach, however, places a heavy load on mobile networks.
The constant connections and disconnections increase the amount of signaling traffic, which lowers the performance of the network overall, again passes the torch onto the network operators and forcing them to increase bandwidth and network access. To date, carriers have been able to invest in 4G and LTE networks to boost network capacity in hotspots. However, these solutions are reaching their limit. LTE and 4G are also showing that the perceived availability of more bandwidth is causing users and applications to increase usage and data consumption. In the long run, it might add to the congestion problem rather than help.
State of the art cellular networks may be designed for high-throughput of large amounts of data, not for applications that require frequent but low-throughput and/or small amounts of data. Each transaction puts the mobile device radio in a high-power mode for a considerable length of time—typically between 15-30 seconds. As the high-power mode can consume as much as 100× the power as an idle mode, these network-initiated applications quickly drain battery. The issue has been exacerbated by the rapid increase of the popularity of applications with network-initiated functionalities, such as push email, news feeds, mobile applications, etc. Furthermore, the problem with constant polling is that mobile phones also rely on signaling to send and receive calls and SMS messages and sometimes these basic mobile functions are forced to take a backseat to unruly applications and other mobile clients.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Request and response characteristics based adaptation of distributed caching in a mobile network


A rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism that generally includes a housing having a hollow cage or carrier member positioned therein. A pair of hollow hammer members are pivotally positioned relative to the hollow cage or carrier member so the hollow hammer members rotate with the hollow cage or carrier member under drive from an air motor output shaft. An anvil is positioned inside the hollow hammer members and the anvil rotates relative to the hollow hammer members. The anvil preferably includes a forward anvil lug, a rearward anvil lug and an annular ring positioned intermediate the forward anvil lug, and the rearward anvil lug. To facilitate assembly of the anvil through the hollow hammer members, the annular ring could be a reduced diameter annular ring or the sides of a full diameter annular ring could be reduced or narrowed. Positive spacing of the hollow hammer members can be achieved by placing a spacer between the hollow hammer members. Alternatively, positive spacing of the hollow hammer members can be achieved by extending the hollow hammer members over the annular ring on the anvil with a step provided on the hollow hammer members to provide clearance for the annular ring on the anvil.

The present invention relates generally to new and novel improvements in a rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism, such as a air driven impact wrench, which is capable of delivering, in rapid succession, a series of rotary impact forces or blows. Such tools have typically been used to tighten or loosen high torque nut or bolts or similar items.
A conventional rotary impact wrench mechanism, known as a xe2x80x9cswinging weightxe2x80x9d mechanism, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,285,638 to L. A. Amtsberg, issued Jun. 9, 1942, for an xe2x80x9cImpact Clutch.xe2x80x9d While this mechanism is rather inefficient, it is one of the first to deliver rotary force in a series of impact blows. The ability to deliver a series of impact blows provides a human operator with an advantage in that the human operator can physically hold the impact wrench while delivering high torque forces in short burst or impacts. The advantage of applying short duration high torque impact blows is that a normal human being can continue to physically hold the tool while applying high torque forces. If such high torque forces were applied continuously by the tool, an opposite continuous reaction force on the tool would be too great to allow the tool to be held by a normal human being.
An improved xe2x80x9cswinging weightxe2x80x9d mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,661,217 to Maurer, issued May 9, 1972, for a xe2x80x9cRotary Impact Tool and Clutch Therefor,xe2x80x9d the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This issued United States patent describes and shows a swinging weight impact wrench mechanism with a hammer member that is substantially free of tensional stresses during impact. This xe2x80x9cswinging weightxe2x80x9d mechanism has a swinging hammer pivoted on a pivot with the center of mass of the hammer being near the center of rotation of the mechanism. This enables the swinging weight mechanism to strike a more balanced blow to an anvil and, ultimately, to the output shaft to tighten or loosen bolts, for example.
However, one problem with the xe2x80x9cswinging weightxe2x80x9d mechanism disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,661,217 to Maurer, issued May 9, 1972, for a xe2x80x9cRotary Impact Tool and Clutch Thereforxe2x80x9d is that high loads transmitted through the hammer and the anvil lugs can cause separation of the anvil lugs from the anvil and premature failure of the rotary impact tool.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism which is less susceptible to premature failure and, thus, provides enhanced durability and service life as compared to known prior art rotary impact tools.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism which is capable of applying the same amount of torque to a workpiece with less air consumption as compared to known prior art rotary impact tools.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism which is capable of applying a greater amount of torque to a workpiece while maintaining the size of the housing as compared to known prior art rotary impact tools.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by a rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism that generally includes a housing having a hollow cage or carrier member positioned therein. A pair of hollow hammer members are pivotally positioned relative to the hollow cage or carrier member so the hollow hammer members rotate with the hollow cage or carrier member under drive from an air motor output shaft. An anvil is positioned inside the hollow hammer members and the anvil rotates relative to the hollow hammer members. The anvil preferably includes a forward anvil lug, a rearward anvil lug, and an annular ring positioned intermediate the forward anvil lug and the rearward anvil lug. To facilitate assembly of the anvil through the hollow hammer members, the annular ring can be a reduced diameter annular ring or the sides of a full diameter annular ring could be reduced or narrowed. Positive spacing of the hollow hammer members can be achieved by placing a spacer between the hollow hammer members. Alternatively, positive spacing of the hollow hammer members can be achieved by extending the hollow hammer members over the annular ring on the anvil with a step provided on each of the hollow hammer members to provide clearance for the annular ring on the anvil.
Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Rotary impact tool having a twin hammer mechanism


A push-on switch in which dome-like movable contacts are placed in an invertible manner in two or upper and lower stages in an accommodating portion of an insulative body having plural stationary contacts. In order to fix the lower movable contact without using a dedicated pressing member, and enhance cost reduction and production efficiency, a leg portion is elongated from an outer peripheral edge portion of the lower movable contact, and the leg portion has a pressed portion in which a tip end is upward bent to protrude toward an upper face of the upper movable contact. When the lower mov-able contact is positionally fixed to the body, the pressed portion is pressed from the upper side by fixing structure for the upper movable contact, and the lower movable contact is positionally fixed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a push-on switch in which a dome-like movable contact is inverted as a result of a depressing operation to make electrical conduction, and more particularly to a two-step push-on switch into which two or upper and lower movable contacts are incorporated.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a push-on switch of this kind, the upper movable contact is placed in an accommodating portion of a body, and fixed by attaching a frame having a window hole at the middle to an upper face of the body via a cover sheet covering the accommodating portion and exerting also a function of dust proof, and pressing the cover sheet from the upper side. On the other hand, the lower movable contact is placed in the accommodating portion of the body and under the upper movable contact, and fixed by bonding and holding the whole outer peripheral edge portion by an annular adhesive sheet having a through hole in the middle, to the body, whereby a top of an inflated portion is exposed to be contactable to the upper movable contact in the upper side. Such a conventional push-on switch is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 2003-7167.


Provided is a machinable zirconia having high translucency as a sintered body which is formed to include a tetragonal zirconia composite powder containing 79.8 to 92 mol % ZrO2, 4.5 to 10.2 mol % Y2O3, 3.5 to 7.5 mol % Nb2O5 or 5.5 to 10.0 mol % Ta2O5, and a TiO2 nano powder which is added with a weight ratio of more than 0 wt % and up to 2.5 wt % to the composite powder, wherein a density of the sintered body is 99% or more, an average grain size of the sintered body is 2 μm or larger, hardness of the sintered body is in a range of 4 to 10 GPa, fracture toughness of the sintered body is in a range of 9 to 14 MPa·m1/2, a strength of the sintered body is in a range of 400 to 1000 MPa.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machinable zirconia, and more particularly, to a zirconia having excellent strength and fracture toughness, low hardness, and high translucency so as to have excellent machinability.
Description of the Related Art
Up to now, the field of dental restorations has been remarkably grown.
In the related art, as a material for artificial teeth substituting for natural teeth, metals have been mainly used. However, recently, prostheses made of ceramics having excellent beauty and having color similar to those of natural teeth have been widely used. As a ceramic material for dental products, zirconia has no inferiority as a substitute for metal prostheses or other ceramic materials in terms of strength and beauty. The zirconia has chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and a high melting point. Therefore, the zirconia is a material which has attracted much attention in various industrial fields beside the dental field. In addition, since the zirconia is a material which is free from cytotoxicity, carcinogens, heavy metals, and the like, the zirconia has been favored as a ceramic for biological structures.
Recently, a prosthesis is manufactured by using the zirconia in a CAD/CAM manufacturing method (design and manufacturing method utilizing a computer) instead of a prosthesis manufacturing method of the related art. In the CAD/CAM manufacturing method, after a state of the mouth is directly scanned, or a mold for manufacturing a prosthesis is scanned without a process of casting a dental mold as a general process, a form of teeth is designed by using a CAD program, and the prosthesis is manufactured. Based on virtual teeth completed by using the CAD program on a computer, the zirconia is machined by a dedicated milling machine, so that actual teeth suitable for a patient are completed.
However, the zirconia used as a material for dental products has a disadvantage in that machining is hard to perform because of high hardness although mechanical properties are excellent. Because of this problem, before a sintered body is finally completed, a porous zirconia is manufactured through primary sintering at a low temperature, and after that, a machining step is performed, and secondary sintering is performed, so that the prosthesis is completed. By taking into consideration shrinkage of the porous zirconia during the final sintering process, the prosthesis needs to be formed with a volume which is larger about 20% or more.
As described above, since the zirconia has a problem in that the machinability is deteriorated, much time and cost are spent on manufacturing the prostheses for artificial teeth. In addition, since it is difficult to machine the final shape of the prostheses as an optimized structure for the patient's mouth, there is a limitation to increase competitiveness of the zirconia prostheses.

Machinable zirconia comprising titania nanopowder


A seating system has a tiltable seat coupled to a base, which can be coupled to a motor vehicle or other device. The seat includes a seat bracket coupled to the base by a seat tilt pivot. The seat is configured to maintain a user's body in a fixed position during tilting throughout the seat's range of tilt angles. A seat adjustment mechanism allows angular adjustment of the seat and locks the seat at a fixed tilt angle relative to the base. The seat tilt pivot axis is located approximately vertically below the center of gravity of a loaded seat, thus reducing the force needed to tilt a loaded seat. By fixing or maintaining the seat tilt pivot vertically beneath the load being pivoted, the amount of force needed to control seat tilting can be limited to forces that a typical user can exert with one or two hands.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to methods, systems and apparatus for seating and the like in motor vehicles and other locations, especially for use in connection with mobility devices such as movable motor vehicle seats, wheelchairs and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Many individuals have difficulty moving in and out of motor vehicles and the like, especially passenger seats in which the user's normal riding position is such that one or both of the following conditions exist: (1) the user's feet are below the level of a door sill or other entryway lower frame member, and/or (2) the user's head extends above the level of an entryway's upper frame member. These and other factors (for example, maintaining head position, breathing, coughing, eating, car sickness, spasticity, etc.) present individuals with impaired mobility (for example, those with physical handicaps, older individuals, etc.) with challenges in using traditional seating systems and arrangements.
Systems, apparatus and techniques that provide improved seating systems and accessibility for users of motor vehicles, personal mobility vehicles and the like would represent a significant advancement in the art.


A steam condenser has a perforated plate extending transversely in a housing, a pipe extending upwardly from an opening in the plate and having openings in its upper portion, at least one steam inlet, and a deflector adjacent to said inlet extending inwardly of the housing and downwardly to deflect and disburse steam to enhance condensation.

In the utilization of steam, as provided by boilers, steam and air from apparatus utilizing the steam is conventionally disposed of by passing it to atmosphere or by condensing it and passing condensate to drain.
In many applications or locations, steam and moisture-bearing air cannot reasonably or appropriately be disposed by passing to atmosphere. Examples of such applications are utilization of steam in retail establishments and shopping malls, as for the pressing of clothing items in retail clothing sales or repair establishments. In such locations, steam presses or press boards are utilized to press clothing items being fabricated, altered or repaired for customers. In many locations, such as shopping malls, the exhausting of steam or moisture-bearing air to atmosphere requires a conduit passing upwardly through a building structure, perhaps two or more stories, and through a roof to vent, thus involving expensive construction, piping, etc. Tn such applications, it is necessary or appropriate to provide means for the condensing of steam and hot moisturized air and the disposal of the same via drains and sewage systems.
Condensers or "blow down" tanks have long been utilized for such purposes.
The present invention provides improved condensers for the condensing and disposal of steam and hot, moisturized air in such applications, the improved condenser comprises a housing with a plate extending transversely therein defining a plurality of perforations therein, a pipe mounted at an opening in the plate and extending upwardly with a closed upper end, and at least, one inlet tube in the wall of the housing for emitting steam, and a deflector mounted adjacent the at least one inlet tube to extend inwardly and downwardly to deflect and disburse steam, said at least one inlet tube being below said plate.


A tool discharges one battery pack and a charger simultaneously charges another battery pack to provide for continuous and circular operation of the tool. Tool system includes a tool and a lithium based battery pack having a nominal voltage of at least 56 volts for supplying power to the tool. A heat absorbing device is associated with the battery pack and includes a phase-change material.

Battery-powered tools, such as cordless electric lawn mowers, cordless electric mitre saws, cordless electric table saws, etc. have become more widely accepted for their environment-protection qualities and portability. However, the capacity of the battery is limited, thus for example when using a cordless mower, the mowing cannot be accomplished with a single battery pack, or even two battery packs if the area of the lawn is large. Additionally, the battery pack tends to heat up after continuous and circular use, especially in a high-temperature environment, thus it may take longer to recharge the battery. To solve the above problems, a user often prepares several battery packs and a corresponding number of chargers in order to charge several battery packs at once. However, using several battery packs is much more expensive for users.


A transistor, memory cell array and method of manufacturing a transistor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention refers to a transistor, which is formed at least partially in a semiconductor substrate, comprising a first and a second source/drain regions, a channel region connecting said first and second source/drain regions, said channel region being disposed in said semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode disposed along said channel region and being electrically isolated from said channel region, for controlling an electrical current flowing between said first and second source/drain regions, wherein said channel region comprises a fin-region in which the channel has the shape of a ridge, said ridge comprising a top side and two lateral sides in a cross section perpendicular to a line connecting said first and second source/drain regions, wherein said top side is disposed beneath a surface of said semiconductor substrate and said gate electrode is disposed along said top side and said two lateral sides.

Memory cells of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprise a storage capacitor for storing an electrical charge which represents an information to be stored, and an access transistor for addressing the storage capacitor. The access transistor comprises a first and a second source/drain regions, a conductive channel adjacent to the first and second source/drain regions as well as a gate electrode controlling an electrical current flowing between the first and second source/drain regions. The transistor usually is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The information stored in the storage capacitor is read out or written in by addressing the access transistor. There is a lower boundary of the channel length of the access transistor, below which the isolation properties of the access transistor in an non-addressed state are not sufficient. The lower boundary of the effective channel length Leff limits the scalability of planar transistor cells having an access transistor which is horizontally formed with respect to the substrate surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Vertical transistor cells offer a possibility of enhancing the channel length while maintaining the surface area necessary for forming the memory cell. In such a vertical transistor cell the source/drain regions of the access transistor as well as the channel region are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface. One of the problems involved with such a vertical transistor cell is the difficulty in providing a surface contact to a stacked capacitor. Accordingly, such a vertical transistor is difficult to integrate with a stack capacitor.
A concept, in which the effective channel length Leff is enhanced, refers to a recessed channel transistor, as is for example known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,707. In such a transistor, the first and second source/drain regions are arranged in a horizontal plane parallel to the substrate surface. The gate electrode is arranged in a recessed groove, which is disposed between the two source/drain regions of the transistor in the semiconductor substrate. Accordingly, the effective channel length equals to the sum of the distance between the two source/drain regions and the two fold of the depth of the recess groove. The effective channel width Weff corresponds to the minimal structural size F.
Another known transistor concept refers to the FinFET. The active area of a FinFET usually has the shape of a fin or a ridge which is formed in the semiconductor substrate between the two source/drain regions. A gate electrode encloses the fin at two or three sides thereof.

Transistor, memory cell array and method of manufacturing a transistor


Modern day-to-day life depends on reliable operation of network devices in a wide range of service network such as an electric grid. An analysis and control system executes a complex technical analysis to determine maintenance optimizations for the service network. The system arrives at the optimizations after taking into consideration the maintenance tasks to be performed across a time-dependent network topology and service sensitivity of the network devices to service outage.

Modern day-to-day life relies on a wide range of service networks such as an electric grid. At the same time, the reliable operation of various network equipment, service nodes, and other aspects of a service network requires constant maintenance and associated periods of down time. Improvements in the complex analysis and execution of maintenance operations will further enhance and optimize the operation of the service network.

Service network maintenance analysis and control