In general, disclosed is a multi-use and gun-protective apparatus for secure and hands-free carrying of a long gun in close proximity (in time, distance, and procedure) to a gunman carrier's gun firing position. Basically, in one embodiment, the apparatus is a reversible, open-ended, and chest-mounted bi-fold pouch configured to fold around at least part of the receiver portions (the portions of the rifle that contains the operating parts, e.g., bolt carrying group, trigger group, or magazine port) of a long gun). In operation, a long gun may be provided to the pouch so that the gun is transversely oriented with respect to torso of the gun carrier whereby the barrel of the long gun extends out of one end of the pouch while the stock of the long gun extends out of the other end of the pouch. When gun firing or deployment is necessary, the gun is located on the chest of carrier so that the barrel or stock of the gun may be gripped while the pouch is concurrently unfolded to result in the carried gun falling from the pouch into the carrier's gun firing position.

1. Field of Invention
This specification discloses subject matter in the field of hands-free and multiple use carrying packs for long-guns. In particular, the disclosed subject matter is in the field of hands-free apparatus for releasably securing a long gun to a person.
2. Background of the Invention
Long guns are an elongated class of firearms generally designed to be discharged by a gunman with an outstretched arm supporting the barrel of the gun while the gun stock is braced against his or her shoulder. Long guns have many practical uses, particularly in military and sportsman arts. Despite this utility, long guns are usually heavy and lengthy whereby manually carrying such guns can be difficult and tiring. Furthermore, manually carrying a gun occupies the gunman's hands and arms so that multi-tasking by the carrier is limited.
Many apparatus exist which allow hands-free carrying of a long gun on the back of a gunman. While loading a long gun on the back of the gunman eases the gunman's burdens of manually carrying the gun, apparatus for back mounting long guns are not entirely suitable for all situations because, the gun is hard to reach and far (in time, distance, and procedure) from a gunman's fire-ready position.
Other apparatus for assisting a gunman's carrying of a long gun also exist, but such apparatus are either uncomfortable for the gunman or expose the gun and its components (e.g., sighting elements) to damage. For example, sling type apparatus exists for supporting a long gun over a shoulder of the gunman, but such apparatus: focus the weight of the long gun on a single extremity (e.g. a single arm or shoulder) so that carrying the gun becomes uncomfortable; leave the gun dangling on the shoulder so that the gun may either be dropped or hit against items; and place the gun at a location that is far (in time, distance, and procedure) from the gunman's fire-ready position.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for gun-protective multi-use apparatus for secure and hands-free carrying of a long gun in close proximity (in time, distance, and procedure) to a firing position of a gunman carrier.

Hands-free multi-use long gun carry pack and related methods


The board game is set up so that a group of people each control a single game figure and play against a single person who controls a group of game figures. The game board includes a number of castle spaces which each have a treasure card. This treasure card is revealed when a figure lands on the castle space. All players move across the board trying to obtain the scepter treasure card which is hidden at one of the castle spaces and determine the location of the living throne located at another castle space. If one of the individually controlled figures finds the scepter, that specific figure must bring the scepter to the living throne castle space in order to win the game. If one of the group of figures controlled by one player obtains the scepter treasure card, any one of the group of figures just get to the living throne castle space in order to win the game.

Many board games have been developed which have specific rules and allow multiple players to compete against each other. These games frequently have imaginary themes such as knights that must defend kingdoms and defeat the enemy. A problem with many of these games is that when one player gains a strong position midway through the game, it is then difficult or impossible for this player in a strong position to be defeated (Examples: In the game Risk™—whoever gets the most clues first, wins; in a game Monopoly™—once a player possesses Boardwalk, Park Place and several other key properties, it is then a matter of time before he or she wins). This leads to boring interaction for the remainder of the game. If this type of one sided play occurs frequently, the game will generally not be interesting and will tend to sit on a shelf.
What is needed is a game that does not play out the same way twice, requires skill like chess but also has elements of chance like Risk™. The game should is not be easy to master right away, but is easy to start playing and enjoying right from the first play. The game should also allow the possibility of a come from behind victory on the last movement or the last throw of the dice, no matter how far behind the player is.


An auxiliary positioning device adapted for use with a water bag having a water outlet tube with a drinking end wherein the water bag is securable to a user. The device comprising a fixing seat, first and second hooks respectively coupled to opposing ends of the seat, a tube holder installed on the seat, a flexible extending rod secured to the seat, a bendable metal line secured with the extending rod, a plurality of spaced, additional tube holders secured to the extending rod, two through rings wherein each of the rings includes two holes therein wherein one of the holes includes an inclined guiding slot extending through a peripheral portion of the one hole to allow penetration by a strap, wherein, in use, the one hole of each ring is adapted to be coupled to a strap worn by a user by passing the strap through the guiding slot and in the one hole of each ring, the first and second hooks are respectively secured to the other of the holes of the through rings, the water outlet tube is penetrated through the tube holder on the seat and is further penetrated through each of the additional tube holders secured to the extending rod, and the extending rod with the metal line secured therewith is bent to position the drinking end of the water outlet tube relative to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auxiliary positioning device of the water outlet tube of a water bag, especially to a design on said water bag for positioning the water outlet tube thereof to a predetermined elevational angle so that as a user drinks water as well as exercises, he (or she) may position its water outlet tube by using the present invention, thus he (or she) may drink easily and conveniently without using hands, therefore the present invention has the effect of improving the practical usage of the water bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional, prior art water bag 1 which is designed as a water pocket. A water inlet tube 2 is extended downwards from the distal end thereof, which is shrewdly engaged by a cover 3, while a prolonged water outlet tube 4 is extended from the upper end of the bag and the distal end of this tube 4 is installed with a suction nozzle 5 having a check valve. A user bites the suction nozzle 5 so that the sealing steel ball 5A will compress a spring 5B thus allowing the water in the bag to pass through the suction nozzle and to be drunk by the user.
As shown in FIG. 2, the prior art water bag 1 may be used while exercising outdoors, such as while the user is riding a bicycle. In order for the user to obtain a drink of water from the water bag, the user must hold the outlet tube 4 by hand. Since the user is holding the outlet tube 4 with one hand, in the event of danger, the user may not quickly have both hands readily available unless the user can quickly stop holding the outlet tube 4.
Accordingly, in order to overcome the aforementioned inconvenience, an auxiliary positioning device of the water outlet tube of a water bag is generally used in the market, as shown in FIG. 3. For the positioning of the tube with the device shown in FIG. 3, two through rings A and B are installed on the upper and lower end thereof, while a canvas through belt C penetrates through said through rings repeatedly and then is tied so as to form a hard plate. A bendable multi-sectional guiding tube D is connected to an upper portion of the through belt C. In order to use the positioning device shown in FIG. 3, the outlet tube 4 of the water bag 1 is first cut to form a two section structure. An end tube near the water bag is inserted on the water inlet end E of the bendable guiding tube D and another tube end (not shown) installed with the suction nozzle 5 is inserted in the water outlet end F. Hence, the multi-sectional guiding tube allows a user to position the section nozzle by bending the multi-sectional guiding tube.
However, as the aforementioned prior art shown in FIG. 3, the following defects still exists:
(1) In the prior auxiliary positioning device of the water outlet tube of a water bag as shown in FIG. 3, the multi-sectional guiding tube D is not a water outlet tube with a suction nozzle on the distal end, thus in the whole, in using the water outlet tube of the original water bag, the tube must be cut to form a two sectional structure. Since the water outlet tube is adhered on the water bag, if it is destroyed, then the auxiliary positioning device of the water outlet tube of a water bag must be used permanently, thus people can not select the desired usage of the water bag 1 and water outlet tube 4.
(2) For a water bag filled with fruit juice or other non-mineral water, in order to clean the multi-sectional tube after being used, it has the problem that some dirt is hidden thereon, thus this is a harmful effect for the drinker.

Auxiliary positioning device of the water outlet tube of a water bag


A double layer planar polysilicon capacitor for use within integrated circuits and a method by which that planar polysilicon capacitor is formed. Formed within a semiconductor substrate is a deep trench which is filled with a dielectric material. Formed within the dielectric material within the deep trench is a shallow trench which has a first polysilicon capacitor plate formed therein. The upper surface of the first polysilicon capacitor plate is substantially planar with the semiconductor substrate. Formed upon the first polysilicon capacitor plate is a polysilicon capacitor dielectric layer. Formed upon the polysilicon capacitor dielectric layer is a second polysilicon capacitor plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to capacitors formed within integrated circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a double layer polysilicon capacitor formed within a shallow trench for use within integrated circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated circuits are typically fabricated from semiconductor substrates upon and within whose surfaces are formed resistors, transistors, diodes and other electrical circuit elements. These electrical circuit elements are connected internally and externally to the semiconductor substrate upon which they are formed through conductor layers which are separated by insulator layers.
In addition to the use of transistors as switching elements within integrated circuits, and the use of resistors as electrical circuit load elements within integrated circuits, capacitors are also commonly employed within integrated circuits. Typically, capacitors within integrated circuits are employed as charge storage elements within digital integrated circuits or as passive electrical circuit elements within analog integrated circuits.
A common method for forming capacitors within integrated circuits is to form upon a semiconductor substrate two doped polysilicon layers which are separated by an insulating layer. A capacitor formed through this method is referred to as a planar polysilicon capacitor. A typical planar polysilicon capacitor within an integrated circuit is illustrated within the cross-sectional schematic diagram shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows a semiconductor substrate 10 within and upon whose surface is formed a Field OXide (FOX) isolation region 12. The FOX isolation region 12 defines the active semiconductor region of the semiconductor substrate 10. Within the active semiconductor region may be formed transistors, resistors, diodes and other electrical circuit elements. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a field effect transistor structure formed within the active semiconductor region. The field effect transistor structure comprises a gate electrode 22 which resides upon a gate oxide 20, and a pair of source/drain electrodes 24a and 24b.
Typically, planar polysilicon capacitors within integrated circuits are formed upon the surfaces of FOX isolation regions within those integrated circuits. Thus, within FIG. 1, a conventional planar polysilicon capacitor is illustrated by a first polysilicon layer 14 and a second polysilicon layer 18 separated by an insulating layer 16, all of which layers are formed upon the surface of the FOX isolation region 12.
An unfortunate consequence of forming planar polysilicon capacitors upon the surfaces of FOX isolation regions within integrated circuits is the substantial step height from the top surface of the planar polysilicon capacitor to the top surfaces of the surrounding integrated circuit features formed upon active semiconductor regions. This substantial step height may provide fundamental problems in forming sufficiently thin planarized insulator layers over integrated circuit features adjoining planar polysilicon capacitors formed upon FOX isolation regions. The fundamental problems may limit the ability to form fully functional and reliable integrated circuits. It is thus towards the goal of forming within integrated circuits planar polysilicon capacitors of height comparable to adjoining integrated circuit features within those integrated circuits that the present invention is directed.
The design and fabrication of planar polysilicon capacitors are known in the art. For example, Chi in U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,437 describes a method for forming a double layer planar polysilicon capacitor compatible with sub-micron processing schemes for advanced integrated circuits. The disclosed method provides a planar polysilicon capacitor which is not susceptible to forming polysilicon stringers which deteriorate the electrical performance of planar polysilicon capacitors and the advanced integrated circuits into which those planar polysilicon capacitors are formed.
In addition, a related disclosure from this laboratory, Yang Pan, "Three Dimensional Polysilicon Capacitor for High Density Integrated Circuit Applications," U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,853 , discloses a polysilicon capacitor formed of patterned and inter-leafed polysilicon electrode layers. The disclosed polysilicon capacitor provides the greater levels of areal capacitance needed for advanced integrated circuits.
Desirable in the art is a planar polysilicon capacitor of height similar to surrounding integrated circuit features within integrated circuits within which that planar polysilicon capacitor is formed. Preferably, the planar polysilicon capacitor is formed while simultaneously maintaining the electrical characteristics of that planar polysilicon capacitor.

Low-profile shallow trench double polysilicon capacitor

Chartered Semicoductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method of protecting a rotating device, loaded by temperature of a machine tool with one temperature sensor on that device and a temperature bloc, comprising the steps of inputting specific parameters in the temperature bloc, estimating a value for the device temperature increase caused by the activity of the device and measuring the temperature of the device.

The invention relates a method of protection of a rotating device of a machine tool, loaded by temperature, with one temperature sensor on that device and a temperature bloc.
The method of the present invention is able to detect early on patterns which will help protect a device against degradation due to lubrication defects and to accurately detect and diagnose failure and miss handling of the device. Device means all parts of machine tools, which are loaded by temperature, caused by incorrect cooling, lubrication etc.
For example the device is a spindle of a high speed milling machine. The lubrication system of a spindle can fail and that often leads to a spindle failure. This invention provides the opportunity to warn the customer that something is wrong and allows to save the spindles which would have otherwise failed reducing the cost of repair. Furthermore the invention provides means for the customer to recognise his mistake and correct for it before damage is caused.
The producer has the possibility, for example after a failure under the warranty time, to conduct a detailed analysis of the spindle in order to diagnose the cause of failure.
For example there is known in the prior art (JP 2002346884 A) to detect abnormality or end of service life of a spindle in a machine tool, in advance. Data of temperature rise of the spindle bearing is recorded linking with the running data such as date and time occurred, spindle speed and spindle motor load, and they are output on a display as a data table when necessary. Besides effective peak data of temperature rise is selected, the effective peak data is recorded linking with the running data, the recorded data for a day is reserved sorting in the order of the peak level, and the reserved data is shown on the display as a data table.
The object of the invention is to provide a method which will help protect the spindle against degradation due to lubrication defects and improve the ability to accurately detect and diagnose failure and mishandling of the spindle.

Temperature protection method for machine tool


Disclosed is an information processing system such as a work station, a personal computer system or the like. The information processing system includes an identification information input unit for inputting identification information on manuscript information to be processed, an encoding unit for encoding the manuscript information, a recording unit for recording the encoded manuscript information together with the identification information thereof, a read unit for reading the encoded manuscript information recorded, and a reconstruct unit for reconstructing the encoded manuscript information read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system such as a work station, a personal computer system or the like and, in particular, to an information processing system which has an encoding processing function to encode and output manuscript information and to reconstruct the encoded manuscript information.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been widely used an information processing system such as a work station, a personal computer system or the like, and various kinds of information exchanges have been made by means of a network. It is possible to transfer manuscript information between work stations provided in the network. Also, manuscript information made up at a work station can be displayed and proofread on the screen of another work station, and the thus proofread manuscript information can be printed.
Also, a data base is connected to the network and data stored in the data base can be read out from the respective work stations freely or under a given condition.
The manuscript that has been transferred from a work station or the information that has been read out from the data base must be kept secret in some cases and thus, when the manuscript or information is printed and possessed, sufficient care must be given in keeping it.
As an information processing system which relates to such secret keeping, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 1-91378, there has been proposed an information processing system having an encoding processing function, in which, when the remaining amount of memory of a facsimile device decreases, manuscript information stored in an image memory is encoded and printed out to thereby secure the capacity of the image memory, after that at a time when the image memory has a sufficient capacity, the printed-out manuscript is set in a read device by an operator, and the encoded image information is then read and reconstructed.
However, when possessing the secret information, conventionally, the management of the secret information is entrusted to an operator, which makes it difficult to keep the secret information in a sure manner. Also, when possessing the encoded secret information, there arise the following problems:
(1) The encoded manuscript is difficult to manage because the content thereof cannot be deciphered. Also, since the encoded and recorded manuscript cannot be understood by a third person, there is a possibility that the encoded and recorded manuscript may be torn to pieces or thrown away.
(2) The encoded manuscript can be reconstructed by any person if it is read again by use of the exclusive device and, therefore, it is difficult to keep the encoded manuscript in secret.
(3) Position shift will occur when the encoded image information is printed out on recording paper and when the recording paper is read again, so that the image information finally obtained will be shifted in position.
(4) Only one encoding system is registered and thus it is relatively easy to decipher the information encoded in this system.


A substrate polishing apparatus and method are described. A base includes at least one movable platen to engage a polishing pad. At least one carrier head assembly presses a substrate against the polishing pad substantially within a polishing area during a polishing operation. A polishing solution dispenser applies a polishing solution to the polishing pad substantially within the polishing area during the polishing operation. A polishing solution retaining mechanism is attached to one of the base or the carrier head assembly. The retaining mechanism engages a top surface of the polishing pad and retains the polishing solution substantially within the polishing area during the polishing operation. Some implementations may reduce polishing solution consumption and allow for increased angular velocity.

An integrated circuit is typically formed on a substrate by the sequential deposition of conductive, semiconductive or insulative layers on a silicon wafer. One fabrication step involves depositing a filler layer over a non-planar surface, and planarizing the filler layer until the non-planar surface is exposed. For example, a conductive filler layer, such as copper, can be deposited on a patterned insulative layer to fill the trenches or holes in the insulative layer. The filler layer is then polished until the raised pattern of the insulative layer is exposed. After planarization, the portions of the conductive layer remaining between the raised pattern of the insulative layer form vias, plugs and lines that provide conductive paths between thin film circuits on the substrate. In addition, planarization is needed to planarize the substrate surface for photolithography.
CMP is one accepted method of planarization. This planarization method typically requires that the substrate be mounted on a carrier or polishing head. The exposed surface of the substrate is placed against a rotating polishing disk pad or belt pad. The polishing pad can be either a "standard" pad or a fixed-abrasive pad. A standard pad has a durable roughened surface, whereas a fixed-abrasive pad has abrasive particles held in a containment medium. The carrier head provides a controllable load on the substrate to push it against the polishing pad. A polishing solution, including at least one chemically-reactive agent, is supplied to the surface of the polishing pad. The polishing solution can optionally include abrasive particles, e.g., if a standard pad is used.
A variation of CMP, which is particularly useful for copper polishing, is ECMP. In ECMP techniques, conductive material is removed from the substrate surface by electrochemical dissolution while concurrently polishing the substrate, typically with reduced mechanical abrasion as compared to conventional CMP processes. The polishing solution includes an electrolyte. The electrochemical dissolution is performed by applying a bias between a cathode and the substrate surface and thus removing conductive material from the substrate surface into the surrounding electrolyte solution.
In both CMP and ECMP, a polishing solution is applied to a rotating surface. Due to centrifugal forces, the polishing solution disperses across the surface of the polishing pad, causing much of it to spill over the edge of the pad before its functional capacity is exhausted. These polishing solutions are expensive consumables. The per substrate cost of these processes could be reduced considerably by reducing the amount of polishing solution used. In addition, as the polishing pad's angular velocity is increased, smoother substrate surfaces and increased substrate planarization efficiency and consistency from center to edge result. Increased angular velocity, however, leads to stronger centrifugal forces, which lead to more polishing solution spillover.


The invention relates to a block (10) made of ceramic compounds, in particular dental compounds, of at least one ceramic compound (15) with predetermined first optical properties and at least a second ceramic compound (17) with predetermined second optical properties, and of a transition area between the two ceramic compounds, which transition area is composed of changing mixtures of the at least two ceramic compounds, the variation gradient of the mixtures being substantially constant. The invention further relating to a process for making such a block.

To produce teeth, tooth parts or dental restorations (hereinafter referred to as tooth), blocks are generally prefabricated and are presintered, for example at a temperature of approximately 900° C. to 1100° C. In this state, the block thus produced can be easily machined, for example by milling. The milling work results in the formation of a shaped article which thereafter simply has to undergo final sintering in order to achieve the required dimension and final hardness. When producing the shaped article, account has to be taken of the shrinkage that occurs in dense sintering. The shrinkage and the strength always derive from the sintering conditions (especially temperature, time, atmosphere) under which the block is produced.
To ensure that the restorations appear as true to nature as possible, it has already been proposed to combine different layers, each differently colored, of ceramic compounds in order to form a tooth. For example, according to this proposal, up to 10 very thin layers of ceramic compounds can be presintered together, such that a shaped article with a suitable color profile can be obtained. If the differently colored layers each have different chemical characteristics, however, there is a danger of the presintering temperature also being different. The compound sintering at higher temperatures then melts on the particle boundaries less strongly than the compound sintering at lower temperatures. This can result in different shrinkages and bond strengths, which make the final production more problematic.
Such block bodies can be made, for example, from ceramics based on ZrO2. However, it is also quite possible to use glasses and also glass ceramics as the starting material. In glass ceramics, primary particles are typically generated from glass granules by comminution, their particle size lying in the range from 0.5 to 50 micrometers. In the context of this invention, particle size and the corresponding indicated sizes are always understood as the d50 value, which corresponds to the diameter at 50% on the frequency distribution curve of particles, as measured according to ISO 13320. Coloring is usually effected by addition of coloring oxides to the melt from which the granulate is obtained, or to the ground granulate. These oxides are then present separately.
To make available an improved block, it has also been proposed to match the color profile to the color profile of an existing tooth. A natural tooth typically has a bright or whitish incisal area and a more strongly colored cervical area. Extending between these areas there is the central area within which the color changes. Between the cervical area and the central area, on the one hand, and between the central area and the incisal area, on the other hand, the color transition weakens, with the result that the variation gradient is typically configured in the manner of a flat Gaussian curve. However, the attempts to simulate a suitable color profile by corresponding layering of ceramic compounds surprisingly led to aesthetically unsatisfactory results, which were also difficult to produce.


A method of modulating energy homeostasis in a mammal without eliciting a sexual response by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition including a melanocortin receptor compound of the formula:

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to naphthalene-containing melanocortin receptor-specific small molecules, preferably specific for MC4-R, that are characterized in that they modulate feeding behavior in mammals without eliciting a sexual response, or significantly eliciting a sexual response, and methods for modulating feeding behavior in mammals without eliciting a sexual response, or significantly eliciting a response, by means of such MC4-R specific molecules.
2. Background Art
A family of melanocortin receptor types and subtypes have been identified, including melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1-R) expressed on normal human melanocytes and melanoma cells, melanocortin-2 receptors (MC2-R) for ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) expressed in cells of the adrenal gland, melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC3-R and MC4-R) expressed primarily in cells in the hypothalamus, mid-brain and brainstem, and melanocortin-5 receptors (MC5-R), expressed in a wide distribution of tissues.
Compounds specific for MC3-R or MC4-R, and particularly MC4-R, are believed to be useful in regulation of energy homeostasis, including use as agents for attenuating food intake and body weight gain, for use in treatment of anorexia, as a weight gain aid, for treatment of obesity, and other treatment of food intake and metabolism-related disorders and conditions. Compounds specific for MC3-R and/or MC4-R, and particularly MC4-R, affect sexual response, and can be used as agents for treatment of sexual dysfunction, including male erectile dysfunction.
Because of the myriad biological effects of compounds specific for melanocortin receptors, there is a need for methods, including selection of compounds, to differentiate the effects. More specifically, the MC4-R is commonly believed to be implicated in both energy homeostasis and sexual response. For most pharmaceutical applications it is desirably to have a compound that is specific for a single biological effect, such as for example an MC4-R agonist of high affinity that regulates energy homeostasis, such as by decreasing food intake and/or body weight, without inducing a sexual response.

Naphthalene-containing melanocortin receptor-specific small molecule

Abstract: where R1 is a bond or a linker unit including from one to six backbone atoms and an unsubstituted naphthalene group, and L, R2, R3 and Rx are as defined in the specification.


Proposed is a paper gathering and feeding method, a device therefor, and a rotation member acting sufficiently also on any deformed notes at the time of gathering, and at the time of feeding, feeding is not prevented irrespective of the plasticity deformation, and an object thereof is to reduce the exchange frequency and maintenance of the rotation member, extend the continuous operation time of the paper gathering and feeding device, and realize comprehensive reduction of production cost, service cost, and the like. With respect to a paper gathering and feeding method or a device therefor performing a gathering process for dropping paper to be transferred in a transfer section to gather the same in a gathering section, and a feeding process for feeding the paper gathered in the gathering section to the transfer section, a rotation member provided with a changeable piece changeable with a radius distance between a tip section and a rotation axis is provided in the vicinity of a coupling section between the transfer section and the gathering section, and at the time of the gathering process, the rotation member is so formed as to rotate in a gathering direction to slap down the paper using the changeable piece with the wider radius distance, and at the time of the feeding process, the rotation member rotates in a feeding direction to perform the feeding allowance operation to allow the paper to be fed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper gathering and feeding method and a device therefor, and a rotation member for performing, with respect to paper, a gathering process and a feeding process in such a manner as gathering notes from a transfer path to a gathering section in the gathering process such as a credit transaction, and feeding the notes from the gathering section to the transfer path in the feeding process such as a debit transaction.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a note gathering and feeding device for gathering and feeding notes of required amount by ATM, for example, a note gathering and feeding device 1′ as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, has been proposed, in which an impeller 91 made of a rubber material is provided in the vicinity of a gathering port for transferring the notes and transferring those to a gathering section. The impeller works during the gathering process and is retracted during a feeding process. (An exemplary device is described in Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2001-368334, which is herein incorporated by reference.
The structure and the operation of the note gathering and feeding device 1′ are roughly described by referring to right side cross sectional views shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.
During the gathering operation in which the note gathering and feeding device 1′ collects notes 2, as shown in FIG. 10, a feed roller 31 is rotated in a gathering direction (in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing), and by the rotation force produced by the rotation, the notes 2 are transferred over a transfer path 51. At this time, the impeller 91 is rotating in the gathering direction (in a clockwise direction in the drawing). The centrifugal force produced by the rotation causes the blades 91a to spread out as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, once the notes 2, having transferred over the transfer path 51, are transferred to a gathering space 3, the blades 91a slap down the notes 2, and the notes 2 are thus smoothly accumulated on an up-and-down board 11 in a horizontal manner.
As shown in FIG. 11, during the feeding operation in which the note gathering and feeding device 1′ feeds the notes 2, a pickup rotation body 61 is so controlled as to be in the condition pivotally movable in the downward direction, and rotated in a feeding direction (in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing) to feed the notes 2 out to the transfer path 51. At this time, the impeller 91 is stopped without rotating, and the blades 91a thereof are in a retracted position. Thus, the blades 91a do not prevent the notes 2 from being fed and transferred at the time of transferring the notes 2 over the transfer path 51 by the rotation force of the feed roller 31 rotating in the feed direction (in a clockwise direction in the drawing).
In such a manner, the note gathering and feeding device 1′ has no mechanism for controlling, in the vertical direction, the movement of the impeller itself which has been required in the conventional type including an impeller made of a plastic film, aiming at cutting cost down.
The problem here is that, with the note gathering and feeding device 1′ such as ATM frequently performing the gathering process and the feeding process, resultantly the impeller 91 is heavily used. With continuous use, the rubber material is deformed in terms of plasticity, and with still continuous use for longer days, the blades 91a may spread wide open even if they are not in operation. As a result, the blades 91a may hit the notes 2 coming from the transfer path 51, causing paper clogging.
Further, the blades 91a are each curved in such a manner that the intermediate section between the tip section and the base section on the side of the rotation axis comes first at the time of gathering. This makes the contact angle obtuse between the note 2 and the blades 91a when the note 2 is slapped down, failing in acting sufficiently on the notes 2 if those are deformed, e.g., crimped (hereinafter referred to as deformed notes).

Paper gathering and feeding method and device therefor, and rotation member


A vented cap for a pressurized fluid conduit includes a cap body defining a generally cylindrical inner cavity, a mouth, an end wall positioned so as to close the inner cavity, a plurality of threads extending generally from the mouth toward the end wall, and at least one lug member on an outer surface of the cap and having a vent slot extending along a lengthwise interior so that the slot has a first end beginning at the mouth and a second end spaced apart from the end wall and extends inwardly from the lug member toward the inner cavity through the plurality of threads so as to open into the inner cavity, and a gasket having a circumference complementary to the periphery of the inner cavity, the gasket positioned between the plurality of threads and the end wall abuttingly contacting the sidewall and the end wall.

High pressure water systems are found in fire engines and are used to pump large volumes of water under pressure to supply fire hoses for fighting fires. Capped connection fittings for these high pressure water systems are positioned on fire engine control panels for connecting fire hoses and other water lines. Typically, these connection fittings are closed off with a cap which engages the fitting by complementary threads. The pipes, fittings, valves, and end caps in these systems are manufactured of high strength materials such as stainless steel, so that they will maintain their integrity in the high pressure environment.
A particular problem in these high pressure water systems, and safety hazard to firefighters, occurs when loosening and removing an end cap from a system outlet which may be pressurized. It is well known in the firefighting arts that such a cap loosened from a pressurized outlet may become a dangerous projectile when dislodged and propelled outwardly by the pressure in the system. For that reason, outlet caps are typically attached to the outlet fitting by a short chain which tends to prevent the cap from flying away from the fitting if loosened when the system is pressurized.


A central node sends a query indicating at least one key performance indicator (KPI) and a first KPI filter criterion to one or more edge nodes causing each edge node to cache subscriber data from each subscriber having a KPI value corresponding to the KPI. The central node receives subscriber data, responsive to the query, and aggregates the subscriber data according to each subscriber and the corresponding KPI value to yield an aggregated initial subscriber dataset and sends a subsequent query to each edge node that (for each edge node) indicates a subscriber from the initial subscriber dataset not returned by the edge node. The central node receives subsequent subscriber, responsive to the subsequent query, and aggregates the subsequent subscriber data with the initial subscriber dataset to yield a final subscriber dataset that indicates a total KPI value for each subscriber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to bandwidth efficient processing and filtering, and more particularly, to bandwidth efficient processing and filtering across distributed databases (e.g., as between central nodes and edge nodes).
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication technologies are transforming the global media services industry. For example, modern communication technologies provide IP-based services that are integrated with more traditional services (e.g., telecommunications). As the communication technologies evolve, an increasing number of applications and services are being made available over these communication networks. Content, application, and/or service providers use hardware and/or software to provide access to data and/or electronic resources for users (e.g., subscribers) and, increasingly, use a distributed network approach. With this distributed network approach, monitoring network resources, including bandwidth parameters, hardware performance, network congestion, quality of user experience, etc., is important to maintain network integrity as well as to ensure proper quality of service for end-users. Network performance indicators to measure the performance of the network are generally referred to as Key Performance Indicators (KPI). There are currently many tools and techniques to measure various KPIs (e.g., for one or more particular dimensions), however, such techniques tend to be overly complex and use a large amount of network resources. Additionally, current techniques are typically not scalable and generally inefficient when used in distributed network topologies. For example, when employing Top N algorithm filtering, all data within the filter is forwarded to a central location for grouping, sorting, and processing. In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide techniques for measuring KPIs for distributed databases while minimizing impact on system performance and network resources.

Bandwidth efficient processing and filtering across distributed databases


Alpine ski binding designed to hold the rear end of a boot in place on a ski. The binding comprises a body (3) connected to the ski, a device (2) for position-retention of the rear end of the boot, which is carried by the body, and a support plate for the boot (9), on which the rear end of the sole rests. The support plate is mobile in the median longitudinal and vertical plane, and a layer (15) of an elastically-compressible material is interposed between the support plate and the upper surface of the ski. In particular, the plate is interposed around an axis (25) carried by the stirrup piece which holds the rear part of the slide-rail (4) in position on the ski.

Numerous rear bindings of this type are currently known. They generally comprise a slide-rail mounted on the ski, a body which can slide along the slide-rail, and a boot position-retention jaw carried by the body. The bindings also comprise a support plate on which the rear end of the sole of the boot rests.
A brake is normally connected to the rear binding to stop the travel of the ski after the boot has been released. This brake generally comprises mobile brake arms or spade-like elements and a control pedal.
For some conventional bindings, the support plate for the boot is constituted by the brake control pedal.
In currently-known devices and in the presence of the boot, the support plate rests directly against the upper surface of the ski, so that the sole of the boot is supported directly on the ski, i.e., with no shock-absorption mechanism.
Accordingly, the shocks and vibrations to which the ski is subjected are transmitted to the boot and are felt by the skier.
To improve the skier's comfort, conventional practice includes, as described in particular in French Patent No. 2 602 979, a binding mounted on a ski by means of a plate made of a viscoelastic material, so that no rigid means, such as a screw, attaches the ski to the slide-rail.
As regards comfort, this binding gives good results. In fact, the layer of viscoelastic material absorbs the shocks and vibrations to which the ski is subjected.
On the other hand, this binding causes impairment of the accuracy with which the ski is steered. In fact, to steer the ski, the skier performs lateral maneuvers or driving movements with his boots, and these movements are transmitted to the edges of each of the skis. These maneuvers and driving movements are also filtered out by the layer of viscoelastic material.


An optical packet switching system includes optical packet switching apparatus and an optical packet transmitting apparatus. The optical packet switching apparatus includes client optical delay units for delaying optical packet signals, network optical delay units for delaying one of the network optical packet signals, the network optical delay unit having a longer delay time than the client optical delay unit, an optical switch unit for switching the route of the inputted client optical packet signal so as to be sent out, an optical switch control unit for controlling the optical switch unit. The optical switch control unit is configured in such a manner as to detect a free time slot. The optical packet transmitting apparatus adjusts transmit timing, with which the client optical packet signal is sent out, in such a manner that the client optical packet signal is inserted into the free time slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical packet switching system which enables packet switching for each optical packet by switching an optical switch according to destination information given to an optical packet signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In optical transmission systems employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), a technique that performs the path switching per wavelength by the use of a wavelength selective switch (WSS) and the like is put to practical use. As a technology that may succeed this technique, an optical packet switching method is now being investigated. In this optical packet switching method, an IP packet (10 GEther (10 Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark) signal and the like), for example, is used as a small unit with which the switching is performed, and each is converted into the form of an optical packet and then the route is switched by an ultrahigh-speed optical switch (see Reference (1) in the following Related Art List, for instance).
The IP packet does not transfer any significant information in the absence of data therein, so that the bandwidth corresponding thereto is wasted. However, if the optical packet switching system is realized, then the time slot of a packet where data is absent can be occupied by another packet. Therefore, the optical packet switching system is considered a promising technology of the future which is capable of markedly enhancing the bandwidth usage efficiency of the transmission path.


To provide an image in which a plurality of subjects are focused and which has an extended depth of field even if the image capturing apparatus captures a plurality of subjects with different focus distances each other. The image capturing apparatus includes: a focus control section for focusing on each of the plurality of subjects; an image capturing section for capturing a first captured image when the focus control section focuses on a first focus distance, and for capturing a second captured image when the focus control section focuses on a second focus distance; an image generating section for generating capturing range image information by combining the first captured image and the second captured image; and a moving image recording section for recording plural pieces of capturing range image information as moving image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus, an image capturing method, an image capturing program, an image recording output system and image recording output method. Particularly, the present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus, an image capturing method and an image capturing program for capturing moving images, and an image recording output system and an image recording output method for recording images and outputting the same.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a method has been proposed, for capturing images having the highest MTF (modulation transfer function) value in the on-optical axis (the center of captured image) and the out-optical axis (the region except for the center of the captured image) and then, combining a plurality of captured images as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-065194.
In the above disclosed invention, a portion with the highest MTF value (the highest contrast) in each axis direction is focused. Therefore, it is difficult to focus on each subject when a plurality of subjects are included in each axis direction. That is to say, there has been a problem that it is difficult to provide an image in which each of the plurality of subjects is focused.

Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, image capturing program, image recording output system and image recording output method


A multi-piece molding retainer assembly including a female stud engagement latch which is held in floating snap-fit relation within a molding engagement clip adapted to engage and retain the overlying molding. The stud engagement latch and the molding engagement clip are moveable in relation to one another in both the longitudinal and lateral directions after attachment. The retainer assembly accommodates variations in stud position and height such that the attached molding may be properly positioned despite variations in the studs.

It is common to use molding and other trim elements on automobiles and similar products. Moldings may be applied to cover joints, seams and other unappealing features, or they may be applied simply for aesthetic purposes. Because it is not always easy to attach molding directly to automobile body parts, molding is often attached using a specialized retainer clip. A variety of automobiles now include a roof ditch that extends along a portion of the roof above the doors. The roof ditch is typically defined by the joint between the roof and the side panel of the automobile. Typically, the roof ditch is covered at least in part by a roof ditch molding. Such molding typically has an interior support of metal or the like with a generally "C" shaped section profile. The interior support may be covered with a more pliable material such as rubber or the like which extends outwardly to engage edges of the roof ditch. In many applications, the roof ditch molding is secured in the roof ditch by a plurality of retainers that attach to weld studs disposed along the roof ditch channel. In some instances, the lateral position and/or height of the weld studs may vary at different positions along the roof ditch. Such variation may make it difficult to obtain the desired placement of the overlying molding.
While prior molding retainers have worked well, they tend to be substantially fixed relative to the underlying studs or other structures to which they are attached. Thus, if the stud is out of position, the overlying molding will likewise tend to be out of position. Accordingly, a continuing need exists for a roof ditch molding retainer which accommodates variations in the weld stud or other attachment structure while maintaining a secure connection between the weld stud and the molding.


An orthopedic ankle brace is provided having a pliant boot that surrounds the ankle joint, as well as the foot and lower leg in the region thereof. The boot may incorporate straps for applying compression to the ankle joint. Attached to the boot are a pair of adjustable tension straps vertically disposed about the ankle joint for restricting the mobility thereof. Integral with the boot are a pair of stiffening members positioned about the ankle joint to cooperate with the tension straps in the performance of their mobility restricting function. Further provided integral with the boot are retention members that isolate the malleoli from the stiffening members for the comfort of the wearer. Finally, one or more retention straps are provided to maintain the stability of the brace.

In the treatment of soft tissue or skeletal injuries to the ankle joint, it is preferable to stabilize the ankle joint as well as portions of the foot and leg in the region of the ankle joint. At the outset, when the injury is in the acute rehabilitation phase, stabilization of the ankle joint generally comprises compression and significant mobility restriction thereof to reduce swelling and facilitate healing. As treatment progresses and the injury enters the return to activity phase, stabilization of the ankle joint generally requires lesser, yet still somewhat significant, mobility restriction thereof.
In the past, stabilization of the injury during the acute rehabilitation phase has required casting of the ankle joint, thereby immobilizing it. Removable ankle braces became available which could subsequently be used to stabilize the injury during the return to activity phase. Once the ankle joint was fully rehabilitated, a removable ankle brace could also be worn as a prophylaxis on the healthy ankle joint to minimize the risk of re-injury during activity. More recently, removable ankle braces have been developed which can even be employed during the acute rehabilitation phase of the injury in the place of a cast.
It is apparent that each phase of the injury has different performance requirements for the ankle brace. While presently-available ankle braces have specific utility for a given injury phase, no one ankle brace is sufficiently versatile to be useful throughout treatment of the ankle joint injury and thereafter when the ankle joint is fully rehabilitated. Thus, known ankle braces are found to exhibit at least one of the following deficiencies: lack of compression, incomplete protection of the injury, discomfort when worn with a shoe, and cumbersome when engaging in activity. As such, a need exists for an ankle brace that overcomes these deficiencies and provides effective stabilization of the ankle joint during various stages of treatment or activity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an orthopedic ankle brace that is sufficiently versatile to have utility in the acute and return to activity phases of an injury, as well as having utility as a prophylaxis for a healthy ankle joint. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an ankle brace that is capable of providing compression to the ankle joint while adequately restricting mobility of the ankle joint during the acute phase of the injury. It is further an object of the present invention to provide an ankle brace that is capable of being comfortably worn under a shoe and which is not cumbersome to wear during activity.


A method for producing a sintered magnet comprising steps of; wet-pulverizing a magnetic powder under the presence of a surface active agent, drying said wet-pulverized magnetic powder 20 for obtaining magnetic powder to which said surface active agent is adhered,    heating and kneading said dried magnetic powder 20 with binder resin to form pellet, melting said pellet and injecting said pellet in a mold to which magnetic field is applied, to form a preform body, and firing said preform body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a sintered magnet, more particularly, it relates to a method for producing the sintered magnet having excellent magnetic properties which is available to be produced in a high productivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a method for producing a sintered magnet, a dry forming method (for example, JP Patent Laid Open No. 2004-296849) and a wet forming method (for example, JP Patent No. 3833861) are known. In the dry forming method, a preform body is formed by pressure forming the dried magnetic powder and applying the magnetic field, then, firing the preform body. In the wet forming method, a liquid component is removed by pressure forming the slurry which includes the magnetic powder while applying a magnetic filed to form the preform body, then firing the preform body.
In the wet forming method, there is an advantageous point that required time for forming step is short since the dried powder is pressure formed in a mold, however it is difficult to improve the orientation ratio of the magnetic powder due to the magnetic field at the time of forming. As a result, the magnetic property of the obtained sintered magnet is lower than the sintered magnet obtained by the wet forming method. Further, in the wet forming method, the magnetic powder tends to be oriented easily by the magnetic field at the time of forming thus the magnetic property of the sintered magnet is excellent, however there is a problem that it takes a long time for forming, because the pressure is applied together with the removal of the liquid component.
Note that, as shown in JP Patent No. 3229435, it is proposed that a method for forming the kneaded pellet including the magnetic powder and the binder resin by injecting into the mold wherein the magnetic field is applied. However, by such method in which it is injection molded in a mold wherein the magnetic field is applied, when forming the kneaded pellet, the magnetic powder with a fine particle size tends to disperse non-uniformly due to the aggregation of the magnetic powder of the fine particle size particularly, there is a problem that the magnetic orientation of the magnetic powder cannot be made well in subsequent injection molding.
The present invention is made by considering these circumstances, and a purpose of the invention is to provide a method for producing the sintered magnet which is available to produce the sintered magnet with a high magnetic property with a high productivity.


According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for head protection is provided. The system includes a helmet body defining at least one hole. The system also includes at least one reinforcement member coupled to the helmet body. The reinforcement member defines an aperture that at least partially aligns with the hole of the helmet body.

A physical impact to the head of a person may cause serious injury or death. To reduce the probability of such consequences, protective gear, such as a helmet, is often used in activities that are associated with an increased level of risk for a head injury. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, rollerblading, rock climbing, skate boarding, and motorcycling.
A helmet may include one or more holes that allow air to reach the head of a wearer. Such a feature enhances comfort for the wearer and may also reduce the likelihood of heat-related injuries. However, these holes may also weaken the ability of a helmet to protect the head against certain types of physical impact.


A mower comprising a chassis carrying at least one harvesting mechanism and a lightening device of the at least one harvesting mechanism. The lightening device includes at least one torsion bar which is connected to a transverse beam of the chassis and which carries a lever on one of the ends of which a rod is articulated which is directed towards the harvesting mechanism and which is itself articulated on the harvesting mechanism or its suspension device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a mower comprising:                a chassis having in particular a transverse beam and two lateral uprights provided with wheels,        a connecting means allowing said chassis to be connected to a motor vehicle,        at least one harvesting mechanism provided with cutting elements,        a suspension device connecting said harvesting mechanism to the chassis, allowing a heightwise displacement of said harvesting mechanism with respect to the chassis,        a lightening device of said harvesting mechanism.
2. Discussion of the Background
In the known mowers of this type, the lightening device is generally constituted by draw-springs arranged between the chassis and the suspension device. These springs then exert an upwards traction on the suspension device and the harvesting mechanism and thus transfer part of their weight on the chassis. This lightening prevents the harvesting mechanism from resting too heavily on the ground. It can thus easily follow the unevennesses of the ground. This reduces the risk of mistreatment of the plant cover, which could result from too strong a pressure of said mechanism on the ground. The power to be developed for moving the machine during work can also be reduced. Finally, the wear of the parts of the harvesting mechanism which rub on the ground is less rapid.
The draw-springs which are currently known are, however, voluminous and bulky, in particular when the mower has a large working width. There is also a risk of the jamming of products between the turns of these springs, which could be harmful to their operation. Finally, their cost is relatively high.
The document FR 2 786 977 describes a mower with a lightening device constituted by draw-springs fixed laterally to the chassis and indicates that these draw-springs can be replaced by torsion bars.

Mower with an lightening device including torsion bars


A key structure is disclosed in which the use of space for a keypad is maximized, thereby allowing free key inputs. The key structure includes a first keypad layer converted into a transparent state and a semi-transparent state, for displaying characters and numbers printed on the first keypad layer when the first keypad layer is in the semi-transparent state while displaying characters and numbers printed on a second keypad layer when the first keypad layer is in the transparent state. The key structure further includes the second keypad layer displaying characters and numbers printed on the second keypad layer by using light emitted from a light source when the first keypad layer is in the transparent state, and the light source emitting light to the second keypad layer when the first keypad layer is in the transparent state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keypad structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a keypad structure which maximizes efficiency in use of space for a keypad, thereby allowing free key inputs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional keypads, each key button includes characters, numbers and signs printed thereon. Further, when pressed, each key button transmits a signal corresponding to an input mode of the keypad.
However, in such a keypad, each key button is constrained to having the characters, numbers and signs printed thereon. Therefore, in a character mode, it is necessary for a user to input characters while simultaneously viewing the characters/numbers printed on the corresponding keys. Similarly, in a number mode, the user inputs numbers while viewing the characters/numbers printed on the corresponding keys. As a result, the keypad having the above-mentioned key structure limits rapid data input by a user.


Improved polyester fibers, filling materials and filled articles are provided by fibers of helical configuration, high void content and low friction.

Polyester fiberfill filling material (sometimes referred to herein as polyester fiberfill) has become well accepted as a reasonably inexpensive filling and/or insulating material especially for pillows, and also for cushions and other furnishing materials, including other bedding materials, such as sleeping bags, mattress pads, quilts and comforters and including duvets, and in apparel, such as parkas and other insulated articles of apparel, because of its bulk filling power, aesthetic qualities and various advantages over other filling materials, so is now manufactured and used in large quantities commercially. "Crimp" is a very important characteristic. "Crimp" provides the bulk that is an essential requirement for fiberfill. Slickeners, referred to in the art and hereinafter, are preferably applied to improve aesthetics. As with any product, it is preferred that the desirable properties not deteriorate during prolonged use; this is referred to generally as durability. Hollow polyester fibers have generally been preferred over solid filaments, and improvements in our ability to make hollow polyester fiberfill with a round periphery has been an important reason for the commercial acceptance of polyester fiberfill as a preferred filling material. Examples of prior cross-sections are those with a single longitudinal void, such as disclosed by Tolliver, U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,137, and by Glanzstoff, GB 1,168,759, and multi-void fibers, including those with 4-holes, such as disclosed in EPA 2 67,684 (Jones and Kohli), and those with 7-holes, disclosed by Broaddus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,725, all of which have been used commercially as hollow polyester fiberfill filling material. Most commercial filling material has been used in the form of cut fibers (often referred to as staple) but some filling material, including polyester fiberfill filling material, has been used in the form of deregistered tows of continuous filaments, as disclosed, for example by Watson, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,134, and 3,328,850. We use herein both terms "fiber" and "filament" inclusively without intending use of one term to exclude the other.
Generally, for economic reasons, polyester fiberfill fiber filling material, especially in the form of staple, has been made bulky by mechanical crimping, usually in a stuffer box crimper, which provides primarily a zigzag 2-dimensional type of crimp, as discussed, for example, by Halm et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,684. A different and 3-dimensional type of crimp, however, can be provided in synthetic filaments by various means, such as appropriate asymmetric quenching or using bicomponent filaments, as reported, for example, by Marcus in U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,531, which was directed to providing refluffable fiberballs (sometimes referred to in the trade as "clusters") of randomly-arranged, entangled, spirally-crimped polyester fiberfill, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,038, which was directed to providing fiberballs containing binder fiber (in addition to the polyester fiberfill) so the fiberballs containing binder fiber could be molded, for example, into useful bonded articles by activating the binder fibers. Such fiberballs of both types have been of great commercial interest, as has been the problem of providing improved polyester fiberfill having "spiral crimp". The term spiral crimp is frequently used in the art, but the processes used to provide synthetic filaments with a helical configuration (perhaps a more accurate term than spiral crimp) does not involve a "crimping" process, in a mechanical sense, but the synthetic filaments take up their helical configuration spontaneously during their formation and/or processing, as a result of differences between portions of the cross-sections of the filaments. For instance, asymmetric quenching can provide "spiral crimp" in monocomponent filaments, and bicomponent filaments of eccentric cross-section, preferably side-by-side but also with one component off-centered, can take up a helical configuration spontaneously.
It has long been known that such helical bicomponent fibers have advantages over mechanically-crimped filling fibers, as disclosed, for example, by Clarke et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,738. Clarke referred to such filaments as "possessing a three-dimensional crimp of the reversing helical type", and it is correct that the helixes are of the reversing helical type. For convenience herein, we shall mostly simply refer to such polyester fibers as being of helical configuration. However, Clarke emphasized that these advantages were "only apparent provided the scale of the helical crimp is within certain limits", and that "if the filaments have less than about 8 crimps per inch and a crimp index less than about 40%, the filling or stuffing material made therefrom has low resistance to compression". Clarke disclosed (in Table at top of cols 5 and 6) that the performance of webs of polyester fiber of "Sample No. 1 and Sample No. 2" having 7 and 8 "Average number of crimps" (per inch, i.e., 27.5 and 31.5 CPdm, crimps per dm), and with 39 and 52 "Average CI percent", was "Fibre carding poor; low web cohesion. Bulk: low resistance to compression", and that other samples, having at least 10 "Average number of crimps" (almost 40 CPdm), were "much superior" to those samples Nos 1 and 2.
Relatively few helical bicomponent fibers with longitudinal voids have been disclosed or been available hitherto. Clarke did not disclose any such fibers with voids. An improved type of bicomponent polyester multi-void fiberfill fiber of helical configuration (spiral crimp) has been disclosed by Hernandez et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,458,971 and 5,683,816. Hernandez also disclosed prior single void fibers sold commercially as H18Y by Unitika (who apparently also sell other hollow filaments referred to by other designations, such as H18X) and as 7-HCS by Sam Yang, and properties measured on such fibers, which are discussed hereinafter as comparisons.


Systems and methods for training an artificial intelligence (AI) classifier of scanned items. The items may include a training set of sample raw scans. The set may include in-class objects and not-in-class raw scans. An AI classifier may be configured to sample raw scans in the training set, measure errors in the results, update classifier parameters based on the errors, and detect completion of training.

In order to provide safety and security to individuals at, for example, airports, train stations, and various facilities requiring controlled ingress or egress individuals may require screening. The screening may include carry items, baggage, or other items. Screening may be necessary for concealed objects-of-interest (OOI) such as weapons, explosives, prohibited substances and the like. Current screening methods include electromagnetic (EM) scanning such as, but not limited to, millimeter wave (MMW) scanning and X-ray scanning. EM scanners in such venues and elsewhere may include a display screen for viewing by trained security personnel. Such EM scanners often include or are coupled to computerized image analysis tools, providing various OOI detection and classification capabilities.
Early versions of such image analysis tools used combinations of image feature extraction tools, e.g., edge extractors, and conventional classifiers, such as Kth nearest neighbor classifiers, and logistic regression classifiers. Early versions required manual effort to select the classification processes and classification parameters, which often required significant effort and time.
Machine-learning (ML) artificial intelligence (AI) classifiers provide algorithm-inherent optimization, with respect to training samples, of AI classifier parameters. A widely used form of ML AI classifier is the artificial neural network (NN). Typically, an NN includes multiple layers of trainable weighting nodes, with layer-to-layer feed-forward node interconnections, and activated by trainable parameter activation functions. Supervised ML processes feed what can be human selected training samples to the artificial NN classifier and, in response to errors, perform iterative adjustment of the node weights and the activation function parameters of the node activation functions, the adjustment being in a direction of error reduction.
A result of the ML process can be what appears as a reasonable performance AI classifier.
However, the AI classifier can include unintended bias. The bias can result, for example, from human bias in selecting training images. One such bias can include unconscious bias toward images that appear, in the judgment of the human selecting the samples, as most characteristic or most representative of the object(s) to be detected/classified.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,948,990 discloses a method of applying a computer vision procedure to the image to detect therein candidate image regions suspected as being occupied by a target. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 10,948,990 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,758 discloses a device and method is provided for finding a specific material superimposed on an unknown background when the locations of the specific material and the background are unknown, for example, inside an item of baggage. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,758 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,600,149 discloses a method and system of electronically inspecting baggage comprises generating scan data representative of a piece of baggage. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 8,600,149 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,577 discloses a method of and system for detecting threat objects represented in 3D CT data uses knowledge of one or more predefined shapes of the threat objects. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,577 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,346,723 discloses a systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for identifying and categorically labeling objects within a set of images. The systems and methods receive an image depicting an object of interest, detect at least a portion of the object of interest within the image using a multilayer object model, determine context information, and identify the object of interest included in two or more bounding boxes. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 10,346,723 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,579,897 discloses systems and methods for image-based object detection and classification. For example, methods may include accessing an image from an image sensor; applying a convolutional neural network to the image to obtain localization data to detect an object depicted in the image and to obtain classification data to classify the object, in which the convolutional neural network has been trained in part using training images. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 10,579,897 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

System and method for training an artificial intelligence (AI) classifier of scanned items

The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security


A microprocessor of an on-vehicle electronic control unit controls an on-vehicle current consumer group responsive to input signals of on-vehicle sensor groups based on control program, fixed control constant and semi-fixed control constant respectively stored in first block of a no-volatile memory, and variable control constant having been transferred from second block of the no-volatile memory to RAM memory; and content of RAM memory is learned and compensated during operation. When power supply switch is OFF, contents of the RAM memory are sequentially added to and written in the second block. When the second block is filled up to capacity, batch clear is executed and, thereafter, the latest data is written. Thus, a flash memory divided into the first and second blocks capable of executing batch clear separately is employed as a non-volatile memory, enabling to perform save processing many times with small number of times of batch clear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-vehicle electronic control unit that carries out, for example, fuel supply control of an automobile engine, open/close control of an air supply throttle valve or control of a transmission and, more particularly, to an on-vehicle electronic control unit being arranged so as to improve power failure hold control of a RAM memory in which a variety of learning data calculated by a microprocessor, so as to make use of a part of flash memory used as a program memory of the microprocessor as a non-volatile data memory, and to increase the number of times of rewriting this data memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an conventional on-vehicle electronic control unit is formed of a program memory in which control programs and control constants for a controlled vehicle type are stored from an external tool and of a microprocessor provided with an operation processing RAM memory. The conventional on-vehicle electronic control unit is fed with an electric power from an on-vehicle battery when a power supply switch is brought in a closed circuit to control an on-vehicle current consumer group in response to input signals from on-vehicle sensor groups, a content of the mentioned program memory, and a content of control constants having been transferred from the mentioned program memory to the RAM memory. In this conventional on-vehicle electronic control unit, a part of control constants in the mentioned RAM memory is processed as variable control constants to be rewritten and altered as a learning compensation result. Accordingly, the following arts have been widely put into practical use. That is, this conventional on-vehicle electronic control unit is provided with a non-volatile data memory such as EEPROM capable of being electrically written, and various learning data, vehicle inherent information, analysis and maintenance information or the like are written in this data memory and utilized as effective driving control information or diagnosis information by the external tools.
For example, it is described in "On-Vehicle Control Unit" disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No, 182607/2001 that an object of the invention is to eliminate influences due to change with the passage of time or individual difference in control targets. To accomplish the object, a microprocessor cooperating with a mask ROM, in which control programs are stored, copes with the interruption of battery wiring or the abnormal decrease of battery voltage by estimating control results in the past (control history) to calculate a learning data for correction of a control parameter or a control theory and by transferring this learning data from the RAM memory to the non-volatile EEPROM memory. Especially, this prior art describes about improvement against the possibility that a power supply switch is accidentally interrupted on the way of the learned data being saved and written from the RAM memory to the EEPROM memory.
Oh the other hand, instead of the mentioned non-volatile EEPROM memory, the use of a mass storage of non-volatile flash memory is carried out, in which data can be written after batch clear. For example, it is described in "Processing Unit" disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 244707/1997 that, in an engine control unit (ECU), a content of a RAM memory in which learning values are written is transferred and saved in a non-volatile flash memory every predetermined time period, thereby reducing the number of times of write in the flash memory.
Furthermore, according to "Data Storage Method to Flash Memory and Data Read Method from Flash Memory" disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 259046/1997, the following data storage method to a flash memory and data read method from a flash memory are proposed. In the methods, a region plural times as large as a record functioning as a minimum unit of write is batch clear, and thereafter data are sequentially written in this region for each record at the time of writing a predetermined amount of data, thus providing a method capable of reducing the number of times of erase and achieving longer operation life of the memory.
In the mentioned known arts, in the case of the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 182607/2001, an EEPROM memory is employed as a non-volatile data memory, and in this EEPROM memory data can be freely written with a unit of 1 byte, and available number of times of rewriting can be relatively large through the operation life of the EEPROM memory. However, a problem exists in a small capacity of memory, thus coming high in cost.
Whereas, as for a flash memory disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 244707/1997, it is certain that a larger capacity of memory is achieved. However, this flash memory is a memory coming to be writable after batch clear has been executed. Although a memory capacity is large and designed to diminish the number of times of write, a problem still exists in a smaller number of times capable of executing batch clear through the operation life.
It is certain that the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 259046/1997 can solve a problem of operation life incidental to the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 244707/1997. However, in the case of the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 259046/1997, a program memory ROM, a RAM memory for operation processing, and a flash memory as a non-volatile data memory with respect to a microprocessor are used, and therefore it is essential to use three types of memories appropriately, thus remaining problems of being complicated, expensive, and large-scaled.


Data packets are transmitted from a network device having plural network interfaces. One of the plural network interfaces is designated for receiving data packets from a source address. First and second data packets are received from a device at the source address. It is determined if the second data packet was received over a network interface on the network device other than the designated network interface. If the second data packet was received over a network interface other than the designated network interface, it is determined if the first and second data packets were received within a predetermined period of time. If the first and second data packets were received within the predetermined period of time, the second data packet is discarded. If the first and second data packets were not received within the predetermined period of time, the second data packet is transmitted from the network device and a forwarding table on the network device is updated.

This invention relates to transmitting data packets on a network so as to reduce data packet transmission loops.
Data packet looping can occur when there are parallel paths between two network devices, such as bridges. Initially, a "recipient" network device receives the data packet from a "transmitting" network device along one of the parallel paths. Upon receipt, the recipient device consults a stored forwarding table to determine an interface on the recipient device from which the data packet should be sent to reach the packet's intended destination.
If the forwarding table does not indicate which interface to use, the recipient device duplicates the packet and sends (i.e., "floods") copies of the packet out all of its interfaces, except the interface from which the packet was originally received. This results in a copy of the data packet being forwarded back to the transmitting device along the other (parallel) path. This process is repeated in the transmitting device, resulting in a data packet transmission loop between the transmitting and receiving devices.
In general, in one aspect, the invention is directed to transmitting data packets on a network. The invention features determining if two data packets having a same feature were received by a network device within a predetermined period of time, and discarding one of the two data packets if the two data packets were received by the network device within the predetermined period of time. Since "looping" packets pass back and forth between devices quickly, discarding data packets received within the predetermined period of time reduces packet looping.
This aspect may also include one or more of the following features. A later-received one of the two data packets is discarded. The function of determining if two data packets having a same feature were received includes receiving the two data packets at the network device, obtaining a difference between a time that the first of the two data packets was received and a time that a second of the data packets was received, and comparing the difference to the predetermined period of time.
The time that the first data packet was received is stored in a memory of the network device. The feature of the data packets is a source network device address. The network device includes a designated network interface over which data packets having the feature are received. The network device determines if one of the two data packets was received over a network interface on the network device other than the designated network interface. The network device performs the remainder of the process if one of the two data packets was received over a non-designated interface.
One of the two data packets is transmitted from the network device if the two data packets were not received by the network device within the predetermined period of time. The one of the two data packets is a later-received data packet. A forwarding table in the network device is updated based on a source device address in the one of the two data packets. The forwarding table identifies interfaces on the network device that lead to devices on the network.
In general, in another aspect, the invention is directed to transmitting data packets from a network device having plural network interfaces. One of the plural network interfaces is designated for receiving data packets from a source address. First and second data packets are received from a device at the source address. It is determined if the second data packet was received over a network interface on the network device other than the designated network interface. If the second data packet was received over a network interface other than the designated network interface, it is determined if the first and second data packets were received within a predetermined period of time. If the first and second data packets were received within the predetermined period of time, the second data packet is discarded. If the first and second data packets were not received within the predetermined period of time, the second data packet is transmitted from the network device and a forwarding table on the network device is updated.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. Updating the forwarding table includes changing the designated network interface to be the network interface over which the second data packet was received. The forwarding table identifies interfaces on the network device that lead to devices on the network. Determining if the first and second data packets were received within a predetermined period of time includes comparing a time that the first packet was received to a time that the second packet was received.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, including the claims and drawings.

Method of and device for transmitting data packets on a network


A portable fire trainer for use in training by an instructor of a company employee in the use of a fire extinguisher for extinguishing a Class A trash can paper fire or a Class B spilled combustible liquid fire or a Class C electrical panel fire. The trainer includes a housing subassembly, and includes an equipment subassembly which has a burnable simulated multifire array of items and which has a flame generating and distributing system.

The prior art fire fighting trainer is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 817,435, filed Jan. 6, 1992, which is assigned to the same assignee as in this application.
The prior art fire fighting trainer usually include one or more building subassemblies and one or more training compartments each having one or more simulated burnable items.
One problem with the prior art trainer is that it has a relatively high manufacturing cost. Another problem is that the trainer is not portable for use in training at a modest scale within the place of employment.


The present invention comprises an improved electrodialytic cell and closed loop process for removing SO.sub.2 from SO.sub.2 containing gases. An aqueous scrubbing medium is used to remove the SO.sub.2 from the gas. A two compartment electrodialytic water splitter and a means for stripping is used to isolate the SO.sub.2 and regenerate the aqueous scrubbing medium. Use of univalent cation selective membranes, recycling of the acid product to the base loop of the water splitter, and a prescrubber allow high concentrations of scrubbing solution to be treated without significant fouling inside the membranes. The above process embodiments may be used either alone or in combination.

The release of certain chemical species such as SO.sub.2, CO.sub.2, NO.sub.x and volatile organic chemicals into the air and atmosphere has become regulated. Coal burning power plants in particular have been searching for ways to decrease the levels of SO.sub.2 which escapes from the plant and into the atmosphere. In attempts to comply with environmental regulations various scrubbing systems have been developed. In each system the SO.sub.2 gas is passed over or through the scrubbing medium to generate an acidified sulfur rich medium. Scrubbing may be accomplished via lime and limestone scrubbing, magnesium oxide scrubbing or sodium scrubbing with thermal, electrolytic or electrodialytic regeneration. The present invention is directed toward an improved process which utilizes aqueous scrubbing followed by electrodialytic regeneration.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,082,835 and 4,107,015 disclose absorbing SO.sub.2 into a basic compound to achieve a substantially soluble, acidic compound followed by regeneration of the basic compound and liberation of the SO.sub.2 via treatment in a two compartment electrodialytic water splitter. The product from the acid compartment of the water splitter may be stripped to remove the SO.sub.2 and the remaining acid product may be treated in a three compartment water splitter to recover acid and base which may be recycled to the scrubbing stage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,635 discloses a method for removing and recovering sulfur oxides from gases and regenerating the process liquors by contacting the gases with an aqueous hydroxide in a first reaction zone to produce an aqueous salt solution, contacting the aqueous salt solution with aqueous sulfuric acid in a second reaction zone to form sulfurous acid and aqueous soluble sulfates, removing the sulfurous acid by liberating gaseous SO.sub.2, and regenerating the sulfuric acid and hydroxide solution via electrodialytic treatment. Either a two or three compartment water splitter may be used and the sulfuric acid and aqueous hydroxide which are recovered may be recycled back to the appropriate reaction zones.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,817 discloses an improved electrodialytic water splitting process for recovering metal or ammonium values from materials comprising a salt of a first acid while avoiding formation of gas bubbles in the electrodialytic unit. The salt of a first acid is contacted with a solution comprising a second acid to produce a solution containing the first acid and a salt of the second acid. The first acid is recovered and the second acid is regenerated via electrodialytic treatment in either a two or three compartment water splitter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,545 discloses an electrodialytic water splitting process for recovering SO.sub.2 -containing gases from the alkaline sodium scrubbing of sulfur dioxide from SO.sub.2 -containing gases and converting the spent scrubbing materials into sodium hydroxide. The disclosed process includes contacting SO.sub.2 -containing gas with an aqueous solution containing Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, NaHCO.sub.3 or mixtures thereof, recovering the aqueous reaction mixture, and treating the aqueous reaction mixture in an electrodialytic water splitter to produce a H.sub.2 SO.sub.3 solution from which gaseous SO.sub.2 may be produced, and an aqueous hydroxide ion-enriched solution. Either a two or three compartment water splitter may be used.
However, the processes described above all suffer from practical drawbacks which result in a decrease in process efficiency. Flyash particulates in the flue gas are solubilized in the SO.sub.2 absorption step. Once the solubilized particulates are fed into the electrodialytic water splitter metals tend to precipitate inside the base loop of the two compartment cell, and on the cation and bipolar membranes. Typical metal contaminants in the absorber liquid include Ca, Mg, Fe, V, Si, Al, Cr and Ni. These elements have sufficiently low solubilities at the higher pH which is typically found in the base loop and at the anion surfaces of the bipolar membranes that the metals precipitate and foul the membranes and other internal features of the cell stack such as gaskets, membrane supports and spacers. Calcium, magnesium and iron are frequently present in quantities between about 10 ppm and 250 ppm. One option is to pretreat the feed solution to remove the multivalent metals by, for example, using chelating resins or ion exchange. However, pretreatment steps are not preferred because they add to the complexity and cost of the process. Attempts to control the pH of the base loop at a level above which the metal contaminants are soluble to mitigate fouling have met with only limited success. Further, metals in the acid loop transport across the cation membranes to the base loop and increase the concentration of contaminants, thereby exacerbating the fouling problem. Attempts to reduce fouling by increasing the circulation rates and adding periodic wash steps help abate the fouling problem, but are not a totally satisfactory solution. Thus, there remains a continuing need for a practical solution to the fouling problems experienced in the electrodialytic processing of SO.sub.2 -containing gases. A goal of the present invention is to minimize either the amount of metal ions which are fed into the electrodialytic water splitter or their effect on the membranes.
Another problem is the precipitation of sulfite and sulfate in anion layer of the bipolar membrane adjacent to the base loop due to the high ionic strength of the solutions which are processed there. Sulfite/sulfate precipitation damages the bipolar membranes. It is desirable to operate the absorber at the highest feed solution concentration possible. However, high concentrations of Na.sup.+ are transported from the acid loop to the base loop generating NAOH and further increasing the ionic strength and sulfite/sulfate precipitation. Thus, another object of the present invention is to decrease the ionic strength of the solution treated in the base loop without decreasing the spent absorbent concentration.

Electrodialytic water splitting process for removing SO.sub.2 from gases


An optical waveguide substrate includes: a substrate; a clad disposed on a plane of the substrate and made of a transparent material; and a plurality of cores that are surrounded by the clad, extend in parallel with the plane of the substrate and are made of a transparent material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the clad, the cores including at least a pair of cores with diameters different from each other. The cores are provided at positions where centers of sections of the cores are all positioned in a straight line.

An optical waveguide substrate obtained by forming, on an electrical substrate, an optical waveguide that transmits optical signals is sometimes used in recent optical modules such as optical modulators. The optical waveguide substrate has an electrical component such as an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a capacitor mounted on-board and has also an optical component such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and a photo diode (PD) mounted on-board, for example. One end of the optical waveguide has an optical component connected thereto while the other end of the optical waveguide has, for example, an optical fiber, connected thereto.
An optical waveguide substrate sometimes has a multi-channel optical waveguide formed on-board. In other words, when an array chip including VCSEL(s) and PD(s), for example, is mounted, an optical waveguide that has a plurality of cores corresponding to the respective VCSEL(s) and PD(s) is formed. In some cases, one end of each of the cores has a VCSEL or PD connected thereto while the other end of the cores has a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged connected thereto. Conventional technologies are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-113030 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-164654, for example.
The optimum core diameter of an optical waveguide serving as an optical path varies depending on the optical component connected to the optical waveguide. Specifically, because an optical output section of a VCSEL has a relatively large area, for example, it is desirable that an optical waveguide connected to the VCSEL has a relatively large core diameter. Meanwhile, because a light receiving section of a PD has a relatively small area, for example, it is desirable that an optical waveguide connected to the PD has a relatively small core diameter.
However, a plurality of cores of a multi-channel optical waveguide generally have the same core diameters, thereby increasing an optical coupling loss in a part where the optical component is connected to the core. In other words, the optical waveguide sometimes does not have a core diameter suitable for the area of an optical output section of a VCSEL or a light receiving section of a PD, thereby increasing an optical coupling loss.
It is conceivable that the diameters of the cores may be such as to correspond to the respective optical components to which the cores are connected. In this case, to one end of the optical waveguide having the cores with core diameters different from each other, optical components for the corresponding cores are connected. To the other end of the optical waveguide, a fiber array is connected. Because the cores have core diameters different from each other, the cores of the optical waveguide are not aligned with the cores of optical fibers, thereby increasing an optical coupling loss in a part where the optical waveguide is connected to the optical fibers.

Optical waveguide substrate and method for manufacturing optical waveguide