In order to prevent analysis by static and dynamic disassembly techniques, instruction level code obfuscation is performed to induce misalignment and mistaken analysis by disassemblers. Misalignment is induced by including a bypass which leads, during execution, to a legitimate location. During analysis, however, bogus data may be analyzed by the disassembler due to the bypass. Run-time modifications may also be included in code. Code is changed to an invalid state, and instructions inserted into the code which will return the code to a valid state during execution. During analysis, these invalid states may be analyzed by the disassembler as invalid instructions. Induced misalignments and run-time modifications can be chained together to produce sequences of code that will always produce invalid disassembly output from common disassemblers.

Generally, computer applications run by executing object code. The object code controls the actions of the computer systems on which it is run. Such code may be made public or otherwise made accessible by its authors, for example by publishing the original source code that was compiled to create the object code. When software is sold publicly, the object code will be accessible for analysis by others. The original authors may also choose to make the object code more accessible by other programmers by including "debug symbols" which are data files which help to describe the structure of the object code so that users of the object code can debug their own programs. However, for some uses, it is advisable to protect code, including object code, from examination by possible adversaries. For example, where the code represents the best available implementation of a particular algorithm, the code itself may represent a trade secret. In another example, where code is used to secure content, it may be useful to protect the code in order to ensure the security of the content from an adversary.
Maintaining the security of content may be useful in many contexts. One such context is where the content is private information, for example, financial information about a computer user, user passwords, or other personal information. Another context in which maintaining the security of content is useful is when the secure content is content which is to be used only in a limited way. For example, copyrighted content may be protected by requiring a license for use.
License provisions may be enforced for secure content by a digital rights management (DRM) application. In some DRM applications, content is stored only in an encrypted form, and then decrypted for use according to an electronic license which defines the specific user's rights to use the content. Some or all of the code and associated decryption data which decrypts the encrypted content is therefore protected, because if this code which accesses the copyrighted context is compromised, it may be possible to access the copyright outside of the bounds of the electronic license, for unlicensed uses.
Code which protects sensitive information or performs other sensitive operations is, in some contexts, referred to as a "black box." The black box may include hardware elements along with software elements. When a black box (or other sensitive code) is being used on a computer system, an adversary may use several means in order to attempt to compromise the security of the operations of the black box. For example, an adversary may attempt to trace the code running in the black box. One way in which an adversary may attempt to do this is by using a debugger to track the progress of the code. Another way an adversary may attempt to compromise the security of the black box is by making modifications to the code in order to provide access to the secure content to the adversary.
There are numerous tools for discouraging static analysis of binary images of code. Static analysis is analysis of the code when it is not executing. For example, certain of these tools for discouraging static analysis allow sections of binaries to be rendered unreadable at or after compile time. For example, some tools encrypt sections of the binary. Thus, before run-time, the binary is unreadable. When the code is to be run, the code is returned to its original state, e.g. by decryption where the modification was encryption. Therefore, an adversary will not be able to perform a static analysis on the binary, but the code will function properly when it is decrypted for execution.
Increasingly, however, dynamic analysis tools and dynamic analyzers integrated with debuggers are being created and used. Such tools allow an adversary to examine code as it is executing. Because the code, as it is executing, has been returned to its unmodified state (e.g. by decryption) it can be analyzed by an adversary using techniques that exist for static analysis. Therefore, static analysis prevention tools such as encryption of binaries are not effective protection for sensitive code, which must be protected from both static and dynamic disassembly techniques.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a system that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

Static and run-time anti-disassembly and anti-debugging


Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods of forming a microcrystalline silicon layer on a substrate in a deposition chamber. In, one embodiment, the method includes flowing a processing gas into a diffuser region between a backing plate and a showerhead of the deposition chamber, flowing the processing gas through a plurality of holes in the showerhead and into a process volume between the showerhead and a substrate support in the deposition chamber, igniting a plasma in the process volume, back-flowing gas ions formed in the plasma through the plurality of holes in the showerhead and into the diffuser region, mixing the gas ions and the processing gas in the diffuser region, re-flowing the gas ions and processing gas through the plurality of holes in the showerhead and into the process volume, and depositing a microcrystalline silicon layer on the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to thin-film formation, such as for solar cells, and methods for forming thin-films. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of forming an intrinsic-type silicon layer having mixed silicon phases formed in thin-film and crystalline solar cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photovoltaic (PV) devices or solar cells are devices which convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electrical power. Crystalline silicon solar cells and thin-film solar cells are two types of solar cells. Crystalline silicon solar cells typically use either mono-crystalline substrates (i.e., single-crystal substrates of pure silicon) or multi-crystalline silicon substrates (i.e., poly-crystalline or polysilicon). Additional film layers are deposited onto the silicon substrates to improve light capture, form the electrical circuits, and protect the devices. Thin-film solar cells use thin layers of materials deposited on suitable substrates to form one or more p-n junctions. Suitable substrates include glass, metal, and polymer substrates.
Typically, a thin-film solar cell includes active regions, or photoelectric conversion units, and a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film disposed as a front electrode and/or as a backside electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a p-type silicon layer, an n-type silicon layer, and an intrinsic-type (i-type) silicon layer sandwiched between the p-type and n-type silicon layers. Several types of silicon films, including microcrystalline silicon film (pc-Si), amorphous silicon film (a-Si), polycrystalline silicon film (poly-Si), and the like, may be utilized to form the p-type, n-type, and/or i-type layers of the photoelectric conversion unit. The backside electrode may contain one or more conductive layers. When the photoelectric conversion unit of the solar cell is exposed to sunlight (consisting of energy from photons), the sunlight is converted to electricity through the PV effect.
Thin-film solar cells are generally formed from numerous types of films, or layers, put together in many different ways. Most films used in such devices incorporate a semiconductor element that may comprise silicon, germanium, carbon, boron, phosphorous, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and the like. Characteristics of the different films include degrees of crystallinity, dopant type, dopant concentration, film refractive index, film extinction coefficient, film transparency, film absorption, conductivity, thickness, and roughness. Most of these films can be formed by use of a chemical vapor deposition process, which may include some degree of ionization or plasma formation.
Insufficient crystallinity of the silicon film for layers that should be microcrystalline or polycrystalline may cause incomplete formation and fraction of the film, thereby reducing the conversion efficiency in a PV solar cell. Additionally, conventional deposition processes of microcrystalline silicon film have slow deposition rates, which disadvantageously reduce manufacturing throughput and increase production costs.
To expand the economic use of solar cells, efficiency must be improved both in the solar cells themselves and in the processes used to manufacture solar cells. With the increase of energy cost as well as environmental concerns, there is a need for more efficient thin-film solar cells and more efficient formation of thin-films in solar cells.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method for depositing a microcrystalline silicon film.

Gas mixing method realized by back diffusion in a PECVD system with showerhead


The present invention provides a dye solution of anthraquinone blue dyes in a non-polar organic solvent, which dyes are a mixture of dyes of the general formulae: ##STR1## where the Rs on each compound are selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexyl, mixed amyl, n-butyl and methyl, and wherein said dye mixture is the reaction product of quinizarin and/or leuco quinizarin and between about 15 and about 35 mole % of each of 2-ethylhexylamine, n-butylamine, amylamine and methylamine. The dye solutions, at high concentrations, are stable at low temperatures. These dye solutions also provide high tinctorial strength.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/911,889, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, is directed to a method of producing aminoanthraquinone blue colorants. The method set forth therein reacts quinizarin and/or its leuco derivative with a mixture of aliphatic amines, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a glycol and/or a glycol ether. Subsequent to the reaction, excess amine and water are removed, leaving a highly concentrated solution of dyes in the glycol or glycol ether. The solution can be directly diluted with a non-polar aromatic solvent to provide a dye solution of high concentration.
While U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/911,889 described the production of highly concentrated dye solutions, experience has shown that there is a limit to the concentration of such solutions if they are subject to exposure to low temperatures, e.g., -20.degree. C., during shipping and handling.
There has been a need to have even more highly concentrated dye solutions which are stable at low temperatures, i.e., down to -20.degree. C.
The present invention is directed to a dye solution which is the reaction product of quinizarin and/or leuco-quinizarin and a mixture of four particular amines in specific relative molar ratios, which dyes solution can be highly concentrated, yet stable at low temperatures, e.g., down to -20.degree. C.

High strength, storage stable, anthraquinone blue dye solutions


The present invention is a device embodying a reel-based game. The reel-based game includes a plurality of reels and a plurality of mini-reels. The mini-reels replace one or more of the plurality of reels or may replace one or more symbol-bearing positions of the reels. The added feature of the plurality of mini-reels enables the possible attainment of a greater number of symbol combinations and winning outcomes by replacing standard paylines associated with the reel or reel position with sets of paylines that cover all mini-reel-based outcomes.

Slot machines have been a form of entertainment for many decades. They began as strictly mechanical machines but later developed into electro-mechanical and electronic gaming devices that displayed the slot machine game as graphic and video images on a computer screen. With the advent of electronic gaming machines, the game designer was no longer restricted to the limitations imposed by mechanical devices but could now develop many new and exciting features, limited only by the processing power and memory of the electronic machine, and the designer's creativity.
It has always been a goal of the game designer to develop games of ever-increasing entertainment value. The greater the entertainment value the greater the machine's use and, generally, the greater revenue received by the slot machine provider. Therefore, the power of the electronic gaming machine was tapped to create not only games with colorful graphic displays and animations, but also to add bonus games and other features. These bonuses and features not only further increased the level of entertainment but also provided a perceived benefit to the player—a chance to win more.
Thus, numerous bonus games and other game features have been developed over the years to enhance overall play of the games. There is a continual effort to create newer and better bonuses and features to attract players to those games that possess such and to cause the player to want to continue playing the game for extended periods of time.
One example of a common bonus game that has been developed is the "pick 'em" game. In that bonus game, the player generally selects icons with various hidden awards that are revealed once selected. Typically, one or more icons will reveal a termination symbol that ends the bonus. The player collects the awards won until such time as the bonus game is terminated. Many variations on this basic bonus game have been developed, but need not be described here. Another common bonus game is a "free spin bonus". As the name suggests, upon entering the bonus, the player is awarded a certain number of free spins. The symbol sets and award outcomes used in the free spin game may be the same or different from those used in the base game that triggered the free spin bonus. Some outcomes may add to or decrease the number of free spins awarded. Again, this is a description of a basic free spin bonus game. Many variations on this type of bonus have been developed, but need not be described here. The basic "pick 'em" and "free spin bonus" are just two examples of a myriad of bonus games developed by game designers and developers. Bonus games can be triggered as a result of the outcome of the base game, randomly, or based on some other criteria unrelated to the play of the game, such as amount of time spent playing at that casino or at that particular slot machine.
In addition to bonus games, various features have been developed to enhance the play of the base game. One of the first such features was in regards to paylines. Initially, games had only one line on which a player could bet. Therefore, outcomes were based on symbol combinations along that line. The line usually was made up by envisioning an imaginary line across the center row of symbols. Gradually more paylines became popular, starting with three paylines, then five paylines and now more than 100 paylines, any of which can be played during a given play of the game.
As a more modern example, a feature know as Split Symbols® by game developer and manufacturer IGT has been used to put multiple symbols in one position of the symbol matrix thus establishing multiples of the same symbols along the payline from the one position as opposed to just one symbol. These Split Symbol games can therefore result in greater wins since more symbols can thus lie along the payline to potentially create greater awards and a higher award frequency. Another example is symbol stacking. In such games, sections of virtual reels may be randomly replaced or replaced based on a given outcome with symbols of a kind thus creating a display of like symbols throughout the symbol matrix. This creates a real or perceived likelihood of greater winning outcomes.
Features associated with adding additional reels or unique reels to games have also been designed and developed. A system known as Reel Power® allows for a single line game to be played with only the center row being displayed in the window. The other positions on the window are partially covered so that the player can see that a prize is not included in that part of the window. When only one line is being played, a prize award is not included in the win if it did not appear on the displayed line, as the window was not open to include other positions in the win. A gaming machine using Reel Power® is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,102.
With Reel Power® the player can elect to pay extra to include all positions on the reel to determine the win. However, by including the extra positions on the reel for use in determining a win, the player in fact only pays for what is otherwise a scatter win in a scatter game—a symbol that has potential award value without residing along a payline—but with all symbols being scatter symbols. This provides added possibilities for wins, but in a limited manner.
Money Burst® is another reel-based game feature developed by WMS and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,544. Money Burst uses a lesser number of positions in the initial reels causing all paylines to run through these positions resulting in higher volatility and player excitement. Thus, the symbol matrix is modified from the standard 3×3, 3×5, 4×5, or the like, to, for example, a 2×2 alongside a 3×4 matrix.
A feature known as "replacement reels" were disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,529,333 to King Show Games. That patent appears to discuss replacement upon a triggering occurrence of one symbol of the standard matrix with a replacement reel that is independent from the primary reel associated with the given column of the symbol matrix. The replacement reel is "spun" to provide a new randomly selected symbol at the given position.
The present invention improves on the slot machine gaming experience by adding yet another additional feature based on extra mini-reels that may be included in calculating awards without merely adding additional positions. In previous games where an extra reel was added, the award was increased due to the difficulty of getting more symbols to match up. For instance, some games added a 6th reel, which meant the player could then be awarded a six-of-a-kind prize for matching symbols on all six reels. The extra mini-reels in the present invention go beyond that to include multiple reels within a reel, without merely replacing the symbol positions of the reel with a mini-reel, and thus provides a multitude of different possibilities for a win.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic device for playing a reel-based game with mini-reels


A mobile device includes a pair of cabinet half-bodies 10, 6 configuring a cabinet 1; a metal coupling member 2 for coupling the cabinet half-bodies 10, 6; and a synthetic resin cover body 3 opened with at least two pass holes 30, 30 through which a strap 4 is passed, and arranged with a strap receiving piece 31 between the pass holes 30, 30. The strap receiving piece 31 has a lower surface reinforced by contacting at least one part of the coupling member 2, and a space through which the strap 4 from one pass hole to the other pass hole passes is formed below the coupling member 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile device such as digital camera and mobile phone to which a strap gripped by a user can be attached.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen from a rear surface of a conventional mobile device, specifically, a mobile phone, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view cut along a plane including line A-A at one part of FIG. 6.
A case body (7) is configured by overlapping a front cabinet (70) and a rear cabinet (71), and a strap attachment piece (73) arranged on the front cabinet (70) is projected from an opening (72) opened at the rear cabinet (71). A pass-through hole (74) is formed at a distal end of the strap attachment piece (73) at a site positioned on the outer side of the rear cabinet (71), and a strap (4) or a string body is attached to the pass-through hole (74). When the strap (4) is pulled, the strap attachment piece (73) bends in a direction of an arrow B, and the strap attachment piece (73) pushes the rear cabinet (71) to closely attach to the front cabinet (70). The front cabinet (70) and the rear cabinet (71) are thus less likely to be detached.
Other than the above conventional examples, various structures for attaching the strap (4) have been proposed. However, miniaturization is desired for such type of mobile device, and the location of attaching the strap (4) is sometimes narrow. Most cabinet of the mobile device is made of synthetic resin, and thus if the location of attaching the strap (4) is narrow, the strength of the relevant location may not be maintained.
The present invention provides a mobile device capable of maintaining the strength at the location of attaching the strap even if such location is narrow.


A transceiver with interference signal rejection has a transmission path and a reception path. The transmission path is connected to a transmission amplifier whose output is coupled to an antenna. In addition, the antenna is also connected to the reception path. A compensating apparatus is provided which is coupled to an input of the reception path. The output of the transmission path and the input of the transmission amplifier also have an extraction element connected between them which is connected to an input of the compensating circuit. A signal component of a transmitted signal is extracted before amplification to an output level and is routed to the reception path via the compensating circuit such that this compensates for a crosstalk transmitted signal component.

In modern mobile communication appliances, which are designed for a simultaneous transmission and reception mode, the problem may arise that a signal for transmission is injected into the reception path from the transmission path. An injected signal increases the probability of error when the received signal is demodulated, or even prevents reception entirely. This problem becomes greater, the greater the level differences are between a received signal and the transmission signal. If the mobile station is at a very great distance from a base station, for example, transmitted signals need to be radiated from the mobile appliance to the base station at relatively high power. At the same time, however, the signals which are transmitted by the base station are received only at a very low power, which means that a large power or level difference is obtained. The example of the mobile radio standard UMTS is intended to be used to explain this problem in more detail.
In the specification TS25.101, the UMTS standard defines the frequency ranges and various power classes which are characterized by a maximum output power. By way of example, a transmitter for UMTS signals in the mobile communication appliance is able to radiate a signal at an output power of 24 dBm, and at the same time the receiver in the mobile communication appliance can receive a signal at −90 dBm. The interval between transmission frequency and reception frequency is 190 MHz. To prevent injection at this frequency interval on account of the large level differences between the transmitted signal and the received signal, conventional transceivers use a duplexer. This is usually formed with a circulator and routes the transmitted signal sent by the transmission path to the antenna, where it rejects the transmitted signal in the direction of the reception path. In conventional duplexers, the rejection is approximately 45 dB, which in the example cited above still results in the transmitted signal being injected into the reception path at a level of −21 dBm.
To reduce the level of the crosstalking signal even more, further measures are accordingly required. In the embodiment which is shown in prior art FIG. 4 and which is known to the applicant, narrowband SAW filters 88 are additionally used. These are connected both to the transmission path 2 and upstream of the reception path 3. In particular, an SAW filter 88 is connected downstream of a reception amplifier 33a and upstream of the input of the reception path 3.
The SAW filter connected to the transmission path is used for rejecting any image frequencies there may be, on account of the mixing process in the transmission path and for rejecting intermodulation products. The narrowband SAW filter, which is connected to the output of a reception amplifier 33a, has a typical attenuation of approximately 25 to 30 dB and thus rejects the remaining crosstalking signal to a level of −45 to −51 dBm. The amplifier 33a is needed in order to compensate for the additional attenuation of the SAW filter 88 within the useful signal band and to decouple the duplexer 7a from the SAW filter 88. This means that the signal-to-noise ratio for the received signal is improved in the useful signal band. The narrowband SAW filters used are very expensive to produce in the frequency range of approximately 2 GHz which is used, however. This increases both the cost and the space taken up by a transceiver for UMTS signals.
Another possibility is demonstrated by the printed document DE 199 34 502. In this document, a compensating element is connected in parallel with the antenna to the output of a transmission amplifier and upstream of the input of the reception amplifier. Appropriate control of the compensating element allows a signal to be produced which is additively superimposed on a received signal and thus reduces a transmitted signal component on account of crosstalk from the transmission path into the reception path. This embodiment allows the SAW filters to be saved and the costs to be reduced.

Transceiver with interference signal rejection, and method for interference signal rejection


An image forming method including a charging step, a latent image forming step, a developing step, a transfer step, and a cleaning step, wherein remaining toner recovered in the cleaning step is used as recycled toner, and a ratio of the recycled toner to a total amount of supply toner supplied to a developer is 15% by weight or greater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming method used to develop an electrostatic latent image in an electrophotographic method and electrostatic recording method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor (latent image holding member) is developed as a toner image by using a toner containing a colorant, the resulting toner image is transferred to the surface of an image recording member directly or through an intermediate transfer member and the transferred toner image is fixed using a heat roll or the like to obtain an image. In the meantime, the latent image holding member is usually cleaned to use it again for the formation of an electrostatic latent image. A dry developer to be used in such an electrophotographic method and the like is roughly classified into a one-component developer which singly uses a toner prepared by compounding a colorant and the like in a binder resin and a two-component developer obtained by mixing a carrier in the toner.
In a general electrophotographic device using such an electrophotographic method, the electrostatic latent image of the latent image holding member is developed using a toner, the toner image is transferred to a receiving member such as an intermediate transfer member and then, the toner image finally transferred to an image-receiving member is fixed in a fixing device. In this case, a toner left untransferred on the latent image holding member after toner transfer is collected in a recovery container by cleaning using a cleaning device and then dumped. Therefore, if this remaining toner can be reused as recycled toner, valid utilization of resources can be achieved.
However, it is pointed out that if the remaining toner is used as recycled toner, problems concerning background pollution, scattering of toners and the like are easily caused because a paper powder of transfer paper (image-receiving member) is intermingled in the toner and toners in which external additives are embedded and finally peeled off are intermingled.
There is a method proposed as techniques for effectively utilizing remaining toner as recycled toner in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-209902 wherein each ratio of the amounts of a releasing agent and external additives between recycled toner and initial toner is defined to limit the deterioration of a carrier thereby improving durability. There is also a method proposed in JP-A No. 11-95553 to better the fluidity and charge stability of a developer by such a combination of an initial toner and a refill toner as to keep the condition that the amount of the external additive in the initial toner is less than that in the refill toner. Further, there is a method disclosed in JP-A No. 11-153881 which method can raise transfer efficiency and decrease a waste toner in a toner composition comprising toners to which two types of fine particles different in sphericity and charge are added and a mother toner to which any fine particle is added by using such a combination that the charge of the mother toner falls between the charge quantities of the toners to which two types of fine particles are added.
However, all the above methods are insufficient as measures for obtaining a high quality image stably by using recycled toner.
In the meantime, in order to maintain the characteristics of a photoreceptor as a latent image holding member for a long term, it is required to control the photoreceptor as a system such that the surface of the photoreceptor is worn to some extent. When the wear of the photoreceptor is too small, the surface of the photoreceptor is polluted, and some defects are tend to occur. The defects include a "white spot" phenomenon, in which image density decreases in copies and print images, and an "image running" phenomenon, in which character images are blurred. Moreover, it is necessary to make the wear to occur uniformly over the entire surface of the photoreceptor.
Therefore, in the case of using recycled toner, it is necessary to keep the photoreceptor uniformly worn.
As a cleaning method for removing remaining toners on the surface of a photoreceptor, there are various methods such as methods using a fur brush or magnetic brush and methods using a cleaning blade formed of elastic material. A method in which a cleaning blade formed of elastic material is used to rub the surface of a latent image holding member, thereby scraping a toner off (this method is sometimes referred to as "blade cleaning" hereinafter) is inexpensive and exhibits stable performance and is therefore usually used. However, this blade cleaning may cause various defects such as wear and scratches of the latent image holding member and it is therefore necessary to control the blade cleaning precisely so as to avoid such defects.
In order to control the blade cleaning stably, a method is proposed in which a titanium oxide particle which has been treated with a fatty acid metal salt, a titanium oxide fine particle which has been surface-treated with hydrolyzing a fatty acid compound in an aqueous system, an inorganic compound which has been surface-treated with a fatty acid metal salt, a fine particle titanium oxide which has been made hydrophobic by surface treatment using fatty acid aluminum or the like is added to a toner particle (see, for example, JP-A Nos. 4-452, 5-66607, 5-165250 and 10-161342). In these methods, the aforementioned problem originated from the size of the particle diameter of the fatty acid metal salt itself is avoided to some extent by using the fatty acid metal salt for surface treatment. However, damages to the surface of a photoreceptor is prevented insufficiently though all these methods have a certain effect.
Meanwhile, in, for example, JP-A No. 2-89064, a hydrophobic hard fine powder is externally added to a toner to abrade a photoreceptor by the abrasive effect of the hard fine powder, thereby preventing toner filming. However, though this method is effective to restrict filming, it has the drawback that the surface of a photoreceptor is worn, which significantly shortens the life of the photoreceptor. Also, a cleaning blade is worn by the hard fine powder and the life of a blade is significantly shortened.

Image forming method using recycled toner


An ink composition includes a colorant, a solvent, and an amine alcohol compound represented by formula I

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an ink composition, an ink cartridge including the same, and an inkjet image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink composition in which a smear characteristic thereof is decreased and a storage stability thereof over a long period of time is enhanced due to an amine alcohol compound having a hexagonal ring, an ink cartridge including the same, and an inkjet image forming apparatus including the ink cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a dot size of an inkjet printer tends to be small and a printing speed of the inkjet printer tends to be high. Further, a printed image having a high quality and a high resolution is required. In order to obtain a smaller dot size, a head of the inkjet printer must have a smaller nozzle opening. However, such a smaller nozzle opening is easily clogged, and a size of inkjet droplets is influenced by a precipitate. Components of an ink composition used in the inkjet printer are known to influence the nozzle clogging. In order to prevent nozzle clogging, a humectant is usually added to the ink composition.
Further, when an ink composition printed on paper is not dried or absorbed into the paper within a required period of time due to high speed of the printer, a smear phenomenon occurs. In order to improve such a phenomenon, a method of quickly penetrating inks into paper by adding an isopropyl alcohol penetrating agent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,616), and a method of using a polymer additive as a binder (U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,024) have been proposed.
However, the penetrating agent is excessively penetrated into paper, thereby decreasing a color density (OD) of a printed image. Furthermore, the polymer additive has poor miscibility in water, thereby causing layer separation or nozzle clogging, and thus decreasing a storage stability of an ink composition including the polymer additive over a long period of time and a durability of an ink cartridge containing the ink composition.

Ink composition, ink cartridge including the same, and inkjet image forming apparatus including the ink cartridge

Abstract: in which n is an integer and 0≦n≦9.


An electric aircraft brake control system has a plurality of wheel and brake assemblies, each having a wheel, wheel speed transducer, brake assembly and a brake actuator. Electromechanical control units are uniquely associated with and connected to certain of the wheel and brake assemblies, and each of the electromechanical control units is provided with an antiskid system as an integral portion thereof. Brake data concentrators are provided for receiving data corresponding to various aircraft operational parameters, including brake pedal position, and provide operational signals to the electromechanical control unit as a function thereof. A controller for emergency and park braking is connected to the electromechanical actuator controllers through one of the brake data concentrators to effect emergency braking action on the brake assemblies, such emergency braking action having incident antiskid control. The system allows for a redundency in brake control circuitry and operation, which increases the dispatchability of an associated aircraft by ensuring continued effective operation of the aircraft even in view of a failure of one of the redundant circuits or systems. A reduction in weight is also achieve by reducing lengthy cable runs.

The use of electric brakes in aircraft systems is becoming increasingly popular. In such systems, electric motors are employed to drive a piston through gears, screws and the like, into a pressure plate of a brake disc stack. Typically, a plurality of actuators are associated with each brake assembly, generally being uniformly distributed thereabout. Prior art electric braking systems have been developed to incorporate antiskid technology within a centralized braking control unit that is located at, or uniquely associated with, the cockpit of the aircraft. However, these systems can have limited antiskid capabilities. The antiskid controller resides hierarchically above and separate from the brake actuators. In this configuration, the antiskid capabilities are generally limited to normal braking mode only, and not applicable to an alternate or emergency braking mode associated with the braking system. Accordingly, dispatchability of the aircraft is necessarily limited. With the antiskid system of the prior art being centralized to the braking system, a single failure can result in a grounding of the aircraft until that failure is fixed. There is a need in the art for a decentralization of the antiskid function which, when combined with dual output wheel speed transducers, will allow a braking system to retain antiskid on all wheels in the event of a single failure, while tolerating further failures and leading to improved functionality, safety, and dispatchability.
A decentralized and distributed antiskid control system has further advantages in being located in closer proximity to the brake actuators. In this fashion, weight reductions may be achieved by reductions in cable weight realized by shorter wheel speed transducer cable runs as compared to centrally located control in the cockpit or an avionics bay. Furthermore, signals to command and control specific actuators are available in the same enclosure with the antiskid controller.


Systems and methods for performing financial transfers. In some instances, the methods include providing a staged transaction system that includes at least two stages. Quotes are accessed for the first and for the second stage of the transaction. One quote associated with a stage of the transaction is selected and used to consummate the financial transfer. Other methods include marketing financial transfer transactions. Such marketing can include providing a flexible rate fixing mechanism; monitoring a financial transaction market; and fixing a rate based at least in part on monitoring the financial transaction market where the flexible rate fixing mechanism provides access to the fixed rate.

The present invention relates generally to the field of value transfers, and in particular to systems and methods for providing quotes in relation to value transfers.
Value transfers can be performed by financial services institutions to transfer funds or other value from a sender to a recipient. In some cases, a value transfer can include accepting an amount to be transferred along with a transaction fee from a sender. The value is then transferred to a recipient, and the transaction fee is kept by the transferring financial services institution. Such transaction fees can vary based on one or more circumstances, and potentially lead to confusion on the part of either the sender or receiver. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to address the variability of such transaction fees.

Systems and methods for price matching on funds transfers


Two-component polymer composite structures are described, such as a composite structure that includes a first polymer structure and a second polymer structure adhered to one another through interfacial adhesion provided by a semicrystalline random copolymer with 70-88 mole % propylene units and alpha olefin units having 2 or from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, the semicrystalline random copolymer having a heat of fusion of from 2 to 90 J/g and a crystallinity of from 2% to 65% of the crystallinity of isotatic polypropylene.

A. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to polymer composite structures. For example, multi-layer films used for heat seaming polymeric sheeting materials or multi-layer films used for heat seaming roof-sheeting materials are described. Also described are composite structures that include molded polymer structures adhered to one another. In a preferred embodiment, a two component polymer composite structure is disclosed, such as a two-layer film structure.
B. Related Art
As discussed below, certain aspects of the invention are directed to multi-layer films. In the past, polymeric roof sheeting materials in the form of single-ply roofing membranes have been used to cover flat rooftops typically found on industrial or commercial buildings, e.g., factories, hospitals, and school buildings. These roof membranes may be applied on roofs in vulcanized form. Owing to the combination of low cost, ease of installation, weather resistance, and good physical properties, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer based compounds have been used in single-ply thermoset roof sheeting materials. Those compounds may be vulcanized in large sheets (e.g., 100 ft.×500 ft.) in an autoclave using traditional vulcanizing agents such as sulfur or sulfur donors. The compounds may also be cured using radiation, as discussed in Valaitis et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,020). When roof sheets are used to cover a large industrial roof, the ends of the sheets are typically spliced together to form a structurally rigid seam. However, after installation, this seam is constantly subjected to adverse weather conditions, such as thermal stresses, high velocity winds, and moisture. One of the problems with using cured elastomeric membranes for roof sheets is the lack of effective adhesion between adjoining sheets.
Efforts to solve this adhesion problem have included the use of contact or pressure sensitive adhesive compounds to provide seams between adjoining sheets. Examples of such compounds include those formulated with neoprene, butyl or butyl type polymers, and tackifying resins. Those compounds, however, provide poor peel strength. Furthermore, they often experience degradation in seam performance at elevated temperatures. Other examples of pressure sensitive adhesive compositions for seaming roofing materials together are adhesives formulated with partially neutralized or unneutralized sulfonate elastomers, tackifying resins, and organic solvents, as discussed in Berejka et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,531) and O'Farrell et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,247). Berejka et al. discusses adhesive compounds containing thiouronium derivatives of unsaturated elastomers or neutralized, partially neutralized, or unneutralized sulfonated elastomers including sulfonated EPDM and other ingredients. O'Farrell et al. discusses adhesive contact cements containing partially neutralized or unneutralized butyl elastomers, tackifying resins, and organic solvent mixtures. However, these adhesive compositions suffer from poor adhesive properties and, furthermore, include organic solvents which may run afoul of environmental regulations. Another article used for seaming vulcanized roof sheets involves the use of a "tie layer" material (e.g., tape) that is inserted between the ends of the sheets and seamed in place by applying heat. Valaitis et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,111) discusses a heat seamable thermoplastic tape for roofing applications. That tape includes a thermoplastics compound, namely high-density polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, or blends thereof. However, those tapes still provide poor adhesion and poor seam integrity properties. Therefore, a continuing need exists for improved sheeting materials for roofing applications and for other uses.
For additional background, see also WO 00/69963A, WO 00/69964A, JP 06 263935A, EP 462,680, EP 733,476, EP 716,121, EP 672,737, and EP 593,859.


An ejector device for an electrical connector having an insulating housing defining a longitudinal is disclosed. The ejector device comprises a positioning structure formed on an end of the insulating housing and an ejector lever pivotably provided in the positioning structure. The ejector lever includes an upper pushing plate, a lower ejecting arm extending downward from a lower end of the pushing plate, and a pair of support arms extending downward of both lateral edges of the pushing plate and formed integrally with inward lateral edges of the ejecting arm for pivotably supporting the ejector lever relative to the positioning structure. An electrical connector including such an ejector device is also disclosed.

1. Field of The Invention
The invention relates to an ejector device, more particular to an ejector device for an electrical connector.
2. The Prior Art
An ejector device is provided on an electrical connector for a mother board to eject a daughter board inserted therein for facilitating removal of the daughter board from the connector. Some conventional ejector device for an electrical connector are proposed in, for example, Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 81211475, 81212446, 81215780, 81216903, 83207437, 83213348 and 83217184, and U.S. Pat. Ser. Nos. 4,898,540, 4,975,073, 5,074,800, 5,106,315, 5,211,568, 5,302,133, 5,364,288 and 5,443,394. Some of these ejectors device, such as Taiwan Patent Application No. 81215780 and 83213348, and U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,443,394 have the problem that pivotal means of the respective ejector devices decreases the strength of both the ejector devices itself and the insulating housing of the electrical connector. The others of the above-mentioned ejector devices either have the problem that a pivotal shaft of the ejector device is liable to escape from pivotal holes formed on the insulating housing of the electrical connector or that a pushing lever is liable to break due to low strength thereof.
Hence, there is a need for an ejector device for an electrical connector which can overcome the mentioned-above problems of the conventional ejector devices.

Ejector device for an electrical connector


Wheat gluten protein-based biodegradable or edible films are produced using aqueous, essentially alcohol-free casting dispersions containing modified wheat protein and a plasticizer. The modified wheat protein is prepared by treating purified naturally occurring wheat protein with a reducing agent (e.g., sodium metabisulfite) in order to reduce the average molecular weight of the wheat protein and to cleave disulfide bonds therein. Such modified wheat gluten protein lowers the viscosity and allows increased solid contents in the casting dispersions, allowing fabrication of improved films.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with modified wheat glutens and dispersions which can be used in the casting of biodegradable and/or edible gluten-based films. More particularly, the invention pertains to such glutens, gluten products, dispersions and films, and methods of fabricating the same, wherein wheat gluten is modified with a reducing agent for cleaving of disulfide bonds therein under controlled conditions which prevent any substantial heat denaturation of the grain protein. Such modified wheat glutens can be used to fabricate superior films having good strength and thermal sealing properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Grain proteins, such as those derived from soy protein, or wheat or corn gluten, are commercially available and are relatively inexpensive in comparison to other biomaterials and many synthetic polymers. It has been suggested that such grain proteins and particularly the wheat glutens can be used to form flexible films by solution or dispersion casting, provided that the wheat glutens are used with appropriate plasticizers. Generally, it is understood that such films are insoluble in water and have good moisture permeability, but are deficient in oxygen permeability and tear strength.
In many film-forming prior procedures, the gluten-based casting solutions are prepared with alcohol and are heated to levels which substantially denature the gluten proteins and gelatinize the starch content of the solution. The use of alcohol solvents renders commercial-scale processing difficult and dangers owing to explosion hazards Heat denaturation of the gluten proteins lowers the ultimate strength of the films and the gelatinized starch further weakens the films and creates non-transparent films.
There is accordingly a real and unsatisfied need in the art for improved techniques and products for the fabrication of wheat gluten-based biodegradable and/or edible films which yields films having better physical properties while avoiding use of large quantities of alcohol as a part of film casting solutions or dispersions.

Modified wheat glutens and use thereof in fabrication of films


System and method to achieve high resolution and sensitivity from scanned focal plane array detectors without generating objectionable articfacts by scanning a scene in alternate odd and even channels at a predetermined scanning rate to provide a plurality of equally time spaced samples in each channel, offsetting the samples in the even channels relative to the odd channels to be time spaced intermediate adjacent samples of the odd channels, forming a plurality of odd TV lines, each of the odd lines composed of the samples from a different one of the odd channels and the interstices between the samples in each of the odd lines being composed of a sample which is a function of the samples abutting each of the interstices in the odd lines, forming a plurality of even TV lines, each of the even lines composed of the samples from a different one of the even channels and the interstices between the samples in each of the even lines being composed of a sample which is a function of the samples abutting each of the interstices in the even lines and generating video signals from the odd TV lines and the even TV lines in interlaced manner at a multiple of the predetermined rate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to forward looking infrared (FLIR) and related systems and, more specifically, to systems and methods for applying interleaved sampling when using scanned time delay and integrate (TDI) focal plane array (FPA) detectors to obtain high resolution without objectionable artifacts.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
High sensitivity and resolution in FLIR systems using scanned non-TDI FPA detectors, while eliminating artifacts, has been achieved in the prior art as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,147 for "INTRAFIELD INTERLEAVED SAMPLE VIDEO PROCESSOR/REFORMATTER" of James S. Barnett, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, current TDI detector architectures do not permit both rectangular and interleaved sampling.
Non-TDI scanned FPA detectors typically contain 1 to 4 columns of detector elements as shown in FIG. 1. Typical non-TDI and TDI FPA detectors are designed to take two samples while the array is scanned across a distance equal to the instantaneous field of view (IFOV) or width of a single element. FIG. 1 shows an example of a four column non-TDI detector with an intercolumn spacing of N IFOVs. N is frequently an integer but this is not a requirement. More generally, M=NW where M is an integer number of sample spaces between columns and N is not necessarily an integer. However, the principles involved are generally applicable to other configurations of FPA detectors.
Current FPA detectors are typically designed to operate at a 30 Hz scan rate to minimize signal bandwidth and to provide a rectangular sample pattern as shown in FIG. 2. Current FPA designs were primarily influenced by the perceived needs of automatic target cuers, classifiers and recognizers. Such target identifiers demand very high resolution, non-interlaced, "snapshot" images with high sensitivity. Their operation is independent of image displays and they usually operate at scan rates of 30 Hz or less.
Many applications of FPA detectors require that the FLIR system display images and automatically identify and track targets. In scenarios involving high angular rates, automatic target trackers require 60 Hz image update rates from the FPA. Standard television monitors display interlaced video at a 60 Hz field rate and 30 Hz frame rate as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. Display of current 30 Hz, non-interlaced FPA video on standard 60 Hz television format displays causes objectionable flicker, reduces useful resolution and introduces severe artifacts for moving scenes or for moving objects within a still scene.
FIG. 4 shows the functional components of a typical FPA FLIR system. Various configurations and implementation details are feasible. Optics 1 collect infrared energy from the scene. To simplify detector fabrication and to reduce noise sources, FLIR systems typically sample all elements simultaneously as the scanner 2 moves the image across the FPA detector 3. FPA timing electronics 4 typically derive sampling and multiplexing control signals from scene position information provided by a scan position sensor and/or from fixed frequency clocks. The FPA converts infrared energy to a sampled electrical signal. The signal from each detector element shown in FIG. 1 is amplified and sent to a multiplexer 5. The multiplexer reduces the number of outputs required from the detector. A FPA detector with 960 elements typically is multiplexed to 16 outputs. Analog-to-digital conversion and digital multiplexing 6 provide four streams of digital information, each representing one of four columns of detectors shown in FIG. 1.
Since the columns are spatially separated, the Mth sample from detector elements in column 1 is misaligned by 2N sample intervals, for a sampling density of two samples/IFOV, compared to the Mth sample from detector elements in column 2. N is the center-to-center spacing (in IFOVs) between columns. Total misalignment between columns 1 and 4 equals 6N sample times at two samples/IFOV. Column alignment circuits 7 delay the samples from each of the four columns by the proper time (number of samples) to align them spatially for display. N equals 4 for a typical non-TDI detector. Table 1 shows the number of sample delays required to align detector columns for three values of N.
TABLE 1 __________________________________________________________________________ REQUIRED SAMPLE DELAYS TO ALIGN NON-TDI DETECTOR COLUMNS FOR RECTANGULAR SAMPLE PATTERNS AT TWO SAMPLES PER IFOV N Column 1 Delay Column 2 Delay Column 3 Delay Column 4 Delay __________________________________________________________________________ 5 30 20 10 0 4 24 16 8 0 3 18 12 6 0 __________________________________________________________________________
These circuits, shown in FIG. 5, typically use first-in, first-out (FIFO) memories. They delay column 1 (elements 1, 5, 9, etc.) by 6N samples, column 2 by 4N samples and column 3 by 2N samples with respect to samples from column 4 when the FPA shown in FIG. 1 is scanned from left to right. This produces the rectangular sampling pattern shown in FIG. 2. If the image is scanned from right to left, these circuits delay column 4 by 6N, column 3 by 4N and column 2 by 2N samples with respect to column 1. The same function also could be embedded into the addressing scheme for the reformatter function 9 shown in FIG. 4.
Image processor circuits 8 perform various functions to enhance image quality for display and for automatic target trackers and identifiers. Reformatter circuits 9 store the sampled FPA data in memory in FPA detector output format (4 vertical columns), then read it out in the single line interlaced television format shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a reformatter that uses two-port video random access memories (VRAMs) as the FPA sampled data storage medium. Pixel selector logic 14 controls a 4:1 multiplexer function 13, which constructs a TV format video stream from the VRAM 12 outputs. If the FPA were scanned from top to bottom rather than horizontally across the scene, reformatter memory storage requirements would be reduced since FPA output data would be in horizontal format.
Video generator circuits 10 convert digital FLIR data to standard analog composite television video signals. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a typical video generator circuit. A high speed digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 15 converts the digital output from the reformatter into an analog signal. The low pass filter circuit 16 removes signal content at frequencies greater than one-half the sample frequency. It also provides the desired frequency domain transfer function. FIG. 8 shows a typical low pass filter response. Video buffer circuits 17 add standard vertical and horizontal synchronization signals and provide proper voltage levels and impedances to the monitor.
Simply doubling the FPA scan rate would eliminate moving image flicker and artifacts from the display and would benefit automatic target trackers. However, 30 Hz FPA data rates can be as high as 960 million bits/second for 12 bit data words. Doubling scan rate would double data rates, thereby significantly increasing the cost, power and size of FLIR system electronics and making most such systems economically unfeasible under present technology. Doubling the scan rate also would reduce FPA detector sensitivity by the square root of two. If the number of samples were reduced by a factor of two, while the scan rate were doubled, total data rate and sensitivity would remain essentially constant. However, horizontal resolution would be reduced by a factor of two.
Modifying the FPA multiplexer by adding a mode where only half the channels are output during each 60 Hz field maintains displayed resolution but reduces effective sensitivity. Interlaced multiplexing reduces sensitivity because only half the available detector elements are used and because each detector element has one-half the time to integrate infrared energy that it would have at 30 Hz.
The above identified U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,147 identifies an interleaved sampling algorithm and implementation that overcomes these problems for non-TDI FPA detectors where N in FIG. 1 is an integer. This innovative approach takes advantage of the fact that non-TDI detectors nominally designed to operate at two samples/IFOV can be sampled at certain frequencies other than 2.0 samples per IFOV. The following equation shows the allowed spatial sample frequencies for such a non-TDI FPA: EQU Spatial Sample Frequency=[(2 * N)-K]* 2/(2 * N * I)
where:
SSF=Spatial Sample Frequency and is measured in samples/IFOV PA1 I=1 for Rectangular Sampling PA1 I=2 for Interleaved Sampling PA1 K=any integer for Rectangular Sampling PA1 K=odd integers for Interleaved Sampling PA1 DSF=I.times.SSF PA1 DSF=SSF for I=1 (Rectangular Sampling) PA1 DSF=2 * SSF for I=2 (Interleaved Sampling)
Displayed sample frequency (DSF) is the apparent sample frequency displayed on a standard monitor as a result of the FPA sampling and reformatting algorithms. The following equations show the relationship between SSF and DSF:
If "I" equals one, any integer value of "K" will result in the rectangular spatial sampling pattern shown in FIG. 2. There is an equal integer number of samples between each detector column. Table 2 shows several possible values of SSF for rectangular sampling in addition to the normal value of 2.00. However, rectangular sampling patterns are not formed if "K" is an odd integer and I=2.
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ PERMITTED SPATIAL SAMPLING FREQUENCIES FOR NON-TDI DETECTORS THAT FORM A RECTANGULAR SAMPLING PATTERN. Displayed Value of K Value of I Samples/IFOV Samples/IFOV ______________________________________ -1 1 2.25 2.25 0 1 2.00 2.00 1 1 1.75 1.75 2 1 1.50 1.50 3 1 1.25 1.25 4 1 1.00 1.00 5 1 0.75 0.75 ______________________________________
Table 3 lists the SSF for several values of K, for N=4. SSF is about one half the nominal value of 2.00 for K=-1 or for K=1, while DSF is approximately 2.00. These SSFs can therefore be achieved at a 60 Hz scan rate with little impact on detector sensitivity, FLIR resolution or FLIR video processor electronics size, weight or power.
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ PERMITTED SPATIAL SAMPLING FREQUENCIES FOR NON-TDI DETECTORS THAT FORM A INTERLEAVED SAMPLING PATTERN. Displayed Value of K Value of I Samples/IFOV Samples/IFOV ______________________________________ -3 2 1.375 2.75 -1 2 1.125 2.25 1 2 0.875 1.75 3 2 0.625 1.25 ______________________________________
FIG. 9 shows an overlay of the sampling pattern with respect to the non-TDI array for K=1 and I=2. There is an equal integer number of samples between every other column. Samples between adjacent columns have a half-IFOV spatial offset. If the external column alignment circuits are programmed to delay column 1 video by 10 sample times, column 2 by 7 sample times and column 3 by 3 sample times, columns 1 and 3 will be aligned with each other but offset by one-half IFOV from columns 2 and 4. FIG. 10 shows the resulting pattern.
Table 4 shows the sample delays that must be programmed into the column alignment circuit illustrated in FIG. 5 to obtain the offset sampling pattern shown in FIG. 10 for several values of K and N.
TABLE 4 ______________________________________ REQUIRED SAMPLE DELAYS TO ALIGN NON-TDI DETECTOR COLUMNS FOR INTERLEAVED SAMPLE PATTERNS. Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 N K Delay Delay Delay Delay ______________________________________ 4 -3 16 11 5 0 4 -1 13 9 4 0 4 1 10 7 3 0 3 -1 10 7 3 0 4 3 7 5 2 0 ______________________________________
The reformatter shown in FIG. 6 is normally programmed to construct each TV line from a sequence of M samples from a single detector element. The reformatter forms a TV frame of L horizontal TV lines, each line containing M samples, by reading M samples from L/2 detectors at a 60 Hz rate as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. To display FLIR images in interleaved format, the reformatter reads approximately M/2 samples from L detectors each TV field. FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate the required algorithm.
Line 1 of TV field A is constructed by reading the first sample from detector 1, then the second sample from detector 2, then the third sample from detector 1, etc. The second line (TV line 3) 2 of TV field A is formed using samples from detectors 3 and 4. The first line of field B (TV line 2) is formed by detectors 2 and 3, the second line (TV line 4) from detectors 4 and 5, etc. This provides the effective vertical interlace between TV fields A and B shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C and 13.
Since every other TV format sample is displayed at a vertical offset of one-half IFOV from its true position, interleaved sampling creates an artifact. The displayed image of a horizontal edge will have serrations along the edge one sample wide and one sample deep. Vertical edges are not affected. This artifact is independent of motion and is easily removed by a one-dimensional low pass filter with a notch at one-half the sample frequency. FIG. 8 shows an example of such a filter.
FIG. 14 shows the architecture of a typical TDI detector. Four "super columns" each containing 4 TDI subelements (A, B, C and D), replace the four columns of detector elements in FIG. 1. FIG. 14 shows twenty channels out of a typical 480 or 960. FIG. 15 illustrates internal TDI function. Delay circuits 19, 20 and 21 time-delay analog domain samples from each of the four TDI subelements within a single FPA channel. Next, the summer 22 adds (integrates) samples from the four subelements into a single output value. It then sends the integrated sample to the FPA output multiplexer. TDI of four subelements improves FPA signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of up to 2:1 compared to the non-TDI detector shown in FIG. 1. The TDI function can be implemented using charge coupled devices (CCD), delay lines or charge steering approaches.
The four "OR" functions 18 in FIG. 15 allow two-way scan operation. When the array shown in FIG. 14 is scanned left-to-right, the "OR" functions steer subelements A to the 6N sample delay function. Subelement D has zero sample delay. When the array is scanned right-to-left, subelement D is delayed 6N sample periods and subelement a has zero delay. "OR" circuits also select the proper delay element for subelements B and C, depending upon the scan direction.
Current TDI detectors are typically fabricated with equal element spacings of 1.5 to 2.5 IFOVs between all subelements, including those at the boundary between super-columns. Table 5 shows the total delay required, in numbers of samples at two samples per IFOV, to align each subelement within a single detector channel for various interelement spacings.
TABLE 5 ______________________________________ TOTAL SUBELEMENT DELAY REQUIRED (TWO SAMPLES/IFOV) Spacing: N A B C D ______________________________________ 1.5 IFOV's 1.5 9 6 3 0 2.0 IFOV's 2.0 12 8 4 0 2.5 IFOV's 2.5 15 10 5 0 3.0 IFOV's 3.0 18 12 6 0 4.0 IFOV's 4.0 24 16 8 0 ______________________________________
External column alignment circuits shown in FIG. 5 align TDI FPA detector super-columns. TDI detectors typically require greater total delay than non-TDI FPAs. Detector geometry and TDI circuit implementation (FIG. 15) have limited TDI detectors to a single sample frequency, typically two samples per detector IFOV. This prohibits the use of interleaved sampling techniques to eliminate motion artifacts. Doubling the scan rate would generally result in a prohibitive cost, size and power increase for the FLIR video processor electronics shown in FIG. 4.

Time delay and integrate focal plane array detector


Systems and methods for the production, distribution, logistics and printing of lottery tickets are disclosed. A central server provides a ticket combination and identifying variable data in response to a request from a computing system terminal. The terminal receives combination and variable data and issues commands for the printing of the same on a plurality of tickets. The tickets comprise a substratum capable of being printed upon at high speeds and colors and images. The printing may be performed at a point of sale. Prior to printing, the plurality of tickets may be imprinted with information related to marketing and appearance. Additionally, prior to the printing, the plurality of tickets do not have a combination or identifying variable data serving to identify the plurality of tickets.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to lotteries and, in particular, to systems and methods for the production, distribution, logistics, and printing of lottery tickets.
2. Description of the Related Art
The sale of games of chance, especially forecast games, are presently conducted in two forms: on line and pre-printed. In the case of on line sales, the customer selects the letters, numbers, or other signs in a combination for a specified drawing. In the case of pre-printed forms, the customer chooses a previously printed ticket, which will be valid for a specified future drawing, and contains a choice of letters, numbers or other signs constituting a pre-established combination.
Even though the sale of pre-printed lottery tickets is effective due to the fact that it is easy and attractive from the customer's point of view, it does bring up problems which result in high production, distribution, logistics and printing costs. At the opposite end, the online modality is effective from the point of view of the administrative entity but sales are more difficult since tickets so produced are not visually attractive to the customer and sales further require premeditated actions which take some of the customer's time.

Systems and methods of production, distribution, logistics, and printing of tickets


This invention concerns nutritive and restorative hair care compositions which are distinctive in that they contain probiotic bacteria and other ingredients found in yogurt. Both water-based and anhydrous embodiments are described. The compositions are designed to moisturize, soften, condition, straighten, strengthen and repair hair in addition to promoting a healthy scalp.

It is widely known that yogurt contains potent ingredients that are beneficial to overall human health and well-being. Over the centuries and in many regions of the world, yogurt has been and remains an integral and nourishing dietary staple. It is particularly beneficial to digestion and a healthy digestive tract.
Yogurt is created from milk using a heat fermentation process that incorporates the use of certain bacteria to effectively curdle the milk into a more concentrated and thick form. After the fermentation process is complete, some of the bacterial cultures usually survive. They remain in the yogurt providing considerable benefits upon ingestion. It is known that such "probiotic" bacteria themselves aid in digestion, counter the detrimental effects of non-beneficial bacteria and prevent certain kinds of digestive problems. It is further known that certain probiotic material can be used to create yogurt from milk. In addition, most known nutritional yogurt products are often supplemented with other live, active and beneficial, probiotic bacteria.
Yogurt can be used topically on hair in certain ways with considerable benefit. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,500 to Cloninger. Much like the milk from which yogurt is derived, yogurt contains particular proteins and a significant amount of lactose. In addition, both yogurt and milk contain emollient properties that contribute to healthy and attractive hair.
Two proteins which exist in yogurt and are likely to be responsible for its benefits to hair are casein and whey. Casein is present in yogurt as a by-product of the fermentation by the lactic acid-producing cultures (William Helferich and Dennis Westhoff in All About Yogurt, Prentice Hall, Inc. NJ, 1980). Casein has structural similarities with fibrinogen aside from of the fact that both are proteins with different physiological functions. While casein forms polymeric globules (micelles), fibrinogen is a fibrous polymer. An analogy between fibrinogen and casein has been reported by Jolles P., et al. in Analogy Between Fibrinogen and Casein and Effect of an undecapeptide isolated from kappa-casein on platelet function. Europ. J. Biochem. 158, 379-82. Fibrinogen produces molecular aggregation and the formation of a protective coating over damaged cells. Fibrinogen is a fibrous protein; it is stringy, tough and insoluble in water. Casein is a globular protein; it has a spherical shape. Alpha-keratin, the protein in hair and nails, has an alpha-helix structure. Casein and fibrinogen are similar in that fibrinogen is composed mostly of alpha-keratin, while the secondary structure of casein involves both alpha-helix and beta-sheet shapes. As healing and restorative processes progress, fibrinogens specifically form covalent bonds between the fibrin monomers. Casein present in yogurt could produce the same effect (formation of covalent bonds) due to the presence of the alpha-helix and beta-sheets shapes present in its secondary structure. Casein is a mixture of several similar phosphoproteins: alpha, beta, lambda and kappa-casein, all of which contain some serine side chains combined with phosphoric acid.
If we compare milk to yogurt, milk contains unprecipitated casein, while yogurt's casein is precipitated. Thus the number of peptides present in milk is much less than the number of peptides present in yogurt. Therefore, contrary to widespread industry assertions, the number of kappa-casein peptides present in milk are unlikely to deliver significant conditioning effects. Further, another difference between casein present in milk and precipitated casein in yogurt is the ability to form aggregates in the presence of charged surfaces. Casein in milk at pH 6-7, contains charged surfaces (chiefly negative charged phosphoserine residues) which repel each other. However, reduction of the pH in casein in yogurt to a pH of less than 5, reduces the ionization of serine phosphate residues and encourages agglomeration. Agglomeration is the first step leading to intermolecular and intramolecular cross links.
Whey is another protein found in milk and yogurt. Whey protein is rich in certain amino acids and low in fat. The key amino acids, the branched chain amino acids (e.g. leucine, valine and isoleucine) and cysteine can be found in relatively high amounts in whey protein (up to 3 g/100 g of protein). Whey proteins can differ dramatically from one another depending on the processing method and the total protein content. For example, whey protein can exist as simple whey powder (30% or less total protein content), whey protein concentrate (30-85% protein) or whey protein isolate (90% or higher protein content).
Whey protein is composed of alpha-lactalbumin, betta-lactoglobulin, serum albumin, immunoglobulins and protease peptones. Betta-lactoglobulin (BLG) is the dominant whey globular protein found and secreted in bovine milk. BLG is predominantly dimeric, consisting of two identical unit configurations of 162 residue sequence. BLG provides numerous sites for sulphidryl groups to form.
Although there appears to be no real distinction between curly hair and straight hair substructurally or chemically, there may be a difference in the geometric distribution of orthocortical and paracortical cells or in the shape of the hair follicle. In addition, the differences may be in variable ratio between crystalline and amorphous materials in the hair. Keratin is the principle structural protein of hair, providing its structural integrity. It is composed of eighteen different amino acids and is characterized by the presence of cystine and the absence of hydroxyproline. Keratin is held together by several different kinds of polypeptides bonds such that proteolytic enzymes (i.e., enzymes that break apart, or lyse, protein molecules) do not attack it. The great stability of keratin results from the numerous disulfide bonds of cystine. Hair keratin is insoluble in aqueous salt solutions, weak acids, weak alkalis and neutral solutions. Water can, however, alter its appearance. This is evident when wet hair is set. It will hold the set when it dries, but this change is temporary and will disappear when the hair becomes wet again.
Cystine may account for 24 percent of the total amino acids. The cystine in keratin contains disulfide linkages—the bonds responsible for the strength and structure of natural keratin of hair and nails. Reduction of the disulfide bonds (by thioglycol or some other mild reducing agent) to sulfhydryl groups, results in dissociation of the peptide chains. The presence of these disulfide bonds makes permanent hair conditioning possible. Permanent hair conditioning occurs through a mechanism known as disulfide interchange, a reaction in which cystine-containing proteins covalently bond and form a disulfide link with free sulfhydryl (SH) groups in the hair.
The manufacture of structural soluble keratin-type molecules by cosmetic material suppliers is achieved by the hydrolyzation methods. These methods use very high temperatures and extreme conditions that can convert cystine to cysteic acid (a reaction analogous to the effect of damage in hair). Milk fermentation based on the inoculation of cultures provides a more natural, gentle process and less of a possibility of the conversion of cystine to cysteic acid. Cystine containing proteins can also help protect, strengthen and extend the life of cosmetic chemical hair treatments by reducing "unzipping", a term used to describe the tendency of reconfigured SH groups to return to the original position. This can occur when one SH group reacts with a neighboring SH group, thereby breaking the S—S linkage to reform the original S—S bond and leaving a different free SH group available. This initiates a chain reaction in which each subsequent free SH group that becomes available reacts with the next S—S bond adjacent to it. Thus, by covalently bonding with residual SH groups left in the hair after a chemical treatment, these proteins are able to "tie-up" or block free SH groups and lessen the incidence of unzipping.
Within the art, it is further known that the bacteria such as Lactobacillus bulgari and Streptococcus thermophilus are necessary ingredients for the creation of yogurt. Other yogurt cultures exhibit marked nutritive and restorative effects and are thus in demand as probiotics in yogurt mixes including, but not limited to, Lactobacillus acidophilius, Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacteria. It has been found that some of these bacteria survive the fermentation process used to form yogurt from milk and provide benefits in addition to those found in the yogurt itself. These bacteria participate in competitive inhibition in the human intestinal tract, where they beat out "bad," possibly pathogenic microorganisms for nutrients and space. See The Dominant Culture: Yogurt for the Masses, by Kimberly J. Decker, April 2001. It is an aspect of this invention that these bacteria could have similar beneficial effects on hair, which is exposed to numerous bacterial agents throughout a normal day.
The stability of probiotic cultures is also addressed by this invention. In many products containing probiotics that are developed and sold for consumption, active cultures die even before the consumer receives any of the health benefits (i.e., during manufacturing, during storage, or during transport of the finished product). Even if the probiotics stay alive during manufacturing, they must also have sufficient shelf life to be viable when ultimately used. Specifically, probiotics are extremely susceptible to their environment. Such environmental factors as water, oxygen, temperature, and acidity affect the overall viability of these beneficial microorganisms. See, e.g., Patricia Siuta-Cruce and Jacques Goulet, "Improving Probiotic Survival Rates." Food Technology, October 2001, Vol. 55, No. 10, Pp. 36-42. This problem is addressed in the anhydrous formulation embodiment which is intended to maintain essentially water free conditions to keep the probiotic bacteria more viable prior to usage.
It is the intention of this invention to teach the benefits of using yogurt and components of yogurt in novel hair care compositions that take advantage of the beneficial properties of yogurt, components of yogurt and probiotic bacteria. The compositions taught herein will promote healthy hair 1) by cleaning, repairing and smoothing damaged hair, 2) by promoting a healthy scalp and 3) through a bacterial cleansing of clogged hair follicles. It is suggested by the inventor that the benefits of probiotic bacteria will extend to cleaning and regeneration of the sebacious gland and hair follicle itself by competing with non-beneficial bacteria to promote strong hair growth.

Probiotic containing anhydrous hair care composition


Fusible vinyl acetate copolymer fibers based on vinyl acetate copolymers are provided and contain (a) at least 40.0% by weight of vinyl acetate units; (b) 15.0 to 50.0% by weight of monomer units that consist of one or several chlorine-free, ethylenically unsaturated monomer units that consist of one or several ethylenically unsaturated monomers whose homopolymers have a glass transition temperature Tg from -100.degree. to 0.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fusible chlorine-free vinyl acetate copolymer fibres, to processes for their production and to their use as fibrous binders.
2. Background Art
To increase the resistance to mechanical load, fibrous structures, for example nonwoven fabrics, are bonded with binders. These binders can be employed in the form of solids, such as powders or fibres, or as liquids, in the form of solutions or dispersions. Fibrous binders have a number of advantages over aqueous binder dispersions. Bonding nonwovens by means of aqueous dispersions requires a special application machine and a drying unit for removing the aqueous phase from the dispersion. In addition to the expenditure on apparatus, the removal of water is also very expensive in terms of energy. In contrast, fibrous binders can be processed on the customary devices for production of textile sheet-like structures together with the fibres to be bonded. For example, the binder fibres can be laid out together with the fibres to be bonded, and the fibre material can be bonded with a far lower energy consumption by heating to the melting point of the binder fibres.
Conventional melt-fusible fibres which are employed for bonding textile sheet-like structures are, for example, polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene fibres, or polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate fibres. Nevertheless, these fibres have the disadvantage that their melt viscosity changes dramatically within a narrow temperature range. During processing of these fibres, the temperature and residence time during thermal bonding must be adhered to very precisely, since even small variations in temperature can cause the molten fibrous binder to run-off.
A wider temperature range for processing is available with copolymer fibres (CP fibres) based on vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride copolymer fibres. A disadvantage of these fibres is the high chlorine content, which leads to problems during disposal and re-use of textiles bonded therewith.
The object was therefore to provide a fusible thermoplastic fibre which has the same melting characteristics as the CP fibres but does not contain any chlorine. In addition, it should be possible to melt-spin the polymer, in order to bypass the disposal problems of polymers which can be spun only in solution.

Fusible chlorine-free vinyl acetate copolymer fibres


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that ensures an allowable client configuration for an application. During operation, the client sends a request to access the application to a server hosting the application. In response the request, the server downloads an analysis application to the client. Next, the client executes the analysis application, whereby the analysis application gathers configuration data that specifies a present configuration of the client. The system examines this configuration data to determine whether the client has a configuration that allows the application to execute on the client based on pre-established criteria. If the client has an allowable configuration, the system allows the client to execute the application.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the process of gathering configuration data for computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for gathering configuration data for a client computer system prior to running an application on the client computer system.
2. Related Art
Computer networks presently allow applications to be migrated to servers, where they can be easily accessed by client computer systems across corporate intranets or the Internet. Effective administration of applications in this context requires detailed information about the hardware and software configuration of the client population using these applications. Many of these applications require a minimum client hardware configuration (CPU speed, memory, and swap space), operating system (type and version), browser software (type, version, loaded plug-ins and versions, and JAVA initiator version), network characteristics (bandwidth and latency), and other client configuration data, such as browser proxy and security settings. Failure to meet the minimum configuration requirements can cause substandard performance of the application or render the application inoperable.
Users need to be aware of system deficiencies and need to be able to redress these deficiencies. Additionally, system administrators require configuration data for the client systems under their control for a number of purposes, such as: analyzing the cost-effectiveness of upgrades; understanding the impact of fielding new applications with more stringent requirements than the existing client base can meet; and tuning existing applications to be less demanding of client resources. It is important to obtain this information in the context of the particular application(s) that the clients are using, since different application may have different demands on client resources. It is also important that the gathering of such data be as unobtrusive as possible, since application users may be reluctant to, or incapable of, successfully assisting administrators in obtaining this data.
Historically, the need to ensure an allowable configuration for a client computer system has been (partially) met by: (1) manual methods (visiting each client computer and manually recording the configuration of each client computer); (2) agent-based solutions that operate by installing an agent on each client computer system to gather and report configuration to a central repository; or (3) by providing documentation stating a required configuration for an application and leaving it as an exercise for the end-user to verify that a particular client has the required configuration.
While each of these techniques provide some advantages, they also have drawbacks: (1) manual methods are time consuming and prone to error; (2) the task of installing and updating an agent on each computer system is time-consuming; and (3) requiring a user to identify and change the configuration of a computer system can cause great difficulty for users who lack the technical expertise.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for ensuring an allowable client configuration for an application without the problems stated above.

Method and apparatus for ensuring an allowable client configuration for an application


This invention concerns a method, and a device, for feedback cancellation. This invention also concerns a computer program product comprising computer program code means to make a computer execute a procedure for feedback cancellation. The method comprises providing an adaptive feedback cancellation filter which adapts under the control of a control module, and filtering at least one input of the control module to suppress correlated signals from the input prior to the control module operating upon the input. The device comprises an adaptive feedback cancellation filter, a control module and at least one filter. The control module controls adaptation of the adaptive feedback cancellation filter. The filter suppresses correlated signals from an input to the control module prior to the control module operating upon the input.

Typical sound processing devices, such as hearing aids, comprise a microphone or other input transducer to pick up acoustic sounds and convert them into an electrical signal, an electronic processor and/or amplifier to increase the power of the electrical signal, and a speaker or other output transducer to convert the amplified electrical signal back into acoustic sound. If the input and output transducers are close enough, the output acoustic signal may be picked up by the input transducer and fed back into the amplifier with a delay, the delay being the time taken for the sound to travel from the output transducer to the input transducer, plus any delay due to the electrical processing of the signal. This is 'acoustic feedback'. Electrical feedback can also occur if the electrical signal at the output is coupled back to the input, for example by inductive or capacitive coupling. Further, mechanical feedback can also occur if vibrations are transmitted from the output transducer to the input transducer via the body or case of the amplification system.
Under feedback conditions the loop gain is greater than 1, such that the feedback signal self-reinforces and increases in intensity to drive the components into saturation, reaching an equilibrium when the loop gain reduces to unity. At this equilibrium level the hearing aid device usually emits a continuous and unpleasant high pitched whistle or squeal. Further, oscillation and instability in the processing path are undesirable because they can distort the signal processing performance. This can lead to problems both for the hearing aid user and for those around.
One approach for increasing the stability of a hearing aid is to reduce the gain at high frequencies. In multi-band processing this may be done by setting a maximum gain value for each band which reduces with increasing frequency, or automatic high frequency (HF) gain roll-off may be used. However, this means that the desired high-frequency response of the instrument must be sacrificed in order to maintain stability, which is particularly undesirable given that human hearing loss often occurs to a greater extent in the higher audible frequencies than in the lower frequencies.
Efforts have also been undertaken to reduce the susceptibility of hearing aids to feedback oscillation by attenuation and notch filtering; estimation and subtraction of the feedback signal (feedback cancellation); and frequency shifting or delaying the signal.
A further difficulty in feedback cancellation arises where an input sound signal comprises tonal and other periodic signals which ideally should not be cancelled, such as music, beeps, dial tones and the like. Such tonal signals can be difficult for signal processing techniques to distinguish from oscillatory feedback which should be cancelled. For example, some feedback cancellation techniques assess an auto-correlation of an input signal, and attempt to filter out signals with a high correlation, oscillatory feedback being one such signal with high correlation. However, tonal signals of interest such as music also have a strong auto-correlation, with the result that feedback cancellation is inappropriately applied to the music signal in such techniques. This can result in a decreased efficacy of cancellation of actual feedback signals occurring simultaneously with the tonal input, and/or the production of audible artefacts such as 'warbling' when the tonal signal of interest is present. Such artefacts can also arise if adaptive feedback cancellation techniques cause a feedback estimation filter response to alter at a rate or by such an amount as to be perceptible to the user.
To provide a feedback estimation filter which responds appropriately to both tonal input signals and oscillatory feedback signals, respectively, some solutions utilise training to set a fixed filter response. However, such filter training necessitates an extra step in hearing aid fitting or implementation. Further, such fixed filters tend to have a limited range of situations in which feedback cancellation is adequately provided.
Other solutions utilise complicated tone detectors to detect situations where signals are present which include tones which could cause artefacts, for example by corrupting the filter taps. However, not all tones lead to corruption of filter taps, and such systems can thus detect a tone and reach a false positive determination that a filter has been corrupted, even when the filter has not been corrupted or has not been unacceptably corrupted. Conversely, tonal signals which may not be detected by a tone detector can nevertheless cause filter corruption, leading to a false negative determination. Some systems use a tone detector in order to control the adaptation rate of the feedback cancellation filter. By slowing the adaptation rate of the filter the presence of a tonal signal is less likely to corrupt the filter and give rise to artefacts. However a slowly adapting filter is susceptible to producing short bursts of feedback squeal if the feedback path changes faster than the FBC's adaptation rate.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.
Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Entrainment resistant feedback cancellation