In some applications, such as video motion compression processing for example, a request pattern or “stream” of requests for accesses to memory (e.g., DRAM) may have, over a large number of requests, a relatively small number of requests to the same page. Due to the small number of requests to the same page, conventionally sorting to aggregate page hits may not be very effective. Reordering the stream can be used to “bury” or “hide” much of the necessary precharge/activate time, which can have a highly positive impact on overall throughput. For example, separating accesses to different rows of the same bank by at least a predetermined number of clocks can effectively hide the overhead involved in precharging/activating the rows.

The present invention relates to computer memory interface circuitry in general, and more particularly to the sorting of requests for efficient access to memories.
Memory devices are fast becoming a bottleneck and limiting improvements in computer system performance. Part of this is caused by the relative disparity between the increase in processor as compared to memory speed. That is, while processor speed has continued to increase at the well known rate of doubling every 18 to 24 months, memory access times have not kept pace. This gap means that more efficient use of memory bandwidth must be made in order to reduce the effect of this bottleneck and take full advantage of the improved processor performance.
Data is accessed from a memory by selecting the row and column of one or more memory locations. This is done by asserting specific row and column address signals, referred to as RAS and CAS. The rows in a memory tend to be long traces with many memory cells attached. Accordingly, there is a comparatively long delay when a selected row, or page, is changed. Thus, when a row is selected, it is desirable to continue accessing different columns in that row before selecting another row. This is particularly true if the same bank in the memory is needed.
Memories in computer systems are often made up of multiple dynamic random-access-memory (DRAM) circuits, which may be located in dual-in-line memory modules (DIMMs). These DRAMs are selected using a chip select signal. When changing DRAMs, even if the same row is maintained, there is a delay while a different DRAM is selected.
Page switching overhead (resulting from "page breaks") is inherent in DRAMs. For example in some DRAMs, each bank of DRAM has multiple pages, and to open a page may incur approximately 10 memory cycles after the page is activated. To switch to a second page requires closing the previously opened page and reopening the bank to another page. For example, since there is a non-zero amount of overhead required to change pages, increasing the number of accesses made to a page before switching to another page reduces page switching overhead.
However, in some streams of data requests, the number of accesses made to a page before switching to another page may not be able to be increased significantly. In these circumstances, poorer memory access results due to many page breaks.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide methods and systems for sorting memory requests in which the downtime during these memory breaks can be hidden or buried.

Page stream sorter for poor locality access patterns


The invention provides a method and apparatus for producing an electrolytic water whereby one electrolytic water used in compliance with its intended use is transformed into a water more effectively used and the by-product electrolytic water, previously disposed as virtually useless, is transformed into a water which can be effectively used by use of at least two electrolyzer in series. At least one of an outlet for a primary anodic electrolytic water in a primary electrolyzer and an outlet for a primary cathodic electrolytic water in a primary electrolyzer is connected to an inlet of a secondary electrolyzer through a first switching valve and a second switching valve. The anodic electrolytic water only, the primary cathodic electrolytic water only, or mixture of the primary anodic and primary cathodic electrolytic water is fed to the secondary electrolyzer to be electrolyzed again. A chlorine remover is provided within the secondary inlet for connecting the primary electrolyzer with the secondary electrolyzer and it removes chlorine from a primary electrolytic water, and afterward, the filtered water is electrolyzed again in the secondary electrolyzer. Tertiary electrolysis of the secondary anodic electrolytic water, produced by electrolysis of the primary anodic electrolytic water, will produce a tertiary anodic electrolytic water that exhibits a remarkably high bactericidal effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrolytic water whereby the effectiveness of one conventional type of electrolytic water is enhanced and the other type of electrolytic water, conventionally disposed of as virtually useless, is transformed into an electrolytic water which can be effectively used, and to an apparatus for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrolytic water producer has been known which produces an electrolytic acid water and electrolytic alkaline water by electrolyzing water. The main components of the electrolytic water producer are an electrolyzer and a power supply. The inside of the electrolyzer is divided into two areas by a separating membrane, in one area of which a positive electrode is disposed, and in the other area of which a negative electrode is disposed. Applying a current across both of the electrodes in the electrolyzer filled with water produces the electrolytic acid water in the area where the positive electrode is disposed and the electrolytic alkaline water in the area where the negative electrode is disposed.
The electrolytic alkaline water is recognized to be effective for depressing an abnormal intestinal fermentation and is used for a drinking water. The electrolytic acid water is acknowledged to be effective in bactericidal and astringent actions, and is used for cleaning and medical treatment. Thus, each type of electrolytic water has widely been used for enhancing health.
In evaluation of the electrolytic water, the pH value representing hydrogen ion concentration and the residual chlorine concentration have been conventionally used. However, as use of electrolytic water producers has become widespread, even without any significant differences in the pH value or in the residual chlorine concentration of the electrolytic water, differences in electrolytic water effectiveness are noted as dependent on apparatus and region of use.
In the electrolytic alkaline water, when the oxidation reduction potential and dissolved oxygen concentration are low, the water usually displays a high effectiveness for improving health; whereas when the oxidation reduction potential and dissolved oxygen concentration are comparably high, the water shows a low effectiveness for improving health in most cases. A low oxidation reduction potential was considered -50-250 mv, a low dissolved oxygen concentration was considered 4.8-6.8 mg/l, a high oxidation reduction potential was considered +100-+250 mv and a high dissolved oxygen concentration was considered 7-8.2 mg/l.
Accordingly, using an identical service water as the raw water, selecting a model A to produce an electrolytic water with a low oxidation reduction potential and a given pH value, and a model B to produce an electrolytic water with a comparably higher oxidation reduction potential and an identical pH value, a comparison test using rats was made simultaneously with the service water, the electrolytic water produced by the model A, and the electrolytic water produced by the model B by a single testing organization. The test results showed an influence on the gastric mucosal damage, i.e. that the area of erosion on a gastric mucosa tends to become smaller in the following order: electrolytic water produced by the model A, electrolytic water produced by the model B, and service water. A survival test using cancer transplanted immunodefficient mice was made by another testing organization in a similar manner, and the test confirmed a similar tendency in the survival rate.
The oxidation reduction potential and dissolved oxygen concentration of the waters used in these tests were on average: +230 mv, 8.2 mg/l for the service water; -150 mv, 6.2 mg/l for the electrolytic alkaline water produced by the model A; and +75 mv, 7.6 mg/l for the electrolytic alkaline water produced by the model B.
Another test on the survival rate using critical immunodefficient mice made by another organization employed: the service water with a pH of 7.6, an oxidation reduction potential of +520 mv, and a dissolved oxygen concentration of 78 mg/l; a first electrolytic alkaline water C (hereinafter "water C") with a pH of 10.4, an oxidation reduction potential of -485 mv, and a dissolved oxygen concentration of 5.8 mg/l; and a second electrolytic alkaline water D (hereinafter "water D") with a pH of 8.9, an oxidation reduction potential of -309 mv, and a dissolved oxygen concentration of 7.22 mg/l. The test results reported for the survival rate with the service water group, water C group, and water D group were 20.9%, 56.0%, 44.0%, respectively.
According to the aforementioned test results, in the electrolytic alkaline water, as the oxidation reduction potential and dissolved oxygen concentration become lower, the effectiveness becomes higher, indicating need for an apparatus which produces an electrolytic alkaline water with a low oxidation reduction potential and dissolved oxygen concentration, without being subject to influence by the state of the raw water.
The electrolytic acid water, produced as a waste water in producing the electrolytic alkaline water for drinking, is considered to have an astringent action and a bactericidal action. However, its effectiveness is not so apparent as to be really recognized in most cases, and most of such acidic waters are disposed as waste.
When the pH decreases to about 4, the oxidation reduction potential becomes more than +800 mv, and the dissolved oxygen concentration becomes more than 10 mg/l, the electrolytic acid water clearly displays the astringent action when applied to the skin and makes the skin smooth after the water dries. The electrolytic acid water gives the smooth feeling to the skin stronger and longer, as the pH value becomes lower, the oxidation reduction potential becomes higher, and the dissolved oxygen concentration becomes higher. The bacteriostatic effect also has a similar tendency. For example, if the pH value is less than 3.5, the oxidation reduction potential is more than +900 mv, and the dissolved oxygen concentration is more than 12 mg/l, the electrolytic acid water will exhibit such a strong bactericidal activity as to kill most bacteria in a short time even with a dissolved chlorine concentration of about 2 ppm, indicating possible utility as an effective antibacterial agent that does not damage the skin or mocosa.
However, the conventional apparatus can not stably produce an effective acid electrolytic water, because the water quality of the raw water, e.g. service water, changes significantly with the seasons, with temperature, and with time. Furthermore, the conventional apparatus required such maintenance control that an electrolyte solution of a specific concentration always has to be kept so as not to be out of stock.
The raw water fed to the electrolytic water producer sometimes contains free chlorine as hypochlorite, iron rust, and turbidity. In such a case, it is a common practice to pass the raw water through a chlorine remover having a filter for rejecting chlorine of an activated carbon alone or a combination of an activated carbon, hollow fiber membranes and calcium sulfites, and afterward to feed the raw water into the electrolytic water producer. Furthermore, where the major objective is producing an electrolytic water with bactericidal activity, it is also a common practice to add chlorides such as a sodium chloride and/or potassium chloride to the raw water as electrolytes.
There are various types of such apparatus: one type employing a constant current power supply as the power supply to the electrodes in order to stabilize electrolysis; apparatus capable of switching the ranges of a current from a constant current power supply; and apparatus with a pH controller that measures the electric conductivity of an electrolytic water and feeds back the measured result to the electrolyzing power supply.
In the case of the apparatus capable of producing the electrolytic alkaline water for drinking such that the pH value does not exceed 11, the oxidation reduction potential will vary in the range from +150 mv to -250 mv and will be unstable, depending on the potential of the raw water, the gas dissolved in the raw water, the electrolytes contained in the raw water, and the quantity of water treated.
In case of the apparatus provided with the pH controller, it is possible to produce an electrolytic water with a comparably stable pH value; however, the oxidation reduction potential changes significantly, depending on differences in the raw water as in the previous case.
When chlorides are added as electrolytes, it is possible to produce an electrolytic acid water with a low pH value and a high oxidation reduction potential; however, this technique is prone to a high free dissolved chlorine concentration of more than 50-150 ppm and it has proven very difficult to reliably suppress the flee dissolved chlorine concentration to less than a specific limit.
On the other hand, the electrolytic acid water containing free chlorine has a bactericidal effect. For instance, in the treatment of atopic dermatitis with a serious secondary infection, a high chlorine concentration displays a significant effect of skin disinfection. The free dissolved chlorine concentration contained in an electrolytic acid water does not damage a healthy skin up to about 50 ppm; however, if the electrolytic acid water is repeatedly applied several times a day to a skin that is chapped or inflamed or anaphylactic, the electrolytic acid water with a chlorine concentration of more than 25 ppm reportedly causes a slight damage such as eruption owing to irritation. Therefore, the chlorine concentration should be controlled to less than 20 ppm for safety, except for use under supervision of a doctor.
Furthermore, electrolytic alkaline water coproduced with electrolytic acid water having a strong bactericidal effect will sometimes have a high pH value exceeding pH 11 and a low oxidation reduction potential of less than -800 mv. Such an electrolytic alkaline water is rich in metal ions such as sodium and potassium ions derived from electrolytes, and drinking such an electrolytic alkaline water is a danger to one's physical condition and it is very bad tasting. Accordingly, such alkaline water has been disposed as waste, although it can be used for cleaning utensils and the like.
Generally, the quantity of added electrolytes is in the range of 500.+-.200 mg/l as sodium chloride. In the case of chlorine ions as electrolytes contained in the service water as a raw water, the maximum level of chlorine ion content consistent with water quality standards is 200 mg/l (329 mg/l as NaCl). Accordingly, in the electrolyte addition type apparatus also, the quality of the raw water specially significantly influences the oxidation reduction potential and free dissolved chlorine concentration of the electrolytic water thereby produced.
In the conventional apparatus, the electrolysis is conducted in one electrolyzer; and for a raw water of constant quality, the quantity of water to be treated and the amount of current to be applied will determine a quantitative combination of a pH value, oxidation reduction potential, dissolved oxygen concentration, free dissolved chlorine concentration, electric conductivity, and the like. Consequently, it was difficult to simultaneously produce an electrolytic water with a different quantitative combination of these and also difficult to produce an electrolytic alkaline water suitable for drinking and an electrolytic acid water with a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect.
Furthermore, the conventional apparatus is designed without paying attention to the function of dissolved oxygen and, in fact, the dissolved oxygen concentration of the electrolytic water is completely disregarded.

Method for producing electrolytic water and apparatus for producing the same


In a character-information processing method, a candidate alternative having relative positional information including at least the front-and-rear relation of ink-characters and braille, which are printed and embossed, respectively, on the same sheet, is stored as one of those alternatives for setting margins capable of being set as margins of the Braille. When the candidate alternative is selected from among those alternatives for margins, the ink characters and the braille are arranged based on the relative positional information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a character-information processing method, a character-information processing apparatus, a program, and a storage medium, for printing ink characters and embossing braille on the same sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known braille label is of a type in which braille recognizable by visually-impaired people and ink characters (representing general printing characters as opposed to braille) recognizable by visually-normal people are arranged side by side or overlapped with each other with an equal spacing on the same sheet (tape) in such a way that they are recognizable by both visually-impaired and visually-normal people.
When a braille label of this type is formed, front-and-rear margins are set either in common for or separately for ink characters and braille. Thus, in the former, it is not possible to establish a desired relative positional relation between ink characters and braille by a margin setting. As a result, it is known in the latter case also that there occur nonconformities including an unbalanced arrangement of ink characters and braille, an erroneous overlapping of ink characters and braille in part or in whole, illegibility of ink characters, and deformation of ink characters attributable to the existence of braille.

Character-information processing method, character-information processing apparatus, program, and storage medium


An optometric apparatus comprises: a pair of right and left lens chamber units, each unit including a test window and optical elements to be selectively disposed in the test window; and a controller including a transmitting part which transmits a control signal in the form of an optical signal to the lens chamber units to selectively dispose the optical elements in the test window, the transmitting part being adapted to widen an extent of diffusion of luminous flux of the optical signal more greatly in a forward to upward directions than in a lateral direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optometric apparatus for subjectively examining (measuring) a refractive power of an eye of an examinee.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been known an optometric apparatus constructed to subjectively examine (measure) a refractive power (a visual acuity) of an eye of an examinee by presenting optotypes forward of the eye through an optical element such as a spherical lens and cylindrical lens placed in front of the eye. In this optometric apparatus, a plurality of lens disks, each holding various optical elements are rotatably placed in each housing of a right and left lens chamber units each having a test window. Each lens disk is rotated by a motor to selectively dispose the optical elements into the test window. Some optometric apparatuses of this type include a wireless controller which transmits a control signal in the form of an optical signal to the motor and others associated with the lens chamber units.


The invention relates to a broadband light source including an amplifying guide structure (1). The light source includes a device (45) of exciting the guide structure (1). The stimulated guide structure (1) emits light (7, 8) that accepts strong spatial coherence and weak time coherence. The light (7) is transmitted forwards (2) having a spontaneous emission spectrum. The light source also includes a rear mirror (5), reflecting only for a narrower range of wavelengths than the spontaneous emission spectrum and produces emission (E) forwards (2) with an emission spectrum controlled around an average wavelength. The rear mirror is inserted between the excitation means and the guide structure.

The invention is particularly applicable to optical fiber gyroscopes.
Several means, known per se, may be used to create broadband light sources. It is thus possible to use a fiber source doped with a rare earth, a super light emitting diode (SLED) or an edge light emitting diode (ELED). These light sources offer spatially single mode guide structures and therefore generating light with a strong spatial coherence due to an amplifier effect.
In the presence of an electrical or optical excitation, any one of these sources spontaneously emits photons in all directions. The applied excitation then entrains an amplification of the spontaneous emission in preferred directions by stimulated emission. This is called amplified spontaneous emission (ASE).
Unlike a laser, light emitted by these sources has low time coherence, in other words they are broadband sources and various means are used to preserve this property and avoid a laser effect.
Therefore one known technique is to use a fiber source 1 doped with a rare earth (particularly erbium) as an amplifying guide structure, as shown in FIG. 1. Fiber 1 with length L has a center line 10 with front end 2 and back end 3, and is symmetric about a transverse plane 4. The front end 2 and back end 3 are terminated by the front face 37 and back face 38 respectively.
A theory of the behavior of this amplifier guide structure assumed to be perfect is given below for information, in order to better identify the invention.
During operation, pump waves 6 and 9 with wavelengths .lambda.p are transmitted symmetrically towards fiber 1 by pump diodes and excite the rare earth. Once excited, the rare earth emits photons by spontaneous emission in all directions. However pump waves 6 and 9 amplify transmissions in the direction of the center line 10, thus creating two opposite preferred directions of propagation. This leads to two ASEs (Amplified Spontaneous Emissions): one 11 towards the front 2 of fiber 1 called the ASE+, and the other 12 towards the back 3 of fiber 1 called the ASE-, producing two light emissions 7 and 8 in front of and behind fiber 1.
Powers P1 and P2 are transmitted along the fiber 1 towards front 2 and towards back 3 respectively, as shown in FIG. 2, in which axis 15 defines the position along axis 10 in FIG. 1 and axis 16 gives the transmitted power.
Curve 13 shows the power P1 transmitted towards front 2. Curve 14 shows the variation of the power P2 transmitted towards back 3.
Emissions 7 and 8 obtained in outputs correspond to the two powers V3-V4 and V2-V1 respectively.
A major problem encountered in these amplification guide structures is that they have spectral instabilities of emitted light, usually due to thermal variations or the sensitivity of emitted light to excitation conditions. The instabilities may also originate from power variations of pump diodes or mode skips, for example.
It is often necessary to have precise control over the average emission wavelength .lambda..sub.m. This is particularly true when using optical fiber gyroscopes, this control being done with a precision of the order of 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-6. The stability of the average wavelength .lambda..sub.m is directly related to the stability of an essential characteristic of these gyroscopes, namely the scale factor, which must be precise.
One or several passive filters are usually used in order to successfully stabilize the emission spectrum S around a chosen average wavelength. This type of passive filter appears like a transmission window which is narrower than the emission spectrum window S. It is placed in an arbitrary position between the light source and the receiver. Its use leads to a stable emission spectrum S, and to very short wavelength fluctuations. However this passive filtering has the disadvantage of causing a severe loss of power.
EP-A-0,564,098 describes a device to create optical noise with a predetermined band width. This device comprises an optical amplifier producing an optical noise not polarized by spontaneous emission, a mirror reflecting optical noise towards the optical amplifier and a filter eliminating the optical noise components outside a predetermined band width.
EP-A-0,524,558 describes a super light emitting optical source. This source comprises an optical fiber doped with a rare earth, fiber pumping means to create a spontaneous emission, means selectively reflecting light on a given band width and optical coupling means at one end of the fiber with the reflecting means.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,686 concerns an optical system with a reflecting network. This optical system comprises a circulator, the first gate of which is coupled to an optical amplifier, a second gate to a Bragg network selectively reflecting the amplified signal over a given band width, and a third gate to an output line.

Light source with stabilized broadband and associated optical fiber gyroscope


A gas-assisted injection molding article suitable for plating and a method for plating the article is disclosed. A sleeve is selectively mounted on an upstanding gas injection stud formed on the molded article. The sleeve seals an aperture which extends through the sidewall of the gas injection stud to the hollow interior of the molded article. The sleeve is preferably formed of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic. After the sleeve has been mounted to the article, the sleeve is subjected to a source of heat such that it retracts and is securely mounted to the gas injection stud. With the aperture sealed, the article can now be submerged in a suitable plating bath or other liquid medium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coating of gas-assisted injection molded articles and, more particularly, to a gas-assisted injection molded article suitable for plating and to a plating process for a gas-assisted injection molded article.
2. Description of Related Art
Plastic molded articles have been produced by a process known as gas-assisted injection molding. In this process, molten thermoplastic material is forced from an injection molding machine through a sprue to a plastic flow channel or runner and ultimately into the mold cavity of a mold. A gas injection nozzle is mounted in the plastic flow channel or the mold cavity to inject pressurized fluid or gas into the flow of molten thermoplastic material. The pressurized gas forces the flow of molten thermoplastic material to the far reaches of the mold cavity and results in the creation of an article which is at least hollow in part.
In producing gas-assisted molded articles such as automobile molded trim articles, a gas injection stud extends perpendicular to the main body of the molded article and provides the flow path between the plastic flow channel and the mold cavity. When the molded article is removed from the mold cavity, the gas injection stud extends outwardly from the hollow molded article. The gas injection stud is hollow and is in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the molded article. In addition, the gas injection stud has formed in the sidewall thereof an aperture through which pressurized gas is conveyed to the interior of the article during the molding process. The trim pieces are plated which requires immersion in a plating bath and a rinse bath. If the gas injection stud aperture is not plugged prior to submersion, the liquid plating solution would enter the hollow interior of the molded article through the hollow stud and the aperture formed in the stud. The plating solution within the article can leak from the article during subsequent operations and contaminate rinse baths or even corrode the painted surface of the vehicle to which the trim piece is mounted. Therefore, it is desirable to seal the aperture in the stud prior to any plating or painting operations to which the molded articles are subjected. After the molded article has been painted or plated, then the stud can be broken off and discarded.
One solution to the problem of sealing the gas injection stud has been to frictionally mount a plastic cap on the end of the stud. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for these caps to fall off or be inadvertently removed during handling prior to the plating operation. Therefore, these caps have proved to be an inadequate solution to the problem of sealing the gas injection stud aperture during plating and painting operations.

Method for making a coated gas-assisted injection molded article


Provided is an eddy current inspection device, an eddy current inspection probe and an eddy current inspection method that make it possible to detect defects existing in deeper parts of test objects. Three or more odd number of excitation coils are arranged at even intervals in a circumferential direction on a postulated circumference. Excitation currents applied to the excitation coils are controlled so that the phase difference between excitation currents applied to adjacent ones of the excitation coils arranged in the circumferential direction on the postulated circumference equals one cycle divided by the number of excitation coils. A magnetic field generated according to an eddy current occurring in the test object due to a magnetic field caused by the application of the excitation currents to the excitation coils is detected by use of a detector arranged on a postulated plane containing the postulated circumference but inside the postulated circumference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an eddy current inspection device, an eddy current inspection probe and an eddy current inspection method for detecting a characteristic change of an inspection target (test object) such as a flaw or a change in material quality occurring on the surface or inside of the inspection target.
2. Description of the Related Art
The eddy current inspection method involves detecting a characteristic change such as a flaw or a change in material quality (hereinafter referred to as a "defect") occurring on the surface or inside of the test object by measuring a change in an eddy current caused in the test object by time-varying magnetic fluxes. The time-varying magnetic fluxes are generated by use of an excitation coil placed in the vicinity of the surface of the test object by applying time-varying electric current (excitation current) to the excitation coil.
Conventional techniques employing the eddy current inspection method include, for example, a technique disclosed in JP-05-99901-A in regard to an eddy current inspection device. The eddy current inspection device according to JP-05-99901-A comprises a plurality of excitation coils, rotational magnetic field generating means, a plurality of detection coils, and flaw detection means. The excitation coils are attached to a magnetic core and arranged at fixed angular intervals for the purpose of detecting the presence/absence of a defect and the direction of each defect in a flat metal plate, etc. The rotational magnetic field generating means magnetically excites the excitation coils with a signal generated by amplitude modulation by use of AC voltage and thereby applies a rotational magnetic field to the test object. The detection coils are arranged on the magnetic core corresponding to the excitation coils in order to detect a magnetic field generated from the test object according to an eddy current occurring in the test object. The flaw detection means detects defects existing in the test object based on output signals from the detection coils.

Eddy current inspection device, eddy current inspection probe, and eddy current inspection method


This invention provides an image printing method and apparatus which accurately correct the read timing of a sensor system used to correct the position of a toner image in the correction operation mode, and accurately corrects the magnification of an image in the vertical direction in the print operation mode. An image printing apparatus according to the invention includes an image printing unit which prints a toner image on an intermediate transfer belt, and a control unit which controls the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt by detecting a toner image printing on the intermediate transfer belt by the image printing unit. When the correction operation mode is selected, the control unit executes feedback control on the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt on the basis of vertical magnification adjustment value data. When the print operation mode is selected, the control unit executes feedback control on the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt on the basis of vertical magnification adjustment value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image printing method and apparatus which can be suitably applied to a color digital copying machine, multifunction apparatus, and the like which print a color image based on color image information and output it.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, a color image printing apparatus has been put into practice, which is designed to print a color image on the basis of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) image data acquired from a colored original image or receive image data from a printer controller (external apparatus) such as a server or personal computer (to be simply referred to as a PC hereinafter) to print a color image on the basis of the image data. A color image printing apparatus of this type is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-72771 (see pp. 14–25 and FIG. 5 of this reference).
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a conventional color image printing apparatus 200. The color image printing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 1 has a control unit 15. A color registration sensor 11, density (to be referred to as Dmax hereinafter) sensor 12, timer unit 13, counter unit 16, image printing unit 18′, and nonvolatile memory 36 are connected to the control unit 15. The image printing unit 18′ has an intermediate transfer belt 6 and convey driving unit 28. When a yellow (to be referred to as Y hereinafter) image printing unit is to be formed, the image printing unit 18′ includes a photosensitive drum 1Y, charging unit 2Y, exposure unit 3Y, developing unit 4Y, and the like for Y. Although not shown, this apparatus also includes magenta (to be simply referred to as M hereinafter), cyan (to be simply referred to as C hereinafter), and black (to be simply referred to as BK hereinafter) image printing units. The convey driving unit 28 drives the intermediate transfer belt 6 and photosensitive drum 1Y on the basis of a convey driving signal S4′. The convey driving signal S4′ is, for example, a signal which is corrected by a signal for adjusting the magnification of an image in the vertical direction. This signal is output from the control unit 15 to the convey driving unit 28.
In the image printing unit 18′, when the photosensitive drum 1Y is charged by the charging unit 2Y, the exposure unit 3Y irradiates the photosensitive drum 1Y with a laser beam having a predetermined intensity based on image printing data DOUT. As a result of this write processing, an electrostatic latent image is printed on the photosensitive drum 1Y. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 4Y with Y toner. The Y image developed with this Y toner is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6. Toner images of the respective colors are superposed into a color image on the intermediate transfer belt 6. The color image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 6 onto a paper sheet (not shown). This image is then fixed by the fixing unit (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-72771).
FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing an example (first example) of vertical magnification adjustment for a toner image in the color image printing apparatus 200. In the correction image patterns shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the "+" symbols constitute a pattern for detecting the reduction of an image in the vertical direction (the sub-scanning direction in image printing). In this example, the "+" symbols are arranged in quincunxes.
A length L between the "+" symbols of a correction image pattern P1 shown in FIG. 2A which is expected by the control system should be equal to a length between the "+" symbols of a correction image pattern P2 shown in FIG. 2B which is actually printed on a paper sheet by the image printing system. However, image reduction occurs depending on the type or size of paper sheet. For example, in some case, a length L2 between the "+" symbols of the correction image pattern P2 actually printed on a paper sheet by the image printing system becomes larger than a length L1 between the "+" symbols of the correction image pattern P1 expected by the control system (L2>L1). For this reason, the vertical magnification of a toner image must be adjusted in accordance with the type or size of paper sheet.
Each of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2002-258680 (see p. 3 and FIG. 2) and 06-289681 (see p. 2 and FIG. 2) discloses an image printing apparatus having a photosensitive drum changing function.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing another example (second example) vertical magnification adjustment for a toner image in the color image printing apparatus 200 of this type. The elliptic hatched portions of an image print example P21 shown in FIG. 3A are a toner image printed on the intermediate transfer belt 6. In this example, three elliptic hatched portions are printed side by side in the direction (sub-scanning direction) in which the intermediate transfer belt 6 moves. In an image print example P22 shown in FIG. 3B, the circular hatched portions are obtained by transferring the toner image constituted by the elliptic hatched portions printed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 onto a paper sheet having a predetermined paper quality and size, and fixing the image. The image shown in FIG. 3B is a target image constituted by circular hatched portions.
When an image constituted by circular hatched portions is to be obtained on a paper sheet having a predetermined paper quality and size, the intermediate transfer belt 6 is controlled to increase its rotational speed on the basis of a vertical magnification adjustment value obtained in advance. With this operation, as shown in FIG. 3A, elliptic hatched portions are printed with respect to circular hatched portions expected by the control system. This makes it possible to adjust a reduction difference A between the image print example P21 and the image print example P22. In general, as the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt 6 is increased, an image is enlarged, and vice versa (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2002-258680 and 06-289681).
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the conventional color image printing apparatus 200. According to the color image printing apparatus 200, a correction operation mode and print operation mode are prepared in advance. In the correction operation mode, a toner image is printed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 to correct the image printing system. In the print operation mode, the image printing system is operated to print an image on a paper sheet.
In the conventional color image printing apparatus 200, in step B1 in the flow chart shown in FIG. 4, control information is input (output) to the control unit 15. This control information is used to determine the necessity of the correction operation mode, and includes operating time data D7 and image printing count data D8 of the image printing unit 18′. The flow then advances to step B2, in which the control unit 15 outputs the convey driving signal S4′ to the convey driving unit 28 to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 6, the photosensitive drum 1Y, registration rollers 23, a fixing roller, and the like at rotational speeds set in consideration of a vertical magnification adjustment value.
In step B3, the control unit 15 checks whether the correction operation mode or the print operation mode is selected. In this case, the control unit 15 reads out a control target value DR from the nonvolatile memory 36, and compares the operating time data D7 obtained from the timer unit 13 with the control target value DR.
If the comparison result indicates that the operating time of the image printing unit 18′ exceeds the control target value DR, the correction operation mode is selected. The flow then advances to step B4 to execute correction operation. In the correction operation mode, the control unit 15 corrects a color registration positional shift, corrects the read timing of the Dmax sensor 12, or measures the density of a correction image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 using the Dmax sensor 12 after correction. On the basis of this measurement result, for example, the control unit 15 corrects the amount of charging by the charging unit 2Y for the Y image printing system or the laser power (Y laser) in the exposure unit 3Y. The flow then advances to step B7. Similar corrections are made for the remaining M, C, and BK image printing systems.
If the print operation mode is selected in step B3, the flow advances to step B5, in which the control unit 15 executes the print operation mode. In the image printing unit 18′, when the photosensitive drum 1Y is charged by the charging unit 2Y, the exposure unit 3Y irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 1Y with a laser beam having a predetermined intensity based on image printing data. As a result of this write processing, an electrostatic latent image is printed on the photosensitive drum 1Y. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 4Y with Y toner. The Y image developed with this Y toner is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6. Toner images of the respective colors are superposed into a color image on the intermediate transfer belt 6. The color image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 6 onto a paper sheet.
The flow then advances to step B6 to check whether or not there is a next print to be made, in the print operation mode. In the correction mode, it is checked whether or not there is another correction image to be printed. If there is a next print to be made or another correction operation to be performed, the flow returns to step B3 to repeat the above processing. If it is determined in step B6 that there is no next print to be made or another correction operation to be performed, the flow advances to step B7 to execute termination processing. In this termination processing, the apparatus enters the standby state after the lapse of a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the image printing control is terminated upon detection of power-off information.
According to the conventional color image printing apparatus 200, after the control unit 15 rotates the intermediate transfer belt 6, photosensitive drum 1Y, registration rollers 23, fixing roller, and the like at rotational speeds set in consideration of a vertical magnification adjustment value in step B2 in FIG. 4, it is checked in step B3 whether the correction operation mode or print operation mode is selected by the control unit 15. Therefore, the following problems arise.
In the image correction operation mode as well, in which no image is actually printed on a paper sheet, since the intermediate transfer belt 6 and photosensitive drum 1Y are rotated in accordance with a vertical magnification adjustment value set in consideration of a predetermined paper quality and size, a toner image (correction image) which is made larger than the image to be actually printed on a paper sheet in consideration of image reduction is printed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 every time.
Consequently, a correction image such as a patch image becomes undesirably large in the correction operation mode, and the consumption of toner becomes always larger to the extent that the correction image becomes larger.
In addition, since a correction image is formed larger in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer belt 6 than in the transverse direction, it takes a longer time for the correction image to pass under each sensor. This may hinder attempts to speed up the read timing correction processing of the Dmax sensor 12. This therefore may cause a deterioration in the correction precision of the read timing of the sensor system or hinder attempts to increase the precision in correcting the magnification of an image in the vertical direction.


A method of assembling a catalytic converter comprising the steps of: (1) providing a metal shell exhibiting a predetermined shape that substantially matches the shape of the ceramic substrate; (2) inserting into the metal shell a sufficient amount of a resilient supporting mat material to form a encircling mat layer; (3) compressing the encircling mat layer to an initial gap bulk density, the initial gap bulk density being higher than the final gap bulk density; (4) releasing the compression on the mat layer and prior to the mat layer reaching its final gap bulk density, inserting at least a portion of the substrate into the encircling mat layered metal shell and then allowing the mat layer to further release until the mat layer is compressed against the ceramic substrate at the final predetermined gap bulk density.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the production of catalytic converters for purifying exhaust gases, and more particularly to a method for producing the catalytic converter comprising pre-forming the metal shell and compressing the supporting mat material against the metal shell.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, the purification of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, particularly in motor vehicles, is generally achieved by an exhaust gas purification system in which a ceramic element having a honeycomb cell structure acts a catalyst carrier. More precisely, this honeycomb cell structure is covered with a catalyst that contains a precious metal which functions, in the presence of O2, to convert noxious components of the exhaust gas, such as HC and CO, to H2O and CO2. The honeycomb cell structure is housed within a gas-tight, sheet metal or cast-metal heat resistant housing or can/shell.
Honeycomb structures currently employed are typically comprised of a ceramic material such as cordierite; a brittle material exhibiting limited mechanical strength. For this reason, catalytic converters in use today, typically include a resilient supporting mat that is wrapped around the periphery of the honeycomb. This resilient material, which distributes any compressive forces uniformly on the ceramic, typically expands as the temperature increases. This being the case, the compressive supporting pressure on the honeycomb therefore increases at elevated temperatures, and in some degree compensates for the thermal expansion of the outer metal shell. Since the metal shell expands more than the enclosed ceramic honeycomb, this mat expansion with temperature rise, prevents the honeycomb from becoming loose in the shell.
There are known in the art various techniques for assembling the mat and ceramic monolith into a can to make catalytic converters as described above. In general, the existing techniques can be divided into two groups: (1) those processes where preliminarily established gap, between the ceramic monolith and the metal shell is maintained during assembly (e.g., Stuff mounting or Clam Shell techniques); (2) those processes where a predetermined pressure, between the metal shell and the ceramic monolith is maintained during assembly (e.g., Shoe-box and Tourniquet techniques).
Stuff mounting techniques involve initially wrapping the substrate in a resilient mat and thereafter inserting the wrapped substrate into a conical device that compresses the mat as it is pushed through. The wrapped substrate is then ejected from the compression cone into a cylindrical tube that serves as the converter container or shell (see, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,423 (Neumann).
Clam shell style of canning involves the utilization of two metal shell halves which are closed around a mat-wrapped honeycomb and thereafter welded together; (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,724 (Bos).
The method of fabrication, commonly referred to as the xe2x80x9ctourniquet wrapxe2x80x9d method, involves forming a rectangular flat sheet metal piece into a cylindrical body having a lap joint. A mat-wrapped honeycomb is loosely inserted into the cylindrical metal can and the combined assembly is pulled together to form the desired mat compression. Thereafter, the lap joint is welded together thereby holding the can at the desired compression while at the same time preventing gas leakage; see for Example U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,479 (Miller).
It is known that the amount of compressive pressure exerted on a given honeycomb substrate as a result of compressively closing the metal shell and supporting mat around the honeycomb substrate, as is done in any of the prior art methods described above, is significantly affected by the honeycomb""s outside diameter, the thickness and compliance of the supporting mat material and the metal shell dimensions. Each of these dimensions have manufacturing tolerances which must be carefully controlled to insure that adequate, but not excessive, radial pressure, is applied to the honeycomb substrate. The prior art methods of assembling catalytic converters discussed above all involve subjecting the ceramic substrate to uneven and indirect compressive forces during the assembly, as a result of the exertion of compression on the metal shell or compression of the aforementioned conical device. The compression on the metal shell can result in damage to the substrate from the crushing forces applied, with the risk of damage increasing in the case of advanced substrates having extremely thin cell walls and surrounding skin.
Other disadvantages of these prior art techniques include resultant gap variations, instantaneous pressure peaks due to high closure rate, non-uniform pressure distribution, especially with non-round monolith. Because the mat is a viscoelastic material at room temperature, the compression pressure is rate dependent, e.g., the faster it is compressed, the higher the pressure and thus the higher the resultant undesirable pressure peaks that the ceramic monolith is subjected to. Again this disadvantage becomes more problematic as the substrates produced and utilized exhibit thinner cell walls.
As such, there remains a need for, and it is thus an objective of this invention to provide, for a simpler, less labor-intensive, more efficient catalytic converter assembly process that achieves both a uniform mat density and a uniform compression on the ceramic substrate; particularly in a manner such that the maximum compression exerted at any time on the ceramic substrate does cause damage to the substrate. In particular, it is an objective of the instant invention, to disclose a method that avoids subjecting the ceramic monolith to undesirable pressure peaks that lead to high stresses in the brittle ceramic monoliths.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to disclose an assembly method that overcomes the problems and shortcomings of the current compressive closing methods for assembling catalytic converters. In other words, the present invention discloses a method of assembling catalytic converters which achieves a compressive load upon the honeycomb structure which is sufficient to retain, but not damage the retained honeycomb substrate, and which is not subject to pressure peaks experienced by the prior art assembly methods.
This objective, as well as other objectives which will become apparent in the discussion that follows, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention as a result of the feature that the initial compression of the supporting mat is a result of the mat being compressed against metal shell; i.e., internal compression of the xe2x80x9cmat against the shellxe2x80x9d. This is contrary to the compression in the prior art methods that involve the initial compression being external of the supporting mat and resulting in the metal shell compressing the supporting mat against the ceramic substrate, i.e., xe2x80x9cmetal shell and/or mat against the substratexe2x80x9d. In other words, the instant assembly method comprises providing an encircled mat layered metal shell and compressing of the mat layer against the metal shell and subsequently releasing the compression of the supporting mat thereby subjecting the ceramic substrate to the far less intensive release compression of the supporting mat.
In general, the method of assembling these catalytic converters comprises the following steps: (1) providing an open-ended one piece metal shell; (2) positioning a layer of resilient mat material on the inside surface of the metal shell to form an encircling mat layer; (3) compressing the encircling mat layer; and, (4) inserting the ceramic substrate into the metal shell while retaining the encircling mat layer on the inside surface of the metal shell.
In a more detailed embodiment the method of assembling these catalytic converters comprises the following basic steps: (1) providing a metal shell exhibiting a predetermined shape that substantially matches the shape of the ceramic substrate; (2) inserting into the metal shell a sufficient amount of a resilient supporting mat material to form an encircling mat layer; (3) compressing the encircling mat layer to an initial gap bulk density, the initial gap bulk density being equal to or higher than a predetermined final gap bulk density; (4) releasing the compression on the mat layer and, prior to the mat layer reaching its final gap bulk density, inserting at least a portion of the substrate into the encircling mat layered metal shell and then allowing the mat layer to further release until the mat layer is compressed against the ceramic substrate at the final predetermined gap bulk density.

Method of assembling a catalytic converter for use in an internal combustion engine


L-Lysine is produced by culturing a methanol-utilizing bacterium which requires L-methionine for its growth and has an ability to produce L-lysine in a medium containing methanol as a main carbon source to produce and accumulate L-lysine in culture and collecting the L-lysine from the culture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique useful in the microbial industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing L-lysine by fermentation.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
L-Lysine is produced by fermentation using microorganisms that belong to the genus Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia or the like (see "Amino Acid Fermentation", Ed. By H. Aida et al., the Japan Scientific Societies Press [Gakkai Shuppan Center], 1st Edition, published on May 30, 1986). Bacterial strains isolated from nature or mutant strains thereof auxotrophic in nutrients have been used to improve the production in these microorganisms. Furthermore, various techniques have been disclosed for increasing the L-lysine-producing ability using recombinant DNA techniques to enhance L-lysine biosynthetic enzymes (WO95/16042).
Productivity of L-lysine has been considerably increased by breeding of microorganisms such as those mentioned above as well as improvements of production methods. However, in order to respond to the increase in future demands, the development of a method which provides more efficient production of L-lysine at a lower cost is clearly necessary, and therefore, still represents a need in the art.
Methanol is a fermentation raw material which is available in large amounts at a low cost. Methods for producing L-amino acids by fermentation using methanol are known, and include methods using microorganisms that belong to the genus Achromobacter or Pseudomonas (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 45-25273), Protaminobacter (Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 49-125590), Protaminobacter or Methanomonas (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 50-25790), Microcyclus (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 52-18886), Methylobacillus (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 4-91793), Bacillus (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 3-505284), Methylophilus (WO00/61723) and so forth.
Furthermore, for strict methanol-utilizing bacteria, especially Methylophilus bacteria, it has been reported that it is difficult to obtain auxotrophic mutants by the usual methods ((1983), vol. 129, pp. 785–799; M. L. O'Connor and R. S. Hanson, Journal of General Microbiology (1978), vol. 104, pp. 105–111). Therefore, when attempts were made to obtain a glutamine auxotrophic strain, for example, only a strain having temperature-sensitive auxotrophy could be obtained (Windass J. D. et al., Nature, 287, pp. 396–401 (1980)). Even when a special procedure, for example, suspending cells of a bacterial strain in a solution containing a mutagenesis agent for DNA and applying a voltage to the cells to forcibly make holes in the cell membranes and thereby flow the mutagenesis agent into the cells (electroporation) was used, only three kinds of mutant strains, i.e., a folic acid auxotrophic strain, a strain polyauxotrophic in serine and alanine, and a strain polyauxotrophic in glutamic acid and inositol, could be obtained (C. S. Kim and T. K. Wood, Applied Microbiol. & Biotechnology, 48, pp. 105–108 (1997)).
In addition, WO00/61723 also described that Methylophilus methylotrophus was subjected to mutagenesis treatment using a chemical mutagenesis agent to obtain a leaky casamino acid auxotrophic strain, and that strain produced valine, leucine and isoleucine. However, judging from the characteristics of the mutant strain, it appears that the strain became a leaky casamino acid auxotrophic strain because the change in cell membranes allowed various amino acids in the medium to permeate the cells.

Method for producing L-lysine using methanol-utilizing bacterium


An apparatus for locating magnetizable material (5, 6) within a structure (4) includes a scanning head (1) with a permanent magnet (28) for producing a magnetic field in the structure (4). Two field plates (30, 31), adjacent one another on only one pole face of the permanent magnet (28), are interconnected by a differential circuit and measure the magnetic field of the magnet disturbed by the magnetizable material (5, 6). The differential values measured by the pair of field plates form a differential measured signal for establishing, after differentiation, the location of the magnetizable material (5, 6) within the structure (4). The location of the magnetizable material (5, 6) within the structure can be shown on a monitor (7) of an evaluation unit (3).

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for locating magnetizable material in a structure and includes a scanning head containing a magnet for producing a magnetic field in the structure with the magnet having a first pole and a second pole. At least two magnetic field sensors are secured in the region of the magnetic poles for measuring the magnetic field disturbed by the magnetizable material. An evaluation unit is connected to the sensors for locating the magnetizable material by signals received from the sensors.
Such apparatus is known from the Andreas Schaab, et al. publication "Die zerstorungsfreie Prufung der Betondeckung der Bewehrung" (the non-destructive testing of concrete covering reinforcement) in Beton- und Stahlbetonbau (1989), pages 275-279 and 324-327. This known apparatus includes a scanning head or pickup with a permanent magnet for inducing a magnetic field in the structure and two magnetic field sensors fastened to the permanent magnet in the region of its poles for measuring the magnetic field disturbed by the magnetizable material. The permanent magnet is formed as a bar magnet and has one of the magnetic field sensors at each of the two pole regions at opposite ends of the magnet. An evaluation unit locates the magnetizable material by means of the measured signals received from the magnetic field sensors. The permanent magnet is placed with one of its end faces on the structure, such as a concrete member, and its magnetic flux changes as it approaches a reinforcing rod within the concrete member. To be more precise, on approach of the scanning pickup to a reinforcing rod located within the concrete member, the magnetic flux in the magnetic field located between the bar magnet and the structural member increases. This magnetic flux is checked by the sensors and is evaluated by a measurement amplifier and indicates the concrete covering the reinforcing rod.

Apparatus for determining location of an element of magnetizable material in a construction structure


A sealing and restraining gasket for preventing separation of a pipe joint used to join a bell end of a female pipe to the male end of a mating pipe. The gasket is formed from a compressible body of elastomeric material and carries a rigid ring with gripping teeth for engaging an outer surface of the mating male pipe. The ring has a gap at one location. The gripping teeth of the rigid ring are oriented so as to be out of contact with and initially angled away from the outer surface of the male plastic pipe. The teeth are forced into engagement with the exterior surface of the male pipe as the pipe joint is assembled and the gap in the ring is partly closed. The teeth are oriented to allow movement of the male pipe in a first direction relative to the female bell end opening during assembly, but to resist movement in a opposite direction after the pipe joint has been assembled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of pipe connections and to devices used in the pipeline construction industry. More particularly, this invention relates to devices used to join the ends of pipe in which a self-restraining pressure gasket is employed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pipes are commonly used for the conveyance of fluids under pressure, as in city water lines. They may also be used as free-flowing conduits running partly full, as in drains and sewers. Pipes for conveying water in appreciable quantities have been made of steel, cast iron, concrete, vitrified clay, and most recently, plastic including the various polyolefins and PVC.
In many applications where pipes are joined in telescoping relationship, the spigot end of one pipe is inserted into the socket end of the engaging pipe. The socket end has an opening large enough to receive the spigot end of the mating pipe. Often times, the materials being transported are fluid or gaseous in nature, and, particularly in those circumstances, it is desired that the pipeline be impervious to leaks. In order to accomplish that goal, and to achieve other objectives which will be herein described, those skilled in the business of pipe and pipeline construction are constantly in search of improved means for securing the joints formed by connecting the ends of pipe together. There are numerous methods currently in use by those in the pipe and pipeline construction industry to obtain a secure joint. These methods employ different types of components and also can be distinguished by the various ways in which such components are employed. The selection of these different methods will usually depend on the overall design requirements of the pipeline. In any event, a gasket is typically present within the socket end of the pipe which is intended to prevent leakage of fluid from the joint by forming a seal between the two pipe sections. This method is commonly used in plastic pipelines.
In addition to the necessity of providing an effective seal at the pipe joint, another important design requirement exists when it becomes necessary to join the pipe components in a restrained manner. This is usually desired in order to prevent the pipe components from separating due to thrust forces that often occur when the pipeline is subjected to internal pressure, and sometimes, when earth tremors or other external factors come into play.
In the case of iron pipelines, the devices for joining pipe have included the use of flanged fittings which are of appropriate diameter and which are fitted onto pipe ends in facing relationship to one another. A gasket or "gland" is usually employed between the faces of the flanged fittings to obtain a sealed joint. The flanged fittings are typically secured by bolting the flanged fittings together. In the case of iron pipe, set screws are sometimes inserted radially through the collar of the flange into the exterior surface of the pipe ends in order to secure the flanged fitting to the pipe ends.
One commercial sealing system which is known in the iron pipe industry and which utilizes a gland and flanged fittings is referred to as a "mechanical joint" or simply as an "MJ". The bell end of an iron pipe section has a flanged portion cast on it and receives the elastomeric gasket or gland. The spigot end of a second iron pipe is fitted with a slidable gland fitting. The gland fitting has a plurality of apertures for receiving standard bolts. The joint is formed when the spigot is axially inserted into the bell, and the gland fitting and the flanged portion are bolted together, causing the lip of the gland fitting to compress the elastomeric gasket or gland, thus sealing the two pipe pieces. The elastomeric gasket or gland had no teeth, gripping or self-restraining feature.
Additionally, no exact counterpart to the iron pipe mechanical joint (MJ) presently exists in the marketplace for joining the bell end of an iron pipe section or fitting to the spigot end of a plastic pipe. Such joints are increasingly commonplace as plastic pipe components are used to replace or rehabilitate existing iron pipelines.
It is a generally required practice during installation of plastic pipelines, in, for example, municipal installations, that the pipejoints be restrained to accommodate varying pressures. There are various types of connections which are commercially available and which are used in the waterworks industry for restraining plastic pipelines. Each of these traditional restraining mechanisms adds considerable cost to the pipe installation as well as adding the possibility of human error depending on the specific conditions and applications. Most current restraining systems for plastic pipe systems offered in the industry require a substantial amount of labor to install. Under most installation conditions, the restraining systems are cumbersome to install and represent a substantial additional effort for the contractor. These type systems are not intended to be used with iron pipes having a flanged bell and an associated gland and slidable gland fitting of the MJ type design.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,319, issued Dec. 3, 2002, to Jones, shows a method and apparatus for restraining plastic pipe against internal forces at a connection and to join and seal at least two pipes to form a pipeline where the pipes in question are plastic pipes as opposed to iron pipes. A self-restrained pressure gasket is utilized as a part of the design. The gasket has a continuous rigid ring formed as an integral part of the gasket. The rigid ring which forms the restraining mechanism has rows of teeth of varying lengths that, when assembled, engage at various points around the circumference of a mating pipe. The teeth adjust to the tolerances allowed in pipe manufacturing without losing gripping capacity.
Although the Jones patent represented an advance in the art, it was not intended to represent a mechanical joint for plastic pipe in the same way that the MJ designs have been used in the industry for iron pipe in the past. In other words, the female pipe end in the Jones patent was a typical belled plastic pipe end. There was no flanged cast portion on the female bell pipe end and no slidable gland fitting on the male, spigot pipe end in the sense of the traditional MJ design.
Accordingly, a needs continues to exist for improved self-restraining and sealing systems for pipelines utilizing iron and plastic components which system offer the advantages of a mechanical joint type sealing system.
A need also exists for such a system which is cost-effective, easy to manufacture and easy to use in the field and which is extremely dependable in operation.
A need also exists for such a system which effectively restrains fluid conveying pipes against internal and external forces at a pipe or fitting connection and which effectively joins and seals at least two pipes to form a pipeline.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A copper base alloy for terminals that is superior in all aspects of tensile strength, spring limits, conductivity, and stress relaxation characteristics can be produced by a process repeating the cycles consisting of hot-rolling, cold-rolling and annealing, in which process an ingot is prepared by melting and casting an alloy containing 1.0-3.0 wt % Ni, 0.02-0.15 wt % P. 0.5-2.0 wt. % Sn and, as an optional component, 0.01-2.0 wt % Zn, with the balance being Cu and incidental impurities, and with the ratio of weight percentages of Ni to P being within the range of 10-50%.

This invention relates to a process for producing copper base alloys and terminals that are made of those copper base alloys for use in automobiles and other applications.
Copper base alloys for use in terminals in automobiles and other applications have conventionally been selected from among brass, phosphor bronze and other copper base alloys such as Cu-Sn-Fe-P systems.
In response to the recent advances in electronics technology, connector terminals for use in automobiles and other applications have increasingly been required to satisfy the need for higher packing density, smaller scale, lighter weight and higher reliability. On the other hand, the constant improvement in the engine performance has led to a higher temperature in the engine room. Under these circumstances, there has arisen the need that the copper base alloys for terminals that are used as conductive materials on the engine should have even higher reliability and heat resistance. However, brass that has heretofore been used as an inexpensive copper base alloy for terminals has low electrical conductivity (to take C2600 as an example, its electrical conductivity is 27% IACS); it also has problems with corrosion resistance and stress relaxation characteristics. Further, phosphor bronze has high strength but its electrical conductivity (hereunder simply referred to as "conductivity") is also low (to take C5210 as an example, its conductivity is ca. 12% IACS); in addition, it has problems with stress relaxation characteristic and from an economic viewpoint (high price). Cu-Sn-Fe-P alloys have been developed with a view to solving those problems of brass and phosphor bronze. For example, Cu-2.0Sn-0.1Fe-0.03P has a conductivity of 35% IACS and is superior in strength; however, its stress relaxation characteristic has not been completely satisfactory in view of its use as an alloy for terminals.
For manufacturing highly reliable automotive terminals, it is necessary to use copper base alloys that are superior in strength spring limits and conductivity and that will cause neither stress relaxation nor corrosion after prolonged use. However, none of the conventional copper base alloys, i.e., brass, phosphor bronze and Cu-Sn-Fe-P alloys, have satisfied those requirements.
A further problem is that the terminals manufactured from the aforementioned copper base alloys reflect the characteristics of those alloys in a straightforward manner. The terminals using brass, phosphor bronze or Cu-Sn-Fe-P alloys do not satisfy the requirements for high conductivity and good stress relaxation characteristics simultaneously, so they will generate heat by themselves, potentially causing various problems including oxidation, plate separation, stress relaxation, circuit voltage drop, and the softening or deformation of the housing.

Process for production of copper base alloys and terminals using the same


A support apparatus for suspending a monitor has a mounting seat, a support arm assembly, an adjusting assembly and a connecting assembly. The support arm assembly is connected pivotally to the mounting seat and has two first support arms and two second support arms. The first support arms are connected to the mounting seat, and the second support arms are connected respectively to the first support arms. The adjusting assembly is connected rotatably to the support arm assembly and has a mounting bracket and an adjusting bracket. The mounting bracket is connected to the second support arms. The adjusting bracket is connected pivotally to the mounting bracket. The connecting assembly is connected detachably to the adjusting assembly, is connected with the monitor and has a connecting frame and two hanging beams. The connecting frame is connected to the adjusting bracket. The hanging beams are connected detachably to the connecting frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support apparatus, and more particularly relates to a support apparatus for suspending a monitor and that can adjust the angular position of the monitor.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional support apparatus for a monitor having a back, and the conventional support apparatus has a mounting seat and a connecting seat. The mounting seat is mounted securely on a wall or a table. The connecting seat is connected pivotally to the mounting seat and to the back of the monitor.
However, the conventional support apparatus has the following shortcomings.
1. When the connecting seat is moved to change the orientation of the monitor, users need tools to loosen and fasten bolts in the conventional support apparatus to adjust the orientation of the monitor. Therefore, to adjust the orientation of the monitor of the conventional support apparatus is inconvenient and time-consuming.
2. Furthermore, the conventional support apparatus usually has only a single adjusting angle to the orientation of the monitor, and cannot be freely adjusted in the orientation based on needs of the user.
Therefore, the present invention provides a support apparatus to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A contemplated method includes: utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of: receiving, from an application installed on the information handling device, a request to access a service provided by a service provider; providing, to the application, access to the requested service; and receiving, from the application, payment for provided access to the requested service, wherein information is received from the information handling device as a credit for at least a portion of the payment; the information being received via: sending, to the application, a context information request, wherein the context information request comprises a request for context information associated with the information handling device; sending, to the application, a request for information, wherein the request comprises at least one suggestion for information to be provided by the information handling device and wherein the at least one suggestion for information is based on received context information; and receiving, from the application, the information. Other aspects are described and claimed.

In receiving payment for services (e.g., use of applications, use of networks, etc.) provided by a service provider, a service provider may use a variety of service payment models. The service provider may use the service payment model which best fits with the services provided by the service provider. For example, one type of service payment model is a prepaid payment model in which a user pays a single amount for use of a service for a specified time frame (e.g., days, months, etc.). An example of an application which may use a prepaid payment model is a cellular phone service provider. The cellular service provider may bill the user for use of a service for the upcoming month.
Another type of service payment model is a postpaid payment model in which a user uses a service and then receives a bill for the time period or amount of the service used. An example of an application which may use a postpaid payment model is a utility service provider. The utility service provider may bill a user for use of a service for the month preceding the bill. An additional type of service payment model is a micropayment model in which a user pays a very small amount for one or a few service requests and then receives access to the service. An example of an application which may use a micropayment model is an application provider. When a user wants to use the application, the service provider may bill the user for a specified number of uses of the service. After paying the bill the user may gain access to the service.

Payment for a service utilizing information

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


There are various mobile communication standards such as GSM, EDGE, and W-CDMA. For a GSM or EDGE system, a receiver must be configured to work with an IF signal with a center frequency and bandwidth of 200 KHz. For WCDMA system, the same receiver must be configured to work with an IF signal with a center frequency of 600 KHz to 1000 KHz and band width of 2000 KHz. Accordingly, a configurable frequency IF filter with the capability to operate with multiple standards is provided.

Today many radio frequency (RF) receivers are super heterodyne receivers. FIG. 1 illustrates a RF receiver 100 that employs the heterodyne principle to down-convert and demodulate data from a RF signal. Generally, data are transmitted on a high frequency signal because of the intrinsic relationship between the RF's wavelength and the size of an antenna. The high frequency signal used to piggy back an information signal of lower frequency is called a carrier signal.
In an heterodyne system, a carrier signal is removed from a transmitted RF signal by mixing the received signal with another locally generated signal. The mixing process yields several signals at various frequency bands. The frequency band of interests is the intermediated frequency (IF) of the system, which contains data signals in modulated form. As illustrated in FIG. 1, RF signals received by an antenna are amplified and outputted to a mixer 110. The output of mixer 110 is inputted into an IF filter 120. IF filter 120 performs several important functions such as image rejection, amplification, and bandpass filtration. Depending upon the application, IF filter 120 may be a Bessel filter or more commonly a Butterworth filter. The latter is designed to provide a maximum frequency plateau of minimum ripple across the bandpass frequency of the filter. The former is designed to perform in the substantially the same way but with a time delay.
Currently there are several co-existing communication standards such as: global system for mobile communication (GSM), a second generation (2G) technology; universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a third generation technology (3G) (UMTS is also known as wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA)); enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE); and CDMA2000. Each standard typically operates at a different IF frequency and has a different bandwidth. Thus, each standard requires a different IF filter configuration.
One class of filters with a high frequency response is the transconductor capacitor (GmC) filter. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional transconductor circuit 200 used to implement a GmC filter. Circuit 200 includes a pair of transistors 202 and 204, a pair of resistors 206 and 208, and a pair of current sources 210 and 212. The differential input voltages are received by the gates of transistors 202 and 204. In operation, transistor 202 outputs a current (Iout) when it is biased by a differential voltage (Vin+). The ratio of the output current and input voltage defines the transconductance (Gm) of transistor 202. Thus, the Gm of circuit 200 is:
      G    m    =            ∂              I        out                    ∂              V                  i                                                              n
To increase the linearity of circuit 200, degenerative resistors 206 and 208 are coupled between the sources of transistors 202 and 204. Further, each source of transistors 202 and 204 is independently biased by current source 210 and 212. In this configuration, DC current flow through resistors 206 and 208 is not present and only AC current flow is allowed. This yields a transconductor with a better performance due to the elimination of voltage drop across the degenerative resistors.
As mentioned, each communication standard operates at a different IF frequency and bandwidth. Hence a receiver is typically designed to work optimally with a certain communication standard. For example, a GSM or EDGE compatible receiver must be configured to work with an IF signal with a center frequency of 200 KHz. For WCDMA, the same receiver must be configured to work with an IF signal with a center frequency of 600 KHz to 1000 KHz. Hence, in current receiver systems, a specific set of filters is designed and manufactured for each communication standard.
Accordingly, what is needed is a filter stage that can be implemented across various communication standards.


A method for producing an additive for reclaiming oil from a fluid product stream and a treated silica with controlled hydrophobicity are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing silica or silicate with a particle size of between 3.0 μm to 20 μm, the silica or silicates having an agglomerate size of between 10 μm to 100 μm and being chosen to achieve the desired particle-size range and with a controlled level of hydrophobicity; treating the silica or silicate with a silicone or silane to make it hydrophobic; and controlling the hydrophobicity of the silica or silicate by varying the temperature and treatment time of the silica or silicate, amount of a treating material used to treat the silica or silicate, and the molecular weight of the treating material. The additive improves oil extraction and concentration from a fluid product stream.

Many industrial processes result in a waste stream liquor which contains some amount of a desired material. Examples of this would be corn oil in the manufacture of ethanol, tall oil in the manufacture of pulp and paper, and other industries requiring organic separation from the process, such as petroleum. Oftentimes this chemistry involves the use of surfactants to break the emulsion and release the desired oil from the liquor.
At times silicates such as precipitated or fumed silicon dioxide, diatomaceous earth, talc, or volcanic ash among others, are added to the surfactant to further enhance the separation of the desired oil from the liquor. The surface of the silicate may be treated with a hydrophobic compound such as silicone, polyethylene, beeswax or stearic acid for example, but not limited to these examples as there are other viable options. The treatment makes the silicate hydrophobic which can further enhance the performance of the demulsifying compound. The prior art in this field notes that either hydrophobic silicate, hydrophilic silicate, or a mixture thereof is preferable in corn oil demulsification.
The use of chemicals to separate organic components from aqueous waste streams has a long and varied history with the challenge of corn oil demulsification being the most recent to emerge. Initially all non-aqueous liquids were reintroduced into the solid materials collected as the fat content for animal feed (dried distillers grain with solubles, or DDGS). However it was determined that the corn oil could be successfully used as a raw material for the production of bio-diesel fuel. This renewable source of diesel fuel was a boom to the ethanol fermentation sector and ignited a determined effort to reclaim this material from the waste stream. The initial method used was in the use of centrifuges or mechanical methods to separate the individual components in the liquor. The results, which were successful, however were also inconsistent in the yield of this material. In the early to mid-2000's chemicals were investigated as additives to assist with the separation. Various surfactants were introduced with the most successful being the ethoxylated sorbitan esters. The use of a formulated product (multi-component) was introduced later in the development scheme. Silica and its treated counterpart, hydrophobic silica, were some of the latest components added. Other chemicals have been successfully used in this effort as well.
Initially mechanical methods for removing oil were invented, such as decanting, boiling, centrifuging, or combinations. As effective as these methods have been, oil concentrations within the water phase still remain. As noted above, chemical additives were invented as a result to supplement and enhance the mechanical methodologies, which can be seen in the prior art. Some examples of such prior art are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,029,596; 6,201,142; 8,192,627; 8,841,469 and 8,962,059.
Prior art in this field relies on chemically weakening the micelle strength encapsulating the oil within the water, with or without a physical rupturing of the micelle by a solid particle dispersed within. Thus the oil is released from suspension and able to be more readily extracted by the traditional mechanical methods noted above.
Applicant's inventive silicate addresses and solves the problems in the industry related to oil separation in waste streams. Wide varieties of chemical additives for oil separation have been created and are available. However, there is a need for an improved additive for both effectiveness and efficiency, and it is to this need that this invention is directed.

Demulsification compound for oil separation from waste streams


The invention relates to reducing the power consumption of a display unit. In a system according to the invention, the power source (2) is switched off in the OFF mode, and only the processor control circuit (4) is in operation, in order to detect the occurrence of control signals (8). If the control circuit (4) detects a control signal, it switches an operating voltage to the microprocessor (6) from the energy supply (12) of the secondary circuit. Then the microprocessor starts the power source (2) and examines the state of the control signals (8). If the state of the control signals requires starting the system, the processor (6) starts switching the whole system into operation. The control circuit (4) can be very simple, and thus its power consumption is also very low. The power input of the control circuit can be implemented by means of passive components (22), such as large resistors, directly from the primary side.

Often the display is normally switched on in the morning and switched off in the evening after work. This means that the display is on throughout the day, consuming energy, although it may be in efficient use only for a short period of the day. At some places of work, the display is not switched off at all between working days. This being the case, many different solutions have been developed to reduce the power consumption of display units.
One known solution, which is more aimed at increasing the lifetime of the cathode-ray tube than energy saving, is to use a program in the computer system which blanks the screen when the system has not been used for a certain period of time. The main purpose of this function is to prevent figures that remain unchanged for a long period of time from burning into the fluorescent material of the cathode-ray tube. At its simplest, a function like this just shuts off the video signal from the display driver.
A substantial reduction in energy consumption can be achieved with a display structure in which the display is turned off after a certain period from the moment when the system was last used. This can be implemented, for example, with a circuit which detects the absence of a video signal and cuts power input to the most power-consuming parts of the display unit for the time when the signal is absent. With a structure of this kind, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the energy saving mode to approximately 5-8 W.
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has specified the Display Power Management Signalling system (DPMS, which is based on the monitor synchronizing signals). In the DPMS system, the operation of the display is divided into four different modes:
the ON mode, which corresponds to the normal operation of the display; PA1 the Stand-By mode, in which the display screen is blanked, for example, and thus a small reduction in power consumption is achieved; PA1 the Suspend mode, in which a substantial part of the display operations are switched off, and PA1 the OFF mode, in which nearly all display operations are switched off to the extent that it is possible. PA1 power is fed from the mains supply to the secondary circuit of the power source by means of a main power source, PA1 power input from the mains to the secondary circuit of the power source by means of passive components, such as capacitors, and PA1 use of a separate power source.
Power consumption is the lowest in the Suspend and OFF modes.
In the DPMS system, the desired mode of operation of the display unit is implemented by means of vertical and horizontal synchronizing pulses. The display must be able to interpret the desired mode of operation from the levels of the vertical and horizontal synchronizing pulses and be able to change to the level of operation specified by the synchronizing pulses. The states of the synchronizing pulses that correspond to various modes of operation are given in the table below.
______________________________________ Horizontal Vertical synchronizing synchronizing Power saving mode pulses pulses ______________________________________ ON mode Yes Yes Stand-By mode No Yes Suspend mode Yes No OFF mode No No ______________________________________
In the table, "Yes" means that the frequency and pulse ratio of the incoming signal are over the threshold value defined in the DPMS system. Correspondingly, "No" means that the frequency and pulse ratio of the incoming signal are below the threshold value.
In a solution according to the DPMS system, the circuit that interprets the synchronizing signals must be able to measure the frequency and pulse ratio of the synchronizing pulses, when required. The solution must also be capable of verifying the current situation in order to avoid errors in a situation in which the display driver changes the resolution, for example. In addition, energy is needed for interpreting the synchronizing pulses, and due to the characteristics of the technique used, this energy cannot be taken from the display driver. A common solution for interpreting the synchronizing pulses and controlling the display is to use the microprocessor of the display.
One solution that is commonly used with a DPMS system is the so-called Soft Power switch. In this case, the equipment does not have an actual main power switch for switching off the device, but it has been replaced by a switch connected to the processor. By this switch, the device can be switched to the OFF mode regardless of the state of the synchronizing signals. To the user, the OFF mode looks like the device had been switched off from the main power switch.
There are now three types of structures available for power input to the secondary circuit of the power source during the extreme power saving mode, namely the OFF mode:
In the first modification of the solution using a main power source, the secondary circuit of the power source has switching means, by which power-consuming parts of the system are switched off. The switching off can be carried out by cutting either the control signals of the parts or the operating voltages of the parts. In the suspend mode, power-intensive blocks are switched off. In the OFF mode, all other blocks except the processor or a corresponding circuit that interprets the synchronizing signals and controls the device are switched off. In a solution like this, the power source of the device operates continuously and produces continuous, stabilized operating voltages for the secondary circuit. This solution has the advantage of simple construction, but the efficiency of the power source remains low. In addition, a large number of switching means are required, if there is a large number of operating voltages in the system.
In another modification of the solution using a main power source, the operating voltages of the secondary circuit are stabilized in the OFF mode to a substantially lower level than in normal operation, whereby the operation of circuits loading the secondary circuit is prevented, and the power consumption of the circuits falls. In practice, this generally takes place so that a high, stabilized operating voltage of a secondary circuit, such as 150 volts, from which other operating voltages of the secondary circuit are formed, is stabilized to a level of approx. 8 volts. The operating voltage required by the processor is taken from the lowered operating voltage (for example, +5 V) by means of a regulator. In this modification, the stabilization of voltages to a lower level than normally corresponds to the function of the switches in the first modification. In addition to the means for lowering the voltage, a switch is needed to switch the lowered secondary voltage as the operating voltage of the processor during the power saving mode. This solution still has the advantage of being simple, and the efficiency of the power source is also somewhat improved, because the voltage amplitudes generated in the power source are smaller compared to the first solution. The complexity of the switching is not dependent on the number of operating voltages, because all the operating voltages are reduced at the same time.
In a third modification using a main power source, the operation of the power source is not continuous, but energy is fed to the secondary circuit in pulses. Thus the efficiency of the power source is still somewhat improved. In a system like this, the operating voltages of the secondary are not stable during the power saving mode, but they include oscillation at the frequency of the pulses. However, the processor receives a sufficient operating voltage to continue its operation without interruption.
Another basic solution uses passive components, such as capacitors, for transmitting power from the mains to the secondary circuit. The capacitive current of the capacitors is rectified and filtered into a direct current in the secondary circuit. In order that the power thus obtained would be sufficient for ordinary processors, the capacitance of the capacitors must be high, whereby their physical size and costs also become high.
In systems where a separate power source is used, the second power source is used when the main power supply is switched off. The separate power source is optimized for low powers, and it normally only feeds the power to the processor. The advantages of this system include reliable operation and good efficiency of the power source. However, the need of two power sources is a disadvantage, which increases the component costs.

Method for reducing power consumption in a display unit


The present disclosure relates to novel fluoromonomer and fluorooligomer compounds, a photopolymerizable composition including these compounds, methods for producing these compounds, and a hydrophobic film using the photopolymerizable composition.

Fluorinated macromolecules have unique properties for forming polymers. These properties are caused by the highest electronegativity of fluorine atoms. Fluorine atoms have a very high electronegativity value and thus have a low polarizability and a small Van der waals radius (=1.32 Å).
Fluoropolymers have chemical and thermal resistance due to strong bonding capability of fluorine. Herein, the fluoropolymers refer to polymers having high fluorine content in the backbone. In addition to the strong bonding capability, the fluoropolymers have inactive properties compared with acidic or alkaline materials and low refractive indexes and dielectric constants. Based on these properties, the fluoropolymers are highly resistant to aging caused by various factors such as oxidation, hydrolysis, light, and the like. This is why the fluoropolymers have attracted a lot of attention from various industrial fields. Particularly, the fluoropolymers have received attention from the car, aerospace, petrochemical, microelectronic engineering, and construction industries. The fluoropolymers can be obtained by photopolymerization in which polymerization is performed by radiation of light.
The photopolymerization is industrially useful because it can be performed in solvent-free condition and thus it is environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Fluoropolymers can be formed of various monomers and oligomers including a covalent bond of fluorine in a molecule, and the polymers may have various properties depending on the kind of monomer or oligomer used. A fluorinated monomer which is mainly used for photopolymerization is characterized by including acrylate or epoxide which is easy to polymerize.
Meanwhile, Korean Patent No. 10-1295102 relates to "Fluorine-containing photocurable polymer composition" and discloses a photocurable polymer composition including a fluorosilsesquioxane skeleton.

Fluoromonomer and fluorooligomer compounds, photopolymerizable composition, and hydrophobic film using the same

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