A musical sonification system and method sonifies data, such as real-time financial market data, to produce an audio signal output including a musical rendering of the data. A sonification engine converts the data into sound parameters based on configuration data and a sonification and mapping scheme. A sound generator generates the audio output signal from the sound parameters.

For centuries, printed visual displays have been used for displaying information in the form of bar charts, pie charts and graphs. In the information age, visual displays (e.g., computer monitors) have become the primary means for conveying large amounts of information. Computers with visual displays, for example, are often used to process and/or monitor complex numerical data such as financial trading market data, fluid flow data, medical data, air traffic control data, security data, network data and process control data. Computational processing of such data produces results that are difficult for a human overseer to monitor visually in real time. Visual displays tend to be overused in real-time data-intensive situations, causing a visual data overload. In a financial trading situation, for example, a trader often must constantly view multiple screens displaying multiple different graphical representations of real-time market data for different markets, securities, indices, etc. Thus, there is a need to reduce visual data overload by increasing perception bandwidth when monitoring large amounts of data.
Sound has also been used as a means for conveying information. Examples of the use of sound to convey information include the Geiger counter, sonar, the auditory thermometer, medical and cockpit auditory displays, and Morse code. The use of non-speech sound to convey information is often referred to as auditory display. One type of auditory display in computing applications is the use of auditory icons to represent certain events (e.g., opening folders, errors, etc.). Another type of auditory display is audification in which data is converted directly to sound without mapping or translation of any kind. For example, a data signal can be converted directly to an analog sound signal using an oscillator. The use of these types of auditory displays have been limited by the sound generation capabilities of computing systems and are not suited to more complex data.
Sonification is a relatively new type of auditory display. Sonification has been defined as a mapping of numerically represented relations in some domain under study to relations in an acoustic domain for the purposes of interpreting, understanding, or communicating relations in the domain under study (C. Scaletti, "Sound synthesis algorithms for auditory data representations," in G. Kramer, ed., International Conference on Auditory Display, no. XVIII in Studies in the Sciences of Complexity, (Jacob Way, Reading, Mass. 01867), Santa Fe Institute, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1994.). Using a computer to map data to sound allows complex numerical data to be sonified.
Applications of sonification have been most common in the medical field, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,449,501; 6,283,763; 6,083,163; 5,836,302; and 5,730,140, which are incorporated herein by reference. Applications of sonification have been limited in other fields. One example of sonification applied to stock market data is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,854 to Kramer, which is incorporated herein by reference. Kramer discloses a sonification system using auditory beacons as references for comparison and orientation in data. Other attempts at sonification of stock market data include work by Keith Nesbitt and Stephen Barrass published on Jul. 2–5, 2002 and entitled "Evaluation of a Multimodal Sonification and Visualization of Depth of Stock Market Data," given at the Proceedings of ICAD, Tokyo, 2002, in which vocalized alerts were used to indicate "buy" and "sell" in a trading system. A work by Jonathon Berger of CCRMA, Stanford, published on the web at Stanford University at http://www-ccrma.stanford.edu/groups/soni/index.html, discloses sonification of historical financial data using pulses of filtered noise, one pulse for each trading day.
The human ability to recognize patterns in sound presents a unique potential for the use of auditory displays. Patterns in sound are recognized over time, and a departure from a learned pattern results in an expectation violation. For example, individuals establish a baseline for the "normal" sound of a car engine and can detect a problem when the baseline is altered or interrupted. Also, the human brain can process voice, music and natural sounds concurrently and independently. Music, in particular, has advantages over other types of sound with respect to auditory cognition and pattern recognition. Musical patterns are implicitly learned, recognizable even by non-musicians, and aesthetically pleasing.
The existing auditory displays have not exploited the true potential of sound, and particularly music, as a way to increase perception bandwidth when monitoring data. U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,854, for example, does not disclose a sonification that is based on music and specifically common-practice music. Kramer relies solely on the use of beacons to discern trends in data rather than the ability to recognize musical patterns. Thus, existing sonification techniques do not take advantage of the auditory cognition attributes unique to music.
Accordingly, there is a need for a musical sonification system and method that is capable of increasing data perception bandwidth by using musical patterns.

System and method for musical sonification of data


A customer service system is provided for responding to a service inquiry of a customer based on customer location data within a wireless cellular network having a plurality of current cell sites. A current cell site database includes geocoded site location data for each respective current cell site and statistical performance data for each respective current cell site. A complaint database stores user entered complaint records, each of the records including respective geocoded problem location data and a respective complaint note. A monitoring engine is coupled to the current cell sites and to the current cell site database for collecting the statistical performance data and transferring it to the current cell site database. A web server provides a user interface for accessing the current cell site database and the complaint database.

The present invention relates in general to performance monitoring in a wireless cellular telephone network, and, more specifically, to a tool for assisting customer service and maintenance personnel in responding to and alleviating customer inquiries or complaints.
Wireless cellular telephone networks deploy large numbers of cell sites within their coverage areas. Each cell site includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals over a respective geographic area. Coverage areas for adjacent cells overlap so that as a cellular subscriber moves from one cell to another a handoff can occur between cells.
There are various practical and economic concerns in locating and building each cell site. Various geographic features and the availability of real estate result in an irregular spacing of cell sites. In addition, the density of subscriber traffic (i.e., number of simultaneous users) in some regions requires cell sites to be packed at a higher density than in areas with a lower subscriber traffic volume. A higher cell site density results in an increase in the overlapping areas as well.
The actual coverage pattern for the antenna of any particular cell site is typically not the same in all directions because at any particular distance, various structures or geographic features may produce shadowing, for example. Moreover, a particular antenna pattern may be deliberately manipulated to provide some directionality using specialized antenna design and placement in order to compensate for the irregular spacing of cell sites.
In using a cellular telephone within the wireless network, performance issues such as dropped calls, blocked calls, or noisy calls inevitably occur. Cellular carriers typically provide customer service representatives for handling service inquiries and complaints from customers experiencing these problems. When a customer has experienced a performance problem in connection with a particular wireless telephone call, the customer doesn't know the identity of the cell site that handled the problem call. At best, the customer may provide an address or general description of the place where the problem occurred. Consequently, it has been difficult to relate service problems experienced by one customer with those of other customers. Furthermore, a customer service representative has not been able to determine for themselves or to inform the customer whether a particular performance issue is due to inadequate coverage of a particular location (i.e., the problem in that area is likely to persist), whether additional cell sites are planned in order to correct for a coverage hole, or whether a performance issue is due to a temporary network issue (i.e., the performance for that area is likely to improve at a later time). In addition, it has been difficult for the customer service representative to direct any corrective maintenance actions to appropriate technical personnel for handling in an efficient manner since there is insufficient information available to determine an identification of the cell site involved, whether the subscriber was in a coverage hole (i.e., whether service is even available at the location), or the current performance status of potential cell sites that may have handled the call.

Wireless cell site finder and customer service system


Embodiments may relate to a connector. The connector may include a plurality of connector pins that are to communicatively couple an element of a printed circuit board (PCB) with an element of an electronic device when the element of the PCB and the element of the electronic device are coupled with the connector. The connector may also include an active circuit that is communicatively coupled with a pin of the plurality of pins. The active circuit may be configured to match an impedance of the element of the PCB with an impedance of the element of the electronic device. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Connectors may be used in a broad range of high-speed signal interfaces. Examples of such interfaces may include peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe), quickpath interconnect (QPI), ultra path interconnect (UPI), serial advanced technology attachment (SATA), a memory interface (e.g., double data rate (DDR), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), read-only memory (ROM), etc.), a backplane connector, etc. However, the connector may introduce reflection within the signal path, which may degrade channel performance.


The invention relates to an apparatus for laminating a first and a second sheet with a plane carrier (10) and a drum shaped carrier (20) for carrying a respective sheet. The apparatus has a first main operational mode wherein the drum shaped carrier (20) is at distance from a first carrier surface (12) of the plane carrier (10) in said third direction (Z), and a second main operational mode wherein the drum shaped carrier (20) is close to first carrier surface to bring the first and the second sheet (1, 2) in contact with each other. In the first main operational mode the drum shaped carrier (20) is virtually rolled over the first carrier surface (12) and the sheets are mutually aligned. In the second operational mode the sheets are laminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for laminating a first and a second sheet.
The present invention further relates to a method for laminating a first and a second sheet.
2. Related Art
Various products are fabricated by sequential addition of components to previously supplied components. An important application area is in the manufacturing of electronic components as a stack of sheets. Such an electronic product comprises for example a first sheet having OLED functionality, a second sheet comprising printed photodiodes and a third sheet comprising driver electronics. Subsequent sheets in the stack have electronic functional areas that in contact with each other perform an electronic function. In the manufacture of such electronic components it is important that mutually subsequent sheets are accurately positioned with respect to each other in order that electronic, optic or fluidic features, such as microfluidic channels in a sheet accurately contact features to cooperate therewith in the subsequent sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,802 provides a laminator which is for registering and laminating one or more web or sheet laminae on a web substrate. Each lamina has defined, successive areas and indicia provided in predetermined positions relative to the defined areas. The laminator includes feed rollers for feeding a web substrate through the laminator along a path of travel, and an additional feed mechanism for feeding a web or sheets to a drum forming a part of the laminator. The drum is shiftable toward and away from the web substrate between an engaged position in which the drum engages the substrate, and a disengaged position in which the drum is removed from contact with the substrate. A registration system successively registers the web or each sheet on the drum with the substrate, with the defined area of the web or sheet in a desired predetermined relationship to one of the defined areas of the substrate as successive defined areas are brought into a laminating position. The registration system includes a sensing mechanism for sensing the relative positions of the indicia on the web or sheet and the substrate, and a motor is provided for rotating the drum relative to the substrate in the disengaged position of the drum to adjust the relative positions of the web or sheet and the substrate so that each defined area of the web or sheet is in the desired predetermined relationship to one of the defined areas of the substrate. The drum is shifted to the engaged position and rotated when the web or sheet on the drum is registered with the substrate to laminate the web or sheet on the substrate.

Apparatus and method for laminating a first and a second sheet

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO


There is provided a common mode choke coil in which a non-magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer stacked on a first magnetic layer and two facing conductive coils are included in the non-magnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer is formed of sintered glass ceramics, the conductive coils and are formed of a conductor containing copper, and at least one of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer is formed of a sintered ferrite material containing Fe2O3, Mn2O3, NiO, ZnO and CuO. The sintered ferrite material has an Fe2O3-reduced content of 25 to 47 mol % and a Mn2O3-reduced content of 1 to 7.5 mol %, or Fe2O3-reduced content of 35 to 45 mol % and a Mn2O3-reduced content of 7.5 to 10 mol %, and a CuO reduced content of 5 mol %.

A common mode choke coil is referred to as a common mode noise filter, and is used to reduce, preferably remove, common mode noise that may be generated in use of various electronic apparatuses. In particular, the common mode noise is problematic in the high-speed data communication through a differential transmission mode, and the common mode choke coil has been widely used for such purpose.
In conventional technology, a configuration in which a non-magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer are stacked on a first magnetic layer and two facing conductive coils are included in the magnetic layers has been known as the common mode choke coil. Glass ceramics may be used as a material of the non-magnetic layer. Therefore, the humidity resistance of the non-magnetic layer and the connection strength between an external end face electrode and a stacked body including the non-magnetic layer may be improved, compared with a case in which a resin such as a polyimide resin or an epoxy resin is used (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-319009).
In a common mode choke coil, silver has been generally used as a material of a conductive coil. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-319009, silver is used for materials of a conductive coil, glass ceramics are used for a non-magnetic layer, and a Ni—Zn—Cu-based ferrite material containing Fe2O3 NiO, ZnO, CuO as a major ingredient is used in first and second magnetic layers to obtain a green sheet stacked body, and these elements are co-fired (see Paragraphs [0018] and [0031] of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-319009).

Common mode choke coil and method for manufacturing the same


The present invention concerns a polymer composition comprising: a block copolymer (a) including a polymer block A, which is composed mainly of an α-methylstyrene, and a hydrogenated or unhydrogenated polymer block B, which is composed of a conjugated diene or isobutylene and has a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 to 200,000; an acrylic resin (b); and a softener (c),

Thermoplastic elastomers show rubber elasticity at room temperature and are easy to mold since they are readily plasticized, or melt, when heated. Also, these materials are recyclable. Because of these advantages, thermoplastic elastomers have recently become widely used in automobile parts, parts for home electric appliances, construction materials, toys, sports equipment, daily necessities, and various other applications. They are also used as stretchable materials in sanitary products, medical materials, belt materials, and other miscellaneous items.
Of different thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers are most widely used as stretchable materials because of their good extension stress and good stress relaxation property. Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers (SBS), styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers (SIS), and hydrogenated products thereof, are also widely used because of their cost efficiency, flexibility, rubber elasticity, and recyclability.
As for the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, attempts have been made to improve different physical properties. The results of such attempts include: <1> a thermoplastic elastomer resin composition for powder molding that contains a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer and other components and which can be used to make molded articles that have a soft texture and a high scratch resistance (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-158812); and <2> a thermoplastic elastomer composition that provides a high flexibility, high formability, and high scratch resistance and that comprises a composition consisting of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (hydrogenated block copolymer) and a methacrylic resin, and a copolymer comprising units that are compatible to the two components of the composition (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-230322).
Also proposed are thermoplastic resin compositions that have flexibility and provide a low temperature performance while preserving favorable properties of acrylic resins, including surface properties such as surface hardness, weather resistance, and clear appearance. Among such thermoplastic resin compositions are <3> an acrylic thermoplastic resin composition containing, at a predetermined ratio, a hydrogenated product of a block copolymer that contains a polymer block (a) composed of an aromatic vinyl compound having a predetermined molecular weight and a polymer block (b) composed either of isoprene and a mixture of isoprene and butadiene; and an acrylic resin having a predetermined intrinsic viscosity (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-329865); and <4> a thermoplastic resin composition containing at a predetermined ratio an acrylic resin and a hydrogenated product of a triblock copolymer that has an a-b-a structure (where "a" is a block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound; and "b" is a block composed of isoprene and/or butadiene) and has a predetermined number average molecular weight (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-295216).
Compositions that can provide a high flexibility and high weather resistance while offering a favorable appearance are also proposed. One example is <5> a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a polyolefin resin (A); a hydrogenated product of a thermoplastic block copolymer (B), composed of a block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound and a block composed of isoprene and/or butadiene; an acrylic resin (C); a hydrocarbon-based softener (D); and a hydrogenated product of a thermoplastic block copolymer (E), composed of a block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound having a side chain of polymerized acrylic monomer and a block composed of isoprene and/or butadiene (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-345841). Also, <6> an adhesive tape is disclosed that has a sufficient tensile strength and a properly low tear strength. This adhesive tape includes a substrate formed of a composition that contains at a predetermined ratio an acrylic polymer composed mainly of a methyl methacrylate; and a hydrogenated product of a block copolymer, including a polymer block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound and a polymer block composed of isoprene and/or butadiene (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-303037).
The composition <1> described above has a somewhat improved scratch resistance, though not as high as that of polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers. Nevertheless, this composition, lacking required hydrolysis resistance and weather resistance, poses problems such as decrease in performance and yellow discoloration when formed into molded articles. Each of the compositions <2> through <5> described above is highly flexible and has high formability and transparency while retaining surface properties, such as surface hardness, weather resistance, and clear appearance, each of which is inherent to acrylic resins. As for the composition <2>, the scratch resistance was evaluated according to JIS Z 8741 in which test samples were rubbed 100 times with a piece of cloth (Kanakin No. 3) while applying a load of 500 g and the glossiness of the sample surface remaining after the test was compared with the initial glossiness of the sample. For the compositions <3> to <5>, the pencil scratch resistance was evaluated according to JIS K 5400. However, none of the compositions <3> to <5> had proven to have sufficient scratch resistance or abrasion resistance. For the composition <6>, nothing is mentioned concerning the abrasion resistance of the composition. Under such circumstances, a need exists for a thermoplastic polymer composition that is suitable for use in applications where it is expected to be subjected to frequent friction or in applications where aesthetic appearance is important.
In regard of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, several proposals have been made with the aim of improving extension characteristics, including formability and extension stress, of stretchable materials formed of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers. One example is <7> a stretchable nonwoven fabric described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-130448, which shows superior extension characteristics (e.g., stretch and stretch recovery), high strength (e.g., water pressure resistance), and good light resistance and has a soft texture. The stretchable nonwoven fabric is made of a fiber, which comprises a hydrogenated block copolymer obtainable by hydrogenating a block copolymer that includes at least two polymer blocks A composed mainly of an aromatic vinyl compound and at least two polymer blocks B composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound, and a polyolefin. The hydrogenated block copolymer and the polyolefin are mixed at a predetermined weight ratio. The nonwoven fabric is made of ultrafine fiber with an average fiber size of 10 μm or less. Another example is <8> a stretchable nonwoven fabric described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 2-259151, which has superior extension characteristics. The stretchable nonwoven fabric comprises a thermoplastic fiber made of a hydrogenated product of a block copolymer that includes at least two polymer blocks A composed mainly of an aromatic vinyl compound and at least two polymer blocks B composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound with at least one of the polymer blocks B being situated at one end of the polymer chain. The number average molecular weight of the hydrogenated product and the amount of the aromatic vinyl compound are within specific ranges. Still another example is <9> a stretchable nonwoven fabric described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 63-203857 that shows a good extension recovery, flexibility, and light resistance. This stretchable nonwoven fabric is made of a thermoplastic polymer composition that contains a thermoplastic polymer (a) having a polar functional group, such as polyamide and polyester; and a modified block copolymer and/or a modified block-graft copolymer (b) in which a block copolymer consisting of an aromatic vinyl compound polymer block and a conjugated diene compound polymer block and/or a hydrogenated product thereof, or a block-graft copolymer in which the copolymer serves as the backbone and a radically decaying polymer serves as the grafts, are bound to a molecular unit having a functional group capable of binging to, or interacting with, the thermoplastic polymer (a) (e.g., maleic anhydride group).
While polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers are favorable in terms of formability, stress relaxation property, and extension stress, their hydrolysis resistance and weather resistance are poor, often resulting in a significant reduction in performance or yellow discoloration. Also, each of the stretchable materials <7> to <9> described above is not satisfactory as far as the balance among formability, stress relaxation property, tensile permanent set, and extension stress is concerned.
To impart additional functions to materials such as resin to be used as a substrate, a plurality of materials are laminated on top of one another. Such laminates are used in a variety of fields, including automobile parts, parts for home electric appliances, construction materials, furniture, toys, sports equipment, and daily necessaries.
Soft vinyl chloride resins are inexpensive materials and have superior surface characteristics, such as scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, as well as flexibility. For this reason, these resins are preferred materials for use in the above-described laminates, especially in the outermost layer of the laminates. Nevertheless, soft vinyl chloride resins have several drawbacks: plasticizers contained in the resins seep out; such plasticizers are potential endocrine disruptors; and the resins generate corrosive gases, such as hydrogen chloride, and highly toxic dioxins when incinerated.
Olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers, styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, and polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers each have superior surface characteristics, such as high scratch resistance and high abrasion resistance, as well as flexibility, and can thus be used to form laminates. In particular, olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers, which are favorable in terms of strength and cost, and styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, which are favorable in terms of mechanical properties and flexibility, do not pose the problems associated with the soft vinyl chloride resins and are considered as an alternative to the soft vinyl chloride resin. Laminates using these materials have been proposed (See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. Hei 4-73112, No. Hei 4-73142, and No. Hei 8-90723). Also, <10> a method is described by which a surface layer composed mainly of a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, an adhesive resin layer, and a substrate layer or a foam layer composed mainly of a thermoplastic resin are coextruded to form a sheet-like laminate (See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. Hei 7-68623 and No Hei 7-290625). <11> A laminate described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-8381 comprises (i) a thermoplastic resin layer; and (ii) a layer formed of a composition obtained by adding a predetermined amount of a hydrogenated product of a thermoplastic block copolymer, the thermoplastic block copolymer having a polymerized acrylic monomer side chain and consisting of a block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound and a block composed of isoprene and/or butadiene, to 100 parts by mass of a predetermined mixture of an acrylic resin and a hydrogenated product of a thermoplastic block copolymer composed of a block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound and a block composed of isoprene and/or butadiene.
However, nothing is mentioned about the scratch resistance or the abrasion resistance of the outermost layers of the laminates in any of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. Hei 4-73112, No. Hei 4-73142, and No. Hei 8-90723. In regard of the laminate <10> described above, when olefin-based materials are used in the substrate layer of the laminate, an adhesive resin layer must be provided to adhere the substrate layer. This adds to the complexity of the production process. The laminate <10> also has a problem that the insufficient hydrolysis resistance and the insufficient weather resistance of the polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer may cause a reduction in the performance. While the laminate <11> as described above is favorable in terms of flexibility, weather resistance, appearance-related properties, and adhesion, nothing is mentioned about the scratch resistance or the abrasion resistance of the laminate.
Various foams that make use of styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers have been proposed for the purposes of reducing weight and providing cushioning property. Among such foams are <12> an extruded foam article using a composition composed of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer having a predetermined melt tension, melt malleability, hardness (JIS-A), and melt flow rate (MFR), and a blowing agent (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-18106); <13> a expandable thermoplastic elastomer composition, comprising a block copolymer composed of at least two polymer blocks A formed mainly of an aromatic vinyl compound and at least one polymer block B formed mainly of a conjugated diene, and/or a hydrogenated product thereof; a peroxide-degradable olefin-based resin and/or a copolymer rubber containing the same; a polyethylene-based resin polymerized by a single-site catalyst; a softener for non-aromatic rubbers; and a heat-expandable microcapsule that expands at a temperature of 100° C. to 200° C. (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-17140); and <14> a thermoplastic polymer foam, obtainable by foaming a thermoplastic polymer composition containing a thermoplastic acrylic polymer and a hydrogenated block copolymer at a weight ratio of 80:20 to 20:80, the hydrogenated block copolymer containing a polymer block composed of an aromatic vinyl compound and a polymer block composed of a conjugated diene (See, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-241414).
The foam article <12> has a superior molded appearance, flexibility, and low-temperature impact resistance, and the expansion ratio of the foam article is high. The expandable thermoplastic elastomer composition <13> can form articles with a favorable appearance and texture even when the expansion ratio is considerably high. Finally, the thermoplastic polymer foam <14> is highly flexible and retains the flexibility at low temperatures. Since this material does not contain any plasticizers, it does not pose problems such as the plasticizer seeping out or being transferred. Nonetheless, nothing is mentioned concerning the scratch resistance or the abrasion resistance for any of the foams <12> to <14>, nor can any teaching be found in the respective publications regarding the production of foams that have a good heat resistance, in particular, regarding the production of those that exhibit a superior compression permanent set at high temperature (e.g., at 70° C.). Thus, a need exists for a foam that is suitable for use in applications where it is expected to be subjected to frequent friction or high temperature conditions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer composition that has a high formability, flexibility, rubber elasticity, mechanical strength, and transparency while exhibiting a scratch resistance and abrasion resistance comparable to those of polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers and polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers. By exploiting these characteristics, such polymer compositions can be effectively used in a wide range of applications, including stretchable materials, laminates, and foams.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a stretchable material that does not pose any of the above-identified problems associated with conventional stretchable materials and is formed of a polymer composition that provides a good flexibility, rubber elasticity, mechanical strength, and stress relaxation property while exhibiting a minimum tensile permanent set and being readily formed. This stretchable material exhibits superior extension characteristics, including extension stress.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a laminate comprising a layer formed of a polymer composition that has a high scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and flexibility and can readily be manufactured without requiring complicated processes.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a foam that not only shows a high heat resistance, in particular high compression permanent set at a high temperature (e.g., at 70° C.), but also an scratch resistance and abrasion resistance comparable to those of polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers, while preserving characteristics of styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, including flexibility and formability. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a foam composition for forming such a foam.
In an effort to find ways to attain the above-described objects, the present inventors have found that by providing a specific polymer composition that contains a block copolymer having a molecular weight in a predetermined range and containing a block composed mainly of α-methylstyrene as its hard segment, an acrylic resin, and an optional softener, and by adjusting the ratio of these components of the polymer composition, the block copolymer containing a block composed mainly of α-methylstyrene as its hard segment forms a continuous phase (i.e., matrix) and the acrylic resin disperses throughout the block copolymer, forming a specific sea-island morphology.
The present inventors examined the physical properties both of this polymer composition having the above-described specific morphology and of molded articles formed of the polymer composition and have found that such polymer compositions show a high formability, exhibit many other favorable characteristics, including flexibility, rubber elasticity, mechanical strength, transparency, and, above all, scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, exhibit these properties in a well-balanced manner, and are therefore suitable for use in a wide range of applications.
For example, the present inventors have found that a stretchable material formed of the polymer composition shows a good stress relaxation property, a small tensile permanent set, as well as superior extension characteristics, including extension stress, and can thus be effectively used in various fields including hygiene products, medical materials and other miscellaneous goods.
The present inventors have also found that a laminate comprising a layer formed of the polymer composition and a layer formed of other materials, preferably, a layer formed of a thermoplastic resin such as an olefin-based resin, olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, or a resin composition containing styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, shows a high scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and flexibility and can be effectively used in a wide range of applications by exploiting these characteristics.
The present inventors have further found that by adding a predetermined amount of a blowing agent to the polymer composition so as to reduce weight and provide an cushioning property, a foam composition can be obtained that can be foamed into a foam with a good foamability and heat resistance, in particular, a good compression permanent set at a high temperature (e.g., at 70° C.) and that such a foam can be effectively used in a wide range of applications. These findings led the present inventors to devise the present invention.

Abstract: wherein proportions (by mass) of the respective components in the polymer composition are such that each of the following relationships (1) and (2) holds:0.05≦Wb/Wa≦2 and  (1)Wc/(Wa+Wb+Wc)≦0.5  (2)wherein Wa, Wb, and Wc represent amounts (by mass) of the block copolymer (a), the acrylic resin (b) and the softener (c), respectively.

Abstract: The polymer composition obtainable in accordance with the present invention is favorable in terms of such physical properties as formability, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, flexibility, mechanical strength, rubber elasticity, and transparency and exhibits these properties in a well-balanced manner. By exploiting these favorable properties, the polymer composition can be effectively used in a wide range of applications, including stretchable materials, laminates, and foams.


An image processing machine processes image data of a letter document into binary data which are then put through smoothing-out processing, and image data of a photograph document into binary data by a method in which the optical density of a document is retained, in order to provide high-quality, smooth binary images of both letter documents and photograph documents. One memory stores data both for smoothing-out processing in the case of a letter document and for binary-processing in the case of a photograph document. The memory is used selectively for either type of processing. Thus, circuitry for the processing is simplified.

1. Field Of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing machine such as a digital copying machine or a facsimile machine, and more particularly to an image processing machine which processes data obtained by reading written or picture documents into binary data, i.e. two values corresponding respectively to black and white.
2. Description of the Related Art
Facsimile or digital copying machines are conventionally known which read image information from documents or pictures with image sensors such as CCDs and which quantize the obtained image information, for example, into binary data and which send the data to recording devices or other machines, collectively "receivers".
In such a conventional machine, such binary processing is performed by using a fixed threshold in the case of a letter document and by using a method, such as the error diffusion method, in which optical density of an original image is retained in the case of a photograph document with or without letters.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,969,052 and 4,975,786 and U.S. patent application No. 505,972 (filed Apr. 4, 1990), all made by the present inventor, disclose machines which employ the error diffusion method to perform binary-processing.
In the case of a document having pictures with or without letters, such a conventional machine obtains smooth binary data which retain density of an original image because the binary processing is carried out by a density-retaining method such as the error diffusion method. However, in the case of a document of letters alone, the reproduced letters have rough or notched edge lines because the binary processing is done simply by using a fixed threshold.


Proposed is an electret fiber which is a rayon fiber containing 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of tourmaline particles having a particle diameter not exceeding 0.3 .mu.m. The electret fiber is effective for invigoration of human body by promoting blood circulation. The electret fiber is prepared by spinning a spinning solution of rayon containing the tourmaline particles uniformly dispersed therein into the form of a fiber.

The present invention relates to a novel fibrous material which is a rayon fiber containing fine particles of tourmaline and to a method for the preparation thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a rayon fiber capable of emitting active ions to exhibit an effect of invigoration or activation of living body cells as well as to a method for the preparation thereof.
It is an issue of interest in recent years that living body cells can be activated by so-called active ions to improve the healthful condition of the living body so that various studies are now under way to utilize active ions for the control of autonomic and motorial nervous systems, promotion of sound sleep, ataractic stabilization, acceleration of recovery from fatigue and so on.
As one of the substances which emit such active ions, tourmaline, which is a naturally occurring mineral but can be synthesized artificially, is proposed as promising. Namely, tourmaline is the strongest in the permanent spontaneous electric polarizability among known electret minerals having permanent polarizability so that the vector of polarization thereof is not influenced by an external electric field. It is also noted that the tourmaline mineral emits far-infrared light.
One of the inventors has proposed, directing his attention to these facts, tourmaline-containing electret fibers in Japanese Patent Publication 6-104926 after extensive investigations on the beneficial effects such as improvement of blood circulation on a person wearing clothes or athletic supporters made from a fabric of certain fibers containing fine particles of tourmaline.

Rayon fiber containing tourmaline particles and method for the preparation thereof


A pedal arrangement in a vehicle cab including a support (5) fixed in the cab, in which a pedal arm (2) is mounted for pivoting about a pivot axis (4) spaced from both ends (2a, 2b) of the pedal arm. At its upper end, the pedal arm is joined to one end of a flexible rod (12), such as a steel cable, which can transmit tensile force to an operating lever (11), but which bends if subjected to compressive force.

It has been recognized that drivers sometime suffer injuries in automobile accidents that can not necessarily be explained as having been directly caused by accident impacts. It has instead been appreciated that these injuries can be associated with certain actions of the foot pedals during a crash. With respect to a brake pedal, an operating device may be included, for example a brake servo unit, that is fixed to the outside of an intermediate wall between the cab and the engine compartment. The servo unit has a push rod which extends through the intermediate wall. The pedal arm is usually pivotally journaled at its upper end and acts on a push rod for affecting braking at a point located on the arm below the journal. In a collision in which the intermediate wall is pressed into the cab, the servo unit, together with its push rod, will pivot the pedal arm upwards, often resulting in major injury to the feet and shins.
In order to avoid the pedal arm being pivoted upwards in this manner if the servo unit is displaced in towards the cab, it is previously known, as for example in Swedish Patent Application No. SE 9800420, to journal the pedal arm at a point remote from its upper end and to pivotally join the upper end of the pedal arm to one end of a motion-transmitting rod. The other end of the pedal arm is pivotally joined to one end of a pivotally mounted lever which, when pivoted, actuates the push rod of the servo unit. In a collision that causes the servo unit to be pressed in towards the cab, the pedal arm is pivoted down towards the cab floor. Even though this design can reduce the risk of injury to the shins of the driver, it can cause other serious injury if the driver's foot happens to be directly under the pedal at the moment of collision and is clamped between the pedal and the cab floor. This is especially serious if the driver should be held fast so that he or she cannot rapidly leave the vehicle in such event as an ensuing fire following the accident.


A computer-implemented diabetes management system is provided that supports enhanced security between a diabetes care manager in data communication with a medical device. The diabetes care manager includes: a first application that operates to request access to a first security role supported by the medical device, where the first security role is associated with a first set of commands for accessing data on the medical device that are defined as a private extension of the communication protocol; and a second application that operates to request access to a second security role supported by the medical device, where the second security role is associated with a second set of commands for accessing data on the medical device that are defined as a private extension of the communication protocol. The second set of commands has one or more commands that are mutually exclusive from the first set of commands.

Daily diagnostic information, such blood glucose, is typically obtained from a capillary blood sample with a lancing device and is then measured with a handheld blood glucose meter (hereinafter handheld device). To effectively manage the care and health of the patient, there is a need for the handheld device to communicate with other medical devices and systems. The other medical devices and systems, however, may use different communication protocols and interfaces (e.g., Bluetooth protocol, universal serial bus (USB) interface, etc.). Accordingly, there is a need for the handheld device to include multiple communication protocols and interfaces that enable the handheld device to communicate with the other medical devices and systems in a safe and secure manner.
Additionally, in order to communicate securely and reliably, the handheld device may need to establish a secure communication link between itself and the other medical devices and systems. Such a process may require a user (such as a patient with reduced visual acuity and/or technical skill) to follow a complex procedure that requires extensive user input. Additionally, in order for those other medical devices and systems to communicate between themselves securely and reliably, each device/system may need to establish a secure communication link between itself and the other medical devices and systems. To establish each such communication link, a user (such as a patient with reduced visual acuity and/or technical skill) may have to perform a complex procedure that requires extensive user input, which is inefficient subject to error. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of establishing a secure communication link between a handheld device and other medical devices/systems that is relatively simple and reduces the number and complexity of user inputs.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Coexistence of multiple radios in a medical device


A computing resource monitoring service obtains access to aggregated metrics data from computing resources of a computing resource service provider. The computing resource monitoring service may then generate a predictive model based at least in part on the aggregated metrics. The predictive model may then be used to generate a prediction associated with the computing resource and, based at least in part on the prediction, one or more alarms may be triggered. The alarm may be triggered based at least in part on a confidence interval determined based at least in part on the prediction.

Organizations invest in technologies that provide customers with access to computing resources through services. Such services provide access to computing and/or storage resources (e.g., storage devices providing either a block-level device interface or a web service interface) to customers. Within multi-tier ecommerce systems, combinations of different types of resources may be allocated to customers and/or their applications, such as whole physical or virtual machines, CPUs, memory, network bandwidth, or I/O capacity. For example, block-level storage devices implemented by a storage service may be made accessible from one or more physical or virtual machines implemented by another service. To facilitate the utilization of data center resources, virtualization technologies may allow a single physical computing machine to host one or more instances of virtual machines that appear and operate as independent computer machines to a connected computer user. With virtualization, the single physical computing device can create, maintain, or delete virtual machines in a dynamic manner. In such large distributed computing system (e.g., multiple distributed data centers) of a computing resource service provider, various customers, users, services, and resources of the computing resource service provider frequently generate large amount of metrics data. For example, a single customer's virtual computing resources may produce millions of lines of log data in a single day or even a single hour. This log data may contain useful information for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and detecting issues and anomalies within these large distributed computing systems.
Customers and administrators of a computing resource service provider, as well as other users of computing resources of the computing resource service provider often utilize monitoring services to measure, diagnose, and improve how they operate their computing resources. For instance, through these monitoring services, customers, administrators, and other users can obtain data, such as log data, from their computing resources and use this data to determine whether their computing resources are functioning properly. If their computing resources are not functioning properly, the data can be used to identify and enable customers, administrators, and other users to troubleshoot any issues that may be present. However, monitoring services often process a significant volume of data over time resulting in a need to examine large amounts of data to detect and diagnose any issues. Conventional techniques for monitoring computing resources often result in significant latencies between when data indicative of an issue is obtained and when issues and/or solutions are identified in the data. Customers, administrators, and other users may wish to identify and troubleshoot issues sooner to determine whether an adjustment to the way their resources are operating is needed. However, most techniques utilized to reduce latency can result in inefficiencies and substantially higher infrastructure costs.

Predictive modeling for aggregated metrics


The present invention relates to a rice (Oryza sativa)-induced Oryza sativa modifier of plant type (OsMPT) protein which is involved in adjusting tillering angle or angle of attachment between a leaf and a stem, a gene encoding the protein, a recombinant plant expression vector including the gene, a plant transformed by the recombinant plant expression vector, a method for modifying architectures of plants by adjusting the level of the gene in the cells thereof, to a method for manufacturing an architecturally modified plant transformed by the gene, to a plant with increased yield which is manufactured by the method, and to a composition containing the gene for modifying the architectures of plants and increasing the yield thereof.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an OsMPT gene derived from rice (Oryza sativa) for modifying plant architecture and increasing yield, and uses thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recombinant plant expression vector including the OsMPT gene, a plant transformed with the recombinant plant expression vector, a process for modifying plant architecture and increasing yield by controlling the cellular level of the gene, a process for producing a plant with modified architecture and a plant with increased yield by transforming a plant with the gene, and a composition including the gene for modifying plant architecture and increasing yield.
2. Background Art
Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important food crop and a primary food source for more than a third of the world population. With the swift growth of rice consumers, higher rice production is required more than ever. Thus, the rice varieties with higher yield potential and yield stability are needed to meet the challenges of increased rice production [Khush 1997, Plant Mol. Biol. 35, 25-34]. The structure of the aerial part of a plant, referred to as plant architecture, has a great influence on production. In fact, tiller angle is an important characteristic for determining plant architecture in rice, i.e., wider tiller angle would increase leaf shade, whereas a narrower tiller angle is favored for dense planting. As such, erect growth (a narrow tiller angle), which allows relatively effective high-yield cultivation, has been targeted and continuously selected by plant breeders. However, to date, the molecular and genetic mechanisms controlling erect growth has remained unknown.
Although plant architecture is influenced by environmental factors, the genetic regulatory mechanisms play an important role in controlling plant architecture. There are genes known to be involved in the direct control of rice tiller angle; PROG1 (PROSTRATE GROWTH 1) encodes a single C2H2 zinc finger protein and prog1 mutants exhibited erect growth, greater grain number and higher grain yield in rice [Tan, et. al., 2008, Nat. Genet. 40, 1360-1364]. Mutation of TAC1 (Tiller Angle Control 1) caused rice plants to show extremely erect tillers and to be able to adapt highly dense cultivation in the field [Yu, et. al., 2007, Plant J. 52, 891-898]. LAZY1, TAC1 and PROG1 are strongly expressed in the leaf sheath pulvinus, tiller base, or laminar joint between leaf blade and leaf sheath.

OsMPT gene for modifying plant architecture and increasing yield, and uses thereof

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY


A photodetector and method for making the same are disclosed. The photodetector includes a photodetector die mounted on a substrate, an infrared filter, and an encapsulating layer. The infrared filter is positioned over the photodetector, the infrared filter blocking light in an infrared region of the optical spectrum while allowing light in a visible region of the optical spectrum to reach the photodetector die. The encapsulating layer surrounds the photodetector and the substrate, the infrared filter being embedded in the encapsulating layer, which is transparent to light in the visible region.

Illumination sources are required for many applications, including displays for a wide variety of computers and consumer devices such as TVs. Illumination sources based on fluorescent lights are particularly attractive because of their high light output per watt-hour of power consumed. However, such sources require high driving voltages, and this makes them less attractive for battery-operated devices.
As a result, there has been considerable interest in utilizing light sources based on LEDs in such applications. LEDs have better electrical efficiency than incandescent light sources and longer lifetimes than both incandescent and fluorescent light sources. In addition, the driving voltages needed are compatible with the battery power available on most portable devices. Finally, continued advancements in the efficiencies of LEDs hold the promise of providing a light source with significantly higher efficiencies than fluorescent light sources. Unfortunately, LEDs suffer from three drawbacks with respect to their spectral output.
One drawback is that LED emission in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum is relatively narrow, with typical FWHM of a few tens of nanometers. Therefore, an LED light source for generating an arbitrary color of light typically requires a plurality of LEDs. The relative intensities of the LEDs are adjusted by adjusting the average drive current through each of the LEDs. Feedback loops that depend on the measurement of the light output from each of the LEDs, or groups of LEDs, are typically utilized to adjust the average drive currents through the LEDs.
If each LEDs light output as a function of drive current remained constant over the life of the LED, the relative intensities of the LEDs could be set once at the factory. However, LEDs suffer from aging problems. As an LED ages, the average drive current through the LED must be increased to compensate for the aging of the LED. Since the aging effects are different for different color LEDs, the perceived color of the illumination source, and hence, the color of any associated display, will change over time, unless the drive currents are altered to compensate for the aging. In one class of light sources, the intensity of light in each of the color bands is measured by a corresponding photodetector. The drive conditions are then adjusted to maintain the output of the photodetectors at a set of predetermined values corresponding to the desired perceived color for the light source. This approach requires a design in which the photodetectors sample the light that is generated by the LEDs, and a feedback loop is provided between the photodetectors and the LEDs to compensate for the aging effects discussed above.
The light sensor used in the feedback loop typically includes one or more photodiodes. In some arrangements, one photodiode is used to measure each group of LEDs that emit light of a particular color. The output of the photodiode is used in a servo loop to adjust the average current through that group of LEDs. Unfortunately, the photodetectors in current use are sensitive not only to visible wavelengths, but also to infrared wavelengths, and hence, the output of the photodetector is not purely a function of the light of interest when infrared light is also present in the light received by the photodetector. The source of the infrared light can be the LEDs or ambient light sources that emit light that is also captured by the photodetectors. Hence, a feedback loop that operates on the signal from one of the photodetectors will not function properly unless the effects of the infrared can be eliminated. Since the amount of infrared reaching the photodetectors can vary over time, either the infrared reaching the photodetector must be measured and used to correct the feedback loop or some form of infrared filter must be incorporated in the feedback loop to block infrared from reaching the photodiodes in the photodetector.
In many applications, the infrared filter is incorporated into the package containing the photodetector. In the prior art, the filter is secured with adhesive to the top surface of the material encapsulating the die or dies of the photodetector package. Unfortunately, the thermal expansion coefficient of the filter material is typically very different from that of the underlying encapsulant. This mismatch leads to device failure when the package is subjected to large temperature cycles. For example, when the photodetector is mounted on a printed circuit board, or the like, using a solder reflow process.

Photodetector with embedded infrared filter

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A method and system for automatically managing an auction for determining relative priority for a service in a system wherein priority is based on the relative value of related bids is disclosed. The method comprises checking for whether a first bid exceeds a second bid in an auction for determining continuing priority for providing an ongoing service for at least a first and second bidder, wherein the relative priority for providing the service for the first bidder is dependent on whether the value of the first bid exceeds the value of the second bid, and wherein the relative priority for providing the service for the second bidder is dependent on whether the value of the second bid exceeds the value of the first bid. The method further comprises incrementing the first bid to a value exceeding the second bid if the first bid does not exceed the second bid, thereby causing the relative priority for providing service for the first bidder to exceed the priority for providing service for the second bidder. The steps of checking and incrementing may be executed a plurality of times. The system may pause for a fixed period of time between each series of steps of checking and incrementing.

For conventional online auctions such as that by EBAY by ebay, Inc. of San Jose, Calif., each item can only be sold once to the highest bidder. When the bid is accepted, the auction is over.
Continuous auctions include those for bidding for Internet search engine key-phrases in order to achieve the highest possible rankings on a search engine. The search engine found at GOTO.COM by Goto.com, Inc. of Pasadena, Calif. is an exemplary continuous auction. In this type of auction, the search engine lists web-page search results for a key-phrase search in the order of bid prices from advertisers. The advertiser with the highest bid for a given key-phrase appears first in the list, the next highest bidder appears second, etc. Since key-phrases are intangible, the same key-phrase can be sold to an unlimited number of users and the auction runs continuously with the rankings changing according to the current bids from advertisers.
As these and other types of continuous auctions become more common in many areas of commerce, it will become more difficult for bidders to monitor bids in several different auctions.
There exists a need for a system that monitors the current rankings in auctions and automatically adjusts its bids according to the rules defined by its user.

Online auction bid management system and method


A method and apparatus for electrostatically transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member (TIBM) to a receiver sheet is disclosed. A receiver sheet is moved within a nip defined between a transfer roller having a resistive outer layer and a toner image bearing member supporting a toner image. To provide for transfer, there is applied an electrical bias to the resistive layer from a conductive member located beneath the resistive layer and in electrical contact with the resistive layer. There are also applied to an outer surface of the resistive layer a first contact voltage to establish an post-nip electrical voltage distribution to a post-nip region of the transfer roller that is immediately downstream of an in-nip region. The post-nip electrical voltage distribution is accomplished by having the first contact voltage be applied at first points on the outer layer of the transfer roller, the first points being within or proximate the post-nip region. There is also applied to the resistive outer layer a second contact voltage to establish an electrical voltage distribution to a pre-nip region of the transfer roller immediately up-stream of the in-nip region. This pre-nip electrical voltage distribution is accomplished by having the contact voltage be applied at second points on the outer layer of the transfer roller, the second points being within or proximate the pre-nip region. The resistivity of the outer layer, the voltage provided to the conductive member, the voltage bias to the TIBM, and the first and second contact voltages establish an in-nip electrical field or voltage suitable for transfer of the toner image to a receiver sheet and for suppression or reduction of pre-nip and post-nip ionization.

This invention relates to electrostatography and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for transferring toner images to receiver sheets.
Ideally, in transferring a toner image from an image-bearing member to a receiver sheet, the electrostatic transfer force on the toned image must be made as high as possible in the transfer nip. Increasing the applied electric field increases the electrostatic force. However, the electric field is limited by air breakdown (ionization) which occurs when the electric field exceeds the Paschen limit (see R. M. Schaffert, Electrophotography, Focal Press, New York (1975), pp. 514-518). While a small amount of ionization can be tolerated, excessive ionization causes image defects and reduces transfer efficiency.
Three distinct regions can be identified in the transfer region: pre-nip, in-nip, and post-nip (see FIG. 1). When using a conventional resistive transfer roller to transfer toner to a receiver the electric field in the air gaps and toner stacks increases as the image traverses the pre-nip and in-nip regions of the nip. In the post-nip region the electric field decreases as the image moves away from the nip. In the pre-nip region it is desirable to keep the magnitude of electric field low to prevent i) premature toner transfer across large air gaps, which blurs the image, and ii) pre-nip ionization, which causes image mottle and poor transfer efficiency. The electric field in the transfer nip (the in-nip region), however, must be larger than in the pre-nip region because this is where transfer of the toned image should occur. Ideally, the electric field in the transfer nip is made as large as possible without allowing significant ionization or pre-nip transfer. The electrical properties of the transfer roller must be carefully selected to maximize the electric field used for toner transfer and, at the same time, minimize the amount of ionization.
It is well known in the art to use a resistive transfer roller to optimize toner transfer from an imaging member to a final receiver (paper). Meager, U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,105 (1987) describes the use of a transfer roller for transferring toner images to a receiving sheet. This reference suggests the transfer roller have a blanket with a resistivity of 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.11 ohm-cm.
Bartholmae and Tompkins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,490 (1994) and Koike et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,013 (1994) disclose the use of transfer rollers containing multiple parallel electrodes to aid paper handling and also to control the application of an electrical bias during the transfer of toner images.
Zaretsky, U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,526 (1993) points out that transfer can be improved by separately specifying the resistivity of an intermediate transfer roller and a second transfer roller, which form a nip for transfer to paper.
One difficulty encountered by the aforementioned techniques of utilizing transfer rollers is the limitation imposed by air breakdown (ionization) in the vicinity of the nip in which the toner is transferred to the receiver. Air breakdown degrades the transfer efficiency and image quality of toner images, especially multi-color images, by altering the quantity of charge on the toner particles. In practice, this problem is amplified because transfer rollers are typically doped with anti-stats or other conducting materials that are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity. There is a need to overcome these problems in order to improve the transfer to paper, especially for high quality color imaging and it is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for transferring a toner image to a receiver sheet that overcomes or minimizes such problems.

Biasing method and apparatus for electrostatically transferring an image


Disclosed here are compositions comprising a curcuminoid-peptide complex. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a curcuminoid-peptide complex, comprising obtaining a curcuminoid; obtaining a peptide; and mixing the curcuminoid and the peptide in a solvent. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject, the method comprising identifying a subject in need of treatment of a curcumin-related disorder, and administering to the subject a therapeutic composition comprising a curcuminoid-peptide complex as described. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions comprising a curcuminoid-peptide complex as described and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier.

Turmeric is a curry spice obtained from the rhizome of Curcuma longa of the ginger family, and has a long history of use in ayurvedic medicine and in traditional Asian diets. The principal bioactive component of turmeric is curcumin (1,7-bis[4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione), a yellow pigment first identified in 1910. Curcumin is used widely in the United States for food coloring (e.g, in mustard, cheese, spices, cereals, potato flakes, soups, pickles, ice cream, and yogurt), and also as a nutraceutical. Recently, Curcumin has become a focus of pharmaceutical development. A June 2011 report stated that 61 clinical trials registered with the U.S. National Institutes of Health were completed or underway on the use of dietary curcumin in treating a variety of clinical disorders.
Commercial curcumin contains curcumin itself (77%), desmethoxycurcumin (DMC, 17%) and bisdesmethoxycurcumin (BDMC, 3%); the latter two differ from curcumin only by lacking one or both methoxy groups, respectively. As a group these compounds and their derivatives for pharmaceutical use are referred to as curcuminoids. Among the major cellular metabolites of these three compounds are the tetrahydrocurcuminoids, in which both vinylidene groups are reduced, i.e., THC (tetrahydrocurcumin), TDMC (tetrahydrodesmethoxycurcumin) and TBDMC (tetrahydrobisdesmethoxycurcumin). The tetrahydrocurcuminoids retain the bioactivity but are colorless and more chemically stable than the curcuminoids.
Curcumin's medicinal properties include reported effects that are antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal, antiteratogenic, antiproliferative and antimetaststic, and it is safe for human consumption even at the level of 8 g/day ingestion for sustained periods. Studies have shown that to varying degrees curcumin promotes wound healing and has therapeutic and or preventive effects against diabetes, asthma, allergies, cataracts, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, myelodysplastic syndromes, cystic fibrosis, myocardial infarctions, high cholesterol, stroke, malaria, HIV, HSV-1, psoriasis, and others. Among the diseases for which curcumin has ameliorative effects are autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, and several types of cancer.
Medicinal use of curcumin has been limited because the compound is virtually insoluble (dissolution of only ca. 600 ng/mL) in water at acidic and physiological pH and hydrolyzes rapidly at alkaline pH. Plasma concentrations from high human oral doses (8-12 g/day) of curcumin are just in the nanomolar range. Most therapeutic in vitro studies on curcumin have solubilized it in organic solvents. Those solvents include dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), acetone and ethanol but they have limited suitability for in vivo studies themselves. Curcumin's poor solubility decreases its bioavailability throughout the body, and specifically at the brain, where curcumin does not readily cross the brain-blood barrier.
Consequently, there is an ongoing need for methods and processes that enhance curcumin's bioavailability.

Curcumin-peptide conjugates and formulations thereof


A microbial sampling, filtration, and recovery device which utilizes a wash solution on meat carcasses and a vacuum source to vacuum the wash solution and suspended microbes into a collection device. The collection device includes pre-filters for removing debris, and a microbial filter. The filter is small enough to filter out bacteria, and since this size of filter seriously reduces air flow, an alternate route for air is provided through a hydrophobic filter. Bacteria captured on the filter is back-flushed into a collection vessel where it is concentrated in a subsequent centrifuge step. The concentrated microbial sample is available for use in rapid detection methods.

1. Technical Field
This application relates generally to microbial sampling and filtering devices, and more specifically to suction devices for sampling, filtering, recovering and/or concentrating microbial populations.
2. Background
Outbreaks of human enteric diseases caused by food borne E. coli 0157/H7, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejumi/coli and Listeria monocytogenes caused an estimated 5,000,000 illnesses and 3,700 deaths in the U.S. in 1993. Costs due to medical and production losses are estimated between $4.7 and $7.5 billion for the same period. Foods are routinely tested for microbial contamination during the process of preparing a food for consumption by consumers. With meats, a main problem is contamination with E. coli bacteria. E. coli bacteria are a type of bacteria which is generally present in the digestive tract and fecal material of animals.
Meat processors are under increasing requirements to ensure that their meat processing systems produce meat which is free of E. coli or other bacteria pathogenic contamination. One program which has been recently introduced is called "Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Point", or HACCP. This program is based on analyzing a system to determine at what critical points increased control would result in a marked improvement of quality or reduction of contamination of the food product. Under this program, food processors are required to analyze their systems and determine at which critical control points increased testing should be utilized. Once these critical control points are identified, increased testing at these critical points should result in better control of the food process, and more assurance of safety of the final food product.
Under the HACCP Program, the USDA will require over 9,000 meat and poultry establishments to conduct more bacterial lab tests than are presently performed. It is also a major goal of microbial lab test protocols on meat and poultry samples to report at least preliminary test results within a few hours of sampling animal carcasses. This ideal goal would likely save millions of dollars annually for the industry, since recalls and holding times of suspect products would be reduced.
In the processing of beef and other meat products, some of the earliest steps are to hang the beef by its hind legs, skin the beef, remove the entrails from the beef, and split the beef in half down the center line. It has been determined that these steps are critical control points and are steps during which there is a heightened possibility of contamination. Since E. coli bacteria exists in the intestinal tract and feces of beef and other animals, the process of skinning the carcass around the anus, and removing the entrails by a worker using a knife, presents a high possibility of the knife becoming contaminated with E. coli bacteria. If a knife thus contaminated is laid down on a surface, other equipment which comes in contact with the same surface can be cross-contaminated. For this reason it is critical to be able to sample the beef carcass after the entrails have been removed and after the skin has been removed, to check for the presence of E. coli bacteria. It is also critical to be able to test other surfaces and equipment, such as the surfaces of knives, table tops or meat grinders to check for the presence of E. coli bacteria.
A variety of non-destructive bacterial sample collection devices are commercially available for sampling large animal carcasses. These include direct agar contact, adhesive contact tape, rinsing, scraping and vacuuming. Vacuuming or aspiration procedures have not been successfully applied to meat animal carcasses. A bacterial, or dust particle vacuuming method, has been used on clean room surfaces. This design would not have application on animal carcasses. The PASS carcass sampler utilizes a sterile spray applied to the carcass surface, followed by collection of the residual liquid by aspiration or pressure. This device is manufactured by pbi of Italy. This sampling device has not been widely accepted in the United States.
The most practical of the current methods for sampling bacteria on larger animal carcasses involve the use of swabs or sponges, with and without templates, which blot, wipe or soak up surface moisture and accompanying microbes from the selected surfaces. These methods can collect a single bacterial colony forming a unit (cfu), if adsorbed during sampling. The principle behind this technique is that for every individual bacterium which was originally on the sterile sponge or cotton swab, each of those individual bacterium will be transferred to the broth and later to the agar in the petri dish. Over a period of about 18 hours at the proper temperature and atmospheric conditions (E. coli are normally aerobic bacteria), each of the individual bacterium (cfu) will have grown by cell division into a colony of bacteria, with each colony on an agar plate being visible to the naked eye. Since these bacteria typically double their population in approximately 20 to 30 minutes under ideal conditions, after 18 hours in nutrient broth or on agar plates, sufficient divisions of the original bacteria will have occurred so that the increased numbers of bacteria may be more readily detected.
This sponge method assumes a consistent increased affinity of the collection device surface over that of the sampled surface during collection. Since bacteria affinity and attachment to carcass surfaces are influenced by surface pH, carcass temperature, texture, hydrophobicity, ionic strength, and surface moisture, actual percentages of total microbes collected may be less than representative.
Many of the bacteria which were on the meat could be trapped within folds of the carcass surface or within rough areas, fat cells or connective tissue and simply not be wiped off onto the sponge. Of those bacteria that do get wiped onto the sponge, many of them may stick to the sponge and not be transferred to the broth solution or the petri dishes during a quick rinse or transfer attempts. The incubation time of 18 hours means that if a beef carcass were severely contaminated, it would have moved along the process for 18 hours and may have cross contaminated other beef carcasses or other cutting utensils or handling machinery.
A further limitation to this method is that moisture saturated sponges may spread pathogens from one location to another during sampling of more than one location on a carcass. Reversing sides of the sponge and sampling the three recommended sites on beef and swine carcasses from least to most likely contaminated, offers a good approach to circumventing this problem. But, if used incorrectly, or in cases of abnormal carcass bacterial distribution, it may contribute to further spreading of pathogens.
Current sampling methods result in routine lab specimens which require several hours of enrichment growth before analysis for bacteria identification. Following enrichment procedures, standard or rapid bacterial detection methods may be used. In an attempt to conduct faster analysis during current collection methods and rapid bacteria detection kits, carcass collection sponges may be rinsed or soaked for short time periods in buffered solutions. Results of these procedures are questionable because bacterial numbers are normally low. False negative lab results are more potentially dangerous to consumers than false positives. Therefore, rapid detection methods are not routinely acceptable with current collection techniques without enrichment steps.
Filtration and centrifugation of dilute liquid samples or broth suspected of containing microbes are commonly used in laboratories to separate debris, and to capture and concentrate bacteria for subsequent identification or other testing. Whole bird rinse solutions could be concentrated with these methods, but large fluid volumes from these animal carcasses are cumbersome for routine lab analysis, especially when a large number of samples are involved.
In recent years there have been great improvements in the detection methods for bacteria. For instance, rapid detection systems for E. coli 0157/H7 and Salmonella are currently available that require only a few hours to complete. Current rapid detection methods do not require culturing, but allow a sample to be analyzed in a period of several hours. The shortcoming with these rapid detection methods is that a fairly concentrated sample is required. Most of these methods are not directly applicable to bird or sponge rinse solution currently used because of the low number of pathogens normally collected from carcasses, plus the dilution effect of the rinses. Time and labor-consuming procedures for enrichment and bacterial concentration are required before using the rapid Elisa, PCR or similar identification tests. Improved rapid sampling and processing methods are needed to efficiently utilize these new bacteria identification techniques. Current non-destructive bacterial sampling methods for large animal carcasses have several drawbacks which may be magnified under mandates and ramifications of the HACCP programs. These methods:
A. allow sampling of a limited carcass area only; PA1 B. result in bacterial solutions too dilute for same day analysis; PA1 C. require extended lab enrichment time; PA1 D. require high labor and time expenditure.
Regardless of the lab procedure, improved bacterial sampling methods, especially for large animal carcasses which cannot utilize whole body rinse techniques, are needed which can facilitate larger surface area sampling without undue increases in labor and material. In addition, new sampling methods would allow the meat and poultry establishments to routinely benefit from the use of recently developed rapid detection methods for E. coli 0157/H7 and other human pathogens.
Accordingly, what is needed is a sampling method and device by which more bacteria are removed from the surface which is sampled. It is a further object that once removed from the surface, more of the collected bacteria which are sampled pass through the sampling system and end up being counted, i.e., improved bacterial recovery. To promote improved recovery, bacteria should be readily collectable from the sampling process and equipment.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus by which bacteria on such surfaces can be detected in a shortened time period.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a sampling method by which large volumes of dilute rinse and bacteria suspensions could provide concentrated bacterial populations, and in a shortened period of time over existing sampling methods and equipment.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A pushbutton mechanism for keyboards includes a bridge in a pushbutton that has an inner frame and an outer frame to make the pushbutton movable up and down. The inner frame and outer frame are intersected and coupled together, and have respectively inner side brackets and outer side brackets that have a stub shaft and a pivot portion to form a relative turning relationship. The inner and outer side brackets have respectively harness bosses and harness recesses corresponding to each other to allow the pushbutton to form a lifting position and a lower position in normal conditions. The bridge thus formed can generate a steadier relative turning and confine the stroke distance for the pushbutton.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pushbutton mechanism for keyboards and particularly to a pushbutton mechanism that has a bridge interposed between a key cap and a base plate to provide a steady relative turning and confine the pushbutton stroke.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The conventional pushbutton mechanism for thin keyboards mainly includes a bridge (or called scissors-type moving mechanism), a circuit board, an actuation means and a base plate (some also have the bridge mounting onto a bridge board, and have the circuit board interposed between the bridge board and the base plate). The techniques of the bridge mechanism can be divided into two types, each has its benefits and drawbacks as discussed below:
1. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,278,374, 5,555,971, 5,964,341 and 6,428,223 propose a bridge that has an inner frame and an outer frame with corresponding stub shafts and pivot portions on the side brackets. The inner frame and outer frame are coupled on an axle which can reduce rotational friction to make turning smoother. But the inner and outer frames are difficult to fabricate and couple together. To control turning of the bridge to achieve a desired pushbutton stroke, extending lugs have to be provided for harness. This technique was disclosed in R.O.C. patent publication No. 511772.
2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,501 discloses a technique which has an inner frame and outer frame with mating bosses and recesses coupled in a straddle manner. The inner and outer frames can be fabricated and coupled together, and the bosses and recesses are corresponding to each other and can control the pushbutton stroke. An improvement is disclosed in R.O.C. patent publication No. 539177. However, the straddle coupling does not provide a desired positioning harness. A greater turning friction occurs and the frames could be separated.
3. The aforesaid conventional techniques have a common problem, namely when the inner and outer frames of the bridge are coupled together, they have to maintain a constant allowance in normal conditions during turning relative to each other to avoid contact friction between them so that wearing or fracturing can be prevented. But the present techniques of the bridge do not provide a harness mechanism for the inner and outer frames. The inner and outer frames could have transverse movements and result in damages.


The present invention includes an apparatus for removing moisture from at least one user including a first set of riser ducts having openings, a first frame supporting the first set of riser ducts, each one of the first set of riser ducts having an elongated, tapered configuration allowing the volumetric capacity to decrease along a length thereof, and a first face plate arranged opposite the first set of riser ducts and having slots corresponding with the openings of the first set of riser ducts. The apparatus further including a first set of connecting duct segments communicating with the first set of riser ducts, respectively, each one of the first connecting duct segments having a length corresponding with each one of the first set of riser ducts, respectively, at least one motor for discharging air to the first set of connecting duct segments, and at least one heater for heating the air discharged by said at least one motor. The present invention provides each one of the holes of the first set of riser ducts ejecting a uniform velocity of air flow resulting in a uniform wall.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to an air drying device, specifically relating to blowing heated air to dry the full body of a person.
2. Prior Art
Hand and hair dryers have been in use by the general public for some time. For the most part such dryers consist of a heating element, a blower or fan and a motor. The hand dryer type are usually found in public washrooms and are normally mounted on a wall. One advantage of dryers over towel drying is that it is generally more sanitary and cost efficient. Other dryers, which vary in design, are for drying the entire body of a person. Examples of such conventional dryers are U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,161; U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,272; U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,705 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,587 which may be efficient in certain aspects; however such conventional devices do not make use of space saving slender air panels and, thus, may not be as practical for use in applications such as the Health Care Industry. U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,900 depicts a dryer used for the elderly or infirmed but does not make use of space saving slender air panels. Other prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,595; U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,182; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,189 are directed towards portable body dryers for full body drying which would entail moving such devices from a storage place to the bath area each time needed. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,577 illustrates a heater/dryer device for the human body although being limited in the area of coverage it can dry at one time.
While all these devices work to dry the hands, hair and body to one degree or another, each one is limited in its ability to serve the user as a body dryer for which they were developed.


A method and apparatus for checking the integrity of an autolubrication system for large trucks, busses and the like includes an autolubrication system which includes a pump in communication with a plurality of conduits for forcing lubricants through the conduits under pressure. Preferably the conduits are subdivided into main conduits which are formed of steel, manifolds which receive the lubricants from the main conduits, and a plurality of at least partially flexible runner lines extending from the manifolds to lubrication receiving points. In accordance with one aspect of the method and apparatus, the pump can be activated from a remote location so as to enable the user to feel the runner lines with his or her hands immediately following actuation of the pump to ensure that a discharge pulse can be felt, thereby indicating that lubricant is properly passing through the other line. In accordance with another aspect of the method and apparatus, sensors may be placed along the conduits to monitor pressure changes and thereby ensure that the conduits are properly carrying lubricant to the lubrication-receiving points.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering grease or some other lubricant to various locations on a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus used to conveniently ensure than an automatic lubrication system is functioning properly.
2. State of the Art
In order to function properly and to reduce premature wear, most motor vehicles require that joints in the chassis, steering mechanisms and other structures be lubricated periodically. On an truck, such lubrication is typically done every 8,000 to 10,000 miles when the oil is changed to ensure that premature wear does not develop.
With most large trucks, however, simply applying lubrication with every oil change is not sufficient. A large tractor-trailer truck or a bus may cover the 3-5,000 mile range in a matter of a week, and such vehicles are typically configured so that a much greater distance can be traveled between regular oil changes. Additionally, the significant weight of the truck or bus leads quickly to premature wear if the components are not frequently lubricated, and the significant cost of such vehicles necessitates that they be properly maintained.
To further complicate the lubrication process, a truck may have dozens or even a hundred different lubrication-receiving points which need periodic applications of grease, etc. A common number of lubrication-receiving points for many trucks is approximately thirty two, and the lubrication-receiving points are disposed at various locations around the truck. If each of these points were to be hand lubricated as is commonly done with automobiles, considerable time would be lost.
To overcome these concerns, automatic lubrication systems were developed. One common system utilizes a grease pump which is connected by a plurality of main conduits to a plurality of manifolds. Once in the manifolds, the grease is channeled down one of several secondary conduits in the form of runner lines, and is ultimately ejected from a lubrication fitting onto the surface which needs lubrication. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the tractor of a tractor-trailer truck and the various points which may be lubricated by such an automatic lubrication system, generally indicated at 10.
When the user desires to lubricate the various lubrication points 14, the user activates a pump 18. The pump moves grease or some other lubricant through one or more conduits 22, which feed one or more manifolds 26. The runner lines 30 extend from each manifold 26 and each terminates at a lubrication point 14. Thus, the user is able to apply lubricant to each lubrication point from a single location.
One problem with such a system is that it is difficult for the user to tell if the system is working properly. If the conduit 22 has broken, the grease will flow out of the conduit and will not be applied to the various lubrication-receiving points 14. If such a situation is not caught quickly, considerable damage can be done to the vehicle.
More likely than not, however, a failure is in one of the runner lines 30 which extend from the manifold to a lubrication-receiving point 14. While the overall damage caused by such a failure is not as great as a failure of a main conduit 22, a failure in a runner line 30 is more likely to go for an extended period of time without being noticed. During this time, considerable damage can be done to the surface which should have been lubricated.
To prevent such an occurrence from happening, the driver of the truck or bus would occasionally have to crawl under the truck or bus and examine the autolubrication system to make such each part was working properly. Such an inspection, however, can take a considerable amount of time and is often inconvenient--especially in foul weather.
Thus, there is a need for a method and an apparatus which can be used to check such an autolubrication system to ensure that it is working properly and that each lubrication point is receiving the lubricant. Such a method and apparatus should enable the user to check each main conduit and each runner line to ensure that lubrication is being dispensed as desired. Such a method and apparatus should also enable the activation of the autolubrication system from a substantially remote location, i.e. when the user is adjacent any one of the lubrication points.

Method and apparatus for checking the integrity of an autolubrication system


A motorcycle bag is provided having an adjustable enclosure for securing the motorcycle bag to a sissy bar of a motorcycle. Using layers of various sized panels, including a panel that can be expanded using closure means such as a pair of zippers, discreet sized closed loops are formed to fit over different sized motorcycle sissy bars. By expanding the adjustable panel, more sizes are available to the user providing a plurality of options for fitting the motorcycle bag onto different motorcycles. The motorcycle bag preferably includes a protective covering tethered to the bag within a storage compartment that may be withdrawn to cover and insulate the motorcycle bag from moisture, rain, and wind during travel in inclement weather. The motorcycle bag further preferably includes an organizer for storing various travel items and hide-away arm straps for carrying the motorcycle bag like a backpack when the motorcycle bag is not affixed to a motorcycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to travel bags, and more particularly to a travel bag adapted to be secured to a motorcycle.
2. Description of Related Art
Backpacks were once the travel accessory of choice of the motorcycle rider. Since there is very little cargo capability on many motorcycles, backpacks were convenient because they could be worn on the rider's back freeing both hands for steering. To the motorcycle rider, the backpack substituted for the trunk, glove box, backseat, and various other storage compartments enjoyed by the driver of a four-wheeled vehicle. Backpacks, however, are ill suited for carrying documents and various items such as phones, pens, calculators, etc. because they lack rudimentary organizational features. Moreover, because the backpacks may be loaded with an assortment of items on a long journey, backpacks can become heavy and uncomfortable on longer motorcycle rides. Thus, many motorcycle riders tried to tie the backpack to the motorcycle itself and thereby relieve the rider of the burden of carrying the backpack while driving. A common and convenient place to secure the backpack was to the sissy bar, a seat back found on most motorcycles that serves as a back rest for a passenger, or in some cases the rider. Using elastic cords, twine, or rope, riders secured their backpack to the sissy bar to avoid wearing the backpacks while driving. Eventually, the motorcycle bag became a separate device designed specifically to be secured to the motorcycle.
Today, motorcycle bags are used as a common storage and travel companion of the motorcycle rider. However, motorcycle bags still resemble backpacks in their lack of sophistication and adaptability. The art lacks a convenient and adaptable method of securing a motorcycle bag to various motorcycles. The present invention solves a longstanding need for a motorcycle bag that is adaptable to various size motorcycle sissy bars, to changing environmental conditions, and further provides for the needs of the business person/motorcycle rider.