A drywall tape with an attached bead allows application of mud to adjacent drywall panels not oriented right angles. The bead is carried in a lengthwise orientation by the middle of the drywall tape on the side facing away from the drywall. The bead provides left and right rails that are typically 1/16 or 2/16 of an inch in height. The drywall tape is positioned in the corner between first and second drywall panels. The blade of the application tool is supported at one corner by a lip carried by one of the rails, and at the other corner by the surface of the first drywall panel. A guide tool is inserted into a groove between the rails of the bead at the upper end of the drywall tape, and is moved downwardly in tandem with an application tool. The application tool smooths mud about one side of the drywall tape carried on the first drywall panel. The guide tool carried by the groove prevents the application tool, or any mud pushed by the application tool, from contacting the second drywall panel.

In drywall construction, interior corners having an angle of greater than 90 degrees are more difficult to construct than ordinary 90 degree corners. Most such interior corners are presently constructed by using a compound to fill the joint between the two adjacent drywall panels forming the interior corner. Drywall tape is then bent into a V-shape and is adhered to the corner. Bending the tape in half, creating a crease lengthwise down the middle of the tape, tends to center the tape in the corner. A cement-like joint compound, typically referred to as "mud", is then applied over the tape, having a thickness tapering from about 0.10 inches at the center of the tape to as thin as possible several inches from the edges of the tape. Under the mud, the tape's outline should not be visible.
A version of this operation is easily performed by skilled workmen if the interior corner is 90 degrees. However, where the interior corner is greater than 90 degrees, the operation is more difficult, more time-consuming and the result may be less attractive. Moreover, many of the tools used in applying drywall tape to interior 90 degree corners are ineffective where the angle is other than 90 degrees.
A major problem with the current method of constructing non-right angle drywall corners is that the application tool, and mud pushed by the application tool, on a second-completed drywall panel tends to make contact with, and ruin, the finished mud on the adjacent first-completed drywall panel. Therefore, under the current system, where the angle between the adjacent drywall panels is greater than 90 degrees, application of mud to one drywall panel ruins the finish on an adjacent drywall panel.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new drywall tape and method of use that can rapidly produce a quality drywall interior corner of greater than 90 degrees.

Drywall tape with attached bead for application to non right angle corners


A gas laser oscillator including discharge tubes, main discharge electrodes, auxiliary electrodes, an output mirror which outputs a laser, and a mechanical shutter which cuts off the laser output from the output mirror. To maintain the auxiliary discharge in the state where the laser output is zero, the base discharge command is set to a first command value when the mechanical shutter is closed, and is set to a second command value smaller than the first command value when the mechanical shutter is opened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas laser oscillator which controls the adjusted level of a laser power supply.
2. Description of the Related Art
To drill high grade holes or stably cut a workpiece, an induction discharge excitation type gas laser oscillator is used. A gas laser oscillator mainly includes a plurality of discharge tubes through which a laser gas circulates, a plurality of main discharge electrodes which are arranged corresponding to the plurality of discharge tubes and make main discharge start for discharge excitation of the laser gas, and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes which are arranged adjoining the plurality of main discharge electrodes and make auxiliary discharge start in the laser gas in a state lower than the output at which main discharge starts.
In this connection, FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are views which show the relationship X between the command voltage and discharge tube voltage. In these figures, the abscissa shows a command voltage to a laser power supply, while the ordinate shows the voltage of the discharge tubes.
In FIG. 3A, the discharge tube voltage linearly increases sharply from 0 kV until the point P and, when reaching the point P, linearly increases gradually. This point P corresponds to the main discharge extinction level V1. If the discharge tube voltage is smaller than this value, the main discharge extinguishes. When the discharge tube voltage exceeds the main discharge extinction level V1, the main discharge is started and the laser is output. As will be understood from FIG. 3A, the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2 is smaller than the main discharge extinction level V1.
In this connection, a command which is necessary for maintaining auxiliary discharge in the state where the laser output is 0 W will be called a "base discharge command". In FIG. 3A, the base discharge command is adjusted in the zone Z1 between the main discharge extinction level V1 and the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2. Further, the laser output command, which is determined in accordance with the laser power which the gas laser oscillator demands, is added to the base discharge command and output from the output command device to the laser power supply.
If the gas laser oscillator cools and for example the laser gas temperature falls from 7° C. to about 47° C., as shown in FIG. 3B by the broken line, the relationship X shifts in the upward direction. Along with this, the main discharge extinction level V1 and the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2 respectively rise to the main discharge extinction level V1max and the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2max. For this reason, when setting the base discharge command to the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2, the auxiliary discharge may extinguish.
In such a state, if the command voltage to the laser power supply is increased, a situation can arise where impedance matching is not possible between the laser power supply and the discharge load. As a result, a large voltage is applied to the discharge tubes, excessive current flows to the laser power supply, and the discharge tubes and laser power supply may break.
As opposed to this, if the gas laser oscillator is warm and for example the laser gas temperature becomes 127° C. or more, as shown in FIG. 3C by the one-dot chain line, the relationship X shifts in the downward direction. Along with this, the main discharge extinction level V1 and the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2 respectively fall to the main discharge extinction level V1min and the auxiliary discharge extinction level V2min. When the main discharge extinction level V1 falls down to the main discharge extinction level V1min, even if the laser output is controlled to become 0 W, the main discharge is prevented from extinguishing.
In such a state, if opening the mechanical shutter which is provided at the front of the output mirror of the gas laser oscillator, laser light is unnecessarily output to the workpiece and the workpiece surface may be damaged. Normally, the speed of opening and closing of the mechanical shutter is relatively slower by about several seconds, so the adjusted level of the base discharge is set so that such processing defects do not arise. Setting such an adjusted level of the base discharge will be called an "electric shutter". An electric shutter is also disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3157470 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-155643A.
However, the adjusted level for maintaining auxiliary discharge and the adjusted level for realizing the electric shutter are in a mutually opposite relationship. Therefore, even if the gas laser oscillator is cold, it is difficult to maintain the auxiliary discharge and even if the gas laser oscillator is warm, it is also difficult to realize an electric shutter.
Further, in Japanese Patent No. 3157470, in the instant when making the laser output command zero, it is necessary to lower the base discharge command by exactly a predetermined value. Furthermore, the laser output command and the base discharge command which are transmitted from the CNC to the communication use IC are asynchronous and the delay times of the processing circuits thereof also differ. For this reason, a circuit for obtaining synchronization, for example, a latch circuit, becomes necessary. The cost increases and the processing of the software for control becomes complicated.
Furthermore, when the laser output command and the base discharge command cannot be perfectly synchronized, the commands become discontinuous. As a result, processing defects of the workpiece may occur. Further, in Japanese Patent No. 3157470, the base discharge command is made to descend from a predetermined value to realize an electric shutter. For this reason, depending on the amount of drop or the time setting, sometimes the effect of the electric shutter cannot be obtained or the auxiliary discharge may extinguish.
Further, in the configuration of Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-155643A, a power source for main discharge and a power source for auxiliary electrode use are provided. These are independently controlled. In this case, there are the problems that it is necessary to separately prepare a power source for auxiliary electrode use and the cost increases.
The present invention was made in consideration of such a situation and has as its object the provision of a gas laser oscillator which maintains auxiliary discharge even in a cold state while able to realize an electric shutter even in a warm state.

Gas laser oscillator controlling adjusted level of laser power supply


It is possible to obtain a disk substrate in which an edge of a center hole is free of flash. The disk substrate (23) in which the center hole (24) is provided with a straight portion (24a) and a tapered portion (24b), and an edge on the side of a signal transfer surface (22) of the tapered portion (24b) is provided with an R surface or C surface (24c), a mold apparatus optimum for molding the disk substrate (23), and a disk taking-out apparatus.

Hitherto, an optical recording medium and a magnetic recording medium have been widely known as a circular disk form recording medium such as CD, CD-ROM, DVD, DVR, MD and the like on which audio, video and other various kinds of information, a servo signal and the like are recorded. These recording media include a phase change type optical disk such that a laser beam is radiated onto a synthetic resin disk substrate on which such signals as information signals and a tracking servo signal are written in the form of pits and a groove (guide groove) and the signals are read by utilizing a change in reflectance due to a change of crystal structure of a recording layer, an opto-magnetic disk for reading signals by utilizing a magneto-optical effect, a magnetic disk for writing and reading signals magnetically, and so on.
As a method for forming information signals, a tracking servo signal and the like in the form of fine roughness such as pits, a groove and the like in the recording layer of the disk substrate, a method of injection molding the disk substrate by use of a mold apparatus is generally used today.
FIGS. 22 to 24 show a mold apparatus 51 of a projected form gate cutting system using a fixed side stamper according to the prior art, in which a cavity 54 as a circular disk form space is vertically formed between faying surfaces of a fixed die 52 and a movable die 53. A stamper 55 is vertically disposed on the fixed die 52 side of the cavity 54, and the innermost circumference of the stamper 55 is fixed to a fixed mirror surface by a mechanical clamp. A cylindrical sprue bushing 56 is horizontally disposed in the fixed die 51 at a central portion of the cavity 54, and a cylindrical projected form gate cutter (also called "punch"), a small diameter ejector pin 58 and a cylindrical ejector 59 are horizontally disposed at a position opposite to the sprue bushing 56. The ejector pin 58 is disposed at the center of the projected form gate cutter 57, and the ejector 59 is disposed at the outer circumference of the projected form gate cutter 57.
A sprue 60 at the center of the sprue bushing 56 to which an injection cylinder (not shown) is connected is opened at the center of a projected form gate forming recessed portion 61 formed at the tip of the sprue bushing 56, and the tip of the projected form gate cutter 57 is formed at a projected form gate forming projected portion 62. A projected form gate 64 formed in a projected shape relative to a signal transfer side surface 63 which is a surface on the stamper 55 side of the cavity 54 is formed between the recessed portion 61 and the projected portion 62. Therefore, the projected form gate cutter 57 is a projected form gate cutter for forming the projected form gate 64.
In the mold apparatus 51 of the projected form gate system according to the prior art, a molten resin P1 consisting of a plasticized polycarbonate or other synthetic resin is injected in the direction of arrow a from the injection cylinder into the sprue 60 and is charged under pressure into the cavity 54 through the projected form gate 64, in the condition where the fixed die 52 and the movable die 53 are heated. In this case, the molten resin P1 compressed to a high pressure by the injection cylinder is pressurized onto the fine roughness surface of the stamper 55, whereby a disk substrate 73 in which signals 71 such as information signals, a tracking servo signal and the like are transferred onto a signal transfer surface 72 in the form of pits, a groove and the like is injection molded, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. Thereafter, a center hole 74 of the disk substrate 73 is formed by punching.
In this case, the conditions of accuracy of transfer of the signals 71 onto the disk substrate 73 are determined primarily by the plasticized molten resin temperature, the mold temperature, and the injection pressure of the injection cylinder, whereas the warpage and the like of the disk substrate 73 thus injection molded are determined by the mold temperature, injection pressure and cooling time.
The formation of the center hole 74 of the disk substrate 73 injection molded is generally carried out during the process of cooling the fixed die 52 and the movable die 53 while continuing the compression of the molten resin P1 charged in the cavity 54.
Hitherto, the center hole 74 as a circular hole has been formed in the center of the disk substrate 73 by punching (called "gate cutting"), by a method in which the projected form gate cutter 57 is projected in the direction of arrow b from a retracted position shown in FIG. 23 to an advanced position shown in FIG. 24 so as to cut the incompletely solidified resin between an outer circumferential surface 62a of the projected portion 62 of the projected form gate cutter 57 and an inner circumferential surface 61a of the recessed portion 61 of the sprue bushing 56. At this time, a roughly T-shaped sprue and gate remaining resin 73a remaining in the sprue 60 and the projected form gate 64 is ejected in the direction of arrow b from the signal transfer surface 72 of the disk substrate 73 toward the fixed die 52 side.
As shown in FIG. 25, the center hole 74 of the optical disk or the like of 12 cm in diameter, such as CD, CD-ROM, DVD, DVR, etc., has a diameter φ=15.0 mm, whereas the center hole 74 of an MD or the like has a diameter φ=11.0 mm.
As shown in FIG. 25, the center hole 74 thus formed is formed as a straight hole of which the hole diameter is parallel to the axial direction over the entire thickness of the disk substrate 73.
Though the timing of the punching of the center hole 74 varies according to the kind of the synthetic resin or the like, the punching is preferably conducted by the projected form gate cutter 57 before the molten resin P1 is completely solidified, and is said to be preferably conducted within a period of about 2 sec after completion of the injection of the molten resin P1. When the timing of the punching of the center hole 74 is delayed from the above-mentioned, strain due to punching and punch tailings are liable to be generated at the inner circumference of the center hole 74, and a disk substrate 73 with abnormal birefringence may be molded or gate cutting stroke may be varied, resulting in a defective product.
However, when the center hole 74 is punched between the projected portion 62 of the projected form gate 57 and the recessed portion 61 of the sprue bushing 56 at the timing before solidification of the molten resin P1 which is within 2 sec after the injection molding of the molten resin P1, the resin P1 before solidification would fly into the clearance between the outer circumferential surface 62a of the projected portion 62 and the inner circumferential surface 61a of the recessed portion 61, so that a flash 75 in the shape of projecting to the outside from the edge on the signal transfer surface 72 side of the center hole 74 is necessarily generated, as shown in FIG. 25. The height H1 of the flash 75 varies according to the molding conditions (the temperature of the resin P2 in the gate, and the like) of the clearance between the recessed portion 61 and the projected portion 62 shown in FIGS. 22 and 23; hitherto, the height H1 has been several tens of μm to as large as 100 μm.
The disk substrate 73 shown in FIG. 26 is one that is obtained by injection molding by a mold apparatus using a movable-side stamper according to the prior art and punching the center hole 74 from the signal transfer surface 72 side to the opposite side. In this case, there is generated a flash 75 in the shape of projecting outwards from the surface opposite to the signal transfer surface 72 of the center hole 74, and the height H1 of the flash 75 is equivalent to that shown in FIG. 25.
FIG. 27 shows a conventional disk substrate taking-out robot 81 by which the disk substrate 73 injection molded by the mold apparatus 51 is taken out of the mold apparatus 51 and transferred onto an aligning machine (not shown).
Namely, where the disk substrate 73 is injection molded by the mold apparatus 51 of the projected form gate cutting system using a conventional fixed-side stamper described referring to FIG. 22, the punching of the center hole 74 (gate cutting) is conducted by the projected form gate cutter 57 which is projected in the direction of arrow b from the movable die 53 side toward the fixed die 52, as described referring to FIG. 24. In the case of taking out the injection molded disk substrate 73 from the mold apparatus 51, the movable die 53 is opened (spaced away) from he fixed die 52 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 22, and the sprue and gate remaining resin 73a and the disk substrate 73 are stripped off from the movable die 53 in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 22 by the ejector pin 58, the ejector 59 and the like, when the disk substrate 73 and the sprue and gate remaining resin 73a are spaced away from each other so that the disk substrate 73 is left on the side of the direction of arrow a which is the side of the movable die 53 whereas the sprue and gate remaining resin 73a is left on the side of the direction of arrow b which is the side of the fixed die 52, as shown in FIG. 27.
The robot 81, first, in FIG. 22, chucks an outer circumferential portion of the center hole 74 of the disk substrate 73, which is stripped from the movable die 53 in the direction of arrow b by the ejector 59, by sucking by a vacuum pad 82 from the side of the signal transfer surface 72, and receives the disk substrate 73 in the manner of separating the disk substrate 73 away from the movable die 53 in the direction of arrow b. Simultaneously, the sprue and gate remaining resin 73a ejected in the direction of arrow b by the ejector pin 58 is gripped by the robot 81, and the disk substrate 73 and the sprue and gate remaining resin 73a are taken out from between the fixed die 52 and the movable die 53.
Next, the disk substrate 73 is transferred to the aligning machine by the robot 81, and is aligned by fitting the center hole 74 of the disk substrate 73 onto a disk-receiving arm (not shown) of the aligning machine from the side of a reference surface 76 (described later) which is the surface opposite to the signal transfer surface 72. After the disk substrate 73 is transferred to the aligning machine, the sprue and gate remaining resin 73a is discharged from the robot 81 by spontaneous falling or by blowing air.
The disk substrate 73 injection molded as mentioned above and shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 is then subjected to lamination (coating) of a plurality of layers in the order of a recording layer, a reflective layer and a protective layer on the signal transfer layer 72, to which signals 71 have been transferred, whereby an optical disk 77 such as a CD and a DVD is completed.
In an optical disk drive device on which the optical disk 77 or the like is used, a laser beam is incident from the reference surface 76 opposite to the signal transfer surface 72, wherein writing and reading of information are conducted. According to a specification, the reference surface 76 which is a laser beam incident surface becomes a reference surface of height, a positioning center pin of a spindle motor used for driving the disk is inserted into the center hole 74 from the side of the reference surface 76, and centering is conducted by an edge 74b on the side of the reference surface 76 opposite to the signal transfer surface 72 of the center hole 74. Therefore, though the disk substrate 73 with the flash 75 generated on the side of the signal transfer surface 72, as shown in FIG. 25, can be centered without bad effects of the flash 75, the disk substrate 73 with the flash 75 generated on the side of the reference surface 76 as shown in FIG. 26 cannot be centered with high accuracy.
In the optical disk drive device, a servo mechanism with high accuracy is used in order to write and read information by focusing and reflecting a laser beam on the signals 71 constituted of fine roughness. However, the servo performance of the servo mechanism has a limitation, and, particularly, it is important to restrain eccentricity of a spirally shaped groove and the center hole 74. In recent years, the allowable value of the eccentricity of the groove and the center hole 74 has been reduced attendant on an increase in the recording density, to 100 μm in the case of CD and to 60 μm in the case of DVD.
On the other hand, the increase in the recording density is realized mainly by a decrease in the wavelength of the laser beam and an enhancement of NA (enhancement of lens magnification) of a focusing lens (objective lens). In the case of the CD which is most popular, a laser with a wavelength of 780 nm and a focusing lens with an NA of 0.45 are used, and in the case of the DVD, a laser with a wavelength of 630 nm and a focusing lens with an NA of 0.6 are used. Attendant on the enhancement of NA of the focusing lens, the disk substrate 73 which is a laser beam transmission layer is gradually reduced in thickness in order to reduce the effect of aberration. A disk substrate 73 with a thickness of 1.2 mm is used in the case of CD, and a disk substrate with a thickness of 0.6 mm is used in the case of DVD, thereby contributing to coping with camber of the optical disk.
In recent years, in order to contrive a further increase in recording density, it has been proposed to use a laser with a wavelength of 400 nm and a focusing lens with an NA of 0.85. Where the focusing lens enhanced in NA is used, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the disk substrate 73 to about 0.1 mm; in general injection molding, however, it is difficult to mold an ultrathin disk substrate 73 which satisfies the specifications of camber and birefringence.
In view of the above, these problems have been solved by laminating a reflective layer, a dielectric layer, a recording layer and a dielectric layer, in this order opposite to the conventional order, on the signal transfer surface 72 of the disk substrate 73 to which the signals 71 constituted of fine roughness have been transferred in the conventional manner, and, finally, forming a light transmission layer of 0.1 mm in thickness.
In this case, however, the reference surface is on the opposite side as compared with the conventional disk substrate 73, and, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, a tapered positioning center pin 79 of a disk table 78 in the spindle motor used for driving the disk is inserted in the center hole 74 from the signal transfer surface 72 side and chucked, and centering is conducted by an edge 74a on the signal transfer surface 72 side of the center hole 74.
In this case, the disk substrate 73 shown in FIG. 26 has no flash 75 generated at the edge 74a on the signal transfer surface 72 side of the center hole 74, so that it can be centered with high accuracy. On the other hand, the disk substrate 73 having a flash 75 generated at the edge 74a on the signal transfer surface 72 side of the center hole 74 as shown in FIG. 25 cannot be centered with high accuracy.
In addition, since this system has a very small allowable value of the eccentricity of the disk substrate 73, the flash 75 generated on the signal transfer surface 72 side of the center hole 74 as shown in FIG. 25 is fatal.
Although the flash 75 can be removed by a method of cutting by a reamer or the like, the generation of waste upon removal of the flash 75 and the increase in the number of working steps lead necessarily to deterioration of yield and an increase in cost.
In order to restrain the generation of the flash 75 on the signal transfer surface 72, the stamper 55 to be fitted to the mold may be disposed not on the side of the fixed die 52 but on the side of the movable die 53 (this method is called "movable-side stamper"). Although the generation of the flash 75 on the signal transfer surface 72 can surely be obviated by this method, the movable-side stamper has such a structure that the shapes of the pits and the groove to be transferred are liable to be asymmetric. The reason is as follows. In this method, at the time of molding, after completion of cooling, the movable die 53 is opened while keeping the disk substrate 73 sucked onto the movable die 53 side, and the disk substrate 73 is taken out in the manner of stripping the stamper 55 and the disk substrate 73 by the ejector 59 and air. However, after the movable die 53 is opened, the disk substrate 73 is rapidly cooled and shrinks. Since the stamper 55 shrinks less as compared with the disk substrate 73, however, the pits and the groove are deformed. The accuracy required of the shape of the fine roughness increases as the recording density of the disk increases, and, therefore, it is difficult to mold the disk substrate 73 even by the movable-side stamper.
Even if a disk substrate to which fine roughness free of deformation has been transferred can be molded by using the movable-side stamper under a material and molding conditions substantially free of shrinkage, the generation of the flash 75 on the side of the surface 76 opposite to the signal transfer surface 72 cannot be avoided. Though the flash 75 does not have bad effects on the disk eccentricity at the time of chucking, waste might be generated through stripping of the flash 75 at the time of production, and the flash might adhere to the disk substrate 73 to thereby cause an increase in error, leading to a reduction in yield.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disk substrate free of flash at the edge of a center hole, a mold apparatus optimum for injection molding the disk substrate, and a disk ejection apparatus optimum for taking out the disk substrate from the mold apparatus.

Disk substrate, mold apparatus for injection molding the same, and disk substrate taking-out robot


A transmitter identification and validation system and method are operable to receive a signal transmitted by a subject transmitter and produce first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal, evaluate the first and second output signals and extract and produce respectively therefrom an observed identification (ID) code corresponding to the subject transmitter of the received signal and an observed parameter value corresponding to a parameter of the received signal, store in memory sets of ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters, compare the observed ID code and parameter value of the received signal from the subject transmitter with the stored sets of stored ID codes and parameter values, and, as a result of the comparison, determine whether the subject transmitter of the received signal matches one of the valid transmitters. The system and method are also operable to update the stored parameter value of the one of valid transmitters with the observed parameter value of the subject transmitter in response to determining that the subject transmitter matches the one valid transmitter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to techniques for characterizing a transmitter and, more particularly, is concerned with a system and method for identifying and validating a transmitter by extracting and analyzing both an identification (ID) code and a signal characteristic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In some known prior art communications systems, individual transmitters are assigned identification (ID) code in order to validate their use of the network. Typically these ID codes accompany other communications transmitted by the transmitter. In the case of cellular telephone systems, the absence of a valid ID code is used to detect invalid transmitters on the network so that steps can be taken to lock them out of the network without disrupting service to legitimate users.
In other known prior art communications systems, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,210 to Ferrell, one or more parameters of a transient signal transmitted by the transmitter is used to identify and verify the particular transmitter. However, neither of these prior art communications systems embody the necessary levels of security required to ensure the reliability of the identification and validation process.
Consequently, a need still exists for an improved technique for ensuring reliability of the identification and validation process.

Transmitter identification and validation system and method


A transmitter includes a plurality of oscillators for transmitting multiple radio frequency (RF) signals simultaneously, from each one of which signals a broadcast radio receiver system can reproduce the transmitted audio information. The transmitter will not only allow a user to listen to a CD or tape player through the radio receiver system but also let the user choose whichever frequency gives the best quality sound by merely tuning the receiver system in the same manner as tuning it to the broadcast radio station signals.

An available RF transmitter allows a user to listen to a headphone-only portable audio unit (such as a portable stereo CD or tape player) through a radio receiver especially in the situations where headphones are not allowed or impractical, such as listening in a moving vehicle.
Currently known state of the art RF transmitters, such as an FM transmitter, intended for this purpose require a user in the vehicle to tune both the transmitter and the radio receiver. This approach is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,716 to William T. McGreevy, assigned to Recoton Corporation. McGreevy's invention involves a vehicle's passenger tuning the transmitter of an adapter to the same frequency as that of the tuner of the vehicle's FM radio receiver system.
However, tuning the transmitter in a moving vehicle could cause a serious safety concern especially when the user is the person who is driving. Safe operation of the vehicle could be jeopardized by a mental and physical distraction of the driver whenever he attempts to tune the transmitter. Moreover, it would not be easy for the driver to physically locate and tune the transmitter since, unlike a firmly installed car radio receiver, the transmitter is usually positioned unsteadily in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, together with a portable audio unit.
It is noted that retuning the transmitter may be necessary as the vehicle movers from one location to anther. This is because an open radio channel on which the transmitter is initially tuned in a particular geographical region may not be open (i.e., occupied by the local broadcast station) in another geographical region. Therefore, McGreevy's invention creates a possible safety problem for automobile users.

Multiple broadcast channel transmitter arrangment


An elastic member is used to hold a sublistatic transfer sheet securely in place against the arcuate surface of an article to be imprinted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns an elastic member for holding a sublistatic transfer sheet securely in place against the arcuate surface of an article to be imprinted.
2. Background of the Invention
Sublistatic printing is the technique of first placing a due in the proper form and color on a vehicle, for example, a piece of paper conveniently referred to as a transfer sheet. The dye has special qualities that allow its ingredients to convert from a solid particle to a gas without going through a liquid phase. The conversion is usually initiated by the application of heat. Sublistatic printing requires intimate contact between the transfer sheet on which the design is printed and the surface of the article to be imprinted. Full details of the sublistatic printing process are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,331, the contents of which are incorporated herein. A full discussion of the use of the present invention is disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 07/439,051 entitled Device for Facilitating Sublistatic Printing, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Elastic member for facilitating sublistatic printing


A measuring and transmitting bolt or threaded element for a railway bogie comprises a head defined in which is a seat, and a threaded stem defined in which is a hole, a miniaturized vibration sensor, a transmitter, a battery for supplying said MEMS vibration sensor and said transmitter, and a miniaturized converter for converting into electrical energy the mechanical energy from the vibrations in order to recharge the battery. In particular, the transmitter and the vibration sensor are housed in the seat, and the miniaturized converter and the battery are housed in the hole.

Measurement of the stresses on a railway bogie is essential for monitoring the state of wear of the rolling stock and carrying out maintenance operations only when it is necessary. In fact, maintenance operations are costly and require stoppage times that reduce the profits linked to the use of the rolling stock. However, maintenance operations are of extreme importance for preventing failure or damage when the train is in use. Consequently, it is very important to apply reliable diagnostic methods for establishing the conditions of the rolling stock and programming maintenance operations in an efficient way such as to reduce the costs of management of the rolling stock itself.
In particular, carriages of a passenger train are electrified and it is thus possible to instrument the bogie with sensors and transmitters supplied by the line current. Instead, wagons of a freight train are not connected to the electrical supply, and the on-board diagnostic instrumentation requires installation of supply and data-transmission wiring starting from the locomotive and proceeding along the entire train. Said diagnostic system is clearly costly and also requires a complex maintenance since, in the case of malfunctioning and in particular of an interruption of the electrical contact, it is necessary to carry out testing on the wiring along the entire train.
In addition, railway trains, and in particular freight trains, are subject to severe standards, which restrict the possibilities of modifying the wagons. In particular, installation of measuring instrumentation on the bogie is normally not allowed without a rehomologation, which requires high costs of execution and long stoppage times.
From the production standpoint, the need is felt to provide a measuring bolt that can dimensionally replace current bolts present in an axle-box and having an internal structure suitable for reducing the production costs. At the same time, it is necessary to respect the stringent constraints of space imposed by the size of the bolts. In particular, it is necessary to identify an optimized position of each component in order to produce the energy sufficient for operation of the electronic and wireless-transmission devices mounted on the bolt.

Device for diagnosing railway bogies by applying an energy-autonomous measuring and transmitting bolt, and corresponding control method


An electronic device disclosed herein may comprise: a communication circuit for establishing communication with an external electronic device; a memory for storing information on graphic source data of a content and a plurality of graphic rendering schemes for displaying the content; and a processor functionally connected to the communication circuit and the memory. The processor may be configured to select at least one graphic rendering scheme on the basis of the status of the electronic device or the external electronic device, and display the content on a display functionally connected to the electronic device, using the at least one graphic rendering scheme. Various other embodiments recognized from the specification are also possible.

In recent years, electronic devices have been implemented in a form that can be easily carried by a user or can be directly worn on a user's body. These electronic devices may be generally called a portable electronic device or a wearable electronic device. The portable electronic device may include, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like. The wearable electronic device may include, for example, a head-mounted display (HMD), smart glasses, a smart watch or wristband, a clothing-type device, or the like.
Generally, the portable electronic device or the wearable electronic device may interact with another electronic device through a specified communication channel. The portable electronic device or the wearable electronic device may ensure functionality intended by a device maker (or a third party), based on the interaction with the other electronic device.

Content display method and electronic device for performing same


An apparatus comprising a battery unit and an electronics unit. The battery unit has a battery with a first and a second pole. The battery unit has at least a first, at least a second and at least a third electrical contact, wherein the first contact and the third contact are connected with the first pole, and wherein the second contact is connected with the second pole. The electronics unit has an input circuit with at least a first and at least a second electrical countercontact for receiving electrical energy from the battery unit essentially via the first and second contacts or essentially via the second and third contacts of the battery unit.

Currently, a large number of electrical and/or electronic devices are supplied with energy by a battery, respectively a battery unit. The terminology, battery, in the sense of the present application, includes, in such case, a single-use battery, a rechargeable battery, and other dischargeable energy storers, respectively energy converters, such as, for example, a capacitor, which can deliver a limited amount of energy. The battery has, in such case, at least one electrically positive, and at least one electrically negative, pole. The device, or especially its electronics unit, can thus be supplied and operated with electrical energy withdrawn from the battery, for example, energy in the form of an electrical current and/or an electrical voltage.
Such battery operated devices are used, for instance, in the field of process automation technology. Thus, for example, field devices can be equipped with a battery operated radio unit, which has a battery unit containing a battery. In this connection, it is known to supply both the radio unit as well as also the connected field device with electrical energy from the battery of the battery unit. Furthermore, autarkic field devices exist, which have a battery, which serves for supplying the field device with the energy required by the field device. The terminology, field devices, means, in such case, in principle, all devices, which are applied near to the process and which deliver or process information relevant for the process. Besides the earlier mentioned measuring devices/sensors and actuators, also considered to be field devices are generally units, which are connected, for example, directly to a fieldbus and serve for communication with superordinated units—thus, units such as e.g. remote I/Os, gateways, linking devices and radio units. In the case of battery operated field devices, of course, it is desired to increase their operating time, respectively service life, as much as possible. Currently known from the state of the art are numerous methods and circuits directed toward this goal.
However, in explosion-endangered zones special requirements govern the application of electrical and/or electronic equipment. Thus, it is, for example, known from the state of the art to use battery driven field devices in explosion-endangered zones. Such field devices make use of electrical current- and/or voltage limiting, in order to meet these special requirements. In such case, corresponding means for electrical current- and/or voltage limiting are provided for the electronics unit in the region of the battery connection as well as also in the battery itself, in order to block ignition-capable amounts of electrical energy. These Ex-limiting measures do, however, due to the means for electrical current- and/or voltage limiting in the connection region of the field device as well as also in the battery unit, result in a not insignificant loss of power. This power loss, which cannot be utilized, shortens the service life of the battery.
Devices that are provided exclusively for operation in a non-explosion endangered region do not have these electrical current- and/or voltage-limiting measures. The percentage of applications for non-explosion endangered zones lies today at about 80-90% of all applications.
For reasons of cost, it is often advantageous not to manufacture two variants of a battery unit, respectively battery operated field device, so that, most often, the Ex-variant of the battery, respectively the field device, is applied also in the non-Ex region. Due to the high energy consumption resulting from the Ex-limiting measures, one is, however, frequently compelled to manufacture and/or to offer either the battery unit and/or the field device also without the Ex-limiting measures.
Moreover, field devices, such as sensors, actuators or display- and/or service units, depending on functionality, such as, for example, the used measuring principle, require different amounts of energy, and, thus, have different power- and/or energy consumptions. It is, consequently, necessary to manufacture different variants of battery units and/or electronic units, in order to provide an energy supply generally matched to the function of the field device or, in general, the device.
Due to the large number of manufacturers of (field-)devices and (field-)device types, there are currently different forms of housings for battery units and electronics units as well as different contactings of such. In such case, a certain battery unit is, most often, matched specially to a single device, or device type, and, consequently, only applicable in combination with such. Furthermore, the electrical power withdrawable from a battery unit is, most often, predetermined by the no load voltage between the, usually, two contacts of the battery unit and is, thus, not variable.


In one embodiment, a support pillow comprises a pillow body having a medial region and two opposing arms that form a well region, a first side and a second side. The pillow body further includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery outlining the well region. The pillow body further comprises a fill material and a cover enveloping the fill material. The cover comprises a main section that extends about the first and second sides and the outer periphery, and a center panel coupled to the main section so as to be located along the inner periphery. Also, the center panel is constructed of a stretchable material and has a variable width.

This invention relates generally to the field of support pillows and, in particular, to support pillows that are intended to be placed around a variety of differently sized objects. More specifically, the invention relates to support pillows that may be manipulated to different configurations and automatically spring back to their original shape.
Over the years, a variety of support pillows have found commercial acceptance. Once exemplary support pillow is the Boppy® pillow, marketed by The Boppy Company. Various forms of this pillow are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,134, 5,546,620, 5,661,861, and 6,055,657, among others. The complete disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Another exemplary pillow is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,128, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such a pillow includes a cover with an inner strip of material which permits the arms to be separated without tearing or damaging the cover. This invention provides various improvements to similar types of support pillows, permitting convenient separation of the arms while allowing them to spring back to their starting position.


A method of supplying lubrication oil to a two-stage screw compressor is disclosed in which a low-pressure stage screw compressor and a high-pressure stage screw compressor are integrally constructed. A compression space is formed by a male rotor and a female rotor, and operation gas is fed for compression to the compression space. The method prevents degradation of volumetric efficiency caused by return of lubrication oil, coming from a bearing and a shaft sealing device, to the low-pressure stage screw compressor, and as a result, refrigeration capacity is improved and the amount of the lubrication oil is reduced.

Generally, in a screw compressor, lubricating oil is supplied to bearings supporting rotors and oil is injected into the compression cavities formed by the rotors and rotor casing to aid sealing the gap between the rotors and the gap between the rotors and the casing, and also to provide cooling sink for the gas charge in order to increase volumetric and thermal efficiencies.
Such a screw compressor requires a large amount of lubricating oil for lubricating the bearings and shaft seal element and for lubricating the rotors and cooling the gas charge. When operating gas dissolving type refrigerating machine oil is used as lubricating oil, operating gas dissolved in the oil is flash-evaporated from the oil in the compression cavities, which induces early pressure rise in the compression cavities resulting in increased leak of the gas charge toward the suction side and decreased volumetric efficiency.
Conventionally, it has been thought effective to decrease amounts of gas charge, i.e. operating gas dissolved in the oil as far as possible in order to minimize the influence as mentioned above.
Dissolution characteristic of operating gas into lubricating oil is such that, the higher the pressure and the lower the temperature of oil, the larger the amount of operating gas dissolved into the oil. Therefore, it is thought effective to increase discharge temperature of the gas charge in order to decrease dissolved amounts of operating gas, and various devisal has been made.
However, when discharge temperature is raised too much, scuffing of rotors occurs due to thermal expansion of the rotors lubrication of the bearings and shaft seal elements becomes insufficient due to heat transferred to them from the rotor casing. Therefore, elimination of the affection of flash-evaporation of dissolved operating gas has not been achieved sufficiently by increasing discharge temperature. Particularly, in the case of two-stage screw compressor, when high pressure oil dissolving a large amount of operating gas is supplied to the bearings, shaft seal element, and compression cavities of the low-pressure stage compressor, proportion in weight of operating gas flash-evaporated from lubricating oil relative to operating gas sucked in the compressor increases due to lower pressure in the compression cavities of the low-pressure stage compressor, and compression efficiency of the compressor decreases.
In the case of a conventional two-stage screw compressor, lubricating oil supplied to the bearings and shaft seal element of the low-pressure stage compressor is supplied to the compression cavities of the low-pressure stage compressor, the operating gas compressed by the low-pressure stage compressor is sent together with the oil containing dissolved operating gas to the compression cavities of high-pressure stage compressor to be compressed and discharged from the high pressure stage compressor.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional two-stage screw compressor mentioned above. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 01 is a casing in which main components of the compressor are housed, 02 is a low-pressure stage compressor comprising a male rotor and a female rotor of low-pressure stage, 03 is a high-pressure stage compressor comprising a male rotor and a female rotor of high-pressure stage for further compressing gas compressed in the low-pressure stage compressor. Reference numeral 04 is a common rotor shaft of the male rotor and driven by a drive device not shown in the drawing.
Reference numeral 05 is a mechanical seal, and 06, 07, and 08 are bearings supporting for rotation of the rotor shaft 04 at the inlet side of the low-pressure stage compressor, at the intermediate section between the lower and high-pressure stage compressor, and at the inlet side of the high-pressure stage compressor, respectively. A common female rotor shaft not shown in the drawing is supported by bearings in the same way. Reference numeral 011 is an oil supply port through which lubricating oil h separated from the compressed operating gas discharged from the high-pressure stage compressor in an oil separator not shown in the drawing and containing dissolved operating gas is supplied to the mechanical seal 05 and bearings 06, 07 via an oil passage 012. The oil after lubricated the mechanical seal and bearings is injected into the compression cavities of the low-pressure stage compressor 02 through an oil supply hole 021.
On the other hand, lubricating oil h containing dissolved refrigerant is supplied from said oil separator through an oil supply port 014 to the bearing 08 via an oil passage 015, then injected into the compression cavities of the high-pressure stage compressor 03 through an oil supply hole 017. Reference numeral 018 indicates an inlet port for sucking operating gas r into the low-pressure stage compressor 02. Operating gas compressed in the low-pressure stage compressor 02 is introduced to the high-pressure stage compressor 03 via a gas passage 019, further compressed therein, and discharged from a discharge port 020.
Operating gas flash-evaporated from lubricating oil supplied to the compression cavities of the low-pressure stage compressor affects to reduce volumetric efficiency of the lower and high-pressure stage compressor. Particularly, in the case of two-stage compressor, flow rate of operating gas depends on volumetric efficiency of the low-pressure stage compressor, so influence of supplying lubricating oil containing dissolved operating gas to the compression cavities of the low-pressure stage compressor is significant.
Amounts of operating gas released from lubrication oil increases with decreasing pressure, so operating gas released from lubricating oil significantly affects the volumetric efficiency of the low-pressure stage compressor, and as a result operating gas flow of the two-stage compressor is significantly reduced.
In patent literature 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3653330 is disclosed a refrigerating cycle in which the two-stage screw compressor is composed such that lubricating oil supplied to the low-pressure stage compressor from the oil separator provided in the downstream side from the high-pressure stage compressor is introduced to the intermediate casing of the two-stage compressor, thereby preventing reduction of refrigerating capacity.
Patent literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 3653330

Oil supply method of two-stage screw compressor, two-stage screw compressor applying the method, and method of operating refrigerating machine having the compressor


In order to realize a filter that can make a fine spectrum adjustment in a wide rage and can be miniaturized, and to realize an X-ray imaging apparatus provided with the filter, a filter of the present invention is provided with plural filter plates that can form a layer crossing X-ray and adjusting means that adjusts a combination of filter plates forming the layer by individually moving the plural filter plates so as to come in and out the X-ray passing space. The plural filter plates are formed such that the thickness of each filter plate is successively doubled with the thinnest filter plate defined as a reference. The adjusting means has a pair of moving in/out mechanisms for moving, every its half number, the plural filter plates in and out from both sides of the X-ray passing space.

The present invention relates to a filter and an X-ray imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a filter that adjusts energy spectra of X-ray, and an X-ray imaging apparatus provided with the filter.
An X-ray imaging apparatus irradiates X-ray to a subject by adjusting energy spectra of the X-ray with a filter. The filter is provided in a collimator box attached to an X-ray tube. In order to obtain desired spectra, the filter can be used by switching plural filter plates attached to a rotating disc (e.g., see patent document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. HEI11-76219 (p. 2, FIG. 1)
Spectra can desirably be adjusted in a wide range with close attention, but in the construction in which the filter plates are switched by the rotating disc, a four-step adjustment is about all this construction can provide. Therefore, widening the adjustment range causes a rough step, while providing more steps narrows the adjustment range. When a multi-step adjustment is made possible in the rotating disc system anyway, the rotating disc to which a great number of filters are attached is increased in size, thus unrealistic.

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


A compact nonvolatile programmable memory cell. The memory cell has a floating gate (118), control gate (123), drain (108), and source regions (112). The memory cell is an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell or a Flash memory cell. Data may be stored the memory cell of the present invention for the required lifetime of the memory cell usage, and data is retained even when power is removed. The memory cell of the present invention has a substantially transverse or vertical channel (140), relative to a surface of a substrate. The memory may be used to create very high-density memory arrays.

The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to nonvolatile programmable memory cells.
Memory cells are used in the implementation of many types of electronic devices and integrated circuits. These devices include microprocessors, static random access memories (SRAMs), erasable-programmable read only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), Flash EEPROM memories, programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), among others. Memory cells are used to store the data and other information for these and other integrated circuits. Moreover, integrated circuits with memory cells are used in a wide range of applications including computers, multimedia, telecommunications, networking, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, satellites, and many others.
As integrated circuit and semiconductor processing technologies continue to advance, there is a need for greater densities and functionality in integrated circuits. These are often determined in a large part by the size and structure of the memory cells. Further, it is desirable that the memory cells have improved operating characteristics, such as lower power consumption, nonvolatility, reprogrammability, greater device longevity, improved data retention, better transient performance, superior voltage and current attributes, and improvements in other similar attributes.
As can be seen, an improved nonvolatile programmable memory cell is needed, especially structures and techniques for fabricating a higher density memory product.


A system for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of the system comprise a closed system with no air emissions.

In many industries, including oil, paper and pulp, textiles, and food processing, various processes produce contaminated water as a by-product. This is especially true in crude oil production and refining because substantially all crude oil is produced from subterranean formations which contain water. This produced water is by the far the largest volume product or waste stream associated with oil and gas production and it presents challenges and costs to operators. Because the water cannot be disposed of by simply dumping it into the environment, numerous methods and systems have been devised to reduce the contaminant content of the water to a level that permits its discharge into the environment without any deleterious consequences.
The basic method of separating a mixture of oil and water is by use of gravity. For this purpose, separators are frequently employed at the point where the crude oil first reaches the earth's surface. These separators range from rather unsophisticated holding vessels—which simply provide an enclosed container wherein the oil and water mixture can rest with reduced turbulence, thereby allowing the oil to float to an upper part of the vessel and water to settle to a lower part of the vessel—to more sophisticated vessels that apply desalting and dehydration methods. Regardless of the type of vessel used, it is common for oil-coated solids ("mud") to accumulate in the bottom of the vessel and for a mixture of oil and water ("emulsion" or "rag") to form at the oil and water interface.
Removal of the solids and the emulsion from the vessel is problematic. The customary practice is to allow the solids and emulsion to accumulate until their presence begins to interfere with the overall performance of the vessel. At this point in time, the vessel is shut down so that the solids and emulsion can be extracted and then conveyed to another location for cleaning and processing. Because this batch extraction method disrupts both the oil and water separation process and the production process, a need exists for a method of removing the solids and emulsion on a continuous basis while also processing those contaminants at the source. This processing should occur with equipment that comprises a relatively small footprint.
The processing of these contaminants is also problematic. For example, effluent water often contains organic species that have a high partition coefficient and benzene, Efficient removal of these organic species causes problems for refiners in their waste water treatment operations and difficulty in meeting discharge permit requirements. Current benzene extraction unit designs require high volumes of steam pressure and are prone to fouling from heavy hydrocarbon entrainment in the effluent water. Additionally, the effluent water may contain heavy hydrocarbon interface emulsion that can settle in a refinery process sewer and cause plugging and flow restriction problems. Cleaning processes that remove those restrictions can cause leaks and loss of containment integrity. Hydrocarbon and solids entering the process sewer immediately takes on a hazardous waste designation. Therefore, a need exists for a reliable and efficient method to remove organic species, benzene, and heavy hydrocarbon emulsion from the effluent water so that the treated water discharged to the process sewer meets environmental requirements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System to process effluent brine and interface rag from an oil dehydration/desalting system


A bed frame for supporting a mattress includes at least first and second sections connectable to form a mattress supporting platform. The platform includes a latch to hold the first and second sections together. The latch includes engageable parts on the first and second sections that are engageable in response to relative sliding movement between the first and second sections toward each other when oriented horizontally.

Adjustable beds are often used in home health care. A bariatric bed is one capable of supporting the weight of a larger patient, and thus is typically larger and heavier than a standard home health care bed.
Home health care beds typically include two vertically adjustable bed ends that support a mattress platform extending between them. The mattress platform is made in two pieces, i.e., a head end section and a foot end section. The head end section has an adjustable portion that can be raised up when the bed is assembled, to raise the patient's head. The foot end section has an adjustable portion that can be raised up when the bed is assembled, to raise the patient's knees. The adjustable portions are operated by one or more electric motors located underneath the platform.
The head end section and the foot end section of the platform are assembled by standing them on edge, at an angle to each other. They are then moved into engagement with each other and joined, still at an angle, with a pin and slot arrangement. The two sections are pivoted relative to each other, while still on edge, into an orientation aligned with each other, to form the platform. The assembled platform may then be laid flat on the floor and the bed ends connected with it.
This assembly process takes up a significant amount of space in the room in which the bed is to be used—specifically, significantly more room than the finished size of the bed. In addition, the two sections are quite heavy—in the range of from 75 pounds to over 100 pounds each—and as a result, the on-edge assembly process requires two persons.


A method is provided for identifying improperly redacted information in documents. The documents are analyzed to detect redacted areas and text elements and to identify an intersection between a redacted area and a text element. When an area of the intersection is greater than an intersection threshold, the document is identified as containing improperly redacted information.

The use of electronic documents by companies and individuals is ubiquitous. In many cases electronic documents contain confidential information such as personal health records, personally identifiable information (PII), trade secrets, sales and marketing plans, product plans, notes related to patentable inventions, customer and supplier information, financial data, legal information, state secrets, etc. The disclosure of such confidential information could be harmful to any individual or organization that the information relates to.
Redaction is the process of sanitizing a document to make confidential information unreadable, unintelligible, or to remove all traces of confidential information from the document. Redaction is often performed before a document containing confidential information is made available to a larger audience. For example, a party to a legal case might file with the court a confidential document under seal. Such a document would only be made available to specific parties such as the court or other parties of the case. The party filing the document would, in many cases, be required to also file a redacted version of the document that is made available to the general public. Another example is when a US government agency responds to a freedom of information act request by releasing to the public documents that were previously undisclosed. In many cases these documents are first redacted before being published.

Systems and methods for the efficient detection of improperly redacted electronic documents


An aircraft is maintained at a constant glide slope and air speed by trimming delta torque commands provided by an autopilot. Delta torque commands that change by more than twenty percent are trimmed automatically to maintain the constant glide angle and to assist the pilot in maintaining air speed within .+-.5 knots on the approach glide slope.

An aircraft typically follows a constant glide slope as it approaches an airport. The aircraft is equipped with autopilots, which provide delta torque commands that adjust the engine torques of corresponding engines to keep the aircraft on a constant glide slope. However, the engine torques are changed without regard to resulting changes in airspeed. Thus, the aircraft can undergo large fluctuations in airspeed during approach.
To maintain both constant glide slope and air speed, a pilot must continually adjust engine power. This entails significant pilot workload.

Apparatus for trimming autopilot commands


A new cultivar of Phlox plant named xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 that is characterized by vigorous growth, prolific blooming, tall, erect and uniform habit and bright pink flowers, with dark markings at the center of each flower. In combination with these characteristics, the new cultivar is larger and not as rangy as other pink varieties, setting it apart from all other existing varieties of Phlox.

Phlox subulata xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99.
The application for Phlox xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is related to another application entitled Phlox Plant Named xe2x80x98Cotton Candyxe2x80x99, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/800,866, having the same inventor and filing date as the present invention.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Moss Phlox known botanically as Phlox subulata (not patented) and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99. In 1998 the new cultivar was discovered by the inventor, in a cultivated area of Albany, Oreg. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 was a spontaneously occurring sport, discovered as a branch on Phlox subulata xe2x80x98Candy Stripexe2x80x99 (not patented).
The distinguishing characteristics of xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 include a tall, erect habit and floriferous display of bright pink flowers. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is distinguished from the parent plant xe2x80x98Candy Stripexe2x80x99 (prior art) by pink flowers. It differs from the pink variety xe2x80x98Emerald Pinkxe2x80x99 (unpatented) by its large size and abundance of flowers, and is not disease prone or rangy in habit like the pink variety xe2x80x98Roseaxe2x80x99 (unpatented).
After the sport was observed for performance over a period of months, xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 was propagated in a cultivated area of Albany, Oreg. The first asexual reproduction was accomplished by the inventor in 1998, using vegetative cuttings. The distinguishing characteristics have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish this cultivar from other commercial varieties. xe2x80x98Bubble gumxe2x80x99 has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in conditions, however without any variance in genotype.
1. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is vigorous in growth.
2. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is a prolific bloomer.
3. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is tall and erect with a uniform habit.
4. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 has bright pink flowers with dark markings at the center encircling the opening to the throat.
5. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is large in size, floriferous and not rangy in habit like other pink varieties.
6. xe2x80x98Bubble Gumxe2x80x99 is hardy to USDA Zone 3.


A compact low-pressure gas discharge lamp assembly includes a base and a plurality of low-pressure gas discharge light generating elements mounted to the base. Each of the light generating elements is capable of being individually energized. A ballast circuit is provided which is capable of supplying electrical energy to a variable number of the low pressure gas discharge lighting elements. A three-way switch has an input connected with the ballast circuit and two outputs. Each output is connected with a different light generating element. The switch connects one of the outputs with the ballast circuit in a first switch position and another one of the outputs with the ballast circuit in a second switch position. Both of the outputs are connected with the ballast circuit in a third switch position. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator that oscillates at a frequency that varies as a function of the number of light generating elements connected by the switch to the ballast circuit.

This invention relates to compact low-pressure gas discharge lamps and more particularly to a system including a lamp assembly and a power supply for the lamp assembly. The invention is especially adapted to providing practical dimming capabilities for compact fluorescent lamps.
Compact fluorescent lamps have long been known for their high luminous efficiency and have made great strides in replacing relatively inefficient incandescent bulbs. Because fluorescent lamps are typically provided in elongated tubular form, efforts have been made to reconfigure their light transmitting enclosures into a series of short parallel tubes or stubs. Prior attempts have focused on reforming the light transmitting enclosure of a single gas discharge lamp into a serpentine configuration, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,460, or into a series of cross coupled tubes as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,774. Such prior attempts have resulted in lamps that could be manufactured only by extremely complex manufacturing processees.
There has been a long felt yet unmet need for practical dimming capabilities for compact fluorescent lamps. While various schemes have been proposed, none of them have been commercially acceptable. This is believed to be a result of the unusual and demanding operating characteristics of such compact fluorescent lamps. Dimming techniques that are suitable for incandescent lamps are incompatible with fluorescent lamp circuits.
Because the primary benefit of compact fluorescent lamps is envisioned to be in the replacement of incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamp adapters have been used for the purposes of adapting conventional incandescent lamp fixtures for use with compact fluorescent lamps. This not only avoids unnecessary expense in equipment replacement but allows the substitution to be easily performed by the end user. Such adapters have not been without their drawbacks. Compact fluorescent lamps are heat sensitive, and the waste heat produced by the lamp ballast circuit tends to reduce lamp longevity when combined in the same assembly with the fluorescent lamp.

Three-way compact fluorescent lamp system utilizing an electronic ballast having a variable frequency oscillator

Progressive Technology in Lighting, Inc.


A storage system uses a block-level file system to manage physical storage of data blocks of logical units, the file system being mounted on an owning one of a set of storage processors. The storage processors redirect received storage requests to the owning storage processor, and periodically the amount of redirection is evaluated. If the amount of redirection is higher than a threshold, then the file system is dismounted at the owning storage processor and mounted at another storage processor to reduce the amount of redirection.

The present invention is related to the field of data storage.
Data storage systems may employ a block file system to manage the use of physical storage resources (e.g., areas of physical disks) in providing higher-level logical units of storage to applications or users in a data processing system. This is particularly the case for storage systems supporting mapped logical units (MLUs) used in "thin provisioning" schemes of storage allocation, where physical storage resources are assigned to logical units of storage dynamically as needed during operation rather than statically at an initial time of configuration. The block file system defines a corresponding file for each MLU and conducts block-level file-access operations in satisfaction of storage input/output requests (reads and writes) directed to the MLU. Here "block-level" refers to operations on fixed-size data units called "blocks", a technique long known in the computing industry. One example of a block file system is the Common Block File System (CBFS) utilized in storage products manufactured and sold by EMC Corporation.

Storage system with dynamic transfer of block file system ownership for load balancing


The fat content and an undissolved solids content of a milk sample, taken from a milk processing flow, are separately determined. In addition, the total solids content of the milk flow is determined. Based on the fat, undissolved solids, and total solids content, the amount of protein and/or casein in the flow is determined. In a control portion of the invention, the fat and undissolved solids are controlled dynamically to standard values, whereby the characteristics of the milk flow are adjusted to standard values useable for whole milk, cheese-making and other uses.

This invention is related to the analysis of milk. Specifically, this invention is related to a device and method of determining the protein and fat content of milk for the purpose of producing milk with a predetermined ratio of protein and fat. More specifically, the present invention is related to a device and method for continuously monitoring the fat and micellar associated protein (MAP) content of milk, separated milk fractions, and reconstituted milk products in commercial type milk processing systems, and for controlling the ratio of fat to MAP in an output stream of these systems.
Milk consists primarily of water containing proteins, carbohydrates, electrolytes, lipids, and vitamins. The major proteins of milk are categorized as caseins, lactalbumins, and lactoglobulins, which include immunoglobulins. Milk lipids are mainly triacylglycerides containing the residues of various saturated and unsaturated, branched and straight chain fatty acids. In addition, some free fatty acids and phospholipids are also present.
In freshly secreted milk, lipids occur as butterfat globules. The fat globules, initially ranging in size from 1 to 15 um mean diameter, quickly begin to coalesce and separate under the force of gravity. Once the butterfat has separated out, the remaining fraction is skim milk.
Of the proteins, the lactalbumins and lactoglobulins (commonly known as whey proteins) are mostly soluble, while the caseins and a minor fraction of the other proteins take the form of complex micelles. Micelles and micelle-associated proteins (MAP) give skim milk its white appearance. The addition of detergent chelaters, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), break down the micelles and render skim milk essentially clear.
The making of cheese is based on the coagulation of casein and the other MAPs from milk. The casein is precipitated from the whey by acidification, which can be accomplished by natural culturing, or the addition of rennet. The procedures for making cheese vary greatly resulting in numerous cheese products. The composition and handling of the original milk, bacterial flora, and starter culture provide the basic variables in cheese making. These basic variables, along with heat treatments, flavoring, salting, forming, and curing, determine the characteristics of the final product.
The type of cheese as well as the efficiency of production is critically influenced by the ratio of MAP to butterfat in the milk. Consequently, commercial dairy milk for successful cheese production must meet the specifications for fat-to-MAP ratio of the cheese manufacturer purchasing the milk. These specifications are often difficult to meet since each variety of cheese calls for a different fat-to-MAP ratio.
Numerous laboratory methods for determining fat and protein content in milk are known in the art. Fat concentration is routinely determined using the Babcock test or one of its modifications. Alternatively, other assay methods are employed, including the Mojonnier method, the Gerber test, and the TeSa test. In: "Laboratory Manual, Methods of Analysis of Milk and its Products", The Milk Industry Foundation, Washington D.C., 1959.
The protein content of milk and milk products can be determined by a variety of laboratory methods including gasometric assays, variations of the Kjedahl method, quantitative titration analysis, colorimetric assay, and dye binding and spectrophotometric optical analysis. However, these methods are too complex for routine use in a dairy plant. Consequently, measurement of milk protein content has seldom been used as a basis for commercialization in spite of the fact that cheese production is based on casein content.
Additionally, laboratory methods, adequate for commercial operations based on batch processing, are far too slow to be used with the current more commonly used continuous-flow systems. Continuous-flow equipment, which allows high product throughput, requires continuous rapid measurement of fat and protein content coupled with rapid feedback controls based on the monitored results. In these instances laboratory sampling is unreliable because the composition of the milk is constantly changing and the test sample becomes irrelevant by the time the laboratory results are complete.
A simple monitoring/control device responsive to fat content in continuous flow systems is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,804 describes an "Apparatus for Continuously Controlling Butterfat Content of Reconstituted Milk". U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,804 specifies an apparatus wherein milk is continuously sampled and diluted with a detergent chelator. The detergent chelator renders all components of the diluted milk transparent, except for the fat. The fat content is analyzed by absorbance of visible light in a spectrophotometric flow cell. In this system the butterfat content assay results are immediately available electronically and used as feedback for regulating valves that control the rate of butterfat reconstitution.
However, a simple system that is adaptable for monitoring and controlling protein content, or more specifically casein or MAP content, or casein or MAP to fat ratio, in continuous flow milk processing plants remains unknown in the art.

Device and method for measuring, monitoring, and controlling fat and micell associated protein concentration in standardized milk


A display device having a plurality of pixel units and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The display device includes a first substrate assembly, a second substrate assembly, a liquid crystal mixture, and a pillared polymer network. The first substrate assembly includes a first substrate and a first electrode layer disposed on the first substrate. The second substrate assembly includes a second substrate. The liquid crystal mixture is disposed between the first and second substrate assemblies. The pillared polymer network is disposed between the first and second substrate assemblies and has a first end and second end. The first end abuts against the first substrate assembly and is disposed correspondingly to the first electrode layer. The second end abuts against the second substrate assembly. Each of the pixel units includes the pillared polymer network.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a display device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a display device including a pillared polymer network and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blue phase liquid crystals are an advantageous optically isotropic liquid crystal material, which requires no alignment films and has a response time of within sub-milliseconds. However, blue phase liquid crystals suffer from a drawback of having an operating temperature range of only 1K. To overcome such drawback, a technique of polymer stabilized blue phase liquid crystals is developed by researchers. In the technique of polymer stabilized blue phase liquid crystals, the operating temperature range is increased from the original 1K to as high as 60K. Yet, the driving voltage and hysteresis of blue phase liquid crystals remain issues to be solved.
Therefore, there is a need for a solution that is capable of maintaining a large operating temperature range while also reducing the driving voltage and hysteresis for further enhancing display quality of blue phase liquid crystal display devices.

Display device and manufacturing method thereof


Provided are a method, system, and program for replicating a file. A file is copied to a target storage file system stored as a base file. A reference file comprising the copied file is generated at a local storage. An update is applied to the file at the local storage. A delta file is generated indicating differences between the updated file at the local storage and the reference file. A file system command is used to transmit the delta file to the target storage file system store to store in a directory of the target storage file system, wherein the file in the local storage is replicated at the target storage by a combination of the base file and the delta file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system, and program for replicating a file.
2. Description of the Related Art
File replication involves maintaining a copy (replica) of a file on a remote storage that may be updated locally. Any local updates applied to the file subject to replication are copied over (replicated) to the remote storage. For instance, the International Business Machines ("IBM"®) Tivoli® Storage Manager product provides software for a client and server systems so that the client system backs-up only a changed portion of a file on the server, either on byte level or on block level, instead of transferring the whole file to the server every time. (IBM and Tivoli are registered trademarks of IBM) The changed file portion is backed up as a differential backup relative to the last complete backup of the file (base or reference file) and it is called delta file. All changes since the last complete backup of the file are included in this delta file. In the case of a restore, software provides for the restore of the whole file by restoring only two sub-file components, one delta file and the last complete backup of the whole file, the base file.
The IBM Tivoli Storage Manager requires that the replication operations are implemented in software programs that run on both the client and the server storage receiving the delta files. Thus, proprietary agent software is implemented in both the endpoints, client and server machines, to exchange information and messages as part of the replication process.

Method of replicating a file using a base, delta, and reference file

International Business Machines Corporation


The disclosed subject matter provides apparatus, systems, and methods for preventing a user from disabling a software extension to a network-based application, thereby allowing a computing device to enforce the software extension even if the user wants to disable the software extension. The disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods can prevent a user from disabling a software extension by blocking an access to a communications network via the network-based application when the software extension is disabled.

Computer systems can provide user environment management and/or policy control for computing devices (e.g., Windows-based PCs). A system policy can be defined within an enterprise computer network either: to respond to system events such as computer startup/shutdown, user login/logoff, process start/stop, and session changes, etc.; or to prevent or control user behavior in applications and the desktop environment. For example, a pre-defined script can run when a user logs in to a corporate network; a particular group of users can be prevented from using parts of an application.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for providing policy in network-based applications


There is disclosed a method and storage media for determining the similarity between a first music collection and a second music collection. The similarity may be determined by comparing metadata associated with the first music collection and metadata associated with the second music collection. A plurality of comparison algorithms may be used including at least one of a comparison algorithm based on acoustic metadata and a comparison algorithm based on cultural metadata. The result of the plurality of comparison algorithms may be combined.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to methods for comparing music tracks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current music analysis, personalization, and recommendation systems rely on descriptive metadata describing each song or track. The metadata may be stored in a database and processed to identify, recommend, and/or retrieve similar songs. Present systems may rely on either acoustic metadata or on cultural metadata.
Within this patent, "acoustic metadata" refers to a numerical or mathematical representation of the sound of a track. Acoustic metadata may take the form of one or more vectors, matrices, lists, tables, and other data structures. Acoustic metadata may be derived from analysis of the music signal. One form of acoustic metadata, commonly termed an "acoustic fingerprint", may uniquely identify a specific track. Other forms of acoustic metadata may be formed by compressing the content of a track while retaining some or all of its musical characteristics. Acoustic metadata may include both temporal information such as tempo, rhythm, beats, tatums, or structure, and spectral information such as melody, pitch, harmony, or timbre.
Techniques for deriving acoustic metadata from music signals are known. Since the music signal may be converted into one or more feature vectors, such techniques may be known as "music vectorization". For example, copending patent application Ser. No. 12/061,374, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Automatically Segueing Between Audio Tracks", filed Apr. 2, 2008, describes a method for deriving acoustic metadata wherein a track may be divided into segments and the spectral content of each segment may be compressed into a timbral vector. An acoustic fingerprint, termed a "timbral signature" may then be calculated as the covariance matrix of the timbral vectors. Paragraphs 0030-0035 and 0048-0051 as filed and the associated figures of application Ser. No. 12/061,374 are incorporated herein by reference. Other methods for deriving acoustic metadata are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,223, U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,301, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,766.
Within this patent, "cultural metadata" refers to text-based information describing listeners' reactions to a track or song. Cultural metadata may be derived from expert opinion such as music reviews or classification of music into genres. Cultural metadata may be derived from listeners through Web sites, surveys, and the like. Cultural metadata may include sales data, shared collections, lists of favorite songs, and any text information that may be used to describe, rank, or interpret music. Cultural metadata may also be generated by a community of listeners and automatically retrieved from Internet sites, chat rooms, and the like. Published U.S. patent application US 2007/0240557 A1, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes (paragraphs 0034-0041 and the associated figures) a method for extracting cultural metadata from text pages obtained by searching the Internet. U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,395 describes another method for accumulating cultural metadata. Cultural metadata may be obtained through metadata services such as All Media Group (AMG, a unit of Macrovision), Gracenote, and others.
Cultural metadata may take the form of one or more vectors, matrices, lists, tables, and other data structures. A form of cultural metadata particularly useful for comparing music is a description vector. A description vector is a multi-dimensional vector associated with a track, album, or artist. Each term of the description vector indicates the probability that a corresponding word or phrase would be used to describe the associated track, album or artist. Copending patent application Ser. No. 12/100,966, entitled "Automatically Acquiring Acoustic and Cultural Information About Music", filed Apr. 20, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for developing description vectors associated with music tracks.
Within this patent, "explicit metadata" refers to factual or explicit information relating to music. Explicit metadata may include album and song titles, artist and composer names, other credits, album cover art, publisher name and product number, and other information. Explicit metadata is generally not derived from the music itself or from the reactions or opinions of listeners. AMG and Gracenote provide explicit metadata (names, credits, product numbers, etc.) and cultural metadata (styles, genres, moods, themes, similar artists and/or songs, rankings, etc.) for a large library of songs or tracks. The metadata available from AMG's Allmusic.com Web site is believed to be generated primarily by a network of hundreds of professional music critics and reviewers.
MusicIP Corporation provides an acoustic fingerprinting service commonly referred to as Music DNS (Digital Naming System). Music DNS calculates acoustic metadata from the content of a track. Music DNS may be used to uniquely identify specific tracks.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in block diagram are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a block diagram chart may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in flow charts are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a flow chart may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.

Determining the similarity of music using cultural and acoustic information


The present invention provides a radar apparatus, which can diagnose failure at low cost with high accuracy, and a failure diagnosis method thereof. An antenna serves as both a transmit antenna and a receive antenna. A transmit and receive select switch switches the transmission and reception of the antenna. A control unit measures a power value based on an output signal of a receive wave received by the antennas, and judges that the transmit and receive select switch fails when this power value exceeds a threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radar apparatus for measuring the azimuth and other values of a target from a reflected wave which is reflected on the target, and a failure detection method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Radar apparatus have been used for measuring the azimuth, distance, velocity etc. of a target by outputting a transmit wave from a transmit antenna and receiving a reflected wave, which is reflected on the target, by a receive antenna. For example, a radar apparatus is installed in a vehicle and used for preventing collision with a vehicle in front.
Some such radar apparatus perform failure detection for detecting the failure of each component in the apparatus.
For example, some radar apparatuses intermittently connect a transmit and receive antenna by a switching unit, detecting predetermined frequency components of high frequency signals which propagate in the line of a receive antenna by a detection unit during this connected period, and identifying the abnormality of functions based on this detection result (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-198826).
Some radar apparatuses install an auxiliary line in a transmit section and receive section respectively, and perform a wrap test, and judge whether the paths in the auxiliary line are normally operating based on the test signal, which is output from the auxiliary line of the receive section (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-315996).
Some radar apparatuses receive radio waves from a transmit antenna to a receive antenna using spatial coupling, and check the presence of abnormality by comparing the output data of an analysis processing circuit of a receive section and the modulation characteristic of the output of an oscillation circuit of a transmit section using a collation circuit (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-116828).
Some radar apparatuses store a level of noise signals near the transmit signals generated where there is no object, and a level of signals of noise, which is output from a mixer for reception when operation of an amplifier for transmission is stopped, and diagnose whether the FMCW radar fails by comparing both levels (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-141805).
And other radar apparatuses time-division multiplexes a diagnosis wave having a known signal waveform close to a beat signal with the beat signal, and diagnose the presence of failure of a frequency analysis unit by collating the frequency analysis result of the diagnosis wave with a known signal waveform (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-10227).
However installing a separate circuit for failure diagnosis, like Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-198826, increases the cost of the entire radar apparatus.
Performing failure diagnosis using transmit and receive antennas, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-116828, makes it difficult to detect failure accurately since isolation among antennas is high.
If failure is diagnosed based on the level of a receive signal of a reflected wave, on the other hand, the diagnosis depends on the size of the target, and it is difficult to distinguish the detection of the target from the generation of failure.

Radar apparatus and failure detection method thereof